1 00:00:01,560 --> 00:00:02,840 Speaker 1: Hey, this is Stephen Ferdick. 2 00:00:02,840 --> 00:00:05,840 Speaker 2: I'm the pastor of Elevation Church and this is our podcast. 3 00:00:05,920 --> 00:00:08,280 Speaker 1: I wanted to thank you for joining us today. Help 4 00:00:08,360 --> 00:00:10,719 Speaker 1: this inspires you. Hope it builds your faith. 5 00:00:10,800 --> 00:00:12,880 Speaker 2: Hope it gives your perspective to see God has moving 6 00:00:12,920 --> 00:00:13,440 Speaker 2: in your life. 7 00:00:13,880 --> 00:00:19,079 Speaker 3: Enjoy the message I'm going to be preaching from Acts 8 00:00:19,280 --> 00:00:22,720 Speaker 3: chapter nine, starting in verse thirty two. If you don't 9 00:00:22,720 --> 00:00:24,439 Speaker 3: have a Bible, we'll have it right here on the 10 00:00:24,480 --> 00:00:25,279 Speaker 3: screens for you. 11 00:00:25,360 --> 00:00:25,920 Speaker 4: It says this. 12 00:00:27,320 --> 00:00:30,120 Speaker 3: As Peter traveled about the country, he went to visit 13 00:00:30,160 --> 00:00:33,240 Speaker 3: the Lord's people who lived in Lida. There he found 14 00:00:33,240 --> 00:00:36,279 Speaker 3: a man named Annius who was paralyzed and had been 15 00:00:36,320 --> 00:00:37,760 Speaker 3: bedridden for eight years. 16 00:00:38,040 --> 00:00:41,839 Speaker 4: Annius, Peter said to him, Jesus Christ heals you. 17 00:00:41,880 --> 00:00:45,720 Speaker 3: Get up, roll up your mat, and immediately Annius got up, 18 00:00:45,840 --> 00:00:48,600 Speaker 3: and all those who lived in Lida and Sharon saw 19 00:00:48,720 --> 00:00:52,000 Speaker 3: him and turned to the Lord. In Jappa, there was 20 00:00:52,040 --> 00:00:54,960 Speaker 3: a disciple named Tabitha. In her name in Greek, her 21 00:00:55,000 --> 00:00:58,320 Speaker 3: name is Dorcas. She was always doing good and helping 22 00:00:58,360 --> 00:01:01,560 Speaker 3: the poor. About that time she became sick and died, 23 00:01:02,040 --> 00:01:05,319 Speaker 3: and her body was washed and placed in an upstairs room. 24 00:01:05,640 --> 00:01:07,119 Speaker 4: Lida was near Joppa. 25 00:01:07,600 --> 00:01:09,960 Speaker 3: So when the disciples heard that Peter was in Lida, 26 00:01:10,160 --> 00:01:13,000 Speaker 3: they sent two men to him and urged him please 27 00:01:13,319 --> 00:01:16,400 Speaker 3: come at once. Peter went with them, and when he 28 00:01:16,520 --> 00:01:18,720 Speaker 3: arrived he was taken upstairs to the room. 29 00:01:19,360 --> 00:01:20,800 Speaker 4: All the widows stood. 30 00:01:20,560 --> 00:01:23,600 Speaker 3: Around him, crying and showing him the robes and other 31 00:01:23,680 --> 00:01:26,319 Speaker 3: clothing that Dorcas had made while she was still with them. 32 00:01:27,160 --> 00:01:29,440 Speaker 3: Peter sent them all out of the room, and then 33 00:01:29,480 --> 00:01:32,600 Speaker 3: he got down on his knees and prayed, and turning 34 00:01:32,640 --> 00:01:35,960 Speaker 3: toward the dead woman, he said, Tabitha, get up, and 35 00:01:36,000 --> 00:01:38,479 Speaker 3: she opened her eyes, and seeing Peter, she sat up. 36 00:01:38,800 --> 00:01:40,720 Speaker 3: He took her by the hand and helped her to 37 00:01:40,760 --> 00:01:44,280 Speaker 3: her feet. Then he called the believers, especially the widows, 38 00:01:44,440 --> 00:01:49,640 Speaker 3: and presented her to them alive. This became known all 39 00:01:49,760 --> 00:01:54,040 Speaker 3: over Joppa, and many people believed in the Lord. 40 00:01:54,120 --> 00:01:55,120 Speaker 4: Let me pray for us. 41 00:01:55,320 --> 00:01:59,840 Speaker 3: Lord, thank you for this beautiful day that is before us. 42 00:02:00,640 --> 00:02:03,360 Speaker 3: We thank you for all of the women in our 43 00:02:03,440 --> 00:02:07,040 Speaker 3: lives who have touched us in some way, every woman 44 00:02:07,240 --> 00:02:11,320 Speaker 3: who is nurtured and comfort and encouraged and believed in us. 45 00:02:11,320 --> 00:02:15,280 Speaker 3: And I pray for every person on Mother's Day who's hurting. Lord, 46 00:02:15,320 --> 00:02:17,880 Speaker 3: I know under the sound of my voice, that there 47 00:02:17,919 --> 00:02:20,720 Speaker 3: are some who are longing to be a mother today, 48 00:02:20,760 --> 00:02:24,519 Speaker 3: that there's someone who is missing their mom today, or maybe. 49 00:02:24,320 --> 00:02:26,560 Speaker 4: A mom who is praying for their child. 50 00:02:26,600 --> 00:02:29,800 Speaker 3: Lord, may they know you today as the God of 51 00:02:30,000 --> 00:02:31,160 Speaker 3: all comfort. 52 00:02:32,040 --> 00:02:35,919 Speaker 4: God. We've gathered here today to hear from you. That's 53 00:02:36,120 --> 00:02:39,919 Speaker 4: why we came. We're ready to receive what you have 54 00:02:40,040 --> 00:02:46,200 Speaker 4: to say. In Jesus' name. Amen. All right, Well, it's 55 00:02:46,200 --> 00:02:46,799 Speaker 4: Mother's Day. 56 00:02:47,600 --> 00:02:50,720 Speaker 3: Case you forgot, and I would like to take the 57 00:02:50,720 --> 00:02:52,959 Speaker 3: opportunity to pick on my own children for a minute. 58 00:02:54,400 --> 00:02:59,079 Speaker 4: You see, all three of my kids now each have 59 00:02:59,320 --> 00:03:01,880 Speaker 4: their own phone. 60 00:03:02,080 --> 00:03:04,320 Speaker 3: I know that's kind of a debate about how old 61 00:03:04,480 --> 00:03:06,119 Speaker 3: the kids should be when they get a phone. Blah 62 00:03:06,120 --> 00:03:10,679 Speaker 3: blah blahlaf just eighteen Graandm's sixteen Abvius thirteen. And as 63 00:03:10,720 --> 00:03:14,880 Speaker 3: a mom, it is really comforting to be able to 64 00:03:15,040 --> 00:03:19,280 Speaker 3: communicate with and track my children at any moment of 65 00:03:19,320 --> 00:03:19,720 Speaker 3: the day. 66 00:03:20,160 --> 00:03:21,200 Speaker 4: Amn moms. 67 00:03:21,560 --> 00:03:26,960 Speaker 3: Okay, but I am realizing that this also works both ways, 68 00:03:27,720 --> 00:03:30,560 Speaker 3: because if I can communicate with them and track them 69 00:03:30,600 --> 00:03:33,440 Speaker 3: at any moment of the day, then that means that 70 00:03:33,520 --> 00:03:39,280 Speaker 3: they also can communicate with me. Only there's three of them, 71 00:03:40,120 --> 00:03:44,120 Speaker 3: so you see the problem with this is that they 72 00:03:44,160 --> 00:03:48,600 Speaker 3: do not understand that every time I see their name 73 00:03:48,760 --> 00:03:52,560 Speaker 3: pop up on my phone, I feel a lot of things. 74 00:03:53,440 --> 00:03:57,520 Speaker 3: I feel happy, I feel scared, I feel excited, and 75 00:03:57,560 --> 00:04:01,200 Speaker 3: I feel annoyed all at once. My mind starts to 76 00:04:01,320 --> 00:04:03,040 Speaker 3: race are they okay? 77 00:04:03,120 --> 00:04:05,880 Speaker 4: Are they in trouble? Did they forget something? Do they 78 00:04:05,960 --> 00:04:10,320 Speaker 4: need me? And some days it feels like that is 79 00:04:10,360 --> 00:04:11,480 Speaker 4: my full time job. 80 00:04:11,840 --> 00:04:16,880 Speaker 3: It's just fielding questions that are an emergency to them. 81 00:04:16,240 --> 00:04:19,000 Speaker 4: But not necessarily to me. Here are a few things. 82 00:04:18,720 --> 00:04:20,880 Speaker 3: That I went back and saw that my kids have 83 00:04:20,960 --> 00:04:23,320 Speaker 3: texted me. Can you sign me out of school early? 84 00:04:23,520 --> 00:04:25,880 Speaker 3: Can you give me more Snapchat time? What's for dinner? 85 00:04:25,920 --> 00:04:27,919 Speaker 3: Can we go to Starbucks? Where are you? Where are 86 00:04:27,960 --> 00:04:31,000 Speaker 3: my car keys? Can I go to Can my friend 87 00:04:31,040 --> 00:04:31,640 Speaker 3: come over? 88 00:04:32,640 --> 00:04:36,679 Speaker 4: Now? Here is one code that I have cracked. If 89 00:04:37,040 --> 00:04:39,600 Speaker 4: they say how's your day going? 90 00:04:43,040 --> 00:04:45,960 Speaker 3: It is almost always followed up by can I have 91 00:04:46,040 --> 00:04:46,560 Speaker 3: some money? 92 00:04:49,480 --> 00:04:53,800 Speaker 4: But the worst one, the one that I just cannot. 93 00:04:53,240 --> 00:04:56,240 Speaker 3: Decipher no matter how hard I try, The one that 94 00:04:56,320 --> 00:05:00,520 Speaker 3: makes my heart drop is when they text me one 95 00:05:00,839 --> 00:05:07,479 Speaker 3: word in all caps M Now. If I texted my 96 00:05:07,680 --> 00:05:11,280 Speaker 3: husband his name in all caps st V E in 97 00:05:12,000 --> 00:05:17,720 Speaker 3: that is code for B A D. But to teenagers 98 00:05:18,400 --> 00:05:21,560 Speaker 3: everything is an emergency. So when I see my name 99 00:05:21,600 --> 00:05:24,080 Speaker 3: in all cops my mind, you know, are they okay? 100 00:05:24,080 --> 00:05:29,440 Speaker 3: Are they in troublesomeone hurt? But in reality, mom can 101 00:05:29,440 --> 00:05:32,240 Speaker 3: be followed up by Sephoras having a big sale. 102 00:05:32,240 --> 00:05:32,640 Speaker 4: Can we go? 103 00:05:35,240 --> 00:05:39,920 Speaker 3: Or Mom, I just backed into our neighbor's mailbox? 104 00:05:41,080 --> 00:05:42,680 Speaker 4: Or where's the hot sauce? 105 00:05:43,279 --> 00:05:47,679 Speaker 3: Or Mom, the TV fell off the console and it's cracked. 106 00:05:48,480 --> 00:05:49,680 Speaker 4: Real life examples. 107 00:05:50,960 --> 00:05:53,320 Speaker 3: So after a full day of this, God blessed the 108 00:05:53,400 --> 00:05:57,120 Speaker 3: child who texts me next, because if I see Elijah 109 00:05:57,160 --> 00:06:00,160 Speaker 3: Graham or Abby's name come up on my phone, I 110 00:06:00,200 --> 00:06:06,040 Speaker 3: am going to automatically reply with now what All right? 111 00:06:06,040 --> 00:06:07,960 Speaker 4: If you're taking notes, the title. 112 00:06:07,680 --> 00:06:14,560 Speaker 3: Of my message today is now what. Life can often seem. 113 00:06:14,360 --> 00:06:17,279 Speaker 4: Like a series of now what. 114 00:06:18,720 --> 00:06:21,760 Speaker 3: We've been in the most incredible series called ghost Writer. 115 00:06:21,880 --> 00:06:23,520 Speaker 4: Have you been loving this? Stephen? 116 00:06:26,080 --> 00:06:28,719 Speaker 3: Stephen has been taking us through some of the stories 117 00:06:28,720 --> 00:06:30,600 Speaker 3: in the Book of Acts to show us that we 118 00:06:30,640 --> 00:06:34,359 Speaker 3: have a divine director called the Holy Spirit, and he 119 00:06:34,520 --> 00:06:38,960 Speaker 3: is writing our story and we can trust the one 120 00:06:39,040 --> 00:06:42,680 Speaker 3: who has final cut over our lives. Babe, you have 121 00:06:42,880 --> 00:06:44,440 Speaker 3: been on fire. 122 00:06:49,279 --> 00:06:51,720 Speaker 4: You had me from the very first sermon. 123 00:06:51,400 --> 00:06:54,120 Speaker 3: Which was called Page Turner. I've been so into this 124 00:06:54,200 --> 00:06:58,960 Speaker 3: series because I live for stories. I love to hear stories, 125 00:06:59,000 --> 00:07:01,279 Speaker 3: I love to read stories, I love to watch stories. 126 00:07:01,320 --> 00:07:03,640 Speaker 4: I love to talk about stories. So I even started 127 00:07:03,640 --> 00:07:06,880 Speaker 4: my own book club. If you like to read, go 128 00:07:06,920 --> 00:07:08,840 Speaker 4: to Hollyfordick dot com. We love for you to join us. 129 00:07:09,440 --> 00:07:13,560 Speaker 3: But I think that my favorite kind of story is 130 00:07:13,600 --> 00:07:18,000 Speaker 3: the one where the main character is face with a 131 00:07:18,240 --> 00:07:23,840 Speaker 3: seemingly insurmountable situation, yet somehow they overcome it. 132 00:07:23,880 --> 00:07:25,280 Speaker 4: Do you like those kind of stories? 133 00:07:26,040 --> 00:07:28,360 Speaker 3: In my book club, we read a book called The 134 00:07:28,520 --> 00:07:32,960 Speaker 3: Choice by Holocaust survivor named doctor Edith Eager, and I 135 00:07:33,040 --> 00:07:36,600 Speaker 3: got to interview her thanks to Ashley Tucker, who went 136 00:07:36,800 --> 00:07:42,400 Speaker 3: absolute private eye into the depths of social media. Turns 137 00:07:42,440 --> 00:07:46,120 Speaker 3: out doctor Eager's granddaughter in law happened to. 138 00:07:46,120 --> 00:07:47,720 Speaker 4: Be Ashley's sorority sister. 139 00:07:50,920 --> 00:07:53,160 Speaker 3: I still cannot believe I got to interview this woman. 140 00:07:53,800 --> 00:07:55,440 Speaker 4: She is a real life hero. 141 00:07:55,600 --> 00:07:59,840 Speaker 3: Here's a picture of us chatting on Instagram Live. So 142 00:08:00,320 --> 00:08:05,800 Speaker 3: doctor Edith survived the Nazi concentration camp Auschwitz, and she 143 00:08:05,920 --> 00:08:09,400 Speaker 3: eventually immigrated to the United States, and in her book 144 00:08:09,520 --> 00:08:12,760 Speaker 3: she chronicles not just her journey to survive Auschwitz but 145 00:08:12,840 --> 00:08:17,720 Speaker 3: to find life afterwards, and the book brilliantly talks about 146 00:08:17,760 --> 00:08:20,200 Speaker 3: dealing with PTSD and trauma. 147 00:08:20,280 --> 00:08:20,840 Speaker 4: And one of my. 148 00:08:20,920 --> 00:08:25,400 Speaker 3: Favorite quotes from her book is this She says, survivors 149 00:08:25,840 --> 00:08:32,880 Speaker 3: don't have time to ask why me. For survivors, she says, 150 00:08:33,240 --> 00:08:36,120 Speaker 3: the only relevant question. 151 00:08:36,080 --> 00:08:37,960 Speaker 4: Is what now? 152 00:08:39,240 --> 00:08:39,400 Speaker 3: What? 153 00:08:39,520 --> 00:08:39,840 Speaker 1: Now? 154 00:08:40,559 --> 00:08:40,840 Speaker 4: Now what? 155 00:08:41,960 --> 00:08:44,320 Speaker 3: And I feel like many of us are sitting in 156 00:08:44,360 --> 00:08:48,760 Speaker 3: a now what moment today, just like Peter was when 157 00:08:48,800 --> 00:08:51,199 Speaker 3: he was asked to raise a. 158 00:08:51,280 --> 00:08:52,760 Speaker 4: Woman from the dead. 159 00:08:53,880 --> 00:08:56,280 Speaker 3: When we read the Bible, I feel like we really 160 00:08:56,360 --> 00:09:00,200 Speaker 3: need to slow down because we read this verse Peter 161 00:09:00,440 --> 00:09:01,720 Speaker 3: sent them all out of the room. 162 00:09:01,760 --> 00:09:02,600 Speaker 4: This is verse forty. 163 00:09:02,960 --> 00:09:04,760 Speaker 3: Peter sent them all out of the room. Then he 164 00:09:04,800 --> 00:09:07,000 Speaker 3: got down on his knees and prayed. Turning toward the 165 00:09:07,040 --> 00:09:10,559 Speaker 3: dead woman, he said, Tabitha, get up. She opened her 166 00:09:10,600 --> 00:09:11,719 Speaker 3: eyes and seeing. 167 00:09:11,480 --> 00:09:12,520 Speaker 4: Peter, she sat up. 168 00:09:13,960 --> 00:09:17,600 Speaker 3: Can we stop and just say knowledge that that's not normal? 169 00:09:18,640 --> 00:09:21,240 Speaker 4: I mean, sure it happened in the Bible, but really 170 00:09:21,280 --> 00:09:21,960 Speaker 4: not that much. 171 00:09:22,040 --> 00:09:22,120 Speaker 3: It. 172 00:09:22,240 --> 00:09:24,600 Speaker 4: Actually, there's several times that it happened. 173 00:09:24,640 --> 00:09:29,400 Speaker 3: Elijah did it once, Elisha did it twice, Jesus did 174 00:09:29,440 --> 00:09:32,559 Speaker 3: it three times. But this is new to Peter, he's 175 00:09:32,679 --> 00:09:36,800 Speaker 3: never raised a dead person to life. Now, if you 176 00:09:36,920 --> 00:09:39,720 Speaker 3: missed the sermon last week, you missed a really important 177 00:09:39,760 --> 00:09:42,760 Speaker 3: message because it's centered around this idea that the Holy 178 00:09:42,840 --> 00:09:46,000 Speaker 3: Spirit is the director of our story and he has 179 00:09:46,280 --> 00:09:49,480 Speaker 3: the final cut in the story of our lives. 180 00:09:49,640 --> 00:09:53,040 Speaker 4: And therefore we can believe and cling to that nothing 181 00:09:53,160 --> 00:09:56,400 Speaker 4: can happen to us that does not first pass through 182 00:09:56,400 --> 00:09:58,880 Speaker 4: the hands of our sovereign God. 183 00:10:00,080 --> 00:10:03,840 Speaker 3: And that is what you brilliantly taught us last week. 184 00:10:04,080 --> 00:10:06,040 Speaker 4: This week, I want to show you. 185 00:10:05,960 --> 00:10:10,800 Speaker 3: That the story is pretty much always the same. The 186 00:10:10,960 --> 00:10:17,200 Speaker 3: character faces a problem, the outcome of the story is 187 00:10:17,280 --> 00:10:23,520 Speaker 3: determined by how you the character respond to your problem. 188 00:10:24,040 --> 00:10:24,440 Speaker 4: Is it okay? 189 00:10:24,440 --> 00:10:26,880 Speaker 3: If I go seventh grade language arts teacher on you 190 00:10:26,920 --> 00:10:28,440 Speaker 3: for a second, you might not know this about me. 191 00:10:28,800 --> 00:10:31,920 Speaker 4: I taught middle school for two very long years. 192 00:10:32,600 --> 00:10:36,560 Speaker 3: And just in case you are not paying attention in 193 00:10:36,720 --> 00:10:41,040 Speaker 3: seventh grade English, I want to remind you today that 194 00:10:41,360 --> 00:10:46,880 Speaker 3: every good story, every book, every movie, TV show, they 195 00:10:46,960 --> 00:10:50,280 Speaker 3: always follow pretty much the same sequence. 196 00:10:50,320 --> 00:10:52,840 Speaker 4: Now, Babe, as you can see, I borrowed your screen. 197 00:10:52,920 --> 00:10:54,760 Speaker 3: We flipped it, but I promise I'm going to put 198 00:10:54,760 --> 00:10:56,439 Speaker 3: it back the way that I found it. 199 00:10:56,760 --> 00:10:58,320 Speaker 4: For whenever you want to use it next. 200 00:10:58,360 --> 00:11:05,760 Speaker 3: So every starts out with an introduction. This is where 201 00:11:05,760 --> 00:11:09,440 Speaker 3: you meet the main characters and maybe establish the setting. 202 00:11:09,800 --> 00:11:14,240 Speaker 3: Then we have what's called watch this is going to 203 00:11:14,280 --> 00:11:20,960 Speaker 3: do something cool, the inciting incident. This is where the 204 00:11:21,000 --> 00:11:26,439 Speaker 3: main character is faced with a problem. This is the 205 00:11:26,559 --> 00:11:31,880 Speaker 3: now what moment. Then we have the rising action. That's 206 00:11:32,120 --> 00:11:34,439 Speaker 3: all the things that the character has to learn, or 207 00:11:34,559 --> 00:11:37,640 Speaker 3: the relationships that he has to form, or the training 208 00:11:37,679 --> 00:11:41,599 Speaker 3: that he has to do in order to overcome the situation. 209 00:11:42,320 --> 00:11:45,520 Speaker 3: Then we get to the climax, the moment that everything 210 00:11:45,559 --> 00:11:49,080 Speaker 3: has been building toward. The good guy beats the bad guy, 211 00:11:49,200 --> 00:11:50,680 Speaker 3: they discover the solution. 212 00:11:51,480 --> 00:11:55,640 Speaker 4: Then we have the falling action, and then the resolution. 213 00:11:56,320 --> 00:12:01,800 Speaker 3: The story is the constant part. That's the part that 214 00:12:02,000 --> 00:12:07,920 Speaker 3: doesn't change. That's also the part that is mostly outside. 215 00:12:07,520 --> 00:12:08,319 Speaker 4: Of your control. 216 00:12:08,600 --> 00:12:12,360 Speaker 3: Sure you have some choice in the cast of characters 217 00:12:12,400 --> 00:12:13,400 Speaker 3: in the setting. 218 00:12:13,080 --> 00:12:14,240 Speaker 4: But not always. 219 00:12:14,280 --> 00:12:16,640 Speaker 3: I mean, you don't get to pick the family that 220 00:12:16,720 --> 00:12:18,920 Speaker 3: you're born into or the town that you're raised, and 221 00:12:19,200 --> 00:12:22,920 Speaker 3: you certainly don't get to pick the problems that you face. 222 00:12:23,760 --> 00:12:36,120 Speaker 4: This right here is called life. 223 00:12:36,280 --> 00:12:40,120 Speaker 3: And if you think that following Jesus means that you 224 00:12:40,280 --> 00:12:45,319 Speaker 3: get to be exempt from this, You're gonna be really disappointed. 225 00:12:46,800 --> 00:12:49,840 Speaker 4: This is life, this is human. 226 00:12:51,320 --> 00:12:56,559 Speaker 3: Following Jesus means that you never have to walk through 227 00:12:56,720 --> 00:13:00,559 Speaker 3: this alone. 228 00:13:03,800 --> 00:13:11,640 Speaker 4: But this guy, this is the variable. 229 00:13:13,320 --> 00:13:16,760 Speaker 3: This is the part that can take the story in 230 00:13:16,800 --> 00:13:23,440 Speaker 3: any direction. How will she or he respond to the problem? 231 00:13:23,520 --> 00:13:25,760 Speaker 4: Now, what will they do? 232 00:13:26,520 --> 00:13:28,680 Speaker 3: And in this series, we're in the first Book of 233 00:13:28,760 --> 00:13:32,120 Speaker 3: Acts and we're watching the story of the Church unfold 234 00:13:32,320 --> 00:13:35,160 Speaker 3: through perhaps one of the most epic characters in the 235 00:13:35,160 --> 00:13:36,360 Speaker 3: Bible named Peter. 236 00:13:36,720 --> 00:13:40,959 Speaker 4: And Peter has had his fair share of now what moments. 237 00:13:41,280 --> 00:13:45,319 Speaker 4: Last week Peter not Peter. Last week Pastor Stephen said that. 238 00:13:45,360 --> 00:13:49,560 Speaker 3: We grow through what we go through with God. 239 00:13:50,520 --> 00:13:53,600 Speaker 4: And Peter has come a long way. 240 00:13:54,400 --> 00:13:57,760 Speaker 3: We've seen him go through from moments of sitting by 241 00:13:57,760 --> 00:14:01,520 Speaker 3: the fire and denying Jesus to standing up and preaching 242 00:14:01,520 --> 00:14:04,000 Speaker 3: on Pentecost on the day of Pentecost. And we've seen 243 00:14:04,080 --> 00:14:06,240 Speaker 3: him go from cutting off the man's ear in the 244 00:14:06,280 --> 00:14:09,480 Speaker 3: garden to healing the lame man at the temple. And 245 00:14:09,520 --> 00:14:11,960 Speaker 3: he's been arrested, and he's been thrown into jail, and 246 00:14:12,000 --> 00:14:14,640 Speaker 3: he's been flogged, and the Bible says that he considered 247 00:14:14,720 --> 00:14:18,800 Speaker 3: himself worthy of suffering for Jesus. And we've watched Peter 248 00:14:18,920 --> 00:14:21,920 Speaker 3: make some mistakes, and we've watched Peter do some things right, 249 00:14:22,320 --> 00:14:24,160 Speaker 3: and he's continued. 250 00:14:23,800 --> 00:14:27,280 Speaker 4: To preach the gospel real quick. 251 00:14:27,520 --> 00:14:31,560 Speaker 3: Today, I want to give you four things to consider 252 00:14:31,920 --> 00:14:35,360 Speaker 3: when you find yourself in a now what moment. 253 00:14:36,200 --> 00:14:38,000 Speaker 4: And the first thing, if you're taking notes you can 254 00:14:38,040 --> 00:14:38,960 Speaker 4: write this down. 255 00:14:39,360 --> 00:14:46,920 Speaker 3: Is accept the push. Why was Peter in Lyda? Let 256 00:14:46,920 --> 00:14:50,960 Speaker 3: me show you This is Acts one eighth, and it 257 00:14:51,040 --> 00:14:57,000 Speaker 3: says a great wave of persecution began that day, sweeping 258 00:14:57,400 --> 00:15:00,760 Speaker 3: over the church in Jerusalem, and all the blame except 259 00:15:00,840 --> 00:15:06,000 Speaker 3: the apostles were scattered through the regions of Judea and Samaria. 260 00:15:06,480 --> 00:15:08,880 Speaker 3: At this point in the Bible, just one chapter ahead, 261 00:15:09,080 --> 00:15:12,040 Speaker 3: Stephen has been stoned for his faith, and Saul is 262 00:15:12,080 --> 00:15:15,960 Speaker 3: going around dragging people out of their homes and throwing 263 00:15:16,000 --> 00:15:17,160 Speaker 3: them in jail. 264 00:15:17,480 --> 00:15:19,360 Speaker 4: And the heading in my Bible for. 265 00:15:19,400 --> 00:15:22,160 Speaker 3: Chapter eight says, persecution. 266 00:15:22,040 --> 00:15:23,640 Speaker 4: Scatters the believers. 267 00:15:24,720 --> 00:15:28,240 Speaker 3: If the gospel was going to spread throughout the world, 268 00:15:28,520 --> 00:15:33,280 Speaker 3: the disciples had to get out of Jerusalem. Remember, Jesus 269 00:15:33,280 --> 00:15:36,880 Speaker 3: had told them to take the Gospel to the ends 270 00:15:36,880 --> 00:15:41,040 Speaker 3: of the earth. And sometimes I believe that God allows 271 00:15:41,080 --> 00:15:44,280 Speaker 3: something to happen in my life so that he can 272 00:15:44,360 --> 00:15:45,640 Speaker 3: get me to move. 273 00:15:46,320 --> 00:15:48,080 Speaker 4: It's the push of God. 274 00:15:49,120 --> 00:15:53,239 Speaker 3: And oftentimes it feels like abandonment, and it looks like disappointment, 275 00:15:53,400 --> 00:15:56,440 Speaker 3: and it seems like failure, and it feels like God 276 00:15:56,560 --> 00:15:57,280 Speaker 3: is against me. 277 00:15:57,680 --> 00:15:59,680 Speaker 4: But really he knows. 278 00:15:59,360 --> 00:16:01,960 Speaker 3: That my fear are dug in and the only way 279 00:16:02,000 --> 00:16:04,560 Speaker 3: that he can get me to move is to allow 280 00:16:04,680 --> 00:16:06,720 Speaker 3: something that I don't understand. 281 00:16:07,920 --> 00:16:09,960 Speaker 4: Now, you don't have to take this literally. 282 00:16:10,040 --> 00:16:12,840 Speaker 3: The push of God does not necessarily mean that God 283 00:16:12,920 --> 00:16:16,120 Speaker 3: wants you to move towns or neighborhoods or jobs. Sometimes, 284 00:16:16,240 --> 00:16:19,960 Speaker 3: but sometimes he allows a relationship to end because that 285 00:16:20,000 --> 00:16:23,200 Speaker 3: person is holding you back from your purpose, so he's 286 00:16:23,240 --> 00:16:26,760 Speaker 3: got to push you away from that person. Sometimes he 287 00:16:26,840 --> 00:16:29,640 Speaker 3: allows you to face a struggle so that you will 288 00:16:29,680 --> 00:16:34,000 Speaker 3: turn to him for help. I'm not saying that God 289 00:16:34,120 --> 00:16:38,040 Speaker 3: causes bad things to happen to us. Remember, bad things 290 00:16:38,200 --> 00:16:44,520 Speaker 3: are part of breathing. But if you decide that you 291 00:16:44,600 --> 00:16:48,400 Speaker 3: are going to accept it and let this hard thing 292 00:16:48,680 --> 00:16:51,600 Speaker 3: draw you closer to God and to his purpose for 293 00:16:51,720 --> 00:16:55,640 Speaker 3: your life, then you're going to experience the fullness of God. 294 00:16:55,680 --> 00:17:00,040 Speaker 4: If not, you're just going to stay stuck. Stuck in 295 00:17:00,040 --> 00:17:02,160 Speaker 4: a way that you are stuck in. 296 00:17:02,120 --> 00:17:05,720 Speaker 3: The habits that you'll never break, suck in the unforgiveness 297 00:17:05,720 --> 00:17:09,040 Speaker 3: that you feel that's now starting to rot into bitterness, 298 00:17:09,040 --> 00:17:11,400 Speaker 3: and nobody wants to be around you. But I want 299 00:17:11,400 --> 00:17:13,959 Speaker 3: to tell you today, you don't have to stay stuck. 300 00:17:16,160 --> 00:17:18,960 Speaker 4: My favorite preacher put it this way. You might know 301 00:17:19,040 --> 00:17:23,639 Speaker 4: this line. He said, I'm not stuck unless I stop. 302 00:17:24,359 --> 00:17:25,200 Speaker 1: You gotta move. 303 00:17:26,040 --> 00:17:29,360 Speaker 3: You gotta let God push you into an unknown territory 304 00:17:29,440 --> 00:17:33,760 Speaker 3: so that you can grow. Sometimes God is trying to 305 00:17:33,800 --> 00:17:36,359 Speaker 3: push you to a resource. He's trying to push you 306 00:17:36,400 --> 00:17:37,840 Speaker 3: to something better, but. 307 00:17:37,720 --> 00:17:40,800 Speaker 4: You can't receive it what he has for you if 308 00:17:40,800 --> 00:17:41,680 Speaker 4: you don't move. 309 00:17:43,760 --> 00:17:47,240 Speaker 3: I don't know why this happened, but I'm gonna accept 310 00:17:47,480 --> 00:17:50,679 Speaker 3: that God is using it for the next thing in 311 00:17:50,720 --> 00:17:54,320 Speaker 3: my life, the next thing that I am supposed to do. 312 00:17:56,400 --> 00:17:59,000 Speaker 4: So the moment that you realize. 313 00:17:58,359 --> 00:18:03,400 Speaker 3: That you're being pushed into uncomfortable, unknown territory, the next 314 00:18:03,440 --> 00:18:06,360 Speaker 3: thing you gotta do is find a person. 315 00:18:07,119 --> 00:18:08,119 Speaker 4: That's the second point. 316 00:18:09,080 --> 00:18:15,480 Speaker 3: Find a person who has been here before, or find 317 00:18:15,480 --> 00:18:19,840 Speaker 3: a person who's here right now. It's called support for 318 00:18:19,920 --> 00:18:25,320 Speaker 3: a reason because there are special people. I believe handpicked 319 00:18:25,680 --> 00:18:28,760 Speaker 3: by God, that are out there that want to help 320 00:18:28,840 --> 00:18:35,320 Speaker 3: you walk through this uncharted territory. Now, up until this 321 00:18:35,400 --> 00:18:37,679 Speaker 3: point in the Book of Acts, we have seen the 322 00:18:37,760 --> 00:18:40,639 Speaker 3: church go from come to life from. 323 00:18:40,600 --> 00:18:43,399 Speaker 4: A really big scale. Right several times. 324 00:18:43,480 --> 00:18:45,359 Speaker 3: Luke, who's the writer of the Book of Acts, he 325 00:18:45,480 --> 00:18:49,159 Speaker 3: tells us thousands were added to their number daily. 326 00:18:49,280 --> 00:18:51,040 Speaker 4: He says it like three different times. 327 00:18:51,280 --> 00:18:56,200 Speaker 3: But then we get to chapter nine and he zooms down. 328 00:18:56,560 --> 00:19:01,520 Speaker 4: In to show us this one little baby church. 329 00:19:02,480 --> 00:19:05,879 Speaker 3: It's a small group of believers who are gathering in 330 00:19:05,960 --> 00:19:10,080 Speaker 3: the town of Joppa, and one of their members, Tabitha, 331 00:19:10,560 --> 00:19:14,359 Speaker 3: has died. Now, the Bible doesn't tell us much about Tabitha. 332 00:19:14,640 --> 00:19:17,720 Speaker 3: The scripture says that she was always doing good and 333 00:19:17,880 --> 00:19:21,000 Speaker 3: helping the poor, and then it says she became sick 334 00:19:21,359 --> 00:19:21,840 Speaker 3: and died. 335 00:19:22,760 --> 00:19:25,240 Speaker 4: But there's so much more to this woman. 336 00:19:25,680 --> 00:19:30,159 Speaker 3: Because her death caused such a hole in her community 337 00:19:30,480 --> 00:19:33,520 Speaker 3: that the people in her life had to go and 338 00:19:33,560 --> 00:19:37,720 Speaker 3: get Peter and bring him in to their situation. Last week, 339 00:19:37,800 --> 00:19:39,840 Speaker 3: my husband said something so profound, but I feel like 340 00:19:39,840 --> 00:19:42,320 Speaker 3: he said it a week too early, because I feel 341 00:19:42,320 --> 00:19:43,560 Speaker 3: like it was a word. 342 00:19:43,520 --> 00:19:44,480 Speaker 4: For all the moms. 343 00:19:44,800 --> 00:19:46,639 Speaker 3: He said, the devil will make you think you have 344 00:19:46,720 --> 00:19:50,359 Speaker 3: nothing to give. He wants to keep you stuck in selfishness. 345 00:19:50,760 --> 00:19:52,719 Speaker 3: He wants you to think that the mundane things that 346 00:19:52,760 --> 00:19:55,120 Speaker 3: you do for people, for the people that you love, 347 00:19:55,800 --> 00:19:59,560 Speaker 3: that go unseen and that go unfaked, and that because 348 00:19:59,560 --> 00:20:01,600 Speaker 3: they go in an unthink that they don't matter. 349 00:20:01,720 --> 00:20:05,960 Speaker 4: So why bother Nothing could be farther from the truth. 350 00:20:06,800 --> 00:20:09,240 Speaker 4: And we have this woman who would never. 351 00:20:09,160 --> 00:20:13,600 Speaker 3: Preach to thousands, but she was a pillar for her church. 352 00:20:14,720 --> 00:20:17,560 Speaker 4: She was a rock for the women in her group. 353 00:20:18,320 --> 00:20:20,440 Speaker 4: She saw in need and she filled it. 354 00:20:20,520 --> 00:20:23,679 Speaker 3: And although Tabitha would never stand before thousands of people 355 00:20:23,800 --> 00:20:26,919 Speaker 3: like Peter and preach the gospel, she's preaching to us today, 356 00:20:27,240 --> 00:20:30,320 Speaker 3: thousands of years later. And among other things, I feel 357 00:20:30,359 --> 00:20:31,960 Speaker 3: like she's saying God loves fashion. 358 00:20:33,720 --> 00:20:34,800 Speaker 4: I don't know if you caught it. 359 00:20:34,840 --> 00:20:38,000 Speaker 3: I'm kind of kidding, But what I'm trying to say 360 00:20:38,080 --> 00:20:42,439 Speaker 3: is God loves anything that you use to help his people. 361 00:20:43,520 --> 00:20:45,160 Speaker 4: You see, God has. 362 00:20:45,000 --> 00:20:50,080 Speaker 3: Given you an important gift, and if you're not careful, 363 00:20:50,440 --> 00:20:53,800 Speaker 3: you'll miss your next step because instead. 364 00:20:53,320 --> 00:20:56,480 Speaker 4: Of asking now, what you got stuck on why? 365 00:20:57,280 --> 00:21:01,240 Speaker 3: The Bible doesn't say this exact but I think that 366 00:21:01,359 --> 00:21:04,480 Speaker 3: Tabitha was a widow herself, because one of the most 367 00:21:04,560 --> 00:21:08,240 Speaker 3: effective places to minister is from the place of your 368 00:21:08,280 --> 00:21:13,520 Speaker 3: own pain, and sometimes in your now what moment, you 369 00:21:13,640 --> 00:21:16,800 Speaker 3: have to realize that you are not the only person 370 00:21:16,960 --> 00:21:18,920 Speaker 3: who has ever been through this before. 371 00:21:19,600 --> 00:21:22,679 Speaker 4: I know your situation is unique, but remembered. 372 00:21:22,880 --> 00:21:27,199 Speaker 3: There are really no new stories, only new characters in 373 00:21:27,280 --> 00:21:30,440 Speaker 3: the stories, and how you respond. 374 00:21:30,560 --> 00:21:37,880 Speaker 4: Is your choice. And if you believe the lie. 375 00:21:36,400 --> 00:21:39,159 Speaker 3: They are all alone in your situation, then you are 376 00:21:39,200 --> 00:21:44,840 Speaker 3: going to be trudging up this hill, making it take 377 00:21:45,240 --> 00:21:52,760 Speaker 3: ten times longer than it should find a person. I 378 00:21:52,840 --> 00:21:54,360 Speaker 3: was talking to a friend of mine who was going 379 00:21:54,400 --> 00:21:58,280 Speaker 3: through a really bad divorce, and she told me that 380 00:21:58,320 --> 00:22:01,040 Speaker 3: God brought two women into her life who were walking 381 00:22:01,080 --> 00:22:03,359 Speaker 3: the same road, and she said that those two women, 382 00:22:03,880 --> 00:22:08,840 Speaker 3: for about two years, were just a lifeline to her. 383 00:22:09,480 --> 00:22:12,640 Speaker 3: I love these women so much because they have been 384 00:22:12,760 --> 00:22:18,440 Speaker 3: so greatly impacted by Tabitha that they decide that they're 385 00:22:18,440 --> 00:22:21,520 Speaker 3: going to go find someone to help them. And they're 386 00:22:21,600 --> 00:22:26,600 Speaker 3: showing us something really really important here. They're showing us 387 00:22:27,080 --> 00:22:34,560 Speaker 3: that while bad things do happen to good people, God's 388 00:22:34,680 --> 00:22:44,639 Speaker 3: people know where to take their bad things. Peter just 389 00:22:44,840 --> 00:22:48,520 Speaker 3: happens to be nearby in Lydda. 390 00:22:48,760 --> 00:22:50,800 Speaker 4: And they don't know if he can do anything. 391 00:22:50,920 --> 00:22:54,159 Speaker 3: They're not sure, but if anyone can, he can, so 392 00:22:54,200 --> 00:22:57,000 Speaker 3: they send two men for him. I think they sent 393 00:22:57,119 --> 00:22:59,760 Speaker 3: two men because they figured the men would leave out 394 00:22:59,760 --> 00:23:05,879 Speaker 3: the des Remember, Peter has never raised someone from the 395 00:23:05,960 --> 00:23:06,639 Speaker 3: dead before. 396 00:23:07,040 --> 00:23:10,240 Speaker 4: So the less details they give him, the. 397 00:23:10,280 --> 00:23:12,480 Speaker 3: Better chances it is that he's gonna come. 398 00:23:12,920 --> 00:23:14,399 Speaker 4: They just need to get him to Joppa. 399 00:23:14,480 --> 00:23:17,040 Speaker 3: They don't need to say we need you, Peter. Look 400 00:23:17,040 --> 00:23:19,800 Speaker 3: at what verse thirty eight says. It says little was 401 00:23:19,880 --> 00:23:24,200 Speaker 3: near Joppa. So the disciples heard that Peter was in Lida, 402 00:23:24,240 --> 00:23:27,520 Speaker 3: and they sent two men and urged him please come 403 00:23:27,600 --> 00:23:36,560 Speaker 3: at once forwards. And Peter responds to the poll. That's 404 00:23:36,600 --> 00:23:41,320 Speaker 3: the third point. Respond to the pull, all right, now, 405 00:23:42,119 --> 00:23:47,639 Speaker 3: If the push of God feels jolting, the. 406 00:23:47,520 --> 00:23:53,040 Speaker 4: Poll of God is gentle. And if you're not careful, 407 00:23:53,359 --> 00:23:57,960 Speaker 4: you'll miss it. If you're too busy, you'll miss it. 408 00:23:58,880 --> 00:24:02,720 Speaker 3: If you're too absorbed in your own situation, you might 409 00:24:02,800 --> 00:24:07,159 Speaker 3: miss it. And in my experience, the pull of God 410 00:24:07,400 --> 00:24:10,520 Speaker 3: often looks like an interruption to my day. 411 00:24:10,920 --> 00:24:14,160 Speaker 4: Maybe a conversation that I didn't have time for. But 412 00:24:14,280 --> 00:24:16,879 Speaker 4: Peter had walked with Jesus. 413 00:24:16,359 --> 00:24:21,919 Speaker 3: Long enough to know that miracles are often disguised as interruptions. 414 00:24:23,119 --> 00:24:29,960 Speaker 3: Miracles are often disguised in seemingly normal Monday moments and conversations. 415 00:24:30,560 --> 00:24:32,920 Speaker 3: Have you ever been talking with someone about your situation 416 00:24:33,119 --> 00:24:36,200 Speaker 3: and what started off as just an ordinary conversation led 417 00:24:36,280 --> 00:24:39,959 Speaker 3: you to some kind of answer. Earlier this week, one 418 00:24:40,040 --> 00:24:42,479 Speaker 3: of my close friends was at a dead end with 419 00:24:42,520 --> 00:24:46,600 Speaker 3: one of her kids. Her daughter was really struggling, and 420 00:24:46,720 --> 00:24:49,000 Speaker 3: my friend's mom gout was telling her that they needed 421 00:24:49,040 --> 00:24:51,520 Speaker 3: to make a change, but every solution that she chased 422 00:24:51,560 --> 00:24:55,560 Speaker 3: down just was a dead end. So we were texting, 423 00:24:55,640 --> 00:24:59,159 Speaker 3: and I felt so bad for her because it was 424 00:24:59,160 --> 00:25:01,679 Speaker 3: one of those moments where I knew that she didn't 425 00:25:01,760 --> 00:25:05,160 Speaker 3: need advice. She just needed me to listen and hear 426 00:25:05,240 --> 00:25:07,520 Speaker 3: all the different things that she had tried, and she 427 00:25:07,600 --> 00:25:08,080 Speaker 3: really just. 428 00:25:07,960 --> 00:25:09,880 Speaker 4: Needed me to say, like that sucks. 429 00:25:10,000 --> 00:25:13,240 Speaker 3: I'm so sorry, And I felt really bad for her, 430 00:25:13,560 --> 00:25:18,960 Speaker 3: and I actually typed out with God, there's always a way, 431 00:25:19,040 --> 00:25:20,880 Speaker 3: and by faith, I know you will find it. 432 00:25:21,080 --> 00:25:22,560 Speaker 4: But it felt too preachy, you. 433 00:25:22,520 --> 00:25:25,159 Speaker 3: Know, like sometimes you don't need to preach to your friends, 434 00:25:25,200 --> 00:25:26,359 Speaker 3: you just need to listen. 435 00:25:26,880 --> 00:25:27,720 Speaker 4: So I erased it. 436 00:25:27,840 --> 00:25:30,080 Speaker 3: I didn't send it, and I just prayed for her, 437 00:25:30,920 --> 00:25:33,679 Speaker 3: and I just wanted to sit there with her and 438 00:25:33,720 --> 00:25:34,400 Speaker 3: listen to her. 439 00:25:34,480 --> 00:25:36,480 Speaker 4: And sometimes you just have to be that friend. 440 00:25:37,359 --> 00:25:41,919 Speaker 3: And our conversation ended, and forty five minutes later she 441 00:25:42,080 --> 00:25:45,640 Speaker 3: texted me randomly, she said, can you send me Caroline's number? 442 00:25:45,680 --> 00:25:46,320 Speaker 4: I just I don't know. 443 00:25:46,320 --> 00:25:48,280 Speaker 3: I feel like I'm supposed to talk to her, So 444 00:25:48,320 --> 00:25:51,480 Speaker 3: I sent it to her. The next day, she called 445 00:25:51,480 --> 00:25:54,840 Speaker 3: me on the phone and she told me that she 446 00:25:54,880 --> 00:25:57,280 Speaker 3: had a really long conversation with the woman and she 447 00:25:57,400 --> 00:26:00,840 Speaker 3: felt like she finally had some next and she felt 448 00:26:00,920 --> 00:26:04,200 Speaker 3: like she had clear direction for her daughter, and the 449 00:26:04,200 --> 00:26:06,959 Speaker 3: thing that she had been worrying about and praying about 450 00:26:07,200 --> 00:26:13,320 Speaker 3: for months, she had clarity on in a flash. Because 451 00:26:13,359 --> 00:26:17,440 Speaker 3: the pull of the Holy Spirit is gentle. It happens 452 00:26:17,640 --> 00:26:20,919 Speaker 3: as you're going about your day, as you're having conversations. 453 00:26:20,960 --> 00:26:23,919 Speaker 3: It's so gentle that we don't even realize that it 454 00:26:24,040 --> 00:26:26,680 Speaker 3: was him sometimes until we look. 455 00:26:26,600 --> 00:26:29,199 Speaker 4: Back at the full story. 456 00:26:29,240 --> 00:26:31,159 Speaker 3: And I don't want you to miss it, because you 457 00:26:31,200 --> 00:26:33,840 Speaker 3: were moving so fast through your day that you dismissed it. 458 00:26:35,320 --> 00:26:39,640 Speaker 3: Peter felt the tug when these men came to him. 459 00:26:39,880 --> 00:26:41,320 Speaker 3: I don't know why he went with them. He just 460 00:26:41,560 --> 00:26:45,120 Speaker 3: he just felt like he should, So he goes with them, 461 00:26:45,560 --> 00:26:48,960 Speaker 3: and he arrives in Jappa and Peter walks into this 462 00:26:49,119 --> 00:26:53,760 Speaker 3: room full of one version calls them wailing widows, and 463 00:26:53,800 --> 00:26:58,040 Speaker 3: they begin to show Peter the impact that Tabitha had 464 00:26:58,080 --> 00:27:01,479 Speaker 3: on them, and the love and the detail and the 465 00:27:01,520 --> 00:27:03,760 Speaker 3: care that she put into the garments that she had 466 00:27:03,800 --> 00:27:06,399 Speaker 3: made for them with her own time and her own money. 467 00:27:06,480 --> 00:27:08,680 Speaker 4: And I can just imagine one woman holding up. 468 00:27:08,600 --> 00:27:11,240 Speaker 3: A wedding dress and she said, this is the dress 469 00:27:11,280 --> 00:27:13,920 Speaker 3: that Tapatha made from me when my daughter was getting 470 00:27:13,960 --> 00:27:16,680 Speaker 3: married and we couldn't afford one where somebody else did. 471 00:27:16,800 --> 00:27:18,679 Speaker 3: This is the coat that she made the winner that 472 00:27:18,800 --> 00:27:21,080 Speaker 3: was so cold. This is the quilt that lays on 473 00:27:21,160 --> 00:27:25,040 Speaker 3: my bed. And Peter is so moved that he sends 474 00:27:25,040 --> 00:27:28,400 Speaker 3: them all out, because sometimes you do have to find 475 00:27:28,400 --> 00:27:32,760 Speaker 3: a person, but other times you gotta get in his presence. 476 00:27:36,040 --> 00:27:41,760 Speaker 3: And Peter is face with a now what moment. He's 477 00:27:41,840 --> 00:27:45,280 Speaker 3: never done this before, so he gets on his knees. 478 00:27:46,520 --> 00:27:49,480 Speaker 3: I don't know how long he prayed or what he 479 00:27:49,600 --> 00:27:52,520 Speaker 3: was praying. Luke doesn't tell us. I wonder if he 480 00:27:52,640 --> 00:27:56,679 Speaker 3: said three symbol words, Now what? 481 00:27:57,000 --> 00:27:57,320 Speaker 2: Lord? 482 00:27:59,160 --> 00:28:01,720 Speaker 4: All of a sudden, Oh, he has. 483 00:28:01,600 --> 00:28:06,600 Speaker 3: A flashback to a time when he was in the 484 00:28:06,640 --> 00:28:10,600 Speaker 3: presence of Jesus and they were pushing through a crowd 485 00:28:11,080 --> 00:28:15,160 Speaker 3: to get to the house of a very important synagogue 486 00:28:15,280 --> 00:28:18,240 Speaker 3: leader named Jyris, whose twelve year old daughter had died. 487 00:28:18,280 --> 00:28:19,280 Speaker 4: Do you remember this story? 488 00:28:19,680 --> 00:28:22,679 Speaker 3: And for some reason, the Bible tells us that only Peter, 489 00:28:22,920 --> 00:28:26,000 Speaker 3: James and John got to go with Jesus. And when 490 00:28:26,000 --> 00:28:28,480 Speaker 3: they arrived at the house, there's a crowd of people 491 00:28:28,520 --> 00:28:30,920 Speaker 3: there in there crying and they're mourning this little girl. 492 00:28:30,920 --> 00:28:33,440 Speaker 3: And I got to show you what happens next. This 493 00:28:33,520 --> 00:28:38,520 Speaker 3: is Mark five, verse forty. The crowd laughed at him Jesus, 494 00:28:39,040 --> 00:28:43,680 Speaker 3: but he made them all leave, and he took the 495 00:28:43,760 --> 00:28:49,640 Speaker 3: girl's father and mother and his three disciples into the 496 00:28:49,760 --> 00:28:54,840 Speaker 3: room where the girl was lying, holding her hand. He 497 00:28:54,920 --> 00:29:01,000 Speaker 3: said to her toalifacomb, which means little girl, get up. 498 00:29:01,880 --> 00:29:04,920 Speaker 3: And the girl, who was twelve years old, immediately stood 499 00:29:04,960 --> 00:29:10,120 Speaker 3: up and walked around, and they were overwhelmed and totally amazed. 500 00:29:10,200 --> 00:29:14,680 Speaker 3: Peter was one of only five people who were present 501 00:29:15,360 --> 00:29:18,240 Speaker 3: when Jesus performed this miracle. 502 00:29:18,520 --> 00:29:21,480 Speaker 4: He was in the room. And when you get in 503 00:29:21,520 --> 00:29:28,120 Speaker 4: the room with Jesus. It marks you. It's something you 504 00:29:28,320 --> 00:29:29,280 Speaker 4: never forget. 505 00:29:30,600 --> 00:29:35,720 Speaker 3: The presence of Jesus is not magical, but it is powerful. 506 00:29:42,400 --> 00:29:47,440 Speaker 3: When Peter asked now what, the answer wasn't a complicated 507 00:29:47,560 --> 00:29:51,160 Speaker 3: series of steps or things that he needed to do. 508 00:29:51,640 --> 00:29:55,680 Speaker 4: The answer wasn't even something new. 509 00:29:56,800 --> 00:30:00,800 Speaker 3: Sometimes we want God to something new, something complicated, something big, something. 510 00:30:00,720 --> 00:30:04,960 Speaker 4: You know that we've never seen before. I don't think 511 00:30:05,000 --> 00:30:08,200 Speaker 4: that's how God loves to work. Most of the time 512 00:30:08,240 --> 00:30:08,920 Speaker 4: in my life. 513 00:30:08,920 --> 00:30:13,440 Speaker 3: It comes in a flash, and he knew what to 514 00:30:13,520 --> 00:30:15,400 Speaker 3: do in that moment. 515 00:30:16,120 --> 00:30:19,240 Speaker 4: Now look at verse forty. Back to Peter. What did 516 00:30:19,240 --> 00:30:19,600 Speaker 4: he do? 517 00:30:21,160 --> 00:30:25,840 Speaker 3: Turning toward the dead woman, he said, Tabitha, get up. 518 00:30:26,640 --> 00:30:30,520 Speaker 4: She opened her eyes, and seeing Peter, she sat up. Now, 519 00:30:30,520 --> 00:30:31,560 Speaker 4: I don't know if you caught this. 520 00:30:32,160 --> 00:30:38,080 Speaker 3: Peter changed one letter, Jesus said to Lisa Coom. 521 00:30:38,680 --> 00:30:42,640 Speaker 4: She means the little girl. Get up, Peter said, Tabitha. 522 00:30:43,720 --> 00:30:49,760 Speaker 4: Get up. Tabitha, your situation it might not it. Your 523 00:30:49,800 --> 00:30:50,840 Speaker 4: situation might. 524 00:30:50,680 --> 00:30:57,600 Speaker 3: Be new to you, and it might feel horrible and uncomfortable. 525 00:30:58,160 --> 00:31:02,320 Speaker 4: But I promise you your situation is not new to God. 526 00:31:03,320 --> 00:31:06,280 Speaker 3: And when you get in the presence of Jesus and 527 00:31:06,320 --> 00:31:08,959 Speaker 3: you lay out your dead end to God. 528 00:31:10,280 --> 00:31:15,320 Speaker 4: He will show you the next step. He will he does, 529 00:31:16,000 --> 00:31:17,000 Speaker 4: I promise you. 530 00:31:17,680 --> 00:31:19,760 Speaker 3: He might bring to mind a person that you need 531 00:31:19,840 --> 00:31:21,920 Speaker 3: to reach out to or a place that you need 532 00:31:21,960 --> 00:31:22,440 Speaker 3: to visit. 533 00:31:22,720 --> 00:31:24,080 Speaker 4: But it also it. 534 00:31:24,080 --> 00:31:27,760 Speaker 3: Might not be exactly what you're expecting to hear, so 535 00:31:27,800 --> 00:31:30,920 Speaker 3: you have to listen really good. It might seem small, 536 00:31:31,440 --> 00:31:34,480 Speaker 3: it might be so small what God tells you to 537 00:31:34,560 --> 00:31:35,920 Speaker 3: do that it's hard. 538 00:31:37,360 --> 00:31:37,880 Speaker 4: Personally. 539 00:31:37,920 --> 00:31:41,200 Speaker 3: When I have prayed now what Lord, God has said 540 00:31:41,200 --> 00:31:43,560 Speaker 3: to me things that I didn't want to hear, like 541 00:31:44,640 --> 00:31:55,720 Speaker 3: stop talking about it, or let it go, or stand firm. 542 00:31:56,160 --> 00:31:58,240 Speaker 3: Sometimes the hardest one that God says to me. 543 00:31:59,480 --> 00:31:59,760 Speaker 1: Wait. 544 00:32:02,160 --> 00:32:05,120 Speaker 4: One time I was praying about one of my. 545 00:32:05,120 --> 00:32:11,640 Speaker 3: Kids and God said to me, so clearly, stop comparing 546 00:32:11,680 --> 00:32:16,840 Speaker 3: yourself to other moms because I kept, you know, thinking like, well, 547 00:32:16,880 --> 00:32:22,000 Speaker 3: their kids don't and her kids are, and maybe it's me. 548 00:32:22,280 --> 00:32:26,240 Speaker 3: And God clearly whispered to me, Holly, I gave you 549 00:32:26,280 --> 00:32:31,200 Speaker 3: this child because you have what they need. I'm still 550 00:32:31,240 --> 00:32:37,280 Speaker 3: working on accepting this one, but I can tell you 551 00:32:37,360 --> 00:32:39,960 Speaker 3: right now, if you don't get in the presence of God, 552 00:32:40,160 --> 00:32:42,280 Speaker 3: if you don't take your now what to the feet 553 00:32:42,320 --> 00:32:46,480 Speaker 3: of Jesus, you will feel like you will never get 554 00:32:46,600 --> 00:32:49,520 Speaker 3: up this hill. And by the way, I got to 555 00:32:49,600 --> 00:32:53,560 Speaker 3: draw one more thing. This part of the story, the 556 00:32:53,760 --> 00:32:55,320 Speaker 3: rising action, it's. 557 00:32:55,160 --> 00:32:55,760 Speaker 4: More like this. 558 00:33:00,000 --> 00:33:03,640 Speaker 3: There will be so many now what moments along the way, 559 00:33:04,120 --> 00:33:06,240 Speaker 3: But you just got to get in the presence of Jesus, 560 00:33:06,240 --> 00:33:10,320 Speaker 3: because you know what his word. His direction is a 561 00:33:10,440 --> 00:33:13,280 Speaker 3: lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path. 562 00:33:13,440 --> 00:33:16,320 Speaker 3: He only gives you a little bit at a time 563 00:33:16,640 --> 00:33:21,280 Speaker 3: because He's right there with you every step. 564 00:33:21,240 --> 00:33:24,160 Speaker 4: Of the way. And when you get here, when. 565 00:33:24,040 --> 00:33:26,600 Speaker 3: You get to the climax, you will have had so 566 00:33:27,320 --> 00:33:34,080 Speaker 3: many many miracles and I so many many miracles along. 567 00:33:33,800 --> 00:33:37,360 Speaker 4: The way that you realize that this part is all 568 00:33:37,400 --> 00:33:42,720 Speaker 4: about God, it's not even about me. Verse forty one. 569 00:33:43,320 --> 00:33:45,800 Speaker 4: Then he called for. 570 00:33:45,800 --> 00:33:51,760 Speaker 3: The believers, especially the widows, and he presented. 571 00:33:51,160 --> 00:33:55,520 Speaker 4: Her to them alive. It's the next verse. 572 00:33:55,600 --> 00:34:01,040 Speaker 3: This became known all over Jappa, and many people believed 573 00:34:01,240 --> 00:34:04,440 Speaker 3: in the Lord. The goal is when you get here 574 00:34:05,120 --> 00:34:12,200 Speaker 3: that people see God, not you. They might say to you, 575 00:34:12,480 --> 00:34:14,359 Speaker 3: I don't know how you made it through that You 576 00:34:14,440 --> 00:34:18,160 Speaker 3: are a strong person. You're so much stronger than me. 577 00:34:18,680 --> 00:34:23,399 Speaker 4: And you'll know that some days. It was moment by 578 00:34:23,560 --> 00:34:28,480 Speaker 4: moment that you prayed, now, what Lord? Now? What Lord? 579 00:34:28,920 --> 00:34:29,120 Speaker 5: Now? 580 00:34:29,239 --> 00:34:34,239 Speaker 4: What Lord? And every time he was right there with you. 581 00:34:35,600 --> 00:34:38,359 Speaker 4: I like to close by singing a song, because the. 582 00:34:38,440 --> 00:34:42,600 Speaker 3: Songs that God continues to bring forth through our pastor 583 00:34:42,680 --> 00:34:47,760 Speaker 3: and through this worship memory, this worship ministry right now, 584 00:34:48,040 --> 00:34:50,879 Speaker 3: they're the words and they're the anthems that I don't 585 00:34:50,880 --> 00:34:52,759 Speaker 3: know if you feel this way, but I so often 586 00:34:52,800 --> 00:34:55,240 Speaker 3: feel like I didn't even know. This is what I 587 00:34:55,280 --> 00:34:56,880 Speaker 3: needed to say to God, that what I want, what 588 00:34:56,960 --> 00:34:59,719 Speaker 3: my heart was wanting to say to God. And p 589 00:35:00,280 --> 00:35:07,160 Speaker 3: when he was put in front of Dorcas this astronomical 590 00:35:07,680 --> 00:35:09,200 Speaker 3: ask that the people were. 591 00:35:09,080 --> 00:35:15,080 Speaker 4: Asking him, he had a flashback faith moment. And I 592 00:35:15,160 --> 00:35:17,160 Speaker 4: want to tell you today, so can you. 593 00:35:18,640 --> 00:35:22,600 Speaker 3: And as we sing this song that says, oh my God, 594 00:35:22,680 --> 00:35:27,680 Speaker 3: You've sure been good to me, my prayer is that 595 00:35:27,760 --> 00:35:31,200 Speaker 3: you will have a flashback faith moment, a moment when 596 00:35:31,239 --> 00:35:34,399 Speaker 3: you were in the presence of Jesus, and that your 597 00:35:34,440 --> 00:35:37,440 Speaker 3: faith would be stirred to know that you are not 598 00:35:37,640 --> 00:35:42,319 Speaker 3: alone in what you were going through today, and one 599 00:35:42,360 --> 00:35:47,040 Speaker 3: day you'll look back on this moment too, and you'll 600 00:35:47,080 --> 00:35:51,440 Speaker 3: be able to proclaim the goodness of God in your life. 601 00:35:51,440 --> 00:35:51,800 Speaker 4: Amen. 602 00:35:56,080 --> 00:36:01,480 Speaker 3: The Lord, you've worshiped you today. Thank you that you 603 00:36:01,640 --> 00:36:06,440 Speaker 3: have everything we need for this journey, and that you 604 00:36:06,719 --> 00:36:11,240 Speaker 3: promise to never leave us alone as. 605 00:36:11,080 --> 00:36:13,759 Speaker 4: We walk this out. We cling to that now. 606 00:36:13,880 --> 00:36:14,200 Speaker 3: Lord. 607 00:36:15,640 --> 00:36:20,080 Speaker 5: Thank you for the push, even though it feels uncomfortable. 608 00:36:21,239 --> 00:36:25,320 Speaker 5: Thank you for the people you have brought in our path. 609 00:36:26,719 --> 00:36:27,760 Speaker 5: Thank you for the pull. 610 00:36:27,880 --> 00:36:28,160 Speaker 3: God. 611 00:36:28,239 --> 00:36:30,680 Speaker 4: We're going to listen for the whispers this week. 612 00:36:32,400 --> 00:36:34,279 Speaker 5: And right now, Lord, we just want to come into 613 00:36:34,360 --> 00:36:37,040 Speaker 5: your presence and worship you. 614 00:36:39,440 --> 00:36:40,399 Speaker 4: Say Jesus the name we. 615 00:36:40,400 --> 00:36:49,359 Speaker 1: Pray Amen, Thank you for joining us. 616 00:36:49,640 --> 00:36:52,080 Speaker 2: Special thanks to those of you who give generously to 617 00:36:52,160 --> 00:36:52,920 Speaker 2: this ministry. 618 00:36:53,239 --> 00:36:55,640 Speaker 1: Is because of you that this ministry is possible. 619 00:36:56,080 --> 00:36:58,319 Speaker 2: You can click the link in the description to give 620 00:36:58,400 --> 00:37:02,520 Speaker 2: now or visit Elevation dot org slash podcast for more 621 00:37:02,560 --> 00:37:06,360 Speaker 2: information and if you enjoyed the podcast, you can subscribe. 622 00:37:06,640 --> 00:37:07,960 Speaker 1: You can share it with your friends. 623 00:37:08,239 --> 00:37:10,520 Speaker 2: You can click the share button, take a screenshot and 624 00:37:10,600 --> 00:37:12,680 Speaker 2: share it on your social stories and tag us at 625 00:37:12,719 --> 00:37:13,560 Speaker 2: Elevation Church. 626 00:37:13,640 --> 00:37:15,279 Speaker 1: Thanks again for listening. God, bless you