WEBVTT 00:00:08.000 --> 00:00:11.519 Hey, I'm Steve Holt, the senior pastor of The Road at Chapel Hills. 00:00:11.599 --> 00:00:12.960 This is the Road Podcast. 00:00:13.119 --> 00:00:14.320 Thanks for joining us. 00:00:14.640 --> 00:00:17.679 My heart is to empower you to change the world. 00:00:17.839 --> 00:00:20.480 I hope this message impacts you. 00:00:25.120 --> 00:00:26.719 We want to welcome all of you to the Road. 00:00:26.800 --> 00:00:28.960 I'm Steve Holt, the senior pastor here. 00:00:29.120 --> 00:00:36.000 I've been gone all summer because of sabbatical, and man, that was a it was an interesting sabbatical. 00:00:36.240 --> 00:00:39.520 It was not all relaxing, I can tell you that. 00:00:39.920 --> 00:00:42.960 I shared a lot about that last week. 00:00:43.280 --> 00:00:48.719 But in May, right before we took the sabbatical, we were in the book of Ephesians. 00:00:48.960 --> 00:00:53.759 And so we went through the first three chapters of Ephesians, and we're going to pick it up today. 00:00:53.840 --> 00:00:56.479 We're going to start back into Ephesians. 00:00:56.799 --> 00:00:59.520 And this is the funnest part of Ephesians. 00:00:59.679 --> 00:01:03.200 So if you have, how many of you have ever studied Ephesians before? 00:01:03.359 --> 00:01:04.400 Raise your hand. 00:01:04.640 --> 00:01:05.280 Awesome. 00:01:05.359 --> 00:01:09.040 And this is my second time going through Ephesians as a teacher, so I love it. 00:01:09.519 --> 00:01:11.200 And I get so much more out of it. 00:01:11.359 --> 00:01:12.159 This is better. 00:01:12.319 --> 00:01:15.760 This teaching's better than the one I did before, I'll tell you that. 00:01:17.120 --> 00:01:22.000 And so the theme, the theme of Ephesians is born for war. 00:01:22.159 --> 00:01:22.879 That's what I believe. 00:01:22.959 --> 00:01:25.200 I believe you were born for warfare. 00:01:25.439 --> 00:01:37.439 You are born for battle that God has put you on this earth to be his a kingdom of priests, a kingdom of kings that will battle and bring the kingdom of God. 00:01:37.760 --> 00:01:40.799 A hundred times Jesus spoke on the kingdom of God. 00:01:40.959 --> 00:01:46.480 And he said for us to pray, Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. 00:01:46.640 --> 00:01:54.799 He, it's the church's responsibility to be a part of bringing the kingdom from heaven down to earth. 00:01:54.959 --> 00:02:00.719 And the book of Ephesians is the best book in the entire Bible about that. 00:02:00.879 --> 00:02:02.000 And so I'm excited. 00:02:02.079 --> 00:02:03.200 We're in chapter four. 00:02:03.280 --> 00:02:09.439 And you know, and if you don't, I'm gonna inform you now, that the Bible was not written in chapters. 00:02:09.599 --> 00:02:12.479 These were letters written, these were treatises written. 00:02:12.719 --> 00:02:15.360 And so later they were put into chapter form. 00:02:15.439 --> 00:02:16.879 So we're in chapter four. 00:02:16.960 --> 00:02:20.639 So if you have your Bible, turn to Ephesians chapter four. 00:02:20.960 --> 00:02:27.759 The theme, as these next few weeks pan out as we go through Ephesians, is that you were born for war. 00:02:28.000 --> 00:02:35.439 And what's exciting is four, five, and six, chapters four, five, and six are the most practical in Ephesians. 00:02:35.599 --> 00:02:46.960 So if you missed one, two, and three, I would encourage you to go to our app slash sermons, look up sermons, go to Born for War, Ephesians, and when you're going to and from work, catch up. 00:02:47.039 --> 00:02:51.039 You know, go back to chapter one when I did the introduction, work your way through. 00:02:51.199 --> 00:02:57.199 I think it was nine messages that I did on one through three, because that's the setup of our position. 00:02:57.439 --> 00:02:58.960 So you guys listen now. 00:02:59.199 --> 00:03:06.800 Chapters one, two, and three are really about our position in Christ. 00:03:07.039 --> 00:03:23.280 Okay, what that is, is that God has positioned every one of you in the heavenly realm, that you have been positioned by God to be his priest, his leaders, his kings in heavenly places when, listen, when you're in Christ. 00:03:23.439 --> 00:03:27.759 If you're if you're not walking, you realize you can be a Christian but not be in Christ. 00:03:28.159 --> 00:03:30.560 Okay, you can be a Christian but not in Christ. 00:03:30.800 --> 00:03:34.000 What I mean by that is that there's a lot of people that say they're Christians. 00:03:34.159 --> 00:03:38.080 I said I was a Christian when I was a freshman in college, but I wasn't saved. 00:03:38.319 --> 00:03:41.599 A lot of people call themselves Christians. 00:03:42.159 --> 00:03:46.080 But to be in Christ is one who's in the center of God's will. 00:03:46.319 --> 00:03:49.439 Because that means you're living in Christ. 00:03:50.000 --> 00:03:53.599 In other words, I can be a Christian and be living in Steve. 00:03:54.240 --> 00:03:56.879 Or I can be a Christian and I'm living in Christ. 00:03:57.039 --> 00:03:58.400 That's what Ephesians is about. 00:03:58.560 --> 00:04:00.800 It's about how to be in Christ. 00:04:02.000 --> 00:04:09.759 And in Christ, Ephesians says, you are above every principality and power. 00:04:10.000 --> 00:04:15.199 You are, you have within you Christ, which is above all demons. 00:04:16.240 --> 00:04:18.399 All principalities and powers in the heavenly realm. 00:04:18.560 --> 00:04:19.759 He's living in you. 00:04:20.160 --> 00:04:21.360 How about that? 00:04:21.839 --> 00:04:23.279 That's pretty good news, right? 00:04:23.360 --> 00:04:24.720 Say hallelujah. 00:04:24.959 --> 00:04:27.839 I mean, he's in your you have that within you. 00:04:28.160 --> 00:04:30.399 Most believers don't believe it. 00:04:30.480 --> 00:04:33.199 Do you guys know the truth doesn't set you free? 00:04:33.519 --> 00:04:35.360 Did you know the truth doesn't set you free? 00:04:35.600 --> 00:04:38.480 Jesus said, You shall know the truth, the truth shall set you free. 00:04:38.879 --> 00:04:40.800 Truth doesn't set you free. 00:04:41.199 --> 00:04:43.360 Knowing the truth sets you free. 00:04:43.600 --> 00:04:45.439 You shall know the truth. 00:04:45.600 --> 00:04:50.319 That means you can be cognitively aware of truth, but you don't believe it. 00:04:50.399 --> 00:04:53.120 And if you don't believe it, it doesn't set you free. 00:04:54.639 --> 00:05:00.399 So the media today, most of the time, they know what the truth is. 00:05:01.120 --> 00:05:02.959 But they don't want you to know that. 00:05:03.120 --> 00:05:07.600 Because they know if you know that, you'll be free, and if you're free, you'd probably kick them out. 00:05:08.800 --> 00:05:13.120 So they hide the truth and they live in they live in a world of deception. 00:05:14.399 --> 00:05:15.680 That's demonic. 00:05:15.839 --> 00:05:17.120 You're above that. 00:05:17.839 --> 00:05:19.680 You're smarter than that. 00:05:19.920 --> 00:05:21.199 You're wiser than that. 00:05:21.360 --> 00:05:27.519 And chapters four, five, and six is practical ways that we begin to walk that out. 00:05:27.680 --> 00:05:34.240 So turn, if you would, to Ephesians chapter four, one through six. 00:05:34.399 --> 00:05:36.399 And I'm reading out of the New King James Version. 00:05:36.480 --> 00:05:39.040 That's the version I like the most and I use the most. 00:05:39.199 --> 00:05:41.279 A lot of people ask me that, and we've grown so much. 00:05:41.360 --> 00:05:44.959 We've grown by 300% in the last year. 00:05:45.199 --> 00:05:49.439 And so people come with NIVs, ESVs. 00:05:49.519 --> 00:05:50.720 I don't care what you use. 00:05:50.879 --> 00:05:55.680 I'm not dogmatic about it, but I'm just letting you know, when you when I'm reading it, you go, Oh, that's really different. 00:05:55.839 --> 00:05:57.920 My voice, because you might have a different translation. 00:05:58.160 --> 00:06:05.680 I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling which you were called. 00:06:06.000 --> 00:06:15.439 With all lowliness and gentleness and long-suffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 00:06:15.680 --> 00:06:21.120 There's one body and one spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling. 00:06:21.360 --> 00:06:33.279 One Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all and through all, and in, there is that in Christ, in you all. 00:06:33.759 --> 00:06:34.879 So let's pray. 00:06:35.120 --> 00:06:40.560 So, Father God, in the name and the blood of Jesus, we ask you to speak to us from your word. 00:06:41.120 --> 00:07:02.319 Father, we believe that your word is inerrant, it is without error, it is infallible, it is authoritative, and I pray, Lord, you'd wake us up in new ways today where we've slumbered, where we are asleep, not understanding the fullness of the calling that you have on all of our lives. 00:07:02.480 --> 00:07:14.160 So, Father, I pray for the word today to be like an alarm clock into our spirit so that we might grow to be more in Christ. 00:07:14.399 --> 00:07:15.600 In your name we pray. 00:07:15.839 --> 00:07:16.399 Amen. 00:07:16.959 --> 00:07:17.839 Alright, you guys. 00:07:18.000 --> 00:07:21.600 So in verse one, look at that again. 00:07:21.920 --> 00:07:29.759 The first thing as Paul moves into this very practical set of chapters is he says, I'm a prisoner of the Lord. 00:07:30.079 --> 00:07:31.839 He's a prisoner of the Lord. 00:07:32.000 --> 00:07:34.480 What an interesting statement. 00:07:35.040 --> 00:07:37.759 Wouldn't you say you're a prisoner of Rome? 00:07:38.000 --> 00:07:40.240 Wouldn't you say you're a prisoner of the state? 00:07:40.399 --> 00:07:43.680 Wouldn't you say you're a prisoner of a governor? 00:07:44.079 --> 00:07:47.439 But Paul says, I'm a prisoner of the Lord. 00:07:47.600 --> 00:07:50.240 In other words, I'm in the center of God's will. 00:07:50.480 --> 00:07:55.360 I'm doing what God's called me to do, and because of that, I've been made a prisoner. 00:07:55.519 --> 00:07:58.000 And so God must be behind it. 00:07:58.399 --> 00:08:00.560 God is allowing it to happen. 00:08:00.959 --> 00:08:05.680 God sometimes lets suffering happen in your life because you're in the center of his will. 00:08:05.839 --> 00:08:09.040 And sometimes suffering happens in your life because you're stupid. 00:08:11.439 --> 00:08:12.079 Right? 00:08:12.399 --> 00:08:14.879 I mean, I'm one of the dumbest people I know. 00:08:15.120 --> 00:08:21.040 And some of the things that I've done over the years, I'm like, man, I am an idiot, you know, on that decision that I made. 00:08:21.199 --> 00:08:22.240 So we all do that. 00:08:22.399 --> 00:08:26.959 But there's other times where you're doing exactly what God's called you to do. 00:08:27.040 --> 00:08:28.240 You're seeking the kingdom first. 00:08:28.319 --> 00:08:30.480 You're doing, you're being as beat as you know to be. 00:08:30.639 --> 00:08:37.519 You're trying to stay humble, and you're and you're in love with Jesus, and you're trying to do Jesus, what he has for you to do, and you suffer. 00:08:37.840 --> 00:08:40.240 And so that suffering's from the Lord. 00:08:40.559 --> 00:08:44.080 And God disciplines those he loves, and sometimes he takes you through suffering. 00:08:44.240 --> 00:08:48.320 Well, Paul, he never, he never planned for this. 00:08:49.120 --> 00:08:51.440 This was not in the cards. 00:08:51.759 --> 00:08:53.440 But he says, I'm a prisoner of the Lord. 00:08:53.519 --> 00:08:58.639 And when we see what's happening in culture right now, we see what's happening with the government right now. 00:08:58.960 --> 00:09:02.399 Some of us may be prisoners of the Lord in the years to come. 00:09:02.480 --> 00:09:04.480 They may shut us down a year from now. 00:09:05.759 --> 00:09:08.080 And if they do, some I might still meet. 00:09:08.159 --> 00:09:09.440 I might say, I'm gonna still meet. 00:09:09.519 --> 00:09:14.399 And they're just gonna be there, and man, I'm in handcuffs and I'm offered, well, I'm a prisoner of the Lord. 00:09:14.480 --> 00:09:17.360 And if I go to Canyon City, we'll bring revival down there. 00:09:18.799 --> 00:09:23.039 Because I'm not a prisoner of anybody, I'm a prisoner of the Lord. 00:09:23.279 --> 00:09:24.799 Paul said, I'm a prisoner of the Lord. 00:09:24.879 --> 00:09:30.879 Because here's what drove Paul, and I believe God wants us to be driven this way. 00:09:30.960 --> 00:09:34.320 He says, I've been crucified with Christ. 00:09:34.720 --> 00:09:40.240 It's no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. 00:09:40.960 --> 00:09:48.480 And the life that I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God who delivered himself up for me. 00:09:49.519 --> 00:09:54.240 So you can't crucify someone who's already on the cross. 00:09:54.799 --> 00:09:56.879 Are you living the crucified life? 00:09:57.759 --> 00:09:59.200 It's a great life to live. 00:09:59.279 --> 00:10:01.679 It's actually the life you were meant to live. 00:10:02.000 --> 00:10:05.759 I mean, people can't crucify you if you're already on the cross. 00:10:06.639 --> 00:10:18.000 And you know, I just see the two major fears that Christians struggle with: the fear of man, the fear of what other people think, the fear of opinions of other people, and the fear of death. 00:10:18.480 --> 00:10:23.360 And we, of all people, we win if we die. 00:10:24.320 --> 00:10:25.600 That's the point. 00:10:27.279 --> 00:10:30.240 So in some cases, we get there earlier. 00:10:30.960 --> 00:10:32.480 What's wrong with that? 00:10:33.039 --> 00:10:42.639 I'll find out addresses where you guys are all set up, and I'll make sure it's furnished and it's beautiful, and you'll get your 6,000 square foot mansion ready. 00:10:42.799 --> 00:10:45.679 Pastor Steve set it up for you because I got there first. 00:10:47.600 --> 00:10:48.720 Don't fear dad. 00:10:49.519 --> 00:10:50.399 Fear God. 00:10:51.200 --> 00:10:52.960 You fear God, you're crucified with him. 00:10:53.120 --> 00:10:54.879 When you're crucified with him, nobody. 00:10:55.200 --> 00:10:57.039 That's when you become dangerous. 00:10:57.759 --> 00:11:00.960 You're dangerous when you fear only God and you don't fear man. 00:11:01.120 --> 00:11:02.639 You don't fear the government. 00:11:04.559 --> 00:11:06.000 I've been crucified with Christ. 00:11:06.159 --> 00:11:07.600 You've been crucified with Christ. 00:11:09.279 --> 00:11:10.720 That's the Christian life. 00:11:11.360 --> 00:11:14.080 That's when you are free. 00:11:14.879 --> 00:11:15.759 Indeed. 00:11:16.879 --> 00:11:19.120 You shall know the truth. 00:11:19.519 --> 00:11:21.200 You shall believe the truth. 00:11:21.279 --> 00:11:25.919 That word know is the same word for intimacy, sexual intimacy. 00:11:26.240 --> 00:11:28.240 It's knowing, it's really knowing God. 00:11:28.480 --> 00:11:33.120 It's intimacy with God sets you free because you now have the truth living within you. 00:11:33.200 --> 00:11:34.240 Isn't that exciting? 00:11:34.639 --> 00:11:36.080 Nothing more exciting than that. 00:11:36.159 --> 00:11:41.200 And so Paul says that he's a prisoner of the Lord. 00:11:42.320 --> 00:11:46.720 Now I've entitled today's message, The Weight of Your Calling. 00:11:47.039 --> 00:11:50.240 The Weight of Your Calling, because of the next line. 00:11:50.639 --> 00:11:59.840 I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called. 00:12:00.480 --> 00:12:06.960 Everybody in this room is called by God to do something on this earth. 00:12:07.120 --> 00:12:10.960 You are not here to be a consumer, you're here to be a producer. 00:12:11.600 --> 00:12:17.279 You're not here to just take up space and say that you're happy and play golf all the time. 00:12:17.519 --> 00:12:19.279 Now playing golf, not against golf. 00:12:19.360 --> 00:12:23.600 My son plays golf all the time, and he is also producing. 00:12:23.840 --> 00:12:25.120 So golf's great. 00:12:25.279 --> 00:12:28.639 I like to fly fish, but I don't fly fish all the time. 00:12:28.879 --> 00:12:30.080 I like to be outdoors. 00:12:30.240 --> 00:12:31.519 I'm not outdoors all the time. 00:12:31.759 --> 00:12:33.360 Because I'm called to something. 00:12:33.519 --> 00:12:36.159 In my case, I'm called to be a pastor of this church. 00:12:36.399 --> 00:12:41.120 And if you're here, you're gonna have to deal with me because I'm not going anywhere. 00:12:41.200 --> 00:12:42.080 I love this church. 00:12:42.159 --> 00:12:47.120 I want to build a family here, and I want my family to love this church, and so I work hard at that. 00:12:47.279 --> 00:12:57.039 But some of you are called to be school teachers, and some of you are called to be lawyers, and some of you are called to be entrepreneurs, and many of you are called to be husbands and fathers and mothers. 00:12:57.519 --> 00:12:58.639 That's a calling. 00:12:58.879 --> 00:13:02.720 He's not writing this just to the pastor, which would have been Timothy in Ephesus. 00:13:02.960 --> 00:13:04.960 He's still reading it, he's writing it in the plural. 00:13:05.279 --> 00:13:06.320 Your calling. 00:13:06.480 --> 00:13:09.039 You, every one of you in this room are missionaries. 00:13:09.279 --> 00:13:12.639 Every one of us in this room are called to the purposes of God. 00:13:12.799 --> 00:13:14.159 It is a holy calling. 00:13:14.320 --> 00:13:18.480 And one of the things that kind of messed this whole concept up was the medieval period. 00:13:18.960 --> 00:13:33.759 During the medieval period, in the Middle Ages, the Roman Catholic Church was really the only church, except for some spurious sects of Christianity at that time, kind of built a theological concept of the priesthood and the laity. 00:13:33.919 --> 00:13:35.759 You've heard the have y'all heard the term laity. 00:13:35.840 --> 00:13:36.720 So you got your laity. 00:13:36.879 --> 00:13:40.080 That's that's people who lay around, I guess, you know? 00:13:40.240 --> 00:13:42.159 You're never gonna hear me say laity. 00:13:42.399 --> 00:13:43.519 Are you a layman? 00:13:43.600 --> 00:13:47.440 And people are saying, you're a pastor, how's you how are the layman? 00:13:47.600 --> 00:13:49.120 And they go, what are you talking about? 00:13:49.279 --> 00:13:51.200 Oh, yeah, I forgot I was Lutheran in the background. 00:13:51.279 --> 00:13:52.240 He's just a layman. 00:13:52.399 --> 00:13:58.320 But it was this idea the priests are the ones who are really called, and the layman, yeah, you know, whatever. 00:13:58.480 --> 00:14:00.720 You know, you just kind of provide for your family. 00:14:00.960 --> 00:14:02.799 And so you had the monastic movement. 00:14:02.960 --> 00:14:05.200 The monastic movement were the monks and the nuns. 00:14:05.279 --> 00:14:10.799 And so you had monks, nuns, and priests, they're called, and it's kind of the rest of us, kind of the riffraff. 00:14:11.200 --> 00:14:20.320 But when the Reformation came with Martin Luther and Zwingli and Calvin, they began to teach a theological concept called the priesthood of all believers. 00:14:20.480 --> 00:14:21.519 Have you heard that before? 00:14:21.759 --> 00:14:26.639 The priesthood of all believers is the idea that all of us are priests. 00:14:27.200 --> 00:14:34.080 All of us are kings, all of us are worshippers and warriors, and that we're all called to God's purposes. 00:14:34.320 --> 00:14:38.399 And so and so Ephesians is gonna explain what that means. 00:14:38.559 --> 00:14:40.000 That we're we're elevated. 00:14:40.159 --> 00:14:41.679 You are elevated in Christ. 00:14:41.759 --> 00:14:43.840 You're above all principalities and powers. 00:14:44.000 --> 00:14:59.039 And as a matter of fact, many of you in this room, I know because I talked to you, you're more eloquent, more called to verbal gifts and speaking and teaching than most of the pastors in this city. 00:14:59.279 --> 00:15:00.720 I mean, you're anointed that way. 00:15:00.879 --> 00:15:07.120 But you'll probably never be a pastor, you know, in a in the sense of getting your paycheck from a church. 00:15:07.360 --> 00:15:10.639 You've got a calling on your life that God's gonna use. 00:15:10.720 --> 00:15:12.000 That's why we started home fellowships. 00:15:12.159 --> 00:15:16.000 That's why we're gonna do these community groups or what we call house churches. 00:15:16.240 --> 00:15:22.559 Because if the government begins to move in and we have to split off into small churches, we will. 00:15:22.639 --> 00:15:28.799 And some of you are gonna be called to be pastors of those groups and leaders of those groups. 00:15:29.519 --> 00:15:34.000 So he says, walk worthy of your calling. 00:15:34.320 --> 00:15:38.399 The word worthy in the Greek means sufficient weight. 00:15:38.559 --> 00:15:39.440 Write that down. 00:15:39.600 --> 00:15:42.000 It means sufficient weight. 00:15:42.399 --> 00:15:42.960 C.S. 00:15:43.120 --> 00:15:47.440 Lewis got it right in his treatise, The Weight of Glory. 00:15:47.759 --> 00:15:49.039 He's talking about the same thing. 00:15:49.279 --> 00:15:52.639 There is a weight to our calling. 00:15:53.440 --> 00:15:54.960 There's a weight to your calling. 00:15:55.039 --> 00:16:02.720 Some of you are entrepreneurial, and there is a weight to that walk, and the weight of the walk is sufficient to the calling on your life. 00:16:03.120 --> 00:16:13.679 So when you know your calling from God, you have something meaningful to live for, there's weight that goes with that. 00:16:14.720 --> 00:16:18.720 It's not all joy and happiness, there's a weight to it. 00:16:19.120 --> 00:16:21.840 It's hard sometimes, it's difficult. 00:16:21.919 --> 00:16:23.440 And I want to give you three things. 00:16:23.679 --> 00:16:30.240 Three things I think that are part of what this passage is saying about the weight of your calling. 00:16:30.480 --> 00:16:36.639 Whatever you're called to do, that weight, and here's the first one it's the weight of responsibility. 00:16:36.960 --> 00:16:39.360 It's the weight of responsibility. 00:16:39.519 --> 00:16:42.720 You have a responsibility that goes with your calling. 00:16:43.919 --> 00:16:52.960 So, men, if you're called to be a husband and a father, there's a weight to that. 00:16:54.080 --> 00:17:00.320 So recently, about a month and a half ago, I was talking to a young man who's been in and out of prison. 00:17:01.279 --> 00:17:09.359 And he was so excited to tell me about this girl he had met and how they're gonna get engaged and they're gonna get married, and he's pumped about that. 00:17:09.440 --> 00:17:11.839 And I said, How long have you been clean? 00:17:12.960 --> 00:17:14.480 He said, Four months. 00:17:14.720 --> 00:17:18.240 I said, What's the longest period of time you've been clean for meth? 00:17:18.880 --> 00:17:20.720 And he said, six months. 00:17:20.960 --> 00:17:23.440 I said, When are you planning on getting married? 00:17:23.680 --> 00:17:27.279 He said, in about four months, I said, That's the dumbest idea I've ever heard. 00:17:27.759 --> 00:17:35.920 I said, You show me at least a year, year and a half of walking clean because you've got a weight of responsibility by getting married. 00:17:37.039 --> 00:17:45.440 You're absolutely dragging that woman into a nightmare if you haven't learned about the weight of your calling, which is that of being a husband. 00:17:45.599 --> 00:17:49.839 And you never know, because you're sleeping together, as you might be a father too. 00:17:50.079 --> 00:17:53.440 So think it through because God's got a weight of a calling. 00:17:53.519 --> 00:17:58.799 And so, guys, when you're fathers and when you're husbands, there's a weight that goes with that. 00:17:59.119 --> 00:18:01.279 It interrupts your schedule. 00:18:01.680 --> 00:18:05.920 You can't do all the hunting, you can't do all the fishing, you can't play as much golf. 00:18:06.559 --> 00:18:11.839 There's a responsibility to that of making ends meet financially for your family. 00:18:12.160 --> 00:18:13.440 I have not met a guy yet. 00:18:13.519 --> 00:18:18.079 I said, Man, I just can't wait to get home today and change poopy diapers. 00:18:18.319 --> 00:18:20.480 I'm so pumped about that. 00:18:22.400 --> 00:18:23.839 Weight of your calling. 00:18:24.160 --> 00:18:25.119 Yeah, you gotta. 00:18:25.279 --> 00:18:27.279 You're gonna have to do poopy diapers. 00:18:27.440 --> 00:18:28.559 I'm sorry. 00:18:28.799 --> 00:18:30.640 But that's true in everything, guys. 00:18:31.279 --> 00:18:32.079 That's true in everything. 00:18:32.160 --> 00:18:34.559 There's a there's a responsibility that goes with that. 00:18:34.960 --> 00:18:40.079 And so and so the reality is you moms, same thing as a mother and a wife. 00:18:40.240 --> 00:18:42.640 You have got new responsibilities you didn't have before. 00:18:42.720 --> 00:18:45.200 You're not, you can't just go do anything willy-nilly, whatever you want to do. 00:18:45.359 --> 00:18:47.920 There's a weight that goes with it, it's a weight of your calling. 00:18:48.400 --> 00:18:50.400 Now I happen to believe it's worth it. 00:18:50.640 --> 00:18:54.160 After almost 36 years of marriage, I I've loved it. 00:18:54.319 --> 00:18:57.119 But man, I had to renew my mind in those early years, you know. 00:18:57.200 --> 00:19:03.359 It's like, okay, I I'm uh we were on the mission field at that time in Japan, and so I had to renew my mind. 00:19:03.440 --> 00:19:05.119 I'm going home now. 00:19:05.920 --> 00:19:08.880 Okay, so I'm gonna be there for Liz. 00:19:08.960 --> 00:19:10.400 And probably Liz had to do the same thing. 00:19:10.559 --> 00:19:12.960 Oh no, he's coming home now, you know. 00:19:13.119 --> 00:19:14.480 I gotta love him. 00:19:14.799 --> 00:19:15.279 Right? 00:19:15.519 --> 00:19:15.839 Right? 00:19:16.000 --> 00:19:17.279 Everybody know what I'm talking about? 00:19:17.440 --> 00:19:24.160 I mean, it's not all, you know, roses and happiness and joy. 00:19:24.319 --> 00:19:27.359 It's there's a weight of responsibility that goes with it. 00:19:27.759 --> 00:19:29.519 So think about Paul. 00:19:30.240 --> 00:19:32.160 Let's think about Paul for a moment. 00:19:32.480 --> 00:19:43.839 He is an up-and-coming rising star in Phariseaism, in the Jewish synagogue, all around the Mediterranean, but also especially in the temple area, he's well known. 00:19:43.920 --> 00:19:52.240 He's a rising star, and he is so zealous for Judaism that he's imprisoning this Christian sect called the way. 00:19:52.640 --> 00:19:58.160 And he's on his way to Tarsus, and he gets, and God comes with a blinding light, and he speaks into his life. 00:19:58.319 --> 00:20:11.440 And one of the things that God said, and it's covered in Acts, is that God said, he doesn't know, he's speaking to Ananias who went and baptized him, he doesn't know what he's gonna have to suffer for my sake. 00:20:12.400 --> 00:20:22.960 So the reason these are tied together in our verse is because he is a prisoner of the Lord to walk worthy the weight of his calling. 00:20:23.119 --> 00:20:26.960 So the weight of Paul's calling was he was a prisoner of the Lord. 00:20:27.440 --> 00:20:28.799 Now let's be honest. 00:20:28.960 --> 00:20:31.119 I'm not gonna ask for a show of hands on this. 00:20:31.359 --> 00:20:38.160 How many of you have felt, just you just say a yes inside your spirit, do not say it out loud, or you will get an elbow in your ribcage. 00:20:39.039 --> 00:20:45.519 Have felt sometimes in marriage and sometimes in parenting, you're a prisoner of the Lord. 00:20:46.079 --> 00:20:46.640 Right? 00:20:46.880 --> 00:20:47.920 It's hard. 00:20:48.240 --> 00:20:57.359 Okay, so Paul was a prisoner of the Lord because he's in the center of God's will and he knew the weight of his calling, and he was willing to be responsible. 00:20:57.920 --> 00:21:00.160 Men and women, be responsible. 00:21:01.519 --> 00:21:02.640 Shoulder it. 00:21:04.000 --> 00:21:05.519 You can handle it. 00:21:06.079 --> 00:21:09.200 So I went three years ago, Liz and I was had these back problems. 00:21:09.359 --> 00:21:10.799 Remember the back problems I was always having. 00:21:10.960 --> 00:21:13.519 We had to change out our mattress, got a purple mattress, things like that. 00:21:13.599 --> 00:21:18.880 But I went to a chiropractor, and the chiropractor said, first of all, your posture is horrible. 00:21:19.119 --> 00:21:20.559 And I went, no, it's not. 00:21:20.720 --> 00:21:22.640 And he goes, Yes, it is, and I took a picture of it. 00:21:22.720 --> 00:21:23.440 So he showed me. 00:21:23.519 --> 00:21:24.960 They had this thing where they could take a picture of it. 00:21:25.039 --> 00:21:34.640 And I was like, And he said, for every one degree that your head is forward, it's 15 pounds. 00:21:35.519 --> 00:21:39.680 So I think I was like eight degrees forward, and so eight times fifteen. 00:21:39.920 --> 00:21:42.960 That's that's the kind of weight I was putting on my spine and my shoulder. 00:21:43.039 --> 00:21:48.960 So he said, get your chest out, get your head back, and let's get that spine lined up. 00:21:49.039 --> 00:21:54.960 And I had to do that, and guys on the staff team all know I used to come in sometimes like this, and they go, What are you doing? 00:21:55.119 --> 00:21:58.240 I go, This is what my chiropractor told me to do, you know. 00:22:00.000 --> 00:22:01.279 You know why? 00:22:01.759 --> 00:22:12.319 Because if I will line up my spine the way it's supposed to be lined up, I'll be healthier and I'll have a stronger back. 00:22:13.759 --> 00:22:23.920 So, church, puff out your chest, hold your head up, and carry the responsibilities on your back that God gave you. 00:22:24.400 --> 00:22:25.440 You can do it. 00:22:25.759 --> 00:22:27.200 It's alright. 00:22:28.559 --> 00:22:34.319 So we have a responsibility on Saturday to Sunday next weekend. 00:22:35.039 --> 00:22:54.880 We have an increasingly oppressive government being led by a censored media that is doing everything possible to fake you out so that you won't do anything about it. 00:22:55.119 --> 00:23:00.079 And we're doing a thing because we feel called to a 24-hour burn. 00:23:01.920 --> 00:23:07.119 Let me just say, if you can't give up two hours from 9 a.m. 00:23:07.279 --> 00:23:08.799 on Saturday morning to 9 a.m. 00:23:08.960 --> 00:23:11.759 on Sunday, and we'll be in here worshiping and praying. 00:23:11.839 --> 00:23:17.839 If you can't give up two hours, you have no room to complain if they shut us down a year from now. 00:23:19.119 --> 00:23:22.559 Because when we pray, God comes. 00:23:23.119 --> 00:23:26.960 Do you guys remember that there was a, well, you may not know this. 00:23:27.279 --> 00:23:27.680 I know this. 00:23:27.920 --> 00:23:36.880 Liz knows this because Liz told me because we know a person in the National Guard that called us and let us know that they were called up. 00:23:37.119 --> 00:23:38.720 Was this a month ago, Liz? 00:23:38.960 --> 00:23:42.240 The thing about the um targeting Hispanics? 00:23:42.720 --> 00:23:43.839 So three months ago? 00:23:44.079 --> 00:23:44.559 Three weeks ago. 00:23:44.799 --> 00:23:45.519 Three weeks ago. 00:23:45.680 --> 00:23:57.039 So three weeks ago, National Guard was called up in Colorado to target Hispanics to go after them in vans and with their uniforms and their guns and everything to make them take the shot. 00:23:58.480 --> 00:24:03.279 And we called a meeting and we prayed, and that edict was changed, and they didn't do it. 00:24:05.200 --> 00:24:06.640 Prayer matters. 00:24:06.880 --> 00:24:08.319 Prayer makes a difference. 00:24:08.480 --> 00:24:15.279 And if you're not praying for our governor, and if you're not praying for our county, did I say that right? 00:24:15.519 --> 00:24:15.839 No. 00:24:18.640 --> 00:24:21.839 That's why you need to go outside and not listen to this thing. 00:24:22.480 --> 00:24:24.960 National Guard was encouraging people to get the show. 00:24:25.279 --> 00:24:25.440 Okay. 00:24:25.599 --> 00:24:28.160 She said they were encouraging people, they weren't making people. 00:24:28.400 --> 00:24:28.720 Okay. 00:24:29.599 --> 00:24:34.880 But we sent it to we actually sent the article to Delonguinos Gonzalez, one of our county commissioners. 00:24:34.960 --> 00:24:35.839 He didn't know about it. 00:24:35.920 --> 00:24:38.000 But anyway, it changed when we prayed. 00:24:38.240 --> 00:24:39.519 And that's the point. 00:24:39.759 --> 00:24:41.200 So I want to challenge you. 00:24:41.440 --> 00:24:42.079 9 a.m. 00:24:42.319 --> 00:24:53.359 Saturday, two-hour slots, and men, I'd encourage you if y'all could take those wee hours of the morning, come here, miss two hours of sleep, and cry out to God. 00:24:53.599 --> 00:24:54.960 Cry out to God for our nation. 00:24:55.119 --> 00:24:57.599 Cry out to God, mainly for our state. 00:24:58.640 --> 00:25:04.559 I mean, seriously, national politics, that's that's above my pay grade. 00:25:05.440 --> 00:25:07.680 I care about El Paso County. 00:25:07.920 --> 00:25:10.160 I care about Colorado Springs. 00:25:10.799 --> 00:25:13.839 So when I spoke at a revival, I was at a revival tent meeting. 00:25:14.079 --> 00:25:14.880 Were any of you there? 00:25:15.039 --> 00:25:17.599 Because I was at a revival tent meeting in fountain last night. 00:25:17.920 --> 00:25:18.799 Some of you were there. 00:25:18.960 --> 00:25:19.920 It's really fun. 00:25:20.240 --> 00:25:22.160 And uh, and I gave it to a man. 00:25:22.240 --> 00:25:24.160 Both both guns were blazing. 00:25:24.400 --> 00:25:28.079 And um, we talked about a kingdom of God revolution. 00:25:28.319 --> 00:25:40.079 And I shared with them that when I was I was riding my bicycle years ago to go to class in graduate school, and almost like an audible voice, the Lord spoke to me, I want to make Colorado Springs a model city. 00:25:40.240 --> 00:25:41.920 And we already knew we were called here. 00:25:42.160 --> 00:25:43.359 I still believe that. 00:25:43.599 --> 00:25:47.200 I believe that Colorado Springs should be the model city for our nation. 00:25:47.359 --> 00:25:51.680 I believe that El Paso County should be the model county for our nation. 00:25:51.920 --> 00:25:52.960 We got to pray for that. 00:25:53.119 --> 00:25:54.000 We gotta believe God. 00:25:54.079 --> 00:25:55.359 You gotta be willing to pray. 00:25:55.440 --> 00:25:57.680 And so we're gonna come here and so come. 00:25:58.079 --> 00:26:08.079 In that hour, we're gonna pray for education, we're gonna pray for government, we're gonna pray for the military, we're gonna pray for our businesses, we're gonna pray, like even when I was with the county commissioners. 00:26:08.160 --> 00:26:14.960 You guys remember we made the big declaration a few months ago with the county commissioners, and you guys packed out, you know, Centennial Hall down there and everything. 00:26:15.039 --> 00:26:16.160 It was just powerful. 00:26:16.480 --> 00:26:26.880 But I remember Longinos and Holly and those in the county commissioners said, we are begging people to stay open with their business. 00:26:27.119 --> 00:26:29.519 Even though Polis is saying that. 00:26:30.480 --> 00:26:33.359 It's unconstitutional, it's wrong. 00:26:34.160 --> 00:26:39.759 And he says, if they will, we'll back them and we'll take him, we'll take him to court. 00:26:40.000 --> 00:26:48.319 Because here's the thing, you guys, that you need to understand is when you have an oppressive government, they count on good people doing nothing. 00:26:51.519 --> 00:26:56.079 This is our country, this is our county, and this is our city. 00:26:56.720 --> 00:26:58.720 So God's called us to stand for that. 00:26:58.880 --> 00:27:02.559 And this is our church, and this is your church family. 00:27:02.880 --> 00:27:05.759 So we watch each other's back. 00:27:06.240 --> 00:27:14.559 That's why it's important for you men to come to whole heart advance, September 9th through the 12th. 00:27:14.640 --> 00:27:16.079 We only do this every two years. 00:27:16.319 --> 00:27:26.480