1 00:00:02,000 --> 00:00:04,560 Speaker 1: Hey, this is Stephen Ferdik. I'm the pastor of Elevation 2 00:00:04,800 --> 00:00:07,000 Speaker 1: Church and this is our podcast. I wanted to thank 3 00:00:07,080 --> 00:00:10,400 Speaker 1: you for joining us today. Hope this inspires you. Hope 4 00:00:10,400 --> 00:00:12,440 Speaker 1: it builds your faith. Hope it gives your perspective to 5 00:00:12,480 --> 00:00:17,560 Speaker 1: see God is moving in your life. Enjoy the message. 6 00:00:18,480 --> 00:00:19,759 Speaker 1: Now what I want to do. I want to go 7 00:00:19,760 --> 00:00:23,400 Speaker 1: into the Word of God from Matthew chapter sixteen, and 8 00:00:23,440 --> 00:00:25,239 Speaker 1: I want to share an encounter that Peter had with 9 00:00:25,360 --> 00:00:29,000 Speaker 1: Jesus while Jesus was still living. And this will sort 10 00:00:29,040 --> 00:00:32,720 Speaker 1: of be this is us Jack Pearson flashback effect on 11 00:00:32,800 --> 00:00:35,199 Speaker 1: the Word of God, for us to see something that 12 00:00:35,280 --> 00:00:37,479 Speaker 1: Jesus said while he was still on earth in bodily 13 00:00:37,520 --> 00:00:41,280 Speaker 1: form that still echoes with ramifications for our lives today. 14 00:00:41,800 --> 00:00:43,800 Speaker 1: And I want to ask that everyone stand in honor 15 00:00:43,800 --> 00:00:45,239 Speaker 1: of the reading of the Word of God that is 16 00:00:45,240 --> 00:00:48,720 Speaker 1: physically able to stand, and even if you're watching on 17 00:00:48,760 --> 00:00:51,479 Speaker 1: a screen somewhere, to stand up for a moment in 18 00:00:51,560 --> 00:00:55,080 Speaker 1: reverence and respect for the Word of God. Because the 19 00:00:55,120 --> 00:00:58,520 Speaker 1: grass withers, the flower fades, and your outfit goes out 20 00:00:58,520 --> 00:01:01,040 Speaker 1: of style, but the Word of the Lord endorse forever. 21 00:01:01,080 --> 00:01:07,280 Speaker 1: I modernized it a little bit, and then so I 22 00:01:07,319 --> 00:01:09,040 Speaker 1: want to look at this scripture, and it's just a 23 00:01:09,080 --> 00:01:12,600 Speaker 1: conversation that Peter had with Jesus. Beginning in Matthew sixteen, 24 00:01:12,680 --> 00:01:15,920 Speaker 1: verse thirteen, when Jesus came to the region of Cesarea Philippi. 25 00:01:16,240 --> 00:01:18,360 Speaker 1: He asked his disciples, who do people say the son 26 00:01:18,360 --> 00:01:20,720 Speaker 1: of Man is? And they replied, well, some say John 27 00:01:20,760 --> 00:01:25,040 Speaker 1: the Baptist, others say Elijah, and still others Jeremiah are 28 00:01:25,040 --> 00:01:27,840 Speaker 1: one of the prophets. But what about you, He asked, 29 00:01:27,840 --> 00:01:31,119 Speaker 1: who do you say? I am Simon? Peter answered because 30 00:01:31,160 --> 00:01:34,440 Speaker 1: he always had something to say. He was that guy. 31 00:01:35,520 --> 00:01:38,720 Speaker 1: He was that dude, and a lot of times everybody 32 00:01:38,760 --> 00:01:41,520 Speaker 1: in the room benefited from his ignorance because Jesus would 33 00:01:41,520 --> 00:01:44,080 Speaker 1: correct him and none of them had to be embarrassed 34 00:01:44,080 --> 00:01:47,120 Speaker 1: by asking the stupid question. And he was that kid 35 00:01:47,160 --> 00:01:49,160 Speaker 1: in class that would always raise his hand, and the 36 00:01:49,200 --> 00:01:52,440 Speaker 1: teachers like what Peter, And so Peter raises his hand. 37 00:01:52,480 --> 00:01:54,760 Speaker 1: But this time he gets it right because he doesn't 38 00:01:54,760 --> 00:01:58,080 Speaker 1: identify Jesus just on the basis of miracles or the 39 00:01:58,080 --> 00:02:03,080 Speaker 1: mechanics or the cosmetics, but he sees the potential that 40 00:02:03,160 --> 00:02:07,600 Speaker 1: Jesus has, and only the spirit of God could have 41 00:02:07,640 --> 00:02:10,919 Speaker 1: showed him this. In fact, when he said it, he 42 00:02:11,080 --> 00:02:14,960 Speaker 1: was so right that Jesus knew that's not you talking, 43 00:02:16,160 --> 00:02:18,240 Speaker 1: That's not that part of you that comes from the 44 00:02:18,280 --> 00:02:20,560 Speaker 1: head and from the mind that tries to figure everything out. 45 00:02:21,080 --> 00:02:23,040 Speaker 1: And when he said this verse sixteen, you are the 46 00:02:23,120 --> 00:02:26,280 Speaker 1: Messiah or the Christ, depending on the translation that you read, 47 00:02:26,800 --> 00:02:30,760 Speaker 1: he identified Jesus. At a deeper level, you are the Messiah, 48 00:02:30,840 --> 00:02:33,639 Speaker 1: the son of the Living God. Jesus replied, blessed or 49 00:02:33,720 --> 00:02:38,240 Speaker 1: you Simon's son of Jonah. For this was not revealed 50 00:02:38,240 --> 00:02:40,680 Speaker 1: to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father 51 00:02:40,760 --> 00:02:44,440 Speaker 1: in Heaven. I tell you that you are Peter, and 52 00:02:44,520 --> 00:02:47,280 Speaker 1: upon this rock I will build my church, and the 53 00:02:47,360 --> 00:02:50,600 Speaker 1: gates of Hades will not overcome it. I'll give you 54 00:02:50,639 --> 00:02:54,160 Speaker 1: the keys to the Kingdom of Heaven. Whatever you bind 55 00:02:54,200 --> 00:02:56,280 Speaker 1: on earth will be bound in heaven. Whatever you loose 56 00:02:56,320 --> 00:03:00,720 Speaker 1: on earth will be loosed in heaven. And then he 57 00:03:00,840 --> 00:03:03,240 Speaker 1: ordered his disciples, keep your mouth shut and don't tell 58 00:03:03,280 --> 00:03:07,560 Speaker 1: anyone what I just told you. From that time on, 59 00:03:07,680 --> 00:03:10,280 Speaker 1: Jesus begin to explain to his disciples that he must 60 00:03:10,320 --> 00:03:14,359 Speaker 1: go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands 61 00:03:14,400 --> 00:03:17,679 Speaker 1: of the elders, the chief priests, and the teachers of 62 00:03:17,720 --> 00:03:20,760 Speaker 1: the law, and that he must be killed and on 63 00:03:20,840 --> 00:03:24,880 Speaker 1: the third day be raised to life. Today I want 64 00:03:24,919 --> 00:03:28,080 Speaker 1: to speak to you about the potential of pain, the 65 00:03:28,120 --> 00:03:32,720 Speaker 1: potential of pain. God, we pray for open hearts, pray 66 00:03:32,760 --> 00:03:36,040 Speaker 1: for focused minds, and we thank you in advance for 67 00:03:36,600 --> 00:03:41,040 Speaker 1: changed lives. Where your spirit is there is freedom and liberty. 68 00:03:41,560 --> 00:03:43,760 Speaker 1: I pray that chains would fall to the floor today, 69 00:03:44,440 --> 00:03:47,160 Speaker 1: and I pray that people would leave this place with 70 00:03:47,240 --> 00:03:49,880 Speaker 1: a much different perspective on you and themselves that would 71 00:03:49,960 --> 00:03:53,000 Speaker 1: enable them to overcome. In your name, by the power 72 00:03:53,000 --> 00:03:55,480 Speaker 1: of your blood and the word of our testimony, we 73 00:03:55,560 --> 00:04:00,280 Speaker 1: give you praise today in Jesus' name. Amen, Way to 74 00:04:00,320 --> 00:04:02,400 Speaker 1: your seat. Tell somebody you must have done something right 75 00:04:02,440 --> 00:04:15,280 Speaker 1: to sit next to me. I'm your dream neighbor. I 76 00:04:15,320 --> 00:04:17,560 Speaker 1: probably shouldn't tell you this on Easter because you've got 77 00:04:17,600 --> 00:04:23,760 Speaker 1: your grandmother with you. But I have two tattoos, and 78 00:04:23,800 --> 00:04:28,080 Speaker 1: I didn't get them before I became a Christian, but 79 00:04:28,120 --> 00:04:32,479 Speaker 1: they're really biblical. One is in Hebrew, so that's you 80 00:04:32,520 --> 00:04:35,880 Speaker 1: know that it's okay. And the other one is on 81 00:04:35,960 --> 00:04:38,039 Speaker 1: my ring finger and it has my wife and my 82 00:04:38,320 --> 00:04:41,160 Speaker 1: initial so I was just kind of like trying to 83 00:04:41,200 --> 00:04:42,919 Speaker 1: make sure I had her locked in. So I was like, 84 00:04:43,360 --> 00:04:45,960 Speaker 1: we're gonna get our initials tattooed, and we did it together. 85 00:04:46,440 --> 00:04:48,200 Speaker 1: So it says H and S. And so if she 86 00:04:48,240 --> 00:04:51,000 Speaker 1: wants to marry somebody else, she'll be narrowed down to 87 00:04:51,480 --> 00:04:53,679 Speaker 1: the letter S. And I figure it creases my eyes 88 00:04:53,920 --> 00:04:57,159 Speaker 1: keeping her. Anyway, When I went to get the first one, 89 00:04:57,200 --> 00:04:59,800 Speaker 1: which is on my back, the one that says kvat 90 00:04:59,920 --> 00:05:01,680 Speaker 1: or honor or wait in Hebrew. At least I think 91 00:05:01,680 --> 00:05:03,919 Speaker 1: that's what it says. I failed Hebrew and seminary, but 92 00:05:05,440 --> 00:05:08,479 Speaker 1: so that's what I think it says. But it's on 93 00:05:08,520 --> 00:05:11,000 Speaker 1: a real painful spot and it was terrible. It hurts 94 00:05:11,000 --> 00:05:12,760 Speaker 1: so bad when I got it, and I'm only going 95 00:05:12,800 --> 00:05:14,400 Speaker 1: to have too. I'm never getting any more, not because 96 00:05:14,440 --> 00:05:15,680 Speaker 1: I don't want any more. I mean, I don't know 97 00:05:15,680 --> 00:05:16,960 Speaker 1: if I want any more or not. I'm just not 98 00:05:17,080 --> 00:05:19,200 Speaker 1: I have a very low pain tolerance. And when I 99 00:05:19,240 --> 00:05:21,040 Speaker 1: finished with that one, this was years ago, the guy 100 00:05:21,080 --> 00:05:24,320 Speaker 1: that took me to get it, he was like, I said, 101 00:05:24,320 --> 00:05:26,720 Speaker 1: I feel you have so many. This guy had tattoos 102 00:05:26,760 --> 00:05:31,640 Speaker 1: just sleeves, and so I said, I feel so unmanly. 103 00:05:31,880 --> 00:05:33,200 Speaker 1: How much that hurt? He said, Oh no, well, the 104 00:05:33,200 --> 00:05:34,440 Speaker 1: place you got it on is one of the most 105 00:05:34,480 --> 00:05:37,240 Speaker 1: painful places you can get one. So when I said that, 106 00:05:37,320 --> 00:05:39,120 Speaker 1: I said, well, why don't you tell me that before 107 00:05:39,839 --> 00:05:41,360 Speaker 1: I got the tattoo? He said, because I knew you 108 00:05:41,360 --> 00:05:46,320 Speaker 1: wouldn't go through with it. I sometimes wonder if the 109 00:05:46,360 --> 00:05:51,719 Speaker 1: reason Jesus waited until this point in his ministry to 110 00:05:51,839 --> 00:05:55,760 Speaker 1: really start explaining to his disciples what it was going 111 00:05:55,800 --> 00:05:59,440 Speaker 1: to be like to follow him was because he knew 112 00:06:00,200 --> 00:06:03,159 Speaker 1: that if they really knew what it would mean to 113 00:06:03,240 --> 00:06:06,160 Speaker 1: follow him, they wouldn't go through with it. And I've 114 00:06:06,160 --> 00:06:10,400 Speaker 1: wondered before if God sometimes in our lives doesn't work 115 00:06:10,440 --> 00:06:14,160 Speaker 1: in stages only showing us what we can handle at 116 00:06:14,160 --> 00:06:19,520 Speaker 1: that point in time. Because of his infinite wisdom, you know, 117 00:06:19,600 --> 00:06:24,800 Speaker 1: there's a real tendency for us to judge Peter in 118 00:06:24,839 --> 00:06:28,640 Speaker 1: moments like what we're about to read, because when Jesus 119 00:06:28,680 --> 00:06:32,200 Speaker 1: proclaimed to his disciples that he was going to the cross, 120 00:06:32,200 --> 00:06:34,240 Speaker 1: this was the first time they had heard him talk 121 00:06:34,360 --> 00:06:37,720 Speaker 1: like that. Up until this point, they had heard him 122 00:06:37,720 --> 00:06:41,560 Speaker 1: say things like be healed, or they'd heard him say 123 00:06:41,640 --> 00:06:44,239 Speaker 1: things like bring me the bread and they had watched 124 00:06:44,279 --> 00:06:47,600 Speaker 1: him do things like multiply it or cause something that 125 00:06:47,680 --> 00:06:51,040 Speaker 1: was laying to walk. And as much as we give 126 00:06:51,160 --> 00:06:56,880 Speaker 1: credit to Jesus for seeing the potential in Peter, I 127 00:06:56,920 --> 00:06:59,720 Speaker 1: think we should take a moment and recognize that it 128 00:06:59,760 --> 00:07:03,479 Speaker 1: took faith for Peter to see the potential in Jesus. 129 00:07:04,880 --> 00:07:07,880 Speaker 1: He understood at a deeper level that there was something 130 00:07:08,000 --> 00:07:11,680 Speaker 1: about this miracle worker that was unlike the others who 131 00:07:11,680 --> 00:07:16,760 Speaker 1: had performed miracles. There was something about this prophet. His 132 00:07:16,840 --> 00:07:20,520 Speaker 1: words had a different authority than the teachers of the law. 133 00:07:20,600 --> 00:07:23,520 Speaker 1: There was something about the way that he moved, and 134 00:07:24,280 --> 00:07:27,080 Speaker 1: not only the way that he spoke, but the way 135 00:07:27,080 --> 00:07:29,760 Speaker 1: that he prayed and the way that he lived and 136 00:07:29,800 --> 00:07:33,440 Speaker 1: the way that he led that drew Peter to believe 137 00:07:33,960 --> 00:07:36,720 Speaker 1: that this is the one. And he believed it not 138 00:07:36,800 --> 00:07:38,480 Speaker 1: in the kind of way where you tell people I 139 00:07:38,560 --> 00:07:43,080 Speaker 1: believe in you, because honestly, it really means very little 140 00:07:43,200 --> 00:07:46,160 Speaker 1: for you to say that. If you are not invested 141 00:07:46,240 --> 00:07:50,720 Speaker 1: in someone's potential, it may be that you just actually 142 00:07:50,760 --> 00:07:54,080 Speaker 1: are using flattery. It's a different thing when you let 143 00:07:54,200 --> 00:07:57,800 Speaker 1: Jesus use your boat. Peter had actually been put in 144 00:07:57,800 --> 00:08:01,200 Speaker 1: an awkward position where he was out fishing one night, 145 00:08:01,680 --> 00:08:04,640 Speaker 1: and Jesus just got in his boat and took off 146 00:08:04,640 --> 00:08:08,080 Speaker 1: in it, and Peter pushed him out and was willing 147 00:08:08,240 --> 00:08:11,720 Speaker 1: to let him use his boat, which represented his livelihood. 148 00:08:12,320 --> 00:08:15,560 Speaker 1: And it's unique to me that Peter saw Jesus as 149 00:08:15,600 --> 00:08:19,400 Speaker 1: one who had potential to change everything. And in the 150 00:08:19,520 --> 00:08:22,920 Speaker 1: same way, Jesus saw in Peter a kind of potential 151 00:08:23,000 --> 00:08:26,240 Speaker 1: that probably no one else saw. The reason I know 152 00:08:26,320 --> 00:08:30,000 Speaker 1: that is because he called Peter a rock while Peter 153 00:08:30,200 --> 00:08:34,560 Speaker 1: was still very unstable, and it seems as if he 154 00:08:34,679 --> 00:08:39,040 Speaker 1: was judging Peter not according to his performance, but according 155 00:08:39,120 --> 00:08:43,040 Speaker 1: to his potential. You know what's funny. If I held 156 00:08:43,080 --> 00:08:45,720 Speaker 1: your phone right now, I couldn't use it to its 157 00:08:45,800 --> 00:08:49,120 Speaker 1: full capacity because I don't know what's in it like 158 00:08:49,160 --> 00:08:52,280 Speaker 1: you do. I don't understand all of the contacts. I 159 00:08:52,280 --> 00:08:54,320 Speaker 1: could have a lot of fun I could send some 160 00:08:54,360 --> 00:08:56,880 Speaker 1: text messages that would create weeks and weeks of interesting 161 00:08:56,920 --> 00:09:00,040 Speaker 1: conversations if I had your phone for ten minutes. And 162 00:09:00,120 --> 00:09:02,720 Speaker 1: it is true that the one who possesses the thing 163 00:09:03,280 --> 00:09:06,680 Speaker 1: has an intimate knowledge of its potential that is unique 164 00:09:06,720 --> 00:09:09,720 Speaker 1: to the one who possesses it. In the same way, 165 00:09:09,840 --> 00:09:13,120 Speaker 1: I believe that God knows things about your potential that 166 00:09:13,160 --> 00:09:16,520 Speaker 1: your mother doesn't know, that your father doesn't know, that 167 00:09:16,600 --> 00:09:20,040 Speaker 1: your best friend doesn't know. I believe God knows things 168 00:09:20,080 --> 00:09:24,040 Speaker 1: about your potential that even in your greatest moments of triumph, 169 00:09:24,120 --> 00:09:27,000 Speaker 1: you can only imagine. And I believe He speaks to 170 00:09:27,080 --> 00:09:29,720 Speaker 1: your life from time to time, not from the vantage 171 00:09:29,760 --> 00:09:33,040 Speaker 1: point of your performance, but from the vantage point of 172 00:09:33,080 --> 00:09:36,719 Speaker 1: your potential. How many are grateful that God sees your 173 00:09:36,760 --> 00:09:40,640 Speaker 1: potential when other people want to hold you down to 174 00:09:40,679 --> 00:09:43,559 Speaker 1: the level of your past, when other people want to 175 00:09:43,600 --> 00:09:45,920 Speaker 1: hold you down to the level of your worst moments. 176 00:09:49,280 --> 00:09:51,600 Speaker 1: So he calls him a rock, even though Peter at 177 00:09:51,640 --> 00:09:56,119 Speaker 1: this point is very unstable. And we know he's unstable 178 00:09:56,160 --> 00:09:59,480 Speaker 1: because he just got his gold star for correctly identifying 179 00:09:59,600 --> 00:10:02,319 Speaker 1: Jesus as the Christ, the son of the Living God. 180 00:10:03,040 --> 00:10:06,199 Speaker 1: And no sooner does he say who Jesus is correctly 181 00:10:06,679 --> 00:10:09,040 Speaker 1: than he makes a move that is above his pay grade. 182 00:10:09,600 --> 00:10:11,560 Speaker 1: And I want to show you this in verse twenty two, 183 00:10:11,640 --> 00:10:14,040 Speaker 1: because it's almost hard to believe that he could go 184 00:10:14,120 --> 00:10:17,560 Speaker 1: from so high to so low in a matter of 185 00:10:17,600 --> 00:10:22,600 Speaker 1: a moment, from so faith filled and so accurate in 186 00:10:22,640 --> 00:10:26,640 Speaker 1: his assessment of Jesus to making a statement that completely 187 00:10:26,679 --> 00:10:29,920 Speaker 1: contradicted the purpose of God. And it might give you 188 00:10:30,000 --> 00:10:34,200 Speaker 1: hope because some of you in here have vacillated even 189 00:10:34,240 --> 00:10:36,560 Speaker 1: this morning in the amount of faith that you have. 190 00:10:37,320 --> 00:10:40,240 Speaker 1: You were a different person in the parking lot than 191 00:10:40,280 --> 00:10:43,200 Speaker 1: you were during the praise and worship set. Now, don't 192 00:10:43,200 --> 00:10:45,160 Speaker 1: make me ask your husband what you're like when you 193 00:10:45,200 --> 00:10:47,920 Speaker 1: get home, because I only see you in one condition, 194 00:10:48,440 --> 00:10:51,200 Speaker 1: But from moment to moment, many of us, who have 195 00:10:51,360 --> 00:10:55,400 Speaker 1: the greatest potential for power and purpose, also have the 196 00:10:55,440 --> 00:10:59,400 Speaker 1: greatest potential for pain and failure. And Peter demonstrates it 197 00:10:59,440 --> 00:11:03,160 Speaker 1: in the tech Right after he hears the explanation from 198 00:11:03,240 --> 00:11:06,560 Speaker 1: Jesus about what's about to happen, the Bible says that 199 00:11:06,600 --> 00:11:10,280 Speaker 1: he takes Jesus aside verse twenty two and begins to 200 00:11:10,360 --> 00:11:14,360 Speaker 1: rebuke him. Now, this is always a bad idea for 201 00:11:14,440 --> 00:11:17,560 Speaker 1: you to explain to the God of the universe how 202 00:11:17,600 --> 00:11:20,480 Speaker 1: his plan is not correct because it does not conform 203 00:11:20,559 --> 00:11:23,120 Speaker 1: to your agenda. Watch what he says next, and this 204 00:11:23,120 --> 00:11:27,720 Speaker 1: is what I wanted to preach to you about. He said, never, Lord, 205 00:11:28,640 --> 00:11:36,400 Speaker 1: this shall never happen to you. Somebody say never say 206 00:11:36,440 --> 00:11:40,959 Speaker 1: a louder say never, because the Greek word for never 207 00:11:41,480 --> 00:11:46,680 Speaker 1: is a strong word. It's not a whisper mumble words, 208 00:11:47,520 --> 00:11:53,920 Speaker 1: It's an emphatic never. The Greek word is oumeh is 209 00:11:53,960 --> 00:11:57,640 Speaker 1: a double negative. It's not even grammatically correct. What Peter 210 00:11:57,760 --> 00:12:01,160 Speaker 1: is saying. He is so calmmon for them that he 211 00:12:01,320 --> 00:12:04,080 Speaker 1: knows what God is going to do in his life 212 00:12:04,120 --> 00:12:07,120 Speaker 1: that he says not only never, but watch this never, 213 00:12:08,200 --> 00:12:11,760 Speaker 1: no never. I used to say this all the time 214 00:12:12,320 --> 00:12:14,920 Speaker 1: about the way that I would raise my kids until 215 00:12:14,920 --> 00:12:18,720 Speaker 1: I had them. I used to say, I'll never I 216 00:12:18,760 --> 00:12:22,160 Speaker 1: will never be the kind of dad who screams at 217 00:12:22,160 --> 00:12:30,560 Speaker 1: his kids that way. You know. Never, Oh, I would never, ah, 218 00:12:30,600 --> 00:12:36,360 Speaker 1: because what good would that do? To discipline my kids 219 00:12:37,440 --> 00:12:40,320 Speaker 1: from anger? Would only create fear? And God has not 220 00:12:40,320 --> 00:12:42,439 Speaker 1: given us a spirit of fear, but power, love and 221 00:12:42,480 --> 00:12:45,600 Speaker 1: a sound mind. And I will never discipline my kids 222 00:12:45,600 --> 00:12:48,000 Speaker 1: in a spirit which will contradict the very nature of 223 00:12:48,040 --> 00:12:50,040 Speaker 1: the God that I seek to represent. I want to 224 00:12:50,080 --> 00:12:52,199 Speaker 1: be a good, good father. I want to give them 225 00:12:52,200 --> 00:12:55,000 Speaker 1: an accurate presentation of their Father in heaven, and so 226 00:12:55,040 --> 00:12:57,360 Speaker 1: I will always correct them from a posture of love. 227 00:12:57,400 --> 00:12:59,920 Speaker 1: I will never raise my voice. Why would I try 228 00:12:59,920 --> 00:13:01,959 Speaker 1: to correct them in the same spirit that I'm trying 229 00:13:01,960 --> 00:13:04,680 Speaker 1: to correct I will always discipline them in a way 230 00:13:04,760 --> 00:13:07,600 Speaker 1: that will show them that while the behavior may be unacceptable, 231 00:13:07,640 --> 00:13:11,679 Speaker 1: your identity and my love for you are eternally secure. 232 00:13:14,520 --> 00:13:20,560 Speaker 1: Now I yell at my kids so much. Somebody say 233 00:13:20,600 --> 00:13:26,559 Speaker 1: never until you had them, But we can all get 234 00:13:26,559 --> 00:13:30,800 Speaker 1: this kind of false confidence, and life will challenge your 235 00:13:30,880 --> 00:13:37,000 Speaker 1: concept of never. I'm well aware that many people gathered 236 00:13:37,040 --> 00:13:40,040 Speaker 1: here today are in a situation right now that you 237 00:13:40,120 --> 00:13:45,000 Speaker 1: never thought you'd find yourself in. Other people's marriages may 238 00:13:45,040 --> 00:13:51,080 Speaker 1: fall apart, but my marriage never. We will wash one 239 00:13:51,120 --> 00:13:58,080 Speaker 1: another's feet in the name of our risen Lord. I 240 00:13:58,080 --> 00:14:04,200 Speaker 1: would never talk to my husband that way. Never. Never, 241 00:14:04,320 --> 00:14:07,120 Speaker 1: I've never. I would never struggle with that. I don't 242 00:14:07,160 --> 00:14:09,000 Speaker 1: know how somebody could get hooked on something like that. 243 00:14:09,120 --> 00:14:14,680 Speaker 1: I just don't get people like that. I would never never, 244 00:14:15,840 --> 00:14:25,640 Speaker 1: who may you may me never. I don't give people 245 00:14:25,640 --> 00:14:29,840 Speaker 1: who struggle with depression. They've got the joy of the Lord. 246 00:14:30,720 --> 00:14:35,040 Speaker 1: Rejoice in the Lord always. The Bible says, always give 247 00:14:35,120 --> 00:14:40,120 Speaker 1: thanks in all things, in all circumstances, all means, all Stephen, 248 00:14:40,400 --> 00:14:45,680 Speaker 1: rejoice in the Lord. I will rejoice. This is the 249 00:14:45,760 --> 00:14:48,440 Speaker 1: day that the Lord has made. I don't understand people 250 00:14:48,800 --> 00:14:54,040 Speaker 1: until something happens in your life that knocks you off balance, 251 00:14:55,120 --> 00:14:59,280 Speaker 1: and you might find yourself. Be careful what you judge 252 00:14:59,320 --> 00:15:03,680 Speaker 1: me for today. It might be knocking on your door tomorrow. 253 00:15:06,280 --> 00:15:14,200 Speaker 1: I never thought. I never thought that I would be 254 00:15:14,240 --> 00:15:17,000 Speaker 1: the one dealing with anxiety. But now I can't catch 255 00:15:17,040 --> 00:15:20,760 Speaker 1: my breath. I never thought I would think a thought 256 00:15:20,840 --> 00:15:23,400 Speaker 1: that dark. I never struggled with that in my teens. 257 00:15:23,400 --> 00:15:25,640 Speaker 1: I didn't struggle with that in my twenties. Now it 258 00:15:25,760 --> 00:15:33,600 Speaker 1: came out of nowhere never no, never, never, ever ever 259 00:15:33,640 --> 00:15:38,200 Speaker 1: ever never never. He said that another time too. This 260 00:15:38,240 --> 00:15:41,800 Speaker 1: was kind of Peter's thing. You know. He's sitting at 261 00:15:41,800 --> 00:15:44,880 Speaker 1: the table with the Lord at the Passover meal, where 262 00:15:44,960 --> 00:15:47,240 Speaker 1: Jesus was telling them, now, this is my body broken 263 00:15:47,320 --> 00:15:51,920 Speaker 1: for you, and he's talking symbolically about what he's going 264 00:15:51,960 --> 00:15:57,160 Speaker 1: to do practically in twenty four hours, and they can't 265 00:15:57,200 --> 00:16:00,520 Speaker 1: comprehend it. And he's telling them, not only am I 266 00:16:00,600 --> 00:16:04,000 Speaker 1: going to die and bleed like this for you, but 267 00:16:04,160 --> 00:16:06,760 Speaker 1: actually all of you are going to be unable to 268 00:16:06,840 --> 00:16:09,320 Speaker 1: take it, and your faith will fail and you will 269 00:16:09,400 --> 00:16:12,000 Speaker 1: all walk away. You will all fall away. One of 270 00:16:12,040 --> 00:16:14,480 Speaker 1: you is going to betray me. Not saying any names 271 00:16:14,680 --> 00:16:17,880 Speaker 1: is Judas. But the rest of you, don't get too judgmental, 272 00:16:18,080 --> 00:16:19,760 Speaker 1: because none of you are going to be there at 273 00:16:19,760 --> 00:16:21,920 Speaker 1: the cross when it happens. You were there when I 274 00:16:21,960 --> 00:16:23,960 Speaker 1: was feeding bread. But when the bread is broken, you 275 00:16:24,000 --> 00:16:26,840 Speaker 1: will all fall away, all of you. And what did 276 00:16:26,840 --> 00:16:30,200 Speaker 1: Peter say about that? You might? You might, you might 277 00:16:30,240 --> 00:16:33,840 Speaker 1: be you might be surprised? Peter insisted emphatically, even if 278 00:16:33,840 --> 00:16:42,560 Speaker 1: I have to die with you, I will never not me. 279 00:16:45,640 --> 00:16:49,960 Speaker 1: When I first started preaching, I asked the pastor. This 280 00:16:50,120 --> 00:16:52,320 Speaker 1: was like very early on. I was just studying the Bible, 281 00:16:52,360 --> 00:16:55,440 Speaker 1: and I was trying to understand the miracles, and some 282 00:16:55,480 --> 00:16:57,560 Speaker 1: of the stuff in there is hard to accept at 283 00:16:57,560 --> 00:17:02,720 Speaker 1: face value. Y'all never read it before. It's some really 284 00:17:02,800 --> 00:17:05,880 Speaker 1: crazy stuff in here, like dead people getting up out 285 00:17:05,920 --> 00:17:09,199 Speaker 1: of the ground, and my faith wanted to believe it, 286 00:17:09,280 --> 00:17:12,280 Speaker 1: but my mind was contradicting it. So I asked this pastor, 287 00:17:13,359 --> 00:17:17,280 Speaker 1: do you ever have doubts? He said no, never. I said, 288 00:17:17,320 --> 00:17:20,960 Speaker 1: you never doubt the Bible? He said no, never. And 289 00:17:21,000 --> 00:17:27,160 Speaker 1: two years later he was out of ministry. Because sometimes 290 00:17:27,160 --> 00:17:31,040 Speaker 1: it's the people who will not acknowledge their weakness, that 291 00:17:31,119 --> 00:17:41,080 Speaker 1: are the most susceptible to it. Really, God put it 292 00:17:41,119 --> 00:17:44,000 Speaker 1: on my heart to preach to the people today, and 293 00:17:44,040 --> 00:17:46,760 Speaker 1: this may not be you, and it's okay that are 294 00:17:46,800 --> 00:17:50,240 Speaker 1: in a situation where you never thought you would struggle 295 00:17:50,280 --> 00:17:54,280 Speaker 1: with what you're struggling with. You watched other people struggle 296 00:17:54,359 --> 00:17:58,159 Speaker 1: with it, but you never thought that you would. What 297 00:17:58,320 --> 00:18:01,679 Speaker 1: do you do when you find yourself in the situation 298 00:18:01,880 --> 00:18:05,640 Speaker 1: that you swore you'd never be in, that you never 299 00:18:05,800 --> 00:18:10,639 Speaker 1: imagine that you'd be in. What resurrection does is it 300 00:18:10,840 --> 00:18:19,119 Speaker 1: challenges my concept of never. It challenges my expectation of never. 301 00:18:19,920 --> 00:18:23,439 Speaker 1: Because what it shows me is that although I've never 302 00:18:23,560 --> 00:18:27,920 Speaker 1: seen somebody get up from the ground before after being buried, 303 00:18:28,600 --> 00:18:33,080 Speaker 1: that when God says never, it's different than when I 304 00:18:33,600 --> 00:18:37,959 Speaker 1: say never. And so what God wants to challenge this 305 00:18:38,040 --> 00:18:43,639 Speaker 1: Easter Sunday is my understanding of what is possible, my 306 00:18:43,840 --> 00:18:48,160 Speaker 1: understanding of what could never happen, my understanding because there 307 00:18:48,160 --> 00:18:51,080 Speaker 1: are many of us here who have given up on 308 00:18:51,200 --> 00:18:54,800 Speaker 1: our hope, and the word over your life has been never. 309 00:18:55,240 --> 00:18:58,840 Speaker 1: You'll never be happy like they are, You will never 310 00:18:58,960 --> 00:19:02,639 Speaker 1: be free from this. Your mom wasn't her mom, wasn't 311 00:19:02,920 --> 00:19:07,480 Speaker 1: her mom, wasn't what makes you think it's possible for you. 312 00:19:07,480 --> 00:19:10,280 Speaker 1: You are never going to connect. You will never love again, 313 00:19:10,520 --> 00:19:13,439 Speaker 1: You will never heal from this, You will never recover 314 00:19:13,560 --> 00:19:16,600 Speaker 1: from that fall. You will never rebuild your reputation. It 315 00:19:16,640 --> 00:19:21,920 Speaker 1: will never happen from you. But Heaven speaks a different never. See, 316 00:19:21,960 --> 00:19:25,440 Speaker 1: I want to show you another never. And this never 317 00:19:25,520 --> 00:19:29,359 Speaker 1: doesn't come from the mouth of Peter. This never comes 318 00:19:29,400 --> 00:19:33,040 Speaker 1: from the mouth of God and is from Hebrews thirteen, 319 00:19:33,200 --> 00:19:35,600 Speaker 1: verse five. And I need all my Easter people to 320 00:19:35,640 --> 00:19:38,960 Speaker 1: get ready to shout on this, because after you've been 321 00:19:39,000 --> 00:19:42,200 Speaker 1: through all that Hell has to throw at you, after 322 00:19:42,240 --> 00:19:45,720 Speaker 1: you have survived the worst possible assault on your faith 323 00:19:46,040 --> 00:19:49,879 Speaker 1: and your mind and your sanity, after people have left you, 324 00:19:50,200 --> 00:19:54,200 Speaker 1: after circumstances have drained you of your human energy, there 325 00:19:54,240 --> 00:19:57,120 Speaker 1: remains a promise in the word of God. And this 326 00:19:57,160 --> 00:20:01,359 Speaker 1: is not Peter's prediction. This is God's world. He said, 327 00:20:01,560 --> 00:20:06,080 Speaker 1: never will I leave you, and never will I forsake you. 328 00:20:06,560 --> 00:20:10,040 Speaker 1: The Greek word is oome. They might, but I won't. 329 00:20:10,440 --> 00:20:14,679 Speaker 1: Never no, never, When will I withdraw my love from you? 330 00:20:14,720 --> 00:20:18,959 Speaker 1: Never no, never, When will I change my mind about you? 331 00:20:19,000 --> 00:20:22,320 Speaker 1: Never no, never, When will I walk away and give 332 00:20:22,400 --> 00:20:27,200 Speaker 1: up on the plans I make for your life. Never, no, never, sun. 333 00:20:27,280 --> 00:20:36,720 Speaker 1: If you got a God who says never means. When 334 00:20:36,840 --> 00:20:41,280 Speaker 1: God says lever, he means lever. There's nothing you can 335 00:20:41,400 --> 00:20:57,359 Speaker 1: do upon a devil. I gotta living oone never never. 336 00:20:58,640 --> 00:21:01,840 Speaker 1: People may change their mind about my potential, but he 337 00:21:02,000 --> 00:21:06,680 Speaker 1: never will. And this is a different level of hope. 338 00:21:06,720 --> 00:21:09,080 Speaker 1: This is not the kind of hope you know, that 339 00:21:09,200 --> 00:21:14,440 Speaker 1: plastic hope, that plastic purple hope, like these little plastic 340 00:21:14,760 --> 00:21:18,000 Speaker 1: these little plastic purple Easter eggs that you see, these 341 00:21:18,600 --> 00:21:25,159 Speaker 1: bright and pretty, but they're plastic and they're hollow. My 342 00:21:25,320 --> 00:21:31,400 Speaker 1: hope is built on nothing less. Y'all don't know any hymns. 343 00:21:32,040 --> 00:21:36,239 Speaker 1: Your mom didn't take you to church. My hope is 344 00:21:36,320 --> 00:21:42,320 Speaker 1: built on nothing less. So my hope I might as 345 00:21:42,320 --> 00:21:45,080 Speaker 1: well show them give me the basket. My hope is 346 00:21:45,119 --> 00:21:49,800 Speaker 1: not hollow. My hope is not empty. My hope is 347 00:21:49,880 --> 00:21:55,760 Speaker 1: not plastic. My hope is not circumstantial. Romans, Chapter five, 348 00:21:55,880 --> 00:21:58,399 Speaker 1: verse three says that I hope in the glory of God. 349 00:21:59,280 --> 00:22:02,520 Speaker 1: That's different than hoping in the praises of ben That's 350 00:22:02,560 --> 00:22:05,640 Speaker 1: different in hoping in the kindness of life or the 351 00:22:05,840 --> 00:22:11,320 Speaker 1: peaceability of circumstances. My hope. Watch this is hard boiled. 352 00:22:12,080 --> 00:22:15,360 Speaker 1: My hope has been through the fire. My hope has 353 00:22:15,400 --> 00:22:19,560 Speaker 1: been through hell. My hope has been disappointed and still 354 00:22:19,640 --> 00:22:23,880 Speaker 1: found a weight about that. And watch this, even if 355 00:22:23,880 --> 00:22:28,080 Speaker 1: it cracks on the surface, it's still good on the inside. 356 00:22:28,440 --> 00:22:46,040 Speaker 1: I'm kind of living. Home is easter. He's risen. So 357 00:22:46,200 --> 00:22:49,399 Speaker 1: he showed me on the cross how to deal with 358 00:22:49,440 --> 00:22:52,040 Speaker 1: the penalty of my sin. But that's not all he 359 00:22:52,119 --> 00:22:54,920 Speaker 1: showed me. He showed me how to deal with my pain, 360 00:22:56,080 --> 00:22:59,200 Speaker 1: to let me know that the sufferings of this present 361 00:22:59,280 --> 00:23:03,000 Speaker 1: time are not worthy to be compared with the glory 362 00:23:03,080 --> 00:23:20,560 Speaker 1: that will be revealed great potential in your pain. He 363 00:23:20,600 --> 00:23:23,200 Speaker 1: didn't change his mind about Peter. When he says never, 364 00:23:24,280 --> 00:23:28,840 Speaker 1: he means never. When he says always, he means always. 365 00:23:34,359 --> 00:23:42,000 Speaker 1: Because it said that while we were still sinners, Christ 366 00:23:42,040 --> 00:23:46,639 Speaker 1: died for us, not on the basis of my performance, 367 00:23:48,240 --> 00:23:51,960 Speaker 1: but on the basis of his purpose. Now, if he 368 00:23:52,119 --> 00:23:56,960 Speaker 1: died for me while I was still a sinner, it 369 00:23:57,080 --> 00:24:00,640 Speaker 1: means that he's still a savior even if I continue 370 00:24:00,640 --> 00:24:10,200 Speaker 1: to sin. And nothing can pluck you from his hand, 371 00:24:11,640 --> 00:24:14,120 Speaker 1: and nothing can erase your name touched on his heart. 372 00:24:14,960 --> 00:24:19,240 Speaker 1: This is not superstition or sentimentality. By the spirit of God, 373 00:24:19,280 --> 00:24:22,520 Speaker 1: I declare over your life today. God has not changed 374 00:24:22,560 --> 00:24:26,399 Speaker 1: his mind about you, and your pain cannot negate it, 375 00:24:26,640 --> 00:24:33,720 Speaker 1: and your mistakes cannot negate it. I want you to 376 00:24:33,760 --> 00:24:38,680 Speaker 1: stand because I want to pray for people today who 377 00:24:38,720 --> 00:24:41,159 Speaker 1: have been called out by God for great purpose and 378 00:24:41,200 --> 00:24:47,160 Speaker 1: great potential. And at the Cross we find a demonstration 379 00:24:48,560 --> 00:24:53,240 Speaker 1: of God's estimation of your worth. It would be my 380 00:24:53,359 --> 00:24:58,520 Speaker 1: privilege today wherever you find yourself in life, and whatever 381 00:24:58,600 --> 00:25:03,000 Speaker 1: your particular brand of pain may be today, whether it's 382 00:25:03,240 --> 00:25:08,720 Speaker 1: a relational betrayal, Jesus experienced that, whether it is a temptation. 383 00:25:09,240 --> 00:25:12,040 Speaker 1: Jesus was tempted in all ways as we are tempted, 384 00:25:12,200 --> 00:25:15,560 Speaker 1: but he was without sin. Whatever the pain that you 385 00:25:15,600 --> 00:25:19,080 Speaker 1: can name today, I know a name that is greater 386 00:25:19,600 --> 00:25:22,800 Speaker 1: than your pain. And I know a name that is 387 00:25:22,880 --> 00:25:30,360 Speaker 1: greater than your shame. And while we were still sinners, 388 00:25:32,160 --> 00:25:37,639 Speaker 1: he saw what he put in you. He still sees 389 00:25:37,680 --> 00:25:40,400 Speaker 1: you according to the original blueprint, no matter how much 390 00:25:40,440 --> 00:25:43,160 Speaker 1: life has tried to lay it with cynicism and doubt, 391 00:25:44,680 --> 00:25:53,400 Speaker 1: in addictions and fears and disappointments and rejection, Jesus had 392 00:25:53,400 --> 00:25:58,080 Speaker 1: to go to Jerusalem. Peter didn't like it, the disciples 393 00:25:58,080 --> 00:26:01,920 Speaker 1: couldn't stand it. Even he prayed, if there's any other way, 394 00:26:02,000 --> 00:26:03,879 Speaker 1: let this cup pass. But it was the purpose that 395 00:26:03,920 --> 00:26:08,399 Speaker 1: he came for. I believe God is working a great 396 00:26:08,440 --> 00:26:12,920 Speaker 1: purpose in your life in this season. It is what 397 00:26:12,960 --> 00:26:15,480 Speaker 1: you do with the pain that determines what it becomes. 398 00:26:18,920 --> 00:26:21,520 Speaker 1: Many people died on crosses at the time when Jesus 399 00:26:21,640 --> 00:26:24,639 Speaker 1: was crucified. There was nothing different about his cross. It 400 00:26:24,760 --> 00:26:28,440 Speaker 1: was what he did with his cross that he endured 401 00:26:28,480 --> 00:26:30,960 Speaker 1: it for the joy set before him, scorning the shame 402 00:26:31,000 --> 00:26:33,480 Speaker 1: and sat down at the right hand of the Father. 403 00:26:34,240 --> 00:26:36,879 Speaker 1: I asked that no one move in this moment. This 404 00:26:37,040 --> 00:26:40,639 Speaker 1: is a holy, sacred moment. I want to give an 405 00:26:40,640 --> 00:26:44,280 Speaker 1: invitation for people who have been brought here today, not 406 00:26:44,359 --> 00:26:46,359 Speaker 1: by the invitation of a family member or a friend, 407 00:26:46,359 --> 00:26:48,679 Speaker 1: but by the spirit of God. And He drew you 408 00:26:48,760 --> 00:26:52,000 Speaker 1: here because He wanted you to know that there is 409 00:26:52,119 --> 00:26:55,000 Speaker 1: potential in you that will only become real as you 410 00:26:55,080 --> 00:26:57,840 Speaker 1: trust in Him and surrender to His way. And this 411 00:26:57,920 --> 00:26:59,680 Speaker 1: is your moment to do it. So with your head's 412 00:26:59,720 --> 00:27:02,840 Speaker 1: bowed and your eyes closed, at this church, we pray 413 00:27:02,840 --> 00:27:06,680 Speaker 1: a prayer for the sake of those who are far 414 00:27:06,720 --> 00:27:09,680 Speaker 1: from God and who are coming into a relationship with Him, 415 00:27:09,880 --> 00:27:12,080 Speaker 1: and we pray it out loud as a church family. 416 00:27:12,280 --> 00:27:14,720 Speaker 1: Now all over the world. I believe God is drawing 417 00:27:14,760 --> 00:27:17,600 Speaker 1: people at every location. I believe God is drawing people. 418 00:27:18,400 --> 00:27:21,000 Speaker 1: And if your heart is beating today and you know 419 00:27:21,040 --> 00:27:24,080 Speaker 1: that this is God calling your name, I want to 420 00:27:24,160 --> 00:27:26,440 Speaker 1: lead you in a prayer. I want you to repeat 421 00:27:26,480 --> 00:27:29,359 Speaker 1: it after me as an expression of your faith. The 422 00:27:29,400 --> 00:27:31,359 Speaker 1: Bible says that if you will confess with your mouth 423 00:27:31,359 --> 00:27:33,640 Speaker 1: that Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart God 424 00:27:33,720 --> 00:27:38,720 Speaker 1: raised him from the dead, you will be saved not 425 00:27:38,800 --> 00:27:45,439 Speaker 1: by works, but through faith by grace. And in this moment, 426 00:27:46,080 --> 00:27:50,040 Speaker 1: I believe Jesus is calling heads bowed, eyes closed, and 427 00:27:50,040 --> 00:27:53,320 Speaker 1: pray together as a church family, Heavenly Father. I am 428 00:27:53,359 --> 00:27:57,320 Speaker 1: a sinner in need of a savior, and I believe 429 00:27:58,160 --> 00:28:02,439 Speaker 1: that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and the 430 00:28:02,480 --> 00:28:07,600 Speaker 1: Savior of the world. And today I make Jesus the 431 00:28:07,640 --> 00:28:11,760 Speaker 1: Lord of my life. I believe you died that I 432 00:28:11,800 --> 00:28:16,800 Speaker 1: could be forgiven and rose again to give me life. 433 00:28:17,000 --> 00:28:22,000 Speaker 1: This is my new beginning. I am a child of God. 434 00:28:22,680 --> 00:28:26,600 Speaker 1: I am a new creation. And on the count of three, 435 00:28:26,600 --> 00:28:28,200 Speaker 1: if you just prayed that prayer, I want you to 436 00:28:28,240 --> 00:28:31,040 Speaker 1: shoot your hand boldly in the air on three, one, 437 00:28:31,280 --> 00:28:36,080 Speaker 1: two three at every location. Let's celebrate that awesome decision. 438 00:28:37,320 --> 00:28:40,080 Speaker 1: Come on, we can do better than that. Y'all. Welcome 439 00:28:40,080 --> 00:28:44,120 Speaker 1: them into the family of God. Let's welcome these souls. 440 00:28:44,920 --> 00:28:49,160 Speaker 1: Let's celebrate a fresh start. Let's celebrate a new beginning. 441 00:28:50,800 --> 00:28:56,920 Speaker 1: Come on, time we celebrate resurrection, resurrection power. Open your 442 00:28:56,960 --> 00:29:03,240 Speaker 1: mouth and let it hear you. Thank you for joining us. 443 00:29:03,520 --> 00:29:06,000 Speaker 1: Special thanks to those of you who give generously to 444 00:29:06,040 --> 00:29:09,560 Speaker 1: this ministry. Is because of you that this ministry is possible. 445 00:29:10,000 --> 00:29:12,200 Speaker 1: You can click the link in the description to give 446 00:29:12,280 --> 00:29:16,440 Speaker 1: now or visit Elevationchurch dot org slash podcast for more 447 00:29:16,440 --> 00:29:20,240 Speaker 1: information and if you enjoyed the podcast, you can subscribe. 448 00:29:20,520 --> 00:29:22,600 Speaker 1: You can share it with your friends. You can click 449 00:29:22,640 --> 00:29:24,880 Speaker 1: the share button, take a screenshot and share it on 450 00:29:24,880 --> 00:29:27,760 Speaker 1: your social stories and tag us at Elevation Church. Thanks 451 00:29:27,800 --> 00:29:34,200 Speaker 1: again for listening. God bless you.