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[MUSIC]
>> DO YOU THINK YOUR LIFE IS ON MISSION?
WHAT'S IN YOUR LIFE THAT IS BLOCKING YOU
FROM THE UNLIVED LIFE WITHIN? IS IT PROCRASTINATION OR FEAR?
DO YOU RATIONALIZE YOUR POTENTIAL AWAY?
THANKS SO MUCH FOR JOINING ME TODAY.
I'M SPEAKING ON THE SUBJECT, "GO."
IT'S ALL ABOUT THE CO-MISSION THAT CHRIST HAS CALLED US TO.
YOU HAVE A CHANCE TO LIVE YOUR LIFE IN CO-MISSION WITH GOD
TO GET YOUR LIFE ON MISSION. I PRAY THE WORD SPEAKS LIFE
INTO YOU AND THAT IT BRINGS ACTION FROM YOU.
>> WHAT AN AWESOME HONOR AND PRIVILEGE TO REALIZE
YOU AND I CAN LIVE OUR LIVES ON A CO-MISSION WITH JESUS CHRIST.
MOST PEOPLE, THEY HAVE TWO LIVES.
THEY HAVE THE LIFE THEY ARE LIVING AND THE UNLIVED LIFE
WITHIN THEM. AND OFTENTIMES
WHAT FILLS THE GAP BETWEEN THE WAY WE'RE LIVING
AND THE LIFE WE'RE ENCOUNTERING AND EXPERIENCING AND THE UNLIVED
LIFE WITHIN US IS A RESISTANCE BECAUSE OF UNBELIEF ABOUT
WHAT GOD CAN DO IN THEM. BUT I SAY IF GOD PUTS SOMETHING
IN YOUR SPIRIT AND YOU WANT TO LIVE YOUR LIFE ON MISSION AND
YOU BELIEVE GOD HAS GIVEN YOU A GIFT OR A SKILL OR A CRAFT OR
A CAPACITY OR AN ABILITY, THEN I SAY LIVE YOUR LIFE NOT WITH
HARDNESS OF HEART AND UNBELIEF ABOUT HOW GOD COULD USE YOU OR
THAT THING THAT YOU DO, BUT GET YOUR LIFE ON MISSION BY CLOSING
THE GAP BETWEEN THE LIFE YOU'RE LIVING AND THE UNLIVED LIFE
THAT'S WITHIN YOU.
>> I THINK ONE OF MY FAVORITE STORIES THAT JESUS TOLD IS
THE PARABLE OF THE TALENTS. A TALENT IN THIS STORY
REPRESENTS LITERALLY A SUM OF MONEY.
AND THERE WAS A MASTER WHO HAD THREE SERVANTS.
MANY OF YOU KNOW IT, IT'S IN MATTHEW 25, AND HE DIVIDED
ACCORDING TO THEIR ABILITY, HIS FORTUNE.
HE GAVE TO THE ONE, FIVE TALENTS.
HE GAVE TO ANOTHER TWO AND TO THE THIRD ONE, ONE TALENT.
AND, OF COURSE, THE PERSON WHO HAD FIVE TALENTS,
THERE WAS NO RESISTANCE THERE. HE TOOK WHAT WAS GIVEN.
HE INVEST IT. HE USED IT WISELY.
HE DOUBLED THE MASTER'S MONEY AND HAVING DOUBLED
THE MASTER'S MONEY, HE GOES BACK AND HE RECEIVES A COMMENDATION
AND A BLESSING AND ENCOURAGEMENT AND HE'S ENTRUSTED
WITH GREAT OPPORTUNITY. AND THE ONE WHO WAS GIVEN TWO
DID EXACTLY THE SAME THING, BUT THE ONE WHO WAS GIVEN ONE,
HE DID SOMETHING ENTIRELY DIFFERENT.
HE SAYS IN VERSE 24, "I KNEW YOU TO BE A HARD MAN."
SAYS, "HE WHO HAD RECEIVED THE ONE TALENT CAME.
SAID, 'LORD, I KNEW YOU TO BE A HARD MAN,
REAPING WHERE YOU HAVE NOT SOWN, AND GATHERING WHERE
YOU HAVE NOT SCATTERED SEED. AND I WAS AFRAID,
AND WENT AND HID YOUR TALENT--" TAKE NOTICE WHOSE TALENT IT IS.
"I HID YOUR TALENT IN THE GROUND.
LOOK, THERE YOU HAVE WHAT IS YOURS."
HE JUST GAVE BACK THE ONE GIFT THAT HIS MASTER HAD GIVEN HIM.
HE WAS AFRAID AND HE HID IT IN THE GROUND.
LISTEN CAREFULLY TO THIS, HE SAID, "I WAS AFRAID
AND I HID IT IN THE GROUND." AND HE'S LITERALLY
PARROT-FASHION QUOTING WHAT ADAM AND EVE SAID IN THE GARDEN,
THE FIRST WORDS OUT OF THEIR MOUTH AS SINNERS,
"I WAS AFRAID BECAUSE I WAS NAKED AND SO I HID."
"I WAS AFRAID AND I HID. I WAS AFRAID SO I TOOK
WHAT YOU GAVE ME AND I HID IT IN THE GROUND."
WHAT ARE YOU HIDING IN THE GROUND THAT'S
KEEPING YOU FROM LIVING THE LIFE THAT GOD CALLED YOU TO LIVE?
WHAT ARE YOU ALLOWING FEAR TO RULE?
WHAT ARE YOU ALLOWING WHAT-IFs AND POSSIBILITIES AND THE FEAR
OF FAILURE TO HOLD YOU BACK FROM, MY FRIEND?
WHAT IS IT THAT YOU'RE PROCRASTINATING ON AND SAYING,
"WELL, TOMORROW"? JUST LIKE THE PHARAOH, WHAT IS
IT WHERE MAYBE YOU SELF-SABOTAGE WHERE GOD'S CALLING YOU TO GO TO
NINEVEH BUT YOU RUN TO TARSUS? OR HE'S CALLING YOU TO USE
A GIFTING THAT YOU HAVE, BUT YOU WANT SOMEHOW
GOD TO USE YOU SOMEWHERE ELSE. YOU WANT TO LAY YOUR GIFT DOWN
AND YOU WANT TO DO SOMETHING ENTIRELY DIFFERENT WHEN GOD'S
GIVEN YOU ALL THE SKILL AND CREATIVITY AND YOU'RE
COMING UP WITH EVERY REASON AND RATIONALE WHY NOT.
'CAUSE THAT'S WHAT HE DID. THIS THIRD SERVANT
WHO WAS GIVEN ONE TALENT, HE SAID TO THE MASTER,
"I KNEW YOU TO BE A HARD MAN." HE STARTED TO RATIONALIZE.
YOU KNOW, IT'S AMAZING WHAT MAKES SENSE WHEN IT COMES TO
RESISTANCE, WHEN IT COMES TO PROCRASTINATING.
IT'S AMAZING WHAT MAKES SENSE. THAT'S WHAT HE DID.
HE SAID, "I KNEW YOU TO BE A HARD MAN."
NOW, THE OTHER TWO SERVANTS, THEY NEVER MENTIONED THE MASTER
BEING A HARD MAN. AS A MATTER OF FACT,
THEIR EXPERIENCE WAS THE MASTER ENCOURAGING THEM, SPEAKING LIFE
INTO THEM, BLESSING THEM AND REWARDING THEIR FAITHFULNESS.
BUT HIS PERCEPTION, HIS RATIONALE IS WHAT RULED HIM
AND THAT'S WHAT HAPPENS TO US. WE PROCRASTINATE BECAUSE
WE'RE FEARFUL AND OFTENTIMES WE RATIONALIZE IT.
AND DO YOU KNOW IT ALWAYS MAKES SENSE?
YESTERDAY MORNING, I WAS GOING TO EXERCISE
BUT I THOUGHT ABOUT A BETTER PLAN.
I THOUGHT, WELL, IF WOKE UP EARLY IF I DO THIS, THAT MEANS
THE MORNING I CAN DO THIS AND THEN THIS AFTERNOON,
I'LL BE ABLE TO EXERCISE. AND IT'S AMAZING HOW, WHEN I GOT
TO THE AFTERNOON, I CAME UP WITH ANOTHER MASTERFUL RATIONALE
ABOUT WHY I COULDN'T DO IT. AND I SOMEHOW TALKED MYSELF INTO
BELIEVING, WELL LOOK, YOU WON'T BE ABLE TO DO IT TONIGHT 'CAUSE
IT'S GONNA GET DARK, BUT MAYBE IN THE MORNING, I WILL BE--NOW,
IN THE MORNING, I HAVE TO BE AT THE FIRST SERVICE HERE
AT QUARTER TO 8 IN THE MORNING. WELL, HOW COULD I POSSIBLY TALK
MYSELF INTO BELIEVING THAT I WOULD EXERCISE ON A SUNDAY
MORNING WHEN I HAVE TO PREACH IN MULTIPLE SERVICES ON A SUNDAY
MORNING AND STILL BE AT CHURCH AT QUARTER TO 8 IN THE MORNING?
BUT IT MADE SENSE TO ME. WHATEVER'S MAKING SENSE TO YOU,
SWITCH IT OFF IF IT'S STOPPING YOU FROM GETTING ON MISSION,
TAKING WHAT GOD'S GIVEN YOU AND USING IT FOR THE KINGDOM OF GOD.
"WELL, I WROTE A SONG AND WHEN I WROTE A SONG,
I GAVE IT TO THE PEOPLE AT HILLSONG CHURCH AND,
YOU KNOW, I SUBMITTED IT BECAUSE I WANTED GOD TO USE MY DEVOTION
AND SONG AND THEY DIDN'T EVEN-- I DON'T EVEN THINK THEY
EVEN LISTENED TO IT."
WELL, NUMBER ONE, THEY DO LISTEN TO THEM.
AND NUMBER TWO, WE GET GIVEN HUNDREDS OF SONGS AND AMAZINGLY
THE TEAM DO LISTEN TO THEM, BUT, OF COURSE, ONLY SOME OF
THE SONGS EVER GET SUNG. AND THIS NUMBER-ONE BASIC IS YOU
SOW YOURSELF INTO A TEAM AND YOU PROVE YOURSELF FAITHFUL AND YOU
LIVE ACCORDING TO THE KIND OF COMMITMENT THAT OBVIOUSLY SEES
YOUR GIFT BEING MUCH MORE ABOUT JUST GIFTING AND TALENT, BUT
BEING ABOUT HEART AND PASSION. DO YOU KNOW I WAS TALKING
TO J.D. WHO LED THE WORSHIP THIS MORNING.
JONATHON DOUGLASS HAS BEEN PART OF HILLSONG UNITED FOR SOMETHING
LIKE 10 YEARS. HE WAS TELLING ME HOW HIS MOM
STILL TURNS UP AT REHEARSAL AND SHE'S IN THE FRONT ROW,
LITERALLY DURING REHEARSAL THIS MORNING GOING...
BUT IMAGINE WHEN YOU'RE A GROWN MAN AND YOU'RE LEADING
THE WORSHIP AND YOUR MOM'S IN THE FRONT.
SHE'S THE ONLY MOM WHO COMES AND SHE'S IN THE FRONT ROW GOING,
"OH, YOU SOUND SO GOOD." THIS IS WHAT HE'S TELLING
ME THIS MORNING. "YOU SOUND SO GOOD.
I LOVE YOU, AHH." HE SAID, "IT'S SO EMBARRASSING."
AND THEN HE TOLD ME THIS, WHEN HE WAS A LITTLE BOY BEFORE
HE EVER SUNG IN A CHOIR OR DID ANYTHING, HIS MOM SAID, "I HAD
A VISION OF YOU, I HAD A DREAM. YOU WERE LEADING THE WORSHIP IN
CHURCH AND I MEAN LIKE LEADING IT, LIKE YOU WERE LEADING IT.
YOU WERE THE LEADER. LIKE YOU WERE BY YOURSELF
LEADING THE WORSHIP." ISN'T THAT INCREDIBLE?
ISN'T THAT INCREDIBLE THAT A MOM EITHER OR BOTH, HAD A, YOU KNOW,
AN OPENNESS AND A SENSITIVITY TO GOD, BUT ALSO WAS COURAGEOUS
ENOUGH TO PUT LIFE INTO HER SON? WELL, I HAVE TO TELL YA,
THANK GOD SHE SPOKE INTO HIS POTENTIAL.
THANK GOD SHE SPOKE LIFE INTO HIM IN JESUS' NAME.
THANK GOD THAT SHE SAW SOMETHING THAT, PERHAPS,
OTHER PEOPLE DIDN'T SEE. AND WE HAVE SO MANY THINGS THAT
ARE CREATING THIS RESISTANCE THAT STOP US FROM LIVING
ON MISSION, THE MISSION OF GOD, THE SENDING
OF GOD WHERE WE GO INTO THE WORLD THAT GOD CALLS US TO,
WHETHER IT'S BUSINESS OR LIFE IN ANY WAY, SHAPE OR FORM.
WHAT'S ROBBING YOU? WHAT'S KEEPING YOU
IN PROCRASTINATION AND FEAR, IN SELF-SABOTAGE?
DO YOU KNOW THIS IS NOT A GENERALIZATION BECAUSE
OFTENTIMES THINGS HAPPEN IN OUR WORLD AND OUR LIFE THAT
ARE PAINFUL AND BRING CRISIS AND IT'S CALLED LIFE.
IT'S SEASONS. AND OFTEN THESE THINGS, THEY'RE
NOT SOMETHING WE WELCOME. THEY'RE NOT SOMETHING WE
ASKED FOR, THEY'RE JUST HELL AND PAIN.
AND ANYONE WHO'S HERE KNOWS THE SEASONS OF LIFE
IF YOU'VE LIVED ANY LIFE AT ALL. BUT, YOU KNOW, IT'S POSSIBLE
ALSO TO SELF-SABOTAGE BY JUST HAVING THIS CONSTANT SOAP OPERA
GOING ON IN YOUR LIFE. YOU CREATE CRISIS
IN YOUR MARRIAGE. YOU CREATE CRISIS IN YOUR HOME.
YOU WORRY ABOUT THE KIDS. YOU WORRY ABOUT
THE UNIMAGINABLE. YOU WORRY ABOUT THIS.
YOU ARE CONSTANTLY LIVING WHERE WE COULD MAKE
A REALITY SHOW OVER YOUR DRAMA. DO YOU KNOW I
KNOW PASTORS AND THEY ARE CONSTANTLY PASTORING CRISIS.
IT'S LIKE A CONSTANT DRAMA. THEY CREATE ALL THIS DRAMA,
IT SEEMS, IN CHURCH LIFE. AND YES, THEY'RE REAL THINGS,
THEY'RE REAL THINGS BUT, THEY'RE REAL THINGS THAT
SOMEHOW, THEY MANAGE TO BE IN THE MIDDLE OF ALL THE TIME.
AND WE CAN LIVE IN THIS SOAP OPERA
WHEN IT COMES TO LIFE. AND I SAY THAT IF THAT'S
THE WAY YOU'RE LIVING, SEE IT FOR WHAT IT IS.
AND HERE'S THE CHALLENGE, JESUS SPOKE TO THAT MAN WHO LAY
FOR 38 YEARS BESIDE THE POOL OF BETHESDA AND HE LAY THERE
WAITING TO GET IN THE HEALING WATERS, WAITING FOR HIS TURN,
38 YEARS. COMPREHEND THAT TODAY,
38 YEARS HE WAITED. AND THEN JESUS ASKS HIM
WHEN HE ENCOUNTERS HIM, "DO YOU WANT TO BE MADE WHOLE?"
I MEAN, WHAT A SILLY QUESTION. "DO YOU WANT TO BE MADE WHOLE?"
YOU KNOW, IT'S A VERY GOOD QUESTION BECAUSE WHOLE WOULD
MEAN HE HAD NO LONGER ANY REASON TO LIE THERE, IMMOBILIZED.
WHOLE WOULD MEAN THAT HE WOULD HAVE NO LONGER ANY REASON
TO STEP DOWN FROM LIVING THE POTENTIAL AND THE PURPOSE
GOD HAD CALLED HIM TO. AND I JUST PUT THE QUESTION OUT
THERE, DO WE SOMETIMES CREATE ALL THIS CRISIS AND DRAMA IN OUR
LIFE BECAUSE IF WE'RE FREE FROM IT, THERE IS NO EXCUSE FROM
STEPPING UP AND STEPPING INTO ALL THAT GOD HAS CALLED US TO.
AGAIN, LET ME SAY, I'M NOT SPEAKING INTO EVERY DRAMA
WE HAVE BECAUSE PAINFUL THINGS HAPPEN AND CHALLENGING
THINGS HAPPEN. BUT SOMETIMES WE HAVE TO
QUESTION OURSELVES AND ALL THAT ANXIETY AND ANGST YOU'RE
PUTTING INTO YOUR MARRIAGE AND RELATIONSHIP AND ALL THIS WORRY
AND ALL THIS STUFF THAT GIVES YOU A REASON TO BE ABLE TO LIMP.
YOU KNOW, YOU'RE MAYBE WAITING FOR THE PERFECT TIME,
THE PERFECT TIME AND YOU'RE NOT READY, BUT DOES
THE PERFECT TIME EVER COME? IN ECCLESIASTES IT SAYS, "IF YOU
WAIT FOR THE WIND BEFORE YOU SOW," IF YOU WAIT FOR THE WIND
OR YOU WAIT FOR THE SEASONS, IT ACTUALLY SAYS THAT TIME
IS NOT GOING TO COME. THERE IS NO PERFECT TIME.
YOU'RE EITHER TOO POOR OR TOO YOUNG OR TOO OLD
OR TOO SOMETHING. THERE IS NO PERFECT TIME.
YOU'VE JUST GOTTA MAKE A DECISION THAT YOU'RE GONNA ACT
ON THE CALL OF GOD ON YOUR LIFE AND THAT YOU'RE NOT GONNA LIVE
YOUR LIFE LIVING WITH A BIG GAP OF RESISTANCE BETWEEN THE LIFE
YOU'RE LIVING AND THE UNLIVED LIFE WITHIN YOU, IN JESUS' NAME.
HERE'S SOME CHALLENGES FOR YOU, AREAS WHERE HOPEFULLY I'LL
COVER EVERY SINGLE PERSON WHEN IT COMES TO THE AREAS THAT GET
US LIVING NEAR MISSION, ON, YOU KNOW, THERE OR THEREABOUTS BUT
NOT REALLY LIVING IN SYNC, ON MISSION
IN CO-MISSION WITH GOD. THE FIRST OF THEM
I ALREADY MENTIONED. I BELIEVE THERE ARE SONGS
THAT ARE UNWRITTEN AND THERE ARE BOOKS THAT ARE UNWRITTEN.
BE THEY MANUALS, BE THEY SOME SORT OF A BOOK THAT COMES OUT
OF A CREATIVITY INSIDE OF YOU. THERE ARE PEOPLE HERE AND GOD
MADE YOU GOOD WITH WORDS, BUT YOU'RE SO FEARFUL AND
YOU'RE LOOKING AT THE SIZE OF THE OBSTACLE AND YOU HARDEN
YOUR HEART TO THE POSSIBILITY BECAUSE OF UNBELIEF.
BOOKS IN THIS ROOM THAT ARE UNWRITTEN, AND I PRAY
THAT YOU'LL DECIDE THAT THIS IS THE YEAR, THIS IS THE YEAR.
"WELL, THE INDICATORS DON'T SHOW THAT I'M READY."
CAN I JUST SAY, WRITE THE FIRST PARAGRAPH.
THE FIRST PARAGRAPH IS USUALLY VERY DISCOURAGING,
VERY DISCOURAGING. AND THEN WRITE SOMETHING ELSE
AND THAT'S USUALLY PRETTY DISCOURAGING AS WELL.
AND THE FIRST TIME YOU'RE GONNA SHOW IT TO SOMEBODY.
DON'T JUST WRITE JUST BECAUSE YOU WANT TO HAVE AN ALL-TIME,
BEST-SELLING BOOK. WRITE IT BECAUSE IT'S IN YOUR
HEART AND YOU WANT TO GET WHAT'S IN YOUR HEART INTO LIFE.
THE APOSTLE PAUL, WHEN HE WROTE THE BOOK OF EPHESIANS
AND ROMANS, HE HAD NO IDEA IT WAS GONNA BE IN THE CANON OF
SCRIPTURE AND THEN IN 2013, ALL OVER THE GLOBE PEOPLE WOULD
BE READING IT AND QUOTING IT. HE HAD NO IDEA
ABOUT ALL OF THAT. HE JUST WROTE THE LETTER.
THERE ARE PROJECTS NOT UNDERTAKEN, PROJECTS HERE THAT
HAVE NEVER BEEN UNDERTAKEN. AND NUMBER THREE, THERE ARE
BUSINESSES AND ENTREPRENEURIAL VENTURES, ENTERPRISES THAT
HAVE NEVER BEEN STARTED. "WHAT IF IT FAILS?"
WELL, I'LL TELL YA, A LOT OF SMALL BUSINESSES FAIL, IT MIGHT.
YOU'LL NEVER KNOW, WILL YOU? THERE ARE ENTERPRISES AND
ENTREPRENEURIAL POSSIBILITIES IN THIS ROOM THAT COULD RELEASE
SUCH FINANCE INTO THE PURPOSES OF GOD, COULD BRING ASSISTANCE
AND HELP TO A MULTITUDE OF PEOPLE BUT OFTENTIMES BECAUSE OF
RESISTANCE, WE'VE GOT THE LIFE WE'RE LIVING AND WE'VE GOT
THE UNLIVED LIFE WITHIN US, GIVING THAT'S NEVER
MATERIALIZED. IF WE WAIT FOR THE WIND
AND FOR THE SEASONS, WE'LL NEVER EVER SEE THINGS HAPPEN.
THERE'S ONLY ONE TIME TO EMBARK ON DANGEROUS GIVING,
NOT FOOLISH, STUPID GIVING, BUT DANGEROUS, AS IN YOU ARE
LIVING WITH A SPELLING OF FAITH BEING R-I-S-K.
YOU ARE LIVING BY LEADING WITH YOUR GIVING.
DO YOU KNOW THE WIDOW'S MITE, IT WAS JUST A MITE,
BUT IT WAS FULFILLING ITS POTENTIAL BECAUSE SHE GAVE IT.
SHE DIDN'T WAIT 'TIL THE SEASONS WERE BETTER.
SHE DIDN'T WAIT FOR A DIFFERENT TIME AND THERE IS GIVING
THAT IS UNMATERIALIZED. OH, DO WE PROCRASTINATE WHEN
IT COMES TO WHEN WE WILL START TITHING OR WHEN WE'LL GIVE MORE
OR WHEN WE'LL GIVE DANGEROUSLY IN A WAY THAT CAN BRING RELEASE
INTO THE KINGDOM OF GOD. DO YOU KNOW RIGHT NOW WHERE I'M
STANDING, THERE'S A BUILDING AND IT'S ALL READY, IT'S ALL READY.
ALL THE FOOTINGS AND FOUNDATIONS AND THE CONCRETE ARE IN
THE GROUND AND THERE'S EVEN UNDERCOVER CAR PARKING JUST
UNDERNEATH IT THERE WHICH AT THE MOMENT IS BOARDED UP AND
IT'S ALSO WHERE WE RECORD THE TELEVISION PROGRAM,
THE TALKING AND THE--WE DO IT UNDER THAT CARPARK.
SO IT'S NOT COMPLETELY WASTED, BUT IT'S NOT GOT A BUILDING ON
IT YET, A BUILDING OUR COLLEGE DESPERATELY NEEDS BECAUSE THEY
ARE COMPLETELY MAXED AND OVER-MAXED WHEN IT COMES TO
THE FACILITIES FOR TRAINING OF 1100 STUDENTS AND THAT
OUR CHILDREN CAN REALLY HAVE MORE PUT INTO THEM
AND OUR YOUNG PEOPLE IN OUR CREATIVE DEPARTMENT.
IT'S ALL THERE AND ALL IT WAITS IS FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE COMMITTED
TO GIVING DANGEROUSLY, WHO DECIDE THAT THEY'RE NOT JUST
GONNA LIVE THE LIFE THEY'RE LIVING, BUT THEY'RE GONNA LIVE
THE UNLIVED LIFE WITHIN THEM IN JESUS' NAME.
OH, THERE ARE DIETS. "OH, WHAT DID HE HAVE
TO MENTION THAT ONE FOR?" OR HEALTH REGIMENS.
IS IT ABOUT LOOKING GOOD? WELL, YOU KNOW, IT'S ALWAYS
GREAT TO FEEL GOOD ABOUT YOURSELF.
YOU'LL OPERATE FAR BETTER IF YOU FEEL GOOD ABOUT YOURSELF.
BUT MUCH MORE IMPORTANT, YOU'RE CALLED TO SERVE GOD.
I'M ALMOST 59 AND I INTEND TO BE AROUND FOR A LONG TIME.
ANYONE WHO THINKS THEY'RE PUSHING ME OUT OF THE WAY SOON,
THEY ARE ABSOLUTELY DECEIVING THEMSELVES.
I'VE GOT A GOOD 30, 40 YEARS, MAYBE,
STILL PASTORING THIS CHURCH. EDUCATION, TRAINING IN ANY FORM,
THESE AREAS WHERE RESISTANCE, REASONS WHY NOT,
COMMITMENT TO SPIRITUAL GROWTH. DO YOU KNOW WE'RE TOLD NOT TO
LIVE ON THE MILK OF THE WORD BUT TO GET THE MEAT OF THE WORD.
AND YOU CAN WAIT FOR SOMEONE TO SPOONFEED YOU THE MEAT AND LOOK
FOR ONE TO GIVE YOU DEEPER TEACHING OR YOU CAN LEARN HOW
TO BUILD THE WORD INTO YOUR LIFE AND HAVE IT ENGRAFTED INTO YOU.
LIKE JAMES SPOKE ABOUT THE INGRAFTED WORD OF GOD SO IT
LITERALLY BECOMES PART OF YOU, SO THAT THE WORD BECOMES FLESH
IN YOU WHICH MEANS THAT JESUS IS ALIVE IN YOU AND YOU BEGIN
TO GROW SPIRITUALLY. BUT YOU WAIT FOR THE SEASON
TO BE RIGHT. FRIENDS, WHATEVER IS THAT GAP
THAT IS FILLED WITH RESISTANCE, PROCRASTINATION, FEAR, WHATEVER
IT IS, LET'S BE COMMITTED TO SPIRITUAL LIFE AND PROGRESS AND
GROWTH IN 2013 IN JESUS' NAME. WHEN IT COMES TO THE ISSUES
IN OUR MARRIAGES AND IN OUR RELATIONSHIPS, WOW,
THE TWO SHALL BECOME ONE FLESH. LET'S BE PUTTING INTO
OUR RELATIONSHIPS. IN EZRA CHAPTER 9,
AND I'M FINISHING WITH THIS BUT IN VERSE 8 AND VERSE 9,
I'LL READ VERSE 9. IT SAYS, "FOR WE WERE SLAVES."
"WE WERE" IS A TESTIMONY HERE THAT SPEAKS OF RELEASE.
YOU KNOW, "GOD DID NOT FORSAKE US IN OUR BONDAGE,
BUT HE EXTENDED MERCY TO US IN THE SIGHT OF THE KINGS OF PERSIA
TO REVIVE US, RELEASE, REVIVE, TO REPAIR THE HOUSE OF GOD,
TO REBUILD ITS RUINS." WELL, DO YOU KNOW WHETHER IT'S
A MARRIAGE OR A RELATIONSHIP OR ANYTHING ELSE, RELEASE
COMES WHERE THERE'S BONDAGE. REVIVAL COMES WHERE
SOMETHING'S DEAD OR DYING AND IT COMES ALIVE.
IT'S REVIVED. IT'S AWAKENED.
REPAIR COMES TO THINGS THAT ARE BROKEN AND REBUILDING, IT COMES
TO THINGS THAT ARE DESOLATE. AND IF THERE ARE AREAS IN YOUR
LIFE EMOTIONALLY WHEN IT COMES TO THE THINGS THAT NEED FIXING
IN YOU, THAT ARE CAUSING YOU TO LIVE IN ADDICTION OR IN
DEPENDENCE, THESE ARE CAUSING YOU TO LIVE IN A WAY THAT IS
NOT BRINGING HONOR TO GOD AND IT'S PUTTING RESISTANCE BETWEEN
THE LIFE YOU'RE LIVING AND THE LIFE GOD CALLED YOU TO, CAN
I ENCOURAGE YOU TO BELIEVE GOD FOR THIS TO BE A TIME WHEN YOU
ARE COMMITTED TO RELEASE, TO REVIVAL, TO REPAIRING
THE BROKEN-DOWN THINGS AND A REBUILDING WHAT'S BECOME
DESOLATE AND FALLEN INTO DISREPAIR, IN JESUS' NAME.
ENDEAVORS WHOSE AIM IS TO HELP OTHERS.
EVERYONE HERE, VIRTUALLY EVERYONE I'M TALKING TO
WANTS TO HELP OTHER PEOPLE BUT LET'S DO IT.
LET'S NOT THINK ABOUT IT, LET'S DO IT.
THE GREAT COMMISSION. GO INTO ALL THE WORLD.
WHAT'S IT LOOK LIKE? WELL, ST. FRANCIS ASSISI SAYS,
"PREACH THE GOSPEL BY ANY MEANS. USE YOUR GIFT.
USE YOUR TALENT. USE YOUR SKILL.
USE YOUR EDUCATION. USE YOUR TRAINING.
USE WHAT GOD'S GIVEN YOU. USE IT BY ANY MEANS AND
IF NECESSARY, USE WORDS." YOU ARE CALLED TO A CO-MISSION.
JESUS COMMISSIONED YOU AND HE SPOKE IT INTO RESISTANCE
AND UNBELIEF AND WHATEVER THE UNBELIEF IS IN YOU, I PRAY
IT WILL BE BROKEN TODAY AS WE CONTINUE TO COMMIT TO LIVING
OUR LIVES ON MISSION. CAN YOU SAY, "AMEN"?
AMEN.
>> I WONDER WHAT RESISTANCE LOOKS LIKE IN YOUR LIFE WHEN IT
COMES TO THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE LIFE YOU'RE LIVING AND
THE UNLIVED LIFE WITHIN YOU? I MEAN, SOMETIMES IT IS RELATED
TO COMMITMENT TO DISCIPLINE, TO CHANGE THE WAY WE'RE LIVING,
BE MORE HEALTHY. IT MIGHT BE TO DO
WITH GROWING SPIRITUALLY. IT MIGHT BE TO DO WITH EDUCATION
AND TRAINING, DETERMINING YOU'RE GONNA DEVELOP YOUR SKILL
WRITING SOMETHING THAT STILL REMAINS UNWRITTEN
OR DOING SOME OTHER THING. ALL I KNOW IS TO LIVE
ON MISSION, WE HAVE TO TAKE EVERYTHING'S GOD'S GIVEN US
AND SAY, "LORD, IT'S ALL YOURS. IT'S TO THE GLORY OF GOD."
AND THE PERSON WHO SOMEHOW THINKS THEIR SPIRITUAL LIFE AND
THEIR EVERYDAY LIFE ARE SEPARATE TO EACH OTHER, MISSES
THE CHANCE TO LIVE ON MISSION. WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE
WHATEVER GOD PUTS IN OUR HAND AND USE IT TO FULFILL
HIS PURPOSE, USE IT TO FULFILL WHAT'S IN OUR HEART.
THAT'S WHAT I'M TALKING TO YOU ABOUT TODAY AND I PRAY YOU'LL
APPLY IT HOWEVER IT ACTUALLY RELATES TO YOU.
ALL OF US HAVE A DEGREE OF RESISTANCE WHEN IT COMES TO
TRULY BELIEVING, WHEN IT COMES TO TRULY STEPPING INTO WHAT GOD
CAN DO AND PROCRASTINATION, IT'S JUST A MANIFESTATION OF OUR
FEARS AND OUR CONCERNS THAT HOLD US FROM STEPPING INTO ALL THAT
GOD HAS CALLED US TO DO. SO TODAY'S THE DAY
AND THIS IS THE WEEK. LET'S MOVE UP AND MOVE ON
AND GET ON MISSION WITH THE PROMISE AND PURPOSE OF GOD.
>> FOR ME, WRITING HAS ALWAYS BEEN PERSONAL.
TAKING A SONG FROM BEING PERSONAL TO ACTUALLY SHARING,
SHARING IT WITH SOMEONE ELSE, IS SOMETIMES QUITE A JOURNEY,
QUITE AN ACT OF COURAGE. SOMETIMES YOU ACTUALLY
HAVE TO FACE A LOT OF FEAR, A LOT OF INSECURITY.
YOU MAY HAVE TO FACE THE FACT THAT IT MAY NOT BE VERY GOOD.
ONE OF THE BIGGEST THINGS THAT I PERSONALLY STRUGGLE
WITH IS DOUBTING MYSELF AND PROCRASTINATION IS OFTEN A WAY
OF COPING WITH YOUR SELF-DOUBT. AND SO I OFTEN HAVE FOUND MYSELF
PROCRASTINATING AND GOING, "I'M GONNA DO THAT.
I'M GONNA SIT DOWN AND WRITE." AND FOR ME, YOU JUST,
YOU HAVE TO FACE IT. YOU HAVE TO CONFRONT YOUR FEARS.
YOU HAVE TO CONFRONT THE CHALLENGES.
YOU HAVE TO GO, "I MAY NOT BE VERY GOOD AT THIS,
BUT I'M GONNA MAKE A COMMITMENT TO BE DILIGENT."
WHEN I CAME TO HILLSONG, I ACTUALLY NEVER EVEN--I NEVER
THOUGHT THAT I WOULD SONG WRITE OR BE A PART OF WRITING
IN THIS ENVIRONMENT AT ALL. AND OVER THE YEARS, I THINK
GOD BROUGHT IT BACK TO ME. THE PASSION KIND OF GREW AGAIN
AND I ACTUALLY PUT IT ON THE ALTAR AND WENT,
"NO, NO, THAT'S AN AMBITION. I DON'T EVEN WANT TO TOUCH IT."
AND THEN IT--AGAIN, IT JUST KEPT GROWING AND GROWING
AND GROWING TO WHERE IT OVERTAKES THE INSECURITY
AND IT OVERTAKES THE FEAR AND THEN YOU GO, "ACTUALLY,
MAYBE THIS--MAYBE THIS IS PART OF WHAT I'M CALLED TO DO."
WITH THIS JOURNEY OF THIS SONG, "GREATER THAN ALL" I WAS VERY
SCARED TO SUBMIT IT. I WAS VERY SCARED TO BRING IT
TO THE TABLE. HEARING CHURCH SING WORDS AND
LYRICS THAT GOD HAS DROPPED INTO YOUR SPIRIT, FOR ME PERSONALLY,
IT WAS SUCH A GREAT HONOR. I FIND THAT THE CONCEPT OF
MISSION IS QUITE COMPELLING 'CAUSE YOU HAVE THINGS THAT GOD
PUTS IN YOUR HEART AND OFTEN IF YOU SUBMIT THEM TO HIM,
IF THEY'RE OF YOUR OWN AMBITION, THEY GO BY THE WAYSIDE,
AND IF THEY'RE NOT, THEN THEY END UP COMPELLING YOU BEYOND
YOUR FEARS, BEYOND YOUR PROCRASTINATION, BEYOND WHATEVER
IT IS THAT WE MIGHT PUT UP TO PROTECT OURSELVES.
YOU JUST FIND THAT IT OVERTAKES YOU AND YOU END UP LIKE A MAGNET
BEING PULLED INTO THE PURPOSES OF GOD FOR YOUR LIFE.
[MUSIC] >>CALL OUT YOUR NAME
IN THE DARKNESS AND WATCH AS YOUR GLORY UNFOLDS
THERE IS NO MEASURE OR END TO THE POWER YOU HOLD
JUSTICE AND TRUTH ARE YOUR VIRTUES WITH MANY TOO VAST FOR OUR WORDS
NO MIND CONTAINS THE SPLENDOR OF ALL THAT YOU ARE
AND OUR GOD
OUR GOD HAS DONE GREAT THINGS
OUR GOD IS GREATER THAN ALL
[MUSIC]
MIRACLES ARE YOUR MEMORIAL THE PROMISE
OF WONDERS TO COME YOU ARE THE AUTHOR
GOD, YOU COMPLETE IT ALL OUR GOD
OUR GOD HAS DONE GREAT THINGS
OUR GOD IS GREATER THAN ALL
>> SING "OUR GOD." OUR GOD
OUR GOD HAS DONE GREAT THINGS
OUR GOD IS GREATER THAN ALL
[MUSIC]
>> WELL, THANKS SO MUCH FOR JOINING ME.
I BELIEVE YOU HAVE A GOD-GIVEN FUTURE AND A GOD-GIVEN HOPE, AND
I PRAY TODAY THAT YOU MAY KNOW THE PURPOSE AND PROMISE OF GOD
BEING WORKED OUT IN YOUR LIFE. WHEREVER YOU'RE AT, WHATEVER'S
HOLDING YOU BACK, LET'S DECIDE THIS WEEK WE ARE ON MISSION
WITH THE PURPOSE OF GOD. GOD BLESS YA.
DON'T EVER FORGET IT, THE BEST IS YET TO COME.