1 00:00:01,560 --> 00:00:04,120 Speaker 1: Hey, this is Stephen Ferdick. I'm the pastor of Elevation 2 00:00:04,360 --> 00:00:06,600 Speaker 1: Church and this is our podcast. I wanted to thank 3 00:00:06,640 --> 00:00:09,920 Speaker 1: you for joining us today. Hope this inspires you. Hope 4 00:00:09,960 --> 00:00:12,000 Speaker 1: it builds your faith. Hope it gives your perspective to 5 00:00:12,039 --> 00:00:14,760 Speaker 1: see God as moving in your life. Enjoy the message. 6 00:00:17,760 --> 00:00:21,040 Speaker 1: Hi everybody, and welcome to all of our locations and 7 00:00:21,160 --> 00:00:24,239 Speaker 1: all of you watching online are e fam No, I'm 8 00:00:24,320 --> 00:00:28,360 Speaker 1: sorry Pastor Stephen is not preaching. I hope it's not 9 00:00:28,480 --> 00:00:30,880 Speaker 1: too much of a disappointment because you're going to have 10 00:00:30,920 --> 00:00:34,960 Speaker 1: to settle for me the other Ferdick. I'm just kidding. 11 00:00:34,960 --> 00:00:37,960 Speaker 1: I know you love me too, and I count it 12 00:00:38,040 --> 00:00:40,480 Speaker 1: such a privilege every time that I get to teach 13 00:00:40,560 --> 00:00:44,599 Speaker 1: on this stage at Elevation. So I'm recording this message 14 00:00:44,640 --> 00:00:47,159 Speaker 1: here to a small group of people, but many of 15 00:00:47,200 --> 00:00:50,960 Speaker 1: you are watching this message as we're celebrating Mother's Day weekend. 16 00:00:51,479 --> 00:00:54,920 Speaker 1: And Mother's Day is such a happy day, but for 17 00:00:55,000 --> 00:00:57,800 Speaker 1: so many we can't ignore the fact that it's also 18 00:00:58,160 --> 00:01:01,760 Speaker 1: a difficult day. And what I love about our church 19 00:01:01,880 --> 00:01:05,119 Speaker 1: is how we take the opportunity to celebrate all women 20 00:01:05,520 --> 00:01:08,800 Speaker 1: on this day. To me, Mother's Day is a day 21 00:01:08,840 --> 00:01:12,639 Speaker 1: to celebrate the beauty in God's creation of the woman. 22 00:01:13,240 --> 00:01:17,000 Speaker 1: He put a nurturing, mothering heart in each one of us, 23 00:01:17,240 --> 00:01:19,959 Speaker 1: whether we have children or not, whether our children are 24 00:01:20,000 --> 00:01:24,360 Speaker 1: still with us or not, And together, as women, we 25 00:01:24,400 --> 00:01:27,520 Speaker 1: are able to contribute to our church and to this 26 00:01:27,680 --> 00:01:30,800 Speaker 1: world in a unique and special way. So can we 27 00:01:30,840 --> 00:01:37,280 Speaker 1: take a minute to celebrate. Find a woman near you 28 00:01:37,640 --> 00:01:45,840 Speaker 1: and tell her you look thinner. So, speaking of looking thinner, 29 00:01:46,400 --> 00:01:49,640 Speaker 1: have you ever experienced one of those moments where your 30 00:01:49,760 --> 00:01:53,440 Speaker 1: kid's honesty was like a slap in the face. You know, 31 00:01:54,840 --> 00:01:57,200 Speaker 1: they really know us, well don't they. We think we 32 00:01:57,280 --> 00:02:00,240 Speaker 1: know them, but they really have us pinned too. So 33 00:02:00,280 --> 00:02:03,640 Speaker 1: I had one of these moments recently. Abby came home 34 00:02:04,000 --> 00:02:07,720 Speaker 1: from school. And Abby is one of those kids too 35 00:02:07,800 --> 00:02:12,880 Speaker 1: who tells you everything about school and my boys. They like, 36 00:02:12,919 --> 00:02:16,000 Speaker 1: I get nothing from my boys, but Abby, I get 37 00:02:16,000 --> 00:02:19,519 Speaker 1: it all. So Abby is in her you know, talking talking, talking, 38 00:02:19,560 --> 00:02:23,720 Speaker 1: and she goes mom. Monday is the bubble test, and 39 00:02:23,840 --> 00:02:26,320 Speaker 1: my teacher said that we need to go to bed 40 00:02:26,720 --> 00:02:29,520 Speaker 1: early so that we can get plenty of rest. And 41 00:02:29,560 --> 00:02:32,240 Speaker 1: she also said that we need to get up and 42 00:02:32,320 --> 00:02:36,680 Speaker 1: need a big breakfast like pancakes and bacon, so that 43 00:02:36,720 --> 00:02:40,080 Speaker 1: we won't be hungry during the test. And then she said, 44 00:02:40,240 --> 00:02:43,440 Speaker 1: and I thought, in my mind, I don't think my 45 00:02:43,600 --> 00:02:47,680 Speaker 1: mom's going to do that. At least she had realistic 46 00:02:47,760 --> 00:02:52,320 Speaker 1: expectations of her mom, right. Being a mom often comes 47 00:02:52,360 --> 00:02:58,959 Speaker 1: along with feeling underappreciated and unqualified, constantly feeling like I'm 48 00:02:59,000 --> 00:03:01,400 Speaker 1: never enough, I can ever do enough, we can never 49 00:03:01,760 --> 00:03:05,120 Speaker 1: be enough, I can't take you enough places. But as 50 00:03:05,120 --> 00:03:08,440 Speaker 1: I was thinking about this message and preparing and praying 51 00:03:08,480 --> 00:03:10,680 Speaker 1: about what I felt like God wanted me to say, 52 00:03:10,720 --> 00:03:13,880 Speaker 1: I started to think, Wait, like, that's not just moms, 53 00:03:14,040 --> 00:03:17,200 Speaker 1: that's all of us. That's called being a grown up. 54 00:03:17,280 --> 00:03:21,200 Speaker 1: That's life, and we all struggle with those feelings. And 55 00:03:21,720 --> 00:03:25,240 Speaker 1: how about this one. Do you ever struggle with the 56 00:03:25,280 --> 00:03:29,799 Speaker 1: feeling of does this really even matter? One time, we 57 00:03:29,800 --> 00:03:33,720 Speaker 1: were in a restaurant with another pastor. My husband was 58 00:03:33,720 --> 00:03:36,400 Speaker 1: preaching at this pastor's church, and he was taking us 59 00:03:36,400 --> 00:03:38,920 Speaker 1: out to dinner and they had a reservation, and so 60 00:03:39,000 --> 00:03:43,520 Speaker 1: we're standing in the entryway of the restaurant and nobody 61 00:03:43,960 --> 00:03:46,520 Speaker 1: was attending to us. Nobody asked us, you know, how 62 00:03:46,520 --> 00:03:48,760 Speaker 1: many people were in our party or anything. And the 63 00:03:49,240 --> 00:03:51,280 Speaker 1: hostess wasn't in the hostess stand, but there were people 64 00:03:51,280 --> 00:03:53,800 Speaker 1: buzzing around, so we all just kind of stood there 65 00:03:53,880 --> 00:03:56,960 Speaker 1: for a few minutes. And this particular pastor, I'm not 66 00:03:56,960 --> 00:03:59,600 Speaker 1: going to tell you who he is, but he's really 67 00:03:59,680 --> 00:04:03,520 Speaker 1: loud and has a really boisterous personality. I know that 68 00:04:03,560 --> 00:04:06,360 Speaker 1: doesn't even narrow it down for you, because that's like 69 00:04:06,360 --> 00:04:08,800 Speaker 1: pretty much every pastor. And you could tell he was 70 00:04:08,800 --> 00:04:12,360 Speaker 1: getting frustrated, and all of a sudden, he just yells, 71 00:04:12,440 --> 00:04:14,680 Speaker 1: I mean yells at the top of his lungs. Does 72 00:04:14,680 --> 00:04:17,520 Speaker 1: anybody even care that we're here? And I was like, 73 00:04:17,640 --> 00:04:21,360 Speaker 1: oh my god, but have you ever felt like that? 74 00:04:21,680 --> 00:04:25,599 Speaker 1: Does anyone even care? Does this even matter? Does it 75 00:04:25,600 --> 00:04:28,800 Speaker 1: even matter? Would I do? I just I wonder that 76 00:04:29,320 --> 00:04:33,839 Speaker 1: so often that things like does it matter that I 77 00:04:33,960 --> 00:04:38,239 Speaker 1: try so hard to provide healthy food and a neat 78 00:04:38,360 --> 00:04:40,679 Speaker 1: house I mean not a perfect house, but a neat 79 00:04:40,960 --> 00:04:44,160 Speaker 1: house and clean clothes for my family, when I mean 80 00:04:44,400 --> 00:04:47,000 Speaker 1: three out of four of my people would just soon 81 00:04:47,360 --> 00:04:51,159 Speaker 1: eat junk food and live in complete Squalor does this 82 00:04:51,279 --> 00:04:55,359 Speaker 1: even matter what I'm doing? Like maybe when you do 83 00:04:55,440 --> 00:04:58,000 Speaker 1: a project at school and you give your all just 84 00:04:58,040 --> 00:05:00,920 Speaker 1: for a great does it even matter? Or a report 85 00:05:01,200 --> 00:05:03,719 Speaker 1: at work Does it even matter if I show up 86 00:05:03,960 --> 00:05:08,120 Speaker 1: to volunteer at elevation? There are hundreds of volunteers. Do 87 00:05:08,160 --> 00:05:11,960 Speaker 1: they really need me? Am I really making a contribution? 88 00:05:12,600 --> 00:05:15,560 Speaker 1: Do you ever feel like you gave your all but 89 00:05:15,680 --> 00:05:20,640 Speaker 1: it probably didn't even matter. We all long for significance 90 00:05:21,160 --> 00:05:24,159 Speaker 1: in our lives. We want to know that what we 91 00:05:24,240 --> 00:05:28,159 Speaker 1: are doing will be worth it. And that's what I 92 00:05:28,160 --> 00:05:30,280 Speaker 1: want to talk about today. So I want to jump 93 00:05:30,360 --> 00:05:33,320 Speaker 1: right into our scripture and get started. We're going to 94 00:05:33,400 --> 00:05:36,640 Speaker 1: read a passage of scripture in Luke, starting at the 95 00:05:36,760 --> 00:05:41,720 Speaker 1: very end of chapter twenty, verse forty five, and I'm 96 00:05:41,720 --> 00:05:43,719 Speaker 1: going to read the whole passage to you. So here 97 00:05:43,720 --> 00:05:46,960 Speaker 1: we go. While all the people were listening, Jesus said 98 00:05:47,000 --> 00:05:50,320 Speaker 1: to his disciples, beware of the teachers of the law. 99 00:05:50,720 --> 00:05:53,680 Speaker 1: They like to walk around in flowing robes and love 100 00:05:53,760 --> 00:05:56,760 Speaker 1: to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces, and have 101 00:05:56,839 --> 00:06:00,120 Speaker 1: the most important seats in the synagogue and the place 102 00:06:00,320 --> 00:06:04,720 Speaker 1: of honor at banquets. They devour widows houses and for 103 00:06:04,839 --> 00:06:09,440 Speaker 1: show make lengthy prayers. These men will be punished most severely. 104 00:06:10,279 --> 00:06:13,440 Speaker 1: As Jesus looked up, he saw the rich putting their 105 00:06:13,480 --> 00:06:17,279 Speaker 1: gifts into the Temple treasury. He also saw a poor 106 00:06:17,320 --> 00:06:21,800 Speaker 1: widow put in two very small copper coins, also known 107 00:06:21,839 --> 00:06:25,400 Speaker 1: as a widow's mite. Truly, I tell you, he said, 108 00:06:25,839 --> 00:06:30,160 Speaker 1: this poor widow has put in more than all the others. 109 00:06:30,760 --> 00:06:34,120 Speaker 1: All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth, 110 00:06:34,480 --> 00:06:38,359 Speaker 1: but she, out of her poverty, put in all she 111 00:06:38,600 --> 00:06:42,080 Speaker 1: had to live on. The title of my message today 112 00:06:42,320 --> 00:06:47,320 Speaker 1: is when you're all seems small? Yes, look at your 113 00:06:47,320 --> 00:06:52,640 Speaker 1: neighbor and ask them, does your all seem small? Have 114 00:06:52,720 --> 00:06:56,760 Speaker 1: you been enjoying pastors' messages on savage Jesus. Savage Jesus. 115 00:06:56,800 --> 00:07:00,280 Speaker 1: I can't even say it, savage Jesus. I really I 116 00:07:00,360 --> 00:07:02,680 Speaker 1: think this is one of my favorite sermon series that 117 00:07:02,720 --> 00:07:04,919 Speaker 1: we've ever done. I know I say that every time, 118 00:07:05,240 --> 00:07:08,200 Speaker 1: but I really mean it this time. I've been reading 119 00:07:08,200 --> 00:07:12,200 Speaker 1: the Bible differently. I've been seeing Jesus not just as 120 00:07:12,240 --> 00:07:17,440 Speaker 1: the calm and compassionate Jesus. I've been seeing his savagery too. 121 00:07:17,680 --> 00:07:20,360 Speaker 1: Is that a word? Savagery? And I hope that when 122 00:07:20,360 --> 00:07:23,920 Speaker 1: you read your Bible that it's not just on Sundays, 123 00:07:23,920 --> 00:07:27,280 Speaker 1: that you're reading it in between Sundays, not because it 124 00:07:27,320 --> 00:07:29,240 Speaker 1: makes you some sort of a better person or a 125 00:07:29,280 --> 00:07:32,440 Speaker 1: better Christian, but because God wants to speak to you 126 00:07:32,520 --> 00:07:36,360 Speaker 1: personally through his word. Okay, that's totally not my message, 127 00:07:36,400 --> 00:07:38,640 Speaker 1: just like a little little side thought. But as I've 128 00:07:38,680 --> 00:07:41,360 Speaker 1: been reading through the Bible, and I've been looking at 129 00:07:41,440 --> 00:07:45,960 Speaker 1: Jesus's teachings in the Bible, you often find him saying 130 00:07:46,000 --> 00:07:49,560 Speaker 1: this phrase. You have heard it said, but I say, 131 00:07:49,640 --> 00:07:55,520 Speaker 1: and throughout the Scripture, we find Jesus challenging what we value, Okay, 132 00:07:55,920 --> 00:07:58,920 Speaker 1: And that's where we find him in this story. He's 133 00:07:59,040 --> 00:08:03,120 Speaker 1: warning the decide that the Pharisees have their values all 134 00:08:03,240 --> 00:08:07,440 Speaker 1: messed up. And this woman who gave the smallest, most 135 00:08:07,480 --> 00:08:13,400 Speaker 1: insignificant gift really truly gave more than anyone else. And 136 00:08:13,480 --> 00:08:15,240 Speaker 1: so today I want to look at this passage of 137 00:08:15,280 --> 00:08:18,360 Speaker 1: Scripture and I want to challenge your thinking. When you 138 00:08:18,520 --> 00:08:22,480 Speaker 1: feel like your gift doesn't matter, like you're pouring out 139 00:08:22,520 --> 00:08:26,200 Speaker 1: your heart and soul into your job, or into your marriage, 140 00:08:26,560 --> 00:08:29,960 Speaker 1: into a relationship, into your family, into your kids, and 141 00:08:30,000 --> 00:08:32,640 Speaker 1: it feels like just a drop in the bucket, I 142 00:08:32,679 --> 00:08:37,000 Speaker 1: want to challenge your thinking. Maybe you're valuing the wrong thing. 143 00:08:38,120 --> 00:08:41,720 Speaker 1: I want you to consider that God is way more 144 00:08:41,840 --> 00:08:48,640 Speaker 1: concern about how you do something than what you're actually doing. Okay, 145 00:08:49,880 --> 00:08:53,520 Speaker 1: now I know what you're thinking. Wait a minute, didn't 146 00:08:53,520 --> 00:08:56,679 Speaker 1: Pastor Stephen just tell us a couple of weeks ago 147 00:08:57,440 --> 00:09:01,120 Speaker 1: that we don't need to know how. Yes, he did, 148 00:09:01,559 --> 00:09:06,560 Speaker 1: and we're both right. Okay, he's talking about how in 149 00:09:06,600 --> 00:09:08,960 Speaker 1: a context of faith. And by the way, if you 150 00:09:09,400 --> 00:09:11,240 Speaker 1: missed that message, it was called let the Dirt do 151 00:09:11,280 --> 00:09:13,640 Speaker 1: its work, my favorite message of the year. I know 152 00:09:13,679 --> 00:09:15,640 Speaker 1: they're all my favorite, but no, that one was really 153 00:09:16,120 --> 00:09:19,880 Speaker 1: my favorite message of twenty eighteen. So you've got to 154 00:09:19,880 --> 00:09:22,199 Speaker 1: go back and watch it. But Pastor Stephen is talking 155 00:09:22,240 --> 00:09:24,559 Speaker 1: about how in the context of faith today, I want 156 00:09:24,600 --> 00:09:27,400 Speaker 1: to talk about how in the context of like the 157 00:09:27,440 --> 00:09:31,000 Speaker 1: way in which you do something. Okay, God is way 158 00:09:31,040 --> 00:09:34,680 Speaker 1: more concerned with the way I do something than he 159 00:09:34,880 --> 00:09:39,200 Speaker 1: is with what I'm actually doing. Okay, don't worry if 160 00:09:39,200 --> 00:09:41,600 Speaker 1: you're a little bit confused, it'll all make sense. We're 161 00:09:41,640 --> 00:09:44,719 Speaker 1: going to take a closer look at this passage of Scripture, 162 00:09:45,120 --> 00:09:47,000 Speaker 1: and as we look at it, I want to point 163 00:09:47,040 --> 00:09:52,439 Speaker 1: out to you three earthly values that Jesus came to challenge. Okay, 164 00:09:52,679 --> 00:09:55,600 Speaker 1: are you ready? All right, let's look back at verse 165 00:09:55,640 --> 00:09:59,640 Speaker 1: forty five Jesus said, or Luke tells us. While all 166 00:09:59,679 --> 00:10:03,040 Speaker 1: the peace people were listening, Jesus said to his disciples, 167 00:10:03,040 --> 00:10:05,559 Speaker 1: I just have to stop right there. I love how 168 00:10:05,640 --> 00:10:09,280 Speaker 1: Luke is giving us this picture of Jesus, and he 169 00:10:09,400 --> 00:10:13,160 Speaker 1: knows that all these people around are there. But he 170 00:10:13,320 --> 00:10:17,080 Speaker 1: said it to his disciples kind of like when I 171 00:10:17,280 --> 00:10:19,199 Speaker 1: say to my husband, like, I know my kids are 172 00:10:19,200 --> 00:10:23,720 Speaker 1: within earshot, and so I say to my husband, I swear, 173 00:10:23,880 --> 00:10:27,120 Speaker 1: if these people don't start picking up their crap, I'm 174 00:10:27,120 --> 00:10:30,280 Speaker 1: going to start throwing it in the trash. Okay, see, 175 00:10:30,320 --> 00:10:35,680 Speaker 1: Jesus use that device too. He was talking to his disciples. 176 00:10:35,679 --> 00:10:38,360 Speaker 1: He knew that everyone was listening, so he took this 177 00:10:38,480 --> 00:10:42,960 Speaker 1: moment to say this to them. Beware of the teachers 178 00:10:43,000 --> 00:10:46,000 Speaker 1: of the law. They like to walk around in flowing 179 00:10:46,120 --> 00:10:50,720 Speaker 1: robes and love to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces. 180 00:10:51,280 --> 00:10:53,000 Speaker 1: You see, here's the first thing I want to point 181 00:10:53,040 --> 00:10:59,720 Speaker 1: out to you. We value appearance, but God values attitude. 182 00:11:00,559 --> 00:11:03,880 Speaker 1: I love to throw birthday parties for my kids, and 183 00:11:03,960 --> 00:11:06,560 Speaker 1: I mean, I really get into it. I don't know 184 00:11:06,600 --> 00:11:10,480 Speaker 1: why I never even asked my kids if they like it. 185 00:11:10,600 --> 00:11:13,320 Speaker 1: I mean, honestly, if one of my kids said they 186 00:11:13,320 --> 00:11:15,319 Speaker 1: wanted to have a birthday party at one of those 187 00:11:15,400 --> 00:11:19,600 Speaker 1: jumpy places. I'd be like, are you sure, because think 188 00:11:19,600 --> 00:11:23,880 Speaker 1: of all the things we could do. So in the 189 00:11:23,920 --> 00:11:27,000 Speaker 1: past twelve years of my motherhood, I've thrown a lot 190 00:11:27,000 --> 00:11:29,760 Speaker 1: of birthday parties and I just like really get into 191 00:11:29,760 --> 00:11:32,400 Speaker 1: the theme. So whatever my kid is into, we're going 192 00:11:32,440 --> 00:11:34,360 Speaker 1: to have a birthday party with that theme. And I 193 00:11:34,480 --> 00:11:37,400 Speaker 1: particularly get into the snacks. I don't know. I go 194 00:11:37,440 --> 00:11:42,320 Speaker 1: on Pinterest and you know, search Shark birthday party and 195 00:11:42,880 --> 00:11:45,560 Speaker 1: come up with all the decorations and whatever. So I 196 00:11:45,600 --> 00:11:48,880 Speaker 1: love the snacks. One time Graham had a Batman birthday 197 00:11:48,920 --> 00:11:51,800 Speaker 1: party and so we had poison ivy punch to drink. 198 00:11:52,559 --> 00:11:56,480 Speaker 1: And one time Abby had a Rapunzel party, and so 199 00:11:56,840 --> 00:11:59,800 Speaker 1: I went on Pinterest and found this recipe where you 200 00:11:59,800 --> 00:12:02,720 Speaker 1: take a hot dog and then you braid the crescent 201 00:12:02,840 --> 00:12:05,720 Speaker 1: roll dough over it to make it look like a braid. 202 00:12:05,800 --> 00:12:09,160 Speaker 1: It probably looked more like a Pinterest fail, but we 203 00:12:09,160 --> 00:12:12,720 Speaker 1: were gonna eat braids at that birthday party. I get 204 00:12:12,760 --> 00:12:16,400 Speaker 1: into the decorations and the games and everything. Okay, And 205 00:12:16,480 --> 00:12:18,600 Speaker 1: again I really don't know why, but it's just fun 206 00:12:18,640 --> 00:12:21,199 Speaker 1: to me. Okay, So just whatever do what's fun to you. 207 00:12:22,000 --> 00:12:24,200 Speaker 1: But there have been a few birthday parties over the 208 00:12:24,280 --> 00:12:26,560 Speaker 1: years where I have failed. And no, I'm not talking 209 00:12:26,600 --> 00:12:30,080 Speaker 1: about the Rapunzel braid fail. And I'm also not talking 210 00:12:30,120 --> 00:12:33,160 Speaker 1: about the time that Abby had a panda party and 211 00:12:33,200 --> 00:12:35,200 Speaker 1: so I thought it would be really cool if we 212 00:12:35,280 --> 00:12:37,560 Speaker 1: hired a face painter to paint, like you know the 213 00:12:37,600 --> 00:12:40,040 Speaker 1: face painters at Caroin's and your face looks so cool. 214 00:12:40,160 --> 00:12:42,720 Speaker 1: It was like to paint panda faces on the girls. 215 00:12:43,000 --> 00:12:45,600 Speaker 1: And about midway through the party, my husband leans over 216 00:12:45,679 --> 00:12:47,680 Speaker 1: to me and he's like, they kind of look like 217 00:12:47,760 --> 00:12:54,360 Speaker 1: the eighties hairband kiss. Okay, not that failure either. The 218 00:12:54,440 --> 00:12:57,840 Speaker 1: failure that I'm talking about is the times where I 219 00:12:58,000 --> 00:13:02,400 Speaker 1: was doing something for my kids and I was fussing 220 00:13:02,440 --> 00:13:05,079 Speaker 1: at them at the same time, like stop eating the 221 00:13:05,160 --> 00:13:07,559 Speaker 1: cheese off of the cheese tray. This is for other people. 222 00:13:07,640 --> 00:13:10,720 Speaker 1: And you know, don't stop punching the balloons. I bought 223 00:13:10,720 --> 00:13:13,760 Speaker 1: the balloons for them, but I'm so obsessed over the 224 00:13:13,760 --> 00:13:16,920 Speaker 1: way that it looks, and get out of my kitchen. 225 00:13:16,960 --> 00:13:20,960 Speaker 1: I'm trying to throw a party. Can't you see it's funny, 226 00:13:20,760 --> 00:13:23,640 Speaker 1: But it's not funny, you know. There have been so 227 00:13:23,800 --> 00:13:28,120 Speaker 1: many times where maybe I've posted something on social media 228 00:13:28,600 --> 00:13:32,480 Speaker 1: that made it look like everything was awesome, but in reality, 229 00:13:32,960 --> 00:13:36,320 Speaker 1: I am yelling and fussing. If you don't say cheese, 230 00:13:36,360 --> 00:13:38,079 Speaker 1: I'm gonna take the phone, I'm gonna smash it, and 231 00:13:38,160 --> 00:13:41,320 Speaker 1: you're never gonna play Fortnite again. And I'm like Happy 232 00:13:41,360 --> 00:13:47,440 Speaker 1: Easter from the Verdige. We live in a day that 233 00:13:47,600 --> 00:13:52,160 Speaker 1: is ultra focused on appearance. And there's nothing wrong with 234 00:13:52,280 --> 00:13:55,520 Speaker 1: caring about the way that you look. Absolutely nothing wrong 235 00:13:55,559 --> 00:13:59,240 Speaker 1: with that. But when you use appearances to cover up 236 00:13:59,480 --> 00:14:02,880 Speaker 1: what's really going on in your heart, that's when you 237 00:14:02,960 --> 00:14:06,880 Speaker 1: get into trouble. One time, Jesus in the Book of 238 00:14:06,920 --> 00:14:09,920 Speaker 1: Matthew was talking about the Pharisees and he called them 239 00:14:10,200 --> 00:14:15,120 Speaker 1: whitewashed tombs. He said, on the outside they're beautiful, but 240 00:14:15,240 --> 00:14:19,960 Speaker 1: on the inside they're full of dead bones. Jesus came 241 00:14:19,960 --> 00:14:23,320 Speaker 1: that we might have life. He doesn't want me to 242 00:14:23,440 --> 00:14:28,880 Speaker 1: be walking death, walking bones. But if I'm hyper focused 243 00:14:28,920 --> 00:14:32,040 Speaker 1: on the way that I appear, God can't even get 244 00:14:32,120 --> 00:14:34,160 Speaker 1: to the inside of me. He can't even get there 245 00:14:34,480 --> 00:14:36,800 Speaker 1: and minister to that part of me and work from 246 00:14:37,160 --> 00:14:41,000 Speaker 1: the inside out like he wants to. If I'm always 247 00:14:41,080 --> 00:14:44,960 Speaker 1: covering everything up, and always concern about how I appear, 248 00:14:45,080 --> 00:14:49,280 Speaker 1: how my family appears to others. I think I'm stepping 249 00:14:49,320 --> 00:14:51,880 Speaker 1: on some toes, So let's get back to her our scripture. 250 00:14:51,880 --> 00:14:55,000 Speaker 1: I'm stepping on my own toes, all right, So I'm 251 00:14:55,000 --> 00:14:57,240 Speaker 1: gonna start over again in verse forty six. Beware of 252 00:14:57,240 --> 00:14:59,440 Speaker 1: the teachers of the law. They like to walk around 253 00:14:59,440 --> 00:15:01,960 Speaker 1: and flowing, and love to be greeted with respect in 254 00:15:02,000 --> 00:15:05,720 Speaker 1: the marketplaces, and have the most important seats in the 255 00:15:05,760 --> 00:15:10,080 Speaker 1: synagogues and the places of honor at the banquets. They 256 00:15:10,120 --> 00:15:16,000 Speaker 1: devour widows houses. See here, I find that we often 257 00:15:16,080 --> 00:15:22,560 Speaker 1: place value on importance, but God values integrity. The Pharisees 258 00:15:22,560 --> 00:15:27,800 Speaker 1: are running around seeking the seat of importance. Meanwhile they're 259 00:15:27,920 --> 00:15:33,120 Speaker 1: devouring what little a widow has left. Whenever I get 260 00:15:33,160 --> 00:15:36,640 Speaker 1: a chance to teach at our church, I always like 261 00:15:36,720 --> 00:15:39,880 Speaker 1: to highlight a woman. Now. I know I've said this before, 262 00:15:40,680 --> 00:15:43,600 Speaker 1: but Pastor Steven, you know, he's a man's man. He's 263 00:15:43,640 --> 00:15:47,120 Speaker 1: got his speak muscles, and he likes to teach about 264 00:15:47,360 --> 00:15:51,720 Speaker 1: David and bars and battles and savage Jesus. And how 265 00:15:51,720 --> 00:15:53,400 Speaker 1: many of you were here when he did the series 266 00:15:53,400 --> 00:15:56,560 Speaker 1: on Elijah called work your window, and one day I 267 00:15:56,560 --> 00:15:58,680 Speaker 1: want him to do a series all on women of 268 00:15:58,720 --> 00:16:03,840 Speaker 1: the Bible and call it some really feminine like glitz 269 00:16:03,960 --> 00:16:06,760 Speaker 1: and glitter. That was the best I could come up with. 270 00:16:06,880 --> 00:16:08,680 Speaker 1: I tried, really already to come up with something better 271 00:16:08,720 --> 00:16:10,800 Speaker 1: that he might have come up with. But leave the 272 00:16:10,840 --> 00:16:13,320 Speaker 1: creativity to him. He can just get started with glitz 273 00:16:13,360 --> 00:16:17,520 Speaker 1: and glitter. Okay. Anyway, So the woman I want to highlight. 274 00:16:18,200 --> 00:16:20,240 Speaker 1: Do any of you know the story of Rebecca in 275 00:16:20,280 --> 00:16:24,720 Speaker 1: the Book of Genesis. So Rebecca was the wife of Isaac, 276 00:16:25,560 --> 00:16:29,080 Speaker 1: the mother of Jacob and Esaul. Remember another sermon series 277 00:16:29,120 --> 00:16:32,080 Speaker 1: that my husband did on Jacob called Death to Selfie. 278 00:16:32,080 --> 00:16:34,040 Speaker 1: That was years ago. I don't know how many of 279 00:16:34,040 --> 00:16:35,920 Speaker 1: you were here for that. When you talked about the 280 00:16:35,920 --> 00:16:38,880 Speaker 1: Bowl of Beans, and I love that series too, say 281 00:16:38,920 --> 00:16:41,920 Speaker 1: I told you they're all my favorite. Okay. So what 282 00:16:42,040 --> 00:16:45,960 Speaker 1: you might not know about Rebecca is the way that 283 00:16:46,000 --> 00:16:49,000 Speaker 1: she came to be the wife of Isaac. Now I 284 00:16:49,040 --> 00:16:51,160 Speaker 1: don't know about the men, but ladies, we like to 285 00:16:51,240 --> 00:16:54,400 Speaker 1: hear how people got together, you know, So say, so 286 00:16:54,520 --> 00:16:59,200 Speaker 1: how y'all meet? If you ask Rebecca that question, she 287 00:16:59,280 --> 00:17:03,360 Speaker 1: would say, well, it all started with some camels. So 288 00:17:03,640 --> 00:17:05,680 Speaker 1: that interesting for you. I want to read to you 289 00:17:06,000 --> 00:17:10,560 Speaker 1: part of Rebecca's story found in Genesis chapter twenty four. 290 00:17:11,080 --> 00:17:14,320 Speaker 1: So in this chapter we have Abraham. So you know, 291 00:17:14,400 --> 00:17:18,879 Speaker 1: you have Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. And so Abraham was 292 00:17:18,920 --> 00:17:21,639 Speaker 1: the father of Isaac, and he wanted a wife for 293 00:17:21,720 --> 00:17:24,880 Speaker 1: his son from among his own people. They were living 294 00:17:24,880 --> 00:17:27,600 Speaker 1: in the land of Canaan, and he did not want 295 00:17:27,960 --> 00:17:30,439 Speaker 1: his son Isaac to marry a Canaan Nite woman. So 296 00:17:30,480 --> 00:17:32,800 Speaker 1: we went to his servant and he said, I'm going 297 00:17:32,880 --> 00:17:35,920 Speaker 1: to send you back to my people to find a 298 00:17:35,960 --> 00:17:40,359 Speaker 1: wife for Isaac. Okay, So we find in Genesis chapter 299 00:17:40,400 --> 00:17:45,120 Speaker 1: twenty four Abraham's servant has set out on a journey 300 00:17:45,160 --> 00:17:48,080 Speaker 1: and he's taken along with him ten cammebls. Here's where 301 00:17:48,080 --> 00:17:50,440 Speaker 1: our campbell's come into the picture. And when he finally 302 00:17:50,600 --> 00:17:54,560 Speaker 1: arrives into the town of Nahor, he praised this in 303 00:17:54,680 --> 00:17:59,240 Speaker 1: verse twelve, Lord God of my master Abraham, make me 304 00:17:59,280 --> 00:18:03,119 Speaker 1: successful and show kindness to my master Abraham. See I 305 00:18:03,160 --> 00:18:05,959 Speaker 1: am standing beside this spring, and the daughters of the 306 00:18:05,960 --> 00:18:09,000 Speaker 1: townspeople are coming out to draw water. May it be 307 00:18:09,200 --> 00:18:12,040 Speaker 1: that when I say to a young woman, please let 308 00:18:12,040 --> 00:18:14,240 Speaker 1: your jar down that I may have a drink, and 309 00:18:14,320 --> 00:18:18,160 Speaker 1: she says, drink, and I'll water your camels too. Let 310 00:18:18,200 --> 00:18:21,080 Speaker 1: her be the one that you have chosen for your servant, Isaac. 311 00:18:21,400 --> 00:18:23,880 Speaker 1: By this I will know that you have shown kindness 312 00:18:23,880 --> 00:18:27,160 Speaker 1: to my master. So here comes Rebecca with her jar, 313 00:18:27,640 --> 00:18:31,320 Speaker 1: and the servant approaches her, and he says, please give 314 00:18:31,320 --> 00:18:33,520 Speaker 1: me a little drink from your jar. And what does 315 00:18:33,560 --> 00:18:36,600 Speaker 1: she say back to him? Drink, my lord, she said, 316 00:18:36,880 --> 00:18:39,680 Speaker 1: and quickly lowered her jar to her hands and gave 317 00:18:39,760 --> 00:18:43,080 Speaker 1: him a drink. After she had given him a drink, 318 00:18:43,280 --> 00:18:46,760 Speaker 1: she said, I'll draw water for your camels too, until 319 00:18:46,880 --> 00:18:49,960 Speaker 1: they have had enough to drink. So she quickly emptied 320 00:18:50,000 --> 00:18:52,240 Speaker 1: her jar into the trough, ran back to the well 321 00:18:52,400 --> 00:18:56,000 Speaker 1: to draw more water, and drew enough for all of 322 00:18:56,000 --> 00:18:59,439 Speaker 1: his camels. Now you're probably thinking, I don't know what 323 00:18:59,520 --> 00:19:03,480 Speaker 1: this worry about Rebecca and camels and this weird tradition 324 00:19:03,560 --> 00:19:06,520 Speaker 1: of sending someone off to find a mate for I 325 00:19:06,520 --> 00:19:09,240 Speaker 1: don't what does this have to do with integrity? Okay, 326 00:19:09,480 --> 00:19:13,199 Speaker 1: it has everything to do with integrity, because did you 327 00:19:13,280 --> 00:19:17,480 Speaker 1: catch how many camels he had with them? He had ten? Okay, 328 00:19:18,119 --> 00:19:21,560 Speaker 1: this man has just made a five hundred mile journey 329 00:19:21,880 --> 00:19:25,560 Speaker 1: with ten camels. Okay, watering his camels was not a 330 00:19:25,600 --> 00:19:28,080 Speaker 1: small task. These are not puppy dogs that you just 331 00:19:28,200 --> 00:19:31,159 Speaker 1: put a little bull down for. Okay, listen to what 332 00:19:31,240 --> 00:19:34,000 Speaker 1: I read this one man say about this event. He said, 333 00:19:34,359 --> 00:19:38,360 Speaker 1: a gallon of water weighs eight pounds. A thirsty camel 334 00:19:38,680 --> 00:19:42,960 Speaker 1: can drink up to thirty gallons of water. There were 335 00:19:43,000 --> 00:19:47,520 Speaker 1: ten camels. You do the math. Okay. This man was 336 00:19:47,600 --> 00:19:51,359 Speaker 1: not important to Rebecca. Okay, she did not know that 337 00:19:51,480 --> 00:19:56,600 Speaker 1: her future husband was writing on these camels. Okay, literally, 338 00:19:56,960 --> 00:20:00,400 Speaker 1: but she had integrity. Integrity is who you you are 339 00:20:00,800 --> 00:20:04,760 Speaker 1: when you don't think anyone is looking. Okay, and God 340 00:20:05,119 --> 00:20:09,280 Speaker 1: blesses integrity. In Luke sixteen ten, one of my favorite 341 00:20:09,359 --> 00:20:12,200 Speaker 1: verses in the whole Bible, a verse that has really 342 00:20:12,240 --> 00:20:16,199 Speaker 1: ministered to me throughout my adulthood. It says one who 343 00:20:16,320 --> 00:20:19,199 Speaker 1: is faithful in the little things is also faithful in 344 00:20:19,320 --> 00:20:22,800 Speaker 1: much And as I was studying for this message and 345 00:20:22,880 --> 00:20:25,560 Speaker 1: thinking about that verse, and I started reading it over 346 00:20:25,600 --> 00:20:28,639 Speaker 1: and over again, and I had this revelation. See, I 347 00:20:28,720 --> 00:20:33,480 Speaker 1: had memorized that verse wrong. I thought that the verse 348 00:20:33,520 --> 00:20:36,480 Speaker 1: said he who is faithful in the little things will 349 00:20:36,520 --> 00:20:40,080 Speaker 1: be made faithful over much. But that's not what it says. 350 00:20:40,400 --> 00:20:43,560 Speaker 1: It says one who is faithful in little things is 351 00:20:43,680 --> 00:20:47,760 Speaker 1: also faithful in much. I was reading the verse like 352 00:20:47,800 --> 00:20:52,080 Speaker 1: a promise, you know, Okay, God, if I'm faithful in 353 00:20:52,119 --> 00:20:55,840 Speaker 1: the little things, then you will entrust me with more. 354 00:20:56,359 --> 00:21:00,399 Speaker 1: But this verse is not a promise. It's a principle. Okay. 355 00:21:01,359 --> 00:21:04,879 Speaker 1: A promise is I will never leave you nor forsake you. 356 00:21:05,119 --> 00:21:08,159 Speaker 1: There's nothing contingent on it. I will never leave you 357 00:21:08,560 --> 00:21:12,240 Speaker 1: nor forsake you, God tells us. But God doesn't make 358 00:21:12,400 --> 00:21:17,000 Speaker 1: if then promises because he will never allow me to 359 00:21:17,119 --> 00:21:20,800 Speaker 1: reduce him down to a formula. God doesn't work that way. 360 00:21:20,880 --> 00:21:24,040 Speaker 1: It's not like, okay, God, if I water these camels, 361 00:21:24,080 --> 00:21:27,240 Speaker 1: you're gonna bring me my man. I mean, wouldn't that 362 00:21:27,280 --> 00:21:30,639 Speaker 1: be nice if we could just reduce everything down to 363 00:21:30,800 --> 00:21:34,160 Speaker 1: and if then this is a principle. And because it's 364 00:21:34,200 --> 00:21:37,320 Speaker 1: a principle, it can become my pep talk. Okay. So 365 00:21:37,320 --> 00:21:40,320 Speaker 1: it sounds like this, Holly, if you can't do the 366 00:21:40,359 --> 00:21:43,439 Speaker 1: small things, then you'll never be able to handle the 367 00:21:43,440 --> 00:21:47,479 Speaker 1: big things. So I wake up every day and I 368 00:21:47,520 --> 00:21:49,760 Speaker 1: hear my kids fighting in the kitchen, for the like 369 00:21:49,920 --> 00:21:56,560 Speaker 1: one millionth time, and I think, here come my camels. Well, 370 00:21:56,600 --> 00:22:00,720 Speaker 1: I care for my household if no one else thanks me, 371 00:22:01,280 --> 00:22:07,680 Speaker 1: because it's my calling. I don't need to be acknowledged 372 00:22:07,880 --> 00:22:11,040 Speaker 1: every time I unload the dishwasher. I mean, if that's 373 00:22:11,080 --> 00:22:15,600 Speaker 1: what you're waiting for, you're gonna die waiting. Okay, But 374 00:22:16,280 --> 00:22:19,160 Speaker 1: can I just do these simple things that God has 375 00:22:19,320 --> 00:22:22,919 Speaker 1: called me to because He's called me to them, not 376 00:22:22,960 --> 00:22:25,760 Speaker 1: because I'm waiting for somebody else to pat me on 377 00:22:25,800 --> 00:22:29,679 Speaker 1: the back and say good job, Holly. No, that's not. 378 00:22:29,960 --> 00:22:34,520 Speaker 1: God is so into integrity. What I'm doing when nobody else. 379 00:22:34,720 --> 00:22:37,560 Speaker 1: When I think nobody else is watching, you never know 380 00:22:37,840 --> 00:22:42,119 Speaker 1: who's watching because because the servant was watching Rebecca the 381 00:22:42,240 --> 00:22:45,840 Speaker 1: whole time. Can I do the project at work without 382 00:22:45,880 --> 00:22:48,240 Speaker 1: needing my name to be put on it? Can I 383 00:22:48,280 --> 00:22:50,280 Speaker 1: give my best to something that I know my name's 384 00:22:50,320 --> 00:22:53,399 Speaker 1: never gonna go on? Can I study for the European 385 00:22:53,560 --> 00:22:56,040 Speaker 1: History test that seems like I don't know what I'm 386 00:22:56,080 --> 00:22:58,800 Speaker 1: ever gonna need this? Why don't I just cheat? No? 387 00:22:58,920 --> 00:23:07,480 Speaker 1: Because integrity matters. Camels build my character. Okay. Now, when 388 00:23:07,480 --> 00:23:11,840 Speaker 1: I say that Jesus values integrity over importance, it doesn't 389 00:23:11,840 --> 00:23:14,120 Speaker 1: mean that I don't mean to say that it's bad 390 00:23:14,160 --> 00:23:18,040 Speaker 1: to be important. It doesn't mean that it's wrong to 391 00:23:18,119 --> 00:23:22,280 Speaker 1: desire a promotion. What I'm simply saying is if you 392 00:23:22,359 --> 00:23:25,480 Speaker 1: don't have the character, you won't be able to hold 393 00:23:25,720 --> 00:23:32,959 Speaker 1: the promotion. Jesus ministered to important people and unimportant people 394 00:23:33,400 --> 00:23:36,320 Speaker 1: all the time because it wasn't a thing of who's 395 00:23:36,359 --> 00:23:40,439 Speaker 1: important or who's unimportant. He could see past their exterior 396 00:23:40,680 --> 00:23:44,719 Speaker 1: and into their hearts. And in our passage, Jesus is 397 00:23:44,760 --> 00:23:49,120 Speaker 1: saying to the disciples, hey, guys, beware of those who 398 00:23:49,280 --> 00:23:53,960 Speaker 1: seek the seat of importance, because that will never make 399 00:23:54,040 --> 00:23:58,280 Speaker 1: you happy, that will never fulfill you. I wish that 400 00:23:58,359 --> 00:24:01,840 Speaker 1: you could hear the Holy Spirit speaking through me, whispering 401 00:24:01,920 --> 00:24:06,639 Speaker 1: to you today this one thing. Little things don't lead 402 00:24:06,960 --> 00:24:13,879 Speaker 1: to bigger opportunities. Little things are the opportunity. That's my 403 00:24:14,000 --> 00:24:18,280 Speaker 1: opportunity right here, this person right in front of me 404 00:24:18,359 --> 00:24:22,680 Speaker 1: that God has put in my path, This is my opportunity. 405 00:24:23,520 --> 00:24:26,120 Speaker 1: All right. Finally, to my favorite part, when I look 406 00:24:26,160 --> 00:24:28,240 Speaker 1: back at the passage one more time, pick up where 407 00:24:28,280 --> 00:24:33,120 Speaker 1: we were. They devour widows' houses and for show, make 408 00:24:33,280 --> 00:24:36,920 Speaker 1: lengthy prayers, and then we'll skip down to the very 409 00:24:37,160 --> 00:24:42,000 Speaker 1: end where Jesus says, all these people gave their gifts 410 00:24:42,040 --> 00:24:46,119 Speaker 1: out of their wealth, but she, out of her poverty, 411 00:24:46,440 --> 00:24:50,760 Speaker 1: put in all she had to live on. You see, 412 00:24:50,800 --> 00:24:58,520 Speaker 1: we often value show, but God values sacrifice. Jesus looked 413 00:24:58,600 --> 00:25:01,680 Speaker 1: up and he saw all all the wealthy people putting 414 00:25:01,760 --> 00:25:04,880 Speaker 1: their gifts into the offering, and he also saw this 415 00:25:04,960 --> 00:25:09,080 Speaker 1: woman put in all that she had, all that she 416 00:25:09,280 --> 00:25:14,360 Speaker 1: had to live on. God doesn't care about the size 417 00:25:14,800 --> 00:25:20,400 Speaker 1: of your gift. He cares about the size of your sacrifice. 418 00:25:20,480 --> 00:25:22,600 Speaker 1: And what's a sacrifice for you may not be a 419 00:25:22,640 --> 00:25:25,280 Speaker 1: sacrifice for me, And what's a sacrifice for me may 420 00:25:25,320 --> 00:25:29,920 Speaker 1: not be a sacrifice for you. And if you think 421 00:25:30,000 --> 00:25:33,280 Speaker 1: that I'm talking about money, then you've missed the entire 422 00:25:33,400 --> 00:25:36,399 Speaker 1: point of this sermon. Yet. I mean, sometimes it is 423 00:25:36,440 --> 00:25:40,040 Speaker 1: about the actual gift that I bring to God. But 424 00:25:40,200 --> 00:25:43,320 Speaker 1: there are times when I offer a sacrifice to God 425 00:25:43,400 --> 00:25:45,760 Speaker 1: and it may not look like much to you, but 426 00:25:45,840 --> 00:25:49,240 Speaker 1: God knows, and God sees. He knows what I have 427 00:25:49,400 --> 00:25:52,280 Speaker 1: going on, He knows the troubles that are in my heart. 428 00:25:52,600 --> 00:25:56,679 Speaker 1: And God sees when you sacrifice your personal time to 429 00:25:56,800 --> 00:26:00,639 Speaker 1: provide for your family, God sees that God. God sees 430 00:26:00,760 --> 00:26:03,760 Speaker 1: when you're driving your kids around like you're their freaking 431 00:26:03,920 --> 00:26:08,320 Speaker 1: uber man, right because he whispers to me, one day, 432 00:26:08,480 --> 00:26:11,520 Speaker 1: they're not going to need a ride from you. God 433 00:26:11,600 --> 00:26:16,240 Speaker 1: sees when you give your weekend to volunteer at your campus. 434 00:26:16,280 --> 00:26:20,479 Speaker 1: He sees that. He sees your sacrifice. If you're a 435 00:26:20,520 --> 00:26:24,439 Speaker 1: teacher who actually cares about your students, God sees that. 436 00:26:25,359 --> 00:26:29,600 Speaker 1: And you may never know what God will do with 437 00:26:29,720 --> 00:26:32,960 Speaker 1: your sacrifice. You may never get to see that. But 438 00:26:33,000 --> 00:26:36,280 Speaker 1: when you give your all, I promise you, when you 439 00:26:36,359 --> 00:26:40,280 Speaker 1: give your all to something, that's when God rolls up 440 00:26:40,320 --> 00:26:43,320 Speaker 1: his sleeves and he rubs his hands together and he says, 441 00:26:43,440 --> 00:26:46,320 Speaker 1: now that's something I can work with. That's what he 442 00:26:46,359 --> 00:26:48,200 Speaker 1: wants to work with. He did it with the little 443 00:26:48,200 --> 00:26:51,520 Speaker 1: boys lunch, just a little kid offering his lunch. He 444 00:26:51,600 --> 00:26:54,000 Speaker 1: did it with the widow's oil. How much oil do 445 00:26:54,040 --> 00:26:57,160 Speaker 1: you have? Just a little bit? And what can God 446 00:26:57,240 --> 00:27:00,440 Speaker 1: do with your little bit? What a David? I defeat 447 00:27:00,520 --> 00:27:05,040 Speaker 1: Goliath with a couple small stones. I really hope and 448 00:27:05,080 --> 00:27:10,280 Speaker 1: I pray that you're encouraged by this message. I don't 449 00:27:10,320 --> 00:27:13,600 Speaker 1: want you to feel discouraged. I don't want you to 450 00:27:13,600 --> 00:27:16,000 Speaker 1: feel like oh, I've been valuing all the wrong things. 451 00:27:16,080 --> 00:27:20,080 Speaker 1: And it's not a message to overwhelm you. My prayer 452 00:27:20,359 --> 00:27:23,480 Speaker 1: is that this message would be a reset for many 453 00:27:23,480 --> 00:27:27,640 Speaker 1: of us, for myself included, who have gotten our hearts 454 00:27:27,760 --> 00:27:33,080 Speaker 1: just set on the wrong values. The beautiful thing about 455 00:27:33,160 --> 00:27:39,040 Speaker 1: Jesus is that he only needs one small cry from us. 456 00:27:39,560 --> 00:27:42,840 Speaker 1: Do you remember just a few chapters before this story, 457 00:27:43,080 --> 00:27:46,240 Speaker 1: the woman with the issue of blood, and Jesus is 458 00:27:46,359 --> 00:27:50,639 Speaker 1: going to heal Jyrus's daughter, and he's walking through a 459 00:27:50,720 --> 00:27:54,520 Speaker 1: crowd and he stops and he says, who touched me? 460 00:27:55,000 --> 00:27:59,760 Speaker 1: And the disciples are like, uh, Jesus, it's crowded. Everybody's 461 00:27:59,800 --> 00:28:01,879 Speaker 1: touched you. You know, like if we're in the Disney World, 462 00:28:01,960 --> 00:28:04,480 Speaker 1: we're going to the parade. We we're like, stay close 463 00:28:04,520 --> 00:28:08,959 Speaker 1: to me, guys. Okay. So Jesus is the crowds are 464 00:28:08,960 --> 00:28:12,000 Speaker 1: crying around me. He says, who touched me? And and 465 00:28:12,040 --> 00:28:14,600 Speaker 1: it's and it's this woman, Because he says, no, no, 466 00:28:14,760 --> 00:28:17,720 Speaker 1: the power went out of me. Somebody, somebody touched me. 467 00:28:18,520 --> 00:28:22,480 Speaker 1: Jesus celebrated her tiny bit of faith, her tiny reach, 468 00:28:23,000 --> 00:28:25,520 Speaker 1: and he healed her. And then he said to her, 469 00:28:26,119 --> 00:28:30,280 Speaker 1: go in peace. What I want to do is. I 470 00:28:30,320 --> 00:28:34,160 Speaker 1: want to pray and ask God to seal this word 471 00:28:34,680 --> 00:28:39,280 Speaker 1: on our hearts. Jesus not only wants to to heal 472 00:28:39,320 --> 00:28:42,760 Speaker 1: you today. Does he not only wants to to reset 473 00:28:42,840 --> 00:28:47,240 Speaker 1: your values. He wants to refocus your mind on the 474 00:28:47,280 --> 00:28:50,800 Speaker 1: things that he values so that he can restore your peace. 475 00:28:51,800 --> 00:28:54,680 Speaker 1: Some of us wonder, why why don't I have any peace? Well, 476 00:28:54,680 --> 00:28:59,400 Speaker 1: it's because my heart is set on all the wrong things. 477 00:29:00,160 --> 00:29:03,320 Speaker 1: So let's pray and ask God to just really seal 478 00:29:03,400 --> 00:29:07,120 Speaker 1: this word on our hearts. God, we cry out to 479 00:29:07,160 --> 00:29:11,040 Speaker 1: you today. We thank you that all we need to 480 00:29:11,080 --> 00:29:14,480 Speaker 1: do is have a mustard seed of faith, just one word, 481 00:29:14,960 --> 00:29:18,480 Speaker 1: just one prayer to you, and you hear us, and 482 00:29:18,520 --> 00:29:21,520 Speaker 1: you respond to us. And I pray that you would 483 00:29:21,560 --> 00:29:23,800 Speaker 1: help us to see all of the things that we're 484 00:29:23,880 --> 00:29:27,880 Speaker 1: chasing after that are the wrong things, and open our 485 00:29:28,000 --> 00:29:33,560 Speaker 1: eyes to see the things that you value. We ask God, that, 486 00:29:33,680 --> 00:29:36,680 Speaker 1: as your word says in tewod Corinthians four eighteen, that 487 00:29:36,720 --> 00:29:39,440 Speaker 1: you would fix our eyes not on what is seen, 488 00:29:39,680 --> 00:29:43,680 Speaker 1: but on what is unseen, because what is seen is temporary, 489 00:29:43,680 --> 00:29:48,120 Speaker 1: but what is unseen is eternal. God, we ask that 490 00:29:48,240 --> 00:29:50,760 Speaker 1: you would do this in our lives today. We love 491 00:29:50,800 --> 00:29:54,680 Speaker 1: you so much in Jesus' name. Amen. Well, if you 492 00:29:54,760 --> 00:29:57,480 Speaker 1: enjoyed today's podcast, there are a couple things I'd love 493 00:29:57,480 --> 00:30:00,640 Speaker 1: for you to do. Make sure to subscribe, rate, and 494 00:30:00,800 --> 00:30:03,920 Speaker 1: review this podcast. You can also help us reach others 495 00:30:03,920 --> 00:30:07,960 Speaker 1: by investing today at Elevationchurch dot org. Slash GiB and 496 00:30:08,000 --> 00:30:10,680 Speaker 1: thanks again for joining us on the Elevation Podcast.