WEBVTT 00:00:01.600 --> 00:00:04.080 Welcome to the Awakening Church podcast. 00:00:04.240 --> 00:00:08.960 We pray this message encourages you and provides the hope and light of Jesus Christ. 00:00:09.119 --> 00:00:10.720 Thanks for tuning in. 00:00:12.800 --> 00:00:15.279 Well, welcome to Awakening Church. 00:00:15.359 --> 00:00:16.160 My name's Ryan. 00:00:16.239 --> 00:00:19.440 We're absolutely thrilled to have you join us today. 00:00:19.519 --> 00:00:24.320 And we're in a series uh called Future Church, studying the book of Acts. 00:00:24.399 --> 00:00:27.920 And we're wrestling with this question: what is the future of the church? 00:00:28.000 --> 00:00:32.640 And how do we return to God's design for his church? 00:00:32.799 --> 00:00:41.039 And we've actually said this the last few weeks that what the church is, is that the church is the spirit-empowered community of Jesus that's on mission. 00:00:41.200 --> 00:00:51.840 It's not a building, it's not a place, but a people living out the purposes of God to invite the entire world into new life, into the kingdom of God. 00:00:52.240 --> 00:00:55.520 And we've been looking at how the church began. 00:00:55.920 --> 00:01:02.719 And I was thinking about this this week of like, you know, if the church was a startup in Silicon Valley, right? 00:01:02.880 --> 00:01:06.239 If if we just had that, you know, it was a startup at this point in time. 00:01:06.400 --> 00:01:13.280 If it was a startup, it would be one of those amazing like success stories that we'd be talking about. 00:01:13.439 --> 00:01:20.959 Like the first day they launched, uh, they grew 30x and they're going, like, oh my gosh, this is amazing. 00:01:21.120 --> 00:01:21.840 Are you kidding me? 00:01:22.000 --> 00:01:26.079 And then daily to their number uh were people being saved. 00:01:26.159 --> 00:01:39.439 And then what's amazing is they had all this incredible momentum, and the move of the Spirit of God is just working, and not even persecution or opposition, that's what we studied last week, could even stop the momentum. 00:01:39.680 --> 00:01:43.200 In fact, the early followers doubled down. 00:01:43.439 --> 00:01:47.680 They said, they prayed, God, would you give us power and boldness? 00:01:47.840 --> 00:01:55.040 And then they began to share boldly more so about Jesus. 00:01:55.359 --> 00:02:08.000 But but there is something that's something that has the power to stop the momentum or the movement of the spirit in the church. 00:02:08.400 --> 00:02:12.560 What is a momentum stopper for the church? 00:02:12.800 --> 00:02:13.919 Have you ever thought of that? 00:02:14.080 --> 00:02:18.159 Like, like what is the thing that as the church is on the move, it's this mission is moving. 00:02:18.240 --> 00:02:21.759 It it is about God on the work, uh, God working. 00:02:21.840 --> 00:02:27.280 What is the thing that will just stop the momentum of God's activity within the church? 00:02:27.360 --> 00:02:33.520 Or said another way, what has the power to quench the move of the spirit in the church? 00:02:33.680 --> 00:02:35.520 Isn't that so important right now? 00:02:35.599 --> 00:02:52.240 As we're learning and redefining what kind of church we're gonna be, we don't want to step into any waters that are gonna quench the power of the spirit in our gatherings and our uh um time together as the church. 00:02:52.400 --> 00:02:58.319 Well, last week we uh left off uh with the church praying and sharing boldly. 00:02:58.479 --> 00:03:12.159 And today we pick up the story in Acts chapter 4, verse 32, and we get another one of those snapshots, another one of those summary statements from Luke as he's just zooming back and telling you what the church was like. 00:03:12.319 --> 00:03:18.000 It's an overview, and it begins this way and all the believers were one in heart and mind. 00:03:18.159 --> 00:03:19.599 Isn't that amazing? 00:03:20.080 --> 00:03:21.759 I mean, wouldn't that be incredible? 00:03:22.000 --> 00:03:25.840 Just think about it if we were all one in heart and mind. 00:03:26.159 --> 00:03:31.680 Just the what God could do in and through us here in Silicon Valley. 00:03:31.840 --> 00:03:51.680 I mean, just if Awakening Church was all one of heart and mind, or the church in the valley was all one of heart and mind, or the church in California, or imagine the church in the United States were of one heart and mind, or the church across the globe. 00:03:51.919 --> 00:03:58.240 What an incredible statement of what was happening in their early gatherings. 00:03:58.319 --> 00:04:07.360 It goes on to say no one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had with great power. 00:04:07.520 --> 00:04:12.719 The apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:04:12.879 --> 00:04:22.000 And God's grace was so powerfully at work in them all that there were, this is another incredible thing, no needy persons among them. 00:04:22.639 --> 00:04:35.120 For from time to time, those who owned land or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales, and put it in the apostles' feet, and it was distributed to anyone who had need. 00:04:35.600 --> 00:04:44.639 Now, this statement here, I just want to highlight something because Luke in the text has given us a key to what the church is about and what's happening. 00:04:44.720 --> 00:04:53.199 Uh, and it says there were no needy persons, and from time to time they would sold what they had and bring to the money to the apostles' feet. 00:04:53.439 --> 00:05:00.319 See, what Luke is saying is this activity is what the temple in Jerusalem was supposed to be. 00:05:00.480 --> 00:05:09.439 It was supposed to be a peace, a place of peace, a place where those who are needy could come and get exactly what they need and be distributed. 00:05:09.600 --> 00:05:13.519 And you remember in Jesus' time, Jesus called it a den of thieves. 00:05:13.680 --> 00:05:16.959 And he's highlighting that now there is a new temple. 00:05:17.120 --> 00:05:20.560 The temple uh is now in the people of God. 00:05:20.720 --> 00:05:33.680 In fact, the apostle Paul would say it this way: don't you know that your body is the temple of God because the spirit dwells in you, that the temple is no longer a place, but a people. 00:05:34.079 --> 00:05:40.240 And where you see the activity of God, you're seeing needs met, generosity overflowing. 00:05:40.480 --> 00:05:48.879 Now, I want to take a moment because we've been studying the book of Acts together to help us think through of how do we study this book? 00:05:49.040 --> 00:05:53.839 And we have to ask of this text right now, okay, Ryan, is this what I'm gonna be doing? 00:05:53.920 --> 00:05:56.879 You know, is this descriptive or prescriptive? 00:05:57.439 --> 00:06:02.560 When it says, you know, from time to time they sold their homes or property and brought it. 00:06:02.639 --> 00:06:08.000 Do I need to sell my home and uh, you know, come to awakening and present it up the front? 00:06:08.319 --> 00:06:08.639 No. 00:06:09.439 --> 00:06:12.399 No, you don't, unless God, you know, moves you to do that. 00:06:12.639 --> 00:06:18.000 See, there are things in the Bible that are descriptive or describing what's happening. 00:06:18.160 --> 00:06:23.839 And then there are other times in the Bible that are prescriptive, they're prescribing how we are to live. 00:06:24.000 --> 00:06:31.600 Much of Acts is descriptive, it is describing, Luke is describing what is taking place. 00:06:32.240 --> 00:06:42.240 When you read the epistles of Paul, when you read the teachings of Jesus, those are prescriptive, prescribing how we are to live. 00:06:42.480 --> 00:06:55.600 And he talks about generosity and what does it mean for us to be a generous church and giving and this tension or not tension per se, but he's describing what that early church looked like. 00:06:55.759 --> 00:06:58.879 Well, what does it look like for us today? 00:06:59.120 --> 00:07:05.439 Well, what was prescribed in the Old Testament was a percentage-based giving known as the tithe. 00:07:05.680 --> 00:07:09.360 The tithe means you just gave 10% of what you had to God. 00:07:09.519 --> 00:07:12.480 You'd bring it to the temple and you'd bring it in. 00:07:12.560 --> 00:07:20.480 And this is what the old the foundation for everyone who was in the uh the early church was they understood the tithe. 00:07:20.560 --> 00:07:24.079 We just bring the first 10% of all that we have to God. 00:07:24.240 --> 00:07:25.920 In the New Testament, something changed. 00:07:26.000 --> 00:07:27.360 It's really incredible, it's amazing. 00:07:27.439 --> 00:07:28.240 We see it in this text. 00:07:28.319 --> 00:07:30.959 It moved from percentage to proportional giving. 00:07:31.120 --> 00:07:36.240 It moved from percentage giving, the tithe, 10%, to proportionally giving the total. 00:07:36.560 --> 00:07:41.279 You remember they said all that they had was God's. 00:07:41.439 --> 00:07:52.639 See, that's a radically different way to think about your stuff, to think about your home, to think about your car, to think about your finances, to think about your bank account, saying, everything that I have is God's. 00:07:52.720 --> 00:07:53.600 It's all his. 00:07:54.240 --> 00:07:58.160 And you give in proportion to what you have and have been given. 00:07:58.319 --> 00:08:01.279 And so the early church, the tithe was the baseline. 00:08:01.439 --> 00:08:03.920 It was just like, hey, I'm gonna give, you know, 10%. 00:08:04.319 --> 00:08:05.519 That was just the foundation. 00:08:05.680 --> 00:08:09.600 And people often gave way over and above as they had means. 00:08:09.680 --> 00:08:11.680 And if you didn't have means, you didn't feel guilty. 00:08:11.759 --> 00:08:15.600 You gave in proportion to what you had. 00:08:16.879 --> 00:08:23.600 You know, and for many, this is the process for us of learning how to trust God. 00:08:23.920 --> 00:08:30.480 Uh Jesus said it this way wherever your heart uh or treasure is, there your heart is also. 00:08:30.639 --> 00:08:32.799 Whatever we treasure, whatever we value most. 00:08:32.960 --> 00:08:41.200 And when we give to God, it it trains our heart to trust Him more and more. 00:08:41.360 --> 00:08:44.720 That's why we have this habit and discipline of giving. 00:08:44.960 --> 00:08:48.720 You know, the other day, Miles, this is awesome. 00:08:48.799 --> 00:08:54.159 He came to me and he's like, Dad, he's got a deeper voice than me, even though he's 10, uh, almost 11. 00:08:54.320 --> 00:08:56.399 Hey, Dad, I want to buy stock. 00:08:56.639 --> 00:09:00.080 I'm like, what 10-year-old asked her dad to buy stock? 00:09:00.159 --> 00:09:02.879 And so I'm like, okay, yeah, sure, let's buy some stock. 00:09:02.960 --> 00:09:05.200 And Jenny's talking to him about, you know, what are you interested in? 00:09:05.360 --> 00:09:08.639 You might look into some things that are closed now, they're going to be open later. 00:09:08.879 --> 00:09:11.200 And she suggested, you know, movie theaters. 00:09:11.360 --> 00:09:16.159 And so he goes and researches what's the you know biggest movie theater chain in the US? 00:09:16.320 --> 00:09:17.200 Well, it's AMC. 00:09:17.360 --> 00:09:21.600 So, you know, he buys AMC stock for$2 a share. 00:09:21.840 --> 00:09:25.039 And, you know, I do it with him on Robin Hood and whatnot. 00:09:25.120 --> 00:09:32.399 And and all of a sudden, you know, overnight, I get a text from his grandpa saying, you better sell the stock quick. 00:09:32.559 --> 00:09:34.240 It just went on this run. 00:09:34.399 --> 00:09:37.840 And I mean, he made out uh with$84. 00:09:38.799 --> 00:09:44.399 Like he sold his stock out of, you know, a$20 investment, made$84 on top of that. 00:09:44.559 --> 00:09:55.759 And it was just one of those, you know, crazy times where, as all of you know, the stuff that happened with AMC and GameStop and Reddit and all the rest, my 10-year-old just happened to be in on it ahead of me. 00:09:55.840 --> 00:09:58.559 I needed to take investing tips from him. 00:09:58.799 --> 00:10:03.600 Now, here's what we did, because this is how we we learn and grow. 00:10:03.759 --> 00:10:07.679 And if your parents start at a young age, my parents started with me. 00:10:07.840 --> 00:10:11.519 You give to God first, you save second, then you live on the rest. 00:10:11.759 --> 00:10:20.240 Give first, at least the first 10%, then you save second, you're gonna put it away or you're gonna invest it, and then you're gonna live on the rest. 00:10:20.720 --> 00:10:24.080 That's just good stewardship, uh, godly stewardship. 00:10:24.159 --> 00:10:25.200 And so that's what we did with Miles. 00:10:25.279 --> 00:10:35.360 So I said, All right, Miles, you made$8, uh, you know,$84, and so we're gonna give eight dollars and 40 cents and I love because he's like, he's already got the proportional thing. 00:10:35.440 --> 00:10:38.559 He's like, Dad, I want to give$10 to the church. 00:10:38.879 --> 00:10:40.000 I'm like, absolutely. 00:10:40.159 --> 00:10:40.960 We'll just do$10. 00:10:41.279 --> 00:10:42.000 That's awesome. 00:10:42.240 --> 00:10:43.519 Because you have means to it. 00:10:43.600 --> 00:10:51.120 And so he's he gave first$10 to awakening, and then he took half of it and put it away for future investment. 00:10:51.200 --> 00:10:52.080 That's my 10-year-old. 00:10:52.159 --> 00:10:52.960 That's insane. 00:10:53.200 --> 00:10:57.039 And then he used half of it to buy a video game that he'd been wanting. 00:10:57.120 --> 00:10:57.840 And it was awesome. 00:10:57.919 --> 00:10:59.200 He's able to use it. 00:10:59.440 --> 00:11:08.639 And this is what how the early church was responding to one another, that nothing that they had was their own, but it was all theirs. 00:11:08.720 --> 00:11:11.360 And as the Lord led, they would say, you know what? 00:11:11.440 --> 00:11:14.080 If I have it and someone's else in need, I'm gonna give it. 00:11:14.240 --> 00:11:18.720 And it was a generous church, it was a generous church. 00:11:18.799 --> 00:11:23.759 And then Luke then gives us an example of this generosity. 00:11:23.919 --> 00:11:37.519 He goes on to say, Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostle called Barnabas, which means son of encouragement, sold a field he owned, and brought the money and put it at the apostle's feet. 00:11:37.679 --> 00:11:38.960 Now, this is amazing. 00:11:39.120 --> 00:11:41.039 This is the introduction of Barnabas. 00:11:41.120 --> 00:11:51.200 We're going to hear a lot about him later on because Barnabas comes alongside Paul and his traveling companion and in fact mentor for Paul and encourager for him in the faith. 00:11:51.440 --> 00:11:52.879 Now, this is so incredible. 00:11:53.039 --> 00:11:55.600 What I don't know if you have a nickname. 00:11:56.159 --> 00:11:59.600 I tried to make a nickname for myself uh in high school. 00:11:59.759 --> 00:12:04.159 I didn't have a nickname, and so I I literally, it doesn't work, by the way. 00:12:04.320 --> 00:12:09.759 It just I was like, I'm gonna make I, you know, there's this old-time basketball player named Bob Kuzi. 00:12:10.000 --> 00:12:12.720 I'm like, Koozie's kind of cool, and he's a great basketball player. 00:12:12.879 --> 00:12:17.759 Maybe they can call me Koozie or Kooz, and I step in freshman year, I go by Koozie. 00:12:18.879 --> 00:12:22.399 One, it's dumb, and two, nobody bought into it. 00:12:22.559 --> 00:12:31.440 You don't give yourself a nickname, but it's amazing when somebody gives you a nickname and is connected to your character. 00:12:32.159 --> 00:12:37.759 Joseph, his name's Joseph, a Levite for Cyprus, but they gave him the nickname Barnabas. 00:12:38.000 --> 00:12:40.720 Like what the apostle saw in him. 00:12:40.879 --> 00:12:43.200 It's like you are an encourager. 00:12:43.360 --> 00:12:49.440 Everything you do encourages it in your words, in your life, in the way you spend your money, obviously. 00:12:49.600 --> 00:12:52.320 You leverage it for the good of others. 00:12:52.399 --> 00:12:59.279 And I just want to encourage us, church, that that maybe we start giving good nicknames to our friends, speaking life. 00:12:59.440 --> 00:13:05.200 There's been so much that has been spoken out against things of like where this just not life. 00:13:05.279 --> 00:13:07.039 It's it's life-sucking, isn't it? 00:13:07.200 --> 00:13:09.279 And and don't we need to hear from other people? 00:13:09.440 --> 00:13:12.399 Just like, no, God's placed this in you. 00:13:12.639 --> 00:13:14.240 You're an encourager. 00:13:14.480 --> 00:13:16.399 Man, you're joy-filled. 00:13:16.879 --> 00:13:19.919 I'm so proud of the way you live out your convictions. 00:13:20.159 --> 00:13:33.200 Or we just speak life and it gives this example of one person who is living out this snapshot of this generous one heart and one mind. 00:13:33.919 --> 00:13:37.759 And then the text takes a turn. 00:13:38.320 --> 00:13:45.039 Here's what I love I love that the Bible tells it as it is, and you can read from the beginning to end. 00:13:45.440 --> 00:13:50.559 It tells all the bad, the ugly, the good, the hard. 00:13:50.879 --> 00:13:54.480 It doesn't cover up, it just tells it how it is. 00:13:54.720 --> 00:14:03.279 And we see the first sin of the church that threatens the momentum of the church. 00:14:03.360 --> 00:14:04.320 It goes on this way. 00:14:04.480 --> 00:14:11.840 Now, a man named Ananias, together with his wife Sapphira, also sold a piece of property, just like Barney did. 00:14:12.639 --> 00:14:17.600 He sold it, they saw, they're looking around, seeing all these people, and they're like, hey, we got properties, we're wealthy. 00:14:17.759 --> 00:14:21.840 We don't want anybody to think we're stingy, we're not being apart. 00:14:21.919 --> 00:14:25.120 So they sold a piece of property and we want a nickname. 00:14:25.360 --> 00:14:27.679 We want the apostles to give us a nickname. 00:14:28.399 --> 00:14:30.159 You know what would we want? 00:14:30.320 --> 00:14:32.720 Oh, generous, generous person or something. 00:14:32.799 --> 00:14:33.120 I don't know. 00:14:33.200 --> 00:14:34.080 That's a terrible nickname. 00:14:34.159 --> 00:14:35.679 That's the reason I never got one. 00:14:35.840 --> 00:14:41.120 With his wife's full knowledge, he kept back, and we're gonna hang on to that. 00:14:41.279 --> 00:14:42.559 Circle that in your Bible. 00:14:42.639 --> 00:14:44.639 We're gonna come back to that in a little bit. 00:14:44.960 --> 00:14:52.159 He kept back part of the money for himself, but brought the rest and put it at the apostles' feet. 00:14:52.240 --> 00:14:54.159 So they're both in full knowledge. 00:14:54.399 --> 00:15:08.720 And think about this: the first sin of the church was wanting to look good without really fully doing good, was wanting to look the part without really living the part. 00:15:09.039 --> 00:15:19.440 Perhaps comparison or envy set in that eventually, as we're gonna see, moved to lying, deceit, and hypocrisy. 00:15:19.759 --> 00:15:20.879 The text goes on. 00:15:21.200 --> 00:15:29.279 Says, then Peter said, Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit? 00:15:29.440 --> 00:15:31.360 You didn't just lie to me, by the way. 00:15:31.600 --> 00:15:38.399 You lied to the Spirit of God and have kept for yourself some of the money you receive for the land. 00:15:38.639 --> 00:15:42.159 And then didn't it just belong to you before it was sold? 00:15:42.320 --> 00:15:43.679 Wasn't all of this yours? 00:15:43.919 --> 00:15:47.120 You didn't have to give all of it, say this was the total price. 00:15:47.360 --> 00:15:50.240 And after it was sold, wasn't the money at your disposal? 00:15:50.399 --> 00:15:52.000 You can do what you want to do. 00:15:52.240 --> 00:15:54.720 What made you think of doing such a thing? 00:15:54.960 --> 00:15:59.759 You have not lied just to human beings, but to God. 00:16:00.879 --> 00:16:01.679 And he goes on. 00:16:01.840 --> 00:16:08.480 When Ananias heard this, and this is intense, he fell down and died. 00:16:08.799 --> 00:16:13.039 And great fear seized all who heard what had happened. 00:16:13.360 --> 00:16:20.000 Then some of the young men came forward, wrapped up his body, and carried him out and buried him. 00:16:24.799 --> 00:16:26.320 What happened to the wife? 00:16:26.720 --> 00:16:32.000 Text goes on and says, About three hours later, his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. 00:16:32.159 --> 00:16:33.519 Peter asked her the same thing. 00:16:33.679 --> 00:16:36.799 Tell me, is this the price you and Ananias got for the land? 00:16:37.039 --> 00:16:39.279 She's like, Unbeknownst to her. 00:16:39.440 --> 00:16:43.039 Yes, she said, that is the price. 00:16:43.440 --> 00:16:47.919 And Peter said to her, How could you conspire to test? 00:16:48.000 --> 00:16:49.120 And who is he testing? 00:16:49.200 --> 00:16:54.559 Not the church, not Peter, not the apostles, but the Spirit of the Lord. 00:16:54.799 --> 00:17:02.480 Listen, the feet of the men who buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out also. 00:17:03.440 --> 00:17:07.440 At that moment she fell down at his feet and died. 00:17:07.759 --> 00:17:11.039 Then the young men came in and finding her dead. 00:17:11.519 --> 00:17:12.960 These guys had a strange day. 00:17:13.200 --> 00:17:13.920 Let's just say that. 00:17:14.079 --> 00:17:16.079 That just was a rough day for these guys. 00:17:16.640 --> 00:17:20.079 Harder for Ananias and Sapphira for sure, but rough day for these guys. 00:17:20.400 --> 00:17:24.160 Carried her out and buried her beside her husband. 00:17:24.400 --> 00:17:30.559 And then great fear seized the whole church and all who heard about these events. 00:17:31.039 --> 00:17:32.880 No kidding. 00:17:34.799 --> 00:17:35.759 It's intense. 00:17:36.720 --> 00:17:37.839 It's big time. 00:17:39.519 --> 00:17:40.079 Why? 00:17:40.400 --> 00:17:44.559 Because something was going on in the in the startup mode. 00:17:45.440 --> 00:17:56.000 When the Spirit of God's working, when they see the movement of God, the momentum of God working and moving that threaten to hinder, to stop, to quench. 00:17:56.880 --> 00:18:04.880 And actually, in this text, we see two momentum stoppers that are so important for us today as the church. 00:18:05.200 --> 00:18:08.480 This is a word for us, awakening. 00:18:09.359 --> 00:18:23.359 Two momentum stoppers that threaten to quench the spirit's move and power in our lives and in the church, which threatens the impact of the gospel here in the valley. 00:18:23.519 --> 00:18:27.920 The first momentum start stopper is simply this: a house divided. 00:18:28.559 --> 00:18:35.519 The first thing that has the power to quench the work of the spirit is a house divided. 00:18:36.000 --> 00:18:38.960 Remember at the beginning, we see we sat there for a little bit. 00:18:39.119 --> 00:18:42.160 All the believers were one in heart and mind. 00:18:42.240 --> 00:18:48.079 And Ananias and Sapphira's sin divided the oneness of heart and mind. 00:18:48.880 --> 00:18:50.960 Falsehood ruins fellowship. 00:18:51.839 --> 00:18:54.160 It does every time. 00:18:54.720 --> 00:18:58.640 Deceitfulness ultimately divides people. 00:19:11.119 --> 00:19:15.839 I want to get the credit, but I don't necessarily want to do the work behind it. 00:19:16.000 --> 00:19:19.759 And I want to posture, I want to pose, I want to fake it till I make it. 00:19:20.000 --> 00:19:22.720 I want to present a filtered reality. 00:19:23.680 --> 00:19:25.279 We don't do this today, right? 00:19:25.359 --> 00:19:35.359 We never present a filtered reality, a picture that looks good, that has, you know, the filter on it, so it looks amazing, but but the reality is it's not amazing. 00:19:35.519 --> 00:19:38.880 Or, you know, what's amazing is there's apps, and you guys know this. 00:19:38.960 --> 00:19:44.160 You have some of these, it's not a bad deal or anything like that, but you there's apps that take away the blemishes, right? 00:19:44.240 --> 00:19:45.119 They take away the things. 00:19:45.200 --> 00:19:50.720 So when you look at your picture or look at someone's picture, it's like that's not truly who they are. 00:19:51.599 --> 00:19:54.400 And we cover up and we hide. 00:19:55.519 --> 00:19:57.920 And it kills the unity. 00:19:58.400 --> 00:20:02.240 Division in the house is a momentum stopper. 00:20:02.400 --> 00:20:08.720 In fact, Jesus said it this way: if a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. 00:20:08.880 --> 00:20:12.559 If a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand. 00:20:12.720 --> 00:20:15.519 And by the way, do you know the context for this? 00:20:15.839 --> 00:20:26.319 Jesus is confronting the religious leaders who are trying to accuse him that he's doing all these good miracles in the power of Beelzebub, in the power of demonic, hellish things. 00:20:26.400 --> 00:20:31.759 And he says, Satan, if he's divided against himself, cannot stand. 00:20:31.920 --> 00:20:35.359 Even Satan understands that house divided is a momentum stopper. 00:20:36.240 --> 00:20:48.880 And then Jesus then thinks this is such a big deal on the night he's betrayed what's known as his high priestly prayer, where he's praying for his disciples. 00:20:49.519 --> 00:20:54.720 The moments that they're gonna go through after he goes to the cross. 00:20:55.440 --> 00:20:59.759 And then something's amazing is he doesn't just pray for his disciples, he prays for you and me. 00:21:00.480 --> 00:21:02.160 Like this prayer is for you and me. 00:21:02.240 --> 00:21:11.279 This prayer is like right now in this moment, like you and me, Jesus is praying, and it's and it's towards you, it's towards me and the church. 00:21:11.440 --> 00:21:16.960 And he says, My prayer is not for them alone, I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message. 00:21:17.119 --> 00:21:17.839 Isn't it amazing? 00:21:18.000 --> 00:21:22.240 Jesus is praying for you that all of them may be one. 00:21:23.920 --> 00:21:29.759 Father, just as you are in me and I am in you, that there's this oneness. 00:21:29.920 --> 00:21:34.240 Then the apostle Paul in Ephesians chapter four would say it this way. 00:21:34.400 --> 00:21:39.440 As a prisoner of the Lord, then I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. 00:21:39.599 --> 00:21:40.880 How do you live worthy? 00:21:41.039 --> 00:21:46.799 Be completely humble, gentle, be patient, bearing with one another in love. 00:21:46.960 --> 00:21:55.039 And I said this in our reset series the reason you have to bear with one another in love is because some people are a bear. 00:21:55.359 --> 00:21:59.119 It's just they're just hard to love, Ryan. 00:21:59.200 --> 00:21:59.599 I get it. 00:22:00.240 --> 00:22:02.240 Bear with one another in love. 00:22:02.400 --> 00:22:09.440 And then it goes on to this make every effort to keep the unity of the spirit through the bond of peace. 00:22:09.599 --> 00:22:10.640 Make every effort. 00:22:10.799 --> 00:22:12.559 And you're like, you're right, Ryan. 00:22:13.440 --> 00:22:18.079 I can't believe that so and so hasn't made every effort. 00:22:19.599 --> 00:22:21.920 Like they really need to get their act together. 00:22:22.000 --> 00:22:23.759 They're not making every effort. 00:22:23.920 --> 00:22:27.200 And I'm gonna go tell them that they I got a verse. 00:22:27.359 --> 00:22:28.000 I got a verse. 00:22:28.160 --> 00:22:30.240 Hey, you're not making every effort. 00:22:31.839 --> 00:22:34.240 This verse is for me. 00:22:35.599 --> 00:22:37.359 And this verse is for you. 00:22:39.279 --> 00:22:41.920 Let the spirit convict that other person. 00:22:42.480 --> 00:22:44.319 You don't need to correct them. 00:22:44.960 --> 00:22:57.200 But allow the spirit of God to work in you and go, okay, how do I make every effort to keep the unity of the spirit through the bond of peace? 00:22:57.359 --> 00:23:03.920 And then he goes on to say that what we have in common in Christ is greater than any differences that we had. 00:23:04.079 --> 00:23:14.559 There is one body, one spirit, just as you're called to one hope when you're called one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. 00:23:15.680 --> 00:23:18.079 Do you think unity is a big deal? 00:23:18.400 --> 00:23:20.880 Do you think oneness is a big deal? 00:23:21.119 --> 00:23:25.440 That that there's this reality that that Jesus understands this. 00:23:25.599 --> 00:23:27.759 The demonic world understands this. 00:23:28.000 --> 00:23:28.640 Shoot. 00:23:29.839 --> 00:23:32.799 Anybody, any team understands this. 00:23:32.960 --> 00:23:34.880 A house divided will not stand. 00:23:34.960 --> 00:23:36.720 It is a momentum stopper. 00:23:36.960 --> 00:23:38.799 And so, how do we practice unity? 00:23:38.960 --> 00:23:41.039 How do we begin to put this into practice? 00:23:41.200 --> 00:23:47.039 The first thing I want you to uh see is elevate Jesus above everything else. 00:23:47.279 --> 00:23:49.200 How do we put this into practice? 00:23:49.599 --> 00:23:52.880 Elevate Jesus above everything else. 00:23:53.119 --> 00:23:55.599 Jesus, you are the center of my life. 00:23:55.759 --> 00:23:58.240 Holy Spirit, you have full control of my life. 00:23:58.480 --> 00:24:01.200 Jesus, you are elevated above my work. 00:24:01.359 --> 00:24:03.440 Jesus, you are elevated above my family. 00:24:03.599 --> 00:24:07.680 Jesus, you are elevated above my uh, you know, boyfriend or girlfriend. 00:24:07.759 --> 00:24:10.559 Uh Jesus, you're elevated above my schooling. 00:24:10.720 --> 00:24:14.240 You're elevated above my politics, you're elevated above my preferences. 00:24:14.480 --> 00:24:21.359 Jesus, you are the supreme, like king of the universe. 00:24:21.599 --> 00:24:25.279 In you, all things hold together and exist for you. 00:24:25.359 --> 00:24:32.400 And so I am going to turn my attention and my affection and my life and resound with all of creation. 00:24:32.559 --> 00:24:40.720 You are worthy and you are glorious and you're amazing, and everything, everything, everything is subordinate to you. 00:24:41.920 --> 00:24:44.319 That's where we find unity. 00:24:45.599 --> 00:24:50.400 And so when that happens, we can have oneness despite differences. 00:24:51.039 --> 00:24:56.720 We can have oneness despite the differences in our political persuasions. 00:24:58.640 --> 00:25:12.559 I mean, I've said this before, so I'm sure you know this, but um, remember that there was Simon the Zealot, disciple, apostle, Matthew the text, tax collector, a disciple, apostle, that were the followers of Christ. 00:25:12.720 --> 00:25:14.319 They were complete opposite. 00:25:14.480 --> 00:25:19.359 One was a revolutionary against Rome, the other was a corroborator with Rome. 00:25:19.519 --> 00:25:28.640 In their politics, they had nothing in common and in fact were enemies, but because they elevated Jesus above everything else, they had oneness. 00:25:29.680 --> 00:25:32.000 How about your personal preference? 00:25:33.119 --> 00:25:39.920 You know what's funny about personal preferences is we tend, we tend to make those moral things. 00:25:40.160 --> 00:25:46.000 We have to be careful that our personal preferences don't shift into moral things. 00:25:46.880 --> 00:25:53.279 We do that with God's word, we do that with different things in our world where we just go, this is yeah, you can prefer that. 00:25:53.359 --> 00:25:53.920 That's wonderful. 00:25:54.000 --> 00:25:57.119 And sometimes it's just personality differences, isn't it? 00:25:58.960 --> 00:26:01.119 We just don't mix, we just clash. 00:26:01.680 --> 00:26:04.480 Elevate Jesus above everything else. 00:26:05.200 --> 00:26:07.519 What about pandemic practices? 00:26:09.200 --> 00:26:11.680 I want to hit a little close to home, I know. 00:26:13.440 --> 00:26:16.799 We look at how different people are navigating in this season. 00:26:16.960 --> 00:26:19.680 It's so easy to judge, it's so easy to say, why are you doing that? 00:26:19.759 --> 00:26:20.559 Why are you doing this? 00:26:20.720 --> 00:26:22.000 Why, why don't you do this? 00:26:22.160 --> 00:26:23.119 Why don't you do that? 00:26:23.279 --> 00:26:41.440 And and we feel like we need to correct everyone and and make sure they know, or at least, you know, put them in their place and just go, okay, oneness despite differences, because we're gonna elevate Jesus above everything else. 00:26:41.839 --> 00:26:45.519 Yeah, but but I said, but but then how do I respond? 00:26:45.839 --> 00:26:46.960 What do I do? 00:26:47.119 --> 00:26:49.200 Be a dispenser of generosity. 00:26:50.079 --> 00:26:52.799 Be a dispenser of generosity. 00:26:53.519 --> 00:26:56.720 That you remember in the text, it just was they were generous. 00:26:56.880 --> 00:26:57.519 They were generous. 00:26:57.599 --> 00:27:00.720 When we are generous, God does something in our hearts. 00:27:00.960 --> 00:27:06.240 When we just give generously, and and I'm not even talking about financially, that is important. 00:27:06.319 --> 00:27:15.440 We were talking about that earlier, but I'm just talking about be generous with your words, be generous with your thoughts, be generous with your responses. 00:27:17.279 --> 00:27:20.000 Where you give the benefit of the doubt, think about this. 00:27:20.480 --> 00:27:24.640 What if we begin to give others the benefit of the doubt that we give ourselves? 00:27:24.960 --> 00:27:29.519 See, we know our heart, we know our intentions, we know our motives, and so we give ourselves the benefit of the doubt. 00:27:29.680 --> 00:27:35.680 What if not knowing their heart, what if not knowing their intentions, what if not knowing their motives, you still give them the benefit of the doubt? 00:27:36.160 --> 00:27:42.319 Question I've asked for a long time, and many of you know it, to help apply this. 00:27:42.640 --> 00:27:46.559 Is what is the most generous explanation for their behavior? 00:27:47.039 --> 00:27:50.559 How do we lean towards oneness and unity instead of division? 00:27:50.720 --> 00:27:51.920 Just start asking this question. 00:27:52.000 --> 00:27:54.240 What's the most generous explanation for their behavior? 00:27:54.400 --> 00:27:55.440 What's the most generous? 00:27:55.519 --> 00:27:58.079 I'm not gonna go to we go to the worst explanation. 00:27:58.240 --> 00:28:04.319 We go to that how could they and just go, what's the most generous explanation you can have? 00:28:04.480 --> 00:28:12.960 Practicing unity, elevate Jesus above everything else, be a dispenser of generosity, and then agree to disagree for Christ's sake. 00:28:13.599 --> 00:28:16.400 Agree to disagree for Christ's sake. 00:28:16.640 --> 00:28:22.400 You don't have to correct them, let the Holy Spirit convict them and go, you know what? 00:28:22.640 --> 00:28:23.839 We just don't. 00:28:25.039 --> 00:28:32.000 We may not get it all and agree on all of it, but we can agree on Jesus, and that's good enough. 00:28:33.839 --> 00:28:36.640 Two momentum stoppers. 00:28:36.799 --> 00:28:41.920 The first one, a house divided, the second one is sin in the camp. 00:28:42.240 --> 00:28:46.240 Remember, I had you pay attention to that word kept back. 00:28:46.480 --> 00:28:57.759 Uh, in the Greek, it's the same Greek word that's used for another Old Testament story in Joshua chapter seven, when Achan kept back treasure for himself. 00:28:58.079 --> 00:29:16.640 And Luke is pointing for those early followers of Jesus, they would have immediately seen this little textual signpost that would have brought their minds all the way back to that story, seeing the parallels of what's happening here as Joshua was starting and they had momentum into Jericho and into the promised land. 00:29:16.880 --> 00:29:19.519 And then uh then all of a sudden it was stopped them. 00:29:19.680 --> 00:29:29.200 You see, the story of Achan is this that uh Joshua was supposed to lead the people into the promised land, and God said, I'll go with you and I'll go before you, and your enemies will fall before you. 00:29:29.279 --> 00:29:38.960 And so they they go to Jericho, the mighty, mighty town, mighty warriors, and and they march around, very odd way to go to battle, and the walls fall down and they have victory. 00:29:39.119 --> 00:29:40.480 But God said, Guess what? 00:29:40.640 --> 00:29:43.279 The spoils are mine, dedicate them to me. 00:29:43.440 --> 00:29:48.079 Do not hold anything back, give it all the first fruits, all of it to me. 00:29:48.559 --> 00:29:51.599 And then uh Achan, he looks around, sees some things. 00:29:51.680 --> 00:29:53.279 He's like, I like this, I like that. 00:29:53.359 --> 00:29:53.759 That's good. 00:29:53.839 --> 00:29:56.640 I'm gonna take it, I'm gonna hide it, I'm gonna bury it. 00:29:57.039 --> 00:30:08.160 Well, Joshua sees the next uh horizon of enemies, uh, and he goes, It's this uh uh citadel AI, and they they're smaller than Jericho. 00:30:08.240 --> 00:30:09.119 He's like, We got this. 00:30:09.279 --> 00:30:10.559 I'm only gonna send a few men. 00:30:10.640 --> 00:30:14.319 And he sends a few men, and by the way, the Israelites get whooped. 00:30:14.559 --> 00:30:17.039 And Joshua's like, Oh my gosh, God, you said you're gonna be with us. 00:30:17.119 --> 00:30:17.839 What's going on? 00:30:18.000 --> 00:30:20.400 And God says, There's sin in the camp. 00:30:20.880 --> 00:30:22.720 There's sin in the camp. 00:30:23.279 --> 00:30:32.480 See, you can't ask God for his blessing and to pour out his favor and to go with you if you're not following God's will in your life. 00:30:33.839 --> 00:30:38.480 Church, we can't do that as a church, as a leadership. 00:30:39.279 --> 00:30:47.599 It says if there's sin in the camp, it hinders and it stops the movement and the uh the momentum of God. 00:30:48.400 --> 00:30:50.960 So I want to talk just a little bit about sin. 00:30:51.599 --> 00:30:53.359 We don't talk much about it. 00:30:54.000 --> 00:30:57.920 But the truth about sin is that sin is serious. 00:30:58.160 --> 00:31:02.000 Romans 6 23 says, for the wages of sin is death. 00:31:03.039 --> 00:31:15.920 Like the end result of the choices we make that are uh in rebellion or in opposition to the ways of God brings about death or separation spiritually, physically. 00:31:16.480 --> 00:31:17.440 It's a big deal. 00:31:17.599 --> 00:31:19.759 And we say thing is uh it's not that big of a deal. 00:31:19.839 --> 00:31:21.279 It's not hurting anyone. 00:31:21.440 --> 00:31:23.119 Uh that's so antiquated. 00:31:23.440 --> 00:31:24.960 We're enlightened now. 00:31:25.279 --> 00:31:28.000 I just want to live my life how I choose. 00:31:28.160 --> 00:31:31.359 And we have to recognize that sin is serious. 00:31:31.680 --> 00:31:33.279 God takes it seriously. 00:31:33.440 --> 00:31:36.400 And the other thing is that there is no sliding scale. 00:31:36.960 --> 00:31:41.440 See, we kind of think there's there's really bad sins, and then there's like, yeah, it's not that big a deal. 00:31:41.519 --> 00:31:46.720 There's, you know, white lies, and then there's, you know, uh lies that are that was bad, that was deceitful. 00:31:46.799 --> 00:31:50.000 You know, there's big S sins and then there's little S sins. 00:31:50.160 --> 00:31:52.160 And like, no, God just says there's sins. 00:31:52.400 --> 00:31:57.200 Matthew 5 is Jesus teaching on the Sermon on the Mountain, and he says, you know what? 00:31:57.599 --> 00:31:59.519 You think like there's murder and then there's hate. 00:31:59.680 --> 00:32:03.200 And by the way, if you hate your brother, it's the same as murder. 00:32:03.440 --> 00:32:05.200 You think there's adultery and there's lust. 00:32:05.279 --> 00:32:08.720 He's like, but if you have lust in your heart, it's the same as adultery. 00:32:08.880 --> 00:32:10.640 There isn't a sliding scale. 00:32:10.720 --> 00:32:11.599 Sin is serious. 00:32:11.759 --> 00:32:17.039 There isn't a sliding scale, and by the way, it quenches the spirit of God in our life. 00:32:17.200 --> 00:32:17.920 It quenches it. 00:32:18.000 --> 00:32:22.160 First Thessalonians 5.19 says, do not quench the spirit of God. 00:32:22.319 --> 00:32:26.079 It cuts off the active work of the spirit of God in our life. 00:32:26.160 --> 00:32:32.240 And in a church, it cuts off the active work of the spirit and the move of God in the church. 00:32:32.480 --> 00:32:36.640 I have a um uh a fire pit in my backyard. 00:32:36.720 --> 00:32:37.200 I love it. 00:32:37.279 --> 00:32:39.680 And I, you know, I'm not a purist like many of you. 00:32:39.759 --> 00:32:41.359 Uh I like gas. 00:32:41.599 --> 00:32:48.720 And so I you know, I like to be able to go out there, open up the gas thing, ignite it, the flame goes up, and I'm like, oh, this is amazing. 00:32:48.880 --> 00:32:53.359 And then I get to turn it off and walk away, and I don't smell like fire. 00:32:53.519 --> 00:32:54.400 And it's amazing. 00:32:54.480 --> 00:32:59.839 And I sit by that so many times a week and just enjoy sitting by the fire. 00:33:00.000 --> 00:33:13.279 Now, here's what's amazing about my gas tank and fire pit, and you guys know this, you get this, is when I turn that knob to close it, it cuts off the supply line of gas to the fire pit. 00:33:13.599 --> 00:33:27.759 And so even though the gas tank is connected to it, even though the gas tank is filled with gas, because that is turned off, it will not supply the fire pit with gas to ignite a fire. 00:33:28.880 --> 00:33:37.279 See, when we sin and we have habitual sin, unrepentant sin in our life, and you're a follower of Jesus, you don't lose the Spirit of God. 00:33:37.519 --> 00:33:39.680 Listen to me, you do not lose the Spirit of God. 00:33:39.839 --> 00:33:46.160 The Spirit of God's still connected and dwelling in you, but what you have done is you've turned off the flow of the Spirit of God in your life. 00:33:46.319 --> 00:33:48.160 You've turned that thing off. 00:33:48.559 --> 00:33:54.400 And so the question for you and for me is if that's where we're at, how do we reopen that flow? 00:33:55.759 --> 00:34:00.480 How do we break free maybe of some cycles that we're in? 00:34:01.440 --> 00:34:06.400 I just want to give you one thing to practice daily. 00:34:07.839 --> 00:34:08.880 It's powerful. 00:34:09.599 --> 00:34:10.960 It'll change your life. 00:34:11.280 --> 00:34:14.639 Would you embrace a daily habit of confession? 00:34:14.800 --> 00:34:18.480 Now I wrestled with this wording because I was like, daily, is that too much? 00:34:19.039 --> 00:34:23.519 No, because in the Lord's Prayer, you know, Jesus says, pray this way. 00:34:23.599 --> 00:34:27.840 And he says, one of us, forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors. 00:34:27.920 --> 00:34:41.920 And many of you know the acronym Acts, you know, it's not connected to the book of Acts, but adoration, confession, thanksgiving, supplication, to be able to shape your prayer life so that you're not just praying, God help me, God give me prayers. 00:34:42.000 --> 00:34:45.119 Those are good too, but you want to go deeper in your prayer life. 00:34:45.360 --> 00:34:48.000 Would you embrace a daily habit of confession? 00:34:48.159 --> 00:34:49.039 Well, what is confession? 00:34:49.119 --> 00:34:50.639 It just means to agree with God. 00:34:50.800 --> 00:34:56.960 It just means to go, God, I agree with your estimation and how you frame this is right and this is wrong. 00:34:57.119 --> 00:34:58.800 See, we argue with God. 00:34:59.360 --> 00:35:01.199 Instead of, we got, that's not that big of a don't. 00:35:01.440 --> 00:35:02.639 God, you're come on. 00:35:03.360 --> 00:35:07.119 And so many times instead of confessing, we conceal. 00:35:08.000 --> 00:35:12.320 See, the reason many haven't experienced healing is we're hiding. 00:35:13.119 --> 00:35:15.679 Nothing good grows in the dark. 00:35:17.039 --> 00:35:20.559 And secrets keep you stuck. 00:35:20.800 --> 00:35:22.480 We have to embrace confession. 00:35:22.639 --> 00:35:23.760 Well, who do we confess to? 00:35:23.920 --> 00:35:25.760 Vertically and then horizontally. 00:35:25.920 --> 00:35:27.599 Vertically, we confess to God. 00:35:27.760 --> 00:35:31.840 Remember, Peter was like, You didn't just lie to me, you lied to the Spirit of God. 00:35:32.079 --> 00:35:39.760 1 John 1 9 says, if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 00:35:39.920 --> 00:35:50.079 And too many are walking around with guilt and shame that Jesus died for, and the uh gasp uh is turned off, and you just go, God, would you forgive me? 00:35:50.239 --> 00:35:54.480 I confess, I I've broken uh your heart and your ways. 00:35:54.639 --> 00:35:55.360 Would you cleanse me? 00:35:55.519 --> 00:36:02.960 And he says, I'm faithful and just, and I will cleanse you vertically and then horizontally with others. 00:36:03.679 --> 00:36:12.239 James 5, 16 says, Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other that you may be healed. 00:36:13.360 --> 00:36:18.400 See, you don't have to, and I wouldn't advise this, share everything with everyone. 00:36:19.280 --> 00:36:22.159 You've been around over shares and you're just like, wow, that was a lot. 00:36:22.239 --> 00:36:24.559 I don't even know you, but I know everything now. 00:36:25.360 --> 00:36:27.599 And that's not healthy or good. 00:36:28.159 --> 00:36:30.960 And there's people that aren't safe to share for sure. 00:36:32.239 --> 00:36:39.360 But you need to share, have a space where you can share everything with someone or someone, a group of someone. 00:36:39.920 --> 00:36:46.639 See, I have that in my life, a group of guys that I sit down weekly that I can share and do share, and we have a commitment. 00:36:46.800 --> 00:36:47.920 We're gonna share it all. 00:36:50.079 --> 00:36:57.840 Confess your sins, a daily habit before God with others to break free. 00:36:58.480 --> 00:37:06.400 The momentum stoppers, there's two: a divided camp or a divided house and sin in the camp. 00:37:06.639 --> 00:37:08.719 And the inverse is true as well. 00:37:08.960 --> 00:37:12.800 The power of the church is unity and purity. 00:37:13.760 --> 00:37:16.320 You're like, wow, that's that's pretty heavy, Ryan. 00:37:17.280 --> 00:37:22.559 I I this this is this the weight of this is starting to sink in. 00:37:23.199 --> 00:37:37.119 And I want to I realize in even in my life, I've been a bit divisive or antagonistic, and and then even as you're talking, I I I've dismissed things and the weight of the sin, unity and and purity. 00:37:37.199 --> 00:37:38.639 I want to be that, but I'm not that. 00:37:38.719 --> 00:37:47.920 And here's the amazing thing: the ground is absolutely level at the foot of the cross, and we all come and we all experience grace. 00:37:48.960 --> 00:37:50.639 And he meets us right there. 00:37:51.199 --> 00:38:08.880 And there's a practice that the church has uh been given by Jesus that helps form this in all of us, that helps safeguard us from these momentum stoppers, spirit quenchers, but also draws us to unity and purity. 00:38:08.960 --> 00:38:18.480 It's the practice or the of communion or the Lord's Supper, where Jesus said, This is my body broken for you, and he broke bread. 00:38:19.679 --> 00:38:34.480 And then he said, This is the cup of the new covenant, my blood poured out for you, and that and that we would take this together, that we would elevate Jesus above everything else, that we would remember that you, Jesus, it's all about you, it's all for you. 00:38:34.639 --> 00:38:46.000 And I'm not somehow trying to earn or get better, but I am forgiven by you, and your spirit indwells me to live out this new life. 00:38:46.320 --> 00:38:49.440 And the practice always comes with confession. 00:38:49.920 --> 00:39:00.800 I just want to invite you right now just to take that moment and go, Holy Spirit, would you search my heart and show me anything in me that's not of you? 00:39:01.039 --> 00:39:01.599 And he will. 00:39:01.760 --> 00:39:03.119 And then you just confess it. 00:39:03.760 --> 00:39:06.320 God, I give to you that I'm sorry. 00:39:06.480 --> 00:39:07.760 Would you please forgive me? 00:39:08.320 --> 00:39:11.280 Would you wash me clean and make me new? 00:39:11.920 --> 00:39:13.519 Thank you for forgiving me. 00:39:15.760 --> 00:39:27.599 It starts with confession and then it moves us, and we do this in community, and I know we're doing this virtually in community to remind us of our unity that we have in Christ. 00:39:28.320 --> 00:39:35.519 And so, whatever elements you have, and I know it looks different than these, but would you take your piece of bread with me? 00:39:36.480 --> 00:39:42.559 And you say, This is his body broken for you, that you might have life. 00:39:42.800 --> 00:39:44.719 I do this in remembrance of him. 00:39:48.960 --> 00:39:53.840 And then with you take the cup of the new covenant, his blood poured out for you. 00:39:54.719 --> 00:40:03.519 And as we do this, we remind ourselves that we are in a new family, there's a unity because of his sacrifice. 00:40:04.480 --> 00:40:06.639 We do this in remembrance of him. 00:40:12.239 --> 00:40:26.639 Lord Jesus, we invite you to have your way in us, to meet us right where we're at, to mold and shape us into your church for your name's sake. 00:40:27.199 --> 00:40:27.840 Amen. 00:40:29.599 --> 00:40:31.920 We hope you are blessed by this message. 00:40:32.159 --> 00:40:37.119 Please subscribe to our podcast for access to every episode as they're uploaded. 00:40:37.360 --> 00:40:39.599 And hey, we'd love to connect with you. 00:40:39.840 --> 00:40:45.760 Take a next step by filling out our virtual connection card at awakeningchurch.comslash card.