WEBVTT 00:00:08.080 --> 00:00:10.320 Thanks for the worship. 00:00:11.599 --> 00:00:23.280 That that uh song with the you know that old bit in there was was a nice refreshing um coming back to that old song. 00:00:23.920 --> 00:00:28.960 Um I remember from the nineties that came out. 00:00:33.200 --> 00:01:03.359 I when I woke up this morning, I was um we'll pray in just a minute, but I'll I had this sense of being I've had this before where Psalms 23 becomes an actual place in my mind, and where the Bible says that He brings us beside still waters, and those waters become very real in my mind. 00:01:03.439 --> 00:01:18.319 It's it's it's part of my imagination that the Lord uses, and I can see that stream running past me, and I can reach in with my hand and get you know cups of water, just cup it in my hand and drink from it. 00:01:18.400 --> 00:01:39.840 And I was drinking and just enjoying that that time with the Lord, and I felt like the Holy Spirit says to me, just get caught up in what I'm doing, just just be caught up in this moment, caught up in this in this place of his presence, just being caught up. 00:01:40.560 --> 00:01:53.040 And I was really enjoying, but and I was thinking, Lord, what I'm gonna talk about has nothing to do with being caught being being caught up in his presence or in his glory. 00:01:53.280 --> 00:02:08.639 While everything that we do allows us in a moment to being caught up in his presence, certain topics require more cognitive approach and more, you know, you have to be there, you have to be present. 00:02:09.280 --> 00:02:18.080 And so that's the type of uh the the topic that he gave me today, that the thought process around it requires us to be to be present. 00:02:18.560 --> 00:02:26.400 And then I got here as I was driving in again, the same thing, just be caught up in his presence. 00:02:26.639 --> 00:02:31.039 So I was like, wow, Lord, you you're definitely trying to lead somewhere here. 00:02:31.759 --> 00:02:42.560 And I come here and Glenda's opening and uh talks about the set so the well in Samaria, like if you knew the gift of God. 00:02:42.800 --> 00:02:57.120 That is such a powerful place uh in the in the passage in the in the scriptures because Jesus is actually revealing himself that if you knew the gift of God and who it is who speaks to you, you would ask him. 00:02:57.680 --> 00:02:59.039 Living waters. 00:03:02.479 --> 00:03:13.759 The only two places I feel in the Bible that Jesus actually, well, there are a few places later on, but the two most significant, three most significant are is this one place here at the well in Samaria. 00:03:14.000 --> 00:03:20.960 The other one was in Cana of Galilee, where he revealed his nature, his power by doing that miracle. 00:03:21.199 --> 00:03:24.639 He knew that he would be exposed, his true nature would be exposed. 00:03:24.719 --> 00:03:31.919 And the third one, one of the most significant, is at in the boat with Peter, where he says, put the net down again. 00:03:32.080 --> 00:03:37.680 And Peter gets a revelation and he says, Lord, I'm not worthy to be in your presence. 00:03:40.560 --> 00:03:52.639 And I feel like the Lord wants us to be caught up in an atmosphere of his revelation, in an atmosphere of his greatness, his power, his majesty. 00:03:53.039 --> 00:03:56.719 Being caught up in his presence and his glory. 00:03:58.000 --> 00:04:05.680 One of the passages, I've re-reshuffled my talk since in the midst of all that was happening. 00:04:05.759 --> 00:04:14.000 Uh I was also doing stuff in my talk because the Lord was, he's telling me, Zimi told me this amazing stuff, but surprising stuff. 00:04:14.159 --> 00:04:39.360 He says in his exams, so he's um third year, fourth year engineering, third year engineering, and um his exam, there was corrections next to the examination paper, and then the examiner was on the phone writing corrections on the board while the students are doing the exam. 00:04:40.480 --> 00:04:42.800 So that was very, very strange. 00:04:43.279 --> 00:04:54.480 But uh they're all appealing for you know, some extra, uh, probably higher percentage of you know lenient marking uh because of time issues. 00:04:54.639 --> 00:04:56.160 But I was doing corrections here. 00:04:56.319 --> 00:05:00.000 I had I thought I had something ready, but the Lord was giving me corrections. 00:05:00.160 --> 00:05:02.319 No, do this, no, correct that, correct this. 00:05:02.480 --> 00:05:06.000 So I have corrections here, which is amazing. 00:05:06.319 --> 00:05:09.519 Hopefully it will get us somewhere. 00:05:09.759 --> 00:05:13.439 Being caught up in his presence and his glory. 00:05:13.920 --> 00:05:22.639 One of the places where Jesus makes an open invitation for everybody to come and drink was John 7, 37. 00:05:22.720 --> 00:05:23.839 We all know that. 00:05:24.240 --> 00:05:36.959 John 7, John chapter 7, verse 37, the Bible says, and on the last day of the feast, Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. 00:05:39.040 --> 00:05:48.959 Now, oftentimes in a charismatic circle, we sort of get entrapped in the reality of Jesus offering a drink. 00:05:49.920 --> 00:06:01.519 But there are details for us to focus on, which is the Bible chooses to tell us that, which is on the last day of the feast. 00:06:02.560 --> 00:06:09.519 So there was a certain celebration, and there were people who were there for that celebration. 00:06:10.160 --> 00:06:13.759 So the invitation was to them. 00:06:15.040 --> 00:06:26.959 The people who were there for the celebration, the people who chose to make the journey, the people who chose to go through the effort of packing up whatever they needed to pack. 00:06:27.120 --> 00:06:36.720 It was important enough for them to go to Jerusalem or wherever Jesus was at that time, go to that city and worship God there. 00:06:36.879 --> 00:06:38.959 They could have worshiped at home. 00:06:41.600 --> 00:06:54.240 But they chose to go certain place, to a certain place, at a certain time, and in that moment Jesus makes this available to them. 00:06:55.439 --> 00:07:07.920 If anyone thirsts, I believe true thirst, the kind of thirst that Jesus is offering quenching for can only occur when we are pursuing Him. 00:07:09.920 --> 00:07:18.800 It's not a worldly thirst, it's not a thirst that doesn't cost us anything, it's a thirst that requires a bit of effort. 00:07:18.959 --> 00:07:29.519 And it's most of the time I see this thirst happening when we step out into the path, onto the path that He sets before us. 00:07:30.319 --> 00:07:35.680 In Exodus chapter 17, most people know this again. 00:07:37.040 --> 00:07:42.800 The waters of Meriba, as they say, because the area was the area of Meriba. 00:07:43.040 --> 00:07:48.079 Exodus chapter 17, let's go to it and reading from verse 1 onwards. 00:07:49.600 --> 00:07:51.680 It's not a huge passage here. 00:07:51.839 --> 00:08:01.040 Then all the congregation of the children of Israel set out on their journey from the wilderness of sin according to the commandment of the Lord. 00:08:01.360 --> 00:08:07.040 So they had an they had an instruction from the Lord, move from here to there. 00:08:08.319 --> 00:08:09.439 And so they moved. 00:08:09.600 --> 00:08:25.360 The whole congregation of the children of Israel set out on this journey according to the commandment of the Lord and camped in Refidim of Maribah, but there was no water for the people to drink. 00:08:26.800 --> 00:08:36.879 Notice the fact that the Bible makes no mention of the nation of Israel throughout their lifetime, generations of being in Egypt. 00:08:37.279 --> 00:08:39.039 They were never thirsty. 00:08:39.679 --> 00:08:44.000 They never, they never, the Bible doesn't tell us about that thirst. 00:08:44.240 --> 00:08:45.679 Physical thirst, maybe. 00:08:45.840 --> 00:08:47.679 Everybody gets physically thirsty. 00:08:47.840 --> 00:09:07.519 But I feel like there is a certain thirst, there's a certain hunger that comes upon us when we pursue the path and the and the road that the Lord puts before us, and we subdue ourselves to his commandments, and we position ourselves into his word and follow his word when we love him. 00:09:08.879 --> 00:09:12.480 The Bible says, if you love me, you will keep my commandments. 00:09:12.799 --> 00:09:16.480 I think that's a place where we get thirsty. 00:09:17.200 --> 00:09:24.320 When we love him, when we pursue him, when we when we when we are desperate for more of him. 00:09:24.879 --> 00:09:27.120 That is a thirsty place to be in. 00:09:27.279 --> 00:09:38.799 When we are pursuing him, when we're going according to his word in our lives, there's a certain thirst that rises, and there's waters available for that thirst. 00:09:42.000 --> 00:09:44.879 That's the kind of thirst that Jesus wants to quench. 00:09:45.039 --> 00:09:47.840 No other kind of thirst he's interested in. 00:09:51.039 --> 00:09:59.440 I guess most other thirsts and most other needs get automatically fulfilled because we're pursuing him. 00:10:00.480 --> 00:10:03.200 All things get added to us. 00:10:09.519 --> 00:10:20.320 Then all the congregation of the children of Israel set out on their journey from the wilderness of sin according to the commandment of the Lord and camped in Rephidim. 00:10:20.720 --> 00:10:24.240 But there was no water for the people to drink. 00:10:24.480 --> 00:10:32.399 Therefore, the people contended with Moses and said, Give us water that we may drink, as if he was some kind of magician. 00:10:32.720 --> 00:10:36.960 He's just a man equipped and empowered by God. 00:10:37.200 --> 00:10:45.200 The wisdom of heaven came to him and somehow convinced him to lead these people into freedom. 00:10:45.679 --> 00:10:49.919 And they come to him as if it was his fault. 00:10:50.639 --> 00:10:54.000 So Moses said to them, Why do you contend with me? 00:10:54.159 --> 00:10:56.240 Why do you tempt the Lord? 00:10:56.559 --> 00:11:05.840 And the people thirsted there for water, and the people complained against Moses and said, Why is it that you have brought us out of Egypt to kill us? 00:11:06.000 --> 00:11:08.559 So there was no thirst in Egypt. 00:11:11.679 --> 00:11:17.519 This kind of thirst, of course, they were having physical thirst there, but the Bible's trying to make a point here. 00:11:17.679 --> 00:11:25.600 The point is that when we set out on the path that the Lord puts before us, we will end up into situations. 00:11:26.000 --> 00:11:28.559 We will end up into trouble. 00:11:28.720 --> 00:11:31.440 We will end up into times of trial. 00:11:31.759 --> 00:11:38.799 We will end up thirsty, desperately looking for to quench our thirst. 00:11:41.440 --> 00:11:54.159 Sarah does uh a soaking session on Friday afternoons here from five to six, and she shared something and she she mentioned a message that she had heard from somebody. 00:11:54.399 --> 00:12:05.360 But one of the things they said that if you if you are walking with Jesus and you don't feel the weight of the cross, you may not be carrying anything. 00:12:07.919 --> 00:12:14.799 And I feel like there is this thirst, there is this weight that comes upon us, and we're not looking for that weight. 00:12:14.960 --> 00:12:18.879 The weight is not the defining fact here. 00:12:19.360 --> 00:12:37.120 We're not looking to get into trouble, we're not looking to become martyrs, but there needs to be a willingness, and there needs to be an awareness that if I go down this path, I will have to face certain circumstances. 00:12:40.720 --> 00:12:49.919 And we're not left there, we're not left in that moment of thirst and hunger and need and desperateness. 00:12:50.159 --> 00:12:52.159 We're not abandoned in that place. 00:12:52.320 --> 00:12:54.320 That is the best part of it. 00:13:10.960 --> 00:13:14.799 The Lord doesn't abandon us in those moments, in those places. 00:13:15.039 --> 00:13:22.720 But it is, I feel like it is important for us to go through those seasons and times and we come out victorious. 00:13:24.000 --> 00:13:27.600 Victory awaits on the other side. 00:13:27.919 --> 00:13:33.360 But if we never go through these times, we never get to victory. 00:13:36.960 --> 00:13:38.480 Let's read, continue reading. 00:13:38.559 --> 00:13:40.559 Exodus 17, verses 5 onwards. 00:13:40.720 --> 00:13:46.559 And the Lord said to Moses, Go on before the people, and take with you some of the elders of Israel. 00:13:46.799 --> 00:13:51.759 Also take in your hand your rod with which you struck the river, and go. 00:13:51.919 --> 00:14:03.120 Behold, I will stand before you there on the rock in Horeb, and you shall strike the rock, and water will come out of it, and the people may drink. 00:14:05.360 --> 00:14:25.840 And Moses did so in the sight of the Lord, and of the sight of the elders of Israel, and so he called the name of the place Masa and Maribah, because of the contention of the children of Israel, and because they tempted the Lord, saying, Is the Lord among us or not? 00:14:26.559 --> 00:14:28.799 That is the key. 00:14:30.320 --> 00:14:31.600 How do we react? 00:14:31.840 --> 00:14:38.639 You know, maybe I'm getting a little bit of lessons right now in this area of pressure. 00:14:38.799 --> 00:14:52.559 Glenda pointed out, you know, that you were just I was just trying to maintain this, you know, the last thing I want to do is roll on the ground here and beat my fist on the ground in front of everybody, saying that, why is it not working? 00:14:52.639 --> 00:15:07.840 You know, but I I think my my point is when we get into situations like this, how we react determines what the Lord's going to do. 00:15:08.000 --> 00:15:10.240 Moses took that really seriously. 00:15:11.600 --> 00:15:19.919 He prayed to the Lord, he contended with the Lord because the people contended with him. 00:15:20.559 --> 00:15:22.799 Earlier in the passage, I skipped that. 00:15:23.039 --> 00:15:27.200 Moses says, Lord, the people have almost ready to stone me. 00:15:28.000 --> 00:15:31.120 And that was the degree of frustration that the people had. 00:15:31.279 --> 00:15:42.080 And I feel like we have a choice whether we go into frustration or whether we go into an area of pursuing the Lord because the victory awaits us. 00:15:45.600 --> 00:15:48.159 Psalms 103, verse 1 onwards. 00:15:48.320 --> 00:15:49.759 This is this is incredible. 00:15:50.000 --> 00:15:58.080 Psalms 103, verse 1 onward, it says, Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name. 00:16:01.440 --> 00:16:02.799 We can memorize this. 00:16:02.879 --> 00:16:04.080 I had it memorized. 00:16:04.159 --> 00:16:06.799 I I knew that much even as a child. 00:16:06.960 --> 00:16:08.559 Bless the Lord, O my soul. 00:16:08.720 --> 00:16:13.600 You know, you sing songs like that in in we used to sing songs like that in Sunday school. 00:16:13.759 --> 00:16:17.120 We sang songs like that as a grown-up in church. 00:16:17.440 --> 00:16:21.120 Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me. 00:16:21.360 --> 00:16:23.440 Bless His holy name. 00:16:23.600 --> 00:16:25.279 There's a key there right there. 00:16:25.440 --> 00:16:29.039 Bless His holy name. 00:16:31.440 --> 00:16:37.519 Holy means that He gives Himself to nothing else except to you and me. 00:16:38.480 --> 00:16:41.600 So He's fully committed to you and I. 00:16:42.399 --> 00:16:46.159 He doesn't do anything for anyone else except for you and I. 00:16:47.200 --> 00:16:57.519 And if we have the Lord in our lives in that way, I can guarantee you we can bless His name every day, all the time. 00:16:58.000 --> 00:17:06.640 There are Psalms that uh I caught up with them, uh, those Psalms a few years ago, and they say, I will bless the Lord at all times. 00:17:06.960 --> 00:17:09.200 I will bless his name forever. 00:17:09.519 --> 00:17:14.640 You know, that is a cry that needs to be in our hearts. 00:17:14.880 --> 00:17:24.720 That is a cry that needs to be present in the human heart, that I will bless the Lord at all times and forever and ever I will bless his holy name. 00:17:32.799 --> 00:17:36.640 Luke chapter 14 is where I want to get to. 00:17:36.799 --> 00:17:38.480 Let's just quickly pray. 00:17:38.720 --> 00:17:42.640 Father, we give you honor and praise Jesus. 00:17:43.680 --> 00:17:59.119 Thank you, Father, for all that you've done in each and every one of our lives through through the majesty, through the glory, through the presence, through the awesome nature of your son Jesus. 00:18:00.319 --> 00:18:02.319 We honor you, Jesus, this morning. 00:18:02.400 --> 00:18:03.440 We honor your name. 00:18:03.599 --> 00:18:05.839 We have sung songs that praise you. 00:18:06.000 --> 00:18:09.200 We have sung or sung songs of worship. 00:18:09.599 --> 00:18:12.880 And we come before you in worship and in praise. 00:18:13.279 --> 00:18:28.799 Father, we pray that you tune our hearts to the rhythms of heaven, that you tune our hearts to the frequencies of heaven, that you bring us into alignment with everything that heaven is bringing before us in this season, in this hour. 00:18:28.960 --> 00:18:32.880 And I believe that we are in a special season right now. 00:18:33.279 --> 00:18:38.480 I believe that we are in a holy moment in this season. 00:18:38.640 --> 00:18:47.680 I believe that there is a certain flavor in this dispensation that we are in right now. 00:18:48.799 --> 00:18:55.039 In this dispensation, they call it the dispensation of grace that we are in post-cross. 00:18:56.799 --> 00:19:19.119 Forgiveness is available, but I feel like there is a certain strength that is available, there is a certain moment that is available, there is a certain equipping that is available for the church in this hour, there is a certain capacities and abilities that the Lord is putting before us, and if we so choose to put them on, we will become victorious. 00:19:22.160 --> 00:19:27.279 And Father, we pray that we get all that you have for us, Lord, in this season. 00:19:27.680 --> 00:19:35.119 Today is not the completion of it, but our pursuit of Him would be, our pursuit of you, Jesus, would take us there. 00:19:35.279 --> 00:19:45.680 Our pursuit of you, your holiness, your greatness, your majesty, your presence, our pursuit of drinking from that river that flows out of you, Lord. 00:19:45.920 --> 00:19:49.920 That the prophet Ezekiel talks about in chapter 47. 00:19:50.960 --> 00:19:53.119 Lord, we want to drink from that river. 00:19:53.359 --> 00:20:10.640 We want to jump into that river, we want to wade into that river, and it's a river that cannot be crossed, it's a river of giving up control, it's a river of that I can't do it anymore, it's a river of us giving ourselves in you, Lord. 00:20:11.759 --> 00:20:19.440 And we want to get it to that place, we want to get into that moment, we want to be caught up with what you are doing, Jesus. 00:20:19.599 --> 00:20:24.000 We want to be caught up in the river, and the river takes us wherever it wishes. 00:20:24.799 --> 00:20:27.440 We thank you, Father, for your promises. 00:20:27.599 --> 00:20:39.440 We thank you for what you have made available, we thank you for the invitation that's before us, we thank you for all that you are making available before us. 00:20:39.519 --> 00:20:44.000 We thank you for all the potential that we have in you, Jesus. 00:20:44.319 --> 00:20:49.359 We worship your name, we worship your name, we bless your holy name. 00:20:49.839 --> 00:20:55.519 I bless you, my Lord, and I bless your holy name. 00:20:56.240 --> 00:20:56.880 Amen. 00:20:59.599 --> 00:21:01.359 Luke chapter 14. 00:21:06.960 --> 00:21:18.160 Verses 28 onwards, for which of you intended to build a tower does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it. 00:21:19.759 --> 00:21:26.640 Oftentimes I've understood this passage in the area of our personal finances. 00:21:29.279 --> 00:21:32.559 And this was a guiding scripture for me. 00:21:32.799 --> 00:21:38.079 This was a guiding verse for me when it comes to sowing and reaping. 00:21:41.279 --> 00:21:43.039 There are a few principles that I follow. 00:21:43.119 --> 00:21:46.079 It's nothing to do with this message, but I'll just mention it. 00:21:46.319 --> 00:21:48.960 I say this because it's just has become my line. 00:21:49.119 --> 00:21:53.519 How much spare cash you have has got nothing to do with how much we earn. 00:21:55.359 --> 00:21:59.599 Because that spare cash allows us to live generously, and generosity. 00:22:00.079 --> 00:22:02.880 Is a heart condition, is a mindset. 00:22:04.720 --> 00:22:08.160 And we can actually, actually live in that freedom. 00:22:08.319 --> 00:22:16.319 That's how much spare cash we have has got nothing to do with how much you get paid, how much you make every week, fortnight, month, whatever. 00:22:16.480 --> 00:22:17.039 Yeah. 00:22:19.119 --> 00:22:22.960 But it comes down to a generous heart and a generous living. 00:22:23.039 --> 00:22:28.559 And therefore, um it then brings us into that whole concept of sowing and reaping. 00:22:28.799 --> 00:22:34.000 And we all know that if you oversow, it's counterproductive. 00:22:35.279 --> 00:22:46.319 The seed will just get crowded in into the ground and they will just rot out and not yield the fruit that we may have received if we had just seeded properly, the right amount. 00:22:46.640 --> 00:22:49.920 So overseeding doesn't yield much. 00:22:50.160 --> 00:22:52.799 It actually reduces our return. 00:22:56.079 --> 00:22:57.519 So what do we do? 00:22:57.759 --> 00:23:02.319 Well, we ask the Lord to increase the area that we can seed in. 00:23:02.720 --> 00:23:03.839 Increase the area. 00:23:04.000 --> 00:23:07.039 Give me more land, Lord, so I can sow. 00:23:07.519 --> 00:23:10.079 Show me areas that I can sow. 00:23:11.200 --> 00:23:14.720 That's what that's my mode of operation. 00:23:14.880 --> 00:23:23.359 When I know that the Lord is, I need, I need to increase the free amount of cash that we have. 00:23:24.319 --> 00:23:28.480 I ask the Lord, Lord, show me areas that we can sow. 00:23:29.279 --> 00:23:47.920 There's no point sowing more here, unless the Lord says, if we're not seeding enough, of course there's room for seeding properly, but if you're seeding proper amounts in the area of the ground that the Lord has given you to reap harvest out of, we need to increase that size. 00:23:49.039 --> 00:23:53.359 And that's where this passage actually guided me to get that understanding. 00:23:53.440 --> 00:24:00.960 For which of you intending to build the tower does not sit down and first count the cost whether he has enough to find it. 00:24:01.119 --> 00:24:04.000 But Jesus actually is saying in a different context. 00:24:04.079 --> 00:24:18.400 And then he goes, lest after he has he laid the foundations and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, saying, This man began to build and was not able to finish. 00:24:19.200 --> 00:24:35.599 Or what king going to make war against another king does not sit down first and consider whether he's able with 10,000 to meet him who comes against him with 20,000. 00:24:37.359 --> 00:24:38.880 Amazing passage. 00:24:39.440 --> 00:24:46.559 Jesus, in a way, is implying that it is possible to take on a bigger enemy than yourself. 00:24:48.799 --> 00:24:59.920 But he's saying that there are certain steps we gotta take before we jump into the battle with our 10,000 soldiers against someone who's coming with 20,000. 00:25:05.200 --> 00:25:11.119 Or else, while the other is still a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks conditions of peace. 00:25:11.279 --> 00:25:21.039 So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be my disciple. 00:25:24.319 --> 00:25:32.640 So he gives these analogies, but what he's really trying to say is pursue me. 00:25:33.519 --> 00:25:36.319 There is a cost in pursuing me. 00:25:36.559 --> 00:25:45.680 There is a cost that you need to do, there are steps that you gotta take, and he likened those steps to a king going to war against the enemy. 00:25:45.839 --> 00:25:51.359 He likened those steps to somebody who's planning to build a high tower. 00:25:54.640 --> 00:26:03.279 He's trying to get us into a place where he's saying, find out whether you have what it takes to pursue me. 00:26:11.920 --> 00:26:28.880 Find out if you have what it takes to pursue me, because it is like engaging an enemy coming against us with twenty thousand soldiers while we have only ten thousand. 00:26:30.160 --> 00:26:44.960 It is like building a tower which is going to cost something, and there is a potential of running out of resources and unable to finish the job and becoming a laughing stock. 00:26:46.319 --> 00:26:55.519 So, likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be my disciple. 00:26:55.680 --> 00:27:00.400 The way to overcome it is that we give all that we have. 00:27:01.200 --> 00:27:03.680 We give all that we are. 00:27:05.680 --> 00:27:13.119 Salt is good, but if it's if the salt has its lost its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? 00:27:13.359 --> 00:27:17.440 It is neither fit for the land nor for the dung hill. 00:27:18.160 --> 00:27:20.240 But men throw it out. 00:27:20.960 --> 00:27:24.079 He who has an ear, let him hear. 00:27:25.039 --> 00:27:35.039 It's a very, very strong, stern warning that the Lord is putting before the people who want to pursue him. 00:27:42.960 --> 00:27:52.480 And the way we lose flavor is if we go into negative attitude, like the nation of Israel. 00:27:53.680 --> 00:28:02.000 That was a hard, very, very significant step that they took in in Exodus 17. 00:28:03.680 --> 00:28:08.000 And the Lord points out here in Luke 14, same thing. 00:28:08.160 --> 00:28:13.359 It's like going out to war if we desire to pursue Him. 00:28:14.319 --> 00:28:15.839 Matthew chapter 16. 00:28:16.000 --> 00:28:17.680 I'm gonna just keep running. 00:28:17.920 --> 00:28:20.720 I don't know where I'll get to, it's already 12. 00:28:21.759 --> 00:28:35.680 Matthew chapter 16, verses 24 onwards, then Jesus said to his disciples, if anyone desires to come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 00:28:38.480 --> 00:28:45.039 For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. 00:28:46.480 --> 00:28:48.799 There's that truth again. 00:28:49.119 --> 00:28:59.680 That if we try and protect what we have right now and refuse to go through that journey, we won't have what we're trying to protect. 00:28:59.920 --> 00:29:10.880 But if we just abandon ourselves and just say, Jesus, I'm coming after you, we will get to the other side and find our lives. 00:29:13.519 --> 00:29:17.200 Luke chapter 14 puts it really amazingly. 00:29:17.279 --> 00:29:24.559 He says, And whoever does not bear his cross and come after me cannot be my disciple. 00:29:27.680 --> 00:29:30.079 There is a cost of discipleship. 00:29:30.559 --> 00:29:34.079 There is a cost, and again, Jesus goes in Luke 14. 00:29:34.160 --> 00:29:35.680 He he flips up the whole thing. 00:29:35.839 --> 00:29:42.319 He says, If you're not willing to take up your cross, you cannot be my disciple. 00:29:42.480 --> 00:29:47.039 And then he goes, For which of you intending to build a tower does not sit down and count the cost? 00:29:47.200 --> 00:29:48.960 He goes through that same thing again. 00:29:51.119 --> 00:30:01.279 And I feel like we are the Lord is calling us in this season into a place that there would be people that we know who just doing whatever. 00:30:01.680 --> 00:30:03.519 And that's not what I'm talking about. 00:30:03.599 --> 00:30:14.799 I'm talking about you and I actually taking account, you and I just coming before the Lord and just going, Lord, show me, show me the path, and he will show you the path. 00:30:15.200 --> 00:30:21.039 And you say, and our response to him has to be, Lord, I don't care at any cost. 00:30:21.359 --> 00:30:32.079 There was a season in my life, probably 15, 20 years ago, that I would just be spending time with him and I would cry out to him, Lord, at any cost, I'm gonna pursue you. 00:30:32.319 --> 00:30:34.400 At any cost, I'm gonna follow you. 00:30:34.640 --> 00:30:36.880 I want more of you at any cost. 00:30:37.039 --> 00:30:41.359 I wouldn't even go into those prayers that I'm I'm just gonna tell you. 00:30:41.519 --> 00:30:46.400 I used to say, Lord, I'm the most thirsty person on the planet. 00:30:47.279 --> 00:30:48.240 I used to say that. 00:30:48.319 --> 00:30:50.000 Now, how arrogant is that? 00:30:50.880 --> 00:30:53.920 You may think that's that's really that's an assumption. 00:30:54.079 --> 00:30:57.119 You know, there are more people more thirsty than you are. 00:30:57.279 --> 00:30:59.039 I don't know of anybody else. 00:30:59.279 --> 00:31:08.720 As far as I'm concerned, I need to be at a place in my life where I consider myself as the most thirsty person on the planet. 00:31:09.039 --> 00:31:28.480 And I'm telling you, you and I can get to that place because when it's between you and him, he's not looking at anybody else, he's he's just looking at that one person on the planet in that moment, and I used to cry out to him and I said, Lord, I'm the most thirsty on the planet. 00:31:28.640 --> 00:31:32.000 Come and quench my heart, fill me with more of you. 00:31:32.240 --> 00:31:36.480 I need to drink from your river, I need more of your spirit. 00:31:38.079 --> 00:31:51.279 And in those moments, I feel like there is this there is this alertness that we gotta have in our spirits that this, what I'm crying out for, this what I'm asking for, it's gonna cost me dearly. 00:31:51.599 --> 00:31:54.000 And am I prepared to play that cost? 00:31:54.480 --> 00:31:58.079 And I'm telling you, it is costly to pursue Jesus. 00:31:58.319 --> 00:31:59.920 It is not easy. 00:32:01.279 --> 00:32:02.960 It is not easy. 00:32:07.039 --> 00:32:12.480 Luke chapter 9, there's a secret here. 00:32:12.799 --> 00:32:21.680 Luke chapter 9, verses 23, then he said to them all, not just to his disciples, but the people who were following him as well. 00:32:21.759 --> 00:32:24.079 But it is an open invitation. 00:32:24.559 --> 00:32:31.920 It's not just for a select few, it is for all of us, and no one qualifies except going through this. 00:32:32.640 --> 00:32:43.119 Then he said to them all, if anyone desires to come after me, let them deny himself, take up his cross daily and follow me. 00:32:43.440 --> 00:32:48.160 It's an all-the-time lifestyle, it's an all the time moment. 00:32:48.960 --> 00:33:08.000 We gotta watch our attitude, we gotta watch our words, we've got to watch how we're behaving, we've got to watch, and we're not perfect beings, we make mistakes and we come before the Lord and we go, Lord, wash me, cleanse me, keep me in that place, drinking from your river. 00:33:09.680 --> 00:33:11.759 Because that's why we need it. 00:33:25.519 --> 00:33:42.960 The draw on ourselves of walking in this pursuit of the Lord Jesus Christ, that draw is so heavy, heavy draw, that it will run you dry, and we have to drink from his river. 00:33:43.119 --> 00:33:45.359 That's why he made it available. 00:33:45.680 --> 00:33:48.319 And he doesn't make it available to whoever. 00:33:49.680 --> 00:33:56.079 Only the ones who are willing to make the journey, only the ones who are willing to come to that place. 00:33:56.559 --> 00:34:04.480 Notice in Acts 2, you know, this lifestyle of going around and talking to whoever, this has become a culture of the church these days. 00:34:04.559 --> 00:34:06.079 We're going out witnessing. 00:34:06.880 --> 00:34:09.199 The Lord doesn't do that here anyway. 00:34:10.559 --> 00:34:15.519 When the Spirit fell in Acts 2, it was an atmosphere of worship. 00:34:15.679 --> 00:34:32.079 The Bible says, and all these people, different types of people, that the uh creeds and uh proselytes and and and Jews from all over the place and from different cities, they had all come to Jerusalem for worship, and they were the ones who got touched. 00:34:32.719 --> 00:34:37.599 Not just random people walking around on the streets. 00:34:39.119 --> 00:34:57.119 And I feel like this this giving, this this invitation of coming to the kingdom, it's for the ones who are thirsty, it's for the ones who are who are hungry, it's for the ones who want to more, who want more, who are in pursuit of the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:34:57.280 --> 00:35:09.039 And yes, you may come in contact with people who are hungry, who are thirsty, but they are the they're the ones that the Lord is moving on in this hour, in this place. 00:35:13.199 --> 00:35:20.559 But it has to be a daily choice of taking up the cross daily and following him. 00:35:23.679 --> 00:35:29.280 See, the cross used to be uh a very, very uh significant. 00:35:30.480 --> 00:35:31.920 We wear it, you know. 00:35:32.079 --> 00:35:38.639 There was a culture uh of wearing a cross, you know, get it tattooed. 00:35:41.119 --> 00:35:44.480 All sorts of things people people do with the cross. 00:35:44.719 --> 00:35:56.800 Nothing is wrong, but I'm telling you, in Roman times, this time when Jesus is saying this, the cross was a pretty significant thing. 00:35:57.760 --> 00:36:10.960 It was a sign of death, it was a sign of shame, it was a sign of the absolute, the most torturous death you can imagine, was the cross. 00:36:12.400 --> 00:36:18.159 It was the symbol of the height of Roman punishment. 00:36:25.840 --> 00:36:31.679 Extreme suffering, extreme circumstances. 00:36:32.079 --> 00:36:38.159 The person stretched out on it, sometimes, oftentimes tied. 00:36:39.199 --> 00:36:49.840 In Jesus' case, he was pierced with nails and just left out there in the sun to just helpless. 00:36:49.920 --> 00:36:51.760 You can't do anything. 00:36:52.800 --> 00:37:02.000 That was the that was the picture of the cross, and Jesus says, if you don't take your cross daily, you cannot be my disciples. 00:37:03.840 --> 00:37:05.119 That's the cost. 00:37:09.119 --> 00:37:12.480 But there is something amazing that happens. 00:37:16.079 --> 00:37:35.679 But I don't wanna I wanna I don't wanna diminish the cost aspect because I believe, and Sarah had pointed out on Friday, that if we're pursuing him and don't feel the weight of the cross, something's not right. 00:37:41.760 --> 00:37:54.639 I feel like there is a call to all believers today, in this season, in today's time, to have this kind of resolve in our hearts. 00:37:57.199 --> 00:38:28.079 At any cost, at any cost, Lord, I am coming after you at any cost, Lord, and that resolve is required to overcome and to come into that place, and it's not the persecution, by the way, it's not the persecution, it's not the hardship, it's not the distraction, it's not the fame either. 00:38:28.239 --> 00:38:44.559 You know, oftentimes we get the fame, become very famous, speak in big conferences, get put in hotels, picked up from the airport, driven to places. 00:38:45.599 --> 00:38:50.320 I'm not saying anything wrong, but I just I just want to feel there is a requirement. 00:38:50.480 --> 00:38:52.719 Jesus says you've got to pick up your cross daily. 00:38:52.800 --> 00:38:57.199 If we're not feeling the weight of the cross, I don't know what we're carrying. 00:39:04.559 --> 00:39:05.599 What does it mean? 00:39:05.679 --> 00:39:07.199 What does it mean on a daily basis? 00:39:07.360 --> 00:39:19.760 Denying ourselves, surrendering to the will of the Lord, surrendering to the will of the Father, at any cost connecting with Him. 00:39:20.079 --> 00:39:26.719 And I'm not saying you gotta have, I I I often sort of imply as if you've got to have that dedicated time. 00:39:26.880 --> 00:39:31.920 As long as you are connected through the day, connected, you know, do you have your heart connected? 00:39:32.559 --> 00:39:35.119 I think that complies. 00:39:36.639 --> 00:39:45.039 But we got to have our connection with the Lord, embracing the sacrifices the Lord is asking us to make. 00:39:46.960 --> 00:39:55.760 Happy to stepping into the potential suffering that we that's going to occur if we step into certain places the Lord is asking us to step into. 00:39:55.920 --> 00:39:59.280 However, not choosing that because of suffering. 00:40:03.119 --> 00:40:06.320 Just because it's difficult doesn't mean it's from the Lord. 00:40:09.360 --> 00:40:13.679 But most things that he calls us into can be difficult. 00:40:14.079 --> 00:40:15.519 They will have a cost. 00:40:18.239 --> 00:40:30.719 Radical commitment and surrender, daily choices, a mindset shift, focusing on his kingdom and his ways and what he's saying is to do. 00:40:32.800 --> 00:40:37.840 But at the same time, stepping away from a misery mindset. 00:40:38.800 --> 00:40:54.480 There's a risk in accepting uh uh you know the cross or the lifestyle of the cross, there's a risk of developing a misery mindset where we just are attracted to difficult things, are attracted to misery. 00:40:54.719 --> 00:41:04.480 That's not what the Lord says because his his promise is overcoming life, his promise is that we will overcome. 00:41:08.559 --> 00:41:08.960 Why? 00:41:09.199 --> 00:41:10.480 Because we are being yoked. 00:41:10.639 --> 00:41:14.400 Matthew chapter 11, verse 28. 00:41:14.480 --> 00:41:16.559 I'm just gonna quickly run through. 00:41:17.519 --> 00:41:24.400 Come to me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 00:41:25.039 --> 00:41:38.719 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I'm gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls, for my yoke is easy and my burden is light. 00:41:40.880 --> 00:41:52.239 That's the place when we come into alignment with heaven's will for our lives, when we come into total submission of what the Lord is calling us into, we get yoked with Jesus. 00:41:53.280 --> 00:42:01.280 The aim is to keep track with him, the aim is to keep walking the way he came, is to keep the same direction as he's going into. 00:42:02.000 --> 00:42:06.960 Keep that direction, keep pace, otherwise, we're being dragged by him. 00:42:07.679 --> 00:42:13.679 And if we are dragging into a different direction, it's going to be very, very difficult dragging Jesus. 00:42:14.000 --> 00:42:19.840 But as long as we are together with him, it becomes easy. 00:42:20.079 --> 00:42:22.159 This is where it becomes easy. 00:42:22.400 --> 00:42:25.760 This is where we start stepping into that place of peace. 00:42:26.000 --> 00:42:31.039 This is where we start getting into the place of promise. 00:42:31.119 --> 00:42:32.400 I'm rushing through this. 00:42:32.719 --> 00:42:36.159 John 10 10, there's a promise of abundant life. 00:42:41.840 --> 00:42:44.480 John 16, he promises peace. 00:42:54.559 --> 00:42:59.360 Pressure causes distress, and distress suffering. 00:43:02.400 --> 00:43:14.719 Suffering brings us into a place of dependency, and dependency moves us into a place of his faithfulness, and his faithfulness takes us into a place of fullness. 00:43:17.920 --> 00:43:19.199 Romans chapter 5. 00:43:19.280 --> 00:43:20.320 I'm gonna finish with this. 00:43:20.480 --> 00:43:22.159 Romans chapter 5. 00:43:25.039 --> 00:43:38.800 Paul here says, he says, and and not only that, but we also glory in trebulation, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance and perseverance character, and character hope. 00:43:41.280 --> 00:43:42.480 That's the transition. 00:43:42.639 --> 00:43:48.880 That's why it's so important to go into these places of trials and testing. 00:43:49.599 --> 00:43:53.920 If we are avoiding it, we never get to hope. 00:43:56.159 --> 00:43:59.840 Knowing that tribulation produces perseverance and perseverance. 00:44:00.639 --> 00:44:12.159 Character and character hope, and then triumphantly, the writer Paul, the writer of Romans declares, now hope does not disappoint. 00:44:15.039 --> 00:44:18.719 Hope guarantees breakthrough. 00:44:20.320 --> 00:44:24.639 Hope does not disappoint. 00:44:25.519 --> 00:44:31.440 If we get to that place, we are guaranteed to see breakthrough. 00:44:31.599 --> 00:44:34.159 Hope will not disappoint. 00:44:37.760 --> 00:44:39.039 I love that. 00:44:39.920 --> 00:44:42.079 All we got to do is just keep going. 00:44:42.320 --> 00:44:42.960 Keep going. 00:44:43.119 --> 00:44:44.639 Keep plowing with Jesus. 00:44:44.960 --> 00:44:46.079 Co yoke with him. 00:44:46.239 --> 00:44:48.559 Just keep plowing with him. 00:44:54.159 --> 00:44:57.039 For trebulation produces perseverance. 00:44:57.599 --> 00:45:02.239 And perseverance produces character. 00:45:03.119 --> 00:45:09.360 And the kind of character that can entertain hope. 00:45:10.079 --> 00:45:13.199 And hope does not disappoint. 00:45:13.599 --> 00:45:21.039 For the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us. 00:45:21.280 --> 00:45:23.360 Now suddenly we're not alone. 00:45:24.880 --> 00:45:49.519 The moment hope rises in our hearts, we are in that place, in that atmosphere of the love of God being poured out upon over us like a waterfall of his grace, his love, his compassion, his mercy, and everything else that the Holy Spirit brings for freedom and breakthrough in our lives. 00:45:52.800 --> 00:46:04.159 Again, Paul writing to Timothy in the second letter to Timothy in chapter 4, verse 7 onwards, he says, I have fought the good fight. 00:46:05.199 --> 00:46:10.800 Beloved, I'm telling you, we are in a fight. 00:46:12.159 --> 00:46:19.840 It's like engaging an enemy that comes with twice the amount of force compared to us. 00:46:21.760 --> 00:46:33.280 It's like stepping into a task which is so huge that if we don't take it seriously, everyone laughs. 00:46:36.079 --> 00:46:47.920 But Paul over here, he says, he says, I have fought the good fight, and I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 00:46:49.119 --> 00:46:54.400 And then he goes on, because we often just quote that much and we stop, but there's more to it. 00:46:54.480 --> 00:47:06.559 He says, Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord the righteous judge will give to me on that day. 00:47:06.960 --> 00:47:13.679 And not to me only, but also to all who have loved his appearing. 00:47:14.320 --> 00:47:28.159 Everyone that has seen Jesus appear into their lives in any way, whether we've seen him physically, whether he's turned it up, whether he's entered our lives, he's revealed himself. 00:47:28.559 --> 00:47:30.000 We talked about him revealing. 00:47:30.159 --> 00:47:36.559 If you knew the gift of God and who it is who speaks to you, you would ask for living waters. 00:47:38.400 --> 00:47:45.119 This thing is available to all who have Jesus in their lives, who know him today. 00:47:45.840 --> 00:47:56.320 But there is a fight, there is a race, which requires a certain diligence, it requires a certain approach. 00:48:08.400 --> 00:48:12.400 Verse 3, where he's introducing his letter. 00:48:12.880 --> 00:48:16.480 He does a great job just in one chapter. 00:48:16.719 --> 00:48:22.719 And he says, Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, he's talking about this, this. 00:48:22.800 --> 00:48:35.039 I want to talk to you about salvation, but I found it necessary to write to you, exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints. 00:48:35.360 --> 00:48:47.519 He's calling, he's encouraging the fellow saints, fellow believers to contend for their faith because I believe there is a war going on right now, there is a fight we are in. 00:48:50.639 --> 00:48:55.039 And the way we win it is back to Psalms 103. 00:48:56.320 --> 00:49:01.519 Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name. 00:49:01.760 --> 00:49:02.159 When? 00:49:02.320 --> 00:49:03.599 At all times. 00:49:05.840 --> 00:49:07.280 In what circumstances? 00:49:07.440 --> 00:49:15.119 In every circumstance, in every situation, bless the Lord, O my soul. 00:49:18.480 --> 00:49:22.960 Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits. 00:49:23.519 --> 00:49:24.960 What benefits? 00:49:25.920 --> 00:49:39.760 He forgives all your iniquities, that benefit, who heals all your diseases, that benefit, who redeems you, who redeems your life from destruction, that benefit. 00:49:41.119 --> 00:49:45.119 Who crowns you with loving kindness? 00:49:45.519 --> 00:49:46.800 That benefit. 00:49:51.440 --> 00:49:57.039 And he showers you with tender mercies, that benefit. 00:49:57.440 --> 00:50:03.760 Who satisfies your mouth with good things, that benefit. 00:50:10.320 --> 00:50:17.840 And who renews our youth like an eagle, that benefit. 00:50:20.559 --> 00:50:36.880 Father, we pray that you bring us into that place of realization, that you bring us into that place of being able to see your mighty hand and all that is available. 00:50:37.440 --> 00:50:38.480 All the breakthrough. 00:50:38.639 --> 00:50:43.920 These are areas of breakthrough, these are benefits of breakthrough that the Lord is listing. 00:50:45.360 --> 00:50:48.960 David is listing in Psalms 103. 00:50:51.599 --> 00:51:18.719 Freedom from iniquities, freedom from all sickness and disease, redemption from destruction, crowning with loving kindness, being surrounded and overcome by tender mercies, satisfied with every good thing that we can imagine, renewed like the eagle. 00:51:19.920 --> 00:51:21.280