Tip:
Highlight text to annotate it
X
HOW MUCH MYSTERY DO YOU SEE IN AND AROUND
YOUR LIFE EVERY DAY? DO YOU THINK IT'S POSSIBLE
TO EXPLAIN THE MYSTERY OF GOD? HAVE YOU EVER THOUGHT OF
GOD'S WILL AS SOMETHING THAT'S A GREAT, MYSTERIOUS TOUR?
WELL, WE'VE BEEN SINGING SOME GREAT SONGS IN OUR CHURCH AND,
OF COURSE, HILLSONG UNITED ARE SUCH A BLESSING AND
SOME OF THE SONGS THEY WRITE BRING SO MUCH LIFE TO PEOPLE.
ONE IS CALLED "OCEANS." THIS MESSAGE IS THEMED
AROUND THAT SONG. I'VE CALLED IT
"GOD'S GREAT MYSTERY TOUR."
"YOU CALL ME OUT UPON THE WATERS, THE GREAT UNKNOWN
WHERE FEET MAY FAIL AND THERE I FIND YOU IN THE MYSTERY."
I WANT TO TAKE JUST A FEW MINUTES
TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT "GOD'S GREAT MYSTERY TOUR."
I LOOKED UP THE WORD "MYSTERY." IT STARTED TALKING ABOUT
MYSTERY TOUR, A PLEASURE EXCURSION
TO AN UNKNOWN DESTINATION. WE KNOW OUR FINAL DESTINATION
IS HEAVEN AND ETERNITY, BUT THERE'S A WONDER IN SERVING
GOD BECAUSE THERE'S MYSTERY. MYSTERY'S FULL OF SUSPENSE.
IT'S FULL OF SURPRISES. MATTHEW CHAPTER 14,
IT'S WHERE PETER ON THE BOAT WALKED ON THE WATER, GOT HIS
EYES OFF JESUS, BEGAN TO SINK. WE CAN LOOK AT PETER AND THINK,
"HEY, YEAH, WELL HE WALKED ON THE WATER, BUT HE SUNK," BUT AT
LEAST PETER GOT OUT OF THE BOAT. THE DISCIPLES
NEVER GOT OUT OF THE BOAT. BUT AT LEAST THE DISCIPLES
GOT IN THE BOAT. THERE WERE 5,000 PEOPLE
THAT NEVER EVER LEFT THE SHORE. ARE YOU GONNA LIVE
YOUR LIFE LIKE THE 5,000 WHO NEVER LEFT THE SHORE?
ARE YOU GONNA SERVE GOD WITH THE ATTITUDE OF THE DISCIPLES?
THEY DEFINITELY GOT IN THE BOAT, BUT THEY WOULDN'T GET OUT
OF THE BOAT, OR ARE YOU GONNA LIVE WITH A SPIRIT OF PETER
WHO NOT ONLY LEFT THE SHORE, HE GOT OUT OF THE BOAT
BECAUSE JESUS SAID, "COME." THE WILL OF GOD'S ACTUALLY
NOT THAT HARD. ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS GO WHERE
THE LORD SAYS TO GO AND MAKE SURE YOU'RE READY TO COME TO
WHERE THE LORD IS, AND YOU'LL FIND YOURSELF
RIGHT IN THE CENTER OF THE MYSTERY, RIGHT IN
THE CENTER OF THE WILL OF GOD, WHICH IS A POWERFUL
AND GREAT PLACE TO BE. CAN ANYONE IN THE ROOM SAY AMEN?
CAN ANYONE SHOUT HALLELUJAH?
THERE'S A LOT OF MYSTERY ABOUT GOD.
THE BIBLE SAYS HIS WAYS ARE PAST FINDING OUT.
HIS WAYS ARE PAST FINDING OUT. MYSTERIOUS ARE HIS WAYS.
WHEN IT TALKS ABOUT THE BIBLE, IT TALKS ABOUT
UNSEARCHABLE TREASURES. AND SO THE MORE WE LOOK,
THE MORE WE DWELL, THE MORE WE ABSORB, THE MORE WE MEDITATE,
THE MORE WE KNOW THERE IS THAT IS UNSEARCHABLE, WE CAN NEVER
SEARCH OUT ALL OF THE TREASURE THAT'S IN THE WORD OF GOD.
IT'S FILLED WITH MYSTERY. THE WAY JESUS TOLD PARABLES,
HE SAYS, "THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN IS LIKE," AND HE WOULD TELL
THESE SIMPLE, YET PROFOUND, MYSTERIOUS STORIES IN WHICH,
WITHIN THE STORY, WE TODAY STILL IN THE 21ST CENTURY,
WE GO INTO THE STORIES LOOKING FOR THE MYSTERY.
IT'S POWERFUL. WHEN IT COMES TO END TIMES,
NOBODY KNOWS THE DAY NOR THE HOUR.
OVER ALL THE YEARS, SOME PEOPLE NEVER LEARN THAT
AND THEY WILL NAME A DATE, SOME ON GLOBAL TELEVISION,
AND MAKE FOOLS OF THEMSELVES, 'CAUSE WE DON'T KNOW.
WE DON'T KNOW. JUST MAKE SURE IF YOUR FRIENDS
AREN'T AROUND TOMORROW THAT YOU HAVEN'T MISSED OUT.
WE DON'T KNOW. WHEN IT COMES TO THE BIG THINGS
IN THE MYSTERY OF HIS WILL, LIKE THE BIG SUBJECTS
LIKE JUSTIFICATION BY FAITH AND SANCTIFICATION AND ATONEMENT FOR
OUR SINS AND SALVATION BY GRACE AND ALL OF THESE THINGS, THERE'S
A LOT OF MYSTERY IN THERE. SPEAKING OF GOD,
LISTEN TO WHAT THIS VERSE SAYS, JOB 11 VERSE 7 TO 9
IN THE MESSAGE. "DO YOU THINK YOU CAN EXPLAIN
THE MYSTERY OF GOD? DO YOU THINK YOU CAN
DIAGRAM GOD ALMIGHTY? GOD IS FAR HIGHER THAN YOU CAN
IMAGINE, FAR DEEPER THAN YOU CAN COMPREHEND, STRETCHING FURTHER
THAN EARTH'S HORIZONS, GOING WIDER THAN THE ENDLESS OCEAN."
DO YOU THINK YOU CAN EXPLAIN THE MYSTERY OF GOD?
IT GOES FURTHER THAN THE OCEAN. ECCLESIASTES 11, VERSE 5,
"JUST AS YOU'LL NEVER UNDERSTAND THE MYSTERY OF LIFE FORMING
IN A PREGNANT WOMAN, SO YOU'LL NEVER UNDERSTAND THE MYSTERY
AT WORK IN ALL THAT GOD DOES." WHY DOES GOD MAKE IT A MYSTERY?
WHY DOESN'T HE JUST TELL US? "TWENTY-SEVENTH OF MAY YOU'RE
GONNA MEET THIS PERSON, GO THERE AND THEY'LL LEAD YOU TO
SUCH AND SUCH. AND ON THE 4TH OF SEPTEMBER,
YOU'RE GONNA MEET A GUY. AND AT FIRST GLANCE, YOU'RE
NOT GONNA BE TOO IMPRESSED, BUT JUST STICK WITH IT.
YOU NEVER KNOW, THERE COULD BE SOMETHING THERE IN A MYSTERY.
ON THE 28TH OF-- I WANT YOU TO GO AND--"
WHY DOESN'T HE JUST TELL US? I MEAN, WE LIKE PREDICTABILITY.
I'M 59, MAYBE I'M GETTING TOO PREDICTABLE 'CAUSE
I LIKE GOING BACK TO THE SAME RESTAURANTS THAT I KIND
OF ALREADY KNOW I LIKE OR CAFES. AND WE TEND, BOBBIE AND I, TO GO
TO THE SAME PLACE EVERY YEAR FOR HOLIDAYS.
AND LET'S BE HONEST, WHEN YOU'RE IN CHURCH ON SUNDAY, I FIND, AS
A PASTOR, EVEN IN A BIG CHURCH, IF I WANT TO KNOW WHERE--WHETHER
SOMEONE'S THERE, I KIND OF KNOW WHERE TO LOOK FOR THEM.
I CAN LOOK OVER AND THINK, "I CAN'T SEE THEM HERE TODAY."
I CAN KNOW WHERE TO LOOK FOR THEM BECAUSE WHY?
'CAUSE WE KIND OF LIKE OUR SAFETY.
WE DON'T LIKE HAVING TO STEP OUT THERE.
IT'S KIND OF FREAKY. PEOPLE UPSET OUR ROUTINES
AND THEN GOD, HE JUST WANTS TO MAKE IT ALL MYSTERIOUS.
WHY? WHY?
YOU KNOW WHY I RECKON, IT'S 'CAUSE HE LOVES YOU.
THERE'S A LOT OF MYSTERY IN ROMANCE, A LOT OF MYSTERY.
I MEAN, THERE'S NOTHING WORSE, ALL THE MYSTERY
GOES OUT OF A ROMANCE, THEN IT KIND OF BECOMES LOVELESS.
IT'S PART--THE MYSTERY'S PART OF THE DRAW.
THE LORD LOVES US, AND I THINK SOMETIMES WE
CHASE HIM UNTIL HE CATCHES US. IN OTHER WORDS, WE THINK
WE'RE CHASING AFTER HIM, BUT ALL THE TIME HE'S
DRAWING US TOWARD HIMSELF. WE CHASE HIM UNTIL
HE CATCHES US. A LOT OF MYSTERY IN ROMANCE.
THE GREATEST ROMANTIC IN THE SCRIPTURES,
HIS NAME WAS SOLOMON. HE WROTE THIS BEAUTIFUL, POETIC
SONG, THE SONG OF SOLOMON AND IT'S A PICTURE OF THE KING
AND A BEAUTIFUL SHULAMITE WOMAN. AND YOU KNOW, IN THE SONG,
LISTEN TO WHAT HE SAYS. CHAPTER 7, VERSE 4,
"YOUR EYES ARE WELLS OF LIGHT, DEEP WITH MYSTERY,
QUINTESSENTIALLY FEMININE!" ISN'T THAT NICE?
"YOUR EYES ARE WELLS OF LIGHT, DEEP WITH MYSTERY,
QUINTESSENTIALLY FEMININE! YOUR EYES ARE WELLS OF LIGHT,
DEEP WITH MYSTERY, QUINTESSENTIALLY FEMININE!
YOUR EYES ARE WELLS OF LIGHT, QUINTESSENTIALLY FEMININE!"
OH, SORRY, WRONG ONE, AH! AH! "QUINTESSENTIALLY FEMININE!"
HELLO, BABY. HOW ARE YOU?
AND THERE I FIND YOU IN THE MYSTERY
THE GREAT UNKNOWN WHERE FEET MAY FAIL
HE LOVES YOU. WE LIKE IT OUGHT TO BE
PREDICTABLE, BUT LET'S BE HONEST, IF IT WAS ALL LAID OUT
FOR US, THERE'D BE NO SUCH THING AS THE FIGHT OF FAITH,
IN FACT, WE WOULDN'T NEED FAITH. WHAT WOULD YOU NEED FAITH FOR
WHEN YOU ALREADY KNOW WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN?
YOU WOULDN'T EVEN NEED FAITH. I MEAN, THERE WOULD BE NO SENSE
OF EXCITEMENT AND ROMANCE IN THIS LOVE AFFAIR WITH
JESUS CHRIST IF IT WAS ALL JUST LAID OUT ON A PLATE FOR US.
GOD KEEPS HIMSELF MYSTERIOUS. AMEN.
I THINK HE'S BLESSING US SOMETIME.
HE'S GOT SUCH A GLINT IN HIS EYE, AND THE FATHER, HE
JUST LOOKS AT YOU AND HE'S SO-- HE GETS--OBVIOUSLY WE CAN BREAK
HIS HEART, BUT HE'S SO FOR US AND SO ON OUR SIDE.
AND IF WE WOULD JUST SOMETIMES HAVE THE COURAGE TO STEP INTO
THE GREAT UNKNOWN, YOU'LL FIND HIM IN THE MYSTERY AND YES, NO
SUCH THING OF ENTERING ON THIS JOURNEY OF FAITH AND ON THE WILL
OF GOD WITHOUT THE POSSIBILITY YOUR FEET MIGHT FAIL.
GO WHERE HE SAYS TO GO. KEEP YOUR EYES ON HIM
AND COME TO WHERE HE IS. THAT'S THE WAY
THROUGH THE MYSTERY. THAT'S THE WAY TO APPROACH
SERVING GOD. I COULD TELL SO MANY STORIES
OF OUR OWN JOURNEY, BUT 1999, OUR CHURCH WAS ONLY ONE CAMPUS,
THE HILLS. AND I MEAN, I GUESS IT WAS
PROBABLY THE BIGGEST LOCAL CHURCH IN AUSTRALIA,
MAYBE 6,000 PEOPLE THEN. AND THE BOARD IN MY FATHER'S
CHURCH, THEY HAD FOR A LONG TIME SAID, "LOOK, IF ANYTHING EVER
HAPPENS TO FRANK, WE WANT YOU TO LOOK AFTER WHAT HAPPENS
TO THE CHURCH." AND I REALLY WASN'T EXPECTING IT
OR I WASN'T WANTING IT, AND MY FATHER ASKED ME, HE SAID,
"I WANT YOU TO DO IT NOW. I WANT YOU TO TAKE IT ON."
WELL, YOU KNOW, IT SOUNDS SIMPLE BECAUSE WITH SO MANY MODELS OF
MULTICAMPUS, MULTISITE CHURCHES, BUT 1999, YOU TRY NAMING
CHURCHES IN 1999 THAT HAVE MORE THAN ONE CAMPUS.
WE DIDN'T REALLY HAVE ANY MODELS.
WE HAD NOBODY TO FOLLOW. IT WAS THE GREAT UNKNOWN
AND ON BOTH SIDES OF THE DIVIDE, OUT AT THE HILLS, I CAN REMEMBER
SITTING OUR STAFF DOWN AND EXPLAINING TO THEM, "WE'RE NOT
ONLY GONNA BE PASTORS OF THIS CHURCH NOW, WE'RE ALSO GOING TO
BE PASTORS IN THE CITY." AND I'LL NEVER FORGET BECAUSE OF
THE VAGUE, VACANT STARES, AS EVERYONE'S MIND WAS RACING.
IT WAS THE GREAT UNKNOWN. AND, YOU KNOW, TO BE HONEST
WITH YOU, I COULDN'T EVEN HAVE IMAGINED WHERE THAT WOULD LEAD,
THE WAY IT WOULD CAUSE OUR CHURCH TO BURST OPEN
WITH NEW POSSIBILITIES. AND SO WHAT THEN WAS 6,000--
A BIG CHURCH ON ANY GIVEN WEEKEND TODAY IN AUSTRALIA IS
OVER 31,000 PEOPLE AND AT EASTER 62,000 PEOPLE, BUT IT WOULD
NEVER HAVE HAPPENED IF WE DIDN'T STEP INTO THE MYSTERY,
WOULD NEVER HAVE HAPPENED. AND, OF COURSE, IT'S SCARY,
BUT THAT'S KIND OF WHAT GIVES IT ITS ADVENTURE.
THAT'S WHAT KEEPS THE ROMANCE IN YOUR LOVE AFFAIR WITH JESUS.
THAT'S THE EXCITEMENT. HE'S NEVER FAILED ME YET
AND HE WON'T START NOW. HE HAS NEVER FAILED ME YET.
I FAILED HIM. I FAILED HIM BY SOMETIMES
NOT TAKING THAT STEP INTO THE MYSTERY AND SOMETIMES
FALLING SHORT OF THE GLORY OF GOD, BUT
HE'S NEVER FAILED ME YET, AND I SEE NO REASON AT THE AGE OF 59,
WHY I SHOULD START BELIEVING HE'S GONNA START NOW.
IN AUSTRALIA, IN THIS PART OF THE WORLD, WE NEED ADVENTURERS,
PEOPLE WITH AN EXPLORER'S COURAGE, PEOPLE WHO ARE
PREPARED TO TAKE NEW GROUND AND GO TO NEW PLACES.
DON'T JUST DO ANYTHING ANYWHERE AND STEP INTO THE GREAT UNKNOWN
'CAUSE IT WILL SEEM LIKE A GOOD IDEA AND I TOLD YOU TO.
REMEMBER, YOU GOTTA GO TO WHERE HE SAYS AND YOU GOTTA
KEEP YOUR EYES ON WHERE HE IS. DON'T LISTEN TO SOME WEIRD VOICE
BECAUSE YOU HAD TOO MUCH RASPBERRY JUICE, JUST MAKE SURE
THAT YOU KEEP YOUR EYES ON HIM. BELIEVE FOR HIM TO LEAD YOU
INTO ALL THAT HE HAS FOR YOU IN JESUS' NAME, 'CAUSE HE HAS SO
MUCH FOR YOU, SO MUCH FOR YOU. I HAVE NO DOUBT--I DON'T KNOW
YOU PERSONALLY, BUT I HAVE NO DOUBT 'CAUSE I KNOW HIM,
EXCEEDING, ABOVE, AND ABUNDANT. EXCEEDING, ABUNDANT, AND ABOVE
ALL YOU COULD EVER ASK OR THINK ACCORDING TO HIS POWER IN US.
SO EVERYTHING THAT GOD WANTS TO DO TO EQUIP YOU FOR THE MYSTERY
THROUGH THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, HE DEPOSITS
IN YOU AND IT IS IN YOU. TO BE HONEST, WHEN I WAS YOUNG,
I DIDN'T HAVE A WHOLE LOT GOING FOR ME IF YOU LOOK AT IT
IN THE NATURAL. BUT IN ANOTHER WAY, I HAD
EVERYTHING GOING FOR ME BECAUSE AS A LITTLE TINY BOY, I USED TO
WATCH MY FATHER GOING OFF TO PREACH SOMEWHERE AND I USED TO
DREAM FROM MY EARLIEST MEMORY, "ONE DAY I'M GONNA DO THAT.
ONE DAY I'M GONNA DO THAT." EVEN WHEN I WAS
A HALF-BACKSLIDDEN TEENAGER, I STILL NEVER EVER LOST SIGHT OF
THE FACT, THERE'S ONLY THIS ONE THING I WANT TO DO WITH MY LIFE,
AND THAT'S BEEN THE GREATEST ADVANTAGE I COULD HAVE EVER HAD
IN LIFE BECAUSE WHEN I'VE BEEN KNOCKED DOWN, I'VE HAD
THE WHEREWITHAL TO GET BACK UP AND JUST KEEP GOING.
AND HE'S NEVER FAILED ME YET AND HE'S NOT GOING TO START NOW,
AND I JUST WANT TO ENCOURAGE YOU AS WELL.
WHEN YOU SING "OCEANS," IT'S SUCH A BEAUTIFUL SONG.
SUCH A--I COULD NEVER DO THE SONG JUSTICE IN 30 MINUTES,
BUT I JUST HAVE TO TELL YOU THAT WHEN YOU SING IT AND YOU
PERSONALIZE IT AND YOU KEEP YOUR EYES ABOVE THE WATER
AND KEEP THEM ON THE AUTHOR AND THE FINISHER OF YOUR FAITH,
COMMIT TO THE GREAT UNKNOWN. LISTEN TO GODLY COUNSEL.
LISTEN TO THE RIGHT VOICES, NOT ALL THE WRONG VOICES.
DON'T EVER ACT OUT OF REACTION. STAY FIRMLY PLANTED IN
THE HOUSE OF GOD AND COMMIT TO THE GREAT UNKNOWN.
AND I'LL TELL YA, MYSTERY, IT HAS A SOUND.
I TELL YA WHAT IT SOUNDS LIKE: PRAISE.
PSALM 40, VERSE 1 TO 3, "I WAITED AND WAITED AND WAITED
FOR GOD. AT LAST HE LOOKED;
FINALLY HE LISTENED. HE LIFTED ME OUT OF THE DITCH,
PULLED ME FROM DEEP MUD. HE STOOD ME UP ON A SOLID ROCK
TO MAKE SURE I WOULDN'T SLIP. HE TAUGHT ME HOW TO SING
THE LATEST GOD-SONG, A PRAISE-SONG TO OUR GOD.
MORE AND MORE PEOPLE ARE SEEING THIS," HERE IT IS,
"THEY ENTER THE MYSTERY, ABANDONING THEMSELVES TO GOD."
YOU CANNOT TAKE A SAFETY-FIRST OPTION WHEN IT COMES TO
THE WILL OF GOD. IT'S JUST NOT GONNA DO IT
FOR YA. DON'T TAKE
A SAFETY-FIRST OPTION. COMMIT YOURSELF, SINGING PRAISE
SONGS ALL THE WAY BECAUSE AGAIN, IT SAYS THAT THROUGH PRAISE,
YOU ENTER THE MYSTERY. THIS IS TALKING ABOUT A GUY WHO
WAS IN THE MIRY CLAY AND TALKING ABOUT HOW GOD SET HIM ON A ROCK.
A LONG TIME AGO, SOME OF THE YOUNG PEOPLE
IN OUR CHURCH WROTE A SONG, "JESUS LOVER OF MY SOUL."
I ALWAYS SMILE AT THAT SONG BECAUSE ONE OF THE YOUNG
TEENAGERS, I THINK, WHO WROTE IT WAS A PLUMBER, AND HE USED TO
WORK IN MIRY CLAY, FIXING STUCK SEWER PIPES.
SO YOU CAN IMAGINE WHAT HE'D BE WORKING IN.
DOWN THERE SOMEWHERE WITH A BLOCKED SEWER, THERE'S THIS
GUY COMMITTED TO THE MYSTERY. I CAN IMAGINE HIM JUST WRITING,
"YOU TAKE ME OUT FROM THE MIRY-- AND PUT MY FEET UPON A ROCK.
AND NOW I KNOW I LOVE YOU, I LOVE YOU."
MAYBE OUR LIFE'S LOOKING MUNDANE.
MAYBE YOU THINK OF "MY LIFE IS MUNDANE."
BUT IF YOU JUST PRAISE YOUR WAY INTO THAT ENTRY POINT INTO
THE MYSTERY, GOD CAN REACH YOU RIGHT WHERE YOU ARE.
HE CAN TAKE YOU OUT OF YOUR MIRY CLAY AND HE CAN
SET YOUR FEET UPON A ROCK. AGAIN, YOU ENTER THE MYSTERY
WITH A VOICE OF PRAISE. NOT ONLY HAS MYSTERY GOT
A SOUND, IT'S GOT A LANGUAGE. 1 CORINTHIANS CHAPTER 14,
VERSE 2, THE APOSTLE PAUL SPEAKING TO THE CORINTHIANS AND
HE'S BRINGING SOME CORRECTION AND SOME ORDER TO A CHURCH THAT
HAD BECOME QUITE UNDISCIPLINED. BUT LISTEN TO WHAT HE SAYS, "FOR
HE WHO SPEAKS IN A TONGUE DOES NOT SPEAK TO MEN BUT TO GOD,
FOR NO ONE UNDERSTANDS HIM; HOWEVER, IN THE SPIRIT--"
SPIRIT LEAD ME WHERE MY TRUST IS WITHOUT BORDERS.
LISTEN TO IT AGAIN. "HOWEVER IN THE SPIRIT
HE SPEAKS MYSTERY." I FIND WITH LIFE OFTEN
I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO PRAY. I JUST DON'T KNOW WHAT TO PRAY.
MY ENGLISH, MY FINITENESS, IT JUST DOESN'T KNOW WHERE
TO GO AND HERE THE BIBLE, IT'S TALKING ABOUT SPEAKING MYSTERIES
TO GOD THROUGH THE FULLNESS OF THE SPIRIT OF GOD.
I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO BELIEVE TO SPEAK THE LANGUAGE OF
THE SPIRIT BECAUSE MYSTERY HAS A LANGUAGE.
AND THE DEVIL, HE'S THE AUTHOR OF CONFUSION, BUT IF YOU'RE
SINGING A MYSTERY TO GOD, THEN I DON'T EVEN THINK THE DEVIL HAS
ANY IDEA WHAT YOU'RE SINGING ABOUT AND YOU CANNOT SING
OUTSIDE OF THE WILL OF GOD IF YOU'RE SINGING GOD MYSTERIES
TO HIM. IT'S GOT A SOUND.
IT'S GOT A LANGUAGE. GOD EQUIPS US FOR THE MYSTERY
AND HAS A CONFESSION. IT SOUNDS LIKE THIS,
"I WILL CALL UPON YOUR NAME, KEEP MY EYES ABOVE THE WAVES.
WHEN OCEANS RISE, MY SOUL WILL REST IN YOUR EMBRACE.
I AM YOURS AND YOU ARE MINE." CAN I TELL YOU A COUPLE
OF MY FAVORITE LINES? "YOUR SOVEREIGN HAND
WILL BE MY GUIDE." THAT'S SUCH A COOL LINE,
"YOUR SOVEREIGN HAND," TRUSTING IN THE SOVEREIGNTY
OF AN ALMIGHTY GOD. "YOUR SOVEREIGN HAND
WILL BE MY GUIDE. WHERE FEET MAY FAIL AND FEARS
SURROUND ME, YOU'VE NEVER FAILED ME YET AND YOU WON'T START NOW.
SPIRIT, LEAD ME WHERE MY TRUST IS WITHOUT BORDERS.
LET ME WALK UPON THE WATERS WHEREVER YOU'D CALL ME.
TAKE ME DEEPER THAN MY FEET COULD EVER WANDER."
WELL, I CAN PROMISE YOU FROM EXPERIENCE THAT IF YOU TRUST GOD
AND YOU STAY COMMITTED TO THE MYSTERY AND YOU DON'T,
SOMEWHERE ALONG THE WAY, JUST FALL OFF THE EDGE
OF THE WILL OF GOD AND YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD,
I CAN PROMISE YOU HE'LL TAKE YOU DEEPER THAN YOUR FEET COULD
EVER WANDER AND YOUR FAITH WILL BE MADE STRONGER
IN THE PRESENCE OF YOUR SAVIOR.
WELL, THE SONG "OCEANS," IT SAYS, "YOUR GRACE ABOUNDS
IN DEEPEST WATERS. YOUR SOVEREIGN HAND
WILL BE MY GUIDE." I LOVE THE THOUGHT OF KEEPING
MY LIFE IN THE SOVEREIGN HANDS OF AN ALMIGHTY GOD WHO THROUGH
THE SPIRIT, HE GUIDES US. "SPIRIT, LEAD ME WHERE MY
TRUST IS WITHOUT BORDERS." THOSE ARE THE WORDS OF THE SONG,
AND DO YOU KNOW WE WANT DEFINITION AND BORDERS
AND PARAMETERS IN OUR LIFE? BUT THE TRUTH IS MANY TIMES
A FAITH LIFE MEANS STEPPING OUT OF THE BOAT, AND YOU
DON'T STEP OUT INTO THE UNKNOWN IF GOD'S NOT THERE.
BUT WHEN YOU KNOW THAT YOUR EYES ARE ON JESUS AND YOU STEP INTO
THE UNKNOWN, I BELIEVE THERE YOU CAN FIND HIM IN THE MYSTERY.
THE WILL OF GOD IS EXCITING. IT'S AN ADVENTURE.
IT'S MYSTERIOUS. IT'S FULL OF SUSPENSE AND IT'S
FULL OF INTRIGUE AND IT'S FULL OF ATTRACTION AND ROMANCE LIKE
ANY GREAT MYSTERY, AND THAT'S WHY NEVER ALLOW ANYONE TO HAVE
YOU BELIEVING THAT THE FAITH LIFE IS A BORING LIFE,
A DULL LIFE THAT IS JUST RULES AND REGULATIONS
AND BORDERS AND PARAMETERS. THE AMAZING THING ABOUT PETER IS
MAYBE HE BEGAN TO SINK AND JESUS HAD TO SAVE HIM, BUT THE TRUTH
IS AT LEAST HE GOT OUT OF THE BOAT, WHEREAS THE DISCIPLES,
THEY JUST WERE SPOOKED BY GHOSTS.
THEY SAID, "WE'RE NOT GETTING OUT OF THE BOAT," BUT
AT LEAST THEY GOT IN THE BOAT. THE CROWD, WHOM JESUS HAD JUST
FED WITH 1 LITTLE BOY'S LUNCH FED 5,000 PEOPLE, BUT THEY
WOULDN'T EVEN LEAVE THE SHORE. AND I BELIEVE SERVING GOD,
YOU GOTTA BE PREPARED NOT ONLY TO LEAVE THE SHORE, YOU GOTTA
GET INTO THE BOAT AND AT TIMES, YOU'VE GOTTA STEP OUT OF
THE BOAT INTO THE GREAT UNKNOWN AND TRUST GOD.
AND IT'S AMAZING HOW YOU LIVE A LIFE OF FAITH THAT YOU HAVE
STORIES AND TESTIMONIES TO TELL OF THE GRACE
AND THE GOODNESS OF GOD. AND MY WIFE, BOBBIE AND I WE--
59 YEARS OF AGE I AM NOW, BUT I'VE GOT SO MANY STORIES THAT--
TO TELL ABOUT WHAT CAN COME OUT OF TRUSTING GOD AND PUTTING HIM
FIRST IN OUR LIVES.
SPIRIT LEAD ME WHERE MY TRUST IS WITHOUT BORDERS
LET ME WALK UPON THE WATERS WHEREVER YOU WOULD CALL ME
TAKE ME DEEPER THAN MY FEET COULD EVER WANDER
AND MY FAITH WILL BE MADE STRONGER
IN THE PRESENCE OF MY SAVIOUR SPIRIT LEAD ME WHERE
MY TRUST IS WITHOUT BORDERS LET ME WALK UPON THE WATERS
WHEREVER YOU WOULD CALL ME TAKE ME DEEPER THAN
MY FEET COULD EVER WANDER AND MY FAITH WILL BE
MADE STRONGER IN THE PRESENCE OF MY SAVIOUR
SPIRIT LEAD ME WHERE MY TRUST IS WITHOUT BORDERS
LET ME WALK UPON THE WATERS WHEREVER YOU WOULD CALL ME
TAKE ME DEEPER THAN MY FEET COULD EVER WANDER
AND MY FAITH WILL BE MADE STRONGER
IN THE PRESENCE OF MY SAVIOUR
JESUS
I WILL CALL UPON YOUR NAME KEEP MY EYES ABOVE THE WAVES
WHEN OCEANS RISE MY SOUL WILL REST IN YOUR EMBRACE
I AM YOURS AND YOU ARE MINE
MY FIRST IMPRESSIONS OF "OCEANS" LYRICS HANDS DOWN
IS WHAT STUCK OUT TO ME 'CAUSE LYRICS ARE REALLY IMPORTANT
TO ME PERSONALLY 'CAUSE IF I'M SINGING YOU A SONG WHETHER,
YOU KNOW, WE'RE RECORDING IT OR WHETHER LIKE IN A CHURCH
SERVICE, LIKE THAT'S WHAT WILL STAND OUT TO ME.
LIKE ANY SONG THAT LIKE SPEAKS RIGHT TO WHERE I'M AT OR
CHALLENGES ME, YOU KNOW, IN MY FAITH, I KNOW THAT I HAVE
TO SING IT WITH A CONVICTION. THE SONG DEFINITELY WAS
A CHALLENGE TO ME 'CAUSE IT'S TALKING ABOUT STEPPING OUT
IN FAITH, ESPECIALLY INTO THE UNKNOWN AND JUST KNOWING
THAT, YOU KNOW, YOUR FAITH WILL BE MADE STRONGER.
IT'S FUNNY 'CAUSE IT WAS KIND OF REFLECTING EXACTLY WHERE
I WAS IN A SEASON OF LIFE WHERE I HAD A CHANCE TO MAYBE PURSUE
A SECULAR MUSIC CAREER, AND I WAS KIND OF JUST DECIDING.
AND I ASKED GOD, "IF I'M MEANT TO GO DOWN THAT PATH, YOU'LL
OPEN THAT DOOR AND IF I'M NOT MEANT TO, YOU SHUT IT."
AND YEAH, LITERALLY LIKE WITHIN 2 WEEKS, GOT THE OPPORTUNITY
TO SING WITH THE UNITED GUYS, SING "OCEANS."
COME ON, LET'S DECLARE THIS TONIGHT!
TAKE ME DEEPER THAN MY FEET COULD EVER WANDER
AND MY FAITH WOULD BE MADE STRONGER I GUESS IT'S THAT
STEPPING OUT INTO THE UNKNOWN KNOWING THAT GOD'S GOT YOU AND
THAT YOU CAN TRUST HIM BECAUSE ALREADY IN THIS LAST 6 MONTHS,
I'VE JUST SEEN GOD MOVE IN LIKE RIDICULOUS WAYS, IN LIKE IN
SITUATIONS AND THE THINGS THAT HE'S BROUGHT INTO MY PATH LIKE,
YOU KNOW, DIRECTED ME TO. I THINK I'LL LOOK BACK AND
I'LL JUST BE LIKE, THAT WAS A TURNING POINT IN MY LIFE.
JESUS, JESUS! IT'S PRETTY COOL WHEN
IN THE MIDDLE OF WORSHIP AND IN THE MIDDLE OF "OCEANS"
LIKE I LOOK OUT AND YOU JUST SEE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE,
HANDS RAISED, FULLY ENGAGED, FULLY LEANING IN,
HAVING AN ENCOUNTER WITH GOD. AS A WORSHIP LEADER,
IT'S THE BIGGEST HONOR.
I AM YOURS AND YOU ARE MINE
>> THANKS SO MUCH FOR JOINING ME.
I PRAY YOU ENJOYED THIS MESSAGE ABOUT "GOD'S GREAT MYSTERY TOUR"
BECAUSE THE TRUTH IS, THERE'S A LOT OF MYSTERY TO SERVING GOD,
BUT THANK GOD THAT WE FIND JESUS IN THE MYSTERY.
GOD BLESS YA. I PRAY YOU HAVE A REALLY
GREAT WEEK, AND I ENCOURAGE YOU TO TUNE IN AGAIN NEXT TIME.
THANKS SO MUCH.