SPEAKER_00 0:15

Hey, Lifehouse family, welcome back to our Monday time of reflection on Sunday's sermon with Pastor Mark. Even if Pastor Mark doesn't preach, we get his thoughts.

Legacy And Raising Up Leaders

SPEAKER_01 0:25

I had a great sermon from Jake. Jake Hall Cross Week. Yeah, I think it was good to take a break from Zechariah. Like really, we've been navigating verse by verse. Yeah, halfway point, but also the book, there's a transition, you know, in the book, so it was a good time to take a pause. But let's just talk for a moment before we dig into the scripture, because one of the things that's so exciting and has been over the course of 14 years here at Lifehouse is to watch the Lord raise up, you know, men and women here. And Jake Holcroft is one of those men, you know. I I know he still looks very young, you know, he has a boyish look, but he's 23, married, has been for about two years now, expecting his first baby. But but just it's been a pleasure to watch Jake grow up. He uh grew up with my kids, and so I saw and remember him as a 10-year-old little boy, was an athlete, but just very respectful always. I even mentioned it in the service when I was introducing him, but I asked my son one time in high school, probably when he was about 16 or 17, you know, of his friend group, who among that, those friends was the most influential spiritually to him and in essence like lived out their faith sincerely. And my son went to a secular school, a public school, and and Jake did as well. But but without reservation, Hudson declared, you know, Jake Holcroft, absolutely, hands down. And so that really encouraged me. I mean, I obviously as a dad, I wanted Hudson to hang out with that guy, you know, growing up, but just it's been neat and and always has been really in tune and faithful. And so, yeah, last year he served as a pastoral intern, you know, has expressed a vocational call to ministry right now. He's a registered nurse and working in a secular environment in that regard at the University of Delaware, but feels called to ministry, vocational ministry, to preach, to pastor. And so we spent time together, prayed through a lot of things, and wanted to really give him this opportunity. I love because that's the thing that I'm afforded that maybe not the entire congregation is afforded the opportunity to see some of these things firsthand. And so I thought, yeah, uh good opportunity, not only for Jake to have the opportunity to preach in the sanctuary and among the congregation, but for the congregation to see this young man that they know who they most of them watched him grow up, to see him step out in faith in this regard. And so I know that the Lord is still at work, but I told the congregation, like, mark this day, like let's remember this day where where Jake Holcroft, our brother, like this young man that we watched the Lord raise up, stepped out to preach his first sermon. And and I was very pleased, blessed, proud, among other things, for him, by him yesterday. And so, yeah, we'll see. It'll be neat to see where the Lord takes them, you know, and what the Lord does in and through. It's not just him. I mean, he's married to a wonderful young woman, Danielle, who also was raised here. And man, I I consider them just a power couple for Jesus already. And so I can't wait to see what God's gonna do, you know, with that. But but a blessing to be here, to worship, to receive the word proclaimed through the servant of the Lord, Jake Holcroft. Psalm 127. I mean, do you have anything to say in addition to that?

SPEAKER_00 3:35

Or very important are core values, you know, legacy and multiplication. So I think Jake represents, you know, like, hey, it's not just about not growing, you know, just having this core value, but seeing people raised up and sent out. You know, we just see in the Bible throughout the book of Acts, you know, it's about sending out, it's about raising up, not just staying stagnant, both individually and corporately. So yeah, it's just great to see, and hopefully the congregation is encouraged to see young people, you know, like hey, we so many stories about the younger generations not falling into church, and so to see young men like Jake being raised up and feeling that call that God is still working and you know, yeah, it's part of discipleship, you know.

SPEAKER_01 4:18

I think about and we see it in scripture. I mean, I think about Paul's relationship with Timothy and even his letters to Timothy and Paul encouraging him, right? Fan into flame, the gift that God has given to you through the laying out of hands and really encouraging Timothy to rise up. And really, as a church, like that's part of what we're called to do. Like when we see, you know, God's hand on people and giftings in people in a specific way, like we're to encourage that, you know, not you know, tell people to sit down, you know, and and brush them aside. But no, we we really want to come alongside them and encourage them and disciple them in this. And so that's really part of what Sunday was all about.

SPEAKER_00 4:54

Yep. So I think it should be a blessing. Hopefully, everybody views it that way. And if you see Jake or know Jake, you know, encourage him in that way, and you know, encouraging others too. You know, we need more Jake's, you know, to grow up, send out, you know, the church is going to be revived and grow. Yeah. That's what we need to see.

Reading Psalm 127 Aloud

SPEAKER_01 5:10

Yeah, because that's the thing. I mean, uh the clock is ticking. The old gray mare ain't what she used to be, you know. And so, yeah, at some point I'm not gonna be here. And I'm not saying that it's gonna be Jake or one of the other young men, you or Jarvis, but yeah, at some point, like the Lord or someone that is not even on our radar right now, but yeah, like should Jesus continue to tarry, you know, like someone's gonna need to replace me, you know, and and and others, you know, that are growing older. So it's a part of God's plan, you know, and so we're I'm excited to see how the Lord will work in that.

SPEAKER_00 5:43

Yeah, we should rejoice, not being 127. Psalm 127. So much five verses, packs a big punch, you know. So I think there's a whole lot of ways we could get in here, probably talk for hours. But why don't you read it? Let's read it. It's only five verses. Yes, God's word, Psalm 127, which is Jake touched a little, we'll mention a song of ascents specifically, one of them that is of Solomon. Verse one says, Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain. It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil, for he gives his beloved sleep. Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one's youth. Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them. He shall not be put to shame when he speaks with his enemies in the gate.

Solomon’s Context And God’s Glory

SPEAKER_01 6:51

Yeah. So the first thing that really comes to my mind, now Jake really gave the context, shared that this was a song of ascent, that the people of God, as they would approach Jerusalem at the appointed times for feasts and festivals, like they were all, you know, as part of the old covenant and under the law, required to go to Jerusalem and to worship. And so as they would make their way up, they would sing these psalms, like in preparation, even, you hear Rob often say, Did you bring your worship? You know, and so we're not to come and then decide that we're ready to worship, like we're to come in a worshipful manner. And these songs, as the people of God would sing them, would really set their hearts in the right place prior to even corporate worship. And so this was a song of ascent. And interestingly enough, so we always associate with the psalms King David, but this is a song of ascent written by Solomon, the son of David. And I think that that's kind of profound because Solomon is known right as the wisest king, right? Solomon ruled during a time, he's the one who initially built the temple and the city. David, right, saved up all the supplies. We know that testimony, but but and then Solomon's the one who actually built it, and it was and he reigned in a time where the people of God enjoyed peace and prosperity. And in fact, there's even a testimony of the queen of Sheba, right, coming from far away, because she had heard of this place and this king, and literally it says scripture testifies that her breath was taken away. Like she she literally was so overwhelmed and impressed that she lost her breath, was taken away, like by what she saw and experienced there under Solomon's rule and reign in Jerusalem. But what's so beautiful about this psalm is that Solomon was giving all glory to God. Like he was essentially saying in this psalm, right, in verse one, unless the Lord builds the house, he's saying, I'm not the one at the end of the day who built the house. Like the Lord did this. And this really, so one of the reasons we chose this psalm in particular is to tie it to our theme for the year, right? Zechariah 4, 6. Not by might, not by power, but by my spirit, says the Lord of hosts. This is essentially what Solomon is saying. Like the Lord did this. Yes, he used me. I'm the king at the time, he used my father David, you know, and we've accomplished much, but it is all ultimately by the Lord's provision, by the Lord's power, by the Lord's protection. So Solomon is declaring and giving all glory to God. And really humbly, right, as the leader, he is making it clear. Like this is not because of me. Like I am giving it it is unless the Lord builds the house, right? That if you do if you build the house without the Lord, you labor in vain. You know, uh any thoughts on that?

SPEAKER_00 9:48

I agree. And yeah, very important to give that context so that you know we can fully understand, like, hey, in the mountaintops and the valleys, we know in the valleys we talked about that some depending on the Lord, but even on the mountaintops, give glory to God. Because that's when it's probably sometimes a little harder. You know, when you're down, there's nowhere else to go. But times like these, staying in that humble posture of giving God the glory and seeing all he's done rather than wanting to claim that, you know.

Work, Rest, And Anxious Toil

SPEAKER_01 10:17

Well, yeah, I mean, Solomon himself says, right, the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. And Solomon, who ruled and reigned at really the height of Jerusalem, the people of God's wealth and prosperity, was basically acknowledging his and their complete dependence and trust upon the Lord. And that was really Jake's main point in the sermon that he drew from this is that we should like be fully and understand that we are completely, wholeheartedly dependent upon the Lord, even probably more than we can comprehend. Like we need him, and therefore, and we can trust him. Like, my God shall supply all your needs according to his riches and glory, Paul says in Philippians 4. And so that's really, I think, what what what Solomon was testifying to. Like, yeah, we're we're strong as a nation. Yes, this is a beautiful temple, this is a beautiful city, but if it wasn't for the Lord, if it's not for the Lord, we wouldn't be nothing. And I think that we must realize as believers, even today, that everything that we are, everything that we have is only because of Him, right? Unless the Lord builds the house. I mean, you know, I do think in our day and time in particular, people can build a church or a business or whatever, and God not even be a part of the equation, right? They're doing their own thing and their own power and their own strength. But ultimately, at the end of the day, like, and they might have a lot of security and comfort and and confidence in who they are, but but but he's the one who upholds the universe by the word of his power, right? And and so ultimately, at the end of the day, like our prosperity, our peace is because of and dependent upon him, you know. And this is what Solomon was testifying to. And this is something that I think that you know, this is like Christianity or or God 101, right? Like we need to know and understand that he is sovereign over all. Colossians says that he upholds the universe by the word of his power. Is that Hebrews? No, I can't say Colossians, yeah. Yeah, I mean, he's in charge, like he is sovereign over all, and and he has a plan and a purpose, and those purposes and plans are going forward, but but our security, true security, is only in him.

SPEAKER_00 12:34

Right. Something we need to constantly remind ourselves, and I know Jake brought out in all domains, because sometimes it can be easy, like okay, in our family we'll have that, but in my work I don't, you know, like you said, building my business. I'm not building that on God, or maybe my hobbies that I like to, those are my time, you know. God, you you stay in your lane, I'll stay in mine. Like areas of our life that we can absolutely from the public sphere to the private, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 12:59

That's what we're doing.

SPEAKER_00 13:01

Home church, work, play, even our play, right? It should be something that allows us a way to glorify God.

SPEAKER_01 13:07

Yeah, and and so as his servants, like I think the appropriate thing to do is seek his wisdom, seek his guidance. Like, we want to act and live according to his purposes and plans and to his truth. And so, like, God, you know, I even think about just church life, right? I mean, there's just all kinds of different ideas about what to do to build a church or to be a successful church. And listen, like, we want to listen to the Lord, we want to be led by the Spirit. I think even of Jesus in, I think it's Matthew 16, 18, where he says, I will build, I will build my church, right? And the gates of hell should not prevail against it. And so, like, we want to allow him to do that and be used by him to do that, but ultimately trust him to do that, because when he builds, like no one, there's no no better builder, right, when it comes to specifically his church.

SPEAKER_00 14:03

Sure. And I think too, Jake brought it out as well, just the analogy of the house. You know, what is your foundation? You know, what are you building on? God needs to really build the whole thing, but what's your foundation? And I think just thinking how we're all into home renovations these days, and some people want to make God just that addition, like we'll add God, you know. Sometimes people will come to the Lord and like, well, I'll add on, you know, or some people just various beliefs, like that's just another way, you know. But no, God's not an addition. It has to be the foundation. And I always think like if the foundation is firm, right, you know, you can get a hurricane or a tornado, knock the house down, but if you got a good foundation, you can rebuild that. So God can always build and rebuild in our lives, calling us to different things.

Foundations, Church Building, And Trust

SPEAKER_01 14:45

And Christ is the cornerstone. I can't remember the specific reference. I think it's in 1 Corinthians, where the apostle Paul writes, there is no other foundation that can be laid other than that which has been laid, which is the Lord Jesus Christ. I mean, no confusion about it. But we must remember this. You know, again, whether, you know, we're we're thinking within the context of the church, you know, but but yeah, even as a husband, as a father, like this truth, like we need to know and understand as we build our homes, our private house, you know, I mean, that that we want to build on the right foundation, right? Our marriage is on the right foundation, our kid, like we want him to build, you know, and and trust and and rest in his provision and his protection. King Solomon, the wisest king who ever lived, wrote, unless the Lord, Yahweh, builds the house, those who labor, labor in vain. But then he goes on to say, even unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain. And so, yeah, you can do whatever, you can put your things in place. That's not a bad thing, but ultimately at the end of the end of the day, your security is in the Lord. And so they used to have watchmen, guards that would stand at the gates and the and the walls of the city and look out, and if enemy approached, they would sound the alarm, you know. And what are you saying though? Like you can do that, it's not a bad thing, but the Lord's ultimately your protector, right? And you need to know your your your survival ultimately rests in and upon him.

SPEAKER_00 16:17

Yep. I think Jake drew that public and private dichotomy, you know, the home, we should build our homes, our families. We should also seek that for the good of our city. I'm reminded of Jeremiah, you know, seek the peace of your city. Like as Christians, we should be influencing those around us in a positive way. You know, sometimes we want and our public sphere has wanted to make pa faith a private thing rather than a public thing. And certainly we're not proposing go out and take over the government, you know, like but there's too many people want to do that in an extreme way. But we should have a public faith. And if God's not watching our nation, I mean it's on our money, right? And God we trust. If we lose that as a society, which uh malicious is very dangerously going to be. Are we losing that? You know, it's kind of in our cultural moment, you know, like are we separating from that or are we gonna kind of reconnect with that? We're in a really interesting time of yeah. So we should be faithful to be sharing our faith, to be encouraging that we need God in our society, in our society in a big way. Amen. So let's move on to verse two. I was gonna say, beyond public and private, now just uh you know, work that we do and our rest. We can really go to extremes of overwork. We know there's people are workaholics, but then we've got, you know, Proverbs tells us not to be lazy or a sluggard, so yeah, verse two giving us trusting in the Lord because if we're in either way, not allowing God to control those things.

SPEAKER_01 17:52

Yeah, I mean I I can't help but think of with this passage, and it's so beautiful. Like, yeah, I I don't think that Solomon here is saying, like, don't work hard. I mean, I think he probably worked very hard, and the people of God worked very hard to build the temple and to build the city, ultimately that God built like by using them. But I think of Matthew 11, 28, right, where Jesus says, Come unto me, all you who are weary and heavy laden, who you are burdened, right? In this in essence, spinning your wheels and at the end of the day getting nowhere. You know, he says, Come unto me, I I am rest, you know, is essentially what he's saying. Place your faith and trust in me. And yeah, he's saying here, like, it is in vain that you rise up early and go to late rest, like go late to rest. Like you can work all you want, but at the end of the day, like God's gonna do what he plans to do. And so it would be to your best interest to trust in him and to follow him, you know.

SPEAKER_00 18:47

I think I heard a good comparison of ambition versus aspiration. You know, and we get very reckless in our our self-driven ambition of I have to work and do all these things, and and that brings a lot of anxiety when we're creating our identity in our work or business, or you know, this doesn't necessarily have to be just your work, it can be in many areas of our life, but where it's this selfish ambition versus are we aspiring, you know, to be more like Christ, to do it in a glot god-glorifying way. And when we are aspiring to that, then that's a more faithful way to do it. So like a subtle difference, but exactly like you're saying, I don't think Solomon's telling us, like, yeah, just chill out, you know, retire, you know. Even Paul says, you know, if you won't work, you don't deserve to be.

SPEAKER_01 19:34

You don't eat, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 19:35

So we are to be faithful.

SPEAKER_01 19:36

We know work was part of creation, but yeah, faith without works is anxious toil is a big deal. Work's a part of our faith, and we labor for the glory of God. But yeah, and I and Jake actually closed the sermon yesterday with John 15 5, where Jesus was telling his disciples, like, apart from me, you can do nothing. And so, yeah, you can do a lot of things, but at the end of the day, apart from him, when it comes down to it, you can do apart from him, you can do nothing. So abide in me was his, you know, rest in me, trust in me, stay connected to me, follow me, obey me, and through then you'll bear much fruit. Like then you'll accomplish things, you know, for the kingdom. And so it'll be profitable and not in vain, right?

SPEAKER_00 20:21

It's a verse that has always had an impact on me, Colossians 1 29. Paul says that we toil and strive, but it's with his energy. We need the the spirit, we need the spiritual energy in our toil in striving so that it's for a proper means, a proper end. I think, you know, even tying in, of course, Solomon, who wrote Ecclesiastes, or I think is it's all vanity, man. Yeah, vanity. So using that same word here that really means it's going to come to nothing if it's not God honoring, God driven.

SPEAKER_01 20:54

It really is fascinating and beautiful how scripture all works together, even beyond, you know, uh John 15 5 and tying it to this verse and Matthew 16, 18 and through 19, and tying it to this verse, but even just specifically Solomon as the author of this song to consider right write his book, right? And there's these words like that this and Solomon was wise, Ecclesiastes, and he talked about vanity, right? And so he he knew a thing or two, and it would be behoove us to consider the wisdom imparted from him, you know.

Children As Heritage And Stewardship

SPEAKER_00 21:27

Yeah, so much to learn, and I think we close, you know. Again, we could talk about all of these topics for a long time, but really seeing children as a gift, kind of interesting that tie-in here of building our house, building our society, properly working, but then he brings in children. Children. Now we are to look at family and and trusting the Lord with the family and the future, I would say, in this in this case.

SPEAKER_01 21:51

Yeah, and I I do think that contextually, like families were so like the just the the family unit and and heritage and Inheritance, like was just so much more of an emphasis, and and I mean it was life to these people. Like where I think it is for a lot of us in our culture and context, many believers, but I think it's lost on us the importance. And he says here, Solomon, wise King Solomon says, he says, you know, building the house, you know, he's talking about resting and working. But children speaks of them as a blessing. They're an inheritage from the Lord, the fruit of the room, a reward. Children are hard work, right? They are, like I especially, you know, different seasons of life. I can't having been through it all, like right now, my son-in-law and daughter have two very small children, and I feel burdened for them at times because it's hard work. Like everywhere they go, they're changing diapers and all those different things. But then I go back to the teenage years that I endured, and I was like, man, which was harder? You know, I mean, different problems, different situations and scenarios to work through and navigate. But at the end of the day, children are an heritage from the Lord, they are a reward. And we need to know and understand that. Like they are an opportunity, and we are to I think the thing that I really take away from verse three, key, underline, from the Lord, right? Again, he builds the city, he builds the family. Children are from him, and they're a blessing, a gift from him, a reward from him, and we are to steward whatever we receive from him, including and specifically children, right? Our children. Children are inherited from the Lord, the fruit of the w womb, a reward. And I think a lot of times in our society today, that's lost on us. You know, like people think think and consider children a burden. I think about abortion and what's taking place and the murder of babies in our society and culture, and the disregard and lack of care and concern for the next generation. One of our core values here at Lifehouse Church is legacy, and it's always investing in the next generation. Like we need to understand and know that children are an heritage from the Lord, they are a reward, a gift, and should be stewarded well.

SPEAKER_00 24:08

Yep, I agree. I think it's definitely worth commenting on. That's this is not what we see in our society right now. We're even, I see, you know, children of the youth. Wait till you're older, have fun, enjoy your years, and then maybe have kids in your 30s or something. Like, no, you know, like he's saying, of your youth. It's the opportunity to learn and grow. And I think you mentioned we're seeing abortion. Like, children are burdened, just have an abortion. Like, why let that be a burden on your life rather than a blessing on your life? That's definitely the cultural pressure that we're seeing. And of course, we're starting to, they're starting to see in other nations around the world that you know, when you have this negative birth rate, it's actually going to lead to a societal collapse. You know, amazing. If we live out God's plan and follow his purposes, we see prosperity. But right now, even in the US, like what's keeping us afloat a lot of times is immigration and people coming in. But like South Korea and Japan, where the birth rate's like one point something, you know, two adults are only having one kid. Yeah. And now you've got this aging demographic and nobody to take care of you, and the societies are going to fall apart. Like economic collapse because we're not living these type of verses out. Not living God's direction and doesn't. Absolutely. Let's move on to verse four. Yeah. Well, and I think now we get a good look at parenting, right? The blessing that children are, and now how to look at parenting is hey, view how we should view children. Because I think it can even people who do view children as a blessing, how are you viewing them?

Parenting As Aiming Arrows

SPEAKER_01 25:39

Well, on the flip side, I think that oftentimes a temptation that I see in and amongst believers, even, is to idolize their children and to hoard them, you know, and to really, you know, take take, you know, that that is in that's out of balance, right? You know, children are a blessing from the Lord. They belong to him and we're to steward them. But I love this instruction or this this description. They are like arrows in the hand of a warrior, are the children of one's youth. So what do you do with arrows, right? You shoot them out, right? You want to talk about that? We talked about the tensions and right.

SPEAKER_00 26:14

I think it's a great analogy. Jake brought it up. It's in the hand of a warrior, not a novice. And so, yeah, first thing when you have kids, you know, your really vision and goal for them to be sending them out, to be sending them out with a purpose for the Lord. If we view them as a blessing and the opportunity to send them out. And I was even thinking, my stepdaddy was a bow hunter, he did lots of hunting, but bows, the tensioning matters, you know. So, like too many parents will put so much pressure on their kids, you know, you just hypertension, and then you wonder why your kids are stressed out and overwhelmed. But then some people don't put any tension. You know, if you have a bow and you just kind of pull that thing out, and then it just you know, it doesn't go anywhere, well, because you haven't. So finding that right balance when we're parents of the vision of sending them out, of putting, pushing them, but not idolizing and not overburdening them is so important and why we need to lean into the Lord to be faithful.

Big Families, Provision, And Spiritual Children

SPEAKER_01 27:06

Absolutely our kids. I'm chuckling over here because I remember the last time I shot an arrow. Okay, and I'm a novice, you know, in that regard, I'm not a warrior. I want to be a warrior for the Lord, but like, yeah, I pretty much injured myself. Did not even come close to the target. But yeah, like there's a right amount of tension and there's a balance, you know, but there's skill, like it's not just arbitrary, haphazard, you know, you don't just shoot them out. Like there's a right time, there's a right way. But but really, yeah, skill, intentionality, precision like is associated with this description, you know, but they're a blessing, like they're arrows in the hand of a weir. Not to be hoarded, you're not building your own kingdom, you're building God's kingdom, and they are the fruit of, and they belong to him, and they are his servants, and they're a part of his kingdom. We we need to have that right mentality, but understand and know, verse five, blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them. He shall not be put to shame when he speaks with his enemies in the gate. Blessed is the man. In other words, happy is the man, right? Yeah, it doesn't mean that you know, you know, easy or comfortable is the man, right? You know, I mean, right, because yeah, raising children is not not a walk in the park. Like there's poopy diapers to deal with, you know, and there's you know other things all throughout the journey. But blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them. No one understands. I again this speaks against what society and the world tells us today. And you know, I really remember considering this, like Tammy and I had three children, and Tammy had C-sections, and you know, it was later in life, and I remember really praying, you know, about like Lord, should we continue? I think Tammy was probably 40 at the time or 40, early 40s, and uh really every pregnancy took a toll on her, and I was thinking about like college, and I was thinking about like, yeah, like all the expenses associated with raising a family in this day and time, and I was like, Lord, like should we stop? Like, should I get the the surgery? You know, and honestly, I will say maybe this is too much information for the video, but I prayed about it and I did have a piece about moving forward with that surgery, and I'm I feel so blessed, I'm so thankful for my kids. But I I at this day, I I watch families that have way more than three. And I what I would say, having learned and watched, is that where God guides, He provides, there are families in our church with six children and they're thriving, and those kids are well adjusted and they are a blessing. And I would say at this point, like the things, some of the things that I was considering when I was praying, college education, like those things, like I don't think that I should have been considering those things. Like I think I should have been just truly seeking the Lord for wisdom, and I was, but not based or or fearful of those other things, like trusting the Lord for his provision, because I really have seen the Lord provide in those situations. And on this side of things, I I wish I had more children. I wish I had filled my quiver with more because my children are such a blessing, and it's a joy to like to have, you know, in essence, sent them out and to watch them thrive and become and step out as adults for the Lord's glory.

SPEAKER_00 30:20

Well, and I think you all did, you know, I think fostering. We did, and that was another thing. That was another last way, yeah. An important thing to consider of all of the children in all of the ways I've always thought, too, like, of course, biological children, but just in my own upbringing, coming from a broken divorced home, you know, the father doesn't have to be biology. You know, like having children in a spiritual sense is very important too. That's a good children. So I know you guys did that as well, and you know, had that as part of your story. So, you know, having that. Don't don't just limit it to that.

SPEAKER_01 30:55

I think that's and I hadn't thought of that, but you're so right. I mean, there's I have I Jake Holcroft, I would consider a son in the faith. And there's many others. I consider you a son in the faith. You know, Paul talked about Timothy as his son in the faith, and man, what a joy it is. Again, I talked about biologically watching my kids step out and grow and thrive and become who God has creating them to be, but I find that same joy in these relationships, you know, these discipleship relationships. And yeah, I'm hungry for more of that because it is such a joy. And so I do think Jake actually acknowledged like that there are barren women that are a part of our congregation. And so they might read this and think, oh, well, like, you know, what's this mean for me? And even it might stir within their hearts anxiety and despair. But really, I would say no. Like, I, you know, I don't know what God's plan is or purpose, but I know that he sees and he knows and hears hearts and prayers. But I would say, even beyond, yeah, biology or biological children, the joy that has come and can be found in you know, fostering and adopting, not that that's an easy journey either. I know that we all know that that's not the case, but then also even within the family of Christ and the body of Christ, these relationships and investing in the next generation, in essence, spiritual children, is such a blessed journey. And so I would say, by God's grace and to his glory, I am a blessed man who is filling his quiver with many spiritual children, and I'm eager to do that with more. Good point. I'm glad you brought that up.

SPEAKER_00 32:33

All the way back to where we started. Absolutely. Like the jakes of having those. So, church is a family. So, you know, when you're here on Sunday, you know, if you're in that age range, don't be afraid to see people that God puts in your path that need that mentorship and really spiritual parenting. It's been kind of neat to see some other families where kids are actually bringing in their parents sometimes, and but even like relatives and things.

Sending Out And Kingdom Advance

SPEAKER_01 32:58

So just those opportunities to and it's the whole the sending out, like those quivers. You hear me often say the phrase gut-wrenching and glorious. You know, it really is like I take taking it back to biological children. Like I remember Tammy and I walking and releasing Abby to go to her freshman year in college, and literally we were ridiculous. I mean, we wept. And I do think that I kind of struggled with idolizing my children in a way that was not right, and I worked through and repented of that. But yeah, like we were it was gut-wrenching, but at the same time, so neat to see her step out on her own faith journey. And I would say, even with within the confines of the body of Christ, sending these arrows out, like Joel Miller to Maine and Danny Ford to Pensacola, Drew Matthews to Smyrna, Ben Hankin to Salem County, New Jersey, Chris Baber to Rehoba, like, yeah, gut-wrenching. Tears are shed, but what a glorious thing to see the kingdom of God advance and God using these men, raising them up, and now they're preaching the gospel, and and it's just it's glorious. Yep.

SPEAKER_00 34:06

So, man, so much we could say about Psalm 127. Hopefully it's been a blessing really working through some stuff. This way, God's word, man. We touch on so many issues, you know, from eight kids and to our work and and all that, just from five verses. But so where are we headed next week? So, you know what? I I'm I've not decided.

What’s Next In The Series

SPEAKER_01 34:25

I I think it's gonna be another psalm. I'm gonna be preaching this week, but I think you know in Zechariah, we're in Zechariah 9, which there is the prophecy about you know, your king coming to you on the donkey on the full of a donkey, and I just have to save that for Palm Sunday. And so I think for the next two weeks we're gonna be in a little psalm, little sub-series, and then we'll pick up at that Zechariah 9 on Palm Sunday.

SPEAKER_00 34:50

Leaving everybody hanging, so you better go on Sunday to see where we're gonna be.

SPEAKER_01 34:54

We'll see.

SPEAKER_00 34:55

Well, Lifehouse family, thanks so much for joining us. We pray these are a blessing to you just as you journey through the week, and we'll look forward to seeing you next time.