Bless your word to our hearts.
We ask it now Lord God in Jesus
name and all God's people said Amen, grab
your Bibles tonight and turn if you would
to Matthew's gospel chapter 28 Matthew chapter 28
as we're looking through this special series on
these Wednesday nights the disciplines of life and
We're going to be looking in total 31
weeks.
Now.
We come to our third week of The
disciplines of life series tonight the disciplines of
daring write that down daring daring like radical
daring like being extreme For God, what does
it mean?
One of the great reasons why you and
I love reading the Bible is because it
is an action book You don't read the
Bible to get bored.
You get you read the Bible to get
pumped up because it's radical stuff you're reading
about and It's all ventures of faith.
That's tremendously powerful But tonight we'll kick it
off by looking at Matthew chapter 28 beginning
at verse 18 where Jesus Commissions us to
live a radical life Verse 18 and Jesus
came and spoke to them saying all authority
has been given to me in heaven and
on earth Go therefore that's radical and make
disciples of all nations all people.
That's radical Baptizing them in the name of
the Father and of the Son of the
Holy Spirit Teaching them to observe all things
that I have commanded you and behold.
I am with you always Even to the
end of the world That's radical We're looking
tonight at the disciplines of daring.
What does it mean to be a real
Christian?
That is going to make a real difference
in a real world there's a big effort
right now in in Churchianity To spend all
kinds of money do all kinds of things
to make the church Relevant that kind of
cracks me up Well, we've got to do
this.
We've got to do that.
We've got to act like this.
We got to do all these things We
don't we can't mention the word church because
that causes people to not want to come
and we can't use the word worship because
that Pete that causes people to think like,
you know, serious thoughts will rename everything and
Maybe people will come.
Are you kidding me?
Be careful about that.
That's a dangerous thing because first of all
Jesus called the church the church He said
the gates of hell will not prevail against
my church and the book of Revelation seven
times He says this is the name of
the church.
I'm speaking to and it is an amazing
thing to consider that we don't have to
worry about being relevant if we have our
Bibles wide open and if we are filled
with the Holy Spirit because God's Word is
more relevant than tomorrow's newspaper and The Holy
Spirit knows exactly the direction that a culture
or that a nation or that a people
need to go We need to be in
line with the Holy Spirit to find out
where the church ought to be going We
need to be with the Bible open rather
than ten steps to building a successful church.
Are you kidding me?
a church is built by us preaching the
Word of God making disciples praying and Baptizing
and raising up others in the name of
the Lord and then of course Jesus said
send him out Well, not yet.
But when this is over then you go
out To the ends of the earth, but
there's a real battle that you and I
are engaged in a real actual war That's
underway as I speak a war that is
nearly almost 100 100% invisible to the
human or naked eye But it affects every
one of us every day You and I
are involved in a spiritual battle Ephesians chapter
6 verse 10, you know the scripture it
says finally Paul said be strong in the
Lord.
I appreciate that now more than ever and
in his mighty power Yeah Put on the
whole armor of God so that you may
or that you can take your stand against
the devil's schemes For our struggle is not
against flesh and blood listen up but against
the rulers against the authorities against the powers
of this dark world and Against the spiritual
forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
That is an awesome statement Christian You and
I are standing or sitting right here right
now in a physical world But we are
spiritually energized against a battle that is spiritually
based but manifests itself in a physical world
and What we do is we put on
Christ that is we know the Word of
God.
We study the Bible we worship together We
serve together we get equipped we get ready
like an army But our battle is not
with the guns and weapons of this world.
Our battle is against forces of invisible spiritual
darkness a Imagine for a moment if you
could think that in this gathering here tonight
We know from Scripture that the Bible teaches
that there are spiritual beings that look into
the proclamation of the Word of God We've
read that in Scripture angels.
There could be an angel sitting right here
right now.
I'd have no idea He doesn't take up
this material space.
I could be walking through a couple of
demons or angels right here right now There
could be an angel sitting right up here
or right up there right now The Scripture
says that when the Gospels proclaimed these are
things that the spirits desire to look into
Isn't that amazing?
You said I never heard that before you're
freaking me out Oh, listen, you want to
get freaked out check this out The Bible
says that we better be careful how we
treat strangers Because we have unknowingly Treated angels
without being aware when you bump into somebody.
Hey, man, that's my parking spot Watch out
could be an angel driving that car, you
know amazing The worlds are in collision as
it were I'm gonna give you four verses
that say the same thing a little bit
different But say the same thing and it's
all in route to you and I being
daring in our Christianity Four verses that appear
in the first chapter of one of the
most daring books in the Bible and that
is the book of Joshua Joshua chapter 1
verse 5 God says no man shall be
able to stand before you all the days
of your life Joshua as I was with
Moses, so I will be with you I
will not leave you nor forsake you be
strong and of good courage Joshua 1 5
How many of you would love to hear
that on the eve of battle?
In fact, if I knew that on the
eve of battle, I'd probably go out to
battle You know with a with iced tea
and a baseball hat on no, I'm kidding
I mean you got to go to battle,
but man if God tells you that aren't
you just gonna walk on into that battle
with confidence?
Joshua chapter 1 verse 7 same chapter different
verse God says to Joshua only be strong
and very courageous Yeah Joshua 1 9 have
I not commanded you be strong and of
good courage Do not be afraid nor be
dismayed for the Lord your God is with
you wherever you go That's the truth of
the Bible Joshua chapter 1 verse 18 only
be strong and of good courage Joshua went
forth with the disciplines of daring in action
in his life and the rest we read
about it in human history This message this
evening is especially appropriate for the new believer.
Maybe you're a new believer tonight You need
to hear this message In fact, you need
to hear this entire series because ultimately it's
on discipleship and being a follower of Jesus
Listen new believer avoid at all cost what
far too many Christians have fallen into the
trap of and that is that they've Engaged
themselves into a complacent Christian life those verses
in Joshua here chapter 1 are the verses
you and I need to advance in our
Christian experience and there are a lot of
people tonight that are Christians, but they're Stagnant
in their development and it's not God's fault.
It's our choosing if that's our case tonight
It's a serious thing Noah Webster in his
1828 dictionary defines daring as this Having a
sufficient enough of courage to meet a challenge
to be fearless Adventurous to be brave stout
of heart.
I like that Audacious define heaven daring a
courage that comes from the heavenly source Noah
Webster says Daring see you and I think
about daring in the sense of oh man.
Look at that guy He's gonna do this
or do that remember that ridiculous program.
Please tell me it's not on anymore The
fear factor where they ate those bugs and
and and eat they ate pig guts and
stuff like that on the show What kind
of a lunatic would do something like that
But it was all about I dare you
man.
Okay, come on.
Just do this Will you do this for
50,000 bucks?
Will you eat a moose nose for $50
,000?
No But people get all excited and what
do you do this for all gets my
adrenaline going You want to get your adrenaline
going?
Be a radical Christian That'll get your adrenaline
going in a real way.
Number one.
Jot it down you guys Here we go.
As we look into this the disciplines of
daring number one is this daring the weaknesses
in your life?
Can you write that down?
I want you to meet this head-on
weaknesses the weaknesses in your life Dare them
as it were daring the weaknesses in your
life We are all listen plagued with certain
internal struggles and weaknesses If you know somebody
hear me out if you know somebody who
when you look at them, it's oh, wow
I wish I could be like them why
they've got their act together.
No, they probably have learned how to hide
their weaknesses very well Ladies and gentlemen, if
you don't know, let me be the first
to tell you everybody's got internal weaknesses and
Frailties everyone is plagued with a certain depth
of struggle in their lives everybody most people
View themselves in a very poor light Now
I'm not here tonight to say well, you
ought to have a lot of self-esteem.
I think that is a losing direction I
think you should understand what the Bible says
about what God says about you and when
you do you will not be based on
a self-esteem Evaluation which oscillates from Monday
to Tuesday You will realize no matter how
you feel or how you think you look
God loves me The Bible says so Jesus
died on the cross for me.
I'm valuable to God and because that's true
I'm gonna live my life for God and
you get up and you move that way,
but the moment you'd you Start to chant
to yourself.
I'm special.
I'm someone important.
I'm nice.
I'm a good listen This is the big
deal in the world today.
You gotta understand something You will only do
that for as long as you feel good
about doing it and when the war or
when the storm or when?
The wave hits all that little positive talk
goes right out the door because you're saying
it to yourself in your own ears and
you ain't Got no power, but God says
listen stand up be of good courage.
I'm with you I'll never leave you or
forsake you wherever you go I'm gonna be
with you and when you understand that you
will say Lord, I want to live a
daring life for you It's an amazing way
to live Philippians chapter 3 verse 3 Here
we go.
Paul says this for we are the Circumcision
who worship God in the spirit rejoicing Christ
Jesus and have no confidence in the flesh
He's not talking about physical circumcision Look at
the screen.
He's talking about spiritual circumcision of the heart
Though also I might have confidence in the
flesh if anyone else thinks he may check
this out Listen to what he says Circumcised
on the eighth day of the stock of
Israel of the tribe of Benjamin a Hebrew
of the Hebrews concerning the law a Pharisee
verse 6 concerning zeal Persecuting the church concerning
the righteousness which is in the law blameless.
Ladies and gentlemen, we can't say that Paul
the Apostle before he met Jesus.
This was his evaluation of himself and He's
probably pretty accurate Verse 7 but what things
were gained to me these I've counted loss
for Christ yet Indeed, I also count all
things lost for the excellence of the knowledge
of Christ Jesus my Lord for whom I
have suffered the loss of all things So
all that stuff was evaporated when he met
Jesus why because it was of the flesh
and count them as rubbish That I may
gain Christ and be found in him not
having my own righteousness which is from the
law But that which is through faith in
Christ the righteousness which is from God by
faith verse 10 that I may know him
and the power of his resurrection Listen to
this and the fellowship of his sufferings being
conformed to his death Paul is saying you
know what I have found out I have
been the most righteous guy in the block
I was the most holy guy in the
synagogue nobody thought Anything other than of me
of absolute.
I want to be like Saul or Paul
Look at him he's the fair rep boy.
Look at him.
He was it and Paul said all of
that stuff translated to nothing the moment I
met Jesus and Then he found his strength
in Christ so much so that he was
so strong in Jesus that he said, you
know what?
I want to know the power of his
resurrection and we could all say amen.
Yes Lord I want to know that part
of the resurrection and the very next statement.
He says and the fellowship of his sufferings
What?
Paul found the secret That to be daring
for Jesus You can't love your life Here's
the trick the world tells us in our
flesh tells us love your life.
Love it.
Take care of it First of all, we
automatically love our lives We automatically do We
are the first ones we think about We're
the first ones we feed.
We're the first ones to get a drink
for ourselves We naturally love ourselves pulses.
Here's the key Jesus said it that he
said listen, do you want to give up
your life?
You'll find it We naturally love ourselves The
key is Lord you love listen, you love
me more than I could ever take care
of me so Lord, I relinquish my life
to you and That is a form of
surrender that is unlike anything you've ever experienced
in life because that Type of surrender causes
you to come to the front of the
line as a word say Lord I surrender
and the Lord says, okay great then stand
up and let's go.
It's an awesome way to live in 2nd
Corinthians 12 8 the Bible says concerning this
thing Paul was attacked and sick by Physical
ailments as well as spiritual demonic attack.
He says concerning this thing I pleaded with
the Lord three times that it might depart
from me Here's the Apostle praying to God
to have his sickness removed from him And
he said to me my grace is sufficient
for you.
My strength is made perfect in weakness Therefore
most gladly I will rather boast in my
infirmities Church, listen to that that the power
of Christ may rest upon me therefore I
take pleasure in my infirmities or weaknesses in
my reproaches in my needs and my persecutions
and Distresses for Christ's sake for when I
am weak then I am strong.
This is a secret to Christianity How can
we be daring in this life by being
reckless and how can we be reckless for
Jesus?
Because we need to understand no matter listen,
no matter how weak we are those weaknesses
literally become the platforms of our victories You
guys this is contrary to everything that you
and I have been fed in the natural
world.
Oh I could never do that.
God says Awesome, then that's what we're gonna
do.
That's how God gets the glory Daring the
weaknesses in your life number one jot it
down.
It's this way daring to go on with
Jesus tonight New Christian you say I'm gonna
go on with Jesus.
I am NOT gonna look back Jesus said
no man putting his hand to the plow
and looks back is fit for the kingdom
of God.
We don't plow anymore but some of us
mow our lawns and if you're mowing your
lawn and If you look back you're gonna
go off the course with your lawnmower or
if you're a Sailor tonight or whatever you
do you if you're setting on the course
and you're looking at it and you look
to the left or The right especially behind
you in fact, you can be driving your
car Don't ever do this if you're driving
your car and you look too far to
the left or too far to the right
guess what?
Happens to your steering wheel Did you know
that you change lanes?
You're you'll naturally turn Pressing on going with
Christ Colossians chapter 1 verse 9 says for
this reason we also since the day we
heard of it Paul said Do not cease
to pray for you and to ask that
you may be filled with the knowledge of
his will.
Oh man in all wisdom and spiritual Understanding
in one sentence.
He just made a statement that could fill
up the rest of our lives that you
may walk worthy of the Lord fully pleasing
him being fruitful in every good work and
increasing in the knowledge of God strengthen with
all might according to his glorious power for
all patience among suffering with joy giving thanks
to the Father who has qualified us to
be partakers of the inheritance of the Saints
in the light man could Paul talk or
what no wonder why they study his words
in law school book of Romans guys genius
touched by God amazing 1st Corinthians chapter 2
verse 9 as it is written I has
not seen nor ear heard nor is it
entered into the heart of man the things
which God has prepared for those who love
him yes but God has revealed them to
us through his spirit for the Spirit searches
all things yes the deep things of God
I want to encourage you Christian press on
to Jesus this world is crazy our nation
is abandoning us our state it's broke the
dollars going down what are we gonna do
are you kidding what are we gonna do
we're gonna do what we've been told to
do follow Jesus is it amazing God's not
up in heaven counting his dollars to see
how he's doing up there are you kidding
he uses gold to pave the streets up
there you guys is gonna be great for
us keep your eyes on Jesus listen it's
easy to start it's another thing to finish
but if we keep our eyes on him
we're gonna make it all the way through
keep your eyes on him that's why we
need one another I'm serious I wish I
could just you know how they go out
in the ocean you know National Geographic and
they take sharks and stuff they take them
put a tracker on them I wish we
could do that right here tag all the
believers and make sure all the believers are
swimming together right what I mean by that
is man we fellowship with each other friendships
with each other I know this church is
big but it doesn't have to be big
and don't tell me it's too big it's
just too big hey listen I went to
one of the biggest churches in America and
if you began look just you guys right
here you guys in this area you start
to get I know you sit in the
same place every week you guys start getting
one another's names see but he's looking at
us right in our group oh my gosh
if you guys start getting each other's names
over here okay and say hey you guys
want to go out to dinner next week
you guys want to go out to dinner
before service and what that's how it happens
don't tell me it doesn't happen that's what
happened at least and I had Calvary Costa
Mesa back in those days there's 28,000
people going to that church and you know
what it felt like a little church because
every Friday night we had people over at
our house and we played Bible trivia for
hours it was brand-new nobody had ever
heard such a game like that was brand
-new it was fun it was great fellowshipping
together and then stuff happens after that it's
great John Jesus said in John 14 verse
12 I tell you the truth anyone who
has faith in me will do what I
have done he will do even greater things
than these because I'm going to the father
that is a radical verse is that not
amazing daring verse is it not John 14
12 Jesus says you know what you're going
to be able to do the same things
that I do and even greater things you
say Jack that's crazy how can we do
greater things than Jesus listen are you ready
for this the reference of you'll do greater
things than me Jesus said because I go
to the father guess what it's the power
of the Holy Spirit that takes the Christian
who shares the gospel with another person and
that person makes a decision for Jesus that's
an evangelistic outreach go ye therefore into all
the world and preach the gospel is the
Commission that was given to every one of
us who named the name of Jesus what
greater work do we get to do that
Jesus didn't do Jesus said go into all
the world and preach the gospel that's what
we get to do that he didn't do
is that amazing I think that's amazing and
you guys know if you've been around this
church we invented a statement at this church
years ago we really did that in this
church you are either a sender or you're
a goer you either help people go spread
the word or you help the radio program
go to the ends of the earth or
whatever or you go yourself it's a wonderful
thing but you got to go and go
with Jesus I hope tonight as you live
a daring life for Jesus that you live
a life that's bigger than you are I
want you to have a Christianity that's bigger
than you are you need to have a
ministry that's bigger than you you guys this
is key see jewel Jack I've only been
a Christian for a few weeks you want
to have a ministry that's bigger than you
in a few weeks you've only been a
Christian for a few weeks that's perfect we
need you for the parking lot ministry to
guide cars like this hey look brand-new
Christian put on a smile you don't have
to tell a new Christian by the way
to smile have you noticed that it's the
old crusty Christians you have to say smile
will ya the new Christians like yeah park
your car there buddy I mean they're all
pumped up they're forgiven they're excited the Bible's
jumping out of them they're like listen you've
been safe for two weeks we need you
we need you we need your excitement for
Jesus it's amazing it's awesome your ministry your
Christianity the life that you're living needs to
be bigger than you that's the wonderful thing
about Christianity it should be terrifying get up
in the morning Lord what are we gonna
do today I mean I know I'm going
from here to work but what's gonna happen
between here and there and then once I
get there the whole another thing happens Oh
the Christian life it's got to be bigger
than us if your Christianity is just so
predictable something's wrong go with Jesus also this
daring to see the new you the new
you in Christ 2nd Corinthians 517 we all
know this verse but do we believe it
listen therefore if anyone is in Christ he
is a new creation all things have passed
away ladies and gentlemen is that not in
the Bible all things have passed away well
you know and I used to be a
hooker all things have passed away you know
what I used to be a bank robber
all things are passed away he goes on
all things have become new what an amazing
thing I mean your friends call you up
hey I heard you're a Christian now that's
right well whatever come on we're gonna go
to Joe's Bar and Grill and do this
or that I'm not gonna do that anymore
why I heard on Wednesday night that I'm
a new creation in Christ all things have
passed away all things become now your friends
you'll hear you gotta stand in the truth
of God take a stand who are you
now in Jesus think about that right now
right now right now God has got an
opinion of you right now I bought recently
a quote book from it was like the
Z gallery store it's not a Christian book
it's a quote book though it's hilarious and
in the quote book for example Winston Churchill
says if you're going through hell right now
don't stop just keep on going isn't it
great well then don't stop keep going do
you get on the other side and the
Queen of England Queen Elizabeth said she said
it doesn't matter what the people think about
me I am the Queen what matters is
what I think about them hilarious well listen
what does God think about you does God
right now look over a cloud and say
Jack you crazy new creation in Christ you
yeah we've been recreated in Jesus Ephesians 2
10 says this that we are now his
workmanship I like that I'm not my own
workmanship I don't work my way into heaven
he saved me now that he saved me
I want to do good works but it
doesn't give it a heaven for we are
his workmanship created in Christ Jesus for good
works which God prepared beforehand that we should
walk in them how cool is that daring
to see the new you it's amazing so
I have this question what do you see
in your life for the next five years
or ten years as a Christian think about
it where do you see your Christianity in
you in the next five years well I
had a bank ask when we were starting
to build this place the bank comes the
interview okay well all right let me ask
you these questions give life insurance where do
you see that where do you see yourself
in 20 years are you serious in 20
years I'm a Christian I see myself getting
raptured and up in heaven any minute now
well you know the bank doesn't want to
hear that oh yeah baby we want to
borrow your money and then rapture out of
here I know some of you Christians have
adopted as a financial operation but you shouldn't
do that but where do you see your
life for example watch this on a large
scale on a large scale regarding the church
body wise there's the massive need as you
know to develop or to finish off the
East Wing building for the children's ministry where
do you see yourself now regarding the participation
of that okay look at this on a
lesser scale there's the ministry that's going on
right here we have all kinds of things
here in the front seat pocket there in
front of you of how you can get
involved why you guys it's gonna get done
with or without you honestly come on God
will find somebody to take care of the
stuff these things are provided for your spiritual
development they really are these things are for
you to grow in the grace and knowledge
of Jesus no he's trying to get us
to sign up for something just sit there
just sit there and rot away you'll just
sit there and you'll get glued to your
seat someone will step in aren't you terrified
of someone taking a task that God wanted
you to do and then you stand for
God on the end you go man I
didn't get anything done and he said well
I tried to get stuff done you weren't
listening and man I don't want to do
that I'd rather get an A for trying
and getting in trouble than an F for
just sitting around see I didn't know what
to do I hope that I stand before
God and the Lord says you know what
Jack you just did this you did I
didn't tell you to do that but you
know what you messed a lot of stuff
up but I gotta tell you I'll give
you an A for trying at least you
didn't sit around come on it's the only
way to live be daring for him ask
the Lord to fill you with his Holy
Spirit and then take off hey you know
what I don't know if you know this
or not but down here on this there's
a plaque right here and beneath me there's
24 Bibles in the foundation of this church
but it says right here beneath my feet
no then if you are certain of your
calling this goes to every guest speaker by
the way they just they know they're gonna
stand on this thing it says a lot
of stuff up here but if you have
shown yourself approved unto God and if you
have prayed yourself ready then now let yourself
go and then it says in 1st Corinthians
311 for no other foundation can anyone lay
than that which is laid which is Christ
Jesus okay so if this is true
it's terrifying stomach churning mouth all dry that's
what God moves in so God I can't
do this he said that's right you can't
I'll just do it for you and with
you and through you you guys that's the
way to live is so cool it is
so great to live like that just know
this that the new you and Jesus Christ
is created to serve and you'll never be
happy as a believer until you're actually serving
someone Bob Dylan said he got to serve
somebody remember that it might be the devil
he said it might be the low but
you gotta save somebody he's right yell serve
somebody it might be the devil it might
be the Lord but we were created to
serve somebody and as Christians as believers we
were created to serve the Lord so if
you're new Christian tonight or if you want
to go on seriously with your walk with
Jesus mark this stuff down daring also the
weaknesses in your life daring not to be
like most quickly Daniel 1132 is an awesome
verse Daniel 1136 1132 says the people who
know their God shall be strong and carry
out great exploits Wow that's Daniel 1132 know
that verse God wants you to carry out
great exploits to the person tonight that is
saying I can't you're the one who he
wants to do the greatest exploits with it's
the person tonight that said I can do
that I can do that I can do
that come on watch out because the temptation
for you to take the glory is big
as the church was growing in the New
Testament and influencing the world around it listen
to this acts 17 verse 6 as they
were persecuting the unbelieving world was persecuting the
church it says that they dragged Jason and
some brethren to the rulers of the city
and they cried out saying these who have
turned the world upside down have now come
here would that be great if people in
the community as church lets out oh no
oh no Calvary is letting out and the
doors open up and those who have turned
the world upside down have now come to
our town wouldn't that be amazing if devils
drove by and their little cars and the
spirit they had to roll up their windows
when they drove by because they couldn't stand
the worship can you imagine can you imagine
if you guys just decided to pray and
be daring for God and say Lord give
us America give us the lost or else
we die if we prayed like that can
you imagine the demonic realm which is shutter
and think of the heavenly host the angels
yeah now we're talking imagine it's always done
with a few people too so God gets
the glory if you're a mom be a
spirit-filled mom you know what if you're
a teacher be a spirit-filled teacher daring
not to be like most don't be like
the crowd be a radical mom for Jesus
be a radical teacher for Jesus are you
a contractor be a radical spirit-filled contractor
for Jesus or a gardener or whatever your
calling is it's pretty much impossible to be
a lame-duck Christian when the Bible says
things like this first Corinthians 1031 says whether
you eat or drink or whatever you do
do it all to the glory of God
can you imagine I'm so excited my kids
we just got tickets today to the opening
game at Anaheim Stadium it's like I've never
been to an opening game before I can
tell you this right now the temptation to
go there and say man and you wear
red you know angel colors and you're doing
all this stuff and you know what we
do that stuff in the world and you
know what we thank God for that we
thank God for the freedom we thank God
for the opportunity but do we get that
excited about spiritual things can you imagine point
number two the disciplines of daring daring the
opportunities in your life daring them opportunities you
might want to put the word challenges dare
them what's going on in your life mark
it down what is the big challenge tonight
in your life what is worrying you what
is worrying me write it down this thing
is worrying me this thing is my challenge
it's actually an opportunity because you're a Christian
remember Joshua they were going to battle against
animal like forces you guys the people that
they were crossing over into Canaan to fight
were brutal beasts pagan worshipping eating kids sacrificing
their babies bizarre sexual activities so how do
you know because their archaeological evidence has proved
it so unbelievable barbarism and here's the Jews
on the other side and God says cross
over cross over there's a river right there
God says okay Joshua get the priest up
front did you see how the the youth
worship group was with you tonight they came
on out here you know back backstage before
service began we were praying and praying for
them asking God to anoint them because you
know what when they were coming out here
they were like the priest and Joshua's day
getting right to the edge of the river
and the priest the worshippers put their foot
in the water and then the Jordan River
began to part all the way up the
water went all the way back up to
Adam north up river from the Jordan and
the children of Israel crossed over on dry
ground over to Gilgal in Jericho how did
that happen worshippers they went first no you
send your army you send your engineering corps
first to build a Britain oh no not
with God you send the worshippers out first
and they go out there and they're doing
their thing and they're praising the Lord in
the water goes now what would happen if
you imagine all right you guys we're gonna
do this first of all God tells Joshua
then Joshua turns and tells the people God
is into divinely appointed authority Joshua says this
is what we're gonna do can you imagine
okay and the first guy can you imagine
I hope this works think about it think
about you being there there was over 2
million people somebody in that group had to
be thinking a man I hope this I
hope he knows what he's doing and the
Bible says that they just got their feet
in the brim of the water it says
and then it began to part you guys
that's daring that's daring it'll never work step
out there watch what happens numbers 1333 here's
another amazing thing it's all about Joshua too
because remember Joshua and Caleb remember they were
the twelve spies went out to spy out
the land under Moses command twelve of them
came back remember what happened ten of them
had it as LA Times kind of report
all negative numbers 1333 says regarding their words
the ten said no we saw the Giants
the descendants of Anak came from the Giants
and we were like grasshoppers in our notice
this we were like grasshoppers in our own
sight we're gonna die that's encouraging and so
we were in this and in their sight
what they were thinking the bad guys but
watch how fear spreads chapter 14 verse 1
so all the congregation when they heard that
lifted up their voices and cried and the
people wept that night can you now watch
numbers 14 verse 6 but Joshua the son
of noon and Caleb the son of Jephuniel
who were among those who had spied out
the land tore their clothes these two guys
they ripped their clothes that is a Hebrew
expression of absolute grief and they spoke to
all the congregation of Israel saying the land
we passed through to spy out as an
exceedingly good land it's beautiful remember the grapes
they brought back and all the food if
the Lord delights in us then he will
bring us into this land and give it
to us a land which flows with milk
and honey only do not rebel against the
Lord nor fear the people of the land
for they are our bread their protection has
departed from them and the Lord is with
us do not fear that is general Joshua
talking and we need that kind of leadership
today in the church the church is scared
timid the ACLU goes boo and the church
runs in the corner now listen I'm gonna
be very very direct right now what in
the world are we doing we think it's
Christian to suck our thumb and hide in
the corner see what are you suggesting stand
up for your rights as a believer I
don't care what country you're listening in right
now on well you guys in America you've
got a Constitution well we had one until
a few ago but anyway doesn't matter if
we have one or not we're Christians and
we need to stand for what is right
if we are not going to have any
statesmen in America you be a statesman I'll
be a statesman our state though that you
and I support and stand behind is the
kingdom of heaven that's the difference and so
when the needy are in need what do
we do we're gonna call the government to
feed the needy the church that feed the
needy is somebody perpetrating an injustice of someone
listen we need to be the ones that
keep civility in our culture it's a serious
thing these are tremendous opportunities not dangerous challenges
oh there's Giants in the land that's right
but God already said go so what does
that mean Giants in the land but God
said go well that means God's gonna deal
with the Giants what else can it mean
God's either true or he's not true he
has proven himself true daring to love him
how about that one daring the opportunities in
your life how about this daring to love
him Deuteronomy 6 verse forces hero Israel the
Lord our God the Lord is one you
shall love the Lord I this is great
you shall love the Lord your God with
all of your heart with all of your
soul and with all of your strength by
the way any relationship that you're involved in
you want that person and that person wants
you to love them with all of your
heart with all of your mind with all
of your strength God's a person you say
well why should I love him well seems
like a normal question until you stop and
think about all the things he gives you
for one thing it's I'm grateful look beyond
what he gives you Lord if you've given
me this things then what does that speak
about your nature what kind of a God
are you you're benevolent you're patient you're kind
you're loving Jeremiah 31 3 says the Lord
has appeared to me of old saying yes
I have loved you with an everlasting love
this is the God of the Bible I've
loved you with an everlasting love therefore with
loving-kindness have I drawn you God wants
you with him isn't that great John 15
10 Jesus said if you keep my commandments
you will abide in my love just as
I keep my father's commandments and abide in
his love that's great if you keep my
commandments you'll enjoy me it doesn't mean he
stops loving you if you disobey his commandments
but you're silly to disobey them because you're
gonna get hurt can you imagine a police
officer saying look I'm here to catch the
bad guys so I'm here to protect you
unless you're a bad guy so here's what
I want you to do I want you
to go down that freeway at 65 miles
an hour whatever it is you do fine
and stay in your lane okay but put
your blinker on you know 100 feet or
200 feet before you cross over and you
be safe those rules keep you alive and
they're good you don't listen that no I'm
gonna tell me what to do then that
guy's gonna come after you and he's doing
his job but with God he loves you
even when you're rebelling he won't give you
a ticket he'll just spank you and say
no stay on the road you're gonna get
yourself hurt Jesus says if you love me
keep my commandments it's gonna go good with
you thou shalt you Christians thou shalt not
thou shalt not thou shalt not every one
of those thou shalt not notice if you
obey those thou shalt nots you won't get
hurt you you won't get in trouble you
imagine having a kid hey junior look at
you gosh you're nine years old now that
great I tell you what you can do
anything you want you're nine years old you
would never do that you would do that
to your neighbor's kid but never your own
kid you love your kid you would never
tell your kid that they get hurts daring
to obey him mark that one down daring
to obey him and here's the million-dollar
bit of advice don't miss it daring to
obey him be very careful Christian to walk
through the door that Jesus opens for you
in life it's easier that way when God
opens the door versus you running ahead listen
daring to obey him for you tonight to
say I'm gonna obey God over my emotions
over over what everything is going on I'm
gonna obey God when God opens a door
go through it what do you mean you'd
be surprised how important that is to your
life right here right now are you asking
God to show you something or to do
something in your life right now when he
opens the door and I wrote down a
few things these are three things that I
have heard said or people have said to
somebody else but I felt like the Lord
might have said that to me so I
did this thing I felt like the Lord
said if God opens the door walk through
it if man opens the door get away
from it I've heard this but I thought
it would be the right thing to do
did God open the door well I thought
it'd be the right thing to do get
away from it I watched a friend of
mine get his life ruined because he said
but all my friends told me that I
should be a pastor and that's why I
went out and did that almost lost his
family almost lost everything his friends told him
he should go be a pastor so that's
how you become a pastor your friends tell
you see Jack what are you saying this
is what I'm saying mark it down in
Revelation 3 7 Jesus said to the angel
the church at Philadelphia write these things says
he who is holy he was true and
he was the key of David he who
opens and no one shuts and shuts and
no one's hope no one opens God opens
the door to the direction of life for
you just find out what God is saying
obey him it's an awesome way to live
a lot of people have ambition and think
that it's a spiritual calling let God lead
you and guide you what excites you what
gets you pumped up what's going on Lord
is that from you if it's from you
open the door don't go around and try
to unlock doors let God open the door
it's crazy it's amazing God will bring things
if you're open to obey him God will
bring are you listening you guys God will
bring things into your life that you will
have to step back and be in shock
about there's things going on regarding this church
right now that I can't tell you about
yet I can't wait I want I can't
wait to tell you it's amazing ministry opportunities
that nobody on the planet could have arranged
it came to us pastor Jack yes want
to meet you all right this is what
we've been doing for the last 60 years
and we want to make sure that Calvary
Chapel Chino Hills is the one that inherits
this particular ministry and carries it on to
the next generation you sure I'll pray about
it and I'm right now I'm in that
I'm in that zone now praying about I
got to get back to them in a
couple weeks I think it is it's
over the top it's to the ends of
the earth it's beyond anything we've ever thought
I'm getting goosebumps talking about it it's a
God thing why he opened the door unbelievable
stay tuned daring to trust him love him
obey him trust him do we really trust
God honestly you're not gonna like what I'm
gonna say because I'm not gonna like what
I'm gonna say you know like when things
are really tough and it's really challenging you
and because it's tough you think God can't
be in this and yet he is he's
trying to make your life a daring life
for him Jack you know what I got
this class project and they we can't have
we can't say anything about Jesus in there
else where he get enough call your attorney
tonight or tomorrow and tell him you're gonna
say Jesus in your project like what is
the true meaning of Easter tell them the
resurrection okay well I'm gonna get enough get
enough just make sure you call your attorney
and CBS News and all that kind of
stuff and have them record it what what's
your option well things are really rough with
my wife yeah guess what it's time to
trust him God last Sunday a guy said
can I get a divorce well I guess
you can just go down to the store
and buy one or however you do it
but is that what God wants you to
do God want your marriage to work first
well my wife's a loser when when men
say my wife's a loser you know you
know to read between the lines if she
is a loser who made her the loser
did you think she was a loser when
you married her what are you marrying losers
for I didn't marry a loser the story's
bigger than what you hear it's best to
trust God for him for her for your
kids seriously point number three I have 30
seconds to do this daring the future daring
the future for your life very quickly during
the future for your life you guys guess
what listen to me very quickly the future's
coming if you like it or not tomorrow's
gonna be here what do we do literally
where are you going I have to be
in Indiana tomorrow so I know this the
future's happening okay I know what I'm supposed
to do when I get there I know
what I'm supposed to do on the plane
while I'm getting there the future's come the
future's coming I thought the rapture was happening
the future's coming I'll be back with you
on on Sunday you won't even know I'm
gone where are you going what are you
doing your future's coming it starts tonight starts
tomorrow morning daring about what's coming next in
your life church the Bible tells us that
God knows our lives and he says all
things work together for good to those who
love the Lord who are called according to
his purposes be bold in that also daring
about his return he's coming back he said
he's coming back Matthew 24 44 says therefore
Jesus said therefore you also be ready that's
a precondition for the Son of Man is
coming that's a warning in an hour that
you do not expect that's imminent Christ could
come back tonight doesn't have to do anything
all the stuff that you're thinking about he
has to do before he comes back is
all tribulation stuff regarding the second coming the
rapture could happen tonight 1st Corinthians 1550 now
this I say brethren that flesh and blood
cannot inherit the kingdom of God oh is
that a problem nor does corruption inherit incorruption
is that a problem verse 51 behold I
tell you a mystery we shall not all
sleep or die but we shall be changed
in a moment in a twinkle of an
eye at the last trumpet for the trumpet
will sound and the dead will be raised
incorruptible and we shall be changed the last
trumpet deals with the church the first trumpet
deals with the nation Israel there's two trumpets
there's a lot of trumpets in the Bible
but these particular trumpets one deals with Israel
this last one deals with the church by
the way you and I are living at
a time right now for the first time
in human history where Israel is a nation
and the church exists on earth on the
same time that's how close his coming could
be at any moment 1st Thessalonians 413 to
18 the Bible tells us I do not
want you to be ignorant brethren of this
thing for those concerning those who have fallen
asleep in Jesus he goes on to say
that the Lord himself will come with the
shout with the voice of the archangel the
trumpet of God the dead in Christ will
rise first then we who are alive remain
shall be caught up to meet them in
the air that could happen tonight that could
happen tonight are you ready to meet him
and then finally this daring about the outcome
this is fun I don't care if we're
over time or not did you got to
hear this this is the last moment what's
this daring the future for your life is
this daring about the outcome keep heaven in
your focus watch this Noah was daring about
the outcome Noah built a mark how long
did it take him anybody remember 120 years
can you imagine hey are you an idiot
or what what are you building it hadn't
rained prior to that where's he taking this
thing no you're nuts no one knew what
God wanted and he was firm about the
outcome Abraham was daring about the outcome he
obeyed God Moses was daring about the outcome
he told the Pharaoh I don't want your
job David was daring about the outcome David
said I know that someday I'm gonna dwell
in the house of the Lord all the
days of my life that was a trick
that was an eternal statement forever Daniel was
daring about the outcome the king of the
world and Daniel walks up there and says
oh yeah listen to this lions thrown in
the den Daniel said well you know God
if I die it comes to you if
not you got work for me to do
these lions are just gonna sit there they
went to sleep Joshua was daring about the
outcome Rahab was daring about the outcome Paul
was daring about the outcome was he not
Paul said in 2nd Thessalonians 2nd Timothy chapter
4 near the end of the verse near
the end of the chapter it's his last
writing he's gonna die he says you know
what what is laid up for me is
a crown of righteousness with the Lord himself
will give me a crown of righteousness excuse
me Paul hello you're in Rome they're gonna
cut your head off Paul says that's what
I'm talking about there's a crown laid up
for me that the Lord's gonna give me
did you see that he didn't see his
head cut off in eternity he's talking about
getting a crown and Rome sharpening the blade
to cut off his head what is done
in the physical listen didn't take Paul's head
away in the spiritual the Apostles were daring
about the outcome Christians tonight we need to
be daring about the outcome we are going
to heaven father we come to you tonight
and Lord God we pray right now we're
ready to go right now to heaven but
father we pray in Jesus name that by
the power of your Holy Spirit Lord God
that you would so equip us there's enough
people in this Wednesday night service to change
the world right side up right here if
12 people 2,000 years ago could bring
the gospel to Chino Hills then this gathering
of people can take the gospel to the
ends of the earth in a moment's time
heavenly father in Jesus name I pray that
you all of us church while I'm praying
will you lift your hands please just lift
your hands up to the Lord I'm gonna
pray for you Lord I pray now in
Jesus name that you would come upon these
precious people your lambs and Lord that you'd
fill them with your Holy Spirit that you'd
anoint them and baptize them in your spirit
father we pray now we thank you for
that in Jesus name and all God's people
said amen let's worship the Lord as we
close together