WEBVTT 00:00:00.160 --> 00:00:02.560 Today, what I want to do is just, I was so excited. 00:00:02.640 --> 00:00:12.320 I was like, I just want to preach on something I love because when we're going to get into Mark 13, not that I don't love Mark 13, but Mark 13 is about destruction. 00:00:12.400 --> 00:00:15.199 And I just like, I was like, oh, let's not, maybe not this week. 00:00:15.359 --> 00:00:16.559 We'll do that next week. 00:00:16.719 --> 00:00:24.559 And so I just wanted to preach on something that I really loved, a passage I loved, thinking about 2026 and the direction of our church moving forward and things like that. 00:00:24.719 --> 00:00:25.839 That's what I wanted to teach on. 00:00:25.920 --> 00:00:31.280 And so the teaching text today comes from Matthew 7, starting in verse 24. 00:00:32.320 --> 00:00:43.759 It says, Therefore, everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 00:00:45.039 --> 00:00:50.000 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house. 00:00:50.560 --> 00:00:52.159 Yet it did not fall. 00:00:52.960 --> 00:00:55.520 Because it had its foundation on the rock. 00:00:56.159 --> 00:01:03.200 But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. 00:01:03.600 --> 00:01:10.719 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash. 00:01:11.040 --> 00:01:12.239 This is the word of the Lord. 00:01:14.319 --> 00:01:17.840 Very simple message today for you from this passage. 00:01:18.000 --> 00:01:24.480 I want to look at what Jesus is saying through this passage, one thing that he's saying, and then what that means for us. 00:01:24.560 --> 00:01:26.640 And so very simple today. 00:01:26.879 --> 00:01:39.840 What Jesus is saying through this passage, the one point is that those who put his words into practice will experience his power and what he can do in their lives. 00:01:40.319 --> 00:01:45.040 And those who hear his words but do nothing with them don't. 00:01:45.280 --> 00:01:48.400 So those who put his word into practice, go to that next slide there. 00:01:48.640 --> 00:01:49.519 Colin, there we go. 00:01:49.599 --> 00:01:51.280 I can see it now when it's happening. 00:01:51.519 --> 00:01:52.159 There we go. 00:01:52.400 --> 00:01:53.040 Go to the next. 00:01:53.280 --> 00:01:54.079 Okay, we maybe don't. 00:01:54.159 --> 00:01:54.560 There it is. 00:01:54.640 --> 00:01:55.599 There it is right there. 00:01:55.760 --> 00:02:00.879 Those who put his word into practice experience his power in their lives, and those who don't, don't. 00:02:01.040 --> 00:02:05.040 That is the gist of we're just summarizing everything that he's saying. 00:02:05.120 --> 00:02:05.760 That's what he's saying. 00:02:05.840 --> 00:02:09.599 But Jesus basically splits humanity into two categories. 00:02:09.840 --> 00:02:17.599 He's like, there are people who will experience my power and what I can do in their lives, and they will be the ones who put my word into practice. 00:02:17.680 --> 00:02:25.439 And there will be people who don't experience my power and don't experience what I can do in their lives, and they will be people who hear my word but do nothing with it. 00:02:25.599 --> 00:02:28.319 That is the only difference between these two people. 00:02:28.479 --> 00:02:30.240 Everything else is the exact same. 00:02:30.479 --> 00:02:39.360 And so there's not a space circumstantially where it's like, well, those people experience God's power in their lives because he just blessed them more, he just did more for them. 00:02:39.520 --> 00:02:41.840 There was just something about them that he liked more. 00:02:42.000 --> 00:02:43.360 They had an easier life. 00:02:43.439 --> 00:02:47.199 That's why their life was more stable and why they experienced some of those things. 00:02:47.360 --> 00:02:48.800 It is not circumstantial. 00:02:48.879 --> 00:02:51.360 If you look at the text, everything is the exact same. 00:02:51.520 --> 00:02:56.159 The storm is the same, the house is the same, the people are the same type of people. 00:02:56.400 --> 00:02:57.680 And Jesus is making the point. 00:02:57.840 --> 00:03:12.560 The only thing that separates the difference that's happening here, the only thing that separates that is one heard my words and actually did something with them and put them into practice in their lives and gave them activity in their hands and in their feet. 00:03:12.719 --> 00:03:18.080 And then there were those who heard the exact same message and they just did nothing with it. 00:03:18.319 --> 00:03:22.479 And so one experienced what I can do in their lives, and one just didn't. 00:03:22.639 --> 00:03:26.879 Because the truth is, and what he's saying is the people who practice my word experience what I can do. 00:03:27.039 --> 00:03:28.000 They experience my power. 00:03:28.080 --> 00:03:30.719 And those who don't, don't. 00:03:31.039 --> 00:03:40.159 And you see this all throughout the scriptures as warnings, as examples, even what Megan read this morning, like if you hear his word, don't harden your hearts as they did in the old days. 00:03:40.240 --> 00:03:41.039 Don't do that. 00:03:41.280 --> 00:03:57.120 Because there's a space in this, like he's trying to do something in our lives, he's trying to bring something out and break something in and to harden our hearts so it doesn't get in there and then give us activity and action in our lives, is to actually withhold the things that he wants to do and to keep him from doing those things. 00:03:57.360 --> 00:03:59.280 And again, you see this all throughout the scriptures. 00:03:59.360 --> 00:04:02.159 Those who practice his word experience his power. 00:04:02.400 --> 00:04:03.680 Couple examples here. 00:04:03.919 --> 00:04:06.879 So if you look at Noah, it's it's rather small here. 00:04:07.039 --> 00:04:07.680 Sorry about that. 00:04:07.759 --> 00:04:09.199 I forgot that the screens are smaller here. 00:04:09.280 --> 00:04:10.800 We'll we'll work on that in the future. 00:04:11.120 --> 00:04:15.680 But if you look at Noah's life, the word from God was like, hey, I need you to build an ark. 00:04:15.840 --> 00:04:17.680 Rain's coming for 40 days and 40 nights. 00:04:17.839 --> 00:04:18.319 Rain's coming. 00:04:18.480 --> 00:04:19.439 Destruction is coming on the earth. 00:04:19.680 --> 00:04:20.399 Build an ark. 00:04:20.560 --> 00:04:23.040 And it's like, there's no water around us. 00:04:23.120 --> 00:04:24.079 This isn't really it. 00:04:24.240 --> 00:04:25.759 Boats, we don't really have much of those. 00:04:26.000 --> 00:04:26.879 Like, build an ark. 00:04:27.040 --> 00:04:27.839 And it's like, great. 00:04:28.000 --> 00:04:32.800 He builds an ark, he puts his word into practice, and then he experiences the salvation. 00:04:32.959 --> 00:04:36.480 He and his family experience the salvation that God wanted to give them. 00:04:36.720 --> 00:04:42.240 Abraham, keep trying to have children, even though you and your wife are 99, and that seems impossible. 00:04:42.399 --> 00:04:44.399 Keep trying to have children even though you're 99. 00:04:44.800 --> 00:04:45.839 They keep doing that thing. 00:04:45.920 --> 00:04:50.560 And then they experience God's promise being true, that they were going to have a son together, even in their old age. 00:04:50.879 --> 00:04:57.759 Lot, the call was, the word was, put it into practice to leave and flee Sodom. 00:04:57.920 --> 00:05:00.959 Make sure you leave that space because destruction is coming on that. 00:05:01.120 --> 00:05:02.959 And then he goes and leaves that space. 00:05:03.120 --> 00:05:08.160 Do not look back, do not tarry, do not stay in the city, get out, because destruction is coming. 00:05:08.240 --> 00:05:12.480 And he does that and he escapes the destruction because he's put God's word into practice. 00:05:12.639 --> 00:05:15.360 Moses, you see this all in the story of Moses, only pick three. 00:05:15.519 --> 00:05:17.920 But he says to Moses, he's like, Go speak to Pharaoh. 00:05:18.000 --> 00:05:21.199 Go, go tell Pharaoh, let my people go. 00:05:21.360 --> 00:05:22.399 Let all of your slaves go. 00:05:22.560 --> 00:05:24.079 Don't go and fight him with swords. 00:05:24.160 --> 00:05:25.199 Don't take an army. 00:05:25.279 --> 00:05:28.560 Just go talk to him and say, Would you please let them go? 00:05:28.720 --> 00:05:30.800 Because they're supposed to come and worship me. 00:05:31.040 --> 00:05:33.519 And then you'll experience God fighting for you. 00:05:33.600 --> 00:05:34.879 And that's what he experienced. 00:05:35.120 --> 00:05:36.399 He went and just spoke those words. 00:05:36.480 --> 00:05:37.680 He didn't try and fight himself. 00:05:37.759 --> 00:05:39.600 He actually just spoke the words and God fought for him. 00:05:39.759 --> 00:05:48.160 At the Red Sea, they're stuck between the Egyptian army and the Red Sea, and God's like, just go and hold your hands up like this, and you will see the power of God. 00:05:48.240 --> 00:05:49.920 And then they walk through on dry ground. 00:05:50.079 --> 00:05:51.680 The undrinkable waters of Marah. 00:05:51.839 --> 00:05:54.959 He says, Your people are all thirsty and something's wrong. 00:05:55.199 --> 00:05:57.360 Like, go snag that stick, throw it in the water. 00:05:57.439 --> 00:06:00.720 And when you throw the water in the thing, then all of a sudden the water's gonna become drinkable. 00:06:00.800 --> 00:06:06.079 And it's like, just practice my words, put them into practice, and you will see something on display. 00:06:06.399 --> 00:06:12.399 Israel, the second generation of Israel, Joshua and the armies of Israel, it's like, how are we gonna defeat Jericho? 00:06:12.560 --> 00:06:13.439 Go walk around the city. 00:06:13.519 --> 00:06:14.399 That's how you'll defeat them. 00:06:14.480 --> 00:06:15.839 That's how the walls will come falling down. 00:06:16.000 --> 00:06:19.279 And so they go walk around the city and then shout, and then the walls come tumbling down. 00:06:19.439 --> 00:06:22.959 Elisha, Naaman the leper, how will I be cured of my leprosy? 00:06:23.120 --> 00:06:24.959 Go take a dip in the Jordan River. 00:06:25.040 --> 00:06:26.240 That'll heal you of your leprosy. 00:06:26.319 --> 00:06:27.920 And he's like, That sounds dumb. 00:06:28.160 --> 00:06:31.279 And it's like, I yeah, but I'm you asked. 00:06:31.360 --> 00:06:36.000 And so I'm telling you, if you will put his word into practice, you will actually experience what you want. 00:06:36.160 --> 00:06:40.480 And so he puts his word into practice and he walks away free and clear of his leprosy, cleansed. 00:06:40.639 --> 00:06:45.360 And then you get to Jesus' time, and in Jesus' time it gets becomes more clear and more evident. 00:06:45.519 --> 00:06:57.040 Like he begins putting, like saying things to people that they're longing to experience, and he just says the words, and then as they begin to practice the word and do the thing, power begins to break out in their lives. 00:06:57.199 --> 00:07:00.000 And what he can do in their lives begins to be seen. 00:07:00.160 --> 00:07:04.480 And so the blind man, he's like, hey, put some mud on your eyes, go wash in the pool of Saloon. 00:07:04.639 --> 00:07:06.079 And when he did, then he could see. 00:07:06.319 --> 00:07:09.120 Ten lepers show up to Jesus, like, we also want to be cleansed. 00:07:09.199 --> 00:07:10.000 How can we be cleansed? 00:07:10.079 --> 00:07:17.600 And he's like, I'm not gonna touch you, I'm not gonna say be cleansed, just go walk away from me, walk away and walk towards the priest. 00:07:17.680 --> 00:07:19.040 Go show yourselves to the priest. 00:07:19.199 --> 00:07:25.279 And it says, as they went, as they practiced his word, they were cleansed and they experienced that cleansing. 00:07:25.439 --> 00:07:32.639 All they took was his word and they just shoved it into their lives and into their feet, and they started moving in that direction, and they experienced his power. 00:07:32.959 --> 00:07:35.519 The disciples, how are we gonna feed 5,000 people? 00:07:35.680 --> 00:07:38.399 Take the fish you got, take the bread you have, and just pass it out. 00:07:38.480 --> 00:07:40.879 Tell the people to sit down and just start passing it out. 00:07:41.040 --> 00:07:43.759 And then all of a sudden you'll do something that has power beyond yourself. 00:07:43.839 --> 00:07:45.600 Like, this is how you do that stuff. 00:07:45.759 --> 00:07:49.040 You take my you don't have power in and of yourself to do what needs to be done. 00:07:49.120 --> 00:07:52.399 But if you will take my word and practice it, you will experience my power. 00:07:52.560 --> 00:07:57.759 But if you refuse to take my word and shove it into your life and actually practice it, then you will miss out on those things. 00:07:58.079 --> 00:08:00.399 This happens over and over and over again. 00:08:00.560 --> 00:08:05.360 The people who put his word into practice experience his power breaking into their lives. 00:08:05.600 --> 00:08:09.120 And if you notice, though, that's one example. 00:08:09.199 --> 00:08:15.279 If you notice the other side of that, those who practice God's word experience his work and power in their lives. 00:08:15.439 --> 00:08:17.759 And those who don't, there's plenty of examples of that. 00:08:17.920 --> 00:08:23.839 Those who don't experience it are simply the ones that, not that their lives are that different, or they weren't in the same room where it was happening. 00:08:24.000 --> 00:08:27.519 It was like they just did not take his word and put it into practice. 00:08:27.680 --> 00:08:34.639 And so, for instance, the people in Noah's time, they were invited to actually experience the salvation. 00:08:34.879 --> 00:08:36.879 They were invited to actually experience what? 00:08:36.960 --> 00:08:37.919 Go to the next slide here. 00:08:38.080 --> 00:08:40.240 They were invited to experience those things. 00:08:40.480 --> 00:08:44.080 It says that Noah was preaching and letting them know, like, hey, destruction's coming. 00:08:44.240 --> 00:08:45.440 Save yourself from this thing. 00:08:45.600 --> 00:08:46.559 But they didn't respond. 00:08:46.639 --> 00:08:48.799 They didn't take that word and shove it in their lives. 00:08:48.879 --> 00:08:50.879 And so they didn't experience God's salvation. 00:08:51.120 --> 00:08:53.919 Lot's wife was literally with Lot. 00:08:54.240 --> 00:08:57.519 And it was like, you need to run away from Sodom. 00:08:57.600 --> 00:08:58.720 It's about to be destroyed. 00:08:58.879 --> 00:09:00.000 And do not stay there. 00:09:00.080 --> 00:09:00.639 Don't look back. 00:09:00.720 --> 00:09:03.279 Don't go back and just watch the destruction happen. 00:09:03.360 --> 00:09:05.360 Don't linger in this area. 00:09:05.600 --> 00:09:09.679 And she just lingered close enough to where she was swallowed up by the destruction. 00:09:09.840 --> 00:09:11.759 And this idea that she turned into a pillar of salt. 00:09:11.919 --> 00:09:18.320 She was swallowed up in the thing that happened because she turned around and stayed, was like, I just want, I mean, I don't, we'll see it, let's see if it happens. 00:09:18.399 --> 00:09:19.039 And then it happened. 00:09:19.120 --> 00:09:22.320 You didn't put his word into practice and you experienced something very, very different. 00:09:22.399 --> 00:09:24.320 You missed out on what God had for you. 00:09:24.559 --> 00:09:29.440 Israel, the first generation of Israel, the call was from God, go into the promised land. 00:09:29.600 --> 00:09:32.960 I don't want your kids to have to fight battles that you're supposed to be fighting. 00:09:33.120 --> 00:09:38.000 So would y'all go into the promised land and would you defeat the armies and they're like, no, no way. 00:09:38.240 --> 00:09:39.759 No way, we're never doing that. 00:09:40.000 --> 00:09:42.159 Like they're bigger than us, they're stronger than us. 00:09:42.240 --> 00:09:43.120 Do you see their walls? 00:09:43.200 --> 00:09:43.840 They're fortified. 00:09:44.000 --> 00:09:45.279 Have you seen Jericho? 00:09:45.440 --> 00:09:46.559 Like, no, there's no way. 00:09:46.639 --> 00:09:49.200 We can't do anything against that type of power. 00:09:49.440 --> 00:09:53.120 And so they did not take God's word and put it into their lives and move forward. 00:09:53.200 --> 00:09:56.159 And therefore, they didn't see Jericho's walls fall. 00:09:56.320 --> 00:10:00.080 They didn't see any of the amazing things that their kids actually did get to see. 00:10:00.240 --> 00:10:02.879 But their kids got to see him because they just practiced his word. 00:10:03.279 --> 00:10:05.919 They were like, you should go and go and walk around Jericho. 00:10:06.000 --> 00:10:07.039 You should go in there and take that land. 00:10:07.120 --> 00:10:11.519 And they're like, okay, my dad wouldn't, but I will put his word into practice. 00:10:11.759 --> 00:10:12.879 I will see those things. 00:10:12.960 --> 00:10:22.720 And then they, different situation completely, because one saw God's word actually displaying power in their lives, and one rejected God's word and they missed out. 00:10:22.879 --> 00:10:28.240 And then in the New Testament, Nazareth, they didn't believe in Jesus, they rejected his word, so he couldn't do many miracles there. 00:10:28.320 --> 00:10:31.360 And then you get to the rich young ruler, and it's like, I want something, God. 00:10:31.440 --> 00:10:32.879 Get my Jesus, give me something. 00:10:32.960 --> 00:10:33.759 I'm missing something. 00:10:33.919 --> 00:10:35.759 And he's like, Would you, okay, here's what you do. 00:10:35.919 --> 00:10:37.120 Take my word and put it into practice. 00:10:37.279 --> 00:10:43.440 Sell everything you got, give it to the poor, and then come and follow me, and you will experience the life you've been longing for. 00:10:43.679 --> 00:10:45.519 And he's like, Oh, I can't do that. 00:10:45.759 --> 00:10:47.440 And then he walks away sad. 00:10:47.600 --> 00:10:52.399 And so so many people have gone to Jesus and they're like, We're looking for something greater. 00:10:52.559 --> 00:10:54.480 And then Jesus says, Are you looking for something greater? 00:10:54.639 --> 00:10:54.879 Great. 00:10:54.960 --> 00:10:55.759 Here's what you need to do. 00:10:55.919 --> 00:10:56.399 Do this. 00:10:56.480 --> 00:10:58.240 And they're like, perfect, I will do that thing. 00:10:58.320 --> 00:11:02.159 And they experience God's work and power breaking into their lives. 00:11:02.320 --> 00:11:05.919 But the rich young ruler is like, ah, I'm not going to practice your word. 00:11:06.240 --> 00:11:07.679 And so he misses out. 00:11:07.919 --> 00:11:11.039 The disciples, they want to cast out a demon, and they're like, Why couldn't we do it? 00:11:11.120 --> 00:11:13.120 And Jesus is like, Because you wouldn't pray. 00:11:13.360 --> 00:11:15.120 You didn't practice my word. 00:11:16.080 --> 00:11:31.360 And so what you see consistently, and my simple point in all of this is like the testimony of the scriptures is those who practice God's word by putting it into their lives and actually doing it, they experience something grander and greater and more powerful. 00:11:31.519 --> 00:11:33.519 They experience what He can do in their lives. 00:11:33.679 --> 00:11:38.799 And those who refuse to do that, those who don't, don't, and they miss out. 00:11:39.039 --> 00:11:51.360 And so practicing Jesus' way in God's way and experiencing power in their time, breaking into their lives and shaping their lives and forming their lives, their lives, has nothing to do with circumstances. 00:11:51.519 --> 00:11:58.639 It always, forever, has always had to do with there is a connection between practicing his word and actually experiencing his power. 00:11:58.720 --> 00:12:02.159 They have always gone together, practicing his way. 00:12:02.399 --> 00:12:08.720 This is why Jesus says in Matthew 28, when he's giving like to the disciples, what should we go and do? 00:12:08.960 --> 00:12:10.480 He's like, here's what you need to go and do. 00:12:10.559 --> 00:12:13.840 You need to go and make disciples, not converts. 00:12:14.080 --> 00:12:20.240 Don't just go, don't make subscribers to my way that like keep it in their inbox, they're really interested in it, but they don't really do anything. 00:12:20.399 --> 00:12:26.960 Not that, not just converts who ascribe to an ideal, but like go make practitioners. 00:12:27.200 --> 00:12:29.840 Go, go find, get people to make them my students. 00:12:30.000 --> 00:12:34.399 People that will go like, I will fall under your authority, I will do everything that you say. 00:12:34.559 --> 00:12:36.799 You are my master, my teacher, my Lord. 00:12:37.039 --> 00:12:39.039 Go make that type of person. 00:12:39.440 --> 00:12:41.200 Go make practitioners of my way. 00:12:41.279 --> 00:12:44.000 And it says, it's like, teach them to do everything. 00:12:44.240 --> 00:12:46.879 Teach them to practice everything I've taught you. 00:12:47.039 --> 00:12:50.080 Teach them to put into practice everything you've heard from me. 00:12:50.240 --> 00:12:59.200 Because then when they do that, you will make people that are practicing my way experiencing my power, and we won't have anything that looks unlike me. 00:12:59.360 --> 00:13:01.039 They won't have a different experience. 00:13:01.200 --> 00:13:05.039 They will be people built on the foundation, experiencing the power of God in their time. 00:13:05.279 --> 00:13:06.960 He's always wanted this. 00:13:07.120 --> 00:13:11.600 I love that it's actually, I think it's those words are actually out there in the hallway out there. 00:13:11.840 --> 00:13:17.919 But for so many Christians, like we see, go therefore and make disciples of all nations, and we see it as a like a missionary thing. 00:13:18.080 --> 00:13:19.360 We got to go do missions. 00:13:19.519 --> 00:13:21.200 And like, that's great. 00:13:21.440 --> 00:13:23.039 But it's not just for missions. 00:13:23.120 --> 00:13:26.480 Like the only thing that he wants is not converts. 00:13:26.559 --> 00:13:29.519 The only thing that he wants is he's like, I want people who practice my way. 00:13:29.679 --> 00:13:34.399 Because the people, the only people who will experience my life breaking into theirs are those who practice my way. 00:13:34.559 --> 00:13:39.759 And so go and make practicers, practitioners, go and make people who do the stuff that I say. 00:13:39.919 --> 00:13:43.679 Not so that I love them more, not so that they turn from bad people to good people. 00:13:43.840 --> 00:13:46.000 None of that, not that stuff. 00:13:46.320 --> 00:13:50.399 But so that they experience this life that I have for them, that's what he wants. 00:13:50.639 --> 00:13:56.960 He wants us to experience more and greater life with him and what he can do versus what we can do, that's what he wants. 00:13:57.519 --> 00:14:01.919 Our vision for our church comes from this passage here. 00:14:02.159 --> 00:14:06.559 Our vision as a church has always been and what we're aiming at and what we're trying to do. 00:14:06.799 --> 00:14:22.240 We're trying to get people to believe enough to actually, I believe in Jesus so much that I am willing to become a practitioner of his way of life, so that you would eventually see the fame and deeds of God repeated in your time. 00:14:22.639 --> 00:14:29.120 Like just to practice his way, to experience the things that he has for you and the work and the power that he can do in your lives. 00:14:29.279 --> 00:14:30.879 That's really our only goal as a church. 00:14:30.960 --> 00:14:32.720 So, new building, same vision. 00:14:32.879 --> 00:14:35.279 This is what we're we're still aiming at, this thing. 00:14:35.519 --> 00:14:39.360 Seeking to practice his way so that we experience the famous deeds of God in our time. 00:14:39.519 --> 00:14:40.639 That's our only goal. 00:14:40.879 --> 00:14:42.480 I've said this before and I am thrilled. 00:14:42.639 --> 00:14:46.320 Megan said it earlier, just the idea of like, look at all the people in the room, and I am thrilled. 00:14:46.399 --> 00:14:48.559 I'm very thankful that you're here, love it. 00:14:48.720 --> 00:14:54.080 Um, but as a church, we don't have, and I don't have, a numerical goal for our church. 00:14:54.240 --> 00:14:58.639 Like, I'm not, we're not trying to hit a certain number and then we would feel like that's we're good. 00:14:58.799 --> 00:15:00.399 Like, we do not have a numerical goal. 00:15:00.480 --> 00:15:03.519 We're not trying to grow to a certain point or anything like that. 00:15:03.759 --> 00:15:12.159 But I do have uh what I have coined and what I'm calling a fame and deeds goal, this wonder deficit in my life that I want to fill. 00:15:12.240 --> 00:15:13.679 This fame and deeds goal. 00:15:13.840 --> 00:15:15.600 And so, next slide here. 00:15:16.240 --> 00:15:19.039 Here's my here are a couple of my fame and deeds goals. 00:15:19.200 --> 00:15:21.440 I want to see his power expressed in our time. 00:15:21.600 --> 00:15:26.080 And so I want to see marriages that are broken and beat down and almost dead. 00:15:26.159 --> 00:15:28.480 I want to see them restored and healed. 00:15:28.639 --> 00:15:35.440 I want to see your children or other people who are prodigals who are like, there's no way they're coming back to the faith. 00:15:35.759 --> 00:15:38.960 I want to see them restored into the family of faith. 00:15:39.360 --> 00:15:46.080 I want to see people who strongly oppose Jesus come to faith in Jesus and become his greatest followers and his greatest advocate. 00:15:46.159 --> 00:15:50.320 And as committed as they were against him, they become doubly committed for him. 00:15:50.559 --> 00:15:52.559 Like I want to see those things happen. 00:15:53.360 --> 00:15:57.679 I want to see families that are estranged and broken, reconciled and healed. 00:15:58.399 --> 00:16:01.039 I want to see long-term prayer requests answered. 00:16:01.120 --> 00:16:05.440 I want to see people who are just like, I'm going to persevere in prayer until the power comes. 00:16:05.600 --> 00:16:09.519 I'm going to persevere until I get the thing that I he said, ask, seek, and knock. 00:16:09.600 --> 00:16:13.200 I'm going to put his word into practice until I receive what I've asked for. 00:16:13.519 --> 00:16:15.039 I want to see people healed. 00:16:15.200 --> 00:16:19.039 I want to see addictions broken and people set free. 00:16:19.840 --> 00:16:23.759 I want to see the lonely and those without people to find belonging. 00:16:24.639 --> 00:16:28.480 I want to see the fearful become fearless and bold by the power of the Spirit. 00:16:28.639 --> 00:16:36.480 I want to see people's lives transformed, people who are angry and bitter to become soft and kind and generous and humble. 00:16:36.799 --> 00:16:39.120 I want to see notorious sinners turn into saints. 00:16:39.279 --> 00:16:42.080 I was a notorious sinner turned into a saint. 00:16:44.480 --> 00:16:50.799 And so, like to me, I'm like, if we, let's say we grow, and like all of a sudden we're growing and all this different stuff. 00:16:50.960 --> 00:16:56.879 It's like, if we grow, but we don't have any of that, any of this stuff, like it's worthless. 00:16:57.279 --> 00:16:59.919 Like churches love to say, God's moving in our church. 00:17:00.000 --> 00:17:01.200 Look at how many people we have. 00:17:01.279 --> 00:17:09.759 It's like, dude, cancer grows, like businesses grow, country clubs grow, everybody's trying to grow. 00:17:09.839 --> 00:17:12.960 The business world is trying to grow, but they don't have that. 00:17:13.440 --> 00:17:20.000 And to me, I'm like, if we if we're we got a thousand people, but we're not seeing any of that, I'm like, I don't I don't want to be a part of that. 00:17:20.319 --> 00:17:21.519 I need this. 00:17:21.680 --> 00:17:33.279 Like, I I there's this wonderful quote from Abraham Heschel where he's like, I asked, I asked for wonder and he gave it to me. 00:17:34.720 --> 00:17:37.759 And I'm like, man, I am asking for wonder. 00:17:38.079 --> 00:17:41.920 And that stuff, just a handful. 00:17:42.160 --> 00:17:43.519 That stuff would be wonderful. 00:17:43.759 --> 00:17:48.319 And actually, some of you are sitting here dealing with some of those things and going, that would be wonderful. 00:17:48.559 --> 00:17:51.519 And he has shown us where that stuff lives. 00:17:52.000 --> 00:17:58.079 And he is like, if you people who practice my word experience my power in a very different way, and those who don't, don't. 00:17:58.240 --> 00:18:05.200 And so if we have great numbers and we try and call it the power of God, but we're actually missing out on this, I'm like, then I don't let's not do that. 00:18:05.440 --> 00:18:15.279 But if we have the exact same number of people that we have, and this is what we got, but we're actually experiencing God's power on display, then we will know he is here in our midst. 00:18:16.240 --> 00:18:18.000 We will actually experience his presence. 00:18:18.079 --> 00:18:23.359 We will experience what he can do, and lives will be changed, we'll be filled with awe and wonder. 00:18:23.519 --> 00:18:28.240 We'll be watching people's lives transformed in front of us and be like, what is that? 00:18:28.559 --> 00:18:31.200 Like that is far better than having a thousand people. 00:18:31.440 --> 00:18:34.799 And so I don't have a numerical goal, but I do have a fame and deeds goal. 00:18:34.960 --> 00:18:43.200 I want to see this stuff that I read about in the scriptures happening in our time because I still think that he's just longing and looking for a space. 00:18:43.440 --> 00:18:48.000 Is there anyone that still wants to see my power displayed in their lives? 00:18:48.079 --> 00:18:50.400 And I'm like, please look no further. 00:18:51.920 --> 00:19:02.160 Favorite, one of my favorite verses in Chronicles is uh the eyes of the Lord search the earth, looking for someone to show himself strong on their behalf. 00:19:02.559 --> 00:19:09.200 Someone whose heart is committed and devoted to him so that he can finally do what he's been wanting to do and show himself strong on their behalf. 00:19:09.519 --> 00:19:18.480 When I read King David's story before he was king, and you got Goliath there and doing all that stuff, I just have this vision in my mind of like God has been wanting to kill giants for a while. 00:19:18.640 --> 00:19:21.200 There's just no one in the world that believes he can do it. 00:19:21.359 --> 00:19:24.480 And so the giants could all, he's like, I'm just looking for anyone. 00:19:24.559 --> 00:19:28.720 Is there any man or woman in the world that is is that believes that I can actually do that? 00:19:28.880 --> 00:19:31.680 And this 16-year-old kid is like, I've been taking care of the sheep. 00:19:31.759 --> 00:19:33.359 I got a cool stick and a sling. 00:19:33.440 --> 00:19:35.839 And that's like, but you believe I can do it, right? 00:19:36.000 --> 00:19:37.279 He's like, Absolutely. 00:19:37.519 --> 00:19:42.480 You can absolutely slay giants because there is no one greater than you. 00:19:42.880 --> 00:19:47.759 And then all of a sudden, God does work that he's been longing to do, just couldn't find a heart to do it through. 00:19:48.000 --> 00:19:50.400 And so for us, I think that's true for us as well. 00:19:50.640 --> 00:19:53.279 We will be filled with the awe and wonder of God. 00:19:53.440 --> 00:19:55.920 We will see people's lives change, and I want that. 00:19:56.240 --> 00:19:58.319 And to me, it's just so simple. 00:19:58.799 --> 00:20:04.559 The experience of that, the people who experience that power are those who put his word into practice. 00:20:05.039 --> 00:20:06.319 That is according to the scriptures. 00:20:06.400 --> 00:20:07.359 I'm not making that up. 00:20:07.599 --> 00:20:14.720 Read it and you will find that those who put his word into practice, who do what he says, experience his power, and those who don't, don't. 00:20:15.440 --> 00:20:27.759 And so for you, in 2026 and beyond, I just want you to make a renewed commitment to be a people who is like, I'm going to seek to put God's word to practice in my life. 00:20:28.000 --> 00:20:31.920 I'm going to seek in every area of my life to practice his word. 00:20:34.000 --> 00:20:36.880 To move from a subscriber to a disciple. 00:20:37.119 --> 00:20:38.799 A subscriber, I'm just interested. 00:20:39.039 --> 00:20:43.279 You can sit in my inbox, I'll read you, and maybe give a little money to the subscription service. 00:20:43.839 --> 00:20:46.960 Move from subscriber to actual practitioner. 00:20:47.039 --> 00:20:49.119 I want to do the things that you say. 00:20:49.759 --> 00:20:51.599 And so make it the year of practice. 00:20:52.240 --> 00:20:55.440 Commit to aim at in every area of your life to practice the way of Jesus. 00:20:55.680 --> 00:20:57.359 What does God's word tell me to do? 00:20:57.440 --> 00:20:59.039 What is he calling me to do here? 00:20:59.359 --> 00:21:00.880 And to put that into practice. 00:21:01.519 --> 00:21:04.799 Now, in the second half of my message, I want to finish with this. 00:21:04.880 --> 00:21:08.559 I'm going to give you three reasons why I think you need to make that an actual commitment. 00:21:08.720 --> 00:21:12.319 And this is not like a New Year's resolution that fails in two weeks. 00:21:12.480 --> 00:21:13.359 Don't do that. 00:21:13.680 --> 00:21:18.960 Because your life will substantially be different if you actually make this commitment and follow through with this thing. 00:21:20.400 --> 00:21:25.839 But something you need to be devoted to, three reasons why you need to make this an actual devoted thing that you do. 00:21:26.000 --> 00:21:29.680 The first is you will not drift into practicing his word. 00:21:30.000 --> 00:21:36.720 And you won't drift into practicing his word because many times what he asks you to do sounds absolutely ridiculous. 00:21:37.200 --> 00:21:38.960 And you need to know that. 00:21:39.200 --> 00:21:48.720 Because if you actually, if you look at all the examples before, you could actually place the words as ridiculous as it sounds before every command that God asked them to do. 00:21:48.880 --> 00:21:49.200 Okay? 00:21:49.359 --> 00:21:57.200 So as ridiculous as it sounds, Abraham, uh keep trying to have babies with your wife, even though you're 99, you might snap a hip. 00:21:57.359 --> 00:21:58.799 Keep doing that thing. 00:22:00.000 --> 00:22:02.000 I know it sounds ridiculous, but keep doing that. 00:22:02.160 --> 00:22:05.279 As ridiculous as it sounds, Noah, build yourself a boat. 00:22:05.359 --> 00:22:06.640 And it's like, what's a boat? 00:22:06.720 --> 00:22:08.319 He's like, I'll give you all of the instructions. 00:22:08.400 --> 00:22:09.759 I'll tell you exactly what to do. 00:22:10.000 --> 00:22:12.000 He's like, okay, I'll build a boat. 00:22:12.319 --> 00:22:15.519 As ridiculous as it sounds, Joshua, here's how you're gonna win the victory. 00:22:15.680 --> 00:22:17.200 Can you walk in a circle? 00:22:17.440 --> 00:22:19.119 Like, great, walk in a circle. 00:22:19.279 --> 00:22:20.240 I know it sounds ridiculous. 00:22:20.319 --> 00:22:22.559 Just do that thing, and then they watch the walls fall down. 00:22:22.799 --> 00:22:29.920 All of them, if you look at them, you could go, as ridiculous as it sounds, command. 00:22:30.960 --> 00:22:44.079 And what's crazy is like the reason most people missed out on what he wanted to do because as ridiculous as it sounded, he wanted them to march into a land with giants and go, like, I promise you you'll win. 00:22:44.240 --> 00:22:46.799 And they're like, I don't think we will. 00:22:47.039 --> 00:22:50.079 Like, I just don't think that we're gonna win. 00:22:50.400 --> 00:22:52.880 That sounds ridiculous, and therefore I'm not gonna do that. 00:22:53.119 --> 00:22:58.079 And so it sounded ridiculous, therefore, many people didn't do it, and many people missed out on his power. 00:22:58.240 --> 00:23:11.119 But the ones that were like, that sounds crazy, but I'm just gonna do it because you said it, and you are God, and I'm not, they're the ones who actually experienced his power breaking into their time and into their lives. 00:23:11.279 --> 00:23:12.880 Everyone else missed out. 00:23:14.160 --> 00:23:24.640 We need to know that God has chosen the ridiculous things in the eyes of the world to actually be the ways in which his people experience his power in their lives. 00:23:24.880 --> 00:23:30.480 It's ridiculous in their eyes, but his power in our lives, if you will believe that and actually do those things. 00:23:30.640 --> 00:23:31.759 He has chosen those things. 00:23:31.839 --> 00:23:34.960 And so, yes, it sounds ridiculous to forgive people sometimes. 00:23:35.039 --> 00:23:35.680 You're like, why? 00:23:35.920 --> 00:23:36.960 What is that gonna do? 00:23:37.200 --> 00:23:38.079 It sounds ridiculous. 00:23:38.160 --> 00:23:39.680 It sounds ridiculous to say you're sorry. 00:23:39.920 --> 00:23:41.359 Sounds ridiculous to pray for healing. 00:23:41.440 --> 00:23:43.279 The doctors say this is just how it is. 00:23:43.440 --> 00:23:44.079 Sounds ridiculous. 00:23:44.400 --> 00:23:46.240 It's ridiculous to pray for healing. 00:23:46.480 --> 00:23:48.960 But he says in his word to actually do that. 00:23:49.200 --> 00:23:52.799 It sounds ridiculous to give generously and sacrificially when your money is tight. 00:23:52.960 --> 00:23:53.599 That's dumb. 00:23:53.759 --> 00:23:55.039 It's like, maybe. 00:23:56.079 --> 00:23:57.599 But he calls you to it. 00:23:57.759 --> 00:24:00.720 And when you put his word into practice, something different breaks out. 00:24:00.880 --> 00:24:05.440 It sounds ridiculous to bless those who cursed you, to consider others better than yourself. 00:24:05.519 --> 00:24:07.680 It sounds ridiculous to share the gospel with people. 00:24:07.759 --> 00:24:10.160 Like they don't believe anything that they have another religion. 00:24:10.240 --> 00:24:11.440 Why would I share the gospel with them? 00:24:11.519 --> 00:24:13.359 It's like, because it'll set them free. 00:24:13.519 --> 00:24:21.680 I know it sounds ridiculous, but like those are the things he has chosen, the ridiculous commands of the world or the ridiculous things in the world that everybody goes, like, that's stupid. 00:24:21.839 --> 00:24:26.720 He has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, but it's power for us. 00:24:27.039 --> 00:24:31.039 And so we have to commit to it because many times what he asks us to do just sounds crazy. 00:24:31.279 --> 00:24:36.240 And the second reason we need to commit to it is because you won't drift into practicing Jesus' way. 00:24:36.559 --> 00:24:40.400 You will not commit to practicing Jesus' way because honestly, it's just harder. 00:24:40.720 --> 00:24:42.480 It's just harder to do. 00:24:43.200 --> 00:24:44.400 There's this quote by G.K. 00:24:44.559 --> 00:24:49.920 Chesterton that says, Christianity has not been tried and found wanting or lacking. 00:24:50.079 --> 00:24:52.960 Rather, it has been found difficult and left untried. 00:24:53.119 --> 00:24:54.240 It's like, no thanks. 00:24:54.400 --> 00:24:56.000 I'd rather do the easy thing. 00:24:56.160 --> 00:25:00.960 The Christian ideal has not been tried and found like that didn't work. 00:25:01.119 --> 00:25:03.440