WEBVTT 00:00:12.080 --> 00:00:12.560 Check. 00:00:12.960 --> 00:00:13.600 Come on. 00:00:13.839 --> 00:00:16.560 Well, there's how many of you want to be at youth camp? 00:00:17.039 --> 00:00:17.440 Yeah. 00:00:17.679 --> 00:00:18.560 Come on. 00:00:18.800 --> 00:00:21.280 This should be uh an adult side. 00:00:21.520 --> 00:00:34.640 So if you're looking to serve too, talk to Malachi, and uh you better be going for the right reasons, not just to get on uh be the guy who's king of the hill on the water mat out in the in the in the water. 00:00:35.039 --> 00:00:44.079 Uh so grateful to be able to share again today, share again with you a part of the series on the discipline and today of doing it again. 00:00:44.240 --> 00:00:48.159 Would you say again, again, again and again and again? 00:00:48.240 --> 00:00:49.119 Say it again. 00:00:49.759 --> 00:00:50.960 Yes, that's right. 00:00:51.119 --> 00:00:53.839 The discipline of doing it again. 00:00:54.320 --> 00:01:02.000 Uh is anyone ever uh anyone, you know, anyone can try something once. 00:01:02.159 --> 00:01:05.040 How many of you have tried things once before? 00:01:05.200 --> 00:01:10.000 Like at one time, you know, I once I went snorkeling with sharks. 00:01:10.799 --> 00:01:11.439 Once. 00:01:12.240 --> 00:01:16.719 Once you did something, you said, I would just want to do that one time. 00:01:16.799 --> 00:01:21.920 And I've got some things in my kind of life that I just want to do at least once. 00:01:22.159 --> 00:01:23.439 I want to do it once. 00:01:23.679 --> 00:01:29.679 And anyone can do it once, but the strong people are those who do it again and again. 00:01:30.560 --> 00:01:37.200 And they're like, they just won't do it one time, but they do it again, and then they do it again, and then they do it again. 00:01:37.519 --> 00:01:42.719 And there are even those who do it when it hurts or when it becomes uncomfortable. 00:01:43.039 --> 00:01:53.920 They go out and they keep doing it, and it's the disciplined, disciplined ones who do it when no one is there applauding them and no one is there clapping them on. 00:01:54.159 --> 00:01:57.840 They get up and they keep on doing it again. 00:01:58.079 --> 00:02:15.360 And when I look at areas of you know, fitness or areas of adventure, or you know, I see or hear about those people who run like those ultra marathons, and I think that'd be fine to do it once, but then to do it again and again is another situation. 00:02:15.760 --> 00:02:23.680 Some of them are might just be a little bit crazy, maybe not quite clear and what's going on because it's a it's a journey. 00:02:23.919 --> 00:02:38.159 But if you're looking for a breakthrough, if you're looking for breakthrough, breakthrough isn't built on a moment, it's built on doing things again and again. 00:02:38.800 --> 00:02:43.359 It's built on that constant pressure and that constant push. 00:02:43.680 --> 00:03:05.120 I've spent time down on the Oregon coast, and as you watch these mountains that were uh pounded by water again and again, and caves were formed in these places where uh places where people were are able to see these uh magnificent structures, they didn't happen in one moment. 00:03:05.599 --> 00:03:12.719 They happened because of time and the consistency of that pressure over time. 00:03:13.199 --> 00:03:24.319 And we look in and we live in a world where we celebrate new things, new trends, new diets, new churches, new books. 00:03:24.639 --> 00:03:33.919 We uh look at people who are jumping from pot to pot to pot, but they don't put down roots and they don't spend the time to go from deep to deeper. 00:03:34.000 --> 00:03:49.439 And how many of you know, as Christians, we're called to go from deep to deep, and the risk is constantly being uprooted and put into different places instead of growing in the house of the Lord. 00:03:49.680 --> 00:03:56.639 The scripture talks about being planted in the house of God, and it's in that place where you find success. 00:03:57.280 --> 00:04:00.319 Being planted in God's house is so important. 00:04:00.479 --> 00:04:08.159 When I think about this power of doing it again and again, I think of Elijah. 00:04:08.560 --> 00:04:17.360 I think of him praying during a time where there was drought in uh drought in the area, in the place where he was. 00:04:17.600 --> 00:04:20.960 And this drought had gone on over for over three years. 00:04:21.120 --> 00:04:23.199 They hadn't had a drop of water. 00:04:23.520 --> 00:04:32.160 And for three and a half years, Elijah was went up to a hill after this great victory, and he said, you know what, he went and he started praying. 00:04:32.320 --> 00:04:37.600 He said, he prayed and he went up to the mountain, he said, told the servants, Tell me what you see. 00:04:37.840 --> 00:04:39.760 And the fellow said, I don't see anything. 00:04:39.840 --> 00:04:42.160 So Elijah kept on praying. 00:04:42.480 --> 00:04:43.280 What do you see? 00:04:43.440 --> 00:04:44.080 What do you see? 00:04:44.240 --> 00:04:44.880 What do you see? 00:04:44.960 --> 00:04:45.680 What do you see? 00:04:45.840 --> 00:04:57.360 Seven times he went up into the mountain until at one point the the servant came down, he says, I see a cloud about the size of a man's fist. 00:04:57.600 --> 00:05:01.520 And Elijah said, That's it, that's the rain, it's coming. 00:05:02.160 --> 00:05:05.840 And he prayed until something happened. 00:05:06.480 --> 00:05:10.080 He kept pushing until something happened. 00:05:10.320 --> 00:05:23.040 And there's a power that comes in prayer when we just keep going to God and keep believing and keep pressing into God for change to happen, breakthrough to happen. 00:05:23.120 --> 00:05:26.240 How many of you need a breakthrough in your life? 00:05:26.720 --> 00:05:38.080 A breakthrough in a place of your life, a breakthrough in a relationship in your life, a breakthrough in a business in your life, or a vision, or a mission that you're on in your life. 00:05:38.320 --> 00:05:39.440 You need breakthrough. 00:05:39.520 --> 00:05:50.400 That breakthrough is gonna come by doing something again and again, and that requires discipline, not just comfort. 00:05:51.440 --> 00:05:56.720 On a natural level, like my kids play a lot of basketball, and today's a pretty important day. 00:05:56.880 --> 00:06:05.120 There's uh the final game seven is on for the basketball, um, for the basketball uh championship. 00:06:05.280 --> 00:06:19.760 And Steph Curry was known for being one of the arguably one of the top shooters in the league, and he shoots 500 shots, even as a professional today, 500 shots before every game he goes to. 00:06:20.080 --> 00:06:23.040 And some people would say, why do you need to keep shooting? 00:06:23.120 --> 00:06:24.080 You're a pro. 00:06:24.880 --> 00:06:36.320 You've shot lots before, and every day he gets out and he sits in front of that net and shoots 500 shots again and again. 00:06:36.480 --> 00:06:41.680 And that's one of the secrets to making him one of the best shooters in the game. 00:06:41.920 --> 00:06:56.960 Again is how relationships are built, again is how trust is formed by being honest again and again, being reliable, faithful again and again, again is how spiritual muscles grow. 00:06:57.280 --> 00:07:00.400 I get up and I connect with God again. 00:07:00.560 --> 00:07:05.680 The next morning, I connect with God again, and you keep doing it again and again. 00:07:05.840 --> 00:07:10.480 Would you say again, again, that's gonna be like your power move. 00:07:10.720 --> 00:07:16.080 You wake up in the morning again, not just another Monday. 00:07:16.320 --> 00:07:18.160 So I'm doing this again. 00:07:18.320 --> 00:07:19.200 What are you doing? 00:07:19.280 --> 00:07:28.800 I'm gonna show up, I'm gonna speak up, I'm gonna stand up again and again because it's the right thing. 00:07:29.200 --> 00:07:31.200 Jesus practiced this. 00:07:31.520 --> 00:07:42.880 Matthew 26, 44 says, He left them, went away once more, and he prayed a third time, saying what? 00:07:45.360 --> 00:07:46.800 What did he say? 00:07:47.680 --> 00:07:49.600 The same thing. 00:07:50.080 --> 00:07:58.480 Three times Jesus got up, went up, prayed, the same thing, went back down. 00:07:58.560 --> 00:08:02.080 How many of you have ever gotten up, maybe had to go to the bathroom? 00:08:02.800 --> 00:08:05.200 Got up, went to bed, prayed. 00:08:05.520 --> 00:08:08.080 Got up, roused, awake. 00:08:08.160 --> 00:08:10.720 You're like, oh, going to bed, what do you do? 00:08:10.880 --> 00:08:11.520 You pray. 00:08:11.680 --> 00:08:12.480 What do you pray? 00:08:12.640 --> 00:08:14.160 The same thing. 00:08:14.560 --> 00:08:19.360 Keep on praying, keep on doing it again and again. 00:08:19.680 --> 00:08:20.880 We don't stop. 00:08:21.600 --> 00:08:22.720 Jesus said this. 00:08:22.880 --> 00:08:23.760 He practiced it. 00:08:23.840 --> 00:08:35.200 He said, even when it comes to forgiveness, pray when you forgive 70 times seven, he's saying you just keep on forgiving again and again. 00:08:36.159 --> 00:08:40.639 The series has been called uh you know spiritual disciplines. 00:08:40.720 --> 00:08:49.200 It's about forming those repetitions, those reps in your life, because it's those reps that form your identity. 00:08:51.440 --> 00:08:57.120 The reps, what you do constantly, is what forms your identity. 00:08:57.600 --> 00:09:01.040 I can run one time, that doesn't make me a runner. 00:09:02.800 --> 00:09:06.000 I cook one time, doesn't make me a cook. 00:09:06.800 --> 00:09:10.399 I bake one batch of cookies, doesn't make me a baker. 00:09:10.639 --> 00:09:13.120 You understand where I'm going with this, right? 00:09:13.759 --> 00:09:18.000 You know, I I cut some but my dog's hair, doesn't make me a barber. 00:09:18.800 --> 00:09:25.440 It doesn't happen, but your repetition over time forms your identity. 00:09:25.600 --> 00:09:35.920 And our culture likes to just adopt and uh and appropriate an image they love to put on there, like there's no accountability on the social in the social world. 00:09:36.080 --> 00:09:44.480 I just put down in my title life coach, leader, entrepreneur, blah blah blah. 00:09:44.639 --> 00:09:47.200 And you can just appropriate any name you want. 00:09:47.440 --> 00:09:57.040 That doesn't make you a life coach worth following, doesn't make you someone of credibility, of influence, of authority. 00:09:57.519 --> 00:10:21.680 Just because I say it doesn't make it, and we've got to live in a culture that says who are the who understands the people who are living it out, and it becomes true to your identity because, hey, I know that person keeps on doing what they're doing time and time again, and it builds their Christian uh identity. 00:10:21.759 --> 00:10:28.160 And that's why the Christians were actually called Christians, the first Christians, they were Christ-like. 00:10:28.399 --> 00:10:34.320 People saw them and they said, every day we show up and we see you, you look like Christ. 00:10:34.800 --> 00:10:40.240 Today, tomorrow, the next day, you're gonna keep being like Christ. 00:10:40.480 --> 00:10:45.759 So we're gonna call you like Christ people, Christians. 00:10:46.639 --> 00:10:50.879 You have an identity of your Christian character. 00:10:51.120 --> 00:10:54.160 You show up like Christ every day. 00:10:54.639 --> 00:11:12.879 And if that's the heartbeat and that's the character that should be in each and every one of us, that we show up and we break through by being that person who is in the word and repeating that word and continuing to do what God has called us to do. 00:11:13.200 --> 00:11:17.440 How do we apply then this into our lives? 00:11:18.240 --> 00:11:19.920 How do we show up? 00:11:20.160 --> 00:11:25.519 How do we keep up so that our identity becomes the identity of Christ? 00:11:25.840 --> 00:11:41.120 Because honestly, honestly, in church, you can come to church, but coming to church every day won't make a change in your life unless you adopt a new repetition and a new lifestyle. 00:11:41.519 --> 00:11:51.279 And sometimes their biggest breakthrough is not going to be the first time you do something, or the second, or the third, but the hundredth time you do something. 00:11:51.600 --> 00:11:58.399 One of my uh, one of the people I've I've been learning from, uh, his dad was an alcoholic. 00:11:58.639 --> 00:12:09.440 And he used an example of how his dad is an alcoholic, um, changed his life and changed his legacy and changed my my friend's life. 00:12:10.000 --> 00:12:19.680 And the reason the reason why it changed is because he showed his his dad showed up every day saying no to alcohol. 00:12:20.080 --> 00:12:36.320 And it didn't happen the first time he did, or the change didn't happen the second time, but it continued and continued and continued until his life, until that one more, that one day moment shifted his life. 00:12:37.360 --> 00:12:42.639 And he continues to say no, he continues to say no because of that addiction. 00:12:44.399 --> 00:12:48.639 Discipline is more important than inspiration. 00:12:48.800 --> 00:12:49.600 Would you say that? 00:12:49.759 --> 00:12:53.680 Discipline is more important than inspiration. 00:12:53.840 --> 00:12:55.200 We love to be inspired. 00:12:55.279 --> 00:12:57.120 How many of you love inspiration? 00:12:57.360 --> 00:12:58.560 Love being inspired. 00:12:58.639 --> 00:13:05.920 You love hearing someone who's gonna like charge you up, fire you up, inspire me, inspire me. 00:13:06.080 --> 00:13:08.480 And then that person says, Well, this is what you gotta do. 00:13:08.639 --> 00:13:10.000 It's like, uh, I don't know. 00:13:10.800 --> 00:13:12.560 That's where the brakes come on. 00:13:12.720 --> 00:13:26.000 It's like, well, you've told me what I need to do, but I I it's the inspiration that will initiate something, but it's the discipline that will eventually get you there to the result of that inspiration. 00:13:26.320 --> 00:13:31.759 1 Timothy chapter 4, verse 7 and 8, Paul's talking to Tim, Timothy. 00:13:32.080 --> 00:13:36.320 Timothy, he says, a spiritual son, a son in the faith. 00:13:36.399 --> 00:13:40.240 He says this to him: he says, train yourself. 00:13:41.600 --> 00:13:46.720 Train yourself to obey, to be godly. 00:13:46.800 --> 00:13:54.320 For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things. 00:13:54.879 --> 00:13:57.519 So train yourself. 00:13:58.160 --> 00:14:00.080 Training is really important. 00:14:01.279 --> 00:14:07.519 We often uh chase this spiritual moment, and I love these moments. 00:14:07.680 --> 00:14:23.759 Being in church today, I sensed it in church today when the presence of God was here, and I was just connecting with God and connecting with his spirit and what he was saying and what he was doing, and just kind of jumping in that river of God's God's work. 00:14:24.080 --> 00:14:31.600 And as I was there, I was like, man, this is amazing, this is great, but I tell you, I don't live in that moment every day. 00:14:32.560 --> 00:14:37.519 I'm working on it, but that's part of my training. 00:14:37.920 --> 00:14:43.840 Training myself to be godly, to be connected to God that way. 00:14:44.480 --> 00:14:49.200 It doesn't happen the way it just doesn't happen in a moment. 00:14:49.519 --> 00:14:52.639 It could be a powerful weekend, it could be like youth camp. 00:14:52.800 --> 00:14:56.160 Kids come back and they're like, man, it was such an amazing camp. 00:14:56.320 --> 00:15:09.680 I connected with people, I connected with God, I connected with other, you know, it looks like some of those games you connect with a lot of things like beach balls and all kinds of things. 00:15:09.920 --> 00:15:17.519 But life isn't built on just the vibe of a conference or a weekend or a service. 00:15:17.680 --> 00:15:23.279 It's built on the work that you do and the sweat that goes into it on the day-to-day. 00:15:23.759 --> 00:15:27.920 Discipline is more important than inspiration, and Paul's telling Timothy. 00:15:28.080 --> 00:15:32.080 He says, Timothy, you're extremely gifted in what you're doing. 00:15:32.320 --> 00:15:37.600 You come from a great family, you come from a great lineage. 00:15:37.920 --> 00:15:54.080 But I'm telling you right now, Timothy, despite your gifts, you need to train yourself and put some disciplines into your life that will actually train yourself to actually pursue God and godliness. 00:15:54.399 --> 00:15:58.399 This word training, it comes from the word gymnazzle. 00:15:59.120 --> 00:16:03.840 Gymnazzo, it's where we get the word gym from, like a gymnasium. 00:16:04.080 --> 00:16:15.360 And it means to practice repeatedly, practice repeatedly, to refine your with spiritual discipline, because that's what's so important. 00:16:15.440 --> 00:16:23.120 So I look at the scripture and I look at the people that God used, and I think about one of the guys like Daniel. 00:16:23.440 --> 00:16:25.920 Daniel, many of you probably know his story. 00:16:26.160 --> 00:17:05.599 He was uh he was uh kind of entrapped by uh a number of people who were really jealous of him and he he was into breaking the law, and because he would not he would keep going to God three times a day, he would pray to God three times a day, he was arrested, and he was brought before the king, and the king didn't realize what his decree, what his law would do to one of his friends, Daniel, and it was their objective to kill Daniel, and the the penalty for praying to anyone other than the king was for them to be thrown in this lion's den. 00:17:06.319 --> 00:17:14.079 And a hungry lion's and you're placed in the middle of this hungry lion pack. 00:17:16.079 --> 00:17:26.799 And Daniel goes into that lion pack and he just begins to pray under the most probably threatening of circumstances. 00:17:27.039 --> 00:17:31.920 I'll tell you what, I don't know how I would look going into a lion's den. 00:17:32.400 --> 00:17:36.720 I don't want you to even imagine what it would look like for me. 00:17:36.960 --> 00:17:42.480 But I don't know if I would have the same confidence that Daniel had going into that lion's den. 00:17:42.559 --> 00:17:45.360 He told the king, I'll see you in the morning. 00:17:46.400 --> 00:17:54.079 And the king comes, wakes up at the break of dawn, goes down to the lion's den, and yells down, say, Daniel, are you there? 00:17:54.240 --> 00:18:02.640 And Daniel says, Absolutely, the Lord sent an angel to bind up, to hold the mouths of the lions closed. 00:18:02.880 --> 00:18:14.880 I slept like a baby in the middle of them, but they God saw me, he saw my innocence towards you and towards God, and he saved me from these lions. 00:18:15.680 --> 00:18:21.920 And there was confidence in him that he was going to be rescued from this lion's den. 00:18:22.400 --> 00:18:38.799 And I I wonder where that confidence came from, but it came from him constantly going to God three times a day, building up that relationship with God to the point where he could trust God, God, my life is in your hands. 00:18:39.120 --> 00:18:44.079 You're in charge of the lions, you're in charge of the kings, you're in charge of everyone else. 00:18:44.400 --> 00:18:46.000 I trust you. 00:18:46.640 --> 00:18:59.839 It wasn't inspiration that saved Daniel, it was the fact that he was disciplined and actually knowing who his God was and the power of his God to the point that he said, I don't actually fear the lions. 00:19:00.240 --> 00:19:07.039 Because regardless if it's lions or fire or whatever it is, God, you can rescue me. 00:19:07.600 --> 00:19:14.720 That comes through relationship, it comes through repetition of being in the face of God every single day. 00:19:16.960 --> 00:19:22.480 Inspiration may start the journey, but it's discipline that will sustain it. 00:19:23.680 --> 00:19:25.680 Discipline sustains the journey. 00:19:25.759 --> 00:19:29.519 So we put ourselves into a point where we are training. 00:19:30.079 --> 00:19:37.519 My challenge to us is actually many people love to train physically and they train regularly on a physical regimen. 00:19:37.680 --> 00:19:45.440 They train physical, physical training, but the same way, apply yourself to spiritual training. 00:19:45.680 --> 00:20:00.000 Take an hour a day, take some time in your day to actually break down and say, Lord, I want to know you, I want to lean on you, I want to discover your purpose for my life, and I'm gonna keep on pursuing you. 00:20:00.720 --> 00:20:07.680 Inspiration is important, it's great, it's wonderful, but it's discipline that will continue on that journey. 00:20:08.559 --> 00:20:14.319 Another way we build ourselves is by changing or renewing our mindset. 00:20:14.880 --> 00:20:22.319 And oftentimes we're called in Romans 12, 2, it says you need to be transformed by the renewing of your mind. 00:20:22.640 --> 00:20:29.360 Transformation comes when you renew your mind, you change your mindset. 00:20:30.960 --> 00:20:36.319 Internal change comes from internal mindset effect. 00:20:37.039 --> 00:20:45.200 External change comes from external effect, internal change comes from mindset effect. 00:20:45.519 --> 00:20:50.079 And we've spoken about this nearly every week because it's such a powerful principle. 00:20:50.319 --> 00:20:56.160 If you want to see transformation, it's gonna come from your mindset. 00:20:56.799 --> 00:21:12.720 We don't drift into transformation, you train your mind into seeing God in the picture, in your future, in the vision, in the dreams, in the purpose that he's called you to. 00:21:17.600 --> 00:21:32.160 David, King David, he was another great example of someone who's literally running for his life, living in ditches and caves and trying to hide from uh from people who are wanting to kill him. 00:21:32.319 --> 00:21:34.480 And finally he gets upset with God. 00:21:34.559 --> 00:21:38.079 And in Psalm 42, he says this to God. 00:21:38.319 --> 00:21:42.240 He says, Why, oh my soul, are you downcast? 00:21:42.400 --> 00:21:44.960 In other words, why are you so discouraged? 00:21:45.200 --> 00:21:46.960 Why are you so heavy? 00:21:47.200 --> 00:21:51.200 Why is my soul so so oppressed? 00:21:52.400 --> 00:21:55.039 And why are you downcast, oh my soul? 00:21:55.200 --> 00:22:00.960 And he starts reminding himself of all the things, the reasons why potentially he should be downcast. 00:22:01.200 --> 00:22:08.799 People want him dead, people are chasing him down, people aren't letting him live, uh, like live the life he was called to. 00:22:08.960 --> 00:22:10.240 And so he's feeling. 00:22:10.880 --> 00:22:18.880 Heavy and oppressed, but he says to his own soul, when he says, Why are you downcast, oh my soul? 00:22:19.120 --> 00:22:23.360 He says to his own soul, God, you are my rock. 00:22:23.680 --> 00:22:26.319 God, your voice is like a waterfall. 00:22:30.480 --> 00:22:34.160 In other words, God, you are more powerful than my enemy. 00:22:34.480 --> 00:22:41.360 He begins to speak back to himself and train his mind as to who God truly is. 00:22:42.160 --> 00:22:50.000 And sometimes we're facing a situation that may seem above and beyond our ability or our control. 00:22:50.480 --> 00:22:54.319 And I can go to God as I've done many times this week. 00:22:54.640 --> 00:22:58.160 God, you are bigger than sickness. 00:22:58.559 --> 00:23:02.160 God, you are greater than this storm. 00:23:02.480 --> 00:23:04.960 God, you are greater than a hurricane. 00:23:05.279 --> 00:23:10.880 God, you are more, you use sand to defend a Bible school. 00:23:11.200 --> 00:23:13.600 God, you can do all things. 00:23:14.240 --> 00:23:16.319 Nothing is impossible for you. 00:23:16.480 --> 00:23:23.039 And I build my mindset on the truth because it's the truth that sets people free. 00:23:23.920 --> 00:23:26.400 That is the power of the gospel. 00:23:26.559 --> 00:23:39.680 It seems like insanity to the world, but to those who believe, God, you are more powerful, you are more capable, you are more competent, you are more knowledgeable than even my knowledge. 00:23:39.839 --> 00:23:42.000 I don't know how to get through this situation. 00:23:42.960 --> 00:23:43.920 But you do. 00:23:47.600 --> 00:23:50.799 Our identity is tied to that standard. 00:23:52.079 --> 00:23:59.920 What we keep renewing our mind as our mind develops, as our mind changes, we ourselves change. 00:24:00.559 --> 00:24:04.000 How many of you think different than you did in high school? 00:24:04.880 --> 00:24:06.079 Hopefully. 00:24:08.079 --> 00:24:19.200 I've been with a lot of graduates this last week, and you know, they've got great intentions, great energy, great life, and great plans, but their minds are still forming. 00:24:19.839 --> 00:24:22.000 They're still forming their mind. 00:24:22.799 --> 00:24:34.079 And I I love to see where God is taking them today because He's got a purpose for their future, but their minds are gonna have to continue to change and to continue to grow. 00:24:34.319 --> 00:24:39.279 And sometimes in our minds, you need like a reset, a reset moment. 00:24:40.079 --> 00:24:44.960 In a practical way, how many of you have ever had a phone that's needed to be like hard reset? 00:24:45.039 --> 00:24:48.319 If you own an Android, just hold up your hand for a second. 00:24:48.799 --> 00:24:50.400 I need to throw that in there. 00:24:50.640 --> 00:24:53.200 I know I'm making enemies today. 00:24:53.600 --> 00:25:05.519 But sometimes when you've got a phone that's like glitching and it's just like, or a computer that's just running a cycle, you've got to just stop and actually reset it. 00:25:05.759 --> 00:25:14.880 Clear the cache, clear the the stuff that's all in the background, and just reset it to where it's supposed to be. 00:25:15.039 --> 00:25:18.400 And oftentimes that's how I approach my devotions with God. 00:25:18.880 --> 00:25:22.079 Say, Lord, even this morning there was worship. 00:25:22.240 --> 00:25:23.839 I took a time and just worship. 00:25:23.920 --> 00:25:30.640 I took a time in his word, and I said, Lord, I need you to be front and center. 00:25:30.799 --> 00:25:33.680 So I'm just gonna give myself a bit of a reset. 00:25:36.880 --> 00:25:38.799 We all need to do this. 00:25:39.200 --> 00:25:42.559 Jesus withdrew regularly to pray. 00:25:42.880 --> 00:25:45.200 Daniel prayed three times a day. 00:25:45.519 --> 00:25:48.319 Elijah prayed seven times for the rain. 00:25:48.480 --> 00:25:52.400 They weren't this random, they weren't just random repetitions. 00:25:52.480 --> 00:26:02.400 They were actually building in them a faith and a confidence and a repetition for their for their future. 00:26:04.880 --> 00:26:07.200 Excellence is rebellion. 00:26:08.720 --> 00:26:12.400 The way we combat is through excellence. 00:26:12.880 --> 00:26:19.039 Second Timothy 4, 12, Paul says to Timothy, set an example. 00:26:19.839 --> 00:26:25.920 Set an example in your speech and conduct and love and faith and purity. 00:26:26.319 --> 00:26:28.079 Set an example. 00:26:28.559 --> 00:26:29.839 Be the example. 00:26:30.079 --> 00:26:31.680 How many of you can say that? 00:26:31.839 --> 00:26:32.640 Be the example. 00:26:32.799 --> 00:26:33.600 Just say it today. 00:26:33.839 --> 00:26:35.440 Be the example. 00:26:36.079 --> 00:26:37.600 Be the example. 00:26:37.920 --> 00:26:47.600 In a culture that celebrates, you know, shortcuts and and uh and uh you know workarounds and loopholes. 00:26:47.839 --> 00:26:54.799 We want to be the type of people who celebrate excellence, doing things the right way. 00:26:55.039 --> 00:26:58.559 When you show up on purpose, you're leading with integrity. 00:26:59.360 --> 00:27:08.319 When you show up on purpose, you're leading uh with uh with a heart that says, I'm gonna stand out because I'm doing it the right way. 00:27:09.680 --> 00:27:10.880 Paul said it this way. 00:27:11.039 --> 00:27:15.519 He said, Imitate me as I imitate Christ. 00:27:15.759 --> 00:27:19.039 And that's a pretty lofty message. 00:27:19.360 --> 00:27:26.960 But Paul was saying, my life is gonna be such an example that if you're imitating me, you're imitating Christ. 00:27:27.920 --> 00:27:29.279 To that degree. 00:27:29.519 --> 00:27:43.440 I I look at Joseph in scripture, Joseph, who was um a slave in Egypt, and his excellence, no matter where he was, led him to a place of influence. 00:27:43.680 --> 00:27:52.319 If whether it was in Potiphar's house, he became a manager, whether it was in prison, sent to prison, he became the leader in the prison. 00:27:52.559 --> 00:27:59.200 Whether it was over all of Egypt, he became second in command under the under Potiphar in Egypt. 00:27:59.839 --> 00:28:07.360 Everything he did was led him to a place of influence because he operated with excellence. 00:28:07.920 --> 00:28:10.799 Joseph didn't become a leader because of charisma. 00:28:10.880 --> 00:28:16.079 He became a leader because of the character that he had in his own heart. 00:28:16.319 --> 00:28:21.759 He he disciplined himself to pursue excellence. 00:28:22.240 --> 00:28:32.880 If we're to be like God, be like our creator, and our aspiration is to be like Christ and imitate Christ. 00:28:33.279 --> 00:28:38.960 The scripture says that when he made all creation, he looked upon it and he says, Wow, this is good. 00:28:40.240 --> 00:28:42.319 And then he said, This is very good. 00:28:43.360 --> 00:28:47.519 What I built and I designed is is really good. 00:28:48.559 --> 00:28:54.400 He pursued a he pursued uh a creation of excellence. 00:28:54.559 --> 00:29:13.920 And that creation of excellence makes a difference because uh it it changes the way people see God and it changes the way people um try and cut the corners in order to uh achieves achieve um the outcome or the uh end goal. 00:29:14.160 --> 00:29:16.160 So we we want to chase that. 00:29:16.319 --> 00:29:23.120 We want to chase after that and say, Lord, I want to just do as best I can do with the work that you've given me. 00:29:23.519 --> 00:29:32.720 The scripture says the same heart that made the world that said, you know, it's good, it's very good, is the same power that God put in you. 00:29:32.880 --> 00:29:39.360 He says, You are my workmanship, created for my good pleasure to make a difference in this world, wherever you go. 00:29:40.240 --> 00:29:50.480 Excellence, saying, Lord, I'm not gonna do just give my second best, I'm not gonna give my third best, I'm not gonna give you know any seconds. 00:29:50.720 --> 00:29:52.799 I want to give you my best. 00:29:53.360 --> 00:30:01.039 With all my heart, all my mind, all my emotions, all my soul, I'm gonna offer it to you. 00:30:01.839 --> 00:30:06.799 Lastly, your actions actually have a ripple effect. 00:30:08.240 --> 00:30:11.039 And every one of your actions will ripple. 00:30:11.920 --> 00:30:20.319 And if we want to make a difference and we want to train for the future, how many of you know that what you do today will affect your tomorrow? 00:30:20.799 --> 00:30:25.759 And what I do today, you know, I have kids now. 00:30:26.079 --> 00:30:32.799 What I do today affects my kids, but what I continue to do today will affect my grandkids. 00:30:33.920 --> 00:30:36.880 I take care of myself today, I'm good for my kids. 00:30:37.039 --> 00:30:41.839 If I continue to take care of myself today, I'll be there for my grandkids. 00:30:43.360 --> 00:30:46.319 Everything in our life has a ripple effect. 00:30:46.880 --> 00:30:57.120 Matthew says this in chapter 5, verse 16, he says, Let your light shine before others that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. 00:30:57.360 --> 00:31:08.559 The work that you do, your excellence, your spiritual discipline that you operate from today will actually make a difference in the lives of others. 00:31:08.799 --> 00:31:15.120 They will see your good works and then they will take initiative and give glory to God. 00:31:15.360 --> 00:31:31.680 How many of how many of you know that before I know if anyone's given to this work in Mexico or to the youth outreach or to the camp, your good work will make a difference for others. 00:31:32.960 --> 00:31:52.559 I've been in places in the world where they're like, well, you're break all you did was, you know, you just provided lunches or dinners, and during our our season with the House of Mercy, where we provided food and top up people's pantries for the working poor in our community here, in our neighborhoods. 00:31:52.880 --> 00:32:05.039 We were doing good works, and that good work had a ripple effect to other people, and that they came back and they said, We know your church, we know, we've heard of the good that you've done. 00:32:05.200 --> 00:32:12.000 And we and they their heart is open to God and actually glorifies God in the moment. 00:32:13.360 --> 00:32:15.120 It makes a difference. 00:32:15.360 --> 00:32:23.600 I'm gonna close today with just an example from someone who's maybe very unlikely and uncharacteristic for a service on Sunday. 00:32:23.920 --> 00:32:24.240 Mr. 00:32:24.480 --> 00:32:25.279 Rogers. 00:32:26.319 --> 00:32:27.839 How many of you know who Mr. 00:32:27.920 --> 00:32:29.039 Rogers is? 00:32:29.680 --> 00:32:32.480 It's a beautiful day in the neighborhood. 00:32:32.640 --> 00:32:34.799 Yeah, how many of you know that song? 00:32:35.440 --> 00:32:37.120 Won't You Be My Neighbor? 00:32:37.360 --> 00:32:41.519 It's that spirit of like excellence that he carried. 00:32:41.680 --> 00:32:44.400 Uh, I wasn't all that enthralled with Mr. 00:32:44.559 --> 00:32:46.960 Rogers as a kid. 00:32:47.200 --> 00:32:55.680 I kind of was like, man, this is kind of a kind of a you know, a show that, yeah, I could watch it and not watch it. 00:32:55.839 --> 00:32:59.120 You know, I just kind of I saw it, it was on PBS. 00:32:59.600 --> 00:33:02.880 It was like a Sesame Street, advanced Sesame Street. 00:33:02.960 --> 00:33:04.480 But as I got to know who Mr. 00:33:04.640 --> 00:33:08.160 Rogers was through my study, Mr. 00:33:08.240 --> 00:33:12.319 Rogers was actually an ordained Presbyterian minister. 00:33:12.480 --> 00:33:13.519 He was like me. 00:33:13.759 --> 00:33:17.680 I should wear more cardigans, I think I should do that. 00:33:18.240 --> 00:33:26.480 He viewed children's television as more than just a uh more than just a career, but a calling. 00:33:27.039 --> 00:33:32.000 He took puppet ministry, he knew how to work with puppets. 00:33:32.319 --> 00:33:40.960 He took his work with puppets and used it to make a difference for a whole generation of kids. 00:33:43.120 --> 00:33:45.920 This is what he did every day. 00:33:46.400 --> 00:33:52.720 He prayed for his viewers by name, every morning. 00:33:54.559 --> 00:34:07.279 He had a list of cards, he sorted them, he read every card, he read every name, and he prayed for these children every day by name. 00:34:07.519 --> 00:34:12.559 He kept detailed journals of people who he met. 00:34:12.880 --> 00:34:14.960 He wrote every episode of Mr. 00:34:15.039 --> 00:34:22.480 Rogers' neighborhood with care, bringing spiritual excellence into the smallest of detailed areas. 00:34:23.119 --> 00:34:34.559 He he approached racism, he approached prejudice, he approached uh uh separation in families, homes, and mental health concerns. 00:34:34.879 --> 00:34:39.359 It wasn't flashy, but he was faithful. 00:34:42.319 --> 00:34:48.879 And through decades of quiet repetitions, Mr. 00:34:49.039 --> 00:34:50.239 Rogers, Mr. 00:34:50.319 --> 00:34:51.519 Rogers, Mr. 00:34:51.679 --> 00:35:06.239 Rogers, day in and day out, puppet show after puppet show, gently, patiently, kindly, he approached and impacted a generation of people. 00:35:07.119 --> 00:35:24.319 And his legacy proved that love and consistency through practiced loving and caring for people was actually a spiritual force that could make a difference in a whole generation of people. 00:35:25.119 --> 00:35:49.599 One of the one of the most powerful um mementos to him was during an during a live um tribute to his legacy, and thousands upon thousands of people were able to reflect on how their lives were changed because of a puppet ministry. 00:35:51.839 --> 00:35:56.239 God can use a puppet, God can use you. 00:35:57.519 --> 00:36:01.919 He can use you in whatever situation you may find yourself in. 00:36:02.239 --> 00:36:12.639 Some of you are professionals, some of you go to work in places where where it's it's it's uh you know high profile. 00:36:13.039 --> 00:36:37.599 Some of you are in places where you're just ironing clothes and washing dishes and going to school and doing student ministry and you're behind the scenes, and God can use every person in every area to make similar impact, dynamic impact. 00:36:38.799 --> 00:36:50.719 So don't change, don't stop with one, do it again and again, excellence again, excellence again, excellence again. 00:36:50.959 --> 00:37:14.879 I'm gonna keep showing up, I'm gonna keep praying up, I'm gonna keep up to do it again and again because God, you've called me to pray, you've called me to give, you've called me to continue to believe, you've called me to support, you've called me for care, you've called me to love, you called me, and each one of us has been called. 00:37:15.119 --> 00:37:18.959 So keep doing it again and again. 00:37:19.759 --> 00:37:26.000 The power of again, the power of again and again for each one of us. 00:37:26.319 --> 00:37:26.959 Amen. 00:37:27.599 --> 00:37:29.759 Will you stand with me today? 00:37:43.199 --> 00:37:46.239 Would you just say God's not done with me yet? 00:37:46.559 --> 00:37:48.079 God's not done with me yet. 00:37:48.239 --> 00:37:55.919 I'm still growing, I'm still maturing, I still got a lot of life to grow into. 00:37:57.679 --> 00:38:01.199 Father, today, would you just pray with me? 00:38:01.599 --> 00:38:22.079 Father, today I just realize I need you, I need your spirit, I need your discipline, I need your hand on my life leading me, guiding me, moving me into places of deeper maturity and deeper discipleship. 00:38:23.759 --> 00:38:26.719 Repetitions that need to continue. 00:38:26.879 --> 00:38:32.559 You're calling me from deep to deep, deep to even deeper places. 00:38:32.799 --> 00:38:39.119 And Father, today, in this place, would you deepen our understanding of who you are? 00:38:39.359 --> 00:38:43.919 Would you deepen our understanding of the wisdom that we need? 00:38:44.399 --> 00:38:50.480 And your heart, Lord, for the lost and your heart for those who are on the fringe. 00:38:50.719 --> 00:38:53.919 Father, would you deepen that love in us? 00:38:54.159 --> 00:38:56.719 Would you deepen the generosity in us? 00:38:56.959 --> 00:38:59.759 Would you deepen the faithfulness in us? 00:39:00.000 --> 00:39:07.759 That we would go deeper in our roots, Father, not just superficial, but rich in our life. 00:39:08.079 --> 00:39:16.000 Father, that we would continue to love, we would continue to extend grace, we would continue to forgive. 00:39:16.239 --> 00:39:18.559 We could continue to pray. 00:39:18.799 --> 00:39:20.799 We would continue to worship. 00:39:21.119 --> 00:39:27.599 We would continue to hunger for your word and dive deeper and deeper into it, Lord. 00:39:27.839 --> 00:39:40.559 Not just for our sake, but for the future and for our communities and for our church and our schools and for our city and for our nation and for the world. 00:39:41.919 --> 00:39:43.839 In Jesus' name. 00:39:44.159 --> 00:39:47.599 Fill us with your Holy Spirit today. 00:39:48.399 --> 00:39:52.399 Deepen us from deep to deep to deep. 00:39:53.039 --> 00:39:54.559 In Jesus' name. 00:39:54.879 --> 00:39:55.519 Amen. 00:39:56.559 --> 00:39:57.199 Amen. 00:39:57.519 --> 00:40:04.879 While you're just in this place of prayer, would you just worship along with us and just close this moment just in this presence? 00:40:06.079 --> 00:40:27.759 If you can, just raise your hands and just begin to extend to him a word of thanksgiving, a word of appreciation, a word of praise, and just begin to extend that heart to our Father today and receive back from him his blessing, the Father's blessing. 00:40:28.159 --> 00:40:28.799 Amen.