WEBVTT 00:00:08.640 --> 00:00:15.359 Father, we pray that you truly speak to us this morning. 00:00:17.679 --> 00:00:33.520 Lord, I pray that you allow us to come close to you in such a way that we can truly see a fresh revelation of you this morning. 00:00:36.719 --> 00:00:46.320 That we get to see a new facet of your brightness, of your shine, that we get to experience a new facet. 00:00:47.439 --> 00:00:57.920 Lord, your word says that in your presence there are these angels and these creatures and these beings that are constantly crying, holy, holy, holy. 00:00:59.280 --> 00:01:11.120 And as a child, I used to imagine that they're doing this because as God moves, there's a different aspect of Him being revealed to them. 00:01:11.200 --> 00:01:17.200 They see a different facet of Him shining towards them, and all they can do is cry holy. 00:01:21.200 --> 00:01:24.879 And Father, we pray that you take us into that same place. 00:01:26.719 --> 00:01:42.799 That we see a fresh aspect of you, that we see a fresh facet of you created for this moment, created for now, that shines into our lives, and all we can do is praise you and cry holy. 00:01:45.599 --> 00:01:48.400 Take us into the atmosphere of your throne. 00:01:52.319 --> 00:02:06.000 Draw us close to you, Lord, as we experience, Lord, through even through the worship, just experiencing this atmosphere around your throne, in your presence. 00:02:11.120 --> 00:02:15.120 Oh Jesus, we give you honor, we give you glory. 00:02:15.360 --> 00:02:17.840 We love you, Lord, more than anything else. 00:02:18.240 --> 00:02:22.159 Come be enthroned on the praises of your people. 00:02:22.800 --> 00:02:30.159 I don't know if anybody else is feeling this, but I am honestly feeling physically weakened right now. 00:02:30.319 --> 00:02:35.280 Just there is this the presence of God is strong. 00:02:36.960 --> 00:02:45.120 And I don't know if I'm just mentally in a place or what is it, but I think the worship took me into that space. 00:02:46.400 --> 00:02:52.240 And um we are getting a cage for the drum kit. 00:02:52.879 --> 00:03:03.919 Um, sometimes it's it's actually softer this side because if you in this area it's it's all the impact, the sound pressure is is really there. 00:03:04.080 --> 00:03:09.680 So the SPL and this side is softer, but we are getting a cage. 00:03:09.759 --> 00:03:15.360 But yeah, the worship somehow took me into a place, and and I'm so so grateful. 00:03:15.520 --> 00:03:20.800 The most beautiful thing that we will ever host in our lives is the presence of God. 00:03:21.599 --> 00:03:44.159 The Holy Spirit is the most tightly held secret in heaven, and if we can just learn to host the presence, to host his goodness, I think we've achieved one of the greatest gifts in our lives. 00:03:47.360 --> 00:03:49.039 The Lord gave me this verse. 00:03:49.120 --> 00:03:50.479 I was I was talking to him. 00:03:50.719 --> 00:04:02.879 I I am personally, I am in this place where this theme from the Lord's Prayer, you know, on earth as it is in heaven, is so real to me for now. 00:04:03.039 --> 00:04:26.000 Your kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven, and I'm just thinking, all my thinking, all my thoughts, somehow they travel around, but then they come and they lock themselves to this one theme here on earth as it is in heaven. 00:04:26.240 --> 00:04:28.959 And if you think about it, it's it's quite a call. 00:04:30.000 --> 00:04:44.240 We are ambassadors and citizens of a different world, but we are called to make this planet look like home. 00:04:51.519 --> 00:04:58.079 Matthew chapter 10 is an amazing passage, and we'll probably dwell here for a while. 00:04:58.319 --> 00:05:16.000 Matthew chapter 10, verses 1 onwards, and it says, And when he had called his twelve disciples to him, he gave them power over unclean spirits to cast them out and to heal all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease. 00:05:18.079 --> 00:05:49.759 Now the names of the twelve apostles are these first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, Philip and Bartholomew, Thomas and Matthew the tax collector, James the son of Alphaeus, and Lebius, whose surname was Tedeus, Simon the Canaanite, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him. 00:05:51.120 --> 00:05:55.279 Fascinating four verses, in my opinion. 00:05:59.439 --> 00:06:11.759 I grew up in a Christian environment, and you don't, it it's not easy maintaining this faith in a in a nation, in a country. 00:06:12.480 --> 00:06:28.399 I remember we were doing uh a revival crusade in a we call it crusade uh there's um I don't know if it's the most appropriate word, but any it's revival meetings for a few days in a village, a remote village in India. 00:06:28.560 --> 00:06:34.879 And uh I remember very clearly uh the team went in and everybody, everything was fine. 00:06:34.959 --> 00:06:44.000 We were setting up the generators because there was no power there and sound, and we were setting up the the stage, and suddenly there's this commotion started to happen. 00:06:44.160 --> 00:07:25.360 And I don't know if the people realized or didn't realize what we were there for or what, but uh they started opposing, they started coming in and they started saying, No, you can't do this here, we don't want you doing this here, and we were kept keeping uh calm, and then suddenly this half brick landed on one of the leaders' backs, and we knew that this is serious, we cannot just push our way through here, even though we were like 30, 40 young guys there, and but we knew that this is this can get out of hand, and uh and I remember very clearly that the leader turned around and he says, Look, if you want to do anything, I'm here, talk to me. 00:07:25.519 --> 00:07:28.240 All these people, they came because of me. 00:07:28.480 --> 00:07:35.360 And so he stood up for us and and they said, Well, all we we don't want any fight here, we just we just don't want you guys here. 00:07:35.519 --> 00:07:37.040 And we had to leave. 00:07:37.439 --> 00:07:52.319 And and I feel, and I've what I'm trying to say is you sometimes you get into a place where it is easy to do the things of the kingdom, other times you move into places and it's very hard to move into what God has called us into. 00:07:52.560 --> 00:07:53.759 Have I seen miracles? 00:07:53.839 --> 00:07:55.120 Yes, I've seen miracles. 00:07:55.199 --> 00:07:58.319 There are they are few and far between. 00:07:58.399 --> 00:07:59.839 Is God a God of miracles? 00:07:59.920 --> 00:08:00.560 Yes, he is. 00:08:00.720 --> 00:08:02.319 He is truly a God of miracles. 00:08:02.399 --> 00:08:09.199 I have seen personally my cousin who was dying of cancer, he was dying, like he was literally dying. 00:08:09.360 --> 00:08:19.920 My dad carried him into the meeting up front to get prayer because his parents were in no place to to take him up there. 00:08:20.079 --> 00:08:23.839 But my dad decided to just take him up there, so he carried him. 00:08:23.920 --> 00:08:27.920 This this boy was uh out, like he couldn't communicate, couldn't walk. 00:08:28.160 --> 00:08:34.480 It was just in the last few days of his life, and he got miraculously healed in those meetings. 00:08:34.720 --> 00:08:39.919 I have seen miracles and and wonders, God God doing incredible things. 00:08:43.600 --> 00:08:50.000 And there is a life, there is a there is a place where we need to be to see these things. 00:08:51.759 --> 00:09:00.639 And yes, there is this thing of, you know, oh well, there are groups that believe that miracles and wonders and healings ended with the dis with the apostles. 00:09:00.960 --> 00:09:05.600 That's their position, that doctrinally, um, scripturally. 00:09:06.320 --> 00:09:07.360 And why is that? 00:09:07.519 --> 00:09:13.279 I I believe it's because there's a whole bunch of people who don't see miracles, signs, and wonders. 00:09:13.759 --> 00:09:22.000 And so we get this group, this large group in the Christian community who have now formed an opinion that no, all this is past. 00:09:23.679 --> 00:09:42.240 But here we see Jesus, the Bible says in chapter Matthew chapter 10, verse 1 onwards, and he says that when he had called his disciples, when he had called his twelve disciples to him, there is a calling to him. 00:09:45.440 --> 00:10:01.039 He gave them power over unclean spirits, so over demons and principalities, to cast them out over every unclean spirit, and to heal all kinds of sickness and all kinds of diseases. 00:10:06.320 --> 00:10:08.080 Who is a disciple? 00:10:10.240 --> 00:10:20.399 The scripture over here says when he had called his twelve disciples to him, there are these disciples, and he called them to himself. 00:10:21.519 --> 00:10:22.559 What is a disciple? 00:10:22.720 --> 00:10:38.559 A disciple is an active learner and apprentice who follows a master teacher to adopt their lifestyle, memorize their teachings, and become like him or her. 00:10:40.000 --> 00:10:42.240 They want to imitate the master. 00:10:42.559 --> 00:10:46.960 Being disciples of Christ, we want to learn from him. 00:10:47.840 --> 00:10:49.600 We want to memorize his words. 00:10:49.759 --> 00:10:59.360 Now, if you go into the Old Testament, that was a mandate for every person to memorize, to fill your mind with these scriptures. 00:10:59.519 --> 00:11:02.639 The words of the book of the law shall not depart of your mouth. 00:11:02.799 --> 00:11:11.759 Day and night thou shalt meditate in it and become like him. 00:11:12.399 --> 00:11:13.840 That's a disciple. 00:11:14.080 --> 00:11:15.279 That we become like him. 00:11:15.440 --> 00:11:18.879 Now we have been given a task on this planet, and that's okay. 00:11:19.120 --> 00:11:39.360 We want to be faithful in that, but above all things, we are a disciple of Christ, and I want to learn from him, I want to become like him, I want to be transformed and changed by his words and follow him for the rest of my life, for the rest of our lives. 00:11:42.960 --> 00:11:49.600 The Greek word for disciple is the word mathetis. 00:11:51.120 --> 00:12:02.639 It means a learner, a pupil, a disciple, a follower, one who is actively doing everything to become like the master. 00:12:07.679 --> 00:12:11.440 The Hebrew word is a Talmud or Talmudim. 00:12:11.840 --> 00:12:19.679 Talmudim is plural, Talmud is singular, so a disciple or disciples. 00:12:21.279 --> 00:12:24.399 Same meaning, nothing's changed. 00:12:24.639 --> 00:12:40.960 The first century Jewish culture, which is where Jesus, with its church was forming, Jesus was around a Talmud, which is a disciple, literally walked everywhere behind the rabbi. 00:12:41.120 --> 00:12:42.240 They followed the rabbi. 00:12:42.320 --> 00:12:45.600 That's why Jesus' disciples followed Jesus everywhere. 00:12:45.759 --> 00:12:53.919 They literally followed him everywhere to learn his habits, to be his shadow, and to become like him. 00:12:54.159 --> 00:12:59.679 Their dream was to become like the master, like the rabbi, like the leader. 00:13:00.960 --> 00:13:05.279 There were three levels of learning process in the Hebrew culture. 00:13:06.720 --> 00:13:14.399 Stage one was Beth Zaphar, stage two was Beth Talmud, and stage three was Beth Midrash. 00:13:14.720 --> 00:13:18.399 Stage one, Beth Zaphar, was ages five to ten. 00:13:20.159 --> 00:13:26.879 They were taught the five books of the law, the five books that Moses wrote, and they were to memorize it. 00:13:27.039 --> 00:13:33.279 And most Hebrew children by the age of ten knew those five books by heart. 00:13:34.720 --> 00:13:48.720 The Talmud, Beth Talmud, which is ages 10 to 14, was for the bright students, the bright ones from years uh ages five to ten, the ones who really displayed outstanding performances. 00:13:49.039 --> 00:13:59.919 They were chosen to learn the other writings, the prophetic books, and go into deeper learning of the scriptures. 00:14:00.159 --> 00:14:05.919 And then was Beth Midrash, which was 14 to 30 years of age. 00:14:06.480 --> 00:14:13.919 And these were the absolute, absolute best, the cream of the cream from the already selected group. 00:14:14.000 --> 00:14:23.679 The Beth Talmud was already a selected group because they were from 10 to 14 years of age, and these were the bright students who were picked, handpicked. 00:14:23.759 --> 00:14:38.559 Um the the rabbi would would have an interview with every one of these students, these boys, and he would question them on the law because they had already studied the law, the five books of Moses, the five books of the Bible. 00:14:38.799 --> 00:14:46.320 And the rabbi would handpick these students and have them as the Talmud, the disciples. 00:14:47.759 --> 00:15:00.960 And out of this good group, already outperforming group, you then had the best midrash, which was the 14 to 30 years who were chosen to follow the disciple. 00:15:01.279 --> 00:15:11.039 In other words, the the the rabbi would call them and say, Take my yoke, come follow me, become like me. 00:15:11.200 --> 00:15:18.399 So that's what Jesus did when He when He called His disciples, he says, Take my yoke, for my yoke is light and easy. 00:15:19.200 --> 00:15:23.279 And he's not looking for the brightest of the brightest. 00:15:23.759 --> 00:15:29.679 He's looking for whoever has a heart that is calling out, a heart that is crying out. 00:15:31.919 --> 00:15:34.240 And then he says, Come follow me. 00:15:35.120 --> 00:15:48.480 The ones who couldn't uh really perform well or didn't perform well, weren't selected, would go back to do the family businesses, whether it be farming, fishing, uh, or whatever kind of craft they did. 00:15:49.039 --> 00:15:53.120 And in the case of all of these disciples, that's what they were doing. 00:15:53.279 --> 00:15:56.159 They were all doing what their fathers were doing. 00:15:56.320 --> 00:16:05.679 That means, so that is where you actually hear that they were all rejected from becoming a rabbi and Jesus gave them a second chance. 00:16:05.840 --> 00:16:10.399 I'm sure we've all heard this, but uh I'm just sharing it again. 00:16:10.720 --> 00:16:20.080 Why, where does that uh that that uh information comes from that they were all rejected and Jesus gave them a second chance? 00:16:20.240 --> 00:16:46.639 This is how they were rejected, this is why they were rejected, and Jesus gave them a second chance, and that is who a disciple is one who follows the leader has a desire that I want to become like the leader, I want to be changed, I want to be in his shadow, I want to take his yoke. 00:16:50.240 --> 00:16:54.159 I want to be transformed and changed to become like him. 00:17:02.720 --> 00:17:07.119 Let's look at Jesus' requirements for being a disciple. 00:17:09.359 --> 00:17:12.480 Jesus went totally in the opposite direction. 00:17:15.599 --> 00:17:18.400 He chose men who had already failed. 00:17:21.599 --> 00:17:36.079 People who had faced failure out in the academic track and gone back to their family businesses, whatever their families did. 00:17:37.759 --> 00:17:41.200 But Jesus's demands are radical. 00:17:50.000 --> 00:17:51.599 It is more than that. 00:17:53.680 --> 00:18:02.880 In Mark chapter 8, verse 34, he sets out a standard of a disciple, in my opinion. 00:18:03.200 --> 00:18:04.880 Mark chapter 8, verse 34. 00:18:04.960 --> 00:18:15.759 It says, When he had called the people to himself with his disciples also, he said to them, Whoever desires to come after me, let him deny himself. 00:18:16.000 --> 00:18:22.319 So denying yourself is a requirement to becoming a disciple. 00:18:26.000 --> 00:18:32.799 Whoever desires to come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross. 00:18:35.279 --> 00:18:44.160 Taking up the cross had a major meaning in that society at that time. 00:18:44.799 --> 00:18:54.960 The cross was one of the most gruesome death punishments that anyone could have. 00:18:56.400 --> 00:19:01.279 And the Romans carried it out quite freely, quite frequently. 00:19:01.759 --> 00:19:08.319 And if Jesus says, carry your cross, it means it's going to end in death. 00:19:11.279 --> 00:19:13.680 And he's requiring that from his disciples. 00:19:13.759 --> 00:19:21.359 He says, Whoever desires to come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 00:19:28.240 --> 00:19:30.960 Luke chapter 14, verse 26. 00:19:31.599 --> 00:19:33.759 Luke chapter 14, verse 26. 00:19:34.079 --> 00:19:47.920 If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, even his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. 00:19:58.960 --> 00:20:08.960 And of course, if you go looking into that hate, it's not actual hate, but it is it is a degree of preference. 00:20:09.440 --> 00:20:10.720 Who comes first? 00:20:11.039 --> 00:20:13.039 And Jesus has to come first. 00:20:14.799 --> 00:20:18.319 Jesus has to be the one that we desire. 00:20:18.720 --> 00:20:22.480 And if other things come in his way, we choose him. 00:20:22.960 --> 00:20:25.519 That's the kind of hate hate he's talking about. 00:20:25.680 --> 00:20:32.480 Not not like despising hate, but preferential hate. 00:20:50.720 --> 00:20:53.519 And Jesus says, My brothers and sisters are here. 00:21:00.240 --> 00:21:06.400 In John 15, we're getting into some beautiful passages here. 00:21:06.559 --> 00:21:09.119 John 15, verse 8. 00:21:11.759 --> 00:21:12.720 Verse 7 and 8. 00:21:13.119 --> 00:21:14.319 Let's read verse 7 and 8. 00:21:14.400 --> 00:21:23.440 It says, If you abide in me and my words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. 00:21:24.240 --> 00:21:28.480 And by this, my father is glorified. 00:21:29.920 --> 00:21:47.920 So when we get the desires of our hearts, that situation where we're praying for something and we see an answer, that picture glorifies the Father. 00:21:48.880 --> 00:21:55.519 That you bear much fruit, so you will be my disciples. 00:21:55.839 --> 00:22:04.079 In other words, it is the calling and The destiny of a disciple to see great works. 00:22:05.680 --> 00:22:21.759 It is in the formation, it should be in the nature and the character of a disciple who sees these amazing works, prayers answered, miracles and wonders, demons and every evil spirit under our control. 00:22:24.240 --> 00:22:26.960 One day we planted a church in India. 00:22:27.200 --> 00:22:28.319 I was 16 years old. 00:22:28.400 --> 00:22:31.200 The pastor was 19 years old at that time. 00:22:32.000 --> 00:22:34.160 And we planted a church in India. 00:22:34.319 --> 00:22:36.960 He had been the pastor, he was three years older than me. 00:22:37.119 --> 00:22:38.480 He'd been to Bible college. 00:22:38.559 --> 00:22:45.599 And me and my friend, me and my friend Tony, we got together with him and we planted a church. 00:22:46.240 --> 00:22:47.680 And uh it was growing. 00:22:47.839 --> 00:23:08.000 And uh we got to uh one day we were invited to come and pray for this this uh this demon-oppressed lady, and she lived in a in a in a place, it was just a little gully between a whole row of houses, not even wide enough for for you to ride a motorbike through. 00:23:08.319 --> 00:23:22.559 And so we had to, so we were me and uh the pastor, um, we were going to pray for this lady, but we we had to uh get off the bike and park it at the start of this little walkway. 00:23:23.519 --> 00:23:43.920 And uh as we started to walk, we didn't know anything, but when we got to the place, it was about a couple of hundred yards from where we left our motorbike, and we walked through this little narrow little lane, and uh we got to their home, and the dad says, It's amazing. 00:23:44.160 --> 00:24:04.640 Um, she must have figured out that you guys were coming because uh she's already she she she became really erratic, started to shout and scream and this and that, and just before you guys knocked at the door, she fell over and and and she's she's just lying there, absolutely quiet. 00:24:04.960 --> 00:24:07.440 And we were like, this is amazing. 00:24:07.599 --> 00:24:11.920 I'm thinking, this is incredible, because we knew exactly what's happening. 00:24:12.079 --> 00:24:21.119 Because two weeks before that, um, Tony and I decided that we're gonna pray every Friday, we're gonna pray for three hours in in the church building. 00:24:21.200 --> 00:24:25.359 So we would gather there and pray for three hours every Friday afternoon. 00:24:25.519 --> 00:24:32.480 And so we finished our prayer session one of these Fridays, and the pastor's house uh was just right next door. 00:24:32.559 --> 00:24:36.559 So we come out of the church building and turn left, and it was his front door there. 00:24:36.720 --> 00:24:48.079 So, and we just dropped in there, and um, we sat down and in the living room, um his brother and and another friend were sitting and they were just talking. 00:24:48.480 --> 00:25:02.480 Um, his brother is a microbiologist, and uh his friend must be something you know from the university that he's a lecturer at, or at that time he was a lecturer, and uh and he had a friend there. 00:25:02.799 --> 00:25:06.480 Anyways, um we Tony and I we just went and sat down. 00:25:06.559 --> 00:25:07.440 Hello, hello, yeah. 00:25:07.519 --> 00:25:13.440 And we said, look, we don't want to bother if you're in the middle of something, and Milton, the brother, he said, No, no, come on, sit down. 00:25:13.599 --> 00:25:17.519 So we sat down, and and we sat down within two minutes. 00:25:17.759 --> 00:25:29.200 This guy who was sitting there got thrown off the couch he was sitting at and started squirming and writhing and turning on the ground in front of me. 00:25:29.440 --> 00:25:31.279 Right at our feet, right there. 00:25:31.440 --> 00:25:33.279 He was sitting there and he jumped. 00:25:33.440 --> 00:25:35.839 The demon, there was a demon oppression. 00:25:35.920 --> 00:25:40.079 I'd never seen anything like it till then or since then. 00:25:40.319 --> 00:25:57.920 But, anyways, he just flew off the couch and landed right before me, and I knew what I'm dealing with, and I just put one hand on him and he started to shake violently, and within minutes, that spirit came out. 00:25:58.079 --> 00:25:59.839 So we knew what was happening. 00:25:59.920 --> 00:26:15.119 So we got to this woman's place, and the dad tells us that look, um, you guys, at just seconds before you knocked, she fell over and she's she's lying there, absolutely calm, breathing, obviously alive, but uh, and we knew. 00:26:15.279 --> 00:26:16.319 And so we just prayed. 00:26:16.400 --> 00:26:17.680 The demon had already left. 00:26:17.839 --> 00:26:19.279 This was a Hindu family. 00:26:19.440 --> 00:26:26.640 I don't know what was happening in the family, and anyways, they started coming to church and and became uh became believers. 00:26:27.119 --> 00:26:42.000 Incredible things are seen, and and over here it says it's this is what Jesus is saying, and when we move into this kind of power, the Father is glorified in this, and this is how we become his disciples. 00:26:42.079 --> 00:26:44.640 Now, I'm not saying that we go and casting out demons every day. 00:26:44.799 --> 00:26:46.240 No, that's not an everyday affair. 00:26:46.400 --> 00:26:56.640 As I said, that experience, that man being picked up from the couch, thrown onto the ground in front of me, didn't happen till then ever and hasn't happened since. 00:26:56.799 --> 00:27:02.240 But it has given me a grid to understand what is going on. 00:27:03.599 --> 00:27:15.119 We as children of God should have a mindset that I am about to enter that shop and the atmosphere in that shop will change because I'm about to enter that shop. 00:27:15.359 --> 00:27:16.960 Blessings will flow. 00:27:17.200 --> 00:27:19.759 I bless every shop I go into. 00:27:20.640 --> 00:27:36.640 Every shop I go into, I am most of the time, if I'm there and and the person is is is serving somebody else, I just have to wait for a few minutes and and I'll be there and I'll just be like, and the Lord will remind me, and I'll just be like, Lord, I bless this place. 00:27:36.799 --> 00:27:44.079 Every restaurant that we eat in, when we give thanks for the food, I pray a blessing over that place. 00:27:44.240 --> 00:27:49.279 Lord, that you bless this place, let it grow in influence and and impact. 00:27:49.519 --> 00:27:58.000 The people may love coming to this place, and maybe I don't verbalize all that, but I definitely verbalize this that Lord bless this place. 00:27:58.960 --> 00:28:00.319 Bless this place. 00:28:00.640 --> 00:28:01.039 Why? 00:28:01.200 --> 00:28:10.720 Because in doing so, when we see those changes, when we see that result, we become disciples, and in that the father is glorified. 00:28:11.759 --> 00:28:23.279 John 15, verse 8 by this my father is glorified, that you bear much fruit, so you will be my disciples. 00:28:26.400 --> 00:28:28.240 That is who a disciple is. 00:28:29.279 --> 00:28:35.680 One whose life's calling is to become like him. 00:28:36.559 --> 00:28:40.799 I want to become like him, I want to be transformed to look like him. 00:28:41.279 --> 00:28:48.880 Paul says that we are being changed from glory to glory to become and be transformed into the image of God. 00:28:52.960 --> 00:28:58.400 And it doesn't happen with us just not working towards it. 00:28:58.559 --> 00:29:06.480 We have to have an intentional attitude in our hearts that I am getting transformed and changed to look like him. 00:29:10.880 --> 00:29:16.799 The other thing he did in Matthew 10 was he called his disciples to himself. 00:29:18.960 --> 00:29:24.720 I have come to know that proximity translates to anointing. 00:29:26.240 --> 00:29:30.960 Anointing is not some special badge. 00:29:32.000 --> 00:29:40.160 Anointing is just anointing is the same as his glory, his presence, his power. 00:29:40.480 --> 00:29:42.240 It's all anointing. 00:29:42.880 --> 00:29:46.880 We get into a place of his glory, we are in a place of his anointing. 00:29:47.119 --> 00:29:50.240 We get into a place of his presence, it is an anointing. 00:29:50.319 --> 00:29:54.880 And different people react differently to the presence and the glory of God. 00:29:55.039 --> 00:30:10.079 Some people get really quiet, some start crying, some may start just singing softly, some may start giving him praise, some may start dancing, some may start running around the place, and all of it is okay. 00:30:10.640 --> 00:30:17.039 Every expression that we have, every reaction that we have to the presence of God is okay. 00:30:17.440 --> 00:30:37.200 Paul at one time says, I do not come to you with with words of human wisdom, but I come to you with the power of the kingdom of God, creating in the hearts of my hearers the most holy emotions of God. 00:30:37.759 --> 00:30:41.359 That means every emotion is holy. 00:30:42.880 --> 00:30:53.039 When we feel those emotions in the in the atmosphere of his presence, his glory, his majesty, his greatness, every emotion is holy. 00:30:53.680 --> 00:31:01.839 Crying is holy, running is holy, dancing is holy, just sitting quietly is holy, lying on the ground is holy. 00:31:02.480 --> 00:31:06.240 And we do get into those places sometimes. 00:31:06.559 --> 00:31:08.000 And it's holy. 00:31:09.839 --> 00:31:11.039 It is holy. 00:31:11.680 --> 00:31:16.480 Proximity translates to power. 00:31:16.880 --> 00:31:19.440 Proximity translates to anointing. 00:31:22.480 --> 00:31:28.480 He called his twelve disciples to him, coming to him. 00:31:30.160 --> 00:31:39.839 There's a lot in that coming to him, having a relationship with Jesus, having friendship with Jesus, coming to him. 00:31:40.240 --> 00:31:44.160 Mark chapter 3 is a parallel passage to Matthew 10. 00:31:44.319 --> 00:31:50.079 Mark chapter 3 uh illustrates the whole incident in a different way. 00:31:50.319 --> 00:32:01.119 There are three gospels that that that host this this passage, this this occurring for as Matthew 10, which is Luke chapter 6 and Mark chapter 3. 00:32:01.200 --> 00:32:02.720 I want to read from Mark chapter 3. 00:32:02.880 --> 00:32:06.160 Mark chapter 3, verses 13 onwards. 00:32:06.799 --> 00:32:14.160 And he went up on the mountain and called to him those he himself wanted. 00:32:14.799 --> 00:32:17.119 This is an amazing thing, isn't it? 00:32:18.400 --> 00:32:27.440 He had a desire for these people to come to him, he had a desire in his heart that I want them to come to me. 00:32:28.799 --> 00:32:35.680 And all three gospels make a point of pointing out that he called them to himself. 00:32:36.079 --> 00:32:41.279 There is a desire, I'm telling you, there is a desire in God's heart. 00:32:41.519 --> 00:32:46.960 It's not up to any kind of worldly achievement. 00:32:49.200 --> 00:32:54.799 There is just a blanket call over our lives to come to him. 00:32:56.160 --> 00:33:03.680 The only thing that Jesus requires are those requirements that we, when we come to him, he has to become our all-in-all. 00:33:05.599 --> 00:33:07.440 And what are we gonna get? 00:33:07.599 --> 00:33:17.440 What we get is to host the kingdom, we get to host his power, we get to display his majesty, and in doing so, the father is glorified. 00:33:19.519 --> 00:33:28.720 Closeness to Jesus translates into power, into anointing, closeness to him. 00:33:30.480 --> 00:33:31.599 And what did he do? 00:33:31.759 --> 00:33:32.799 Let's continue reading. 00:33:32.880 --> 00:33:38.640 We'll read just just here in Mark 13 onwards. 00:33:39.039 --> 00:33:43.680 And he went up on the mountain and called to himself those he himself wanted. 00:33:45.119 --> 00:34:04.079 And they came to him, so they responded to the call, and then he appointed twelve that he might be with that they might be with him, and that he might send them out to preach, and to have power, to heal sickness, and to cast out demons. 00:34:05.200 --> 00:34:09.679 Simon, to whom he gave the name Peter, and he lists out again. 00:34:09.920 --> 00:34:19.039 It's fascinating to me that the Bible lists out the names of the twelve whom he chose, whom he called. 00:34:20.639 --> 00:34:24.480 And he gave them power, he delegated his authority to them. 00:34:26.880 --> 00:34:44.559 What else happens when we when we get into that place, that proximity, that closeness, when his presence starts to rest on us, when his anointing is on us, to shift somebody's lives, to to bring freedom and breakthrough into into a family. 00:34:45.039 --> 00:34:47.039 I've seen so many of it. 00:34:59.360 --> 00:35:03.199 I exist to bring freedom and breakthrough. 00:35:03.599 --> 00:35:06.400 There is a purposefulness in our lives. 00:35:06.559 --> 00:35:16.239 We get a mission for the rest of our days to display his power, to display his mighty arm, to show his kingdom. 00:35:19.360 --> 00:35:21.280 That's who a disciple is. 00:35:22.400 --> 00:35:26.239 He has a call and a purpose on their lives. 00:35:27.679 --> 00:35:36.000 This person knows that they carry the breakthrough of heaven because the Father is being glorified through our lives. 00:35:46.079 --> 00:35:57.199 And all three of these gospels, Matthew, Mark, and Luke, they're all talking about this concept that he called to himself. 00:35:58.719 --> 00:35:59.440 That's it. 00:36:00.159 --> 00:36:02.239 That is where it it starts. 00:36:02.480 --> 00:36:11.760 If we can just somehow get this in our mind, in our thinking that he is calling me and I am going to respond to this call. 00:36:15.199 --> 00:36:31.119 There is a divine invitation, a summon from the God of heaven for a purposeful life, a life of faith, a life of closeness, an intimate friendship with God. 00:36:35.039 --> 00:36:38.559 Some of us, you know, there is a divine invitation, we know that. 00:36:38.639 --> 00:36:44.960 And some of us will just respond to that invitation and we live a life that is just close to Him. 00:36:45.199 --> 00:36:50.719 Others get what we call an effectual calling, an effectual calling that it has an effect. 00:36:50.880 --> 00:36:58.320 That calling would have an effect on our lives, and it will change the way we think, change the way we move, and we somehow form it. 00:36:58.480 --> 00:37:01.119 It's a ministry forming calling. 00:37:01.840 --> 00:37:06.719 And we find a life's purpose in it, a deeper purpose, deeper meaning. 00:37:07.119 --> 00:37:12.320 And become leaders and and of bodies, leaders of ministries. 00:37:14.960 --> 00:37:20.400 And it gives us a new identity, gives us a fresh purpose. 00:37:20.719 --> 00:37:23.599 Jesus is the one we're living for. 00:37:27.840 --> 00:37:31.920 And there can be also secondary calls on our lives, everyday purpose. 00:37:32.159 --> 00:37:43.440 Just living as a Christian, just going into restaurants and shops and blessing the place, just driving through the streets and blessing the neighborhood on both sides of the road. 00:37:44.239 --> 00:37:48.880 Just being a person full of light and just releasing that light. 00:37:49.039 --> 00:37:55.519 Just a general everyday life of a disciple of Christ that's impacting cities. 00:38:01.840 --> 00:38:13.039 And the most fascinating thing I find is all three gospels list out the names of these twelve. 00:38:17.440 --> 00:38:19.679 Matthew chapter 10, verse 2. 00:38:22.719 --> 00:38:26.159 And it says, now the names of the twelve apostles are these. 00:40:09.360 --> 00:40:11.119 This is actually uh important. 00:40:11.360 --> 00:40:16.719 And he calls his own sheep by name, and he leads them out. 00:40:17.440 --> 00:40:30.639 Remember the time when uh Luke uh tells about the the birth of Jesus, and and he gives a description that there were shepherds in the field that the angel um appeared to. 00:40:30.880 --> 00:40:32.000 Remember that? 00:40:32.639 --> 00:40:34.159 There were many shepherds. 00:40:34.480 --> 00:40:36.400 Why were they all together? 00:40:36.880 --> 00:40:47.360 Because in those times, all the shepherds would bring their sheep and they would put them in one enclosed pen, one enclosed area. 00:40:48.480 --> 00:41:03.840 And the shepherds would then go out and light a fire and be together, and and so they're just keeping an eye, and maybe one of them would keep the watch through the night, and they would have turns who would stay up through the night to keep a watch. 00:41:04.000 --> 00:41:22.159 But all their sheep were together, but when they wanted to take their sheep out, any of the one of those shepherds would get up and go to the pen and call out, the sheep would recognize their voices, and only the sheep that belonged to that shepherd would actually follow them out. 00:41:22.559 --> 00:41:24.639 Rest would remain in the pan. 00:41:24.880 --> 00:41:30.000 And that's how all those shepherds were together in the story of you know Jesus' birth. 00:41:30.079 --> 00:41:38.639 And that's what Jesus is saying here that the shepherd goes out, calls his own, and his sheep come after him. 00:41:41.280 --> 00:41:46.400 I am looking for a response in our lives, in my life and your life. 00:41:46.719 --> 00:41:47.840 Do we belong to him? 00:41:48.079 --> 00:41:49.840 Do we recognize his voice? 00:41:50.079 --> 00:41:53.039 If he calls out, are we going to answer? 00:41:54.480 --> 00:42:02.000 And we are in this world, and there is this there is a journey, there is a choice that God has given us, and we are here. 00:42:03.199 --> 00:42:09.199 But within this world, as we continue to exist, do we recognize his voice? 00:42:09.519 --> 00:42:10.559 Do we reply back? 00:42:10.800 --> 00:42:12.000 Do we answer him? 00:42:12.719 --> 00:42:14.079 Do we follow him? 00:42:22.480 --> 00:42:27.920 In the same chapter, John chapter 10, verses 14, Jesus continues. 00:42:30.320 --> 00:42:37.440 He says, I am the good shepherd, and I know my sheep, and I'm known by my own. 00:42:37.679 --> 00:42:38.800 Do we know him? 00:42:39.599 --> 00:42:42.559 He's so confident that he knows by his own. 00:42:42.880 --> 00:42:44.159 Do we know him? 00:42:44.800 --> 00:42:47.119 Are we pressing in to follow him? 00:42:47.599 --> 00:42:50.639 Are we pressing in to host his kingdom? 00:42:50.800 --> 00:42:57.440 To see the works of the kingdom, and I and to some degree you could say, well, if we're just living a good life, that's okay. 00:42:57.679 --> 00:42:59.599 I'm not so sure now. 00:43:01.039 --> 00:43:06.079 Because the father is glorified by the great works that happened through our lives. 00:43:06.400 --> 00:43:08.880 The father is glorified in that. 00:43:10.880 --> 00:43:12.960 Not just us living a good life. 00:43:13.119 --> 00:43:18.800 No, no, we gotta see societal transformation, we gotta see families being restored. 00:43:19.119 --> 00:43:22.320 That's why God has positioned us in this place. 00:43:25.519 --> 00:43:31.920 I am the good shepherd, and I know my sheep, and I am known by my own. 00:43:32.159 --> 00:43:38.719 As the Father knows me, even so I know the Father, and I lay down my life for the sheep. 00:43:38.960 --> 00:43:44.800 And the sheep I have, which are not of this fold, them also I must bring. 00:43:44.960 --> 00:43:51.599 There is a whole change that we need to see, and a transformation that we need to see. 00:43:52.239 --> 00:43:56.400 There is a covenant ownership that Jesus has over our lives. 00:44:00.400 --> 00:44:02.800 He's given his life for us. 00:44:03.840 --> 00:44:05.760 How much are we going to pursue him? 00:44:06.320 --> 00:44:08.000 How much do we run after him? 00:44:11.920 --> 00:44:17.280 Most of the times when I wake up at night, I connect with God again. 00:44:18.639 --> 00:44:25.280 Before I close my eyes and fall asleep again, I just go, Jesus, I I so give you honor. 00:44:26.559 --> 00:44:28.639 And I'm I'm pressing in. 00:44:29.599 --> 00:44:32.239 I haven't seen what I need to see yet. 00:44:32.559 --> 00:44:42.320 And sometimes discouragement can come, but I'm I'm still asking for us to become a people who are just desperate for Jesus. 00:44:42.719 --> 00:44:45.039 And we want him at any cost. 00:44:45.840 --> 00:44:47.039 At any cost, Lord. 00:44:47.119 --> 00:44:49.519 This is where it all starts to make sense. 00:44:50.000 --> 00:44:50.960 What does it make? 00:44:51.039 --> 00:44:52.880 What does it mean at any cost? 00:44:53.119 --> 00:44:56.719 At any cost, I want him first in my life. 00:44:58.400 --> 00:45:01.679 Because he gave his life for you and I. 00:45:02.719 --> 00:45:04.960 And there are cities that need to know him. 00:45:05.199 --> 00:45:09.039 There are nations that need to be the happiest nation in the world. 00:45:09.119 --> 00:45:14.239 We've got to release the goodness of God over nations and over cities. 00:45:16.000 --> 00:45:17.440 He's called us. 00:45:18.239 --> 00:45:19.760 How do we respond? 00:45:20.480 --> 00:45:22.159 How do we cry back? 00:45:22.719 --> 00:45:26.159 When he cries out, when we hear his voice, do we follow? 00:45:26.239 --> 00:45:29.599 Do we leave where we are and do we follow him? 00:45:31.119 --> 00:45:38.639 I'm just gonna read this and finish a portion from Isaiah chapter 43, verses 1 to 7. 00:45:38.800 --> 00:45:42.400 I'm just gonna read it as a declaration over us all. 00:45:43.519 --> 00:45:47.360 But now, thus says the Lord who created you. 00:45:48.400 --> 00:45:50.159 Oh Jacob, who was Jacob? 00:45:50.320 --> 00:45:52.480 Jacob was the one who was searching. 00:45:52.719 --> 00:45:54.960 Jacob was the one who wanted. 00:45:56.000 --> 00:45:59.039 Take this, he says to his brother, and give me your birthright. 00:45:59.199 --> 00:46:00.320 He wanted more. 00:46:01.599 --> 00:46:04.239 Those are the people that God is calling to. 00:46:06.559 --> 00:46:07.599 Those are the people. 00:46:07.760 --> 00:46:10.079 That's the heart that he's speaking to right now. 00:46:10.239 --> 00:46:18.400 Thus says the Lord who created you, the one who with the desire, the one with the calling, the one who wants more. 00:46:19.360 --> 00:46:22.559 And he who formed you, oh Israel, who's Israel? 00:46:22.719 --> 00:46:32.320 The one with the new name, the one with the promise, the one who received it, the one who grabbed onto the angel and says, I will not let you go until you bless me. 00:46:33.679 --> 00:46:35.599 That's who Israel is. 00:46:36.159 --> 00:46:41.119 And we can become an Israel if we grab hold of God and say, I won't let you go. 00:46:41.280 --> 00:46:45.280 I'm entering a season, God, where you have to bless me. 00:46:45.840 --> 00:46:51.119 Release a touch from heaven, and I will be made whole. 00:46:51.440 --> 00:46:59.599 And he who formed you, O Israel, fear not, for I have redeemed you, I have called you by your name. 00:46:59.920 --> 00:47:01.199 He knows you. 00:47:02.800 --> 00:47:04.079 You are mine. 00:47:05.119 --> 00:47:12.079 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you, and through the rivers they shall not overflow you. 00:47:13.199 --> 00:47:20.000 When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, nor shall the flame scorch you. 00:47:20.400 --> 00:47:25.280 For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior. 00:47:26.079 --> 00:47:32.719 I gave Egypt for your ransom, Ethiopia, Ethiopia, and Saber in your place. 00:47:33.920 --> 00:47:40.719 Since you were precious in my sight, you have been honored, and I have loved you. 00:47:40.960 --> 00:47:45.119 Therefore, I will give men for you and people for your life. 00:47:45.280 --> 00:47:47.760 Fear not, for I am with you. 00:47:48.079 --> 00:47:54.480 I will bring your descons from the east and gather you from the west. 00:47:55.199 --> 00:48:02.079 I will say to the north, give them up, and say to the south, Do not keep them back. 00:48:03.039 --> 00:48:08.880 Bring my sons from afar and my daughters from the ends of the earth. 00:48:09.119 --> 00:48:16.159 Everyone who is called by my name, whom I have created for my glory, I have formed him. 00:48:16.480 --> 00:48:18.960 Yes, I have made him. 00:48:26.719 --> 00:48:31.920 Nothing can stop this motion, nothing can stop this movement. 00:48:32.159 --> 00:48:37.119 I believe there is a flux that has now been put in place. 00:48:37.440 --> 00:48:43.119 There is a flow that has started, and nothing can stop it. 00:48:43.679 --> 00:48:46.559 All we gotta have is a desire for more of Him. 00:48:46.719 --> 00:48:52.559 All we gotta have is a longing in our hearts for more of Jesus. 00:48:53.280 --> 00:48:54.559 Let's pray. 00:48:55.360 --> 00:49:04.000 Father, we pray that you give us a fresh understanding in becoming your disciples, Lord. 00:49:05.199 --> 00:49:14.480 Father, I pray that we may truly get this deep in our hearts. 00:49:15.679 --> 00:49:19.840 That there is a reason why we exist on this planet. 00:49:20.719 --> 00:49:23.280 There is a reason why I'm still breathing. 00:49:23.440 --> 00:49:25.280 There is a reason for us. 00:49:27.519 --> 00:49:45.039 And some of it is yes, the the the the things that he has called us into, the things that we do on a daily life, daily basis, and and helping people and and speaking into lives and performing tasks and and and and all of that is fine. 00:49:46.159 --> 00:49:52.960 But father, we know that there is a higher call on our lives, and that is to come to pursue you. 00:49:53.760 --> 00:49:56.239 That is come to find your son Jesus. 00:49:56.480 --> 00:50:04.000 And Father, I pray that you give us a fresh experience of your son Jesus. 00:50:04.159 --> 00:50:11.679 Make him real to us, make him alive to us. 00:50:13.760 --> 00:50:17.440 Bring us into a place of hunger and thirst for you. 00:50:18.960 --> 00:50:23.440 Those are the conditions that if we want him, we want him as our all-in-all. 00:50:24.000 --> 00:50:26.000 Leave everything and follow me. 00:50:26.960 --> 00:50:29.360 We have to be thirsty, we have to be hungry. 00:50:29.519 --> 00:50:37.599 All who thirst come, drink, and out of your innermost beings will flow rivers of living water. 00:50:37.920 --> 00:50:48.480 Those rivers will transform things before us, those rivers will change lives, those rivers will heal families, those rivers will impact cities and nations. 00:50:56.000 --> 00:50:57.440 Call us, Lord. 00:50:58.960 --> 00:51:03.840