1 00:00:00,050 --> 00:00:00,710 Amen. 2 00:00:00,769 --> 00:00:02,780 I wanna ask you, uh, a question. 3 00:00:02,869 --> 00:00:04,940 I wanna show you this actually here real quickly here. 4 00:00:05,539 --> 00:00:08,750 These are a number of things here I want you to ask, answer this question here. 5 00:00:08,930 --> 00:00:11,360 What do these things all have in. 6 00:00:15,500 --> 00:00:18,500 What do these things all have in common? 7 00:00:19,039 --> 00:00:21,079 And some of these things might be some triggers for you, so I 8 00:00:21,079 --> 00:00:23,509 apologize, uh, for that there. 9 00:00:23,629 --> 00:00:25,909 But what do these things have in common? 10 00:00:25,940 --> 00:00:26,779 Here's what it is. 11 00:00:27,049 --> 00:00:29,329 All of these things are causes. 12 00:00:30,289 --> 00:00:31,519 These are causes. 13 00:00:31,789 --> 00:00:35,000 We have people who are about social justice. 14 00:00:35,059 --> 00:00:40,399 Uh, the, the cause to end homelessness equal pay, uh, uh, abortion on 15 00:00:40,399 --> 00:00:45,739 both sides to end abortion, to continue abortion in breast cancer. 16 00:00:45,744 --> 00:00:50,449 We have gay rights, animal rights, global warming, politics, right? 17 00:00:50,449 --> 00:00:53,839 Left blue and red, conservative and liberal. 18 00:00:54,089 --> 00:00:55,460 And we have Black Lives Matter. 19 00:00:55,489 --> 00:01:00,409 These are just many of the causes or some of the many causes that 20 00:01:00,409 --> 00:01:01,730 are in our current society. 21 00:01:01,734 --> 00:01:02,329 Correct? 22 00:01:03,319 --> 00:01:04,909 And so all these are causes. 23 00:01:04,909 --> 00:01:08,629 Some you might be a fan of, some you might not be a fan of. 24 00:01:09,379 --> 00:01:11,449 Some you might be a card carrier member. 25 00:01:12,650 --> 00:01:15,619 Some you might say, ah, I like that from a distance. 26 00:01:15,625 --> 00:01:19,309 Some you might actually put some financial support to, because 27 00:01:19,309 --> 00:01:22,099 you care so much about the cause. 28 00:01:22,579 --> 00:01:28,340 And so I wanna ask every one of us here today, what is your cause? 29 00:01:29,539 --> 00:01:33,259 What is your, cause We shared this a little bit with the, uh, 30 00:01:33,289 --> 00:01:36,139 family group leaders at our, at our, at our retreat last week. 31 00:01:36,229 --> 00:01:39,559 I wanna ask you, what is your cause in life? 32 00:01:40,340 --> 00:01:42,200 And so I want us to break down what is a cause. 33 00:01:42,200 --> 00:01:46,670 And I, I was, I just love both definitions and Britannica and, and, and also on 34 00:01:46,670 --> 00:01:50,570 the internet here says, a cause is something such as an organization, 35 00:01:50,570 --> 00:01:55,220 belief, idea, or goal that a group of people support or fight for. 36 00:01:55,700 --> 00:01:59,420 Or it could also be defined as a principle, aim or movement that 37 00:01:59,450 --> 00:02:05,539 because of a deep commitment, one is prepared to defend or advocate. 38 00:02:06,110 --> 00:02:07,490 And so we're all familiar with this. 39 00:02:07,490 --> 00:02:10,880 We, we understand, we might say things like, I'm wanting to support that. 40 00:02:11,225 --> 00:02:15,275 Cause or I put money to that cause. 41 00:02:15,365 --> 00:02:17,825 And so we're familiar with this and really what a cause 42 00:02:17,825 --> 00:02:20,045 is basically a mission in life. 43 00:02:20,495 --> 00:02:24,065 As we saw earlier on the screen, a lot of people, it's their mission 44 00:02:24,070 --> 00:02:29,525 in life to end this or to promote this or to advocate support and 45 00:02:29,525 --> 00:02:33,785 even fight for and defend a cause. 46 00:02:33,875 --> 00:02:39,995 And so again, the question that I have for you is what is your cause today? 47 00:02:40,144 --> 00:02:46,595 What should our cause be as a church individually and collectively? 48 00:02:47,105 --> 00:02:50,164 And I want us to look at a couple example of some individuals 49 00:02:50,164 --> 00:02:54,095 throughout history that have had causes that we are familiar with. 50 00:02:54,095 --> 00:02:58,595 Abraham Lincoln, his cause to keep the union together. 51 00:02:58,865 --> 00:02:59,255 Dr. 52 00:02:59,255 --> 00:03:03,485 King who we celebrate, his birthday tomorrow was civil rights. 53 00:03:03,664 --> 00:03:06,755 We at Chak, his rev, his was the revolution. 54 00:03:07,295 --> 00:03:12,275 We also have Adolph Hitler was the Arian racing to rule the world. 55 00:03:12,514 --> 00:03:15,664 Mother Teresa was to help the poor. 56 00:03:16,295 --> 00:03:20,255 Then we have good old classic right here, Batman. 57 00:03:22,025 --> 00:03:24,485 His cause is what Justice, right? 58 00:03:24,845 --> 00:03:26,014 And then we go ahead here. 59 00:03:26,405 --> 00:03:29,195 And we also have, I've been doing this, uh, with my family here. 60 00:03:29,195 --> 00:03:32,974 We watched the movie here, uh, over the, over the break, Frodo 61 00:03:34,025 --> 00:03:36,155 to destroy the ring, right? 62 00:03:36,155 --> 00:03:37,414 That's his cause there. 63 00:03:37,420 --> 00:03:40,625 And then some of us, I know Jason Smith, you'll be fired up about this one here. 64 00:03:40,804 --> 00:03:44,554 But the Mandalorian, his cause is what Help baby Yoda. 65 00:03:45,724 --> 00:03:48,514 And so all these individuals, they had a cause, right? 66 00:03:48,514 --> 00:03:51,815 They all had a cause, something that they were willing to live for, 67 00:03:51,815 --> 00:03:54,514 to fight for, and even to die for. 68 00:03:55,085 --> 00:03:57,155 And most of these maybe we can agree with. 69 00:03:57,155 --> 00:03:59,525 We like some of these, we go, no, I'm totally against it. 70 00:03:59,675 --> 00:04:01,325 But they had a cause, didn't they? 71 00:04:01,954 --> 00:04:05,945 So we could even see the impact that a person or an a group. 72 00:04:06,289 --> 00:04:09,530 Can have when they're convinced of a cause. 73 00:04:10,340 --> 00:04:15,740 The world is transformed by causes, communities, individuals lives, 74 00:04:15,889 --> 00:04:20,928 family, trees, and generations are deeply altered by causes. 75 00:04:21,589 --> 00:04:24,110 And we see this is no different in the faith. 76 00:04:24,320 --> 00:04:29,420 And so even if we look at biblical examples, and this is just a real simple, 77 00:04:29,510 --> 00:04:34,280 uh, summary, if you will, of the causes, some of the causes that God called 78 00:04:34,280 --> 00:04:38,690 people to and his people to in Moses, to get the people to the promised land. 79 00:04:38,960 --> 00:04:42,829 Many of the Old Testament prophets were called, were calling people back 80 00:04:42,829 --> 00:04:45,770 to return, to faithfulness to God. 81 00:04:45,949 --> 00:04:50,150 Then Hak and Zechariah, they were called and had a cost to rebuild 82 00:04:50,150 --> 00:04:54,679 God's temple when they came back from captivity, then Ezra was called 83 00:04:54,683 --> 00:04:59,360 and the people were called to renew their covenant relationship to God. 84 00:04:59,855 --> 00:05:05,134 Nehemiah called to lead the people to, to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. 85 00:05:05,285 --> 00:05:09,275 We even get to the Pharisees and they're, I know they, we see 'em in 86 00:05:09,275 --> 00:05:13,684 a New Testament, but their, their cause was to call the nation back 87 00:05:13,684 --> 00:05:16,684 to obey the ridden and oral laws. 88 00:05:17,224 --> 00:05:20,584 And then we get to John the Baptist is caused what to prepare the way 89 00:05:20,584 --> 00:05:25,294 to be the forerunner for Christ, preaching, repentance, and baptism. 90 00:05:25,384 --> 00:05:29,374 And then we have our Lord and Savior Jesus, who you can simply say His 91 00:05:29,374 --> 00:05:31,655 caused what to save the world. 92 00:05:31,775 --> 00:05:35,164 And then we get to the church with the apostles in the first century. 93 00:05:35,164 --> 00:05:40,325 Christians and their cause was simply stated as Jesus. 94 00:05:41,014 --> 00:05:47,044 And so here do we have causes throughout the narrative of our faith? 95 00:05:48,004 --> 00:05:52,264 And so again, the question for you and me is, what is our cause? 96 00:05:53,044 --> 00:05:54,905 What is your cause today? 97 00:05:55,025 --> 00:05:57,004 What is it that you're living for? 98 00:05:57,124 --> 00:06:01,474 You're not only supporting but you are prepared to defend. 99 00:06:03,155 --> 00:06:05,494 You are fighting for, and we're obviously not talking about it in 100 00:06:05,494 --> 00:06:08,645 a physical sense because I know how Sosa gets, he gonna go out there and 101 00:06:08,645 --> 00:06:10,145 knock some people out afterwards. 102 00:06:11,615 --> 00:06:13,025 But what are you living for? 103 00:06:13,025 --> 00:06:14,344 What are you dying for? 104 00:06:14,344 --> 00:06:18,575 What are you, what are you advocating in your life right now? 105 00:06:20,014 --> 00:06:25,504 And so I believe that the cause of the church today is no different than the 106 00:06:25,504 --> 00:06:28,355 cause for the church 2000 years ago. 107 00:06:28,504 --> 00:06:31,105 And that is the cause of Jesus. 108 00:06:32,105 --> 00:06:36,634 We are called to be a part of the cause of Jesus, brother and sister. 109 00:06:36,634 --> 00:06:37,655 Do you hear what I'm saying? 110 00:06:37,655 --> 00:06:37,834 This. 111 00:06:38,944 --> 00:06:43,714 I want us to look over here real quickly in Acts chapter five, acts chapter five. 112 00:06:44,044 --> 00:06:47,645 This is really, uh, chronically in the, the church after Jesus 113 00:06:47,650 --> 00:06:50,734 had ascended and give the, gave the mission to the apostles. 114 00:06:50,764 --> 00:06:55,474 Okay, now preach the gospel and the gospel spreads throughout the known world at 115 00:06:55,480 --> 00:07:02,334 this time, and in Acts chapter five, we see an example of what their cause was. 116 00:07:02,714 --> 00:07:05,014 Now they have been preaching Jesus, but they've already been 117 00:07:05,014 --> 00:07:06,694 receiving some persecution. 118 00:07:06,934 --> 00:07:10,444 The people who, who, who had Jesus killed, they were upset. 119 00:07:10,444 --> 00:07:14,074 Stop this madness, but each time they said stop, they would go 120 00:07:14,074 --> 00:07:15,364 out and still keep preaching. 121 00:07:15,784 --> 00:07:19,254 And so at this time, they had, they tried to stop 'em again, but the 122 00:07:19,259 --> 00:07:21,634 apostles are so fired up, they're like, we're not gonna do it. 123 00:07:21,784 --> 00:07:24,304 They allow, believe it was God, they allowed them. 124 00:07:24,334 --> 00:07:26,105 Okay, let's just let them be. 125 00:07:26,109 --> 00:07:28,594 And if it's from God, it will continue. 126 00:07:28,594 --> 00:07:29,914 And if it's not, it will fail. 127 00:07:30,664 --> 00:07:33,605 And so the apostles go and they, and with the rest of the church 128 00:07:33,605 --> 00:07:35,315 at the time, they start praying. 129 00:07:35,554 --> 00:07:37,324 And after this prayer, here's what it says. 130 00:07:37,324 --> 00:07:41,914 It says, the apostles left the Sanhedrin rejoicing because 131 00:07:41,914 --> 00:07:44,944 they had been counted worthy of suffering, disgrace for the name. 132 00:07:44,944 --> 00:07:46,864 Boy, that's perspective right there, isn't it? 133 00:07:47,614 --> 00:07:50,404 Boy, they, they, they, they said they suffered and they're, 134 00:07:50,433 --> 00:07:51,574 they're excited about it. 135 00:07:51,754 --> 00:07:56,525 I don't have that same, uh, response when I'm suffering or when there's persecution. 136 00:07:56,529 --> 00:07:57,544 You guys get what I'm saying. 137 00:07:58,145 --> 00:08:00,544 It says they rejoice, but it says Here, check this out. 138 00:08:00,694 --> 00:08:06,844 Day after day in the temple courts and from house to house, they never 139 00:08:06,844 --> 00:08:11,974 stop teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Messiah. 140 00:08:14,014 --> 00:08:17,284 Persecution didn't stop them. 141 00:08:19,864 --> 00:08:26,704 Time their own I desires, whatever the case may be, comfortability. 142 00:08:27,364 --> 00:08:30,214 They decided, you know what we're gonna do? 143 00:08:30,214 --> 00:08:34,174 We're gonna live, advocate, fight, and die for this cause. 144 00:08:34,414 --> 00:08:42,395 And it says, day after day in the public arena or from house to house, they 145 00:08:42,399 --> 00:08:49,294 never stopped claiming that Jesus is the Messiah, the anointed one, Christ the 146 00:08:49,294 --> 00:08:54,724 king who was prophesied, the king who would usher in God's kingdom on earth. 147 00:08:55,594 --> 00:08:57,304 This was their cause. 148 00:08:57,310 --> 00:09:00,424 If we see it, we see it with all those individuals we saw earlier, 149 00:09:00,514 --> 00:09:02,674 we see it with here in our society. 150 00:09:02,764 --> 00:09:05,315 If you're really about that, cause if you're about that life, 151 00:09:05,374 --> 00:09:06,904 you're at the protest, aren't you? 152 00:09:07,504 --> 00:09:08,974 You're giving financially. 153 00:09:09,214 --> 00:09:11,014 You're advocating on social media. 154 00:09:11,074 --> 00:09:12,964 You're ge engaging in conversation. 155 00:09:13,024 --> 00:09:16,864 You're trying to persuade people to see what you believe. 156 00:09:16,924 --> 00:09:20,044 And we see this in the first century Church. 157 00:09:20,524 --> 00:09:21,214 What are they about? 158 00:09:21,214 --> 00:09:23,594 They are about the cause of Jesus. 159 00:09:24,799 --> 00:09:26,089 They want Jesus to be seen. 160 00:09:26,089 --> 00:09:27,139 They want Jesus to be heard. 161 00:09:27,139 --> 00:09:28,160 They want Jesus to be taught. 162 00:09:28,160 --> 00:09:31,790 They want Jesus to be known so that people would hopefully 163 00:09:31,879 --> 00:09:34,700 respond to the good news of Jesus. 164 00:09:35,389 --> 00:09:37,040 They were concerned about the results. 165 00:09:37,044 --> 00:09:41,719 They were just concerned with Jesus being taught and proclaimed 166 00:09:41,750 --> 00:09:43,669 and preached to the masses. 167 00:09:43,759 --> 00:09:47,179 And you can say, wow, well, that just seems like that was just for 168 00:09:47,179 --> 00:09:49,400 them or, or maybe just the leaders. 169 00:09:49,400 --> 00:09:52,580 But then we get this call here in Second Corinthians five, and we 170 00:09:52,584 --> 00:09:57,830 see it doesn't apply to just a few, but this was the call for the whole 171 00:09:57,834 --> 00:10:00,169 church, second Corinthians five. 172 00:10:00,169 --> 00:10:02,310 It reads, for Christ, love compels us. 173 00:10:03,679 --> 00:10:06,410 I just love that everything is sparked. 174 00:10:06,679 --> 00:10:09,980 Everything derives from Christ's love for us. 175 00:10:10,280 --> 00:10:14,000 It says, for Christ's love compels us because we are convinced that one 176 00:10:14,000 --> 00:10:15,950 died for all and therefore all died. 177 00:10:15,955 --> 00:10:16,669 But here we go. 178 00:10:16,820 --> 00:10:18,020 And he died for all that. 179 00:10:18,020 --> 00:10:20,150 Those who live, who is that? 180 00:10:20,495 --> 00:10:20,645 Amen. 181 00:10:22,055 --> 00:10:24,455 Anybody who's living, who's reading at the time, right? 182 00:10:24,995 --> 00:10:30,125 That those who live should no longer live for themselves, but for him, who's him? 183 00:10:30,125 --> 00:10:33,125 Jesus who died for them and was raised again. 184 00:10:35,735 --> 00:10:39,305 He says, guys, for Christ's love compels us. 185 00:10:39,665 --> 00:10:44,705 If you've been forgiven of your sin, if you understood the grace of God, if you've 186 00:10:44,705 --> 00:10:49,655 been that broken vessel who was repaired again, if you were that grave that turned 187 00:10:49,655 --> 00:10:55,295 into a garden, he says, guys, we should no longer live for ourselves, but for him 188 00:10:55,295 --> 00:11:00,875 who died for us and raised again, and that wasn't a first century thing that wasn't 189 00:11:00,875 --> 00:11:02,645 supposed to stop at a period of time. 190 00:11:02,885 --> 00:11:06,724 It's to continue until the day Jesus returns. 191 00:11:07,685 --> 00:11:11,555 And so we are a part of the cause of Jesus. 192 00:11:11,660 --> 00:11:11,840 Amen. 193 00:11:12,470 --> 00:11:15,889 You and I, if you are a disciple of Jesus, you're part of this inter 194 00:11:16,010 --> 00:11:22,400 intergalactic this, this universal, this intergenerational, this eternal cause. 195 00:11:22,400 --> 00:11:22,900 Come on. 196 00:11:24,260 --> 00:11:26,840 There's no cause greater than the cause of Jesus. 197 00:11:27,680 --> 00:11:29,360 We can get into all those other causes. 198 00:11:29,360 --> 00:11:31,760 Maybe you're thinking of another cause and you're like, oh, Marcel, 199 00:11:31,760 --> 00:11:32,450 you didn't mention that one. 200 00:11:32,599 --> 00:11:35,210 Whatever that cause is is not as big as Jesus's cause. 201 00:11:36,380 --> 00:11:41,090 There's nothing more important and nothing more impacting than the cause of Jesus 202 00:11:42,420 --> 00:11:47,900 transforms generations, transforms family trees, transforms the whole world's, 203 00:11:49,910 --> 00:11:53,540 and we are part of the cause of Jesus. 204 00:11:54,080 --> 00:11:57,860 That is our cause that we can have some, some sub causes. 205 00:11:57,860 --> 00:11:58,490 That's all good. 206 00:11:58,490 --> 00:11:59,599 Nobody's bad about that. 207 00:11:59,810 --> 00:12:04,130 But when we are ever asked the question, what is your mission in life? 208 00:12:04,190 --> 00:12:05,060 It's Jesus. 209 00:12:05,955 --> 00:12:09,695 Sir is to know Jesus. 210 00:12:09,724 --> 00:12:15,185 To follow Jesus and to show the world Jesus brother and sisters, can I get Amen? 211 00:12:15,325 --> 00:12:15,815 Amen. 212 00:12:16,715 --> 00:12:23,495 You see, here's the thing though, I think universally, but let's 213 00:12:23,500 --> 00:12:25,775 just talk about our setting. 214 00:12:26,014 --> 00:12:28,474 We need a revival of the cause of Jesus, right? 215 00:12:28,925 --> 00:12:33,335 There needs to be a revival for the cause of Jesus because I'm sure when 216 00:12:33,340 --> 00:12:36,155 I asked you what your cause some of you thought, Hmm, I don't know. 217 00:12:37,655 --> 00:12:40,325 Instead of it quickly coming, Jesus is my cause. 218 00:12:40,415 --> 00:12:41,465 What kind of question is this? 219 00:12:41,825 --> 00:12:42,125 Marcel? 220 00:12:42,965 --> 00:12:45,425 Some of us are thinking, uh, I don't know if I have a cause. 221 00:12:46,115 --> 00:12:48,815 Well, maybe it's one of those things that you listed or maybe it's this 222 00:12:48,965 --> 00:12:50,375 or maybe I don't have a cause. 223 00:12:50,435 --> 00:12:52,205 Maybe my cause is me. 224 00:12:54,875 --> 00:12:59,255 Again, we can veer when we don't remember what God has called us toward. 225 00:12:59,255 --> 00:13:00,105 You guys get what I'm saying. 226 00:13:00,539 --> 00:13:03,320 Yeah, and so our cause is Jesus. 227 00:13:03,379 --> 00:13:08,329 We need to see a revival in for the cause of Jesus, amongst God's people 228 00:13:08,599 --> 00:13:13,820 in which we too can be described as saying, we will never stop following and 229 00:13:13,825 --> 00:13:18,560 proclaiming the good news of Christ to my neighbor and in the public squares, 230 00:13:19,249 --> 00:13:23,270 no matter who may say something against me because I believe that Jesus is the 231 00:13:23,270 --> 00:13:29,150 Messiah and he turned me from a broken vessel into a one whole peace in God. 232 00:13:30,200 --> 00:13:31,160 You see, we need a revival. 233 00:13:31,160 --> 00:13:35,900 Many of us who raised our hands, 15, 20, 25 years, we remember the days in which 234 00:13:35,900 --> 00:13:39,349 it was said, we are sold out for Christ. 235 00:13:39,349 --> 00:13:40,249 Remember those? 236 00:13:41,389 --> 00:13:42,679 Are you still sold out? 237 00:13:44,749 --> 00:13:49,730 You go, yeah, I'm here, but I don't know if I'm really sold out. 238 00:13:52,730 --> 00:13:57,860 We have young people and they said, man, we heard about those stories. 239 00:13:58,730 --> 00:14:00,589 We heard those, but you know what? 240 00:14:00,589 --> 00:14:02,659 I don't really see it now. 241 00:14:04,279 --> 00:14:06,619 And to be sold out looks differently as you get older. 242 00:14:06,619 --> 00:14:09,529 Let me just say this, you don't have the same energy. 243 00:14:10,969 --> 00:14:12,199 I mean, I get up every day, man. 244 00:14:12,199 --> 00:14:14,749 I get up like, you know, doc Rivers, you know Doc Rivers, right? 245 00:14:14,779 --> 00:14:17,149 He walks like this, , he's a coach. 246 00:14:17,299 --> 00:14:18,770 That's how I get up every time I get up. 247 00:14:18,770 --> 00:14:21,829 Now, I get up and I, it's like, it's like that picture of evolution with a guy. 248 00:14:21,829 --> 00:14:22,339 You know what I mean? 249 00:14:22,489 --> 00:14:25,669 They walk like, that's how it takes me a while to finally stand up straight. 250 00:14:25,669 --> 00:14:26,359 You know what I'm saying? 251 00:14:26,690 --> 00:14:30,319 And so I don't have the same energy and passion or strength that I used to have. 252 00:14:30,409 --> 00:14:31,879 I was just telling them I don't know what I did. 253 00:14:31,879 --> 00:14:35,179 I was lifting weights and, and I, I must have turned my head and now this thing's 254 00:14:35,179 --> 00:14:36,619 been hurting for like a week and a half. 255 00:14:36,619 --> 00:14:37,249 You know what I'm saying? 256 00:14:37,459 --> 00:14:39,319 I'm just, I just don't have it the way I used to. 257 00:14:39,319 --> 00:14:40,190 You know what I mean? 258 00:14:40,489 --> 00:14:44,209 But my heart should be devoted to Christ no less now than it 259 00:14:44,209 --> 00:14:45,679 was when I said Jesus is Lord. 260 00:14:46,149 --> 00:14:46,639 Amen. 261 00:14:46,879 --> 00:14:52,129 My devotion, my commitment, my readiness and preparation to defend, fight, and 262 00:14:52,129 --> 00:14:54,349 live and advocate for the cause of Jesus. 263 00:14:55,700 --> 00:14:59,570 Young people, we need you to be about that cause we invite you to join this cause. 264 00:14:59,690 --> 00:15:02,990 Just imagine if we had the young generation, the more mature generation 265 00:15:02,995 --> 00:15:05,959 come together and we're fully committed to the cause of Jesus. 266 00:15:06,860 --> 00:15:07,940 How incredible would that be? 267 00:15:08,570 --> 00:15:11,360 You know, our church has never really seen that because those of us who, who were 268 00:15:11,360 --> 00:15:15,980 baptized 20, 25, maybe 30 years ago, it was all mostly a bunch of young people. 269 00:15:16,070 --> 00:15:19,339 But now we have kids that are coming up and what are they a part of 270 00:15:20,299 --> 00:15:23,690 the church or the cause of Jesus. 271 00:15:25,400 --> 00:15:26,929 I love the church. 272 00:15:27,289 --> 00:15:31,520 The church is a part of the cause of Jesus, but I don't want my kids 273 00:15:31,639 --> 00:15:33,469 to just be a part of the church. 274 00:15:34,009 --> 00:15:37,910 I want my kids to live in and forward the cause of Jesus. 275 00:15:37,910 --> 00:15:39,259 You get what I'm saying here. 276 00:15:40,009 --> 00:15:42,259 And so I'm calling every single one of us. 277 00:15:42,919 --> 00:15:45,770 Let's ask ourselves, are we about that life? 278 00:15:45,770 --> 00:15:48,560 Are we about the cause of Jesus? 279 00:15:48,829 --> 00:15:51,950 And if not, that's where we're at. 280 00:15:52,610 --> 00:15:53,789 But we can make a decision today. 281 00:15:54,980 --> 00:16:00,680 We can make a decision today to be about, to live for, to advocate the cause of 282 00:16:00,680 --> 00:16:04,460 Jesus and let, let's break down the cause of Jesus a little bit more here, guys. 283 00:16:04,530 --> 00:16:05,150 I, I don't know, man. 284 00:16:05,150 --> 00:16:05,630 I'm sorry. 285 00:16:05,750 --> 00:16:06,740 I'm just so excited. 286 00:16:08,270 --> 00:16:10,280 I really, I, I've been sitting on this for a couple weeks. 287 00:16:10,550 --> 00:16:12,800 I shared a little bit about it with the, uh, family group leaders. 288 00:16:12,800 --> 00:16:14,390 I was supposed to go five minutes, I ended up going 20 289 00:16:14,390 --> 00:16:15,350 minutes, you know what I'm saying? 290 00:16:15,980 --> 00:16:19,070 And, and, and so I, I, this came to me a couple weeks ago. 291 00:16:19,100 --> 00:16:23,060 No, uh, at least no more, maybe about four or five weeks ago, it came to me. 292 00:16:23,210 --> 00:16:26,690 I, I was, I was praying and I felt like I was John writing 293 00:16:26,730 --> 00:16:27,830 the, the book of Revelation. 294 00:16:28,250 --> 00:16:29,030 And I was praying. 295 00:16:29,030 --> 00:16:31,880 I got up and I was reading and I was like, oh, I gotta write all these things down. 296 00:16:32,120 --> 00:16:33,320 And I was just so giddy creating. 297 00:16:33,320 --> 00:16:34,190 I was like, what's wrong with you? 298 00:16:34,190 --> 00:16:36,080 I'm like, ah, I just gotta write this stuff down. 299 00:16:37,100 --> 00:16:38,630 I was like, man, God is doing something to me. 300 00:16:38,630 --> 00:16:39,290 He's moving me. 301 00:16:39,290 --> 00:16:40,100 He's changing me. 302 00:16:40,160 --> 00:16:43,430 And there's one of the revelations that came about when I thought 303 00:16:43,430 --> 00:16:44,360 about this cause of Jesus. 304 00:16:44,360 --> 00:16:46,250 And again, I think it was Holy Spirit moved. 305 00:16:46,250 --> 00:16:47,450 I think it was Holy Spirit driven. 306 00:16:47,570 --> 00:16:50,030 It was as this, that the cause of Jesus is key. 307 00:16:50,120 --> 00:16:53,930 We need to know, follow, and show the real Jesus. 308 00:16:56,315 --> 00:16:59,195 We need to know, follow and show the real Jesus. 309 00:16:59,195 --> 00:17:01,384 When we're talking about the, the, the cause of Jesus, 310 00:17:01,445 --> 00:17:04,054 it's us, you, our neighbors. 311 00:17:04,060 --> 00:17:07,984 Just knowing and then answering the call to follow, and then again 312 00:17:07,984 --> 00:17:10,503 showing who the real Jesus is. 313 00:17:10,685 --> 00:17:13,655 Let's go back to Acts chapter five, verse 41 and 42. 314 00:17:13,804 --> 00:17:14,750 Church, are you still with me? 315 00:17:16,263 --> 00:17:18,214 Day after day, check this out. 316 00:17:18,484 --> 00:17:21,424 Day after day in the temple courts and from house to house, they never 317 00:17:21,424 --> 00:17:24,964 stopped teaching, proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Messiah. 318 00:17:25,115 --> 00:17:26,013 Now, that's key here. 319 00:17:27,003 --> 00:17:29,914 They never stopped saying What? 320 00:17:30,995 --> 00:17:35,914 Come to church, live a good life. 321 00:17:37,204 --> 00:17:38,615 Be moral people. 322 00:17:40,084 --> 00:17:43,054 No, it says that Jesus is the Messiah. 323 00:17:43,054 --> 00:17:44,285 See, there were savior haters. 324 00:17:44,289 --> 00:17:45,725 The ops were out there, right? 325 00:17:45,754 --> 00:17:50,435 They had heard of Jesus, but they didn't know who Jesus really was. 326 00:17:51,124 --> 00:17:52,685 And so what was their message? 327 00:17:52,969 --> 00:17:54,139 That Jesus is what? 328 00:17:54,169 --> 00:17:55,040 The Messiah. 329 00:17:56,030 --> 00:17:57,259 He's the chosen one. 330 00:17:57,259 --> 00:17:58,940 He's the anointed one. 331 00:17:59,270 --> 00:18:02,839 They proclaimed and showed that Jesus was the Christ, the real. 332 00:18:02,839 --> 00:18:04,969 Jesus wasn't a prophet. 333 00:18:05,929 --> 00:18:07,620 He wasn't just a he. 334 00:18:07,620 --> 00:18:12,950 He definitely wasn't a convicted felon, but he was God's son, 335 00:18:12,980 --> 00:18:15,950 the redeemer of the universe. 336 00:18:19,250 --> 00:18:20,929 That was their message. 337 00:18:21,080 --> 00:18:24,469 Hey, you guys, you've heard, remember Jesus has been known, especially to the 338 00:18:24,469 --> 00:18:28,490 Jews at this time because he was killed, uh uh, um, uh, during during Passover. 339 00:18:28,610 --> 00:18:30,679 So so many Jews were there. 340 00:18:30,679 --> 00:18:34,459 They had heard of Jesus, and so they knew of Jesus, but they 341 00:18:34,459 --> 00:18:36,290 didn't know the real Jesus. 342 00:18:36,950 --> 00:18:41,660 So what they were doing is we have to go from door to door and from public square 343 00:18:41,690 --> 00:18:44,450 and let people know who the real Jesus is. 344 00:18:45,139 --> 00:18:47,450 He's not a convicted felon who died on the cross. 345 00:18:47,839 --> 00:18:50,119 He's not just a a, a, a nice moral man. 346 00:18:50,119 --> 00:18:52,789 He's not just a religious man, and he's not just a prophet 347 00:18:52,789 --> 00:18:54,469 like we've known from before. 348 00:18:54,560 --> 00:18:56,389 No, he is the Messiah. 349 00:18:58,940 --> 00:19:05,780 And that same call applies to our context here today, right? 350 00:19:06,320 --> 00:19:12,230 In 2023, following and showing the real Jesus, because there's a real false 351 00:19:12,230 --> 00:19:13,879 portrayal of Jesus in our society. 352 00:19:13,884 --> 00:19:14,959 Would you agree with that? 353 00:19:15,739 --> 00:19:17,239 There's a huge false portrayal. 354 00:19:17,360 --> 00:19:22,730 Some of it misrepresentation, some of it misinterpretation of what happens. 355 00:19:22,969 --> 00:19:25,610 You know, in this world there's 7.8 billion people. 356 00:19:26,810 --> 00:19:33,440 We're almost at 8 billion people over 2.5 billion of the Christian faith. 357 00:19:34,159 --> 00:19:37,520 However, in the Western world, Christianity is declining. 358 00:19:39,139 --> 00:19:41,570 And you go, man, that's not encouraging. 359 00:19:42,139 --> 00:19:46,129 But let's think about the perception of Jesus in the western world. 360 00:19:47,840 --> 00:19:52,550 People say no to Jesus because they say no, really to the church. 361 00:19:54,200 --> 00:19:57,800 They don't know the real Jesus, but they at least have heard or at 362 00:19:57,805 --> 00:20:02,360 least seen on TV or interacted with people from the Christian faith. 363 00:20:03,200 --> 00:20:04,580 And so what are they saying no to? 364 00:20:04,730 --> 00:20:07,880 I'm not saying no to the Messiah, I'm saying no to you guys and what 365 00:20:07,880 --> 00:20:12,800 you talk about, what you believe, you know, Christians are believed 366 00:20:12,805 --> 00:20:16,850 again, some, uh, uh, uh, because of misrepresentation and some, uh, be 367 00:20:16,850 --> 00:20:18,889 because of, uh, misinterpretation. 368 00:20:18,889 --> 00:20:20,690 But Christians, what are we known as today? 369 00:20:20,750 --> 00:20:23,680 Intolerance, bigots, racist. 370 00:20:24,410 --> 00:20:28,790 We hate the L G B T Q community where hypocrites, unloving, 371 00:20:28,790 --> 00:20:33,050 self-righteous, judgmental, irrelevant, outdated and uninspiring. 372 00:20:34,010 --> 00:20:36,110 Let me ask you, is that the real Jesus? 373 00:20:36,290 --> 00:20:37,910 No, of course not. 374 00:20:38,869 --> 00:20:42,469 The Jesus I know, the real Jesus, the Jesus of history, the Jesus of 375 00:20:42,469 --> 00:20:46,820 Nazareth, that Jesus right there is relevant to my life today. 376 00:20:47,419 --> 00:20:48,709 There's no way he's boring. 377 00:20:50,240 --> 00:20:52,549 And then we also have another part of Jesus that, oh, he's 378 00:20:52,549 --> 00:20:56,869 basically like a modern day or an old school predated, uh, hippie. 379 00:20:57,740 --> 00:20:59,719 He's just all about love and peace. 380 00:21:00,469 --> 00:21:01,429 Hey, peace, brother. 381 00:21:02,629 --> 00:21:03,679 Let me hold my lamb. 382 00:21:04,310 --> 00:21:05,810 Hey, just be nice. 383 00:21:06,770 --> 00:21:08,419 Anything goes, it doesn't matter. 384 00:21:08,629 --> 00:21:09,619 Just peace, man. 385 00:21:09,619 --> 00:21:10,610 Just love. 386 00:21:11,539 --> 00:21:12,980 That's a false Jesus. 387 00:21:14,539 --> 00:21:15,679 And so I would say no to that. 388 00:21:15,679 --> 00:21:16,190 Jesus too. 389 00:21:17,539 --> 00:21:19,909 Or I might say Yes, but then I don't really know the real Jesus, 390 00:21:19,909 --> 00:21:21,619 so therefore my discipleship isn't. 391 00:21:24,435 --> 00:21:27,035 And you know, I used to misrepresent this type of Jesus 392 00:21:27,065 --> 00:21:28,475 before I knew the real Jesus. 393 00:21:28,775 --> 00:21:31,235 I remember I'd be in school and I got, I got quote unquote 394 00:21:31,235 --> 00:21:32,735 religious at this time here. 395 00:21:32,735 --> 00:21:34,145 And I'd be like, man, you gotta follow God. 396 00:21:34,145 --> 00:21:35,405 You gotta follow God in class. 397 00:21:35,405 --> 00:21:36,155 And we'd be talking. 398 00:21:36,275 --> 00:21:38,315 And then as soon as I get outta class, I was trying to holler 399 00:21:38,315 --> 00:21:39,935 at every single girl I could. 400 00:21:40,655 --> 00:21:41,554 And I was like, Hey, yeah. 401 00:21:41,554 --> 00:21:42,725 So what's up with me and you, girl? 402 00:21:42,844 --> 00:21:44,014 Didn't you just talk about Jesus? 403 00:21:44,020 --> 00:21:44,405 Yeah, yeah. 404 00:21:44,405 --> 00:21:46,205 But me and you and Jesus, we can make this work. 405 00:21:49,294 --> 00:21:50,705 so confused. 406 00:21:51,995 --> 00:21:53,164 I didn't know the real Jesus. 407 00:21:53,164 --> 00:21:55,355 I didn't know that, that, that, that call that that didn't work. 408 00:21:55,355 --> 00:21:56,405 You guys get what I'm saying? 409 00:21:56,735 --> 00:21:58,235 You might have like, wow, Marcel, you a mess. 410 00:21:58,235 --> 00:21:59,794 Well, thank God for the real Jesus. 411 00:22:02,464 --> 00:22:04,594 You see, people need to see the real Jesus. 412 00:22:05,435 --> 00:22:09,395 And we are the ones who know the real Jesus. 413 00:22:10,355 --> 00:22:14,044 We are the ones who follow the real Jesus. 414 00:22:14,464 --> 00:22:19,294 And we are the ones who are called to show the real Jesus to a lost world. 415 00:22:20,254 --> 00:22:22,355 But we can't show what we don't know, right? 416 00:22:22,955 --> 00:22:24,875 We can't show what we don't follow. 417 00:22:25,145 --> 00:22:28,435 And so we have to remember, first and foremost, we're called to a 418 00:22:28,714 --> 00:22:34,325 personal relationship with the real Jesus, an individual personal 419 00:22:34,355 --> 00:22:36,214 relationship with the real Jesus. 420 00:22:36,219 --> 00:22:40,625 Not a, not a figure who's nice or not a figure, who just good for or when 421 00:22:40,625 --> 00:22:44,674 times are hard, but the true son of God. 422 00:22:48,185 --> 00:22:50,195 I remember when God revealed the real Jesus to me. 423 00:22:50,195 --> 00:22:53,254 I was studying the Bible and I was like, whoa, I, I, I, I didn't, I 424 00:22:53,254 --> 00:22:54,725 didn't see Jesus in this light. 425 00:22:55,235 --> 00:22:57,725 And then as I kept reading the Bible on my own, I, I just became 426 00:22:57,725 --> 00:22:59,735 so, so, so impressed by Jesus. 427 00:22:59,735 --> 00:23:03,485 I was so fascinated by his character, his response to things. 428 00:23:03,485 --> 00:23:05,315 I was like, oh my goodness. 429 00:23:05,764 --> 00:23:06,844 And I just fell in love. 430 00:23:07,625 --> 00:23:11,674 I said, that man right there, I wanna follow him. 431 00:23:12,665 --> 00:23:17,435 And when I said, Jesus the Lord, I said, I will follow you for the rest of my life. 432 00:23:18,935 --> 00:23:25,504 The cross before me, the world behind me, no matter who goes with me, I will follow. 433 00:23:26,075 --> 00:23:29,045 And it wasn't religion, it wasn't, it wasn't the church. 434 00:23:29,134 --> 00:23:32,464 It was that I saw Jesus, the real Jesus for the first time. 435 00:23:32,615 --> 00:23:33,785 And it transformed me. 436 00:23:34,235 --> 00:23:37,355 And many of you here had a similar experience. 437 00:23:38,705 --> 00:23:42,335 You maybe grew up with religiosity, but when you came in contact with the truth 438 00:23:42,335 --> 00:23:46,535 of Jesus and did something to you, and so the day before you were baptized, 439 00:23:46,535 --> 00:23:52,295 you said, Jesus is Lord, meaning he's messiah and ruler of my life. 440 00:23:53,615 --> 00:23:54,905 And I feel compelled. 441 00:23:55,155 --> 00:23:58,535 I, I, I, I, I, like I said, a couple weeks ago, I was convicted, I was inspired, 442 00:23:58,535 --> 00:24:03,785 and I was like, God, I know I haven't veered from your will, but I have veered 443 00:24:03,844 --> 00:24:10,655 in my attention and focus and even somewhat in this devotion to your cause. 444 00:24:11,955 --> 00:24:12,995 I, I, I'm still going. 445 00:24:13,000 --> 00:24:13,605 I'm preaching. 446 00:24:13,605 --> 00:24:14,615 I'm, I'm helping people. 447 00:24:14,615 --> 00:24:19,879 At least I'm trying to, But the God revealed Marcel, but the cause of Jesus. 448 00:24:20,000 --> 00:24:22,730 Are you leading people to the cause of Jesus? 449 00:24:23,330 --> 00:24:26,450 Do do your kids see the real Jesus? 450 00:24:28,250 --> 00:24:38,570 I said, God, I, I, I'm sorry, I, I I, I, I recommit to you to be deeply committed 451 00:24:38,990 --> 00:24:44,929 to advocating, to not only supporting, but living and dying for the cause of Jesus. 452 00:24:45,469 --> 00:24:51,589 And I want everyone to know the real Jesus, not the figure who's off, not 453 00:24:51,589 --> 00:24:55,370 not the picture of the, the, the, the falls and flaws and and faults of the 454 00:24:55,370 --> 00:25:00,110 church, but I want them to know who Jesus is and make a decision on that 455 00:25:00,110 --> 00:25:02,360 Jesus as opposed to what they know. 456 00:25:03,320 --> 00:25:06,500 And so, again, let's talk about our context here in Orange County 457 00:25:06,504 --> 00:25:07,610 Church, or you still with me? 458 00:25:08,870 --> 00:25:09,530 Orange County. 459 00:25:10,084 --> 00:25:11,674 Let's look here at the OC here. 460 00:25:12,315 --> 00:25:15,935 Oc, there's 3.16 million people in Orange County. 461 00:25:17,824 --> 00:25:20,105 44% claim. 462 00:25:20,109 --> 00:25:21,185 Christian faith. 463 00:25:21,244 --> 00:25:23,105 That's a lot of people right there, isn't it? 464 00:25:24,994 --> 00:25:29,944 Here's what it says here, also, is that there are 500, about 550 465 00:25:29,944 --> 00:25:31,534 churches in Orange County alone. 466 00:25:32,674 --> 00:25:36,725 We're in kind of like the megachurch capital of the United States. 467 00:25:37,145 --> 00:25:40,264 Every city has pretty much, or at least claims to be a megachurch, 468 00:25:40,270 --> 00:25:41,435 at least one megachurch. 469 00:25:41,614 --> 00:25:46,145 Some have multiple mega churches in there, 550 churches. 470 00:25:46,150 --> 00:25:46,924 For guess what? 471 00:25:47,194 --> 00:25:48,275 For 34 cities. 472 00:25:50,270 --> 00:25:51,800 And these are just congregations. 473 00:25:51,800 --> 00:25:54,830 This isn't like people who have like us, like we're one congregation. 474 00:25:54,830 --> 00:25:58,070 However, we have three or four, uh, different geographic locations. 475 00:25:58,070 --> 00:25:59,330 So we would be considered one church. 476 00:25:59,335 --> 00:26:00,380 You guys get what I'm saying here? 477 00:26:00,590 --> 00:26:02,060 So there's more. 478 00:26:02,120 --> 00:26:03,290 And you got house churches. 479 00:26:03,410 --> 00:26:08,030 So there's at least 550 churches here in Orange County for 34 cities. 480 00:26:08,150 --> 00:26:11,300 That's over 16 city, 16 churches per city. 481 00:26:12,050 --> 00:26:13,190 So let me ask you this. 482 00:26:13,520 --> 00:26:15,710 Does Orange County need another church? 483 00:26:17,480 --> 00:26:18,080 Think about this. 484 00:26:18,080 --> 00:26:19,730 We got more than enough churches. 485 00:26:20,510 --> 00:26:23,780 Does Orange County really need another church? 486 00:26:25,490 --> 00:26:26,570 What does Orange County need? 487 00:26:27,770 --> 00:26:29,000 The real Jesus. 488 00:26:30,230 --> 00:26:32,840 Orange County doesn't need another neighborhood. 489 00:26:32,840 --> 00:26:34,130 Corner Church. 490 00:26:34,520 --> 00:26:38,630 Orange County needs to see the real Jesus. 491 00:26:39,815 --> 00:26:42,664 When the LA Church started, we're part of the, we're a region a part of the 492 00:26:42,815 --> 00:26:47,435 larger Los Angeles congregation, my friend and, and former mentor Reese kneeling. 493 00:26:47,464 --> 00:26:50,494 He, he was on the, on the, uh, mission team that came here to la 494 00:26:50,525 --> 00:26:54,065 So he preached the actual very first message here for the LA church. 495 00:26:54,214 --> 00:26:57,154 And I, he remember, he shared the notes with me one day, and this came 496 00:26:57,154 --> 00:27:00,154 to me, uh, a couple weeks ago when I was, uh, uh, writing these notes down. 497 00:27:00,534 --> 00:27:05,674 And, and his sermon was, LA doesn't need another Church and Needs The Real Jesus. 498 00:27:06,605 --> 00:27:07,804 That was over 30 years ago. 499 00:27:09,214 --> 00:27:16,395 Sames still applies 30 years down is that Orange County needs to see the real Jesus. 500 00:27:17,614 --> 00:27:22,084 We don't need more churches, but we need real followers of the real 501 00:27:22,089 --> 00:27:25,114 Jesus to reflect the real Jesus. 502 00:27:25,985 --> 00:27:28,445 And that's for you and me. 503 00:27:29,404 --> 00:27:33,725 And there's no better time, no more needed time for the real Jesus 504 00:27:33,725 --> 00:27:35,494 to be seen and to be revealed. 505 00:27:35,674 --> 00:27:37,804 Our society needs the real Jesus. 506 00:27:38,630 --> 00:27:42,679 Your classmates need to see the real Jesus, your next door neighbors, your 507 00:27:42,679 --> 00:27:46,280 waiter at the store, your, your, your grocery clerk, whatever the case, 508 00:27:46,280 --> 00:27:47,870 they need to see the real Jesus. 509 00:27:47,870 --> 00:27:52,820 Right now, our kids in the church need to see the real Jesus, mom and dad. 510 00:27:52,820 --> 00:27:55,009 You have to ask the question, do they see church? 511 00:27:55,130 --> 00:27:58,070 Do they see religion or do they see Jesus? 512 00:27:59,480 --> 00:28:00,500 I was challenged by this. 513 00:28:00,500 --> 00:28:03,290 I was like, man, I, I know they see the church. 514 00:28:03,440 --> 00:28:07,940 I know they see different forms of following Jesus, but am I revealing 515 00:28:07,940 --> 00:28:10,639 and showing Jesus to them again? 516 00:28:10,639 --> 00:28:12,440 I don't want them to be part of the church only. 517 00:28:12,710 --> 00:28:17,259 I want them to be a part of the cause of Jesus and to follow the real Jesus. 518 00:28:18,080 --> 00:28:23,690 And so we have to ask ourselves here, are we going to reveal the 519 00:28:23,690 --> 00:28:27,560 real Jesus brother and sisters? 520 00:28:27,560 --> 00:28:29,030 I know every single one of us wants to. 521 00:28:29,615 --> 00:28:33,665 We need to remember the call to our personal relationship with the real Jesus. 522 00:28:33,695 --> 00:28:40,115 And then we need to have unwavering conviction to show people the real Jesus, 523 00:28:40,415 --> 00:28:43,865 to see that he's a man of conviction, a man of love, a man of faith, a 524 00:28:43,870 --> 00:28:45,605 man who's worthy of being followed. 525 00:28:45,754 --> 00:28:49,955 A man who's worthy of giving your whole life to a man who redeems, 526 00:28:50,495 --> 00:28:55,384 a man who transforms the man who is the son of the living God. 527 00:28:55,745 --> 00:28:58,145 That's the real Jesus and more. 528 00:28:58,504 --> 00:29:00,424 And so I want to call us every single one of us. 529 00:29:00,544 --> 00:29:04,054 Let's revive the cause of Jesus here in our church. 530 00:29:04,355 --> 00:29:08,674 Let's revive it in our family groups, in our ministries, and in our personal lives. 531 00:29:09,094 --> 00:29:10,685 Let's know the real Jesus. 532 00:29:10,745 --> 00:29:14,735 Let's follow the real Jesus and let's go out and show the world the real Jesus. 533 00:29:14,775 --> 00:29:15,264 Amen. 534 00:29:17,554 --> 00:29:23,285 Even now, everything that's been going on, I feel even more convinced of how 535 00:29:23,285 --> 00:29:25,895 much we need to show the real Jesus. 536 00:29:25,969 --> 00:29:32,060 Yeah, how much we need to show the real Jesus how much we need to 537 00:29:32,060 --> 00:29:34,429 know when to follow the real Jesus. 538 00:29:35,480 --> 00:29:39,379 So that again, that us in here, we see the real Jesus, our kids 539 00:29:39,379 --> 00:29:44,490 see the real Jesus, but those around us can see the real Jesus. 540 00:29:45,509 --> 00:29:49,100 You know, we're gonna start a new sermon series next week called The Real Jesus. 541 00:29:49,789 --> 00:29:51,799 We're gonna study out in the book of Luke. 542 00:29:52,129 --> 00:29:56,389 Jesus said, look at what it means to follow the real Jesus, what 543 00:29:56,389 --> 00:29:59,959 it means, what he was like, and how that applies to our lives. 544 00:29:59,959 --> 00:30:02,600 But let's go ahead and let's get closer out here. 545 00:30:02,719 --> 00:30:03,440 I wanna do something here. 546 00:30:04,475 --> 00:30:05,825 Really for, for this year. 547 00:30:05,975 --> 00:30:09,454 I want us to give us some action steps, but I also wanna call every one of 548 00:30:09,454 --> 00:30:12,004 us to all pray for the same thing. 549 00:30:12,155 --> 00:30:13,145 You guys with me here? 550 00:30:13,445 --> 00:30:17,195 Because I do believe that when the whole church prays that God moves powerfully. 551 00:30:17,315 --> 00:30:20,464 And so I want us to each week have a prayer in which we are 552 00:30:20,464 --> 00:30:22,535 combining, unified in praying. 553 00:30:22,804 --> 00:30:25,624 And so here are the action steps and the prayer for this week. 554 00:30:25,624 --> 00:30:29,554 Number one, reflect on your personal discipleship to the real Jesus. 555 00:30:30,275 --> 00:30:36,785 Asking yourself, am I following the authentic Jesus or just parts reflecting. 556 00:30:36,789 --> 00:30:39,664 Do others see the real Jesus through me? 557 00:30:39,874 --> 00:30:43,624 My kids, my my, my, my, my roommates, my family members. 558 00:30:44,075 --> 00:30:48,094 H how is my personal discipleship to the real Jesus? 559 00:30:48,155 --> 00:30:52,384 And then here's the prayer for all of us pray this week for the church, for all 560 00:30:52,384 --> 00:30:59,044 of us to know, to follow and to show the real Jesus that every single one of us. 561 00:30:59,554 --> 00:31:03,185 We'll revive the cause of Jesus here in Orange County and see 562 00:31:03,185 --> 00:31:08,225 God do something we couldn't even imagine in our own personal lives, 563 00:31:08,435 --> 00:31:11,674 in our church, and in our community. 564 00:31:12,065 --> 00:31:14,285 Brother and sisters, will you pray with me this week? 565 00:31:14,825 --> 00:31:15,004 Yeah. 566 00:31:16,415 --> 00:31:19,714 What would 2023 look like if we all renewed our commitment 567 00:31:19,714 --> 00:31:20,945 to the cause of Jesus? 568 00:31:22,384 --> 00:31:23,554 What would that look like? 569 00:31:26,794 --> 00:31:33,695 What would happen if every one of us would live for defend, fight and 570 00:31:34,174 --> 00:31:35,655 advocate for the cause of Jesus? 571 00:31:38,195 --> 00:31:40,804 What would happen in our church? 572 00:31:42,514 --> 00:31:45,815 What would happen in our ministries and family groups? 573 00:31:46,834 --> 00:31:51,424 What would happen in our relationships if we were all 574 00:31:51,485 --> 00:31:57,815 committed to fighting, defending, advocating for the cause of Jesus? 575 00:31:59,165 --> 00:32:02,135 What would happen in our lives individually? 576 00:32:02,135 --> 00:32:03,755 What would happen in our attitudes? 577 00:32:03,760 --> 00:32:05,555 What would happen in our faith? 578 00:32:06,365 --> 00:32:08,135 What would happen in our evangelism? 579 00:32:08,915 --> 00:32:10,895 What would happen in our families? 580 00:32:11,975 --> 00:32:15,815 What would Orange County look like if they all knew the real 581 00:32:15,820 --> 00:32:22,205 Jesus brother and sisters, we are called to the cause of Jesus. 582 00:32:23,045 --> 00:32:26,045 May we reflect like our brothers and sisters in the faith, 583 00:32:26,225 --> 00:32:28,235 the real Jesus to our world. 584 00:32:28,235 --> 00:32:31,055 Let's close out in Acts chapter five, verse 42, church, 585 00:32:31,060 --> 00:32:31,895 oh, you're still with me. 586 00:32:33,005 --> 00:32:36,575 Day after day in the temple courts and from house to house, they never 587 00:32:36,575 --> 00:32:41,465 stop teaching in proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Messiah. 588 00:32:41,465 --> 00:32:48,675 I pray that we may live for the cause of Jesus leading us to know, to follow and to 589 00:32:48,680 --> 00:32:50,945 show the real Jesus brother and sisters. 590 00:32:50,945 --> 00:32:51,275 Amen.