1 00:00:02,120 --> 00:00:04,640 Speaker 1: Hey, this is Stephen Ferdick. I'm the pastor of Elevation 2 00:00:04,920 --> 00:00:07,160 Speaker 1: Church and this is our podcast. I wanted to thank 3 00:00:07,160 --> 00:00:10,479 Speaker 1: you for joining us today. Hope this inspires you. Hope 4 00:00:10,520 --> 00:00:12,560 Speaker 1: it builds your faith. Hope it gives your perspective to 5 00:00:12,560 --> 00:00:18,560 Speaker 1: see God is moving in your life. Enjoy the message. 6 00:00:19,640 --> 00:00:23,919 Speaker 1: All right, stay standing, Stay standing. I want to share 7 00:00:23,920 --> 00:00:29,600 Speaker 1: with you today a story in Mark chapter nine, Mark 8 00:00:29,680 --> 00:00:39,240 Speaker 1: chapter nine, verse fourteen through twenty nine. And let's don't 9 00:00:39,280 --> 00:00:43,680 Speaker 1: let the dramatic nature of this Bible story make us 10 00:00:43,680 --> 00:00:47,880 Speaker 1: think that it doesn't apply to us. Because the story 11 00:00:47,880 --> 00:00:53,599 Speaker 1: I'm going to read you it's very extreme, and there 12 00:00:53,640 --> 00:00:56,080 Speaker 1: are people here who have extreme situations that you're dealing 13 00:00:56,120 --> 00:01:01,400 Speaker 1: with and joining us who have extreme situations. But even 14 00:01:01,440 --> 00:01:03,720 Speaker 1: if the situation that you're dealing with in your life 15 00:01:03,720 --> 00:01:05,959 Speaker 1: today and the need that you have isn't this dramatic 16 00:01:06,040 --> 00:01:08,920 Speaker 1: or doesn't fit this particular description of this picture, I 17 00:01:09,000 --> 00:01:12,120 Speaker 1: believe the dynamics of what God wants to teach us 18 00:01:12,160 --> 00:01:14,360 Speaker 1: what apply to every person in the room of every age. 19 00:01:14,480 --> 00:01:18,360 Speaker 1: So just with that in your mind, listen as I 20 00:01:18,400 --> 00:01:21,720 Speaker 1: read this account. The scripture says Mark chapter nine, verse 21 00:01:21,760 --> 00:01:26,479 Speaker 1: fourteen when they came to the other disciples, they saw 22 00:01:26,560 --> 00:01:30,080 Speaker 1: a large crowd around them and the teachers of the 23 00:01:30,160 --> 00:01:33,440 Speaker 1: law arguing with them. As soon as all the people 24 00:01:33,520 --> 00:01:36,959 Speaker 1: saw Jesus, they were overwhelmed with wonder and ran to 25 00:01:37,000 --> 00:01:41,480 Speaker 1: greet him. What are you arguing with them about? He asked. 26 00:01:42,280 --> 00:01:44,640 Speaker 1: A man in the crowd answered, teacher, I brought you 27 00:01:44,720 --> 00:01:49,400 Speaker 1: my son, who is possessed by a spirit that has 28 00:01:49,520 --> 00:01:55,880 Speaker 1: robbed him of speech. Whenever it seizes him. Whenever it 29 00:01:56,080 --> 00:02:00,520 Speaker 1: seizes him, it throws him to the ground. He foams 30 00:02:00,560 --> 00:02:05,640 Speaker 1: at the mouth, gnashes his teeth, and becomes rigid. I 31 00:02:05,760 --> 00:02:08,919 Speaker 1: asked your disciples to drive out the spirit, but they 32 00:02:08,919 --> 00:02:14,880 Speaker 1: could not. And listen to Jesus, How frustrated he solves 33 00:02:14,919 --> 00:02:20,320 Speaker 1: you unbelieving generation, Jesus replied, how long shall I stay 34 00:02:20,360 --> 00:02:23,280 Speaker 1: with you? How long shall I put up with you? 35 00:02:24,440 --> 00:02:29,240 Speaker 1: Bring the boy to me. Bring him to me. Now, 36 00:02:29,240 --> 00:02:31,440 Speaker 1: hear the Lord saying that today to somebody. Bring him 37 00:02:31,480 --> 00:02:37,040 Speaker 1: to me. Now, let's keep reading. So they brought him, 38 00:02:37,240 --> 00:02:39,840 Speaker 1: and when the spirit saw Jesus, it immediately threw the 39 00:02:39,840 --> 00:02:42,560 Speaker 1: boy into a convulsion. He fell to the ground and 40 00:02:42,720 --> 00:02:45,120 Speaker 1: rolled around, foaming at the mouth, and Jesus asked the 41 00:02:45,160 --> 00:02:49,799 Speaker 1: boy's father, how long has he been like this? From childhood? 42 00:02:49,800 --> 00:02:53,560 Speaker 1: He answered? It has often thrown him into fire or 43 00:02:53,639 --> 00:02:57,200 Speaker 1: water to kill him. But if you can do anything, 44 00:02:58,040 --> 00:03:02,239 Speaker 1: take pity on us and help us if you can, 45 00:03:03,880 --> 00:03:09,239 Speaker 1: said Jesus, I like that part. You like that too. 46 00:03:10,840 --> 00:03:19,680 Speaker 1: Everything is possible for one who believes. Oh. Immediately, the 47 00:03:19,720 --> 00:03:25,680 Speaker 1: boy's father exclaimed, I do believe. Help me overcome my unbelief. 48 00:03:27,080 --> 00:03:29,400 Speaker 1: When Jesus saw that a crowd was running to the scene, 49 00:03:29,440 --> 00:03:33,800 Speaker 1: he rebuked the impure spirit, you deaf and mute spirit. 50 00:03:33,919 --> 00:03:37,280 Speaker 1: He said, I command you come out of him and 51 00:03:37,360 --> 00:03:42,840 Speaker 1: never enter him again. And the spirit shrieked, convults him 52 00:03:42,920 --> 00:03:46,000 Speaker 1: violently and came out. The boy looked so much like 53 00:03:46,040 --> 00:03:52,680 Speaker 1: a corpse that many said, he's dead. But Jesus MANI said, 54 00:03:52,840 --> 00:04:00,480 Speaker 1: he's dead, But Jesus. Many said, that's it, but you Jesus. 55 00:04:01,320 --> 00:04:07,960 Speaker 1: Many said it's over. But Jesus, whoa, that's not my message. 56 00:04:08,080 --> 00:04:10,080 Speaker 1: But I want to shut in the middle of the 57 00:04:10,280 --> 00:04:21,120 Speaker 1: cities by God. But God, whoa. But Jesus took him 58 00:04:21,120 --> 00:04:23,680 Speaker 1: by the hand and lifted him to his feet, and 59 00:04:23,720 --> 00:04:27,920 Speaker 1: he stood up. Now this is the part I want 60 00:04:27,960 --> 00:04:31,600 Speaker 1: to preach about. After Jesus had gone indoors. 61 00:04:31,600 --> 00:04:36,800 Speaker 2: His disciples asked him privately, kind of embarrassed about the 62 00:04:36,800 --> 00:04:41,080 Speaker 2: way things went down, just experienced a terrible failure and 63 00:04:41,160 --> 00:04:45,080 Speaker 2: got called out in front of the Son of God. 64 00:04:45,920 --> 00:04:53,560 Speaker 1: They asked him, why couldn't we drive it out? And 65 00:04:53,600 --> 00:04:58,400 Speaker 1: here's why Verse twenty nine. This kind can come out 66 00:04:59,200 --> 00:05:08,479 Speaker 1: only by prayer? Why couldn't we dry it out? This 67 00:05:08,680 --> 00:05:12,800 Speaker 1: kind can only come out by prayer? And I want 68 00:05:12,839 --> 00:05:18,280 Speaker 1: to give you this message today. You are not it. 69 00:05:22,120 --> 00:05:25,160 Speaker 1: You remember aenie meenie, miney moe. My mama told me 70 00:05:25,200 --> 00:05:30,480 Speaker 1: it's your pa, and you put your finger six feet 71 00:05:30,480 --> 00:05:32,680 Speaker 1: from your neighbor's face. Let's obey the law. But look 72 00:05:32,720 --> 00:05:35,600 Speaker 1: at him right now and say you are put it 73 00:05:35,600 --> 00:05:41,719 Speaker 1: in the chat. Not it be seated. Let's talk about it. 74 00:05:41,880 --> 00:05:43,560 Speaker 1: You are. 75 00:05:45,279 --> 00:05:46,719 Speaker 3: Not it. 76 00:05:50,600 --> 00:05:55,719 Speaker 1: Oh. It's my oldest son's sixteenth birthday today, Happy birthday alive. 77 00:06:01,320 --> 00:06:05,559 Speaker 1: He's not in church today, he's on a little trip 78 00:06:05,960 --> 00:06:09,360 Speaker 1: with his mom. They're coming back today. And I love 79 00:06:09,400 --> 00:06:13,159 Speaker 1: you so much. I'm so proud of you. It hurts 80 00:06:13,160 --> 00:06:16,160 Speaker 1: how much you love your kids, doesn't it. It hurts 81 00:06:16,160 --> 00:06:20,440 Speaker 1: how much you love your kids. Sometimes I just walk 82 00:06:20,480 --> 00:06:23,599 Speaker 1: by them. I can't even speak. I just sometimes I 83 00:06:23,680 --> 00:06:28,279 Speaker 1: just walk by them and just think, Man, it hurts. 84 00:06:29,880 --> 00:06:31,640 Speaker 1: I hate you for making me love you so much. 85 00:06:34,600 --> 00:06:38,320 Speaker 1: I love you. Mans he's watching. They're flying back. I 86 00:06:38,360 --> 00:06:40,520 Speaker 1: think they're headed to the airport as we speak. And 87 00:06:40,520 --> 00:06:42,800 Speaker 1: if the signal's good, he'll be getting this message. If not, 88 00:06:42,839 --> 00:06:45,120 Speaker 1: I I'd be watching this message and taking notes later 89 00:06:45,160 --> 00:06:49,119 Speaker 1: in the week. Wet birthday trip. They're headed back today. 90 00:06:49,120 --> 00:06:52,080 Speaker 1: We're excited to have Holly back today. Our family, our 91 00:06:52,160 --> 00:06:55,800 Speaker 1: Graham and Abby are really excited. We have door dashed 92 00:06:55,839 --> 00:07:04,960 Speaker 1: every restaurant in the Carolina's in three days. Mirror So sixteen, 93 00:07:05,080 --> 00:07:09,159 Speaker 1: I got a sixteen year old, y'all, that is the devil. 94 00:07:09,200 --> 00:07:14,600 Speaker 3: I rebuked that accusation on my age sixteen year old. 95 00:07:16,080 --> 00:07:20,800 Speaker 3: But Elijah is I don't know if he's a litigator 96 00:07:20,800 --> 00:07:21,120 Speaker 3: at heart. 97 00:07:21,160 --> 00:07:24,560 Speaker 1: He always finds a loophole, kind of reflecting on his 98 00:07:24,640 --> 00:07:28,160 Speaker 1: personality because when you're a dad, you look for all 99 00:07:28,160 --> 00:07:32,400 Speaker 1: these techniques and you'll steal, begborrow anything as a dad, 100 00:07:32,920 --> 00:07:34,760 Speaker 1: you know, like the guy in this passage, he's doing 101 00:07:34,800 --> 00:07:36,960 Speaker 1: anything he can to get a son healed. And when 102 00:07:36,960 --> 00:07:39,680 Speaker 1: you become a parent, since God forgot to put the 103 00:07:39,760 --> 00:07:43,040 Speaker 1: manual and the instruction sheet inside, all the little seventy 104 00:07:43,040 --> 00:07:47,320 Speaker 1: five million pieces of parenting a human life. And since 105 00:07:47,320 --> 00:07:48,880 Speaker 1: they make you take a test to drive a car, 106 00:07:48,880 --> 00:07:53,880 Speaker 1: but not to be responsible for a human life, you'll 107 00:07:53,880 --> 00:07:56,480 Speaker 1: try anything. My friend Judah Smith told me that his 108 00:07:56,560 --> 00:07:59,480 Speaker 1: dad used to tell him when he was a little boy, 109 00:08:00,280 --> 00:08:02,040 Speaker 1: of all the five year olds in the world or 110 00:08:02,040 --> 00:08:03,880 Speaker 1: whatever age he was seven nine, He said he did 111 00:08:03,880 --> 00:08:06,720 Speaker 1: this all the time growing up. He said that his 112 00:08:06,800 --> 00:08:10,120 Speaker 1: dad would say, if they lined up all the five 113 00:08:10,200 --> 00:08:12,840 Speaker 1: year olds, seven year olds, nine year olds in the world, 114 00:08:12,920 --> 00:08:16,120 Speaker 1: and then he would name all the continents and countries, 115 00:08:16,880 --> 00:08:21,280 Speaker 1: all the seven year olds from India and Australia, Africa, 116 00:08:22,240 --> 00:08:30,400 Speaker 1: all the foreign countries, Alabama, chief Shock, and they let 117 00:08:30,400 --> 00:08:34,040 Speaker 1: me choose of all the five year olds, I choose you. 118 00:08:35,920 --> 00:08:39,320 Speaker 1: So I tried that on my kids, and of course 119 00:08:39,360 --> 00:08:41,480 Speaker 1: Elijah is our lab rat. And I do have a 120 00:08:41,520 --> 00:08:44,800 Speaker 1: theory about firstborn children. While you're putting away their college funds, 121 00:08:44,800 --> 00:08:47,000 Speaker 1: save them a therapy fund, because you're learning all the 122 00:08:47,040 --> 00:08:52,920 Speaker 1: stuff that doesn't work on them. And Elijah, when I 123 00:08:52,960 --> 00:08:54,840 Speaker 1: was putting him to bed one night, I said, of 124 00:08:55,040 --> 00:08:57,440 Speaker 1: all the kids in the world, if they lined up 125 00:08:57,480 --> 00:08:59,400 Speaker 1: every kid from and I went through the role call 126 00:08:59,440 --> 00:09:02,040 Speaker 1: of all the countries and states that I could think of. 127 00:09:02,240 --> 00:09:04,240 Speaker 1: If I could choose anyone, if God let me choose 128 00:09:04,280 --> 00:09:06,240 Speaker 1: any little boy, a little five year old boy, I 129 00:09:06,240 --> 00:09:09,319 Speaker 1: would choose you. And he didn't say thing. And then 130 00:09:09,520 --> 00:09:11,200 Speaker 1: I'll do it again the next night and the next night. 131 00:09:11,280 --> 00:09:14,079 Speaker 1: But the third night I did it. Elijah says, I say, 132 00:09:14,080 --> 00:09:16,320 Speaker 1: if they lined up all the kids in the world 133 00:09:16,320 --> 00:09:18,360 Speaker 1: that were five years old and let me choose one, 134 00:09:18,400 --> 00:09:22,080 Speaker 1: I would choose you. And he goes, technically, you can't 135 00:09:22,160 --> 00:09:25,040 Speaker 1: say that because you haven't seen all the five year 136 00:09:25,080 --> 00:09:30,680 Speaker 1: olds in the world, And y'all think that's bad. Graham 137 00:09:30,760 --> 00:09:34,320 Speaker 1: is much worse. Graham's he's a couple of years younger 138 00:09:34,320 --> 00:09:38,079 Speaker 1: than Elijah, and he's much more ruthless. And one night 139 00:09:38,120 --> 00:09:40,600 Speaker 1: with Graham I tried to turn it on him. I said, now, 140 00:09:40,600 --> 00:09:42,440 Speaker 1: if they lined up all the daddy's in the world, 141 00:09:42,520 --> 00:09:45,680 Speaker 1: would you pick me? And he goes, just cold blooded, 142 00:09:45,760 --> 00:09:48,520 Speaker 1: He goes, how could I know? I haven't seen all 143 00:09:48,520 --> 00:09:56,560 Speaker 1: the different dads talking about the demon possessed children today 144 00:09:56,559 --> 00:10:04,600 Speaker 1: in the scriptures. No part of me was like, I 145 00:10:04,640 --> 00:10:08,760 Speaker 1: feel you, man, because I really mean the part about 146 00:10:08,760 --> 00:10:10,440 Speaker 1: I wouldn't pick a different kid. I make a lot 147 00:10:10,480 --> 00:10:12,600 Speaker 1: of jokes in the fullpit, but you know, being a 148 00:10:12,679 --> 00:10:16,960 Speaker 1: dad is to me, it's the greatest privilege other than 149 00:10:17,000 --> 00:10:20,560 Speaker 1: being Holly's husband, even more than being your pastor. Yes, yes, yes, yes, 150 00:10:21,120 --> 00:10:22,920 Speaker 1: I would let you'll all go to hell before I 151 00:10:22,920 --> 00:10:25,360 Speaker 1: would let one of my kids grow up without an 152 00:10:25,400 --> 00:10:27,480 Speaker 1: active dad. That's just a fact. And I'm not even 153 00:10:27,520 --> 00:10:29,360 Speaker 1: saying it's right, but that's how I feel about it. 154 00:10:32,160 --> 00:10:32,360 Speaker 3: Said. 155 00:10:32,679 --> 00:10:35,559 Speaker 1: One guy said to me one of the kids baseball games. 156 00:10:35,559 --> 00:10:37,640 Speaker 1: I was getting kind of fired up. Nothing really bad 157 00:10:37,679 --> 00:10:39,840 Speaker 1: at the umpire, but I was kind of, you know, 158 00:10:40,120 --> 00:10:42,439 Speaker 1: making myself known because he made a bad call on 159 00:10:42,520 --> 00:10:44,480 Speaker 1: my kid. And one of the other parents said, I 160 00:10:44,480 --> 00:10:47,920 Speaker 1: thought you were supposed to be a pastor, And I said, 161 00:10:47,920 --> 00:10:50,839 Speaker 1: but right now, I'm a dad. And I went back 162 00:10:50,840 --> 00:10:54,960 Speaker 1: to yelling at the umpire. Right you could take my 163 00:10:55,120 --> 00:10:58,079 Speaker 1: ordination certificate. I don't care, man, I'm a dad right now, 164 00:10:58,679 --> 00:11:01,400 Speaker 1: but I do think and when it comes to your kids, 165 00:11:01,440 --> 00:11:04,800 Speaker 1: like how crazy it can be that I thought the 166 00:11:04,840 --> 00:11:07,560 Speaker 1: same thing. Graham was just kidding, obviously when he said 167 00:11:07,559 --> 00:11:09,160 Speaker 1: that he knows I'm the greatest dad of all time, 168 00:11:09,200 --> 00:11:14,559 Speaker 1: but he said what I fear. Sometimes I think they 169 00:11:14,600 --> 00:11:19,880 Speaker 1: could do better with a different dad. And not to 170 00:11:19,920 --> 00:11:22,160 Speaker 1: go so deep, so quick on y'all, but you know, 171 00:11:22,200 --> 00:11:23,959 Speaker 1: I think every parent has thought it before. I don't 172 00:11:24,000 --> 00:11:28,280 Speaker 1: want to pass this on to you. I don't want to. 173 00:11:29,200 --> 00:11:32,240 Speaker 1: I don't want you to be later in life showing 174 00:11:32,320 --> 00:11:35,880 Speaker 1: up for something, not having the tuition to pay for 175 00:11:35,920 --> 00:11:37,440 Speaker 1: a lesson that I should have taught you when you 176 00:11:37,440 --> 00:11:39,080 Speaker 1: were twelve, but I didn't know I was supposed to 177 00:11:39,080 --> 00:11:42,640 Speaker 1: teach you. And it's nerve wracking. And that's why I 178 00:11:42,640 --> 00:11:44,520 Speaker 1: want to cry when I walk by him sometimes, because 179 00:11:44,559 --> 00:11:46,880 Speaker 1: I'm like, you are so much better of a kid 180 00:11:46,880 --> 00:11:48,800 Speaker 1: than I am of a parent, and I just don't 181 00:11:48,800 --> 00:11:50,760 Speaker 1: want to mess this up for you. And it's a 182 00:11:50,800 --> 00:11:53,079 Speaker 1: real feeling. And I know this isn't Father's Day or 183 00:11:53,160 --> 00:11:56,640 Speaker 1: Mother's Day, but it's my kid's sixteenth birthday. And this 184 00:11:57,160 --> 00:11:59,560 Speaker 1: dad and this passage got me thinking of all the 185 00:11:59,559 --> 00:12:03,319 Speaker 1: different ways that Graham was right. You know, maybe you 186 00:12:03,360 --> 00:12:05,920 Speaker 1: should have a better dad. We watched a Space Gym 187 00:12:06,400 --> 00:12:09,920 Speaker 1: two the other night, and I thought to myself, how 188 00:12:10,000 --> 00:12:12,640 Speaker 1: much better would Graham's life be if Lebron were his 189 00:12:12,760 --> 00:12:16,080 Speaker 1: dad like what's inside of him that will never come 190 00:12:16,120 --> 00:12:19,200 Speaker 1: out because I'm five to nine, right, so I'm punishing 191 00:12:19,240 --> 00:12:22,400 Speaker 1: myself for genetics that have nothing to do with my decision. 192 00:12:32,000 --> 00:12:34,520 Speaker 1: I wonder if Jesus ever looked at the disciples and 193 00:12:34,559 --> 00:12:39,719 Speaker 1: thought I could do a whole lot more with different disciples, 194 00:12:40,360 --> 00:12:44,160 Speaker 1: because you see it in the passage. Jesus wasn't always 195 00:12:44,320 --> 00:12:48,640 Speaker 1: feeding little children Captain D's happy meals, regardless of the 196 00:12:48,640 --> 00:12:51,320 Speaker 1: selected Bible stories that you've had cherry pick for you 197 00:12:51,400 --> 00:12:54,480 Speaker 1: to personify Jesus to always be so patient that he 198 00:12:54,559 --> 00:12:58,320 Speaker 1: never corrected anyone in the passage. I just read you, 199 00:12:58,480 --> 00:13:02,720 Speaker 1: and I'm talking seven minutes. When I started the sermon, Jesus, 200 00:13:02,880 --> 00:13:08,640 Speaker 1: your Savior, your loving arm Savior, your your sheep stroking Savior, 201 00:13:09,080 --> 00:13:12,560 Speaker 1: your good shepherd Savior, your let the children come to 202 00:13:12,640 --> 00:13:15,800 Speaker 1: me Savior said something that every parent in this room 203 00:13:15,800 --> 00:13:20,080 Speaker 1: has said before. How long shall I put up with you? 204 00:13:23,760 --> 00:13:26,720 Speaker 1: Made me? Wonder do you ever feel that way about me? 205 00:13:27,559 --> 00:13:32,600 Speaker 1: Heavenly Daddy, Like if you could pick all the preachers 206 00:13:32,640 --> 00:13:35,200 Speaker 1: in the world to be in this pulpit today and 207 00:13:35,280 --> 00:13:39,040 Speaker 1: line them all the forty one year old preachers, all 208 00:13:39,080 --> 00:13:42,480 Speaker 1: the forty one year old five nine preachers? Would you 209 00:13:42,520 --> 00:13:54,079 Speaker 1: have put me in this pulpit? Sometimes I can't figure 210 00:13:54,080 --> 00:13:56,920 Speaker 1: out did he pick me? Or is he putting up 211 00:13:56,920 --> 00:14:05,760 Speaker 1: with me? Because you know, like I think that I 212 00:14:05,840 --> 00:14:09,440 Speaker 1: am what I do, and I am what I do. 213 00:14:13,200 --> 00:14:16,280 Speaker 1: The disciples here stand on the other can work? Can 214 00:14:16,320 --> 00:14:18,600 Speaker 1: we work backwards through the passage, because there's a lot 215 00:14:18,640 --> 00:14:21,080 Speaker 1: to talk about, the only thing you really need to 216 00:14:21,120 --> 00:14:23,480 Speaker 1: know about what happened right before this miracle for the 217 00:14:23,560 --> 00:14:27,720 Speaker 1: lesson today is that Jesus has just taken his favorite 218 00:14:27,840 --> 00:14:32,320 Speaker 1: three disciples, Peter, James, and John up on the mountain 219 00:14:32,720 --> 00:14:37,120 Speaker 1: to see him transformed when they get back down the mountain. 220 00:14:37,200 --> 00:14:39,640 Speaker 1: And this might remind you of Moses coming down Mount 221 00:14:39,680 --> 00:14:42,640 Speaker 1: Sinai with ten commandments and the children of Israel or 222 00:14:42,720 --> 00:14:45,720 Speaker 1: dance and naked around a caf like you can't leave 223 00:14:45,760 --> 00:14:49,800 Speaker 1: these disciples alone for seven days. And they're fighting with 224 00:14:49,880 --> 00:14:53,320 Speaker 1: the teachers of the Law, arguing about something that they 225 00:14:53,360 --> 00:14:56,880 Speaker 1: were very capable of doing but didn't exactly accomplish. And 226 00:14:57,000 --> 00:14:59,920 Speaker 1: Jesus is explaining to them the root of their failure, 227 00:15:00,440 --> 00:15:04,320 Speaker 1: and he says, the reason you couldn't drive it out 228 00:15:04,400 --> 00:15:08,080 Speaker 1: this evil spirit who possessed this boy, who has been 229 00:15:08,120 --> 00:15:10,640 Speaker 1: thrown into fire and water, and whose life is on 230 00:15:10,720 --> 00:15:15,400 Speaker 1: the line. The reason you couldn't do it is because 231 00:15:15,440 --> 00:15:21,720 Speaker 1: this kind of situation can only be fixed by prayer. 232 00:15:24,680 --> 00:15:27,520 Speaker 1: Let me point out the obvious. I know you're thinking it. 233 00:15:29,560 --> 00:15:34,120 Speaker 1: If it can only be driven out by prayer, why 234 00:15:34,120 --> 00:15:39,920 Speaker 1: didn't Jesus pray before he cast the spirit out? I'm 235 00:15:39,960 --> 00:15:46,600 Speaker 1: sure he did best, furic, I'm sure he did. Let 236 00:15:46,600 --> 00:15:51,240 Speaker 1: me see, no, Jesus, look, the boy said. The father said, 237 00:15:51,520 --> 00:15:53,320 Speaker 1: I do believe. Help my belief. And Jesus saw a 238 00:15:53,320 --> 00:15:56,440 Speaker 1: crowd was running, and he rebuked the impure spirit, you deafen, 239 00:15:56,560 --> 00:15:59,480 Speaker 1: mute spirit. He said, I command you come out of 240 00:15:59,560 --> 00:16:02,920 Speaker 1: him and never enter him again. And the spirit didn't 241 00:16:03,000 --> 00:16:06,200 Speaker 1: like it, but he had to go. It didn't want 242 00:16:06,240 --> 00:16:07,640 Speaker 1: to go, but it had to go. Put up a fight, 243 00:16:07,720 --> 00:16:10,320 Speaker 1: but it had to go. And the disciples said, why 244 00:16:10,360 --> 00:16:12,080 Speaker 1: couldn't we do that? Because they've done a lot of 245 00:16:12,120 --> 00:16:14,320 Speaker 1: amazing things, They've healed a lot of people. Why couldn't 246 00:16:14,360 --> 00:16:15,600 Speaker 1: we do it? And she said, you had to pray, 247 00:16:15,760 --> 00:16:22,000 Speaker 1: But he didn't pray. He just did it and pray. 248 00:16:22,880 --> 00:16:27,160 Speaker 1: Maybe Jesus isn't so much talking about the activity of 249 00:16:27,240 --> 00:16:33,440 Speaker 1: prayer as the attitude of prayer. Maybe he's not talking 250 00:16:33,440 --> 00:16:36,840 Speaker 1: about the technique. If you would have said the right words, 251 00:16:37,000 --> 00:16:40,320 Speaker 1: you know, if you would have done the right whatever 252 00:16:40,360 --> 00:16:42,840 Speaker 1: you grow up in, if you would have done that, 253 00:16:42,920 --> 00:16:44,840 Speaker 1: if you would have done this, you could have had 254 00:16:44,880 --> 00:16:49,240 Speaker 1: the result. No, it seems like the disciples in this 255 00:16:49,440 --> 00:16:55,040 Speaker 1: particular passage of scripture have confused the power with the source. 256 00:16:57,120 --> 00:17:01,040 Speaker 1: Because when Jesus gets down the mountain, they're arguing with 257 00:17:01,120 --> 00:17:05,400 Speaker 1: the teachers of the law. So here's what's happened. They 258 00:17:05,440 --> 00:17:11,040 Speaker 1: have confused their ability to do it with their dependence 259 00:17:11,160 --> 00:17:18,920 Speaker 1: on the one who can enable them. You are not it. 260 00:17:21,359 --> 00:17:27,920 Speaker 1: Maybe a little pride started entering into the disciples. You know, Oh, 261 00:17:28,080 --> 00:17:30,879 Speaker 1: look how God used us last time. If you're not 262 00:17:31,040 --> 00:17:35,160 Speaker 1: careful in your life, you will start to believe that 263 00:17:35,200 --> 00:17:39,840 Speaker 1: you are what you do. One scripture that got my 264 00:17:39,880 --> 00:17:42,760 Speaker 1: attention one time was about Jacob and the Old Testament 265 00:17:42,840 --> 00:17:44,679 Speaker 1: and just came to my mind when I was studying today, 266 00:17:44,960 --> 00:17:47,040 Speaker 1: and I thought I should share it with you. Because 267 00:17:47,560 --> 00:17:50,399 Speaker 1: when he was in the wound with his twin brother Esau, 268 00:17:50,680 --> 00:17:54,200 Speaker 1: he was fighting for position with Esau, and he tried 269 00:17:54,240 --> 00:17:56,320 Speaker 1: to come out first so that he could get all 270 00:17:56,359 --> 00:18:00,000 Speaker 1: the blessings that the firstborn gets. But it didn't exactly 271 00:18:00,200 --> 00:18:03,160 Speaker 1: worked because instead of coming out first, he came out 272 00:18:03,200 --> 00:18:08,359 Speaker 1: being named after his aspiration, Jacob, deceiver, supplanter, heel grabber. 273 00:18:09,160 --> 00:18:12,280 Speaker 1: Now Jacob grows up and he does this little trick 274 00:18:12,359 --> 00:18:15,000 Speaker 1: thing where he tricks his brother out of his birthright 275 00:18:15,040 --> 00:18:16,960 Speaker 1: and his blessing, and he learns how to play a 276 00:18:16,960 --> 00:18:20,280 Speaker 1: certain game, and he even wears this really willy suit 277 00:18:20,440 --> 00:18:22,320 Speaker 1: to pretend to be his brother so that his blindfather 278 00:18:22,400 --> 00:18:24,040 Speaker 1: Isaac will think that he's blessing the older woe, but 279 00:18:24,040 --> 00:18:25,679 Speaker 1: he's really blessing the younger one. Because you can learn 280 00:18:25,680 --> 00:18:27,440 Speaker 1: how to trick people with stuff you can, you can 281 00:18:27,560 --> 00:18:31,520 Speaker 1: actually act like it and not be it. That's the 282 00:18:31,840 --> 00:18:34,520 Speaker 1: message here to the point that when Jacob had to 283 00:18:34,600 --> 00:18:37,119 Speaker 1: run away from his brother Esau and go stay with 284 00:18:37,200 --> 00:18:39,600 Speaker 1: his uncle Laban, and he was coming back to make 285 00:18:39,640 --> 00:18:43,800 Speaker 1: peace with Esau after twenty years away from his homeland, 286 00:18:44,320 --> 00:18:47,240 Speaker 1: the Bible says something really interesting in Genesis thirty two, 287 00:18:47,760 --> 00:18:51,239 Speaker 1: verse twenty. He said to his messengers, be sure to 288 00:18:51,280 --> 00:18:56,280 Speaker 1: say your servant Jacob is coming behind us, For he thought, 289 00:18:56,960 --> 00:19:00,159 Speaker 1: I will pacify my brother the one I trick I 290 00:19:00,160 --> 00:19:03,520 Speaker 1: will pacify the issue. I will pacify the thing I 291 00:19:03,560 --> 00:19:06,120 Speaker 1: need to deal with. I will pacify the thing I've 292 00:19:06,119 --> 00:19:09,600 Speaker 1: been running from. I'm going to preach today. I'm going 293 00:19:09,640 --> 00:19:14,600 Speaker 1: to preach today a man. I will pacify my problem. 294 00:19:14,640 --> 00:19:18,879 Speaker 1: With these gifts, he sent out all these animals that 295 00:19:18,960 --> 00:19:21,960 Speaker 1: he had accumulated. He sent out all these clothes that 296 00:19:22,000 --> 00:19:24,720 Speaker 1: he wanted to offer to Esau, and he sent put 297 00:19:24,760 --> 00:19:28,280 Speaker 1: it back up. He sent his gifts ahead. Say it, 298 00:19:28,600 --> 00:19:33,040 Speaker 1: He sent his gifts ahead. One more time. He sent 299 00:19:33,560 --> 00:19:37,000 Speaker 1: his gift ahead. And when I see him, perhaps he'll 300 00:19:37,040 --> 00:19:39,199 Speaker 1: receive me. And I look at verse twenty one. So 301 00:19:39,440 --> 00:19:44,360 Speaker 1: Jacob's gifts went on ahead of him. The things went 302 00:19:44,400 --> 00:19:48,280 Speaker 1: ahead of him. The things that represented his status went 303 00:19:48,359 --> 00:19:52,520 Speaker 1: ahead of him. The things that were impressive when ahead 304 00:19:52,520 --> 00:19:56,320 Speaker 1: of him. Because maybe Esau will see all these blessings 305 00:19:56,320 --> 00:19:59,639 Speaker 1: that I've acquired, and maybe if I send my gift 306 00:20:00,119 --> 00:20:01,240 Speaker 1: he will accept me. 307 00:20:03,440 --> 00:20:07,159 Speaker 4: So I'm sending it so that he will receive me. 308 00:20:08,400 --> 00:20:12,800 Speaker 4: But here's the separation. Watch this, you are not your gift. 309 00:20:16,600 --> 00:20:20,680 Speaker 4: His gifts went ahead, but he one more time. I'm 310 00:20:20,680 --> 00:20:21,960 Speaker 4: going to leave this alone in a minute. 311 00:20:22,240 --> 00:20:26,040 Speaker 1: But he himself spent the night in the camp when 312 00:20:26,119 --> 00:20:28,960 Speaker 1: I saw that. It gave me such a clear picture 313 00:20:29,440 --> 00:20:34,600 Speaker 1: of what we do when we confuse ourselves with our stuff, 314 00:20:35,840 --> 00:20:42,040 Speaker 1: ourselves with our gift, ourselves with our ability. Did the 315 00:20:42,119 --> 00:20:44,959 Speaker 1: disciples come to a point where they begin to believe 316 00:20:45,040 --> 00:20:49,840 Speaker 1: that they could do ministry without Jesus? And how many 317 00:20:49,880 --> 00:20:53,640 Speaker 1: times have I found myself in a state of failure 318 00:20:54,400 --> 00:20:57,040 Speaker 1: because I tried to do what God called me to 319 00:20:57,119 --> 00:21:01,800 Speaker 1: do without him? You begin to believe you can just 320 00:21:01,840 --> 00:21:06,480 Speaker 1: do stuff I work last time and do it again. 321 00:21:06,520 --> 00:21:12,520 Speaker 1: You know what that's called manipulation? Huh you mean to 322 00:21:12,520 --> 00:21:15,400 Speaker 1: say more about that, I'm honestly a lot more about that. 323 00:21:15,880 --> 00:21:20,800 Speaker 1: You are not your gift. When Jacob was left alone 324 00:21:20,800 --> 00:21:23,000 Speaker 1: from all of his stuff, he had to wrestle with 325 00:21:23,080 --> 00:21:25,600 Speaker 1: who he was. And that's the season of life some 326 00:21:25,640 --> 00:21:28,720 Speaker 1: of us are in right now. Is that we realize 327 00:21:28,760 --> 00:21:31,040 Speaker 1: at the end of the day, I can drive it, 328 00:21:31,080 --> 00:21:35,600 Speaker 1: but eventually I have to park it. I can wear it, 329 00:21:35,640 --> 00:21:39,600 Speaker 1: but eventually nobody else's name can make me feel sure 330 00:21:39,640 --> 00:21:43,000 Speaker 1: of who I am. If I wear a brand name 331 00:21:43,080 --> 00:21:46,560 Speaker 1: on the outside, but I don't know it on the inside, 332 00:21:46,680 --> 00:21:50,080 Speaker 1: If my identity is given through a gift that I have, 333 00:21:50,800 --> 00:21:53,600 Speaker 1: or even a label that people confer on me. I 334 00:21:53,640 --> 00:22:02,280 Speaker 1: will always be a slave to their label. It says. 335 00:22:02,320 --> 00:22:06,200 Speaker 1: The other disciples were standing there arguing with the teachers 336 00:22:06,240 --> 00:22:09,600 Speaker 1: of the law, arguing and fighting while a young boy 337 00:22:09,680 --> 00:22:12,439 Speaker 1: is dying, and Jesus said, how long do I have 338 00:22:12,560 --> 00:22:16,920 Speaker 1: to put up with y'all? I picked y'all, but I'm 339 00:22:16,960 --> 00:22:21,879 Speaker 1: sick of y'all. Heavenly Father, deliver me from stupid. You 340 00:22:21,920 --> 00:22:28,679 Speaker 1: don't pray anything like this. And yet God, God is 341 00:22:28,720 --> 00:22:34,120 Speaker 1: not like Graham. God isn't still shopping his options on you. 342 00:22:36,960 --> 00:22:40,840 Speaker 1: I read something in Ephesians too that helped me one time. 343 00:22:40,880 --> 00:22:44,800 Speaker 1: That says, for it is by grace you have been saved. Woo. 344 00:22:45,920 --> 00:22:48,240 Speaker 1: How many are really glad about that? Right there? 345 00:22:50,480 --> 00:22:52,360 Speaker 5: Let me show you how it could have been without Jesus, 346 00:22:52,640 --> 00:22:54,880 Speaker 5: without the blood of Christ, without the mercy of God. 347 00:22:55,200 --> 00:22:57,200 Speaker 5: If God were not slow to anger and bounding in love, 348 00:22:57,480 --> 00:23:01,440 Speaker 5: it could say by behavior you are saved, and you'd 349 00:23:01,440 --> 00:23:02,640 Speaker 5: be burning up your butt. 350 00:23:02,640 --> 00:23:04,560 Speaker 1: Wouldn't be able to be in that seat right now. 351 00:23:04,600 --> 00:23:07,320 Speaker 1: You'd be burning with the fire of judgment right now, 352 00:23:08,520 --> 00:23:10,399 Speaker 1: little sneaky self, I know what you've been up to. 353 00:23:10,440 --> 00:23:14,080 Speaker 1: If it was by behavior you have been saved. But 354 00:23:14,160 --> 00:23:17,280 Speaker 1: he said, by grace, you've been saved, watch us through faith, 355 00:23:18,800 --> 00:23:24,560 Speaker 1: and this is not from yourself. It is the gift 356 00:23:24,600 --> 00:23:30,240 Speaker 1: of God, not of work, so that no one can boast. 357 00:23:30,840 --> 00:23:32,960 Speaker 1: But Verse ten really sealed the deal for me because 358 00:23:33,440 --> 00:23:36,200 Speaker 1: that made me happy to think about is God's gift, 359 00:23:36,280 --> 00:23:40,520 Speaker 1: not mind that identifies me. I think I need to 360 00:23:40,560 --> 00:23:42,439 Speaker 1: teach this more in the church. I don't think we 361 00:23:42,560 --> 00:23:47,680 Speaker 1: understand what it means to have imputed righteousness, our standing 362 00:23:47,720 --> 00:23:51,600 Speaker 1: in Christ. I think we still secretly think that some 363 00:23:51,720 --> 00:23:56,199 Speaker 1: days God doesn't even want to talk to you. I 364 00:23:56,200 --> 00:23:58,720 Speaker 1: think we still secretly think that we can hit a 365 00:23:58,760 --> 00:24:01,720 Speaker 1: certain point where we actually deserve and are worthy of 366 00:24:01,760 --> 00:24:04,919 Speaker 1: the grace of God. So we haven't truly accepted Ephesians 367 00:24:04,920 --> 00:24:08,760 Speaker 1: to it. Yet we still can't receive his gift because 368 00:24:08,760 --> 00:24:14,480 Speaker 1: we're still identifying ourselves by ours. He said it's not 369 00:24:14,480 --> 00:24:19,760 Speaker 1: a work, so that no one can boast. The disciples 370 00:24:19,760 --> 00:24:23,080 Speaker 1: are down there arguing because they thought they were the 371 00:24:23,080 --> 00:24:27,399 Speaker 1: work they were doing. Now Verse ten is awesome. You 372 00:24:27,480 --> 00:24:29,720 Speaker 1: thought eight and nine were good. Look at verse ten. 373 00:24:30,480 --> 00:24:36,199 Speaker 1: This is a prime cut baby you ready for we 374 00:24:37,680 --> 00:24:44,359 Speaker 1: are God's handiwork created in Christ, Jesus to do good 375 00:24:44,400 --> 00:24:48,680 Speaker 1: works which God prepared in advance for us to do. 376 00:24:51,400 --> 00:24:56,200 Speaker 1: That blessed me to know that God created the work 377 00:24:56,240 --> 00:25:00,479 Speaker 1: for me to do before he created me to do 378 00:25:00,520 --> 00:25:05,560 Speaker 1: it with diverse Again, it said, God prepared the work 379 00:25:05,760 --> 00:25:09,359 Speaker 1: in advance. We define ourselves by the work that we do. 380 00:25:09,840 --> 00:25:11,639 Speaker 1: That's why for some of you, the last year and 381 00:25:11,680 --> 00:25:14,280 Speaker 1: a half has been the hardest because either you've been 382 00:25:14,320 --> 00:25:16,760 Speaker 1: unemployed for the first time in your life or your 383 00:25:16,760 --> 00:25:20,199 Speaker 1: position has been shifted. I told our campus pastors a 384 00:25:20,200 --> 00:25:23,040 Speaker 1: few months ago how hard it was to be a 385 00:25:23,080 --> 00:25:26,840 Speaker 1: pastor when there were no people in the building, when 386 00:25:26,840 --> 00:25:29,720 Speaker 1: there were no people to pastor, and you can't lay 387 00:25:29,760 --> 00:25:33,080 Speaker 1: hands on people, and you can't pray for people touching 388 00:25:33,280 --> 00:25:36,240 Speaker 1: or they'll come lock you up. The CDC will shut 389 00:25:36,280 --> 00:25:38,840 Speaker 1: you down. And that's fine, and that's good to be healthy. 390 00:25:39,040 --> 00:25:41,560 Speaker 1: But I talked to them about how difficult it is 391 00:25:41,760 --> 00:25:45,119 Speaker 1: when you've identified yourself one way in one season to 392 00:25:45,240 --> 00:25:48,480 Speaker 1: have that strip. But the Bible says that Jacob got 393 00:25:48,520 --> 00:25:52,040 Speaker 1: the greatest blessing of his life when he was stripped 394 00:25:52,760 --> 00:25:58,199 Speaker 1: of his gifts and left with himself. So if it 395 00:25:58,240 --> 00:26:00,600 Speaker 1: gets me to the core of my self off to 396 00:26:00,720 --> 00:26:03,800 Speaker 1: realize that before God gave me the work to do, 397 00:26:04,359 --> 00:26:07,760 Speaker 1: he created a work with my name on it. God 398 00:26:07,840 --> 00:26:10,359 Speaker 1: isn't like Graham. He isn't shopping. Would they be a 399 00:26:10,400 --> 00:26:13,600 Speaker 1: better parent, would they be a better fit for this opportunity? Huh? 400 00:26:13,640 --> 00:26:15,639 Speaker 1: I wonder if I could get somebody a little bit smarter, 401 00:26:15,840 --> 00:26:17,720 Speaker 1: a little bit taller. I wish I was a baller. 402 00:26:17,760 --> 00:26:19,520 Speaker 1: I wish I had a good No, that's another era 403 00:26:19,680 --> 00:26:22,520 Speaker 1: in Todd. God's not doing all that. God doesn't pick 404 00:26:22,560 --> 00:26:27,000 Speaker 1: people like people pick people. God formed the role, and 405 00:26:27,040 --> 00:26:30,520 Speaker 1: then he filled you with his spirit to do the 406 00:26:30,600 --> 00:26:39,600 Speaker 1: thing he formed you to do. This is where theology 407 00:26:39,720 --> 00:26:45,600 Speaker 1: becomes therapy. See it. This is where I understand that 408 00:26:46,320 --> 00:26:50,960 Speaker 1: I'm not it. I'm not it. For years I preached 409 00:26:51,000 --> 00:26:54,200 Speaker 1: this passage, and I would share it's a difficult passage 410 00:26:54,240 --> 00:26:57,600 Speaker 1: to preach, right because okay, okay, the first group of Christians, 411 00:26:57,640 --> 00:26:59,560 Speaker 1: they want to make it all about foaming at the 412 00:26:59,600 --> 00:27:02,560 Speaker 1: mouth and all about the symptoms of the boy and 413 00:27:02,640 --> 00:27:06,520 Speaker 1: demon possession. And I've seen all of that. I've been 414 00:27:06,560 --> 00:27:10,399 Speaker 1: preaching since I was sixteen, so I've seen every manifestation 415 00:27:10,520 --> 00:27:13,080 Speaker 1: of evil. I think I've seen every category, if not 416 00:27:13,160 --> 00:27:15,919 Speaker 1: every specific one. I've at least been in the neighborhood. 417 00:27:17,160 --> 00:27:20,480 Speaker 1: Some of it I saw even in my own dad 418 00:27:21,680 --> 00:27:24,560 Speaker 1: when he was dying. We'd be like, that's not him, 419 00:27:24,760 --> 00:27:28,160 Speaker 1: that's not him. It was partially he died of als. 420 00:27:28,240 --> 00:27:32,600 Speaker 1: It was partially the sickness, It was partially the I 421 00:27:32,680 --> 00:27:38,560 Speaker 1: think the medication, the loss of control. Part of it 422 00:27:38,600 --> 00:27:42,040 Speaker 1: is the crazy that you can keep down for most 423 00:27:42,040 --> 00:27:45,000 Speaker 1: of your life and then it just builds all this 424 00:27:45,080 --> 00:27:47,520 Speaker 1: strength and comes back up when it sees a door. 425 00:27:48,800 --> 00:27:51,760 Speaker 1: And my dad had a lot of crazy. Oh man, 426 00:27:51,800 --> 00:27:53,159 Speaker 1: he start telling me stories in the last year of 427 00:27:53,200 --> 00:27:55,960 Speaker 1: his life, and I'm like, how were you so normal 428 00:27:56,560 --> 00:27:59,040 Speaker 1: compared to what you should have been? And I thought 429 00:27:59,040 --> 00:28:01,639 Speaker 1: he was crazy till I understood the context of his 430 00:28:01,800 --> 00:28:04,560 Speaker 1: crazy and realized he was the most normal person on 431 00:28:04,600 --> 00:28:06,560 Speaker 1: earth for the context of crazy that he could have been. 432 00:28:09,760 --> 00:28:12,159 Speaker 1: Look at somebody and say, be nice to me. You 433 00:28:12,359 --> 00:28:22,639 Speaker 1: don't know how bad I could be. Be nice to me. 434 00:28:23,880 --> 00:28:27,560 Speaker 1: You don't know. If you only knew what I wanted 435 00:28:27,640 --> 00:28:30,560 Speaker 1: to do that I don't do, you wouldn't judge me 436 00:28:30,640 --> 00:28:35,000 Speaker 1: so much. After all, there is a judge. But didn't 437 00:28:35,000 --> 00:28:39,040 Speaker 1: you hear the preacher? You are not it You're not 438 00:28:39,200 --> 00:28:41,640 Speaker 1: my judge, You're not my jury. You look. Get to 439 00:28:41,680 --> 00:28:44,240 Speaker 1: tell me how far I've come on my journey, how 440 00:28:44,320 --> 00:28:50,920 Speaker 1: crazy God from where I am? God made me. I'm 441 00:28:51,080 --> 00:28:57,080 Speaker 1: his handyword. He's my manufacturer. You are not the customer 442 00:28:57,240 --> 00:29:00,680 Speaker 1: service hotline. I'm not calling you about my think. That's 443 00:29:01,040 --> 00:29:09,720 Speaker 1: I'm bringing it to Jesus. There is a power that 444 00:29:09,800 --> 00:29:13,440 Speaker 1: can heal, there is a power that can deliver, There 445 00:29:13,520 --> 00:29:19,600 Speaker 1: is a power that can save. And you are not it. 446 00:29:26,760 --> 00:29:28,480 Speaker 1: Don't tell what the Holy Spirit starts speaking to me. 447 00:29:28,520 --> 00:29:30,080 Speaker 1: When I will say I don't want to preach today, 448 00:29:30,280 --> 00:29:34,800 Speaker 1: he said, you don't have to those other preachers. You're 449 00:29:34,840 --> 00:29:41,560 Speaker 1: not it. You know, to to two letter word in 450 00:29:41,600 --> 00:29:44,000 Speaker 1: the passage. Y'all were laughing when I read it because 451 00:29:44,000 --> 00:29:50,880 Speaker 1: it's so funny. If you can do anything, if you 452 00:29:51,000 --> 00:29:55,360 Speaker 1: can do anything, how long has he been like this? 453 00:29:56,040 --> 00:30:04,800 Speaker 1: From childhood? He didn't always say if there's a good chance, 454 00:30:04,800 --> 00:30:07,440 Speaker 1: says Father, if he's the kind of man who has 455 00:30:07,480 --> 00:30:12,000 Speaker 1: the instinct to put up with the dumb disciples long 456 00:30:12,080 --> 00:30:13,880 Speaker 1: enough to wait on Jesus to get down the mountain, 457 00:30:14,560 --> 00:30:16,959 Speaker 1: put up with the arrogant pharisees and sadducees, who are 458 00:30:17,040 --> 00:30:19,320 Speaker 1: arguing with the disciples. I gotta put this in because 459 00:30:19,360 --> 00:30:21,120 Speaker 1: I'm gonna forget it once I take this next turn. 460 00:30:21,160 --> 00:30:22,920 Speaker 1: There's no coming back to this. But I gotta tell you. 461 00:30:23,080 --> 00:30:28,280 Speaker 1: I gotta tell you this. Sometimes you are fighting against 462 00:30:28,480 --> 00:30:36,880 Speaker 1: them and the real enemy is it That first verse 463 00:30:36,920 --> 00:30:39,760 Speaker 1: said that they were arguing with the teachers of the 464 00:30:39,880 --> 00:30:43,360 Speaker 1: law while the spirit was wreaking havoc on this boy. 465 00:30:45,000 --> 00:30:50,080 Speaker 1: Sometimes we are fighting somebody when we really ought to 466 00:30:50,120 --> 00:30:57,960 Speaker 1: be fighting a spirit. Everybody that's been married under two 467 00:30:58,040 --> 00:31:03,160 Speaker 1: years two years are under been married? End up. Sometimes 468 00:31:04,880 --> 00:31:08,240 Speaker 1: she's gonna be the one that you're frustrated at. But 469 00:31:08,320 --> 00:31:11,760 Speaker 1: y'all got to square up together, man, y'all got to 470 00:31:11,800 --> 00:31:14,640 Speaker 1: square up together, because it's not This is what the 471 00:31:14,680 --> 00:31:16,880 Speaker 1: Lord showed me one time with Holly. It's not me 472 00:31:17,000 --> 00:31:24,320 Speaker 1: versus you right now, it's us versus it, y'all hear me. 473 00:31:27,840 --> 00:31:31,280 Speaker 1: I know y'all don't ever fight, But if you ever did, 474 00:31:32,920 --> 00:31:34,520 Speaker 1: why am I? Yeah, you could sit down. I know 475 00:31:34,520 --> 00:31:37,040 Speaker 1: it's embarrassing standing up in church. The people with the 476 00:31:37,080 --> 00:31:39,000 Speaker 1: other campuses aren't even doing it. They're like, he's on 477 00:31:39,040 --> 00:31:43,880 Speaker 1: a screen. I'm not doing what he says. Hate this guy, 478 00:31:44,040 --> 00:31:47,480 Speaker 1: But watch how we fight against them and not it. 479 00:31:47,560 --> 00:31:49,320 Speaker 1: I was talking to somebody I loved the other day 480 00:31:49,320 --> 00:31:50,720 Speaker 1: and this came out of my mouth. Oh, I wish 481 00:31:50,720 --> 00:31:51,840 Speaker 1: I could take it back. I wish I could have 482 00:31:51,840 --> 00:31:53,280 Speaker 1: took it back. And I said it, but I didn't 483 00:31:53,280 --> 00:31:54,880 Speaker 1: really mean it. I said it, but I was just 484 00:31:54,920 --> 00:31:58,520 Speaker 1: frustrated in the moment. I said, you're so negative, and 485 00:31:58,560 --> 00:32:01,360 Speaker 1: I could see the colored dre now of their face. 486 00:32:01,440 --> 00:32:03,080 Speaker 1: And the more we talked about it, this is what 487 00:32:03,120 --> 00:32:06,920 Speaker 1: the person said to me. Next time, can you make 488 00:32:06,960 --> 00:32:12,760 Speaker 1: it about what I did, not who I am, because 489 00:32:12,800 --> 00:32:16,800 Speaker 1: I can't fix it if it's who I am. But 490 00:32:16,840 --> 00:32:18,760 Speaker 1: if it's about what I did, we can discuss it. 491 00:32:20,440 --> 00:32:23,720 Speaker 1: So next time, will you say, man, I feel like 492 00:32:24,920 --> 00:32:27,360 Speaker 1: being kind of negative right now now? It still would 493 00:32:27,360 --> 00:32:29,200 Speaker 1: have pissed the person off. And I'm sorry I said 494 00:32:29,200 --> 00:32:31,920 Speaker 1: that word in my surmember back in the rhythm here, 495 00:32:32,640 --> 00:32:36,240 Speaker 1: but that would have made it about the problem, not 496 00:32:36,360 --> 00:32:44,200 Speaker 1: the person, and the devil wants us arguing against them, 497 00:32:44,240 --> 00:32:53,240 Speaker 1: so we never deal with it. I have an enemy, 498 00:32:53,240 --> 00:33:00,680 Speaker 1: but you're not it. You're not it any meaning. I 499 00:33:00,760 --> 00:33:03,720 Speaker 1: just heard that phrase, you are not it. And the 500 00:33:03,800 --> 00:33:09,600 Speaker 1: father said, if you can do anything. If you can't 501 00:33:09,600 --> 00:33:15,560 Speaker 1: do anything, help us, help me. In fact, he says 502 00:33:15,600 --> 00:33:23,120 Speaker 1: something pretty powerful when Jesus said if if I thought, 503 00:33:23,280 --> 00:33:26,680 Speaker 1: I used to think he was insulted. But did you 504 00:33:26,720 --> 00:33:32,120 Speaker 1: know that this man's gift was an invitation? The boy 505 00:33:32,200 --> 00:33:37,040 Speaker 1: still got healed. The Lord didn't say, go straighten out 506 00:33:37,080 --> 00:33:41,320 Speaker 1: your theology, and when you get this if out. I 507 00:33:41,640 --> 00:33:43,440 Speaker 1: grew up in a time of ministry where people taught 508 00:33:43,440 --> 00:33:46,760 Speaker 1: that you had to show God your faith, and if 509 00:33:46,800 --> 00:33:49,480 Speaker 1: you showed him anything other than your faith, you know, 510 00:33:49,640 --> 00:33:51,719 Speaker 1: when you pray, you have to say, Lord, I enter 511 00:33:51,760 --> 00:33:53,760 Speaker 1: your gates a thanksgiving and I enter your courts with praise. 512 00:33:53,800 --> 00:33:56,520 Speaker 1: But sometimes that left me standing outside the gate for 513 00:33:56,600 --> 00:33:58,640 Speaker 1: like six days out of seven during the week because 514 00:33:58,640 --> 00:34:02,959 Speaker 1: I didn't feel thankful and I didn't feel crazy in 515 00:34:03,000 --> 00:34:05,440 Speaker 1: this situation. I know what the Bible says, that you 516 00:34:05,440 --> 00:34:07,040 Speaker 1: should not doubt in your heart. And if your double 517 00:34:07,080 --> 00:34:08,840 Speaker 1: minded man unstable and all he does, you like Toston 518 00:34:08,880 --> 00:34:10,080 Speaker 1: dream with the wind and love not that man think 519 00:34:10,080 --> 00:34:11,759 Speaker 1: you receive anything from the Lord for his double mind. 520 00:34:12,160 --> 00:34:15,880 Speaker 1: I know the Bible, y'all, But Jesus didn't penalize the 521 00:34:15,960 --> 00:34:23,920 Speaker 1: man for his If I do believe help me overcome 522 00:34:23,960 --> 00:34:28,439 Speaker 1: my unbelief. Now, this man's son is sick, but there's 523 00:34:28,480 --> 00:34:33,440 Speaker 1: something very healthy that's happening in this passage. This is 524 00:34:33,480 --> 00:34:38,239 Speaker 1: where the theology meets the therapy. You ready, He separates 525 00:34:39,040 --> 00:34:45,279 Speaker 1: his faith from his feelings. We are going to have 526 00:34:45,680 --> 00:34:51,200 Speaker 1: a million different feelings every day of our life. We 527 00:34:51,239 --> 00:34:53,040 Speaker 1: are going to go from feeling like even in this 528 00:34:53,160 --> 00:34:56,640 Speaker 1: service today. I don't know how many, but somebody, probably 529 00:34:56,640 --> 00:35:00,839 Speaker 1: at Gaston, probably Gaston, thought it's just the best thing 530 00:35:00,880 --> 00:35:03,160 Speaker 1: I've ever heard in my life. This is exactly what's 531 00:35:03,160 --> 00:35:07,520 Speaker 1: for lunch. Wasn't even a breath, wasn't even a comma, 532 00:35:07,680 --> 00:35:12,040 Speaker 1: just in the same sentence, God help my unbod, We're 533 00:35:12,080 --> 00:35:20,239 Speaker 1: gonna go over to So what I noticed about the 534 00:35:20,280 --> 00:35:25,880 Speaker 1: man is he owned his unbelief, but he did not 535 00:35:26,120 --> 00:35:35,799 Speaker 1: identify himself with it. So I didn't see this when 536 00:35:35,840 --> 00:35:38,600 Speaker 1: I was when I was twenty eight preaching this text. 537 00:35:38,880 --> 00:35:41,440 Speaker 1: All I saw was the boy foaming and gnawing, and 538 00:35:41,480 --> 00:35:44,520 Speaker 1: I thought this was all about demons and evil. I 539 00:35:44,600 --> 00:35:46,400 Speaker 1: missed the point because I was so hung up on 540 00:35:46,440 --> 00:35:48,919 Speaker 1: the word if, and I was trying to eliminate the if, 541 00:35:49,160 --> 00:35:51,759 Speaker 1: and I was trying to eliminate the insecurity, and I 542 00:35:51,800 --> 00:35:53,560 Speaker 1: was trying to eliminate the doubt. And I was like, 543 00:35:53,600 --> 00:35:54,839 Speaker 1: if I could just get this out of my life, 544 00:35:54,880 --> 00:35:56,440 Speaker 1: I could just be a better person. You know, I 545 00:35:56,440 --> 00:35:59,759 Speaker 1: was still trying to qualify myself rather than understanding that 546 00:35:59,840 --> 00:36:03,439 Speaker 1: I was created for what God will qualify me for. 547 00:36:03,719 --> 00:36:07,239 Speaker 1: And if I'm available, my ability will never be the issue. 548 00:36:07,440 --> 00:36:14,279 Speaker 1: It's not about. If put verse twenty two on the screen, Oh, 549 00:36:14,360 --> 00:36:19,400 Speaker 1: this is so good, he said, it has often thrown 550 00:36:19,560 --> 00:36:25,239 Speaker 1: him into fire or water to kill him. But if 551 00:36:25,239 --> 00:36:28,640 Speaker 1: you can do anything, take pity on us and help us. 552 00:36:29,120 --> 00:36:33,279 Speaker 1: If the Lord told me to look at the other 553 00:36:33,320 --> 00:36:39,000 Speaker 1: two letter word in verse twenty two, he said it 554 00:36:39,000 --> 00:36:43,760 Speaker 1: it has often thrown him. Look how this father sees 555 00:36:43,800 --> 00:36:44,160 Speaker 1: his son. 556 00:36:46,400 --> 00:37:01,040 Speaker 6: He knows that it is not him. 557 00:37:01,200 --> 00:37:04,319 Speaker 1: That's why it drives you crazy when your disciples are 558 00:37:04,400 --> 00:37:09,120 Speaker 1: kids are doing something that you know is so driven 559 00:37:09,320 --> 00:37:14,879 Speaker 1: by their amygdala. But you know, if I can keep 560 00:37:14,920 --> 00:37:20,080 Speaker 1: you because because I know you, I've seen you, and 561 00:37:20,200 --> 00:37:27,040 Speaker 1: this is not you. This isn't it. Your kids may 562 00:37:27,040 --> 00:37:29,759 Speaker 1: not be foaming at the mouth, that's fine. Don't get 563 00:37:29,800 --> 00:37:33,440 Speaker 1: distracted by the dynamics. Don't think this is about a 564 00:37:33,480 --> 00:37:40,440 Speaker 1: demon possession. This is about everybody's it. I could elaborate 565 00:37:40,520 --> 00:37:45,480 Speaker 1: on that, but let me just say this. Everybody has 566 00:37:46,239 --> 00:37:53,680 Speaker 1: an it. It has thrown him into the fire, It 567 00:37:53,719 --> 00:37:56,120 Speaker 1: has thrown him into the water. No, Pastor, I don't 568 00:37:56,120 --> 00:37:58,000 Speaker 1: have anything like that now. I never just went and 569 00:37:58,040 --> 00:37:59,919 Speaker 1: just jumped in swimming pool. Now I do have good 570 00:38:00,200 --> 00:38:02,239 Speaker 1: So I don't go in there with the alligators in there. 571 00:38:02,280 --> 00:38:04,319 Speaker 1: I don't wanna touch fire. Man. I know it's something 572 00:38:04,400 --> 00:38:13,640 Speaker 1: better than that. But you're drowning in debt. It you're 573 00:38:13,680 --> 00:38:17,799 Speaker 1: you're you complain. I appreaciate myself right now. Not you 574 00:38:17,840 --> 00:38:22,799 Speaker 1: don't take it hard. See everybody else is. It is 575 00:38:22,880 --> 00:38:28,480 Speaker 1: something you can see, but you're it. Help me, Holy ghosts, 576 00:38:28,520 --> 00:38:34,400 Speaker 1: help me, help me. Lord. You're it is hidden because 577 00:38:34,440 --> 00:38:39,160 Speaker 1: you think it's you. But you are God's workmanship. You 578 00:38:39,200 --> 00:38:42,839 Speaker 1: are a new creation. You are not a body. You 579 00:38:42,880 --> 00:38:46,320 Speaker 1: are a spirit in a body. You understand what I'm saying. 580 00:38:47,200 --> 00:38:52,160 Speaker 1: So it is not you, and you are not it. 581 00:38:54,520 --> 00:39:02,319 Speaker 1: You are not it. No, the devil made me do it. 582 00:39:02,360 --> 00:39:04,200 Speaker 1: How many times have we used that excuse? 583 00:39:04,400 --> 00:39:04,600 Speaker 3: Ah? 584 00:39:04,640 --> 00:39:07,319 Speaker 1: The devil took my joy. The devil gave me a 585 00:39:07,320 --> 00:39:09,839 Speaker 1: flat tire. No, that was a nail, and you knew 586 00:39:09,840 --> 00:39:11,800 Speaker 1: the tire pressure was low, and it was a construction 587 00:39:11,920 --> 00:39:14,839 Speaker 1: site anyway, and you weren't paying attention. The devil made 588 00:39:14,840 --> 00:39:17,520 Speaker 1: me late. You slew seven times. I'm not talking about 589 00:39:17,520 --> 00:39:20,680 Speaker 1: blaming the devil for decisions that we should make ourselves. 590 00:39:20,760 --> 00:39:23,000 Speaker 1: I'm just saying that even at the root of what 591 00:39:23,160 --> 00:39:27,959 Speaker 1: you did, we get so distracted by the behavior phoone 592 00:39:28,000 --> 00:39:32,960 Speaker 1: at the teeth become rigid. But what has it robbed 593 00:39:33,000 --> 00:39:37,680 Speaker 1: you off? God, it's heavy, man, because it takes from you. 594 00:39:37,960 --> 00:39:41,360 Speaker 1: It takes from you. I'm talking to every person who 595 00:39:41,400 --> 00:39:46,440 Speaker 1: who has been in a battle with depression. You are 596 00:39:46,600 --> 00:39:53,400 Speaker 1: not it. It might it might be throwing you around right now, 597 00:39:54,040 --> 00:39:55,840 Speaker 1: because you know, you get happy for a minute and 598 00:39:55,840 --> 00:39:58,040 Speaker 1: then you're like, God, I can't even hold happy for 599 00:39:58,080 --> 00:40:03,560 Speaker 1: five minutes. I guess I'm just depressed. I guess I'm 600 00:40:03,600 --> 00:40:06,160 Speaker 1: just just said that this it for this boy. This 601 00:40:06,320 --> 00:40:11,880 Speaker 1: spirit tried to drown him, try to throw him in 602 00:40:11,920 --> 00:40:16,080 Speaker 1: the fire. He could have had no way of knowing 603 00:40:17,880 --> 00:40:21,479 Speaker 1: that his healing was the last thing that Jesus would 604 00:40:21,520 --> 00:40:24,759 Speaker 1: do before he headed to Jerusalem to give his life 605 00:40:24,760 --> 00:40:32,840 Speaker 1: for our sin. When you identify yourself with it, whether 606 00:40:32,880 --> 00:40:36,480 Speaker 1: it's your gift and your good stuff. You end up like. 607 00:40:37,880 --> 00:40:45,000 Speaker 1: I read about one Olympic athlete, guy Michael something felts 608 00:40:46,960 --> 00:40:50,800 Speaker 1: twenty eight gold medals, y'all, and I googled him the 609 00:40:50,800 --> 00:40:52,840 Speaker 1: other day to try to find out how many gold medals, 610 00:40:52,960 --> 00:40:55,799 Speaker 1: and they pulled up an article about Michael Phelps, the 611 00:40:55,840 --> 00:40:59,200 Speaker 1: most decorated Olympic athlete A y'all, watching the Olympics, I 612 00:40:59,239 --> 00:41:02,640 Speaker 1: can't watch. That gives me heart palpitations watching people treadwater 613 00:41:02,680 --> 00:41:07,880 Speaker 1: for that one. But the headline said from twenty eighteen, 614 00:41:08,600 --> 00:41:11,000 Speaker 1: I didn't want to be a part of the sport. 615 00:41:11,200 --> 00:41:12,359 Speaker 1: I didn't want to live. 616 00:41:14,239 --> 00:41:24,720 Speaker 7: That's how he would feel after he did it. 617 00:41:26,560 --> 00:41:29,960 Speaker 1: He said, I could compartmentalize. I could do it, but 618 00:41:30,080 --> 00:41:34,200 Speaker 1: deep down I never dealt with me got a gift. 619 00:41:34,280 --> 00:41:37,800 Speaker 1: I got more gold metals than letters in the alphabet. 620 00:41:37,840 --> 00:41:40,640 Speaker 1: And I didn't want to live because I started to 621 00:41:40,640 --> 00:41:51,880 Speaker 1: think I wasn't it. Jesus never called the boy it. 622 00:41:55,680 --> 00:42:04,840 Speaker 1: He said, bring him to me. Are you thankful that 623 00:42:04,960 --> 00:42:09,399 Speaker 1: when he sees you, he doesn't see what you did? 624 00:42:13,080 --> 00:42:17,080 Speaker 1: People do? Oh, she gained a little bit. They're in quarantine, 625 00:42:20,760 --> 00:42:24,640 Speaker 1: that's how they identify you. But I'm not this. I 626 00:42:24,680 --> 00:42:27,200 Speaker 1: can lose this, gain this, put it on, take it off. 627 00:42:27,239 --> 00:42:29,600 Speaker 1: I'm not I'm not this, that or the other that 628 00:42:29,680 --> 00:42:32,040 Speaker 1: you can see or counterway or measure. No, no, no, 629 00:42:32,360 --> 00:42:38,440 Speaker 1: I am a spirit, and my spirit testifies with God's 630 00:42:38,440 --> 00:42:45,480 Speaker 1: spirit that I am his child. That Dad said, I 631 00:42:45,680 --> 00:42:50,080 Speaker 1: know my boy, and this is not him. And Jesus said, 632 00:42:50,320 --> 00:42:53,839 Speaker 1: how long has he been like this? Now? I asked God, 633 00:42:54,120 --> 00:42:56,879 Speaker 1: what do I tell them after I've told them that 634 00:42:56,920 --> 00:42:59,520 Speaker 1: they are not it, that they are chosen by you 635 00:42:59,600 --> 00:43:01,719 Speaker 1: and you by you, but they have to include you, 636 00:43:01,760 --> 00:43:03,800 Speaker 1: and they can't get out there in their own power. 637 00:43:03,960 --> 00:43:06,080 Speaker 1: And that's why they've been tired, and that's why they've 638 00:43:06,080 --> 00:43:08,560 Speaker 1: been dying. And that's why there's no life detached from 639 00:43:08,560 --> 00:43:11,279 Speaker 1: the vine. Because you started to think that you were 640 00:43:11,320 --> 00:43:13,799 Speaker 1: the vine, but you're just the branch. You were not it. 641 00:43:14,160 --> 00:43:15,919 Speaker 1: And you started to think that you were the sin, 642 00:43:16,000 --> 00:43:18,480 Speaker 1: but you are not the sin. We are so sin 643 00:43:18,640 --> 00:43:21,720 Speaker 1: conscious in church that we can name everything that's wrong 644 00:43:21,760 --> 00:43:24,640 Speaker 1: with us and not name anything that God has done 645 00:43:24,680 --> 00:43:28,279 Speaker 1: for us. If your instinct is to identify with it. 646 00:43:31,480 --> 00:43:36,680 Speaker 1: Jesus said, bring him to me, Bring him to me. 647 00:43:37,080 --> 00:43:39,919 Speaker 1: The Father said, I believe help my unbelief, Jesus said, 648 00:43:39,960 --> 00:43:42,879 Speaker 1: bring that to me too. That's not you, that's it. 649 00:43:43,920 --> 00:43:46,919 Speaker 1: Your doubt is not you. Your doubt is it. You can 650 00:43:46,960 --> 00:43:49,920 Speaker 1: overcome that. With this help, all things are possible to 651 00:43:50,000 --> 00:43:55,360 Speaker 1: him who believes. How long has he been like this? 652 00:43:55,600 --> 00:44:00,680 Speaker 1: Jesus said, He's been like this so long that all 653 00:44:00,719 --> 00:44:06,040 Speaker 1: I've got left is an if. And God said to 654 00:44:06,080 --> 00:44:12,000 Speaker 1: tell you won't always be this way. What has been 655 00:44:12,040 --> 00:44:15,359 Speaker 1: taken from you can be restored to you. What has 656 00:44:15,400 --> 00:44:18,319 Speaker 1: been snatched from you. The man said, he robbed his 657 00:44:18,400 --> 00:44:22,720 Speaker 1: ability to speak. He can't hear, so he can't speak. 658 00:44:23,120 --> 00:44:25,200 Speaker 1: You know, the enemy loves to do that. He loves 659 00:44:25,239 --> 00:44:27,440 Speaker 1: to get it where you can't hear God. You can't 660 00:44:27,440 --> 00:44:30,480 Speaker 1: hear truth, you can't hear beauty, you can't hear peace, 661 00:44:30,719 --> 00:44:33,480 Speaker 1: you can't hear it anymore. So now you can't speak. 662 00:44:33,640 --> 00:44:35,839 Speaker 1: You can't do it. Every time you go to it 663 00:44:35,840 --> 00:44:39,920 Speaker 1: throws you into fire and water, and you push the 664 00:44:39,960 --> 00:44:41,960 Speaker 1: people away that could help you. But the Lord said, 665 00:44:42,000 --> 00:44:48,120 Speaker 1: it's not always gonna be like this, because you are 666 00:44:49,360 --> 00:44:56,000 Speaker 1: not it and any it that you will bring into 667 00:44:56,000 --> 00:44:57,920 Speaker 1: the presence of Jesus, I'm not talking about bringing it 668 00:44:57,920 --> 00:44:59,480 Speaker 1: to church. You can bring it to church, put it 669 00:44:59,480 --> 00:45:01,239 Speaker 1: in your purse and chew it with chewing gum, and 670 00:45:01,280 --> 00:45:05,040 Speaker 1: you won't get better. But if you will bring it 671 00:45:05,080 --> 00:45:08,120 Speaker 1: to Jesus, the man said, I brought my boy to you, 672 00:45:08,200 --> 00:45:09,600 Speaker 1: and she said, you haven't brought him to me yet. 673 00:45:09,640 --> 00:45:13,920 Speaker 1: You brought him to my boys. Bring it to me. 674 00:45:16,160 --> 00:45:22,120 Speaker 1: But make sure you bring the boy, not just the issue. Now, 675 00:45:22,160 --> 00:45:24,960 Speaker 1: what we've been doing in church so long is we 676 00:45:25,080 --> 00:45:30,359 Speaker 1: keep bringing God issues that we want him to fix. Well, 677 00:45:30,360 --> 00:45:34,200 Speaker 1: they're so quiet. I know I'm preaching good. I got 678 00:45:34,239 --> 00:45:42,560 Speaker 1: your penned. I know sometimes I think of myself even 679 00:45:42,640 --> 00:45:47,440 Speaker 1: like some kind of machine. It and men are the 680 00:45:47,440 --> 00:45:49,880 Speaker 1: most dysfunctional. We want to compliment another man. We say 681 00:45:49,920 --> 00:45:57,719 Speaker 1: he's a beast. He said it, and the Lord said, 682 00:45:57,719 --> 00:46:05,000 Speaker 1: bring me your boy. Whatever you're it is, today I 683 00:46:05,000 --> 00:46:08,960 Speaker 1: see God separating it out for you to understand that 684 00:46:10,360 --> 00:46:12,680 Speaker 1: you are not it. Yes, he chose you, he wants you, 685 00:46:13,239 --> 00:46:15,680 Speaker 1: and before he created you, he created what he wanted 686 00:46:15,719 --> 00:46:19,239 Speaker 1: you to do. So in that sense, you're it right. 687 00:46:19,320 --> 00:46:21,120 Speaker 1: One time I told Holly, I don't think I'm the 688 00:46:21,200 --> 00:46:23,359 Speaker 1: right pastor for this church. We were three or four 689 00:46:23,400 --> 00:46:25,560 Speaker 1: years into the ministry trying to have a date night 690 00:46:25,600 --> 00:46:27,960 Speaker 1: at Firebirds, and I was mad at every staff member. 691 00:46:27,960 --> 00:46:29,480 Speaker 1: I couldn't fire any of them because the didn't have any 692 00:46:29,520 --> 00:46:31,160 Speaker 1: better options. I would have if I could have, but 693 00:46:31,200 --> 00:46:32,880 Speaker 1: I couldn't, So I said I might just fire me 694 00:46:32,920 --> 00:46:36,560 Speaker 1: if all the players sucked fire to coach right, I said, 695 00:46:36,600 --> 00:46:38,239 Speaker 1: I don't think I'm it. I don't think I'm it. 696 00:46:38,320 --> 00:46:40,799 Speaker 1: She said, this is so, this is how, this is 697 00:46:40,800 --> 00:46:43,840 Speaker 1: how Holly can just cut through with a sentence. She said, 698 00:46:44,200 --> 00:46:53,640 Speaker 1: you're the one we got, now, Graham, you watching this, boy, 699 00:46:53,800 --> 00:46:58,120 Speaker 1: I'm the one you got. This is not CarMax, this 700 00:46:58,239 --> 00:47:01,520 Speaker 1: is not Amazon dot Com. You cannot shop, this is 701 00:47:01,560 --> 00:47:06,319 Speaker 1: not this is not this is not a selection process. 702 00:47:06,800 --> 00:47:10,719 Speaker 1: I'm the one God gave you. I'm the one God 703 00:47:10,760 --> 00:47:16,839 Speaker 1: gave you. And even this imperfect. Dad said, I got 704 00:47:16,840 --> 00:47:20,360 Speaker 1: a lot of unbelief, but deeper down I do believe 705 00:47:22,239 --> 00:47:25,359 Speaker 1: and see, deeper down there is an anointing, and deeper 706 00:47:25,360 --> 00:47:26,880 Speaker 1: down there is a knowledge, and deeper down there is 707 00:47:26,920 --> 00:47:32,440 Speaker 1: a wisdom. But you have let it take over you. 708 00:47:35,440 --> 00:47:42,839 Speaker 1: Jesus spoke to it to free him. And I want 709 00:47:42,840 --> 00:47:47,280 Speaker 1: to thank God today that even when I feel unbelief 710 00:47:49,000 --> 00:47:51,040 Speaker 1: and it's no secret to me what people are going 711 00:47:51,080 --> 00:47:56,160 Speaker 1: home to. I'm not stupid, y'all. I know everybody isn't 712 00:47:56,200 --> 00:48:00,319 Speaker 1: leaving here to cross stitch and crochet of You will 713 00:48:00,360 --> 00:48:05,480 Speaker 1: love my sermon from today. But the Bible says that 714 00:48:05,520 --> 00:48:08,279 Speaker 1: he looked at that boy whose body was as good 715 00:48:08,280 --> 00:48:12,560 Speaker 1: as dead, and took him by the hand and helped 716 00:48:12,600 --> 00:48:19,320 Speaker 1: him out. In my prayer time today, I saw God 717 00:48:20,040 --> 00:48:26,520 Speaker 1: separating you from it, because honestly, the depression has been talking, 718 00:48:26,600 --> 00:48:28,560 Speaker 1: and the anxiety has been talking, and the fear has 719 00:48:28,600 --> 00:48:31,799 Speaker 1: been talking so loud we talk about these spirits that 720 00:48:31,880 --> 00:48:34,680 Speaker 1: we can see, and he shook and convulsed and shrieked. 721 00:48:35,520 --> 00:48:40,200 Speaker 1: But what about the ones that throw you around? What 722 00:48:40,280 --> 00:48:42,600 Speaker 1: about the spirit of fear that's been throwing you around. 723 00:48:44,960 --> 00:48:48,960 Speaker 1: You can't even speak up anymore. Things that you used 724 00:48:48,960 --> 00:48:52,680 Speaker 1: to be able to do easily, things that you see 725 00:48:52,719 --> 00:48:56,200 Speaker 1: others do easily. And it's a spirit, but it's not you. 726 00:48:57,600 --> 00:49:01,279 Speaker 1: And there's a greater spirit. Greater is he that is 727 00:49:01,880 --> 00:49:07,200 Speaker 1: in you than he that is in the world. And 728 00:49:07,239 --> 00:49:09,200 Speaker 1: it is by grace you are saved through faith. You 729 00:49:09,239 --> 00:49:13,960 Speaker 1: are not it. And the devil's been telling you that 730 00:49:14,000 --> 00:49:15,560 Speaker 1: one way, and you've been hearing it. You're not it. 731 00:49:16,480 --> 00:49:19,440 Speaker 1: You're not a good dad, you're not it. You're not 732 00:49:19,440 --> 00:49:21,640 Speaker 1: a fit for this, You're not it. You're not experienced, 733 00:49:21,680 --> 00:49:24,640 Speaker 1: you're not it. Look at you, you're not it. Look 734 00:49:24,680 --> 00:49:27,239 Speaker 1: at them, they're it. You're there, You're not it. So 735 00:49:28,480 --> 00:49:31,959 Speaker 1: here's what we're gonna do all week long. We're gonna 736 00:49:32,000 --> 00:49:36,239 Speaker 1: agree with him to a point. Okay, I'm not it. 737 00:49:37,600 --> 00:49:41,680 Speaker 1: There is a savior, I'm not it. There is a 738 00:49:41,719 --> 00:49:44,040 Speaker 1: power that is greater than all sin and shame, and 739 00:49:44,080 --> 00:49:47,200 Speaker 1: I'm not it. There is a righteousness that comes from 740 00:49:47,200 --> 00:49:52,040 Speaker 1: God by faith, and I'm not it. But let me 741 00:49:52,040 --> 00:49:56,239 Speaker 1: tell you something, devil, you accuser of the brethren. At 742 00:49:56,239 --> 00:49:58,919 Speaker 1: the same time you're pointing your finger in my inadequacy 743 00:49:58,960 --> 00:50:01,560 Speaker 1: and my shortage of my life of knowledge, at the 744 00:50:01,600 --> 00:50:04,080 Speaker 1: same time that you're dragging out my mistakes from three 745 00:50:04,160 --> 00:50:07,120 Speaker 1: years ago or three months ago or three minutes ago 746 00:50:07,160 --> 00:50:10,040 Speaker 1: and throwing them in my face, you need to understand something. 747 00:50:10,320 --> 00:50:14,080 Speaker 1: He became sin, who knew no sin, that I might 748 00:50:14,200 --> 00:50:19,080 Speaker 1: become the righteousness of God. God. I pray for a 749 00:50:19,200 --> 00:50:25,440 Speaker 1: restoration of your understanding of righteousness. I am the righteousness 750 00:50:25,480 --> 00:50:30,240 Speaker 1: of God. I am a child of God. I'm a son, 751 00:50:32,000 --> 00:50:37,600 Speaker 1: i am not it. I'm in him, I'm his workmanshift. 752 00:50:40,920 --> 00:50:47,840 Speaker 1: You are not your sin, you are not your fear. 753 00:50:48,080 --> 00:50:51,440 Speaker 1: I command insecurity. Get out in the name of Jesus. 754 00:50:51,840 --> 00:50:55,360 Speaker 1: Step aside, But Gloria, the Lord is in this place. 755 00:50:55,800 --> 00:51:08,040 Speaker 1: The King is here. You gotta go. I'm not it. God, 756 00:51:08,120 --> 00:51:13,520 Speaker 1: you have all authority, you have all power, and you 757 00:51:13,600 --> 00:51:18,880 Speaker 1: have all might. We think you by the hand right now, 758 00:51:20,400 --> 00:51:35,439 Speaker 1: just stand up on our feet. You are not it. 759 00:51:37,920 --> 00:51:40,920 Speaker 1: Our sins had to be punished, had to be dealt with. 760 00:51:42,360 --> 00:51:46,440 Speaker 1: God needed a lamb, a perfect lamb, without blemish, without spot, 761 00:51:47,040 --> 00:51:49,680 Speaker 1: with a sacrifice, so that your shame and your sin 762 00:51:49,880 --> 00:51:53,719 Speaker 1: wouldn't stay with you the rest of your life. And 763 00:51:53,760 --> 00:51:57,640 Speaker 1: God needed a sacrifice. And guess what you are not it? 764 00:52:00,160 --> 00:52:05,080 Speaker 1: Not it. You're gonna punish yourself for what Jesus paid 765 00:52:05,120 --> 00:52:10,759 Speaker 1: for on your behalf. He became sin, who knew no sin, 766 00:52:12,560 --> 00:52:21,839 Speaker 1: so I could be the righteousness of God. Right now, 767 00:52:21,920 --> 00:52:27,840 Speaker 1: there's an opportunity for you to bring your sin and 768 00:52:27,960 --> 00:52:32,560 Speaker 1: unbelief to Jesus. I want to pray for those of 769 00:52:32,600 --> 00:52:37,880 Speaker 1: you who need to be set free from your sin today. 770 00:52:39,280 --> 00:52:43,279 Speaker 1: It is by grace you are saved through faith. It 771 00:52:43,600 --> 00:52:47,880 Speaker 1: everybody say it. It is the gift of God. It 772 00:52:48,000 --> 00:52:50,840 Speaker 1: is the gift. And you know what, not just the 773 00:52:50,880 --> 00:52:53,239 Speaker 1: grace is the gift of God. The faith is a 774 00:52:53,280 --> 00:52:56,960 Speaker 1: gift too. God will give you the faith. I want 775 00:52:56,960 --> 00:52:59,319 Speaker 1: to believe, Lord, I want to trust you. I want 776 00:52:59,360 --> 00:53:02,359 Speaker 1: to move forward. Help my unbelief. So here's what we're 777 00:53:02,360 --> 00:53:07,120 Speaker 1: gonna do. You bring your imperfect faith. You bring your 778 00:53:07,320 --> 00:53:11,120 Speaker 1: unbelief to Jesus, and watch him take you by the 779 00:53:11,200 --> 00:53:16,040 Speaker 1: hand and give you a brand new life. Right now, 780 00:53:16,080 --> 00:53:18,400 Speaker 1: For all of those who came into this service today 781 00:53:19,040 --> 00:53:21,719 Speaker 1: or who logged on and you say I'm far away 782 00:53:21,719 --> 00:53:24,040 Speaker 1: from God, man, I feel like I've been robbed by 783 00:53:24,080 --> 00:53:28,640 Speaker 1: that same enemy. Different manifestation, but the same enemy. I've 784 00:53:28,680 --> 00:53:32,520 Speaker 1: been robbed. Well, the thief comes to kill, still and destroy, 785 00:53:32,719 --> 00:53:34,880 Speaker 1: but he came that you might have life, and that 786 00:53:34,960 --> 00:53:38,319 Speaker 1: you might have him more abundantly. So right now I'm 787 00:53:38,320 --> 00:53:40,719 Speaker 1: going to lead you in a prayer. And this is 788 00:53:40,760 --> 00:53:44,279 Speaker 1: how we bring it to Jesus. He's not in a 789 00:53:44,320 --> 00:53:47,759 Speaker 1: physical form before us today, but he's seated in heavenly places. 790 00:53:48,160 --> 00:53:50,040 Speaker 1: And the Bible says that if you will confess with 791 00:53:50,080 --> 00:53:52,480 Speaker 1: your mouth that Jesus is Lord, and believe in your 792 00:53:52,480 --> 00:53:56,520 Speaker 1: heart God raised him from the dead. You will be saved. 793 00:53:57,960 --> 00:54:01,239 Speaker 1: You are not it. You can't do it on your own. 794 00:54:01,280 --> 00:54:05,399 Speaker 1: You're not supposed to. He already did it. So right now, 795 00:54:06,480 --> 00:54:08,600 Speaker 1: all across this church, whether you're by yourself or in 796 00:54:08,640 --> 00:54:11,200 Speaker 1: a building, I want you to repeat after me this prayer. 797 00:54:11,280 --> 00:54:13,560 Speaker 1: If you honestly in your heart you say, I want 798 00:54:13,560 --> 00:54:15,640 Speaker 1: to turn from my sin, I want to trust Christ. 799 00:54:15,840 --> 00:54:18,160 Speaker 1: I want to receive his grace. I want the gift. 800 00:54:18,920 --> 00:54:20,520 Speaker 1: You pray with me. Right now We're going to pray 801 00:54:20,520 --> 00:54:22,680 Speaker 1: out loud as a church family for the benefit of 802 00:54:22,719 --> 00:54:25,720 Speaker 1: those who are coming to Jesus, are coming back to Jesus. 803 00:54:25,719 --> 00:54:32,000 Speaker 1: Repeat after me, Heavenly Father, I believe that Jesus Christ 804 00:54:33,000 --> 00:54:36,360 Speaker 1: is the Son of God and the Savior of the world. 805 00:54:37,480 --> 00:54:41,680 Speaker 1: And today I make Jesus the Lord of my life. 806 00:54:42,760 --> 00:54:47,000 Speaker 1: I believe he died that I could be forgiven and 807 00:54:47,160 --> 00:54:53,160 Speaker 1: rose again to give me life. I receive this new life. 808 00:54:53,680 --> 00:54:56,839 Speaker 1: This is my new beginning. On the counter of three. 809 00:54:56,880 --> 00:54:59,759 Speaker 1: Shoot your hand up. If you prayed that one, two, three, 810 00:55:00,120 --> 00:55:05,480 Speaker 1: look at that new life. Thank you for joining us. 811 00:55:05,800 --> 00:55:08,239 Speaker 1: Special thanks to those of you who give generously to 812 00:55:08,320 --> 00:55:11,800 Speaker 1: this ministry. Is because of you that this ministry is possible. 813 00:55:12,239 --> 00:55:14,440 Speaker 1: You can click the link in the description to give 814 00:55:14,560 --> 00:55:18,680 Speaker 1: now or visit Elevationchurch dot org slash podcast for more 815 00:55:18,719 --> 00:55:22,520 Speaker 1: information and if you enjoyed the podcast, you can subscribe. 816 00:55:22,800 --> 00:55:24,839 Speaker 1: You can share it with your friends. You can click 817 00:55:24,880 --> 00:55:27,120 Speaker 1: the share button, take a screenshot and share it on 818 00:55:27,160 --> 00:55:30,000 Speaker 1: your social stories and tag us at Elevation Church. Thanks 819 00:55:30,040 --> 00:55:37,080 Speaker 1: again for listening. God bless you.