Paul Part 3.1 - Finding Your Purpose

Question: What would be different about your life if you knew beyond any shadow of a doubt God ultimate purpose of your life? How would you discover God’s ultimate purpose?

Part 1: You need the Divine Mentor to give you a hedgehog concept ()

Go To a Place of Encounter ()

Seek a Revelation of Yeshua () - second chair Michael

Anchor Your Confidence in God’s timing ()

Let Him Give You Your Hedgehog Concept ()

Scripture Introduction

How many of you set some new Year resolutions? How many of you have already broken them? Generally this season of the year is

Self-Improvement

Generally speaking, during January Gym’s see a spike in new member enrollment. Vitamin stores will see an up-tick in new vitamin purchases. Congregations will see a new surge of people who are going to “get more spiritual this year.”

During January, at least here in America, this time of the year most people are thinking about:

What should I do about me?

How do I make me a better version of me?" And that's not a bad thing, "How do I get slimmer? How do I get stronger? How do I get smarter? How can I get out of debt?" All those things are good. But for us, for the next few weeks as we look at Paul’s life, I want to try to focus your attention, and to focus our attention on a bigger, better, broader question. It’s one that Paul had to come to grips with.

It's a little bit threatening, in fact, some of you are gonna be really disturbed by the question, and that's good, that's why we're gonna talk about it for three weeks and not just one week.

Some of you who are married, you're really not gonna like this question, because your husband or your wife already thinks about this stuff all the time, and you're constantly trying to reel them in, like, "Okay, look, you have to keep your job. You gotta go to work, you gotta go to school."

And so, this is gonna disturb you a little bit, that's okay. And in fact, we would love for those of you online to begin discussing this question, just for a few weeks, then we can get back to our normal lives.

In we were introduced to Rabbi Saul, a man whose sole purpose in life was to destroy faith in the Messiah wherever he may have found it. Wherever Jewish disciples of Yeshua were meeting to encounter God, he was going to destroy them, destroy what was anchoring their hope.

Now imagine you are one of the Jewish believers that was uprooted from you home because of Saul’s persecution. Imagine you are the husband of a wife who is imprisoned because of Saul. Imagine you are the wife of a husband who received lashes as punishment from the Sanhedrin. Every night for weeks you had to re-dress the bandages and care for the scars Saul’s zeal for the Law created. Imagine it was one of your parents.

Then imagine that there are rumors that Saul has now joined your cause. Someone comes up to you and slips you a note that says, “Peter has embraced Saul. Saul has been welcomed to our table.” You recoil in horror. Not only are you shocked that Peter of all people would welcome Saul you wonder, “How could I learn anything about Yeshua from a man like this. What could Saul really teach me about the faith the Messiah established, the faith that Peter preached, that James the Lord’s brother upheld?”

Surely this is no man to tell other about our Lord. But, what if it were true, you think, what if Yeshua revealed himself to this man. What if he did anchor his hope in Yeshua, how could things be different. What a an amazing sign of God’s power to tackle the heart of the wolf of Benjamin, Saul.

Still, hearing this news may and thinking this way may not be to far from the mark. is actually such a window into the life of Paul. In says that Paul went to Jerusalem

Acts 9:26 TLV

When Saul arrived in Jerusalem, he made attempts to join up with the disciples—but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he was a disciple.

Messiah did an amazing work but Saul began to ask old questions and found new answers. Not everyone was convinced about Saul but Saul was convinced about himself.

Acts 9:29 TLV

He was speaking and arguing with the Hellenists, but they were trying to kill him.

When we meet Saul in this part of the story in and we call it the decade of silence. As quickly as Saul appears, he just vanished for almost a decade. He was not idle, he was meeting with Yeshua and re-discovering the answers to some of life’s most important questions about true meaning and God’s ultimate purpose for Rabbi Paul.

And in

Ha-Foke-Bah

Our Reading from the Scripture is found in 7

Acts 9:30 TLV

When the brothers found out, they brought him down to Caesarea and sent him off to Tarsus.

Our Reading from the Scripture is found in 7

But after this brief moment in Jerusalem what follows is

Galatians 1:11–17 HCSB

Now I want you to know, brothers, that the gospel preached by me is not based on human thought. For I did not receive it from a human source and I was not taught it, but it came by a revelation from Jesus Christ. For you have heard about my former way of life in Judaism: I persecuted God’s church to an extreme degree and tried to destroy it. I advanced in Judaism beyond many contemporaries among my people, because I was extremely zealous for the traditions of my ancestors. But when God, who from my birth set me apart and called me by His grace, was pleased to reveal His Son in me, so that I could preach Him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult with anyone. I did not go up to Jerusalem to those who had become apostles before me; instead I went to Arabia and came back to Damascus.

Alright, so are you ready for the question? Even if you are not ready say you are ready. Here is the question:

What Breaks Your Heart?

Then there was the smear campaign

Self-Improvement

What breaks your heart? When you look around in your community, when you look around in your neighborhood, when you look around in your city, when you look around our country, when you look at the economy, when you look at the school system, when you look at what's happening with families, when you look at what's happening with children, maybe when you look at what's happening with just the whole state of our nation... I don't know what it is that captures your attention, but when you look around your community, when you look around your neighborhood, when you look around this world, what captures your emotion? What breaks your heart?

During January, at least here in America, this time of the year most people are thinking about:

In other words, when you're just thinking about whatever it is you wanna think about, what is that one thing that you just, maybe you just can't get it off your mind. Your heart, your mind, your thoughts, it just goes there. And when it goes there it's so disturbing, in fact, it's so disturbing you try not to think about it because you tell yourself, like we all do, well I can't do anything about that. It's always been that way, it's always going to be that way. Nothing's gonna change. I don't know anybody. I'm a nobody. I don't have any resources. I am too young, I am too old, I am too middle class, I am too busy, I am too disconnected; and I hope God, God would you please send someone over there to do something about that because that's a really big problem and I can't even think about it for very long because I get emotional about it.

your heart? When you look around in your community, when you look around in your neighborhood, when you look

What breaks your heart? It's a dangerous, dangerous question. And instead of going asking the question that most people will ask,

What should I do about me?

that you just, maybe you just can't get it off your mind. Your heart, your mind, your thoughts, it just goes there. And

What breaks your heart? It's a dangerous, dangerous question.

when it goes there it's so disturbing, in fact, it's so disturbing you try not to think about it because you tell yourself, like

around in your city, when you look around our country, when you look at the economy, when you look at the school

And instead of going into this year asking the

What can I do about me or what should I do about me? What if we asked the question What should be done around me? Because here's the truth and I think we all agree with this, if you really wanted to become a better person, if you really wanna become a better person this year, then do something this year that makes the world a better place. The old Jewish saying “Tikkun Olam” says what man is a man who does not leave the world or does not make the world better.

system, when you look at what's happening with families, when you look at what's happening with children, maybe

we all do, well I can't do anything about that. It's always been that way, it's always going to be that way. Nothing's

question that most people will ask, what can I do about me and what should I do about me? What if we asked the

gonna change. I don't know anybody. I'm a nobody. I don't have any resources. I am too young, I am too old, I am too

when you look at what's happening with just the whole state of our nation... I don't know what it is that captures your

Now here's something else that I know about you, 'cause it's true of all of us. The people that you admire the most, the people that you admire most, the people that you tell your children about, the biographies that you read, the people that have inspired you to greatness, the people that you admire the most are not the people who are able to maintain their ideal weight. Right? They're not the people that got out of debt. "Oh my gosh, you gotta read this, he got out of debt. I'm serious, he had like $12,000 of credit card debt and they got out of debt. You gotta, this is, I'm so inspired." I mean that's good, it's important and some of you need to get out of debt and some of you need to lose weight, a lot of you need to lose weight, okay. You need to get into shape, you need to eat five vegetables, five servings of vegetables every day, you need to do all that stuff, right?

How do I make me a better version of me?" And that's not a bad thing, "How do I get slimmer? How do I

question what should be done around me? Because here's the truth and I think we all agree with this, if you really

attention, but when you look around your community, when you look around your neighborhood, when you look

get stronger? How do I get smarter? How can I get out of debt?" All those things are good. But for us, for the next few

But listen, that's not what inspires you. What inspires you, what inspires me, the people we're so grateful for are the people who've made the world a better place or who have made someone's world a better place because nobody's gonna change the world but everybody has the potential to change somebody's world and some of you have the potential to change a slice of the world. And all of us have the potential to find someone whose heart is where our heart is and to join them in the grand adventure of making a difference in the world.

Now here's something else that I know about you, 'cause it's true of all of us. The people that you admire the

middle class, I am too busy, I am too disconnected; and I hope God, God would you please send someone over there to

wanted to become a better person, if you really wanna become a better person this year, then do something this year that

It's a little bit threatening, in fact, some of you are gonna be really disturbed by the question, and that's good, that's why we're gonna talk about it for three weeks and not just one week.

do something about that because that's a really big problem and I can't even think about it for very long because I get

But listen, that's not what inspires you. What inspires you, what inspires me, the people we're so grateful for

weeks, I want to try to focus your attention, and to focus our attention on a bigger, better, broader question. It's a little

around this world, what captures your emotion? What breaks your heart?

makes the world a better place. The old Latin proverb says what man is a man who does not leave the world or does not

most, the people that you admire most, the people that you tell your children about, the biographies that you read, the

people that have inspired you to greatness, the people that you admire the most are not the people who are able to

make the world better.

emotional about it.

bit threatening, in fact, some of you are gonna be really disturbed by the question, and that's good, that's why we're

Now if you don't do this, let me tell you what you are gonna do, okay, let me just predict the future for you. If you're not gonna do this, let me predict what this next year's gonna look like for you. You're gonna sit around and watch television and you're gonna blame everybody and you're gonna blame. Blame, blame, blame, blame, blame. But here's the deal, people who blame things, come on you know this, People who blame things, they don't change things. You're gonna look at something and it's just gonna break your heart or grip your heart and your defense mechanism's gonna be, "Somebody needs to do something about that and it's the President's fault and it's the Congress' fault and it's the PTA's fault and it's the school system's fault and it's the tax commissioner's fault and it's the preacher's fault and it's everybody's fault."

are the people who've made the world a better place or who have made someone's world a better place because nobody's

maintain their ideal weight. Right? They're not the people that got out of debt. "Oh my gosh, you gotta read this, he got

Blame is just a change-avoidance attitude.

let me predict the future for you. If you're not gonna do this, let me predict what this next year's gonna look like for you.

gonna talk about it for three weeks and not just one week. Some of you who are married, you're really not gonna like

gonna change the world but everybody has the potential to change somebody's world and some of you have the

What we are about to look at in if you are not a follower of Yeshua it is optional. If you are a follower of Yeshua, this is not an optional it is mandatory.

You're gonna sit around and watch television and you're gonna blame everybody and you're gonna blame. Blame,

this question, because your husband or your wife already thinks about this stuff all the time, and you're constantly trying

out of debt. I'm serious, he had like $12,000 of credit card debt and they got out of debt. You gotta, this is, I'm so

potential to change a slice of the world. And all of us have the potential to find someone whose heart is where our heart

If you're a Jesus follower, and let me be more specific, 'cause that can mean so many things. If you're a Jesus follower, and by that, I mean, if to the best of your ability, and none of us get this perfect, if to the best of your ability you are committed to living your life according to what Jesus taught, then you must be actively involved at some level in your life and at some place in our culture, bringing about change, because people who actively follow Jesus make things better. They just do. You can't actively follow Jesus and not make somebody's life better. You can't actively follow Jesus and not make the place where you live and the place where you work and the people you're with, better, it's impossible because of what Jesus talked and because of what Jesus modeled.

If you're a Christian, and let me be more specific, 'cause that can mean so many things. If you're a Jesus

And so, this is gonna disturb you a little bit, that's okay. And in fact, we would love for those of you in small

follower, and by that, I mean, if to the best of your ability, and none of us get this perfect, if to the best of your ability

you are committed to living your life according to what Jesus taught, then you must be actively involved at some level

in your life and at some place in our culture, bringing about change, because people who actively follow Jesus make

things better. They just do. You can't actively follow Jesus and not make somebody's life better. You can't actively follow Jesus and not make the place where you live and the place where you work and the people you're with, better, it's impossible because of what Jesus talked and because of what Jesus modeled.

follow Jesus and not make the place where you live and the place where you work and the people you're with, better, it's

impossible because of what Jesus talked and because of what Jesus modeled.

is and to join them in the grand adventure of making a difference in the world.

Yeshua taught Saul that a life of real meaning and significance could only come from Messiah and be measured in terms of our devotion to others.

inspired." I mean that's good, it's important and some of you need to get out of debt and some of you need to lose

to reel them in, like, "Okay, look, you have to keep your job. You gotta go to work, you gotta go to school."

blame, blame, blame, blame. But here's the deal, people who blame things, come on you know this, people who blame

groups to begin discussing this question, just for a few weeks, then we can get back to our normal lives.

things, they don't change things. You're gonna look at something and it's just gonna break your heart or grip your heart

Before Saul met the Messiah. He was Saul the wolf of Benjamin. He acted like a wolf. He preyed on believers and tore them apart. He thought he had found his purpose and meaning in life. He thought he was serving God and the best way to measure that service was in terms of his zeal to destroy Messiah’ followers.

weight, a lot of you need to lose weight, okay. You need to get into shape, you need to eat five vegetables, five servings

of vegetables every day, you need to do all that stuff, right?

After Damascus, Paul takes an almost ten year detour. While he was not in the public eye he was seeking God and learning that what once broke his heart had changed and his answer to what should be done about it also changed.

and your defense mechanism's gonna be, "Somebody needs to do something about that and it's the President's fault and

Galatians 1:17 TLV

I did not go up to Jerusalem to those who were emissaries before me, either. Instead I went away to Arabia and returned again to Damascus.

In Gal

it's the Congress' fault and it's the PTA's fault and it's the school system's fault and it's the tax commissioner's fault and

This is a very interesting time in Saul’s life. It appears after he was chased out of Damascus because of persecution. He went down to Arabia. There are two schools of thought about where he went. One locates Paul somewhere in the Nabatean Kingdom. But, based on the internal arguments in about Mt. Sinai it seems more likely that Paul went to Horeb, the Mountain of God.

it's the preacher's fault and it's everybody's fault."

This is the place where Elijah receives the amazing revelation of God in the still small voice. This is the place where Elijah went to after his zealous efforts did not lead to widespread revival of religion in Israel. This is the place were he was shocked to discover Adonai.

Saul, I believe, went to Sinai, the place of encounter. He went here because he needed to get answers to questions. Big, life changing, heart threatning kinds of questions, “What Breaks Your Heart Saul?” and “What should be done around me?”

And like Elijah who was told by the Lord

1 Kings 19:15–16 TLV

Then Adonai said to him, “Go, return on your way to the wilderness of Damascus, and when you get there, anoint Hazael king over Aram, and anoint Jehu son of Nimshi king over Israel, and anoint Elisha son of Shaphat of Abel-meholah as prophet in your place.

1 Kings 19:14 TLV

“I have been very zealous for Adonai-Tzva’ot,” he said, “for the children of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars, and slain Your prophets with the sword—and I alone am left, and they are seeking to take my life!”

Galatians 1:17 TLV

I did not go up to Jerusalem to those who were emissaries before me, either. Instead I went away to Arabia and returned again to Damascus.

Saul is to also go back to Damascus. He is given a mission not to anoint a King but to proclaim the truly anointed King Yeshua and to anoint servant leaders for the Body of Messiah from all nations.

If you want to find out the answer to the question, “What breaks your heart?” and “What should be done around me?” then you have to find a place to encounter Yeshua.

. You need a place to go where your eyes and ears are not bombarded by the heart breaking chores of life. You need to have a spiritual retreat that you take. If that is your Sukkot trip than be intentional about that being your place of encounter. If it is going to a conference or a using part of your vacation time as encountering Yeshua time. Then do it.

If you want to to find out the answer to the questions that can really give your life meaning then you need to have a place of encounter. I am don’t want to minimize the power of a prayer closet.You need a regular place to encounter Yeshua alone. You have to be intentional about this space if it is going to be effective.

Illustrate: In the movie,…, Priscilla Shrier portrays a nominal believe who gets on fire for God all through the advice of a season believer who had a life of encounter with Yeshua in the prayer closet. In the movie, she had to take everything out of the closet that distracted her to turn into a place were Messiah could encounter he.

Apply: Saul left Damascus for Sinai not just because he was fleeing persecution. He was looking to encounter Yeshua. He knew there was a place. He wanted to get there. Get there alone and fellowship with the Living God.

I know it is not easy to just slip into a closet and pray or find that space. I know the time is hard to make. I know the struggle to live on schedule is real. I know how awkward it can be to do this but the payout is more than the effort.

In that place of encounter he seeks a revelation of Yeshua:

Galatians 1:11–12 HCSB

Saul is telling these believers that his Gospel was not passed down to him in common rabbinic form. His gospel did not emerge from the preaching of a person even though he heard Stephen preach the Gospel. When he heard it, he had shut his heart to it.

He received a revelation. This kind revelation is not like what we mean when speak of the writing of the Scirptues. This “revelation” is more like the illuminating work of the Holy Spirit when he brings to life the truth of Yeshua to our hearts. What did Paul’s revelation of Yeshua tell him:

He was Messiah of David’s line and Son of God.

He died for our sins and was raised for our righteousness.

He was the end of the law for all who believe for righteousness.

He was the fulfillment of Israel’s prophecies.

He was the only person who could unite Jews and Gentiles together.

He was coming to restore Israel and retrieve his bride.

We also know from that Saul no doubt had some kind of heavenly experience where we has caught up into Paradise but he said this experience was not worth boasting in but the grace of Messiah in our weakness was what was worth boasting in.

These were not just facts, he learned what broke the Messiah’s heart. Slavery to sin and the destruction it brings. When he discovered what broke Messiah’s heart he also learned what broke his heart and what should be done about it.

Illustrate: The Messiah reveals himself in strange ways at different times to each of us. “Go help those on the other side of the racial line” - Penny and Evan in South Africa

Apply: This is not an American way to find ultimate meaning in life. What I am trying to tell you is that if you want to separate yourself from the pack, you want to find out what can give your life true meaning, you have to start by knowing who Yeshua is. The starting point is not you but him.

Saul said that he used of have the answers to life’s big questions:

Galatians 1:13–14 TLV

For you have heard of my earlier behavior in Judaism—how I persecuted God’s community beyond measure and tried to destroy it. I was even advancing within Judaism beyond many my own age among my people, being a more extreme observer of my fathers’ traditions.

Galatians 1:15 TLV

But when God—who set me apart from birth and called me through His grace—was pleased

Then God showed up and he rediscovered what really mattered:

Galatians 1:15–17 TLV

But when God—who set me apart from birth and called me through His grace—was pleased to reveal His Son to me so I would proclaim Him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult with any human. I did not go up to Jerusalem to those who were emissaries before me, either. Instead I went away to Arabia and returned again to Damascus.

Saul is in effect saying, “He rediscovered the answers to the question, “What breaks my heart?” and “What should be done around me?”

He said this was all on God’s timetable that the years spend going in the wrong direction were no accident with God. All of this horrible was necessary so that at just the right time when God was ready he could reveal His son.

This was God’s timing and God’s grace. Saul is in effect saying, “He rediscovered the answers to the question, “What breaks my heart?” and “What should be done around me?” not by looking inward but by looking upward. He went to the place of encounter, received a revelation of Yeshua and God gave him a purpose on planet earth that had real meaning.

Saul says the timing was perfect. And when God revealed His, Saul knew what had to be done. He anchored his confidence in God’s timing in his life, this was not coincidence, no accident, no mishap. He was here now on purpose and all of his life made sense.

When God revealed His son, Saul was given his “Hedgehog concept.”

Galatians 1:16 TLV

to reveal His Son to me so I would proclaim Him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult with any human.

His hedgehog concept was...

Okay you are wondering what a Hedgehog concept is explain:

Fable

Modern

Nehemiah

It answers the question what breaks your heart and what should be done about it.

Paul: Announce to the Gentiles they were now fully welcome into the family of through Messiah Yeshua.

What if someone else is already doing it? Remember the Wendy’s Big Mac?

Now, here's what some of you need to hear. Maybe this is something all of us need to hear. You have no idea... what hangs in the balance of your decision to embrace the burden God has put on your heart. You have no idea. You have no idea what and you've no idea who. You have no idea what segment of our population, you've no idea the people in your community or your city or nation. You've no idea of what hangs in the balance of your decision to create some space, to feel what it is that God wants you to feel and do what God wants you to do. You have no idea what hangs in the balance of your decision to embrace the burden that God has placed in your heart.

Now, here's what some of you need to hear. Maybe this is something all of us need to hear. You have no idea... I've told you this before. You have no idea what hangs in the balance of your decision to embrace the burden God

idea... I've told you this before. You have no idea what hangs in the balance of your decision to embrace the burden God

has put on your heart. You have no idea. You have no idea what and you've no idea who. You have no idea what

segment of our population, you've no idea the people in your community or your city or nation. You've no idea of what

Now, I know this personally because about 20 years ago, I was called by the Lord into ministry and my wife and I were were broken over the fact that the Jewish people were missing out on the greatest blessing ever: there Messiah.

group of people and our hearts were broken over the fact that there was no place for people who were disconnected

He were also heart broken that there was no place for people who were disconnected from God, the riff-raff, to go to a place to encounter the God of Isreal, because most messianic congregations were just kind of weird or cult like.

hangs in the balance of your decision to create some space, to feel what it is that God wants you to feel and do what

from God to go to church, because churches were just kind of weird. Churches were for church people. What broke our

Messianic congregations were for church people who wanted to be Jewish or for formerly very non-religious Jews to now start playing with Judaism.

What broke our heart was that Gentiles would come to messianic congregation and be made to feel like they were second-class and stupid if they did not know all the “Messianic lingo.” We were heart broken to watch Jews who wanted to find a Jewish space to encounter the Messiah get turned on to orthodox Judaism and walk out on Messiah’s people.

heart was that children would come to church, pray a prayer to become Christians, and then for the next 10 years, we

We were heart broken by what we saw as an epidemic, children and teens would come to messianic congregations, be indoctrinated into Judaism and then for the next 10 years, they were taught to hate the church and hate the word Christian. And then, by the time they didn't have to go anymore, they said, "I'm not going back, 'cause I hated it the whole last four or five years you made me go."

children would come to church, pray a prayer to become Christians, and then for the next 10 years, we

God wants you to do. You have no idea what hangs in the balance of your decision to embrace the burden that God has

taught them to hate church. And then, by the time they didn't have to go anymore, they said, "Now, I get to apply what

It Broke our heart.

you taught me. I'm not going back, 'cause I hated it the whole last four or five years you made me go." Broke our heart.

placed in your heart.

Lauren and I decided that people of all backgrounds should be able to walk into a messianic congregation and feel like they are valuable and this is their home not that they are servants of someone else’s home, full heirs and fully grafted in... Children should wake up and want to be here. That students should wake up and wanna be here. That children should wake their parents up because they wanna be here.

So Lauren and I made it our goal to do something about this. About five years ago I started to doing this at another congregation. Some of you that are here were there with me when I did it. We all saw what could be but we also saw that change is not easy and resistance to it will come.

up and wanna be here. That children should wake their parents up because they wanna be here.

When I resigned from that congregation, Lauren looked at me and said Michael the location may have changed but the mission is still the same. Now we are building it with you, from scratch from the ground our mission statement reflections this:

We are a messianic congregation where everyone is a someone who can be transformed by the story of Yeshua.

And now every Shabbat after we meet, Lauren and I turn to each other and say, “Can you believe what God is doing?” We turn to each other and say there is real chance of irreligious Jews finding a place to call home, of non-Jews coming to worship the God of Israel and feeling like the they are no less valuable, children rejoicing to be here, students excited to come. Laruen and I look at each other and thank God that you took a risk on us and are willing to try whatever we can do to accomplish this mission with us.

I can’t even imagine all the “What ifs?” What if i had heeded the advice of one guy who told me to leave and go from this city? Or What if I had taken that job at the large mega church. None of this would be happening and is where my heart is broken for and this is where I know what should be done about it. Here in Houston, here with this group of amazing families.

Here with this group of people that are saying, "Hey, let's try this even if it fails", we have no idea what hangs in the balance. All we know is that our hearts are burdened and we are going to do everything we can until we see this revival come.

even if it fails", what if we had no idea what hung in the balance? And let me tell you something, for some of you, for

And let me tell you something, for some of you, for some of you, your future, your future is more impactful than you'll ever imagine, but in order for you to experience it,

And let me tell you something, for some of you, for some of you, your future, your future is more impactful than you'll ever imagine, but in order for you to experience it, you've got to face up to what breaks your heart and you're gonna have to take some risk and you're gonna have to step out, and you're gonna have to do some things that make people think you are crazy. But you have no idea what and you have no idea who hangs in the balance of that decision.

some of you, your future, your future is more impactful than you'll ever imagine, but in order for you to experience it,

you've got to face up to what breaks your heart and you're gonna have to take some risk and you're gonna have to step

What breaks your heart?

out, and you're gonna have to do some things that make people think you are crazy. But you have no idea what and you

have no idea who hangs in the balance of that decision. What breaks your heart?

And here's the thing, okay? I think you should lose weight and get out of debt. I really do. I do. I think you should lose weight and get out of debt. But there is more to you than a body and a balance sheet. And your body and your balance sheet are too small a thing to dedicate your life to.

think you should lose weight and get out of debt. But there is more to you than a body and a balance sheet. And your

So what breaks your heart? What breaks your heart? What breaks your heart? What scares you to think about? And this doesn't mean you have to become an activist.

body and your balance sheet are too small a thing to dedicate your life to. So what breaks your heart? What breaks your

heart? What breaks your heart? What scares you to think about? And this doesn't mean you have to become an activist.

It doesn't mean you have to quit your job. It doesn't mean... In fact, I'm not advocating that you do anything irresponsible. The question is, what breaks your heart? And is there someone you could attach yourself to? Is there an organization that you could get involved with? Is there somebody you could become associated with? Is there something you could do that could become an outlet for you to give that extra time, that extra energy, that margin to something that has stirred your heart and may have stirred your heart for a long, long time?

This is how great things happen. Because here's what you know and here's what I know and here's what we all know. If you really wanna to become a better person, do something to have a life of real significance, or do something to make someone's world a better place. You say, "Well, Michael, how do I start?”

irresponsible. The question is, what breaks your heart? And is there someone you could attach yourself to? Is there an

organization that you could get involved with? Is there somebody you could become associated with? Is there

This is how great things happen. This is truly a new year's resolution. Because here's what you know and

something you could do that could become an outlet for you to give that extra time, that extra energy, that margin to

here's what I know and here's what we all know. If you really wanna become a better person, do something to make the

Go to a place where you can encounter God, ask him to reveal Yeshua to you..

something that has stirred your heart and may have stirred your heart for a long, long time?

world, or do something to make someone's world a better place. You say, "Well, Andy, that's disturbing and I don't

know, and I'm involved in all kinds of things. And there's 20 things that break my heart, and my wife's really nervous

But ask yourself that question, “God, what breaks my heart?”

now, my husband's really nervous now, and my parents just got me back in school and now they're going to be afraid

I'm going to drop out of school again." I understand. So here's the thing, just sit on it a week. But ask yourself that

And what could I do about what breaks my heart? And what could I do with who I am? That's why I love Saul’s story.

question, God, what breaks my heart? And what could I do about what breaks my heart? And what could I do with who

I am? That's why I love the way the first chapter of Nehemiah ends. He tells that whole story, then he says, "I was cup

bearer to the king." In other words, this was the opportunity I had. This was the stewardship of influence I had. This is

who I was, and so, consequently, I took who I was, and I did with who I was and what I had, what I could to address the