1 00:00:01,400 --> 00:00:02,400 It's good to see you this morning. 2 00:00:02,400 --> 00:00:05,400 I'm glad you're here. 3 00:00:05,666 --> 00:00:09,333 I want to just add a footnote to the announcements 4 00:00:09,333 --> 00:00:12,600 regarding the seven Primal Questions resource. 5 00:00:13,500 --> 00:00:16,500 That is a phenomenal resource. 6 00:00:16,500 --> 00:00:19,500 If any of you have a relationship in your life 7 00:00:19,500 --> 00:00:22,500 you care about. 8 00:00:22,666 --> 00:00:24,166 The truth is that 9 00:00:24,166 --> 00:00:27,166 every one of us has a primal question. 10 00:00:27,566 --> 00:00:31,800 A core question that we need to get answered 11 00:00:31,800 --> 00:00:36,300 with a yes from those that are supposed to love us the most. 12 00:00:37,800 --> 00:00:40,633 And when we don't get a yes from them, 13 00:00:40,633 --> 00:00:43,333 it sends us into a tailspin, 14 00:00:43,333 --> 00:00:46,333 and we try to get a yes from somebody. 15 00:00:47,800 --> 00:00:52,133 If we know what our primal question is and the ones that love us best 16 00:00:52,133 --> 00:00:55,933 know what it is, then we can answer each other's question with a yes. 17 00:00:57,466 --> 00:01:00,466 And it's really, really good and healthy. 18 00:01:00,600 --> 00:01:02,700 If we don't know what that is 19 00:01:02,700 --> 00:01:05,333 and they don't know what ours is, 20 00:01:05,333 --> 00:01:08,333 and they never answer it with a yes, 21 00:01:08,533 --> 00:01:11,233 it gets very destructive. 22 00:01:11,233 --> 00:01:14,200 And so if you have a relationship 23 00:01:14,200 --> 00:01:17,200 with someone you care about, which I hope is all of us, 24 00:01:18,466 --> 00:01:22,466 that resource will be very beneficial, 25 00:01:22,800 --> 00:01:27,533 especially for married couples, especially 26 00:01:28,533 --> 00:01:32,600 so that you can start answering each other's question with a resounding yes! 27 00:01:34,000 --> 00:01:36,400 So I invite you to please take advantage of that. 28 00:01:36,400 --> 00:01:39,400 I can't say enough good things about it. 29 00:01:39,966 --> 00:01:42,000 Today we just, 30 00:01:42,000 --> 00:01:45,100 in the conclusion of our Ruth series, 31 00:01:45,900 --> 00:01:48,900 I want to dive in today 32 00:01:49,033 --> 00:01:50,700 with, 33 00:01:50,700 --> 00:01:53,400 what our values are 34 00:01:53,400 --> 00:01:55,766 the values of our church 35 00:01:55,766 --> 00:01:58,066 as we look forward to next Sunday 36 00:01:58,066 --> 00:02:01,066 celebrating 20 years of what God has done. 37 00:02:01,166 --> 00:02:03,566 I want to make sure that you come back next 38 00:02:03,566 --> 00:02:06,566 Sunday for that celebration together. 39 00:02:06,600 --> 00:02:09,200 But in setting that up, 40 00:02:09,200 --> 00:02:11,733 I want us to look together at our values. 41 00:02:13,033 --> 00:02:15,133 Before I get to that message, 42 00:02:15,133 --> 00:02:18,566 I want to share with you something that will set up this message 43 00:02:19,800 --> 00:02:22,533 from my journal that I just wrote. 44 00:02:22,533 --> 00:02:25,500 It came to me last night, 45 00:02:25,500 --> 00:02:28,433 and I want to share with you 46 00:02:28,433 --> 00:02:31,433 my journal. 47 00:02:31,600 --> 00:02:34,466 The focus of this is on the word do loss. 48 00:02:34,466 --> 00:02:40,400 It's a Greek word d o u l s is how we would spell it in English. 49 00:02:40,400 --> 00:02:41,800 Do loss. 50 00:02:41,800 --> 00:02:44,800 And that word literally means slave. 51 00:02:48,500 --> 00:02:50,833 I am the do loss of Jesus. 52 00:02:50,833 --> 00:02:54,333 That's how the Bible talks about Jesus followers as they do loss. 53 00:02:55,066 --> 00:02:58,866 Literally, I am the slave of Christ. 54 00:03:00,600 --> 00:03:02,700 I am not my own. 55 00:03:02,700 --> 00:03:05,700 I am not allowed my own agenda. 56 00:03:06,033 --> 00:03:09,200 I serve a master who owns my life 57 00:03:10,200 --> 00:03:13,200 with unquestioned obedience and allegiance. 58 00:03:13,966 --> 00:03:15,900 He is the master. 59 00:03:15,900 --> 00:03:17,466 I am his slave 60 00:03:18,633 --> 00:03:19,500 everywhere in 61 00:03:19,500 --> 00:03:22,500 the New Testament where it translates do loss. 62 00:03:22,700 --> 00:03:27,500 It uses the word servant, but the word is literally slave. 63 00:03:28,266 --> 00:03:32,133 In the 1500s, translators chained slave to servant 64 00:03:32,366 --> 00:03:35,366 because they thought slave sounded too harsh. 65 00:03:35,533 --> 00:03:38,933 A servant implies serves a boss, 66 00:03:39,300 --> 00:03:44,000 but that implies one can be lazy or neglectful without great consequence. 67 00:03:44,600 --> 00:03:47,600 To serve implies it is optional. 68 00:03:48,500 --> 00:03:52,200 Slaves, on the other hand, have no recourse 69 00:03:52,633 --> 00:03:55,600 but to only obey. 70 00:03:55,600 --> 00:03:58,600 If I understand slave master relationship, 71 00:03:58,833 --> 00:04:01,833 everything in the Bible makes sense. 72 00:04:02,033 --> 00:04:05,500 Slaves are used at the discretion of their master. 73 00:04:06,066 --> 00:04:10,766 Slaves rely upon the grace of their master for anything good in their life. 74 00:04:11,333 --> 00:04:15,266 Slaves are disciplined by their master for disobedience. 75 00:04:15,833 --> 00:04:19,800 Slaves aren't allowed to live by their own agendas or rules. 76 00:04:20,366 --> 00:04:23,366 Slaves are protected by their master. 77 00:04:23,666 --> 00:04:27,400 Slaves can only be the slave of one master. 78 00:04:27,966 --> 00:04:33,100 Every provision and the life of a slave comes from their master. 79 00:04:34,266 --> 00:04:35,666 But also 80 00:04:35,666 --> 00:04:38,100 my master no longer 81 00:04:38,100 --> 00:04:43,166 calls me only his slave, but also his friend. 82 00:04:44,100 --> 00:04:46,500 To be the friend of my master 83 00:04:46,500 --> 00:04:49,833 means my master is not abusive towards me. 84 00:04:50,800 --> 00:04:54,300 And though a slave, I'm adopted 85 00:04:54,300 --> 00:04:57,300 and a co-chair with my master. 86 00:04:57,500 --> 00:05:01,900 So all the rights of the Kingdom of my master are mine. 87 00:05:02,666 --> 00:05:06,066 What a blessing to be the slave of Jesus. 88 00:05:06,900 --> 00:05:10,533 My life is the life of a slave to my master, 89 00:05:10,766 --> 00:05:14,366 on whom I rely on his grace, provision, 90 00:05:14,366 --> 00:05:18,266 goodness, kindness, mercy, and to whom 91 00:05:18,266 --> 00:05:23,533 I owe my full, unquestioned allegiance without debate. 92 00:05:24,833 --> 00:05:26,633 This slave's agenda 93 00:05:26,633 --> 00:05:29,633 and dreams are not fulfilled by my master. 94 00:05:29,966 --> 00:05:34,066 This this slave fulfills the master's commands. 95 00:05:34,800 --> 00:05:36,433 It is his kingdom. 96 00:05:36,433 --> 00:05:38,533 This slave serves. 97 00:05:38,533 --> 00:05:41,900 He does not serve this slave's kingdom 98 00:05:42,866 --> 00:05:44,700 as the slave of Jesus. 99 00:05:44,700 --> 00:05:48,300 My values must only be what he values. 100 00:05:50,433 --> 00:05:53,833 My prayer was this Jesus, I am your slave, 101 00:05:55,000 --> 00:05:56,133 father. 102 00:05:56,133 --> 00:05:57,900 I am your slave. 103 00:05:57,900 --> 00:06:00,900 I trust you as my master. 104 00:06:01,666 --> 00:06:03,533 Everywhere in the Bible, 105 00:06:03,533 --> 00:06:07,200 the New Testament, when Scripture talks about the servant 106 00:06:07,633 --> 00:06:11,366 or the bond servant, which is a made up word in English, it's not in a Greek. 107 00:06:12,566 --> 00:06:15,566 The literal word is slave. 108 00:06:15,900 --> 00:06:18,900 And what we are commanded into 109 00:06:19,266 --> 00:06:22,866 is a master slave relationship, 110 00:06:23,733 --> 00:06:26,733 where Jesus is the master. 111 00:06:27,533 --> 00:06:30,533 We are his slave. 112 00:06:32,100 --> 00:06:34,400 Translators have done a disservice 113 00:06:34,400 --> 00:06:37,633 to the kingdom of God and to our churches. 114 00:06:37,633 --> 00:06:40,633 When they made that translation. 115 00:06:40,800 --> 00:06:45,000 Because when we talk about serving Jesus, 116 00:06:45,666 --> 00:06:50,366 it's almost as if we do him a service by our service, 117 00:06:51,533 --> 00:06:54,533 and we may serve sometimes and not other times, 118 00:06:54,600 --> 00:06:59,500 and we may serve well or not well, and we may choose to do this or that 119 00:07:01,000 --> 00:07:04,000 as a servant. 120 00:07:04,200 --> 00:07:07,200 But as a slave. 121 00:07:07,500 --> 00:07:10,333 We have no option. 122 00:07:10,333 --> 00:07:12,700 There's no debate here. 123 00:07:12,700 --> 00:07:15,700 The commands of the master must be followed. 124 00:07:17,400 --> 00:07:19,200 And that's biblical. 125 00:07:19,200 --> 00:07:22,200 So here's my fear this morning. 126 00:07:22,500 --> 00:07:25,500 I'm going to teach and preach 127 00:07:26,300 --> 00:07:31,933 a very deep and theological biblical message 128 00:07:33,566 --> 00:07:37,633 that will feel like it will fly in the face 129 00:07:39,600 --> 00:07:44,933 of Christianity, of the Bible and of the church. 130 00:07:46,100 --> 00:07:49,100 And it will feel very harsh, 131 00:07:49,200 --> 00:07:52,200 and it will feel like it's leaving a lot of things out. 132 00:07:52,500 --> 00:07:56,233 And the danger that I face in preaching this message today 133 00:07:56,433 --> 00:07:59,800 is that I will preach some of you out of this church. 134 00:08:03,366 --> 00:08:06,366 I hope I don't. 135 00:08:06,566 --> 00:08:09,566 But I want us to understand 136 00:08:10,200 --> 00:08:13,833 what it is to be called Christian, 137 00:08:15,033 --> 00:08:19,900 and what God's expectation of his church is 138 00:08:21,166 --> 00:08:23,566 of us, 139 00:08:23,566 --> 00:08:26,933 not as servant, not as follower, 140 00:08:27,833 --> 00:08:30,833 but biblically as slave. 141 00:08:33,866 --> 00:08:36,866 To understand, understand. 142 00:08:40,266 --> 00:08:43,266 As a slave to 143 00:08:43,933 --> 00:08:46,933 I am not allowed my own values 144 00:08:48,133 --> 00:08:50,400 as a slave. 145 00:08:50,400 --> 00:08:53,400 I must adhere to and accept 146 00:08:54,233 --> 00:08:57,233 and perpetuate the values of my master. 147 00:08:59,466 --> 00:09:03,000 Every one of us lives by a set of values. 148 00:09:03,933 --> 00:09:07,200 Most of us have not given much thought to what 149 00:09:07,200 --> 00:09:10,500 those values are, and most of us 150 00:09:10,933 --> 00:09:15,666 have never given much attention nor stated them clearly for our lives. 151 00:09:16,366 --> 00:09:19,600 And most of us don't evaluate our life 152 00:09:19,600 --> 00:09:22,600 currently by our values. 153 00:09:23,100 --> 00:09:27,233 More of us go through life simply responding to 154 00:09:27,266 --> 00:09:30,266 stimuli upon our life. 155 00:09:31,433 --> 00:09:34,466 Values are very easy to identify, 156 00:09:34,900 --> 00:09:39,133 even if you've never stated them, and if you have stated them is. 157 00:09:39,133 --> 00:09:41,300 They're very easy to identify. 158 00:09:41,300 --> 00:09:45,666 If we live by them, all one must do is 159 00:09:45,666 --> 00:09:49,700 look at where we spend our time and how we spend our money, 160 00:09:50,266 --> 00:09:53,833 where we spend our time and how we spend our money will 161 00:09:54,500 --> 00:09:58,333 clearly expose what we value. 162 00:09:59,466 --> 00:10:02,466 We can say what we value, 163 00:10:02,700 --> 00:10:07,433 but unless we evaluate our time, our energy, 164 00:10:07,433 --> 00:10:12,233 and our finances based on what we say we value, 165 00:10:12,300 --> 00:10:17,400 we will never really know if what we say we value are really values. 166 00:10:18,600 --> 00:10:22,466 Perhaps many of us have goals in life, 167 00:10:23,100 --> 00:10:26,000 but unless those goals are based 168 00:10:26,000 --> 00:10:29,500 on very specific chosen values, 169 00:10:29,833 --> 00:10:33,133 at best those goals are selfish 170 00:10:33,133 --> 00:10:36,133 or haphazard. 171 00:10:37,000 --> 00:10:39,766 And so I want to be very clear. 172 00:10:39,766 --> 00:10:44,433 The values of this church are, and by extension, 173 00:10:44,866 --> 00:10:48,233 with the values of the slaves of 174 00:10:48,233 --> 00:10:51,233 Jesus are to be. 175 00:10:52,500 --> 00:10:54,900 Our church flipside 176 00:10:54,900 --> 00:10:57,600 comes from a passage in acts 177 00:10:57,600 --> 00:11:02,500 chapter 17, verse six, which says this. 178 00:11:04,366 --> 00:11:07,266 Go to their. 179 00:11:07,266 --> 00:11:08,466 When they could not, 180 00:11:08,466 --> 00:11:11,466 the Jewish leaders could not find the disciples. 181 00:11:11,566 --> 00:11:14,966 They dragged Jason and some of the brothers before the city 182 00:11:14,966 --> 00:11:18,766 authority, shouting, these men who have turned 183 00:11:18,766 --> 00:11:22,566 the world upside down have come here also. 184 00:11:24,233 --> 00:11:27,000 They have lived. 185 00:11:27,000 --> 00:11:29,733 The flip side, 186 00:11:29,733 --> 00:11:34,800 our goal as a church, as slaves of Jesus, 187 00:11:35,666 --> 00:11:39,133 is to live the flip side 188 00:11:40,400 --> 00:11:43,400 and turn the world upside down. 189 00:11:46,366 --> 00:11:47,966 Values are important 190 00:11:47,966 --> 00:11:52,600 because values set agendas, values drive 191 00:11:52,633 --> 00:11:56,633 goals, values determined strategy and values. 192 00:11:56,633 --> 00:11:59,633 Direct spending. 193 00:11:59,666 --> 00:12:03,000 This is as true for the church as it is for the individual. 194 00:12:03,000 --> 00:12:06,100 It's as true for the individual as it is the church. 195 00:12:07,233 --> 00:12:11,300 And so today I want to be very clear with the values. 196 00:12:11,300 --> 00:12:13,400 The flip side 197 00:12:13,400 --> 00:12:17,166 and the values of slaves of Christ. 198 00:12:22,366 --> 00:12:25,366 This will be challenging. 199 00:12:26,266 --> 00:12:29,266 I pray it's convicting. 200 00:12:30,233 --> 00:12:32,400 And I pray that the Holy Spirit 201 00:12:32,400 --> 00:12:35,400 does in his slaves 202 00:12:35,733 --> 00:12:40,566 what the master desires of his slaves. 203 00:12:43,133 --> 00:12:46,133 Are you ready? 204 00:12:49,400 --> 00:12:52,400 These values are on these shirts. 205 00:12:52,733 --> 00:12:55,733 I want us to understand them and live them. 206 00:12:56,033 --> 00:12:59,066 That's why we made of available and a welcome center for you to pick up. 207 00:12:59,066 --> 00:13:00,266 You can buy your own shirt. 208 00:13:02,566 --> 00:13:04,700 This is important. 209 00:13:04,700 --> 00:13:06,733 The first value. 210 00:13:06,733 --> 00:13:09,633 Irrefutable love. 211 00:13:09,633 --> 00:13:11,866 Love that cannot be refuted. 212 00:13:11,866 --> 00:13:15,300 It is so clear and so apparent it cannot be refuted. 213 00:13:15,833 --> 00:13:18,366 Romans five eight For God 214 00:13:18,366 --> 00:13:21,366 shows his love for us in this, 215 00:13:21,533 --> 00:13:24,000 that while we were still sinners, 216 00:13:24,000 --> 00:13:26,733 Christ died for us. 217 00:13:26,733 --> 00:13:29,666 When we had nothing to offer God, 218 00:13:29,666 --> 00:13:33,933 we could add no value to God, nor God's existence. 219 00:13:34,800 --> 00:13:37,500 There is nothing in us 220 00:13:37,500 --> 00:13:40,500 that makes God's world better. 221 00:13:41,100 --> 00:13:44,100 Jesus died for us 222 00:13:44,433 --> 00:13:47,133 while still in rebellion to him, 223 00:13:47,133 --> 00:13:50,000 in disobedience to him. 224 00:13:50,000 --> 00:13:52,866 He died for us. 225 00:13:52,866 --> 00:13:56,933 The Bible says, rarely will one man die for a good man, 226 00:13:57,033 --> 00:14:00,033 but never will one die for a bad man. 227 00:14:00,566 --> 00:14:03,566 Jesus died for us. 228 00:14:03,800 --> 00:14:07,233 Irrefutable love asks 229 00:14:07,233 --> 00:14:10,233 nothing of us on the front end. 230 00:14:10,233 --> 00:14:14,366 Just simply said, I'm willing to die for you. 231 00:14:15,900 --> 00:14:16,333 As an 232 00:14:16,333 --> 00:14:19,333 expression of the father's love, 233 00:14:19,333 --> 00:14:21,766 it is irrefutable. 234 00:14:21,766 --> 00:14:24,400 And therefore Jesus then says, by this 235 00:14:24,400 --> 00:14:26,700 all people will know that you are my disciples. 236 00:14:26,700 --> 00:14:29,466 If you want to 237 00:14:29,466 --> 00:14:32,400 have love for one another. 238 00:14:32,400 --> 00:14:36,100 The first value is irrefutable love. 239 00:14:37,400 --> 00:14:40,033 Love is not optional. 240 00:14:40,033 --> 00:14:43,033 Love is evidence. 241 00:14:45,766 --> 00:14:47,900 Love is not a theory. 242 00:14:47,900 --> 00:14:50,900 Love is a testimony. 243 00:14:50,966 --> 00:14:54,133 See, the world can argue with theology. 244 00:14:54,500 --> 00:14:57,400 The world cannot argue with Jesus. 245 00:14:57,400 --> 00:15:00,400 Is love. 246 00:15:02,000 --> 00:15:03,700 It's the story of the Good Samaritan. 247 00:15:03,700 --> 00:15:06,700 In Luke chapter ten. 248 00:15:07,933 --> 00:15:08,866 When a man was left 249 00:15:08,866 --> 00:15:11,866 beaten for dead on the side of the road. 250 00:15:13,866 --> 00:15:16,533 And it's the story of how love crossed the road 251 00:15:16,533 --> 00:15:19,533 when religion walked past 252 00:15:20,400 --> 00:15:23,400 irrefutable love. 253 00:15:23,966 --> 00:15:25,733 See, we have to understand something. 254 00:15:25,733 --> 00:15:28,400 That love is the proof. Love is not the perk. 255 00:15:31,200 --> 00:15:32,833 That we choose to love. 256 00:15:32,833 --> 00:15:35,266 Those who have wronged us. 257 00:15:35,266 --> 00:15:38,300 We choose to love. Those who may hate us. 258 00:15:38,300 --> 00:15:43,933 We choose to show love to those who have done us wrong, who have done us dirty, 259 00:15:44,033 --> 00:15:48,933 who have abandoned us, who have left us, who have talked ill about us. 260 00:15:48,966 --> 00:15:51,966 We choose to show love. 261 00:15:54,066 --> 00:15:56,033 Because by that 262 00:15:56,033 --> 00:15:58,500 all men will know 263 00:15:58,500 --> 00:16:01,500 that we are the slaves of Christ. 264 00:16:02,400 --> 00:16:03,933 It is how we've been loved. 265 00:16:03,933 --> 00:16:06,933 It is how we love. 266 00:16:07,500 --> 00:16:10,500 And so, as the slave of Jesus, 267 00:16:12,033 --> 00:16:14,100 that person, those people in your life 268 00:16:14,100 --> 00:16:17,100 that are hard to love. 269 00:16:18,000 --> 00:16:21,000 Who have done you wrong? 270 00:16:21,300 --> 00:16:23,133 Who've left you and abandoned you. 271 00:16:23,133 --> 00:16:26,133 Who should have loved you and denied you. 272 00:16:28,766 --> 00:16:31,766 Those who hurt your family. 273 00:16:32,300 --> 00:16:34,766 The slave of Christ has no option. 274 00:16:37,600 --> 00:16:40,600 But to love irrefutably. 275 00:16:43,600 --> 00:16:44,500 See, the follower 276 00:16:44,500 --> 00:16:47,566 of Jesus, the servant of Jesus can say, you know I'm I. 277 00:16:47,866 --> 00:16:49,666 I follow him as well. 278 00:16:49,666 --> 00:16:52,666 Like, not very well with that regard. 279 00:16:54,766 --> 00:16:57,766 The slave has no excuse and no option. 280 00:17:00,900 --> 00:17:03,900 Do you understand? Yes. 281 00:17:09,166 --> 00:17:10,666 You okay? 282 00:17:10,666 --> 00:17:12,933 Yes. Okay. Good. 283 00:17:12,933 --> 00:17:15,933 Because we got six more. 284 00:17:18,666 --> 00:17:21,566 Irrefutable love 285 00:17:21,566 --> 00:17:24,566 and the irresistible grace. 286 00:17:26,966 --> 00:17:29,966 Irresistible grace. 287 00:17:32,566 --> 00:17:35,566 Ephesians two eight says, for by what 288 00:17:35,933 --> 00:17:38,766 grace you've been saved through faith in this not of your own 289 00:17:38,766 --> 00:17:41,766 doing, is the gift of God. 290 00:17:42,866 --> 00:17:45,866 Irresistible grace. 291 00:17:46,000 --> 00:17:49,100 Grace is so beautiful that when you see it 292 00:17:49,100 --> 00:17:52,400 and experience it, it is irresistible. 293 00:17:53,866 --> 00:17:57,900 See, one of the things we have to realize that Christians, in other words, 294 00:17:57,900 --> 00:18:01,366 slaves, are most attractive when grace is most apparent. 295 00:18:06,200 --> 00:18:09,300 The slave lives with irrefutable love to those 296 00:18:10,533 --> 00:18:13,500 who don't seem as though they deserve it. 297 00:18:13,500 --> 00:18:17,333 And the slave of Jesus gives grace that becomes irresistible 298 00:18:17,333 --> 00:18:20,333 to those who don't deserve our grace. 299 00:18:24,700 --> 00:18:25,200 Grace 300 00:18:25,200 --> 00:18:28,200 is not just for the grace doesn't just forgive. 301 00:18:28,300 --> 00:18:31,066 Grace attracts. 302 00:18:31,066 --> 00:18:33,633 And in Romans two, for 303 00:18:33,633 --> 00:18:34,233 we read. 304 00:18:34,233 --> 00:18:39,333 Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, 305 00:18:39,600 --> 00:18:43,900 not knowing that God's kindness is meant to lead you to repentance? 306 00:18:44,100 --> 00:18:48,333 God's grace, his kindness is intended to draw us to him 307 00:18:49,400 --> 00:18:52,400 because it is so irresistible. 308 00:18:52,600 --> 00:18:54,900 See, grace is the magnet 309 00:18:54,900 --> 00:18:57,900 that pulls hearts to Jesus. 310 00:18:58,700 --> 00:19:00,400 This slave 311 00:19:00,400 --> 00:19:03,933 was drawn to my master because of his grace. 312 00:19:05,933 --> 00:19:08,900 And others are to be drawn to my master 313 00:19:08,900 --> 00:19:11,900 because of the grace they see in this slave. 314 00:19:17,266 --> 00:19:18,033 I will not ask 315 00:19:18,033 --> 00:19:21,166 for a show of hands, but do you have someone in your life 316 00:19:22,433 --> 00:19:25,433 that doesn't deserve your favor? 317 00:19:25,833 --> 00:19:28,833 That doesn't deserve your blessing? 318 00:19:29,300 --> 00:19:32,800 That doesn't deserve your graciousness? 319 00:19:36,833 --> 00:19:39,833 The slave 320 00:19:39,933 --> 00:19:44,066 gives grace to them that is irresistible 321 00:19:45,600 --> 00:19:48,600 to draw them to their master. 322 00:19:50,166 --> 00:19:53,166 It's not optional. 323 00:19:53,633 --> 00:19:56,066 It's not a suggestion. 324 00:19:56,066 --> 00:19:58,933 It's not an invitation. 325 00:19:58,933 --> 00:20:01,033 It's the command of the master 326 00:20:01,033 --> 00:20:04,033 to the master's slave. 327 00:20:06,233 --> 00:20:09,166 To give irresistible grace 328 00:20:09,166 --> 00:20:11,266 to those in our lives 329 00:20:11,266 --> 00:20:14,266 that don't deserve it. Why? 330 00:20:14,466 --> 00:20:17,466 Because that's what we've been given. 331 00:20:18,666 --> 00:20:21,666 By the master. 332 00:20:23,633 --> 00:20:26,633 To follow for. 333 00:20:30,300 --> 00:20:31,700 See, people who were nothing 334 00:20:31,700 --> 00:20:36,566 like Jesus liked Jesus because he radiated grace. 335 00:20:36,566 --> 00:20:39,566 And he preached truth. 336 00:20:41,333 --> 00:20:44,333 Both things together. 337 00:20:45,133 --> 00:20:47,500 It's reflected in the woman caught in adultery. 338 00:20:47,500 --> 00:20:50,400 In John chapter eight, 339 00:20:50,400 --> 00:20:53,200 when the religious leaders were brought, this woman caught in 340 00:20:53,200 --> 00:20:55,600 the act of adultery was stones in their hands, 341 00:20:55,600 --> 00:20:59,100 ready to stone her to death, as the law prescribed. 342 00:20:59,466 --> 00:21:03,000 And those stones in the hand had dropped to the ground 343 00:21:03,000 --> 00:21:06,633 at the feet of Jesus, because Grace stepped in. 344 00:21:08,100 --> 00:21:11,100 Did she deserve grace? No. 345 00:21:12,066 --> 00:21:15,066 Did she receive grace? Yes. 346 00:21:17,366 --> 00:21:20,366 And so, for that person in your world 347 00:21:20,400 --> 00:21:23,400 that doesn't deserve grace. 348 00:21:24,033 --> 00:21:27,033 The slave responds to the master 349 00:21:27,266 --> 00:21:29,666 and says, yes, master. 350 00:21:29,666 --> 00:21:32,500 I will give grace 351 00:21:32,500 --> 00:21:35,500 because you first gave it to me. 352 00:21:39,800 --> 00:21:41,800 You okay? 353 00:21:41,800 --> 00:21:44,066 Yes. Yeah. Good. 354 00:21:44,066 --> 00:21:47,066 Because we have five more. 355 00:21:51,066 --> 00:21:52,400 And as slaves 356 00:21:52,400 --> 00:21:55,400 these are not negotiable. 357 00:21:58,166 --> 00:22:01,166 Strict and unquestioned obedience. 358 00:22:05,066 --> 00:22:08,066 We value irrefutable love. 359 00:22:08,266 --> 00:22:11,933 Irresistible grace and illogical faith. 360 00:22:16,200 --> 00:22:16,633 Faith. 361 00:22:16,633 --> 00:22:19,033 That doesn't make sense. 362 00:22:19,033 --> 00:22:21,866 Because that's what faith is. 363 00:22:21,866 --> 00:22:24,000 Hebrews 11 six. 364 00:22:24,000 --> 00:22:26,000 And without what? 365 00:22:26,000 --> 00:22:26,533 Faith? 366 00:22:26,533 --> 00:22:29,533 It's impossible to make God smile. 367 00:22:30,600 --> 00:22:31,966 It's impossible to please him. 368 00:22:31,966 --> 00:22:35,366 For whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists, 369 00:22:35,366 --> 00:22:38,366 and that he rewards those who seek him. 370 00:22:41,366 --> 00:22:44,366 Faith doesn't always make sense, 371 00:22:45,233 --> 00:22:46,833 but it does always make history. 372 00:22:49,066 --> 00:22:51,500 Noah by faith 373 00:22:51,500 --> 00:22:54,366 built a boat in the desert. 374 00:22:54,366 --> 00:22:58,966 By faith built a boat that took him 120 years to build by faith. 375 00:22:59,166 --> 00:23:01,333 Built a boat 376 00:23:01,333 --> 00:23:03,900 in an area that had no large body of water 377 00:23:03,900 --> 00:23:06,900 for 210 miles. 378 00:23:07,900 --> 00:23:10,900 Faith, illogical faith 379 00:23:10,966 --> 00:23:15,933 made Abraham leave his land, his family, his possessions, 380 00:23:16,100 --> 00:23:19,100 and go to a place he knew not where 381 00:23:20,400 --> 00:23:23,133 illogical faith made Abraham walk 382 00:23:23,133 --> 00:23:26,133 by faith, not by sight. 383 00:23:27,466 --> 00:23:29,700 It was the illogical faith of Peter 384 00:23:29,700 --> 00:23:33,700 who was safe in a boat in a storm. 385 00:23:34,300 --> 00:23:37,500 Get out of a boat onto the water. 386 00:23:39,366 --> 00:23:40,333 It's illogical. 387 00:23:40,333 --> 00:23:43,333 Faith. 388 00:23:45,833 --> 00:23:48,833 That is the faith of the slave. 389 00:23:52,900 --> 00:23:55,000 It's the illogical faith of David 390 00:23:55,000 --> 00:23:58,000 that ran towards the giant. 391 00:23:59,000 --> 00:24:03,300 A child unarmed, with no battle armor 392 00:24:03,666 --> 00:24:07,733 on the front lines of a warzone running towards the army. 393 00:24:07,966 --> 00:24:09,333 The army? The enemy. 394 00:24:10,633 --> 00:24:13,166 It was the illogical faith 395 00:24:13,166 --> 00:24:16,166 that made the giant fall. 396 00:24:19,200 --> 00:24:21,600 See, faith oftentimes looks crazy 397 00:24:21,600 --> 00:24:24,600 until the master comes through. 398 00:24:26,166 --> 00:24:27,300 And slaves 399 00:24:27,300 --> 00:24:30,433 don't get to know the map ahead of time. 400 00:24:30,500 --> 00:24:34,800 Slaves aren't allowed to know the direction ahead of time. 401 00:24:34,833 --> 00:24:39,666 Slaves are not given the guarantee of success ahead of time. 402 00:24:39,733 --> 00:24:44,866 A slave simply says, master, where would you have me? 403 00:24:44,933 --> 00:24:47,166 What would you have me do? 404 00:24:47,166 --> 00:24:50,166 And then the slave obeys. 405 00:24:53,866 --> 00:24:56,866 Right, right, right. 406 00:24:58,066 --> 00:24:58,600 And what? 407 00:24:58,600 --> 00:25:01,600 We've been sold in the church 408 00:25:02,400 --> 00:25:04,700 is. Father, tell me where to go. 409 00:25:04,700 --> 00:25:07,700 And as your servant, I will serve you. 410 00:25:08,133 --> 00:25:11,133 That's not the life of a slave. 411 00:25:17,966 --> 00:25:20,966 The slave says you don't have to tell me where to end up. 412 00:25:21,600 --> 00:25:24,600 At your command. 413 00:25:25,166 --> 00:25:28,166 I will move. 414 00:25:29,100 --> 00:25:31,066 No direction, 415 00:25:31,066 --> 00:25:32,533 no guarantee. Why? 416 00:25:32,533 --> 00:25:37,100 Because the slave is used at the discretion of his master. 417 00:25:37,266 --> 00:25:38,400 Of her master. 418 00:25:42,500 --> 00:25:45,466 And so the slave walks 419 00:25:45,466 --> 00:25:48,466 by illogical faith. 420 00:25:49,300 --> 00:25:52,466 Understanding that the master doesn't owe the slave 421 00:25:52,466 --> 00:25:55,466 any explanation, nor guarantee. 422 00:26:01,366 --> 00:26:03,000 And so, 423 00:26:03,000 --> 00:26:06,000 dear slaves of Christ. 424 00:26:07,633 --> 00:26:09,166 Take a bold step 425 00:26:09,166 --> 00:26:12,166 that scares you, but honors your master. 426 00:26:15,766 --> 00:26:17,833 For you have no other responsibility 427 00:26:17,833 --> 00:26:20,833 as a slave than that. 428 00:26:23,933 --> 00:26:26,033 Irrefutable love. 429 00:26:26,033 --> 00:26:28,033 Irresistible grace. 430 00:26:28,033 --> 00:26:31,033 Illogical faith. 431 00:26:32,033 --> 00:26:32,466 Oh, dear. 432 00:26:32,466 --> 00:26:35,466 Slave! Are you okay? 433 00:26:35,933 --> 00:26:38,700 Yes. Good. 434 00:26:38,700 --> 00:26:41,700 Because we have four more. 435 00:26:46,700 --> 00:26:49,700 We value the invisible kingdom. 436 00:26:50,200 --> 00:26:52,966 We don't just believe in an invisible kingdom. 437 00:26:52,966 --> 00:26:55,966 We value the invisible kingdom. 438 00:26:57,100 --> 00:27:00,100 And I want to spend some time here because we have to understand 439 00:27:01,233 --> 00:27:04,233 that we don't wrestle against flesh and blood, 440 00:27:04,400 --> 00:27:06,633 but against the rulers, against the authorities, 441 00:27:06,633 --> 00:27:09,333 against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, 442 00:27:09,333 --> 00:27:12,700 against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. 443 00:27:12,900 --> 00:27:17,966 There is an invisible kingdom that is more real than this world, in which we see. 444 00:27:20,800 --> 00:27:23,266 And it is more active 445 00:27:23,266 --> 00:27:26,366 and more powerful than anything 446 00:27:26,366 --> 00:27:29,366 you and I see with our natural eyes. 447 00:27:30,766 --> 00:27:33,966 Jesus said, I will build my church, 448 00:27:34,200 --> 00:27:38,033 and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. 449 00:27:38,400 --> 00:27:41,400 There is an invisible kingdom. 450 00:27:44,633 --> 00:27:47,633 And we are a part of it. 451 00:27:48,166 --> 00:27:51,000 And right now 452 00:27:51,000 --> 00:27:54,300 there is kingdom or heavenly 453 00:27:54,300 --> 00:27:57,300 beings at play. 454 00:28:01,866 --> 00:28:03,000 When you look not to 455 00:28:03,000 --> 00:28:06,100 the things that are seen, but to the things that are unseen. 456 00:28:07,666 --> 00:28:11,900 For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen. 457 00:28:12,833 --> 00:28:15,066 The kingdom, 458 00:28:15,066 --> 00:28:18,066 its eternal. 459 00:28:18,933 --> 00:28:20,966 It's this kingdom 460 00:28:20,966 --> 00:28:24,733 that is ruled by the master of whom we are 461 00:28:24,766 --> 00:28:27,766 his slaves. 462 00:28:29,333 --> 00:28:33,133 And we value his kingdom over ours. 463 00:28:35,233 --> 00:28:38,733 For Jesus said, seek first that kingdom, 464 00:28:38,733 --> 00:28:42,866 the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these other things 465 00:28:44,566 --> 00:28:47,433 take care of themselves 466 00:28:47,433 --> 00:28:50,366 as slaves of Jesus, 467 00:28:50,366 --> 00:28:52,500 not as servants, not as followers. 468 00:28:52,500 --> 00:28:56,866 The biblical word is slave as slaves of Jesus. 469 00:28:57,266 --> 00:29:00,966 The kingdom of God is not a flag we wave. 470 00:29:00,966 --> 00:29:03,966 It is the reality we live. 471 00:29:08,100 --> 00:29:11,100 This kingdom, the kingdom of my master. 472 00:29:13,200 --> 00:29:15,700 Though you can't always see his kingdom, 473 00:29:15,700 --> 00:29:18,700 you cannot deny its power. 474 00:29:19,900 --> 00:29:21,900 In Mark chapter four, 475 00:29:21,900 --> 00:29:25,000 when Jesus was in a boat with his disciples 476 00:29:25,166 --> 00:29:28,066 sleeping, 477 00:29:28,066 --> 00:29:29,333 the storm raged. 478 00:29:29,333 --> 00:29:30,600 The disciples were afraid. 479 00:29:30,600 --> 00:29:34,466 They woke Jesus and Jesus commanded the storm. 480 00:29:34,466 --> 00:29:37,800 The waves and the wind be quiet and be still. 481 00:29:38,033 --> 00:29:42,066 And nature obeyed the command of its creator. 482 00:29:43,133 --> 00:29:46,800 And the response of the disciples was that they were afraid. 483 00:29:47,100 --> 00:29:50,633 And they asked, who is this, that even the wind 484 00:29:50,633 --> 00:29:54,866 and the waves obey him, because they realized that this master 485 00:29:56,000 --> 00:29:59,000 was the master of the invisible kingdom. 486 00:30:01,333 --> 00:30:04,166 And they were faced with the reality of the invisible 487 00:30:04,166 --> 00:30:07,166 kingdom breaking through into their reality. 488 00:30:10,766 --> 00:30:13,066 And they realized 489 00:30:13,066 --> 00:30:15,833 that the unseen world, 490 00:30:15,833 --> 00:30:17,700 the invisible kingdom, 491 00:30:17,700 --> 00:30:20,300 is more real than the seen one. 492 00:30:20,300 --> 00:30:25,333 And you and I, as slaves of the master, serve as slaves. 493 00:30:25,333 --> 00:30:28,766 The master who rules over the invisible 494 00:30:28,766 --> 00:30:31,766 kingdom. 495 00:30:38,633 --> 00:30:40,766 As I was driving 496 00:30:40,766 --> 00:30:44,500 to our football game in Dos Palos on Friday afternoon, 497 00:30:45,133 --> 00:30:48,933 I was going through some of this in my mind, 498 00:30:48,933 --> 00:30:52,200 and God spoke to me this, and I spoke it into my phone. 499 00:30:52,566 --> 00:30:55,566 And I want to read to you 500 00:30:55,566 --> 00:30:58,566 what God downloaded to me 501 00:30:58,666 --> 00:31:01,666 about this life and the invisible kingdom. 502 00:31:05,333 --> 00:31:06,466 Life right now 503 00:31:06,466 --> 00:31:09,466 was never intended to be my best life. 504 00:31:09,500 --> 00:31:13,200 Now the older I get, the more I realize, 505 00:31:13,300 --> 00:31:17,233 the greater accumulation of disappointments that I've experienced. 506 00:31:18,033 --> 00:31:21,033 My best life is not this life. 507 00:31:21,633 --> 00:31:24,633 My best life is the life to come. 508 00:31:25,166 --> 00:31:30,500 My best life is in the Turtle Kingdom, not this temporal kingdom. 509 00:31:31,066 --> 00:31:34,200 It's okay when things don't go well in this life. 510 00:31:34,400 --> 00:31:36,000 I don't expect them to. 511 00:31:36,000 --> 00:31:39,166 Because I don't expect this life to be my best life. 512 00:31:39,533 --> 00:31:44,333 I have hope for eternity and that eternity will be my best life 513 00:31:44,400 --> 00:31:47,400 because of what Jesus did on the cross. 514 00:31:47,833 --> 00:31:51,066 I understand that I am totally depraved, 515 00:31:51,566 --> 00:31:54,700 sinful, even in my best religious work. 516 00:31:55,266 --> 00:31:59,733 I am utterly sinful and unable to affect my own salvation. 517 00:32:00,300 --> 00:32:03,700 It is only by the atoning work of Jesus on the cross 518 00:32:03,800 --> 00:32:06,733 that my best life is to come. 519 00:32:06,733 --> 00:32:09,766 It has nothing to do with my work here. 520 00:32:09,833 --> 00:32:13,500 It has everything to do with the work of Jesus. 521 00:32:14,633 --> 00:32:15,566 And so I can go 522 00:32:15,566 --> 00:32:19,433 through my worst life here, because I know that 523 00:32:19,433 --> 00:32:22,433 my best life is secured and coming 524 00:32:22,666 --> 00:32:25,566 as good as things might be here. 525 00:32:25,566 --> 00:32:28,166 This is my worst life. 526 00:32:28,166 --> 00:32:30,333 As bad as things might be here. 527 00:32:30,333 --> 00:32:33,333 This is my worst life. 528 00:32:33,500 --> 00:32:35,766 My best life is to come. 529 00:32:35,766 --> 00:32:37,733 And that is the hope of salvation. 530 00:32:37,733 --> 00:32:39,566 That is the joy of salvation. 531 00:32:39,566 --> 00:32:43,133 That is the eternal kingdom that I already belong to. 532 00:32:44,166 --> 00:32:47,100 Paul's prayer is that the eyes of our heart 533 00:32:47,100 --> 00:32:48,566 would be enlightened, 534 00:32:48,566 --> 00:32:51,966 that we know the hope to which we have been called, the glorious inheritance 535 00:32:51,966 --> 00:32:54,733 that is ours, and the power that raised Jesus from the dead. 536 00:32:54,733 --> 00:32:59,766 In other words, my hope is that my best life is yet to come. 537 00:33:00,300 --> 00:33:03,300 My hope is not in a better life now. 538 00:33:03,633 --> 00:33:06,000 My hope is in the Kingdom. 539 00:33:07,200 --> 00:33:10,200 Amen. 540 00:33:12,600 --> 00:33:15,400 That is what 541 00:33:15,400 --> 00:33:18,400 a slave values. 542 00:33:27,533 --> 00:33:29,100 Okay. 543 00:33:29,100 --> 00:33:32,100 Yes. Good. 544 00:33:35,100 --> 00:33:38,100 Because we have three more. 545 00:33:40,466 --> 00:33:43,466 We value the infallible scriptures. 546 00:33:45,366 --> 00:33:48,000 The word of God. 547 00:33:48,000 --> 00:33:50,866 Isaiah 40, verse eight. 548 00:33:50,866 --> 00:33:53,066 The grass withers, the flower fades. 549 00:33:53,066 --> 00:33:56,066 But the word of our God 550 00:33:56,466 --> 00:33:59,233 stands forever. 551 00:33:59,233 --> 00:34:01,166 It is true. 552 00:34:01,166 --> 00:34:03,100 It's infallible. 553 00:34:03,100 --> 00:34:05,300 And it remains. 554 00:34:05,300 --> 00:34:08,300 Proverbs 30, verse five and six. 555 00:34:09,533 --> 00:34:12,533 Every word of God proves true. 556 00:34:12,633 --> 00:34:15,633 He's a shield to those who take refuge in him. 557 00:34:15,966 --> 00:34:19,800 Do not add to his words, lest he rebuke you, 558 00:34:19,800 --> 00:34:22,800 and you be found a liar. 559 00:34:23,766 --> 00:34:27,533 His word is infallible and true. 560 00:34:28,466 --> 00:34:31,433 We value his words over our words. 561 00:34:31,433 --> 00:34:34,433 We value his words over our opinion. 562 00:34:34,633 --> 00:34:37,400 Second Timothy 316. 563 00:34:37,400 --> 00:34:41,266 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable 564 00:34:41,266 --> 00:34:44,766 for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 565 00:34:44,866 --> 00:34:49,066 that the man, that the woman of God may be completely quit for every good work. 566 00:34:49,100 --> 00:34:54,300 The Word of God is the breath of God breathes it into us 567 00:34:56,100 --> 00:34:59,100 through His Word. 568 00:35:00,266 --> 00:35:03,733 Opinions shift, culture drifts. 569 00:35:04,733 --> 00:35:07,766 The God's Word remains forever. 570 00:35:09,000 --> 00:35:12,000 It doesn't change. 571 00:35:13,000 --> 00:35:16,000 It never has, and it never will. 572 00:35:17,633 --> 00:35:19,800 And those who change it 573 00:35:19,800 --> 00:35:22,800 stand condemned. 574 00:35:23,433 --> 00:35:25,000 It's Jesus in the wilderness. 575 00:35:25,000 --> 00:35:26,433 And Matthew chapter four. 576 00:35:26,433 --> 00:35:29,433 When the devil came and tempted him, and by the way, 577 00:35:29,433 --> 00:35:32,566 tempting him with every desire that a human would want. 578 00:35:34,800 --> 00:35:36,566 And Jesus, the book of Philippians 579 00:35:36,566 --> 00:35:39,566 says that he came as a slave. 580 00:35:40,366 --> 00:35:42,633 Same word. 581 00:35:42,633 --> 00:35:44,966 And as a slave 582 00:35:44,966 --> 00:35:48,766 tempted with his own, a human's agenda 583 00:35:49,066 --> 00:35:53,300 responded not with his feelings, but responded with Scripture. 584 00:35:56,700 --> 00:35:58,933 Because it is the truth. 585 00:35:58,933 --> 00:36:00,733 It's unchanging. 586 00:36:00,733 --> 00:36:03,733 It is infallible. 587 00:36:04,033 --> 00:36:06,600 God's word never expires. 588 00:36:06,600 --> 00:36:08,800 It empowers. 589 00:36:08,800 --> 00:36:11,166 And we have to understand what Romans 590 00:36:11,166 --> 00:36:14,300 1017 says that faith comes by what? 591 00:36:15,033 --> 00:36:17,066 Hearing and hearing what? 592 00:36:17,066 --> 00:36:18,866 The Word of Christ. 593 00:36:20,100 --> 00:36:22,500 Our faith grows 594 00:36:22,500 --> 00:36:25,500 by hearing the commands of the master 595 00:36:25,766 --> 00:36:29,666 and by obeying as a slave those commands. 596 00:36:30,500 --> 00:36:34,100 How can a slave do what the master commands? 597 00:36:34,166 --> 00:36:37,633 If the slave doesn't know what the master has commanded? 598 00:36:39,366 --> 00:36:41,666 That's a derelict slave. 599 00:36:41,666 --> 00:36:44,566 That's a disobedient slave. 600 00:36:44,566 --> 00:36:47,966 How does a slave know what the master has commanded? 601 00:36:47,966 --> 00:36:50,966 By knowing the master's words. 602 00:36:53,233 --> 00:36:55,033 Do you understand 603 00:36:55,033 --> 00:36:58,033 this, dear slave? 604 00:37:00,033 --> 00:37:02,133 It's the slaves job 605 00:37:02,133 --> 00:37:07,200 and responsibilities to listen to and obey and learn 606 00:37:07,200 --> 00:37:10,200 what the master's words are. 607 00:37:14,400 --> 00:37:17,500 So that the slave can obey. 608 00:37:20,033 --> 00:37:23,033 That's how faith is grown. 609 00:37:25,533 --> 00:37:28,533 That enables the slave 610 00:37:28,533 --> 00:37:31,700 to live with irrational faith. 611 00:37:38,700 --> 00:37:40,633 That's why we tell you all the time. 612 00:37:40,633 --> 00:37:43,633 Read your Bible and journal. 613 00:37:44,266 --> 00:37:45,900 Oh, slave. 614 00:37:45,900 --> 00:37:48,300 Read the words of your master 615 00:37:48,300 --> 00:37:51,366 and journal what the master commands you. 616 00:37:57,333 --> 00:37:59,800 Are you okay? 617 00:37:59,800 --> 00:38:02,800 Good. 618 00:38:03,166 --> 00:38:06,166 Because we have two more. 619 00:38:08,400 --> 00:38:11,400 We value irrational generosity. 620 00:38:13,833 --> 00:38:18,233 How does the slave value irrational generosity? 621 00:38:18,533 --> 00:38:22,700 Because the slave knows the slave owns nothing. 622 00:38:23,166 --> 00:38:26,300 Whatever the slave has is given them by the master. 623 00:38:26,366 --> 00:38:30,466 So the master has discretion over what the slave possesses. 624 00:38:30,633 --> 00:38:34,066 Because what the slave possesses is not the slaves possession. 625 00:38:35,200 --> 00:38:38,100 And so when the master says, oh, dear slave, 626 00:38:38,100 --> 00:38:41,366 this is what I want you to do with my possessions. 627 00:38:41,466 --> 00:38:45,000 The only response of the slave is to obey, 628 00:38:45,600 --> 00:38:49,600 because the possessions of the slave are not the slaves. 629 00:38:49,733 --> 00:38:54,566 The possessions of the slave that the slave is enjoying are the masters. 630 00:38:55,433 --> 00:38:58,433 See, this is different than the servant 631 00:38:58,700 --> 00:39:02,100 or the follower, because one can say, as a servant, 632 00:39:02,266 --> 00:39:05,700 well, I serve the master this way, but not that way. 633 00:39:08,400 --> 00:39:11,066 And I'm doing well following in this area. 634 00:39:11,066 --> 00:39:12,600 Not as well of that area. 635 00:39:12,600 --> 00:39:16,200 But that's okay, because of these things called mercy and grace. 636 00:39:17,066 --> 00:39:20,800 But once you put it in the context that the Bible talks about it 637 00:39:20,966 --> 00:39:23,966 as slave and master. 638 00:39:24,533 --> 00:39:27,300 Now I understand 639 00:39:27,300 --> 00:39:30,833 that these things I enjoy are not my possession. 640 00:39:30,933 --> 00:39:32,900 They're not the possession of the slave. 641 00:39:32,900 --> 00:39:34,566 They're the possession of the master. 642 00:39:34,566 --> 00:39:38,833 And the master has complete authority and discretion over the master's 643 00:39:38,833 --> 00:39:42,600 possessions, and complete authority and discretion over the slave. 644 00:39:42,700 --> 00:39:45,700 And how the slave manages the master's possessions. 645 00:39:45,766 --> 00:39:49,866 And my only response to my master is to be either, 646 00:39:50,866 --> 00:39:54,800 irrationally generous with the master's 647 00:39:55,033 --> 00:39:58,033 possessions or. 648 00:39:58,833 --> 00:40:01,133 Do you understand? 649 00:40:01,133 --> 00:40:03,766 If all I see myself is as a servant 650 00:40:03,766 --> 00:40:08,700 or a follower, that means I can serve God with my possessions 651 00:40:08,833 --> 00:40:11,833 and I can follow God with my possessions. 652 00:40:12,300 --> 00:40:14,100 That's erroneous. 653 00:40:14,100 --> 00:40:18,566 If I understand biblically that I am a slave now, 654 00:40:18,566 --> 00:40:22,233 I no longer have discretion over what I would have otherwise 655 00:40:22,233 --> 00:40:26,166 called my possessions because as a slave, they're not mine. 656 00:40:32,100 --> 00:40:34,933 And that's why this makes sense. 657 00:40:34,933 --> 00:40:36,266 Give. 658 00:40:36,266 --> 00:40:38,500 Because it's not yours anyway. 659 00:40:38,500 --> 00:40:41,500 And when you give, it will be given to you. 660 00:40:41,633 --> 00:40:44,066 Because I know I can trust you. 661 00:40:44,066 --> 00:40:45,133 Good measure. 662 00:40:45,133 --> 00:40:48,166 Pressed down, shaken together. Running over. 663 00:40:48,300 --> 00:40:51,300 Will be put into your lap by your master. 664 00:40:51,666 --> 00:40:53,433 So I can direct. Why? 665 00:40:53,433 --> 00:40:56,300 Where my stuff goes. 666 00:40:56,300 --> 00:41:00,066 For with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you, 667 00:41:00,633 --> 00:41:03,633 says the master. 668 00:41:04,833 --> 00:41:07,000 So generosity doesn't add up. 669 00:41:07,000 --> 00:41:10,000 It multiplies the kingdom. 670 00:41:10,800 --> 00:41:12,100 This little boy. 671 00:41:12,100 --> 00:41:13,533 I don't know if you heard the story. 672 00:41:13,533 --> 00:41:16,533 He had five loaves and two fish. 673 00:41:17,966 --> 00:41:20,966 And he gave it. 674 00:41:20,966 --> 00:41:23,566 And it didn't make sense, 675 00:41:23,566 --> 00:41:26,566 but it fed thousands 676 00:41:26,633 --> 00:41:29,633 because it was the masters. 677 00:41:30,533 --> 00:41:32,566 See, here's what the truth is. 678 00:41:32,566 --> 00:41:35,933 Generosity breaks calculators and multiplies the kingdom. 679 00:41:38,533 --> 00:41:41,533 And slaves live with open hands 680 00:41:42,566 --> 00:41:45,566 because it's not their own. 681 00:41:46,500 --> 00:41:49,200 And so the slave learns to give 682 00:41:49,200 --> 00:41:52,200 until it feels sacrificial, not safe. 683 00:41:52,600 --> 00:41:55,600 Because though the master is a good master. 684 00:41:57,400 --> 00:41:59,166 It's not always 685 00:41:59,166 --> 00:42:02,166 feels like safe. 686 00:42:05,966 --> 00:42:07,566 You're okay. 687 00:42:07,566 --> 00:42:10,200 Is good 688 00:42:10,200 --> 00:42:13,200 because we have one more. 689 00:42:14,533 --> 00:42:17,533 Incessant reproduction. 690 00:42:18,700 --> 00:42:21,766 The slave incessantly reproduces 691 00:42:22,400 --> 00:42:24,900 the master's kingdom. 692 00:42:24,900 --> 00:42:27,900 The slave incessantly reproduces. 693 00:42:33,500 --> 00:42:36,500 Matthew 2819. 694 00:42:36,866 --> 00:42:39,533 Go. Therefore, 695 00:42:39,533 --> 00:42:42,066 all you slaves, 696 00:42:42,066 --> 00:42:45,066 and make disciples of all nations, 697 00:42:45,233 --> 00:42:47,600 baptizing them, 698 00:42:47,600 --> 00:42:50,600 teaching them. 699 00:42:51,933 --> 00:42:54,933 To be my slaves. 700 00:42:55,300 --> 00:42:58,300 I've commanded you. 701 00:42:59,566 --> 00:43:01,700 Do this because I, your master, am with you 702 00:43:01,700 --> 00:43:04,700 to the very end of the age. 703 00:43:07,300 --> 00:43:08,933 A healthy tree reproduces 704 00:43:08,933 --> 00:43:13,466 healthy fruit, and again, healthy disciples reproduce. 705 00:43:14,033 --> 00:43:16,466 Healthy disciples. 706 00:43:16,466 --> 00:43:19,166 Healthy churches reproduce 707 00:43:19,166 --> 00:43:21,700 healthy churches. 708 00:43:21,700 --> 00:43:24,700 We are committed to incessant reproduction. 709 00:43:26,800 --> 00:43:28,233 Of slaves of Christ 710 00:43:29,400 --> 00:43:32,000 and God's Church. 711 00:43:32,000 --> 00:43:35,000 Expanding his kingdom, not our own. 712 00:43:35,800 --> 00:43:38,166 Because reproduction isn't a strategy, 713 00:43:38,166 --> 00:43:41,400 it's God's purpose for his kingdom 714 00:43:42,266 --> 00:43:45,266 and for his slaves. 715 00:43:46,066 --> 00:43:48,900 See, the truth is that disciples don't just grow, 716 00:43:48,900 --> 00:43:51,900 they go. 717 00:43:53,000 --> 00:43:56,200 And so we will and have always been, and will continue 718 00:43:56,200 --> 00:44:00,566 to be incessantly focused on reproducing the kingdom of God. 719 00:44:00,600 --> 00:44:06,700 Because after all, all we are, all I am is a slave of Christ, to be used 720 00:44:06,700 --> 00:44:11,200 at his discretion, to use his resources to build his Kingdom, 721 00:44:11,200 --> 00:44:14,200 not our own. 722 00:44:17,933 --> 00:44:18,933 That is why, 723 00:44:18,933 --> 00:44:22,200 dear friends, we invest so heavily in church planting. 724 00:44:24,933 --> 00:44:27,533 Just since 2016, 725 00:44:27,533 --> 00:44:32,100 we have been the major contributor, worker, 726 00:44:32,133 --> 00:44:36,600 funder or trainer of over 500 churches 727 00:44:37,366 --> 00:44:40,366 around the world. 728 00:44:40,466 --> 00:44:43,533 Even more since we started in 2005. 729 00:44:43,666 --> 00:44:46,066 That's just the number since 2016. 730 00:44:46,066 --> 00:44:47,500 In the last ten years. 731 00:44:49,733 --> 00:44:52,766 Why? Because we value the invisible kingdom. 732 00:44:52,766 --> 00:44:54,933 We live with irrational generosity. 733 00:44:54,933 --> 00:44:57,000 We live by illogical faith, 734 00:44:57,000 --> 00:45:01,600 and we are incessantly obsessed with reproducing the kingdom of God. 735 00:45:01,733 --> 00:45:04,733 Because after all, we are his slaves. 736 00:45:08,700 --> 00:45:09,733 Let me just tell you this. 737 00:45:09,733 --> 00:45:13,333 As his slave, we have the opportunity 738 00:45:14,100 --> 00:45:17,066 to go to Ukraine 739 00:45:17,066 --> 00:45:20,000 and start 200 churches. 740 00:45:20,000 --> 00:45:22,400 Right now. 741 00:45:22,400 --> 00:45:25,866 And so on September 24th through October 7th, 742 00:45:26,400 --> 00:45:29,266 I will fly into Poland 743 00:45:29,266 --> 00:45:32,266 and take a train into Ukraine. 744 00:45:32,666 --> 00:45:37,566 And we will do what we do in doing church planting 745 00:45:37,833 --> 00:45:42,300 training for multiple, multiple pastors 746 00:45:42,900 --> 00:45:47,666 so we can start another 200 churches within a year in Ukraine. 747 00:45:47,900 --> 00:45:50,900 What it is exploding in Ukraine. 748 00:45:51,100 --> 00:45:53,866 And the reason exploding in Ukraine 749 00:45:53,866 --> 00:45:58,100 is because when people draw near to their own mortality, 750 00:45:58,700 --> 00:46:02,033 they start to ask spiritual, eternal questions. 751 00:46:03,000 --> 00:46:04,700 And in Ukraine, 752 00:46:04,700 --> 00:46:07,700 people are very near their own mortality. 753 00:46:08,633 --> 00:46:11,466 We have the opportunity 754 00:46:11,466 --> 00:46:14,800 to start in Ukraine, a church planting movement. 755 00:46:16,200 --> 00:46:18,833 And so as I go to Ukraine, 756 00:46:18,833 --> 00:46:22,033 I'll be all around that country, and I will go to the border 757 00:46:22,033 --> 00:46:26,566 of Ukraine and Russia on the front lines and preach in churches 758 00:46:26,566 --> 00:46:30,300 there and lead church planting work there. 759 00:46:30,633 --> 00:46:33,466 And we will start planting Kingdom 760 00:46:33,466 --> 00:46:37,266 churches for the expansion of the Kingdom of God, 761 00:46:37,266 --> 00:46:41,200 the invisible kingdom, because we live with irrational faith. 762 00:46:42,400 --> 00:46:45,400 And the master has told this slave 763 00:46:45,800 --> 00:46:48,933 that he wants this slave to go to Ukraine, 764 00:46:48,933 --> 00:46:52,766 to the front line, to do kingdom work. 765 00:46:53,300 --> 00:46:57,066 And so this slave will obey him. 766 00:46:57,333 --> 00:47:00,333 And you, as the slaves of Christ, 767 00:47:00,400 --> 00:47:05,400 will join me in that in prayer that the kingdom advances 768 00:47:05,400 --> 00:47:09,366 by any means the master chooses to advance it 769 00:47:10,366 --> 00:47:13,266 at the complete discretion of the master. 770 00:47:13,266 --> 00:47:17,166 And we together, as the slaves of Christ, will pay for it all. 771 00:47:18,200 --> 00:47:20,533 We will pay for the opportunity 772 00:47:20,533 --> 00:47:23,033 to go to the frontlines. 773 00:47:23,033 --> 00:47:24,066 Do you understand? 774 00:47:24,066 --> 00:47:27,066 Understand? 775 00:47:30,200 --> 00:47:32,733 Because we are no more 776 00:47:32,733 --> 00:47:35,733 than slaves of Christ. 777 00:47:36,700 --> 00:47:39,700 We don't get to have an opinion 778 00:47:40,133 --> 00:47:43,133 about what the master's desire is. 779 00:47:43,566 --> 00:47:46,100 We don't get to have an opinion 780 00:47:46,100 --> 00:47:48,733 about how the master chooses 781 00:47:48,733 --> 00:47:52,766 to use his slaves for his purposes. 782 00:47:56,466 --> 00:47:59,466 We simply have the responsibility to obey. 783 00:48:05,666 --> 00:48:07,966 And so, 784 00:48:07,966 --> 00:48:10,966 living a value driven life. 785 00:48:13,466 --> 00:48:14,433 We will love people 786 00:48:14,433 --> 00:48:17,433 in ways that love can't be denied. 787 00:48:17,666 --> 00:48:20,666 And we will extend grace that people can't resist. 788 00:48:21,600 --> 00:48:24,800 And we will walk in faith in a way that doesn't make sense. 789 00:48:25,900 --> 00:48:28,800 And we will live for the kingdom 790 00:48:28,800 --> 00:48:32,200 that we cannot see, but cannot ignore. 791 00:48:33,200 --> 00:48:33,466 And we 792 00:48:33,466 --> 00:48:36,633 will stand on the word that does not fail. 793 00:48:37,300 --> 00:48:40,533 And we will give in ways that make calculators cry. 794 00:48:41,266 --> 00:48:44,266 And we will reproduce disciples in churches 795 00:48:44,300 --> 00:48:48,300 until the world is reached and flipped upside down. 796 00:48:54,133 --> 00:48:57,133 Because we are the slaves of Christ. 797 00:48:58,966 --> 00:49:01,966 Your values determine your destiny. 798 00:49:02,933 --> 00:49:04,166 Change your values. 799 00:49:04,166 --> 00:49:07,033 You change your future. 800 00:49:07,033 --> 00:49:09,066 And so, dear friends, 801 00:49:09,066 --> 00:49:12,133 don't don't just admire these values. 802 00:49:12,900 --> 00:49:14,866 Adopt them. 803 00:49:14,866 --> 00:49:17,866 And don't just agree with them. 804 00:49:18,000 --> 00:49:20,700 Apply them. 805 00:49:20,700 --> 00:49:23,700 This is what slaves of Christ do. 806 00:49:26,333 --> 00:49:27,666 Do you understand? 807 00:49:27,666 --> 00:49:29,400 Yeah. 808 00:49:29,400 --> 00:49:30,433 You okay? 809 00:49:30,433 --> 00:49:30,700 Yeah. 810 00:49:30,700 --> 00:49:33,700 That's. 811 00:49:37,466 --> 00:49:37,800 What? 812 00:49:37,800 --> 00:49:40,800 Make sure you come back next week. 813 00:49:44,500 --> 00:49:46,200 Because we're going to. 814 00:49:46,200 --> 00:49:49,166 We're going to celebrate 815 00:49:49,166 --> 00:49:52,500 what God has done through his slaves 816 00:49:53,700 --> 00:49:54,900 over the last 20 years. 817 00:49:54,900 --> 00:49:57,333 Together. 818 00:49:57,333 --> 00:49:58,966 He's a good master. 819 00:49:58,966 --> 00:49:59,566 Yeah. 820 00:49:59,566 --> 00:50:02,566 Yeah. 821 00:50:07,833 --> 00:50:09,200 And we will say yes. 822 00:50:12,000 --> 00:50:12,366 Father. 823 00:50:12,366 --> 00:50:13,566 Thank you. 824 00:50:13,566 --> 00:50:16,566 Thank you. 825 00:50:21,900 --> 00:50:24,900 You are a good master. 826 00:50:28,533 --> 00:50:31,533 And we are your slaves. 827 00:50:36,000 --> 00:50:36,366 Friends, 828 00:50:36,366 --> 00:50:39,366 I want to invite you in this moment. 829 00:50:40,600 --> 00:50:43,600 To adhere to the command of the master. 830 00:50:46,500 --> 00:50:49,500 That says you are my slave. 831 00:50:51,800 --> 00:50:55,066 And I want to encourage you 832 00:50:56,900 --> 00:50:58,766 in a simple act of faith 833 00:50:58,766 --> 00:51:01,766 that will cost you your life 834 00:51:02,333 --> 00:51:04,133 and cost you your goals, 835 00:51:04,133 --> 00:51:07,333 and cost you your hopes and cost you your agendas. 836 00:51:07,366 --> 00:51:10,366 And it will all be worth it 837 00:51:11,000 --> 00:51:13,666 to in this moment. 838 00:51:13,666 --> 00:51:16,666 Say, Jesus, I am your slave. 839 00:51:18,866 --> 00:51:21,000 Father, I am your slave. 840 00:51:21,000 --> 00:51:23,400 You are my Lord, 841 00:51:23,400 --> 00:51:26,400 and I am your slave. 842 00:51:27,700 --> 00:51:30,700 You are my Lord. 843 00:51:31,800 --> 00:51:34,800 And I am your slave. 844 00:51:37,033 --> 00:51:39,933 Do with me here 845 00:51:39,933 --> 00:51:42,933 what you will here. 846 00:51:42,933 --> 00:51:45,933 My life. 847 00:51:45,933 --> 00:51:48,933 And all that you've given me. 848 00:51:50,100 --> 00:51:51,266 Is at your discretion. 849 00:51:54,900 --> 00:51:57,900 For your kingdom sake. Your 850 00:51:59,000 --> 00:51:59,600 direct. 851 00:51:59,600 --> 00:52:02,600 This slave. 852 00:52:03,966 --> 00:52:06,966 Father, I thank you that you love us. 853 00:52:07,866 --> 00:52:09,000 I thank you for your mercy. 854 00:52:09,000 --> 00:52:12,000 Your Grace. I think if that we can trust you 855 00:52:12,066 --> 00:52:14,600 as our master. You. 856 00:52:14,600 --> 00:52:16,900 May your kingdom come. 857 00:52:16,900 --> 00:52:19,666 May your will be done on earth 858 00:52:19,666 --> 00:52:22,666 as it is in heaven. 859 00:52:22,933 --> 00:52:25,800 This battle that we're in is not against flesh and blood, 860 00:52:25,800 --> 00:52:28,800 but against rulers and authorities of powers in the unseen world 861 00:52:29,733 --> 00:52:32,600 over which you've already gained the victory. 862 00:52:32,600 --> 00:52:33,833 It's your battle. 863 00:52:33,833 --> 00:52:36,833 Yes. We're your slaves. 864 00:52:37,133 --> 00:52:39,733 Have your way. 865 00:52:39,733 --> 00:52:40,100 Amen.