WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:02.640 You are listening to the Sozokyle Church podcast. 00:00:02.720 --> 00:00:10.400 To learn more about Sozo Kyle Church, including our gathering times in the Kyle area, visit us online at sozoktx.com. 00:00:10.560 --> 00:00:13.359 Today's talk comes from Pastor Chris Ball. 00:00:13.759 --> 00:00:20.079 Healthy churches aren't built primarily on good theology or gifted leadership, as you can tell. 00:00:20.320 --> 00:00:28.160 Uh they're they're built on a big word here, um, covenant relationships. 00:00:28.480 --> 00:00:52.960 So somebody walks in to a gathering like this, and you could say, um, oh man, they were really together on the way they um helped me worship God, or they were really together on uh preaching the word, or man, it seemed like they really had a knack for praying and holding um the word up, all important things, but not necessarily the most important thing. 00:00:53.200 --> 00:01:00.320 Jesus gave clear insight into what to major on, and that is to love each other really well. 00:01:00.479 --> 00:01:06.879 And in fact, he said that's the distinguishing feature is to be a group who's known by the way they love each other. 00:01:07.040 --> 00:01:23.200 So the goal of transformation, I believe, in a community like ours is that people would come to a group of believers and say, yeah, that was okay and that part was good, but my goodness, what I am taking away from my experience is they seem to really love each other. 00:01:23.519 --> 00:01:27.359 Maybe I could be broken into that and be loved like them. 00:01:27.599 --> 00:01:31.359 Maybe I could participate in the loving of people like that. 00:01:31.519 --> 00:01:37.280 I mean, that is absolutely the trump card, and it's a pretty low-hanging piece of fruit, the simplicity of love. 00:01:37.439 --> 00:01:42.879 And so Acts 2 wasn't this powerful picture of uh the church because of incredible Sunday gatherings. 00:01:43.040 --> 00:01:49.760 Acts chapter 2, where the church is really birthed at, was an incredible scene because they actually tapped into being family. 00:01:49.920 --> 00:01:51.120 They actually got it. 00:01:51.359 --> 00:02:02.000 All these big phrases and vision pieces and statements and promises are empty if it's not actually felt and experienced, the family portion. 00:02:02.159 --> 00:02:16.000 And so when I envision our piece of the pie being consumed by our community and transformation with what God's doing in us actually making a difference, then I believe that that's actually what it looks like. 00:02:16.159 --> 00:02:20.800 It looks like our greatest witness being the way we love each other. 00:02:20.960 --> 00:02:25.520 And so what I know and what you know is that people aren't longing for another service. 00:02:26.000 --> 00:02:34.879 What they're longing for is belonging, which I would say is synonymous with family and not even perfect family, but kingdom family. 00:02:35.120 --> 00:02:40.400 Kingdom family that just keeps coming back, that that keeps their love on, so to speak. 00:02:40.560 --> 00:02:44.319 And so that's really the final home stretch here that I want to highlight. 00:02:44.560 --> 00:02:51.759 So honor tonight and the kingdom of God runs on a currency that a lot of the world has either forgotten about or not known before. 00:02:52.400 --> 00:03:02.319 And the world largely runs on a currency of time and money, frankly, if you were to look through the lens of what actually causes things to go round, what actually elevates people, what actually brings status about. 00:03:02.479 --> 00:03:04.960 It's how much time can you give and how much money you got. 00:03:05.120 --> 00:03:06.400 I mean, that's your resource, right? 00:03:06.479 --> 00:03:07.759 That that is so valued. 00:03:07.919 --> 00:03:12.240 But the kingdom of God actually runs on a currency of honor and faith. 00:03:12.560 --> 00:03:15.360 That actually is what turns the wheel. 00:03:15.680 --> 00:03:25.840 And we find ourselves in a time where, um, yeah, I think honors is overlooked a bit, or maybe taken for granted, or uh somebody else will do it. 00:03:25.919 --> 00:03:33.199 I'm not sure that's really my role, or maybe I'm not good at honoring, or maybe I feel like I haven't really ever been honored, and so I don't know how to pass that tool along. 00:03:33.520 --> 00:03:42.240 And what is praised and honored, if you look around, oftentimes, is actually comparison. 00:03:42.479 --> 00:03:50.479 And if I'm making a big, big point tonight, I think that's what I'd like to say is that uh comparison is the thief of honor. 00:03:52.800 --> 00:03:59.919 All said one of the greatest mysteries of the gospel is that Jesus actually lives inside of people, right? 00:04:00.159 --> 00:04:04.479 Christ in you, and that truth brings about hope. 00:04:05.120 --> 00:04:14.879 And the hope is the glory of God, the weight of God, God's breakthrough, that he's here, that there's actual power in him being here, that there's role and room for you in the kingdom. 00:04:15.039 --> 00:04:16.720 That's the thing that is most important. 00:04:16.879 --> 00:04:18.000 That's the mystery. 00:04:18.319 --> 00:04:22.319 And uh it means every person you meet is carrying something from heaven. 00:04:22.879 --> 00:04:24.800 So think about it with me for a minute. 00:04:25.279 --> 00:04:33.199 Every single human who's ever been created by God, which is every single human, has the stamp of God's DNA in them. 00:04:34.079 --> 00:04:41.040 Now, when that is mixed with receiving through faith, it's like a mentos in a coke. 00:04:41.680 --> 00:04:42.480 Ever done that one? 00:04:42.639 --> 00:04:46.319 You put a mentos down in a coke and it's like this huge explosion. 00:04:46.480 --> 00:04:51.439 There's an activation because of what is in a human from creation, the stamp of God. 00:04:51.759 --> 00:05:09.199 And then when faith comes in, then there is absolutely the mystery unveiled that, oh my word, you're a new creator, just like David was saying, a new creation, a complete, never-been before in existence, new species of creation, a person that actually has Jesus in them. 00:05:09.360 --> 00:05:16.399 So I'd suggest something really simple and powerful: that honor is the highway for God's glory to show up. 00:05:18.000 --> 00:05:23.680 We need God's glory, and he's made it available for us to know and to participate in. 00:05:23.920 --> 00:05:37.759 And the and the road that it rides on, I think is built on this culture, this community that honors God, that honors each other, that honors what he's up to, that looks for it. 00:05:37.920 --> 00:05:48.480 So Colossians 1.27 is the the verse that he says to them, God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles, which is a big deal, that this is for everybody. 00:05:48.639 --> 00:05:53.920 You can just put substitute Gentiles for everybody, because it was written to the people who were like, this is just for us, right? 00:05:54.000 --> 00:05:54.720 We're really important. 00:05:54.800 --> 00:05:57.199 You are important, but it's you're not the only ones that are important. 00:05:57.759 --> 00:06:00.000 The mystery, Christ in you, the hope of glory. 00:06:00.079 --> 00:06:04.800 And then Genesis 127 says that God formed man in his image. 00:06:04.959 --> 00:06:18.959 So the dormant DNA strand of God inside of everybody, and then the catalyst, if you think of it like a chemical reaction, is faith partnering with it, um, which means that every single believer is honorable. 00:06:19.120 --> 00:06:23.279 Honestly, every person is honorable because they've got God stamped inside of them. 00:06:23.519 --> 00:06:29.600 So it's not like you're honorable, you're less honorable, you're really far down, you're coming up the ladder. 00:06:29.680 --> 00:06:31.360 No, that's the way the world looks at honor. 00:06:31.920 --> 00:06:35.040 But everybody that you encounter is honorable. 00:06:35.199 --> 00:06:38.959 And with this mindset, it takes the idea of honor to a whole other level. 00:06:39.120 --> 00:06:45.519 Um, because you're not just honoring the gift someone has, you're honoring the Jesus inside of them. 00:06:45.759 --> 00:06:46.000 Right? 00:06:46.160 --> 00:06:50.879 I mean, isn't I so I feel like there's a level of this that is so obvious. 00:06:51.040 --> 00:06:55.199 So forgive me for over-explaining the obvious, but but stick with me a minute. 00:06:55.439 --> 00:07:01.759 It's so tempting to take your pile of honor that you got and say, where am I going to spend this today? 00:07:01.920 --> 00:07:04.079 Well, who's the most talented person I know? 00:07:04.160 --> 00:07:08.399 Who's the person who needs some accolades, who needs some credit for what they've done, who's got a deep resume? 00:07:08.560 --> 00:07:13.199 Well, let's put some honor on them because clearly they deserve honor because look what they've accomplished. 00:07:13.360 --> 00:07:18.000 And it's a radical turnaround to say it's not the gift really that need that deserves the honor. 00:07:18.160 --> 00:07:34.079 It's the Christ in a person, the righteousness of God, that's worth honoring, because that's actually a key that unlocks all the gold, all the potential that's in the person who hasn't accomplished the resume yet to start accomplishing all the plan that God has for their life. 00:07:34.480 --> 00:07:36.160 Matthew 10, 41. 00:07:36.720 --> 00:07:43.279 Whoever welcomes a prophet as a prophet will receive a prophet's reward. 00:07:43.920 --> 00:07:49.680 And whoever welcomes a righteous person as a righteous person will receive a righteous person's reward. 00:07:49.839 --> 00:07:53.839 Uh a lot of theologians will actually paraphrase this verse to use the word honor. 00:07:54.000 --> 00:07:59.199 In other words, uh, he who honors a prophet in the name of a prophet will actually receive the prophet's reward. 00:07:59.360 --> 00:08:05.279 Um, I recognize who you are, I recognize what you carry, um, I recognize that you're not just an ordinary person. 00:08:05.439 --> 00:08:08.319 That's what it is to honor a prophet for being a prophet. 00:08:08.480 --> 00:08:12.160 It's saying that you're more than your gift, you're more than your skill. 00:08:12.399 --> 00:08:18.800 Um you actually have uh the markings, the fingerprints of God on your life, and I recognize that. 00:08:18.879 --> 00:08:25.040 And it says when you do that, it actually unlocks the reward for you, the honorer. 00:08:26.000 --> 00:08:31.439 You actually get a piece of the reward that they would get for what God's done in their life by bringing honor to them. 00:08:31.680 --> 00:08:33.279 That's pretty amazing. 00:08:33.759 --> 00:08:48.480 Um this past week, Sarin, my youngest here on the front row, has got a fresh cut, was at a basketball camp at Hayes High School, and truth be known, he was a year too young to go to it. 00:08:49.039 --> 00:08:52.000 Um, you say, Oh, I didn't realize you were quite so rebellious. 00:08:52.879 --> 00:08:54.080 Well, stick around. 00:08:54.399 --> 00:08:56.159 No, just kidding. 00:08:56.720 --> 00:09:05.279 Uh actually backed into it, um the babysitters, Sarin's older brothers, have been going to strength and conditioning camp all summer long. 00:09:05.440 --> 00:09:11.200 And so Sarin's 10, and it's not our best parenting move to leave a 10-year-old by himself at the house. 00:09:11.279 --> 00:09:12.399 I mean, we're not above it. 00:09:12.480 --> 00:09:15.279 There's somewhere there's a threshold there, and we're we're probably past it. 00:09:15.360 --> 00:09:16.480 So he's been left before. 00:09:16.559 --> 00:09:22.320 So um, but if we have our, you know, best foot forward, then we're gonna try to not have him by himself at 10. 00:09:22.399 --> 00:09:25.360 Uh poor guy, doesn't even have a phone yet, if you can believe it or not. 00:09:25.600 --> 00:09:27.279 Um, I can believe it. 00:09:27.679 --> 00:09:30.960 And so the oldest, Cohen, he's the driver, right? 00:09:31.039 --> 00:09:33.440 Which is tri totally changing our family. 00:09:33.519 --> 00:09:34.240 It's wonderful. 00:09:34.399 --> 00:09:38.799 Uh, started taking Saren with him while the other three go to strength and conditioning camp. 00:09:38.879 --> 00:09:44.000 And then the plan was originally like, well, just sit on the sideline until we're done with strength and conditioning camp and then we'll take you back home. 00:09:44.159 --> 00:09:47.200 And so some of the coaches were like, hey, what's your name? 00:09:47.279 --> 00:09:48.720 Sarin, get out, get out here, right? 00:09:48.879 --> 00:09:49.840 So they said, come work out. 00:09:49.919 --> 00:09:50.720 You know, you're old enough. 00:09:50.799 --> 00:09:53.039 If you're if you're good enough, you're old enough. 00:09:53.200 --> 00:09:58.639 Um, and so anyway, they got him in the mix, and so he's been working out strength and conditioning camp, certainly too young. 00:09:58.879 --> 00:10:02.320 And so then one of the coaches was like, hey, hey, old's enough. 00:10:02.480 --> 00:10:04.720 Just put him in the mix, whatever it is. 00:10:05.279 --> 00:10:06.639 So that was all I needed to hear. 00:10:06.720 --> 00:10:10.159 So the basketball camp is for gonna be fifth and sixth graders and seventh and eighth graders. 00:10:10.240 --> 00:10:13.200 Well, he's gonna be a fourth grader, but he got held back in preschool, bless his heart. 00:10:13.279 --> 00:10:16.080 And so um, he should be a fifth grader, right, Sarin? 00:10:16.240 --> 00:10:19.759 And so anyway, he's at the camp and he did pretty good. 00:10:20.080 --> 00:10:26.080 But here's the point Um There was a young man who was at the camp, and his name's Dylan. 00:10:26.480 --> 00:10:32.720 And Dylan uh reached out to Sarin, seeing him there, and and at first he even asked him, he said, How old are you? 00:10:32.799 --> 00:10:35.919 And Sarin's like, uh I'm old enough. 00:10:36.720 --> 00:10:39.440 And Sarin gave him his explanation and everything. 00:10:39.759 --> 00:10:47.919 And um Sarin came home and told me, he's like, Dad, uh, one of my most favorite parts of the three-day basketball camp was my interaction with Dylan. 00:10:48.159 --> 00:10:49.600 Dylan was amazing. 00:10:49.759 --> 00:10:56.000 And then he was kind of trying to explain Dylan to me, and I hadn't um met Dylan yet that I knew of or anything. 00:10:56.080 --> 00:10:59.600 And and so then I'm there the next day, and I got to meet Dylan. 00:10:59.759 --> 00:11:06.159 Brandy introduced me to Dylan, and uh Dylan um has a handicap, he's in a wheelchair. 00:11:06.399 --> 00:11:10.639 And I met Dylan, and Dylan was terrific to me as well. 00:11:10.799 --> 00:11:13.919 And I watch your YouTube channel and I love it. 00:11:14.240 --> 00:11:26.480 And in retrospect, thinking about Saren's experience at basketball camp, I realized I witnessed a real exchange of honor between Dylan and Saarin. 00:11:27.440 --> 00:11:36.399 And Saarin received Dylan's honor that he gave him by saying, Hey, I'm gonna give you some attention and talk to you. 00:11:36.639 --> 00:11:44.399 The youngest, smallest, easily most invisible kid at camp, Dylan finds and goes and talks to and impacts my 10-year-old's life. 00:11:44.720 --> 00:11:48.159 And then Saarin comes back to me and gives me a report. 00:11:48.320 --> 00:11:52.480 Dad, hands down, the best part of camp was getting to talk to Dylan. 00:11:52.879 --> 00:11:56.559 And by him reporting that to me, honors Dylan. 00:11:56.720 --> 00:11:59.600 And I thought, my word, I just witnessed the kingdom. 00:11:59.679 --> 00:12:03.200 It could have, it could have escaped me, it could have gone right past me. 00:12:03.600 --> 00:12:07.200 And I just am so thankful that fuck the Lord highlighted that's a picture of honor. 00:12:07.360 --> 00:12:14.159 And what that does is it unlocks reward in both people, in both parties. 00:12:14.399 --> 00:12:26.000 Saarin may not realize it yet, maybe he will now that he's here in church hearing this testimony, but he's further down the line in the kingdom because of his participation in the exchange of honor that he didn't even know he was doing. 00:12:26.240 --> 00:12:30.799 And I promise you, Dylan, who's making a lifestyle of that, I can tell by now observing his life. 00:12:30.879 --> 00:12:37.519 I actually recognize him from seeing him sidelines at all the basketball games for the last uh, I don't know, umpteen basketball games they've had. 00:12:37.679 --> 00:12:40.879 And he is a class favorite because he knows how to honor people. 00:12:41.120 --> 00:12:43.679 Honor wins the day every time. 00:12:43.840 --> 00:12:50.320 So honoring someone um is uh yeah, is is seeing Christ in people. 00:12:50.720 --> 00:12:52.000 And that's actually attractive. 00:12:52.159 --> 00:13:00.480 When you're drawn to somebody anyway, deep down, whether you have eyes to recognize it or not, it's actually Christ in them that you're attracted to. 00:13:00.639 --> 00:13:02.000 Yeah, but what if they don't know Jesus? 00:13:02.159 --> 00:13:10.720 His stamp's in there, his glory is on their life, and you're honoring them, maybe the thing to bring it to realization for them in the first place. 00:13:10.960 --> 00:13:14.080 It's a powerful covenant family tool. 00:13:14.320 --> 00:13:16.960 Honoring someone's not just for them, it's also for you. 00:13:17.120 --> 00:13:17.919 That's that verse. 00:13:18.000 --> 00:13:22.080 Um, who gets the reward you do as the one who does the honoring. 00:13:22.240 --> 00:13:28.399 Exodus tells us that if you honor your father and mother in the Ten Commandments, it'll go well for you and you'll live long in the land. 00:13:28.639 --> 00:13:33.919 So is honoring your mom and dad for your mom and dad, or is honoring your mom and dad for you? 00:13:34.879 --> 00:13:35.679 Yes, right? 00:13:35.759 --> 00:13:36.879 It's the tension of the Bible. 00:13:36.960 --> 00:13:39.039 It's like, uh, it's for both, I guess. 00:13:39.200 --> 00:13:41.039 It's like a yes and yes answer. 00:13:41.360 --> 00:13:45.360 Honor has that kind of power that it it's it's good for both people. 00:13:46.080 --> 00:13:52.000 So a flow of blessing starts happening in the spirit when you start to honor those around you. 00:13:52.159 --> 00:13:55.600 It actually unleashes an anointing on your life. 00:13:55.840 --> 00:14:04.080 I believe it unleashes an anointing in the room, in the area, in the in the in the region, essentially, if you get people who really start to get that level of honoring. 00:14:04.240 --> 00:14:08.159 Um and so we mentioned it a minute ago, but so what's the counterfeit to honor? 00:14:08.320 --> 00:14:09.440 It's comparison. 00:14:09.679 --> 00:14:12.799 Comparison will absolutely undercut honor. 00:14:13.679 --> 00:14:18.559 So if I receive a prophet as such, then I'll receive a prophet's reward. 00:14:18.720 --> 00:14:33.679 But if I don't believe I can receive that reward, that I'm not worthy to receive such a reward, that I don't have what it takes, that I haven't been through enough, not battle tested enough, I'd I end up saying, Well, that person's amazing, but I could never do that. 00:14:33.919 --> 00:14:34.960 I could never be there. 00:14:35.200 --> 00:14:37.360 I could never have God do that in my life. 00:14:37.600 --> 00:14:38.320 Well, guess what? 00:14:38.480 --> 00:14:46.240 I've just shut off the door of the reward that God actually wanted to give me by putting honoring that person on my heart in the first place. 00:14:46.879 --> 00:14:52.000 It looks so similar to honor to say, wow, you're amazing at that. 00:14:52.320 --> 00:14:53.600 I could never do that. 00:14:53.840 --> 00:15:03.759 Sounds like honor on the surface, but it's a counterfeit because the heart is actually stopping short of realizing, oh my goodness, God's doing that. 00:15:04.000 --> 00:15:13.840 Listen, so much of what God has given you and skilled you with is actually, it's more multifaceted than just for whatever the project is he's called you to. 00:15:13.919 --> 00:15:19.039 It's actually a doorway for the people around you to walk through what you provide. 00:15:21.600 --> 00:15:26.639 My faith in my life absolutely is for the benefit of my four boys. 00:15:26.960 --> 00:15:29.440 It's contagious, it's mottled. 00:15:29.679 --> 00:15:32.639 It's what Brad always praised that my floor would be their ceiling. 00:15:32.799 --> 00:15:36.320 No, my ceiling would be their floor to stand on, to step on. 00:15:36.559 --> 00:15:49.120 Like what God has given you is for others as well around you, and comes on the heels as honor begins to unlock and unleash and widen the flow of it to come through. 00:15:49.759 --> 00:15:51.279 And I believe that. 00:15:52.399 --> 00:15:54.159 And so what is the gift you long for? 00:15:54.240 --> 00:15:57.840 Is it the ability to be a prophet, as in the case of this verse in Matthew? 00:15:58.080 --> 00:16:00.480 Um, ultimately, the gift is Jesus. 00:16:01.600 --> 00:16:10.559 Ultimately, when you see and admire something in someone, it's the it's the engine, it's the source behind the gift that's actually the most attractive thing. 00:16:10.639 --> 00:16:11.200 It's Jesus. 00:16:11.360 --> 00:16:13.519 And the good news is he's in you. 00:16:13.759 --> 00:16:20.559 I mean, full throttle, his plan in your life, but comparison says, wow, look how incredible they are. 00:16:20.639 --> 00:16:21.600 I could never be like that. 00:16:21.679 --> 00:16:26.080 And you distance yourself from the very glory that you're longing for. 00:16:26.240 --> 00:16:28.559 The comparison, it's the killer of anointing. 00:16:28.639 --> 00:16:33.360 So turn, if you got a Bible or dial it up, Lori will put on the screen, Acts chapter 10. 00:16:33.919 --> 00:16:38.720 Um the attack of honor in the world really is at the heels of comparison. 00:16:38.799 --> 00:16:46.720 Um, maybe you've been in a friend group before with some people, and you notice that when you're in that particular friend group, you're funnier than you normally are. 00:16:46.960 --> 00:16:49.279 You're like, why am I funny in that group? 00:16:49.440 --> 00:16:50.320 They laugh at everything. 00:16:50.480 --> 00:16:53.440 Any joke I tell, it seems like they're laughing at it. 00:16:53.600 --> 00:17:01.120 Um, maybe you you've been around people, it's like they pull the ideas out of you, and you're like, man, around that group of people, I have my best ideas. 00:17:01.279 --> 00:17:03.200 I'm like an ideation machine, baby. 00:17:03.279 --> 00:17:04.400 I just keep thinking of stuff. 00:17:04.640 --> 00:17:05.519 What can we do next? 00:17:05.599 --> 00:17:07.839 Like, but it happens best when I'm around this group of people. 00:17:07.920 --> 00:17:10.480 Like they're pulling the ideas out of me. 00:17:10.720 --> 00:17:14.960 Um, maybe you've had a coach before, and the coach just built you up. 00:17:15.119 --> 00:17:17.200 My brother-in-law talks about his junior high coach. 00:17:17.279 --> 00:17:24.480 He said, I was not worth a darn at the sport of basketball, but I got shoved onto the basketball court and they're like, hey, uh, you're gonna play basketball. 00:17:24.559 --> 00:17:30.799 And he's like, I had no business playing basketball, but my coach treated me like I was the best player on the team. 00:17:30.960 --> 00:17:36.720 He would even make comments like, Hey, we're gonna give Aaron a shot, and when we do, watch out, the scoreboard's gonna light up. 00:17:36.799 --> 00:17:38.799 And everybody's like, prove it. 00:17:39.200 --> 00:17:44.160 But Aaron said he said it so much of the time that I actually started to believe it. 00:17:44.319 --> 00:17:45.599 He said, and you know what? 00:17:45.759 --> 00:17:48.319 I actually turned into a decent basketball player. 00:17:48.480 --> 00:17:57.839 Now it wasn't his lifelong mission, but it's possible you've had a coach, and it seemed like he and you certainly believe you were skipping college and going straight to the NBA. 00:17:57.920 --> 00:18:02.640 It's like he believed in you that much, it was just being pulled out of you. 00:18:03.519 --> 00:18:10.319 And a lot of relationships um are in that place, and we'll call it the glory zone. 00:18:10.640 --> 00:18:24.720 Those friendships just are in the glory zone where like the best version of you happens, like ideas and creativity and flourishment happen because of the gold diggers that are just like, hey, I know there's gold in you. 00:18:24.799 --> 00:18:27.359 It may have been shovel in hand, but I am gonna find it. 00:18:27.440 --> 00:18:30.000 I am relentless where it's looked like dirt on the surface. 00:18:30.079 --> 00:18:33.680 I'm not stopping there because I know there's something glowing underneath. 00:18:35.519 --> 00:18:40.160 And a lot of relationships start in this place until there's a moment of disappointment. 00:18:41.279 --> 00:18:45.279 And now that disappointment has been introduced, you have a choice to make. 00:18:46.160 --> 00:18:50.000 Do you honor or do you disconnect and walk away? 00:18:50.799 --> 00:18:57.839 And I think a good thing for us to ponder as we think about honor is think about your longest friendships in life. 00:18:58.559 --> 00:19:06.000 There's something telling about your ability to have a friendship that's real that lasts over 10 years. 00:19:06.880 --> 00:19:20.079 Um it shows you can move from the glory zone to disappointment and then in honor confront, do what's necessary, and move back into the glory zone. 00:19:20.240 --> 00:19:24.319 And maybe there's some cycle of that, and such is the nature of family. 00:19:24.640 --> 00:19:25.119 Hello. 00:19:26.559 --> 00:19:45.839 Um if someone though has a track record of like only having three-month friendships, 12 months tops, then it may be telling that they have been choosing to break connection instead of choosing honor in the place of disappointments. 00:19:46.079 --> 00:19:51.039 And the kingdom way of living puts people back in the glory zone. 00:19:51.119 --> 00:19:58.160 And I'm not saying that reconciliation with hard moments in life is always God's will. 00:19:58.240 --> 00:19:59.759 Um, certainly it's not. 00:20:00.000 --> 00:20:03.119 Forgiveness is, and there's there's glory for that. 00:20:03.279 --> 00:20:13.680 But even in the moments and in the places where a way to reconcile forward is not happening, there's still the possibility of honor to rule the day and to be the place of your heart. 00:20:13.759 --> 00:20:16.319 And God will help show you what that looks like. 00:20:16.559 --> 00:20:26.720 Um but the kingdom says I don't see the dirt, even though there's disappointment and there's a bunch of dirt dumped dumped on top, that I know there is uh a gold field. 00:20:26.880 --> 00:20:29.839 Um, if you've been married longer than two months, you've experienced this. 00:20:30.319 --> 00:20:32.640 You realize, oh man, disappointment. 00:20:32.720 --> 00:20:38.960 Um, but I'm gonna choose, in fact, to go after the gold and and not say, well, heck with this, we're moving on. 00:20:39.119 --> 00:20:41.839 And so, so back to Acts 10. 00:20:41.920 --> 00:20:46.319 This is the story of Peter going to Cornelius' house and he preaches to a group of Gentiles. 00:20:46.480 --> 00:20:53.279 Remember the whole thing about the Jews being the ones who like, this is for us, and the Gentiles being for everybody else, and we're not sure it's for them. 00:20:53.519 --> 00:21:01.039 And so this is where it all breaks free, and they realize that there is a turning point and it's for everybody. 00:21:01.200 --> 00:21:02.079 The spirit is. 00:21:02.240 --> 00:21:04.079 Um, it was a little bit like high school. 00:21:04.240 --> 00:21:07.200 I don't know where you found yourself on the cool kid, not cool kid list. 00:21:07.359 --> 00:21:14.400 I remember being in junior high one time, and one of my friends said something like, Can you imagine if one of us had a girlfriend? 00:21:16.319 --> 00:21:20.160 And then somebody else said, Can you imagine if just one of us had a girl that was a friend? 00:21:22.319 --> 00:21:25.200 It's like, we might not be in the cool kid club yet. 00:21:25.279 --> 00:21:28.960 That's kind of what's going on here in Acts chapter 10 with the Jews and the Gentiles. 00:21:29.039 --> 00:21:34.880 And so, uh, verse 1 at Caesarea, there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion. 00:21:34.960 --> 00:21:39.440 Uh, so he's in the army, the Roman army, in what was known as the Italian regiment. 00:21:39.839 --> 00:21:41.279 He's a somebody. 00:21:42.000 --> 00:21:46.559 He and all his family were devout and God fearing. 00:21:46.720 --> 00:21:49.279 He gave generously to those in need. 00:21:49.599 --> 00:21:51.519 He prayed to God regularly. 00:21:51.680 --> 00:21:52.720 That's a good thing. 00:21:52.960 --> 00:21:58.000 And one day at about three in the afternoon, I love the specifics of it, he had a vision. 00:21:58.240 --> 00:21:59.680 He distinctly saw an angel. 00:22:00.079 --> 00:22:04.880 angel of God who came to him and said, Cornelius, exclamation point. 00:22:05.200 --> 00:22:07.200 Cornelius stared at him in fear. 00:22:07.440 --> 00:22:08.720 You might too. 00:22:09.039 --> 00:22:10.640 What is it, Lord? 00:22:10.799 --> 00:22:15.599 He asked, recognizing that there's some this is a God situation here. 00:22:16.079 --> 00:22:24.079 He said, Your prayers and your gifts to the poor, by the way, have come up as a memorial offering before God. 00:22:24.319 --> 00:22:31.519 Now I've always known that prayers are like incense to the throne of God and that they find their way to the secret place of God's heart. 00:22:31.759 --> 00:22:35.519 But it's interesting here that it says so are your gifts to the poor. 00:22:35.680 --> 00:22:36.720 That goes to him. 00:22:37.119 --> 00:22:40.240 Your gifts to the poor actually move the heart of God. 00:22:40.559 --> 00:22:43.839 And I believe that that's not just gifts to the poor financially. 00:22:44.400 --> 00:22:59.119 I believe, going back to Hayes high school basketball camp, that Dylan showing Sain attention and value was a gift to Sarin who maybe was poor in confidence in the moment. 00:22:59.839 --> 00:23:18.799 And I believe that Saarin coming to me and reporting how deeply Dylan's decision touched his life was actually a deposit in in the same way of maybe somebody who doesn't have um people to talk to all the time or something actually connecting and hitting the dots. 00:23:18.880 --> 00:23:25.599 Like it's a deposit of saying hey there's more in the bank there's more in the account now there's more value now in your confidence and your reputation and whatever. 00:23:25.759 --> 00:23:32.319 I mean I know my my repute my view of Dylan has changed significantly because of his testimony and my experience. 00:23:32.480 --> 00:23:44.720 So if you're poor in something, then the kingdom actually brings a deposit and when you participate in that whatever it is that takes the the level of of less than to a more than it actually moves God's heart. 00:23:44.799 --> 00:23:54.319 So I just think that's worth highlighting that it wasn't just the money he's been giving but it's also his prayers it's everything that he's been about it's caught God's attention. 00:23:54.480 --> 00:23:56.160 I want to move God's heart with my life. 00:23:56.319 --> 00:24:02.000 He says verse 5 Now send men to Joppa to bring back a man named Simon who's also called Peter. 00:24:02.160 --> 00:24:06.400 He's staying with Simon the tanner whose house is by the sea. 00:24:06.640 --> 00:24:08.240 I like the sound of that. 00:24:08.640 --> 00:24:21.519 When the angel who spoke to him had gone, Cornelius called two of his servants and a devout soldier who was one of his attendants and he told them everything that had happened and sent them to Joppa. 00:24:21.599 --> 00:24:29.920 Like don't miss the moment there he had an encounter with an angel of God with specifics that would change everything about his life and all the people he had influence over. 00:24:30.160 --> 00:24:41.440 What a moment in kingdom history about noon the following day as they were on their journey and approaching the city on assignment, Peter went up on the roof to pray. 00:24:41.680 --> 00:24:44.559 He became hungry and wanted something to eat. 00:24:44.720 --> 00:24:51.920 So God like is using the natural agitation for food to actually bring about a spiritual awareness to what he was doing. 00:24:52.079 --> 00:24:59.759 I love how God uses everything everything's on limits for the Lord to speak to you about, used his hunger that was in his belly to actually give this vision here. 00:25:00.000 --> 00:25:06.480 He saw heaven opened up and something like a large sheet being let down to earth by its four corners. 00:25:06.640 --> 00:25:18.799 And it contained all kinds of four footed animals as well as reptiles and birds and then a voice told him get up Peter kill and eat activity to obey God. 00:25:18.960 --> 00:25:23.359 And this would have been shocking to Peter because he was a Jew and Jews don't eat these things. 00:25:23.519 --> 00:25:24.880 They never have up to this point. 00:25:25.039 --> 00:25:33.519 We're talking generational weight to not be the guy who messes up the diet like there is there is pressure to eat right here. 00:25:33.759 --> 00:25:42.960 And so you can understand why he's shocked verse 14 he shoots back to this voice like I don't know where you find the guts to do that, but he he found him somewhere. 00:25:43.039 --> 00:25:45.519 That's the weight of the reputation here of the tradition. 00:25:45.759 --> 00:26:20.319 Surely not, Lord, Peter replied I've never eaten anything impure or unclean And then comes verse fifteen and here's the gut punch this is the verse that should destroy all comparison in your life for the rest of your life The voice spoke to him a second time do not call anything impure that God has made clean goes on to say that Peter and God had that very exchange three total times because of the transformational quality of what God's telling him to do. 00:26:21.839 --> 00:26:29.680 And the truth is that if you receive a righteous man essentially honoring him's reward. 00:26:29.839 --> 00:26:41.039 So many people see someone and say I could never do that I could never talk like that I could never preach like that I could never love like that I could never lead my family like that I could never lead my business like that person leads their business. 00:26:41.279 --> 00:27:03.680 Like all this weight of comparison that has become rehearsed and so commonplace in our thinking like maybe you're like well I don't compare myself here but this lane is like a deep neurological rut in my brain that when I think about this field or this group of people, I immediately go to my lack in that arena because it's so rehearsed and ingrained comparison. 00:27:05.200 --> 00:27:10.000 But this voice of God was delivering Peter from that mindset. 00:27:10.480 --> 00:27:26.640 And that voice of God is here, I believe, to deliver us of the mindset of comparison to any area of our life where we sell ourselves short because we compare ourselves to somebody else who's done it already or better or different. 00:27:27.279 --> 00:27:31.039 You're not saved by what you do or what gifting you have. 00:27:31.279 --> 00:27:37.119 You're saved and thank you Jesus that we're saved by receiving Christ is all. 00:27:37.440 --> 00:27:53.279 And so the the great reminder tonight that when God looks at you, he doesn't see your righteousness he sees Jesus's so if I were to ask you well whose righteousness is greater Jesus's or yours it's a trick question because there's only one righteousness in the equation. 00:27:53.759 --> 00:28:02.079 And I think just getting a hold of that is part of the arrival to not being bogged down by comparison. 00:28:02.319 --> 00:28:24.880 It's remembering new covenant creation that that when God looks at you, he just sees Jesus's righteousness so you can step out with your best foot forward in full on confidence knowing you don't have to compare yourself to anybody for anything that you're enough and then verse 16 this happened three times and immediately the sheep was taken back to heaven. 00:28:25.440 --> 00:28:33.279 While Peter was wondering about the meaning of the vision the men sent by Cornelius found out where Simon's house was and stopped at the gate. 00:28:33.759 --> 00:28:37.680 They called out asking if Simon who was known as Peter was staying there. 00:28:38.160 --> 00:29:00.000 While Peter was still thinking about the vision the spirit said to him Pause He's still thinking about what God just said and then the spirit talks some more to him It's wonderful that when God speaks to you we were just praying in that room back there tonight, Chuck, you were praying about encounters tonight. 00:29:00.400 --> 00:29:16.480 We want to encounter the Lord that encounters with God are always multi-layered that it's not just God drops in, encounters you and then leaves to go do whatever it is God does. 00:29:16.720 --> 00:29:29.279 Like he stays and continues and revisits and re-revelations and brings more and says hey what's reminds you what's the last thing I said I'm here to give you confidence. 00:29:29.440 --> 00:29:40.400 So when Peter is pondering that nothing is unclean anymore there's no reason for comparison anymore God speaks again and I think that's admirable. 00:29:40.480 --> 00:29:41.359 I love that about God. 00:29:41.519 --> 00:29:52.960 In the next few verses mentions how Peter goes to Cornelius's house and there's a large gathering of Gentiles and so verse 25 as Peter entered the house Cornelius met him and fell at his feet in reverence. 00:29:53.039 --> 00:29:53.279 Why? 00:29:53.440 --> 00:29:57.039 Because Cornelius is desperate for an encounter with God himself. 00:29:57.200 --> 00:30:04.559 And he equates Peter to being God's man so he just drops on the floor with expectation. 00:30:04.720 --> 00:30:18.319 And so Peter brings a little instruction tells him to stand up I'm myself only a man and while talking with him Peter went inside and found a large gathering of people it's the Gentiles it's the whole representation this is for everybody. 00:30:18.480 --> 00:30:19.920 We're not comparing this one against this one. 00:30:20.000 --> 00:30:32.079 We're blowing comparison out of the water and he says to them you are well aware that it is against our law for a Jew to associate with or even visit a Gentile yet here I am essentially in front of a sea of you guys. 00:30:32.880 --> 00:30:36.240 And he's addressing the issue of comparison right off the bat. 00:30:36.400 --> 00:30:47.519 Isn't it interesting that one of the first things God wants to highlight to a group of essentially new believers to new covenant possibility is this idea that we're not doing the comparison thing. 00:30:47.759 --> 00:30:57.519 We're going to honor all God's creation because it's that important to start with like that's an origin point for the kingdom realizing that there's no comparison in the kingdom. 00:30:58.400 --> 00:31:09.039 I'm telling you guys this like has set me free and I'll I'll tell you a story here in a second about maybe maybe when the major line of the sand happened now jump to verse 33. 00:31:09.119 --> 00:31:22.160 So I sent for you immediately and it was good for you to come and now we are all here in the presence of God to listen to everything the Lord has commanded you to tell us so then Peter begins to speak. 00:31:22.400 --> 00:31:27.519 And he says I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism. 00:31:28.480 --> 00:31:38.480 Like it was as much for Peter as it was for Cornelius and the Gentiles to hear the message Peter was about to speak that God had just given him that there's now no more comparison in the game. 00:31:39.680 --> 00:31:44.799 And it breaks the divide between the cool kids and the so cool kids if you want to say it like that. 00:31:44.960 --> 00:32:26.319 I remember when Cohen was born our firstborn I remember thinking for real like how am I going to love him and Natalie at the same time like all my love is still for her but now we've introduced a whole nother love receiver how am I going to do this and somehow figured out that all my love could still be for her and all my love could still be for him until we had Callum and then I'm like well divide three ways now I know it divided two ways it's like can I love two people and my wife all the same like maxed out and you know what I found out it's the power it multiplies. 00:32:26.400 --> 00:32:28.160 It's the power of a father's love. 00:32:29.440 --> 00:32:32.720 And so when Beckham came along I didn't have to add up math. 00:32:32.960 --> 00:32:59.839 I was like the math doesn't have to work the kingdom works and I don't have to have a favorite I don't have to have well it's your day to be loved you know it's I'll get to you tomorrow and none of that and so verse 44 while Peter was still speaking these words the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message why because God doesn't play favorites it's for all it's for everyone. 00:33:00.240 --> 00:33:01.759 What is the Greek word for all? 00:33:02.079 --> 00:33:07.519 It's all it's everybody and so it's it's it's for the Gentiles. 00:33:07.680 --> 00:33:13.440 So the word gets back to the disciples who aren't there in Cornelius's house but are wondering about this very thing. 00:33:13.519 --> 00:33:20.240 In fact they've been wondering about this ever since some missionary whispering started going around hey we're going out here. 00:33:20.480 --> 00:33:21.440 Like why would you do that? 00:33:21.519 --> 00:33:22.400 I thought this was just for us. 00:33:22.480 --> 00:33:26.799 Well because Jesus said go to all the nations yeah but like like actually or was that a metaphor? 00:33:26.960 --> 00:33:28.960 And so they're like wondering is this for everybody. 00:33:29.119 --> 00:33:36.079 So the word gets back to him uh finally Acts 11 so this whole story is like Acts 10 so now we're in verse 18 of Acts 11. 00:33:36.240 --> 00:33:51.200 The word gets back it says when they heard this that they as the rest of the Jews who were wondering is this for everybody they had no further objections and they praised God saying well so then even to Gentiles God has granted repentance that leads to life and it was a done deal. 00:33:51.359 --> 00:34:03.599 It was a settled now it is a sad and we won't talk about this tonight though we probably will head here at some point it is a sad commentary that the church in Jerusalem took as long as it did to really get the Great Commission movement. 00:34:03.759 --> 00:34:24.400 It was the church in Antioch actually 90 miles to the north of Jerusalem that was the first church to actually get hey this is for everybody and so we've got to become apostolic which means set ones we've got to start equipping mobilizing and sending you to talk about pioneers builders and settlers it was like hey we're on pioneer mode right now because this has to go and the Jerusalem church was really not here until Acts 11. 00:34:24.480 --> 00:34:36.159 Remember the church starts in Acts chapter two and so all of these moments all these stories all this persecution all this like back and forth this and them and is it for is I don't know and no I think it's just huddle down here and just make sure it's still for us. 00:34:36.239 --> 00:34:40.400 Our forefathers would be really mad if we took this outside the family kind of thing. 00:34:40.639 --> 00:34:55.599 Finally Acts 11 now the Jerusalem church has a clue too you have here's the point no business comparing it was settled many years ago not an option it's a biblical precedent it's a truth God does not show favoritism. 00:34:55.760 --> 00:35:05.599 And I think if I'm being honest comparison has tried to plague me a lot in my life I would find myself in rooms with people and think to myself surely my story's bigger than theirs, right? 00:35:05.679 --> 00:35:06.960 Like because I needed confidence. 00:35:07.119 --> 00:35:15.280 Like surely I've got a testimony that'll sell harder that'll show God's power greater than the next guy because if he outdoes me then where's that put me? 00:35:15.360 --> 00:35:16.239 Where do I find myself? 00:35:16.400 --> 00:35:22.000 Like it sounds so ugly to say out loud, but comparison's a thief and so it finds a place in you. 00:35:22.159 --> 00:35:28.639 So I remember here's the summer I was telling you about remember this Natalie I was asked to speak at Wind River Ranch. 00:35:28.880 --> 00:35:33.760 It's a Christian dude ranch in Estes Park, Colorado my mom worked there for 15 years. 00:35:34.000 --> 00:35:41.199 My uh brother-in-law, the actual same one who was not a good basketball player at the beginning of junior high and then was a good one at the end because his coach built him up worked there also. 00:35:42.320 --> 00:35:50.960 And we were vacationing as we often do and did that particular week when the speaker fell through for the camp that week. 00:35:51.199 --> 00:36:08.960 And so the head of uh the camp said Becky my mom who worked there do you think your son who's a pastor in a church would be up for speaking at Windriver Ranch this week to about I don't know 15, 20 families that paid very, very good money to be there. 00:36:09.519 --> 00:36:23.920 And she's like, I don't know I'll ask him well he's on vacation is that what you want to spend your vacation on is come up with about seven talks for the night and answer families' questions about everything and it's like well okay so I brave enough to say yes. 00:36:24.079 --> 00:36:50.880 So I say yeah sure I'll I'll do that you know hey family push pause on the vacation we'll get you next year probably not my finest moment and I hide away and I try to get with the Lord and figure out what to say to this family these families at Wind River Ranch and made a fatal mistake before it ever started and got on the website of Wind River Ranch and pulled up who are the other speakers this summer I found some names on there. 00:36:51.199 --> 00:37:26.159 One was Mac Powell lead singer of Third Day one of the most famous Christian bands of all time he he's gonna be here in a few weeks awesome um who else was there uh Will Davis founding pastor of Austin Christian Fellowship ACF in Austin five different churches just retired he's like the who's who of Austin pastors by the way um huge veteran of the faith Trent Dilfer if you recognize his name it's because he won the Super Bowl as the Baltimore Ravens quarterback in 2001 in Super Bowl 35. 00:37:26.239 --> 00:38:06.800 He's gonna be there in a few weeks in fact that blue truck that you see being driven around the ranch he donated it cool um Trevor Morgan award-winning songwriter and singer multi-dove winner he's coming Carrie Underwood's gonna be there not that year we were there use her name to embellish she sh she showed up a few years later though and her hockey player husband they didn't speak but they were there my brother in law is like yeah I got to have dinner with Carrie and her husband and everything like wow um Danny Werfel won the Heismith University of Florida played for Steve Spurrier into the NFL I'm like what am I doing speaking? 00:38:07.039 --> 00:38:28.400 What have I ever accomplished that anybody would want to listen to me when this is the lineup of who's been and who's coming and some of these guys are like on cyclical repeat can you imagine the families were like we got who we you mean we could have come a week later and and sang next to Mac Powell you know like the songs we grew up in and we got who's Chris Bell? 00:38:28.559 --> 00:38:40.559 Chris Chris Ball who's that and I mean like my level of confidence sunk past the floor and I'm like why did I say yes to this and trembling. 00:38:40.639 --> 00:38:49.760 Now the truth is probably most of these families were just glad to have anybody and they were probably there for the mountains anyway in the horseback riding and everything else. 00:38:49.920 --> 00:38:54.639 And a fresh voice sure like that's actually what people were thinking. 00:38:54.880 --> 00:39:16.320 But when comparison rolls in your brain you can't think logically even all you can see are the lies and the facades and the fakes and all the stuff that's actually not true because you live underneath of comparison and in and I just felt my stomach grab that summer and the Lord showed me you've been running with comparison as a running buddy for a while. 00:39:16.559 --> 00:39:19.840 And it's time to break up with comparison dump him. 00:39:20.159 --> 00:39:30.639 Be done with it and if you don't it'll rob the glory that God wants to give in your life through you the flow of the spirit and it'll turn your honor into something counterfeit. 00:39:30.800 --> 00:39:44.960 Like it's not it's one thing to not even be able to live out your destiny because you're stuck in comparison but you're also shortcoming all of the people around you that you're called to influence by you being you and carrying what you carry by not doing it. 00:39:45.119 --> 00:39:48.480 Like there's a lot at stake to stay under the weight of comparison. 00:39:49.920 --> 00:39:59.679 So God I repent from partnering with comparison and deliver me today afresh and give me kingdom eyes to honor those around me. 00:40:00.159 --> 00:40:25.760 And if you reverse the scripture in Matthew 1041 like read it backwards uh reward comes out of the prophet when you honor them like how crazy of a thought is it that your your honor can actually unlock the destiny in others next to you that's that's radical and powerful and probably the right ingredient to actually change a city like by measurables like not just a cute phrase oh that God changed my life like what what changed? 00:40:25.840 --> 00:40:27.039 What what how do we measure it? 00:40:27.119 --> 00:40:28.320 Like what actually changed? 00:40:28.480 --> 00:40:37.599 Like that stuff I believe is like noticeable when honor is put on display um and the way Jesus honors is almost offensive. 00:40:37.760 --> 00:40:53.360 You know it's like he stood in front of Simon the fisherman who's largely to this point just another rinse and repeat and said you're not a fisherman you're an apostle sent to the nations like that's who you are and like the fishermen are scratching their head like that's who he is? 00:40:53.440 --> 00:40:54.239 Who are you looking at? 00:40:54.400 --> 00:40:57.599 Like no he's been here the whole time with us stinking smelling like a fisherman. 00:40:57.679 --> 00:41:01.039 I don't think he's sent anywhere ever been outside of his little zip code. 00:41:02.239 --> 00:41:13.679 And Jesus just does that time and again he he he finds the people like Paul who's a Christian killer and says you're gonna write much of the New Testament like you're gonna have that kind of an impact before he ever has the impact. 00:41:13.760 --> 00:41:22.320 Like it's almost offensive because it feels like it feels like you're almost making fun like I'm all that like don't don't patronize me. 00:41:22.559 --> 00:42:08.800 I mean a little bit sure but the way God talks about you like brags on you to heaven because of all he's put in you because he knows what he's put in you that it almost sounds offensive like okay okay easy easy and he's like no you're actually even more than that so the big idea is that you have the ability through your honor to unlock glory in one another in Proverbs it says that the kind of word that kind words are like honey to the soul and healing to the bones so if you're the leader of your team of your family of your uh work environment are people uh feasting or are they starving? 00:42:09.039 --> 00:42:15.599 If the way people feast is on your kind words of honor, then they would be feasting if you're doing that. 00:42:15.760 --> 00:42:35.280 But if you don't because for whatever reason probably you're tied up with comparison not feeling like you're enough not not feeling like you're a good enough leader not feeling like you've broken through quite far enough for the team to really respect you, then probably your team is starving, not feasting, because they're not getting to feed on the kind words that is actually healing for their bones, for their life. 00:42:35.519 --> 00:42:39.920 You know the root word for glory and the root word for honor are the same thing? 00:42:40.639 --> 00:42:41.599 Same root word. 00:42:41.760 --> 00:42:50.480 So the first time glory shows up in scriptures in Exodus 33, it's that song we sing, you know, show me your face, Lord. 00:42:50.639 --> 00:42:53.199 Like it's Moses asking for the glory of the Lord. 00:42:53.360 --> 00:42:57.440 Well that first that's the first time the word glory really shows up in Exodus 33. 00:42:57.760 --> 00:43:16.880 And um in the Ten Commandments also in Exodus when we're told to honor our father and our mother same word same word to honor your mom and dad as when Moses is asking for God to show him his glory tied together there is an undeniable connection between honor and the glory of God being known. 00:43:17.039 --> 00:43:18.800 Like you can't separate them. 00:43:19.039 --> 00:43:26.960 In Philippians 2 Paul flips the script on what status is and basically says what do you what do you do with honor? 00:43:27.039 --> 00:43:46.559 Because in Rome the Philippians when he writes to the Philippians uh it's a Roman occupied colony and so in Rome much like today by the way the way you got status is you climbed the ladder like show us you're worth it show us that you've got what it takes like prove it to us and then we'll honor you for it. 00:43:46.800 --> 00:43:58.559 And so Paul is writing uh because that's the world they lived in and it sounds quite like ours where maybe we applause when status separates you from the masses like what you do. 00:43:58.719 --> 00:44:02.719 But what God does with status Is quite contrary to the Roman way and maybe the modern day way. 00:44:02.800 --> 00:44:08.159 And Paul writes in verse 3 do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. 00:44:08.320 --> 00:44:12.559 Do nothing out of an effort to climb the ladder on your own to gain status. 00:44:12.719 --> 00:44:13.280 Don't do it. 00:44:13.360 --> 00:44:15.599 If that's what it takes to do it, don't do it. 00:44:16.000 --> 00:44:22.079 Instead, um, because that's looking to your own interest, but instead, each of you to the interest of the others. 00:44:22.239 --> 00:44:23.760 You want status in this life. 00:44:23.920 --> 00:44:26.800 The way you get it is look to the interest of other people. 00:44:27.119 --> 00:44:30.960 Like Dylan, I keep coming back to it because it marked me so deeply this week. 00:44:31.199 --> 00:44:44.079 Dylan's view, in my eyes, went from here, which was already pretty good, to like way up here, because he took the time to be vested in the interest of a 10-year-old. 00:44:44.239 --> 00:44:47.440 Like that catches mine and heaven's attention, I know. 00:44:47.760 --> 00:44:56.000 When you and me pause and take notice of the opportunities in people around us and call that out and focus on that. 00:44:56.079 --> 00:44:58.000