Hillsong Church - Chris Hodges

[Music] this money we're getting some praise so come on I close my eyes I close my eyes and colors fly but there's no hiding from your grace I can't deny you're my son relaxation was only enough to stash I think check [Music] [Music] [Applause] [Music] hi is calling me but fathers hi it's picking me and I can't I don't wanna my heart before [Music] supposed to be freedom [Music] all of you guys sounds good [Music] [Music] No [Music] Amen welcome welcome to chats everybody well we're we're on the precipice of a massive week with Hillsong conference do you like that word precipice [Music] you know just this morning we want to put Jesus right at the center of our meditation and our confession and there's a church I just thought it would be awesome if we were just to just to lift up a shout of praise just to give Jesus glory in this place come on with your mouth with your hands come on thank you Jesus we have faithfully we are flexible mari we give you glory we humble ourselves this [Music] oh yeah [Applause] [Music] which as you see the passion of a stadium merci good [Music] the cross the leaves no question the measure of his come on Eve back for this morning you see church grouchy [Music] these days [Music] yeah Oh [Music] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] cry [Music] see [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] this is [Music] heeey [Music] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] these two [Music] No [Music] see these steam stander watches Giants for come on she was he he sons for my feet be afraid you don't [Music] be still my heart [Music] so be still in trust trust [Music] [Applause] [Music] what's-his-face [Music] I won't be afraid before come on chance [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] surely love [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] what [Music] [Music] [Applause] would you put your hand Awards all these prayer requests to spoiling we're gonna believe God together Luanne sir pray you'll see some of them come up on the screen but we're gonna combine our faith we're gonna believe God in Jesus name so Lord we just thank you the you answer prayer lord I just thank you the people faithfully write down these requests and you know our petitions you know our requests and Lord we know that our healer a provider the miracle worker love the one who brings freedom and liberty the one who brings life and hope the one who cares about the tiny details of our life is the one that we look to today there's power in your name there is power in your blood there is power in Jesus and we speak life into every one of these situations healing father miracles Lord bring the details together the Beezus see said family save see every situation answered Lord we thank you in Jesus name and a faithful Church said together said together said together let's keep singing [Music] [Music] [Music] mother [Music] he name of Jesus the name the name of which demons tremble and flee haha welcome so nice to have you here this morning and on the edge of history I've got into my heart this week's not just going to be another great conference not even just the best ever conference it's a historic conference it's gonna be a landmark it's gonna be a stake in the ground thank you a stake in the ground it is it's gonna be a one of those moments where you can go back to and say that moment was a beginning it was a beginning from that all these things happen all these miracles happen the way God spoke to you the way that the Holy Spirit ministered to you we're just going to believe for an outpouring of God's Spirit this coming conference and man I'm excited I'm excited it's my 32nd I think is a 32 but whatever it is I'm I'm up for it 33 37 down up anyway it's gonna be great do you like the person you're standing beside do you know the person you're standing beside come on give it a big hello tell them you're glad to be with them in church all right guys [Music] let's give these guys are hitting they're wonderful you know we're living in blessed days and we'd like to thank God for just so grateful for all that God is doing in the life of our church and because right now we're linked online and also with the Church of the air something like 26 or 27 different places around the good old outback here in Australia on farms way up there so amazing and so wherever you guys are welcome to you as well and right now I'll you know ask the most beautiful woman in the room yep a beautiful woman in the room to come and share with us around Oh Gilly Amen church Thank You Brian Houston I was very kind of you how are ya how are you mate are you good hallelujah amen how exciting amazing we're gathering around out giving this morning and it's always my honor to lead us in that and to exhort us in that and I think on the eve like Brian said on the eve of a historic week on a on the eve of a week that affects many others a week that has been affected by your generosity actually I really feel to lead I really feel to just read the scripture of you so you can begin to prepare as you always do if you're new or visiting your guests today feel free to contribute or allow the moment to pass by amen so when are you begin to prepare church can you multitask I mean can you listen and prepare a me and what it's stunning it's the Word of God to us nothing speaks louder and clearer and more precisely than the Word of God so second Corinthians 9 says remember this whosoever whoever so sparingly will also reap sparingly and whoever sows generously will also reap generously each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give not reluctantly or under compulsion for God loves a cheerful Giver and God is able what is he he's able and God is able to bless you abundantly so that in all things at all times having all that you need you will abound in every good work now he who supplies seed to the sower to whom and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will incur and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness you will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion and through us your generosity will result in Thanksgiving to God this service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of the Lord's people but it's also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God because of the service by which you have proved yourselves others who others will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ and your and for your generosity and sharing with them and with everyone else and in their prayers for you who you their hearts will go out to you because of the surpassing grace that God has given you thanks be to God for His indescribable gift isaiah at the end of Isaiah it says God says heaven is my throne earth as my footstool so what kind of house will you build for me and where shall my resting place be and I really feel the Lord Jesus Christ would say to you Hillsong Church the vast vast majority of you who are so committed and so generous and heart and soul and everything that all of us say thank you you're making a difference and you're making the house of God on the earth beautiful may I pray for you Amy why don't you hold your gift in your hand hallelujah so Heavenly Father we thank you for this week and all that it represents we thank you that we actually get to be a part of it and further as we honor you this morning with our tithe our honoring our firstfruits rather as we bring the the substance of our lives to you father god our prayer our prayer is that your bless every home and household and that father God your house on this earth shall continue to respond to your glory in Jesus name and everyone said amen you're the best church thank you always and forever for your kindness your generosity oh man our host is serving us and as we do that we're going to look to the screen and see exactly what's coming up here man everyone say Amen Amen you're the best [Music] [Applause] [Music] the first time I heard it I just had this overwhelming feeling to break it down [Music] hopefully other people have that same reaction [Music] do you get believe this move in the judge it was 2009 when I came to my first Hillsong conference and I came injured needing some healing needing to be refreshed and I got so much more than I bargained for I thought I was coming for one thing but God kept opening up other opportunities more understanding I'm telling you if there's any way for you to do it get to Hillsong conference 2018 because you might be coming for one thing but I can promise you there is [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] you might be going through there are people in these fields who are dying and heard disparate and they need the grace and the message that is on our lives if you don't allow it to stop you and you keep going forward you can enter into the newness and the goodness that God has for you you've got a power to help other people and to reach out to other people God can give you so much there is more [Music] [Applause] so firstly big hi to our entire church up and down and around the country over to Perth and of course barley as well we're glad that Bali's part of our Australian family when it comes to Hillsong Church I'm looking forward by the way in December they're coming for the first time to Hillsong bali so that's pretty exciting I mean it's a blitz it's suffering to go up there isn't it I mean it's you know that's you wouldn't do it unless there was a good reason to but I am looking forward to listen we are on the edge of I've just been telling the congregation here hills of a historic week of God into my heart this week is actually going to be a stake in the ground a marker a moment when it just defines so many people's future direction and spiritual life a Holy Spirit that's just going to do amazing things and so yes not even just you know the best conference ever it's going to be literally history making history defining change direction of things take us gonna be like a god shift like a god shift this conference so I'm excited about it and listen if you're Melbourne Sydney Perth Queensland why don't you come be spontaneous not enough spontaneous continuity in people's lives just do something crazy is that you know what we're just gonna go we're just gonna go we're gonna drive we're gonna hitchhike we're gonna walk we're gonna run we're gonna be cliff Young is that what his name was to go in the gumboots who ran all the way from Sydney develop and we're gonna we're just gonna get there don't worry about your boss he or she'll be fine just tell him to call me and why don't we all get into what the Holy Spirit is gonna be doing it's gonna be amazing and I really really don't want to see anyone miss out and I have crab this year's well up on recent years which is fantastic whole other people coming with the still room for you so young and free Hillsong kids Hillsong conference and then in the evenings starting Tuesday night we're gonna have incredible night service we'll all our guest speakers the opening of course is Tuesday night and we would love you even if it's impossible for you to get there in the daytime to get to as many nights as you can every night one of the guests because the first night we're gonna start with the most amazing opening it's a collaboration collaboration of Hillsong London Hillsong Sydney putting this together it's gonna be amazing cause on that night as well we got the full Hillsong UNITED band who's going to be leading worship that night and I'm holding my time holding my tongue it's the new me said you me given up sledging people why so there's gonna be an amazing conference notice in the night times you all we'd love you to come but this year there's no overflow we'd decided we're not doing an overflow this year every person will be in the building and because of that then evenings are $20.00 to come for a night ticket come all week at the night times a you know this conference over all the years it doesn't pay for itself I don't know whether you realize that all the registrations all the giving it doesn't pay for itself and as a church we're cool with that it's an investment it's not a loss it's an investment it's an investment into the greater church in Australia and around the world and I'm glad that we can do it I'm glad we can do what maybe others can't do when the party comes to town but that's why and it also guarantees you a seat inside the arena ok so they're going fast the night tickets are going fast so get in and decide when you're going to come choose their nights are best night to start coming because their openings are something else alright and so also for comments one last thing set out nice and early to get there so first night being good otherwise you might miss the opening a little bit really sad so set out early come straight from work whatever we all set to go I reckon we should across the church stand and sing just a shortened version of harder God the young and free beautiful beautiful song come on let's worship Jesus together [Music] for now signatures as harshly as I know how walking by the things go by [Music] my salty [Music] trauma-based a Chavez Bastille of [Music] humor me Oh God because [Music] see no mercy [Music] try [Music] [Music] me [Music] [Applause] [Music] come on church will to him I freely give I love insurer his presence day all to Jesus [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] amen [Music] unless they have passed the Chris and his wife Tammy Hodges here today will give big hand in just a moment but not only is Chris an incredible friend of our house obviously he and Tammy incredible friend of our house but also Bobby and I a lot of our key team and pretty remarkable this guy's literally got one of the largest churches and fastest growing churches in America and it comes to conference every year just to sit and just be part of the conference it's the one place he says that it comes to do that which to me is an amazing thing and also the church they're building is revolutionary it's multi-site multi-campus and they they've just got a great great great thing happen Ernie that but pastor Chris Moore amours becoming a pastor to pastors so many pastors around the world leaning in to he and Highlands Church and what they're doing they started in Birmingham Alabama just double checking out the rice city but it is Birmingham Alabama and then a spread all over from there why don't we give them cross Hillsong Chester biggest biggest welcome we by the way while he comes will he come pewds congratulation to Melvin greater West on your new lease warehouse sorry come on give Jesus a great praise everybody come on that's not good enough come over here Jesus what do you really deserve stay standing for a moment at every location you want to get Melbourne a big congratulations come on further and you come on their new location god bless you guys all the locations joining us they just told me there are 30 30 locations joining us right now 88 services do you guys realize what God is doing among you I think sometimes you're so close to it you forget that you are a prevailing Church that is that it's really a church that that all of the other churches around the world are talking about singing your music can we give God praise for what he's done come on right here come on that's not good enough come on really thank God [Music] [Applause] and let me say to I that I had not only count pastors Brian and Bobby some of my closest ministry friends but uh men you're a hero to me I actually actually just did a message for our college graduation where I talked about the seven people that impacted my life over these is thirty five years of ministry now and Pastor Brian you are one of those people you're one of the seven people that is honestly and I'm grateful to God for you come on thank God for your pastors yeah and I hate to name names cuz there's so many people here that are great friends but pastored Joel and Julia you guys I love you with all my heart I'm so good to be home here my second home at Hillsong and I do come I came my first year was in 2008 I've only missed one conference since 2008 and this is the place that continually feeds me I'm I'm honored to be a speaker this year but I would come if I weren't a speaker because this is an amazing place come on one more time thank God for what he's doing all right yeah okay give somebody a high five next to you telling look like you've been losing a little weight come on tell them just tell them you're looking skinnier yeah have you lost weight have you lost weight I think you have by the way if you want to say something nice to me that's my favorite thing to hear Oh Pastor Chris looks like you've lost a little weight it's never true but I love hearing it so anyway in fact I said ago this is a true story on this is not just to be funny I set a goal this year to lose 20 pounds over the course of 2018 we're halfway through the year only have 30 pounds to go come on somebody so we are well on our way so anyway there is more anyway so yes I took it literal so yeah you got to love the conference theme everybody there is more how many believe God there's God has more for you you really believe that I do too and I want to speak to you for a few moments we're kind of get conference started just a little bit because I want to speak on that topic I want to give you a challenging word today because I really believe there's a reason why God would want you to have more at that I truly believe that that he gives he only gives more to those who will steward what he did pastor Bobby read that when she said that God supplies seed to sewers so in other words God has more but he's not given the same more to everybody he's giving to those who know what to do with it we're gonna talk about that just a little bit open your Bibles to John chapter 4 it while you do let me introduce my wife who is traveling with me it's a miracle honestly that she's with me on this trip because we are now grandparents everybody and we're the grandparents at raise your hands grandparents grandparents there you are hey for the rest of you who aren't grandparents don't kill your kids better ones are coming come on everybody just let them live so anyway that's advice for you anyway it's just awesome in fact I think we brought a picture up there here's to my grandson's there they are look at them that was actually Easter Sunday the little Jackson and Andy my little red head on the right and and but we have another one that was due on July 9th first the first day of conference and so I started praying God let that baby come early and I'm happy to announce come well show the picture there he is right there so my wife Tammy y'all give her a hand everybody my wife Tammy's with me because that baby came two weeks early it's a little miracle baby in so many ways I wish I could tell you that story but it's amazing John chapter 4 is where we're gonna go and I am gonna give you a very challenging word today because I believe that you as a church have been entrusted something very spectacular and I think with to whom much is given much is required you have to steward what you've been given very very well so I want to share this with you in fact it's one of my most passionate topics that I can teach on it's I deeply love seeing people come to know Jesus as their Lord and Savior and I really believe that God wants to mobilize his church to be more light more salt on the earth today can I hear a good amen in John chapter 4 I'm gonna read you the end of a story that most people preach on if you remember before we're gonna start in verse 27 Jesus and His disciples one of the few times where they ever separated the disciples had gone on an errand and Jesus wanders over to a well obviously because he was thirsty and there at the well was a woman who was a Samaritan and Jesus strikes up a conversation which by the he was not supposed to do and their culture men did not talk to women because honestly in that culture at that time they actually would have thought that men were better than women and so you just wouldn't do it and then Jesus smashes right through that gender barrier to talk to this woman and then of course there was a racial tension between Jews and Samaritans and and gee they wouldn't have talked to each other and Jesus smashes right through that racial barrier in that wonderful how awesome our God is and so he talks turning and basically if you'll read the text he basically says I can give you water well you'll never thirst again and it strikes up her interests and then they start talking about family a little bit he says are you married she goes no and he goes that's right you've actually already been married five times and you're shacking up with somebody right now you know they you're living with somebody that's not your husband and she says sir I perceive us without to be a prophet like you just read my mail and I don't know how you did that and and she writes she realizes that she's in the presence of greatness in fact she realized that realizes that probably she had found the Messiah the one they've all been waiting for and then the Bible picks up there that's what I want to pick up the text because it's it's very interesting and you'll have to forgive me I have a sense of humor I see funny things in scripture that most people don't see as funny so just play along a little bit but the Bible says that that just then the disciples returned so imagine this is the well and there's Jesus and so the disciples coming perhaps sir over from this direction and they have groceries in hand I don't know whatever they were doing and they walk up and the Bible says they were surprised to find him talking to the woman for the reasons that are already I already told you but then John does something he of course he's writing this text after it happened and he's gonna do he's gonna do something that whenever you've ever if you ever written a story you don't do this you just is not how you write because he's going to mention some things now that didn't happen so huge ever telling a story you don't say hey by the way this didn't happen but John's gonna do that and he's only doing that obviously because he wish they would have happened he's right he's writing it in hindsight because he says next in the text look at it on the screen no one asked so when they walked up no one asked Lord what do you want is there anything I can get you I've been on campus today at the hills campus for a couple hours now and I've been asked that a hundred and fifty times by your team because Chris can we get you anything no fine how about something to drink well no that kind of fill in the category of everything's fine no I'm fine it's all good what about a coffee well no that fall you know like no I'm fine you know so but it's just what you call courtesy it's just it's just being nice and John says we forgot to do that the question is why does he add that as a detail and he's adding it as a detail because he's trying to even teach us something in that detail you do realize there's not one detail in scripture that there's that's there by accident there so there's a lesson in at all he says no one asks no one asks what do you want and no one else asks why were you talking to the woman so if you're a disciple and they were and Jesus is a rabbi and a teacher and he is whenever you see something you don't understand that your teachers doing you ask that's what you do and John says we forgot to do that too the question is why is he including those details in the text and why are they important and they're important because the disciples in that moment didn't care what Jesus wanted he didn't care of what he was thinking at that moment they were only thinking of themselves in the point I'm trying to make is if they can miss that kind of a moment and miss some things being right there with Jesus how much more perhaps could we it's just a thought and in verse 28 the Bible says that then she leaves the water her water jar there at the well and the woman goes back to her town now the town's not another city the towns of village around the corner because she's going to come right back in a matter of minutes so she goes back to her town and says to the town people come see a man who told me everything I did I think I found the Christ could this could this be him and so they the townspeople came out of the town and make their way toward him so imagine now here's the well this table Jesus and the disciples are standing here now and now there's a pile of people my mind pictures about fifty people that are coming out of the town with this woman in front going there he is come on right over here so so just you have to see that because now a town a hotel is coming toward toward Jesus in the next verse is going that's funny to me so just play along alright because then meanwhile so while the town is coming toward G and the disciples the disciples urged Jesus hey rabbi let's go to Burger King are y'all following that everybody are seeing this she's kind of funny to me that they want to go get something to eat with the hotel with the hotel people coming out and Jesus Jesus does something now that he often does and that is when you bring up a topic like they brought up food he'll now use that topic as the metaphor to teach a spiritual truth so they bring up food so he says no no guys I have food to eat that you know nothing about now see now you know what that means I hear somebody going yeah yeah that's right that's right cuz because you understand that but but again I see humor in Scripture notice the next line because the disciples then said they said to each other could someone have already brought him food did you already eat you were supposed to wait till we got back all right are you also seeing how they're missing they're missing it totally all right so so Jesus tries round number two and he says no no guys my food is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his say the next word out loud finish his come on you can do a little louder finish his I love to eat guys but there's work to do I would love to go eat that Burger King sounds fine but there's work there's a town coming there's work to do and here's the point I'm trying to make and that is we've got to be very very careful very very careful that we don't get so inwardly focused that we miss moments we got to be very very careful that that there could be a whole town ready to to know God but we kind of get trapped in the gravitational pull to selfishness it's there because Jesus says something next that I think is just monumental I think it's huge he says do you not say for months more and then the harvest that was a colloquialism to basically say I don't want to do something but it was a procrastination statement and he says I tell you come on say the next three words out loud every voice I tell you open your come on one more time I tell you open man I just wish you could see what I see she just said I just if you could see the town if you could see it he isolates the problem that I think most most churches have most believers have and that is that we don't see what Jesus see as you can tell I'm wearing glasses I'm 55 I just turned 55 a few few days ago by the way and but for most of my life well into my 40s I was like I had perfect eyesight before the end of my 40s I was actually at a football game watching my boys play football and us and my sister who's with me today she was she saw me squinting as I was trying to read the names on the back of the jerseys so she hands me her glasses and like my whole world came in high-definition again it was amazing and and so so I went to the eye doctor and I'd never been before it's strange experience by the way and I won't go into the whole thing but it's very strange if you've not been before but one of the things that struck me is already know what really what my problem is and that is I can see the dust on my iPad I can't see you I have lots of Far issues all my issues aren't around here they're around there they're out there out there so I already know what he has to fix he comes back in this is a true story he comes back in he says he says well we got you figured out I'm thinking wow so cuz this is your job I mean so anyway I said he says oh you're near-sighted and I said no sir you got it all wait you're completely backwards I got the near stuffs totally fine I got far issues all my issues were out there he goes no that's what we call it and I thought this is the only medical profession who names your condition for what you're good at I mean it's backwards it's wrong I mean it's like going to the doctor with a broken arm and he says well your legs work I mean it's backwards that's not how you say it but anyway he says no no that's what we call it I literally learned I did not know that they called your condition when you have far issues they call I didn't know that I learned that day I remember driving out of the doctor's office though and I thought you know what the nearsightedness is not just a physical medical condition see what nearsightedness is is that I can see things that are close to me and when I can only see things that are close to me I'm only concerned of the things that are close to me I don't even feel responsible for that which I cannot see so I'm nearsighted it's it's a spiritual condition I personally believe sometimes the church can be spiritually nearsighted but in fact you you can tell when you're spiritually nearsighted really best way is by your prayers because if God answered all your prayers would it changed the world or just change you I know that that wasn't nice but anyway that's so but it's true because a lot of times I don't know if this is you but a lot of my prayers are just what's it's my life my wife my church my car my my city my my this close and Jesus says I need you guys to see a town I need you to see people I need you to open your eyes you're worried about lunch I'm thinking about a town open up your eyes and see the harvest if you would ask Jesus what do you see if you if you if you could see the world through the lens of what Jesus sees I'm telling you what he would say is I see the lost I'm in fact I think he would even say it this way I'm distracted by that which is lost I don't know if he lost something of value to you like if you ever lost your wallet or your your watch if you ever lost something of value to you you don't do an inventory of your found things it's like if you're late if you're lost your wallet you don't get where there's my couch you don't do that right all you can think about is is what is lost and I'm telling you you can go read it for yourself we don't have time to study it today but in one single chapter of the Bible in Luke chapter 15 Jesus talks about the lost sheep lost coin lost son three stories in one chapter you can read it in four minutes and in all three stories he says to the crowd I can only think about not my found things but I'm distracted by the thing that is lost I can think about is the loss actually I'm lost one of my kids once and I know it's kind of funny now but it wasn't funny then but I have five kids and and I know that's a lot I don't know where the line is but we crossed it you know what I'm saying that's a lot and I always get a reaction to with five kids and I always tell people I have five kids because I like it I have five kids got like my wife come on somebody but anyway a different conference we'll come back to it all right about it but we are youngest we have a daughter than four sons and my youngest son is autistic he's on the autism spectrum and we were actually on a vacation a holiday in Vail Colorado we were just doing skiing for a few days and and we decided of the last day that we were just gonna hang out in the village and just you know go through the shops and not ski for a day and we were traveling with a couple other families and and so anyway there are 20-something of us kind of trying to stay together as a group best we could and we started the day going into a Starbucks coffee to get a coffee and my youngest Joseph my little autistic guy goes into the toilet and this doesn't tell anyone and we had just finished getting our orders and so we were leaving as he was going in but again no communication was taking place and because there were so many of us we didn't even recognize that he didn't walk out with us but we literally came out of the Starbucks and we'd went to the next store down the I mean literally the connecting store was a was an ice cream store we were gonna eat our way down the street and it and so so we'd gone in there but when Joseph comes out and he doesn't see us he actually goes in the other direction this has happened to be at that time a pretty dangerous place in fact just that week a 14 year old girl named Heather was abducted from that village and they found her dental remains in the mountains and I we were hit as soon as we noticed Joseph's missing my mind goes to that story and I'll tell you I freaked out I'm freaking out freaking out and I look at everyone I say where's Joseph Joseph Smith sing everybody and like we had pre-planned that everybody went in to 20 different directions looking for Joseph I find a security guard he's leaning up against the building with his arms folded and I frantically go up to him and say sir sir sir you've got to help me my my little boy Joseph Smith Singh you've got to help me find him he's about 12 years old he's got little reddish brown hair you got and he never unfolded his arms it just stood there and he says too because he does what did you look the last place you saw him can I confess my sins in church everybody like my brother you're the one with the gun in the radio help a brother out help me out I need some help here listen to me and I was irritated by his inactivity because something of value was missing to me I couldn't get him motivated to what was important to me in that moment now this didn't happen but can you imagine that during the search one of my other children came up to me is like hey daddy hey daddy what's for dinner tonight that's a great question if joseph´s not missing it's a horrible question if Joseph Smith see and can you imagine perhaps maybe what our prayers might sound like to God sometimes hey Heavenly Father Heavenly Father really you want to talk about that with five billion people who are lost right now that's that's what you want to talk about come on is this okay to talk like this I'm telling you he's he's distracted by that which is lost and there was never a moment during looking for Joseph that I thought I have for others eighty percent ain't bad you know like I you know you don't know you don't think that in fact I didn't even care about mother for all I wanted was Joseph and if solely it was it was twenty five grueling minutes in fact I saw him first he crossed this little stone bridge over a little creek I'll never forget it's this branded in my mind this is this little stone bridge and he was his little red his face was red from crying so much and he was just looking side to side because you really can't communicate that well just frantically looking for someone and I yell of him Joseph I mean he looks up and it just makes this mad dash to me daddy daddy where were you I said son I've been looking for you all this whole time I'm so sorry I'm so sorry and I'm telling you Pastor Brian I'm a different pastor ever since that moment I tell this story in every one of our membership classes I tell the story of Joseph and I say look if you're looking for a church that could only just takes care of you and your needs you found the wrong one I mean we'll do everything we can to bless you we're trying to but that but we will do anything short of sin to reach as many people as we can because Joseph come on somebody Joseph is missing we've got to find we've got to find Joseph and I so I'll just tell him in the membership class if you don't like that if you're looking for a church that just kind of Saul about you you you really found the found the wrong one and I really believe I really believe that God has given supernaturally more to you guys here at Hillsong Church and I want you to steward it will because he'll continued to supply seed and ideas and songs come on in sermons and leaders and churches and campuses all across the world as you keep your eyes on what God is focused on and that is the law so I wanna give you three things said I think we need to make sure we never lose sight of three things if you're a note-taker jot these down or screenshot at there's three things I want you do first thing you have to open your eyes to where they are to where they are me meaning that that God God Oh God is at work in a way that a lot of you don't even realize that God is actually creating what I call divine intersections he you don't even know he's doing this but he's he's making your paths cross people's paths on purpose he really is in fact the Bible says in Psalms that the steps of a righteous man are ordered of the Lord in fact in Proverbs it says that God will determine your steps you don't even know this is going on but God God is creating intersections and if you're not conscious of it and looking out for it let me tell you what will happen and that is you'll miss it you'll you'll miss moments you'll have a whole town coming out towards you and you'll want to go have lunch you'll miss moments if you don't realize and open your eyes to could this be a relationship that God created on purpose could this could this be someone that I really need to need to just kind of just share faith with or just share love with and just help this person and some it could this be because the can there's this gravitational pull you leave me alone I take care of me I'm thinking about me there not too long ago I was I was traveling from Birmingham Alabama Sweet Home Alabama to Cincinnati Ohio caught changed planes went from Cincinnati to Boston to speak for a friend and I had to get off the plane and speak so I'm kind of tired and and the guy that was travelling with me didn't get the seat next to me I don't know why that happened but anyway so I've got this this empty seat I just boarded the plane I'm kind of tired and my thought was if I'll go ahead and get a nap posture whoever this mystery person is won't won't bother my sleep leg we won't talk to me the whole time so I thought let me go ahead and get get in that posture now before they show up in that Godley everybody and so anyway so so I'm leaned up against the window kind of faking sleep while the planes boarding and this guy comes in in this business suit white starched white shirt just he plops down and in the seat so this is my god but I'm trying to try this to just act like I'm asleep I'm not yet and he literally when he sat down he pushed my arm off the armrest you know the shared armrest I know and and and so I can't say anything because I'm faking sleep but I got to let him know that ain't cool and so I just like this like and that was that's code for a stop that ain't right you know so so the so the plane takes off this is a true story I just nodded off and the guy elbows me in my ribs real hard and I set up a kind of startled me like what what's up what's up he goes so what do you do for a living okay are you serious and when you get asked that question as a pastor you got to decide if you're gonna lie or not you really do it's so hot say well I'm a pastor and this is a true story this guy doubles over starts crying so loud the whole plane can hear it I mean oh man there goes the nap counseling session Oh like alright brah what's wrong what's going on you know and I was really irritated and he and he had just yeah he just buried his best friend in Cincinnati and he was returning from the funeral and he was screaming as loud it's real anyway so I said brevis your name Billy and he's crying and I'm waiting for him to stop so I can say stuff you know cuz yes what he asked for and I'm going through the files trying to find a verse or something you know and a fine one and in 1st Thessalonians 4 it says that Christians greed but not like that is it's in the Bible that Christians we grieve we Christians grieve but not like the rest of men who have no hope he he's grieving this bad cuz he has no hope you'll never see him again now we I cry but I get to see him again so I cried differently it's a great verse and so he he stops and I said hey Billy the Bible says and he goes no no no don't go there I said why not he goes I'm Jewish I said Jesus was a Jew he goes alright go ahead I'm not making that up I promise you so try so so I said what the Bible says the reason why you're crying like this is because you never get to see him again he goes right I said well you the Bible says but we don't grieve like this because we have hope and he says well how do you get the hope I mean he put that ball on the tee if you can't hit that you can't play you know what I'm saying I mean so I explained I explained the gospel to him all the way to Boston and it is a great conversation so we're actually walking off the plane I never thought about closing the deal I just thought well I got him close you know he'll it'll happen later perhaps so I said I Billy good talking to you man he goes no no no you can't leave me till I get the hope I'm like well brother you gonna have to confess Jesus as your Lord he goes I'm ready and he knew enough to grab my hands like Cletus close his eyes in the middle of the terminal I'm like alright let's go for it you know so I mean people everywhere two guys holding hands and I just you and Billy from Boston right there in the middle of that Airport confessed Jesus says his lord it was the most beautiful thing and he goes oh you're right I have hope I said I told you and they're good he goes man this is good stuff I mean he was so yes also come on give Jesus the praise for that it's awesome so I gotta get going listen but but he goes man I gotta I gotta give you something like no man there's a verse that says it's free I can't charge you you know it's this is free stuff and he goes no no I got a look I'm very very wealthy I gotta do something boy I got I've got a hell I've got to do something I said no that's not how this works he goes look I have a great good friend who who's a major league baseball player a hall-of-famer he says I can I can give you some hand son baseball cards he goes how many boys do you have I said four he goes almost seen you four can I send you four baseball cards I said alright man send me your cards you know and and they're actually worth some money you know and so anyway he sent to me and and by the way I've never given them to my boys so there you go so kind of feels good to get that off my chest in church anyway but anyway I haven't but I am three of them I filed one of them sits on my desk at home I see it every day Pastor Brian every day reminds me Chris don't take naps look out for people it reminds me every day that I've got I've got to open my eyes to where people are can I hear a better amen everybody you - you've got a it just reminds me second thing you would need we need to open our eyes - we need to open our eyes to who they are because if you're not careful people will give you a reason to look at them the wrong way because there's so many mean people out there you know and I mean I heard dr. Cho who teaches on the Lord's Prayer you know of Seoul South Korea he was teaching he teaches the Lord's Prayer where every element of the prayer is an outline for prayer and he goes in he's on the forgiveness part forgive us as we forgive others and he never forget this he goes every day I forgive so many people because I hate so many people you know I uh I'm with you brother I think we met the same people anyways I don't like him either you know so that's funny but but if you're not careful listen listen listen if you're not careful if you're not careful you'll see people the wrong way and the Bible says in Matthew 9 that when Jesus saw the crowds notice the language when he saw that he had to look at them the right way when he saw the crowds he didn't see them as a problem he saw them harassed and helpless like sheep without a shepherd you have to train your eyes you got to go through life and know don't let them give you the surface reasons not to like them you have to open your eyes to who they are here's the third one and that is you have to open your eyes to what they need and there's great confusion I want to close with this thought there's great confusion in the church right now on what people need and if you've been around the church world for a while you probably heard but I call the two brands of Christianity they're out that are out there and in themselves neither one of them are right because you have a whole set of Christianity that is happy to tell you everything you're doing wrong and and and they're kind of truth focused and they will get in your face with truth and technically and I watch this technically they're right but it's it's it's right it's just not complete and sometimes you can be right and not be helpful I had a pad of a store owner I went to get somebody gave me a gift certificate to get a suit made I've never had never had one but I went into scalar and when I walked in here Hindu gods all over the wall just these and anybody I don't let it bother me I thought I thought he was a delightful little man you know just we talked and laughed I was in there for two hours he measured stuff I didn't know that mattered but anyway he met he just so we were having a great time and and he walked me back out all the way to my car he goes you're very different you're a different pastor I'm like what do you mean what do you mean he goes other pastors have told me my gods are false and that I'm going to hell now in my mind I'm thinking well that's what I believe too you know like I was thinking that but I didn't say it because you can be right and not be helpful and I said I said Ron why don't you just come visit our church sometime I think you'd enjoy it he goes oh pastor I want to because you're so different I want to do listen to me truth without Grace's mean it's mean listen to me grace without truth is meaningless there's a whole nother brand sometimes out there that says all it doesn't matter and just let people be who they are and God accepts everybody and no one needs to change no no that's not true either see grace invites us to be free so the truth can set us free you really have to have both cuz truth and grace is good medicine I'm so passionate about it Pastor Brian doesn't even know this story but in I was here at conference in 2015 I'm in the green room at the hills campus and God spoke to me in that green room to write a book that came out this past October called the Daniel dilemma and I'm not here to promote a book I'm just telling you I wrote this book because I believe that most Christians feel like they're in a dilemma between in this pagan world of what do I do because I believe this but I don't want to turn people off either and what Daniel did so beautifully is he was able to give truth and grace at the same time just like Jesus did and if you want to learn how to do that get the book and find out I'll show you how you can live life you worry I call it issues you can stand firm and love well at the same time you don't have to sacrifice one or the other and that's what Jesus did - the Bible says that the Jesus the word became flesh look at look at the Bible on the screen it became flesh and he made his dwelling among us we have seen his glory the glory of the one and only son who came from the father say this next sound out loud full of grace now notice with me that grace is first but that they're both there grace and truth grace and truth and as the team comes I'll just tell this final Bible story and I was going to show it to you on the screen but for the sake of time I'll just tell it to you because you know the story of the woman caught in adultery and and of course they came with truth the law of Moses says you have to stone this woman and that is true it was that was technically correct just not helpful and so they said what do we do with her and Jesus being so cool he just doodles in the dirt he just the Bible says he just Stoops down and writes with his finger and he says let the one who has no sin be the one who casts the first stone and then the Bible says that he stooped down again and he doodled in the dirt and the Bible says that one at a time one at a time these religious leaders walked away one at a time beginning with the oldest which by the way it begs the question what was he writing and why did they leave one at a time and there's lots of theories out there I have my own if you want to hear it I think he was writing out the names of their mistresses Mary and he walks off you know anybody so Sally yes I don't know so good went in and so I don't know I tell you I see humor in scripture I'm so sorry but then he looks at the woman and he says where are your accusers she said there's there aren't there aren't any he says neither do I can accuse you grace but then he says now go and sin no more truth Matea listen look at me every campus look at my that's what the world needs they don't need just truth that's just but that's mean and they don't need just grace because truths it's free you give them both you let you lead them with grace you invite them with grace so that God can come and change their lives and that's the message I'm convinced that the church world needs to bring to a broken world can you hear a good Amen everybody so uh house I was on another airplane and this Tammy never sitting there and this this girl comes on she boards the plane just like this like obviously was drunk you know she had had some yes sure enough I'm my old father please know God Jim proves pops right there next to me and she goes so what do you do for a living same question and I said well I'm a pastor she goes what duh we're all passengers I said oh no a pastor like of a church and her next line was I don't like Christians and I knew the conscience raised around so I decided to play along I said I said me too girl that's why I had to start my own church she said I don't understand and I explained to her this dynamic that's going on anyway the plane lands she I have to get off she's going on to nashville tennessee she and she says i'm walking off i want more and I said Tonya watch Sunday and I'll look into the camera and when I'm greeting our we have 17 campuses and we were in 19 prisons and I said I'll give you a shout-out she goes you won't I said oh yes I will and sure enough on Sunday like hello everybody all of our locations hey Tonya I told you I'll do it you know just so anyway she wrote me the next day and she goes I finally understand the gospel I'm rich in her salutation was I'm ready to surrender I'm ready to give God my like : there's a whole world out there there won't the truth they won't like open your clothes say what the open your every head bowed every eye closed across this room Father I pray for a Hillsong I pray for every campus at Lourdes campuses all across from Bali to Perth to Melbourne Brisbane got all across this great nation lord I thank you for everyone God let every person under the sound of my voice God just just take what you have given them the more that has been given to this church and leverage it for people to come to faith in Jesus Christ opened our eyes god I pray to these intersections to where they are now let us see people the way you see them and God let us bring the message of grace and truth what they need father thank you God for what you're doing through us and in us we look forward got to an amazing week and we give you all the praise every head bowed every eye closed just for a moment I'm not gonna have you stand up I'm not gonna make you come down to the front at any of the locations but if you're here today say Chris I relate I relate to Tonya that I've been turned off by Christians or Church or maybe you're like Billy and you're going through life without hope and you need some hope in your life today listen to me all you have to do is the same thing that Tonya did and that is surrender you know it to be perfect you don't have to make it all right the Bible says that if you'll just confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and then just believe that it got up out of that grave you'll be saved if you want that today you say Chris I just I just feel far from God I'm carrying my own sin in my shame and it feels heavy to me and and there's something tugging on my heart right now I want to know God can I just pray for you right there where you are and all the locations that the team can come to this stage and help me pray but if that's you today say Chris I want to know God at every location if that's you you want to be included in this prayer come on right now put your hand up as they count me and count me yep anybody else just count me in that prayer just lift at ha all across this room thank you anybody else just just to count me and I'm gonna be a part of that prayer right give Jesus my life fully yep thank you awesome awesome come on at every location all churches pray this prayer together come on every voice say Jesus thank you for dying on the cross and paying for my sin I receive what you did for me forgive me change me come live inside of me and make me the person you want me to be I believe that she rose from the dead you are my Lord and I give you my life in Jesus name we pray amen come on give God a great great praise everybody come on the best you've got [Music] what a message so beautiful what an inspiring inspiring message you guys to be seated for a minute across the church and it really was a fantastic message I got inspired myself on aeroplanes when I tell people what I do from now I'm gonna say you must be born again not really it's that it's great listen and that's what I love by the way that's exactly what he didn't do but if you raise your hand right now cross the entire church we're so glad that you did and we want to give you as we always do a gift from Hillsong Church it's actually a beautiful beautiful magazine formatted New Testament Bible it's beautiful it's really really beautiful it's illustrated you're gonna love it so if you raised your hand someone may see you in the service and bring you a Bible and talk to you but otherwise as you walk out the foyer wherever you are there'll be people there holding up these Bibles you say hey I raised my hand I made that choice women gladly give you the Bible okay so that's right across the church pastor Chris mentioned the Daniell dilemma his book and said he's not here to promote a book but I call out promote your book because people need it people wanna get it in them so it's out there I would encourage to get a copy of this book out of stand firm and love well in a culture of compromise so I know he's a great writer and God use of uses him as a author as well one of these people who can do everything kind of irritating but still it's fantastic it's fantastic and one other thing you know across the church tonight everywhere we have night services we've got pasta Judith Smith Judah Smith not Judith pastor Judah and Smith speaking and it's always great that's always great Judah is a favorite round here the way God's using him and Chelsea is amazing as well so don't miss that will you and you know here at Hills have services of 4:30 in the theatres across there at the epicenter and the theater 5:30 and this building get there nice and early get yourself a good seat all right and so it's gonna be a phenomenal night and we're already in conference mode and so don't miss tonight and hear from one of our favorites Judas Smith is going to be amazing and apart from that we're gonna sing a song where to worship Jesus you're gonna stay couple of minutes and then I'm gonna send you out with a blessing amen so right across the church fantastic is stand listening together whoo - Jesus [Music] what to him a free [Music] his prison snake come on falta Jesus [Music] well to give out free [Music] one more time Oh [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] yeah bezel mother I thank you I thank you that you're working in our lives constantly building us preparing us getting us ready for what's ahead lord I just thank you you do go before your people you come behind them Lord you've got our back and you're also paving the way for our future lord I thank you this week Lord that you are going to do significant things and the lives of your people we thank you Jesus that we are candidates we're open we're ready for all that you have for us bless your people Lord keep them your face is shining upon them we thank you Lord in Jesus name we can trust you with our very lives amen amen amen you be blessed you be blessed see you next time [Music] [Music] [Applause] [Music] aha [Music] [Music] [Music]

Channel: Hillsong Church

Views: 46,705

Rating: 4.8908596 out of 5

Keywords: jesus, hillsong, praise, worship, Chris Hodges

Id: mYZ8fJJTqwk

Length: 87min 57sec (5277 seconds)

Published: Sat Jul 07 2018