Skip to content Providence and Purpose: Finding God in Your Story || Pastor Diego Mesa Dec 15 · 42 min ...more
Providence and Purpose: Finding God in Your Story || Pastor Diego Mesa
December 15, 2024 · 42 min
Series Patria Sermons December 15, 2024 · 42 min · Patria Sermons
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Adam Mesa is Lead Pastor of Patria Church and speaks to a congregation of 12,000 about how the gospel of Jesus Christ brings purpose to every life. Patria
492K followers
The Sounds of Christmas 0:00 Father, I thank you for the people that are here today, God. It's no accidents and coincidence that they're here today, Laura. I thank you for everything you're doing in the kingdom of God around the world, God.0:20 Before. We recognize that we are on the verge of the greatest revival that has ever taken place,0:36 great darkness in this world, but the church is becoming brighter, Patriot want to be in the middle of it,0:48 God, to see you move. And that's why we're here today to grow in Jesus name. Amen. What did Pastor Fuego say? Hey.1:00 Is that what he said? Hey. I'm not a hey I'm maybe a yo. But anyways, hey, let's stand on our feet for the reading of God's1:11 word. Pastor Adam introduced, a thought for us today as we preach about the sounds of Christmas. And this has been the, text that we've been using as we1:23 preach about the noise and the sound of Christmas. And it applies to you. What kind of sound and noise will you bring to this Christmas season this year?1:44 And when he had said these things, he went ahead going into Jerusalem, speaking of Jesus. And when he drew near to Beth Age in Bethany, at the mount that is called Olev, he sent 2 of his1:56 disciples saying, go into the village in front of you, where on entering you will find a cult. Say this word with me, donkey. The word, colt is inferring2:08 to a young donkey on which no 1 has ever sat untie it and bring it here. If anyone asks you why are you untying it, you shall say, and let's say it together, the2:20 Lord has need of it. And then it goes on. So those who were sent went away and found it. I love this. Just as he had told them. Exactly.2:32 God, when he speaks to you, it's gonna be accurate and it's not gonna be an embarrassment to you. He's prearranging something and he's ahead. He just needs you to move out. And as they were untying the code,2:44 it's owner said for a second time, why are you untying this coat? And he says this, the Lord said again, the Lord has need of it. And they brought it to Jesus throwing their cloaks on2:55 the colt and set Jesus on it. And as he rode along, they spread their cloaks on the road As he was drawing near already on the way down of Mount Olives, the whole multitude of his3:07 disciples began rejoicing and praising God with a loud voice for all the works that they had seen, the name of the Lord.3:19 Peace in heaven and glory in the highest. And some of the Pharisees, there's always those in the crowd, said, Teacher, rebuke your disciples. That's too loud. I don't know why it's necessary to do all that.3:33 If these were silent, the very stones would cry out. You may be seated. We used to say there ain't no rock gonna cry in my place.3:45 That was a noise. That was said at that particular time. Many years ago, there was a television program called The American Inventor. And 1 of my3:57 favorite characters was on there. He was a judge. His name was George Foreman. And, and it was a great store thing where they bring inventions, and then they judge them, and they4:09 decide if they're gonna invest in them, or or would they make it, in in the market or not. And if George liked something, he had this classic line, I can use that. I can4:20 use that. And there's hope for us when we read this story about a donkey that Jesus sat on that he had need.4:32 There's hope for us that Jesus can use you. And you know what the name of it another name for a donkey is. I'll maybe know when we read the story and the messages that have4:44 been given to us, kind of faith that was exemplified. And last week was a tremendous I was4:56 listening to it on the bike and I almost had to stop because it overwhelmed me about the transition. That all of us are through transitions. What will be will we be faithful, in those transitions, of5:08 Mary, and of Joseph in those But all these stories, whether it's the wise men or whether it's the shepherds or whether it's Mary or whether it's Joseph, they are all supporting5:20 actors. And the main actor in the story is Jesus. And somehow we get it in reverse when we think the donkey in us is the main focal point of5:31 the actor in life rather than Jesus. How many of you know Christmas? Jesus is the main actor in Christmas. It's not your eggnog. It's not your football5:43 games. It's not your Jack Daniels, it's not your bread pudding, or ribs, or whatever it might be. How many of you know, it's not the Christmas carols, it's Jesus5:55 is the reason for the season. And we could get messed up in life if we reverse the role. If we reverse the role. Now, I'm going to read6:07 a little bit today of what we're going to talk about because we're going to introduce 2 characters and the noise that they bring to Christmas. And we're gonna learn a little bit from that. And so I'm gonna6:19 start off in Luke the second chapter. It's a little lengthy, but we'll dice it up in a few moments. There was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon. This man was6:31 righteous and devout looking forward to Israel's consolation. In other words, comfort and encouragement. And the Holy Spirit was on him. Holy Spirit was on him. He had been revealed to him. It6:42 had been revealed to him second time by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death. He wasn't gonna die before he saw the Lord's Messiah. His savior.7:09 Then it goes on, Simon took him up in the arms. He held Jesus. He touched Jesus. He heard Jesus. He looked into Jesus and said, now, Master, you7:21 can dismiss your servant in peace. I have found my peace salvation. I've looked into the eyes of Jesus. You have prepared it in7:32 the presence of all people. He is a light of revelation to the gentiles, the glory to all Israel.7:51 Then Simeon blessed them. This older gentleman blessed these teenagers. An older generation blessed a younger generation. And Mary,8:03 indeed he said, this child is destined. Remember these 2 words, rise. And we could say this in all humanity. In Israel, in a sign that will be,8:15 obsessed. And a sword will pierce your own sword. The thoughts of many will be revealed. Second lady, person8:27 in the story, a daughter of Fennel, the tribe of Asher. She was well along in years, having lived with her husband 7 years after her marriage, was a widow 84 years. She's around a hundred or8:39 either 84. She did not leave. She did not leave. Remember this. She did not leave the temple serving God night and day with fasting and with prayers. At that8:51 very moment, she came up and began to thank God, because she saw Jesus, to speak about him to all who are looking forward to the redemption of Israel.9:02 Let's what you and I got here is an 8 day year old Jesus in his humanity. He has always existed eternally9:14 as But when he put on frail humanity and was born, he's now 8 days old. And Joseph and Mary are abiding by their Jewish9:26 law that said they were to be dedicated. So they walk in at this moment and they're encountering an older man named Simeon, an older woman named Anna. In our church, we do baby9:38 dedications. This year, we've had a hundred and 21 baby dedications. Why do we do baby dedications? So that parents can dress up their little kids9:49 in pretty little outfits? No, it's far greater than that. When you dedicate a child unto the Lord, you're saying, God, I want your favor on this child. I want your blessing on this child. I want your divine destiny10:01 on this child. I want your provision on my child. I want my child to know God all the days of his life, serve God all the days of God, and love God. That's pastor Adam right there.10:14 That's Nathan right there. And that's Caleb right there. But that's what was happening right now. So now, I wanna break down these 5 points very quickly, very10:26 quickly. Of the noise that Simeon and Adam brought forth when they saw Jesus. The first 1 is this, is the sound10:38 of the providence of God. Word that we don't often talk about. But in this story, you see the providence of God. Is10:50 it a coincidence? Happenstance. Random and chance, that Jesus so happened to be at the place11:02 where Simeon and Anna were. That Simeon and Anna just happened to walk in if they were a day earlier, if they were a day later, if they were hours before or later out, they would have missed11:14 Jesus. We see the providence of God. What is the providence of God you say? It's God's in arrangements in our life. It's God's orchestrating your life. It's11:26 God setting you up for something in your life. It's the DNA of God. It's the fingerprint of God. It's the footprint of God. It's the signs of God.11:39 Not everything in your life is the providence of God, but there are some things that have been prearranged. There's some things that are gonna happen in your life that you're not gonna have an explanation11:51 for. That you're just gonna have to sit back and say, woah. Wow. How is this happening? What's up with this? This looks like God. I wasn't expecting. I just prayed12:03 yesterday and boom the answer is here today. It could be on a bus. It could be on a train. It could be on an airplane. I12:15 hope that every How many married persons are in here today? I hope that you saw the providence of God that brought you to meet the person you are married to today. If you can't,12:26 it's too late. I bless you now with the providence of God. How many of you realize that Diego wasn't the only person in Cindy's life? How many of you12:38 realize that Cindy wasn't the person in Diego's life? That if Diego was somewhere else, if Diego chose to join the marine the marine corps, he would have never met her. If Diego became a sheriff, he would have12:50 never met her. If Diego took his professional career as an athlete away, he would have never met her. But it was the providence of God that brought us together.13:04 It's important that you acknowledge when these times come. The second thing is, is that you respond to why God set this up. That you don't dismiss it, and you don't diminish13:16 it, and you don't walk away and say, wait a minute. This is nothing, and blow it off. This is God, and he wants me to do something. He wants me to witness to this person that's crying right next to13:27 me. I wanna go to sleep on the airplane, but why is this person crying next to me? It's the providence of God. When we walked on this13:39 property in 2005, it wouldn't have been built till 2007, in which we would occupy.13:52 Minimum of 30 acres, a maximum of 40 acres. And we looked at several properties on paper, and then physically we drove up on it. But when I14:04 came up on this 30 acres, there was this thing. It was the only living thing that existed on this raw 30 acres.14:15 Olive tree that lived on. God just watered it. It had been here I don't know how long. And we were questioning what land should we buy. And I don't know if you've14:27 ever been in that predicament where this or that, or should I go here, or shouldn't I go? God give me direction, give me guidance. Then the providence of God when I showed up there, I said, what the heck is that? And I14:39 had to walk toward it to see. And I said, oh my God, it's an olive tree. I know what the olive means in the Bible. And I said, this is a place of peace. God must be bringing peace, and telling me14:51 this is where it's at. Olive is a sign of prosperity, because you can't kill an olive tree through a doubt, through storm. It will not die. And I said, we are called abundant living.15:03 Prosperity represents the abundance of God. This will be the home of Rancho Cucamonga, a patriot or abundant living. It was the providenceProvidence and Evangelism 15:14 of God. After that, I didn't need no confirmation. I didn't need to call nobody. I didn't need to pray no more. I didn't need to labor no more. God spoke to me. You're not an accident. You're not an accident. You're not15:25 an accident. The providence of God has predestined you. Here's the second thought I want to share with you is the fact that the sound of evangelism,15:37 their faith was resounding. Immediately, 1 of the first people that God uses is a woman to preach the gospel. Simeon15:49 saw his salvation. And so the noise of Christmas and the sound of Christmas is about sharing our faith. And16:01 Pastor Adam masterfully told us last week that the number 1 reason why people come to church is because they were invited. And he shared that 15 to 1600000016:12 Bibles are being bought today by Gen Z. A young generation that have never had a Bible, maybe never heard the gospel before, Are now hungry and16:24 curious to know who Christ is. And so you and I are individuals that make us the sound. And I want you to know that what was it? What is it our conviction? Is it16:36 our joy? Is it our delight? That makes it that we can't keep it to ourselves. That makes it that we can't keep it to ourselves. I don't know about you. Have you ever shared something that you really enjoyed? A recipe, a16:48 restaurant, a barbershop, your favorite wine that you ran across? Don't act like you've never drinking no wine. Have you ever17:00 run across something that you just you you just had to share with some Maybe you've you you watched a TV series on Netflix and you had to just share it with someone. Do we share the17:12 gospel as freely? If we really believe there If we don't believe there's a heaven, let's not share it. If we don't believe that there's a hell, let's not share it. If we don't believe in forgiveness,17:23 grace, and love, and mercy, and eternal life, let's not share it. But if we do, you can't keep it to yourself. It's something that17:36 you and I have to be willing to share, and we delight to share with other people. Remember when I was growing up on milk carton, when you get a milk carton with milk in it, there17:48 was on the backside missing children. It was less children that were missing, God forbid, kidnapped or abducted.18:00 But now many of you know there are still people missing. You are the milk carton now. And you are the 1 that is supposed to be looking. You are the 1 that's supposed to18:11 be searching. You can't forget your neighbors and your coworkers. No matter how wayward they are, difficult they are, weird they are. Look at somebody and tell somebody, you haven't18:23 always looked this way. Some of you, God's not done with you yet. The other day I18:35 was putting up my Christmas tree lights. You know, it was warm. And so, I had a hundred dollar bill in my pocket.18:47 And, was putting up those lights. And when I was done, it was it was dark now. And I came in and took my keys out of my pocket, took my wallet out of my pocket, took my phone out of the pocket, laid it where I18:59 did, and then I I couldn't couldn't find the hundred dollar bill. Now, how many of you know if it's a 1 dollar bill?19:11 5, 10, 20, okay. 50, but if it's a hundred, how many of you know what a hundred is? Come on, don't act like you don't know what a hundred is today.19:25 Well, it's dark. I got the flashlight. I want to put pants on because it's cold now and got a jacket. And I'm scouring in dark the19:36 backyard looking for a hundred dollar bill. And I see something very vaguely, and I come up to it. It is my hundred dollar bill, but it's cut in half.19:50 Well, now, it's on. I'm looking for the other half of my hundred. Light to come up the next day.20:02 I got up, and I'm back there scouring the backyard. I looked at bushes and hedges. Wait a minute, I think I heard that in the scripture. Go into the highways and the byways and the20:14 hedges and the bushes and compel them to come into the kingdom of God. Away that20:26 dirt. I was out there putting effort and energy because this wasn't a 1 dollar bill. This was a hundred dollar bill that was lost and I needed to connect it to its God, to its20:37 maker, to its founder. I needed it to be Come on, I'm preaching now on a Sunday morning. I needed it to be complete. It's it's worthless.20:53 The next day, for my grandkids, I hired them, sent them in all directions. I have my21:05 suspicions with 2 labs. How this got this way, and where the other half is. And I've been looking every day. And21:17 I don't know about you. I will touch the crap if it's in Well, you gotta touch some crap in the world if you wanna get21:31 Find what's missing. The third point, or the noise that I'd like to share is how this elderly couple finished well.21:44 They finished well in their old age. They were not inactive. They were active. They were not declining. They were21:56 inclining. They were not decreasing, they were increasing. They were not retiring, they were refiring these old people. I could speak from this now22:08 that I look a certain way now. I'm tired of old people who don't do nothing in the kingdom of God. You don't know how valuable you are. There's a22:19 young generation called Jesus, called Joseph and Mary. 3 generations in this story. And you have the lead in this story now of older people22:32 blessing them. You have other you have an old generation speaking into their life of encouragement. You have an older generation model, who God is. This22:43 is young couple of trepidation. Doesn't know what it is to have a baby. Doesn't know what it is to own a home, doesn't know what it is to serve God, but they will model it and they22:55 will mentor it and be a comfort to the next generation that needs to see. Now just tell me, now just preach to me, Show me who God is in your life that you've lived these23:07 60, 70 and 80 years with God. Let me see the benefit and the fruit of it. People are gonna get old, doesn't mean they're gonna get old in Jesus.23:21 Everybody gets old. Doesn't mean they're gonna get old in their faith. So I see this these these aged individuals,23:34 that are that are just simply finishing well. When I look at Simeon, the bible says that he held. It's just over well. He23:46 held his Lord in his hands. And he looked into his eyes, and it's said, I'm ready to go home.23:58 I have nothing to live for now. I am so fulfilled. I am so complete now because I found my Jesus. And24:10 I'd be so strong to tell some of the older Yeah. And afford for you to die yet. Yeah. Because you've not seen Jesus.24:26 When you have found the peace of your life, when you have found the salvation of your life. Good. Good. Good. But we can't have anybody slip into eternity who24:38 have not touched him and held him and heard him and felt him. The oldest active boat that is still24:50 in our navy fleet as a military boat was built and commissioned in 17 97. It's the USS Constitution.25:04 It's still afloat. God forbid, that all the battleships are sunk tomorrow. This guy will25:16 be deployed. He may not move as fast as the others, but he getting out in the old waters. He may not be as strong and modern and hip as all the other young boats.25:29 But he's ready for active duty. He's ready to be commissioned. He's ready for being assigned. How many of you want to be like that as you get aged?25:42 God give me a mountain like Caleb. Give me a giant to slay, oh God. Something that25:53 my years of wisdom, experience, heartache, brokenness, losses, failures, can minister life and hope to people, God. I can't water my lawn all day, God. IFinishing Well and the Holy Spirit 26:05 can't watch news all day, God. I can't play golf all day, God. The third point the fourth point, excuse me,26:18 is the fact that they were both the sound of the Holy Spirit in their lives. The Holy Spirit is all in26:29 there. How does this guy know when to show up? He's got some insider information. He sit there drinking his coffee26:41 and he's he feels something. It's time. Holy Spirit guided him. Holy Spirit led him. Then you got this woman who is full of the Holy Ghost. She's a26:53 prophetess. That means she operates in the gifts of the Holy Ghost. She foretells. She operates in the gift of knowledge, wisdom, and she the word of wisdom, word of27:05 knowledge, and discernment of spirit. Some people call themselves a prophet, but if you don't operate in the gifts and they don't flow through you, you're not a prophet. It was all by the Holy Ghost. The27:17 thing that this thing is happening in their lives. And here's what I need to tell you. You don't have to be a seminary graduate. You don't have to know all your Bible27:32 he'll amazingly use you on your job so that you don't so that you don't blend in, you just stand out. He'll use you in your home when your when your forefathers have been failures as fathers.27:44 He'll use you to impact a new generation by the Holy Spirit. When you used to be in bondage to porn and addictions, the Holy Spirit will deliver you and set27:56 you free, and you'll walk away and turn from that lifestyle. The Holy Spirit will guide and lead you. Here's what the Bible says. And, John, forte, of all some attributes that he brings, but the28:08 comforter, the counselor, the helper, the intercessor, the advocate, the stranger, the standby, the Holy Spirit whom the Father will send in my name and my place to represent me and act on my behalf. He's28:20 gonna teach you all things because I don't know all things. And he will cause you to recall because I can't remember everything in my life. You wanna know what the Christian secret sauce28:32 is? It's the Holy Ghost. But you shall receive power after the Holy Ghost has come upon you. Not by power, not by might, but by my28:44 spirit sayeth the Lord. I don't care what your IQ is. Even the mighty Superman needs the28:56 sun. Spiderman needs his spider. The Hulk needs his radiation.29:08 Iron Man needs that reactor. Let me hear what I'm talking about. Green Lantern needs his his his reign. Christians need the Holy Ghost.29:33 Holy Ghost is all is what it's about. The holy spirit is your Siri and your Alexis when you don't know Siri, Alexis, holy ghost. I don't29:45 know what to do with this wife. I don't know that what to do with these rebellious children. I don't know what to do with this ungodly boss. Holy ghost, you tell me what to do.30:01 You keep using Lexus and you keep using Siri. Which has add the Holy Ghost to that. I I mean, lovely Cindy, we30:13 watch I don't know if it's sign of our age. We we like to watch Family Feud. Every night at 7 o'clock. We're big fans of Steve Harvey. And I was watching and this literally happened.30:25 Watch this. Look, this is the30:27 Hold on. Okay.30:28 Holy Spirit activate. Oh, no. Holy Spirit activate. Holy spirit, activate. Activate. Activate. Alright. Let's go.30:37 11 years has never happened before. Right. That's exactly. Holy spirit, activate. Holy spirit, activate. I said, okay. Activate.30:50 Woo. Come on. You can do this.30:51 See what? Next time you're done at the DMV, Holy Spirit activate. How about the time you're sitting up there taking a test you ain't studied for? Holy spirit, activate. Come on. Hit31:03 it.31:06 Activate. Holy spirit, activate. Holy spirit, activate. Activate. Activate.31:14 Come on, Holy Spirit activate, activate. Alright. Now don't don't be stupid now.31:26 Embarrass yourself in a public. You study before your test. Don't be not asking the Holy Spirit and you ain't studying. You can ask him if you study. Get yourself together, you're looking for a31:38 mate. Holy Spirit, activate, activate. And you look all tore up and jacked up. Oh no no no no.31:52 Because here's what the Holy Spirit wants to bring in our lives. It's it'll be on the screen. You and I need to be controlled by the Holy Spirit. Because you and I have a flesh and we have a big mouth. You need to be32:04 controlled. How many of you haven't been saved all your life? What it You know what it means to be under the influence? You need to be counseled by the Holy Spirit. How to handle this thing? How do I walk32:16 in wisdom? You need to be conditioned by the Holy Spirit because I have a lot of sin in my life and addictions and bondages and anger and I need to be commissioned by the Holy Spirit. You send me, you guide me, you annoy32:28 me, and I need to be convicted by the Holy Spirit. I don't want to go weeks and months without repenting and getting away with things that I shouldn't be doing. And the last point, and I'm done,Show more In this video 0:00 The Sounds of Christmas15:08 Providence and Evangelism26:02 Finishing Well and the Holy Spirit32:37 The Sound of Waiting
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