WEBVTT 00:00.000 --> 00:04.760 I want to do a quick Sunday overview because I want to get, I want to get 00:04.760 --> 00:07.680 somewhere with the series that we're currently in. We are in a series that is 00:07.680 --> 00:12.560 called the Forerunner Lifestyle and Vision, mainly coming out of the life of John 00:12.560 --> 00:18.240 the Baptist and Jesus himself. And last Sunday I wasn't planning on it, but I 00:18.240 --> 00:22.940 really parked at the life of the Apostle Paul and how the Apostle Paul was 00:22.940 --> 00:27.720 actually a forerunner. And I just want to do a quick Sunday overview. I talked 00:27.720 --> 00:33.920 about that a forerunner is somebody who runs ahead and they don't just run ahead, 00:34.120 --> 00:41.380 but they run ahead and they are a scout. So they go ahead more than their peers are. 00:41.520 --> 00:48.020 And what I mean by going ahead is it's somebody who's willing to pay a cost to 00:48.020 --> 00:54.860 know Jesus in facets that your average Christian is not willing to pay the 00:54.860 --> 01:01.560 cost. That's what I mean when I say running ahead. That means to choose the 01:01.560 --> 01:07.640 Lord when nobody else is choosing the Lord. And the example is this, and I 01:07.640 --> 01:11.260 speak this as an example because I've heard it. You know, the example of 01:11.260 --> 01:14.720 choosing the Lord, there's a man of God that I that I esteem and that I 01:14.720 --> 01:20.480 honor. And this man of God had an opportunity to speak at a very large, 01:20.480 --> 01:26.860 I've shared this story before, but at a very large conference or crusade, so to 01:26.860 --> 01:30.900 say. And this man was invited to speak there. We're talking about two and a 01:30.900 --> 01:34.560 half, 3,000 people. We're going to be showing up here, probably even more. But 01:34.560 --> 01:37.760 the Lord asked him, he said, I want you to take that time. And he said, I want 01:37.760 --> 01:42.520 you to be with me rather than you going and speaking. And this man shows, he 01:42.520 --> 01:48.700 chose to pay the... it's a price. It's a price you pay. And this man 01:48.700 --> 01:53.660 shows to know the Lord and to be with the Lord, to minister on to Jesus, rather 01:53.660 --> 01:58.300 than to go and speak at a conference. So when I'm talking about being a 01:58.300 --> 02:04.420 forerunner, that means you run ahead. You're willing to pay a cost to know 02:04.420 --> 02:10.600 Jesus, to be with Jesus in ways that a lot of people are just not willing 02:10.600 --> 02:16.060 to do it. But in doing that, a forerunner is also a scout. So you 02:16.060 --> 02:20.700 run ahead, you get somewhere. But then as a scout, you realize you've 02:20.700 --> 02:28.040 looked at the land. You've surveyed the land, so to say. And you're 02:28.040 --> 02:31.720 saying, man, it's good here. There's food to eat here. There is a 02:31.720 --> 02:34.640 fulfillment here. And then you come and you tell others, listen, 02:35.080 --> 02:40.680 there is more for us. Let's go there. You're being a scout. A forerunner, 02:40.680 --> 02:44.820 and I'll talk a little bit more on it today. But a forerunner is also 02:44.820 --> 02:53.040 somebody who prepares the way for the Lord. A forerunner is somebody who 02:53.040 --> 02:57.560 actually prepares the way for the Lord. And today I want to mainly talk about, 02:58.400 --> 03:01.860 well not mainly, I should say, I want to touch on it, is out of the life of 03:01.860 --> 03:07.140 John the Baptist. Is where he prepared the way of the Lord. John the 03:07.140 --> 03:14.040 Baptist, the cousin of Jesus, prepared the platform for Jesus to come 03:14.040 --> 03:19.400 as the Lamb of God. Now I want to say this again in church, you've heard me say this, 03:19.460 --> 03:24.800 but I want you to catch this. I want you to catch the privilege that we have 03:24.800 --> 03:29.080 as Christians and as the body of Christ, as the bride of Christ. 03:29.540 --> 03:33.180 I need you and I want you to catch this, that it would sear your hearts, 03:33.560 --> 03:40.440 it would sear your minds. John the Baptist was a forerunner who was 03:40.440 --> 03:45.880 privileged by God the Father, who was called by God the Father, who was, 03:46.080 --> 03:51.640 who was given an opportunity by God the Father to be a forerunner to prepare 03:52.090 --> 03:58.960 the way for Jesus to come onto the scene, onto the platform as a Lamb of God. 03:59.140 --> 04:08.060 Okay, we heard that, right? We, as his church, listen, we as his church, 04:08.060 --> 04:16.860 as his bride now have the opportunity, the privilege, the honor to bring Jesus to be 04:16.860 --> 04:24.180 forerunners and to bring the Lord to come onto the platform now as a king and as a bridegroom. 04:26.440 --> 04:33.160 That's what forerunner ministry is. We are preparing the way for the Lord and his return. 04:33.660 --> 04:36.620 I don't know if you knew or not, but Jesus is coming back. 04:43.400 --> 04:51.000 He is no longer a baby in the manger. He is no longer a crucified man on the cross. 04:51.400 --> 04:59.700 He is coming back as a king to take his bride and his people to be with him for eternity. 05:00.940 --> 05:05.660 That's who's coming back. I don't know if you knew that or not, but newsflash, he's coming back. 05:09.720 --> 05:15.760 And I believe, I said this last Sunday, I believe that the Lord is inviting us, listen to my language 05:15.760 --> 05:24.880 here. I believe that the Lord is inviting us to come into a lifestyle of a forerunner. 05:25.720 --> 05:29.620 Let it be individuals, let it also be a corporate thing. 05:31.740 --> 05:35.340 We've already been, I don't know if you guys have been around churches lately or not, 05:35.340 --> 05:39.880 but we as a church, we've already gone further and I'm not saying this boastfully. 05:40.440 --> 05:45.700 I say this with all grace, I say this with all humility. I've been around the block, 05:45.900 --> 05:51.280 I've been to a few different churches. You guys know my story, but we already as a church 05:51.900 --> 05:58.840 have gone further into the things of God than your average church in our day and age. 05:59.860 --> 06:05.020 But I believe, see I'm not satisfied just to stay somewhere and be okay, we're good. 06:05.400 --> 06:08.920 I believe God is asking us to go even deeper into the things of him. 06:13.630 --> 06:23.470 To learn facets of Jesus and to see a side of Jesus that very few get to see. 06:24.630 --> 06:28.830 Now my question to you is, and don't answer this, please don't answer this because I don't 06:28.830 --> 06:31.150 want you to answer something and you're not even knowing what you're answering. 06:31.710 --> 06:35.590 But my question to you is, are you willing to pay the cost? 06:38.510 --> 06:47.990 Are you willing to pay the cost and the price to know the Lord in a way that not many people know him? 06:49.850 --> 06:53.210 You see if you were here, I'm going off in a little tangent here, but I want you to catch 06:53.210 --> 06:57.890 this. If you missed covenant partners this year, you missed out. I'm just gonna flat out tell 06:57.890 --> 07:03.910 you, you missed out. Pastor Verne spoke on something that was so profound. 07:05.170 --> 07:08.410 And after the covenant partners meeting, we got in the car, my wife and I, 07:08.490 --> 07:13.690 we got in the car with another couple. And the wife of that husband, she gets in the car 07:13.690 --> 07:18.430 and the first thing she says is she goes, how come people don't preach this on churches? 07:18.550 --> 07:23.570 And I just started laughing. I said, she's getting it. I said, she's getting it. 07:24.750 --> 07:30.390 But Pastor Verne spoke something at covenant partners that was very profound. And I'm trying 07:30.390 --> 07:35.930 to bring it into a nutshell. But if we want revival, let me say it this way, if we want 07:35.930 --> 07:42.370 revival, we have to be able to pay the cost for it. Did you know that everything 07:44.270 --> 07:50.970 in the scriptures, let me rephrase that. Did you know that salvation is free according 07:50.970 --> 07:57.310 to the scriptures? It's been paid for. It's been paid for by the precious blood of Jesus, 07:58.350 --> 08:04.990 by the death and the resurrection of Jesus, by the father giving his son, our salvation 08:04.990 --> 08:11.510 has been paid for. But did you know that if you actually want to know the Lord, 08:12.790 --> 08:18.110 more than just, oh, he died for me. But if you actually want to know him, not just, 08:18.110 --> 08:24.770 see, not just the things of him. We oftentimes talk about the things that are of the Lord, 08:25.290 --> 08:33.050 but very few, I said very few know him. And if we want to know him, there is a price we pay, 08:33.130 --> 08:40.230 my friend. And that price is not your Benzhumans. That price is your life laid down according to 08:40.230 --> 08:46.270 Romans 12. And the apostle Paul, he says, he says, I beseech you, brethren. He says, 08:46.270 --> 08:54.810 I beseech you. In other words, he's saying, I beg you. He says, I beg you that you would lay down 08:54.810 --> 09:05.470 your life. Why? For the sake to know him. That's forerunner talk. That's forerunner talk. 09:06.530 --> 09:10.970 So my question to you, you can sit here, you can hoot, and you can holler, 09:11.270 --> 09:15.250 you can agree with me all day long and say, yeah, I want to know the Lord, 09:15.250 --> 09:21.150 Pastor Igor. I want to know him. This is great. But see, you can talk that talk all day long 09:21.150 --> 09:33.370 until you're paying the price. It's vain. It's empty talk. So my question to you, if God is really 09:34.010 --> 09:42.990 calling us as a body, if God is really calling us as individuals into the deeper realms of 09:42.990 --> 09:47.850 himself, my question to you this morning is, are you willing to pay the cost? 09:50.110 --> 09:57.110 Are you willing to live a life that is disciplined and you set aside time every day and you say, 09:57.190 --> 10:02.210 God, that time right there, I'm given to you. It might be inconvenient for my family schedule, 10:02.530 --> 10:12.670 but God, you're more important than my wife. You're more important than my husband. You're 10:13.290 --> 10:21.450 great. Praise the Lord. We've had a lot of questions come in regarding this series and I love it that 10:21.450 --> 10:26.110 we're having these questions come in. I think it's so great that we're having multiple questions 10:26.110 --> 10:32.190 come in. I actually want to encourage you. Starting from today, if you have questions 10:32.190 --> 10:38.430 in anything regarding the series, please, I encourage you, send them in to us, to my 10:46.870 --> 10:57.930 I would love for you to send in questions because you can have five people and five different people are hearing the same message five different ways. 10:58.190 --> 11:04.190 So when we open it up to have people ask questions, it actually gives more clarity in what we're after. 11:04.750 --> 11:06.170 It actually helps us mature. 11:06.170 --> 11:14.210 So we had a lot of questions actually come in and Pastor and I were like, hey, let's let's answer these questions together. 11:14.310 --> 11:15.290 You want to come up here with me? 11:15.890 --> 11:21.310 So we had an individual sending a question that we want to answer today and we'll answer as many questions as we can. 11:21.350 --> 11:27.610 If we get a lot of questions that come in, we'll kind of try to pick and choose the questions that apply to a majority of people. 11:27.750 --> 11:34.470 We'll answer all of them, but the ones that we choose to answer off the stage, we'll kind of choose the ones that apply to a majority of people. 11:34.470 --> 11:42.290 And we had a question come in this week and the reason why we're answering, we're both answering them because I felt like two perspectives would be better than one. 11:42.370 --> 11:42.810 Would you agree? 11:43.490 --> 11:44.130 All right. 11:44.450 --> 11:45.410 So here's the question. 11:45.550 --> 11:48.310 I'm going to read it to you and then you'll take a swing at it and then I'll take a swing at it. 11:48.330 --> 11:49.750 And we'll see if we get a home run this morning. 11:50.450 --> 11:54.410 If not, then they give us three strikes in American baseball. 11:55.390 --> 11:55.710 Yeah. 11:55.910 --> 11:58.070 In Ukrainian baseball, they even give you five strikes. 11:58.190 --> 11:58.810 Can you believe that? 11:59.290 --> 11:59.610 Yeah. 11:59.810 --> 12:03.710 There's no such thing as Ukrainian baseball, by the way, but I had you believe in. 12:04.150 --> 12:05.010 Here's the question. 12:05.870 --> 12:08.810 The question came in, and by the way, we'll keep the questions anonymous. 12:08.970 --> 12:09.810 We're not going to read your name. 12:10.190 --> 12:15.850 So the question came in and it said, I feel like I am doing the work of a forerunner. 12:17.070 --> 12:19.270 However, I'm not doing it in my home. 12:20.290 --> 12:22.990 I take it with me and apply it where I am. 12:23.710 --> 12:33.150 We as church attenders have a strong understanding of home groups, which has a leader and participants. 12:33.350 --> 12:37.550 However, I believe this is something that can be applied anywhere. 12:38.050 --> 12:42.830 As you talk with family members, friends, coworkers, out for coffee, et cetera. 12:43.450 --> 12:52.510 How can we be more intentional in applying this wherever we are for however length of time we have 12:52.510 --> 12:54.310 with a person or even people? 12:54.750 --> 12:55.930 So that's the question that came in. 12:56.010 --> 12:58.510 Technically, there's actually two questions in one question. 12:59.030 --> 13:00.270 So take a swing at a pastor. 13:00.550 --> 13:05.510 Can you explain why they're differentiating from home to wherever? 13:06.070 --> 13:10.190 Going back to last Sunday's message, because when you were talking about forerunner 13:10.190 --> 13:14.590 and the process of it and meeting in homes and so forth, can you put a little context to that? 13:15.070 --> 13:18.510 So forerunners is something that it's... 13:19.170 --> 13:20.290 Well, that's part of my answer. 13:20.510 --> 13:21.290 You want me to answer first? 13:21.290 --> 13:21.850 Go ahead. 13:22.230 --> 13:25.790 You sure you want me to answer first? 13:25.790 --> 13:26.530 Yeah, go for it. 13:26.730 --> 13:30.150 Okay, so here's the way that I answered this individual. 13:30.290 --> 13:31.930 And I'm answering it again for all of you to hear. 13:32.930 --> 13:35.510 Forerunners is a lifestyle, if you guys remember. 13:36.890 --> 13:39.790 And it is applied everywhere you go. 13:40.570 --> 13:45.570 And to answer one of the questions out of the two is to be more intentional 13:46.250 --> 13:49.770 is to simply live it and allow it to flow out of you. 13:49.770 --> 13:54.250 And here's what I want to give a little bit more of a context to that is 13:54.250 --> 13:57.730 if we actually live a forerunner lifestyle, 13:58.510 --> 14:01.530 the question was how can we be more intentional with it? 14:01.870 --> 14:04.990 To be more intentional with it is if you do it in your home, 14:05.070 --> 14:08.310 like for an example, if I'm a mechanic and you say, 14:08.330 --> 14:11.150 hey, this and this is wrong with my car, I'm going to walk over there 14:11.150 --> 14:14.250 and because I'm a mechanic, it's going to naturally flow out of me 14:14.250 --> 14:15.570 to discover the issue. 14:15.770 --> 14:18.670 If I'm not a mechanic, I might sit there and be scratching my head. 14:18.670 --> 14:19.330 Well, I don't know. 14:20.490 --> 14:25.890 And then also, the question was, you know, I believe I'm a forerunner, 14:26.170 --> 14:28.250 but I'm not doing it in my home. 14:29.290 --> 14:33.510 Forerunner vision, the way that we have lived it, 14:33.550 --> 14:36.690 the way that we have taught it to do it in our home 14:36.690 --> 14:40.810 or to do it in homes is simply one way of expressing 14:40.810 --> 14:42.850 of what it means to be a forerunner. 14:43.590 --> 14:46.070 Because if you're living a forerunner lifestyle 14:46.070 --> 14:48.890 and you bring somebody into your home, 14:49.190 --> 14:51.310 you're actually bringing them into your life. 14:51.430 --> 14:56.590 You're bringing them into what you do on a day-to-day private basis. 14:56.970 --> 15:00.170 And when you do that, you're actually allowing people 15:01.190 --> 15:03.090 to learn from you of how you love Jesus. 15:03.310 --> 15:04.530 That's really what it comes down to. 15:04.850 --> 15:06.350 So, did I answer that and give some more context? 15:06.470 --> 15:07.250 Yep, I think it was good. 15:07.990 --> 15:10.230 I am doing the work of a forerunner. 15:10.310 --> 15:12.310 The work of a forerunner, as you explained it, 15:12.310 --> 15:13.770 is someone who is a scout. 15:14.450 --> 15:17.230 They go out ahead, see what it's like, 15:17.510 --> 15:19.630 and if it's bad, of course, they say, 15:19.830 --> 15:22.490 don't come here. If it's good, come here. 15:22.670 --> 15:24.350 Follow me. I want to tell you to come back 15:24.350 --> 15:25.870 and get the group and take them there. 15:27.650 --> 15:29.590 To do the work of a forerunner, 15:30.830 --> 15:33.150 we have to know where we're taking them. 15:34.130 --> 15:34.690 It's good. 15:34.790 --> 15:35.510 In my perspective. 15:36.110 --> 15:37.750 You know, I can go out and scout and say, 15:37.850 --> 15:39.770 okay, here's what I'm looking for. 15:39.830 --> 15:40.790 What am I looking for? 15:41.550 --> 15:43.370 Where am I trying to take people? 15:44.570 --> 15:49.590 If we don't have the end goal already established, 15:51.250 --> 15:52.670 we can't take them there. 15:53.770 --> 15:55.570 We have to know what that end goal is. 15:55.910 --> 15:57.270 So can I take two, three minutes, 15:57.450 --> 16:00.150 and I'm just going to put a plug-in for our podcast here. 16:01.390 --> 16:02.770 Which is launching in March. 16:03.090 --> 16:04.030 Which is launching in March. 16:04.590 --> 16:06.250 We're working through world views. 16:06.830 --> 16:07.790 That's where we're starting. 16:07.790 --> 16:09.470 We have first two sessions. 16:10.490 --> 16:11.470 Not about it. 16:11.550 --> 16:13.530 And then we go into world view and you'll understand it 16:13.530 --> 16:15.110 when you listen to it or watch it. 16:15.930 --> 16:21.750 A world view is the filter that we run everything through 16:21.750 --> 16:24.410 on every decision we make in life. 16:24.670 --> 16:25.990 No matter what it is. 16:26.790 --> 16:30.930 We justify it or we make the decision by our world view. 16:31.650 --> 16:31.790 Okay? 16:32.970 --> 16:39.570 We discovered that in the United States of America, 16:41.030 --> 16:43.410 currently, it's come up just a little bit 16:43.410 --> 16:44.930 probably because of the younger generation 16:44.930 --> 16:46.430 is becoming much more conservative. 16:48.810 --> 16:52.190 Currently, the number of people who hold to 16:52.190 --> 16:57.070 a biblical world view in the United States. 16:58.210 --> 17:01.410 Now, a biblical world view means 17:02.070 --> 17:05.550 everything you do in life, you're running through this filter. 17:07.990 --> 17:10.750 You're going to do it or not do it 17:10.750 --> 17:14.570 according to your understanding of what the Scripture says. 17:16.010 --> 17:16.490 Okay? 17:16.670 --> 17:19.370 About 73% of Americans say they're Christians. 17:20.010 --> 17:21.010 They claim to be Christians. 17:23.110 --> 17:27.410 However, the number of people who live life 17:27.410 --> 17:32.110 running their decisions through Scripture is currently 4%. 17:35.260 --> 17:38.620 So this morning, you know, let's say we had 200 people 17:38.620 --> 17:40.940 here before the adults left with the children and so forth. 17:41.700 --> 17:44.100 4%, so that means eight of us 17:46.480 --> 17:52.100 would be holding to a scriptural world view. 17:54.040 --> 17:57.020 So then I told Pastor Yeager, I said, 17:57.060 --> 18:00.760 well, go on a little hunt here, see what you can find. 18:01.420 --> 18:03.460 What is the big world view in America? 18:03.640 --> 18:05.260 And it's worldwide, by the way. 18:06.920 --> 18:08.600 It is syncretism. 18:09.160 --> 18:13.860 It's about 92% of people have a syncretistic 18:13.860 --> 18:15.700 or syncretism world view. 18:16.240 --> 18:17.320 What is syncretism? 18:18.220 --> 18:22.380 Syncretism is, and I think it got so strong 18:22.380 --> 18:24.260 because as communication and knowledge 18:24.260 --> 18:26.520 of other parts of the world travel, et cetera, 18:27.340 --> 18:29.040 increase, syncretism increased. 18:29.540 --> 18:33.920 It's taking bits and pieces from various beliefs, 18:34.160 --> 18:37.040 various cultures, various ways of thinking. 18:37.640 --> 18:42.140 It's taking all these bits and pieces like a smorgasbord 18:42.140 --> 18:45.900 and piling them together in what I believe. 18:46.700 --> 18:48.840 This is what I think. 18:49.540 --> 18:51.580 And I've gathered all this information 18:51.580 --> 18:54.040 and come up with this approach. 18:55.040 --> 19:00.580 92% of Americans, that's their world view. 19:01.880 --> 19:06.360 So in other words, what I think is true is what's true. 19:07.340 --> 19:09.940 Because I gleaned it from all these different sources 19:09.940 --> 19:12.380 and this is what I think is truth. 19:13.180 --> 19:15.960 So everything that I decide in life 19:15.960 --> 19:18.180 is run through that filter. 19:19.080 --> 19:20.560 This is what I think is truth. 19:22.220 --> 19:23.280 Well, that's great. 19:23.540 --> 19:26.100 But all the sources you drew from 19:26.800 --> 19:28.540 could all be a bunch of hogwash. 19:31.060 --> 19:32.820 So even though you think it's true, 19:33.460 --> 19:34.700 it could be a pack of lies. 19:35.780 --> 19:38.300 So to come from a forerunner 19:38.300 --> 19:40.160 from the scriptural standpoint, 19:41.140 --> 19:43.640 scripturally, what is the end game? 19:45.040 --> 19:48.700 What is a forerunner trying to get someone else to? 19:49.360 --> 19:51.760 And I agree. It needs to happen in the marketplace. 19:52.040 --> 19:53.560 It needs to happen at our jobs. 19:53.640 --> 19:54.680 It needs to happen at Walmart. 19:55.200 --> 19:56.480 That's the starting spot. 19:58.520 --> 20:00.180 So as we talked about this, 20:00.440 --> 20:01.260 okay, I'm at Walmart. 20:01.620 --> 20:02.680 I'm working with someone. 20:02.800 --> 20:04.440 I'm trying to take them someplace. 20:05.640 --> 20:07.840 Where am I trying to take them, number one? 20:08.500 --> 20:11.300 And are they capable of making that leap all at once? 20:12.400 --> 20:15.700 And what we talked about was scripturally speaking, 20:16.400 --> 20:20.920 where does God, where does Jesus want every person to land? 20:22.780 --> 20:23.720 Now, somebody's going to say, 20:23.780 --> 20:24.640 well, he wants them all saved. 20:24.740 --> 20:25.380 Well, he does. 20:25.900 --> 20:26.540 That's true. 20:26.680 --> 20:27.940 That's part of the end goal, 20:27.960 --> 20:29.340 but it's not the full end goal. 20:31.620 --> 20:35.700 Make disciples which causes them to obey, 20:35.700 --> 20:39.740 which brings them into the church. 20:40.460 --> 20:41.020 Into the body. 20:41.360 --> 20:42.620 Into the body of Christ. 20:43.400 --> 20:45.000 Well, I'm saved and part of the body. 20:46.020 --> 20:47.680 What body are you connected to? 20:48.780 --> 20:51.180 Because see, my arm is connected to my torso. 20:52.360 --> 20:55.020 If I cut my arm off and I leave it home this morning, 20:55.480 --> 20:58.960 it is a member, but it's not part of the body anymore. 21:01.540 --> 21:04.260 But we have gathered information as Christians 21:04.260 --> 21:07.160 that say, well, I can be part of the body and stay home 21:07.160 --> 21:09.380 and do whatever I want to do. 21:09.780 --> 21:10.580 No, you can't. 21:12.040 --> 21:16.420 To be part of the body, you've got to belong to a body. 21:18.240 --> 21:22.540 You can't be off as an individual member doing something 21:22.540 --> 21:24.720 and never part of the body. 21:24.800 --> 21:25.940 And that's a whole big subject. 21:27.380 --> 21:30.060 My thought to your approach is this. 21:30.640 --> 21:33.560 You have someone here who you're trying to get to Jesus, 21:33.560 --> 21:35.680 ultimately into the body. 21:35.900 --> 21:37.420 Because the body is as bright. 21:37.620 --> 21:38.700 I just want to add that in there. 21:38.820 --> 21:39.900 That's why it's the ultimate goal. 21:40.140 --> 21:40.260 Yep. 21:40.820 --> 21:42.380 And he's the head of the body. 21:42.460 --> 21:42.720 Correct. 21:42.920 --> 21:43.680 It's the attachment. 21:44.180 --> 21:44.620 It's the whole thing. 21:45.700 --> 21:48.180 The home is the perfect half step. 21:48.420 --> 21:48.680 Correct. 21:48.980 --> 21:51.760 To get someone from here to there. 21:52.200 --> 21:53.980 Now, you might be able to use the restaurant. 21:54.100 --> 21:55.380 You might be able, you know, 21:55.780 --> 21:58.300 some place where you can get real with someone 21:59.300 --> 22:01.560 and help lead them someplace. 22:01.800 --> 22:02.060 Correct. 22:02.520 --> 22:06.080 If you're not taking them to the scriptural end, 22:06.220 --> 22:07.460 you're not a forerunner. 22:08.060 --> 22:10.380 Might be a great person, but you're not a forerunner. 22:10.600 --> 22:10.740 Yeah. 22:11.360 --> 22:12.600 That has to be there. 22:12.900 --> 22:14.260 And the home is the half step. 22:14.500 --> 22:16.060 In my mind, that makes perfect sense. 22:16.300 --> 22:17.020 Yeah, that's good. 22:17.300 --> 22:17.720 Good with that? 22:17.860 --> 22:18.540 I'm great with that. 22:18.580 --> 22:19.980 I think you guys are good with that too, huh? 22:20.360 --> 22:20.440 Yeah. 22:20.660 --> 22:21.040 All right. 22:21.940 --> 22:25.600 So yeah, send in your questions and we'll take a swing. 22:25.840 --> 22:26.880 I think we hit a home run, man. 22:29.180 --> 22:29.860 He's quiet. 22:33.100 --> 22:33.740 All right. 22:33.920 --> 22:35.720 Let me pray and then we're going to get into today's message. 22:35.880 --> 22:36.760 Father, we thank you. 22:38.200 --> 22:39.740 We thank you for your word. 22:39.980 --> 22:42.200 We thank you for your spirit. 22:43.640 --> 22:47.060 And we ask this morning for the washing of your word over us. 22:47.800 --> 22:50.820 Wash over our minds, our hearts, Lord, our beings. 22:51.080 --> 22:55.240 Wash over us this morning as we hear your word, Holy Spirit. 22:56.040 --> 22:57.400 You are not limited. 22:58.500 --> 23:02.720 So I ask you that you would minister to your people this morning as I speak. 23:04.100 --> 23:10.260 Would you minister to your people, Father, by your spirit, not by power, not by might, 23:10.340 --> 23:17.120 but by the spirit of the living God minister to us this morning as we hear the preaching of your word. 23:17.580 --> 23:18.760 In Jesus' name. 23:19.040 --> 23:20.400 If you agree with me, would you say amen? 23:20.740 --> 23:21.180 Amen. 23:21.980 --> 23:26.040 So I want to continue answering the question, what does it mean to be a forerunner? 23:26.040 --> 23:30.120 So again, like I've already given you the Sunday overview, it is one that goes ahead. 23:30.280 --> 23:31.340 It is one that is a scout. 23:32.080 --> 23:36.600 The other portion of it, and if you have your Bibles, go ahead and open up to Malachi chapter three. 23:37.840 --> 23:48.280 To be a forerunner is to go before the Lord and to actually prepare the way for the Lord. 23:48.280 --> 23:56.760 In Malachi three, we find the prophet Malachi actually prophesying about John the Baptist coming. 23:57.500 --> 24:00.260 And listen to what the scriptures say here. 24:00.860 --> 24:03.560 This is Malachi chapter three starting at verse one. 24:04.580 --> 24:04.940 It says, 24:19.720 --> 24:29.220 Even the messenger of the covenant in whom you delight, behold he is coming, says the Lord of hosts. 24:30.240 --> 24:38.700 The prophet Malachi is basically, in short words, he is describing the ministry of John the Baptist. 24:40.000 --> 24:48.300 He's saying, listen, before my son Jesus comes down to the platform, I am going to send a forerunner before him. 24:49.100 --> 24:58.120 Somebody who's willing to pay the cost, somebody who's willing to look silly, somebody who's willing to deny everything. 24:58.300 --> 25:02.980 He's willing to give up everything simply to prepare the way for the return. 25:03.040 --> 25:05.940 Or I should say, in this case, for the coming of the Lord. 25:05.940 --> 25:09.040 That's literally John the Baptist's ministry. 25:10.020 --> 25:16.640 And what's amazing to me, and I said this last time, and now I believe it's Matthew seven. 25:17.000 --> 25:18.580 I should have brought the scripture for you. 25:18.900 --> 25:28.720 But Jesus even talks about, and he says that John the Baptist is actually a greater example of what it means to be a friend of God than even Abraham is. 25:30.060 --> 25:35.240 And when you actually study the life of John the Baptist, which I actually encourage you to do so. 25:35.240 --> 25:37.000 Study the life of John the Baptist. 25:37.320 --> 25:43.800 And you will find facets, if you want to know on a deeper level of what a forerunner is, study the life of John the Baptist. 25:44.860 --> 25:51.100 And this man was a forerunner who went before the Lord, prepared the way for Jesus to come on a platform. 25:52.040 --> 25:59.220 And he did it in such a way that people even came to him and they were like, so listen, you're doing all this stuff. 25:59.280 --> 25:59.920 Are you the Messiah? 26:00.460 --> 26:01.700 And he says, no, he says, I'm not. 26:02.340 --> 26:05.160 They says, are you the prophet? He says, no, I'm not the prophet. 26:05.500 --> 26:07.180 They're like, well, who are you then, dude? 26:07.660 --> 26:09.740 Why are you even baptizing people in water? 26:10.120 --> 26:12.220 And I love the answer of John the Baptist. 26:12.480 --> 26:14.200 Again, this is forerunner talk. 26:15.320 --> 26:20.760 I want you to understand that forerunners speak a different language and it's not Ukrainian. 26:23.880 --> 26:29.580 Forerunner talk is different than your average Christian language. 26:30.920 --> 26:33.360 So they come to him and they're like, who are you? 26:33.460 --> 26:35.360 And they go asking him all these questions. 26:35.720 --> 26:37.340 And this is forerunner talk. 26:37.700 --> 26:41.360 John the Baptist, he answers them and he says, I am a voice. 26:43.160 --> 26:44.100 He says, I'm a voice. 26:44.320 --> 26:46.940 I'm simply a voice in the wilderness. 26:47.700 --> 26:51.280 Crying out makes straight ways for the Lord. 26:52.560 --> 26:54.980 Let the valleys be what? 26:56.160 --> 26:57.200 No, that's not the valleys. 26:57.380 --> 26:57.920 That's the mountains. 27:00.280 --> 27:05.740 Let the valleys be raised up and let the mountains be made low. 27:05.900 --> 27:08.800 Let the crooked paths be made what? 27:09.420 --> 27:11.120 Straight. See, that's forerunner talk. 27:13.260 --> 27:17.500 Forerunner talk, you will always hear repentance in it. 27:19.140 --> 27:24.760 I said forerunner talk, you will always hear repentance in it. 27:28.340 --> 27:35.000 To live a lifestyle as a forerunner, you have to embody a life of repentance. 27:35.480 --> 27:37.220 And you're saying, well, what do you mean, Pastor Igor? 27:37.400 --> 27:40.520 Does that mean that I constantly have to repent? 27:40.860 --> 27:41.560 And that, yes. 27:44.060 --> 27:44.500 Yes. 27:47.280 --> 27:49.820 We have not yet come to the fullness. 27:50.440 --> 27:53.780 Can I just say something here real quick before I get into a whole other tangent? 27:53.780 --> 27:59.320 Can I say that repentance is oftentimes confused in our realm? 28:01.840 --> 28:03.560 We think of repentance, Pastor. 28:03.660 --> 28:06.120 I'm going to quote you here a little bit because you and I talked about this. 28:06.820 --> 28:10.700 We oftentimes think of repentance as a shameful act. 28:11.360 --> 28:16.420 When you come up to the altar, people got their heads bowed and they're like, oh, man. 28:16.840 --> 28:18.280 People are looking at me. 28:18.380 --> 28:21.400 They probably know my sin on and so forth. 28:21.400 --> 28:24.980 And I love how you gave me this and my gears have been turning in my head. 28:26.040 --> 28:31.780 The way that heaven, the perspective that heaven, can I quote you? 28:32.640 --> 28:40.780 The way that heaven looks at repentance, if we could have our minds renewed in that, 28:41.480 --> 28:46.260 friends, we would seek for anything and anything that we could actually repent of. 28:46.620 --> 28:48.120 It's a honorable thing. 28:48.120 --> 28:52.060 It's a privilege for us to actually repent. 28:55.220 --> 28:58.920 So forerunner talk has to do with repentance. 29:02.280 --> 29:07.140 So here, John the Baptist, he comes on the scene as a forerunner and he prepares the way. 29:07.560 --> 29:09.660 Friends, we, listen to me. 29:10.000 --> 29:13.800 We have the privilege to be like a John the Baptist. 29:16.280 --> 29:26.080 We as a church, on a daily basis, as an individual, as a member of the body of Christ, 29:26.440 --> 29:33.640 we have an opportunity to prepare the way of the Lord in our lives. 29:34.380 --> 29:38.740 Let me give you a very practical example of what I mean by that. 29:38.740 --> 29:49.060 The choices and the decisions that you make in a 24 hour day, think of it this way. 29:49.580 --> 29:55.680 Are pavements or pavers, so to say, that are being laid out. 29:56.160 --> 30:03.340 And you're either preparing the way for the Lord, or you're preparing the way for self. 30:05.540 --> 30:13.760 And when you're preparing the way for self, you're actually preparing the way for the devil in your life. 30:13.880 --> 30:14.540 Did you hear me? 30:18.680 --> 30:26.300 Every choice that you actually get to make in life, you're either preparing the way for Jesus to come 30:26.300 --> 30:31.260 and to abide and to embody and to have his way in your life. 30:31.400 --> 30:35.320 Or you're making a way for self. 30:37.400 --> 30:42.340 Where actually brings about destruction. It brings about the demonic. 30:43.040 --> 30:45.940 Did you know that self actually ties into the demonic? 30:46.480 --> 30:51.440 That's what lawlessness is. Lawlessness is being a law unto yourself. 30:52.160 --> 30:55.540 What I think is actually good for me is what's best for me. 30:55.540 --> 30:58.360 Where the scripture says, listen to me. 30:58.780 --> 31:03.440 Where the scripture says, he who loses his life actually, what? 31:04.000 --> 31:04.820 Finds it. 31:07.120 --> 31:08.620 That's forerunner talk. 31:09.860 --> 31:11.400 That's forerunner speech. 31:12.720 --> 31:19.640 So John the Baptist comes, prepares the way for the Lord to come as the sacrificial lamb of God. 31:20.100 --> 31:22.660 Now we, this needs to pierce your hearts. 31:22.660 --> 31:25.320 Friends, this needs to pierce your hearts. 31:25.900 --> 31:31.760 We have the privilege to prepare the way for the Lord. 31:33.400 --> 31:35.920 To hasten the day come, Lord. 31:36.720 --> 31:39.980 What does Revelation say? One of the last scriptures in the Bible. 31:40.260 --> 31:43.220 What does it say? The Spirit and who else? 31:44.080 --> 31:45.380 The bride. And what are they doing? 31:46.260 --> 31:47.960 What are they doing? Tell me. 31:49.000 --> 31:50.380 They're saying come, Lord. 31:50.380 --> 31:52.620 What is that call meaning? 31:53.080 --> 31:55.360 Lord, we're preparing the way. 31:55.660 --> 31:57.200 We're readying our hearts. 31:57.420 --> 32:02.820 We're removing the wrinkles, the stains, the blemishes by your Holy Spirit. 32:03.100 --> 32:04.740 And we're saying come, Lord. 32:05.240 --> 32:06.380 We need you. 32:08.100 --> 32:10.120 We need you to come. 32:10.540 --> 32:16.500 We can't remain in this unclean, disgusting world that we're living. 32:16.500 --> 32:20.440 We need you to come and make everything right. 32:21.120 --> 32:22.840 Can I tell you something here? 32:23.420 --> 32:26.540 Ain't no political man or woman is going to make things right. 32:28.140 --> 32:30.880 You didn't hear me. No, no, no. You didn't hear me. 32:31.160 --> 32:32.580 Listen to me. Listen to me. 32:32.960 --> 32:34.740 I come from a foreign country. 32:35.040 --> 32:37.620 I've heard far too many. Listen to me. 32:37.920 --> 32:40.080 I'm all about voting for the right candidate. 32:40.360 --> 32:43.040 But can I tell you that we have Americans 32:43.040 --> 32:47.140 that have actually put more hope in a political party 32:47.140 --> 32:49.520 than they have in the Lord Jesus himself? 32:50.320 --> 32:51.860 Can I tell you that? 32:53.520 --> 32:55.840 There ain't no man. There ain't no woman 32:55.840 --> 32:57.520 that's going to make everything right. 32:57.860 --> 33:01.380 We need Jesus to actually come back 33:01.380 --> 33:05.500 to establish his kingdom here on earth. 33:05.740 --> 33:07.800 That then things would be made right. 33:07.860 --> 33:08.960 Did you hear me this morning? 33:08.960 --> 33:09.480 Yeah. 33:11.540 --> 33:14.980 That's why. That's why we have the privilege, 33:15.520 --> 33:18.320 the honor, and the opportunity to prepare 33:18.320 --> 33:20.820 the way for the Lord to return. 33:22.980 --> 33:25.300 The time has been determined by the Father. 33:25.880 --> 33:27.080 It has been determined. 33:27.820 --> 33:29.740 But we have the opportunity to say, 33:29.900 --> 33:31.480 come Lord, we need you now. 33:33.200 --> 33:34.600 Can I tell you the truth? 33:35.160 --> 33:37.580 And I'm putting myself into this category too. 33:38.460 --> 33:41.520 We're not yet desperate enough to have him return yet. 33:47.400 --> 33:52.320 We're not yet desperate enough to have him return yet. 33:52.420 --> 33:53.440 Did you know that? You're saying, 33:53.560 --> 33:54.640 what are you talking about, Pastor? 33:55.460 --> 33:57.640 Because if we were desperate enough, 33:57.980 --> 34:02.360 if we were desperate enough for the Lord to come back, 34:02.640 --> 34:05.320 we would spend hours on our faces 34:05.320 --> 34:07.020 asking him to come back. 34:08.900 --> 34:10.560 We're not desperate enough. 34:12.580 --> 34:14.880 We are not desperate enough in America 34:14.880 --> 34:17.140 to have Jesus return yet. 34:17.440 --> 34:19.400 We still like our life. 34:21.020 --> 34:23.780 We still like the things in our life. 34:24.180 --> 34:26.540 And you're saying, but Pastor, I gave up so much. 34:26.880 --> 34:27.760 So did I. 34:29.400 --> 34:30.460 So did I. 34:30.640 --> 34:31.960 And do you know what my wife tells me? 34:32.480 --> 34:33.400 She says, you know what? 34:34.160 --> 34:34.840 She says, love. 34:34.960 --> 34:36.660 She goes, I don't think we gave enough yet. 34:36.660 --> 34:38.120 I said, what are you talking about, sweetie? 34:38.580 --> 34:39.640 We gave up our business. 34:39.920 --> 34:42.100 We gave up everything we had in the cities. 34:42.420 --> 34:44.060 We gave up so much. 34:44.080 --> 34:45.760 And she says, yeah, but we haven't given enough. 34:46.060 --> 34:47.280 And I'm like, you're a wild wife. 34:47.480 --> 34:48.060 I love you. 34:50.960 --> 34:53.160 You are wild, Son of Sky, and I love you. 34:53.440 --> 34:55.340 And you caused me to go deeper. 34:56.200 --> 34:58.040 But friends, we're not desperate enough 34:58.040 --> 34:59.240 for the Lord to return yet. 35:01.140 --> 35:03.620 That's why when we hear doom and gloom, 35:03.700 --> 35:05.200 we're thinking, why is all these guys 35:05.200 --> 35:06.580 preaching doom and gloom? 35:06.700 --> 35:10.000 Because doom and gloom, unfortunately, 35:10.620 --> 35:13.400 produces a first love unto the Lord 35:13.400 --> 35:15.720 that causes us to be desperate for Him. 35:17.880 --> 35:19.380 You still with me this morning? 35:20.220 --> 35:23.720 A forerunner prepares the way for the Lord. 35:23.860 --> 35:24.460 Listen to this. 35:25.120 --> 35:26.440 Hebrews chapter 6. 35:27.060 --> 35:29.220 Did you know that Jesus was actually a forerunner? 35:30.780 --> 35:31.980 Did you guys know that? 35:31.980 --> 35:35.500 If you don't believe me, read your Bibles. 35:38.820 --> 35:41.320 Hebrews chapter 6. Listen to this. 35:42.440 --> 35:45.680 Starting at verse... 35:45.680 --> 35:46.720 Let's go to verse 19. 35:47.460 --> 35:51.500 And this hope we have as an anchor of the soul, 35:51.740 --> 35:53.780 both sure and steadfast, 35:55.880 --> 36:01.200 and which enters the presence behind the veil. 36:02.600 --> 36:06.000 Where the forerunner has entered. 36:06.060 --> 36:06.860 Let me say that again. 36:07.520 --> 36:12.780 Where the forerunner has entered for us, 36:13.360 --> 36:16.640 even Jesus, having become a high priest, 36:16.840 --> 36:20.260 forever according to the order of Melchizedek. 36:20.700 --> 36:24.320 So even Jesus Christ was a forerunner, 36:25.080 --> 36:26.880 and He wouldn't be for us. 36:26.880 --> 36:30.800 Why does the Scripture call Him the firstborn from the dead? 36:35.430 --> 36:39.690 Why does the Scripture describe the Lord in so many different ways? 36:39.910 --> 36:42.870 Because Jesus embodied so many things. 36:43.190 --> 36:44.950 That's why He's called the great intercessor. 36:45.570 --> 36:46.930 Because He could intercede for us. 36:47.190 --> 36:49.470 He can feel everything we're going through. 36:50.310 --> 36:51.550 Have you been betrayed? 36:52.230 --> 36:53.190 So has the Lord. 36:56.340 --> 36:58.120 Has your spouse divorced you? 36:59.480 --> 37:00.680 Or left you? 37:02.180 --> 37:03.900 They did the same thing to the Lord. 37:04.860 --> 37:06.420 What did the nation of Israel do? 37:06.700 --> 37:08.340 Over, over, over and over again. 37:09.780 --> 37:12.320 He is the great intercessor 37:12.320 --> 37:15.120 who can literally, literally... 37:16.020 --> 37:16.900 Let me say it this way. 37:17.200 --> 37:18.860 He has already walked in our shoes. 37:22.160 --> 37:23.420 Were you born, 37:24.500 --> 37:26.700 and maybe you didn't have a dad in your life? 37:26.920 --> 37:28.840 Like an actual biological dad? 37:28.840 --> 37:30.400 Jesus didn't either. 37:30.880 --> 37:33.140 Jesus had a stepdad. His name was Joseph. 37:33.560 --> 37:34.600 Who was a carpenter? 37:36.220 --> 37:37.980 In every facet, 37:38.280 --> 37:39.880 the Lord can relate to you. 37:40.180 --> 37:41.140 And He's been there. 37:43.180 --> 37:45.600 And now this forerunner goes before us. 37:45.840 --> 37:49.740 And now, He's actually preparing a place for us. 37:49.760 --> 37:49.980 Where? 37:51.360 --> 37:52.220 In heaven. 37:53.580 --> 37:55.240 He is preparing a place 37:55.240 --> 37:58.260 for His bride, His eternal companion 37:58.260 --> 37:59.580 to be with Him. 37:59.640 --> 38:02.200 Which, according to what we were talking about here earlier, 38:02.800 --> 38:05.160 is us. It's the body. It's the members of the body. 38:05.800 --> 38:06.700 You still with me? 38:07.960 --> 38:10.280 So a forerunner. One who goes before. 38:12.000 --> 38:13.200 It's one who is a scout. 38:13.920 --> 38:15.780 And it's one who prepares the way. 38:16.540 --> 38:18.080 Now I want to go somewhere here with me. 38:18.600 --> 38:20.660 Or I should say, I want to go somewhere here next. 38:21.020 --> 38:22.160 Is a forerunner? 38:22.360 --> 38:24.680 Is somebody who holds dear 38:24.680 --> 38:26.840 to the things that are important 38:26.840 --> 38:28.500 to the Father's heart? 38:30.140 --> 38:31.600 That's a forerunner. 38:32.900 --> 38:34.380 One who goes ahead. 38:34.900 --> 38:35.860 One who scouts. 38:36.160 --> 38:37.540 One who prepares the way. 38:37.880 --> 38:39.900 And in the midst of doing all of that, 38:40.260 --> 38:42.200 this person who is a forerunner 38:42.200 --> 38:43.840 actually maintains 38:43.840 --> 38:46.780 and holds on to the things 38:46.780 --> 38:48.880 that are very dear 38:48.880 --> 38:50.520 to the Father's heart. 38:51.740 --> 38:54.240 You know what I love about our vision book here at Word of Life? 38:54.240 --> 38:57.060 In our vision book, Pastor wrote it out this way. 38:57.080 --> 38:57.740 And I love this. 38:58.180 --> 39:00.560 It says, major on the majors, 39:01.060 --> 39:02.420 minor on the minors. 39:02.680 --> 39:03.640 Am I saying that right, Pastor? 39:05.080 --> 39:06.820 We have those things backwards 39:06.820 --> 39:08.060 in our church these days. 39:08.940 --> 39:10.780 We actually have churches that are 39:10.780 --> 39:12.180 majoring on the minors, 39:12.420 --> 39:14.180 but yet minoring on the majors. 39:17.430 --> 39:19.010 But a forerunner is one 39:19.010 --> 39:20.670 who majors on the majors. 39:21.110 --> 39:23.110 They hold on to the things 39:23.110 --> 39:23.910 that are most dear. 39:23.910 --> 39:25.790 Do you know that there's actually things that are more 39:25.790 --> 39:27.290 dear to God than other things? 39:27.510 --> 39:28.170 Did you know that? 39:30.090 --> 39:31.610 There's actually things 39:31.610 --> 39:33.910 that God holds more dear 39:34.350 --> 39:35.590 than other things. 39:39.680 --> 39:41.960 You know why marriages are so under attack? 39:42.420 --> 39:44.260 Not just in the world, but in churches? 39:46.040 --> 39:47.380 Because marriage is something 39:47.380 --> 39:49.180 that is very dear to the Father's heart. 39:52.520 --> 39:53.780 And this is what I learned. 39:53.900 --> 39:54.800 Listen, this is what I learned. 39:54.800 --> 39:56.860 Do you want to identify what's 39:56.860 --> 39:58.340 very important to the Father's heart? 39:59.020 --> 40:00.580 Look what the devil is after. 40:02.840 --> 40:04.920 The devil will always 40:04.920 --> 40:07.000 attack the things that are most 40:07.000 --> 40:08.820 valuable to the Father's heart 40:08.820 --> 40:10.700 and he knows what's valuable 40:10.700 --> 40:12.440 to God's heart. Why? Because he's been there. 40:13.360 --> 40:15.240 He's been in a realm of God's presence 40:15.240 --> 40:16.680 that we haven't even yet been there yet. 40:17.340 --> 40:18.140 Did you know that? 40:20.020 --> 40:21.920 So he will always attack the things 40:21.920 --> 40:24.120 that are most dear to God's heart. 40:24.120 --> 40:26.280 Now, in my understanding, 40:26.460 --> 40:28.240 if you really boil it down, 40:28.760 --> 40:30.660 what is dear to God's heart? 40:30.980 --> 40:32.860 We find it in Matthew 22. 40:33.620 --> 40:35.600 If you really actually boil it down, 40:35.760 --> 40:36.860 what is the two things 40:37.700 --> 40:39.580 that are very dear to God's heart? 40:39.780 --> 40:41.840 Matthew 22, let's read this together. 40:42.520 --> 40:45.020 This is Matthew 22 starting at verse 37. 40:46.100 --> 40:47.700 And this is actually Jesus 40:47.700 --> 40:49.480 making a statement. And according, 40:49.680 --> 40:52.120 if you know your Bibles, Jesus is the... 40:52.720 --> 40:54.460 is the perfect image 40:54.460 --> 40:56.280 or the perfect example 40:56.280 --> 40:57.840 of the invisible God. He says, 40:57.940 --> 40:59.200 I don't do anything on my own accord. 40:59.320 --> 41:00.760 I only do what I see the Father do. 41:01.440 --> 41:03.500 So these are the words of Jesus. Listen to this. 41:04.240 --> 41:07.180 Matthew 22, verse 37. 41:08.620 --> 41:09.580 Let me start there. 41:10.920 --> 41:12.120 It says, Jesus said... 41:12.920 --> 41:13.860 So again, let me give you a little bit 41:13.860 --> 41:15.860 of a context here. When the Pharisees 41:15.860 --> 41:18.060 starting at verse 34, when the Pharisees 41:18.060 --> 41:19.540 heard that he had silence, 41:19.540 --> 41:21.740 the Sadducees, they gathered together, 41:21.880 --> 41:23.660 then one of them, a lawyer 41:23.660 --> 41:25.740 asked him, asking the Lord a question 41:25.740 --> 41:28.220 to test him, saying, 41:28.380 --> 41:30.220 Teacher, which is the 41:30.220 --> 41:32.400 great commandment in the law? 41:33.060 --> 41:34.480 So they're coming to test the Lord. 41:34.660 --> 41:35.960 They're trying to figure out, 41:36.040 --> 41:37.960 oh, is this guy really it? 41:38.080 --> 41:39.160 Let's see what he says. 41:39.780 --> 41:40.940 And here's what the Lord says. 41:42.980 --> 41:44.020 Jesus answered 41:44.540 --> 41:46.140 or Jesus said to him, 41:46.880 --> 41:47.880 this is verse 37, 41:57.720 --> 42:02.020 This is the first and great commandment. 42:02.960 --> 42:05.580 And the second is like it. 42:06.420 --> 42:08.720 You shall love 42:08.720 --> 42:10.680 your neighbor as yourself. 42:11.000 --> 42:12.260 And then he makes the statement. 42:12.740 --> 42:15.140 On these two commandments 42:15.140 --> 42:17.080 hang all the law 42:17.080 --> 42:17.860 and all the law. 42:17.860 --> 42:18.780 And the prophets. 42:20.280 --> 42:22.210 If you really boiled down 42:22.380 --> 42:24.180 what is dear 42:24.180 --> 42:26.280 to the heart of the Father, 42:26.600 --> 42:28.080 he desires 42:28.080 --> 42:29.400 for us 42:29.400 --> 42:31.800 to walk in first love 42:31.800 --> 42:33.140 towards him. 42:35.920 --> 42:37.200 Can I say something? 42:38.200 --> 42:39.520 If we've lost 42:39.520 --> 42:42.080 our first love, you've lost everything. 42:43.340 --> 42:44.460 Let me say that again. 42:45.740 --> 42:47.180 If you lost 42:47.180 --> 42:49.420 your first love to the Lord, 42:49.700 --> 42:50.700 you've lost everything. 42:51.140 --> 42:52.640 I don't care that you can prophesy. 42:53.660 --> 42:55.620 I don't care that you can speak in tongues. 42:56.280 --> 42:57.640 I don't care that there are signs, 42:57.980 --> 42:59.020 miracles and wonders happening. 42:59.320 --> 43:01.820 If you've lost your first love 43:01.820 --> 43:03.740 onto the Lord, you've lost everything. 43:06.460 --> 43:08.800 Why do you think in the book of Revelation 43:08.800 --> 43:10.740 when Jesus is actually 43:10.740 --> 43:12.600 addressing the seven churches, 43:12.600 --> 43:14.560 what is the first church 43:14.560 --> 43:15.940 that Jesus addresses? 43:16.120 --> 43:16.880 Can somebody tell me? 43:18.540 --> 43:19.340 Okay, Ephesians. 43:19.840 --> 43:21.580 What was he addressing them in? 43:23.280 --> 43:24.480 They lost their first love. 43:26.440 --> 43:28.120 Out of the seven churches 43:28.120 --> 43:29.800 that the Lord was addressing, 43:30.080 --> 43:32.060 he would choose to start 43:32.060 --> 43:33.060 with that church. 43:33.360 --> 43:35.180 That to me tells me something. 43:36.060 --> 43:38.280 That tells me something about the Lord 43:38.280 --> 43:40.600 and how zealous he is 43:40.600 --> 43:42.440 for his people to walk 43:42.440 --> 43:44.120 and first love towards him. 43:45.780 --> 43:46.900 And you're saying, Pastor, 43:47.020 --> 43:48.160 okay, well what is first love? 43:49.120 --> 43:50.580 What does it mean to walk 43:50.580 --> 43:52.320 in first love? How do I walk? 43:52.460 --> 43:53.620 How do I know if I'm in it? 43:53.820 --> 43:56.580 When we are in first love, we choose him 43:56.580 --> 43:58.620 the most simplest way I can tell you. 43:58.900 --> 44:00.540 We choose him above 44:00.540 --> 44:01.100 all else. 44:03.600 --> 44:04.540 We choose 44:04.540 --> 44:06.620 the Lord above all 44:06.620 --> 44:07.040 else. 44:09.120 --> 44:11.060 Can I get real personal with you? 44:11.760 --> 44:12.440 Ready for this? 44:13.180 --> 44:14.380 We choose him 44:14.380 --> 44:16.140 above all else when nobody 44:16.140 --> 44:16.800 else is looking. 44:18.040 --> 44:20.140 It's easy to choose him on a Sunday. 44:20.580 --> 44:21.540 Did you hear me? 44:22.880 --> 44:24.300 It's easy to be a Christian. 44:24.420 --> 44:25.700 We should write a song about that. 44:26.160 --> 44:27.880 It's easy to be a Christian 44:27.880 --> 44:28.720 on a Sunday. 44:29.440 --> 44:29.940 La la la la. 44:31.980 --> 44:33.520 I should get Brian on the keys 44:33.520 --> 44:34.500 and we should sing a song. 44:37.260 --> 44:38.660 Friends, it's easy 44:38.660 --> 44:39.820 to be a Christian 44:39.820 --> 44:40.560 on a Sunday. 44:41.560 --> 44:42.900 I've told you this before. 44:43.080 --> 44:44.020 Put on a suit and tie. 44:44.380 --> 44:45.900 Put on some good Gucci cologne. 44:46.100 --> 44:47.800 Come in, you're smelling swell and well. 44:50.380 --> 44:51.560 But I would love to, 44:51.640 --> 44:53.140 you know, I would love 44:53.140 --> 44:54.580 to sit with certain pastors 44:54.580 --> 44:55.200 and leaders 44:56.120 --> 44:58.020 and ask their wives and their children 44:58.020 --> 44:59.920 what is your dad like or what is your mom like 44:59.920 --> 45:00.460 at home? 45:02.800 --> 45:03.920 What do they do at home? 45:03.920 --> 45:03.940 What do they do at home? 45:06.480 --> 45:07.560 That's why, see, 45:07.720 --> 45:08.780 that's why I'm all about 45:08.780 --> 45:10.140 you want to know who I am? 45:10.480 --> 45:12.000 Come hang out with me and my family. 45:12.160 --> 45:13.020 I am open to that. 45:13.980 --> 45:15.880 I am open to that. Ask my kids 45:15.880 --> 45:16.660 who I am at home. 45:17.600 --> 45:20.040 They might say some things that are a little embarrassing 45:20.040 --> 45:21.820 but that's alright. We're boys. 45:22.380 --> 45:23.760 We do stuff that's embarrassing. 45:23.960 --> 45:24.980 That's between me and my boys. 45:25.780 --> 45:27.240 Ask my wife who I am. 45:28.280 --> 45:29.340 You know, to walk 45:29.340 --> 45:31.460 in first love, the best example 45:31.460 --> 45:33.100 that I could give you is 45:33.560 --> 45:34.980 the way that a husband 45:34.980 --> 45:35.920 is with his wife. 45:37.440 --> 45:38.600 And this is what I mean. 45:39.100 --> 45:41.100 I could come here and I could 45:41.100 --> 45:42.900 tell you and I could be all lovey-dovey 45:42.900 --> 45:45.120 with my wife and I could tell you how awesome 45:45.120 --> 45:47.100 she is and how great she is 45:47.100 --> 45:48.440 and how beautiful she is 45:48.440 --> 45:50.240 and all these wonderful things. 45:50.980 --> 45:53.180 And you're like, man, Igor really loves 45:53.180 --> 45:55.500 his wife. He's like, wow, he really loves her. 45:56.020 --> 45:57.040 But here's where 45:57.520 --> 45:59.300 the marker of, are you actually 45:59.300 --> 46:01.420 walking in first love or do you actually love 46:01.420 --> 46:03.520 your wife? What do you do for your wife 46:03.520 --> 46:03.920 at home? 46:09.020 --> 46:10.080 What do you do for your wife 46:10.080 --> 46:11.920 at home? The same compliments that 46:11.920 --> 46:14.440 you tell your wife in public 46:14.440 --> 46:16.280 are you telling her those same things? 46:16.420 --> 46:17.980 Are you serving your wife 46:17.980 --> 46:18.800 at home? 46:19.860 --> 46:22.020 Are you serving your wife at home, husbands? 46:23.260 --> 46:23.920 Is she always 46:23.920 --> 46:24.720 doing the dishes? 46:26.000 --> 46:26.980 Is she always 46:26.980 --> 46:28.000 doing the laundry? 46:28.700 --> 46:30.620 Is she always the one home 46:30.620 --> 46:31.300 with the kids? 46:33.640 --> 46:34.840 Somebody's saying, uh-huh 46:34.840 --> 46:35.660 preach it, brother. 46:38.460 --> 46:38.940 Somebody's 46:38.940 --> 46:40.000 saying, preach it, brother. 46:42.720 --> 46:43.760 See, but that's how we are 46:43.760 --> 46:44.900 with the Lord. We come 46:44.900 --> 46:46.720 and we think we're in 46:46.720 --> 46:48.380 first love because we just 46:48.380 --> 46:50.520 experienced and what a wonderful worship 46:50.520 --> 46:52.160 we just serve somebody. 46:52.160 --> 46:53.880 We just prayed for somebody. 46:54.020 --> 46:55.940 Here is a ditch that oftentimes 46:55.940 --> 46:57.840 Christians get to. Christians 46:57.840 --> 46:59.940 get into a ditch when they 46:59.940 --> 47:02.320 fulfill the second commandment 47:02.320 --> 47:04.380 which is love your neighbor as yourself 47:04.380 --> 47:05.980 and they're fulfilling that 47:05.980 --> 47:07.820 commandment thinking that they're 47:07.820 --> 47:09.900 actually in first love where 47:09.900 --> 47:10.820 they're missing it. 47:13.160 --> 47:15.220 Friends, a genuine 47:16.040 --> 47:17.700 real second 47:17.700 --> 47:19.920 or fulfillment of the second commandment 47:19.920 --> 47:21.820 actually comes from the first. 47:22.700 --> 47:24.360 You cannot fulfill 47:24.360 --> 47:26.120 the second and greatest 47:26.120 --> 47:27.780 commandment unless you're 47:27.780 --> 47:29.600 fulfilling the first. And that means 47:29.600 --> 47:31.800 I love you, Lord, when nobody else 47:31.800 --> 47:33.480 is seeing me, I'm still loving you. 47:34.400 --> 47:35.840 I'm still choosing 47:35.840 --> 47:37.960 you when nobody else is seeing me. 47:38.180 --> 47:39.720 I'm still pursuing you 47:39.720 --> 47:41.500 when nobody else is seeing me. 47:45.430 --> 47:47.370 A full runner is one who 47:47.370 --> 47:49.390 holds dear to the things 47:49.390 --> 47:51.050 that are of the Father's heart. 47:51.210 --> 47:53.250 And again, if you boil them down 47:53.250 --> 47:54.870 it comes to two things. 47:55.970 --> 47:57.610 It's to love the Lord your God 47:57.610 --> 47:59.490 with all your heart, with 47:59.490 --> 48:01.390 all your soul. And can I be honest 48:01.390 --> 48:02.850 with you, that takes you a lifetime 48:02.850 --> 48:03.670 to learn that. 48:05.310 --> 48:07.410 It takes you a lifetime 48:07.410 --> 48:08.930 to learn that. 48:10.950 --> 48:12.670 I've learned in my life 48:13.610 --> 48:15.430 that when I actually know 48:15.430 --> 48:16.810 how much he loves me 48:16.810 --> 48:19.490 it propels me into 48:19.490 --> 48:20.110 first love. 48:21.290 --> 48:22.410 Ah, you didn't hear me. 48:23.010 --> 48:23.950 No, no, no, you didn't hear me. 48:24.470 --> 48:25.910 First John writes it this way. 48:26.530 --> 48:28.350 He says we love 48:28.350 --> 48:30.330 because he first loved us. 48:32.450 --> 48:34.570 First love actually 48:34.570 --> 48:36.850 comes from when we know 48:36.850 --> 48:38.170 how much he loves us 48:38.810 --> 48:40.210 and what he did for us 48:40.670 --> 48:42.350 which then propels us 48:42.350 --> 48:44.070 into love with him. 48:46.010 --> 48:47.290 When we actually 48:47.290 --> 48:48.180 begin to understand 48:48.590 --> 48:50.090 what sin is 48:50.090 --> 48:52.150 and how sin separates us 48:52.150 --> 48:54.110 and how disgusting it is 48:54.110 --> 48:56.230 and we begin to say, oh my goodness 48:56.230 --> 48:57.150 Lord, 48:57.950 --> 49:00.150 not only did you just die for 49:00.150 --> 49:02.170 my sins, but the Scripture says 49:02.170 --> 49:04.110 that the sins of the world 49:04.110 --> 49:06.010 did what they came upon him. 49:06.990 --> 49:08.710 He bore, the Scripture says 49:08.710 --> 49:10.230 he bore the 49:10.230 --> 49:12.090 sins of the world 49:12.090 --> 49:14.330 a sinless man, perfect 49:15.010 --> 49:15.930 actually bore 49:15.930 --> 49:17.790 the sins, he wore them 49:17.790 --> 49:18.770 on his flesh. 49:20.090 --> 49:21.970 And we come with this perspective 49:21.970 --> 49:23.690 God, why did you do it? 49:24.630 --> 49:25.870 Why did you do it? 49:25.970 --> 49:27.970 And his answer, because I love you, that's it. 49:31.690 --> 49:33.390 When you begin to learn that 49:33.980 --> 49:35.430 and you begin to grow in that 49:35.430 --> 49:37.750 friends, you begin to weep when you read the Scriptures. 49:40.590 --> 49:41.790 Do you know how I personally 49:41.790 --> 49:42.630 measure myself? 49:44.070 --> 49:45.950 When I'm like, Lord, make sure 49:45.950 --> 49:47.530 that I'm, make sure that I'm 49:47.530 --> 49:49.550 remaining in first love. Help me, Holy Spirit. 49:49.830 --> 49:51.850 Help me and keep me 49:51.850 --> 49:52.730 in first love. 49:53.410 --> 49:55.850 I find myself often times when I read 49:55.850 --> 49:57.530 the Scriptures and if I have a cold 49:57.530 --> 49:59.670 attitude towards the Scriptures 49:59.670 --> 50:01.470 I say, Lord, forgive me. 50:03.270 --> 50:04.270 Forgive me, Lord. 50:06.670 --> 50:08.430 It's so hard sometimes 50:08.430 --> 50:09.810 and maybe some of you can relate 50:09.810 --> 50:11.830 it's so hard sometimes 50:12.570 --> 50:13.890 to read the Scriptures 50:13.890 --> 50:14.850 and not cry. 50:18.370 --> 50:20.090 It's hard sometimes 50:20.090 --> 50:22.010 to read what he actually did 50:22.010 --> 50:23.510 for us and not cry. 50:25.690 --> 50:28.210 When you begin to read what he actually did 50:28.210 --> 50:29.630 and who he actually is 50:29.630 --> 50:31.030 you begin to weep. 50:31.190 --> 50:32.870 We were just driving in this morning 50:32.870 --> 50:34.510 into church with my family 50:34.510 --> 50:36.570 and yesterday somebody 50:37.350 --> 50:39.390 recommended a song for us to listen to 50:39.390 --> 50:41.150 and it's a very old song. 50:41.710 --> 50:43.450 It's sung by a lot of Lutheran churches 50:43.450 --> 50:44.770 but you know I don't care. 50:44.970 --> 50:46.970 Those Lutherans can know some really great songs. 50:48.210 --> 50:49.610 And the song is 50:49.610 --> 50:51.630 and I was like, how come I never heard this song? 50:51.970 --> 50:52.950 And now my kids love it 50:52.950 --> 50:54.850 and now my kids are like, Papa, can we sing this song? 50:54.930 --> 50:55.830 I said, of course we can. 50:56.150 --> 50:57.590 And the song, I'm not going to sing it 50:57.590 --> 50:59.150 but I'll just read you or I'll say the lyrics. 50:59.550 --> 51:01.290 It says, I'm not going to sing it. 51:01.330 --> 51:02.190 No, no, I'm not going to sing it. 51:04.010 --> 51:05.350 We need Jesse here to sing it. 51:05.350 --> 51:06.870 But the lyrics go like this. 51:06.990 --> 51:09.530 Were you there when they crucified my Lord? 51:10.970 --> 51:11.910 Were you there? 51:12.050 --> 51:13.050 See, I'm talking about it now 51:13.050 --> 51:13.990 when I want to start weeping. 51:15.390 --> 51:17.910 Were you there when they laid him in the tomb? 51:19.210 --> 51:20.150 Were you there 51:20.150 --> 51:21.950 when they pierced his side? 51:22.870 --> 51:23.830 Were you there 51:23.830 --> 51:24.570 when he rose? 51:25.190 --> 51:26.550 And we're driving in this morning 51:26.550 --> 51:28.430 and we're singing the song and I'm weeping. 51:30.350 --> 51:31.290 I'm weeping. 51:31.430 --> 51:33.710 I'm like, my God, you love me. 51:33.710 --> 51:34.790 You really do love me. 51:36.690 --> 51:38.490 And you really did die for me. 51:38.810 --> 51:39.650 And you begin to 51:40.270 --> 51:41.390 think about this stuff. 51:41.470 --> 51:42.630 You begin to read the scriptures. 51:43.310 --> 51:44.290 How can you not cry? 51:46.650 --> 51:48.150 How can we not weep 51:48.150 --> 51:49.230 when we read the scriptures 51:49.230 --> 51:51.430 of who the Lord is and what he's done? 51:51.890 --> 51:53.650 Have we really become that cold 51:53.650 --> 51:55.950 in our hearts that we read the scriptures 51:55.950 --> 51:58.290 as, oh, okay, I've read this before 51:58.290 --> 51:59.390 so I'm going to read it again. 51:59.750 --> 52:00.090 Why? 52:01.770 --> 52:03.090 Have we really become 52:03.090 --> 52:04.410 that cold as a church? 52:06.290 --> 52:08.410 Have we really become that cold 52:08.410 --> 52:10.150 as a people of God 52:10.150 --> 52:12.030 that when we open up the scriptures 52:12.730 --> 52:14.510 we look at it as a chore? 52:16.330 --> 52:18.130 Well, pastor said I have to pray. 52:18.970 --> 52:20.330 Pastor said I have to 52:20.330 --> 52:20.950 read the Bible. 52:21.670 --> 52:23.350 Okay, well, I'm going to do it now. 52:24.390 --> 52:26.270 Oh, this is very hard for me. 52:26.890 --> 52:28.450 Have we really grown 52:28.450 --> 52:29.870 that cold 52:30.250 --> 52:32.370 and callous in our hearts 52:32.370 --> 52:33.870 that that is our attitude? 52:36.670 --> 52:38.170 Do you see what I mean 52:38.170 --> 52:40.450 that there is very few that are actually 52:40.450 --> 52:42.170 forerunners in our day and age? 52:46.780 --> 52:48.920 I'm not saying this in a boastful way 52:48.920 --> 52:51.100 but you will find certain pages 52:51.100 --> 52:52.640 in the Bible when you flip them 52:53.160 --> 52:54.540 specifically Psalm 27 52:55.040 --> 52:56.380 you will find steer 52:56.380 --> 52:58.860 or tear stains in my Bible 52:59.640 --> 53:01.360 because every time I read it 53:01.360 --> 53:03.340 I can't help but cry. 53:06.500 --> 53:08.360 I can't help but look at the scriptures 53:08.360 --> 53:09.420 and say, my God, 53:13.100 --> 53:14.740 you really do love me. 53:16.760 --> 53:19.040 You really did die on the cross for me. 53:21.680 --> 53:23.480 And when we begin to understand 53:23.480 --> 53:24.660 and we begin to grow 53:24.660 --> 53:26.240 and how much he loves us 53:26.240 --> 53:29.100 it actually propels us to love him more. 53:30.160 --> 53:31.720 And when we love him more 53:31.720 --> 53:33.380 we understand that when he 53:33.380 --> 53:35.040 asks us to do something 53:35.040 --> 53:37.140 we say, yes, Lord, we'll do it. 53:39.620 --> 53:41.260 We'll go to the nations, God. 53:41.420 --> 53:42.840 We'll lay our lives down. 53:43.180 --> 53:44.440 We'll go to the neighbor. 53:44.640 --> 53:45.960 We'll preach the gospel, God. 53:46.080 --> 53:48.580 Whatever you want me to do, I'll do it. 53:49.580 --> 53:51.620 But that comes from a first love 53:51.620 --> 53:53.080 that comes from knowing 53:53.080 --> 53:54.520 that you actually love me, God. 53:54.660 --> 53:57.360 You do actually love me. 53:57.360 --> 53:58.860 I'm broken. What is... 53:58.860 --> 54:01.660 What is there in me, God, that you find so intriguing? 54:02.460 --> 54:03.940 I oftentimes ask the Lord that. 54:04.720 --> 54:06.060 God, what is it in me? 54:06.740 --> 54:08.200 Is it how funny looking I am? 54:09.880 --> 54:11.240 Is it my pants, God? 54:12.380 --> 54:14.240 What is it, God, that you find 54:14.240 --> 54:15.560 so intriguing 54:15.560 --> 54:17.300 that you actually love me? 54:21.050 --> 54:23.350 We love because he first loved us. 54:24.050 --> 54:25.450 Friends, a forerunner 54:25.450 --> 54:27.350 is one who holds dear 54:27.350 --> 54:29.850 to the things that are of the heart 54:29.850 --> 54:32.030 of God. And if you boil it down, 54:32.370 --> 54:33.730 it comes down to two things. 54:34.270 --> 54:35.270 I'm gonna love him 54:35.770 --> 54:37.870 with all my heart, with all my soul, 54:37.990 --> 54:38.950 with all my mind. 54:39.130 --> 54:40.530 And I will put every effort. 54:40.810 --> 54:42.290 I will make every choice 54:42.290 --> 54:45.310 to walk in a first love towards the Lord. 54:45.610 --> 54:46.770 And out of that, 54:47.290 --> 54:49.390 out of that, I shall love others. 54:49.670 --> 54:51.090 And I shall bring them 54:51.090 --> 54:53.670 here where they know the love of God. 54:55.470 --> 54:57.310 The love of God is wide. 54:57.790 --> 54:59.190 The love of God is long. 54:59.410 --> 55:00.590 The love of God is high. 55:00.950 --> 55:02.250 The love of God is deep. 55:02.410 --> 55:04.010 And it'll take us all of eternity. 55:04.470 --> 55:06.110 I said all of eternity 55:06.110 --> 55:07.050 to know it. 55:09.970 --> 55:10.970 Listen to me here. 55:12.210 --> 55:12.910 A forerunner 55:13.390 --> 55:16.130 is one who lives a very unpopular life. 55:16.470 --> 55:17.850 And you're saying, what are you talking about? 55:18.310 --> 55:19.230 A forerunner 55:19.230 --> 55:22.150 is one who lives a lifestyle, a fasting. 55:22.890 --> 55:24.030 That's a forerunner. 55:24.870 --> 55:26.670 You're saying, where'd you pull that from? 55:27.350 --> 55:27.710 Study 55:27.710 --> 55:30.210 the life of John the Baptist. 55:30.730 --> 55:32.370 John the Baptist oftentimes 55:33.710 --> 55:34.230 fasted. 55:36.350 --> 55:38.350 I told you, I'm coming out of the life 55:38.350 --> 55:39.950 of John the Baptist and Jesus. 55:40.430 --> 55:42.410 That's where the perfect model 55:42.410 --> 55:43.870 of a forerunner is. 55:44.510 --> 55:46.050 Not a forerunner, a forerunner. 55:48.370 --> 55:50.250 Some of you caught that, some of you didn't. 55:51.310 --> 55:53.010 Matt's laughing, Matt Kruski's laughing. 55:53.390 --> 55:54.570 You don't want to be a forerunner. 55:54.570 --> 55:55.650 A forerunner right now, man. 55:55.790 --> 55:57.590 Ice is all over us like butter on bread right now. 55:58.070 --> 55:59.670 You don't want to be a forerunner right now, bro. 56:00.990 --> 56:02.150 Help my brothers and sisters 56:02.150 --> 56:03.210 in Jesus' name, Lord. 56:04.030 --> 56:05.070 That they would stay in America. 56:06.410 --> 56:07.690 I got to pray for some of them. 56:07.730 --> 56:09.150 I'm telling you guys, it's awesome. 56:13.350 --> 56:13.690 Jesus 56:14.370 --> 56:16.110 lived a life of fasting. 56:16.570 --> 56:17.250 Did you know that? 56:19.430 --> 56:20.790 Did you know that Jesus 56:20.790 --> 56:22.110 often fasted? 56:22.370 --> 56:23.610 And you're saying, what are you talking about? 56:24.090 --> 56:24.790 Read, just 56:26.010 --> 56:27.670 read that scripture. I believe it's 56:27.670 --> 56:29.930 John 4. Just read that scripture. 56:30.190 --> 56:32.030 It's in John 4, I believe, where Jesus 56:32.030 --> 56:33.450 meets with the Samaritan woman 56:33.450 --> 56:35.330 at the well. I believe it's John 4. 56:38.250 --> 56:40.350 And the disciple, so the scripture 56:40.350 --> 56:41.770 says, I'm quoting it to you here 56:41.770 --> 56:44.010 off my memory. The scripture says that 56:44.010 --> 56:45.950 Jesus hasn't eaten all day. 56:46.750 --> 56:48.250 And the disciples went out. 56:48.870 --> 56:49.890 They went out to do what? 56:49.970 --> 56:50.970 They went out to go get food. 56:51.650 --> 56:52.730 Because they haven't been eaten. 56:54.410 --> 56:55.670 And then Jesus ministers 56:55.670 --> 56:58.030 to the Samaritan woman. The Samaritan woman leaves. 56:58.190 --> 56:59.510 They see Jesus talking to a woman. 56:59.910 --> 57:01.770 And then they come back and the disciples say, 57:01.890 --> 57:03.250 Lord, we 57:03.650 --> 57:05.830 brought you some food. You should 57:05.830 --> 57:07.930 probably eat now, Lord. You haven't 57:07.930 --> 57:10.110 eaten all day. Do you think Jesus 57:10.110 --> 57:11.650 didn't eat all day because he didn't have 57:11.650 --> 57:13.950 the finances to eat? Oh, he had plenty of 57:13.950 --> 57:15.890 finances to eat. Trust me. We oftentimes 57:15.890 --> 57:17.690 look at the Lord as this poor man. Jesus 57:17.690 --> 57:19.530 was actually a wealthy man. Did you know that? 57:20.290 --> 57:21.690 Did you know that? Why? Because 57:21.690 --> 57:23.410 the scripture says that silver and gold is 57:23.410 --> 57:23.650 mine. 57:26.410 --> 57:27.790 Our God ain't poor, friends. 57:30.870 --> 57:31.650 Ding, ding, ding, ding. 57:32.270 --> 57:33.650 We don't serve a poor God 57:33.650 --> 57:35.770 who is scrambling, how am I 57:35.770 --> 57:37.510 going to do this? He's got resources that 57:37.510 --> 57:38.430 we don't even know of. 57:39.950 --> 57:41.570 So they come to him and they say, Lord, 57:41.570 --> 57:43.750 you need to eat. We haven't eaten all 57:43.750 --> 57:45.730 day. And he says, listen. He says, I 57:45.730 --> 57:47.670 have food that you don't 57:47.670 --> 57:48.270 even know of. 57:49.970 --> 57:51.670 I have food that 57:51.670 --> 57:52.830 you don't even know of. 57:55.150 --> 57:55.310 A 57:55.310 --> 57:57.690 forerunner is one who lives a 57:57.690 --> 57:59.130 lifestyle, a fasting, 57:59.490 --> 58:00.790 and is sustained 58:01.770 --> 58:03.470 by the Spirit of God in those 58:03.470 --> 58:05.730 moments. There's grace. I said there is 58:05.730 --> 58:07.230 grace to fast. 58:07.550 --> 58:09.270 But can I also tell you, I shared this 58:09.270 --> 58:11.230 last Sunday, my wife and I have 58:11.230 --> 58:13.190 been living a lifestyle, a 58:13.190 --> 58:15.590 fasting and prayer for 10 years now. 58:15.690 --> 58:17.250 And I said this last Sunday, I'll say it 58:17.250 --> 58:19.030 again. It doesn't become easy. 58:20.350 --> 58:21.150 It doesn't 58:21.150 --> 58:23.050 become easy. It's not that all of a 58:23.050 --> 58:25.150 sudden, oh, I don't need to eat. Okay, 58:25.190 --> 58:27.070 I won't eat. No, it's a choice that I 58:27.070 --> 58:29.010 have to make. But I've learned 58:29.010 --> 58:31.170 that if I'm taking an extended fast, 58:31.390 --> 58:33.150 I've learned that once I 58:33.150 --> 58:35.230 get past day three and I come into 58:35.230 --> 58:37.190 day four of my fast, 58:37.190 --> 58:39.710 all of a sudden there is a grace 58:39.710 --> 58:40.430 for me there. 58:42.250 --> 58:43.370 There is food 58:43.370 --> 58:44.710 for me there to eat 58:45.870 --> 58:47.570 that the world does not 58:47.570 --> 58:48.090 know of. 58:50.890 --> 58:52.510 Once we get past 58:52.510 --> 58:54.510 a certain area, 58:54.790 --> 58:55.910 some of us it could be after 58:55.910 --> 58:57.730 day two. Some of us it could be 58:57.730 --> 58:59.350 after day five. Whatever the 58:59.350 --> 59:01.450 case is, I have found in my life 59:01.450 --> 59:03.270 it's not easy for me to start a fast. 59:03.550 --> 59:05.170 Though I live a lifestyle, a fasting 59:05.170 --> 59:07.010 and prayer. Minimum once a day 59:07.010 --> 59:08.810 or once a week I fast. Minimum. 59:08.950 --> 59:11.010 And I'm not saying that boastfully. That's just 59:11.010 --> 59:13.130 a choice that my wife and I 59:13.130 --> 59:15.090 decided to make if we 59:15.090 --> 59:16.990 want to be a forerunner. Because 59:16.990 --> 59:18.670 when I study and look at the life of 59:18.670 --> 59:21.050 John and Jesus, they 59:21.050 --> 59:23.050 lived a lifestyle of fasting. 59:23.610 --> 59:25.050 They fasted often. 59:25.990 --> 59:27.030 Jesus actually 59:27.030 --> 59:29.170 even said when it came to casting 59:29.170 --> 59:31.170 out devils, he said this 59:31.170 --> 59:32.670 kind comes out what? 59:32.670 --> 59:34.430 Only by prayer and fasting. 59:35.110 --> 59:36.470 Only by prayer and fasting. 59:37.430 --> 59:39.450 That means that when I fast 59:39.450 --> 59:40.970 I'm actually not only 59:40.970 --> 59:42.530 crucifying my flesh 59:42.530 --> 59:44.770 and denying my flesh and bringing it 59:44.770 --> 59:46.950 into submission, but I'm actually 59:46.950 --> 59:48.370 accessing, listen 59:48.370 --> 59:50.970 fasting accesses 59:50.970 --> 59:52.710 the things of the kingdom 59:52.710 --> 59:55.150 of God. That's what fasting does. 59:55.630 --> 59:56.830 It's not a hunger strike. 59:57.370 --> 59:58.830 It's not I'm losing weight. 59:59.910 --> 01:00:01.150 I actually 01:00:01.150 --> 01:00:03.010 access the things 01:00:03.010 --> 01:00:05.210 of God because I'm putting 01:00:05.210 --> 01:00:07.030 to death the things of the 01:00:07.030 --> 01:00:07.390 flesh. 01:00:08.990 --> 01:00:10.990 Which then gives me grace now 01:00:10.990 --> 01:00:13.250 to access a measure of power 01:00:13.250 --> 01:00:14.870 and the things of God 01:00:14.870 --> 01:00:16.910 that were not maybe accessible 01:00:16.910 --> 01:00:18.470 for me until I began to fast. 01:00:21.270 --> 01:00:23.210 Fasting is a forerunner 01:00:23.210 --> 01:00:24.790 lifestyle. Can I tell you 01:00:24.790 --> 01:00:26.410 something else? Prayer 01:00:27.150 --> 01:00:29.250 is a forerunner lifestyle. 01:00:32.390 --> 01:00:34.030 We're coming to a conclusion here. 01:00:34.490 --> 01:00:35.290 In my earlier 01:00:35.770 --> 01:00:37.730 days of when we just came into the ministry 01:00:37.730 --> 01:00:39.170 my wife and I, I heard 01:00:39.170 --> 01:00:41.230 I heard a quote from a man 01:00:41.230 --> 01:00:43.250 who's now graduated and into heaven. His name 01:00:43.250 --> 01:00:44.230 is Lenard Ravenhill. 01:00:45.190 --> 01:00:47.270 Great man of God. I've watched some of 01:00:47.270 --> 01:00:49.110 his teachings. Great man of God. Love that 01:00:49.110 --> 01:00:51.190 man. He said and I hope to meet him 01:00:51.190 --> 01:00:53.250 in heaven. He said a quote that 01:00:53.250 --> 01:00:54.970 impacted my life to this day. 01:00:55.050 --> 01:00:57.290 It's been almost 10 years that this 01:00:57.290 --> 01:00:59.030 quote has impacted me and I began to 01:00:59.030 --> 01:01:01.230 literally build my life. Not necessarily 01:01:01.230 --> 01:01:03.030 around that quote. But I began 01:01:03.030 --> 01:01:05.230 to implement that quote in my life. 01:01:05.690 --> 01:01:06.670 And he said this. 01:01:07.230 --> 01:01:09.130 He said a Christian is only 01:01:09.130 --> 01:01:10.290 as good as his prayer life. 01:01:12.230 --> 01:01:14.710 I said my God, we don't have many Christians then. 01:01:17.150 --> 01:01:19.030 He said a Christian is 01:01:19.030 --> 01:01:20.650 only as good as his prayer life. 01:01:23.010 --> 01:01:25.050 A forerunner is one 01:01:25.050 --> 01:01:27.070 who lives a lifestyle of fasting. 01:01:27.070 --> 01:01:29.110 A forerunner is one 01:01:29.110 --> 01:01:30.670 who lives a lifestyle of prayer. 01:01:31.450 --> 01:01:32.410 Disciplined prayer. 01:01:33.170 --> 01:01:35.250 Not when you want to and when you don't want to. 01:01:35.430 --> 01:01:37.310 It's disciplined. You're bringing 01:01:37.310 --> 01:01:38.330 your body into 01:01:39.270 --> 01:01:41.450 submission, into subjection 01:01:41.450 --> 01:01:43.010 to the things of God 01:01:43.010 --> 01:01:44.970 and you're laying aside time and you're beginning 01:01:44.970 --> 01:01:46.770 to live a disciplined 01:01:46.770 --> 01:01:49.090 life for the Lord. 01:01:52.240 --> 01:01:53.800 That's what a forerunner is. 01:01:54.680 --> 01:01:56.320 A forerunner goes 01:01:56.320 --> 01:01:58.980 before. He's a scout. He prepares 01:01:58.980 --> 01:02:00.740 the way in the midst of all 01:02:00.740 --> 01:02:02.580 that. The forerunner maintains 01:02:02.580 --> 01:02:04.480 and holds the things 01:02:04.480 --> 01:02:06.940 that are dear to the heart of God. 01:02:07.160 --> 01:02:09.080 Even in the midst of chaos 01:02:09.080 --> 01:02:10.560 and many other voices. 01:02:11.460 --> 01:02:12.960 He maintains the things. 01:02:13.160 --> 01:02:15.160 No Lord. You said I have to love you 01:02:15.160 --> 01:02:17.260 despite whatever all the other voices 01:02:17.260 --> 01:02:18.860 are saying. I'm going to walk 01:02:18.860 --> 01:02:20.220 in first love towards you. 01:02:21.880 --> 01:02:24.140 And with that Lord, I am going to learn 01:02:24.140 --> 01:02:25.880 to live a life 01:02:25.880 --> 01:02:27.960 of fasting and prayer. 01:02:29.260 --> 01:02:31.820 I'm basing this out of the life of 01:02:31.820 --> 01:02:34.160 John the Baptist and Jesus 01:02:34.160 --> 01:02:36.400 that were primary examples 01:02:36.400 --> 01:02:38.240 of what it means to be 01:02:38.240 --> 01:02:39.400 forerunners. Jesus 01:02:40.020 --> 01:02:41.700 lived a life of prayer. 01:02:42.040 --> 01:02:43.000 Did you know that? 01:02:44.520 --> 01:02:45.900 Did you know that? 01:02:46.860 --> 01:02:48.200 Can you believe that our Lord 01:02:48.200 --> 01:02:49.060 actually prayed? 01:02:50.320 --> 01:02:51.940 Some of you, this is a revelation 01:02:51.940 --> 01:02:53.000 right now. You are like, really? 01:02:53.800 --> 01:02:56.080 Jesus prayed more often 01:02:56.080 --> 01:02:57.820 than you can even know. The Scripture 01:02:57.820 --> 01:02:59.900 actually tells us that oftentimes 01:03:00.660 --> 01:03:01.920 Jesus with drew 01:03:01.920 --> 01:03:04.020 and for two, three days they couldn't find 01:03:04.020 --> 01:03:05.480 him. What do you think he was doing? 01:03:06.020 --> 01:03:06.760 Playing pickleball? 01:03:09.440 --> 01:03:10.960 What do you think the Lord was doing? 01:03:12.620 --> 01:03:13.840 He was with the Father. 01:03:16.200 --> 01:03:17.440 He was learning. 01:03:17.780 --> 01:03:19.660 He was hearing. 01:03:19.660 --> 01:03:21.160 He was understanding. 01:03:21.720 --> 01:03:23.340 He was a man. 01:03:24.300 --> 01:03:25.320 The Scripture says that 01:03:25.320 --> 01:03:27.520 vehement cries went from 01:03:27.520 --> 01:03:29.200 the Lord and he was heard. 01:03:32.520 --> 01:03:33.820 Friends, a forerunner 01:03:34.340 --> 01:03:35.920 is one who lives 01:03:35.920 --> 01:03:37.540 a lifestyle of fasting and prayer. 01:03:37.620 --> 01:03:39.040 And let me say this. Let me encourage this. 01:03:39.480 --> 01:03:41.500 Let me encourage you before we come to a conclusion. 01:03:42.040 --> 01:03:43.440 This is a lot that I just 01:03:43.440 --> 01:03:45.380 dumped on you and you are like, oh my goodness. 01:03:45.520 --> 01:03:46.700 How am I ever going to get there? 01:03:46.700 --> 01:03:49.240 Can I tell you this is a slow process 01:03:49.240 --> 01:03:49.900 to get there? 01:03:50.420 --> 01:03:52.740 I'm not asking you now you have to start 01:03:52.740 --> 01:03:54.580 beginning the fast minimum once a week. 01:03:55.240 --> 01:03:56.880 Start with what you feel the Lord 01:03:56.880 --> 01:03:57.560 asking you. 01:04:00.480 --> 01:04:02.220 I would say just pick 01:04:02.220 --> 01:04:04.560 one day out of the month 01:04:04.560 --> 01:04:06.100 and just fast for one day. 01:04:06.820 --> 01:04:08.720 Out of the month. Out of 32 days. 01:04:11.460 --> 01:04:12.620 32 days, right? 01:04:14.540 --> 01:04:15.660 Were they listening? 01:04:16.100 --> 01:04:17.200 They weren't listening, huh? 01:04:19.900 --> 01:04:21.540 In Russia, somebody said. 01:04:22.420 --> 01:04:23.400 Yeah, in Russia we have 01:04:23.400 --> 01:04:24.300 15, yeah. 01:04:25.320 --> 01:04:25.980 That's right. 01:04:29.580 --> 01:04:31.120 Start where the Lord is asking you. 01:04:31.180 --> 01:04:32.720 This sounds like a lot. You're saying Igor, 01:04:32.840 --> 01:04:34.580 you're giving us far too much. Do you remember 01:04:34.580 --> 01:04:36.300 I said I'm all about maturing the saints? 01:04:37.800 --> 01:04:39.440 I want to mature more in 01:04:39.440 --> 01:04:41.560 the things of God and as a forerunner 01:04:41.560 --> 01:04:43.680 I want to mature people. I'm saying listen 01:04:43.680 --> 01:04:45.660 come with me. Let me give you a short 01:04:45.660 --> 01:04:47.180 testimony and then we'll come to a conclusion 01:04:47.180 --> 01:04:47.860 about fasting. 01:04:49.760 --> 01:04:50.560 In 2017, 01:04:51.400 --> 01:04:52.440 when I was fasting 01:04:53.400 --> 01:04:54.660 I want to say it was about 01:04:55.680 --> 01:04:57.580 3 days, I think it was about 3 days a week 01:04:57.580 --> 01:04:59.500 I'm trying to refresh my memory. I was 01:04:59.500 --> 01:05:00.880 fasting about 3 days a week. 01:05:01.260 --> 01:05:02.860 Friends, when I began to do that 01:05:03.640 --> 01:05:05.620 it actually expedited 01:05:05.620 --> 01:05:07.100 my growth in the things of God. 01:05:08.500 --> 01:05:08.900 Supernaturally, 01:05:10.180 --> 01:05:11.220 supernaturally, revelation 01:05:11.220 --> 01:05:12.680 started to flow 01:05:12.680 --> 01:05:13.980 from the scriptures to me. 01:05:15.720 --> 01:05:17.060 Just because I said 01:05:17.060 --> 01:05:18.540 Lord, I want to put 01:05:18.540 --> 01:05:20.860 to death the things my belly, 01:05:21.040 --> 01:05:23.140 your silence, you need to lose weight anyways Igor. 01:05:23.660 --> 01:05:24.900 You need to get that six pack 01:05:24.900 --> 01:05:26.400 back Igor. Look, come on. 01:05:26.660 --> 01:05:28.340 And I would bring it into submission 01:05:28.900 --> 01:05:31.020 and by the grace of God 01:05:31.020 --> 01:05:33.220 he gave a spirit of revelation 01:05:33.220 --> 01:05:35.000 and I began to grow 01:05:35.000 --> 01:05:36.980 in the things of God at a far 01:05:36.980 --> 01:05:38.640 faster pace 01:05:39.620 --> 01:05:40.880 than your usual person 01:05:41.600 --> 01:05:43.220 because I chose to fast 01:05:43.220 --> 01:05:44.580 and the Lord honors it. 01:05:45.240 --> 01:05:46.300 It's not a hunger strike. 01:05:47.820 --> 01:05:49.280 And can I tell you something else 01:05:49.280 --> 01:05:50.520 just to encourage you and then we'll pray? 01:05:51.160 --> 01:05:52.700 Oftentimes when I was in the fast 01:05:52.700 --> 01:05:53.700 I got nothing. 01:05:55.340 --> 01:05:57.140 It's only like a month or two later 01:05:57.640 --> 01:05:58.540 that it was like 01:05:58.540 --> 01:06:01.080 oh my goodness. And then the Lord 01:06:01.080 --> 01:06:02.640 says, remember you fasted? I'm like, oh 01:06:03.260 --> 01:06:04.780 alright then this thing works 01:06:04.780 --> 01:06:06.120 let's keep doing it. 01:06:07.500 --> 01:06:09.040 Let's stand on our feet and we'll close 01:06:09.040 --> 01:06:09.420 with prayer. 01:06:12.740 --> 01:06:14.060 Father, we thank you. 01:06:15.460 --> 01:06:16.740 We thank you Lord 01:06:16.740 --> 01:06:18.340 that you 01:06:19.200 --> 01:06:20.460 that you sent 01:06:20.460 --> 01:06:21.900 your servant John Lord 01:06:21.900 --> 01:06:24.480 to go before your son Jesus. 01:06:25.520 --> 01:06:26.640 We thank you 01:06:26.640 --> 01:06:28.380 Lord that John prepared the way 01:06:28.380 --> 01:06:30.200 for your son to come as 01:06:30.200 --> 01:06:31.700 the sacrificial lamb 01:06:31.700 --> 01:06:34.320 of God. And we thank you father 01:06:34.320 --> 01:06:36.900 that you are inviting us 01:06:36.900 --> 01:06:37.580 this morning. 01:06:38.520 --> 01:06:40.040 You're inviting us Lord 01:06:40.040 --> 01:06:41.820 this local body here this morning 01:06:42.040 --> 01:06:44.400 to engage in a forerunner 01:06:44.400 --> 01:06:46.280 ministry and in a forerunner 01:06:46.280 --> 01:06:47.820 lifestyle and vision 01:06:48.320 --> 01:06:49.840 to prepare the way 01:06:49.840 --> 01:06:51.660 for your son to come 01:06:51.980 --> 01:06:54.040 as the bridegroom, as the king 01:06:54.040 --> 01:06:56.200 as the Lord almighty. 01:06:57.300 --> 01:06:58.360 We thank you Lord 01:06:58.360 --> 01:07:00.480 we thank you Jesus 01:07:00.480 --> 01:07:03.020 that you yourself are a forerunner 01:07:03.020 --> 01:07:04.420 and you have gone before us 01:07:04.420 --> 01:07:06.760 to prepare a way for us Lord 01:07:06.760 --> 01:07:08.940 in eternity where we could 01:07:08.940 --> 01:07:09.780 be with you Lord. 01:07:11.120 --> 01:07:12.400 Father, we love you 01:07:13.000 --> 01:07:15.080 and we ask Lord that you would grace 01:07:15.080 --> 01:07:16.380 us. Give us the grace 01:07:16.920 --> 01:07:18.180 to walk this thing out. 01:07:18.940 --> 01:07:20.080 Give us the mercy 01:07:20.780 --> 01:07:22.100 and the ability Lord. 01:07:22.920 --> 01:07:24.780 As you said to the apostle 01:07:24.780 --> 01:07:26.380 Paul, you said my grace 01:07:26.380 --> 01:07:28.820 is sufficient for you in your weakness. 01:07:29.180 --> 01:07:30.780 Lord, we are recognizing 01:07:30.780 --> 01:07:32.760 that we are weak and broken 01:07:32.760 --> 01:07:34.720 people and we're asking you 01:07:34.720 --> 01:07:37.000 that you would grace us, that your grace 01:07:37.000 --> 01:07:38.460 would be sufficient for us 01:07:38.460 --> 01:07:40.800 to walk this thing out to obey you 01:07:40.800 --> 01:07:42.220 in what you're asking us to do. 01:07:43.320 --> 01:07:44.940 We ask that we would forever 01:07:44.940 --> 01:07:46.940 walk in first love towards you 01:07:48.240 --> 01:07:49.400 and that we would love 01:07:49.400 --> 01:07:50.960 our neighbors from that Lord. 01:07:52.480 --> 01:07:54.480 Give us a new and fresh revelation 01:07:54.480 --> 01:07:55.400 of your love. 01:07:57.300 --> 01:07:58.980 I said give us a new 01:07:58.980 --> 01:08:00.940 and fresh revelation 01:08:00.940 --> 01:08:03.160 of your love. That when we open the scriptures 01:08:03.160 --> 01:08:04.340 even today God 01:08:05.040 --> 01:08:06.660 that when we open the scriptures 01:08:06.660 --> 01:08:08.600 we would begin to just weep. 01:08:10.420 --> 01:08:12.480 That we would once again weep 01:08:12.480 --> 01:08:14.520 when we read the scriptures. That we would not have 01:08:14.520 --> 01:08:16.400 a cold and callous 01:08:16.780 --> 01:08:18.400 heart when we look at the scriptures 01:08:18.400 --> 01:08:20.580 as a chore but we would look 01:08:20.580 --> 01:08:22.820 at it as my God. You love us. 01:08:22.940 --> 01:08:23.980 You really do love me. 01:08:26.240 --> 01:08:27.780 Grace us with that Lord. 01:08:27.920 --> 01:08:29.420 In Jesus name 01:08:30.400 --> 01:08:31.040 Amen.