1 00:00:03,720 --> 00:00:06,359 Speaker 1: God brought a scripture to my memory from First Corinthians, 2 00:00:06,440 --> 00:00:13,000 Speaker 1: chapter fifteen. I read from verse fifty four Verse Corinthians, 3 00:00:13,080 --> 00:00:22,120 Speaker 1: Chapter fifteen, Verse fifty four. When the perishable has been 4 00:00:22,239 --> 00:00:28,360 Speaker 1: clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then 5 00:00:28,960 --> 00:00:34,600 Speaker 1: the saying that is written will come true. Death has 6 00:00:34,680 --> 00:00:44,440 Speaker 1: been swallowed up in victory. Where oh death is your victory, 7 00:00:45,240 --> 00:00:49,680 Speaker 1: Where oh death is your sting. The sting of death 8 00:00:49,720 --> 00:00:53,960 Speaker 1: is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 9 00:00:54,040 --> 00:00:58,120 Speaker 1: But thanks be to God he gives us the victory 10 00:00:58,720 --> 00:01:03,480 Speaker 1: through our Lord, Jesus Christ. Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, 11 00:01:04,440 --> 00:01:10,080 Speaker 1: stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully 12 00:01:10,600 --> 00:01:13,920 Speaker 1: to the work of the Lord, because you know that 13 00:01:13,959 --> 00:01:18,800 Speaker 1: your labor in the Lord is not in vain. What 14 00:01:18,920 --> 00:01:22,920 Speaker 1: a word today. I want to talk to you from 15 00:01:22,920 --> 00:01:25,240 Speaker 1: an unusual topic. I want to speak about the gift 16 00:01:25,319 --> 00:01:28,160 Speaker 1: of victory. I want to give you. Go ahead, put 17 00:01:28,160 --> 00:01:29,440 Speaker 1: your hands out, because I want to give you your 18 00:01:29,440 --> 00:01:33,160 Speaker 1: first Christmas gift. You hadn't open anything yet, have you 19 00:01:33,959 --> 00:01:38,200 Speaker 1: all right? We'll get ready for this, the gift of victory. 20 00:01:38,280 --> 00:01:41,040 Speaker 1: Somebody shot is mine, It's mine, It's mine. I want it. 21 00:01:41,160 --> 00:01:43,600 Speaker 1: I take it. I receive it. It's mine, it's got 22 00:01:43,600 --> 00:01:48,360 Speaker 1: my name on it. Huh, let's unwrap this together. Today 23 00:01:48,400 --> 00:01:52,360 Speaker 1: you be seated in God's presence, the gift of victory. 24 00:01:54,000 --> 00:01:56,280 Speaker 1: I think my oldest son, Elijah put it best one time. 25 00:01:57,680 --> 00:01:59,280 Speaker 1: I don't remember how many years ago this was, but 26 00:02:00,080 --> 00:02:03,120 Speaker 1: he was having a hard time in school because they 27 00:02:03,120 --> 00:02:05,160 Speaker 1: were dividing up and playing this certain game with this 28 00:02:05,240 --> 00:02:09,800 Speaker 1: certain team at recess, and they kept losing. And one 29 00:02:09,880 --> 00:02:12,320 Speaker 1: of the girls in his class said, Elijah, quit having 30 00:02:12,320 --> 00:02:15,400 Speaker 1: such a bad attitude. It's not if you win or lose, 31 00:02:16,000 --> 00:02:20,040 Speaker 1: it's if you're having fun. So he came home mad 32 00:02:20,080 --> 00:02:22,800 Speaker 1: every day. You know, we lost again, and whatever her 33 00:02:22,880 --> 00:02:25,040 Speaker 1: name was said, it's not whether you win or lose, 34 00:02:25,680 --> 00:02:28,680 Speaker 1: it's whether or not you have fun. After about three 35 00:02:28,760 --> 00:02:30,760 Speaker 1: days of this, he comes home. This is the most 36 00:02:30,840 --> 00:02:33,440 Speaker 1: brilliant thing that has ever been said in the furdic howhole. 37 00:02:33,840 --> 00:02:37,480 Speaker 1: Listen what he said. He said, Dad, today I got her. 38 00:02:38,200 --> 00:02:39,639 Speaker 1: I said, you got who you'll want. He said, no, 39 00:02:39,680 --> 00:02:44,200 Speaker 1: we still lost. But when she said that, after we lost, 40 00:02:44,280 --> 00:02:46,840 Speaker 1: his teammate who kept saying it's not whether you win 41 00:02:46,960 --> 00:02:49,520 Speaker 1: or lose, it's whether you have fun, he said, I 42 00:02:49,600 --> 00:02:53,200 Speaker 1: was ready, and this time when she said it, she said, Elijah, 43 00:02:53,320 --> 00:02:55,880 Speaker 1: it's not if you win or lose, it's whether you 44 00:02:55,960 --> 00:02:59,359 Speaker 1: have fun. I said, well, I'm not having fun if 45 00:02:59,400 --> 00:03:06,440 Speaker 1: I'm not with that's my boy. That's my boy. He's 46 00:03:06,480 --> 00:03:11,400 Speaker 1: got that anointing of antagonism, not anointing us counter attack 47 00:03:11,560 --> 00:03:16,520 Speaker 1: based in sound logic. That's the truth. Man, I'm not 48 00:03:16,639 --> 00:03:21,320 Speaker 1: having fun if I'm not winning. And maybe you're not competitive, 49 00:03:22,120 --> 00:03:26,200 Speaker 1: you little Pollyanna positive. It's not whether you win or lose. 50 00:03:26,240 --> 00:03:31,680 Speaker 1: That's fine. But our family is very different. Our family 51 00:03:31,720 --> 00:03:37,040 Speaker 1: does not have game nights. Oh we try. They were 52 00:03:37,040 --> 00:03:39,760 Speaker 1: too bloody and traumatic. I figured if I kept having 53 00:03:39,760 --> 00:03:42,080 Speaker 1: game nights with my kids, the therapy bill would be 54 00:03:42,160 --> 00:03:44,160 Speaker 1: through the roof when they get older. Because it just 55 00:03:44,240 --> 00:03:48,720 Speaker 1: always it always ended poorly. And y'all pray for Holly 56 00:03:48,800 --> 00:03:53,040 Speaker 1: because she has this competitive spirit that would come out 57 00:03:53,040 --> 00:03:56,640 Speaker 1: at game night. You'll believe that, y'all believe she was 58 00:03:56,640 --> 00:04:01,920 Speaker 1: the problem. Be a first time guest. If you believe that. 59 00:04:03,440 --> 00:04:05,720 Speaker 1: Now it was all of us, really, every single one 60 00:04:05,760 --> 00:04:07,200 Speaker 1: of us. We're now we have a lot of good 61 00:04:07,200 --> 00:04:09,600 Speaker 1: family traditions. I mean, I think that our family is 62 00:04:09,640 --> 00:04:12,040 Speaker 1: pretty cool, really cool I'm really proud of our family 63 00:04:12,160 --> 00:04:15,200 Speaker 1: we got we have. We had a family lunch club. 64 00:04:15,240 --> 00:04:18,800 Speaker 1: When the kids were smaller, we had a uh, we 65 00:04:18,839 --> 00:04:22,520 Speaker 1: had a Pixar challenge. You know. It's funny though, even 66 00:04:22,640 --> 00:04:25,039 Speaker 1: when we set out a few summers ago to watch 67 00:04:25,080 --> 00:04:28,440 Speaker 1: every Pixar movie as a family. We made it a 68 00:04:28,440 --> 00:04:33,760 Speaker 1: competition of which Pixar movie was the best? Oh man, 69 00:04:33,800 --> 00:04:41,360 Speaker 1: we got issues and Monopoly no, mm hmmm, I can't 70 00:04:41,400 --> 00:04:46,719 Speaker 1: even say Monopoly without my family feeling some uh some PTSD. 71 00:04:49,120 --> 00:04:51,320 Speaker 1: But I think the reason I wanted to use that 72 00:04:51,400 --> 00:04:53,320 Speaker 1: kind of as an example before I get to this 73 00:04:53,520 --> 00:04:56,080 Speaker 1: scripture that I read you in First Corinthians, I really 74 00:04:56,160 --> 00:04:59,600 Speaker 1: want to illustrate isolate and hopefully the Holy Spirit will 75 00:04:59,600 --> 00:05:02,120 Speaker 1: illuminate the principle in the contrast that Paul is giving 76 00:05:02,120 --> 00:05:07,919 Speaker 1: here in First Corinthians. Because he speaks about the victory 77 00:05:08,320 --> 00:05:10,800 Speaker 1: that God gives put up verse fifty six again or 78 00:05:10,880 --> 00:05:15,200 Speaker 1: verse fifty seven rather where he says thanks be to God, 79 00:05:15,760 --> 00:05:21,039 Speaker 1: he gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 80 00:05:22,440 --> 00:05:24,680 Speaker 1: That's a wonderful scripture. Is the kind of scripture that 81 00:05:24,720 --> 00:05:28,120 Speaker 1: you often see hanging up like in a weight room 82 00:05:28,400 --> 00:05:32,159 Speaker 1: or football locker room. God gives us the victory because 83 00:05:32,160 --> 00:05:34,719 Speaker 1: he doesn't like the other team. His favor is on us, 84 00:05:34,800 --> 00:05:37,000 Speaker 1: So we're going to win because God is with us. 85 00:05:37,120 --> 00:05:40,080 Speaker 1: Mighty warrior, and other scriptures that are taken out of context, 86 00:05:40,400 --> 00:05:42,000 Speaker 1: But it's good. It's a good scripture to put up 87 00:05:42,000 --> 00:05:43,880 Speaker 1: in a locker room, is an amazing scripture to put 88 00:05:43,960 --> 00:05:47,120 Speaker 1: up anywhere. I just want to point out that in 89 00:05:47,200 --> 00:05:50,839 Speaker 1: this particular passage, Paul is not so much concerned about 90 00:05:50,880 --> 00:05:55,200 Speaker 1: external victories as he is about the internal victory that 91 00:05:55,279 --> 00:06:01,200 Speaker 1: God has promised us over sin. Is no good to 92 00:06:01,320 --> 00:06:04,200 Speaker 1: win in every other area of your life if the 93 00:06:04,320 --> 00:06:08,760 Speaker 1: victory over sin in your life is theoretical and abstract. 94 00:06:10,040 --> 00:06:12,320 Speaker 1: In other words, Paul is saying that there will come 95 00:06:12,360 --> 00:06:16,800 Speaker 1: a day where the perishable will put on imperishable, where 96 00:06:16,839 --> 00:06:19,960 Speaker 1: the corruptible will put on incorruptible. He's talking about the 97 00:06:20,000 --> 00:06:23,240 Speaker 1: resurrection of the righteous, which will come in the last days. 98 00:06:23,960 --> 00:06:27,880 Speaker 1: He's basing this expectation in the example of Jesus Christ, 99 00:06:27,920 --> 00:06:30,359 Speaker 1: who did exactly that when he got up out of 100 00:06:30,400 --> 00:06:33,760 Speaker 1: the grave. I mean, that's a pretty big win when 101 00:06:33,760 --> 00:06:37,800 Speaker 1: you beat death. Floyd Mayweather is still undefeated, but death 102 00:06:37,880 --> 00:06:41,880 Speaker 1: isn't death got its first loss after Jesus hung on 103 00:06:41,920 --> 00:06:45,520 Speaker 1: the cross said is finished. But I'm not done, because 104 00:06:45,520 --> 00:06:49,000 Speaker 1: after I get the keys to death, hell and the grave, 105 00:06:49,320 --> 00:06:52,279 Speaker 1: I'm gonna go tell my brothers you get up too. 106 00:06:53,640 --> 00:06:58,919 Speaker 1: That's awesome. There is a principle in the text of 107 00:06:59,120 --> 00:07:02,200 Speaker 1: Already and not Yet that is as Paul is giving 108 00:07:02,240 --> 00:07:05,800 Speaker 1: them an expectation of a future event of resurrection in 109 00:07:05,839 --> 00:07:09,680 Speaker 1: their life, he is giving them an exhortation, which simply 110 00:07:09,720 --> 00:07:15,000 Speaker 1: means to urge in a very determined fashion. It's an 111 00:07:15,480 --> 00:07:21,880 Speaker 1: expectation and an exhortation. He says that God has given 112 00:07:22,040 --> 00:07:26,720 Speaker 1: us the victory, or more specifically, he gives us the victory. 113 00:07:27,200 --> 00:07:30,960 Speaker 1: And I make that distinction because it's something that continues 114 00:07:31,040 --> 00:07:34,480 Speaker 1: to happen, not something that happens once and then just 115 00:07:34,520 --> 00:07:39,400 Speaker 1: stays that way. He gives us the victory. Every day 116 00:07:39,440 --> 00:07:42,840 Speaker 1: I wake up is a choice will I win this day? 117 00:07:45,200 --> 00:07:48,200 Speaker 1: Every time that the sin in my life that rears 118 00:07:48,240 --> 00:07:51,640 Speaker 1: his head and says you belong to me, tries to 119 00:07:51,680 --> 00:07:55,680 Speaker 1: defy the righteousness of God that Jesus Christ imparted through 120 00:07:55,720 --> 00:07:58,880 Speaker 1: the Holy Spirit into my life, it is an opportunity 121 00:07:59,040 --> 00:08:02,160 Speaker 1: for me to either fi the sin that claims to 122 00:08:02,200 --> 00:08:05,920 Speaker 1: have mastery over me, or to deny the power that 123 00:08:06,000 --> 00:08:09,400 Speaker 1: lives in me, because of what Jesus already did for me. 124 00:08:09,880 --> 00:08:14,239 Speaker 1: He gives us the victory. You see what I'm saying. 125 00:08:15,280 --> 00:08:18,320 Speaker 1: And it doesn't happen all at once. It doesn't happen 126 00:08:18,360 --> 00:08:23,920 Speaker 1: all at once. It happens incrementally. It happens gradually. Oh yeah, 127 00:08:24,200 --> 00:08:26,680 Speaker 1: it's a victory that you can depend on, But it 128 00:08:26,760 --> 00:08:29,840 Speaker 1: is not a victory that you can deposit and forget 129 00:08:29,880 --> 00:08:33,280 Speaker 1: about it and live off of the dividends. It is 130 00:08:33,320 --> 00:08:37,360 Speaker 1: a victory that is given to be received with every 131 00:08:37,480 --> 00:08:41,600 Speaker 1: rising of the sun. And nothing feels worse in life, 132 00:08:41,640 --> 00:08:44,480 Speaker 1: I'm telling you right now, especially for a competitive person, 133 00:08:45,360 --> 00:08:48,920 Speaker 1: nothing feels worse in life than to give yourself to 134 00:08:49,000 --> 00:08:56,679 Speaker 1: something that you can't win at. Nothing feels worse. That's 135 00:08:56,720 --> 00:09:01,400 Speaker 1: why I quit tennis. I was going out there all 136 00:09:01,440 --> 00:09:04,880 Speaker 1: the time and Larry Hubacka beat me, and he had 137 00:09:04,880 --> 00:09:08,560 Speaker 1: not played in six years, but he played in middle school. 138 00:09:09,120 --> 00:09:11,920 Speaker 1: And once I figured out I couldn't win, I quit. 139 00:09:12,840 --> 00:09:16,040 Speaker 1: That was my last tennis lesson that day he beat me. 140 00:09:17,640 --> 00:09:19,640 Speaker 1: Still feel bad about it. I'm thinking about challenging him 141 00:09:19,640 --> 00:09:21,280 Speaker 1: to a wrestling match, because that's what I did in 142 00:09:21,320 --> 00:09:24,880 Speaker 1: middle school. Let's see who wins on the mat. How 143 00:09:24,880 --> 00:09:29,800 Speaker 1: about that? I came across the term in Harvard Business 144 00:09:29,840 --> 00:09:33,000 Speaker 1: Review recently that was describing what the author claimed was 145 00:09:33,000 --> 00:09:36,200 Speaker 1: a social phenomenon, yet the Bible has been clear about 146 00:09:36,240 --> 00:09:37,920 Speaker 1: long before they got a hold of it in the 147 00:09:37,920 --> 00:09:42,600 Speaker 1: business community. He was talking about how employees are now 148 00:09:42,960 --> 00:09:49,440 Speaker 1: rather than leaving their jobs, withdrawing their hearts, and he 149 00:09:49,559 --> 00:09:57,080 Speaker 1: called it the quiet quit. If you feel underappreciated and 150 00:09:57,200 --> 00:10:03,560 Speaker 1: undervalued in the workplace, don't leave your paycheck or your benefits. 151 00:10:04,600 --> 00:10:06,560 Speaker 1: Don't walk in the office, stand up on the desk, 152 00:10:06,679 --> 00:10:08,679 Speaker 1: burn something, throw it in the trash can, light the 153 00:10:08,720 --> 00:10:13,360 Speaker 1: place on fire, and go to jail. Just show up, 154 00:10:14,360 --> 00:10:21,080 Speaker 1: but not really. Just come at the last minute and 155 00:10:21,200 --> 00:10:26,760 Speaker 1: leave at the first opportunity. Don't stay late, don't offer 156 00:10:26,800 --> 00:10:29,080 Speaker 1: to do anything that's going to inconvenience you in any way. 157 00:10:29,920 --> 00:10:35,520 Speaker 1: It's called the quiet quit, That's what he said. He 158 00:10:35,600 --> 00:10:39,280 Speaker 1: said that this is not only a trend that we 159 00:10:39,360 --> 00:10:42,760 Speaker 1: now have a cute name for, but it is a 160 00:10:43,000 --> 00:10:48,280 Speaker 1: human instinct that when I am giving to something where 161 00:10:48,320 --> 00:10:51,400 Speaker 1: I do not feel i'm winning, that it may not 162 00:10:51,440 --> 00:10:54,439 Speaker 1: happen all at once, and I may not announce it. 163 00:10:55,440 --> 00:10:57,720 Speaker 1: I may not throw a party. This is my last day. 164 00:10:58,000 --> 00:11:02,360 Speaker 1: Y'all can kiss my ring finger. This is going online. 165 00:11:02,360 --> 00:11:04,040 Speaker 1: So I just say things in a certain way so 166 00:11:04,080 --> 00:11:11,480 Speaker 1: it can be acceptable. It's called a quiet quit. Quiet 167 00:11:11,520 --> 00:11:16,200 Speaker 1: quit when Paul says in First Corinthians, and I'm going 168 00:11:16,280 --> 00:11:18,320 Speaker 1: to illustrate this in just a moment, but first, let 169 00:11:18,360 --> 00:11:22,680 Speaker 1: me preach the principle that God gives us the victory 170 00:11:22,720 --> 00:11:28,040 Speaker 1: through our Lord Jesus Christ. That's the expectation when he 171 00:11:28,080 --> 00:11:32,840 Speaker 1: says in verse fifty eight, Therefore stand firm, letting nothing move. 172 00:11:32,920 --> 00:11:37,520 Speaker 1: You always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord. 173 00:11:37,559 --> 00:11:41,320 Speaker 1: That is the exhortation. And I wonder did God give 174 00:11:41,360 --> 00:11:45,200 Speaker 1: me this word today, called the gift of victory To 175 00:11:45,320 --> 00:11:50,280 Speaker 1: someone who is in the middle of a quiet quit 176 00:11:51,000 --> 00:11:54,600 Speaker 1: in your life. You have not announced that you are 177 00:11:54,600 --> 00:11:59,000 Speaker 1: an atheist, and you don't plan too. You didn't change 178 00:11:59,000 --> 00:12:02,640 Speaker 1: your bio on Instagram too. I hate good dot com. 179 00:12:03,960 --> 00:12:08,160 Speaker 1: But deep down in your heart, since you're not winning, 180 00:12:11,920 --> 00:12:16,840 Speaker 1: it seems like the only logical response is to quietly 181 00:12:17,679 --> 00:12:22,080 Speaker 1: quit trying. Because if I quit trying, then when I 182 00:12:22,080 --> 00:12:27,560 Speaker 1: don't win, I'll understand why if I quit trying, if 183 00:12:27,600 --> 00:12:30,640 Speaker 1: I completely give in to the sin, I will no 184 00:12:30,720 --> 00:12:33,760 Speaker 1: longer have to resist it. So I won't feel weak 185 00:12:34,280 --> 00:12:37,360 Speaker 1: because I won't be fighting. If I lay down and 186 00:12:37,400 --> 00:12:41,040 Speaker 1: die and quit trying to be a joyful, positive person 187 00:12:41,480 --> 00:12:44,840 Speaker 1: and completely give into the cynicism that tries to run 188 00:12:44,880 --> 00:12:48,880 Speaker 1: the operating system of my life, I won't lose because 189 00:12:48,920 --> 00:12:51,640 Speaker 1: I didn't show up. And if I take my ball 190 00:12:51,800 --> 00:12:54,800 Speaker 1: and go home, if I take my belief and go home, 191 00:12:55,080 --> 00:12:58,920 Speaker 1: the devil can't whip me, because if he can't find me, 192 00:12:59,280 --> 00:13:02,240 Speaker 1: he can't beat me. So I'm going to hide behind 193 00:13:02,360 --> 00:13:05,880 Speaker 1: excuses and pretend like I don't want it and settle 194 00:13:05,920 --> 00:13:08,640 Speaker 1: for stuff that I used to struggle against. And I'm 195 00:13:08,640 --> 00:13:11,280 Speaker 1: not going to announce it because if I announce it, 196 00:13:11,520 --> 00:13:14,199 Speaker 1: somebody might come get me and pull me out of it. 197 00:13:14,360 --> 00:13:17,160 Speaker 1: So what I'll do rather than announcing it, rather than 198 00:13:17,240 --> 00:13:20,040 Speaker 1: quitting in a way that people can perceive, I will 199 00:13:20,120 --> 00:13:22,640 Speaker 1: just show up in my body, but I will not 200 00:13:22,760 --> 00:13:25,600 Speaker 1: be present in my mind. I will not bring my 201 00:13:25,760 --> 00:13:28,520 Speaker 1: best I will not bring my heart, I will not 202 00:13:28,600 --> 00:13:31,960 Speaker 1: bring my ideas. I will not bring my playfulness. I 203 00:13:32,000 --> 00:13:34,680 Speaker 1: will not bring who I really am, because if I 204 00:13:34,720 --> 00:13:37,600 Speaker 1: don't bring who I really am, then you can't beat 205 00:13:37,679 --> 00:13:40,880 Speaker 1: who I really am. I will hide behind the excuse 206 00:13:41,200 --> 00:13:49,840 Speaker 1: that I don't want it anymore. What could be more 207 00:13:49,920 --> 00:13:56,000 Speaker 1: miserable than to live as a Christian with the promise 208 00:13:56,120 --> 00:14:03,480 Speaker 1: that God gives you the victory, but to live far 209 00:14:03,520 --> 00:14:09,080 Speaker 1: beneath the reality of that promise, to know that you 210 00:14:09,120 --> 00:14:15,800 Speaker 1: are forgiven, but to live without victory over sin. I 211 00:14:15,840 --> 00:14:19,160 Speaker 1: saw bumpersticker one time. It's that Christians aren't perfect, just forgiven. 212 00:14:20,520 --> 00:14:25,840 Speaker 1: I'm like, dang, that's good, and that's kind of not true. Okay, 213 00:14:25,880 --> 00:14:29,560 Speaker 1: we're not perfect, that part is true, but just forgiven, 214 00:14:31,680 --> 00:14:35,680 Speaker 1: Like that's the whole goal, right, Like, Hey man, we 215 00:14:35,760 --> 00:14:39,600 Speaker 1: run around, we lie, we talk just like everybody else. 216 00:14:39,640 --> 00:14:42,240 Speaker 1: We're hateful just like everybody else. We don't really have 217 00:14:42,280 --> 00:14:47,960 Speaker 1: any different standard. We're just forgiven. The world definitely wants 218 00:14:47,960 --> 00:14:50,600 Speaker 1: to join our team. Hey, come to church with me. 219 00:14:51,000 --> 00:14:53,800 Speaker 1: My life sucks just like yours. I make the same 220 00:14:53,880 --> 00:14:57,560 Speaker 1: excuses you make. I have the same old broken patterns 221 00:14:57,600 --> 00:14:59,440 Speaker 1: you have. Come to church with me, get some of this. 222 00:15:03,680 --> 00:15:14,040 Speaker 1: You know. To be forgiven, but not to live in victory. 223 00:15:14,640 --> 00:15:18,480 Speaker 1: It's misery because I know I'm supposed to be able 224 00:15:18,520 --> 00:15:20,880 Speaker 1: to get over this. I know I'm supposed to be 225 00:15:20,960 --> 00:15:23,560 Speaker 1: able to forgive this. I know I'm supposed to be 226 00:15:23,600 --> 00:15:26,160 Speaker 1: able to say no to this. I know I'm supposed 227 00:15:26,160 --> 00:15:28,560 Speaker 1: to be able to pray this away. I know I'm 228 00:15:28,600 --> 00:15:31,320 Speaker 1: supposed to be better than this. I know I'm bigger 229 00:15:31,360 --> 00:15:38,680 Speaker 1: than this petty offense. But I'm forgiven. So you think 230 00:15:38,720 --> 00:15:42,200 Speaker 1: the whole goal for life is for God to just 231 00:15:42,240 --> 00:15:45,560 Speaker 1: get you to fall into forgiveness and never get back 232 00:15:45,640 --> 00:15:50,320 Speaker 1: up and live in victory. I see a lot of 233 00:15:50,360 --> 00:15:53,360 Speaker 1: people in culture these days who are really good, even 234 00:15:53,400 --> 00:15:55,080 Speaker 1: in Christianity. I'm not talking about the world. I'm talking 235 00:15:55,080 --> 00:15:58,120 Speaker 1: about us who are really good at falling into forgiveness. 236 00:15:58,120 --> 00:15:59,880 Speaker 1: And hey, I have to do it too. I had 237 00:15:59,880 --> 00:16:02,760 Speaker 1: to do it Friday. Friday, I saw myself doing something 238 00:16:02,800 --> 00:16:04,800 Speaker 1: so dumb. I'm like, oh God, wait, if I was 239 00:16:04,840 --> 00:16:06,080 Speaker 1: gonna do something this done, why did I do it 240 00:16:06,160 --> 00:16:08,440 Speaker 1: on Monday so I'd have time before I preach to 241 00:16:08,480 --> 00:16:10,760 Speaker 1: get this out of my system. That's too close to 242 00:16:10,840 --> 00:16:13,240 Speaker 1: preaching to be messing up like that. And I had 243 00:16:13,280 --> 00:16:15,240 Speaker 1: to ask him, God, help me, help me. I got 244 00:16:15,280 --> 00:16:17,480 Speaker 1: people coming to hear me talking I'm an idiot. God 245 00:16:17,520 --> 00:16:19,800 Speaker 1: help me, I have to do that too. But is 246 00:16:19,880 --> 00:16:24,400 Speaker 1: that all that he died for? Just so I have 247 00:16:24,440 --> 00:16:28,640 Speaker 1: to fall into the same pit over and over again. 248 00:16:28,840 --> 00:16:35,200 Speaker 1: And I'm just forgiving and I'm just frustrated because it's 249 00:16:35,280 --> 00:16:39,960 Speaker 1: no fun if I'm not winning. It's no fun to 250 00:16:40,040 --> 00:16:44,520 Speaker 1: come in church and sing songs about victory and go 251 00:16:44,640 --> 00:16:50,680 Speaker 1: back to defeat over and over and over again. And 252 00:16:50,720 --> 00:16:54,920 Speaker 1: that's why some people just watch online every six weeks now. 253 00:16:55,840 --> 00:16:59,320 Speaker 1: Because I did a quiet quit, because I didn't stop 254 00:16:59,360 --> 00:17:01,920 Speaker 1: believing in God, but I did stop coming to church. 255 00:17:02,880 --> 00:17:04,760 Speaker 1: I'm not talking about those who are and are you fami, 256 00:17:04,760 --> 00:17:07,760 Speaker 1: who are giving and contributing and serving and praying. That's wonderful. 257 00:17:08,080 --> 00:17:11,480 Speaker 1: I'm talking about the quiet quit. I'm talking about when 258 00:17:11,520 --> 00:17:13,879 Speaker 1: you keep on watching sermons in the background if you 259 00:17:13,880 --> 00:17:17,280 Speaker 1: don't have anything more important. The quiet quit. I'm talking 260 00:17:17,320 --> 00:17:20,439 Speaker 1: about picking the scriptures that aligne with your lifestyle, and 261 00:17:20,520 --> 00:17:23,240 Speaker 1: never the ones that challenge you, and only quoting the 262 00:17:23,280 --> 00:17:26,320 Speaker 1: ones that make you feel good, the cute ones. I'm 263 00:17:26,320 --> 00:17:30,240 Speaker 1: talking about the quiet quit. But thanks me to God 264 00:17:31,000 --> 00:17:35,320 Speaker 1: who gives us the victory. He didn't die just so 265 00:17:35,400 --> 00:17:38,439 Speaker 1: I could be forgiven. He didn't die just so I 266 00:17:38,480 --> 00:17:41,880 Speaker 1: could fall. He died so I could rise with him. 267 00:17:42,160 --> 00:17:48,320 Speaker 1: And I expect resurrection because the stick promised it. He 268 00:17:48,440 --> 00:17:58,920 Speaker 1: gave me an iou with him, We rise with him, 269 00:17:58,920 --> 00:18:02,960 Speaker 1: We rie say with him, I rise just like he did. 270 00:18:03,200 --> 00:18:07,800 Speaker 1: So there's an example of an expectation that the perishable 271 00:18:08,040 --> 00:18:11,159 Speaker 1: will be swallowed up an imperishable. And he uses the 272 00:18:11,160 --> 00:18:18,919 Speaker 1: best example. If Jesus beat the grave, what do you 273 00:18:19,000 --> 00:18:26,400 Speaker 1: have permission to stay down in? Because that's the ultimate right. 274 00:18:27,640 --> 00:18:30,760 Speaker 1: If I bene three hundred, you better get this one 275 00:18:30,840 --> 00:18:34,440 Speaker 1: fifty five. And I did do that one time. I'm 276 00:18:34,480 --> 00:18:35,760 Speaker 1: not going to tell you how long ago it was, 277 00:18:35,800 --> 00:18:38,160 Speaker 1: but I did do it one time. Jesus said, if 278 00:18:38,240 --> 00:18:44,200 Speaker 1: I got up out of this, do not use forgiveness 279 00:18:44,960 --> 00:18:53,320 Speaker 1: as permission for failure. Am I preaching a good Christmas sermon? 280 00:18:53,400 --> 00:19:00,400 Speaker 1: Or what y'all are like? Where's the manger? A little 281 00:19:00,400 --> 00:19:03,479 Speaker 1: baby Christianity that just wants to keep Jesus quiet and 282 00:19:03,480 --> 00:19:06,280 Speaker 1: cute the little Lord Jesus. What's the hymn that says 283 00:19:06,520 --> 00:19:13,680 Speaker 1: the little Lord Jesus? No crying? He makes well? Not 284 00:19:13,720 --> 00:19:15,960 Speaker 1: only did he sweat drop some great blood when he 285 00:19:16,000 --> 00:19:18,840 Speaker 1: went to the cross, but the Bible says, because if 286 00:19:18,840 --> 00:19:20,560 Speaker 1: we want to take Jesus like that, it's just a 287 00:19:20,600 --> 00:19:25,040 Speaker 1: symbol of our salvation. But he does not become the 288 00:19:25,160 --> 00:19:29,399 Speaker 1: spiritual dynamic by which we overcome temptation in our life. 289 00:19:30,640 --> 00:19:32,879 Speaker 1: Then what are we to do with the fact that 290 00:19:32,960 --> 00:19:36,600 Speaker 1: when Jesus was dying on the cross, it said he 291 00:19:36,720 --> 00:19:40,240 Speaker 1: endured it, despising its shame for the joy set before him. 292 00:19:42,200 --> 00:19:44,959 Speaker 1: He wasn't just dying up there. I know how this 293 00:19:45,040 --> 00:19:47,840 Speaker 1: kind of message can sound. It can't sound super Baptist. 294 00:19:48,880 --> 00:19:52,840 Speaker 1: It's like stop sinning. I'm not saying stop sinning. I'm 295 00:19:52,880 --> 00:20:00,399 Speaker 1: saying stop stopping. That's what I'm saying. Because if I 296 00:20:00,440 --> 00:20:02,119 Speaker 1: were going to say stop sinning, then I would have 297 00:20:02,160 --> 00:20:04,080 Speaker 1: had to reach a state of sinless perfection and I 298 00:20:04,119 --> 00:20:06,280 Speaker 1: would be Jesus and I would not be here. If 299 00:20:06,280 --> 00:20:08,680 Speaker 1: I was Jesus, I'll be in heaven with the angels, 300 00:20:08,680 --> 00:20:12,399 Speaker 1: getting ready to have my birthday party on December twenty fifth. 301 00:20:15,920 --> 00:20:18,680 Speaker 1: But thanks v to God. Don't you love the way 302 00:20:18,720 --> 00:20:21,080 Speaker 1: he frames that? He said, the sting, how do you 303 00:20:21,080 --> 00:20:22,800 Speaker 1: say it? I want to get it right? Verse fifty six, 304 00:20:22,880 --> 00:20:26,760 Speaker 1: Verse fifty six. The sting of death is sin and 305 00:20:26,800 --> 00:20:29,480 Speaker 1: the power of sin is the law? Oh no, what 306 00:20:29,560 --> 00:20:31,520 Speaker 1: am I going to do? If the power of sin 307 00:20:31,640 --> 00:20:33,520 Speaker 1: is the law that God gave so that I would 308 00:20:33,560 --> 00:20:35,880 Speaker 1: know how to live, But that very law that had 309 00:20:35,880 --> 00:20:37,760 Speaker 1: the power to show me how to live, I was 310 00:20:37,840 --> 00:20:40,440 Speaker 1: powerless to do it because of my sinful nature? Then 311 00:20:40,560 --> 00:20:46,040 Speaker 1: what what thanks be to God? In this phrase is 312 00:20:46,200 --> 00:20:54,960 Speaker 1: very paradoxical. Who gives us the victory which doesn't even 313 00:20:54,960 --> 00:21:01,919 Speaker 1: seem to be a real thing because a victory is 314 00:21:01,960 --> 00:21:06,280 Speaker 1: not something that is typically given, is something that is won. 315 00:21:08,080 --> 00:21:10,480 Speaker 1: Think about, think about, think about, think about when he 316 00:21:10,520 --> 00:21:13,720 Speaker 1: said give me the verse again, he gives us the 317 00:21:13,840 --> 00:21:20,080 Speaker 1: victory that in itself is a miracle, because a victory 318 00:21:20,200 --> 00:21:25,159 Speaker 1: again again, If somebody wants to give you socks this Christmas, 319 00:21:25,520 --> 00:21:28,560 Speaker 1: they can give you socks. If somebody wants to give 320 00:21:28,560 --> 00:21:30,360 Speaker 1: you this Christmas, I mean, what are you hoping for 321 00:21:30,359 --> 00:21:33,480 Speaker 1: for this Christmas? A microwave oven? Where they can give that. 322 00:21:33,840 --> 00:21:36,080 Speaker 1: If Oprah wants to give you a trip to Australia, 323 00:21:36,359 --> 00:21:38,600 Speaker 1: she can give you a trip to Australia. I can't 324 00:21:38,680 --> 00:21:42,640 Speaker 1: do that. I'm not on the Oprah level. But when 325 00:21:42,640 --> 00:21:46,280 Speaker 1: he said he gives us the victory, it's almost confusing 326 00:21:47,400 --> 00:21:49,840 Speaker 1: because it almost sounds as if God is co opting 327 00:21:49,840 --> 00:21:54,720 Speaker 1: a participation trophy mentality of salvation, like He's just gonna 328 00:21:54,720 --> 00:21:58,119 Speaker 1: give you stuff without you having to go for it. 329 00:21:59,400 --> 00:22:03,600 Speaker 1: That's why I'm really excited about the exhortation that follows 330 00:22:03,640 --> 00:22:08,320 Speaker 1: the expectation. He said, he gives us the victory verse 331 00:22:08,359 --> 00:22:16,280 Speaker 1: fifty eight. Therefore, stand firm, let nothing move you. Always 332 00:22:17,040 --> 00:22:22,480 Speaker 1: give yourself fully to the work of the Lord. So 333 00:22:22,560 --> 00:22:25,840 Speaker 1: here's what I want to ask you today, brothers and sisters, 334 00:22:26,800 --> 00:22:29,960 Speaker 1: like Paul asked the church at court, I want to 335 00:22:30,000 --> 00:22:34,919 Speaker 1: ask you on behalf of the Holy Spirit. Are you 336 00:22:35,000 --> 00:22:38,520 Speaker 1: more committed to verse fifty seven than you are verse 337 00:22:38,560 --> 00:22:46,720 Speaker 1: fifty eight? Cause verse fifty seven talks about what God 338 00:22:46,760 --> 00:22:52,679 Speaker 1: gives the victory. Verse fifty eight talks about what you 339 00:22:52,760 --> 00:23:00,879 Speaker 1: give yourself. And if you don't give your self to 340 00:23:01,000 --> 00:23:05,840 Speaker 1: it and expect God to give it to you, you 341 00:23:05,880 --> 00:23:10,480 Speaker 1: are gonna live your whole life frustrated, wondering why I'm 342 00:23:10,560 --> 00:23:13,919 Speaker 1: still staying down in stuff that Christ gave me the 343 00:23:13,920 --> 00:23:20,840 Speaker 1: power to rise from. That's the message God said, I'm 344 00:23:20,840 --> 00:23:24,479 Speaker 1: gonna give it to you. But then because you've got it, 345 00:23:24,520 --> 00:23:27,800 Speaker 1: somebody shout, I've got it. No, I need you to 346 00:23:27,840 --> 00:23:30,240 Speaker 1: shout that better than you shouted it. Say I got it. 347 00:23:31,400 --> 00:23:34,640 Speaker 1: I've got the victory, I've got the joy, I've got 348 00:23:34,640 --> 00:23:38,159 Speaker 1: the promise. I've got the assurance. I've got the blood 349 00:23:38,160 --> 00:23:42,280 Speaker 1: of Jesus. I've got the pardon of sin. I've got reconciliation. 350 00:23:42,680 --> 00:23:45,320 Speaker 1: I've got the name of Jesus. I've got a great 351 00:23:45,400 --> 00:23:49,400 Speaker 1: high priest who intercedes with me. I've got wisdom. I've 352 00:23:49,440 --> 00:23:52,320 Speaker 1: got knowledge that God wants me to have. I've got 353 00:23:52,320 --> 00:23:55,320 Speaker 1: the experience for the thing I'm going through now. Shout 354 00:23:55,560 --> 00:23:58,400 Speaker 1: I got it. Look at your neighbor like you got 355 00:23:58,400 --> 00:24:00,520 Speaker 1: something to be proud of. Say I got it. I 356 00:24:00,600 --> 00:24:03,600 Speaker 1: got that thing. I got it on the inside. You 357 00:24:03,640 --> 00:24:06,320 Speaker 1: didn't give it. You can't take it. I'm not asking 358 00:24:06,359 --> 00:24:08,520 Speaker 1: you for it. I'm not begging for it. I'm not 359 00:24:08,720 --> 00:24:11,680 Speaker 1: posting about it. But that doesn't mean I don't got it. 360 00:24:11,920 --> 00:24:15,160 Speaker 1: I got direction from God. I got new mercies when 361 00:24:15,200 --> 00:24:17,800 Speaker 1: I woke up. I got it in my cup of coffee. 362 00:24:18,119 --> 00:24:20,760 Speaker 1: I got it when I lay my pillow, I got it. 363 00:24:21,000 --> 00:24:23,919 Speaker 1: I got the assurance and the hope of Heaven. I 364 00:24:23,960 --> 00:24:27,800 Speaker 1: have a heavenly calling. I got a shame breaking annointing 365 00:24:28,200 --> 00:24:31,520 Speaker 1: that makes it possible for me to triumph over the 366 00:24:31,560 --> 00:24:34,960 Speaker 1: works of the devil. Let's get out three high fives. 367 00:24:35,000 --> 00:24:38,840 Speaker 1: Tell somebody, I got it. I got it, I got it. 368 00:24:39,040 --> 00:24:42,680 Speaker 1: I got that thing. I got that thing. I got 369 00:24:42,720 --> 00:24:46,560 Speaker 1: the anointing. What got the victory? He cut the power? 370 00:24:46,800 --> 00:24:51,280 Speaker 1: What cat resurrection? This in my polls. I got wrecked 371 00:24:51,280 --> 00:24:54,960 Speaker 1: the prasim. I got strength to praish. I gotta right 372 00:24:55,080 --> 00:24:58,480 Speaker 1: the prashm. I got permission to praism. I got the 373 00:24:58,520 --> 00:25:01,200 Speaker 1: INDs to do the thing he gave me the deal. 374 00:25:01,560 --> 00:25:04,320 Speaker 1: I got the seed of the world of God. It's 375 00:25:04,359 --> 00:25:07,560 Speaker 1: a little bitty, but it's gonna grow. I got faith. 376 00:25:07,880 --> 00:25:13,360 Speaker 1: I got not moving faith. I got grace, gully washing, grace, sideration, 377 00:25:13,480 --> 00:25:21,800 Speaker 1: and grace. I got it. I got it, I got it. 378 00:25:23,320 --> 00:25:30,360 Speaker 1: I got it. It's a gift. I didn't learn it, 379 00:25:31,040 --> 00:25:35,360 Speaker 1: don't deserve it, but I got it. Couldn't work for it, 380 00:25:35,600 --> 00:25:38,840 Speaker 1: couldn't clide to it, but I got it. Try to 381 00:25:38,960 --> 00:25:42,120 Speaker 1: run from it, fright for the diet. Tried to get 382 00:25:42,160 --> 00:25:45,560 Speaker 1: away from it. But I got it. I got good this, 383 00:25:46,040 --> 00:25:53,480 Speaker 1: I got mercy. I got him like it. My dad 384 00:25:53,560 --> 00:25:55,919 Speaker 1: gave it to me. I got it. He put it 385 00:25:55,960 --> 00:25:58,960 Speaker 1: on the tree, not under the tree. When he died 386 00:25:59,040 --> 00:26:02,119 Speaker 1: on the tree, on the old rugged cross and his 387 00:26:02,320 --> 00:26:08,879 Speaker 1: flood ran down, he gave me the victory. Thanks be 388 00:26:09,040 --> 00:26:13,720 Speaker 1: to God. You got me if I fall for this 389 00:26:13,840 --> 00:26:18,919 Speaker 1: indescribable gift. He gave it to me. He gave it 390 00:26:18,960 --> 00:26:22,399 Speaker 1: to me. He gave it to me. But sometimes I 391 00:26:22,440 --> 00:26:27,680 Speaker 1: don't give myself to it. And Paul said, is expectation, 392 00:26:28,240 --> 00:26:31,840 Speaker 1: But there's an exhortation. If he gave it to you, 393 00:26:31,840 --> 00:26:36,520 Speaker 1: you gotta give yourself to it. You can't quiet quit. 394 00:26:36,800 --> 00:26:40,280 Speaker 1: You can't loud shout in church and quiet quit at home. 395 00:26:42,320 --> 00:26:47,040 Speaker 1: Shout on that. But you better keep south. And when 396 00:26:47,080 --> 00:26:50,120 Speaker 1: it gets hard this week, you better get shouting when 397 00:26:50,119 --> 00:26:52,840 Speaker 1: you look at those bills this week. You better get 398 00:26:52,880 --> 00:26:55,640 Speaker 1: shouting when it comes over you this week and you think, 399 00:26:55,680 --> 00:26:59,200 Speaker 1: O God, I'm about to go crazy. I can't quit 400 00:27:00,320 --> 00:27:06,600 Speaker 1: something eternal, imperishable, incorruptible, the seed of the Word of God. 401 00:27:07,640 --> 00:27:10,160 Speaker 1: Y'all sit down before I break my neck. I got it. 402 00:27:10,520 --> 00:27:12,879 Speaker 1: I got it. I got it. I got it. I 403 00:27:12,920 --> 00:27:15,320 Speaker 1: got it. I got it. I got it. Catch it, 404 00:27:15,400 --> 00:27:17,679 Speaker 1: I got it, catch it, I got it, catch it, 405 00:27:17,800 --> 00:27:19,840 Speaker 1: I got it. I got it. I got it, I 406 00:27:19,880 --> 00:27:24,160 Speaker 1: got it, I got it, I got it. So when 407 00:27:24,200 --> 00:27:28,680 Speaker 1: you won wrestling yesterday, that's different than this text. Five 408 00:27:28,760 --> 00:27:35,879 Speaker 1: matches in a row he won. Uh uh huh. I 409 00:27:35,960 --> 00:27:38,040 Speaker 1: tell him all the time. This is Graham our middle 410 00:27:38,720 --> 00:27:40,639 Speaker 1: So Abby's gonna be mad because I hadn't told a 411 00:27:40,640 --> 00:27:42,639 Speaker 1: story about hering the sermon. They always I told you, 412 00:27:42,640 --> 00:27:44,840 Speaker 1: we're so competitive. They fight over who got to be 413 00:27:44,880 --> 00:27:49,199 Speaker 1: in my sermon the most. This is how dysfunctional your 414 00:27:49,240 --> 00:27:52,480 Speaker 1: first family is. All right, let me say our Christmas 415 00:27:52,480 --> 00:27:54,639 Speaker 1: card us smiling. One day, I'm gonna send you all 416 00:27:54,680 --> 00:27:57,399 Speaker 1: the Christmas card of what happened before the smile and 417 00:27:57,480 --> 00:28:00,280 Speaker 1: after the smile, and put it on your fridge when 418 00:28:00,280 --> 00:28:04,840 Speaker 1: your family is freaking out and you feel better. And 419 00:28:04,920 --> 00:28:07,560 Speaker 1: I always tell him, hey man, you know I'm a 420 00:28:07,600 --> 00:28:11,600 Speaker 1: state champion because when I was in eighth grade, seventh grade, 421 00:28:11,840 --> 00:28:14,840 Speaker 1: they gave me the state championship medal. And you know 422 00:28:14,880 --> 00:28:19,640 Speaker 1: what I did to get it. Nothing. The resting program 423 00:28:19,680 --> 00:28:23,240 Speaker 1: in South Carolina was so pitiful. Nobody else showed up 424 00:28:23,280 --> 00:28:26,040 Speaker 1: in the weight class, so they gave me a medal. 425 00:28:27,520 --> 00:28:31,959 Speaker 1: No takedowns, no half melson, no cross faced cradle, just 426 00:28:32,000 --> 00:28:34,440 Speaker 1: gave it to me, and I think we shout over 427 00:28:34,480 --> 00:28:42,080 Speaker 1: fifty seven kind of like that. I want a medal, 428 00:28:42,120 --> 00:28:47,120 Speaker 1: I want a miracle. I want maturity. So what really 429 00:28:47,160 --> 00:28:50,760 Speaker 1: got me going on this text about the gift of 430 00:28:50,880 --> 00:28:55,320 Speaker 1: victory is that it is an oxymorn, which becomes true 431 00:28:55,360 --> 00:28:59,720 Speaker 1: because of the Gospel. That's what God does. He makes 432 00:28:59,720 --> 00:29:04,280 Speaker 1: stuff that makes no sense makes sense by his spirit. 433 00:29:06,280 --> 00:29:10,840 Speaker 1: So then I can be like it. I don't feel victorious, 434 00:29:11,440 --> 00:29:14,440 Speaker 1: but I got it. I don't see how this is 435 00:29:14,480 --> 00:29:17,640 Speaker 1: gonna work out, but I got it. And truth be told, 436 00:29:18,000 --> 00:29:21,280 Speaker 1: some of us have never lost bad enough to appreciate 437 00:29:21,320 --> 00:29:28,600 Speaker 1: when we win. When when I was growing up watching 438 00:29:28,640 --> 00:29:31,600 Speaker 1: the Clemson Tigers, a ten and two season would have 439 00:29:31,640 --> 00:29:37,800 Speaker 1: been a miracle. But now Dabbo has got these fools 440 00:29:37,800 --> 00:29:40,560 Speaker 1: so used to win in they're talking about ten and two. 441 00:29:42,760 --> 00:29:44,840 Speaker 1: Oh God, we lost to the game Cocks, and you 442 00:29:44,880 --> 00:29:51,080 Speaker 1: know what, I'll come back down there, lay hands on you, 443 00:29:51,160 --> 00:29:56,040 Speaker 1: all right, Pray for me that one game everything on 444 00:29:56,120 --> 00:29:58,440 Speaker 1: that season when the Clemson Tigers lost to South Carolina 445 00:29:58,440 --> 00:30:01,120 Speaker 1: Game Cox last weekend, like the sea, Yeah, go ahead, 446 00:30:01,120 --> 00:30:03,480 Speaker 1: go ahead, you can do it again in eight years, 447 00:30:03,600 --> 00:30:05,560 Speaker 1: eight years from now, you can do it again, Go 448 00:30:05,680 --> 00:30:08,560 Speaker 1: and get your eight years shout in every eight years 449 00:30:08,560 --> 00:30:12,480 Speaker 1: you can shout about that. But watch this, Watch this. 450 00:30:13,960 --> 00:30:18,000 Speaker 1: You mean one loss ruins the whole season. You mean 451 00:30:18,080 --> 00:30:22,040 Speaker 1: one area of your life where you don't have it together. 452 00:30:24,000 --> 00:30:26,479 Speaker 1: Even in Ezekio, when they saw the river flowing from 453 00:30:26,520 --> 00:30:29,640 Speaker 1: the sanctuary, he said, there's still gonna be salt marshes, 454 00:30:29,840 --> 00:30:32,120 Speaker 1: even though the river's fresh, Even though it's going to 455 00:30:32,200 --> 00:30:34,520 Speaker 1: turn from the Dead Sea to the Mediterranean Sea, there 456 00:30:34,560 --> 00:30:38,360 Speaker 1: are still gonna be some swamps. There's still gonna be 457 00:30:38,360 --> 00:30:41,920 Speaker 1: some secrets that you keep about what you deal with. 458 00:30:42,880 --> 00:30:46,320 Speaker 1: And are you really gonna let that make you quit 459 00:30:47,400 --> 00:30:50,920 Speaker 1: on all the good things God has given you? Are 460 00:30:50,920 --> 00:30:55,800 Speaker 1: you really gonna make the three annoying things about your wife? 461 00:30:56,920 --> 00:31:00,640 Speaker 1: Tell me about your wife? My wife is perfect. The 462 00:31:00,720 --> 00:31:06,200 Speaker 1: three annoying things about your wife keep you from seeing 463 00:31:07,200 --> 00:31:12,160 Speaker 1: the three hundred amazing things about her and the three 464 00:31:12,240 --> 00:31:15,160 Speaker 1: thousands screwed up things about you, You little jack, a 465 00:31:15,200 --> 00:31:24,040 Speaker 1: lowe hyphocrit, you pharisee, you whitewashed to them. No victory. 466 00:31:24,880 --> 00:31:28,400 Speaker 1: Not only is it a gradual realization, it is a focus. 467 00:31:28,480 --> 00:31:31,479 Speaker 1: It is a choice. And I feel like there are 468 00:31:31,520 --> 00:31:35,040 Speaker 1: some things that God has given to you, that you 469 00:31:35,080 --> 00:31:38,520 Speaker 1: are not giving yourself to it. You're in a quiet 470 00:31:38,600 --> 00:31:43,080 Speaker 1: quit all right. I went home and I'm gonna give 471 00:31:43,080 --> 00:31:44,800 Speaker 1: you Old Testament scripture. We're gonna get out of here. 472 00:31:45,040 --> 00:31:47,320 Speaker 1: But let me tell you a story. I went home 473 00:31:47,760 --> 00:31:51,000 Speaker 1: and told Holly a while back, I think I'm gonna 474 00:31:51,080 --> 00:31:56,160 Speaker 1: quit songwriting. No sooner did I finish saying it to 475 00:31:56,200 --> 00:31:59,120 Speaker 1: her and go off by myself. The Holy Spirit had 476 00:31:59,120 --> 00:32:02,440 Speaker 1: this very frank comversation with me, Holy Spirit, Holy Spirit. 477 00:32:03,760 --> 00:32:07,120 Speaker 1: But this was just between me and God. Okay. You 478 00:32:07,120 --> 00:32:09,200 Speaker 1: know how when preachers say God spoke to me, and 479 00:32:09,240 --> 00:32:11,240 Speaker 1: you wonder like, why don't he do that to me? 480 00:32:12,360 --> 00:32:15,160 Speaker 1: I never hear anything like that. Man. Okay, first of all, 481 00:32:15,160 --> 00:32:19,000 Speaker 1: because preachers are crazy, and second they're lying and exaggerating. 482 00:32:19,280 --> 00:32:21,040 Speaker 1: The Lord don't talk out loud like all that to 483 00:32:21,080 --> 00:32:23,360 Speaker 1: most people. Most people that the Lord talks out loud to. 484 00:32:24,440 --> 00:32:26,440 Speaker 1: I just want to give you this little word of wisdom. 485 00:32:26,760 --> 00:32:30,280 Speaker 1: Most people that the Lord talks out loud to, he 486 00:32:30,360 --> 00:32:33,520 Speaker 1: may do that occasionally, but if he has to do 487 00:32:33,560 --> 00:32:36,480 Speaker 1: that for them all the time, that means they haven't 488 00:32:36,520 --> 00:32:39,680 Speaker 1: matured enough to hear him speak in the silence as well, 489 00:32:42,480 --> 00:32:44,880 Speaker 1: so you know, the Lord didn't speak over the intercom 490 00:32:44,960 --> 00:32:47,360 Speaker 1: or anything like that to me in this, but here 491 00:32:47,440 --> 00:32:50,400 Speaker 1: was the sense. Okay, And I'm gonna give you this 492 00:32:50,480 --> 00:32:52,320 Speaker 1: because I think he wants to say it to a 493 00:32:52,320 --> 00:32:54,880 Speaker 1: few hundred of you. I said, I think I'm a 494 00:32:55,000 --> 00:33:09,440 Speaker 1: quit songwriting Lord said, did I say you could quit? Boom? 495 00:33:09,680 --> 00:33:17,240 Speaker 1: Can't quit? I gotta give myself to it out of 496 00:33:17,280 --> 00:33:22,880 Speaker 1: gratitude that God gave it to me. And if he 497 00:33:22,960 --> 00:33:26,560 Speaker 1: gave me a gift, if he gave me a victory, 498 00:33:27,200 --> 00:33:30,280 Speaker 1: if he gave me a seed and I quit on 499 00:33:30,360 --> 00:33:37,040 Speaker 1: the gift, it will quit on me. Now take this. 500 00:33:37,120 --> 00:33:39,560 Speaker 1: You're like, I don't write songs. What's the point you're 501 00:33:39,640 --> 00:33:44,479 Speaker 1: raising kids? Well, I'm not gonna put them up for adoption. Preacher, 502 00:33:44,520 --> 00:33:49,680 Speaker 1: I'm good. Have you quiet quit? Well, I'm not leaving. 503 00:33:49,720 --> 00:33:51,760 Speaker 1: I'm good. This message is not for me. Have you 504 00:33:51,840 --> 00:33:54,760 Speaker 1: quiet quit? Because Paul didn't say keep showing up for 505 00:33:54,800 --> 00:33:58,120 Speaker 1: the work of the Lord, Teddy. He said, give yourself fully. 506 00:33:58,200 --> 00:34:03,520 Speaker 1: You heard it, Give yourself fully, Give yourself fully. How 507 00:34:03,560 --> 00:34:07,920 Speaker 1: can we expect total victory and live in partial obedience? 508 00:34:10,640 --> 00:34:13,760 Speaker 1: How can I try three times? How can I try 509 00:34:13,880 --> 00:34:16,560 Speaker 1: five times? I had a friend who went to therapy 510 00:34:16,680 --> 00:34:20,719 Speaker 1: once said it didn't work. Well, maybe get a new therapist, 511 00:34:20,760 --> 00:34:24,279 Speaker 1: but don't quit the issues you're wrestling with. You're gonna 512 00:34:24,320 --> 00:34:26,520 Speaker 1: go to one therapist and because they didn't have the 513 00:34:26,560 --> 00:34:28,919 Speaker 1: answers in an hour to fix the life you've spent 514 00:34:28,960 --> 00:34:32,160 Speaker 1: fifty three years messing up. You're just gonna quit on 515 00:34:32,200 --> 00:34:35,799 Speaker 1: the process. You're just gonna quit on the church. You're 516 00:34:35,840 --> 00:34:38,560 Speaker 1: just gonna quit on your dream. You don't get to 517 00:34:38,680 --> 00:34:42,600 Speaker 1: quit until God says quit. That's not how this works. 518 00:34:42,840 --> 00:34:45,719 Speaker 1: He who began a good work will be faithful. But 519 00:34:45,960 --> 00:34:54,160 Speaker 1: you gotta bring you to it. I got the gift 520 00:34:55,400 --> 00:34:57,680 Speaker 1: I've got. God gave you a gift to do it. 521 00:34:57,920 --> 00:35:00,680 Speaker 1: God gave you a charge to do it. God gave 522 00:35:00,719 --> 00:35:03,600 Speaker 1: you the ability to do it. God gave you the sling. 523 00:35:03,920 --> 00:35:07,120 Speaker 1: He gave you the stone. He gave you the opportunity. 524 00:35:07,320 --> 00:35:11,799 Speaker 1: But you are not giving yourself to end. And it's 525 00:35:11,800 --> 00:35:14,520 Speaker 1: no fun if you're not winning, and you won't win 526 00:35:14,880 --> 00:35:20,279 Speaker 1: if you don't give yourself fully to it. That's why 527 00:35:20,280 --> 00:35:24,200 Speaker 1: I was standing on your chair, because I'm giving myself 528 00:35:24,200 --> 00:35:27,000 Speaker 1: to this. I'll come up here to preach to you 529 00:35:27,040 --> 00:35:30,000 Speaker 1: and go. Are they ready for a word today, ready 530 00:35:30,080 --> 00:35:35,480 Speaker 1: or not. Here, I'm gonna put myself in this message. 531 00:35:35,800 --> 00:35:38,640 Speaker 1: I'm gonna sweat all the way through this sweater until 532 00:35:38,680 --> 00:35:40,920 Speaker 1: it's nasty when I take it off. And if you 533 00:35:40,920 --> 00:35:44,480 Speaker 1: don't want the word, somebody else can get it. On Tuesday. 534 00:35:44,840 --> 00:35:52,879 Speaker 1: I'm giving myself to this. And you know what, some 535 00:35:52,960 --> 00:35:56,160 Speaker 1: of you are just like me. You've got the gift 536 00:35:57,440 --> 00:36:02,600 Speaker 1: of keeping going us. You have the belief that if 537 00:36:02,600 --> 00:36:06,680 Speaker 1: I don't quit, that if I keep believing, that if 538 00:36:06,719 --> 00:36:10,279 Speaker 1: I show up enough times not feeling it, that if 539 00:36:10,320 --> 00:36:13,400 Speaker 1: I keep doing it in God's name, that if I 540 00:36:13,480 --> 00:36:16,919 Speaker 1: keep getting better and learn from the losses and learn 541 00:36:17,000 --> 00:36:20,040 Speaker 1: from the pruning, and learn from the cold nights, and 542 00:36:20,200 --> 00:36:23,879 Speaker 1: learn from the mistakes, if I don't quit, I'll win. 543 00:36:24,040 --> 00:36:35,560 Speaker 1: Why I got the gift. In the scriptures, there was 544 00:36:35,600 --> 00:36:40,240 Speaker 1: a prophet named Elisha. Everybody say Elisha, Elisha with the sah, 545 00:36:40,400 --> 00:36:42,960 Speaker 1: not Elijah. That's the one who came before him. Elijah, 546 00:36:43,040 --> 00:36:45,239 Speaker 1: the one who came after him, did twice as many 547 00:36:45,280 --> 00:36:50,320 Speaker 1: miracles as his predecessor. I love preaching about Elisha because 548 00:36:50,320 --> 00:36:53,760 Speaker 1: he had the gift. Oh man, he had the gift. 549 00:36:54,719 --> 00:36:56,239 Speaker 1: He could do it well. Listen what he could do. 550 00:36:56,480 --> 00:36:59,120 Speaker 1: They'd come to attack Israel. He was the prophet of Israel, 551 00:36:59,280 --> 00:37:01,680 Speaker 1: so they would come to attack. God gave him a gift. 552 00:37:01,880 --> 00:37:04,319 Speaker 1: He could see him coming before they started lining up, 553 00:37:05,200 --> 00:37:06,960 Speaker 1: so he go over tell the king. He'd be like, Hey, 554 00:37:07,040 --> 00:37:10,240 Speaker 1: they're gonna attack you seven forty five am. And wouldn't 555 00:37:10,239 --> 00:37:12,520 Speaker 1: it be good to have a prophet who could tell 556 00:37:12,560 --> 00:37:15,839 Speaker 1: you when the devil was gonna get on your last nerve. 557 00:37:16,040 --> 00:37:18,919 Speaker 1: Now look, your daughter's gonna bring in drama in here, 558 00:37:19,080 --> 00:37:21,840 Speaker 1: So go ahead, get everything done an hour early. Pray, 559 00:37:22,000 --> 00:37:25,480 Speaker 1: goot Philippians, listen to Bethel, and get ready for it 560 00:37:25,560 --> 00:37:29,040 Speaker 1: because it's coming. Well, he had the gift not only 561 00:37:29,120 --> 00:37:33,400 Speaker 1: not only the gift, not only the gift of power 562 00:37:33,640 --> 00:37:37,839 Speaker 1: in the battle, but a preemptive gift of perceiving the 563 00:37:37,840 --> 00:37:41,680 Speaker 1: battle before it happened. And that's why I love reading 564 00:37:41,680 --> 00:37:46,719 Speaker 1: about his life, because you see things one scripture. I 565 00:37:46,840 --> 00:37:50,000 Speaker 1: used to preach this this passage all over the world, 566 00:37:50,080 --> 00:37:53,200 Speaker 1: and I quit preaching it for a little while. But uh, 567 00:37:53,520 --> 00:37:55,160 Speaker 1: I'm gonna do it one more time in the next 568 00:37:55,239 --> 00:37:58,919 Speaker 1: uh seven minutes and twenty four seconds. And it's over 569 00:37:58,960 --> 00:38:02,160 Speaker 1: in Second Kings, chapter thirteen, And I'm gonna tell you 570 00:38:02,239 --> 00:38:04,319 Speaker 1: this story, and I'm gonna get out of the way, 571 00:38:04,800 --> 00:38:07,080 Speaker 1: and I'm gonna change out of this sweater and I'm 572 00:38:07,080 --> 00:38:11,719 Speaker 1: gonna go home. I'm gonna eat eggs, bacon, cato, biscuits. 573 00:38:12,160 --> 00:38:13,879 Speaker 1: Let's hurry up and get through this so I can 574 00:38:14,160 --> 00:38:18,080 Speaker 1: eat my biscuits. In the Bible Book of tewod Kings, 575 00:38:18,160 --> 00:38:22,400 Speaker 1: chapter thirteen, Get Ready for This, it says that Elisha 576 00:38:22,640 --> 00:38:26,560 Speaker 1: had been suffering from the illness from which he died. 577 00:38:26,600 --> 00:38:29,279 Speaker 1: And I watch this. He didn't die until God was 578 00:38:29,360 --> 00:38:33,520 Speaker 1: done with him. So the illness didn't kill him. God 579 00:38:33,560 --> 00:38:38,239 Speaker 1: took him. Because you don't understand how big God is, 580 00:38:38,239 --> 00:38:40,120 Speaker 1: how suffering God is, how great God is, how vast 581 00:38:40,160 --> 00:38:42,920 Speaker 1: his plans are, how awesome his might is, how strong 582 00:38:43,000 --> 00:38:46,160 Speaker 1: his armies are. The devil can't do anything to you 583 00:38:46,320 --> 00:38:48,799 Speaker 1: that God does not permit. He just can't do it. 584 00:38:49,120 --> 00:38:51,279 Speaker 1: He can try it, and even if he does it, 585 00:38:51,440 --> 00:38:54,120 Speaker 1: God will use it, because that's how big God is. 586 00:38:54,440 --> 00:38:58,080 Speaker 1: He had been suffering from the illness from which he died. 587 00:38:58,280 --> 00:39:00,040 Speaker 1: But that's not the part I want to preach. I 588 00:39:00,040 --> 00:39:05,200 Speaker 1: want apprecibout this. Jeho Ash, king of Israel, went down 589 00:39:05,239 --> 00:39:08,560 Speaker 1: to see him. Why do you go see him, because 590 00:39:08,600 --> 00:39:11,600 Speaker 1: he had the gift. He needed to know who am 591 00:39:11,640 --> 00:39:13,399 Speaker 1: I going to be fighting and how can I win? 592 00:39:13,600 --> 00:39:15,279 Speaker 1: And some of us come to God only when we're 593 00:39:15,280 --> 00:39:21,400 Speaker 1: in battles, because Jehosh the Bible says, what an evil 594 00:39:21,480 --> 00:39:23,440 Speaker 1: king who did not do what was right in the 595 00:39:23,440 --> 00:39:26,560 Speaker 1: eyes of the Lord. But now when he needs the 596 00:39:26,600 --> 00:39:28,920 Speaker 1: word of the Lord, he knows where to go to 597 00:39:29,040 --> 00:39:31,760 Speaker 1: the one who had the gift of discernment, the gift 598 00:39:31,800 --> 00:39:36,879 Speaker 1: of prophecy, the gift of instruction. He went down and 599 00:39:37,680 --> 00:39:42,719 Speaker 1: wept over him. My father, my father, He cried the 600 00:39:42,840 --> 00:39:49,160 Speaker 1: chariots and horsemen of Israel. Elesa said, Uh, get a 601 00:39:49,160 --> 00:39:54,000 Speaker 1: bow and some arrows, and he did so. Take the 602 00:39:54,040 --> 00:39:57,440 Speaker 1: bow in your hands, he said to the King of Israel. 603 00:39:59,040 --> 00:40:02,520 Speaker 1: And when he had taken it, Elisha put his hands 604 00:40:03,520 --> 00:40:05,520 Speaker 1: on the king's hands. I don't know what God's going 605 00:40:05,600 --> 00:40:08,560 Speaker 1: to call you to do when this sermon is over, 606 00:40:10,239 --> 00:40:12,760 Speaker 1: but it's going to involve putting your hands on something 607 00:40:12,760 --> 00:40:19,000 Speaker 1: that you already have. God is not going to speak 608 00:40:19,040 --> 00:40:22,120 Speaker 1: to you about something you could do if you had 609 00:40:22,120 --> 00:40:30,400 Speaker 1: someone else's stuff. Stop comparing, stop lusting, stop even wishing. 610 00:40:31,000 --> 00:40:34,200 Speaker 1: Don't make a wish list. This Christmas. Make a weapon. 611 00:40:34,280 --> 00:40:38,920 Speaker 1: List of what I already have that if I point 612 00:40:38,960 --> 00:40:43,600 Speaker 1: it forward in the coming year, God will give me 613 00:40:44,160 --> 00:40:49,520 Speaker 1: the victory. Say that God will give me the victory. 614 00:40:49,880 --> 00:40:52,040 Speaker 1: And he told him what to do, and he did it. 615 00:40:52,200 --> 00:40:54,400 Speaker 1: He said, get a bow, and he did it. And 616 00:40:54,440 --> 00:40:56,600 Speaker 1: get some arrows and he did it. And look at 617 00:40:56,680 --> 00:41:00,840 Speaker 1: verse seventeen, open the east window and he open. Everything 618 00:41:00,960 --> 00:41:03,880 Speaker 1: is going good. He's doing everything that the Word of 619 00:41:03,920 --> 00:41:07,600 Speaker 1: God says, everything that the man of God says, nothing more, 620 00:41:07,920 --> 00:41:10,680 Speaker 1: nothing less. He doesn't know where this is headed. He 621 00:41:10,680 --> 00:41:13,840 Speaker 1: doesn't understand how it all works together. He's just doing 622 00:41:13,880 --> 00:41:17,040 Speaker 1: it because he knows that God has given the word 623 00:41:17,320 --> 00:41:21,080 Speaker 1: that he needs for victory inside of this man who's dying. 624 00:41:21,120 --> 00:41:23,640 Speaker 1: And even though he's a king, he knows that God's 625 00:41:23,680 --> 00:41:26,800 Speaker 1: word is what gives him the wisdom to win the victory. 626 00:41:27,040 --> 00:41:28,919 Speaker 1: I want you to get that it is God. Don't 627 00:41:28,920 --> 00:41:31,799 Speaker 1: care how high you are, how smart you are, how 628 00:41:31,840 --> 00:41:34,920 Speaker 1: good looking you are. It is God's word. It is 629 00:41:35,080 --> 00:41:38,360 Speaker 1: God's will that gives you the wisdom to win in 630 00:41:38,400 --> 00:41:41,120 Speaker 1: the areas of your life that matter the most. Now, 631 00:41:41,160 --> 00:41:43,799 Speaker 1: he said, open the east window, and he opened it, 632 00:41:43,960 --> 00:41:46,880 Speaker 1: and then he told him shoot and he shot, everything's 633 00:41:46,920 --> 00:41:50,880 Speaker 1: going good. Watch this victory verse. This goes exactly perfect 634 00:41:51,000 --> 00:41:52,799 Speaker 1: with what I read you to start my sermon. This 635 00:41:52,880 --> 00:41:56,000 Speaker 1: goes so good together because he said, thanks be to 636 00:41:56,040 --> 00:41:58,520 Speaker 1: God that gives us the victory. And watch what the 637 00:41:58,560 --> 00:42:03,800 Speaker 1: brophet said, the Lord's arrow of victory. Who's whose victory 638 00:42:03,880 --> 00:42:08,120 Speaker 1: is it? The Lord's arrow of victory, the arrow of 639 00:42:08,320 --> 00:42:12,000 Speaker 1: victory over Aram. And we can substitute in whatever you're fighting, 640 00:42:12,080 --> 00:42:15,920 Speaker 1: because everybody in this room and everybody online has an Arab. 641 00:42:16,280 --> 00:42:19,560 Speaker 1: It might be addiction, it might be bitterness, it might 642 00:42:19,600 --> 00:42:22,759 Speaker 1: be resentment, it might be a prodigal child away from 643 00:42:22,760 --> 00:42:25,480 Speaker 1: God and away from you and away from how you 644 00:42:25,600 --> 00:42:30,480 Speaker 1: raise them. Everybody has an arem, but everybody has an arrow. 645 00:42:30,880 --> 00:42:33,800 Speaker 1: And if you've got the arrow of the Lord's victory, 646 00:42:34,360 --> 00:42:39,719 Speaker 1: little weapon formed against you, shall be able to prosper. 647 00:42:39,840 --> 00:42:42,120 Speaker 1: So he said this, he said this, He said this said, 648 00:42:42,120 --> 00:42:46,960 Speaker 1: I'm closing. I'm closing. I'm closing. You will completely destroy 649 00:42:47,400 --> 00:42:52,200 Speaker 1: the Aramians at Aphec. And if it ended there, I 650 00:42:52,200 --> 00:42:57,600 Speaker 1: wis shall. But the Bible says that after he told 651 00:42:57,680 --> 00:43:04,839 Speaker 1: him about the victory verse eighteen, then he said, take 652 00:43:04,840 --> 00:43:09,800 Speaker 1: the arrows the king took him. Elisha told him to 653 00:43:09,800 --> 00:43:15,799 Speaker 1: strike the ground, and he struck it three times. The 654 00:43:15,840 --> 00:43:24,040 Speaker 1: next part is the quiet quit and stopped. Well, nothing 655 00:43:24,080 --> 00:43:32,680 Speaker 1: wrong with stopping, pastor Steve. I mean, after all, the 656 00:43:32,719 --> 00:43:35,359 Speaker 1: prophet didn't tell him how many times to strike? What's 657 00:43:35,400 --> 00:43:38,760 Speaker 1: what the prophet said? Prophet was angry, Elisha had an attitude, 658 00:43:38,760 --> 00:43:42,440 Speaker 1: Elisha had a temper. The Man of God was angry 659 00:43:42,440 --> 00:43:46,080 Speaker 1: with him and said, you should have struck the ground 660 00:43:46,239 --> 00:43:51,240 Speaker 1: five or six times. Then you would have defeated aaron 661 00:43:51,400 --> 00:43:56,440 Speaker 1: and completely destroyed it. Now you will defeat it only 662 00:43:56,600 --> 00:43:59,640 Speaker 1: as many times as you did what I told you 663 00:43:59,680 --> 00:44:03,680 Speaker 1: to do. But you told me that the Lord gave 664 00:44:03,719 --> 00:44:07,080 Speaker 1: me the victory. But then I told you that if 665 00:44:07,080 --> 00:44:11,320 Speaker 1: you didn't get down on the ground and do something 666 00:44:12,040 --> 00:44:16,520 Speaker 1: that corresponded with what I spoke to you, you would 667 00:44:16,600 --> 00:44:23,319 Speaker 1: not realize everything that I reveal. How could he have 668 00:44:23,400 --> 00:44:27,279 Speaker 1: known that he needed to keep going. I think it's 669 00:44:27,280 --> 00:44:34,640 Speaker 1: pretty obvious, y'all. The prophet didn't say stop. You keep 670 00:44:34,680 --> 00:44:41,080 Speaker 1: doing it until God says stop you hear me, I 671 00:44:41,120 --> 00:44:43,160 Speaker 1: need you to stand up if this is your word, 672 00:44:43,280 --> 00:44:46,280 Speaker 1: because it's a temptation to quit right now. In fact, 673 00:44:46,440 --> 00:44:50,600 Speaker 1: there is a generational spirit that is not limited to millennials. 674 00:44:50,760 --> 00:44:53,200 Speaker 1: It's all of us. We're all thinking we can just 675 00:44:53,360 --> 00:44:56,520 Speaker 1: quit stuff whenever we want to quit stuff and walk 676 00:44:56,560 --> 00:44:59,200 Speaker 1: away from stuff. The first time it doesn't work, and 677 00:44:59,320 --> 00:45:02,120 Speaker 1: the moment it it's hard. We quit because we don't 678 00:45:02,160 --> 00:45:06,360 Speaker 1: feel it. But feelings are not Lord. Jesus is Lord. 679 00:45:06,760 --> 00:45:10,440 Speaker 1: We don't walk by feelings. We walk by faith. And 680 00:45:10,560 --> 00:45:15,360 Speaker 1: if God didn't say quit, you don't get to quit. 681 00:45:18,400 --> 00:45:20,799 Speaker 1: Let me be a prophet for a moment. You can't 682 00:45:20,880 --> 00:45:24,400 Speaker 1: quit on yourself. You can't quit on your freedom. You 683 00:45:24,480 --> 00:45:28,080 Speaker 1: can't quit on your destiny. You can't quit on your assignment. 684 00:45:28,400 --> 00:45:33,120 Speaker 1: You can't quit on your anuiting until God says quit. 685 00:45:34,000 --> 00:45:37,479 Speaker 1: And I prophesy over your life today that you have 686 00:45:38,080 --> 00:45:44,400 Speaker 1: the gift of victory. It is not of works. So 687 00:45:44,560 --> 00:45:54,960 Speaker 1: watch this. We don't fight for victory, We fight from victory. 688 00:45:56,600 --> 00:45:58,560 Speaker 1: So what I know in my spirit, y'all help me, 689 00:45:58,600 --> 00:46:02,320 Speaker 1: you'll help me. I know in my spirit it's that 690 00:46:02,520 --> 00:46:06,720 Speaker 1: God gave me a preview of my purpose. He showed 691 00:46:06,760 --> 00:46:09,000 Speaker 1: me what I could be in him. He showed me 692 00:46:09,080 --> 00:46:11,160 Speaker 1: and told me what I could do through him. He 693 00:46:11,280 --> 00:46:13,839 Speaker 1: gave me a word. I got a glimpse of it. 694 00:46:14,040 --> 00:46:17,520 Speaker 1: I saw that arrow flying, I saw my kids getting 695 00:46:17,520 --> 00:46:22,040 Speaker 1: through it. I saw myself recovering. I saw myself rebuilding it. 696 00:46:22,239 --> 00:46:28,000 Speaker 1: I saw myself finishing it. And now I'm gonna do 697 00:46:28,160 --> 00:46:33,640 Speaker 1: it as many times as it takes for me to 698 00:46:33,719 --> 00:46:45,000 Speaker 1: receive what God has reviewed. This is a word for 699 00:46:45,120 --> 00:46:50,840 Speaker 1: those who are weary and because you haven't felt like 700 00:46:50,920 --> 00:46:56,120 Speaker 1: you were winning you Withdrew, I'm gonna tell you a 701 00:46:56,160 --> 00:46:58,960 Speaker 1: secret hold on. You can play, but play something like 702 00:46:59,280 --> 00:47:08,319 Speaker 1: pretty there we go. When you feel spread so thin 703 00:47:09,800 --> 00:47:13,880 Speaker 1: that you feel like I'm not winning anywhere, that's the 704 00:47:13,920 --> 00:47:19,239 Speaker 1: time you're tempted in when you feel like winning in 705 00:47:19,280 --> 00:47:22,440 Speaker 1: one area of your life is always to the expense 706 00:47:22,480 --> 00:47:27,160 Speaker 1: and detriment of another area of your life. The temptation is, well, 707 00:47:27,200 --> 00:47:30,360 Speaker 1: I'll just carve myself into pieces, and I will not 708 00:47:30,480 --> 00:47:33,919 Speaker 1: give myself fully to any of it, because if I quit, 709 00:47:34,960 --> 00:47:38,680 Speaker 1: then nobody can see how hard it is for me. 710 00:47:40,280 --> 00:47:43,800 Speaker 1: You might be like the King in Second Kings thirteen, 711 00:47:44,760 --> 00:47:49,840 Speaker 1: who gave himself but not fully. You may be like 712 00:47:49,960 --> 00:47:53,360 Speaker 1: Martha in the New Testament, who let Jesus in her home, 713 00:47:54,120 --> 00:47:56,600 Speaker 1: but not like Mary, who let Jesus in her heart. 714 00:47:59,200 --> 00:48:02,439 Speaker 1: You might be like the mom or the dad who 715 00:48:02,440 --> 00:48:07,480 Speaker 1: feels like God Man, I keep getting it wrong, and 716 00:48:07,560 --> 00:48:09,719 Speaker 1: every time I show up to try and make a 717 00:48:09,800 --> 00:48:12,520 Speaker 1: mess of it. So I'm just kind of like, I'm 718 00:48:12,520 --> 00:48:15,920 Speaker 1: gonna just check out. I mna show up enough to 719 00:48:15,960 --> 00:48:19,240 Speaker 1: get credit for being in class, but I'm not applying 720 00:48:19,280 --> 00:48:23,360 Speaker 1: myself to any of it. The danger for the Christian 721 00:48:24,320 --> 00:48:26,160 Speaker 1: is not that you won't be forgiven of your sin. 722 00:48:26,920 --> 00:48:30,799 Speaker 1: That's what Christ did, is that he would forgive you 723 00:48:30,880 --> 00:48:33,600 Speaker 1: of your sin, and then you would never get to 724 00:48:33,640 --> 00:48:38,880 Speaker 1: the place of victory over your sin. God wants me 725 00:48:39,840 --> 00:48:43,600 Speaker 1: to live in victory. God wants you to live in victory, 726 00:48:44,680 --> 00:48:47,040 Speaker 1: and you don't get that way with a little three 727 00:48:47,160 --> 00:48:59,640 Speaker 1: time half effort, half effort. The grace of God doesn't 728 00:48:59,640 --> 00:49:01,280 Speaker 1: make it so I could just give up and depend 729 00:49:01,360 --> 00:49:06,279 Speaker 1: on him. It makes it so. I'm so confident. I'm 730 00:49:06,320 --> 00:49:12,000 Speaker 1: so confident in this gift. I got the gift. I 731 00:49:12,040 --> 00:49:15,080 Speaker 1: got the gift. I got the gift of grace. That's 732 00:49:15,080 --> 00:49:17,080 Speaker 1: how I'm gonna fight it. Because I got the gift. 733 00:49:17,239 --> 00:49:19,560 Speaker 1: That's how i'mnna show back off. Because I got the gift. 734 00:49:19,719 --> 00:49:22,160 Speaker 1: That's how I'm gonna move through this swamp. Of shame 735 00:49:22,440 --> 00:49:25,560 Speaker 1: and come out clean on the other side because I 736 00:49:25,640 --> 00:49:30,480 Speaker 1: got the gift. Somebody suted I got the gift. You 737 00:49:30,560 --> 00:49:33,440 Speaker 1: gotta be like David who said I see the giant. 738 00:49:33,800 --> 00:49:36,840 Speaker 1: But guess what I got. I got the gift of victory. 739 00:49:37,080 --> 00:49:39,799 Speaker 1: You know how, I know a fat of lion and 740 00:49:39,840 --> 00:49:42,799 Speaker 1: a one, a faunt of bear and a one. So 741 00:49:43,000 --> 00:49:46,080 Speaker 1: check my resume. If you doubt God can do this, 742 00:49:46,520 --> 00:49:49,960 Speaker 1: look back on my past. I got the gift of victory. 743 00:49:50,480 --> 00:49:54,200 Speaker 1: I am an overcomer. I am more than a conqueror. 744 00:49:56,840 --> 00:49:59,919 Speaker 1: Come on, do like victorious people do. Lift your hand, 745 00:50:00,080 --> 00:50:05,040 Speaker 1: say lift your hands, and say lift your hands, and say, ah, God, 746 00:50:05,400 --> 00:50:09,440 Speaker 1: the gift. Now, Father, we lift our hands in victory, 747 00:50:09,760 --> 00:50:13,879 Speaker 1: and we lift our hands in surrender. We lift our 748 00:50:13,880 --> 00:50:16,239 Speaker 1: hands to you because we need you, and we lift 749 00:50:16,280 --> 00:50:21,000 Speaker 1: our hands because we know you over every life. Today 750 00:50:22,000 --> 00:50:29,400 Speaker 1: I declare, with Apostle Paul himself, thanks be to God 751 00:50:30,000 --> 00:50:36,279 Speaker 1: who gives us the victory. And since we've got it, God, 752 00:50:36,320 --> 00:50:42,279 Speaker 1: you've got us. We're coming back full on all the way. 753 00:50:43,360 --> 00:50:47,560 Speaker 1: Not January first, but from the moment I say, amen, 754 00:50:48,440 --> 00:50:53,080 Speaker 1: I'm moving forward in the gift. I'm moving forward in 755 00:50:53,200 --> 00:50:56,600 Speaker 1: the grace. I'm moving forward in the glory and the 756 00:50:56,640 --> 00:51:02,960 Speaker 1: restoration of God and in the power of His presence. Well, 757 00:51:02,960 --> 00:51:05,400 Speaker 1: thanks for joining us today for the message, and we 758 00:51:05,440 --> 00:51:08,040 Speaker 1: trust that God spoke to you right where you are 759 00:51:08,560 --> 00:51:11,080 Speaker 1: as we're in this year end season. If God is 760 00:51:11,120 --> 00:51:13,719 Speaker 1: speaking to your life and you'd like to begin tithing 761 00:51:14,000 --> 00:51:16,520 Speaker 1: or give above and beyond, we would invite you to 762 00:51:16,560 --> 00:51:19,920 Speaker 1: head over to Elevationchurch dot org. There you'll find all 763 00:51:19,960 --> 00:51:22,680 Speaker 1: of the information available for you to take part in 764 00:51:22,719 --> 00:51:25,440 Speaker 1: the year end offering. If you haven't begun tithing, we 765 00:51:25,480 --> 00:51:28,760 Speaker 1: would always encourage you to start there. Place God first 766 00:51:28,760 --> 00:51:31,480 Speaker 1: in the air of your finances and begin tithing and 767 00:51:31,560 --> 00:51:34,880 Speaker 1: make that a part of your every day life. If 768 00:51:34,920 --> 00:51:37,040 Speaker 1: you already tie, then would like to go above and 769 00:51:37,080 --> 00:51:40,000 Speaker 1: beyond and help expand the ministry here at Elevation Church, 770 00:51:40,280 --> 00:51:42,560 Speaker 1: you can also do that through the Year end Offering. 771 00:51:42,600 --> 00:51:44,200 Speaker 1: All you have to do is click the banner at 772 00:51:44,239 --> 00:51:47,719 Speaker 1: Elevationchurch dot org. You can select the campus that you're 773 00:51:47,719 --> 00:51:49,880 Speaker 1: a part of. If you're a part of our online community, 774 00:51:49,960 --> 00:51:52,080 Speaker 1: select online, and if you're part of one of our 775 00:51:52,120 --> 00:51:55,719 Speaker 1: physical locations, make sure that you select one of those campuses. 776 00:51:55,800 --> 00:51:57,759 Speaker 1: Then you can select how much you'd like to give 777 00:51:58,120 --> 00:51:59,919 Speaker 1: and be a part of all that God is doing 778 00:52:00,160 --> 00:52:03,160 Speaker 1: right here at Elevation Church. Again, we thank you for 779 00:52:03,200 --> 00:52:05,080 Speaker 1: being a part of the family here and we can't 780 00:52:05,080 --> 00:52:07,680 Speaker 1: wait to see how God works in and through your 781 00:52:07,719 --> 00:52:10,279 Speaker 1: life as you open up your hands and ask God 782 00:52:10,320 --> 00:52:12,759 Speaker 1: to use you right where you are. Thanks for being 783 00:52:12,760 --> 00:52:13,800 Speaker 1: a part of God bless