Transcription
It's good to see you guys! It's good to see you all. Let's see if I still know how to do this—I haven't been on stage in a while. It’s been a good last little month here. We are in the process of getting close to our due date, which is crazy! If you’re here for the very first time, we are expecting our first baby.
I was sitting there thinking, "Should I start my messages by saying, 'So, I have an announcement to make?'" But then I thought that would be too mean, so I decided not to. It's exciting, but we are just waiting. I think two weeks is technically when the due date is, but I say it could happen right now! I have no idea. So, we’re waiting and ready—but I don’t know if I would say we’re ready. You know how it goes. It’s going to be good!
Let's pray before we dive into the word.
**In Jesus’ name,** God, we thank you for this amazing day and for the opportunity to be in your presence. We live in a country where we can freely worship the Creator of this universe, our Father God. We never take that for granted, and we thank you for all the leaders in place, wherever they are—be it in politics or business. We just thank you for them and for instilling a desire in them to dive into your word and lead their communities according to your perfect will. For those not leading our amazing country of Canada, we thank you that we can elect someone even greater who will guide us along a path that makes Canada the most amazing country founded on biblical principles. God, we thank you for that in the name of Jesus.
**And everyone said, Amen and Amen!**
I had Pastor Phil on standby this morning because I’ve been dealing with a cough for like two weeks. I’m going to blame someone for it right away! Jess thinks I’m sick, but I’m just dealing with one of those coughs where you really need to cough for relief. My wife likes the house cold—currently, it's 17 degrees Celsius at home. I like it cold too, don’t get me wrong! But usually, I’m not the cold one; Jess is. I think that’s why I’ve been cold and coughing recently.
So, I prayed and anointed myself with Benadryl, and here I am preaching! It will all be good, I promise. I want to get into the word today about something that has been close to my heart. I always preach the word in a way that I hope will convict and challenge you, allowing it to transform your life if we do it right.
However, the problem with the world right now is that we're so focused on convenience that when we don’t have the time or it's not convenient for us to get into the word, we just don't. Yes, we’re all busy—welcome to the club! But we have to prioritize what truly matters amidst our busyness—what truly brings transformation.
We often look for behavior modification, but God's intention is not behavior change; it is heart change. Heart change is what transforms your family, your generations, your world, your church, and your community. It is what helps you thrive mentally and emotionally. But this can only happen when we stop pursuing convenience in our faith and instead follow the proven path.
Let me share a historical story about the Donner Party from 1846. A group of early pioneers from Illinois set out for California in search of a better life. They followed the well-established California Trail but, at a critical moment, the group's leaders, George Donner and James Reed, decided to take a shortcut called the Hastings Cutoff. Now, if you see any trail that says "cutoff," would you take it? That's a red flag for me!
This route promised to save several weeks and seemed like an easier path, but once they took it, they encountered treacherous terrain, including harsh deserts and steep mountains, which significantly delayed their journey. As they neared the Sierra Nevada and were caught in an early, severe snowfall, they became stranded with limited supplies near what is now Donner Lake. Tragically, out of the 87 people who started this journey, only 48 survived. The survivors were forced to resort to cannibalism to stay alive.
This tragic outcome was the direct result of their decision to take a shortcut—a fatal mistake. Shortcuts often come with unseen risks and devastating consequences. In our lives of faith, we can easily fall into the trap of seeking shortcuts instead of the proven path God has for us.
We would rather pursue convenience over discipline, comfort over the hard things that provide much better outcomes for our lives. The world we live in caters to our desire for convenience. Everything seems to push us toward comfort because we pay for it. That’s why we have to be careful not to let convenience dictate our choices.
I love the analogy of the young rich ruler in Mark 10. When he asked Jesus how to enter into eternity, Jesus told him to sell everything and follow him. The man left saddened because he was too comfortable in his riches. This illustrates that convenience can lead us to miss out on what God wants for us.
In this culture of convenience, it’s easy to fall into the habit of merely checking off our “spiritual tasks” instead of genuinely seeking connection and growth in our relationships—with God and with others. It’s about deepening relationships rather than treating them like tasks on a checklist.
So, here are three important points to remember today:
1. **Quick fixes always lead to temporary change**, not lasting transformation. We can patch things up with duct tape in life, but if we don't make lasting repairs, we stay in survival mode.
2. **True growth requires consistent and intentional slow study** of God's word. As Psalms 1:2-3 says, those who meditate on His law day and night will prosper. Rather than rushing through the Bible, take time to study it slowly and deeply.
3. **True transformation requires deep refinement**, not surface adjustments. God is looking for heart changes, not mere behavior modifications. Every time you immerse yourself in the word, impurities surface, and God removes them. It's through this process that we become more like Christ.
I want to encourage you to immerse yourself in God's word and allow it to refine you. There are no shortcuts in this process; it takes time, intention, and discipline. But the more you engage with His word, the more you will see transformation in your life, your relationships, and your future.
Would you bow your heads and close your eyes with me today? If you feel stirred in your heart and want to connect with God after hearing this message, now is the time to take that step. I’ll count to three, and if you would like to give your life to Jesus, raise your hand where you are.
One, two, three. Wherever you are, just raise your hand. Thank you! I see your hands; don’t let fear hold you back. This is a beautiful moment of connection.
Let’s pray together.
**Father, in Jesus’ name, I give you my life. Please come into my heart. From today on, I’m following you. Grant me the power to change every day for the rest of my life. Jesus, I’m serving you. Amen!**
Let's celebrate today!