1 00:00:02,000 --> 00:00:04,560 Speaker 1: Hey, this is Stephen Ferdick. I'm the pastor of Elevation 2 00:00:04,840 --> 00:00:07,040 Speaker 1: Church and this is our podcast. I wanted to thank 3 00:00:07,080 --> 00:00:10,399 Speaker 1: you for joining us today. Hope this inspires you. Hope 4 00:00:10,400 --> 00:00:12,480 Speaker 1: it builds your faith. Hope it gives your perspective to 5 00:00:12,480 --> 00:00:20,040 Speaker 1: see God is moving in your life. Enjoy the message. Valentine. 6 00:00:21,000 --> 00:00:27,560 Speaker 1: You guys, you look good, you smell good, you sound 7 00:00:27,640 --> 00:00:30,280 Speaker 1: real good. And I'm thrilled to be here. My name 8 00:00:30,320 --> 00:00:32,520 Speaker 1: is Dustin Stradlie. I'm the campus pastor of our Ronoke, 9 00:00:32,640 --> 00:00:37,480 Speaker 1: Virginia location. I know we've got some people from Ronoke here. 10 00:00:37,479 --> 00:00:41,080 Speaker 1: What's up, noake, God's doing some amazing things in Roanoke 11 00:00:41,159 --> 00:00:43,320 Speaker 1: and at all of our campuses, and so if you're 12 00:00:43,360 --> 00:00:46,080 Speaker 1: here at Valentine, I need you to take that enthusiasm 13 00:00:46,080 --> 00:00:48,479 Speaker 1: that I feel right here and translate that through the 14 00:00:48,520 --> 00:00:51,720 Speaker 1: camera to everyone tuning in online and give them a 15 00:00:51,720 --> 00:00:55,080 Speaker 1: big welcome, show them some love. We are one church, 16 00:00:55,200 --> 00:00:59,760 Speaker 1: many locations and people tuning in even in cities where 17 00:00:59,760 --> 00:01:04,160 Speaker 1: we don't have a location. I'm excited to share the 18 00:01:04,160 --> 00:01:06,160 Speaker 1: word of God with you today. But the reality is 19 00:01:06,280 --> 00:01:08,720 Speaker 1: the effectiveness of me sharing the word of God really 20 00:01:08,920 --> 00:01:11,280 Speaker 1: depends on your readiness to receive the word of God. 21 00:01:11,959 --> 00:01:13,280 Speaker 1: So I need you to do me a favor and 22 00:01:13,319 --> 00:01:16,360 Speaker 1: turn your neighbor right now, say hey, neighbor, are you 23 00:01:16,480 --> 00:01:23,319 Speaker 1: ready to receive what God has for you? Now turn 24 00:01:23,400 --> 00:01:25,440 Speaker 1: to your second option. I'm not gonna get into why 25 00:01:25,520 --> 00:01:30,000 Speaker 1: you chose some second and say, hey, neighbor, I'm ready. 26 00:01:30,240 --> 00:01:36,240 Speaker 1: Let's go. I'm gonna jump into John five. You can 27 00:01:36,240 --> 00:01:41,640 Speaker 1: follow with me on the screen. You guys can stay 28 00:01:41,680 --> 00:01:44,440 Speaker 1: standing in honor of reading God's word if you want to. 29 00:01:44,680 --> 00:01:51,600 Speaker 1: I mean, I'm just saying. But sometime later Jesus went 30 00:01:51,680 --> 00:01:54,880 Speaker 1: up to Jerusalem for one of the Jewish festivals. Now 31 00:01:54,920 --> 00:01:58,360 Speaker 1: there is in Jerusalem, near the Sheepgate a pool which 32 00:01:58,360 --> 00:02:02,320 Speaker 1: an era make is Calledesda, which is surrounded by five 33 00:02:02,480 --> 00:02:06,120 Speaker 1: covered at colonnades. Here a great number of disabled people 34 00:02:06,200 --> 00:02:10,720 Speaker 1: used to lie, the blind, the lame, the paralyzed. One 35 00:02:10,720 --> 00:02:14,160 Speaker 1: who was there had been an invalid for thirty eight years. 36 00:02:14,720 --> 00:02:16,800 Speaker 1: When Jesus saw him lying there and learned that he 37 00:02:16,840 --> 00:02:21,160 Speaker 1: had been in this condition, everybody say condition for a 38 00:02:21,200 --> 00:02:25,120 Speaker 1: long time, he asks him, do you want to get well? Sir? 39 00:02:25,919 --> 00:02:28,760 Speaker 1: The invalid replied, I have no one to help me 40 00:02:28,800 --> 00:02:31,239 Speaker 1: into the pool. When the water is stirred. While I'm 41 00:02:31,280 --> 00:02:34,720 Speaker 1: trying to get in, someone else goes down ahead of me. 42 00:02:35,400 --> 00:02:38,760 Speaker 1: Do you ever feel like you've just tried everything and 43 00:02:38,840 --> 00:02:42,359 Speaker 1: every time you try, someone always gets ahead of you. 44 00:02:43,000 --> 00:02:46,919 Speaker 1: I'm trying, sir, but someone else goes down ahead of me. 45 00:02:47,480 --> 00:02:51,000 Speaker 1: Then Jesus said to him, get up, pick up your mat, 46 00:02:51,200 --> 00:02:54,240 Speaker 1: and walk. And once the man was cured, he picked 47 00:02:54,320 --> 00:02:57,440 Speaker 1: up his mat and walked. I need you to turn 48 00:02:57,440 --> 00:03:00,040 Speaker 1: your neighbor and help me announce my titles. Say I 49 00:03:00,040 --> 00:03:08,280 Speaker 1: I've tried everything. I've tried everything. Now you can go 50 00:03:08,320 --> 00:03:11,400 Speaker 1: ahead and take a seat. And while you're at it, 51 00:03:11,400 --> 00:03:13,440 Speaker 1: why don't you go ahead and grab your flippy floppies, 52 00:03:13,440 --> 00:03:15,919 Speaker 1: your bathing suit, and your ray bands, because we're heading 53 00:03:15,960 --> 00:03:20,600 Speaker 1: down to the pool of Bethesda, where this scene takes place. 54 00:03:20,840 --> 00:03:23,000 Speaker 1: Who doesn't love a good pool party. I know that 55 00:03:23,040 --> 00:03:25,600 Speaker 1: our Late Norman campus and our Melbourne campus love a 56 00:03:25,639 --> 00:03:28,600 Speaker 1: good pool party. So let's pick up in verse three 57 00:03:28,760 --> 00:03:32,120 Speaker 1: to see who was invited to the pool party and 58 00:03:32,240 --> 00:03:35,720 Speaker 1: said to hear a great number of disabled people used 59 00:03:35,760 --> 00:03:42,360 Speaker 1: to lie, the blind, the lame, the paralyzed, the cynical, 60 00:03:42,560 --> 00:03:50,480 Speaker 1: the addict, the perfectionist, the workaholic, the prideful, the people pleaser. 61 00:03:51,560 --> 00:03:54,040 Speaker 1: If I continue to list them out, I can hit 62 00:03:54,120 --> 00:04:01,480 Speaker 1: yours too. People with various conditions. We all have conditions 63 00:04:01,680 --> 00:04:06,320 Speaker 1: in our life. We all have things that we struggle with. 64 00:04:06,880 --> 00:04:10,280 Speaker 1: And all of these people with various conditions are gathering 65 00:04:10,320 --> 00:04:13,120 Speaker 1: around the pool for a certain reason. And we find 66 00:04:13,120 --> 00:04:16,640 Speaker 1: that in verse four that we read through earlier. So 67 00:04:16,680 --> 00:04:19,119 Speaker 1: if you've got your Bible turned to verse four, shout 68 00:04:19,160 --> 00:04:21,960 Speaker 1: Amen when you got it, shout a men when you 69 00:04:22,040 --> 00:04:27,400 Speaker 1: got it. Gentlemen right here looks confused. You don't have 70 00:04:27,520 --> 00:04:32,280 Speaker 1: verse four. I was confused too. When I was reading 71 00:04:32,320 --> 00:04:34,960 Speaker 1: the Bible the other day. I noticed that in my 72 00:04:35,120 --> 00:04:37,800 Speaker 1: NIV version of the Bible that it went straight from 73 00:04:38,000 --> 00:04:42,479 Speaker 1: verse three to verse five, And I thought, is my 74 00:04:42,520 --> 00:04:45,200 Speaker 1: Bible broken? Do I need to get a new Bible? 75 00:04:45,640 --> 00:04:47,919 Speaker 1: So then I begin to look at some other translations. 76 00:04:48,120 --> 00:04:51,120 Speaker 1: I noticed that verse four was missing from a few 77 00:04:51,160 --> 00:04:54,080 Speaker 1: other translations. But I found it. I found it in 78 00:04:54,120 --> 00:04:55,640 Speaker 1: the footnote. So let me read it to you and 79 00:04:55,680 --> 00:04:57,760 Speaker 1: then talk about why it's not there. It's set in 80 00:04:57,839 --> 00:05:00,920 Speaker 1: verse four, from time to time of the Lord would 81 00:05:00,920 --> 00:05:04,159 Speaker 1: come down and stir up the waters, the first one 82 00:05:04,360 --> 00:05:08,400 Speaker 1: in to the pool. After each such disturbance would be 83 00:05:08,480 --> 00:05:12,520 Speaker 1: cured of whatever disease they had. Now, why this is 84 00:05:12,560 --> 00:05:15,719 Speaker 1: missing from certain modern day translations of the Bible is 85 00:05:15,760 --> 00:05:18,520 Speaker 1: that it was not in earlier manuscripts of the Bible, 86 00:05:19,040 --> 00:05:22,080 Speaker 1: and it was really known as more of a superstition. 87 00:05:22,560 --> 00:05:24,440 Speaker 1: There was no proof that an angel of the Lord 88 00:05:24,600 --> 00:05:27,320 Speaker 1: was the one stirring up the waters, but instead there 89 00:05:27,320 --> 00:05:30,400 Speaker 1: were streams of water that connected to the pool, and 90 00:05:30,480 --> 00:05:33,160 Speaker 1: due to nature, the water would be stirred up. There 91 00:05:33,200 --> 00:05:35,760 Speaker 1: was minerals in the water which could provide some medicinal value. 92 00:05:35,760 --> 00:05:38,560 Speaker 1: It's like bathing yourself and all your favorite essential oils, 93 00:05:38,600 --> 00:05:41,080 Speaker 1: like you like to do. So all of these people 94 00:05:41,120 --> 00:05:44,719 Speaker 1: with conditions are lying out by the pool, trying to 95 00:05:44,760 --> 00:05:48,000 Speaker 1: get from one place to another, and if they are 96 00:05:48,040 --> 00:05:51,599 Speaker 1: the first one into the water, they would experience healing. 97 00:05:52,160 --> 00:05:57,480 Speaker 1: They would experience comfort. The pool represents comfort, and the 98 00:05:57,520 --> 00:06:00,000 Speaker 1: man in the passage, there's really a focus on one person, 99 00:06:00,760 --> 00:06:04,479 Speaker 1: this man who was an invalid for thirty eight years 100 00:06:05,160 --> 00:06:09,320 Speaker 1: of his life. Now, an invalid is someone who is sick, 101 00:06:09,480 --> 00:06:13,480 Speaker 1: has some sort of affliction, maybe even paralyzed, and this 102 00:06:13,560 --> 00:06:18,240 Speaker 1: man had been carrying his condition for thirty eight years 103 00:06:18,279 --> 00:06:21,200 Speaker 1: of his life. And if we all look at our life, 104 00:06:21,320 --> 00:06:26,200 Speaker 1: we all have conditions, maybe not a physical condition, but 105 00:06:26,279 --> 00:06:31,320 Speaker 1: mentally spiritually, a condition of the heart. If we look 106 00:06:31,440 --> 00:06:33,520 Speaker 1: deep down into our life, we all have conditions. I've 107 00:06:33,560 --> 00:06:36,080 Speaker 1: got many conditions. If I can be real, I'm just 108 00:06:36,120 --> 00:06:38,159 Speaker 1: going to share at least one of my conditions. I 109 00:06:38,160 --> 00:06:40,000 Speaker 1: can stand here for the next three days and share 110 00:06:40,000 --> 00:06:42,599 Speaker 1: all of my conditions, all of my issues, because I 111 00:06:42,640 --> 00:06:45,120 Speaker 1: got plenty. But there's one that just seems to keep 112 00:06:45,160 --> 00:06:48,240 Speaker 1: creeping back in my life. And that's the condition of pride, 113 00:06:49,000 --> 00:06:52,920 Speaker 1: which is really me just overcompensating for this inward insecurity 114 00:06:52,960 --> 00:06:57,600 Speaker 1: that I have. And I find comfort in achievement. If 115 00:06:57,600 --> 00:06:59,760 Speaker 1: I can just achieve more, if I can just a 116 00:07:00,400 --> 00:07:02,320 Speaker 1: more every time I work hard, if I can just 117 00:07:02,400 --> 00:07:04,719 Speaker 1: try more and I can achieve more, I find comfort 118 00:07:04,839 --> 00:07:08,240 Speaker 1: that really only to find out that it's never enough. 119 00:07:09,200 --> 00:07:12,440 Speaker 1: And we all have conditions that are crippling us from 120 00:07:12,680 --> 00:07:14,920 Speaker 1: moving forward. Maybe you're still carrying the shame of a 121 00:07:14,960 --> 00:07:17,840 Speaker 1: decision that you made ten years ago. You have a 122 00:07:17,960 --> 00:07:21,880 Speaker 1: condition where you can't release it. Maybe it's anxiety within 123 00:07:21,960 --> 00:07:24,680 Speaker 1: you because you're comparing yourself to anyone and everyone around 124 00:07:24,720 --> 00:07:28,480 Speaker 1: you constantly scrolling, scrolling, scrolling, looks like everyone else has 125 00:07:28,520 --> 00:07:31,280 Speaker 1: their life together, and you think that maybe you're just 126 00:07:31,360 --> 00:07:35,600 Speaker 1: not good enough, or maybe you're trying to please everyone 127 00:07:35,640 --> 00:07:40,840 Speaker 1: around you, but you're not pleased with yourself. We have conditions. 128 00:07:41,400 --> 00:07:44,840 Speaker 1: A few months back, I was driving my fifteen year 129 00:07:44,880 --> 00:07:48,800 Speaker 1: old Accura down the highway and paint chipping off and all, 130 00:07:49,240 --> 00:07:52,120 Speaker 1: and the steering wheel as I'm driving down the highway 131 00:07:52,360 --> 00:07:55,960 Speaker 1: begins to rapidly shake, which I don't know a lot 132 00:07:56,000 --> 00:07:59,120 Speaker 1: about cars, but I know that's probably not a good thing. 133 00:08:00,240 --> 00:08:04,000 Speaker 1: And I immediately pulled into a gas station and got out, 134 00:08:04,040 --> 00:08:06,679 Speaker 1: and I realized that the tire is about to pop 135 00:08:06,800 --> 00:08:10,600 Speaker 1: on the car. Now. I went to the trunk of 136 00:08:10,600 --> 00:08:12,240 Speaker 1: the car, opened the trunk of the car. I see 137 00:08:12,240 --> 00:08:14,120 Speaker 1: the spare tire in the trunk of the car, So 138 00:08:14,400 --> 00:08:16,520 Speaker 1: I'm going to change the tire. But as I'm looking 139 00:08:16,560 --> 00:08:19,400 Speaker 1: at the tire in the trunk of the car, I 140 00:08:19,400 --> 00:08:24,600 Speaker 1: had an epiphany. I don't know how to change the tire. Now. 141 00:08:24,600 --> 00:08:27,840 Speaker 1: I'm getting married in twenty six days, y'all to Maddie 142 00:08:27,880 --> 00:08:32,160 Speaker 1: on the front road right here, and thank you. And 143 00:08:32,320 --> 00:08:35,640 Speaker 1: I've got to stand before this woman as a thirty 144 00:08:35,640 --> 00:08:38,360 Speaker 1: two year old man and tell her that I don't 145 00:08:38,360 --> 00:08:41,640 Speaker 1: know how to change the tire on a car, not 146 00:08:41,760 --> 00:08:44,960 Speaker 1: on my watch. I'm gonna do whatever it takes to 147 00:08:45,000 --> 00:08:48,160 Speaker 1: figure out how to change this tire. So first, thanks, 148 00:08:48,160 --> 00:08:51,800 Speaker 1: first owner Manuel in the trunk, take it, toss it out, 149 00:08:52,000 --> 00:08:54,680 Speaker 1: don't need it. I'm a man, right, Maybe pride kicked in, 150 00:08:54,920 --> 00:08:57,160 Speaker 1: So I take the spare tire. I go, get on 151 00:08:57,200 --> 00:08:59,840 Speaker 1: my hands and knees next to the car, put the tire. 152 00:09:00,679 --> 00:09:02,520 Speaker 1: Then I realized I probably need some tools to get 153 00:09:02,520 --> 00:09:05,079 Speaker 1: the other tire off. Go back to the trunk, find 154 00:09:05,080 --> 00:09:08,120 Speaker 1: some tools, take them back over. Then I put one 155 00:09:08,200 --> 00:09:10,600 Speaker 1: underneath the car and started to crank the vehicle up. 156 00:09:10,600 --> 00:09:12,320 Speaker 1: I don't know what it's called a jack. Maybe start 157 00:09:12,360 --> 00:09:14,640 Speaker 1: to crank the car. Don't judge me. It started to 158 00:09:14,679 --> 00:09:17,400 Speaker 1: crank the car up. Then I was able to successfully 159 00:09:17,400 --> 00:09:19,400 Speaker 1: get the first tire off. I said, I'm doing this 160 00:09:19,440 --> 00:09:22,520 Speaker 1: with ease, y'all, this is common sense. I got this right. 161 00:09:22,559 --> 00:09:25,400 Speaker 1: Now get the first tire off, got ready to put 162 00:09:25,440 --> 00:09:29,200 Speaker 1: the spare tire on, and then in slow motion, the 163 00:09:29,320 --> 00:09:33,440 Speaker 1: whole car begins to shift and just falls over on 164 00:09:33,480 --> 00:09:35,720 Speaker 1: the ground on top of the jack. First thanks first, 165 00:09:35,720 --> 00:09:39,520 Speaker 1: I'm like anybody see that we're good. Now we're good. 166 00:09:39,640 --> 00:09:42,679 Speaker 1: Nobody's watching them. So I take a tool. I knocked 167 00:09:42,679 --> 00:09:44,960 Speaker 1: the jack out from underneath the car, and it pierced 168 00:09:44,960 --> 00:09:47,080 Speaker 1: through the side little skirt of my car, put a 169 00:09:47,080 --> 00:09:50,160 Speaker 1: hole in it. But I put it underneath a different 170 00:09:50,240 --> 00:09:52,560 Speaker 1: part of the car. I was able to crank the 171 00:09:52,640 --> 00:09:55,240 Speaker 1: car up again. I said, Okay, second time's the charm. 172 00:09:55,400 --> 00:09:57,760 Speaker 1: We got this, get ready to put the spare tire on. 173 00:09:58,080 --> 00:10:01,240 Speaker 1: Car begins to shift again, and car falls on the 174 00:10:01,280 --> 00:10:05,360 Speaker 1: ground six times, six times. The car falls over four 175 00:10:05,400 --> 00:10:10,960 Speaker 1: hours later. I finally just sit down in the parking lot, 176 00:10:11,280 --> 00:10:13,640 Speaker 1: take my man card out, toss it in the wind, 177 00:10:14,559 --> 00:10:16,640 Speaker 1: and just accept the fact that I'm never gonna be 178 00:10:16,679 --> 00:10:20,000 Speaker 1: able to change a tire. And I might as well 179 00:10:20,040 --> 00:10:22,480 Speaker 1: accept that that I'm just gonna be here all night 180 00:10:23,440 --> 00:10:27,760 Speaker 1: until this big jack Diesel truck pulls in to the 181 00:10:27,800 --> 00:10:32,240 Speaker 1: gas station and these country boys get out and walk 182 00:10:32,280 --> 00:10:34,280 Speaker 1: over to me and say, well, I made ball. You know. 183 00:10:34,400 --> 00:10:38,120 Speaker 1: To me, no, no, don't tire, don't have any idea 184 00:10:38,160 --> 00:10:42,640 Speaker 1: what you just said. But they reached down and literally, 185 00:10:42,800 --> 00:10:45,440 Speaker 1: in their own strength, pick up the side of my 186 00:10:45,679 --> 00:10:49,600 Speaker 1: car and slide this little doughnut tire on. I said, yeah, bro, 187 00:10:49,640 --> 00:10:52,280 Speaker 1: that was my next move. It's taking a break man. 188 00:10:54,000 --> 00:10:57,880 Speaker 1: And what I couldn't do in my own strength, they 189 00:10:57,960 --> 00:11:00,960 Speaker 1: did with ease. And like this man in the passage, 190 00:11:01,040 --> 00:11:04,600 Speaker 1: he spent thirty eight years trying with everything that he 191 00:11:04,679 --> 00:11:07,960 Speaker 1: had in his own strength to change his condition. And 192 00:11:07,960 --> 00:11:10,680 Speaker 1: we learned two things in this passage about how we 193 00:11:10,800 --> 00:11:14,880 Speaker 1: tend to cope with our conditions. And the first one 194 00:11:14,920 --> 00:11:20,520 Speaker 1: is the comfort of trying. The comfort of trying. Write 195 00:11:20,559 --> 00:11:24,560 Speaker 1: that down now, Trying isn't always a bad thing. I mean, 196 00:11:24,600 --> 00:11:26,640 Speaker 1: you're trying to get out of debt, not a bad thing. 197 00:11:27,000 --> 00:11:29,280 Speaker 1: Trying to get in shape, that's a good thing. You're 198 00:11:29,280 --> 00:11:32,199 Speaker 1: coming to church, you're trying. You bought somebody's Starbucks, you're 199 00:11:32,200 --> 00:11:34,560 Speaker 1: trying to be nice. That's a good thing. Try is 200 00:11:34,559 --> 00:11:36,439 Speaker 1: not a bad thing. I'm all about hard work. I'm 201 00:11:36,440 --> 00:11:39,360 Speaker 1: all about doing some things and achieving some things. That's great. 202 00:11:39,520 --> 00:11:41,400 Speaker 1: But I'm talking about the kind of trying that we 203 00:11:41,440 --> 00:11:46,680 Speaker 1: saw in verse four. The first one in wins mentality 204 00:11:46,720 --> 00:11:49,760 Speaker 1: that we have in our culture. If I can get 205 00:11:49,760 --> 00:11:52,840 Speaker 1: into the pool first, I will get the healing. And 206 00:11:52,880 --> 00:11:56,480 Speaker 1: so as all of these different people with their conditions 207 00:11:56,840 --> 00:11:58,880 Speaker 1: are lying out by the pool. You got blind people, 208 00:11:58,920 --> 00:12:01,120 Speaker 1: you got lame people, you got paralyze people with all 209 00:12:01,240 --> 00:12:05,600 Speaker 1: kinds of various conditions. My man is laying here, tanning 210 00:12:05,679 --> 00:12:09,600 Speaker 1: his backside and chilling by the pool. Let's just say 211 00:12:09,640 --> 00:12:13,160 Speaker 1: he's paralyzed from the waist down, and he's thinking to himself, 212 00:12:13,640 --> 00:12:17,520 Speaker 1: if I can get from here to there, I'll have 213 00:12:17,559 --> 00:12:21,200 Speaker 1: the comfort that I'm looking for. And they're fighting over 214 00:12:21,240 --> 00:12:25,200 Speaker 1: each other. They're elbowing each other, crawling their way, knocking 215 00:12:25,200 --> 00:12:27,280 Speaker 1: each other out. If you get close enough, hold somebody 216 00:12:27,360 --> 00:12:30,760 Speaker 1: under the water. Whatever you gotta do to get what 217 00:12:30,880 --> 00:12:34,600 Speaker 1: you need, work hard enough, try it with everything you got, 218 00:12:34,679 --> 00:12:37,200 Speaker 1: and don't we do the same thing in our culture today. 219 00:12:37,480 --> 00:12:39,840 Speaker 1: If I can just get a few more followers, if 220 00:12:39,880 --> 00:12:42,160 Speaker 1: I can just get a few more likes, if I 221 00:12:42,160 --> 00:12:44,400 Speaker 1: can just make a little bit more money, if I 222 00:12:44,400 --> 00:12:46,680 Speaker 1: can just work a little bit harder for that house, 223 00:12:46,960 --> 00:12:48,720 Speaker 1: if I can just try a little bit harder for 224 00:12:48,800 --> 00:12:51,760 Speaker 1: that car, if I can just collect a few more trophies, 225 00:12:52,000 --> 00:12:54,440 Speaker 1: if I can just please a few more people. I 226 00:12:54,520 --> 00:12:56,200 Speaker 1: know my dad didn't accept me, but if I sleep 227 00:12:56,240 --> 00:12:58,520 Speaker 1: around with so many men, maybe somebody will accept me. 228 00:12:58,679 --> 00:13:01,240 Speaker 1: If I just work a little bit hard. I'm exhausted. 229 00:13:02,760 --> 00:13:05,560 Speaker 1: Maybe I'll fall short, but then I can work harder, 230 00:13:06,040 --> 00:13:08,240 Speaker 1: because if i can get from here to there, then 231 00:13:08,800 --> 00:13:13,120 Speaker 1: I'll have the comfort that I'm looking for. And some 232 00:13:13,160 --> 00:13:14,960 Speaker 1: of you, not only are you trying to get from 233 00:13:14,960 --> 00:13:17,040 Speaker 1: here to there, but some of you you made it 234 00:13:17,760 --> 00:13:20,880 Speaker 1: to the pool. You got in the pool, but you 235 00:13:20,920 --> 00:13:22,440 Speaker 1: found out it wasn't what you thought it would be. 236 00:13:23,559 --> 00:13:25,440 Speaker 1: You've got more money than you could ever imagine, but 237 00:13:25,440 --> 00:13:29,280 Speaker 1: you're still completely empty on the inside. You've got more influence, 238 00:13:29,480 --> 00:13:32,679 Speaker 1: your social media following is through the roof, but you're 239 00:13:32,679 --> 00:13:36,280 Speaker 1: still crying yourself to sleep at night. And a couple 240 00:13:36,320 --> 00:13:38,640 Speaker 1: of years ago, I got a call from Wade joy 241 00:13:38,720 --> 00:13:41,040 Speaker 1: Or worship pastor. Don't you guys love Wade. He's amazing. 242 00:13:41,080 --> 00:13:46,520 Speaker 1: He preached a couple of weeks back, and Wade said, Dustin, 243 00:13:46,520 --> 00:13:49,120 Speaker 1: Pastor Stephen and I have been talking and Pastor would 244 00:13:49,160 --> 00:13:51,960 Speaker 1: love to give you the opportunity to preach the Word 245 00:13:51,960 --> 00:13:56,439 Speaker 1: of God to the entire church. I said, stop it. 246 00:13:56,720 --> 00:13:58,920 Speaker 1: He says, stop what I said? No, Like, I'm just saying, 247 00:13:58,960 --> 00:14:02,040 Speaker 1: are you for real? Said? He said, yeah, like we 248 00:14:02,080 --> 00:14:04,079 Speaker 1: see something in you. And Pastor Sema would love to 249 00:14:04,080 --> 00:14:07,000 Speaker 1: give you the opportunity to preach. And that's a big 250 00:14:07,040 --> 00:14:10,120 Speaker 1: deal for me, y'all, because ten years ago I had 251 00:14:10,200 --> 00:14:12,840 Speaker 1: just gotten out of jail for a dui. Four days later, 252 00:14:12,920 --> 00:14:16,480 Speaker 1: somebody brings me to Elevation uptown campus. I got saved 253 00:14:16,480 --> 00:14:19,480 Speaker 1: in this church. I got baptized in this church. I 254 00:14:19,520 --> 00:14:22,520 Speaker 1: started volunteering at our blatanety campus. I was a greader. 255 00:14:22,680 --> 00:14:25,560 Speaker 1: I would hold the door open, smile, hung on people, 256 00:14:25,800 --> 00:14:28,200 Speaker 1: love on people. Ten years later, I'm a pastor in 257 00:14:28,240 --> 00:14:30,800 Speaker 1: this church, and now you're gonna give me the opportunity 258 00:14:31,000 --> 00:14:33,560 Speaker 1: to preach the word of God to the entire church. 259 00:14:33,760 --> 00:14:35,960 Speaker 1: And the same love and the same grace that he 260 00:14:36,000 --> 00:14:37,880 Speaker 1: brought to my life. I could share about it with 261 00:14:37,920 --> 00:14:44,840 Speaker 1: the church. What won't he do it? He's so good. 262 00:14:45,440 --> 00:14:49,520 Speaker 1: I say yes, I'll preach. Thank you. Hung up the phone. 263 00:14:49,720 --> 00:14:54,600 Speaker 1: I said bye. Then I hung up the phone. So 264 00:14:54,680 --> 00:14:57,560 Speaker 1: I go into a room, shut the door, looking at 265 00:14:57,600 --> 00:15:04,440 Speaker 1: a whiteboard. Four hours go by, whiteboard's still empty. I 266 00:15:04,480 --> 00:15:09,800 Speaker 1: had another epiphany. It takes me a minute. I don't 267 00:15:09,840 --> 00:15:13,320 Speaker 1: know how to write a sermon. I mean I had 268 00:15:13,320 --> 00:15:16,200 Speaker 1: done a few teachings, I had watched other people. I mean, 269 00:15:16,240 --> 00:15:19,120 Speaker 1: it's one thing to watch Pastor Stephen preach, it's another 270 00:15:19,160 --> 00:15:21,920 Speaker 1: thing to preach. It's one thing to read a book, 271 00:15:22,000 --> 00:15:24,560 Speaker 1: it's another thing to write it. It's one thing to 272 00:15:24,560 --> 00:15:28,240 Speaker 1: watch a movie, it's another thing to direct it. But 273 00:15:28,280 --> 00:15:32,760 Speaker 1: then my condition kicked in and I thought, Okay, I 274 00:15:32,800 --> 00:15:35,360 Speaker 1: got a couple of options. Either I can tell Wade 275 00:15:35,360 --> 00:15:37,880 Speaker 1: that I don't know how to preach or write a sermon. 276 00:15:38,360 --> 00:15:40,720 Speaker 1: But obviously he sees something in me. They see something 277 00:15:40,760 --> 00:15:42,720 Speaker 1: they believe in me. Maybe it's in there. I just 278 00:15:42,760 --> 00:15:45,760 Speaker 1: need to figure it out on my own, because if 279 00:15:45,760 --> 00:15:48,240 Speaker 1: I tell him, I might lose the opportunity. So for 280 00:15:48,320 --> 00:15:51,000 Speaker 1: the next four weeks, I locked myself in that room. 281 00:15:51,240 --> 00:15:53,880 Speaker 1: I was gonna do anything and everything I could to 282 00:15:53,960 --> 00:15:55,920 Speaker 1: figure out how to write a sermon. I was going 283 00:15:55,960 --> 00:15:59,200 Speaker 1: through every translation of the Bible, memorizing scripture right and left. 284 00:15:59,240 --> 00:16:01,320 Speaker 1: I was putting annoying to go all over my head. 285 00:16:01,680 --> 00:16:04,440 Speaker 1: I was speaking in tongues. I was just anything I 286 00:16:04,480 --> 00:16:07,800 Speaker 1: could do. I was studying other communicators. I was watching sermons. 287 00:16:07,920 --> 00:16:10,120 Speaker 1: I was gonna either walk out of that room with 288 00:16:10,240 --> 00:16:13,120 Speaker 1: a sermon in hand, Skyler, or I was gonna be 289 00:16:13,200 --> 00:16:16,320 Speaker 1: carried out on a stretcher. Nothing was gonna stop me 290 00:16:16,600 --> 00:16:20,040 Speaker 1: from figuring out how to write this sermon. Then I 291 00:16:20,080 --> 00:16:22,600 Speaker 1: went on a four night binge, staying up till four 292 00:16:22,600 --> 00:16:25,560 Speaker 1: o'clock in the morning, drinking all kinds of caffeine. By 293 00:16:25,600 --> 00:16:27,680 Speaker 1: the end of it, I'm on my knees just like 294 00:16:28,120 --> 00:16:31,480 Speaker 1: I am, so exhausted. How does he do this every 295 00:16:31,600 --> 00:16:35,880 Speaker 1: single week? But isn't that what we do? We try 296 00:16:35,920 --> 00:16:39,120 Speaker 1: with everything that we have in our own strength and 297 00:16:39,200 --> 00:16:41,720 Speaker 1: our own power to figure it out, to the point 298 00:16:41,760 --> 00:16:45,200 Speaker 1: where we fall on our knees in exhaustion, realizing that 299 00:16:46,000 --> 00:16:53,000 Speaker 1: maybe maybe there's a better way. And in this passage, 300 00:16:53,680 --> 00:16:57,880 Speaker 1: the man he was trying for thirty eight years he 301 00:16:57,960 --> 00:17:02,480 Speaker 1: had this condition, But finally Jesus shows up on the scene, 302 00:17:03,680 --> 00:17:08,520 Speaker 1: and Jesus, when he finds the man, ask an interesting question. Now, 303 00:17:08,520 --> 00:17:11,560 Speaker 1: when Jesus asked a question, we should pay attention because 304 00:17:11,640 --> 00:17:14,439 Speaker 1: Jesus knows all things. I don't think he's asking a 305 00:17:14,520 --> 00:17:17,919 Speaker 1: question because he needs information. But maybe he's asking a 306 00:17:18,000 --> 00:17:20,639 Speaker 1: question because he wants to produce something in the man. 307 00:17:20,920 --> 00:17:24,040 Speaker 1: Maybe he's asking a question to help the man discover 308 00:17:24,160 --> 00:17:26,879 Speaker 1: a thing beneath the thing. And so let me go 309 00:17:26,920 --> 00:17:30,800 Speaker 1: to verse six, when Jesus sees the man lying on 310 00:17:30,840 --> 00:17:33,240 Speaker 1: the mat, and he asked this question. He said, he 311 00:17:33,280 --> 00:17:35,879 Speaker 1: saw him lying there, he learned that he had been 312 00:17:36,040 --> 00:17:41,520 Speaker 1: in this condition for a long time, so he asked him, 313 00:17:42,520 --> 00:17:48,640 Speaker 1: do you want to get well? Do you want change? 314 00:17:51,040 --> 00:17:54,520 Speaker 1: Do you really want to get well? And he's asking 315 00:17:54,560 --> 00:17:57,480 Speaker 1: some of you the same question today. Do you want 316 00:17:57,520 --> 00:18:03,159 Speaker 1: to get well? Keep trying in your own effort to 317 00:18:03,240 --> 00:18:07,960 Speaker 1: do this thing? Do you really want change? See, Jesus 318 00:18:08,080 --> 00:18:12,280 Speaker 1: knew that the man had just at this point accepted 319 00:18:13,160 --> 00:18:16,320 Speaker 1: that maybe maybe this is all there will ever be 320 00:18:17,160 --> 00:18:23,320 Speaker 1: to life. Maybe I should just stop here because nothing 321 00:18:23,320 --> 00:18:28,120 Speaker 1: will ever change. Let's talk about the comfort of acceptance. 322 00:18:29,160 --> 00:18:35,399 Speaker 1: The comfort of acceptance. Not only was Jesus's question to 323 00:18:35,480 --> 00:18:39,920 Speaker 1: the man interesting, but the man's response back to Jesus 324 00:18:40,359 --> 00:18:44,320 Speaker 1: was interesting. The man could have easily replied, and I 325 00:18:44,320 --> 00:18:46,520 Speaker 1: would hope that maybe and think that we would all 326 00:18:46,680 --> 00:18:51,040 Speaker 1: reply in this way. Uh yeah, bro, I want change. 327 00:18:51,560 --> 00:18:54,199 Speaker 1: What do you think I'm doing hanging out by the pool. 328 00:18:54,640 --> 00:18:57,120 Speaker 1: Of course, I want change. If I can get from 329 00:18:57,160 --> 00:19:00,800 Speaker 1: from here to there, I'm gonna get the comfort that 330 00:19:00,920 --> 00:19:03,639 Speaker 1: I need. I've been living with this thing for thirty 331 00:19:03,680 --> 00:19:05,760 Speaker 1: eight years. Why do you think I'm hanging out by 332 00:19:05,760 --> 00:19:08,359 Speaker 1: the ball. He's like educating Jesus on what's going down, 333 00:19:08,600 --> 00:19:14,000 Speaker 1: because in verse seven his response, he said, sir, I mean, 334 00:19:14,000 --> 00:19:18,160 Speaker 1: at least he was respectful, he had manners. The invalid replied, 335 00:19:20,080 --> 00:19:24,720 Speaker 1: I have no one to help me, and everyone always 336 00:19:25,000 --> 00:19:33,000 Speaker 1: gets ahead. I've tried everything. Maybe this is all that 337 00:19:33,080 --> 00:19:39,159 Speaker 1: life will ever be. Maybe I should just accept that 338 00:19:39,240 --> 00:19:43,840 Speaker 1: my marriage will always be this way. Maybe I should 339 00:19:43,880 --> 00:19:51,240 Speaker 1: just accept that I'll always live paycheck to paycheck. Here's 340 00:19:51,280 --> 00:19:53,880 Speaker 1: when you've heard before, Well, when you when you get 341 00:19:53,880 --> 00:20:00,520 Speaker 1: my age, then you'll under stand, or you just you 342 00:20:00,640 --> 00:20:06,160 Speaker 1: don't know what I've been through. You don't understand. If 343 00:20:06,560 --> 00:20:12,199 Speaker 1: you knew what happened to me, then you would understand it. 344 00:20:12,240 --> 00:20:15,200 Speaker 1: That maybe this is just the way it's always going 345 00:20:15,880 --> 00:20:18,240 Speaker 1: to be. Maybe I'll never change. Maybe I should just 346 00:20:18,280 --> 00:20:23,439 Speaker 1: stop right now and accept the fact that nothing is 347 00:20:23,480 --> 00:20:27,199 Speaker 1: going to change. Because it's easier to live in the 348 00:20:27,240 --> 00:20:33,520 Speaker 1: comfort of dysfunction than to embrace the uncertainty of change. 349 00:20:34,280 --> 00:20:37,040 Speaker 1: The dude is still hanging out by the pool with 350 00:20:37,080 --> 00:20:39,919 Speaker 1: all of these people in their various conditions. Sometimes we 351 00:20:39,920 --> 00:20:41,600 Speaker 1: get to the point where we just accept that, you know, 352 00:20:41,720 --> 00:20:43,520 Speaker 1: maybe this is the way it is. So I'm just 353 00:20:43,520 --> 00:20:45,800 Speaker 1: going to surround myself with other dysfunctional people and I 354 00:20:45,840 --> 00:20:48,159 Speaker 1: don't feel a bad about it. I mean, they're all 355 00:20:48,160 --> 00:20:49,399 Speaker 1: going to do the same thing. And so maybe I 356 00:20:49,400 --> 00:20:51,640 Speaker 1: don't even have to embrace this process of change now. 357 00:20:51,800 --> 00:20:53,560 Speaker 1: Maybe I don't have to tell anyone that deep down 358 00:20:53,560 --> 00:20:56,879 Speaker 1: inside that I need something that I need to get well. 359 00:20:57,720 --> 00:21:01,480 Speaker 1: And I wonder how many of you were still crippled 360 00:21:01,480 --> 00:21:05,000 Speaker 1: by the condition in your life and you've just accepted 361 00:21:05,800 --> 00:21:09,320 Speaker 1: you're coming to church. I've tried. I've tried the whole 362 00:21:10,440 --> 00:21:15,840 Speaker 1: God thing. I've tried the whole church thing. I worked 363 00:21:15,880 --> 00:21:18,680 Speaker 1: for him, but I don't know if it can work 364 00:21:18,720 --> 00:21:21,800 Speaker 1: for me. If you know what I did. You remember 365 00:21:21,800 --> 00:21:24,200 Speaker 1: the sermon I told you about from a couple of 366 00:21:24,280 --> 00:21:27,280 Speaker 1: years ago. So I was getting ready to preach it 367 00:21:27,600 --> 00:21:30,480 Speaker 1: in front of some of our pastors and leaders and 368 00:21:30,560 --> 00:21:33,399 Speaker 1: some of our staff five days before I was going 369 00:21:33,480 --> 00:21:35,960 Speaker 1: to preach it to the entire church. So I think 370 00:21:35,960 --> 00:21:37,960 Speaker 1: we were at our Blakeney campus at that time, and 371 00:21:38,840 --> 00:21:42,960 Speaker 1: I was freaking out on the inside, which maybe nobody knew. 372 00:21:43,000 --> 00:21:44,360 Speaker 1: I don't know, Philip, I don't know if you saw 373 00:21:44,400 --> 00:21:46,240 Speaker 1: it in me, but I was freaking out, but I 374 00:21:46,320 --> 00:21:49,320 Speaker 1: pretty pretty good game face on. And so right before 375 00:21:49,320 --> 00:21:53,040 Speaker 1: I go up, I'm standing down on the ground and 376 00:21:53,080 --> 00:21:55,840 Speaker 1: we've got worship going, and I'm about to go up 377 00:21:55,920 --> 00:21:58,239 Speaker 1: right out of worship, and I'm about to preach, and 378 00:21:58,280 --> 00:22:01,680 Speaker 1: people like Phillip's like, man, you gotta kill this thing. Man, 379 00:22:01,720 --> 00:22:05,040 Speaker 1: you got I'm like yeah, thanks, Philing, and it's like, hey, 380 00:22:05,119 --> 00:22:07,680 Speaker 1: I got this. I'm like, yeah, dude, come man, God's 381 00:22:07,680 --> 00:22:10,200 Speaker 1: gonna do something awesome. So I get ready to go preach. 382 00:22:10,840 --> 00:22:13,600 Speaker 1: I run up and I just start talking. Man. I 383 00:22:13,680 --> 00:22:16,679 Speaker 1: just I start going after and I just start saying things. 384 00:22:16,960 --> 00:22:19,280 Speaker 1: And I had a thirty minute clock, which means I 385 00:22:19,280 --> 00:22:21,960 Speaker 1: can't go over thirty minutes, and I can't go under 386 00:22:22,200 --> 00:22:24,640 Speaker 1: thirty minutes. I need to fill the entire thirty minute clock. 387 00:22:25,440 --> 00:22:30,640 Speaker 1: Twelve minutes in, I ran out of things to say. 388 00:22:31,960 --> 00:22:36,080 Speaker 1: I blacked out. I choked, and even the twelve minutes 389 00:22:36,080 --> 00:22:38,520 Speaker 1: that I did speak, I don't even know what came 390 00:22:38,560 --> 00:22:41,919 Speaker 1: out of my mouth. It was bad, y'all. It's embarrassing 391 00:22:41,960 --> 00:22:45,000 Speaker 1: even to think about. It's embarrassing to look back at. 392 00:22:45,440 --> 00:22:49,359 Speaker 1: It didn't make any sense whatsoever. I bombed it. I 393 00:22:49,640 --> 00:22:53,440 Speaker 1: destroyed it. I knew without a shadow of a dow 394 00:22:53,720 --> 00:22:57,320 Speaker 1: that that was just messy. So as quickly as possible, 395 00:22:57,359 --> 00:23:00,719 Speaker 1: I'll say thanks for coming, I'm gonna head out. And 396 00:23:00,800 --> 00:23:04,679 Speaker 1: I left and I went home, and I'm thrown up 397 00:23:04,680 --> 00:23:07,159 Speaker 1: a little bit and relas like, oh God, like what 398 00:23:07,359 --> 00:23:14,960 Speaker 1: just happened? And I got another call from Wade, and 399 00:23:15,000 --> 00:23:17,959 Speaker 1: I knew before I even picked up the phone, I 400 00:23:18,080 --> 00:23:22,240 Speaker 1: ruined this opportunity. It was done before I even picked 401 00:23:22,280 --> 00:23:25,640 Speaker 1: it up. So I pick up the phone. I don't 402 00:23:25,640 --> 00:23:27,159 Speaker 1: have a flip phone, but this is my version of 403 00:23:27,160 --> 00:23:34,600 Speaker 1: a phone. Say hey, Wade, sure enough, I lost the opportunity. 404 00:23:35,880 --> 00:23:38,760 Speaker 1: Now maybe you're thinking like, oh, lo's the opportunity to preach, 405 00:23:38,840 --> 00:23:41,240 Speaker 1: big deal. You don't know what I'm going through. Imagine 406 00:23:41,720 --> 00:23:45,600 Speaker 1: you work your entire life for a promotion and your 407 00:23:45,640 --> 00:23:48,040 Speaker 1: family is throwing you a surprise party because this is 408 00:23:48,080 --> 00:23:51,440 Speaker 1: the day that you're gonna get the promotion. You come home, 409 00:23:51,600 --> 00:23:57,320 Speaker 1: open the door surprise, I didn't get the promotion. Kind 410 00:23:57,320 --> 00:24:00,920 Speaker 1: of embarrassing. Or you got the job off. You call 411 00:24:01,000 --> 00:24:03,440 Speaker 1: all your family members, all your friends, you tell everyone, 412 00:24:04,400 --> 00:24:06,199 Speaker 1: and the next day you get a call they did 413 00:24:06,240 --> 00:24:10,639 Speaker 1: a background check. The job offer was revoked. For me, 414 00:24:11,400 --> 00:24:17,520 Speaker 1: this was embarrassing that condition. It hurt, so first thing 415 00:24:17,560 --> 00:24:20,760 Speaker 1: I do take the phone, slam it into my passenger seat, 416 00:24:20,760 --> 00:24:23,119 Speaker 1: trying to break it because that's gonna help. And I 417 00:24:23,200 --> 00:24:27,760 Speaker 1: only cry. I only cry like once a decade, but 418 00:24:27,880 --> 00:24:32,480 Speaker 1: this day I ugly cried. I'm talking like the kind 419 00:24:32,480 --> 00:24:37,520 Speaker 1: that has like the snot and and I'm talking like hyperventilating, 420 00:24:37,640 --> 00:24:48,280 Speaker 1: just and it was bad, y'all. And then just long 421 00:24:48,359 --> 00:24:50,280 Speaker 1: enough for me to and I don't eat fast food, 422 00:24:50,720 --> 00:24:52,880 Speaker 1: but just long enough for me to wipe the blurry 423 00:24:53,080 --> 00:24:56,480 Speaker 1: like tears through my blurry vision. Across the street, I 424 00:24:56,520 --> 00:25:01,040 Speaker 1: see an RB's. I with that accurate over to Rby's. 425 00:25:01,080 --> 00:25:04,520 Speaker 1: So quick I got an extra large roast beef sandwich, 426 00:25:04,600 --> 00:25:07,680 Speaker 1: curly fries, and sweet sea as I'm yamming that down 427 00:25:07,760 --> 00:25:10,639 Speaker 1: while I'm driving to Starbucks to get four cake pops 428 00:25:10,640 --> 00:25:13,560 Speaker 1: and a Vincy iced coffee. Then I went home and 429 00:25:13,680 --> 00:25:16,600 Speaker 1: ordered a Papa John's pizza and sat down on the 430 00:25:16,640 --> 00:25:19,959 Speaker 1: couch and watch full House, not fuller House, Full House, 431 00:25:20,600 --> 00:25:24,240 Speaker 1: and I gammed every slice of that pizza as tears 432 00:25:24,240 --> 00:25:30,320 Speaker 1: are trickling down my face onto each pepperoni, and I 433 00:25:30,400 --> 00:25:37,119 Speaker 1: had this overwhelming sense of maybe I'll never be good enough. 434 00:25:39,280 --> 00:25:43,159 Speaker 1: I'll never be a good communicator, I'll never be a 435 00:25:43,160 --> 00:25:48,119 Speaker 1: good leader, definitely won't get the opportunity to preach again. 436 00:25:48,200 --> 00:25:52,400 Speaker 1: I tried, I tried, Maybe I should just accept this 437 00:25:52,440 --> 00:25:55,720 Speaker 1: is the way it is. So I crawled up in 438 00:25:55,720 --> 00:25:57,879 Speaker 1: fetal position with my body pillow and cried myself to 439 00:25:57,880 --> 00:26:01,040 Speaker 1: sleep the night. The next day, I get a call 440 00:26:01,119 --> 00:26:03,800 Speaker 1: from Pastor Steven. He said, Hey, you doing, How are 441 00:26:03,800 --> 00:26:07,520 Speaker 1: you processing things? I said, I'm embarrassed. I feel like 442 00:26:07,520 --> 00:26:10,000 Speaker 1: I'll let God down. I feel like I'll let you down. 443 00:26:10,520 --> 00:26:12,679 Speaker 1: I feel like I'll let a lot of people down. 444 00:26:12,800 --> 00:26:16,679 Speaker 1: And I was paralyzed. And what he did and what 445 00:26:16,720 --> 00:26:20,200 Speaker 1: he said next spoke to me and will be something 446 00:26:20,240 --> 00:26:23,399 Speaker 1: that I remember for the rest of my life. First, 447 00:26:23,440 --> 00:26:26,199 Speaker 1: he spent the next thirty minutes at a son's baseball 448 00:26:26,240 --> 00:26:28,639 Speaker 1: game there was a break in the game, walking me 449 00:26:28,680 --> 00:26:31,080 Speaker 1: through step by step how to clearly articulate what God 450 00:26:31,160 --> 00:26:34,040 Speaker 1: was speaking into my life. And even over the past year, 451 00:26:34,480 --> 00:26:37,240 Speaker 1: he's been spending time with our campus pastors and some 452 00:26:37,320 --> 00:26:40,440 Speaker 1: leaders on how to structure everything together and clearly hear 453 00:26:40,440 --> 00:26:42,480 Speaker 1: from God and speak what God's put in our life. 454 00:26:42,600 --> 00:26:44,359 Speaker 1: And he invested so much into me and that meant 455 00:26:44,400 --> 00:26:47,720 Speaker 1: the world to me. But then he said, Dustin, you've 456 00:26:47,720 --> 00:26:52,119 Speaker 1: got the gift, you've got the anointing. I believe in you. 457 00:26:53,280 --> 00:26:56,840 Speaker 1: I love you, and at some point you're going to 458 00:26:56,880 --> 00:27:03,679 Speaker 1: get another chance. In my greatest moment of embarrassment for 459 00:27:04,480 --> 00:27:09,160 Speaker 1: my leader to step in and say, I believe in you. 460 00:27:09,160 --> 00:27:15,760 Speaker 1: You're going to get another chance. This man was lying 461 00:27:15,760 --> 00:27:19,159 Speaker 1: on the map with this condition for thirty eight years, 462 00:27:20,160 --> 00:27:24,399 Speaker 1: to the point of giving up, and somebody today is 463 00:27:24,440 --> 00:27:28,760 Speaker 1: on the brink of giving up. But Jesus shows up 464 00:27:29,359 --> 00:27:35,120 Speaker 1: on the scene. Jesus realizes that the man would never 465 00:27:35,200 --> 00:27:39,440 Speaker 1: make it to the pool, and the man is lying 466 00:27:39,440 --> 00:27:45,479 Speaker 1: at the pool of Bethesda. Bethesda means house of Grace. 467 00:27:46,640 --> 00:27:52,119 Speaker 1: The pool is surrounded by five beautiful columns. The number 468 00:27:52,160 --> 00:27:58,879 Speaker 1: five in the Bible represents grace. The man was lying 469 00:27:58,960 --> 00:28:04,440 Speaker 1: in the present of grace all along, but he had 470 00:28:04,440 --> 00:28:09,920 Speaker 1: never received grace, and with Jesus understanding that he would 471 00:28:09,920 --> 00:28:16,680 Speaker 1: never make it to the pool, Jesus instead came to him. 472 00:28:16,960 --> 00:28:22,240 Speaker 1: Grace was never in the pool. Grace was in the person. 473 00:28:23,920 --> 00:28:29,480 Speaker 1: He couldn't work hard enough in his own power to 474 00:28:29,600 --> 00:28:35,679 Speaker 1: make it to grace. That's why grace came to him. 475 00:28:35,800 --> 00:28:38,440 Speaker 1: And some of you think you're so far from the 476 00:28:38,440 --> 00:28:41,680 Speaker 1: grace of God, that God couldn't love someone like you, 477 00:28:42,600 --> 00:28:44,240 Speaker 1: that thing that you did, that thing that you don't 478 00:28:44,280 --> 00:28:45,960 Speaker 1: even want to talk to anyone about, that thing that 479 00:28:46,000 --> 00:28:48,400 Speaker 1: you've buried deep into you think that you're so far 480 00:28:48,800 --> 00:28:51,160 Speaker 1: from the grace of God. But I'm here to tell 481 00:28:51,200 --> 00:28:54,720 Speaker 1: you today that the grace of God has come to you. 482 00:28:56,000 --> 00:28:59,480 Speaker 1: The grace of God is greater than your struggle. The 483 00:28:59,520 --> 00:29:02,680 Speaker 1: grace of God will meet you exactly where you are 484 00:29:03,880 --> 00:29:06,400 Speaker 1: because your heavenly Father loves you more than you could 485 00:29:06,400 --> 00:29:10,760 Speaker 1: ever imagine, and nothing will ever change that. How long 486 00:29:10,760 --> 00:29:14,360 Speaker 1: will you try to change your condition before you let 487 00:29:14,440 --> 00:29:17,560 Speaker 1: the grace of God change the condition of your heart? 488 00:29:18,600 --> 00:29:21,840 Speaker 1: How long will you continue to try in your own effort, 489 00:29:21,960 --> 00:29:25,400 Speaker 1: with everything that you have to earn the love of God, 490 00:29:25,440 --> 00:29:29,080 Speaker 1: But you can't earn the love of God. God loves 491 00:29:29,120 --> 00:29:32,600 Speaker 1: you and has sent his grace into your life. Because 492 00:29:32,640 --> 00:29:34,760 Speaker 1: He is standing with you every step of the way. 493 00:29:34,800 --> 00:29:39,640 Speaker 1: You cannot out run his grace. In verse eight, Jesus 494 00:29:39,680 --> 00:29:42,720 Speaker 1: looked at the man and he said, I don't care 495 00:29:42,760 --> 00:29:45,719 Speaker 1: what you've done. I don't care what she'll do. But 496 00:29:45,920 --> 00:29:49,520 Speaker 1: sir I need you right now to get up and walk. 497 00:29:49,760 --> 00:29:53,080 Speaker 1: And in verse nine, the man immediately jumped to his 498 00:29:53,200 --> 00:29:57,719 Speaker 1: feet after thirty eight years of carrying this condition, and 499 00:29:57,840 --> 00:30:03,880 Speaker 1: he walked. It was God's grace that got him up. 500 00:30:04,400 --> 00:30:08,240 Speaker 1: And the grace of God today is here to get you. 501 00:30:08,240 --> 00:30:11,160 Speaker 1: You can't outrun it, you can't hide from it. His 502 00:30:11,400 --> 00:30:16,320 Speaker 1: grace is sufficient for all your needs. His grace is 503 00:30:16,360 --> 00:30:20,959 Speaker 1: greater than your pain. His grace is bigger than your depression. 504 00:30:21,280 --> 00:30:25,360 Speaker 1: His grace is sufficient for your addiction. His brace is 505 00:30:25,440 --> 00:30:29,880 Speaker 1: greater than your frustration. His grace is greater than your bitterness. 506 00:30:30,040 --> 00:30:32,720 Speaker 1: His grace is bigger than your struggle. His grace is 507 00:30:32,760 --> 00:30:35,840 Speaker 1: bigger than anything than your face in your life. If 508 00:30:35,840 --> 00:30:39,760 Speaker 1: you'll just open your heart, open your mind to receive 509 00:30:40,920 --> 00:30:45,840 Speaker 1: the grace of God. What the man couldn't do in 510 00:30:45,920 --> 00:30:50,920 Speaker 1: his own effort, Jesus did. Jesus knew that you couldn't 511 00:30:51,120 --> 00:30:54,760 Speaker 1: figure it out. He knew that you couldn't do it 512 00:30:54,800 --> 00:30:58,320 Speaker 1: on your own. That's why he came to this earth 513 00:30:59,200 --> 00:31:04,120 Speaker 1: to give you his grace, because He loves you so much. 514 00:31:05,040 --> 00:31:08,600 Speaker 1: And some of you are hiding, thinking to yourself that 515 00:31:10,120 --> 00:31:13,840 Speaker 1: the grace of God can it really help me. I've 516 00:31:13,880 --> 00:31:18,160 Speaker 1: tried everything. Have you tried Jesus, have you tried grace? 517 00:31:19,240 --> 00:31:23,440 Speaker 1: Have you tried this undeserving, wonderful, beautiful grace that you've 518 00:31:23,680 --> 00:31:26,360 Speaker 1: heard about so many different times from so many Yeah 519 00:31:26,360 --> 00:31:28,200 Speaker 1: it works for that person, but I don't know if 520 00:31:28,200 --> 00:31:34,240 Speaker 1: it works for me. And the man finally came to 521 00:31:34,280 --> 00:31:38,840 Speaker 1: the end of himself and the end of yourself is 522 00:31:38,920 --> 00:31:53,640 Speaker 1: the beginning of grace. And maybe today you're exhausted. I'm 523 00:31:53,680 --> 00:31:56,720 Speaker 1: trying to be the best parent I could be. I've 524 00:31:56,800 --> 00:32:00,800 Speaker 1: tried so hard, but you've come to the end of yourself. 525 00:32:00,840 --> 00:32:04,800 Speaker 1: And maybe that's exactly where God wants you, because his 526 00:32:04,800 --> 00:32:07,800 Speaker 1: grace will meet you in that place, and that's where 527 00:32:07,800 --> 00:32:11,240 Speaker 1: his grace begins. And for many of you, you've never 528 00:32:11,320 --> 00:32:14,520 Speaker 1: accepted the grace of God into your life at all. 529 00:32:14,640 --> 00:32:18,360 Speaker 1: But I'm here to tell you it's available. It's a gift. 530 00:32:19,120 --> 00:32:21,959 Speaker 1: But just like any gift, you have to receive it. 531 00:32:23,080 --> 00:32:26,840 Speaker 1: If you come in with your arms crossed and your 532 00:32:26,880 --> 00:32:31,760 Speaker 1: fists clenched, why, yeah, I'm trying. I come to church. 533 00:32:32,600 --> 00:32:35,680 Speaker 1: But you can come to church for comfort and never 534 00:32:35,760 --> 00:32:39,880 Speaker 1: leave changed. But if you will just open your heart 535 00:32:40,960 --> 00:32:44,120 Speaker 1: and receive the grace of God, it can change everything. 536 00:32:45,280 --> 00:32:47,520 Speaker 1: And so standing at all of our locations right now, 537 00:32:48,040 --> 00:32:50,320 Speaker 1: we're going to say a prayer together for all of 538 00:32:50,360 --> 00:32:52,600 Speaker 1: those who maybe need to accept the grace of God 539 00:32:52,640 --> 00:32:54,120 Speaker 1: into your life for the first time, or maybe you 540 00:32:54,200 --> 00:32:57,240 Speaker 1: need to come back to Christ today and accept His 541 00:32:57,320 --> 00:33:01,560 Speaker 1: grace into your life. It is by grace that you 542 00:33:01,680 --> 00:33:05,160 Speaker 1: have been saved through faith, not by your own works, 543 00:33:05,520 --> 00:33:08,000 Speaker 1: not by anything that you can do. But it is 544 00:33:08,080 --> 00:33:12,200 Speaker 1: by grace, through faith that you have been saved. And 545 00:33:12,280 --> 00:33:14,120 Speaker 1: so bow your head and close your eyes right now, 546 00:33:14,680 --> 00:33:16,880 Speaker 1: and I want you to repeat this after me. We're 547 00:33:16,880 --> 00:33:19,120 Speaker 1: all going to say it out loud together. Say, Heavenly Father, 548 00:33:20,200 --> 00:33:24,280 Speaker 1: I come to you a sinner in need of a savior. 549 00:33:25,240 --> 00:33:30,440 Speaker 1: Thank you Jesus for dying for my sin. I believe 550 00:33:31,240 --> 00:33:35,520 Speaker 1: God raised you from the dead. I accept your mercy, 551 00:33:36,320 --> 00:33:42,280 Speaker 1: I embrace your grace, and I'm choosing today to follow 552 00:33:42,320 --> 00:33:46,000 Speaker 1: you for the rest of my life. With headsta about 553 00:33:46,040 --> 00:33:47,880 Speaker 1: and eyes still close. If you just said that prayer 554 00:33:47,880 --> 00:33:49,560 Speaker 1: for the first time, or maybe you're coming back to 555 00:33:49,640 --> 00:33:51,760 Speaker 1: Christ on the counter three at all of our locations, 556 00:33:51,760 --> 00:33:53,320 Speaker 1: I want you to shoot your hand into the air 557 00:33:53,520 --> 00:33:55,680 Speaker 1: so I can acknowledge and celebrate that decision with you. 558 00:33:55,760 --> 00:33:59,080 Speaker 1: Do not be ashamed, do not hesitate one, two three, 559 00:33:59,160 --> 00:34:02,000 Speaker 1: Shoot them up. Up pays God for you, ma'am, shoot 560 00:34:02,040 --> 00:34:04,600 Speaker 1: him up. Hallelujah, past good for you. I'll see you 561 00:34:04,640 --> 00:34:07,320 Speaker 1: in the back pace. God for you. The grace of 562 00:34:07,480 --> 00:34:10,239 Speaker 1: God is in this place. The grace of God is 563 00:34:10,280 --> 00:34:12,759 Speaker 1: here for you. The grace of God is with you 564 00:34:12,800 --> 00:34:16,840 Speaker 1: wherever you go. Let's give him pray, Let's give him honored. 565 00:34:17,120 --> 00:34:24,880 Speaker 1: Let's thank God for a beautiful break. Oh well, I 566 00:34:24,960 --> 00:34:27,400 Speaker 1: hope you enjoyed the podcast today. If you did, there 567 00:34:27,400 --> 00:34:29,680 Speaker 1: are just a couple things I'd love for you to do. 568 00:34:29,920 --> 00:34:33,399 Speaker 1: Number One, subscribe to our show. That way, the most 569 00:34:33,440 --> 00:34:36,960 Speaker 1: recent episode will always be in your feed, waiting for you, 570 00:34:37,200 --> 00:34:40,400 Speaker 1: ready when you are. And secondly, if this ministry has 571 00:34:40,440 --> 00:34:42,800 Speaker 1: impacted you and you'd like to help us continue to 572 00:34:42,840 --> 00:34:45,280 Speaker 1: reach others, you can click the link in the description 573 00:34:45,680 --> 00:34:48,120 Speaker 1: and you can give now and I'll see you next 574 00:34:48,160 --> 00:34:50,360 Speaker 1: time on the Elevation Podcast