1
00:00:04,960 --> 00:00:06,200
Speaker 1: Hey, this is Stephen Ferdick.

2
00:00:06,240 --> 00:00:09,240
Speaker 2: I'm the pastor of Elevation Church and this is our podcast.

3
00:00:09,440 --> 00:00:11,600
Speaker 3: Be sure to subscribe so we can get you these

4
00:00:11,640 --> 00:00:16,600
Speaker 3: new sermons every week. I hope you're blessed today.

5
00:00:20,560 --> 00:00:22,640
Speaker 2: We're about to go into week two of our new

6
00:00:22,680 --> 00:00:31,040
Speaker 2: sermons series. Everybody got something for you today. Welcome to

7
00:00:31,080 --> 00:00:33,959
Speaker 2: all of our campuses, Welcome to our epam watching all

8
00:00:34,000 --> 00:00:36,320
Speaker 2: over the world. I want to take a moment and

9
00:00:36,360 --> 00:00:37,960
Speaker 2: greet you to let you know that there is no

10
00:00:38,040 --> 00:00:41,960
Speaker 2: distance in the spirit, that wherever you are, the Lord is,

11
00:00:42,000 --> 00:00:44,839
Speaker 2: and where the spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.

12
00:00:45,159 --> 00:00:47,080
Speaker 2: So I pray that today you might feel free to

13
00:00:47,280 --> 00:00:51,479
Speaker 2: worship God, that you could just have a distraction free environment,

14
00:00:51,720 --> 00:00:54,240
Speaker 2: just to come before Him today and hear from him.

15
00:00:54,240 --> 00:00:55,960
Speaker 2: How many are glad that you made it to the

16
00:00:56,000 --> 00:00:57,880
Speaker 2: House of the Lord another day?

17
00:00:58,800 --> 00:00:59,400
Speaker 4: Raise the Lord.

18
00:01:03,920 --> 00:01:07,760
Speaker 2: So many beautiful faces, so many wonderful stories and testimonies.

19
00:01:08,600 --> 00:01:12,319
Speaker 1: Just look around this room for a moment. Just look

20
00:01:12,319 --> 00:01:16,920
Speaker 1: around the room. I said, everybody that you're looking.

21
00:01:16,680 --> 00:01:18,400
Speaker 2: At today they had a time in their life where

22
00:01:18,400 --> 00:01:20,800
Speaker 2: they didn't think they'd make it, but they did.

23
00:01:22,280 --> 00:01:24,280
Speaker 1: Would you just touch your neighbor real quick, Just touch

24
00:01:24,319 --> 00:01:24,679
Speaker 1: them real.

25
00:01:24,640 --> 00:01:26,200
Speaker 2: Quick and say I just wanted to see what a

26
00:01:26,240 --> 00:01:27,240
Speaker 2: miracle feels like.

27
00:01:30,560 --> 00:01:32,800
Speaker 1: Come on, tell your neighbor you look like a miracle.

28
00:01:35,280 --> 00:01:36,160
Speaker 1: Turn to your other.

29
00:01:35,959 --> 00:01:42,640
Speaker 2: Neighbors, say you look like you need a miracle. Tell

30
00:01:42,680 --> 00:01:44,800
Speaker 2: them it's a good thing you're sitting next to me,

31
00:01:46,400 --> 00:01:49,480
Speaker 2: because when I start singing, prison doors fly open.

32
00:01:50,640 --> 00:01:53,560
Speaker 5: When I start phraising, let me test my microphone.

33
00:01:53,960 --> 00:01:58,000
Speaker 6: When I say Holly, you say. When I say God

34
00:01:58,160 --> 00:02:02,720
Speaker 6: is good, you say, And all the time when I

35
00:02:02,800 --> 00:02:08,000
Speaker 6: say thank you, you say, Jesus, we came to see

36
00:02:08,360 --> 00:02:11,680
Speaker 6: King Jesus.

37
00:02:13,960 --> 00:02:16,440
Speaker 2: Now, your outfit looks beautiful, but I didn't come to

38
00:02:16,480 --> 00:02:22,480
Speaker 2: see your outfit. I came to see King Jesus. Your

39
00:02:22,480 --> 00:02:24,839
Speaker 2: hair is pretty, I can tell you got it cut

40
00:02:24,880 --> 00:02:25,280
Speaker 2: in color.

41
00:02:25,680 --> 00:02:27,280
Speaker 1: But I didn't come to see your hair.

42
00:02:27,680 --> 00:02:31,000
Speaker 2: I came to see King Jesus.

43
00:02:31,639 --> 00:02:34,200
Speaker 1: I like your jeans, whether they're baggy or skinny. I

44
00:02:34,200 --> 00:02:34,960
Speaker 1: think you're wearing them.

45
00:02:35,000 --> 00:02:37,760
Speaker 2: Well, I didn't come to see your skinny jeans or

46
00:02:37,800 --> 00:02:43,120
Speaker 2: your fat jeans. I came to see King Jesus. So

47
00:02:43,280 --> 00:02:46,320
Speaker 2: let's take a moment and put all the attention on him.

48
00:02:46,880 --> 00:02:49,520
Speaker 2: Come on, come on, come on, come on. I came

49
00:02:49,560 --> 00:02:53,320
Speaker 2: to see him high and lift it up and shine

50
00:02:53,360 --> 00:02:55,960
Speaker 2: it in the light of his glory, and the train

51
00:02:56,080 --> 00:02:59,960
Speaker 2: of his room filled the temple. I saw the Lord

52
00:03:00,440 --> 00:03:09,399
Speaker 2: set it on a roll see the King. Today, we're

53
00:03:09,440 --> 00:03:13,040
Speaker 2: going to go right back to John chapter one. I've

54
00:03:13,040 --> 00:03:15,400
Speaker 2: got a special message to share with you today from

55
00:03:15,480 --> 00:03:19,560
Speaker 2: the Lord's heart in John chapter one. It is so

56
00:03:19,720 --> 00:03:23,200
Speaker 2: funny to me how I outline all of my message

57
00:03:23,240 --> 00:03:27,519
Speaker 2: series for nothing. I was going to move to John

58
00:03:27,600 --> 00:03:30,480
Speaker 2: chapter two this week, but the Lord directed me to

59
00:03:30,520 --> 00:03:33,440
Speaker 2: stay in chapter one, and I think I know why,

60
00:03:33,480 --> 00:03:37,400
Speaker 2: as he has been speaking to me during worship. This

61
00:03:37,480 --> 00:03:42,040
Speaker 2: message will be something you can talk about at home.

62
00:03:42,080 --> 00:03:42,440
Speaker 1: All right.

63
00:03:43,360 --> 00:03:45,240
Speaker 2: I'm going to give you some stuff today that you

64
00:03:45,280 --> 00:03:47,320
Speaker 2: will need to unpack with some friends. So if you're

65
00:03:47,320 --> 00:03:49,680
Speaker 2: not a part of an e group in the church,

66
00:03:50,280 --> 00:03:51,480
Speaker 2: we don't charge for it.

67
00:03:51,520 --> 00:03:52,640
Speaker 1: So what's your excuse?

68
00:03:53,920 --> 00:03:56,440
Speaker 2: What is your excuse for not getting together with these

69
00:03:56,480 --> 00:03:59,920
Speaker 2: wonderful people who'll get together and discuss the Word of God.

70
00:04:00,560 --> 00:04:02,600
Speaker 2: But at the very least, today, I believe the Lord

71
00:04:02,680 --> 00:04:05,200
Speaker 2: is going to give you something to meditate on. And

72
00:04:05,240 --> 00:04:07,400
Speaker 2: I want to start in verse thirty five.

73
00:04:08,720 --> 00:04:13,320
Speaker 4: A little bit before where I read yesterday, Jesus Christ

74
00:04:13,400 --> 00:04:18,880
Speaker 4: is collecting his first five followers, and the Bible says

75
00:04:19,600 --> 00:04:25,120
Speaker 4: the next day, John was standing with two of his disciples,

76
00:04:26,000 --> 00:04:31,400
Speaker 4: and he looked at Jesus as he walked by and said,

77
00:04:31,480 --> 00:04:34,560
Speaker 4: behold the Lamb of God.

78
00:04:34,680 --> 00:04:35,320
Speaker 7: I love that.

79
00:04:36,560 --> 00:04:38,880
Speaker 2: A lot of people saw Jesus walk by, but John

80
00:04:38,920 --> 00:04:40,359
Speaker 2: recognized who he really was.

81
00:04:41,800 --> 00:04:44,760
Speaker 1: You know, Jesus is walking up and down these isles.

82
00:04:44,320 --> 00:04:47,719
Speaker 2: Today waiting for somebody to recognize him for who he is.

83
00:04:48,839 --> 00:04:51,479
Speaker 2: Jesus is walking up and down these isles today looking

84
00:04:51,520 --> 00:04:53,720
Speaker 2: for somebody to be honest enough to say, I need

85
00:04:53,760 --> 00:04:56,440
Speaker 2: your help, Lord, I can't do this on my own.

86
00:04:56,440 --> 00:04:57,880
Speaker 1: God, I'm exhausted today.

87
00:04:58,160 --> 00:05:00,159
Speaker 2: Did you know Jesus is looking for a head to

88
00:05:00,200 --> 00:05:03,599
Speaker 2: live today. Jesus is looking for somebody today who will say,

89
00:05:03,640 --> 00:05:05,560
Speaker 2: come home with me, Lord, I need you to get

90
00:05:05,560 --> 00:05:07,039
Speaker 2: in the car with me. I need you to help

91
00:05:07,080 --> 00:05:09,640
Speaker 2: me to deal with this situation in my house. I

92
00:05:09,680 --> 00:05:11,599
Speaker 2: got a lot of strife, I got a lot of friction.

93
00:05:11,920 --> 00:05:15,640
Speaker 2: I'm not even sure if we can make it. John said, look,

94
00:05:16,440 --> 00:05:19,440
Speaker 2: behold the Lamb of God.

95
00:05:19,240 --> 00:05:19,839
Speaker 1: And I watch this.

96
00:05:20,640 --> 00:05:25,360
Speaker 2: The two disciples, his two disciples, John the Baptist two

97
00:05:25,360 --> 00:05:27,200
Speaker 2: disciples heard him.

98
00:05:27,080 --> 00:05:30,440
Speaker 1: Say this, and they followed Jesus.

99
00:05:31,480 --> 00:05:36,080
Speaker 2: Jesus turned and saw them following, and said to them,

100
00:05:36,920 --> 00:05:40,360
Speaker 2: what are you seeking? Like I say to my kids

101
00:05:40,400 --> 00:05:41,960
Speaker 2: when they're being nice to me, What do you want?

102
00:05:43,520 --> 00:05:45,320
Speaker 2: You didn't come in here just to give me a kiss.

103
00:05:45,360 --> 00:05:46,760
Speaker 1: I know better. What do you want?

104
00:05:48,160 --> 00:05:52,960
Speaker 2: And they said to him, Rabbi parenthetically, which means teacher,

105
00:05:53,560 --> 00:05:54,760
Speaker 2: where are you staying?

106
00:05:56,400 --> 00:05:57,920
Speaker 1: He said to them, come and you will see.

107
00:05:57,960 --> 00:06:00,800
Speaker 2: So they came and saw where he was staying, and

108
00:06:00,839 --> 00:06:07,039
Speaker 2: they stayed with him that day. And they stayed with

109
00:06:07,200 --> 00:06:09,280
Speaker 2: him that day, for it.

110
00:06:09,320 --> 00:06:11,080
Speaker 1: Was about the tenth hour.

111
00:06:12,000 --> 00:06:14,080
Speaker 2: One of the two who heard John speak and follow

112
00:06:14,160 --> 00:06:18,880
Speaker 2: Jesus was Andrew Simon, Peter's brother. He first found his

113
00:06:18,960 --> 00:06:22,200
Speaker 2: own brother, Simon and said to him, we have found

114
00:06:22,200 --> 00:06:27,040
Speaker 2: the Messiah parenthetically, which means Christ. He brought him to Jesus.

115
00:06:28,120 --> 00:06:31,320
Speaker 2: Jesus looked at him. Now, a lot of people looked

116
00:06:31,320 --> 00:06:34,240
Speaker 2: at Simon, but they didn't see him for who he was.

117
00:06:35,440 --> 00:06:37,520
Speaker 1: Y'all are slow today, Remember a.

118
00:06:37,440 --> 00:06:39,640
Speaker 2: Lot of people looked at Jesus, didn't see him for

119
00:06:39,640 --> 00:06:42,720
Speaker 2: who he was, a lot of people looked at Simon.

120
00:06:42,360 --> 00:06:44,320
Speaker 1: And didn't see him for who he was.

121
00:06:44,440 --> 00:06:47,680
Speaker 2: But Jesus looked at Simon and said you are Simon,

122
00:06:47,760 --> 00:06:51,800
Speaker 2: the son of John. You shall be called Cephiss, which

123
00:06:51,880 --> 00:06:55,400
Speaker 2: means Peter. I want to talk to you today about

124
00:06:55,440 --> 00:06:58,840
Speaker 2: something very important. The title of this message is Faith

125
00:07:00,120 --> 00:07:05,520
Speaker 2: to Stay, Faith to Stay.

126
00:07:05,839 --> 00:07:06,080
Speaker 1: Father.

127
00:07:06,120 --> 00:07:07,719
Speaker 2: I honor you and I bless you in advance for

128
00:07:07,760 --> 00:07:09,720
Speaker 2: the way that your word will speak and the testimonies

129
00:07:09,720 --> 00:07:11,160
Speaker 2: I will receive as it goes forth.

130
00:07:11,160 --> 00:07:12,560
Speaker 1: Your word does not return void.

131
00:07:12,720 --> 00:07:14,760
Speaker 2: It accomplishes the purpose which you sent it to do.

132
00:07:15,240 --> 00:07:18,040
Speaker 2: I thank you that not one drop will be wasted today,

133
00:07:18,400 --> 00:07:20,320
Speaker 2: that it will water the soil of what you've already

134
00:07:20,360 --> 00:07:22,960
Speaker 2: been doing in this person's life, and that it will

135
00:07:22,960 --> 00:07:25,520
Speaker 2: bring forth through it an abundant harvest in your time.

136
00:07:25,880 --> 00:07:29,080
Speaker 2: We thank you, and we trust you in Jesus' name. Amen,

137
00:07:29,400 --> 00:07:30,280
Speaker 2: you may be seated.

138
00:07:31,760 --> 00:07:37,520
Speaker 1: Did you enjoy last week's message? Amen? If you missed it,

139
00:07:37,560 --> 00:07:39,480
Speaker 1: go get it online. It's all there.

140
00:07:39,520 --> 00:07:41,320
Speaker 2: I'm not sure if it was the same online. It

141
00:07:41,400 --> 00:07:47,440
Speaker 2: was good in the room. It was good in the

142
00:07:47,520 --> 00:07:51,040
Speaker 2: room to where sometimes you got to be there. You know,

143
00:07:51,080 --> 00:07:52,760
Speaker 2: you got to be in the room, the room where

144
00:07:52,800 --> 00:07:56,040
Speaker 2: it happens. Good job coming to church today. If you

145
00:07:56,080 --> 00:07:58,160
Speaker 2: didn't make it today because you couldn't that's all right

146
00:07:58,400 --> 00:07:59,080
Speaker 2: if you didn't make it.

147
00:07:59,080 --> 00:08:00,000
Speaker 1: Because you didn't, you need.

148
00:07:59,920 --> 00:08:04,320
Speaker 2: To get here sometime, come and see what the Lord

149
00:08:04,760 --> 00:08:08,000
Speaker 2: will do. And I think right here in John chapter

150
00:08:08,040 --> 00:08:12,520
Speaker 2: one are two of the most important questions that adorn

151
00:08:12,600 --> 00:08:15,480
Speaker 2: the entire Holy writ In other words, some of the

152
00:08:15,480 --> 00:08:17,760
Speaker 2: most important things in the Bible get said right here

153
00:08:17,760 --> 00:08:20,760
Speaker 2: in John chapter one. I'm gonna break them down for you,

154
00:08:20,800 --> 00:08:21,560
Speaker 2: one by one, and.

155
00:08:21,480 --> 00:08:25,160
Speaker 1: Then we'll go get some lunch if you're so inclined.

156
00:08:26,440 --> 00:08:28,760
Speaker 2: But the first thing is the thing that Jesus asks,

157
00:08:28,760 --> 00:08:32,080
Speaker 2: and the second thing is the question that these two

158
00:08:32,160 --> 00:08:37,040
Speaker 2: disciples give Jesus in response to his question. I'll pull

159
00:08:37,080 --> 00:08:39,920
Speaker 2: your attention back to the screens for just a moment

160
00:08:41,160 --> 00:08:44,640
Speaker 2: where Jesus turned around and asked his disciples, his soon

161
00:08:44,679 --> 00:08:46,840
Speaker 2: to be disciples, who were just following him for the

162
00:08:46,880 --> 00:08:49,360
Speaker 2: first time, what are you seeking?

163
00:08:50,880 --> 00:08:53,200
Speaker 1: And then when they asked him back a question, they said,

164
00:08:53,200 --> 00:08:54,120
Speaker 1: where are you staying?

165
00:08:55,800 --> 00:08:59,719
Speaker 2: Those two questions will form the skeleton of my sermon today.

166
00:09:00,240 --> 00:09:02,640
Speaker 2: The first one is about the most important question that

167
00:09:03,320 --> 00:09:07,640
Speaker 2: you can ever answer correctly, what are you seeking? The

168
00:09:07,679 --> 00:09:10,520
Speaker 2: first question that Jesus asked wasn't do you believe in me?

169
00:09:11,400 --> 00:09:15,040
Speaker 2: The first question Jesus asked wasn't will you follow me?

170
00:09:16,040 --> 00:09:19,400
Speaker 2: The first question that Jesus asked in John's Gospel is

171
00:09:19,960 --> 00:09:23,800
Speaker 2: what are you seeking? And I found out the reason

172
00:09:23,840 --> 00:09:27,080
Speaker 2: that question is so important is that because whatever you

173
00:09:27,200 --> 00:09:33,480
Speaker 2: answer that question with is exactly what you're going to find.

174
00:09:33,679 --> 00:09:37,480
Speaker 2: One of Jesus's most popular teachings goes like this, seek

175
00:09:38,200 --> 00:09:41,720
Speaker 2: and you will find. He was talking about the Kingdom

176
00:09:41,760 --> 00:09:44,199
Speaker 2: of heaven. But did you know that seek and you

177
00:09:44,280 --> 00:09:46,559
Speaker 2: will find is not only true of the kingdom, it's

178
00:09:46,600 --> 00:09:52,400
Speaker 2: also true of complaining. If you seek something to complain about,

179
00:09:53,720 --> 00:09:57,160
Speaker 2: you'll find it. If you seek something wrong with my

180
00:09:57,240 --> 00:10:01,760
Speaker 2: outfit today, you'll find it. I tried to iron it,

181
00:10:01,840 --> 00:10:03,000
Speaker 2: I tried to smooth it out.

182
00:10:03,040 --> 00:10:04,280
Speaker 1: I tried to make sure it fit.

183
00:10:04,360 --> 00:10:06,560
Speaker 2: But I'm sure for somebody is too tight, for somebody

184
00:10:06,640 --> 00:10:09,760
Speaker 2: else's too baggy. If you seek something wrong with what

185
00:10:09,840 --> 00:10:13,040
Speaker 2: I'm wearing, you'll find it. If you seek something that

186
00:10:13,080 --> 00:10:15,360
Speaker 2: I say today that makes no sense, you'll find it.

187
00:10:16,320 --> 00:10:18,400
Speaker 2: Somebody was recently telling me about a part in my

188
00:10:18,440 --> 00:10:20,520
Speaker 2: sermon that they didn't understand. I said, that's the only

189
00:10:20,559 --> 00:10:22,280
Speaker 2: part you didn't understand. I can give you three more.

190
00:10:22,320 --> 00:10:24,040
Speaker 2: I didn't understand, and I'm the one who said it.

191
00:10:24,559 --> 00:10:27,080
Speaker 2: If you seek something that you don't understand in this sermon,

192
00:10:27,120 --> 00:10:30,360
Speaker 2: you'll find it. But if you seek something that you

193
00:10:30,400 --> 00:10:35,120
Speaker 2: do understand, that you don't want to do, but you

194
00:10:35,240 --> 00:10:40,040
Speaker 2: understand it almost so well that you focus on something

195
00:10:40,040 --> 00:10:42,160
Speaker 2: that you don't understand to avoid having to do something

196
00:10:42,200 --> 00:10:45,680
Speaker 2: that you do understand, you can find something in this

197
00:10:45,760 --> 00:10:46,880
Speaker 2: sermon that will point.

198
00:10:46,760 --> 00:10:50,080
Speaker 1: Right to the situation that you're dealing with. What are

199
00:10:50,080 --> 00:10:50,720
Speaker 1: you seeking?

200
00:10:51,559 --> 00:10:55,199
Speaker 2: I've often taught in marriage two of the most important

201
00:10:55,280 --> 00:11:01,360
Speaker 2: tools are the magnifying glass and the mirror. I didn't

202
00:11:01,360 --> 00:11:03,600
Speaker 2: bring a mirror, but I did ask them to get

203
00:11:03,600 --> 00:11:06,880
Speaker 2: me a magnifying glass today, and I'm not going to

204
00:11:07,000 --> 00:11:07,600
Speaker 2: use it much.

205
00:11:07,679 --> 00:11:10,160
Speaker 1: But just how in marriage, if you.

206
00:11:10,160 --> 00:11:14,240
Speaker 2: Look for something to be offended about, you find it.

207
00:11:15,760 --> 00:11:18,079
Speaker 2: If you look for something that your partner doesn't have

208
00:11:18,200 --> 00:11:21,360
Speaker 2: that you wish they had, you'll find it. If you

209
00:11:21,440 --> 00:11:24,360
Speaker 2: look for something that they didn't reciprocate or something that

210
00:11:24,400 --> 00:11:26,240
Speaker 2: they didn't appreciate, you'll find it.

211
00:11:27,160 --> 00:11:28,520
Speaker 1: Some of you found a few of them on the

212
00:11:28,520 --> 00:11:28,760
Speaker 1: way to.

213
00:11:28,800 --> 00:11:31,760
Speaker 2: Church today, just a few things to be frustrated about.

214
00:11:32,800 --> 00:11:34,600
Speaker 2: You know, if Holly wanted to turn this on me.

215
00:11:34,720 --> 00:11:37,560
Speaker 2: I'm so thankful that she doesn't. There's all kinds of

216
00:11:37,600 --> 00:11:40,160
Speaker 2: reasons that she could find not to be on this

217
00:11:40,240 --> 00:11:40,760
Speaker 2: front row.

218
00:11:41,880 --> 00:11:44,280
Speaker 1: But when she sits and listens to me preach every.

219
00:11:44,040 --> 00:11:46,440
Speaker 2: Week with her notebook open, it's not because she's married

220
00:11:46,440 --> 00:11:49,800
Speaker 2: to a perfect man. It's because she's made a decision

221
00:11:49,840 --> 00:11:52,920
Speaker 2: to have a perspective that, in spite of all the

222
00:11:52,960 --> 00:11:56,240
Speaker 2: faults she could find in me, she can also see

223
00:11:56,240 --> 00:11:59,120
Speaker 2: something so beautiful that comes through a vessel that she

224
00:11:59,200 --> 00:12:03,800
Speaker 2: knows is so flawed. God, can you find something that

225
00:12:03,920 --> 00:12:07,720
Speaker 2: is beautiful in a vessel that is flaw The Bible

226
00:12:07,760 --> 00:12:10,080
Speaker 2: says we have this treasure in earthen vessels so that

227
00:12:10,160 --> 00:12:13,040
Speaker 2: the power of the excellency might be of God and

228
00:12:13,120 --> 00:12:15,800
Speaker 2: not of us. It means God puts it in a

229
00:12:15,840 --> 00:12:18,680
Speaker 2: cracked clay pot so that what's inside gets more attention

230
00:12:18,760 --> 00:12:21,800
Speaker 2: than what's on the outside. And I wanted to remind

231
00:12:21,840 --> 00:12:25,400
Speaker 2: you as we begin this sermon today, to focus a

232
00:12:25,440 --> 00:12:28,280
Speaker 2: little bit more on the favor that is in your

233
00:12:28,320 --> 00:12:32,640
Speaker 2: life than the flaws that are in your life. And

234
00:12:32,679 --> 00:12:34,720
Speaker 2: I wanted to remind you of that about this church,

235
00:12:34,800 --> 00:12:37,880
Speaker 2: because the favor of God is on this church I said,

236
00:12:37,880 --> 00:12:39,640
Speaker 2: the favor of God is on this church.

237
00:12:40,280 --> 00:12:41,760
Speaker 5: I don't know if you feel that way, but I

238
00:12:41,800 --> 00:12:42,400
Speaker 5: feel that way.

239
00:12:42,440 --> 00:12:44,280
Speaker 1: The favor of God is on this church.

240
00:12:44,880 --> 00:12:47,960
Speaker 2: Not a week goes by hundreds of people getting saved

241
00:12:48,000 --> 00:12:50,320
Speaker 2: every single week. Not a week goes by that at

242
00:12:50,400 --> 00:12:52,520
Speaker 2: least one hundred people aren't saved in this church.

243
00:12:52,600 --> 00:12:54,559
Speaker 1: The favor of God is on this church.

244
00:12:55,240 --> 00:12:57,559
Speaker 2: When we have a small baptism in this church, it's

245
00:12:57,600 --> 00:13:02,160
Speaker 2: three hundred people getting baptized, little tiny baptism at Elevation Church.

246
00:13:02,400 --> 00:13:05,760
Speaker 1: The favor of God is on this church. The favor

247
00:13:05,800 --> 00:13:07,000
Speaker 1: of God is on this church.

248
00:13:07,040 --> 00:13:09,200
Speaker 2: You know how I can tell all kinds of different

249
00:13:09,240 --> 00:13:13,000
Speaker 2: people worship God in this church. Millionaires worship God in

250
00:13:13,040 --> 00:13:16,200
Speaker 2: this church, right next to people making minimum wage. The

251
00:13:16,200 --> 00:13:19,199
Speaker 2: favor of God is on this church. We worship the

252
00:13:19,280 --> 00:13:21,840
Speaker 2: name of Jesus. We celebrate the name of Jesus. We

253
00:13:21,880 --> 00:13:24,480
Speaker 2: are not the same, but we worship the name that

254
00:13:24,600 --> 00:13:27,839
Speaker 2: makes what we have in common way more important than

255
00:13:27,880 --> 00:13:31,000
Speaker 2: what we have. This controversial or divis sit The favor

256
00:13:31,040 --> 00:13:33,280
Speaker 2: of God is on this church, and if you want

257
00:13:33,280 --> 00:13:34,520
Speaker 2: to see it, you can find it.

258
00:13:34,880 --> 00:13:35,960
Speaker 1: On the other hand, if.

259
00:13:35,880 --> 00:13:37,760
Speaker 2: You want to find a reason not to come back

260
00:13:37,760 --> 00:13:40,959
Speaker 2: next Sunday. You could probably find one in the parking lot.

261
00:13:41,200 --> 00:13:43,880
Speaker 2: You could probably find a driver with an elevation sticker

262
00:13:43,920 --> 00:13:45,880
Speaker 2: on their car who looks like they need to go

263
00:13:45,960 --> 00:13:48,640
Speaker 2: back to driver's ed and they're forty three years old.

264
00:13:48,880 --> 00:13:51,160
Speaker 2: You could probably find a reason to flip somebody the

265
00:13:51,200 --> 00:13:53,200
Speaker 2: bird when you leave here, or you can find a

266
00:13:53,240 --> 00:13:55,240
Speaker 2: reason to lift your hands and say thank you Lord

267
00:13:55,280 --> 00:13:55,760
Speaker 2: for the word.

268
00:13:55,960 --> 00:13:58,480
Speaker 1: And I don't mind waiting in traffic. I'm just trying

269
00:13:58,520 --> 00:14:00,960
Speaker 1: to say, what are you saying? Seeking is not a

270
00:14:01,040 --> 00:14:03,520
Speaker 1: question to be skipped over. It is so.

271
00:14:03,600 --> 00:14:06,240
Speaker 2: Important what you attune your mind to. It is so

272
00:14:06,320 --> 00:14:08,760
Speaker 2: important that you look for Where is God working in

273
00:14:08,800 --> 00:14:12,120
Speaker 2: this situation. I know you're in the hospital. God is

274
00:14:12,160 --> 00:14:15,120
Speaker 2: in the hospital. I know you're in rehab. God is

275
00:14:15,160 --> 00:14:18,439
Speaker 2: in rehab. I know you're in trouble. God is in trouble.

276
00:14:18,600 --> 00:14:21,240
Speaker 2: I know you're depressed. God is in the lowly, in

277
00:14:21,280 --> 00:14:24,000
Speaker 2: the contrite heart. I know you're going through a divorce.

278
00:14:24,280 --> 00:14:25,840
Speaker 2: God is with you while you lay your head on

279
00:14:25,880 --> 00:14:27,760
Speaker 2: your pillow alone at night. I know you're in the

280
00:14:27,800 --> 00:14:30,680
Speaker 2: middle of a custody battle. God is helping raise your kids.

281
00:14:30,720 --> 00:14:32,840
Speaker 2: You're not a single parent at this moment, you are

282
00:14:32,880 --> 00:14:36,280
Speaker 2: a parent in co parenting relationship with the creator of

283
00:14:36,320 --> 00:14:37,040
Speaker 2: the universe.

284
00:14:37,280 --> 00:14:38,840
Speaker 5: Because if I seek, I can find.

285
00:14:39,120 --> 00:14:41,000
Speaker 2: But if I look for a reason to believe that

286
00:14:41,040 --> 00:14:43,160
Speaker 2: God is not with me, I could get one of

287
00:14:43,200 --> 00:14:46,240
Speaker 2: those two. I could collect evidence for either verdict.

288
00:14:46,280 --> 00:14:47,080
Speaker 1: In my life.

289
00:14:47,200 --> 00:14:49,080
Speaker 2: I could either make up my mind that my best

290
00:14:49,160 --> 00:14:51,600
Speaker 2: days are behind me, and I could collect evidence to

291
00:14:51,680 --> 00:14:53,880
Speaker 2: prove that my best days are behind me, and I

292
00:14:53,880 --> 00:14:56,120
Speaker 2: could point to the stiffness in my joints and the

293
00:14:56,160 --> 00:14:58,760
Speaker 2: grayness in my beard and the lack of energy in my.

294
00:14:58,760 --> 00:15:00,520
Speaker 1: Life and the people who have left me.

295
00:15:00,960 --> 00:15:02,520
Speaker 2: Or I could turn around and look at all the

296
00:15:02,520 --> 00:15:04,400
Speaker 2: people who didn't leave me, and all.

297
00:15:04,320 --> 00:15:06,840
Speaker 1: The strength I still do have left, and.

298
00:15:06,880 --> 00:15:08,920
Speaker 2: All of the ability that God gave me that did

299
00:15:09,000 --> 00:15:11,360
Speaker 2: not diminish, and all of the wisdom that I have

300
00:15:11,480 --> 00:15:14,280
Speaker 2: gained from the valleys that I have traversed through.

301
00:15:14,640 --> 00:15:17,720
Speaker 5: The Lord is with me, Joseph said, The Lord is

302
00:15:17,800 --> 00:15:19,360
Speaker 5: with me. How do you know that?

303
00:15:19,400 --> 00:15:21,920
Speaker 1: In the prison? Because I looked for him in the prison.

304
00:15:22,280 --> 00:15:25,400
Speaker 2: I got out my magnifying glass. I decided I was

305
00:15:25,480 --> 00:15:30,200
Speaker 2: gonna search in every nook and cranny until I found Jesus. Now,

306
00:15:30,280 --> 00:15:33,600
Speaker 2: the good news about Jesus that I told you this

307
00:15:33,680 --> 00:15:36,760
Speaker 2: week is that he doesn't look like something you can

308
00:15:36,760 --> 00:15:39,560
Speaker 2: fit in your pocket. The Bible says in the beginning,

309
00:15:39,600 --> 00:15:42,120
Speaker 2: what's the word? You won't be needing this to look

310
00:15:42,160 --> 00:15:45,560
Speaker 2: for Jesus. You just be needing this. You'll only be

311
00:15:45,680 --> 00:15:49,160
Speaker 2: needing this. All you gotta do is say, show me Jesus.

312
00:15:49,480 --> 00:15:52,200
Speaker 2: I need to see you in my situation. I need

313
00:15:52,200 --> 00:15:54,360
Speaker 2: to see you in my life. I need to see

314
00:15:54,440 --> 00:15:57,200
Speaker 2: don't be offended. I threw Jesus down. He's high and

315
00:15:57,280 --> 00:15:59,440
Speaker 2: lifted up. He ain't going nowhere.

316
00:16:00,000 --> 00:16:01,120
Speaker 1: You can't let him down.

317
00:16:01,520 --> 00:16:03,800
Speaker 5: You were never holding him up. I feel like preaching.

318
00:16:04,240 --> 00:16:10,000
Speaker 2: I came to see as anybody.

319
00:16:12,240 --> 00:16:13,840
Speaker 1: Ask your neighbor what you're looking for?

320
00:16:15,560 --> 00:16:18,440
Speaker 5: Yeah, because if you look for a reason to be miserable,

321
00:16:18,640 --> 00:16:19,880
Speaker 5: I'll help you find five.

322
00:16:20,160 --> 00:16:23,000
Speaker 2: I'll give you some addendums, I'll give you some footnotes.

323
00:16:23,240 --> 00:16:25,240
Speaker 2: If you want a reason to think that the world

324
00:16:25,320 --> 00:16:28,160
Speaker 2: is a dumpster fire, I'll give you a reason to think.

325
00:16:28,000 --> 00:16:29,480
Speaker 5: That the world is a dumpster fire.

326
00:16:29,760 --> 00:16:32,320
Speaker 2: But if you change your feed, you'll change your focus

327
00:16:32,680 --> 00:16:35,760
Speaker 2: and you will see there is a favor of God.

328
00:16:41,160 --> 00:16:44,120
Speaker 2: Look the lamb of God. When John said that the

329
00:16:44,160 --> 00:16:46,960
Speaker 2: world was not perfect. When John said that.

330
00:16:47,040 --> 00:16:51,280
Speaker 5: Justice was not established for Israel, he was pointing to

331
00:16:51,400 --> 00:16:52,840
Speaker 5: the lamb of.

332
00:16:52,800 --> 00:16:56,240
Speaker 2: God and recognizing him as the king of kings.

333
00:16:58,160 --> 00:17:00,000
Speaker 1: How many of you really love deep Bible stuff?

334
00:17:01,120 --> 00:17:03,840
Speaker 2: I put this point in for you. It takes faith

335
00:17:03,920 --> 00:17:11,360
Speaker 2: to look at a lamb and see a king. It

336
00:17:11,400 --> 00:17:14,840
Speaker 2: takes faith to look at a lamb and see a king,

337
00:17:16,480 --> 00:17:19,119
Speaker 2: just like it takes faith to look at a broken

338
00:17:19,160 --> 00:17:24,280
Speaker 2: situation and see an open door of opportunity. Just like

339
00:17:24,320 --> 00:17:26,240
Speaker 2: it takes faith to look at your kids when you

340
00:17:26,320 --> 00:17:28,639
Speaker 2: know they're on drugs and declare that they're delivered. It

341
00:17:28,720 --> 00:17:35,000
Speaker 2: takes faith. It's a focus. I don't know if I

342
00:17:35,000 --> 00:17:36,760
Speaker 2: can get past this point. Lord, you gave me more

343
00:17:36,760 --> 00:17:38,200
Speaker 2: points than this, But do you want me to stay

344
00:17:38,280 --> 00:17:46,480
Speaker 2: right here? Because I will look the lamb That requires

345
00:17:46,520 --> 00:17:53,000
Speaker 2: a lens? Doesn't it a lens? When day I was

346
00:17:53,040 --> 00:17:54,840
Speaker 2: looking out my window and I had a funny thought.

347
00:17:55,800 --> 00:18:00,200
Speaker 2: The trees were dirty, The house that I could see

348
00:18:00,240 --> 00:18:03,120
Speaker 2: through the window was dirty. The car that I could

349
00:18:03,160 --> 00:18:07,520
Speaker 2: see in the driveway was dirty. Of course, you understand

350
00:18:08,400 --> 00:18:10,360
Speaker 2: that it wasn't the world that I was looking at

351
00:18:10,359 --> 00:18:11,000
Speaker 2: that was dirty.

352
00:18:11,000 --> 00:18:17,760
Speaker 1: It was the window.

353
00:18:19,359 --> 00:18:23,320
Speaker 2: Seek and you'll find, and sometimes you need to clean

354
00:18:23,359 --> 00:18:32,800
Speaker 2: what you're looking through. So for me to see King Jesus,

355
00:18:33,760 --> 00:18:37,320
Speaker 2: sometimes I have to change my lens and.

356
00:18:37,240 --> 00:18:39,080
Speaker 1: Look at a lamb and see a king.

357
00:18:39,440 --> 00:18:41,639
Speaker 2: I haven't given you much background on this passage yet,

358
00:18:41,680 --> 00:18:47,520
Speaker 2: have I. When Jesus says to these two disciples.

359
00:18:47,359 --> 00:18:48,160
Speaker 1: Who are you seeking skin?

360
00:18:48,240 --> 00:18:49,399
Speaker 2: Or I don't know if you knew this, and you

361
00:18:49,480 --> 00:18:53,680
Speaker 2: know everything about the Bible, one of the disciples is Andrews,

362
00:18:53,680 --> 00:18:57,560
Speaker 2: Simon Peter's brother, and it says that. But there's a

363
00:18:57,600 --> 00:19:00,399
Speaker 2: detail in this text that suggests who the other disciple is,

364
00:19:01,040 --> 00:19:03,640
Speaker 2: and it blessed me to recognize it. Today, it can

365
00:19:03,680 --> 00:19:05,200
Speaker 2: be kind of confusing to read the Bible if we're

366
00:19:05,200 --> 00:19:07,080
Speaker 2: just throwing out all these names, because even in this

367
00:19:07,119 --> 00:19:08,680
Speaker 2: passage here, I told you to turn to the Book

368
00:19:08,680 --> 00:19:10,119
Speaker 2: of John, and then I told you that John pointed

369
00:19:10,160 --> 00:19:10,600
Speaker 2: at Jesus.

370
00:19:10,640 --> 00:19:12,359
Speaker 1: But it's not John that wrote the book. As to

371
00:19:12,440 --> 00:19:13,399
Speaker 1: John the Baptist, and.

372
00:19:13,480 --> 00:19:15,399
Speaker 2: John the Baptist, by the way, is not like his

373
00:19:15,640 --> 00:19:18,480
Speaker 2: nickname or something like that, like Pete the Presbyterian, Ernie

374
00:19:18,480 --> 00:19:21,040
Speaker 2: the Episcopalian. It's not like John the Baptist that was

375
00:19:21,080 --> 00:19:22,640
Speaker 2: actually what he was out there in Beth, and he's

376
00:19:22,640 --> 00:19:25,200
Speaker 2: doing is baptizing people. He's trying to repent, repent, repent.

377
00:19:25,240 --> 00:19:26,880
Speaker 2: The Kingdom of God is at hand. One is coming

378
00:19:26,920 --> 00:19:29,040
Speaker 2: who is mightier than I, and I'm not worthy to

379
00:19:29,119 --> 00:19:31,320
Speaker 2: untie his sandals. And so he's saying all of this,

380
00:19:31,440 --> 00:19:35,159
Speaker 2: and then he sees what he's been saying. Yeah, and

381
00:19:35,200 --> 00:19:37,520
Speaker 2: he points the attention and he says, look the lamb

382
00:19:37,560 --> 00:19:40,280
Speaker 2: of God, and he gives us a great, a great

383
00:19:40,320 --> 00:19:43,960
Speaker 2: object lesson. In the times where God will require you

384
00:19:44,040 --> 00:19:48,200
Speaker 2: to take a step back by faith, we always talk

385
00:19:48,240 --> 00:19:52,520
Speaker 2: about stepping forward in faith, but there are times where

386
00:19:52,560 --> 00:19:56,040
Speaker 2: God will strip you of your main character energy and

387
00:19:56,119 --> 00:19:59,800
Speaker 2: tell you to step back in faith, and you'll find

388
00:19:59,800 --> 00:20:02,440
Speaker 2: your saying things like he must become greater, I must

389
00:20:02,480 --> 00:20:07,240
Speaker 2: become less, and in order for somebody to see King Jesus,

390
00:20:07,320 --> 00:20:08,440
Speaker 2: I have to step aside.

391
00:20:08,560 --> 00:20:08,800
Speaker 1: Now.

392
00:20:08,880 --> 00:20:11,000
Speaker 2: For me, at different seasons of my life, sometimes that's

393
00:20:11,040 --> 00:20:15,520
Speaker 2: looked like knowing who I'm not and staying in my lane.

394
00:20:16,200 --> 00:20:19,119
Speaker 2: One of the things that I realized early in my

395
00:20:19,280 --> 00:20:23,119
Speaker 2: ministry is that although I loved worship and love writing

396
00:20:23,160 --> 00:20:27,360
Speaker 2: worship songs, I am usually more effective writing songs than

397
00:20:27,359 --> 00:20:29,320
Speaker 2: I am singing them, and I can sing them too

398
00:20:29,400 --> 00:20:32,640
Speaker 2: if I choose to. But through realizing that God gave

399
00:20:32,680 --> 00:20:36,360
Speaker 2: me a primary gift and God gave me a secondary gift,

400
00:20:36,400 --> 00:20:39,760
Speaker 2: and that my passion isn't always my gift, I've been

401
00:20:39,800 --> 00:20:41,919
Speaker 2: able to be a part of preaching God's word in

402
00:20:41,960 --> 00:20:44,879
Speaker 2: this church and helping to write songs through all of

403
00:20:44,880 --> 00:20:47,240
Speaker 2: the awesome singers that we have here. Don't you believe

404
00:20:47,240 --> 00:20:55,000
Speaker 2: we have awesome singers here? And I'm just using that

405
00:20:55,040 --> 00:20:57,840
Speaker 2: as an example here of a time where God might

406
00:20:58,480 --> 00:21:02,399
Speaker 2: call you to in your lane and to know what

407
00:21:02,440 --> 00:21:05,679
Speaker 2: you're called to do. And so as John is pointing,

408
00:21:05,760 --> 00:21:09,280
Speaker 2: John the Baptist is pointing, there are these two disciples.

409
00:21:09,320 --> 00:21:12,359
Speaker 2: One is Andrew, and I'm going to show you in

410
00:21:12,400 --> 00:21:14,720
Speaker 2: just a moment how I know that the other one

411
00:21:15,080 --> 00:21:18,240
Speaker 2: was John, who wrote the book. Now he doesn't say

412
00:21:18,240 --> 00:21:20,320
Speaker 2: that because John, when he writes his Gospel, he keeps

413
00:21:20,359 --> 00:21:24,120
Speaker 2: calling himself this nickname. He says, the one that he loved.

414
00:21:25,320 --> 00:21:27,000
Speaker 2: It's one thing is think about yourself in the third person.

415
00:21:27,000 --> 00:21:30,600
Speaker 2: But this takes it to an entirely different level of confidence.

416
00:21:30,640 --> 00:21:35,720
Speaker 2: In Swag, when they went to see Jesus, it says,

417
00:21:35,920 --> 00:21:37,440
Speaker 2: I don't know if you noticed this when I read

418
00:21:37,480 --> 00:21:41,240
Speaker 2: the text. It was about the tenth hour. And the

419
00:21:41,320 --> 00:21:43,480
Speaker 2: reason that detail is in the text, why would you

420
00:21:43,640 --> 00:21:44,720
Speaker 2: take the time to say that.

421
00:21:44,640 --> 00:21:46,200
Speaker 1: It's not symbolic or anything.

422
00:21:46,440 --> 00:21:48,719
Speaker 2: It simply means counting from six am, which is when

423
00:21:48,760 --> 00:21:50,960
Speaker 2: the Jewish day started, that it was about four in

424
00:21:51,000 --> 00:21:53,720
Speaker 2: the afternoon. But the reason that it was included in

425
00:21:53,760 --> 00:21:58,040
Speaker 2: the text as a detail is because whoever is writing

426
00:21:58,040 --> 00:22:01,040
Speaker 2: it was there and just hear about it.

427
00:22:01,880 --> 00:22:05,359
Speaker 1: They were there. It is an eye.

428
00:22:04,720 --> 00:22:09,840
Speaker 2: Witness account written by none other than the disciple that

429
00:22:09,920 --> 00:22:12,000
Speaker 2: Jesus loved, at least that's what he called himself.

430
00:22:12,720 --> 00:22:14,320
Speaker 1: I personally think I'm the one he loves. I don't

431
00:22:14,359 --> 00:22:16,280
Speaker 1: know about you, but I'm God's favorite. Kid.

432
00:22:16,600 --> 00:22:19,000
Speaker 2: Would you tell your neighbor real quick, I'm God's favorite.

433
00:22:20,680 --> 00:22:24,080
Speaker 2: Tell him be careful how you treat me because I'm

434
00:22:24,080 --> 00:22:27,720
Speaker 2: his favorite. You cuss me out? You got to talk

435
00:22:27,760 --> 00:22:30,800
Speaker 2: to my dad about it. Because I'm his favorite. He

436
00:22:30,920 --> 00:22:33,680
Speaker 2: really likes me, so you might want You might.

437
00:22:33,600 --> 00:22:36,600
Speaker 1: Want to say nice things to me because I'm his favorite.

438
00:22:36,720 --> 00:22:40,320
Speaker 2: And John, who is in his own mind, the favorite

439
00:22:40,320 --> 00:22:43,560
Speaker 2: of Jesus, is following Jesus. Can we take a moment

440
00:22:44,640 --> 00:22:48,320
Speaker 2: and appreciate watch this the faith that it would take

441
00:22:49,040 --> 00:22:52,919
Speaker 2: to follow someone on the basis of one sentence that

442
00:22:53,080 --> 00:22:54,720
Speaker 2: was said about him.

443
00:22:55,119 --> 00:22:56,520
Speaker 5: I thought that was amazing.

444
00:22:57,400 --> 00:23:01,439
Speaker 2: However long they've been following John the Baptist. All it

445
00:23:01,480 --> 00:23:05,399
Speaker 2: took was one directive and they became the disciples not

446
00:23:05,520 --> 00:23:09,080
Speaker 2: of John, but of the one that John was pointing to.

447
00:23:09,880 --> 00:23:14,040
Speaker 2: How much faith do you have for the unfamiliar? How

448
00:23:14,119 --> 00:23:16,600
Speaker 2: much faith do you have to detach from the way

449
00:23:16,640 --> 00:23:20,280
Speaker 2: you've always defined yourself? Do you always have to go

450
00:23:20,320 --> 00:23:22,639
Speaker 2: to a white church? Do you always have to go

451
00:23:22,680 --> 00:23:23,600
Speaker 2: to a black church?

452
00:23:24,040 --> 00:23:24,920
Speaker 1: Or will you go to the.

453
00:23:24,920 --> 00:23:28,439
Speaker 2: Church that God sends you to regardless of how people

454
00:23:28,520 --> 00:23:30,960
Speaker 2: may define it. Do you always have to go to

455
00:23:31,000 --> 00:23:33,840
Speaker 2: a Pentecostal church? Do you always have to go to

456
00:23:33,880 --> 00:23:36,720
Speaker 2: a quiet church? Or will you go to the church

457
00:23:36,800 --> 00:23:39,919
Speaker 2: that God calls you to? Does it always have to

458
00:23:40,040 --> 00:23:42,560
Speaker 2: look like the lens that you have for you to

459
00:23:42,600 --> 00:23:44,080
Speaker 2: recognize the lamb in it?

460
00:23:44,600 --> 00:23:46,120
Speaker 1: Are you able to adapt?

461
00:23:46,160 --> 00:23:49,320
Speaker 2: And when God says change, change? It takes a lot

462
00:23:49,320 --> 00:23:52,120
Speaker 2: of faith to change. It takes faith to change how

463
00:23:52,160 --> 00:23:54,840
Speaker 2: you parent the kid. It takes faith because you've been

464
00:23:54,920 --> 00:23:57,560
Speaker 2: watching over them when they were little, making sure that

465
00:23:57,600 --> 00:24:00,160
Speaker 2: they didn't get hurt. But you can't keep them when

466
00:24:00,160 --> 00:24:02,320
Speaker 2: they're twenty three from climbing in a tree.

467
00:24:02,440 --> 00:24:03,640
Speaker 1: They might fall down, and.

468
00:24:03,600 --> 00:24:05,480
Speaker 2: The best you can do is help them with the bills.

469
00:24:05,880 --> 00:24:08,600
Speaker 2: It takes faith to let them try new things. It

470
00:24:08,680 --> 00:24:12,040
Speaker 2: takes faith to change the relationship. It takes faith to

471
00:24:12,119 --> 00:24:14,959
Speaker 2: let go of some of the control. It takes faith

472
00:24:15,080 --> 00:24:17,840
Speaker 2: just to completely change. I mean, they pivot on a

473
00:24:17,880 --> 00:24:22,800
Speaker 2: single sentence to a person that they know nothing about

474
00:24:22,960 --> 00:24:27,159
Speaker 2: except that they know that John has called him the

475
00:24:27,320 --> 00:24:31,879
Speaker 2: Lamb of God. And when John said, look the Lamb,

476
00:24:32,240 --> 00:24:36,840
Speaker 2: they followed Jesus. They did not ask permission, They did

477
00:24:36,840 --> 00:24:40,400
Speaker 2: not interview him, they did not submit a questionnaire, they

478
00:24:40,440 --> 00:24:44,919
Speaker 2: did not check yelp. They simply followed Jesus. That's what

479
00:24:44,960 --> 00:24:48,480
Speaker 2: it says in verse thirty seven. They followed Jesus. That

480
00:24:48,640 --> 00:24:50,080
Speaker 2: takes faith to follow Jesus.

481
00:24:50,119 --> 00:24:51,880
Speaker 5: I'm gonna say it again until you get it.

482
00:24:52,160 --> 00:24:54,840
Speaker 2: This is not following Jesus like you and I follow Jesus.

483
00:24:54,840 --> 00:24:58,439
Speaker 2: Our definition of follow is based on Instagram TikTok and

484
00:24:58,480 --> 00:24:59,240
Speaker 2: the artist.

485
00:24:59,040 --> 00:24:59,960
Speaker 1: Formerly known as Twins.

486
00:25:00,400 --> 00:25:03,960
Speaker 2: We follow somebody on x we follow somebody on Instagram.

487
00:25:04,240 --> 00:25:06,280
Speaker 5: It is as simple as hitting a button.

488
00:25:06,640 --> 00:25:09,880
Speaker 2: For them, this required a complete shift in their belief system.

489
00:25:10,200 --> 00:25:12,479
Speaker 5: This was not a button, This was a belief.

490
00:25:12,520 --> 00:25:15,960
Speaker 2: And to transfer all of your belief into someone you've

491
00:25:16,040 --> 00:25:18,960
Speaker 2: never seen, and to follow somewhere you've never.

492
00:25:18,800 --> 00:25:20,000
Speaker 1: Been, that takes faith.

493
00:25:20,480 --> 00:25:24,480
Speaker 2: And so we celebrate the fact that they stepped behind him,

494
00:25:24,760 --> 00:25:28,160
Speaker 2: perhaps quietly. How many steps they took before they were

495
00:25:28,160 --> 00:25:31,159
Speaker 2: addressed by the rabbi? We don't know how long did

496
00:25:31,280 --> 00:25:34,240
Speaker 2: Jesus let them walk before he turned around and acknowledged.

497
00:25:34,640 --> 00:25:36,560
Speaker 2: How long did he check to see that they were

498
00:25:36,600 --> 00:25:39,679
Speaker 2: still coming? How long did Jesus continue to keep his

499
00:25:39,800 --> 00:25:44,280
Speaker 2: stride unbroken because he was on a purpose for a purpose,

500
00:25:44,640 --> 00:25:48,159
Speaker 2: with a purpose, not turning off of his path for anybody,

501
00:25:48,480 --> 00:25:51,840
Speaker 2: until he finally broke the silence silence, turned around and.

502
00:25:51,800 --> 00:25:53,560
Speaker 5: Said what do you seek?

503
00:25:57,840 --> 00:26:03,000
Speaker 2: And the disciples didn't say anything very deep back. In fact,

504
00:26:03,040 --> 00:26:06,240
Speaker 2: they didn't answer him at all. They said, where are

505
00:26:06,280 --> 00:26:08,360
Speaker 2: you staying?

506
00:26:09,880 --> 00:26:10,960
Speaker 1: John is so clever.

507
00:26:12,119 --> 00:26:15,399
Speaker 2: The word staying that he uses here is the same

508
00:26:15,400 --> 00:26:19,240
Speaker 2: word that he uses in John fifteen, where he says

509
00:26:19,880 --> 00:26:28,360
Speaker 2: abide stay in me, and I will abide stay in you.

510
00:26:28,600 --> 00:26:30,760
Speaker 1: It's the same word, not a letter different.

511
00:26:31,760 --> 00:26:35,399
Speaker 2: So what seems on the surface so simple is setting

512
00:26:35,440 --> 00:26:38,879
Speaker 2: us up for a revelation that's so deep. It is

513
00:26:38,920 --> 00:26:43,040
Speaker 2: that they had the faith to take steps with the Savior.

514
00:26:43,320 --> 00:26:45,399
Speaker 2: And boy, don't we love to see somebody take a

515
00:26:45,440 --> 00:26:48,600
Speaker 2: step of faith. Don't we love to see somebody get

516
00:26:48,680 --> 00:26:52,160
Speaker 2: baptized and take a step of faith. Don't we love

517
00:26:52,200 --> 00:26:54,560
Speaker 2: to see somebody raise their hand at the end of

518
00:26:54,600 --> 00:26:57,080
Speaker 2: the service and say, I am giving my life to

519
00:26:57,200 --> 00:26:58,000
Speaker 2: Jesus today.

520
00:26:58,400 --> 00:27:00,439
Speaker 1: And we love it so much we stay the end.

521
00:27:00,440 --> 00:27:02,160
Speaker 2: We don't slip out and get to our car early

522
00:27:02,280 --> 00:27:04,720
Speaker 2: just because we want to get out before everybody else.

523
00:27:05,080 --> 00:27:08,239
Speaker 2: We stay because we care, and we celebrate that they

524
00:27:08,280 --> 00:27:10,600
Speaker 2: are starting their relationship with Jesus.

525
00:27:12,520 --> 00:27:17,760
Speaker 1: I know, I know, I know, we celebrate that.

526
00:27:18,720 --> 00:27:21,600
Speaker 2: We celebrate when somebody goes you know, I'm just gonna

527
00:27:21,640 --> 00:27:24,520
Speaker 2: move there by faith. I'm going to Saint Louis. I'm

528
00:27:24,640 --> 00:27:28,320
Speaker 2: stepping out in faith Saint Louis. I know there's a

529
00:27:28,359 --> 00:27:30,879
Speaker 2: lot of unknowns, there's a lot of uncertainty, but we

530
00:27:30,960 --> 00:27:35,040
Speaker 2: will celebrate somebody who can step into uncertainty because most

531
00:27:35,080 --> 00:27:37,600
Speaker 2: of us are creatures of comfort, and we stay in

532
00:27:37,640 --> 00:27:40,960
Speaker 2: areas of familiarity. And when we watch somebody break free

533
00:27:41,280 --> 00:27:44,440
Speaker 2: and audition for American Idol, or we watch somebody break

534
00:27:44,480 --> 00:27:47,040
Speaker 2: free from the cage and just step out and do

535
00:27:47,160 --> 00:27:49,879
Speaker 2: something completely different. And I'm gonna be a chemist at

536
00:27:49,920 --> 00:27:52,520
Speaker 2: age sixty three. I've never studied chemistry in my life.

537
00:27:52,640 --> 00:27:54,560
Speaker 2: I don't even know how to use Plato. But I'm

538
00:27:54,560 --> 00:27:57,280
Speaker 2: gonna be a chemist at age sixty three. I'm going

539
00:27:57,320 --> 00:28:00,240
Speaker 2: back to school. I'm gonna start this. We celebrate that

540
00:28:00,400 --> 00:28:05,160
Speaker 2: so well. But can I tell you something staying is underrated.

541
00:28:08,000 --> 00:28:13,080
Speaker 2: Staying is underrating because the same way that you think

542
00:28:13,119 --> 00:28:15,520
Speaker 2: it takes faith to step, I think it takes faith

543
00:28:15,560 --> 00:28:18,840
Speaker 2: to stay. And I will prove it to you not

544
00:28:18,960 --> 00:28:21,439
Speaker 2: from my own mind or experience. I will prove it

545
00:28:21,440 --> 00:28:25,240
Speaker 2: to you from this text. When they said where are

546
00:28:25,240 --> 00:28:27,840
Speaker 2: you staying? He said, come and you will see. And

547
00:28:27,960 --> 00:28:32,480
Speaker 2: verse thirty nine is the clearest verse that gets across

548
00:28:32,600 --> 00:28:36,160
Speaker 2: my message today in this entire passage.

549
00:28:36,440 --> 00:28:38,920
Speaker 1: So they came and saw where he was staying. And

550
00:28:38,960 --> 00:28:40,000
Speaker 1: watch what they did next.

551
00:28:40,360 --> 00:28:43,280
Speaker 2: Applaud them for stepping out, Applaud them for following the lamb.

552
00:28:43,320 --> 00:28:46,320
Speaker 2: It takes faith to be led by a lamb. It

553
00:28:46,400 --> 00:28:48,640
Speaker 2: takes faith to look at a lamb when you can't

554
00:28:48,640 --> 00:28:50,719
Speaker 2: see a King. All of that takes faith. To give

555
00:28:50,800 --> 00:28:52,440
Speaker 2: up on your plans, to give up all of that

556
00:28:52,480 --> 00:28:55,600
Speaker 2: takes faith. But I want to celebrate something different today.

557
00:28:55,920 --> 00:28:58,440
Speaker 2: Look at it in verse thirty nine. So they came

558
00:28:58,520 --> 00:28:59,720
Speaker 2: and saw where he was.

559
00:28:59,680 --> 00:29:04,760
Speaker 5: Staying, and they stayed with him that day.

560
00:29:05,440 --> 00:29:10,960
Speaker 2: I celebrate that they had faith to stay, and you

561
00:29:11,080 --> 00:29:15,640
Speaker 2: celebrate that they had faith to step. But I celebrate

562
00:29:15,760 --> 00:29:19,640
Speaker 2: that they had faith to stay. And could it be

563
00:29:19,800 --> 00:29:23,640
Speaker 2: that in this season of your life, with all of

564
00:29:23,680 --> 00:29:27,080
Speaker 2: the turmoil, with all of the trauma, with all of

565
00:29:27,120 --> 00:29:31,360
Speaker 2: the unknowns, with all of the transformations and metamorphosis that

566
00:29:31,400 --> 00:29:34,480
Speaker 2: you're going through, God is calling you to a greater

567
00:29:34,640 --> 00:29:37,959
Speaker 2: level of faith. And this season of faith will not

568
00:29:38,080 --> 00:29:40,280
Speaker 2: be defined by your step.

569
00:29:40,960 --> 00:29:43,760
Speaker 5: It will be defined by your stay.

570
00:29:44,440 --> 00:29:48,360
Speaker 2: And God said today, if I would preach this message

571
00:29:48,440 --> 00:29:50,960
Speaker 2: like he gave it to me, he would put your

572
00:29:51,040 --> 00:29:54,560
Speaker 2: focus in your eyes on Jesus and give you the

573
00:29:54,680 --> 00:29:58,040
Speaker 2: faith to stay. I don't know who this is for,

574
00:29:58,360 --> 00:29:59,560
Speaker 2: but you're where you need to be.

575
00:30:00,120 --> 00:30:01,160
Speaker 1: I don't know who this is.

576
00:30:01,160 --> 00:30:02,960
Speaker 5: For, but don't move a muscle.

577
00:30:03,240 --> 00:30:05,960
Speaker 2: I'll know who this is for, But pillow your head

578
00:30:06,000 --> 00:30:08,840
Speaker 2: on the lion and take a nap. Because God is

579
00:30:08,880 --> 00:30:12,120
Speaker 2: going to be shining through about four hours from now.

580
00:30:12,640 --> 00:30:13,840
Speaker 1: Stay where he puts you.

581
00:30:14,440 --> 00:30:18,280
Speaker 2: Blessed are those who are planted by the streams of water.

582
00:30:18,680 --> 00:30:21,360
Speaker 2: I feel like preaching because if you quit, we'd give

583
00:30:21,360 --> 00:30:24,200
Speaker 2: you a going away party. If you started, we'd give

584
00:30:24,240 --> 00:30:26,640
Speaker 2: you a showing up party. But I want to give

585
00:30:26,720 --> 00:30:30,320
Speaker 2: somebody a stay and put party today. And the fact is,

586
00:30:30,880 --> 00:30:32,960
Speaker 2: it would have been easier for you to leave.

587
00:30:33,360 --> 00:30:35,520
Speaker 1: It would have been easier for you to walk off.

588
00:30:35,800 --> 00:30:37,520
Speaker 5: It would have been easier.

589
00:30:36,960 --> 00:30:39,440
Speaker 2: For you to wring your hands and throw in the

590
00:30:39,480 --> 00:30:42,239
Speaker 2: towel and give up on God. It would have been

591
00:30:42,280 --> 00:30:45,560
Speaker 2: easier for you to switch churches thirteen times in the.

592
00:30:45,520 --> 00:30:46,719
Speaker 1: Past fifteen years.

593
00:30:47,000 --> 00:30:48,959
Speaker 2: It would have been easier for you to say, let

594
00:30:49,040 --> 00:30:51,600
Speaker 2: me find a younger woman. It would have been easier

595
00:30:51,600 --> 00:30:53,480
Speaker 2: for you to say, let me find a richer man.

596
00:30:53,840 --> 00:30:55,920
Speaker 2: You could have tried your chances out there on the

597
00:30:55,920 --> 00:30:57,160
Speaker 2: open market, but.

598
00:30:57,280 --> 00:30:59,120
Speaker 1: Instead you stayed.

599
00:30:59,440 --> 00:31:03,920
Speaker 2: And I elebrate the stayers today because it is since

600
00:31:03,960 --> 00:31:11,960
Speaker 2: staying that you see you're telling me not to take

601
00:31:12,000 --> 00:31:12,440
Speaker 2: the job.

602
00:31:12,560 --> 00:31:15,160
Speaker 5: I don't know what's the job you.

603
00:31:15,160 --> 00:31:17,600
Speaker 1: Might should take it, but I'll tell you one thing

604
00:31:17,640 --> 00:31:18,080
Speaker 1: about the.

605
00:31:18,080 --> 00:31:18,960
Speaker 5: Job that you take.

606
00:31:19,840 --> 00:31:21,880
Speaker 2: You are going to be going to work at that

607
00:31:22,000 --> 00:31:26,560
Speaker 2: company with you. So make sure that before you go

608
00:31:26,640 --> 00:31:30,280
Speaker 2: to work to somebody else, you let work for somebody else,

609
00:31:30,680 --> 00:31:33,600
Speaker 2: You let God work on you enough that you like

610
00:31:33,680 --> 00:31:35,440
Speaker 2: the person that you go to work with when you

611
00:31:35,480 --> 00:31:37,200
Speaker 2: go to work. Because if you go to work and

612
00:31:37,240 --> 00:31:39,240
Speaker 2: you don't like who you work with, I'm talking about you.

613
00:31:39,680 --> 00:31:41,120
Speaker 1: If you don't like who you.

614
00:31:41,080 --> 00:31:43,960
Speaker 2: Show up with, you can turn a vacation into a hell.

615
00:31:44,320 --> 00:31:46,880
Speaker 2: You can turn a mansion into a ghetto, you can

616
00:31:46,920 --> 00:31:52,400
Speaker 2: turn anything. Oh God, if you don't learn to stay,

617
00:31:52,800 --> 00:32:02,040
Speaker 2: you will never seem king. Jesus, can we stay with

618
00:32:02,080 --> 00:32:06,320
Speaker 2: you for a day? Jesus said, all right, you can

619
00:32:06,400 --> 00:32:09,240
Speaker 2: say you can stay.

620
00:32:10,000 --> 00:32:10,720
Speaker 1: Come stay with me.

621
00:32:12,320 --> 00:32:15,640
Speaker 2: I thought that was so cool that the first thing

622
00:32:15,720 --> 00:32:19,280
Speaker 2: we see about Jesus in the scripture is through staying.

623
00:32:20,920 --> 00:32:24,560
Speaker 1: And I'm all for steps of faith, right, but.

624
00:32:24,560 --> 00:32:26,400
Speaker 2: I think that today that the majority of us in

625
00:32:26,440 --> 00:32:29,240
Speaker 2: the church aren't being called so much to a step

626
00:32:30,360 --> 00:32:34,080
Speaker 2: as a stay. I'll break it down more. I know

627
00:32:34,120 --> 00:32:38,320
Speaker 2: it's kind of confusion. Where are you going to go

628
00:32:38,360 --> 00:32:42,560
Speaker 2: to college when you graduate high school? I don't care

629
00:32:42,800 --> 00:32:46,200
Speaker 2: so much where you go to college as the fact

630
00:32:46,240 --> 00:32:49,680
Speaker 2: that you stay close to God when you get there.

631
00:32:52,640 --> 00:32:57,240
Speaker 2: So so go to the one that you can afford,

632
00:32:57,280 --> 00:32:59,120
Speaker 2: go to the one that you make sense to. You,

633
00:32:59,200 --> 00:33:01,360
Speaker 2: go to the one that you have an offer for you. See,

634
00:33:01,400 --> 00:33:04,920
Speaker 2: I'm talking to you because it's more important that you

635
00:33:04,960 --> 00:33:09,920
Speaker 2: stay pure when you get there than it is that

636
00:33:09,960 --> 00:33:11,920
Speaker 2: you select.

637
00:33:11,560 --> 00:33:13,440
Speaker 1: Correctly where you're going to go.

638
00:33:14,640 --> 00:33:17,920
Speaker 2: And so much of our agony in life is about

639
00:33:18,240 --> 00:33:19,720
Speaker 2: going and getting it right.

640
00:33:19,920 --> 00:33:21,760
Speaker 1: And oh Jesus, am I following you? Right?

641
00:33:21,800 --> 00:33:21,920
Speaker 2: Am?

642
00:33:21,960 --> 00:33:22,720
Speaker 1: I doing the right thing?

643
00:33:22,800 --> 00:33:27,520
Speaker 2: And we get so paralyzed by that when they saw Jesus,

644
00:33:27,560 --> 00:33:31,640
Speaker 2: because they stayed. I told you you're going to talk

645
00:33:31,640 --> 00:33:33,760
Speaker 2: about this message at home, and what I thought was,

646
00:33:33,800 --> 00:33:36,440
Speaker 2: you'll probably use this message against each other, you know.

647
00:33:37,160 --> 00:33:39,000
Speaker 1: See, I told you we weren't supposed to move. See

648
00:33:39,040 --> 00:33:40,840
Speaker 1: I told you we weren't supposed to sell the house.

649
00:33:40,920 --> 00:33:41,640
Speaker 5: God said stay.

650
00:33:41,640 --> 00:33:43,520
Speaker 1: Well, that's not what he meant that. No, that's not

651
00:33:43,560 --> 00:33:44,080
Speaker 1: what I mean.

652
00:33:45,000 --> 00:33:50,320
Speaker 2: I am talking about the faith to stay even when

653
00:33:50,360 --> 00:33:53,160
Speaker 2: everything inside of you is telling you to.

654
00:33:53,160 --> 00:33:53,880
Speaker 1: Rebel and run.

655
00:33:54,360 --> 00:33:57,520
Speaker 2: Yeah, many of you will not be here in this

656
00:33:57,600 --> 00:34:00,520
Speaker 2: church this time next year. And if that's because God

657
00:34:00,520 --> 00:34:02,960
Speaker 2: has moved you somewhere else and you're being fed there,

658
00:34:03,000 --> 00:34:06,360
Speaker 2: then I celebrate. But if it's because you found it

659
00:34:06,400 --> 00:34:10,919
Speaker 2: hard to follow Jesus and you thought that stepping out

660
00:34:11,239 --> 00:34:13,920
Speaker 2: was what it meant to have faith, then I did

661
00:34:13,960 --> 00:34:19,200
Speaker 2: not correctly teach you that it takes faith to stay.

662
00:34:20,800 --> 00:34:23,279
Speaker 2: It doesn't take faith for you to be into the

663
00:34:23,320 --> 00:34:25,799
Speaker 2: Bible one month, and then into New Age crystals the

664
00:34:25,840 --> 00:34:28,400
Speaker 2: next month, and then into self help and motivational teaching

665
00:34:28,440 --> 00:34:30,560
Speaker 2: the third month, and by the fourth month, we can't

666
00:34:30,560 --> 00:34:33,040
Speaker 2: even keep up with your location anymore. And we've got

667
00:34:33,120 --> 00:34:34,880
Speaker 2: you on life three sixty, but we don't know what

668
00:34:35,000 --> 00:34:37,239
Speaker 2: weird part of the map you've gone to because you

669
00:34:37,320 --> 00:34:40,040
Speaker 2: won't stay anywhere, and you won't build anything.

670
00:34:40,360 --> 00:34:41,759
Speaker 1: And the first time you hit a.

671
00:34:41,800 --> 00:34:44,080
Speaker 2: Question in the scripture and the first time you hit

672
00:34:44,120 --> 00:34:46,799
Speaker 2: something you don't understand about God, you think you got

673
00:34:46,800 --> 00:34:48,440
Speaker 2: to run from God. But what if the thing you

674
00:34:48,440 --> 00:34:50,920
Speaker 2: don't understand about God is just the reinforcement that.

675
00:34:50,880 --> 00:34:51,439
Speaker 1: You're not him.

676
00:34:51,719 --> 00:34:53,720
Speaker 2: What if the thing that you don't understand about Jesus

677
00:34:53,760 --> 00:34:56,520
Speaker 2: as the invitation to come deeper into him. Do you

678
00:34:56,600 --> 00:34:59,320
Speaker 2: really think that when you found Jesus you were finished.

679
00:34:59,600 --> 00:35:01,319
Speaker 1: You weren't finished when you found him.

680
00:35:01,440 --> 00:35:04,160
Speaker 2: In fact, you didn't even really find him He found you,

681
00:35:04,400 --> 00:35:06,520
Speaker 2: and he found you a mess, and he cleans you

682
00:35:06,640 --> 00:35:08,880
Speaker 2: up and he welcomed you home. And you've got to

683
00:35:08,960 --> 00:35:12,120
Speaker 2: learn to stay this time. You cannot keep running to

684
00:35:12,200 --> 00:35:14,840
Speaker 2: the hog pen every time it gets hard. You cannot

685
00:35:14,920 --> 00:35:17,680
Speaker 2: keep running to escape mechanisms that leave you a slave

686
00:35:17,760 --> 00:35:20,640
Speaker 2: every time it gets hard. You've got to stay somewhere.

687
00:35:20,920 --> 00:35:24,680
Speaker 2: You've got to stay positive surrounded by problems. You've got

688
00:35:24,680 --> 00:35:27,399
Speaker 2: to stay looking for the lamb of God. You've got

689
00:35:27,400 --> 00:35:30,120
Speaker 2: to stay looking for redemption. You've got to find a

690
00:35:30,239 --> 00:35:32,600
Speaker 2: reason to forgive, a strength to forgive.

691
00:35:32,800 --> 00:35:34,399
Speaker 1: You've got to find something.

692
00:35:34,040 --> 00:35:36,520
Speaker 2: To say to yourself to get yourself up in the morning.

693
00:35:36,840 --> 00:35:37,600
Speaker 1: You've got to.

694
00:35:37,640 --> 00:35:39,920
Speaker 2: Stay in faith when everything inside of.

695
00:35:39,880 --> 00:35:40,920
Speaker 5: You is screaming fear.

696
00:35:41,719 --> 00:35:44,280
Speaker 2: I'm gonna tell you how I get my messages from God.

697
00:35:44,680 --> 00:35:46,680
Speaker 2: I stay in the chair till he speaks.

698
00:35:47,000 --> 00:35:48,120
Speaker 1: If he doesn't speak.

699
00:35:47,880 --> 00:35:50,320
Speaker 2: In the chair, I get on my face on the floor,

700
00:35:50,560 --> 00:35:52,840
Speaker 2: and I stay on my face still he speaks.

701
00:35:53,120 --> 00:35:54,000
Speaker 1: If he doesn't speak.

702
00:35:54,000 --> 00:35:56,320
Speaker 2: When I'm on my face on the floor, I pace

703
00:35:56,400 --> 00:35:59,400
Speaker 2: around the house and I stay pacing. But even if

704
00:35:59,480 --> 00:36:03,120
Speaker 2: I'm moving and I'm staying, I might have to change locations.

705
00:36:03,239 --> 00:36:06,200
Speaker 2: But I'm staying. I might have to change clothes, but

706
00:36:06,320 --> 00:36:09,520
Speaker 2: I'm staying. I might have to downsize some of my life,

707
00:36:09,640 --> 00:36:10,480
Speaker 2: but I'm staying.

708
00:36:10,719 --> 00:36:11,879
Speaker 1: I might have to change some.

709
00:36:11,880 --> 00:36:15,720
Speaker 2: Affiliations, but I'm staying because you keep saying that faith

710
00:36:15,760 --> 00:36:16,680
Speaker 2: will bring you out.

711
00:36:16,920 --> 00:36:18,680
Speaker 1: But I believe God can give you the.

712
00:36:18,680 --> 00:36:24,680
Speaker 2: Faith to stay rooted, planted, more fruit, much route, abounding

713
00:36:24,719 --> 00:36:32,200
Speaker 2: fruit if you abide it. And they stayed with him

714
00:36:32,960 --> 00:36:36,759
Speaker 2: that day. Oh that's an important detail. Don't miss that

715
00:36:37,000 --> 00:36:40,279
Speaker 2: they stayed that day. God doesn't call you to have

716
00:36:40,320 --> 00:36:43,799
Speaker 2: the faith to stay for ten years, just that day,

717
00:36:44,760 --> 00:36:48,759
Speaker 2: just that day. You can follow Jesus the whole way.

718
00:36:48,840 --> 00:36:49,640
Speaker 5: That way.

719
00:36:50,360 --> 00:36:53,080
Speaker 2: I talked to somebody who was sober one time. They've

720
00:36:53,080 --> 00:36:54,600
Speaker 2: been sober seven years.

721
00:36:54,920 --> 00:36:58,640
Speaker 1: I met him just this past the Elevation Night's tour.

722
00:36:58,880 --> 00:37:02,240
Speaker 2: They said, I've been sober seven years. I said seven years.

723
00:37:02,239 --> 00:37:05,320
Speaker 2: How they said, No, I didn't stay sober seven years.

724
00:37:05,560 --> 00:37:07,040
Speaker 1: I stayed sober.

725
00:37:07,200 --> 00:37:14,960
Speaker 2: One day and another day, and another day, and another day.

726
00:37:15,840 --> 00:37:16,720
Speaker 1: You see what I'm saying.

727
00:37:16,880 --> 00:37:21,040
Speaker 2: I stayed another day, I stayed another day. That's how

728
00:37:21,080 --> 00:37:23,280
Speaker 2: you do it. You stay another day, Tell your neighbors

729
00:37:23,280 --> 00:37:25,879
Speaker 2: stay another day, stay another day. That's all you got

730
00:37:25,880 --> 00:37:28,000
Speaker 2: to do. You have to forecast out into the future.

731
00:37:28,160 --> 00:37:31,319
Speaker 2: You are losing your strength because you are projecting too

732
00:37:31,440 --> 00:37:35,640
Speaker 2: far into your future. Stay another day, stay another breath,

733
00:37:35,960 --> 00:37:38,279
Speaker 2: stay another moment, Stay another day.

734
00:37:38,320 --> 00:37:40,040
Speaker 1: That's all I've got to do.

735
00:37:40,800 --> 00:37:44,840
Speaker 2: Is stay another day. And that day they stayed with Jesus.

736
00:37:45,520 --> 00:37:49,359
Speaker 2: And the Bible does us so dirty? All John didn

737
00:37:49,400 --> 00:37:53,000
Speaker 2: as dirty. He just completely cuts to the next scene.

738
00:37:54,960 --> 00:37:59,200
Speaker 2: And they stayed with him that day. And they ran

739
00:37:59,280 --> 00:38:02,040
Speaker 2: to Peter and said, we have found the Christ. I

740
00:38:02,080 --> 00:38:06,600
Speaker 2: want to know what happened in that house? What did

741
00:38:06,600 --> 00:38:09,839
Speaker 2: he say? What did he do? We know he didn't

742
00:38:09,880 --> 00:38:12,120
Speaker 2: do a miracle, because the first miracle isn't until John

743
00:38:12,160 --> 00:38:15,320
Speaker 2: chapter two. It says in John chapter two, this was

744
00:38:15,360 --> 00:38:17,319
Speaker 2: the first of the signs that Jesus performed in Cana,

745
00:38:17,360 --> 00:38:19,239
Speaker 2: which is where Nathaniel was from, who we preached about

746
00:38:19,320 --> 00:38:21,600
Speaker 2: last week, who Jesus told, you'll see greater things than these.

747
00:38:21,640 --> 00:38:23,560
Speaker 2: And then the next thing he saw was a miracle

748
00:38:23,600 --> 00:38:27,360
Speaker 2: of water becoming wine in his own hometown at a wedding.

749
00:38:27,800 --> 00:38:29,719
Speaker 2: But he wasn't turning water into wine in that house,

750
00:38:29,719 --> 00:38:32,319
Speaker 2: said day he did that. In John chapter two, they

751
00:38:32,320 --> 00:38:35,000
Speaker 2: weren't drinking wine in the house. What was he saying

752
00:38:35,040 --> 00:38:39,520
Speaker 2: in that house that day? And we don't know except

753
00:38:39,520 --> 00:38:44,759
Speaker 2: that they stayed. And sometimes I can't explain it to you,

754
00:38:44,840 --> 00:38:45,319
Speaker 2: but just.

755
00:38:45,239 --> 00:38:51,560
Speaker 1: By staying, you get to see it. And that true. Chris.

756
00:38:53,280 --> 00:38:54,000
Speaker 1: Where's Chris?

757
00:38:55,960 --> 00:39:00,520
Speaker 2: He'd always in here, been my worship leader for eighteen years.

758
00:39:10,960 --> 00:39:25,520
Speaker 2: He's won two Grammys, had a bunch of babies, you like,

759
00:39:25,560 --> 00:39:28,720
Speaker 2: I said, he had them.

760
00:39:29,080 --> 00:39:31,600
Speaker 1: Bet is right by his side.

761
00:39:33,560 --> 00:39:38,200
Speaker 2: He told me, he told me, he told me, he

762
00:39:38,280 --> 00:39:40,359
Speaker 2: told me about seventeen years ago. I don't care if

763
00:39:40,400 --> 00:39:43,520
Speaker 2: I ever win a Grammy, he said. I don't care

764
00:39:43,520 --> 00:39:47,040
Speaker 2: if I ever get to go on Good Morning America.

765
00:39:47,440 --> 00:39:50,600
Speaker 1: And he's done that too.

766
00:39:51,040 --> 00:39:53,000
Speaker 2: I don't care if I ever have a platinum record,

767
00:39:53,080 --> 00:39:56,040
Speaker 2: gold record, he says. If this so perful, he said,

768
00:39:56,040 --> 00:39:57,359
Speaker 2: I want to see what my life can be if

769
00:39:57,360 --> 00:39:59,040
Speaker 2: I planned it in one place and serve God.

770
00:40:08,600 --> 00:40:11,040
Speaker 1: I'm gonna stop again because my heart is not.

771
00:40:11,440 --> 00:40:14,680
Speaker 2: The heart of just a speaker, but a pastor. I

772
00:40:14,719 --> 00:40:17,520
Speaker 2: am not saying that you were wrong to change jobs.

773
00:40:18,160 --> 00:40:20,399
Speaker 2: I'm not saying that you would be wrong to break

774
00:40:20,480 --> 00:40:23,799
Speaker 2: up with your boyfriend. In fact, some of you need

775
00:40:23,840 --> 00:40:29,600
Speaker 2: to end it with him so you could.

776
00:40:29,440 --> 00:40:30,040
Speaker 1: Stay with him.

777
00:40:33,520 --> 00:40:40,800
Speaker 2: Okay, that'd probably be real confusing if you were listening

778
00:40:40,840 --> 00:40:42,040
Speaker 2: to this and not watching the video.

779
00:40:42,080 --> 00:40:42,520
Speaker 1: Wouldn't it.

780
00:40:44,080 --> 00:40:48,840
Speaker 2: Stay with God? And I thought it was interesting that

781
00:40:50,400 --> 00:40:54,719
Speaker 2: fruit that Chris didn't even care about came to him

782
00:40:54,760 --> 00:40:56,800
Speaker 2: because he stayed planted in what God cares.

783
00:40:56,600 --> 00:41:02,120
Speaker 1: About that day.

784
00:41:03,320 --> 00:41:06,000
Speaker 2: It's almost like there's foreshadowing in this text. They stayed

785
00:41:06,000 --> 00:41:08,000
Speaker 2: with him that day, But what happened the next day, Well,

786
00:41:09,080 --> 00:41:11,480
Speaker 2: the next day he decided to leave for Galilee. They

787
00:41:11,480 --> 00:41:16,520
Speaker 2: found Philip and said follow me, and then they found

788
00:41:16,600 --> 00:41:18,600
Speaker 2: Nathaniel and then they took off and went to the

789
00:41:18,600 --> 00:41:19,440
Speaker 2: wedding and all of that.

790
00:41:21,239 --> 00:41:22,440
Speaker 1: Do you know that more would.

791
00:41:22,200 --> 00:41:27,520
Speaker 4: Be revealed to these disciples through where Jesus stayed then

792
00:41:27,560 --> 00:41:28,320
Speaker 4: where he stepped.

793
00:41:30,200 --> 00:41:33,080
Speaker 2: I was thinking about this because we're in a series

794
00:41:33,120 --> 00:41:37,960
Speaker 2: called Sea King Jesus, right, and these disciples were so

795
00:41:38,080 --> 00:41:42,000
Speaker 2: surprised to see Jesus at a wedding turning water into wine, like, hey, Jesus,

796
00:41:42,040 --> 00:41:43,560
Speaker 2: we got to get out of here. The wine's gone,

797
00:41:43,600 --> 00:41:45,560
Speaker 2: And Jesus is like, now, this is what we came for.

798
00:41:46,760 --> 00:41:48,880
Speaker 2: We showed up to stay after the wine is gone,

799
00:41:48,920 --> 00:41:51,600
Speaker 2: so that after everything seems to be over, we could

800
00:41:51,600 --> 00:41:55,560
Speaker 2: turn what seems to be nothing into something. But then

801
00:41:55,600 --> 00:41:57,879
Speaker 2: their next stop was at the temple where Jesus made

802
00:41:57,880 --> 00:41:59,879
Speaker 2: a whip and started driving out the people who were

803
00:42:00,080 --> 00:42:02,600
Speaker 2: charging the people for an exchange rate and charging them

804
00:42:02,600 --> 00:42:05,080
Speaker 2: for sacrifices and lying the people in the house of God.

805
00:42:05,320 --> 00:42:07,720
Speaker 2: And he said, you're robbing the people instead of praying.

806
00:42:09,239 --> 00:42:12,160
Speaker 2: So now notice this all. In John chapter two, they

807
00:42:12,200 --> 00:42:16,880
Speaker 2: go from wine to whips, And it's the same Jesus

808
00:42:16,880 --> 00:42:22,080
Speaker 2: doing both. And one represents provision and one represents correction.

809
00:42:23,400 --> 00:42:25,160
Speaker 1: And it's the same Jesus doing both.

810
00:42:26,280 --> 00:42:29,520
Speaker 2: And sometimes we'll stay with him through the provision, but

811
00:42:29,640 --> 00:42:33,279
Speaker 2: we won't stay with him through the correction. But it's

812
00:42:33,320 --> 00:42:36,880
Speaker 2: the same shepherd of the stars who orders both. And

813
00:42:36,960 --> 00:42:39,720
Speaker 2: sometimes we will follow God because he's.

814
00:42:39,640 --> 00:42:42,160
Speaker 1: Ordering our steps. Yes, Lord, let me make the right decision.

815
00:42:42,239 --> 00:42:44,319
Speaker 1: Yes Lord, let me make the right investments. Yes Lord,

816
00:42:44,440 --> 00:42:46,320
Speaker 1: let me meet the right people.

817
00:42:46,560 --> 00:42:49,400
Speaker 2: Yes, God, bring the right opportunities, the right scholarships. And

818
00:42:49,480 --> 00:42:51,680
Speaker 2: as long as he's ordering our steps, we're good. But

819
00:42:51,719 --> 00:42:56,080
Speaker 2: what about when he orders your stay? For example, in

820
00:42:56,200 --> 00:42:59,960
Speaker 2: John chapter four, Jesus shows up to a place called Samaria,

821
00:43:00,800 --> 00:43:04,240
Speaker 2: which is a place where the Jews wanted to go around,

822
00:43:04,680 --> 00:43:07,400
Speaker 2: but Jesus went through it. And not only did he

823
00:43:07,480 --> 00:43:11,279
Speaker 2: go directly through Samaria, which was a place of great political, economic,

824
00:43:11,360 --> 00:43:14,359
Speaker 2: and social tension. But the Bible says in John chapter four,

825
00:43:14,440 --> 00:43:16,440
Speaker 2: verse six, that when he got there, his disciples went

826
00:43:16,480 --> 00:43:19,080
Speaker 2: to get lunch, and he sat down on a well

827
00:43:19,920 --> 00:43:21,000
Speaker 2: and stayed.

828
00:43:21,400 --> 00:43:22,359
Speaker 1: In the heat of the day.

829
00:43:23,040 --> 00:43:25,160
Speaker 2: The Bible says at noon or the sixth hour, the

830
00:43:25,200 --> 00:43:29,640
Speaker 2: way they counted, he stayed in the sun waiting for

831
00:43:29,719 --> 00:43:32,359
Speaker 2: a woman who had become an evangelist to.

832
00:43:32,320 --> 00:43:34,440
Speaker 1: The area see it.

833
00:43:34,800 --> 00:43:37,440
Speaker 2: They saw something of him as he walked, but they

834
00:43:37,480 --> 00:43:40,359
Speaker 2: saw even more when he stayed.

835
00:43:42,520 --> 00:43:43,480
Speaker 1: On his way to the temple.

836
00:43:43,480 --> 00:43:46,360
Speaker 2: In John chapter five, he stopped by the pool of Bethesda,

837
00:43:47,000 --> 00:43:48,680
Speaker 2: and there was a man there who had been stuck

838
00:43:48,719 --> 00:43:52,120
Speaker 2: there for thirty eight years. And Jesus, who had more

839
00:43:52,160 --> 00:43:54,400
Speaker 2: important things to do, and more important people to see it,

840
00:43:54,440 --> 00:43:57,520
Speaker 2: more important places to go, he stayed by this man

841
00:43:58,400 --> 00:44:01,640
Speaker 2: until this man was able to walk. You can see

842
00:44:01,640 --> 00:44:04,760
Speaker 2: a lot about the Savior by when he chooses to stay.

843
00:44:04,960 --> 00:44:07,480
Speaker 1: In John chapter six, the multitudes have come.

844
00:44:07,320 --> 00:44:09,200
Speaker 2: To hear him preach, and he taught so long they

845
00:44:09,200 --> 00:44:11,719
Speaker 2: got hungry, and the disciples said they gotta go they

846
00:44:11,760 --> 00:44:13,759
Speaker 2: gotta leave. We gotta get out of here. Man, there's

847
00:44:13,800 --> 00:44:16,320
Speaker 2: not enough food. And Jesus said, no, they can stay.

848
00:44:17,480 --> 00:44:21,279
Speaker 2: They can stay. You don't have to feed him, but

849
00:44:21,360 --> 00:44:24,600
Speaker 2: I'm going to They can stay. You can see a

850
00:44:24,680 --> 00:44:27,360
Speaker 2: lot about a savior who won't turn a hungry soul away.

851
00:44:28,080 --> 00:44:30,200
Speaker 2: You can see a lot about a savior who says, no,

852
00:44:30,400 --> 00:44:32,920
Speaker 2: she can stay. He could stay. I know they made

853
00:44:32,960 --> 00:44:35,399
Speaker 2: some mistakes, but they can stay. I know you didn't

854
00:44:35,440 --> 00:44:37,799
Speaker 2: plan for it, but they can stay. You can see

855
00:44:37,800 --> 00:44:40,040
Speaker 2: a lot about the Savior from where he stays. In

856
00:44:40,120 --> 00:44:42,839
Speaker 2: John chapter seven, when his brothers were like, you gotta

857
00:44:42,880 --> 00:44:44,920
Speaker 2: go up and prove yourself, got to go to one

858
00:44:44,920 --> 00:44:47,520
Speaker 2: of the feast, and Jesus said, no, I'm good in Galilee,

859
00:44:47,560 --> 00:44:49,879
Speaker 2: y'all go, I'm gonna stay. You can tell a lot

860
00:44:50,000 --> 00:44:53,440
Speaker 2: by the Savior from where he stays. In John chapter eight,

861
00:44:53,520 --> 00:44:55,520
Speaker 2: there was a woman who came to him who was

862
00:44:55,600 --> 00:44:58,560
Speaker 2: caught in the act of adult tree, and Jesus, who

863
00:44:58,600 --> 00:45:01,120
Speaker 2: had the right to throw a rock at her and

864
00:45:01,160 --> 00:45:03,880
Speaker 2: punish her by penalty of the law of Moses for

865
00:45:03,920 --> 00:45:06,799
Speaker 2: adulterree got down in the ground. You could tell a

866
00:45:06,800 --> 00:45:11,040
Speaker 2: lot by a savior who stoops and stays in the

867
00:45:11,120 --> 00:45:12,799
Speaker 2: dirt while others.

868
00:45:12,480 --> 00:45:13,680
Speaker 1: Are casting stones.

869
00:45:13,719 --> 00:45:16,120
Speaker 2: You can tell a lot by a savior by where

870
00:45:16,120 --> 00:45:18,919
Speaker 2: he stays. In John chapter nine, there was a man

871
00:45:18,960 --> 00:45:22,239
Speaker 2: who was born blind. He was blind from birth, and

872
00:45:22,360 --> 00:45:25,080
Speaker 2: Jesus said, it's a sabbath, but I'm gonna heal you anyway,

873
00:45:25,280 --> 00:45:28,000
Speaker 2: because I'm going to stay and heal you, even if

874
00:45:28,000 --> 00:45:31,000
Speaker 2: it cost me controversy. You could tell a lot by

875
00:45:31,040 --> 00:45:34,680
Speaker 2: a savior who stays. In John chapter eleven brings us

876
00:45:34,680 --> 00:45:37,880
Speaker 2: to the pinnacle of this message, the faith to stay,

877
00:45:38,320 --> 00:45:41,239
Speaker 2: because the Bible says in John chapter eleven, verse one,

878
00:45:41,360 --> 00:45:45,759
Speaker 2: Now a man named Lazarus was sick. He was from Bethaning,

879
00:45:46,239 --> 00:45:46,960
Speaker 2: the village of.

880
00:45:46,960 --> 00:45:49,080
Speaker 1: Mary and her sister Martha.

881
00:45:49,880 --> 00:45:53,480
Speaker 2: This Mary, whose brother Lazareth now lay sick, was the

882
00:45:53,520 --> 00:45:56,880
Speaker 2: same one who poured perfume on the Lord and wiped

883
00:45:56,920 --> 00:46:01,600
Speaker 2: his feet with her hair. So send word to Jesus, Lord,

884
00:46:01,640 --> 00:46:05,399
Speaker 2: the one you love is sick. And when he heard this,

885
00:46:05,520 --> 00:46:08,759
Speaker 2: Jesus said, this sickness will not end in death. No,

886
00:46:08,920 --> 00:46:12,759
Speaker 2: it is for God's glory, so that God's son may

887
00:46:12,800 --> 00:46:14,719
Speaker 2: be glorified through it.

888
00:46:15,560 --> 00:46:17,560
Speaker 5: Now Jesus loved Martha.

889
00:46:18,160 --> 00:46:24,319
Speaker 2: He loved her sister, and he loved Lazarus, so when

890
00:46:24,360 --> 00:46:31,359
Speaker 2: he heard Lazarus was sick, he stayed where he was two

891
00:46:31,400 --> 00:46:34,520
Speaker 2: more days. You could tell a lot about the Savior

892
00:46:34,560 --> 00:46:37,360
Speaker 2: from where he goes. You could tell a lot about

893
00:46:37,400 --> 00:46:40,560
Speaker 2: the Savior from what he says, But you can tell

894
00:46:40,600 --> 00:46:44,839
Speaker 2: even more about the Savior from where he stays. And

895
00:46:44,920 --> 00:46:48,839
Speaker 2: now we are confused, and we are forgiven for being confused.

896
00:46:48,760 --> 00:46:50,799
Speaker 5: Because why would verse six say?

897
00:46:51,160 --> 00:46:54,960
Speaker 2: He loved them and they needed him, so he stayed

898
00:46:55,360 --> 00:46:58,920
Speaker 2: two more days. Imagine the confusion of John and Andrew.

899
00:46:59,239 --> 00:47:03,040
Speaker 2: Didn't you hear Jesus he's sick? Why are we staying

900
00:47:03,280 --> 00:47:07,080
Speaker 2: when he's sick? And perhaps Jesus pulled John aside, you know,

901
00:47:07,320 --> 00:47:10,080
Speaker 2: because John is the one he loved the most. John

902
00:47:10,160 --> 00:47:13,200
Speaker 2: is the teacher's pet. And maybe he explained to John

903
00:47:13,520 --> 00:47:16,920
Speaker 2: off the record. See if I go while he's sick,

904
00:47:17,239 --> 00:47:18,600
Speaker 2: they will know me as healer.

905
00:47:18,920 --> 00:47:20,800
Speaker 1: But they already know me as healer.

906
00:47:21,280 --> 00:47:24,000
Speaker 2: And there is something I want to show about my

907
00:47:24,200 --> 00:47:28,080
Speaker 2: nature that I can only trust to someone that I love,

908
00:47:29,080 --> 00:47:32,160
Speaker 2: and I know they love me. And since I know

909
00:47:32,280 --> 00:47:37,279
Speaker 2: they love me enough, I can stay here because they

910
00:47:37,320 --> 00:47:39,399
Speaker 2: will love me even if I'm late.

911
00:47:40,160 --> 00:47:41,000
Speaker 1: Abide in me.

912
00:47:41,800 --> 00:47:45,839
Speaker 2: Abide in me, and you will bear much fruit. Abide

913
00:47:45,840 --> 00:47:50,799
Speaker 2: in me through anxiety. Abide in me though friends forsake you.

914
00:47:51,200 --> 00:47:55,239
Speaker 2: Abide in me with sickness in your body. Abide in

915
00:47:55,280 --> 00:48:01,840
Speaker 2: me when the worst things happen. So he's stayed because

916
00:48:01,880 --> 00:48:05,400
Speaker 2: he had faith get ready for this. He had faith

917
00:48:05,480 --> 00:48:09,200
Speaker 2: to know that I can stay two more days. And

918
00:48:09,239 --> 00:48:12,880
Speaker 2: when I show up Jesus, the Son of God, Jesus

919
00:48:12,920 --> 00:48:16,759
Speaker 2: the Lamb of God, Jesus who is the Resurrection new.

920
00:48:17,239 --> 00:48:20,360
Speaker 2: When I get there, I'm going to speak the word.

921
00:48:20,719 --> 00:48:23,640
Speaker 2: And there is enough power in my word that when

922
00:48:23,640 --> 00:48:25,800
Speaker 2: I say Lazarus, get.

923
00:48:25,719 --> 00:48:29,640
Speaker 5: Up, he can't stay. So I have faith to stay

924
00:48:29,719 --> 00:48:30,560
Speaker 5: right where I.

925
00:48:30,480 --> 00:48:34,120
Speaker 2: Am, because when I say his name, he's coming.

926
00:48:33,920 --> 00:48:46,439
Speaker 1: Out off the grain. We could have had church right there,

927
00:48:46,440 --> 00:48:47,279
Speaker 1: but you missed your Q.

928
00:48:49,040 --> 00:48:52,080
Speaker 5: God is not staying away.

929
00:48:51,800 --> 00:48:55,080
Speaker 2: In your situation because he forgot about you.

930
00:48:55,960 --> 00:48:57,239
Speaker 1: God did not.

931
00:48:57,360 --> 00:49:01,319
Speaker 2: Get lost on the way to Bethany. Jesus did not

932
00:49:01,560 --> 00:49:06,640
Speaker 2: have bad cell signal and and unfortunately not get your message.

933
00:49:07,080 --> 00:49:10,520
Speaker 2: There are times in your life that God shows his

934
00:49:10,760 --> 00:49:13,640
Speaker 2: love for you by the fact that he trusts you

935
00:49:13,800 --> 00:49:19,040
Speaker 2: enough to stay. He knows you will stay, He knows

936
00:49:19,120 --> 00:49:23,000
Speaker 2: you are like job. They will not curse God no

937
00:49:23,080 --> 00:49:26,440
Speaker 2: matter what afflicts their life. They will not walk away

938
00:49:26,480 --> 00:49:29,560
Speaker 2: from Me, no matter who walks away from them. And

939
00:49:29,760 --> 00:49:38,160
Speaker 2: God knows those who have faith to stay.

940
00:49:42,280 --> 00:49:55,959
Speaker 7: So God, God faith to stay, because Jesus have faith.

941
00:49:57,480 --> 00:50:02,239
Speaker 2: To stay on the cross Us when he could have

942
00:50:02,280 --> 00:50:08,759
Speaker 2: called legions of angels, and Peter said, don't you have

943
00:50:08,920 --> 00:50:12,160
Speaker 2: enough fight faith to fight back Jesus? And Jesus said,

944
00:50:12,160 --> 00:50:17,080
Speaker 2: don't you have enough faith to stay? Don't you have

945
00:50:17,200 --> 00:50:23,560
Speaker 2: enough faith to trust me in this situation? And I

946
00:50:23,800 --> 00:50:28,120
Speaker 2: believe that the greatest faith in this room today is

947
00:50:28,160 --> 00:50:31,000
Speaker 2: in the faith that somebody asked.

948
00:50:31,760 --> 00:50:36,120
Speaker 7: To stay, to stay abide.

949
00:50:37,560 --> 00:50:42,080
Speaker 1: They stayed with him that day. By the way, when

950
00:50:42,160 --> 00:50:46,719
Speaker 1: Jesus went to the cross, only one stayed. His name

951
00:50:46,800 --> 00:50:50,600
Speaker 1: was John, the one who wrote it had the.

952
00:50:50,520 --> 00:50:52,000
Speaker 7: Faith to stay.

953
00:50:52,360 --> 00:50:55,080
Speaker 1: You celebrate Peter who got out the walk on the water. Great.

954
00:50:56,080 --> 00:50:58,239
Speaker 2: I celebrate John who had the faith to stay at

955
00:50:58,239 --> 00:51:08,560
Speaker 2: the foot of the cross. Want everyone's standing, heads bowed

956
00:51:08,560 --> 00:51:14,359
Speaker 2: and eyes closed. Father God, we receive your word today.

957
00:51:15,200 --> 00:51:20,799
Speaker 2: You are an amazing God. You are an incredible God.

958
00:51:20,840 --> 00:51:23,360
Speaker 2: You are a wonder working God that never changes.

959
00:51:25,280 --> 00:51:29,560
Speaker 1: I bless you today, God, because you stayed.

960
00:51:29,320 --> 00:51:34,239
Speaker 2: By my side so many seasons where others left, and

961
00:51:34,280 --> 00:51:39,240
Speaker 2: you stay. My prayer today is for someone whose branches

962
00:51:39,280 --> 00:51:44,160
Speaker 2: are being shaken by the storm of their life, someone

963
00:51:44,160 --> 00:51:47,280
Speaker 2: who may have moved to that John chapter eleven.

964
00:51:47,320 --> 00:51:47,640
Speaker 1: Moment.

965
00:51:49,320 --> 00:51:54,200
Speaker 2: I pray that you would give them the faith to stay.

966
00:51:55,120 --> 00:51:57,319
Speaker 2: I thank you that you called Peter the Rock long

967
00:51:57,360 --> 00:52:00,720
Speaker 2: before he ever was, because you knew that your purpose

968
00:52:00,760 --> 00:52:06,200
Speaker 2: for him would stay. Lord, I thank you today that

969
00:52:06,280 --> 00:52:10,520
Speaker 2: there is a name that when that name is mentioned,

970
00:52:11,680 --> 00:52:21,759
Speaker 2: dead things come alive. So Lord, we want to take

971
00:52:21,880 --> 00:52:26,240
Speaker 2: just a moment and look at the lamb of God,

972
00:52:27,640 --> 00:52:31,600
Speaker 2: the one who is worthy of all praise, the one

973
00:52:31,600 --> 00:52:34,239
Speaker 2: who is worthy of all worship, the one whose name

974
00:52:35,000 --> 00:52:39,920
Speaker 2: never fails, the one who went to the grave on Friday,

975
00:52:40,719 --> 00:52:42,160
Speaker 2: stayed on Saturday, and.

976
00:52:42,080 --> 00:52:45,720
Speaker 1: Got up on Sunday. God give us that Saturday faith

977
00:52:45,800 --> 00:52:46,760
Speaker 1: to stay. Today.

978
00:52:47,800 --> 00:52:50,440
Speaker 2: We want to see King Jesus high and lift it up.

979
00:52:51,360 --> 00:52:52,960
Speaker 1: We want to see King Jesus.

980
00:52:53,000 --> 00:52:58,000
Speaker 2: But we're looking at the lamb of God today, heads bowed,

981
00:52:58,040 --> 00:52:59,000
Speaker 2: eyes closed all.

982
00:52:58,920 --> 00:52:59,640
Speaker 1: Over this room.

983
00:53:00,120 --> 00:53:03,200
Speaker 2: I believe there is someone today who God is giving

984
00:53:03,239 --> 00:53:04,960
Speaker 2: you the opportunity to become.

985
00:53:04,760 --> 00:53:06,440
Speaker 1: A follower of Jesus Christ.

986
00:53:07,160 --> 00:53:08,920
Speaker 2: And I want to invite you right now, by the

987
00:53:08,920 --> 00:53:11,760
Speaker 2: power of the Holy Spirit, in the name of Jesus,

988
00:53:12,280 --> 00:53:14,720
Speaker 2: on the authority of the Word of God, to place

989
00:53:14,840 --> 00:53:17,480
Speaker 2: your faith in Jesus, to make that.

990
00:53:17,480 --> 00:53:20,480
Speaker 1: First step of faith, to become a follower of Christ.

991
00:53:20,800 --> 00:53:21,759
Speaker 1: And you know when you.

992
00:53:21,800 --> 00:53:24,600
Speaker 2: Make that step of faith, you're not stepping out on

993
00:53:24,640 --> 00:53:27,239
Speaker 2: your own. The Spirit of God comes in to be

994
00:53:27,320 --> 00:53:30,520
Speaker 2: your helper. The spirit that raised Jesus from the dead.

995
00:53:31,080 --> 00:53:34,399
Speaker 2: The blood of Jesus Christ that pardons all sin, will

996
00:53:34,400 --> 00:53:37,600
Speaker 2: come and wash your soul and make you a new creation.

997
00:53:38,040 --> 00:53:39,480
Speaker 1: Has bowed eyes closed.

998
00:53:39,520 --> 00:53:42,279
Speaker 2: You say that's me today, Pastor Stephen. I believe the

999
00:53:42,280 --> 00:53:45,040
Speaker 2: Lord is calling me to this moment to follow him.

1000
00:53:45,280 --> 00:53:47,680
Speaker 2: Or maybe I have fallen away. There was a time

1001
00:53:47,719 --> 00:53:51,120
Speaker 2: I was following Christ. But today I'm coming back. If

1002
00:53:51,120 --> 00:53:53,560
Speaker 2: that's you, we're going to pray a prayer right now.

1003
00:53:53,760 --> 00:53:56,799
Speaker 2: We're praying it out loud as a church family for

1004
00:53:56,920 --> 00:53:59,520
Speaker 2: the benefit of those who are coming to God. Are

1005
00:53:59,520 --> 00:54:02,720
Speaker 2: coming back to God. Repeat after me, Church, Heavenly Father,

1006
00:54:03,920 --> 00:54:09,920
Speaker 2: today is my day of salvation. I am a sinner

1007
00:54:10,760 --> 00:54:15,160
Speaker 2: in need of a savior, and I believe that Jesus

1008
00:54:15,280 --> 00:54:19,480
Speaker 2: Christ is the Son of God and the savior of

1009
00:54:19,520 --> 00:54:20,279
Speaker 2: the world.

1010
00:54:20,920 --> 00:54:26,120
Speaker 5: And today I make Jesus the Lord of my life.

1011
00:54:26,200 --> 00:54:30,120
Speaker 2: I believe he died that I would be forgiven and

1012
00:54:30,239 --> 00:54:36,040
Speaker 2: rose again to give me life. I receive this new life.

1013
00:54:36,880 --> 00:54:42,520
Speaker 2: This is my new beginning. I am a child of God.

1014
00:54:43,200 --> 00:54:45,239
Speaker 2: On the count of three shoots your hand in the ear.

1015
00:54:45,280 --> 00:54:51,120
Speaker 2: If you prayed that one, two, three celebrates you right now.

1016
00:54:51,040 --> 00:54:51,840
Speaker 5: Praise the Lord.

1017
00:54:53,480 --> 00:54:54,280
Speaker 1: Praise the Lord.

1018
00:54:54,320 --> 00:54:56,400
Speaker 2: Everybody.

1019
00:54:58,320 --> 00:55:00,920
Speaker 3: Hey, I hope you enjoyed the podcast, and if you did,

1020
00:55:01,440 --> 00:55:04,040
Speaker 3: make sure to share it and subscribe so we can

1021
00:55:04,080 --> 00:55:06,680
Speaker 3: get you all of these new messages as soon as

1022
00:55:06,680 --> 00:55:09,480
Speaker 3: they're available. I also want to take a moment and

1023
00:55:09,560 --> 00:55:11,360
Speaker 3: thank all of you who are a part of Elevation.

1024
00:55:11,880 --> 00:55:15,200
Speaker 3: Whether you support us financially, or serve with us, or

1025
00:55:15,600 --> 00:55:18,319
Speaker 3: just share these messages, it's because of you that we're

1026
00:55:18,320 --> 00:55:21,279
Speaker 3: able to reach people all around the world. And if

1027
00:55:21,280 --> 00:55:23,799
Speaker 3: you want more information on how to be a part

1028
00:55:23,800 --> 00:55:27,719
Speaker 3: of Elevation, click the link in the description. Thanks again

1029
00:55:27,760 --> 00:55:30,719
Speaker 3: for listening. Make sure to leave a review, share the message,

1030
00:55:30,760 --> 00:55:31,600
Speaker 3: and subscribe.

1031
00:55:31,880 --> 00:55:41,240
Speaker 1: God bless you.