1 00:00:01,520 --> 00:00:04,080 Speaker 1: Hey, this is Stephen Ferdick. I'm the pastor of Elevation 2 00:00:04,320 --> 00:00:04,800 Speaker 1: Church and. 3 00:00:04,800 --> 00:00:05,840 Speaker 2: This is our podcast. 4 00:00:05,880 --> 00:00:07,760 Speaker 1: I wanted to thank you for joining us today. 5 00:00:08,080 --> 00:00:10,680 Speaker 3: Hope this inspires you. Hope it builds your faith. 6 00:00:10,760 --> 00:00:12,840 Speaker 1: Hope it gives your perspective to see God is moving 7 00:00:12,880 --> 00:00:13,560 Speaker 1: in your life. 8 00:00:13,840 --> 00:00:14,680 Speaker 2: Enjoy the message. 9 00:00:17,320 --> 00:00:22,239 Speaker 1: How many are ready for the Word of God. I 10 00:00:22,400 --> 00:00:27,640 Speaker 1: just have a Christmas devotional thought today from Hebrews eleven, 11 00:00:27,760 --> 00:00:31,320 Speaker 1: verse three. It is not customarily seen as a Christmas scripture, 12 00:00:32,040 --> 00:00:36,280 Speaker 1: but let's look at the picture of Jesus Christ through 13 00:00:36,280 --> 00:00:42,560 Speaker 1: this frame today. Hebrews eleven three. King James version. Y'all 14 00:00:42,600 --> 00:00:45,080 Speaker 1: thought I was playing this holiday season, but I am not. 15 00:00:45,800 --> 00:00:51,760 Speaker 1: King James version, Hebrews eleven three. Ready, through faith, we 16 00:00:51,880 --> 00:00:55,680 Speaker 1: understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, 17 00:00:56,160 --> 00:01:00,720 Speaker 1: so that things which are seen were not made of things. 18 00:01:00,720 --> 00:01:01,640 Speaker 3: Which do appear. 19 00:01:02,160 --> 00:01:05,680 Speaker 1: Through faith, we understand, how many know there are some 20 00:01:05,760 --> 00:01:10,000 Speaker 1: things you can only understand through faith. Through faith, we 21 00:01:10,120 --> 00:01:13,640 Speaker 1: understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, 22 00:01:13,959 --> 00:01:17,040 Speaker 1: so that the things which are seen were not made 23 00:01:17,319 --> 00:01:21,160 Speaker 1: of things which do appear. Lord, I thank you that 24 00:01:21,240 --> 00:01:24,520 Speaker 1: your word is already blessed open our hearts to receive 25 00:01:24,560 --> 00:01:28,800 Speaker 1: it now in Jesus' name, Amen, you may be seated. 26 00:01:36,000 --> 00:01:38,080 Speaker 1: A couple of years ago, I took all three of 27 00:01:38,120 --> 00:01:43,720 Speaker 1: the kids on a carriage ride downtown Truston, and I 28 00:01:43,760 --> 00:01:47,480 Speaker 1: took them on the carriage ride because I'm a good 29 00:01:47,560 --> 00:01:52,440 Speaker 1: good father and Holly wanted to shop. And also another 30 00:01:52,480 --> 00:01:54,520 Speaker 1: reason I took them on a carriage ride is because 31 00:01:54,560 --> 00:01:58,760 Speaker 1: I'm an idiot, and because Abby begged me too. 32 00:01:58,920 --> 00:02:01,920 Speaker 3: She was about five. Big brothers told her this is 33 00:02:01,920 --> 00:02:05,840 Speaker 3: a bad idea. You're not gonna like it. It's going 34 00:02:05,920 --> 00:02:09,840 Speaker 3: to be boring, but she insisted. We walked by this 35 00:02:09,919 --> 00:02:12,600 Speaker 3: picture of a carriage ride. She said, can we go? 36 00:02:13,440 --> 00:02:14,359 Speaker 3: I bought the tickets. 37 00:02:15,240 --> 00:02:17,680 Speaker 1: I told the woman of God, I'm going to give 38 00:02:17,720 --> 00:02:24,520 Speaker 1: you about an hour of shopping, childless shopping. And she said, oh, 39 00:02:24,560 --> 00:02:27,320 Speaker 1: thank you, thank you Men of God. She said, I 40 00:02:27,400 --> 00:02:31,680 Speaker 1: receive it in Jesus name. Got on the carriage ride. 41 00:02:33,240 --> 00:02:38,120 Speaker 1: Within three minutes, Abby had a full scale meltdown on 42 00:02:38,200 --> 00:02:38,919 Speaker 1: the carriage ride. 43 00:02:40,639 --> 00:02:41,919 Speaker 3: She was bored, she was. 44 00:02:41,880 --> 00:02:48,680 Speaker 1: Restless, she was disappointed, and her brothers, whoa her brothers, 45 00:02:48,720 --> 00:02:52,320 Speaker 1: took the opportunity to remind her, we told you that 46 00:02:52,440 --> 00:02:54,640 Speaker 1: this would suck. Of course, we don't say suck in 47 00:02:54,680 --> 00:03:00,640 Speaker 1: my family. It's a preacher's family. But we were all 48 00:03:00,720 --> 00:03:03,160 Speaker 1: kind of embarrassed because of course we weren't the only 49 00:03:03,200 --> 00:03:07,880 Speaker 1: ones on the carriage ride. And within ten minutes she 50 00:03:08,040 --> 00:03:11,320 Speaker 1: was crying so loudly that I had to go into 51 00:03:11,360 --> 00:03:13,320 Speaker 1: my You know, if your parent, you have a yelling 52 00:03:13,400 --> 00:03:20,400 Speaker 1: voice that's quiet. It's louder than a scream, and you 53 00:03:20,480 --> 00:03:22,960 Speaker 1: have to use it in public when you want to 54 00:03:23,000 --> 00:03:25,959 Speaker 1: convey urgency without raising decibels. 55 00:03:27,720 --> 00:03:29,640 Speaker 3: And I said, baby girl, with a smile. 56 00:03:29,680 --> 00:03:33,839 Speaker 1: I said it too, baby girl, you're the one who 57 00:03:33,840 --> 00:03:37,400 Speaker 1: wanted to come on this carriage drive, and I'm gonna 58 00:03:37,400 --> 00:03:40,680 Speaker 1: need you to dry it up and enjoy this carriage drive. 59 00:03:41,880 --> 00:03:45,920 Speaker 1: We got thirty more minutes and you're the only one 60 00:03:45,920 --> 00:03:50,120 Speaker 1: who wanted to come on the carriage drive. So whatever's 61 00:03:50,200 --> 00:03:52,840 Speaker 1: going on right now, I need you to deal with 62 00:03:52,880 --> 00:03:56,280 Speaker 1: it and listen to this man tell us the history 63 00:03:57,200 --> 00:03:59,680 Speaker 1: of all these houses on this carriage drive. 64 00:04:01,320 --> 00:04:05,840 Speaker 3: She goes, she's trying to stop crying, and she goes. 65 00:04:08,720 --> 00:04:14,640 Speaker 1: But this isn't what I'm pictured. The title of my 66 00:04:14,760 --> 00:04:22,119 Speaker 1: sermon is, this isn't what I pictured. Sometimes life takes 67 00:04:22,120 --> 00:04:25,120 Speaker 1: you on a ride. Come on, who's going to be 68 00:04:25,160 --> 00:04:25,599 Speaker 1: real with me? 69 00:04:25,680 --> 00:04:26,680 Speaker 3: Today? 70 00:04:28,040 --> 00:04:30,200 Speaker 1: Looks like we got all angels in this section. Let 71 00:04:30,200 --> 00:04:33,440 Speaker 1: me turn over here. Have you ever had life hand 72 00:04:33,440 --> 00:04:35,400 Speaker 1: you a whopper? But it didn't look like the commercial? 73 00:04:39,080 --> 00:04:41,480 Speaker 3: This isn't what I pictured. 74 00:04:42,800 --> 00:04:46,320 Speaker 1: And it is a very difficult thing to adjust your 75 00:04:46,360 --> 00:04:51,960 Speaker 1: perspective when you pictured it one way and the product 76 00:04:52,000 --> 00:04:55,640 Speaker 1: turns out to be another. Some of you came to 77 00:04:55,760 --> 00:04:57,240 Speaker 1: church crying today is. 78 00:04:57,880 --> 00:04:58,920 Speaker 2: What I picture? 79 00:05:00,600 --> 00:05:03,640 Speaker 1: Because when we started twenty nineteen or whatever year, you 80 00:05:03,640 --> 00:05:05,320 Speaker 1: happen to be watching this in the time capsule in 81 00:05:05,360 --> 00:05:06,320 Speaker 1: the future on the internet. 82 00:05:07,400 --> 00:05:09,159 Speaker 3: Just want this sermon to have a long shelf life. 83 00:05:10,320 --> 00:05:14,560 Speaker 1: And you started the year with a picture of transformation, 84 00:05:14,720 --> 00:05:20,440 Speaker 1: new beginnings, restoration, And this isn't what I pictured, you know, 85 00:05:20,560 --> 00:05:21,719 Speaker 1: so it's. 86 00:05:21,560 --> 00:05:24,400 Speaker 3: A real thing. Even to this day. 87 00:05:24,440 --> 00:05:27,520 Speaker 1: We'll tell Abby it's going to be like the carriage ride. 88 00:05:28,160 --> 00:05:30,080 Speaker 1: It's a way when she wants to do something we 89 00:05:30,120 --> 00:05:35,440 Speaker 1: don't want to do, we remind her carriage ry, carriage ry, 90 00:05:36,839 --> 00:05:39,400 Speaker 1: which is fine when you're only out of eighty five dollars, 91 00:05:39,440 --> 00:05:45,799 Speaker 1: But what about when it's your relationship and it isn't 92 00:05:45,960 --> 00:05:52,880 Speaker 1: what I picture, or even your relationship with God. Maybe 93 00:05:53,279 --> 00:05:56,599 Speaker 1: you're saying, you know, I started one way believing that 94 00:05:57,320 --> 00:06:00,680 Speaker 1: God would do certain things for me because He is 95 00:06:00,800 --> 00:06:04,799 Speaker 1: my provider, and yet I came into deeper relationship with God, 96 00:06:04,839 --> 00:06:12,559 Speaker 1: and this isn't Is there anybody in the whole church? 97 00:06:12,640 --> 00:06:14,520 Speaker 1: And if not, I can come to Gascon next week? 98 00:06:14,720 --> 00:06:17,800 Speaker 1: Is there anybody in the whole church that is living 99 00:06:18,040 --> 00:06:22,920 Speaker 1: in a scene that you did not picture in this season? 100 00:06:26,520 --> 00:06:32,000 Speaker 1: And that's why Hebrews eleven three gives a contrast between 101 00:06:32,040 --> 00:06:36,120 Speaker 1: what God sees and what you see to let you 102 00:06:36,200 --> 00:06:40,000 Speaker 1: know that the things which are seen were not made 103 00:06:40,040 --> 00:06:41,560 Speaker 1: of things which do appear. 104 00:06:42,360 --> 00:06:43,520 Speaker 3: But I'm getting ahead. 105 00:06:43,240 --> 00:06:46,680 Speaker 1: Of myself, because the fact of the matter is everyone 106 00:06:46,800 --> 00:06:50,040 Speaker 1: has a picture of how life is supposed to go. 107 00:06:50,680 --> 00:06:53,720 Speaker 1: When you are supposed to get married, when you are 108 00:06:53,800 --> 00:06:57,280 Speaker 1: supposed to get a promotion, what kind of career your 109 00:06:57,400 --> 00:07:00,880 Speaker 1: children were supposed to be interested in. Some of you 110 00:07:00,880 --> 00:07:03,560 Speaker 1: you had your child's whole career. They were going to 111 00:07:03,600 --> 00:07:06,839 Speaker 1: go to an ivy league school, be a starting quarterback 112 00:07:07,279 --> 00:07:10,560 Speaker 1: and a Magnasuma Kumalatti and all of that. And they 113 00:07:10,560 --> 00:07:13,240 Speaker 1: don't even like sports, and they don't even want to 114 00:07:13,280 --> 00:07:16,400 Speaker 1: go to community college and study and this isn't what 115 00:07:16,600 --> 00:07:19,000 Speaker 1: I picture. Didn't you get the memo? So let me 116 00:07:19,040 --> 00:07:21,520 Speaker 1: just ask you a question. Where did you get your picture? 117 00:07:26,280 --> 00:07:28,600 Speaker 1: Where did you get your picture? Did you get it 118 00:07:28,600 --> 00:07:33,280 Speaker 1: from the Instagram? Because if you did, I'm praying for you, 119 00:07:33,440 --> 00:07:38,080 Speaker 1: real hard Catholic Pentecostal, I'll do it all because if 120 00:07:38,120 --> 00:07:41,720 Speaker 1: you got your picture for what life is supposed to be, 121 00:07:41,920 --> 00:07:45,200 Speaker 1: light from the little glimpses that other people give you 122 00:07:45,560 --> 00:07:49,880 Speaker 1: when they are posing perfectly, you will always be frustrated. 123 00:07:50,440 --> 00:07:52,160 Speaker 2: And while I'm on it, let me. 124 00:07:52,080 --> 00:07:55,320 Speaker 1: Say something about the show This is Us, which I love. 125 00:07:55,720 --> 00:08:01,600 Speaker 2: Jack Pearson isn't real. He's not real. 126 00:08:02,480 --> 00:08:04,600 Speaker 1: I told Holly the other day, I said, and please 127 00:08:04,640 --> 00:08:06,440 Speaker 1: don't be offended. I hope you didn't bring a relative 128 00:08:06,600 --> 00:08:08,800 Speaker 1: for this to hope you're not bringing the relatives until 129 00:08:08,840 --> 00:08:12,160 Speaker 1: next weekend for the Christmas program. But some shows that 130 00:08:12,200 --> 00:08:21,320 Speaker 1: we watch, I call it emotional porn because it is 131 00:08:21,360 --> 00:08:26,120 Speaker 1: perfectly airbrushed. And then when you compare the real thing 132 00:08:27,840 --> 00:08:33,319 Speaker 1: to a picture that was surgically altered and cropped and filtered, 133 00:08:33,720 --> 00:08:36,360 Speaker 1: how in the world are we supposed to feel fulfilled 134 00:08:36,400 --> 00:08:39,640 Speaker 1: about our real lives when we spend so much time 135 00:08:39,920 --> 00:08:44,560 Speaker 1: getting our picture from other people's pretention. Come on and 136 00:08:44,600 --> 00:08:48,680 Speaker 1: help me preach five seconds. If you know he's a 137 00:08:48,800 --> 00:08:51,120 Speaker 1: real God, He's the real thing. 138 00:08:54,920 --> 00:08:56,080 Speaker 3: So it means. 139 00:08:59,000 --> 00:09:01,120 Speaker 1: That there are all these things that I see and 140 00:09:01,200 --> 00:09:04,760 Speaker 1: all these things that I don't see. And God operates 141 00:09:04,840 --> 00:09:08,520 Speaker 1: from an invisible picture. While I am trying to make 142 00:09:08,559 --> 00:09:11,480 Speaker 1: sense out of my life from what is visible, God 143 00:09:11,600 --> 00:09:16,640 Speaker 1: sees something different. Enter Jesus, Matthew, Chapter one, verse eighteen. 144 00:09:17,120 --> 00:09:20,559 Speaker 1: This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about. 145 00:09:22,880 --> 00:09:25,520 Speaker 1: Matthew is done with the genealogy. 146 00:09:25,559 --> 00:09:28,839 Speaker 3: Now the part of the Christmas story that would put 147 00:09:28,880 --> 00:09:29,640 Speaker 3: you right to sleep. 148 00:09:29,679 --> 00:09:33,160 Speaker 1: If I read all of those names, not only would 149 00:09:33,200 --> 00:09:36,400 Speaker 1: you be praying for my pronunciation, but you would. 150 00:09:36,160 --> 00:09:36,880 Speaker 3: Lose your focus. 151 00:09:36,920 --> 00:09:40,439 Speaker 1: Yet all of it is important because it is all 152 00:09:40,480 --> 00:09:44,000 Speaker 1: the backstory to help us understand how Jesus came into 153 00:09:44,040 --> 00:09:47,280 Speaker 1: the world. Now, if you don't understand how Jesus came, 154 00:09:47,320 --> 00:09:49,080 Speaker 1: you will misunderstand. 155 00:09:48,360 --> 00:09:51,960 Speaker 3: Why Jesus came. If we think he came. 156 00:09:51,960 --> 00:09:54,720 Speaker 1: Like our superheroes that we pay ticket prices to go 157 00:09:54,760 --> 00:09:56,480 Speaker 1: and see, we will expect him to come in a 158 00:09:56,480 --> 00:09:59,480 Speaker 1: certain way, and we will picture him in a way 159 00:09:59,480 --> 00:10:01,719 Speaker 1: that will cause to miss him. When he really shows up. 160 00:10:03,160 --> 00:10:06,040 Speaker 1: Where did you get your picture? Where did you get 161 00:10:06,080 --> 00:10:09,040 Speaker 1: your picture of God? What do you picture when you 162 00:10:09,080 --> 00:10:14,760 Speaker 1: worship God? Where did you get that picture? Is he white? 163 00:10:16,160 --> 00:10:16,720 Speaker 1: Is he black? 164 00:10:19,040 --> 00:10:19,319 Speaker 3: Is he? 165 00:10:19,720 --> 00:10:23,640 Speaker 1: Is he perfectly dialed to be an exact representation of 166 00:10:23,720 --> 00:10:24,760 Speaker 1: every ethnicity? 167 00:10:25,480 --> 00:10:26,120 Speaker 3: Is he a man? 168 00:10:28,200 --> 00:10:34,640 Speaker 1: Is he not a man? It is is your God? 169 00:10:35,040 --> 00:10:38,360 Speaker 1: King Triton? Off the little Mermaid? Just zap and stuff? 170 00:10:39,400 --> 00:10:45,280 Speaker 1: Where did you get your picture? And what if he 171 00:10:45,440 --> 00:10:50,080 Speaker 1: isn't what you picture? Now, I'm gonna I'm really going 172 00:10:50,160 --> 00:10:52,200 Speaker 1: to create some empty seats for next week. 173 00:10:52,440 --> 00:10:54,800 Speaker 3: Is going to be crowded for Christmas. Heaven is not 174 00:10:54,880 --> 00:10:58,480 Speaker 3: going to be like you picture it right now. Let 175 00:10:58,480 --> 00:10:59,400 Speaker 3: me tell you why. 176 00:11:00,320 --> 00:11:03,480 Speaker 1: Some of the people that you can't stand are going 177 00:11:03,559 --> 00:11:09,760 Speaker 1: to be there, some of the people who don't believe 178 00:11:09,920 --> 00:11:13,000 Speaker 1: the right stuff, some of the people who didn't share 179 00:11:13,040 --> 00:11:15,440 Speaker 1: the same denominational dogma as you. 180 00:11:16,000 --> 00:11:17,560 Speaker 2: When we get to heaven, a lot. 181 00:11:17,520 --> 00:11:20,600 Speaker 1: Of us are going to be surprised because it won't 182 00:11:20,640 --> 00:11:25,200 Speaker 1: look like the picture. And so this is how the 183 00:11:25,240 --> 00:11:30,600 Speaker 1: Birth of Jesus Christ came about. Matthew says, John starts 184 00:11:30,640 --> 00:11:33,120 Speaker 1: it differently. He says, in the beginning was the word 185 00:11:33,160 --> 00:11:35,000 Speaker 1: and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 186 00:11:35,720 --> 00:11:37,079 Speaker 1: And he was there with God in the beginning, and 187 00:11:37,080 --> 00:11:38,880 Speaker 1: all things were made through him collussion and says by 188 00:11:38,960 --> 00:11:40,000 Speaker 1: him and for him. 189 00:11:40,360 --> 00:11:41,040 Speaker 3: But Matthew is. 190 00:11:41,040 --> 00:11:44,439 Speaker 1: Starting with the human perspective of how Jesus Christ came about. 191 00:11:44,840 --> 00:11:47,160 Speaker 1: Of course, in verse seventeen, he says, thus there were 192 00:11:47,200 --> 00:11:50,679 Speaker 1: fourteen generations in all, from Abraham to David, from David 193 00:11:50,679 --> 00:11:53,800 Speaker 1: to the Babylonian exile, and then fourteen from the exile 194 00:11:53,800 --> 00:11:57,040 Speaker 1: to Christ fourteen fourteen fourteen public school math. There's forty 195 00:11:57,080 --> 00:12:00,920 Speaker 1: two generations of faith that brought Gesa into the earth. 196 00:12:02,360 --> 00:12:05,000 Speaker 1: And yet the logos or the Word was with God, 197 00:12:05,040 --> 00:12:08,000 Speaker 1: pre existent, pre incarnate God, was the Word of God. 198 00:12:08,320 --> 00:12:10,680 Speaker 1: I promise you this is important, so please stay with me. 199 00:12:11,120 --> 00:12:16,840 Speaker 1: Because before Jesus was seen, he existed. Before he appeared, 200 00:12:16,920 --> 00:12:22,000 Speaker 1: he existed, just like everything in your life. 201 00:12:20,920 --> 00:12:23,360 Speaker 3: Before it is seen, it exists. 202 00:12:24,400 --> 00:12:27,200 Speaker 1: By the time it becomes a behavior, it was a 203 00:12:27,240 --> 00:12:31,600 Speaker 1: belief for a long time. By the time it becomes 204 00:12:31,640 --> 00:12:34,719 Speaker 1: a feeling, it was a thought. So just like there 205 00:12:34,800 --> 00:12:37,719 Speaker 1: is a genealogy of Jesus, there is a genealogy of 206 00:12:37,760 --> 00:12:41,480 Speaker 1: our emotions. There's a genealogy of our habits. There is 207 00:12:41,520 --> 00:12:46,000 Speaker 1: a pattern where where knowing how something started can help 208 00:12:46,040 --> 00:12:50,160 Speaker 1: you to trust when you don't see it in the process. 209 00:12:50,960 --> 00:12:52,480 Speaker 3: I'm preaching real good today. 210 00:12:53,679 --> 00:12:56,440 Speaker 1: This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about. 211 00:12:56,480 --> 00:13:01,320 Speaker 1: His mother, Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, 212 00:13:02,120 --> 00:13:05,479 Speaker 1: but before they came together, she was found. 213 00:13:05,280 --> 00:13:08,480 Speaker 3: To be with child through the Holy Spirit. 214 00:13:09,559 --> 00:13:13,880 Speaker 1: Because Joseph, her husband, was a righteous man and did 215 00:13:13,920 --> 00:13:17,840 Speaker 1: not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had 216 00:13:18,360 --> 00:13:22,440 Speaker 1: in mind, Now I love this phrase. He had in 217 00:13:22,640 --> 00:13:27,440 Speaker 1: mind to divorce her quietly or to put her away quietly. 218 00:13:27,920 --> 00:13:33,600 Speaker 3: He had in mind. So much of the decisions. 219 00:13:33,240 --> 00:13:36,600 Speaker 1: That we make in our lives that cause us confusion 220 00:13:37,000 --> 00:13:41,360 Speaker 1: are because we do what we had in mind before. 221 00:13:41,400 --> 00:13:45,160 Speaker 1: We consult God to see what he has in store. 222 00:13:45,960 --> 00:13:48,440 Speaker 3: Now, can I keep going? 223 00:13:50,240 --> 00:13:56,480 Speaker 1: But after he considered this, now, why because the Angel 224 00:13:56,480 --> 00:13:59,480 Speaker 1: appears to him? But why did the Angel appear at 225 00:13:59,520 --> 00:14:03,760 Speaker 1: this point after Mary was already bound to be pregnant? 226 00:14:04,720 --> 00:14:09,520 Speaker 1: In other words, why did God let Joseph go several 227 00:14:09,559 --> 00:14:13,280 Speaker 1: months without knowing what he wanted to do and what 228 00:14:13,320 --> 00:14:16,440 Speaker 1: it was all about, and then appear after he had 229 00:14:16,480 --> 00:14:19,760 Speaker 1: already made his plan and had in mind what he 230 00:14:19,800 --> 00:14:23,720 Speaker 1: wanted to do. After he had considered this, an angel 231 00:14:23,760 --> 00:14:25,440 Speaker 1: of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, 232 00:14:25,480 --> 00:14:28,160 Speaker 1: Joseph's son of David, do not be afraid to take 233 00:14:28,240 --> 00:14:31,760 Speaker 1: Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in 234 00:14:31,840 --> 00:14:37,240 Speaker 1: her is from the Holy Spirit. Why couldn't you tell 235 00:14:37,280 --> 00:14:45,880 Speaker 1: me that six months ago? Why couldn't you have told 236 00:14:45,920 --> 00:14:47,840 Speaker 1: me that before I. 237 00:14:47,760 --> 00:14:49,200 Speaker 2: Got the papers drawn up. 238 00:14:50,800 --> 00:14:54,400 Speaker 1: Why does God wait until after you have made a 239 00:14:54,440 --> 00:14:56,520 Speaker 1: plan to interrupt it? 240 00:14:58,000 --> 00:15:00,560 Speaker 2: And this is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about. 241 00:15:01,920 --> 00:15:06,520 Speaker 1: The greatest hope that the world was ever given, came 242 00:15:06,600 --> 00:15:13,920 Speaker 1: through the greatest disappointment that Joseph would ever know. And 243 00:15:14,000 --> 00:15:19,520 Speaker 1: I wonder is that happening in somebody's life today. This 244 00:15:19,720 --> 00:15:24,200 Speaker 1: is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about. When 245 00:15:24,320 --> 00:15:27,200 Speaker 1: Joseph had made up his mind how he needed to 246 00:15:27,240 --> 00:15:33,200 Speaker 1: handle the situation, and yet God interrupts Joseph's plan to 247 00:15:33,400 --> 00:15:38,480 Speaker 1: fulfill a greater purpose. Now, if you go by your picture, 248 00:15:38,920 --> 00:15:42,840 Speaker 1: you will make your plan. The only problem is God 249 00:15:42,960 --> 00:15:52,600 Speaker 1: might have a different picture than you. I know y'all 250 00:15:52,640 --> 00:15:58,200 Speaker 1: don't like it, but it's the facts. This is how 251 00:15:58,200 --> 00:16:01,240 Speaker 1: the birth of Jesus Christ came about. You know how 252 00:16:01,280 --> 00:16:02,480 Speaker 1: we have our nativity scene. 253 00:16:02,640 --> 00:16:03,120 Speaker 3: It's got a. 254 00:16:04,760 --> 00:16:07,160 Speaker 1: Baby Jesus and the wise men. Well, first of all, 255 00:16:07,320 --> 00:16:10,720 Speaker 1: no record that there was three of them, three gifts, 256 00:16:10,760 --> 00:16:14,600 Speaker 1: but I don't know how many how many magi were there, 257 00:16:14,920 --> 00:16:16,480 Speaker 1: but I'll tell you this. They didn't get there when 258 00:16:16,560 --> 00:16:18,960 Speaker 1: Jesus was born. Jesus could have been two years old 259 00:16:19,040 --> 00:16:22,040 Speaker 1: by the time they got there. But two year old 260 00:16:22,120 --> 00:16:24,480 Speaker 1: Jesus is and is cute on a nativity scene in 261 00:16:24,520 --> 00:16:28,840 Speaker 1: precious moments can't sell it, you know, toddlers aren't so adorable, 262 00:16:28,880 --> 00:16:31,400 Speaker 1: so they had to put little baby umbilical cord Jesus 263 00:16:31,400 --> 00:16:33,720 Speaker 1: on the major scene, but he was older than that. 264 00:16:33,960 --> 00:16:36,520 Speaker 1: Now the shepherds are there in your nativity scene too, 265 00:16:36,520 --> 00:16:37,400 Speaker 1: aren't they. 266 00:16:38,360 --> 00:16:39,920 Speaker 3: The wise men and the shepherds weren't there at the 267 00:16:39,960 --> 00:16:42,040 Speaker 3: same time. Let's see. 268 00:16:42,040 --> 00:16:44,040 Speaker 1: Now they want to sell you extra figures, so they 269 00:16:44,080 --> 00:16:45,880 Speaker 1: have to put them all together at the same time. 270 00:16:47,040 --> 00:16:48,920 Speaker 1: It's a profit margin issue, right, It's not. 271 00:16:48,920 --> 00:16:49,840 Speaker 3: An accuracy thing. 272 00:16:51,680 --> 00:16:56,920 Speaker 1: And how you pictured Christmas is probably wrong. He wasn't 273 00:16:56,960 --> 00:17:01,200 Speaker 1: even born in a manger. That's how we translated English. 274 00:17:00,600 --> 00:17:02,960 Speaker 1: It was more of a guest room that would have 275 00:17:03,000 --> 00:17:06,359 Speaker 1: looked more like a cave. But how are you going 276 00:17:06,440 --> 00:17:09,919 Speaker 1: to sell a manger scene with a cave? You know, 277 00:17:11,359 --> 00:17:16,359 Speaker 1: what if it isn't how you pictured it? What if 278 00:17:16,359 --> 00:17:18,320 Speaker 1: how God wants to use you is in how you 279 00:17:18,400 --> 00:17:22,600 Speaker 1: pictured him? What if the way he's going to work 280 00:17:22,600 --> 00:17:26,080 Speaker 1: in your marriage is and how you pictured him. And 281 00:17:26,480 --> 00:17:31,240 Speaker 1: Joseph has this word from God to go from to 282 00:17:31,440 --> 00:17:35,040 Speaker 1: understand by If he understands by his eyes, his sight, 283 00:17:35,520 --> 00:17:36,320 Speaker 1: he's going to miss it. 284 00:17:36,920 --> 00:17:37,680 Speaker 3: We always will. 285 00:17:38,080 --> 00:17:40,840 Speaker 1: If he understands by his senses, his feelings, his emotions, 286 00:17:40,840 --> 00:17:44,280 Speaker 1: he'll miss it emotionally and mentally. He has already decided 287 00:17:44,280 --> 00:17:46,359 Speaker 1: I'm done with this, And some of you came to 288 00:17:46,600 --> 00:17:47,800 Speaker 1: church today and you've. 289 00:17:47,600 --> 00:17:48,960 Speaker 3: Already decided to quit. 290 00:17:49,600 --> 00:17:52,160 Speaker 1: I'm giving up on this, I'm given up on joy, 291 00:17:52,320 --> 00:17:54,720 Speaker 1: I'm giving up on peace, I'm giving up on hope. 292 00:17:54,760 --> 00:17:56,360 Speaker 1: That's why some of you aren't in the building. You're 293 00:17:56,359 --> 00:17:58,680 Speaker 1: watching on a screen, because you gave up on even 294 00:17:58,680 --> 00:18:01,520 Speaker 1: being a part of a church. Because when you picture church, 295 00:18:01,600 --> 00:18:04,000 Speaker 1: you picture perfect people who would never hurt you. But 296 00:18:04,119 --> 00:18:07,359 Speaker 1: guess what, we are imperfect, just like you. So if 297 00:18:07,400 --> 00:18:09,200 Speaker 1: you want to hook up, you got to understand we're 298 00:18:09,240 --> 00:18:12,120 Speaker 1: screwed up too. But if you picture it as perfect, 299 00:18:12,359 --> 00:18:17,040 Speaker 1: then when this is the Lord, I hear you, Lord, 300 00:18:17,240 --> 00:18:19,119 Speaker 1: I love it. When this happens, God show me exactly 301 00:18:19,200 --> 00:18:22,080 Speaker 1: what he said. He said, the problem isn't your situation, 302 00:18:22,280 --> 00:18:30,679 Speaker 1: it's your picture. The problem is not the situation, The 303 00:18:30,800 --> 00:18:34,600 Speaker 1: problem is the picture. Mary had her dress picked out, 304 00:18:34,800 --> 00:18:37,160 Speaker 1: but now she's not gonna get to wear it. She's 305 00:18:37,200 --> 00:18:39,800 Speaker 1: gonna be way too big for this dress by the 306 00:18:39,840 --> 00:18:43,400 Speaker 1: time she walks the aisle. Joseph had his plan picked out, 307 00:18:43,640 --> 00:18:45,600 Speaker 1: but now he's not gonna get to do it, which 308 00:18:45,640 --> 00:18:48,920 Speaker 1: is hard for a carpenter because carpenter's plan they make 309 00:18:48,920 --> 00:18:51,120 Speaker 1: a living off of measuring and planning. 310 00:18:51,119 --> 00:18:52,840 Speaker 2: But after he had measured it. 311 00:18:53,080 --> 00:18:57,160 Speaker 1: In his mind, God spoke to his spirit and said, 312 00:18:57,200 --> 00:19:01,200 Speaker 1: what is in her is from me. I know it's 313 00:19:01,280 --> 00:19:04,680 Speaker 1: not what you pictured, but it's me. I know it's 314 00:19:04,760 --> 00:19:07,119 Speaker 1: not what you expected, but it's me. 315 00:19:07,640 --> 00:19:09,919 Speaker 2: I know it's not your preference, but it's me. 316 00:19:10,440 --> 00:19:13,480 Speaker 1: I know it doesn't fit your tradition, but it's me. 317 00:19:14,119 --> 00:19:16,439 Speaker 2: I know that you feel lonely and there. 318 00:19:16,280 --> 00:19:20,199 Speaker 1: Are some missing pieces, but it's me. And are you 319 00:19:20,400 --> 00:19:24,120 Speaker 1: trying to build your life by the wrong picture of 320 00:19:24,200 --> 00:19:25,920 Speaker 1: what you thought it would be? 321 00:19:28,640 --> 00:19:31,000 Speaker 3: Or why you think you're supposed to be. 322 00:19:32,560 --> 00:19:34,240 Speaker 2: Wouldn't it be dumb to. 323 00:19:34,240 --> 00:19:36,960 Speaker 1: Try to buy a puzzle to build it according to 324 00:19:37,000 --> 00:19:40,160 Speaker 1: a picture that was on the cover of somebody else's puzzle. 325 00:19:42,440 --> 00:19:44,760 Speaker 1: Try it if you go over to a friend's house 326 00:19:44,960 --> 00:19:48,000 Speaker 1: and they have a puzzle. This analogy is a little weak, 327 00:19:48,040 --> 00:19:50,760 Speaker 1: but bear with me. If you see a picture, go 328 00:19:50,800 --> 00:19:53,400 Speaker 1: buy a puzzle that doesn't match the picture, and try 329 00:19:53,400 --> 00:19:55,920 Speaker 1: to open that box with those pieces and build. 330 00:19:55,680 --> 00:19:58,080 Speaker 3: A picture, and see how much fun you have with it. 331 00:20:00,040 --> 00:20:04,360 Speaker 1: God says, I gave you the pieces for the picture 332 00:20:05,080 --> 00:20:09,119 Speaker 1: that I have in mind for your life according to 333 00:20:09,240 --> 00:20:11,280 Speaker 1: my purpose before you. 334 00:20:11,280 --> 00:20:12,960 Speaker 3: Were ever born. 335 00:20:17,280 --> 00:20:20,000 Speaker 2: So I got the right pieces, I've. 336 00:20:19,800 --> 00:20:22,159 Speaker 1: Got the right gifts, I've got. 337 00:20:22,040 --> 00:20:22,920 Speaker 2: The right temperament. 338 00:20:23,000 --> 00:20:24,760 Speaker 1: If I submit it to the Holy Spirit and don't 339 00:20:24,800 --> 00:20:27,240 Speaker 1: let it get out of control. But this isn't what 340 00:20:27,400 --> 00:20:34,720 Speaker 1: I've pictured. Switched the picture. Switch the picture. When you 341 00:20:34,800 --> 00:20:37,879 Speaker 1: have a picture of yourself as worthless. 342 00:20:37,560 --> 00:20:40,280 Speaker 2: You will build your life according to that picture. 343 00:20:41,119 --> 00:20:44,800 Speaker 1: You will sabotage yourself because you build. 344 00:20:44,520 --> 00:20:45,640 Speaker 2: By what you feel. 345 00:20:49,600 --> 00:20:52,520 Speaker 1: But now, if God says I'm righteous, if I switched 346 00:20:52,560 --> 00:20:55,439 Speaker 1: the picture to what he sees, and if I assume 347 00:20:55,480 --> 00:21:02,840 Speaker 1: that he's always working. If I switch the picture, Joseph 348 00:21:03,400 --> 00:21:10,520 Speaker 1: is me, I started this. It's it's you that going 349 00:21:10,560 --> 00:21:15,680 Speaker 1: to take Mary home, but it's me. And it's hard 350 00:21:15,720 --> 00:21:17,640 Speaker 1: to believe as God when it doesn't feel good. 351 00:21:24,119 --> 00:21:30,439 Speaker 3: Joseph is like, are you sure? Because he had to 352 00:21:30,440 --> 00:21:34,000 Speaker 3: think about it, he had to ponder it. 353 00:21:34,119 --> 00:21:39,720 Speaker 1: The Beautiful verse in the Bible, it says, Joseph, son 354 00:21:39,760 --> 00:21:42,600 Speaker 1: of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home 355 00:21:42,640 --> 00:21:44,679 Speaker 1: as your wife, because what is conceived in her is 356 00:21:44,680 --> 00:21:46,960 Speaker 1: from the Holy Spirit. What's in her is from me. 357 00:21:48,480 --> 00:21:52,760 Speaker 1: What's in her is from me. It's in her, but 358 00:21:52,840 --> 00:21:57,000 Speaker 1: it's from me. God says, what's in you is from me. 359 00:21:58,640 --> 00:22:01,880 Speaker 1: What's in you is from Me. And I'm just comforted 360 00:22:01,920 --> 00:22:06,240 Speaker 1: by that because sometimes I feel pressure about what I 361 00:22:06,320 --> 00:22:11,280 Speaker 1: perceive to be missing pieces. Even as a preacher, I 362 00:22:11,359 --> 00:22:13,960 Speaker 1: always wish that I could that I could preach like 363 00:22:14,040 --> 00:22:16,560 Speaker 1: other preachers that I see, And I tell you exactly 364 00:22:16,640 --> 00:22:17,600 Speaker 1: who I want to preach like. 365 00:22:17,880 --> 00:22:19,639 Speaker 3: You know, the guys that stand still. 366 00:22:21,880 --> 00:22:25,400 Speaker 1: And they are just so profound, and they have one 367 00:22:25,440 --> 00:22:29,600 Speaker 1: of the mics that never moves, and they just it's 368 00:22:29,760 --> 00:22:34,560 Speaker 1: just so they're so calm, and I like that, and 369 00:22:34,600 --> 00:22:37,240 Speaker 1: I go on Amazon looking for robes, and I think, man, 370 00:22:37,240 --> 00:22:40,760 Speaker 1: that would be cool because it expends a lot of energy, 371 00:22:40,840 --> 00:22:41,959 Speaker 1: all this moving around. 372 00:22:42,200 --> 00:22:43,440 Speaker 2: And even sometimes I come. 373 00:22:43,400 --> 00:22:46,240 Speaker 1: Up and I try to preach like one of them, 374 00:22:46,320 --> 00:22:49,600 Speaker 1: you know, But then something just I can't. 375 00:22:52,000 --> 00:22:54,840 Speaker 2: I mean, I really, I really don't plan. 376 00:22:56,240 --> 00:22:58,800 Speaker 1: To freak out and spats out, and I watch myself 377 00:22:58,840 --> 00:23:01,040 Speaker 1: back and I'm like, why you have to be like that? 378 00:23:01,080 --> 00:23:02,640 Speaker 2: Why can't you be dignified? 379 00:23:03,200 --> 00:23:07,120 Speaker 1: But something inside of me when I start doing. 380 00:23:06,840 --> 00:23:10,040 Speaker 2: It, I just gotta do it. How I do it. 381 00:23:10,400 --> 00:23:14,320 Speaker 4: I gotta do it like the pieces in my box are. 382 00:23:14,240 --> 00:23:17,800 Speaker 2: Meant for the picture. Y'all won't help me breathe. 383 00:23:23,600 --> 00:23:29,160 Speaker 4: What's in you is from God, what's in. 384 00:23:29,000 --> 00:23:34,520 Speaker 1: Me is from Him. I got every peace I God wisdom. 385 00:23:35,040 --> 00:23:39,959 Speaker 1: I've got strength, I've got anointing. I've got authority in 386 00:23:40,040 --> 00:23:43,760 Speaker 1: the name of Jesus to overcome every. 387 00:23:43,480 --> 00:23:47,960 Speaker 2: Wicked thing that rises to oppose me. Now, show three 388 00:23:48,000 --> 00:23:50,120 Speaker 2: people say, it's in you. It's in you. 389 00:23:50,359 --> 00:23:53,679 Speaker 1: It's in you right now, and it's growing and it's kicking, 390 00:23:53,960 --> 00:23:56,800 Speaker 1: and it's meant to be and you're not missing anything. 391 00:23:57,240 --> 00:23:59,840 Speaker 2: You got it all. You got every peace. 392 00:24:00,119 --> 00:24:03,520 Speaker 4: For the picture, for in the beginning, what's the word? 393 00:24:03,680 --> 00:24:07,280 Speaker 2: And the word's with God? And watch this. 394 00:24:10,040 --> 00:24:20,920 Speaker 1: The word was God. So let me ask you a question. 395 00:24:22,520 --> 00:24:27,040 Speaker 1: Let's take a vote. This is the first church vote 396 00:24:27,560 --> 00:24:31,080 Speaker 1: that I remember in the history of Elevation Church. But 397 00:24:31,200 --> 00:24:40,080 Speaker 1: let's be Baptist for the next thirty seconds. Who had 398 00:24:40,080 --> 00:24:51,399 Speaker 1: the harder job? Mary or Joseph? Before you answer this, 399 00:24:51,520 --> 00:24:53,439 Speaker 1: because in just a moment, I'm gonna call on you 400 00:24:53,480 --> 00:24:56,399 Speaker 1: to raise your hand at every location. If you are married, 401 00:24:56,400 --> 00:25:03,360 Speaker 1: I want to strongly encourage you to consider carefully the 402 00:25:03,359 --> 00:25:05,920 Speaker 1: cost of answering this question honestly. 403 00:25:07,680 --> 00:25:09,520 Speaker 3: But who says Mary had the harder job? 404 00:25:09,640 --> 00:25:12,080 Speaker 1: You know? There they are, all the women who have 405 00:25:12,200 --> 00:25:15,359 Speaker 1: borne children into this world. Come on, let's celebrate Mother's 406 00:25:15,400 --> 00:25:18,640 Speaker 1: Day early. Thank God for you. Amen, raise your hand. 407 00:25:18,680 --> 00:25:21,520 Speaker 1: If you say it's Mary, it's Mary right, because she 408 00:25:21,560 --> 00:25:24,800 Speaker 1: had very little choice. She was already pregnant by the 409 00:25:25,040 --> 00:25:25,800 Speaker 1: time she found. 410 00:25:25,560 --> 00:25:26,399 Speaker 3: Out about the purpose. 411 00:25:27,840 --> 00:25:32,160 Speaker 1: Too late if you don't like it, and then then 412 00:25:32,200 --> 00:25:32,960 Speaker 1: you got Joseph. 413 00:25:33,800 --> 00:25:34,080 Speaker 3: Y'all. 414 00:25:34,240 --> 00:25:36,359 Speaker 1: My kids came up to me the other day and 415 00:25:36,400 --> 00:25:39,320 Speaker 1: they said, do you know Joe. 416 00:25:40,040 --> 00:25:41,120 Speaker 3: Now here's what's hilarious. 417 00:25:41,160 --> 00:25:46,119 Speaker 1: I said, Joe, Mama, And they said, how did you 418 00:25:46,200 --> 00:25:53,160 Speaker 1: know that because they think they started Joe Mama. 419 00:25:54,320 --> 00:25:55,880 Speaker 2: Boy, I was doing. 420 00:25:55,840 --> 00:26:01,040 Speaker 1: Joe Mama while you were still on your unframed form, 421 00:26:01,240 --> 00:26:07,760 Speaker 1: was not even in the picture. Yet. I gave him 422 00:26:07,800 --> 00:26:11,480 Speaker 1: a genealogy of Joe Mama. 423 00:26:12,240 --> 00:26:14,639 Speaker 3: I remember Joe Mama from the Golden Girls. You remember 424 00:26:14,640 --> 00:26:17,000 Speaker 3: the Golden Girls? You too? 425 00:26:17,040 --> 00:26:20,200 Speaker 1: But I promise you, Joe Mama is old. This didn't 426 00:26:20,240 --> 00:26:25,160 Speaker 1: start with you. I came to say that to somebody 427 00:26:25,880 --> 00:26:27,920 Speaker 1: about what God is doing in your life. This didn't 428 00:26:27,960 --> 00:26:33,240 Speaker 1: start with you, and this doesn't end here. And Joseph 429 00:26:33,280 --> 00:26:36,520 Speaker 1: has in mind to walk away. But God has something 430 00:26:36,520 --> 00:26:40,000 Speaker 1: different in store because God is building with a different picture. 431 00:26:41,080 --> 00:26:43,480 Speaker 1: So who believes that Joseph had the harder job? Raise 432 00:26:43,520 --> 00:26:49,640 Speaker 1: your head, I plaud your courage. It's an unpopular stance. 433 00:26:50,920 --> 00:26:55,040 Speaker 1: I kind of see where you're coming from. I kind 434 00:26:55,040 --> 00:26:59,800 Speaker 1: of see where you're coming from. Because verse twenty one 435 00:27:00,720 --> 00:27:07,160 Speaker 1: tells us Mary's job and Joseph's job. Let's read it together, Matthew. 436 00:27:07,200 --> 00:27:11,760 Speaker 1: Chapter one, verse twenty one. She will give birth and 437 00:27:11,920 --> 00:27:17,159 Speaker 1: you are to give him the name. Which one you 438 00:27:17,200 --> 00:27:25,680 Speaker 1: want to do? Give birth or give the name. And 439 00:27:25,760 --> 00:27:32,320 Speaker 1: so physically there's no argument. But see what is striking 440 00:27:32,400 --> 00:27:37,320 Speaker 1: to me about Joseph. You never heard the Christmas Carol? Joseph, 441 00:27:37,359 --> 00:27:37,840 Speaker 1: did you know? 442 00:27:41,080 --> 00:27:41,959 Speaker 3: Now? Mary knew? 443 00:27:43,560 --> 00:27:47,800 Speaker 1: Mary knew because it was her body. Mary knew that 444 00:27:47,840 --> 00:27:51,760 Speaker 1: this has to be God because she knows whether or 445 00:27:51,800 --> 00:27:55,080 Speaker 1: not she has been with another man. And I'm gonna 446 00:27:55,119 --> 00:27:56,280 Speaker 1: leave it at that, in case you didn't get your 447 00:27:56,320 --> 00:27:59,680 Speaker 1: kids to eat kids this morning. I'm not gonna kind. 448 00:27:59,480 --> 00:28:01,199 Speaker 3: Of details on this. 449 00:28:01,520 --> 00:28:05,560 Speaker 1: But Mary knew this has to be God because I 450 00:28:05,640 --> 00:28:08,240 Speaker 1: consulted my experience, and I'm a virgent and I haven't 451 00:28:08,280 --> 00:28:11,520 Speaker 1: been with a man. So if I'm carrying something, it 452 00:28:11,560 --> 00:28:13,840 Speaker 1: didn't come from human means, I know it because. 453 00:28:13,600 --> 00:28:15,000 Speaker 3: It's my body. 454 00:28:16,200 --> 00:28:22,399 Speaker 1: Joseph didn't know, and he would never really know, so 455 00:28:22,480 --> 00:28:28,560 Speaker 1: he had to believe. Maybe that's the hardest job of 456 00:28:28,600 --> 00:28:34,320 Speaker 1: all to believe what you can't see, to believe what 457 00:28:34,400 --> 00:28:37,600 Speaker 1: you can't be sure of, to believe what you can't prove. 458 00:28:40,680 --> 00:28:44,280 Speaker 1: Joseph said, I I never knew. You know, the rest 459 00:28:44,320 --> 00:28:48,640 Speaker 1: of his life, he would live probably halfway wondering. 460 00:28:50,080 --> 00:28:51,520 Speaker 3: Was it really God that got her pregnant? 461 00:28:51,760 --> 00:28:55,840 Speaker 1: And you go into right, you go into men's group, 462 00:28:56,680 --> 00:29:00,120 Speaker 1: and you're like, guys is good? I was praying the 463 00:29:00,160 --> 00:29:03,560 Speaker 1: Lord told me. I was I was actually sleeping. I 464 00:29:03,640 --> 00:29:06,560 Speaker 1: was in a dream, and the Lord told me, and 465 00:29:06,600 --> 00:29:09,280 Speaker 1: don't worry. Mary saw a vision two and we're gonna 466 00:29:09,280 --> 00:29:11,000 Speaker 1: work this out and we're gonna go home. 467 00:29:11,240 --> 00:29:12,520 Speaker 2: Do you not think. 468 00:29:12,600 --> 00:29:17,440 Speaker 1: Joseph spent the rest of his life looking cross eyed 469 00:29:17,520 --> 00:29:20,360 Speaker 1: at people trying to figure out Now, your nose looks 470 00:29:20,440 --> 00:29:30,000 Speaker 1: kind of like that long nose with checking out those ears. 471 00:29:30,080 --> 00:29:32,320 Speaker 1: You know, Ronnie has kind of long years right there. 472 00:29:32,360 --> 00:29:37,360 Speaker 1: I saw Ronnie and Mary because Joseph didn't know. Because 473 00:29:37,520 --> 00:29:47,880 Speaker 1: faith does not operate by sensory knowledge. Because faith enables 474 00:29:47,960 --> 00:29:53,400 Speaker 1: us to understand that God is with us even if 475 00:29:53,400 --> 00:29:57,120 Speaker 1: we do not see him in the picture. I need 476 00:29:57,160 --> 00:30:01,520 Speaker 1: you to receive this by faith. You are to give 477 00:30:01,600 --> 00:30:06,440 Speaker 1: him the name Jesus, because he will save his people 478 00:30:06,560 --> 00:30:10,000 Speaker 1: from their sins. Now here's the culmination of the text 479 00:30:10,000 --> 00:30:11,000 Speaker 1: that I want to share with you. 480 00:30:11,360 --> 00:30:12,480 Speaker 3: All this took. 481 00:30:12,240 --> 00:30:19,160 Speaker 1: Place, Everything you didn't picture, everything you don't understand. All 482 00:30:19,320 --> 00:30:22,880 Speaker 1: this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said 483 00:30:22,920 --> 00:30:28,000 Speaker 1: through the prophet. And then he quotes Isaiah seven fourteen, 484 00:30:28,840 --> 00:30:32,360 Speaker 1: which says the Virgin will be with child and give 485 00:30:32,440 --> 00:30:36,440 Speaker 1: birth to a son, and they will call him Emmanuel, 486 00:30:36,880 --> 00:30:42,480 Speaker 1: which means God with us. And I've been listening to 487 00:30:42,560 --> 00:30:44,920 Speaker 1: a song all week that says, even when I don't 488 00:30:44,960 --> 00:30:48,600 Speaker 1: see it, you're working, and even when I don't feel it, 489 00:30:48,680 --> 00:30:51,440 Speaker 1: you're working. And I need you to make a declaration 490 00:30:51,560 --> 00:30:53,840 Speaker 1: by faith. Every mouth in this room open up and 491 00:30:53,840 --> 00:30:57,160 Speaker 1: say God is with me right now. God is with 492 00:30:57,320 --> 00:30:59,840 Speaker 1: me right now. Come on, say it again, God is 493 00:31:00,120 --> 00:31:03,120 Speaker 1: with me right now. Some of y'all it in other campus. 494 00:31:03,120 --> 00:31:04,800 Speaker 1: You're not saying that, but you're not saying it to me. 495 00:31:04,880 --> 00:31:06,880 Speaker 1: So say it out aloud for yourself. Say God is 496 00:31:06,920 --> 00:31:11,560 Speaker 1: with me right now. And remember that the things which 497 00:31:11,600 --> 00:31:15,080 Speaker 1: are seen are not made with things that do appear. 498 00:31:16,240 --> 00:31:19,640 Speaker 1: So God does not build with carpenter material that you 499 00:31:19,720 --> 00:31:24,040 Speaker 1: can see and fabricate your faith with your physical senses. 500 00:31:24,480 --> 00:31:27,800 Speaker 1: When God builds something, it will not look like what 501 00:31:27,960 --> 00:31:32,040 Speaker 1: you pictured. He has a different picture, and he builds 502 00:31:32,040 --> 00:31:37,760 Speaker 1: according to his picture. Now, the message of Christmas is 503 00:31:37,800 --> 00:31:45,920 Speaker 1: about his presence, not my picture. The message of Christmas 504 00:31:46,000 --> 00:31:51,960 Speaker 1: says that the worlds were framed. Frame framed. 505 00:31:52,000 --> 00:31:53,600 Speaker 3: I know they use it in a construction way, but 506 00:31:53,680 --> 00:31:56,120 Speaker 3: this is a visual term. Frame. 507 00:31:57,200 --> 00:32:02,440 Speaker 1: They frame it the world. Did you get your picture 508 00:32:02,960 --> 00:32:06,840 Speaker 1: from the world or from the Word. Did you get 509 00:32:06,880 --> 00:32:09,000 Speaker 1: your picture of what a man is supposed to be, 510 00:32:09,360 --> 00:32:11,440 Speaker 1: of what a woman is supposed to be, of, what 511 00:32:11,600 --> 00:32:15,320 Speaker 1: success is, of what fulfillment is of? What did you 512 00:32:15,360 --> 00:32:17,320 Speaker 1: get it from the Word or the world? Because the 513 00:32:17,320 --> 00:32:20,320 Speaker 1: Bible says that by faith we understand that the worlds 514 00:32:20,360 --> 00:32:25,320 Speaker 1: were framed by the Word of God. Frame And are 515 00:32:25,360 --> 00:32:29,040 Speaker 1: you framing this season of your life with your faith 516 00:32:29,880 --> 00:32:30,600 Speaker 1: or with your fear? 517 00:32:32,400 --> 00:32:32,840 Speaker 2: Honestly? 518 00:32:32,920 --> 00:32:35,640 Speaker 1: Now answer and honestly as you look at what you 519 00:32:35,720 --> 00:32:38,600 Speaker 1: cannot understand in your life right now, Because every hand 520 00:32:38,600 --> 00:32:40,000 Speaker 1: in the room that I saw went up. 521 00:32:39,880 --> 00:32:42,600 Speaker 2: When I said, is it different than what you pictured? 522 00:32:44,680 --> 00:32:46,480 Speaker 2: Is it different than what you pictured? Someone? 523 00:32:47,040 --> 00:32:49,080 Speaker 1: This was an insult, someone said to me one time 524 00:32:49,080 --> 00:32:51,320 Speaker 1: when I walked in. They said, oh, I never saw 525 00:32:51,360 --> 00:32:53,680 Speaker 1: you before I listened to your podcast. You're not what 526 00:32:53,720 --> 00:33:00,640 Speaker 1: I picture. I said, what did you picture? They said, 527 00:33:00,640 --> 00:33:11,920 Speaker 1: I pictured you bigger. I pictured you bigger. I pictured it. 528 00:33:12,880 --> 00:33:17,040 Speaker 1: I pictured it bigger. I pictured at this age, I 529 00:33:17,080 --> 00:33:19,120 Speaker 1: would be past some certain things. 530 00:33:20,640 --> 00:33:21,160 Speaker 3: I picture. 531 00:33:21,640 --> 00:33:26,640 Speaker 1: I pictured it different. I pictured I pictured parenting way different. 532 00:33:27,640 --> 00:33:32,840 Speaker 1: I thought we'd be doing drive time devotionals From the 533 00:33:32,880 --> 00:33:36,840 Speaker 1: original Greek of Philippians. I thought we'd be doing Bible 534 00:33:36,960 --> 00:33:40,240 Speaker 1: sword drills. I didn't know they'd be pulling out real swords, 535 00:33:40,360 --> 00:33:43,720 Speaker 1: stabbing each other with forks in the kitchen before y'all 536 00:33:43,760 --> 00:33:46,440 Speaker 1: are looking at me so holy. It's different than what 537 00:33:46,640 --> 00:33:53,040 Speaker 1: you picture. It's better, but it's different. It's different. Ministry 538 00:33:53,080 --> 00:33:54,680 Speaker 1: is different than what I pictured. Let me go all 539 00:33:54,720 --> 00:33:59,440 Speaker 1: the way. Adulthood is different than a picture. 540 00:34:02,760 --> 00:34:05,160 Speaker 2: Can we be real with one another for a moment? 541 00:34:05,720 --> 00:34:06,600 Speaker 2: It's different. 542 00:34:06,960 --> 00:34:09,480 Speaker 1: They sold us something that is surreal. 543 00:34:10,120 --> 00:34:13,279 Speaker 2: We're supposed to have it figured out. I'm supposed to 544 00:34:13,320 --> 00:34:14,280 Speaker 2: have good sense. 545 00:34:14,640 --> 00:34:17,480 Speaker 1: I'm supposed to be a fully cooked turkey by now, 546 00:34:17,760 --> 00:34:19,560 Speaker 1: and I'm coming out the oven and. 547 00:34:19,520 --> 00:34:22,600 Speaker 2: I'm still wraw and I've got mouse to feet. Is 548 00:34:22,800 --> 00:34:24,360 Speaker 2: different than the picture. 549 00:34:31,400 --> 00:34:35,720 Speaker 1: So when they put the sermon online for the video, 550 00:34:36,719 --> 00:34:40,360 Speaker 1: they have to switch between different shots, and they have 551 00:34:40,480 --> 00:34:44,280 Speaker 1: instructions to use of what shots they put on the screen. 552 00:34:44,320 --> 00:34:48,080 Speaker 1: Even now while I'm preaching, and because I move around 553 00:34:48,120 --> 00:34:52,719 Speaker 1: so much like the spastic preacher that I am, these 554 00:34:52,719 --> 00:34:57,279 Speaker 1: are highly trained, competent individuals. Somehow they always keep me 555 00:34:57,320 --> 00:35:00,360 Speaker 1: in the center of the center of the picture. But 556 00:35:00,440 --> 00:35:04,520 Speaker 1: what if the switcher fell asleep you know. Just real quick, 557 00:35:05,200 --> 00:35:06,640 Speaker 1: I'm gonna do an example because I. 558 00:35:06,600 --> 00:35:07,160 Speaker 3: Want you to see this. 559 00:35:08,000 --> 00:35:10,359 Speaker 1: Imagine if the person on the switcher that goes from 560 00:35:10,360 --> 00:35:12,520 Speaker 1: the tight shot to the wide shot and boost the 561 00:35:12,760 --> 00:35:18,239 Speaker 1: thing on the thing that's the technical terms. What if 562 00:35:18,280 --> 00:35:22,720 Speaker 1: they at first show them what you're supposed to do. Okay, 563 00:35:23,640 --> 00:35:25,640 Speaker 1: let's say I do a lateral movement over here to 564 00:35:25,680 --> 00:35:28,719 Speaker 1: the side. Look, you got a shot for that. But 565 00:35:28,800 --> 00:35:31,719 Speaker 1: suppose they didn't put it on that other shot. Now, 566 00:35:31,760 --> 00:35:34,439 Speaker 1: for the maximum benefit of this illustration, if you are at. 567 00:35:34,360 --> 00:35:40,200 Speaker 3: Valentine, watch the screen. If you're at another campus. 568 00:35:39,840 --> 00:35:45,759 Speaker 1: You've got the competitive advantage right now, because sometimes God 569 00:35:45,800 --> 00:35:57,560 Speaker 1: does this. Watch the screen. Watch the screen. Sometimes God 570 00:35:57,840 --> 00:36:03,839 Speaker 1: does this. Now, the only conclusion you can come to 571 00:36:04,760 --> 00:36:09,040 Speaker 1: if you are using your eyes is that the person 572 00:36:09,320 --> 00:36:12,960 Speaker 1: who was in the picture is no longer in the building. 573 00:36:14,640 --> 00:36:18,040 Speaker 1: The only way for you to know I'm still here 574 00:36:18,960 --> 00:36:23,840 Speaker 1: is to go not by what you see, but by 575 00:36:23,880 --> 00:36:28,640 Speaker 1: what you hear. So right now, those of you who 576 00:36:28,680 --> 00:36:30,120 Speaker 1: cannot see me on. 577 00:36:30,000 --> 00:36:31,200 Speaker 2: The screen, watch the screen. 578 00:36:31,239 --> 00:36:32,239 Speaker 3: Y'all are disobedient. 579 00:36:32,280 --> 00:36:33,040 Speaker 2: Watch the screen. 580 00:36:34,520 --> 00:36:38,520 Speaker 1: You can't see me on the screen, But if you. 581 00:36:38,680 --> 00:36:47,920 Speaker 4: Know my voice, if you know my voice. 582 00:36:47,040 --> 00:36:51,080 Speaker 1: You will know that I did not leave you nor 583 00:36:51,239 --> 00:36:52,040 Speaker 1: forsake you. 584 00:36:53,200 --> 00:36:54,120 Speaker 2: In the beginning. 585 00:36:54,680 --> 00:36:59,960 Speaker 4: What's the word, And the word was here before you were. 586 00:37:00,000 --> 00:37:04,319 Speaker 4: The word was spoken before you saw your frame. So 587 00:37:04,480 --> 00:37:08,160 Speaker 4: when I don't feel him, he's with me because his 588 00:37:08,400 --> 00:37:13,200 Speaker 4: name is Emmanuel. I can't see him, but I trust 589 00:37:13,320 --> 00:37:16,839 Speaker 4: him because he's spoken, and I will see it with 590 00:37:17,000 --> 00:37:18,680 Speaker 4: the eyes of my faith. 591 00:37:23,680 --> 00:37:28,759 Speaker 1: He's with me on my good day. He's with me 592 00:37:29,440 --> 00:37:33,480 Speaker 1: on my bad day. He's with me when I've got it. 593 00:37:33,960 --> 00:37:36,920 Speaker 1: He's with me when I don't even know where to look. 594 00:37:37,280 --> 00:37:40,759 Speaker 1: He's with me when they like me. He's with me 595 00:37:41,200 --> 00:37:43,520 Speaker 1: when nobody will return my text. 596 00:37:43,960 --> 00:37:48,000 Speaker 2: He's with me when I'm married. He's with me when 597 00:37:48,040 --> 00:37:49,000 Speaker 2: I'm divorced. 598 00:37:49,400 --> 00:37:51,919 Speaker 4: He's with me when I've got a job. 599 00:37:52,360 --> 00:37:53,239 Speaker 2: He's with me. 600 00:37:53,560 --> 00:37:56,080 Speaker 1: When I don't see a way to pay it. He's 601 00:37:56,280 --> 00:38:00,720 Speaker 1: with me when i'm well. He's with me and I'm sick. 602 00:38:01,040 --> 00:38:04,200 Speaker 1: He's with me with a clear sky. He's with me 603 00:38:04,280 --> 00:38:05,160 Speaker 1: in the storm. 604 00:38:05,640 --> 00:38:06,600 Speaker 2: He didn't leave. 605 00:38:07,120 --> 00:38:12,120 Speaker 4: I just got at sage my frame. If he's folk it, 606 00:38:12,480 --> 00:38:13,560 Speaker 4: you will see it. 607 00:38:19,600 --> 00:38:22,840 Speaker 2: Come praise him. Let you know he's with you. He's 608 00:38:22,960 --> 00:38:27,520 Speaker 2: with me. He's with me. He's with me He's with me. 609 00:38:28,040 --> 00:38:32,120 Speaker 1: What's in me is from me and my God. It's 610 00:38:32,320 --> 00:38:42,759 Speaker 1: for me, with me, He's with me. So don't be 611 00:38:42,800 --> 00:38:44,839 Speaker 1: afraid to go home and do what God told you. 612 00:38:46,480 --> 00:38:48,600 Speaker 1: Don't be afraid to face your fears with the frame 613 00:38:48,640 --> 00:38:51,880 Speaker 1: of faith, because the things which are seen were. 614 00:38:51,719 --> 00:38:57,279 Speaker 3: Made by the things which don't appear. I know it 615 00:38:57,280 --> 00:39:00,960 Speaker 3: is what your picture it in what you planned. 616 00:39:03,160 --> 00:39:05,920 Speaker 1: You remember when we were in the nursing home for Thanksgiving. 617 00:39:07,280 --> 00:39:15,480 Speaker 1: My dad was sixty to something like that, sixty two 618 00:39:15,520 --> 00:39:18,239 Speaker 1: years old in a nursing home, not because we didn't 619 00:39:18,280 --> 00:39:20,720 Speaker 1: want to keep It was so tense in our family 620 00:39:21,719 --> 00:39:23,440 Speaker 1: that he decided he wouldn't want to live with any 621 00:39:23,440 --> 00:39:24,920 Speaker 1: of us. We couldn't take care of him. He had 622 00:39:25,000 --> 00:39:27,000 Speaker 1: Luke Gerrit's disease, and we tried to take care of him. 623 00:39:27,000 --> 00:39:29,439 Speaker 1: We couldn't take care of him. We were eating microwaved 624 00:39:29,800 --> 00:39:32,759 Speaker 1: Thanksgiving in the nursing home with my dad knowing good 625 00:39:32,760 --> 00:39:35,280 Speaker 1: and well. We wanted him in our house, and nobody 626 00:39:35,320 --> 00:39:36,320 Speaker 1: was on speaking terms. 627 00:39:36,440 --> 00:39:37,480 Speaker 3: You talk about awkward. 628 00:39:42,640 --> 00:39:44,879 Speaker 1: Him doesn't taste right when you try to microwave it. 629 00:39:45,520 --> 00:39:49,319 Speaker 1: None of us pictured this. Now I know you didn't 630 00:39:49,360 --> 00:39:54,400 Speaker 1: picture this. God isn't building your picture. He's building his purpose. 631 00:40:04,680 --> 00:40:13,400 Speaker 1: So Joseph, Joe, Joe, did you know Joseph would say no, 632 00:40:15,160 --> 00:40:20,320 Speaker 1: uh huh. I just believe I had one thing in mind, 633 00:40:21,920 --> 00:40:26,760 Speaker 1: God had another thing in store. I went with God. 634 00:40:27,920 --> 00:40:35,839 Speaker 1: God went with me, and I have what I need 635 00:40:35,880 --> 00:40:39,000 Speaker 1: in the box to be the picture that He created 636 00:40:39,000 --> 00:40:42,120 Speaker 1: in his heart. So no, I'm not trying to build 637 00:40:42,120 --> 00:40:45,759 Speaker 1: somebody else's life or somebody else's idea of what I'm 638 00:40:45,800 --> 00:40:46,440 Speaker 1: supposed to be. 639 00:40:46,800 --> 00:40:51,080 Speaker 3: Not anymore. I tried that. It is so stressful. 640 00:40:51,640 --> 00:40:54,160 Speaker 1: I can't afford the doctor bill or the stomach medicine 641 00:40:54,280 --> 00:40:57,040 Speaker 1: for that kind of living. I gotta build what God 642 00:40:57,280 --> 00:41:00,319 Speaker 1: put inside of me for the picture. 643 00:41:00,320 --> 00:41:10,880 Speaker 3: That he sees, and the world's my friend. Switch the picture. 644 00:41:12,120 --> 00:41:13,000 Speaker 3: Switch the picture. 645 00:41:14,080 --> 00:41:17,319 Speaker 1: Be who God called you to be, Celebrate what he 646 00:41:17,400 --> 00:41:21,080 Speaker 1: gave you. Pull everything close that you still have left, 647 00:41:21,080 --> 00:41:22,640 Speaker 1: wrap your arms around it, and make the. 648 00:41:22,600 --> 00:41:24,200 Speaker 3: Most of it. Switch the picture. 649 00:41:25,320 --> 00:41:27,239 Speaker 1: Yeah, it's going to be a different Christmas for some 650 00:41:27,400 --> 00:41:33,280 Speaker 1: of us. I understand that God pictured it all along. 651 00:41:35,280 --> 00:41:39,000 Speaker 1: You know, when Isaiah said a virgin will conceive, he 652 00:41:39,200 --> 00:41:41,640 Speaker 1: saw that hundreds of years. 653 00:41:41,360 --> 00:41:42,240 Speaker 3: Before it happened. 654 00:41:43,080 --> 00:41:47,719 Speaker 1: God was already building the picture. Forty two generations, and 655 00:41:47,760 --> 00:41:51,160 Speaker 1: God knew the picture. And if you get too tightly 656 00:41:51,239 --> 00:41:53,600 Speaker 1: zoomed into this one scene, or this one moment, or 657 00:41:53,600 --> 00:41:56,040 Speaker 1: this one struggle or this one issue, you're going to 658 00:41:56,080 --> 00:41:59,719 Speaker 1: miss the bigger picture. God knows where to put you. 659 00:42:02,480 --> 00:42:06,399 Speaker 1: He knows what he put in you, and he knows 660 00:42:06,440 --> 00:42:10,400 Speaker 1: what he wants to do through you. So take Mary 661 00:42:10,800 --> 00:42:14,200 Speaker 1: home by faith and do what the Angel of the 662 00:42:14,239 --> 00:42:16,160 Speaker 1: Lord commanded you to do. Now, what you feel or 663 00:42:16,160 --> 00:42:21,560 Speaker 1: what you thought, switch the picture. Everyone's standing. I want 664 00:42:21,560 --> 00:42:26,080 Speaker 1: to pray for people this Christmas season who need to 665 00:42:26,120 --> 00:42:35,319 Speaker 1: switch the picture. Switch the picture and put God back 666 00:42:35,360 --> 00:42:39,560 Speaker 1: in the center of the frame. Put his presence and 667 00:42:39,600 --> 00:42:44,759 Speaker 1: his joy and his peace. See, when you understand how 668 00:42:44,800 --> 00:42:46,759 Speaker 1: he came, you can understand why he came. 669 00:42:48,800 --> 00:42:51,759 Speaker 3: Please answer me, who was this message? It was just 670 00:42:51,800 --> 00:42:53,160 Speaker 3: for you. It was just for you. It was just 671 00:42:53,160 --> 00:42:54,080 Speaker 3: for you. It's just for you. 672 00:42:54,560 --> 00:42:57,399 Speaker 1: Okay, I'm gonna tell you three things about how he came. 673 00:42:58,200 --> 00:42:59,480 Speaker 3: I'll give him to you so quick. 674 00:43:00,560 --> 00:43:04,359 Speaker 1: Number one, he came through someone that everyone else thought 675 00:43:04,440 --> 00:43:08,120 Speaker 1: was insignificant. So the first word you need to know 676 00:43:08,160 --> 00:43:12,120 Speaker 1: about how he came is insignificant. He did not come 677 00:43:12,280 --> 00:43:15,360 Speaker 1: through a matriarch of royal lineage. He came through a 678 00:43:15,400 --> 00:43:18,399 Speaker 1: little girl who was so scared that when the angel came, 679 00:43:18,440 --> 00:43:20,960 Speaker 1: she said, how can this be? He came through someone 680 00:43:21,120 --> 00:43:23,200 Speaker 1: who saw no way that what God wanted to do 681 00:43:23,280 --> 00:43:25,360 Speaker 1: for the world could happen through her, And so it 682 00:43:25,400 --> 00:43:29,520 Speaker 1: has always been. I know, we get excited when an 683 00:43:29,600 --> 00:43:33,000 Speaker 1: actor or an actress, or a celebrity or a politician, 684 00:43:33,280 --> 00:43:36,360 Speaker 1: or a rock star or a rapper gets excited about Jesus. 685 00:43:36,640 --> 00:43:39,200 Speaker 1: But Christ is born in every heart that will receive 686 00:43:39,280 --> 00:43:39,920 Speaker 1: him by faith. 687 00:43:40,320 --> 00:43:41,600 Speaker 3: And God is using you. 688 00:43:42,239 --> 00:43:44,680 Speaker 1: If you are a coach, if you are a student, 689 00:43:45,920 --> 00:43:49,239 Speaker 1: if you are a businessman, you are if you are 690 00:43:49,239 --> 00:43:52,480 Speaker 1: a police officer, if you are nothing more like I'm 691 00:43:52,560 --> 00:43:56,320 Speaker 1: just to stop saying that God always chooses to use 692 00:43:56,400 --> 00:44:02,000 Speaker 1: what people deem insignificant. So there is nothing insignificant about 693 00:44:02,040 --> 00:44:07,439 Speaker 1: your pieces for your picture. That's number one. Number two, 694 00:44:07,920 --> 00:44:13,040 Speaker 1: it was impossible. It was a virgin womb because God 695 00:44:13,120 --> 00:44:17,840 Speaker 1: wanted to let you know that impossible situations are the 696 00:44:17,880 --> 00:44:22,839 Speaker 1: places where faith is born. So if that is impossible 697 00:44:22,880 --> 00:44:23,920 Speaker 1: for you, it. 698 00:44:23,960 --> 00:44:25,200 Speaker 3: Is fertile for God. 699 00:44:27,960 --> 00:44:30,480 Speaker 1: If you understand how he came through a virgin womb, 700 00:44:30,800 --> 00:44:32,680 Speaker 1: he didn't have to do that but he wanted you 701 00:44:32,719 --> 00:44:35,520 Speaker 1: to know if you are facing something where you don't 702 00:44:35,560 --> 00:44:40,120 Speaker 1: see away, if you don't see it, but he spoke it, 703 00:44:40,719 --> 00:44:44,640 Speaker 1: and you will believe it by faith, it will come 704 00:44:44,920 --> 00:44:49,920 Speaker 1: to pass. That's how he came. He came for impossible situations, 705 00:44:50,360 --> 00:44:58,439 Speaker 1: broken hearts, broken homes, broken lives. But what I love 706 00:44:58,520 --> 00:45:03,759 Speaker 1: the most, what I love the very most, is that 707 00:45:03,840 --> 00:45:11,880 Speaker 1: it was intimate. He came in the most intimate way. 708 00:45:12,400 --> 00:45:16,520 Speaker 1: He was born of a virgin, and he comes into 709 00:45:16,560 --> 00:45:20,360 Speaker 1: your heart when you receive him by faith. He longs 710 00:45:20,360 --> 00:45:25,239 Speaker 1: to be personal with you this season. But if you 711 00:45:25,280 --> 00:45:29,880 Speaker 1: get somebody else's picture and try to put something together 712 00:45:29,920 --> 00:45:34,080 Speaker 1: that's not in you, you will miss his presence. He 713 00:45:34,120 --> 00:45:37,799 Speaker 1: wants to speak to you, use you, bless you, help you. 714 00:45:38,920 --> 00:45:44,040 Speaker 1: This is personal, This is intimate. God of all grace, 715 00:45:44,080 --> 00:45:46,080 Speaker 1: God of all comfort. I have delivered your word to 716 00:45:46,120 --> 00:45:48,640 Speaker 1: the best of my ability with your help, and I 717 00:45:48,680 --> 00:45:50,760 Speaker 1: thank you for what you spoke in this place today. 718 00:45:51,800 --> 00:45:54,839 Speaker 1: Your word is good seed. I pray that it falls 719 00:45:54,880 --> 00:45:58,480 Speaker 1: upon good soil. Today. I pray for those today who 720 00:45:58,560 --> 00:46:02,400 Speaker 1: are living in a picture that they never planned for. 721 00:46:03,640 --> 00:46:07,280 Speaker 1: I think we all are. We're all moving through this life. 722 00:46:09,080 --> 00:46:12,480 Speaker 1: We saw it one way, and now we are experiencing 723 00:46:12,520 --> 00:46:18,920 Speaker 1: it another. And yet you are here, always, here, still, Emmanuel, 724 00:46:19,040 --> 00:46:23,080 Speaker 1: still with us, still for us, A good father, a 725 00:46:23,160 --> 00:46:29,440 Speaker 1: faithful friend, wonderful counselor Mighty God, everlasting Father, the Prince 726 00:46:29,480 --> 00:46:37,440 Speaker 1: of Peace. Lift your hands. I receive your peace. God, 727 00:46:39,840 --> 00:46:46,520 Speaker 1: I receive your assurance. I receive your presence in this 728 00:46:46,640 --> 00:46:50,640 Speaker 1: season of my life. You are my king. 729 00:46:52,000 --> 00:46:53,120 Speaker 3: Thank you for joining us. 730 00:46:53,440 --> 00:46:55,880 Speaker 1: Special thanks to those of you who give generously to 731 00:46:55,960 --> 00:46:56,680 Speaker 1: this ministry. 732 00:46:57,040 --> 00:46:59,440 Speaker 3: Is because of you that this ministry is possible. 733 00:46:59,840 --> 00:47:02,080 Speaker 1: You can click the link in the description to give 734 00:47:02,160 --> 00:47:06,279 Speaker 1: now or visit Elevationchurch dot org slash podcast for more 735 00:47:06,360 --> 00:47:10,000 Speaker 1: information and if you enjoyed the podcast, you can subscribe. 736 00:47:10,440 --> 00:47:12,480 Speaker 1: You can share it with your friends. You can click 737 00:47:12,520 --> 00:47:14,759 Speaker 1: the share button, take a screenshot and share it on 738 00:47:14,800 --> 00:47:17,640 Speaker 1: your social stories and tag us at Elevation Church. Thanks 739 00:47:17,680 --> 00:47:24,040 Speaker 1: again for listening. God bless you.