Episode Transcript
[00:00:00] Welcome to the World Changers Church Gold Coast podcast. Join us as we listen to today's message.
[00:00:05] Amen.
[00:00:09] Oh.
[00:00:13] Man.
Man, oh man, oh man. I'm excited about today's word. We're in a counterculture series.
And, wow.
Last week we talked about an explanation of kingdom culture and what kingdom culture emphasizes.
[00:00:33] So a kingdom is Christ centered, not
[00:00:37] Man centered, not I centered, not. See, because in some Christian cultures, we can begin to worship self and what we receive from God more than the giver.
[00:00:51] Amen.
[00:00:52] And so Christian culture is not an emphasis on self.
[00:01:00] It's an emphasis on Jesus and his people. It's community driven, not individually driven.
[00:01:07] Amen.
[00:01:08] And it's about what can we do together?
[00:01:12] How can we help these people? And we talked about how kingdom culture is biblical truths over worldly ideologies.
Now, the funny thing about the lifestyle I'm on, it can actually be found in the Bible. It says, eat like a king in the morning, hallelujah.
Like a prince in the day, and like a peasant at night. Unfortunately, I sandwiched that with king and king, amen, so that I don't lose too much weight.
[00:01:48] But even the way we lose weight.
[00:01:51] And are fit and are healthy can be found in the Bible. It's when it's centered around vanity.
You know, like I asked someone the other day who told you you had to have a six pack because in some countries you'd be a king.
[00:02:04] Amen.
[00:02:05] And then kingdom culture is about living in holiness and love.
And holiness is a word that needs
[00:02:14] Explanation today in church, because it's not.
[00:02:16] A word we use a lot.
[00:02:18] We are in a TED talk Christianity, where we're talking about finding your tribe and get with your people and find, you know, you belong here.
[00:02:28] And holiness is you can find your people easily anywhere in the body of Christ when you walk in holiness, if they're walking in holiness, because what is holiness?
Holiness is a set apart, people that have purposed their life to live for God.
[00:02:44] Amen.
[00:02:45] Does that make sense?
And so we've decided to live for God, set apart from the way the world lives.
[00:02:55] Isn't that awesome?
[00:02:57] So we learned that last week and.
[00:02:59] I thought it was pretty good. I got excited. I told you about traditions and things like that.
[00:03:03] But this week we're going to talk.
[00:03:05] About something that may get in your cookie jar, which is living counterculturally.
[00:03:12] It's about a call to align with
Kingdom values instead of secular values.
[00:03:18] So there's a call out there to.
[00:03:20] Our lives to line up with Christ. Now, why should we do that?
Why do we need to line up with Christ?
[00:03:29] Anybody know?
[00:03:31] Different than the world we're called to be? Different than the world we're called to be? Pilgrims in a strange land we're passing through.
[00:03:39] Romans 12:1-2 talks about being transformed, not conformed, and to live this lifestyle by the renewing of your mind in Christ Jesus, to be a witness to Christ.
[00:03:54] It's the way. That's almost like Mandalorian. This is the way for all you Star Wars fans, you know what I'm talking about.
[00:04:03] But this is the way that we're supposed to live. And it's foreign because we're so tolerant.
[00:04:10] And accepting and coexisting in the church world today.
[00:04:15] But the reverse swing to that is being judgmental and bigoted and racist and
Everything else that we've got labeled inside of Christianity.
[00:04:26] So how can we be not of the world, not look like the world, but still be an example of kingdom?
[00:04:35] It's about following Christ. It's that simple.
[00:04:38] And so, in a world shaped by secular and traditional church norms, living as a Christian often seems like going against the grain. Like Jeremy and Michelle.
[00:04:48] Can I use y'all as an example?
I'm going to. It's just getting your permission so you're not mad at me later.
[00:04:56] Like, you come over to my house, and the living room is a nice, big tv. We're a tv watching family. You open up the mirrors in my bedroom, there's a tv.
You go into the office, there's a tv.
You go in the garage, there's an old tv.
You go to Jeremy and Michelle's, there's no tv.
[00:05:19] You're not gonna go watch Netflix over there.
[00:05:23] Amen.
[00:05:24] Because their culture is to say, I want to live a life outside of that. Now, that's their standard, and that's my standard. That doesn't make them right and me wrong. But what that means is, is God's leading us both differently. So I'm not talking about those things.
[00:05:41] I'm talking about the biblical truths, you know, living like hell on Friday, going out and partying on Saturday, and showing up on church on Sunday.
[00:05:51] That's not holy hands.
[00:05:54] That's.
[00:05:54] I need forgiveness, Jesus.
[00:05:57] Amen.
[00:05:59] And it's like, I know a lot of people today.
[00:06:02] They might have went to the club last night. Listen, Jesus loves you, and so do I. I'm not here to banish you either.
[00:06:08] But what I'm here to say is, if we want to become fruitful in Christ, there's a separation that's got to happen from the world.
[00:06:17] Amen.
[00:06:18] Does that make sense?
So some secular and traditional cultural norms can influence the course of our lives. It's like they're shaping our decisions and how we navigate challenges, but they're ultimately really not determining our destiny. They're changing our trajectory, but they're not shaping our destiny. Does that make sense? These beliefs, whether shaped in fear, doubt, or, you know, past experiences, or fear of missing out, are really just temporary detours.
They're holding us back from potential, of steering ourselves in the direction that Christ has for us.
[00:06:59] All right, let me put it personal here. You ever been in a relationship and you got out of that relationship and you said, I really learned a lot of things from that, or you ever had that relationship where you got out of it and said, that was just a big waste of time, hallelujah. I'm still married, folks, so I ain't talking about Tina.
I'm probably talking about the girl before Tina.
[00:07:21] Amen.
[00:07:23] You're just like, man, I didn't really get none of that. It was just a big waste of time. It was just a detour for what God has for you. For me, it was Tina.
[00:07:32] Amen.
[00:07:33] Some of these things that are in your life right now are just detours and distractions to what God has for you. And it's because these detours are aligned with secular values. They're accepted by everybody around you, but they're not leading you to what God has for you.
[00:07:50] Amen.
[00:07:51] Come on, somebody.
[00:07:53] Come on, somebody. Sometimes the Bible says when a man finds a wife, he finds a good thing. It didn't say, when you find a pretty thing, you found a good thing. It says, when you find a wife and so forth.
[00:08:08] Is it for men? You know, it's like there is a difference.
[00:08:12] Pretty may be shiny, but ugly on the inside.
Muscular may be nice to cuddle up to, but feed you nothing.
[00:08:20] Emotionally, God has something for you that's going to fulfill your spirit, soul and body, not just your lust.
[00:08:29] Amen. Amen.
[00:08:31] Does that make sense? These are the things I'm talking about. Sometimes there's a trajectory change. It's just a detour to where God's taking you. Somebody say, God's changing my direction.
Look at your neighbor and say, God's changing your direction.
And for all that, didn't say it. Well, repent for your rebellion.
No, I'm kidding.
[00:08:56] I'm not that guy. We're not in a catholic church. May the power of Christ compel you.
If you only knew.
If you only knew.
God is wanting to determine your destiny. But you got to let go of the fear of missing out of what the world has to offer.
[00:09:16] Amen.
[00:09:17] So our destiny is ultimately shaped by deeper forces. Faith, perseverance, and willingness to grow and change.
Our destiny is shaped by greater forces that are found in God.
[00:09:33] Faith, hope, trust, the things that we know we have.
And perseverance, the ability not to quit halfway through. How many of you quit halfway through? See, the world's just handing out trophies for everybody gets first place. I'm sorry, I didn't come from that generation. I want my first place trophy. Ninja that didn't even play just can sit on the sidelines and clap for me.
[00:09:58] Amen.
[00:09:58] I don't want. What is that? What is that award?
[00:10:01] What do they call that award?
[00:10:02] Participation award.
There's a plenty of Christians that getting a participation award today but ain't gonna.
[00:10:10] Have no rewards in heaven.
[00:10:22] Listen, you don't get paid for participating and clocking in and sitting back and going, I'm here, boss.
You get paid for showing up, clocking in, doing the work, finishing the work, and getting done.
Now, even though, even though Christianity is not based on your works, it's on his works, you still gotta have enough faith to move.
[00:10:44] Amen.
[00:10:46] I just don't think I need to pray because Jesus provided it all. Well, you just believe you don't have.
[00:10:51] To go to the grocery store and stay hungry.
[00:10:55] Everything in the New Testament faith is founded on relationship.
[00:11:02] Amen.
[00:11:03] Not traditions, not rituals. Blow your shofar, dance in a circle. Do what you want to do. I'm Jewish, too. It's a great amplifier to worship, but it doesn't bring Jesus down anymore because.
[00:11:16] Jesus is sitting on the throne of your heart.
[00:11:20] Amen.
[00:11:21] Thank you Jesus, sitting on the right hand of the father, but he's also on the altar of your heart.
[00:11:27] Amen.
[00:11:29] So anybody afraid of, like, missing out is holding back from their potential and steering their direction, and they don't line up with their true purpose.
A lot of Christians are worried about.
[00:11:41] I can be that way on Sunday, but Monday, you know, if I talk like that, they're going to think that I'm just a holy roller. You know, they're going to think I'm weird.
[00:11:52] Listen, I am weird.
[00:11:55] You were weird before you met Jesus.
[00:11:58] Your weird has just been amplified by Jesus.
Listen, if you're a businessman, you're not a better businessman. You're just an integral businessman because of Jesus.
Listen, if you're married and you invited Jesus into your marriage, you didn't make your marriage better between two people. You just invited Jesus to amplify the holiness of your marriage, the set apartness of your marriage, that you're not going to let anything else into your marriage but Jesus.
[00:12:25] Amen.
[00:12:27] Am I making sense here?
[00:12:29] So, our destiny is deeply, deeply rooted.
[00:12:33] And guided by our faith, our perseverance.
[00:12:36] And last thing, our willingness to grow.
[00:12:42] Well, you don't know what my daddy did to me, honey. You don't know what my daddy did to me.
Ambushed me every Saturday morning like it was Vietnam. Cause I didn't get up and mow. Leave the mower out in front of the window. I go out there to start mowing, and he's coming out like a Vietnam vet.
[00:12:58] I told you to be up like sergeant, like a drill sergeant. And when y'all were watching cartoons, I was splitting wood. You don't know what my daddy did to me. And if we all live in what daddy did, we're never going to see what daddy did for us through Jesus.
[00:13:15] Amen.
[00:13:18] And we're living in so much past trauma, but you can't just sweep it up underneath the rug.
[00:13:26] You got to talk to somebody, you got to get counsel, and you got to be discipled in the way to move forward, how to properly grieve, how to properly believe, and what to do with what's happened to you, and how to focus your faith towards a better place.
[00:13:43] See, I'm not a Christian that just says, well, just pray about it.
[00:13:46] I'm a Christian that says, pray about it seek wisdom so that you can overcome.
[00:13:51] Amen.
[00:13:52] Does that make sense?
[00:13:53] Am I making sense here today? So, I got a bold statement for you about a call to align with kingdom values. You ready?
[00:14:02] I'm gonna read it. While beliefs may guide your trajectory in the moment, it's your choices guided by purpose and grace that will ultimately define where you end up.
Life is always changing.
And if you don't know how to slip and move and find the different angles to what life is throwing at you, you're gonna be stuck getting hit.
You got a change in the movement. You got to move away from what life is throwing at you. But you got to be guided by purpose, grace that will ultimately define where you end up. You win when you follow Jesus.
[00:14:46] Amen.
[00:14:47] You can slip, duck, and roll the devil all day long, but if you ain't looking to Jesus for the next move, you just going to get knocked out.
[00:14:54] Amen.
[00:14:56] Am I making sense here?
[00:14:58] So, while beliefs may guide your trajectory in the moment, it's your choices guided.
[00:15:05] By purpose and grace that will ultimately determine where you end up.
So it's this FOMO that gets us most times. See, as an early on Christian, I thought I had to be at church every time the doors opened. I'd apologize to the pastor if I didn't show up. And as a leader, most of you think you gotta be here every Sunday. Yes, you do.
Anyway, anyway, let's just keep moving on. But that fear of moving, of missing out, is based on trends, success, and pleasure that the world offers to create tension within our Christian life.
[00:15:42] See, right now, there's a trend happening in Christianity to be controversial. There's a trend happening in Christianity to be overly accepting. There's a trend happening in Christianity. But that's the religion. That's not the belief.
The Bible didn't change because God didn't change.
[00:16:05] We need to realize that trends will come and go. I mean, man, I've had this haircut since 1992.
[00:16:12] You know what I'm saying?
[00:16:13] I've got this weird cowlick in the back, you know? You ever notice how my hair just does this? Like, it's like a. You know what I'm saying?
[00:16:20] It just sticks up in the back.
[00:16:22] If I let it get too long.
[00:16:23] I know. Cause some of y'all stare at it. Look, did he just not decide to comb his hair this morning?
[00:16:28] But I've had this haircut since 1992. Guess what. It's come in and out.
[00:16:34] Your hairstyle's so out of date and dated. You got such a dad haircut. You're so domesticated, too. Oh, my goodness.
[00:16:40] Your haircut is just like all those 22 year olds. Pastor, you're meeting the mold.
No, I've had this haircut since 1992. If anything, they're following me.
Amen.
Trends come and go.
Fashion comes and goes. I mean, in 1998, we had Mark Wahlberg as the Calvin Klein model.
[00:17:05] Now we got Sumo as the Calvin Klein model.
[00:17:09] It's weird.
It's weird because trends come and go. Who told you you had to be skinny? Who told you you had to be, that you were obese? Who told you that you're not making enough money? The Bible even emphasizes that in Genesis, when the fall happened, they hid from God. And God says, where are you, Adam? And he jumps out and says, we were hiding from you because we're naked. And God's response was, who told you that?
Who told you that you had to live to the standard you're living in right now? Who told you that your philosophies that you're shaping your whole life and thinking around were exactly right? Was your mommy, your daddy? Them in the commercial? Was it politics? Who's telling you how to live, you and God or you and everybody else?
[00:17:56] Amen.
[00:17:58] Because while you're trying to keep up with the Joneses, you're going to go from waistline ten to two to 20.
You understand what I'm saying?
You're going to go up and down your whole life and you're never going to know who you are. This is not about looking like Christ. This is about accepting your identity in Christ.
Amen. Too many Christians are just following somebody else with somebody else's thought. And if their beliefs are challenged, they don't even know why they believe that way.
Counterculture is to know who you are in Christ, to know why you're doing the things, because you have faith, perseverance.
[00:18:34] And willingness to grow.
[00:18:36] Is that good?
In a culture that today that celebrates instant gratification, self promotion, and a pursuit of worldly success, the desire is to be a part of the fast moving wave of what's current and that can tempt us to compromise our faith.
[00:18:53] I remember when texting came out.
[00:18:56] That's how old I am for some of y'all, it's just what you were doing since you were born.
[00:19:01] But I remember when texting came out.
[00:19:03] I mean, we used to do it on a beeper. Like, we just, you know, like, what was it?
[00:19:06] 07734.
[00:19:09] Turn your beeper upside down. Hello.
[00:19:12] Amen.
[00:19:13] I was of that age, so I remember when texting came out and, you.
[00:19:17] Know, before it was like, just glide and swipe, and it was actually push a button, like an actual button.
[00:19:23] I was so against it since 2009. Some of you were born then, and I just. I was never going to text. And everybody's texting and nobody's calling each other anymore.
[00:19:34] And I'm like, I guess I'll just text.
Phrez knows I can call him 20 times in one day over a few things.
[00:19:41] Cause I don't like to text.
[00:19:43] Amen.
[00:19:45] But I've had to accept the way the world's moving in the areas I need to.
[00:19:50] But that didn't change prayer. I'm still talking to God with my mouth and my heart, not my thumbs.
I'm still talking to my wife face to face. Because I don't let texting replace the intimacy of relationship.
[00:20:02] I don't let it shape how I do my relationships.
[00:20:06] I've just realized it's a vital business tool.
[00:20:10] Do you understand what I'm saying?
So no matter how the world changes, we cannot compromise our faith because that fear contradicts the call to live like Christ.
And you know who asks us to seek the kingdom, his kingdom first, not to be conformed to patterns of the world. Do we got Romans 12:2? Timmy, do we got that one? Yep.
[00:20:36] Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is, his good pleasure and perfect will.
[00:20:52] When you decide to live an alternative way to the world, you are testing, does God work?
[00:21:00] Amen.
[00:21:00] And then you shall approve. I know that God works, Glen, in his testimony this morning is a test. And approved. Now, he may have done it perfect. He may have cried at night. He may have punched a shower wall. He may have even slipped off the wagon. I don't know what you actually went to to arrive where you are, but God was faithful in that story, and now he has a testimony that is approved by God's will and is pleasing and perfect because it has been shaped by the word of God, not shaped by the world.
[00:21:33] Amen.
[00:21:35] Oh, my mama used to say when she was religious, but it's still a good phrase, you know. You know, that old, you know, everybody's jumping off a bridge with you, too. No, she used to say, just cause it's good to you doesn't mean it's good for God.
[00:21:49] Amen.
[00:21:50] So when we focus on what the.
[00:21:52] World offers, we risk losing sight of our eternal purpose.
[00:21:57] What are you here for even coming to church? You know, if church is just routine, go to church on Sunday. Happy clappy. You know, I'm here to get filled up and celebrate Jesus. This is. I can't get all I need from God right here. On a Sunday, I got to go to a Tuesday, I got to have devotion on a Monday, I got to wake up for worship for Wednesday. Thursday, I got to thrive. And Friday, I just gotta say, Lord, just thank God it's Friday, and get me through Saturday so I can get to church.
I'm celebrating what God has done for me. But this moment is not enough.
This hour and 30 minutes of church is not enough. Does that make sense?
So if I want to grow in God and I want to be willing to change, I got to learn how to reject secular culture with boldness and grace.
[00:22:56] Amen.
[00:22:57] With boldness and grace. So bear with me for a moment. Rejecting secular culture requires both boldness and grace as we navigate a world that often promotes values contrary to God's kingdom.
So we've hit one value this morning.
Francis Chan was quoted saying about worship that I can't stand people that come in and say, I didn't like worship today?
[00:23:23] Well, his response to that was, when did we start worshiping you?
[00:23:27] We're not doing this for you. We're doing this for God.
[00:23:31] I'm not preaching to make you clap.
[00:23:32] Or say, good job, pastor. I'm ministering because I want you to be heaven ready.
[00:23:37] Amen.
[00:23:39] I want you to know how to resist the traps of the enemy that are out there in the world and the pitfalls and the things that will detour you to what God has designed for you. How many are tired of detours?
[00:23:52] How many are tired of delays?
Okay, three people.
[00:23:56] I'm going to preach to y'all the rest of the time.
[00:23:57] Come on. How many are tired of detours? How many are tired of delays. If you have no detours and delays in your life, praise God. Can you pray for the rest of us?
[00:24:10] Amen.
[00:24:11] Because I know that even though I confess with my mouth and I declare, and I know that God said, because I'm in this world, I will be persecuted in this world.
[00:24:21] And if I live in this world offense will challenge me. There is something against me at all times trying to change my trajectory.
[00:24:29] Amen.
[00:24:31] So I've got to handle this with grace and boldness in God. Boldness is needed to stand firm in our faith, resisting the pool of materialism, self promotion, and moral relativism. You know, that's like, I want to be relative.
I don't want to fluff anybody's feathers.
[00:24:52] I'll tell you something.
I married Tina. I didn't marry you.
If you don't like how I live, you don't like what I say. Praise Jesus.
You don't have to be here.
You do not have a divine appointment here.
What you have is a call and a purpose that Ephesians 4:11-14. We are here to equip that.
We're here to engage that. We're here to empower what God has for you.
[00:25:24] Amen.
[00:25:26] We're not here to tell you what to do. We're not here to say, if you don't come to church, you're going to miss what God has for you. God is in your life seven days a week, and church is a celebration of who God is.
[00:25:37] Amen.
[00:25:38] We got to have boldness to resist self promotion and relativism and dominant secular cultures. Listen, we live in an Onlyfans world.
[00:25:51] I'm gonna talk about it. Churches don't. I might as well be one that does.
[00:25:57] Can't even go to the beach no more. Find me a family beach, Jeremy.
Find me one.
I mean, I'm just trying to say, did we get confused of bathing suits and dental floss?
[00:26:14] I can't believe you said that, pastor.
[00:26:17] We need to look at the world.
[00:26:19] We live in and say, this is what I'm not going to be a part of.
[00:26:24] If it means I got to go up to Rainbow Beach 3 hours away to find me a family place to go sit on the beach and enjoy the sun, that's where I'm going to go. I'm not going to use excuse. Well, you know, Burleigh's just 30 minutes away.
[00:26:37] It's the closest beach. I'll just look up the whole time.
[00:26:39] No, you don't, Joker.
[00:26:40] Praise the Lord.
[00:26:44] Pastor, what are you getting on about? There is strong hypersexuality out there right now. Women want to be curvy and men want to be six packed. There's so much pressure to be perfect visually. Listen, if your heart ain't good, there ain't nothing good about you on the outside.
[00:27:01] Amen.
[00:27:04] You can work out, you can eat right, you can look good and you can look good in everything you wear. But if your heart ain't right and it's not set apart with holiness, you're going to be trashy and you're going to have lips with honey on them. That's all you're going to be.
[00:27:18] Amen.
[00:27:23] Where are you going, pastor?
We got to start living this.
We can't just be Bible thumpers. We got to be Bible livers.
[00:27:34] Amen.
[00:27:36] Women. Praise the Lord. I'm not going to get on that soapbox unless you tell me to, God.
Okay.
[00:27:42] I can't. You know, you go to the gym and there's always that one woman wearing nothing that gets mad at you for looking.
I was just working out and you walked by.
Why don't you change what you're wearing if you don't want nobody to look at you? Do you understand what I'm saying? If this is making you uncomfortable, I'm sorry, but these are the things we got to deal with.
[00:28:01] And if you're that woman and you get into the culture of wearing those little spandex with the little knit right up the back, listen to you.
[00:28:08] Stop wearing that stuff.
If you gonna keep wearing it, stop complaining. When men look at you, and men, if you're gonna go into the gym and compare yourself to every man in there, you're in pride.
That is not the culture of heaven.
We're too visual.
We are way too visual about where God's taking us. We're too visual about, look at how much is in my bank account. Look at where I live. Look at the car I drive. Look at how I look. We're too visual. God's looking at none of that. He's looking at the intents of the heart.
Where's your heart at?
Where is your heart at?
Hmm?
[00:28:50] But we're also called to do this with grace.
[00:28:53] See, I do this in here because I love you.
[00:28:54] But this is not how we're supposed to talk to everybody. You ain't going out the door like that. I can't believe you showed up in a gym where.
[00:29:00] No, we're not supposed to judge everyone.
[00:29:04] We're supposed to manage ourselves with Christ.
[00:29:07] And be an example and a witness to who Christ is in us, not force everybody to be like us. That's not rejecting secular culture. That's being accepted in church culture.
[00:29:19] Amen.
[00:29:20] Is this making sense today?
[00:29:23] Because we're supposed to reflect Christ's love and humility as we engage with others, instead of adopting the posture of judgment and hostility that most Christians do, we embody grace and living out our convictions with kindness, compassion, and understanding. That the goal is not to condemn.
[00:29:40] The world, but be the light within it.
It's easy to come up here on Sunday, but, man, who are you on Monday?
Just take a look at that. I'm not here to condemn you. I'm here to ask you to have.
[00:29:53] A change of heart and mind of who you are tonight.
[00:29:58] Can you look in the mirror and be a doer of the word and not just a hearer? God's calling you to be happy with you. Women.
[00:30:06] Can I tell you something? You don't need me to tell you. I'm just some old dude.
[00:30:10] But can I tell every lady in here, you are a precious jewel.
You are the most beautiful thing that God created. Men.
Men.
[00:30:20] You're handsome.
Okay?
[00:30:28] Yeah. Strong in body, strong in mind, strong in back. But I just don't have eloquent words for men right now. But you are God's warriors. You are designed to be great in God.
[00:30:40] Amen.
[00:30:42] But if you keep comparing yourself to everybody in the world, comparison is the robber of joy.
If I look at what Jeremy's got and say, oh, I don't have that, then I'm going to be robbed of my joy, because I'm now comparing myself to Jeremy.
[00:30:57] But if I look at what God has in Jeremy, I also know I have that in God, and there is no comparison but to Christ and I have all my needs supplied to me according to his riches and glory. We can rejoice together, no matter our social status, no matter how much money we got in our wallet, no matter where we live, no matter who we are. It doesn't matter what you look like or where you're from. You have all the riches of heaven stored up in you.
[00:31:23] Amen.
[00:31:24] Is this good?
[00:31:26] So we need to approach it and embody grace with living out our convictions with kindness and compassion.
[00:31:33] The balance of standing firm in truth while extending love and grace allows us to reject secular culture without aligning ourselves with it.
That's how you draw people towards hope and freedom found in Christ, instead of the chaos that is ultimately the rest of the world's.
Can I ask a few questions? Is your life a roller coaster sometimes? Nobody even has to raise their hand.
Have you seen my Telstra bill pastor Kyle?
[00:32:09] Is your life a roller coaster sometimes? We don't like to talk about it. But can we?
[00:32:13] Can we try?
[00:32:13] Can we try? True freedom in Christ, that sometimes life has its ups and downs. But what is the one constant thing in your life? Jesus, what brings you back to center every time? Jesus, what helps you get up from your lows and ride safely from your highs? Jesus, what keeps your marriage together? Jesus, what helps you forgive your friends when they talk bad about you, gossip about you, put something on social media about you, and then come back and say, I love you? Jesus, what happens when somebody stabs you in the back, but you still love them? Why? Because of Jesus. When your marriage is about to fall apart and you're about to get a divorce, why did you stay together? Jesus, why did you choose to leave your home? Because you were being abused and you're staying there for the kids? Jesus. Cause he said, you can leave, honey.
[00:32:58] Ooh.
[00:32:58] Did I say that in church?
[00:33:00] Oh, Lord.
[00:33:03] There is a reason to leave.
But if we listen to church culture and secular culture, we're never going to find the reasons that the Bible talks about to find direction in our lives. Cause everybody has an opinion.
[00:33:18] Everybody do this. (touches nose)
[00:33:20] I know it's gonna be weird. Like little kids. I'm sorry to treat y'all like that.
[00:33:23] Do you got a nose? Look at your neighbor and say, you got a nose. Now watch this.
Everybody in here has a nose, and everybody in here has an opinion.
[00:33:32] That's a lot of opinions that's gonna try and direct your life. Find out what the Bible says, what God says, and listen to the one opinion that you should be comparing. Every thought, everything too, amen, listen.
[00:33:49] Amen.
I want to pick on some people, but I'm not going to. I'm having fun. Y'all. Y'all have no idea what I'm going through.
[00:33:58] Amen.
[00:34:00] But to reject secular culture, we have to have kingdom generosity over materialism.
Man, I can tell somebody that loves Jesus is when their wallet's open. I'm not talking about giving to the church. I'm talking about being in Zaraffas and feeling like you need to buy somebody's coffee. I'm talking about being in a grocery line, and you're seeing that one person, and they're hitting the card and every card, and it's declining, and you just feel this. Let me pay for that.
You know what I'm saying? I'm not talking about paying for the bills of the church. That's nice and helpful. Thank you for doing it. I'm talking about kingdom generosity over just building up something for yourself.
[00:34:50] I'd rather have my little $600 Apple watch than any other watch in the world.
[00:34:57] And I like my little.
[00:34:58] Yeah, I know. I like my little Mitsubishi Triton, even though I want a Ford Raptor.
[00:35:05] Amen.
[00:35:06] But I gotta live within what God says he has for my life. He didn't call me to that life. He called me to a life of stability.
I'm content.
Cause I've been "po" not able to afford the "r".
See, some of us have been poor.
I've been "po".
Mama couldn't even afford the beans to go in the noodles. So we were poor. And then somewhere along the line, she met my stepdad. We were able to afford the "r", but we couldn't get out of the average. It wasn't until I met Jesus that my life got abundant.
[00:35:46] I've had money flow through me like water.
[00:35:49] And people say, Kyle, why do you give so much away? Because it never was mine. I know what it's like to be without it.
And I know how to store some up for myself, too.
[00:35:58] Amen.
[00:35:59] But materialism, when it's all about you.
[00:36:04] You've gotten locked into secular belief systems.
[00:36:08] The world constantly promotes the ideas of success measured by wealth or riches, status and possessions. Yet God kingdoms teaches us a radical, different perspective. We are called to be stewards. Listen to this. Of the resources that God provides.
[00:36:24] When your money ain't your money, listen.
[00:36:28] I ain't giving y'all no money. Don't get excited right now. I got something like 100 and some odd 150, 60, 70.
I know you don't. I'm not giving it to you.
[00:36:42] $180.
Now I can look at that and think, man, I only got $180. Well, I can look at that and see that's God's measure for me today.
You know what I'm saying? I can look at that and I can say that is not the end of my wealth because I have provision from God's resources that I'm a steward over.
And so I may only have $180 in my wallet, but I know God's got more for me because he's sending me opportunities so that I can be a sower, not an eater.
He's sending me opportunity for promotion so I can be a financier instead of a borrower. He's sending me opportunity and wisdom so that I have power to create wealth instead of just focusing on my little $180.
This ain't nothing but a sip in the cup to what Jesus has for you.
[00:37:37] Amen.
[00:37:39] Jesus has the more for you. Do you believe it? Give the Lord a hand clap of praise.
Whoa, there's more in there.
[00:37:49] Praise the Lord.
[00:37:50] I got $280 now. Praise the Lord.
That was not a trick.
[00:37:55] I don't even know how that got in there.
[00:37:57] Praise the Lord. Amen.
Multiply it, Lord, multiply it.
Somebody out there, that's this prosperity gospel.
Can someone go to John 10:10 for me please, real quick?
[00:38:13] We're not going to pull it up.
[00:38:13] Can someone go to John 10:10?
Prosperity gospel is something that people created so they could fund their ministry. That is not what we're about here. But God called you to be abundant.
You're living in a desert mindset. A desert provision mindset. God, give me what I need for today or you're living in a poor mindset. Listen to what John 10:10 says. What does it say? I'm gonna get close.
[00:38:42] Audience Member: You want me to say it?
[00:38:43] Yeah.
[00:38:44] Well, you say it.
[00:38:45] Say it loud.
[00:38:47] Audience Member: The thief does not come except to steal and to kill and to destroy. I have come that they may have life and that they may have it more abundantly.
[00:38:56] I have come.
[00:38:57] We'll dub that in, right? We'll put that in so everybody can hear during the podcast.
[00:39:01] But did it say that I came to give you eternal life later or did it say I came to give you a good life now and abundant life?
So God has multiplied your natural right now reject secular mindset that defines your wealth by what you have in a bank account. Reject that and say, God, I have value.
I am a precious jewel. I am a king's kid. And what I got today, I know God's going to multiply through opportunity, promotion and wisdom, I know that I'm going to go further than where I'm sitting right now. I am not happy with what I have right now. I'm not looking to prosper for self. I'm looking to have the promise that the word of God says that I have. That is not defined by what I see, but is defined by his promise in me.
Come on, somebody.
Well, you know, I'm just renting a room, and I don't even have a car.
[00:40:08] And.
[00:40:12] I'm just renting a room. I don't even have a car, and I barely can pay my light bill. And I'm always worried about my phone bill.
When you begin to see that you're not storing up for yourselves.
[00:40:23] Matthew 6:19-20.
[00:40:25] Keep that going.
Storing up for yourself treasures on earth.
[00:40:30] But store up for yourselves treasure in heaven.
[00:40:33] Do not store up for yourselves treasure on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.
But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.
[00:40:49] Lord Jesus, Lord Jesus.
[00:40:53] We're storing too much opinion. We're renting too much space in our minds to places that are not, that are unredeemed thoughts. We got too many philosophies that are of the world. We got too many heart postures that are based off of individualism versus community.
We need to realize that. First Corinthians 12:12 says, just as the body, the one has many parts, but all its many parts.
[00:41:24] Just as the body, the one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body.
[00:41:28] So it is with Christ.
[00:41:33] We're not in this by ourselves.
We're not alone.
[00:41:37] Listen, this morning I had three brothers pray for me for what I'm walking out in my life right now.
[00:41:43] I got ten family members in North Carolina that are presumed dead, missing.
And I just said, Lord, let's pray.
[00:41:52] I found out this morning, and it just rocked me like a showboat, it hit me so hard. And then one of the boys asked me, he said, how are you not mad at God? Because I know God didn't design the catastrophe, but he has designed the outcome.
[00:42:07] Amen.
[00:42:11] Secular thinking says, well, if he's God, why did he let it happen? Well, if he's God, he knows a way through out and over what people that were trying to play God did.
Y'all know what I'm talking about?
So my heart may be heavy, but my hands are high.
[00:42:41] I said, my heart may be heavy, but my hands are high.
Some of you need to realize the Bible says, do not let your heart be troubled.
[00:42:58] My heart may be heavy, but my hands are high. Oh, my Jesus.
Could anybody worship with me right now?
[00:43:12] Secular mindset will find somebody to blame.
[00:43:16] Secular mindset will try and point the finger.
But Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, they looked at Nebuchadnezzar and said, even if God does or doesn't come deliver us from this fire, I know he can.
[00:43:31] And even though I believe they worshiped right up to the time they were thrown in. And then guess what? In the midst of a fire, a fourth man appeared to look like the son of God.
Even the guards fell dead because of the heat of the fiery furnace. But you know what? I may be facing the hottest, hardest time in my life right now, but there's somebody standing in the fire with me. Secular mindset says give up. Secular mindset says, get triggered. Secular mindset says, get offended. But my God said worship.
My God said worship because I'm a part of a community.
I'm a part of a community of heaven, and I'm a part of a community of God. I'm not alone.
Some of you are walking out things in your life, and revival wants to take place from those dead thoughts, those dead thoughts that say, nobody cares about me. Nobody talks to me, nobody prays for me. Well, honey, you got to just lift your hands up.
You got to worship God and say.
[00:44:35] God, I know you're for me.
[00:44:38] Listen, when my dad died, my stepfather died, I could be bitter, I could be angry. I could be all these things. But you know what? I gotta posture myself to say, God, whether you did, whether you do, whether you don't, I know you can. I'm gonna walk right into this fire knowing that there's a promise there's a.
[00:44:57] Fourth man in it with me.
[00:45:02] Secular mindset says, back up. Give up. Stop going to church. Stop worshiping. Don't turn on the worship. Put on Diddy or Drake. I don't care about those things.
People talking so much about Diddy right now, I'm like, I don't even know who that is, don't even really care.
My kids are making it a joke around the house.
[00:45:24] We need to be talking about Jesus.
We need to be talking about Jesus.
Lord, help us worship right now.
Help us those that just fell into carnal mindsets over a small slip of the tongue with a name, help us slip back into you right now.
[00:45:48] I believe today is a turnaround for a few people in here. Can you stand to your feet?
You know, sometimes I say I don't feel what other people are feeling in church. I'm just doing what I'm supposed to do.
That's because you're looking this way.
You're looking at everybody around you and trying to find what you need to do here. You just need to close your eyes, open your heart, and say, Jesus, show me how to reject my own thoughts and take them captive and just worship you.
Somebody in here, just like Glen, you've had a diagnosis. Some of you have lost finances. Some of you have lost family members. Some of you are making major decisions in your life, and you have anxiety about it. Can I tell you all your fears, all your worries, all your what ifs, half of them, 93% of them, won't even come true.
You can't worry money into the bank account, and you can't cause vengeance on somebody just because how angry you, angered you are.
[00:46:59] But what you can do is move out of those heart postures and receive.
[00:47:04] What God has for you.
[00:47:05] So, father, right now, as we worship.
[00:47:09] Can somebody, just as they lift their hand, can you one, can one of you put one hand up and the other one just help hold the hand of the person next to you? Help lift up their hand in worship?
Grab ahold of their hand, not just their elbow, grab ahold of their hand.
Come on.
Come on.
Moses was fighting the greatest battle of his life, and every time he dropped his hands, it seemed like Israel would lose. And then his brother and another mate came up beside him and said, we're going to help you, worship, can I tell you something? That what you're fighting right now, that there's somebody right next to you that will help keep you worshipping?
[00:47:51] Secular mindset says, I don't want to know anybody, let anybody know, because it's failure. It's this, it's that. No, it's not failure. It's the beginning of your success, when you can grab ahold of somebody's hand next to you and say, will you help me worship?
[00:48:05] I need your faith added to my faith right now.
Father, we just thank you right now as we pray for each and every believer.
See, their shoulders are getting tired.
[00:48:14] Push them up.
[00:48:15] Come on, help them.
[00:48:16] Some of you are stronger than others. Some of you are stronger than others. Us old people got injuries.
[00:48:21] Come on, push them up.
Father, I thank you.
[00:48:27] I thank you for my family members being found.
I thank you for bank accounts getting promotions to fill them up.
I thank you for contracts signed, homes secure.
I thank you for finances, full houses you did not build and wells you did not dig.
I thank you for the abundant life that you promised because secular mindset will tell me if I didn't work hard for it. I don't get it. Well, God, you put favor on my life, and I'm going to do all that I can do knowing that you're going to take my natural, make it supernatural and make that abundant in my life.
I'm not afraid to believe you, God. I'm not afraid to believe you, God. I'm unashamed of the gospel.
I'm not ashamed of this good news. I'm not going to let the secular world, Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, the news, shape my mindset anymore.
[00:49:22] I want to believe you, God.
[00:49:23] So I worship.
I worship.
Thank you for bodies healed, minds freed, hearts healed, forgiveness given.
Thank you for salvation right now in the name of Jesus.
[00:49:41] 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.
