The Sermon New Beginnings by David McGee
Oct 11, 2015
New Beginnings (31:49)
Referenced Scriptures: Matthew 9:14-15; 2 Corinthians 5:17-21; Ephesians 5:1
Audio
Click To View Notes & Scriptures
-
The scriptures below are from the WEB Bible.
Matthew 9:14-15
14) Then John‘s disciples came to him, saying, "Why do we and the Pharisees fast often, but your disciples don‘t fast?"
15) Jesus said to them, "Can the friends of the bridegroom mourn, as long as the bridegroom is with them? But the days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast.
2 Corinthians 5:17-21
17) Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old things have passed away. Behold, they have become new.
18) But all things are of God, who reconciled us to himself through Jesus Christ, and gave to us the ministry of reconciliation;
19) namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself, not reckoning to them their trespasses, and having committed to us the word of reconciliation.
20) We are therefore ambassadors on behalf of Christ, as though God were entreating by us. We beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.
21) For him who knew no sin he made to be sin on our behalf; so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
Ephesians 5:1
1) Be therefore imitators of God, as beloved children.
The WEB Bible is provided by Public Domain.
Click To View The Sermon's Machine Transcription
This is a machine transcript of the sermon. It won't be completely accurate of what's said in the sermon.
Well. Today I'm looking at new beginnings. And I use it in the same and the poor will since we just don't have one beginning. We have numerous beginnings every day is renewed every day is a time of picking up. What has done for us and seeing how that is at work in our life. And in sector in Second Current in five it says. Now we look inside and what we see is that anyone united with the Messiah gets a fresh start. Is created new the old life is gone the new life. Burgeon. Look at it. All this comes from who settled the relationship between us and him. Rhonda would you please return to the platform. To the SE. We have. There are certain things that in our life it. And sometimes they fit for just certain times in certain places in our life. Now this is Ron reported on. As world. Your Head. It's this are open. Band jacket there she is there. And she actually almost. Well I was trying to find mine in mind when he would come close to fitting I can't even get it in you know. So. But we see that this is a nice jacket. But it's kind of out of style and it was for a certain period of time in her life. That doesn't quite fit where she's at now even though it could fit. Physically. If this isn't it isn't the right fit for who you are this moment. So that's it. And you can wear home there. Now. Yeah I was trying to find mine and I don't know where it's that so. This is the farm isn't there anymore. Yeah. So it's one of those things as we look at our life where we've come from. You know it isn't that something was wrong it was that was the right time it was the right fit for that time period. But you know where we run into trouble is that we try to keep. What once was and keep what once was very important to our life. And we don't realize that it's for a certain time and for a certain season. You see in Oh and we look at how that we go through school and. You know how that we graduate and go to college or whatever get a job and go to another job or. Some of the teachers retire and some I'm going to be teachers and. You know all the things going on and we're looking at our own process. We're looking at our own steps that. How that has ordered our steps and says Here in second Corinthians we see that anyone united with the Messiah gets a fresh start. gives us a fresh start a fresh start every day is a fresh start. Sometimes we put it for the first year New Years resolution January first. Well that's the fresh start for the year. And we make all these new year resolutions and we don't keep them. Because we think they're a fresh start and reality we have a fresh start. Every day. Because has given us promises he's given us His Word and His word is in our hearts and lives in it really it's renewable. The Word of is renewable heaven and earth will p away my word will never p away. So the renewed the renewing aspect of 's Word and 's Spirit is continually going on do you know. I forget what the time period is but there's a certain time frame that our body totally changes every cell is replaced with another cell. To the point that the original cells are no longer there they're gone. And that the regeneration process goes on and there is a time period and they have it down and I completely forget what. Whether it's weeks or months. I don't know. But there is there's just as regenerating process. That just going on inside of us physically. Our blood cells. They're continually changing you know used to think when people would give blood. My gosh they're given a what happens when they run out. Well what we're set up in our body to reproduce. To keep a certain level of blood within our system. Well. Think of it in that in that context with the Spirit the Holy Spirit just doesn't come and zap us once and OK we're ready for heaven. And more on this. We're on this kind of spiritual plane that kind of just one ing into eternity can't wait to die. You know to heaven. And it's like this and but that's not what it is our spiritual plane is a continual onward growth. We're always changing and no matter how old we are in our faith. There's always more to have there's more to understand. There's more to what we have in than what we currently understand and where we run into trouble is whenever we have our old experience. The jacket. We have our old experience. And we think this is all there is there isn't it just keeps growing. It keeps renewing. So that anyone united with the Messiah gets a fresh start is created new the old life is gone. Old life is gone. The old life is dead. The old life is washed away by the blood of the land. That my life of sin. And my life of thinking that all this is for me and be mine. And all that I can have and possess and it's all about me. We realize that our life is about . And if we seek to please . We are going to find our greatest gifts. If we seek to please we are going to be our greatest person. And if that person that has created us to be as a doctor. We're going to be the best doctor. Because we're fulfilling 's purpose for our life if it's to be a teacher. If it's to you know. Work in the factory if it's to. You know. Drive a bus whatever. If whatever we are doing is what wants us to do we have we are growing and is using that life that we live. And the talents that he has dystopian us in our life for us to continue to regenerate. And to continue to grow and to to be nurtured by the Holy Spirit. So the in our own life is gone in a new life Burgess it just continues to flourish. Our life in Christ continues to flourish. Now. Flourish. Is a great you know. That's a great thing. Flourish. You know. It's means that. What does it mean you may have an idea what versions means flourish. Virgin's it blossoms. Bob you're a blossom. We say well I'm the flower. Mum. But you see. We all Bob. And David. You know all of us here. We're blossoming. That means we're coming to harvest for. We're bearing fruit. And it continues it's an ongoing process to think of in the Book of Revelation it talks about the trees by the river of life and each one brings forth fruit. Every month. Brings forth a new fruit. And our life. Burgess with fruit. Our life becomes blessed and. Did you ever. When do you ever feel the best. About your blessings. When do you feel the best about who you are one. We like it when people say that was good you know what you're doing is very special we like that but the biggest blessing. Is when you do something for someone and. It meets their need it helps them at that moment in life. Then you know. Wow that was really good. Not because I did it but because did it through me. And you see that's why I think of our professions in our gifting Xin the things that we do with our life. That what we do is something that honors . My mom. She loved to cook. And in Oh and she would she could cook about anything and every sometimes people making cakes and things and I said it before that she would make cakes and take in the church and people would pay or fork you know. Well. Our life. She loved to bake and she was just good at baking in those she just saw herself. In what she did and she really loved that. And she did many other things you know. But she loved her baking. Well. Our life virgins. It blossoms. The what we're doing. Not only brings a blessing to us but it brings a blessing to others. So. Look at it this burgeoning just blessing. It all this comes from . Who settled. The relationship between us and him. There's no longer. This conflict between and I. There's not a conflict between and I. has done everything to eliminate all the conflict that would arise between us and him. has done everything to eliminate anything or bring a conflict. And he wants us than to be receptive to what he wants to do and what wants to do in our life. You have dreams. If you have things that you would like to do you know your bucket list. You have a list of things you'd like to accomplish or go or do were see or say or write or whatever. Is there something you would like to see on your bucket list. Well. Who gives us our dreams. Who gives to us that reality that. These are important that these gifting that we have not only will bless us. But they'll bless others. That what has given us. For Geremi isn't just something for me to possess and and d. It is given to me. So that I can post s it and share it with others. And in the sharing. It brings the blessing it blossoms. The the activity. It brings to fruition. That which has begun in our lives. So it's all settled in this relationship between us and . And there's no conflict. doesn't have a conflict with you. He has love for you. doesn't have does not want to withhold. He wants to the stove. He doesn't want us to measure up. He wants us to walk up. Walk up to him to come boldly into his presence. We don't have to hide. We need to be in the open. Our relationship with is something that he in the open he blesses in people see it in some don't like it and some love it because we're going to bestow 's blessing it's of their life. In the fetus chapter five. It says. Watch what does. And then you do it. Watch what does and then you do it now. It doesn't mean with the blind man the spit on the ground. Made Madama stuck in his eyes and told him Go wash. That doesn't mean we do that. Had one us posted we don't do that but what it means is what is the creativity of Jesus. DEVORE healed. Anyone To my knowledge. He don't never healed anyone the same way. There wasn't a formula that Jesus used. Sometimes it was the faith of others. The individual who was lame and he was on a mat and his four friends brought him to the to the house. And they couldn't get in because of the crowd. So somebody came up with the idea. You know that the four guys didn't stand around so all we can't get in a second home just drop them off here. Someone had an idea. Let's lower him through the roof. Well I don't know about you but destroying somebodies house is not what we would consider a good thing to do in the name of got. But whatever it was they day went up there tore the roof apart and lower demand down in front of Jesus. You know there was a great thing then that happened the lowered him down. And it was the face of the individuals who were carrying him. The. The man himself. It wasn't his faith. How about the the the. The Senate ruler. Comes to Jesus and says My daughter has died. Will you come and pray for her. She doesn't have any faith. She's dead. She's gone. And the guy says if you just come. I know that if you touch or pray for her. Showed she'll be well. So Jesus starts off on the journey to go there. And the the what happens on the way is this woman who is pushing herself to the crowd. Touches the him of his garment. And she's healed. She has great face she says if I can just touch the hem of his garment. I'll be healed and Jesus stops and says Who touched me. And the disciples what are they say oh there's a whole crowd around here Jesus when you meet somebody touched you. And he said no. I felt virtue. I felt virtue in see that virtue that flow of is what is in our life. And I go back to the story of. Martha and Mary the Mother of Jesus that Martha was pregnant and. Mary has conceived by the Holy Spirit. And I know of told this before but it still does something that resonates with for me that Martha is pregnant with John the Baptist's in the womb. You know babies maybe three six months old whatever. And Mary goes to Martha. And when. When Mary greets. MARTHA. What happens. The baby jumps in her womb. The life that was in her. Came to life. OK. And the life that has in us. Comes to life. It comes to life inside of us that when we hear a promise. When we think of a promise. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. When we face a difficulty. And we go. . You said all things. I could do all things through you so here it is got an inside of us there's this life there's this quickening. This is this life of the Spirit comes to life again and us and like quickens us. And whenever we face difficulties we face trials we face. Any situation. Good or bad. Were thanking for His presence. And going to and reminding of His presence of his promise to was. And what happens is that. I think of it this way. I think that . Reminds us. Brings our thoughts and I remember our remembrance. His promise. And he wants us to say it. And to declare it too far to . As for me in my house. We've all serve the Lord. You know. When I say that and I think of it I think of. Not only right David and Rachel and their family I think of my nieces and nephews. I think I think of my brothers and their kids and you know the extended family. It's like. I've got to remember this and I've got to declare it this is not only affects my life and affects the life of my children and my relatives and my friends because I know that was my mother's prayer. That was my mother's prayer and my grandmother's prayer. You know it was their prayers of we would all serve the Lord. And when comes into a family. We make the difference you're the deciding factor for your children. For your children your deciding factor for your grandkids. Your the deciding factor. I never thought that. Forty years ago. I never thought why I'm a deciding factor making good decisions. You know. We came here thirty six years ago be thirty six in February and. You know we would think well it's a very small community small church. You know and small this small that small you know. Be here a little while but never did I think that my grandchildren would be affected but be impacted by this church. This place. This congregation. You never did I think that thirty six years ago. This is going to be a place where my children are going to be raised. And they're going to impact the world. From Wimber. You know. That doesn't happen. It does you know. Not only from here for our family. But if you look at the people of this community. Who have been extraordinary. In leading organizations in leading the military. And in all that it's had its impact. But then you go to the church and you go to the impact of our denomination. You know. There's one hundred forty people in our denomination in one thousand fourteen. Now there's. I have to figure it out a million. I don't know. It's the second largest group in the world from one hundred forty people. In one hundred fourteen. So. But the emphasis has always been reaching people for Christ's let Christ come into the hearts and lives of people. And it will change them forever. That's the goal. We look at our own lives and allow Jesus Christ to come into our hearts and our minds and our thoughts into our actions and what we're doing we're asking for direction we're not just uming a You know I was you know we go to church for the fill up. And I'll. And we go there spiritually. For get our snack and when he leaves for the week and half. And we exist on our spiritual snacks but I don't know about you but I can't live on one snack a week. Physically or spiritually. So it's important to us to see what is up to. It's up to us to see what wants to do in our lives and. It's important that. What does. Watch what does. Watch what does. You know I have. I've kind of a. I have kind of a mind it's like Scrabble. You know always trying to put the words together. You know. I never get I don't have pictures. Now my wife has pictures. She sees everything in pictures. You know. I'm still searching for the letters and she sees a whole dictionary. You know. Just one of those things and so in our lives we have different ways of seeing things. What we want to do is watch what does. Watch what does. We read to scriptures we watch what does. In the lives of the of individuals. We watch what he does. Now. That's what's let's look at what to take a little snapshot of Jonah. Now. John is a kind of guy that he's been a profit He's been a person of influence he's been a person of seemingly expectation. Because he you know has chosen him and he's been speaking for and tells Jonah. I want you to go to Nineveh. And I want you to proclaim the gospel there because I'm going to do work in Nineveh. While Jonah. Has an old coat. That he's not an old goat. He has an old coat. OK. He has an old coat. Like the the letterman jacket there. The van jacket. He has an old coat that says. We don't go and we're not going to save man of all because those people are the most ruthless. They have killed more of our nation. Than any other nation. They are destructive. And they need judgment. Jonah has spoken. And he had he was trying to wear the No coat. That didn't fit. That coat was true that coat was exact. But had Cheney had a change of heart. Well had a different outcome in place in mind than Jonah did. So Jonah was so convinced that his coat was correct. He was willing to run the opposite way. He was willing to get on a boat and sail the opposite direction of Nineveh. Did you ever think you were going to go somewhere and wasn't going to find you. His. Do you ever think you were going to run somewhere. And would never find you caught knows exactly where you're at. You know I've I've known people that have run from most of their life. And they've denounce they did whatever but it's some point in time. They run right into . These been there all along. Well John I think he's going to outrun and run away from and 's going to have to find someone else to take this message. When we know the story. Big storm comes up and and Jonah gets thrown overboard and. John a think while not going to make you not going to go to Nineveh. And you get swallowed by a great fish. Now. has a way of bringing us right back to where we need to be. has a way of bringing us back to where we need to be. Now. Jonah. While he's in the whale. While he's in the belly of the fish. He's not sitting on a chair with a table in the candle. Never put OK go and what all those. Most kids and storybooks as kids. You know the one of the other and to few to you knew. If you're to nuke you're too young you haven't got a clue. But they used to have these books. And there is this. Outline of a whale and there's this guy sitting inside the whale. On a chair with a little table and a candle. Well there were no reading. Well that's not what it was. If you. If you ever. I don't never I've never been in a belly of anything. But you're in the belly of a royal of a well you've got all the Skrill and steeds little slimy things crawling all of you you've got digestive juices. Eating at your face and skin and. You know you're just being digested alive and Jonah decided he should change its mind. And I like how that. In the description. Talks about Jonah. Going into the depths of the ocean in there and he would say well how would he know how deep he is what happens when you go deep in the ocean. Pressure and the pressure of the deep. Is pushing in on Jonah. What if the fish. Decided. Had acid in the gesture and then just needed a good. Rift. And pop out Jonah at the bottom of the ocean. He never make it. has a way of bringing us to where we need to be. And bring us to the place. He wants us to go. And Jonah ends up being in bed in in that situation. If you read it in Jonah. You read about how that while he once. He recognizes there's life in him and he recognizes that. I'm going to I'm going to be in Jerusalem again. I'm going to be in a place where I can worship again. And he starts to be praising and thanking . And in next thing you know he's broth thrown up from up on the up on the beach. And there he is in a strategic place. To head to Nevada. has a way of bringing us to where we need to be and. You see doesn't have a conflict with us. We may have a conflict with that he doesn't have a conflict with us. He has a plan for our life. He has blessings for our life. You see where it we're in the midst of one of the greatest revivals of all time. Here. Yeah. Here we are in the midst of a great. Ray nul because all over the world people are coming to know Jesus in NE and numbers never before known all over the world there's a message about Jesus Christ and how that Jesus can make a difference in people's lives and know and around the world. The gospel is growing in and burgeoning blossoming. It's just changing people's lives. And we find that we are part of it. Whether we believe it or not you're a part of I'm of a movement you're part of a church. That is a glorious church doesn't have any problems. Because it's the bride of Jesus Christ and one day he's going to return. And we're going to go to heaven. One day Jesus is going to return and we're going to go to heaven. In a moment in the twinkling of an eye the dead in Christ shall rise and we were char live remain shall be caught up to meet him in the air. We're going to go to heaven. In a maybe by dying or maybe by change but either way we're going to get there. And has done the work already. And what he's waiting for me to do and for all of us to do. Is that what does and then you do it. Watch what does and then you do it. doesn't have a problem with us. He loves us. He's gone before us to prepare a way. You know the Bible says that he'll go before you and prepare the way that he'll make the mountains. Come down in the valleys come up. What that. What that is a picture of us to Kings. Would send out. Slaves and workers. When the king was going to go on a highway and go visit some where he would have the slaves go out and take down the mountains and fill in the valleys and make the road straight. You see. has a place for us in the path for us and we may find ourselves in difficult straits. But we just need to remember. is with me. in this place of choice. I ask for your wisdom. in this place of success. I ask for your wisdom. in this place of need. I ask that you provide. In this place of blessing. I asked that you guide me in my gifts. has not given us. Anything that is not renewable. It's not everything we have is renewable. Because the promises of are renewed every morning. No two blades of gr are the same. You know. You cut off. You the trees that are falling their leaves are falling what's going to happen next bring they're going to grow again. It's going to renew itself it's going to grow itself and in our sun in our lifetime. is going to take us to places. And never dreamed of. I never dreamed to David would go to El Salvador. I never dreamt that he would go to South Africa. I never dreamt that he would go to Nepal. I never dreamt that you know you know that was here. The little boy running around church. What that little boy. You know rather than church. And your wife downstairs with that little girl. You know I never thought but had a plan. has a plan for your children and your children. And each of our grandchildren. And each of us. And we don't has an interest in to the hearts or minds of things that has prepared for us. We're just beginning to understand it. And they don't. In Watts sixty five we retire and it's all over. No. Our walk with continues on until the day we walk right into heaven. And so until that day gets here. You still gotta grow. You still gotta change. And you still have to allow to bless ya. Amen. Stan S ey. We are grateful to you were so grateful that you have called us. You have provided for us. You have a plan for our lives and a purpose. I pray for your wisdom. I pray for your understanding. I pray for your strength. I pray for your help. I thank you that we are more than conquerors. That we are blessed. We are empowered we are enabled. That that you by your spirit. Abide within us and were held safe in the arms of our father. Thank you Jesus. Thank you Lord for the life that springs inside of us. At the mention of your name. Thank you Jesus and human to human. And I bless you. Well. Today I'm looking at new beginnings. And I use it in the same and the poor will since we just don't have one beginning. We have numerous beginnings every day is renewed every day is a time of picking up. What has done for us and seeing how that is at work in our life. And in sector in Second Current in five it says. Now we look inside and what we see is that anyone united with the Messiah gets a fresh start. Is created new the old life is gone the new life. Burgeon. Look at it. All this comes from who settled the relationship between us and him. Rhonda would you please return to the platform. To the SE. We have. There are certain things that in our life it. And sometimes they fit for just certain times in certain places in our life. Now this is Ron reported on. As world. Your Head. It's this are open. Band jacket there she is there. And she actually almost. Well I was trying to find mine in mind when he would come close to fitting I can't even get it in you know. So. But we see that this is a nice jacket. But it's kind of out of style and it was for a certain period of time in her life. That doesn't quite fit where she's at now even though it could fit. Physically. If this isn't it isn't the right fit for who you are this moment. So that's it. And you can wear home there. Now. Yeah I was trying to find mine and I don't know where it's that so. This is the farm isn't there anymore. Yeah. So it's one of those things as we look at our life where we've come from. You know it isn't that something was wrong it was that was the right time it was the right fit for that time period. But you know where we run into trouble is that we try to keep. What once was and keep what once was very important to our life. And we don't realize that it's for a certain time and for a certain season. You see in Oh and we look at how that we go through school and. You know how that we graduate and go to college or whatever get a job and go to another job or. Some of the teachers retire and some I'm going to be teachers and. You know all the things going on and we're looking at our own process. We're looking at our own steps that. How that has ordered our steps and says Here in second Corinthians we see that anyone united with the Messiah gets a fresh start. gives us a fresh start a fresh start every day is a fresh start. Sometimes we put it for the first year New Years resolution January first. Well that's the fresh start for the year. And we make all these new year resolutions and we don't keep them. Because we think they're a fresh start and reality we have a fresh start. Every day. Because has given us promises he's given us His Word and His word is in our hearts and lives in it really it's renewable. The Word of is renewable heaven and earth will p away my word will never p away. So the renewed the renewing aspect of 's Word and 's Spirit is continually going on do you know. I forget what the time period is but there's a certain time frame that our body totally changes every cell is replaced with another cell. To the point that the original cells are no longer there they're gone. And that the regeneration process goes on and there is a time period and they have it down and I completely forget what. Whether it's weeks or months. I don't know. But there is there's just as regenerating process. That just going on inside of us physically. Our blood cells. They're continually changing you know used to think when people would give blood. My gosh they're given a what happens when they run out. Well what we're set up in our body to reproduce. To keep a certain level of blood within our system. Well. Think of it in that in that context with the Spirit the Holy Spirit just doesn't come and zap us once and OK we're ready for heaven. And more on this. We're on this kind of spiritual plane that kind of just one ing into eternity can't wait to die. You know to heaven. And it's like this and but that's not what it is our spiritual plane is a continual onward growth. We're always changing and no matter how old we are in our faith. There's always more to have there's more to understand. There's more to what we have in than what we currently understand and where we run into trouble is whenever we have our old experience. The jacket. We have our old experience. And we think this is all there is there isn't it just keeps growing. It keeps renewing. So that anyone united with the Messiah gets a fresh start is created new the old life is gone. Old life is gone. The old life is dead. The old life is washed away by the blood of the land. That my life of sin. And my life of thinking that all this is for me and be mine. And all that I can have and possess and it's all about me. We realize that our life is about . And if we seek to please . We are going to find our greatest gifts. If we seek to please we are going to be our greatest person. And if that person that has created us to be as a doctor. We're going to be the best doctor. Because we're fulfilling 's purpose for our life if it's to be a teacher. If it's to you know. Work in the factory if it's to. You know. Drive a bus whatever. If whatever we are doing is what wants us to do we have we are growing and is using that life that we live. And the talents that he has dystopian us in our life for us to continue to regenerate. And to continue to grow and to to be nurtured by the Holy Spirit. So the in our own life is gone in a new life Burgess it just continues to flourish. Our life in Christ continues to flourish. Now. Flourish. Is a great you know. That's a great thing. Flourish. You know. It's means that. What does it mean you may have an idea what versions means flourish. Virgin's it blossoms. Bob you're a blossom. We say well I'm the flower. Mum. But you see. We all Bob. And David. You know all of us here. We're blossoming. That means we're coming to harvest for. We're bearing fruit. And it continues it's an ongoing process to think of in the Book of Revelation it talks about the trees by the river of life and each one brings forth fruit. Every month. Brings forth a new fruit. And our life. Burgess with fruit. Our life becomes blessed and. Did you ever. When do you ever feel the best. About your blessings. When do you feel the best about who you are one. We like it when people say that was good you know what you're doing is very special we like that but the biggest blessing. Is when you do something for someone and. It meets their need it helps them at that moment in life. Then you know. Wow that was really good. Not because I did it but because did it through me. And you see that's why I think of our professions in our gifting Xin the things that we do with our life. That what we do is something that honors . My mom. She loved to cook. And in Oh and she would she could cook about anything and every sometimes people making cakes and things and I said it before that she would make cakes and take in the church and people would pay or fork you know. Well. Our life. She loved to bake and she was just good at baking in those she just saw herself. In what she did and she really loved that. And she did many other things you know. But she loved her baking. Well. Our life virgins. It blossoms. The what we're doing. Not only brings a blessing to us but it brings a blessing to others. So. Look at it this burgeoning just blessing. It all this comes from . Who settled. The relationship between us and him. There's no longer. This conflict between and I. There's not a conflict between and I. has done everything to eliminate all the conflict that would arise between us and him. has done everything to eliminate anything or bring a conflict. And he wants us than to be receptive to what he wants to do and what wants to do in our life. You have dreams. If you have things that you would like to do you know your bucket list. You have a list of things you'd like to accomplish or go or do were see or say or write or whatever. Is there something you would like to see on your bucket list. Well. Who gives us our dreams. Who gives to us that reality that. These are important that these gifting that we have not only will bless us. But they'll bless others. That what has given us. For Geremi isn't just something for me to possess and and d. It is given to me. So that I can post s it and share it with others. And in the sharing. It brings the blessing it blossoms. The the activity. It brings to fruition. That which has begun in our lives. So it's all settled in this relationship between us and . And there's no conflict. doesn't have a conflict with you. He has love for you. doesn't have does not want to withhold. He wants to the stove. He doesn't want us to measure up. He wants us to walk up. Walk up to him to come boldly into his presence. We don't have to hide. We need to be in the open. Our relationship with is something that he in the open he blesses in people see it in some don't like it and some love it because we're going to bestow 's blessing it's of their life. In the fetus chapter five. It says. Watch what does. And then you do it. Watch what does and then you do it now. It doesn't mean with the blind man the spit on the ground. Made Madama stuck in his eyes and told him Go wash. That doesn't mean we do that. Had one us posted we don't do that but what it means is what is the creativity of Jesus. DEVORE healed. Anyone To my knowledge. He don't never healed anyone the same way. There wasn't a formula that Jesus used. Sometimes it was the faith of others. The individual who was lame and he was on a mat and his four friends brought him to the to the house. And they couldn't get in because of the crowd. So somebody came up with the idea. You know that the four guys didn't stand around so all we can't get in a second home just drop them off here. Someone had an idea. Let's lower him through the roof. Well I don't know about you but destroying somebodies house is not what we would consider a good thing to do in the name of got. But whatever it was they day went up there tore the roof apart and lower demand down in front of Jesus. You know there was a great thing then that happened the lowered him down. And it was the face of the individuals who were carrying him. The. The man himself. It wasn't his faith. How about the the the. The Senate ruler. Comes to Jesus and says My daughter has died. Will you come and pray for her. She doesn't have any faith. She's dead. She's gone. And the guy says if you just come. I know that if you touch or pray for her. Showed she'll be well. So Jesus starts off on the journey to go there. And the the what happens on the way is this woman who is pushing herself to the crowd. Touches the him of his garment. And she's healed. She has great face she says if I can just touch the hem of his garment. I'll be healed and Jesus stops and says Who touched me. And the disciples what are they say oh there's a whole crowd around here Jesus when you meet somebody touched you. And he said no. I felt virtue. I felt virtue in see that virtue that flow of is what is in our life. And I go back to the story of. Martha and Mary the Mother of Jesus that Martha was pregnant and. Mary has conceived by the Holy Spirit. And I know of told this before but it still does something that resonates with for me that Martha is pregnant with John the Baptist's in the womb. You know babies maybe three six months old whatever. And Mary goes to Martha. And when. When Mary greets. MARTHA. What happens. The baby jumps in her womb. The life that was in her. Came to life. OK. And the life that has in us. Comes to life. It comes to life inside of us that when we hear a promise. When we think of a promise. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. When we face a difficulty. And we go. . You said all things. I could do all things through you so here it is got an inside of us there's this life there's this quickening. This is this life of the Spirit comes to life again and us and like quickens us. And whenever we face difficulties we face trials we face. Any situation. Good or bad. Were thanking for His presence. And going to and reminding of His presence of his promise to was. And what happens is that. I think of it this way. I think that . Reminds us. Brings our thoughts and I remember our remembrance. His promise. And he wants us to say it. And to declare it too far to . As for me in my house. We've all serve the Lord. You know. When I say that and I think of it I think of. Not only right David and Rachel and their family I think of my nieces and nephews. I think I think of my brothers and their kids and you know the extended family. It's like. I've got to remember this and I've got to declare it this is not only affects my life and affects the life of my children and my relatives and my friends because I know that was my mother's prayer. That was my mother's prayer and my grandmother's prayer. You know it was their prayers of we would all serve the Lord. And when comes into a family. We make the difference you're the deciding factor for your children. For your children your deciding factor for your grandkids. Your the deciding factor. I never thought that. Forty years ago. I never thought why I'm a deciding factor making good decisions. You know. We came here thirty six years ago be thirty six in February and. You know we would think well it's a very small community small church. You know and small this small that small you know. Be here a little while but never did I think that my grandchildren would be affected but be impacted by this church. This place. This congregation. You never did I think that thirty six years ago. This is going to be a place where my children are going to be raised. And they're going to impact the world. From Wimber. You know. That doesn't happen. It does you know. Not only from here for our family. But if you look at the people of this community. Who have been extraordinary. In leading organizations in leading the military. And in all that it's had its impact. But then you go to the church and you go to the impact of our denomination. You know. There's one hundred forty people in our denomination in one thousand fourteen. Now there's. I have to figure it out a million. I don't know. It's the second largest group in the world from one hundred forty people. In one hundred fourteen. So. But the emphasis has always been reaching people for Christ's let Christ come into the hearts and lives of people. And it will change them forever. That's the goal. We look at our own lives and allow Jesus Christ to come into our hearts and our minds and our thoughts into our actions and what we're doing we're asking for direction we're not just uming a You know I was you know we go to church for the fill up. And I'll. And we go there spiritually. For get our snack and when he leaves for the week and half. And we exist on our spiritual snacks but I don't know about you but I can't live on one snack a week. Physically or spiritually. So it's important to us to see what is up to. It's up to us to see what wants to do in our lives and. It's important that. What does. Watch what does. Watch what does. You know I have. I've kind of a. I have kind of a mind it's like Scrabble. You know always trying to put the words together. You know. I never get I don't have pictures. Now my wife has pictures. She sees everything in pictures. You know. I'm still searching for the letters and she sees a whole dictionary. You know. Just one of those things and so in our lives we have different ways of seeing things. What we want to do is watch what does. Watch what does. We read to scriptures we watch what does. In the lives of the of individuals. We watch what he does. Now. That's what's let's look at what to take a little snapshot of Jonah. Now. John is a kind of guy that he's been a profit He's been a person of influence he's been a person of seemingly expectation. Because he you know has chosen him and he's been speaking for and tells Jonah. I want you to go to Nineveh. And I want you to proclaim the gospel there because I'm going to do work in Nineveh. While Jonah. Has an old coat. That he's not an old goat. He has an old coat. OK. He has an old coat. Like the the letterman jacket there. The van jacket. He has an old coat that says. We don't go and we're not going to save man of all because those people are the most ruthless. They have killed more of our nation. Than any other nation. They are destructive. And they need judgment. Jonah has spoken. And he had he was trying to wear the No coat. That didn't fit. That coat was true that coat was exact. But had Cheney had a change of heart. Well had a different outcome in place in mind than Jonah did. So Jonah was so convinced that his coat was correct. He was willing to run the opposite way. He was willing to get on a boat and sail the opposite direction of Nineveh. Did you ever think you were going to go somewhere and wasn't going to find you. His. Do you ever think you were going to run somewhere. And would never find you caught knows exactly where you're at. You know I've I've known people that have run from most of their life. And they've denounce they did whatever but it's some point in time. They run right into . These been there all along. Well John I think he's going to outrun and run away from and 's going to have to find someone else to take this message. When we know the story. Big storm comes up and and Jonah gets thrown overboard and. John a think while not going to make you not going to go to Nineveh. And you get swallowed by a great fish. Now. has a way of bringing us right back to where we need to be. has a way of bringing us back to where we need to be. Now. Jonah. While he's in the whale. While he's in the belly of the fish. He's not sitting on a chair with a table in the candle. Never put OK go and what all those. Most kids and storybooks as kids. You know the one of the other and to few to you knew. If you're to nuke you're too young you haven't got a clue. But they used to have these books. And there is this. Outline of a whale and there's this guy sitting inside the whale. On a chair with a little table and a candle. Well there were no reading. Well that's not what it was. If you. If you ever. I don't never I've never been in a belly of anything. But you're in the belly of a royal of a well you've got all the Skrill and steeds little slimy things crawling all of you you've got digestive juices. Eating at your face and skin and. You know you're just being digested alive and Jonah decided he should change its mind. And I like how that. In the description. Talks about Jonah. Going into the depths of the ocean in there and he would say well how would he know how deep he is what happens when you go deep in the ocean. Pressure and the pressure of the deep. Is pushing in on Jonah. What if the fish. Decided. Had acid in the gesture and then just needed a good. Rift. And pop out Jonah at the bottom of the ocean. He never make it. has a way of bringing us to where we need to be. And bring us to the place. He wants us to go. And Jonah ends up being in bed in in that situation. If you read it in Jonah. You read about how that while he once. He recognizes there's life in him and he recognizes that. I'm going to I'm going to be in Jerusalem again. I'm going to be in a place where I can worship again. And he starts to be praising and thanking . And in next thing you know he's broth thrown up from up on the up on the beach. And there he is in a strategic place. To head to Nevada. has a way of bringing us to where we need to be and. You see doesn't have a conflict with us. We may have a conflict with that he doesn't have a conflict with us. He has a plan for our life. He has blessings for our life. You see where it we're in the midst of one of the greatest revivals of all time. Here. Yeah. Here we are in the midst of a great. Ray nul because all over the world people are coming to know Jesus in NE and numbers never before known all over the world there's a message about Jesus Christ and how that Jesus can make a difference in people's lives and know and around the world. The gospel is growing in and burgeoning blossoming. It's just changing people's lives. And we find that we are part of it. Whether we believe it or not you're a part of I'm of a movement you're part of a church. That is a glorious church doesn't have any problems. Because it's the bride of Jesus Christ and one day he's going to return. And we're going to go to heaven. One day Jesus is going to return and we're going to go to heaven. In a moment in the twinkling of an eye the dead in Christ shall rise and we were char live remain shall be caught up to meet him in the air. We're going to go to heaven. In a maybe by dying or maybe by change but either way we're going to get there. And has done the work already. And what he's waiting for me to do and for all of us to do. Is that what does and then you do it. Watch what does and then you do it. doesn't have a problem with us. He loves us. He's gone before us to prepare a way. You know the Bible says that he'll go before you and prepare the way that he'll make the mountains. Come down in the valleys come up. What that. What that is a picture of us to Kings. Would send out. Slaves and workers. When the king was going to go on a highway and go visit some where he would have the slaves go out and take down the mountains and fill in the valleys and make the road straight. You see. has a place for us in the path for us and we may find ourselves in difficult straits. But we just need to remember. is with me. in this place of choice. I ask for your wisdom. in this place of success. I ask for your wisdom. in this place of need. I ask that you provide. In this place of blessing. I asked that you guide me in my gifts. has not given us. Anything that is not renewable. It's not everything we have is renewable. Because the promises of are renewed every morning. No two blades of gr are the same. You know. You cut off. You the trees that are falling their leaves are falling what's going to happen next bring they're going to grow again. It's going to renew itself it's going to grow itself and in our sun in our lifetime. is going to take us to places. And never dreamed of. I never dreamed to David would go to El Salvador. I never dreamt that he would go to South Africa. I never dreamt that he would go to Nepal. I never dreamt that you know you know that was here. The little boy running around church. What that little boy. You know rather than church. And your wife downstairs with that little girl. You know I never thought but had a plan. has a plan for your children and your children. And each of our grandchildren. And each of us. And we don't has an interest in to the hearts or minds of things that has prepared for us. We're just beginning to understand it. And they don't. In Watts sixty five we retire and it's all over. No. Our walk with continues on until the day we walk right into heaven. And so until that day gets here. You still gotta grow. You still gotta change. And you still have to allow to bless ya. Amen. Stan S ey. We are grateful to you were so grateful that you have called us. You have provided for us. You have a plan for our lives and a purpose. I pray for your wisdom. I pray for your understanding. I pray for your strength. I pray for your help. I thank you that we are more than conquerors. That we are blessed. We are empowered we are enabled. That that you by your spirit. Abide within us and were held safe in the arms of our father. Thank you Jesus. Thank you Lord for the life that springs inside of us. At the mention of your name. Thank you Jesus and human to human. And I bless you.