Before and Behind— October 10, 2021: full transcript and answers

▶ 0:01 Bible says that it is good David said it is good to be in the house of the Lord amen Joshua he spent time in the house of the Lord all of our wonderful people in the Old Testament they made it a priority to be in the house of the Lord amen and God met his people in the house of the Lord he he explained his word in the house of the Lord so I encourage you today it is good this morning to be in the house of the Lord I was explaining to the kids on Friday night where two or three are gathered in his name there he is in our midst and he is in our midst this morning amen so let we invite you this morning we’re going to get started with worship so let’s stand and uh worship Jesus together this morning. Amen well let’s praise him this morning we thank you.

▶ 0:56 Morning Jesus as we come into your core. Thank you. Worship your Lord. We love you we love. You thank you Jesus.

▶ 1:57 Lord today we thank you that your house is a place where everyone is welcome Lord those that are wayward those that are lost can come right into your house and be a part of your service today we thank you Jesus. Wandering into the night. Wanting a place to hide this weary soul. This bag of bones. And I tried with all my might. But I just can’t win the fight I’m slowly drifting. A bag upon. Oh.

▶ 3:04 He picked me up he turned me around he placed my feet on solid ground I thank the master I thank the savior because he healed my heart he changed my name forever free I’m not the same I think the master I thank the savior I thank God. My doubts are burning. Like ashes in the wind. So so long to my old friends. Burning and bitterness you can just keep it moving.

▶ 3:59 No you ain’t welcome here. Oh from now till I will walk the streets of gold I’ll see how you save my soul this way our sun has. I. I thank God. Cause I met the master I met the savior I met God.

▶ 5:16 I met the master I’m not the savior. Hallelujah. I will arrive and the war is. I will rise.

▶ 6:34 Is. Foreign. Is. Foreign.

▶ 8:04 I’m not ashamed to proclaim his name I’m not ashamed to. Christ Jesus Christ is his name. Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ Jesus Christ. We’re not ashamed to. Prove the name of the Lord.

▶ 8:56 Jesus Christ Jesus Christ is his name. Jesus Christ Jesus Christ is his name. Jesus Christ Jesus Christ is his name so let’s proclaim the name of the Lord. Of Jesus Christ Jesus Christ is his name. Jesus Christ Jesus Christ is his name. Jesus Christ Jesus Christ. Of the Lord. We’re not ashamed.

▶ 10:06 Oh it’s not time to be silent don’t you dare hide to light there’s a world outside your window so don’t let it pass. Don’t you dare. So don’t let it pass. Praise the Lord.

▶ 11:27 It go. Is. Can you hear the generation. Getting louder over time. Is. Letting his name.

▶ 13:02 Can you hear the generations. Getting louder over time. So. Praise the Lord. I.

▶ 14:40 Oh. Tribe and every nation save Jesus. Let us. So don’t let it.

▶ 15:48 Praise the Lord. World outside your window so don’t let it. Pass to the sky. Oh.

▶ 17:24 He is. Is. Is. S. Is.

▶ 18:41 Has prison. Every time. Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ.

▶ 20:14 One day every day. Still the greatest. Is. Time to give. On. Just.

▶ 21:17 Just. One day every time. Still the greatest. Now. Just as.

▶ 23:17 Jesus. Oh. You are gone. Still the greatest treasure remains foreign. Now is.

▶ 24:25 Now is. Heart. Thank you. Lord Jesus when you were on the earth God people were always wondering what is going on who is this man they’re always asking who is that man.

▶ 25:36 All these people Zacchaeus and the lady with the issue of blood they were all wondering who are you. And God Lord when they pressed in to know you to find out who you were they found you are the king of kings and the Lord of lords. Jesus God I pray for such a desire. In the hearts of our country in the hearts of the people in this land and hearts and people’s church God Lord that we would not be satisfied with knowing you from afar off the Lord Jesus but coming close to you like Zacchaeus he invited you into his house God the woman with the issue of blood she touched your garments Jesus I pray Lord that we would get away from being distant from our God and Lord Jesus known you face to face Jesus God we pray Lord for desire for a new way to come Jesus Lord where people are not satisfied we ask this in your name in your precious name everyone said amen.

▶ 26:47 We’d like to thank you for well I’m sorry I’d like to thank you for joining us this morning we’d like to welcome you. And. We want to remind you of how important it is in in God’s word how important the God’s house is and his word. And the Bible says where two or three are gathered there he is in our midst so important the house of God is and we’d like to welcome you and thank you for joining us this morning those online we want to thank you for joining us and we ask that the spirit of God would get through the internet. And be able to touch you with his word and with his presence God can do it we are gathered this morning for him this morning we’re going to talk about behind and before or the past and the future what was behind and what is before you.

▶ 27:41 Philippians chapter 3 verse 12 it says not that I have already attained and he’s talking about the resurrection of the dead and this is Paul writing this he’s talking about how he has not. You know resurrected yet he’s not in heaven yet I’ve not attained it or am I I’m not also already perfected I have not come to completion you know it’s okay God wants to bring us to completion if you’re a Christian today God’s goal is to bring you to completion just like he was trying to bring Paul to completion to perfection it’s the same word don’t be afraid of becoming complete. And we’re not there yet we’re working on it but we’re heading that way and the steps to completion. Ephesians chapter 1. You he made alive who were dead in trespasses and sins you see you start out maybe you’re dead maybe you don’t believe in God at all maybe God and his kingdom is foreign to you but Jesus by his word like he called out Lazarus from the grave Lazarus was dead he was he had dead bones around him he was in darkness and Jesus called him he said Lazarus come forth.

▶ 29:00 And Jesus has called all of us forth out of trespa. Out of being dead in trespasses and sins so if you’re a Christian today and you’re dead in trespasses and sins or if you’re not a Christian today and you’re dead in trespasses and sins God has a solution for every step in his advancing of you he wants to bring you out of that if you’re sick in John 5:12 Jesus came to the man who was lame and he said take up your bed and walk and Jesus said you have been made well sin no more lest the worst thing come upon you what I want us to understand here is you may be in the spiritual hospital maybe you’re spiritually sick Jesus has the power to heal you out of that hospital and he also has a prescription to keep you out of the hospital and we all love the doctor’s orders right especially in 2021 right whatever the doctor says we follow not really.

▶ 30:06 But Jesus had the power to heal him to bring him out of that sickness and he also gave him a prescription to say hey this is how you can keep away from it and what is that prescription sin no more so simple right I mean you can go online watch videos of these guys for hours just explain your psychiatric mess and get the motivation I need motivation. Jesus says it in three words this is the prescription that you need. Discipline first Corinthians. 9 verse 27 I discipline my body and bring it in to subjection Paul he disciplined himself to go from being someone who was the chiefest sinner in the Bible to someone who was proclaiming the word of God and helping grow the church into a place of maturity powerful powerful.

▶ 31:02 Example and sometimes you know we are good in disciplining in this area but not in disciplining that area you know we have our areas you’re good at disciplining yourself to get up to go to work which is a good thing it’s biblical to go to work. But maybe you’re not disciplined in another area but God you know even though we don’t like discipline it is necessary and you got to grow into that and we’ve all experienced that amen. And lastly maturity. Simeon he was just and devote devout. The Holy Spirit was upon him for my eyes have seen your salvation I want to explain this real quick Simeon. Was a just man a devote man and he was stirred by the spirit to go to the house of the Lord because Jesus the baby Jesus was going to be there.

▶ 32:01 You see he was stirred by the spirit to go see Jesus that says the spirit was upon him before Acts 2 came out and before all the spirit was poured out on everyone this man Simeon had God’s spirit he was coming to a place of maturity in his life my eyes have seen your salvation he got to pick up Jesus look him in the eyes and he saw the salvation of God. And he knew it was Jesus Christ I mean nobody around. Jesus knew that this baby would be the son of God that this baby was the savior but Simeon knew and you see that’s that maturity he had come to a place where he was much coming to maturity. He had passed he had disciplined himself he was just and devout and see that’s where God wants to take us he wants to keep bumping us up if right now you are in a place of discipline.

▶ 33:05 He wants to add to your discipline if you are in a place of sickness he wants to heal you that he’s got solutions for every stage and he wants to keep pushing you bringing you higher leading you higher that is his goal. So going back to Philippians 3 verse 12 not that I have already attained. Or am already perfected but I press on this is Paul talking that I may lay hold of that which Christ Jesus is also lay hold of me now I want to talk about this word press on here this word press on is the same word in the New Testament used for persecute. The same word that Jesus said to Paul. When he stopped him and said why do you persecute me and persecute means or the word the greek word is follow after why why are you coming after me and what is very interesting is Paul was once pursuing God for harm God’s people for harm but now he is pursuing God to find him to know him to be changed by him and to serve him and that is a powerful change and God is asking us.

▶ 34:24 This these words here lay hold of take hold of me see Paul was trying to get a hold of God get a hold of God and see that’s so important sometimes we focus on possessing Christ’s possessions. And not Christ himself. Paul was trying to lay hold and possess Jesus himself and that is imperative for everyone stop going after what Jesus has and start going after Jesus himself. The man. And he also says Jesus has laid hold of me you can bet. Something. I’m horrible at idioms. You can bet your life at Jesus Christ. Wants you Bible says we are his inheritance the reason why he stayed on the cross because he hung there even though he had the power to be taken off of the cross he had the power for his angels to come and relieve him he had the power he stayed there because he wants us we are his inheritance he wanted to possess and purchase his people.

▶ 35:44 All side tangents but this is good Philippians 3:13 one thing I do forgetting those things which are behind and this is what the American church has got to remember we’ve got to forget. Throw it behind us get it behind us forgetting those things which are behind. Jesus has forgotten it in Jeremiah 31:34 we have the new covenant I will forgive their iniquity he’s talking about us there us the new covenant the gent to the Gentiles I’m a Gentile we’re Gentiles the new covenant to us is that he will forgive our iniquity and we he will remember our sin no more he forgets it he throws it in the sea of forgiveness you’ve heard of the sea of forgetfulness God forgets it.

▶ 36:39 People like to bring it up. The Devil likes to remind you you like to remind you but God has forgotten it. And Paul he needs that. Saul was murdering people putting people in prison beating people and he had to come to Christ and God. He had a real experience of God forgetting his sin and what he did in his past. And you see that’s so powerful Paul you know he had this experience and we can have it too where God will forget. So let’s line up with Jesus let’s forget it put it behind you. Yesterday was yesterday today that says is a new day the day this is the day the Lord has made we rejoice and be glad in it amen.

▶ 37:35 And then he says and reaching forward to those things which are ahead are we reaching forward they write songs about this and they say why are you striving stop striving you know people you know this is a big thing that they tell you you shouldn’t be striving well what is Paul talking about he’s talking about reaching forward stretching out I mean. It’s not striving but it’s what we should be doing. We need to be stretching forward reaching forward. Not satisfied with where we are at but reaching forward and ahead to the things which are ahead. John the baptist was a man like that he reached forward to new things he was given a new message. And we’re going to be having a baptism today he was given a message of baptism of repentance he preached a message the scribes and Pharisees and religious were not interested in the new thing God was doing they were interested in their position.

▶ 38:36 Their money. And their power that they had from that. So to unders to expound on this scripture forgetting what is behind and reaching forward for what is ahead we’re going to look at the story of David and Absalom in second Samuel verse 15. And uh next time I’ll make sure to have the paper so you can fill it out um I’ll make sure to have that next time I know some of the young people like that and uh we’ll make sure we have it for you next time second Samuel 15 12. For now you’ll have to use your Bible and a notebook. The conspiracy grew strong in this story Absalom was David’s son and Absalom conspired against his father to take the kingdom from him and it’s a long story you can read all about it and that’s your homework for today second Samuel 15.

▶ 39:36 The conspiracy grew strong the people. Were oh the people with Absalom increased continually. And a messenger came to David saying the hearts of the men of Israel are with Absalom and David’s response was let’s get out of here arise and flee and it’s very similar to our day in America. You know for for some of us Christians are for many Christians where our hearts are not with Jesus. Our hearts are with a replacement of Jesus. And we want his kingdom and all his goodies David was you know they were living in a time of blessing we want his kingdom. But we don’t want him like we were talking about earlier how it is important that you possess Christ not just his goodies. And Jesus was saying and Jesus is saying if you don’t want me no problem.

▶ 40:34 If you don’t want me that’s fine and David is like oh we got to get out of here they don’t want me. But the problem is that God had anointed David king and God has anointed Jesus king Jesus is still in charge whether you want him or not. And if we want God’s blessing if we want God’s justice if you want his deliverance we have to come to a place where we serve the one rightful true king so when. David was fleeing or when he was leaving the kingdom he stopped off at a few different people and we’re going to look at these people and one of them was shimyai. In second Samuel 16 verse 6 all the people and the mighty men were on his right hand and on his left and Shimei said when he cursed come out come out bloodthirsty man you rogue.

▶ 41:40 The Lord has brought upon you all the blood of the house of Saul and whose place you have reigned. And. In the past messages I’ve mentioned how the Old Testament is an example of Jesus is coming and you can see some of the wording here in the example this is talking about Jesus. In mark chapter 15 verse 29 those who pass by blasphemes. And this is in Jesus day when Jesus was on the cross they blasphemed him saying save yourself come down from the cross come you bloodthirsty man likewise the chief priests also mocking among themselves with the scribes said he saved others himself he cannot save even those who were crucified him reviled him.

▶ 42:31 They also spit on Jesus they mocked him they hid him. And God is asking you today God is asking us today are you mocking Jesus are we mocking God I certainly hope not. And matt and Jesus’s reply in Matthew 26 was do you think that I cannot pray to my father and he will provide me with more than 12 legions of angels. And these angels are like the mighty men or like Peter Peter wanted to cut off he wanted he cut off the servants here you remember that. And uh if you if you do your homework and read the story of second Samuel 15 16. You’ll know that abhishey was next to David oh and he said David come on let me add him let me add him you guys remember that avishai he said let me go take off his head please it’s killing me.

▶ 43:27 And David’s like no no no no no calm down. But that’s exactly what’s going on here Jesus said to Peter hey cut it out right. So did these guys forget what was behind. Did Shimei forget what was the old thing no he was still hanging on to Saul he was still hanging on to his old the old kingdom he’s still hanging on to. You know tradition whatever it is and he wasn’t. Latching on to the true king the real king that was David or in our case Jesus Christ and God’s asking you the same question are you going to let the past behind and start reaching forward to the new king are Jesus Christ who’s always been king and he’s always been king.

▶ 44:24 Second Samuel verse 16 chapter 16 verse 4 and this has to do with Mephibosheth he was one of the people that David stopped to see and the king said to Ziba the the um the servant of Mephibosheth I’m sorry it’s hard name to say and he said where is your master’s son and Ziba said he is staying in Jerusalem for he said today the house of Israel will restore the kingdom of my father to me and Mephibosheth. If you don’t know he was shown grace by David. He would. Frequently almost I think daily eat in David’s house eat bread with David. He was the son of jonathan he was Saul’s grandson and David invited him to eat bread at his table before all this went down.

▶ 45:26 And Mephibosheth. Abandoned the king. And I’m just we’re looking at examples here you know have we abandoned the can you look at these stories and you you try am I doing this in my life at least you know what not to do right you don’t want to be cursing the king you don’t want to be abandoning the king we don’t we don’t want to do that Jesus Christ my king abandoned him well people do it but we don’t want to do that. In John chapter 6 verse 66 from that time many of his disciples went back and walked with him no more. Then Jesus said to the twelve do you also want to go away so in Jesus day he had many disciples who had uh eaten the bread remember he fed the five thousand and the four thousand and those disciples kept following him and he got more bread for us oh you don’t have any bread for us you’re going into the wilderness see you later.

▶ 46:28 And that’s what’s happening with Mephibosheth here and that’s what we do God if things aren’t going good I’ll see you later when you come back and you got the goodies then I’ll talk to you and that’s not right we’ve got to follow Jesus where he’s going. Now we’re going to look at Hushai the Archite now again these are different people that king David met with as he was exiting Israel. And David came to the top of the mountain and he worshipped God and there was Hushai. The architect coming to meet him if you go on with me then you will become a burden to me but if you return to the city then you may defeat the council of Ahithophel for me I know this is a I’m sorry I’m getting this is a detailed kind of message here okay so you got to follow what’s going on.

▶ 47:22 So we have David. Who is the king we have his friend who is Hushai and I’m sure I’m not saying it right. And you have this guy Ahithophel right. And Ahithophel has he’s a traitor now he betrayed David he was once with David but he betrayed David right he’s a traitor and now he’s with Absalom his son. And Hushai is still the king’s friend. And he David sent Hushai go return to the city and defeat the council of the hittaphel. So Absalom is trying to supplant the king or to inspire against the king Ahithophel is giving counsel to the supplant the people trying to take over and Hushai is trying to defeat the council.

▶ 48:22 And fight for his friend. In John 8 chapter 44 chapter 8 verse 44. You talking to the Jews this is Jesus talking you. Jews are of your father the Devil. And the Devil what does he do he gives you counsel that is wrong he does. And the desires of your father you want to do the counsel of your father what your father is telling you you want to do their father the Devil is giving them counsel of what to do and of course Satan is wrong Luke 22:3 then Satan entered judas. A sir named iscariot. And we all know about judas right he betrayed Jesus Christ just like Ahithophel betrayed.

▶ 49:14 David king David. In Exodus chapter 31 11 the Lord spoke to Moses face to face as a man speaks to his friend. Moses and Elijah also met Jesus on top of the mountain when he was transfigured you remember that. And Jesus said in John chapter 7 verse 15 did not Moses give you the law the right counsel. Yet none of you keeps the law why do you seek to kill me you’re not keeping the law you’re keeping the counsel of Satan you’re following what Satan wants you to do. And very simply today. And this is sort of a tangent.

▶ 50:15 Just like Hushai was sent to defeat the council of Ahithophel God has given us his law to defeat the council of Satan you don’t need some cr you don’t need to go to psychiatrists and listen to hours of them trying to work things out with you you can go to God’s law. And God’s law in a few words will tell you the truth and when you follow that and apply it it will give you the answer that you’re looking for and I’ve heard these psychiat these people talking and they’ll talk for hours and they’ll talk back and forth and what they’re trying to say is that you need to follow this law but they won’t say that they won’t say that God has a law and it’s about one sentence and if you do that that will help you with this situation no but they got this story in this essay and this book right.

▶ 51:19 When all you had to do was just follow the sentence. That would solve the problem. That’s what God’s law is. Like and Satan is opposed to it. And Satan is good at twisting God’s word that’s why it’s important to know God’s word it’s important to know Jesus you see when you know Jesus he’ll help you out with this stuff when you possess Christ and somebody’s trying to mess with your uh twist God’s word you’re like wait a second now that doesn’t that doesn’t jive right you guys have experienced that. I also want to mention. The scribes and Pharisees decided to hand them over to Pilate.

▶ 52:17 From what I remember I think the scribes and Pharisees wanted to lay hands on Jesus they wanted to kill him kind of like in secret on the side they didn’t want to make it public. Who wanted to make it public. Jesus wanted to make it public actually Jesus wanted to fulfill scripture he doesn’t care about making he wanted to do what fulfill the scripture. He when he died on the cross his last words were what it is finished everything that has been prophesied about me all of these stories everything that was supposed to happen I have done it is finished. He had to be crucified. Jesus wasn’t going to settle for being stoned. He had to be crucified. You see Satan thought oh man okay well if we can’t get him stoned then we’ll crucify him and Satan thought oh man I got him where right where I want him I got the people right where she they walked right into his plan.

▶ 53:23 Jesus was where exactly where he wanted to be. And he probably that’s probably what he was talking about when he went up with Moses and Elijah you know how are we going to come we’re going to get them by doing this and this and then and that’s going to make it all happen just like it said right and he’s reviewing the the the Old Testament and he’s talking to Elijah when the prophets and what they said I I’ve worked it out I’m about I’m almost finished. They’re playing right into my hand. You see Satan’s not winning here Jesus won. Now. These are the examples that we want to follow are you ready. All right the first people that David speaks to when he flees.

▶ 54:19 The the throne he turns to his servants. And he says arise and flee and their response was we are your servants. We are ready to do whatever my Lord commands. Now I’m not in that place but I want to be like those servants. Where when Jesus said when Jesus says this is my command yes God I’m going to follow it no matter what. You know we want to grow into that place. Then the king went out with all his household you see he had to leave the comforts of the throne he had to leave the comforts of all this these goodies that he had and the servants followed him.

▶ 55:12 Without batting an eye I want to be like that. I want to be devoted like that. Are we willing to forget those things that are behind see going back to Paul’s scripture are we willing to forget what is behind even if it’s a wonderful thing Jesus should be on the throne he should be here but right now he’s going somewhere else he’s doing something else. Are we willing to reach forget what’s behind reach toward the things that are ahead. Leaving the status quo and doing whatever the Lord commands. Matthew 4 verse 19 he said to them follow me and I will make you fishers of men they immediately left their nets and followed him now we know the disciples were not mature at all.

▶ 56:09 But when he called them they stopped what they were doing and they followed him they had that big thing going for them and if you want to succeed in Christ if you want to succeed in God you’ve got to hold on to following Jesus Christ. Paul Peter denied him these guys they made mistakes James and John they’re like we want to be the we want to be the you know number two in your kingdom we want to be the best we want to be high you know they’re thinking about all these things and they got through it because they kept following Jesus. They abandoned him the sheep were scattered when he died on the cross they abandoned him but Jesus came back when he rose from the grave he came to them gave him a new spirit he did the work.

▶ 57:12 Even though they messed up again you see it’s important to keep following Jesus. And God is asking us today are we willing to follow him there are great examples you can go to the New Testament you can go to the Old Testament throughout your year when you’re reading the Bible you can see examples of people that were following God. And last you have these devoted foreigners. Second Samuel chapter 15 verse 18. All his servants passed before him the the pelothites and the getites. 600 men who had followed him from Gath does anybody know where Gath is.

▶ 58:08 Those are the philistines. Can you believe that there were a group of philistines. That traded sides. And. Fought for David. And David says why are you going with us return remain with the king for you are a foreigner and an exile from your own place he they were foreigners they were exiles from Gath they were exiles from the philistine people. You came only yesterday. I’m going to make you wander up and down with us today since I don’t know where I’m going. And what was their response. Second Samuel 15 21 it I responded.

▶ 59:04 As the Lord lives as my Lord the king lives in whatever place the king shall be whether in life or death there also shall your servant be. I mean talk about devotion. This guy he was not even related he was not part of Israel he was not an Israelite he wasn’t in the tribe of Judah he had no uh. Connection. Through. Forgetting the words he had no. Connection. Through he had no family connection. But still he was devoted to this man David. And I’m showing you here pictures of these uh this is ms-13 back when that was uh you know in the news and these guys they grow up and they are they don’t know anything about God.

▶ 1:00:07 You know. Nikki cruz. If you guys don’t know the story of Nicky Cruz he was one of 19 children he was born in Puerto Rico to witchcraft practicing parents. He was he grew up in the kingdom of darkness he is a foreigner to God’s kingdom right he suffered severe physical mental abuse by his parents he is exiled by his father to go live with his brother in new york. He was arrested countless times the psychiatrist said that his fate was destined for prison for the electric trail chair and hell. There was no hope for nicki. But nicky met David Wilkerson he beat him up he spat on him he threatened his life.

▶ 1:01:06 And one night he encountered Christ through Wilkerson’s preaching and he received a new heart and Nicky says that it was like the Holy Spirit hospital he he did surgery on me that night he went in my heart and he took out my heart and he put in a new heart that’s what he explains it was like I mean and that’s exactly what the new covenant is. I will take a heart of stone from you and give you a new heart. It’s exactly what. The new covenant says today he’s an evangelist author and reaching urban communities with the gospel and I’m just. Trying to remind you here through the scriptures that God no matter where you are at if you’re the hardest criminal if you’re the chiefest sinner if you are someone who grew up in church and you haven’t done anything bad in your life God is calling you higher.

▶ 1:02:03 God can bring you out from the deepest place God can take you from wherever you’re at and form you make you new but we’ve got to forget what’s behind and reach forward to the things that God has ahead for us. These MS-13 gang members. I read an article last night that they many of them went to prison found Jesus in prison. And I thought wow that’s powerful. Because they were. Jesus had what they were looking for they needed some love Jesus came with love and this is one of the guys that was changed. In prison they would come out.

▶ 1:02:56 And these guys gave their lives to Christ. It works God’s word works God’s not just his word but he backs it up when he comes like Nicky said that Holy Spirit hospital came and gave me a new heart Jesus does that. And that’s why it’s so important to be possessing Jesus and not hit the the side things that he has all these wonderful things that he has. Seek ye first Jesus Christ. Seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these things will be added to Philippians chapter 3 verse 12 again Paul says I press on. This one thing I do forgetting those things which are behind reaching forward unto the things which are before I press toward the mark of the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus God is calling us upward that high calling is in Jesus Christ it is not in his uh.

▶ 1:04:10 All the other little things it is in him it is not in his worship it is in him we have to possess Jesus. Whatever state you are in today Jesus is calling you higher whatever state you’re in next month or tomorrow or next week next year Jesus is calling you higher. God is asking us this morning are we reaching forward. Do we press toward the mark and with that we’re going to. I have a story. And a song. And we’re also going to have communion. So I want to invite you this morning. If you want to forget what is behind and reach toward Jesus the high calling this morning we’re going to sing this song together.

▶ 1:05:04 And excuse me for a moment. 150 years ago. Missionaries from Wales. Came to a head hunting tribe in northeast india. They were able to convert one man to Christ. And through this man christianity started to spread in the village.

▶ 1:06:01 From this man and his wife. And the chief found out about it was upset mad and he said renounce. Your faith or be executed. And this indian man. He composed a simple song. Which he sang. When he was brought before the chief. And he started to sing this song. And unfortunately the chief started to kill his family. And then chief would say again okay I’m threatening you again. And he replied. And he kept singing the song. And ultimately.

▶ 1:06:54 The man lost his life. But the chief was so moved by their family’s faith that he accepted Christ and the whole village after he had killed him. And this morning this song is a very simple song and in response to the message I’d like to invite you to stand and sing with me. I have decided. To follow. Jesus. I have decided. To follow. Jesus. I have decided.

▶ 1:07:53 To follow Jesus. No turning back. No turning. Back. The world behind me the world behind. Me. The cross. Before me. The world behind. Me. The cross. Before me. The world behind. Me. The cross. Before me.

▶ 1:08:46 No turning back. No turning back. Other heads bowed this morning. God is asking you this morning are you willing. To follow me are you willing above all things no matter what’s going on your life no matter what state of growth that you’re in are you willing to follow me. And this morning if you want to submit yourself to him and just recommit yourself and and say to God yes. And let’s just lift our hands together. And sing this as loud as we can as a commitment unto him I have decided.

▶ 1:09:40 To follow Jesus. I have decided. To follow Jesus. I have decided. To follow Jesus. No turning back. No turning back. We’re going to take communion this morning. As they pass out the communion. I want to remind you it says in first Corinthians. The Bible says whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup you proclaim the lord’s death until he comes.

▶ 1:10:41 Scriptures say this is the new covenant in my blood. Do this whenever you drink in remembrance. Of me. First John 2 verse 1 says if anyone sins we have an advocate with the father Jesus Christ the righteous. I’m going to ask mr kinser to pray for the cup this morning that God would bless it. Go ahead. That we can come.

▶ 1:11:52 Every day of our amen. Let’s eat the bread together. First Corinthians 11:24. Take eat this is my body which is broken for you do this in remembrance of me. And as he was praying we being many are one body in Christ. And individual members of another and I ask mr. Mr dega would you please pray for the cup this morning. Let’s drink the cup together.

▶ 1:13:08 You’re my Lord. I’m sorry. You’re my Lord. You’re my Lord. You have risen. From the dead and you’re my Lord. Every knee. Shall. Us cry.

▶ 1:14:01 Is Lord. Let’s sing it unto him you’re my Lord. You’re my Lord. You have risen. From the dead. That. Jesus Christ.

▶ 1:14:58 With my knees. With my knees. I conscious. That. Jesus Christ. Let’s take a moment right now. We’re going to take a moment in prayer just asking God. Committing to following him committing to. Bump up to the higher calling. No matter where we’re at no matter how old we are God wants us to keep going higher. So let’s just pray for ourselves right now lift up our voice and prayer Lord God we come before you this morning Jesus.

▶ 1:15:57 God Lord we pray Jesus that we would not be satisfied Lord with. Jesus all of the side Lord the sight orders that you have Jesus for us Jesus but God Lord that we would come and possess you Jesus Lord that would say like it says like Paul said that we would lay hold of you Jesus Jesus I pray Lord God that I would not go after the presence of the Lord Jesus after the king of kings and the Lord of lords. Jesus Jesus I pray Lord God that I would not go after all the goodies that you have the Lord go after you. Oh I love you.

▶ 1:17:00 And I live my voice. To. Worship you. Oh my soul. Rejoice. Take joy my king. In what you hear. May it be a sweet. Sweet sound. In your ears. Maybe. May it be a sweet sweet.

▶ 1:18:06 May it be a sweet sweet. In your ear. Let’s bless our God this morning we love you. Jesus. God you are great you are wonderful.

▶ 1:19:04 We worship you. We thank. You. Out. Rivers of waterflow. Joy. Be.

▶ 1:20:10 All my fears. Jesus. These. Their heads bowed ask someone to just lift up your voice in prayer in response or a public declaration of prayer just saying you know Jesus I commit to you following you. And closing. Through my life.

▶ 1:21:29 Today. Foreign. Amen. Hallelujah. Thank you Jesus. Hallelujah. Thank you Jesus. God you’re good. Thank you Lord. Oh Lord make me a channel. For the river of God. I’m gonna be a channel.

▶ 1:22:36 I’m gonna be a channel. For the river of God. I’m. Why. Why. So dig me.

▶ 1:23:31 Deeply and dig. Of God. Hallelujah. Amen. Thank you Jesus thank you. Those online we want to thank you for joining us we trust that you know now how you can get a new heart a new spirit a new mind in you that is the new covenant for everyone no matter who you are Gentile Jew wherever you’re from no matter how bad of a sinner you are Jesus Christ can give you a new heart a new mind we trust that God’s word has spoken to you and we trust that God will help you become a new creation in him thank you for joining us have a wonderful day.