1 00:00:01,520 --> 00:00:02,800 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 --> 00:00:08,320 Speaker 1: I wanted to thank you for joining us today. Hope 4 00:00:08,320 --> 00:00:10,680 Speaker 1: this inspires you. Hope it builds your faith. 5 00:00:10,760 --> 00:00:12,840 Speaker 3: Hope it gives your perspective to see God is moving 6 00:00:12,920 --> 00:00:18,919 Speaker 3: in your life. Enjoy the message when we say game changer. 7 00:00:19,040 --> 00:00:21,840 Speaker 3: You know, every year I pick a word several months 8 00:00:21,840 --> 00:00:26,280 Speaker 3: in advance and try to really build my teachings. Really, 9 00:00:26,440 --> 00:00:28,479 Speaker 3: rather than pick the word, I try to see what 10 00:00:28,520 --> 00:00:30,760 Speaker 3: God is speaking and then find a word that describes that. 11 00:00:30,920 --> 00:00:32,080 Speaker 1: It works better that way. 12 00:00:32,520 --> 00:00:34,680 Speaker 3: And I thought it was a little corny game changer, 13 00:00:34,880 --> 00:00:37,760 Speaker 3: you know, you hear that like three times a day ESPN. 14 00:00:39,000 --> 00:00:41,239 Speaker 3: But it sounded like a Gatorade commercial to me more 15 00:00:41,240 --> 00:00:44,440 Speaker 3: than a sermon series. But it really, Uh, it'll mean 16 00:00:44,520 --> 00:00:46,879 Speaker 3: something different when we're done with the series than it 17 00:00:46,920 --> 00:00:47,879 Speaker 3: does going into it. 18 00:00:48,120 --> 00:00:48,919 Speaker 1: And you'll see that. 19 00:00:49,400 --> 00:00:53,319 Speaker 3: And today it's wan lea Foundation from the Pulpit from 20 00:00:53,479 --> 00:00:58,440 Speaker 3: Matthew chapter six. And last year's series was called Waymaker, 21 00:00:58,960 --> 00:01:02,000 Speaker 3: And so apparently I'm on the like a Waymaker game chang. 22 00:01:02,040 --> 00:01:05,679 Speaker 3: I'm gonna do Cake Baker in twenty nineteen. See how 23 00:01:05,720 --> 00:01:08,040 Speaker 3: if I could make a trilogy out of it. But Matthew, 24 00:01:08,120 --> 00:01:11,240 Speaker 3: chapter six will be a good place for us to 25 00:01:11,280 --> 00:01:14,039 Speaker 3: start from. The Sermon on the Mountain. This is my 26 00:01:14,120 --> 00:01:17,479 Speaker 3: dad's favorite scripture. He used to read it every day, 27 00:01:18,000 --> 00:01:20,040 Speaker 3: and then I would use it against him when he 28 00:01:20,040 --> 00:01:21,160 Speaker 3: went acting right, I'd be like. 29 00:01:21,120 --> 00:01:22,840 Speaker 1: You read it, but are you living it? 30 00:01:24,360 --> 00:01:26,840 Speaker 3: So I've used the Bible against him as a as 31 00:01:26,840 --> 00:01:30,479 Speaker 3: a weapon, all right, Matthew Chapter six, verses one through four, 32 00:01:31,319 --> 00:01:33,440 Speaker 3: And I can't wait to share this with you. Very 33 00:01:33,480 --> 00:01:38,800 Speaker 3: powerful principle. It's practical, but it's also on another level, 34 00:01:40,120 --> 00:01:43,800 Speaker 3: very profound, and I think the best lessons are that way. 35 00:01:44,319 --> 00:01:45,880 Speaker 1: And so here's what Jesus said. 36 00:01:45,880 --> 00:01:48,320 Speaker 3: Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of 37 00:01:48,360 --> 00:01:57,120 Speaker 3: others to be seen by them. So this might mean 38 00:01:57,120 --> 00:02:00,480 Speaker 3: you have to delete some apps on your phone, do 39 00:02:00,520 --> 00:02:06,000 Speaker 3: you know what I mean? Well, if you do practice 40 00:02:06,640 --> 00:02:10,360 Speaker 3: your acts of righteousness in front of others to be 41 00:02:10,440 --> 00:02:14,799 Speaker 3: seen by them, you will have no reward from your 42 00:02:14,840 --> 00:02:16,280 Speaker 3: Father in heaven. 43 00:02:17,720 --> 00:02:19,000 Speaker 1: That's scary. 44 00:02:19,639 --> 00:02:22,320 Speaker 3: So when you give to the needy, for instance, do 45 00:02:22,400 --> 00:02:25,600 Speaker 3: not announce it with trumpets as the hypocrites do in 46 00:02:25,639 --> 00:02:30,160 Speaker 3: the synagogues and on the streets to be honored by others. Truly, 47 00:02:31,040 --> 00:02:34,200 Speaker 3: I tell you they have received the reward in full. 48 00:02:34,520 --> 00:02:38,079 Speaker 3: But when you give to the needy, do not let 49 00:02:38,080 --> 00:02:43,799 Speaker 3: your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so. 50 00:02:43,880 --> 00:02:46,400 Speaker 1: That your giving may be in secret. 51 00:02:47,400 --> 00:02:52,040 Speaker 3: Then your father, who sees what is done in secret, 52 00:02:52,919 --> 00:02:56,120 Speaker 3: will reward you. And the title of this message is the 53 00:02:56,200 --> 00:03:03,560 Speaker 3: Secret Scoreboard. When when my kids first started playing recreational sports, 54 00:03:04,560 --> 00:03:06,840 Speaker 3: I went out and I turned to the person next 55 00:03:06,880 --> 00:03:10,240 Speaker 3: to me and said, hey, they need to turn on 56 00:03:10,280 --> 00:03:14,560 Speaker 3: the scoreboard. And Elijah was playing T ball at the 57 00:03:14,600 --> 00:03:21,000 Speaker 3: time for the Mudcats of Mint Hill. I said, they 58 00:03:21,000 --> 00:03:23,160 Speaker 3: need to turn on the scoreboard. It was his first game. 59 00:03:24,360 --> 00:03:26,560 Speaker 3: Brother looked back at me. He had several kids that 60 00:03:26,600 --> 00:03:28,640 Speaker 3: already played T boy. He said, they don't keep score 61 00:03:28,680 --> 00:03:32,960 Speaker 3: at this level. And when Elijah got in the car 62 00:03:33,000 --> 00:03:37,600 Speaker 3: after the game, I said, congratulations on your first win. 63 00:03:39,440 --> 00:03:44,200 Speaker 1: He said, win. They didn't keep score. I said, I did. 64 00:03:46,880 --> 00:03:51,520 Speaker 3: The first thing I did when that man said they 65 00:03:51,520 --> 00:03:52,960 Speaker 3: don't keep score at this level. 66 00:03:53,520 --> 00:03:56,000 Speaker 1: I found an app on my. 67 00:03:56,080 --> 00:04:01,960 Speaker 3: Phone and I decided every game that he played, I 68 00:04:02,080 --> 00:04:05,600 Speaker 3: was going to score it myself. And I told that 69 00:04:05,720 --> 00:04:09,800 Speaker 3: boy this the following I said, when you get in 70 00:04:09,840 --> 00:04:14,040 Speaker 3: this car. After the game, you ask me if you won, 71 00:04:14,720 --> 00:04:17,400 Speaker 3: and I will tell you whether or not you won. 72 00:04:18,040 --> 00:04:22,680 Speaker 3: I am your official scorekeeper. I believe God wants to 73 00:04:22,680 --> 00:04:26,480 Speaker 3: look at somebody today, y'all, Uncle, help me preach after 74 00:04:26,560 --> 00:04:32,600 Speaker 3: three weeks off. And one of the first things that 75 00:04:32,680 --> 00:04:38,200 Speaker 3: God does when he assumes control of your life is 76 00:04:38,560 --> 00:04:43,400 Speaker 3: he becomes your scorekeeper, because by default, we tend to 77 00:04:43,520 --> 00:04:45,599 Speaker 3: let everybody else keep. 78 00:04:45,520 --> 00:04:47,680 Speaker 1: Score, and it's hard to know. 79 00:04:48,560 --> 00:04:53,240 Speaker 3: Am I winning in real life, especially in adulthood, Am 80 00:04:53,279 --> 00:04:57,719 Speaker 3: I winning? I wonder that all the time. I feel 81 00:04:57,760 --> 00:05:00,799 Speaker 3: like in some areas it's the weirdest thing I will 82 00:05:00,920 --> 00:05:04,000 Speaker 3: win for a season. And while I'm winning in those 83 00:05:04,040 --> 00:05:06,560 Speaker 3: areas for that season, the other areas that are also 84 00:05:06,680 --> 00:05:09,880 Speaker 3: important to me suffer, and I can't keep up because 85 00:05:09,920 --> 00:05:12,880 Speaker 3: it's like I'm playing five sports at once, do. 86 00:05:12,880 --> 00:05:13,440 Speaker 1: You know what I mean. 87 00:05:13,480 --> 00:05:16,960 Speaker 3: It's like the family thing and the financial thing. Those 88 00:05:16,960 --> 00:05:20,880 Speaker 3: don't always work together. Sometimes those seem to compete against 89 00:05:20,880 --> 00:05:25,120 Speaker 3: each other, and it's hard to keep score, especially because 90 00:05:25,600 --> 00:05:28,720 Speaker 3: now we live in a world where there are permanent 91 00:05:28,800 --> 00:05:32,520 Speaker 3: reminders of everybody else's score, and even though they're not 92 00:05:32,600 --> 00:05:34,880 Speaker 3: playing the same sport, they don't have the same calling 93 00:05:34,920 --> 00:05:38,480 Speaker 3: the same circumstances, the same situation. We're all living on 94 00:05:38,520 --> 00:05:41,680 Speaker 3: the same platforms, being fed the same false images, and 95 00:05:41,800 --> 00:05:44,520 Speaker 3: wondering is their life really that much better than mine? 96 00:05:44,800 --> 00:05:48,200 Speaker 3: Or are they just a better photographer? The game has 97 00:05:48,279 --> 00:05:51,599 Speaker 3: changed because back in the day, you used to compare 98 00:05:51,640 --> 00:05:54,400 Speaker 3: yourself to a really small circle of people, whoever was 99 00:05:54,440 --> 00:05:54,960 Speaker 3: around you. 100 00:05:55,440 --> 00:05:56,760 Speaker 1: And that's why I grew up thinking I was. 101 00:05:56,760 --> 00:06:00,440 Speaker 3: A good guitarist, because I didn't have any real good 102 00:06:00,480 --> 00:06:03,919 Speaker 3: guitarist to see on YouTube, and so you know, whoever 103 00:06:04,000 --> 00:06:06,479 Speaker 3: else played guitar, all three of us, that was my 104 00:06:06,560 --> 00:06:07,680 Speaker 3: standard of comparison. 105 00:06:08,400 --> 00:06:11,760 Speaker 1: But the game has changed now. 106 00:06:11,800 --> 00:06:16,560 Speaker 3: It's it's no longer possible to feel really good about 107 00:06:16,560 --> 00:06:20,479 Speaker 3: yourself for any length of time because the standards have 108 00:06:20,520 --> 00:06:24,679 Speaker 3: shifted and the game has changed. 109 00:06:24,760 --> 00:06:26,400 Speaker 1: Touch somebody say the game has changed. 110 00:06:29,040 --> 00:06:32,920 Speaker 3: When Jesus preached this sermon, the Bible says at the 111 00:06:33,000 --> 00:06:35,120 Speaker 3: beginning that he went up on a mountain side and 112 00:06:35,160 --> 00:06:38,279 Speaker 3: sat down, and his disciples came to him, and he 113 00:06:38,320 --> 00:06:42,080 Speaker 3: began to teach them, and began to teach them. So 114 00:06:43,160 --> 00:06:48,560 Speaker 3: like the text speaking physically has Jesus in a all right, 115 00:06:48,600 --> 00:06:51,920 Speaker 3: let's say physically, the text is describing elevation. He went 116 00:06:51,960 --> 00:06:54,159 Speaker 3: up on a mountain side, sat down and began to 117 00:06:54,160 --> 00:06:54,800 Speaker 3: teach them. 118 00:06:55,040 --> 00:06:58,200 Speaker 1: That is the physical motif of the text. This is 119 00:06:58,200 --> 00:06:59,400 Speaker 1: the beginning of it. 120 00:06:59,720 --> 00:07:02,240 Speaker 3: But really what he was about to do was more 121 00:07:02,279 --> 00:07:05,680 Speaker 3: like excavation, which is that he was going to dig 122 00:07:05,720 --> 00:07:10,120 Speaker 3: out beneath the surface. And I'm not changing the name 123 00:07:10,160 --> 00:07:12,320 Speaker 3: of the church, but excavation would be a good church 124 00:07:12,400 --> 00:07:15,600 Speaker 3: name too, because when you have a really good encounter 125 00:07:15,680 --> 00:07:19,679 Speaker 3: with God, when you really really meet Jesus, the first 126 00:07:19,720 --> 00:07:20,840 Speaker 3: thing that he begins to. 127 00:07:20,720 --> 00:07:23,120 Speaker 1: Do is challenge your values. 128 00:07:24,320 --> 00:07:26,440 Speaker 3: And we want him to build our life up and 129 00:07:27,160 --> 00:07:30,679 Speaker 3: build us and raise us and all of these wonderful 130 00:07:30,720 --> 00:07:32,680 Speaker 3: promises that are indeed in his word. But if he 131 00:07:32,720 --> 00:07:35,720 Speaker 3: does not first dig out a deep enough place in 132 00:07:35,720 --> 00:07:39,880 Speaker 3: our hearts and a foundation that is steady and stable enough, 133 00:07:40,640 --> 00:07:42,520 Speaker 3: then even what he builds in our life will be 134 00:07:42,640 --> 00:07:46,520 Speaker 3: subject to situations and circumstances. And so the first thing 135 00:07:46,640 --> 00:07:51,200 Speaker 3: that proves the presence of God in your life is 136 00:07:51,200 --> 00:07:55,360 Speaker 3: that he will begin to challenge your values. You know 137 00:07:55,440 --> 00:07:58,640 Speaker 3: how you can know if you if you met with God, 138 00:07:58,920 --> 00:07:59,920 Speaker 3: were your values child? 139 00:08:01,520 --> 00:08:03,880 Speaker 1: And I'll prove it to you when he. 140 00:08:03,840 --> 00:08:05,760 Speaker 3: Started preaching, because you look highly skeptical. 141 00:08:05,840 --> 00:08:08,040 Speaker 1: Right now, I won't lie. 142 00:08:08,040 --> 00:08:09,640 Speaker 3: I thought you're going to be more energetic with an 143 00:08:09,640 --> 00:08:12,040 Speaker 3: extra hour of sleep, but apparently not. 144 00:08:13,360 --> 00:08:16,880 Speaker 1: It's all right, it's all right, i'llstle down a little bit. 145 00:08:17,080 --> 00:08:20,200 Speaker 3: When you started teaching, he said, Blessed are the poor 146 00:08:20,240 --> 00:08:24,200 Speaker 3: in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed 147 00:08:24,200 --> 00:08:29,160 Speaker 3: are those who mourn, for they'll be comforted. Well, right 148 00:08:29,200 --> 00:08:32,800 Speaker 3: off the bat, I'm kind of confused because Jesus is 149 00:08:33,400 --> 00:08:36,960 Speaker 3: telling me that it's not those who look like they're 150 00:08:36,960 --> 00:08:40,840 Speaker 3: winning a lot of times who are really the most blessed. 151 00:08:42,320 --> 00:08:44,360 Speaker 3: Blessed or the meek, for they will inherit the earth. 152 00:08:45,080 --> 00:08:47,280 Speaker 3: Bless for those who hunger and thirst. What's a blessing 153 00:08:47,280 --> 00:08:49,480 Speaker 3: about being hungry and thirsty for righteousness? 154 00:08:49,480 --> 00:08:53,520 Speaker 1: For they'll be filled. And with each of these statements is. 155 00:08:53,480 --> 00:08:57,199 Speaker 3: Commonly called the beatitudes, Jesus is giving a new definition 156 00:08:57,280 --> 00:09:00,280 Speaker 3: of blessing. And one thing that you'll notice about it 157 00:09:00,320 --> 00:09:04,200 Speaker 3: when he defines it, it's very contrary to the cultural values, 158 00:09:04,880 --> 00:09:08,160 Speaker 3: which are very external. You know, everything is about how 159 00:09:08,160 --> 00:09:10,800 Speaker 3: you look. If God blesses you, it is going to 160 00:09:10,840 --> 00:09:13,360 Speaker 3: show up as a physical manifestation. 161 00:09:12,800 --> 00:09:13,440 Speaker 1: In your life. 162 00:09:14,440 --> 00:09:17,920 Speaker 3: But when Jesus showed up, it changed the game because 163 00:09:17,960 --> 00:09:22,920 Speaker 3: in a religious system that was corrupted by the elevation 164 00:09:23,280 --> 00:09:29,040 Speaker 3: of appearances over the real condition of the heart, Jesus 165 00:09:29,080 --> 00:09:32,080 Speaker 3: begins to challenge the values not only of the world, 166 00:09:33,080 --> 00:09:36,680 Speaker 3: but of the religious not only in the streets but 167 00:09:36,760 --> 00:09:38,960 Speaker 3: in the synagogues. I've noticed the church is really good 168 00:09:39,280 --> 00:09:41,960 Speaker 3: at challenging the values of the world when it comes 169 00:09:42,000 --> 00:09:47,559 Speaker 3: to sexuality and entertainment and Disney. That's twenty years old, 170 00:09:47,600 --> 00:09:49,440 Speaker 3: but some of y'all will remember when the Church was 171 00:09:49,480 --> 00:09:52,320 Speaker 3: really good at challenging the value system. 172 00:09:51,960 --> 00:09:54,240 Speaker 1: Of the world. But the first thing that Jesus did, 173 00:09:54,360 --> 00:09:55,360 Speaker 1: seems to me, is. 174 00:09:55,320 --> 00:10:00,240 Speaker 3: To challenge the value of the church, and so in 175 00:10:00,320 --> 00:10:04,200 Speaker 3: order to do that, he begins to dig. And it 176 00:10:04,240 --> 00:10:08,479 Speaker 3: really changes the game because it seems almost like an inversion, 177 00:10:08,600 --> 00:10:12,800 Speaker 3: seems like something is being flipped upside down. It's almost 178 00:10:12,840 --> 00:10:16,400 Speaker 3: as if when Jesus comes on the scene, he's less 179 00:10:16,400 --> 00:10:20,440 Speaker 3: concerned with playing the game right and more concerned with 180 00:10:20,520 --> 00:10:26,240 Speaker 3: playing the right game. Some of us are playing the 181 00:10:26,280 --> 00:10:30,840 Speaker 3: wrong game, and we spend a lot of our lives 182 00:10:30,920 --> 00:10:33,480 Speaker 3: trying to figure out how to play the game right. 183 00:10:34,360 --> 00:10:37,720 Speaker 3: But the question becomes this is the game changer. Not 184 00:10:37,840 --> 00:10:40,640 Speaker 3: are you playing the game right? But are you playing 185 00:10:40,679 --> 00:10:44,679 Speaker 3: the right game? And sometimes it takes us half our 186 00:10:44,720 --> 00:10:48,240 Speaker 3: lives to realize I've learned to play the game. 187 00:10:48,120 --> 00:10:51,000 Speaker 1: Right, but I wasn't playing the right game. 188 00:10:52,160 --> 00:10:56,000 Speaker 3: Wouldn't it be tragic to spend your whole life to 189 00:10:56,040 --> 00:10:59,320 Speaker 3: get good at a game that you weren't even supposed 190 00:10:59,360 --> 00:11:04,520 Speaker 3: to play, to win the approval of people who don't 191 00:11:04,559 --> 00:11:08,640 Speaker 3: sit on the throne anyway, to get really good at 192 00:11:08,679 --> 00:11:13,200 Speaker 3: something that isn't good for you. And I see this 193 00:11:13,320 --> 00:11:16,160 Speaker 3: more and more, more, more and more, as it becomes 194 00:11:16,200 --> 00:11:19,720 Speaker 3: easier for us to get sucked into systems of comparison 195 00:11:20,200 --> 00:11:23,480 Speaker 3: and analysis that have nothing to do with real value. 196 00:11:24,679 --> 00:11:27,840 Speaker 3: We start, we start getting good at winning, but winning 197 00:11:27,840 --> 00:11:32,959 Speaker 3: at what? Winning at what? And the game has changed. 198 00:11:33,800 --> 00:11:34,800 Speaker 3: It's changed so much for. 199 00:11:35,160 --> 00:11:38,040 Speaker 1: Young people, you know, Like when I was growing. 200 00:11:37,880 --> 00:11:41,000 Speaker 3: Up, it was different in terms of social media. 201 00:11:41,800 --> 00:11:43,719 Speaker 1: Even the games that I. 202 00:11:43,720 --> 00:11:46,160 Speaker 3: Played as a kid, the video games I played as 203 00:11:46,200 --> 00:11:48,720 Speaker 3: a kid, were much different than the games I see 204 00:11:48,760 --> 00:11:53,240 Speaker 3: my kids playing today. It was an entirely different level 205 00:11:52,559 --> 00:11:57,480 Speaker 3: of nobility involved in When the games I used to play, 206 00:11:58,000 --> 00:12:04,400 Speaker 3: we were doing real things, important things, like when I 207 00:12:04,480 --> 00:12:07,760 Speaker 3: was when I grew up playing games. We were we 208 00:12:07,760 --> 00:12:15,920 Speaker 3: were saving princesses. We were training to win heavyweight titles. 209 00:12:17,280 --> 00:12:20,079 Speaker 3: In order to do that, we had to we had 210 00:12:20,080 --> 00:12:26,000 Speaker 3: to face opponents like Soda Popinski and King Hippo from 211 00:12:26,080 --> 00:12:30,880 Speaker 3: Don Flamenco and the second Don Flamenco and Piston. 212 00:12:30,520 --> 00:12:32,680 Speaker 1: Honda and the second Bald Bull. 213 00:12:33,520 --> 00:12:37,720 Speaker 3: Real stuff, you know, things that that that that transposed 214 00:12:37,880 --> 00:12:41,880 Speaker 3: into actual life skill. But the other day, I was 215 00:12:41,920 --> 00:12:45,200 Speaker 3: watching my kids play game on their phone and all 216 00:12:45,240 --> 00:12:47,720 Speaker 3: they were doing and it was very it was very 217 00:12:47,720 --> 00:12:50,080 Speaker 3: fascinating to me. I just watched them for like five minutes. 218 00:12:50,440 --> 00:12:56,240 Speaker 3: All they were doing was tapping the screen, and I 219 00:12:56,320 --> 00:12:59,360 Speaker 3: watched for a little while before I realized, there's absolutely 220 00:12:59,400 --> 00:13:02,760 Speaker 3: no strat to what they're doing right now. I didn't 221 00:13:02,800 --> 00:13:05,320 Speaker 3: know the game that they're playing because I don't play 222 00:13:05,320 --> 00:13:06,840 Speaker 3: games on my phone. I read my Bible because I'm 223 00:13:06,840 --> 00:13:11,480 Speaker 3: a pastoring. But I walked over said and I said, 224 00:13:11,960 --> 00:13:12,800 Speaker 3: what is that game? 225 00:13:13,040 --> 00:13:15,360 Speaker 1: What are you doing? And they said it was called 226 00:13:15,440 --> 00:13:16,160 Speaker 1: Cookie Clicker. 227 00:13:17,400 --> 00:13:21,200 Speaker 3: They said it's old, Dad, it's an old game, not 228 00:13:21,280 --> 00:13:23,000 Speaker 3: as old as your games, but it's an. 229 00:13:22,960 --> 00:13:26,760 Speaker 1: Old game for us. I said, Cookie Clicker, Let me 230 00:13:26,800 --> 00:13:29,959 Speaker 1: see it. How do you play? They said, you click 231 00:13:30,000 --> 00:13:30,559 Speaker 1: the cookie. 232 00:13:35,360 --> 00:13:39,960 Speaker 3: I said, all right, and then what like up up downtown, left, right, left, right, 233 00:13:40,040 --> 00:13:40,520 Speaker 3: ba star? 234 00:13:40,800 --> 00:13:43,320 Speaker 1: Is that the They. 235 00:13:43,240 --> 00:13:47,840 Speaker 3: Said, no, you just click. You just click the cookie. See, 236 00:13:47,840 --> 00:13:50,360 Speaker 3: these kids don't have to think like we had. Depend 237 00:13:53,240 --> 00:13:54,480 Speaker 3: They said, you clicked the cookie. 238 00:13:54,559 --> 00:13:55,200 Speaker 1: I said, all right. 239 00:13:55,360 --> 00:13:58,080 Speaker 3: And then what they said, then you get more cookies. 240 00:13:59,559 --> 00:14:02,440 Speaker 3: When you like the cookie, you get more cookies. I said, 241 00:14:02,480 --> 00:14:04,400 Speaker 3: And then after you get more cookies, what. 242 00:14:04,840 --> 00:14:06,320 Speaker 1: Do you do after you get more cookies? 243 00:14:06,520 --> 00:14:08,400 Speaker 3: They said, well, the more cookies you get, the more 244 00:14:08,760 --> 00:14:11,480 Speaker 3: the more cookies you can get each time you click. 245 00:14:16,520 --> 00:14:18,720 Speaker 3: That's what y'all been doing over here for the last 246 00:14:18,720 --> 00:14:27,360 Speaker 3: thirty minutes. No Princess Zelda, no Princess Toadstool, just clicking 247 00:14:27,440 --> 00:14:34,280 Speaker 3: cookies to get more cookies, to get more cookies, to 248 00:14:34,320 --> 00:14:37,480 Speaker 3: get more cookies, to get more cookies. 249 00:14:37,520 --> 00:14:40,440 Speaker 4: I said, let me try that. It was addictive. I 250 00:14:40,520 --> 00:14:48,520 Speaker 4: loved it. Five millions of cookies and I couldn't need 251 00:14:48,600 --> 00:14:52,720 Speaker 4: any of them, but I had fun clicking. Let me 252 00:14:52,760 --> 00:14:53,680 Speaker 4: ask you a question. 253 00:14:54,040 --> 00:15:00,720 Speaker 3: Have you been clicking on stuff playing a game without 254 00:15:00,800 --> 00:15:04,600 Speaker 3: asking the question, what is the goal of this game? 255 00:15:05,600 --> 00:15:09,720 Speaker 3: Have you ever argued with somebody and then you realize 256 00:15:09,760 --> 00:15:13,560 Speaker 3: that even if I win the argument, even if I 257 00:15:13,680 --> 00:15:17,880 Speaker 3: win your approval, even if I win your friendship, it's 258 00:15:17,960 --> 00:15:22,520 Speaker 3: not worth winning if I have to win it, even 259 00:15:22,560 --> 00:15:33,000 Speaker 3: if I make you like me. And that's what he 260 00:15:33,120 --> 00:15:35,360 Speaker 3: was doing. He was telling him quick clicking. Jesus was 261 00:15:35,360 --> 00:15:39,280 Speaker 3: saying this. He was saying, quick clicking. Tell somebody quick clicking, 262 00:15:40,600 --> 00:15:46,440 Speaker 3: quick clicking, and ask a different question. It's not am 263 00:15:46,440 --> 00:15:47,520 Speaker 3: I playing the game right? 264 00:15:49,440 --> 00:15:49,600 Speaker 1: You know? 265 00:15:49,600 --> 00:15:54,280 Speaker 3: Because you can get that right and succeed materially relationally, 266 00:15:55,640 --> 00:16:00,720 Speaker 3: you could get status, you could get power and get position. 267 00:16:02,000 --> 00:16:05,480 Speaker 1: You can even be a really good preacher. But if 268 00:16:05,520 --> 00:16:06,280 Speaker 1: you don't do it. 269 00:16:06,200 --> 00:16:15,040 Speaker 3: For the right reason, you can get all the cookies 270 00:16:15,080 --> 00:16:18,760 Speaker 3: that you want, but you can't dunk any of them 271 00:16:18,800 --> 00:16:24,840 Speaker 3: in milk. If it's not real, am I preaching? 272 00:16:24,880 --> 00:16:25,680 Speaker 1: Okay? 273 00:16:26,600 --> 00:16:29,800 Speaker 3: Everybody over fifty that ever clicked on worthless stuff and 274 00:16:29,840 --> 00:16:31,720 Speaker 3: found out it wasn't worth clicking. 275 00:16:31,400 --> 00:16:36,680 Speaker 1: On makes some noise. God, the church is old. Did 276 00:16:36,760 --> 00:16:38,640 Speaker 1: you hear that? That was a roar? 277 00:16:40,520 --> 00:16:42,360 Speaker 3: Twelve and a half years ago? If I'd asked that, 278 00:16:42,400 --> 00:16:44,320 Speaker 3: it wouldn't have been. Oh that made me feel weird. 279 00:16:44,360 --> 00:16:44,960 Speaker 1: But it's good. 280 00:16:45,000 --> 00:16:51,240 Speaker 3: It'scar it's multigenerational Amen, there's some wisdom that you get. 281 00:16:51,680 --> 00:16:55,560 Speaker 3: Jesus gives it on multiple levels. And six times he 282 00:16:55,640 --> 00:16:57,080 Speaker 3: does this thing in the Sermon on the Mound. I 283 00:16:57,080 --> 00:16:58,280 Speaker 3: wish I had time to show you all of it. 284 00:16:59,680 --> 00:17:01,600 Speaker 3: He said, what's up a construct like this? You have 285 00:17:01,680 --> 00:17:06,200 Speaker 3: heard it said, But I say to you, you've heard 286 00:17:06,240 --> 00:17:10,080 Speaker 3: it said. And then he would quote from the Rabbinic 287 00:17:10,119 --> 00:17:12,560 Speaker 3: tradition that they had been handed through the Law of Moses. 288 00:17:13,160 --> 00:17:14,120 Speaker 1: But I say to you. 289 00:17:14,960 --> 00:17:19,240 Speaker 3: Then he would correct the values because he was speaking 290 00:17:19,280 --> 00:17:24,919 Speaker 3: to people who had perfected the appearance of religion. But 291 00:17:24,960 --> 00:17:27,320 Speaker 3: he understood that if the behavior is right, but the 292 00:17:27,359 --> 00:17:31,720 Speaker 3: belief that is beneath the behavior is not right. If 293 00:17:32,160 --> 00:17:40,680 Speaker 3: your values are shallow, your victories will be empty. And 294 00:17:40,720 --> 00:17:42,600 Speaker 3: why didn't you write that down? I worked all week 295 00:17:42,640 --> 00:17:46,000 Speaker 3: on that, Guston. I know you've got your pens out. 296 00:17:46,000 --> 00:17:49,120 Speaker 3: I have faith in you. If your values are shallow, 297 00:17:50,680 --> 00:17:54,280 Speaker 3: your victories will be empty. So I'm winning at what. 298 00:17:56,080 --> 00:17:59,280 Speaker 3: I'm winning at what? And Jeez went up on a 299 00:17:59,280 --> 00:18:02,520 Speaker 3: mountainside and he sat down. But then he began to 300 00:18:02,560 --> 00:18:08,359 Speaker 3: teach them He's digging beneath the behaviors to identify the 301 00:18:08,400 --> 00:18:11,879 Speaker 3: beliefs like one of them that he said he said, 302 00:18:12,119 --> 00:18:14,919 Speaker 3: you've heard it, said, don't murder. But I'm telling you, 303 00:18:14,960 --> 00:18:19,120 Speaker 3: if you're angry, even if you don't murder, you will 304 00:18:19,119 --> 00:18:23,480 Speaker 3: suffer the consequences of that anger and eventually will either 305 00:18:23,560 --> 00:18:25,600 Speaker 3: lead you toward taking action on it, or it will 306 00:18:25,640 --> 00:18:28,800 Speaker 3: deteriorate your spiritual condition to the point that you might 307 00:18:28,840 --> 00:18:30,560 Speaker 3: as well have gone ahead and done it because you're 308 00:18:30,600 --> 00:18:32,680 Speaker 3: living in a prison of hatred, And whether or not 309 00:18:32,720 --> 00:18:36,200 Speaker 3: you acted out doesn't matter, because beneath the behavior is 310 00:18:36,240 --> 00:18:40,199 Speaker 3: a belief that led to the behavior. This is what 311 00:18:40,240 --> 00:18:43,359 Speaker 3: we mean when we say Jesus was the game changer, 312 00:18:44,400 --> 00:18:46,440 Speaker 3: because he didn't just play the game. 313 00:18:46,800 --> 00:18:48,919 Speaker 1: That's why they killed him. 314 00:18:49,400 --> 00:18:53,520 Speaker 3: He touched lepers that they wouldn't touch. He spoke with 315 00:18:53,760 --> 00:19:01,280 Speaker 3: women who they devalued. He challenged their social value by 316 00:19:01,400 --> 00:19:05,320 Speaker 3: associating with people who ethnically and religiously had nothing in 317 00:19:05,359 --> 00:19:08,520 Speaker 3: common with the Jewish people. And that's what they hated 318 00:19:08,600 --> 00:19:13,560 Speaker 3: about him. He didn't endorse their values to run his campaign. 319 00:19:14,400 --> 00:19:16,119 Speaker 1: He challenged their values. 320 00:19:16,680 --> 00:19:20,960 Speaker 3: He got beneath their actions and challenged their values. As 321 00:19:21,000 --> 00:19:23,640 Speaker 3: a matter of fact, he did it not only in 322 00:19:23,720 --> 00:19:26,920 Speaker 3: terms of hatred, and murder and adultery. But he did 323 00:19:26,920 --> 00:19:29,359 Speaker 3: it in terms of other areas. Like one thing he 324 00:19:29,359 --> 00:19:32,680 Speaker 3: said was you've heard it said love your neighbor. 325 00:19:34,240 --> 00:19:36,320 Speaker 1: But that's easy. 326 00:19:36,920 --> 00:19:39,120 Speaker 3: I say love your enemy. 327 00:19:39,640 --> 00:19:45,520 Speaker 1: See that changes the game. Grace changes the game. I said. 328 00:19:45,560 --> 00:19:48,200 Speaker 1: The grace of God is a game changer. 329 00:19:50,560 --> 00:19:54,000 Speaker 3: When the grace of God really becomes operative in your life. 330 00:19:54,480 --> 00:19:57,480 Speaker 3: What Jesus is saying when he says love your enemy 331 00:19:57,560 --> 00:20:02,240 Speaker 3: is you can't insist on God relating to you one 332 00:20:02,320 --> 00:20:05,960 Speaker 3: way and then you turn around and relate to people 333 00:20:06,320 --> 00:20:07,760 Speaker 3: another way. 334 00:20:08,440 --> 00:20:10,000 Speaker 1: So if you want God to. 335 00:20:10,000 --> 00:20:14,400 Speaker 3: Be gracious to you, that grace has to flow not 336 00:20:14,440 --> 00:20:18,439 Speaker 3: only to you, but through you. And if it's not 337 00:20:18,560 --> 00:20:23,120 Speaker 3: flowing through you, it didn't really flow to you. If 338 00:20:23,160 --> 00:20:25,359 Speaker 3: you don't give it, you don't got it. 339 00:20:26,359 --> 00:20:26,439 Speaker 1: Now. 340 00:20:26,480 --> 00:20:29,560 Speaker 3: I'm sorry for my grammar, but my theology is spot on. 341 00:20:31,560 --> 00:20:32,800 Speaker 1: It's a game changer. 342 00:20:33,840 --> 00:20:36,159 Speaker 3: And we beheld his glory, the glory as of the 343 00:20:36,200 --> 00:20:39,879 Speaker 3: only begodden Father, of the Father full of grace and truth. 344 00:20:40,640 --> 00:20:43,639 Speaker 3: So when grace shows up, it changes the game. 345 00:20:44,000 --> 00:20:45,840 Speaker 1: And the Bible actually says. 346 00:20:45,760 --> 00:20:49,240 Speaker 3: That when Jesus finished teaching all these things, the people 347 00:20:49,280 --> 00:20:53,000 Speaker 3: were amazed at his teaching not because he was so funny, 348 00:20:53,680 --> 00:20:57,240 Speaker 3: not because he was so succinct, not because of the 349 00:20:57,320 --> 00:21:00,600 Speaker 3: human wisdom. But he taught as one who had authority, 350 00:21:01,119 --> 00:21:03,080 Speaker 3: and not as one of their teachers. 351 00:21:02,680 --> 00:21:03,200 Speaker 1: Of the law. 352 00:21:03,880 --> 00:21:06,280 Speaker 3: Well, what was it that the teachers of the law 353 00:21:06,320 --> 00:21:08,240 Speaker 3: were teaching that had no authority? 354 00:21:08,560 --> 00:21:11,080 Speaker 1: They were teaching on the basis of appearance. 355 00:21:13,359 --> 00:21:17,520 Speaker 3: And that's what he's correcting in Matthew chapter six. It's 356 00:21:17,520 --> 00:21:24,960 Speaker 3: not a giving scripture. It's a scripture about intention. So 357 00:21:25,119 --> 00:21:27,200 Speaker 3: when you give, he assumes that you're going to give, 358 00:21:28,119 --> 00:21:34,840 Speaker 3: not if when he's making the assumption that your actions 359 00:21:34,880 --> 00:21:41,399 Speaker 3: will align with your values. And I've learned that the 360 00:21:41,440 --> 00:21:43,719 Speaker 3: greatest way for me to know whether I'm winning in 361 00:21:43,760 --> 00:21:48,840 Speaker 3: my life is not to ask people you know, or 362 00:21:48,880 --> 00:21:53,000 Speaker 3: not to consult certain external scoreboards that can tell me 363 00:21:53,040 --> 00:21:56,560 Speaker 3: how I'm doing, because my bank account is a bad 364 00:21:56,560 --> 00:22:02,560 Speaker 3: indication of whether I'm winning, or the car I drive 365 00:22:02,760 --> 00:22:09,000 Speaker 3: or any of that. But when my actions match my values, 366 00:22:09,080 --> 00:22:11,720 Speaker 3: I'm winning. 367 00:22:18,520 --> 00:22:19,960 Speaker 1: And it's cool when you can get. 368 00:22:19,840 --> 00:22:23,040 Speaker 3: To that place, not that I live there all the time, 369 00:22:23,040 --> 00:22:25,680 Speaker 3: but when i'm there, I know it and I can 370 00:22:25,720 --> 00:22:28,800 Speaker 3: feel it. And when I'm living from that place, I 371 00:22:28,840 --> 00:22:30,000 Speaker 3: don't need others to. 372 00:22:29,960 --> 00:22:34,840 Speaker 1: Notice because my father is keeping score. 373 00:22:41,440 --> 00:22:44,720 Speaker 3: We need to shut down some scoreboards that are visible 374 00:22:45,200 --> 00:22:47,720 Speaker 3: in our life for a little while and get in 375 00:22:47,800 --> 00:22:51,280 Speaker 3: the car. Like Elijah got in the car for me, 376 00:22:51,320 --> 00:22:53,240 Speaker 3: and he would ask me every game did we win? 377 00:22:54,600 --> 00:22:56,040 Speaker 1: And I never lied to him about it. 378 00:22:57,000 --> 00:23:00,760 Speaker 3: I always told him sometimes I said no, uh yeah, 379 00:23:00,840 --> 00:23:01,760 Speaker 3: played terrible today. 380 00:23:01,800 --> 00:23:06,440 Speaker 1: Honestly it was. It was painful to experience. I love 381 00:23:06,480 --> 00:23:14,560 Speaker 1: you anyway, but that that was awful. Am I am? 382 00:23:14,560 --> 00:23:15,000 Speaker 1: I winning? 383 00:23:16,040 --> 00:23:19,760 Speaker 3: And the game has changed now, I mean, it's it's crazy. 384 00:23:20,960 --> 00:23:26,800 Speaker 3: It's crazy. It's crazy because now can somebody please explain 385 00:23:26,840 --> 00:23:28,680 Speaker 3: to me what are v Bucks and what do they do? 386 00:23:32,119 --> 00:23:32,280 Speaker 1: Right? 387 00:23:32,320 --> 00:23:34,120 Speaker 3: Well, that's what I thought at first, like they buy 388 00:23:34,200 --> 00:23:37,880 Speaker 3: stuff like Okay, so my kids are playing Fortnite and 389 00:23:38,000 --> 00:23:41,840 Speaker 3: they asked me will I will I give them V bucks? 390 00:23:41,840 --> 00:23:46,160 Speaker 3: Graham asked me, will you buy us some v Bucks? Now, 391 00:23:46,280 --> 00:23:50,520 Speaker 3: my first hurdle was that real world money is now 392 00:23:50,560 --> 00:23:54,359 Speaker 3: being exchanged for I'm telling you, man, these these games 393 00:23:54,400 --> 00:23:59,560 Speaker 3: have changed for money on a game. And so I 394 00:23:59,560 --> 00:24:02,560 Speaker 3: told Grant then I would buy him some v Bucks 395 00:24:03,200 --> 00:24:06,240 Speaker 3: and I think I bought him, like, you know, five 396 00:24:06,280 --> 00:24:08,600 Speaker 3: billion v bucks for ten dollars or something like that. 397 00:24:08,640 --> 00:24:10,040 Speaker 3: I don't know the system, but I bought him some 398 00:24:10,119 --> 00:24:12,320 Speaker 3: V Bucks and then I went in and I said, 399 00:24:12,720 --> 00:24:14,359 Speaker 3: let me see what those V bucks do that I 400 00:24:14,440 --> 00:24:15,119 Speaker 3: just bought you. 401 00:24:16,640 --> 00:24:17,720 Speaker 1: I said, what are you going to do with the 402 00:24:17,800 --> 00:24:20,040 Speaker 1: V Bucks? He said, I'm gonna buy skins. 403 00:24:23,800 --> 00:24:25,960 Speaker 3: Because on the game I was watching him go around 404 00:24:26,000 --> 00:24:28,600 Speaker 3: with a pick axe, killing people with a pick axe 405 00:24:28,600 --> 00:24:33,080 Speaker 3: and stuff, you know, great family values. And I said, 406 00:24:33,080 --> 00:24:35,240 Speaker 3: do you get a sharper axe or something with the 407 00:24:35,280 --> 00:24:38,480 Speaker 3: V Bucks? He said no, I'm buying skins. I said, well, 408 00:24:38,480 --> 00:24:42,640 Speaker 3: what do the skins do? Do they protect you from 409 00:24:42,640 --> 00:24:46,560 Speaker 3: other people? He said no, the skins don't give you 410 00:24:46,960 --> 00:24:53,400 Speaker 3: any in game advantage. It's just for people to see. 411 00:24:54,200 --> 00:24:59,400 Speaker 3: So now I'm angry because I just spent my real 412 00:24:59,480 --> 00:25:04,639 Speaker 3: money for you to wear something that doesn't help you 413 00:25:04,800 --> 00:25:07,639 Speaker 3: at all in the reality of a game. 414 00:25:07,400 --> 00:25:09,080 Speaker 1: That is already virtual. 415 00:25:10,000 --> 00:25:15,159 Speaker 3: Now I'm man because I'm spending real money. God have 416 00:25:15,200 --> 00:25:18,640 Speaker 3: a counseling session for a moment. I'm sick of spending 417 00:25:18,720 --> 00:25:22,119 Speaker 3: my money on stuff to make me look good that 418 00:25:22,240 --> 00:25:32,919 Speaker 3: doesn't really make a real difference in my soul. V Boss, 419 00:25:34,640 --> 00:25:37,840 Speaker 3: I'm a grown man, and I gotta get to the 420 00:25:37,920 --> 00:25:41,919 Speaker 3: point where I don't need validation from people. 421 00:25:41,840 --> 00:25:45,280 Speaker 1: To do what's right because it's according to my values. 422 00:25:47,440 --> 00:25:51,280 Speaker 1: You don't give so people will see you. Jesus isn't saying. 423 00:25:50,960 --> 00:25:53,120 Speaker 3: That you have to write your checks in a closet 424 00:25:53,480 --> 00:25:55,480 Speaker 3: and put it in the mail and no one can 425 00:25:55,480 --> 00:25:58,120 Speaker 3: ever know, and don't get your tax exempt status when 426 00:25:58,119 --> 00:26:01,119 Speaker 3: you give. Jesus is saying, if that is your reason, 427 00:26:02,560 --> 00:26:11,720 Speaker 3: then that will be your reward. Your reason determines your reward. Well, 428 00:26:11,800 --> 00:26:18,240 Speaker 3: I feel like preaching that. And if the reason I'm 429 00:26:18,280 --> 00:26:22,520 Speaker 3: doing it is to be seen, then that's my reward. 430 00:26:23,760 --> 00:26:26,879 Speaker 3: So if they see me and if they say that 431 00:26:26,960 --> 00:26:31,320 Speaker 3: I did it good, then that's my reward. But if 432 00:26:31,359 --> 00:26:34,800 Speaker 3: I have a deeper reason, then I have a greater reward. 433 00:26:35,920 --> 00:26:38,840 Speaker 3: And here's a game changer for me. I have this 434 00:26:38,920 --> 00:26:41,920 Speaker 3: like Sunday school way that I see the Bible. Sometimes 435 00:26:41,920 --> 00:26:45,080 Speaker 3: that messes me up because like I imagine stuff like when 436 00:26:45,080 --> 00:26:48,160 Speaker 3: it says your reward in heaven or your reward from 437 00:26:48,200 --> 00:26:52,159 Speaker 3: your father. I always used to picture like a corner 438 00:26:52,200 --> 00:26:54,480 Speaker 3: of heaven where there was like pots of gold. It 439 00:26:54,560 --> 00:26:57,520 Speaker 3: was like more like lucky charms and leprechauns than the 440 00:26:57,520 --> 00:27:01,240 Speaker 3: Bible but it was like it was like these big 441 00:27:01,359 --> 00:27:04,600 Speaker 3: rewards in heaven, treasures in heaven. But you know, I'm 442 00:27:04,600 --> 00:27:08,400 Speaker 3: probably not gonna need gold in heaven because up there 443 00:27:08,440 --> 00:27:11,360 Speaker 3: it's called gravel. You see what I'm saying, Like, there's 444 00:27:11,400 --> 00:27:13,879 Speaker 3: not a value of monetary it's like v bucks in heaven, 445 00:27:14,080 --> 00:27:18,480 Speaker 3: so it's not going to really buy anything. But now 446 00:27:18,520 --> 00:27:22,800 Speaker 3: I'm realizing that this is not a passage about hey, man, 447 00:27:23,000 --> 00:27:25,760 Speaker 3: give and then when you get to heaven, it's going 448 00:27:25,840 --> 00:27:28,879 Speaker 3: to be like you know, your uber is going to 449 00:27:28,920 --> 00:27:32,960 Speaker 3: be a Maybok's Like, it's not about getting this reward 450 00:27:33,400 --> 00:27:36,760 Speaker 3: in another place, it's about getting it from another place. 451 00:27:40,160 --> 00:27:41,080 Speaker 1: Then your father. 452 00:27:42,119 --> 00:27:44,280 Speaker 3: This was the key to unlocking the scripture for me. 453 00:27:44,359 --> 00:27:46,639 Speaker 3: It said he sees what is done in secret. That 454 00:27:46,800 --> 00:27:48,959 Speaker 3: used to scare me. Oh God is watching me all 455 00:27:49,000 --> 00:27:51,040 Speaker 3: the time. Ah ah, But now I see that it 456 00:27:51,080 --> 00:27:55,400 Speaker 3: means he's keeping score, and that means nobody else gets 457 00:27:55,440 --> 00:27:58,479 Speaker 3: to And when I live that way, there is a 458 00:27:58,480 --> 00:28:02,080 Speaker 3: certain validation that owns he comes from him and living 459 00:28:02,160 --> 00:28:04,439 Speaker 3: according to the values that He's given to me and 460 00:28:04,480 --> 00:28:10,320 Speaker 3: the world can't give that. And when I'm not living 461 00:28:10,359 --> 00:28:13,840 Speaker 3: in alignment with that, then I get the car and 462 00:28:13,920 --> 00:28:18,080 Speaker 3: the car is my reward. And when the smell of 463 00:28:18,119 --> 00:28:20,600 Speaker 3: the car is gone, and so is the thrill of 464 00:28:20,600 --> 00:28:26,679 Speaker 3: owning that if I do it for people, then I 465 00:28:26,720 --> 00:28:27,800 Speaker 3: have to get it from people. 466 00:28:31,760 --> 00:28:32,760 Speaker 1: One scripture I like. 467 00:28:32,720 --> 00:28:35,399 Speaker 3: To think about when I'm having a pity party is 468 00:28:35,440 --> 00:28:38,440 Speaker 3: one time when Paul was talking about preaching the gospel, 469 00:28:39,360 --> 00:28:42,520 Speaker 3: and in certain situations Paul would say, don't pay me. 470 00:28:42,520 --> 00:28:44,200 Speaker 3: I don't want any money from you. I want something 471 00:28:45,080 --> 00:28:49,040 Speaker 3: from God. And he wasn't always doing that, but when 472 00:28:49,080 --> 00:28:51,280 Speaker 3: he explained it to the church at Court and First 473 00:28:51,320 --> 00:28:55,720 Speaker 3: Corinthians nine, he goes, hey, I got nothing to brag about. 474 00:28:56,680 --> 00:28:59,720 Speaker 3: I preach because I'm compelled. In other words, God called 475 00:28:59,720 --> 00:29:02,080 Speaker 3: me to this, so I almost have to do it. 476 00:29:03,160 --> 00:29:06,560 Speaker 3: But if I do it out of obligation, then it's 477 00:29:06,600 --> 00:29:11,320 Speaker 3: just a discharge. But if I do it like it's 478 00:29:11,360 --> 00:29:13,280 Speaker 3: a privilege, then. 479 00:29:13,200 --> 00:29:13,960 Speaker 1: It's a reward. 480 00:29:16,240 --> 00:29:21,240 Speaker 3: So the revelation for me was that my reason determines 481 00:29:21,280 --> 00:29:26,480 Speaker 3: my reward. So I'm doing this for you, then you 482 00:29:26,560 --> 00:29:39,000 Speaker 3: hold my reward. But if I'm doing this for him, 483 00:29:39,040 --> 00:29:42,640 Speaker 3: it applies in every area of life. It applies to giving. Okay, 484 00:29:43,080 --> 00:29:46,040 Speaker 3: Jesus said this. He said, I didn't come to abolish 485 00:29:46,160 --> 00:29:50,520 Speaker 3: the law. I came to fulfill it. That's what he 486 00:29:50,600 --> 00:29:53,400 Speaker 3: means by the game changer. I didn't come to play 487 00:29:53,440 --> 00:29:55,720 Speaker 3: the game a little better, keep the law a little better, 488 00:29:55,800 --> 00:29:56,720 Speaker 3: like put more. 489 00:29:56,560 --> 00:29:57,240 Speaker 1: On top of it. 490 00:29:57,360 --> 00:30:00,959 Speaker 3: I came to change the reason that you do it. 491 00:30:02,320 --> 00:30:05,640 Speaker 3: So one of those things is giving. In the Old Testament, 492 00:30:05,720 --> 00:30:10,479 Speaker 3: you would see an obligatory system of giving, where I 493 00:30:10,520 --> 00:30:14,640 Speaker 3: bring the tithe because I have to, or else I'm 494 00:30:14,680 --> 00:30:17,440 Speaker 3: under a curse, and so I bring God the first 495 00:30:17,440 --> 00:30:21,600 Speaker 3: fruits of my produce, in the first fruits of all 496 00:30:21,640 --> 00:30:25,760 Speaker 3: of my increase because I have to. It is obligation oriented. 497 00:30:25,800 --> 00:30:29,840 Speaker 3: That's how most of us live. But grace changes the game. 498 00:30:30,800 --> 00:30:33,360 Speaker 3: Jesus said, I didn't come to abolish it, but to 499 00:30:33,440 --> 00:30:36,719 Speaker 3: fulfill it. In other words, I came to give you 500 00:30:36,760 --> 00:30:37,840 Speaker 3: a different reason. 501 00:30:38,720 --> 00:30:39,520 Speaker 1: Now, it's not. 502 00:30:39,560 --> 00:30:41,960 Speaker 3: That I'm doing it because I've got to. 503 00:30:43,480 --> 00:30:46,400 Speaker 1: I'm doing it because of the grace of God. Am 504 00:30:46,440 --> 00:30:47,160 Speaker 1: I saying this right? 505 00:30:47,200 --> 00:30:47,440 Speaker 3: Lord? 506 00:30:48,480 --> 00:30:50,520 Speaker 1: It is a shift in perspective. 507 00:30:50,960 --> 00:30:54,400 Speaker 3: And sometimes you keep doing the same things, but you 508 00:30:54,480 --> 00:30:57,440 Speaker 3: find it a deeper reason to do it, and then 509 00:30:57,480 --> 00:30:58,920 Speaker 3: you find meaning in your life. 510 00:30:59,440 --> 00:31:00,720 Speaker 1: But if you're not careful, you run. 511 00:31:00,560 --> 00:31:02,760 Speaker 3: Around all your life changing the things that you do. 512 00:31:02,840 --> 00:31:05,600 Speaker 3: But you find no meaning in the things because as 513 00:31:05,680 --> 00:31:08,080 Speaker 3: long as you have shallow reasons. 514 00:31:08,160 --> 00:31:09,520 Speaker 1: You get empty victories. 515 00:31:10,680 --> 00:31:14,040 Speaker 3: But when your reason gets deeper, when you start saying, 516 00:31:14,080 --> 00:31:17,600 Speaker 3: you know what I'm giving to God, I'm serving God, 517 00:31:17,840 --> 00:31:22,240 Speaker 3: not because I have to, or not because people might notice, 518 00:31:22,560 --> 00:31:24,280 Speaker 3: or not because I'm going to go to hell if 519 00:31:24,320 --> 00:31:28,360 Speaker 3: I don't. But just He's been good to me, just 520 00:31:28,400 --> 00:31:31,200 Speaker 3: because I know that my redeemer lives. 521 00:31:31,920 --> 00:31:39,920 Speaker 1: That's why. 522 00:31:40,880 --> 00:31:43,040 Speaker 3: Then your father, who sees what is done in secret, 523 00:31:44,000 --> 00:31:50,720 Speaker 3: will reward you. Whatever is your reason controls your reward. 524 00:31:52,680 --> 00:31:53,200 Speaker 1: You believe that. 525 00:31:55,160 --> 00:31:57,160 Speaker 3: You believe that if you have a devotion just so 526 00:31:57,240 --> 00:31:59,120 Speaker 3: you can post on Instagram that you had it with 527 00:31:59,160 --> 00:32:01,600 Speaker 3: a picture of your carfew mugs sitting next to Colossians 528 00:32:01,640 --> 00:32:03,600 Speaker 3: Chapter three, verse seven, Do you. 529 00:32:03,560 --> 00:32:07,280 Speaker 1: Believe me that if that's why you did it, that's 530 00:32:07,320 --> 00:32:08,600 Speaker 1: what you get out of it. 531 00:32:10,360 --> 00:32:12,600 Speaker 3: And when it only gets twelve likes, don't cry because 532 00:32:12,640 --> 00:32:14,840 Speaker 3: I preached Matthew six' one through four, and I told 533 00:32:14,880 --> 00:32:20,240 Speaker 3: you that if that is your reason, then that is 534 00:32:20,280 --> 00:32:24,960 Speaker 3: your reward. I see it like a game show in 535 00:32:24,960 --> 00:32:29,920 Speaker 3: my mind. Tell them what they've won. You know, It's 536 00:32:29,960 --> 00:32:35,040 Speaker 3: like you know absolutely nothing, because you did it for 537 00:32:35,080 --> 00:32:40,880 Speaker 3: the reason, and people will go I left that church. 538 00:32:40,920 --> 00:32:43,120 Speaker 1: Why'd you leave that church? Because I got burned? 539 00:32:45,080 --> 00:32:48,960 Speaker 3: Were you in the cooking ministry? You see the scar? 540 00:32:49,480 --> 00:32:51,480 Speaker 3: Is it nasty? 541 00:32:52,080 --> 00:32:53,200 Speaker 1: I get it. We get hurt. 542 00:32:54,640 --> 00:32:58,360 Speaker 3: But sometimes the reason that we got hurt is because 543 00:32:58,400 --> 00:33:01,520 Speaker 3: in our heart, what we needed from people was too 544 00:33:01,600 --> 00:33:03,720 Speaker 3: much and we shouldn't have been doing it for people 545 00:33:03,800 --> 00:33:09,880 Speaker 3: to begin with it. Oh, the applause died down by 546 00:33:10,040 --> 00:33:11,280 Speaker 3: seventy three percent. 547 00:33:14,960 --> 00:33:17,280 Speaker 1: It always happens when you challenge the values. 548 00:33:18,680 --> 00:33:21,160 Speaker 3: And I noticed a trend in my preaching a couple 549 00:33:21,200 --> 00:33:23,400 Speaker 3: of years ago that bothered me. So I've been I've 550 00:33:23,440 --> 00:33:26,080 Speaker 3: been working on it. Where I was I was preaching 551 00:33:26,960 --> 00:33:30,200 Speaker 3: a sort of theology, it was a little perverted in 552 00:33:30,240 --> 00:33:32,400 Speaker 3: this way, not on purpose, but you just shift toward it. 553 00:33:32,640 --> 00:33:39,520 Speaker 3: You say, if you will, God will, and God's gonna, 554 00:33:39,920 --> 00:33:41,880 Speaker 3: and you fill in the blanks, you know, like, if 555 00:33:41,920 --> 00:33:44,240 Speaker 3: you obey God in this area of your life, it 556 00:33:44,280 --> 00:33:45,320 Speaker 3: will produce a blessing. 557 00:33:45,440 --> 00:33:46,800 Speaker 1: So it was a cause and effect. 558 00:33:48,120 --> 00:33:51,600 Speaker 3: What I'm coming to understand is while that's true on 559 00:33:51,640 --> 00:33:56,360 Speaker 3: the surface, the real blessing is built into the process. 560 00:33:58,400 --> 00:34:00,000 Speaker 1: The real blessing is built in. 561 00:34:01,640 --> 00:34:04,040 Speaker 3: When he says, don't let your left hand know what 562 00:34:04,080 --> 00:34:07,360 Speaker 3: your right hand is doing when you give. That means 563 00:34:07,360 --> 00:34:11,880 Speaker 3: that it ought to be so automatic because you've operated 564 00:34:12,040 --> 00:34:16,840 Speaker 3: out of your values to the point like these guitar players, 565 00:34:17,760 --> 00:34:20,080 Speaker 3: is there a guitar anywhere around here? When they play, 566 00:34:21,280 --> 00:34:30,280 Speaker 3: there's got to be one right LJ. When they play, 567 00:34:30,400 --> 00:34:35,839 Speaker 3: they don't have to think about I would play y'all 568 00:34:35,840 --> 00:34:38,040 Speaker 3: talk dirty to me by poison, but that's not appropriate 569 00:34:38,080 --> 00:34:38,359 Speaker 3: for chure. 570 00:34:39,120 --> 00:34:41,319 Speaker 5: That's the first song I learned, though. That's what I 571 00:34:41,360 --> 00:34:45,120 Speaker 5: think about when I see electric guitar. They do this 572 00:34:46,360 --> 00:34:49,480 Speaker 5: with the right hand and this with the left hand, 573 00:34:54,239 --> 00:34:55,040 Speaker 5: but they don't. 574 00:34:57,000 --> 00:34:58,960 Speaker 1: See these hands. These hands. 575 00:35:02,080 --> 00:35:08,600 Speaker 3: If I've done that enough, this hand is going, and 576 00:35:08,680 --> 00:35:17,840 Speaker 3: this hand is going, and the left hand, what is 577 00:35:17,880 --> 00:35:21,080 Speaker 3: this glycerine by Bush? I think I'm playing of all 578 00:35:21,080 --> 00:35:28,040 Speaker 3: the songs shout of the nineties, And if you've done 579 00:35:28,080 --> 00:35:36,080 Speaker 3: it enough, it's not even a thing. And Jesus, I 580 00:35:36,080 --> 00:35:39,439 Speaker 3: would like for you to get to the point where 581 00:35:39,480 --> 00:35:42,960 Speaker 3: My grace has changed you enough. 582 00:35:47,080 --> 00:35:51,640 Speaker 1: That you don't have to you don't have to think 583 00:35:51,680 --> 00:35:54,920 Speaker 1: about it or pray about it. 584 00:35:56,200 --> 00:35:58,880 Speaker 3: God, should I give to further your gospel in the earth, 585 00:35:58,880 --> 00:36:01,960 Speaker 3: I just need a sigh. How about your common sense? 586 00:36:06,640 --> 00:36:11,879 Speaker 3: And so he challenges my values. And that's what I've 587 00:36:11,880 --> 00:36:16,799 Speaker 3: always loved about this moment in our church we are 588 00:36:16,800 --> 00:36:19,640 Speaker 3: getting ready to give, or when we're calling people to serve. 589 00:36:19,800 --> 00:36:22,360 Speaker 1: You know, it changes the game. 590 00:36:23,280 --> 00:36:27,359 Speaker 3: Because when your intention in coming here is in what 591 00:36:27,400 --> 00:36:33,560 Speaker 3: you get, then that's your reward. When your intention in 592 00:36:33,600 --> 00:36:37,480 Speaker 3: coming is to give something that God put inside of you, 593 00:36:37,480 --> 00:36:41,560 Speaker 3: you are no longer dependent on people, and that's the blessing. 594 00:36:43,080 --> 00:36:49,200 Speaker 3: The blessing is built in to the process. And I 595 00:36:49,200 --> 00:36:53,319 Speaker 3: think we need to take our scoreboard back. I think 596 00:36:53,320 --> 00:36:57,640 Speaker 3: we've adopted the world's values in some ways that have 597 00:36:57,719 --> 00:37:04,120 Speaker 3: caused us to when victories that are empty, then your father, 598 00:37:04,160 --> 00:37:09,799 Speaker 3: who sees what is done in secret, he will reward you, 599 00:37:10,160 --> 00:37:14,120 Speaker 3: not with pots of gold in heaven, not with v 600 00:37:14,239 --> 00:37:23,799 Speaker 3: bucks and cookies, digital cookies, cookies made of pixels, complements 601 00:37:23,840 --> 00:37:26,680 Speaker 3: from people, and empty status that. 602 00:37:26,680 --> 00:37:29,840 Speaker 1: Can be here one day and gone the next. 603 00:37:31,719 --> 00:37:36,680 Speaker 3: When you have crappy values, you will never have lasting joy. 604 00:37:39,200 --> 00:37:41,360 Speaker 1: And popularity is a crappy value. 605 00:37:43,160 --> 00:37:48,960 Speaker 3: That's in the Greek crappy value facility. 606 00:37:49,200 --> 00:37:51,080 Speaker 1: And position is a crappy value. 607 00:37:51,400 --> 00:37:59,120 Speaker 3: I'm gonna work my way up excavation before elevation. Pleasure 608 00:37:59,239 --> 00:38:03,160 Speaker 3: is a crappy it's a great byproduct. 609 00:38:03,920 --> 00:38:06,239 Speaker 1: It's not bad to feel good and enjoy stuff. 610 00:38:05,960 --> 00:38:11,680 Speaker 3: But when that's the goal of the game, it's a 611 00:38:11,800 --> 00:38:16,200 Speaker 3: terrible value. And when my values are shallow, my victories 612 00:38:16,239 --> 00:38:17,440 Speaker 3: are empty. 613 00:38:18,960 --> 00:38:21,080 Speaker 1: So I want God to run my scoreboard. How about you? 614 00:38:22,080 --> 00:38:25,960 Speaker 3: I need that, Come on, I need that. It's too stressful. 615 00:38:27,800 --> 00:38:31,919 Speaker 3: It's too stressful. Life is too stressful, and too many 616 00:38:31,920 --> 00:38:34,600 Speaker 3: people have too many different opinions, and there's too much 617 00:38:34,640 --> 00:38:36,760 Speaker 3: to keep up with, and I can't do it anymore. 618 00:38:37,960 --> 00:38:39,879 Speaker 3: So I want my father, who sees what has done 619 00:38:39,920 --> 00:38:44,120 Speaker 3: in secret, to keep score for me, and I want 620 00:38:44,280 --> 00:38:46,000 Speaker 3: I want him to make the decision. 621 00:38:47,480 --> 00:38:51,960 Speaker 1: Was that good? Am I a good dad today? 622 00:38:52,239 --> 00:38:54,279 Speaker 3: Because I certainly can't ask my kids what they think 623 00:38:54,280 --> 00:39:00,040 Speaker 3: about that. I can't because what I will need to 624 00:38:59,880 --> 00:39:02,560 Speaker 3: do to be a good parent in some seasons we 625 00:39:02,560 --> 00:39:07,279 Speaker 3: I mean sometimes that I am not popular. But if 626 00:39:07,320 --> 00:39:10,480 Speaker 3: I'm parenting according to purpose, if I'm living according to purpose, 627 00:39:11,719 --> 00:39:15,160 Speaker 3: I don't have to consult all these other sources. Say 628 00:39:15,160 --> 00:39:18,480 Speaker 3: this out loud. God is my source, and he is 629 00:39:18,520 --> 00:39:24,200 Speaker 3: my reward. God is my source, and he is my reward. 630 00:39:25,400 --> 00:39:29,920 Speaker 3: God is my source and He is my reward. Now 631 00:39:29,960 --> 00:39:31,640 Speaker 3: clap your hands if you want to live that way. 632 00:39:38,960 --> 00:39:41,920 Speaker 1: We're gonna get around these values over the next few weeks. 633 00:39:41,920 --> 00:39:46,160 Speaker 3: I'm not teaching only on giving or tithing or any 634 00:39:46,200 --> 00:39:48,720 Speaker 3: of that. I'm gonna be teaching on principles of faith 635 00:39:49,239 --> 00:39:52,280 Speaker 3: and principles of vision and principles of value. 636 00:39:52,400 --> 00:39:54,000 Speaker 1: That's what we've always done at this church. 637 00:39:54,719 --> 00:39:58,560 Speaker 3: I never stood up on this stage and preached from 638 00:39:58,960 --> 00:40:02,480 Speaker 3: an emergency that we needed people to give, and I 639 00:40:02,520 --> 00:40:05,399 Speaker 3: won't start now because there is none. But now there's 640 00:40:05,440 --> 00:40:07,719 Speaker 3: an opportunity coming up as this year in is for 641 00:40:07,840 --> 00:40:12,200 Speaker 3: thousands of you to begin to operate according to Kingdom values, 642 00:40:12,840 --> 00:40:16,560 Speaker 3: putting God first. What a lot of people begin to 643 00:40:16,560 --> 00:40:19,080 Speaker 3: do during this season that I think is so appropriate 644 00:40:19,480 --> 00:40:22,720 Speaker 3: is they begin that practice of tithing that's the first 645 00:40:22,760 --> 00:40:27,000 Speaker 3: ten percent, and rather than just giving some one time gift, 646 00:40:27,200 --> 00:40:31,680 Speaker 3: some spontaneous gift, they get systematic and strategic to begin 647 00:40:31,719 --> 00:40:35,440 Speaker 3: to align your actions with your values, because otherwise, what 648 00:40:35,600 --> 00:40:36,960 Speaker 3: is it, It's just rhetoric. 649 00:40:38,440 --> 00:40:40,200 Speaker 1: Your actions reflect your values. 650 00:40:41,480 --> 00:40:44,680 Speaker 3: So thousands of people during this season will begin to 651 00:40:44,760 --> 00:40:48,760 Speaker 3: tie the first ten percent to God and go online 652 00:40:48,800 --> 00:40:50,759 Speaker 3: and set that up in a recurring way, and then 653 00:40:51,280 --> 00:40:53,839 Speaker 3: thousands will bring an above and beyond gift, and we'll 654 00:40:53,920 --> 00:40:56,800 Speaker 3: use that to build the church and build the kingdom 655 00:40:57,160 --> 00:40:58,880 Speaker 3: and preach the gospel, and will show you in the 656 00:40:58,920 --> 00:41:02,040 Speaker 3: weeks to come some videos and testimonies of what God 657 00:41:02,120 --> 00:41:05,080 Speaker 3: is already doing around the world, thousands of you online 658 00:41:05,200 --> 00:41:08,000 Speaker 3: that just click on and click off. Now, God's gonna 659 00:41:08,000 --> 00:41:11,440 Speaker 3: call you off the bench into the game. Off the 660 00:41:11,480 --> 00:41:14,600 Speaker 3: bench in the game, because when you get in the game, 661 00:41:14,880 --> 00:41:17,200 Speaker 3: that's when you start to discover who God really is, 662 00:41:17,640 --> 00:41:20,480 Speaker 3: not when you sit and spectat, but when you participate 663 00:41:20,719 --> 00:41:23,480 Speaker 3: and sacrifice. And God is calling on us in this 664 00:41:23,600 --> 00:41:26,120 Speaker 3: season to get in the game and make a difference 665 00:41:26,120 --> 00:41:28,600 Speaker 3: in the world for the glory of His name. And 666 00:41:28,680 --> 00:41:32,640 Speaker 3: I feel like making a difference. I want my life 667 00:41:33,200 --> 00:41:38,360 Speaker 3: to count for something beyond what I can see. So 668 00:41:38,440 --> 00:41:40,160 Speaker 3: the worship team is going to come now and we're 669 00:41:40,200 --> 00:41:42,680 Speaker 3: gonna sing again. Would you stand to your feet. I'm 670 00:41:42,680 --> 00:41:46,279 Speaker 3: gonna worship God. Please don't leave. It's so stressful when 671 00:41:46,320 --> 00:41:48,840 Speaker 3: I say stand and five hundred people start heading for 672 00:41:48,880 --> 00:41:51,360 Speaker 3: the car. And we don't need any of that, but 673 00:41:51,440 --> 00:41:52,880 Speaker 3: I want us to take a moment and seal the 674 00:41:52,920 --> 00:41:54,120 Speaker 3: word that God spoke today. 675 00:41:54,160 --> 00:41:58,400 Speaker 1: Are you excited about this season of faith? Come on, 676 00:41:58,480 --> 00:41:59,960 Speaker 1: clap your hands if you're excited. 677 00:42:08,440 --> 00:42:10,360 Speaker 3: Father, we ask you now that you would align our 678 00:42:10,440 --> 00:42:14,200 Speaker 3: values with yours. Sometimes what you value and what we 679 00:42:14,360 --> 00:42:17,400 Speaker 3: value are so different, and we need your help in 680 00:42:17,440 --> 00:42:21,600 Speaker 3: those areas. Sometimes we're looking at the wrong scoreboard and 681 00:42:21,640 --> 00:42:24,759 Speaker 3: we feel like we're failing because we're allowing the wrong 682 00:42:24,800 --> 00:42:29,560 Speaker 3: people to run our scoreboard. Sometimes we feel like we're 683 00:42:29,560 --> 00:42:32,920 Speaker 3: failing because we're considering all the wrong columns and not 684 00:42:33,000 --> 00:42:35,799 Speaker 3: the ones that are inside, the ones that matter. So 685 00:42:35,840 --> 00:42:39,120 Speaker 3: I speak over your people today a blessing of affirmation 686 00:42:39,239 --> 00:42:42,520 Speaker 3: and validation that can only come from you. I pray 687 00:42:42,560 --> 00:42:45,360 Speaker 3: that you would speak, even in these moments, the words 688 00:42:45,440 --> 00:42:48,080 Speaker 3: that we need to hear. That we would align our 689 00:42:48,160 --> 00:42:51,600 Speaker 3: values with your voice, and your voice alone that rises 690 00:42:51,640 --> 00:42:56,239 Speaker 3: above every storm, transcends every season. To believe and know 691 00:42:57,160 --> 00:43:00,960 Speaker 3: that your grace is enough for us. In Jesus' name, 692 00:43:01,000 --> 00:43:04,920 Speaker 3: I pray, and the whole church sayd amen, it is. 693 00:43:04,880 --> 00:43:10,239 Speaker 2: So thank you for joining us. Special thanks to those 694 00:43:10,239 --> 00:43:13,240 Speaker 2: of you who give generously to this ministry. Is because 695 00:43:13,280 --> 00:43:16,240 Speaker 2: of you that this ministry is possible You can click 696 00:43:16,239 --> 00:43:19,200 Speaker 2: the link in the description to give now or visit 697 00:43:19,239 --> 00:43:23,440 Speaker 2: Elevationchurch dot org slash podcast for more information and if 698 00:43:23,440 --> 00:43:25,920 Speaker 2: you enjoyed the podcast, you can subscribe. 699 00:43:26,200 --> 00:43:27,560 Speaker 1: You can share it with your friends. 700 00:43:27,840 --> 00:43:30,120 Speaker 2: You can click the share button, take a screenshot and 701 00:43:30,160 --> 00:43:32,279 Speaker 2: share it on your social stories and tag us at 702 00:43:32,280 --> 00:43:33,160 Speaker 2: Elevation Church. 703 00:43:33,200 --> 00:43:39,840 Speaker 1: Thanks again for listening. God bless you.