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. 00:00:09.199 --> 00:00:10.560 Thanks for tuning in. 00:00:11.759 --> 00:00:14.960 This morning we're continuing our series called Purpose Full. 00:00:15.199 --> 00:00:15.919 Purposeful. 00:00:16.239 --> 00:00:19.679 How do you live a purpose-filled life? 00:00:19.760 --> 00:00:26.640 Or really, can you live a purpose-filled life after the last year, 18 months that we've gone through? 00:00:26.800 --> 00:00:28.399 And here's what we've said so far. 00:00:28.719 --> 00:00:36.960 We've said this that you are an unceasing spiritual being with an internal destiny in God's great universe. 00:00:37.119 --> 00:00:43.119 This is a great summary by Dallas Millard of what the scripture says about who you are. 00:00:43.359 --> 00:00:47.840 You're an unceasing spiritual being with an internal destiny in God's great universe. 00:00:48.000 --> 00:00:59.359 Here's what this means you were made on purpose, not an accident, not a mistake, not here by chance, and you were made for a purpose. 00:00:59.840 --> 00:01:05.680 There is something to give your life to of eternal weight and significance. 00:01:05.840 --> 00:01:08.480 The last few weeks we've been talking through this. 00:01:15.920 --> 00:01:22.239 Week two, we said three essentials for living a purpose-filled life in a post-pandemic world. 00:01:22.400 --> 00:01:25.200 Week three, we talked all about disagreeing well. 00:01:25.280 --> 00:01:32.560 If you remember this, and how we navigate disagreeing well will either make or break us in living a purpose-filled life. 00:01:32.719 --> 00:01:35.120 Today we're going to talk about redefining success. 00:01:35.280 --> 00:01:36.640 Would you just say that with me? 00:01:38.799 --> 00:01:40.959 You may be the 9:30 service, but you're awake. 00:01:41.040 --> 00:01:41.680 Well done. 00:01:41.920 --> 00:01:44.079 Good to see that this morning. 00:01:44.319 --> 00:01:52.959 If we're going to live a purpose-ful life, we actually need to redefine or have a brand new definition for what it means to be successful. 00:01:53.280 --> 00:02:09.759 See how you define success will determine whether you actually live out a purpose-filled life because your definition, you know this, my definition of success of success, always is the thing that is leading us or directing our lives. 00:02:10.080 --> 00:02:14.800 And so, let me ask you, what is your definition of success? 00:02:15.680 --> 00:02:18.479 Like, how would you define success? 00:02:18.719 --> 00:02:27.759 Maybe, maybe not like this way that you think about it, like, oh, uh, but really, maybe by the pursuits of your life. 00:02:28.000 --> 00:02:34.000 I think one way that we define success today is uh maybe the idea of perfection. 00:02:34.159 --> 00:02:38.960 You might not use that word, but we want the picture perfect life, right? 00:02:39.520 --> 00:02:48.719 Perfect job, perfect uh kids, you want to raise the perfect kids, you want to have a perfectly clean and organized house. 00:02:49.360 --> 00:02:53.680 Some of you said amen in your heart, right there. 00:02:54.560 --> 00:02:59.919 And Instagram and social media has only exasperated our pursuit of perfection, hasn't it? 00:03:00.159 --> 00:03:08.560 Because we see everyone's filtered, perfect lives, and so we want everything in our lives to be perfect. 00:03:08.800 --> 00:03:11.520 Maybe you define success by fame. 00:03:11.759 --> 00:03:14.159 You're like, no, not fame. 00:03:14.319 --> 00:03:15.599 Okay, well, how about approval? 00:03:15.680 --> 00:03:17.360 Maybe you write an approval there. 00:03:17.520 --> 00:03:18.639 I want approval of others. 00:03:18.800 --> 00:03:20.560 I want recognition, recognition. 00:03:20.719 --> 00:03:21.840 I can't say that word. 00:03:22.159 --> 00:03:23.120 Recognition. 00:03:23.280 --> 00:03:24.159 There you go. 00:03:24.400 --> 00:03:25.759 I want to be a somebody. 00:03:25.919 --> 00:03:27.680 I want to be an influencer. 00:03:28.000 --> 00:03:33.840 I want the prestige, the platform to be known in my industry. 00:03:33.919 --> 00:03:35.680 Or how about happiness? 00:03:35.840 --> 00:03:40.639 I think that's maybe the predominant way that we define uh success today, right? 00:03:41.039 --> 00:03:44.159 Especially if you're raising kids, I just want them to be what? 00:03:44.879 --> 00:03:45.360 Happy. 00:03:45.439 --> 00:03:46.080 Thank you, two of you. 00:03:46.159 --> 00:03:46.879 That was amazing. 00:03:47.039 --> 00:03:48.639 You were awake and then you fell asleep. 00:03:48.719 --> 00:03:49.759 That's okay. 00:03:50.319 --> 00:03:51.360 Happiness, right? 00:03:51.439 --> 00:03:52.319 We just want to be happy. 00:03:52.400 --> 00:03:53.840 You want to live a happy life. 00:03:54.000 --> 00:03:55.199 Do what makes you happy. 00:03:55.280 --> 00:03:56.479 The goal is happiness. 00:03:56.639 --> 00:04:04.080 As long as you're happy, and here's what I've seen: so many relationships, so many lives destroyed by the pursuit of happiness. 00:04:04.400 --> 00:04:09.120 It's this pleasure-filled, experience full is the focus and the aim. 00:04:09.280 --> 00:04:10.960 How about power, autonomy? 00:04:11.120 --> 00:04:17.839 To do whatever you want, whenever you want, to have control, to be the master of your domain, to be in charge. 00:04:18.079 --> 00:04:19.120 I want to be important. 00:04:19.279 --> 00:04:20.639 I want to be respected. 00:04:20.800 --> 00:04:23.040 Maybe you define success this way by prosperity. 00:04:23.120 --> 00:04:24.720 It's the American dream. 00:04:25.279 --> 00:04:34.000 It's, you know, being financially independent, having wealth, affluence, owning the house, the cars, the clothes, the trips, being upwardly mobile. 00:04:34.160 --> 00:04:36.800 Maybe you define success as impact. 00:04:37.279 --> 00:04:44.959 Something that I love about this generation and over the last year is the desire to make an impact. 00:04:46.800 --> 00:04:49.120 To be fully woke, if you will. 00:04:49.680 --> 00:04:50.800 Make a difference. 00:04:51.040 --> 00:04:53.439 Live an enlightened life. 00:04:53.920 --> 00:04:55.519 Maybe leave a legacy. 00:04:55.680 --> 00:04:58.000 What is your definition of success? 00:04:58.240 --> 00:05:04.079 Because whatever your definition of success is directing the very course of your life. 00:05:06.160 --> 00:05:13.279 And the great reveal that I think has happened over the last year or so is simply this. 00:05:14.560 --> 00:05:24.000 That the pandemic showed us that for many of us, I would say most of us, our definition of success lacks substance, didn't it? 00:05:24.480 --> 00:05:36.480 It lacks substance to really weather the storms, weather the crisis, weather the circumstances of our lives, that our success then was so fragile. 00:05:36.720 --> 00:05:41.839 And so, how do we redefine success to live out a purpose-filled life? 00:05:42.000 --> 00:05:54.160 How do we embrace a new definition of success that that has the strength and the stability to weather whatever storms or circumstances you're going through? 00:05:54.319 --> 00:06:13.839 To do this, we're actually gonna look at um what some scholars say it was the apostles Paul's like failure, uh not a moral failure, like where he just he was doing on his missionary journey, and where they say, you know, he he missed the mark. 00:06:14.000 --> 00:06:22.879 Not so many people responded to the gospel, and we're gonna learn some, I think, critical elements and how to redefine success. 00:06:23.040 --> 00:06:25.920 If you got your Bibles, open up to Acts chapter 17. 00:06:26.160 --> 00:06:29.360 Acts 17, we'll pick it up in verse 16. 00:06:29.519 --> 00:06:43.120 By way of context, Paul the apostle is going on his second missionary journey from the city of Antioch, and he took along with him uh a guy named Silas, a fellow uh helper in the ministry. 00:06:43.279 --> 00:06:46.160 Then he brought a young protege named Timothy. 00:06:46.240 --> 00:06:53.199 They've been traveling to the different cities where they had originally planted churches and just encouraging them, strengthening them. 00:06:53.360 --> 00:06:59.040 And then they continued on as they were traveling and began to reach new cities. 00:06:59.199 --> 00:07:07.120 They went to the city of uh Philippi in the Macedonian area, uh, and then and they saw just incredible success there. 00:07:07.199 --> 00:07:22.399 And then they went to Thessalonica and uh they saw God do incredible things and they had great opposition because like so many people were coming to Christ, and so there's like some Jewish people that are jealous, and they were just trying to, you know, stop what was happening. 00:07:22.560 --> 00:07:38.720 And and then the apostle Paul goes to Berea, and again, incredible success, but then there's also yet again incredible opposition, and so they had to get Paul out of the way, and and so they said, Hey, let's take you from Berea. 00:07:38.959 --> 00:07:46.319 We're gonna send you to Athens and travel down there and and kind of keep you, you know, out of the heat for a little bit. 00:07:46.480 --> 00:07:53.439 Let Paul let Silas and let Timothy do the work up here, and you just kind of hide out over in Athens. 00:07:53.519 --> 00:08:09.199 And so this is where we pick up the story of the Apostle Paul in Athens by accidents, and where he's never intended to come, and where others would say he really didn't fulfill or was very successful in Athens. 00:08:09.439 --> 00:08:18.879 Verse 16 says, while Paul was waiting for them, that is Silas and Timothy, and Athens, he was greatly distressed to see the city was full of idols. 00:08:19.040 --> 00:08:20.639 That's no understatement. 00:08:20.720 --> 00:08:30.399 In fact, Athens was the cultural city, uh uh the center city for culture, philosophy, uh, and um uh religion in this day. 00:08:30.560 --> 00:08:39.200 Even when Rome overtook it, Rome so wanted to be Greek uh that they continued to populate or perpetuate uh the Greek philosophy. 00:08:39.279 --> 00:08:42.960 I mean, this is the home of Socrates, Plato, Aristotle. 00:08:43.120 --> 00:08:49.840 And in Athens, it was said that there was more idols in Athens than all of Greece combined. 00:08:50.000 --> 00:08:56.159 I mean, it was said that you could actually find or run into an idol more than you could run into a person there. 00:08:56.320 --> 00:08:58.720 I mean, it just was piled upon piled. 00:08:58.799 --> 00:09:02.879 There's one road that had so many, you couldn't really walk through this street. 00:09:03.039 --> 00:09:04.240 There were so many idols. 00:09:04.399 --> 00:09:05.279 No understatement. 00:09:05.360 --> 00:09:07.200 The city was full of idols. 00:09:07.360 --> 00:09:16.799 So he reasoned in the synagogue with both Jews and God-fearing Greeks as well in the marketplace, day by day, with those who happened to be there. 00:09:17.200 --> 00:09:29.440 And while he's seeing what's going on and seeing the pain in the city and their pursuit for uh God, but not really knowing how, he's like, I'm gonna reason with you. 00:09:29.519 --> 00:09:31.120 I want to bring the gospel and the good news. 00:09:31.200 --> 00:09:42.320 And so he's reasoning with Jews, he's reasoning with God-fearing Greeks, and then some Epicureans and Stoic philosophers begin to debate with them in the marketplace, and they they have this incredible debate going back and forth. 00:09:42.399 --> 00:09:55.519 And in fact, they start to make fun of Paul, say he's a babbler, and then others uh actually lodge a very serious uh you know accusation that he was promoting other religions. 00:09:55.759 --> 00:10:05.679 And this is actually the same accusation that Socrates, if you remember, 450 years later or before, had that he eventually was killed for. 00:10:05.840 --> 00:10:10.399 And so they said, Would you come to the Aragapus and would you come here? 00:10:10.480 --> 00:10:20.399 And this is this in world-famous center like uh of supreme counsel for religion, for philosophy. 00:10:20.480 --> 00:10:28.000 Uh, and this is not just a casual conversation, it's as if Paul is being on trial in this moment. 00:10:28.240 --> 00:10:29.279 I mean, it's incredible. 00:10:29.440 --> 00:10:39.200 He is in the Supreme Council of Athens that's known around the world, invited into this moment to share what he's been talking about on the streets. 00:10:39.360 --> 00:10:50.559 And so Paul then, verse 22, stood up at the meeting of the Aragopis and said, Uh, people of Athens, I see that in every way you're very religious. 00:10:50.720 --> 00:10:58.399 For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription to an unknown God. 00:10:58.720 --> 00:11:01.519 So you're ignorant of the very thing you worship. 00:11:01.679 --> 00:11:04.159 And this is what I'm going to proclaim to you. 00:11:04.320 --> 00:11:08.559 And then he talks about the God who created all that there was. 00:11:08.720 --> 00:11:16.720 Then he talks about the God who sustained and is the sustainer of all that we have, that he's the ruler and that he's ultimately Father. 00:11:16.879 --> 00:11:22.960 He, in his speech, he actually quotes their own prophets and their uh the philosophers, rather. 00:11:23.120 --> 00:11:28.080 And he closes with the God who's revealed in Jesus through the resurrection. 00:11:28.639 --> 00:11:35.519 And this is where he kind of lost his audience because they didn't believe in a resurrection. 00:11:35.679 --> 00:11:42.720 And when they heard about the resurrection of the dead, some of them sneered, but others said, We want to hear you again on this subject. 00:11:43.039 --> 00:11:45.519 At that, Paul left the council. 00:11:45.679 --> 00:11:47.279 Some of the people became followers. 00:11:47.440 --> 00:11:51.279 If you have your Bibles, that word some, it just means some. 00:11:58.080 --> 00:12:00.879 This is where people go, like, yeah, Paul, you missed the boat. 00:12:01.039 --> 00:12:03.039 You didn't reach your audience here. 00:12:03.360 --> 00:12:09.440 Among them, Dionysius, a member of the Arapakus, and also, I can't say that word either. 00:12:09.600 --> 00:12:14.399 Also, a woman named Demaris and a number of others. 00:12:15.279 --> 00:12:23.120 What do we learn about redefining success from the Apostle Paul in Athens from his quote, maybe failure? 00:12:23.279 --> 00:12:27.759 Well, as we begin, I just want to give you a new definition for success. 00:12:28.000 --> 00:12:34.559 Uh take it from Pete Schizero's book, Emotionally High, uh, Emotionally Um Healthy Disciples. 00:12:34.799 --> 00:12:46.399 In it, he says, according to Jesus, success, success is becoming the person God calls you to become and doing what God calls you to do in his way and according to his timetable. 00:12:46.559 --> 00:12:47.200 What is success? 00:12:47.279 --> 00:12:48.960 It's becoming, first and foremost. 00:12:49.039 --> 00:12:50.480 It's who you are becoming. 00:12:50.639 --> 00:12:53.600 And then it's simply doing what he's called you to do. 00:12:53.759 --> 00:12:56.720 We talked about that in week one, divine calling. 00:12:56.960 --> 00:13:10.480 And so I want to highlight three incredibly important areas for us if we're gonna really live a purpose-filled life where we need to redefine success in our lives. 00:13:10.559 --> 00:13:15.759 The first is simply here, here's what we learned from the apostle Paul and redefining success. 00:13:15.919 --> 00:13:18.159 Be present where God has placed you. 00:13:18.639 --> 00:13:21.039 Be present where God has placed you. 00:13:21.600 --> 00:13:29.440 The Apostle Paul had no intentions of going to Athens, it was not part of the plan. 00:13:30.320 --> 00:13:35.279 He had a plan, and it got completely messed up. 00:13:35.440 --> 00:13:39.519 He had a plan to follow this road and actually work his way all the way to Rome. 00:13:39.600 --> 00:13:41.039 Eventually, Rome got closed off. 00:13:41.279 --> 00:13:48.639 I don't know if you know, but Nero uh, you know, expelled all the Christians uh at one point, and uh he wasn't able to go to Rome even that way. 00:13:48.720 --> 00:13:53.200 But but because of persecution, because of what was happening, his plans got changed. 00:13:53.279 --> 00:13:56.639 He finds himself, he's not even with his team anymore. 00:13:56.960 --> 00:13:58.879 Silas and Timothy are still in Berea. 00:14:01.440 --> 00:14:03.279 And here's what he didn't do. 00:14:04.399 --> 00:14:08.080 He didn't go, well, you know, throw himself a pity party. 00:14:09.679 --> 00:14:10.879 This sucks. 00:14:11.600 --> 00:14:13.039 This is terrible. 00:14:13.279 --> 00:14:14.639 I'm stuck in Athens. 00:14:14.799 --> 00:14:16.559 Look at all these idols. 00:14:16.879 --> 00:14:18.799 I don't even have my team. 00:14:21.759 --> 00:14:23.759 He didn't go, well, whatever. 00:14:23.840 --> 00:14:24.159 You know what? 00:14:24.240 --> 00:14:25.759 I'm just gonna take a vacation. 00:14:26.080 --> 00:14:28.080 It's been long, it's been hard. 00:14:28.320 --> 00:14:32.159 I I'm just gonna, I'm just gonna vacation for a while. 00:14:32.320 --> 00:14:33.279 What did he do? 00:14:33.519 --> 00:14:36.320 He did what he did everywhere else. 00:14:37.759 --> 00:14:44.799 He did what God had called him to do, and everywhere he went, he began to speak with people about this Jesus who changed his life. 00:14:45.440 --> 00:14:46.960 He couldn't help it. 00:14:48.480 --> 00:14:54.879 He just went to, you know, first to the synagogue, then to the God-fearing Greeks, and then into the marketplace. 00:14:55.039 --> 00:15:02.720 Anyone who would hear him, he just did what he always did wherever he went, he was fully present where God had him placed. 00:15:02.960 --> 00:15:06.080 He didn't choose that place, he wasn't intending to go to that place. 00:15:06.159 --> 00:15:13.519 That wasn't the place he really ever wanted to go, but he said, since I'm here, I'm gonna be present and do what God has called me to do in this place. 00:15:14.559 --> 00:15:21.120 I think some of us are missing out on what God has for us because we're complaining about the place we're in. 00:15:21.519 --> 00:15:27.600 We're complaining about I want to be in a different place, I want to live in a different place, I want to work at a different place, I want to have a different spouse. 00:15:27.759 --> 00:15:29.200 Oh, wait, did I just say that loud? 00:15:29.279 --> 00:15:30.480 Some of you thought it. 00:15:32.240 --> 00:15:35.200 And you're complaining about your place. 00:15:37.519 --> 00:15:40.320 And redefining success is actually, no, no, no. 00:15:40.480 --> 00:15:41.679 Here is the place. 00:15:43.039 --> 00:15:43.679 My work. 00:15:44.320 --> 00:15:50.559 I may be looking for another job, but as long as I'm here, I'm gonna be present where God has me placed. 00:15:51.039 --> 00:15:52.080 Your location. 00:15:54.080 --> 00:15:57.360 How about how about as a parent? 00:15:59.279 --> 00:16:05.360 I think so often, you know, especially you have kids, and then you realize there's so many things you can't do anymore. 00:16:05.600 --> 00:16:17.120 You're like, oh my gosh, it's so fun to watch everyone else live their best life on social media on Insta, and we can't go anywhere because we go anywhere, it's just a hot mess and nap time and all those other things. 00:16:18.480 --> 00:16:20.159 God says, be present in that place. 00:16:20.320 --> 00:16:25.919 You know, one of my biggest regrets, my kids, I have three kids, 16, 14, 11. 00:16:26.240 --> 00:16:27.440 Got that last one right. 00:16:29.679 --> 00:16:40.960 One of my biggest regrets is I was so focused on what I thought was success of being a somebody in my younger years that I was not present in my home with my kids. 00:16:42.240 --> 00:16:45.519 I look on my phone all the time. 00:16:46.000 --> 00:16:52.320 I love those like highlights that they have, you know, of um pictures on the iPhone where it just shows you. 00:16:52.399 --> 00:16:55.279 Oh, there's a beautiful picture of my daughter who has like four. 00:16:56.159 --> 00:16:59.919 And I go, I wish I would have been present of what I missed. 00:17:01.440 --> 00:17:03.519 I don't take it for granted now. 00:17:04.480 --> 00:17:08.319 Be present where God has you placed, students. 00:17:09.119 --> 00:17:13.359 We're always wanting to be, you know, in the next thing ahead. 00:17:14.400 --> 00:17:21.680 See, many of us, our version of success goes something like this when I get blank, then I'll be. 00:17:22.640 --> 00:17:24.400 When I get, then. 00:17:25.200 --> 00:17:31.759 And we live in the when then, and we're never present because we're we never arrive. 00:17:33.359 --> 00:17:38.720 See what happened for the apostle Paul was his circumstances changed, but his calling didn't. 00:17:39.119 --> 00:17:43.519 His purpose, his plans changed, but his purpose didn't. 00:17:45.440 --> 00:17:48.240 See, you go, okay, God, you have me placed here. 00:17:48.400 --> 00:17:57.440 I am here for a purpose in this season, and so I'm gonna be present to it, and you have the freedom to work through me in this moment. 00:17:57.599 --> 00:17:59.359 You've made me a mom, you've made me a dad. 00:17:59.440 --> 00:18:01.359 I'm gonna be present with my kids and work through that. 00:18:01.440 --> 00:18:02.559 You've put me at this job. 00:18:02.720 --> 00:18:06.880 I'm gonna be present here and allow your calling to work through me. 00:18:07.039 --> 00:18:08.319 You've put me in the Silicon Valley. 00:18:08.400 --> 00:18:10.640 I can't afford a Silicon Valley, but you've put me here. 00:18:10.720 --> 00:18:20.240 It's far from our family, it's far from our friends, but you've put me here, and instead of complaining about it, I'm gonna be present here with what you have for me to do. 00:18:20.400 --> 00:18:23.839 And here's what's amazing this is so cool. 00:18:24.319 --> 00:18:34.400 The apostle Paul had the great opportunity to preach the gospel to the world-renowned Supreme Council of Athens. 00:18:35.440 --> 00:18:41.599 Had he not been present in that moment, he would have missed out on one of the greatest opportunities of his entire life. 00:18:41.759 --> 00:18:51.759 I would just wonder, I just wonder if few of us are missing out on incredible opportunities because we're just looking and living in the win-thens of life. 00:18:52.079 --> 00:18:56.240 First, and redefining success, be present where God has placed you. 00:18:56.400 --> 00:19:01.599 Second, only a holy God can wholly satisfy. 00:19:02.160 --> 00:19:04.799 Only a holy God can wholly satisfy. 00:19:04.880 --> 00:19:06.960 I want you to notice Paul's sermon. 00:19:07.599 --> 00:19:14.319 And he remember the city is filled with idols, and he finds one and he he talks about to the unknown God. 00:19:16.400 --> 00:19:23.680 Where all of us are searching for someone or something to fully satisfy our soul. 00:19:24.400 --> 00:19:31.440 We are pursuing it's that if I have this, then I'll have meaning. 00:19:31.680 --> 00:19:37.200 If I have this, then I'll finally feel valuable or significant. 00:19:38.799 --> 00:19:42.640 Only a holy God can wholly satisfy. 00:19:44.319 --> 00:19:46.720 You know, holiness. 00:19:46.960 --> 00:19:54.079 He begins to talk about the holiness of God, not using that word, but his creator, sustainer, ruler, uh, father. 00:19:54.480 --> 00:20:06.240 And he says, God did this so that they would seek him and reach out for him and find him, though he's not far from any one of us, for in him we live and move and have our being. 00:20:06.799 --> 00:20:14.319 Like there is something set inside of you that longs, that has this longing and searching, will you satisfy me? 00:20:14.480 --> 00:20:22.559 And is put inside your soul and my soul so that we'll actually reach out and discover that no thing and no person will ever fully satisfy. 00:20:22.960 --> 00:20:29.119 We were created for a God who can only satisfy our soul. 00:20:30.240 --> 00:20:33.680 I like how John Stott talked about Paul's sermon. 00:20:33.759 --> 00:20:40.559 He says he proclaimed God in his fullness as creator, sustainer, ruler, father, and judge. 00:20:42.079 --> 00:20:56.079 Only a holy that means completely other, set apart, fully good, all-powerful God that is intimate, personal, relational, that can fully satisfy your soul. 00:20:56.240 --> 00:20:57.039 I like how C.S. 00:20:57.119 --> 00:20:58.319 Lewis said it. 00:20:59.119 --> 00:21:09.359 He said, if I find in myself a desire which nothing in this world can satisfy, the only logical explanation is that I was made for another world. 00:21:15.119 --> 00:21:21.359 You know, we kind of tend to think that idols are a thing about way back then. 00:21:22.480 --> 00:21:22.880 Right? 00:21:23.839 --> 00:21:25.359 We don't have graven images. 00:21:25.759 --> 00:21:27.279 Oh wait, we have bank accounts. 00:21:27.920 --> 00:21:31.279 Um we don't have graven images. 00:21:31.599 --> 00:21:33.920 Oh wait, it's that plaque on the wall. 00:21:35.839 --> 00:21:38.400 For some, it's your fantasy football trophy. 00:21:42.079 --> 00:21:51.440 See, an idol for us is anything that we're pursuing that we hope will actually fully satisfy our soul other than God. 00:21:52.160 --> 00:21:56.720 I like how uh Tim McKeller in his book Counterfeit Gods defines an idol. 00:21:56.880 --> 00:21:59.440 He says, An idol is anything more important to you than God. 00:22:00.079 --> 00:22:03.119 Anything that absorbs your heart and imagination more than God. 00:22:03.359 --> 00:22:14.880 Anything you seek to give you what only God can give, anything that is so central and essential to your life that should you lose it, your life would feel hardly worth living. 00:22:16.240 --> 00:22:22.319 I mean, isn't that why when we're talking about those definitions of success, success was so fragile? 00:22:23.039 --> 00:22:26.240 Success didn't lack its substance. 00:22:28.240 --> 00:22:38.880 Because once that thing got pulled away, for many, you felt like your purpose was on pause or you lost it altogether. 00:22:39.279 --> 00:22:44.240 See, only God, only God, only God can fully satisfy. 00:22:44.400 --> 00:22:47.839 Only Jesus can satisfy the deep longing of our soul. 00:22:47.920 --> 00:22:52.720 And for some, you get that intellectually, but you got to get it practically in your bones. 00:22:55.440 --> 00:23:03.440 I've sat with someone that I love dearly who would say over and over again, oh, my values rhyme. 00:23:03.599 --> 00:23:08.480 It's it's faith first, it's God, it's family and friends. 00:23:09.200 --> 00:23:11.519 I've had this conversation, but you know what? 00:23:11.680 --> 00:23:16.559 We live in such a driven, success-oriented culture. 00:23:17.039 --> 00:23:19.119 Practically, you know what it is? 00:23:19.759 --> 00:23:21.279 Upward mobility. 00:23:22.480 --> 00:23:33.279 Practically, you know what it shows by how you spend your time, your energy, where you give your best effort for this person. 00:23:33.839 --> 00:23:36.559 He sacrificed it on the altar of his work. 00:23:37.519 --> 00:23:43.119 And so many of us are sacrificing our lives on the altar of something, hoping that it'll satisfy us. 00:23:43.279 --> 00:23:49.839 And I've just had the vantage point of being a pastor and talking to so many people who are, quote, successful yet empty. 00:23:50.640 --> 00:23:53.119 And where you get to the spot, okay, God, okay. 00:23:53.359 --> 00:23:54.400 I have been searching. 00:23:54.559 --> 00:23:57.519 That search reveals something in my heart. 00:23:57.680 --> 00:24:01.680 Those things aren't necessarily bad, they just can't be ultimate things. 00:24:01.920 --> 00:24:06.319 In fact, God, you're the only one who will fully satisfy. 00:24:06.559 --> 00:24:10.480 When we're defining success, first, be present where God has placed you. 00:24:10.720 --> 00:24:13.680 Second, recognize only God can wholly satisfy. 00:24:13.839 --> 00:24:16.400 And then finally, abandon outcomes to God. 00:24:16.880 --> 00:24:18.480 Abandon outcomes. 00:24:18.960 --> 00:24:28.480 Dallas Willard, in his book, Renovation of the Heart, I like, he says this, we are not meant to live under the burden of outcomes. 00:24:29.839 --> 00:24:32.720 Oh, that our lives would be so different. 00:24:33.920 --> 00:24:39.519 If we didn't live under the burden of outcomes. 00:24:55.680 --> 00:24:58.079 I don't think he walked away discouraged. 00:25:00.160 --> 00:25:02.000 I don't think he walked away disappointed. 00:25:02.079 --> 00:25:11.839 We have no indication that he somehow thought this was a failure, though other people looked at it and just said, hey, by the numbers, you just didn't quite meet your quota. 00:25:11.920 --> 00:25:14.319 You didn't just quite hit what you had in Berea. 00:25:14.559 --> 00:25:23.119 I mean, man, you were cooking there, but over here, I mean, you had your chance in front of the big hot shot philosophical council. 00:25:24.799 --> 00:25:25.920 Missed it. 00:25:29.119 --> 00:25:31.759 There's going to be recorded for all of time. 00:25:32.000 --> 00:25:35.200 Just some of the people became followers. 00:25:36.960 --> 00:25:41.759 He left the outcome and results in God's hands. 00:25:42.079 --> 00:25:44.559 See, we have to be clear on our responsibility. 00:25:44.720 --> 00:25:48.000 This is not saying don't work hard, don't do your best. 00:25:48.160 --> 00:25:49.279 Here's what's just saying. 00:25:49.440 --> 00:25:53.759 I I can't live under the weight of what the out of outcomes. 00:25:54.640 --> 00:25:58.720 I can't live under if I'm trying to raise my kids, here's what I do. 00:25:58.880 --> 00:26:02.880 I'm going to, I'm called to raise them, help them know Jesus. 00:26:03.039 --> 00:26:08.240 I can't live under the outcome of raising perfect kids, raising godly kids. 00:26:08.480 --> 00:26:10.000 That's God's part. 00:26:10.160 --> 00:26:11.759 That's their interaction. 00:26:13.279 --> 00:26:22.079 And for some, how would it change your parenting if you didn't live under that outcome? 00:26:22.480 --> 00:26:28.960 Because isn't it true that when they act out, then you feel like it's a reflection of you? 00:26:30.000 --> 00:26:46.319 And so instead of helping guide them, helping them grow, we often punish them or discipline them in a way because it made us look bad. 00:26:46.880 --> 00:26:49.119 The outcomes of successful work. 00:26:49.519 --> 00:26:50.720 The outcomes. 00:26:51.519 --> 00:26:55.599 I know for me, even that preaching, my job. 00:26:56.400 --> 00:26:58.720 I can't be married to outcomes when I am. 00:26:58.799 --> 00:27:01.440 I'm preaching for your applause instead of God's approval. 00:27:01.599 --> 00:27:03.839 I like how Dallas Willard says it. 00:27:03.920 --> 00:27:11.599 He says, the secret to peace, as great apprentices of Jesus have long known, is being abandoned to God. 00:27:11.839 --> 00:27:21.200 We accept that we do not have in ourselves, in our own heart, soul, mind, and strength, the wherewithal to make this come out right, whatever this is. 00:27:21.440 --> 00:27:28.000 Instead, let us entrust our souls to the faithful Creator in doing what is right. 00:27:30.319 --> 00:27:34.319 See, redefining success means I'm going to be present where God has placed me. 00:27:34.400 --> 00:27:37.359 I'm seeking him as my sole satisfaction. 00:27:37.599 --> 00:27:42.079 And through that, I'm going to entrust to him the outcomes. 00:27:42.640 --> 00:27:48.079 I'm going to entrust to him the people that I love in my life, the outcomes that are going. 00:27:48.640 --> 00:27:54.319 I like how John Ortberg tells a story of not into Dallas Willard. 00:27:56.000 --> 00:28:01.200 And Dallas Willard had just got done preaching at Ortberg's church up in Minlo. 00:28:01.599 --> 00:28:03.279 And I like how John says it. 00:28:14.640 --> 00:28:17.839 And he gave this picture and it's always stuck with me. 00:28:18.559 --> 00:28:23.680 And he was just humming an old hymn as he's walking to the car. 00:28:24.480 --> 00:28:32.000 And he said, as if like he he preached and he did this thing, and it's like a healing balloon, and then he just let go of it and let it float up. 00:28:34.240 --> 00:28:57.599 I just wonder what would change in your life instead of living under the weight and under the pressure and feeling like everything rests on your shoulders, instead abandoning it to God and just going, I'm just gonna, I God, I'm becoming who you made me to be, and I'm doing what you called me to do, and I'm gonna entrust the outcomes, the results to you. 00:28:59.119 --> 00:29:18.160 You know, um as we close, we're gonna take communion together, and uh at the front is uh the elements, and they're in their little pre-packaged areas, and at the back, there's two spots as well that you can grab the elements. 00:29:18.240 --> 00:29:25.759 So during worship, we'll get up and come forward and grab those, and then you can go back to your seat and take it on your own. 00:29:27.599 --> 00:29:36.480 But I was reminded of um this whole idea of outcomes, and and it gets messy in the church. 00:29:37.599 --> 00:29:39.680 It gets messy in my own soul. 00:29:41.039 --> 00:29:44.799 And it's really hard to practice what you preach sometimes, isn't it? 00:29:47.440 --> 00:29:48.720 Yes, it is. 00:29:51.039 --> 00:29:56.960 And I I happen to be um I had coffee with a young church planner up in Oakland. 00:29:57.039 --> 00:29:58.079 It's awesome as a church. 00:29:58.160 --> 00:30:11.279 We've gotten to support them financially, and and we're just meeting, he's talking about all his you know, goals and all his um metrics and all the things and how the pandemic threw it all off. 00:30:11.680 --> 00:30:12.880 And like, what do I do now? 00:30:12.960 --> 00:30:24.400 What do I and and I and I said, Jesus told us like the fruitfulness, impact, success, if you will. 00:30:25.680 --> 00:30:41.279 It actually comes in John chapter 15, he explained, by abiding in him, resting in him, remaining in him, staying deeply connected to Jesus, and he'll take care of the results, he'll take care of the fruit, he'll the fruit will come, the fruit will happen. 00:30:41.519 --> 00:30:43.119 You're not tied to the outcome. 00:30:43.200 --> 00:30:45.039 Let Jesus be tied to it. 00:30:45.839 --> 00:30:48.319 And then he texts me this week. 00:30:48.960 --> 00:30:59.200 He said, Do you really believe, and this is what I said, this question, do you really believe that your fruitfulness in ministry comes from your ability to lead or your abiding in Jesus? 00:31:00.400 --> 00:31:07.839 And then he wrote, Can't tell you how much these words have been an encouragement and refreshing for me in this season. 00:31:08.319 --> 00:31:15.039 Some of you need refreshed, and you've been living under burdens you were not uh meant to bear. 00:31:15.440 --> 00:31:27.200 And we're gonna take a moment and remind ourselves only Jesus will satisfy the deep longing of our souls, and we'll sit and you'll take, okay, what are the things that I've been living under? 00:31:27.279 --> 00:31:30.480 And I'm just gonna bring them to you and remind myself. 00:31:30.640 --> 00:31:36.799 I gotta remind myself daily, only you, only you, only you, Jesus. 00:31:36.960 --> 00:31:49.359 And so would you take this moment as we continue in worship and just pause, be present, go, okay, Jesus, what do you have for me here? 00:31:49.759 --> 00:31:53.519 Would you speak to my heart and my soul, my mind? 00:31:54.559 --> 00:31:57.119 Would you lift the burdens that are yours? 00:31:58.079 --> 00:32:01.119 Heavenly Father, I I thank you for this moment. 00:32:01.279 --> 00:32:24.799 I thank you that you've came for us, that you are the creator of the universe and all that we see, and and that you're Father, that you're intimately caring, involved in our lives. 00:32:27.359 --> 00:32:31.359 God, in this moment, may we meet you, Jesus. 00:32:32.720 --> 00:32:35.839 May we bring the things that we're carrying to you. 00:32:37.519 --> 00:32:41.359 Would you reorient our lives around you and your ways? 00:32:42.000 --> 00:32:43.599 In Jesus' name. 00:32:44.400 --> 00:32:45.039 Amen. 00:32:46.720 --> 00:32:49.039 We hope you are blessed by this message. 00:32:49.279 --> 00:32:54.240 Please subscribe to our podcast for access to every episode as they're uploaded. 00:32:54.480 --> 00:32:56.799 And hey, we'd love to connect with you. 00:32:56.960 --> 00:33:02.880 Take a next step by filling out our virtual connection card at awakeningchurch.comslash card.