Eric Peoples - Oasis 2025

[00:00:00] Eric Peoples : Come on. [00:00:01] : New season, same reason. You might have relocated by your zip code, but you still are a kingdom representative. You still represent the kingdom. There's still a story. There's still a prophetic assignment. Stop quantifying and qualifying your assignment from. [00:00:21] : Some other platform than what God has given you. [00:00:30] Thomas: Hello and welcome to welcome to the well, an Elim Fellowship leadership podcast. My name is Thomas and I am excited that you are joining us today as we hear a powerful word from one of our elders, Pastor . Today we are excited to bring you Pastor Eric's message from day two of the 2025 OASIS conference as he discusses the lessons of leadership that are learned in the wilderness. This is a powerful word and I know that you will be impacted by what Pastor Eric has to. So join us as we seek to open prophetic wells in our lives, in our churches and in the world today. Enjoy. [00:01:09] Phil McNeill: This next guest is my friend, him and his wife Melissa. He was in my wedding. I was in his wedding. When I was a senior. He was a freshman at Elim and he traveled with me on a group I led called Highest Call. For a year he tolerated me. And Eric is a man of excellence. And I remember one time we were in Scotland together and he comes up to me and he says to me, he says, there was a lady in a wheelchair. He goes, Phil, I'm going to pray for her after. I believe God to heal her. And I'm going, go for it, man. So after the service, Eric walks over to this lady, stands for five minutes just holding her hands, and all of a sudden she jumped out of that wheelchair and he was holding onto her as she jumped around the front of that room. Needless to say, we had an altar call and the whole team, people's knees were healed. I prayed for, I heard her knees pop right back into place. The miracle working power of God. And we were a bunch of 20 year olds that didn't have any idea what we were doing. Let me tell you something. God's going to start to raise up more 20 year olds so you don't fellowship. Come on. Come on. It's going to happen even more. Even more. And we're going to get behind them because we believe that a little vigor sometimes is needed more than a little wisdom. I didn't say that, but it's true. Come on. Now Eric is pastoring Legacy Church. How many of you love? That's their worship team right there. That's his daughter that was leading and the whole team. And they have graciously come and drove in driving back. I think they're driving back tonight. But Eric planted Legacy Church 10 years ago. And it's 11 years now, isn't it? 11 years ago, and on Easter Sunday, they had over 800 people. So this young man that's coming up here, he's my friend and I've known him for decades. Pastor Peoples, Dr. Peoples. Can you give him a warm welcome? Thank you, Lord. [00:03:29] ] Eric Peoples : Wow, wow, wow. Well, it's good to be with the family. What an honor to be here in front of you. Are you excited? Okay. That was like 15 of you. Okay. You know, I know how sometimes, you know when you're at a conference and there's like that break and so you kind of get back to you. Some of you checked your phones, you're trying to see all this stuff that's going on that we do in an effort to feel like we're controlling, but actually we're not. So let's ask the worship team if they would just come back up for a minute so we could hang out in a deep end for a little bit. You all right with that? Okay. That was better. All right, we're gonna have a good first man first. I'm actually. Oh, first one this morning, and then. And I'm preaching in front of Brother Paul. [00:04:19] : Lord have mercy. [00:04:21] : It doesn't matter how long, how old you get. It's just the same. It's like Jesus, because that man has called me out and called me up, and that's the plan. This morning, I want to speak to you as family. I want to speak to you as a friend and as a leader to leader. Is that all right? So whatever posture you want, sit in your seat with your hands open, just receiving what God has for you. We're just gonna lift our voice and just press in for a moment. How about that? I'll land the plane on time. Don't worry. It's gonna be good. Come on, worship him. Help us. You are the God who sat all things. Mercy's never changing. Who can compare to you? And with all of heaven we cry holy to the only one worthy is the one right healer with all. There's no one like you. We cry holy. There's no one like you. Lord. [00:06:17] : All of heaven, we cry holy. [00:06:28] : So, Father, this morning we declare right now, now, the great and amazing grace of God. God, this morning I speak refreshing. I speak encouragement. God, we declare that this will be a life giving moment. We believe in divine transactions where the strength of God comes, where weakness has been. We, God, we say this moment will Be where beauty comes, where ashes have been and the joy of the Lord will be our strength. [00:07:06] : God, we receive your word. Let it be alive. Let us be alive in the alive that we receive God from the God of more than enough that you are abundantly able to do what you promised. Because you are not a man, you should lie. Nor the son of man. That you change your mind. [00:07:26] : We trust you. We say yes to all that you have for us. In Jesus name we declare there is no one like you, Lord. Come on, put your hands together and bless the Lord this morning. Come on. Thank you, Worship team. I want to encourage you this morning and I'm reminded of a story I heard. It was about, actually Napoleon Bonaparte. Once the most powerful man in Europe, he was now in exile when he made this comment after the defeat in Waterloo. [00:08:09] : And he was reflecting on his life. [00:08:11] : And this is what he admitted. I know men, and I tell you that Jesus Christ is no mere man. Jesus Christ founded his empire upon love. And at this hour, millions of men would die for him. How are you doing today? Are you okay? I remember Sister Sylvia saying to me one time, she said, how are you doing today? [00:08:35] : I said, great. [00:08:36] : She said, how. How are you doing attending your own funeral? I was like, wow, that was. [00:08:48] : Did I mention I was on my. [00:08:49] : Way from the tab to the cafeteria? And that was her statement to me. Oh, yeah, Remissions, weekend. [00:08:59] : On my way. [00:08:59] : The person was struggling in a tab. They're struggling to get the. Remember the screen, you know, the hidden map behind the screen. If you don't know, if you know, you know. If you don't, go check it out. But there's. [00:09:11] : There's a map behind the screen. The person was struggling, trying to pull up. [00:09:14] : And I'm there like, I don't know, 20, I don't know, two. Frustrated because they can't get the thing together. And on my way up there, Brother Paul, I'm walking by and they get, fix it. Brother Paul goes, don't make a fool of yourself. Like, man, there are moments in our lives where people say stuff to us that we might not like, but we think about them. I'm talking about three decades ago. Still, that reminder, those moments of my. [00:09:45] : Life, of what did we sign up for? If you're here today as an able minister in God, you have signed up. [00:09:52] : For attending your funeral every day and carrying your cross, and you are those named among Napoleon of millions of leaders. [00:10:00] : And people who are willing, for the sake of love, for the sake of. [00:10:04] : The gospel, to lay your life down. Amen Am I in the right place today? I know. Hey, you know, I don't mind going to, you know, a great steak place, but I know this morning that we're in a place to say, God, have your way. [00:10:18] : I really believe that as we consider even what Napoleon was saying, he's saying, hey, listen, that this, Our influence that we have is not built on force. [00:10:26] : But on love and faith and a sense of divine purpose. [00:10:34] : Even when it. [00:10:35] : Doesn’t feel like it. [00:10:38] : And I'm reminded this morning what I want to do is I'm sharing a message that the Lord spoke to me. [00:10:43] : During the regional rep retreat and the elders. [00:10:48] : And I just want to. [00:10:49] : I want to encourage you today. [00:10:53] : Older. [00:10:53] : Leader, God's not done with you yet. New season, same reason. Come on. [00:11:01] : New season, same reason. You might have relocated by your zip code, but you still are a kingdom representative. You still represent the kingdom. There's still a story. There's still a prophetic assignment. I remember being in a gas station. I was probably four months into being a youth pastor. [00:11:22] : So yes, I knew everything. [00:11:24] : And there I am in a gas station down south on vacation in this. This guy's like 80 years old and he's asked me, we're standing in line paying for gas. [00:11:35] : Remember back in the day when you stood in line to pay for gas versus tapping it? [00:11:38] : And he says to me, what do you do? [00:11:40] : I said, I'm a youth pastor. And he goes, hey, you know, I used to be a youth pastor. I'm like, okay, 80 year old guy used to be a youth pastor. And he says. [00:11:49] : You know, if you. [00:11:51] : Try and run with young people, it'll kill you, but if you spend time around, then it will keep you fresh in your thinking. I'm at a gas station. [00:12:04] : Stop quantifying and qualifying your assignment from. [00:12:09] : Some other platform than what God has given you. I wanna encourage you, and so I also wanna encourage the young leaders here. [00:12:16] : And I say that based on not. [00:12:18] : How you feel, not even on a calendar, but your perspective. [00:12:23] : Caleb is 85 years old and he has this audacious statement that he says before God, he says to Joshua, he says this. Give me this mountain. He's not relying on past victories or his own strength, but he's basing it on the faithfulness of God and a promise that still burns in his heart. [00:12:43] : What are you burning for today? [00:12:45] : What burns in you? What is that thing inside of you that says, this will happen before I die? It's got to. [00:12:54] : What is it? We heard yesterday about Sister Sylvia. She was talking about How Bud Sickler basically dragged himself to a place that he had in his heart, had seen in God, and then he died just hours later. I'm like, what? [00:13:11] : And you're hearing words we're hearing lately. [00:13:14] : Are words like, oh, we need more grit. [00:13:17] : No, I think we just need to. [00:13:18] : Continue to decide to decide that we're in all in forever, period. [00:13:22] : There is no option. [00:13:24] : It's over. [00:13:25] : We're done when we're dead. And you won't even know you're done. [00:13:30] : Because, like, unless my opinion personally is, I'd love to have the moment where I go, okay, listen, next week, I'm out. This is gonna roll over. Go to sleep. And you know what? You can do what you want. Throw me in a box, set it on fire, whatever, put it through a fan on the. [00:13:43] : I don't care. But what I wanna do is this. I want to finish well, and this morning, I wanna encourage you in Caleb's leadership journey. I know we talk about look at Joshua's life and that we have these different encounters, but how come we oft times fail to consider Caleb's journey? And I really believe that one of the things we can do is begin to remember that there's some lessons in the wilderness. Are you with me this morning? I mean, we look at Caleb's life, and Caleb's life was full of encounters. I mean, he had an encounter with God's promise. I mean, he had an encounter with adversity and he had an encounter with his calling. And I believe that today is a. [00:14:25] : Prophetic invitation for every leader who feels. [00:14:28] : Maybe you're out there by yourself. Maybe you're thinking to yourself, man, this is just, I want to make a difference. I want my life to matter. [00:14:35] : I want to encourage you again. I want to remind you again throughout scripture that Caleb's consistency was forged in the crucible, the crucible of the wilderness. Think about that. [00:14:51] : Where he witnessed the failures and struggles of the heroes. I'll tell you what, as I consider the fact that here we are again, and for some of the young leaders, they're getting shipwrecked over different moments. I remember talking to a youth pastor who was a part of a very large ministry back in the day. [00:15:09] : Back in the day, day, I was newly saved. And I'm not gonna throw out names. [00:15:13] : But he said he had a youth ministry of thousands. And he said, when this leader fell in my church, he goes, I saw shields and swords and armor littered throughout the sanctuary because people had quit. [00:15:29] : Now, it wouldn't take you too long to Think about people who you looked at maybe in life and ministry and thought, man, those guys there, wow, look at me. You know, you have that moment where. The Gideon moment where, look, I'm threshing. [00:15:42] : Wheat in a winepress. Look at me. God. What about how come my tribe isn't as big as I thought it was going to be? [00:15:49] : But you know what? The secret. Secret. I believe the secret in the sauce is the power of consistency. [00:15:58] : What did Caleb and Joshua learn in the wilderness? I'm giving you some quick reminders before I really jump into this message because. [00:16:04] : I think he said what, 95 minutes you said something like that. Are you kidding? You know, people, it's nowadays, you know, as far as services and things like that, we keep on cutting things, right? Cut, cut, cut, cut, cut. Like how long we gonn? [00:16:19] : You have 22 minutes to preach a message. And I don't think it's a matter. [00:16:22] : Of the preacher's capacity, which sometimes it could be. [00:16:25] : But I think it's literally where we've stopped encouraging people that their only encounter. [00:16:30] : Is on Sunday morning. No, this is. [00:16:34] : No, it was Sunday morning for us. [00:16:36] : You're just coming to the gym. We're helping you get your personal record on Sunday morning. So you go out there and continue to make a difference and to burn for God. [00:16:45] : That's it. But what we see, Caleb and Joshua. [00:16:48] : Learned in wilderness, I think number one. [00:16:49] : Unbelief and fear block God's promises. I mean, they remember, they came back with a story and the Israelites were afraid about the giants of fortified cities. They were paralyzed. They were doubting God's ability to come. [00:17:01] : Through and to fulfill his word. But Caleb, where there was opposition, saw opportunity. [00:17:07] : You can see it in the testimony and story he said in numbers. He goes, let's go at once to take the land. We can surely conquer it. [00:17:17] : I believe we've got to keep that resolve. We've got to keep that resolve. Why do we continue to sit at the table with doubt and unbelief about what God said? Why? I think the reason why is ofttimes. And this is the second part of this wilderness journey. The complaints and grumbling weaken community. Over and over, the people complained. You see it in numbers. In Exodus, they complain about food, water and leadership. The complaint of creature comforts, the complaint of positioning. The complaints of power. The grumbling, listen, we are the body of Christ. [00:17:57] : We move. I'm so glad it's not the team of God. Cause the team of God means I can replace you, but the body of Christ means that. Listen, you start cutting this thing off and cutting that thing off, there's a problem. [00:18:07] : Amen. [00:18:09] : You see an arm laying there, you're. [00:18:10] : Like, wait, there's a crime scene that's happened here. Not something that we consider normal. The third thing they learned in the wilderness. Rebellion and disobedience have consequences. [00:18:24] : Israelites desire what they say. The Israelites, the story. They talk about numbers 14, 2 through 4. There's man. Remember back in the. Back in the day. Listen, I have gray hair. [00:18:34] : I don't dye it. It's just a genetics whatever. I'm older than you think. It's not Botox either. But I can tell you this is what I've learned. [00:18:42] : We've got to stop talking about how. [00:18:44] : Good our yesterday was. Because we haven't taken the time to consider what our tomorrow looks like. [00:18:50] : It is only gonna be found in. [00:18:52] : A secret place of the assignment of God. [00:18:54] : Where we. [00:18:55] : We get on our knees, we get on our faces. Where we begin to exercise by faith and recognize. Listen. [00:19:02] : God will disqualify who he wants to disqualify. And I think often it's because we grumble and complain and we just have this attitude. Well, you know what God? [00:19:09] : You know where I am. [00:19:10] : Yes, he does. Yes, he does. But he says this. [00:19:13] : If you draw near to me, I'll draw near to you. What does God say about Caleb in this time? [00:19:20] : He is not one of this generation. This evil generation shall see the good land except Caleb. [00:19:27] : Why? Because he has followed the Lord wholeheartedly. [00:19:31] : Wow. What a statement God makes about he has followed me wholeheartedly. He will see my promise. [00:19:38] : And don't forget he said that about a guy who is 40 years old. Come on, somebody. Number four. Wholehearted faithfulness leaves a legacy. Numbers 14, 24. But my servant Caleb has a different attitude than the others have. He has remained loyal to me. So I will bring him into the land he explored. I want to encourage you in this. Some of us, we've seen some things and we get frustrated by what we feel is a lack of fulfillment. But I just want to encourage you in this way celebrate the privilege you've had in even seeing it. [00:20:20] : God, what is the part that you've. [00:20:22] : Called for me to play in this? All right, now let me cut to the message. You ready? [00:20:26] : I wanna share with you three anchors. [00:20:27] : For leaders who want to finish strong. Number one, courageous faithfulness. [00:20:33] : How does that happen? [00:20:34] : Remembering God's promises. [00:20:37] : There's something powerful about remembering God's promises. Remembering what he said about You, Caleb. The Bible says that. Caleb. God said about him he had different spirits. It set him apart. [00:20:48] : When others saw giants, he saw God's opportunity. [00:20:53] : I want to encourage you, and there's something powerful about having had those experiences. [00:21:00] : Here's a reflection point for you, and you're going to hear me. [00:21:02] : I want to make a point, a. [00:21:03] : Reflection, and I want to call you to action. What do you remember? What do you remember as it relates to courageous faithfulness in those seasons of loneliness or disappointment? How do you recall the battles that God has already brought you through? [00:21:20] : Because I'll tell you, it's not when the only thing you're talking about is how you run up the score in a particular area in your life. You know what? [00:21:27] : That's encouraging. But you know what leaders want to learn along the way is what about those moments when you weren't sure? [00:21:36] : I don't know. [00:21:36] : I guess the older you get, the less you care about what people think. Just get some way. Listen, I don't have to. [00:21:41] : I don't have to. [00:21:42] : I'm not trying to wait for your scorecard. I'm not trying to rally for you to be like before me. No. [00:21:50] : What is that? [00:21:51] : Settledness in you. And I wanna encourage you to share your stories. [00:21:55] : I wanna encourage you that understanding that. [00:21:57] : Even for the next generation, your testimony. [00:22:00] : Your testament to the faithfulness of God is what will make a difference. And you know what's amazing is like, you know, yeah, we built a building on the stuff and you bring people through all the sp. Oh, look at all these sparkly moments. But you know what? [00:22:13] : There's some pretty ugly moments too in that stuff, huh? Okay, that was like 40 of you. That's all right. Sorry. I don't need you to shout to get me going. I'm just telling you today, I want to encourage you in the strength of God, the goodness of God, number two, strength and adversity. [00:22:30] : Embracing your assignment at every age. [00:22:33] : At 85, Caleb's declared, this is wild. [00:22:36] : I'm as strong now as I. As I was when Moses sent me on that journey. And I can still travel and fight as well as I could within. So give me the hill country that. [00:22:45] : The Lord promised me. What are you asking for? Well, when I pray for food or anything else going on my team and leaders, whatever I say, Lord, what we're praying for, I say, God, and thank you for millions. I should probably up that. I should probably X factor that. Come on, a millionaire is nothing now. I mean, that's. I'm going to let that Sit with you for a minute? Because for you who think, well, you're just being greedy and ambitious. No, no, no, no. Listen. Ready? I'm at the age and stage where I don't care what you think. I know. I know what my assignment is. And that what it's gonna take for that to be fulfilled is not gonna be a couple thousand. I'm not talking about padding my wallet. I'm talking about there's something supernatural, undeniable that God wants to do and show up in nations and places and spaces. [00:23:35] : For the glory of God and for the sake of the gospel. And what would it be for us to actually be able to say, Lord, with what you called me to steward, I'm able to impart and change. [00:23:44] : Huh? I think about that. Somebody's in the middle of a building fund. [00:23:46] : You're like, oh, what are you. You're $300,000 short. [00:23:49] : Yeah, absolutely. Amen. Let's help you. [00:23:52] : Oh, wait. [00:23:52] : You want a ministry? School leaders. You want to build. Come on. [00:23:55] : What are those things that we're beginning to say? God, I. You've said it, and I believe you and I trust you. And the reason why I'm saying this to you and why I'm being so strong with you is because it's time for us to stop negotiating and sitting at the table and being okay with. [00:24:10] : Lack, cloaking fear with humility. Well, you know, I mean, if God shows up. Wait a second, wait a second. You were born for such a time as this. [00:24:22] : God, I. You, I. You didn't call me to fill a hole. You said, dig it. [00:24:27] : And if I dig it, you'll feel it. I remember. That's what Paul Johansson told me just before we started a building fund. We had a lot of money, too. We had thousands. $4,638. Yep. That's what we had. Yeah. Couldn't wait for the vote. [00:24:43] : We couldn't wait for a vote on that. Boy, we're gonna buy a $2 million building. What do you think? Everyone's unanimous and said, great. [00:24:49] : Now give. What are you asking God for? [00:24:56] : And it's okay to allow the Holy Spirit to pressure test your. [00:24:59] : Why? I mean, now, you know, I can tell you I had some really great ideas all my life. Vision has not been a problem for me. Great ideas? Well, I thought they were great. And if I couldn't hear, sometimes I'd ask my wife and she would help me. The Holy Spirit. That's a crazy. And my team, my leaders, they love me enough, and they have the latitude to say, that sounds crazy. That sounds crazy. That must be God. Or, that sounds crazy. Are you sure? I go, actually, I'm not kind of sure. Caleb had a lifetime. [00:25:33] : We see it. [00:25:33] : A lifetime of trusting God through both funerals and battles. He saw others die, but he also had to die to himself. And here's the thing. We signed up for the battles, no matter how we like it or not. So here's my question for you. What do you have strength for? What is it? And I don't have to have the same strength that you have. It can be different. And that's the beauty of the body of Christ. But as we begin to recognize this, I want to encourage you to identify your current assignment. Listen, your presence right now is needed more than you know. The enemy of your soul would love to take you out, love to have you camp out in the Valley of Despair. [00:26:16] : Yea, though I go through the shadow. [00:26:17] : And valley of Death. You know, right now I'm having conversations with leaders who are camping there. They started their own REI there. Look at the new guy here. This is amazing. Like, no, no. [00:26:30] : There's no life there. There's no power. There's no presence there. The valley of accusation. Listen, people will have an opinion no matter what. I finally learned that. [00:26:39] : I finally figured it out. People will always have an opinion. But the only opinion that matters is what God says about you. [00:26:45] : I'll tell you what I mean. Just literally living in that place, and we're as beloved sons and daughters and resting in the reality of what he's called us to do. I can say, God, I don't have strength for that. [00:26:59] : But I'm so glad the Bible tells us, those who wait upon the Lord. [00:27:04] : That's my favorite word. [00:27:05] : Wait. Ask anybody who knows me. I love that word. Wait. That's. This. That's such a strength for me. It's not true at all. [00:27:11] : It's not true at all. [00:27:15] : And he probably had to lead me. God have mercy. Pray for their soul. I'll tell you what. Cause I just. I'm just. I drag you just out of zeal. Not a whole lot of wisdom. Then I realized. Wait a second. Wait, wait. Those that wait upon the Lord. I'm so wore out. Well, what are you doing right now that's got you so wore out? What are you doing? Sometimes, you know, we get frustrated because we want God to bless what we're blessing as opposed to Lord, would you. [00:27:44] : Could you. [00:27:44] : Bless what, Lord? I just want to be a part of what you're blessing. What you're saying, but what do you have strength for? I'll tell you, there's so many awesome moments that don't take a lot of strength, but they take more wisdom on when to deliver what it is that God's given you. Number three, wholehearted devotion. Wholehearted devotion. I tell you, we've got. It's a bit interesting. As we've been growing. I say often from the platform, I love seeing gray hair come into the building. I love it. Well, gray hair happy. Gray hair miserable is annoying. It just is. It's just like, wow, you're just. Wow. You're just. Man, you're just like, what if you're happy and know it tell your face. It's like, dude, we'll just come on. [00:28:33] : Because it's. Here's the thing. I can tell you the people I was mentioning in my life, the leaders I've been around, being cared for, loved ones, just even being able to run. There were people who took some shots. [00:28:50] : Went through some stuff, some crazy things. [00:28:55] : Who for somehow in the middle of all the stuff, still never lost their. [00:29:01] : Passion or their way. Man, There's a line. The wells of grace run deep. That's great. That's a great statement, Dave. That's a great statement. You know, that's a great statement when you're like, I'm not really sure what they say. What do you mean by that? Until it's all on and you're like. [00:29:20] : Wow, I've got three hours of my arrows in my chest from your backbiting. [00:29:24] : And now I've got to preach on a Sunday morning and stay on topic and not talk about how the Lord. Okay, come on. [00:29:31] Phil McNeill: Huh? [00:29:32] : Yes. [00:29:33] : Oh, the wells of grace run deep. Yeah, Come on, somebody. Let's just sing a song. You know what the hard part is in that whole thought of wholehearted devotion is investing in the next generation. [00:29:51] : Because if we don't have the right. [00:29:52] : Relationships, we get frustrated and we get tired. How come you don't know? Well, the same reason why you didn't. I can't make you have experience. You have to go through it to have it. That's the part that's terrible. [00:30:09] : I mean, hey, listen. And we lose sight of the fact that we have the now next generation leaders who are now. [00:30:17] : I was with Pastor Josh Finley yesterday, and he's like, oh, we should get. [00:30:20] : Something from Chipotle and Starbucks. [00:30:22] : I'm like, okay, yeah. I'm trying to figure out if we're gonna run in. [00:30:24] : And he's like, he's done on his phone. [00:30:27] : Oh, yeah, they'll be ready for the way to pick express. You just tell them, Josh, J.F. they'll be there. I'm like, bro, you just ordered the food. I saved so much time. That's amazing. People don't want to hear your super long stories about hard it was, how brutal it was, how difficult it was. What they want to know is it was worth. Was worth it. I have fought the good fight. It's worth it. [00:30:54] : It is. [00:30:56] : I've got a bag of trophies in my basement. I was really good in sports. And I say to my kids, listen, if you're ever bored, you can go downstairs, open up the bag and see how cool dad was. They never have. They never have. [00:31:07] : It's crazy. [00:31:08] : They never have. I'm waiting for grandchildren so I can show them how cool Pop was. Cool. [00:31:12] : He was so cool. [00:31:19] : Cub's legacy wasn't just the land he claimed, but the faith he modeled for those who followed him. What's the. [00:31:26] : I mean, everyone under 20 and above. [00:31:29] : Died in a wilderness the 40 year olds were hanging around. I spent so much of my life as a young leader thinking to myself, how did I get in particular rooms? Because I forgot the one who called me was faithful and will do it. And so missing the beauty of his faithful myth, the kindness of God. Oh, yeah, the Lord would use me. [00:31:49] : And there were different moments that would happen. [00:31:50] : It was awesome, powerful. [00:31:51] : But I think, man, I didn't get a chance. That's just slowed down enough to taste. [00:31:56] : And see the Lord is good. And to be able to say to a person, listen, listen, I know back. I remember where you were. All will be well. That's my new line lately. All will be well. It's annoying, I know that. How do you know all will be well? Because I've been through a couple of things and I don't. [00:32:13] : I'm not saying, like, well, I've been through a couple things and you're having. [00:32:16] : A Mickey Mouse moment right now, okay? You need to shut up and die. Grow up, deal with it and keep moving forward because there are people who. [00:32:23] : Are counting on you to be able to say 20 years from now, it was worth it. For the sake of the gospel, for the kingdom of God, we saw the faithfulness of our Lord and King. [00:32:35] : So here's the question I have for you. What do you carry? What do you got in your bag? What's the story you can tell? What's the moment that you can have. [00:32:45] : Because of your wisdom, your scars, victory. [00:32:48] : And resources for this now generation, They're Facing delayed milestones and instability. [00:32:54] : I just heard someone share that. [00:32:55] : You know that now the average age. [00:32:57] : For a young person to own a home is 38 years old. [00:32:59] : Now, for some, you might say, oh, that's boo hoo. Listen. [00:33:03] : But the American dream is one of acquisition and positioning, as opposed of the kingdom of God, which we represent is one of surrender, one of expectation, yieldedness, and believing God that he works all. [00:33:20] : Things together for my good because I love him. I think one of the greatest challenges of mentoring young leaders is this is I have to have an attitude where it's not about me. There's nothing they can give me. There's nothing. I'm not wanting anything. And it's not just sharing my successes, but lessons I've learned in the wilderness. Because no matter how we think or what we want, we will all live and have wilderness experiences. Am I telling the truth today? [00:33:53] : Come on, somebody over 40 years old, am I telling the truth? [00:33:57] : Okay. Cause I know some young people in here are going, wait a second. So I just want to give you one last thing. God says this. In the last days, I will pour out my spirit upon all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions and. And your old men will dream dreams. This is your clarifying assignment. Bridge the gap. Invest wisdom where it's needed most. Model of faith that endures. My friends, it is not a matter of us trying to live a life of survival, but us living a life where we thrive, where we move in courage, where we move in power. And let's not forget Napoleon's insights. Empires built on force fade, but those that are built on love endure. [00:34:44] : Let what you do, what you build, how you build, let it be one. [00:34:47] : That'S built on love and faith and endurance. [00:34:50] : And I'm so glad that Caleb's. Caleb's courage was not built on some experience, but it was built on encounter. [00:34:57] : That's what will keep us. [00:34:59] : The presence of God has got to. [00:35:01] : Be the primary catalyst to what we do and why we do it. [00:35:05] : Otherwise, the only thing you've got is. [00:35:06] : A really cool plan. [00:35:08] : And then you'll be frustrated and then. [00:35:10] : You'Ll be that miserable person sitting there. [00:35:12] : Because you're mad that God didn't do. [00:35:14] : What you told him to do. Should I say it one more time? I'm not going to. He remembered God's faithfulness. He embraced his assignment and he invested in the future. Look at Caleb's life as an invitation to trust God at a now level. And so I'm not sure how much time I have. Cause the clock wasn't working whole time. And so I absolutely leverage that. But what I know is this. I wanna ask. I don't know where my team is, but they're on their way. [00:35:48] : I could feel it. [00:35:49] : Maybe I'm landing early. And that's okay too. Cause there's a couple things I just wanna share to say. If you're here this morning and man, you've forgotten, we have those moments in our lives. Where have you looking for your car keys in your pocket. You're trying to find your glasses and you realize they're on your face. Just four of you. I know who I'm talking to. If you're here this morning and you. No man, I know the faithfulness of God, but it's been tough. I'm finding myself distracted and I'm forgetting the goodness of God. If that's you this morning, I want to just pray refreshing over you. I just want to pray that God would just. He would just re. Envision you. [00:36:39] : I just. And there's. If you're this. And here. This is kind of. [00:36:42] : I feel this truth serum. [00:36:44] : If you hear this in this moment. And you need to reclaim your assignment to courage. [00:36:51] : Because you've been considering more your age and stage than you have than your assignment. I want to say we want to pray for you as well. I don't need you to come up. I just want to encourage you to stand up. [00:37:04] : I want to ask if you're here. [00:37:05] : This morning, you're saying, I want to invest in a now and next generation of leaders and. [00:37:11] : I want to help. [00:37:11] : Them carry the torch forward. See, many of us, the fact is it's not you're on the sidelines, but you've actually played your game. [00:37:21] : You've done it, you've experienced this, you've. [00:37:23] : Experienced the winds of God. And now it's your opportunity, your courage, your faithfulness, your whole hard devotion is gonna be the key. A key to a legacy that outlasts you and I. So I just wanna encourage you. If that's where you're at this morning, I just. Would you stand? I just want to pray a simple prayer. And I really believe that there's some folks today and just in your bodies there's a healing anointing. This, this morning, I believe it. There's even some folks where you've seen God move in times past and you. [00:37:55] : Believe you're like lord, I believe in miracles. I believe that you're able to do. But I've really stepped out and exercised. [00:38:00] : My Faith in that level. I want to encourage you. The world is waiting for you. The world is waiting for you. Why? Why say no? Let's just let God say no or not yet. [00:38:18] : So God, right now, I thank you for this moment. What an honor. [00:38:22] : What a privilege it is, Lord, to be here in this moment together as the body of Christ, as we represent even your kingdom. God, I pray this morning that you would remind us of your faithfulness that. [00:38:39] : Even when those times where we've. Like David says, bless the Lord O my soul and forget not his benefits. Lord, I pray today that we would a fresh reminder refreshing to those moments where we would look back and we would be reminded that we've tasted and we've seen the goodness of our God. [00:39:00] : And God, I thank you. I thank you for today. That today it's. It's a new season for many, but it's the same reason for the sake of the Gospel, for the glory of God, the Lord, that we would claim, we would lay claim to the assignment you've given us. [00:39:17] : However that looks. Caleb said, I'm stronger than I ever was, Lord, I can't even imagine from. [00:39:21] : 45 to 85, Lord have mercy. [00:39:23] : But this is what I know because you said it. We believe it and we receive it, God. We make that our statement. We make that our story. We say yes to what you're saying. And Lord, I pray today that you would help us, Holy Spirit, you would lead us and guide us. And we as a movement, as a kingdom family would be good investors. We'd be great stores of what you've entrusted us with. We would know how to move and to invest and to sow generously the riches of God in Christ Jesus. What a privilege, what an honor it is to be a part and be alive for such a time as this. And Lord, recognizing if we're alive, there's still something left to do. [00:40:06] : And Lord, I pray today, Holy Spirit, you'd work in us, that we would rest in the reality that it is more about being than doing. As your beloved sons and daughters, we would rest in the goodness of God. Your amazing grace reminded that the wells of grace run deep in Jesus name. Amen. [00:40:34] Thomas: Thank you for listening to today's episode of the well An Elim Fellowship Leadership Podcast. I pray that you were blessed and encouraged by this time. If you'd like to hear more content just like this, be sure to give this podcast a like and a follow wherever you get your podcast and share this podcast with your friends. We have more exciting content from Oasis and beyond dropping very soon, and you don't want to miss it. We are excited about what God is doing here at Elim, and we would love for you and your friends to come along on this ride. So until next time, my name is Thomas, and from all of us here at Elim, God bless.