To Spend and Be Spent | Sarah Escandon

Join Sarah Escondone in this heartfelt message as she shares her powerful message on the transformative power of obedience and intimacy with Christ. Drawing deeply from Philippians 3, Sarah invites us to shift our values and identity to fully embrace the surpassing worth of knowing Jesus. Through the inspiring words of Paul and the model of Jesus, she challenges us to see obedience not as mere duty but as a path to deeper joy and supernatural peace.

In this episode, hear uplifting stories from the Cathedral community—stories of individuals who live out this message by offering their time, talents, and love generously, embodying the call to spend and be spent for Christ. Whether you're looking for encouragement in your faith journey or seeking to deepen your relationship with God, this message is for you.

Highlights:
- Understanding the true meaning of obedience as a path to intimacy with Christ.
- Emotional and spiritual benefits of a Christ-centered life.
- Real-life examples of obedience at work in the community.
- How to let go of worldly gains for the sake of knowing Jesus.

Discussion Points:
1. How does your current identity align with your walk with Christ?
2. Have you experienced the deep joy and peace that comes with obedience?
3. What practical steps can you take to be spent for Christ in your daily life?

Subscribe to our podcast series to never miss an inspiring message. Let this episode encourage you to embrace a life spent for the glory of Christ and the good of those around you. 

#ObedienceIsBetter #LifeInChrist #ChristianPodcast #FaithJourney #SpiritualGrowth #CommunityStories

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Transcript

 as pastor james mentioned my name is sarah escondone and i've been in this church about eight years and oh my gosh has changed my life more times than i can count and i'm so grateful so so so grateful to be here i want to give you a little bit of context before we dive into this message is that all right because we're like not in a series you know so you don't know what i'm bringing i could be bringing anything and technically i am because we're not in a series but i want you to know my heart and so as i was getting ready i was talking with pastor jake and pastor james i was like hey

 I'm on the preaching calendar and we're not in a series.

What can I do?

What are you guys seeing that you would love me to speak into?

How can I come alongside your vision?

Is there anything that you would love me to pour gas on, to bring life to?

What would you like?

And they both looked at me and they both said, whatever you believe would best serve this location.

 we want to release you to bring.

We trust you, whatever you have.

And I really took that to heart.

That was no small thing for me.

And so I sought God for weeks.

Thank goodness I had weeks to know that I was preaching.

But I kept asking God, is there anything that you formed in me?

 that our house might need, anything that I can get, what is in me that I can give away?

Is there anything in me that I have a grace to carry, anything that I can use to build up and to bless our people?

And every time I ask, God kept bringing me back to this phrase that I've talked about with people so many times that runs through my mind and it's simple, it's this.

 obedience is better obedience is better it's simple but it has guarded my life and kept me close to jesus more times than i can count because in so many moments when i've been tempted to hold on to my pride to my self-pity to my comfort or to my control that phrase has anchored me

 And I don't say that from a place of perfection.

Y'all know me.

But I mean, what I'm saying is it's something that guards my life and always helps me remember that it's not just obedience or being a robot who's obedient that's better.

It's what's on the other side, which is intimacy with Christ.

 That's ultimately better.

And I don't know about you, but I need that reminder.

And like I said, I'm not coming from a place of perfection or always making the right choice.

I many times have trusted in myself and didn't choose obedience.

And I've just hated the aftertaste so much.

I've not enjoyed the fruit.

It's oftentimes been rotten.

And maybe you've experienced that too.

 every time i've chosen to trust god come on all the saints follow his promptings and obey even when it stretched me or even when it cost me i found unshakable peace the peace on the other side of obedience i found a joy that i didn't know could be so deep and i've gotten to know christ more deeply and what i'm here to remind you of today is that knowing christ more deeply has always been better than anything that we wanted to hold on to because we were afraid to let it go

 so today i want to give you that phrase not not as a rule to follow but as a grace to live by

 Not because, again, not because you're a robot with no choice, but because you've seen the worth of Christ and want to respond.

You've seen what he's worthy of.

And that's why I'm gonna be leading us through Philippians 3.

If you've got your Bible, you can start to get those out.

And we're gonna be in Philippians 3 because in this passage that we're gonna be in today, Paul models this kind of obedience, a life that is poured out, not for applause, for intimacy with Christ.

 My prayer this week has been that this message would feel like the kindness of God to everyone who gets to hear it, because that's what his invitation to obedience has been in my life.

It's been his kindness and his mercy and his grace.

And so I'm believing that as we walk through it together, God's going to help us not just to see what obedience costs, because that's real and that's great, but what it gives, a life of joy, a life of nearness, a life of supernatural power, a life that matters in eternity.

 And so if you're hungry for this kind of life, if you're ready for more of Jesus, then come on with me.

I see those Bibles.

I see those phone.

Let's turn them to Philippians three and get started.

Are you guys excited for the word?

I'm just saying my Bible says it does not return void.

And so I know that I can come into every single one of these moments with an expectation that God's got something he wants to do in me.

And so the title of this message is to spend and be spent.

 And Philippians 4, or Philippians 3 rather, 4 through 12 is our main passage.

And I want to give you just a bit of Paul's heart before we dive in so that we can get the context, so that we can interpret it faithfully to what Paul, the author, his intent was.

And the crazy thing is this letter wasn't written from comfort.

It was written from prison.

And I want to point that out because the way that he's speaking, you wouldn't know that.

 The joy that he has, the gratitude he's expressing to the Philippian church, the way he's exalting Christ.

You wouldn't think this man is in prison, but he is.

But there's a deeper reality, a deeper conviction that is driving his life.

The Philippians were a church that Paul had planted, and they were facing pressure, opposition, and hardship because of the city that they were in.

 He writes this to express his gratitude, man, to strengthen their faith.

And I'm ready to have my faith strengthened by Paul's words.

And so we're going to look at this opening passage verse by verse and discover how it empowers us to live a life delighting in God more than anything.

Doesn't that sound good?

 Come on, who wants to trade in obligation and weariness for delight today?

Anyone in here down to trade in who they used to be for who God's called them to be?

To be made fully alive in Christ, growing in maturity and active in their gifts?

I knew you would, because you're the best.

 And I know that that's Pastor Jake and Nicole's heart for you as well.

That you'd be growing in maturity in your gifts, that you'd be fully alive in Christ.

And so let's dive in.

Philippians 3, starting at verse 4, it reads, and this is Paul speaking, Though I myself have reason for confidence in the flesh also, if anyone else thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh,

 I have more.

Okay, Paul.

Circumcised on the eighth day of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews, as to the law, a Pharisee, meaning like perfect, abided to a T, as to zeal, a persecutor of the church, as to righteousness under the law, blameless.

But get this.

 But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of knowing Christ.

Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.

For his sake, I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish.

That Greek word is a little more intense than rubbish, but we'll go with rubbish.

In order that I may gain Christ.

So you know the passion with which he is speaking about his former things.

I love this.

He says, in order that I may gain Christ, in verse 9, and be found in him.

 Where do people find us, church?

I want to be found in him, and I believe today we can be.

Not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith, that I may know him and the power of his resurrection and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible, I may attain the resurrection from the dead.

Not that I have already obtained this or I'm already perfect.

Praise God, Paul.

Thank you for being human.

But because I press on.

 To make it my own.

Why?

Can we all read this next part that's up on the screen?

Because Christ Jesus has made me his own.

That's our why.

 Paul lists, and this is what he's doing, Paul's listing everything that gave him identity.

What gives you identity?

Is it how skilled you are at something?

Is it how great of a spouse or maybe a parent or in your job, the position or title you hold?

Paul is listing everything that once gave him identity.

His birth, his status, his education, his zeal even.

Come on, I used to really love thinking that I got closer to God because I did good works.

 And then Grace is like, that's not how that works.

I've already made you near.

But this is the beautiful thing.

I've already made a way for you to come near.

But then he's like, he says something wild.

He's going after all these things.

And these things are like top notch things.

It'd be like, I got the biggest bank account.

I've got the highest position in power.

I've got this.

I was born into the right family.

I had all the right opportunities.

I lived my life in the right way.

And then he says something wild.

All of it is loss.

 all of it couldn't matter more, or couldn't matter less, rather, compared to knowing Christ.

What we're seeing right here in this passage today is a radical reorientation of his values.

And it's something that we ought to get a hold of because Paul is saying what once made me important is now insignificant.

 because what Christ has done for me on the cross is immeasurably more significant.

Come on, the one that changed the DNA of death, that is gonna shake me forever.

That is way better than anything I was able to achieve or do or perform in front of people.

I'd rather have my boast be in that.

But it's so hard sometimes.

Sometimes I really like boasting and how clever I can be or what I might say, and yet this is not Paul's example.

 And so I want to walk us through these verses just like bit by bit, if that's cool.

And we're going to, we're going to go back to verse seven, verses seven and eight, right?

Paul is saying, but whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of knowing Christ.

Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus, my Lord.

Notice how every single why is Christ.

 Every single why is his worth.

Every single why is his work.

What he's done and what he's accomplished.

And I love this, right?

Paul is saying that what I valued most doesn't compare to receiving Christ.

His whole life has shifted.

It shifted from self to surrender.

And it shifted from gain to gospel.

And I want to ask you, what used to define you?

 Or maybe what still does, because I know I still have hang-ups sometimes.

What used to define you, or maybe what still defines you, if you've yet to give your life to Christ.

But then now on the other side of the cross, for those who have received him, has that shifted?

 Has there been a difference in your life?

Is Christ your highest gain, your greatest reward?

Does your life reflect that shift?

And I've got really good news for you today.

It's not about being perfect.

It's not as though it reflects it 100% of the time.

But here's the thing.

Is it reflecting it in a growing, grace-filled way?

 Are we continually being sanctified?

Are we continually inviting God to do work?

Because that's the great news today.

God is still walking with you.

Even when you're messy, he don't give up.

And I'm so grateful.

I am so, so grateful that regardless of what I bring, God doesn't go, oh, that's too much for me.

He doesn't go, oh, I'm intimidated by that sin.

Like, maybe I just won't address that.

And maybe they'll just take care of it on their own.

As if, right?

 But that's a beautiful thing.

God is still sanctifying you and still transforming you as much as you will invite him to.

That is the grace on display in your life.

And you know, again, in verse eight, as we keep going, verses eight through 11, it's this really cool thing where we see what Paul is longing for most, right?

We read it a bit already, but I'm gonna read it again because it's so good.

Indeed, I count everything as what?

Because of the surpassing worth of knowing who?

 Christ Jesus, my Lord, for his sake, I've suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish in order that I may come in order that I'm losing myself, that I may gain Christ and be found in him.

Paul longed to be found in Christ.

 As we keep going on in that verse, not having a righteousness of my own, that comes from the law.

Not being good enough to enter Jesus' presence because what I did, what I turned in and said, okay, I've got this payment, can I earn it now?

Can I come to you based on what I've done?

Paul's not doing that.

Paul is saying that he's got a righteousness that comes through faith in Christ.

The righteousness of God that depends on faith.

 And faith works, don't get me wrong, but it's not where righteousness comes from.

That I may know him and the power of his resurrection and may share in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death.

That by any means possible, I may attain the resurrection of the dead.

 Right, so in this smaller passage, what we're seeing is that Paul is standing firm in what Christ has done, what Christ has accomplished for him.

But get this, this isn't about, right, like him choosing to do that, him choosing to throw away everything else, to count everything else as lost, isn't about knowing Jesus.

Or sorry, it's not about knowing about Jesus, right?

I think it was Pastor Jake, maybe a couple messages ago, he shared this, or maybe it was Pastor James, but this wonderful term that the West has for people who follow people at somewhat of a distance,

 but don't really know them who remembers it stalker Paul's not interested in being a stalker that's not good enough he wouldn't give away everything to be a stalker to be at a distance to know about Jesus for him it was about knowing Jesus relationally personally intimate and here's the tension that I face and maybe you do too we love resurrection power but suffering

 You can miss me with that.

That's how you're smiling in the flesh.

Anyone else wanting to maybe at home watching this or even in this room that wants to skip that part sometimes?

That is so tempting.

I see that hand in the back.

Thank you, Cooper, that faithful man.

Come on.

 I feel that way.

I feel that way a lot, which is right, which is why having things like obedience is better is so important because then it shakes me out of my feelings and it reminds me of the truth and the testimonies that I have built with the Lord.

What testimonies are you turning into truths based on scripture that you need?

And here's the beautiful thing.

I know that, I know that, you know, I'd be like, miss me with that.

And I know that other of you, many of you can relate, but Paul is showing us this, that intimacy often deepens through hardship.

 Think about your closest relationships.

It was those moments.

It was that consistency.

It was that resiliency, that built intimacy.

And the reason why, the reason why Paul wants to share in his sufferings is because that's when grace stops being a concept and starts being a lifeline.

 And God's grace is only as good as we are willing to receive it.

Like it can be a word, it can be a song we sing, it can be a mental concept.

But when you need grace and you realize, God, I have nothing to depend on but your grace.

Oh, the riches.

Oh, the riches of knowing him and the power of his grace that it's better than anything I could ever depend on.

Avoiding hardship feels safer, but it robs us of the depth that God longs to share.

 And Paul wants depth more than anything.

That's the invitation of Philippians 3.

Not striving harder, but knowing Christ deeper.

And you might be thinking, I haven't been close to God, so I must need to earn my way back.

And I actually started crying as I wrote this part, because I felt so arrested by the Spirit that there was someone in this room that we needed to pray for.

And maybe there's a few of you.

 you've been feeling like you need to earn your way back to God and that obedience is a prerequisite for nearness and not a response I would really love to pray for you so that's you just even I know we're all sitting but would you raise your hand if that's you maybe in this room yeah okay beautiful amazing and if you if you need it in your heart you can still receive

 But I would love for us, can we just maybe stretch out our hands?

She was so beautiful to raise her hand with such bravery.

God gave me this word to speak over you in Hebrews 4, 14 through 16 to pray over you.

Obedience is not a prerequisite, Yasmin.

It's the response to it.

And I thank you.

I thank you, God, for Yasmin's heart.

 And God, we pray Hebrews 4, 14 through 16 over her right now.

Jesus, I thank you that you are our great high priest, that you are exalted yet so near to Yasmin, that you indwell her.

Lord God, that you indwell every single one of us.

I thank you that you know our weakness.

You know what it's like to be tempted, but you've never sinned.

So we can rely on you.

We can look to you and we can do so without having to hide or pretend.

I thank you, God, that we can come boldly to your throne, not because we've earned it, but because you've already made a way.

 I thank you, Lord.

God, I bless Yasmin.

I thank you for every single person who might be feeling this way in their heart.

I pray that grace would meet them today.

I pray that you would strengthen them, that you would remind them that they are already invited close, that help isn't on the way.

It's already here in you.

In Jesus' name we pray.

Amen.

Amen.

Wonderful.

And the next verse is so encouraging.

 Verse 12, not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect.

Do you have a sigh of relief in you after hearing that?

But then here's where he turns that ignition on.

But I press on to make it my own because Christ Jesus has made me his own.

Though not perfect, Paul continues to press forward.

And that's what we can do by the grace of God is continue to press forward.

Come on, who in here is happy that our heroes in the faith weren't perfect?

 That when we look at them, we can actually see the way that they struggled.

We can see the way that they prayed for grace.

We can see the way that they needed continual transformation just like we do until the day Christ calls us home.

If you're grateful, I'm going to need you to say amen.

Beautiful.

And that's the best part.

Even Philippians 1.6.

It's not you who brings you to completion.

It's God.

Until the day Christ Jesus returns.

That's why Paul has first said that.

And that's why he can say, so I press on.

 Because I'm not responsible for me being completed.

It's the Holy Spirit's work within me.

And so what does it look like though, right?

What does it look like to really live this out?

To really live as though everything is lost compared to Christ?

What does it look like to live with Christ as the highest gain?

I really believe that we're going to find our answers today looking at Paul.

 looking at Jesus, and then looking at a whole lot of people in this room.

Because there are so many testimonies in this house cathedral of people who are willing to live this way that I want to honor and celebrate today.

So let's turn to 1 Thessalonians 2.8.

Let's look at Paul's life.

Because he's saying these things, right?

But we want to say, okay, Paul, how did that actually change you?

 I know that you're saying these things, preaching this to the Philippians.

What behaviors, what lifestyle, what choices did that lead to?

What kind of love did that lead to?

And in 1 Thessalonians 2, 8, this is Paul writing to a church that he helped plant.

It says, so we cared for you because we loved you so much.

We were delighted to share with you not only the gospel, but our lives as well.

How many know it's different when you sit down with someone and they just share knowledge versus they share their life?

 How many has ever been truly transformed by someone who only shared what they knew?

Yeah, silence.

Not many, right?

It's because they share their life.

 is because Christ shared his life with us.

And I love it.

Paul wasn't a full-time pastor.

He wasn't on staff at church.

He was a tent maker by trade.

He had a full-time job.

And he did it to support himself and his team.

Even in this very letter to the Thessalonians, he reminds them that they labored day and night so that they wouldn't be a burden on the Thessalonians as they came to minister to them.

 And yet, even with all that, Paul says, we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel, but our lives, our lives as well, because that's what makes it real.

That's what's counting all is lost for the sake of knowing Christ and being found in him looks like.

It's not just preaching the truth, it's embodying it.

Paul didn't only share his knowledge, he made room, get this, in his heart where people could take up space.

How many people are taking up space in your heart?

 A life spent for the gospel is a beautiful life.

It shares time.

It shares margin.

It shares meals.

It shares prayers.

It shares energy.

Not out of obligation, but out of love.

Because loving obedience looks at the people Christ died for, which is everybody, by the way.

Which is everybody, just to clarify.

Looks at them and says in an echo with Christ, you're worth it.

 Imagine if the people that you worked with felt that way when you looked at them.

Felt that way when you served them or loved them or prayed for them.

How about this?

When was the last time you looked at the people of Cathedral and the people we're called to reach and made a decision that disadvantaged you in the world's eyes to advantage your church based on the conviction that they were worth it?

 It was not convenient.

Paul would have probably loved to have been put up in a hotel or like a nicer shack than the tents he made.

I don't know.

But he didn't.

He said, I want to give anything I have away.

And I want to remove any barrier there would be for someone to receive Christ.

 And this verse to the Thessalonians, it gives us a glimpse in Paul's heart, a life gladly poured out because he loved deeply, because he knew Christ intimately.

But here's what makes it even more compelling.

Paul didn't just live like this when it was received well or reciprocated.

Come on.

He lived like this even when it cost him.

That's not just passion, that's conviction.

That's not just feeling it, that is obedience.

Obedience as a response to knowing the nearness of Christ.

 And the next example we'll see is him living out this very lifestyle described in Philippians 3, counting all his loss, pressing on despite it being difficult, and pouring himself out no matter the outcome, because we're not responsible for the outcome.

We're invited into the obedience.

 2 Corinthians 12, 14, and 15 reads, and Paul is writing this to the church in Corinth.

Here for the third time, I am ready to come to you, and I will not be a burden, for I seek not what is yours, but you.

For children are not obligated to save up for their parents, but parents for their children.

I will most gladly spend and be spent for your souls.

If I love you more, am I to be loved less?

 This is what it looks like to count everything as loss.

This is the big idea here.

Counting everything as loss because of the worthiness of knowing Christ means being willing and obedient to spend and be spent for the sake of A, his nearness in your life and B, his kingdom coming through your life.

 And I'll say it again, though.

We don't earn nearness to Christ.

There is no working.

That is his work alone.

But hear me, just like any relationship, deeper intimacy grows when we prioritize, when we love, when we honor, when we serve that other person.

 That is what happens.

So I'm not preaching that you need to do a lot of things to get near to Christ.

What I am preaching is that when you live in obedience as response to his nearness, there is so much good stuff on the other side.

There is so much that you have to look forward to that's better than the promotion.

That's better than the person looking at you a certain way.

That's better than the bank account.

 And this changes everything.

We can never exhaust the depths of Christ, but we can choose to go deeper instead of settling for stagnant.

There's going to be a place on this altar today where you can step out of stagnant and receive prayer to go deeper with Christ.

That's what we've been believing for all week.

Counting everything as loss means being willing and obedient to spend and be spent.

And I don't know about you, but when I think about it,

 being spent for his nearness in my life for greater intimacy in my life and the kingdom coming through my life when i get to the end of my days i don't know what would have ever been more worth it i know sometimes i get tripped up and i said well maybe this is gonna be worth it oh no no but maybe this thing is gonna be worth it every and every time i go for it it's not i'm just gonna be honest christ is the only thing

 And Paul, again, for the last, Paul didn't earn righteousness by being spent.

He received it through faith and responded with his whole life.

That's what being spent is like.

He didn't pour himself out to gain approval.

He did it because he'd already been claimed.

Hello, Christ had made me his own.

He'd already been claimed and approved of by Christ.

That's what he was responding to.

That's where the spending was overflowing out of.

 to spend and be spent by christ and for christ isn't just the call of the gospel it is the place where joy where fruitfulness come on where intimacy with jesus flourish and where paul i i just wonder where where did paul learn to live like this like church was new he was planting them didn't have like a ton of people that he could look at but he had one who was perfect

 Paul learned to live like this from the only one who lived it perfectly.

Because the truth is, Paul isn't our blueprint.

Jesus is.

Philippians 2, 3 through 8 reads, Do nothing from selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.

Let each of you look not only to his own interest, but also to the interest of others.

Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped,

 but emptied himself by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men, and being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

And Hebrews 12 too, on top of that, tells us that he endured the cross.

Why?

For the joy that was set before him.

This is it.

We get to spend and be spent by Christ because Christ first chose to spend and be spent by God for us.

 None of this is striving.

None of this is earning.

All of this is a response to seeing what Christ has done, to seeing the way that he was willing to spend and be spent.

He didn't obey to check a box.

He obeyed because of love.

He didn't endure for applause.

He endured for joy.

And the joy that was set before him was you.

It was Russell Garcia.

It was Alexa Lapid.

It was Ben.

It was Taylor.

It was McGarren.

It was every single one of us in this room and every single person that he's hoping will choose him one day.

 That's why we can press on.

That's why we can pour ourselves out because our king first poured himself out.

He didn't stop halfway.

He emptied himself, humbled himself, gave himself perfect.

He is the perfect example of spending and being spent.

Not because we earned it, but because he wanted us near.

Christ wanted you near before you ever wanted him.

He didn't look at you when you were good enough to get his attention and say, oh yeah, okay, yeah, I'll bring them near.

 He wanted you from the moment he made you, from the moment he was knitting you together in your mother's womb.

And I'm not ashamed to call you to this life of spending and being spent, not because you need to manufacture it.

 not because you have something to prove, but because this is our right response to the greatest act of love and humility the world will ever see.

And I've searched high and low, long and hard, and I found nothing more worthy than Christ.

Anyone else in this room searched and found nothing?

 Because here's the thing.

When we really see the worth of Christ, we don't stay the same.

We can't help it.

It's not even us.

We are willing.

And I just want to give you a few examples of how the Holy Spirit has been at work shaping the people of Cathedral to spend and be spent.

You ready to honor some people?

Come on.

Brian Gonzalez didn't want to lead a group this semester.

I get it.

He's in a crazy season at work.

So on the phone with Pastor James, he said no.

And then the Holy Spirit checked him.

 But get this.

Holy Spirit convicted him.

What did he do?

On the same call, a minute later, said, you know what, Pastor James?

Never mind.

Whatever you need me to lead, I'm willing.

Come on.

That's the life of a man who lets God lead even when it's not convenient.

 where do i even start with you who i love she's been faithfully serving at cathedral since before i got here always consistent always joyful come on her smile is the best to walk into this year she said yes to night school she was one of the first to sign up come on and she said yes to being in d groups to being trained up to be a neighborhood group leader when i invited her in

 She was like, this is out of my comfort zone, but I'm a yes.

And because of Zsuzsi, we're going to be able to offer more neighborhood groups in the fall that reach more kinds of people.

Come on, Maddie Wagner up here in fear and trembling.

But what did she say when I called her Monday and said, I have a crazy idea.

I heard this really cool story in my neighborhood group.

And I want you to minister because I feel like there's something on your life and a gift that we need to receive.

 And what was the first thing in her voice when it went back to me?

Okay, so my answer is yes, but I'm kind of feeling these things and these are, but get this, how many of us first go into all of this and then try to decide if we're yes or no?

She said yes based on the conviction that God would work in this room.

And because of it, three people were healed.

We saw people feel seen and loved and known by God.

Man, the K family, oh my gosh.

 They had a vision of having a home so that they could open it and bring people in to help them grow and get connected.

They've been house hunting for a while with hosting space prayers, with specific size prayers, right?

More space in their current place so that they could let people in.

And the week before group launch Sunday, and it just like God, God led them to the perfect spot.

 Did that faze them?

No?

Not at all.

They moved in that week, and I need you to show this photo.

I gave it to them this morning, so don't worry about it.

Come on.

That's the neighborhood group.

That's someone who said, I don't care if I moved in today and in seven days I need to host a group, I'm going to do it because I know there's a need.

And look at that.

This is what spending and being spent looks like.

 And it's the most beautiful thing.

Then there's Mandy, our faithful Joyfield Essentials team lead.

 She works full time with a brutal commute and still made time this week to thoughtfully and excellently make sure that the 20 people, hello 20, who are going to be at Essentials wouldn't melt.

Praise God.

She did this.

She was at Costco getting extra drinks and ice.

She was spending time outside of work and nearing into the weekend searching on Amazon for the perfect mister so we could keep y'all cool because you're going to be there an hour.

We're going to feed you.

But we're trying to make you want to come back.

You know what I'm saying?

You're going to get sticky.

 But she was doing that, and here's the thing.

She could have done all that and just had an attitude like, I'm just getting through it.

But she had levity.

She had joy.

Come on, she was on the phone.

We even laughed.

I couldn't believe it.

And I got to end with Allie Owen.

She works on set for weeks at a time, pulling 12-hour days.

But last week was her only week off, and guess what she did?

 She met with multiple younger girls and got coffee with them, investing in them, pouring into their life, calling them to be who God's called them to be, making sure they were getting connected to team and into groups and relationship.

Come on, on your time off, when you're working 12 plus hour days, that tells you that there is something in her heart that says these people are worth it, that I want to spend and be spent.

Man.

 It's the fullest, freest, most fruitful way to live.

And can I tell you the most beautiful part?

That culture didn't appear overnight.

 It's the fruits of seeds our pastors have been sowing for over a decade.

Only God knows how many people have sat at pastors Jake and Nicole's table, how many hours Pastor James and Kirsten, and a lot on me, so I know a good chunk of it, but how many hours they spent praying, discipling, showing up, contending for the freedom of others.

They've lived this message quietly and consistently, and now we're living in the harvest.

 it's real it's lasting and it's expanding god's kingdom and the best part is you can be a part of it these stories matter not just because they're stories of commitment but hear me they are stories of captivation every single one of those people has looked at the face of jesus and said you are worth it and this is the best part these are people who have tasted the surpassing worth of knowing christ and said spend me

 And they're not depleted.

Come on, they're flourishing.

Brian was encouraged when I talked to him after group that night.

Maddie was emboldened.

Zsuzsi felt seen and believed in.

Allie was refreshed.

Mandy was emboldened.

Come on, because obedience doesn't drain us of joy.

It leads us deeper into it.

That's the best part.

Ask any one of them.

 And so on the surface, this message might sound like a call to give your life away.

And it is.

Both on the surface and underneath.

But don't miss what's at the heart.

I'm not calling you to perform or run yourself into the ground.

I'm calling you to know and be known by the only one who is worthy of your whole heart.

 I'm inviting you into the intimate walk with the God who saw you, pursued you, saved you, brought you into his kingdom because he had good works for you to walk in.

That's the kind of life we were made for.

A bold, intentional, generous life spent for the glory of Christ, the beauty of his bride, and the good of the city.

We are sitting in the fruit of lives that were willing to be spent.

 And now it's our turn, Cathedral.

And so would you get ready to stand with me as you get ready to respond?

And here's the thing.

Here's what this looks like.

Join a group.

Lead someone.

Cultivate your prayer life.

Use your gifts.

Prepare for growth.

 Living this kind of life out will take thick skin and a soft heart.

You're gonna need to forgive quickly, love generously, surrender gladly, but that's what spending and being spent looks like, because that's what Jesus looks like.

And yes, if those steps I just read sound familiar, it's because they are.

I took Pastor James's next steps straight from his message last week, why?

Because following Jesus isn't complicated, it's just costly.

 And I don't know about you, but I definitely needed to hear those again.

I needed to be reminded of who God's called me to be with every single one of those.

That he has prepared good works for me in advance and that those are the ones that I can walk in.

And I don't, I think sometimes the most faithful thing we can do isn't find a new word.

It's obey the one we've already received.

And so this is our opportunity to respond in obedience and faith.

And so I'm going to invite a couple of you forward to

 to come receive prayer.

And these are the three groups of people I've been praying for all week.

The first is you're afraid of being spent.

 If the idea of getting to the end of yourself sounds like the worst thing ever, this is for you.

Because there's more faith for you.

There's more joy for you.

There's more trust for you.

If you're still calculating because you're afraid of what will happen when you run out, God's invitation to you today is to trust that he's got you.

And so if you want to receive fresh courage and faith through prayer, would you raise your hand?

If that's anyone in this room, beautiful.

 Amazing.

Okay.

The second group of people that we're going to be praying for, you're obeying, but you've lost a willing heart.

You walk in faith, but you've started valuing outcomes more than presence.

It's kind of like when I treated obedience, like a vending machine, I'm going to put this in and I'm happy to do it, but I'm also kind of expecting this thing on the other side.

 If you're wanting your heart to be renewed with fresh love and fresh faith that Jesus is your greatest reward, would you raise your hand here today?

Amazing.

I see those hands.

And lastly, come on, you're being spent and it's beautiful.

You're in this room and you're living what I'm preaching.

If you'd like to receive a refreshing and a reminder that God sees you and delights in your obedience, would you raise your hand?

Because we're going to pray for you as well.