“Thanks Phil.

Can I just say that I think Phil is doing an outstanding job? [Applause]

Look, as, uh, Phil has just said, this is a really difficult season and difficult day. And no doubt this is a huge shock for people.

So I want to do three things- and it’s not going to be long. I want to talk about Brian and Bobbie. And honour them. And number two, I want to give you some practical advice on what to do in these situations. Having said that, there is going to be lots of practical advice given over the next few weeks as well. And of course, yesterday – was it yesterday? – Phil, talked about what to do in a crisis. Something you could reflect on. And then I want to pray, because I think at this point the best thing for any one of us to be involved in is to seek God. We need his wisdom and we need his strength, we need his courage, we need his peace, the other things we need to get through this season.

So, can I also just say over the next few weeks there are lots of things to be done, lots of processes- and no one is going to be- none of us are going to be perfect in it all. Phil has made it perfectly clear in the last few weeks he is just going to do his best, and that is what we can all want to happen. I am just going to try and do my best.

Can I just say that about Brian and Bobbie, I want to..? – In the announcement that just- and the letter will go out, we honour Brian and Bobbie for what they have done.

On a personal level, I would not be in Australia if it were not for the Houston family. I was called specifically to work with them. So in a sense, as Brian has resigned, it is an end of something (for me, personally). But I would not be here, so I am immensely grateful. And I would not be standing on this platform, talking to you wonderful people if it was not for their faith, their belief in me, for the opportunity they have given me- and I will always honour them for that. And the reality is, we wouldn’t be sitting in this building were it not for the vision that they have had over many years.

And may I say, it’s not just a temporal vision. It’s an eternal vision. And so while things will change and things will stop, a lot of things will never stop because they are eternal. So I just want to, (I am going to pray for them in a minute), but I wanted to just say that personally. I want to honour Brian and Bobbie and their family for all that they mean for me, for all that they’ve given to me, all that they have enabled in my life.

But the fact is, this is a difficult situation, which subsequently resulted in the staff member resigning.

And, uh, Phil talked about crisis and you have heard me talk about it before. But the Bible- I have been a Christian for fort eight years and I have been involved in these crisis’ on numerous occasions. And whenever I go through tough days, or seasons, I do three big things. I want to encourage you to do them.

Number one, I focus on Jesus. That is why are going to pray. I get on my knees more than I did before; I seek his council  fixing [my] eyes on Jesus, the author and the finisher of our faith.

The second thing I do, is ground my life in the truths of the Word of God. And I would encourage you to encourage people to do the same. Focus on Jesus. His kingdom. His church. His plans. His purposes. His character. His life. And then ground our lives on the truths of the Word of God. Because it is from the Word of God that we gain stability and certainty in a time of uncertainty. And we gain wisdom for life. And so I look at what the Bible says about these situations.

And thirdly, I remind myself of the eternal promises of God. Even though this, uh, is a shock, the fact is, what God said yesterday, and a thousand years ago, and an eternity ago will still apply tomorrow. And the next year. And the next 1000 years.

And he says he will build his church, and he will build his church. And so these crisis’ come and I always remind myself of those three big things.

Then I go to the Scriptures. And then in Corinthians it says- Paul talking to the church in this present crisis — he does not tell us what it is, he just says there is a crisis. And when the Bible has statements like that they are there for a reason. And they basically tell us that crisis will come. They will come. So shocking but not surprising.

Secondly, it says that crisis’ will vary. It was as personal crisis. And everybody is going to react differently to this crisis. But crisis come and crisis vary. But look at what is says: It is a present crisis. So it will go. And it says this is a season. It’s not a long term thing. It is a present crisis.

So I wrote down a few weeks ago a few thoughts from that verse – and then we are going to pray. But I just thought I would read this to you. This is what I drew and I am just encouraging you to fix your eyes on Jesus, go back to the scriptures, write your own thoughts and then remain and remind yourself of the promises of God.

And it says this (I just wrote this down from 1 Corinthians):

‘Use your common sense. I have no command from the Lord.’

In other words, ‘Guys, use your brain here. The bible says there is a time to speak and time not to speak, so use your common sense’.

Number two, think how your choices will effect other people. That is a really important one because, you may be shocked, but what you say and what you do will impact the way other people do things.

Number three, take simple steps to reduce trouble. Ha! You see, an argument, a discussion that is inappropriate, just take simple steps to pour oil on troubled water. Bring wisdom.

Number four: choose the best path for you. Phil talked about this, about looking after yourself. In this context, it says “If you do marry you have not sinned. That is a good thing to know! Choose the best path for you. What is going to work for you.

And then number five I wrote, ‘Expect God to turn up’.

Expect God to turn up, because He always does.

So can I just encourage you on just those three big things?

Fix our eyes on Jesus. Ground yourself in what God says. Remind yourself of the eternal promises. Doesn’t take away from the difficulty. You will still experience the shock and, uh, we are going to pray. So why don’t we stand? And, uh, why don’t we do exactly what the Bible says? Raise our hands wherever you are, people in other places. If you are on your own, raise your hand. I am going to pray. First for Brian and Bobbie and their family, and then we will pray for this church, amen?

Father, I pray for Brian and Bobbie, I thank you for their vision, I thank you for their service over the years. The impact they have had, as we’ve said, on millions of lives including ours — and Father we thank you for them, and we pray that in this incredibly difficult season, you would give them peace, wisdom and grace. And hope. In the name of Jesus. I pray you would cover them in a way we could not cover them, and help them in a way we could not help them.

And Father I pray for the church, Hillsong church, that the church of the Lord Jesus Christ. I thank you father that you sent your son to save us, and to build your church, your people and to extend your Kingdom and your word says nothing on Earth can stand against that purpose and that plan.

And so I want to rejoice that you are on the throne and you will build your church, and your will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven. It will be done.

And I pray father that individually, right around this room and those people listening you would just turn up in our lives, and give us the necessary courage, strength, grace to do the right thing. And to live more like your son Jesus Christ.

And to glorify him in all that we do. We ask it in Jesus’ name.’

And everybody said… Amen. [Audience: Amen]

God bless you.

PHIL DOOLEY:

“Thank you Robert.

Um, so for the rest of the day, uh- I think all of us probably have a need for time of reflection. Time to talk. Time to continue to pray. So you have the opportunity to do that. Whatever you are needed to do work wise, if you are able to put that aside that is okay. This needs to be a time where we are just there for each other. We obviously have our pastoral team to talk with you, and that is probably going to be an unfolding journey for all of us.

There is initially shock to things like that and there is all kinds of emotions. And this will be something that we process. And so we have our pastoral team available to everybody. And maybe you have a trusted friend you can talk to?

But, I wanted to read again just this passage I shared on Sunday from Job (who knew that Job could bring us hope in this time? But Job 14: 7-9 says,

‘For there is hope for a tree, if it be cut down that will sprout again and that its shoots will not cease. Though its root grow old in the earth and its stump die in the soil, yet at the scent of water it will bud. And put out branches like a young plant.’

And we are believing that through all of this, as we remain close to Jesus, that we will embrace and be covered in that water of his holy presence. And that will cause us to grow. And fruit to come forth from our lives and our church. And can I just say for me personally in the midst of this hard, hard situation I have found God’s presence so immensely close. And I know for all of us, this is a time where I believe he wants to continue to do a deep work in us. In our church, yes, but in your life.

And so I encourage you to take time to dig deep in God. That he shows you things through this that will make all of us more worthy servants of Jesus, and able to carry all that he is calling us to carry in building his church going forward.

So bless you guys. We love you all. And let’s continue to pray for our church together. And I am going to show up on Sunday, and I hope you guys will too. [Applause] And we will show up the Sunday after that, and the one after that, and we will just give it our best each Sunday.

God bless you guys, thank you guys. [Applause]

[End of livestream]

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