Ep. 64 - God In Your Moments

[00:00:00] Speaker A: God has whatever word you want to use. I'm very fine with the word revelation. [00:00:07] Speaker B: Yeah, me too. [00:00:09] Speaker A: Many times when I'm not looking for him. Like many times when I'm got my own agenda caught up in the flesh. Whether it's disappointment or discouragement or whatever it may be. And I'm not just sitting there. Okay, here's my appointment, right. It's 7:15 on this Morning and I'm ready for the appointment. It's in my. It's in every moment. Like it's ensured the baseball story. Like, you know, just like it's. It's in every moment. God's in every moment. And so having eyes to see him. So that when it's, you know, as a pastor and ministry leader and you made all these plans and you're real excited, you have some expectations and it's 3:45 on a Monday afternoon and you're like, well, this is a disaster. Why am I here? And by nine o' clock you're weeping. Thank God you overwhelmed me with your goodness and help me of. Yeah. That you are at work. And so I think that's what I wanted to share is like, man, God's in every moment. He's in every moment. Can we have isis? [00:01:06] Speaker B: Hello fellow travelers. We welcome you again to let's Talk Life, a place where we discuss life and journey together deeper into trust, believing our true identity in Christ. Because Christ is our life today. Our topic, our title and our topic is God in your moments. And so that's where I pass it off to you, Carl, and say, have there been God moments? [00:01:30] Speaker A: Moments, yeah. God in your moments. Our last two weeks have been pretty interesting, Zach, for sure. You know. So what's it been like for you last. Last two weeks? [00:01:42] Speaker B: It's been a very beautiful whirlwind. [00:01:47] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:01:48] Speaker B: Of just so much happening. And I think, I think back to even. You came down here to Florida. [00:01:55] Speaker A: Yes, we were together. [00:01:57] Speaker B: That's right. We were in person. And we didn't even get time to. That's how whirlwind it was. We didn't even have time or Internet where we were or we were too tired. [00:02:07] Speaker A: Right. [00:02:09] Speaker B: Sure. And that's okay. We're totally at rest with that too. But Scott, our friend Scott came down too, even earlier than you did. So I got to spend a day with him and then we all three got to spend a day together. That was at that conference up in Bradenton and got to meet with and spend time with one of our favorite authors, Wayne Jacobson. [00:02:30] Speaker A: What a gift. What a Great afternoon. That was. [00:02:33] Speaker B: That was beautiful. And then just to conclude by just hanging out with them, eating ice cream. [00:02:37] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:02:37] Speaker B: And that was. [00:02:38] Speaker A: That was real special for me because it was like I. You know how much I wanted to be in that sand, put my feet in the water, 80 degrees. It was beautiful. And I was just sitting there thinking this is where I needed to be sitting. You know, five ex pastors sitting around a table and. [00:02:56] Speaker B: Right. [00:02:57] Speaker A: Just talking. No agenda, no. No list of things to talk about. It was just so free. It was so natural. Like. Like the conference was great. Love. [00:03:08] Speaker B: Right. [00:03:09] Speaker A: But man, that was very special. [00:03:12] Speaker B: For sure. We'll talk about God in your moments. Like, I love that you just said it. There was no agenda. I. I said. Because I talked a little bit with. With Wayne on Thursday, a couple days before that too. [00:03:24] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:03:24] Speaker B: And like I told you, there's. When you're talking to him, there's a little bit. There's just like awkward pauses and it. It wasn't awkward. No, because it was just. It was just real. [00:03:34] Speaker A: Right. [00:03:35] Speaker B: And it's like, you don't get that very often with people. Like, in general, you feel like you have to fill the space. So you have to. [00:03:42] Speaker A: Right. [00:03:43] Speaker B: Try to share your story or share this or share that. And it's like, no, we could actually just not say anything and be okay and sure. [00:03:53] Speaker A: And I love. So. So even thinking about God in your moments, like flying in at 12:30 at night and getting to sleep, like after 2, waking up early, getting there and just never even feeling. I mean, not that I can think of, but I don't. I didn't remember being tired. Like, I just. I was rejuvenated spiritually, emotionally. Like, it was just. There's something about being together and being real vulnerable. High trust, relationships on those core values. It just invigorates. And so there's two things I wanted to share that Wayne said, you know, think about God in the moments. Right. And one of the things he said was, trust is not a choice. It's a byproduct of engaging or receiving God's love. And that's something that, you know, we're going to. On at some point in the future because that's just so amazing. Trust is not a choice. It's a byproduct of receiving or engaging God's love. The second one is you can't follow when you're in front. [00:04:54] Speaker B: Yep. Yep. That was so good. [00:04:57] Speaker A: So both those things are like. [00:05:00] Speaker B: Yes. Right, Right. Yeah. [00:05:03] Speaker A: So that was so. That was amazing. Saturday, it was so beautiful. So like, usually I don't like to leave the family for so many nights and. [00:05:11] Speaker B: Right. [00:05:11] Speaker A: I was like, yeah, this is once in a lifetime experience and it was worth it. And just to be around you, man, just to experience life together and to be on these, these, these missions together and driving around Florida and you know, receiving and giving love. Right. To others as we receive it and. Right. That was, that was special being there with you on Sunday with, with the SO groups that you minister to and being able to receive some great stuff from Frank Friedman. It was up to three parts of this journey which led to, to our wild at heart, you know, for pastors and ministry leaders on the afternoon that were guys that you are in fellowship with, in contact with. [00:05:57] Speaker B: Right. [00:05:57] Speaker A: It was kind of, it was kind of special. It was very, very awesome. [00:06:01] Speaker B: Yeah, yeah, it's been so sweet. Just, that was such a huge weekend when I think about it, to connect with two of my favorite authors and like people that I can reach out to. And so they're, they're like mentors as well because they'll actually respond to you and give you, you know, an answer to questions that you might have. And, and just that, that whole culture of just journeying with each other. Frank Friedman's big thing, when he resigned from church, he was asked, what are you going to do now? And he said, my answer actually even shocked me because I didn't know. It just came right from the spirit in me. He just said, I want to be the safest person for other people. Like it's, it's so Wayne Jacobson, just that journey with other people, it was just so beautiful. And if you, and if you talk to Brett here, who's the pastor, and you talk to him about working under Frank for the first couple of years, he's like, he's not, he's not a man that wants to be the safest. He was like the hard nosed legalist. Right. But then he worked under him for seven more years, years later. And that's where Frank really introduced him to this new covenant understanding of who he is. Like, it hit Frank. And so just to see these guys, you know, in their journey and how it's radically changed not just their life, but also the way they minister to others. I can relate to that 100% because my effectiveness even to minister to others now is so much more effective because it's not me trying to produce something, it's me just trusting in the one in me and the one in them to do the work. [00:07:47] Speaker A: Right, right. [00:07:49] Speaker B: Yeah, that's that's so good. [00:07:50] Speaker A: That's so good. Because I think you use that phrase, use this phrase with me. That, that people can get grace, but they don't get identity. [00:07:59] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:07:59] Speaker A: And so they get grace. But. But when it comes to identity, it's kind of like a deeper level of trust. [00:08:06] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:08:07] Speaker A: Of Christ in me. So I like that word produce. Like you mentioned, we could, we could receive and give grace as. As best we can do, but I'm still. And living in the land of self reliance, self sufficiency, you know, trying to produce an outcome which isn't trust. Right. It's exhausting. [00:08:26] Speaker B: Right. Yeah. [00:08:27] Speaker A: And so there can still be manipulation and control. And I. I think it's what God wanted me to do, but. Right. [00:08:35] Speaker B: Right. Well, culturally, it feels like it's the right thing to do. It's. It's the only thing that we knew how to do. And so it just. We assumed it was the right thing. And I think that's just the maturing process. Right. Like there is a process of maturity. Like we just, just like in life, you grow up and you don't crawl the whole. Your whole life. You eventually learn how to walk. You eventually learn how to. To eat solid foods. And it's the same thing in our journey with God. And I think I stayed. I stayed far too long drinking the milk. And that's, that's just the reality. Like there is a point to where we have to step out in faith and to chew on the, the meat. And it's a. It's a delicious steak. [00:09:17] Speaker A: Unprocessed. [00:09:19] Speaker B: Right. So, so good. Such good stuff. So I have. I threw an image up there for you to look at too, Carl, and our shared stuff. And I just shared some, some thoughts that Kyle Winkler's somebody that I've come to know and I'm having him come down here as well in a. In a couple of weeks, actually. To immense to share with us and. But he shares. We've learned to meet with God by appointment, but the early church knew no such divide. Their whole lives were wrapped up in Him. And I just, I love that because Jesus said it. It's the vine and it's the branches. And we talked about that, I think, on our last podcast about this union. And that's exactly what this is. And it's. It's hard to process, but that's the very thing that we are trusting every single day. Right. It's like, will I live from my own abilities and my own effort, or am I going to trust this reality of this union? That I have. And so it changes everything because then I'm not the one that's out there trying to fix everybody. Oh yeah. I'm just, I'm trusting God to do this, this mighty work. But yeah, I don't, I don't know how that resonates with you. I mean, we've talked a little bit about union, of course, but just about this abiding divine, the branches. I mean, he says it, he gives us lists. Always connected, always carried and abiding. And I love this. Abiding is an effort. It's staying where you are. And so I don't know what you, what you think about that, but I have a question as well. [00:10:47] Speaker A: Can you hold on to that question? Yeah, I, I love that. And, and it is so true. We learned to meet with God by appointment. I mean even just, just hearing this morning, someone saying, here's how to get ready for Sunday morning. And it was just like, wait a minute, what are we talking about? There's still this separation. [00:11:09] Speaker B: There is. [00:11:09] Speaker A: Sunday morning is a service, not a gathering of saints. So it's like I have to, I have to teach my kids how to behave on a Sunday morning. That's just like everything I would have said. Everything I would have said. [00:11:27] Speaker B: Me too. [00:11:28] Speaker A: You know, 2019. [00:11:29] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:11:30] Speaker A: And it's just that idea of, of not union at all, but really separation and it shows this illusion of performance based Christianity and. [00:11:38] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:11:39] Speaker A: And so, so even from the youngest of age, right, we, we learned that we got to meet God by appointment with devotional life. And you know, you got to spend quiet times and, and I, and I just, I just love the reality of man. My time with Jesus is all the time. Like, like it's just everywhere. It's every time. And, and yes, there's time to, There is a season or Ecclesiastes, a time to do this, time to do that. But it's not an appointment. It's not an appointment. [00:12:09] Speaker B: Yeah. Well, whatever it is that we're doing, whether it's this or that, it's like we're in union. [00:12:16] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:12:16] Speaker B: We're always in fellowship. We're always close. [00:12:19] Speaker A: Right. So true. And this is what Jesus was trying to get his disciples to understand. Like, hey guys, it is for your benefit that I leave. [00:12:26] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:12:27] Speaker A: Because right now it's external. I'm teaching you from outside. But there's going to be though. I'm going to ask and be the one who comes inside. The helper, the Holy Spirit. [00:12:36] Speaker B: Yes. [00:12:36] Speaker A: He will guide you into all truth. [00:12:39] Speaker B: Yeah. It's really fascinating even that you bring that up, because I remember preaching that long before I understood all this. [00:12:48] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:12:49] Speaker B: And I believe it. My big question in the back of my mind and what I was trying to get across is why have we neglected this whole ascension? Like, we don't just ignore it like it doesn't exist, but. Right. Right. We don't put an importance on it like we do the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus. And there is obviously an important. But there's a fourth aspect, which is the ascension. [00:13:11] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:13:12] Speaker B: And I think we. We've kind of are scared of it. Maybe because it's the spirit stuff that we can't comprehend and understand or the Holy Spirit scares us. I don't know what it. What it always was, but there's something so grippingly good about. I must go. Like, he's telling them this because only once I leave, that's when I will send another to be with you always. [00:13:36] Speaker A: Right. [00:13:37] Speaker B: And that's what we have today. We have the Holy Spirit. Who is our counselor, who is our teacher. [00:13:44] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:13:44] Speaker B: Who is our guide into all truth. It's like. [00:13:48] Speaker A: And. And a reminder. Think about this. He says, bring to your remembrance all [00:13:52] Speaker B: that I've said to you. [00:13:53] Speaker A: So. [00:13:53] Speaker B: Yes. [00:13:54] Speaker A: Which. Which you. And I would say the. The real war now isn't in the heart being wicked and deceitful. It's in the mind being renewed. [00:14:01] Speaker B: Totally. [00:14:02] Speaker A: The Holy Spirit brings to mind. Oh, yeah. That's who God is. Oh, yeah. That's who I am in Christ. Oh, yeah. This is how we want, like, memory. Like the Holy Spirit can help. [00:14:12] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:14:13] Speaker A: You know? [00:14:13] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:14:14] Speaker A: So beautiful, man. [00:14:15] Speaker B: So beautiful. So beautiful. So there's. There's so much scripture that just really equips us with this reality. And I think that this is what's really interesting to John 15 is. Is the whole vine and branches, the abiding. [00:14:27] Speaker A: Right. [00:14:28] Speaker B: Chapter. [00:14:29] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:14:29] Speaker B: I think that most believers really love that chapter. But it's interesting that you can love it. Like, I always loved it, but I didn't totally comprehend it. [00:14:39] Speaker A: I didn't. [00:14:40] Speaker B: It wasn't a revelation until these last three years or so. [00:14:44] Speaker A: Yeah. Right. [00:14:45] Speaker B: And so that's. That's most people's reality, and that's the importance of really stepping into that spirit realm, of recognizing that the Holy Spirit does live in me and he does guide me and he does remind me this is my reality. I'm actually in union with him. [00:15:00] Speaker A: Yeah. Side note, before you ask your question. [00:15:03] Speaker B: Yeah. Yeah. [00:15:04] Speaker A: I'm. I'm hesitant to go back to commentaries that I like. [00:15:09] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:15:10] Speaker A: Because I think they missed it. [00:15:11] Speaker B: I mean. [00:15:12] Speaker A: Yeah, I know they missed it. [00:15:14] Speaker B: Yes. [00:15:14] Speaker A: But I'm very curious, especially about John 15. [00:15:17] Speaker B: Right. [00:15:17] Speaker A: You know, just. Yeah, very curious. [00:15:19] Speaker B: So true. [00:15:20] Speaker A: You know, you know, our, our, our small fellowship at Dispensational Systematic Theology. And I'm just, I'm thinking, man, there's someone that really. And I can still like them. Right? But I think, like, man, I think. I think you missed it. I think you missed it. Then there's other people that are so law based. And it was, it was very freeing to donate their books. Nobody wanted to buy them. [00:15:41] Speaker B: Right. [00:15:41] Speaker A: And I apologize if you're out there listening and you like those books. But, man. [00:15:45] Speaker B: Right. [00:15:45] Speaker A: When you experience Christ as your life. [00:15:48] Speaker B: Yes. [00:15:49] Speaker A: It's amazing. [00:15:50] Speaker B: Yeah, I'm right there with you. I gave a lot of my books away as well, and I still have a whole bunch of them that I'm like, I still just need to sort through. And I'm just, I'm right there with you. Even when it comes to books. Like, I really don't want to spend the time trying to figure out where you're at and all this stuff. So it's like I'm holding on to them just because nobody's gonna want them. I mark up my books. Nobody's gonna want to read this with all my stuff in them anyways. But I'm 100% with you. Even on the commentary stuff. It's hard to find anybody that gets it right. [00:16:22] Speaker A: Well, think it was. How about this? How about this? I become reliant on other people because I actually am not drinking from the source 100%. Right. So it's exactly what it is from the source. So I need these other people, what they think, to construct a talk or sermon, whatever people want to call it. [00:16:38] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:16:38] Speaker A: And so now it's like, I actually don't need that. I actually don't need it. Like, I actually have the source. [00:16:43] Speaker B: Yes. That's. [00:16:45] Speaker A: That's amazing. [00:16:46] Speaker B: It's so good. It's so true. Because there are resources, like, we can go to all these people we can name. We can name a list of people that we could go to now, but I still don't put them above this reality of who I have come to know. This is who I am and this is who I have in me, and this is who I can ask. And God has led me right to understanding that I've never seen before in my entire life. And that's way more beautiful. I mean, I have a commentary right here from Frank Friedman that I Love on Galatians. But still. Yeah, I don't. He. I don't know where it was. I think it was in a different book of his that he says, but we can be good Bereans no matter what. And he's going to say even of himself, I have words to share with you, but you need to be asking God, you know, is what I'm telling you, is that really from God or is it really just from me? And that's. I love that phrase of like, hey, okay, I have. I have something to share. It could be just from me, Zach, or it could be the Holy Spirit. You ask God. [00:17:43] Speaker A: Yes. [00:17:44] Speaker B: What does. What is this? Is this it or is it not? I think always that's the most crucial aspect to it all. And so for me, I have resources. I have things that I glean from, but I'm not reading them like I read all these previous books, as is. This is the truth. And I should. I need to follow this instead, I'm reading it from a lens of God. Open my eyes. [00:18:05] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:18:06] Speaker B: Help me to see your truth here in the midst of this. Because I love it. I love it. Even the whole Network 220 thing, I had somebody call me, just call me out as bs. He didn't. He didn't use the. The abbreviation. He just used it. A previous pastor that was here, he's actually passed away since I've been down here, even. Just so interesting, because I understand exactly what he was insinuating. It's like you can just step back into another network, another group of people, and just follow a bunch of other men again. And it's like, well, this is. I understood what he's meaning, and I didn't take offense to him, you know, saying it the way he said it. I just thought, no, I get it. I understand where you're at. But my processing through all this content is so different, so much different than it's ever been. Because instead of me leaning on these people, I'm actually leaning on. Really, I'm leaning on. And I'm trusting even the spirit of God in those people as. As they're, you know, teaching or writing or whatever. Right. Yeah. It's such good stuff. So, yeah, I don't know. [00:19:09] Speaker A: You had a question. [00:19:11] Speaker B: I had a question. We're already 20 minutes in. [00:19:14] Speaker A: Did you remember your question? [00:19:17] Speaker B: Something I love. You know, he. He put in this post that I shared with you, and so abiding isn't effort, he says it's staying where you are. So I guess my question is, what does that mean. [00:19:31] Speaker A: Yeah, I would say this. God's in every moment, right? Yeah, like, like, like God had whatever word you want to use. I'm very fine with the word revelation. [00:19:41] Speaker B: Yeah, me too. [00:19:43] Speaker A: Many times when I'm not looking for him. Like many times when I'm got my own agenda all caught up in the flesh. Whether it's disappointment or discouragement or whatever it may be. And I'm not just sitting there. Okay, here's my appointment, right? It's, it's 7:15 on this Morning and I'm ready for the appointment. It's in like it's in every moment. Like it's. You share the baseball story. Like, you know, just like it's, it's in every moment. God's in every moment. And so having eyes to see him. So that when it's, you know, as a pastor, ministry leader and you made all these plans and you're real excited, you have some expectations and it's 3:45 on a Monday afternoon and you're like, well, this is a disaster. Why am I here? And by 9 o' clock you're weeping, saying, God, you overwhelm me with your goodness. Right. And help me of. [00:20:33] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:20:34] Speaker A: That you are at work. And so I think that's what I wanted to share is like, man, God's in every moment. He's in every moment. Can we have isis? Absolutely. [00:20:41] Speaker B: Yeah. Yeah. And that, that is the, the prayer that began to grip me as I pray God, open the eyes of my heart. Give me that spirit of wisdom and revelation. It's like that's a prayer that God desires to answer for us. He desires to show himself so that we can know him. That's, that's really his, his longing is, is that intimacy. I just think I, I don't know, staying where you are. I think I personally would have preached that completely different than I would now. [00:21:09] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:21:10] Speaker B: In the past. Right. Because it would. Another phrase that we heard out of this conference from the people that put the conference together. It might have been the Thursday, not the Saturday, more so, but their whole thing was bloom where you're planted. So again you have this kind of staying and planted. And I process all that so much more differently now because it used to be I, what I used to teach was stap what you need to physically stay right where you're at because that's where God has planted you. And I think that goes so contrary to equipping and sending, that really is the ministry. Because what do you do with your kids? Do you keep them in diapers their whole life. Do you keep them in your home your whole life? You equip them for those 18 years and then you send them. Now, is it easy, Was it easy to send your oldest off to college? Was it easy for me to even move away and have my two oldest up in Michigan and to see, you know, my daughter even go? It's not easy. Nobody said it's going to be easy. [00:22:07] Speaker A: Right. [00:22:07] Speaker B: But that truly is the, the deal. [00:22:10] Speaker A: Well, we like to say that because we want, we don't want people leaving our church. We don't want people leaving our ministries. So that's, that's, that's why we preach that message. But as we've talked about, Jesus fashioned. Right. Paul's life was fashioned by adventure. [00:22:23] Speaker B: Right. [00:22:23] Speaker A: And so, so where, where's the staying put. Well, abiding in Christ. [00:22:27] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:22:28] Speaker A: Right, right. And, and I just, I love, you know, part of what he says is you don't have to strive for a holy moment. See the Holy One in every moment. I really like the concluding thought. [00:22:42] Speaker B: Yeah, that's so good. Thanks for, for sharing that, because that was probably my favorite that I wanted to get to, and I don't think I would have got there. But it's so true. It's so, so true. Because we are always striving for some holy moment. But the reality is, yeah, I'm in Christ and Christ is in me and God is in every moment. And it is a beautiful thing to just. Because I think there's, there has been. This is the point that I was really kind of trying to get across is there has been a misconception that we're focusing on planted and we're not focusing on blooming, we're focusing on staying and we're not focusing on maturity. And it's like what comes with maturing. Just like for a kid, eventually they grow and, and they do. They leave mom and dad's house and they. Yeah, you know, that, that's, that's part of the maturing process. [00:23:31] Speaker A: Right, right. [00:23:32] Speaker B: It's a good thing. And so, yeah, it's, it's, it's so interesting. And there is such value, of course, in staying physically. You know, I've been in bands, you know, I've been in. The longer you're together, the better you are. So there's, there's, there's a lot of truth to those statements. Of course. [00:23:48] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:23:49] Speaker B: I think that blooming and that maturing is going to take you on a journey. And I think that. I think. So maybe this is controversial because the whole education system in, you know, our cultural context, I think we've adopted that same thing. So there's been this. This mentality of take boys and put them in a school setting where they have to sit. [00:24:08] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:24:08] Speaker B: And you have to tell them to behave and be good boys. We're doing the same thing in the church. That. That's really the point that I'm making. [00:24:15] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:24:16] Speaker B: We're doing the same exact thing. And so we're not experiencing adventure. We're not experiencing true masculinity. We're not experiencing all these things. That really is who we truly are. Right. We're not able to live from our true heart. And that's where we come from. The wild at heart stuff and how it all relates to. It's really, really beautiful when you can step into really being equipped with that truth and to be able to live from there. So, boy, we could talk about this all day long, but there's always so [00:24:44] Speaker A: much to talk about. [00:24:45] Speaker B: There is. There is. Because this is only a tip of the ice. Tip of the iceberg. But we're 27 minutes in, so it's time to shut her down. So we thank you for listening, and we'll see you next week.