WEBVTT 00:00:00.239 --> 00:00:00.800 Lovely. 00:00:00.959 --> 00:00:05.599 Hey, um, we're in our fifth week of our Hearing from God series. 00:00:05.759 --> 00:00:07.599 Um this is this is it, this is the finale. 00:00:07.839 --> 00:00:09.359 This is all I've got to say on the matter. 00:00:09.759 --> 00:00:15.279 Um but before we dive into said scriptures, um, I would like to just say a couple of things. 00:00:15.519 --> 00:00:21.440 The first one is is that um if you're thoughtful of in fact, do you have the volunteer slide? 00:00:21.600 --> 00:00:26.079 Oh wow, the Lord is moving powerfully, Karen. 00:00:26.320 --> 00:00:26.800 Thank you. 00:00:26.960 --> 00:00:31.679 Um if you're interested in serving at church, I'll go to the serving one if that's possible, or joining a group's great too. 00:00:31.760 --> 00:00:32.560 That's a good notice. 00:00:32.719 --> 00:00:38.799 There are some things, some areas in the church where it would be it would be good to be thoughtful about joining. 00:00:38.960 --> 00:00:44.719 Yeah, I mean Karen's promoting his own stuff up there, which is totally 100% cool, bro. 00:00:44.799 --> 00:00:47.359 You honestly, you you have license, my friend. 00:00:47.520 --> 00:00:49.920 Um but I wanted to say some things that we're looking for. 00:00:50.079 --> 00:00:56.159 So the first one is we're looking for kids volunteers specifically for the fifth Sunday of the month. 00:00:56.320 --> 00:01:06.079 So we have four kids' teams, and they go, you know, oh well, we actually have three, because we don't have kids on uh the first Sunday, so second of the month, third and the fourth, we have a kids team for each of those Sundays. 00:01:06.239 --> 00:01:11.760 But every now and then, I think maybe three months this year, there are five Sundays in the month. 00:01:11.920 --> 00:01:24.319 And so if you're interested in serving in kids or if you've got kids that are in the kids program and you're like, oh, I should probably give that a give that a nudge every now and then, then I think for in fact, could someone Google while I'm talking how many fifth Sundays there are left this year? 00:01:24.480 --> 00:01:25.439 I should have that information. 00:01:25.519 --> 00:01:30.480 But someone and honestly, the fastest person should get one of these crunchies up here, if there were some. 00:01:30.640 --> 00:01:32.879 Um so serving in kids fifth Sunday. 00:01:32.959 --> 00:01:43.599 The second one is we're we're interested in um so before the before the church service um happens, there's one or two guys who just will set the set the space up, you know, which is mainly how many? 00:01:44.079 --> 00:01:44.879 There's only two more. 00:01:45.040 --> 00:01:54.560 So if you want to serve on kids twice this year, I mean who doesn't want to just just serve twice this year, then then come let us know. 00:01:54.719 --> 00:01:56.000 Second one is the venue team. 00:01:56.079 --> 00:02:01.519 So they set up the cafe area, they set up the kid staff and just kind of just walk around and making sure the place is all good. 00:02:01.599 --> 00:02:04.239 And it's normally about a 45-minute job or thereabouts. 00:02:04.400 --> 00:02:06.560 So we'd love to love to know if you're interested in that. 00:02:06.640 --> 00:02:09.759 And then at the back, uh Karen Rory today, and also I think Ari's back there. 00:02:10.080 --> 00:02:10.639 How are you, bro? 00:02:10.879 --> 00:02:11.680 Sure, he's brother. 00:02:11.759 --> 00:02:12.879 Yeah, I'm good, thank you, bro. 00:02:13.039 --> 00:02:21.439 Um, if you're interested in serving with these blokes, either on sound or on audio visual, which is what Karen's doing, um, then come and see us too. 00:02:21.520 --> 00:02:23.199 So just some be thoughtful of those things. 00:02:23.360 --> 00:02:37.840 And then the last thing I wanted to say before we dive into the scriptures is that two weeks ago we thanked, I think it was two weeks, we thanked uh Jake and Stace for their time on the board, and then we announced that we were going to be approaching a couple of people about joining the board, and we have done that. 00:02:38.000 --> 00:02:49.919 And a part of the process of um inviting new people on the board is making sure that you know who they are and that you get a chance to um it's kind of like you know, speak now or forever hold your peace. 00:02:50.400 --> 00:02:51.520 Like a marriage, you know? 00:02:51.680 --> 00:02:54.400 And so when it happens, if you didn't say anything, oh well, you know. 00:02:54.560 --> 00:03:08.080 But so we have three weeks, so I'll be announcing it today, and then for the next two Sundays, we'll we'll we'll remind the church, just mainly because it's very uncommon for someone to come to church three weeks in a row. 00:03:08.400 --> 00:03:09.520 Super uncommon. 00:03:09.680 --> 00:03:12.400 But it is common for someone to come once every three weeks. 00:03:12.560 --> 00:03:15.280 So we want to make sure that we we cast the net wide. 00:03:15.360 --> 00:03:18.319 So I'm really, really I'm I'm really grateful actually. 00:03:18.560 --> 00:03:27.919 We've been prayerful about this, and the person I'm about to announce has also been in prayer about this, but I'm stoked to announce that Helen Holmberg has put up her hand to join the board, which is mint. 00:03:28.479 --> 00:03:34.960 And um, and so she's actually not here today, um, which is kind of uncommon for her, but um which I think is probably good, eh? 00:03:35.439 --> 00:03:40.240 Because you know, I think you know, you go, Helen's joining the board, and then afterwards everyone talks to Helen about it, you know? 00:03:40.560 --> 00:03:41.599 We don't want that nonsense, eh? 00:03:41.759 --> 00:03:42.639 Leave her alone, you know. 00:03:42.960 --> 00:03:49.360 But if you have any goss on Helen, come let us know, um, and then we'll um we'll make sure that we, you know, pick someone else. 00:03:49.520 --> 00:03:58.000 But we we think that there won't be a truckload of stuff um in the closet about Helen, and we're really, really thrilled about her coming on the board. 00:03:58.080 --> 00:04:03.120 She originally was like, she in fact, when when we approached her, she said, You won't want me. 00:04:03.280 --> 00:04:05.919 Which I was like, this is why we want you, Helen. 00:04:06.159 --> 00:04:07.199 She's like, you won't want me. 00:04:07.280 --> 00:04:12.800 I'm too, I'm too f she said, I'm too financially conservative, and I'm too, I speak my mind. 00:04:13.039 --> 00:04:16.240 She used um BS actually as um in that phrase, you know. 00:04:16.319 --> 00:04:18.240 So she took that you know and put it in there. 00:04:18.319 --> 00:04:20.639 And it wasn't the acronym, you know, like it was, you know. 00:04:21.519 --> 00:04:25.920 And I she said something about a BS radar, you know, and I was just like, Alan, this is why we want you. 00:04:26.079 --> 00:04:28.319 And so we're stoked about that, really stoked about that. 00:04:28.399 --> 00:04:34.399 So we'll we'll follow that up next week and the week after, and then we'll um hopefully then pray her in to join the board uh in the next month. 00:04:34.720 --> 00:04:36.639 So great, that's just some announcements for you. 00:04:36.800 --> 00:04:39.360 If you have a Bible, let's throw their first verse up. 00:04:39.439 --> 00:04:41.680 I think it's Romans 8, verse 16. 00:04:42.480 --> 00:04:48.160 In fact, before we do that, um I was just asking the Lord a couple of things um today. 00:04:48.240 --> 00:04:51.120 And the first one was what is he speaking to us today? 00:04:51.279 --> 00:05:04.319 And the second thing I was asking um, and I felt like he he he nudged me was to ask you if over the last month is there anybody that has felt like the Lord has spoken to them this month? 00:05:04.720 --> 00:05:08.800 As you know, just randomly, or as a result of this sermon series that we've been doing. 00:05:09.040 --> 00:05:21.120 So while you're you know summing up the courage to maybe raise your little hand and let me know that, yep, God spoke and I, you know, felt confirmation or whatever, I felt like the Lord was speaking to me about a few people this morning, this afternoon. 00:05:21.279 --> 00:05:28.319 The first was Kay, and I just felt like Kay, the Lord said, Your brain is a blessing to the body. 00:05:28.879 --> 00:05:30.319 And so be blessed. 00:05:30.560 --> 00:05:40.000 Um, Marty, I just felt like he said, now this is kind of personal, and it felt like um it's for both of you, but specifically, Marty, I just felt like the Lord just said, You're such a great father. 00:05:40.240 --> 00:05:46.959 And it just felt like he really wanted to just affirm you um in that role, you know, and yeah, your girls are smiling, so I think it's true, you know, that's great. 00:05:47.199 --> 00:05:56.000 Um Faith isn't here, but I I felt like the Lord said to Faith, uh once I speak to her, and I'll I'll call her afterward, but but um to Faith, just to keep inching in. 00:05:56.079 --> 00:06:08.639 You know, I felt like uh, you know, that that uh Ezekiel, the the river of God, you know, and and just ankle deep, um knee deep, waist deep, and I just felt like the Lord was like, yeah, Faith, just keep, just keep walking in to that. 00:06:08.879 --> 00:06:12.560 Uh Greg, I just got this picture of a huge tortara, bro. 00:06:12.720 --> 00:06:14.480 Big Tani Mahuta. 00:06:14.959 --> 00:06:28.160 And um I specifically felt like the Lord was showing me the strength of the trunk and the canopy that you create, but then I felt like he sort of made me look at the um the growth underneath you. 00:06:28.879 --> 00:06:39.600 And that your strength and your stability, I think, was sort of the word I felt like really come to mind, um, encourages growth in others because there's this wonderful safety that you provide for the church. 00:06:40.000 --> 00:06:41.680 And so keep keep being you. 00:06:41.759 --> 00:06:52.879 And sometimes it might mean you feel like you're kind of going slow and you're just like tuning through decisions, but the Lord's like, no, no, stay strong, stay stable, because there's there's there's much in that that people really um look to. 00:06:53.839 --> 00:06:57.920 Um and then Tommy, I just felt like the Lord just said there's peace for you. 00:06:59.360 --> 00:07:00.240 There's peace for you. 00:07:01.279 --> 00:07:05.040 Um Jake and Stace, I just felt faithfulness, faithfulness. 00:07:05.600 --> 00:07:15.519 I just feel like faithfulness is one of the most overlooked traits in the scriptures or in in humanity, but one of the most um important values in the Bible. 00:07:16.079 --> 00:07:17.600 Well done, good, and faithful sermon. 00:07:17.759 --> 00:07:21.839 So just I just felt like the Lord was like, yeah, faithfulness and just and keep being faithful. 00:07:22.240 --> 00:07:34.480 Um and then Mike, I just felt like the Lord was saying, um, yeah, stay on the wheel on that pottery wheel in different seasons, some filled with the Holy Spirit and some prepped and some being shaped, but just you just stay on the wheel. 00:07:35.680 --> 00:07:35.920 Amen. 00:07:36.959 --> 00:07:37.199 Yeah. 00:07:37.680 --> 00:07:39.120 And that's it from the from me. 00:07:39.360 --> 00:07:42.480 Was there anything that anyone wanted to share over the last few weeks? 00:07:42.800 --> 00:07:47.120 You felt like the Lord's you know spoken to you or confirmed or affirmed or done in your life? 00:07:48.160 --> 00:07:56.319 I mean, it has been an entirely ineffective series, so probably no one has, but um otherwise I'm gonna I'm gonna dive in. 00:07:56.959 --> 00:07:57.279 Yeah? 00:07:58.000 --> 00:07:58.240 Yeah? 00:07:58.480 --> 00:08:01.360 Would you like the mic or do you wanna Oh you wanna sh you don't wanna share? 00:08:01.759 --> 00:08:02.399 Yeah, nice. 00:08:02.639 --> 00:08:03.120 I like that. 00:08:03.199 --> 00:08:04.319 Yeah, thanks, Chris. 00:08:04.879 --> 00:08:06.000 Yeah, that's really cool. 00:08:06.079 --> 00:08:06.560 Thank you. 00:08:06.879 --> 00:08:07.759 Anyone else? 00:08:10.319 --> 00:08:11.120 Where am I looking? 00:08:11.199 --> 00:08:12.639 Yeah, Greg, yeah, you want the mic? 00:08:13.040 --> 00:08:15.839 Or you just want to just, yeah, just same, same Chris thing, yeah. 00:08:16.160 --> 00:08:18.079 A muted word from God, you know what I mean? 00:08:18.160 --> 00:08:19.839 Just yeah, God's been doing it. 00:08:20.399 --> 00:08:22.959 No, honestly, if you don't want to share, you don't share. 00:08:23.199 --> 00:08:26.000 But if you want to, now we're at a standoff, eh? 00:08:26.800 --> 00:08:28.879 Yeah, so yeah, let's go, Greg. 00:08:32.320 --> 00:08:33.440 Um, I had a question. 00:08:33.600 --> 00:08:36.399 Jesus asked me a question a while ago, so I was gonna go deep fast. 00:08:36.960 --> 00:08:40.559 The question was, would you be my friend if I wasn't your saviour? 00:08:41.360 --> 00:08:46.000 And I thought I'd figure that question out, and then a couple of weeks ago it came up in a different thing around friendship. 00:08:46.399 --> 00:08:49.039 And it did me in a whole different way from what I couldn't see. 00:08:49.120 --> 00:08:54.240 It's like there's another side of Jesus and a friend that he wants to reveal to me. 00:08:54.960 --> 00:08:58.960 And a whole lot of stuff around the house to be put unconditional on a house on Friday. 00:09:01.200 --> 00:09:02.960 Unconditional on a house on Friday. 00:09:03.440 --> 00:09:04.480 So that was a throwaway. 00:09:04.720 --> 00:09:08.960 So I was like, friendship with Jesus, and then he goes, Oh yeah, then I went unconditional on a house on Friday. 00:09:09.519 --> 00:09:10.399 So that's awesome. 00:09:10.559 --> 00:09:11.759 Can we put our hands together? 00:09:11.840 --> 00:09:13.039 That's amazing, thank you. 00:09:13.360 --> 00:09:14.320 Awesome. 00:09:15.840 --> 00:09:16.480 Yeah, cool. 00:09:16.639 --> 00:09:17.279 Anyone else? 00:09:18.399 --> 00:09:18.720 Yeah. 00:09:22.080 --> 00:09:23.360 Yeah, cool. 00:09:26.639 --> 00:09:27.679 Yeah, cool. 00:09:27.919 --> 00:09:28.720 That's awesome. 00:09:28.879 --> 00:09:29.759 I'm glad you said that. 00:09:30.000 --> 00:09:36.159 Because if about three people talk to me every week about the series, and none of those people have said anything crazy. 00:09:36.399 --> 00:09:42.080 Um the first week we talked about relationship. 00:09:42.720 --> 00:09:46.639 And again, just as a caveat, I'm no expert on what we're talking about here today. 00:09:46.879 --> 00:09:52.480 The first week we talked about relationship, that he loves us, and he's communicating with us consistently. 00:09:52.720 --> 00:09:58.159 Romans 8 16 says, the Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God. 00:09:58.559 --> 00:10:07.360 I touched on this briefly, but uh when I when we had Ryder, one of the most challenging parts of having a child was um him not talking to me. 00:10:08.399 --> 00:10:09.519 I'm that shallow. 00:10:09.679 --> 00:10:15.919 That for the first two or three years until he could really animate and speak, I found it a real challenge being a father. 00:10:16.080 --> 00:10:19.519 And watching Nadia crush it and watching other other parents do a really good job. 00:10:19.600 --> 00:10:21.519 I was like, man, I don't know if I'm cut out for this. 00:10:21.679 --> 00:10:30.080 But then the moment there was feedback and we were talking and doing things together, I really, as a father, I was like, oh, I've really hit my lane here. 00:10:30.320 --> 00:10:34.879 And and the Spirit testifies that we are his kids and he wants, I think, a relationship with us. 00:10:35.120 --> 00:10:37.840 In the second week, we talked about Gideon's fleece. 00:10:37.919 --> 00:10:46.879 And Gideon's fleece is about signs or confirmation, you know, and we talked about in Judges it talks about how he laid out a fleece before the Lord. 00:10:46.960 --> 00:10:52.240 And he said, if this fleece is wet and the ground is dry, then I'll believe that you're speaking to me. 00:10:52.399 --> 00:11:00.879 And and and I'm not expecting that anyone might lay out fleeces in their life, but metaphorical fleeces saying, God, I really feel like you know, this might be the house. 00:11:01.039 --> 00:11:04.240 Or I, you know, I really I'm I'm sort of, I think this could be the thing. 00:11:04.320 --> 00:11:11.120 Or um and I just I'm just putting it out there, Lord, and when we get confirmation on that thing, that that might be that fleece. 00:11:11.279 --> 00:11:12.159 That was week two. 00:11:12.559 --> 00:11:17.279 Week three, we talked about peace, and really peace being that inner guide. 00:11:17.759 --> 00:11:33.440 Philippians 4, 6 and 7 say, don't be anxious about everything, but in every about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your request to God, and the peace of God, which transcends understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. 00:11:33.519 --> 00:11:40.879 That that peace, we have peace with God because of Jesus, but the peace of God is this wonderful gift that He gives us that transcends. 00:11:40.960 --> 00:11:44.240 You know, I just feel like it bypasses the head and can come straight to the heart. 00:11:44.320 --> 00:11:49.759 That peace or a lack of peace, which is unease, might as well be a guide. 00:11:50.000 --> 00:11:58.080 You know, you might talk with someone, or maybe you're an employer and you're going to employ somebody or you're having a conversation and you just feel an unease. 00:11:58.399 --> 00:12:00.399 Oh, that, you know, that might be. 00:12:00.559 --> 00:12:02.960 Or you might meet with someone and you have a peace. 00:12:03.279 --> 00:12:09.679 I often find that with like um parent-teacher interviews, you know, teacher conferences, you know, those are amazing, eh? 00:12:10.240 --> 00:12:13.279 And you um mission to book those bad boys, eh? 00:12:13.519 --> 00:12:19.360 And I think they try and make the platforms, you know, like easy and accessible and online, and it's just confusing, far out. 00:12:19.440 --> 00:12:21.120 Um so then you don't end up going, you know. 00:12:21.200 --> 00:12:26.480 But when you do sit with a teacher, especially the first one, you get that sense, eh, unease or peace. 00:12:26.639 --> 00:12:31.120 And it's a wonderful feeling to get a sense of peace from the people that are teaching your kids. 00:12:31.279 --> 00:12:35.759 In week four, which was last week, we talked about voices, about discernment. 00:12:36.240 --> 00:12:38.240 We touched on God's character. 00:12:38.559 --> 00:12:42.240 John 10.27 says, My sheep, they listen to my voice. 00:12:42.320 --> 00:12:43.519 That's our job is to listen. 00:12:43.759 --> 00:12:45.360 His job is to speak, amen. 00:12:45.519 --> 00:12:46.639 And we just listen. 00:12:46.879 --> 00:12:48.000 He says, I know them. 00:12:48.080 --> 00:12:50.000 His job is the knowing, and we follow. 00:12:50.159 --> 00:12:51.679 We listen and we follow. 00:12:51.919 --> 00:13:10.639 And I think this was our key verse last week was James 3.17 that says, But the wisdom that comes from heaven, I love, I just think this is a really good list of things that you might go through in your mind as to whether it you're asking the question, is what I'm thinking from God or not? 00:13:11.600 --> 00:13:16.960 So the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all, so then you can go through these things. 00:13:17.120 --> 00:13:18.480 It's first of all pure. 00:13:18.720 --> 00:13:20.639 So is the thought I'm having pure? 00:13:21.360 --> 00:13:21.679 No. 00:13:22.000 --> 00:13:23.679 Okay, well, that's an early strike. 00:13:23.759 --> 00:13:25.120 But that's okay, keep going. 00:13:25.360 --> 00:13:26.399 Is it peace-loving? 00:13:26.720 --> 00:13:31.759 Is it considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere? 00:13:32.799 --> 00:13:38.240 One of the examples I think that we're all prone to is when we might say that thing. 00:13:38.559 --> 00:13:40.799 Um, I probably shouldn't say this. 00:13:41.039 --> 00:13:42.720 I probably shouldn't say this. 00:13:43.679 --> 00:13:45.039 But and then we say it. 00:13:45.200 --> 00:13:46.240 What a moment, that is it. 00:13:46.399 --> 00:13:47.279 I probably shouldn't say this. 00:13:47.360 --> 00:13:47.840 Why not? 00:13:48.000 --> 00:13:51.600 Because you already know that what that there's a number of those things that this is not. 00:13:51.840 --> 00:13:56.240 And often considerate, I don't know about you, but that that's often I probably shouldn't say this in my head. 00:13:56.320 --> 00:13:57.600 It's in it's inconsiderate. 00:13:57.840 --> 00:13:59.759 Ah, you know, then you say it anyway. 00:14:00.960 --> 00:14:02.799 It's peace loving, it's considerate. 00:14:02.879 --> 00:14:05.519 So, so um week one was relationships. 00:14:05.600 --> 00:14:07.039 Why does God speak? 00:14:07.360 --> 00:14:10.000 Week two was signs, which is confirmation. 00:14:10.240 --> 00:14:13.200 Week three was peace, which is an inner guide. 00:14:13.600 --> 00:14:17.200 Week four was voices, which is discernment in God's character. 00:14:17.440 --> 00:14:21.919 And I've been praying about this series finale, wondering what have I missed? 00:14:22.159 --> 00:14:23.039 What have I missed? 00:14:23.120 --> 00:14:25.039 You know, and obviously a truckload. 00:14:25.600 --> 00:14:31.039 Um and I and I actually um got a message from Greg um earlier this week. 00:14:31.120 --> 00:14:43.360 We were sort of texting back and forth, and he he said to me, Levi, one thing that's you know that that's been that God's been speaking to me about, and it might have been around the friendship thing, I didn't I didn't press him on it, but he talked about lies of the enemy. 00:14:43.519 --> 00:14:46.000 And I thought, oh, that might be nice to just quickly touch on this. 00:14:46.080 --> 00:14:52.559 So here are some lies or some false things that we might believe that have in our heads that I thought we might touch on today. 00:14:52.720 --> 00:14:55.440 The first one is this is that he isn't speaking. 00:14:56.240 --> 00:14:59.679 You know, that just that sense of like, you know, he's just not talking. 00:14:59.919 --> 00:15:04.000 Hey Phil, at the back there's those those dials on those windows. 00:15:04.159 --> 00:15:07.679 If you close those windows, then the kids can be noisy and and then we won't hear them. 00:15:07.759 --> 00:15:10.639 Well, it'd at least be, you know, muted ever so slightly. 00:15:10.879 --> 00:15:12.639 Um nothing against the kids, eh? 00:15:12.879 --> 00:15:17.200 You know, it's just like, but if they want to be loud, let's not, you know, also hear it. 00:15:17.600 --> 00:15:23.200 Um He isn't so he's not so God's not speaking. 00:15:23.360 --> 00:15:25.200 That I I think that that's not true. 00:15:25.360 --> 00:15:26.159 That's my take. 00:15:26.559 --> 00:15:27.200 That's not true. 00:15:27.360 --> 00:15:32.080 God's not speaking, or some some people might think he has spoken and doesn't speak anymore. 00:15:32.320 --> 00:15:34.320 I don't believe that's true either. 00:15:34.559 --> 00:15:35.679 I believe he is speaking. 00:15:35.759 --> 00:15:40.000 And so Jeremiah 33, verse 3 says, Call to me and I will answer you. 00:15:40.559 --> 00:15:46.240 And and tell you great and unsearchable things that you do not know. 00:15:46.559 --> 00:15:47.200 Wow. 00:15:49.679 --> 00:15:51.279 That's amazing. 00:15:52.080 --> 00:15:57.679 And and for someone here who believes that lie that he doesn't speak, claim that. 00:15:58.000 --> 00:16:00.399 I'd love you to um I love chalk pens. 00:16:01.120 --> 00:16:03.279 You get multicolored ones, I like the white ones. 00:16:03.440 --> 00:16:07.360 But you get multicolored chalk, they're about three, four dollars each, warehouse stationary, anywhere like that. 00:16:07.440 --> 00:16:10.960 And you can just draw on your little mirrors and stuff, mirrors and windows and bits and pieces. 00:16:11.120 --> 00:16:12.159 Throw that on this week. 00:16:12.320 --> 00:16:16.320 Or, you know, use your lipstick, whatever, you know, um if you have some, you know, available. 00:16:16.480 --> 00:16:21.440 Especially you don't want to, your good lipstick, maybe you're older, not the Mac, but the one you got from Glassons, you know. 00:16:21.600 --> 00:16:25.279 Call to me, call to me, and I will answer you. 00:16:25.600 --> 00:16:29.519 Lord, I hold on to that truth this week that you answer me when I call. 00:16:29.840 --> 00:16:33.039 That was funnier than I expected, you know, and so there'd be more of that. 00:16:33.200 --> 00:16:37.360 Uh John 10, 27, my sheep, they listen to my voice, I know them, and they follow me. 00:16:37.519 --> 00:16:42.559 Jesus assumes here in this verse that his sheep, that's us, that we hear him. 00:16:43.519 --> 00:16:45.200 Here's another another lie. 00:16:45.600 --> 00:16:48.080 Um we cannot hear from God. 00:16:48.480 --> 00:16:50.639 So the first one is that he doesn't speak. 00:16:50.879 --> 00:16:52.879 The second one is that we can't hear. 00:16:53.120 --> 00:16:59.600 James 1, verse 5 says, if any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, and it will be given to you. 00:16:59.919 --> 00:17:03.759 Again, you you call and I answer, or we lack wisdom, we should ask. 00:17:03.840 --> 00:17:05.200 That God does speak. 00:17:05.440 --> 00:17:08.960 Now here's another lie, and I'm sure no one's felt this before. 00:17:09.119 --> 00:17:12.240 Um, I'm in sin, therefore I'm excluded. 00:17:13.200 --> 00:17:16.400 And so really hearing from God is about spiritual elites. 00:17:16.559 --> 00:17:34.960 And again, this is something I don't like about the way that we do church, which is you sit, I stand, or you sit, someone stands, and they spout off all of this, you know, expertise on an a subject, and then week after week we just get we just sort of get entertained, and then there's a smart guy at front who's the spiritual elite. 00:17:35.039 --> 00:17:36.480 It's it's just not true. 00:17:36.640 --> 00:17:38.240 I'm in sin, therefore I'm excluded. 00:17:38.319 --> 00:17:43.359 But Psalm 32, verse 8 says, I will instruct you and teach you in the way that you should go. 00:17:43.599 --> 00:17:46.480 I will counsel you with my loving eye on you. 00:17:46.640 --> 00:17:51.599 Oh how good's that after that semicolon there. 00:17:52.640 --> 00:17:54.240 I will counsel you. 00:17:55.200 --> 00:17:57.279 That feels kind of uh professional. 00:17:58.400 --> 00:18:00.400 I will counsel thou, you know? 00:18:01.279 --> 00:18:02.799 With my loving eye. 00:18:04.960 --> 00:18:05.680 That's good. 00:18:06.000 --> 00:18:07.440 1 John 1 verse 19. 00:18:07.519 --> 00:18:08.480 Uh 1 verse 9. 00:18:09.599 --> 00:18:10.319 This is important. 00:18:10.559 --> 00:18:15.759 If you're if you feel like you're in sin, if you are in sin, and look, we that's all of us, so this is this verse is for everybody. 00:18:16.240 --> 00:18:18.240 If we confess our sins, that if is key. 00:18:18.480 --> 00:18:20.000 So confession is really important. 00:18:20.720 --> 00:18:28.079 He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 00:18:28.240 --> 00:18:34.640 Someone needs to needs to capture that verse in their heart today if you have ongoing the same thing. 00:18:34.880 --> 00:18:38.000 Like the same pride, the same anger, the same lust. 00:18:38.640 --> 00:18:39.599 Whatever it is, the same thing. 00:18:40.160 --> 00:18:46.640 Across the road from my house is a place called the Whipped Baker, potentially the best baker in Todanga. 00:18:46.960 --> 00:18:48.799 And I want you to go and find out for yourself. 00:18:48.960 --> 00:18:50.799 But I go too often too often. 00:18:50.880 --> 00:18:51.599 I had some today. 00:18:51.759 --> 00:18:52.240 It's amazing. 00:18:52.400 --> 00:19:01.839 Scones, and this uh chocolate ganache goodness, and they have that and custard squares, so consistent sin in my life. 00:19:02.079 --> 00:19:12.480 And so you we get trapped in that, but understand that if you confess, he's faithful and just and will forgive you, and he will purify you from all unrighteousness. 00:19:12.799 --> 00:19:14.160 Write that, please, this week. 00:19:14.240 --> 00:19:16.319 Write that on your on your uh mirror. 00:19:16.880 --> 00:19:20.079 And then this is another lie, I think, that we we believe. 00:19:20.240 --> 00:19:22.400 Um I have to get it perfect. 00:19:24.000 --> 00:19:25.279 Gotta get it perfect, eh? 00:19:25.920 --> 00:19:32.240 I hope our church has done a good job in helping you really dismantle that last one. 00:19:33.279 --> 00:19:36.400 Because there's barely anything here at this church that's perfect. 00:19:36.720 --> 00:19:38.799 Nadi is probably the only thing. 00:19:39.440 --> 00:19:42.079 But many of us are paralyzed by this. 00:19:42.400 --> 00:19:46.720 Romans 8.14 says, For those who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. 00:19:47.200 --> 00:19:51.039 Acts 2.17 says, your sons and daughters they will prophesy. 00:19:51.359 --> 00:19:56.720 The gift of the Spirit is not reserved for spiritual elites or those that get it right. 00:19:57.359 --> 00:20:04.720 Through Christ, every believer has access to the Father and can grow in recognizing his voice. 00:20:06.240 --> 00:20:12.000 If there was a spectrum of zero to ten, and you right now were like, oh, in terms of hearing God's voice, I'm probably a two. 00:20:13.200 --> 00:20:14.079 Man, that's awesome. 00:20:14.240 --> 00:20:15.279 That's awesome. 00:20:15.599 --> 00:20:26.559 But just know that a ten, if that does exist, is not reserved for those that just are just meticulous and scientific and just get it right and they're just perfect, and that is, you know, they're just different. 00:20:27.039 --> 00:20:34.480 I just believe it's just uh it's like a marriage or it's like a friendship, it's just one step at a time, one day at a time, and we just do our best. 00:20:35.039 --> 00:20:37.039 It's not about getting it right and being perfect. 00:20:37.440 --> 00:20:44.000 So I guess the question is, and on week five, the question is, um, what do I do once he's spoken? 00:20:44.240 --> 00:20:54.079 For those that have said, you know, God's spoken to me or have raised their hands today, for those that are saying, like, yeah, God's been doing something in my life, and I know who you are, what do I do once he's spoken? 00:20:54.240 --> 00:21:02.240 And for me, I I could not wrap up and put a bow on the series without making sure that this final sermon was about obedience. 00:21:03.200 --> 00:21:09.039 That hearing God's voice is the first step, but there's closure when we obey. 00:21:09.279 --> 00:21:15.200 That Jesus never praised people simply for hearing, but he praised those for doing. 00:21:16.400 --> 00:21:22.720 James 1, verse 22 says, Do not merely listen to the word and so deceive yourselves. 00:21:23.119 --> 00:21:24.160 Do what it says. 00:21:24.400 --> 00:21:42.640 I quite like that because it's like um there was this uh pastoral strategy for like it might have been a joke, but it probably was that I saw online several years back, which was um, you know, counseling people and challenges that they face, which was which was like, stop it, you know, it's like that was it. 00:21:42.720 --> 00:21:44.240 It's like welcome, what's the challenge? 00:21:44.400 --> 00:21:45.519 This, stop it, you know. 00:21:45.680 --> 00:21:47.279 Oh, I'm not a good spouse, stop it. 00:21:47.440 --> 00:21:49.440 And I love this because James is kind of doing that to us. 00:21:49.519 --> 00:21:53.440 It's like, yeah, don't merely listen to the word and deceive yourselves. 00:21:53.680 --> 00:21:55.680 Do he's just like, do what it says. 00:21:55.839 --> 00:22:00.640 There was the shy labuff meme, just do it, you know, and um that's Kind of like that. 00:22:00.720 --> 00:22:02.400 You know, it's like just do just do what it says. 00:22:02.480 --> 00:22:05.279 You know, it's a dicey meme, so I moved on quick, you know what I mean? 00:22:05.680 --> 00:22:09.839 And so just just James is like he and he's the pastor of the early church. 00:22:10.000 --> 00:22:13.119 He's like, don't deceive yourselves by just listening. 00:22:14.079 --> 00:22:21.279 You know, Aaron came up before and he was like, Man, what a what a privilege, and even James echoing, what a privilege it is to be in church to come to set aside some time. 00:22:21.440 --> 00:22:26.480 And James is like, Yeah, yeah, that's true, but don't deceive yourselves and just sit and listen. 00:22:28.319 --> 00:22:30.000 Actually do what it says. 00:22:30.240 --> 00:22:37.680 And I think it's one thing to lean in and believe and that we want to hear God's voice, but it's another thing to then act on it. 00:22:38.000 --> 00:22:39.200 James 10, 27. 00:22:39.279 --> 00:22:40.720 This is the third time I've used this verse today. 00:22:40.880 --> 00:22:44.160 My sheep, they listen and they follow. 00:22:44.480 --> 00:22:46.799 They hear and they follow. 00:22:47.039 --> 00:22:51.039 That the goal is hearing and then following. 00:22:52.160 --> 00:23:02.000 So my question to us today and for this week is what do we need to do and what has the Lord stirred up in our hearts in the last month that we need to do to follow Jesus? 00:23:02.559 --> 00:23:04.640 That we need to do to take a step. 00:23:05.279 --> 00:23:07.440 I've got some more obstacles for us. 00:23:07.839 --> 00:23:09.680 Here are some obstacles to obedience. 00:23:09.920 --> 00:23:10.720 Fear. 00:23:11.279 --> 00:23:14.079 What if what I'm doing, what if I'm wrong? 00:23:14.720 --> 00:23:16.559 I really like that one. 00:23:16.880 --> 00:23:22.640 Because that fear, I believe, is a great um tempin bowling? 00:23:23.839 --> 00:23:26.240 Hey, the broth, yeah, I saw you. 00:23:26.400 --> 00:23:29.039 Um there's some good tempin bowlers in the in the house. 00:23:29.200 --> 00:23:34.720 Tempin' bowling, but you know when you're real bad and they um they give you the ramp, but then they also can puff up the sides? 00:23:34.960 --> 00:23:36.559 You know, so you don't gutterball? 00:23:37.039 --> 00:23:40.000 Because who wants because it's about participation, people. 00:23:40.400 --> 00:23:44.400 We don't want winners, hey, we just want everybody just getting a certificate, eh, right? 00:23:44.960 --> 00:23:48.240 And so the gutter ball, parameters. 00:23:48.400 --> 00:23:58.480 I feel like fear, and not like a scary horror fear, like watching backrooms at the cinema, you know, but I'm just talking about just a co like a caution, just a caution. 00:23:58.640 --> 00:23:59.680 What if I'm wrong? 00:23:59.839 --> 00:24:00.799 I love it. 00:24:01.039 --> 00:24:02.000 I love it. 00:24:02.400 --> 00:24:06.640 Because you know, I get up here and act like a goose, but in my heart, I'm like, ooh. 00:24:06.880 --> 00:24:11.759 Like I'm, you know, I'm like this week, during the week, I'm like, oh man, is this you, Lord? 00:24:12.000 --> 00:24:14.480 I pray to don't leave lead us astray. 00:24:14.640 --> 00:24:16.160 And I think that fear is good. 00:24:16.319 --> 00:24:18.799 I think you like it that I've got a caution in my heart. 00:24:18.960 --> 00:24:20.400 And I think so does the Lord. 00:24:20.480 --> 00:24:24.559 In fact, James speaks to those who teach, and he basically says, Man, you better get it right. 00:24:24.880 --> 00:24:25.440 Be cautious. 00:24:25.519 --> 00:24:27.279 But I think that's good for us as Christian believers. 00:24:27.359 --> 00:24:33.839 Like, I feel like the Lord has spoken to me, oh little cautious. 00:24:34.160 --> 00:24:35.440 What if I'm wrong? 00:24:35.599 --> 00:24:37.920 I think that's I think that's a good question. 00:24:38.160 --> 00:24:40.079 The next one is comfort. 00:24:40.240 --> 00:24:41.759 This is gonna cost me. 00:24:42.319 --> 00:24:46.319 Yeah, and all I have to say to that is yep, it probably will. 00:24:48.480 --> 00:24:50.240 And then the last one is control. 00:24:50.880 --> 00:24:52.640 I'd rather know the whole plan. 00:24:53.359 --> 00:24:55.279 God very seldom gives us a blueprint. 00:24:55.440 --> 00:24:56.960 I I think it might have been Phil last week. 00:24:57.039 --> 00:25:04.799 He was like talking about driving, and you know, especially driving at night and you've got your headlights on, and you can just see as far as the headlights go, eh? 00:25:05.119 --> 00:25:10.160 And it's usually to the next corner or down a straight, you know, if there's no one coming, put the lights on high beam. 00:25:10.319 --> 00:25:11.039 But you don't stop. 00:25:11.119 --> 00:25:16.240 If you drive into Auckland, you don't stop because you can't see Auckland. 00:25:17.119 --> 00:25:18.240 Imagine that. 00:25:18.720 --> 00:25:24.799 Pull out that, pull out the car park, it's night time you've got your lights on, can't see Auckland, reverse back in and go back inside. 00:25:25.119 --> 00:25:30.720 You just go to the next street sign, and you just follow, just follow ways, you know? 00:25:30.960 --> 00:25:33.359 That's a that's a deep cut of maps. 00:25:33.599 --> 00:25:35.759 But you guys are probably just using Google maps. 00:25:35.839 --> 00:25:36.640 No, no, no. 00:25:37.039 --> 00:25:38.160 I'm on ways. 00:25:38.720 --> 00:25:45.519 And you just boom, you just go into the next thing, and then you get to your destination because you're obedient on every step of the way. 00:25:45.759 --> 00:25:47.759 It's exactly the same thing with following the Lord. 00:25:47.920 --> 00:25:51.119 A lot of people are like, man, how can I do this great thing or get to this great place? 00:25:51.279 --> 00:25:52.720 Just one step at a time. 00:25:52.960 --> 00:25:56.640 The Bible says that it's a lamp to our feet and a light to our path. 00:25:57.039 --> 00:25:59.039 So, how does God guide his people? 00:25:59.279 --> 00:26:08.319 The answer, I think, and I've been trying to communicate this for a month now, is that it isn't through one method, that he guides us through multiple witnesses. 00:26:08.720 --> 00:26:14.240 Um, I had the privilege of being um of living across the road from Mark and Helen Homburg. 00:26:14.400 --> 00:26:16.240 And so they were awesome when we moved in. 00:26:16.319 --> 00:26:20.240 They brought us little treats, little brownies and stuff, and we'll go over and have a cup of tea. 00:26:20.400 --> 00:26:27.680 But it got to the point where my relationship with them was so we grew in relationship that I would go over and just kick ideas around with them. 00:26:27.839 --> 00:26:29.119 Like I'd be like, Are you home? 00:26:29.200 --> 00:26:29.920 Yep, we're home. 00:26:30.079 --> 00:26:30.559 Both of you? 00:26:30.720 --> 00:26:31.680 You know, they're like, Yes. 00:26:31.759 --> 00:26:34.799 I'm like, great, because they're just such an amazing combo. 00:26:35.039 --> 00:26:39.519 And when I sat with Helen to talk about the board, she's like, Yeah, but Mark needs to be there. 00:26:39.599 --> 00:26:40.000 Is that cool? 00:26:40.079 --> 00:26:41.119 I was like, Yeah, heck yeah. 00:26:41.200 --> 00:26:45.359 Because they're so different, but they were just this amazing, they just work together so well, discerning the Lord. 00:26:45.440 --> 00:26:50.799 And I would sit down and be like, okay, cool, have a cup, and then I'm like, Do you mind if I dive into some church stuff or personal stuff? 00:26:50.880 --> 00:26:52.000 They're like, Yeah, of course, what's up? 00:26:52.079 --> 00:26:53.519 But I was like, okay, this is what I'm thinking. 00:26:53.599 --> 00:26:54.319 Bang, bang, bang. 00:26:54.400 --> 00:26:57.359 And then Mark would just sit there and go, hmm. 00:26:59.119 --> 00:27:01.440 And not say anything for 30 minutes. 00:27:01.759 --> 00:27:06.079 And then at the end, Helen I, after Helen and I've been talking, she'll say, Hey Mark, what do you think? 00:27:06.240 --> 00:27:08.480 And he'll go, Yeah. 00:27:08.880 --> 00:27:11.839 I got this picture of a driftwood. 00:27:12.079 --> 00:27:16.799