The Lion and the Waterbuck

As Kathy and I looked out of our car, we stopped at the top of a little copy. That's the South African expression for a little hill. And we looked down and there were some sparse trees, a lot of dry grass, but there was a sparse tree and there was a little small lagoon in front of us, just a little bit further in front and down. And there we saw a pride of waterbak. Now, waterbak is a large deer. They are average about four to five feet high tall shoulders. And they were there around the watering hole peacefully drinking. Amongst them, one could easily identify the male. That was a beautiful, large, robust animal, well above the others in heights. So well above five feet tall, probably 25 percent taller than all the others. Its horns were well developed. Two horns, widely spaced and curving gracefully towards the back. That's the waterbak. So two horns that curve gracefully like that. And as I said, they were there drinking quietly and watching orderly in the wild. It was beautiful for us to just sit there and watch and see the waterbak drinking water. It's interesting, you know, the waterbak have conspicuous little white ring on their rump. And it's like a target. The target mark is actually called, in a friendly circle in South Africa, they call it a follow me sign. And each one's circle is actually different from one's. So they actually know who's in front of them. They can identify so they can follow their mother. So it's very interesting. And I guess it was in the morning, about 10 o'clock in the morning, the sun was already well up, you know, there was no daylight saving storm or something. And so by that time, the sun was well up in the African sky. It was hot and dry, as practically always is. And indeed, it was a lovely setting. It was peaceful. And we're just enjoying. And indeed, we had a good vantage point, you know, you on top there, you could look down and we could look the back and you could see far out into the into the felt, as they call it in South Africa, felt, spelt at V-E-L-D, which has basically the savannah into the savannah into that area. And amongst all that yellow, we could not see any other animals. It was just, you know, the grass and all that was kind of a yellowish color. We could not see anything else. But as we looked closely amongst or behind some thorn bushes, because, you know, you got these fast thorn bushes, you know, thorns about this long, like really, really long thorn bushes. And we then saw one lioness. And then as he looked a bit further, some 100 yards later, he came into the picture another lioness. And then as we looked carefully, there's another one! Or there's a whole cluster there, or there. And, you know, we couldn't even see them at first.

And they were all, in a sense, like strategically placed away from each other. And this pride of lionesses, as we watched carefully, we could see they were carefully crawling towards the back. And even though they were at great distance from one another, to us, it appeared that they were talking to one another. Now, obviously, they went, we couldn't hear, nor could the back hear, but there was as if this unspoken communication going on. Indeed, it was a beautiful view. It really was a beautiful view, an amazing view. And we must have been sitting there for about half an hour watching this. I mean, you can just sit there quietly, any noise, and just watch this. They were, at least, you know, these lionesses were at least about 500 yards from the back. So they were still at a reasonable distance, but they were strategically moving themselves. And then Kathy and I, we were reminded of the scripture in 1 Peter 5, verse 8. 1 Peter 5, verse 8.

1 Peter 5, verse 8 says, we sober, be vigilant, because your adversary, the devil, walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he made a vow. Now, the interesting thing is, they're in the middle of a hunt. It's actually not the lion, it's the lionesses. And they're not roaring. They are quiet, as whatever is very quiet. Just quiet. So, one could think of that. But it's not that that I want to talk to you about today. I want to talk to you about today, is that how the lionesses had a clear vision and a goal to achieve. How they were working together as one, although they were some distance apart. And how they were watching what their goal was. How they were watching. And they realized that they had a unique opportunity. There was a time limit to it, because those back would go and they would have to do something within certain times. So, they had a certain degree of urgency to achieve their goal. And so today, brethren, I want to talk to you about some lessons from nature, particularly about the importance of vision, being ready, and having a sense of urgency. The lions, or the lionesses specifically, had a clear, well-defined vision of what they wanted to achieve. They were watching carefully by being ready. And they worked together with a sense of commitment and urgency to achieve that goal. Likewise, for us, you and I, in our Christian pursuit, we have to be focused on our vision to achieve our goal in life by working together as a team with a sense of urgency.

Now, indeed, we could take that analogy and say, right, which shows our second works.

But we can also take the analogy from another side. It's like you can take an analogy about to say, 11 symbolizes sin, but you can also cross- substitute the analogy of 11 to say, hey, the kingdom of God is like 11. That will grow. So we can use the analogy in both directions. So we have to be focused on our vision. In other words, why are we young? Now, in the Church, we have a very good Bible study guide about our vision, which is the reason why you and I were born. So let's look at that very briefly by starting to look at Genesis 1, verse 26. Genesis 1, verse 26.

And it says, and then God said, let us make man in our image according to our likeness, and let man have dominion, and so on. Right from the beginning, our purpose, the reason why you and I are born is to be in the image and the likeness of God.

But, as we read here in 1st chapter of Genesis, some people may be limited in the scope of this vision by limiting it to a physical creation. But that is like stage one of the ultimate end purpose of why you and I were born. So turn with me to 2nd Corinthians chapter 5 verse 17, because what I mean is that through Christ, 2nd Corinthians chapter 5 verse 17, through Christ, we are a new creation. We are a re-creation. 5 verse 17 says, therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. All things have passed away, all things become new. We are being created, we are in the process of being created to be ultimately, that new creation which was going to be those spirit beings in the likeness and resemblance of God. Turn with me to Ephesians chapter 4. Ephesians chapter 4 verse 22 through 24. And it says that you put off concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the sicola, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind and put on the new man. We need to change who we are with the help of God's Holy Spirit, of course, because Christ opened the door for us through His grace and faithfulness. But we need to put on that new man which is created according to God.

What do you mean according to God? It's interesting how sometimes reading a different version, and in my case, reading in a different language in Portuguese, the word that was translated in the Portuguese Bible there is in the similarity of God. You know, it was according to God, it means similar to God in a resemblance in His image. And that is kind of where, wow, is that what it says there? It's just interesting to read. It brings we, you and I, or to put on a new man so that we can be a new creation, so that ultimately we can be perfect like our Heavenly Father is perfect, and we can be in the likeness of God. And that's what Genesis 1.26 stated, but at a far greater spiritual level. In fact, this is what Paul says in Romans. So turn with me to Romans, please. Romans chapter 8. Romans chapter 8 verse 16 and 17. This is the Spirit. Romans 8 verse 16. That's God's only Spirit working in us. God's only Spirit, the Spirit itself, God's only Spirit itself, bears witness with our Spirit, the Spirit of man in man. So God's only Spirit works together with our Spirit, the Spirit of man in man, that we are children of God, that we are children of God. That is fascinating. Now that, think about it, our Spirit is your Spirit, my Spirit is, think about it, in today's scientific terms, is kind of a pattern of DNA. Right? And in there, you've got a Spirit, he's got this, our characteristics of who we are, it works all together with us. God's Spirit on the other side, it's also got the DNA characteristics of God. And the two merge into one, it's just like the egg and the sperm get together. And at that moment of conception, a new pattern of DNA is formed, which is amazing. Think about, I think, Psalm 136, around about verse 12, that it says, in the womb, you knew what was it, why? Because this DNA was formed. This is not just poetic stuff, this is actually scientific stuff. That Psalm 136, but yeah, we have. God's Spirit, with our Spirit, the two merge, working together, is a witness, it's a proof that you and I have been begotten of God. And we are now children of God, growing, till ultimately, we will be born as Spirit beings, as children of God. So he says, the Spirit himself bears witness of us, but then we are the children of God. And each children then is, is of God.

That's a powerful statement. Don't just read over it. He is of God, and joint is of Christ. Then we're going to inherit God. Just like we have inherited as human beings, humankind, we are in the arid, Godkind, in the similarity of what God is. It's just amazing. If indeed we suffer with Him, then we may also be glorified together. Now, by no means does it say that we'll be equal in authority and power as the Father. By no means, we'll be much smaller, of course. But what it means, we're going to be of that kind, of that family. That is our vision to be children of God. In fact, John emphasizes that in a very crystal and encouraging way. 1 John chapter 3. And by the way, brethren, that's how the sermon act we had today concluded. That's our vision to be sons of God. Look at 1 John chapter 3, starting in verse 1. Behold, what manner of love the Father, God the Father, is bestowed on us, that we, you and I, should be called the children of God. It's just like you as a dad, once your wife is pregnant, that child is your child. Sure, it's not born, but it's already your child. That's it! It's a living being, it's your child. So we, likewise, are living beings who are really children of God, not yet. Like we will be ultimately. That's exactly what it says. Therefore, the wall does not know us. The wall does not grasp it, does not understand. All these worldly religions out there do not get it. Why? Because it, that is the wall, does not know the Father. The wall does not understand who God is. God is. Why? Because Titans receive the wall into a concept of a Trinity, which puts God as a closed entity instead of being a family. And therefore, they don't get it. They don't get it. Beloved. Verse 2. Now we are the children of God. Now, beloved, we are the children of God. If you and I have been begotten with God's Holy Spirit, which you would have received as promised, the promise of the Father upon true repentance and faith, and lay on of hands by a true minister of God, then did it under the authority of Jesus Christ. In other words, in Jesus Christ's name. And it says, beloved, now we are the children of God. And it has not yet been revealed what we shall be. In other words, you and I are now physical. We are not yet what we will be as spirit beings. But that's our vision, Brethren. Do we keep this in mind? That is, that is our goal. That is our vision. That is our target. That is the end result. That is why you and I were born. And this should motivate us.

It says, and it is not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know. And we know, and we know that we know because we know, because we have that fight and confidence. We know that when he is revealed, who is he? Christ. When Christ comes, when he is revealed, we shall be like him, Christ.

For we shall see him as he is. And so we'll see him, Christ, we'll see the Father as they are. Why? Because today you and I cannot see God, neither the Father nor God the Son. Because it's just too bright. You know, I was driving out today. It was overcast the whole day. And I was saying to Kathy and to Clay and Stefano, I was saying, I'm sorry I didn't bring my sun glasses because it was really, the glare was strong. It was really strong. And I was really struggling. At times I had to put my hands in front of my eyes just to keep the glare out. Imagine the glare from God's glory. We can't see it. He says, because we can't see it. But he says, but then we shall see him as he is. We'll have the capability of seeing God as he is. And the other thing, college in part, verse 3. Therefore, everyone who has this hope, this hope which is based on this vision, on this reason why you and I were born, if we have this hope, we're going to work hard. We're going to make our best. We're going to be motivated and encouraged to do what? To be clean, to purify ourselves just as God is pure. So what is our vision, brethren? The church has a vision statement which actually is good for us to think about it. And let me just state it to you. It says it's a church led by God's Holy Spirit, joined and knit together by what every member supplies. Every member, each one of us, you and I, with all doing their share in love to fulfill God's great purpose for humanity, which is to bring many children to glory. We need to have that vision, what is God's great purpose to humanity, which is for you and I to be His children in His glory. Obviously much inferior to Him, but in that kind. But we are a church led by God's Holy Spirit, jointly knit together, each one doing its part. Now think about the scene of the Lionesses. They had a clearly defined vision. They were focused.

They had a goal to achieve, and they were watching carefully, ready at any moment to strike. And they realized that they had a window of opportunity, and before they had to be urgent.

So to us, equally, you and I need to be well focused in our vision, which is to be children of God, to achieve our goal in life, which is indeed to be in the first resurrection, to be there. We need therefore to be watch carefully. You know, like I said, purifying ourselves, watch carefully and be ready and have a sense of urgency because there's a limited window of time that we have for this. And our time flees and flies so quickly. So, so what is it that we must do?

What is it that we must do? And therein is what we call a mission statement. What we must do is the mission, which is to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and the kingdom of God in all the world, as we know as a witness, to make disciples and to care for those disciples.

This is summarized in two simple sets of words, which are in our logo, preach the gospel and prepare people. Simple. That's what we're going to do. Preach the gospel and prepare the people.

Now you may say, how can I do that? This is where people get a bit fuzzy. How can I preach the gospel? I'm not a minister. I can't go down in the street corner and start preaching. I'm not a... and if you did, in this society, it would not work. So indeed, there are two parts in doing God's work. Preaching the gospel is a witness to the world and preparing the people. But how can I, as a member of the spiritual body of Christ, which you and I know is the church, right? The spiritual body of Christ is a church, seeing that I am not the mouth, right? I am not the mouth of that body. I might be a knee, I might be a kneecap, I might be a toe, I might be a leg, I might be a kidney, I might be a year, I might be a piece of air getting grayer and grayer. I might be a piece of air getting grayer and grayer.

How can I do my part? I'm just a housewife, some will say. I can't do that. I'm just a young single in the church. I'm not a minister. I can't go out there and do things. How can I do that part? In fact, maybe I'm a successful businessman, but I have not been chosen to be a minister. So how can I do that?

And here in Christ gives us some good clues in the Seminole Mount. Let's look at Matthew chapter 5 verse 14 through 16. Matthew 5 verse 14 through 16. You are the light of the world.

Now, you all know what a light is. We've got lights here in the room. Lights. There's something about these lights. For one, they're not flickering, because if they're flickering, they're kind of nuisance. You take it off, and usually when they click it, they make a noise. And they're really just an even greater nuisance. You're going to take them off.

There is a big important lesson in that analogy. A light does not make a noise and does not flicker. How is our light? Is it a noisy light and flickering? Sometimes very intense, and other times not, and whatever it is? Or we're just a stable, peaceful light. Let's go on reading. A city that sits on a hill cannot be eaten. So, yeah, if you're light, you'll be seen. Nor will the light take lamp and put it under a basket. No, you're not going to lamp it. Put it underneath and hide it underneath. No, you're going to put it on top so you can see it. But on a lamp stand, it gives light to all who are in the house. It gives light. And so, verse 16, let your light so shine before man. That they may hear your good words. Well, no, no, no, I'm sorry, not hear. That they may see your good words and glorify your Father in heaven. It's a great clue. How can I preach by being a light? If you, if we all are a powerful light in a world where we go, and if we work well effectively as an effective light, not flickering, by being, in other words, a good example, what great effectiveness that will be. What great effectiveness that will be as we are in a sermonette, how that example would nudge, spiritually nudge at the people. Christ's chapter later in the same sermon, it says in chapter 7, verse 15 says, He says, Beware of false prophets who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inward and ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits.

And now he goes on, you know, can a good tree bear back fruit? Can a bad tree get good fruit? And he says in verse 20, Therefore by their fruits you will know them. So it's that example, those fruits that you and I see, they are a light. They are a light.

Now, I want to interject you of something that is important for us to understand. Do works save you? No. Do works make you just? No. Look at Ephesians chapter 2. Ephesians chapter 2.

Verse 1, as an introduction to this theme, and you were murdered alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins. So you were living, but because you were sinning, you were dead. So when one often says, you know, well, you preached to the dead, that's what it means. You were dead because you were sinning. So you preached to those people that are sinning. That's what it means. So you are light to those. So you were. So you're not committing sin anymore. But look at that. And now with that concept in mind, look at verse 8 through 10. For by Christ, you have been saved through faith. The graciousness of God puts us in the path of being justified, and ultimately you and I will be saved if we stay in that path, of course. So through faith. And that's not our faith. It says that's not of ourselves. That is not our faith. It is the gift of God. In other words, it's the faith of Jesus Christ that He died for us. He came, He emptied Himself, He died for us. He had faith in the Father and the Father would resurrect Him. He didn't doubt. And because of that, He did. And therefore that graciousness of God, of what the Father did and what the Son did for us, that's what leads us in that path, which will lead to ultimate salvation.

So grace and faith is what saves us and what justifies us. But we must do works. Because that's why I read verse 1 first. Because you were dead in dresses and sense, which means you were. You're not anymore. That means now you're mine. In other words, God ordained that you and I should have good work. Works. It was the response that you and I need to have to God's gift of grace and His faith, of what He's done for us and what He continuously does for us in so many ways. Our response is be a good example. Be a light. Have good works. Have good fruits. So those in works do not proceed, but they follow.

And they end result because of God's grace and faith.

Now sometimes also people get confused of saying, well, you know, you're reading Galatians 5, 22 and 23, and quite often, well, let's look at that. Galatians 5. Galatians 5, just one or two pages beyond where you are. Galatians 5, verse 22-23. And people read at the swipe, but the fruits of the Spirit. But take attention carefully, please. The word there is not in plural. It's in singular. How many people say, well, you gotta have fruits of the Spirit. You gotta have fruit of love. You gotta fruit of joy. You gotta fruit of peace. Nobody says the fruit of the Spirit is. It's one fruit which has all these attributes, which is about love, joy, peace, long suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, or good or weakness, and self-control, self-discipline. All these attributes together is what the Holy Spirit gives us. Then with that, you and I produce fruits, produce examples, produce good examples, produce light, and different examples of light in our lives.

So, how can I do more? How can I do more? By being light, by doing good works, having good fruits.

That's how I wish I could do more.

Now, when you are light, when you do good works, you're gonna stand out.

And as everyone comes across to you that some people have asked, how come are you so different? I mean, it's come to us. People have asked. I remember some people asking my wife, for instance, she's running a place full from home, etc., and they said, but you are so different. Why? What is different?

You see, the good works. Make people wonder, what makes you different? Why are you different? That is your opportunity to exercise what is written in 1 Peter 3 verse 15. 1 Peter 3 verse 15.

2 Peter 3 verse 16. But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense.

The religious term people use is apologetics, the fender of faith, apologetics. Give a defense. In other words, to give a reason of your faith to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you. Why are you different? I am different because of this hope, of this vision that I have, than what God has done for me. And sometimes you need to answer it clearly, concisely, with as little words as possible. Because that might be sufficient and you don't want to know any more. But when you get, you take that and go into half an hour semanet, they switched off and they walk away from you. So just be concise and answer. Then if they want to know more, they'll ask you more. And then you give further. And that is how you can preach the gospel. How do you start? By being alive, by being an example. And through that example, people ask you a question. And by asking a question, you give an answer of the reason of the hope that is in you. With weakness and fear. With teachability and gentleness. You know, weakness means being gentle. Like a tame little animal which is tame, which is meek, which is teachable, which is malleable, which is malleable like the clay. With that teachability from God that you need. And fear. Fear what? Fear of God. Because yeah is an opportunity for you to give an answer that would be glorious to God. And be careful that you and I say it in a way that it's gonna glorify God, not take it away.

You see, the danger is in that sometimes we engage our tongue and our mouth too much, too hard, and we say too much. And we gotta be careful. You gotta just have meekness and fear. And just, just enough. And there, if you just say it enough, if the person is interested, they'll then draw and ask more. And more. And more. Along with the sermonette, where we heard about that matching, spiritual matching, there is that opportunity out there.

So we are to be alight and produce good works for the glory. Of God. And we do that in meekness and in fear. But some people might say, oh, wait, wait, wait, but look at what Paul said here. We all need to prophesy. Oh, let's look at that. 1 Corinthians chapter 14. 1 Corinthians chapter 14. 1 Corinthians chapter 14. Pursue love. So it's just after chapter 13 when it says, you know, you got all these gifts, but the biggest of them all is love, which is up and concerned. In other words, we are to work together, literally join together in love. Key word in love. So pursue love and desire spiritual gifts. But specially that you might prophesy. Therefore, I desire to be a minister and I want to stand a bridge. Is that what it says? You see, that's a jump in a statement. It's not what it says. What is prophesy? Now prophesy is a word that can be used for more than one meaning. Like you can prophesy like a prophet prophesy the future, but you can also be used in a meaning to be something which you speak to declare, for instance, God's goodness and something that is uplifting and inspiring in a conversation. When you are talking to other people, and you are uplifting and inspiring conversation, you are uplifting, you are professing, practicing this characteristic of godliness, of showing to others, telling others how God has blessed you this past week. Or certain things that happen to you which you give God glory.

But who you do that to? You do that to brethren. For instance, when after church, after services, and we get together and have a few snacks, and says, you know what happened to me? And this and that. We all can give and declare, and in that safe environment of God's people, after services, mention some things, some idea that came from the sermon, and how, or another subject about how God has intervened, and therefore, on the Sabbath, his ideal time to declare the goodness of God to one another as brethren in the church, and to uplift and inspire one another.

And that's why we come to church. That's one of the reasons why we come to church. Let's continue reading in verse 4. Verse 4, he who speaks in a tongue, he defies himself. He that speaks in a language, he defies himself. If I started speaking to you young Portuguese, you would understand zero, or maybe some of you would, but you understand very little of what I said. Oh, but look at him, how well he can speak Portuguese. Or if I said, okay, I'll start speaking to you in Afrikaans. Yes, I can speak Afrikaans as well. Not very good, but I do. I will redefine myself.

But he who prophesies, he who speaks glories of God, he who declares the goodness of God, he who talks about uplifting and inspiring things about God, edifies the church. We are the edify, the brethren in church, one another. I wish you all spoke in different languages. Oh, yes, I wish you all could speak Portuguese. They all have more people to help me in Brazil. I wish you all did, and there wouldn't be a lot. But currently, I just... The way God's got, it's me and a few others that maybe are helping there. And that's the way it's got. So I wish you spoke more languages.

But even more, I wish that you prophesied. I wish that you speak about God's goodness, and speak about the inspiring things that God has done for you. For you, prophesied, is greater than who speaks in different languages. Why? Because you are plifting the church. He gives encouraging good words about the church and about God, about what God has done for us. He's a big value for the brethren during Christian fellowship. So he is better than who speaks in a different language, unless he's got the translator.

Yeah, if you got a translator, you can speak yeah, and then you get somebody that comes yeah, that speaks, for instance, Spanish, and then you got somebody that translates what he says, then yeah, then the church will be edified through it.

So if you have a translator, that the church may receive edification. And look at verse 24, 1 Corinthians 14 verse 24. But if all prophesied, if all prophesied, in other words, if all are coming to church, yeah, and you have a Christian fellowship, and we're all talking about the goodness of God, we're talking about uplifting and inspiring things about God, yeah, in church. And a new person comes to church, an unbeliever, or a person which is uninformed comes in, and he hears this in church, he's convinced by everybody.

He says, wow, and he's convicted by that. Can you see how when you understand what Paul is saying, it makes sense? And that's why when you read scriptures like Hebrews chapter 10, look at verse 23 through verse 25. They're so important. Hebrews chapter 10. Hebrews chapter 10, verse 23 through 25. He says, let us all pass the confession of our hope. Let us all on the confession of our hope without wavering. For he who promised is faithful. What is our hope?

To be children and daughters of God in a family of God. That's why you're born. He's faithful. He will not let that undone. He will make sure it will happen. And therefore, verse 24, let us consider one another. Let us consider one another. So after church, when we have a meal and we talk, we have Christian fellowship, and that let us consider one another to stir up love and good works. Because talk about things that happen to you and this and that, and this is encouraging and uplifting, and you're stirring up that love for one another and good works.

And therefore, it says in verse 25, not forsiking the assembling of ourselves together. Not forsiking the opportunity of getting together in church. As, unfortunately, is the manner of some, he says, but exhorting one another. And so much more, the more, as you see, the die approaching. And brethren, much more now as we see, than we are, the Germany of the family. You just have to look around. Time is short. We have a sense of urgency. We've got to get going now. We need to assemble. We need to be united. We need to help one another. So can you see how this ties in with preparing a people?

And can you see how we all can do that? You don't have to be a minister. And do you therefore realize that this is the work of God?

Let's go back again. The work of God is to make you and I a daughter and a son of God in his family. But for us to get dead, you and I have to be prepared. We have to be an example, to change the old man to the new man. And we have to be that light. And we are, at the same time, with acts of love, encouraging and helping one another to grow. And so, as you and I are working ourselves and changing ourselves, so that you and I can be a light and can be an example, and our words are well-fitting to God, as we heard in the sermon, we are nudging one another spiritually. And we are actually doing the work of God. Because the work of God is not just preaching the gospel, but it's preparing a people. We are preparing ourselves. And a housewife can do that. We all can do that. By being malleable, it was by being meek, and having the fear of God. So, this act of preparing a people, which is part of preparing ourselves and preparing ourselves, being better, becoming better, and this is the work of God. Why? Because God cannot use us in the world tomorrow. So, if you are like some of the people that we've seen and used today that say such mistakes, and say, how can people like that are supposed to be delegates in an assembly of... and they say things that you'll not have that in the world tomorrow. So, you and I need to now be working ourselves and improving ourselves, so that we are prepared and ready, so that when the world tomorrow comes, we are ready. And that is part of the work of God, which is what? Preparing ourselves to be better. It's equally important. And that can... anybody can do. Whether you're a single man, whether you're a young family, or young people in the church, or whether you're a man or a woman, we all can do that. And we're doing this by working together in unity, one another, by what each member of the body supplies, each joint supplies to that body. And that, brethren, is what Christ prayed about, which what I would call his lost world. Think about it. You know, like when a person dies, if you've got the lost world, or the person who reads a lost world, in a sense, in an analogy, think about Christ's final prayer on the night he was betrayed. That's in John 17. And he prayed to God. It was like, think about as a human being, he's kind of his lost world. And there, look at it in John 17, verse 20 through 23.

John 17, verse 20 through 23.

I do not pray, as Christ prayed in front of the samples, for these alone, but also for those who believe in me through their words, through the word of the Apostle, through the word that follows from the Apostles through the ministry, etc. That they may be one. Christ prayed, he said, you and I may be one. Oh, but that's not possible. How can we be one? We different people. Yes, we are. But God wants us to be one. As you, Father, are in me and I in you. All the people say, oh well, if God is one, because that's what it says, God is one, it can't be two people. Well, it is. One is the Father, the other is the Son. But he says, as you, Father, are in me. And he's praying that you and I may be one as they are one. And I knew that they may be one in us, that the world may believe that you sent me. Just like the Father and the Son are one, Christ's prayer is that we all, one day, all will be one part of that family, one family.

And the glory which you gave me, I've given them, that they may be one, just as we, God the Father and Jesus Christ, are one. I then, you in me, that they may be perfect in unity. You see, when God is one, it's implying that the Father and the Son are one in unity. That's what it is. And that desire of unity, of us working together and throwing away those tweaks, but focused on the trunk of the tree so that we can be one, regrettably. Regrettably. Some of us are very clever, very intelligent, very smart, and make out of these tweaks a matter of salvation and constitution. So that's why it says, be unique, be unique, and in fear. That is why, brethren, you and I need to keep a clear focus in our vision. Our vision is to be a church led by God's Holy Spirit, joined and met together. You and I joined and met together by what every single one of you and I we all provide or supply with all doing our share of being a light, of being an example of the inside. We all, because we're not all a mouth in the body of Christ, so we all do our share, whatever our share is, maybe our share is to be a knee, maybe my share is to be an arm, maybe our share is to be a nail, or whatever it is. But we all do our share and growing in love. So that you and I fulfill God's great purpose for humanity to bring many children to glory. That is our vision, brethren. Now, the lions had a clear vision to achieve a goal. But what did you get as a team?

The lions, when they are focused on that vision, they don't make a noise, they don't draw. But they are busy at work, quietly, focused, alert, alert. But likewise, we're the water back, too. They were alert. And you know, it's interesting to watch the water back. Because they were quietly drinking.

But that male leader was alert, and he sensed the lioness. And so, quietly, started getting the flock together. No panic. No panic. And it was interesting that those female water back, none of them said, Who are you to tell me what to do? I have my right, it's my right! No, they all, she, you know, meekly got together. Got together, and they all humbly went and started moving away from the water.

The male back was not caught on a waist because he was vigilant. He was vigilant. And because of that, he gathered them and told them somehow, whatever way he tells them, go that way. And he stayed between the flock and the lionesses to protect them. This was really, I mean, it's a real lesson in working together as a team, both from the lionesses and from the backs. I mean, and they all alert and they all realized that there was a sense of urgency they had to do. Now, breaking the point is we all live in perilous times. You and I know, you just have to read, and Timothy says, at the end time, it'll be perilous times, and people be like this, and bad, and cruel, and brutal, and I don't know what else, and we can see this. You just have to watch TV, and you see these words that are brutal and just wicked. But we've got to be careful, because Christ also said, you know, speaks about a parable, and says, you know, who's the wise man? And he says, well, the foolish servant says, well, there's plenty time. There's plenty time, the Lord Elazie's coming. We've got to be careful, brethren, that we don't get into that attitude. We've got to be watching. We've got to be urgent. We've got to be continuously focused. We've got to be urgent in season and out of season. We've really got to be urgent. But the key point that I want to leave with you is that we've got to be focused on our vision. We really have to be focused on our vision, and that's why we're born. And brethren, there are specific things that you and I individually need to do, to do God's work. It's not just about people used to say in the past, well, it's just pray and pay. No, it's not just pray and pay. There's a lot more that you and I need to do as a light, as an example, and how you handle yourself, and how you work together and jointly knit together so that every member supplies a part in love. So, brethren, we need to be ready. We need to be a light. We need to be an example. We need to do things in a way that people ask the right questions. We need to answer carefully, not kind of give a whole lecture off that, but just carefully. And at the same time, don't get caught in the tweets. Don't get caught in the tweets. Hold on to the trunk of the tree at that sense of urgency, because time is short. And, by the way, if you ever have an opportunity to go on a safari, like we call it in South Africa, don't ever miss such an opportunity. To go on a game drive, because it's awesome and inspiring to see amongst God's creation and learn some spiritual lessons, like the lesson of the lion and the waterbark.