1 00:00:02,120 --> 00:00:04,680 Speaker 1: Hey, this is Stephen Ferdick. I'm the pastor of Elevation 2 00:00:04,920 --> 00:00:07,160 Speaker 1: Church and this is our podcast. I wanted to thank 3 00:00:07,200 --> 00:00:10,520 Speaker 1: you for joining us today. Hope this inspires you. Hope 4 00:00:10,520 --> 00:00:12,559 Speaker 1: it builds your faith. Hope it gives your perspective to 5 00:00:12,600 --> 00:00:17,959 Speaker 1: see Gods moving in your life. Enjoy the message. So 6 00:00:18,040 --> 00:00:23,720 Speaker 1: blessed to be here. Hello from Las Vegas. It was 7 00:00:23,880 --> 00:00:28,880 Speaker 1: one eighteen yesterday when we flew here, one hundred and 8 00:00:28,960 --> 00:00:30,360 Speaker 1: eighteen degrees. I don't know if y' all know what 9 00:00:30,360 --> 00:00:32,320 Speaker 1: that meant, like not one eighteen PM, like it was 10 00:00:32,360 --> 00:00:35,680 Speaker 1: one hundred and eighteen degrees this week. So it's good 11 00:00:35,680 --> 00:00:38,960 Speaker 1: to be here, and it's an honor to be here. 12 00:00:39,000 --> 00:00:41,640 Speaker 1: God has been doing some great things at our church 13 00:00:41,680 --> 00:00:43,440 Speaker 1: here in Las Vegas. But I'm a very honored to 14 00:00:43,440 --> 00:00:48,320 Speaker 1: be here. And honestly, we really are the product of 15 00:00:48,520 --> 00:00:52,840 Speaker 1: relationship with the product of amazing people that God has 16 00:00:52,960 --> 00:00:56,040 Speaker 1: blessed us to connect with, and the first on that 17 00:00:56,160 --> 00:00:59,760 Speaker 1: list is Pastor Stephen, Pastor Holly Ferdick. We are who 18 00:00:59,760 --> 00:01:03,000 Speaker 1: we are or I am who I am because of 19 00:01:03,240 --> 00:01:06,640 Speaker 1: your pastors, because of this house, because of what God 20 00:01:06,680 --> 00:01:10,119 Speaker 1: has done through them. And I'm so grateful I've always 21 00:01:10,200 --> 00:01:15,440 Speaker 1: been so grateful for Pastor Stephen, but especially in this season. 22 00:01:16,560 --> 00:01:20,319 Speaker 1: The way that he rose and the way that he 23 00:01:20,520 --> 00:01:23,600 Speaker 1: stepped up, and the way that he led, and the 24 00:01:23,640 --> 00:01:28,480 Speaker 1: way that he preached, and the way that he wrote songs, 25 00:01:28,600 --> 00:01:32,080 Speaker 1: and the way that he loved us and gave to 26 00:01:32,240 --> 00:01:36,640 Speaker 1: us and prayed for us and encouraged us. I don't know. 27 00:01:37,280 --> 00:01:38,600 Speaker 1: I don't know if I'm the only one, but I'm 28 00:01:38,640 --> 00:01:43,440 Speaker 1: so grateful that Pastor Stephen, honestly, in the pandemic went 29 00:01:44,080 --> 00:01:49,160 Speaker 1: I can't just Pastor Elevation Churchy. He literally became like 30 00:01:49,200 --> 00:01:55,080 Speaker 1: an apostle to our nation into the world. And I'm 31 00:01:55,120 --> 00:01:56,400 Speaker 1: part of the e FM. I don't know if you 32 00:01:56,440 --> 00:02:00,920 Speaker 1: know that, because we were recording on Wednesdays, and I 33 00:02:00,960 --> 00:02:03,600 Speaker 1: would preach on Wednesdays during the pandemic, and then we 34 00:02:03,640 --> 00:02:05,840 Speaker 1: would stream on Sundays and Sundays, I just woke up 35 00:02:05,960 --> 00:02:10,079 Speaker 1: depressed and frustrated and shut down. And you can only 36 00:02:10,120 --> 00:02:14,920 Speaker 1: clean your garage so many times on a Sunday, and 37 00:02:15,000 --> 00:02:17,360 Speaker 1: I had to join the EPAM because I needed a word, 38 00:02:19,760 --> 00:02:26,160 Speaker 1: I needed a song, I needed the blessing. I needed 39 00:02:26,200 --> 00:02:33,520 Speaker 1: graves in the gardens I need I needed it. I 40 00:02:33,560 --> 00:02:35,360 Speaker 1: didn't know I needed it. Might get loud, but I 41 00:02:35,440 --> 00:02:41,400 Speaker 1: needed that song in my life. I needed rattle. I 42 00:02:41,480 --> 00:02:44,960 Speaker 1: needed it, and I needed every every Sunday morning when 43 00:02:44,960 --> 00:02:47,440 Speaker 1: I would when I would log in and I would 44 00:02:47,480 --> 00:02:50,200 Speaker 1: hear the word, and I would hear this amazing team, 45 00:02:50,240 --> 00:02:53,960 Speaker 1: and I would and I would be fed. And we 46 00:02:53,960 --> 00:02:56,120 Speaker 1: were a two year old church when the pandemic started, 47 00:02:58,000 --> 00:03:07,280 Speaker 1: and we made it. And I made it because because 48 00:03:07,280 --> 00:03:12,640 Speaker 1: a man of God preached me through hell. Pastor Stephen, 49 00:03:13,040 --> 00:03:15,720 Speaker 1: I love you, I honor you, I thank God for you, 50 00:03:16,520 --> 00:03:19,440 Speaker 1: and we just want you to know how much we 51 00:03:19,520 --> 00:03:22,200 Speaker 1: appreciate the way that you could have. You could have 52 00:03:22,280 --> 00:03:26,600 Speaker 1: sat back, but instead you let us and we love you. 53 00:03:26,639 --> 00:03:28,760 Speaker 1: We love Pastor Holly. Come on one more time, cluse 54 00:03:28,800 --> 00:03:35,440 Speaker 1: show our honor appreciation every location. Amen. Why don't you 55 00:03:35,520 --> 00:03:38,120 Speaker 1: stand for God's words? Stand for God's word? First Samuel, 56 00:03:38,160 --> 00:03:45,200 Speaker 1: chapter seventeen, verse thirty two. Why not? I won't keep 57 00:03:45,240 --> 00:03:49,640 Speaker 1: you long, First Samuel, chapter seventeen, verse thirty two. David 58 00:03:49,680 --> 00:03:54,320 Speaker 1: speaks to Saul, and he says, don't worry about this philistine. 59 00:03:54,520 --> 00:03:59,200 Speaker 1: I'll go fight him. Don't be ridiculous. Saul replied, there's 60 00:03:59,280 --> 00:04:01,920 Speaker 1: no way you can fight this philistine and possibly win. 61 00:04:02,320 --> 00:04:06,040 Speaker 1: You're only a boy. He's been a man of war 62 00:04:06,160 --> 00:04:09,320 Speaker 1: since his youth. I'll just read the first little line 63 00:04:09,320 --> 00:04:17,320 Speaker 1: of thirty four. But David persisted. David persisted. Acts Chapter thirteen, 64 00:04:18,200 --> 00:04:21,839 Speaker 1: verse twenty two. Acts Chapter thirteen, verse twenty two. But 65 00:04:21,960 --> 00:04:26,800 Speaker 1: God removes Saul and replaced him with David, a man 66 00:04:26,880 --> 00:04:29,760 Speaker 1: about whom God said, I have found David's son of Jesse, 67 00:04:29,960 --> 00:04:33,880 Speaker 1: a man after my own heart, a man, a man. 68 00:04:34,800 --> 00:04:39,760 Speaker 1: Saul called him a boy. God said, this is a man, 69 00:04:41,839 --> 00:04:44,800 Speaker 1: a man after my own heart. He will do everything 70 00:04:45,920 --> 00:04:50,640 Speaker 1: I want him to do. Verse thirty three, Saul gives 71 00:04:51,640 --> 00:04:53,600 Speaker 1: David a compliment. He didn't know he was giving him 72 00:04:53,600 --> 00:04:55,520 Speaker 1: a compliment, but he gave him a compliment. He said, 73 00:04:55,760 --> 00:05:00,960 Speaker 1: he said, don't be ridiculous. I want to preach from 74 00:05:00,960 --> 00:05:06,640 Speaker 1: that subject for just a few moments today. A ridiculous reality, 75 00:05:07,720 --> 00:05:12,880 Speaker 1: A ridiculous reality. I have a ridiculous reality. Father. I 76 00:05:12,880 --> 00:05:14,680 Speaker 1: thank you for your word. I thank you for the 77 00:05:14,720 --> 00:05:18,760 Speaker 1: moments we share. I thank you for the presence we feel. 78 00:05:18,800 --> 00:05:21,920 Speaker 1: I thank you that one word from heaven, one word 79 00:05:21,920 --> 00:05:26,800 Speaker 1: from you, literally change everything we're believing. For that now 80 00:05:26,839 --> 00:05:29,719 Speaker 1: we're leaning in for that our ears are open, our 81 00:05:29,800 --> 00:05:34,640 Speaker 1: hearts are open to a phrase, a sentence. Lord, you 82 00:05:34,640 --> 00:05:37,359 Speaker 1: don't even have to use me. Just use something said today, 83 00:05:37,520 --> 00:05:42,160 Speaker 1: Use something sung today, Use a phrase, use an idea, 84 00:05:42,400 --> 00:05:47,320 Speaker 1: use a verse to change somebody's life forever. I thank 85 00:05:47,360 --> 00:05:50,960 Speaker 1: you for it in Jesus' name, and the whole church said, amen, Amen. 86 00:05:51,040 --> 00:05:54,320 Speaker 1: Here you could be seated online lead into this word. 87 00:05:55,160 --> 00:05:59,760 Speaker 1: I believe God has something for us. Doctor Charles Swindle 88 00:05:59,800 --> 00:06:03,640 Speaker 1: said that life is about ten percent what happens to 89 00:06:03,760 --> 00:06:13,720 Speaker 1: us and ninety percent our response, our attitude, our outlook 90 00:06:13,760 --> 00:06:17,480 Speaker 1: on what happens to us. I've been saved now for 91 00:06:17,520 --> 00:06:20,359 Speaker 1: twenty three years. I got saved when I was fifteen. 92 00:06:20,400 --> 00:06:23,040 Speaker 1: I'm now turning thirty eight, and I've been following Jesus 93 00:06:23,120 --> 00:06:25,120 Speaker 1: now for twenty three years. And I can attest to 94 00:06:25,240 --> 00:06:29,359 Speaker 1: that statement. I don't like that quote from doctor Swindle, 95 00:06:29,440 --> 00:06:33,320 Speaker 1: but I know it's true. I've been right there where 96 00:06:33,400 --> 00:06:36,160 Speaker 1: I have to make a decision. I don't like what's 97 00:06:36,200 --> 00:06:40,920 Speaker 1: happening to me, but my response is more important than 98 00:06:40,960 --> 00:06:45,160 Speaker 1: what's happening to me. My outlook is more important than 99 00:06:45,160 --> 00:06:49,560 Speaker 1: my circumstance. My attitude is more important than my surroundings. 100 00:06:49,600 --> 00:06:52,279 Speaker 1: What I think about God and what I think about 101 00:06:52,279 --> 00:06:54,039 Speaker 1: His word, and what I think about He's doing in 102 00:06:54,080 --> 00:06:57,440 Speaker 1: my life has much more weight and can do much 103 00:06:57,560 --> 00:06:59,920 Speaker 1: more in my life than what is simply going on 104 00:07:00,720 --> 00:07:04,120 Speaker 1: around us. Life is so much more about perspective and 105 00:07:04,240 --> 00:07:10,800 Speaker 1: attitude than it is circumstances. And while we find ourselves 106 00:07:10,840 --> 00:07:15,480 Speaker 1: praying to get out of things, I find that usually 107 00:07:15,520 --> 00:07:19,360 Speaker 1: we ignore the thing God is trying to do in us. 108 00:07:20,360 --> 00:07:23,400 Speaker 1: We pray to get out, but God's trying to do 109 00:07:23,520 --> 00:07:28,160 Speaker 1: something in I'm trying to change what I'm surrounded by, 110 00:07:28,520 --> 00:07:31,960 Speaker 1: but God's trying to change what's going on inside of me. 111 00:07:32,320 --> 00:07:34,560 Speaker 1: Let me tell you why this is important. It's important 112 00:07:34,840 --> 00:07:37,480 Speaker 1: because if you get the thing you think you want, 113 00:07:38,600 --> 00:07:41,920 Speaker 1: but never let God do the thing you need, you'll 114 00:07:41,920 --> 00:07:44,000 Speaker 1: get the thing you want and you'll mess it up 115 00:07:45,320 --> 00:07:47,760 Speaker 1: because you won't have the character, you won't have the 116 00:07:47,760 --> 00:07:50,520 Speaker 1: prayer life, you won't have the annoying, you won't have 117 00:07:50,600 --> 00:07:52,800 Speaker 1: the compassion, you won't have the love for God or 118 00:07:52,840 --> 00:07:56,480 Speaker 1: love for people to carry the thing that God has 119 00:07:56,600 --> 00:08:01,200 Speaker 1: put on you. A lot of you are praying for 120 00:08:01,280 --> 00:08:04,280 Speaker 1: things that I would say, don't don't stop praying for 121 00:08:04,360 --> 00:08:08,200 Speaker 1: what you're believing God for. Just make sure that you 122 00:08:08,240 --> 00:08:12,800 Speaker 1: are asking God to do something in you. Don't limit 123 00:08:12,920 --> 00:08:16,960 Speaker 1: God to simply someone who can get stuff for you. 124 00:08:18,920 --> 00:08:21,080 Speaker 1: Don't limit God to a God who can just do 125 00:08:21,200 --> 00:08:25,800 Speaker 1: things for you while refusing to allow him to do 126 00:08:25,840 --> 00:08:29,440 Speaker 1: something in you, because it's what He does in you. 127 00:08:29,840 --> 00:08:32,600 Speaker 1: Because here's the reality that if you'll allow God to 128 00:08:32,640 --> 00:08:34,600 Speaker 1: do something in you, even if you don't get the 129 00:08:34,640 --> 00:08:39,439 Speaker 1: thing you wanted, you're content. Even if you don't get 130 00:08:39,480 --> 00:08:42,600 Speaker 1: the thing you've been believing God for, you're happy. Even 131 00:08:42,640 --> 00:08:45,400 Speaker 1: if the circumstance doesn't change exactly how you thought it 132 00:08:45,480 --> 00:08:47,480 Speaker 1: was going to change. Because of what the spirit of 133 00:08:47,480 --> 00:08:50,400 Speaker 1: God did in you, You're now not tripping as much 134 00:08:50,400 --> 00:08:53,240 Speaker 1: about what you thought was the thing isn't even the thing. 135 00:08:54,040 --> 00:08:58,360 Speaker 1: The thing is the thing God's doing in you. Huh. 136 00:08:59,200 --> 00:09:02,600 Speaker 1: So David had to make a choice. David had no 137 00:09:02,720 --> 00:09:06,120 Speaker 1: idea that morning he was gonna step into a fight. 138 00:09:07,679 --> 00:09:11,559 Speaker 1: He didn't expect to fight. He didn't he didn't know 139 00:09:11,600 --> 00:09:15,319 Speaker 1: there was gonna be a fight. He had no plans 140 00:09:15,640 --> 00:09:18,920 Speaker 1: for a fight. His father woke him up one early 141 00:09:18,960 --> 00:09:21,880 Speaker 1: morning and said, here's some bread, here's some cheese. Shout 142 00:09:21,880 --> 00:09:28,480 Speaker 1: out to carbs and dairy. Just side note, they're amazing. 143 00:09:30,400 --> 00:09:36,320 Speaker 1: Praise the Lord. Pastor chunks doesn't eat carbs. Carbs pastor 144 00:09:36,440 --> 00:09:38,360 Speaker 1: chunks are where they take wheat and they grind it 145 00:09:38,440 --> 00:09:42,479 Speaker 1: up and then I know you want to eat broccolini 146 00:09:42,520 --> 00:09:46,840 Speaker 1: and salmon, but some of us got to eat wheat. Amen, 147 00:09:46,920 --> 00:09:49,960 Speaker 1: Praise the Lord. So anyway, he Praise God. Praise God. 148 00:09:50,000 --> 00:09:53,160 Speaker 1: Praise God. So he gets his bread in this cheese 149 00:09:53,200 --> 00:09:55,640 Speaker 1: and he's going to serve his brothers he had. He 150 00:09:55,720 --> 00:10:01,160 Speaker 1: had no intention to fight that day. He had no 151 00:10:01,280 --> 00:10:03,720 Speaker 1: idea that he was about to hear the taunts of 152 00:10:03,800 --> 00:10:08,840 Speaker 1: Goliath and it was going to provoke something in David. 153 00:10:10,040 --> 00:10:13,320 Speaker 1: I want to give you a reality that maybe you've 154 00:10:13,320 --> 00:10:17,040 Speaker 1: never thought about before. But you rarely choose your giants. 155 00:10:20,360 --> 00:10:26,200 Speaker 1: Usually your giants choose you. You rarely choose your fight. 156 00:10:27,640 --> 00:10:31,200 Speaker 1: You rarely choose your storm. You rarely choose your struggle. 157 00:10:32,400 --> 00:10:35,680 Speaker 1: We don't always get to choose our fights, but we 158 00:10:35,760 --> 00:10:40,600 Speaker 1: must choose to fight. We don't always choose our battles, 159 00:10:40,640 --> 00:10:43,440 Speaker 1: but we can stand in the presence of God in 160 00:10:43,480 --> 00:10:47,040 Speaker 1: the midst of our battles. We rarely choose our storms, 161 00:10:47,080 --> 00:10:50,000 Speaker 1: but we can trust that Jesus is with us in 162 00:10:50,080 --> 00:10:52,320 Speaker 1: the storm, will sustain us in the storm, will not 163 00:10:52,480 --> 00:10:55,960 Speaker 1: leave us in the storm. We'll see us through the storm. 164 00:10:56,400 --> 00:10:59,080 Speaker 1: We don't always get to pick our goliath. Most of 165 00:10:59,120 --> 00:11:03,640 Speaker 1: the time Goliath picks us. But we can still have 166 00:11:03,760 --> 00:11:06,760 Speaker 1: victory even in situations that we did not choose. I 167 00:11:06,760 --> 00:11:13,600 Speaker 1: don't know about you. I didn't choose twenty twenty. Well, 168 00:11:16,160 --> 00:11:18,520 Speaker 1: maybe you didn't choose the marriage that you're in right now. 169 00:11:18,559 --> 00:11:25,520 Speaker 1: You're like, they were awesome when we started. Don't say 170 00:11:25,520 --> 00:11:32,880 Speaker 1: anything to your spouse. Is they seem normal? I didn't 171 00:11:32,920 --> 00:11:35,360 Speaker 1: choose this struggle. I didn't. I didn't choose to lose 172 00:11:35,400 --> 00:11:39,079 Speaker 1: my job. I didn't choose this situation. I didn't. I 173 00:11:39,120 --> 00:11:44,720 Speaker 1: didn't choose to be born at this time. I didn't. 174 00:11:44,760 --> 00:11:46,840 Speaker 1: I didn't believe for this. This was not on the 175 00:11:46,880 --> 00:11:52,160 Speaker 1: prayer list. But please don't die as a victim of 176 00:11:52,200 --> 00:11:57,000 Speaker 1: your circumstance because you're angry with the fight that's been 177 00:11:57,000 --> 00:12:01,320 Speaker 1: given to you. You may not be able to change 178 00:12:01,320 --> 00:12:04,040 Speaker 1: the fight, but you can fight. You may not always 179 00:12:04,080 --> 00:12:06,439 Speaker 1: be able to stop the storm, but you can stand 180 00:12:06,480 --> 00:12:09,280 Speaker 1: in the storm in the presence of Jesus. You may 181 00:12:09,320 --> 00:12:12,959 Speaker 1: not like everything that's going on around you, and if 182 00:12:12,960 --> 00:12:15,320 Speaker 1: you're not careful, you will spend the next year of 183 00:12:15,360 --> 00:12:18,600 Speaker 1: your life trying to pray out of something that God 184 00:12:18,679 --> 00:12:22,440 Speaker 1: is trying to do in you, and you'll miss the lesson, 185 00:12:22,840 --> 00:12:27,319 Speaker 1: you'll miss the growth, you'll miss getting to seek Goliath 186 00:12:27,559 --> 00:12:33,440 Speaker 1: fall because you didn't like to fight. I've had to 187 00:12:33,520 --> 00:12:37,120 Speaker 1: learn that my greatest seasons of growth have been in 188 00:12:37,240 --> 00:12:40,559 Speaker 1: moments where I had to take on fights I didn't expect. 189 00:12:44,160 --> 00:12:47,040 Speaker 1: But David sees some things, and I see some things 190 00:12:47,080 --> 00:12:48,760 Speaker 1: in the text that David saw that I want to 191 00:12:49,160 --> 00:12:51,440 Speaker 1: I want to share with you because I think there's 192 00:12:51,480 --> 00:12:54,920 Speaker 1: some keys to victory that David had over his goliath. 193 00:12:54,960 --> 00:12:57,240 Speaker 1: And we all have a Goliath. We're all gonna face giants. 194 00:12:57,880 --> 00:13:00,680 Speaker 1: Your last giant is not your last. There will be 195 00:13:00,720 --> 00:13:04,959 Speaker 1: more giants to have a way of popping up. So 196 00:13:05,000 --> 00:13:07,320 Speaker 1: I'm gonna give you some things that I see from David, 197 00:13:07,480 --> 00:13:12,400 Speaker 1: and here's the first. In order to have this ridiculous reality, 198 00:13:12,480 --> 00:13:18,000 Speaker 1: this victory mentality, you have to choose courage over worry. 199 00:13:20,240 --> 00:13:25,720 Speaker 1: Courage over worry, David said in verse thirty two. Don't worry. 200 00:13:27,559 --> 00:13:30,800 Speaker 1: Courage is not the absence of fear. It is the 201 00:13:30,840 --> 00:13:36,400 Speaker 1: ability to do something that frightens you. So when David 202 00:13:36,440 --> 00:13:44,880 Speaker 1: says don't worry, he's not claiming he's fearless. Courage is 203 00:13:44,920 --> 00:13:50,280 Speaker 1: not fearless. Courage is the ability to place more faith 204 00:13:50,320 --> 00:13:55,280 Speaker 1: in God's word than in the mountain. Courage is the 205 00:13:55,280 --> 00:13:57,760 Speaker 1: ability to put more faith in what God has promised 206 00:13:57,800 --> 00:14:02,240 Speaker 1: than in the giant. David said don't worry. Here's what 207 00:14:02,280 --> 00:14:04,680 Speaker 1: he's saying. He's not saying that the emotion is gone. 208 00:14:04,800 --> 00:14:08,600 Speaker 1: He's saying, I refuse to let worry and fear dictate 209 00:14:08,720 --> 00:14:12,360 Speaker 1: every decision in my life. Have you read Joshua? Chapter 210 00:14:12,400 --> 00:14:15,720 Speaker 1: one of God tells Joshua, hey, hey, be strong, be courageous. 211 00:14:16,240 --> 00:14:21,840 Speaker 1: You're like, I'm trying, don't ever read stuff like that. 212 00:14:21,880 --> 00:14:26,520 Speaker 1: You're like, isn't that easy? Jesus is, don't worry about tomorrow. Wow, 213 00:14:27,600 --> 00:14:31,880 Speaker 1: working on it. Try and do him my best. Here, 214 00:14:33,880 --> 00:14:37,760 Speaker 1: when God commands us not to worry, When God commands 215 00:14:37,840 --> 00:14:41,000 Speaker 1: us to be courageous, he's not saying that we're gonna 216 00:14:41,040 --> 00:14:43,600 Speaker 1: be robotic and that we're no longer going to have emotion. 217 00:14:44,800 --> 00:14:48,080 Speaker 1: He's just saying that your faith will go beyond the emotion, 218 00:14:48,280 --> 00:14:51,520 Speaker 1: that God's promise will go beyond the feeling that what 219 00:14:51,600 --> 00:14:54,600 Speaker 1: God has said about you will be stronger than the 220 00:14:54,680 --> 00:14:58,600 Speaker 1: fear that you feel. In the moment, when David says 221 00:14:58,680 --> 00:15:00,960 Speaker 1: don't worry, I think his knees were knocking. When David 222 00:15:01,000 --> 00:15:03,480 Speaker 1: said don't worry. I think his stomach was probably turning. 223 00:15:03,520 --> 00:15:06,200 Speaker 1: When David said don't worry, I think sweat was falling 224 00:15:06,240 --> 00:15:08,240 Speaker 1: from his head. But there was something in him that 225 00:15:08,320 --> 00:15:11,480 Speaker 1: knew that God had done enough in his life that 226 00:15:11,560 --> 00:15:14,920 Speaker 1: he could get through this because of all God has 227 00:15:15,080 --> 00:15:18,680 Speaker 1: already done. I'm sorry, I'm already screaming, but I just 228 00:15:18,720 --> 00:15:22,000 Speaker 1: want to tell somebody that fear doesn't have to be 229 00:15:22,160 --> 00:15:25,240 Speaker 1: your anchor emotion. Worry doesn't have to And I know 230 00:15:25,320 --> 00:15:28,760 Speaker 1: these are scary times. I know these aren't worried sometimes. 231 00:15:29,120 --> 00:15:32,760 Speaker 1: I know these are crazy times. I don't like it either, 232 00:15:34,280 --> 00:15:35,880 Speaker 1: but if I got to be in it, I might 233 00:15:35,920 --> 00:15:43,520 Speaker 1: as well be in it with some courage. So the 234 00:15:43,600 --> 00:15:48,120 Speaker 1: Bible said, for forty days, every morning and every night, 235 00:15:48,160 --> 00:15:52,240 Speaker 1: Goliath is cursing the people of God forty days every morning, 236 00:15:52,920 --> 00:15:56,680 Speaker 1: every night, every morning, every night, every morning, every night, 237 00:15:56,720 --> 00:16:01,200 Speaker 1: with his usual taunts. Can I tell you that the 238 00:16:01,240 --> 00:16:08,800 Speaker 1: devil knows your usual talks it might be addiction. It 239 00:16:08,880 --> 00:16:11,960 Speaker 1: might be lost, It might be anger, might be hatred, 240 00:16:12,800 --> 00:16:14,480 Speaker 1: might be fear, it might be greed. I don't know 241 00:16:14,520 --> 00:16:16,960 Speaker 1: what your taunt is, but the devil knows your taunt, 242 00:16:18,120 --> 00:16:23,880 Speaker 1: and there's nothing new. So he'll just keep working your taunt. 243 00:16:24,280 --> 00:16:27,960 Speaker 1: As long as you let him talk. He will taunt 244 00:16:30,480 --> 00:16:33,080 Speaker 1: as long as you allow the enemy to speak every 245 00:16:33,160 --> 00:16:36,880 Speaker 1: morning and every night. Here's what he will taunt you, 246 00:16:36,960 --> 00:16:40,120 Speaker 1: and he will remind you, and he will bring that 247 00:16:40,280 --> 00:16:43,840 Speaker 1: up and up and up and up. So for forty days, 248 00:16:43,840 --> 00:16:48,600 Speaker 1: Saul is under this influence of his taunts. Saul was insecure. 249 00:16:50,760 --> 00:16:56,600 Speaker 1: Saul was troubled by evil spirits. Saul was well aware 250 00:16:56,680 --> 00:16:59,960 Speaker 1: of his weaknesses and well aware of everyone else's strength. 251 00:17:00,080 --> 00:17:04,080 Speaker 1: That's why he was jealous. So the devil knew exactly 252 00:17:04,200 --> 00:17:08,440 Speaker 1: what to tell Saul. And I don't know what your 253 00:17:08,480 --> 00:17:10,439 Speaker 1: taunt is, but many of you you keep hearing the 254 00:17:10,520 --> 00:17:13,880 Speaker 1: same thing. You can't do it, You'll you'll never make it. 255 00:17:13,880 --> 00:17:16,760 Speaker 1: It will always be this way it was. It was 256 00:17:16,840 --> 00:17:20,240 Speaker 1: better before you started serving God. It was easier before 257 00:17:20,280 --> 00:17:23,280 Speaker 1: you really committed to the Lord. And he will just 258 00:17:23,440 --> 00:17:28,320 Speaker 1: keep talking to you. I want to submit this. Saul's 259 00:17:28,480 --> 00:17:35,320 Speaker 1: fear was justified. Goliath was nine feet tall. That's scary. 260 00:17:38,440 --> 00:17:45,560 Speaker 1: His fear was justified, but living in it was not justified. 261 00:17:47,040 --> 00:17:49,200 Speaker 1: So I've learned that you're either gonna be a don't 262 00:17:49,240 --> 00:17:53,760 Speaker 1: worry person or a don't be ridiculous person. I've learned 263 00:17:53,800 --> 00:17:56,080 Speaker 1: that you're either gonna be a Saul or you're gonna 264 00:17:56,080 --> 00:17:59,560 Speaker 1: be a David. You're either gonna live in the fear 265 00:17:59,720 --> 00:18:02,000 Speaker 1: of life what might happen and never take a step 266 00:18:02,040 --> 00:18:04,080 Speaker 1: of faith, or you're going to be like David and 267 00:18:04,119 --> 00:18:07,760 Speaker 1: you're gonna be ridiculous and you're going to live in 268 00:18:07,840 --> 00:18:10,320 Speaker 1: a don't worry spirit that says, you know what, my 269 00:18:10,440 --> 00:18:15,240 Speaker 1: worry can't change anything anyway. It's doing no good anyway. 270 00:18:15,640 --> 00:18:18,720 Speaker 1: It's not preparing me for anything anyway. So I might 271 00:18:18,760 --> 00:18:22,159 Speaker 1: as well stop because all it's doing is stopping me 272 00:18:22,320 --> 00:18:24,800 Speaker 1: from entering into what God has for me. And I 273 00:18:24,960 --> 00:18:27,000 Speaker 1: just refuse to be a Saul. I don't want to 274 00:18:27,000 --> 00:18:29,399 Speaker 1: live that way. I don't want to live small. I 275 00:18:29,400 --> 00:18:31,400 Speaker 1: don't want to live insecure. I don't want to live 276 00:18:31,440 --> 00:18:34,080 Speaker 1: talking people out of their dreams. And I know that 277 00:18:34,160 --> 00:18:37,119 Speaker 1: over the last fifteen months, eighteen months, I know the 278 00:18:37,160 --> 00:18:40,040 Speaker 1: devil has worked so hard to just talk us out 279 00:18:40,040 --> 00:18:44,639 Speaker 1: of our dreams, to retreat, to give up, to quit, 280 00:18:45,119 --> 00:18:48,280 Speaker 1: to play it safe. But I want to tell you 281 00:18:48,359 --> 00:18:51,879 Speaker 1: today that you can choose courage over worry. That you 282 00:18:51,960 --> 00:18:54,320 Speaker 1: can get your fight back, that you can get your 283 00:18:54,400 --> 00:18:57,440 Speaker 1: prayer back, that you can get your praise back, that 284 00:18:57,600 --> 00:18:59,959 Speaker 1: you think, get your relationships back, that you think get 285 00:19:00,040 --> 00:19:03,720 Speaker 1: it's your mind back. I understand that the devil has 286 00:19:03,760 --> 00:19:07,439 Speaker 1: fought us hard for month after month after month, but 287 00:19:07,480 --> 00:19:09,439 Speaker 1: I think it's time to fight back a little bit. 288 00:19:09,480 --> 00:19:12,480 Speaker 1: I think it's time to say I refuse to live 289 00:19:13,200 --> 00:19:17,000 Speaker 1: in the worry of what might never happen. I'm gonna 290 00:19:17,000 --> 00:19:25,320 Speaker 1: step into what God already said what happened. Faith will 291 00:19:25,359 --> 00:19:30,920 Speaker 1: always look ridiculous, Courage will always be a rare commodity, 292 00:19:32,160 --> 00:19:38,600 Speaker 1: Hope will always look unrealistic. But never forget that the 293 00:19:38,680 --> 00:19:49,840 Speaker 1: miraculous and the ridiculous are always connected. They is they is. 294 00:19:51,040 --> 00:19:53,680 Speaker 1: See every time you see a miracle in the Bible, 295 00:19:54,320 --> 00:19:56,720 Speaker 1: we read right over it. But every time you see 296 00:19:56,720 --> 00:19:59,280 Speaker 1: a miracle in the Bible, you will see a ridiculous 297 00:19:59,480 --> 00:20:06,160 Speaker 1: instruction from God every time. They just don't seem crazy 298 00:20:06,240 --> 00:20:08,639 Speaker 1: now because we've been reading about him since we're five. 299 00:20:10,720 --> 00:20:14,280 Speaker 1: But they're ridiculous. The Bible is full of people who 300 00:20:14,320 --> 00:20:25,160 Speaker 1: need miracles and God who answers with instructions, not miracles. Instructions. God, 301 00:20:25,200 --> 00:20:27,800 Speaker 1: I need a miracle, do this. I don't want to 302 00:20:27,840 --> 00:20:33,119 Speaker 1: do that. I want you to do this. And a 303 00:20:33,160 --> 00:20:35,119 Speaker 1: lot of us miss out on our miracle because we 304 00:20:35,160 --> 00:20:39,040 Speaker 1: don't like the instruction. A lot of us miss out 305 00:20:39,040 --> 00:20:41,879 Speaker 1: on answer prayer because we don't like what God's telling 306 00:20:41,960 --> 00:20:43,439 Speaker 1: us to do. I don't want to do that. I 307 00:20:43,480 --> 00:20:45,199 Speaker 1: want you to do something that goes I will do 308 00:20:45,280 --> 00:20:50,440 Speaker 1: something if you will do something. But the thing that 309 00:20:51,200 --> 00:20:53,399 Speaker 1: God is calling us to do will usually push us 310 00:20:53,400 --> 00:20:56,800 Speaker 1: out of our comfort zone. It feels so ridiculous, y'all 311 00:20:56,840 --> 00:21:06,160 Speaker 1: don't believe me. Hey, Noah, build a boat, bro, what's about. 312 00:21:09,880 --> 00:21:12,439 Speaker 1: It's a big piece of wood. You're gonna live in 313 00:21:12,480 --> 00:21:20,240 Speaker 1: it because it's gonna rain. Beat what's rain? It's water, 314 00:21:20,440 --> 00:21:22,120 Speaker 1: but it's not gonna come up from the grass. Gotta 315 00:21:22,119 --> 00:21:29,399 Speaker 1: come up from the sky. Bet it's ridiculous. And so 316 00:21:29,560 --> 00:21:33,320 Speaker 1: for over a hundred years, no it builds a boat 317 00:21:34,600 --> 00:21:38,120 Speaker 1: with no rain, and we read it, and we read 318 00:21:38,119 --> 00:21:40,680 Speaker 1: it in Sunday school, so we don't realize how crazy 319 00:21:40,720 --> 00:21:44,080 Speaker 1: this is, and we wonder why God never does anything 320 00:21:44,119 --> 00:21:54,040 Speaker 1: for us. Abraham, just go just go where I saw you? 321 00:21:59,119 --> 00:22:01,520 Speaker 1: So like you want to tell Sarah, right, not like 322 00:22:03,320 --> 00:22:06,359 Speaker 1: I can't even take my wife on a date until 323 00:22:06,400 --> 00:22:10,320 Speaker 1: I tell her where we're going. Fay, let's go on 324 00:22:10,320 --> 00:22:15,080 Speaker 1: a date where and you want me to fack of 325 00:22:15,200 --> 00:22:19,560 Speaker 1: my wife? They just start walking. Yeah, yeah, yeah, for sure. 326 00:22:24,640 --> 00:22:31,200 Speaker 1: It's ridiculous. Elijah, build an altar. I'm gonna send fire, 327 00:22:31,359 --> 00:22:35,280 Speaker 1: so put water on it. Okay, Isaac, so in a 328 00:22:35,359 --> 00:22:38,320 Speaker 1: time of famine, naming dipping the Jordan, but not once, 329 00:22:38,359 --> 00:22:41,280 Speaker 1: on twice, on three times, go ahead and dip seven times. 330 00:22:41,680 --> 00:22:45,080 Speaker 1: Do something that's ridiculous, to something that offends you, to 331 00:22:45,280 --> 00:22:49,280 Speaker 1: something that pushes you out of your comfort zone. Elisha, Uh, 332 00:22:49,320 --> 00:22:52,200 Speaker 1: you need water, cool, don't pray for rain to ditches, 333 00:22:55,600 --> 00:23:01,199 Speaker 1: don't look up, look down, don't pray for out to form. Instead, 334 00:23:01,320 --> 00:23:04,560 Speaker 1: just start digging holes. Widow, you need some food, Go 335 00:23:04,560 --> 00:23:11,600 Speaker 1: ahead and gather vessels from your friends, servants. You'll need wine, 336 00:23:12,080 --> 00:23:19,560 Speaker 1: get some water. We don't even know what we're praying for, 337 00:23:19,840 --> 00:23:22,720 Speaker 1: so we start praying for miracles, and then we start 338 00:23:22,760 --> 00:23:25,160 Speaker 1: seeing weird things around us, and we go God, You're 339 00:23:25,200 --> 00:23:27,000 Speaker 1: not head, He's going I am. It just is not 340 00:23:27,080 --> 00:23:29,399 Speaker 1: what you thought it was gonna be, but it is 341 00:23:29,440 --> 00:23:34,119 Speaker 1: what you need. Hey, you want to beat five thousand people, 342 00:23:34,359 --> 00:23:36,679 Speaker 1: break them up in the groups of fifty. Hey you 343 00:23:36,720 --> 00:23:39,639 Speaker 1: want me to raise Lazarus from the dead, then you 344 00:23:39,840 --> 00:23:42,960 Speaker 1: roll away the stone. Because if you'll roll away the stone, 345 00:23:43,080 --> 00:23:46,000 Speaker 1: I'll raise the dead. If you'll do what you can do, 346 00:23:46,080 --> 00:23:49,120 Speaker 1: I'll do what I can do. You can't raise the dead. 347 00:23:49,280 --> 00:23:51,840 Speaker 1: But if you can roll away a stone, if you 348 00:23:51,880 --> 00:23:54,840 Speaker 1: can park a car, if you can give in the offering, 349 00:23:55,200 --> 00:23:57,720 Speaker 1: if you can serve in the kids ministry, if you 350 00:23:57,760 --> 00:24:00,920 Speaker 1: can play a guitar, if you can a song, if 351 00:24:00,960 --> 00:24:03,439 Speaker 1: you can love old somebody, if you can hold a 352 00:24:03,520 --> 00:24:06,440 Speaker 1: sign and welcome them to church, if you'll roll away 353 00:24:06,520 --> 00:24:13,720 Speaker 1: the stone, I'll raise the dad. I don't want to 354 00:24:13,760 --> 00:24:16,200 Speaker 1: hold a sign. I want to preach too bad hold 355 00:24:16,200 --> 00:24:21,040 Speaker 1: a sign. I don't want to be a host. I 356 00:24:21,680 --> 00:24:26,400 Speaker 1: want to sing. No host. Do something ridiculous that stretches 357 00:24:26,440 --> 00:24:31,600 Speaker 1: you and offends you, that makes you go, God, why 358 00:24:31,600 --> 00:24:36,120 Speaker 1: are you doing me like that? Because I don't want 359 00:24:36,119 --> 00:24:38,760 Speaker 1: to just do stuff for you. I want to do 360 00:24:38,880 --> 00:24:43,520 Speaker 1: stuff in you and if I just gave you everything, 361 00:24:44,240 --> 00:24:48,480 Speaker 1: you would never change. So you have to do something 362 00:24:48,600 --> 00:24:56,680 Speaker 1: ridiculous and then you'll watch God do the miraculous. Somebody 363 00:24:56,720 --> 00:25:02,359 Speaker 1: praise God. I'm I was gonna say I'm almost dumb, 364 00:25:02,359 --> 00:25:04,679 Speaker 1: but I'm not. I'm only on point one. Pray for me. 365 00:25:05,119 --> 00:25:11,320 Speaker 1: Sit down, Sit down, I gotta preach. It's ridiculous. You 366 00:25:11,640 --> 00:25:15,760 Speaker 1: want me to serve in church. Yeah, it's ridiculous. You 367 00:25:15,840 --> 00:25:21,000 Speaker 1: want me to tie tie tie. My friend the other 368 00:25:21,080 --> 00:25:22,520 Speaker 1: day she was cutting my hair. She goes, you know, 369 00:25:22,600 --> 00:25:24,920 Speaker 1: tithing is just you know, it's from the hearts, whatever 370 00:25:24,920 --> 00:25:27,920 Speaker 1: you feel lad to give. This is a scary conversation 371 00:25:28,000 --> 00:25:32,440 Speaker 1: to have when they have razors. Sharp just goes to 372 00:25:32,480 --> 00:25:35,639 Speaker 1: our church. I said, actually go always like ten percent, 373 00:25:36,960 --> 00:25:41,480 Speaker 1: and she's just what I said. It's like tenbers out 374 00:25:41,480 --> 00:25:44,080 Speaker 1: of your income. But like, no pressure. Just let me 375 00:25:44,119 --> 00:25:49,000 Speaker 1: get out of this. But I follow the Holy Spirit. 376 00:25:49,040 --> 00:25:51,439 Speaker 1: You know, it's like who we're not legalistic. You know, 377 00:25:53,000 --> 00:25:58,800 Speaker 1: it's ridiculous. You want me to love my enemies, it's ridiculous. 378 00:25:59,800 --> 00:26:02,080 Speaker 1: You want me to forgive those who are talking about 379 00:26:02,080 --> 00:26:06,879 Speaker 1: me is ridiculous. You want me to you want me 380 00:26:06,920 --> 00:26:11,680 Speaker 1: to obey, It's all sounds, so it sounds so ridiculous 381 00:26:12,160 --> 00:26:20,960 Speaker 1: till it works. It feels ridiculous until it looks miraculous, 382 00:26:23,680 --> 00:26:28,960 Speaker 1: and that that point is like really fast, so you 383 00:26:29,119 --> 00:26:33,879 Speaker 1: feel foolish for a long time, and then all of 384 00:26:33,920 --> 00:26:38,359 Speaker 1: a sudden you look wise. Four years ago, we packed 385 00:26:38,440 --> 00:26:42,440 Speaker 1: up a Penske truck and we left Newport Beach, California. 386 00:26:42,440 --> 00:26:43,560 Speaker 1: I don't know if you're a bet at Newport, but 387 00:26:43,600 --> 00:26:54,080 Speaker 1: Newport's like heaven for real. And it felt so ridiculous. 388 00:26:55,119 --> 00:26:57,639 Speaker 1: It felt so ridiculous four years ago to take my 389 00:26:57,720 --> 00:27:00,399 Speaker 1: six month old daughter out of our car and it 390 00:27:00,440 --> 00:27:03,479 Speaker 1: was one hundred and eight degrees and she's sweating, and 391 00:27:03,520 --> 00:27:05,760 Speaker 1: we didn't have a house yet because we didn't have income. 392 00:27:06,080 --> 00:27:08,880 Speaker 1: So we're living with my brother and sister in law 393 00:27:09,359 --> 00:27:11,320 Speaker 1: in their guest room and they go, all good. We 394 00:27:11,359 --> 00:27:13,680 Speaker 1: got to bed. It was an air mattress. They lied 395 00:27:13,720 --> 00:27:16,720 Speaker 1: to us, And as I laid in that air mattress, 396 00:27:16,760 --> 00:27:23,920 Speaker 1: I went, God, you lie to me. And it felt 397 00:27:24,000 --> 00:27:32,720 Speaker 1: so ridiculous till it looked miraculous. And I won't I 398 00:27:32,760 --> 00:27:35,920 Speaker 1: won't bore you with the details, but God has been 399 00:27:35,960 --> 00:27:39,960 Speaker 1: so good to us. But it didn't. It didn't feel 400 00:27:40,119 --> 00:27:45,359 Speaker 1: good At first, it just felt like God, like I 401 00:27:45,440 --> 00:27:47,280 Speaker 1: knew it was God, but it didn't feel good. But 402 00:27:47,320 --> 00:27:50,760 Speaker 1: I knew it was God. But the longer you stay 403 00:27:50,800 --> 00:27:54,919 Speaker 1: with it, I'm gonna create a word right now. The 404 00:27:54,960 --> 00:28:00,440 Speaker 1: gooder it feels, the better it feels, the wiser you 405 00:28:00,520 --> 00:28:04,480 Speaker 1: feel because you trusted God when they looked at you 406 00:28:04,560 --> 00:28:07,560 Speaker 1: and said you were ridiculous, but you knew God puts 407 00:28:07,560 --> 00:28:14,200 Speaker 1: something in you. Number number two, Faith over facts, Faith 408 00:28:14,280 --> 00:28:18,480 Speaker 1: over facts. I'm not here to deny facts, but I 409 00:28:18,560 --> 00:28:23,879 Speaker 1: want you to understand something. Saul said, there's no way 410 00:28:24,000 --> 00:28:31,920 Speaker 1: you can fight this philistine and possibly win. He was right, 411 00:28:35,119 --> 00:28:40,720 Speaker 1: Saul said, you can't. Saul was being very realistic. Saul 412 00:28:40,840 --> 00:28:45,000 Speaker 1: was actually being wise. Saul was looking at a teenager 413 00:28:45,040 --> 00:28:48,360 Speaker 1: and saying, you can't go up against a nine foot 414 00:28:48,400 --> 00:28:51,280 Speaker 1: tall giant. I love what he says. He's been a 415 00:28:51,280 --> 00:28:53,760 Speaker 1: man of war since his youth, like he's been grown 416 00:28:53,880 --> 00:29:00,320 Speaker 1: since he was a kid, Like he's he was one 417 00:29:00,320 --> 00:29:02,320 Speaker 1: of those twelve year olds. And you're like, are you thirty? 418 00:29:02,400 --> 00:29:08,160 Speaker 1: You know that was Goliath. Saul had a scouting report 419 00:29:08,280 --> 00:29:10,400 Speaker 1: on Goliath. He said, he's a man of what we 420 00:29:10,480 --> 00:29:17,640 Speaker 1: know about this, you can't and he was right. Hand 421 00:29:17,680 --> 00:29:26,040 Speaker 1: to hand combat, no chance. Sword against sword not possible. 422 00:29:27,320 --> 00:29:33,240 Speaker 1: There was no way David could do that. But faith 423 00:29:33,600 --> 00:29:44,600 Speaker 1: sees another way. Faith looks for the possibility in the impossibility. 424 00:29:46,680 --> 00:29:49,600 Speaker 1: Faith looks for what God could do in the midst 425 00:29:49,640 --> 00:29:54,480 Speaker 1: of the problem. Faith is not moved by what is seen. 426 00:29:55,800 --> 00:29:58,480 Speaker 1: Faith will move in the midst of what is seen. 427 00:30:01,040 --> 00:30:03,239 Speaker 1: There's always going to be an excuse for why you 428 00:30:03,280 --> 00:30:07,920 Speaker 1: can't fight your goliath. You can say you can't, and 429 00:30:08,000 --> 00:30:12,800 Speaker 1: you would be right. But if you say you can, 430 00:30:14,280 --> 00:30:19,600 Speaker 1: you'll be right. Ecclesiastes chapter eleven verse forces farmers who 431 00:30:19,600 --> 00:30:23,760 Speaker 1: wait for perfect weather they never plant. Look at your neighbors, 432 00:30:23,760 --> 00:30:26,680 Speaker 1: say stop waiting, stop waiting, stop waiting. Type it in 433 00:30:26,720 --> 00:30:30,400 Speaker 1: the chat, please stop waiting. If they watch every cloud, 434 00:30:30,560 --> 00:30:34,640 Speaker 1: they will never harvest. David could have easily said I'll 435 00:30:34,680 --> 00:30:36,920 Speaker 1: fight him and then looked at him and said, my bad, 436 00:30:37,240 --> 00:30:41,720 Speaker 1: just kidding. And if you're waiting for the perfect weather 437 00:30:43,120 --> 00:30:46,920 Speaker 1: to step out in faith, friend, if the weather was perfect, 438 00:30:46,920 --> 00:30:50,280 Speaker 1: you wouldn't need faith. You only need faith because there 439 00:30:50,320 --> 00:30:52,040 Speaker 1: is a cloud in the sky. You only need faith 440 00:30:52,040 --> 00:30:54,600 Speaker 1: because there is a giant. You only need faith because 441 00:30:54,640 --> 00:31:00,360 Speaker 1: the circumstances aren't good. So hand to hand, sword to sword, 442 00:31:00,440 --> 00:31:08,480 Speaker 1: absolutely not. But slingshot, he's too big to miss. You 443 00:31:08,640 --> 00:31:15,520 Speaker 1: have to see the same issue a different way. Agree 444 00:31:16,240 --> 00:31:25,000 Speaker 1: same issue, same marriage, different perspective, same job, different attitude, 445 00:31:25,000 --> 00:31:29,480 Speaker 1: same city, different outlook. Do you remember when God was 446 00:31:29,480 --> 00:31:33,240 Speaker 1: bringing Joshua into the Promised Land Joshua Chapter three? He said, Joshua, 447 00:31:33,400 --> 00:31:36,440 Speaker 1: you're going to go in, but you've never gone this 448 00:31:36,560 --> 00:31:42,280 Speaker 1: way before. You're still going in, You're just going in 449 00:31:42,320 --> 00:31:46,000 Speaker 1: a new way, with a new perspective, with a new route, 450 00:31:46,240 --> 00:31:50,240 Speaker 1: with a new path. You're going to the same place 451 00:31:50,880 --> 00:31:57,320 Speaker 1: a different way. David and Saul saw the same giant, 452 00:31:57,400 --> 00:32:02,000 Speaker 1: but they saw him differently. David and Saul saw the 453 00:32:02,040 --> 00:32:05,960 Speaker 1: same enemy, but they saw him differently. David and Saul 454 00:32:06,000 --> 00:32:08,360 Speaker 1: were looking at the same problem, but they saw it 455 00:32:08,440 --> 00:32:12,880 Speaker 1: differently because Saul could only see it one way. But faith, 456 00:32:13,080 --> 00:32:19,280 Speaker 1: Faith is creative. Faith will give you an imagination. Faith 457 00:32:19,320 --> 00:32:21,760 Speaker 1: will get you looking at the same thing and going 458 00:32:21,840 --> 00:32:25,200 Speaker 1: But I know what you're saying, but it feels different 459 00:32:25,240 --> 00:32:27,560 Speaker 1: to me. When I moved to Las Vegas, I had 460 00:32:27,560 --> 00:32:32,320 Speaker 1: two incredible, lovely probably pastors in town, and they called 461 00:32:32,360 --> 00:32:34,640 Speaker 1: me and they said, you cannot plant the church here 462 00:32:34,960 --> 00:32:41,400 Speaker 1: and you cannot plant the church there. It will never work. Thanks. 463 00:32:45,760 --> 00:32:47,640 Speaker 1: They said, what part of town? I said, well, this 464 00:32:47,680 --> 00:32:49,400 Speaker 1: part of the said no, no no, no no, one goes to 465 00:32:49,520 --> 00:32:56,760 Speaker 1: church on the west side. It won't work. Copy. Thanks. 466 00:32:58,320 --> 00:33:01,080 Speaker 1: And I had to look at the same part of 467 00:33:01,120 --> 00:33:06,640 Speaker 1: our city a different way. I had to look at 468 00:33:06,640 --> 00:33:10,080 Speaker 1: the same region with different eyes. I had to look 469 00:33:10,080 --> 00:33:13,040 Speaker 1: at the same problem, but not see it as a problem, 470 00:33:13,120 --> 00:33:15,320 Speaker 1: see it as a possibility. I had to look at 471 00:33:15,360 --> 00:33:17,280 Speaker 1: a zip code that did not have a church like 472 00:33:17,320 --> 00:33:19,840 Speaker 1: ours in it, or a zip code anywhere around us 473 00:33:19,840 --> 00:33:22,920 Speaker 1: that had a church like ours in us and say 474 00:33:22,960 --> 00:33:28,400 Speaker 1: to myself, either they're not receptive, or maybe my faith 475 00:33:29,080 --> 00:33:32,720 Speaker 1: and maybe my creativity and maybe my tenacity can outweigh 476 00:33:33,600 --> 00:33:37,600 Speaker 1: their lack of receptivity. And so I had to see 477 00:33:37,640 --> 00:33:41,680 Speaker 1: the same thing from a different perspective. I cannot promise 478 00:33:41,720 --> 00:33:44,000 Speaker 1: you that everything in your life is going to change 479 00:33:44,040 --> 00:33:47,000 Speaker 1: after today, but I am promising that you can see 480 00:33:47,000 --> 00:33:50,640 Speaker 1: it different. Isn't that what Elisha prayed for his servant 481 00:33:50,680 --> 00:33:53,840 Speaker 1: when they were surrounded by the enemy, and his servant thought, Okay, 482 00:33:53,960 --> 00:33:55,560 Speaker 1: you need to call down fire, you need to help us, 483 00:33:55,600 --> 00:33:57,840 Speaker 1: you need to call on God. And Elisha praise. But 484 00:33:57,920 --> 00:33:59,880 Speaker 1: he doesn't pray against the enemy. He prays for his son. 485 00:34:00,200 --> 00:34:02,640 Speaker 1: It says, Lord, give him my eyes to see. Let 486 00:34:02,760 --> 00:34:04,959 Speaker 1: him see what I see. Let him see what you see. 487 00:34:05,360 --> 00:34:09,160 Speaker 1: Let him see the same situation. But instead of seeing 488 00:34:09,160 --> 00:34:11,600 Speaker 1: it from his perspective, would you allow him to see 489 00:34:11,640 --> 00:34:15,320 Speaker 1: it from your perspective. And I'm not saying that everything's 490 00:34:15,320 --> 00:34:16,839 Speaker 1: going to change, But what I am saying is that 491 00:34:16,920 --> 00:34:27,719 Speaker 1: if you'll see it different. Lastly, a ridiculous reality will 492 00:34:27,719 --> 00:34:39,960 Speaker 1: require God's word over man's opinion. God's word over man's opinion. 493 00:34:40,600 --> 00:34:50,840 Speaker 1: You're a boy, he's a man. That's all he could 494 00:34:50,880 --> 00:34:56,680 Speaker 1: see in him. You're a boy, he's a man. But 495 00:34:56,920 --> 00:35:04,880 Speaker 1: God said, But God said, and there has to be 496 00:35:04,920 --> 00:35:08,680 Speaker 1: a But God that gets in your spirit. There has 497 00:35:08,760 --> 00:35:11,320 Speaker 1: to be something in you, Joseph that says, but God 498 00:35:11,440 --> 00:35:13,960 Speaker 1: has turned this thing around for good and for the 499 00:35:14,600 --> 00:35:17,200 Speaker 1: saving of There has to be something in you. That says, 500 00:35:17,200 --> 00:35:21,239 Speaker 1: I understand what they're saying, But God, I understand. I 501 00:35:21,320 --> 00:35:24,279 Speaker 1: understand why they're saying it. But God, I understand the 502 00:35:24,840 --> 00:35:28,760 Speaker 1: thought process behind it. But God, I understand the reasons 503 00:35:28,840 --> 00:35:31,040 Speaker 1: saw that you would declare that over my life. But 504 00:35:31,239 --> 00:35:37,520 Speaker 1: God said, I found a man. Saul saw a boy, 505 00:35:37,560 --> 00:35:42,960 Speaker 1: God saw a man, Saul saw a kid, God saw 506 00:35:43,080 --> 00:35:48,200 Speaker 1: a king, And so much of your life is going 507 00:35:48,239 --> 00:35:52,240 Speaker 1: to be determined by who you allow to speak into 508 00:35:52,320 --> 00:35:55,480 Speaker 1: your life. This is why a church like this really matters. 509 00:35:55,520 --> 00:35:57,600 Speaker 1: This is why it's really important that you're in this church. 510 00:35:57,760 --> 00:35:59,600 Speaker 1: It's why it's really important that you attend this church, 511 00:35:59,640 --> 00:36:02,440 Speaker 1: serving the church, given this church, this Epham or not. 512 00:36:02,560 --> 00:36:04,239 Speaker 1: This is why you have to be a part of 513 00:36:04,280 --> 00:36:09,200 Speaker 1: elevation because you need somebody with enough faith and enough 514 00:36:09,280 --> 00:36:11,680 Speaker 1: humility to look at you, weak in and weak out 515 00:36:12,040 --> 00:36:14,799 Speaker 1: and declare what God says about you and not what 516 00:36:14,840 --> 00:36:17,880 Speaker 1: you're hearing from your family and from your friends, and 517 00:36:18,000 --> 00:36:21,560 Speaker 1: from your frenemies and from your enemies and from everywhere 518 00:36:21,600 --> 00:36:24,240 Speaker 1: in between. You need a man of God like pastor 519 00:36:24,280 --> 00:36:28,920 Speaker 1: Stephen Verdicude. Every week, get up, stand behind this pulpit, 520 00:36:29,040 --> 00:36:32,160 Speaker 1: open the Bible, and tell you who God is, and 521 00:36:32,239 --> 00:36:35,760 Speaker 1: tell you who you are, because if you stop allowing 522 00:36:35,800 --> 00:36:38,840 Speaker 1: that influence in, there will always be a Saul ready 523 00:36:39,200 --> 00:36:42,799 Speaker 1: to pounce on you and tell you the lies of 524 00:36:42,840 --> 00:36:45,880 Speaker 1: the enemy and remind you of all of your insecurities 525 00:36:45,920 --> 00:36:48,840 Speaker 1: and all of your inadequacies and all of the reasons 526 00:36:48,840 --> 00:36:51,280 Speaker 1: that you are not qualified, and all of the reasons 527 00:36:51,600 --> 00:36:54,439 Speaker 1: that you do not measure up. You need this Man 528 00:36:54,480 --> 00:36:57,080 Speaker 1: of God in your life to declare. Thus say it 529 00:36:57,200 --> 00:36:59,920 Speaker 1: the Lord, to declare the King in you, to declare 530 00:37:00,280 --> 00:37:02,320 Speaker 1: the Man of God, the Woman of God in you, 531 00:37:02,480 --> 00:37:06,200 Speaker 1: to declare the promises of God over you. And not 532 00:37:06,400 --> 00:37:08,440 Speaker 1: everyone is going to be able to see that, But 533 00:37:08,560 --> 00:37:10,319 Speaker 1: you don't need everyone to be able to see that. 534 00:37:12,120 --> 00:37:14,600 Speaker 1: And it's not your job to make them see that. 535 00:37:16,040 --> 00:37:20,240 Speaker 1: And please don't waste your whole life trying to convince 536 00:37:20,280 --> 00:37:24,000 Speaker 1: the unconvinced of who you are, because they can only 537 00:37:24,040 --> 00:37:26,839 Speaker 1: see you for who you were. They can only see 538 00:37:26,880 --> 00:37:28,960 Speaker 1: you through your weakness. They can only see you through 539 00:37:28,960 --> 00:37:31,600 Speaker 1: your mistake. They can only see you through that nineteen 540 00:37:31,680 --> 00:37:33,440 Speaker 1: year old kid, or that twenty five year old kid, 541 00:37:33,520 --> 00:37:35,680 Speaker 1: or that fifteen year old kid. But I know what 542 00:37:35,760 --> 00:37:41,560 Speaker 1: God sees in me, and I know a lot of people. 543 00:37:41,560 --> 00:37:46,640 Speaker 1: They waste their whole life trying to convince somebody. They 544 00:37:46,680 --> 00:37:48,680 Speaker 1: try to convince a soul who does not have the 545 00:37:48,760 --> 00:37:55,240 Speaker 1: eyes to see it. So we don't live our life 546 00:37:55,680 --> 00:37:59,560 Speaker 1: trying to prove anything to the haters. And we don't 547 00:37:59,600 --> 00:38:02,480 Speaker 1: live our life life trying to convince those who have 548 00:38:02,560 --> 00:38:08,000 Speaker 1: rejected us, we know who we are, we know whose 549 00:38:08,160 --> 00:38:11,160 Speaker 1: we are, and we know that God has a word 550 00:38:11,239 --> 00:38:16,480 Speaker 1: over our life that is greater than their opinion. Anyway, 551 00:38:18,000 --> 00:38:20,359 Speaker 1: they did not create you, so they cannot call you. 552 00:38:21,920 --> 00:38:25,200 Speaker 1: They did not create you, so they cannot DestinE you. 553 00:38:25,200 --> 00:38:28,160 Speaker 1: You were not created in their image, so their word 554 00:38:28,200 --> 00:38:34,920 Speaker 1: does not have that much authority. Hallelujah, somebody say hallelujah. 555 00:38:35,160 --> 00:38:38,080 Speaker 1: Verse thirty four. And David, because this is the moment 556 00:38:38,120 --> 00:38:39,640 Speaker 1: for me, this is the moment for me. This is 557 00:38:39,680 --> 00:38:41,440 Speaker 1: the moment because at this moment, David could have went 558 00:38:41,480 --> 00:38:53,000 Speaker 1: you're right, and instead he persisted. There's a moment that 559 00:38:53,080 --> 00:38:59,520 Speaker 1: you have to push back. Not only pushing back against 560 00:38:59,560 --> 00:39:03,600 Speaker 1: the enemy, you have to push back from the voices 561 00:39:04,280 --> 00:39:06,520 Speaker 1: that are trying to stop you from walking in victory. 562 00:39:06,560 --> 00:39:11,200 Speaker 1: You have to you have to push back. David persistity. 563 00:39:11,400 --> 00:39:12,680 Speaker 1: No, no no, no, no no, no, You're not gonna talk me 564 00:39:12,719 --> 00:39:16,440 Speaker 1: out of this. I believe this is my moment. I 565 00:39:16,480 --> 00:39:20,360 Speaker 1: believe this is my time. I did not call myself 566 00:39:21,080 --> 00:39:23,319 Speaker 1: and I did not choose this fight. But here I 567 00:39:23,360 --> 00:39:28,000 Speaker 1: am David persistent. Here's why he persisted because he knew 568 00:39:28,080 --> 00:39:33,360 Speaker 1: Goliath was an opportunity, not a death sentence, and I 569 00:39:33,360 --> 00:39:37,200 Speaker 1: want to declare over you, Goliath is always an opportunity, 570 00:39:37,760 --> 00:39:45,279 Speaker 1: not a death sentence. You need a Goliath because Goliath 571 00:39:45,440 --> 00:39:51,480 Speaker 1: is your opportunity for elevation. Goliath is your opportunity for promotion. 572 00:39:52,760 --> 00:39:56,480 Speaker 1: You don't become king without goliath. You don't walk in 573 00:39:56,640 --> 00:40:00,840 Speaker 1: greatness without Goliath. You don't step into your all without Goliath. 574 00:40:00,880 --> 00:40:04,200 Speaker 1: Here's why. Because goliath is a very interesting Hebrew word, 575 00:40:04,239 --> 00:40:05,960 Speaker 1: we can have the band come up, play me out 576 00:40:05,960 --> 00:40:07,520 Speaker 1: of here like the Grammys, Get me off the stage, 577 00:40:07,560 --> 00:40:11,560 Speaker 1: don't preach all day. Goliath means Goliath means of the 578 00:40:11,600 --> 00:40:18,920 Speaker 1: Hebrew language, it means to uncover. I'm already feeling it. 579 00:40:18,920 --> 00:40:20,560 Speaker 1: I haven't even told you all what I'm feeling yet, 580 00:40:20,600 --> 00:40:25,279 Speaker 1: but I'm feeling something. Goliath means to reveal. Goliath means 581 00:40:25,320 --> 00:40:30,279 Speaker 1: to disclose information. Golith means to reveal oneself and to 582 00:40:30,400 --> 00:40:37,480 Speaker 1: make oneself known. The giant you are facing is actually revealing. 583 00:40:39,360 --> 00:40:43,240 Speaker 1: The giant you are facing is actually uncovering a truth. 584 00:40:44,000 --> 00:40:47,160 Speaker 1: The giant you are facing is revealing to you that 585 00:40:47,320 --> 00:40:51,000 Speaker 1: you are bigger on the inside then Goliath is on 586 00:40:51,120 --> 00:40:56,800 Speaker 1: the outside. Giants always tell on themselves, because giants always 587 00:40:56,880 --> 00:41:01,440 Speaker 1: reveal who they are, who God is, and who you are. 588 00:41:02,560 --> 00:41:08,279 Speaker 1: And without Goliath, you don't get exposed to it. Goliath 589 00:41:08,320 --> 00:41:11,040 Speaker 1: of gath Goth means the wine press, the pressing place, 590 00:41:11,120 --> 00:41:16,280 Speaker 1: the uncomfortable place without a press, without a Goliath, without 591 00:41:16,280 --> 00:41:19,759 Speaker 1: a gath, without a situation that you never prayed for, 592 00:41:19,840 --> 00:41:22,840 Speaker 1: but now that you're in it, it reveals something about 593 00:41:22,920 --> 00:41:25,520 Speaker 1: God that you would have never known about God. It 594 00:41:25,560 --> 00:41:27,719 Speaker 1: reveals something about the devil that you would have never 595 00:41:27,800 --> 00:41:30,640 Speaker 1: known about the devil. It reveals something about you that 596 00:41:30,680 --> 00:41:35,760 Speaker 1: you would have never known about yourself. Giants reveal our calling. 597 00:41:37,560 --> 00:41:43,640 Speaker 1: Giants uncover are gifting. Giants make known our anointing t'thers. 598 00:41:45,000 --> 00:41:52,680 Speaker 1: Giants teach me to pray. Giants pushed me to fast. 599 00:41:54,440 --> 00:41:59,520 Speaker 1: Giants put me on my face where I say God, 600 00:41:59,680 --> 00:42:09,520 Speaker 1: if you don't move, I'm gonna die. I hated to 601 00:42:09,719 --> 00:42:17,000 Speaker 1: face my Goliath, but I'm better for it, bigger for it. 602 00:42:18,040 --> 00:42:22,600 Speaker 1: I'm stronger for it. I'm more anointed because of it. 603 00:42:23,239 --> 00:42:26,879 Speaker 1: I pray like I never prayed before it. I give 604 00:42:27,000 --> 00:42:30,440 Speaker 1: like I've never given before it. I was a different 605 00:42:30,520 --> 00:42:33,440 Speaker 1: man before I met Jesus, but Frankly, I was a 606 00:42:33,480 --> 00:42:36,319 Speaker 1: different man before I met my Goliath. But after I 607 00:42:36,360 --> 00:42:39,040 Speaker 1: had to face an enemy, it revealed to me the 608 00:42:39,080 --> 00:42:42,320 Speaker 1: greatness of my God. It revealed to me the awesome 609 00:42:42,360 --> 00:42:46,840 Speaker 1: power of my God. I stopped comparing myself to my giant. 610 00:42:47,160 --> 00:42:51,480 Speaker 1: Then I started comparing my giant to my Jesus. Then 611 00:42:51,480 --> 00:42:55,000 Speaker 1: I realized that my God is great. There was revealed 612 00:42:55,040 --> 00:42:58,000 Speaker 1: to me that my God is awesome. There was revealed 613 00:42:58,040 --> 00:43:03,240 Speaker 1: to me that my God is are answering, mountain, moving, 614 00:43:03,480 --> 00:43:08,200 Speaker 1: way making God. I didn't know God like I know God. 615 00:43:08,719 --> 00:43:18,800 Speaker 1: After I've left my Goliath. Giants cause you to discover 616 00:43:18,960 --> 00:43:22,280 Speaker 1: that greater is he that's in you than he that's 617 00:43:22,320 --> 00:43:27,760 Speaker 1: in the world. I don't know if I can think 618 00:43:28,520 --> 00:43:39,520 Speaker 1: my Goliath, but I am thankful for my Goliath, because 619 00:43:39,560 --> 00:43:48,360 Speaker 1: something had to break on my walk to my Giant. 620 00:43:52,200 --> 00:43:55,480 Speaker 1: Something new had you come out of me that was 621 00:43:55,520 --> 00:44:02,880 Speaker 1: not there before. And now that I'm on the other side, 622 00:44:02,200 --> 00:44:08,280 Speaker 1: I realize how small he really is, and I realize 623 00:44:08,280 --> 00:44:12,799 Speaker 1: how great my God is. So so so, now that 624 00:44:12,880 --> 00:44:19,640 Speaker 1: I faced Goliath, I can say what Paul said Romans eight, 625 00:44:19,719 --> 00:44:26,160 Speaker 1: I'm I'm more than a conqueror. This is a really 626 00:44:26,200 --> 00:44:28,879 Speaker 1: interesting phrase in the Greek and I won't I won't 627 00:44:28,880 --> 00:44:31,600 Speaker 1: bore you with it. But all all to say, this 628 00:44:31,840 --> 00:44:35,799 Speaker 1: was a run on word sentence that the apostle Paul 629 00:44:35,920 --> 00:44:40,440 Speaker 1: uses more than conquers. This one big word that simply 630 00:44:40,480 --> 00:44:50,120 Speaker 1: means that you're actually stronger after the fight. You're you 631 00:44:50,239 --> 00:44:56,840 Speaker 1: actually have more strength after the race. You're actually better 632 00:44:57,360 --> 00:45:04,680 Speaker 1: after the conflict. You're actually better. After the battle, you 633 00:45:05,040 --> 00:45:10,360 Speaker 1: were good, you were a conqueror, but after you face Goliath, 634 00:45:10,440 --> 00:45:15,880 Speaker 1: you've become more than a conqueror. And you could only 635 00:45:16,000 --> 00:45:25,040 Speaker 1: become that going through him. I don't know what you're facing, 636 00:45:27,400 --> 00:45:32,480 Speaker 1: but I know who's greater. Maybe right here in this room, 637 00:45:32,520 --> 00:45:35,319 Speaker 1: at every location, stand maybe even if you're in your 638 00:45:35,360 --> 00:45:39,520 Speaker 1: living room or kitchen or whatever, maybe just stand with 639 00:45:39,640 --> 00:45:49,359 Speaker 1: us for a moment. Our God is greater, and he 640 00:45:49,440 --> 00:45:54,160 Speaker 1: will take what the enemy meant for evil and he'll 641 00:45:54,600 --> 00:45:59,920 Speaker 1: and he'll turn it. And the devil tolds you it 642 00:46:00,239 --> 00:46:04,160 Speaker 1: was a death sentence, but it was actually an opportunity 643 00:46:05,080 --> 00:46:10,480 Speaker 1: for promotion. And I believe God is elevating. I believe 644 00:46:10,480 --> 00:46:13,359 Speaker 1: God's promoting you. I believe God is lifting your perspective. 645 00:46:17,120 --> 00:46:19,759 Speaker 1: So in Jesus' name, I release the grace and the 646 00:46:19,800 --> 00:46:26,439 Speaker 1: strength of Almighty God upon you, upon your family, upon 647 00:46:26,520 --> 00:46:31,080 Speaker 1: everything that you're currently going through. I agree with you 648 00:46:31,160 --> 00:46:35,240 Speaker 1: for miracles, breakthrough signs and wonders. And I also pray 649 00:46:35,280 --> 00:46:38,480 Speaker 1: for the courage and the faith and the humility to 650 00:46:38,520 --> 00:46:42,840 Speaker 1: do whatever God is calling you to do. Next. I pray, 651 00:46:42,920 --> 00:46:46,080 Speaker 1: Holy Spirit, give us the grace to take the step, 652 00:46:46,160 --> 00:46:49,520 Speaker 1: give us, give us the faith, give us the courage 653 00:46:49,800 --> 00:46:52,400 Speaker 1: to break past the fear and the worry and to 654 00:46:52,560 --> 00:46:56,640 Speaker 1: obey God. Oh God, would you do this in the 655 00:46:56,719 --> 00:47:00,920 Speaker 1: name of Jesus sovereignly, by your grace and by your strength. 656 00:47:01,000 --> 00:47:06,400 Speaker 1: Let it be so. Let it be so. Thank you 657 00:47:06,440 --> 00:47:08,960 Speaker 1: for joining us. Special thanks to those of you who 658 00:47:09,000 --> 00:47:12,000 Speaker 1: give generously to this ministry. Is because of you that 659 00:47:12,040 --> 00:47:14,960 Speaker 1: this ministry is possible. You can click the link in 660 00:47:15,000 --> 00:47:19,080 Speaker 1: the description to give now or visit Elevationchurch dot org 661 00:47:19,120 --> 00:47:22,840 Speaker 1: slash podcast for more information and if you enjoyed the podcast, 662 00:47:23,120 --> 00:47:25,840 Speaker 1: you can subscribe. You can share it with your friends. 663 00:47:26,120 --> 00:47:28,400 Speaker 1: You can click the share button, take a screenshot and 664 00:47:28,440 --> 00:47:30,560 Speaker 1: share it on your social stories and tag us at 665 00:47:30,600 --> 00:47:39,200 Speaker 1: Elevation Church. Thanks again for listening. God bless you