1 00:00:01,560 --> 00:00:04,120 Speaker 1: Hey, this is Stephen Ferdick. I'm the pastor of Elevation 2 00:00:04,360 --> 00:00:06,600 Speaker 1: Church and this is our podcast. I wanted to thank 3 00:00:06,600 --> 00:00:09,960 Speaker 1: you for joining us today. Hope this inspires you. Hope 4 00:00:09,960 --> 00:00:12,000 Speaker 1: it builds your faith. Hope it gives your perspective to 5 00:00:12,000 --> 00:00:14,720 Speaker 1: see God is moving in your life. Enjoy the message. 6 00:00:16,600 --> 00:00:19,400 Speaker 2: I won't tell you the whole story, but just a 7 00:00:19,400 --> 00:00:20,080 Speaker 2: little part of it. 8 00:00:20,079 --> 00:00:23,840 Speaker 1: In One Kings eighteen forty one, and Elijah said to Ahab, 9 00:00:23,880 --> 00:00:26,920 Speaker 1: go eat and drink, for there is the sound of 10 00:00:26,960 --> 00:00:27,640 Speaker 1: a heavy rain. 11 00:00:29,040 --> 00:00:31,080 Speaker 2: So Ahab went off to eat and drink. 12 00:00:31,160 --> 00:00:34,920 Speaker 1: But Elijah climbed to the top of Carmel, bent down 13 00:00:35,080 --> 00:00:39,680 Speaker 1: to the ground and put his face between his knees. 14 00:00:40,720 --> 00:00:42,240 Speaker 1: Maybe I'll read you a little bit more. This is 15 00:00:42,240 --> 00:00:44,800 Speaker 1: a good story. I'll reach you a little bit more. 16 00:00:46,400 --> 00:00:47,320 Speaker 1: How are you today? 17 00:00:47,320 --> 00:00:47,519 Speaker 2: Are you? 18 00:00:47,600 --> 00:00:47,919 Speaker 1: Are you. 19 00:00:50,000 --> 00:00:52,159 Speaker 2: Me too? Me too? I used to have a guy. 20 00:00:52,200 --> 00:00:54,640 Speaker 2: Every time you'd ask him how are you doing, he said, well. 21 00:00:54,560 --> 00:00:58,080 Speaker 1: He's doing any better? I'd be twins. It's weird. You 22 00:00:58,280 --> 00:01:02,280 Speaker 1: know what that means? This other guy used to always say. 23 00:01:02,920 --> 00:01:07,160 Speaker 1: He said, I'm better than I deserve. That's pretty good. Yeah, 24 00:01:07,480 --> 00:01:12,000 Speaker 1: it's got pretty good. And so we have here a 25 00:01:12,040 --> 00:01:13,960 Speaker 1: picture of a nation coming out of a drought. And 26 00:01:14,040 --> 00:01:18,200 Speaker 1: then it's but it's a process, and it doesn't happen 27 00:01:18,240 --> 00:01:20,320 Speaker 1: all at once, and it happens in stages. 28 00:01:21,280 --> 00:01:22,560 Speaker 2: Look at verse forty three. 29 00:01:23,040 --> 00:01:25,880 Speaker 1: Elijah tells the king that he hears the sound of 30 00:01:25,920 --> 00:01:27,759 Speaker 1: the abundance of rain, and they haven't had any rain 31 00:01:27,760 --> 00:01:30,000 Speaker 1: in three and a half years. And then he tells 32 00:01:30,040 --> 00:01:32,480 Speaker 1: this servant go and look toward the sea. And the 33 00:01:32,520 --> 00:01:35,040 Speaker 1: servant went up and looked, and he came back and said, 34 00:01:35,080 --> 00:01:37,840 Speaker 1: there is nothing there. Seven times Elijah said go back. 35 00:01:38,480 --> 00:01:42,080 Speaker 1: The seventh time, the servant reported, a cloud as small 36 00:01:42,120 --> 00:01:45,720 Speaker 1: as a man's hand is rising from the sea. So 37 00:01:46,640 --> 00:01:50,480 Speaker 1: Elijah said, go and tell Ahab, hitch up your chariot. 38 00:01:50,040 --> 00:01:51,920 Speaker 2: And go down before the rain stops you. 39 00:01:52,080 --> 00:01:56,040 Speaker 1: Meanwhile, the sky grew black with clouds, the wind rose, 40 00:01:56,160 --> 00:01:59,280 Speaker 1: a heavy rain started falling, and Ahab rode off to Jezruel. 41 00:02:00,000 --> 00:02:02,840 Speaker 1: The power of the Lord came on Elijah, and, tucking 42 00:02:02,840 --> 00:02:06,280 Speaker 1: his cloak into his belt, he ran ahead of Ahab 43 00:02:07,040 --> 00:02:10,040 Speaker 1: all the way to Jezreel. I love that. I just 44 00:02:10,160 --> 00:02:16,400 Speaker 1: I think it's cool that Elijah ran seventeen miles and 45 00:02:16,480 --> 00:02:19,680 Speaker 1: he was out running the King's chariot because he was 46 00:02:19,760 --> 00:02:21,920 Speaker 1: ready for rain. Look at your neighbors, say I'm ready 47 00:02:21,919 --> 00:02:26,120 Speaker 1: for rain, and then comes to question are you really? 48 00:02:27,919 --> 00:02:32,960 Speaker 1: You know, then comes to question are you really? For 49 00:02:33,000 --> 00:02:35,440 Speaker 1: as long as I can remember, I have been fascinated 50 00:02:35,480 --> 00:02:37,240 Speaker 1: by creative process. 51 00:02:38,160 --> 00:02:40,320 Speaker 2: So I like to hear how books were written. 52 00:02:40,360 --> 00:02:42,200 Speaker 1: Usually after I watch a movie, I will go on 53 00:02:42,240 --> 00:02:45,520 Speaker 1: Wikipedia and study, and then I'll go read about how 54 00:02:45,520 --> 00:02:47,840 Speaker 1: they did it, and I'll find YouTube interviews. 55 00:02:47,480 --> 00:02:48,160 Speaker 2: With the director. 56 00:02:48,200 --> 00:02:49,760 Speaker 1: If I liked the movie, or even if I didn't 57 00:02:49,800 --> 00:02:51,560 Speaker 1: like the movie, I want to know how did it 58 00:02:51,600 --> 00:02:55,240 Speaker 1: get that bad? You know, like what went wrong in 59 00:02:55,320 --> 00:02:58,000 Speaker 1: the creative process? Because I know at some point somebody 60 00:02:58,000 --> 00:02:59,560 Speaker 1: thought this movie was going to be better than it 61 00:02:59,639 --> 00:03:03,000 Speaker 1: ended up being, Like what went wrong? And so I'm 62 00:03:03,040 --> 00:03:08,040 Speaker 1: a student of the creative process. When I hear a 63 00:03:08,080 --> 00:03:10,680 Speaker 1: song that I like, I love music and I've always 64 00:03:10,720 --> 00:03:16,160 Speaker 1: loved music. And even before I started trying to write songs, 65 00:03:16,160 --> 00:03:18,760 Speaker 1: of course, I started trying to write songs right around 66 00:03:18,800 --> 00:03:20,720 Speaker 1: the age I was like twelve or thirteen, I was 67 00:03:20,880 --> 00:03:24,880 Speaker 1: starting trying to write. So I just thought of one 68 00:03:24,919 --> 00:03:26,519 Speaker 1: that I tried to write when I was twelve or thirteen, 69 00:03:26,560 --> 00:03:29,760 Speaker 1: but that is not for public consumption. Okay, that's just 70 00:03:29,760 --> 00:03:34,079 Speaker 1: from my memories, but I remember reading about songwriting process. 71 00:03:34,120 --> 00:03:37,000 Speaker 1: I just always thought I was fascinating, And even to 72 00:03:37,040 --> 00:03:39,440 Speaker 1: this day, I'll ask someone if I hear a song 73 00:03:39,480 --> 00:03:41,080 Speaker 1: that I like and I get to meet the person. 74 00:03:40,880 --> 00:03:42,840 Speaker 2: Who wrote it, I'll say, how did it start? 75 00:03:43,680 --> 00:03:47,520 Speaker 1: To me, that's always interesting because sometimes when they tell 76 00:03:47,560 --> 00:03:50,800 Speaker 1: you how the song started, it started in such a 77 00:03:50,800 --> 00:03:54,520 Speaker 1: different place than how it was when you heard it. 78 00:03:56,360 --> 00:04:00,320 Speaker 1: I could let you hear songs from Elevation worsh from 79 00:04:00,320 --> 00:04:00,800 Speaker 1: the album. 80 00:04:00,880 --> 00:04:02,640 Speaker 2: If I let you hear how they started, they. 81 00:04:02,560 --> 00:04:04,760 Speaker 1: Would make you cry, and not because of the presence 82 00:04:04,800 --> 00:04:09,080 Speaker 1: of God or the anointing. They were that bad when 83 00:04:09,080 --> 00:04:11,560 Speaker 1: they started. I let my kids hear a few of 84 00:04:11,600 --> 00:04:14,280 Speaker 1: the songs from our newest album, and I let them 85 00:04:14,280 --> 00:04:16,760 Speaker 1: hear it in Beta. I let I let them hear 86 00:04:16,800 --> 00:04:20,159 Speaker 1: the song from when it started, and they have told me, Dad, 87 00:04:20,160 --> 00:04:23,040 Speaker 1: you should never let anyone hear this again. You need 88 00:04:23,120 --> 00:04:26,280 Speaker 1: to delete this off of your phone. Nobody should hear this, 89 00:04:26,480 --> 00:04:32,440 Speaker 1: because there is something about starting that feels shameful. Have 90 00:04:32,520 --> 00:04:37,800 Speaker 1: you ever been to the gym and you know you've 91 00:04:37,839 --> 00:04:39,760 Speaker 1: got a lot of work to do? Have you ever, 92 00:04:39,880 --> 00:04:42,560 Speaker 1: I did this for for for one for one thing. 93 00:04:42,680 --> 00:04:44,000 Speaker 1: I want to say this, Okay, I want to say 94 00:04:44,000 --> 00:04:48,039 Speaker 1: this about going to the gym. When you start, it 95 00:04:48,120 --> 00:04:51,960 Speaker 1: always sucks. Okay, this is this is the truth about exercise. 96 00:04:52,400 --> 00:04:55,320 Speaker 1: It always sucks when you start, when you go to 97 00:04:55,360 --> 00:04:57,920 Speaker 1: the gym. I remember one time walking into a certain gym. 98 00:04:57,960 --> 00:05:00,640 Speaker 1: This has been years ago. I walked into a certain gem, 99 00:05:01,120 --> 00:05:04,960 Speaker 1: turned around and walked out. I didn't didn't touch a machine. 100 00:05:05,000 --> 00:05:06,760 Speaker 1: All I did was look at the other people who 101 00:05:06,839 --> 00:05:09,560 Speaker 1: had been there consistently and walked out. Just turn around, 102 00:05:09,560 --> 00:05:11,040 Speaker 1: walked out, didn't even touch anything, just turn around and 103 00:05:11,040 --> 00:05:12,880 Speaker 1: walked out. They don't even work looked at the person 104 00:05:12,880 --> 00:05:14,560 Speaker 1: behind the counter, didn't even want to think about the 105 00:05:14,560 --> 00:05:19,040 Speaker 1: process of soreness that would accompany the workout. Something about 106 00:05:19,080 --> 00:05:23,040 Speaker 1: starting touch and never say get started, get started. And 107 00:05:23,080 --> 00:05:24,880 Speaker 1: as we begin this series, I want to take you 108 00:05:24,920 --> 00:05:26,920 Speaker 1: on a little bit of a journey. And I've kind 109 00:05:26,960 --> 00:05:29,520 Speaker 1: of committed myself today if it's okay with you, I 110 00:05:29,520 --> 00:05:31,000 Speaker 1: want to get in a little bit of a more 111 00:05:31,000 --> 00:05:33,760 Speaker 1: of a teaching mode because there is something about the 112 00:05:33,880 --> 00:05:35,440 Speaker 1: nature of faith that God has. 113 00:05:35,279 --> 00:05:36,280 Speaker 2: Been dealing with me about. 114 00:05:36,320 --> 00:05:39,640 Speaker 1: And if I start preaching and hollering and all that 115 00:05:39,920 --> 00:05:44,120 Speaker 1: stuff that do sometimes and all that wild stuff, I. 116 00:05:44,040 --> 00:05:45,360 Speaker 2: Won't get my content across. 117 00:05:45,440 --> 00:05:47,839 Speaker 1: And I really feel like the content of this is 118 00:05:47,880 --> 00:05:49,839 Speaker 1: what is most important about. 119 00:05:49,560 --> 00:05:50,440 Speaker 2: The nature of faith. 120 00:05:50,480 --> 00:05:52,279 Speaker 1: The last time I was with you, we were talking 121 00:05:52,360 --> 00:05:54,960 Speaker 1: about harvest. Did any of you hear my message on 122 00:05:55,000 --> 00:06:04,200 Speaker 1: harvest problems? And then what do we say? We talked 123 00:06:04,200 --> 00:06:09,240 Speaker 1: about how what you've been calling a problem, God calls 124 00:06:09,240 --> 00:06:14,520 Speaker 1: a harvest. Now, there is something about the nature of 125 00:06:14,640 --> 00:06:17,760 Speaker 1: faith that is illustrated by the rain in First Kings, 126 00:06:17,839 --> 00:06:22,760 Speaker 1: chapter eighteen, and so we see it when Elijah says 127 00:06:22,800 --> 00:06:23,880 Speaker 1: to Ahab, there is. 128 00:06:23,800 --> 00:06:27,120 Speaker 2: The sound of the heavy rain. There's the sound of 129 00:06:27,160 --> 00:06:27,839 Speaker 2: the heavy. 130 00:06:27,640 --> 00:06:31,400 Speaker 1: Rain that often, when it comes to the realm of faith, 131 00:06:32,360 --> 00:06:33,839 Speaker 1: we hear things. 132 00:06:33,480 --> 00:06:35,040 Speaker 2: That we cannot see yet. 133 00:06:36,640 --> 00:06:38,640 Speaker 1: That is, when a word of God comes forth into 134 00:06:38,720 --> 00:06:41,240 Speaker 1: your life, you will not immediately see a change in 135 00:06:41,279 --> 00:06:45,240 Speaker 1: your situation. It will first produce a change within you. 136 00:06:46,160 --> 00:06:48,320 Speaker 1: I just feel like teaching a little bit today because 137 00:06:48,800 --> 00:06:51,080 Speaker 1: there are a few stages that you're going to have 138 00:06:51,160 --> 00:06:52,760 Speaker 1: to go through if you are going to come out 139 00:06:52,760 --> 00:06:55,000 Speaker 1: of the drought. Now, when I say the drought, I 140 00:06:55,040 --> 00:06:58,560 Speaker 1: mean the dry season that you have been experiencing inside 141 00:06:58,600 --> 00:07:02,480 Speaker 1: of yourself. When I say the drought, I don't necessarily 142 00:07:02,520 --> 00:07:05,680 Speaker 1: mean that you're on the verge of bankruptcy or losing 143 00:07:05,680 --> 00:07:09,080 Speaker 1: your marriage. Even because one thing I found out about 144 00:07:09,360 --> 00:07:12,880 Speaker 1: dry seasons is it often my situation can be doing 145 00:07:12,920 --> 00:07:20,720 Speaker 1: a whole lot better than my soul. I found out 146 00:07:20,760 --> 00:07:22,880 Speaker 1: that everybody else can look at my life and see 147 00:07:22,880 --> 00:07:27,840 Speaker 1: evidences of success. But if my soul is dry, if 148 00:07:27,880 --> 00:07:32,200 Speaker 1: my heart is empty, if my motivations are not aligned, 149 00:07:34,280 --> 00:07:40,480 Speaker 1: I can be winning outside and weeping inside. So I 150 00:07:40,520 --> 00:07:42,160 Speaker 1: want to speak to you today about coming out of 151 00:07:42,160 --> 00:07:43,760 Speaker 1: the drought, but I want to do it a little differently. 152 00:07:43,840 --> 00:07:45,040 Speaker 1: What I want to do is I want to talk 153 00:07:45,080 --> 00:07:50,080 Speaker 1: about the enemies that will keep you in a dry place. 154 00:07:51,840 --> 00:07:55,080 Speaker 1: I believe that there are at least three, and they're 155 00:07:55,120 --> 00:07:57,520 Speaker 1: all illustrated in the text I just read you. And 156 00:07:58,200 --> 00:08:01,880 Speaker 1: really I'm using this text as a picture of the 157 00:08:01,960 --> 00:08:06,800 Speaker 1: creative process. There is a creative aspect of faith. When 158 00:08:06,800 --> 00:08:08,320 Speaker 1: I grew up in the Baptist Church, I heard about 159 00:08:08,360 --> 00:08:12,000 Speaker 1: saving faith, and it was almost like that was all 160 00:08:12,080 --> 00:08:15,119 Speaker 1: that faith was for, just to get saved go to heaven. 161 00:08:16,560 --> 00:08:19,320 Speaker 1: But I found out that while I'm here on earth. 162 00:08:19,320 --> 00:08:23,360 Speaker 1: I need my faith in the meantime. I won't need 163 00:08:23,400 --> 00:08:25,480 Speaker 1: my faith when I get to Heaven. Faith is the 164 00:08:25,480 --> 00:08:27,680 Speaker 1: substance of things, hope for the evidence of things not seen. 165 00:08:28,240 --> 00:08:30,120 Speaker 1: So when I see Jesus, I won't need to believe 166 00:08:30,160 --> 00:08:33,079 Speaker 1: in Jesus. He will be right there. I need faith 167 00:08:33,360 --> 00:08:37,200 Speaker 1: now now. Faith is the substance of things, hope for 168 00:08:37,280 --> 00:08:39,080 Speaker 1: y'all going to mess up and make me preach. I 169 00:08:39,160 --> 00:08:41,440 Speaker 1: told you, I just want to stay here with my notes, 170 00:08:42,240 --> 00:08:48,520 Speaker 1: y'all like rite set out. But I'm living in this 171 00:08:48,559 --> 00:08:52,559 Speaker 1: stage where I have not seen him, but I love him. 172 00:08:52,800 --> 00:08:55,040 Speaker 1: And there are some things that I know in my 173 00:08:55,280 --> 00:08:58,640 Speaker 1: soul that I don't see in my situation yet. And 174 00:08:58,679 --> 00:09:02,520 Speaker 1: that's what faith is for. I guess I consider myself 175 00:09:02,840 --> 00:09:06,200 Speaker 1: at the core. If you cut me, I'm a faith preacher. 176 00:09:07,360 --> 00:09:10,560 Speaker 1: Not a faith preacher where we all have to act 177 00:09:10,679 --> 00:09:14,240 Speaker 1: like everything's all right, but a faith preacher, a deep 178 00:09:14,360 --> 00:09:18,640 Speaker 1: faith preacher. And nothing's happening, but I believe something's happening 179 00:09:18,880 --> 00:09:22,880 Speaker 1: when nothing's happening, because beneath the surface, my faith is 180 00:09:23,040 --> 00:09:29,040 Speaker 1: rising in hard times, fallow crowd, I got faith. Well, 181 00:09:29,080 --> 00:09:36,600 Speaker 1: sometimes it's invisible because there will always be a stage 182 00:09:36,640 --> 00:09:39,920 Speaker 1: of invisibility. There are three stages I want to mention, 183 00:09:40,480 --> 00:09:42,839 Speaker 1: and you can see where you find yourself today. But 184 00:09:43,200 --> 00:09:49,400 Speaker 1: I believe our faith must survive the invisibility stage, the 185 00:09:49,440 --> 00:09:54,360 Speaker 1: stage where you may be, like Elijah, have heard something 186 00:09:55,800 --> 00:10:03,160 Speaker 1: since something precede something, believe something that you do not 187 00:10:03,440 --> 00:10:06,880 Speaker 1: yet see. I spent like seventy thousand dollars on my 188 00:10:06,920 --> 00:10:08,920 Speaker 1: seminary education, so every once in a while I like 189 00:10:08,960 --> 00:10:12,240 Speaker 1: to say stuff I learned there. They talk about the 190 00:10:12,320 --> 00:10:16,560 Speaker 1: already not yet eschatological tension. That is a seventy thousand 191 00:10:16,559 --> 00:10:20,760 Speaker 1: dollars word, eschatological. It just means that as things unfold, 192 00:10:20,760 --> 00:10:23,640 Speaker 1: there are certain realities of your new nature and Christ 193 00:10:24,320 --> 00:10:28,640 Speaker 1: that you will experience already, but there is a part 194 00:10:28,679 --> 00:10:33,600 Speaker 1: of it that is not yet fulfilled. So watch this, 195 00:10:33,679 --> 00:10:35,600 Speaker 1: you know. I just said to Ahab, go eat and drink, 196 00:10:35,640 --> 00:10:39,000 Speaker 1: for there is the sound of a heavy rain, which 197 00:10:39,000 --> 00:10:42,520 Speaker 1: isn't good news if you just washed your car, or 198 00:10:42,520 --> 00:10:45,199 Speaker 1: if you have an outdoor wedding, or if you're a pastor. 199 00:10:45,240 --> 00:10:47,559 Speaker 1: I can tell how stupid my staff members are by 200 00:10:47,559 --> 00:10:49,920 Speaker 1: how they act when it snow's on Sunday, if they're 201 00:10:49,960 --> 00:10:52,839 Speaker 1: posting stuff on Instagram. The snow is so beautiful. No, 202 00:10:53,400 --> 00:10:59,160 Speaker 1: snow sucks on Sunday. If you're a pastor, okay, it's 203 00:10:59,200 --> 00:11:02,360 Speaker 1: pretty for people don't go to church. But if your preacher, 204 00:11:02,640 --> 00:11:04,760 Speaker 1: that is the worst thing you can see on Sundays. 205 00:11:04,760 --> 00:11:08,120 Speaker 1: And now, which means that the conditions of the weather 206 00:11:08,240 --> 00:11:11,760 Speaker 1: and how they affect you depend on your expectation. So 207 00:11:11,840 --> 00:11:13,840 Speaker 1: if you've been in a famine like the nation of 208 00:11:13,920 --> 00:11:16,360 Speaker 1: Israel had for three and a half years, and you 209 00:11:16,440 --> 00:11:21,280 Speaker 1: hear the sound of rain, it is not inconvenient. See, 210 00:11:21,320 --> 00:11:25,960 Speaker 1: this is where people sometimes they'll go, well, I'm preaching, 211 00:11:26,800 --> 00:11:29,199 Speaker 1: they are not desperate enough yet for the word of God. 212 00:11:30,880 --> 00:11:35,360 Speaker 1: So while I'm preaching, they're like, but if you get 213 00:11:35,400 --> 00:11:38,920 Speaker 1: in a situation where you really need God to speak 214 00:11:38,960 --> 00:11:43,760 Speaker 1: to you, if you get in a situation where you 215 00:11:43,880 --> 00:11:47,400 Speaker 1: know that you that you need every word that proceeds 216 00:11:47,559 --> 00:11:50,480 Speaker 1: from the mouth of God, that you cannot live on 217 00:11:50,600 --> 00:11:55,439 Speaker 1: bread alone, you won't be like you be like, please God, 218 00:11:55,880 --> 00:11:59,760 Speaker 1: let him hold me two hours. Speak Lord, for your 219 00:12:00,040 --> 00:12:03,640 Speaker 1: turban is listening. I hear the sound of the abundance 220 00:12:03,720 --> 00:12:06,680 Speaker 1: of rain. As a matter of fact, I got seed 221 00:12:06,720 --> 00:12:10,520 Speaker 1: in the crownd and unless it rains, they can't come forth. 222 00:12:10,640 --> 00:12:13,040 Speaker 1: So bring the storm, Bring the rain. The storm will 223 00:12:13,080 --> 00:12:16,520 Speaker 1: only serve to reveal the foundation. I build my house 224 00:12:16,600 --> 00:12:18,880 Speaker 1: on the rock, and the rain comes down, and the 225 00:12:18,960 --> 00:12:21,840 Speaker 1: stream shries, and the winds blew and beat against that house, 226 00:12:21,920 --> 00:12:24,559 Speaker 1: and it did not fall because it had its foundation 227 00:12:25,200 --> 00:12:25,719 Speaker 1: on the rock. 228 00:12:25,800 --> 00:12:27,120 Speaker 2: Somebody shot, I'm ready for rain. 229 00:12:28,679 --> 00:12:31,720 Speaker 1: So Ahab goes off to eat and drink, and the 230 00:12:31,720 --> 00:12:35,600 Speaker 1: famine is over and the drought is over. But Elijah 231 00:12:35,760 --> 00:12:37,959 Speaker 1: climbed to the top of Carmel. Now, I love you guys, 232 00:12:37,960 --> 00:12:40,200 Speaker 1: and I like to demonstrate the Bible. We're appropriate, but 233 00:12:40,240 --> 00:12:42,560 Speaker 1: it does not seem to me to be appropriate to 234 00:12:42,559 --> 00:12:44,800 Speaker 1: demonstrate what he did here physically, So you just have. 235 00:12:44,760 --> 00:12:45,400 Speaker 2: To imagine it. 236 00:12:45,520 --> 00:12:47,560 Speaker 1: He bent down to the ground and put his face 237 00:12:48,880 --> 00:12:52,600 Speaker 1: between his knees. Now, I don't do that yoga preaching stuff, okay, 238 00:12:52,600 --> 00:12:54,680 Speaker 1: the hot yoga, cold yoga, none of I don't do 239 00:12:54,720 --> 00:13:01,199 Speaker 1: any of that yoga, all right, So so watch everything's 240 00:13:01,200 --> 00:13:05,679 Speaker 1: in motion, right this refugee. I don't know if you 241 00:13:05,679 --> 00:13:08,320 Speaker 1: know about Elijah. He was He was a rain maker, 242 00:13:08,480 --> 00:13:12,720 Speaker 1: but he was also a refugee, okay, And everybody in 243 00:13:12,760 --> 00:13:14,280 Speaker 1: here is a little bit of both as well. By 244 00:13:14,320 --> 00:13:17,719 Speaker 1: the way, Okay, he's been hiding for three and a 245 00:13:17,760 --> 00:13:20,360 Speaker 1: half years because he called for the drought because the 246 00:13:20,440 --> 00:13:23,760 Speaker 1: people had started depending on sources other than God. 247 00:13:23,800 --> 00:13:26,240 Speaker 2: And anytime you depend on a source that. 248 00:13:26,320 --> 00:13:28,920 Speaker 1: Is not God, he will cut you off because He 249 00:13:29,000 --> 00:13:31,640 Speaker 1: will not allow your life to be sourced by something 250 00:13:31,679 --> 00:13:34,600 Speaker 1: that cannot sustain your life. So he will cut you 251 00:13:34,679 --> 00:13:37,040 Speaker 1: off for a little while so you will come back 252 00:13:37,080 --> 00:13:39,680 Speaker 1: to what you needed all along, because he loves you 253 00:13:39,760 --> 00:13:48,440 Speaker 1: that much. And Elijah is like hiding the whole time 254 00:13:49,080 --> 00:13:52,560 Speaker 1: because if Jezebel, who is in charge of all of 255 00:13:52,120 --> 00:13:55,520 Speaker 1: the rain gods, they serve this god called bail who 256 00:13:55,600 --> 00:13:59,440 Speaker 1: wasn't really a god. He didn't have all power, you know, 257 00:13:59,520 --> 00:14:02,880 Speaker 1: like politicians who say things, but they don't really have 258 00:14:02,960 --> 00:14:05,160 Speaker 1: the power to change all the stuff that they make 259 00:14:05,200 --> 00:14:07,920 Speaker 1: promises about. I'm not saying politicians are bad. We have 260 00:14:07,920 --> 00:14:10,520 Speaker 1: politicians in our church, and I love the politicians in 261 00:14:10,600 --> 00:14:14,040 Speaker 1: the church. And there's there's there's great politicians, and there's 262 00:14:14,320 --> 00:14:17,600 Speaker 1: there's politicians, there's other politicians, and there's all of that. 263 00:14:18,080 --> 00:14:20,880 Speaker 1: But but but God, being the true and living God, 264 00:14:21,200 --> 00:14:24,760 Speaker 1: will not be corralled or confined by human need. He's 265 00:14:24,800 --> 00:14:27,880 Speaker 1: not corralled or confined by human expectation. He will not 266 00:14:27,960 --> 00:14:32,320 Speaker 1: be manipulated by the mechanics of humanity. And so now 267 00:14:32,520 --> 00:14:35,640 Speaker 1: the rain has stopped falling, and you will come into 268 00:14:35,680 --> 00:14:39,200 Speaker 1: a season of your life where God will cut you off. 269 00:14:40,840 --> 00:14:44,680 Speaker 1: He won't stop loving you, he won't stop providing for you. 270 00:14:45,800 --> 00:14:49,320 Speaker 1: It's just that God will allow situations to get your attention. 271 00:14:51,040 --> 00:14:52,760 Speaker 1: And you can pray and ask him to change the 272 00:14:52,800 --> 00:14:57,440 Speaker 1: situation all that you want, But until you allow him 273 00:14:57,440 --> 00:15:01,360 Speaker 1: to change you, nothing is going to change in the situation. 274 00:15:03,200 --> 00:15:05,280 Speaker 1: When the time came for Elijah to come forth and 275 00:15:05,320 --> 00:15:10,000 Speaker 1: present himself before Ahab and Jezebel, that king and that 276 00:15:10,120 --> 00:15:15,400 Speaker 1: queen whose wickedness was responsible for the nation's famine, he 277 00:15:15,480 --> 00:15:19,120 Speaker 1: comes before them boldly. He calls for a summit. By 278 00:15:19,120 --> 00:15:21,200 Speaker 1: this time, he survived so much. Did you ever see 279 00:15:21,200 --> 00:15:23,720 Speaker 1: that show Survivor? I think might still be on the 280 00:15:24,000 --> 00:15:25,400 Speaker 1: on the air. I'm not sure, do hem I still 281 00:15:25,440 --> 00:15:26,080 Speaker 1: watch Survivor? 282 00:15:26,320 --> 00:15:26,520 Speaker 2: No? 283 00:15:27,040 --> 00:15:31,280 Speaker 1: Is it still on? Everybody over seventy three is raising 284 00:15:31,280 --> 00:15:34,680 Speaker 1: their hand they still watch Survivor. We watched it for 285 00:15:34,680 --> 00:15:36,560 Speaker 1: a couple of seasons. Holly used to tell me all 286 00:15:36,560 --> 00:15:37,800 Speaker 1: the time, isn't this a mean thing to say to 287 00:15:37,840 --> 00:15:38,280 Speaker 1: your husband. 288 00:15:38,280 --> 00:15:39,920 Speaker 2: She was like, you would be the first. 289 00:15:39,720 --> 00:15:44,640 Speaker 1: One voted off of survivor. I couldn't argue with her. 290 00:15:44,840 --> 00:15:45,400 Speaker 2: She's right. 291 00:15:45,680 --> 00:15:49,640 Speaker 1: I have no survival skills none. All I can do 292 00:15:49,760 --> 00:15:52,040 Speaker 1: is talk, and sometimes I'm not even that good at that. 293 00:15:52,280 --> 00:15:54,520 Speaker 1: This is the only thing I do. That's why I 294 00:15:54,560 --> 00:15:56,280 Speaker 1: hold the mic so tight, because I don't know what 295 00:15:56,320 --> 00:15:58,520 Speaker 1: I would do if I couldn't talk, and I have 296 00:15:58,640 --> 00:16:05,200 Speaker 1: no survival skills. On Elijah the prophet, he had the 297 00:16:05,360 --> 00:16:09,000 Speaker 1: skills to survive the drought, and he did. 298 00:16:10,000 --> 00:16:11,640 Speaker 2: He survived in. 299 00:16:11,560 --> 00:16:13,400 Speaker 1: The drought, he survived the dry. 300 00:16:13,240 --> 00:16:15,800 Speaker 2: Season, and he did it really well. 301 00:16:16,600 --> 00:16:18,320 Speaker 1: He did it by obeying the voice of the Lord. 302 00:16:18,360 --> 00:16:19,640 Speaker 1: So when the voice of the Lord told him to 303 00:16:19,680 --> 00:16:21,440 Speaker 1: go to the brook, and I'll have birds there that 304 00:16:21,440 --> 00:16:25,359 Speaker 1: will drop your breakfast off. I'll have birds dropping off biscuits. 305 00:16:25,880 --> 00:16:30,560 Speaker 1: I'll have birds dropping off bow Jangles biscuits. I'll have 306 00:16:30,680 --> 00:16:35,800 Speaker 1: birds dropping off bow Jangles spicy Cajun filet biscuits. I'm 307 00:16:35,800 --> 00:16:38,960 Speaker 1: gonna say it till you get hungry. God will provide 308 00:16:38,960 --> 00:16:41,640 Speaker 1: for you in some strange ways. If you haven't noticed, 309 00:16:42,160 --> 00:16:45,440 Speaker 1: God had ravens, which is a dirty bird. I mean, 310 00:16:45,480 --> 00:16:50,440 Speaker 1: the only people who like ravens live in Baltimore. God use. 311 00:16:50,960 --> 00:16:54,480 Speaker 1: God used the dirty bird to feed his man in 312 00:16:54,520 --> 00:16:57,240 Speaker 1: a time of famine. Stop telling God how he can 313 00:16:57,320 --> 00:17:00,000 Speaker 1: and can't bless you. Stop telling God how he can 314 00:17:00,080 --> 00:17:03,160 Speaker 1: can and can't feed you. Stop telling God what style 315 00:17:03,280 --> 00:17:06,480 Speaker 1: he can and cannot use. Stop waiting on a song 316 00:17:06,600 --> 00:17:09,440 Speaker 1: you like in church to worship God. What if God 317 00:17:09,480 --> 00:17:12,480 Speaker 1: wants to bless you in a different style, bless you 318 00:17:12,520 --> 00:17:16,680 Speaker 1: in a different way. He's very creative, and so he's 319 00:17:16,720 --> 00:17:19,080 Speaker 1: supplying for Elijah at the brook. The brook drives up. 320 00:17:19,119 --> 00:17:21,280 Speaker 1: God sends Elijah to a widow. Why would you send 321 00:17:21,280 --> 00:17:23,320 Speaker 1: me to a widow to provide me with food? Because 322 00:17:23,320 --> 00:17:25,919 Speaker 1: sometimes God will show you how great a supply is 323 00:17:26,160 --> 00:17:28,520 Speaker 1: by sending you to someone with a greater need than 324 00:17:28,520 --> 00:17:31,400 Speaker 1: you had to begin with. And sometimes you will realize, 325 00:17:31,440 --> 00:17:34,040 Speaker 1: in the course of meeting someone else's need how great 326 00:17:34,080 --> 00:17:38,720 Speaker 1: God's supply already is in your life. So he does 327 00:17:38,760 --> 00:17:41,879 Speaker 1: all that, and for three and a half years he 328 00:17:42,000 --> 00:17:45,600 Speaker 1: is a refugee until it comes time for the refugee 329 00:17:46,920 --> 00:17:48,040 Speaker 1: to become a rain maker. 330 00:17:49,040 --> 00:17:49,439 Speaker 2: I love it. 331 00:17:49,480 --> 00:17:52,880 Speaker 1: That was almost my title of the sermon, from refugee 332 00:17:52,880 --> 00:17:59,240 Speaker 1: to rain maker. I like creativity. I like creative process, 333 00:17:59,400 --> 00:18:02,000 Speaker 1: all right, titles for every sermon I preach. I just 334 00:18:02,040 --> 00:18:02,480 Speaker 1: love it. 335 00:18:03,000 --> 00:18:05,040 Speaker 2: I love it. I love it. 336 00:18:05,080 --> 00:18:07,240 Speaker 1: And he stands up and he gets all the prophets 337 00:18:07,240 --> 00:18:13,120 Speaker 1: of Bail, all these little rain dancers, makes fun of him, 338 00:18:13,640 --> 00:18:19,280 Speaker 1: calls them names, he tells them. He's like, hey, maybe 339 00:18:19,320 --> 00:18:22,560 Speaker 1: Bail's in the bathroom. Maybe that's why he can't hear you, 340 00:18:22,600 --> 00:18:24,960 Speaker 1: because they had a deal. You call for fire, I'll 341 00:18:25,000 --> 00:18:28,119 Speaker 1: call for fire. And the God who answers by fire, 342 00:18:28,400 --> 00:18:33,040 Speaker 1: he is God. And when Bail didn't answer, Elijah said, 343 00:18:33,160 --> 00:18:39,520 Speaker 1: maybe he's in the bathroom. I love the Bible, And 344 00:18:39,880 --> 00:18:42,800 Speaker 1: at the end of the whole thing, the Bible says 345 00:18:42,840 --> 00:18:45,399 Speaker 1: that after wetting the wood, now watch this. This is 346 00:18:45,440 --> 00:18:50,240 Speaker 1: the nature of faith. You wood before you call for fire. 347 00:18:51,400 --> 00:18:55,160 Speaker 1: You do when you're walking by faith, because that's how 348 00:18:55,200 --> 00:18:59,199 Speaker 1: God often proves his presence by putting you in an 349 00:18:59,200 --> 00:19:08,080 Speaker 1: impossible sit situation, an impossible situation preaching to somebody today, 350 00:19:08,640 --> 00:19:11,080 Speaker 1: I'm gonna look all around this room in Valentine and. 351 00:19:11,040 --> 00:19:11,840 Speaker 2: Find out who it is. 352 00:19:12,960 --> 00:19:16,520 Speaker 1: You are in an impossible situation, and you are in 353 00:19:16,600 --> 00:19:20,400 Speaker 1: the stage called invisibility, that's where you don't see any 354 00:19:20,440 --> 00:19:23,800 Speaker 1: way that it could happen. Okay, I was even talking 355 00:19:23,800 --> 00:19:24,320 Speaker 1: to one of my. 356 00:19:24,240 --> 00:19:25,040 Speaker 2: Friends this week. 357 00:19:25,240 --> 00:19:28,439 Speaker 1: He's very successful, but he has another level God is 358 00:19:28,440 --> 00:19:30,840 Speaker 1: calling him to. It isn't just for the people who 359 00:19:30,880 --> 00:19:32,960 Speaker 1: need God to heal them of cancer, although this message 360 00:19:32,960 --> 00:19:35,520 Speaker 1: would apply to you in that situation. This is somebody 361 00:19:35,560 --> 00:19:38,160 Speaker 1: who's going from one stage to the next. And here's 362 00:19:38,200 --> 00:19:41,800 Speaker 1: what he said to me. He said, I feel like 363 00:19:41,840 --> 00:19:43,800 Speaker 1: God is doing something new in me, but I just 364 00:19:43,840 --> 00:19:49,560 Speaker 1: don't see the path to it yet. Invisibility, I sense 365 00:19:49,720 --> 00:19:54,119 Speaker 1: God doing it. I hear the sound of rain, but 366 00:19:54,240 --> 00:19:58,439 Speaker 1: I don't see anything yet. And so Elijah, while the 367 00:19:58,520 --> 00:20:03,280 Speaker 1: king goes off to eat and drink, buries his head, 368 00:20:03,920 --> 00:20:08,639 Speaker 1: closes his eyes and believes by faith that what he 369 00:20:08,680 --> 00:20:10,720 Speaker 1: has spoken will come to pass. 370 00:20:11,680 --> 00:20:14,280 Speaker 2: And this servant come here, jjy. 371 00:20:17,040 --> 00:20:20,760 Speaker 1: The servant runs up to the top of the mountain, 372 00:20:20,840 --> 00:20:23,760 Speaker 1: going up there to the Yeah, I just want to 373 00:20:23,800 --> 00:20:25,159 Speaker 1: show you what he did. I don't know if the 374 00:20:25,200 --> 00:20:28,600 Speaker 1: camera can catch this. For the other campuses. Here comes 375 00:20:31,480 --> 00:20:32,440 Speaker 1: goes up to the top. 376 00:20:34,080 --> 00:20:35,440 Speaker 2: We're gonna have some fun with this too. 377 00:20:37,760 --> 00:20:39,359 Speaker 1: We're gonna have some fun with this because he didn't 378 00:20:39,400 --> 00:20:40,040 Speaker 1: just do it one time. 379 00:20:40,119 --> 00:20:40,920 Speaker 2: Come here, Jonathan. 380 00:20:45,240 --> 00:20:47,200 Speaker 1: And now on the way back down, he's going slower. 381 00:20:47,200 --> 00:20:49,240 Speaker 1: On the way back down, he's going slower because he's 382 00:20:49,280 --> 00:20:52,440 Speaker 1: got to deliver some bad news to the Man of God. 383 00:20:53,040 --> 00:20:55,919 Speaker 1: And in case you hadn't noticed, you don't want. 384 00:20:55,760 --> 00:20:58,080 Speaker 2: To give bad news to Elijah a lot. 385 00:20:58,359 --> 00:21:00,280 Speaker 1: I mean, he's the kind of guy you do not 386 00:21:00,440 --> 00:21:03,760 Speaker 1: want to give Elijah bad news. Elijah slaughtered all eight 387 00:21:03,840 --> 00:21:07,720 Speaker 1: hundred and fifty false prophets. Okay, So now you've got 388 00:21:07,720 --> 00:21:12,280 Speaker 1: to come to the guy who just killed just under 389 00:21:12,280 --> 00:21:14,600 Speaker 1: a thousand false prophets, and. 390 00:21:14,520 --> 00:21:15,639 Speaker 2: He doesn't even look up at you. 391 00:21:15,680 --> 00:21:18,760 Speaker 1: He's in this weird position, this prayer, this prayer thing. 392 00:21:19,160 --> 00:21:22,479 Speaker 1: And now you've got to tell this guy who just 393 00:21:22,520 --> 00:21:25,280 Speaker 1: told the king, gets your chariot ready and go down 394 00:21:25,400 --> 00:21:29,199 Speaker 1: before the rain stops you. You just told you just 395 00:21:29,240 --> 00:21:31,200 Speaker 1: told the king that it's going to rain. You sent 396 00:21:31,240 --> 00:21:33,520 Speaker 1: your servant to go see it, and the servant comes 397 00:21:33,520 --> 00:21:44,520 Speaker 1: back and says, look at the phrase, there is nothing there. 398 00:21:45,080 --> 00:21:47,800 Speaker 1: Can I ask you a question? Was the servant wrong? 399 00:21:55,800 --> 00:21:58,000 Speaker 1: I feel like I'm being set up right now. 400 00:21:59,080 --> 00:21:59,680 Speaker 2: Got on. 401 00:22:04,040 --> 00:22:08,160 Speaker 1: You are, because remember we're talking about a rain cycle. 402 00:22:09,160 --> 00:22:12,720 Speaker 1: And before you see the cloud form, it is rising 403 00:22:12,760 --> 00:22:18,720 Speaker 1: from the sea, So something is happening when nothing is seen. 404 00:22:25,560 --> 00:22:27,600 Speaker 1: Whenever you're preaching, you say something so good that you 405 00:22:27,680 --> 00:22:29,480 Speaker 1: know God is on it, and they just look at. 406 00:22:31,440 --> 00:22:32,560 Speaker 2: Flat for the word. 407 00:22:33,960 --> 00:22:37,000 Speaker 1: And so the guys like, I don't know if you 408 00:22:37,000 --> 00:22:38,320 Speaker 1: want me to go catch up with ay have and 409 00:22:38,359 --> 00:22:39,840 Speaker 1: tell them to take it easy on the food and 410 00:22:39,920 --> 00:22:43,280 Speaker 1: drink because, uh, I don't know what you heard. But 411 00:22:49,600 --> 00:22:52,720 Speaker 1: whenever you start in faith, remember we were talking about 412 00:22:52,720 --> 00:22:57,040 Speaker 1: the start of the process, it always feels like nothing. 413 00:22:58,520 --> 00:23:08,120 Speaker 2: Nothing, nothing, nothing, nothing nothing. You know what this church 414 00:23:08,160 --> 00:23:13,479 Speaker 2: started with, right, nothing? 415 00:23:16,960 --> 00:23:19,280 Speaker 1: You know what the disciples packed when Jesus went out 416 00:23:19,280 --> 00:23:21,159 Speaker 1: to teach one day and five thousand men and the 417 00:23:21,160 --> 00:23:22,879 Speaker 1: women and children needed to eat. You know what they 418 00:23:22,920 --> 00:23:25,000 Speaker 1: packed in their cooler that day? 419 00:23:26,720 --> 00:23:31,199 Speaker 2: Nothing? Nothing, nothing. 420 00:23:31,880 --> 00:23:37,280 Speaker 1: I wonder are you in the it's nothing stage? It's nothing, 421 00:23:37,400 --> 00:23:42,119 Speaker 1: there is nothing, there is nothing. Maybe the doctors have 422 00:23:42,160 --> 00:23:46,959 Speaker 1: told you there is nothing we can do. Maybe you 423 00:23:46,960 --> 00:23:49,119 Speaker 1: were told since you were a little girl there is 424 00:23:49,280 --> 00:23:55,719 Speaker 1: nothing special about you. The invisibility stage is kind of 425 00:23:55,720 --> 00:23:58,919 Speaker 1: tough because you know what you heard, and you know 426 00:23:58,960 --> 00:24:03,760 Speaker 1: what you sense some times, but what you see is 427 00:24:03,800 --> 00:24:08,359 Speaker 1: a direct contradiction of what you sense. Please talk to me. 428 00:24:08,440 --> 00:24:09,960 Speaker 1: If I'm talking to you, I need a little bit 429 00:24:10,000 --> 00:24:18,480 Speaker 1: of response, unless you're trying to illustrate nothing. Oh man, 430 00:24:18,560 --> 00:24:22,800 Speaker 1: I know what it feels like to be looking at 431 00:24:22,840 --> 00:24:26,280 Speaker 1: nothing and hearing something. Do you do you know what 432 00:24:26,320 --> 00:24:29,280 Speaker 1: it feels like to be believing God for something and 433 00:24:29,480 --> 00:24:34,119 Speaker 1: seeing nothing. I mean no change in your kids. I 434 00:24:34,160 --> 00:24:37,000 Speaker 1: mean the more you pray for them, the wilder they get. 435 00:24:37,480 --> 00:24:40,320 Speaker 1: I mean nothing, I mean no bit, I mean no 436 00:24:40,400 --> 00:24:45,240 Speaker 1: new revenue, I mean no way forward. And Elijah does something. 437 00:24:45,240 --> 00:24:49,160 Speaker 1: This is spectacular. Elijah says, go back, look at your neighbor. 438 00:24:49,240 --> 00:24:52,640 Speaker 1: Say go back. Everybody point to Jonathan. Jo says, even 439 00:24:52,640 --> 00:24:55,920 Speaker 1: at the other campus, to say, go back and look again. 440 00:24:57,080 --> 00:25:02,480 Speaker 1: So go back. It goes back again, and he looks again. 441 00:25:06,359 --> 00:25:11,440 Speaker 1: Now look Jonathan, look, look, look, look, look, come on back. 442 00:25:13,520 --> 00:25:21,960 Speaker 1: I got bad news. It's still nothing. Still nothing. Everybody says, 443 00:25:22,000 --> 00:25:25,360 Speaker 1: still nothing. I'm gonna drag this point out because this 444 00:25:25,400 --> 00:25:29,080 Speaker 1: is how it feels. This is how faith feels. This 445 00:25:29,119 --> 00:25:31,280 Speaker 1: is how it feels to write a sermon. This is 446 00:25:31,320 --> 00:25:33,560 Speaker 1: how it feels to write a song. This is how 447 00:25:33,600 --> 00:25:36,480 Speaker 1: it feels to raise a kid. This is how it feels. 448 00:25:36,520 --> 00:25:39,639 Speaker 1: This is how it feels to wait on God by faith. 449 00:25:39,960 --> 00:25:42,480 Speaker 1: This is how it feels to worship God in a 450 00:25:42,560 --> 00:25:45,439 Speaker 1: dry season. This is how it feels for three and 451 00:25:45,480 --> 00:25:48,400 Speaker 1: a half years when you hear the sound but can't 452 00:25:48,440 --> 00:25:54,440 Speaker 1: see the sight. Somebody's shouting nothing, go again, go again. 453 00:25:55,240 --> 00:25:59,960 Speaker 1: Everybody pointed Jonathan, say go again, go again, go again. 454 00:26:00,440 --> 00:26:05,040 Speaker 1: Look again. Now, Notice Elijah is not moving. He sends 455 00:26:05,080 --> 00:26:09,280 Speaker 1: a runner. Maybe he knows that if he uses his eyes, 456 00:26:09,400 --> 00:26:14,040 Speaker 1: his faith will die. Maybe he knows that where I 457 00:26:14,080 --> 00:26:17,520 Speaker 1: am right now, and how it seems right now, I 458 00:26:17,560 --> 00:26:21,040 Speaker 1: can't look at my situation. I gotta listen right now. 459 00:26:21,240 --> 00:26:23,960 Speaker 1: I gotta hear what God says. If I go by 460 00:26:24,000 --> 00:26:27,160 Speaker 1: what I see, I'll die in this trout. So come 461 00:26:27,200 --> 00:26:33,600 Speaker 1: on back, come on back, come on back. Still nothing, 462 00:26:35,040 --> 00:26:45,080 Speaker 1: still nothing, Go again. Here's my message. You ready? Still nothing? 463 00:26:46,119 --> 00:26:52,240 Speaker 1: Go again, still nothing, Go again. One lap around the 464 00:26:52,320 --> 00:26:57,560 Speaker 1: Jericho walls, still nothing. March again. Two laps around the 465 00:26:57,640 --> 00:27:02,199 Speaker 1: Jericho walls, still nothing. Go again. One dip in the 466 00:27:02,280 --> 00:27:06,760 Speaker 1: Jordan River, name and still nothing. Go again. Two dips, 467 00:27:06,760 --> 00:27:11,560 Speaker 1: still nothing, Go again. Five trips up the mountains. Still nothing. 468 00:27:12,240 --> 00:27:17,520 Speaker 1: Go again, still nothing, Go again, still nothing, Go again, 469 00:27:18,000 --> 00:27:23,399 Speaker 1: still nothing, Pray again, still nothing, Sing again, still nothing. 470 00:27:23,760 --> 00:27:40,240 Speaker 1: Praise them again. I will reason. Faith is the substance 471 00:27:40,280 --> 00:27:43,840 Speaker 1: of things, hope for the evidence of things not seen. 472 00:27:53,080 --> 00:27:56,640 Speaker 1: Just because you can't see it doesn't mean he didn't 473 00:27:56,680 --> 00:27:57,159 Speaker 1: speak it. 474 00:27:59,320 --> 00:28:00,160 Speaker 2: I can't see. 475 00:28:00,160 --> 00:28:03,800 Speaker 1: Y'all at the University City location right now, but that 476 00:28:03,840 --> 00:28:06,840 Speaker 1: doesn't mean I don't believe that you are shouting. I 477 00:28:06,920 --> 00:28:10,359 Speaker 1: mean up on your feast shouting. I can't see it 478 00:28:10,440 --> 00:28:13,199 Speaker 1: right now at Gaston, but that doesn't mean you're not 479 00:28:13,240 --> 00:28:16,480 Speaker 1: on your feast shouting. I can't see you online, but 480 00:28:16,560 --> 00:28:20,399 Speaker 1: I release the word of God into your situation, into 481 00:28:20,440 --> 00:28:22,600 Speaker 1: your sickness, into your shame. 482 00:28:23,160 --> 00:28:32,000 Speaker 3: Nothing it's impossible with God. Hold on, Nothing is impossible 483 00:28:32,760 --> 00:28:33,320 Speaker 3: with God. 484 00:28:34,720 --> 00:28:40,760 Speaker 1: The only thing that is impossible with God is nothing. 485 00:28:41,880 --> 00:28:45,600 Speaker 1: Somebody's shout is never nothing, not if God is in it, 486 00:28:45,600 --> 00:28:49,400 Speaker 1: it's never nothing. If God is in it, nothing is impossible. 487 00:28:55,040 --> 00:28:57,000 Speaker 1: I don't feel appreciated today. I just want to teach 488 00:28:57,000 --> 00:29:01,959 Speaker 1: you a little bit. So so the seventh time, if 489 00:29:02,000 --> 00:29:04,680 Speaker 1: you how many times did you go, We're gonna pretend 490 00:29:04,680 --> 00:29:05,120 Speaker 1: like you're seven. 491 00:29:05,160 --> 00:29:07,400 Speaker 2: Come here, Come here, come here. I don't have time. Slow, 492 00:29:08,320 --> 00:29:09,120 Speaker 2: you're so. 493 00:29:08,880 --> 00:29:13,840 Speaker 1: Slow, Jonathan Josephs, everybody give it up for John. 494 00:29:19,120 --> 00:29:26,080 Speaker 2: I see something. Huh, I see something. You see something there? Well, well, so. 495 00:29:26,000 --> 00:29:28,280 Speaker 1: You're saying it's not it's not nothing, it's not nothing. 496 00:29:28,400 --> 00:29:32,320 Speaker 4: Okay, it's not nothing. It's not nothing, but it's small though. 497 00:29:32,840 --> 00:29:37,440 Speaker 4: Oh it's not it's not nothing. It's something. But now 498 00:29:37,440 --> 00:29:39,080 Speaker 4: it's not much, not much. 499 00:29:40,920 --> 00:29:41,120 Speaker 2: Yeah. 500 00:29:42,520 --> 00:29:44,920 Speaker 1: So when he came back the seventh time, he said, 501 00:29:45,960 --> 00:29:50,480 Speaker 1: it's not nothing. I see it, but it's not much. 502 00:29:50,520 --> 00:29:53,360 Speaker 1: It's not invisible, but it's insignificant. 503 00:29:54,960 --> 00:29:57,840 Speaker 2: Now this is this is. 504 00:29:59,720 --> 00:30:02,240 Speaker 1: This is is the second stage that your faith must survive. 505 00:30:02,640 --> 00:30:06,160 Speaker 1: It's insignificance. Sit down, a runner, do whatever you want 506 00:30:06,200 --> 00:30:11,240 Speaker 1: to do. I'm dumb and say, now it's not nothing. 507 00:30:12,280 --> 00:30:14,840 Speaker 1: There is a boy here, but he only has five 508 00:30:14,920 --> 00:30:16,960 Speaker 1: loaves and two fish. How far will they go amongst 509 00:30:17,000 --> 00:30:20,240 Speaker 1: so many? It's just a little bit of oil. It's 510 00:30:20,240 --> 00:30:24,480 Speaker 1: not nothing, but it's not much. So now we've gotten 511 00:30:24,520 --> 00:30:26,520 Speaker 1: to the place where, okay, I stood up in front 512 00:30:26,520 --> 00:30:28,440 Speaker 1: of the church when we had who is this message hitting? 513 00:30:28,440 --> 00:30:30,920 Speaker 1: Because right now, so it's so strong in my soul. 514 00:30:36,480 --> 00:30:39,840 Speaker 2: I stood up in front of the church and you 515 00:30:39,920 --> 00:30:41,280 Speaker 2: had two first time guests. 516 00:30:43,120 --> 00:30:45,160 Speaker 1: Do you know what a disaster it would be now 517 00:30:45,840 --> 00:30:50,040 Speaker 1: to have two first time, guests. But you gotta celebrate 518 00:30:51,320 --> 00:30:55,720 Speaker 1: what seems insignificant when I teach leaders. When I teach leaders, 519 00:30:55,760 --> 00:30:57,360 Speaker 1: how many have you own a business or run a 520 00:30:57,400 --> 00:30:59,560 Speaker 1: division in your company, or you have somebody that reports 521 00:30:59,600 --> 00:31:01,840 Speaker 1: to you where you breathe? Okay, raise your hand, all right, 522 00:31:02,440 --> 00:31:08,000 Speaker 1: you need to learn this. Celebrate something. Let me tell 523 00:31:08,000 --> 00:31:09,640 Speaker 1: you what to celebrate? Celebrate? 524 00:31:10,840 --> 00:31:13,600 Speaker 2: Can I preach real? We'll edit this out for online, 525 00:31:13,600 --> 00:31:14,280 Speaker 2: but it's just us. 526 00:31:14,280 --> 00:31:16,880 Speaker 1: It's just you know, twenty five thousand of us, right, Okay, 527 00:31:17,200 --> 00:31:27,840 Speaker 1: so that's a secret. Celebrate the sucky start. Celebrate the 528 00:31:27,960 --> 00:31:35,440 Speaker 1: soreness the next day, celebrate the small start. Do you 529 00:31:35,480 --> 00:31:37,200 Speaker 1: remember that first girl that got saved in our church? 530 00:31:37,240 --> 00:31:38,040 Speaker 2: Her name was Crystal. 531 00:31:40,040 --> 00:31:42,040 Speaker 1: There was a period of three months where she was 532 00:31:42,080 --> 00:31:45,160 Speaker 1: the only person that we could get saved. So every 533 00:31:45,200 --> 00:31:49,440 Speaker 1: week we talked about Crystal. I don't even know where 534 00:31:49,520 --> 00:31:51,960 Speaker 1: Crystal is today. She left the church a long time ago, 535 00:31:52,320 --> 00:31:54,200 Speaker 1: but she was our first salvation. I wish she was 536 00:31:54,240 --> 00:31:55,920 Speaker 1: still here. That'd be great. I care about her, God 537 00:31:55,920 --> 00:31:56,640 Speaker 1: bless her and all that. 538 00:31:57,600 --> 00:31:59,640 Speaker 2: But it was a start. 539 00:32:00,000 --> 00:32:02,200 Speaker 1: I can't tell you how many times on my sermon 540 00:32:02,320 --> 00:32:04,760 Speaker 1: I'll start writing something down. Can I just talk to you. 541 00:32:04,840 --> 00:32:06,680 Speaker 1: Can I talk to you because I know you're working 542 00:32:06,720 --> 00:32:08,520 Speaker 1: on something. I know you're believing God for something. I 543 00:32:08,560 --> 00:32:09,840 Speaker 1: know that you're working on something that don't have to 544 00:32:09,880 --> 00:32:11,080 Speaker 1: be a song, that don't have to be a sermon. 545 00:32:11,120 --> 00:32:13,120 Speaker 1: But I always start and the first thing I'm thinking 546 00:32:13,120 --> 00:32:14,640 Speaker 1: when i'm writing it down, this sucks. 547 00:32:16,480 --> 00:32:21,000 Speaker 2: This sucks. It always does to start with. 548 00:32:22,320 --> 00:32:24,400 Speaker 1: That's why my kids said, you should never let anybody 549 00:32:24,440 --> 00:32:25,640 Speaker 1: hear how these songs started. 550 00:32:27,280 --> 00:32:31,600 Speaker 2: You know what, though, I'm proud of my sucky starts. 551 00:32:33,600 --> 00:32:42,160 Speaker 1: Yeah, I'm proud. I am so proud of those sucky starts. 552 00:32:42,200 --> 00:32:46,120 Speaker 1: I am so proud of all those little voice memos 553 00:32:46,200 --> 00:32:50,000 Speaker 1: and type notes and gibberish. I mean all these notes 554 00:32:50,040 --> 00:32:52,480 Speaker 1: that I wrote that you will never hear. I mean 555 00:32:52,560 --> 00:32:56,200 Speaker 1: all of these ideas, all of this stuff that I tried, 556 00:32:56,680 --> 00:33:00,320 Speaker 1: I'm proud of. I'm proud of my scraps, out of 557 00:33:00,360 --> 00:33:03,760 Speaker 1: my frustrations. I'm proud of my problems. I'm proud of 558 00:33:03,800 --> 00:33:07,479 Speaker 1: my failures. I'm proud of my strikeouts. It's the proof 559 00:33:07,760 --> 00:33:11,280 Speaker 1: that I survived and I stuck it out when it sucked. 560 00:33:11,600 --> 00:33:14,520 Speaker 1: I went back when it wasn't much. I stayed with 561 00:33:14,640 --> 00:33:20,440 Speaker 1: it when it was little. Proud of that. I'm proud 562 00:33:20,440 --> 00:33:23,800 Speaker 1: of that scribbling. I'm proud of that chicken scratch. I'm 563 00:33:23,840 --> 00:33:26,560 Speaker 1: proud of everything I did that didn't work. It's what 564 00:33:26,800 --> 00:33:31,120 Speaker 1: made me strong enough to sustain the blessing when it came. 565 00:33:38,360 --> 00:33:42,719 Speaker 1: Oh yeah, you gotta shout over the small stuff. So 566 00:33:42,800 --> 00:33:47,200 Speaker 1: the servant's like, it's a class of a man's and 567 00:33:47,240 --> 00:33:51,880 Speaker 1: the life just like, let's go bump bump, bump, dump 568 00:33:51,960 --> 00:33:55,560 Speaker 1: dum dum, doom, doom doom. 569 00:33:57,920 --> 00:34:00,640 Speaker 2: And the servants like me, you don't hear me. Cloud, man, 570 00:34:00,680 --> 00:34:02,920 Speaker 2: it's not a I know. We gotta go. We gotta go. 571 00:34:03,000 --> 00:34:03,600 Speaker 2: We gotta go. 572 00:34:03,960 --> 00:34:06,160 Speaker 1: We gotta go, We gotta go, we gotta go, we 573 00:34:06,240 --> 00:34:08,319 Speaker 1: gotta go. It's building. We gotta go. It's working. We 574 00:34:08,360 --> 00:34:11,520 Speaker 1: gotta go, it's building. We gotta ride this momentum. It's 575 00:34:11,600 --> 00:34:13,680 Speaker 1: just a little cloud. But if we get out in 576 00:34:13,719 --> 00:34:16,560 Speaker 1: front of it, watch what God will do if we 577 00:34:16,600 --> 00:34:19,080 Speaker 1: get in front of it, if we'll start moving on 578 00:34:19,239 --> 00:34:22,040 Speaker 1: a little bit of blessing, little as much when God 579 00:34:22,160 --> 00:34:30,160 Speaker 1: is in it. I texted my friend the other day, 580 00:34:30,440 --> 00:34:32,200 Speaker 1: I said, I want you to make this confession over 581 00:34:32,239 --> 00:34:35,080 Speaker 1: your life for thirty days. I want you to look 582 00:34:35,080 --> 00:34:37,760 Speaker 1: at everything that seems stupid that you're doing right now 583 00:34:37,960 --> 00:34:39,840 Speaker 1: that feels like because I know moms feel like this. 584 00:34:40,040 --> 00:34:40,640 Speaker 2: I know you do. 585 00:34:40,960 --> 00:34:43,239 Speaker 1: I know that I know that employees and jobs that 586 00:34:43,280 --> 00:34:45,400 Speaker 1: you don't really like feel like this. I know couples 587 00:34:45,440 --> 00:34:47,520 Speaker 1: trying to get out of debt feel like this. I 588 00:34:47,560 --> 00:34:49,560 Speaker 1: know people that are believing God to bless them in 589 00:34:49,600 --> 00:34:51,680 Speaker 1: a bigger way. And you know you're in a small space. 590 00:34:51,880 --> 00:34:52,520 Speaker 1: I know you feel this. 591 00:34:52,560 --> 00:34:52,799 Speaker 2: West. 592 00:34:52,840 --> 00:34:54,279 Speaker 1: I want you to make this confession over your life. 593 00:34:54,360 --> 00:34:56,680 Speaker 1: I said, I want you to say, this is significant. 594 00:34:59,640 --> 00:35:04,960 Speaker 1: This is significant. This is significant. Running a vacuum cleaner, 595 00:35:05,200 --> 00:35:10,000 Speaker 1: this is significant, changing a diaper, this is significant, coming home, 596 00:35:10,120 --> 00:35:12,520 Speaker 1: just being a good husband, this is significant. 597 00:35:13,480 --> 00:35:14,600 Speaker 2: This is significant. 598 00:35:16,120 --> 00:35:18,120 Speaker 1: The devil won't like it when you say that, because 599 00:35:18,600 --> 00:35:20,759 Speaker 1: the way he gets you to leave your assignment is 600 00:35:20,800 --> 00:35:23,080 Speaker 1: to convince you that it doesn't matter what you're working on. 601 00:35:25,000 --> 00:35:34,239 Speaker 1: It's so small, it's so small. This is significant. And 602 00:35:34,280 --> 00:35:37,040 Speaker 1: don't wait to say that until it seems significant, because 603 00:35:37,080 --> 00:35:45,920 Speaker 1: that takes no faith. This is significant. This this not 604 00:35:46,160 --> 00:35:51,880 Speaker 1: just that. This is significant. Have you ever wanted a 605 00:35:51,920 --> 00:35:54,520 Speaker 1: new car and you picked out the kind of car 606 00:35:54,600 --> 00:35:57,320 Speaker 1: you wanted and the next thing you knew. You started 607 00:35:57,360 --> 00:35:59,120 Speaker 1: seeing that car everywhere you went. 608 00:35:59,760 --> 00:36:00,440 Speaker 2: What happened? 609 00:36:00,960 --> 00:36:02,960 Speaker 1: They just flooded the market with that car all of 610 00:36:03,000 --> 00:36:06,640 Speaker 1: a sudden. Google has an algorithm in your brain, and 611 00:36:06,680 --> 00:36:08,760 Speaker 1: so they put the cars in front of you. Perhaps 612 00:36:08,800 --> 00:36:13,680 Speaker 1: we're probably coming to that day. But it wasn't Amazon, baby, 613 00:36:13,719 --> 00:36:20,400 Speaker 1: It was your attention. You started seeing it when you 614 00:36:20,440 --> 00:36:27,200 Speaker 1: started searching for it. You want a life that matters. 615 00:36:27,680 --> 00:36:34,120 Speaker 1: Make it matter, make it matter, make it matter. 616 00:36:35,040 --> 00:36:36,200 Speaker 2: This is significant. 617 00:36:36,800 --> 00:36:41,279 Speaker 1: It's a cloud the size of a man's hand, and 618 00:36:41,320 --> 00:36:44,560 Speaker 1: a lighter said, let's go. That's what we've been waiting for. 619 00:36:45,760 --> 00:36:48,839 Speaker 1: It sucks, but it's a start. It's small, but it's 620 00:36:48,880 --> 00:36:51,920 Speaker 1: a start. I barely see it, but it's a start. 621 00:36:52,160 --> 00:36:54,000 Speaker 1: We got a long way to go because we got 622 00:36:54,000 --> 00:36:55,680 Speaker 1: in this famine three and a half years ago, and 623 00:36:55,719 --> 00:36:59,080 Speaker 1: it's not going to be over overnight. But it's a start. 624 00:37:00,000 --> 00:37:04,440 Speaker 1: It's a start, and my start is significant. Can I 625 00:37:04,440 --> 00:37:08,480 Speaker 1: show you one more thing? Can I? If you need 626 00:37:08,520 --> 00:37:09,960 Speaker 1: to leave, go ahead and leave, But I'm gonna take 627 00:37:10,000 --> 00:37:13,680 Speaker 1: ten minutes with everybody who wants to hear, because if 628 00:37:13,719 --> 00:37:20,080 Speaker 1: the enemy cannot get you to stay listen, he wants 629 00:37:20,160 --> 00:37:22,040 Speaker 1: And I don't know if you believe in the devil, 630 00:37:22,080 --> 00:37:25,400 Speaker 1: but your brain, let's let's approach it from a psychological perspective. 631 00:37:25,400 --> 00:37:27,000 Speaker 1: If you don't believe in the devil, you don't have kids. 632 00:37:27,040 --> 00:37:28,520 Speaker 1: But just in case you don't have kids and don't 633 00:37:28,520 --> 00:37:29,680 Speaker 1: believe in the devil. 634 00:37:32,800 --> 00:37:35,400 Speaker 2: Your brain is wired for survival. 635 00:37:35,680 --> 00:37:38,920 Speaker 1: Okay, So when you're living in your head, all you're 636 00:37:38,920 --> 00:37:42,839 Speaker 1: thinking about is survival. What had Elijah been doing for 637 00:37:42,880 --> 00:37:49,680 Speaker 1: three and a half years before the drought was over? Survival, 638 00:37:50,400 --> 00:37:53,840 Speaker 1: which in that three and a half year span was success. 639 00:37:54,960 --> 00:38:00,640 Speaker 1: Because sometimes just making it is what matters. Just making 640 00:38:00,719 --> 00:38:06,160 Speaker 1: it is what matters. I mean, just still being in 641 00:38:06,560 --> 00:38:13,480 Speaker 1: faith is victory sometimes. But when the shift happens, I wonder, 642 00:38:13,600 --> 00:38:15,879 Speaker 1: will you be ready for the rain you've been praying for? 643 00:38:15,960 --> 00:38:20,200 Speaker 1: Because your brain, if you stay inside your brain, your 644 00:38:20,200 --> 00:38:23,200 Speaker 1: reflex will always be to run. What has Elijah been 645 00:38:23,239 --> 00:38:26,160 Speaker 1: doing for the last three and a half years, Come on, 646 00:38:26,200 --> 00:38:28,840 Speaker 1: talk to me, church. What's he been doing? He's been running, 647 00:38:29,280 --> 00:38:34,120 Speaker 1: surviving and running and surviving and running and surviving. So 648 00:38:34,160 --> 00:38:37,320 Speaker 1: when the rain comes, he runs, and for a little 649 00:38:37,320 --> 00:38:40,279 Speaker 1: while he's running ahead of the rain. He's running in 650 00:38:40,280 --> 00:38:43,160 Speaker 1: front of the chariot because he's ready for his next assignment. 651 00:38:43,520 --> 00:38:47,040 Speaker 1: He's ready to survey have now he believes revival has 652 00:38:47,080 --> 00:38:50,440 Speaker 1: come to the nation. The bail prophets have been destroyed, 653 00:38:50,680 --> 00:38:53,440 Speaker 1: the asker of profits are all laying at their own altars, 654 00:38:53,440 --> 00:38:56,520 Speaker 1: dead in their own blood. And now revival can come. 655 00:38:56,800 --> 00:38:59,600 Speaker 1: And so he runs seventeen miles on the fuel of 656 00:38:59,640 --> 00:39:02,640 Speaker 1: his eight, on the fuel of the promise of God 657 00:39:02,719 --> 00:39:05,560 Speaker 1: coming to pass in his life. He runs ahead of 658 00:39:05,600 --> 00:39:07,640 Speaker 1: the chariot, he runs ahead of the rain. 659 00:39:07,680 --> 00:39:08,840 Speaker 2: And then something happens. 660 00:39:10,160 --> 00:39:12,960 Speaker 1: Because if the enemy can't kill you in the invisibility 661 00:39:13,000 --> 00:39:18,200 Speaker 1: stage or the insignificant stage, the only thing left for 662 00:39:18,280 --> 00:39:20,439 Speaker 1: him to do to keep you from receiving what God 663 00:39:20,520 --> 00:39:29,800 Speaker 1: is pouring out in your life is intimidation. He can't 664 00:39:29,920 --> 00:39:34,920 Speaker 1: keep God from making it rain, but maybe he can 665 00:39:35,000 --> 00:39:36,359 Speaker 1: keep you from receiving it. 666 00:39:39,320 --> 00:39:40,360 Speaker 2: If he can get your running. 667 00:39:42,239 --> 00:39:46,840 Speaker 1: Because I'm a runner, I'm a refugee, and I'm a 668 00:39:46,960 --> 00:39:47,480 Speaker 1: rain maker. 669 00:39:49,280 --> 00:39:53,480 Speaker 2: But now I'm a refugee. WA's what happens? What's what happens? 670 00:39:53,520 --> 00:39:57,879 Speaker 1: When when Elijah should be celebrating the storm, I'll come 671 00:39:57,920 --> 00:39:58,919 Speaker 1: back to that another week. 672 00:40:00,239 --> 00:40:03,080 Speaker 2: Your storm, celebrate your storm. 673 00:40:04,000 --> 00:40:06,359 Speaker 1: We always preach about storms like it's something we want 674 00:40:06,400 --> 00:40:09,040 Speaker 1: to get out of. What if the storm that God 675 00:40:09,120 --> 00:40:11,840 Speaker 1: sent into your life was to prove his presence. Celebrate 676 00:40:11,880 --> 00:40:18,080 Speaker 1: your storm, Celebrate your storm, Celebrate your storm, Celebrate the 677 00:40:18,160 --> 00:40:21,640 Speaker 1: storms you survive, and celebrate the storms when they come, 678 00:40:22,000 --> 00:40:24,240 Speaker 1: because you know God is with you in the storm. 679 00:40:24,560 --> 00:40:27,120 Speaker 1: He isn't ever present help in the time of trouble. 680 00:40:33,200 --> 00:40:36,480 Speaker 1: And when the storm came and Ahab went down and 681 00:40:36,520 --> 00:40:39,160 Speaker 1: told Jezbel what Elijah had done. 682 00:40:38,960 --> 00:40:45,439 Speaker 2: She knew that her day's were numbered, So she sends 683 00:40:45,480 --> 00:40:47,839 Speaker 2: a messenger to Elijah. 684 00:40:47,880 --> 00:40:49,880 Speaker 1: And what happens next is going to shock you because 685 00:40:49,880 --> 00:40:54,040 Speaker 1: you just watched the faith of a rain maker, but 686 00:40:54,080 --> 00:40:55,880 Speaker 1: now you're going to see the fear of a renegade, 687 00:40:56,200 --> 00:41:02,600 Speaker 1: run away a refugee. And the messengers come to Elijah, 688 00:41:02,719 --> 00:41:07,480 Speaker 1: come on, let's play this out, and they say, Jezebel says. 689 00:41:08,000 --> 00:41:11,400 Speaker 2: She's going to kill you. What we are thick the 690 00:41:11,400 --> 00:41:12,320 Speaker 2: scripture off the screen. 691 00:41:12,360 --> 00:41:14,799 Speaker 1: What we are expecting next is for Elijah to tell 692 00:41:14,880 --> 00:41:20,919 Speaker 1: Jezebel where she can go with that noise and what 693 00:41:21,040 --> 00:41:24,120 Speaker 1: she can do with her threats. Come on, would it 694 00:41:24,200 --> 00:41:28,480 Speaker 1: you wish Jezebel would try. 695 00:41:28,280 --> 00:41:28,719 Speaker 2: To kill me? 696 00:41:31,680 --> 00:41:34,200 Speaker 1: So what comes next is shocking against the backdrop of 697 00:41:34,239 --> 00:41:37,000 Speaker 1: the boldness of a prophet who put his head between 698 00:41:37,040 --> 00:41:40,200 Speaker 1: his knees and waited for rain, who survived three and 699 00:41:40,239 --> 00:41:42,800 Speaker 1: a half years of drought, who was fed by the 700 00:41:42,840 --> 00:41:46,000 Speaker 1: mouths of birds, and at the house of a widow. 701 00:41:47,360 --> 00:41:52,840 Speaker 1: And now the rain has come, and now the drought 702 00:41:52,880 --> 00:41:59,040 Speaker 1: is over. And now verse three, Elijah was. 703 00:42:00,480 --> 00:42:00,960 Speaker 2: Afraid. 704 00:42:01,120 --> 00:42:06,120 Speaker 1: Never thought I'd see those three words. Never thought he would. 705 00:42:06,160 --> 00:42:09,799 Speaker 1: I mean, I would have understood if he ran well, 706 00:42:09,840 --> 00:42:15,040 Speaker 1: the drought was still in progress. But it's raining. Now 707 00:42:18,360 --> 00:42:23,520 Speaker 1: it's raining, and Elijah, the one who survived three and 708 00:42:23,520 --> 00:42:28,680 Speaker 1: a half years of drought, is running. The Bible says 709 00:42:28,719 --> 00:42:36,320 Speaker 1: he's running for his life. I don't buy it. I'm sorry, 710 00:42:37,040 --> 00:42:41,560 Speaker 1: I don't buy it. I don't believe Elijah that you're 711 00:42:41,600 --> 00:42:46,040 Speaker 1: afraid that Jezebel can kill you, because if she could 712 00:42:46,080 --> 00:42:50,040 Speaker 1: have killed you, she wouldn't have sent messengers to warn you. 713 00:42:54,760 --> 00:42:58,240 Speaker 1: If she could kill you, she would send her bailiffs 714 00:42:58,600 --> 00:43:02,239 Speaker 1: to arrest you. But she knows she can't kill you, 715 00:43:03,680 --> 00:43:07,560 Speaker 1: so she's trying to contain you. Don't you know the 716 00:43:07,560 --> 00:43:10,880 Speaker 1: devil found out a long time ago that he can't 717 00:43:10,960 --> 00:43:14,560 Speaker 1: curse what God is blessed. Don't you know if the 718 00:43:14,560 --> 00:43:17,719 Speaker 1: devil could have killed you by now, he would have killed. 719 00:43:17,560 --> 00:43:18,239 Speaker 2: You by now. 720 00:43:20,560 --> 00:43:22,799 Speaker 1: If he could have kept it from raining, he would 721 00:43:22,840 --> 00:43:25,080 Speaker 1: have kept it from raining. If he could have taken 722 00:43:25,160 --> 00:43:30,360 Speaker 1: you out, you'd be out. But since he couldn't kill you, 723 00:43:31,680 --> 00:43:35,319 Speaker 1: and he tries to contain you, so he intimidates you. 724 00:43:36,320 --> 00:43:38,719 Speaker 2: And now Elijah is running. Please catch this. 725 00:43:39,560 --> 00:43:43,439 Speaker 1: He is running from the same reiin that he prayed for. 726 00:43:48,239 --> 00:43:53,239 Speaker 1: Some of us are better at surviving in famine than 727 00:43:53,280 --> 00:43:58,279 Speaker 1: we are at living in blessing. What I mean is 728 00:43:59,440 --> 00:44:03,759 Speaker 1: what I mean. When the rain started, the one who 729 00:44:03,840 --> 00:44:07,479 Speaker 1: ran ahead of the rain started running away from the rain. 730 00:44:09,360 --> 00:44:12,799 Speaker 1: So the message God gave me for somebody today you 731 00:44:12,920 --> 00:44:17,560 Speaker 1: know who you are, is that you are running from 732 00:44:18,200 --> 00:44:25,840 Speaker 1: the rain. You are running from the blessing of God. 733 00:44:27,040 --> 00:44:31,319 Speaker 1: You are running from something that is already defeated. You 734 00:44:31,480 --> 00:44:34,920 Speaker 1: are running from shame that the Cross of Jesus Christ 735 00:44:35,320 --> 00:44:39,200 Speaker 1: has already taken away. You are running from a power 736 00:44:39,280 --> 00:44:43,040 Speaker 1: of sin that has already been broken. You are running 737 00:44:43,080 --> 00:44:47,359 Speaker 1: from situations that God has already worked out. You are 738 00:44:47,440 --> 00:44:50,080 Speaker 1: running from an outcome that you don't have to fear. 739 00:44:50,560 --> 00:44:53,400 Speaker 1: Guess what God's gonna deal with Jessebel. 740 00:44:53,920 --> 00:44:54,879 Speaker 2: Head back in the. 741 00:44:54,920 --> 00:44:59,080 Speaker 1: Right direction and run toward the rain. It's raining now, 742 00:44:59,360 --> 00:45:02,680 Speaker 1: the it is over come out of the drop. It's 743 00:45:02,800 --> 00:45:15,040 Speaker 1: raining now, it's rating. Why would you run from the rain? 744 00:45:16,960 --> 00:45:19,320 Speaker 1: Why would you run from the blessing of God? 745 00:45:19,600 --> 00:45:20,200 Speaker 2: See, when you. 746 00:45:20,239 --> 00:45:27,279 Speaker 1: Run from the resistance, you run from the rain. When 747 00:45:27,320 --> 00:45:32,239 Speaker 1: you run from the battle, you run from the blessings. 748 00:45:33,920 --> 00:45:38,320 Speaker 1: When you run from the problem, you run from the promise. 749 00:45:38,719 --> 00:45:42,200 Speaker 1: When you run from the problem, you run from the harvest. 750 00:45:43,719 --> 00:45:47,120 Speaker 2: Where you're running from. 751 00:45:47,400 --> 00:45:52,560 Speaker 1: You really believe that Jezebel can kill you, after all 752 00:45:52,719 --> 00:45:57,720 Speaker 1: you've already survived. You really think Jezebel has the power 753 00:45:58,120 --> 00:46:01,480 Speaker 1: in her mouth to stop what God is doing in 754 00:46:01,520 --> 00:46:05,280 Speaker 1: your life. No, somebody's said, I'm coming out of the drought. 755 00:46:05,600 --> 00:46:08,680 Speaker 1: I'm coming out of the drought. I've been dry too long, 756 00:46:08,960 --> 00:46:13,040 Speaker 1: defeed it too long to press too long, discourage too long. 757 00:46:14,120 --> 00:46:15,600 Speaker 1: It's a new season. 758 00:46:15,239 --> 00:46:18,759 Speaker 2: In my life. 759 00:46:19,960 --> 00:46:22,880 Speaker 1: I feel the presence of God so powerfully in this place. 760 00:46:25,120 --> 00:46:36,560 Speaker 1: I'm ready for rain. I'm ready for rain. I'm ready 761 00:46:36,600 --> 00:46:42,400 Speaker 1: for rain. I'm not running from it now, I'm ready 762 00:46:42,400 --> 00:46:48,200 Speaker 1: for it. I'm ready for rain. I'm ready for rain 763 00:46:48,880 --> 00:46:49,880 Speaker 1: and all that it brings. 764 00:46:51,160 --> 00:46:54,040 Speaker 2: I'm ready. I'm ready for. 765 00:46:53,960 --> 00:47:00,480 Speaker 1: The storm and an amazing how you can be blessed 766 00:47:00,520 --> 00:47:07,600 Speaker 1: situation and have a dry soul and have rain falling 767 00:47:07,640 --> 00:47:13,200 Speaker 1: all around you. And Elijah ran for his life, and 768 00:47:13,239 --> 00:47:18,680 Speaker 1: he went into a cave in the wilderness, and he 769 00:47:18,760 --> 00:47:22,800 Speaker 1: isolated himself, and a voice came in the form of 770 00:47:22,840 --> 00:47:24,880 Speaker 1: a gentle breeze, which was a whisper, and called him 771 00:47:24,920 --> 00:47:30,120 Speaker 1: out of the cave. See, I don't believe that God, don't. 772 00:47:30,160 --> 00:47:31,960 Speaker 1: I don't believe that God is calling you out of 773 00:47:32,000 --> 00:47:34,200 Speaker 1: the drought today. I believe he's calling the drought. 774 00:47:33,960 --> 00:47:34,400 Speaker 2: Out of you. 775 00:47:44,760 --> 00:47:48,400 Speaker 1: Listen, listen. If this is for you, you'll know it 776 00:47:48,440 --> 00:47:51,080 Speaker 1: when I say it. You've been you've been telling yourself 777 00:47:51,120 --> 00:47:54,040 Speaker 1: you're in a dry season. Really you've just been in 778 00:47:54,080 --> 00:47:58,440 Speaker 1: a dry place. And if you would come out of yourself. 779 00:47:58,440 --> 00:48:00,560 Speaker 1: Do you know what God told Elijah listen to He said, 780 00:48:01,280 --> 00:48:04,320 Speaker 1: you think you're the only one, because Elijah had convinced himself. 781 00:48:04,520 --> 00:48:06,600 Speaker 1: You know how we do when we get inside ourselves. 782 00:48:06,760 --> 00:48:11,560 Speaker 1: Nobody appreciates you, nobody sees you. It's nothing. There's no one. 783 00:48:12,200 --> 00:48:17,720 Speaker 1: God said, I have seven thousand that have not bowed 784 00:48:17,760 --> 00:48:20,400 Speaker 1: their need to beat. You think you're the only one. 785 00:48:20,520 --> 00:48:22,080 Speaker 2: You're not the only one. 786 00:48:22,239 --> 00:48:27,080 Speaker 1: You're not alone. It's not nothing. You're not alone. There 787 00:48:27,200 --> 00:48:35,640 Speaker 1: is a cloud. There is a cloud, but. 788 00:48:35,680 --> 00:48:37,120 Speaker 2: You won't see it in the cave. Now. 789 00:48:37,120 --> 00:48:38,680 Speaker 1: I want you to stand to your feet because the 790 00:48:38,680 --> 00:48:40,719 Speaker 1: spirit of the Lord is passing by it. 791 00:48:46,719 --> 00:48:49,680 Speaker 2: This is going to be such an amazing season of 792 00:48:49,719 --> 00:48:52,200 Speaker 2: faith in our church during this series. 793 00:48:52,680 --> 00:48:55,040 Speaker 1: I trust that you can feel it already working in 794 00:48:55,080 --> 00:48:58,080 Speaker 1: our midst, I said, I trust that you can feel 795 00:48:58,080 --> 00:48:59,799 Speaker 1: at work in already in our midst. Why don't you 796 00:48:59,800 --> 00:49:06,800 Speaker 1: respond by faith to what God has doing in your life. 797 00:49:07,320 --> 00:49:09,279 Speaker 1: I see a few people leaving. I ask if you 798 00:49:09,280 --> 00:49:11,760 Speaker 1: can stay. Please respect the presence of God. I promise 799 00:49:11,800 --> 00:49:15,000 Speaker 1: we'll all be dismissed together in a moment. But for 800 00:49:15,080 --> 00:49:17,120 Speaker 1: those of you who are ready to stop running from 801 00:49:17,160 --> 00:49:20,719 Speaker 1: the rain that God has blessed you with, for those 802 00:49:20,760 --> 00:49:22,520 Speaker 1: of you who have been in a place of watch 803 00:49:22,560 --> 00:49:27,840 Speaker 1: this invisibility. I can't see it right now, insignificance. It 804 00:49:27,880 --> 00:49:33,279 Speaker 1: doesn't matter because it's not much or intimidation. Sometimes God 805 00:49:33,320 --> 00:49:35,040 Speaker 1: can bless you with the very thing that you are 806 00:49:35,040 --> 00:49:37,359 Speaker 1: believing Him for, and you. 807 00:49:37,280 --> 00:49:41,000 Speaker 2: Don't know how to stand in a season of success. 808 00:49:43,080 --> 00:49:45,200 Speaker 2: What I'd like for you to do right now is symbolic. 809 00:49:46,760 --> 00:49:48,440 Speaker 1: I want you to lift your hands to heaven like 810 00:49:48,480 --> 00:49:53,200 Speaker 1: you are receiving the refreshing presence of God, the reign 811 00:49:53,520 --> 00:50:01,759 Speaker 1: of His presence. And when we say we receive your rain, 812 00:50:01,920 --> 00:50:03,799 Speaker 1: let's not picture our situations right now. 813 00:50:03,840 --> 00:50:06,440 Speaker 2: Okay, let's sing it over our souls. 814 00:50:08,440 --> 00:50:10,480 Speaker 1: Maybe you're in a good season, but you're just in 815 00:50:10,520 --> 00:50:13,719 Speaker 1: a dry place inside. The only way to come out 816 00:50:13,760 --> 00:50:15,920 Speaker 1: of the drought is to get the drought out of you. 817 00:50:15,920 --> 00:50:17,160 Speaker 2: You've got to come out. 818 00:50:16,960 --> 00:50:20,520 Speaker 1: Of yourself, out of your self consciousness, out of your 819 00:50:20,520 --> 00:50:23,879 Speaker 1: self absorption, out of your obsession with what others think, 820 00:50:24,239 --> 00:50:27,400 Speaker 1: out of your failures, out of your past, out of 821 00:50:27,440 --> 00:50:31,200 Speaker 1: your fears. Come on, Elijah, the spear of the Lord 822 00:50:31,280 --> 00:50:35,000 Speaker 1: is passing by. You don't want to miss your miracle 823 00:50:35,080 --> 00:50:40,840 Speaker 1: because you are in the cave. Come out. It is raining, now, 824 00:50:42,120 --> 00:50:50,759 Speaker 1: come out. It's raining. Now, receive it. Stop resisting it 825 00:50:52,520 --> 00:50:56,440 Speaker 1: and receive it. Stop running. 826 00:50:58,200 --> 00:50:59,560 Speaker 2: And receive it. I hear the. 827 00:50:59,440 --> 00:51:04,760 Speaker 1: Sound of the abundance of rain. It starts like a whisper, 828 00:51:04,760 --> 00:51:10,200 Speaker 1: and it's welling up. We declare over your life. The 829 00:51:10,320 --> 00:51:15,760 Speaker 1: dry season is over. There is a cloud. The dry 830 00:51:15,800 --> 00:51:20,239 Speaker 1: season is over. There is a cloud. There is a 831 00:51:20,280 --> 00:51:22,719 Speaker 1: well springing up. There is a river who streams. Make 832 00:51:22,760 --> 00:51:27,080 Speaker 1: glad the city of God. There is a cloud beginning 833 00:51:27,120 --> 00:51:30,959 Speaker 1: to swell. Come on, worship and worship, and worship. 834 00:51:30,680 --> 00:51:31,920 Speaker 2: And worship him. 835 00:51:31,960 --> 00:51:34,239 Speaker 1: Worship and worship and worship him. 836 00:51:34,280 --> 00:51:34,720 Speaker 2: Worship. 837 00:51:34,800 --> 00:51:37,440 Speaker 1: Thank you for the rain, God, Thank you for the 838 00:51:37,480 --> 00:51:41,040 Speaker 1: refreshing of your presence. Thank you for setting my feet 839 00:51:41,120 --> 00:51:43,400 Speaker 1: on the rock, giving me a firm place to stand. 840 00:51:43,480 --> 00:51:46,600 Speaker 2: Thank you Lord. I'm coming out of the drought. 841 00:51:47,800 --> 00:51:53,759 Speaker 1: I'm coming out, coming out of myself, coming out of 842 00:51:53,800 --> 00:51:58,160 Speaker 1: my insecurity, coming out of my inadequacy. I can't do 843 00:51:58,360 --> 00:52:01,520 Speaker 1: all things through Christ, who gives me me straight. There 844 00:52:01,600 --> 00:52:06,440 Speaker 1: is a cloud. There is a cloud. Greater is he 845 00:52:06,640 --> 00:52:09,280 Speaker 1: that is in me, that he that is in the world. 846 00:52:09,320 --> 00:52:16,880 Speaker 1: There is a cloud. Come on, release your fear. Receive 847 00:52:16,920 --> 00:52:18,520 Speaker 1: it by faith. There is a cloud. 848 00:52:19,080 --> 00:52:25,560 Speaker 5: There is there is Please, there is there is. Would 849 00:52:25,600 --> 00:52:30,839 Speaker 5: you receive it today? Would you be free today? 850 00:52:30,840 --> 00:52:37,799 Speaker 1: Peace? Would you drink it today? Come out, come out, 851 00:52:39,320 --> 00:52:43,600 Speaker 1: come out, Come out he peace. It's lady is Ray. 852 00:52:46,560 --> 00:52:48,799 Speaker 1: Lift that right head, lift. 853 00:52:48,520 --> 00:52:49,440 Speaker 2: That very heart. 854 00:52:59,680 --> 00:53:02,279 Speaker 1: Thank you for joining us. Special thanks to those of 855 00:53:02,320 --> 00:53:05,319 Speaker 1: you who give generously to this ministry is because of 856 00:53:05,320 --> 00:53:08,279 Speaker 1: you that this ministry is possible. You can click the 857 00:53:08,280 --> 00:53:12,040 Speaker 1: link in the description to give now or visit Elevationchurch 858 00:53:12,200 --> 00:53:15,440 Speaker 1: dot org slash podcast for more information and if you 859 00:53:15,520 --> 00:53:18,759 Speaker 1: enjoyed the podcast, you can subscribe. You can share it 860 00:53:18,800 --> 00:53:21,080 Speaker 1: with your friends. You can click the share button, take 861 00:53:21,120 --> 00:53:23,480 Speaker 1: a screenshot and share it on your social stories and 862 00:53:23,520 --> 00:53:25,080 Speaker 1: tag us at Elevation Church. 863 00:53:25,160 --> 00:53:31,799 Speaker 2: Thanks again for listening. God bless you.