Practice English Speaking&Listening with: Guard Your Heart | with Richard van der Kolk | Hillsong Berlin (DE, PL, ES, PT, EN)

Hi, Church. It's so good to have you here. Welcome to the Sunday Experience online.

Today is going to be packed with great things.

The team is about to lead us in praise and worship,

Pastor Rich from Hillsong Netherlands is gonna bring the word,

and afterwards, we'll be getting together all over Berlin for Dinner Parties in the Park.

There is something so special about being together as a community.

Hanging out, meeting new people and enjoying delicious food - Everyone's invited.

So if you're at home right now and you want to come along, click the link below,

write a message in the live chat, or send a DM to Hillsong Berlin on Instagram

and we'll help you find a Dinner Party to go to.

Also, don't worry, we're making sure to do it safely and respecting the current regulations.

So now, let's praise Jesus together and make this moment special

by lifting up His name from wherever we're watching.

Hey church, come on, let's worship together!

THERES A SONG THAT STIRS THE SPIRIT AND IT CALLS THE HEART TO LIFE

ITS AN ANTHEM IN THE MAKING CAN YOU FEEL IT START TO RISE

CAN YOU HEAR THE GENERATIONS GETTING LOUDER OVER TIME

EVERY SON AND EVERY DAUGHTER SINGING OUT INTO THE NIGHT

ITS NOT TIME TO BE SILENT DONT YOU DARE HIDE YOUR LIGHT

THERES A WORLD OUTSIDE YOUR WINDOW SO DONT LET IT PASS YOU BY

LIFT YOUR HANDS TO THE HEAVENS LIFT YOUR VOICE TO THE SKY

PRAISE THE LORD OF ALL CREATION LET HIS NAME BE LIFTED HIGH

FROM THE FAMOUS TO THE FACELESS FROM THE PALACE TO THE STREETS

I CAN FEEL THAT DRUM BEAT PULSING AND ITS CALLING YOU AND ME

I CAN HEAR THE WORLD AWAKEN OH THE SOUND IS HEAVENLY

EVERY TRIBE AND EVERY NATION SINGING JESUS I BELIEVE

ITS NOT TIME TO BE SILENT DONT YOU DARE HIDE YOUR LIGHT

THERES A WORLD OUTSIDE YOUR WINDOW SO DONT LET IT PASS YOU BY

LIFT YOUR HANDS TO THE HEAVENS LIFT YOUR VOICE TO THE SKY

PRAISE THE LORD OF ALL CREATION LET HIS NAME BE LIFTED HIGH

SEE THE WORLD LIGHT UP ONE HEART AT A TIME

SEE THE STRONGHOLDS BREAK IN A BLINK OF AN EYE

DEATH AND ALL OUR SIN NOWHERE IN SIGHT

FOR THE LORD HE IS ALIVE

SEE THE LOST RETURN FROM THE DEAD OF THE NIGHT

EVERY CAPTIVE FREED EVERY CHAIN LEFT BEHIND

HAVE YOU EVER SEEN SUCH A BEAUTIFUL SIGHT

ALL THE WORLD COMING ALIVE

SEE THE WORLD LIGHT UP ONE HEART AT A TIME

SEE THE STRONGHOLDS BREAK IN A BLINK OF AN EYE

DEATH AND ALL OUR SIN NOWHERE IN SIGHT

FOR THE LORD HE IS ALIVE

SEE THE LOST RETURN FROM THE DEAD OF THE NIGHT

EVERY CAPTIVE FREED EVERY CHAIN LEFT BEHIND

HAVE YOU EVER SEEN SUCH A BEAUTIFUL SIGHT

ALL THE WORLD COMING ALIVE

ITS NOT TIME TO BE SILENT DONT YOU DARE HIDE YOUR LIGHT

THERES A WORLD OUTSIDE YOUR WINDOW SO DONT LET IT PASS YOU BY

LIFT YOUR HANDS TO THE HEAVENS LIFT YOUR VOICE TO THE SKY

PRAISE THE LORD OF ALL CREATION LET HIS NAME BE LIFTED HIGH

YOU'VE OVERCOME THIS WORLD WITH LOVE

AND MADE MY FIGHT YOUR OWN

I LIFT MY EYES AND THROW FEAR ASIDE

AND SING OUT INTO THE NIGHT

EVEN WHEN THE WORLD CAVES EVEN WHEN THE FIGHT CALLS

EVEN WHEN THE WAR'S WAGED I'LL TAKE HEART

I KNOW YOU ARE GREATER FOREVER YOU ARE SAVIOUR

I WILL SING YOUR PRAISE

WITH ALL THAT I HAVE WITH ALL THAT I AM LORD

I'LL STARE DOWN THE WAVES CAUSE YOU OWN THE TIDE

I'LL STILL MY SOUL AND KNOW

YOU WAIT FOR ME ON WATERS WILD

WHERE FAITH WALKS ABOVE THE STORM

EVEN WHEN THE WORLD CAVES EVEN WHEN THE FIGHT CALLS

EVEN WHEN THE WAR'S WAGED I'LL TAKE HEART

I KNOW YOU ARE GREATER FOREVER YOU ARE SAVIOUR

I WILL SING YOUR PRAISE

WITH ALL THAT I HAVE WITH ALL THAT I AM LORD

I WON'T LET THE STORM WEATHER MY HEART

WON'T LET THE DARKNESS BEAT ME DOWN

SING IN THE NIGHT MY HOPE ALIVE IN YOU

I'LL WALK THROUGH THE FIRE AND NOT BE BURNED

PRAY IN THE FIGHT AND WATCH IT TURN

JESUS TONIGHT I GIVE IT ALL TO YOU

I WON'T LET THE STORM WEATHER MY HEART

WON'T LET THE DARKNESS BEAT ME DOWN

SING IN THE NIGHT MY HOPE ALIVE IN YOU

I'LL WALK THROUGH THE FIRE AND NOT BE BURNED

PRAY IN THE FIGHT AND WATCH IT TURN

JESUS TONIGHT I GIVE IT ALL TO YOU

I WON'T LET THE STORM WEATHER MY HEART

WON'T LET THE DARKNESS BEAT ME DOWN

SING IN THE NIGHT MY HOPE ALIVE IN YOU

I'LL WALK THROUGH THE FIRE AND NOT BE BURNED

PRAY IN THE FIGHT AND WATCH IT TURN

JESUS TONIGHT I GIVE IT ALL TO YOU

EVEN WHEN THE WORLD CAVES EVEN WHEN THE FIGHT CALLS

EVEN WHEN THE WAR'S WAGED I'LL TAKE HEART

I KNOW YOU ARE GREATER FOREVER YOU ARE SAVIOUR

I WILL SING YOUR PRAISE

WITH ALL THAT I HAVE WITH ALL THAT I AM LORD

EVEN WHEN THE WORLD CAVES EVEN WHEN THE FIGHT CALLS

EVEN WHEN THE WAR'S WAGED I'LL TAKE HEART

I KNOW YOU ARE GREATER FOREVER YOU ARE SAVIOUR

I WILL SING YOUR PRAISE

WITH ALL THAT I HAVE WITH ALL THAT I AM LORD

PEACE LIKE A RIVER WASH OVER ME

IMMERSE ME IN WATER AS DEEP AS THE SEA

HIDE ME IN LOVE YOUR HEALING EMBRACE

PEACE LIKE A RIVER WASH OVER ME

AS I WORSHIP YOUR MAJESTY I WORSHIP YOUR HOLY NAME

JESUS MY EVERYTHING ALL THAT I AM IS YOURS

COME HOLY SPIRIT RAIN DOWN ON ME

BREAK OPEN THE HEAVENS AND DRENCH THE UNSEEN

POUR OUT YOUR PRESENCE AS I POUR OUT YOUR PRAISE

COME HOLY SPIRIT LORD HAVE YOUR WAY

AS I WORSHIP YOUR MAJESTY I WORSHIP YOUR HOLY NAME

JESUS MY EVERYTHING ALL THAT I AM IS YOURS

AS I WORSHIP YOUR MAJESTY I WORSHIP YOUR HOLY NAME

JESUS MY EVERYTHING ALL THAT I AM IS YOURS

OPEN THE HEAVENS FLING WIDE THE GATES

FLOOD EVERY HEART WITH MERCY

POUR OUT YOUR PRESENCE INHABIT OUR PRAISE

AS WE CRY HOLY HOLY

OPEN THE HEAVENS FLING WIDE THE GATES

FLOOD EVERY HEART WITH MERCY

POUR OUT YOUR PRESENCE INHABIT OUR PRAISE

AS WE CRY HOLY HOLY

OPEN THE HEAVENS FLING WIDE THE GATES

FLOOD EVERY HEART WITH MERCY

POUR OUT YOUR PRESENCE INHABIT OUR PRAISE

AS WE CRY HOLY HOLY

AS WE CRY HOLY HOLY

LORD SEND REVIVAL LORD SEND IT NOW

A MOVE OF YOUR SPIRIT HEAVEN BREAK OUT

COME NOW IN POWER COVER THIS LAND

LIKE YOUVE DONE IT BEFORE WOULD YOU DO IT AGAIN

LORD SEND REVIVAL LORD SEND IT NOW

A MOVE OF YOUR SPIRIT HEAVEN BREAK OUT

COME NOW IN POWER COVER THIS LAND

LIKE YOUVE DONE IT BEFORE WOULD YOU DO IT AGAIN

LORD SEND REVIVAL LORD SEND IT NOW

A MOVE OF YOUR SPIRIT HEAVEN BREAK OUT

COME NOW IN POWER COVER THIS LAND

LIKE YOUVE DONE IT BEFORE WOULD YOU DO IT AGAIN

LORD SEND REVIVAL LORD SEND IT NOW

A MOVE OF YOUR SPIRIT HEAVEN BREAK OUT

COME NOW IN POWER COVER THIS LAND

LIKE YOUVE DONE IT BEFORE WOULD YOU DO IT AGAIN

LORD SEND REVIVAL LORD SEND IT NOW

A MOVE OF YOUR SPIRIT HEAVEN BREAK OUT

COME NOW IN POWER COVER THIS LAND

LIKE YOUVE DONE IT BEFORE WOULD YOU DO IT AGAIN

Church, this is a new song. Why don't you follow along with us.

Let's make this our prayer today.

Well, hello, everybody. So good to have you with us today online.

And it's fantastic. What a great day it's going to be.

Absolutely! Welcome everybody, we're thrilled to have you here today.

We got a whole lot of things to pray for today and thank God for a praying community.

Thank God we're a church that believes in the power of prayer.

And there's been so many great reports

about what God has been doing in people's lives through them and taking people to better days.

And so right now, Joyce is going to lead us in prayer.

Wherever you are, whoever you're watching with today,

why don't we just lift up a spirit of faith in our prayer today and let's believe God.

And if you're joining us today and you're not familiar with prayer,

you're not really understanding what prayer can do,

We're just so honoured you're with us today.

We're going to stand and we're going to believe God for breakthroughs,

for supernatural answers, for wisdom, and for God's goodness to work in people's lives.

So, come on, why don't we pray together?

Absolutely. Let's pray together. Let's pray with a spirit of faith.

Because God is able. God is able to meet the needs of people.

Today, we're praying for people who, individual lives, who are seeking God,

who want to know, they want to experience God's wisdom in their workplace,

in their relationships.

Somebody is asking that we pray for comfort after the loss of a loved one,

we're also praying for somebody who actually put in a prayer request today.

And that's basically somebody who had a panic attack today.

And they're suffering with anxiety.

And, you know, God is peace. Jesus is the prince of peace.

And we're going to pray right now

that He is going to flood this person's heart and mind and settle them.

And that's a beautiful thing about prayer.

Prayer displaces worry at the centre of our lives as we invite Jesus into it.

And then, of course, we've got needs that are global needs.

We've got the situation in Lebanon.

We've got the situation in Belarus. There's so much need on planet Earth.

And then here as well, the youth in Berlin, we want to see young adults and young people

rise up and be all that God has called them to be.

Just like that song that we sang today, as well 'let there be a revival'

- especially with the young people. - And I love it because it says it now, now.

And that's what we're praying for.

So Heavenly Father, we come to You today and we thank You that You are indeed a good God.

You are faithful, You are kind and You are merciful.

And today we pray for every single need that is represented here

and every single need that is in the lives of people in their homes who are watching.

And God, we ask that today You will send revival in every area, Lord,

that Your Holy Spirit will come and meet the needs of humanity.

They will meet the needs of our loved ones. They will meet our needs. God, we trust You.

We thank You that You are able, we thank You that Your name is higher than any other name.

And that's the name in which we are praying today. The name of Jesus. Amen.

Amen. Well, thank God that there's a lot of good reports as well.

And so I'd love to share some of them with you today.

And people are thanking God for their neighbours.

You know, Joyce and I also, we're grateful for where we live

and we've just been able to get to know our neighbours a lot more in this season.

And well they're a lovely bunch. Really, we're blessed with great neighbours.

I don't know, in a city like Berlin, some of you listening today may you're like:

"Uuuuh yeah, I have great neighbours."

Well, I tell you, it is a blessing when you have great neighbours.

But there's a good report here that they're grateful to get to know

their neighbours in this season.

People have just been so thankful for all of the opportunity

to get together and see each other face to face at the Dinner Parties in the Park.

And I'm really grateful for everyone who's taking it serious when it comes to safety

with the masks and hand cleansing, just being respectful of the season we're in.

But I love that there's been so many good reports about

"oh, I was so grateful to see everyone and I've missed you."

So, Joyce and I have been going to the different Dinner Parties in the Park

and we'll hopefully get to see a whole lot more of you over the next couple of weeks.

Good reports when it comes to job opportunities, people are seeing new doors open,

God's given people opportunities.

Someone here got healed from a very badly broken leg and they've seen a total recovery.

Someone's saying they got literally a great, amazing tax return,

which has now put them in a debt free position. So that is fantastic news.

And anyone that's listening: be encouraged, if you haven't put your tax returns in

get it done and do it with integrity, do it with wisdom,

but also praise God for people that are getting debt free.

And if you've got debt, why don't you do something about it?

Because I believe it's something that can set you up

and help you to serve God with all your heart. Wisdom when it comes to travel decisions,

new apartments, people are passing exams and thank God for church family and friends.

So a lot of great reports there. And if you've got anything that's happening to your life,

like things you want us to pray for, stand with you in prayer.

Why don't you send it in online?

Let us know the details. It's always safe. It's always respected.

And also for anyone that's got great reports, why don't you share with us?

Because we want to share it with the family, we want to share it with the community

and really cheer people on in this season with all the good reports.

- So, keep it going. Keep going for it. - Awesome.

Well, something else that's happening today is very special, is Baby Dedications.

Three young little fellas are getting dedicated today.

It's beautiful. We've got Frederick, we've got Lucas and we've got Brentley.

And they're all getting dedicated today. And so, you know, children are a gift from the Lord.

And we are honoured to be able to come alongside these families after our online service

and just pray for them and be with them together and celebrate

and also to cheer these families on as they raise these boys

to be marvellous men in the House of God.

Yeah, we do. We speak God's favour over them and thank God for the families

and thank God for the friends that are supporting today as well.

So a great celebration.

Congratulations to all the parents on dedicating your children, your boys to the Lord today.

And if you don't know what this is, it's one of the beautiful things

that Joyce just mentioned.

Honouring the children is just realising they're a gift from God. You're a gift from God.

And so if anyone's listening today, you're interested

and you want to know more about Baby Dedications,

why don't you let one of our team know, one of our community members know.

And we'd love to support you or help you with this, but it's a huge honour and a great blessing.

So well done to all the families, well done to all the parents. Cheering you on.

Believe your kids are going to be great, great leaders in faith.

They're going to be great examples of God's goodness and God's kindness.

And I believe God's promise over their lives is gonna keep them,

help them to go the distance in Jesus name. So well done to everyone.

Beautiful. Love it.

You know, also in this season, you know, I really trust that for all of us

that we've got a hold of our one thing book because what a gift this is,

what a blessing it can be. And obviously, we have to use it, so it can be a blessing.

But if you look back over the last few months, the pandemic, for everyone,

the whole planet has been experiencing this.

But I wonder if we were to look back over the last few months and we've just

written one thing down that stood out from them Sunday messages, the Online Experience.

You would be surprised if you look back, you'll see: oh, my goodness, God is speaking to me.

And that's really the purpose of this book. It's to help all of us realise that God does speak

and He speaks all the time. And it's to help us to realise that we can hear His voice.

And I really want to encourage everyone that has done this

to look back and just really be encouraged with what God's been saying,

because I really do believe it builds faith. And if you haven't had a chance to do this yet,

it's never too late to start. I really want to encourage you to get a hold of the One Thing book

and start writing one thing down. Not millions, but just one thing,

that really stood out to you from the Sunday message,

because I believe it's the way God speaks to us.

It's not the only way, but it's a very beautiful way.

And I really think it's gonna be a great encouragement to anyone that's listening today.

So get a hold of the One Thing book, be blessed with it,

because I really do believe God is encouraging all of us,

even though we're going through difficult times. He still has messages of hope.

He has wisdom for us and He has perspective that can help us to stay steady

no matter what the storms are. So be encouraged with the One Thing book

or share it with a friend or buy it for a friend.

Either way, let's go on this journey together, hearing God's voice together. Amen.

Well, let's be encouraged with our giving today. Such a big part of who we are and what we do.

We do this every week.

And God's Word has so much wisdom for our lives

when it comes to building our lives, taking our lives forward.

And this is a particular area when it comes to our finances.

You know, we've got to really trust God with the wisdom that helps us to all move forward.

So the scripture I want to share with you today is found in Hebrews 5:11-12.

This what it says: "There is so much more we would like to say about this,

but it is difficult to explain, especially since you are spiritually dull and don't seem to listen.

You have been believers for so long now that you ought to be teaching others.

Instead, you need someone to teach you again the basic things about God's Word.

You are like babies who need milk and cannot eat solid food."

Well, there's something straight away that the book of Hebrews

really just touches on for all of us. That we shouldn't become spiritually dull because,

you know, when God's trying to speak to us, He's trying to reach us.

He's trying to strengthen us. It's kind of sad if we're dull in hearing His voice.

So I think about doing the basics, applying the basics.

And I believe that comes to our giving as well.

And so, I really want to encourage everyone to continue to look to God's Word

to apply it to your life. As we do this when it comes to our giving,

it is so important that we do it with a spirit of faith.

I don't know about you, but this book we've been sharing in our community this year

by Pastor Paul de Jong, Joyce, tell us a little bit about this book,

because I know that you're highlighting all of the cool bits and then giving it to me.

But tell us a little bit about it, cause I know you've been reading it.

Yeah, that's my little ploy, if ever I want Mark to actually read something in a book,

I will highlight it and then pass it to him and suggest he reads the highlighted bit.

I'm reading it, too, I am reading it.

It's worked well all these years of doing that with books.

But you know, what I particularly love about this book is that he covers everything.

Any question that I have ever been asked when it comes to tithes and offerings,

it's actually covered in this book. So if you're hungry to know more about it,

then I suggest, that you actually get a hold of this book

because it'll answer the questions.

It's good and it changes mindsets.

It deals with the religious mindset that sometimes people have,

helps people who maybe have got no idea about it and they don't even know how to start.

Where do you start? Very practical. But you'll love Paul de Jong,

he's such a great leader.

Him and Maria, we know them personally as friends in New Zealand.

And so be encouraged today with the giving message. It's practical.

You can use online details. You can use PayPal. You can use the online giving app

and maybe even use the EC card giving facilities there as well.

So let's be blessed today as we honour God, put Him first. And for everyone that's doing this:

I really want to encourage you to do it with a spirit of faith. You're trusting God.

He is faithful and it's helping build faith. And, you know, it's not a giving contest.

God doesn't need our money. He wants our heart.

And sometimes, money has got us instead of us having it.

And so, let's really be encouraged today. You don't have to do this for anyone that's listening.

This is about growing. It's about enlarging. And it's really about trusting God.

So teach our heart how to trust You, Heavenly Father.

And this is a great book because it does educate. It does help us to change our mindset.

So be blessed today in your giving, any practical ways you want to do that. Feel free.

And let's continue to build the church, let's build our lives and move things forward. Amen.

Well, we're in for a real treat today. Pastor Richard van der Kolk from Hillsong Netherlands.

Him and his lovely wife, Debbie, we've known them close to 19, 20 years now.

We were on staff together at Hillsong London and they're great people.

So you're going to be blessed today as Richard brings the word.

I know he's got something on his heart for all of us.

And I really believe God's going to continue to speak hope, faith and purpose

into every single person that's joining us today.

So be inspired and be blessed as you receive the word.

Hey there everybody in Hillsong Berlin.

So glad to be joining you from here in Amsterdam and a big hi from your church family

on this side of the world, on the other side of the border.

From all of us here in Amsterdam and Rotterdam and Brussels.

I love your pastors, I've got to say,

it's a real privilege to be able to speak into the life of Hillsong Berlin.

Mark and Joyce have been friends of Debbie's and mine for around 20 years now.

We've been serving God together. And I just think it's absolutely amazing

what is happening there in Berlin, that there's a church that's rising up

that I believe is going to change that city and beyond.

And so I would encourage you to keep going for it.

I don't know how it is for you, but for me, this year has been pretty crazy.

I guess it has been for everybody. 2020.

I sometimes wonder how we are going to look back on this time.

Think from the terms of the future, how are we gonna look back?

I believe there's gonna be innovations come out of this time

that are going to literally change the future.

Businesses that are going to start during this time meeting needs

that we didn't know existed beforehand.

And I just want to encourage you to look forward with hope.

Look forward with a sense of confidence and conviction that God is for you

and that this time is going to be one that creates a real positive change in your life.

You know, this virus and the racism and everything that's really come up

and come to the fore during this year, it can have such a big impact on people's lives.

Not just physically with the sickness, but emotionally too.

People's finances,

how people socialise with each other, it's a sense of change and uncertainty,

mental health issues can come up.

Jesus did say in John 16:33 that "in this world we will have troubles."

But He said: "Take heart" or "be of good cheer, because I have overcome the world."

Jesus knew we were going to have troubles,

But He said "be of good cheer because I have overcome this world."

I don't know what it is for you. I guess all of us have different circumstances

and we encounter different things that impact our lives in different ways.

I had a dream a few weeks ago. I don't normally remember my dreams.

But just a little while back, I got woken up by this dream.

I was in jail, in prison and it was an eight months sentence.

I don't know what it was for.

And, you know, I'm a good person, honestly.

But I found myself in my dream with this prison sentence and I was okay in the prison.

Somehow, I was able to manage with the circumstances in the prison.

But then I had this thought: In eight months I'll be out.

Will I still be able to pastor the church? Like what's my future going to hold?

How am I going to come out of this? And all this anxiety came up.

And I know for many people it's not just what's happening now,

but it's that thought of "what does the future hold?".

And needing to look through and think about

how we are going to navigate not just now, but also the future.

Right now, I'm in Amsterdam. And one of my favourite things to do here

is to jump on a boat and explore the canals of Amsterdam.

This is gonna be a bit cheesy, but I kind of feel like I'm in good company.

I mean, Jesus was in boats all the time. He was teaching His disciples.

And there was one time where He was in a boat

and He showed His disciples His authority when it comes to storms.

This storm came up. Let me read out the scripture to you,

It's in Mark 4:37-41.

It says: "A furious squall came up and the waves broke over the boat.

So it was nearly swamped. And Jesus was in the stern sleeping on a cushion.

And the disciples woke Him and said to Him, 'Teacher, don't You care that we'll drown?'

But He got up. He rebuked the wind and said to the waves. 'Quiet. Be still.'

And then the wind died down and it was completely calm.

He said to His disciples 'Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?'

They were terrified and they asked each other, 'Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey Him."

Well, when it comes to the boat of your life

and the storms that break over, the waves that break over the boat of your life,

you know, it's not the water outside a boat that is going to cause the boat to sink.

It's when the water gets in the boat that can cause the boat to sink.

It's the same with this virus right now.

It's not the virus that's around us in the world that's gonna cause us to get sick.

It's when the virus gets in our body that is what can cause us to get sick.

And that's why we have measures in place,

measures to keep the virus outside our body physically.

Well, in the same way, today, I want to encourage you

when it comes to destructive emotions, those anxieties,

those insecurities that can come up during this time.

Put measures in place to keep those from getting in your heart.

You know, the Bible says in the Book of Proverbs, 4:23:

"Above all else guard your heart. For everything you do flows from it."

Above all else guard your heart. Stop those destructive emotions from getting in your heart.

Because those are the things that are going to weigh you down.

Those are the things that are going to cause you to struggle in moving forward in life.

So I guess the question is this, how do you do it?

How do you guard your heart?

There's two parts to it, I think, there's what we do and there's what Jesus does.

In Proverbs 4, it's in the Old Testament and the image of that guarding

is like a soldier who guards a door.

As people want to come in he checks their credentials.

He makes sure that nobody who shouldn't be in gets in.

And so we guard the door of our heart

and we make sure those thoughts, those destructive thoughts, those destructive emotions,

they don't get into our hearts.

I don't know what you do when worry comes knocking at the door of your heart.

Anxieties when they come knocking at the door of your heart, worries, insecurities, fears.

What do you do when they come knocking at the door of your heart?

Do you say 'Hey, come on in. Welcome. We're having a party in here. Come join us!

We're having a pity party right now.

Let me entertain you. Let's entertain these thoughts.'

Let me feed you. What can I feed you? You're worried?

Let me feed you with some more stuff to worry about.

Let me feed you with some more stuff to get anxious about, to be insecure about.'

Do we have a party inside for those destructive thoughts?

Or do we guard our hearts and say 'No.'

'You're not going to weigh us down.'

It's like the water, you're not getting in the boat.

The virus, you're not getting in that body.

The Bible tells us not to let them in, to guard our hearts above all else.

But the incredible thing is in the New Testament.

The New Testament is about what Jesus has done for us.

He said that in this world, we will have troubles. But take heart. Be of good cheer.

Because He has overcome the world. He's in our boat. He's in the boat of our life.

Or maybe, a better way of saying it is: We're in His boat.

He has authority over the storms.

We don't have to freak out.

Because He is with us.

In the New Testament, there's two passages that talk about how to guard your heart

when it comes to Jesus.

The first one is in Philippians 4, let me read it out to you.

It starts by saying: "Rejoice in the Lord.

Rejoice in the Lord always.

I will say it again, rejoice. Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near."

He's in your boat!

"Do not be anxious about anything" - you might think: well, that's easier said than done.

It says "choose to rejoice in the Lord always.

The Lord is near. Don't be anxious, but instead,

with prayer and petition,

with thanksgiving present your requests to God.

And the peace of God" -

now this may not make sense. The Bible says

"the peace of God that transcends understanding.

The peace of God will guard your hearts and also your minds in Christ Jesus."

And then he goes on and says "Finally, brothers and sisters,

whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely,

whatever is admirable, if anything is excellent or praiseworthy, think about such things.

These are the things to be thinking about."

Now, I think you guys in Germany are similar to us here in Holland and Belgium.

We're quite logical.

Now, this peace of God guarding our hearts doesn't make sense.

It's illogical. It doesn't make sense, it transcends understanding.

And yet, if we will choose to rejoice in the fact that Jesus is in our boat.

That He is near. Rejoice in what He has done for us.

That in Him we have a hope and a future.

And so when we have challenges, we come to Him in prayer.

And we come to Him with thanksgiving. Well, thank You for what You've done.

Thank You that I am with You. Thank You that You're with me.

Thank You that I have this relationship.

Now I am going to choose to focus my attention on the things that are good,

that are true, that are noble, that are excellent, that are praiseworthy.

It says the peace of God, when we are proactive like that,

the peace of God transcends all understanding.

But it'll guard your heart and it will guard your mind in Christ Jesus.

Here is another verse in the New Testament, which speaks about

how our hearts a guarded, and it's in Ephesians 6.

Check this out, it talks about the armour of God.

It says "Therefore, put on the full armour of God.

So that when the day of evil comes, you'll be able to stand your ground.

And after you've done everything to stand, stand firm then

with a belt of truth buckled around your waist and the breastplate of righteousness in place."

The breastplate guards your heart. And it's a breastplate of righteousness.

The fact that we have right standing with God.

Now, here in our nation, and I'm not sure if it's the same in Germany,

but we tend to think that righteousness is all about what we do,

that we need to do the right things.

But in the New Testament it is a different kind of righteousness.

There's a righteousness that comes FROM God because we trust in Jesus.

In Romans 5:17 it says that it's a gift.

You can't earn this righteousness by what you do.

It's a gift. This gift of righteousness.

It says "If by the trespass of one man, death reigned through that one man,

how much more will those who receive God's abundant provision of grace

and the gift of righteousness will reign in life" - even in 2020 - "through the one man, Jesus?"

It's the righteousness that comes from God.

In Romans 4:6, it says:

"David says the same thing when he speaks of the blessedness

of the one to whom God credits righteousness apart from what you do."

It's not about what you do.

One more verse for you, Philippians 3:9.

"Being found in Him -

NOT having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, from what I do.

But that righteousness, which is through faith in Jesus,

faith in Christ, the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith."

He says this righteousness, that's the breastplate, it guards our heart.

And the Old Testament says the same thing.

You know, Isaiah 32:17, this is what it says:

"The fruit of righteousness is peace and its effect will be quietness and confidence forever."

I'm believing for you to travel through this year with a confidence

with this inner peace, this inner rest, and a rejoicing in who God is.

We're going to protect our hearts from being polluted by the things that try to weigh us down.

How?

We're going to be careful of the thoughts, the emotions that get in our hearts.

We've got to recognise that we have right standing with God.

So we are going to rejoice in all that He's done.

We are going to pray with thanksgiving for what He's done.

And allow the peace of God to guard our hearts and our mind,

and our right standing to be that breastplate of righteousness.

So when a knock on the door of our heart comes, of anxiety,

we shift our attention to Jesus.

Jesus is in our boat, and we let Him answer.

With faith.

Anxiety knocks - faith answers, insecurity knocks - turn to Jesus.

Jesus has made you a child of God! You don't need to be insecure during this time.

You can have confidence in the fact that you're a child of God.

When a sense of unworthiness knocks on the heart, on your door.

'I don't know if I'm worthy. I don't know if I if I'm good enough to do this,

I don't know if I can handle this situation.' Turn to Jesus.

Jesus considered you so worthy that He died on the cross.

For you to be reconciled with God.

Maybe you're starting to have some doubts about your future,

a sense of hopelessness is knocking on the door your heart.

I want to encourage you to turn to Jesus and consider the glory that awaits us.

The future that we have in Him, the eternity we have with Him.

If shame comes knocking at your door because of what you've done,

you might have made some mistakes through this time - Turn to Jesus, He's in your boat.

He's already died for the forgiveness of all your sins.

To give you this confidence.

To step through and step into your future.

I'm believing that some of you are gonna be those innovators,

some of you are gonna start those businesses.

They're going to change the future.

And it'll happen potentially during this time.

Jesus did say that in this world we'll have troubles.

But He said: Be of good cheer. Rejoice.

Take heart.

I have overcome the world.

And I want to quickly give you just three practical things that you can do.

Like you think about this Coronavirus and the measures we're taking

to make sure that the virus doesn't get physically in our body. Three things.

One is how we position ourselves.

Governments are saying, position yourself in your home.

Only leave your home if you have to. Position yourself 1,5 metres,

at least that's the rule here in the Netherlands, from other people.

Position yourself in a way that protects you.

Position yourself in your home.

Well, for us, we position ourselves in the House of God.

Now it might not be that we're able to do it physically.

But we can still position ourselves in the House of God,

as you are doing right now, as you are connecting in to the service in Hillsong Berlin.

Hebrews 10:24-25 says: "Let's consider how we may spur one another on

towards love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together as some are in the habit of doing,

but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the day approaching."

As you have opportunity to gather together in smaller groups -

A great opportunity to encourage one another. Position yourself.

The second thing with the virus that you see, what governments are saying is:

Keep washing your hands, stay clean.

Keep washing your hands.

Well, the Bible tells us to cleanse our guilty conscience, cleanse our conscience,

be cleansed by the reading of the Word of God.

Keep reading the Bible.

Keep getting truth in your heart.

Keep getting truth in your heart. Stay clean.

Stay fresh. Stay full of confidence. Full of hope.

The third thing the governments are telling us to do

is to protect ourselves by putting a face mask over our mouth.

You know, the Bible tells us to be careful what comes out of our mouths,

the words that we speak

have incredible impact on how you're going to live your life.

James 3:3-5, it says:

"When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn a whole animal.

Well take ships, for an example, - talking about the boat of your life -

Although they're so large and driven by strong winds, and there are some strong winds this year,

they are steered by a small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go.

Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts.

Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark.

What comes out of our mouth is important.

I love Psalm 100. Psalm 100 speaks of all of this, it says:

"Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth."

Are you in this season, in a place where you can shout for joy to the Lord?

That you can rejoice in the Lord and rejoice always, to be of good cheer

because Jesus has overcome the world? "Shout for joy to the Lord all the earth,

worship the Lord with gladness. Come before Him with joyful songs."

I love it, that's what we get to do in church.

"Know that the Lord is God.

It is He who made us. We are His. We are His people. The sheep of His pasture.

Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise.

Give thanks to Him and praise His name." Let that be what comes out of your mouth.

"For the Lord is good and His love endures forever.

His faithfulness continues throughout all generations."

You know, hearing the same things over and over again.

In fact, the Bible says in Thessalonians 5.

1 Thessalonians 5:16, that this is the will of God.

This is what God wants for all of us.

He wants us to "rejoice always, to pray continually and give thanks in all circumstances."

I'm believing that this season, this year,

We're not going to just survive through this season.

But you are going to take steps forward into all that God's got for you.

Because you know how to guard your heart.

From those destructive emotions that might come in.

In the same way as in a ship.

It's not the water outside the boat that will sink you, it's what comes in the boat.

The virus, it's not the virus around us that's gonna make us sick.

It's the virus that gets in us that will make us sick.

When it comes to our heart, it's not the stuff around us,

it's those destructive emotions and thoughts that we allow in.

But we can rejoice in the Lord always. We can pray continually.

We can give thanks in all circumstances. The peace of God will guard your heart

and you're right standing with God. He's in your boat. We're in His boat.

And we have right standing with Him.

Be of good cheer, because He has overcome this world.

And He's got incredible things for your life.

And I'm believing, all this encouragement, from Amsterdam to Berlin,

I am believing that you are going to step into all that God has for you. In Jesus Name.

Well, I trust you've been inspired today with Pastor Richard's message.

Such a great blessing and such a word in season for all of us.

You know, this moment right now is for anyone that's joining us. Anyone is listening.

When it comes to salvation, you know, it is the greatest human need for all of us

to know that we are saved by the grace of God.

And Jesus died on a cross so that you and I could be saved, that we could come home.

We are created in the image of God.

And there is something inside all of us that knows that we were created for greater purposes.

And I really want to encourage everyone that's listening today.

There is a God-given purpose over your life, my friend.

And this prayer of salvation, I believe,

can be the starting point of a life of God-given purpose for you.

So why don't you join with me in this prayer?

It's a prayer of salvation that I believe when you express it from your heart,

sincerely, all of heaven stands to attention.

I believe God's goodness and His presence can surround you in this moment

and help you to move forward as you start to look and trust Jesus with every detail of your life.

So come on, why don't you join with me in this prayer.

And maybe there's people listening today and you've done this before,

but maybe you've drifted or you've gotten distracted

or maybe you've just had some tough times and you just decided to give up.

Well, today, why don't you get back on track with God?

Because I believe His grace and His mercy and His kindness is still towards you.

So every one of us, why don't we believe God for His goodness to lead us all the way.

In Jesus Name.

So if you're looking to trust Jesus, you're wanting to make your peace with Him,

I honestly believe right now, as we pray, I believe you're going to encounter Jesus.

That's gonna define the rest of your life in Jesus Name.

Why don't you join with me in this prayer of salvation. The words are coming up on the screen.

Dear Jesus, thank You for accepting and loving me.

Thank You for dying on the cross. And thank You that You rose again to give me eternal life.

Today, I have decided to follow You, Jesus, and accept You as my Lord and Saviour.

Thank You for forgiving me of all my sins, past, present and future.

From now on, I declare I am loved by God. I am forgiven. And I'm a child of God.

In Jesus Name. Amen.

Well, that's such a beautiful prayer, and I trust that you've prayed it today,

and if you want to communicate that decision that you've made today,

why don't you just scan the barcode. We've got so much resource and great encouragement,

a great community of faith that will cheer you on on this journey of faith.

So we've got Discovery Nights that we can really invite you to be a part of

so you can ask the questions that you've got and you can begin to find

how to make progress in this journey serving Jesus.

I know for me, when I did this, when I was 23 years of age,

I could not get to where I am today without a community, without a local church,

and without so many people who used everything in their lives to help me grow

and get founded and strengthened in the word of God.

So we've got great things for you, great resource, you can download the Bible app,

anything, any questions you've got -

why don't you let us know and we'll love to support you on this amazing decision,

this life defining decision you've made today.

Be encouraged as you move forward, because I'm telling you,

you're going to see great things as God works in your life and through your life.

In Jesus Name. Amen.

How good has this morning been? Are you ready for Dinner Parties in the Park?

They are going to be so good. Remember, if you want to join one, it's not too late.

I'm sure there'll be one happening near you, so reach out to us here in the chat or on Instagram

and we'll help you get to one. And next week, we are finishing August with a bang.

Our very own pastors, Mark and Joyce, will be bringing the word.

So invite your friends over next Sunday to link in at the same time with you.

Or share the link to this YouTube channel. And let's be expectant for God to move.

Have a great week, see you!