WEBVTT 00:00:01.520 --> 00:00:02.799 Good morning. 00:00:03.200 --> 00:00:05.679 It's good to see you all here this morning. 00:00:06.000 --> 00:00:11.039 Our children can be dismissed at this time down to our children's church. 00:00:11.359 --> 00:00:16.160 Our brilliant teacher is waiting for you out in the hall there. 00:00:16.640 --> 00:00:20.719 And uh hope you have a great Bible lesson together today. 00:00:21.600 --> 00:00:30.719 If you're just joining us, maybe just recently, we have been studying through the book of the Acts of the Apostles in the New Testament. 00:00:31.199 --> 00:00:35.359 Um, there is a sermon outline if you'd like to follow along this morning. 00:00:35.439 --> 00:00:39.759 Our ushers are happy to hand you one if you didn't get one earlier. 00:00:40.079 --> 00:00:43.280 Just raise your hand and they'll get one to you. 00:00:53.520 --> 00:01:01.759 And I decided, you know what, it's time again for Pastor Jim's life nuggets of wisdom for today. 00:01:04.319 --> 00:01:10.879 If you are an aspiring musician, I have big news for you. 00:01:11.120 --> 00:01:14.000 If you want that perfect sound. 00:01:17.439 --> 00:01:18.719 Stay tuned. 00:01:21.040 --> 00:01:26.640 This concludes Pastor Jim's timeless life nuggets of wisdom for today. 00:01:27.359 --> 00:01:44.719 Last time in Acts chapter 16, Luke has been recording and following Paul and Silas on their second missionary journey to continue to teach God's word and strengthen the churches that they established. 00:01:45.040 --> 00:01:54.000 When Paul and Silas came to Lystra, Luke is quick to tell us they found a disciple by the name of Timothy. 00:01:54.400 --> 00:02:06.159 And recognizing Timothy's Christian testimony and that he was a committed disciple of Jesus, Paul wanted to take Timothy with him on their upcoming missionary journey. 00:02:06.480 --> 00:02:16.000 So last time we focused on that word disciple, and we talked about four characteristics of a disciple of Jesus. 00:02:16.240 --> 00:02:23.840 There are more, but we just talked about four characteristics of a disciple of Jesus that comes from Jesus' own lips. 00:02:24.080 --> 00:02:31.280 First, a disciple of Jesus is committed to Jesus as Lord and the first priority in life. 00:02:31.520 --> 00:02:33.039 Luke 6, 6. 00:02:33.840 --> 00:02:37.439 Why do you call me Lord, Lord, and do not do what I say? 00:02:37.759 --> 00:02:39.680 He said to his disciples. 00:02:40.000 --> 00:02:47.199 Second, a disciple of Jesus is committed to the Word of God to learn it and to continue in it. 00:02:47.599 --> 00:02:50.479 Jesus said in John 8, 31 and 32. 00:02:50.719 --> 00:03:02.560 So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed in him, if you continue in my word, then you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free. 00:03:02.879 --> 00:03:09.120 Third, disciple of Jesus committed to loving other believers in the Lord. 00:03:09.439 --> 00:03:20.879 John 13, 34 and 35, Jesus said to his disciples, A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also loved one another. 00:03:21.039 --> 00:03:21.919 And you know what? 00:03:22.159 --> 00:03:28.000 By this all men will know you are my disciples, if you have love for one another. 00:03:28.240 --> 00:03:31.840 Finally, a disciple of Jesus is being transformed. 00:03:32.400 --> 00:03:40.000 Conform to the image of Christ day by day, gradually over time, becoming more and more like him. 00:03:40.479 --> 00:03:51.120 As Jesus said in Luke 6, verse 40, a pupil is not above his teacher, but everyone, after he's been fully trained, will be like his teacher. 00:03:51.280 --> 00:03:56.639 So if you are really following Jesus, you will become more and more like him. 00:03:57.199 --> 00:04:12.479 Today we're going to continue to follow Jesus' disciples, Luke, Paul, Silas, and Timothy, as they continue their missionary journey to spread the gospel deep into Asia, or try to. 00:04:12.800 --> 00:04:22.800 These disciples of Jesus will try to make more disciples of Jesus on these journeys, but they're still learning how to follow Jesus. 00:04:23.279 --> 00:04:32.639 And I have two main points to cover today: following Jesus as his disciple and facing the choice to be Jesus' disciple. 00:04:32.879 --> 00:04:33.759 Hey, wait a second. 00:04:33.920 --> 00:04:36.399 Aren't preachers supposed to have three points? 00:04:36.720 --> 00:04:38.160 Not today, they don't. 00:04:38.399 --> 00:04:38.720 Okay. 00:04:39.519 --> 00:04:45.360 The word, if you remember the word disciple in Greek mathites, means learner. 00:04:46.560 --> 00:04:49.600 Learning never ends for a disciple of Jesus. 00:04:49.680 --> 00:04:53.439 There's always something new Jesus wants to show us. 00:04:54.000 --> 00:04:57.279 That's what Paul and his team are going to find out today. 00:04:58.720 --> 00:05:06.879 Have you ever reached a point in your life as a Christian when your plans weren't working out like you thought they would? 00:05:07.920 --> 00:05:16.879 When you thought you knew what God wanted you to do, only to end in frustration, even confusion when it didn't work out. 00:05:17.439 --> 00:05:20.560 How do you decide what God wants you to do? 00:05:21.120 --> 00:05:30.879 Well, Paul's team ran into just that as they learn some other things about what it means to follow Jesus. 00:05:31.120 --> 00:05:41.120 Let me read the passage in Acts chapter 16, uh, when they've set out on their missionary journey in beginning in verse 6. 00:05:41.439 --> 00:05:50.319 Now they passed through the Phygian and Galatian region, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia. 00:05:50.560 --> 00:05:58.480 And after they came to Mycia, they were trying to go into Bithynia, and the spirit of Jesus didn't permit them. 00:05:58.879 --> 00:06:03.040 And passing by Mycia, they came down to Troas. 00:06:03.759 --> 00:06:06.000 A vision appeared to Paul that night. 00:06:06.240 --> 00:06:13.439 A man from Macedonia was standing and appealing to him and saying, Come over to Macedonia and help us. 00:06:14.079 --> 00:06:24.480 When he had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go into Macedonia, concluding that God has called us to preach the gospel to them. 00:06:25.439 --> 00:06:44.480 So what's happening here is they uh they're leaving Lystra, they're trying to get into Frigeria and Bithynia, but it says that the Spirit of God prevented them. 00:06:45.040 --> 00:06:49.279 They really wanted to get into Asia, but they were blocked. 00:06:50.160 --> 00:06:56.399 Uh first they try here, then they go north, then they try here, they're blocked, blocked, blocked. 00:06:57.759 --> 00:07:02.959 Um what's going on? 00:07:04.240 --> 00:07:15.199 Notice, first of all, in this passage, if you're if you see it in your Bible, all three persons of the Trinity are mentioned in leading Paul's team. 00:07:15.439 --> 00:07:22.079 The Holy Spirit, verse six, Jesus, verse seven, God, verse 10. 00:07:24.160 --> 00:07:27.040 Paul must have been confused, I imagine. 00:07:27.279 --> 00:07:31.360 Didn't God call them to preach the gospel to the Gentiles so far? 00:07:31.600 --> 00:07:33.120 That's what they've been doing. 00:07:33.439 --> 00:07:40.319 But now, for the first time, the Holy Spirit and Jesus say no. 00:07:40.800 --> 00:07:42.160 They're stopped, right? 00:07:42.399 --> 00:07:44.079 Dead in their tracks. 00:07:44.720 --> 00:07:48.240 Um, that must have been a little bewildering. 00:07:49.120 --> 00:07:56.160 We're not sure exactly how the spirit prevented them from going into Asia and Bithynia. 00:07:56.639 --> 00:08:00.560 Um, it could have been a prophetic word given to them. 00:08:00.720 --> 00:08:04.639 It could have been the passage was physically blocked for some reason. 00:08:04.879 --> 00:08:08.399 It could have been some sort of life-threatening disaster. 00:08:08.560 --> 00:08:09.759 We don't know. 00:08:11.839 --> 00:08:20.959 We just know that their conclusion was God was has been was stopping them from going where they thought they wanted to go. 00:08:21.839 --> 00:08:26.959 Uh, and they knew it was Jesus himself still leading them. 00:08:27.519 --> 00:08:30.480 Uh, he's the one they're following. 00:08:31.199 --> 00:08:33.200 He's still leading them, and you know what? 00:08:33.360 --> 00:08:35.840 Jesus is still leading his followers today. 00:08:36.159 --> 00:08:36.480 You. 00:08:38.720 --> 00:08:49.919 That to say, when we start going in a direction like Paul and his team, we shouldn't be surprised if at some point God says, No. 00:08:52.720 --> 00:09:00.639 Step back, uh, and it's time to go to prayer. 00:09:01.679 --> 00:09:24.960 Uh and I can I can tell you this uh whenever God changes your plans, and you think you know, whenever he does that, and I've had this experience myself several times in my Christian life, if he does that, you can be sure he has a very, very good reason. 00:09:25.519 --> 00:09:37.360 Now I've invited Lucas DeFord to come up at this time to relate to you a story about something, an event that happened to some missionaries in Africa. 00:09:37.679 --> 00:09:38.320 Lucas. 00:09:42.960 --> 00:09:46.000 It was mid-January of this year, 2026. 00:09:46.240 --> 00:09:57.120 Bill Rapier, a missionary that we support at West Sub, and Sam, his missionary's director, who lives in South Africa, were waiting to board a flight in Zimbabwe's Harari International Airport. 00:09:57.279 --> 00:10:02.480 They would be flying to Southern Zimbabwe and then driving into South Africa halfway through their trip. 00:10:02.639 --> 00:10:06.639 They were waiting in the terminal for the domestic departures, like normal. 00:10:06.799 --> 00:10:07.919 Everything seemed fine. 00:10:08.080 --> 00:10:11.919 But about 30 minutes from when it was supposed to board, they realized nobody was around. 00:10:12.080 --> 00:10:23.279 Uh they started to look around the small airport and realized that their plane had been moved to the international departures, and it already been boarded early, and the gates just closed and they missed their flight. 00:10:23.519 --> 00:10:27.440 They went to the airport and they tried to get a refund for their tickets. 00:10:27.600 --> 00:10:29.759 They couldn't, they booked them through a third party. 00:10:30.080 --> 00:10:34.080 So what they did is they they could tried to purchase new tickets for the next day. 00:10:34.240 --> 00:10:35.600 This is a normal thing you have to do. 00:10:35.759 --> 00:10:39.120 The airport couldn't guarantee them tickets, wouldn't even sell them anything. 00:10:39.279 --> 00:10:43.519 They found a place to stay the night, knowing that the trip was going to be delayed at least a whole day. 00:10:43.759 --> 00:10:51.759 Early the next morning, they went to the airport, they were able to buy tickets for that day, and were able to slip fly to southern Zimbabwe like they had planned. 00:10:52.639 --> 00:11:00.240 The normal routine for this trip would have been for Bill and Sam to go from Zimbabwe into South Africa's Kruger National Park. 00:11:00.399 --> 00:11:07.039 They would have spent one night and a camp in the park, and then they would have driven into the orphan home in Mozambique. 00:11:07.440 --> 00:11:14.000 When the flight was delayed a whole day, they got to South Africa one day wait, they were warned not to go into the park. 00:11:14.240 --> 00:11:20.480 Kruger National Park was experiencing flooding that was record-breaking. 00:11:20.639 --> 00:11:24.720 The camp they would have stayed in flooded all the way to the roof of the cabins. 00:11:24.879 --> 00:11:29.919 Bill Rapier goes on this trip five times a year, and about four out of those five times, he stays in this camp. 00:11:30.000 --> 00:11:31.600 I've been there twice. 00:11:32.080 --> 00:11:35.519 So everybody in the camp had to be helicoptered out. 00:11:35.679 --> 00:11:38.639 They went around the park and were able to continue on their journey. 00:11:38.879 --> 00:11:48.799 God provided protection through what seemed like inconvenience and financial loss so that Bill and Sam could bring needed resources to the orphan home in Mozambique. 00:11:49.360 --> 00:11:52.799 And I think there's a picture of the flooded. 00:11:53.120 --> 00:11:54.799 Yeah, that's the camp. 00:12:03.440 --> 00:12:07.679 God always has a good reason to change your plans. 00:12:11.039 --> 00:12:16.080 How do we follow Jesus when we we don't our plans don't work out? 00:12:16.240 --> 00:12:17.360 We thought we knew. 00:12:17.519 --> 00:12:19.200 How does Jesus lead us? 00:12:19.919 --> 00:12:23.120 Well, from this passage, we can pick up a few things. 00:12:23.919 --> 00:12:37.600 Uh first, sometimes God leads us, uh, probably in their case here somehow, uh by opening or closing doors of circumstances. 00:12:37.759 --> 00:12:40.000 Sometimes that's how God leads us. 00:12:40.320 --> 00:12:46.639 Sometimes God opens doors, like Paul says in 2 Corinthians 2 12. 00:12:46.879 --> 00:12:56.879 Now, when I came to Troas for the gospel of Christ, and uh when a door was opened for me in the Lord, that's you just keep going. 00:12:56.960 --> 00:12:58.879 If the door is open, you go. 00:12:59.200 --> 00:13:03.840 Sometimes, though, the door is closed, and then we need to pray. 00:13:04.080 --> 00:13:17.120 Uh, Colossians 4 3, Paul says, praying at the same time for us as well, that God will open up to us a door for the word, so that we may speak forth the mystery of Christ for which we've been in prison. 00:13:18.240 --> 00:13:26.159 Second, sometimes God will lead us by the Holy Spirit with something he shows us in his word. 00:13:27.120 --> 00:13:34.480 Um, that's what this Holy Spirit is given to us to help us do, discern his will in his word. 00:13:34.879 --> 00:13:38.879 I love what Paul says in 1 Corinthians 2, 12 to 13. 00:13:39.039 --> 00:13:40.480 He says, you know what? 00:13:40.720 --> 00:13:46.879 Now we've received not the spirit of the world, but the spirit who is from God, the Holy Spirit. 00:13:47.039 --> 00:13:48.080 Why is that, Paul? 00:13:48.320 --> 00:14:05.679 So that we may know and understand the things freely given to us by God, which things we also speak, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, combining spiritual thoughts with spiritual words. 00:14:07.200 --> 00:14:27.279 Third, sometimes God leads us when the Holy Spirit, who has access to our mind and heart, sometimes he'll lead us by putting an idea or a thought or a vision in our mind that we recognize that that must be from Him. 00:14:27.679 --> 00:14:35.200 Or it could be a thought he gives us when we're in prayer, like happened to the early disciples in Acts 8 29. 00:14:35.919 --> 00:14:40.799 Then the Spirit said to Philip, Go up and join this chariot. 00:14:42.159 --> 00:14:44.559 Or Acts 13, 2. 00:14:44.720 --> 00:14:56.480 While we were ministering to the Lord and fasting, in other words, praying together, the Holy Spirit said, Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work which I've called them. 00:14:56.720 --> 00:15:00.399 The Holy Spirit's leading, he's letting them know. 00:15:00.639 --> 00:15:08.000 If you have Jesus in you, God speaks to us through the Holy Spirit in us. 00:15:08.879 --> 00:15:17.759 That's why He's there to assure us of God's love, to lead us in His Word, to help us understand what Jesus wants us to do. 00:15:17.919 --> 00:15:30.240 Romans 8, Paul, this marvelous passage, verses 14 to 16, said, All who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are the sons of God. 00:15:30.639 --> 00:15:34.399 For you've not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again. 00:15:34.559 --> 00:15:45.200 You've received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, Abba, Father, the Spirit Himself testifying with our Spirit, we're the children of God. 00:15:45.759 --> 00:15:52.879 Sometimes God leads us through even an idea or thought God places in our mind. 00:15:54.480 --> 00:16:05.600 Some of you may remember when seven evangelical churches in Elmhurst decided to have a joint open-air service in Elmhurst. 00:16:06.320 --> 00:16:08.480 Let me tell you how that came about. 00:16:10.080 --> 00:16:18.240 As pastors, we would hold monthly prayer meetings together to pray for Elmhurst, pray for the gospel to be spread in Elmhurst. 00:16:18.879 --> 00:16:25.919 We kept praying and thinking, discussing what can we do together to help reach Elmhurst for Jesus. 00:16:26.879 --> 00:16:31.440 And in one of those meetings, we were praying together. 00:16:32.159 --> 00:16:43.759 And I saw this picture in my head, my mind, as we were praying, of all of our churches worshiping together right downtown Elmhurst. 00:16:44.399 --> 00:16:49.600 I didn't know what to make of it, but when we finished praying, I shared this odd picture in my head. 00:16:49.759 --> 00:16:50.960 I said, you know what? 00:16:51.840 --> 00:16:52.799 Interesting thought. 00:16:52.960 --> 00:16:58.000 I saw us all downtown Elmhurst worshiping the Lord together. 00:16:58.240 --> 00:17:05.039 Um, and when I shared that with them to a man, they said, That's that's what we need to do. 00:17:05.359 --> 00:17:06.559 I said, Really? 00:17:06.880 --> 00:17:07.519 Yeah. 00:17:08.240 --> 00:17:17.440 And uh he was showing us together as we were in prayer how we can begin to reach Elmhurst together. 00:17:18.160 --> 00:17:21.839 I think we did that for three years in a row. 00:17:22.079 --> 00:17:25.519 And it was obvious that God was in it. 00:17:26.079 --> 00:17:30.000 I've heard of people coming to faith in Jesus through that time. 00:17:30.960 --> 00:17:36.400 Uh, other things, people visitors walking by would come and join in the worship service. 00:17:36.480 --> 00:17:37.839 I mean, it was amazing. 00:17:38.079 --> 00:17:43.839 All of us pastors were just thrilled because we knew God had led us to this. 00:17:44.319 --> 00:17:54.480 Now, when Paul saw this vision in his mind about a person calling to him to come over to Macedonia, he recognized it was from God. 00:17:54.640 --> 00:18:03.920 And uh, but still, and this is important, and and like I just illustrated with the pastors, maybe, maybe not. 00:18:04.079 --> 00:18:05.599 Is this from God or not? 00:18:05.839 --> 00:18:08.880 It was confirmed by the next thing we're gonna see. 00:18:09.519 --> 00:18:35.359 Sometimes God leads us through the counsel and agreement of other disciples uh in terms of how God is leading us, which we see in Paul's case, Acts 16, 10, when he had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go into Macedonia, uh concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them. 00:18:37.039 --> 00:18:44.079 It was Paul's vision, but they concluded God was calling them. 00:18:45.440 --> 00:18:47.680 Sometimes that's how God works. 00:18:49.039 --> 00:18:57.440 Not all ideas are valid, not all things we may think are from the Lord, but sometimes they are. 00:18:57.519 --> 00:19:02.400 If we're spiritually sensitive enough, we'll check it out. 00:19:02.640 --> 00:19:03.759 See if it is. 00:19:04.000 --> 00:19:19.200 The same thing happened, by the way, at the Jerusalem Council back in Acts 15, based on the testimony of Scripture and the witnesses, they agree together on a clarification of the gospel message. 00:19:20.480 --> 00:19:26.799 But notice one thing in this passage that is very, very significant, I think. 00:19:27.200 --> 00:19:34.000 Um as they learn to follow Jesus, they face the ultimate choice. 00:19:34.799 --> 00:19:37.279 That's our third main point today. 00:19:37.599 --> 00:19:43.039 Every disciple faces one important choice. 00:19:44.240 --> 00:19:47.359 Who is Lord of your life? 00:19:47.920 --> 00:19:49.519 Who's in charge? 00:19:50.960 --> 00:19:54.000 Will you be Jesus' disciple? 00:19:54.720 --> 00:20:01.920 Will you commit to doing whatever Jesus commands, going wherever he wants you to go? 00:20:02.880 --> 00:20:12.480 Um and being Jesus' disciple means you're committed to following him, even if it means it's a different direction than you want it to go. 00:20:15.200 --> 00:20:28.319 Now, what I find fascinating here is Luke, the author of Acts, is recording all of these events in the life of the early church. 00:20:28.720 --> 00:20:32.240 Uh, he's recording the disciples' journey. 00:20:32.880 --> 00:20:45.200 And right in the middle we see a decision based on where they should go next, and something happens to Luke. 00:20:48.720 --> 00:20:51.039 You can see it right in the text. 00:20:51.839 --> 00:20:54.240 Luke changed his position. 00:20:55.599 --> 00:21:06.079 Luke moved from observer of things to a participant in the gospel ministry on their team. 00:21:06.319 --> 00:21:07.440 Listen to it. 00:21:07.680 --> 00:21:14.319 Watch the subjects change right in this passage, Acts 16, beginning of verse 6. 00:21:14.720 --> 00:21:17.119 Here's Luke recording what's happening. 00:21:17.359 --> 00:21:24.559 They passed through the Phygerian and Galatian region, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia. 00:21:24.720 --> 00:21:31.279 After they came to Mycia, they were trying to go into Bithynia, and the Spirit of Jesus did not permit them. 00:21:31.519 --> 00:21:34.960 In passing by Mycia, they came down to Troas. 00:21:35.519 --> 00:21:38.319 Paul saw this vision. 00:21:38.640 --> 00:21:40.400 Come over to Macedonia and help us. 00:21:40.559 --> 00:21:53.440 Then, in beginning in verse 10, when he had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go into Macedonia, concluding that God called us to preach the gospel to them. 00:21:53.599 --> 00:21:58.880 So putting out to sea, we set a straight course to the seven month race. 00:21:58.960 --> 00:22:11.920 And on the Following day to Neapolis and from there to Philippi, which is the leading city in the district of Macedonia, a Roman colony, and we were staying in this city for some days. 00:22:12.000 --> 00:22:22.640 And on the Sabbath day, we went outside the gate to the riverside where we were supposing there'd be a place of prayer, and we sat down and began speaking to the women. 00:22:23.599 --> 00:22:24.960 Did you see that? 00:22:25.440 --> 00:22:31.839 They're doing this, they're doing that, they're going here, and all of a sudden, God's calling us to message. 00:22:34.079 --> 00:22:35.119 I want to go. 00:22:35.279 --> 00:22:37.119 I want to be his disciple. 00:22:39.920 --> 00:22:42.079 Something happened to Luke. 00:22:42.480 --> 00:22:46.400 The subject abruptly changes right in the middle of the passage. 00:22:47.200 --> 00:22:51.920 From what they're doing to what we're going to do. 00:22:52.960 --> 00:22:54.400 He joined on. 00:22:54.880 --> 00:22:56.559 Committed disciple. 00:22:57.279 --> 00:23:04.880 Luke is giving us, in his own personal testimony, an essential aspect of being a disciple of Jesus. 00:23:05.119 --> 00:23:07.279 It means this: we're all in. 00:23:07.440 --> 00:23:08.720 We're all in. 00:23:09.759 --> 00:23:14.319 Not just observers, not just coming to church and taking it in. 00:23:14.559 --> 00:23:16.079 We're doing it. 00:23:17.519 --> 00:23:18.880 We're fully committed. 00:23:18.960 --> 00:23:20.799 We're no longer on the sidelines. 00:23:21.759 --> 00:23:23.839 We want to follow Jesus. 00:23:24.559 --> 00:23:33.839 As Jesus said in Luke 9, 23 and 24, he was saying to them all, if anyone wishes to come after me, he must deny himself. 00:23:34.240 --> 00:23:37.759 Take up his cross daily and follow me. 00:23:39.200 --> 00:23:44.559 Well, you got self and you got Jesus. 00:23:46.160 --> 00:23:49.279 You can't follow both at the same time. 00:23:50.160 --> 00:24:00.160 Everyone who wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake, he's the one who really save it. 00:24:00.720 --> 00:24:17.119 We see that Luke himself became a disciple of Jesus, and I have a feeling perhaps it was because of him being around other committed disciples of Jesus, which is really the dynamics of the local church. 00:24:19.200 --> 00:24:33.599 In my opinion, sitting on the fence is a very precarious, unstable position to be in any any kind of thing. 00:24:34.079 --> 00:24:40.000 When you're not committed to something, you're not stable or secure in whatever that is. 00:24:40.640 --> 00:24:42.960 There's no joy found in it. 00:24:43.759 --> 00:24:48.960 There's no joy found in mediocrity, half-heartedness, being wishy-washy. 00:24:50.079 --> 00:24:51.359 No joy there. 00:24:52.000 --> 00:24:59.200 But there is fulfillment and the feeling of satisfaction when you do commit. 00:24:59.359 --> 00:25:13.680 When you're all in, when you commit everything to accomplish a noble and good thing, there's great joy, fulfillment, meaning, and satisfaction knowing you put yourself all in. 00:25:14.000 --> 00:25:17.359 Perfect example was this year's Winter Olympics. 00:25:17.519 --> 00:25:19.039 How do you think they got there? 00:25:20.240 --> 00:25:23.279 They weren't wishy-washy, they were all in. 00:25:24.799 --> 00:25:25.759 Exactly. 00:25:28.319 --> 00:25:31.279 I think that's how God designed life. 00:25:31.920 --> 00:25:34.799 It reflects a principle in Scripture. 00:25:41.200 --> 00:25:50.640 Mark 12 20, Jesus replied, Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, with all your strength. 00:25:50.960 --> 00:25:53.279 Did he leave out any of the alls? 00:25:54.240 --> 00:25:55.759 I don't think so. 00:25:58.319 --> 00:26:06.000 Or 1 Corinthians 10.31, Paul says to Corinthian church, I don't care what you're doing. 00:26:08.799 --> 00:26:14.960 Eating, drinking, whatever, do all to the glory of God. 00:26:15.119 --> 00:26:19.039 You can't do that unless you're all in to the praise of his glory. 00:26:19.119 --> 00:26:19.759 You can't. 00:26:20.640 --> 00:26:23.839 If you're in it for yourself, that's not for his glory. 00:26:25.599 --> 00:26:26.559 All in. 00:26:27.599 --> 00:26:30.160 That includes being Jesus' disciple. 00:26:30.400 --> 00:26:31.920 You know, you know the stories. 00:26:32.240 --> 00:26:34.960 Jesus' first 12 disciples were all in. 00:26:35.119 --> 00:26:36.880 They left everything. 00:26:37.200 --> 00:26:40.319 That doesn't mean he's calling us to leave everything. 00:26:41.200 --> 00:26:43.039 He's calling us to listen to him. 00:26:44.240 --> 00:26:45.839 Do what he wants us to do. 00:26:46.079 --> 00:26:47.039 Live for him. 00:26:49.359 --> 00:26:54.640 We keep seeing others throughout the book of Acts following Jesus. 00:26:54.799 --> 00:26:55.839 Paul was all in. 00:26:56.000 --> 00:26:57.359 Timothy was all in. 00:26:57.680 --> 00:27:02.079 Luke was all in the rest of the way. 00:27:02.400 --> 00:27:04.079 Are you all in? 00:27:06.319 --> 00:27:10.720 Now, I don't know if this will help you or not. 00:27:11.039 --> 00:27:13.839 Things like this do help me from time to time. 00:27:14.720 --> 00:27:23.279 On the back of your outline, I've included a way you can express your commitment to Jesus to be his disciple. 00:27:23.359 --> 00:27:25.920 I'm not, we're not asking you to turn it in. 00:27:26.799 --> 00:27:30.480 It's totally between you and the Lord, between you and him. 00:27:31.359 --> 00:27:36.880 If you can honestly say that, um, what are you saying? 00:27:37.759 --> 00:27:42.799 Here's what it is it's an act of worship, honoring the Son who gave his life for me. 00:27:42.960 --> 00:27:46.559 I offer my life to live for Jesus as his disciple. 00:27:46.799 --> 00:27:49.279 What he commands me, I will obey. 00:27:49.519 --> 00:27:51.599 Where he leads me, I will follow. 00:27:51.839 --> 00:28:02.480 By the grace and strength he mightily supplies in me through the Holy Spirit, signed on this the 22nd day of what is it, February? 00:28:04.559 --> 00:28:05.759 2026. 00:28:07.440 --> 00:28:08.960 Sign your name. 00:28:09.279 --> 00:28:12.240 You know what will even make it more impactful? 00:28:12.799 --> 00:28:15.839 Prick your finger and then sign it. 00:28:17.119 --> 00:28:19.839 That's what I tell our new members to do. 00:28:20.880 --> 00:28:21.200 Okay. 00:28:21.839 --> 00:28:23.440 We're not messing around here. 00:28:23.680 --> 00:28:24.000 Okay. 00:28:24.880 --> 00:28:31.119 Um, and you know why it's great to do that? 00:28:32.240 --> 00:28:37.839 Have some expression of your faith in him, of your devotion to him, something. 00:28:38.240 --> 00:28:40.960 Where you can say, Man, I put it down. 00:28:42.480 --> 00:28:46.640 You need to know that Jesus was all in for you. 00:28:47.119 --> 00:28:48.400 He was all in. 00:28:51.680 --> 00:28:54.319 That's why he died on that cross. 00:28:55.039 --> 00:28:56.319 For your sin. 00:28:57.519 --> 00:28:58.799 He was all in. 00:29:00.160 --> 00:29:01.519 Right to the end. 00:29:04.000 --> 00:29:12.400 You know, he did that because he knew the joy it would bring him to see you with him forever in heaven. 00:29:15.599 --> 00:29:17.359 When you believe in his name. 00:29:17.519 --> 00:29:20.960 So I encourage you, if you've never done so, open your heart to Jesus. 00:29:21.200 --> 00:29:25.359 Receive the grace of God and salvation in Jesus' name. 00:29:25.519 --> 00:29:26.720 Do that today. 00:29:27.920 --> 00:29:33.759 And then begin to live for him and experience his joy in your life. 00:29:34.000 --> 00:29:35.279 Let's pray together. 00:29:35.599 --> 00:29:38.559 Father, thank you that Jesus was all in. 00:29:39.359 --> 00:29:46.720 He was fully committed to do your will at the very cost of his earthly suffering and death. 00:29:47.279 --> 00:29:47.759 Wow. 00:29:48.000 --> 00:29:49.599 Praise his name. 00:29:49.839 --> 00:29:54.319 Help us to love Jesus more than ourselves or anything else. 00:29:54.640 --> 00:30:03.200 We know that's not easy because we're so selfish, so self centered, so into making everything work out for us. 00:30:03.440 --> 00:30:04.400 Help us. 00:30:04.640 --> 00:30:12.400 Show us how to honor, follow, and serve Him who for our sake died that we might live forever. 00:30:12.480 --> 00:30:14.240 I pray this in Jesus' name. 00:30:14.480 --> 00:30:15.119 Amen.