WEBVTT 00:00:04.160 --> 00:00:10.486 Today we continue as we consider identity priorities, 00:00:10.678 --> 00:00:13.206 the plan that God has for our lives. 00:00:13.206 --> 00:00:15.246 I shared with you last week, 00:00:15.278 --> 00:00:17.982 simply the title of the message would just be the gathering. 00:00:17.982 --> 00:00:19.966 And we came out of Hebrews again, 00:00:19.966 --> 00:00:20.626 chapter ten, 00:00:20.630 --> 00:00:21.070 where it says, 00:00:21.070 --> 00:00:23.918 don't forsake the gathering of yourselves together. 00:00:24.014 --> 00:00:25.086 Because quite honestly, 00:00:25.118 --> 00:00:30.270 our strengthen great deal of our identity is in gathering as the body of 00:00:30.310 --> 00:00:35.174 Christ, coming together with purpose and priority and accomplishing that 00:00:35.222 --> 00:00:38.350 which God has set for us in his word. 00:00:38.390 --> 00:00:42.350 And so today the title of today's message is be the people. 00:00:42.430 --> 00:00:48.370 And the word to be is a big deal there to be who and what God has called 00:00:48.414 --> 00:00:49.490 us to be, 00:00:49.830 --> 00:00:51.496 to identify as. 00:00:51.598 --> 00:00:56.604 As who God has identified and purposed for us to live out our lives. 00:00:56.692 --> 00:00:58.140 And quite honestly, 00:00:58.180 --> 00:00:58.508 you know, 00:00:58.508 --> 00:01:01.588 we can say that we have responded to God's love, 00:01:01.588 --> 00:01:02.972 God's plan, 00:01:03.076 --> 00:01:04.388 God's purpose for us. 00:01:04.388 --> 00:01:11.060 We've received God's message and we've received God's salvation that he's 00:01:11.100 --> 00:01:14.156 given to us in the shed blood of Jesus Christ. 00:01:14.156 --> 00:01:15.692 And we've been redeemed, 00:01:15.756 --> 00:01:16.956 we've been purchased. 00:01:17.028 --> 00:01:17.688 And so, 00:01:17.780 --> 00:01:20.480 so now we can be the people. 00:01:20.940 --> 00:01:22.164 And I'm way loud. 00:01:22.164 --> 00:01:23.154 Chris left too. 00:01:23.172 --> 00:01:24.484 So anyway, 00:01:24.652 --> 00:01:26.164 he left because I was too loud. 00:01:26.164 --> 00:01:27.204 So anyway, 00:01:27.372 --> 00:01:28.640 so what people, 00:01:29.300 --> 00:01:29.732 right? 00:01:29.796 --> 00:01:30.116 I mean, 00:01:30.116 --> 00:01:31.404 let's ask ourselves some question. 00:01:31.404 --> 00:01:32.540 If I tell you, 00:01:32.540 --> 00:01:33.600 be the people, 00:01:34.140 --> 00:01:35.844 right? What people? 00:01:36.012 --> 00:01:37.040 Which people? 00:01:38.260 --> 00:01:40.240 What do those people look like? 00:01:40.092 --> 00:01:42.460 What is it that God wants to see in us? 00:01:42.460 --> 00:01:45.012 What is it God wants to see from us? 00:01:45.012 --> 00:01:50.780 What is it that God desires for us to represent in the world around us? 00:01:50.820 --> 00:01:53.320 Okay. I want to be God's people. 00:01:53.700 --> 00:01:54.908 I want to be one of them. 00:01:54.908 --> 00:01:56.636 I want to be attached to God's people. 00:01:56.636 --> 00:01:59.292 I want to be identified as one of God's people. 00:01:59.292 --> 00:02:01.036 And so we're going to look at one Peter, 00:02:01.036 --> 00:02:01.740 chapter two, 00:02:01.780 --> 00:02:03.212 verses nine and ten. 00:02:03.356 --> 00:02:06.308 It's just two little verses in here, 00:02:06.404 --> 00:02:09.236 kind of stuck in the middle of a very important passage. 00:02:09.060 --> 00:02:10.710 So let's look at it. 00:02:11.070 --> 00:02:13.862 But you are a chosen race, 00:02:13.966 --> 00:02:15.318 a royal priesthood, 00:02:15.374 --> 00:02:16.364 a holy nation, 00:02:16.414 --> 00:02:18.926 a people for his possession, 00:02:19.038 --> 00:02:24.206 so that you may proclaim the praises of the one who called you out of 00:02:24.238 --> 00:02:26.370 darkness and into his marvelous light. 00:02:26.870 --> 00:02:28.438 Once you were not a people, 00:02:28.438 --> 00:02:30.182 but now you are God's people. 00:02:30.182 --> 00:02:32.358 You had not received mercy, 00:02:32.494 --> 00:02:35.118 but now you have received mercy. 00:02:35.174 --> 00:02:36.290 So let's pray. 00:02:36.630 --> 00:02:40.190 Father, we thank you that we get to look into your word again today. 00:02:40.190 --> 00:02:43.820 God, you've spoken to us from the beginning of all creation, 00:02:43.822 --> 00:02:46.966 at the very beginning when you spoke it into existence. 00:02:46.966 --> 00:02:47.510 And God, 00:02:47.510 --> 00:02:50.942 you speak to us all the way through kingdom and ultimately, 00:02:50.942 --> 00:02:52.310 God, through the kingdom of heaven. 00:02:52.310 --> 00:02:52.638 And so, 00:02:52.638 --> 00:02:53.854 God, we want to hear from you. 00:02:53.854 --> 00:02:55.598 And we want to hear your voice. 00:02:55.318 --> 00:02:56.166 But more than that, 00:02:56.166 --> 00:02:58.146 God help us to pay attention. 00:02:58.710 --> 00:03:01.718 God, help us to hear that which is important to you. 00:03:01.718 --> 00:03:04.928 God, one of our greatest prayers each day should be, 00:03:04.928 --> 00:03:09.312 God, help me to get accomplished that which is important to you. 00:03:09.496 --> 00:03:10.048 So, God, 00:03:10.048 --> 00:03:11.040 help us to hear you today. 00:03:11.040 --> 00:03:13.350 And we pray it in Jesus name. 00:03:12.440 --> 00:03:15.384 Amen. How many of you in the room? 00:03:15.432 --> 00:03:15.856 And, Eli, 00:03:15.856 --> 00:03:16.976 I know you're going to raise your hand, 00:03:16.976 --> 00:03:17.688 but here you go. 00:03:17.688 --> 00:03:21.960 How many of you in the room have ever heard of a zodonk? 00:03:21.960 --> 00:03:23.280 See, Eli's the only. 00:03:23.072 --> 00:03:24.496 Oh, you've heard of a zodonk? 00:03:24.496 --> 00:03:24.952 Good job, 00:03:24.952 --> 00:03:26.700 dude. All right, 00:03:27.600 --> 00:03:29.580 if you've never heard of one, 00:03:30.220 --> 00:03:31.652 let me ask this question. 00:03:31.652 --> 00:03:33.800 Who can describe it for me? 00:03:35.180 --> 00:03:36.068 Only him. 00:03:36.164 --> 00:03:37.000 And him. 00:03:37.580 --> 00:03:38.292 You see, 00:03:38.396 --> 00:03:38.652 I mean, 00:03:38.652 --> 00:03:39.628 if you've never seen one, 00:03:39.628 --> 00:03:40.948 you can't describe one. 00:03:41.004 --> 00:03:43.468 And the name doesn't tell you what it is. 00:03:43.468 --> 00:03:45.772 Unless you know what the name looks like. 00:03:45.772 --> 00:03:46.044 I mean, 00:03:46.044 --> 00:03:48.354 it's z e d o n k. 00:03:48.900 --> 00:03:51.020 Somebody had the great wisdom. 00:03:51.100 --> 00:03:56.860 Or failure to have a zebra and a donkey in the same penniless. 00:03:58.070 --> 00:04:00.370 Ended up with a zdonk. 00:04:00.990 --> 00:04:02.718 Now, you see this thing? 00:04:02.894 --> 00:04:04.210 It's odd, 00:04:04.710 --> 00:04:05.702 okay? 00:04:05.886 --> 00:04:09.290 It's got some really shady looking striping on it. 00:04:09.710 --> 00:04:12.174 Some odd looking coloring throughout. 00:04:12.222 --> 00:04:13.530 It's weird. 00:04:14.110 --> 00:04:19.806 I think it's pretty safe to say this is probably a freakish kind of 00:04:19.838 --> 00:04:21.090 thing, right? 00:04:21.390 --> 00:04:23.046 Doesn't look like it's supposed to. 00:04:22.798 --> 00:04:24.448 Doesn't look like a zebra. 00:04:24.550 --> 00:04:26.250 Doesn't look like a donkey, 00:04:26.590 --> 00:04:30.050 right? It's some kind of weird combination of the two. 00:04:30.750 --> 00:04:34.462 And they actually have one down here in Wilmington. 00:04:34.526 --> 00:04:37.582 At that tragumba zoo down there. 00:04:37.686 --> 00:04:38.998 And here's what we found out. 00:04:38.998 --> 00:04:40.070 Last time we were down there. 00:04:40.070 --> 00:04:41.720 They loaned that thing out. 00:04:41.830 --> 00:04:45.470 Cause other people want to see what a zodonk looks like. 00:04:45.630 --> 00:04:46.462 You know what? 00:04:46.198 --> 00:04:46.974 Before I saw it, 00:04:46.974 --> 00:04:48.614 I don't think I went through life going, 00:04:48.614 --> 00:04:50.924 I would love to see a zadonk. 00:04:51.320 --> 00:04:53.768 I don't think that was ever the case in my life. 00:04:53.768 --> 00:04:57.112 Right? So when we look at this thing. 00:04:57.136 --> 00:04:58.560 And we start to consider. 00:04:58.272 --> 00:05:01.600 What is it that we're supposed to look like as God's people, 00:05:01.600 --> 00:05:05.560 right? What is it that we're supposed to portray in our lives? 00:05:05.648 --> 00:05:08.456 What is it that we're supposed to identify as. 00:05:08.456 --> 00:05:09.616 As God's people. 00:05:09.688 --> 00:05:11.338 When people look at us. 00:05:11.208 --> 00:05:12.544 When people see us. 00:05:12.632 --> 00:05:14.896 When people see us live our lives, 00:05:14.896 --> 00:05:17.810 are they saying in the back of their minds, 00:05:17.810 --> 00:05:19.790 never seen one of those before, 00:05:20.770 --> 00:05:23.586 right? Or are they saying in the back of their minds, 00:05:23.586 --> 00:05:28.538 wow, I've read some things about Jesus and that person really knows what 00:05:28.554 --> 00:05:29.570 it means to live. 00:05:29.570 --> 00:05:31.114 Jesus. Right. 00:05:31.242 --> 00:05:33.234 So that's kind of what we're talking about today. 00:05:33.234 --> 00:05:34.298 But I want to, 00:05:34.298 --> 00:05:36.962 here's a little sort of rabbit chase here. 00:05:36.986 --> 00:05:38.290 But it's a very important thing. 00:05:38.290 --> 00:05:40.162 We're in the season of administration, 00:05:40.162 --> 00:05:41.482 as I've warned you, 00:05:41.490 --> 00:05:46.010 and Kyle's busy working on the next step steps area, 00:05:46.090 --> 00:05:50.570 which is just an opportunity and a place and a way to volunteer and to 00:05:50.570 --> 00:05:53.898 serve in ministry throughout the gathering and the ministries of the 00:05:53.898 --> 00:05:57.338 gathering. And there's these little cards on the back of the chairs up 00:05:57.338 --> 00:05:58.658 here that don't work. 00:05:58.770 --> 00:06:00.938 At least they don't work on my phone. 00:06:00.938 --> 00:06:04.250 But eventually you'll be able to tap your phone to one of these little 00:06:04.250 --> 00:06:09.114 cards and it'll take you right to the next steps page on the app or on 00:06:09.114 --> 00:06:11.378 the website and you'll be able to volunteer to, 00:06:11.378 --> 00:06:12.222 to do whatever. 00:06:12.222 --> 00:06:14.918 And then they're setting up a next steps area out here. 00:06:14.918 --> 00:06:19.542 But right now we're about to go into this whole nominating team meetings 00:06:19.566 --> 00:06:20.102 and stuff. 00:06:20.102 --> 00:06:21.638 And so our deacons, 00:06:21.694 --> 00:06:23.214 we have two groups of deacons. 00:06:23.062 --> 00:06:25.102 The deacon leads and the deacon serves. 00:06:25.102 --> 00:06:28.718 And the deacon leads are the ones that meet very regularly and they're 00:06:28.718 --> 00:06:31.990 very visible all around the gathering. 00:06:32.030 --> 00:06:33.006 And then the deacons serve, 00:06:33.006 --> 00:06:35.270 folks, is when there's a project that comes up or whatever, 00:06:35.270 --> 00:06:36.590 they call them all out and say, 00:06:36.590 --> 00:06:36.886 all right, 00:06:36.886 --> 00:06:38.206 let's go do this. 00:06:38.770 --> 00:06:41.026 But right now we're looking for recommendations. 00:06:41.026 --> 00:06:43.030 Maybe you've been watching, 00:06:43.970 --> 00:06:47.186 you've been watching throughout the gathering or the gatherings 00:06:47.258 --> 00:06:51.770 activities and you've seen those men that just have a servant's heart, 00:06:51.850 --> 00:06:52.826 man, they just, 00:06:52.826 --> 00:06:55.426 they just know how to serve somebody. 00:06:55.578 --> 00:06:56.442 That was a song, 00:06:56.442 --> 00:06:57.102 wasn't it? 00:06:57.186 --> 00:06:59.070 Anyway, sorry, 00:06:59.370 --> 00:07:03.830 but, but the idea is that you see what a servant looks like, 00:07:04.660 --> 00:07:07.564 these guys lives and you just know that, 00:07:07.652 --> 00:07:09.540 that, that it comes from his heart. 00:07:09.540 --> 00:07:12.140 It's not because somebody told him to do it. 00:07:12.140 --> 00:07:15.756 It's not because somebody gave him a list of things to do, 00:07:15.756 --> 00:07:19.386 but it just comes out of his heart to serve people. 00:07:19.460 --> 00:07:22.100 And so we're just looking for those recommendations. 00:07:22.068 --> 00:07:25.236 And in your backs of those chair pockets, 00:07:25.268 --> 00:07:26.812 there's a card right here says Deacon, 00:07:26.812 --> 00:07:28.980 recommendation list here, 00:07:29.100 --> 00:07:29.972 acts six three. 00:07:29.972 --> 00:07:34.828 But I'm going to read it all to you because it's a great story of how 00:07:34.828 --> 00:07:39.012 servanthood was highlighted in the body of Christ in the New Testament. 00:07:39.116 --> 00:07:40.220 And it goes like this. 00:07:40.220 --> 00:07:40.960 It says, 00:07:41.460 --> 00:07:43.260 as soon as I get there, 00:07:43.260 --> 00:07:48.388 you notice these are thin pages come on now. 00:07:48.564 --> 00:07:49.224 All right. 00:07:49.220 --> 00:07:50.252 In those days, 00:07:50.316 --> 00:07:54.412 as the disciples followers of Jesus were increasing in number, 00:07:54.476 --> 00:07:59.198 there arose a complaint by the hellenistic Jews against the hebraic Jews 00:07:59.324 --> 00:08:02.690 that their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution. 00:08:02.770 --> 00:08:05.354 So that was one of those things where folks who didn't have, 00:08:05.354 --> 00:08:05.634 you know, 00:08:05.634 --> 00:08:09.106 the body of Christ came together and took up stuff and everything and 00:08:09.106 --> 00:08:10.510 distributed it out. 00:08:11.170 --> 00:08:14.386 The twelve summoned a whole company of the disciples together. 00:08:14.386 --> 00:08:18.146 So they got all of those that were surrendering their lives to Christ and 00:08:18.146 --> 00:08:20.490 those who were following Jesus there in Jerusalem, 00:08:20.490 --> 00:08:25.770 and they said it would not be right for us to give up preaching the word 00:08:25.890 --> 00:08:27.678 of God to go wait on tables. 00:08:27.678 --> 00:08:28.630 Brothers and sisters, 00:08:28.630 --> 00:08:32.150 select from among you seven men of good reputation, 00:08:32.230 --> 00:08:34.022 full of the spirit and wisdom, 00:08:34.022 --> 00:08:36.332 who we can appoint to this duty, 00:08:36.830 --> 00:08:38.678 but we'll devote ourselves to prayer, 00:08:38.678 --> 00:08:40.658 to the ministry of the word. 00:08:40.950 --> 00:08:41.942 So here you go. 00:08:41.942 --> 00:08:42.782 You hear that word, 00:08:42.782 --> 00:08:44.046 serve the tables. 00:08:44.198 --> 00:08:46.970 The word serve in Greek is diakonos. 00:08:47.470 --> 00:08:48.398 Now, what we did, 00:08:48.398 --> 00:08:52.416 and there are those who claim this passage doesn't actually identify as 00:08:52.448 --> 00:08:56.952 the creation of the office of deacon in the body of Christ, 00:08:57.016 --> 00:08:58.904 but it certainly called out the first servants, 00:08:58.904 --> 00:08:59.656 didn't it? 00:08:59.808 --> 00:09:00.280 All right, 00:09:00.280 --> 00:09:00.610 so. 00:09:00.488 --> 00:09:01.336 And then verse five says, 00:09:01.336 --> 00:09:02.992 this proposal pleased the whole company. 00:09:02.992 --> 00:09:04.632 So they chose Stephen, 00:09:04.776 --> 00:09:06.928 a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, 00:09:06.928 --> 00:09:12.144 and Philip and Prochorus and Nicanor and Timon and Parmenas and Nicholas, 00:09:12.272 --> 00:09:14.168 a convert from Antioch. 00:09:14.344 --> 00:09:16.064 So it wasn't just locals. 00:09:16.232 --> 00:09:19.568 They had them stand before the apostles who prayed and laid their hands 00:09:19.568 --> 00:09:20.072 on them. 00:09:20.072 --> 00:09:24.636 And so if you've seen somebody that just has a servant's heart, 00:09:24.668 --> 00:09:26.596 you also see different qualifications. 00:09:26.628 --> 00:09:26.908 I mean, 00:09:26.908 --> 00:09:30.880 same qualifications but different lists in Titus and in Timothy and 00:09:32.300 --> 00:09:33.996 what's the servant look like? 00:09:34.148 --> 00:09:37.560 Have you seen servants of the body of Christ? 00:09:38.140 --> 00:09:42.780 Have you seen servants in and around this gathering who devote and 00:09:42.820 --> 00:09:46.924 dedicate themselves to the kingdom of God and the progression of the 00:09:46.972 --> 00:09:48.612 gospel? What do they look like? 00:09:48.612 --> 00:09:49.602 Who are they? 00:09:49.556 --> 00:09:51.170 Right. That's all we're asking. 00:09:51.170 --> 00:09:52.026 Maybe you've seen them, 00:09:52.026 --> 00:09:53.202 maybe we hadn't. 00:09:53.386 --> 00:09:56.194 So as we get together and begin this nominating process, 00:09:56.194 --> 00:09:59.514 we'll talk to the folks that you recommend and Nick, 00:09:59.562 --> 00:10:02.202 who kind of coordinates deacon ministry right now. 00:10:02.306 --> 00:10:05.818 They will kind of be in charge of carrying all that out. 00:10:05.618 --> 00:10:06.146 So there, 00:10:06.146 --> 00:10:07.746 that's the tangent, 00:10:07.778 --> 00:10:08.650 the rabbit chase, 00:10:08.650 --> 00:10:10.226 but these little cards are in the back of the seat. 00:10:10.226 --> 00:10:11.994 So if you got a name in mind, 00:10:11.994 --> 00:10:13.658 put your name, 00:10:13.834 --> 00:10:17.460 who you're recommending and why. 00:10:17.960 --> 00:10:19.512 What does it look like to you? 00:10:19.512 --> 00:10:20.160 All righty. 00:10:20.160 --> 00:10:21.480 That's all we're asking. 00:10:21.624 --> 00:10:22.968 It's going to be fun. 00:10:22.968 --> 00:10:25.992 We haven't done it this way in years. 00:10:26.176 --> 00:10:28.486 So if you have somebody in mind, 00:10:29.200 --> 00:10:33.080 but it goes right along with the question of what does a follower of 00:10:33.080 --> 00:10:34.340 Christ look like? 00:10:35.720 --> 00:10:37.736 What does a Christian look like? 00:10:37.848 --> 00:10:42.218 What are the characteristics that you look for when somebody says they're 00:10:42.234 --> 00:10:42.894 a Christian? 00:10:42.770 --> 00:10:48.710 Because truth is the point of the whole message today is God made us his. 00:10:49.130 --> 00:10:50.670 We belong to him. 00:10:51.370 --> 00:10:57.058 We no longer have the authority to say that I'm going to live my life any 00:10:57.114 --> 00:10:58.670 way I want to. 00:10:59.130 --> 00:11:02.042 I'm going to do what I feel like doing. 00:11:02.042 --> 00:11:05.890 I'm going to do that which entertains me or pleases me. 00:11:05.930 --> 00:11:10.436 No, we become the possession of God. 00:11:10.548 --> 00:11:11.868 We belong to him. 00:11:11.892 --> 00:11:15.308 We've been redeemed and paid for and bought and all that sort of thing. 00:11:15.308 --> 00:11:16.508 And so when we look at this, 00:11:16.508 --> 00:11:17.500 we see these. 00:11:17.660 --> 00:11:18.972 If in your Bible, 00:11:18.972 --> 00:11:19.748 in one Peter, 00:11:19.748 --> 00:11:20.268 chapter two, 00:11:20.268 --> 00:11:20.780 verse nine, 00:11:20.780 --> 00:11:26.468 you'll start to see mine's all heavy darkened because it's all quotes 00:11:26.604 --> 00:11:27.812 from the Old Testament, 00:11:27.812 --> 00:11:28.604 chosen race. 00:11:28.652 --> 00:11:30.156 Or it can be translated, 00:11:30.156 --> 00:11:34.100 a chosen generation that comes out of deuteronomy seven and deuteronomy 00:11:34.140 --> 00:11:36.168 ten, Isaiah 43. 00:11:36.224 --> 00:11:37.208 And then again, 00:11:37.208 --> 00:11:42.296 a royal priesthood is a reference to Exodus 19 and Exodus 23 and Isaiah 00:11:42.408 --> 00:11:46.568 61 and revelation chapter one and revelation chapter five and revelation 00:11:46.624 --> 00:11:47.592 chapter 20. 00:11:47.776 --> 00:11:51.880 Holy nation refers to Exodus 19 and Exodus 23. 00:11:51.920 --> 00:11:56.920 And then a people for his possession refers to Exodus, 00:11:56.960 --> 00:11:58.392 Deuteronomy, Titus. 00:11:58.536 --> 00:12:07.830 So there is a full biblical sort of idea concept that we're special. 00:12:09.090 --> 00:12:10.230 You're special. 00:12:10.570 --> 00:12:12.170 Anybody ever tell you that? 00:12:12.170 --> 00:12:14.150 I mean in a good way. 00:12:15.250 --> 00:12:17.560 I don't mean in that negative way. 00:12:17.930 --> 00:12:18.746 All right. 00:12:18.898 --> 00:12:21.698 Kyle walked in when I was sitting back there kind of reading through my 00:12:21.698 --> 00:12:22.778 notes and everything this morning. 00:12:22.778 --> 00:12:23.586 And I looked up at him, 00:12:23.586 --> 00:12:24.218 I said, 00:12:24.218 --> 00:12:25.710 I'm possessed. 00:12:26.180 --> 00:12:27.200 And he went, 00:12:28.300 --> 00:12:30.840 no, I'm possessed by God. 00:12:31.140 --> 00:12:33.940 I am a possession of God's. 00:12:34.100 --> 00:12:35.420 I belong to him. 00:12:35.460 --> 00:12:36.120 You see, 00:12:36.220 --> 00:12:37.468 that makes me special. 00:12:37.468 --> 00:12:38.128 I'm chosen. 00:12:38.148 --> 00:12:38.964 I'm royal. 00:12:39.092 --> 00:12:40.388 I'm possessed by God. 00:12:40.388 --> 00:12:40.748 Why? 00:12:40.844 --> 00:12:42.836 Why? What's the purpose of it all? 00:12:42.836 --> 00:12:44.080 So that, 00:12:44.820 --> 00:12:47.380 see, that's kind of like the therefore. 00:12:47.420 --> 00:12:49.796 You go look at the therefore and find out what it's there for. 00:12:49.796 --> 00:12:53.196 So that means that everything you see preceding the. 00:12:53.228 --> 00:12:58.398 So that means there is a purpose for all those things and the purpose 00:12:58.454 --> 00:13:00.798 behind God choosing us, 00:13:00.974 --> 00:13:03.944 God making us a part of his royal family. 00:13:03.990 --> 00:13:05.462 This royal priesthood, 00:13:05.526 --> 00:13:09.078 this possession of his is to praise him, 00:13:09.134 --> 00:13:10.510 to worship him, 00:13:10.630 --> 00:13:15.110 to proclaim the praises of God. 00:13:15.270 --> 00:13:16.610 Does your life, 00:13:17.390 --> 00:13:21.710 does my life proclaim the praises of goddess? 00:13:21.820 --> 00:13:23.474 Do people see my actions, 00:13:23.522 --> 00:13:24.250 my word? 00:13:24.330 --> 00:13:25.320 Hear my words? 00:13:25.194 --> 00:13:29.634 Do people see in me this proclamation of praises. 00:13:29.762 --> 00:13:31.970 Actually, praises can be translated. 00:13:32.050 --> 00:13:33.350 Mighty deeds. 00:13:33.690 --> 00:13:37.990 Does my life proclaim the mighty deeds of God? 00:13:38.450 --> 00:13:40.430 Can people see it in me? 00:13:40.810 --> 00:13:41.522 You know, 00:13:41.626 --> 00:13:43.330 that's kind of what this is all about. 00:13:43.330 --> 00:13:45.194 Is that in the book of one, 00:13:45.194 --> 00:13:46.578 Peter, the apostle Peter, 00:13:46.634 --> 00:13:51.164 writing to mainly jewish believers in Christ, 00:13:51.252 --> 00:13:53.924 those who have trusted Jesus as messiah, 00:13:54.052 --> 00:13:55.042 savior, and Lord. 00:13:55.060 --> 00:13:56.740 And Peter's writing to them and going, 00:13:56.740 --> 00:14:00.040 look, what you were is not what you are now. 00:14:01.100 --> 00:14:03.160 Yes, you were a nation. 00:14:03.740 --> 00:14:05.800 Yes, you were a people. 00:14:06.460 --> 00:14:10.440 But what God has done is a new redemption of his people. 00:14:11.180 --> 00:14:11.840 You see, 00:14:11.868 --> 00:14:13.480 God's called you out. 00:14:14.520 --> 00:14:15.968 And so when we look at this thing, 00:14:15.968 --> 00:14:23.344 it means that we are something special and that we have a special task. 00:14:23.392 --> 00:14:26.460 There is a purpose for our lives, 00:14:27.120 --> 00:14:29.576 and more specifically, 00:14:29.688 --> 00:14:32.832 there is a purpose to our redemption and our possession. 00:14:32.832 --> 00:14:35.032 We are to proclaim in our lives, 00:14:35.032 --> 00:14:36.360 whether by word or deed, 00:14:36.360 --> 00:14:42.390 or however our lives should proclaim the mighty acts of God. 00:14:42.890 --> 00:14:45.860 People should be able to see it in you, 00:14:45.890 --> 00:14:46.722 you know, 00:14:46.866 --> 00:14:49.836 and that's one of the reasons why I'm not. 00:14:50.610 --> 00:14:52.410 I'm not always real happy about. 00:14:52.410 --> 00:14:53.730 And here's the wording. 00:14:53.738 --> 00:14:54.906 And if it offends you, 00:14:54.906 --> 00:14:56.790 well, all right. 00:14:57.850 --> 00:15:00.630 I'm not always happy about mealy mouth christians, 00:15:01.010 --> 00:15:01.986 okay? 00:15:02.178 --> 00:15:04.430 Christians who complain all the time. 00:15:06.740 --> 00:15:07.252 You know, 00:15:07.252 --> 00:15:09.420 Pete, you guys that came in here this morning early, 00:15:09.420 --> 00:15:11.476 and I was walking around shaking hands and all that stuff, 00:15:11.476 --> 00:15:11.788 they said, 00:15:11.788 --> 00:15:12.244 how are you? 00:15:12.244 --> 00:15:12.740 I say, 00:15:12.740 --> 00:15:15.420 man, this is the best day of the week. 00:15:15.420 --> 00:15:16.324 You know what? 00:15:16.324 --> 00:15:17.452 Monday through Saturday, 00:15:17.556 --> 00:15:18.596 I like them, 00:15:18.668 --> 00:15:21.308 too. But Sunday, 00:15:21.484 --> 00:15:24.124 this is the best day of the week, 00:15:24.308 --> 00:15:24.638 man. 00:15:24.636 --> 00:15:25.956 I love Sunday mornings. 00:15:25.988 --> 00:15:27.204 Good gracious alive. 00:15:27.252 --> 00:15:27.844 I said, 00:15:27.844 --> 00:15:29.276 whoo. Say, 00:15:29.308 --> 00:15:29.852 I'm sorry. 00:15:29.852 --> 00:15:31.516 You want to know where woo came from? 00:15:31.340 --> 00:15:32.330 There it is. 00:15:36.710 --> 00:15:38.486 We. And it goes on. 00:15:38.518 --> 00:15:39.210 It says, 00:15:39.990 --> 00:15:41.606 proclaim the mighty deeds, 00:15:41.638 --> 00:15:46.510 the praises of the one who called you out of darkness and into his 00:15:46.550 --> 00:15:47.358 marvelous light. 00:15:47.414 --> 00:15:51.374 We were talking about this in one of our meetings this week, 00:15:51.374 --> 00:15:51.686 and they said, 00:15:51.686 --> 00:15:54.656 oh, we need to sing marvelous lights Sunday morning. 00:15:54.670 --> 00:15:56.980 Years ago when I led worship here, 00:15:57.270 --> 00:15:58.962 Jennifer's anyway, 00:15:59.026 --> 00:16:00.274 years ago when I led worship here, 00:16:00.274 --> 00:16:01.610 we used to do marvelous light, 00:16:01.610 --> 00:16:02.666 which was this song, 00:16:02.666 --> 00:16:07.570 and I made everybody in the congregation do this marvelous light. 00:16:07.650 --> 00:16:08.146 You know, 00:16:08.146 --> 00:16:09.586 I'm in the remember, 00:16:09.778 --> 00:16:12.082 some of you remember anyway, 00:16:12.146 --> 00:16:13.610 but that was sort of the whole idea. 00:16:13.610 --> 00:16:18.722 We're celebrating that God called us out of darkness and into his 00:16:18.826 --> 00:16:20.226 marvelous light. 00:16:20.418 --> 00:16:21.690 That's what we look like. 00:16:21.690 --> 00:16:24.514 So now we have to consider the fact that, 00:16:24.514 --> 00:16:28.144 that there is a darkness that we've been called out of, 00:16:29.180 --> 00:16:29.840 you realize, 00:16:29.852 --> 00:16:31.036 as God's people, 00:16:31.108 --> 00:16:32.436 as the possession of God, 00:16:32.436 --> 00:16:35.120 we're not supposed to look like that darkness. 00:16:36.580 --> 00:16:37.908 Y'all realize that. 00:16:38.044 --> 00:16:41.900 Can I just go ahead and tell y'all we're in a season of darkness? 00:16:41.900 --> 00:16:44.940 Every other commercial on television is darkness these days. 00:16:44.980 --> 00:16:46.300 Just so you know, 00:16:47.020 --> 00:16:49.324 somebody called me this week and was asking me. 00:16:49.324 --> 00:16:50.796 Now, nobody ever asked me, 00:16:50.796 --> 00:16:51.388 so that's fine. 00:16:51.388 --> 00:16:52.378 I don't care. 00:16:53.320 --> 00:16:56.620 Somebody called me this week and asked me about politics. 00:16:57.360 --> 00:16:58.580 How about that? 00:16:59.480 --> 00:17:00.140 Uh oh. 00:17:00.184 --> 00:17:01.060 Look out. 00:17:02.080 --> 00:17:02.608 I said, 00:17:02.608 --> 00:17:03.432 well, you know what? 00:17:03.328 --> 00:17:05.408 I don't ever talk about it from up here. 00:17:05.408 --> 00:17:05.816 I said, 00:17:05.816 --> 00:17:07.796 but since you asked me personally, 00:17:08.040 --> 00:17:11.944 there are some things in this world here, 00:17:11.992 --> 00:17:15.300 darkness that I can't align with, 00:17:16.280 --> 00:17:18.590 that I can't be a part of. 00:17:18.719 --> 00:17:21.029 I can't say that I agree with. 00:17:22.559 --> 00:17:26.519 Can I go so far as to say I can't vote for. 00:17:26.879 --> 00:17:27.695 Right. 00:17:27.887 --> 00:17:32.179 I can't vote for any group that's going to deny God. 00:17:33.159 --> 00:17:38.399 I can't vote for any group that's going to deny God's designs for 00:17:38.439 --> 00:17:43.759 humanity. I can't vote for any group that's going to deny God's purpose 00:17:43.799 --> 00:17:46.430 and plan for his creation. 00:17:46.890 --> 00:17:49.322 Sorry, can't be there with you. 00:17:49.506 --> 00:17:51.230 Not gonna wear your colors. 00:17:52.130 --> 00:17:59.230 Okay. I can't align with those who would. 00:18:00.610 --> 00:18:01.178 Here you go. 00:18:01.178 --> 00:18:03.550 This is gonna infuriate some of y'all, 00:18:04.730 --> 00:18:06.098 but if I offend you, 00:18:06.098 --> 00:18:07.790 Bible says you forgive me. 00:18:09.050 --> 00:18:12.680 I can't align with those who are gonna kill innocent life. 00:18:13.240 --> 00:18:14.312 Can't do it. 00:18:14.456 --> 00:18:17.416 Sorry. I won't do it. 00:18:17.528 --> 00:18:17.896 I mean, 00:18:17.896 --> 00:18:18.928 I guess I could. 00:18:18.928 --> 00:18:19.648 I could say, 00:18:19.648 --> 00:18:20.168 oh, yeah, 00:18:20.168 --> 00:18:21.158 I'm a Christian. 00:18:20.920 --> 00:18:22.200 But over here, 00:18:22.240 --> 00:18:26.912 I think this is more important than what God's word says. 00:18:26.976 --> 00:18:29.286 So I'm going to vote over here. 00:18:29.960 --> 00:18:32.700 One of my favorite expressions from the pulpit. 00:18:34.840 --> 00:18:35.936 I'm not going to do it, 00:18:35.936 --> 00:18:40.060 y'all. I don't think God's people can do it. 00:18:40.680 --> 00:18:44.300 Now. I quit because that is darkness. 00:18:44.680 --> 00:18:47.980 And I get to be in the light. 00:18:49.080 --> 00:18:51.700 I get to live in the light. 00:18:52.320 --> 00:18:54.720 I get to walk in the light of good news, 00:18:54.720 --> 00:18:56.080 the light of redemption, 00:18:56.200 --> 00:18:58.376 the light of God's glory, 00:18:58.448 --> 00:19:01.748 and I get to proclaim the mighty acts of God. 00:19:02.080 --> 00:19:06.140 So I'm getting a lot of comments these days on my beard. 00:19:06.600 --> 00:19:07.984 It's growing longer, 00:19:08.072 --> 00:19:10.576 right? There's a reason for it. 00:19:10.608 --> 00:19:12.176 But years ago, 00:19:12.248 --> 00:19:13.608 I grew it long like this, 00:19:13.608 --> 00:19:14.928 and it was white. 00:19:15.280 --> 00:19:19.060 And somebody called me Papa Smurf. 00:19:22.440 --> 00:19:23.528 Yeah, that was Tracy, 00:19:23.528 --> 00:19:24.518 by the way. 00:19:25.960 --> 00:19:30.580 So I shaved it off because I didn't want to look like Papa Smurf. 00:19:31.080 --> 00:19:32.692 Right? I mean, 00:19:32.716 --> 00:19:33.548 people look at me and go, 00:19:33.548 --> 00:19:35.200 you look like Papa Smurf. 00:19:36.500 --> 00:19:37.160 All right. 00:19:36.948 --> 00:19:38.276 Well, I'm gonna go right along with it, 00:19:38.276 --> 00:19:38.476 all right? 00:19:38.476 --> 00:19:40.876 So what I want people to say is, 00:19:40.876 --> 00:19:42.756 you look like a follower of Jesus, 00:19:42.756 --> 00:19:45.716 right? Isn't that what we want people to say about our lives? 00:19:45.716 --> 00:19:49.140 You look like one who identifies with the glory and purpose and mighty 00:19:49.140 --> 00:19:50.130 acts of God. 00:19:50.204 --> 00:19:54.564 You look like one who subordinates and surrenders yourself to God's will, 00:19:54.612 --> 00:19:56.196 God's purpose for your life, 00:19:56.196 --> 00:19:59.278 and for those around you and the world around you. 00:19:59.004 --> 00:20:03.150 You look like one who has surrendered yourself to God's intent and 00:20:03.190 --> 00:20:04.530 purpose for this world. 00:20:04.910 --> 00:20:06.526 That's what I want people to see in me. 00:20:06.526 --> 00:20:07.770 Not Papa Smurf. 00:20:09.150 --> 00:20:11.130 But now it's growing back again. 00:20:11.830 --> 00:20:13.810 So this is what I've decided. 00:20:13.574 --> 00:20:15.478 Since I'm about to be a grandpa, 00:20:15.478 --> 00:20:17.810 I will own the Papa Smurf. 00:20:18.830 --> 00:20:20.182 If I'm gonna be a grandpa. 00:20:20.182 --> 00:20:23.638 Papa Smurf sounds just as good as anything else to me, 00:20:23.638 --> 00:20:26.400 right? But here you go. 00:20:26.560 --> 00:20:27.980 I get to. 00:20:28.400 --> 00:20:32.552 Because of God's election for my salvation. 00:20:32.736 --> 00:20:34.504 He elected me for salvation. 00:20:34.552 --> 00:20:40.060 And I responded to the fact that he called me out of darkness. 00:20:41.600 --> 00:20:43.496 He placed me. 00:20:43.688 --> 00:20:46.328 I didn't have to go looking for it. 00:20:45.912 --> 00:20:48.860 He placed me in his marvelous light. 00:20:49.160 --> 00:20:52.822 And then he began to show me all the different facets of that light. 00:20:52.822 --> 00:20:53.430 Through his word, 00:20:53.430 --> 00:20:55.630 by his spirit in the body of Christ. 00:20:55.630 --> 00:20:58.930 I get to see God at work all the time. 00:21:01.310 --> 00:21:02.918 I am a possession of God. 00:21:02.918 --> 00:21:04.250 Yes, I'm possessed. 00:21:06.110 --> 00:21:06.566 You know, 00:21:06.566 --> 00:21:07.406 that doesn't sound right, 00:21:07.406 --> 00:21:07.838 does it? 00:21:07.838 --> 00:21:08.782 I'm possessed. 00:21:08.886 --> 00:21:11.856 That's why Kyle freaked out when I said it. 00:21:12.030 --> 00:21:13.998 No, I am a possession of God. 00:21:13.998 --> 00:21:15.654 And here's the question for us this morning. 00:21:15.654 --> 00:21:16.370 Are you. 00:21:18.480 --> 00:21:20.460 Are you a possession of God? 00:21:21.560 --> 00:21:27.740 Do you look like what God describes as his possession in his word? 00:21:28.280 --> 00:21:29.264 Here you go. 00:21:29.264 --> 00:21:30.472 Gonna go farther. 00:21:30.656 --> 00:21:36.140 Do you behave like a possession of God? 00:21:37.360 --> 00:21:38.080 It's important, 00:21:38.160 --> 00:21:42.500 y'all. We're not supposed to look like the world. 00:21:43.090 --> 00:21:44.506 If you jump over into one, 00:21:44.506 --> 00:21:45.706 John, you'll find in there. 00:21:45.706 --> 00:21:48.162 If you say you're in the light, 00:21:48.226 --> 00:21:49.876 but you walk in darkness, 00:21:49.954 --> 00:21:51.070 you're a liar. 00:21:52.250 --> 00:21:53.240 What John said. 00:21:53.242 --> 00:21:56.578 So we got John and Peter chiming in together on this whole idea of 00:21:56.578 --> 00:21:58.030 walking in God's light. 00:21:58.970 --> 00:22:01.170 I want to look like God's people. 00:22:01.170 --> 00:22:03.050 I want to look like a follower of God. 00:22:03.050 --> 00:22:05.360 I want to look like a possession. 00:22:05.930 --> 00:22:08.940 Yes, I belong to. 00:22:09.010 --> 00:22:09.900 To God. 00:22:10.800 --> 00:22:12.540 Okay, so, 00:22:13.240 --> 00:22:14.992 last week was be the gathering. 00:22:14.992 --> 00:22:20.144 We come together as the people of God for the purpose of worship and our 00:22:20.192 --> 00:22:22.060 expression of love to God. 00:22:22.920 --> 00:22:23.744 Now we. 00:22:23.832 --> 00:22:24.822 In a minute. 00:22:24.640 --> 00:22:25.400 Well, let's see. 00:22:25.400 --> 00:22:28.020 In about 14 minutes, 00:22:28.320 --> 00:22:32.584 most of you will leave here and then you get to go out and be the people 00:22:32.584 --> 00:22:36.260 of God out there where the darkness actually is. 00:22:36.750 --> 00:22:41.850 Okay. Will you go out and represent the mighty deeds in the light of God? 00:22:44.470 --> 00:22:45.166 I told you. 00:22:45.166 --> 00:22:45.846 I tell you all the time, 00:22:45.846 --> 00:22:47.826 I'm not going to follow you. 00:22:48.310 --> 00:22:49.770 I'm not grading you. 00:22:51.190 --> 00:22:53.486 But we know what God's called us to. 00:22:53.486 --> 00:22:55.796 Now we got to go live it. 00:22:55.190 --> 00:22:58.170 Okay? It all starts with Jesus. 00:22:58.550 --> 00:22:59.670 If you don't know Jesus, 00:22:59.670 --> 00:23:00.660 you need Jesus. 00:23:00.774 --> 00:23:03.744 Maybe you wandered in here today and you're thinking, 00:23:03.960 --> 00:23:05.568 that guy yells too much. 00:23:05.568 --> 00:23:05.976 Okay. 00:23:06.008 --> 00:23:06.998 Yeah, he does. 00:23:08.920 --> 00:23:10.392 But as we leave today, 00:23:10.392 --> 00:23:14.624 you've got to decide whether or not you're going to live. 00:23:14.712 --> 00:23:20.144 The characteristics that proclaim to the world that you are God's 00:23:20.192 --> 00:23:22.380 possession. It's up to you. 00:23:23.200 --> 00:23:24.272 Not up to me. 00:23:24.272 --> 00:23:27.288 I'm just telling you what one Peter, 00:23:27.384 --> 00:23:28.040 chapter two, 00:23:28.040 --> 00:23:29.248 verses nine and ten, 00:23:29.248 --> 00:23:31.562 point out because it goes on. 00:23:31.706 --> 00:23:34.682 I didn't work my way all the way through verse ten because it's. 00:23:34.682 --> 00:23:35.786 But it's still important. 00:23:35.786 --> 00:23:37.658 Once you were not a people. 00:23:37.658 --> 00:23:39.322 Now you are God's people. 00:23:39.386 --> 00:23:40.706 You belong to God. 00:23:40.794 --> 00:23:42.978 You had not received mercy. 00:23:43.154 --> 00:23:45.794 That last phrase right there is really important. 00:23:46.130 --> 00:23:47.506 But because of sin, 00:23:47.578 --> 00:23:51.830 we all deserve death according to scripture. 00:23:52.930 --> 00:23:56.010 But God's given us that which we don't deserve. 00:23:56.170 --> 00:23:57.310 That's mercy. 00:23:57.810 --> 00:24:00.746 He has loved us and made us his. 00:24:00.938 --> 00:24:03.066 Okay. If you need Jesus, 00:24:03.178 --> 00:24:04.426 I'd love to share it with you. 00:24:04.426 --> 00:24:06.898 There are others in the room that will share Jesus with you. 00:24:06.898 --> 00:24:08.546 We're going to sing one more song. 00:24:08.314 --> 00:24:10.450 Gives you an opportunity to respond to God. 00:24:10.450 --> 00:24:11.306 So, let's pray. 00:24:11.306 --> 00:24:12.714 God, thank you for today and, 00:24:12.714 --> 00:24:14.364 God, for what you're doing. 00:24:14.490 --> 00:24:16.218 God, you're at work in our midst, 00:24:16.218 --> 00:24:17.410 and I praise you for that. 00:24:17.410 --> 00:24:18.314 And, God, 00:24:18.362 --> 00:24:24.606 yes, things like this make us realize that there's some things in our 00:24:24.638 --> 00:24:30.130 culture, in our society that really don't proclaim your mighty deeds. 00:24:30.590 --> 00:24:31.222 So, God, 00:24:31.222 --> 00:24:33.532 we need to proclaim your mighty deeds. 00:24:33.910 --> 00:24:35.606 We need to live it out. 00:24:35.606 --> 00:24:38.576 We need to show others what it looks like. 00:24:38.710 --> 00:24:39.198 And so, 00:24:39.198 --> 00:24:40.526 God, I pray that this morning, 00:24:40.526 --> 00:24:42.654 if there are those in this room that don't know Jesus, 00:24:42.654 --> 00:24:44.622 maybe there's one God, 00:24:44.646 --> 00:24:45.990 I want to introduce them to Jesus. 00:24:45.990 --> 00:24:46.958 I want them to know you, 00:24:46.958 --> 00:24:47.318 Jesus. 00:24:47.374 --> 00:24:49.734 I want them to know the salvation that you've given us. 00:24:49.734 --> 00:24:50.046 And so, 00:24:50.046 --> 00:24:51.170 God, help us. 00:24:51.970 --> 00:24:56.670 Help us to let the world see Jesus in us. 00:24:57.490 --> 00:24:59.378 We pray it in Jesus name. 00:24:59.378 --> 00:24:59.650 Amen.