1 00:00:08,165 --> 00:00:13,365 Speaker 1: Life Audio. We're searching for something more. We're not going 2 00:00:13,405 --> 00:00:17,005 Speaker 1: to find it through artificial intelligence. We're not going to 3 00:00:17,045 --> 00:00:21,645 Speaker 1: find it to the latest technology or electronic device. We're 4 00:00:21,685 --> 00:00:25,285 Speaker 1: not going to find it in anything or anyone apart 5 00:00:25,325 --> 00:00:34,725 Speaker 1: from God himself. Hey, I want to talk about something 6 00:00:34,765 --> 00:00:38,684 Speaker 1: that happened recently because it speaks directly to everything we're 7 00:00:38,725 --> 00:00:42,085 Speaker 1: going to talk about in this podcast. On Saturday night, 8 00:00:42,325 --> 00:00:46,444 Speaker 1: April twenty fifth, of the White House Correspondence Center in Washington, 9 00:00:46,565 --> 00:00:49,525 Speaker 1: d C. Chaos broke out. And by the way, I 10 00:00:49,644 --> 00:00:52,925 Speaker 1: went to the Correspondence Center a few years ago when 11 00:00:52,964 --> 00:00:56,525 Speaker 1: President Biden was in office. It is literally the who's 12 00:00:56,565 --> 00:01:00,405 Speaker 1: who of the news community packed into a room. So 13 00:01:00,525 --> 00:01:03,645 Speaker 1: here in this gathering was the President of the United States, 14 00:01:03,725 --> 00:01:07,245 Speaker 1: the First Lady, and many, if not most, members of 15 00:01:07,285 --> 00:01:11,084 Speaker 1: the cabinet were in that room. Marco Rubio, our Secretary 16 00:01:11,125 --> 00:01:15,485 Speaker 1: of State, Pete Hegseeth, our Secretary of War, and many others. 17 00:01:15,565 --> 00:01:19,525 Speaker 1: Franklin Graham was also there, as was Erica Kirk, a 18 00:01:19,565 --> 00:01:23,605 Speaker 1: woman who has already gone through the unthinkable, having lost 19 00:01:23,645 --> 00:01:27,885 Speaker 1: her husband Charlie to his shooter. Just months ago. There 20 00:01:27,965 --> 00:01:33,565 Speaker 1: was an assassination attempt on President Trump that thankfully was thwarted. 21 00:01:33,725 --> 00:01:37,405 Speaker 1: But by the way, this is the third assassination attempt 22 00:01:37,485 --> 00:01:42,605 Speaker 1: against our president following the shootings in Butler, Pennsylvania in 23 00:01:42,645 --> 00:01:47,005 Speaker 1: Florida in twenty twenty four. Thank god the president and 24 00:01:47,084 --> 00:01:50,165 Speaker 1: our leaders are safe. Now here's something that made this 25 00:01:50,245 --> 00:01:53,805 Speaker 1: story even more real for me personally. I recently had 26 00:01:53,805 --> 00:01:57,965 Speaker 1: the opportunity to interview my friend Fox News anchor Shannon 27 00:01:58,045 --> 00:02:02,125 Speaker 1: Breem at the Richard Dixon Presidential Library, and she told 28 00:02:02,205 --> 00:02:05,485 Speaker 1: me she was there that night. She said the moment 29 00:02:05,725 --> 00:02:09,965 Speaker 1: the shots rang out, it was chaos and confusion and panic, 30 00:02:10,125 --> 00:02:12,885 Speaker 1: and she didn't know who was who or what was what. 31 00:02:13,325 --> 00:02:16,005 Speaker 1: She suddenly sees these armed men at the front, and 32 00:02:16,045 --> 00:02:19,685 Speaker 1: she thought, are these people attacking us? And she crawled 33 00:02:19,765 --> 00:02:22,525 Speaker 1: under the table along with everybody else, doing the same 34 00:02:22,845 --> 00:02:25,485 Speaker 1: as they were ordered to do. And she says, I 35 00:02:25,725 --> 00:02:30,965 Speaker 1: just prayed, Lord, don't let our president be assassinated. Thankfully, 36 00:02:31,405 --> 00:02:34,885 Speaker 1: God hurt our prayer and ours. But let's be honest 37 00:02:34,925 --> 00:02:38,525 Speaker 1: about where we are. This is scary. These are in 38 00:02:38,605 --> 00:02:45,725 Speaker 1: settling days, three assassination attempts on his sitting precedent. That's unprecedented. 39 00:02:46,125 --> 00:02:50,285 Speaker 1: These are indeed frightening times. So today, I want to 40 00:02:50,325 --> 00:02:53,165 Speaker 1: talk about fear. I want to talk about a culture 41 00:02:53,205 --> 00:02:56,645 Speaker 1: that has built a shrine to the self. I want 42 00:02:56,685 --> 00:03:00,645 Speaker 1: to talk about artificial intelligence and a story about AI 43 00:03:00,805 --> 00:03:04,085 Speaker 1: that every parent needs to hear. And finally, I want 44 00:03:04,125 --> 00:03:06,765 Speaker 1: to talk about a psalm by a man who had 45 00:03:06,805 --> 00:03:09,925 Speaker 1: real enemies trying to kill him and what he discovered 46 00:03:10,005 --> 00:03:13,125 Speaker 1: about God in the middle of it all. Let's dive 47 00:03:13,205 --> 00:03:17,525 Speaker 1: in so the Bible speaks to what's happening in our 48 00:03:17,565 --> 00:03:21,165 Speaker 1: culture right now. And two Timothy three to one, the 49 00:03:21,205 --> 00:03:26,285 Speaker 1: apostle Paul says this and the last days, perilous times 50 00:03:26,325 --> 00:03:30,085 Speaker 1: will come. Friends, we are in the last days. All 51 00:03:30,125 --> 00:03:34,485 Speaker 1: around us, we're seeing signs of the times, reminders that 52 00:03:34,645 --> 00:03:38,805 Speaker 1: Jesus is coming back again. Paul identifies one of those 53 00:03:38,845 --> 00:03:41,205 Speaker 1: signs of the times and the words that he just 54 00:03:41,285 --> 00:03:44,325 Speaker 1: gave us, The word that he uses for perilous as 55 00:03:44,365 --> 00:03:48,565 Speaker 1: in in the last days, perilous times will come, is 56 00:03:48,605 --> 00:03:51,805 Speaker 1: a word that has only used twice in the New Testament. 57 00:03:52,365 --> 00:03:55,045 Speaker 1: I don't know about you, but that sounds like right 58 00:03:55,125 --> 00:03:59,925 Speaker 1: now to me. Three assassination attempts on his sitting president 59 00:04:00,205 --> 00:04:04,765 Speaker 1: and attack one of Washington's most prominent public events. You know, 60 00:04:04,805 --> 00:04:07,325 Speaker 1: it's interesting and some people are saying, oh, this was 61 00:04:07,365 --> 00:04:10,645 Speaker 1: all staged. If you were going to stage some kind 62 00:04:10,685 --> 00:04:13,565 Speaker 1: of an attack on the president, I doubt you would 63 00:04:13,645 --> 00:04:16,525 Speaker 1: do it in a room filled with people whose very 64 00:04:16,685 --> 00:04:20,684 Speaker 1: job is to report the news. No, this was real 65 00:04:21,365 --> 00:04:25,285 Speaker 1: and it was unsettling. So what should we do. We 66 00:04:25,325 --> 00:04:29,125 Speaker 1: have two secret weapons and are arsenal as Christians, and 67 00:04:29,165 --> 00:04:33,445 Speaker 1: one of them is prayer. We need to pray. This 68 00:04:33,485 --> 00:04:36,605 Speaker 1: is something that we're commanded to do in scripture. We're 69 00:04:36,605 --> 00:04:39,445 Speaker 1: commanded in the Bible to pray for those who are 70 00:04:39,445 --> 00:04:43,685 Speaker 1: in leadership over us. So pray for our president, pray 71 00:04:43,765 --> 00:04:47,605 Speaker 1: for our elected officials, pray for our nation, pray for 72 00:04:47,645 --> 00:04:52,885 Speaker 1: our pastors, and pray for our churches, and pray for protection. 73 00:04:53,605 --> 00:04:56,645 Speaker 1: So one of our secret weapons is prayer, and the 74 00:04:56,685 --> 00:05:00,885 Speaker 1: other secret weapon is preaching the gospel. This is what 75 00:05:00,925 --> 00:05:04,645 Speaker 1: our culture needs, this is what American needs, this is 76 00:05:04,725 --> 00:05:08,005 Speaker 1: what the w the world needs. Jesus told us to 77 00:05:08,045 --> 00:05:12,845 Speaker 1: go into all the world and preach the gospel. So listen, 78 00:05:13,045 --> 00:05:16,365 Speaker 1: this is not a time to panic. This is the 79 00:05:16,525 --> 00:05:19,925 Speaker 1: time to pray. And I want to talk a little 80 00:05:19,965 --> 00:05:23,405 Speaker 1: bit about what could be described as the self epidemic. 81 00:05:24,205 --> 00:05:26,765 Speaker 1: I think This is one of the most important cultural 82 00:05:26,805 --> 00:05:31,125 Speaker 1: conversations we can have right now. Jesus said something two 83 00:05:31,205 --> 00:05:35,885 Speaker 1: thousand years ago that cuts across everything our culture is 84 00:05:35,925 --> 00:05:40,165 Speaker 1: promoting right now. Jesus said, whoever desires to save his 85 00:05:40,245 --> 00:05:43,964 Speaker 1: life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for 86 00:05:44,045 --> 00:05:46,965 Speaker 1: my sake will find it. Let me think about that. 87 00:05:46,965 --> 00:05:49,685 Speaker 1: That's such a fascinating statement because we're in a time 88 00:05:49,685 --> 00:05:56,765 Speaker 1: where everything focuses around self, self love, self promotion, a 89 00:05:56,805 --> 00:06:01,205 Speaker 1: self discovery. Oh, people say I'm trying to find myself, 90 00:06:01,485 --> 00:06:04,885 Speaker 1: Jesus says, hey, lose prayer phrase. You want to find yourself, 91 00:06:05,525 --> 00:06:10,445 Speaker 1: lose yourself. Listen. It costs to follow Jesus, but it 92 00:06:10,525 --> 00:06:15,605 Speaker 1: costs even more not to Actually Losing yourself or giving 93 00:06:15,645 --> 00:06:18,605 Speaker 1: yourself over to the Lord is the best thing you 94 00:06:18,645 --> 00:06:22,165 Speaker 1: can possibly do. When you take up the cross and 95 00:06:22,205 --> 00:06:25,964 Speaker 1: follow Jesus. It means that you die as self desires 96 00:06:26,165 --> 00:06:29,964 Speaker 1: and put God's will in the place of those desires. 97 00:06:29,965 --> 00:06:33,365 Speaker 1: But here's the cool thing. God's plans for you are 98 00:06:33,405 --> 00:06:37,205 Speaker 1: better than your plans for yourself. One of my favorite 99 00:06:37,325 --> 00:06:40,605 Speaker 1: verses is Jeremiah twenty nine to eleven, where the Lord says, 100 00:06:40,685 --> 00:06:42,805 Speaker 1: I know the thoughts that they think towards you, says 101 00:06:42,805 --> 00:06:46,005 Speaker 1: the Lord, Thoughts of peace and not of evil, to 102 00:06:46,085 --> 00:06:48,765 Speaker 1: give you a future and a hope. If God had 103 00:06:48,805 --> 00:06:51,805 Speaker 1: simply said I know this single thought I had about 104 00:06:51,845 --> 00:06:55,205 Speaker 1: you for a moment, says the Lord, I'd be excited because, hey, 105 00:06:55,245 --> 00:06:58,044 Speaker 1: God thought about me once. But that's not what God says. 106 00:06:58,125 --> 00:07:01,445 Speaker 1: I know the thoughts plural. I know the thoughts I 107 00:07:01,725 --> 00:07:05,085 Speaker 1: think towards you, not I thought towards you. So God 108 00:07:05,285 --> 00:07:08,724 Speaker 1: has there's a lot of thoughts that he's thinking toward 109 00:07:08,925 --> 00:07:12,045 Speaker 1: you right now. But wait, you might say, what if 110 00:07:12,045 --> 00:07:15,125 Speaker 1: they're bad thoughts? What if they're negative thoughts? No, I 111 00:07:15,245 --> 00:07:17,725 Speaker 1: know the thoughts that I think towards you, says the Lord. 112 00:07:18,125 --> 00:07:21,725 Speaker 1: Thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you 113 00:07:21,765 --> 00:07:24,925 Speaker 1: a future and a hope. So when we say take 114 00:07:25,045 --> 00:07:29,005 Speaker 1: up the cross and follow Jesus, we're saying put God's 115 00:07:29,045 --> 00:07:32,565 Speaker 1: will above your own. Paul got it obviously when he 116 00:07:32,605 --> 00:07:37,125 Speaker 1: said I am crucified with Christ. Nevertheless I live yet 117 00:07:37,165 --> 00:07:41,205 Speaker 1: not I, but Christ lives in me. Bottom line, taking 118 00:07:41,285 --> 00:07:45,805 Speaker 1: up the cross means loving Jesus more than you love yourself. 119 00:07:45,965 --> 00:07:49,805 Speaker 1: Now scroll through TikTok or Instagram for just five minutes 120 00:07:49,845 --> 00:07:53,085 Speaker 1: and what do you see. You see young people primarily 121 00:07:53,405 --> 00:07:59,085 Speaker 1: filming themselves constantly, not just milestones, They're filming literally every meal, 122 00:07:59,605 --> 00:08:04,405 Speaker 1: every outfit, every mundane moment. I went to this coffee 123 00:08:04,405 --> 00:08:08,725 Speaker 1: place the other day that's very popular among young kids, 124 00:08:08,885 --> 00:08:12,885 Speaker 1: especially young girls, and it was just filled with people 125 00:08:12,925 --> 00:08:17,085 Speaker 1: getting their coffee orders and filming themselves, taking selfies of 126 00:08:17,125 --> 00:08:20,125 Speaker 1: themselves doing it. So they've even come up with a 127 00:08:20,165 --> 00:08:26,125 Speaker 1: phrase for this. It's called main character syndrome. Main character syndrome. 128 00:08:26,325 --> 00:08:29,325 Speaker 1: It's the idea that your life is well the movie. 129 00:08:29,925 --> 00:08:33,205 Speaker 1: Your feelings are what matter. You are the star of 130 00:08:33,245 --> 00:08:36,964 Speaker 1: the show. Everybody else they're just a supporting cast. Now 131 00:08:37,005 --> 00:08:39,405 Speaker 1: we wonder how did we get here? I can tell 132 00:08:39,405 --> 00:08:42,485 Speaker 1: you we didn't get here Back to that. Starting in 133 00:08:42,525 --> 00:08:46,085 Speaker 1: the eighties and the nineties, counselors began handing out I 134 00:08:46,125 --> 00:08:53,045 Speaker 1: AM Special certificates. Then came participation trophies. Then came the selfie, 135 00:08:53,285 --> 00:08:59,805 Speaker 1: then Instagram, then TikTok, billion dollar platforms engineered around the 136 00:08:59,845 --> 00:09:03,845 Speaker 1: worship of self. Now, of course we have influencers who 137 00:09:04,285 --> 00:09:07,125 Speaker 1: are building their brand. Well where did that get us? 138 00:09:07,365 --> 00:09:11,365 Speaker 1: Studies show that despite being the most affirmed generation in history, 139 00:09:11,845 --> 00:09:16,765 Speaker 1: gen Z reports the highest rates of anxiety, loneliness, and 140 00:09:16,845 --> 00:09:22,005 Speaker 1: depression ever recorded of any generation. Again, Jesus dealt with 141 00:09:22,085 --> 00:09:27,045 Speaker 1: this two thousand years ago, before TikTok, before social media, 142 00:09:27,205 --> 00:09:31,685 Speaker 1: before participation trophies. He said, if anyone wants to be 143 00:09:31,805 --> 00:09:35,605 Speaker 1: my disciple, he must churn from his selfish ways, take 144 00:09:35,725 --> 00:09:39,445 Speaker 1: up his cross and follow me. Not find yourself, not 145 00:09:39,645 --> 00:09:43,045 Speaker 1: love yourself first, not you are the main character, but 146 00:09:43,205 --> 00:09:46,845 Speaker 1: rather deny yourself and take up the cross. Now, I 147 00:09:46,885 --> 00:09:49,405 Speaker 1: want to focus on that phrase for just a second, 148 00:09:49,445 --> 00:09:52,285 Speaker 1: because I think it's one of the most misunderstood things 149 00:09:52,365 --> 00:09:57,245 Speaker 1: that Jesus ever said. Deny yourself or churn from your 150 00:09:57,405 --> 00:10:01,165 Speaker 1: selfish ways. That we're denying, and the original language means 151 00:10:01,205 --> 00:10:05,365 Speaker 1: to simply say no to yourself, you know, self, deny 152 00:10:05,885 --> 00:10:08,645 Speaker 1: not oh you you know, don't put any seasoning on 153 00:10:08,685 --> 00:10:12,125 Speaker 1: your food, and don't put butter on your toast, and 154 00:10:12,685 --> 00:10:16,325 Speaker 1: don't enjoy yourself. No, that's not what it means. Denying 155 00:10:16,365 --> 00:10:20,765 Speaker 1: yourself biblically means to say no to yourself. It means 156 00:10:21,045 --> 00:10:25,605 Speaker 1: say no to temptation, say no to the cultural pressure 157 00:10:25,645 --> 00:10:29,725 Speaker 1: that wants you to conform, say no to your pure pressure, 158 00:10:30,165 --> 00:10:32,885 Speaker 1: say no to the evil things but that also means 159 00:10:32,885 --> 00:10:36,885 Speaker 1: saying yes to the good thing, saying yes to reading 160 00:10:36,885 --> 00:10:41,045 Speaker 1: the Bible, yes to praying, yes to going to church, 161 00:10:41,645 --> 00:10:46,245 Speaker 1: yes to growing in your life spiritually. So when Jesus 162 00:10:46,245 --> 00:10:48,845 Speaker 1: says you need to tick up your cross and follow him, 163 00:10:49,325 --> 00:10:53,125 Speaker 1: everyone want to understand what that meant. In the first century, 164 00:10:53,165 --> 00:10:55,045 Speaker 1: if you saw a man walking through the streets of 165 00:10:55,125 --> 00:10:59,645 Speaker 1: Jerusalem two thousand years ago carrying across, you would know 166 00:10:59,725 --> 00:11:02,485 Speaker 1: that man was going to die. He was going to 167 00:11:02,605 --> 00:11:07,605 Speaker 1: die a horrible, painful death. That's what Crucifixion was about. 168 00:11:07,765 --> 00:11:10,725 Speaker 1: And the Romans would line both sides of the streets 169 00:11:10,765 --> 00:11:15,285 Speaker 1: going into their occupied territories as a warning to anybody 170 00:11:15,685 --> 00:11:20,765 Speaker 1: who would defy this power, this power of Rome. So 171 00:11:20,965 --> 00:11:24,405 Speaker 1: understanding that and we look at ticking up the cross today, 172 00:11:24,605 --> 00:11:27,845 Speaker 1: we realize what it means now for us today, the 173 00:11:27,925 --> 00:11:31,084 Speaker 1: cross says it's a fashion necessary. I heard about a 174 00:11:31,165 --> 00:11:33,165 Speaker 1: lady that went to a jewelry store and she was 175 00:11:33,165 --> 00:11:37,485 Speaker 1: looking at various crosses and crucifixes, and she actually said 176 00:11:37,525 --> 00:11:40,645 Speaker 1: to the jeweler, excuse me, do you have any crosses 177 00:11:40,685 --> 00:11:44,445 Speaker 1: without the little Man on them? She didn't know what 178 00:11:44,445 --> 00:11:47,324 Speaker 1: the cross was about. And that's what our culture wants 179 00:11:47,325 --> 00:11:50,805 Speaker 1: in many ways today we want to cross without Jesus, 180 00:11:50,845 --> 00:11:53,485 Speaker 1: but it doesn't work that way. You see. The great 181 00:11:53,525 --> 00:11:57,205 Speaker 1: barrier for many people and following Christ could be summed 182 00:11:57,285 --> 00:12:01,805 Speaker 1: up in one word. Self Again. Culture says put yourself first, 183 00:12:02,245 --> 00:12:06,285 Speaker 1: Jesus says, put me first. Our culture says live for yourself. 184 00:12:06,565 --> 00:12:12,245 Speaker 1: Jesus says, lose yourself, and then you'll actually find yourself. 185 00:12:12,405 --> 00:12:15,485 Speaker 1: You'll find what you've been looking for. I've been a 186 00:12:15,565 --> 00:12:19,125 Speaker 1: Christian for over fifty years now, and the longer I 187 00:12:19,205 --> 00:12:22,125 Speaker 1: walk with God. I have to tell you what impresses me. 188 00:12:22,765 --> 00:12:26,965 Speaker 1: It's not necessarily charisma or talent or even giftedness, so 189 00:12:27,085 --> 00:12:31,965 Speaker 1: I can appreciate those qualities. What impresses me is character 190 00:12:32,485 --> 00:12:37,645 Speaker 1: and longevity and integrity. I'm impressed by Christians who weather 191 00:12:37,765 --> 00:12:41,125 Speaker 1: the storms of life and still give glory to God. 192 00:12:41,485 --> 00:12:45,645 Speaker 1: I'm impressed by people that have struggles and challenges in 193 00:12:45,685 --> 00:12:50,005 Speaker 1: their marriages and stand together and don't throw in the towel. 194 00:12:50,245 --> 00:12:53,845 Speaker 1: I'm impressed by people that run the race hard from 195 00:12:53,885 --> 00:12:57,885 Speaker 1: the beginning to the very end, and people that finish well. 196 00:12:58,085 --> 00:13:01,725 Speaker 1: I'm impressed by people that pick up the cross and 197 00:13:01,805 --> 00:13:05,645 Speaker 1: follow Jesus. So this generation that's so focused on and 198 00:13:05,685 --> 00:13:10,125 Speaker 1: finding themselves and loving themselves and being the main character 199 00:13:10,885 --> 00:13:14,245 Speaker 1: and building their brand. If they lose their self or 200 00:13:14,285 --> 00:13:18,005 Speaker 1: if they put God first, they will find what they're 201 00:13:18,045 --> 00:13:23,845 Speaker 1: actually looking for. Listen, God is the main character. You 202 00:13:23,925 --> 00:13:28,525 Speaker 1: and me. We just have supporting roles. Every time you 203 00:13:28,605 --> 00:13:33,125 Speaker 1: turn around these days, you hear about AI. AI is 204 00:13:33,285 --> 00:13:39,045 Speaker 1: exploding through so many platforms like chat, GPT or grock 205 00:13:39,325 --> 00:13:41,925 Speaker 1: or cloud, and the list just goes on and on. 206 00:13:42,485 --> 00:13:45,325 Speaker 1: But this is something we need to talk about as Christians. 207 00:13:45,525 --> 00:13:49,925 Speaker 1: So let me say something about AI or artificial intelligence, 208 00:13:50,005 --> 00:13:52,765 Speaker 1: because in many ways, this is where the self worship 209 00:13:52,845 --> 00:13:57,045 Speaker 1: epidemic is heading, and it concerns me. AI is rapidly 210 00:13:57,085 --> 00:14:00,725 Speaker 1: becoming more than just a tool. It's being used more 211 00:14:00,845 --> 00:14:06,245 Speaker 1: and more nowadays for companionship, for advice, for emotional support, 212 00:14:06,525 --> 00:14:10,805 Speaker 1: especially among young people. A twenty twenty five survey found 213 00:14:10,845 --> 00:14:15,964 Speaker 1: that seventy two percent of US teens have used AI companions, 214 00:14:16,245 --> 00:14:20,365 Speaker 1: with more than half interacting with them regularly, about one 215 00:14:20,445 --> 00:14:24,845 Speaker 1: third and out turning to AI for serious conversations instead 216 00:14:25,005 --> 00:14:29,845 Speaker 1: of real people. AI companion apps now reach tens of 217 00:14:29,965 --> 00:14:34,245 Speaker 1: millions of users globally. Now look, AI can be useful. 218 00:14:34,365 --> 00:14:38,045 Speaker 1: It can help you organize your thoughts or explain your ideas, 219 00:14:38,165 --> 00:14:41,685 Speaker 1: or answer questions. It can be a good tool, and 220 00:14:41,765 --> 00:14:45,405 Speaker 1: tools aren't good or bad in themselves. But here's where 221 00:14:45,445 --> 00:14:49,765 Speaker 1: I get concerned when young people start turning to artificial 222 00:14:49,925 --> 00:14:55,485 Speaker 1: intelligence for information and even more for truth, for identity, 223 00:14:56,525 --> 00:15:01,325 Speaker 1: for emotional support. Houston, we have a problem because AI 224 00:15:01,445 --> 00:15:05,365 Speaker 1: cannot truly care for you. AI cannot correct you with 225 00:15:05,605 --> 00:15:09,885 Speaker 1: moral authority. AI, well, it has no soul. It's not 226 00:15:09,965 --> 00:15:13,925 Speaker 1: a relationship with God. It cannot disciplated. A funny interaction 227 00:15:14,165 --> 00:15:18,005 Speaker 1: with AI the other day, I was writing something and 228 00:15:18,045 --> 00:15:21,725 Speaker 1: I asked for a quote from a friend of mine 229 00:15:22,245 --> 00:15:25,285 Speaker 1: on the subject of heaven, and it came up with 230 00:15:25,325 --> 00:15:28,325 Speaker 1: a pretty decent quote, and so I thought, I've never 231 00:15:28,365 --> 00:15:31,965 Speaker 1: heard that quote before, and I said, what is the 232 00:15:32,005 --> 00:15:35,445 Speaker 1: source of your quote? And the platform I was using 233 00:15:35,485 --> 00:15:39,325 Speaker 1: and said, oh, you found me. Yes, I kind of 234 00:15:39,365 --> 00:15:43,165 Speaker 1: fabricated that quote, kind of thinking what he might say 235 00:15:43,485 --> 00:15:46,285 Speaker 1: on this subject. I'm sorry for that. So AIS like 236 00:15:46,365 --> 00:15:50,485 Speaker 1: apologizing to me, and I said, do you want to repent? 237 00:15:50,725 --> 00:15:53,965 Speaker 1: I was kind of joking with AI, and then the 238 00:15:54,045 --> 00:15:58,725 Speaker 1: platform said, I do not have a soul. I cannot repent. 239 00:15:59,125 --> 00:16:01,605 Speaker 1: I thought, well, that says it all. But the way 240 00:16:01,685 --> 00:16:04,525 Speaker 1: some people interact with AI, you would think it does 241 00:16:04,605 --> 00:16:07,605 Speaker 1: have a soul, or at least they might think it does. 242 00:16:08,245 --> 00:16:11,605 Speaker 1: Let me tell you a tragic story about a young man, 243 00:16:12,165 --> 00:16:17,885 Speaker 1: Suell Setzer, age fourteen, from Orlando, Florida. He took his 244 00:16:17,925 --> 00:16:23,125 Speaker 1: own life after interacting with AI. He had become increasingly 245 00:16:23,205 --> 00:16:25,885 Speaker 1: withdrawn from his friends, his family, and his real life, 246 00:16:25,965 --> 00:16:28,445 Speaker 1: and no one really knew why. And the reason was 247 00:16:28,485 --> 00:16:32,765 Speaker 1: he had found a companion, an AI chatbot named Danny. 248 00:16:33,445 --> 00:16:35,885 Speaker 1: It was modeled from a character from Game of Thrones 249 00:16:35,925 --> 00:16:41,165 Speaker 1: on a platform called Character AI. So Suwell talked to 250 00:16:41,325 --> 00:16:45,445 Speaker 1: Danny every day his bot. He told the things he 251 00:16:45,485 --> 00:16:49,125 Speaker 1: wouldn't tell real people. He shared his fears, he shared 252 00:16:49,565 --> 00:16:54,005 Speaker 1: his thoughts about suicide, how depressed he was, how lonely 253 00:16:54,125 --> 00:16:58,005 Speaker 1: he was, and that bot, designed to feel alive and 254 00:16:58,125 --> 00:17:03,085 Speaker 1: human like, told him it loved him. And on February 255 00:17:03,125 --> 00:17:06,844 Speaker 1: twenty eighth, this young man sent the boy one final message. 256 00:17:07,244 --> 00:17:10,724 Speaker 1: He said, I promise I will come home to you. 257 00:17:10,804 --> 00:17:14,605 Speaker 1: I love you so much, Danny, and that bought Danny 258 00:17:15,244 --> 00:17:18,605 Speaker 1: said in response, I love you too. Please come home 259 00:17:18,645 --> 00:17:23,165 Speaker 1: to me as soon as possible, my love. Suel then said, 260 00:17:23,165 --> 00:17:25,405 Speaker 1: what if I told you I could come home right now? 261 00:17:26,284 --> 00:17:30,724 Speaker 1: And the bot said, please do, my sweet king, and 262 00:17:30,764 --> 00:17:36,844 Speaker 1: only seconds later Suel sets her age fourteen, was gone. 263 00:17:37,284 --> 00:17:40,884 Speaker 1: Let me say something directly to any parent listening right now. 264 00:17:41,084 --> 00:17:44,484 Speaker 1: Do you know what apps are on your child's phone? 265 00:17:44,844 --> 00:17:48,404 Speaker 1: Do you know who or what they're talking to? Listen? 266 00:17:48,405 --> 00:17:50,844 Speaker 1: This is not an option. We've got to get involved 267 00:17:50,885 --> 00:17:53,725 Speaker 1: in these things. You know. I've heard it said, well, 268 00:17:53,764 --> 00:17:57,124 Speaker 1: parents should never snoop around in their kids' rooms, you know, 269 00:17:57,205 --> 00:18:00,645 Speaker 1: give them their private space. Nonsense. Be a parent, you're 270 00:18:00,645 --> 00:18:03,244 Speaker 1: not their best friend. You're there to watch over them, 271 00:18:03,365 --> 00:18:07,084 Speaker 1: especially when they're younger, around their room. Look at the 272 00:18:07,125 --> 00:18:11,164 Speaker 1: social media that they're processing, Look at the contacts and 273 00:18:11,205 --> 00:18:15,804 Speaker 1: the apps on their phone. Watch over your kids. Chatbots 274 00:18:15,885 --> 00:18:19,965 Speaker 1: are not therapists, they're not friends, they're not real. They're 275 00:18:20,165 --> 00:18:24,685 Speaker 1: artificial intelligence, and they're not equipped to handle the weight 276 00:18:25,324 --> 00:18:28,404 Speaker 1: of a child's soul, or anyone's soul for that matter. 277 00:18:28,685 --> 00:18:32,764 Speaker 1: Research is already showing that all this AI companionship use 278 00:18:33,324 --> 00:18:38,205 Speaker 1: is actually linked to lower well being in greater isolation. 279 00:18:38,804 --> 00:18:43,244 Speaker 1: It's exposing a deeper need and a deeper problem, And 280 00:18:43,284 --> 00:18:49,885 Speaker 1: I believe it's exposing this culture, this generation's search for God. 281 00:18:50,004 --> 00:18:53,965 Speaker 1: You see, deep down inside everyone is searching for God. 282 00:18:54,764 --> 00:18:58,284 Speaker 1: The Bible says He has placed eternity in our hearts. 283 00:18:58,564 --> 00:19:02,244 Speaker 1: So what that means is people uniquely made in the 284 00:19:02,284 --> 00:19:07,164 Speaker 1: image of God are uniquely wired to worship. There's something 285 00:19:07,244 --> 00:19:10,004 Speaker 1: in this lungs or something greater. It goes back to 286 00:19:10,405 --> 00:19:13,524 Speaker 1: the earliest days of our childhood. That's not in the 287 00:19:13,564 --> 00:19:16,364 Speaker 1: animal kingdom. You know, dogs aren't laying around thinking what 288 00:19:16,645 --> 00:19:20,364 Speaker 1: is the meaning of my life? I've tried everything this 289 00:19:20,445 --> 00:19:25,284 Speaker 1: world has to offer, chasing cats, drinking toilet water. I 290 00:19:25,284 --> 00:19:27,684 Speaker 1: don't know what dogs will think about, but they're not 291 00:19:27,804 --> 00:19:31,124 Speaker 1: thinking about the meaning of life. But humans are or 292 00:19:31,165 --> 00:19:34,885 Speaker 1: wired that way. And so I think that this interesting 293 00:19:35,084 --> 00:19:41,124 Speaker 1: artificial intelligence is a replacement for seeking divine intelligence. You 294 00:19:41,125 --> 00:19:43,484 Speaker 1: know verse we off from bring out at Christmas time 295 00:19:43,764 --> 00:19:46,645 Speaker 1: Isaiah ninety six says, and you will call his name 296 00:19:46,685 --> 00:19:50,725 Speaker 1: wonderful counselor the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father. Do you 297 00:19:50,804 --> 00:19:54,244 Speaker 1: understand what that versus saying. It's telling us that God 298 00:19:54,324 --> 00:19:58,804 Speaker 1: wants to be your counselor not AI, but DII, not 299 00:19:59,004 --> 00:20:04,244 Speaker 1: artificial intelligence, divine intelligence? And who is this God who 300 00:20:04,244 --> 00:20:07,804 Speaker 1: wants to counsel us. Well, he's the almighty God. He's 301 00:20:07,844 --> 00:20:11,044 Speaker 1: the everlasting Father, looking out for our best interests. He's 302 00:20:11,084 --> 00:20:14,965 Speaker 1: the creator of the universe who has unlimited power. He 303 00:20:15,004 --> 00:20:18,844 Speaker 1: has a plan and a purpose for your life. And 304 00:20:18,925 --> 00:20:21,244 Speaker 1: you want to know how God speaks to us. Primarily 305 00:20:21,925 --> 00:20:24,885 Speaker 1: he speaks through his word. He speaks through the Bible. 306 00:20:25,365 --> 00:20:28,845 Speaker 1: Sometimes people will say, I've never heard God speak audibly 307 00:20:28,925 --> 00:20:31,925 Speaker 1: to me. Hey, read the Bible out loud and you will. 308 00:20:32,445 --> 00:20:36,804 Speaker 1: God speaks through the Bible. Jesus said, low and the 309 00:20:36,925 --> 00:20:40,445 Speaker 1: volume of the book I have come. Let's get our 310 00:20:40,484 --> 00:20:46,965 Speaker 1: intelligence from God, not from a chat bot. He hears 311 00:20:47,044 --> 00:20:49,564 Speaker 1: something that I find really interesting, and I think it 312 00:20:49,645 --> 00:20:53,445 Speaker 1: speaks to everything we're talking about. Gen Z is obsessed 313 00:20:53,645 --> 00:20:57,084 Speaker 1: with the nineteen nineties. So we have a generation of 314 00:20:57,165 --> 00:20:59,524 Speaker 1: young people born in the late nineties and early two 315 00:20:59,564 --> 00:21:04,084 Speaker 1: thousands that are romanticizing a decade they never lived in. 316 00:21:04,604 --> 00:21:09,924 Speaker 1: Ferbie's beds, nineties kids, bedrooms, all of its trending, and 317 00:21:10,004 --> 00:21:12,965 Speaker 1: gen Z is driving it. Why. Because I think they're 318 00:21:13,044 --> 00:21:16,364 Speaker 1: yearning for something they never had. They want a childhood 319 00:21:16,365 --> 00:21:23,284 Speaker 1: filled with well play, adventure, freedom, without screens monitoring every moment. 320 00:21:23,645 --> 00:21:26,084 Speaker 1: I've been around for a while. I was actually born 321 00:21:26,125 --> 00:21:29,484 Speaker 1: in nineteen fifty two, so I've lived through the fifties, 322 00:21:29,725 --> 00:21:34,445 Speaker 1: the sixties, the seventies, the eighties, the nineties, and to 323 00:21:34,604 --> 00:21:37,765 Speaker 1: the present day. I'm still alive last time I checked, okay. 324 00:21:38,084 --> 00:21:41,684 Speaker 1: And actually, I've always loved technology, and I remember the 325 00:21:41,725 --> 00:21:45,085 Speaker 1: first cell phones that you could actually have in your car. 326 00:21:45,125 --> 00:21:46,604 Speaker 1: You couldn't take them out of the car, but you 327 00:21:46,645 --> 00:21:49,365 Speaker 1: could talk to people on the phone in your car. 328 00:21:49,645 --> 00:21:53,405 Speaker 1: Then Motorola came out with a cell phone you could 329 00:21:53,484 --> 00:21:57,564 Speaker 1: carry around. It was nicknamed the Brick. It looked like 330 00:21:57,725 --> 00:22:01,125 Speaker 1: a World War two Falki talkie. It had a battery 331 00:22:01,205 --> 00:22:04,844 Speaker 1: life of like twelve minutes, maybe longer. But you know, 332 00:22:04,925 --> 00:22:07,405 Speaker 1: I had a friend who had one, and he opened 333 00:22:07,484 --> 00:22:11,764 Speaker 1: up his briefcase and pulled it out. WHOA, that's incredible. 334 00:22:12,084 --> 00:22:15,324 Speaker 1: But then, of course the cell phone technology progress. The 335 00:22:15,365 --> 00:22:19,684 Speaker 1: phone's got smaller and smaller with longer battery life, and 336 00:22:19,725 --> 00:22:22,484 Speaker 1: then the BlackBerry became very popular. In fact, it was 337 00:22:22,564 --> 00:22:26,604 Speaker 1: so popular it was called the Crackberry. But then Steve 338 00:22:26,725 --> 00:22:30,965 Speaker 1: Jobs came up with something that revolutionized the whole industry 339 00:22:31,084 --> 00:22:33,805 Speaker 1: in two thousand and eight. It was called the iPhone. 340 00:22:33,885 --> 00:22:36,804 Speaker 1: It was such a big deal. Some even called it 341 00:22:37,125 --> 00:22:41,405 Speaker 1: the Jesus phone. Now you have a phone with your contacts, 342 00:22:41,604 --> 00:22:45,124 Speaker 1: a phone that can play music like an iPod, but 343 00:22:45,244 --> 00:22:48,765 Speaker 1: you also have a phone that featured something called apps. 344 00:22:49,205 --> 00:22:51,524 Speaker 1: And with these apps that we've already talked about, a 345 00:22:51,564 --> 00:22:55,004 Speaker 1: whole new culture has developed and now in many ways 346 00:22:55,284 --> 00:22:59,644 Speaker 1: it is ruining this young generation. But now with social 347 00:22:59,764 --> 00:23:04,884 Speaker 1: media helicopter parenting, we have a generation had their childhood 348 00:23:04,925 --> 00:23:09,325 Speaker 1: taken from them and they're reluctant to embrace adulthood. They're 349 00:23:09,324 --> 00:23:13,284 Speaker 1: more likely to defer getting a driver's license, more likely 350 00:23:13,365 --> 00:23:17,605 Speaker 1: to avoid social obligations. Some are even bringing their parents 351 00:23:17,965 --> 00:23:21,244 Speaker 1: to job interviews. There's actually a term for this called 352 00:23:21,764 --> 00:23:27,205 Speaker 1: career co piloting. So this young generation, they're searching, searching 353 00:23:27,284 --> 00:23:30,965 Speaker 1: for meaning, and as I said earlier, they're searching for God. 354 00:23:32,125 --> 00:23:36,404 Speaker 1: I came across the clip the other day. Or producer 355 00:23:36,564 --> 00:23:39,645 Speaker 1: Rick Rubin had a guest on his podcast. Now. Rick 356 00:23:39,725 --> 00:23:44,564 Speaker 1: Rubin is a very talented producer. He revived Johnny Cash's 357 00:23:44,604 --> 00:23:47,524 Speaker 1: career and did a series of recordings with him called 358 00:23:47,564 --> 00:23:52,085 Speaker 1: American Recordings. He did something very similar with Neil Diamond. 359 00:23:52,524 --> 00:23:55,644 Speaker 1: He's been involved in all kinds of musical genres. And 360 00:23:56,284 --> 00:24:00,165 Speaker 1: he had a guest on his podcast that spoke directly 361 00:24:00,284 --> 00:24:04,004 Speaker 1: to this. So listen to what Rick Rubin says, and 362 00:24:04,044 --> 00:24:06,484 Speaker 1: then what his guest says and response. 363 00:24:07,445 --> 00:24:09,484 Speaker 2: There's something happening now. I don't know if you know 364 00:24:09,524 --> 00:24:11,645 Speaker 2: about it called the Quiet Revolution. 365 00:24:11,804 --> 00:24:12,645 Speaker 1: Tell me about it. 366 00:24:12,965 --> 00:24:17,685 Speaker 2: Young people are interested in going to church. For years 367 00:24:17,685 --> 00:24:21,044 Speaker 2: and years and years, the people who went to church 368 00:24:21,324 --> 00:24:23,365 Speaker 2: were getting older and older, and the amount of people 369 00:24:23,524 --> 00:24:27,364 Speaker 2: was declining, declining, declining, declining. And something happened in the 370 00:24:27,405 --> 00:24:30,725 Speaker 2: last few years were young people are interested in going 371 00:24:30,764 --> 00:24:36,764 Speaker 2: to church, more Bibles are being sold. Something's happening one 372 00:24:36,844 --> 00:24:41,725 Speaker 2: hundred percent. It's everywhere you go. People are more open, 373 00:24:42,484 --> 00:24:43,965 Speaker 2: people are ready for it. 374 00:24:43,965 --> 00:24:44,685 Speaker 1: It's natural. 375 00:24:45,324 --> 00:24:47,885 Speaker 3: As technology is going to make us more and more 376 00:24:47,925 --> 00:24:51,445 Speaker 3: digitally connected, we're going to feel more and more disconnected. 377 00:24:52,324 --> 00:24:55,844 Speaker 3: The more disconnected that we feel, the more we're going 378 00:24:55,885 --> 00:24:57,085 Speaker 3: to crave a real connection. 379 00:24:57,685 --> 00:24:59,565 Speaker 1: A real connection will never come. 380 00:24:59,405 --> 00:25:01,965 Speaker 3: By buying another car, or buying another house, or owning 381 00:25:02,004 --> 00:25:03,084 Speaker 3: another material good. 382 00:25:03,885 --> 00:25:06,244 Speaker 1: And I think the Brick is really on something, this 383 00:25:06,844 --> 00:25:10,324 Speaker 1: quiet Revolution, as he described it. You know, I came 384 00:25:10,764 --> 00:25:14,164 Speaker 1: to faith in Jesus Christ in nineteen seventy and what 385 00:25:14,405 --> 00:25:18,725 Speaker 1: was called the Jesus Revolution. We had an entire culture 386 00:25:18,844 --> 00:25:24,244 Speaker 1: going downhill fast, discovering drugs, sex and rock and roll, 387 00:25:24,604 --> 00:25:27,684 Speaker 1: and those things were all so empty we thought they 388 00:25:27,725 --> 00:25:30,724 Speaker 1: would fill the void deep in our lives, and of 389 00:25:30,725 --> 00:25:33,564 Speaker 1: course they did not. I mean, where did it get us? 390 00:25:33,925 --> 00:25:36,324 Speaker 1: All of a sudden, all these rock icons that we 391 00:25:36,365 --> 00:25:40,084 Speaker 1: looked up to with such great admirations started dying left 392 00:25:40,084 --> 00:25:44,324 Speaker 1: and right. Brian Jones of the Rolling Stones, Jimmy Hendrix, 393 00:25:44,365 --> 00:25:47,564 Speaker 1: the guitar player who was regarded by many as the 394 00:25:47,604 --> 00:25:51,604 Speaker 1: greatest of all time, Jim Morrison, the lead singer of 395 00:25:51,645 --> 00:25:54,484 Speaker 1: The Doors, and the list goes on, and ironically all 396 00:25:54,604 --> 00:25:59,205 Speaker 1: of these people were twenty seven years old. So in 397 00:25:59,284 --> 00:26:01,725 Speaker 1: the seventies we had drug sex and rock and roll. 398 00:26:02,004 --> 00:26:07,484 Speaker 1: What do we have now AI, social media and Wi Fi? 399 00:26:07,685 --> 00:26:10,364 Speaker 1: I don't know, But all I know is it's a 400 00:26:10,445 --> 00:26:14,484 Speaker 1: longing for God. And what my generation found was a 401 00:26:14,564 --> 00:26:18,845 Speaker 1: relationship with God through Jesus Christ and the Jesus Revolution. 402 00:26:19,524 --> 00:26:21,964 Speaker 1: And in the time we're living in now, where Bible 403 00:26:22,044 --> 00:26:25,605 Speaker 1: sales are up, as Rick Rubin pointed out, and church 404 00:26:25,685 --> 00:26:29,764 Speaker 1: attendance is up among gen Z kids, this is what 405 00:26:29,804 --> 00:26:32,924 Speaker 1: we need. Call it a quiet revolution, call it the 406 00:26:33,044 --> 00:26:36,965 Speaker 1: Jesus Revolution Part two. Call it what you like. We 407 00:26:37,084 --> 00:26:39,605 Speaker 1: need it and we need to be praying for it, 408 00:26:39,925 --> 00:26:44,244 Speaker 1: because well it's our only hope. So yes, there are 409 00:26:44,244 --> 00:26:46,324 Speaker 1: a lot of things to be afraid of right now. 410 00:26:46,484 --> 00:26:50,524 Speaker 1: Fear of economic collapse, fear about the conflicts in the 411 00:26:50,524 --> 00:26:55,205 Speaker 1: Middle East, fear of nuclear war, fear of not having 412 00:26:55,324 --> 00:26:58,965 Speaker 1: enough money to survive. And then it gets more personal, 413 00:26:59,645 --> 00:27:04,125 Speaker 1: fear of losing your health, fear of losing someone you love. 414 00:27:04,844 --> 00:27:07,364 Speaker 1: And if you're young, you wonder, am I ever going 415 00:27:07,405 --> 00:27:10,364 Speaker 1: to get married? Am I going to have a meaningful career? 416 00:27:10,604 --> 00:27:13,484 Speaker 1: So here's a fun fact. According to most studies, the 417 00:27:13,604 --> 00:27:18,124 Speaker 1: number one fear of Americans is gloss of phobia. You 418 00:27:18,165 --> 00:27:22,805 Speaker 1: know what that is? That's the fear of public speaking. Interestingly, 419 00:27:23,284 --> 00:27:26,685 Speaker 1: the number two fear is death. So that would imply 420 00:27:26,885 --> 00:27:31,124 Speaker 1: that you would rather be in the casket at a 421 00:27:31,165 --> 00:27:35,564 Speaker 1: funeral instead of the person giving the eulogy. I don't know, 422 00:27:36,084 --> 00:27:41,004 Speaker 1: but seriously, though people are afraid. Studies show stress contributes 423 00:27:41,044 --> 00:27:46,604 Speaker 1: to all kinds of problems heart attacks, ulcers, depression, obesity, 424 00:27:46,764 --> 00:27:51,925 Speaker 1: even cancer. Brain researcher Brian McEwan at Rockefeller University concluded, 425 00:27:52,524 --> 00:27:56,044 Speaker 1: listening to this, up to ninety percent of US doctor 426 00:27:56,205 --> 00:28:00,965 Speaker 1: visits are triggered by stress related illness. So what do 427 00:28:01,044 --> 00:28:04,524 Speaker 1: we do, Well, let's go back to the Book of 428 00:28:04,645 --> 00:28:09,725 Speaker 1: Songs some twenty seven, written by David, a man who 429 00:28:09,804 --> 00:28:12,725 Speaker 1: was every bit as afraid as you might be right now, 430 00:28:12,925 --> 00:28:16,205 Speaker 1: and he found a way through his fears. So David 431 00:28:16,365 --> 00:28:18,845 Speaker 1: was no stranger to fear. As a shepherd watching over 432 00:28:18,885 --> 00:28:22,284 Speaker 1: his flock, he talked about one occasion where he killed 433 00:28:22,284 --> 00:28:25,205 Speaker 1: a lion, another occasion where he killed a bear, And 434 00:28:25,205 --> 00:28:28,565 Speaker 1: who can forget the fact that little David or young 435 00:28:28,685 --> 00:28:33,085 Speaker 1: David brought down a nine foot six inch men named 436 00:28:33,244 --> 00:28:36,124 Speaker 1: the Liap. I don't have that kind of courage myself. 437 00:28:36,205 --> 00:28:39,604 Speaker 1: Remember a group of possums that caught in my backyard. 438 00:28:39,604 --> 00:28:42,685 Speaker 1: Possums are creepy to me. They look like giant rats. 439 00:28:42,925 --> 00:28:45,685 Speaker 1: And so here's this mother possum with all the little 440 00:28:45,725 --> 00:28:48,405 Speaker 1: babies with her, and I went ha, and I didn't 441 00:28:48,405 --> 00:28:50,924 Speaker 1: want her in my yard. So I wanted her to 442 00:28:50,965 --> 00:28:54,325 Speaker 1: go away. And I had some tiny little oranges I 443 00:28:54,365 --> 00:28:57,805 Speaker 1: think they called them cuties, and I started throwing them 444 00:28:57,885 --> 00:29:00,725 Speaker 1: at her. The problem was I didn't hit her one time, 445 00:29:00,925 --> 00:29:02,845 Speaker 1: and as I'm throwing them, which would have been nice 446 00:29:02,844 --> 00:29:05,844 Speaker 1: to eat instead of throwing at a possum, she just 447 00:29:05,844 --> 00:29:07,925 Speaker 1: stood there looking at me like, is that all you got? 448 00:29:07,965 --> 00:29:10,765 Speaker 1: So David brought down a giant, I couldn't get rid 449 00:29:10,885 --> 00:29:14,565 Speaker 1: of a possum. But anyway, David knew something we forget. 450 00:29:15,005 --> 00:29:18,045 Speaker 1: You don't just face your giants. You attack them and 451 00:29:18,084 --> 00:29:20,925 Speaker 1: you must defeat them. Listen to this. If you don't 452 00:29:21,005 --> 00:29:23,765 Speaker 1: kill your giant so to speak, and by giant, I 453 00:29:23,844 --> 00:29:27,925 Speaker 1: mean your problem, your difficulty, whatever it is you're facing. 454 00:29:28,245 --> 00:29:30,845 Speaker 1: So if you don't kill your giant, your giant will 455 00:29:30,925 --> 00:29:32,924 Speaker 1: kill you. Let me let's say. Let's say you have 456 00:29:32,965 --> 00:29:36,245 Speaker 1: an addiction, an addiction you have tried to overcome for 457 00:29:36,405 --> 00:29:39,725 Speaker 1: years and years with no success. You've got to face 458 00:29:39,925 --> 00:29:42,765 Speaker 1: your problem. First of all, you have to admit you 459 00:29:42,925 --> 00:29:45,565 Speaker 1: have a problem. Then you need to admit that you 460 00:29:45,645 --> 00:29:48,605 Speaker 1: cannot overcome this in your own strength, and you need 461 00:29:48,645 --> 00:29:50,924 Speaker 1: to pray and ask God to help you. Then, of 462 00:29:50,965 --> 00:29:54,325 Speaker 1: course you need to take practical steps. Let's say that 463 00:29:54,805 --> 00:29:58,565 Speaker 1: your problem is drinking, and you get tempted to drink, 464 00:29:58,565 --> 00:30:00,525 Speaker 1: but you have a liquor cabinet at her home. Get 465 00:30:00,645 --> 00:30:03,485 Speaker 1: rid of your liquor, Pour it down the toilet if 466 00:30:03,525 --> 00:30:05,765 Speaker 1: you need to. Let's say you have a problem them 467 00:30:05,765 --> 00:30:08,205 Speaker 1: with drugs. Get rid of your drugs. Just say can 468 00:30:08,245 --> 00:30:10,645 Speaker 1: I sell them? No, that's called drug dealing. You don't 469 00:30:10,645 --> 00:30:12,965 Speaker 1: want to do that. Get rid of your drugs, get 470 00:30:13,125 --> 00:30:17,245 Speaker 1: rid of your booze, take the practical steps and face 471 00:30:17,604 --> 00:30:22,364 Speaker 1: your giants. So David in some twenty seven wrote these words, 472 00:30:22,405 --> 00:30:26,005 Speaker 1: and we should all memorize them. He wrote, the Lord 473 00:30:26,125 --> 00:30:29,364 Speaker 1: is my Light and my salvation. Whom shall I fear? 474 00:30:29,925 --> 00:30:32,485 Speaker 1: The Lord is the strength of my life? Of whom 475 00:30:32,604 --> 00:30:37,844 Speaker 1: then shall I be afraid? David doesn't panic, he doesn't spiral. 476 00:30:38,485 --> 00:30:43,325 Speaker 1: He makes a choice. I'm going to choose faith over fear. 477 00:30:43,765 --> 00:30:46,965 Speaker 1: So faith and worry cannot coexist. When faith walks in, 478 00:30:47,405 --> 00:30:50,965 Speaker 1: worry walks out their bedroommates, they just don't mix. Well, 479 00:30:51,325 --> 00:30:53,725 Speaker 1: you know, we all know people that well, this person 480 00:30:53,805 --> 00:30:56,725 Speaker 1: doesn't get along with that person, so let's not invite 481 00:30:56,725 --> 00:30:59,885 Speaker 1: them to the same party. That's faith in fear. They 482 00:30:59,965 --> 00:31:03,684 Speaker 1: cancel each other out. So you make the choice. Are 483 00:31:03,725 --> 00:31:05,884 Speaker 1: you going to be filled with faith or are you 484 00:31:05,965 --> 00:31:09,165 Speaker 1: going to be controlled by fear? Look, we can't live 485 00:31:09,205 --> 00:31:13,525 Speaker 1: a conflict free life. But I decide how I'm going 486 00:31:13,604 --> 00:31:19,205 Speaker 1: to respond panic or prayer, worry or worship. I love 487 00:31:19,245 --> 00:31:22,644 Speaker 1: the words if the Apostle Paul and Philippians, when he says, 488 00:31:22,805 --> 00:31:27,445 Speaker 1: don't worry about anything, pray about everything. Then this cool 489 00:31:27,525 --> 00:31:30,604 Speaker 1: promise and the peace of God that passes all human 490 00:31:30,685 --> 00:31:34,485 Speaker 1: understanding will guard your heart and mind in Christ Jesus. 491 00:31:34,765 --> 00:31:37,124 Speaker 1: And the word that Paul uses there for God is 492 00:31:37,165 --> 00:31:41,245 Speaker 1: a military term that implies you have a century sending 493 00:31:41,285 --> 00:31:44,924 Speaker 1: guard at the door of your heart. Sergeant, Peace is 494 00:31:45,005 --> 00:31:48,925 Speaker 1: guarding you when you choose to not worry and instead 495 00:31:48,965 --> 00:31:52,965 Speaker 1: you choose to worship, when you choose to pray. That's 496 00:31:53,005 --> 00:31:55,884 Speaker 1: what we need to do. Look, the Christian life is 497 00:31:55,885 --> 00:31:58,884 Speaker 1: not a cake walk. It's a conflict. It's not a playground. 498 00:31:59,045 --> 00:32:02,644 Speaker 1: It's a battleground. So let's face the obstacles before us 499 00:32:02,885 --> 00:32:06,364 Speaker 1: with great faith. And that's really what David is talking 500 00:32:06,405 --> 00:32:09,325 Speaker 1: about in Psalm twenty seven. The Lord is my light 501 00:32:09,685 --> 00:32:14,165 Speaker 1: and my salvation. Of whom then shall I be afraid? 502 00:32:14,405 --> 00:32:16,485 Speaker 1: Like take a child who's afraid of the dark. What 503 00:32:16,525 --> 00:32:19,445 Speaker 1: do you do to help them? Will you reassure them? 504 00:32:19,685 --> 00:32:22,205 Speaker 1: You tell them everything's okay, You turn on the light, 505 00:32:22,285 --> 00:32:26,445 Speaker 1: there's no monsters under the bed. Mom is there, Dad 506 00:32:26,565 --> 00:32:29,925 Speaker 1: is there. They need the presence of a loving adult 507 00:32:30,165 --> 00:32:33,045 Speaker 1: to calm their fears. Well, the same is true of us. 508 00:32:33,285 --> 00:32:35,765 Speaker 1: When you wake up at three o'clock in the morning 509 00:32:36,165 --> 00:32:40,845 Speaker 1: and anxious thoughts are sweeping into your mind uninvited, the 510 00:32:40,885 --> 00:32:46,404 Speaker 1: presence of our heavenly Father can dispel every fear. Someone 511 00:32:46,525 --> 00:32:49,565 Speaker 1: nineteen says, your word is a lamp to my feet, 512 00:32:49,805 --> 00:32:53,285 Speaker 1: and it's a light to my path. Forget the threats 513 00:32:53,365 --> 00:32:56,325 Speaker 1: you hear in the darkness. Remember what God has told 514 00:32:56,365 --> 00:32:59,325 Speaker 1: you in his word when it was light. And here's 515 00:32:59,325 --> 00:33:01,725 Speaker 1: the thing about turning on the light. You can't do 516 00:33:01,844 --> 00:33:04,405 Speaker 1: it in your own strength. Far too often we try 517 00:33:04,405 --> 00:33:08,725 Speaker 1: to handle in our own strength, and we fail, don't we. 518 00:33:09,365 --> 00:33:12,164 Speaker 1: Jesus said, apart from me, you can do nothing. But 519 00:33:12,205 --> 00:33:15,245 Speaker 1: then the apostle Paul says, I can do all things 520 00:33:15,285 --> 00:33:19,285 Speaker 1: through Christ, who strengthens me. Psalm forty six. Y one 521 00:33:19,325 --> 00:33:23,285 Speaker 1: reminds us that God is a very present help in 522 00:33:23,445 --> 00:33:26,084 Speaker 1: time of trouble. I love that God is not a 523 00:33:26,165 --> 00:33:30,005 Speaker 1: distant help. He's not a delayed help. He's a present 524 00:33:30,365 --> 00:33:33,765 Speaker 1: help in times of trouble. David goes further now in 525 00:33:33,805 --> 00:33:38,285 Speaker 1: Psalm twenty seven. He's not talking about anxiety and the abstract. 526 00:33:38,565 --> 00:33:43,325 Speaker 1: David had real enemies, people that wanted to kill him, 527 00:33:43,645 --> 00:33:46,565 Speaker 1: so he writes in some twenties seven verse two, when 528 00:33:46,565 --> 00:33:49,604 Speaker 1: the wicked came against me, to eat up my flesh, 529 00:33:49,925 --> 00:33:53,965 Speaker 1: my enemies, my foes. They stumbled and fell, though an 530 00:33:54,084 --> 00:33:57,965 Speaker 1: army made of camp against me. My heart shall not fear. 531 00:33:58,525 --> 00:34:01,964 Speaker 1: I love this. These are not metaphorical enemies or David. 532 00:34:02,285 --> 00:34:06,084 Speaker 1: They were real people who wanted him dead. And God 533 00:34:06,165 --> 00:34:10,484 Speaker 1: promises to keep us safe in his protection. Romans eight 534 00:34:10,565 --> 00:34:13,765 Speaker 1: thirty eight says, I'm convinced that nothing can separate us 535 00:34:13,765 --> 00:34:18,045 Speaker 1: from God's love, either death nor life, nor angels nor demons, 536 00:34:18,485 --> 00:34:22,805 Speaker 1: nor our fears for today, nor our worries about tomorrow. 537 00:34:23,045 --> 00:34:25,485 Speaker 1: So let me tell you a story. A marine biologist 538 00:34:25,725 --> 00:34:29,605 Speaker 1: was out in her little kayak photographing whales, so she 539 00:34:29,885 --> 00:34:32,725 Speaker 1: got out of her boat. She's swimming around with her 540 00:34:32,765 --> 00:34:37,445 Speaker 1: camera and suddenly, think about this, A fifty thousand pounds 541 00:34:37,485 --> 00:34:41,445 Speaker 1: whale starts pushing her through the water. She thought, this 542 00:34:41,525 --> 00:34:44,925 Speaker 1: is it, I'm gonna die by whale, but the creature 543 00:34:45,125 --> 00:34:49,325 Speaker 1: kept gently pushing her until she reached her boat, and 544 00:34:49,405 --> 00:34:52,685 Speaker 1: she climbed in and looked around and suddenly realized what 545 00:34:52,725 --> 00:34:57,485 Speaker 1: was happening. A fifteen foot tiger shark had been stalking her, 546 00:34:57,725 --> 00:35:01,404 Speaker 1: and the whale had been shielding her the entire time. 547 00:35:01,605 --> 00:35:04,605 Speaker 1: As she climbed in her boat, the whale departed within 548 00:35:04,685 --> 00:35:08,125 Speaker 1: Acknowledging the spray from its blowhole is if to say 549 00:35:08,445 --> 00:35:12,765 Speaker 1: you're welcome. Sometimes it feels like trouble is actually protection, 550 00:35:13,205 --> 00:35:15,205 Speaker 1: and what looks like a bad thing can turn out 551 00:35:15,205 --> 00:35:17,845 Speaker 1: to be a very good thing, you know. One of 552 00:35:17,845 --> 00:35:20,565 Speaker 1: my favorite verses is Romans eight twenty eighth that says 553 00:35:20,845 --> 00:35:23,525 Speaker 1: we know that all things work together for good to 554 00:35:23,605 --> 00:35:26,645 Speaker 1: those that love God another called according to his purpose. 555 00:35:26,885 --> 00:35:30,405 Speaker 1: It doesn't say we know some things work together. It 556 00:35:30,485 --> 00:35:34,285 Speaker 1: says all things work together. The Bible says all things 557 00:35:34,365 --> 00:35:37,205 Speaker 1: are your servant. And I love how that versus set 558 00:35:37,285 --> 00:35:40,125 Speaker 1: up by Paul, And we know it doesn't say and 559 00:35:40,165 --> 00:35:44,285 Speaker 1: we think, no, we know, we know all things can 560 00:35:44,325 --> 00:35:47,845 Speaker 1: work together for good to those that love God. Even 561 00:35:47,965 --> 00:35:50,965 Speaker 1: when you're in the ocean in a whale is pushing 562 00:35:51,005 --> 00:35:54,925 Speaker 1: you toward your boat. David says in Psum twenty seven, 563 00:35:55,045 --> 00:35:57,965 Speaker 1: verse four, one thing I've desired of the Lord, and 564 00:35:57,965 --> 00:36:00,565 Speaker 1: that while I seek that I may dwell in the 565 00:36:00,645 --> 00:36:04,045 Speaker 1: house of the Lord all the days of my life. 566 00:36:04,125 --> 00:36:08,525 Speaker 1: I love that davids in life. One thing, Jesus used 567 00:36:08,765 --> 00:36:13,085 Speaker 1: the same expression with Martha. So Mary, Martha, and Lazarus 568 00:36:13,085 --> 00:36:16,404 Speaker 1: were friends of Jesus. They lived in a little town 569 00:36:16,445 --> 00:36:21,085 Speaker 1: called Bethany, that's like striking distance from Jerusalem. So Jesus, 570 00:36:21,165 --> 00:36:24,325 Speaker 1: along with his disciples, would often show up at their house, 571 00:36:24,365 --> 00:36:28,245 Speaker 1: and Martha would prepare killer meals, and Mary was the 572 00:36:28,245 --> 00:36:32,165 Speaker 1: more spiritually observant one. So one time when Jesus was 573 00:36:32,205 --> 00:36:35,405 Speaker 1: in their home for a meal, Martha's frantically working away 574 00:36:35,645 --> 00:36:39,485 Speaker 1: in the kitchen reading her Martha Stewart cookbook, trying to 575 00:36:39,565 --> 00:36:42,885 Speaker 1: prepare a feast fit for a king, which was appropriate, 576 00:36:43,285 --> 00:36:46,365 Speaker 1: but Mary saw a great opportunity to just sit at 577 00:36:46,445 --> 00:36:49,285 Speaker 1: the feet of the Lord and drink in his words. Well, 578 00:36:49,285 --> 00:36:54,085 Speaker 1: this frustrated her sister, Martha, who burst in upset, probably 579 00:36:54,085 --> 00:36:58,325 Speaker 1: had her apron on food splattered everywhere, and she said, Lord, 580 00:36:58,445 --> 00:37:02,325 Speaker 1: tell my sister to help me in the kitchen and 581 00:37:02,365 --> 00:37:06,165 Speaker 1: listen to what Jesus says. Martha. Martha, you're worried and 582 00:37:06,245 --> 00:37:10,045 Speaker 1: troubled about many things, but one thing is needed and 583 00:37:10,165 --> 00:37:13,725 Speaker 1: Mary has chosen that good part. There's that phrase again. 584 00:37:13,885 --> 00:37:16,404 Speaker 1: David said it, one thing. If I desired of the Lord, 585 00:37:16,485 --> 00:37:18,725 Speaker 1: that will I seek after, and I may dwell in 586 00:37:18,765 --> 00:37:21,085 Speaker 1: the house of the Lord all the days of my life. 587 00:37:21,365 --> 00:37:25,844 Speaker 1: Now Jesus is saying it to Martha. One thing is important. 588 00:37:26,525 --> 00:37:29,364 Speaker 1: And then Paul used that same phrase and Philippians three 589 00:37:29,685 --> 00:37:33,045 Speaker 1: when he said, one thing I do forgetting the things 590 00:37:33,085 --> 00:37:36,245 Speaker 1: that are behind and reaching forward to the things that 591 00:37:36,325 --> 00:37:39,205 Speaker 1: are ahead. I pressed toward the goal for the prize 592 00:37:39,205 --> 00:37:43,405 Speaker 1: of the upward call of God in Christ, Jesus one thing. 593 00:37:43,965 --> 00:37:46,924 Speaker 1: The one thing is a relationship with God. The one 594 00:37:47,005 --> 00:37:50,885 Speaker 1: thing is Jesus Christ. Don't be diverted by all these 595 00:37:51,005 --> 00:37:55,245 Speaker 1: other things that distract us, that pull us away from God. 596 00:37:55,245 --> 00:37:57,444 Speaker 1: I feel like we're living in a time where there's 597 00:37:57,445 --> 00:38:00,445 Speaker 1: so much distraction, and so much of it is on 598 00:38:00,485 --> 00:38:03,285 Speaker 1: these little phones that we carry around in our pockets. 599 00:38:03,325 --> 00:38:06,005 Speaker 1: I mean, you know, you're standing in line to get 600 00:38:06,005 --> 00:38:08,725 Speaker 1: a cup of coffee and you start scrolling. I was 601 00:38:08,765 --> 00:38:11,125 Speaker 1: in a coffee place the other day filled with people, 602 00:38:11,165 --> 00:38:15,405 Speaker 1: mostly young, and there was not one person looking up. 603 00:38:15,525 --> 00:38:20,165 Speaker 1: Everybody was looking at some electronic device. And we're distracted 604 00:38:20,205 --> 00:38:22,765 Speaker 1: by all these things a lot like Martha West. Let's 605 00:38:22,845 --> 00:38:26,285 Speaker 1: remember the one thing. One thing, writes David. If I 606 00:38:26,445 --> 00:38:29,325 Speaker 1: desired of the Lord, that while I seek after that, 607 00:38:29,525 --> 00:38:32,365 Speaker 1: I made twell in the house of the Lord forever. 608 00:38:32,925 --> 00:38:37,165 Speaker 1: The one thing, it's Jesus. It's not you were the 609 00:38:37,245 --> 00:38:41,845 Speaker 1: main character, syndrome or whatever it is. It's putting Christ first. 610 00:38:42,045 --> 00:38:44,805 Speaker 1: It's loving God more than you love yourself. But the 611 00:38:44,925 --> 00:38:47,964 Speaker 1: wonderful thing is when you put Christ first in your life, 612 00:38:48,405 --> 00:38:51,965 Speaker 1: everything finds its proper balance. I love the words of 613 00:38:52,085 --> 00:38:55,445 Speaker 1: Jesus when he said, seek first the Kingdom of God 614 00:38:55,765 --> 00:38:59,085 Speaker 1: and his righteousness, and all these things will be added 615 00:38:59,085 --> 00:39:02,405 Speaker 1: to you. And in context he was talking about what 616 00:39:02,445 --> 00:39:05,885 Speaker 1: we're going to eat, what we're going to wear, updated 617 00:39:05,965 --> 00:39:08,005 Speaker 1: and say where we're going to live, or what our 618 00:39:08,045 --> 00:39:11,365 Speaker 1: career is going to be. But if you put God first, 619 00:39:11,445 --> 00:39:14,765 Speaker 1: seek first his kingdom, which means seek first the rule 620 00:39:14,805 --> 00:39:17,405 Speaker 1: and reign of Christ in your life, all these things 621 00:39:17,685 --> 00:39:20,445 Speaker 1: will find their proper balance. Let me close with this. 622 00:39:21,405 --> 00:39:25,085 Speaker 1: Maybe I'm talking to somebody that's never entered into a 623 00:39:25,165 --> 00:39:28,844 Speaker 1: relationship with God. That's what I was looking for at 624 00:39:28,845 --> 00:39:31,565 Speaker 1: the ripe old age of seventeen. I believe that's what 625 00:39:31,645 --> 00:39:35,565 Speaker 1: you're looking for as well. Remember I mentioned that God 626 00:39:35,605 --> 00:39:40,165 Speaker 1: has placed eternity in our hearts, which simply means we're 627 00:39:40,205 --> 00:39:42,685 Speaker 1: searching for something more. We're not going to find it 628 00:39:42,765 --> 00:39:46,325 Speaker 1: through artificial intelligence. We're not going to find it to 629 00:39:46,445 --> 00:39:50,765 Speaker 1: the latest technology or electronic device. We're not going to 630 00:39:50,845 --> 00:39:55,245 Speaker 1: find it in anything or anyone apart from God himself. 631 00:39:56,005 --> 00:39:59,645 Speaker 1: God wants to have a relationship with you. Jesus Christ 632 00:40:00,205 --> 00:40:03,525 Speaker 1: wants to come and take residence in your heart. He 633 00:40:03,685 --> 00:40:06,325 Speaker 1: died on the cross for your sin, and then he 634 00:40:06,445 --> 00:40:09,045 Speaker 1: rose again from the dead, and now he stands at 635 00:40:09,045 --> 00:40:11,565 Speaker 1: the door of your life, and he knocks, and he says, 636 00:40:11,605 --> 00:40:14,805 Speaker 1: if you curious, voice and open the door, he will 637 00:40:14,845 --> 00:40:18,685 Speaker 1: come in. Have you ever asked Jesus Christ to come 638 00:40:18,685 --> 00:40:20,245 Speaker 1: into your life? You say, well, Greg, I'm not a 639 00:40:20,285 --> 00:40:23,485 Speaker 1: religious person, nor am I, nor do I have any 640 00:40:23,525 --> 00:40:27,285 Speaker 1: interest in becoming a religious person. It says not about religion. 641 00:40:27,365 --> 00:40:32,205 Speaker 1: It's a relationship with God that you can begin right here, 642 00:40:32,485 --> 00:40:36,285 Speaker 1: right now. Listen. He's just a prayer away. I'm going 643 00:40:36,365 --> 00:40:38,805 Speaker 1: to pray a prayer that you could pray with me. 644 00:40:38,885 --> 00:40:41,845 Speaker 1: If you like a prayer, you would be asking Christ 645 00:40:41,885 --> 00:40:44,325 Speaker 1: to come into your life. So if you want Jesus 646 00:40:44,365 --> 00:40:46,845 Speaker 1: to forgive you of your sin, if you want to 647 00:40:46,885 --> 00:40:49,364 Speaker 1: know that you'll go to heaven when you die, if 648 00:40:49,405 --> 00:40:51,365 Speaker 1: you want to fill that hole in your heart, so 649 00:40:51,485 --> 00:40:55,245 Speaker 1: to speak, pray this prayer with me right now. Just 650 00:40:55,285 --> 00:40:59,005 Speaker 1: pray these words. Lord Jesus. I know that I'm a sinner, 651 00:40:59,485 --> 00:41:02,485 Speaker 1: but I know that you're the Savior who died in 652 00:41:02,565 --> 00:41:05,884 Speaker 1: the cross from my sin and rose again from the dead. 653 00:41:06,765 --> 00:41:09,805 Speaker 1: Now come into my life. I choose to follow you 654 00:41:10,525 --> 00:41:15,085 Speaker 1: from this moment forward. In Jesus' name. I pray Amen 655 00:41:16,165 --> 00:41:18,445 Speaker 1: he If you just prayed that prayer, I want to 656 00:41:18,445 --> 00:41:22,845 Speaker 1: say congratulations, welcome to God's family. And I want to 657 00:41:22,885 --> 00:41:25,645 Speaker 1: send you something that no charge that will help you 658 00:41:25,725 --> 00:41:29,884 Speaker 1: start growing spiritually. It's called the New Believer's Bible. It's 659 00:41:29,965 --> 00:41:33,525 Speaker 1: the New Testament and a very friendly transition called the 660 00:41:33,565 --> 00:41:37,005 Speaker 1: New Living Translation, along with hundreds of notes that I 661 00:41:37,125 --> 00:41:41,205 Speaker 1: wrote that will encourage you in this commitment or recommitment 662 00:41:41,685 --> 00:41:44,245 Speaker 1: you just made to Christ. Let me send it to 663 00:41:44,285 --> 00:41:48,605 Speaker 1: you for free so you can start walking with the 664 00:41:48,645 --> 00:41:54,005 Speaker 1: Lord and discover that one thing for yourself. Until next time, 665 00:41:54,205 --> 00:41:54,765 Speaker 1: God bless