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] Man, I was sitting there for a second and I had put this microphone on. I said, somebody with some small ears used this thing last. Hallelujah.
Ah, hallelujah. Well, I want to make an announcement before I get started with the growing church that we are.
We're going to be doing something in the next couple weeks to help out our mothers with bubs.
We've realized after last week's leadership meeting that the mothers need a place, and we're gonna create that space for them where they have their own space but still be in service with us. So we're gonna thank you for all the partners that take part of that and give to help make that possible.
[00:00:44] : Amen.
[00:00:45] : Give the Lord a hand clap of praise.
Now, I know it's Sunday.
It's been a long week.
You've settled in, the heat's on, it's comfortable chairs, you're happy, you're ready to chill. You're probably thinking about the UFC fight that you're not going to watch today.
You're probably thinking about your food, where you're going next. Or you may just be thinking, I'm ready to take a nap. If that's you this morning, I want to pray for you because we're going to wake you up. In Jesus name, we're going to share a message with you this morning. It's going to bring fresh insight. We're going to talk to you about divine nature, and I think today you're going to receive seven qualities that will not leave you guessing anymore about how to spiritually grow.
[00:01:31] : Amen.
[00:01:33] : One of the things I think about when it comes to spiritual growth is no one actually teaches us how to. They just talk to us about what we should be.
[00:01:41] : Amen.
[00:01:42] : I want to make sure today, as we're in the second part of this series, that we teach you how to grow. So welcome back to the Divine Nature series, part two.
[00:01:53] : Amen.
[00:01:54] : Did y' all enjoy last week?
Yeah. So last week we learned that our identity in Christ is grounded in God's power, our identity. If you're taking notes, write these things down. Our identity in Christ is grounded in God's power, defined by his promises.
Now, this will make it real clear and expressed by reflecting his character that.
Say that again.
We learned that identity, who we are in Christ is grounded in God's power, defined by his promises and reflected by his expressed character that is reflecting in us.
[00:02:36] : Amen.
[00:02:37] : So it's not about all that you do, it's about what he's done and is doing through you and in you. And it's about being in Christ to truly express your identity.
[00:02:48] : Amen.
[00:02:49] : And so, in other words, we are not.
In other words, we're not defined by the world's labels, our past mistakes or even present struggles. We are defined by the One who has determined our outcome and called us by his good nature and given us everything we need for life and godliness.
So in reality, we want to talk about today that knowing your identity is the starting point.
[00:03:18] : Okay?
[00:03:19] : The Christian life is not simply about just believing the truth. It's about living the truth. It's about the truth you live, not the truth you know, does that make sense?
I mean, you can know you're a millionaire and still be homeless.
You can have all the money in the bank in the world and never access it. And I feel like today that a lot of Christians don't access the promises of God through their identity because they never position themselves in the redeemed effort that we have in Christ, because we are in Christ. Somebody say, I'm in Christ.
[00:03:59] : Amen.
[00:04:00] : Are you really?
That's why Peter starts a passage in 2nd Peter 1:5 with the words, in view of all this, make every effort to respond to God's promises. Supplement your faith with generous provision and moral excellence. And moral excellence with knowledge. We'll stop there for now. I wanna look at what he first said. In view of all these promises, make every effort to respond to them.
In review of what you've seen, in review of what you've heard, in view of what you know, make an effort to respond to these promises.
Does that make sense?
Because God has already given us everything we need. We now must live it out with intentionality.
I'm not going to get ahead of myself. So with divine nature, listen to this. If you're taking notes, listen to this. There is a divine partnership.
[00:05:00] : Amen.
[00:05:02] : There's not just to sit back and do nothing.
There's not a do everything. There's not a earn to do.
There's not a do to get.
There is a be to do.
[00:05:14] : Amen.
[00:05:15] : You be a Christian and you do the things of Christ, but you're no longer trying to earn these things. But there is a response to the promises of God that produce fruit in your life. Does that make sense?
Okay, I'm gonna take my time today. We shouted last week and we're gonna learn today.
[00:05:35] : Amen.
[00:05:36] : So this means, when we look at this, that Peter says, supplement your faith with Generous provision and moral excellence. And moral excellence with knowledge.
This means growth doesn't happen by accident.
Oh, I stumbled into just becoming more like Christ.
You know, growth doesn't happen by accident.
You don't drift into spiritual maturity. You decide to pursue it.
So without a divine. Without first understanding these promises, without first understanding that your identity is in his power, your identity is. I'm gonna say this again, is defined by his promises. Your identity is expressed by reflecting his character. Without seeing and knowing that divine nature and also being in partnership with that divine nature, you will not produce the fruit of Jesus.
[00:06:34] : Amen.
[00:06:36] : You gotta come in partnership with Jesus.
That means.
I don't know.
It's like being married, you know? My wife says she wants to redo the living room. It's a great little bachelor pad spot. It's got a TV and a couch. That's all I need.
But she sees it differently, and I'm in partnership with her.
[00:07:00] : Amen.
[00:07:01] : And I'm not picking on her when I say this.
I'm saying that I may see it differently than her, but I'm in partnership with it. She has a better view of how my home will make people feel welcome in it because I will make my home just for me, my kids and my wife. And no one's welcome.
Two forks, two spoons, two knives, two plates, two cups, two mugs. And bring out the special plastic golden china when everybody else comes around.
But she wants to create space for other people to be welcome. And so, since I'm in partnership with her, I don't allow those things to happen. I agree with her for those things to happen.
[00:07:45] : Amen.
[00:07:46] : So when you're in partnership with Christ, there's things that you may not see as necessary, but. But they have a divine appointment attached to them. They have a divine purpose attached to them, and they have a divine promise attached to them. And if you'll just get in partnership, you will reap from all those things.
[00:08:04] : Amen.
[00:08:05] : Does that make sense?
It's kind of like this, guys. Think of it like this. Have you ever signed up for the gym in January? You know, we all have made a New Year's resolution.
Have you repented of making New Year's resolutions?
You better.
[00:08:20] : Amen.
[00:08:22] : You pay the fee, you get the key card, you even buy the new shoes and the new shorts.
Right?
You don't buy the new shirt because you don't want to feel shame that you're two sizes bigger than you were last year.
But you buy the new shorts, you buy the new shoes, and you're motivated in the first two weeks, you're getting in there. But March comes.
[00:08:43] : Amen.
[00:08:45] : The gym's still open, your membership is still valid, but you haven't shown up in weeks.
The result is no change.
Your Bible can be there, your church can be there.
It can be on your nightstand. I've got my Bible in my room on my tall boy. It's like a little dresser, right when I come in. It's right there. But if I never pick up my Bible, if I never read my Bible, there'll be no spiritual growth.
You can have everything you need around you and supplied to you through divine nature and God's precious and exceedingly great promises. But never access them because you never come in partnership with them. It's not that you're trying to earn them, it's not that you're trying to get in self effort, you just never step into them because you just said, I'm saved, I'm good to go. Got fire insurance. Hallelujah.
[00:09:44] : Amen.
[00:09:46] : We have got today to start realizing that many of us treat our faith the same way we treat a gym membership.
We've been given access to everything we need for life and godliness.
But if we don't show up, if we don't pursue growth, we remain unchanged.
[00:10:04] : Amen.
[00:10:05] : That's exactly what Peter is addressing in our passage today. You know, I've been thinking about me preaching recently and when I used to preach, I would have a very bulldog face, just brrr. You know, just I'd be very. I seem to be smiling a lot when I preach now. Did anybody notice that I have more joy about my. It's because I'm enjoying ministry and there's positive change happening in me because I'm preaching what I believe. I'm not preaching what appeases. I'm not preaching what'll make everybody comfort.
No, no, no. I am preaching from the spirit of God and his Word. And I love that.
[00:10:40] : Amen.
[00:10:41] : And I want you to know that I'm not coming here today to make you feel condemned.
If you feel convicted, it's because you see something you want to change in your life, not because, oh my God, if I don't change this, all doom's gonna happen.
That's not what's happening today.
But if you want to see change, if you want to see that divine nature activated in your life, if you want to operate in more joy, if you want to operate in more brotherly kindness and gentleness, you got to get in divine partnership with Christ. And I'm going to explain that a little more as we go.
[00:11:15] : Amen.
[00:11:17] : So Paul writes in Philippians 2, 12, 13. Now, if you're a word lover, we're going to add some word today. If you're not a word lover, you're going to get choked on the word today.
[00:11:25] : Amen.
[00:11:26] : We got a lot of scriptures. So, dear friends, you always follow my instructions when I was with you. And now that I am away, it is even more important. Work hard to show the results of your salvation. Obeying God with deep reverence and fear. For God is working. Here's the point. For God is working in you, giving you the desires and the power to do what pleases him. Notice the balance here.
Now, many people can read that and say, I've got to work hard to show my salvation. I gotta brr. Pray an hour a day. I gotta brr. Be a.
And you gotta. You know, then it just. You ever seen those angry people when they talk about the Bible, you gotta intercede. I'm like, you gotta slow down and quieten up and look happy because I don't wanna do nothing. You're saying.
You ever seen somebody just telling you about what you gotta do in God and they just look so angry?
Yeah, I don't wanna follow that.
I wanna follow somebody that has fruit in their life of the salvation of good news, which means if it's good news, there's positive change happening in me. Amen. But look at the balance here. We work out what God works in.
[00:12:40] : Amen.
[00:12:40] : You ready? I'm gonna say it again. We work out what God works in.
It is not self effort. Listen at this. It is not self effort. It is spiritual empowered cooperation.
[00:12:55] : Amen.
[00:12:55] : It's not about what you do. It's about you saying, God, I see what you've done and I am coming in spiritual empowered cooperation with you, knowing that in you I can do all things and you will supply.
I can do all things through Christ that strengthens me, and you will supply all my needs according to your riches and glory. Does that have anything to do with you other than spiritually empowered cooperation?
[00:13:25] : Amen.
[00:13:26] : Is this good?
[00:13:27] : Amen.
[00:13:28] : So Paul himself testifies in First Corinthians 15, 10.
[00:13:33] : Amen.
[00:13:34] : But whatever I am now, I love this. I feel this way. Some days people say, oh, you're so good, you have no idea who I was.
Oh, Pastor, I don't see how you do it. You just go all the time, Pastor, and I'm like, yeah, you have no idea the fuel I'm living on.
But whatever I am now, it is all because God poured out his special favor on me and not without results.
Ha. For I have worked harder than any of the other apostles. Yet it was not I, but God who was working through me by his grace.
[00:14:12] : Amen.
[00:14:14] : Now, the first time I read that, I said Paul thought he's some special stuff.
Paul just like, yeah, I worked harder than everybody else. I just felt like Paul was just standing there, you know, giving himself a pat on the shoulder. No, Paul was saying, you're looking at me like I'm doing something great. You're looking at me like I'm leading all these churches. You're looking at all the effort that I'm pouring out and just thinking, how do you do it, Paul? But I am saying, without Christ, I can do none of it.
When you reach that place, you're not tired at the end of the week.
When you reach that place, ministry is not a job. When you reach that place, you can meet more people throughout the week and not feel tired if you are not in line with the working of God in you. That's why you're getting tired in what you're doing.
[00:15:03] : Amen.
[00:15:05] : Well, I just got in somebody's cookie jar.
[00:15:09] : Amen.
[00:15:10] : Hallelujah. So there is a balance. We work out what God is working in. If you're writing this down, I'll say this another way.
It's a partnership.
God provides the power, we provide the participation.
Can I say that again? God provides the power, we provide the participation.
Now, a lot of you, that sounds like self effort. No, it doesn't. Sounds like showing up.
Think of it. Think about a farmer.
He can plow a field, plant some seeds and water the soil, but he cannot make the seed grow.
Now, I'm gonna not get ahead of myself. Only God can do that.
Yet if the farmer never does his part, there is nothing for God to bless.
Growth happens when God's power and our participation comes together. Notice I did not say our effort.
Oh, this is good.
This is so good.
You know, I've struggled with farming and gardening.
I've probably killed more plants than I've grown.
Tina can testify to this and we'll leave her alone today. But I'm just as bad as a plant killer as she is.
I have learned from my past.
I've learned that I was watering too much, which pushed the nutrients out of the soil, robbing the roots of what it offers.
And I've learned that I didn't water enough, which didn't allow access for the roots to. To get from the soil. What is Necessary with the right balance of care. I no longer have to do the guesswork. I know exactly what I need to do.
Religion will water the soil too much.
Too much of your effort, too much of you gotta do. Too much of you. Worrying about whether God will or won't. Too much of you is like putting too much water in the soil. It'll push all the nutrients of the gospel out.
[00:17:27] : Amen.
[00:17:28] : Now not enough of the Word in your life. Not even any participation. Just expecting God to do everything for you.
There'll be no results. There is a balance that comes through redeemed effort instead of self effort.
[00:17:43] : Amen.
[00:17:44] : Come on somebody.
Hallelujah. Simon, even if you're clapping alone, just clap hard brother.
[00:17:53] : Amen.
[00:17:55] : You know, and so think of it like this. Peter doesn't leave us guessing about what growth looks like. He gives us seven qualities to cultivate.
And they're not just add ons, they're evidence of Christ's work in us.
[00:18:09] : Amen.
[00:18:10] : So that when we look at this scripture. I want to go back and read this scripture in 2nd Peter 1 and 5 just one more time.
In view of all this, make every effort to respond to God's promises. Supplement your faith with generous provision and moral excellence. And moral excellence. Of knowledge and knowledge. With self control. And with self control, patience and endurance. And with patience, endurance, godliness. And with godliness.
With brotherly affections. And with brotherly affections. With love for everyone.
Now back up that with love for everyone means with love for everyone.
Okay. The more you grow like this, the more productive in verse. Let's go to verse eight. The more you grow like this, the more productive and useful you will be in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. The more you grow like this, the more productive and useful you will be in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. The more you grow like this.
These seven qualities are not just add ons.
They are a vital part of being useful and productive in Christ.
Not out of our self effort, but our divine nature that is in divine partnership, that has divine fruit.
[00:19:31] : Amen.
[00:19:32] : Is this good?
[00:19:33] : Okay.
[00:19:34] : All right. Come on somebody. I know I'm hitting you with a lot today. So this is good.
So the first thing I look at in those scriptures is goodness, moral excellence. This is about choosing what is right, even when it's not easy.
Oh, I'm gonna get in yalls cookie jar. In Old and New Testament Micah 6:8 Know O people, the Lord has told you what is good.
And this is what he requires of you to do what is right. To love Mercy and to walk humbly with your God. Now let's go. Romans 12:21. Don't let evil conquer you, but conquer evil by doing good.
[00:20:14] : Huh?
[00:20:16] : Huh?
Somebody slanders you. There's a woman that we used to just. She sent 325 emails here in Australia to try and run me out.
You know what I say when someone asks me about her today?
She's one of the best teachers I've ever heard.
You know, when somebody talks about her around me today, I don't go, oh, yeah, no, no.
You know, I don't do all that. That don't produce nothing. But of its kind. Good produces good.
I talk about the good in her because even though she did something wrong to me, doesn't mean she's not saved.
Y' all still able to do wrong things to each other. You just need to know the difference between your divine nature and your nature.
[00:21:01] : Amen.
[00:21:02] : Hallelujah. That didn't get a clap.
Amen.
I'm gonna clap myself.
You need to know the difference between the fruit of its kind. Goodness is not easy.
[00:21:17] : You know.
[00:21:20] : I'll tell two stories I'm gonna tell on myself, and then I'm gonna tell them I'm gonna tell on God. So I had this one time, me and JoJo were in the grocery store, and this person dropped some money, and JoJo's like, you want me to go run and give it to him? I was like, no, I need it.
Y' all know I'm perfect all the time. I ain't no super saint.
I don't care what you think about me.
I've given more money than $5. It was a five dollar note, y'all.
[00:21:48] : All.
[00:21:48] : Okay, but I'm just being funny. But then there was another time.
I was in the store and I was in the spirit and a hundred dollar bill dropped.
And I saw the $100 bill and I picked it up and I looked at the cashier and handed it to her. And I said, here. This was laying here. She said, oh, my God.
She says, thank you. I said, what? She said, my till has been coming up short for weeks. If it had come up short for one more time, I'd have lost my job.
And she started crying. She said, plus, I just needed to know that God was real and God's people still existed.
Because I handed to her. I said, God bless you. I don't know whose this is, but maybe it'll help you out.
Good produces of its kind.
I didn't know that that woman was praying, oh, God, where's that hundred dollars. I didn't know that if she'd have lost that, that she'd have lost her job. I had no clue. And trust me, for a Jew, $100 and said, Whoo, I'm gonna tell you what.
And I was like, this must be God.
You don't always know why you do the good that you do. But if God is working in you, it will produce results.
[00:23:04] : Amen.
[00:23:05] : Come on, somebody give the Lord a hand clap of praise.
See, Paddy, all they gonna remember is my pastor didn't give that money that one time. Hallelujah. Y' all gonna judge me? Judge unless you be judged.
[00:23:17] : Hallelujah.
[00:23:19] : One of the one thing, the other thing past moral excellence. That is a quality of Jesus. Because I'm giving you seven qualities. If you're writing these down is knowledge.
This is more than head knowledge. It's knowing God personally and living out his will. Colossians 1:9, 10.
We ask God to give you complete knowledge. Colossians 1.
[00:23:41] : Yeah.
[00:23:42] : Colossians chapter 1:9 through 10. So we have not stopped praying for you since we first heard about you. We ask God to give you complete knowledge of his will and to give you spiritual wisdom and understanding.
Then the way you live will always honor and please the Lord. And your lives will produce every kind of good fruit you will grow as you learn to know God better and better.
[00:24:08] : Amen.
[00:24:08] : Proverbs 2 and 6. For the Lord grants wisdom.
[00:24:13] : Amen.
[00:24:14] : For the Lord grants wisdom from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.
This means daily time with God.
If you want to reflect God's character, if you want to walk in this divine nature, if you want to be in divine partnership, you actually got to get to know Him. See, you can know of him but not produce of Him.
Does that make sense?
You can talk about. I mean, I know I can be up here right now talking about God and not be producing anything through the Spirit, because I may be a good speaker.
But when I have went to God and heard from him and spoke what he's spoken, then I'm producing fruit of his spirit.
Big difference.
[00:25:00] : Amen.
[00:25:01] : Because I've spent time with him in the knowing him better and better. Look at Colossians 1 9, 10 one more time. Because when we all the while you will grow as you go to the next verse at the end there. And all the while you will grow as you learn to know God better and better. People that don't know God or His love are still saying, God, why'd you do this?
You know, when things happen to me Anymore. I don't even have a negative God. What you doing? I'm just like God, you know? What do I need? What do I need to do here? Because I know God didn't do it.
I know God didn't cause it. But he has the good to produce in me a result of his nature.
[00:25:51] : Amen.
[00:25:52] : Is this good?
Okay. One of the other qualities that you get, man, God's still working on me.
Self control.
How many of y' all need some self control?
[00:26:05] : Amen.
[00:26:06] : Raise your hand.
The altar is open for people that didn't raise their hands. I've seen you drive.
[00:26:13] : Amen.
[00:26:15] : Titus 2:11, 12. For the grace of God.
I was just joking. I don't want anybody to feel condemned. For the grace of God has been revealed, bringing salvation to all people.
And we are instructed to turn from godless living and sinful pleasures. We should live in this evil world with wisdom, righteousness and devotion to God.
Grace didn't give you a license to sin. It gave you a license to live in wisdom, to live in righteousness and live in devotion to God.
Grace empowered you to live better. Amen. Grace didn't empower you to just, oh, well, you know, God's covered my sins. No, no, no. Grace has empowered you to live free from sin.
[00:27:02] : Amen.
[00:27:04] : Self control. Galatians 5, 22 and 23.
But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives.
Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness.
Tina's favorite word, gentleness.
And self control.
There is no law against these things.
Back up.
But the Holy Spirit.
But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives.
Surrender to what God has provided will produce this grace can only produce in your life. As you've accepted your divine nature through his promises, realize this through him. That you live this way. And realize by reflecting him, people see him. It's got nothing to do with you. And that grace has supplied all that you need for life and godliness. Against these things, there is no law.
Now, you catch that revelation today, you gonna leave here happy.
[00:28:10] : Amen.
Amen.
[00:28:12] : Because the only time I struggle with self control is when I'm in Kyle.
[00:28:19] : Amen.
[00:28:20] : I do not struggle with self control. See the difference with the story earlier? Kyle wanted to keep the money. The Spirit gave the money.
I don't care what y' all think about me. Judge me all you want.
[00:28:30] : Amen.
[00:28:32] : I've seen some of you drive.
[00:28:34] : Amen.
[00:28:35] : You wishing people happy birthday and telling them they're number one more than most people. Amen.
Some people got that joke.
But Road rage is a real thing when you're in the spirit.
[00:28:47] : Amen.
[00:28:48] : You will not produce of the flesh, you will produce of grace. You will produce in faith. Is this good to anybody?
[00:28:55] : Amen.
[00:28:56] : Hallelujah.
You know, everything I'm talking about is radical because most popular preaching is all emotional, telling you how to self help yourself and be better. I was listening to one preacher man, it sounded good, but I was like, that just really sounded like Dr. Phil.
[00:29:12] : Amen.
[00:29:13] : No word in it, no spirit.
Just telling me how to make it was all about me.
When you are worshiping God, when you are following Christ, you will talk about yourself less because you are becoming selfless and more Christ centered.
[00:29:34] : Amen.
[00:29:35] : When your focus is on him, you will have perseverance. This is the fourth quality if you're writing things down.
This is the faith that endures trials without quitting. Man, I know all about this. Anybody know trials without quitting? Anybody ever felt like quitting? Come on, somebody, this is your moment to stretch.
I'm telling you what trials without quitting. I'm putting up ten fingers, ten toes. Hallelujah.
[00:29:57] : Amen.
[00:29:58] : Trials without quitting. Now, if you pursue this growth, quit is no longer an option.
The more spiritually mature you become. Some of these things I'm talking about today will be foreign to you.
Like some of you, I talk to man, y' all so far along in the spirit. And I'm not making a joke, y' all so mature. I'm like, man, maybe I should let them preach.
Because I'm telling you what, you have reached a place of maturity where cussing ain't a thing.
We're eating midnight donuts, ain't a problem.
Amen. We're being angry at other people. You're just like, I don't get angry. I look at you and like, how because you're in the spirit, you've learned how to be spiritually mature. If we pursue this divine nature, if we truly say, God, I want to grow, we will get in the spiritual gym every day.
[00:30:53] : Amen.
[00:30:54] : James 1:12 says this.
God blesses those.
Watch this.
Who patiently endure testing and temptation.
When I read patiently, you know what I see? God blesses those who faithfully endure testing and temptation.
Because if I'm reading all this other stuff correct, I'm not.
Like, somebody came to me one time, they said, don't ever pray for patience. It's the worst prayer. I'm like, that's the first prayer I'm gonna pray just cause you told me not to.
God blesses those who patience When I begin to read this with the right lens, guys, not religious lens, not ideology, not selfism. But when I read this with the lens of faith, I see that God blesses those who faith faithfully, trust in, rely on him, because be still and know that I am God. Pops in my mind.
Hmm.
More precious than silver and gold is a trial of your faith, your trust and reliance on God, your title, deed and what you have. I see something different here than me putting effort.
I see me believing.
And in my believing I will overcome all things. Afterwards, they will receive a crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.
If I just believe God, all things, all things.
Everything in heaven is mine.
I have access to it. The only thing that is restricting me from the things of heaven is my own thinking.
We said something last week about passport, that. That passport lets you know what country you're from, what citizenship you have and what rights you have and what access you have to the things of that country. The beautiful thing about heaven's passport is my friend said this to me the other day, is this passport you don't have to renew.
[00:33:00] : Amen.
[00:33:02] : This is good for life. This is good on up into eternity. So that means that once I receive Christ, everything I am adorned with. Look at your neighbor and say, you're adorned with Christ.
So our perseverance is like this. Hebrews 12:1 2. I didn't even start my timer. I'm sorry guys, give me 10 more minutes.
Hebrews 12:1 2 says, Let us run with endurance, the race God has set before us. Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance, the race God has set before us.
We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him. He endured the cross disregarding the shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God's throne. Back up to verse one. I want to show something here about perseverance.
Sometimes your perseverance, this quality in Christ is about letting go of the things that slow you down. Now we're not talking about people. Cause we do not war against flesh and blood. But there are things that slow us down. And sin. See, used to you didn't have a choice, you just had to make a sacrifice. Now you have a choice to strip off sin.
[00:34:34] : Amen.
[00:34:35] : And then run.
Once you've taken off everything that slows you down. Once you've decided I'm free from sin, let's run with endurance the race that God has set before us, the author and finisher of our faith. If you want to walk in this, if you don't want to have any more guesswork, you will go back and listen to this message. You will ask for my notes. You will talk to some scholars and theologians in here and get a real understanding of this divine nature and divine partnership. Cause if you're still telling yourself and telling other people what they gotta do to have from God, you have missed your salvation. You have missed the very essence of your salvation. You have missed it.
All you gotta do is believe and receive and with joy, exercise your faith.
[00:35:25] : Amen.
[00:35:29] : Well Kyle, you said it was like a farmer. There are still the natural things you got to do. But you got to meet your limit and let God take control.
[00:35:36] : Amen.
[00:35:37] : These are divine promises. Is this good?
[00:35:40] : Amen.
[00:35:42] : So after perseverance, we have godliness. This is living with reverence and devotion to God in every area of our life. First Timothy 4, 7, 8.
Train. I'm gonna read this.
[00:35:52] : Yep.
[00:35:53] : Do not waste time arguing over godless ideas. An old wife did.
I believe, I believe, but I don't care.
I don't care.
Instead, train yourself to be godly. Physically training is good. Look, look, look at verse eight.
Oh, I love this.
Physically training and good. But training for godliness is much better.
Promising benefits in this life and in the life to come.
[00:36:29] : Amen.
[00:36:30] : Now Kyle, that doesn't mean you shouldn't go to the gym.
That means you need to repurpose the reason you go to the gym.
[00:36:38] : Amen.
[00:36:39] : But if I, I want to back up and read that again because I feel like some of you missed it.
Do not waste your time arguing over godless ideas and old wives tales. Instead, train yourself to be godly.
Why I believe. Why I think. Why I believe. Why I believe. If I turned my head every time somebody said what they believed, I'd be tossed to and from like a way. I'd be like a, what do they call that in the Bible? Like a little bush tumbleweed.
[00:37:07] : Amen.
[00:37:08] : If I believed every whim of doctrine, I'd be so confused. If I watched YouTube every day about what to believe at the end of the day I'd just be like, I know one thing, there's Jesus.
There's so many different opinions and fairytales about what we believe. You just need to get in the word, get under some good Bible believing teaching and stop talking about the fairy tales.
[00:37:36] : Amen.
[00:37:39] : Godliness is not about being religious in public. It's about living with integrity when no one's watching.
[00:37:47] : Hmm, hmm, hmm.
[00:37:51] : Godliness is not about being religious in public. It's easy to come in church and Kumbaya.
[00:37:57] : Amen.
[00:37:58] : Kumbaya. And everybody just sing together. It's easy to worship together. But what about when you're alone?
What about reading your Bible without somebody hearing what you got to say?
What about, there's no music and you're worshiping anyway?
Godliness is more than when people are watching. Godliness is about your relationship with God, to get to know him better and better. Not so that you can perform, but so he can perform through you. And your participation is to let Him.
[00:38:34] : Amen.
[00:38:34] : Is this good? Today? Y' all getting quiet. Last week, y' all stood up and shouted. This week, y' all quiet.
I don't really need you to shout. I've learned something about Australians. Y' all get quiet. You're learning.
[00:38:47] : Amen.
[00:38:48] : And I like that, because we need to learn something. You know, if every time I said something and y' all shouted, I could just get up and be like, mayonnaise. Y' all be like, ooh, peanut butter. Woo. Or fried eggs and chicken. Yeah, for real.
This is not always about excitement. This is not always about walking out of here feeling good. This is about being equipped to mature your faith and to go out and to make disciples.
[00:39:15] : Amen.
[00:39:16] : Amen. God is so good. Mutual affection. Man, I'm going over.
Y' all okay if I keep preaching?
[00:39:23] : Amen.
[00:39:23] : Yeah, it's all right.
One of the other qualities is mutual affection is brotherly love. This is love within the family of God. Hebrews 13. One says, Keep on loving each other as brothers and sisters.
Keep on loving each other as brothers and sisters. Whew.
That means sometimes y' all gonna fight.
That means sometimes y' all ain't gonna agree, but you'll come together and resolve your issues.
Church hopping happens and church movement happens. When you looking for a church that makes you feel good, that has all the amenities, that's consumerism. That's not Christianity.
[00:40:04] : Amen.
Amen.
[00:40:08] : Praise the Lord.
Romans 12 and 10 says, Love each other with genuine affection. I like this one. This one will really get in your cookie jar. Love each other with genuine affection and take delight in honoring one another.
You know, Paddy, he got his Harley.
I didn't like it too much.
I'm like, lord, you know, I want to ride a bike again.
Why are you letting Paddy ride a bike?
Well, See, there's the thing.
I don't need to ride a bike. There's an agreement between me and the Lord and my wife, and she's not restricting me. It's the fact of. I don't respect bikes. I just like to go fast on them.
And so I've made an agreement. Lord, this is a temptation. I no longer need my life. But I looked at Paddy and I said, man, God, thank God that he has the ability to get on a bike and not speed. To get on a bike and not be wild. I hope he does those things.
But I was no longer. Yep. I was no longer envious of him.
I was honoring him. When you see me up here preaching, I might say some things that you would say differently. That's okay. Honor me by saying, he's obeying God.
I might not get everything perfect, and I might tell some jokes that you don't like. I may even offend you. But that's okay. We brothers and sisters, sisters, we need to honor each other.
[00:41:31] : Amen.
[00:41:32] : And when somebody receives good in their life, we need to honor that.
A church member once discovered another member was struggling to pay rent.
So they prayed for him.
No.
Instead of saying, I'll pray for you, they quietly, without fanfare, covered the bill. That is brotherly love, serving one another in practical ways.
We'll do more for strangers than we do for the people we know.
[00:42:02] : Amen.
[00:42:04] : Brotherly love is love. That is agape. That's the seventh quality. It's selfless and sacrificial love.
This is the highest virtue of unconditional love for all people. John 13:34 and 45. So now I'm giving you a new covenant, a new commandment. Love each other. Just as I have loved you. You should love each other.
Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.
[00:42:33] : Amen.
[00:42:35] : First Corinthians 13:2. If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I understood all of God's secret plans and possessed all knowledge, and if I had such faith that I could move mountains but didn't love others, I'd be nothing.
Love is the crown of all virtues. Without it, the rest collapse.
We have love, mutual affection, brotherly kindness, brotherly love, godliness, perseverance, self control, knowledge and goodness.
These are the qualities that Peter expressed to us for growth.
[00:43:15] : Amen.
[00:43:21] : There is no fruitlessness in growth.
It's fruit the seed will always produce of its kind.
If you sow life with your nature, you will produce of your nature.
But if you sow of God's nature you will receive of his nature.
And again, that is God's power supplies the ability.
Our part is the participation.
God places the seeds in our hand. He gives us the soil to sow in. He gives us the skills through the Holy Spirit's wisdom. And then he even waters what he places to us. And he says, I will bless it.
All we have to do is participate.
It's that simple.
It's as simple as I remember. One time this nurse was praying, God, help me.
Help me to show your fruit. Help me to bear a witness for you.
Over time, one of her most difficult patients noticed something different.
Her attitude softened, her patience deepened, and people experienced God's love through her.
That is God's divine nature. At work this week, don't try and master all seven qualities.
Instead, pick one quality. God, I want to be good. I want to do the right thing because it's the right thing to do.
And pray. Lord, give me wisdom in this area.
Wisdom is power.
Give me wisdom to grow in this area so I may spiritually mature so that I may see the fruit of Christ in my life.
Look for opportunities to practice that throughout the day. I mean, if doctors practice medicine, can't we practice Christianity better?
Can't we lean on the Spirit better?
Living out your identity in Christ requires faith in him.
It produces godly character and results as the fruit of blessings that others can see.
Guys, the reason I'm preaching this message is partially for myself that I'm tired of being the dancing monkey.
I really am. I'm tired of thinking, was that really good? Was that my best message? Hey, Jeremy, what'd you think about that message? Paddy, what'd you think about that message? Hey, Eli, what'd you think about that message? Tina, what'd you think about that message? I'm tired of performing.
I have a passion and a burden that comes from God to minister these tools to you so that you may grow and effectively do what God has called you to do.
This is not just show up, somebody pray for you. This is not a. This is not God's, Not a genie in a bottle. Rub a lamp, get three wishes, and everything changes.
God is more than that. He showed up in your life.
He said, believe in my son, and now all these blessings are yours.
And you were so overwhelmed by that love that you can't even believe that you didn't have to earn it. You can't even believe that you didn't have to do something for it. You can't even believe that. Oh, man, I gotta do something for God. And you spend the first few years of your Christianity trying to prove to God that you love him, try and prove to God that he's good, and finally one day you start trusting him, walking in him, and you see how sweatless it is, how easy it is just to follow him through grace.
[00:47:19] : Amen.
[00:47:22] : One of the things I want to share with you as I close is, for me, being the dancing monkey means I would be worried today that y' all didn't clap enough and y' all didn't shout enough and, aw, you know, we'll probably lose some people and the visitors probably didn't like it, and yada yada, yada, yada, yada, yada, yada, that don't matter.
Did you receive a revelation of God for your life?
Did you find freedom to do more than you were able to do, then you walked through? Or is there confirmation that what you're doing is what you need to keep doing?
Or is there change that you need to make and you realize that today that there's. That what you need to do first is you need to get in partnership instead of membership.
See, membership means there's some requirements, there's a fee to pay, there's a effort to give, there's some paperwork to fill out. Partnership means somebody's presented something to you and they said, will you be a part of this?
That's what Christ has done for you.
He said, I want to present something to you, and will you be a part of it? Will you partner with what God has already done?
So for me, I preach this message series because I'm also tired of the world seeing angry Christians.
I'm also tired of the world seeing Christians coming in with the same problems every week.
Do you know I'm gonna say this? And I'm gonna hush. Sometimes your attitude is producing the fruit in your life.
[00:48:50] : Amen.
[00:48:52] : Sometimes the things that are happening in your life is because of the bad attitude you have.
And you're drawing things in your life because of the seed you sow. It's time to change that and accept what God has done.
[00:49:03] : Amen.
[00:49:04] : So if you'd all stand to your feet, bow your head, close your eyes.
[00:49:09] : Amen.
[00:49:12] : Maybe next week we'll get a shout.
[00:49:15] : I don't know. I ain't worried about it.
I really ain't.
[00:49:22] : Bow your head and close your eyes and for one moment, forget where you are and who you're responding to and actually just think about Jesus for a moment and just think about your walk in life. And I want to talk to Those that your heart is hurting and God wants to do some healing in your heart and he wants you to know that you're loved and that a lot of people have turned their back on you and a lot of people have hurt you. And some of those people have been in church. And so you're a little bit afraid about being in church.
Every head bowed, every eye closed. If you've experienced church hurt, can you just lift your hand?
Thank you. Thank you for the hands. Thank you for the hands. Anybody else, if you experience hurt from church, thank you for the hands. All right, let's pray together. Father. Help bring healing to those that have experienced that hurt from people that were representatives of you.
Let them find healing in their heart today so that they can receive once again from others that are your representatives and ambassadors and surround them with godly people that are full of joy and love and hope and godliness that will cause them to walk in the right way. Not the advocate for religion, but for the advocate for relationship with Jesus Christ and to produce out of that relationship kind which is a reflection of the promises of heaven. It's in Jesus name we pray and we all say amen.
Now, I want to talk to those. If you give me a few more moments. I know that some of you don't need anything and you're ready to go home and you just came here today and that's okay.
Maybe you're here today and you don't know Jesus.
The rest of us would like to invite you into this family.
It's a partnership. It's not a membership. There's no fee you gotta pay. The only thing you have to offer is say, I believe that he died for me. The only thing you gotta offer is to receive from that belief the abundant grace and the good news that he now has favor on your life and has given you all the promises of heaven and that you now are in relationship with Him. Is there anybody here, every head bowed, every eye closed, that would say, I want to know Jesus.
I want to know that I know that I know that I know. I want to know that I know that I know.
[00:51:44] : Amen.
[00:51:47] : Maybe you're here today and your walk is not as strong as it should be. There's no condemnation in this question.
But today this message has said, you know what? I can do this. This message has given you a revelation of the tools that Peter offered that we have been given through Christ and that today through this message, that through what God has said to you today, you've received power to know that I can participate in what God has called me to do. If that's you, raise your hand right where you are.
Thank you for the hands. Thank you for the hands.
Father, we thank you today for the abundant blessing that we now have in you.
We thank you for those that are walking in completeness, that are going to go out and change the world because they know exactly who they are, they know what they're called to do and nothing's holding them back. So when they leave this place today, they're fully empowered to go and make disciples of men and women. They're fully empowered to go out today. They're fully empowered to be witnesses. They're fully empowered to know who they are holding nothing back, no distractions. Because they said, today I've got is his and he is mine. He's operating in me. That's you today, Father, we thank you. It's in Jesus name.
[00:53:03] : Amen.
[00:53:04] : 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.
