1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:01,680 Speaker: L Good morning everyone. 2 00:00:01,680 --> 00:00:02,370 How we doing? 3 00:00:02,370 --> 00:00:02,460 Good. 4 00:00:03,360 --> 00:00:04,770 Good, good, good. 5 00:00:05,250 --> 00:00:06,210 Happy Sunday. 6 00:00:06,210 --> 00:00:08,160 Happy Memorial Day weekend. 7 00:00:08,220 --> 00:00:10,740 Um, it's great to be here. 8 00:00:10,740 --> 00:00:13,920 I'm always, I'm always, uh, honored to always share with you what 9 00:00:13,920 --> 00:00:16,440 God has been teaching me, and as we've been going through this 10 00:00:16,440 --> 00:00:18,030 series, am I doing this right? 11 00:00:18,030 --> 00:00:22,710 I've really felt like as a, as a, for myself at least, I really have had 12 00:00:22,710 --> 00:00:24,150 to ask myself, am I doing this right? 13 00:00:24,494 --> 00:00:28,695 Um, this dec this September, I'll be coming up on uh, 10 years as a disciple. 14 00:00:28,935 --> 00:00:31,335 Be double digits, such as mind blowing. 15 00:00:31,395 --> 00:00:36,195 Um, but it, but we always have to beg the question, am I doing this right? 16 00:00:36,555 --> 00:00:39,435 Um, and uh, we've talked about faith, we talked about relationships. 17 00:00:39,435 --> 00:00:40,875 We talked about finances. 18 00:00:41,235 --> 00:00:42,945 You know, Maurice's stories are really funny. 19 00:00:42,945 --> 00:00:44,955 Last week, I dunno if you were here, but you know, talking about his 20 00:00:44,955 --> 00:00:47,504 contribution checks being bounced 'cause he had no money in his account. 21 00:00:47,864 --> 00:00:50,265 Or his, the speeding ticket, getting paid up, all that stuff. 22 00:00:50,265 --> 00:00:53,025 It was like pretty comedic, but it, I had to reflect on mine. 23 00:00:53,025 --> 00:00:56,385 And there was one story that I remember specifically that stood out to me was I 24 00:00:56,385 --> 00:00:59,894 was a freshman in college at Cal State Fullton, uh, with my roommate Drake. 25 00:01:00,224 --> 00:01:04,275 Uh, we went to Chick-fil-A and, you know, thinking nothing of it, you 26 00:01:04,275 --> 00:01:09,225 know, I get my meal and I, I, I about to pay and I get, I give him my card 27 00:01:09,225 --> 00:01:10,575 and the card comes back declined. 28 00:01:10,575 --> 00:01:12,975 And I was like, oh, I, I'm like, he tried again. 29 00:01:12,975 --> 00:01:13,845 So he tries it again. 30 00:01:13,995 --> 00:01:16,065 And I was like, can you try it one more time? 31 00:01:16,065 --> 00:01:17,925 You know, maybe, maybe it's, it's an insert chip. 32 00:01:17,925 --> 00:01:19,035 It's not the tap anymore, maybe. 33 00:01:19,035 --> 00:01:19,245 Really? 34 00:01:19,245 --> 00:01:19,545 You know? 35 00:01:19,545 --> 00:01:23,055 So come to find out, I, I am like, uh, I, I step outta lines. 36 00:01:23,055 --> 00:01:23,655 I'm embarrassed. 37 00:01:23,655 --> 00:01:26,205 So I just go to the back of the store and I'm like, I'm looking at my bank 38 00:01:26,205 --> 00:01:29,895 account and my app, my Wells Fargo app, $0 and 0 cents in the bank account. 39 00:01:30,495 --> 00:01:33,884 I called my dad and I was like, dad, I think my account got hacked. 40 00:01:33,884 --> 00:01:36,405 I, there's no way I can have $0 and 0 cents. 41 00:01:36,884 --> 00:01:37,845 And he's like, are you sure? 42 00:01:37,845 --> 00:01:38,595 I was like, yeah. 43 00:01:38,595 --> 00:01:41,205 I, I, I, you know, I, I, I should have gotten paid by now. 44 00:01:41,205 --> 00:01:42,015 This, this, and that. 45 00:01:42,330 --> 00:01:44,370 And so I, he was like, well, just check your transactions. 46 00:01:44,370 --> 00:01:45,120 I was like, okay, sure. 47 00:01:45,120 --> 00:01:48,390 So I, I opened up the history and I was like, well, that's me. 48 00:01:49,350 --> 00:01:50,520 Yep, that's me too. 49 00:01:51,300 --> 00:01:52,080 That's also me. 50 00:01:52,080 --> 00:01:52,950 That was gas. 51 00:01:52,950 --> 00:01:54,420 That was a subscription. 52 00:01:54,660 --> 00:01:57,750 And then I, it added up to where yes, I was the culprit. 53 00:01:57,750 --> 00:01:59,970 I robbed myself, you know, so. 54 00:02:00,270 --> 00:02:04,920 Finances, you know, God entrusts us with little, I had very little, but you 55 00:02:04,920 --> 00:02:07,710 know, over time, hopefully, I mean, as of right now, I'm doing pretty well. 56 00:02:07,710 --> 00:02:09,240 I'm not at zero, I can tell you that much. 57 00:02:09,570 --> 00:02:13,350 But, um, other than that, um, I really am grateful to continuing this series 58 00:02:13,350 --> 00:02:16,829 and actually finish our series and we're talking about success today. 59 00:02:17,100 --> 00:02:19,590 Um, before we get into it though, let's bow our heads and pray, and 60 00:02:19,590 --> 00:02:20,820 let's just get centered with God. 61 00:02:21,630 --> 00:02:23,790 Uh, God thank you so much for today and the time to come 62 00:02:23,790 --> 00:02:24,840 before you and come together. 63 00:02:24,840 --> 00:02:28,260 God, it's always a blessing and a gift to be able to come 64 00:02:28,260 --> 00:02:29,790 together and to worship you. 65 00:02:30,209 --> 00:02:33,390 Father, we pray that today our hearts are stirred, not by my words, but by your 66 00:02:33,390 --> 00:02:35,579 word God, that it carries and is timeless. 67 00:02:35,579 --> 00:02:38,700 God, we pray that we are impacted and inspired to want to go do 68 00:02:38,700 --> 00:02:41,640 more and advance your kingdom God, not for our glory, but for yours. 69 00:02:41,940 --> 00:02:42,600 We love you, father. 70 00:02:42,600 --> 00:02:43,500 We praying Jesus name. 71 00:02:43,500 --> 00:02:44,010 Amen. 72 00:02:44,850 --> 00:02:49,019 All right, so like I said, am I doing this success thing right? 73 00:02:49,649 --> 00:02:49,859 Right. 74 00:02:49,890 --> 00:02:51,630 When we, when we view success, I'll take some answers. 75 00:02:51,630 --> 00:02:54,870 When you hear the word success, what are some words or people 76 00:02:54,870 --> 00:02:56,130 even that come to mind for you? 77 00:02:56,130 --> 00:02:57,480 We'll take some hands, take a couple responses. 78 00:02:59,535 --> 00:03:00,945 Words or people? 79 00:03:01,125 --> 00:03:01,575 Yes. 80 00:03:01,580 --> 00:03:02,350 Accomplishments. 81 00:03:02,355 --> 00:03:03,705 Accomplishments, absolutely. 82 00:03:03,705 --> 00:03:04,185 What else? 83 00:03:04,185 --> 00:03:04,575 Determination. 84 00:03:05,415 --> 00:03:06,345 Determination? 85 00:03:06,345 --> 00:03:06,825 Yes. 86 00:03:06,825 --> 00:03:07,575 Anything else? 87 00:03:07,680 --> 00:03:08,350 Discipline. 88 00:03:08,595 --> 00:03:09,135 Discipline? 89 00:03:09,135 --> 00:03:09,555 Yes. 90 00:03:09,555 --> 00:03:09,855 Chris? 91 00:03:09,860 --> 00:03:10,270 Winning. 92 00:03:10,575 --> 00:03:11,145 Winning. 93 00:03:11,145 --> 00:03:11,565 Yes. 94 00:03:11,565 --> 00:03:12,195 What else? 95 00:03:13,335 --> 00:03:13,725 Marcel. 96 00:03:13,840 --> 00:03:14,190 Money. 97 00:03:14,475 --> 00:03:14,955 Money. 98 00:03:14,985 --> 00:03:15,375 Corina. 99 00:03:16,515 --> 00:03:17,805 See, this is how, you know they're married. 100 00:03:17,805 --> 00:03:18,765 You know, they think the same thing. 101 00:03:19,845 --> 00:03:20,445 Yep. 102 00:03:20,450 --> 00:03:20,829 Prayer. 103 00:03:21,010 --> 00:03:21,430 Prayer. 104 00:03:21,650 --> 00:03:21,870 Yep. 105 00:03:22,035 --> 00:03:22,545 Okay. 106 00:03:22,605 --> 00:03:23,115 I like that. 107 00:03:23,115 --> 00:03:24,195 We're going spiritual now. 108 00:03:24,195 --> 00:03:24,555 It's all right. 109 00:03:24,555 --> 00:03:25,935 I, I like that one more. 110 00:03:26,355 --> 00:03:26,775 Yes. 111 00:03:27,615 --> 00:03:28,845 Have it all together. 112 00:03:28,845 --> 00:03:29,625 Yeah, absolutely. 113 00:03:29,625 --> 00:03:33,915 I think when we think of success, there are so many phrases and people 114 00:03:33,915 --> 00:03:38,025 that come to mind instantly that, but I think in our culture, especially 115 00:03:38,025 --> 00:03:41,685 in the Western civilization, success is very materialistic. 116 00:03:41,954 --> 00:03:45,765 It's very, very materialistic, and we have to be careful because if 117 00:03:45,825 --> 00:03:49,365 that combines with our faith, we get into a very dangerous place. 118 00:03:49,980 --> 00:03:53,250 So we're gonna start off in Matthew chapter 25, verse 14. 119 00:03:53,250 --> 00:03:55,980 If you wanna turn your Bibles over to there, I'll also have 'em on the screen. 120 00:03:55,980 --> 00:03:57,750 But if you bought your paper Bibles, praise God. 121 00:03:57,750 --> 00:03:58,829 We're still gonna keep it going. 122 00:03:59,160 --> 00:03:59,700 Um. 123 00:04:00,105 --> 00:04:01,035 Just some context here. 124 00:04:01,035 --> 00:04:05,535 We're in what's called the all of it discourse in the last, Jesus' last 125 00:04:05,535 --> 00:04:09,105 teaching, his final teaching with his disciples in chapters 24 and 25. 126 00:04:09,315 --> 00:04:11,085 He's teaching 'em about the end times. 127 00:04:11,295 --> 00:04:15,975 Um, he's teaching them about the, his second coming, his return, but he is 128 00:04:15,975 --> 00:04:20,084 also teaching about, um, basically like how to live until he gets back. 129 00:04:20,385 --> 00:04:25,245 And so with that, we're in, uh, chapter 25 and in verses one through 13, he's 130 00:04:25,245 --> 00:04:27,855 already talked about what's called the Parable of the 10 Virgins, and it's 131 00:04:27,855 --> 00:04:31,395 about spiritual preparedness being ready to come, ready, be prepared when 132 00:04:31,395 --> 00:04:33,345 he comes back, when the master returns. 133 00:04:33,555 --> 00:04:35,505 But now we're gonna be picking up in verse 14. 134 00:04:35,505 --> 00:04:39,435 So it says again, it will be like a man going on a journey who called his 135 00:04:39,465 --> 00:04:41,265 servants and entrusted his wealth to them. 136 00:04:41,445 --> 00:04:45,284 To the one he gave five bags of gold to another two bags and to another 137 00:04:45,284 --> 00:04:47,505 one bag each according to his ability. 138 00:04:47,865 --> 00:04:49,034 Then he went on his journey. 139 00:04:49,515 --> 00:04:52,335 The man who had received five bags of gold went at once and put his money 140 00:04:52,335 --> 00:04:54,225 to work and gained five more bags. 141 00:04:54,795 --> 00:04:57,735 Uh, so also the one with two bags of gold gained two more. 142 00:04:57,915 --> 00:05:01,275 But the man who had received one bag went off, dug a hole in the 143 00:05:01,275 --> 00:05:03,195 ground, and hid his master's money. 144 00:05:04,005 --> 00:05:06,405 After a long time, the master of those servants returned and 145 00:05:06,405 --> 00:05:07,545 settled the accounts with them. 146 00:05:07,875 --> 00:05:11,415 The man who had received five bags of gold brought the other five masker. 147 00:05:11,415 --> 00:05:13,815 He said, you've entrusted me with five bags of gold. 148 00:05:13,815 --> 00:05:15,555 See, I have gained five more. 149 00:05:15,810 --> 00:05:19,050 His master replied, well done, good and faithful servant. 150 00:05:19,320 --> 00:05:21,030 You have been faithful with a few things. 151 00:05:21,150 --> 00:05:22,860 I will put you in charge of many things. 152 00:05:22,890 --> 00:05:24,480 Come and share your master's. 153 00:05:24,599 --> 00:05:25,409 Happiness. 154 00:05:25,830 --> 00:05:28,260 The man with two bags of gold also came master. 155 00:05:28,260 --> 00:05:30,180 He said, you have entrusted me with two bags of gold. 156 00:05:30,300 --> 00:05:31,650 See, I have gained two more. 157 00:05:31,950 --> 00:05:32,640 His master replied. 158 00:05:32,640 --> 00:05:33,090 Well done. 159 00:05:33,090 --> 00:05:34,200 Good and faithful servants. 160 00:05:34,409 --> 00:05:36,150 You have been faithful with a few things. 161 00:05:36,240 --> 00:05:38,219 I will put you in charge of many things. 162 00:05:38,430 --> 00:05:39,930 Come and share your master's happiness. 163 00:05:40,695 --> 00:05:44,955 Then the man who had received one bag of gold came mastery, said, I knew 164 00:05:44,955 --> 00:05:48,405 that you are a hard man harvesting where you have not sewn and gathering 165 00:05:48,405 --> 00:05:49,665 where you have not scattered seed. 166 00:05:49,845 --> 00:05:52,905 So I was afraid and I went out and hid your gold in the ground. 167 00:05:52,995 --> 00:05:55,125 See, here is what belongs to you. 168 00:05:55,485 --> 00:05:58,125 His master replied, you wicked, lazy servant. 169 00:05:58,485 --> 00:06:01,185 You knew that I harvest where I've not sewn and gathered 170 00:06:01,185 --> 00:06:02,715 where I've not scattered well. 171 00:06:02,715 --> 00:06:05,355 Then you should have put my money on deposit with the banker 172 00:06:05,355 --> 00:06:09,645 so that when I return, I would receive it back with interest. 173 00:06:10,844 --> 00:06:11,505 So I got three. 174 00:06:11,505 --> 00:06:12,735 We're gonna stop there for today. 175 00:06:12,974 --> 00:06:14,115 I got three points for you today. 176 00:06:14,115 --> 00:06:19,965 The first point being stewardship over striving, stewardship over striving. 177 00:06:19,965 --> 00:06:23,925 You know, Jesus begins this parable by painting the picture of a master, 178 00:06:23,925 --> 00:06:26,565 entrusting his wealth to his servants. 179 00:06:26,775 --> 00:06:28,065 You know, none of them earned it. 180 00:06:28,065 --> 00:06:31,815 You know the word in trust means assign the abi, the assigned 181 00:06:31,815 --> 00:06:33,735 responsibility for doing something too. 182 00:06:34,305 --> 00:06:37,395 So it's not something that they earned or get or, or, or worked 183 00:06:37,395 --> 00:06:38,565 for in these bags of gold. 184 00:06:38,565 --> 00:06:43,245 The master had entrusted them to it, you know, and he gave it to each, according 185 00:06:43,245 --> 00:06:47,474 to their ability, not to test their worth, but to invite them into his worth. 186 00:06:47,985 --> 00:06:51,164 Um, the one thing we have to understand with Godly success, 187 00:06:51,405 --> 00:06:53,414 and that it starts with God first. 188 00:06:54,104 --> 00:06:57,615 He doesn't call us to hustle or to prove ourselves. 189 00:06:57,735 --> 00:07:00,675 He entrusts us because of his grace and his purpose. 190 00:07:01,305 --> 00:07:05,984 Everything you have, think about it, your time, your talents, the opportunities, 191 00:07:06,135 --> 00:07:10,305 the, um, some of the skills and the abilities that you may have, that's not 192 00:07:10,305 --> 00:07:12,075 something you earned or you deserved. 193 00:07:12,794 --> 00:07:17,414 That's all from God and he entrusts that to you. 194 00:07:18,705 --> 00:07:19,635 Now, think about that. 195 00:07:19,635 --> 00:07:23,805 Like how, like how gracious of a God do we serve, that the gifts and the 196 00:07:23,835 --> 00:07:27,224 talents and the abilities, the time, the opportunities that you have. 197 00:07:27,975 --> 00:07:29,985 All come from our gracious father. 198 00:07:30,585 --> 00:07:32,625 You know, this is about a relationship. 199 00:07:32,625 --> 00:07:34,155 Like I said, none of us have deserved it. 200 00:07:34,155 --> 00:07:36,375 None of those servants even deserved those bags of gold. 201 00:07:36,375 --> 00:07:40,815 But God entrusted, God graciously gave those things to us. 202 00:07:40,875 --> 00:07:44,265 You know, even then God is in this boss that is waiting around for you to mess up. 203 00:07:44,265 --> 00:07:46,065 He's like, all right, I'm gonna give you this opportunity. 204 00:07:46,065 --> 00:07:47,655 I'm gonna watch for you, for you to fail. 205 00:07:47,895 --> 00:07:51,195 'cause obviously, we're imperfect people, so of course we're going to fail. 206 00:07:51,344 --> 00:07:53,895 But God is not a God that looks for our flaws. 207 00:07:53,985 --> 00:07:55,815 He works with us despite our flaws. 208 00:07:56,235 --> 00:07:58,635 I don't know if you guys remember it, but a sermon that I preached about was that 209 00:07:58,635 --> 00:08:01,545 God can work with imperfect faith, right? 210 00:08:01,785 --> 00:08:03,885 We have to remember that God is a gracious God. 211 00:08:03,885 --> 00:08:07,965 He's not this hard, overbearing God that is looking for your every mistake. 212 00:08:08,265 --> 00:08:09,795 He's looking to work with us. 213 00:08:09,795 --> 00:08:10,575 He loves us. 214 00:08:10,575 --> 00:08:14,655 In spite of that, amen, we have to ask ourselves this. 215 00:08:15,765 --> 00:08:19,965 Am I treating what God has entrusted to me as a gift to 216 00:08:19,965 --> 00:08:23,085 steward or a task to prove myself? 217 00:08:24,765 --> 00:08:27,735 You know, I've often felt the pressure, I'm sure you have of 218 00:08:27,735 --> 00:08:29,205 messing up in some type of way. 219 00:08:29,775 --> 00:08:33,075 You've been given a job opportunity, a responsibility or assignment, and 220 00:08:33,075 --> 00:08:35,505 you're like, and, and maybe it's a big opportunity and you're like, 221 00:08:35,505 --> 00:08:37,155 man, I don't wanna mess this up. 222 00:08:37,635 --> 00:08:41,534 I feel the pressure, I feel, uh, the worry, I feel the weight, I feel 223 00:08:41,534 --> 00:08:44,505 like I also feel kind of honored, but I also don't wanna mess it up. 224 00:08:44,715 --> 00:08:46,215 I think a lot of times though, I think. 225 00:08:46,740 --> 00:08:48,210 I have a hard time growing. 226 00:08:48,270 --> 00:08:51,660 I mean, growing up for me, I, I, I'm, I'm an achiever by nature and I will 227 00:08:51,660 --> 00:08:53,220 get into that a little bit later. 228 00:08:53,640 --> 00:08:54,480 I love to win. 229 00:08:54,480 --> 00:08:55,620 I love to succeed. 230 00:08:55,860 --> 00:09:00,090 I love to be the best at what I do, but it's very hard when I fail. 231 00:09:00,450 --> 00:09:04,980 It's very hard to, for me to be, not say necessarily humble, but to accept that 232 00:09:04,980 --> 00:09:09,270 failure is a possibility to accept that I am not gonna have it all together. 233 00:09:09,689 --> 00:09:11,400 And it's hard because I think sometimes. 234 00:09:11,805 --> 00:09:16,064 I, I focus so much on being perfect, but I actually have a hard time believing 235 00:09:16,064 --> 00:09:19,785 that God can actually work through my flaws and that what he's given me. 236 00:09:19,785 --> 00:09:21,135 I have to be perfect at. 237 00:09:21,195 --> 00:09:22,905 I have to use my time effectively. 238 00:09:23,055 --> 00:09:25,814 I have to, uh, make sure that every opportunity that is given to me, 239 00:09:25,814 --> 00:09:29,385 I live it out to the full, and that there's no room for error. 240 00:09:30,285 --> 00:09:33,314 But that thing, the thing is I have to remember, we have to remember 241 00:09:33,314 --> 00:09:37,905 that we have to stop striving and start stewarding what God has given 242 00:09:37,905 --> 00:09:39,495 us with humility and with faith. 243 00:09:40,260 --> 00:09:40,770 You know, isn't it? 244 00:09:40,770 --> 00:09:43,439 Like I said, it's a relief to know that God is the God that 245 00:09:43,439 --> 00:09:45,480 give, that invites us to grow. 246 00:09:45,930 --> 00:09:48,689 He's not, it's not attest to see if we pass perfectly. 247 00:09:49,140 --> 00:09:53,130 What he gives us, what he gives us to steward is inviting us to grow and 248 00:09:53,130 --> 00:09:55,020 to honestly be more reliant on him. 249 00:09:55,890 --> 00:09:59,460 When we remember we've been entrusted and not hired. 250 00:09:59,970 --> 00:10:03,960 Everything in our perspective shifts because now the question becomes, 251 00:10:04,380 --> 00:10:06,330 what does God actually want from us? 252 00:10:06,780 --> 00:10:09,360 But what does God actually want me to grow in? 253 00:10:09,945 --> 00:10:11,685 And it leads me into the next principle that have is 254 00:10:11,685 --> 00:10:16,095 faithfulness over fruitfulness, faithfulness over fruitfulness. 255 00:10:16,095 --> 00:10:17,505 Now go to verse 20. 256 00:10:17,595 --> 00:10:19,875 Uh, verse 21, what does the master say? 257 00:10:19,875 --> 00:10:22,695 He says, well done when, when all the servants come back. 258 00:10:22,695 --> 00:10:25,005 He says, well done, good and faithful servant to the one that 259 00:10:25,005 --> 00:10:26,415 had five and that brought five. 260 00:10:26,595 --> 00:10:27,675 And the one, that two, that brought two. 261 00:10:28,725 --> 00:10:30,825 You know, when the master returns, like I said, he is at, 262 00:10:30,825 --> 00:10:32,204 he's calling them faitfhful. 263 00:10:32,400 --> 00:10:36,750 He didn't say most productive, most successful, most like you, like you 264 00:10:36,750 --> 00:10:38,010 brought back the most investment. 265 00:10:38,010 --> 00:10:38,880 Congratulations. 266 00:10:38,880 --> 00:10:44,190 Like, no, he just said, he called him faithful, faithful servants. 267 00:10:45,465 --> 00:10:49,890 I, I, I mean that, that phrase for me, I don't know about you, but that phrase 268 00:10:49,890 --> 00:10:51,600 is what I want to hear when I see God. 269 00:10:53,340 --> 00:10:54,420 Isn't that what we all want? 270 00:10:55,350 --> 00:10:59,010 Not to be judged by the amount, but by our faith. 271 00:11:00,165 --> 00:11:03,045 Not the fruit of what we, what we've had to bear, but by our 272 00:11:03,045 --> 00:11:05,505 faith, and honestly because of our faith, we should bear fruit. 273 00:11:05,985 --> 00:11:07,095 That's just how it is. 274 00:11:07,905 --> 00:11:11,595 But if we are so locked in on the fruit and lose the faithfulness, 275 00:11:13,245 --> 00:11:14,895 are we truly serving for God? 276 00:11:14,895 --> 00:11:17,145 Are we serving for ourselves on our own satisfaction? 277 00:11:18,375 --> 00:11:22,010 Godly success isn't about outcome, it's about obedience. 278 00:11:22,965 --> 00:11:26,655 Our role is to respond faithfully to what God has given us, not 279 00:11:26,655 --> 00:11:27,945 to the guaranteed results. 280 00:11:28,890 --> 00:11:31,860 You know, in one Corinthians chapter three, verse 6, 3 7, Paul is riding 281 00:11:31,860 --> 00:11:36,030 to the church in Corinth who have placed their identity in the leaders 282 00:11:36,030 --> 00:11:37,470 that have been leading the church. 283 00:11:37,890 --> 00:11:40,020 But Paul says this, he's, he tries to remind me, he's like, Hey 284 00:11:40,020 --> 00:11:41,070 guys, you have to remember this. 285 00:11:41,070 --> 00:11:46,290 He says, I planted to see I, Paul a Paul's watered it, but 286 00:11:46,290 --> 00:11:48,570 God has been making it grow. 287 00:11:49,530 --> 00:11:53,700 So neither the one that plants, nor the one who waters is anything, 288 00:11:54,630 --> 00:11:57,540 but only God who makes things grow. 289 00:11:57,615 --> 00:11:57,795 Amen. 290 00:11:58,935 --> 00:12:02,205 Faithfulness does not force outcomes. 291 00:12:03,255 --> 00:12:06,495 Sometimes we, we confuse control with faith. 292 00:12:07,095 --> 00:12:09,225 We wanna make things, uh, happen. 293 00:12:09,225 --> 00:12:10,605 We wanna make things push forward. 294 00:12:10,605 --> 00:12:13,605 I, I mean, for the campus ministry, I'm sure they know Kyle Lounsberry's 295 00:12:13,605 --> 00:12:16,065 favorite phrase is, make it happen. 296 00:12:16,875 --> 00:12:20,175 If we ever have a problem and we gotta have a solution to fix 297 00:12:20,175 --> 00:12:21,705 it, Kyle's like, make it happen. 298 00:12:22,439 --> 00:12:25,949 Which is not a bad thing in its entirety, but I think what happens is that mindset 299 00:12:25,949 --> 00:12:29,099 can somehow, and I'm not saying, I'm not trying to bash saying the phrase 300 00:12:29,099 --> 00:12:33,599 is something that we like, we like to be optimistic and adaptive to, but 301 00:12:33,630 --> 00:12:37,079 in life though, we're always in this make it happen type of mentality where 302 00:12:37,079 --> 00:12:42,854 it's about us and about our control, about our power, then we truly are not, 303 00:12:42,864 --> 00:12:45,119 we're not living out I authentic faith. 304 00:12:46,064 --> 00:12:51,015 You know, the Bible also says in Psalm 21, 27, verse one, unless 305 00:12:51,015 --> 00:12:55,064 the Lord builds the house, the la, the builder's labor in vain. 306 00:12:56,925 --> 00:12:59,475 You know, even if you're not, it's necessarily committed to God. 307 00:12:59,475 --> 00:13:03,795 If you're not a disciple, I'm sure you can feel the pressure and, and, and the worry, 308 00:13:03,795 --> 00:13:06,255 but also the, the how exhausting it is. 309 00:13:06,569 --> 00:13:11,310 To go chase after results and work in school on social media. 310 00:13:11,430 --> 00:13:14,250 You might feel like you have to achieve everything, but it's 311 00:13:14,250 --> 00:13:15,870 never quite enough at some point. 312 00:13:16,920 --> 00:13:22,560 But what if the goal, what if it wasn't to achieve more, but to live with purpose, 313 00:13:22,890 --> 00:13:27,569 to live with integrity, and to live with peace regardless of the outcome? 314 00:13:28,680 --> 00:13:30,090 Can I be honest for a quick, quick second? 315 00:13:30,444 --> 00:13:30,665 Yes. 316 00:13:31,920 --> 00:13:32,280 I love results. 317 00:13:32,640 --> 00:13:34,920 I am a results oriented person. 318 00:13:35,065 --> 00:13:36,390 I, I, I, I'm a doer. 319 00:13:36,390 --> 00:13:37,950 I love to get things done. 320 00:13:38,070 --> 00:13:39,000 It's in my nature. 321 00:13:39,150 --> 00:13:41,040 If you have any questions about it, you can ask my mother. 322 00:13:41,040 --> 00:13:42,300 She's in the front row here. 323 00:13:42,540 --> 00:13:46,200 It's probably from her, so if you have a gripe with me, you can bring it up to her. 324 00:13:46,950 --> 00:13:48,240 But I'm a doer by nature. 325 00:13:48,240 --> 00:13:49,500 I just, I, I love to achieve. 326 00:13:49,500 --> 00:13:51,780 I've always been an achiever, whether it was in sports, whether it was in 327 00:13:51,780 --> 00:13:54,930 school, whether it was in Kids' Kingdom, and doing bible trivia or memorizing 328 00:13:54,930 --> 00:13:58,320 the scripture, like whatever it was, I wanted to just get it done, but 329 00:13:58,320 --> 00:14:00,060 also be the best at what, what I do. 330 00:14:01,500 --> 00:14:04,290 And you know, I, I don't if you haven't already, I, I love showing 331 00:14:04,290 --> 00:14:07,230 people my Google calendar and a lot of the campus guys know I like, I 332 00:14:07,230 --> 00:14:09,840 have my calendar on my phone that I, it's color coded and it's everything. 333 00:14:09,840 --> 00:14:10,620 It's nice and tight. 334 00:14:10,625 --> 00:14:14,221 It's, it's great like that, that, that's just how, that's just who I am. 335 00:14:14,226 --> 00:14:15,630 And that's all, that's from my dad. 336 00:14:15,630 --> 00:14:16,110 That's from my dad. 337 00:14:16,110 --> 00:14:17,820 My dad is the color coded schedule guy. 338 00:14:17,880 --> 00:14:21,330 So like family vacations, itinerary, there you go. 339 00:14:21,750 --> 00:14:24,420 No free time itinerary, right? 340 00:14:24,425 --> 00:14:26,820 If, if it was free time, there was something in that 341 00:14:26,820 --> 00:14:27,725 free time that we had to do. 342 00:14:28,725 --> 00:14:28,965 Right. 343 00:14:30,105 --> 00:14:35,745 And so for me, you know, I, and for those that also don't know, I'm also currently 344 00:14:35,745 --> 00:14:37,365 in a master's program at Long Beach State. 345 00:14:37,365 --> 00:14:37,935 Go Beach. 346 00:14:38,295 --> 00:14:39,345 Um, but also Go Titans. 347 00:14:39,345 --> 00:14:40,935 That's my undergrads, that's my, my home. 348 00:14:41,025 --> 00:14:42,105 So there you go. 349 00:14:42,105 --> 00:14:42,615 Yeah, there we go. 350 00:14:42,615 --> 00:14:42,945 There we go. 351 00:14:43,245 --> 00:14:47,220 But I, I'm in a sport management program getting my master's right now, and one of 352 00:14:47,220 --> 00:14:51,285 the things they emphasize so heavily in the program is called personal branding. 353 00:14:52,005 --> 00:14:55,155 Is that how do you brand yourself to employers, people in that you're 354 00:14:55,155 --> 00:14:58,815 looking to be, um, hired by people that you're looking to get contracted by. 355 00:14:58,935 --> 00:15:01,095 It's all about how you present yourself. 356 00:15:01,305 --> 00:15:04,395 So, uh, on my LinkedIn, go add me after service if you want. 357 00:15:04,695 --> 00:15:06,885 Um, is that in my bio? 358 00:15:06,885 --> 00:15:12,945 I put passionate, results driven, adaptive, dynamic, charismatic 359 00:15:13,245 --> 00:15:16,875 sports management, graduate student, multi-sport athlete, looking to 360 00:15:16,875 --> 00:15:18,165 get experience in the sports world. 361 00:15:18,720 --> 00:15:21,780 So even in my bio, I'm branding myself as results driven, 362 00:15:22,260 --> 00:15:23,220 and that's not a bad thing. 363 00:15:23,220 --> 00:15:26,610 I think in our world and in some of our jobs today, results are good and I 364 00:15:26,610 --> 00:15:28,079 don't wanna discourage anyone from that. 365 00:15:28,079 --> 00:15:29,400 Results are a good thing. 366 00:15:30,000 --> 00:15:35,925 However, the moment that results starts to drive our walk with God 367 00:15:37,620 --> 00:15:39,360 is where it becomes very harmful. 368 00:15:40,410 --> 00:15:44,310 I know for myself currently right now, as I lead the campus ministry, it's 369 00:15:44,310 --> 00:15:47,730 very hard when I don't see growth. 370 00:15:48,974 --> 00:15:51,944 We don't see as many people attending our ministry or our 371 00:15:51,944 --> 00:15:53,385 events as much as we want to. 372 00:15:53,714 --> 00:15:58,125 It's hard, 'cause like I said, my mindset in my head is that I'm so 373 00:15:58,125 --> 00:15:59,925 results driven and I need to see results. 374 00:15:59,925 --> 00:16:03,704 I need to see growth or else I don't think God is working and it's so 375 00:16:03,704 --> 00:16:07,964 dangerous 'cause it just, it totally wrecks everything that we're here for. 376 00:16:09,194 --> 00:16:12,435 It's about to be, it's a walk of faith, not a walk of results. 377 00:16:14,114 --> 00:16:16,935 Like I said, the faith, the fruitfulness comes from our faith. 378 00:16:16,935 --> 00:16:21,015 But if our, if we're so focused and we're so like locked in on the results 379 00:16:21,015 --> 00:16:25,244 that we're gonna miss the walk with God saying that I should have been there by 380 00:16:25,244 --> 00:16:27,074 now, or we should have been here by now. 381 00:16:27,944 --> 00:16:30,675 But this walk, it's all about humility. 382 00:16:31,155 --> 00:16:35,744 It's about us surrendering and living at peace no matter what the outcome is. 383 00:16:36,480 --> 00:16:40,740 So even if my ministry does shrink, am I still being faithful to God If 384 00:16:40,740 --> 00:16:43,590 it grows, am I still being faithful to God or am I saying, oh yeah, 385 00:16:43,590 --> 00:16:46,680 look what I've done in your jobs. 386 00:16:46,770 --> 00:16:50,160 Same thing if you get that promotion, man, look at all the work that I've done. 387 00:16:50,160 --> 00:16:53,220 It's like, no, what has God guided me through to be able 388 00:16:53,220 --> 00:16:54,540 to have this opportunity? 389 00:16:55,590 --> 00:16:58,020 I'm gonna get, I'm, I'm, I'm gonna start going a little bit deeper, so I hope 390 00:16:58,020 --> 00:16:59,310 you guys are buckled up and ready to go. 391 00:16:59,310 --> 00:16:59,490 We're ready. 392 00:17:01,260 --> 00:17:04,108 We have to ask ourselves, am I more loyal to the alchem? 393 00:17:04,108 --> 00:17:04,675 I hope for. 394 00:17:05,490 --> 00:17:07,020 Or to the God who holds it. 395 00:17:08,790 --> 00:17:14,730 Parents, you're, I'm, I'm sure one of your greatest desires in life is 396 00:17:14,730 --> 00:17:16,170 to see your kids become disciples. 397 00:17:18,825 --> 00:17:22,020 I, I, I, I hands, I know my mother is here in the front row, and I would 398 00:17:22,020 --> 00:17:25,349 not be here because without her faith, without God, more importantly, but 399 00:17:25,349 --> 00:17:27,990 because of her faith and my dad's faith, I would not be here right now. 400 00:17:29,070 --> 00:17:32,610 So parents, I understand as a, as a kid, as a kingdom kid receiving. 401 00:17:33,240 --> 00:17:35,189 Faith in the years that you've walked. 402 00:17:35,189 --> 00:17:39,899 I understand the, the love that you have for your kids, but we also have 403 00:17:39,899 --> 00:17:42,510 to understand that you also have to understand, I can't say we, I'm not 404 00:17:42,510 --> 00:17:44,730 there yet, but I'm gonna need you to hold me down when I get there. 405 00:17:46,649 --> 00:17:50,129 Is that it's up to it's, it's God. 406 00:17:50,129 --> 00:17:50,790 I have to entrust. 407 00:17:50,850 --> 00:17:55,350 God has entrusted them to me, but I also have to make sure that they 408 00:17:55,350 --> 00:17:57,060 understand that they're God's first. 409 00:17:57,060 --> 00:17:57,570 That's right. 410 00:17:58,500 --> 00:18:00,480 We have to entrust their future to God. 411 00:18:00,570 --> 00:18:04,020 'cause God loves them more than you ever will. 412 00:18:04,980 --> 00:18:07,649 And that's hard 'cause you're like, I don't wanna make sure 413 00:18:07,649 --> 00:18:09,600 nothing happens to my kid. 414 00:18:10,020 --> 00:18:12,000 I don't want 'em to get influenced by the wrong things. 415 00:18:12,000 --> 00:18:15,690 I don't want them to be around the wrong people or hear or experience 416 00:18:15,690 --> 00:18:17,790 things like, trust me, I get it. 417 00:18:18,990 --> 00:18:25,200 But we have to be able to entrust them to God who holds all things together. 418 00:18:25,655 --> 00:18:26,925 And I wish the teens were in the room. 419 00:18:26,925 --> 00:18:28,905 'cause I would, I would talk to 'em directly and tell 'em that it's 420 00:18:28,905 --> 00:18:32,145 not, they're not being overbearing, they're not being unreasonable. 421 00:18:32,324 --> 00:18:33,314 They just love you a lot. 422 00:18:35,114 --> 00:18:35,260 You still tell Yeah. 423 00:18:35,354 --> 00:18:35,895 I guess they'll tell 'em. 424 00:18:35,895 --> 00:18:37,754 Yeah, I'll, I'll, I'll shoot Dan a text right now. 425 00:18:39,794 --> 00:18:43,574 You know, like I said, but faithfulness as a parent, it's not about controlling 426 00:18:43,574 --> 00:18:48,074 their outcome, it's about loving them consistently and entrusting their 427 00:18:48,074 --> 00:18:49,935 lives to God's timing and his grace. 428 00:18:49,965 --> 00:18:52,155 Right campus. 429 00:18:52,155 --> 00:18:59,475 Yo Pros, you're pursuing the degree, master's, bachelor's, the job, the career, 430 00:19:00,735 --> 00:19:02,385 trying to figure out what your calling is. 431 00:19:03,014 --> 00:19:05,504 You easily obsessive over getting it right, like the one, 432 00:19:05,510 --> 00:19:07,185 it's, it's gotta be one shot. 433 00:19:07,245 --> 00:19:09,435 Like I've gotta get this right or it's never gonna happen. 434 00:19:10,245 --> 00:19:12,044 You ask yourself the question, we've all been asking this 435 00:19:12,044 --> 00:19:13,574 series, am I doing this right? 436 00:19:14,084 --> 00:19:15,254 Trust me, 18 to 22. 437 00:19:15,254 --> 00:19:16,334 Man, it's confusing as heck. 438 00:19:16,334 --> 00:19:18,584 I, and I'm sure most of us have been here, so we all understand like. 439 00:19:18,885 --> 00:19:19,545 What were we doing? 440 00:19:19,695 --> 00:19:24,075 We don't, we don't know sometimes, but sometimes the, the questions 441 00:19:24,075 --> 00:19:25,095 of, am I doing this right? 442 00:19:25,305 --> 00:19:26,475 Am I making the right moves? 443 00:19:26,475 --> 00:19:27,495 Did I do this? 444 00:19:27,915 --> 00:19:28,935 Did I do that? 445 00:19:29,175 --> 00:19:32,235 Are sometimes more rooted in control than they are in faith. 446 00:19:33,345 --> 00:19:36,105 And it's hard because we wanna make sure that we are setting 447 00:19:36,105 --> 00:19:37,215 ourselves up for the future. 448 00:19:37,305 --> 00:19:41,295 But the biggest thing is that I'm not here to discourage us from dreaming 449 00:19:41,295 --> 00:19:46,995 big for any of us, but we shouldn't sacrifice our discipleship for a dream. 450 00:19:49,515 --> 00:19:52,905 If anything, our discipleship, our greatest dream is to be with God, which 451 00:19:52,905 --> 00:19:57,495 we'll talk about a little bit more, but we can't sacrifice the questions 452 00:19:57,615 --> 00:20:01,215 or allow the questions and the doubt to sacrifice our discipleship for a dream. 453 00:20:02,505 --> 00:20:06,045 You know, as someone that is, like I said in my masters program, trust me, I get it. 454 00:20:06,045 --> 00:20:10,155 And especially in a world of sports and media where it's all about results. 455 00:20:10,275 --> 00:20:12,195 It's all about who you are. 456 00:20:13,245 --> 00:20:15,495 But at the end of the day, none of those people are gonna be 457 00:20:15,495 --> 00:20:16,845 beside me when I stand before God. 458 00:20:16,905 --> 00:20:17,085 That's it. 459 00:20:18,075 --> 00:20:20,985 None of those people are gonna be there to vouch for me and my spirituality 460 00:20:20,985 --> 00:20:22,514 because God already knows everything. 461 00:20:23,925 --> 00:20:27,195 It's not about what I do here or for them even. 462 00:20:27,615 --> 00:20:29,745 It's about how faithful I remain to God. 463 00:20:34,455 --> 00:20:37,605 This is where we're gonna need the older generation, the more 464 00:20:37,605 --> 00:20:38,835 seasoned disciples I should say. 465 00:20:40,575 --> 00:20:42,166 We need you guys to be able to hold us down. 466 00:20:42,510 --> 00:20:42,600 Right. 467 00:20:43,860 --> 00:20:49,260 Your walk, your consistency, your perseverance, your faith 468 00:20:51,300 --> 00:20:57,510 is needed because you are an example to us of how to live a faithful 469 00:20:57,510 --> 00:21:00,540 life, of desiring godly success. 470 00:21:01,379 --> 00:21:03,060 Not a life about the numbers. 471 00:21:03,060 --> 00:21:05,430 And I know finances can be tight and it can be stressful. 472 00:21:05,850 --> 00:21:09,930 Trust me, I'm, I'm barely holding my own together, but. 473 00:21:10,860 --> 00:21:14,760 We need you guys to hold us down, keep us rooted. 474 00:21:14,760 --> 00:21:20,159 Remind us what is important to not sacrifice our discipleship for a 475 00:21:20,159 --> 00:21:25,710 dream, to not sacrifice our jobs, or sacrifice our, our discipleship for 476 00:21:25,710 --> 00:21:27,840 a job or even for a relationship. 477 00:21:30,270 --> 00:21:35,940 We need you guys with all your wounds and the scars you've endured over the years, 478 00:21:35,940 --> 00:21:37,830 the battles that you have gone through. 479 00:21:38,850 --> 00:21:45,480 The tests, the trials to share with us, to guide us, to help us see that, like I 480 00:21:45,480 --> 00:21:50,310 said, life as a disciple is so much more fulfilling that the success that we bear 481 00:21:50,310 --> 00:21:54,030 through God's eyes is more fulfilling than anything we could ever gain in the world. 482 00:21:54,929 --> 00:21:58,860 And even for those of you guys that are well off, that are successful, praise God. 483 00:21:59,370 --> 00:22:02,010 I don't wanna take, I'm not trying to, I'm not trying to, I'm not 484 00:22:02,010 --> 00:22:04,409 trying to diminish anyone or anything that God has blessed you with. 485 00:22:05,370 --> 00:22:07,530 Also even in that, how do we praise God? 486 00:22:07,530 --> 00:22:10,740 How do we worship God even in the midst of being so successful? 487 00:22:11,100 --> 00:22:13,860 Because I know for me, if I was a successful man, I, I could easily 488 00:22:13,860 --> 00:22:16,140 get in my own head about man, like, this is, this is great. 489 00:22:16,380 --> 00:22:19,290 I enjoy all having all this and all these things, but it's 490 00:22:19,290 --> 00:22:20,370 about surrendering to God. 491 00:22:20,370 --> 00:22:25,170 If you can be that example for us, our church is in good hands, not 492 00:22:25,170 --> 00:22:28,230 because of who you are, but because who God has allowed you to become. 493 00:22:31,455 --> 00:22:35,594 I also want to have a quick shout out real quick to a lot of our older singles, 494 00:22:37,725 --> 00:22:43,485 for those of you who have been here for years and in a culture, in a world 495 00:22:43,485 --> 00:22:47,114 that has pushed the, the agenda for a certain achievements or milestones 496 00:22:47,114 --> 00:22:48,735 that you should be here by now. 497 00:22:49,304 --> 00:22:50,774 You should have done this by now. 498 00:22:51,554 --> 00:22:52,725 You should be married by now. 499 00:22:52,725 --> 00:22:53,864 You should be doing this by now. 500 00:22:54,764 --> 00:22:57,794 At the end of the day, your reward is in full because you have Christ. 501 00:22:59,970 --> 00:23:01,500 Marriage is a bonus. 502 00:23:01,560 --> 00:23:03,210 I'm, I'm, I'm just saying it plainly. 503 00:23:03,210 --> 00:23:05,070 'cause Paul considered singleness a gift. 504 00:23:05,070 --> 00:23:05,280 Why? 505 00:23:05,280 --> 00:23:08,370 Because he was able to focus and be faithful to God in a 506 00:23:08,370 --> 00:23:09,840 way that married people cannot. 507 00:23:12,629 --> 00:23:15,930 And it's hard because sometimes, like I said, when we, when we, when we wage 508 00:23:15,930 --> 00:23:21,120 and we balance and we, when we try to figure out how we can value that versus 509 00:23:21,120 --> 00:23:24,810 valuing our relationship with God, it becomes very difficult to please God. 510 00:23:25,500 --> 00:23:29,399 And even end pleasing ourselves because we know in our hearts, man, I need 511 00:23:29,399 --> 00:23:31,110 to be, I need to be faithful to God. 512 00:23:31,679 --> 00:23:34,919 But also if this dream doesn't come true, and I don't know, is my faith 513 00:23:34,919 --> 00:23:38,280 gonna waver, but I, I, I commend you. 514 00:23:38,459 --> 00:23:39,570 I'm encouraged by you. 515 00:23:39,570 --> 00:23:44,909 I'm inspired by you, because it takes another level of faith to remain faithful 516 00:23:44,909 --> 00:23:49,139 to God, despite the societal or the cultural norms that go on around us. 517 00:23:51,735 --> 00:23:55,035 Like I said, in a culture that pushes for us to quote unquote arrive at 518 00:23:55,035 --> 00:23:58,665 certain milestones, God invites you into joy and success right now 519 00:23:59,205 --> 00:24:03,225 into his presence and his purpose, that your journey is significant. 520 00:24:04,395 --> 00:24:07,875 So if you ever felt like you were overlooked or that you were 521 00:24:07,905 --> 00:24:10,725 still waiting, remember that you have already arrived in Christ. 522 00:24:11,850 --> 00:24:16,020 You are deeply valued in this kingdom because not only for you, but those that 523 00:24:16,020 --> 00:24:20,550 may be following in your faith, in your footsteps, in your faithful footsteps, can 524 00:24:20,550 --> 00:24:22,470 see the example that you have laid before. 525 00:24:23,105 --> 00:24:23,395 Amen. 526 00:24:25,200 --> 00:24:28,590 You know, one detail we can't miss is in verse 19 that says, after a long 527 00:24:28,590 --> 00:24:31,680 time the master of those servants return and settled accounts with them. 528 00:24:34,590 --> 00:24:38,070 Jesus will return or we will meet him. 529 00:24:39,945 --> 00:24:44,955 When he does, he's not looking for the successful people or just the 530 00:24:44,955 --> 00:24:47,955 married people or the popular people. 531 00:24:48,735 --> 00:24:54,795 He's looking for faithful people, good and faithful servants that we, 532 00:24:55,034 --> 00:24:57,375 that he wants to welcome into his joy. 533 00:24:59,325 --> 00:25:03,135 Faithfulness is a, is not, it's like, it's not a matter of visible fruit, but 534 00:25:03,135 --> 00:25:06,375 the most beautiful part of this story isn't about the work of the reward. 535 00:25:07,439 --> 00:25:09,179 It's the invitation to something deeper. 536 00:25:09,750 --> 00:25:10,560 You guys still with me? 537 00:25:10,620 --> 00:25:10,679 Yeah. 538 00:25:12,449 --> 00:25:15,120 Last point here is presence over payoff. 539 00:25:15,120 --> 00:25:15,270 Come on. 540 00:25:17,490 --> 00:25:20,969 Verse 21, the master away, even non verse 21. 541 00:25:20,969 --> 00:25:24,060 But after the one that brought back five bags of gold, the one that back, that 542 00:25:24,060 --> 00:25:29,534 brought back two bags of gold, he says, come and share your master's happiness. 543 00:25:30,780 --> 00:25:32,639 The true award wasn't more gold. 544 00:25:33,600 --> 00:25:34,110 It wasn't. 545 00:25:34,110 --> 00:25:36,750 It was, it wasn't the fact that they got to gain so much 546 00:25:36,750 --> 00:25:37,770 more than they already had. 547 00:25:38,340 --> 00:25:41,760 It was the fact that the master now invited them into a relationship. 548 00:25:42,780 --> 00:25:46,050 He already had one then, but he says, he says, come and share my happiness. 549 00:25:46,110 --> 00:25:47,550 Come and share my joy. 550 00:25:48,750 --> 00:25:51,030 That's the offer on the table to all of us. 551 00:25:51,870 --> 00:25:56,520 It's not the usefulness or the productiveness, but the faithfulness, the 552 00:25:56,520 --> 00:25:58,350 closeness that we can gain with Christ. 553 00:26:00,315 --> 00:26:03,225 In Philippians chapter three, verse eight, it says I, this is Paul 554 00:26:03,225 --> 00:26:04,305 again into the church in Philip. 555 00:26:04,305 --> 00:26:10,095 I says, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing worth 556 00:26:10,755 --> 00:26:12,285 of knowing Christ Jesus our Lord. 557 00:26:14,085 --> 00:26:16,635 You know what's sad is that the third servant missed this. 558 00:26:17,505 --> 00:26:18,885 He didn't understand the master. 559 00:26:19,485 --> 00:26:20,295 He feared him. 560 00:26:20,295 --> 00:26:24,105 He misunderstood him, and he buried his opportunity out of fear and not faith. 561 00:26:24,899 --> 00:26:28,139 You know, like I said, like, and then he even comes up with the reasoning saying, 562 00:26:28,139 --> 00:26:31,245 it's like, well, I know that you're a hard man and you know, you, you, you, 563 00:26:31,264 --> 00:26:34,110 you, you, you don't plant where you sewed and you like all these things. 564 00:26:34,350 --> 00:26:37,709 And then I love how the master's response is like, well, if you knew those things 565 00:26:37,860 --> 00:26:41,129 and you were so fearful that I was a hard man, why didn't you do anything about it? 566 00:26:42,629 --> 00:26:44,399 Which I kind of find it's very comedic at my end. 567 00:26:44,399 --> 00:26:47,550 I, I, I kind of find like, I was like, I would be sarcastic in that way 568 00:26:47,550 --> 00:26:52,379 as well, but at the end of the day, sometimes we can carry this mindset. 569 00:26:52,995 --> 00:27:00,014 This incomplete or distorted view of God, or, or if anything, we assume that we know 570 00:27:00,014 --> 00:27:02,355 God, so therefore we, we act accordingly. 571 00:27:03,075 --> 00:27:06,285 And the, honestly, we tend to end up doing the things that we, he doesn't want 572 00:27:06,285 --> 00:27:07,785 us to do just because of our assumption. 573 00:27:08,745 --> 00:27:11,895 We end up viewing things or we start to proceed to participate in 574 00:27:11,895 --> 00:27:15,585 certain things that we feel like, well, I know God is, you know, in 575 00:27:15,585 --> 00:27:17,205 this way, so I, I shouldn't do this. 576 00:27:17,205 --> 00:27:18,375 Or I'm, I'm fearful to do that. 577 00:27:18,375 --> 00:27:20,565 I'm, I, I'm hesitant to step out and obey. 578 00:27:21,360 --> 00:27:24,149 And, and, and I, and I'll shrink back into my, I'm gonna protect 579 00:27:24,149 --> 00:27:27,060 what I have because if I step out, I'm afraid I'm gonna lose it all. 580 00:27:29,070 --> 00:27:31,919 'cause it shows up in our daily lives, sometimes the way that we compare 581 00:27:31,919 --> 00:27:36,750 ourselves to one another, the way that we wonder sometimes if we're not 582 00:27:36,750 --> 00:27:41,790 getting the recognition we deserve, if it really matters or we fear that we've 583 00:27:41,790 --> 00:27:45,689 missed our moment because we don't quote unquote, see God working in our lives. 584 00:27:47,129 --> 00:27:48,810 But the win isn't the result. 585 00:27:51,045 --> 00:27:51,945 It's the relationship. 586 00:27:53,385 --> 00:27:55,665 Jesus is the reward. 587 00:27:56,625 --> 00:27:58,425 God doesn't just want your effort. 588 00:27:58,425 --> 00:27:59,385 He he values it. 589 00:27:59,385 --> 00:28:00,315 He's appreciative it. 590 00:28:00,315 --> 00:28:03,165 He's grateful for it, but he wants your heart. 591 00:28:04,995 --> 00:28:09,405 Paul Paul demonstrates this in his verse as he is the surpassing worth. 592 00:28:10,425 --> 00:28:11,265 Paul understood it. 593 00:28:11,265 --> 00:28:11,955 Paul got it. 594 00:28:12,960 --> 00:28:15,210 The surpassing worth of knowing Christ. 595 00:28:15,390 --> 00:28:17,130 It falls in comparison to everything. 596 00:28:17,130 --> 00:28:20,250 And it reminds me of this question here that if everything else 597 00:28:20,250 --> 00:28:24,120 faded away, would walking with God still feel like enough for you? 598 00:28:28,500 --> 00:28:32,850 And it's hard because like I said, in our culture, in our society 599 00:28:32,850 --> 00:28:35,040 today, we are so materialistic. 600 00:28:35,220 --> 00:28:35,430 Yes. 601 00:28:37,410 --> 00:28:40,170 Whether it's a relationship, whether it's a job, whether it's finances, 602 00:28:40,170 --> 00:28:45,960 whether it's relat relationships, like with friendships, popularity, it's, 603 00:28:45,960 --> 00:28:48,060 it's, it's ingrained in our culture. 604 00:28:49,290 --> 00:28:52,500 And like I said, if it becomes so ingrained in our hearts that we miss 605 00:28:52,500 --> 00:28:58,305 the faith, we never will understand the surpassing worth to knowing Christ. 606 00:28:59,545 --> 00:29:02,910 You know, if you're new here, if you've been around for a while and 607 00:29:02,910 --> 00:29:04,170 are still trying to figure out. 608 00:29:04,814 --> 00:29:05,594 Is this worth it? 609 00:29:07,064 --> 00:29:11,175 You know, is this, is, is, is is really knowing Christ as 610 00:29:11,415 --> 00:29:12,614 surpassing of what worth it is. 611 00:29:13,034 --> 00:29:13,935 Study the Bible. 612 00:29:13,995 --> 00:29:17,205 Please, we beg you, we plead with you. 613 00:29:17,205 --> 00:29:19,125 God is begging and pleading with you. 614 00:29:19,125 --> 00:29:23,594 Not just me, not just those in this room, but all of us are because 615 00:29:23,594 --> 00:29:26,864 those that are here today and have been faithful for many years. 616 00:29:27,645 --> 00:29:30,345 I've had to wrestle with this, and I don't say this as if you're gonna 617 00:29:30,345 --> 00:29:33,105 get it one time and it's, and you're set for the rest of your life. 618 00:29:33,165 --> 00:29:36,105 There are going to be times where you're going to question, there are 619 00:29:36,105 --> 00:29:38,985 going to be times where you're going to doubt, there are going to be times 620 00:29:38,985 --> 00:29:40,125 that you're gonna wanna give up. 621 00:29:41,985 --> 00:29:44,715 But when you go into the world and you seek it out and you see all 622 00:29:44,715 --> 00:29:47,385 that, the world has to offer it, you will always left wanting more. 623 00:29:47,385 --> 00:29:47,445 Yeah. 624 00:29:48,645 --> 00:29:51,135 I want to, I want to give a quick shout out to Martine. 625 00:29:51,195 --> 00:29:53,745 Martine, we are, we're so grateful that you are restored, brother. 626 00:29:53,805 --> 00:29:55,515 We're so grateful, but. 627 00:30:00,840 --> 00:30:03,720 It's, I, I, I feel so encouraged because when we were going through the, when I 628 00:30:03,720 --> 00:30:06,449 was going through the pre-meeting today and I saw that it was a good restoration 629 00:30:06,449 --> 00:30:12,030 and I was like this, like that is just an epitome to showing you that the world 630 00:30:12,030 --> 00:30:16,949 is never going to be enough, that God is always calling people back to him. 631 00:30:17,939 --> 00:30:20,730 'cause he knows that what he, what he brings to the table will 632 00:30:20,730 --> 00:30:22,050 never leave us wanting more. 633 00:30:25,020 --> 00:30:29,730 It's such an encouragement to know that what God leave, what God gives 634 00:30:29,730 --> 00:30:31,050 us, it never comes back empty. 635 00:30:31,500 --> 00:30:34,379 'cause we all want our lives to matter, let's be honest, right? 636 00:30:34,919 --> 00:30:39,480 We all wanna leave some type of impact here, but deeper than the success is 637 00:30:39,480 --> 00:30:44,399 the desire to be known, to be loved for who we are and not just what we do. 638 00:30:45,750 --> 00:30:49,470 That's what Jesus offers, not just the task list of things 639 00:30:49,470 --> 00:30:51,990 to do, but a relationship. 640 00:30:53,595 --> 00:30:58,065 Now, I don't know if you guys are aware, but last weekend, um, an 641 00:30:58,065 --> 00:31:03,135 18-year-old Cal State Fulton student passed away at Lake Havasu, uh, drowned. 642 00:31:03,135 --> 00:31:06,315 It was apparently it was like a big storm and some waters rose, and 643 00:31:06,315 --> 00:31:07,605 apparently he drowned, unfortunately. 644 00:31:08,535 --> 00:31:13,635 And, uh, my dad had sent me, uh, like the, uh, the newsletter article about it. 645 00:31:13,635 --> 00:31:15,975 And I, like, I read it and I was just like, I thought to myself, I 646 00:31:15,975 --> 00:31:19,995 was like, wow, like 18 years old. 647 00:31:21,689 --> 00:31:24,450 I remember myself being 18, being a freshman at Cal State full night. 648 00:31:24,450 --> 00:31:28,409 I remember being in his shoes and I thought about all the things that I 649 00:31:28,409 --> 00:31:31,500 wanted to do, the places that I wanted to go, the people that I wanted to 650 00:31:31,500 --> 00:31:38,159 meet, like it, like I remember being in there, but to know that his life 651 00:31:38,159 --> 00:31:42,300 got cut short because of that and he can't do any of those things anymore. 652 00:31:43,260 --> 00:31:47,250 Sobered my heart to remember like, and, and, and, and I don't 653 00:31:47,280 --> 00:31:50,010 mean to make that sound like a negative thing, but it is sobering. 654 00:31:50,010 --> 00:31:50,070 Yeah. 655 00:31:51,120 --> 00:31:53,700 It reminds us that this life is temporary. 656 00:31:56,730 --> 00:31:58,980 In James four 14, it says, what is your life? 657 00:31:59,640 --> 00:32:00,720 You are a mist. 658 00:32:00,750 --> 00:32:04,020 That appears for a little while and then vanishes. 659 00:32:05,879 --> 00:32:07,050 This is all we get, guys. 660 00:32:09,450 --> 00:32:12,960 All we get, and like I said, and and, and also prayers for 661 00:32:12,960 --> 00:32:14,670 our brother, bill Dilly, right? 662 00:32:15,300 --> 00:32:16,260 Passed away this morning. 663 00:32:18,420 --> 00:32:18,690 Guys. 664 00:32:18,690 --> 00:32:19,530 Death is sobering. 665 00:32:20,970 --> 00:32:23,430 It reminds us that what we live for here 666 00:32:26,190 --> 00:32:27,180 doesn't matter. 667 00:32:28,290 --> 00:32:33,180 We, if we live as what Paul says, is we live for Christ, then to die is gain. 668 00:32:34,650 --> 00:32:37,980 So many people in outside this building and outside of the faith, 669 00:32:38,700 --> 00:32:41,550 they, they live for, they live for the height, they live for it all. 670 00:32:41,550 --> 00:32:45,210 They live for the glory, but when they die, they gain nothing. 671 00:32:47,445 --> 00:32:52,305 To live as Christ Paul says, to live with in a relationship with Christ, that when 672 00:32:52,305 --> 00:32:54,345 when you die, you get to be with him. 673 00:32:55,395 --> 00:32:55,995 So guess what? 674 00:32:56,025 --> 00:32:57,555 When we live, we win. 675 00:32:58,275 --> 00:32:59,925 And when we die, we win. 676 00:33:00,915 --> 00:33:01,995 There's no lose lose. 677 00:33:01,995 --> 00:33:04,695 You lose your life now, so you save it for later. 678 00:33:04,830 --> 00:33:11,595 We have to ask ourselves, are we chasing something that can vanish in a moment or 679 00:33:11,595 --> 00:33:13,575 building a life that lasts for eternity? 680 00:33:16,050 --> 00:33:17,159 To live this Christ. 681 00:33:17,159 --> 00:33:18,149 To die is game. 682 00:33:20,010 --> 00:33:21,780 To live this Christ to die is game man. 683 00:33:21,780 --> 00:33:24,120 How powerful is that Scripture? 684 00:33:24,959 --> 00:33:26,070 How powerful is that? 685 00:33:26,070 --> 00:33:26,550 Reminder? 686 00:33:28,139 --> 00:33:29,370 Don't waste your mist. 687 00:33:30,540 --> 00:33:32,550 Don't wait for someday to walk with God. 688 00:33:32,550 --> 00:33:38,550 Don't build your identity on something that can disappear, because in the 689 00:33:38,550 --> 00:33:40,530 end, success is not what you build. 690 00:33:41,790 --> 00:33:42,689 It's who you walk with. 691 00:33:43,965 --> 00:33:47,715 If you walk with Jesus now, you will walk with him forever. 692 00:33:49,245 --> 00:33:53,325 Right now we're going to transition into communion here, but I also want us to 693 00:33:53,325 --> 00:33:57,465 remember the greatest act of faithfulness, the greatest acts of success and not 694 00:33:57,465 --> 00:33:58,875 success by the world's standards. 695 00:33:59,835 --> 00:34:06,165 Jesus was mocked, beaten, crucified, but was perfectly faithful to God. 696 00:34:07,365 --> 00:34:10,695 He entrusted himself and his future to God. 697 00:34:12,735 --> 00:34:16,275 Hebrews 12, two through three reads, uh, we'll go back to in a bit, but 698 00:34:16,275 --> 00:34:20,835 let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith. 699 00:34:21,284 --> 00:34:25,635 For the joy set before him, he endured the cross scorning a shame, and sat down 700 00:34:26,085 --> 00:34:28,215 at the right hand of the throne of God. 701 00:34:30,195 --> 00:34:33,074 The cross reminds us that real success is surrender. 702 00:34:34,034 --> 00:34:38,534 Jesus gave everything not to earn love, but because he was loved. 703 00:34:39,719 --> 00:34:43,290 Jesus is our true model of success and a reason for hope. 704 00:34:43,830 --> 00:34:46,139 And if you ever ask yourselves, am I doing this right? 705 00:34:47,370 --> 00:34:48,330 Look for Jesus. 706 00:34:50,235 --> 00:34:52,080 This is a couple practical before I pray. 707 00:34:52,409 --> 00:34:54,330 Um, I want us to create a trust inventory. 708 00:34:54,870 --> 00:34:59,070 Not financially, of course, but one of that thing about all the things that God 709 00:34:59,070 --> 00:35:03,930 has entrusted to you, like I've talk about your time, opportunities, relationships, 710 00:35:03,960 --> 00:35:05,820 influence all those things, jobs. 711 00:35:06,900 --> 00:35:09,810 Think about that, and then have a daily faithfulness check-in. 712 00:35:10,080 --> 00:35:12,779 Ask yourself, am I responding faithfully to what God has given me today? 713 00:35:12,839 --> 00:35:14,520 Regardless of the visible results? 714 00:35:16,529 --> 00:35:20,759 Like I said, if we can remind ourselves every day of that, it lets us. 715 00:35:21,569 --> 00:35:25,770 It keeps us humble, it keeps us rooted, and that golly, success, 716 00:35:25,770 --> 00:35:30,089 like I said, is not about visible fruit, but in unseen faithfulness. 717 00:35:31,770 --> 00:35:33,450 So as we take communion, let's remind ourselves, like 718 00:35:33,450 --> 00:35:34,560 I said, of Jesus on the cross. 719 00:35:35,145 --> 00:35:36,105 And his faithfulness. 720 00:35:36,105 --> 00:35:40,214 Like I said, that when the world shamed him and scorned him, he 721 00:35:40,214 --> 00:35:42,855 was faithful because he knew that his success was in God. 722 00:35:43,725 --> 00:35:44,145 Let's pray. 723 00:35:45,645 --> 00:35:47,055 Father God, thank you for today. 724 00:35:47,714 --> 00:35:50,294 Father, thank you so much for the time that we get to come before you, 725 00:35:50,294 --> 00:35:55,245 God, and value, and, and just be in awe and reverence of who you are. 726 00:35:56,024 --> 00:35:59,205 God, we are grateful that success comes from you and that the 727 00:35:59,205 --> 00:36:01,154 eternal success comes from you. 728 00:36:01,815 --> 00:36:04,875 God, we pray that we, we remain humble and grateful for all that 729 00:36:04,875 --> 00:36:06,285 you have provided for us God. 730 00:36:06,285 --> 00:36:09,404 And that we don't, we don't use that you what you've entrusted to us, 731 00:36:09,404 --> 00:36:13,065 God, to make our own selves look great or for our own glory, but 732 00:36:13,065 --> 00:36:14,984 God, we do it for eternal glory. 733 00:36:14,984 --> 00:36:19,214 That is to be in a relationship with you, father, that we pray that each and every 734 00:36:19,275 --> 00:36:22,154 one of our hearts, as we ask ourselves, are we doing this right, God, that we 735 00:36:22,154 --> 00:36:26,205 look to Jesus as your son, as an example, and as we take this bread in this cup, we 736 00:36:26,205 --> 00:36:29,325 remind ourselves of the greatest sacrifice that none of the success that we. 737 00:36:29,595 --> 00:36:31,815 Desire to have spiritually would've come without him. 738 00:36:32,775 --> 00:36:35,565 So we are grateful, father for this time, and as we reflect and we commune 739 00:36:35,565 --> 00:36:39,705 together and do this in remembrance of you, I pray that we just have humble 740 00:36:39,945 --> 00:36:42,885 and reverent hearts of knowing that where our true success comes from. 741 00:36:43,395 --> 00:36:44,355 We love you, God. 742 00:36:44,565 --> 00:36:45,675 We pray on your son Jesus name. 743 00:36:45,975 --> 00:36:46,215 Amen.