WEBVTT 00:00:00.239 --> 00:00:01.280 All right, let's pray. 00:00:01.520 --> 00:00:02.640 Lord, thank you for today. 00:00:02.799 --> 00:00:04.320 Thank you for a chance to be together. 00:00:04.719 --> 00:00:08.000 It's a joy to get together with the fellas and spend some time in your word. 00:00:08.160 --> 00:00:12.800 So I pray today that you will teach us and guide us in your word today. 00:00:13.119 --> 00:00:24.079 As we are praying as a church family, Father, I pray that you're really bringing us together, and I pray that you're impacting these guys' prayer times and our church's prayer times. 00:00:24.160 --> 00:00:28.160 And I pray, Father, that you'll really reveal yourself to us during this time. 00:00:28.399 --> 00:00:33.359 It's just a great time for us as a church to be praying and seeking your face. 00:00:33.679 --> 00:00:35.039 Guide us today. 00:00:35.200 --> 00:00:38.640 Thank you for our meal for the great folks that fixed it for us. 00:00:38.719 --> 00:00:40.240 We're so appreciative of them. 00:00:40.399 --> 00:00:41.759 Ask your blessings on them. 00:00:41.840 --> 00:00:42.880 In Jesus' name we pray. 00:00:42.960 --> 00:00:45.439 And everybody said, Amen. 00:00:45.679 --> 00:00:48.320 Well, it was kind of interesting last week. 00:00:48.399 --> 00:00:55.119 You know, I did that little experiment I told you about, and then the week kind of came apart with the whole Charlie Kirk thing and all that. 00:00:55.280 --> 00:00:58.399 Those were not related, but it was just kind of an interesting time. 00:00:58.640 --> 00:01:07.920 And I think it has the other conversation has revealed how important it is that we learn to think about those things properly as a church. 00:01:08.000 --> 00:01:09.760 So just a thought in that. 00:01:09.920 --> 00:01:13.120 And uh, we had a prayer time at our church on Sunday. 00:01:13.200 --> 00:01:15.519 I'm sure many of you did, a lot of pastors do. 00:01:15.680 --> 00:01:32.640 It's just a time for us to be praying as God's people in our culture, and we're not going to really talk about that, but we're just it's just important, I think, to acknowledge the time that we're in and for God's people to really see this as a time of prayer and to be praying. 00:01:32.879 --> 00:01:41.519 And uh since we're doing that, I thought today I would I would go into our brewing scripture prayer book again this week. 00:01:41.760 --> 00:01:52.719 Um this week we are praying for God's um how you pray for God's guidance and um how you pray for his direction in a circumstance. 00:01:52.879 --> 00:02:00.480 And I think that's there a lot of ways that's a very significant timing because in a time like this uh it hits people. 00:02:00.879 --> 00:02:02.879 They're asking, what does this mean? 00:02:03.040 --> 00:02:04.239 And why do we do that? 00:02:04.400 --> 00:02:17.360 And and on social media, there's been all kinds of things about uh how people were going, especially young people, going back to church for the first time in a long time because of what's going on in society. 00:02:17.439 --> 00:02:26.719 So it's a great time for us to be talking about what our relationship with Jesus looks like and how you pray through that relationship. 00:02:26.960 --> 00:02:30.879 Uh people are seeking direction and they're trying to find answers. 00:02:31.039 --> 00:02:39.120 And the great thing about uh the promises of prayer in Scripture is that God promises us answers when we ask. 00:02:39.360 --> 00:02:46.479 I mean, how many times does Jesus just straight up say, uh, you pray in my name and I'll answer that prayer? 00:02:46.719 --> 00:02:50.879 You know, uh multiple times Jesus says that in Scripture. 00:02:51.039 --> 00:02:56.479 Uh our staff went to a uh pastor's conference yesterday at Cross Church. 00:02:56.560 --> 00:03:02.800 It was a great day, us thinking through pastor things, being challenged, being equipped, being encouraged. 00:03:02.879 --> 00:03:03.599 It was good. 00:03:03.840 --> 00:03:15.919 And uh and there was a there was a point in there where Nick Floyd was preaching, and the passage was in Mark 9 where the guy brings his son to Jesus. 00:03:16.000 --> 00:03:18.159 He you'll know the story if you've been in church. 00:03:18.400 --> 00:03:25.120 Guy brings his son to Jesus, he's been demon-possessed most of his life, and he just asked Jesus, is there anything you can do? 00:03:25.280 --> 00:03:26.639 I mean, can you help us? 00:03:26.879 --> 00:03:35.439 And his disciples had been unable to cast out the demon, and that's where Jesus says, things like this you can only do through prayer and fasting. 00:03:35.520 --> 00:03:37.919 That's where that spiritual power comes. 00:03:38.159 --> 00:03:41.439 But he also says, the guy says, Can you do something? 00:03:41.599 --> 00:03:44.479 And Jesus says, Don't you know who you're asking? 00:03:45.360 --> 00:03:48.159 With faith, all things are possible. 00:03:49.199 --> 00:03:52.639 And Nick said what I think was a great thing. 00:03:52.800 --> 00:04:01.520 He said, you know, now that we got all the commentary writers and all that kind of nonsense out of the way, he said, let's just let it say what it says. 00:04:01.759 --> 00:04:04.960 Jesus says, with faith, all things are possible. 00:04:05.599 --> 00:04:08.800 And that's literally what he said, and that's literally what it means. 00:04:08.879 --> 00:04:11.599 And how often do we take that at face value? 00:04:12.800 --> 00:04:14.960 With God, all things are possible. 00:04:15.599 --> 00:04:21.600 And when Jesus says, whatever you ask in my name will be done for you, he says he answers prayer. 00:04:21.839 --> 00:04:28.399 Let's get all the things trying to make it mean something else or water it down, and let's just go with what Jesus said. 00:04:28.560 --> 00:04:30.959 Whatever you ask in my name, I'll do it. 00:04:31.279 --> 00:04:38.000 And so if He says He will answer prayer, then let's pray like we believe He'll answer prayer. 00:04:38.240 --> 00:04:47.120 And so one of those things, one of those areas of prayer is exactly what we're talking about this week, and that is God's direction and guidance. 00:04:47.279 --> 00:05:01.040 And so we preached about that some on Sunday, and so what I wanted to do is take today's brew thing and just walk you through that and just follow up on that on that prayer time uh for a few minutes. 00:05:01.279 --> 00:05:04.560 Again, if you're not with our church, we use the word, which is great. 00:05:04.639 --> 00:05:05.360 We're glad you're here. 00:05:05.439 --> 00:05:07.759 We love sort of celebrating everybody. 00:05:07.920 --> 00:05:09.839 Um, but this is a book that we're using. 00:05:10.000 --> 00:05:11.600 We're using this method of brew. 00:05:11.680 --> 00:05:12.959 I've talked about in here before. 00:05:13.040 --> 00:05:17.680 You guys are familiar with that if you've been here, and it's just a way to meditate on scripture. 00:05:17.759 --> 00:05:22.240 It's just a little methodology that sort of walks us through how to meditate on scripture. 00:05:22.480 --> 00:05:24.319 Believe God has something to say to us. 00:05:24.480 --> 00:05:34.160 And again, if Jesus said if we ask in his name, he will answer our prayer, then we should believe Jesus has answers for our prayers, right? 00:05:34.399 --> 00:05:36.480 So we believe God has something to say to us. 00:05:36.560 --> 00:05:38.800 We read and repeat a verse over and over and over again. 00:05:38.959 --> 00:05:40.560 It's the first step of meditating. 00:05:40.639 --> 00:05:47.279 Then we slow down and we pay attention to each word and what that means, and then that's a way of enhancing our meditation. 00:05:47.439 --> 00:05:54.639 And then if we believe God has something to say to us and we spent time in his word, then he's gonna say something to us. 00:05:54.800 --> 00:06:02.720 And if the creator God of the universe spoke to us through his word, the least we can do to respect that is to write it down and be able to take it with us, right? 00:06:02.959 --> 00:06:06.800 So let's look at what today's scripture was and we'll do that process. 00:06:06.959 --> 00:06:09.120 I'm gonna give you the verse leading up to it. 00:06:09.199 --> 00:06:11.759 These are familiar verses if you've been in church. 00:06:11.920 --> 00:06:21.040 But Romans 12:1 says, Therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, I urge you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God. 00:06:21.279 --> 00:06:23.040 This is your spiritual worship. 00:06:23.279 --> 00:06:41.360 If you've given your life to Jesus Christ, if you've trusted that Jesus stepped out of heaven, lived a sinless life, died on the cross to pay the price for our sins, rose again conquering death and sin, and you present your life to him and your sin, and you repent of your sin and you give it to him and say, Lord, thank you for dying for my sin. 00:06:41.519 --> 00:06:43.759 I know that you took the penalty for my sin. 00:06:43.920 --> 00:06:46.959 We trust that he gives us his righteousness in return. 00:06:47.120 --> 00:06:52.399 Then the least thing we can do is present our bodies to the one who gave his body for us. 00:06:52.639 --> 00:06:53.120 Right? 00:06:53.360 --> 00:06:56.399 And so he is saying, Listen, this is your reasonable worship. 00:06:56.560 --> 00:07:01.759 You gave your life to Christ, then you constantly on a daily basis give your life to Jesus. 00:07:01.920 --> 00:07:04.959 And then the second verse is our brew verse for today. 00:07:05.199 --> 00:07:20.079 Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God. 00:07:20.399 --> 00:07:34.720 And so, again, a presumption in that verse is the fact that God has a will for us, and that he is willing to give us that will and share his will with us if we are doing our part and coming to him. 00:07:35.040 --> 00:07:44.720 So, again, that same presumptive belief that God has a plan and he wants to share it with us, and if we will seek him, then he will give us that plan. 00:07:44.879 --> 00:07:46.160 So you see that in there. 00:07:46.319 --> 00:07:49.839 But just a couple of things I want to highlight and break out for you. 00:07:50.079 --> 00:07:55.199 If you're doing your brew today, then you saw we highlighted the words so that. 00:07:56.319 --> 00:07:59.439 Now, conjunctions are awesome in scripture. 00:07:59.680 --> 00:08:01.519 I mean, we love conjunctions. 00:08:01.759 --> 00:08:12.079 First of all, because uh I grew up on Saturday mornings listening to those schoolhouse rock songs, and my favorite one is conjunction junction. 00:08:13.600 --> 00:08:15.040 Most of you guys remember that. 00:08:15.120 --> 00:08:18.560 Some of you guys aren't willing to admit that you remember that. 00:08:18.879 --> 00:08:21.439 But those are, and conjunctions are incredible. 00:08:21.600 --> 00:08:26.800 They serve a fascinating purpose, and they really help us highlight scripture. 00:08:26.959 --> 00:08:38.559 So it's great in moments like this to illustrate conjunctions or those types of phrases because they are a key that unlocks incredible power in Scripture. 00:08:38.799 --> 00:08:52.000 And sometimes we're tempted to read through things like do not be conformed and perfect will of God and renewing of your mind, and you can find all kinds of sermons on renewing your mind, and I've taught sermon series on that. 00:08:52.159 --> 00:08:56.240 But here's the deal: there are two conjunctions in this verse that are incredible. 00:08:56.399 --> 00:08:59.279 The first one is today's, so that. 00:08:59.519 --> 00:09:02.399 But we're going to start with this one right here, but. 00:09:02.960 --> 00:09:08.480 When you have the word but, it is a conjunction of contrast. 00:09:08.799 --> 00:09:19.360 It means you have two opposites that you are comparing to each other and learning from the negative comparison of the things next to each other. 00:09:19.600 --> 00:09:22.080 Not this but that. 00:09:22.399 --> 00:09:27.840 They are opposites, they are being compared, and there is a lesson in the comparing. 00:09:28.000 --> 00:09:40.159 And so what he says here first is do not be conformed to this age, but but the opposite, be transformed, right? 00:09:40.399 --> 00:09:44.080 And so not conformed to this world, but transformed. 00:09:44.159 --> 00:09:52.240 So if you take those three words and you study each word, not conformed, but transformed, right? 00:09:52.559 --> 00:09:55.679 What you get is a clear understanding of a couple of things. 00:09:56.000 --> 00:10:01.759 The world presses on us in a way that it conforms us. 00:10:02.320 --> 00:10:10.399 The word conformed means you have an object and there is an outside pressure that changes its shape. 00:10:10.639 --> 00:10:19.679 I remember one of the millions of times that I've gotten in trouble with my wife is uh she was a Tupperware lady for a long time. 00:10:19.840 --> 00:10:21.519 And she still loves Tupperware. 00:10:21.600 --> 00:10:25.759 But y'all remember Tupperware, you sold it and you bought all that, and it was great. 00:10:25.919 --> 00:10:35.360 And so we she had had she had bought a Tupperware bread basket thing, and it was a little one of the more pricier ones, and we were young married. 00:10:35.519 --> 00:10:38.159 Money was really important then, all that kind of stuff. 00:10:38.320 --> 00:10:48.720 And somehow, in a trip or something, I had left it in the garage, which in Memphis, Tennessee, gets even hotter than the River Valley, if you can imagine it. 00:10:48.879 --> 00:11:10.000 And it was under a box, and so it was conformed, and the heat and the pressure of the box meant it was conformed permanently to a shape that did not match the lid anymore, so it would not seal, so it would not do that burpee thing, which is like the cool thing of Tupperware, right? 00:11:10.080 --> 00:11:11.600 It got conformed. 00:11:12.159 --> 00:11:17.200 And that's what the world that we're in and the culture is trying to do. 00:11:17.440 --> 00:11:33.279 The heat and pressure of the world takes our shape as a Christ follower and it pushes against us and tries to conform us to a different shape than is the Jesus shape that we should be becoming. 00:11:33.519 --> 00:11:41.840 And so the opposite of conformed, but a word of contrast, the opposite is being transformed. 00:11:42.159 --> 00:11:44.960 Transformed is a different process. 00:11:45.360 --> 00:11:49.919 I can conform this box if I just pushed it enough. 00:11:50.240 --> 00:11:52.799 I cannot transform this box. 00:11:53.600 --> 00:12:04.080 It is made out of plastic and it is a chemical process to change the nature of the sides of this box from the inside. 00:12:04.240 --> 00:12:06.960 I cannot transform this box. 00:12:07.519 --> 00:12:08.480 That makes sense? 00:12:08.720 --> 00:12:18.799 Transformation occurs by something that happens within the nature of the object, not from the outside pressing on the object. 00:12:18.960 --> 00:12:26.480 And so that's why he says, by, and he gives us this word that explains how it happens. 00:12:26.639 --> 00:12:30.399 And so he says, do not be conformed to this world. 00:12:30.559 --> 00:12:41.440 Don't allow the things that are outside to pressure us away from the image of Jesus, but instead we are transformed from within. 00:12:42.159 --> 00:12:49.440 Scripture says, greater is he who is in us than he who is in the world, right? 00:12:49.679 --> 00:13:11.519 So if we're being transformed on the inside, if we are allowing God to do his work to transform us into the image of Jesus, that transformation process coming from inside going out is greater than the conforming process that happens on the outside trying to pressure us into a shape that's not like Jesus. 00:13:12.159 --> 00:13:16.159 So that's a powerful introduction to this verse. 00:13:16.480 --> 00:13:20.240 Now you have the second conjunction, so that. 00:13:20.320 --> 00:13:21.279 What does that mean? 00:13:21.679 --> 00:13:27.200 Well, that is do this, so that, that will happen. 00:13:27.360 --> 00:13:31.360 It is a connector that speaks of causation. 00:13:32.159 --> 00:13:34.720 This and this will happen. 00:13:35.120 --> 00:13:37.360 Do this, this will result. 00:13:38.159 --> 00:13:41.440 Do this, this is the consequence of that. 00:13:41.759 --> 00:13:45.120 Do this, so that, this will happen. 00:13:45.360 --> 00:13:54.080 And so what he says is to know the perfect will of God, we are transformed by the renewing of our mind. 00:13:54.559 --> 00:13:57.759 This is the action transformed. 00:13:58.159 --> 00:14:14.080 It is the opposite of being pressured by the world, but it is allowing the Holy Spirit to transform us, and it is a causation that results in discerning what the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God. 00:14:14.320 --> 00:14:20.080 There is a causation action between this action and this result. 00:14:21.039 --> 00:14:26.960 So that it's an incredibly powerful picture from this word. 00:14:27.360 --> 00:14:37.279 So when we want to know what God's will is, there are a couple of actions that result in being able to discern God's will. 00:14:37.519 --> 00:14:43.039 And the first is, most importantly, being transformed. 00:14:43.600 --> 00:14:45.120 Being transformed. 00:14:45.600 --> 00:14:52.320 That is the operative action that causes discerning the perfect will of God. 00:14:52.559 --> 00:15:07.519 It is being transformed from inside, which is why we get in this kind of a deal where you're not reading a devotion I wrote, but you're sitting down with Jesus and your scripture, and you're doing this so that he can transform you and renew your mind. 00:15:07.679 --> 00:15:15.039 You are spending time in the Word, hearing God teach you from the Word, and you are being transformed inside. 00:15:15.200 --> 00:15:19.279 This morning I finished writing next week's book. 00:15:19.919 --> 00:15:24.720 And I was sitting down, my cup of coffee, we were at that conference yesterday. 00:15:24.879 --> 00:15:28.720 I'm planning the next sermon series, so this book got caught in the middle. 00:15:28.879 --> 00:15:32.799 The others I've been a week ahead, but this one I'm not enough ahead. 00:15:32.960 --> 00:15:36.960 So this morning I sat down and I had to plow through that book. 00:15:37.120 --> 00:15:46.000 And I'll just be honest with you, I started the morning like I'd a whole lot rather sit here and have coffee with Jesus than have to write this book. 00:15:46.399 --> 00:15:49.360 And then I thought, well, you know, I'm the pastor. 00:15:50.639 --> 00:15:55.600 I can just wait till the end of the week and make them work on the weekend and finish it, because I'm the pastor. 00:15:55.679 --> 00:16:00.159 And then the Holy Spirit whacked me upside the head, and like, that's not very servant, Greg. 00:16:00.320 --> 00:16:05.519 And you just went to a pastor's conference yesterday where you were taught to be a servant. 00:16:05.679 --> 00:16:07.279 I thought, okay, I got it, I got it. 00:16:07.600 --> 00:16:10.399 5:30 in the morning, I already got my first whipping. 00:16:10.639 --> 00:16:11.679 So that's how it goes. 00:16:11.759 --> 00:16:15.120 So then my next thought was, do we really need this? 00:16:15.200 --> 00:16:21.200 I mean, this is the last week, and you know, and then the Holy Spirit's like, no, you committed to do this. 00:16:21.440 --> 00:16:23.279 People are picking them up and doing it. 00:16:23.360 --> 00:16:24.159 You need to finish this. 00:16:24.240 --> 00:16:27.279 So I thought, okay, so I'm approaching this as a work deal. 00:16:27.440 --> 00:16:35.039 So I'm thinking, I got to write this thing rather than having some time just hanging out with Jesus in my devotional time. 00:16:35.279 --> 00:16:37.759 And so I sat there and started writing the words. 00:16:37.840 --> 00:16:40.799 I'd already gotten the verses, so I knew what verses I was going to use. 00:16:40.879 --> 00:16:56.240 But I start writing these words, I start typing out the words, and coming into this process with that rotten of an attitude, by the time it was done, I was so excited about Jesus. 00:16:56.399 --> 00:17:10.799 I had been challenged, I'd been convicted, I had repented, I'd been encouraged, I'd been praising, and just sitting there, starting, and I'm just being honest with you guys, starting with that kind of a, I just gotta do this. 00:17:11.759 --> 00:17:20.000 Just being in God's word, it transforms you at every level. 00:17:21.119 --> 00:17:24.400 I mean I was just in awe when I got done. 00:17:24.640 --> 00:17:30.960 It was like, this is the best period of time I've had in a while. 00:17:31.279 --> 00:17:33.759 And I thought, this is so good. 00:17:34.079 --> 00:17:44.079 And then I started praying for y'all, and I started praying for our church, and I'm just saying, Lord, I hope you're meeting with everybody the way you met with me today. 00:17:44.319 --> 00:17:52.640 And I hope they're experiencing the transformation that I experienced this morning just by being in your word. 00:17:52.960 --> 00:17:54.799 And it's incredible what happens. 00:17:54.960 --> 00:18:10.559 And when that happens, and you are listening to the Lord, you are hearing from God's word, you are being transformed, you are automatically prepared to fight back against what pressures come at you in the day. 00:18:10.880 --> 00:18:14.720 But even more than that, you are positively prepared. 00:18:14.880 --> 00:18:17.279 Now you can hear the voice of God. 00:18:17.759 --> 00:18:33.839 And with all those voices that are trying to conform you to this age, you can discern what is the will of God because your mind is being renewed and transformed and lined up with the person of Jesus. 00:18:34.000 --> 00:18:41.680 And it's being lined up with the person of Jesus in a way that is stronger than the voices of this age that would try to conform you. 00:18:41.920 --> 00:18:52.160 And so you are able to discern the will of God because you are being transformed by the work of the Holy Spirit in your life through his word. 00:18:53.200 --> 00:18:59.200 And so when we come to prayer, that's why I think this process is really good for us. 00:18:59.440 --> 00:19:18.720 Being confirmed in his word, making scripture a part of that prayer time, because it is the transformation process that equips us, that causes us this, so that this happens. 00:19:19.039 --> 00:19:21.680 And we we cannot take that for granted enough. 00:19:21.759 --> 00:19:23.759 And I was reminded of that again this morning. 00:19:24.000 --> 00:19:26.400 Here's one of one other word I'd share with you. 00:19:27.680 --> 00:19:29.200 This word discern. 00:19:29.519 --> 00:19:29.839 Okay? 00:19:30.240 --> 00:19:31.920 Let's take two words. 00:19:32.640 --> 00:19:35.359 May and discern. 00:19:36.640 --> 00:19:39.680 May is a fascinating word, right? 00:19:40.640 --> 00:19:45.519 May is a word that means it might happen. 00:19:45.839 --> 00:19:49.039 It could happen, right? 00:19:49.839 --> 00:19:59.920 I was actually a lawyer of record in a published case, which lawyers in the room will understand what that means, published in journals and that kind of stuff. 00:20:00.079 --> 00:20:07.359 And the whole lawsuit was a statutory construction of the word may versus the word will. 00:20:08.400 --> 00:20:10.880 Will is a different word than may. 00:20:11.359 --> 00:20:14.319 Now, this word will is not that type of word. 00:20:14.480 --> 00:20:18.240 This word will means the plans and the direction of God. 00:20:18.480 --> 00:20:21.680 But may or will are two different words. 00:20:22.319 --> 00:20:26.640 When the word will happens, that means it's automatic. 00:20:26.799 --> 00:20:37.359 For God so loved the world that he gave his only son, that whosoever believes in him will never perish, but have everlasting life. 00:20:37.680 --> 00:20:43.039 That is an immutable action that must occur. 00:20:43.279 --> 00:20:47.200 It is, you cannot stop it from occurring. 00:20:47.519 --> 00:20:53.839 Will never perish, but will have everlasting life. 00:20:54.000 --> 00:20:58.480 The word may is the possibility exists. 00:20:59.759 --> 00:21:01.119 May happen. 00:21:01.359 --> 00:21:02.880 And so then what is discern? 00:21:03.200 --> 00:21:04.640 What does discern mean? 00:21:04.880 --> 00:21:16.559 It means to hear, it means to sort through and evaluate, it means to understand, it means come to a place of recognition where you understand something. 00:21:16.720 --> 00:21:35.519 And so what you get when you put these two words together is it is possible, but not automatic, that you can come to the place where you will analyze, listen to, and understand what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God. 00:21:36.079 --> 00:21:42.720 So it's not automatic that we hear and discern what God's will is, and there is a discernment involved in this. 00:21:42.960 --> 00:21:45.200 God go, go do this. 00:21:45.359 --> 00:21:47.519 Now, sometimes in Scripture he says that. 00:21:47.839 --> 00:21:50.799 Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength. 00:21:51.039 --> 00:21:52.319 Like you got to do that. 00:21:52.400 --> 00:21:52.880 That's clear. 00:21:53.039 --> 00:21:54.079 God's will is clear. 00:21:54.240 --> 00:21:55.680 But do I take that job? 00:21:55.839 --> 00:21:56.960 Do I marry that person? 00:21:57.119 --> 00:21:58.240 Do I do this with my kids? 00:21:58.400 --> 00:21:59.200 Do I give that direction? 00:21:59.279 --> 00:21:59.759 Do I start? 00:22:00.160 --> 00:22:01.680 This company, is it time to retire? 00:22:01.839 --> 00:22:03.200 What kind of investment do I have? 00:22:03.359 --> 00:22:04.400 All this kind of stuff. 00:22:04.559 --> 00:22:05.759 That's all God's will. 00:22:05.839 --> 00:22:07.359 That's all discerning. 00:22:08.480 --> 00:22:17.119 And so what you've got to understand is there's a process for me to discern God's will, and it is not automatic. 00:22:17.279 --> 00:22:18.640 I've got to pay attention. 00:22:18.799 --> 00:22:20.720 I've got to be able to sort it out. 00:22:20.880 --> 00:22:26.319 I've got to be able to understand the voice of God, understand how that's happening. 00:22:26.480 --> 00:22:32.079 And so, in order to discern something, I realize that this is not automatic. 00:22:32.240 --> 00:22:36.000 I have got to learn and attach myself to the process. 00:22:36.240 --> 00:22:37.680 So here's what I'm doing. 00:22:37.839 --> 00:22:47.839 I am trying to discern so that I can, it's not automatic, but so that I may discern, I gotta be transformed. 00:22:48.480 --> 00:22:50.319 I gotta be transformed. 00:22:50.799 --> 00:22:53.440 And then here's the promise in Scripture. 00:22:54.000 --> 00:22:59.839 What is the good, what is the pleasing, and what is the perfect will of God? 00:23:00.079 --> 00:23:03.279 That perfect will is a bigger word than just perfect. 00:23:03.599 --> 00:23:09.920 We think of perfect, we think about, you know, that stake came off the grill perfect. 00:23:10.799 --> 00:23:15.200 Or we think so-and-so team has a perfect record. 00:23:15.279 --> 00:23:16.640 That means no mistake. 00:23:16.799 --> 00:23:18.160 That word is a bigger word. 00:23:18.240 --> 00:23:20.480 It means complete, it means full. 00:23:20.640 --> 00:23:22.960 It means everything is as it should be. 00:23:23.039 --> 00:23:24.720 It's more than just no errors. 00:23:24.880 --> 00:23:28.160 It is a complete picture, fullness picture. 00:23:28.319 --> 00:23:30.319 And so if you think about these, what is good? 00:23:30.559 --> 00:23:31.759 Well, we know what good is. 00:23:31.920 --> 00:23:38.079 That means it's excellent, it means it's wonderful, it means it's positive, that means it's to endures to people's benefit. 00:23:38.240 --> 00:23:39.440 It's a wonderful thing. 00:23:39.680 --> 00:23:42.640 Pleasing, that means, man, this is good. 00:23:42.880 --> 00:23:46.400 Like God is pleased with this, we're pleased with this. 00:23:46.480 --> 00:23:48.319 There's a meeting of minds on this. 00:23:48.480 --> 00:24:04.000 When I find God's will, he is pleased that I'm following him, and I am pleased because I am partaking in this beautiful plan that God has where he makes all things work together for good to those who love God and called according to his purpose. 00:24:04.240 --> 00:24:06.720 That's just a couple of pages before this. 00:24:06.880 --> 00:24:09.119 And so that pleasing is this beautiful word. 00:24:09.200 --> 00:24:10.960 So here's what I'm trying to discern. 00:24:11.359 --> 00:24:13.039 This is the picture of God. 00:24:13.279 --> 00:24:18.799 His plans are for the best and value and benevolent, and they're wonderful. 00:24:18.960 --> 00:24:22.160 And when I've discerned those plans, they are pleasing to him. 00:24:22.319 --> 00:24:24.720 And he says, Well done, good and faithful servant. 00:24:24.880 --> 00:24:29.119 And I'm experiencing the joy of this, all things work together for good. 00:24:29.200 --> 00:24:40.960 And my trust level for God has reached such a different level because I'm pleasing him, and what's happening is not only pleasing to him, but I'm in this place of blessedness because I'm receiving from God and following. 00:24:41.039 --> 00:24:46.160 And its will is complete, and it's this beautiful, full picture of what all means. 00:24:46.319 --> 00:24:50.160 And so, why am I taking time to transform myself? 00:24:50.400 --> 00:25:00.000 Allow myself, I'm surrendering as my spiritual worship, my body to him, my mind to him, my will to him, like it says in verse 1. 00:25:00.160 --> 00:25:01.519 Why am I doing all that? 00:25:01.759 --> 00:25:19.680 So that, so that, so that it causes in me the ability to be able to discern the value and blessing and benevolent of a plan that is pleasing to God Almighty and is pleasing to me as I'm resting in his will and his plans, and it is complete and it is full in all of life. 00:25:19.839 --> 00:25:21.839 It's the greatest thing I can be in. 00:25:22.240 --> 00:25:22.799 Amen. 00:25:23.920 --> 00:25:25.119 Oh my goodness. 00:25:25.440 --> 00:25:30.400 You start breaking down each word, man, it comes alive. 00:25:30.640 --> 00:25:31.920 It comes alive. 00:25:32.240 --> 00:25:35.440 And so when we're praying, scripture is a part of that. 00:25:35.680 --> 00:25:40.480 It is how we are transformed. 00:25:41.519 --> 00:26:00.240 Our mind is involved because we sit down and we process scripture and we listen to the word speak to us, and we listen to God speak to us of the word so that we can discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God. 00:26:00.480 --> 00:26:02.240 Let me pray for you guys today. 00:26:02.720 --> 00:26:04.319 Lord, I thank you for this time we have. 00:26:04.480 --> 00:26:08.880 Encourage each other, and more importantly, I thank you for your word. 00:26:10.160 --> 00:26:16.079 It is so overwhelming how incredible it is. 00:26:17.599 --> 00:26:27.519 Not just the wisdom involved, but the living quality of it that you state it has, that speaks so clearly to our minds and hearts. 00:26:27.680 --> 00:26:34.559 It is a pathway to understand who you are and how you love us and what you're trying to do in our lives. 00:26:34.880 --> 00:26:49.839 We understand the power of Jesus in our lives and how he transforms us, and we are stronger than the junk that's out there because Jesus is strong and coming out of us rather than the world pushing us into a different shape. 00:26:50.160 --> 00:26:58.240 Lord, I pray you'll bless these guys, encourage them as they meet with you, as they spend time with you in their quiet times, in the Word. 00:26:58.480 --> 00:27:14.400 I pray, Father, just like you did with me this morning, you will help them to experience discerning the beauty and the value and the completeness of your will and direction for their life. 00:27:14.720 --> 00:27:17.920 Speak to them, grow them in those times. 00:27:18.799 --> 00:27:21.359 We thank you for salvation in Jesus. 00:27:21.839 --> 00:27:23.599 And it means we can experience this. 00:27:24.079 --> 00:27:25.759 In His name we pray, and everybody said.