WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:22.260 Hi, and welcome to the Willow Ridge Church weekly podcast. 00:00:22.780 --> 00:00:25.880 This is where you can find audio for our current and past sermons. 00:00:26.100 --> 00:00:30.420 We hope that you enjoy this week's installment, and be sure to check back next week to hear 00:00:30.420 --> 00:00:31.260 the latest message. 00:00:31.680 --> 00:00:32.460 Thanks for listening. 00:00:45.820 --> 00:00:46.860 Well, good morning. 00:00:47.660 --> 00:00:49.560 Glad that you guys are here with us. 00:00:49.560 --> 00:00:56.080 If you've got your Bibles going up at Luke chapter 9, as you turn there, I want you to 00:00:56.080 --> 00:01:00.460 encourage you throughout the course of today and tomorrow to be in prayer. 00:01:00.620 --> 00:01:07.640 We've got about 45 middle school, high school students, and adult leaders who are out skiing 00:01:07.640 --> 00:01:09.440 in West Virginia this weekend. 00:01:09.620 --> 00:01:15.060 They'll be traveling home tomorrow, and so please be in prayer for a safe day of skiing 00:01:15.060 --> 00:01:21.160 today and a safe day of travel, as they were supposed to get a whole lot of snow, and instead 00:01:21.160 --> 00:01:26.120 they're getting a whole lot of rain and ice, and so we want to be in prayer for them. 00:01:26.620 --> 00:01:32.500 Also, because of that, pretty much I believe almost all of our middle schoolers are there, 00:01:32.680 --> 00:01:36.220 so if you've got a middle schooler who didn't make it but was planning on coming to Bible 00:01:36.220 --> 00:01:41.320 study tonight, we will not have a middle school Bible study tonight because of that. 00:01:41.480 --> 00:01:48.960 Now, here's a little honesty, a little perspective that I learned about myself this weekend, okay? 00:01:49.200 --> 00:01:56.220 So, I've been in ministry now for about 17 years, and in the last 17 years, God has given 00:01:56.220 --> 00:02:02.960 me some phenomenal places and opportunities to go and to do ministry. 00:02:02.960 --> 00:02:07.240 Not only at the churches that He's called me at, but I'll be honest, I've been able to travel 00:02:07.240 --> 00:02:12.680 all over the world to do missions and to do ministry and have these opportunities. 00:02:13.240 --> 00:02:18.600 Within the United States, I've been able to go to Orlando, to New Orleans, multiple times 00:02:18.600 --> 00:02:22.100 to New York, and just wonderful opportunities there to go. 00:02:22.100 --> 00:02:24.100 God's opened the doors internationally. 00:02:24.400 --> 00:02:32.620 I've been able to go to Canada, Mexico, Bolivia, Haiti, South Africa, Taiwan, and India, 00:02:32.840 --> 00:02:34.820 and I may have left something out. 00:02:34.900 --> 00:02:41.200 And so, when God opens these doors, sometimes my lovely bride, she can go with me. 00:02:41.560 --> 00:02:43.080 God opens the doors for both of us. 00:02:43.280 --> 00:02:44.320 Her schedule's cleared. 00:02:44.600 --> 00:02:46.320 We can take off and we can go together. 00:02:46.620 --> 00:02:49.360 That happened a lot when we didn't have kids, right? 00:02:49.560 --> 00:02:50.920 We could pack up and we could go. 00:02:50.920 --> 00:02:55.260 We spent two and a half weeks in South Africa right after we'd been married for about a year, 00:02:55.320 --> 00:02:56.640 and it was a wonderful opportunity. 00:02:57.040 --> 00:02:59.720 But if she can't go, here's what happens. 00:03:00.020 --> 00:03:02.760 I get to go, and y'all know this, at least twice. 00:03:02.840 --> 00:03:04.500 Twice a year, I'm gone. 00:03:04.620 --> 00:03:09.420 I'm somewhere within the United States once a year, and then somewhere internationally once a year. 00:03:09.520 --> 00:03:10.540 And so, I get to go. 00:03:10.880 --> 00:03:16.760 And then Erin, as I sacrifice for the Lord and go to all these beautiful, exotic places, right? 00:03:17.180 --> 00:03:21.640 Erin stays home, and she keeps the house together. 00:03:21.820 --> 00:03:24.140 She keeps the kids where they need to be. 00:03:24.140 --> 00:03:31.160 She keeps all of our pets because the Bradbury house is literally like a zoo with what we've got going on. 00:03:31.280 --> 00:03:34.360 I hope no one from the HOA is watching right now, right? 00:03:34.600 --> 00:03:38.660 It is crazy what's going on at her house, and she keeps it going. 00:03:38.800 --> 00:03:40.520 And it never fails, right? 00:03:40.620 --> 00:03:43.480 When I come home, the house is clean. 00:03:43.840 --> 00:03:47.720 Everything is how it should be as she takes care of all of that. 00:03:47.920 --> 00:03:54.620 Well, this weekend, she went skiing with the kids, and she left me home. 00:03:55.060 --> 00:03:58.260 And I'm not handling it well, all right? 00:03:58.380 --> 00:04:01.360 So, I am looking forward to her being home. 00:04:01.580 --> 00:04:07.780 This is the first time, I believe, in 20 years that we haven't spent a Valentine's Day together. 00:04:07.780 --> 00:04:10.780 And she just sent me a picture of her and Emma out on the slopes. 00:04:10.940 --> 00:04:12.420 So, she's having a blast. 00:04:12.620 --> 00:04:15.920 I'm glad she can do it, but I'm a little bit miserable right now, right? 00:04:16.040 --> 00:04:20.100 So, y'all pray for me as I try to hold the standard, too, when she comes home. 00:04:20.380 --> 00:04:21.820 So, here's the thing. 00:04:21.920 --> 00:04:28.860 This morning, as we think about ministry, God provides ministry opportunities for you. 00:04:29.440 --> 00:04:33.240 And I want to ask you three questions concerning ministry. 00:04:33.820 --> 00:04:38.440 And I hope that my goal is, let me phrase it this way. 00:04:38.500 --> 00:04:45.200 My goal is not that you have to answer these questions right now, but that by the end of today 00:04:45.200 --> 00:04:51.040 or the end of this week, based off of what we're going to look at and what we're going to talk about, 00:04:51.540 --> 00:04:55.280 that you have an answer to these three questions about ministry. 00:04:56.260 --> 00:04:59.940 And as we talk, as we think about what ministry looks like, 00:04:59.940 --> 00:05:03.100 here's the first thing I want to kind of challenge you with. 00:05:03.620 --> 00:05:05.820 Don't let this place count. 00:05:07.240 --> 00:05:08.640 It's easy for us. 00:05:08.720 --> 00:05:13.780 It's especially easy for me to look at the ministry that I do 00:05:13.780 --> 00:05:18.960 and have it fit very neat inside of the box of Willow Ridge Church. 00:05:19.460 --> 00:05:20.800 And I want to be honest with you. 00:05:20.900 --> 00:05:24.180 When I say don't let it count, that doesn't mean we're not grateful. 00:05:24.180 --> 00:05:32.880 Like I see faces in here who just this previous hour were next door sharing the gospel with the boys and girls 00:05:32.880 --> 00:05:37.660 who come up and who need to know and need to be trained and need to be discipled. 00:05:37.860 --> 00:05:38.800 And thank you for that. 00:05:39.260 --> 00:05:45.440 We just experienced men and women on this stage taking the gifts that God has given them 00:05:45.440 --> 00:05:48.140 and using them for ministry here. 00:05:48.680 --> 00:05:53.600 Right now, as you're watching me or if you're at home watching me on your TV, 00:05:54.000 --> 00:06:00.280 there's people who are working in the booth with technology to make sure that lights stay on, 00:06:00.280 --> 00:06:06.360 that words stay on the screen, and that microphones are at the level that they need to be. 00:06:07.120 --> 00:06:10.940 And I'm very grateful for you and your sacrifice of that. 00:06:11.580 --> 00:06:15.940 But when I talk about ministry, and I can think about this for me as well, 00:06:16.180 --> 00:06:19.340 when we limit it to what we do in the church, 00:06:19.460 --> 00:06:26.260 there's a whole harvest field waiting for us outside of the walls of this church 00:06:26.260 --> 00:06:30.760 that I feel like God is calling each and every one of us to tap into. 00:06:31.620 --> 00:06:34.560 And so if you were to ask me what my ministry is, 00:06:34.740 --> 00:06:37.060 I'm hoping what I would communicate to you, 00:06:37.300 --> 00:06:42.280 not only what I do here, but what I do outside of here as well. 00:06:42.940 --> 00:06:47.800 With the men and women in my unique situation that God has placed in my life 00:06:47.800 --> 00:06:49.820 for me to minister and for me to care to. 00:06:50.180 --> 00:06:53.820 So here are the three questions I want to ask you this morning as we think through this. 00:06:53.880 --> 00:06:55.820 Number one, what is your ministry? 00:06:56.940 --> 00:06:58.120 What is your ministry? 00:06:59.120 --> 00:07:03.980 With who you are and the gifts that God has given you, 00:07:04.440 --> 00:07:12.400 what is the vision of ministry that God has given you for outside the walls of this church? 00:07:13.520 --> 00:07:15.040 The second question I want to ask you, 00:07:15.820 --> 00:07:17.280 where is your ministry? 00:07:18.260 --> 00:07:23.320 Where has God strategically placed you and gifted you 00:07:23.320 --> 00:07:26.440 so that you can live for His name and for His glory? 00:07:26.440 --> 00:07:28.660 Now, I want to back this one really quick. 00:07:29.060 --> 00:07:30.580 Some of us say everywhere. 00:07:31.740 --> 00:07:32.800 Some of us say everywhere. 00:07:33.100 --> 00:07:35.800 Well, here's what I want to kind of challenge on that a little bit. 00:07:36.080 --> 00:07:39.440 Even Jesus defined where His ministry would take place, 00:07:39.560 --> 00:07:41.140 even though He never stopped. 00:07:41.500 --> 00:07:41.700 All right? 00:07:42.460 --> 00:07:43.940 Scripture is clear numerous times. 00:07:44.060 --> 00:07:47.520 We'll see one instance this morning where after doing ministry, 00:07:47.900 --> 00:07:49.800 Jesus kind of retreats and has a break. 00:07:50.480 --> 00:07:52.800 So if Jesus needed a break from His place of ministry, 00:07:52.980 --> 00:07:53.880 we do as well. 00:07:53.880 --> 00:07:55.500 So what is your ministry? 00:07:56.020 --> 00:07:57.640 Where is your ministry? 00:07:57.960 --> 00:07:59.740 And then the third that I want you to think is, 00:07:59.840 --> 00:08:01.760 is who is your ministry? 00:08:02.560 --> 00:08:03.640 Who is your ministry? 00:08:04.500 --> 00:08:08.120 Like right now, when I'm thinking about my ministry outside of this place, 00:08:08.300 --> 00:08:11.680 there are two faces that continually come to mind for me. 00:08:12.080 --> 00:08:16.200 Two places of two men that I feel like God has placed in my life 00:08:16.200 --> 00:08:22.340 for a unique purpose for me to display and to share the gospel with them. 00:08:22.840 --> 00:08:28.280 And so we're not going to stand at the door and as you leave answer these three questions for me. 00:08:28.580 --> 00:08:33.400 But as you're growing in your faith, as you're growing in your response to the Lord, 00:08:33.560 --> 00:08:38.860 as you're looking at your life outside of these church walls to really embrace the great commission 00:08:38.860 --> 00:08:41.720 of what God has for you, what is your ministry? 00:08:42.160 --> 00:08:43.280 Where is your ministry? 00:08:43.520 --> 00:08:45.160 And then who is your ministry? 00:08:45.860 --> 00:08:52.780 And what I want us to see of what Jesus is going to do is that when we begin to embrace this, 00:08:52.840 --> 00:08:55.560 that Jesus calls us into ministry, all of us. 00:08:56.340 --> 00:09:01.160 Jesus prepares us for ministry, and then Jesus equips us for ministry. 00:09:01.700 --> 00:09:04.080 And that's what we're going to see in Luke chapter 9. 00:09:04.440 --> 00:09:07.380 Luke chapter 9 is one of my favorite chapters of the Bible. 00:09:07.380 --> 00:09:13.780 There's so much that's filled in this chapter of Scripture that, in fact, over the next— 00:09:13.780 --> 00:09:16.740 we've been doing like a chapter or two each week, 00:09:16.740 --> 00:09:23.560 but we're going to actually spend three weeks in Luke chapter 9 kind of working through this together 00:09:23.560 --> 00:09:32.220 as we begin to see Jesus' ministry is going to begin to head down a more narrowed and focused path with what He has. 00:09:32.420 --> 00:09:35.660 But then also something very important happens. 00:09:36.000 --> 00:09:42.280 Jesus begins to share in Luke 9 the invitation of ministry. 00:09:43.140 --> 00:09:45.200 And so Jesus has been modeling this. 00:09:45.980 --> 00:09:47.720 Jesus has been talking about this. 00:09:48.060 --> 00:09:53.220 But what we find in Luke chapter 9 is the invitation of ministry. 00:09:53.420 --> 00:09:55.780 And so let's start reading in verse 1. 00:09:55.780 --> 00:09:57.780 It says, 00:09:57.780 --> 00:10:05.580 And he called the twelve together and gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases. 00:10:06.380 --> 00:10:10.760 And he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal. 00:10:11.520 --> 00:10:12.760 And he said to them, 00:10:12.760 --> 00:10:21.420 Take nothing for your journey, no staff, nor bag, nor bread, nor money, and do not have two tunics. 00:10:22.060 --> 00:10:26.480 And whatever house you enter, stay there, and from there depart. 00:10:27.020 --> 00:10:36.080 And wherever they do not receive you, when you leave that town, shake off the dust from your feet as a testimony against them. 00:10:36.080 --> 00:10:42.200 And they departed and went through the villages, preaching the gospel and healing everywhere. 00:10:42.860 --> 00:10:50.520 So Jesus has come to this ragtag group of twelve that He's called to follow Him and that have responded. 00:10:51.140 --> 00:10:54.200 And remember, they're coming from all different backgrounds. 00:10:54.540 --> 00:10:58.920 But none of them are coming from a background of ministry. 00:10:59.660 --> 00:11:00.860 You've got fishermen. 00:11:01.240 --> 00:11:03.060 You've got tax collectors. 00:11:03.500 --> 00:11:12.000 You've got this—Peter kind of comes from this, like, political, zealous crowd that's there that wants to overthrow the government. 00:11:12.260 --> 00:11:16.860 But, like, none of this group have been theologically trained. 00:11:17.540 --> 00:11:23.460 None of them have gone through a five-year process of building them through a leadership pipeline, 00:11:23.740 --> 00:11:26.520 of elevating them from position after position. 00:11:26.520 --> 00:11:32.080 But Jesus calls this group of people and is going to mobilize them. 00:11:32.340 --> 00:11:33.360 And here's going to be the key. 00:11:33.960 --> 00:11:39.360 Because there's so many of us sitting in here this morning, and you think to yourself, 00:11:39.800 --> 00:11:42.760 there's no way I can do that. 00:11:43.820 --> 00:11:44.980 There's no way. 00:11:45.660 --> 00:11:48.900 There's no way that I can have a ministry. 00:11:49.440 --> 00:11:50.720 I'm young in my faith. 00:11:51.680 --> 00:11:54.340 There's no way I can have a ministry. 00:11:54.340 --> 00:11:56.380 I don't know enough about the Bible. 00:11:57.380 --> 00:12:00.180 There's no way I can have a ministry. 00:12:00.480 --> 00:12:04.940 I'm an introvert who is petrified to speak to anyone. 00:12:05.920 --> 00:12:08.460 And there's no way I can have a ministry. 00:12:08.740 --> 00:12:09.820 I'm too busy. 00:12:10.980 --> 00:12:11.160 Right? 00:12:12.020 --> 00:12:19.840 But what we see is Jesus takes this group who could have reason after reason after reason. 00:12:19.840 --> 00:12:26.760 And not only does he mobilize them, Jesus gives him, in Luke chapter 9, power and authority to go. 00:12:27.620 --> 00:12:33.680 Now, this isn't the same thing that's going to happen, but it's similar of what takes place in the book of Acts. 00:12:34.280 --> 00:12:39.540 If you remember in Acts chapter 1, Jesus tells us that we'll receive authority and power to go. 00:12:39.980 --> 00:12:44.840 And then later on at Pentecost, the Holy Spirit falls on the believers, and they go. 00:12:45.020 --> 00:12:49.820 And through the power of God, they fulfill the ministry that God has for them. 00:12:49.940 --> 00:12:53.400 And this is what we see, and this is what God is doing in the life of the believer. 00:12:54.400 --> 00:12:56.080 Sure, you don't have enough knowledge. 00:12:57.460 --> 00:12:58.400 No one has it all. 00:12:59.580 --> 00:13:01.040 Sure, you're busy. 00:13:01.240 --> 00:13:02.280 We're all busy. 00:13:02.820 --> 00:13:05.240 Sure, you've got insecurities and reasons. 00:13:05.520 --> 00:13:09.280 We've all got insecurities and reasons that want to hold us back. 00:13:09.440 --> 00:13:16.360 But just in this moment, as Jesus gave them power and authority, Jesus does the same thing for you and I. 00:13:17.300 --> 00:13:19.740 But then Jesus does something neat here. 00:13:20.400 --> 00:13:29.200 And it's the same thing as we're leaning in on him in our life of what Jesus does in their life to what Jesus is going to do for us. 00:13:29.200 --> 00:13:34.980 Their going is going to be based on dependency of him. 00:13:35.620 --> 00:13:40.580 Notice Jesus says, like, hey, leave some things behind. 00:13:41.760 --> 00:13:45.960 Leave your staff that would protect you. 00:13:46.980 --> 00:13:55.620 Leave your bag that would carry your money so that you can provide for yourself and your water that would be in it. 00:13:56.160 --> 00:14:00.520 Leave your bread and the basic nourishment that you would leave behind. 00:14:01.240 --> 00:14:08.580 And leave your tunic behind as well, which would provide comfort and shelter for them as they travel. 00:14:09.200 --> 00:14:18.460 What Jesus is saying that when we embark in ministry with him, he's not saying tomorrow when you go to work, if that's where your ministry spot is, to leave your wallet at home. 00:14:18.460 --> 00:14:25.000 But what Jesus is saying is, if you're going to do the work of God, you can't be dependent on yourself. 00:14:25.300 --> 00:14:28.320 You must be dependent on me. 00:14:29.040 --> 00:14:39.780 Because the work you're going to do is not the work that you're capable of, but it's the work that Jesus is capable of through you. 00:14:39.880 --> 00:14:49.380 And this is going to be important as we see Jesus is going to dive deeper and deeper every single time in Acts chapter 9 into the relationship with the disciples. 00:14:49.820 --> 00:14:54.380 Say, I've got a work for you to do, but you've got to depend on me to get you there. 00:14:54.560 --> 00:14:56.660 You've got to depend on me to sustain you. 00:14:56.760 --> 00:15:01.600 And you've got to depend on me to do the work that needs to be done. 00:15:02.240 --> 00:15:08.260 But Jesus is also very key that the work they're going to do is the kingdom work. 00:15:09.000 --> 00:15:12.880 He says, as you go into these villages, you're going to heal. 00:15:13.740 --> 00:15:13.860 Right? 00:15:13.900 --> 00:15:14.560 Imagine that. 00:15:15.080 --> 00:15:16.920 Jesus says, I'm going to give you the power to heal. 00:15:17.820 --> 00:15:21.920 Jesus says to these disciples, I'm going to give you power and authority over demons. 00:15:23.160 --> 00:15:25.160 They've seen Jesus call out demons. 00:15:25.820 --> 00:15:27.260 They've seen what that looks like. 00:15:27.260 --> 00:15:30.560 And now Jesus is giving them the authority to do that as well. 00:15:31.100 --> 00:15:39.440 But Jesus says, as you do these things, make sure that you proclaim the kingdom of God. 00:15:40.020 --> 00:15:48.900 Here's a concern that we must address if we're going to do ministry that is focused on God's kingdom. 00:15:49.620 --> 00:15:54.400 You and I, we can do a lot of good works for people. 00:15:55.020 --> 00:15:56.260 We can be kind. 00:15:57.240 --> 00:15:58.760 We can meet physical needs. 00:15:59.640 --> 00:16:07.260 We can reach out and seek to live our lives in a position and posturing of service to those around us. 00:16:07.480 --> 00:16:10.020 I'm not saying that we should not do these things. 00:16:10.240 --> 00:16:11.240 In fact, we should. 00:16:11.480 --> 00:16:14.820 And it is based in God's word and truth that we do these things. 00:16:14.820 --> 00:16:28.660 But at some point in time, we use these as opportunities to share with and to talk about and to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ and to work in the kingdom. 00:16:28.660 --> 00:16:31.160 Because it's not about the works. 00:16:31.160 --> 00:16:34.080 It's about the one who sends the workers. 00:16:35.660 --> 00:16:38.240 So we have to have our mind focused in on that. 00:16:39.040 --> 00:16:43.840 I heard a pastor say this years ago, and I've loved this and tried to embrace this in my life. 00:16:44.000 --> 00:16:51.520 He said, unfortunately, so many times we go out into this world and we love people straight to hell. 00:16:52.620 --> 00:16:53.740 And here's what he meant. 00:16:55.220 --> 00:16:56.480 We care for you. 00:16:57.580 --> 00:16:58.740 We love you. 00:16:59.740 --> 00:17:01.060 We serve you. 00:17:01.960 --> 00:17:03.520 We provide for you. 00:17:04.240 --> 00:17:08.740 But we never tell you about Jesus. 00:17:10.100 --> 00:17:20.760 And in that, we can leave you thinking all is well when Jesus needs to address the sinful heart that you have. 00:17:21.620 --> 00:17:23.080 So Jesus sends them out. 00:17:23.680 --> 00:17:27.980 He sends them into ministry with a purpose and with a point. 00:17:28.540 --> 00:17:29.660 And so the disciples go. 00:17:30.380 --> 00:17:35.740 And they go out and they come back to Jesus and they report all that's happened and all that's taken place. 00:17:36.220 --> 00:17:37.460 And then Jesus does something. 00:17:37.460 --> 00:17:45.080 And he takes this group of disciples and he withdraws away to a very small town where he can just be there with his disciples. 00:17:45.580 --> 00:17:47.400 But crowds of people find out. 00:17:47.800 --> 00:17:51.200 Like, word is out about Jesus and the stuff that's happening. 00:17:51.480 --> 00:17:52.100 I mean, think about it. 00:17:52.100 --> 00:17:53.900 There was one guy who was doing this. 00:17:54.020 --> 00:17:57.520 And now there's 12 that are going out and doing this in his name. 00:17:58.360 --> 00:18:02.780 And so the crowds begin to flock and begin to come and find out where Jesus is. 00:18:02.780 --> 00:18:05.260 And they find and they surround Jesus. 00:18:05.560 --> 00:18:09.320 And the Bible tells us that Jesus begins to teach and do healings there. 00:18:09.580 --> 00:18:12.220 And so the crowd begins to grow and grow. 00:18:12.580 --> 00:18:14.340 And a problem rises up. 00:18:15.060 --> 00:18:17.160 After a long day of teaching. 00:18:17.820 --> 00:18:19.600 After a long day of healing. 00:18:20.100 --> 00:18:24.220 In this small rural, out in the middle of nowhere town. 00:18:24.400 --> 00:18:27.380 There begins to be some grumbling that people are hungry. 00:18:28.220 --> 00:18:30.480 And it's hard because there's nowhere around. 00:18:30.480 --> 00:18:32.780 There's not a Walmart down the road, right? 00:18:32.960 --> 00:18:35.560 Where you can go and just provide a meal for them. 00:18:36.080 --> 00:18:39.320 And so the disciples come back with a logical plan. 00:18:39.720 --> 00:18:43.840 They say, Jesus, let's just send them away for food. 00:18:44.700 --> 00:18:46.940 But Jesus is going to step in and do something different. 00:18:47.660 --> 00:18:49.320 And here's what I want us to think of. 00:18:49.360 --> 00:18:54.480 As you think about the ministry, the what, the where, and the who God has for you. 00:18:55.000 --> 00:19:01.400 That oftentimes, logic can interfere with ministry opportunities. 00:19:02.160 --> 00:19:03.960 I'm not saying throw logic out the window. 00:19:04.100 --> 00:19:05.460 God gave you a brain, use it. 00:19:06.160 --> 00:19:09.400 But before you lean in on your own understanding, right? 00:19:10.120 --> 00:19:11.040 Trust him. 00:19:11.840 --> 00:19:13.840 Listen to him and seek him. 00:19:13.940 --> 00:19:15.720 So we'll jump down and look at verse 13. 00:19:17.160 --> 00:19:18.720 Jesus looks to solve the problem. 00:19:19.260 --> 00:19:25.440 And scripture says, but he said to them, and I love this, you give them something to eat. 00:19:26.360 --> 00:19:34.620 And they said, we have no more than five loaves and two fish unless we are to go and buy food for all of these people. 00:19:34.620 --> 00:19:37.980 Verse 14, for there were about 5,000 men. 00:19:38.140 --> 00:19:39.360 So let's pause real quick. 00:19:39.660 --> 00:19:41.800 There's not just 5,000 people there. 00:19:42.020 --> 00:19:44.440 A low estimate would be somewhere around 10,000. 00:19:44.640 --> 00:19:51.040 But for whatever reason, during this time, when you surveyed a crowd, you only counted men. 00:19:51.220 --> 00:20:00.780 So what they're saying to Jesus is, look, we've got five loaves and two fish unless, right, we can go buy food for all of these people. 00:20:01.180 --> 00:20:02.820 Jesus, this is impossible. 00:20:03.960 --> 00:20:05.400 We don't have enough money. 00:20:06.660 --> 00:20:08.420 We don't have enough food. 00:20:09.200 --> 00:20:10.600 And we have a problem. 00:20:12.020 --> 00:20:14.020 Continue back in verse 14. 00:20:14.840 --> 00:20:21.380 And he said to his disciples, have them sit down in groups of about 50 each. 00:20:22.040 --> 00:20:22.680 I love this. 00:20:22.740 --> 00:20:23.580 And they did so. 00:20:24.600 --> 00:20:26.400 And had them all sit down. 00:20:27.500 --> 00:20:33.800 Verse 16, and taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven and said a blessing over them. 00:20:33.800 --> 00:20:40.180 Then he broke the five loaves, then he broke the five loaves and gave them to the disciples to sit before the crowd. 00:20:41.300 --> 00:20:44.820 Right, so this ministry opportunity comes up. 00:20:45.600 --> 00:20:47.260 And notice what Jesus did. 00:20:48.580 --> 00:20:50.580 You're going to give them something to eat. 00:20:51.400 --> 00:20:51.960 The what? 00:20:53.700 --> 00:21:06.540 You're going to take the food and hand it to them. 00:21:07.440 --> 00:21:07.820 The who. 00:21:08.980 --> 00:21:10.720 And Jesus doesn't walk around. 00:21:11.260 --> 00:21:11.800 That's me. 00:21:12.400 --> 00:21:13.420 I did this. 00:21:14.240 --> 00:21:15.040 What does he do? 00:21:15.700 --> 00:21:23.320 Jesus did the work, but he gave the disciples the opportunity to partner in ministry. 00:21:24.260 --> 00:21:30.840 A beautiful picture of what life looks like when we walk with God. 00:21:31.840 --> 00:21:36.080 God could have chosen any means to declare his glory. 00:21:36.940 --> 00:21:41.120 God could have chosen any means to bring people to himself. 00:21:41.680 --> 00:21:53.060 But what God does is he gives you and I the wonderful opportunity to partner with him if we'll just listen and be obedient. 00:21:54.140 --> 00:21:55.300 Jesus says, I'm going to give you the what. 00:21:56.200 --> 00:21:57.480 I'm going to give you the where. 00:21:58.420 --> 00:21:59.460 And I'm going to give you the who. 00:22:00.280 --> 00:22:08.180 Also notice that within this, Jesus didn't display this to the disciples in a three-step plan before all of this happened. 00:22:08.760 --> 00:22:09.820 They came with a problem. 00:22:09.960 --> 00:22:11.600 Jesus says, we're going to take care of it. 00:22:11.640 --> 00:22:12.320 They said, okay. 00:22:13.480 --> 00:22:16.360 Jesus said, we're going to get them in groups of 50. 00:22:17.000 --> 00:22:18.840 They said, okay. 00:22:19.540 --> 00:22:25.420 And then after they were all in their groups, Jesus said, now this is what we're going to bring them. 00:22:26.060 --> 00:22:27.400 And they said, okay. 00:22:28.720 --> 00:22:32.340 Every single instance of a step of trust. 00:22:32.340 --> 00:22:34.920 And folks, this is what ministry looks like. 00:22:35.800 --> 00:22:39.340 This is what the opportunities are that God has given us. 00:22:39.400 --> 00:22:40.820 And then look at verse 17. 00:22:41.680 --> 00:22:44.620 And they all ate and were satisfied. 00:22:45.660 --> 00:22:51.860 And what was left over was picked up, 12 baskets of broken pieces. 00:22:52.360 --> 00:22:53.320 Jesus did the work. 00:22:53.320 --> 00:22:58.020 The disciples were obedient to what God had called them to do. 00:22:58.380 --> 00:23:07.460 And as a result, those who came that were both physically and spiritually hungry left satisfied in their encounter with Christ. 00:23:07.660 --> 00:23:10.500 Now, did all of them become followers of Jesus? 00:23:11.400 --> 00:23:11.760 No. 00:23:12.640 --> 00:23:13.340 There's no way. 00:23:14.080 --> 00:23:18.980 There's no way close to 10,000 people in this moment all became followers. 00:23:18.980 --> 00:23:32.460 But in this moment, they had an encounter of positivity, not only with the physical of what needed to be done, but they heard the spiritual needs as Jesus taught them there as well. 00:23:33.460 --> 00:23:40.300 Jesus has given the disciples a true hands-on ministry experience. 00:23:41.080 --> 00:23:42.920 And it's what Jesus wants to give you and I. 00:23:43.880 --> 00:23:52.360 Regardless of all of the excuses and all of the reasons that you and I can come up with, none of us are qualified enough. 00:23:53.420 --> 00:23:55.520 None of us are experienced enough. 00:23:56.100 --> 00:23:58.420 None of us are talented enough. 00:23:58.700 --> 00:24:02.580 If we were, we wouldn't need Jesus. 00:24:04.100 --> 00:24:12.600 And so he holds back so that he can step into the voids that we acknowledge within our life. 00:24:13.700 --> 00:24:16.980 Like, don't wait until you're educated enough. 00:24:17.920 --> 00:24:20.800 Don't wait until you're experienced enough. 00:24:21.080 --> 00:24:24.280 Don't wait until you're polished enough. 00:24:24.400 --> 00:24:26.980 Because you will never get there. 00:24:26.980 --> 00:24:30.620 And if you're waiting until you get there, you're not trusting Jesus. 00:24:30.860 --> 00:24:32.140 You're trusting yourself. 00:24:33.540 --> 00:24:39.840 So after this is over, the scripture says that Jesus gets away again with his disciples. 00:24:41.020 --> 00:24:42.960 And I can imagine, like, being there. 00:24:43.780 --> 00:24:46.660 Like, this for these guys, real quick, show of hands. 00:24:46.840 --> 00:24:49.080 How many of you have ever been on a mission trip? 00:24:49.180 --> 00:24:49.720 Raise your hand. 00:24:50.260 --> 00:24:50.380 Right? 00:24:51.200 --> 00:24:51.940 That's awesome. 00:24:51.940 --> 00:24:57.660 Thank you all for going from hearing from the Lord and being willing to go outside your comfort zone and serve him. 00:24:57.900 --> 00:25:05.340 I've been on a ton of mission trips, but I will honestly say probably the most special mission trip that I've ever been on was my first mission trip. 00:25:06.000 --> 00:25:06.100 Right? 00:25:06.460 --> 00:25:09.460 And in this, this is what these disciples have had. 00:25:09.840 --> 00:25:11.480 They've had their first mission trip. 00:25:12.420 --> 00:25:16.080 They've been given some work to go do, and they've gone and done it. 00:25:16.720 --> 00:25:24.220 They've had some people come to them, and they see Christ show up in a miraculous way, and things happen, and things take place. 00:25:24.220 --> 00:25:30.780 And now, instead of being on the outskirts watching it happen, they got their hands dirty in the ministry. 00:25:31.220 --> 00:25:38.120 And I can imagine that there begins to be, like, this buzz amongst the group of them about what are we going to do next? 00:25:38.260 --> 00:25:39.620 What is waiting for us? 00:25:39.740 --> 00:25:46.240 I can't wait to see what the next town is going to look like, and what the next miracle is that we're going to have an opportunity to do. 00:25:46.240 --> 00:25:52.620 And so Jesus withdraws and brings the disciples with him, and he asks them a question. 00:25:53.620 --> 00:25:55.600 They've gone into the cities and the villages. 00:25:56.780 --> 00:25:59.180 They've sat with their groups of 50. 00:26:00.440 --> 00:26:02.900 And he says, who do they say that I am? 00:26:04.300 --> 00:26:06.100 And the disciples begin to speak. 00:26:07.140 --> 00:26:12.780 They say, well, some of them say that you're John the Baptist, who had just been executed. 00:26:13.660 --> 00:26:16.260 Some say you're Elijah, prophet of old. 00:26:16.960 --> 00:26:23.080 Some say you're another, a different prophet of old that has passed and come alive again. 00:26:25.900 --> 00:26:30.000 But Jesus isn't concerned about what the crowd is thinking of him. 00:26:30.780 --> 00:26:34.960 But in verse 20, he nails them down and gets to the point. 00:26:36.180 --> 00:26:40.620 He says, then he said to them, but who do you say that I am? 00:26:41.760 --> 00:26:42.840 You've seen this. 00:26:43.660 --> 00:26:45.200 You've experienced this. 00:26:46.000 --> 00:26:47.760 You've walked with me. 00:26:48.660 --> 00:26:51.120 You've heard my teaching more than anyone else. 00:26:51.120 --> 00:26:53.740 But who do you say I am? 00:26:53.920 --> 00:26:59.560 And Scripture tells us, and Peter answered, you are the Christ God. 00:26:59.860 --> 00:27:04.760 Literally, he says, Jesus, you're the Messiah. 00:27:05.960 --> 00:27:14.240 Now here's where this goes and turns in a moment of power between Jesus and his disciples. 00:27:15.580 --> 00:27:24.200 What Jesus is going to do next is explain to them what exactly that means. 00:27:25.300 --> 00:27:33.760 What Jesus is going to explain is that if he is truly the Messiah, that there's a calling that he must fulfill. 00:27:34.600 --> 00:27:40.240 What Jesus is pointing them to is that there is a work that he needs to do. 00:27:40.640 --> 00:27:41.560 Verse 21. 00:27:41.560 --> 00:27:41.580 Verse 21. 00:27:42.580 --> 00:27:47.920 And he strictly charged and commanded them to tell this to no one, saying, 00:27:48.100 --> 00:28:02.140 The son of man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes and be killed and on the third day be raised. 00:28:02.640 --> 00:28:09.620 And so when Peter declares, Jesus, you're the Messiah, like you would think, like this is the high point. 00:28:10.080 --> 00:28:14.900 This is the culmination where the celebration would happen and take place. 00:28:15.280 --> 00:28:22.780 The long-awaited Messiah that we've looked for from the Old Testament, from the prophets of what we look to come back and establish the kingdom. 00:28:23.340 --> 00:28:26.580 Jesus, you're going to overturn this political thing that's happening here. 00:28:26.840 --> 00:28:30.040 Jesus, you're going to overturn this military thing that's happening here. 00:28:30.040 --> 00:28:38.060 But what they forget about is the Messiah that Isaiah talks about and the suffering servant. 00:28:39.060 --> 00:28:44.300 That the Messiah that Jesus is, he's not a political Messiah. 00:28:45.320 --> 00:28:48.040 He's not a military Messiah. 00:28:49.180 --> 00:28:52.340 He's a sacrificial Messiah. 00:28:53.340 --> 00:29:05.120 And so Jesus says, if you expected me to be this type of powerful leader and powerful authority, then you've got to understand that I'm different. 00:29:06.400 --> 00:29:10.240 I'm different than what you hoped for, different when you expected. 00:29:11.300 --> 00:29:16.540 You see, Jesus will display his power by allowing others to have power over him. 00:29:17.740 --> 00:29:22.360 Jesus will display his power by displaying his mercy. 00:29:23.580 --> 00:29:27.140 Jesus will show his power by being obedient. 00:29:28.920 --> 00:29:33.780 Jesus will show his power by displaying unconditional love. 00:29:35.260 --> 00:29:38.400 Jesus will show his power ultimately. 00:29:39.480 --> 00:29:45.580 not by stopping death, but by defeating it. 00:29:46.820 --> 00:29:50.920 And in order to defeat death, he must die. 00:29:52.700 --> 00:29:56.460 You see, Jesus says, there's a calling on my life as well. 00:29:57.320 --> 00:30:00.180 There's a road that I have to walk. 00:30:01.260 --> 00:30:06.880 And it's a road of suffering that I'm going to go down and that I'm going to embrace. 00:30:08.460 --> 00:30:10.820 I feel like that's probably not what the group was expecting. 00:30:11.960 --> 00:30:14.280 Not what the group was going to hear. 00:30:15.640 --> 00:30:20.700 But Jesus continues to turn to a greater understanding. 00:30:21.980 --> 00:30:32.140 Because the next calling that Jesus is going to have in this is not his calling, but his calling to them. 00:30:33.020 --> 00:30:36.320 The position that you and I are called to. 00:30:37.280 --> 00:30:41.580 This group of men who have gone out and performed miracles. 00:30:43.020 --> 00:30:46.840 This group who have gone out and been given power of God. 00:30:48.100 --> 00:30:54.860 This group that has gone out and received authority that the Son of Man can give them and give them alone. 00:30:56.580 --> 00:31:04.300 But he's going to say, but here's what your life, here's the calling that we all embrace. 00:31:04.300 --> 00:31:16.960 This is, and he said to all, if anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. 00:31:17.940 --> 00:31:20.800 For whoever would save his life will lose it. 00:31:21.420 --> 00:31:25.020 But whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. 00:31:25.680 --> 00:31:31.180 For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself? 00:31:31.520 --> 00:31:41.980 For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words, of him will the Son of Man be ashamed when he comes in his glory and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels. 00:31:42.120 --> 00:31:47.300 So there's a litmus test here in verse 23 through 27 that we're going to see. 00:31:48.340 --> 00:31:53.020 Of a notable of those who are truly followers of God. 00:31:53.540 --> 00:31:55.960 Not those who claim to be church members. 00:31:56.700 --> 00:31:59.840 Not those who claim to do a bunch of good things. 00:32:00.420 --> 00:32:04.060 Not those who say, well, I've got this all worked out and figured out. 00:32:04.140 --> 00:32:05.240 Or I've said a prayer. 00:32:05.440 --> 00:32:06.500 Or I've checked a box. 00:32:06.500 --> 00:32:11.160 But those who will inherit the kingdom of God. 00:32:11.560 --> 00:32:13.860 Those who will gain life. 00:32:14.120 --> 00:32:16.060 There's a standard that's there. 00:32:16.360 --> 00:32:20.440 And Jesus says, if you want to come after me, deny yourself. 00:32:20.780 --> 00:32:25.400 Take up your cross every single day and follow me. 00:32:28.020 --> 00:32:29.860 Jesus was called to suffer. 00:32:33.300 --> 00:32:37.480 It's part of what he fulfilled within all of what the Old Testament pointed to. 00:32:38.720 --> 00:32:42.460 It wasn't just the suffering that happened on the cross because he did that. 00:32:42.660 --> 00:32:53.440 But it was the suffering that was embraced as divinity stepped out of heaven and stepped foot in humanity on this earth and walked through this life. 00:32:53.980 --> 00:32:58.780 You see, what Jesus said is that not only will he be killed, but he'll be rejected. 00:33:00.380 --> 00:33:01.620 Jesus would be mocked. 00:33:03.420 --> 00:33:04.340 Jesus would be deserted. 00:33:06.000 --> 00:33:09.220 Jesus would have those who speak ill of him, who spread lies about him. 00:33:10.260 --> 00:33:13.800 Jesus would have those close to him killed and executed. 00:33:14.940 --> 00:33:18.800 Jesus would experience hunger and pain and loneliness. 00:33:19.960 --> 00:33:20.560 Why? 00:33:21.720 --> 00:33:23.520 For the embracement of the cross. 00:33:24.660 --> 00:33:29.640 So that he would receive death and defeated and overcome. 00:33:30.780 --> 00:33:32.320 So the question is this. 00:33:33.600 --> 00:33:41.980 If Jesus is called to suffer, then what makes us so arrogant that we think that we're not called to suffer as well? 00:33:43.980 --> 00:33:50.400 Jesus doesn't say, pick up your nice, comfortable chair and follow me to the next location, right? 00:33:52.780 --> 00:33:57.100 Jesus says, take up your cross and follow me. 00:33:58.200 --> 00:34:02.740 Jesus calls us for a suffering of self-denial. 00:34:04.020 --> 00:34:05.500 So what must we lose? 00:34:07.020 --> 00:34:10.040 I don't think Jesus is talking about basic needs here. 00:34:10.720 --> 00:34:17.440 I think what Jesus did in Luke 9 at the very beginning was to prove a point in their first steps of ministry. 00:34:18.440 --> 00:34:22.100 I don't think that Jesus is talking about luxuries, all right? 00:34:22.140 --> 00:34:27.400 So like, don't beat yourself up because you got a boat or a nice house or an iPhone, okay? 00:34:27.640 --> 00:34:29.840 Like, don't go home and break that stuff. 00:34:29.940 --> 00:34:31.880 Now, he may call you to give some up. 00:34:32.040 --> 00:34:33.120 That's between you or him. 00:34:33.240 --> 00:34:35.820 But as a whole, that's not what Jesus is getting down to. 00:34:36.700 --> 00:34:42.920 Jesus is talking about a sin pattern that has plagued humanity since the fall of man in Genesis. 00:34:44.300 --> 00:34:57.180 And it's the desire of every individual that fills our hearts and consumes us of self-centeredness and idolatry 00:34:57.180 --> 00:35:05.820 that cause us to think that we're the center of our own little world. 00:35:06.860 --> 00:35:09.400 I read a pastor this week who was talking about this. 00:35:10.220 --> 00:35:12.540 And he made a very simple but powerful statement. 00:35:13.240 --> 00:35:14.000 And here's what he said. 00:35:15.260 --> 00:35:20.480 In order for Jesus to be your master, you must first step out of that position. 00:35:22.100 --> 00:35:28.360 In order for Jesus to be your master and mine, we need to send in our letter of resignation. 00:35:29.480 --> 00:35:33.740 Because what we try to do is to say, no, I'm my own master. 00:35:34.400 --> 00:35:39.020 And what we try to do in this world is say, Jesus, you're the Lord. 00:35:39.300 --> 00:35:40.680 Jesus, you're my master. 00:35:40.860 --> 00:35:43.040 But let me get the seat right beside you. 00:35:43.900 --> 00:35:46.560 As we stay in this position. 00:35:47.660 --> 00:35:48.960 But Jesus says, no, no, no, no. 00:35:49.620 --> 00:35:54.320 What you're called to do is to follow me daily. 00:35:54.320 --> 00:36:00.420 And what that means is you take up your cross. 00:36:01.460 --> 00:36:09.160 You know, in the narrative of Jesus' crucifixion, and I don't know why the Romans and the authorities chose that, 00:36:09.260 --> 00:36:14.140 but it wasn't a common execution that we find what they did with Jesus. 00:36:14.840 --> 00:36:20.280 Oftentimes, what Rome would do when someone was to be executed through crucifixion 00:36:20.280 --> 00:36:22.580 is they would get them out of their prison cell. 00:36:22.580 --> 00:36:26.520 They would give them their cross, and they would follow them around. 00:36:27.260 --> 00:36:31.480 And they'd have them walk through the city and around the city. 00:36:32.520 --> 00:36:37.080 And while they walked carrying this massive cross, they had already been beaten. 00:36:37.380 --> 00:36:39.240 They'd already been denied food and water. 00:36:39.380 --> 00:36:42.680 So they were weak, and the cross was heavy, that they would hit them, 00:36:42.780 --> 00:36:45.060 and they would whip them as they were carrying their cross. 00:36:45.960 --> 00:36:49.460 And so as you would walk through the city carrying your cross, 00:36:49.460 --> 00:36:55.400 people would know, number one, that where you were headed is to your death. 00:36:55.960 --> 00:36:58.620 And your cross would define you. 00:36:59.120 --> 00:37:04.180 And then once you fell down, and you couldn't go any farther, 00:37:04.900 --> 00:37:08.020 you passed out from the heat, you passed out from the exhaustion, 00:37:08.280 --> 00:37:10.340 they would turn the cross over. 00:37:10.600 --> 00:37:12.380 They would nail you to the cross. 00:37:12.520 --> 00:37:16.860 And wherever you fell, they would drop your cross in the ground, 00:37:16.860 --> 00:37:18.380 and that's where you would die. 00:37:19.640 --> 00:37:27.640 And it was a position for Rome to say every time you see someone carrying a cross, 00:37:28.460 --> 00:37:31.640 you recognize our authority over their life. 00:37:33.040 --> 00:37:37.200 So Jesus says, if you're going to follow after me, 00:37:38.300 --> 00:37:39.760 here's what we have to display. 00:37:40.920 --> 00:37:47.200 The denial of yourself and the authority of Christ in your life. 00:37:47.200 --> 00:37:50.620 And it may be a painful process for you. 00:37:51.580 --> 00:37:58.560 As you deny your heart the sinful desires that it longs for. 00:37:59.500 --> 00:38:03.540 And as you die to yourself so that God can reign. 00:38:05.140 --> 00:38:08.580 Think about what Jesus had just done earlier with the disciples. 00:38:10.220 --> 00:38:12.560 If you're going to be effective in ministry, 00:38:13.060 --> 00:38:15.460 it's not going to be found in your ability. 00:38:17.000 --> 00:38:20.040 If you're going to be effective in ministry, 00:38:20.580 --> 00:38:22.600 it's not going to be found in your personality, 00:38:23.160 --> 00:38:24.380 in your gifts, 00:38:25.160 --> 00:38:26.680 in what you were able to do. 00:38:27.540 --> 00:38:29.400 If you're going to be effective 00:38:29.400 --> 00:38:34.340 in the ministry and the life that God has for you, 00:38:34.960 --> 00:38:36.600 it's going to be found 00:38:36.600 --> 00:38:41.660 in denying yourself and depending on Jesus. 00:38:43.060 --> 00:38:44.740 It's a question I have for you this morning. 00:38:46.000 --> 00:38:47.960 What ministry does God have for you? 00:38:49.220 --> 00:38:51.560 Where does God have this ministry for you? 00:38:52.420 --> 00:38:54.860 And who is your ministry? 00:38:56.220 --> 00:38:58.040 And as you think of that calling, 00:38:59.220 --> 00:39:00.880 as you think of those places, 00:39:02.200 --> 00:39:03.600 as you think of those people, 00:39:04.480 --> 00:39:08.220 if it's going to be done for the name and the kingdom of God, 00:39:09.120 --> 00:39:11.100 it can't be you who sits on the throne. 00:39:12.040 --> 00:39:14.800 It's got to be Jesus. 00:39:15.720 --> 00:39:16.640 Would you pray with me? 00:39:19.840 --> 00:39:21.460 Lord, I thank you so much 00:39:21.460 --> 00:39:26.160 that you call men and women 00:39:26.160 --> 00:39:28.840 to partners in ministry. 00:39:30.720 --> 00:39:32.280 that you call us 00:39:32.280 --> 00:39:34.920 to come alongside you 00:39:34.920 --> 00:39:37.960 as you do the work, 00:39:38.480 --> 00:39:40.860 but you give us the food. 00:39:42.420 --> 00:39:43.720 As you do the work, 00:39:43.820 --> 00:39:45.180 but you give us the strategy. 00:39:46.600 --> 00:39:47.940 As you do the work, 00:39:48.060 --> 00:39:49.780 but you give us the people. 00:39:51.460 --> 00:39:51.860 And Lord, 00:39:51.920 --> 00:39:52.920 we have an opportunity 00:39:52.920 --> 00:39:55.140 every single day 00:39:55.140 --> 00:39:59.080 to go out to a group of men 00:39:59.080 --> 00:40:01.340 and women who are searching, 00:40:02.860 --> 00:40:03.820 and who are hungry, 00:40:05.360 --> 00:40:06.720 and who are lost, 00:40:07.800 --> 00:40:08.920 and who are broken. 00:40:08.920 --> 00:40:12.420 And we have the opportunity 00:40:12.420 --> 00:40:14.320 to give them 00:40:14.320 --> 00:40:16.220 the one 00:40:16.220 --> 00:40:18.880 that satisfies. 00:40:21.360 --> 00:40:22.120 And so Jesus, 00:40:22.300 --> 00:40:22.900 this morning, 00:40:24.060 --> 00:40:26.460 I pray that as we think about our what, 00:40:27.320 --> 00:40:29.060 as we think about our where, 00:40:30.520 --> 00:40:31.840 as we think about our who, 00:40:33.920 --> 00:40:35.680 where we will lay down 00:40:35.680 --> 00:40:36.960 every excuse 00:40:36.960 --> 00:40:39.380 at the foot of the cross 00:40:39.380 --> 00:40:41.000 about why we cannot do that. 00:40:43.900 --> 00:40:45.740 We're not smart enough. 00:40:47.760 --> 00:40:49.660 We're not gifted enough. 00:40:50.940 --> 00:40:53.160 We're not experienced enough. 00:40:54.440 --> 00:40:56.540 Our story's too messy. 00:40:58.360 --> 00:41:00.580 Our life isn't in order yet. 00:41:03.920 --> 00:41:07.260 But Lord, 00:41:07.320 --> 00:41:09.100 when we live on those excuses, 00:41:09.640 --> 00:41:12.140 we're still seated on our throne. 00:41:13.700 --> 00:41:15.180 And it is only, Lord, 00:41:15.220 --> 00:41:17.420 when we can lay those excuses down, 00:41:18.500 --> 00:41:20.840 that we can step off of our throne 00:41:20.840 --> 00:41:25.380 and to see you rightfully placed 00:41:25.380 --> 00:41:27.900 as Lord over our life. 00:41:29.640 --> 00:41:30.140 And so Lord, 00:41:30.200 --> 00:41:30.580 today, 00:41:31.320 --> 00:41:32.280 give us a what, 00:41:32.400 --> 00:41:33.100 give us a where, 00:41:33.220 --> 00:41:33.860 give us a who. 00:41:33.920 --> 00:41:35.340 Set in our hearts 00:41:35.340 --> 00:41:37.620 the urgency of the gospel. 00:41:38.080 --> 00:41:38.160 Lord, 00:41:38.220 --> 00:41:40.200 have us live in power 00:41:40.200 --> 00:41:41.000 and authority 00:41:41.000 --> 00:41:42.580 to be and to do 00:41:42.580 --> 00:41:43.980 what you've called us to do, 00:41:44.100 --> 00:41:45.740 to deny ourselves 00:41:45.740 --> 00:41:47.320 the sins of this world 00:41:47.320 --> 00:41:49.000 that we want to chase after 00:41:49.000 --> 00:41:50.080 as we celebrate 00:41:50.080 --> 00:41:50.980 the King of Kings 00:41:50.980 --> 00:41:52.160 and the Lord of Lords 00:41:52.160 --> 00:41:53.600 who's redeemed us, 00:41:53.820 --> 00:41:54.800 who's bought us, 00:41:55.000 --> 00:41:56.080 who's paid for us, 00:41:56.300 --> 00:41:57.480 who's set us free, 00:41:57.620 --> 00:41:58.680 who's given us life, 00:41:58.900 --> 00:42:00.260 who's covered us with blood, 00:42:00.480 --> 00:42:01.540 who's given us hope. 00:42:03.220 --> 00:42:04.920 So that others 00:42:04.920 --> 00:42:07.800 might know. 00:42:09.300 --> 00:42:11.300 So that others might respond 00:42:11.300 --> 00:42:15.660 all for your name 00:42:15.660 --> 00:42:17.860 and for your glory. 00:42:19.140 --> 00:42:20.920 And it's in Jesus' name we pray. 00:42:21.740 --> 00:42:22.080 Amen. 00:42:23.380 --> 00:42:24.320 In just a moment, 00:42:24.460 --> 00:42:25.360 we're going to stand 00:42:25.360 --> 00:42:26.140 and we're going to respond 00:42:26.140 --> 00:42:26.640 in worship. 00:42:27.260 --> 00:42:28.360 I'm going to be at the back 00:42:28.360 --> 00:42:29.420 of the auditorium. 00:42:30.840 --> 00:42:32.140 Maybe today you realize 00:42:32.140 --> 00:42:33.620 that seated on your throne 00:42:33.620 --> 00:42:34.160 is you. 00:42:35.420 --> 00:42:36.880 And you've always been there. 00:42:38.320 --> 00:42:39.340 And today is the day 00:42:39.340 --> 00:42:41.180 to step off of your throne, 00:42:41.380 --> 00:42:42.420 repent of your sin, 00:42:43.220 --> 00:42:45.220 and ask Jesus 00:42:45.220 --> 00:42:45.900 if he would take 00:42:45.900 --> 00:42:46.900 his rightful place. 00:42:48.720 --> 00:42:49.860 If that's who you are 00:42:49.860 --> 00:42:50.680 and you want to talk 00:42:50.680 --> 00:42:51.320 about a relationship 00:42:51.320 --> 00:42:51.800 with Christ, 00:42:51.880 --> 00:42:53.100 I'd love to speak with you. 00:42:53.160 --> 00:42:54.180 I'd love to pray with you. 00:42:54.360 --> 00:42:55.800 I'll be right back there. 00:42:56.800 --> 00:42:58.240 But maybe you're like me 00:42:58.240 --> 00:42:59.040 this week, right? 00:42:59.960 --> 00:43:00.720 And I recognize 00:43:00.720 --> 00:43:01.880 that I've got 00:43:01.880 --> 00:43:03.000 multiple thrones. 00:43:03.800 --> 00:43:04.560 And some of them, 00:43:04.720 --> 00:43:06.500 I put Jesus there, 00:43:06.620 --> 00:43:07.340 but some of them, 00:43:07.420 --> 00:43:08.520 I've got me there. 00:43:08.660 --> 00:43:09.100 Some of us, 00:43:09.140 --> 00:43:09.760 I'm trying to sit 00:43:09.760 --> 00:43:10.560 in the seat with him, 00:43:10.600 --> 00:43:10.820 you know. 00:43:11.180 --> 00:43:12.160 Maybe that's us. 00:43:12.780 --> 00:43:13.580 And you just have a time 00:43:13.580 --> 00:43:14.380 of brokenness 00:43:14.380 --> 00:43:14.900 and repentance. 00:43:15.980 --> 00:43:16.760 Maybe you just need 00:43:16.760 --> 00:43:17.900 to pray and ask Jesus, 00:43:18.160 --> 00:43:19.020 what is your what? 00:43:19.540 --> 00:43:20.600 What is your where? 00:43:22.020 --> 00:43:23.000 And who does he have 00:43:23.000 --> 00:43:23.380 for you? 00:43:24.560 --> 00:43:25.920 The altar's open? 00:43:27.360 --> 00:43:28.540 Come and bow down 00:43:28.540 --> 00:43:29.700 and kneel before him? 00:43:31.160 --> 00:43:33.420 Just respond this morning 00:43:33.420 --> 00:43:35.100 in how God is leading you. 00:43:35.760 --> 00:43:36.960 Jesus, we thank you. 00:43:37.180 --> 00:43:38.120 We love you. 00:43:38.320 --> 00:43:39.240 We praise you. 00:43:39.240 --> 00:43:41.140 And it's for your name, 00:43:41.480 --> 00:43:42.140 your hope, 00:43:42.440 --> 00:43:43.280 and your glory. 00:43:44.040 --> 00:43:44.800 We pray. 00:43:45.380 --> 00:43:45.660 Amen. 00:44:00.660 --> 00:44:01.900 Thanks again for listening 00:44:01.900 --> 00:44:03.040 to the Willow Ridge Church 00:44:03.040 --> 00:44:03.820 weekly podcast. 00:44:04.340 --> 00:44:05.340 We hope that you enjoyed 00:44:05.340 --> 00:44:06.640 listening to this week's message. 00:44:07.120 --> 00:44:08.200 If you'd like to learn more 00:44:08.200 --> 00:44:09.020 about who we are, 00:44:09.220 --> 00:44:10.680 or explore additional resources, 00:44:11.220 --> 00:44:12.120 visit us online 00:44:12.120 --> 00:44:15.700 at www.willowridgechurch.com 00:44:15.700 --> 00:44:16.900 or by searching 00:44:16.900 --> 00:44:17.920 for Willow Ridge Church 00:44:17.920 --> 00:44:19.240 on Facebook and Instagram.