If Elijah Doesn't Go

We've been talking about different one-liners that can affect our lives.

I mean, over the last few Sundays, we've been taking different topics and coming up with one-liners.

Man, that sounds good. I'm finally hearing myself.

Yeah, so here are some of the one-liners.

When I call them one-liners, I don't mean to diminish it.

What I meant is these one-liners help us remember things.

So here's the first one.

Wayne, can you switch this thingy off?

First one was, I seek the same relationship with the Father.

I seek the same relationship of trust, intimacy, and affection that Jesus had with the Father.

This was one of the teachings about five or six weeks ago, and this was what we drew out of it so that we can carry it home and begin to practice it.

We said, Father, I won't settle for anything less than the same relationship that Jesus had with you.

We figured that Jesus had this amazing relationship of trust, of intimacy, and of affection, and we talked about that.

So our intent every day is, Father, I want to seek the same relationship that Jesus had with you.

That's the ultimate model of a relationship, and it's possible here on earth.

It's not something that's out there. It's possible here on earth.

So the first thing we said was, I seek the same relationship of trust, intimacy, and affection that Jesus had with the Father.

So I'm just going over some of the stuff we've done in the past so we can move on to the next thing I want to add to it.

The next thing we said is, I exist to serve.

Do you guys want to complete it?

I exist to. The only reason I exist is to serve and display.

Serve and display the King and to advance his rule and influence.

Guys, why am I going over this every week?

Because once we learn it, we can live it.

And the only way to learn truth is through repetition.

So that's why, I mean, remember when we used to talk about the body and about Christ's life and all this stuff?

We'd go over things again and again. If I woke you up in the middle of the night, you could say what it meant.

Any question I'd ask you, you would respond even in the middle of the night.

The point being, this should happen the same way.

These are such fundamental truths that if they become a part of who I am, life here on earth will become so much easier, man.

So the second one is, I exist to serve and display the King and to advance his rule and influence.

This is the only reason I exist, guys. There's no other reason I exist.

It's the only reason. It goes back to what we used to teach about four or five years ago when we said that we are supposed to be accurate representatives of Christ.

Not just representatives, accurate representatives.

Because the ambassador of Canada to England doesn't send his son to meet the Queen because he won't be able to accurately represent the country.

This goes back to that. I exist. The only reason I exist is to serve and display the King and to advance his rule and influence.

That was the second one.

Third one. This was about three weeks ago.

I live by the life of the risen.

I live, sorry, I live the risen life of another.

That's one good way to put it. You can put it in many different ways.

I live the risen life of another so that I may do the heavenly works of another.

And the another here being Christ. We talked about this three weeks ago.

That the only life I presently possess is the life of the risen Christ.

The only life I presently possess other than my physical life, which I said, you cut my jugular and the blood runs out and my physical life is gone.

But really does Jacob's life end? No.

Because the only life I presently possess as a believer is the risen life of Christ.

So the third statement we made was I live the risen life of another so that I may do the heavenly works of another.

Live the life of another and you will do the works of another.

And it's not just any life. It's the risen life of another.

This is the only thing I possess. It's a life that cannot be dented, cannot be overtaken.

It's joyous. It's abundant. It is unsurmountable.

That's the kind of life I really have. And we talked about this about three weeks ago and even last week.

Fourth statement.

It's a new table. I don't know where I keep things anymore.

Fourth point was I will make righteous choices.

I will make righteous choices by the power of the Spirit.

I will make righteous choices by the power of God's Spirit.

Guys, remember the power of sin does not hold a grip on me anymore because the power of sin was broken.

Death can't hold me down anymore because the power of death was broken.

And I have the risen life of Christ in me.

And I'm absolutely capable of making righteous choices.

And a man of choices is a man of destiny.

So we talked about this some weeks ago.

I will make righteous choices by the power of God's Spirit.

And if you want to listen to the rest of it, you'll have to ask Wayne and he'll give you the CD.

The next thing was, and this was ages ago, not ages ago, maybe at the beginning of the year.

This is such a cool one. I hope you haven't forgotten it.

I will place first things of God first.

I will place first things of God first.

And all other things will fall into place.

This is such a simple thing, man.

I will search for and place. I will search for and place the first things of God first.

And all other things will fall into place.

And all other things will fall into place.

I mean, just think of it, eh?

When it comes to money, search and find out what God says about money.

First things first.

And it's about your marriage. Search and find out what God says about your marriage.

In matters of time, talent, treasure and life, find out what God says about something.

Place it first and it is impossible for the rest not to come together.

Put first things first and you will get the second also.

C.S. Lewis, put second things first and you will not get the first nor will you get the second.

Simple, awesome rule, man.

And you will have to search it out, eh?

Because all of us come from different cultures.

So in our minds there is a certain way we think.

But that may not be the biblical way.

So I have to search out the first things of God, then put them first.

What if you have grown up in a home that in a reaction against church taking up all their time,

decided that the family comes first and church is secondary?

Sounds like a good principle. Your family comes first. God, family, church.

I've heard it all my life. What if it's not true?

What if it's not true?

Just think about that. Yeah.

This one is matching the match of six things.

Yeah. Seek first. Seek first. Search it out. Search it out.

We can't put first things first based on what we think is right,

but what we have to go and look for and then put right.

Yeah, the word of God. Yeah.

Because it supersedes all cultures, right?

So in marriage, in child rearing, in sex, in money, in work, in everything, man.

And all other things fall into place.

Okay. Next one.

I love this one. This video that I think two weeks ago.

My life must only be about the fame of Jesus.

My life must only be about the fame of Jesus.

My life must only be about the fame of Jesus.

No other reason. Everything that my life now, I mean, for instance,

when Dagmar was saying, and then Jacob prayed for me and I got healed and thank God for a,

did she say brilliant pastor or great or magnificent?

I didn't remember the word.

She didn't say any of that.

Humble pastor. Yeah.

She said thank God for this humble pastor that we have.

So while she's saying that, sure, guys, like it or not, when you do the works of God,

the Bible, Jesus put it this way, if they don't believe you for the words you do,

they will believe you for the works you do.

So that's fine. But at the end of the day, if it does not deflect back to Jesus,

then it's not about the fame of Jesus, but it's the fame of Jacob.

So there's no harm in acknowledging those that have done you good.

In fact, I think it's sometimes pride when we don't want to acknowledge human conduits through which blessings have come.

But having acknowledged that, may our hearts be such that our lives are about the fame of Jesus.

And then once you become like that, it just deflects naturally, man.

You don't have to say praise the Lord.

It just happens naturally.

And the last one, which is what we will look at today, not the last one, the last one as of date.

Yeah, or whatever the word is.

The last one which we look at today, which I think is so cool, is,

hey, by the way, all these things that I've said, Joan printed it out on some cards and it's on the glass table behind.

Only now she'll have to start doing the back also, because we're going to add more.

Yeah. There's more to it.

I just keep it just so I can keep remembering it.

Next one. Today's what we'll be talking about today.

I live to make others glad in God.

I live to make others glad in God.

That's what we'll be looking at today.

The phrase glad in God, I borrowed from someone else.

But it covers everything.

Guys, we don't use the word glad too often now.

We go for shucks and awesome and stuff like that.

But the Bible often used to use the word gladness.

It is so encompassing.

Remember that song?

Anyone who was born before 1980s remembers that song.

He has made me glad.

He has made me glad.

I will rejoice for he has made me glad.

No one sings that anymore.

Yeah, so gladness is a biblical word.

And so today we'll be talking about I live to make others glad in God.

Not I live to make others glad.

No, no, no.

I live to make others glad in God.

The in God thing is very important, guys.

Because it's one thing to be formed into a people of God.

But why does God form us into a people?

The reason God forms us into a people is for someone else.

Said the same thing about Israel.

Why did God choose Israel as a nation?

Because he wanted to display to the rest of the world who God was.

It was always for someone else.

Israel was set apart so that I can call a nation unto myself

and display to the rest of the earth what a people in whom God dwells looks like.

It's the same with us.

The only reason we are being set apart as a people of God

is so that we be able to be a part of God's people.

The only reason we are being set apart as a people of God

is so that we become something to someone else.

Something for whom?

Something for God to someone else.

Why?

So that they may be glad in God also just as you are glad in God.

Remember the statement we made long ago?

Two famous guys said it.

One, and here was the statement.

God is most glorified in you when?

I am most satisfied in him.

Just think of that.

God is most glorified in you when you are most satisfied in him.

That's what we are trying to do.

We are trying to help people to see who God is

so that they may be glad in him.

Because when they are glad in him, they will glorify him.

So that's what we'll talk about today.

So to make glad is to basically free people.

Free people to recognize, rise, recognize, rise, and be satisfied.

Recognize and rise and be satisfied in God.

That's what I mean by to make glad.

To make glad is to free people to recognize, rise, and be satisfied in God.

And once they come to a place of being satisfied in God,

they will glorify him.

It's impossible not to glorify or lift up or exalt something that you are satisfied with.

Why do you tell people about your favorite restaurant?

Why do you tell people about your favorite airline?

Why do you tell people about your wife?

Why do you not tell people about your wife or your husband?

It's usually because either there's great satisfaction or some minor dissatisfaction.

That's how it works.

Yeah, why don't we talk about the Canucks anymore?

22 years of great dissatisfaction and disappointment.

But welcome to Vancouver, the home of the 2016 Stanley Cup champions.

That's on tape.

Yes, that's on tape.

It is not a prophetic word.

Pardon?

I'm Jason.

Guys, it's very natural for God to have us live like this

because isn't he the one who came to seek, save, and serve others?

What is his reason for coming?

To seek, save, and serve others.

Who are the others? Me.

Gosh, I'm grateful.

He didn't come for Israel.

He didn't come to establish Israel as a people that are exclusive.

He came to Israel so that through Israel,

he could now seek, save, and serve others.

And who were the others? Jacob.

So at the end of the day, I live to make others glad,

and God is so a part of who God is.

It's part of his nature.

We, as Acts 29, are no longer for ourselves.

We've been formed into a people of God.

That was a process.

It was necessary to be not ingrown, but homebred.

But now we live for the sake of someone else.

So here's the thing though.

When you live to make others glad in God,

know that life will be more demanding.

When you live to make others glad in God,

know that life will be more demanding,

risks will be higher, but joy will be fuller.

Let me say that again.

When you choose to live a life that makes others glad,

know that life will be more demanding.

And as in, there will be greater demands placed on your life.

Because now you're not living for yourself.

There will be greater demands placed on your life.

There will be risks that are higher.

But with risks that are higher,

comes this whole aspect of counting the cost

and launching an adventure.

Hey, half the reason Christianity is not fun

is because there aren't many people who are interested

in the world, it's because there are no risks

and there is no counting the cost that's involved.

Because the tickets are already booked.

Go to heaven.

There is no risk involved.

That's why Christianity sometimes gets so dull.

And it's very possible to live a dull Christian life

by not making it about others.

The moment you do that, God begins to do something else.

And joy gets fuller. Joy gets fuller.

Joy gets full. Fuller is the wrong word.

But the kids are not here anyways. Joy gets fuller.

So no longer is it merely about what God does in me,

it's what God does through me for others.

It's no longer about what God does in me.

And there's a great place for that.

I mean, thank God for the things He does in me and does for me.

But now it's what He does through me for others.

And really guys, I'm telling you based on what I know

God is about in terms of Acts 29,

the dad is surely where we are going,

surely where we are heading.

Where it's God doing things through me for others,

through us for others.

When I say me, I mean us.

And remember in 2014 we started with this theme called

World, Meet God?

Yeah. It's coming back to that.

World, meet God.

As in when people meet you, they should see through you

who the Father is.

Because what was Jesus' primary purpose on earth?

I have come to show you the Father.

What is Acts 29's primary purpose on earth?

We have come to show you the Father.

So every time people meet you,

they should be able to see some aspect of the Father.

And if we don't go, then who guys?

If you don't go, then who?

And if not now, when?

When you're older.

Not everybody can have a hip that lasts for 30 years.

If not us, then who?

If not now, then when?

I just want to look at the life of Elijah

and see how things would have changed

had Elijah not responded.

How things would have changed had Elijah not responded.

And from there on we'll pick some principles.

Oh, it's only 1140.

Guys, let's start with 1 Kings 18.

1 Kings 18.

1 Kings 18.

Any questions thus far?

Any questions?

Okay, pick up one of those thingies on the glass table

and take it home and learn it

and then give that card away to somebody else.

And then when we add a few more,

Jonah will print some more.

1 Kings 18.

1 Kings 18.

So here's the first statement I want to make.

If Elijah doesn't rise up,

people will not make a decision.

If Elijah does not rise up,

people will not make a decision.

If Elijah does not rise up,

if Elijah doesn't rise up,

people will not decide.

people will not decide. If Elijah doesn't rise up, people will not decide.

What are we talking about? We are talking about, okay Father, so we are ready to live to make others glad

and if we don't, here are the things that could happen and therefore we will.

If Elijah does not rise up and the Bible always calls any time in history that pre what?

What's the word? Precedes. Anytime in history that precedes the arrival of the Messiah,

you always have a John the Baptist or an Elijah type of people.

In Luke it happened before Jesus came there was John the Baptist. Whenever there's rank apostasy

and God wants to bring a new move, he will always raise up an Elijah kind of people,

which is why the Bible often talks about walking in the spirit of Elijah as in how did he function?

Therefore function there similarly because of what I'm about to do. So one of the things we need to

understand is if Elijah doesn't rise up, people will not decide. Turn to 1 Kings 18, 1 Kings 18

and go to verse 20, verse 20, 20 to 22 and then 39. 1 Kings 18, verse 20. I'm reading.

1 Kings 18:20

So Ahab sent to all the people of Israel and gathered the prophets together in Mount Carmel

and Elijah came near to all the people and said, how long will you go limping between two different

opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him. But if Baal, then follow him. Guys, people today,

especially in the kind of era we live in, are always limping between two opinions.

And the odd thing is Bible schools and churches promote this. They never tell you black or white

they always tell you multiple opinions and they leave you to decide what is best for you.

It's almost this sense of this is what this scholar says, this is what this scholar says,

this is what this school of thought says, this is what this school of thought says,

this is what it says in Greek, this is what it says in Hebrew. And what is your opinion?

That's up to you. You can decide which I mean, I remember doing a paper on Colossians and Ephesians

and there were 60 opinions on it. And I failed that paper unfortunately because I only had one

opinion. And so he told me to redo the whole exam. But that's different. 60 different opinions on a

simple statement. And what is the statement? That our battle is with the rudimentary

elemental spirits of the world that Colossians talks about. A Greek word called stoichi. 60

opinions on it. The point being guys, if Elijah doesn't rise up, you and I need to rise up otherwise

people will not decide. It's an odd time we live in. You see it in the media. CNN will call a guy

who believes in God to hear his opinion. But after he speaks about how he believes in God,

now they call a guy who does not believe in God so that we can hear his opinion. Why? Because we

crave for the safe middle. Same thing about homosexuality. Some will say homosexuality is

wrong. Others will say homosexuality is right. And the majority of the church will go back to the old

cliché saying, God loves the sinner but hates the sinner. We don't even know what that means.

Everything is so gray man. If Elijah does not rise, people will not decide. Have an opinion guys.

Go ahead.

Yeah, people will not take a stand. It's fine. People will not stand. Take a stand on one thing

or the other. Guys, I love what Eddie always says. Eddie quotes this line very often. He says,

a person with experience is not at the mercy of a person with an opinion. A person with experience

is not at the mercy of a person with an opinion. A person with experience is not at the mercy

of a person with an opinion. I was listening to a podcast yesterday that was being done by

one highly trained theologian and a pastor here in Vancouver, Abbotsford, and they were discussing

Satan. And it was odd. This pastor from Abbotsford was talking about at least a thousand demons that

he had cast out. And the theologian was talking about how Satan is actually an imagination

that Christians have of how evil is personified. And you could hear both of them and you could

hear one had an opinion and one had experience. And a person of experience is never at the mercy

of the person of opinion. And so when I say that Elijah needs to rise up so that people will take

a stand, people will decide, guys, over the next few months, based on just what we have been

experiencing during our prayer times over the last couple of weeks, I'm telling you, get engaged.

Get engaged at what is what the spirit of God is doing here. Get engaged. Because remember,

we've talked about this before. Engagement or association. I know I've spelled engagement wrong.

Don't worry about it. Just spell it right. Engagement or association leads to imitation,

and imitation leads to formation of whatever Christ wants to form in you. And formation finally

leads to you being commissioned and sent out to do what you're supposed to do. And any step that

you miss out, you will not end up here. Any step you miss out there, you won't end up here. This is

when this is of great advantage. Engagement. Oh, it is correct. Engagement or association

will lead to imitation. Meaning, if let's assume that God is doing something at Acts 29 that is

relatively different from what he's done over the last nine or 10 years, then engage with it,

associate with it. Because as you associate with it, you will begin to imitate or practice it.

When you imitate or practice it, things will be formed in you. You will become who you need to

become, and then God will commission you. Nobody on earth can stop that from happening. Miss any of

these steps, and you do not end up here. You end up as a maverick who's doing things on his own.

I'd so suggest, not based on what I'm saying, go check with others who are engaged at present in

the things that are happening at Acts 29 and ask them, is there something different brewing?

Is there something different brewing? And there is, guys. There is. I'd so suggest that you engage.

Because we have to be a people who have God encounters behind us before we express anything,

guys. Got to have God encounters behind us so that we can speak, so that we are never at the mercy of

those with an opinion. And look at what happens in the next verse. This is so odd. So I'm starting

at verse 21. And Elijah came near to all the people and said, how long will you go limping between two

different opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him. But if Baal, then follow him. Look at the next

line. And the people did not answer him with a word. He's just placed a choice before them. Hey,

you want to follow Baal or you want to follow God? And what's their response? Silence.

What did it take for these people to move to the next level? Verse 39. Fire fell from the skies,

burnt up the sacrifice. And suddenly you see in verse 39, verse 39. Verse 39 says,

and when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces and said, the Lord, he is God. The Lord,

he is God. Guys, you can present people with choices and they will yet not respond till they

see a God encounter that happens through you and me. This is why Jesus had to say this, guys.

This is the son of God who is saying, if you do not believe me for the words I speak, then believe me

for the works I do. He had to say it, guys. And if he had to say it, then know that our words will

help people to decide some of them. But many will still remain silent when you present them this and

that. Till you see God at work. Any questions before we go on?

You know, that's true. I guess going back to my tooth, I was talking to a couple of people at work and one had definitely told me in the past she does not believe in God.

Coffee. Sorry, I, yeah.

She told me that she doesn't believe in God and yet she had to acknowledge what the dentist said.

Yeah.

For her work.

Guys, it's not that we don't use words, but know that if they don't believe you for your words, they have to believe you for your works.

This is, thanks man. This is how Jesus was. This is how Jesus was.

1 Corinthians 420, what does it say? It says, the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk, but it's a matter of power.

1 Corinthians 420. The kingdom of God is not a matter of talk, it's a matter of power.

And unfortunately, as much as you and I think that the Holy Spirit teaches us, remember he teaches us through a people.

I wouldn't be one third of who I am if it were not for the fact that I belong to a church like this.

Really. Everything opened up for me only after I came to this church.

Which is not to say that this church is the ultimate church. No, there are at least 7000 other churches like this.

All I'm saying is, got to be a part of something for something to happen, because that's how God works.

Second statement.

Guys, don't talk to me because I've got a bias.

Because I'm a pastor here. Talk to others in this church and ask them, hey, is this true that something's happening?

And listen to what they say. And if it's not true, just look at what I said as an exaggeration.

But if it is true, decide if you want to engage, because something is brewing.

Yeah, something is brewing man.

Next one. If Elijah doesn't go, if Elijah doesn't go, the widow in Zarephath will cook her last meal.

The widow in Zarephath will cook her last meal.

If Elijah doesn't go, the widow in Zarephath will cook her last meal.

1 Kings 17, 1 Kings 17, 1 Kings 17, 8 to 13.

So, I'm reading.

The word of the Lord came to him.

Arise, go to Zarephath, which belongs to Sidon, and dwell there.

Behold, I have commanded a widow there to feed you.

So he arose and went to Zarephath.

And when he came to the gate of the city, behold, a widow was there gathering sticks.

And he called to her and said, bring me a little water in a vessel that I may drink.

And as she was going to bring it, he called to her and said, bring me a morsel of bread in your hand.

And she said, as the Lord your God lives, I have nothing baked, only a handful of flour in a jar and a little oil in a jug.

And she said, I have gathered a couple of sticks that I may go in and prepare it for myself and my son, that we may eat it and die.

If Elijah doesn't rise up and go to Zarephath, the widow will cook her last meal.

Guys, we are in a place because the Spirit of God has been so gracious in teaching us to listen to God and hear his voice.

We are in a place where we can be like the clouds in Job 37, verse 12.

Job 37:12

Job 37, verse 12.

Job 37:12

I mean, every time I read that verse, I think to myself, why didn't I discover this long ago?

Job 37, verse 12.

Job 37:12

And read it from different versions once you get home.

It is such a cool verse, man.

Job 37, verse 12.

Job 37:12

Depending on the version you read, I'll read it from the ESV.

Starting at verse 11.

Job 37, verse 11 to verse 13.

Job 37:11

Beautiful verse.

Here's what it says.

Job is before Psalms.

I know we hardly read that book.

The message puts it this way.

He puts these clouds that are loaded with moisture through their paces this way, then that, and commands them to do what he says for discipline or grace or extravagant love.

This is who we are supposed to be.

Clouds loaded with moisture that he turns around at his command.

Sometimes this way, sometimes that.

Why?

Because sometimes he may use you to bring correction, sometimes discipline, sometimes extravagant love.

Doesn't matter.

If Elijah doesn't go to Zarephath, the woman cooks her last meal.

And who do you think he wants to send?

You and I, man.

Now when you look back at the last nine or ten years, you realize why God has always taught us to operate by hearing and not by policy.

But by hearing.

Father, what do you want to do?

Father, what do you want to do?

Father, what do you want to do?

Where do you want us to go next?

Use this in our lives, both as a church and as a people.

Some of you who were here on Monday night heard the story of how Joan, who does not like driving outside of number five and number one in Richmond, was asked to go all the way to Metro Town and to go into chapters to meet a Burmese guy who had backslidden.

Yeah.

This is when demand is placed on life, risks get higher, but joy gets fuller.

She goes and meets a guy and he has begun to turn his life around and will be meeting with Joan again in the future to figure things out.

Oh, if he only listened and went out at his command.

I love this part of the clouds, man.

I've got this up near the kitchen area in my house because it's an area I never use.

This guy, Josh, from Vernon, shot this beautiful picture of massive clouds in Vernon loaded with moisture with thunder and lightning and he framed it up.

And he wrote this on the back of the picture.

Clouds loaded with moisture.

Sending out lightning, moving according to his command, this way and that, sometimes for grace, sometimes for kindness, sometimes for discipline.

Sometimes for extravagant love.

That is who you are, man.

That is who we are.

I look forward to this.

See, I look forward to this.

I look forward to this.

I look forward to this.

I look forward to this.

Make this happen.

I look forward to this, eh?

Because how do you become a part of God encounters unless you illogically obey what he is asking you to?

How do you become a part of God encounters?

We said that a people who encounter God do not express opinions anymore, they express black and white truths.

And so how do you enter into God encounters?

But through being obedient even when commands are sometimes illogical.

Guys, you know I've lived my life this way and you've seen the adventures in it.

I know some of you have lived this way and I've seen the adventures in your life.

What when a people begin to live like this?

Snap out of our stupor man because something is afoot.

Something is brewing.

And I don't want, like George Bush said, not one child left behind.

All of us in this man.

It would be a shame if anybody misses out on what is afoot.

People will be glad in the Lord and the widow will not die but live when you begin to rise up and say,

I know Zarephath, and look at what Jesus said in Luke 4.26.

He said, there were many widows in Israel during the time of the famine when for three and a half years the rains were shut up.

Luke 4.25.

And yet, who did God send Elijah to?

God sent Elijah all the way into Sidon, which is a pagan part of the country, sent him all the way to one widow.

Why? Because that's what God decided was the best thing to do.

And so it happened.

Doesn't make sense man.

I was telling somebody that Acts 29 goes on mission trips or when I travel, I said, Father, of all the places you could choose to have me and Acts 29 live,

Vancouver is the farthest place from the rest of the world.

If you go west, you end up drowning.

If you go east, you fly on forever.

There is no other place in the world that is as far away from every other place we know than Vancouver.

The next place after this is Japan.

So the point is guys, God does things illogically and illogically in terms of how we think.

But if Elijah doesn't rise up, the widow in Zarifat will cook her last meal.

God will rise up.

We no longer live for ourselves.

We live to make others glad in God.

We live to make others glad in God.

That's the only reason.

Next one.

If Elijah doesn't go, the son is not resurrected.

The son is not resurrected.

If Elijah doesn't go, the son is not raised from the dead.

If Elijah doesn't go, the son is not raised from the dead.

1 Kings 17, 21-23.

1 Kings 17, 21-23.

1 Kings 17, 21-23.

1 Kings 17, 21-23.

1 Kings 17, 21-23.

1 Kings 17, 21-23.

1 Kings 17, 21-23.

Love this one.

So Elijah begins praying because the woman had a son, the son is dead.

So he prays, Oh Lord my God, have you brought calamity even upon the widow with whom I sojourned by killing her son?

That was Elijah's flawed understanding of who God is.

But that wasn't the Old Testament.

Let's move on.

Verse 21.

Then he stretched himself upon the child three times and cried to the Lord, Oh Lord my God, let this child's life come into him again.

And the Lord listened to the voice of Elijah and the life of the child came to him again.

And he revived.

Then Elijah took the child and brought him down from the upper chamber into the house and delivered him to his mother.

And Elijah said, See your son lives.

And the woman said to Elijah, Now I know that you're a man of God and that the word of the Lord is in your mouth.

In your mouth is the truth.

Guys, if Elijah doesn't go as in if you and I don't go, then the years of the locusts, the years that the locusts have eaten in the lives of others will not be restored.

Guys, do you realize this?

That if someone hadn't gone out, your life would not have been restored.

The years that the locusts ate in my life through drugs and all kinds of things were restored because someone decided that they would like to see Jacob made glad in the Lord.

And thank God they did.

And they didn't do it once.

They didn't do it twice.

They didn't do it three times.

Then it again and again persisting because for some strange reason, they saw in me something that was worth recovering.

Nobody sitting here would be here were it not for the fact that someone decided that I have to go out and get this particular person to be glad in the Lord, to be satisfied in the Lord.

I live to make others glad in God, not make others saved.

Forget the word saved for a second.

Don't think of I am here to get people saved.

No, I am here to get them to be glad in the Lord.

Once they begin to get glad in the Lord, they will be saved.

When salvation has been getting them to say a sinner's prayer becomes the main objective.

We miss out.

Guys, show them the Father and he is so attractive that people surrender their lives to the Son.

There will be times when I have no other.

I mean, there have been times when the Lord has said forget showing him who I am.

Just tell him to give his life to the Lord right now and lead him in a sinner's prayer.

And there's a time for that.

What we hear and do, our intent is we will go and make people glad in the Lord.

We will show we will free them to recognize, rise up and be satisfied in God.

And salvation is a natural outcome.

This is what Jesus did with Zacchaeus.

No, was it Zacchaeus?

Yeah.

He went to his house for tea, had tea with him and Zacchaeus turned around and gave back four times his money.

Was it Zacchaeus or Levi?

One of the guys.

So let's put them both together.

Okay.

This is how it works, guys.

So know this that, guys, does the rest of the world have the Spirit of God dwelling in them?

No.

Do we have the Spirit of God dwelling in us?

Yes.

The flesh profits nothing.

The Spirit gives life.

You and I can restore the years the locusts have eaten.

Ezekiel 37, verse 12.

Ezekiel 37:12

And God says to Ezekiel, stand in these valley of bones and prophesy.

So he prophesied that the Lord will give you life.

And God says to Ezekiel, stand in these valley of bones and prophesy.

So he prophesies and the bones come together.

But they're still dead.

And then God says, now breathe upon them.

Breathe.

And as you breathe, I'll bring life back.

Prophecy upon them.

And so Ezekiel says, and so I did what the Lord said and I began to prophesy.

And as I prophesied, breath began to enter the valley of bones and they rose up as one large army.

Who?

If not you.

If not, now.

Guys, we've got far too much inside us now to just sit on it.

Far too much inside us.

Who else can do this, guys?

But the people of God.

I'm not saying actually, man.

The people of God.

Who else can do this?

Dead sons have to be resurrected.

Thank God for those that came and rose us back to life, man.

John 5.25 says this.

A time is coming when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God and they will rise up from their graves.

I know I'm taking it out of context, but it's so cool.

John 5.25.

A time is coming when the dead shall hear the voice of Jesus Christ, the Son of the living God, and they shall rise up from their graves.

John 5.25.

Persist.

I mean, Elijah goes, lies down on the corpse three times.

Hosea chapter two, verse six has this verse in which it says, by the second day, it says, after two days he will revive us.

On the third day he will raise us up that we may live with him.

It's almost, you'll find this third day principle in almost every situation where God is going to revive something.

And Elijah goes, lies down on this boy three times and third time he comes back to life.

Persist, persist.

My God, if people gave up on me after they spoke to me once, I would not be where I am.

It was because people persisted.

People persisted.

And remember, why do you need to, every time you persist, know that you're persisting because you were rejected the first time.

There is no need for persistence if there is no rejection.

Hi.

I'm not doing anything.

I'm just standing here still.

Persist, lie down on the corpse three times.

Lie down on the corpse three times.

Can't give up guys.

Lie down on the corpse three times.

And it will revive.

Next one, and we'll end with this.

If Elijah does not go back, if Elijah does not go back, Elisha's are not mentored.

If Elijah does not go back establishing, Elisha's are not mentored.

Jehu's are not anointed.

Jezebel's are not dismant SQL.

If Elijah does not go back, if Elijah does not go back.

Elisha's are not mentored or fathered.

Yeah, use the word fathered.

Elisha's are not fathered.

Jehu's are not anointed.

And Jezebel's are not dismantled.

Hey guys, remember I'm talking about us as a people who will engage in things like this.

And how do we, when we begin to think like this as a people, then we as individuals begin to function like that.

So I'm talking about us as a people functioning like this so that individuals, wherever they are, begin to do the same.

We don't think of individuals doing it together to form a collective.

We don't think of individuals doing it together to form a collective.

We think collective first so that individuals can live out their little piece in the collective.

That's how the body works.

The head decides that at this particular moment, Jacob's second and third finger need to scratch his head right down the middle and keep doing this for a while.

And it's amazing how so many things are working together at the same time.

It's not suddenly that the body is working together.

It's amazing how so many things are working together at the same time.

It's not suddenly my fingers deciding to scratch your head and my elbows deciding, no, I don't want to scratch your head.

No, everything works together.

The point being, we think like this as a people and then as individuals begin to function in our own metron.

So if Elijah does not go back, Elijah's an aunt-mentor, Jehu's aren't anointed, Jezebel's aren't determined.

Guys, why she's still scared?

I've stopped doing that thing.

Guys, one of the things that happens to Christians in churches like Acts 29 is because of perhaps disappointment,

so because of things not working out despite standing in faith, because it's taking long.

What happens is for Christians who have been Christians for long, you begin to harden your heart in some areas.

One of the things you've got to go home and check is, Father, is there anything about you that I've or anything that you do that I've hardened my heart against?

Have I hardened my heart in the area of healing because I've waited for long and nothing has happened?

Have I hardened my heart in the area of provision because I've waited for long and nothing has happened?

Have I hardened my heart in the area of real hope because I've trusted you and nothing has happened?

We don't realize this, eh?

When we talk about the hardening of heart, we think of being resistant to God.

No, when it comes to us Christians, it's not so much resistance to God,

but a certain part of our heart gets callous to certain characteristics of God,

and in that area, you begin to shut down.

And it doesn't matter what you do.

It doesn't matter how many seminars you go for, how many teachings you attend.

It doesn't matter that the Spirit of God is flowing.

In that area, the hardness has taken over.

And the only way out of it is through repentance, because repentance is a changing of your mind.

At the end of the day, how do you define changing of your mind?

The renewing of your mind is beginning to see things the way God sees them again.

The renewing of your mind is beginning to see things the way God sees them again.

So, yes, the renewing of the mind comes through the reading of the Word,

but you can read the Word and not see things the way God sees them, and so nothing happens.

I've met Christians in this church and in other churches where there is a hardness of heart in a certain area,

and everybody has it.

I've got areas in my life where my heart is hardened.

Because I haven't seen the kind of results I expected, despite what I thought was endurance and faith,

in that area, I'm a little hesitant because that area is hardened.

You think you don't have it in your life. Of course you do.

And the only way out of it is to repent, saying,

Father, I'm sorry. I think you don't do such things.

I've decided that this is an area that you're shut off to.

My heart is not resistant to you.

I love you, Father, but in this area, I've shut you off.

And I need now to change the way I think by seeing things the way you see them.

The Word of God is to be seen as a place where God shows you how he thinks, and that is what renews your mind.

Hey guys, the thing is, wherever your heart is hardened, you become the architect of your own future in that area.

Wherever your heart is hardened, in that area, you become the architect of your own future.

And even God can't help you.

That sounds strange, but even God can't help you.

Because he will not hijack your will.

So, why am I bringing all this up?

Because Elijah wanted to quit, man. He wanted to resign and get raptured.

Elijah wanted to...

Hey guys, if you ever want to leave, feel free to get up and leave.

All we'll do when people leave in the middle of the services, we say Joel and Myra are leaving the building.

And that's about it.

We just embarrass you a little and then that's the end of it.

Just so you know.

Because maybe no one told you that this goes on till 1220 or 1230, but usually we end by 1230.

We should put up a sign saying 1020 till 12, 1230, 1245, maybe.

Guys, so why am I saying this?

Because Elijah quit, eh? Elijah hardened his heart in this area where it came to.

Fear and Jezebel.

And in the area that...

Here's what he does. He says, I'm the only one left among your prophets.

He went into self-pity.

Guys, as we grow older, refuse to lick your wounds.

Refuse to lick your wounds.

Get healed.

Refuse to lick your wounds.

Get healed.

It doesn't matter what kind of a past you have.

Maybe you were abused in your past.

Maybe your dad was a lousy guy.

Maybe you lost a child.

Maybe you lost your house.

All those things happen.

There is a time when that happens where it hurts like crazy, but God is a God who heals.

I can't keep licking my wounds.

Doesn't matter what's happened to my marriage in the past.

I have a future and I will refuse to lick my wounds.

Instead, I'll be someone who gets healed, gets up and starts walking again.

When you lick your wounds, they keep festering.

They don't get cleaned up.

The only one who can clean up wounds is God, man.

Lick your wounds and all you get is scabs.

God heals you, you get scars, man.

Don't lick your wounds.

I love what Caleb did.

He's 84.

He's about Dagma's age.

And what does he do?

He says, I want my portion of land.

And could I please have those hills?

The hill country of Hebron.

Why, Caleb?

Because they've got giants from the tribe of Anaheim.

They've got the whole tribe of Hebron.

Why, Caleb?

Because they've got giants from the tribe of Anak and I'd really like to take them on.

What's wrong with the guy?

Talk about being illogical.

Talk about Caleb going.

If Caleb didn't go, the Anaks would not have been defeated.

Crazy.

If Caleb did not go, the Anaks would not have been defeated.

Hardships are no match, guys, for the surpassing victory through the one who loves you perfectly.

Romans 8.37.

For the surpassing victory of the one who loves you.

This is the Romans 8.37.38 thing.

We are more than conquerors through Christ.

And he gives a surpassing victory to the one who loves us perfectly.

But we'll talk about that another day.

Let me conclude.

Guys, it is in the ascension of Elijah's and Jehu's that your life is proven as being beneficial.

Let me say that again.

It's in the ascension.

As in, by the time you leave the earth, why was posterity so important to the Jewish nation?

I mean, for a woman to be barren in Israel was like the ultimate stigma.

For a man not to have children was like the end of days.

Abraham laments.

But, okay, oh God, if you say, I'm going to have children, I'll call Eliezer my servant

and I'll take him and his son as my children.

It was unbearable not to have a posterity.

But what about spiritual posterity, man?

Why is that not unbearable?

Why is that not unbearable?

The proof of a life lived well on earth is seen in the Jehu's and the Elisha's you leave behind.

So when you leave the earth, who will say that it was because of his spiritual input that I became who I became?

Who will say it was his hand that led me to the place that I am right now?

You think this is the realm of pastors?

Absolutely not.

Common priesthood we share with different graces and giftings.

The proof of a life lived well, lived in a godly fashion here on earth is Elijah's and Jehu's that have been fathered and that have been anointed.

And that is when you can rest.

You cannot rest till you have somebody else raised on earth who is better than you.

When did God rest?

When did God rest?

God rested when he figured that all things are working well and that seed will perpetuate life forever.

That's when God rested, eh?

He had set everything up.

He had given them the command, go, multiply, reproduce, replenish the earth.

He had planted trees that will bear seeds that will cause more trees to come.

Having done anything, then he goes into rest.

Why? Because he had set everything in order so that they would perpetuate after their kind.

You cannot rest till you have come to a place where you can perpetuate after your kind.

I'm not talking about biological children, as wonderful as they are.

But there is a new kind that you are that came from that seed called the immortal seed of 1 Peter 1.23.

That has to be perpetuated on the earth and you cannot rest till that is done.

So while you are alive, you have to deputize and steward and after you are dead, you have to make sure that it perpetuates.

While you are alive, you deputize.

As in what does deputize mean?

Deputize means when Chris goes away, Chris deputizes Lynn to play the keyboard.

You know that's going to happen, right?

You better learn everything you can over the next few weeks.

So Chris deputizes her to play the keyboard.

And then having deputized her, she has to steward Lynn's talents.

So over the next three weeks, Chris stops working at TELUS and spends her entire day helping Lynn to learn the keyboard.

So that in three weeks she is ready to play.

While you are alive guys, that is your function.

At the end of the day, regardless of what your grace or gift is, you are supposed to deputize and you are supposed to steward.

So that when you die, the seed perpetuates.

Then you don't have to worry.

And every generation gets more and more potent.

I want to end with a very, very sad verse.

I know that's not the best way to end sermons, but I want to end with a really sad verse.

I want it to hit you so hard that it will give you trouble sleeping.

It's in Judges 2, verses 7 to 10.

Judges 2:7–10

I read it and I almost started weeping.

I'm not being dramatic.

Judges 2, 7 to 10.

I thought to myself, my Godfather, may our hands be free of blood when Acts 29 days are done.

Judges 2, 7 to 10.

Here's what it says.

Let's start at verse 6.

Verse 7.

Verse 10.

One generation, guys.

Here was a generation that had seen everything, that had seen God dwell in the midst, the elders came.

But in one generation, that is frightening.

In one generation, you had a people who did not know the Lord and did not know his works.

Which means Joshua failed miserably.

One generation.

Crazy, eh?

That's all it takes.

Acts 29 can do that.

We can have God in our midst.

He can turn up and do wonders.

He can make coolant and oil separate.

He can make two teeth of oil separate.

He can make a cup of tea.

He can make a cup of tea.

He can make a cup of tea.

He can make a cup of tea.

He can make coolant and oil separate.

He can make two teeth disappear and appear.

He can make hips, replace hips.

And in one generation, you can have a people who do not know God and do not know his works.

You must understand how important it is that you go back out there for the sake of your children and for the generations that are out there.

Because otherwise, Jehosh will not be anointed.

Elisha's will not be raised.

Jehosh's will not be dismantled.

And don't take anything granted with your children, eh?

I want to say this too.

No, I won't say that now.

Yeah, let's just pray.

You know, Father, the reason I'm praying is that's a sobering note to end on.

I wanted to trouble us, Abba.

I wanted to trouble us.

How does one generation that saw you in their midst in terms of the pillar of cloud and the pillar of fire, in terms of the rock that spewed water, in terms of the Red Sea parting,

that generation, when that generation died, how come the next generation did not know who you were and did not know your works?

What happened, Father?

What happened?

I mean, wasn't Joshua a man with an excellent spirit?

How come?

Father, give Acts 29 this pain somewhere inside, like a spiritual kind of ache inside, that we do not live for ourselves.

We live for at least two generations down the road.

Would you please cause that ache to develop?

That we do not live for ourselves.

We live for Maya's children.

We do not live for ourselves.

We live for Maya's children, Tavis's children, Roxanne's children.

Ah, Jesus, can you please make that happen?

Spirit of God, only you can bring about these appetites in us, these spiritual appetites, that Roxanne's children will benefit from what we are doing now.

Could you do that, Lord?

That becomes important to us, because we want to live to make others glad in you, unborns glad in you,

ones that are not born yet, left a rich legacy, where they will now say,

I believe in the God of Rob and Roxanne and someone, or like they used to say of old.

Grant us these things, only you can do it, Spirit of God.

I trust that you will make it happen, because I don't have the power to do it.

But you can, and I trust you, Holy Spirit, for this deep desire.

And so I ask this for us, and we bless you in Jesus' name. Amen.

Guys, see you on Tuesday. Otherwise, if you have any need for prayer, feel free to come up, and someone will pray with you.