Building the Nets | Ps Mark Varughese

introduce our [music] guest speaker

today. I kind of feel like when I first

met Bonnie, she was way above my league

mate and and I feel that God's brought a

great man of God, a humble servant of

the Lord in Mark Verge to minister

[music] to us as quite a very

significant special day for us. Uh Mark

is the founder and global pastor of city

[music] uh kingdom city all over the

world. 22 nations. I think they'll hit

30 by the end of the year. uh 45

locations, 70,000 people. But here's

what's astounding. They're in revival in

just 20 short years. It is nothing short

[music] of a move of God. And you just

see the influence of Kingdom City across

nations. It's astounding. And we get the

great honor to have him minister to us

[music] today. But also the behind the

scenes story um is I've often showed

this photo of a a vision or a dream that

God gave me of this waterfall and it's

really [music] impacted my life over the

last couple of months and our church

actually it's why we got the series near

it was was out of what happened here and

this image is the Holy Spirit the power

the magnets magnificent God mighty

powerful just pouring his spirit out

he's big he's bigger than [music] your

problem. He He's bigger than your

biggest fear. He's bigger than your

biggest worry. He's He's a big God. He

wants to pour his spirit out. He wants

to fill you. And this is a representing

of me and our church that that we're

just humbly, unassumingly, God, fill us.

God, we're here. Not not in a big crowd,

but we're just worshiping, surrendering,

hungry for God. And then what you don't

see is the streams of living water that

come out [music] and just fill the

barren land. and see souls saved and

lives changed. Well, this came [music]

to me when I was at a conference and the

guest speaker spoke a powerful word on

faith and something triggered in me. I I

can't put words on it. I don't know how

or why, but that message just gripped me

and I found myself up the front at the

altar, hands raised, just being filled,

got that dream, got that vision just

stirred and just started me on a

journey. Well, the speaker of the night

and the person praying was Mark Vergeis

and and that moment a couple months back

in Adelaide marked me and he became the

loudest voice in my leadership of church

that I have. What does that mean? Well,

I I got every podcast I could find. I I

I read his book. I I I I watched his

messages [music]

and I even pursued a coach to be coached

by David [music] Stora uh who was his

pastor because I was just so hungry for

what God [music] was doing. So it wasn't

so much I don't want to give glory to a

man. I want to give glory to God what

God is doing through a man. And I

believe this is a significant moment for

us as a church. And this message is one

that I want us to lean [music] into. Let

God speak to you today.

Let God minister [music] to you today.

And let this be a word of the Lord for

us

>> as a church. All our six locations.

We're recording [music] this message

that'll go out that we can be aligned,

unified as God takes us into our next

step. Who's excited to hear the word of

the Lord? Who's excited to hear God

minister to us through his servant? Can

you all stand and honor God's word?

Honor God's servant, but most of all,

honor the King of Kings and the Lord of

Lords.

[music]

Well, welcome to church. Everyone doing

all right.

>> Can you help me welcome everyone around

Australia as well? Give a big hand to

everyone in Canes, in Sydney, at the

hills, in Penri, in Manra and in

Melbourne, and everyone in the Gold

Coast as well. Um, it's a delight. It's

a huge honor to be here. Can you also

show some love to your pastors, Miles

and Bonnie and to all the pastors around

Australia as well. Grateful for you.

Very humbled to be here and to add a

little piece to this amazing church and

what God has done done. You might be new

in any of the locations. You might be

new here. And um, this is a great place

to call home. If you're looking for a

home, it's important you have a home.

And I want to encourage you to do that.

But while we're standing, I'd love to

pray. Can we do that? We pray together.

Father, I thank you that you are

omniresent. Which means wherever two or

three are gathered, you were already

there. But Father, let's let our

awareness be shifted toward you. Let us

not become aware of every other

distraction and every other objection.

But Lord, we just open our hearts to be

totally receptive to you. Thank you for

Elevation Church. Thank you for all the

pastors and all the locations. Thank you

for what you're doing in 2026.

Lord, we bring our faith from the past

and we pull it in from the future and we

anchor it in the present right now. That

God, this moment you would speak to the

unique circumstances of everyone, the

young, the old, the rich, the poor.

Lord, every color, every creed, every

tribe, every tongue. You are God over

all. Father, I pray those who don't know

you will something would come alive in

their heart. They would come alive to

know that you are real and God that

there's a plan and a purpose for every

person. No coincidence. Everyone was

meant to be in the room today. So have

your way. Have your say in Jesus name we

pray. And everyone said amen.

>> Amen. Wonderful. Can you give the Lord

just one more shout of praise? That's

it. Give him an offering of thanksgiving

and expression.

And then after you've done that, high

five your neighbor. Say hi to two or

three people. And then you may please

take your seats.

I want to add to this incredible vision

you have for this year about making

room. You know, I'm reminded when God

turned up on earth, a virgin by the name

of Mary was supernaturally

impregnated by the spirit of God and

Jesus growing within the womb of a woman

confined to human flesh. Divine God

turned up as a baby. And you know, you

would think out of all the births in the

history of the world, this would be the

most significant one. And yet when Mary

and Joseph responding to a census go

back to Bethlehem and uh looking for a

place all they got told was because of

the crowds there was no room everywhere.

No room. No room. No room. No room. And

one inkeeper

who should be given the greatest pay

rise in employment history

found room.

>> He made room. It was only a stable. But

let me tell you, God does not fuss where

he turns up.

>> And when you make room, he'll turn up

>> in in the humble context of your world

and your life. And you know, I've been

to Israel and now the most famous

birthplace of inevits.

You know, you go to Israel now, there's

three places where apparently Jesus was

born and you're like, which one? Can you

decide between you, but they all want to

make money and they all, you know,

touristically converted their spot into,

no, he was born here and now he's and I

went to all three and I'm like, Lord, I

don't know where you were born, but

whatever. I'll

And yet at the time, only one person was

willing to make room.

You know, in hindsight, there'll be

amazing stories that come out of 2026.

But in the moment, it's a sacrifice to

make some room.

>> And yes, make room is an invitation

personally to enlarge the space. But

Isaiah 54 speaks not just of a personal

willingness to make room, but a

corporate willingness to make room.

Enlarge the place of your tent. Let them

stretch out. More will be the children

of the desolate than the children of the

married woman. That's that's incredible.

That that's God saying have some faith

and when you make some room I can

actually fill it. And I want to speak

for a few minutes today about making

room in the context of Elevation Church

in the context of us together. Your

pastors in all the cities have not asked

me to speak this. This is if you're mad

at this message direct it purely at me

not your pastors. They didn't tell me

and they may after this sermon have to

fix a lot of things. But I want to speak

from John chapter 21. And the principle

John 21 · chapter mention

of making room is illustrated in this

story where the disciples go fishing

after Jesus had died. They think he's

permanently dead. He rose from the

grave, but they didn't know it. And so

then Simon Peter says to them, verse

three of chapter 21, Simon Peter said to

them, I'm going fishing. They say, we're

going with you. They went out that

night. They caught nothing. Deja vu.

Because this happened earlier in their

lives. But when the morning had now

come, Jesus stood on the shore. Yet the

disciples didn't know it was Jesus

because they thought he was dead. Then

Jesus says to them, "Children, do you

got anything?" And they said, "Nah." I'm

just paraphrasing here. And he said to

them, "Cast the net on the right side of

the boat and you will find some." So

they cast, and now they were not able to

draw it in because of the multitude of

fish. I want you to pay attention to one

little side tangental thought this

morning. you know, they were not able to

catch any fish.

Then Jesus turns up, does a miracle, and

there's too many fish. Now they're not

able to bring the net in. It's so

refreshing to know we're always not

able. Whether there's nothing going on,

we're not able. Or whether there's too

much going on, we're not able. God, I'm

so lonely. Give me someone. You need

God. God, I'm married with too many

kids. I need you. You always need God.

Whether you got nothing going on or too

much going on, God, you know, I remember

a guy who got prayer in our church in

Botswana many years ago. There's a small

testimony, but it stuck with me because

our pastor told the story about how he

came forward for prayer like you guys

would probably at the end of service. He

came forward and our pastor there, he

said, "What do you need prayer for?" He

says, "I run a production company and

I've got no business. The bills are

getting high. I I'm could go under." So,

he prays a simple prayer for him. Lord,

just provide. Anyway, about four weeks

later, he sees the same guy coming

forward for prayer again, and he

remembers, "Oh, that's the guy with the

production business. I wonder if he's

doing all right. He must be still

struggling. He's come for prayer again."

So, he said, "Yeah, how's your business?

Is still struggling?" He goes, "No, no."

He goes, "Why are you up for prayer?"

"Well, when you prayed last time, so

much business came in. I need prayer now

because I can't handle it. It's too

much."

And I thought, wow, isn't that a

beautiful picture of there's no season

where you don't walk to the front.

Whether you got nothing going on or you

got too much going on, we're always

dependent on God. Never graduate from

dependency on God.

>> You might say, I've been a Christian for

many decades. You still need God as much

today as you needed him when he's pulled

you out of hell. Because God is always

the oxygen, the sustenance, the origin.

He's not just the Genesis, he's the

revelation. He's just not the first,

he's the last. He's not just the

beginning, he's the end.

>> And so the disciples find themselves

unable. And that's just a good thing. If

you're a disciple, just be comfortable

with being unable. I'm unable to catch

fish. I'm unable to draw in the net.

Either way, God's involved. I still need

him. Then the disciple whom Jesus loved,

verse seven, says to Peter, "It's the

Lord." Now Simon Peter heard it was the

Lord and he put on his outer garment for

he had removed it and plunged into the

sea which is really weird. Who puts on

clothes to go swimming?

Peter. You know why? Because in the past

he had one experience where he walked on

water and he thought, "Well, this is how

God must do it all the time."

>> Don't ever think just because that's how

God did it in that season, that's how

he's going to do it in the next. And so

Peter learned a lesson because he put on

his clothes and he fell straight in. No

walking this time. But the other thing

that's fascinating is John

who writes this book. John, it's named

after him. He describes himself as

therefore the disciple whom Jesus loved

said to Peter. That's a lot of words to

basically said I said to Peter. So John

John had a favorite complex. He just

knew he was the favorite. Anyone here

grew up in your house and you knew you

were the favorite? Let's don't don't

pretend you weren't. You just knew you

were. Not everyone, but yes, some of

you. Yeah, good on you. Don't be ashamed

of it. In every family, there's a

favorite. In every church, there's a

favorite. There's the favorite and then

Peter's the famous. John and Peter. When

you go to Bible quizzes, nobody asks you

about Thaddius and Bartholomew. They

only ask you about John or Peter. John's

the favorite. Peter's the famous. Peter

was given the mic for the early church.

Peter is the guy cutting off years.

Peter's the guy denying Christ, calling

him Lord. He's just he's just always,

he's the guy walking on water. Peter is

just activity central. You got the

famous and the featured. But you know

what? The church isn't built on the

famous or the featured. Verse eight, I

love this. But the other disciples.

>> Oh, thank God for the other disciples.

The nameless faceless don't make it that

far. But the other disciples actually

came in the boat and they dragged the

net with fish. You know, there'd be no

Elevation Church if not for the other

disciples. So, I'm happy for the famous

and I'm glad for the favorite, BUT THANK

GOD for the other disciples. If you're

another disciples, make some noise.

>> Yeah. And in fact, if you're sitting

next to another Listen, we can't all be

the favorite and can't all be the

famous. In fact, I would rather hide in

the background and just pick up the net

and just bring the catch to shore

because that is ultimately what will

build the church.

>> They turn up. There's They turn up

there. There's fish there. Jesus says,

"Bring some of the fish which you've

caught." Verse 11, here's where I want

to land. Simon Peter went up, dragged

the net to land full of large fish.

153.

And although there were so many, the net

was not broken. Another version says

that the nets were strained to breaking

point, but they didn't break. Here's the

point.

The miracle of God doing 0 to 153 is

incredible. It's spectacular. No fish,

suddenly having fish. That is our God.

Never forget he's a miracle working God.

He's able to do incredible things from

nothing. He can make nothing become

something. That is who God is. That's my

definite. I believe in process. I

believe in journey. I believe in all of

that. But God transcends all of that. He

uses journey. He uses process. But never

rule out the fact that God is able to do

exceedingly abundantly above. That's the

God you're worshiping. That's the God

you're serving. Don't limit him to just

a natural God who only does things the

normal way. He uses normal process. But

I want to tell you, he can do

supernatural things. And often he's

looking for obedience. He just said,

"Cast the net on the other side." So

many of the miracles of Jesus were

triggered by simple obedience.

>> Often when you're in a in a rut, we

often ask God for strategy. God is just

asking us for obedience. like, "Lord,

what's the strategy? I'm catching no

fish." And he didn't say, "Change the

crew, find a new lake, get a new boat."

He just said, "Cast the net on the right

side." Sometimes it's the smallest

change

>> that makes the biggest difference.

>> It just doesn't make sense. It's an

insult to fishermen who've been fishing

all night. But God will ask you to do

the most simple things. Forgive your

mother-in-law

>> because she's the one that often needs

the most forgiveness.

All right, Lord. I forgive her.

And and by the way, I love my

mother-in-law in case she ever hears

this podcast. Um,

and I love your mother-in-law. She's

probably awesome, too. I'm just saying.

I'm trying to dig myself out here. Um,

and but you you you forgive that person

that you've got a grudge against and and

then you find God heals your back and

you're like, what does healing of my

back got to do with that? I don't know.

But when you obey God, miracles happen.

>> There are some of the smallest thing. Go

wash in the pool of Sil. Why? I don't

know. just do it. Amazing things happen

when you just do what the Lord told you

to do. And and and here we have this

incredibly significant miracle, which is

incredible. But that's actually not the

miracle I want to focus on. There's

another miracle which some of you may

not even call a miracle, but it's the

miracle that is a lot less spectacular,

but is just as significant. It's the

fact that the net was at breaking point

and it didn't break. You're like,

"What's the miracle?" God held the net

together. You're like, "That doesn't

sound that miraculous." Well, you'd be

amazed how many times your life has been

at breaking point. And the only reason

you're here still today in July 2026 is

because God held your sanity together.

God held your marriage together. God

held your life together. God held you

through the divorce. He held you through

the breakup. He held you through the

bankruptcy. He held you together. You're

here today because God held the net.

>> And you're like, "That's not that

doesn't seem as amazing as the other

one." Yes. But I would say it's more

significant.

Because think about it. If not for the

second miracle of God holding the net

together, the first miracle is wasted.

What's the point of 153 fish if the net

breaks? And if the net breaks, the first

miracle is lost.

>> There are some miracles in your life

that only have credibility because God

held your life together. We should all

be so grateful that God has held our

life together. In our worst moments, in

our toughest moments, in our darkest

moments, he held you together. Is there

anybody whose God has ever held together

in the storms of life? Anyone been

through a storm? But you're here today.

Whether you're in Canes or in Sydney or

in Melbourne or Manra, it doesn't

matter. You're here today because God

held you together. That alone makes him

worthy of worship. That alone makes him

worthy of praise. He doesn't have to do

the spectacular to be worthy. He just

held your life together. And for that,

I'm grateful.

>> But it begs the question, why did the

Bible mention

153 fish specifically? I've heard many

good sermons on why, and they're all

probably correct, but I'm a simple guy.

I I I just like to think

153 was not some numer numerology sort

of sermon. I just think that's all the

net could handle. I my theory is the

154th fish would have snapped the net.

So that's what God bought in. Now here's

what I learned. God actually respects

our capacity.

Some of us, the problem is we're praying

prayers for things that are going to

kill us.

>> So God says, "No, not because he hates

you,

>> but he knows what your net can handle."

>> And he wants to hold your net together.

And we pray for things like I I said,

"Lord, I want to get married at 22. I

got married at 32. Nothing wrong with me

at 22. I was very good-looking back in

the day, 28 kilos ago, not just 28 years

ago. I was fine specimen. I was a

groomsman nine times. All my mates got

married nine times. I mean, the first

time it was a privilege. The fourth time

it was getting expensive. By the eighth

time I didn't want to be there. They're

like, "Don't feel sorry for yourself.

You know, you know, start mentoring

young guys." I did. They got married.

And they're like, you know, are they

having kids and can you be our

godfather? I'm like, oh. I'm like,

what's wrong with me, Lord? But God, you

know, I what I was praying for, I wasn't

ready to handle. Some of us pray

prayers, but God knows your capacity. If

God gave me my wife at 22, my net would

have snapped.

Some things you're believing for will

snap your net.

>> And so you have to learn to trust the

Lord. All right, God. I still pray big

prayers, but he know you know this is

right through the scripture. There's a

story of a woman who poured who God you

supernaturally increased a jar of oil

and he said, "Bring all the empty

vessels." The prophet said, "Bring all

the empty vessels." They laid out all

the empty vessels and the oil kept

flowing. Did not stop until

the vessel stopped because God knows

your capacity.

When you run out of capacity, when you

run out of room,

>> bless you, God will stop pouring the

oil. Heaven is no shortage of oil.

>> Earth just ran out of capacity.

That's why it's a great theme this year

for all of elevation to say, Lord, make

room. Make room in my heart. I take the

no room sign off. But God knows 153

fish. That's what you can handle. That's

what he'll give. There are business guys

I've heard pressed. God, make me rich,

Lord, for your glory.

Give me billions of dollars for your

kingdom, Lord. That's clearly. And

heaven must be laughing going, "We know

him.

cute prayer request.

But if we actually answered the prayer,

it'll snap his net.

We'll never see him again. He'll be on

the Mediterranean on his New York Yacht.

He'll probably leave his wife.

God knows what we can handle. Even in

temptation, he says he'll never allow

you to go through than more you can

handle. He knows our capacity.

>> So if you're frustrated at how much is

in your life, ask God for greater

capacity. Don't just ask him for more.

Lord, give me more. He goes, I can't

pour more in. You've got Netflix,

Amazon, shopping,

your girls night out, blah, blah. I got

no more space to pour anything into your

life. So, make room is a good prayer.

>> But, but what if but Lord, what do you

want to do in our church? Like,

individually, yeah, but what about

together? Well, we're all part of the

capacity of the church. And if you like,

think of yourselves today across the

whole nation as a giant net. You know,

each of us is a thread in this

incredible net. And I want to I want to

encourage you that God will not pour new

wine or more wine into old wine skin

because the wine will be wasted and the

vessel will be spoiled. God does not

want to spoil you. God does not want to

hurt me. God does not want to snap your

net. So it doesn't mean you don't pray

prayers, you change the prayer not from

God give me more, give me more to Lord

enlarge me, help me to make room in my

life so that you can pour more fish into

my heart. Do you know when we started

our church in Malaysia, I've got this

terrible picture. In fact, they might

have it up here. This this is a this is

I here's what happened on the Gold

Coast. I had an encounter with the Lord

and it was so real that I went home,

told my folks I was 30 years of age. I

had worked as a lawyer for five years. I

gave that up, went into ministry, got

disillusioned, didn't I like God, I

didn't like the church. It's like I like

the restaurant, but I couldn't handle

the kitchen. And I'm like, this is not

for me. And then I have this encounter

with the Lord. It was so radical and

such a turnaround. I went home, sold my

house in Perth, bought a one-way ticket

to an Islamic country without a visa to

plant a church.

>> Crazy. I was single, I was slim, I had

black hair and I was ready to go. And so

I go and I don't know anybody. I mean,

our family grew up in Malaysia. Our

father, my dad, who's now in heaven, he

m he helped us migrate to Perth. We

moved to Perth in 1984.

And I he, you know, went through uni. So

he worked hard to move us out of

Malaysia and to educate me to become a

lawyer. I quit law and then I quit

Australia. So I literally reversed

everything he worked so hard to set us

up for.

He was a godly man. He encouraged me. He

said, "No problem." He was very

supportive.

But I'm in Malaysia going, "How on earth

did you start a church? I don't know

what to do." So I met one guy. His name

was Jai. And I said, "Jai, do you have

any friends? Because let's start a

church." He's like, "I'm in." He was

just an adventure. clearly was bored. He

had nothing going on either. So, he was

willing to say yes, but I don't know

anyone, but he knows people. He said,

"I've got a friend who's got an

apartment." I said, "Let's meet there."

And I said, "Invite your friends. Tell

them all. I'll buy them noodles. Turn up

at 5:00 p.m. and I'll tell them what

we're doing." So, about 11 people turned

up and these are the only two photos

from that first day. It looks like 1975,

but it's 2006.

That's me on the left. It's the first

service. I'm already tired. I'm sitting

down. this the five guys on the right

who look like they're under arrest are

just random strangers who turned up for

noodles. They're like, "What are we

doing here?" And I'm like, "Listen,

guys." And I'm sitting down in the

lounge chair saying, "We're going to

start a church." I mean, the world map

looks impressive and the documentary

looks amazing, but that there was no

world map and no documentary. I was I

didn't even have a visa. I don't know if

they're going to kick me out of country

in three months. And they're like,

"Church? Where's the noodles?" Someone

said, "If we come here, there's

noodles." And I said, "No, we're going

to have a hundred people in this church

one day." That's all the faith I had

for. And they're like, "Hundred people?

I don't know who these people are. Where

are the noodles?" Like, it was genuinely

so awkward. But I had I was full of

faith. I'm like, "Let's do this." I

mean, thank God a hundred people didn't

show up the next week. Firstly, the

apartment wouldn't be able to handle it.

Secondly, I wouldn't have known what to

do. I'd be like, "Please go home. I

don't have enough noodles for any of you

and I don't have enough patience or

capacity to help you. Thank God he knew

the capacity. So maybe two turned up.

But he knows the capacity of every

believer of every church of every

family. I mean now around the world

there's amazing numbers and lots of

zeros and 7 800 new people turn up every

week around the world. But thank God

7800 people didn't turn up when I

started

>> because he knows my capacity.

>> He knows your capacity. So the only way

that God's going to grow what God is

doing in this amazing church is if

everyone says, "Lord, enlarge my

capacity. Make room. Lord, let this net

grow." So 153 is not the lid. Is not the

limit. God looks at it and says, "Oh,

you business guy, you want millions of B

dollars, huh?" Okay, let's see what I

can trust you with. Try 153 bucks. See

how you go with that. He knows what's

going to keep our net together. Although

the net was strained, it didn't break.

And I wrote an equation which I saw the

guys put up here. Capacity because we're

talking about room is a function of two

very simple things in the kingdom of

God. In the kingdom of God, it's the

connections you have and your

willingness to contribute or to carry.

If you would like any maths equation, if

you increase either your connect or your

carry, your capacity grows. So, let me

explain it to you using the analogy of a

net since that's what we're talking

about. Imagine, use your imagination for

a second that we're all individual

threads in a net. What is connection?

It's not just, hey, can you say hi to

your neighbor?

Do you realize that God designed

partnership? He designed connection. He

designed relationship to actually be a

catalyst to enlarge your capacity. Most

people think, you know, when the pastor

pastor gets up and says, "Join a life

group. Join a life group. Join a life

group. Join a life group. Join a life."

You're like, "I'm sick of this." You

don't You don't need more friends maybe,

but you might need more godly friends.

See, as Aussies, we sometimes just love

mates who will drink with us in the

ditch. But you don't need someone to

drink with you in the ditch. You need

someone to lift you out of the ditch.

>> And you can't do that if you're

isolated. If you come to church and you

don't know anyone, but you just go, "Oh,

I just come because I like the song or

maybe I like the sermon and then I

leave." You're robbing the capacity of

this net because you imagine if we're

all just individual threads but we're

not connected. What makes a net a net is

all the threads are

>> connected. If there's no connection,

there is no net.

>> It's a hole.

>> And yet all of us are individual lines.

And it's our willingness to connect that

gives this house capacity.

>> Imagine if 11 fishermen were just using

fishing lines. Imagine if they were just

all went fishing because that's what

they did. But instead of a net, they all

11 guys because one of them was no

longer there. They're all fishing

and they catch nothing. And Jesus turns

up to the shore and says

instantly they have how many fish? 11.

Because a single fishing line can only

catch one fish.

And yet all Jesus would be able to do in

that case is 0 to 11, not 0 to 153.

Because when we're separated, our

capacity is limited. But you imagine if

we bring all our 11 fishing lines and

they brought it to the feet of Jesus and

said, "Can you stitch this whole line

and make it a net?" Something happens

when you connect individual threads.

That's why wherever you came from and

you landed in this church, bring your

fishing line to the house and say, "God,

use it to be a part of something bigger

than just myself." And when we all get

genuinely divinely connected, capacity

increases. In Belgium, there's a horse

called a draft horse that can pull a

certain number of kilos. I can't

remember. But two horses when yolked

together don't pull twice the weight.

They pull three times the weight. Why?

Because there's a synergy in connection.

Even if you're in business, the people

you connect to, the voices you allow to

speak into your life ultimately

determine your capacity. If you're

always connected to the wrong people, it

will affect your capacity. Your

connections genuinely make a difference.

There is an old African proverb, if you

want to go fast,

>> go alone. If you want to go far, go

together.

And you know, there's a verse in Romans

16 which I love. And I first time I read

it, I probably read it wrong. He It

says, "Let those of us that are strong

lift up them that are weak." And I

thought, Jesus, please let me be the

strong guy. I don't want to be the weak

guy. And I read it as if let those of us

who are strong lift up them that are

weak meant there were two categories of

Christians. Strong Christians and weak

Christians. But do you realize that

strong and weak are not labels on your

life. They are seasons in your life.

>> So there are seasons you're strong and

there are seasons you're weak. It's not

who you are. It's just what you're going

through. And it really should be read

this way. Let those of us who are in a

season of strength lift up those of us

who are in a season of weakness. Which

means there's some seasons I lift you

up, but there are other seasons you lift

me up.

>> Because you're not strong or weak as a

person. You're strong or weak in a

season.

>> And you can only get that support if

we're connected.

>> Right now, you're probably sitting next

to two neighbors. Find the one you like

more and just say, "I'm connected to

you." I know you've just rejected

someone, but look at the other person

because we're a church and say to them,

"I'm connected to you, too." There's

something about connection that I think

you read all the Bible stories and it

looks different.

That was really awkward. You had to pick

between your husband and your father. I

just realized. Okay. Anyway,

you know the three guys in the fire,

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. You I'm

using Bible stories. I don't have time

to explain them all, but I reckon they

were three ordinary Aussie guys. They

weren't Aussie at all, but they were

three guys, no superstars. They

probably, you know, there's a whole king

with a fire threatening to burn anybody

who doesn't bow to the statue. And these

three Aussie kids probably thought, "No,

we're not doing it because we're

independent. We don't like listening to

all these people." Hands in, right? No

bow. In three, three, two, one, no bow.

Let's go. They walk out. They see

everyone bowing. They see the fire.

They're like, "Oh, man." AND THE KING

SAYS, "BOW OR WE BURN YOU." There's the

paraphrase version. I reckon one of them

was probably the the ring leader, the

guy who liked to be known as the leader.

So, HE'S LIKE, "WE'RE NOT GOING TO BOW,

GUYS." And maybe the other guy who had

peer pressure issues and just always

wanted to be like, "Yeah, yeah, I'm with

him." And the third guy who's like, "Oh,

man. Here we go again." I don't know. I

just like to think they're ordinary

guys. They weren't giants of faith. But

together, connected,

>> connected, they turned a nation upside

down.

>> Three connected, brought a fourth man

into the fire.

>> I mean, imagine if three people got out

of the boat with Peter. You know the

story about Peter walking on water?

Well, he walked out by himself. That's

why when the wind and waves came, it's

like, oh my gosh, begins to sink. But

imagine if two others, maybe not Thomas

or Judas, but maybe two others just

decided, "Come on, Pete, I'll come with

you." Maybe then when Peter goes, "Oh

no, the wind and the waves." Someone

would have gone, "Focus. It's Jesus."

There's there's a wonderful autocorrect

in the herd.

You don't lose your individuality,

but your connections do matter.

>> You're like, "God, make room." Well,

make room in your heart to become

vulnerable with someone. Share your

heart. Open your house. Become part of a

life group. do something because God

actually grows your capacity when you

increase your connections. But the

second the second part of it, thank you

the four of you who are clapping. The

rest of you keep processing.

Here's the second half of the equation.

Your capacity grows not just by your

connection, but by your willingness to

contribute. Think of the net analogy

again. Think of the fact that we're all

individual threads in a big net. You

know, a net is strong when it's

connected. But you imagine if you're a

thread in the net and you love the

connections, but you just don't want to

carry any weight. Everyone has one

friend who's like that. You know that

that's the friend when you all go out

for dinner, they always forget their

wallet.

That's the friend who never offers to

buy the drinks. That's the friend when

everyone brings a dish, they bring a

pack of cheeels.

the one that loves the hangs but doesn't

like to contribute.

>> Those friends don't really end up

lasting a long time. But here's the

thing about church. Every one of you in

this room, you have a gift. You have an

ability. You might say, "No, I don't."

Yes, you do. God made you with talent,

with ability. You might not be able to

sing like Lachlan, but don't worry. No,

most people can't. You can all We can

all do something. We can all chip in. We

can all help. We can all make a small

difference. Why? Because we are the body

of Christ. If in your physical body any

part of it stopped working, you would go

see a doctor. But in church, we think

it's normal that only a few of us should

do all the heavy lifting.

>> In the natural body, there's both muscle

and fat. The muscles doing the hard work

and the fats enjoying the journey.

I'm not fat shaming anyone. I have no

leg to stand on. I'm just saying in the

body of Christ, are you muscle or are

you fat? Are you just enjoying the ride

while someone else comes and sets up?

Someone else does the work, someone else

does the hospitality, someone else does

the No, no, no. Listen, there's seasons

we all have to be carried. But you're

like, "But I'm pastor. I'm pretty new

here." Ah, you know, when Jesus healed a

paralyzed guy, he was very new. He was

carried by four friends who literally

cut a hole in the roof. They let him

down. Jesus heals him, forgives him, and

then says, "Become an usher." Like,

"What did he say that?" Yeah. He said,

"Pick up your mat."

Like, you know, think about it. This

guy's new to church. His friends brought

him. You might be new to church today

going, "Who is this lunatic?" Listen,

I'm just passionate about the fact that

everyone has a gift and everyone can

contribute. And if we all carry,

we make room together.

No point praying for revival. God, save

my whole street, but don't let them

knock on my door after seven.

>> Lord, double our church, but Lord, make

sure my seat's still there when I come

next week. You can't you can't ask God

for things and not make room.

>> That's why this room, this this vision

is exciting because who knows what the

Lord's going to do in 2027 in all the

cities. Why? Because we're together

individually making room, but

collectively saying, "God, I want to be

connected. I want to be strong. I want

to be part of what you're doing and I

want to actually make a difference. This

paralyzed guy literally gets healed.

It's his first service. Some of you it's

your first service. And Jesus says,

"Pick up your mat." Obviously, that was

part of the evidence of him getting

healed. Like, prove you're strong that

you can pick it up. But it was also

prophetic in that it was a shift. Your

whole life you've been carried now. I

healed you. I forgave you. Become a

carrier.

>> And that that's disciplehip. That's

awesome.

>> And and you know, it's it's it's like he

could have said, "Well, Lord, I I I'm

just new. I just like to check out this

church for six months." Jesus didn't

say, "Click on the red tab on the hello

and just scan and we will talk to you in

nine months when you've had time to

process emotionally where you're at on

this journey." No. Day one, minute one,

become an asher. Pick up your mat.

You're like, "Pastor Mark, that's very

harsh. You can't talk to the new people

like that." No, I'm not talking because

this is part of the wonder that God made

you. He made you with an ability to

contribute.

>> You know, you're like, "Yeah, but the

church is a hospital. Stop making people

do stuff." Well, who someone has to do

it? And people think, "Well, that's the

pastor's job." You know, when the

worship leader gets up and says, "Lift

your hands." You're like, "No, you lift

your hands. That's why they pay you."

You know, Aussies have such a bent to

independence

that we just don't like being told

anything. And yet we have a Lord. We

have a God. That's a problem.

He's actually in charge.

>> Yeah. But Oh, yeah.

But the capacity of what God can do in

this church is when we all bend our

knee,

lay low, and say, "Father, we'll be part

of a net. I don't want to be an

individual fishing line on my own just

coming and going when I want. Lord,

connect me to what you are doing." And

Lord, I know I'm connected to some frail

people and I know that no church is

perfect, but God, I want to be a part of

what you are doing. Do you know

I I I remember friend and I we went to

Malaysia and he lost his wallet on the

plane and um we went to the airport to

the lost and found counter because we

had to report it missing. We couldn't go

back on the plane. So, he's a bit shy.

So, I did the talking for him and I said

um my mate said, "Excuse me." And the

lady took a couple of minutes to come

out, which is fine. But then she says,

"Can I help you?" And as soon as I told

her that my friend lost his wallet, she

looked disgusted. She was like

shook her head and with this patronizing

look and then just stared. I said, "Um,

can we report it?"

She stared.

I'm going, "What's her problem?" She

works at the lost and found counter.

This is her job. Why is she disgusted?

Why is she giving us moral eyes? Like as

if he's irresponsible. Of course, he's

irresponsible, but this is your job. You

work here. What is your problem? Please

help us.

She turns around slowly.

About five minutes later, gives out a

form, fill it in. I'm like, man, she's

had a bad day. But then I realized, even

though this is a job, she probably likes

the other half of the job. She probably

likes the found part. She probably likes

the part of you bringing the wallet.

She's like, a thank you. And some people

in the church are like that. We like the

found part. We don't like the lost part.

But we're into the business of lost and

found. The lost shall be found. Which

means we have to have a heart. We have

to make room. We have to be willing.

This is not a recruitment drive. Don't

worry, I'm leaving. But we're not

recruiting you. We're actually saying

this is what you were born for. We're

all part of it. It should affect your

mentality. Do you know even when I pray

for someone, if someone if you come to

me and go, I've got a sore shoulder.

Please pray for me. You know my prayer.

I'm not saying, "Oh, God, please take

the pain away. It must be terrible." I'm

praying that it's a fine prayer. But I'm

saying, "Lord, heal this shoulder so

radically that it'll be stronger than

it's ever been and we can lift again."

That's the mentality when you pray. If a

couple come to me and they're going

through a trauma, I'm not saying, "Oh,

God, keep them away from the divorce

courts." I'm saying, "No, Lord, heal

this marriage so radically that they

will start a marriage ministry and

they'll be able to help other couples

who go through betrayal and pain."

That's what God wants to do.

>> You know, Lord, Lord, Lord, this

business guys is is really struggling.

I'm not saying, God, keep him away from

bankruptcy. That's a good prayer. But

I'm praying, God, turn it around so

radically. See, this is why I believe

when people say to me, "Pastor, the

church is a hospital." I'm like, "Yeah,

it's a hospital, but it's not a normal

hospital." It's the only hospital where

you come in as a sick patient and you

leave as a physician.

>> He goes, "Now go lay hands on the sick."

Oh, but I was sick. Yeah. Now you go and

forgive others just like I forgave you.

You come in a spectator, but you leave a

soldier. You come in lame, but you leave

leaping. You come in crippled, but you

leave a carrier. That's the body of

Christ. And you're like, "Yeah, but I

got problems." We all have problems. If

you have no problems, your first problem

is denial. We all have problems. The

thing about the volunteers in Elevation

Church, you don't have a clue. They have

major problems.

All of them. all of us and sometimes I

don't want to join as I don't like

hypocrites. Don't call anyone a

hypocrite because all of us have

inconsistencies.

>> The minute you label someone a

hypocrite, be very careful because you

too have inconsistencies.

Have you ever met a teacher who's

unteachable,

inconsistent,

educating everyone but won't learn

anything? Have you ever met a nurse who

smokes,

helping the sick and killing herself?

Have you ever met an overweight personal

trainer?

>> Have you ever met a pastor who doesn't

like people? Have you met a counselor

who's got issues?

Inconsist. Everybody has

inconsistencies. So don't stay away

because of in We're all on the journey.

That's why we NEED A SAVIOR. THAT'S why

we NEED GOD. THAT'S why we need one

another. This church is made up of

imperfect people all saying yes to being

part of a net. God, I'll be part of what

you are doing. And let me close with

this.

What if the 154th fish

was your loved one?

But there's no capacity because we won't

make room.

We make room as an internal posture. And

in a few moments, you're going to get

that opportunity in every location,

every city to make room in your heart

for Jesus. Just like the inkeeper did

2,000 years ago.

Some inkeeper made room and Jesus was

birthed on the planet.

Make room in your heart for God. And

you'll be amazed at what he does in your

life. But when you do that, you're a

part of a community. You're a part of a

net. You're a part of a movement that

God wants to connect. God wants to

unite. See, that's why the enemy will

try and isolate you

and he'll try and offend you

because we were always meant to be

together and we're always meant to

actually contribute.

It's the natural function. You know, you

might say, "But excuse me, pastor, I'm

70. I'm 80. You don't have to carry

chairs. You can carry prayer."

>> You might be young and say, "I don't

have any money." Well, you don't have to

give into the offering if you got no

money, but you can serve and you can

help. You might be a business guy. I

can't be an usher. I'm traveling all the

time. Well, you can fund the kingdom.

Everyone has something. I'm a single mom

with kids. I can't leave my house. Well,

maybe I can host a life group. I mean,

we all can do something. We can all in

some way in encouragement, in prayer, in

some way. You were born to function. If

you read the obituaries this morning and

your name wasn't on there, you still

have a plan.

>> There's still a purpose for your life.

And so I'm going to invite everybody in

every church to stand right now across

elevation because I want to close in

prayer before I hand back to your

pastor. And I specifically want to pray

for people who you relate to the full

net because maybe it's something going

on. You're struggling. Maybe you can't

catch any fish right now. Maybe there's

too many fish right now. but all across

Australia, wherever you're at. If you're

saying, "God, I need your grace cuz my

nets are strained and I feel like I'm at

the edge of myself." I want to tell you

the Lord is holding you together. And I

want to confirm that he and his grace is

all you need. He's holding your life.

He's holding you together. But I want to

pray for those who need that right now.

So in every city, in every location,

including here, if you need that, just

lift your hand towards heaven right now

because God is in the room. He's

present. [music] And father, I'm praying

right now for everyone in Canes and

Melbourne, in Manra and Sydney, and

Penri in the G Coast. Lord, everyone

across Australia that Lord has a need.

They feel like their net is snapping.

God, let your grace hold them because

your grace is sufficient for us. And

father, I pray that they will look back

and see their capacity enlarged. That

the season did not sink them. The storm

did not drown them. The weight did not

break them. But Lord, you only [music]

simply enlarge them for what is to come.

You know, just one last thing. I don't

know if you know the person next to you

or if you like them, but can you just

put your hand on their shoulder or if

they're not offended by that or maybe

hold their hand or whatever

because right across this room is a

giant net. We're not individual fishing

lions coming on a journey. We're all

unique, but God is knitting unique lions

together for a greater good. So, Father,

I thank you for the net that is

Elevation Church for 2026. You are

making room for something that's still

to come. Father, we thank you that there

would be such a supernatural [music]

sense of unity and a wonderful sense of

activity. And Lord, there would be an

awakening in every heart that Lord all

our days we would not be isolated. We

would not be offended. We would not be

divided. Father, I thank you for this

giant net across this church that Lord,

you would entrust them with even more.

Lord, even more favor, more salvations,

more stories. Lord, for the new person

who's here and never been to a church

before. Thank you. You have a plan for

them, too. Thank you, Lord, for the

youngest to the oldest, from the richest

to the poorest, [music] from the shiest

to the boldest. Everybody's included in

your plan. Father, I thank you, Lord,

for this net. Have your way. Take 30

seconds and can you bless them? Can you

pray for them right now? Even if you're

not a big prayer, just say a prayer for

them. Say, Lord, strengthen the net.

Strengthen my sister. [music] Strengthen

my brother. Strengthen my friend.

Strengthen this person. I don't know

their life, Lord, but Lord, strengthen

them. Use them for your glory. And let

God enlarge what he wants to do in Jesus

name.