WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.800 --> 00:00:03.680 You're listening to The Bible Guys, a podcast where a 2 00:00:03.720 --> 00:00:06.440 couple of friends talk about the Bible in fun, in 3 00:00:06.559 --> 00:00:15.880 practical ways. Good morning, good morning, we talk oh not 4 00:00:16.120 --> 00:00:20.039 through good mooning. Good morning to you and you and you. 5 00:00:20.440 --> 00:00:21.519 You got to trademark that. 6 00:00:21.719 --> 00:00:24.280 Hey, that's right, Well it's already been traded by it. 7 00:00:24.280 --> 00:00:25.399 It's called Singing in the Rain. 8 00:00:25.480 --> 00:00:26.839 But it's not Chris's version. 9 00:00:26.920 --> 00:00:30.280 Oh I see, yeah, I definitely have modified it. So hey, 10 00:00:30.320 --> 00:00:33.439 good morning everybody. We are the Bible Guys. It's Wesley 11 00:00:33.439 --> 00:00:36.439 and I today, and it's because Jeff's out of pocket again, 12 00:00:37.119 --> 00:00:39.439 this time for a voice thing, and we're at the 13 00:00:39.479 --> 00:00:44.640 Heritage Church stage. In case you're watching online as opposed 14 00:00:44.640 --> 00:00:47.280 to listening and you're wondering about that, Well, today we 15 00:00:47.320 --> 00:00:51.560 are diving into Malachi chapter three, and today is going 16 00:00:51.600 --> 00:00:56.159 to be a pretty big promise about what's to come 17 00:00:56.200 --> 00:00:59.759 from God. It's a pretty short but strong promise that 18 00:00:59.840 --> 00:01:02.200 we're going to be looking at. But before we do that, 19 00:01:03.039 --> 00:01:07.480 Desiree once again, our Desiree has given us a segment 20 00:01:07.840 --> 00:01:11.319 and it's called two Truths and a Lie. Okay, so 21 00:01:11.359 --> 00:01:13.680 it says Wesley has become a regular Bible guy. But 22 00:01:13.719 --> 00:01:15.920 there are still things about him we don't know. So 23 00:01:16.040 --> 00:01:18.640 for today's segment, Wesley's going to share two truths and 24 00:01:18.680 --> 00:01:20.760 one lie and Chris can see if you can figure 25 00:01:20.760 --> 00:01:22.519 out which one the lie is. 26 00:01:22.760 --> 00:01:23.920 Okay, are you ready for this? 27 00:01:24.079 --> 00:01:26.000 I am ready by two truths. 28 00:01:25.560 --> 00:01:26.280 And one lie. 29 00:01:26.400 --> 00:01:28.400 This is gonna be good. I'm looking forward to this. 30 00:01:28.439 --> 00:01:28.840 Here we go. 31 00:01:28.920 --> 00:01:35.079 Okay, Yes, number one, Yes, I don't eat seafood O 32 00:01:36.120 --> 00:01:36.680 number two. 33 00:01:37.000 --> 00:01:39.879 Wow, Wow, that's a statement. Okay. 34 00:01:40.640 --> 00:01:42.680 I was born in Brooklyn, New York. 35 00:01:43.799 --> 00:01:44.239 Wow. 36 00:01:44.560 --> 00:01:47.920 Number three? Yeah, I have never been up north. 37 00:01:50.120 --> 00:01:53.640 Oh, come on, two truths and a lie. 38 00:01:53.719 --> 00:01:55.319 I don't eat seafood. 39 00:01:54.920 --> 00:01:58.439 For non Michiganders, I was born in Brooklyn, yep, I 40 00:01:58.480 --> 00:01:59.959 have never been up north. 41 00:01:59.760 --> 00:02:02.120 For a non people who if people don't live in Michigan, 42 00:02:02.519 --> 00:02:05.920 up north refers to northern Michigan. Yes, okay, so. 43 00:02:06.319 --> 00:02:10.439 Uh yeah, anywhere in northern Michigan up there. 44 00:02:11.120 --> 00:02:13.560 I think I've heard you say before that you don't 45 00:02:13.560 --> 00:02:17.759 need seafood, because that is such a shocking statement. So 46 00:02:17.919 --> 00:02:19.840 I'm going to say that's the truth. Is that correct? 47 00:02:20.000 --> 00:02:22.479 That is correct, and there's a backstory to that. I'm 48 00:02:22.520 --> 00:02:25.000 allergic to seafood, yeah, which is why. 49 00:02:24.719 --> 00:02:25.360 That would do it? 50 00:02:25.719 --> 00:02:28.680 That would do it? And then and then you were 51 00:02:28.680 --> 00:02:33.719 born in Brooklyn, New York, and you've never been up north. Okay, uh, 52 00:02:34.479 --> 00:02:37.960 You've lived in this area forever, ever since you were 53 00:02:38.000 --> 00:02:39.960 a kid, So there. 54 00:02:39.840 --> 00:02:41.639 Is no born here. 55 00:02:42.319 --> 00:02:43.479 Well I was thinking of that. 56 00:02:43.879 --> 00:02:44.120 I was. 57 00:02:44.199 --> 00:02:47.039 I was analyzing the up north statement. I'm thinking, there 58 00:02:47.120 --> 00:02:50.159 is no way that you're that you've not been up north. 59 00:02:50.240 --> 00:02:52.840 So I'm going to say the lie is you were 60 00:02:52.960 --> 00:02:57.199 not born in New York? Is that correct? 61 00:02:57.560 --> 00:02:59.360 I was not born in New York? 62 00:02:59.719 --> 00:03:03.800 Yes, So I got it right. Yeah, okay, okay, yeah, 63 00:03:03.919 --> 00:03:04.199 so I. 64 00:03:04.199 --> 00:03:06.080 Have to even look at it again and make sure. 65 00:03:05.919 --> 00:03:07.199 Yeah, where were you born? 66 00:03:07.560 --> 00:03:08.319 I was born here? 67 00:03:08.479 --> 00:03:09.439 Okaya, which city? 68 00:03:09.479 --> 00:03:11.080 But I alloy in Detroit. 69 00:03:11.120 --> 00:03:13.400 But I got to say this, I always mess up 70 00:03:13.439 --> 00:03:16.319 the two truths and a lie, like every single time 71 00:03:16.520 --> 00:03:18.840 because I'm trying to think of the lie part, and 72 00:03:18.879 --> 00:03:20.240 I'm like, I mess that up. 73 00:03:20.759 --> 00:03:23.199 That's so funny. You know. We were doing we were 74 00:03:23.240 --> 00:03:26.560 doing a Bible Guys in Bible Gals for our Heritage 75 00:03:26.599 --> 00:03:30.840 Church for our study, and my wife was on there 76 00:03:30.879 --> 00:03:32.919 with me, and we were playing two truths in a lie. 77 00:03:33.039 --> 00:03:34.319 Yeah. I messing up every time. 78 00:03:34.439 --> 00:03:36.199 My wife gave me three truths. 79 00:03:36.280 --> 00:03:38.719 Yeah, I do the same thing every single time. 80 00:03:38.800 --> 00:03:40.240 I was trying to guess which when the lie was, 81 00:03:40.280 --> 00:03:42.439 and she goes, oh, she was. I was just trying 82 00:03:42.439 --> 00:03:44.680 to think of three things you didn't know. And I 83 00:03:44.719 --> 00:03:47.759 was like, Liz, the name of the game is actually 84 00:03:47.800 --> 00:03:49.919 called and a lie. 85 00:03:50.120 --> 00:03:50.800 That is good. 86 00:03:51.159 --> 00:03:54.240 But anyway, Hey, so yesterday we made a promise to 87 00:03:54.280 --> 00:03:56.039 the to the listeners and watchers. 88 00:03:56.120 --> 00:04:00.680 I feel like suspense is building around the country right now. 89 00:04:01.039 --> 00:04:04.439 Around the world. I feel around the world. 90 00:04:04.599 --> 00:04:08.800 I can almost like subtle earthquakes are taken place right now. 91 00:04:08.680 --> 00:04:12.240 Because we said that yesterday to tune back in and 92 00:04:12.319 --> 00:04:15.319 you would finally be able to meet the the not 93 00:04:15.439 --> 00:04:17.959 the famous, but the infamous. 94 00:04:17.560 --> 00:04:24.879 The the the most incredible, yes, unimaginable adjectives. 95 00:04:24.920 --> 00:04:26.279 I don't know, Yes, desiree. 96 00:04:26.519 --> 00:04:31.519 So ladies and gentlemen, please welcome Desiree. Oh look look 97 00:04:31.560 --> 00:04:32.720 we get a balirl. 98 00:04:33.839 --> 00:04:35.680 Wow, very good, it's hilarious. 99 00:04:35.720 --> 00:04:37.560 He told me to come dancing, so I wasn't going 100 00:04:37.639 --> 00:04:38.199 to disappoint. 101 00:04:38.560 --> 00:04:40.720 Yes, yes, So for those of you who are listening, 102 00:04:40.800 --> 00:04:42.160 you can hear your voice. For those of you who 103 00:04:42.199 --> 00:04:45.360 are watching, you can see the lovely Desiree dancing as 104 00:04:45.800 --> 00:04:49.959 a ballerina. So so describe to people. We always reference you. 105 00:04:50.439 --> 00:04:53.079 What is your job description here at Heritage. 106 00:04:53.680 --> 00:04:56.920 That's a lot a lot of things, yes, So mainly 107 00:04:56.959 --> 00:04:58.879 I work with the Bible Guys with Jeff and Chris, 108 00:04:59.480 --> 00:05:02.639 preparing your everything behind the scenes, as well as in 109 00:05:02.680 --> 00:05:05.079 the executive office. I do admin work. 110 00:05:05.279 --> 00:05:08.759 So yeah, okay, very good. And what do you enjoy well, 111 00:05:08.800 --> 00:05:10.839 I should say I don't want to say most, but 112 00:05:10.920 --> 00:05:13.519 what is one thing that you and that you really 113 00:05:13.800 --> 00:05:16.560 enjoy about the Bible Guys portion of your job? 114 00:05:17.480 --> 00:05:19.439 Honestly getting work to work with you and Jeff. 115 00:05:19.879 --> 00:05:22.000 Oh, that's very nice. 116 00:05:23.319 --> 00:05:29.519 It's it's a very fun opportunity and they never disappoint 117 00:05:29.560 --> 00:05:30.199 in making me laugh. 118 00:05:30.240 --> 00:05:33.000 So okay, and we always mentioned your first name. What 119 00:05:33.079 --> 00:05:33.680 is your last name? 120 00:05:33.680 --> 00:05:34.040 Fifer? 121 00:05:34.399 --> 00:05:36.120 Fifer, Desiree Fifer. 122 00:05:35.959 --> 00:05:36.800 Like Michelle Pfiffer. 123 00:05:36.879 --> 00:05:38.959 So yeah, any relation. 124 00:05:38.839 --> 00:05:40.759 There is unfortunately not any relationship. 125 00:05:41.040 --> 00:05:43.199 Okay you said, unfortunately not Yeah, but you know, is 126 00:05:43.199 --> 00:05:46.079 she a nice person? Yeah? Oh yeah, for sure. Yeah. 127 00:05:46.240 --> 00:05:48.600 Claim to fame yeah exactly, all right. Well, our claim 128 00:05:48.639 --> 00:05:51.199 to fame, Desiree, is that we now know you and 129 00:05:51.240 --> 00:05:53.959 our listeners now know you. Here I am all right, 130 00:05:54.040 --> 00:05:58.040 very good. Hey, Desiree. Everybody. 131 00:05:58.800 --> 00:06:02.959 It's so funny how many people didn't think she was real. 132 00:06:03.319 --> 00:06:05.399 Oh yeah, you know how we would make references to 133 00:06:05.560 --> 00:06:08.560 Desire and they're like, is it really a desert ate Like, yeah, 134 00:06:08.639 --> 00:06:09.480 she's a real person. 135 00:06:09.560 --> 00:06:11.879 Yeah, yeah, Desiree. She's the one that comes up with 136 00:06:11.920 --> 00:06:15.040 every segment and she basically tells us what to do. Yes, like, 137 00:06:15.319 --> 00:06:17.879 we come in and this is the honest, the goodness truth. Yeah, 138 00:06:18.199 --> 00:06:20.360 most days, what I mean most I mean ninety nine 139 00:06:20.399 --> 00:06:21.040 percent of the days. 140 00:06:21.199 --> 00:06:21.360 Yeah. 141 00:06:21.399 --> 00:06:23.720 I will literally walk in, I will sit down and 142 00:06:23.720 --> 00:06:26.759 I'll say what are we reading today? Yeah, and desire 143 00:06:26.759 --> 00:06:28.639 will be like, oh you're in Malachai. Oh okay, cool. 144 00:06:28.920 --> 00:06:29.120 Yeah. 145 00:06:29.160 --> 00:06:31.600 And because and that, by the way, that's not that's 146 00:06:31.639 --> 00:06:35.199 not a disrespect of your time. That is actually designed 147 00:06:35.240 --> 00:06:37.720 that way, because Jeff and I a long time ago said. 148 00:06:37.600 --> 00:06:38.759 It's got authentic. 149 00:06:38.839 --> 00:06:43.040 Yeah. The Bible Guys podcast is designed to encourage every 150 00:06:43.120 --> 00:06:45.879 person to open the Bible, read it, and then just 151 00:06:45.920 --> 00:06:46.439 talk about it. 152 00:06:46.639 --> 00:06:46.839 Yeah. 153 00:06:46.920 --> 00:06:48.519 Right, And the only way that we can do that 154 00:06:48.680 --> 00:06:51.560 is we can do that with no preparation. So you 155 00:06:51.560 --> 00:06:53.480 know the idea that we you know, Jeff and I 156 00:06:53.560 --> 00:06:58.160 and you and Kyle have a plethora of reservoir because 157 00:06:58.199 --> 00:07:00.800 we have a history of preaching and reading the Bible. 158 00:07:01.040 --> 00:07:04.199 So yeah, there's certainly a lot of that. But also 159 00:07:04.399 --> 00:07:07.319 it is possible to open the Bible and just to 160 00:07:07.439 --> 00:07:09.839 read a passage and then say, you know, hey, let's 161 00:07:09.839 --> 00:07:12.480 ask some questions. You know, what does this say about God? 162 00:07:12.519 --> 00:07:14.720 What does this say about people? Is there a promise 163 00:07:14.759 --> 00:07:18.000 to claim? Is there a sin to avoid? Is you know? 164 00:07:18.199 --> 00:07:20.560 Is there is there something that I should do about this? 165 00:07:20.720 --> 00:07:20.959 You know? 166 00:07:21.279 --> 00:07:25.680 And all the other questions that come with the soap's method, right, 167 00:07:26.480 --> 00:07:28.079 which I think I hit most of them there, right, 168 00:07:28.519 --> 00:07:31.160 So anyway, all right, well, hey, that is our segment 169 00:07:31.639 --> 00:07:33.959 and and we actually managed to do that in a 170 00:07:33.959 --> 00:07:37.279 pretty good amount of time. So and by the way, 171 00:07:37.680 --> 00:07:41.720 I would say, speaking of meeting. 172 00:07:41.439 --> 00:07:44.959 New people, this is the bad transition. 173 00:07:45.399 --> 00:07:49.639 There is a promise from God that one day new 174 00:07:49.680 --> 00:07:53.519 people will come on the scene, that that people will meet. 175 00:07:57.920 --> 00:08:01.560 I like that. That was like a four year old circle. 176 00:08:02.279 --> 00:08:07.639 Horrible, But I mean it is true. What I said 177 00:08:07.759 --> 00:08:08.120 is true. 178 00:08:08.560 --> 00:08:09.079 That's good. 179 00:08:09.199 --> 00:08:11.199 And today, Wesley, how many verses. 180 00:08:11.000 --> 00:08:13.879 Do we have? We have just five Malachi three. 181 00:08:14.600 --> 00:08:18.199 Wow, that's amazing. So you better make him good. 182 00:08:18.399 --> 00:08:22.600 Yeah, here we go, Verse one, chapter three. Look, I 183 00:08:22.639 --> 00:08:25.439 am sending my messenger, and he will prepare the way 184 00:08:25.480 --> 00:08:29.759 before me. Then the Lord, then the Lord you are seeking, 185 00:08:29.759 --> 00:08:33.840 will suddenly come to his temple. The Messenger of the Covenant, 186 00:08:34.120 --> 00:08:37.360 whom you look for so eagerly, is surely comings, says 187 00:08:37.639 --> 00:08:40.799 the Lord of Heaven's armies. But who will be able 188 00:08:40.840 --> 00:08:43.360 to endure it when he comes? Who will be able 189 00:08:43.399 --> 00:08:46.120 to stand and face him when he appears, For he 190 00:08:46.200 --> 00:08:49.720 will be like a blazing fire that refines metal, or 191 00:08:49.879 --> 00:08:53.960 like a strong soap that bleaches clothes. He will sit 192 00:08:54.159 --> 00:08:58.159 like a refiner of silver, burning away the dross. He 193 00:08:58.240 --> 00:09:01.200 will purify the levites, refining them like gold and silver, 194 00:09:01.559 --> 00:09:04.919 so that they may once again offer acceptable sacrifices to 195 00:09:04.960 --> 00:09:08.080 the Lord. Then once more the Lord will accept the 196 00:09:08.120 --> 00:09:11.320 offerings brought to him by the people of Judah and Jerusalem, 197 00:09:11.720 --> 00:09:15.000 as he did in the past. At that time, I 198 00:09:15.039 --> 00:09:18.039 will put you on trial. I am eager to witness 199 00:09:18.080 --> 00:09:22.360 against all sorcerers and adulterers and liars. I will speak 200 00:09:22.440 --> 00:09:26.440 against those who cheat employees of their wages, who oppress 201 00:09:26.559 --> 00:09:30.960 widows and orphans, or who deprive the foreigners living among 202 00:09:31.039 --> 00:09:34.240 you of justice, for these people, do not fear me, 203 00:09:34.320 --> 00:09:36.320 says the Lord of Heaven's armies. 204 00:09:36.960 --> 00:09:41.399 Yeah. Wow, So this is the coming day of judgment. Yeah, 205 00:09:41.440 --> 00:09:46.440 that's what this is. And it's really interesting how it 206 00:09:46.519 --> 00:09:50.840 starts off. Malachi starts off by saying, look, I'm sending 207 00:09:50.840 --> 00:09:53.600 a messenger, and he will prepare the way before me. 208 00:09:54.320 --> 00:09:56.879 So this is in quotes, which means this is a 209 00:09:56.960 --> 00:10:00.759 direct word from the Lord. Yeah, which is really important 210 00:10:00.799 --> 00:10:04.879 to recognize. Right. So this isn't This isn't Malachi saying 211 00:10:05.279 --> 00:10:08.960 that there's a messenger coming before him. This is Malachi 212 00:10:09.200 --> 00:10:13.440 quoting God, which which often happens, yes, right, Like Isaiah 213 00:10:13.480 --> 00:10:17.519 would often quote God in quotes, saying this is what 214 00:10:17.679 --> 00:10:21.279 the Lord God says. Right. And so God is giving 215 00:10:21.279 --> 00:10:24.919 a warning in chapter two he's giving a call to faithfulness, 216 00:10:25.279 --> 00:10:27.440 and then in chapter three there is a coming gay 217 00:10:27.440 --> 00:10:32.240 of judgment where it's also involving somebody who God is 218 00:10:32.279 --> 00:10:35.159 going to send, which is why I said eventually people 219 00:10:35.200 --> 00:10:40.679 will meet them. Right now, is what is your understanding 220 00:10:41.159 --> 00:10:43.039 of who the messenger one day will be? 221 00:10:43.840 --> 00:10:45.600 Well, we know that the messenger. 222 00:10:46.000 --> 00:10:51.279 So there were types of messengers that we saw in 223 00:10:51.360 --> 00:10:54.679 the New Testament, like John the Baptist. He was a 224 00:10:54.840 --> 00:10:58.039 type of messenger paving the way for Jesus. But ultimately 225 00:10:58.559 --> 00:11:03.919 the messenger is Christ, that who appears in the New Testament. 226 00:11:04.080 --> 00:11:05.960 Yeah, and so a lot of people think that verse 227 00:11:06.039 --> 00:11:09.240 one is referring to John the Baptist because John the 228 00:11:09.279 --> 00:11:13.759 Baptist was technically the first voice is going to be 229 00:11:14.159 --> 00:11:17.159 in this timeline, is going to be the first voice 230 00:11:17.279 --> 00:11:20.000 in after four hundred years of silence, and and and 231 00:11:20.120 --> 00:11:23.279 God is going to appear to Zechariah in the temple 232 00:11:24.039 --> 00:11:27.960 and uh, and is going to appear to him and say, 233 00:11:28.240 --> 00:11:31.159 or the Angel will actually rather on God's behalf and 234 00:11:31.240 --> 00:11:33.759 say that they're going to bear a son, and that 235 00:11:33.840 --> 00:11:36.399 his name is going to be John, right, and then 236 00:11:36.480 --> 00:11:39.799 John is going to be born six months before Jesus. 237 00:11:40.399 --> 00:11:43.720 And John's message is going to be I have come 238 00:11:43.799 --> 00:11:47.679 to prepare the way who is going to come after me? 239 00:11:47.799 --> 00:11:50.279 You know? And and and the one he's the Messiah, 240 00:11:50.360 --> 00:11:52.519 He's the Christ, He's the one who's going to take 241 00:11:52.519 --> 00:11:54.600 away the sins of the world. And so John the 242 00:11:54.639 --> 00:11:58.759 Baptist's whole existence, this whole mission in life, is to 243 00:11:58.759 --> 00:12:03.200 be the prepare of the way of Jesus. Which is 244 00:12:03.240 --> 00:12:06.559 why the same verbiage is used in Malachai, which is 245 00:12:06.559 --> 00:12:08.960 why people think. You know, he's saying, Hey, the first 246 00:12:09.080 --> 00:12:12.519 messenger that's going to come is John the Baptist. He says, look, 247 00:12:12.600 --> 00:12:15.440 I am sending my messenger, and he will prepare the 248 00:12:15.480 --> 00:12:20.799 way before me, and me refers to God, right, and 249 00:12:20.879 --> 00:12:23.080 so you know, Jesus himself said, if you've seen me, 250 00:12:23.120 --> 00:12:25.879 you've seen the Father. Jesus said, I am the Father 251 00:12:26.080 --> 00:12:31.039 or one so God the Father can claim such things, right. 252 00:12:31.559 --> 00:12:34.639 And then it says, then the Lord you are seeking 253 00:12:34.639 --> 00:12:39.159 will suddenly come to his temple, the Messenger of the Covenant, 254 00:12:39.399 --> 00:12:43.159 which we believe is referring to his second messenger, right. 255 00:12:43.399 --> 00:12:46.320 And Jesus says that he has come to bring a 256 00:12:46.360 --> 00:12:49.960 new covenant. Yes, right when he established communion. He says, 257 00:12:49.960 --> 00:12:52.440 I bring a new covenant to you. And he's referring 258 00:12:52.440 --> 00:12:54.519 to doing away with the entire system of the Old 259 00:12:54.559 --> 00:12:58.720 Testament and referring to the sacrifice of himself as being 260 00:12:58.720 --> 00:13:01.879 the new promise for salvation of sins. 261 00:13:02.480 --> 00:13:03.559 Right, yeah, And so. 262 00:13:04.039 --> 00:13:06.919 The Messenger of the Covenant is referred to as Jesus, 263 00:13:07.600 --> 00:13:10.919 whom you look for so eagerly and by the way, 264 00:13:10.960 --> 00:13:16.000 that also fits because that's referring to all of the prophecies. Yeah, right, 265 00:13:16.039 --> 00:13:18.960 the hundreds of prophecies, someone of three hundred to four 266 00:13:19.039 --> 00:13:22.960 hundred prophecies. So he says, whom you so eagerly is 267 00:13:23.080 --> 00:13:27.200 sure coming? Says the Lord of Heaven's armies, And then 268 00:13:27.240 --> 00:13:28.639 he goes on to say, but who will be able 269 00:13:28.679 --> 00:13:30.799 to endure it when he comes? And then he goes 270 00:13:30.840 --> 00:13:34.240 on to talk about standing in God's presence? Yeah, yeah, 271 00:13:34.279 --> 00:13:37.240 which is you know, a pretty pretty tall order right there. 272 00:13:37.360 --> 00:13:37.679 Yeah. 273 00:13:37.679 --> 00:13:40.200 In verse two when it talks about for he will 274 00:13:40.639 --> 00:13:45.879 be like a blazing fire that refines metal, I just 275 00:13:45.919 --> 00:13:48.200 want to kind of park right there for a minute 276 00:13:48.720 --> 00:13:51.840 in that when you refine metal, or let's say, if 277 00:13:51.840 --> 00:13:55.360 you were trying to refine gold, Yeah, one of the 278 00:13:55.399 --> 00:13:59.879 main objectives of refining the gold is to remove any impurities, right, 279 00:14:00.159 --> 00:14:01.159 So that's what you're trying to. 280 00:14:01.080 --> 00:14:03.240 Do in impurities meaning like in the earth. 281 00:14:03.360 --> 00:14:06.080 Yes, yeah, so you're trying to get it to its 282 00:14:06.120 --> 00:14:10.120 purest form. Well, the thing about that is God wants 283 00:14:10.399 --> 00:14:14.799 to have that same refinement in our lives, to remove 284 00:14:15.080 --> 00:14:18.720 any impurities or anything not like him in our lives 285 00:14:18.799 --> 00:14:21.080 and to work on us and to prune us and 286 00:14:21.120 --> 00:14:26.159 to shape us. And I remember an incident in my life. 287 00:14:26.240 --> 00:14:30.679 I was going to Eastern Michigan University and I applied 288 00:14:30.919 --> 00:14:34.759 for an internship that did not exist at the company 289 00:14:34.759 --> 00:14:36.799 that I used to work for. So I came up 290 00:14:36.799 --> 00:14:39.159 with a great idea. Don't know if this idea will 291 00:14:39.200 --> 00:14:41.120 work today, Chris, but it was a good idea at 292 00:14:41.120 --> 00:14:41.440 the time. 293 00:14:42.320 --> 00:14:44.360 I sent my resume in. 294 00:14:44.279 --> 00:14:49.159 A cover letter directly to the head of the HR department. Wow, 295 00:14:49.159 --> 00:14:51.320 because I figured, just send it to the head guy 296 00:14:51.360 --> 00:14:55.279 of this multi million, probably a billion dollar corporation. 297 00:14:56.360 --> 00:14:57.039 He got it. 298 00:14:57.879 --> 00:15:01.759 And just to show you how things are coincidental, his 299 00:15:01.840 --> 00:15:06.559 assistant went to Eastern Michigan University. That's where she graduated from. 300 00:15:06.759 --> 00:15:09.639 She knew she didn't know me, but that was kind 301 00:15:09.679 --> 00:15:12.159 of like my shoe in there because I was going 302 00:15:12.200 --> 00:15:15.919 to Eastern Michigan. She graduated from there. That's how I 303 00:15:16.039 --> 00:15:18.399 kind of got in there. So I had an interview 304 00:15:18.519 --> 00:15:21.799 with her and they brought me on for an internship 305 00:15:21.840 --> 00:15:25.159 program they didn't even have, so God kind of worked 306 00:15:25.159 --> 00:15:29.039 that all out. But after being there, so I moved 307 00:15:29.120 --> 00:15:31.639 up in the rink. So I was an intern. Then 308 00:15:31.639 --> 00:15:34.279 I went to Inside sales. Then I went to the 309 00:15:34.279 --> 00:15:38.440 accounting department. As time went on, I really felt a 310 00:15:38.519 --> 00:15:42.320 calling on my life to do ministry full time. That's 311 00:15:42.320 --> 00:15:44.519 what I really wanted to do. God, I want to 312 00:15:44.559 --> 00:15:48.960 do ministry full time. Well, Chris, let me say, be 313 00:15:49.120 --> 00:15:50.639 careful about what you ask for. 314 00:15:50.879 --> 00:15:52.279 Ye. So I was. 315 00:15:52.320 --> 00:15:55.919 Already in ministry, but I wanted to do it full time. 316 00:15:56.639 --> 00:15:57.159 That was my. 317 00:15:57.120 --> 00:15:57.879 Prayer, vocation. 318 00:15:58.159 --> 00:16:01.279 Yes, that was my prayer, and I kind of. 319 00:16:01.200 --> 00:16:04.440 Felt like God said, Okay, this is what you're asking for, 320 00:16:04.799 --> 00:16:07.879 this is what you want, I'll make it happen. Now 321 00:16:07.879 --> 00:16:11.279 here's the funny thing about God. God doesn't necessarily do 322 00:16:11.399 --> 00:16:15.080 things like how we think he should do them, or 323 00:16:15.120 --> 00:16:19.399 in the timeline we wished he would do them. In so, 324 00:16:19.840 --> 00:16:23.480 I'm at that company and that company ended up downsizing 325 00:16:23.960 --> 00:16:28.120 and my job was let go. Now I'm thinking, God, 326 00:16:29.080 --> 00:16:31.559 my prayer to you was I want to do ministry 327 00:16:31.559 --> 00:16:35.320 full time. My prayer was not God, I want to 328 00:16:35.360 --> 00:16:39.279 be jobless. That was not my prayer. But I ended 329 00:16:39.360 --> 00:16:45.080 up losing that job and then very humbling experience. I'm 330 00:16:45.080 --> 00:16:48.720 collecting unemployment. This is not how I pictured all of 331 00:16:48.759 --> 00:16:50.000 this panning out. 332 00:16:50.679 --> 00:16:51.440 And then one. 333 00:16:51.320 --> 00:16:55.080 Day we're at a fair in the parking lot outside 334 00:16:55.120 --> 00:16:57.759 of this church, and this kid walks up to me 335 00:16:57.840 --> 00:17:00.840 with a card that says Heritage Church, and he just 336 00:17:00.879 --> 00:17:04.440 says here and almost shoves the card at me. It 337 00:17:04.480 --> 00:17:06.720 wasn't like, sir, would you like a card from my church? 338 00:17:06.759 --> 00:17:09.000 It was here, and I kind of felt like that 339 00:17:09.079 --> 00:17:10.559 was the Holy Spirit saying. 340 00:17:10.279 --> 00:17:11.480 Hey, I'm over here. 341 00:17:11.720 --> 00:17:12.279 Yeah. 342 00:17:12.440 --> 00:17:14.880 Took the card, put it into my back pocket. Fast 343 00:17:14.920 --> 00:17:18.440 forward Heritage, and this is before I was coming to Heritage. 344 00:17:18.519 --> 00:17:21.319 I heard about this church having a Super Bowl party. 345 00:17:21.440 --> 00:17:24.160 It sounded really cool. The kids could play flag football, 346 00:17:24.480 --> 00:17:27.640 the adults would watch the game. I go to that 347 00:17:27.759 --> 00:17:31.559 event and I meet this guy named Jeff, who ended 348 00:17:31.640 --> 00:17:34.119 up being the pastor of the church. Jeff's like, hey, 349 00:17:34.400 --> 00:17:36.160 you know, if you want to know like how a 350 00:17:36.279 --> 00:17:39.839 larger church operates and different things like that. As I'm 351 00:17:39.880 --> 00:17:42.240 talking to him, he says, hey, why don't you just 352 00:17:42.279 --> 00:17:44.319 start coming to our staff meetings. 353 00:17:44.720 --> 00:17:47.680 I'm like, Okay, this is crazy. You don't even know me. 354 00:17:47.759 --> 00:17:49.880 You don't know, like know anything about me, and you'll 355 00:17:49.960 --> 00:17:52.400 let me come to your staff meetings. So I started 356 00:17:52.400 --> 00:17:53.519 coming to the staff. 357 00:17:53.240 --> 00:17:56.880 Meetings and just for our listener's sake, Jeff has a 358 00:17:57.599 --> 00:18:03.079 very strong heart. Yes, for younger pastors who to develop them. 359 00:18:03.200 --> 00:18:05.359 Yes, yeah, yeah he does. He gave me a ton 360 00:18:05.400 --> 00:18:08.079 of books. You need to read this, this, this, come 361 00:18:08.119 --> 00:18:11.039 to our staff meetings. So I was here all the time, 362 00:18:11.400 --> 00:18:14.559 coming to all the staff meetings. And at a certain 363 00:18:14.559 --> 00:18:17.640 point we launched another campus and Jeff said, okay, Wesley, 364 00:18:18.160 --> 00:18:21.240 you're here all the time, You're at all the staff meetings. 365 00:18:21.240 --> 00:18:24.119 Do you just want to come on staff? And I said, yes, 366 00:18:24.559 --> 00:18:27.279 Now I want to stop right there and then back up. 367 00:18:27.559 --> 00:18:30.680 What was my prayer to God? My prayer was I 368 00:18:30.759 --> 00:18:34.480 want to do full time ministry. I would not have 369 00:18:34.680 --> 00:18:38.960 scripted the story the way that it unfolded, but that 370 00:18:39.240 --> 00:18:43.039 was God refining me, humbling me, and going through the 371 00:18:43.240 --> 00:18:46.480 entire process to get to the blessing that I asked 372 00:18:46.519 --> 00:18:49.240 him for in the first place. So the refinement was 373 00:18:49.319 --> 00:18:53.200 not pretty, it was not nice. I did not like it. No, 374 00:18:53.240 --> 00:18:55.440 I don't want to go through that again, but it 375 00:18:55.519 --> 00:18:58.920 was very necessary to get me to the spot that 376 00:18:59.000 --> 00:19:02.160 I prayed to God for, which was full time ministry. 377 00:19:02.359 --> 00:19:06.400 Yeah. I remember one time I did a series. This 378 00:19:06.920 --> 00:19:09.720 reminds me of this topic. I did a series one 379 00:19:09.759 --> 00:19:14.160 time called clay in the potter's hands. And since then 380 00:19:14.279 --> 00:19:17.039 I have sort of refined it and used it at 381 00:19:17.039 --> 00:19:20.799 different retreats and things like that. But it's really about 382 00:19:20.839 --> 00:19:23.920 a theme that exists all throughout the Bible, and really 383 00:19:23.920 --> 00:19:27.119 there's only certain themes. There's only certain themes that sort 384 00:19:27.119 --> 00:19:30.079 of have the tapestry from Old Testament all the way 385 00:19:30.079 --> 00:19:32.200 through the New Testament. Like, for instance, like you know 386 00:19:32.799 --> 00:19:35.160 the shepherd and sheep, right, you can find that in 387 00:19:35.160 --> 00:19:37.000 the Old Testament, you can find that in New Testament. 388 00:19:37.319 --> 00:19:40.200 Another one is how God is the potter wor the clay. 389 00:19:40.480 --> 00:19:41.920 You can find that in the Old Testament and the 390 00:19:41.960 --> 00:19:45.240 New Testament. So it's just it's this theme that goes 391 00:19:45.279 --> 00:19:47.799 along that says, hey, we're just clay in the potter's hands, 392 00:19:48.240 --> 00:19:51.240 and so you know, using verses in Jeremiah Versus in 393 00:19:51.400 --> 00:19:53.599 Romans and things like this, I came up with these 394 00:19:53.680 --> 00:20:00.279 four ideas that parallel how a potter makes some to 395 00:20:00.279 --> 00:20:03.759 be used right, And the first one is getting they 396 00:20:03.759 --> 00:20:05.240 have to get the potter, They have to get the 397 00:20:05.359 --> 00:20:07.359 lump of clay, and they have to put it in 398 00:20:07.400 --> 00:20:10.480 the center of the wheel, which is equivalent to us 399 00:20:10.519 --> 00:20:12.559 being in God's the center of God's will. 400 00:20:12.640 --> 00:20:14.759 Yeah, because it can't be on the side, It'll fly off. 401 00:20:14.799 --> 00:20:16.279