1 00:00:01,520 --> 00:00:02,800 Speaker 1: Hey, this is Stephen Ferdik. 2 00:00:02,840 --> 00:00:05,280 Speaker 2: I'm the pastor of Elevation Church, and this is our 3 00:00:05,280 --> 00:00:07,760 Speaker 2: podcast and I wanted to thank you for joining us today. 4 00:00:08,080 --> 00:00:10,680 Speaker 1: Hope this inspires you. Hope it builds your faith. 5 00:00:10,760 --> 00:00:12,879 Speaker 2: Hope it gives your perspective to see God is moving 6 00:00:12,920 --> 00:00:13,480 Speaker 2: in your life. 7 00:00:13,880 --> 00:00:14,760 Speaker 1: Enjoy the message. 8 00:00:17,239 --> 00:00:20,720 Speaker 2: We are very excited about what God is speaking to 9 00:00:20,800 --> 00:00:23,959 Speaker 2: us in this new series. The series is called Gates 10 00:00:24,000 --> 00:00:28,720 Speaker 2: of Change, and we started last week just taking responsibility 11 00:00:29,040 --> 00:00:33,640 Speaker 2: for our own relationship with God. And we made a 12 00:00:33,680 --> 00:00:36,920 Speaker 2: decision that we will not be perfect this year, but 13 00:00:37,000 --> 00:00:37,880 Speaker 2: we will be present. 14 00:00:39,360 --> 00:00:42,080 Speaker 1: We will be present, and we will show up. 15 00:00:43,680 --> 00:00:46,280 Speaker 2: We will show up for the celebrations and the struggles, 16 00:00:46,880 --> 00:00:50,040 Speaker 2: and we will take our seat in the gate. And 17 00:00:50,080 --> 00:00:51,600 Speaker 2: what we're saying is we're going to be where we 18 00:00:51,680 --> 00:00:54,920 Speaker 2: belong this year. And so touch your neighbors, say I'm back. 19 00:00:56,320 --> 00:01:03,320 Speaker 2: I am back. I'm really excited to share the scripture 20 00:01:03,320 --> 00:01:05,800 Speaker 2: with you today that I ended on from Isaiah twenty 21 00:01:05,840 --> 00:01:09,920 Speaker 2: eight Versus five and six. This is where I stopped 22 00:01:09,959 --> 00:01:12,280 Speaker 2: last week, and I want to pick up your very 23 00:01:12,280 --> 00:01:16,440 Speaker 2: powerful Old Testament prophecy. In that day, the Lord Almighty 24 00:01:16,480 --> 00:01:21,280 Speaker 2: will be a glorious crown, a beautiful wreath for the 25 00:01:21,319 --> 00:01:25,480 Speaker 2: remnant of his people. He will be a spirit of 26 00:01:25,680 --> 00:01:30,600 Speaker 2: justice to the one who sits in judgment, a source 27 00:01:30,640 --> 00:01:35,720 Speaker 2: of strength to those who turn back the battle at 28 00:01:35,760 --> 00:01:38,840 Speaker 2: the gate. Only two scriptures, so I like to repeat 29 00:01:38,880 --> 00:01:42,080 Speaker 2: it again, because we have plenty of time in that day. 30 00:01:42,880 --> 00:01:46,640 Speaker 2: The Lord Almighty will be a glorious crown, a beautiful 31 00:01:46,680 --> 00:01:49,400 Speaker 2: wreath for the remnant of his people. He will be 32 00:01:49,440 --> 00:01:52,600 Speaker 2: a spirit of justice to the one who sits in judgment, 33 00:01:53,120 --> 00:01:56,840 Speaker 2: a source of strength to those who turn back the 34 00:01:56,840 --> 00:02:00,280 Speaker 2: battle at the gate. Look at your neighbors, say, save 35 00:02:00,280 --> 00:02:04,200 Speaker 2: your strength. I want to speak to you today about 36 00:02:04,240 --> 00:02:08,400 Speaker 2: save your strength for the battles that really matter. To 37 00:02:08,440 --> 00:02:10,960 Speaker 2: have a prioritize life so that you don't waste time 38 00:02:11,040 --> 00:02:13,079 Speaker 2: chasing down stuff that ought to be running from you. 39 00:02:16,440 --> 00:02:18,200 Speaker 1: Just save your energy for your real. 40 00:02:18,000 --> 00:02:20,320 Speaker 2: Life instead of your imaginary battles that you may not 41 00:02:20,360 --> 00:02:21,799 Speaker 2: ever even have to fight, but the devil wants to 42 00:02:21,880 --> 00:02:23,440 Speaker 2: keep you up all night with so you're sleepy when 43 00:02:23,480 --> 00:02:24,600 Speaker 2: you go to work the next morning. 44 00:02:25,000 --> 00:02:28,720 Speaker 1: Save your strength for. 45 00:02:28,720 --> 00:02:30,840 Speaker 2: The relationships that God wants you to invest in, so 46 00:02:30,880 --> 00:02:34,520 Speaker 2: you don't keep going back to people who'll continue to 47 00:02:34,560 --> 00:02:36,600 Speaker 2: abuse you in ways that you should have seen coming. 48 00:02:37,800 --> 00:02:40,640 Speaker 1: Save your strength, so you don't. 49 00:02:40,440 --> 00:02:42,120 Speaker 2: Do in the flesh what can only be done by might, 50 00:02:42,160 --> 00:02:45,560 Speaker 2: empower and the spirit of the Lord. Save your strength. 51 00:02:45,960 --> 00:02:49,080 Speaker 2: And some of you are behind. You missed last week, 52 00:02:50,320 --> 00:02:52,480 Speaker 2: so I told them, catch everybody up. 53 00:02:52,440 --> 00:02:53,560 Speaker 1: In ninety seconds. 54 00:02:53,919 --> 00:02:55,600 Speaker 2: Sit down, let's go to the movies real quick, and 55 00:02:55,639 --> 00:03:02,840 Speaker 2: I'll start this second installment. The greatest trouble in David's 56 00:03:02,880 --> 00:03:08,640 Speaker 2: life came when he became passive, or you might say disengaged. 57 00:03:08,919 --> 00:03:10,320 Speaker 2: I don't think there's ever been a time in the 58 00:03:10,360 --> 00:03:13,200 Speaker 2: world where we've been more engaged on the surface and 59 00:03:13,280 --> 00:03:17,920 Speaker 2: more disengaged in our souls. I'm disengaged, not because I 60 00:03:17,960 --> 00:03:21,880 Speaker 2: don't care, but just because I'm afraid I don't know 61 00:03:22,240 --> 00:03:23,920 Speaker 2: if I have what it takes. 62 00:03:24,000 --> 00:03:25,400 Speaker 1: David was shaken. 63 00:03:26,000 --> 00:03:30,160 Speaker 2: And everything changed for David when he did something so simple. 64 00:03:31,000 --> 00:03:42,320 Speaker 1: The King got up, left his chamber and took his 65 00:03:42,440 --> 00:03:46,840 Speaker 1: seat in the gate. 66 00:03:47,440 --> 00:03:52,880 Speaker 2: And with the end of becaus, with his accusations and 67 00:03:53,000 --> 00:03:56,600 Speaker 2: his excuses. I want you to look him square in 68 00:03:56,680 --> 00:04:00,200 Speaker 2: the eye before the year even gets started, good and 69 00:04:00,320 --> 00:04:06,840 Speaker 2: tell him, devil, this seat is taken. This is the 70 00:04:06,840 --> 00:04:10,440 Speaker 2: place of responsibility. This is the place of owning your story. 71 00:04:10,640 --> 00:04:14,200 Speaker 1: But it begins with the decision for you to take 72 00:04:14,600 --> 00:04:16,880 Speaker 1: your place in the game. 73 00:04:17,600 --> 00:04:19,960 Speaker 2: And we're going to start getting intentional about our thoughts 74 00:04:20,880 --> 00:04:24,080 Speaker 2: so that we win the battle between. 75 00:04:25,440 --> 00:04:25,960 Speaker 1: The gates. 76 00:04:33,000 --> 00:04:36,280 Speaker 2: I thought i'd started my sermon where I ended it 77 00:04:36,760 --> 00:04:43,359 Speaker 2: last time, you know, I thought I would take a 78 00:04:43,400 --> 00:04:47,840 Speaker 2: moment and just illustrate how sometimes where something shows up 79 00:04:48,000 --> 00:04:49,520 Speaker 2: is not where it started. 80 00:04:50,839 --> 00:04:50,919 Speaker 1: At. 81 00:04:50,960 --> 00:04:53,200 Speaker 2: This sermon that you here today came from a note 82 00:04:53,200 --> 00:04:56,719 Speaker 2: that I made last year, And sometimes where something shows 83 00:04:56,760 --> 00:04:58,400 Speaker 2: up is and where it starts. By the time you 84 00:04:58,839 --> 00:05:03,600 Speaker 2: hear the sermon, it's already been hopefully in the process 85 00:05:03,640 --> 00:05:06,480 Speaker 2: of me thinking about it for a long time, because 86 00:05:06,480 --> 00:05:08,120 Speaker 2: I don't want to just think of something Saturday and 87 00:05:08,120 --> 00:05:14,119 Speaker 2: say it on Sunday. I even realized that about about 88 00:05:14,160 --> 00:05:19,920 Speaker 2: your life, like you. You showed up today and I'll 89 00:05:19,920 --> 00:05:22,760 Speaker 2: see you, but I don't really see what it took 90 00:05:22,839 --> 00:05:25,839 Speaker 2: for you to get here, or you know, what is 91 00:05:25,839 --> 00:05:26,960 Speaker 2: affecting your mind. 92 00:05:27,520 --> 00:05:31,200 Speaker 1: As I preach, sometimes people will say that's the best 93 00:05:31,200 --> 00:05:33,360 Speaker 1: sermon you ever preached. I'll say, that's just the best 94 00:05:33,360 --> 00:05:38,760 Speaker 1: you ever listened, Wasn't they good? But the sermon starts 95 00:05:38,760 --> 00:05:39,320 Speaker 1: before it starts. 96 00:05:39,320 --> 00:05:41,760 Speaker 2: I always tell the parking team like, hey, help me 97 00:05:41,800 --> 00:05:44,200 Speaker 2: out when people are coming in. Smile at them, wave 98 00:05:44,240 --> 00:05:45,880 Speaker 2: at them, put them in a good mood. It'll make 99 00:05:45,920 --> 00:05:48,040 Speaker 2: my job easier. Because the sermon starts before it starts. 100 00:05:49,320 --> 00:05:51,559 Speaker 2: It starts before it starts, it starts checking in your kids, 101 00:05:51,640 --> 00:05:55,480 Speaker 2: or starts. So make sure make sure that you get 102 00:05:55,480 --> 00:05:57,680 Speaker 2: as good of a start as possible. And this time 103 00:05:57,720 --> 00:05:59,760 Speaker 2: of year, we're so focused on new beginnings. But the 104 00:05:59,839 --> 00:06:02,240 Speaker 2: law longer you live, the less you really believe in 105 00:06:02,320 --> 00:06:08,080 Speaker 2: new beginnings, and the cliches don't really comfort you in 106 00:06:08,120 --> 00:06:11,160 Speaker 2: the same way or inspire you at the same level anymore. 107 00:06:11,839 --> 00:06:20,040 Speaker 2: Knew you No, no, I didn't grow three inches Yeah, 108 00:06:20,760 --> 00:06:26,039 Speaker 2: see me. You can't really get a new start to 109 00:06:26,080 --> 00:06:29,960 Speaker 2: your story. What you can do is change the ending. 110 00:06:32,640 --> 00:06:35,800 Speaker 2: And the only real way for you to affect the ending. 111 00:06:35,640 --> 00:06:38,159 Speaker 1: Is to understand the starting place. 112 00:06:40,200 --> 00:06:42,400 Speaker 2: It is very important that we understand the scripture that 113 00:06:42,440 --> 00:06:45,159 Speaker 2: I read in the context of the times, because there 114 00:06:45,279 --> 00:06:48,599 Speaker 2: would have been an outside gate, the outer wall of 115 00:06:48,640 --> 00:06:51,679 Speaker 2: the city, with a gate for entrance and inner gate 116 00:06:51,800 --> 00:06:54,400 Speaker 2: as a line of defense, and then this space between 117 00:06:54,440 --> 00:06:59,640 Speaker 2: the gate where justice was supposed to be served negotiations happened. 118 00:07:00,360 --> 00:07:03,040 Speaker 2: People would buy and sell, and that was the space 119 00:07:03,120 --> 00:07:07,120 Speaker 2: between the gates, where the negotiations of life and the 120 00:07:07,120 --> 00:07:08,760 Speaker 2: deliberations took place. 121 00:07:09,440 --> 00:07:11,160 Speaker 1: Between the gates. 122 00:07:11,680 --> 00:07:16,200 Speaker 2: We're talking in this series about that space between the gates, 123 00:07:16,920 --> 00:07:21,960 Speaker 2: the realm of your decisions, the realm of your thought process, 124 00:07:23,400 --> 00:07:26,200 Speaker 2: the space between what you see with your eyes and 125 00:07:26,200 --> 00:07:29,480 Speaker 2: what you do in your life, what you hear with 126 00:07:29,600 --> 00:07:32,080 Speaker 2: your ears, and how you act when you go home. 127 00:07:32,720 --> 00:07:35,400 Speaker 1: That's space. That's where the battle is won and lost. 128 00:07:35,440 --> 00:07:39,000 Speaker 2: Now, by the time the battle is one, there has 129 00:07:39,040 --> 00:07:43,600 Speaker 2: already been significant work done. Nobody wins the Olympics at 130 00:07:43,680 --> 00:07:48,080 Speaker 2: the race. They won the Olympics in the dark at 131 00:07:48,080 --> 00:07:51,760 Speaker 2: four thirty. Where their success showed up is not where 132 00:07:51,800 --> 00:07:55,680 Speaker 2: their success started. And usually if you see an issue 133 00:07:55,680 --> 00:07:58,720 Speaker 2: in somebody's life, where it showed up is not where 134 00:07:58,720 --> 00:07:59,200 Speaker 2: it started. 135 00:08:00,160 --> 00:08:02,920 Speaker 1: It's the same with victories that it is with defeat. 136 00:08:04,320 --> 00:08:06,520 Speaker 2: I told a story last week about my dad, and 137 00:08:06,560 --> 00:08:08,200 Speaker 2: the reason I like to tell so many stories about 138 00:08:08,240 --> 00:08:12,240 Speaker 2: my dad is because he's not here to correct them. 139 00:08:12,400 --> 00:08:14,600 Speaker 2: I can tell him how I want to tell him. 140 00:08:15,040 --> 00:08:16,640 Speaker 2: The one I told him about him last week him 141 00:08:16,680 --> 00:08:19,000 Speaker 2: made him sound kind of bad, but I thought I 142 00:08:19,000 --> 00:08:20,800 Speaker 2: would tell a good one about him. Now, my dad 143 00:08:20,840 --> 00:08:23,640 Speaker 2: was a good dad, especially if you compare him to 144 00:08:23,680 --> 00:08:26,320 Speaker 2: the standard that he didn't have a dad to show 145 00:08:26,400 --> 00:08:27,680 Speaker 2: him how to do it, and he was making it 146 00:08:27,760 --> 00:08:30,440 Speaker 2: up when he was doing it. He was just kind 147 00:08:30,440 --> 00:08:34,160 Speaker 2: of he was winging it. And I have mad respect 148 00:08:34,200 --> 00:08:35,360 Speaker 2: for that, because it's hard enough to be a dad 149 00:08:35,400 --> 00:08:36,160 Speaker 2: when you've seen a dad. 150 00:08:36,200 --> 00:08:37,679 Speaker 1: But he had to make it up. 151 00:08:37,640 --> 00:08:41,200 Speaker 2: And so some of his tactics were not FDA approved. 152 00:08:42,400 --> 00:08:46,800 Speaker 2: Some of his tactics were kind of street tactics. One 153 00:08:46,840 --> 00:08:49,960 Speaker 2: time I told my mom I wanted to kill him. Yeah, 154 00:08:50,800 --> 00:08:53,120 Speaker 2: my finest moment, I'll kill him. 155 00:08:53,520 --> 00:08:55,240 Speaker 1: I want to kill him. 156 00:08:55,679 --> 00:08:58,880 Speaker 2: And when he picked me up from school that day 157 00:08:59,320 --> 00:09:03,280 Speaker 2: early dismissed picked me up from school and said he 158 00:09:03,280 --> 00:09:06,200 Speaker 2: had two guns in the back of the truck. I 159 00:09:06,240 --> 00:09:07,360 Speaker 2: was going to get one and he was going to 160 00:09:07,360 --> 00:09:08,760 Speaker 2: get one because he heard I wanted to kill him 161 00:09:08,760 --> 00:09:10,800 Speaker 2: and if I didn't shoot, he was going to. I mean, 162 00:09:10,920 --> 00:09:13,520 Speaker 2: that is not necessarily the type of parenting you hear about. 163 00:09:13,520 --> 00:09:15,439 Speaker 2: I'm focused on the family. But he's done the best 164 00:09:15,480 --> 00:09:17,520 Speaker 2: he could and he didn't actually do it. He let 165 00:09:17,600 --> 00:09:19,040 Speaker 2: me cry for ten minutes and think that he was 166 00:09:19,080 --> 00:09:20,480 Speaker 2: going to do it, but I never said it again. 167 00:09:22,200 --> 00:09:24,840 Speaker 2: One of his finest moments, though I don't know where 168 00:09:24,840 --> 00:09:27,080 Speaker 2: he got the idea to do this, was when he 169 00:09:27,120 --> 00:09:31,400 Speaker 2: began to talk to me about addiction. He began to 170 00:09:31,440 --> 00:09:35,920 Speaker 2: talk to me about addiction because his father committed suicide 171 00:09:36,280 --> 00:09:39,720 Speaker 2: and had been a very mean drunk. His father's father 172 00:09:39,760 --> 00:09:43,199 Speaker 2: had been an alcoholic, and somewhere along the line, he 173 00:09:43,520 --> 00:09:46,840 Speaker 2: made the decision that I can't go back and rewrite 174 00:09:47,840 --> 00:09:52,000 Speaker 2: how this story started in our bloodline, but I'm going 175 00:09:52,000 --> 00:09:54,719 Speaker 2: to impart a vision to my son so that he 176 00:09:54,840 --> 00:09:56,400 Speaker 2: might be the one to write a different ending. 177 00:09:57,440 --> 00:09:59,040 Speaker 1: You can't create a new beginning, but you can write 178 00:09:59,040 --> 00:09:59,560 Speaker 1: a new ending. 179 00:10:00,200 --> 00:10:04,240 Speaker 2: That's what I'm trying to say. You can't change who 180 00:10:04,440 --> 00:10:08,240 Speaker 2: wasn't there for you, but you can write a new ending. 181 00:10:08,240 --> 00:10:11,079 Speaker 2: And maybe we should start this year not as an 182 00:10:11,120 --> 00:10:15,080 Speaker 2: expectation of new beginnings, but new endings that from this 183 00:10:15,200 --> 00:10:19,360 Speaker 2: point forward, I said, From this point forward, Paul said, 184 00:10:19,360 --> 00:10:21,280 Speaker 2: I pressed toward the mark. This one thing I do 185 00:10:21,400 --> 00:10:24,440 Speaker 2: forgetting what is behind me. There is no strength in 186 00:10:24,520 --> 00:10:25,400 Speaker 2: what's behind me. 187 00:10:26,880 --> 00:10:29,800 Speaker 1: I stretched toward what's ahead. I saw my dad. 188 00:10:30,000 --> 00:10:31,800 Speaker 2: He would pull me aside even from like a really 189 00:10:31,840 --> 00:10:33,400 Speaker 2: young age, like I was eight years old, and he 190 00:10:33,440 --> 00:10:35,200 Speaker 2: would pull me aside and start talking to me about 191 00:10:35,200 --> 00:10:39,040 Speaker 2: the dangers of alcoholism. Eight years old and he would 192 00:10:39,080 --> 00:10:39,960 Speaker 2: tell me my. 193 00:10:40,040 --> 00:10:41,520 Speaker 1: Dad was a drunk, and his dad was a drunk, 194 00:10:41,559 --> 00:10:42,800 Speaker 1: and his dad was drunk. He said, you could be 195 00:10:42,880 --> 00:10:47,800 Speaker 1: the first verdict. It wasn't an alcoholic. He put it 196 00:10:47,800 --> 00:10:50,920 Speaker 1: out there like a challenge to me, like you could 197 00:10:50,920 --> 00:10:53,360 Speaker 1: go to the moon. You could be the first verdict. 198 00:10:54,760 --> 00:10:56,360 Speaker 1: I kind of liked that. I was only eight. 199 00:10:57,480 --> 00:10:58,760 Speaker 2: I was, hey, I don't know what he thought the 200 00:10:58,840 --> 00:11:00,119 Speaker 2: kids would bringing to school. 201 00:11:00,160 --> 00:11:02,439 Speaker 1: Juice boxes, Like what temptation he thought. I was under. 202 00:11:05,360 --> 00:11:08,839 Speaker 1: You could be the first verdict. And it got through 203 00:11:08,880 --> 00:11:10,640 Speaker 1: to me even when I got a little older, I 204 00:11:10,679 --> 00:11:11,679 Speaker 1: could be the first verdict. 205 00:11:11,720 --> 00:11:13,720 Speaker 2: This is not a sermon about don't drink, by the way, Okay, 206 00:11:13,720 --> 00:11:15,360 Speaker 2: I said, I want you to get all nervous like that, 207 00:11:15,400 --> 00:11:16,880 Speaker 2: like I'm one of those preachers, because I have noticed 208 00:11:16,880 --> 00:11:19,160 Speaker 2: a lot of the preachers who preach don't drink or 209 00:11:19,200 --> 00:11:22,960 Speaker 2: eighty pounds overweight. So apparently they skipped all the verses 210 00:11:22,960 --> 00:11:26,200 Speaker 2: about gluttony and okay, okay, you didn't come for all 211 00:11:26,240 --> 00:11:27,480 Speaker 2: that let's get back to the scripture. 212 00:11:28,280 --> 00:11:31,760 Speaker 1: Isaiah said that he will be. 213 00:11:33,559 --> 00:11:35,600 Speaker 2: Is anybody leaving, I can't see very well back here, 214 00:11:36,840 --> 00:11:40,599 Speaker 2: I'll still there, okay, okay, a source of strength to 215 00:11:40,679 --> 00:11:42,680 Speaker 2: him who turns back the battle at the gate. In 216 00:11:42,720 --> 00:11:47,360 Speaker 2: other words, God will strengthen the will of the one 217 00:11:47,360 --> 00:11:48,520 Speaker 2: who makes the decision. 218 00:11:49,640 --> 00:11:51,360 Speaker 1: It stops here. 219 00:11:53,120 --> 00:11:57,040 Speaker 2: I'm taking my place in the gate to say that 220 00:11:57,120 --> 00:12:02,240 Speaker 2: I cannot affect how the story started. But my dad said, 221 00:12:02,840 --> 00:12:04,760 Speaker 2: if you really want to be the first verdict to 222 00:12:04,800 --> 00:12:07,560 Speaker 2: beat this, you got to beat it in your blood 223 00:12:09,280 --> 00:12:12,280 Speaker 2: because if you taste it, you're gonna like it. So 224 00:12:12,360 --> 00:12:15,000 Speaker 2: I want to challenge you, just don't ever fight it. 225 00:12:16,040 --> 00:12:18,760 Speaker 2: He was trying to get me to see that sometimes 226 00:12:19,160 --> 00:12:22,760 Speaker 2: the best place to fight the battle is before it 227 00:12:22,760 --> 00:12:27,000 Speaker 2: ever begins. To draw a line and say, I'm not 228 00:12:27,080 --> 00:12:31,280 Speaker 2: even going there. I'm not even playing with this. This 229 00:12:31,320 --> 00:12:34,160 Speaker 2: is not going to be a part of my children's legacy. 230 00:12:34,960 --> 00:12:38,520 Speaker 2: I can't control what it's been until now, but from 231 00:12:38,559 --> 00:12:42,080 Speaker 2: this stay forward. By the grace of God. I am 232 00:12:42,120 --> 00:12:45,280 Speaker 2: a new creation in Christ and I'm gonna beat it 233 00:12:45,520 --> 00:12:48,480 Speaker 2: in the bloodline. I'm gonna make a stand for the 234 00:12:48,520 --> 00:12:52,440 Speaker 2: next generation. There are going to be some changes at 235 00:12:52,480 --> 00:13:01,560 Speaker 2: the gate. The place to beat it it's before it begins, 236 00:13:03,080 --> 00:13:05,360 Speaker 2: because if you let it in, you've. 237 00:13:05,160 --> 00:13:09,480 Speaker 1: Already let it win. It's like this in marriage. 238 00:13:09,640 --> 00:13:13,319 Speaker 2: By the time you let resentment in, you've already let bitterness. 239 00:13:13,440 --> 00:13:18,680 Speaker 2: When it's like this in our thought process, by the 240 00:13:18,760 --> 00:13:23,040 Speaker 2: time we let worry in, we've already let anxiety win. 241 00:13:24,600 --> 00:13:26,319 Speaker 2: And this is the year we no longer fight the 242 00:13:26,360 --> 00:13:34,640 Speaker 2: devil on his level, because Isaiah said, there is a 243 00:13:34,679 --> 00:13:40,200 Speaker 2: strategy you can turn back the battle at the gate. 244 00:13:42,360 --> 00:13:46,640 Speaker 2: It's a powerful thought. Sometimes people make fun of me 245 00:13:46,640 --> 00:13:48,040 Speaker 2: and we go out to eat. They say, oh, yeah, 246 00:13:48,040 --> 00:13:52,560 Speaker 2: I forgot you don't drink fine judging. You drink what 247 00:13:52,600 --> 00:13:54,720 Speaker 2: you want to drink. I drink fourteen diet mountain dews today. 248 00:13:54,720 --> 00:13:57,880 Speaker 2: I got no judgment for your liquid consumption. I's got 249 00:13:57,920 --> 00:14:01,080 Speaker 2: a different drug. What I'm saying is, this is a 250 00:14:01,120 --> 00:14:04,400 Speaker 2: decision I made. 251 00:14:04,880 --> 00:14:07,760 Speaker 1: Is a standard that I have said. 252 00:14:09,520 --> 00:14:13,200 Speaker 2: And the problem in Isaiah is they is that the 253 00:14:13,280 --> 00:14:16,600 Speaker 2: leaders who should have been setting the standard for the 254 00:14:16,640 --> 00:14:20,240 Speaker 2: people have lowered the standard and let the people vulnerable. 255 00:14:23,760 --> 00:14:25,800 Speaker 2: This has no relevance to our modern day. Of course, 256 00:14:26,640 --> 00:14:32,440 Speaker 2: the Bible is an ancient book. In fact, Isaiah says, 257 00:14:32,480 --> 00:14:33,920 Speaker 2: he gives a picture of it. He says that the 258 00:14:34,000 --> 00:14:37,840 Speaker 2: leaders who are supposed to be sitting in their seat 259 00:14:37,880 --> 00:14:41,640 Speaker 2: of judgment, rendering decisions of virtue and justice. 260 00:14:42,840 --> 00:14:43,520 Speaker 1: Verse seven. 261 00:14:43,720 --> 00:14:47,200 Speaker 2: He says, they stagger from wine and reel from beer, 262 00:14:49,160 --> 00:14:50,560 Speaker 2: the priest and the prophets. 263 00:14:50,800 --> 00:14:52,400 Speaker 1: Wouldn't this make church more interesting? 264 00:14:53,160 --> 00:14:58,000 Speaker 2: The priests and the prophets stagger from beer and are 265 00:14:58,040 --> 00:15:00,480 Speaker 2: befuddled with wine. Y'all, I have a heart enough time 266 00:15:00,520 --> 00:15:03,040 Speaker 2: making sense when I'm up here sober. Can you imagine 267 00:15:03,040 --> 00:15:05,680 Speaker 2: what I would sound like if I had of you? 268 00:15:08,480 --> 00:15:08,840 Speaker 1: He said. 269 00:15:08,840 --> 00:15:14,000 Speaker 2: They stagger when seeing visions. They cannot see correctly, so 270 00:15:14,040 --> 00:15:21,000 Speaker 2: how can they lead correctly? They stumble when rendering decisions. 271 00:15:22,200 --> 00:15:23,280 Speaker 1: They are the ones who. 272 00:15:23,120 --> 00:15:25,360 Speaker 2: Are supposed to calibrate the calling of. 273 00:15:25,680 --> 00:15:28,120 Speaker 1: The nation, and yet they. 274 00:15:27,960 --> 00:15:30,760 Speaker 2: Are so drunk. Maybe it's a metaphor. Maybe it's not 275 00:15:30,880 --> 00:15:35,920 Speaker 2: just that they're drunk on alcohol. Maybe they're drunk on pride. 276 00:15:36,760 --> 00:15:42,240 Speaker 2: Maybe they're intoxicated with power, maybe a self aggrandizement that 277 00:15:42,320 --> 00:15:44,960 Speaker 2: has caused the leaders of this day to begin to 278 00:15:45,000 --> 00:15:48,560 Speaker 2: weigh self interest in a different scale than the best 279 00:15:48,600 --> 00:15:57,240 Speaker 2: interests of the people. And yet Isaiah says something that 280 00:15:57,360 --> 00:16:01,680 Speaker 2: rings true today that God will will be a source 281 00:16:01,720 --> 00:16:06,160 Speaker 2: of strength to those who turn back the battle at 282 00:16:06,200 --> 00:16:09,240 Speaker 2: the gate. Notice he says that no matter who sits 283 00:16:09,360 --> 00:16:12,680 Speaker 2: in the gate, God is still the source of strength 284 00:16:13,440 --> 00:16:16,600 Speaker 2: to those who turn back the battle at the gate. 285 00:16:18,440 --> 00:16:18,920 Speaker 1: It would be. 286 00:16:18,840 --> 00:16:22,160 Speaker 2: Worth answering the question who is the source of your strength? 287 00:16:23,120 --> 00:16:24,480 Speaker 2: If you haven't decided that by now, you need to 288 00:16:24,480 --> 00:16:27,760 Speaker 2: decide it really quickly, because if the source of your 289 00:16:27,840 --> 00:16:32,120 Speaker 2: strength is who you're sitting beside, you will live a 290 00:16:32,240 --> 00:16:37,720 Speaker 2: very disappointed life. If the source of your strength is 291 00:16:37,720 --> 00:16:39,800 Speaker 2: a number at the bottom of your balance sheet, something 292 00:16:39,840 --> 00:16:41,640 Speaker 2: will hit your life so hard that you can't buy 293 00:16:41,680 --> 00:16:43,280 Speaker 2: your way out of it, and you will find out 294 00:16:43,280 --> 00:16:46,160 Speaker 2: really quickly that net worth is a terrible place to 295 00:16:46,240 --> 00:16:48,080 Speaker 2: put your sense of self value. 296 00:16:48,880 --> 00:16:50,600 Speaker 1: If the source of your strength is. 297 00:16:50,560 --> 00:16:52,920 Speaker 2: How people look at you, or treat you, or think 298 00:16:52,960 --> 00:16:55,920 Speaker 2: about you. If the source of your strength on any 299 00:16:55,920 --> 00:16:58,480 Speaker 2: given day is the condition of your health, you will 300 00:16:58,480 --> 00:17:00,280 Speaker 2: always be susceptible to them. 301 00:17:01,400 --> 00:17:02,720 Speaker 1: And so Isaiah says he. 302 00:17:02,640 --> 00:17:04,560 Speaker 2: Will be a spirit of justice to the one who 303 00:17:04,720 --> 00:17:07,280 Speaker 2: sits in judgment and the source of strength to those 304 00:17:07,320 --> 00:17:11,080 Speaker 2: who turn back the battle at the gate. To make 305 00:17:11,119 --> 00:17:13,479 Speaker 2: God the source of your strength means that you depend 306 00:17:13,560 --> 00:17:16,560 Speaker 2: on Him. As one Psalmas said, you lift your eyes 307 00:17:16,560 --> 00:17:18,680 Speaker 2: to the hills. From whence cometh your help. Your help 308 00:17:18,720 --> 00:17:20,640 Speaker 2: cometh from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth. 309 00:17:20,640 --> 00:17:22,360 Speaker 2: And he will not suffer your foot to be moved. 310 00:17:22,400 --> 00:17:24,720 Speaker 2: The Lord which keepeth thee will not slumber nor sleep. 311 00:17:24,840 --> 00:17:26,679 Speaker 2: The Lord is your keeper. The Lord is your shade 312 00:17:26,760 --> 00:17:28,760 Speaker 2: upon your right hand. And that someone not smite thee 313 00:17:28,760 --> 00:17:30,160 Speaker 2: by day, nor the moon by night. 314 00:17:30,160 --> 00:17:32,400 Speaker 1: He will preserve your soul even forevermore. 315 00:17:33,280 --> 00:17:35,879 Speaker 2: To know that all your help comes from God, that 316 00:17:36,040 --> 00:17:38,760 Speaker 2: all your hope is in Jesus, That all of your 317 00:17:38,800 --> 00:17:41,399 Speaker 2: help comes not from the right, not from the left, 318 00:17:41,640 --> 00:17:44,240 Speaker 2: not from the north, not from the south, not from 319 00:17:44,240 --> 00:17:47,399 Speaker 2: the economy, not from the job touch. Somebody say not you, 320 00:17:48,480 --> 00:17:51,840 Speaker 2: God is my source. Now, go ahead and clap right now. 321 00:17:51,920 --> 00:17:55,640 Speaker 2: If you know God's got your back. In fact, stand 322 00:17:55,720 --> 00:17:57,280 Speaker 2: up on your feet and shout about it. 323 00:17:57,560 --> 00:17:58,280 Speaker 1: If God is. 324 00:17:58,240 --> 00:18:02,920 Speaker 2: Your source in every of your life, ain't every famine. 325 00:18:03,040 --> 00:18:12,080 Speaker 1: I have a friend named Jesus. He is my source. 326 00:18:15,320 --> 00:18:17,679 Speaker 2: I am so tempted to preach on this part of 327 00:18:17,720 --> 00:18:18,680 Speaker 2: the verse that. 328 00:18:18,720 --> 00:18:20,719 Speaker 1: I almost forgot what came before it. 329 00:18:22,119 --> 00:18:25,520 Speaker 2: Isaiah said in that day, the Lord Almighty will be 330 00:18:25,560 --> 00:18:28,520 Speaker 2: a glorious crown, a beautiful wreath for the remnant of 331 00:18:28,560 --> 00:18:29,200 Speaker 2: his people. 332 00:18:29,600 --> 00:18:31,440 Speaker 1: Now, what is a wreath and what is a remnant 333 00:18:31,480 --> 00:18:32,840 Speaker 1: besides a Christmas decoration. 334 00:18:33,600 --> 00:18:37,920 Speaker 2: A wreath symbolizes victory, and he is preaching victory to 335 00:18:37,960 --> 00:18:43,040 Speaker 2: people who are about to experience defeat. He's preaching, of course, 336 00:18:43,080 --> 00:18:47,320 Speaker 2: about the impending Assyrian evasion to the to the northern 337 00:18:47,400 --> 00:18:49,960 Speaker 2: territory of Samaria, the crown jewel of the Northern Kingdom 338 00:18:50,000 --> 00:18:51,679 Speaker 2: of Israel set on a Ferraile valley. 339 00:18:52,400 --> 00:18:56,560 Speaker 1: He's speaking to them about their their potential, and. 340 00:18:56,520 --> 00:18:59,679 Speaker 2: He's telling them how their protection is gone, and so 341 00:18:59,760 --> 00:19:00,440 Speaker 2: now they're. 342 00:19:00,240 --> 00:19:04,760 Speaker 1: Going to face a season of defeat. And in the. 343 00:19:04,720 --> 00:19:07,240 Speaker 2: Same breath that he promises to be a source of strength, 344 00:19:07,240 --> 00:19:10,040 Speaker 2: he warns them of a coming defeat. But yet he 345 00:19:10,080 --> 00:19:13,800 Speaker 2: speaks about victory in the context of defeat. He says, 346 00:19:13,800 --> 00:19:16,280 Speaker 2: in that day, the Lord Almighty will be a glorious crown, 347 00:19:16,760 --> 00:19:19,840 Speaker 2: a beautiful wreath for the remnant of his people. God 348 00:19:19,880 --> 00:19:23,480 Speaker 2: said he will be a wreath for the remnant. The 349 00:19:23,520 --> 00:19:28,320 Speaker 2: wreath symbolizes victory. The remnant represents what's left. God always 350 00:19:28,359 --> 00:19:31,600 Speaker 2: has a remnant, no matter what you've lost in your 351 00:19:31,640 --> 00:19:34,840 Speaker 2: life or who walked away from you, God always leaves 352 00:19:34,840 --> 00:19:37,760 Speaker 2: a remnant. No matter how wicked this world gets or 353 00:19:37,800 --> 00:19:39,520 Speaker 2: how dark the times that we live in may seem 354 00:19:39,560 --> 00:19:42,800 Speaker 2: to be. God always has a remnant in every office. 355 00:19:42,840 --> 00:19:46,000 Speaker 2: God has a remnant in every church. God has a 356 00:19:46,040 --> 00:19:49,680 Speaker 2: remnant in every city, and every generation. God has a remnant. 357 00:19:50,280 --> 00:19:52,480 Speaker 2: God always has a remnant. There's always a little bit 358 00:19:52,520 --> 00:19:54,000 Speaker 2: of oil in the house, even if you feel like 359 00:19:54,000 --> 00:19:57,440 Speaker 2: you're starving to death. God always has a remnant. There's 360 00:19:57,440 --> 00:19:59,159 Speaker 2: always a little boy with a lunch. If you call 361 00:19:59,240 --> 00:20:00,480 Speaker 2: him for it and put it in the hands of 362 00:20:00,520 --> 00:20:04,840 Speaker 2: the Master, it will multiply. Because God always has a remnant. 363 00:20:04,840 --> 00:20:07,280 Speaker 2: No matter how many leave Gideon, there will always be 364 00:20:07,359 --> 00:20:10,520 Speaker 2: three hundred, and God is able to win with the remnant. 365 00:20:10,840 --> 00:20:14,399 Speaker 2: God said, I'm gonna bless what's left. I will not 366 00:20:14,560 --> 00:20:17,560 Speaker 2: be limited by what you lost. I will be a 367 00:20:17,600 --> 00:20:21,880 Speaker 2: wreath for the remnant. I'm gonna bless what's left. I'm 368 00:20:21,880 --> 00:20:26,560 Speaker 2: gonna bless what's left. Stop weeping over what's lost. I'm 369 00:20:26,560 --> 00:20:30,080 Speaker 2: gonna bless what's left. I want you to shout right 370 00:20:30,119 --> 00:20:31,919 Speaker 2: now over what you've gotten left. 371 00:20:32,800 --> 00:20:34,720 Speaker 1: I want you to shout right now over. 372 00:20:34,600 --> 00:20:37,639 Speaker 2: The gift you have, the strength you have, the friends 373 00:20:37,680 --> 00:20:41,040 Speaker 2: you have, the opportunities you have, the time you have. 374 00:20:41,440 --> 00:20:44,320 Speaker 2: God said, I'm gonna bless what you got left. If 375 00:20:44,359 --> 00:20:47,160 Speaker 2: you will not stay stuck in what walked away, I'm 376 00:20:47,160 --> 00:20:50,159 Speaker 2: gonna bless what you got left. You can win with 377 00:20:50,280 --> 00:20:51,720 Speaker 2: what you got left. 378 00:20:54,720 --> 00:20:58,200 Speaker 1: Feel like preaching. I feel like preaching to the remnant. 379 00:20:58,440 --> 00:21:01,200 Speaker 2: Where's the remnant at where are the ones who went 380 00:21:01,280 --> 00:21:01,680 Speaker 2: through the. 381 00:21:01,640 --> 00:21:13,760 Speaker 1: Fire and came out of bound And to bless what's left. 382 00:21:15,240 --> 00:21:20,040 Speaker 2: No matter what happens at the leadership level, I'm looking 383 00:21:20,080 --> 00:21:24,280 Speaker 2: for someone who will turn back the battle at the gate. 384 00:21:24,320 --> 00:21:26,159 Speaker 2: And in that day the Lord Almighty will be a 385 00:21:26,200 --> 00:21:29,280 Speaker 2: glorious crown of beautiful wreath for the remnant of his people. 386 00:21:29,800 --> 00:21:32,040 Speaker 2: And then he mentions two different spirits. Watch this in 387 00:21:32,119 --> 00:21:36,040 Speaker 2: verse six. Can we study the Bible. He will be 388 00:21:36,119 --> 00:21:39,640 Speaker 2: a spirit of justice to the one who sits in judgment, 389 00:21:40,440 --> 00:21:44,159 Speaker 2: that's the first one, and a source of strength to 390 00:21:44,200 --> 00:21:49,239 Speaker 2: those who turned back the battle at the gate. So 391 00:21:49,280 --> 00:21:52,040 Speaker 2: you've got the spirit of justice to the one who 392 00:21:52,040 --> 00:21:55,520 Speaker 2: sits in judgment and the source of strength to those 393 00:21:55,560 --> 00:21:59,320 Speaker 2: who turned back the battle at the gate. Study that 394 00:21:59,320 --> 00:22:00,960 Speaker 2: text all week, and I thought I was talking about 395 00:22:00,960 --> 00:22:04,159 Speaker 2: two different things. But the more I read it, the 396 00:22:04,160 --> 00:22:07,520 Speaker 2: more I realized that this is two functions of the 397 00:22:07,560 --> 00:22:08,199 Speaker 2: same spirit. 398 00:22:09,240 --> 00:22:12,200 Speaker 1: He will be a spirit of justice. 399 00:22:12,600 --> 00:22:15,840 Speaker 2: To the one who sits in judgment, a source of 400 00:22:15,880 --> 00:22:19,280 Speaker 2: strength to those who turn back the battle at the gate. 401 00:22:20,280 --> 00:22:23,639 Speaker 2: The first part of the verse is about standards. He 402 00:22:23,680 --> 00:22:27,399 Speaker 2: will be a spirit of justice. He will decide what 403 00:22:27,520 --> 00:22:30,560 Speaker 2: is wrong and right to the one who sits in judgment. 404 00:22:30,600 --> 00:22:33,440 Speaker 2: He will be a spirit of justice and a source 405 00:22:33,480 --> 00:22:35,679 Speaker 2: of strength to the one who turns back the battle 406 00:22:35,720 --> 00:22:39,159 Speaker 2: at the gate. So the same God that is the 407 00:22:39,200 --> 00:22:42,680 Speaker 2: source of our strength is to also be the source 408 00:22:42,760 --> 00:22:46,120 Speaker 2: of our standards. And here's the question that I came 409 00:22:46,160 --> 00:22:51,680 Speaker 2: to ask today. How can I expect God's strength if 410 00:22:51,680 --> 00:22:54,359 Speaker 2: I do not embrace God's standards. 411 00:22:56,800 --> 00:23:02,800 Speaker 1: I'm about to throw this my brother. See how can 412 00:23:02,920 --> 00:23:04,960 Speaker 1: I How can I call God. 413 00:23:04,800 --> 00:23:09,000 Speaker 2: The source of my strength if I have not made 414 00:23:09,080 --> 00:23:11,240 Speaker 2: him the source of my standards. 415 00:23:11,840 --> 00:23:13,080 Speaker 1: He will be a. 416 00:23:13,119 --> 00:23:16,560 Speaker 2: Spirit of justice to the one who sits in judgment. Now, 417 00:23:16,600 --> 00:23:19,439 Speaker 2: if I have let that seat open, and I have 418 00:23:19,880 --> 00:23:26,680 Speaker 2: left culture to tell me what's right and wrong, how 419 00:23:26,680 --> 00:23:29,840 Speaker 2: can I look to culture for my standards and. 420 00:23:29,800 --> 00:23:31,480 Speaker 1: Then look to God for my strength. 421 00:23:35,560 --> 00:23:37,520 Speaker 2: How can I look for the world to tell me 422 00:23:37,640 --> 00:23:40,879 Speaker 2: how to live and then expect God to give me 423 00:23:40,960 --> 00:23:42,720 Speaker 2: strength for a standard. 424 00:23:42,280 --> 00:23:43,080 Speaker 1: That was not his? 425 00:23:46,359 --> 00:23:49,840 Speaker 2: How can I call God the source of my strength 426 00:23:50,080 --> 00:23:52,800 Speaker 2: if he is not the source of my standards? How 427 00:23:52,800 --> 00:23:56,240 Speaker 2: can I expect his strength and resist his standards? 428 00:23:59,320 --> 00:24:02,760 Speaker 1: It's good right. That's why I feel weak. 429 00:24:02,640 --> 00:24:06,879 Speaker 2: Sometimes because I'm asking God to strengthen me. But I 430 00:24:06,920 --> 00:24:11,600 Speaker 2: have given away my strength because I have lowered my standard. 431 00:24:13,359 --> 00:24:15,480 Speaker 2: And then the enemy comes in like a flood, but 432 00:24:15,560 --> 00:24:26,159 Speaker 2: I don't have a standard. Then I ask God to 433 00:24:26,160 --> 00:24:29,200 Speaker 2: give me joy, you know, and your present folds the joy. 434 00:24:29,320 --> 00:24:29,520 Speaker 1: Joy. 435 00:24:29,560 --> 00:24:32,159 Speaker 2: The Lord is my strength, and I want his strength. 436 00:24:32,160 --> 00:24:35,760 Speaker 2: I want his joy. But if I have not applied 437 00:24:35,800 --> 00:24:40,280 Speaker 2: his standard to my thought life, and I let my 438 00:24:40,440 --> 00:24:44,119 Speaker 2: mind think whatever it wants to think, and I go 439 00:24:44,240 --> 00:24:46,760 Speaker 2: to God for strength, but I did not go to 440 00:24:46,840 --> 00:24:50,639 Speaker 2: him for standards. I am asking him to violate the 441 00:24:50,760 --> 00:24:54,639 Speaker 2: very nature of our relationship. How can he be the 442 00:24:54,680 --> 00:24:56,560 Speaker 2: source of my strength if I won't let him be 443 00:24:56,640 --> 00:24:57,919 Speaker 2: the source of my standards? 444 00:25:01,080 --> 00:25:09,480 Speaker 1: Who set your standards? Who set your standards? Was it was. 445 00:25:10,119 --> 00:25:12,320 Speaker 2: It God that set your standards? I was talking to 446 00:25:12,359 --> 00:25:15,320 Speaker 2: one guy the other day. It became very apparent to 447 00:25:15,359 --> 00:25:18,840 Speaker 2: me pretty quickly that he sets his own standards for 448 00:25:18,920 --> 00:25:22,440 Speaker 2: right and wrong. And I admire him for that because 449 00:25:22,440 --> 00:25:25,680 Speaker 2: I don't trust myself that much. I mean, he must 450 00:25:25,720 --> 00:25:29,400 Speaker 2: be really perfect to have his own standard for right 451 00:25:29,400 --> 00:25:29,680 Speaker 2: and wrong. 452 00:25:29,720 --> 00:25:30,560 Speaker 1: See, I need a God. 453 00:25:31,880 --> 00:25:35,080 Speaker 2: I need a God who's bigger than me, wiser than me, 454 00:25:35,680 --> 00:25:38,440 Speaker 2: who's been around longer than me. I need a God 455 00:25:38,480 --> 00:25:40,880 Speaker 2: who can see around the next corner and know how 456 00:25:40,920 --> 00:25:44,000 Speaker 2: this decision is going to affect my destiny. 457 00:25:44,400 --> 00:25:48,080 Speaker 1: I don't want to occupy that seat. I need a God. 458 00:25:49,000 --> 00:25:51,280 Speaker 2: And sometimes we're so crazy as Christians. 459 00:25:51,640 --> 00:25:53,639 Speaker 1: We will allow the world to set. 460 00:25:53,400 --> 00:25:57,000 Speaker 2: Our standards as a church and tell us what the 461 00:25:57,119 --> 00:26:00,119 Speaker 2: church ought to be and not be, and put us 462 00:26:00,119 --> 00:26:03,720 Speaker 2: in a box and call us by a denomination. But 463 00:26:03,800 --> 00:26:06,919 Speaker 2: I will not be standardized by a dysfunctional world. 464 00:26:07,400 --> 00:26:12,040 Speaker 1: I have a higher standard. We are chosen people, a 465 00:26:12,240 --> 00:26:16,040 Speaker 1: royal priesthood, a holy nation, to declare. 466 00:26:15,600 --> 00:26:18,680 Speaker 2: The prices of Him who called us out of darkness. 467 00:26:20,800 --> 00:26:26,240 Speaker 2: Well like preaching, I'm preaching like this might. 468 00:26:26,119 --> 00:26:38,840 Speaker 1: Be my last time. Why you preached so hard? One 469 00:26:38,880 --> 00:26:40,840 Speaker 1: of my friends said, you know you preach too hard. 470 00:26:42,160 --> 00:26:43,480 Speaker 1: He said, it hollered too much. 471 00:26:43,520 --> 00:26:45,800 Speaker 2: And then he said, you know, you could take a 472 00:26:45,800 --> 00:26:48,520 Speaker 2: little bit extra time and for yourself and not prepare 473 00:26:48,600 --> 00:26:56,879 Speaker 2: so hard, and people wouldn't even know the difference. I 474 00:26:56,880 --> 00:27:02,199 Speaker 2: shouldn't tell you. He was a pastor to see what 475 00:27:02,200 --> 00:27:07,159 Speaker 2: happens when leaders lower the standard. Because, to be honest 476 00:27:07,160 --> 00:27:13,120 Speaker 2: with you, I don't preach to your standard. The only 477 00:27:13,240 --> 00:27:15,440 Speaker 2: question I had when I get done with this sermon 478 00:27:16,600 --> 00:27:20,199 Speaker 2: is God, did I get it right? And if I 479 00:27:20,240 --> 00:27:24,960 Speaker 2: got it right, I don't care how many likes, clicks, shares, downloads. 480 00:27:25,760 --> 00:27:27,639 Speaker 2: I don't care who gets up and walks out in 481 00:27:27,680 --> 00:27:29,800 Speaker 2: the middle of it because I made them uncomfortable or they. 482 00:27:29,680 --> 00:27:32,280 Speaker 1: Wanted to watch a football game. I don't care if 483 00:27:32,280 --> 00:27:35,360 Speaker 1: they laugh, stand up and clap. I'm not preaching for the. 484 00:27:42,760 --> 00:27:44,879 Speaker 2: One preacher one time said, I don't preach for the 485 00:27:44,920 --> 00:27:45,479 Speaker 2: praise of men. 486 00:27:45,560 --> 00:27:54,800 Speaker 1: Amen. Amen, Who set your standard? Have you even thought 487 00:27:54,800 --> 00:27:56,280 Speaker 1: about it? Or do you just inherited? 488 00:27:57,480 --> 00:28:01,000 Speaker 2: Who set your standard? You look into celebrit for your standard? 489 00:28:01,160 --> 00:28:09,200 Speaker 2: Really them the ones who are so miserable they can 490 00:28:09,240 --> 00:28:10,879 Speaker 2: only be happy when they have attention. 491 00:28:11,320 --> 00:28:22,480 Speaker 3: Really, that's your standard. Who set your standard? 492 00:28:22,960 --> 00:28:25,840 Speaker 2: Who set your standard of what you will and will 493 00:28:25,880 --> 00:28:26,560 Speaker 2: not listen to. 494 00:28:28,000 --> 00:28:29,080 Speaker 1: Who set your standard? 495 00:28:29,800 --> 00:28:32,440 Speaker 2: Oh you think you're better than us, That's what they'll 496 00:28:32,440 --> 00:28:34,119 Speaker 2: say when you start living with standards. 497 00:28:34,920 --> 00:28:36,520 Speaker 1: Oh you think you're better than us. 498 00:28:36,760 --> 00:28:39,680 Speaker 2: No, it's just that I know how much I need 499 00:28:39,840 --> 00:28:42,200 Speaker 2: a source that is not me, because I. 500 00:28:42,160 --> 00:28:46,160 Speaker 1: Am weak without him. In fact, I'm nothing without him. 501 00:28:46,200 --> 00:28:47,120 Speaker 1: So excuse me. 502 00:28:47,440 --> 00:28:50,040 Speaker 2: But the battle that I'm in is too real for 503 00:28:50,080 --> 00:28:53,680 Speaker 2: me to play around and live my life with exposed. 504 00:28:53,160 --> 00:28:56,080 Speaker 1: Places and low standards. So I gotta get this right 505 00:28:56,120 --> 00:29:03,080 Speaker 1: this year. I like that. I like that boy right there. 506 00:29:03,400 --> 00:29:07,160 Speaker 2: He looks like a teenager with standards, right sitting there, 507 00:29:07,240 --> 00:29:10,760 Speaker 2: leaning in in church. Some kids would be texting in church, 508 00:29:11,080 --> 00:29:14,400 Speaker 2: but not you. You look like you want something from God. Boy, 509 00:29:14,680 --> 00:29:17,000 Speaker 2: you look like you got a mission. You look like 510 00:29:17,120 --> 00:29:20,000 Speaker 2: God might use you. Don't you lift down to the 511 00:29:20,120 --> 00:29:23,400 Speaker 2: level of your friends. Your friends don't know anything yet 512 00:29:23,720 --> 00:29:26,760 Speaker 2: God has taking you places. Stand up on your feet 513 00:29:26,840 --> 00:29:30,800 Speaker 2: right now, Yeah, you stand up right now. Raise the standard, 514 00:29:30,840 --> 00:29:33,920 Speaker 2: don't lower it. We you'll show up at school. God 515 00:29:34,000 --> 00:29:37,000 Speaker 2: walks through the halls. We you'll show up at school. 516 00:29:37,240 --> 00:29:47,480 Speaker 1: The pleasures of God moved. Raise the standard. 517 00:29:52,080 --> 00:29:54,640 Speaker 2: You're really gonna let your unmarried friends tell you how 518 00:29:54,680 --> 00:29:57,200 Speaker 2: to do your marriage. 519 00:29:59,200 --> 00:30:02,040 Speaker 1: I tell you I had a wife, I wouldn't. Uh huh, 520 00:30:02,080 --> 00:30:03,920 Speaker 1: you said. All I needed to hear in that. 521 00:30:03,840 --> 00:30:09,040 Speaker 2: If I had a wife hard, if I wanted what 522 00:30:09,160 --> 00:30:10,440 Speaker 2: you had, i'd do what you're doing. 523 00:30:10,520 --> 00:30:11,680 Speaker 1: But I want something better. 524 00:30:22,520 --> 00:30:29,560 Speaker 2: It's your standard. Sometimes our standards need to be lowered. Yeah, yeah, no, 525 00:30:29,680 --> 00:30:31,840 Speaker 2: sometimes they do because sometimes it takes too much to 526 00:30:31,840 --> 00:30:36,200 Speaker 2: make us happy. Who set the standard for what it 527 00:30:36,240 --> 00:30:39,840 Speaker 2: takes to make you happy? Who set the standard for 528 00:30:39,920 --> 00:30:44,560 Speaker 2: what it takes to have a good day. I'm bad 529 00:30:44,600 --> 00:30:47,680 Speaker 2: about this one bad meeting and I had a bad day. 530 00:30:47,720 --> 00:30:50,280 Speaker 1: No, no, no, It's like that old man told me 531 00:30:50,280 --> 00:30:52,080 Speaker 1: that time. I said how you doing? He said, I'm alive. 532 00:30:52,640 --> 00:30:55,480 Speaker 2: I thought, well, you didn't answer me, and then I realized, 533 00:30:55,560 --> 00:30:57,000 Speaker 2: yes he did, because for him. 534 00:30:57,000 --> 00:31:07,320 Speaker 4: To be alive, he woke up. It's a good day. 535 00:31:08,040 --> 00:31:12,720 Speaker 4: He woke up, it's a good day. We'll set your standards. 536 00:31:14,800 --> 00:31:16,640 Speaker 2: I mean, when did we come to the point when 537 00:31:16,720 --> 00:31:23,000 Speaker 2: kids had to watch a movie in the car. 538 00:31:24,440 --> 00:31:25,280 Speaker 1: Trip to Target. 539 00:31:25,520 --> 00:31:28,280 Speaker 2: I used to have to dry ride four hours with 540 00:31:28,400 --> 00:31:32,080 Speaker 2: a crayon and a book, and now you need alsa 541 00:31:32,680 --> 00:31:34,040 Speaker 2: to get the Harris Theater. 542 00:31:34,680 --> 00:31:37,600 Speaker 1: Don't set their standard. Do we all to mine? 543 00:31:44,720 --> 00:31:44,760 Speaker 2: Do? 544 00:31:44,880 --> 00:31:47,960 Speaker 1: What time I was complaining? I preached on a Saturday night. 545 00:31:48,640 --> 00:31:52,200 Speaker 1: My friend came. He's on staff at another church, and I. 546 00:31:52,160 --> 00:31:54,280 Speaker 2: Was apologizing to him because the crowd was a little 547 00:31:54,320 --> 00:31:57,880 Speaker 2: down because I was used to being packed out an 548 00:31:57,880 --> 00:32:01,320 Speaker 2: elevation on Saturday night. I said, I'm sorry, man, it 549 00:32:01,400 --> 00:32:04,160 Speaker 2: was kind of it was kind of down today. 550 00:32:04,320 --> 00:32:07,680 Speaker 1: He said, your down day would be my revival. 551 00:32:15,600 --> 00:32:20,440 Speaker 2: I needed that because sometimes you let your standard get 552 00:32:20,440 --> 00:32:23,120 Speaker 2: out of control. Sometimes as the church, we want to 553 00:32:23,120 --> 00:32:25,040 Speaker 2: put a standard on the world that we ourselves don't 554 00:32:25,040 --> 00:32:31,280 Speaker 2: even exemplify. We can't even figure out racial reconciliation within 555 00:32:31,320 --> 00:32:33,320 Speaker 2: the context of the community of faith, but then we 556 00:32:33,360 --> 00:32:34,720 Speaker 2: want to judge it when it's in the world. 557 00:32:38,240 --> 00:32:42,280 Speaker 1: But God's got a remnant. God always has a remnant. 558 00:32:42,280 --> 00:32:44,720 Speaker 2: I believe God is raising up Elevation Church as a 559 00:32:44,760 --> 00:32:50,719 Speaker 2: remnant in this day to raise the standard of what 560 00:32:50,840 --> 00:32:54,280 Speaker 2: church can be and how broad this message really is. 561 00:32:55,920 --> 00:32:59,200 Speaker 2: We're here to raise the standard. I wonder who set 562 00:32:59,240 --> 00:33:03,440 Speaker 2: your standards? See, how can you expect God to be 563 00:33:03,560 --> 00:33:09,600 Speaker 2: your strength if he didn't set your standards? How can 564 00:33:09,640 --> 00:33:13,400 Speaker 2: I expect success if I don't have a standard of excellence. 565 00:33:16,000 --> 00:33:18,360 Speaker 1: If I have not established a standard of excellence in 566 00:33:18,400 --> 00:33:19,240 Speaker 1: my life. 567 00:33:19,320 --> 00:33:22,840 Speaker 2: Why would I expect God to bless my blemished offerings. 568 00:33:25,320 --> 00:33:26,880 Speaker 2: You could take a little time off your sermons, you 569 00:33:26,920 --> 00:33:28,880 Speaker 2: know nobody would notice. But why would I ask God 570 00:33:28,880 --> 00:33:34,120 Speaker 2: to bless something that my whole heart wasn't in. It's 571 00:33:34,160 --> 00:33:37,760 Speaker 2: hard to preach this in church because in church people 572 00:33:37,800 --> 00:33:39,880 Speaker 2: think that if it's for God, it doesn't have to 573 00:33:39,880 --> 00:33:45,440 Speaker 2: be good. Church can become a place where we just 574 00:33:45,480 --> 00:33:49,040 Speaker 2: bring God any old thing. We show up on time 575 00:33:49,040 --> 00:33:51,560 Speaker 2: for something we buy a ticket for, but we thirty 576 00:33:51,560 --> 00:33:53,440 Speaker 2: five minutes late to get to church, and it doesn't 577 00:33:53,440 --> 00:33:56,520 Speaker 2: matter because it's like the preliminary stuff or something like that. 578 00:33:56,680 --> 00:33:59,040 Speaker 2: Just bring God any old thing and listen. I am 579 00:33:59,040 --> 00:34:02,800 Speaker 2: not talking about God's standards so that you'll earn his love. 580 00:34:04,000 --> 00:34:07,040 Speaker 2: This is not about keeping rules so that God will 581 00:34:07,040 --> 00:34:07,440 Speaker 2: love you. 582 00:34:08,200 --> 00:34:10,320 Speaker 1: It's because living right, because He does. 583 00:34:16,760 --> 00:34:20,120 Speaker 2: Not living up to a standard, but living out of 584 00:34:20,160 --> 00:34:23,160 Speaker 2: a standard. Christ in you the Hope of Glory, or 585 00:34:23,200 --> 00:34:26,400 Speaker 2: as Romans says, that the righteous requirements of the law 586 00:34:26,680 --> 00:34:29,640 Speaker 2: might be fully met in us who. 587 00:34:29,440 --> 00:34:31,240 Speaker 1: Walk not after the flesh but the spirit. 588 00:34:32,239 --> 00:34:34,840 Speaker 2: For years, I read it that the righteous requirements of the. 589 00:34:34,880 --> 00:34:36,200 Speaker 1: Law might be met by us. 590 00:34:37,080 --> 00:34:39,480 Speaker 2: Now I realize it's not something God wants from me, 591 00:34:39,520 --> 00:34:42,440 Speaker 2: as something that he wants for me. He has given 592 00:34:42,440 --> 00:34:45,359 Speaker 2: me a standard. He has called me his child, and 593 00:34:45,440 --> 00:34:47,839 Speaker 2: to live beneath that is to be like Eve and 594 00:34:47,880 --> 00:34:50,080 Speaker 2: to speak to something that you should be stepping on. 595 00:34:56,280 --> 00:35:00,759 Speaker 2: But a lot of times we have an expectation with 596 00:35:00,840 --> 00:35:05,280 Speaker 2: no standard. A standard of excellence means doing the best 597 00:35:05,520 --> 00:35:09,239 Speaker 2: with what you have. And until I've done the best 598 00:35:09,280 --> 00:35:11,640 Speaker 2: with what I have, I don't feel like I should 599 00:35:11,680 --> 00:35:13,160 Speaker 2: ask God to do what he can do if I 600 00:35:13,160 --> 00:35:19,120 Speaker 2: haven't done what I can do. And you run into 601 00:35:19,120 --> 00:35:21,520 Speaker 2: all kinds of problems with this, you know, even from 602 00:35:21,560 --> 00:35:24,480 Speaker 2: early in the church. Early in the church, I wanted 603 00:35:24,480 --> 00:35:27,040 Speaker 2: to have a standard, you know, and we didn't have money, 604 00:35:27,040 --> 00:35:29,880 Speaker 2: but I wanted a standard. And we didn't have equipment, 605 00:35:29,920 --> 00:35:32,200 Speaker 2: but I wanted a standard. So I was the worship 606 00:35:32,239 --> 00:35:35,799 Speaker 2: leader when we started. The standard was way lower than 607 00:35:35,840 --> 00:35:36,440 Speaker 2: it is now. 608 00:35:37,400 --> 00:35:39,400 Speaker 1: I got in at a good time. Okay, I was 609 00:35:39,440 --> 00:35:41,000 Speaker 1: the only one available, and. 610 00:35:42,760 --> 00:35:46,160 Speaker 2: So so I had to organize the band, and I 611 00:35:46,200 --> 00:35:49,960 Speaker 2: bought in this guitar player for one of our first rehearsals, 612 00:35:50,239 --> 00:35:52,560 Speaker 2: and he came in and he didn't practice. 613 00:35:52,600 --> 00:35:54,880 Speaker 1: He said, I got busy this week. I didn't practice 614 00:35:54,880 --> 00:35:58,040 Speaker 1: this week. But I'm good, so I let him practice 615 00:35:58,440 --> 00:35:58,959 Speaker 1: with us. 616 00:35:59,239 --> 00:36:01,480 Speaker 2: Then after practice I pulled him aside because I didn't 617 00:36:01,480 --> 00:36:03,880 Speaker 2: want embarrassing. I said, hey, man, we won't be needing 618 00:36:03,880 --> 00:36:05,560 Speaker 2: you Sunday because you didn't practice. 619 00:36:06,840 --> 00:36:08,800 Speaker 1: He said, really, He said. 620 00:36:08,680 --> 00:36:10,080 Speaker 2: You're going to kick me out the church because I 621 00:36:10,080 --> 00:36:10,600 Speaker 2: didn't practice. 622 00:36:10,600 --> 00:36:11,600 Speaker 1: I said, no, you can come to church. 623 00:36:11,640 --> 00:36:13,480 Speaker 2: You just can't come with a guitar on and standing 624 00:36:13,520 --> 00:36:14,560 Speaker 2: on the stage. 625 00:36:15,239 --> 00:36:16,359 Speaker 1: You come to church all you want. 626 00:36:16,360 --> 00:36:19,319 Speaker 2: I said, you see the chant playing, and I gave 627 00:36:19,360 --> 00:36:23,160 Speaker 2: him a fifty dollars gas card. I said, here you go, man, 628 00:36:24,320 --> 00:36:28,120 Speaker 2: and but but you're not playing. He said, your standards 629 00:36:28,120 --> 00:36:33,399 Speaker 2: are too high. Nobody. He said, nobody's going to want 630 00:36:33,400 --> 00:36:36,160 Speaker 2: to be a part of this ministry because the standards 631 00:36:36,160 --> 00:36:39,239 Speaker 2: are too high. And he was right, nobody. This whole 632 00:36:39,239 --> 00:36:46,279 Speaker 2: thing just I heard a story. Listen. I heard a 633 00:36:46,280 --> 00:36:48,879 Speaker 2: story last night from an e group in our church. 634 00:36:49,400 --> 00:36:51,160 Speaker 2: The couple that came a couple of years ago. They 635 00:36:51,160 --> 00:36:52,839 Speaker 2: were sharing their story how they got here. They said, 636 00:36:52,880 --> 00:36:55,400 Speaker 2: we hated it when we first came, and I was 637 00:36:55,440 --> 00:36:58,359 Speaker 2: waiting for the for the twist, you know, because you're 638 00:36:58,360 --> 00:37:01,440 Speaker 2: here now and you came years ago, they said. We 639 00:37:01,520 --> 00:37:03,680 Speaker 2: came in and somebody at the door said we couldn't 640 00:37:03,680 --> 00:37:07,600 Speaker 2: bring our Starbucks in church, and we had just spent 641 00:37:07,680 --> 00:37:12,120 Speaker 2: five dollars each on our Starbucks. And I sat through 642 00:37:12,160 --> 00:37:16,359 Speaker 2: the first part of the sermon all mad about my Starbucks. 643 00:37:17,920 --> 00:37:20,160 Speaker 2: But then in the middle of the sermon, I started crying. 644 00:37:20,480 --> 00:37:22,920 Speaker 2: And then when we left the church, we were getting 645 00:37:22,920 --> 00:37:27,600 Speaker 2: in our car and somebody chased us down. The same 646 00:37:27,640 --> 00:37:29,799 Speaker 2: person that told us we couldn't have our Starbucks in 647 00:37:29,880 --> 00:37:33,279 Speaker 2: church said, while you were in service, we went and 648 00:37:33,320 --> 00:37:36,080 Speaker 2: got you a Starbucks gift card and chased them down 649 00:37:36,320 --> 00:37:45,040 Speaker 2: with a Starbucks gift card. And it wasn't even my 650 00:37:45,120 --> 00:37:49,719 Speaker 2: sermon that wanted to Christ. It was Starbucks. But it 651 00:37:49,760 --> 00:37:52,600 Speaker 2: was a standard. See, because I feel like, why should 652 00:37:52,600 --> 00:37:55,799 Speaker 2: I ask people to tithe to this ministry and then 653 00:37:55,840 --> 00:37:58,600 Speaker 2: have lazy staff members who don't even want to practice. 654 00:37:58,840 --> 00:38:01,239 Speaker 2: Why should I expect you to invite your friends to 655 00:38:01,360 --> 00:38:04,560 Speaker 2: church and not have a standard of excellence on this stage. 656 00:38:04,800 --> 00:38:07,640 Speaker 2: Why should I expect God to bless something that I 657 00:38:07,680 --> 00:38:11,000 Speaker 2: am not invested in? Why should we expect God to 658 00:38:11,360 --> 00:38:15,120 Speaker 2: bless our lives with success when we have not established 659 00:38:15,160 --> 00:38:18,920 Speaker 2: a standard of excellence. This is my year to bring 660 00:38:18,960 --> 00:38:21,880 Speaker 2: my best to God, to bring him a worthy offering. 661 00:38:22,200 --> 00:38:24,880 Speaker 2: I will not offer the Lord that which cost me nothing. 662 00:38:29,680 --> 00:38:30,239 Speaker 1: How can I. 663 00:38:30,200 --> 00:38:33,719 Speaker 2: Expect God to bless me with success when I have 664 00:38:33,840 --> 00:38:37,520 Speaker 2: no standard of excellence? How can I expect God to 665 00:38:37,560 --> 00:38:40,520 Speaker 2: bless me with abundance when I have no standard of stewardship. 666 00:38:42,000 --> 00:38:44,840 Speaker 2: The standard comes before the strength. He will be a 667 00:38:44,840 --> 00:38:47,120 Speaker 2: spirit of justice to the one who sits in judgment, 668 00:38:47,440 --> 00:38:49,359 Speaker 2: and a source of strength to him who turns back 669 00:38:49,360 --> 00:38:52,320 Speaker 2: to battle at the gate. The standard, then the strength, 670 00:38:52,600 --> 00:38:55,600 Speaker 2: The standard then the strength. So if I want God 671 00:38:55,640 --> 00:38:58,240 Speaker 2: to be my provider, I have to make a plan. 672 00:38:58,560 --> 00:39:01,239 Speaker 2: Why would God give me prove if I don't have 673 00:39:01,280 --> 00:39:04,080 Speaker 2: a plan for it? Why would God bless me with 674 00:39:04,200 --> 00:39:07,000 Speaker 2: more when I'm not even generous with what I have? 675 00:39:07,560 --> 00:39:11,040 Speaker 2: Why would he pour out of his resources into closed hands. 676 00:39:11,400 --> 00:39:16,520 Speaker 2: I need a standard. That's why I give the first 677 00:39:16,560 --> 00:39:20,440 Speaker 2: ten percent to God. That's my standard. He's first. This 678 00:39:20,600 --> 00:39:24,799 Speaker 2: is off limits. It's not for negotiation. This is my standard. 679 00:39:25,000 --> 00:39:30,919 Speaker 2: God comes first. Your children shouldn't even have to ask 680 00:39:31,000 --> 00:39:34,320 Speaker 2: you are we going to church this week? Unless you 681 00:39:34,400 --> 00:39:41,080 Speaker 2: got the flu. Of course we're going to church. It's 682 00:39:41,120 --> 00:39:46,200 Speaker 2: our standard. I don't care who's playing. It's our standard. 683 00:39:46,480 --> 00:39:50,200 Speaker 2: I don't care who's preaching. It's our standard. I don't 684 00:39:50,239 --> 00:39:53,320 Speaker 2: care how bad the parking lot is. It's our standard. 685 00:39:53,360 --> 00:39:57,720 Speaker 2: That God is working, I'll sit in traffic. 686 00:39:57,800 --> 00:40:04,239 Speaker 1: He's God. I got standards. 687 00:40:05,640 --> 00:40:09,040 Speaker 2: I got standards, see, and that's where my. 688 00:40:09,040 --> 00:40:10,600 Speaker 1: Strength comes from. My standards. 689 00:40:10,880 --> 00:40:13,520 Speaker 2: I don't have to waste time making decisions about standards 690 00:40:13,560 --> 00:40:16,719 Speaker 2: that I should have said a long time ago. I 691 00:40:16,760 --> 00:40:20,759 Speaker 2: don't have to negotiate between the gates. I have standards. 692 00:40:22,080 --> 00:40:26,200 Speaker 2: How can I expect God to give me stability if 693 00:40:26,200 --> 00:40:30,480 Speaker 2: I don't have a standard of integrity. A lot of 694 00:40:30,480 --> 00:40:33,880 Speaker 2: times we ask God to help us feel better. Sometimes 695 00:40:33,880 --> 00:40:35,560 Speaker 2: we're not going to feel better until we do better. 696 00:40:41,560 --> 00:40:43,760 Speaker 2: And when you're managing secrets that you won't bring before 697 00:40:43,800 --> 00:40:45,600 Speaker 2: God and confess to him so that he can begin 698 00:40:45,640 --> 00:40:49,040 Speaker 2: the process of healing, you will always feel off inside. 699 00:40:50,440 --> 00:40:52,879 Speaker 2: God can't be the source of your strength if he's 700 00:40:52,960 --> 00:40:55,960 Speaker 2: not the source of your standards. How can I expect 701 00:40:55,960 --> 00:40:58,080 Speaker 2: God to give me influence if I will not embrace 702 00:40:58,080 --> 00:41:05,799 Speaker 2: the standard of sacrifice that influence for I want the influence, 703 00:41:07,480 --> 00:41:10,919 Speaker 2: not the sacrifice. I want the resurrection, but not the crucifixion. 704 00:41:14,520 --> 00:41:15,560 Speaker 1: We'll sell your standards. 705 00:41:17,280 --> 00:41:19,400 Speaker 2: How can I expect to live in freedom if I 706 00:41:19,440 --> 00:41:24,319 Speaker 2: do not embrace God's standard of forgiveness. If I hold 707 00:41:24,320 --> 00:41:26,319 Speaker 2: on to every offense and let it all in the gate, 708 00:41:27,200 --> 00:41:30,720 Speaker 2: don't turn back to battle. If I'm looking for reasons 709 00:41:30,760 --> 00:41:35,040 Speaker 2: to be offended, looking for reasons to be angry, I 710 00:41:35,080 --> 00:41:37,440 Speaker 2: should not be surprised when I find myself in a 711 00:41:37,440 --> 00:41:41,200 Speaker 2: low emotional state. How can I be free from what 712 00:41:41,280 --> 00:41:46,759 Speaker 2: I let walk right through my front door? How can 713 00:41:46,800 --> 00:41:50,200 Speaker 2: I expect to walk in freedom if I have not 714 00:41:50,360 --> 00:41:56,719 Speaker 2: chosen to walk in forgiveness. It is the standard of 715 00:41:56,760 --> 00:41:59,440 Speaker 2: forgiveness that enables me to live in freedom. 716 00:41:59,480 --> 00:42:04,560 Speaker 1: I don't forget you for you. I forgive you because 717 00:42:05,239 --> 00:42:07,200 Speaker 1: I want to be free. 718 00:42:09,719 --> 00:42:14,719 Speaker 2: How can I expect God's peace in my life if 719 00:42:14,760 --> 00:42:20,160 Speaker 2: I don't control my meditation? How can I receive strength 720 00:42:20,160 --> 00:42:21,319 Speaker 2: that God is trying to give me? 721 00:42:21,360 --> 00:42:22,600 Speaker 1: If I just let any thought in? 722 00:42:24,520 --> 00:42:27,200 Speaker 2: How can I expect to live in a state of 723 00:42:27,400 --> 00:42:30,719 Speaker 2: joyful celebration of my progress If I allow myself to 724 00:42:30,760 --> 00:42:37,480 Speaker 2: constantly complain, and sometimes I'm complaining or criticizing, I can 725 00:42:37,520 --> 00:42:40,680 Speaker 2: be real critical because I got that excellence thing. And 726 00:42:40,719 --> 00:42:45,080 Speaker 2: the flip side of excellence is judgmental when I try 727 00:42:45,080 --> 00:42:48,920 Speaker 2: to put my standard on you, which is always wrong, 728 00:42:50,160 --> 00:42:54,000 Speaker 2: which is always wrong. And so now I've opened my mouth, 729 00:42:54,040 --> 00:42:55,840 Speaker 2: and I thought I was complaining or I thought I 730 00:42:55,920 --> 00:42:59,640 Speaker 2: was criticizing, and I told myself, I'm just letting it out. No, 731 00:43:00,760 --> 00:43:04,520 Speaker 2: I'm letting it in. I left my gate wide open 732 00:43:05,239 --> 00:43:08,399 Speaker 2: to the enemy because I have no standard. But when 733 00:43:08,440 --> 00:43:11,480 Speaker 2: I set a standard for my speech and my thoughts, 734 00:43:11,920 --> 00:43:15,240 Speaker 2: I turned back the battle at the gate. And now 735 00:43:15,440 --> 00:43:18,200 Speaker 2: I'm not in the stranglehold of a system of thought 736 00:43:18,400 --> 00:43:21,480 Speaker 2: that I allowed myself to flirt with. And now I'm 737 00:43:21,520 --> 00:43:23,759 Speaker 2: living in a state of joy, and I'm living at 738 00:43:23,800 --> 00:43:26,880 Speaker 2: a level above the serpent, and he's under my feet. 739 00:43:27,160 --> 00:43:29,960 Speaker 2: And I am not negotiating with what God called me 740 00:43:30,000 --> 00:43:33,480 Speaker 2: to trample on. I said, I'm not going to conversate 741 00:43:33,960 --> 00:43:37,360 Speaker 2: with what God has given me the ability to crush. 742 00:43:37,520 --> 00:43:42,719 Speaker 1: I'm taking my stand and I'm setting my standard. 743 00:43:45,080 --> 00:43:48,560 Speaker 2: How can I expect God's strength if I do not 744 00:43:48,600 --> 00:43:54,520 Speaker 2: embrace God's standard? How can we expect God to give 745 00:43:54,560 --> 00:44:00,440 Speaker 2: our nation unity if we do not embrace his standard 746 00:44:00,480 --> 00:44:13,080 Speaker 2: of equality? He will be a spirit of justice to 747 00:44:13,160 --> 00:44:16,560 Speaker 2: the one who sits in judgment. And when we allow 748 00:44:16,800 --> 00:44:22,680 Speaker 2: inequality and prejudice and stereotypes and oppression to go unchecked 749 00:44:23,280 --> 00:44:27,040 Speaker 2: and then ask God to make us one, we are 750 00:44:27,120 --> 00:44:39,000 Speaker 2: violating the very principle that will create unity. And then 751 00:44:39,040 --> 00:44:41,280 Speaker 2: we come up on a weekend and we celebrate Doctor 752 00:44:41,360 --> 00:44:46,600 Speaker 2: King rightfully, but we celebrate him at the wrong level 753 00:44:47,920 --> 00:44:56,960 Speaker 2: because we celebrate his speeches. The Doctor King's life was 754 00:44:57,000 --> 00:44:58,080 Speaker 2: not about speeches. 755 00:44:58,520 --> 00:44:59,799 Speaker 1: It was about standards. 756 00:45:05,360 --> 00:45:09,440 Speaker 2: And I'm so afraid that we want God. 757 00:45:10,800 --> 00:45:12,560 Speaker 1: We want God to be our mascot. 758 00:45:14,600 --> 00:45:16,400 Speaker 2: We want God to be like one of those little 759 00:45:17,160 --> 00:45:20,759 Speaker 2: you know, those little stuffed animals, the ones that talk 760 00:45:20,800 --> 00:45:22,960 Speaker 2: when you pull the string. And we got our little 761 00:45:23,040 --> 00:45:25,760 Speaker 2: Jesus doll that we pull out, and we pull the string, 762 00:45:25,800 --> 00:45:28,040 Speaker 2: and Jesus has about three little things that he says, 763 00:45:28,080 --> 00:45:32,320 Speaker 2: you know, love your neighbor and love your enemies, and 764 00:45:32,360 --> 00:45:34,600 Speaker 2: we pull the string, we pull the string, and he 765 00:45:34,680 --> 00:45:37,480 Speaker 2: just says these little sayings. And we don't want his standards. 766 00:45:37,480 --> 00:45:44,799 Speaker 2: We just want his sayings. And we'll listen to speeches. 767 00:45:44,880 --> 00:45:49,000 Speaker 2: We'll listen to I have a dream, but a dream 768 00:45:49,040 --> 00:45:52,680 Speaker 2: without action, and a dream without process, and a dream 769 00:45:52,719 --> 00:45:56,479 Speaker 2: without justice is a delusion. So we got to raise 770 00:45:56,560 --> 00:45:59,919 Speaker 2: the standard and declare that some things are not all right. 771 00:46:02,719 --> 00:46:05,920 Speaker 2: There has to be a standard. We are the people 772 00:46:05,960 --> 00:46:18,120 Speaker 2: of God. Where is our standard? We can't wait for 773 00:46:18,200 --> 00:46:21,440 Speaker 2: anybody else to set our standard. We are the Church, 774 00:46:21,880 --> 00:46:23,400 Speaker 2: We are the light of the world. 775 00:46:23,719 --> 00:46:27,120 Speaker 1: We are the ones in the cave. It's us. 776 00:46:34,480 --> 00:46:36,360 Speaker 2: He cannot be the source of our strength if he 777 00:46:36,440 --> 00:46:40,160 Speaker 2: is not the source of our standards. We cannot poison 778 00:46:40,200 --> 00:46:48,640 Speaker 2: the well and then complain about the water. Do you 779 00:46:48,719 --> 00:46:51,920 Speaker 2: hear what I'm trying to say. We've got to stop 780 00:46:51,960 --> 00:46:56,880 Speaker 2: it at the source, to draw a bloodline in the 781 00:46:56,960 --> 00:47:01,560 Speaker 2: name of Jesus and say this stuffs here. These are 782 00:47:01,600 --> 00:47:05,720 Speaker 2: my standards. I will not apologize. I will not always 783 00:47:05,800 --> 00:47:09,480 Speaker 2: live up to them, but I am pressing toward the. 784 00:47:09,280 --> 00:47:15,399 Speaker 1: Mark for the prize of the high calling. I got 785 00:47:15,400 --> 00:47:19,040 Speaker 1: a high calling, and I will not live with low standards. 786 00:47:25,840 --> 00:47:28,240 Speaker 2: God is looking for somebody to turn back the battle 787 00:47:29,320 --> 00:47:32,720 Speaker 2: at the gate. At the gate at the very beginning 788 00:47:32,800 --> 00:47:34,879 Speaker 2: of the year. You know, most people want to get 789 00:47:34,920 --> 00:47:38,640 Speaker 2: out of the gate strong. We want to get in 790 00:47:38,920 --> 00:47:48,520 Speaker 2: the gate strong, take ownership and responsibility for our attitudes, and. 791 00:47:48,520 --> 00:47:49,000 Speaker 1: He will be. 792 00:47:50,520 --> 00:47:55,080 Speaker 2: Spirited justice to the one who sits in judgment, source 793 00:47:55,120 --> 00:47:56,800 Speaker 2: of strength to the one who turns back the battle 794 00:47:57,239 --> 00:48:00,400 Speaker 2: at the gate. If you want to be one of 795 00:48:00,400 --> 00:48:05,759 Speaker 2: those that he speaks about who will turn back the 796 00:48:05,840 --> 00:48:08,480 Speaker 2: battle at the gate, I want you to stand to 797 00:48:08,520 --> 00:48:13,319 Speaker 2: your feet right now on every campus because I believe 798 00:48:13,360 --> 00:48:18,120 Speaker 2: God has given us an opportunity. The gates of change 799 00:48:18,640 --> 00:48:24,239 Speaker 2: start with our standards. I kind of wish we could 800 00:48:24,239 --> 00:48:28,440 Speaker 2: sit down after this kind of wish we could take 801 00:48:28,480 --> 00:48:32,200 Speaker 2: a moment and look at areas of your life where 802 00:48:32,200 --> 00:48:36,600 Speaker 2: you're feeling weak and you need strength. Because in the 803 00:48:36,640 --> 00:48:39,960 Speaker 2: area where you need strength, that's where you need standards. 804 00:48:41,120 --> 00:48:43,480 Speaker 2: I'm not talking about twenty rules for you to keep 805 00:48:43,520 --> 00:48:46,640 Speaker 2: that you tried to keep last year. I'm not talking 806 00:48:46,640 --> 00:48:50,120 Speaker 2: about that kind of religious spirit that builds a ladder 807 00:48:50,160 --> 00:48:51,719 Speaker 2: for you to climb to God. I'm talking about a 808 00:48:51,760 --> 00:48:56,080 Speaker 2: ladder that came down to you. And the first stout 809 00:48:57,640 --> 00:49:00,120 Speaker 2: of these changes is standards. 810 00:49:01,440 --> 00:49:05,279 Speaker 1: Standards. What are your standards? Who set them? 811 00:49:05,360 --> 00:49:07,239 Speaker 2: Who set the standard for you of what it means 812 00:49:07,280 --> 00:49:10,520 Speaker 2: to be a man? Who set the standard for you 813 00:49:10,560 --> 00:49:13,360 Speaker 2: of what it means to be a Christian? Just to 814 00:49:13,360 --> 00:49:16,319 Speaker 2: pray a prayer one time, show up to church when 815 00:49:16,360 --> 00:49:20,520 Speaker 2: it's convenient. Try not to cuss too much. The devil 816 00:49:20,600 --> 00:49:23,400 Speaker 2: is a liar. There's a higher standard. This thing is 817 00:49:23,440 --> 00:49:25,200 Speaker 2: meant to consume all of my life. It changes the 818 00:49:25,239 --> 00:49:27,359 Speaker 2: way I see, the way I speak, the way I think, 819 00:49:27,600 --> 00:49:30,720 Speaker 2: the way I treat my brother, the way I treat 820 00:49:30,760 --> 00:49:39,879 Speaker 2: my sister. I got a new standard here, and God 821 00:49:39,960 --> 00:49:41,839 Speaker 2: is looking for people at the beginning of this year 822 00:49:41,880 --> 00:49:46,640 Speaker 2: who will raise the standard. Beautiful thing about it is 823 00:49:46,640 --> 00:49:50,440 Speaker 2: that He is not going to cause you to have 824 00:49:50,480 --> 00:49:54,440 Speaker 2: to reach the standard. He's only calling you to raise it, 825 00:49:56,280 --> 00:50:00,719 Speaker 2: and he will give you the grace to draw a 826 00:50:00,800 --> 00:50:05,680 Speaker 2: line and say it stops here. Are there some things 827 00:50:05,719 --> 00:50:07,120 Speaker 2: in your life today that you need. 828 00:50:06,960 --> 00:50:11,879 Speaker 1: To say stops here. I'm not going to talk that way, 829 00:50:12,160 --> 00:50:13,880 Speaker 1: think that way, live that way. 830 00:50:14,120 --> 00:50:17,120 Speaker 2: I'm not going to just allow unrestricted access to everything 831 00:50:17,160 --> 00:50:19,400 Speaker 2: that wants to come into my space or my spirit 832 00:50:19,600 --> 00:50:24,440 Speaker 2: to dominate my life and sabotage my sil This year, 833 00:50:28,680 --> 00:50:32,080 Speaker 2: I'm raising the standard, and when the enemy comes in 834 00:50:32,200 --> 00:50:35,000 Speaker 2: like a flood, the spirit of the Lord will raise 835 00:50:35,000 --> 00:50:39,840 Speaker 2: a standard against him. He will be a spirit of justice, 836 00:50:41,280 --> 00:50:45,040 Speaker 2: a wreath for the remnant to him who turns back 837 00:50:45,120 --> 00:50:47,520 Speaker 2: the battle at the gate. Lift your hands. Father, We 838 00:50:48,640 --> 00:50:51,560 Speaker 2: lift our hands to let the enemy know that he 839 00:50:51,600 --> 00:50:55,120 Speaker 2: can only go so far, and in our lives, whatever 840 00:50:55,160 --> 00:50:56,680 Speaker 2: is left we offer it to you right now as 841 00:50:56,719 --> 00:50:58,719 Speaker 2: a living sacrifice wholly acceptable to you. 842 00:50:58,840 --> 00:51:01,440 Speaker 1: It is a reasonable act of worship. 843 00:51:02,880 --> 00:51:05,160 Speaker 2: Father, I thank you for your holy spirit that lives 844 00:51:05,160 --> 00:51:09,160 Speaker 2: in us and calls us to a higher standard this 845 00:51:09,200 --> 00:51:12,279 Speaker 2: week in our lives. Help us to identify those places 846 00:51:13,080 --> 00:51:18,520 Speaker 2: where we have negotiated with what you have spoken and 847 00:51:18,560 --> 00:51:20,880 Speaker 2: have allowed access to the enemy. 848 00:51:21,280 --> 00:51:22,560 Speaker 1: We draw a line right here. 849 00:51:24,000 --> 00:51:26,520 Speaker 2: We declare that the blood of Jesus is against everything 850 00:51:26,560 --> 00:51:30,440 Speaker 2: that has opposed our lives, and has opposed our families, 851 00:51:30,920 --> 00:51:34,360 Speaker 2: and has opposed our communities. And we are here today 852 00:51:34,400 --> 00:51:37,560 Speaker 2: to be your remnant, to be crowned with your strength 853 00:51:37,680 --> 00:51:41,480 Speaker 2: and enabled by your spirit to do exploits for your kingdom. 854 00:51:41,800 --> 00:51:45,640 Speaker 2: Your kingdom Come. Your will be done on earth as 855 00:51:45,680 --> 00:51:48,719 Speaker 2: it is in heaven. Bless your people. 856 00:51:48,480 --> 00:51:51,120 Speaker 1: Lord, Thank you for joining us. 857 00:51:51,400 --> 00:51:53,880 Speaker 2: Special thanks to those of you who give generously to 858 00:51:53,920 --> 00:51:57,440 Speaker 2: this ministry. Is because of you that this ministry is possible. 859 00:51:57,880 --> 00:51:59,960 Speaker 2: You can click the link in the description to give 860 00:52:00,200 --> 00:52:04,319 Speaker 2: now or visit Elevationchurch dot org slash podcast for more 861 00:52:04,320 --> 00:52:08,120 Speaker 2: information and if you enjoyed the podcast, you can subscribe. 862 00:52:08,400 --> 00:52:09,760 Speaker 1: You can share it with your friends. 863 00:52:10,040 --> 00:52:12,319 Speaker 2: You can click the share button, take a screenshot and 864 00:52:12,360 --> 00:52:14,480 Speaker 2: share it on your social stories and tag us at 865 00:52:14,480 --> 00:52:15,319 Speaker 2: Elevation Church. 866 00:52:15,400 --> 00:52:22,040 Speaker 1: Thanks again for listening. God bless you.