In Christ: But God - Pastor Kyle Self

[00:00:00] Welcome to the World Changers Church Gold Coast Podcast. Join us as we listen to today's message. [00:00:08] All right, I'm not going to jump right into it. What I am going to say to you is a couple of questions I get each year about this. What about our own kids? Well, this year I want every kid in this house to. To benefit from this. Back to school. So we want to take care of our own kids first. Amen. Come on, give the Lord a hand clap of praise. Secondly, we want Arundel to be impacted by World Changers and the Gold Coast. And you know, I just believe this is something we can get in behind. Amen. Now, I know with gas prices and all this stuff going on and wars and rumors of wars, I think the Bible tells us something about that in Matthew 24 and in Matthew 13. We shouldn't worry about all this stuff all the time. [00:01:01] But what do people of faith do [00:01:03] when things start happening in the world? They give more. They do more. They serve more. [00:01:10] They lean in more. They come to church more. [00:01:14] Amen. We hope that's exactly what you do if you're stingy with your giving. Praise the Lord. God loves a cheerful giver, not a stingy giver. Amen. That's my one joke for today. Now listen, we're gonna be talking about in Christ. [00:01:31] Now, I wanna say a few things [00:01:32] before I get started. God's laid a few things on my heart before I get started. And they are words for this house. So if you are a visitor for the first time, don't take it to heart. Don't feel too impacted by it. The first word that came to me this week is one of correction. And that means everybody needs to listen up. If you keep hanging out with toxic people, you're gonna stay sick. Okay? [00:01:58] You keep giving your ear to trash, [00:02:01] you're gonna stink like garbage. All right. I'm addressing the whole church and the [00:02:08] body of Christ in the Gold Coast. [00:02:09] If you're listening by podcast, stop gossiping. [00:02:15] Amen. [00:02:16] Now, there is a difference. Here's the positive part. I should have started with the good, then the bad, the feel good sandwich. [00:02:23] Here's the positive part. Community. In other words, community will sometimes feel like gossip when someone's sharing and caring. Right? But sharing and caring is different than gossip. We have to care well. And when we're building a community like we are, we're actually in a healthy transition in this church where we're actually talking good about one another. Strange stuff. Amen. But there's still some things happening around the world. Social media news that we're paying too much attention to. I don't watch the news anymore because it just sounds like a tabloid. [00:03:11] Amen. [00:03:13] But there's one thing I know about, the last thing I'll say that came [00:03:17] to me yesterday as a reality. [00:03:20] Do not make phone calls to church members in a rugby game. Origin, nrl, afl. Anything going on, don't do it. Cause they don't want to talk to you. We made phone calls the other day and yesterday, and there was more than one. More than one. So this one individual shouldn't feel bad. There were like 10 people. They were like, I love you. Everything good. [00:03:46] Watching the game. The one thing I thought out of that was, I'm so thankful that you know how to enjoy life. And that's what we're gonna talk about today. We're gonna talk about in Christ. Week 2 of 3. Pastor Jamie Brown will be coming up and speaking and capping off this series next week. Amen. [00:04:08] Before Jeremy will get up for the next month and talk about field and [00:04:13] talking about the Holy Spirit. Amen. And I will be away with my wife, who is going on a four sabbatical with me. She's like, I didn't get a sabbatical. [00:04:22] I said, you're coming with me. [00:04:24] Amen. So we're gonna be hanging out for the next month and doing some great things. Y' all ready for the word today? Okay. [00:04:30] So can I tell you what I love about this house, about this group of people? [00:04:35] Yes. You want to hear some good things? [00:04:37] Shower you with love. Amen. [00:04:40] Every person in the room is a but God story. You know what I'm saying? [00:04:47] This would have destroyed my life, but God, it all would have been over. But God, I didn't know how it was gonna come through. But God, I don't know how I got the job, but, God, I don't know how I stayed in the country, but God, I don't know how my marriage is still together, but God, everybody in the room, in your own way, has a but God story. [00:05:13] Amen. [00:05:14] That's the moment God stepped in. [00:05:17] And you're sitting here. Is that good? [00:05:21] Now you came here this morning, and [00:05:23] I want to start with our but God story. Amen. [00:05:28] So here we are in 2017. [00:05:31] We're reliving this moment in September, October. [00:05:36] Me and Tina come over in 2016, [00:05:38] actually, and we came over on a holiday visa. [00:05:44] I had no idea what that means. [00:05:46] I just thought it was like, America, [00:05:48] you move and you get to stay. I came over on a holiday visa. They Said my home office said, get [00:05:55] a car, get a house, establish the church, do this, do that. [00:06:00] And I was like, all right, sweet. So two weeks in, I realized it [00:06:05] ain't as easy as that. But the home office, you know, Americans, [00:06:10] we think, no, you just do. You know how Americans are. You just do this and you just do that. And it does work out like we know everything. [00:06:17] This is your moment to say amen. Amen [00:06:22] being amen. And so here we are. We got this little. [00:06:30] We went to a real estate agent. There was this little Italian girl. Remember her, honey? Yeah. And she was fiery as. She was fiery as everything. [00:06:39] And she said, where do you want to live? And I said, I'm thinking Southport. [00:06:43] And she goes, oh, no, you don't want to live in Southport. [00:06:47] I was like, why not? And she goes, well, it's bad. [00:06:50] I said, how many murders you had? She goes, one. I said, in the last day. She goes, in the last year. I said, oh, that's good. I'm coming from New Jersey and New York. We have like that, like every other minute. How many crimes you got? [00:07:04] We got a break in. How many? [00:07:06] Once a month. [00:07:07] Really? [00:07:08] That's good. [00:07:10] I said, so what I began to realize is Southport is exactly where I wanted to be. [00:07:15] Because that's where the need is. [00:07:17] And to be quite honest, it's where [00:07:18] I've wanted the church for the last 10 years. [00:07:20] I want to be where the need is. [00:07:23] That makes sense. [00:07:24] I don't want to be where it's comfortable. I don't want to be where the money is. I don't want to be where the lights and show is. I want to be exactly where Jesus is needed. [00:07:32] Amen. [00:07:34] So then. Amen. So as an American, on Johnson street at the top of the hill, we found 113 Johnson Street. A two story, four bedroom, three bath, white house. [00:07:49] Americans in the white house on Johnston Street. [00:07:51] Amen. [00:07:53] So good. [00:07:54] We found that house and the real estate. Little Italian girl said, I found the perfect house for you. [00:07:58] I walked in, nobody was there. [00:08:00] It had this completely open floor plan. I thought, this is where I'll do church. I had a vision for how I would do church because the church I [00:08:08] came to was struggling. [00:08:10] The church I came to was shutting down. [00:08:12] The church. [00:08:13] I moved, sold my house for and came over for had gone from 123 to eight people. But God sent me, so. But God, here I am. [00:08:23] Amen. [00:08:24] So I said, here's where I'll do church. And then I realized I didn't have a phone yet. And you Know, funny thing, they don't hand out phone contracts without a visa. But they've never met Kyle. I went online. The back door, Telstra door. I found a little loophole I put in. [00:08:43] Can y' all cut this? So in case Telstra finds me. [00:08:46] And I put my passport in, not my driver's license. And somehow. No, actually I put my driver's license in that I'd gotten renewed because it's [00:08:54] the first thing I'd done. And they gave me my phone on a holiday visa. [00:09:00] And then I went to sign the papers. They didn't even ask me what visa I was on. [00:09:05] They was just asking, can you pay for it? I said, sure, sign the papers. [00:09:10] I called my immigration agent. I said, well, I guess we gotta figure out how to keep me here. I've got a phone, I've got a car, and I've got a house, but [00:09:17] God and 12 month lease. [00:09:20] He said, that doesn't happen, Kyle. When God calls you to a place and it is God, everything's gonna work out. You don't have to force it. You don't have to make it happen. You don't have to try, you don't have to die. You don't have to cry. It's gonna happen. It's when you're trying to make it happen. [00:09:39] There's no but God. [00:09:41] You gotta be in Christ. Christ. [00:09:45] Amen. [00:09:46] Alive in Christ. [00:09:49] So here I am. My but God story. [00:09:52] We'll kind of cap it off there, [00:09:54] you know, years later, here we are in this building. [00:09:57] We're looking for a new building. I'm three days away from another but God. [00:10:01] You know, I'm sitting here going, lord, [00:10:03] you gotta do something. [00:10:04] And I'm like, y' all don't want to hear about it. It's all right. That's for me to worry about. That's for me to pray about and believe for. Amen. But it's going to be another but God moment. [00:10:13] How many of you are having a but God moment in your life? [00:10:17] Y' all didn't really respond to that very well. Amen. [00:10:20] I'm gonna talk to this side of the room. How many people are having a but God moment? Amen. [00:10:24] God's gotta move. Amen. [00:10:26] Amen. How many people right here have gotta have a God's gotta move moment in your life? How many people right here gotta have a God? Some of you ain't raising your hand like, y' all perfect, you little super saints. Can y' all come preach? How many people over here need a but God moment? Know To God. Amen. All right, this is the honest side of the room. Y' all are lukewarm. Y' all got super saints. And y' all have no. [00:10:48] I'm kidding. I'm kidding. I'm kidding. I'm kidding. [00:10:49] I'm kidding. [00:10:49] I'm not even gonna pick on y'. All. Cause y' all were first. And I don't mean nothing to anybody. She's pregnant. Quit it. I looked over here, and that's why I stopped. [00:11:00] Amen. [00:11:00] No, I'm kidding. [00:11:03] Here's what I'm trying to say. We all need God's intervention. [00:11:10] We needed it on the cross when he died for us. [00:11:14] We still need it. Now, are y' all perfect? Anybody perfect? How many need God every day? How many need to be spirit led every day? How many are taking communion to remind yourself how much you need him every day? How many wake up in the morning and pray, I need you, Lord. [00:11:31] Like Glenn just did a minute ago. Well, I can't believe that just happened. I need y' all might have to pray for me. In my hip. Something just popped. [00:11:39] Amen. By every measure, however it was done. [00:11:43] You have said it was just that close, Lord. But I'm alive in you. I am alive in you. Look around the room. Look at the faces right now. Look around. Who's serving, who's worshiping? Who's here this morning that wasn't here a year ago? Amen. Some of y' all like me. That's like half of y'. All, Amen. The other half are on vacation right now. That didn't happen because we were clever. It didn't happen because we worked harder than everyone else. [00:12:19] It didn't happen because we climbed out of something. [00:12:23] It happened because God reached in. [00:12:26] Some of you are here because of [00:12:27] the street evangelist brought you to church this morning. How many are here because the street evangelists have brought you to church, not just this morning, but in the past? Where are you at? You're right over there. Anybody else? One, two, three. [00:12:39] All right, so some of you, God met you where you were on the [00:12:43] street and brought you to church. [00:12:45] The story is what I'm trying to tell you. None of us climbed out. [00:12:48] God reached in and took us out of something. And that was our but God moment. Amen. How many are having financial struggle? Come on, you can admit it. All right, now, let's change that. How many know that you're currently struggling with finances? All right, now, nobody wants to talk about that, do they? [00:13:11] But when a person has a broken [00:13:13] leg, is the leg Broke. Yes. All right. [00:13:18] The first thing that I want to [00:13:20] talk to you about this morning about this message. [00:13:22] This is not about denying what is [00:13:27] natural so that we equate to what is spiritual. [00:13:30] This is about realizing that we're not gonna negate the natural. I wanna partner with you this morning [00:13:37] if you're struggling financially. And I wanna pray with you this morning. [00:13:40] And I wanna say this over your finances. [00:13:42] God. [00:13:42] I believe they're operating in abundance, to [00:13:44] the full, to the overflow. [00:13:46] I believe that their promotion is on the way. I believe their contract is about to be signed. I believe that invoice is about to be paid. I believe they got 10 new customers this week. I believe in the name of Jesus, you're gonna add an extra zero, an extra one to their account right now. I call it forth right now. This is not prosperity preaching. This is just clear declaration and believing into the promises of God, which are yes and amen. We call it forth right now in Jesus name and we say amen. [00:14:14] Amen. [00:14:17] So here's the thing I want to talk to you about. [00:14:26] If we looked at Ephesians 2. Cause last week we looked at Ephesians 1 before time, God chose a place for us. [00:14:37] He gave us a position. [00:14:39] He gave us something to walk into. And we step into that place by turning to Jesus, confessing him as our Lord, and believing that we have been placed. Amen. So there has been a place created for us. [00:14:55] There has been a position created for us. [00:14:58] We just have to simply believe that it's ours and step into it. This week we're gonna Talk about Ephesians 2. [00:15:07] What happens when you step into that place? What happens when you actually accept Jesus? What happens when you step into. [00:15:16] I'm seated in heavenly places and that word is called alive. [00:15:21] I was dead in my trespasses in sin. [00:15:24] I'm now alive in Christ. [00:15:28] I was without and withholding. I was in calamity and hurting. But now that I'm in Christ, I [00:15:33] have all things according to his riches in glory. Amen. [00:15:39] So last week was about where we stand. [00:15:41] This week is what God did to get you standing. Amen. So let's look at that. Let's look at our but God moment. Turn with, we're already there in Ephesians 2. Notice Paul doesn't soften it at all. [00:15:57] And you he made alive, who were [00:15:59] dead in trespasses of sin, in which you once walked according to the course of the world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the Spirit now, who now works in the Sons of disobedience, among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lust of the flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and the mind, and whereby nature. Children of wrath, just as others. Amen. Now, if we look at this. Dead, not sick, not struggling, not a good person who needs a bit of help. Dead. Spiritually dead. Before Christ, we were spiritually dead. We conducted ourselves in disobedience. So when we walk in the flesh, right? When we succumb to the ideas of the flesh, when we get into conversations of the flesh, when we think with the flesh, what are we thinking with? We're thinking with disobedience. We're thinking. Now, I'm not talking about you're in disobedience, but the only fruit that can come out of the flesh is flesh. Amen. Does that make sense? Yeah. Yeah. [00:17:13] So notice what he says. We all. Paul. Not pointing to bad people down the road. [00:17:18] He's pointing to everybody in the room, including himself. The Pharisees, the one who did everything right. [00:17:28] Dead. [00:17:29] Same as everyone else. [00:17:30] Paul was an elitist, a tent maker, a sad. He was the top line in Pharisees, Sadducees and leaders of the Jewish community. [00:17:39] And he's saying I was dead, too. Make sense? [00:17:44] So I'm not here to point the finger at you. I'm here to point out what God [00:17:47] has done that makes sense. So let's go to verse four. [00:17:55] But God. But God, who is rich in mercy because of his great love with which [00:18:04] he loved us even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ by grace you have been saved. [00:18:12] And raised us up together and made [00:18:14] us sit together in heavenly places in [00:18:17] Christ Jesus that the ages to come, he might show the exceeding riches of [00:18:23] his grace and his kindness towards us in Christ Jesus. Back up a little bit. Amen. Let's go back a little bit. All right. [00:18:33] And raised us up together. He raised me up. [00:18:38] Left you sitting on the sidelines. [00:18:41] He raised Tina up. [00:18:42] Left me in the kitchen. [00:18:45] He raised Jack up. [00:18:47] Nope. [00:18:48] He raised us up together in Christ Jesus. [00:18:53] Back up one more. [00:18:56] Even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ [00:19:03] by grace, you have been saved. [00:19:06] You didn't deserve it. You can't earn it. [00:19:09] And it was made available to you. Back up one more verse to the beginning. But God, who is rich in mercy because of his great love with which he loved us. Listen, if you've been a parent long enough, there has been times you loved your children when you were angry. There's been times that you've wanted to kick them out of the house and told them, just go in your room. Am I making sense? Am I making sense? [00:19:40] But because of his rich mercy and his great love for us, he gave us something we did not deserve. [00:19:48] Amen. [00:19:50] So whatever you were watching last night [00:19:52] on tv, he's still rich in mercy towards you. [00:19:55] Whatever you did this week, whoever you wished happy birthday to on the M1, [00:19:59] y' all know what I'm talking about. [00:20:01] Amen. Said they were the top number one human in the earth. [00:20:06] Amen. No. [00:20:08] No matter who it was, no matter what you have done, his mercy is still rich. And his love, he still holds for you. [00:20:17] That's what makes me want to change. [00:20:21] That's what makes me wanna put flesh down. That's what makes me wanna choose what he wants instead of what Kyle wants. [00:20:28] Amen. Am I making sense? Love makes a different choice. But God, everything turns on those two words. Your story, my story, the whole church, we were dead. [00:20:44] But God, it was over. [00:20:47] But God, we were going to be homeless. But God, we were going to be lonely. But God in Christ, does that make sense? Is this good? [00:21:03] I have been trying to network in this city for 10 years. [00:21:07] Okay? To be a pastor, I'm going to say something really plain and transparent. I am not that guy that goes, [00:21:16] let's go tee up for golf there, [00:21:18] brother, and let's hang out and get to know each other. [00:21:20] I'm gonna tell you all about what [00:21:21] the church is doing and maybe you can get involved. [00:21:24] I am not that networker. Every time I try, it sounds just like that. [00:21:30] Amen. [00:21:31] It is cringy. It puts people off. My first impression when I try to smile is, hey, how you doing, brother? Looks like Jim Carrey having a stroke. Amen. I have tried to network in this city for 10 years. I have searched for significance in this city for 10 years. And I just started serving and caring for people in this city. And God started putting me in courtrooms. He started putting me in politician chambers, in the Gold coast chambers, sitting down with all these other people of the state. Why I didn't want to be there. It was because what I was doing for him, God made a way. You cannot do it as good as [00:22:15] God can do in your life. [00:22:17] Quit trying to make it happen and [00:22:20] let but God happen in your life. [00:22:23] Amen. [00:22:25] Is that good? Amen. [00:22:28] So why did he do it? [00:22:32] Not because you were worth fixing, because you were rich. Because he was rich in mercy and [00:22:41] it was because of his great love. Not because you were an outstanding citizen [00:22:45] that he didn't want to see go down. No. It was because the reason is him and his love for you, not you. Amen. Does that make sense? All right, I. I want you to [00:22:58] look at something Paul makes sure nobody [00:23:00] takes credit in Ephesians 2 and 8. For by Grace you have been saved through faith. Okay. [00:23:12] Yeah. [00:23:13] Let's have fun. Let's have my fun. All right. Grace. [00:23:20] Faith. Grace opened the door. [00:23:25] Faith walks through it. Grace made the way faith takes the action. [00:23:33] Your faith is what steps into it. But you did not make it. You did not build it. You did not deserve it. It is open to you to walk through and you have to believe that he did it. [00:23:47] For. [00:23:52] While you still believe in you're just a second class citizen, you will never [00:23:55] walk into first class while you still [00:23:58] believing you don't deserve it. You will never be able to receive [00:24:01] a thing from anybody. And you will keep being a slave to serving everyone. [00:24:07] Can I say something? Some of y' all folk need to [00:24:10] stop saying you don't get offended. I don't ever get offended. You are the top offended person in the room. [00:24:18] Amen. I don't ever get angry. You the nuclear bomb waiting to happen, brother. I love everybody. You the hatefulest joker I've ever met in my life. Quit putting on masks and walk through the door in faith and let God grow you and build you. Amen. Let God grow you and build you. Stop faking it. But God is what changed you, not you. Why you talking all that nonsense, calling it prayer? That's the thing I was talking about earlier. [00:24:55] Amen. [00:24:56] Why you tearing people down? No, no, no, no, no. But God. Let God. But in your conversations, let God. But in your thoughts, let God. But in your life, let him in and let him take control and let him be your but God moment. Amen. I don't know if I should clap or repent. How does that. [00:25:18] I don't know. [00:25:19] Sister Tina, should I clap or repent right now? You should do both and laugh on both sides of it. Thank you, God. [00:25:27] Hallelujah. [00:25:31] It's the Good news. Nehemiah 8 and 10. [00:25:34] We don't have it in Scripture. [00:25:36] Nehemiah 8 and 10, they were in Sukkot. Y' all know what Sukkot is? Feast of Tabernacles. And the prophet came in and showed [00:25:44] them how they were doing it wrong. [00:25:46] I mean, tore them up. [00:25:48] You ain't doing this right. You ain't setting the table right. You got the wrong tree, the wrong lemon. You got Everything wrong. Everybody got all sad. [00:25:57] The prophet said to him, no, no, no, no. Be of great mirth rejoicing for now what you were doing wrong, you are now doing right. I love. [00:26:09] No, that was a lie. I appreciate being corrected. [00:26:16] Because when someone brings it to my attention, after a while I then begin to act out and go, oh, yeah, that's good. I'm glad we made that change. Because repentance is a change of heart and mind. You shouldn't be getting upset because someone's telling you the truth. You shouldn't be upset that someone's confronting you in love, you should say, you know what, thank you for bringing that to my attention. I'm gonna be of great rejoicing because [00:26:50] that is now something that has been [00:26:52] sharpened in my life. [00:26:54] Amen. So look at this. That was just a little side trail. [00:26:59] Paul doesn't want anybody to take credit. [00:27:02] By grace you are saved by grace, through faith, and that not of yourselves, but a gift of God, not of works. Lest anyone should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. Now I want to look at this but God moment. This is a but God moment for your thoughts in Christ. Okay, Henry Ford. [00:27:28] Does everybody know who Henry Ford is? [00:27:31] He created the Ford right now. Yeah, I think he did the Model T. Model T was the first one, the little wind up thing, Model A, something like that. And little. And [00:27:46] did the Model T all of [00:27:49] a sudden get a voice and say, you did not make me right. The car operated exactly the way it was created to. [00:28:02] It didn't start second guessing itself. It didn't choose another gas for itself. It didn't go from four wheel to three wheel to two wheel. No, no. It acted exactly as it was created because it knew exactly what it was. We need to allow God to butt [00:28:19] in our thoughts about us. [00:28:22] The enemy is telling you and the world is telling you that you should be a six pack, six foot tall. Da da da da da da. [00:28:29] Hogwash. You should first be happy. [00:28:35] You should first be happy. [00:28:38] And out of happiness, everything else designs itself. [00:28:42] He created you to have joy. Everlasting joy. So past happiness. Have something foundational. Joy. Enjoy life. Rejoice in this day. Let God's joy return and build in us. Withdraw from joy. Draw from the wells of your salvation with joy. Isaiah 13. Amen. Joy should be something foundational and we should be acting out of joy. The reason most Christians are not allowing that to happen is because they don't let God Butt into their thoughts. They're not letting Christ in their thoughts and they're thinking about their life the way the world thinks about them. [00:29:19] Amen. [00:29:21] Well, I'm 20 weeks from homelessness. [00:29:24] You're one moment away from God changing your whole life. Let's think about that. [00:29:31] I'm lonely right now. [00:29:33] You? [00:29:33] One conversation away from getting married and regretting it. I just had to tell the truth. I'd go back to having my own time. Bunch of complainers. The way we think, the way we talk. [00:29:58] I didn't have much sleep last night. Can you come preach? I got my notes right up here. [00:30:05] Hey, you're not picking up from there, so clean it up. Clean it up. [00:30:11] Yeah, yeah, yeah. [00:30:12] Listen, what I mean by that is [00:30:16] that what you wish for. You don't even actually know what you want because you know who you are. [00:30:21] You need to know who you are [00:30:23] in Christ, which I think Jamie's gonna talk about next week. [00:30:27] You need to know who you are in Christ so you can act in [00:30:29] Christ, so you can be placed in Christ and operate through Christ. Amen. [00:30:35] All these things that you're fretting about [00:30:36] and you're going through. [00:30:37] Paul is saying, act as you were [00:30:39] created, not as you're thinking. As a man thinks, so is he. Amen. Act as you are created, not as you're thinking. [00:30:47] Your days change by the news. [00:30:49] Your days change by friendships. [00:30:51] Your energy changes around people that you're around. Act as you're created, not as you're thinking. [00:30:58] Does that make sense? Amen. Does that make sense, John? Does that make sense? It does, doesn't it? Then he turns. I love these two boys over here. And I can't wait to see this baby born. These are two of my most favorite men in the world right over there. They're just solid young men. I mean, I'm going to just say that in front of everybody. You guys are solid young men. [00:31:27] Paul then turns to the ones who always felt like outsiders. [00:31:30] You ever felt like an outsider? Ephesians 2:12 and 13. He's talking about in Christ, for we are his work. Yeah, thank you. That at the time, you were without Christ being aliens from the Commonwealth of Israel and the strangers from the covenants of promise having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ, you who were once far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. Let's go back a scripture, because there's something we need to handle in the room. Now, I might lose half of you and I really don't care. You didn't have an argument about pro Palestine and Israel until the news told you to have an argument about it. [00:32:22] You didn't actually care about it until everybody else cared about it. And now when we read the Commonwealth of Israel. Oh, I'm not a Zionist. I'm not either. I'm of Jewish descent and I'm an American. But I'm not gonna let the enemy start telling me what to hate and what to love. And the media is his mouthpiece. Amen. I am pro humanity. I'm gonna say this really clear. For anybody that's upset right now. I'm gonna say it really, really, really, really clear. [00:32:59] Y' all gonna learn today. [00:33:00] Listen to me right now. The Bible is not about Judaism to Christianity. The Bible is about fallen man being [00:33:09] restored to God by Christ. [00:33:16] The Bible has a history of a people. [00:33:22] If we really want to hold to everything in the Bible, women, you should not talk. So I need all y' all to sit over here. [00:33:30] That's out. But listen to me. That's what people will tell you. Beliefs are shaped by opinion. Know what you believe. Know who you are in Christ. Know what the Bible says. That's what this church is about. We are not about public opinion. We are not about politics. We're not about northern state, this state, that state. Listen, you probably know more about my politics than I do yours. And the reality is very, very simple. Know the Bible better. [00:34:00] Let's go. [00:34:02] Amen. Amen. But now in Christ. [00:34:08] But now in Christ you were once far off and have been brought near by the blood of Christ. Let's get back to the blood. Amen. Paul finishes something here in this chapter in Ephesians 19:22. Listen, I took a neutral stance during COVID and it destroyed the church. I am not going to take a neutral stance about public opinion. I will take a stance about what the Bible says. Amen. Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God having been built on the foundation. Amen. We in the same scripture, 19 Ephesians 19:22. Yeah. Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets. Jesus Christ himself being the chief cornerstone, in whom the whole building being fitted together grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the spirit in whom. Let's just really look about that. Let's read that again. Let's go back to Ephesians 19. Cause some of y' all are on the last thought. Ephesians, let's go back to verse now. Therefore you are no longer strangers. Can someone say, I'm no longer a stranger. I'm no longer a foreigner. I'm no longer an outsider. I am a fellow citizen with Christ, with the saints and the members of the household of God. [00:35:50] Hallelujah. Amen. [00:35:54] Does that feel good? Having been built on the foundation of the apostles and the prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief cornerstone in whom the whole building being fitted together grows holy. The holy temple of the Lord in whom you are also being built together in the dwelling place of God. In him, In Christ. Well, I feel. Pastor, I've got a ministry and I've been called to Da, da, da, da, da, da, da, da da. [00:36:24] But if it is not working with [00:36:25] the body, it is not in him. I feel this and I feel. Listen, the greatest test of whether you [00:36:34] are following him properly or not with [00:36:37] the way he is leading you is very simple. Is it working with the whole body? [00:36:44] Now, I got up here a little [00:36:45] late, so I'm gonna take another 10 minutes if that's okay with you. Is that all right that I finished this sermon? Praise the Lord. So in three moves, I wanna tell you what Ephesians two, these three moves are that Paul explained. Dead to alive, far to near stranger to family. I'm gonna say it again. In Ephesians 2, Paul settled where we were and where we've been placed and what it looks like in him. So we were. We were dead to alive, far to near stranger to family. So let's look at dead to alive. Paul says the same thing to the church in Galatians 2:13. And you being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, he has made you alive together in him, with him, having forever you all, having forgiven you all trespasses. He made you alive, you didn't. Amen. That's why the gospel is not self improvement. I'm going to say that again. The gospel is not self improvement. Amen. The gospel, self improvement works for living, works on living people. The gospel coach you to eat better, train harder to be a better husband, to be better. You cannot coach a dead man. I am dead in Christ and he is alive in me. A dead man needs life to be put back in him from the outside. Amen. This is not a self improvement course. Does that make sense? So when you came to Christ, you didn't turn over a New leaf. You were given a new life. When you came to Christ, you did not turn over a new leaf. You were given a new life. [00:38:37] A new leaf means flipping to the [00:38:38] other side with something hidden. [00:38:42] I am not who I was. [00:38:44] With a new face, that makes sense. I am new in him. Amen. Same face in the mirror. But something that was dead in you has come alive. And that is the Spirit of God. Is this making sense? Jesus told the story of the son who came home. And the Father said in Luke 15:24, for this is my son was dead and is alive again. He was lost and is found. He didn't say, my son has improved. He said he was dead and now he's alive. So if we look at verse 10 again, we were in Ephesians. We are his workmanship. The Greek word there, it means, is where we get our word. Poem. Something made, something crafted. It's not a dyi project God is working out. You're something he made on purpose in Christ. So you know how you say a poem? Poem. You create a poem. Poem, poem. However you want to say it. I say it. Poem. You say it. Poem. We say it. Poem. Whatever we say, it's all the same word. When you create is coming from a place that you wrote, right? So when God handcrafted you, there will never be another you. Amen. They will never be another you. [00:40:21] So you are not a dyi project. [00:40:23] You are something he made on purpose in Christ. You have purpose. You have a reason for being here this morning. Amen. So let's look at what he said. [00:40:36] So, dead to alive, far to near. [00:40:38] Verse 12 is one of the loneliest verses in the Bible. Without Christ, aliens, strangers, no hope without God in the world. Some of you know what it's like to have no friends. Yeah. But do you actually ever feel alone when you're in Christ? No. But verse 13 says. But now another thing. You who were once far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. You didn't walk yourself near. You were brought near. Draw close unto God, and he'll draw close unto you, and the devil will flee from you. That is faith that walks through the door. But you did not arrive here by your own merit, your own fruition, and your own power. You cannot stay here by your own merit, your own fruition, and your own power. You have to realize who made the place for you, who sustains the place in you, and who makes all things happen through you. Amen. You are not wielding God. He is wielding you. Amen. You are not commanding God, he is commanding you. And I dare say you're more than following God. You're moving with God, because God is in you. Amen. Stranger to family. Here's a bit that people skip. God doesn't make you alive and then leave you on your own. Verse 19. You are no longer a stranger. You are fellow citizens. I cannot wait to get my citizenship in Australia. [00:42:22] When I get my PR, I'm gonna be like 10 years. [00:42:25] I'm one of you. I had an Australian come to me the other day. He said, how long you been here? I said, 10 years. He said, you ain't no longer American, even though you sound like one. I shed a tear. [00:42:34] I did. I was like, oh, my God, I'm still American, but you've accepted me. When I get my citizenship, you better believe I'm gonna have the first kangaroo [00:42:49] shirt with an Australian flag on the back. Amen. [00:42:55] Because you belong there now. You are there now. [00:43:00] Jamie's just thinking of ammunition for the whole next sermon and the whole ride home. It's like having a little brother with you. You just know you're gonna catch it later. Amen. [00:43:10] But I. When you're a citizen of heaven, when you claim that citizenship, you're no longer working for it. You are of it. Amen. You are of it. [00:43:24] So place was where God put you alive, is what he did in you, and the house is who he put with you. Now, if all that's true, Michelle, you can come up if you want. And it is why, if all that is true, why do so many of us still live like it isn't alive, but living dead? You're still trying to earn it. You're still walking the old course. You're still standing outside the house, waiting to come in. Live like you're alive. Live like you're in him. [00:44:12] Christians, man. [00:44:14] I am one. Y' all hadn't noticed. Maybe I. You know, we're not like Christ. It actually never was about us being like Christ. Christian was a slang word they put on us. Oh, you're like that Christ. We're never supposed to be exactly like Him. I know I'm messing with some theology in the room, so let me clean that up. We were supposed to be sons and daughters, brothers, citizens, ambassadors, saints. We claimed a word we could never achieve. So therefore we're constantly defeated. There will never be another Messiah. There will never be another Yeshua hamashiach. There will never be another Jesus. You will not be Him. You are not Him. But he is in you and you are in Him. And therefore People will see him operate through you. And that's where you're like him. But it's not about you becoming like him and becoming perfect. It's about you accepting your citizenship. It's about you accepting your sonship. It's about you accepting your position as an ambassador of Christ. It's about you realizing that all his promises to you are yes and amen. And they are yes and amen to you and everybody else. Amen. So stop auditioning. Listen, you want to be the pastor of this church? Come on. [00:46:04] Come on. You want it? Come get it. Stop auditioning for the role. Care for people. [00:46:12] That's what a pastor does. [00:46:14] Oversee people. [00:46:15] That's what a pastor does. [00:46:16] Lead programs. [00:46:17] That's what a pastor does. [00:46:18] You don't need my pulpit or to [00:46:20] be the ruler of this church. [00:46:21] I don't roll nothing in here. [00:46:22] My wife tells me everything I should do along with the Holy Spirit. Amen. [00:46:29] Amen. So stop auditioning. [00:46:34] Michelle tells me what to do as well. Me and Jeremy just do what we're told. We really don't think for ourselves. We have no clue what we're doing. We wouldn't even know how to dress our. They told us what to wear today. Amen. [00:46:46] So walk one step on a new road. Come into the house. [00:46:56] And for some of you, this morning isn't about living alive. It's about becoming alive for the first time. I want to finish where Paul started. And you were made alive who were dead. Maybe you're here this morning. If you're honest, the first half is still you. I don't even know him. Maybe you're here this morning. You're not actually in him yet. You haven't even confessed him with your mouth. And you're just dead people trying to climb out of a hole. I want you to understand, you don't have to climb out. You just have to accept the hand that is reaching down for you. You just have to accept the hand that is reaching down for you. You do not clean yourself before you take a shower. Okay? You get in the shower to get clean. It is the same with salvation. You do not have to be perfect. You do not have to be ready. You do not have to be quitting the things you're doing. You can still be an addict. Cause I was. You can still be an alcoholic. Because I was. You can still be angry. Cause I was. And the moment you accept him and truly accept him into your heart, something becomes alive in you that starts to change the outside of you. Amen. And maybe you're here this morning and you are saved. But the outside stuff is pushing down what's inside. Amen. Every head bowed and every eye closed. But, God, he's not asking you to meet him halfway. He's already come the whole way. Jesus died and he rose again so that dead people would come alive, so that oppressed people would no longer be oppressed. I'm gonna talk to that one in the room that maybe doesn't know Christ. One on the podcast. If you do not know our Lord and Savior, every head bowed and every eye closed, and you wanna know him and you want to accept him in your life, can you just lift your hand right where you are? Amen. Maybe you're here this morning and it's not a joke to you. You actually believe in the progression of Christianity. You actually believe in the hope of others. And, you know, you got your opinions and all that stuff, but you've been. You've been beaten down. You're not feeling the way you should. You have accepted him. You believe him. You have faith. You take communion. You do all this stuff, but you're privately suffering. Every head bowed, every eye closed. If that's you this morning, can you lift your hand? Thank you for the hands. Thank you for the hands. Thank you for the hands. I need every prayer warrior in the house to get serious right now, because we are going to pray. We are gonna break this bondage off of people's lives. Do you agree? Then pray with me. I want you to lay your hands on the person next to you, because the person next to you may have just lifted their hand, and we're gonna do something really radical. Hey, Jeremy, why don't you go grab that. This guy right here. We're going to do something really radical. And maybe those people are sitting outside. Maybe somebody can go pray with them as well. But we're going to do something really radical. I want you to pray for the person next to you. I'm going to pray a soft prayer, but I want you to pray a prayer over the person next to you. So, Father, we just thank you right now for every person in the room. Lord, we believe that strongholds are being broken, that whatever is oppressing the people of God that is trying to shrink the gift that is within them, they're privately, secretly struggling. Lord, we know right now, in the name of Jesus, that they no longer have to suffer in silence. We break off that bondage of loneliness right now, in the name of Jesus. We break off hurt pain. We break off church hurt. We break off abandonment we break off all the things that the past leader did, that the family members did, that has happened in their life. [00:51:04] We break it off right now in [00:51:06] the name of Jesus. I physically see knives being removed from someone's back. I physically see hooks being taken out of people's side. I physically see right now the tension in the side of your head becoming less in the name of Jesus. But I also see someone that is so blessed that they're starting to be ashamed of how blessed they are. [00:51:26] I want you to be free from that. [00:51:28] You are blessed to be a blessing. [00:51:30] God is blessing you to bless others. Do not be ashamed of how God has gifted you. The enemy is trying to get you to shrink back in what God has called you to. You are meant to go further. You are meant to go higher. You are meant to be louder. You are meant to do what called [00:51:46] to do right now. [00:51:46] Do not shrink back because the enemy is more afraid of you moving forward than he is of you shrinking back in the name of Jesus. Let all lions roar. Let everyone come forward and let the spirit of God stir up within you. We break off every bondage, every fight or flight mentality. We pray against every sickness and dis ease in the name of Jesus and [00:52:09] for those that raise their hand for salvation. [00:52:11] We believe that all these things are coming to you right now in Jesus name. We believe that all these things are coming to you right now in Jesus name. That Sozo is bringing healing and deliverance to you right now. That all that is in Christ is yours. All that is in Christ is yours. With a yes and an amen. With a kiss and a seal of approval. That right now that you are becoming alive, all dead things are shaking off. All oppression and hurt is shaking off. And we're beginning to step in that journey. To say simply and wholeheartedly, I will not let the devil keep my praise out of my mouth. It's like fire shut up in my bones. You can't stop me from loving him. You can't stop me to praying from him. You can't stop me from loving his people. I've wanted to quit. I wanted to shrink back. But no, no, no. I'm gonna keep going in Jesus name. I'm gonna keep. I'm gonna keep putting in the invoices. I'm gonna keep signing the contracts. I'm gonna keep believing in the business because I know God has called me into a place in the name of Jesus. God has called me right now to do great things. That relationship is meant for be a yes and an Amen. It looks scary right now, but let it be. Yes and amen. That business adventure looks scary right now. But let God say. But God turned it around. But God made it happen. In Jesus name, Amen. Come on, somebody give the Lord a [00:53:38] hand clap of praise. [00:53:42] I don't know. I said it was going to be a quiet prayer, but I got excited. Amen. I started seeing things happening in the room. I started feeling God moving. I was like, lord Jesus, come on, [00:53:54] how about preach myself happy. [00:53:55] I'm going to give myself an offering [00:53:56] and put my credit cards back in my wallet right back there. Amen. [00:53:59] I might even give myself a brand new car today. Look at that. Amen. [00:54:03] Hallelujah. I get a free laptop. Free laptop for you. That W Romans 10, 9, 10 says this. And this is where I want to land. Hear me saints of God. You have made this just about your salvation. I need your attention. You have made this just about your salvation. But your salvation is more than the day you got saved. It's you living in him. Okay, so we're gonna break this down really slowly. And I want you to see something. That if you confess with your mouth that the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart, one believes unto righteousness. With the heart, the one believes unto righteousness. [00:54:54] Right. [00:54:55] Standing with God and with the mouth, confession made unto salvation. There are some days you feel lost as a Christian. You need to go to the wells of your salvation and remind yourself, I [00:55:08] believe in my heart. [00:55:10] I am in right. Standing with God. I confess with my mouth. I am saved to the uttermost and God still loves me. And I'm gonna stop asking him, why did you do this to me? Because what he did to me is a whole lot better than what the world is trying to do to me. [00:55:27] All that stuff that has happened in [00:55:30] your life, God is on the other [00:55:33] side of that with a mop. [00:55:35] Amen. [00:55:36] God is cleaning that mess up with [00:55:38] his words and his promises. [00:55:40] God is not doing it to you to testify, to get you to have a testimony, to make you an example of faith. No, no, no, no. God ain't doing. If God could do evil to you, he is not a good God. You know what he's doing to you? He's putting you in a good position. So remind yourself you are the righteousness of God. Rem. I am saved to the uttermost. Remind yourself you enemy. You trying to get me to shut my mouth. Shut me down. Listen, I gotta. [00:56:12] You know, somebody Said, don't tell them. [00:56:14] Don't tell them. Don't tell them. I'm gonna tell you. [00:56:16] You about to agree with me. You ready? Do I look scared? [00:56:20] Do I look like I'm about to go under? Do I look like. Do I look like somebody up here? Go. Oh, God, please help me. In just two days time, I gotta come up with $10,000 just in two days time. We told you about it. [00:56:36] We've had Eagles meetings about it. [00:56:38] It ain't come yet. You know what I'm saying? [00:56:40] But God and y' all gonna wait on some one person to write a check? [00:56:46] Well, Lord, I believe that somebody gonna do that. Amen. [00:56:50] You're starting to get uncomfortable. I can feel you. You stay with me. That right there makes $10,000 seem like nothing. And someone that has $10,000 shouldn't feel like they're the ones that should always give it. Some of you need to put your faith where your mouth is and believe in the house that God is building. [00:57:16] And maybe go without a coffee and give an offering. Now, if that makes you leave the church, guess what? I'll just move to church, into my house. We'll have a good time with a guitar. And we'll still punch above our weight. We'll still impact this city. We'll still see a hundred soul gifts. I do not need this building. I don't need it. We do it because God said to. You know what? I'm gonna believe for a 3,50 times bigger building. [00:57:47] You know, you challenged me the other [00:57:49] week, you said, well, we could do so much more with a bigger building. You know why I accept the challenge? What you mean? I wanna stare at needing $10 million in the next two days? Well, if you got that problem, that means you got the support of heaven behind you. Cause you got the faith to believe. I don't want more problems. I wish you had a million dollars in your life. You know what that means? I'm believing that 10% of that is $100,000 given to the church. [00:58:23] I'm just kidding. [00:58:25] I want you to be blessed. I ain't kidding. [00:58:28] Anyone that knows me knows. Remember I said earlier, I'm of Jewish descent. Take that out of the live stream. So anyway, guys, I'll say this. This is where I want to land. Because I really love you. I'm going to be away for a few weeks. Stop letting fear control what you do. I have made up my mind. God. No matter what's next, but God. Every head bowed, every eye closed. Don't look up when I start talking, the person that I'm talking to is going to know who I'm talking to now. Sister, can I talk to you for a minute? I'm gonna say it out loud. Cause it needs to be said out loud. But God. But, God. Somebody say it with me. Keep your eyes, your head bowed. But God, I don't know how he did it, but God, I don't know how he restored it, but God, I don't know how he's making a way. But God, I prophesy over your life that everything has been taken from you. All the locusts of your life, every stripping back of your anointing that has been down to your bones. You have been through the wringer. The enemy has tried to strip you to your bones. And I want to say that God found fire there. I want to say that I need some. Jody, Lisa, where you at? Anybody of fire that's around her right now. You know what? The enemy stripped you back to your bones. And God said, I found fire there. You didn't want this. [01:00:08] You didn't need this. You didn't want it highlighted. Anybody want to pray with me? [01:00:11] Start speaking in tongues right now. Start speaking in tongues right now. For those that believe, start praying in tongues right now. The enemy has tried to destroy you. [01:00:21] Destroy your family, destroy your life, destroy your anointing. [01:00:25] And God said, I have a greater anointing and a mantle to be placed [01:00:28] on your life right now. In Jesus name, I see you, says the Lord. And I draw you out of the valley of dry bones. I call you out of the place of the hidden and the forsaken, in the caves and the raven feeding. And I place on you an anointing and a life and a history and a fire in your mouth. [01:00:48] Let coals touch your lips. Father, we thank you. [01:00:51] Come on. Don't y' all stop right there. Don't you stop right there. [01:00:54] This is your training ground. [01:00:56] Don't you stop right there. You pray like somebody's life depends on it. You pray like somebody's ministry depends on it. You pray like there is a. There is lives connected to this woman that God has called her to. Where you at? [01:01:09] Come on. Yeah. Where you at? Come on. Right now. [01:01:11] Come on. [01:01:11] Come on. Come on, Come on, come on, Come on. [01:01:15] I believe God. If this scares you, it's all right. I love you. But, Father, I'm believing there's freedom. There's chains being broken off right now. In the name of Jesus, we love you. We appreciate you. Lord, we call it forth right now in the name of Jesus. Father, I thank you. I love you. I know that it is done and it is happening. Father, we thank you. If you're behind her or near her, lay hands on her. Amen. Right now, we break off the chains and the words of the enemy. Right now, in Jesus name, we pour in fire and restoration. Lord God, it is done. It is fulfilled. Father, we are. We are. [01:01:51] We thank youk. We thank youk. We thank youk. We thank youk. We thank youk. We thank youk. Come on. [01:01:56] This is what church is about. It ain't about a TED Talk. [01:01:59] It ain't about a TED Talk. It's about a real thing. Now let's settle. Now let's settle. Let's say something simple. You are loved. You are not forsaken. You are not forgotten. And the Lord has not passed you by. You are the righteousness of God. And he has called you forth to many nations. He has called you forth to multiple generations. There is a fire down in you. The enemy tried to strip you down to nothing. And God said he found a fire in there like a raging furnace. And it was me. The Lord said, you drew close to me. You drew close to me when no one else would. In Jesus name, Lord, can you. Can you give the Lord a hand clap of praise? Amen. All right, We're going to continue praying, but how did you enjoy the message today? Amen. Amen. Y' all let me preach, like, way too long. I really appreciate that. That's the first hour message I've done in a long time. It's not an every Sunday thing for you visitors. It's when the Lord's moving in that direction. And we had a lot to do today in the spirit. We had a lot to align in the spirit. Peter and Lauren, if you guys would come up here real quick. Praise the Lord. I love these two. I love them so much. Oh, you know, Man, the amount of times we sat at my kitchen table and went out for coffee, we have a long life together. They've got a. They're going to move back to Brisbane for a season. We don't know how long. We just know the Lord's leading. It's come with a lot of heartache and heartbreak. Loren came up to me this morning and said, you know, it's our last Sunday. And I said, I won't think about it. They're still going to be a part of this family. They're still going to be a part of the body of Christ. They're not leaving us. They just can't be with us for a while. So we're going to bless them. We're going to bless them in the next season of their lives. Now, if you think it's because of this or because of that, it's because you got too much gossip in your ears. It's not. No, no, no. These are the most purest people I've ever met in my life. I mean, been through it, come out on the other side, fought their way through it and go see great things happen. I wish I could do this with my hair. Stretch your hands this way, Father. We bless them in the season in which they are away from us. Plant in us a fingerprint to text, to phone call, to email to show up that every Brisbane trip we say, where are you? What you doing? We want to come say hello. We bless them and where they're going. In Jesus name, we ask that you continue to keep them. And when they come back to the fellowship, anytime they come to visit, let's make sure they are welcome and they are blessed and they are seen and they are heard. We thank you, Father. May you bless the adventures they're about to go on. In Jesus name, Amen. Give the Lord a hand clap of praise. Amen. All right, now, I believe we got cakes and pies outside. We got fellowship next Sunday. What do we got? Cakes, bickies. Yeah. Banana bread, fruits and biscuits. I want to thank the hospitality team. So, Father, we thank you. We bless the refreshments. We ask you to bless our time of fellowship. Bless the rest of our day. For those that go home and get to take nano naps, bless you. Take an extra wink for me. Praise the Lord. We thank you for the worship we've received today. The word we've received today, Father, fill our week with progression and hope and light and loving you. In Jesus name we pray and we all say amen. Give the Lord a hand clap of praise. [01:06:16] We're going to keep the music going [01:06:18] for just a second because we're going to continue praying. So if you want to make your way outside and fellowship, we're going to actually continue praying in here. [01:06:24] All right. [01:06:24] Praise the Lord. Thank you. [01:06:27] Thank you for tuning in to today's message. To connect or find out more, you can reach us online at worldchangers Life. Remember to subscribe for more uplifting messages from our pastoral team and may you continue to walk in faith and transformation until we meet again.