Grace Haven Church

0:00 I'm going to continue tonight with a series I started a few weeks ago called What's Your Advantage?

0:07 When we started this series, it was really trying to simplify that every one of us have gotten an advantage in life.

0:17 And the key to finding out your advantage is to simply say it this way.

0:20 What are you willing to do that no one else is willing to do?

0:25 That's your advantage.

0:27 Am I willing to go the extra mile?

0:29 Am I willing to thank the boss for this amazing job, or even rubbish job?

0:38 Am I willing to write the letter?

0:39 Am I willing to make the phone call?

0:40 Am I willing to serve the Lord with gladness?

0:46 There's so many things that you can actually highlight in your life to realize there's not one person in this room that does not have an advantage.

0:54 While I'm not from this nation, I'm seeking refuge, you still have an advantage.

0:59 I'm not really good with the language right now, you still have an advantage.

1:04 I'm not really comfortable talking to people I don't know.

1:08 I don't know about you, but you still have an advantage.

1:14 I can't sing, nor can I. There's still an advantage.

1:19 You've got to realize if you don't position yourself, if you don't change the way you think about things, if you don't look at things in new ways or fresh understanding, you're going to find yourself disadvantaged.

1:30 This is what God says, when you're disadvantaged, I will turn your disadvantage into your advantage.

1:36 And I gave you so many times an illustration of David who was disadvantaged when it came to fighting the biggest warrior he's ever fought, and that was Goliath.

1:48 He had no armor and Goliath had armor.

1:53 Goliath was big and David was small.

1:56 Everything about David looked like he was disadvantaged, and yet God took his disadvantage and turned it into an absolute advantage.

2:03 Goliath was too slow.

2:04 David was very quick.

2:07 Goliath was heavy with his armor.

2:09 David had no armor, so he was quick to move and to respond.

2:13 I don't know what it is that you're coming up with that's not working for you, but if you will leave tonight with a fresh understanding, a different perspective, in other words, allow your mentality to be changed, whatever you consider a disadvantage right now, God's saying, I'm going to turn it into an advantage.

2:28 I don't know about you.

2:29 Our advantage as a church this year was to clean the city on New Year's Day.

2:34 Everyone leaves their fireworks.

2:36 Nobody seems to want to clear it up.

2:38 It stays on the ground for up to three months.

2:40 And so what we did is got together in the park and said, we're going to clean up one of the parks.

2:46 Had an incredible impact in the local neighborhood.

2:49 We thought, why don't we do it again?

2:50 We had another go.

2:51 Had a great impact, except someone reminded us why you're doing it on Friday when you should be doing it on Monday.

2:57 Mauer Park could do it with on Monday.

3:00 So tonight's message is called, I have a secret.

3:07 The greatest missionary the church has ever known, his name is the Apostle Paul.

3:13 Incredible, incredible story of what God has done through this man's life.

3:19 A lot of the books you read in the New Testament came out of his life.

3:26 The letters that he wrote to the churches,

3:29 young churches.

3:32 Paul would find himself in a different region and preach Christ.

3:36 He'd usually go to the local synagogue.

3:38 That was usually a point of reference for him.

3:42 He'd always do what God had called him to do and just proclaim the incredible, beautiful name of Jesus and all that it represents and the finished work of Christ.

3:55 So people would come to faith and maybe it was one, maybe it was two, maybe it was a couple.

3:59 Maybe it was a young man called Timothy.

4:01 Maybe it was these different people that he got to meet on the journey.

4:04 One city he went to and the first person to respond to his message about Jesus was a business woman called Lydia.

4:12 Literally, she opened up a home and they started the church in her home, which is now a part of modern Turkey.

4:22 And so he would go to different places and he would do what God called him to do and he would write letters to the churches.

4:27 And sometimes he would literally start a church and be there for six months and leave.

4:33 Imagine if Joyce and I had come here from London

4:38 and left after six months.

4:41 I have no idea where we'd have gone, but often that's what Paul did.

4:45 He'd start the church and then whoever had got saved.

4:48 So basically, whoever, Jules and Connie and all the other guys, who else was there?

4:54 And David and Teeny and all these guys.

4:58 Right, you guys, you're in charge.

5:00 Figure it out.

5:01 I'll write you a letter in six years.

5:07 This is pretty much how it was.

5:09 No Instagram, no social media.

5:14 I mean today we've got a manual called a leadership development manual that they can go to at any time to read and look at the circles that Pastor Marks put together.

5:26 But he basically said, I have a secret.

5:30 And I want to talk to you tonight about Paul's secret.

5:36 He says this in Philippians chapter four, verse 10.

5:38 He says, My heart overflows with joy when I think of how you showed your love to me by your contribution and your support of this ministry.

5:48 For even though you had so little, you still continue to help me at every opportunity.

5:55 I'm not telling you this because I'm in need.

5:57 For I have learned to be satisfied in any circumstance.

6:03 I know what it means to lack.

6:05 I know what it means to experience overwhelming abundance.

6:10 For I am trained in the secret of overcoming all things.

6:17 I am trained in the secret of overcoming all things, whether of fullness or in hunger.

6:27 For I have found that the strength of Christ's explosive power infuses me to conquer every difficulty.

6:41 It says in different translations, and you'll be familiar with this.

6:45 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

6:51 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

6:59 Another translation says, Christ gives me the strength to face anything.

7:09 A boyfriend that has dumped me.

7:16 An interview that didn't go the way I wanted it to go.

7:19 I can face anything.

7:21 A visa that is not coming through.

7:24 I can face anything.

7:33 I don't know what your challenges are in the room.

7:36 I don't know what difficulties you personally face.

7:40 For many of you, you're probably far, far, far away from your loved ones, your mom, your dad, your family.

7:47 For others, you grew up in Berlin and maybe you're not that close with your family, but you're kind of figuring out life and trying to work out how do I actually move forward in life.

8:00 But I want to talk to you about this secret that Paul had.

8:05 It's not a mystery.

8:07 It's right there in front of our eyes.

8:08 And yet, how many of us blink and miss it?

8:12 Anyone who's got a Bible in this room tonight, you literally have got the greatest insight into how to overcome all of your difficulties.

8:23 All of your difficulties.

8:25 This is what Paul basically puts on the table.

8:29 And he literally says, I've been trained in the secret of how to overcome anything.

8:39 Would you like to overcome your challenges?

8:44 Or do you want your challenges to overcome you?

8:48 Do you want to know how to navigate the difficulties of life?

8:52 Or do you want the difficulties of life to shape you, to overcome you?

8:58 What is it that you sometimes try to run away from, but God's trying to get you to run through?

9:04 What challenge are you keeping pushing away and yet God's trying to push you towards the challenge?

9:12 Well, I'm not going to take that job because you know what, I'm not sure if I can do it.

9:16 Why can't you do it?

9:17 Why can't you just learn the secret that Paul said, I can do all things through Christ who strengthened me.

9:22 Well, that's not really what Paul's talking about.

9:24 Oh, really?

9:25 Bible theologian, what is Paul talking about then?

9:35 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

9:40 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

9:45 He had a revelation that pushed him.

9:49 He had a revelation.

9:50 He had a secret.

9:52 And he's wanting the church in Philippi to understand.

9:55 I wish I could be with you, but I'm not.

9:57 But let me tell you what my secret is.

9:59 I can do all things through the strength that Christ supplies.

10:05 Christ gives me the strength to face anything.

10:08 I don't know what it is that you're facing.

10:10 Maybe it's a negative doctor's report.

10:12 Maybe you've got a family member struggling with a bad report.

10:15 Maybe it's leukemia.

10:16 Maybe it's diabetes.

10:17 Maybe it's cancer.

10:18 Maybe you've got something going on in your family you want no one to know about, but you're desperate for God to bring supply and answers and perspective.

10:25 I don't know what it is in this room tonight, but is it safe to say that this room is full of challenge?

10:31 This room is full of obstacles.

10:32 There's a whole lot of things to overcome in this room, overcoming fears.

10:38 If I just talk about the fear of spiders,

10:43 that's a real fear.

10:45 Most people say that we learn our fears in life.

10:48 When we come into planet Earth as a little baby,

10:51 there's not many fears in our life.

10:53 In other words, loud noises tend to freak us out.

10:55 As little babies, we end up crying.

11:00 The fear of being dropped, maybe that would be obviously something.

11:03 If you pretend to drop a baby, it's not good to do it, but sometimes dads like to do these stupid things.

11:10 Babies don't like that.

11:11 I took a while to learn that, but babies don't like that.

11:16 Well, some of them do, but moms hate it.

11:22 But everything else we learn, we learn as we grow older.

11:29 And I want you to understand, this is what he simply says to us.

11:31 He just says, I've learned the secret.

11:35 I've learned to be satisfied in any circumstance.

11:39 I know what it means to have lack,

11:43 and I know what it means to have abundance.

11:45 For some of you in the room, you understand what lack looks like because you're fed up of it.

11:51 And you'd like to have a little bit of the other side of the story, which is, I've got plenty.

11:56 But Paul's basically letting us into a secret here again.

11:58 And he said, listen, I've had not much, and I've found a way to get through not much.

12:04 And I've found a way, even when I've had much, that I didn't let it overcome me and take my eyes off Jesus.

12:09 So I'm asking you tonight, what happens if you haven't got much?

12:13 Can you still look to Jesus?

12:14 Can you still find the secret for moving your life forward?

12:18 I don't have much, but I'm going to do it anyway.

12:21 I don't have much, but I'm going to find a way.

12:23 I don't have much to give, but I'm going to trust God that I can sponsor a kid, that I can pay for someone to go to conference, that I can see my dinner party go forward.

12:32 Hey, I don't have much, but Paul's told me his secret.

12:37 Or maybe you have got a lot.

12:40 And for you, the biggest challenge is letting go.

12:43 What's easier to give away, one euro or one million euros?

12:48 People want to actually honor God with what increase they have in their lives.

12:55 But what's harder to give, one euro or one million?

13:01 If you talk to the people that have actually done it, they'll tell you that it took no more faith to give a million than it did to give their very first offering.

13:13 The hardest time is the first time.

13:16 Let me say it again, the hardest time is the first time.

13:20 The hardest time in anything is the first time.

13:24 First time you prayed out loud, that's the hardest time.

13:27 But once you've done it, no going back.

13:32 You go for the first job, no.

13:37 That doesn't mean that you don't try for another job.

13:41 So what do you mean, Mark?

13:45 Oh, we're going to help some people tonight in Jesus' name.

13:49 It means try harder.

13:53 So after the first no, have another go.

13:58 After the first no, have another go.

14:02 And if you get another no,

14:06 then you need to probably pay attention.

14:10 Get the hint.

14:12 But God loves someone who tries three times.

14:15 It's not in the Bible, but write that down, it sounds good.

14:20 How many of you have ever said something to your friends about Jesus and they said no, and then six months later they're here?

14:28 How many of you have ever told your friend and two years later they turn up?

14:34 This no right at the start, if you give up at your very first no, you completely missed the revelation and the secret that Paul lived his life by.

14:53 He never took the no as a no.

14:57 How did the greatest missionary called the Apostle Paul go through the craziest days of his life?

15:04 What sustained him?

15:06 What gave him this overcoming spirit?

15:11 What turned this man into an overcoming I can do type of person?

15:16 Your advantage is your mentality, the way you think.

15:21 I don't think like everyone else.

15:23 I think with an I can do all things through Christ.

15:26 I'm not talking about superhero stuff here.

15:30 God takes shy people and He fills them with His Spirit in a beautiful, profound way, lets them know their new identity in Christ and He overcomes them, helps them overcome that shyness and they become these incredible people in life that literally reflect the goodness of God on earth.

15:45 I want you to know that you've got to open up your heart to this stuff, but these are the things you've got to learn.

15:50 I have been trained in the secret of overcoming all things.

15:53 Will you allow God to train you?

15:56 Will you allow God to train you in the secret of overcoming all things?

15:59 Look at Paul, look at what he says.

16:02 2 Corinthians chapter 11.

16:04 Five times the Jews gave me a beating with 39 lashes of a whip.

16:13 Three times the Romans beat me with a big stick.

16:18 Once my enemies almost stoned me to death.

16:21 Big stones, nasty stones, Middle Eastern rocks.

16:27 I've been shipwrecked three times.

16:29 I've even had to spend a night and a day in the sea.

16:32 During my many travels I've been in danger from rivers, robbers, my own people and foreigners.

16:37 My life has been in danger in cities, in deserts, at sea, with people who only pretend to be the Lord's followers.

16:45 I have worked and struggled and spent many sleepless nights.

16:49 I have gone hungry and thirsty and often nothing to eat.

16:53 I have been cold from not having enough clothes to keep me warm.

16:56 I have been trained in the secret of overcoming all things.

17:04 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

17:10 Have you been shipwrecked?

17:15 What's your biggest challenge tonight?

17:17 There's no bread in the cupboard.

17:20 No beers in the fridge.

17:23 Two nights old pizza and someone stole the olives.

17:28 Really is that your biggest problem?

17:31 Have you been shipwrecked?

17:33 Have you been buried in the ground and they've chucked rocks with jagged edges on your face and bruised you and scarred you and marred you?

17:41 Have you been beaten by the Romans?

17:48 Have you been whipped 39 times by a whip with beads and things that will rip out your flesh?

17:55 Have you spent a night and a day in shark-infested waters?

18:02 And yet what does Paul say?

18:06 The secret.

18:08 I've learned the secret to overcoming.

18:19 It's right in front of you tonight.

18:22 It's this close, it's almost embarrassing.

18:25 But you have the secret to overcoming all things.

18:36 Get the job.

18:39 Where's the podcast?

18:41 I have a secret.

18:51 At least you got a podcast to listen to.

19:06 A can-do spirit, a can-do person has a different spirit.

19:10 A can-do person has a different spirit.

19:15 A can-do person sees what God sees.

19:19 And a can-do person understands nothing is impossible to God.

19:25 A can-do person has a different spirit.

19:28 A can-do person sees what God sees.

19:31 Is all you see what you see, then you're going to live a life that God has called you live.

19:36 You've got to see beyond what you see naturally.

19:39 I can see a church bigger than what I can see right now.

19:43 I can see people's lives moving forward.

19:46 I can see families being restored.

19:48 I can see churches all over this city making a difference with the good news.

19:54 I can see beyond what I can naturally see.

19:57 If all you see is what you see, you're never going to live the life God's called you live.

20:02 A can-do spirit, a can-do person can see what God sees.

20:07 I don't know what I can see in your life.

20:11 I can try to imagine, but I can't ever, ever shrink myself and go, well, brick can't do anything.

20:19 Grit can't do anything.

20:20 I'm never going to say that.

20:22 You belong to God.

20:23 You're a daughter of the king, and he's giving you everything you can live to overcome.

20:28 But a can-do spirit, he's given you.

20:32 So I can see you doing great things.

20:34 I can see you doing bigger things, better things.

20:37 I can see you helping a lot of people.

20:39 I can see you overcoming.

20:41 I can see you moving forward.

20:43 I can see your stories unfinished.

20:45 And yet with Jesus at the center, he's going to lift, enlarge.

20:50 His love is overwhelming.

20:52 His love is relentless.

20:54 And I tell you, you start doing what God says, it's quite easy to see what God sees.

21:01 Is there any can-do spirits in this place tonight?

21:04 Can do.

21:06 I've found the secret.

21:08 I've learned the secret to overcoming anything.

21:12 I can overcome diabetes.

21:14 I can overcome my sickness, my disease, my depression, my fears, my doubts, my insecurities.

21:22 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

2018-08-06 - What's your advantage Pt. 4 - I Have A Secret - Mark Wilkinson.

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