1 00:00:02,080 --> 00:00:04,640 Speaker 1: Hey, this is Stephen Ferdick. I'm the pastor of Elevation 2 00:00:04,880 --> 00:00:07,120 Speaker 1: Church and this is our podcast. I wanted to thank 3 00:00:07,160 --> 00:00:10,440 Speaker 1: you for joining us today. Hope this inspires you. Hope 4 00:00:10,480 --> 00:00:12,520 Speaker 1: it builds your faith. Hope it gives your perspective to 5 00:00:12,520 --> 00:00:28,440 Speaker 1: see God has moving in your life. Enjoy the message. 6 00:00:30,240 --> 00:00:34,880 Speaker 1: Happy New Year. It's amazing because many of us never 7 00:00:35,000 --> 00:00:39,839 Speaker 1: thought that we would finally see this day. It is 8 00:00:39,880 --> 00:00:44,559 Speaker 1: twenty twenty one, and twenty twenty is officially and finally 9 00:00:45,040 --> 00:00:49,360 Speaker 1: behind us. The past twelve months have brought a lot 10 00:00:49,400 --> 00:00:52,120 Speaker 1: of challenges along with them, and I know most of 11 00:00:52,200 --> 00:00:56,280 Speaker 1: us have probably wished we could just erase this year 12 00:00:56,320 --> 00:00:59,520 Speaker 1: from our memory at some point or another. But do 13 00:00:59,520 --> 00:01:03,360 Speaker 1: you really want that. I mean, I've always heard be 14 00:01:03,440 --> 00:01:06,720 Speaker 1: careful what you wish for, and I believe that it's 15 00:01:06,760 --> 00:01:10,640 Speaker 1: important to look back before we move into what this 16 00:01:10,760 --> 00:01:14,040 Speaker 1: new year holds. Every January, I like to take time 17 00:01:14,440 --> 00:01:17,440 Speaker 1: to journal and reflect on the previous year. You know, 18 00:01:17,440 --> 00:01:19,600 Speaker 1: a lot of people like to make goals and think 19 00:01:19,640 --> 00:01:24,160 Speaker 1: about what's coming, but it's really important to reflect on 20 00:01:24,280 --> 00:01:27,520 Speaker 1: the highs and the lows that you experienced in the 21 00:01:27,600 --> 00:01:29,920 Speaker 1: year before, and to think about all the ways that 22 00:01:30,240 --> 00:01:34,440 Speaker 1: I've grown. We need to pause and reflect on the 23 00:01:34,520 --> 00:01:38,240 Speaker 1: words that God has spoken to us as we walked 24 00:01:38,319 --> 00:01:42,360 Speaker 1: through the fear and the frustration and the fighting that 25 00:01:42,520 --> 00:01:45,679 Speaker 1: twenty twenty brought, And we need to recognize, as our 26 00:01:45,720 --> 00:01:50,360 Speaker 1: pastor has continually pointed out to us, that this twenty 27 00:01:50,440 --> 00:01:54,800 Speaker 1: twenty was actually the year of the Lord's favor. When 28 00:01:54,840 --> 00:01:59,680 Speaker 1: we look back, it's so evident that His presence has 29 00:01:59,760 --> 00:02:04,400 Speaker 1: been with us every single step of the way. I 30 00:02:04,440 --> 00:02:06,720 Speaker 1: can't get that song the Blessing out of my head. 31 00:02:06,760 --> 00:02:08,920 Speaker 1: You know, that little song that our church also released 32 00:02:08,960 --> 00:02:11,840 Speaker 1: into the world this year that literally went around the world. 33 00:02:12,320 --> 00:02:15,639 Speaker 1: I keep thinking about the part where it says, may 34 00:02:15,720 --> 00:02:20,040 Speaker 1: His presence go before you and behind you, and besides you, 35 00:02:20,639 --> 00:02:23,360 Speaker 1: all around you and within you. He is with you, 36 00:02:23,560 --> 00:02:28,160 Speaker 1: and He is for you. So looking back on twenty twenty, 37 00:02:28,240 --> 00:02:31,600 Speaker 1: we can see that not only was God with us, 38 00:02:32,160 --> 00:02:35,360 Speaker 1: but He was doing a work within us, within you 39 00:02:36,200 --> 00:02:39,359 Speaker 1: and within me, a work that wasn't derailed by your 40 00:02:39,360 --> 00:02:42,839 Speaker 1: situation or your disappointment, or your fear or your frustration, 41 00:02:43,400 --> 00:02:49,200 Speaker 1: but one that actually served to accelerate your growth because 42 00:02:49,240 --> 00:02:54,079 Speaker 1: what God wanted most from us was transformation on the inside. 43 00:02:54,440 --> 00:02:58,200 Speaker 1: In our mindsets, in our hearts, in our faith, and 44 00:02:58,200 --> 00:03:03,400 Speaker 1: in our families. Today I'm standing in our Valentine auditorium 45 00:03:03,480 --> 00:03:06,720 Speaker 1: and almost the exact spot that I have been for 46 00:03:06,880 --> 00:03:09,920 Speaker 1: every sermon that my husband has preached this year, and 47 00:03:10,000 --> 00:03:13,400 Speaker 1: I felt that there was no better place to revisit 48 00:03:13,720 --> 00:03:16,560 Speaker 1: and reflect on some of the most timely sermons of 49 00:03:16,600 --> 00:03:19,840 Speaker 1: the year for our church. Today, I have with me 50 00:03:20,080 --> 00:03:23,240 Speaker 1: my journals that highlight the work that God was doing 51 00:03:23,280 --> 00:03:28,079 Speaker 1: in our church and in our families and in our hearts. Now, 52 00:03:28,120 --> 00:03:31,079 Speaker 1: first of all, can we just all get on the 53 00:03:31,160 --> 00:03:35,640 Speaker 1: same page and agree that Pastor stephen sermons from twenty 54 00:03:35,720 --> 00:03:39,720 Speaker 1: twenty were on a whole another level. And that is 55 00:03:39,720 --> 00:03:42,560 Speaker 1: saying a lot, because this man brings us a sermon 56 00:03:42,880 --> 00:03:45,760 Speaker 1: week after week that is a word from God, and 57 00:03:45,800 --> 00:03:48,920 Speaker 1: he's been doing it for years. But I feel like 58 00:03:49,320 --> 00:03:54,160 Speaker 1: every week in twenty twenty, our pastor prophetically brought the 59 00:03:54,360 --> 00:03:57,680 Speaker 1: exact word that I needed to hear, even when I 60 00:03:57,720 --> 00:04:00,240 Speaker 1: didn't know that that was what I needed to hear. 61 00:04:00,360 --> 00:04:03,240 Speaker 1: Do you agree with that? When we talk about looking 62 00:04:03,320 --> 00:04:07,240 Speaker 1: for God's favor on our lives, I gotta say I 63 00:04:07,280 --> 00:04:11,720 Speaker 1: can't believe that I got a front row seat to 64 00:04:11,800 --> 00:04:15,240 Speaker 1: see each of these sermons being preached and going out 65 00:04:15,640 --> 00:04:18,520 Speaker 1: into the world, even if most of the time it 66 00:04:18,600 --> 00:04:23,279 Speaker 1: was just to me and practically an empty room. Each week, 67 00:04:23,480 --> 00:04:27,200 Speaker 1: I got to sit in this seat and watch Pastor 68 00:04:27,240 --> 00:04:30,240 Speaker 1: Stephen deliver not only the words that we needed to 69 00:04:30,279 --> 00:04:33,280 Speaker 1: hear to get us through the week, but the promises 70 00:04:33,320 --> 00:04:37,360 Speaker 1: of God that reminded us of who we are despite 71 00:04:37,440 --> 00:04:41,120 Speaker 1: the challenges and the disappointments that we face this year. 72 00:04:41,720 --> 00:04:45,719 Speaker 1: And I believe that these short excerpts from four of 73 00:04:45,760 --> 00:04:49,280 Speaker 1: his sermons will serve to remind you of some of 74 00:04:49,320 --> 00:04:52,760 Speaker 1: what God spoke to you and what God did in 75 00:04:52,800 --> 00:04:56,200 Speaker 1: your life. So can we go into twenty twenty one 76 00:04:56,520 --> 00:05:00,000 Speaker 1: with a little dose of hindsight. That's what we're called 77 00:05:00,279 --> 00:05:04,680 Speaker 1: this message today, Hindsight twenty twenty. Go ahead and put 78 00:05:04,680 --> 00:05:07,640 Speaker 1: that in the chat wherever you're worshiping with us from 79 00:05:08,000 --> 00:05:11,120 Speaker 1: We are going to look back and see the favor 80 00:05:11,200 --> 00:05:16,360 Speaker 1: of God was there all along. God's presence goes before us. 81 00:05:16,600 --> 00:05:20,160 Speaker 1: He goes before us to prepare the way when we 82 00:05:20,200 --> 00:05:23,159 Speaker 1: go through trials, and you can see the hand of 83 00:05:23,200 --> 00:05:26,480 Speaker 1: God doing just that. When we look back at the 84 00:05:26,480 --> 00:05:29,760 Speaker 1: sermon my husband preached called make Room for the new 85 00:05:30,120 --> 00:05:33,680 Speaker 1: on March eighth. Now talk about being prophetic. We had 86 00:05:34,000 --> 00:05:37,720 Speaker 1: no idea that that would be the last weekend that 87 00:05:37,760 --> 00:05:41,200 Speaker 1: we would all be gathered together in church, and just 88 00:05:41,400 --> 00:05:44,680 Speaker 1: a week later, a state of emergency would shut down 89 00:05:44,800 --> 00:05:47,719 Speaker 1: most of the country. It's pretty remarkable, first of all, 90 00:05:47,800 --> 00:05:51,279 Speaker 1: to just remember what it was like when this room 91 00:05:51,720 --> 00:05:55,560 Speaker 1: was packed full of people, but also to think about 92 00:05:55,760 --> 00:05:58,960 Speaker 1: how none of us knew how much we would actually 93 00:05:59,080 --> 00:06:02,800 Speaker 1: need this message, not only then, but even more so 94 00:06:03,240 --> 00:06:07,960 Speaker 1: when everything in our world seemed to change overnight. In 95 00:06:08,000 --> 00:06:12,560 Speaker 1: my notes, I wrote down time under tension is the 96 00:06:12,600 --> 00:06:17,840 Speaker 1: formula for growth, and I had no idea how much 97 00:06:18,000 --> 00:06:22,480 Speaker 1: tension would arise in the coming months, and this message 98 00:06:22,760 --> 00:06:27,960 Speaker 1: was preparing us for what was to come. See, we 99 00:06:28,000 --> 00:06:29,480 Speaker 1: talked about making room for the new. You want to 100 00:06:29,480 --> 00:06:31,240 Speaker 1: go have a yard sale or something like that, or 101 00:06:31,240 --> 00:06:38,320 Speaker 1: put everything on It's not about closet space. It's not 102 00:06:38,400 --> 00:06:44,320 Speaker 1: about it's not about clearing out your closet. It's about 103 00:06:44,320 --> 00:06:52,279 Speaker 1: the transformation of your mind. Do you have room for 104 00:06:52,400 --> 00:06:57,000 Speaker 1: the new in your mind? Because they didn't. Peter didn't. 105 00:06:57,960 --> 00:07:00,159 Speaker 1: When God showed Peter what he was about to do, 106 00:07:00,440 --> 00:07:02,440 Speaker 1: like this is the way it always is when God 107 00:07:02,560 --> 00:07:05,320 Speaker 1: shows us something, we compare it to our previous point 108 00:07:05,360 --> 00:07:10,000 Speaker 1: of reference, and then we start consulting our resources. And 109 00:07:10,520 --> 00:07:13,440 Speaker 1: God wants to bring us new relationships. But watch this, 110 00:07:13,800 --> 00:07:16,880 Speaker 1: if you're not ready for new people in your life, 111 00:07:17,640 --> 00:07:21,600 Speaker 1: you will bring the same patterns to the new relationships 112 00:07:21,600 --> 00:07:26,240 Speaker 1: that you brought to the old relationships. And we literally 113 00:07:26,320 --> 00:07:28,720 Speaker 1: keep people out of our lives that God wants to 114 00:07:28,760 --> 00:07:31,280 Speaker 1: send because we are holding on to the hurts from 115 00:07:31,320 --> 00:07:40,160 Speaker 1: the one who have already left. I feel the spirit 116 00:07:40,200 --> 00:07:44,920 Speaker 1: of God breaking barriers as I preach right now, because 117 00:07:44,920 --> 00:07:46,240 Speaker 1: you're like, what is this message you have to do 118 00:07:46,320 --> 00:07:48,040 Speaker 1: to me? I'm not getting on an airplane and going 119 00:07:48,080 --> 00:07:50,600 Speaker 1: to preach to somebody in Cessareea like Peter did. You 120 00:07:50,640 --> 00:07:53,720 Speaker 1: don't have to. All you have to do is dare 121 00:07:53,800 --> 00:07:57,840 Speaker 1: to believe that God is making room for the new 122 00:07:57,920 --> 00:08:03,360 Speaker 1: in your life right now. And even sometimes when it 123 00:08:03,440 --> 00:08:07,360 Speaker 1: was painful for me and I thought I was losing 124 00:08:07,400 --> 00:08:12,120 Speaker 1: things in my life, I wasn't losing it. God was 125 00:08:12,200 --> 00:08:18,920 Speaker 1: moving it. Who is this for? I just need to know, 126 00:08:19,000 --> 00:08:24,000 Speaker 1: probably about twenty people, you didn't lose it. God moved it. 127 00:08:25,600 --> 00:08:29,640 Speaker 1: He said, you will still be eating last year's harvest. 128 00:08:30,400 --> 00:08:34,120 Speaker 1: When you have to move it out. Somebody shall move 129 00:08:34,160 --> 00:08:37,959 Speaker 1: it out. God, anything that is in the way of 130 00:08:38,040 --> 00:08:41,000 Speaker 1: me being who I need to be in this season, 131 00:08:41,320 --> 00:08:43,360 Speaker 1: get it out of my heart, get it out of 132 00:08:43,360 --> 00:08:46,200 Speaker 1: my mind, get it out of my habits. You can 133 00:08:46,280 --> 00:08:49,079 Speaker 1: have it. God, I don't want it. I want what 134 00:08:49,160 --> 00:08:57,680 Speaker 1: you've got. So you can't receive new miracles with old mindsets. 135 00:09:04,160 --> 00:09:08,120 Speaker 1: Make room for the new. It looks like this, emptying yourself, 136 00:09:08,640 --> 00:09:12,880 Speaker 1: humbling yourself and asking God, what do you want to 137 00:09:12,920 --> 00:09:18,079 Speaker 1: do in my job? Or you can run from it 138 00:09:19,000 --> 00:09:23,040 Speaker 1: and resist it, and you can keep remembering when the 139 00:09:23,120 --> 00:09:28,120 Speaker 1: kids were so cute they are forty three now they 140 00:09:28,120 --> 00:09:35,480 Speaker 1: stop being cute. Quite a while ago and the church 141 00:09:35,559 --> 00:09:38,280 Speaker 1: was trying to figure out how do we protect what 142 00:09:38,400 --> 00:09:44,400 Speaker 1: we loved while we embrace what is new? And I 143 00:09:44,400 --> 00:09:47,040 Speaker 1: don't know. I think there are at least three lessons 144 00:09:47,040 --> 00:09:50,320 Speaker 1: in this text. Y'all got a minute, make room for 145 00:09:50,360 --> 00:09:56,720 Speaker 1: the new. Number one, God says this, don't limit yourself 146 00:09:57,920 --> 00:10:05,280 Speaker 1: by labels. The first thing God told Peter, he said, 147 00:10:05,320 --> 00:10:07,920 Speaker 1: you've got your nice little, neat categories, because when the 148 00:10:07,960 --> 00:10:10,960 Speaker 1: sheet came down, Peter saw all kinds of animals. And 149 00:10:11,040 --> 00:10:14,920 Speaker 1: y'all need to know in this culture they respected visions. 150 00:10:15,360 --> 00:10:17,840 Speaker 1: This was not like Peter's hallucination or you know how 151 00:10:17,880 --> 00:10:19,720 Speaker 1: some people now are so weird and they're like, well, 152 00:10:19,760 --> 00:10:21,840 Speaker 1: the Lord showed me a vision of us walking on 153 00:10:21,880 --> 00:10:23,960 Speaker 1: the beach. It's like, bro, you need to ask her 154 00:10:24,000 --> 00:10:30,440 Speaker 1: out and stop trying to embed it in this weird spirituality. 155 00:10:30,559 --> 00:10:34,360 Speaker 1: So so Peter actually saw something. But remember there's sometimes 156 00:10:34,400 --> 00:10:38,280 Speaker 1: a tension between what you thought God showed you. It's 157 00:10:38,280 --> 00:10:40,800 Speaker 1: at tension, and that tension is a real gift because 158 00:10:40,800 --> 00:10:44,040 Speaker 1: that's where growth happens. Where it's like God, I thought, 159 00:10:45,040 --> 00:10:46,840 Speaker 1: I thought I was going to be married to her 160 00:10:46,960 --> 00:10:49,640 Speaker 1: the rest of my life, but I'm not. I'm not 161 00:10:49,679 --> 00:10:53,920 Speaker 1: married now, and that's painful. But what you do with 162 00:10:54,000 --> 00:10:58,079 Speaker 1: it becomes your jappa, which determines do you run from 163 00:10:58,440 --> 00:11:01,000 Speaker 1: God's purpose for your future or do you run toward it. 164 00:11:01,320 --> 00:11:05,800 Speaker 1: That's joppa. And the word God gave me was don't 165 00:11:05,880 --> 00:11:08,840 Speaker 1: limit it with a label, because the first thing he 166 00:11:08,880 --> 00:11:12,080 Speaker 1: told Peter, he said Peter said, in verse six, acts eleven, 167 00:11:12,160 --> 00:11:14,840 Speaker 1: I looked into it and saw four footed animals of 168 00:11:14,840 --> 00:11:18,080 Speaker 1: the earth, wild beasts, reptiles, and birds. And then after 169 00:11:18,120 --> 00:11:21,720 Speaker 1: he saw the pigs in a blanket. He said, I 170 00:11:21,760 --> 00:11:23,960 Speaker 1: try to keep y'all awake. Then I heard a voice 171 00:11:23,960 --> 00:11:26,480 Speaker 1: telling me get up, Peter, kill and eat. Now, when 172 00:11:26,480 --> 00:11:28,920 Speaker 1: I read that, I said, God was trying to get 173 00:11:28,920 --> 00:11:32,600 Speaker 1: Peter to go hunting. No, it wasn't about the animals. 174 00:11:33,160 --> 00:11:35,720 Speaker 1: He was about to sin Cornelius, whom Peter saw as 175 00:11:35,760 --> 00:11:39,520 Speaker 1: an unclean gentile, so he was using this. It wasn't 176 00:11:39,520 --> 00:11:45,839 Speaker 1: about bacon. It was about barriers, mental barriers. So when 177 00:11:45,840 --> 00:11:48,120 Speaker 1: he said get up, Peter, kill and eat, it wasn't 178 00:11:48,120 --> 00:11:52,640 Speaker 1: that God wanted Peter to kill a pig. It was 179 00:11:52,640 --> 00:11:57,040 Speaker 1: that he was trying to kill Peter's categories. In this 180 00:11:57,160 --> 00:12:01,280 Speaker 1: season of your life, God is trying to kill your categories. 181 00:12:02,800 --> 00:12:05,760 Speaker 1: He's going to use people you did not even like 182 00:12:08,200 --> 00:12:11,680 Speaker 1: to grow you up and mature you. There was one 183 00:12:11,679 --> 00:12:13,840 Speaker 1: person the other day that shared a Bible verse with 184 00:12:13,880 --> 00:12:16,240 Speaker 1: one of my kids, and they left our church years ago. 185 00:12:17,160 --> 00:12:19,760 Speaker 1: They didn't even like me when they left, But when 186 00:12:19,760 --> 00:12:22,040 Speaker 1: they gave a Bible verse to my kids, I said, God, 187 00:12:22,080 --> 00:12:25,440 Speaker 1: I don't care who hands them the scriptures. I'll take 188 00:12:25,480 --> 00:12:27,520 Speaker 1: a cold cup of water in the pit of hell 189 00:12:27,559 --> 00:12:29,440 Speaker 1: from anybody. I don't care who hands it to them. 190 00:12:29,720 --> 00:12:32,080 Speaker 1: Use who you want to use God, do what you 191 00:12:32,160 --> 00:12:35,160 Speaker 1: want to do, kill my categories. As a matter of fact, 192 00:12:35,160 --> 00:12:37,920 Speaker 1: when we say all things work together for the good, 193 00:12:38,280 --> 00:12:40,680 Speaker 1: what we mean when we quote Romans eight twenty eight 194 00:12:40,720 --> 00:12:43,720 Speaker 1: out of context because Romans eight twenty eight is connected 195 00:12:43,720 --> 00:12:46,920 Speaker 1: and conjoined incidentally to Romans eight twenty nine, which says, 196 00:12:47,000 --> 00:12:50,000 Speaker 1: according to his purpose. So what it means by good 197 00:12:50,080 --> 00:12:53,160 Speaker 1: is this going to fulfill his purpose? Not my preference. 198 00:12:53,600 --> 00:12:58,440 Speaker 1: Y'all can shout right now. What it means is I 199 00:12:58,600 --> 00:13:02,960 Speaker 1: can't categorize. That's God's job. It is God's job to 200 00:13:03,000 --> 00:13:05,960 Speaker 1: know what's best for me. It is God's job to 201 00:13:05,960 --> 00:13:08,760 Speaker 1: know what needs to happen. It is God's job to 202 00:13:08,840 --> 00:13:12,800 Speaker 1: know what experiences I need to get. So God says, 203 00:13:12,840 --> 00:13:20,720 Speaker 1: stop limiting it by labels. Labels labels can apply to 204 00:13:20,760 --> 00:13:23,000 Speaker 1: a group of people. He said, look what the Lord 205 00:13:23,080 --> 00:13:26,240 Speaker 1: said when he said, arise Peter killing e. Peter says, 206 00:13:26,280 --> 00:13:29,600 Speaker 1: surely not, Lord, nothing impure or unclean has ever entered 207 00:13:29,600 --> 00:13:31,600 Speaker 1: my mouth. Now watch what God said in verse nine. 208 00:13:31,720 --> 00:13:36,880 Speaker 1: Those are your categories, not mine. The voice spoke from 209 00:13:36,880 --> 00:13:40,040 Speaker 1: heaven a second time, saying, do not call anything impure 210 00:13:40,040 --> 00:13:44,559 Speaker 1: that God has made clean. Stop limiting God with your 211 00:13:44,640 --> 00:13:54,480 Speaker 1: labels prophetic, right, I mean, who knew that we needed 212 00:13:54,520 --> 00:13:58,360 Speaker 1: to hear make room for the new? And making room 213 00:13:58,400 --> 00:14:01,760 Speaker 1: for the new sounds exciting until it actually comes time 214 00:14:02,040 --> 00:14:05,439 Speaker 1: to let go and make space. And many of us 215 00:14:05,480 --> 00:14:08,480 Speaker 1: didn't get to choose what we were going to let 216 00:14:08,520 --> 00:14:13,040 Speaker 1: go of. This year took so much from us. And 217 00:14:13,080 --> 00:14:15,319 Speaker 1: what I think everyone under the sound of my voice 218 00:14:15,320 --> 00:14:20,120 Speaker 1: today can understand is how tiring that process is and 219 00:14:20,440 --> 00:14:23,000 Speaker 1: was when we didn't know how long we would be 220 00:14:23,040 --> 00:14:26,360 Speaker 1: stuck in our homes, or stuck without a job, or 221 00:14:26,480 --> 00:14:30,680 Speaker 1: stuck trying to work at home and teach our children. 222 00:14:30,760 --> 00:14:33,640 Speaker 1: And just as we were starting to feel exhausted with 223 00:14:33,680 --> 00:14:38,160 Speaker 1: our situation, Pastor Stephen came in and preached a message 224 00:14:38,240 --> 00:14:42,880 Speaker 1: that resonated so powerfully with what everyone was feeling, but 225 00:14:43,120 --> 00:14:47,160 Speaker 1: also a message that brought so much hope, reminding us 226 00:14:47,480 --> 00:14:53,240 Speaker 1: that the Savior we worship has been in that same spot. 227 00:14:54,080 --> 00:14:57,720 Speaker 1: He told us that trials may make you weary, but 228 00:14:57,800 --> 00:15:01,120 Speaker 1: that doesn't mean that God's not in it or that 229 00:15:01,240 --> 00:15:04,960 Speaker 1: you are weak. How do we know, because Jesus got 230 00:15:05,280 --> 00:15:09,840 Speaker 1: tired too. I wrote this in my notes. We serve 231 00:15:09,880 --> 00:15:14,160 Speaker 1: a God who is powerful enough to give us strength, 232 00:15:14,640 --> 00:15:19,720 Speaker 1: but was also human enough to feel tired. I think 233 00:15:20,080 --> 00:15:22,760 Speaker 1: you're going to be really encouraged as we revisit this 234 00:15:22,880 --> 00:15:26,920 Speaker 1: portion of tired on the inside. What do I tell 235 00:15:26,960 --> 00:15:29,720 Speaker 1: the person who is too tired to go on? What 236 00:15:29,800 --> 00:15:31,760 Speaker 1: do I tell the one who says I'm too tired? 237 00:15:31,760 --> 00:15:42,440 Speaker 1: God said, tell him I got tired too. Jesus sat 238 00:15:43,880 --> 00:15:49,440 Speaker 1: down in Samaria. That's where to talk to a woman. 239 00:15:50,360 --> 00:15:57,240 Speaker 1: That's who ask him for water? That's what. But why 240 00:15:57,640 --> 00:16:12,440 Speaker 1: because you was tired? Because he was fully god fully many. 241 00:16:15,640 --> 00:16:20,200 Speaker 1: As much as we love to shout about his divinity, 242 00:16:21,160 --> 00:16:24,280 Speaker 1: you know how we were a minute ago when I 243 00:16:24,320 --> 00:16:27,640 Speaker 1: was setting you up about the great I am, just 244 00:16:27,680 --> 00:16:37,880 Speaker 1: to bring you back down so you could know that 245 00:16:38,040 --> 00:16:43,080 Speaker 1: the same God who created you, who was strong enough, 246 00:16:45,040 --> 00:16:49,880 Speaker 1: who was powerful enough. Everybody thinks Jesus was weak. Raise 247 00:16:49,920 --> 00:17:02,440 Speaker 1: your hand. Maybe maybe being weary doesn't mean you're weak. 248 00:17:03,160 --> 00:17:12,040 Speaker 1: Jesus tire? Why was he tired? I didn't say who 249 00:17:12,119 --> 00:17:14,000 Speaker 1: was he tired of? We already know it was Peter. 250 00:17:16,200 --> 00:17:21,639 Speaker 1: Come on, Peter, Peter's fighting you at every turn, cussing 251 00:17:21,720 --> 00:17:23,760 Speaker 1: and stuff in front of the press, having to bleep 252 00:17:23,800 --> 00:17:27,159 Speaker 1: Peter out. You know, I know he was tired of 253 00:17:27,160 --> 00:17:29,919 Speaker 1: the Pharisees. He couldn't wash his hands, or not wash 254 00:17:30,000 --> 00:17:32,679 Speaker 1: his hands. They followed him to every bathroom, every dinner. 255 00:17:32,960 --> 00:17:35,160 Speaker 1: I know he was tired of them, but it says 256 00:17:35,200 --> 00:17:40,479 Speaker 1: he was tired from the journey. Thinking about Jesus journey. 257 00:17:40,520 --> 00:17:51,679 Speaker 1: You know, they walked everywhere, no uber, no uber, Jesus, 258 00:17:52,000 --> 00:17:57,119 Speaker 1: uber Christ, Uber Savior. Three day walk from where they 259 00:17:57,160 --> 00:18:02,520 Speaker 1: were baptizing through some area. Straight through was the short cut. 260 00:18:02,560 --> 00:18:06,920 Speaker 1: By the way, the direct route is sometimes the divine route. 261 00:18:08,920 --> 00:18:11,280 Speaker 1: Instead of hiding the fact that you're tired, you just say, God, 262 00:18:13,119 --> 00:18:16,440 Speaker 1: I'm tired. Somebody was yawning during my sermon one time, 263 00:18:16,440 --> 00:18:17,959 Speaker 1: and I just got mad about it. I said, how 264 00:18:17,960 --> 00:18:21,480 Speaker 1: are you tired? You're not doing anything, you know. But 265 00:18:21,560 --> 00:18:24,720 Speaker 1: I found out later they worked the night shift and 266 00:18:24,720 --> 00:18:31,400 Speaker 1: came straight to church. It's kind of hard to understand 267 00:18:31,440 --> 00:18:33,320 Speaker 1: someone if you only see them at one part of 268 00:18:33,359 --> 00:18:39,400 Speaker 1: their journey. And some people that we think are weak 269 00:18:39,520 --> 00:18:45,239 Speaker 1: maybe are weary. Have you thought about that that just 270 00:18:45,320 --> 00:18:48,280 Speaker 1: because you're weary, it doesn't make you weak. How do 271 00:18:48,359 --> 00:18:53,520 Speaker 1: you know that Jesus, I am the light of the world, 272 00:18:54,040 --> 00:18:57,679 Speaker 1: I am the bread of life, I am the Resurrection, 273 00:18:58,200 --> 00:19:01,840 Speaker 1: I am the door, I am the shepherd, I am 274 00:19:02,080 --> 00:19:05,439 Speaker 1: the true vine, I am the Way. At some point, 275 00:19:05,600 --> 00:19:08,800 Speaker 1: six hours after they left that morning, at noon, he 276 00:19:08,920 --> 00:19:11,760 Speaker 1: said something we wouldn't expect to hear the saviors say, 277 00:19:12,160 --> 00:19:21,840 Speaker 1: I am tired. This is the incarnation I worship of God, 278 00:19:22,400 --> 00:19:26,720 Speaker 1: who is powerful enough to give me strength and who 279 00:19:26,800 --> 00:19:31,679 Speaker 1: is human enough to get tired. And for some reason 280 00:19:33,119 --> 00:19:36,800 Speaker 1: this week I felt that some of us needed to 281 00:19:36,840 --> 00:19:45,920 Speaker 1: meet tired Jesus. I thought maybe you could relate to him, 282 00:19:46,000 --> 00:19:50,879 Speaker 1: because his journey didn't really start with just leaving that morning. 283 00:19:50,920 --> 00:19:54,479 Speaker 1: I mean, that's enough six hours that day. Six hours 284 00:19:54,480 --> 00:19:56,200 Speaker 1: in one day. I mean I got a six hour 285 00:19:56,280 --> 00:19:59,040 Speaker 1: drive coming up with my kids, and I'm downloading every 286 00:19:59,200 --> 00:20:01,520 Speaker 1: episode of the off on all of their phones, just 287 00:20:01,560 --> 00:20:04,119 Speaker 1: hoping we can make it six hours, still be saved, 288 00:20:04,160 --> 00:20:06,880 Speaker 1: still be married, still be healed, delivered, blessed in one 289 00:20:06,920 --> 00:20:11,920 Speaker 1: bappy family. And that's a drive six hours because you 290 00:20:12,000 --> 00:20:13,960 Speaker 1: leave at six is noon is hot as the heat 291 00:20:13,960 --> 00:20:20,320 Speaker 1: of the day. Of course, he's tired, And yet I wondered, 292 00:20:20,400 --> 00:20:26,000 Speaker 1: was it only physical or did he go through Samaria 293 00:20:26,040 --> 00:20:27,919 Speaker 1: because he was tired of the way they were treating 294 00:20:27,960 --> 00:20:36,040 Speaker 1: each other. Why was he tired. Why did he come 295 00:20:38,440 --> 00:20:43,919 Speaker 1: to abolish the barriers full of grace and truth? And 296 00:20:43,960 --> 00:20:49,119 Speaker 1: we beheld his glory. His journey didn't start in Bethlehem. 297 00:20:49,359 --> 00:20:51,440 Speaker 1: And the beginning was the Word, and the Word was 298 00:20:51,480 --> 00:20:53,680 Speaker 1: with God, and the Word was God, and the Word 299 00:20:53,760 --> 00:20:59,560 Speaker 1: became flesh. That's a long trip from the sapphire seal 300 00:20:59,600 --> 00:21:02,760 Speaker 1: of heaven to the dusty streets of Samaria. Of course 301 00:21:02,800 --> 00:21:08,680 Speaker 1: he was tired. Even youth will grow weary and stumble. 302 00:21:09,880 --> 00:21:14,199 Speaker 1: But those who wait on the Lord. I'm waiting on 303 00:21:14,320 --> 00:21:19,479 Speaker 1: God right now, I'm waiting. Somebody say I'm waiting. I'm waiting. 304 00:21:19,840 --> 00:21:22,000 Speaker 1: I'm waiting, and I'm weary, and I'm not going to 305 00:21:22,080 --> 00:21:25,160 Speaker 1: lie to you. I'm weary. I mean, this is getting old. 306 00:21:25,240 --> 00:21:26,880 Speaker 1: And some of y'all want to cuss right now, don't 307 00:21:26,880 --> 00:21:28,720 Speaker 1: do it in the chat, they'll block you. But even 308 00:21:28,760 --> 00:21:31,760 Speaker 1: in your mind, you're like, I'm sick of this. I 309 00:21:31,840 --> 00:21:35,280 Speaker 1: am sick of this. I mean, that's that's not an 310 00:21:35,280 --> 00:21:37,440 Speaker 1: I am statement we read in the Bible. But that's 311 00:21:37,480 --> 00:21:40,120 Speaker 1: what you're saying right now in your heart. I am, 312 00:21:40,280 --> 00:21:43,320 Speaker 1: but I am sick of this. I am I am 313 00:21:43,480 --> 00:21:47,280 Speaker 1: sick and tired. I am tired of fighting battles. The 314 00:21:47,280 --> 00:21:49,280 Speaker 1: thing about me, some people say when they get tired, 315 00:21:49,320 --> 00:21:52,119 Speaker 1: they start laughing. Not me. When I get tired, I 316 00:21:52,160 --> 00:21:54,879 Speaker 1: get mean, how many of you when you get tired? 317 00:21:55,080 --> 00:21:57,880 Speaker 1: That's that's why when you had to pull me out 318 00:21:57,880 --> 00:22:00,720 Speaker 1: of the elevator in Australia, I was about to fight 319 00:22:00,800 --> 00:22:03,800 Speaker 1: that guy after I preached. I mean, I had just 320 00:22:03,840 --> 00:22:08,159 Speaker 1: finished given the invitation too. If you're here today, the 321 00:22:08,200 --> 00:22:11,560 Speaker 1: Lord says, come and that dude said something sideways to me, 322 00:22:11,960 --> 00:22:14,080 Speaker 1: and my uncle taught me to hit him with your 323 00:22:14,119 --> 00:22:16,040 Speaker 1: elbow if you can get close enough. And I was 324 00:22:16,119 --> 00:22:18,640 Speaker 1: talking the elbow and Chunks pulled me back. He said, 325 00:22:18,680 --> 00:22:21,439 Speaker 1: you've been I was jet lagged. I had preached twenty 326 00:22:21,480 --> 00:22:25,159 Speaker 1: three times in four days. They were preaching me to 327 00:22:25,240 --> 00:22:29,560 Speaker 1: death at Hillsung Church. I'm preaching. I'm preaching, preaching, preaching tired, 328 00:22:29,640 --> 00:22:31,240 Speaker 1: And Chunks told me, I said, come on, you're too 329 00:22:31,280 --> 00:22:35,040 Speaker 1: tired now, because when you get too tired, you start 330 00:22:35,080 --> 00:22:38,760 Speaker 1: fighting battles that don't matter to distract you from the 331 00:22:38,800 --> 00:22:44,040 Speaker 1: ones that do. That's just me. I start fighting everybody. 332 00:22:44,320 --> 00:22:46,600 Speaker 1: I start fighting people that are trying to help me 333 00:22:46,640 --> 00:22:49,960 Speaker 1: when I'm tired. So Jesus said y'all go get lunch. 334 00:22:50,000 --> 00:22:53,480 Speaker 1: I'm sitting here for a minute because the ones y'all 335 00:22:53,480 --> 00:22:56,359 Speaker 1: have been fighting against are the ones I came to say. 336 00:22:58,480 --> 00:23:01,439 Speaker 1: He had to go through some mary, He had to 337 00:23:01,520 --> 00:23:05,080 Speaker 1: sit down. There was a woman coming who needed him. 338 00:23:06,200 --> 00:23:09,360 Speaker 1: She didn't even know it, she had no idea who 339 00:23:09,400 --> 00:23:16,560 Speaker 1: he was. He sat down because he was tired. I mean, 340 00:23:16,600 --> 00:23:18,680 Speaker 1: you don't have to do anything right now. Just sit 341 00:23:18,760 --> 00:23:22,879 Speaker 1: down and receive this word that the Son of God 342 00:23:22,960 --> 00:23:28,320 Speaker 1: got tired. The Son of God got tired. I know 343 00:23:28,359 --> 00:23:32,360 Speaker 1: you're superman and you're mad at yourself because you can't 344 00:23:32,359 --> 00:23:45,600 Speaker 1: always get it perfect perfection got tired. Faith doesn't prevent fatigue. 345 00:23:46,280 --> 00:23:50,840 Speaker 1: It just gives me a place to sit. One of 346 00:23:50,880 --> 00:23:53,879 Speaker 1: the things that I've realized when I'm tired and my 347 00:23:54,040 --> 00:23:57,000 Speaker 1: emotions are just getting the best of me, is that 348 00:23:57,119 --> 00:24:00,639 Speaker 1: I'll tend to start thinking that I am stuck and 349 00:24:00,760 --> 00:24:03,600 Speaker 1: things are always going to be this way. That everything 350 00:24:03,880 --> 00:24:06,960 Speaker 1: that I had planned, or the schedule that I had 351 00:24:07,000 --> 00:24:10,200 Speaker 1: for my life, well now everything is just permanently derailed. 352 00:24:10,720 --> 00:24:13,480 Speaker 1: And while everyone's schedule did get thrown out the window 353 00:24:13,520 --> 00:24:17,320 Speaker 1: in twenty twenty, that doesn't mean that God ever got 354 00:24:17,359 --> 00:24:20,359 Speaker 1: off of his schedule in this next message that I 355 00:24:20,400 --> 00:24:24,440 Speaker 1: want to share with you unschedulable blessings. My husband reminded 356 00:24:24,520 --> 00:24:30,120 Speaker 1: us that you can't schedule the presence of God. If 357 00:24:30,200 --> 00:24:37,000 Speaker 1: God wants to reset your schedule, will you let him? 358 00:24:37,280 --> 00:24:39,639 Speaker 1: If God wants to move, He's like, Hey, I know 359 00:24:39,720 --> 00:24:41,480 Speaker 1: all your other friends are over here doing this, that, 360 00:24:41,560 --> 00:24:43,199 Speaker 1: and the other. But I got something different for you. 361 00:24:43,440 --> 00:24:49,440 Speaker 1: God said, can we reschedule? I know you had all 362 00:24:49,440 --> 00:24:52,040 Speaker 1: this stuff that you were going to do this year. 363 00:24:52,960 --> 00:24:57,640 Speaker 1: Can we reschedule? I almost hear the Lord saying, let 364 00:24:57,640 --> 00:25:01,000 Speaker 1: me make it up to you. I almost hear the 365 00:25:01,000 --> 00:25:04,960 Speaker 1: Lord saying, I'm gonna do exceeding abundantly above what you 366 00:25:05,040 --> 00:25:08,480 Speaker 1: had on your schedule. I almost hear the Lord saying, 367 00:25:08,920 --> 00:25:14,320 Speaker 1: let me get you ready for what I have scheduled. See, 368 00:25:14,720 --> 00:25:17,159 Speaker 1: to really trust God, we can sing about that and 369 00:25:17,960 --> 00:25:20,760 Speaker 1: quote about that, but to trust in the Lord with 370 00:25:20,880 --> 00:25:25,840 Speaker 1: all your heart means that you have to move with him. 371 00:25:26,080 --> 00:25:28,960 Speaker 1: You have to move with him. And life has come 372 00:25:29,000 --> 00:25:32,480 Speaker 1: along this year and interrupted your rhythm. I know it sucks. 373 00:25:32,600 --> 00:25:35,840 Speaker 1: I'm not saying you have to like it, but what 374 00:25:35,880 --> 00:25:39,760 Speaker 1: are you gonna do with it? He didn't promise you 375 00:25:40,160 --> 00:25:44,600 Speaker 1: a schedule. He promised you his spirit. See that's better. 376 00:25:44,840 --> 00:25:48,000 Speaker 1: That's better. That's better because his spirit will give me 377 00:25:48,160 --> 00:25:51,120 Speaker 1: the ability to step out if I need to step out, 378 00:25:51,800 --> 00:25:54,760 Speaker 1: or to stay put if I need to stay put. 379 00:25:55,480 --> 00:25:59,240 Speaker 1: So this is for you. If you feel behind schedule, 380 00:26:00,200 --> 00:26:02,359 Speaker 1: have more money in the bank by now. I should 381 00:26:02,520 --> 00:26:04,680 Speaker 1: know more of the Bible by now. It does not 382 00:26:05,040 --> 00:26:09,119 Speaker 1: matter what your schedule was. It matters what God spoke 383 00:26:09,200 --> 00:26:12,360 Speaker 1: about you before you were born. Do you get it now? 384 00:26:14,000 --> 00:26:18,840 Speaker 1: You can be seventy five and eleven years into waiting. 385 00:26:18,920 --> 00:26:23,639 Speaker 1: Abraham tried to have a baby with Hagar because he 386 00:26:23,680 --> 00:26:30,240 Speaker 1: got tired of waiting for the schedule. I'm glad that 387 00:26:30,280 --> 00:26:36,520 Speaker 1: the disciples waited for the spirit and whatever you're waiting 388 00:26:36,560 --> 00:26:41,920 Speaker 1: for today. I just needed to make it clear as 389 00:26:41,920 --> 00:26:43,440 Speaker 1: clear as I can. I can't make it as clear 390 00:26:43,440 --> 00:26:45,520 Speaker 1: as I saw it. I'll never be able to do that. 391 00:26:45,880 --> 00:26:51,239 Speaker 1: But I just saw God saying, stop trying to schedule me. Like, 392 00:26:51,560 --> 00:26:54,480 Speaker 1: build your schedule, but realize that some of the best 393 00:26:54,520 --> 00:26:57,000 Speaker 1: things that I'm going to do in your life are 394 00:26:57,040 --> 00:27:01,879 Speaker 1: not going to be on your schedule. Anybody testify that 395 00:27:01,920 --> 00:27:04,880 Speaker 1: one of the greatest blessings God gave you the greatest 396 00:27:04,920 --> 00:27:09,119 Speaker 1: blessings are unschedulable. And if you are so stuck on 397 00:27:09,480 --> 00:27:11,680 Speaker 1: what you thought this stage of life or what you 398 00:27:11,760 --> 00:27:14,159 Speaker 1: thought this day would be like, I'm telling you you 399 00:27:14,200 --> 00:27:19,080 Speaker 1: are gonna miss the gift. Wait for the gift. I'm 400 00:27:19,119 --> 00:27:21,719 Speaker 1: waiting for the gift. If that's your word, you can 401 00:27:21,720 --> 00:27:23,320 Speaker 1: put it in the chat, or you can just put 402 00:27:23,320 --> 00:27:26,080 Speaker 1: it on a post. I'm waiting for the gift. I'm 403 00:27:26,119 --> 00:27:28,119 Speaker 1: waiting for the gift, and I'm looking for the gift, 404 00:27:28,200 --> 00:27:30,480 Speaker 1: and I'm looking for the cause. And I can't schedule 405 00:27:30,520 --> 00:27:34,080 Speaker 1: God's presence. I can't schedule God's presence and say you 406 00:27:34,080 --> 00:27:36,040 Speaker 1: should have done this then, and you should have done 407 00:27:36,080 --> 00:27:38,240 Speaker 1: that there, and you need to give me details, then 408 00:27:38,359 --> 00:27:41,480 Speaker 1: I'm sorry. You're not gonna get all the details. God 409 00:27:41,520 --> 00:27:43,760 Speaker 1: will tell you what to build, but he will not 410 00:27:43,920 --> 00:27:47,280 Speaker 1: tell you when to move it. He wants you to 411 00:27:47,400 --> 00:27:51,720 Speaker 1: depend on him. This is the most anointed word I've 412 00:27:51,720 --> 00:27:56,560 Speaker 1: preached all year, because God is resetting our schedules, and 413 00:27:56,600 --> 00:28:01,000 Speaker 1: what we are calling interruptions are really invitations. Praise Him 414 00:28:01,000 --> 00:28:05,400 Speaker 1: for him, Praise him for him. Jesus said to Jyrus, 415 00:28:05,760 --> 00:28:10,119 Speaker 1: don't be afraid, just believe. When he got to the house. 416 00:28:10,200 --> 00:28:13,520 Speaker 1: The little girl was dead. To the other people, she 417 00:28:13,760 --> 00:28:17,639 Speaker 1: was sleeping to Jesus because he has his own schedule. 418 00:28:18,200 --> 00:28:22,240 Speaker 1: Heaven has a schedule, Heaven has a purpose, Heaven has 419 00:28:22,240 --> 00:28:26,480 Speaker 1: a blueprint, Heaven has a process. Have you submitted your 420 00:28:26,600 --> 00:28:34,840 Speaker 1: schedule to the Lord? Just to say, Lord, I'm I 421 00:28:34,920 --> 00:28:37,800 Speaker 1: want to reschedule. I thought you were going to do this, 422 00:28:37,880 --> 00:28:41,960 Speaker 1: but let's reschedule. Lord. I thought you were gonna heal Lazarus. 423 00:28:41,960 --> 00:28:44,120 Speaker 1: But hey, if you want to raise him from the dead, 424 00:28:44,200 --> 00:28:48,480 Speaker 1: let's go to the tomb. Let's reschedule. I'll roll the stone. Yeah. 425 00:28:48,480 --> 00:28:51,600 Speaker 1: I've been disappointed. I've been depressed, I've been stressed out, 426 00:28:51,760 --> 00:28:55,720 Speaker 1: but let's reschedule. I've been confused, but I've been trying 427 00:28:55,760 --> 00:28:59,520 Speaker 1: to control the timing, and you've been calling me to 428 00:28:59,520 --> 00:29:02,720 Speaker 1: trust you. So I received power. Lift your hands. I 429 00:29:02,800 --> 00:29:07,360 Speaker 1: received power. I received power. I received power when the 430 00:29:07,360 --> 00:29:10,400 Speaker 1: Holy Spirit comes on me and I'm gonna be a 431 00:29:10,400 --> 00:29:17,840 Speaker 1: witness wherever I go. Father, I thank you in this 432 00:29:17,920 --> 00:29:23,280 Speaker 1: moment for the unschedulable. Unschedulable God, help me say it. 433 00:29:24,560 --> 00:29:26,160 Speaker 1: That's what happens when you make up a word, you 434 00:29:26,160 --> 00:29:30,360 Speaker 1: mess up your prayer. The unschedulable blessings that are coming 435 00:29:30,360 --> 00:29:35,120 Speaker 1: to your people all over the world, The unschedulable blessings, 436 00:29:36,080 --> 00:29:41,120 Speaker 1: the testimonies that are coming. Because you are an unschedulable God. 437 00:29:43,480 --> 00:29:47,640 Speaker 1: You give a hundred year old man a baby. You 438 00:29:47,680 --> 00:29:52,360 Speaker 1: can bless us behind schedule at the same time you 439 00:29:52,360 --> 00:29:56,280 Speaker 1: can be interrupted by a woman with the issue of blood. 440 00:29:55,880 --> 00:30:00,840 Speaker 1: You can bless us ahead of schedule. That you can 441 00:30:00,880 --> 00:30:05,960 Speaker 1: do anything because you're God. You can prepare a table 442 00:30:06,480 --> 00:30:09,239 Speaker 1: in the presence of our enemies. You don't even have 443 00:30:09,280 --> 00:30:13,960 Speaker 1: to get rid of the problem to bless us. You're unschedulable. 444 00:30:14,880 --> 00:30:17,720 Speaker 1: It's not for us to know the time. We can't 445 00:30:17,720 --> 00:30:21,760 Speaker 1: control anything. We can't even control our kids little league schedule. 446 00:30:22,880 --> 00:30:25,680 Speaker 1: We certainly can't control how things unfold in our life. 447 00:30:25,760 --> 00:30:30,280 Speaker 1: So we just gonna We're just gonna wait, not because 448 00:30:30,280 --> 00:30:35,640 Speaker 1: we're lazy, just because we know you love us. Some 449 00:30:35,680 --> 00:30:41,200 Speaker 1: of the best stuff that God will do in your 450 00:30:41,240 --> 00:30:46,479 Speaker 1: life will not be on your schedule. I wrote that 451 00:30:46,680 --> 00:30:50,640 Speaker 1: exact line down. Some of the best things God will 452 00:30:50,640 --> 00:30:53,120 Speaker 1: do in your life will not be on your schedule. 453 00:30:53,520 --> 00:30:59,720 Speaker 1: You cannot schedule God's presence. It's so comforting when we 454 00:30:59,760 --> 00:31:04,040 Speaker 1: re lives that God is committed to bringing about his 455 00:31:04,240 --> 00:31:09,280 Speaker 1: purpose in our lives on his schedule. When we think 456 00:31:09,360 --> 00:31:13,360 Speaker 1: we're falling behind, God is often ready to do his 457 00:31:13,600 --> 00:31:17,520 Speaker 1: greatest work. I so needed to be reminded of this, 458 00:31:17,800 --> 00:31:22,440 Speaker 1: because not only does he not move according to our timetable, 459 00:31:22,520 --> 00:31:26,480 Speaker 1: but ultimately I think the main lesson that we have 460 00:31:26,600 --> 00:31:29,520 Speaker 1: learned is in order to make room for the new 461 00:31:29,640 --> 00:31:33,560 Speaker 1: in our lives, we have to expect that God is 462 00:31:33,640 --> 00:31:38,600 Speaker 1: going to actually do something new in your life, and 463 00:31:38,680 --> 00:31:41,440 Speaker 1: when he does, we have to remember that that doesn't 464 00:31:41,480 --> 00:31:45,960 Speaker 1: always look the way it's always looked. It never looks 465 00:31:46,040 --> 00:31:50,080 Speaker 1: the way that you expected or comes when you thought 466 00:31:50,560 --> 00:31:53,400 Speaker 1: it would come, but it might need that there is 467 00:31:53,440 --> 00:31:56,880 Speaker 1: a deposit or a gift in you that you never 468 00:31:56,960 --> 00:32:01,560 Speaker 1: knew you had. Pastor Stephens a lot of time in 469 00:32:01,600 --> 00:32:07,000 Speaker 1: the Fall exploring the theme of asking better questions and 470 00:32:07,040 --> 00:32:11,200 Speaker 1: how this year hopefully finally got us to the place 471 00:32:11,480 --> 00:32:16,640 Speaker 1: of no longer telling God our plans, but perhaps asking 472 00:32:16,760 --> 00:32:22,000 Speaker 1: him what his purposes are for us, and what did 473 00:32:22,040 --> 00:32:26,000 Speaker 1: he put inside of us to do? What deposit has 474 00:32:26,120 --> 00:32:29,959 Speaker 1: he made in us to use for his kingdom? And 475 00:32:30,000 --> 00:32:33,520 Speaker 1: it's my prayer that this kind of faith will be 476 00:32:33,600 --> 00:32:37,640 Speaker 1: how we start this year twenty twenty one, asking the 477 00:32:37,720 --> 00:32:41,560 Speaker 1: right questions based on faith, not fear, based on who 478 00:32:41,760 --> 00:32:44,720 Speaker 1: lives inside of us, not what we think we have 479 00:32:45,200 --> 00:32:47,760 Speaker 1: or don't have. Here's something that I wrote down from 480 00:32:47,760 --> 00:32:52,520 Speaker 1: the sermon. Did I ask keep coming back? When they 481 00:32:52,560 --> 00:32:57,040 Speaker 1: came to him? They received? When you ask you activate? 482 00:32:57,800 --> 00:33:02,120 Speaker 1: How does Pastor Stephen manage to encourage me and chastise 483 00:33:02,200 --> 00:33:06,600 Speaker 1: me in the same sermon. I love this clip and 484 00:33:06,640 --> 00:33:09,800 Speaker 1: it also happens to feature another one of my favorite 485 00:33:09,800 --> 00:33:14,560 Speaker 1: people making a special appearance to check this out. If 486 00:33:14,600 --> 00:33:18,480 Speaker 1: you knew what was in you, you wouldn't kill yourself. 487 00:33:18,720 --> 00:33:22,280 Speaker 1: If you knew what was in you, you wouldn't let 488 00:33:22,320 --> 00:33:25,280 Speaker 1: pornography strangle the creative life out of you. If you 489 00:33:25,360 --> 00:33:30,680 Speaker 1: knew what was in you, you wouldn't hide yourself behind 490 00:33:30,720 --> 00:33:40,040 Speaker 1: false personas. If you knew I was in you. Everywhere 491 00:33:40,080 --> 00:33:43,800 Speaker 1: the enemy has planted condemnation in your life. I want 492 00:33:43,800 --> 00:33:49,120 Speaker 1: you to replace it with a question. That's the devil's language. 493 00:33:49,120 --> 00:33:52,600 Speaker 1: Condemnation that's the devil. That's not how God talks. God 494 00:33:53,560 --> 00:33:58,760 Speaker 1: asks questions. The wisdom that comes from above whispers within, 495 00:34:00,640 --> 00:34:04,360 Speaker 1: Like you said to Elijah in the cave. What are 496 00:34:04,360 --> 00:34:09,560 Speaker 1: you doing here? God ask questions up close. He knows 497 00:34:09,600 --> 00:34:15,359 Speaker 1: you like that. If you knew, you would ask Wait 498 00:34:15,400 --> 00:34:17,560 Speaker 1: a minute, I thought. If you don't know, you asked no. No. 499 00:34:18,239 --> 00:34:22,560 Speaker 1: If you knew who was in you, you stop listening 500 00:34:22,560 --> 00:34:29,879 Speaker 1: to everything around you so much. If you know who 501 00:34:29,920 --> 00:34:33,120 Speaker 1: told you that you were naked, who told you that 502 00:34:33,200 --> 00:34:38,080 Speaker 1: you were nothing, who told you it wasn't enough. If 503 00:34:38,080 --> 00:34:40,200 Speaker 1: you knew who you were talking to when you talk 504 00:34:40,280 --> 00:34:47,840 Speaker 1: to yourself, if you knew, Thank you, Lord, thank you, 505 00:34:49,200 --> 00:34:53,160 Speaker 1: Thank you for the ministry of the Holy Spirit. I 506 00:34:53,160 --> 00:34:55,080 Speaker 1: don't think I've ever felt you more than I feel 507 00:34:55,120 --> 00:34:57,080 Speaker 1: you right now. And I thank you because I need you. 508 00:34:57,120 --> 00:35:00,520 Speaker 1: I need you, We need you, somebody needs you. On 509 00:35:00,640 --> 00:35:04,239 Speaker 1: the other and through their tears, they see now that 510 00:35:04,360 --> 00:35:11,280 Speaker 1: the answer is not standing outside of them. The living 511 00:35:11,320 --> 00:35:16,560 Speaker 1: water is within and the bread is right here. So 512 00:35:19,440 --> 00:35:24,680 Speaker 1: Jesus is in Moses. Okay, Jesus and Moses. God's not 513 00:35:24,719 --> 00:35:26,120 Speaker 1: going to do it like he used to do it, 514 00:35:28,760 --> 00:35:30,359 Speaker 1: but if you ask, he'll show you what he's doing 515 00:35:30,440 --> 00:35:42,120 Speaker 1: right now in this moment. Speaking of Moses, remember when 516 00:35:42,120 --> 00:35:43,840 Speaker 1: God came to him and said, I want to use you. 517 00:35:46,160 --> 00:35:48,719 Speaker 1: He had to set a whole nation for you. We 518 00:35:48,760 --> 00:35:51,880 Speaker 1: don't have that responsibility. But God's speaking to us too, 519 00:35:52,920 --> 00:35:58,920 Speaker 1: He's calling us to. Moses asked a question, who shall 520 00:35:58,920 --> 00:36:03,000 Speaker 1: I say sent me? God said, I am, you are 521 00:36:03,040 --> 00:36:06,759 Speaker 1: what that's the question? How you get to spend the 522 00:36:06,760 --> 00:36:10,879 Speaker 1: rest of your life finding out the answer? Thank you, Lord, 523 00:36:13,239 --> 00:36:17,200 Speaker 1: I am. You're going to find out all that he 524 00:36:17,360 --> 00:36:27,040 Speaker 1: is through the things you go through. But Moses, Moses 525 00:36:27,040 --> 00:36:32,680 Speaker 1: said something to the Lord in Exodus fourteen, and I'll 526 00:36:32,719 --> 00:36:35,000 Speaker 1: show you this before I close, because the Lord gave 527 00:36:35,040 --> 00:36:36,640 Speaker 1: it to me like an image, like an image, Like 528 00:36:36,680 --> 00:36:40,839 Speaker 1: an image. He said, if you knew what was in you, 529 00:36:42,920 --> 00:36:44,720 Speaker 1: if you knew what was in you, you would ask 530 00:36:44,800 --> 00:36:47,560 Speaker 1: for strength. You would ask, I'm in you. So you 531 00:36:47,600 --> 00:36:50,000 Speaker 1: can ask I'm in you. You got to get it 532 00:36:50,040 --> 00:36:54,520 Speaker 1: in you. You got to get it in you, Moses said, 533 00:36:55,480 --> 00:36:59,600 Speaker 1: after a whole series of excuses, you know, God asked 534 00:36:59,680 --> 00:37:06,120 Speaker 1: him a question. He said, what's that in your hand? Said? 535 00:37:06,160 --> 00:37:09,560 Speaker 1: In your hand? Moses simply had a staff, But that 536 00:37:09,600 --> 00:37:14,840 Speaker 1: wasn't all it was. It was an instrument to part waters, 537 00:37:15,680 --> 00:37:19,120 Speaker 1: to turn rivers to blood. It was an instrument. It 538 00:37:19,200 --> 00:37:23,480 Speaker 1: was an instrument. What's in your hand? It's coming from 539 00:37:23,520 --> 00:37:25,520 Speaker 1: the five. It's coming from the five. It's coming from 540 00:37:25,560 --> 00:37:32,040 Speaker 1: the five. What's in your hand? Did you ask? Did 541 00:37:32,080 --> 00:37:35,279 Speaker 1: you ask? Or do you just assume it's not enough? 542 00:37:36,320 --> 00:37:40,120 Speaker 1: Did you ask? We get in trouble when we answer, 543 00:37:40,600 --> 00:37:43,759 Speaker 1: when we answer instead of asking. So God said, I 544 00:37:43,840 --> 00:37:46,360 Speaker 1: chose you, Moses in an Exodus four ten, this is 545 00:37:46,360 --> 00:37:49,520 Speaker 1: the picture the Lord gave me. And the Lord must 546 00:37:49,520 --> 00:37:51,680 Speaker 1: really want somebody to get this message, because it's so 547 00:37:51,800 --> 00:37:55,000 Speaker 1: heavy on me. I can barely move. But Moses said, 548 00:37:55,200 --> 00:37:58,399 Speaker 1: pardon your servant, Lord, I have never been eloquent, not enough, 549 00:37:58,640 --> 00:38:01,080 Speaker 1: neither in the past nor since you've spoken to your servant. 550 00:38:01,160 --> 00:38:04,120 Speaker 1: I'm slow speech and tongue. Now everybody has something like that. 551 00:38:04,160 --> 00:38:06,560 Speaker 1: They could say why you can't make it, and why 552 00:38:06,600 --> 00:38:09,600 Speaker 1: there's not enough, and why eight months wages wouldn't be enough. 553 00:38:09,800 --> 00:38:12,640 Speaker 1: Everybody has an inner Philip, and the inner Philip will 554 00:38:12,680 --> 00:38:15,000 Speaker 1: jump to conclusions based on the evidence that you can 555 00:38:15,040 --> 00:38:17,919 Speaker 1: see with your eyes. But watch what the Lord said 556 00:38:17,920 --> 00:38:23,960 Speaker 1: in verse eleven. The Lord said, did I ask who 557 00:38:24,000 --> 00:38:28,920 Speaker 1: gave human beings their mouth? Did I ask who makes 558 00:38:28,920 --> 00:38:34,240 Speaker 1: them deaf? From you? Did I ask you keep telling 559 00:38:34,280 --> 00:38:36,040 Speaker 1: me what you're not? But I didn't ask you that 560 00:38:37,480 --> 00:38:40,480 Speaker 1: you keep telling me what you can't. But I didn't 561 00:38:40,480 --> 00:38:44,879 Speaker 1: ask you that. So don't say I'm just single, don't 562 00:38:44,880 --> 00:38:48,239 Speaker 1: say I'm just young, don't say I'm too old. Did 563 00:38:48,280 --> 00:38:57,520 Speaker 1: I ask high Lord? I am enough? Is it not? 564 00:38:59,320 --> 00:39:02,640 Speaker 1: I come here, boy, Come here, Come in come in 565 00:39:02,719 --> 00:39:04,400 Speaker 1: cocon come in come, in come, in come, in come, 566 00:39:04,440 --> 00:39:05,600 Speaker 1: in come, in come, in come, in come, in come, 567 00:39:05,640 --> 00:39:07,920 Speaker 1: in come here, come in come in I need to 568 00:39:08,040 --> 00:39:11,400 Speaker 1: hunder sixty dollars. I need to under sixty dollars. I 569 00:39:11,400 --> 00:39:17,480 Speaker 1: need to under sixty dollars. I need to under sixty dollars. Ah, 570 00:39:17,520 --> 00:39:20,239 Speaker 1: you didn't think you had it. But right up before 571 00:39:20,280 --> 00:39:25,920 Speaker 1: I came to preach, I handed him my wallet and 572 00:39:26,040 --> 00:39:29,799 Speaker 1: I didn't tell him why. I said, just hold this 573 00:39:29,840 --> 00:39:33,280 Speaker 1: for me until I'm done. And I'm about to be done, 574 00:39:34,360 --> 00:39:36,799 Speaker 1: because when I get to the end of my message, 575 00:39:37,480 --> 00:39:41,120 Speaker 1: I'm gonna put something in my boy, and when I 576 00:39:41,280 --> 00:39:45,759 Speaker 1: ask you for it, the fact that I ask is 577 00:39:45,840 --> 00:39:50,200 Speaker 1: the proof that you have him. If I ask, you 578 00:39:50,400 --> 00:39:55,359 Speaker 1: have it, if I ask, I gave it, it's in you. 579 00:39:55,880 --> 00:40:01,120 Speaker 1: It's more than alone. Count that money that what's in 580 00:40:01,160 --> 00:40:05,239 Speaker 1: that wallet? What's in that wallet? I need tell sixty 581 00:40:05,719 --> 00:40:09,120 Speaker 1: But I will never ask you for what I didn't 582 00:40:09,200 --> 00:40:12,640 Speaker 1: get you to forget with. And if you run out 583 00:40:12,640 --> 00:40:17,680 Speaker 1: of that, I got credit too. Now upset my credit score. 584 00:40:18,239 --> 00:40:21,520 Speaker 1: I'm putting in a boy, I'm putting in your duggers. 585 00:40:21,960 --> 00:40:25,520 Speaker 1: I'm putting in your spirit. I'll put it in a basket. 586 00:40:25,920 --> 00:40:28,480 Speaker 1: I'll put it in a bag. I'll put it in 587 00:40:28,520 --> 00:40:32,720 Speaker 1: a weakness. I'll put it in a poet. I yeah, follow, 588 00:40:33,560 --> 00:40:42,279 Speaker 1: I had follow. Wow you're not, but I am had this. 589 00:40:42,719 --> 00:40:49,279 Speaker 1: Boats live again, they care, they will. It's so good 590 00:40:49,400 --> 00:40:53,319 Speaker 1: to look back and to remember the messages that God 591 00:40:53,400 --> 00:40:57,080 Speaker 1: has spoken over us this year. I actually remember being 592 00:40:57,120 --> 00:41:01,200 Speaker 1: on the front row and seeing my husband give Elijah 593 00:41:01,280 --> 00:41:04,400 Speaker 1: his wallet and wondering why is he giving Elijah his wallet? 594 00:41:04,440 --> 00:41:06,799 Speaker 1: And then I totally forgot about it, and I was 595 00:41:07,120 --> 00:41:09,400 Speaker 1: just as surprised as you were at the end. I 596 00:41:09,520 --> 00:41:13,080 Speaker 1: just I love moments like that. And as I close, 597 00:41:13,520 --> 00:41:17,240 Speaker 1: I just want to remind you that everything you need 598 00:41:17,560 --> 00:41:20,200 Speaker 1: to accomplish what God is calling you to do in 599 00:41:20,200 --> 00:41:24,120 Speaker 1: twenty twenty one, it's already inside of you. Everything you 600 00:41:24,239 --> 00:41:27,759 Speaker 1: need for everything you're called to do, and nothing more. 601 00:41:28,400 --> 00:41:32,440 Speaker 1: The fact that he asks is the proof that you 602 00:41:32,560 --> 00:41:36,880 Speaker 1: have it. What a beautiful reminder. I want to encourage 603 00:41:36,880 --> 00:41:41,240 Speaker 1: you to spend a few moments reflecting on the presence 604 00:41:41,239 --> 00:41:43,960 Speaker 1: of God in your life over the past year. I 605 00:41:43,960 --> 00:41:46,000 Speaker 1: find that when I take the time to look back, 606 00:41:46,520 --> 00:41:50,359 Speaker 1: I can see the hand of God in every triumph 607 00:41:50,520 --> 00:41:56,160 Speaker 1: and every disappointment, in every setback, and in every unexpected blessing. 608 00:41:56,800 --> 00:41:59,880 Speaker 1: When I take the time to see, I can trace 609 00:42:00,320 --> 00:42:04,239 Speaker 1: the favor of God on my life every step of 610 00:42:04,280 --> 00:42:06,680 Speaker 1: the way. And I know you would agree with that. 611 00:42:07,120 --> 00:42:10,319 Speaker 1: In the morning, in the evening, in your coming, in 612 00:42:10,400 --> 00:42:14,040 Speaker 1: your going, He is with you, before you, behind you, 613 00:42:14,360 --> 00:42:17,560 Speaker 1: besides you, all around you. He was with you in 614 00:42:17,680 --> 00:42:21,839 Speaker 1: twenty twenty and he goes before you in twenty twenty one. 615 00:42:22,640 --> 00:42:25,319 Speaker 1: Thank you everyone for joining me as we took a 616 00:42:25,360 --> 00:42:28,800 Speaker 1: look back at the amazing messages that God has spoken 617 00:42:29,080 --> 00:42:33,279 Speaker 1: to our hungry souls. Remember, all of these messages and 618 00:42:33,440 --> 00:42:37,240 Speaker 1: more are available in their full format on the Elevation 619 00:42:37,440 --> 00:42:40,640 Speaker 1: Church YouTube and the Elevation Church Podcast for you to 620 00:42:40,760 --> 00:42:43,840 Speaker 1: listen to over and over again and for you to 621 00:42:43,920 --> 00:42:46,560 Speaker 1: share with a friend that you think might need to 622 00:42:46,600 --> 00:42:49,400 Speaker 1: hear these messages too. And so I just want to 623 00:42:49,440 --> 00:42:52,680 Speaker 1: close in prayer, thank you for joining us today and God, 624 00:42:52,760 --> 00:42:56,640 Speaker 1: we thank you that your presence has been with us 625 00:42:56,960 --> 00:43:01,120 Speaker 1: all along. We thank you for giving our pastor the 626 00:43:01,400 --> 00:43:05,239 Speaker 1: exact words that we needed to hear each week in 627 00:43:05,320 --> 00:43:10,280 Speaker 1: twenty twenty. They were truly bred for our souls. And Lord, 628 00:43:10,640 --> 00:43:13,400 Speaker 1: we look forward to twenty twenty one, not because it 629 00:43:13,440 --> 00:43:17,960 Speaker 1: will be perfect or free from pain or disappointment, but 630 00:43:18,040 --> 00:43:24,200 Speaker 1: because a new year means new opportunities for growth. And God, 631 00:43:24,239 --> 00:43:27,160 Speaker 1: we want to grow in our knowledge of You and 632 00:43:27,160 --> 00:43:29,359 Speaker 1: in our relationship with You, and we want to know 633 00:43:29,560 --> 00:43:33,239 Speaker 1: you more each day. Thank you God that you are 634 00:43:33,320 --> 00:43:37,120 Speaker 1: with us each and every step of the way, that 635 00:43:37,200 --> 00:43:40,759 Speaker 1: we don't have to be afraid because You are with 636 00:43:40,840 --> 00:43:45,000 Speaker 1: us and we are never ever alone. God, we thank 637 00:43:45,040 --> 00:43:47,960 Speaker 1: you for the ministry of Elevation Church and what it 638 00:43:48,120 --> 00:43:51,680 Speaker 1: means to each and every one of us. We love you, Lord, 639 00:43:51,719 --> 00:44:02,360 Speaker 1: It's in Jesus name we pray. Amen, thank you for 640 00:44:02,480 --> 00:44:05,040 Speaker 1: joining us. Special thanks to those of you who give 641 00:44:05,120 --> 00:44:08,000 Speaker 1: generously to this ministry. Is because of you that this 642 00:44:08,120 --> 00:44:10,920 Speaker 1: ministry is possible. You can click the link in the 643 00:44:10,960 --> 00:44:15,360 Speaker 1: description to give now or visit Elevationchurch dot org slash 644 00:44:15,400 --> 00:44:18,680 Speaker 1: podcast for more information and if you enjoyed the podcast, 645 00:44:18,960 --> 00:44:21,680 Speaker 1: you can subscribe. You can share it with your friends. 646 00:44:21,960 --> 00:44:24,279 Speaker 1: You can click the share button, take a screenshot and 647 00:44:24,320 --> 00:44:26,439 Speaker 1: share it on your social stories and tag us at 648 00:44:26,440 --> 00:44:34,200 Speaker 1: Elevation Church. Thanks again for listening. God bless you.