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[Music] [Applause] Welcome to Southgate. Thank you so much for joining us today.
I just want to make sure that if you're joining in with us today that you're connected with a local church. We hope and we pray that if you're in the North Granville or North Dundas area, you're connected to Sgate in a physical way, that you're coming out to services and joining in on the events that are happening in person. We value community and if you're interested in joining ours in a greater way, you can sign up for the email that goes out bi-weekly. You can follow us on our socials and check in on the website to see what's going on in person and in our community. If you want to participate in what we're doing by giving financially, follow the links below. We hope and we pray that this service is a benefit to you and your walk with Jesus.
All right, so we are kicking off a new series that I'm very excited about over the next three weeks. And this is this is something special. This is unique. It's something we've never done before. And here is why. Over the next three weeks, myself along with many, many others around what we call our valley network, which is a kind of a a group of churches who get together and we are looking and discerning where God would plant other churches or new ministries. There's a bunch of churches kind of in this collective and we get together uh frequently and talk about what God is doing and what he would like to do in the future and praying through that. Well, all of our churches, we're actually preaching the same thing. And so, we have worked together uh over several months to come up with a series and preaching uh schedule for the next three weeks. And so, and so today, I am bringing the word. I'll be walking you through week one. Next week, we have a guest speaker who will be sharing. And uh he is from a church in Shawville, and so he will be sharing in Kempville. And we have uh the pastor from Sunnyside who will be sharing in Winchester. So, we're excited about that as well on week two. And then week three, we will have Pastor uh Kevin and Pastor Rob sharing in Winchester and Kempville. So, we're excited about that and excited about what God is going to do uh what he is up to and partnering with other churches uh large churches, small churches, everything in between. Very, very excited about this. Just unique to our particular area.
Now, this series is called greater things. this greater things, this idea that maybe God desires to do something greater than we know or we understand or or we comprehend right now. And this particular day, what we're talking about here is this idea of of the God we long to see. And uh this this is a this is a journey into the promises Jesus gives us in John 14 that his followers will do greater things when he departs. And so they have seen what he is capable of doing as they've walked with him, as they've journeyied with him. But but now that he is going to leave, what what will he do through them? What will they allow him to do through themselves? And so today, as we start the series, we're looking at this this this vision of who God is, understanding who God is, maybe how we're made, and the God we long to see. Because really, we all want to see we all want to see God. We we we desire to see him, to know who he is, to to understand what he's like, to get a glimpse of some way. I mean, it's it's just our human nature. And we've all had moments like, God, if you are real, give me a sign. If you are if you are real, then then help me to understand. Let let me see something tangible. Let me touch you. Let me hear you. Let me let me smell you. Let me let me have one of my senses interact with who you are so I can get to know you. Give me some kind of sign. just just make it obvious so I don't have to believe in something that I've never seen.
And guess what? Even one of Jesus own disciples, Philip, he has the same kind of question. He has the same kind of desire. He feels the same way. And we pick it up here in John chapter 14, drawing your attention to verse 8. And it reads like this. Philip said to him, "Lord, show us the Father and is it enough for us?" Jesus said to him, "Have I been with you so long and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father." And then we skip a little bit further down to verse 20. "In that day you will know that I am in my Father and you in me and I in you."
And so Philip has this question, this honest question that he wants to ask Jesus this idea. But we see it here like, "Show us the Father. Sh show us God the Father. We've seen you. We know what you're like. We've hung out with you. We've followed you. We've learned from you. But but but Jesus, show us show us the Father. Show us God and then we're then we'll be good. Like we're going to be all good. Like if you are the son of God, just show us show us your dad and we will fully understand. We will fully trust you." It's an a honest ask. And and we've had the same ask at points in our life, right? Who are you? H h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h how how how do I discern this? Give me some clarity. Help me understand give me some wisdom and and or give me some compassion, God, show yourself to me in some type of way. We want to know that that the God that I'm trusting, what I'm putting my faith in that that you are actually real, that that you are tangible, that that that I would know you, that you are good.
And maybe maybe you are watching here today and you are asking a similar question like like I want maybe what these people have or or or or I want I I believe in a God and and maybe has created things. I mean I can tell but but I need him to show himself in in order for me to jump all in. Or maybe maybe life has given you some type of curveball and you are facing the unknowns. you are facing the question marks of tomorrow and you're wondering where are you in all of this God like like why has this happened to me? Can you can you show me tangibly where you are?
And I get this. I'm a dad of of three boys. We we've had conversations that are similar to this and and and they want proof that maybe I did something in my past. like I will tell stories about my past and the things that I've done or the things that maybe I've accomplished or or or if I want to kind of just just give it to them over something that they do and say, "Well, your dad would have never done that." Or, "Your dad your dad, you should see your dad back in the day. He could do this." Now, I'm just like hobbling around with my knees and stuff, but I remember uh one of them had asked me, "Hey dad, did you actually play for the Titans?" The Titans is a hockey team. Did you actually played for the Titans?" And I was like, "Yeah, buddy. Yeah, of course I played for the Titans. Of course, I was the real deal." And then he looks at me and he's like, "We'll prove it. Prove it." Like he he I'm telling him this story or or what I did in my past, the level of hockey I played in my past. And he's like, "We'll prove it, Dad." And he doesn't want to believe me.
And so, you know what I do? I go down to the basement. I pull out my leather hockey jacket and and and and I go to put the of course it doesn't fit me. I try to put it on and I like can't can't even like really move my arms because I'm just kind of stuck in there. I finally get myself in there. I'm like, "Look, dude. It says number 22 says last over here and see this. This is the C. It shows as the captain of the team and he's like oh dad you're old you're old. Look at your gray hair. You're losing your hair. And he he says all this but he wanted to know that did you actually do this? Can you show me tangibly what you accomplished? And and this is this is the the the kind of similar idea. This is we desire this of God. We we want to know him. We want to see the tangible. We want to understand. And sometimes we need something that we can see and understand, something tangible here that proves what we believe is real.
And that's exactly why Jesus gives us his answer. His response here is this. If you've seen me, you've seen the father. If you've seen me, then you've seen the father. I have been with you so long, Philip. Jesus says, "We we've been together for for so long and you still don't know me." Like like you still don't understand. Like you you've seen me and if you've seen me, Philip, you've seen the father. And let that sink in. Because Jesus is not just a good moral example. Jesus is not just a a a good value writer or or or good moral compass for us. He's not just a great teacher. He's not just a messenger from God. What he is saying here is that is that he is God. If you want to know what God looks like, Jesus says, "Look at me. I am him and he is me." See, this is the God we long to see. It it it's Jesus.
And every one of us has longed to know or or ask the questions, you know, is is there a God? Does he care? Is he good? Does he see me? Is he with me? And if you are a parent, you know this. My my youngest son, sometimes in the middle of the night, he will call out, "Dad, dad, mom, mom." Even though he's just a bedroom away, he wants to know that his dad is there. There are certain times where he might be playing downstairs in one of the toy rooms and and and and one of us are maybe folding laundry upstairs and he's just like, "Dad, dad, mom." And and we answer, "Yeah, what do you want?" And he's like, "No, just wanted to know you're there. Just wanted to to to know that you were there." He's not even actually looking for a response. He just wants to know that his dad is there.
And and and the response here Jesus gives is look at me. Look at who I am. Watch how I've treat the outcasts. Watch how I confront injustice. Watch how I forgive sinners. Watch how I've laid down my life for you. It's it's all right here. You just need to watch me. If you want to know what God is like and who he is, then then just watch me. and and and this is the visible image of an invisible God. If you want to know who the invisible God is, that you need to look at the visible image of who Jesus is and what we read about him.
Which brings us to the question, what are we really searching for here? Like what are we what are we really looking at? What are we really trying to understand? And let's be honest, Philip walked with Jesus for for years. He saw the miracles. He he heard the teaching and yet he's still he's still saying like show us the father. Why? Because because it's possible to be close to God and still not see who God really is. And it's the same with us. We go through the motions. I mean, we might come on a Sunday morning. We might we might believe in Jesus theoretically. We might have read the word of God, but we are still chasing the things that we think will satisfy us. And and I relate with this because I I'm the same way many times. We're chasing things like a like a like a perfect marriage and somehow we've made our spouse into our savior or or we are we are searching for a dream house or or stable income or kids get getting into whatever program or or extracurricular that that they're getting into that this idea of an Instagram worthy family or a summer vacation or getting more followers or or more control of the things that that that I own or that are a part of my kingdom. and and we try to look for our our our our our purpose and our value in these things of the world. It's really what we are searching for.
But here's the truth. Jesus is not the means to something better. Jesus actually is the better. He actually is the better. And he's saying like he's grabbing her face and he's like, "Look at me. If if you want to understand who God is, then look at me." It's like when I go to Costco, I I go to Costco and blow my budget. Like once a month, I will go there and I have specific things. I mean, her family buys specific things at Costco every single time we go. And I have a list that I make. I know the things that I'm going to buy. And I and I'm like ready to go buy a case of toilet paper, right? Like an infinite amount of toilet paper from Costco. And I go there to buy this thing and then and then I leave with toilet paper and and and like protein bars and a kayak and enough ketchup for 10 years and and I like leave there. I'm like, "Oh my goodness, I spent an absolute fortune and and I went for this one thing and I got distracted and got a whole bunch of things." And we just keep grabbing. And Jesus is saying, "Stop grabbing. Look at me. And if you want to know who God is, this God that you long to see, you can find it in me as well."
And here's the deal. The truth the the truth that changes everything is this this understanding here in verse 20. It's it's a it's a game changer because it says this. "In that day you will know that I am in my Father." All right? "and you in me and I in you." So, so there's a link here. If you want to know who Jesus is or who God is, you look at Jesus. And if you really want to know who you are, you look at Jesus because he's in you. Jesus is saying, "I'm not just someone you follow because Philip did that. I'm not just someone you follow. I'm someone that you're united with. We We are together in this. You unite your life with mine and we come together. It's more than following. You're in me and I am in you. We're united with this. And and this isn't like religion that he's talking about here. This is relational at the deepest level. You don't have to earn closeness with God. He has already made his home inside of you. You You are part of this thing."
Now, I've used this illustration before, but it's it's kind of like you are not just a fan of Jesus. You are you are part of team Jesus. You you are with Jesus. And and and so imagine this scenario. You you might have heard me share this before, but but imagine this scenario is is you and I. and we we we work together and we work in an office and the two of us work in the office and every day we connect at the water cooler and almost every day at least once a week I go to you and I say hey do you want to come and and and go to a Blue Jays baseball game. Let's say we're living in Toronto and we you want to come go to a Blue Jays baseball game and and you keep saying no cuz you have no desire to go to a Blue Jays game. You don't like baseball. You don't want anything to do with it. But I keep pestering you to go to a Blue Jays game. Finally you say sure. You know what? I'll go to a Blue Jays game. And so we go together and we are sitting at this Blue Jays game. We have decent seats and and and you are bored out of your mind. You buy a hot dog to fill in the time and you're we're watching this. But then it comes to the ninth inning and the bases are loaded and and the Blue Jays are down and and they're about the guy gets up and he just cranks it and it's a it's a grand slam and all those runners come in. It's a home run and the whole place goes wild and you find yourself actually standing and cheering for the Blue Jays and and you like you you catch yourself for a minute and you quickly sit down. You're like, "What did I just do?"
And then we go back and and the next couple weeks at the office I I'm like, "Hey, do you want to go to the Blue Jays game?" And you say, "Yeah, you know what? I would." And we go together and then the next year passes and and I find out you actually buy season tickets to the Blue Jays game. And we go to the Blue Jays game together and we're hanging out and we're loving it. We're we're cheering. And then you show up to work in a Blue Jays jersey and you are rooting for the Blue Jays. And then and then you actually join a baseball league and you start playing baseball yourself. Not only do you have season tickets, but you are wearing the jersey. You are going to learn baseball. Fast forward five or 10 years. You are actually on the Blue Jays. You're on the Blue Jays and and and and like whoever it is, Mark Carney's throwing out the first pitch. The prime minister is throwing out the first pitch and you are up to bat and you are actually batting on the blue jet. Imagine that. Going from the sidelines to living this thing out and understanding what all the fuss was about and then and then understanding yourself, how you fit into the whole thing.
See, you've got the spirit of the living God inside of you. And it changes how you see yourself, and it changes how you see God. It changes how you face the future. And it changes what you believe is possible. And that's what this series is about. See, we know who we're united with and so we're able to step into greater things because it's not just you. You're not good enough. But when you are united with Jesus and you come together with him who who literally represents the father, if you want to know who the father is and his characteristics is Jesus, well, Jesus lives in you. You understand that? And when you understand that who you're united with, he is on your team. He's in you and you are in him. So the question becomes, what are those greater things? And what are those more purposeful things in how you're wired, how you're made, who God has designed you to be? And the evidence of who God is, this God that we long to see, might be also wrapped up in who you are. And can he evidence himself? Will you let him evidence himself through you?
You ready to talk about next steps? Here's our next steps. He here's what we've been praying through as pastors, as churches, and and we're all bringing the same message to our our our church families to see what God is up to, to see what he wants to do. And let me let me speak directly to some of you. Maybe you've been feeling a nudge for a while in like in like what is God leading me to do? What what is the thing I'm supposed to do? And maybe maybe you're already doing it. Maybe you're doing it in your workplace or your family or your home. I don't know. But maybe you are still trying to understand what that is. You're feeling a stirring, a sense that God might be calling you into something more, something deeper, greater things. Maybe it's a calling into ministry. Maybe you desire to to start up a new nonprofit in the name of Jesus. May maybe you look you're you're looking to to go back to school or to take a couple extra courses. Or maybe you are looking to to take Jesus into your context in a marketplace. May maybe maybe you want to go on a missions trip or or you have this desire this crazy feeling that you are called to be a missionary or or heaven forbid you look you're looking to to maybe start or plant a church you are just open and saying God what would you have of me next you don't need all the answers what I believe that you need is to say yes to the next step and and here's what we believe it is very exciting things happening on October 18th and this is just a one thing and that's it's here in Kempville at the Kempville location of Southgate. It's completely free conference that we are hosting along with all these other churches, but it will be physically in Kempville. You can sign up for that even right now. Uh you can sign up, you can scan this QR code and you can sign up for free for this conference and find information about some of those things that I've mentioned. We could we're going to pray together. We're going to learn about where God is leading. We're going to find out information through breakout workshops. We're going to share a meal together. We're going to do all those things and you just need to set this date aside and you can sign up through this QR code to find out more information and uh and to jump into maybe the greater thing that God is calling all of us to.
All right. And so we're going to bring this up every week over the next three weeks. again. We're going to hear from another guest speaker next week and then we're back at it on week three and then we're culminating this thing on October 18th for this one-day conference. Let's see what God is up to and let's jump all in to what he has for us.
Let's pray. Father, we thank you for uh just who you are. And uh we we God, we are just so grateful that God, your son, Jesus, uh if we want to see who who you are, God, and understand who you are, that we look at your son. And if we want to know how we are made and wired, then we we look at your son and and he is in us and and we are in him, God. We we we we are all together in this. And we thank you for just that the unique way that you've made us and how we're wired and designed and and our purpose, God, is is really wrapped up in your design. And so God, we want to understand that better. We want to do our part in in understanding the things that you would have us do that the next story and chapters of our lives. And so and so God, do what you do. Uh uh clear our schedules, clear our paths, God. Give us direct wisdom and discernment in in these next steps in the in the process of your Holy Spirit's leading in our lives. God, we love you and we pray these things in Jesus name. Amen.
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