Episode Transcript
[00:00:00] Welcome to the World Changers Church Gold Coast Podcast. Join us as we listen to today's message.
[00:00:06] We thank you, Lord, that today you are lifted up, that it's about you and not us.
[00:00:20] And, Lord, we thank you that no matter what stage of life we're in, whether it be mountaintop or valley, you're good.
[00:00:34] Let us not forget when we're looking out over the horizon after reaching Everest Peak, the struggle it took to get there and the faith it took to climb.
[00:00:44] Let us not forget that in the valley there is a mountaintop, there is a way through, a way out.
[00:00:54] So, Father, we thank you. It's in Jesus name we pray and we all say amen. Come on. Give the Lord a hand clap of praise.
[00:01:06] Amen. You know, I'm reminded this morning that it's Father's Day.
[00:01:11] I had three young men take me out to breakfast, and I was surprised when they paid for it.
[00:01:18] Amen. But they did.
[00:01:21] Eli was the first one to pull out his wallet, which was surprising because he's the most Jewish of us all.
[00:01:29] And then, you know, Josiah's like, I sent you money. And Alex is like, I sent you money. And I was like, wow, designated hitter. Look at him. Amen.
[00:01:38] God is so good. He reminds us of how blessed we are by the arrows in our quiver or by just the life we're walking out. So before I get into this message, I want to acknowledge all the fathers. Happy Father's Day to each and every one of you, give the Lord a hand clap of praise and for men and women like me, that your father may not be present, but is in eternity where our hearts are with you. And we are blessed because we do not grieve as those without hope, knowing that one day when Jesus comes, he will bring those that have gone on before us and we will see them again. So we are blessed this morning. Amen.
[00:02:16] Amen. So, you know, I don't want to really tell you where I came up with this series, but I'm going to tell you because it's kind of funny.
[00:02:24] Maybe to me, maybe not to you.
[00:02:28] I was listening to every time my phone cuts off, it turns on the radio and I'm like, I don't want to listen to that. And it just so happened that when I was, like, got off the phone and my phone disconnected from the Bluetooth and all this kind of stuff, the radio turns on and this song Bulletproof came on. Anybody know that song?
[00:02:46] Yeah, I'm not gonna sing it like you're expecting me to right now, but, yeah. Aww.
[00:02:53] And so I was like, oh, Lord. You know, I just started thinking about being bulletproof and all that kind of stuff. But the message title's not bulletproof. It's storm proof.
[00:03:01] And so I have this series on for the next couple of weeks about stormproof faith that stands in shifting times.
[00:03:09] Now, here's the thing. A lot of times when we come to church, we hear sad stories and, oh, lift yourself up and feel better and you're gonna get through. This is really not a message about hard times. It's a message about staying you.
[00:03:24] And whether you're a CEO, whether you've got tons of money in the bank or whatever, wherever life is, this message can reach you right where you are. So if you're in the valley or on the mountaintop, it'll speak to you. Amen.
[00:03:38] Amen. Yeah, I'm expecting back from you today. We got a full crowd now. Say, man, happy to have all the family members here today. So we're so blessed. So this storm proof is the message. One that I want to talk to you about is the title for this message today is hold the line.
[00:03:57] Now, as I was thinking about bulletproof, obviously we start going down our ways of thinking. We start going down our thought processes. And I started thinking about sports, and I started thinking about archery and all types of stuff. And the Lord reminded me of a game that I heard about in the nrl. And I know some of you are not NRL fans, but I heard about a game in NRL years back where the score was tied and it was just tight. One more try and there was going to be a win. And the team captain kind of yelled out, and as he said, you know, just really. He just yelled out with great vigor, hold the line.
[00:04:33] And the crowd started roaring and chanting, hold the line. And the next thing you know, it's like, you know, the game roared and a. And they lost. No, I'm kidding.
[00:04:41] They won. But it was a shoulder to shoulder, meter by meter game.
[00:04:46] And sometimes life feels like that.
[00:04:49] Whether it be positive finances, negative finances, whether it be family, whether it be culture, sometimes it feels meter by meter. We win one area, we lose another area. We take two steps forward, we take 10 steps back, we go miles ahead, and then we hit roadblocks. But no matter where you find yourself, you can hold the line.
[00:05:10] And so Stormproof is not about having no problems.
[00:05:15] It's about how you respond to them.
[00:05:18] I've started learning, and I think my oldest son has experienced this the most. I react less and respond more, and it's Actually a good place to be in. You ever get that phone call from someone reactive, and you can tell in their voice, they're like, hey, what you doing? And you're like, oh, no, I'm about to get a lecture. You know what I mean?
[00:05:36] But when someone responds, they're like, hey, how are you doing? I just want to talk to you a second about what's going on and have a response that's prepared about how we're going to get through. Life is all about perspective and the right response.
[00:05:50] I mean, I remember when I first got made a CEO of a large ministry. Not CEO, Executive team member. Sorry, not CEO. Executive team member. And I had that title that was senior. I was over 30 locations, and I can remember the moment they gave me that title. My palms started to sweat.
[00:06:12] I was thinking, how in the world am I gonna do this?
[00:06:16] Anybody ever had that? You know you can, but for some reason, the weight of the responsibility of it hits you like a brick, and you're like, I know I can do this. I got this. We're gonna get this done. Hold the line.
[00:06:30] For me, I'd love to say it was the Holy Spirit, angels singing.
[00:06:34] But for me, when I told my wife I came home that night, and I was sitting there and I was just writing stuff down, writing stuff down, staying up all hours. And I was starting to make myself anxious. And she did what she's always done for 25 years of ministry.
[00:06:48] Now I'm letting y' all in on something. Don't laugh.
[00:06:51] She just did this too hard to handle.
[00:06:55] She let me know I had it.
[00:06:57] Sometimes it's also the people that are standing with you that'll help you achieve what God's placed in front of you. So Stormproof is not about some magical verse or some quotations or declarations or confession. It's about, do I actually believe that no matter what happens, I can get through?
[00:07:17] You know what I'm talking about?
[00:07:20] So whether it's the mountaintop or the valley, whether it's opinion or social culture, it doesn't matter. God is saying to us today, hold the line.
[00:07:28] Hebrews 10 and 23 says this.
[00:07:31] Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promises.
[00:07:39] I want to go to the next verse.
[00:07:42] Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works.
[00:07:49] Let's go to the next verse.
[00:07:51] Let us not neglect our meeting together. Now, I'm not going to get into that religious aspect of things, like you Come to church when church is open. Now, I want to back up a verse.
[00:08:01] Everything we do should motivate one another to acts of love.
[00:08:08] Love is the most powerful fire extinguisher.
[00:08:12] Love is the greatest barrier for water that is rushing in in a flood. Love is something that is so powerful, but not ushy, gushy love. I'm talking about that mama love. You know what? I'm talking about that, you know, you coming in, Mama, I broke my leg. It's just a scratch.
[00:08:30] That mama love that looks at you and said, this is gonna hurt a little bit. Liar.
[00:08:35] That mama love that knows what's best. This is not the type of love of just agree and feel good and everybody kumbaya. Love is powerful.
[00:08:43] It's a strength, and it's fierce. You ever had somebody talk about you and your mama, just be in the other room. She'll come up like, you know, that's my baby, right?
[00:08:52] Amen.
[00:08:54] I'm talking about when we motivate one another.
[00:08:57] If it's fierce, let it be fierce. Love. That's how we become storm proof. Am I making sense to y' all this morning?
[00:09:05] So when we look at Hebrews 10:23, let's go back there.
[00:09:10] Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise.
[00:09:18] Yesterday was probably one of the hardest days of my life. Was it yesterday, Tina? I think it was yesterday. Talking about our friend.
[00:09:25] Yesterday was probably one of the hardest days of my life. My wife came in, and this panic of a voice, sorry, honey, there's a way it happened. And she said, so and so had died.
[00:09:41] I said, huh. It was almost like a dream.
[00:09:44] This person's like a mama to me, like a best friend. And she kept saying it to me, and it was like, huh.
[00:09:50] And I paused for a second, and I thought, how am I supposed to respond to this?
[00:09:57] For two years, I've prayed with my friend.
[00:10:00] We believed that she would be healed of cancer.
[00:10:05] And all of a sudden, I'm questioning everything because it didn't happen the way I prayed. Anybody know what I'm talking about?
[00:10:15] And I thought, God, what do I do?
[00:10:18] God said, respond in faith.
[00:10:22] And so this scripture that my wife had been repeating to me for many days, we do not grieve as those that are without any hope. But we know that when Jesus Christ appears, he will return with him those that have gone on before us. Now I'm summarizing a scripture, so no matter what you face, you can respond with joy in death. Yesterday I thought about my friend.
[00:10:51] She has the biggest smile. If you know who she is, you know what I'm talking about. I mean, them teeth will cut through any dark room.
[00:11:00] She had the greatest laugh and still has the greatest laugh because I know she's in heaven.
[00:11:05] And she was the most loving person I've ever met in my life. Kyle, how can you be talking about your friend in such a way and not be crying?
[00:11:14] I'm sad, but I'm not sorry.
[00:11:18] I'd be sorry if she didn't know Jesus.
[00:11:22] I'd be gripped with grief if she didn't know Jesus. But I know that one day my friend will ride again. Does that make sense?
[00:11:31] Hold the line of faith. No matter what happens, hold the line of faith. No matter what's said, hold the line of faith. No matter how far you got to travel, hold the line of faith.
[00:11:41] Does that mean we stay in abusive relationships? I don't know. You talk to Jesus. I'm not going to answer that question.
[00:11:47] I think we hold the line of faith.
[00:11:52] And faith has a response for everything.
[00:11:56] Amen.
[00:12:00] Praise the Lord.
[00:12:03] Is this good?
[00:12:05] So the point that I want to bring to you today is hold the line of hope.
[00:12:08] Life will either inspire hope or challenge it.
[00:12:13] You can determine where you are right now. Hebrews 20, I mean 10 and 23 reveals that hope is not a mood.
[00:12:22] Amen.
[00:12:23] Hope is not a mood.
[00:12:25] Hope is not a positive vibe. Kumbaya, my Lord. No, hope is not a positive vibe. Hope is an anchored expectation of God's faithfulness.
[00:12:36] Do you hear me?
[00:12:38] Hope is an anchored expectation.
[00:12:41] It's just what you're anchored to.
[00:12:45] I remember hearing about a farmer through the major droughts. I think that was 2018, 2019 here in Australia.
[00:12:55] And he was planting seeds in dry soil.
[00:12:59] He was quoted saying this. Now listen, we planted seed in dry soil not because the forecast said rain, but because God made the seasons. And I believe rain will come.
[00:13:15] And man, when it came, did it come.
[00:13:18] Amen.
[00:13:20] We do not believe because the forecast says it's good. We do not believe because the forecast says it's bad. We believe because we know God is the author and the finisher of our faith.
[00:13:33] Good or bad, heaven or hell, flood or fire, we know we're going to get through.
[00:13:38] Amen.
[00:13:39] So no matter what you face, you have an anchor of hope.
[00:13:43] It's when your hope gets deferred, your heart becomes sick.
[00:13:50] So hope in this story about this farmer looks like that planning even when the ground looks hard.
[00:13:58] When I came to Australia, man, I met Some Australian folk over in a LA conference, in an Isuzu conference, Zuza Street. Man, there was all these radical people there, stadium full. And, you know, it was like I met a couple Australians, and, man, they were on fire.
[00:14:16] They were on fire, I thought. And then I knew I was going to Australia. Right.
[00:14:21] I think I knew at that time I was going to Australia.
[00:14:24] No, I had this thought that if I just went to Australia, man, revival would be easy there.
[00:14:34] Mmm.
[00:14:36] By faith.
[00:14:38] But when I came to Australia, I found something different than an on fire country. I found an on fire country, wondering where God was at.
[00:14:49] For my first year in Australia, we had floods like a pandemic.
[00:14:53] The second year in Australia, we had fires, and everybody was asking, where is God?
[00:15:00] And in the third year, a couple of them guys came out of the woodwork like, this is the great Southland of the Holy Spirit. It's about to happen. And nothing happened.
[00:15:09] And then Covid happened, and I thought, well, I'm only here to have a church, and I can't even do church.
[00:15:16] What am I doing here?
[00:15:17] Hold the line. Tina was asking me, why are we still in this country? Boys were asking me, why are we still in this? Everybody was asking me, why are you still in this country? You don't have a church. You're not an online pastor. Come back home.
[00:15:28] I held the line because God said, this is exactly where I was supposed to be when I went from four locations to one. I held the line because this is what God said where I was supposed to be.
[00:15:39] Hallelujah. We won't go any further down that story.
[00:15:43] But whether it's good or bad, hold the line.
[00:15:47] Business works the same way. SWOT analysis, risk analysis, KPIs, blah, blah, blah. DDD.
[00:15:54] Doesn't matter. They all speak one language. It may or may not happen.
[00:15:58] You got to believe that it will because you believe in the project you're on.
[00:16:02] I believe in what I'm doing, and therefore, I won't quit no matter what happens. Look at your neighbor, Say, we're holding the line.
[00:16:11] Look at your other neighbor and say, we're holding the line.
[00:16:15] Amen. That's good.
[00:16:17] Glad y' all did that without a country accent. That was awesome.
[00:16:21] Romans 15:13 says, May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in thinking, in hoping, in a maybe, may he fill you with all joy and peace in believing. You wonder why your peace is interrupted, whether you're on the mountaintop or the valley.
[00:16:46] It's because you ain't really anchored your belief yet.
[00:16:51] When you Anchor your belief in Jesus. Peace is uninterrupted. Does that make sense?
[00:16:58] Peace is uninterrupted when you anchor your faith in Jesus and peace becomes something so present when you believe.
[00:17:06] Many people have asked me, how are you still smiling? Because I believe.
[00:17:12] I remember when I was in a hospital with my heart failing.
[00:17:15] People were coming in the hospital room and they were laying hands on me and they were saying.
[00:17:22] They weren't saying, coo, coo, co chew. They were like, oh, God, we're so sorry. It's like they were already having a funeral.
[00:17:29] Look at this little guy.
[00:17:31] Amen. It's like they were already having a funeral coming in. I'm so sorry this happened to you. By the third one came in, I said. I just said, you know what? We're going to start having a party up in here. Every time someone comes in, I don't care how I feel. We're going to celebrate.
[00:17:45] By the time I was leaving the hospital, they didn't know who the patient was. The nurses were coming in for prayer, and I was the one dying.
[00:17:54] I'm like, okay, thank you, Jesus.
[00:17:59] When you have hope, even death doesn't defer your peace.
[00:18:08] Paul went on to say in Romans 15:13, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Now I myself am confident concerning you, my brethren, that you are also full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, and able to also admonish one another.
[00:18:27] Church. Don't confuse, delay, denial with God's absence or lack of provision.
[00:18:36] Abraham waited years for Isaac, and Isaac still came.
[00:18:42] Amen.
[00:18:43] Abraham waited years for Isaac and Isaac still came.
[00:18:49] Your promise, no matter the timeline, is anchored in Christ.
[00:18:54] Amen.
[00:18:56] Somebody say it with me. My hope is anchored in Christ.
[00:19:01] Somebody say it with me. My hope is anchored in Christ.
[00:19:08] Think about this. So how do we apply this? You're waiting on a healing. Hold the line of hope.
[00:19:14] You're praying for your child. Hold the line of hope.
[00:19:17] Feeling weary in this season. Hope says, God's not done yet.
[00:19:24] Y' all want to know what I'm looking at? 15 times.
[00:19:27] Do you mind if I borrow him for a second? Yeah. All right.
[00:19:32] So how do we. How do we do this, man?
[00:19:35] What does that point say? We hold the line of hope.
[00:19:39] You know what? You were a hope one day, and then you became the joy of your mother's life. Come on, give the Lord a hand clap of praise.
[00:19:53] He's like, yeah, you cheering for me, God, may we remain a church that enjoys life over performance.
[00:20:09] You know, can we have a Moment with your child.
[00:20:14] Hey, man, how are you doing?
[00:20:18] See, when.
[00:20:20] Amen. The beauty about this is now you're all looking for him, is that we're celebrating life.
[00:20:27] This is what hope is. This is the hope of the future.
[00:20:30] We get so caught up in the. That could disturb someone from hearing the salvation and gospel. Well, that is the miracle of God sitting right there, knitted together in your mother's womb. Look, he's just like, how you talking about me again, ain't you?
[00:20:47] We're spoiling him up in here.
[00:20:49] Yeah, sorry. I know he's got to go back. And you're like, please stop.
[00:20:54] So you got to hold the line of hope.
[00:20:58] You got to hold the line of truth.
[00:21:01] Jesus said in John 8, 31, 32, if you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples.
[00:21:10] Are we there?
[00:21:12] Yeah. Jesus said to those Jews who believed him, if you abide in my word, you are my disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
[00:21:23] They answered him, we are Abraham's descendants and have never been in bondage to anyone. How can you say you will be made free? Jesus answered them and said, most.
[00:21:33] Jesus said, most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave to sin.
[00:21:39] We've been made free from the problems of this world.
[00:21:44] Someone said, did you hear we're about to go into World War 3? I was sitting on my back balcony and I'm looking over this beautiful lake and I looked up in the sky and I said, sure. Didn't hear about it.
[00:21:53] Have you watched the news? Nope. Have you been on Instagram? Nope. Have you been on Facebook? Nope.
[00:21:57] How about TikTok? Definitely not.
[00:22:02] If war happens, it's gonna happen.
[00:22:06] What can I do to stop it but pray?
[00:22:08] Did you hear about the hurricane or cyclone off the. Off the edge of the sea? No. I prayed against it, though. I'm not worried about it, because I know that I'm. No matter what happens, I'm gonna be good with Jesus.
[00:22:19] Amen.
[00:22:20] When you know, you know, somebody say, when you know, you know.
[00:22:26] Let me tell you a story. Isn't that what pastors do?
[00:22:30] I don't want to sit here and act like everything's always been good.
[00:22:35] Many years ago, I felt completely lost in the decision of season making in my life. Anxiety, confusion, sleepless nights, and all that was mixed up. And then one morning, God gave me a verse in Psalms 32. 8.
[00:22:50] I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go. I will guide you with my eye.
[00:22:58] Amen.
[00:23:00] Do not be like the horse or like the mule, which have no understanding, which must be harnessed with a bit and bridle, else they will come and not come near you. Many sorrows shall be the be of the wicked. But he who trusts the Lord, mercy shall surround him.
[00:23:19] We have a promise from God that no matter what comes, we are not bridled by it.
[00:23:24] Amen.
[00:23:27] I held onto this verse like a lifeline.
[00:23:31] And slowly his word cut through fog.
[00:23:34] Truth steadied me and my feelings couldn't overcome me.
[00:23:41] I don't know about you, but sometimes life feels like a fog. Amen.
[00:23:45] Does life ever feel like a fog?
[00:23:49] Not for this guy.
[00:23:52] Tell him.
[00:23:54] Tell them about it. Sometimes life feels like a fog.
[00:23:57] You got to cut through it like butter and like a knife.
[00:24:01] Other times it seems so clear you're wondering when the rug going to be pulled out. It's too good to be true. But no matter what you're facing, sorrow shall not overtake you or bridle you with a bit, harness you down before we have mercy with God who surrounds us. Amen. Somebody give the Lord a hand clap of praise. Amen.
[00:24:23] But that's what the truth does. It steadies our feelings, hold the line of truth.
[00:24:31] I remember one time. Anybody been swimming in the ocean here in Australia.
[00:24:38] Most dangerous thing in the world.
[00:24:42] Jellyfish.
[00:24:44] That's all I got to say.
[00:24:46] Blue bottle jellyfish. What y' all doing? Stop it.
[00:24:51] Rips.
[00:24:53] Sharks.
[00:24:55] Everything that can eat you is in the ocean here.
[00:24:59] What y' all doing?
[00:25:01] And then y' all got rips. And so think about it. Those lifesavers, they get out, they look.
[00:25:06] I think we'll put a flag here.
[00:25:09] Oh, yeah. We'll put the other one right over here. We'll just make everybody swim right there.
[00:25:14] Now, you believe that if you swim in between those flags, you're safe.
[00:25:21] But I get out there sometimes. When Josiah was little, I was like, y' all hold on to him. He keeps drifting away. Even though the flags are there, there's still a current trying to pull you out of safety.
[00:25:35] The truth is, in between the flags, you're safe. Outside the flags, you're not. But that doesn't mean danger's not in between the flags when you become a Christian. I got sold the cherry bowl, too. I got sold it, too. Everything's going to be good when you come to Jesus. Liars.
[00:25:56] All of a sudden, all my problems were present.
[00:25:59] You know why? Because I was sober.
[00:26:04] It's been harder with Jesus. I just wish I could go back to the Bar. Well, in the bar, you wasn't thinking about your problems because you was one bottle in and two bottles out.
[00:26:13] Amen.
[00:26:14] But when you come to sobriety, you're now facing every problem you're avoiding.
[00:26:21] When you come to Christianity, everything that crippled you, everything that stopped you, everything that tried to delay you, you can now overcome with the power of Jesus Christ. But stay in between the flags.
[00:26:38] Amen.
[00:26:39] That is the word of God.
[00:26:42] Turn to your neighbor and say, stay in between the flags, man.
[00:26:54] Some of y' all need to do it naturally, too. Okay, going out at 5:30 in the morning like little mermaids.
[00:27:03] How do we do that? Read God's word daily, live God's word and pass it on.
[00:27:10] Not only do we hold the line of hope and hold the line of truth, but we got to start holding the line of unity.
[00:27:16] You want to be storm proof?
[00:27:18] You want to make it through any challenge? Hold the line of unity. Quit looking around and saying, if you would have prayed in the service, Jesus would have moved in my life.
[00:27:26] If they'd just sung one more chorus of that song, I'd have been better.
[00:27:32] If Pastor Kyle would have shook my hand, I wouldn't feel rejected.
[00:27:40] Well, Claire and Patty would like to talk to you.
[00:27:47] Amen. No, I'm kidding. Philippians 1. No, I'm not. Philippians 1 and 27 says, Stan, me and Jeremy just gonna pray for you over here.
[00:27:56] Philippians 1 and 20, and Tina's gonna love you. Philippians 1:27 says, Stand firm in one spirit, striving together as one. Faith of the gospel.
[00:28:06] Unity isn't optional. It's our strength. Why do you think Christianity is so divided with opinion, Covid? It wasn't that hard for the enemy to rush in and politically divide us.
[00:28:18] Church politics. It's so easy. Why, I believe they should do communion every Sunday. I believe they shouldn't.
[00:28:23] Well, I believe you should pray this way. And I believe you should do that. Pastor, I think you should dress up before the Lord, because this is God's house.
[00:28:30] We all have all these insignificant opinions about what brings unity. But what brings unity is standing firm in one spirit only. Let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ.
[00:28:43] So that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of your affairs. That you stand fast in one spirit, with one mind, striving together for the faith of the Gospel.
[00:28:56] Next verse. And not in a way, in any way terrified by your adversaries, which is to them a proof perdition, but to you of salvation and from God, for to you it has been granted on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in him, but also to suffer for his sake.
[00:29:20] Stand firm in unity.
[00:29:23] How many of you remember the Black summer bushfires? 2018. 2019. 2020.
[00:29:30] I was watching footage, and actually we delivered water. I'll tell you about that in a second. To a town. I remember watching footage of people hosing off each other's homes, standing shoulder and shoulder against the flames.
[00:29:42] They couldn't have survived it on their own, but united, they held the line.
[00:29:48] I also remember driving a van, I think. Caitlin, you were with us, right? Did you go down on that trip? Yeah. I remember driving a van with a pallet of water down to this little town.
[00:29:58] You know that stuff that they dropped, that pink stuff that they dropped to put out the fire? It had got into their water reserves. They couldn't even take showers.
[00:30:07] They couldn't even drink water. Needless to say, the town stunk. I'm just kidding.
[00:30:12] I'm kidding. I'm kidding. I'm kidding. It didn't stink, but the fish were dying. Everything was dying. They couldn't drink water. They couldn't drink from the fountains. So the only water they could drink was from out of town.
[00:30:23] So we loaded up this van with thousand, I don't know how many gallons of water. It was dangerously heavy.
[00:30:31] And another vehicle. And we drove down there, and everybody said, you shouldn't go. We drove through fires, and we were safe. We got there, we delivered it to the town. We talked to some farmers, went to a school, gave water bottles, gave water jugs, and it was amazing.
[00:30:47] We were all happy. But we started coming back and Google Maps did us a favor.
[00:30:54] We took a left turn because we were supposed to be avoiding something.
[00:30:59] And it. I don't know if you know these trails, but they took us on a mule path. Do you know what a mule path is?
[00:31:05] It's just wide enough for a buggy and a mule. And I had this hot. This high French van that was big. I'm looking over a ravine this way, and I'm looking at fire this way.
[00:31:17] And I'm not talking about looking at fire from afar. I'm talking about we could reach out and touch it.
[00:31:23] But we kept saying, press through. We've got to press through, or we're gonna be stuck in this fire. We kept driving through. We got to the bottom of the hill. We stopped at a rest stop. We all got out, and some of the kids went off, you know, teenagers. And they were just like, yeah, we made it.
[00:31:37] Me, I snuck over to the side and almost kissed the ground because no one actually knew how dangerous it was. One wrong move, we'd have went off in a ravine.
[00:31:48] One wrong move, we'd have been stuck in a fire.
[00:31:51] But we held the line of faith and we kept encouraging each other to keep going forward.
[00:31:56] Church alone, we're vulnerable.
[00:32:05] Together we're unstoppable.
[00:32:10] Think about that round 30 friends you got.
[00:32:13] There's 12 rounds in a boxing match, but think about that round 30 friend.
[00:32:18] That person, when you're dead dog tired is saying, keep going.
[00:32:25] Think about that verse you hold onto. When everything else is like, I ain't got nothing else in me. But we're about finished. We're about past the line. The deal's about done.
[00:32:35] Everything is about to be finalized. We're about there. That's when the enemy comes in and tries to break up unity with strong opinion.
[00:32:45] Somebody will come in with strong opinion, say, I don't think you should do that, or maybe even unforgiveness. Living in you is not allowing you to move forward in unity.
[00:32:56] I think they learned about this in Freedom in Christ on Wednesday night.
[00:33:00] Get the notes. It was a good one.
[00:33:05] Unity is the one thing the devil will attack the most.
[00:33:10] World champion teams will lose championships because they lost faith in each other.
[00:33:20] When I was fighting, if I lost faith in my corner or saw that my corner lost faith in me, I knew I'd lost.
[00:33:27] But as long as everybody in my corner was still shouting, you can do it, I believed it.
[00:33:33] You have a host of heaven shouting, we've already won.
[00:33:39] You have a host of heaven saying, command the angels. We've given you authority. Pray. You have a host of angels, and if we combine together, we're unstoppable. Ecclesiastes 4:12 says, A cord of three strands is not quickly broken. Unity doesn't mean we're all the same.
[00:34:01] God knows we ain't.
[00:34:06] Religion tries to make you a cookie cutter of the same thing.
[00:34:10] I'm not like other pastors, as you can possibly tell, praise God.
[00:34:17] I'm not like other Christians because I'm not trying to prove that I am one. I'm just being one. Whether you see it or not.
[00:34:25] I don't need to approve to you that I am one. I am proven by him and he that lives in me.
[00:34:32] Amen.
[00:34:35] Unity doesn't mean we're the same. It doesn't mean we're the same race or from the same country.
[00:34:40] Same color of skin, same denomination even.
[00:34:47] It means we fight for one another, not against each other. It Means we cover each other's weaknesses.
[00:34:56] The saddest thing in church is when people start exploiting other people's weaknesses to prove that they know God better.
[00:35:06] The moment you do that is the moment you know God less.
[00:35:12] God is not about exploiting your weaknesses. He's about strengthening them and causing you to be stronger.
[00:35:19] Say this with me. We stand stronger together.
[00:35:25] So how do we do that?
[00:35:27] Forgive quickly, encourage someone and show up.
[00:35:37] Sometimes people get the wrong opinion about you.
[00:35:41] They take your words out of context, but they don't really know what you've said.
[00:35:47] Offense is a killer of friendship and a killer of unity.
[00:35:54] But when you're not offended, you're willing to ask questions and talk it out.
[00:36:00] The amount of people that have left the church in the 25 years of ministry, not just this church, but the body of Christ and I've been a part of, they've left over because where you were looking around the room and you weren't smiling. Honey, when do I smile unless I'm telling a joke?
[00:36:15] If I'm thinking I have this face on, try getting a photo with me.
[00:36:21] What did you call me yesterday?
[00:36:24] Smug butt.
[00:36:27] She was like, hey, take a picture. I'm driving. So I did this.
[00:36:32] And it was an ugly picture. And then she said, smile. It looked like this.
[00:36:39] Give all of you a look.
[00:36:40] It looked like I'd been smacked with a bug.
[00:36:45] I don't smile.
[00:36:47] I laugh, but I don't smile.
[00:36:50] I have joy, but I'm not always smiling. People will leave by what people have left me over what I've looked like. How A handshake or something I said in a message. Maybe you're gonna leave now because I smiled at you funny, you know. But if every opportunity you just offended in leaving, you're never having the opportunity to unify and heal.
[00:37:13] God is calling us together, not just so we can confront each other's weaknesses. It's so that we can grow and heal.
[00:37:20] If every time somebody walks in the door, we go, oh, that's a prostitute.
[00:37:25] Look at how she's dressed.
[00:37:28] Look at him. He thinks he's special.
[00:37:30] They had big muscles.
[00:37:33] If every time we criticize and judge one another, we. We're not living the truth and opportunity that Jesus brings to us. And we can't hold a line with nobody standing next to us.
[00:37:44] So you said, why would you preach this on Father's Day?
[00:37:47] Because I hold the line in a spiritual battle with my heavenly father.
[00:37:52] My fathers are not here.
[00:37:53] My fathers, you said, I have a stepfather, went on to be with the Lord from a staph infection. And I have a natural father that went on to be with the Lord that died of a heart attack.
[00:38:06] I said to Patty the other day, it's hard to miss somebody you never missed.
[00:38:10] I didn't know Father's Day would be hard.
[00:38:13] They weren't present.
[00:38:15] How do you miss somebody you never missed? Well, you do.
[00:38:18] But then God came in and said, I'm your heavenly father. Ephesians 6:13 showed me the gift that God gave me as my Father. Therefore, take up the whole armor of God that you may be able to withstand the evil day. And having done all to stand, stand, stand. Therefore, having girded up their waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace.
[00:38:45] Huh?
[00:38:48] I'll be honest.
[00:38:58] There's been nights I felt discouraged that I didn't want to pray.
[00:39:05] Then I whispered scripture, greater is he that is in me than in the world.
[00:39:10] First John 4:4.
[00:39:13] And even though I didn't want to, and even though I couldn't utter the words, and even in those dark hours, with all that I could utter was scripture, God shifted me because I uttered the word of God from my mouth. I chose him over my pain. I chose him over money. I chose him over fame. I chose him over anger. I chose him.
[00:39:35] We're in a spiritual battle.
[00:39:40] Our truth holds everything together.
[00:39:43] Our shield blocks every flaming arrow.
[00:39:47] And our sword, the word cuts lies into pieces.
[00:39:51] I was thinking of Jeremy's father. And I'll close here.
[00:39:54] You know what a fire break is? Anybody a fireman here? You know what a fire break is? Yep. I was thinking about those guys that go out in the bushfire season in 20, 19 and 20, and recently, even fire crews cut wide, wide, wide gaps to stop flames from consuming everything.
[00:40:13] Fire's coming.
[00:40:16] They prepare, not worried about what they're losing, but stopping it where it is.
[00:40:23] Can I tell you something? You want to be storm proof?
[00:40:25] Stop seeing the fire coming and begging for it to stop.
[00:40:30] Start digging. Wide fire breaks with prayer.
[00:40:35] Wide fire breaks with scripture.
[00:40:37] Wide fire breaks with faith and unity.
[00:40:42] And even if the flame comes, stand shoulder to shoulder, hosing each other's houses down, saying, we're going to get through this.
[00:40:51] You don't have to crumble in fear. You can stand in faith.
[00:40:56] James 4:7 says, resist the devil and he will flee from you.
[00:41:01] Hmm.
[00:41:07] Declare it with me. I will stand my ground in Christ.
[00:41:13] I had a father look at me and said he'd never love me. Again.
[00:41:17] Said, I adopted you and I can disown you.
[00:41:21] Fathers are the most damaging people.
[00:41:24] And I decided I would not be that father.
[00:41:31] Sitting there this morning, oh, am I about to get gushy.
[00:41:37] Sitting there this morning, I couldn't have been more proud of the quiver, the arrows in my quiver.
[00:41:44] I sat there and watched my oldest son make jokes. When it got serious, I watched my middle son pull out his wallet like a badge of honor.
[00:41:53] I watched my youngest son make jokes and just continue to make jokes. But he was just wanting the morning to be good.
[00:42:03] But if I'd have focused on what was bothering me in this day, I couldn't have seen what was in front of me.
[00:42:11] Holding a line is not always because it's good or because it's bad.
[00:42:16] It's about reflecting and seeing what God is doing.
[00:42:23] When Alex got married. Now, hold with me for a second. Don't get mad at me.
[00:42:29] You'll understand. I thought, I'm losing my best friend.
[00:42:32] I'm losing my little buddy.
[00:42:35] I'm sorry. She's a better friend than you. I got. I gained a buddy.
[00:42:40] She came over and she was doing her tie. She's like, hey, how are you?
[00:42:45] Smiling, bebopping.
[00:42:48] Definitely better attitude than him.
[00:42:51] He's too much like his dad.
[00:42:53] Amen. Nah, I'm kidding, son. No, I'm kidding. I'm kidding. When I thought I lost a friend, I gained a friend.
[00:43:01] It's all about perspective.
[00:43:05] It's all about how you look at it.
[00:43:07] You can look at it with faith, you can look at it with purity. You can look at it with holiness, but it's all about how you look at it. I look here this morning and I see a beautiful family.
[00:43:17] Blessed are you, sir, with your family.
[00:43:22] If Jeremy was sitting here right now, I'd say the same thing.
[00:43:25] But your dad's a pretty awesome guy, isn't he?
[00:43:32] I knew he'd chime in from somewhere.
[00:43:36] Can I talk to you for just one second? As we close, we're getting ready to invite Patty up to make a couple of announcements.
[00:43:45] I'm going to do a corporate prayer, but I just want you to bow your head and close your eyes right where you are. I'm going to make this day really simple.
[00:43:53] Ah.
[00:43:54] Whether you've been flooded with good or flooded with bad, if today you've said, I want to know this Jesus, that helps hold the line, can you lift your hand right where you are and say, I want to receive him into my heart.
[00:44:12] Thank you, brother.
[00:44:14] Anyone else? Thank you.
[00:44:16] After you do this, this will be the last time.
[00:44:22] This will be the last time.
[00:44:25] You don't have to redo it each week.
[00:44:29] This is it.
[00:44:30] Pray this prayer with me, everyone. Father, I thank you for your son Jesus, who died on the cross for me, saw me as I am and said, I love you. That when I was a sinner, you died for me. You accept me into your kingdom right now in Jesus name I am born again.
[00:44:57] I am saved.
[00:45:00] I am beloved and loved by Jesus. Give the Lord a hand clap of praise for the two of you that raised your hands. Welcome to the family.
[00:45:15] Amen.
[00:45:20] And maybe today has been a significant day. Maybe you came here not knowing what to expect and you felt God tugging on your heart. Let's just pray one more prayer. I'm gonna make it real simple on you. I'm not gonna make you move. But if you could just lift your hand, I won't come talk to you afterwards. I won't bother you. I'm gonna leave you with Jesus. But every head bowed and every eye closed.
[00:45:39] If you can say today that this message has given me strength. This message is what I needed.
[00:45:45] And I'm going to apply this. Holding the line of hope, holding the line of truth, holding the line of unity, holding the line in spiritual battle. If you're going to start holding the line for Jesus in your life, can you just lift your hand right where you are? Thank you for the hands. Thank you for the hands. Thank you for the hands.
[00:46:04] Father, we thank you for each and every person underneath the sound of my voice. I thank you that it's Father's Day, but I thank. You know, Father, I forgot to say something. Happy Father's Day to the Father of all of us, heaven and earth.
[00:46:19] We thank you, Jesus for your love and your guidance. It's in Jesus name we pray and we all say Amen. I'll turn it over to you, sir.
[00:46:28] 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.
