WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:01.840 Jesus said in Matthew 5-16, 2 00:00:01.840 --> 00:00:04.400 let your light shine before others 3 00:00:04.400 --> 00:00:06.080 so that they may see your good deeds 4 00:00:06.080 --> 00:00:08.080 and glorify your Father in heaven. 5 00:00:08.080 --> 00:00:08.880 So we're a team, 6 00:00:08.880 --> 00:00:09.680 but we're more than that. 7 00:00:09.680 --> 00:00:11.440 We're a spiritual family, right? 8 00:00:11.440 --> 00:00:12.720 When we come together, 9 00:00:12.720 --> 00:00:13.840 this is a place 10 00:00:13.840 --> 00:00:15.040 where people aren't going to see you 11 00:00:15.040 --> 00:00:16.240 the way the world sees you. 12 00:00:16.240 --> 00:00:17.440 But in this place, 13 00:00:17.440 --> 00:00:19.520 you're filled with a group of people 14 00:00:19.520 --> 00:00:21.440 that see you the way God sees you 15 00:00:21.440 --> 00:00:24.160 as a justified child of the King. 16 00:00:24.160 --> 00:00:25.280 Where else are you going to get that? 17 00:00:25.280 --> 00:00:26.160 No place. 18 00:00:26.160 --> 00:00:28.560 Welcome to the City Light Church podcast. 19 00:00:28.640 --> 00:00:30.160 Thanks for joining us today 20 00:00:30.160 --> 00:00:31.920 as we look into God's Word 21 00:00:31.920 --> 00:00:34.960 and discover the hope and truth that he has for us. 22 00:00:35.600 --> 00:00:37.920 If you want to connect with City Light Church, 23 00:00:37.920 --> 00:00:41.360 feel free to visit us at citylightnyc.com 24 00:00:41.360 --> 00:00:44.080 that's citylightnyc.com. 25 00:00:44.720 --> 00:00:46.880 Pastor Boyan Jansik and his team 26 00:00:46.880 --> 00:00:49.360 believe that the power of the Holy Spirit 27 00:00:49.360 --> 00:00:51.920 is already working in our hearts and minds. 28 00:00:52.480 --> 00:00:54.400 As you listen to today's teaching, 29 00:00:54.400 --> 00:00:56.880 remember that you are deeply loved by God, 30 00:00:57.360 --> 00:00:59.120 that you are surrounded by his grace, 31 00:00:59.760 --> 00:01:02.480 and that he has a real hope and a future for you. 32 00:01:05.120 --> 00:01:07.280 Good morning, City Light Church. 33 00:01:09.520 --> 00:01:10.640 My name is Muhammad Worry. 34 00:01:10.640 --> 00:01:12.320 I'm one of the pastors here at City Light 35 00:01:12.320 --> 00:01:13.520 and I just want to welcome you. 36 00:01:14.080 --> 00:01:15.600 We have somebody on our team 37 00:01:15.600 --> 00:01:18.080 and when I say that he has over 20 years 38 00:01:18.080 --> 00:01:20.160 of ministry experience, 39 00:01:20.160 --> 00:01:21.760 it's like I'm actually not joking. 40 00:01:21.760 --> 00:01:23.360 I don't know that there is a job 41 00:01:23.360 --> 00:01:25.440 in the church world that he has not done, 42 00:01:26.160 --> 00:01:28.000 whether that be youth pastor, 43 00:01:28.720 --> 00:01:31.040 executive pastor, church accountant, 44 00:01:31.040 --> 00:01:32.800 associate pastor, 45 00:01:32.800 --> 00:01:34.080 senior pastor, 46 00:01:34.960 --> 00:01:36.160 window washer. 47 00:01:36.160 --> 00:01:36.640 I mean, 48 00:01:38.720 --> 00:01:41.120 so you got to highlight things like that 49 00:01:41.120 --> 00:01:42.880 because for me that tells me 50 00:01:42.880 --> 00:01:44.800 that there is a heart of ministry 51 00:01:44.800 --> 00:01:46.960 and a heart of service and that's the heart of Jesus 52 00:01:47.760 --> 00:01:49.280 to love people and put themselves 53 00:01:49.280 --> 00:01:50.960 in a place to serve others. 54 00:01:52.080 --> 00:01:53.600 So without further ado, 55 00:01:54.560 --> 00:01:56.640 put your hands together to pass the James Chavez. 56 00:02:03.440 --> 00:02:04.800 Thank you, Pastor Moe. 57 00:02:04.800 --> 00:02:05.840 Thank you, guys. 58 00:02:06.720 --> 00:02:09.520 I think the moral of that story is I'm just really old. 59 00:02:12.080 --> 00:02:14.160 But I'm excited any time I get to share 60 00:02:14.160 --> 00:02:15.600 with you guys and it's a privilege. 61 00:02:15.600 --> 00:02:17.840 And I just wanted to start by asking a question, 62 00:02:17.840 --> 00:02:20.720 can you remember a time when you felt like an outsider? 63 00:02:21.360 --> 00:02:24.320 Yeah, probably all at one point 64 00:02:24.320 --> 00:02:26.400 have felt like we're on the outside looking in, right? 65 00:02:26.400 --> 00:02:29.760 I immediately get transported back to fourth grade 66 00:02:29.760 --> 00:02:32.480 in the school yard when they're picking teams for kickball. 67 00:02:33.520 --> 00:02:35.600 I mean, I don't know if I still need to 68 00:02:37.120 --> 00:02:38.240 be in therapy, 69 00:02:38.240 --> 00:02:41.120 why that's a recurring nightmare and issue for me. 70 00:02:41.120 --> 00:02:43.760 It's that one and I can't remember my locker combination. 71 00:02:43.760 --> 00:02:45.280 They always keep coming down and I'm like, 72 00:02:46.880 --> 00:02:50.320 and there's got to be some subtle meetings. 73 00:02:50.400 --> 00:02:54.160 Our daughter is in college for psychology and we're always asking her, 74 00:02:54.160 --> 00:02:55.040 you're halfway through. 75 00:02:55.040 --> 00:02:56.960 So halfway diagnosed my problems. 76 00:02:57.520 --> 00:03:00.160 And so maybe she can halfway tell me what's wrong with me, 77 00:03:00.160 --> 00:03:04.480 but you know, you're on the fourth grade school yard, 78 00:03:04.480 --> 00:03:06.960 they're picking teams, you've got the team captains, 79 00:03:06.960 --> 00:03:09.280 and they're picking from the best to the worst 80 00:03:09.280 --> 00:03:10.800 in descending order, right? 81 00:03:10.800 --> 00:03:12.320 And I don't know if you were like me, 82 00:03:12.320 --> 00:03:14.480 but I was never the first to be picked. 83 00:03:14.480 --> 00:03:16.560 And if you were, I don't like you. 84 00:03:16.640 --> 00:03:21.040 Because that means you were the one that I always wished I could be. 85 00:03:21.680 --> 00:03:23.120 You were the one where you're like, 86 00:03:23.120 --> 00:03:25.360 oh, of course they're going to get picked. 87 00:03:25.360 --> 00:03:26.960 And if you get to be captain, 88 00:03:26.960 --> 00:03:28.560 immediately that person popped in your mind, 89 00:03:28.560 --> 00:03:29.760 oh, I hope I get to be, you know, 90 00:03:29.760 --> 00:03:33.120 they flip a coin or do whatever they do to decide which captain picks first, 91 00:03:33.120 --> 00:03:35.520 because that's like the be all end all. 92 00:03:35.520 --> 00:03:37.440 You're going to pick that star player. 93 00:03:37.440 --> 00:03:39.440 That was never James, okay? 94 00:03:39.440 --> 00:03:42.160 Now someone always fared a little worse than me poor little Billy. 95 00:03:42.160 --> 00:03:44.720 They were like, don't make us get Billy again. 96 00:03:44.720 --> 00:03:50.880 We had him last time, oh, but I was never first. 97 00:03:50.880 --> 00:03:52.560 Never last, but never first. 98 00:03:53.520 --> 00:03:55.200 And never once that I ever hear, 99 00:03:55.200 --> 00:03:58.480 no, you mean we get to get chavised this time? 100 00:03:58.480 --> 00:03:59.440 Whoa, score! 101 00:04:00.480 --> 00:04:01.520 That never happened either. 102 00:04:03.200 --> 00:04:05.520 Except in the dream, or I remember my locker combination. 103 00:04:07.680 --> 00:04:11.840 But your place in the fourth grade hierarchy status 104 00:04:11.840 --> 00:04:14.400 was reinforced that day playing kickball. 105 00:04:15.280 --> 00:04:17.120 It was painful, traumatic. 106 00:04:18.400 --> 00:04:21.920 But then you graduate from that, and you go into middle school, right? 107 00:04:21.920 --> 00:04:24.640 Now you're in the junior high cafeteria. 108 00:04:24.640 --> 00:04:27.120 Anybody remember the smell, the junior high cafeteria? 109 00:04:28.080 --> 00:04:30.640 Oh, just pause and just go back with me, smell it. 110 00:04:33.280 --> 00:04:34.160 Smells like feet. 111 00:04:36.640 --> 00:04:37.520 It's disgusting. 112 00:04:39.040 --> 00:04:40.960 But we had to sit there for three years, 113 00:04:40.960 --> 00:04:42.560 and you go when you get your food. 114 00:04:42.560 --> 00:04:45.600 And now the unspoken hierarchy 115 00:04:47.200 --> 00:04:50.240 is reinforced all over again, because you've got to find a place to sit. 116 00:04:50.800 --> 00:04:53.440 So you start looking around the dining area, 117 00:04:53.440 --> 00:04:57.360 and you see the jocks over there laugh in, ha, ha, ha. 118 00:04:57.360 --> 00:04:59.200 I'm so old, they were probably paying a hackie sack. 119 00:05:01.360 --> 00:05:03.360 Then you see the theater kids, and they're in the corner. 120 00:05:03.360 --> 00:05:05.520 They're quoting movies, and they're doing dances. 121 00:05:06.480 --> 00:05:08.240 All in this ticket. 122 00:05:09.200 --> 00:05:11.200 And then you had the goth kids, they're nailed. 123 00:05:11.200 --> 00:05:12.800 They were painting each other's nails black. 124 00:05:15.280 --> 00:05:19.200 You had the math leads over there, solving equations with a grease marker on the window. 125 00:05:20.080 --> 00:05:24.400 You had the chess club, ROTC, they were in their uniforms. 126 00:05:26.480 --> 00:05:28.000 But where's the place for me? 127 00:05:29.280 --> 00:05:34.960 I'm scanning around, I'm walking, trembling hands, with my pretend meat. 128 00:05:38.240 --> 00:05:40.720 And lo and behold, I spot a table with an empty seat. 129 00:05:40.720 --> 00:05:44.000 I think I'm going to casually make my way to that table, okay? 130 00:05:44.000 --> 00:05:46.800 Breezy mind you, I'm not going to make a beeline and look desperate. 131 00:05:50.000 --> 00:05:51.680 Like I'm supposed to be there. 132 00:05:51.680 --> 00:05:56.160 But as I get close enough, everyone at that table, because it's a cool kid's table, 133 00:05:56.160 --> 00:06:00.640 they stop, they look me up and down, and they say, I don't think so. 134 00:06:01.360 --> 00:06:02.800 We're saving this for someone else. 135 00:06:03.120 --> 00:06:08.000 And the hierarchy is reinforced once again. 136 00:06:08.960 --> 00:06:12.320 Add that to the long list of therapy issues that we've got to cover and unpack. 137 00:06:14.000 --> 00:06:17.200 And the outside looking in is painful, and we've all been there. 138 00:06:18.080 --> 00:06:23.600 I could graduate from there and keep talking about scenario after scenario, but it's too traumatic. 139 00:06:23.600 --> 00:06:27.040 This is not me working on my issues today, I'm here to help you. 140 00:06:27.200 --> 00:06:34.000 But maybe just maybe there is a point in your life when you walked into a dinner party, 141 00:06:34.000 --> 00:06:37.760 or to a crowded church service, and someone starts waving at you from the door, 142 00:06:37.760 --> 00:06:42.560 hey over here, I saved you a seat, and you suddenly feel like you're on the inside. 143 00:06:43.280 --> 00:06:44.640 You're not on the outside anymore. 144 00:06:44.640 --> 00:06:47.680 Someone cares enough to think about you, save you a spot. 145 00:06:48.320 --> 00:06:49.120 You're valued. 146 00:06:50.320 --> 00:06:51.200 That feels good. 147 00:06:52.880 --> 00:06:54.080 That's on the inside. 148 00:06:55.040 --> 00:06:56.560 That's what you are here at CityLight. 149 00:06:57.920 --> 00:06:58.560 Do you feel it? 150 00:07:01.280 --> 00:07:01.920 I hope you do. 151 00:07:03.440 --> 00:07:09.120 Because this is a special place, and what I want you to know is you have an all-access pass, 152 00:07:09.120 --> 00:07:11.520 a backstage pass to where the real action is. 153 00:07:12.160 --> 00:07:13.600 You don't have to be outsiders anymore. 154 00:07:15.600 --> 00:07:19.600 So what I want to do for the next couple of minutes is just peel back the layer and show you 155 00:07:19.680 --> 00:07:25.040 with your all-access pass what it is to be on the inside at CityLight Church. 156 00:07:25.040 --> 00:07:26.400 You go on the journey with me? 157 00:07:27.680 --> 00:07:30.000 So you're putting your seat belt, click it in. 158 00:07:30.000 --> 00:07:30.720 All right, here we go. 159 00:07:30.720 --> 00:07:34.800 Because I'm going to talk about a few things that are super simple, and when I mention them, 160 00:07:34.800 --> 00:07:38.720 you're going to just kind of go like, duh, James, do you think we're stupid? 161 00:07:38.720 --> 00:07:44.320 But they're going to be way harder to commit to and execute than it is to just say, okay? 162 00:07:44.320 --> 00:07:48.560 So I'm going to say it, you're going to laugh, but the next time you struggle with doing it, 163 00:07:48.560 --> 00:07:52.960 I'm going to laugh because I'm going to say, I told you, it's harder than it sounds. 164 00:07:52.960 --> 00:07:54.400 And so it's worth repeating, okay? 165 00:07:54.400 --> 00:07:56.480 Because the things that are important, we got to repeat. 166 00:07:56.480 --> 00:07:57.120 We got to repeat. 167 00:07:57.120 --> 00:08:02.080 We got to get in our spirit, and we got to execute and live out the things that we say are important, 168 00:08:02.080 --> 00:08:02.400 okay? 169 00:08:02.400 --> 00:08:04.240 Because a head full of knowledge is worthless. 170 00:08:04.240 --> 00:08:05.680 It just puffs up, the Bible says. 171 00:08:05.680 --> 00:08:07.520 We have to walk out and live it. 172 00:08:07.520 --> 00:08:09.600 Knowledge transformed into wisdom. 173 00:08:09.600 --> 00:08:11.120 So we're going to go bigger, go home. 174 00:08:11.120 --> 00:08:12.240 You ever heard that saying? 175 00:08:12.240 --> 00:08:13.440 Go bigger, go home. 176 00:08:13.440 --> 00:08:17.440 So I'm going to share with you an acronym, BIG, and not the notorious BIG. 177 00:08:17.520 --> 00:08:22.320 I know Pastor Moe was already like, it's just an acronym, okay? 178 00:08:22.320 --> 00:08:23.280 BIG. 179 00:08:23.280 --> 00:08:25.600 And we're going to talk through what each of those stands for. 180 00:08:25.600 --> 00:08:30.320 And just highlight a very simple concept that's attached to each one that helps you understand 181 00:08:30.320 --> 00:08:32.400 what it means to be on the inside of city light. 182 00:08:32.400 --> 00:08:36.640 Which will help you cross the threshold if you still feel sometimes like you're on the outside, 183 00:08:36.640 --> 00:08:37.200 okay? 184 00:08:37.200 --> 00:08:38.800 So be super simple. 185 00:08:39.760 --> 00:08:40.400 Be here. 186 00:08:42.160 --> 00:08:42.720 Be here. 187 00:08:42.720 --> 00:08:43.520 And guess what? 188 00:08:43.520 --> 00:08:45.920 All of you get extra points because what? 189 00:08:45.920 --> 00:08:47.600 All of you are here. 190 00:08:47.600 --> 00:08:48.640 If you're not here raise your hand. 191 00:08:50.640 --> 00:08:52.480 God, I can't get any over on you guys. 192 00:08:52.480 --> 00:08:53.440 You're really sharp today. 193 00:08:53.920 --> 00:08:55.040 You got to be here. 194 00:08:55.040 --> 00:08:59.280 There are just some things that God chooses to do when you gather together with other Christ 195 00:08:59.280 --> 00:09:01.680 followers that he doesn't do anywhere else. 196 00:09:02.240 --> 00:09:03.040 It's a special thing. 197 00:09:03.040 --> 00:09:05.920 That's why the Bible says, don't forsake the gathering together. 198 00:09:05.920 --> 00:09:11.600 And in our culture we let COVID, we let society, we let convenience, we let so many things get 199 00:09:11.600 --> 00:09:15.120 in the way we say, well, I'll take the spirit of the law, not the letter of the law. 200 00:09:15.120 --> 00:09:16.960 I don't know if I have to go every week, James. 201 00:09:16.960 --> 00:09:18.240 I think I'm good with God. 202 00:09:19.200 --> 00:09:19.520 Yeah. 203 00:09:20.960 --> 00:09:23.760 But you're going to miss out on what's special when you come to this place. 204 00:09:24.800 --> 00:09:26.400 Think about a football game, right? 205 00:09:26.400 --> 00:09:27.680 You watch a football game. 206 00:09:27.680 --> 00:09:29.120 What does the team do before playing? 207 00:09:29.120 --> 00:09:31.680 They get together and they huddle, okay? 208 00:09:31.680 --> 00:09:32.560 We expect it every time. 209 00:09:32.560 --> 00:09:34.720 You watch a football game, you expect to see the huddle. 210 00:09:34.720 --> 00:09:35.600 If they don't huddle, you're worried. 211 00:09:35.600 --> 00:09:36.960 You say, well, I think you know what place to run. 212 00:09:36.960 --> 00:09:37.520 I don't know what's going on. 213 00:09:39.040 --> 00:09:40.240 We expect it. 214 00:09:40.320 --> 00:09:42.400 But we don't watch a football game for the huddles, right? 215 00:09:42.400 --> 00:09:46.960 You don't see ESPN saying, all right, let's tune in now for the huddle highlight reel. 216 00:09:48.400 --> 00:09:48.640 No. 217 00:09:49.520 --> 00:09:54.000 What we watch for is to see what plays that quarterback called out during the huddle, 218 00:09:54.000 --> 00:09:55.680 how they get executed out on the field. 219 00:09:56.400 --> 00:09:58.880 That's what it is when we come together as Christ follows. 220 00:09:58.880 --> 00:10:03.120 The world knows that we gather together in church buildings all around the world on Sundays 221 00:10:03.120 --> 00:10:03.840 for our huddle. 222 00:10:05.440 --> 00:10:06.640 They know it's part of what we do. 223 00:10:06.800 --> 00:10:13.840 But what they really care about is, are we going to live out and execute what we huddle about 224 00:10:13.840 --> 00:10:15.120 in here when we live out there? 225 00:10:16.320 --> 00:10:18.480 And that's what some of these are just going to help us do, okay? 226 00:10:18.480 --> 00:10:23.920 So we come together, you got to be here to experience what God is doing. 227 00:10:23.920 --> 00:10:25.520 Now, how many know there are obstacles though? 228 00:10:25.520 --> 00:10:26.320 Did you encounter any? 229 00:10:27.840 --> 00:10:30.800 If I take their early train James, then I'm here too early and that's just weird, 230 00:10:30.800 --> 00:10:31.920 because I don't want to talk to people. 231 00:10:32.400 --> 00:10:34.640 If I take the late train James, then I miss the first song, 232 00:10:34.640 --> 00:10:36.160 so I may as well just stay home and watch online. 233 00:10:37.840 --> 00:10:39.040 I know you guys use that excuse. 234 00:10:40.320 --> 00:10:43.280 Do you know how much I spend in Uber James every single Sunday? 235 00:10:43.280 --> 00:10:45.520 Sometimes I just take a break. 236 00:10:46.080 --> 00:10:48.000 God knows I got to be good steward of my resources. 237 00:10:49.520 --> 00:10:51.280 Talk about steward of my resources. 238 00:10:51.280 --> 00:10:55.440 You know how many tickets I've received since they put in all these cameras here in Astoria? 239 00:10:56.720 --> 00:10:58.640 I'm one of the crazies who lives out on Long Island, 240 00:10:58.640 --> 00:11:00.400 so I'm a two-hour commute each way. 241 00:11:00.400 --> 00:11:01.360 That gets me mad enough. 242 00:11:01.360 --> 00:11:05.840 I'm on the LIE, they're closing lanes and driving Ms. Daisy and the HOV lane. 243 00:11:05.840 --> 00:11:07.120 Does this doesn't know what's going on? 244 00:11:07.120 --> 00:11:09.600 I'm like, I'm going to church, get out of the way! 245 00:11:11.760 --> 00:11:12.800 Speed limit is 55. 246 00:11:12.800 --> 00:11:13.520 I don't care. 247 00:11:14.400 --> 00:11:16.400 That's throwing a cold and I argue the whole way. 248 00:11:16.400 --> 00:11:19.040 I'm like, HOV is the furthest left lane. 249 00:11:19.040 --> 00:11:22.240 That encode, that means it's hyper-fast lane, okay? 250 00:11:22.240 --> 00:11:24.560 The further you get to the left, the faster you go. 251 00:11:24.560 --> 00:11:26.400 If you want to go slow, you go to the right. 252 00:11:26.400 --> 00:11:27.840 Okay, I'm just telling you, that's in the Bible. 253 00:11:27.840 --> 00:11:29.120 Book a second hesitations. 254 00:11:29.920 --> 00:11:32.160 So, you're in the HOV. 255 00:11:32.160 --> 00:11:34.800 Like, I got a clean past sticker and my little prison, 256 00:11:34.800 --> 00:11:36.960 and we were, get out of the way. 257 00:11:36.960 --> 00:11:40.480 So, I'm losing my salvation and my conviction and my patience and everything, 258 00:11:40.480 --> 00:11:45.200 and I'm, okay, this is why I don't have a follow me to see light-church sticker. 259 00:11:45.200 --> 00:11:46.400 I'm like, oh, because I don't know. 260 00:11:47.600 --> 00:11:50.080 All right, so we're growing along and then I come through, 261 00:11:50.080 --> 00:11:51.040 splash, splash, splash, what? 262 00:11:51.680 --> 00:11:52.880 I got more tickets. 263 00:11:52.880 --> 00:11:56.240 So, 40,000 tickets later, five hours of commuting later, 264 00:11:56.240 --> 00:11:57.680 I got a really want to be here. 265 00:11:57.680 --> 00:11:59.680 You know what I'm saying? There's some obstacles. 266 00:11:59.680 --> 00:12:02.240 There are some days I want to just hit the snooze over and over and over and over. 267 00:12:02.240 --> 00:12:04.080 This morning, I said, Nicole, do you think we really need to go? 268 00:12:06.160 --> 00:12:07.840 I said, Pastor Mo is going to be there. 269 00:12:08.800 --> 00:12:09.920 We could just watch online. 270 00:12:10.880 --> 00:12:12.560 Just think they're doing construction of the L.I. 271 00:12:12.560 --> 00:12:13.680 They're closing the left lane. 272 00:12:13.680 --> 00:12:15.200 That's going to be, people do not emerge here. 273 00:12:15.200 --> 00:12:16.800 Everybody's just going, wait till last minute, cut everybody out. 274 00:12:16.800 --> 00:12:17.840 They're going to expect me to let them in. 275 00:12:17.840 --> 00:12:18.960 I'm going to say, oh, not today. 276 00:12:21.200 --> 00:12:22.880 I don't really have time to put up with that. 277 00:12:24.000 --> 00:12:25.360 She said, James, you're preaching. 278 00:12:26.160 --> 00:12:28.720 I said, fine, I'll go. 279 00:12:30.240 --> 00:12:32.720 But there were some real obstacles, real. 280 00:12:32.720 --> 00:12:35.200 I wanted to stop and get an egg sandwich at the bagel shop. 281 00:12:35.200 --> 00:12:38.880 I didn't get here, my stomach's growling. 282 00:12:39.520 --> 00:12:41.440 But guess what, I came. 283 00:12:42.640 --> 00:12:44.720 And as soon as I walked through the doors, 284 00:12:44.720 --> 00:12:47.360 I'm greeted by other crazies who fought the same obstacles. 285 00:12:47.360 --> 00:12:48.400 And they're smiling. 286 00:12:48.400 --> 00:12:49.360 They're shaking my hand. 287 00:12:49.360 --> 00:12:50.320 They're giving me a high five. 288 00:12:50.320 --> 00:12:51.120 They're hugging me. 289 00:12:51.120 --> 00:12:52.400 And I say, I'm glad I came. 290 00:12:53.120 --> 00:12:53.840 It's worth it. 291 00:12:54.640 --> 00:12:56.320 It is worth it. 292 00:12:57.040 --> 00:12:58.400 You've got to fight those obstacles. 293 00:12:58.400 --> 00:13:00.560 Maybe one of the obstacles is you've been hurt in church. 294 00:13:00.560 --> 00:13:01.760 Church hurts a real deal, right? 295 00:13:02.560 --> 00:13:03.280 Somebody ever hurt you? 296 00:13:03.280 --> 00:13:04.080 You've ever been offended? 297 00:13:07.120 --> 00:13:08.320 They said they were a Christian. 298 00:13:11.120 --> 00:13:12.320 Church is full of hypocrites. 299 00:13:13.520 --> 00:13:14.160 Amen. 300 00:13:18.720 --> 00:13:19.280 I'm here. 301 00:13:20.960 --> 00:13:22.560 Yes, it's full of hypocrites. 302 00:13:22.640 --> 00:13:24.160 It's full of people that will offend you. 303 00:13:24.160 --> 00:13:25.920 It's full of people that are going to hurt you. 304 00:13:25.920 --> 00:13:28.000 Even the pastors are going to hurt your feelings. 305 00:13:28.000 --> 00:13:29.280 They're going to say things you don't like. 306 00:13:30.320 --> 00:13:31.600 Pastor Boyan does it every week. 307 00:13:31.600 --> 00:13:33.040 You feel convicted of being dying. 308 00:13:41.200 --> 00:13:44.080 But you're going to miss out on the experience 309 00:13:44.080 --> 00:13:47.040 if you let what the enemy is trying to get in your way win. 310 00:13:47.920 --> 00:13:49.440 He puts obstacles in your way all the time. 311 00:13:49.440 --> 00:13:50.800 He's the master obstacles. 312 00:13:50.880 --> 00:13:52.640 I think he has a job full-time, 313 00:13:52.640 --> 00:13:55.600 creating like the construction cones, the barrel, 314 00:13:55.600 --> 00:13:57.680 all these things that are obstacles in life there 315 00:13:57.680 --> 00:14:00.000 from the devil, whether on the street 316 00:14:00.000 --> 00:14:02.080 or getting in your way from coming to this place, 317 00:14:02.080 --> 00:14:03.040 from the devil. 318 00:14:03.040 --> 00:14:04.800 You've got to fight it, kick it down, 319 00:14:04.800 --> 00:14:06.480 and just come in anyway. 320 00:14:06.480 --> 00:14:07.920 Because once you're here, 321 00:14:07.920 --> 00:14:09.040 everything just melts away. 322 00:14:10.000 --> 00:14:12.480 This is just, it's not even a holy building. 323 00:14:12.480 --> 00:14:13.680 We rent this space. 324 00:14:13.680 --> 00:14:15.600 Who knows what they did yesterday in this space? 325 00:14:15.600 --> 00:14:16.240 I don't know. 326 00:14:16.240 --> 00:14:18.960 But once we come in, it's sanctified. 327 00:14:18.960 --> 00:14:21.920 It's got God's people in it, God's purpose, and God's power. 328 00:14:24.400 --> 00:14:25.280 And you don't want to miss it. 329 00:14:26.240 --> 00:14:27.200 Whether someone's hurt you, 330 00:14:27.920 --> 00:14:29.840 whether you get tons of tickets on the way in, 331 00:14:30.560 --> 00:14:32.720 you spend all your cash on the ubers, 332 00:14:32.720 --> 00:14:35.920 or the train has just got you up to here, 333 00:14:37.680 --> 00:14:39.840 fight it, and be here. 334 00:14:40.960 --> 00:14:42.000 Just be here. 335 00:14:42.000 --> 00:14:45.520 Don't forsake the gathering of being here. 336 00:14:45.520 --> 00:14:47.200 Jesus said in Matthew 516, 337 00:14:47.200 --> 00:14:49.760 let your light shine before others 338 00:14:49.760 --> 00:14:51.440 so that they may see your good deeds 339 00:14:51.440 --> 00:14:53.120 and glorify your Father in heaven. 340 00:14:54.400 --> 00:14:56.080 So we're a team, but we're more than that. 341 00:14:56.080 --> 00:14:57.760 We're a spiritual family, right? 342 00:14:57.760 --> 00:15:00.160 When we come together, this is a place 343 00:15:00.160 --> 00:15:02.720 where people aren't going to see you the way the world sees you. 344 00:15:02.720 --> 00:15:05.200 I think Pastor Moe used the word Bible Thumper, 345 00:15:05.200 --> 00:15:07.280 holy roller, crazy, 346 00:15:08.240 --> 00:15:10.400 hate monger, terrorist. 347 00:15:10.400 --> 00:15:12.720 What else they say about Christians these days? 348 00:15:12.720 --> 00:15:16.000 But in this place, you're filled with a group of people 349 00:15:16.000 --> 00:15:17.520 that see you the way God sees you, 350 00:15:18.880 --> 00:15:21.360 as a justified child of the king. 351 00:15:22.160 --> 00:15:23.120 Where else are you going to get that? 352 00:15:24.960 --> 00:15:25.920 The answer is no place. 353 00:15:27.280 --> 00:15:28.000 No place. 354 00:15:28.000 --> 00:15:28.640 So don't miss it. 355 00:15:29.600 --> 00:15:30.640 Be here. 356 00:15:32.320 --> 00:15:33.360 What's the eye stand for? 357 00:15:35.440 --> 00:15:36.320 Involved. 358 00:15:37.120 --> 00:15:38.080 Okay, all right. 359 00:15:38.080 --> 00:15:38.960 Now we're stepping it up. 360 00:15:38.960 --> 00:15:39.280 Be here. 361 00:15:39.280 --> 00:15:40.000 That was kind of obvious. 362 00:15:40.000 --> 00:15:41.280 Everybody here got points for that. 363 00:15:42.240 --> 00:15:43.200 But now I got to get involved. 364 00:15:43.200 --> 00:15:45.200 Means I have to stay awake till you're done talking, James? 365 00:15:46.080 --> 00:15:46.480 Yeah. 366 00:15:47.920 --> 00:15:48.640 Be involved. 367 00:15:50.160 --> 00:15:52.960 And that's easier said than done once again, right? 368 00:15:53.600 --> 00:15:54.560 Because what do we like to do? 369 00:15:55.440 --> 00:15:57.440 We like to have the focus on ourselves. 370 00:15:58.880 --> 00:15:59.200 Yeah. 371 00:16:00.640 --> 00:16:02.160 I feel the same way. 372 00:16:02.160 --> 00:16:04.000 Tired, I'm hungry, and I want me to shut up. 373 00:16:06.000 --> 00:16:06.880 It's all about me. 374 00:16:09.840 --> 00:16:11.760 When we're talking about being here, 375 00:16:11.760 --> 00:16:14.160 I like to remind myself I grew up with a drug problem. 376 00:16:14.800 --> 00:16:17.360 I got drug to church every time the doors were open. 377 00:16:17.360 --> 00:16:18.240 I grew up in church. 378 00:16:18.240 --> 00:16:18.800 My mom and dad, 379 00:16:18.800 --> 00:16:19.600 when he was church, 380 00:16:19.600 --> 00:16:20.640 Sunday school, Bible study, 381 00:16:20.640 --> 00:16:22.000 evangelism, soul winning, 382 00:16:22.000 --> 00:16:24.080 done all the nays for all the things. 383 00:16:24.080 --> 00:16:25.520 I was drug there every single day. 384 00:16:26.960 --> 00:16:27.760 I kicked the habit. 385 00:16:29.440 --> 00:16:30.400 Now I come when I want. 386 00:16:32.560 --> 00:16:33.520 And I want to a lot. 387 00:16:35.200 --> 00:16:36.240 But to be involved, 388 00:16:36.880 --> 00:16:38.720 now I have another problem I have to overcome. 389 00:16:38.720 --> 00:16:40.640 Now that I kick my drug habit, 390 00:16:40.640 --> 00:16:41.760 I have an eye problem. 391 00:16:42.320 --> 00:16:44.480 And it's not one that the optometrist can help me with, 392 00:16:44.480 --> 00:16:45.840 because it's not that kind of eye. 393 00:16:45.840 --> 00:16:47.280 It's the eye problem of 394 00:16:47.280 --> 00:16:49.760 I want to do what I want to do. 395 00:16:51.280 --> 00:16:53.040 I don't want to serve James. 396 00:16:53.920 --> 00:16:55.680 I don't like kids, James. 397 00:16:57.440 --> 00:16:59.440 I don't want to greet people, James. 398 00:17:00.800 --> 00:17:02.480 I don't want to do this. 399 00:17:02.480 --> 00:17:03.520 I know. 400 00:17:03.520 --> 00:17:04.160 I don't either. 401 00:17:04.400 --> 00:17:08.080 But we've got to get rid of the eye problem, 402 00:17:08.080 --> 00:17:10.400 turn it around and get the focus off ourselves 403 00:17:10.400 --> 00:17:12.800 and see the needs all around us. 404 00:17:12.800 --> 00:17:15.040 Because that's what God created us to do. 405 00:17:15.040 --> 00:17:17.520 You see a need, you've got to meet a need. 406 00:17:17.520 --> 00:17:21.440 Our Savior modeled it and that's what He's asked us to do as well. 407 00:17:21.440 --> 00:17:25.360 But how can you do that if you're not engaged or involved? 408 00:17:25.360 --> 00:17:26.880 If you're just on autopilot. 409 00:17:28.880 --> 00:17:30.880 And I rented a Tesla the other day. 410 00:17:31.840 --> 00:17:33.600 And I rented a Tesla the other day. 411 00:17:34.240 --> 00:17:35.360 I tried the autopilot. 412 00:17:35.360 --> 00:17:36.160 That was nuts. 413 00:17:37.760 --> 00:17:39.280 That's nothing to do with what I'm talking about. 414 00:17:40.720 --> 00:17:42.640 But autopilot's crazy. 415 00:17:42.640 --> 00:17:44.880 Just for fun, I had my son film and I took my hands off, 416 00:17:44.880 --> 00:17:46.560 I'm drinking water, sending emails, 417 00:17:46.560 --> 00:17:47.680 and look at me. 418 00:17:47.680 --> 00:17:48.720 Hey, no hands. 419 00:17:49.840 --> 00:17:52.160 Has like a little rainbow road in the middle screen. 420 00:17:52.160 --> 00:17:54.000 I'm like, hey, it's Thor's rainbow, a little... 421 00:17:54.880 --> 00:17:55.840 I'm in the Avengers. 422 00:17:57.680 --> 00:17:59.120 But then eventually, what do I have to do? 423 00:18:00.000 --> 00:18:01.520 I got to put my hands back on the wheel. 424 00:18:02.320 --> 00:18:04.240 Because you can't go forever on autopilot. 425 00:18:05.440 --> 00:18:07.920 You got to get involved, get in the game, 426 00:18:07.920 --> 00:18:09.840 and start doing things for the kingdom of God. 427 00:18:10.640 --> 00:18:15.760 Few years back, the CBC news in Toronto had a story of a young teenage girl. 428 00:18:15.760 --> 00:18:16.720 She was 15 years old. 429 00:18:16.720 --> 00:18:18.880 She called 911 because she had a real emergency. 430 00:18:19.440 --> 00:18:21.040 You know what a real emergency was? 431 00:18:22.640 --> 00:18:26.400 Her horrible family was making her go on vacation with them to a lake cabin. 432 00:18:29.840 --> 00:18:32.800 I might not have full signal bars up there at the lake. 433 00:18:34.320 --> 00:18:35.520 My friends are not there. 434 00:18:36.560 --> 00:18:37.520 Why are you making me go? 435 00:18:39.600 --> 00:18:42.960 What if B-Reel goes off in two in the afternoon and I'm someplace stupid? 436 00:18:46.960 --> 00:18:49.600 My TikTok stories are going to be so messed up. 437 00:18:50.880 --> 00:18:52.240 This is an emergency. 438 00:18:53.360 --> 00:18:55.680 Well, the officers got there and guess what they determined? 439 00:18:56.080 --> 00:18:57.200 Wasn't an emergency? 440 00:18:57.840 --> 00:19:00.480 They told reporters it was just a case of a teenager being a teenager. 441 00:19:01.280 --> 00:19:02.560 If you're a teenager and you're apologized, 442 00:19:02.560 --> 00:19:05.200 but sometimes the oxygen doesn't go all the way to the top, you know what I'm saying? 443 00:19:05.200 --> 00:19:07.680 It takes a few years of maturity for those pathways to open up 444 00:19:07.680 --> 00:19:09.120 and you start to see things clearly. 445 00:19:11.600 --> 00:19:13.200 They hadn't arrived yet for her. 446 00:19:13.200 --> 00:19:16.560 She thought it was an emergency because she suffered from first world problems. 447 00:19:19.280 --> 00:19:20.320 She had an eye problem. 448 00:19:21.120 --> 00:19:22.400 I don't want to go to the lake. 449 00:19:23.360 --> 00:19:24.320 I don't want to go. 450 00:19:26.400 --> 00:19:28.640 But whether you live in the first world or the third world, 451 00:19:28.640 --> 00:19:31.600 really what it boils down to is first person problems. 452 00:19:32.960 --> 00:19:36.800 And what Jesus calls us to do is have a third person perspective. 453 00:19:37.760 --> 00:19:41.840 We got to stop looking at ourselves all the time and looking at the world 454 00:19:41.840 --> 00:19:43.360 the way he sees the world. 455 00:19:43.360 --> 00:19:44.480 We got to shift that focus. 456 00:19:44.480 --> 00:19:46.640 Look at what Jesus says in Matthew 2028. 457 00:19:46.640 --> 00:19:49.440 For even the Son of Man came not to be served, 458 00:19:49.440 --> 00:19:52.720 but to serve others and give his life as a ransom for many. 459 00:19:52.800 --> 00:19:56.160 So as Christ followers, our job is to serve other people as well. 460 00:19:56.160 --> 00:20:01.520 Being a servant draws us in deeper than if we're just sitting on the sidelines. 461 00:20:02.320 --> 00:20:05.840 Jesus modeled this the night that they were having to pass over supper in the upper room. 462 00:20:05.840 --> 00:20:06.640 You remember this? 463 00:20:06.640 --> 00:20:08.560 They were all gathered around for that special meal 464 00:20:09.920 --> 00:20:12.160 and no one wanted to wash anybody's feet. 465 00:20:13.280 --> 00:20:14.400 Now that sounds like a funny thing. 466 00:20:14.400 --> 00:20:15.440 We say it in church, we laugh. 467 00:20:17.440 --> 00:20:21.200 But you got to put yourself back in the first century in that room, 468 00:20:21.200 --> 00:20:23.680 in that culture, to understand the importance of that. 469 00:20:23.680 --> 00:20:27.600 See, we picture the pretty painting where they ordered a table for 24 470 00:20:27.600 --> 00:20:30.240 and then the 12 all sat on one side for the picture, for the selfie. 471 00:20:30.240 --> 00:20:33.360 It's like, wait, how come you needed a table this big? 472 00:20:33.360 --> 00:20:35.040 Because we're all sitting on one side for the picture. 473 00:20:36.240 --> 00:20:39.520 But they actually sat reclining on pillows, 474 00:20:40.400 --> 00:20:42.240 kind of like dominoes that had fallen. 475 00:20:42.240 --> 00:20:45.520 Their heads on the chest of the next guy and guess where their feet is 476 00:20:45.520 --> 00:20:46.880 in the face of the other guy. 477 00:20:47.600 --> 00:20:49.040 Okay, that's gross, right? 478 00:20:49.120 --> 00:20:51.760 That would be gross if you had some fancy shoes on, 479 00:20:51.760 --> 00:20:52.400 but they didn't. 480 00:20:52.400 --> 00:20:55.920 They had funky sandals, so their feet were dusty and dirty, 481 00:20:55.920 --> 00:20:58.400 and they even walked through a lot of other stuff. 482 00:20:59.280 --> 00:21:01.680 They didn't have the street sweepers that came on Tuesdays and Fridays, 483 00:21:01.680 --> 00:21:02.320 like we do here. 484 00:21:03.200 --> 00:21:03.920 It was gross. 485 00:21:05.120 --> 00:21:10.000 So the lolliest servant in the house would have the assignment to wash their feet. 486 00:21:10.000 --> 00:21:12.880 Not the head servant, mind you, and not the host. 487 00:21:12.880 --> 00:21:14.560 It was the one who drew the short straw. 488 00:21:16.160 --> 00:21:17.920 No one was there that day to wash the feet. 489 00:21:18.480 --> 00:21:20.320 And all the disciples knew it had to be done, 490 00:21:20.320 --> 00:21:22.640 because someone's funky feet were going to be in their face, 491 00:21:22.640 --> 00:21:25.680 but they were too concerned with who's going to be the greatest among them, 492 00:21:25.680 --> 00:21:28.320 who's going to get to sit to the left of the right in Jesus' kingdom. 493 00:21:31.200 --> 00:21:33.600 So they were so consumed with being the greatest, 494 00:21:33.600 --> 00:21:35.840 they were going to sit there with the funky feet in their face. 495 00:21:39.200 --> 00:21:43.280 You know that was gross, but pride kept them from doing anything about it. 496 00:21:43.920 --> 00:21:45.680 So guess what Jesus decides to do? 497 00:21:46.640 --> 00:21:51.120 He quietly goes in the corner, he gets a basin of water and a towel, 498 00:21:51.120 --> 00:21:53.360 he kneels down and he starts washing their feet. 499 00:21:55.280 --> 00:21:56.240 Hammer toes and all. 500 00:22:00.560 --> 00:22:00.960 Why? 501 00:22:02.480 --> 00:22:08.800 Because he was able to get out of the first person focus, see the need, and he met a need. 502 00:22:10.080 --> 00:22:14.080 Everything Jesus did in his ministry was to model what we're supposed to do in hours. 503 00:22:14.400 --> 00:22:18.240 He didn't come just for a flashy show and we're just spectators. 504 00:22:18.240 --> 00:22:19.280 It's like the Grammy Awards. 505 00:22:19.280 --> 00:22:20.080 Yeah, it was amazing. 506 00:22:20.080 --> 00:22:21.200 Now, let me give it to my life now. 507 00:22:21.920 --> 00:22:25.680 Everything he did was to show us how to do what we're supposed to do. 508 00:22:27.120 --> 00:22:29.120 He served, so guess what we probably should do? 509 00:22:30.800 --> 00:22:31.360 Serve. 510 00:22:31.360 --> 00:22:33.440 Yeah, two of you got it right. 511 00:22:33.440 --> 00:22:34.640 You don't want to do it, do you? 512 00:22:34.640 --> 00:22:35.760 I don't want to serve. 513 00:22:36.640 --> 00:22:37.360 No one does. 514 00:22:38.320 --> 00:22:41.440 A few years back back in 2016, they were undergoing in Japan. 515 00:22:41.520 --> 00:22:45.040 This initiative to build what was done, robot kingdom. 516 00:22:45.040 --> 00:22:49.840 It was going to be an amusement park that was really built with over 200 automations, robots. 517 00:22:49.840 --> 00:22:55.600 These things were going to cook, clean, bar 10, carry your luggage, answer questions, do the robot dance. 518 00:22:55.600 --> 00:23:00.000 Everything you could imagine because they had such incredible success with a smart hotel 519 00:23:00.000 --> 00:23:01.280 just a few years earlier. 520 00:23:01.280 --> 00:23:03.200 They were just going to keep building off of this. 521 00:23:03.200 --> 00:23:07.360 Why was it such a big need and why was it such a smart hotel? 522 00:23:07.920 --> 00:23:11.600 Actually started with 30 fleshes, the rest of the automations. 523 00:23:11.600 --> 00:23:14.560 In just a year of being open, they cut the 30 and a half to 15. 524 00:23:15.200 --> 00:23:16.320 Robots taken over. 525 00:23:16.320 --> 00:23:17.280 Just like terminators. 526 00:23:17.280 --> 00:23:19.200 Skyness taken over, taken over. 527 00:23:19.200 --> 00:23:19.680 Why? 528 00:23:19.680 --> 00:23:21.120 Because no one wants to serve. 529 00:23:21.600 --> 00:23:23.200 They all want to be served. 530 00:23:23.200 --> 00:23:26.720 So robots meet that need and it just kept going and going and going and going. 531 00:23:27.440 --> 00:23:28.800 It sounds a little bit like our life. 532 00:23:28.800 --> 00:23:30.080 I need to order some of those robots. 533 00:23:31.200 --> 00:23:32.480 Sometimes I sit on the couch and say, 534 00:23:33.600 --> 00:23:35.120 sure wish I could change the channel. 535 00:23:35.120 --> 00:23:35.920 Nicole says, what? 536 00:23:35.920 --> 00:23:36.880 The remote's right there. 537 00:23:36.880 --> 00:23:38.080 I know what's right there. 538 00:23:39.040 --> 00:23:40.080 It's just right there. 539 00:23:40.960 --> 00:23:43.440 So she'll get up from across the room and pick up the remote. 540 00:23:43.440 --> 00:23:44.320 Oh, thank you. 541 00:23:44.960 --> 00:23:46.880 I didn't want to rob you of the blessing of serving me. 542 00:23:48.640 --> 00:23:49.680 Because I'm so holy. 543 00:23:56.880 --> 00:23:58.160 Too close to home, moving on. 544 00:24:01.040 --> 00:24:03.200 So we, she said, we'll talk. 545 00:24:04.160 --> 00:24:06.240 I'm going to bring you the remote today, honey. 546 00:24:10.400 --> 00:24:13.600 So man dreams of a utopia were robots. 547 00:24:13.600 --> 00:24:15.680 An army of robots lived to serve us. 548 00:24:16.960 --> 00:24:21.200 But God dreams of a kingdom where the greatest among you is a servant. 549 00:24:24.240 --> 00:24:30.240 Do you think there's a reason why he created us as his cherished possession rather than an army 550 00:24:30.240 --> 00:24:33.920 of robots that wouldn't have messed it up with just did what they were programmed to do? 551 00:24:36.560 --> 00:24:42.000 Yeah, because his dream is a kingdom where we're fighting over who gets to serve each other. 552 00:24:42.800 --> 00:24:43.520 Can you imagine that? 553 00:24:44.720 --> 00:24:45.520 I don't see that a lot. 554 00:24:46.560 --> 00:24:49.040 I see people fighting to cut me off in traffic. 555 00:24:49.040 --> 00:24:53.760 I see people fighting at Penn station to get on the train before someone else so they don't 556 00:24:53.760 --> 00:24:54.960 have to stand and they can sit. 557 00:24:55.680 --> 00:24:58.720 I see a lot of people fighting to get their way. 558 00:24:58.720 --> 00:25:01.360 I don't see a lot of people fighting to serve other people. 559 00:25:03.520 --> 00:25:05.200 How crazy would it be if we did that? 560 00:25:09.680 --> 00:25:10.560 God, really quiet in here. 561 00:25:14.480 --> 00:25:15.520 God wants us to serve. 562 00:25:17.200 --> 00:25:19.520 In his kingdom, the greatest is the servant. 563 00:25:20.080 --> 00:25:21.520 So get involved, serve. 564 00:25:21.520 --> 00:25:24.400 We have lots of ministries, lots of reasons that we wouldn't serve, right? 565 00:25:24.960 --> 00:25:30.800 Statistically, people say that the highest capacity and a lot of you put yourself in that category, 566 00:25:30.800 --> 00:25:36.560 you're talented, you have great jobs, great education, so you are like special, right? 567 00:25:37.200 --> 00:25:41.760 You're an exceptional human being so you're the exception to the rule when we say serve, right? 568 00:25:41.760 --> 00:25:43.600 You don't have to because you're too good. 569 00:25:44.640 --> 00:25:50.080 But if somebody taps you on the shoulder and shows you how important your amazing contribution 570 00:25:50.160 --> 00:25:51.600 would be you might step in and save the day. 571 00:25:52.240 --> 00:25:53.680 Do you know that's what statistics say? 572 00:25:54.400 --> 00:25:58.160 The highest capacity individuals only serve if it feeds into their ego? 573 00:26:00.720 --> 00:26:05.280 No, as a staff, we talk about it as ways to help engage people that have an ego problem. 574 00:26:06.320 --> 00:26:09.360 Hey guys, you know the high capacity people, they're only going to serve if you ask them, 575 00:26:09.360 --> 00:26:10.080 so let's ask them. 576 00:26:11.040 --> 00:26:16.720 But you, I want to tell you in a different way, drop the ego, the pretence, and the pride. 577 00:26:18.400 --> 00:26:19.440 Why are you so special? 578 00:26:20.560 --> 00:26:25.760 When you compare yourself this way, you ain't all that. 579 00:26:27.760 --> 00:26:32.160 When you look this way, you're like, whoa, I am way better than that person. 580 00:26:32.160 --> 00:26:35.760 I'm not pointing at you, that that person, they're like, what? 581 00:26:36.320 --> 00:26:36.800 I'm not. 582 00:26:39.280 --> 00:26:40.640 But we got to compare this way. 583 00:26:42.800 --> 00:26:45.520 Don't wait to be asked to save the day. 584 00:26:46.320 --> 00:26:47.920 Why don't you just say, hey, how can I help? 585 00:26:48.320 --> 00:26:50.160 How can I contribute? 586 00:26:52.160 --> 00:26:54.800 I don't know if it's valuable, but did you know I do this and I'm good at this? 587 00:26:55.280 --> 00:26:58.640 If you don't need that, I'll still sweep them up the floor, whatever you want. 588 00:27:00.160 --> 00:27:03.200 My first ministry role was exactly that. 589 00:27:03.200 --> 00:27:05.760 I was mopping a middle school gymnasium. 590 00:27:06.400 --> 00:27:10.320 I was a bank vice president, had a lot of ego and pride. 591 00:27:11.040 --> 00:27:13.600 And God's very first assignment was to put them up in my hand. 592 00:27:14.320 --> 00:27:15.360 Why do you think you did that? 593 00:27:16.320 --> 00:27:19.040 Because I had to be reminded that I wasn't all that. 594 00:27:22.160 --> 00:27:23.920 Some of us just need some healthy reminders. 595 00:27:23.920 --> 00:27:24.720 I'm just saying. 596 00:27:28.400 --> 00:27:30.480 Serving get into a ministry. 597 00:27:30.480 --> 00:27:34.960 The other thing that Pastor Mo mentioned to get involved is get into a life group. 598 00:27:34.960 --> 00:27:36.800 We're kicking off that summer semester. 599 00:27:36.800 --> 00:27:38.000 You're not going to want to miss it. 600 00:27:38.000 --> 00:27:41.440 Because life groups are a fantastic way to be part of a community. 601 00:27:41.520 --> 00:27:45.680 And a lot of people are starving for that emotional connection. 602 00:27:45.680 --> 00:27:47.200 Because what are you doing right now? 603 00:27:47.200 --> 00:27:49.840 You're in rows all staring at me, most of you are. 604 00:27:49.840 --> 00:27:51.280 I appreciate that. 605 00:27:51.280 --> 00:27:54.720 But when you do life, it doesn't happen in rows, it happens in circles. 606 00:27:56.320 --> 00:27:58.000 You're not having a conversation with me. 607 00:27:58.720 --> 00:28:03.680 It's monologue and I'm just spewing things at you and you're having to tolerate it. 608 00:28:05.280 --> 00:28:07.200 But when you're in a life group, you can talk. 609 00:28:07.200 --> 00:28:07.920 You can engage. 610 00:28:07.920 --> 00:28:08.880 You can ask questions. 611 00:28:08.880 --> 00:28:09.680 There's accountability. 612 00:28:09.680 --> 00:28:11.840 You're loving on each other, praying for each other. 613 00:28:12.400 --> 00:28:13.920 Celebrating with food. 614 00:28:13.920 --> 00:28:15.600 That's my favorite part of a life group. 615 00:28:16.560 --> 00:28:17.680 Breaking bread together. 616 00:28:18.800 --> 00:28:21.040 But you're only as lonely as you choose to be. 617 00:28:21.760 --> 00:28:25.120 We give you options, opportunities, and easy on ramps. 618 00:28:25.120 --> 00:28:27.040 So if you're still lonely and you're wonder why? 619 00:28:28.480 --> 00:28:30.560 Remember at the onset, I said, I'm going to laugh and say, 620 00:28:31.200 --> 00:28:33.440 why is he being so simple and stupid? 621 00:28:33.440 --> 00:28:34.480 And I'm going to say, because you... 622 00:28:34.960 --> 00:28:39.040 Don't miss the opportunities we put right in front of you. 623 00:28:40.320 --> 00:28:41.440 Get into a life group. 624 00:28:41.440 --> 00:28:43.440 Sign up. They start tomorrow. 625 00:28:43.440 --> 00:28:48.320 Finally, the G in our notorious BIG stands for giving. 626 00:28:48.320 --> 00:28:50.000 You know we were going to come to giving, right? 627 00:28:52.320 --> 00:28:55.280 What preacher doesn't take an opportunity to talk about giving. 628 00:28:57.200 --> 00:28:58.800 Well, if they read the Bible, none of them. 629 00:28:59.840 --> 00:29:02.400 Because we're not supposed to compartmentalize our lives. 630 00:29:03.200 --> 00:29:07.040 Most people I've met, they really want enough Jesus to get their one way, 631 00:29:07.040 --> 00:29:09.680 take it to heaven, and a little bit of fire insurance. 632 00:29:09.680 --> 00:29:11.280 Like, I want a good life, give me a abundant life. 633 00:29:11.280 --> 00:29:12.720 I don't want to burn in hell, Jesus. 634 00:29:12.720 --> 00:29:13.520 Fantastic. 635 00:29:14.080 --> 00:29:17.920 But not enough Jesus to truly change their behaviors and their pocketbook. 636 00:29:20.640 --> 00:29:28.320 Why is it that we can trust Jesus with an eternity in a place we've never seen? 637 00:29:28.320 --> 00:29:31.360 We believe in a man that died and rose from the dead. 638 00:29:31.360 --> 00:29:32.480 That we've never met. 639 00:29:34.080 --> 00:29:40.560 But we have a hard time believing that he can make 90% of our income go further than 100%. 640 00:29:41.840 --> 00:29:46.960 We get hung up on this 10% number when we're willing to bank 100% of our eternity on this thing. 641 00:29:48.640 --> 00:29:54.880 I just, I get so confused at people that still struggle by 10% as a good starting point of a 642 00:29:54.880 --> 00:29:58.240 life of generosity. And they wonder why they're always broken busted. 643 00:29:58.800 --> 00:30:00.960 I don't know why. I just need a raise. 644 00:30:01.040 --> 00:30:03.440 No, you need to manage your money better. 645 00:30:04.720 --> 00:30:07.200 And I don't mean I'm telling you how to spend it. 646 00:30:07.840 --> 00:30:10.320 Do whatever you want. God said, enjoy the 90%. 647 00:30:10.960 --> 00:30:14.640 I gave it to you to manage for me, but as an acknowledgement, 648 00:30:15.200 --> 00:30:18.880 as a reinforcement of who's in charge, give me the first. 649 00:30:18.880 --> 00:30:20.880 And that's the word I want you to hear today. 650 00:30:20.880 --> 00:30:22.640 Give me the first 10%. 651 00:30:23.600 --> 00:30:25.280 Not the last, not the scraps. 652 00:30:25.280 --> 00:30:27.280 Not what's left over. Don't give them a tip. 653 00:30:28.240 --> 00:30:31.360 Because that's easy to do. Change, you don't understand. I'll be evicted. 654 00:30:31.360 --> 00:30:33.120 Change, they'll take my car. 655 00:30:33.120 --> 00:30:37.280 James, do you understand feeling the blank? Yes, I've heard it all. 656 00:30:37.280 --> 00:30:38.560 And yes, I understand. 657 00:30:38.560 --> 00:30:39.760 Because I'm a person too. 658 00:30:41.040 --> 00:30:43.520 My world operates on money too. 659 00:30:43.520 --> 00:30:47.520 You think I just float on a halo and God sends mana from heaven because I work for a church? 660 00:30:48.400 --> 00:30:50.880 No. I got a budget and spend. 661 00:30:52.000 --> 00:30:55.040 I got to meet my financial obligations. I have to pay taxes. 662 00:30:57.680 --> 00:31:03.360 But I also get to manage what God's put in my hand to be a blessing to other people. 663 00:31:04.800 --> 00:31:08.400 God wants us to be a conduit of blessing. We use that word all the time. 664 00:31:08.400 --> 00:31:10.000 And it's like, it's an electrician term. 665 00:31:10.000 --> 00:31:12.480 You think of a conduit, letting electricity flow. 666 00:31:12.480 --> 00:31:15.120 But most of the time, we're more like a crumpled, frayed cable, 667 00:31:15.120 --> 00:31:17.600 where the power is just kind of short circling all the time, it's sparking. 668 00:31:19.040 --> 00:31:21.600 Like this old iPhone cable that I had for several years, 669 00:31:21.600 --> 00:31:22.800 that I should have thrown out that I didn't. 670 00:31:22.800 --> 00:31:25.600 It's all cut. You look at right at the tip and you see the wires. 671 00:31:25.600 --> 00:31:27.120 It's the red one. There's the bronze one. 672 00:31:28.080 --> 00:31:29.440 Jane, what are you doing? Throw it away. 673 00:31:29.440 --> 00:31:31.200 They're like five bucks. Get a new one. 674 00:31:31.200 --> 00:31:32.880 You can get a 10 pack on Amazon now. 675 00:31:32.880 --> 00:31:34.240 Why are you holding onto this one? 676 00:31:34.240 --> 00:31:35.920 Because I'm too cheap to throw it away. 677 00:31:35.920 --> 00:31:37.360 That's why it works after time. 678 00:31:37.360 --> 00:31:38.240 Well, it's some of the time. 679 00:31:38.960 --> 00:31:40.000 But you got to get it just right. 680 00:31:40.000 --> 00:31:43.680 You got to bend it to where all the cables touch perfectly. 681 00:31:43.680 --> 00:31:49.280 Stand on one foot, bend it, and then put the phone on its side. 682 00:31:49.280 --> 00:31:52.960 And then you got to put something on top to keep the cable from bending back. 683 00:31:53.920 --> 00:31:55.120 And then you finally hear the, 684 00:31:58.080 --> 00:32:00.480 I step away, get a sandwich, I come back. 685 00:32:01.600 --> 00:32:03.120 The wind blew and it stopped charging. 686 00:32:04.160 --> 00:32:05.440 Why do you do that to yourself? 687 00:32:07.200 --> 00:32:08.560 Get rid of the broken cable. 688 00:32:09.200 --> 00:32:10.240 That's what I'm talking about. 689 00:32:10.240 --> 00:32:12.480 All of these things, being here, being involved, 690 00:32:12.480 --> 00:32:14.720 being generous and obedient with your finances. 691 00:32:14.720 --> 00:32:16.960 Those are the wires that all have to touch. 692 00:32:17.840 --> 00:32:18.960 It's not a magic formula. 693 00:32:18.960 --> 00:32:21.360 They're just principles and things that God said you have to do 694 00:32:21.360 --> 00:32:23.280 to be an obedient child of His. 695 00:32:23.280 --> 00:32:25.920 If you are disobedient in any part of your life, 696 00:32:25.920 --> 00:32:28.720 you're blocking blessing from all of your life. 697 00:32:29.600 --> 00:32:31.040 You don't give to get. 698 00:32:31.040 --> 00:32:33.120 But when you give, you get. 699 00:32:34.720 --> 00:32:36.480 Why are you stopping the blessing? 700 00:32:38.480 --> 00:32:39.680 I don't understand that. 701 00:32:40.640 --> 00:32:42.480 And as a pastor, as Pastor Momentian, 702 00:32:42.480 --> 00:32:43.680 because I'm a hundred years old, 703 00:32:44.560 --> 00:32:46.880 for decades, I've counseled people. 704 00:32:46.880 --> 00:32:47.840 James, I just need some help. 705 00:32:47.840 --> 00:32:48.400 You're a pastor. 706 00:32:48.400 --> 00:32:49.360 I'm used to Baybanker. 707 00:32:49.440 --> 00:32:50.560 Can you help me with my finances? 708 00:32:50.560 --> 00:32:51.360 Because I'm a mess. 709 00:32:51.360 --> 00:32:52.640 Yeah, how much are you tithing? 710 00:32:52.640 --> 00:32:52.880 What? 711 00:32:54.160 --> 00:32:55.200 How much are you tithing? 712 00:32:55.200 --> 00:32:55.920 What? 713 00:32:55.920 --> 00:32:56.640 Yeah, that's my problem. 714 00:32:56.640 --> 00:32:57.520 I can't afford it. 715 00:32:57.520 --> 00:32:57.760 Why? 716 00:32:58.640 --> 00:32:59.440 And then I say, why? 717 00:33:02.320 --> 00:33:03.840 You got to get these principles right. 718 00:33:04.720 --> 00:33:06.800 There are no partitions in the kingdom of God. 719 00:33:07.920 --> 00:33:10.720 It's full surrender and you acknowledge He's Lord of your life 720 00:33:10.720 --> 00:33:12.000 or He's not Lord of your life. 721 00:33:12.880 --> 00:33:14.880 He's not, I make you Lord of my life, 722 00:33:14.880 --> 00:33:17.440 the forgive of my sins and the Savior of my soul 723 00:33:17.440 --> 00:33:18.400 so that I can be in heaven. 724 00:33:19.600 --> 00:33:21.440 You know what that means when you say that, right? 725 00:33:22.400 --> 00:33:23.520 Lord of my life, 726 00:33:24.800 --> 00:33:26.720 that means everything, my dollars, 727 00:33:27.280 --> 00:33:29.760 my family, my house, my car, 728 00:33:30.560 --> 00:33:31.600 my retirement account, 729 00:33:32.480 --> 00:33:33.600 where I'm going to eat for lunch, 730 00:33:34.240 --> 00:33:35.360 where I go to college, 731 00:33:35.360 --> 00:33:36.960 where I retire, where I vacation, 732 00:33:37.840 --> 00:33:38.720 the things I say, 733 00:33:39.360 --> 00:33:41.760 if I let people in on traffic when they cut me out. 734 00:33:44.000 --> 00:33:46.000 That's God living through us. 735 00:33:46.960 --> 00:33:48.560 But if I'm blocking it, 736 00:33:48.560 --> 00:33:49.760 if I got a short circuit, 737 00:33:49.760 --> 00:33:51.360 when all those wires isn't touching, 738 00:33:51.360 --> 00:33:52.880 power's not flowing all the way. 739 00:33:52.880 --> 00:33:54.160 They got to touch all the way, 740 00:33:54.160 --> 00:33:55.680 let the power of God flow through it, 741 00:33:55.680 --> 00:33:57.360 and you're going to shock somebody with Jesus. 742 00:34:01.520 --> 00:34:05.760 Here's what it said, Paul actually wrote this in Ephesians 2.10, 743 00:34:05.760 --> 00:34:09.360 for where God's handy work created in Christ to do good works, 744 00:34:09.360 --> 00:34:11.440 which He prepared in advance for us. 745 00:34:12.480 --> 00:34:14.720 We're not saved by our works. 746 00:34:15.280 --> 00:34:17.360 We were saved by the work Jesus did on the cross. 747 00:34:17.360 --> 00:34:18.800 We accepted by faith. 748 00:34:18.800 --> 00:34:22.160 But we were saved to do good works, 749 00:34:22.640 --> 00:34:25.600 not by works, but for good works. 750 00:34:26.240 --> 00:34:27.760 So if you're saved, what does that mean? 751 00:34:27.760 --> 00:34:28.960 And James says it another way. 752 00:34:30.080 --> 00:34:33.280 Faith without good deeds is dead. 753 00:34:34.000 --> 00:34:35.120 So faith saves us, 754 00:34:35.760 --> 00:34:36.480 but guess what? 755 00:34:36.480 --> 00:34:37.440 There's going to be more. 756 00:34:38.320 --> 00:34:40.720 If there's not, maybe the other thing didn't really happen. 757 00:34:41.840 --> 00:34:42.800 What are you saying, James? 758 00:34:43.520 --> 00:34:45.440 I think you know what I'm saying. 759 00:34:46.800 --> 00:34:47.920 You can't have one without the other. 760 00:34:48.480 --> 00:34:49.280 Then I didn't say it. 761 00:34:52.800 --> 00:34:55.120 So in the same way, our works didn't save us, 762 00:34:56.000 --> 00:34:57.920 but we were saved for good works. 763 00:34:57.920 --> 00:35:00.160 Giving money to a church doesn't save you. 764 00:35:00.880 --> 00:35:01.760 Doesn't bless you. 765 00:35:02.400 --> 00:35:04.080 Doesn't make you better. 766 00:35:04.080 --> 00:35:05.840 You don't get gold stars in heaven. 767 00:35:06.800 --> 00:35:08.160 I like the way Pastor Mo says it. 768 00:35:08.160 --> 00:35:09.120 Maybe he's going to say it again. 769 00:35:09.120 --> 00:35:10.000 I'm going to steal a stunder. 770 00:35:10.960 --> 00:35:12.800 If you don't give it, 771 00:35:12.800 --> 00:35:16.480 God's still going to use someone else to accomplish his will. 772 00:35:19.040 --> 00:35:20.480 So why are you supposed to give it? 773 00:35:23.280 --> 00:35:26.640 Because even though you weren't saved by works, 774 00:35:26.640 --> 00:35:28.240 but you were saved for works, 775 00:35:28.240 --> 00:35:30.400 I don't give for the blessing. 776 00:35:31.280 --> 00:35:33.360 If I'm blessed, if I'm saved, 777 00:35:33.360 --> 00:35:35.120 I'm still going to want to give. 778 00:35:36.000 --> 00:35:39.920 Out of a heart and attitude of gratitude for all God has done for me. 779 00:35:40.880 --> 00:35:46.320 All you have to do is pause long enough and remember your life before Jesus. 780 00:35:47.520 --> 00:35:49.840 If that doesn't open up your checkbook, I don't know what will. 781 00:35:50.720 --> 00:35:53.680 Because we were all a mess in desperate need of a savior. 782 00:35:53.680 --> 00:35:55.520 What amount can you put on that? 783 00:35:57.360 --> 00:35:59.840 Stop clinging to and worshiping your cash. 784 00:36:01.120 --> 00:36:03.760 Years ago, we started a funny little thing with God. 785 00:36:03.760 --> 00:36:08.160 We said, someone told us, and I don't know if it was like real or ingest, 786 00:36:08.160 --> 00:36:10.160 but they said, instead of tithing on what you make, 787 00:36:10.160 --> 00:36:12.400 why don't you tithe on what you want to make? 788 00:36:12.400 --> 00:36:14.480 I said, oh, that sounds good because I'm broke. 789 00:36:14.480 --> 00:36:17.760 It's not going to hurt me to add $2 more to the tithe check. 790 00:36:18.800 --> 00:36:20.800 So I'm like, all right, I'll play your game. 791 00:36:21.600 --> 00:36:22.400 We start doing this. 792 00:36:22.400 --> 00:36:25.840 And before long, we're making that and then making more and then making more. 793 00:36:25.840 --> 00:36:29.600 And then pretty soon, it got harder and harder to write those tithe checks because they were so big. 794 00:36:31.120 --> 00:36:34.400 The tithe check was bigger than the income I was jokingly saying, 795 00:36:34.400 --> 00:36:35.920 I wish I could get out of and get more. 796 00:36:36.560 --> 00:36:40.480 And God, let's renegotiate our deal because these checks are getting really big. 797 00:36:42.480 --> 00:36:43.200 You know what he said? 798 00:36:44.560 --> 00:36:45.440 Again, if you want. 799 00:36:47.600 --> 00:36:49.200 Because he gives it to us to manage. 800 00:36:51.680 --> 00:36:57.040 But he's never going to stop blessing you if you're obedient and generous with him, 801 00:36:57.040 --> 00:36:58.480 his kingdom, and his word. 802 00:36:59.520 --> 00:37:01.200 So don't miss the opportunity. 803 00:37:01.200 --> 00:37:03.680 There are tons of obstacles just like getting here. 804 00:37:03.680 --> 00:37:06.000 You had obstacles, obstacles to serving. 805 00:37:06.000 --> 00:37:09.200 There's going to be a lot of obstacles that tell you there are better ways to spend your cash. 806 00:37:09.840 --> 00:37:13.920 The world in our culture tells you you're ridiculous to give anything to a church or trying 807 00:37:13.920 --> 00:37:17.840 to discredit us, take away tax exempt status, say that we're shysters, 808 00:37:18.480 --> 00:37:21.760 charlatans, snake oil salesmen, churches just always want your money. 809 00:37:22.800 --> 00:37:29.200 God is saying, remind everyone including the naysayers where your priorities lie. 810 00:37:29.760 --> 00:37:34.640 Then an unbelieving world finds it unbelievable that you would go against the tide and still do it. 811 00:37:38.560 --> 00:37:40.720 So defy the status quo. 812 00:37:40.720 --> 00:37:42.720 Be a generous person and see what God does with it. 813 00:37:43.840 --> 00:37:47.840 Have an attitude of gratitude so that as we go big for God, 814 00:37:48.480 --> 00:37:54.240 you can let him use you in a way that you wouldn't ever be able to dream or imagine on your greatest day. 815 00:37:55.200 --> 00:37:59.600 Not that I can't remember a locker combination dreams, but the dreams of God, what if? 816 00:38:00.000 --> 00:38:03.520 What could you do if I just and whatever that is for you? 817 00:38:04.160 --> 00:38:04.960 So that's my prayer. 818 00:38:04.960 --> 00:38:10.240 What if we dialed up our commitment just a little bit in all these areas and we didn't just come 819 00:38:10.240 --> 00:38:16.000 when it was convenient, when there wasn't something good on television, when there wasn't a parade 820 00:38:16.000 --> 00:38:19.600 or something else going on, a marathon, it's going to get my way and traffic going to be bad. 821 00:38:20.560 --> 00:38:23.600 But we were committed to come every opportunity we physically could. 822 00:38:23.600 --> 00:38:29.600 What if we said we're going to get involved and we're going to serve, even though sometimes I don't feel like it? 823 00:38:29.600 --> 00:38:31.600 What if we're going to give? 824 00:38:31.600 --> 00:38:33.600 Even if on paper it doesn't make sense. 825 00:38:33.600 --> 00:38:35.600 James, I know 90% is less than 100%. 826 00:38:35.600 --> 00:38:37.600 I understand his ways are higher. 827 00:38:39.600 --> 00:38:41.600 It's called faith. 828 00:38:43.600 --> 00:38:45.600 And God uses it in such a big way. 829 00:38:45.600 --> 00:38:47.600 What if we dialed up that commitment? 830 00:38:49.600 --> 00:38:51.600 What would this place look like? 831 00:38:53.600 --> 00:38:55.600 I think it would be electric. 832 00:38:59.600 --> 00:39:03.600 What would our community look like if we all did that? 833 00:39:03.600 --> 00:39:05.600 Our burrows. 834 00:39:05.600 --> 00:39:07.600 We could turn this place upside down. 835 00:39:07.600 --> 00:39:11.600 We underestimate the power of God living through us. 836 00:39:11.600 --> 00:39:15.600 We think I'm just one person in this place as a mess. 837 00:39:15.600 --> 00:39:17.600 True and true. 838 00:39:17.600 --> 00:39:21.600 But you have the power of the living God who's just waiting for you to say, yes, 839 00:39:21.600 --> 00:39:25.600 to stop living your own agenda. 840 00:39:25.600 --> 00:39:31.600 And man, the power flowing through you is greater than anything around you standing in your way. 841 00:39:31.600 --> 00:39:33.600 Yeah. 842 00:39:37.600 --> 00:39:39.600 So there was that connection card on your seat when you came in. 843 00:39:39.600 --> 00:39:41.600 Pastor Mo talked about it earlier. 844 00:39:41.600 --> 00:39:43.600 One side is information about you. 845 00:39:43.600 --> 00:39:45.600 The other side are the next steps. 846 00:39:45.600 --> 00:39:47.600 We're going to sing another song. 847 00:39:47.600 --> 00:39:49.600 I'm going to ask the worship team to come up. 848 00:39:49.600 --> 00:39:51.600 And as we sing this song of surrender, 849 00:39:51.600 --> 00:39:53.600 I pray that you don't just let those lyrics wash over you, 850 00:39:53.600 --> 00:39:55.600 but you pray them as a prayer. 851 00:39:55.600 --> 00:39:57.600 God, I want to give you everything. 852 00:39:57.600 --> 00:40:03.600 My heart, my life, my dollars, my word, my actions, my dreams, my aspirations, 853 00:40:03.600 --> 00:40:05.600 how I drive in traffic. 854 00:40:05.600 --> 00:40:07.600 I say it because I need it. 855 00:40:07.600 --> 00:40:09.600 You've got to surrender at all. 856 00:40:09.600 --> 00:40:11.600 Say, God, what else am I holding back? 857 00:40:11.600 --> 00:40:13.600 What do you want me to do? 858 00:40:13.600 --> 00:40:15.600 And if you still feel like an outsider, 859 00:40:15.600 --> 00:40:17.600 check that first one. 860 00:40:17.600 --> 00:40:19.600 I still have questions about a relationship with God. 861 00:40:19.600 --> 00:40:21.600 Let us have a conversation with you this week 862 00:40:21.600 --> 00:40:25.600 and help you understand what it means to step from the outside to the inside. 863 00:40:25.600 --> 00:40:27.600 So you never feel like you're on the out again. 864 00:40:27.600 --> 00:40:29.600 But then that next group says, 865 00:40:29.600 --> 00:40:31.600 I'm interested in, and what if there's an area 866 00:40:31.600 --> 00:40:33.600 that you've been gifted and skilled to serve in 867 00:40:33.600 --> 00:40:35.600 to contribute your abilities? 868 00:40:35.600 --> 00:40:37.600 Don't wait for someone to tap you on the shoulder 869 00:40:37.600 --> 00:40:41.600 and say, hey, come save the day because you're amazing. 870 00:40:41.600 --> 00:40:43.600 Say, hey, can I help? 871 00:40:43.600 --> 00:40:45.600 I'm a warm body with a pulse. 872 00:40:45.600 --> 00:40:47.600 I just want to contribute. 873 00:40:47.600 --> 00:40:49.600 And see how God uses it. 874 00:40:49.600 --> 00:40:51.600 The greatest fulfillment's come when we get the focus off ourselves 875 00:40:51.600 --> 00:40:53.600 long enough to meet other people's needs. 876 00:40:53.600 --> 00:40:55.600 That's what we God wired us. 877 00:40:55.600 --> 00:40:57.600 So don't miss out on that blessing. 878 00:40:57.600 --> 00:40:59.600 As we listen to this song, 879 00:40:59.600 --> 00:41:03.600 ask God to reveal what you need to respond to. 880 00:41:03.600 --> 00:41:05.600 Father, thank you for loving us. 881 00:41:05.600 --> 00:41:07.600 Thank you for giving us your son as a model 882 00:41:07.600 --> 00:41:09.600 and as an example, Father. 883 00:41:09.600 --> 00:41:11.600 I pray that as we look through our heart, 884 00:41:11.600 --> 00:41:13.600 we examine our priorities 885 00:41:13.600 --> 00:41:15.600 that you would reveal what it is that's getting in the way. 886 00:41:15.600 --> 00:41:19.600 Father, whatever it is, distractions, ambitions, 887 00:41:19.600 --> 00:41:21.600 sin, pride, anything 888 00:41:21.600 --> 00:41:23.600 that we're holding on to, 889 00:41:23.600 --> 00:41:27.600 Father, give us the strength and courage to let it go. 890 00:41:27.600 --> 00:41:29.600 And then bring people alongside us 891 00:41:29.600 --> 00:41:31.600 that are going to encourage that. 892 00:41:31.600 --> 00:41:33.600 Hold us accountable. 893 00:41:33.600 --> 00:41:35.600 And hold up our arms when we get weak 894 00:41:35.600 --> 00:41:37.600 to the commitment that we want to make. 895 00:41:37.600 --> 00:41:39.600 Because Father, we don't have to do this alone. 896 00:41:39.600 --> 00:41:41.600 You've given us a community. 897 00:41:41.600 --> 00:41:43.600 We're on the inside. 898 00:41:43.600 --> 00:41:45.600 We're at the cool kids' table. 899 00:41:45.600 --> 00:41:47.600 We don't have to feel like outsiders anymore. 900 00:41:47.600 --> 00:41:49.600 I pray that you help us live in that reality. 901 00:41:49.600 --> 00:41:51.600 And the purpose that you've created us for. 902 00:41:51.600 --> 00:41:53.600 Reveal to us the next step, Father. 903 00:41:53.600 --> 00:41:55.600 Give us the courage and the confidence to take it. 904 00:41:55.600 --> 00:41:57.600 We love you desperately. 905 00:41:57.600 --> 00:41:59.600 And it's in Jesus' name we pray. 906 00:41:59.600 --> 00:42:01.600 Amen. 907 00:42:01.600 --> 00:42:03.600 This is the City Light Church podcast. 908 00:42:03.600 --> 00:42:05.600 If you've missed any part of today's message 909 00:42:05.600 --> 00:42:07.600 or if you would like to find out more 910 00:42:07.600 --> 00:42:09.600 about Pastor Boyan Jansik in City Light Church, 911 00:42:09.600 --> 00:42:13.600 visit us at citylightnyc.com 912 00:42:13.600 --> 00:42:15.600 That's citylightnyc.com. 913 00:42:15.600 --> 00:42:17.600 Feel free to visit us online 914 00:42:17.600 --> 00:42:19.600 or in person any time. 915 00:42:19.600 --> 00:42:21.600 We would love to connect with you. 916 00:42:21.600 --> 00:42:23.600 We pray that you have been encouraged today. 917 00:42:23.600 --> 00:42:27.600 That you have been reminded how much God loves you. 918 00:42:27.600 --> 00:42:29.600 And that you are surrounded by grace. 919 00:42:29.600 --> 00:42:31.600 Thank you for listening. 920 00:42:31.600 --> 00:42:34.600 Make sure that you subscribe to City Light Church podcast 921 00:42:34.600 --> 00:42:37.600 wherever you find your favorite podcasts worldwide.