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 --> 00:00:05,840 Speaker 1: Church and this is our podcast. 3 00:00:05,920 --> 00:00:07,800 Speaker 2: I wanted to thank you for joining us today. 4 00:00:08,119 --> 00:00:10,719 Speaker 1: Hope this inspires you. Hope it builds your faith. 5 00:00:10,800 --> 00:00:12,880 Speaker 2: Hope it gives your perspective to see God is moving 6 00:00:12,920 --> 00:00:13,440 Speaker 2: in your life. 7 00:00:13,880 --> 00:00:14,720 Speaker 1: Enjoy the message. 8 00:00:16,680 --> 00:00:19,720 Speaker 2: God brought you here today to let you know. That 9 00:00:19,880 --> 00:00:23,239 Speaker 2: was my voice calling you. That was me that gave 10 00:00:23,280 --> 00:00:25,960 Speaker 2: you that talent. That was me that made you good 11 00:00:25,960 --> 00:00:28,800 Speaker 2: at that. That was me that opened the door for you. 12 00:00:29,280 --> 00:00:32,159 Speaker 2: That was me that gave you that responsibility. That was 13 00:00:32,240 --> 00:00:34,560 Speaker 2: me that gave you health. That was me that gave 14 00:00:34,560 --> 00:00:37,120 Speaker 2: you strength. That was Me that gave you that connection. 15 00:00:40,280 --> 00:00:44,879 Speaker 2: It was him the whole time. It was It was 16 00:00:44,960 --> 00:00:48,360 Speaker 2: the Lord that called Samuel, but it was Eli that 17 00:00:48,479 --> 00:00:53,559 Speaker 2: Samuel ran to. What are you running to? You? If 18 00:00:53,560 --> 00:00:57,720 Speaker 2: you're running to something that is not your purpose, you 19 00:00:57,800 --> 00:00:58,240 Speaker 2: feel it. 20 00:00:58,560 --> 00:00:59,760 Speaker 1: You feel it in several ways. 21 00:00:59,760 --> 00:01:01,360 Speaker 2: But one of the things I want to mention is 22 00:01:01,800 --> 00:01:04,640 Speaker 2: I'm trying to surround myself in this stage of. 23 00:01:04,600 --> 00:01:07,560 Speaker 1: My life with people who bring out the God in me. 24 00:01:09,040 --> 00:01:09,720 Speaker 3: And that's just me. 25 00:01:10,160 --> 00:01:10,319 Speaker 1: Now. 26 00:01:10,319 --> 00:01:11,959 Speaker 2: I don't mean I'm going to be mean to people 27 00:01:12,080 --> 00:01:13,960 Speaker 2: who don't know the Lord, or I'm going to go 28 00:01:14,120 --> 00:01:16,399 Speaker 2: and live in a monastery or something like that. 29 00:01:16,760 --> 00:01:20,959 Speaker 3: But you know, there are some there are some texts. 30 00:01:20,600 --> 00:01:23,080 Speaker 2: That I don't return in this stage of my life 31 00:01:23,840 --> 00:01:26,880 Speaker 2: because I feel like I'm in a season where I'm 32 00:01:26,920 --> 00:01:31,440 Speaker 2: trying to do important things and my calling is valuable, 33 00:01:32,080 --> 00:01:37,360 Speaker 2: and so my contacts are very important because certain stuff 34 00:01:37,400 --> 00:01:41,000 Speaker 2: is contagious, and I know there are certain people. When 35 00:01:41,040 --> 00:01:45,000 Speaker 2: I get around them, I feel something rising me that 36 00:01:45,080 --> 00:01:47,720 Speaker 2: lets me know I can overcome. And I need them 37 00:01:47,760 --> 00:01:50,080 Speaker 2: around me. I need them to rub off on me. 38 00:01:50,440 --> 00:01:52,880 Speaker 2: I need them to speak into my life. I need 39 00:01:52,920 --> 00:01:54,000 Speaker 2: them to encourage me. 40 00:01:54,520 --> 00:01:55,440 Speaker 3: I don't need. 41 00:01:55,320 --> 00:01:58,120 Speaker 2: People who are laying back on the last thing God 42 00:01:58,160 --> 00:02:00,840 Speaker 2: did in this season of my life. I need people 43 00:02:00,880 --> 00:02:07,600 Speaker 2: to push me forward. Yes I do, Yes, I do. 44 00:02:08,919 --> 00:02:12,679 Speaker 2: I gotta be careful reading the comments on my Instagram 45 00:02:12,720 --> 00:02:16,000 Speaker 2: in this season because whatever I may contact with I 46 00:02:16,160 --> 00:02:17,360 Speaker 2: catch and see. 47 00:02:17,400 --> 00:02:18,680 Speaker 3: I need the word of the Lord. 48 00:02:18,960 --> 00:02:22,120 Speaker 2: I need vision, I need hope, I need purpose, I 49 00:02:22,160 --> 00:02:23,079 Speaker 2: need security. 50 00:02:28,800 --> 00:02:34,119 Speaker 1: And so he runs to Eli, but Eli tells him 51 00:02:34,720 --> 00:02:37,600 Speaker 1: is God you need to speak to and the right 52 00:02:37,600 --> 00:02:40,480 Speaker 1: contact in your life will always point you back to 53 00:02:40,520 --> 00:02:44,400 Speaker 1: the only one who has real power. Thank you God 54 00:02:44,440 --> 00:02:46,639 Speaker 1: for this word. I feel your spirit on this one. 55 00:02:46,919 --> 00:02:49,359 Speaker 2: This is not healthier because what the concept of calling 56 00:02:49,480 --> 00:02:51,120 Speaker 2: that most of us have is that you're going to 57 00:02:51,200 --> 00:02:53,720 Speaker 2: go on a forty day fast in the Holy Land 58 00:02:53,840 --> 00:02:55,959 Speaker 2: and God's going to speak to you when you walk 59 00:02:55,960 --> 00:02:58,560 Speaker 2: where Jesus walked and the Sea of Galilee. But the 60 00:02:58,600 --> 00:03:00,079 Speaker 2: Lord is not going to speak to you on the 61 00:03:00,120 --> 00:03:02,760 Speaker 2: Sea of Galilee from a voice on the water. He's 62 00:03:02,800 --> 00:03:04,760 Speaker 2: gonna speak to you, and I know you don't want 63 00:03:04,760 --> 00:03:07,679 Speaker 2: to hear it because it's sexy to thing that someday 64 00:03:07,919 --> 00:03:10,280 Speaker 2: there's gonna be a voice that speaks from heaven. It's 65 00:03:10,320 --> 00:03:13,520 Speaker 2: not gonna be like that. It's gonna sound like Eli. 66 00:03:16,600 --> 00:03:21,919 Speaker 2: It's gonna sound like Eli. And it is through Eli 67 00:03:22,320 --> 00:03:29,359 Speaker 2: that God calls Samuel Eli. This isn't Billy Graham. This 68 00:03:29,400 --> 00:03:32,280 Speaker 2: is the dude who blew it. And this is how 69 00:03:32,280 --> 00:03:35,480 Speaker 2: bad he blew it. WA's what ultimately happens when Samuel 70 00:03:35,520 --> 00:03:40,680 Speaker 2: laughter three times? Everybody say three times? How many times 71 00:03:40,720 --> 00:03:42,800 Speaker 2: do I have to tell you one time? Holly, she 72 00:03:42,880 --> 00:03:44,720 Speaker 2: loses her temper with our kids a lot. Y'all pray 73 00:03:44,760 --> 00:03:45,800 Speaker 2: for her. 74 00:03:46,400 --> 00:03:48,640 Speaker 1: It's kidding. It's a very effacient mom. 75 00:03:48,720 --> 00:03:50,560 Speaker 2: But one time she was so mad at Elijah he 76 00:03:50,600 --> 00:03:53,840 Speaker 2: was only about four. She said, how many times do 77 00:03:53,960 --> 00:03:55,680 Speaker 2: I have to tell you? You got this real fear? 78 00:03:55,720 --> 00:04:03,600 Speaker 2: Look in his eyes? He goes three times? Look at 79 00:04:03,600 --> 00:04:07,600 Speaker 2: the verse eight again a third time. How many are 80 00:04:07,600 --> 00:04:12,119 Speaker 2: glad that God has called, waiting that God will call 81 00:04:12,160 --> 00:04:16,279 Speaker 2: you again? Ask Jonah. Jonah wasn't even a talented preacher. 82 00:04:16,560 --> 00:04:20,000 Speaker 2: He didn't have funny stories, he didn't have good charisma, 83 00:04:20,320 --> 00:04:23,839 Speaker 2: he didn't even like people. But God used him because 84 00:04:23,920 --> 00:04:28,120 Speaker 2: when God calls you, he will call back. You know 85 00:04:28,200 --> 00:04:30,080 Speaker 2: how there are some people when you call them, you 86 00:04:30,160 --> 00:04:32,560 Speaker 2: have to call them, and so you're secretly hoping you 87 00:04:32,600 --> 00:04:34,960 Speaker 2: get their voicemail because you really don't want to talk 88 00:04:34,960 --> 00:04:35,719 Speaker 2: to them anyway. 89 00:04:36,000 --> 00:04:36,880 Speaker 1: Some of you think. 90 00:04:36,720 --> 00:04:39,320 Speaker 2: God is like that, like he really wants someone else, 91 00:04:39,560 --> 00:04:41,360 Speaker 2: and he's really glad that he doesn't have to deal 92 00:04:41,440 --> 00:04:45,320 Speaker 2: with you. But God wants you. God wants you. God 93 00:04:45,360 --> 00:04:48,480 Speaker 2: shows you. God put the genetics in you, the DNA 94 00:04:48,520 --> 00:04:52,240 Speaker 2: in you, the passion in you. The opportunity is for you. 95 00:04:52,520 --> 00:04:55,680 Speaker 2: What God has for you, it is for you. That's 96 00:04:55,720 --> 00:04:59,320 Speaker 2: why you don't have to be jealous, insecure, bitter, resentful, 97 00:04:59,440 --> 00:04:59,840 Speaker 2: That's why. 98 00:04:59,760 --> 00:05:00,880 Speaker 3: You don't I'll have to get back. 99 00:05:01,080 --> 00:05:03,680 Speaker 2: That's why you don't have to take revenge, because what 100 00:05:03,800 --> 00:05:05,960 Speaker 2: God has for you is for you. 101 00:05:09,440 --> 00:05:12,799 Speaker 3: Y'all awake, somebody shout here. 102 00:05:12,680 --> 00:05:20,560 Speaker 2: I am And that was really the answer, because it's 103 00:05:20,600 --> 00:05:24,040 Speaker 2: not only the culture that confuses us in our calling. 104 00:05:25,040 --> 00:05:31,279 Speaker 2: It's not only our contacts sometimes, but it's the conflict 105 00:05:31,279 --> 00:05:38,320 Speaker 2: of calling. The conflict of calling is great on an 106 00:05:38,320 --> 00:05:41,040 Speaker 2: internal and an external level. 107 00:05:42,400 --> 00:05:44,840 Speaker 1: Now what Samuel did next, what. 108 00:05:44,839 --> 00:05:48,320 Speaker 2: A beautiful little story right to show us that God 109 00:05:48,400 --> 00:05:49,240 Speaker 2: repeats things. 110 00:05:51,080 --> 00:05:52,440 Speaker 1: That's one way I know he's speaking. 111 00:05:52,880 --> 00:05:55,200 Speaker 2: You ever noticed this when God is trying to get 112 00:05:55,200 --> 00:05:57,279 Speaker 2: your attention. It's kind of like when you're shopping for 113 00:05:57,320 --> 00:06:01,920 Speaker 2: a certain car and you start seeing them everywhere. When 114 00:06:01,920 --> 00:06:03,640 Speaker 2: God wants to get a message across to you, he'll 115 00:06:03,720 --> 00:06:07,599 Speaker 2: he'll put you in the market for it. And you 116 00:06:07,680 --> 00:06:10,480 Speaker 2: never even looked at anybody else's beats. But now you're like, well, 117 00:06:10,480 --> 00:06:12,279 Speaker 2: what's that one? How's that one different than that one? 118 00:06:12,279 --> 00:06:15,120 Speaker 2: And this one and the other one? Because I'm in 119 00:06:15,120 --> 00:06:16,960 Speaker 2: the market for God. When you get in the market 120 00:06:17,000 --> 00:06:20,480 Speaker 2: for God, you start noticing that He's He's been speaking 121 00:06:20,520 --> 00:06:25,680 Speaker 2: all along, just like just like there was there was confirmation. 122 00:06:26,200 --> 00:06:28,120 Speaker 2: I didn't have time to put this word in the sermon. 123 00:06:28,200 --> 00:06:29,640 Speaker 2: It starts with the letter CE, so it could be 124 00:06:29,640 --> 00:06:33,159 Speaker 2: a bonus point confirmation. God, God will speak something over here, 125 00:06:33,200 --> 00:06:35,600 Speaker 2: over here, over here, and you'll start noticing it. You'll 126 00:06:35,600 --> 00:06:38,159 Speaker 2: start noticing little things, and then it'll you hear it 127 00:06:38,160 --> 00:06:40,159 Speaker 2: in the sermon, and then you hear it in a movie, 128 00:06:40,240 --> 00:06:41,880 Speaker 2: and then you hear it in a song, and then 129 00:06:41,920 --> 00:06:43,560 Speaker 2: you hear it you see it on somebody's the back 130 00:06:43,600 --> 00:06:46,719 Speaker 2: of their window, and then you hear it through your husband, 131 00:06:46,880 --> 00:06:48,520 Speaker 2: and then you hear it through and you just see 132 00:06:48,560 --> 00:06:50,800 Speaker 2: it and just hear it, and you start seeing it 133 00:06:50,839 --> 00:06:52,760 Speaker 2: and you start hearing it, and then you have to discern, 134 00:06:52,839 --> 00:06:55,600 Speaker 2: which is to separate. That's what Eli did. He discerned 135 00:06:55,600 --> 00:06:58,360 Speaker 2: the Hebrew word is being. He discerned, He separated, He 136 00:06:58,400 --> 00:06:59,960 Speaker 2: made a distinction. He had a discern. 137 00:07:00,160 --> 00:07:04,560 Speaker 1: Meant to know. This is the Lord calling the boy. 138 00:07:05,480 --> 00:07:08,040 Speaker 2: So he said, when it happens again, and this is 139 00:07:08,520 --> 00:07:10,400 Speaker 2: the word of the Lord for you when it happens again. 140 00:07:11,440 --> 00:07:14,600 Speaker 2: When it happens again, if it happens again, just say 141 00:07:14,640 --> 00:07:15,600 Speaker 2: speak Lord. 142 00:07:16,000 --> 00:07:17,520 Speaker 1: Your servant is listening. 143 00:07:18,600 --> 00:07:20,360 Speaker 2: And I want to show you something that the Lord 144 00:07:20,480 --> 00:07:30,520 Speaker 2: just show me His greatest revelation happened in rest. Eli 145 00:07:30,560 --> 00:07:35,240 Speaker 2: didn't say, Oh, that may be God, you better run 146 00:07:35,240 --> 00:07:38,160 Speaker 2: out and catch him before he leaves. Well, if God 147 00:07:38,240 --> 00:07:40,960 Speaker 2: spoke to you, better chase him down. No, if it 148 00:07:41,040 --> 00:07:43,840 Speaker 2: was God's speaking, he'll come back. All you got to 149 00:07:43,840 --> 00:07:46,960 Speaker 2: do is be in position for it. That's all you've 150 00:07:46,960 --> 00:07:49,880 Speaker 2: got to do. You don't have to find it, it'll 151 00:07:49,880 --> 00:07:50,280 Speaker 2: find you. 152 00:07:51,360 --> 00:07:51,800 Speaker 1: Trust me. 153 00:07:51,840 --> 00:07:54,360 Speaker 2: God is not playing hide and seek in the Tabernacle. 154 00:07:55,440 --> 00:07:59,280 Speaker 2: God is not running around the tent. Haha. If I 155 00:07:59,360 --> 00:08:01,880 Speaker 2: hide behind this table of chowbred, Samuel will never find 156 00:08:01,880 --> 00:08:11,440 Speaker 2: me back here. God's not hiding behind the labor. You know, 157 00:08:12,360 --> 00:08:16,520 Speaker 2: He's not hiding. And even though God is always moving, 158 00:08:16,560 --> 00:08:19,880 Speaker 2: he's never hiding. That's what the Tabernacle was was a 159 00:08:19,880 --> 00:08:21,640 Speaker 2: portable structure, and they set it up in the wilderness 160 00:08:21,640 --> 00:08:23,360 Speaker 2: because they never knew when God was going to say 161 00:08:23,360 --> 00:08:24,800 Speaker 2: stop and when God was going to stay go. 162 00:08:25,160 --> 00:08:25,440 Speaker 1: Why? 163 00:08:25,920 --> 00:08:29,160 Speaker 2: Because God does not want you to depend on his will. 164 00:08:29,200 --> 00:08:31,560 Speaker 2: He wants you to depend on him. There's a difference. 165 00:08:31,960 --> 00:08:34,040 Speaker 2: One is God, just show me what to do. That 166 00:08:34,080 --> 00:08:37,000 Speaker 2: way I won't need you. The other one is God, 167 00:08:37,200 --> 00:08:40,400 Speaker 2: I want you wherever you lead me wherever you take me, 168 00:08:40,520 --> 00:08:42,439 Speaker 2: whatever it means, whatever. 169 00:08:42,080 --> 00:08:44,480 Speaker 1: It costs, and whatever it looks like. 170 00:08:47,960 --> 00:08:52,240 Speaker 2: But here's the conflict, because Samuel goes in and he 171 00:08:52,320 --> 00:08:57,040 Speaker 2: lays down the Bible says he didn't know the Lord yet. 172 00:08:58,320 --> 00:09:00,240 Speaker 2: He knew how to He knew how to be the 173 00:09:00,240 --> 00:09:02,240 Speaker 2: bread in the tabernacle. 174 00:09:02,240 --> 00:09:03,640 Speaker 1: That was his job. You know, how to open the 175 00:09:03,920 --> 00:09:05,760 Speaker 1: doors so people could come worship. 176 00:09:06,120 --> 00:09:08,319 Speaker 2: He knew how to follow Eli around and get me 177 00:09:08,360 --> 00:09:11,640 Speaker 2: this and get me that. But there's a big difference 178 00:09:12,320 --> 00:09:15,839 Speaker 2: between the rituals of religion and a relationship with God. 179 00:09:19,320 --> 00:09:22,520 Speaker 2: And if you're going through the motions, like you know, 180 00:09:22,960 --> 00:09:26,600 Speaker 2: singing songs, not really thinking about the words, just kind 181 00:09:26,600 --> 00:09:29,640 Speaker 2: of singing them, or just kind of like hearing little 182 00:09:29,760 --> 00:09:32,880 Speaker 2: forgettable things that I say in my sermon that you know, 183 00:09:32,920 --> 00:09:37,959 Speaker 2: you won't even remember what it was about fifteen minutes 184 00:09:38,000 --> 00:09:43,760 Speaker 2: after I'm done. It's possible that you don't know the 185 00:09:43,840 --> 00:09:47,160 Speaker 2: Lord yet. I don't mean you're not a Christian, not necessarily. 186 00:09:48,080 --> 00:09:50,120 Speaker 2: I don't mean you don't believe in God. I mean 187 00:09:50,160 --> 00:09:56,199 Speaker 2: not necessarily. But to know him is to know his voice. 188 00:09:57,040 --> 00:10:00,720 Speaker 2: And when you know him like that, I hear things 189 00:10:00,720 --> 00:10:04,160 Speaker 2: that are hard to hear, but you can know that 190 00:10:04,240 --> 00:10:06,560 Speaker 2: even when he says things that are hard for you 191 00:10:06,640 --> 00:10:09,720 Speaker 2: to hear, he says them from a spirit of love, 192 00:10:10,920 --> 00:10:19,240 Speaker 2: grace purpose. One of my friends is a real overtext. 193 00:10:21,480 --> 00:10:25,000 Speaker 2: I can't keep up with him, and I love him, 194 00:10:25,280 --> 00:10:28,680 Speaker 2: but my thumb's hurt and I can't do it. And 195 00:10:28,720 --> 00:10:31,400 Speaker 2: I don't voice text because it's annoying because it corrects 196 00:10:31,440 --> 00:10:32,960 Speaker 2: the wrong words the wrong way, and you can get 197 00:10:33,000 --> 00:10:34,880 Speaker 2: in trouble that way and say something you didn't mean 198 00:10:34,920 --> 00:10:37,600 Speaker 2: to say, end up firing somebody you meant to hire. 199 00:10:37,679 --> 00:10:41,280 Speaker 2: But it changes. It doesn't know because your voice anyway. 200 00:10:41,920 --> 00:10:44,440 Speaker 2: One time he texted me, he said, how come our 201 00:10:44,480 --> 00:10:50,040 Speaker 2: conversation is all gray on iPhone? When they text you, 202 00:10:50,120 --> 00:10:53,280 Speaker 2: it's gray, When you text back, it's blue. When he 203 00:10:53,360 --> 00:10:56,800 Speaker 2: said that, I wondered if sometimes my relationship with God 204 00:10:56,880 --> 00:11:03,440 Speaker 2: is all gray to where he is speaking and he 205 00:11:03,600 --> 00:11:09,160 Speaker 2: is prompting and he is provoking. But God can speak, 206 00:11:09,559 --> 00:11:12,440 Speaker 2: Speak speak. Three times he did it. God didn't say 207 00:11:12,480 --> 00:11:17,680 Speaker 2: anything different the third time except this when he said, speak, Lord, 208 00:11:17,720 --> 00:11:21,360 Speaker 2: your servant is listening, and he laid down in his place. 209 00:11:21,800 --> 00:11:22,960 Speaker 1: I got to hit that real quick. 210 00:11:23,080 --> 00:11:25,080 Speaker 2: I know we're running out of time but it says 211 00:11:25,360 --> 00:11:29,439 Speaker 2: Samuel went and laid down in his place. 212 00:11:29,520 --> 00:11:30,640 Speaker 1: That's first nine. Put it up. 213 00:11:30,920 --> 00:11:35,400 Speaker 2: Samuel went and lay down in his place, in his place, 214 00:11:36,080 --> 00:11:39,880 Speaker 2: in his place, you will realize God's purpose when you 215 00:11:40,040 --> 00:11:43,120 Speaker 2: get in your place, touch somebody next to you and say, 216 00:11:43,160 --> 00:11:46,600 Speaker 2: get in your place. Because if God is dropping off 217 00:11:46,600 --> 00:11:48,760 Speaker 2: the mail but you're not home, you won't get it, 218 00:11:49,160 --> 00:11:50,920 Speaker 2: and you'll think he didn't send it, and you'll think 219 00:11:50,920 --> 00:11:53,760 Speaker 2: he didn't speak. But I learned something with my friend. 220 00:11:54,040 --> 00:11:57,560 Speaker 2: It was not just the conflict of the calling. It 221 00:11:57,679 --> 00:12:01,400 Speaker 2: was the color. It was all gray. But the breakthrough 222 00:12:01,840 --> 00:12:05,400 Speaker 2: is in the blue. It's not just when God speaks. 223 00:12:05,840 --> 00:12:08,520 Speaker 2: It's when you get in your place and say, God, 224 00:12:08,880 --> 00:12:12,079 Speaker 2: here I am the real me, the honest me, the 225 00:12:12,080 --> 00:12:15,320 Speaker 2: open me, the ready me, the humble me, the broken 226 00:12:15,360 --> 00:12:16,640 Speaker 2: down me, the me that. 227 00:12:16,720 --> 00:12:17,800 Speaker 1: Is ready to do your will. 228 00:12:17,800 --> 00:12:19,880 Speaker 2: Because I've done my will and I saw how that 229 00:12:19,960 --> 00:12:22,760 Speaker 2: worked out, and I'm ready to do your will. That's 230 00:12:22,800 --> 00:12:25,880 Speaker 2: what Isaiah said. He said, I'm an unclean man with 231 00:12:26,040 --> 00:12:29,000 Speaker 2: unclean lips. But if you'll take that coal and touch 232 00:12:29,080 --> 00:12:32,560 Speaker 2: my lips, I'll speak for you. Because Holy, Holy, Holy 233 00:12:32,920 --> 00:12:36,320 Speaker 2: is the Lord God Almighty. So here I am I'll go. 234 00:12:36,720 --> 00:12:39,480 Speaker 2: Moses stood at a bush. He turned aside, took off 235 00:12:39,520 --> 00:12:42,360 Speaker 2: his shoes, and said, God, I'm slow of speech. I'm 236 00:12:42,400 --> 00:12:44,719 Speaker 2: not eloquent, and you saw the things I did that 237 00:12:44,800 --> 00:12:47,760 Speaker 2: put me in this predicament. But if it's you calling here, 238 00:12:47,800 --> 00:12:51,559 Speaker 2: I am somebody shout here, I am. Jeremiah said, I'm 239 00:12:51,600 --> 00:12:54,400 Speaker 2: too young for this, and your people are stubborn, and 240 00:12:54,440 --> 00:12:56,480 Speaker 2: you know they're not gonna listen. But if it's you 241 00:12:56,640 --> 00:12:59,240 Speaker 2: calling me here, I am somebody shout here. 242 00:12:59,280 --> 00:13:00,760 Speaker 1: I am. 243 00:13:00,840 --> 00:13:03,760 Speaker 2: And the reason I'm confused about my calling is because 244 00:13:03,800 --> 00:13:10,280 Speaker 2: I don't just have one. This is what I didn't 245 00:13:10,280 --> 00:13:14,439 Speaker 2: know in my twenties, because I felt like God called 246 00:13:14,480 --> 00:13:15,199 Speaker 2: me to preach you. 247 00:13:15,280 --> 00:13:16,400 Speaker 3: Iver felt like God called you. 248 00:13:16,400 --> 00:13:17,840 Speaker 1: To do something put you somewhere. 249 00:13:17,960 --> 00:13:21,000 Speaker 2: I mean, maybe it wasn't something big spectacular. Maybe you're 250 00:13:21,000 --> 00:13:23,480 Speaker 2: not gonna do a halftime show at the super Bowl 251 00:13:23,520 --> 00:13:25,840 Speaker 2: with it, but God called you to do something. I 252 00:13:25,880 --> 00:13:27,400 Speaker 2: just saw your Patriots gear made me think of the 253 00:13:27,400 --> 00:13:29,960 Speaker 2: super Bowl. God bless you man, congratulations on that. I 254 00:13:29,960 --> 00:13:30,520 Speaker 2: hope you're happy. 255 00:13:30,520 --> 00:13:31,960 Speaker 1: Now. How many is it gonna take for you guys 256 00:13:31,960 --> 00:13:32,800 Speaker 1: to shut up about it? 257 00:13:32,880 --> 00:13:36,640 Speaker 2: But there's a there's a blessing in it. There's a 258 00:13:36,679 --> 00:13:38,360 Speaker 2: blessing in it, even if it's a small thing. And 259 00:13:38,360 --> 00:13:39,960 Speaker 2: you say, okay, God called me to do this. But 260 00:13:40,000 --> 00:13:42,200 Speaker 2: then what happens is, look, I was called to preach, right, 261 00:13:42,200 --> 00:13:42,960 Speaker 2: so I start preaching. 262 00:13:43,000 --> 00:13:43,920 Speaker 1: I start going around preaching. 263 00:13:43,960 --> 00:13:46,160 Speaker 2: I'm preaching everywhere, preaching everywhere they asked me to come preaching. 264 00:13:46,160 --> 00:13:47,840 Speaker 2: I'm preaching at the lock in. I AP preach. So 265 00:13:47,960 --> 00:13:49,800 Speaker 2: I preached some one time, so late at the night, 266 00:13:49,880 --> 00:13:52,160 Speaker 2: it was three am, and I had this sermon illustration 267 00:13:52,240 --> 00:13:54,400 Speaker 2: where I would take a mirror and I'd break the mirror, 268 00:13:54,440 --> 00:13:56,720 Speaker 2: and I AP preach Genesis one twenty six about the 269 00:13:56,760 --> 00:13:59,120 Speaker 2: Image of God. And Holly can tell you we knew 270 00:13:59,120 --> 00:14:01,600 Speaker 2: where the mirrors were in every walmart in the state 271 00:14:01,640 --> 00:14:03,800 Speaker 2: of South Carolina, because every time we get to a 272 00:14:03,840 --> 00:14:06,040 Speaker 2: new little town to preach the fifteen kids, I'd go 273 00:14:06,040 --> 00:14:06,559 Speaker 2: in and get a. 274 00:14:06,480 --> 00:14:08,120 Speaker 1: Mirror and then I'd break it with a hammer. 275 00:14:08,160 --> 00:14:10,360 Speaker 2: And I say, this is what sends us to you, 276 00:14:10,360 --> 00:14:12,560 Speaker 2: you know, put the condemnation on the young people. 277 00:14:13,000 --> 00:14:15,040 Speaker 1: Just put it on them. Are breaking mirrors. 278 00:14:15,160 --> 00:14:17,400 Speaker 2: And one boy went to the emergency room because the 279 00:14:17,440 --> 00:14:19,240 Speaker 2: glass flew up and hit him in the eye. And 280 00:14:19,280 --> 00:14:21,200 Speaker 2: I had to call his parents and tell him not 281 00:14:21,240 --> 00:14:21,720 Speaker 2: to sue me. 282 00:14:21,840 --> 00:14:22,480 Speaker 1: I'm a man of. 283 00:14:22,440 --> 00:14:24,760 Speaker 2: God and I got a ministry, and if you assume me, 284 00:14:24,800 --> 00:14:26,360 Speaker 2: God's going to curse you and make you. 285 00:14:26,720 --> 00:14:29,560 Speaker 1: But I didn't say that. But I was running around preaching, right. 286 00:14:29,760 --> 00:14:32,320 Speaker 2: But then I'm married Holly, and I realized I'm called 287 00:14:32,360 --> 00:14:37,080 Speaker 2: to be her husband too. Come on, it's the conflict 288 00:14:37,120 --> 00:14:41,800 Speaker 2: of calling. It's complicated. You can make it sound sup. Well, 289 00:14:41,840 --> 00:14:42,640 Speaker 2: find your calling? 290 00:14:42,720 --> 00:14:44,600 Speaker 3: Which one? 291 00:14:44,720 --> 00:14:47,400 Speaker 2: Because then I was called to be a preacher and 292 00:14:47,440 --> 00:14:51,200 Speaker 2: a husband, and sometimes they needed different techniques. 293 00:14:51,960 --> 00:14:54,360 Speaker 1: What if I walked home and said, Holly, give him 294 00:14:54,360 --> 00:14:55,240 Speaker 1: a seal of praise. 295 00:14:55,840 --> 00:15:04,920 Speaker 2: It's different callings. That's three people. Because I this just does. 296 00:15:10,560 --> 00:15:13,640 Speaker 2: And then by the time I'm getting these callings, you know, 297 00:15:13,640 --> 00:15:15,480 Speaker 2: I got how many? You got at least two callings 298 00:15:15,520 --> 00:15:17,640 Speaker 2: in your life, at least two things that you're responsible for, 299 00:15:17,800 --> 00:15:22,160 Speaker 2: and they're in conflict. Sometimes Here she comes pregnant four 300 00:15:22,240 --> 00:15:23,400 Speaker 2: years into marriage. 301 00:15:23,720 --> 00:15:26,240 Speaker 3: Here she turns up pregnant. Now I'm called to be 302 00:15:26,280 --> 00:15:26,720 Speaker 3: a parent. 303 00:15:29,200 --> 00:15:30,000 Speaker 1: Now I'm called to. 304 00:15:31,560 --> 00:15:33,560 Speaker 2: You feel like you're not just putting on different hats, 305 00:15:34,760 --> 00:15:36,800 Speaker 2: but you actually have like different heads. 306 00:15:39,040 --> 00:15:40,880 Speaker 1: I read that in that Sitser book. The will of 307 00:15:40,920 --> 00:15:41,880 Speaker 1: God is a way of life. 308 00:15:41,920 --> 00:15:44,280 Speaker 2: He said, I felt like I didn't just have different hats, 309 00:15:44,640 --> 00:15:48,680 Speaker 2: I had different heads. And this is the conflict of calling. 310 00:15:50,200 --> 00:16:00,240 Speaker 2: But the answer is always availability, presence, access. When he 311 00:16:00,240 --> 00:16:04,720 Speaker 2: said speak Lord, your servant is listening, it created access 312 00:16:05,360 --> 00:16:09,280 Speaker 2: not only for God's word to come to him, but 313 00:16:09,320 --> 00:16:13,640 Speaker 2: for God's word to come through him. And what God 314 00:16:13,720 --> 00:16:17,320 Speaker 2: said was difficult. He said, I'm transitioning. Not only am 315 00:16:17,360 --> 00:16:21,720 Speaker 2: I transitioning you from an apprentice to a priest, from 316 00:16:21,720 --> 00:16:24,720 Speaker 2: a priest to a prophet, but I'm transitioning Eli and 317 00:16:24,760 --> 00:16:26,760 Speaker 2: his Son's out of the earth so that my purpose 318 00:16:26,800 --> 00:16:27,560 Speaker 2: can be fulfilled. 319 00:16:29,000 --> 00:16:31,160 Speaker 1: I'm transitioning. I'm transitioning, and. 320 00:16:31,120 --> 00:16:33,040 Speaker 2: You're going to have to go through a difficult transition 321 00:16:33,160 --> 00:16:35,760 Speaker 2: right now. But by the time we get to First 322 00:16:35,800 --> 00:16:42,240 Speaker 2: Samuel four, verse one, the Bible says that Samuel's word 323 00:16:43,120 --> 00:16:46,120 Speaker 2: came to all Israel. I was curious why I didn't 324 00:16:46,160 --> 00:16:51,720 Speaker 2: say God's word through Samuel. But by this point in 325 00:16:51,920 --> 00:16:56,560 Speaker 2: First Samuel four, because Samuel said, here I am speak Lord, 326 00:16:57,320 --> 00:16:59,880 Speaker 2: we have now gone from the word of the Lord 327 00:17:00,160 --> 00:17:05,240 Speaker 2: was rare to the word of Samuel came to all Israel. 328 00:17:06,040 --> 00:17:09,000 Speaker 2: Because he had gotten to a point where he heard 329 00:17:09,000 --> 00:17:12,919 Speaker 2: God's voice on the level that when he spoke, what 330 00:17:13,080 --> 00:17:18,520 Speaker 2: he spoke came directly from the Throne of God. God 331 00:17:18,600 --> 00:17:21,280 Speaker 2: wants to get us to the place where we are 332 00:17:21,320 --> 00:17:24,520 Speaker 2: not running around all the time talking about what we're 333 00:17:24,560 --> 00:17:28,160 Speaker 2: going to do one day. Some of you are using 334 00:17:28,840 --> 00:17:32,600 Speaker 2: the concept of a calling as a crutch to not 335 00:17:32,840 --> 00:17:35,480 Speaker 2: fully embrace the season of life that you're in, and 336 00:17:35,520 --> 00:17:38,679 Speaker 2: that is not the will of God for you. And 337 00:17:38,760 --> 00:17:40,639 Speaker 2: you may be called to be a mom one day, 338 00:17:40,680 --> 00:17:42,560 Speaker 2: but if you're not a mom right now. 339 00:17:42,600 --> 00:17:44,479 Speaker 1: Can you say, here I am to this season. 340 00:17:45,000 --> 00:17:47,120 Speaker 2: And you may be called to own your own business 341 00:17:47,160 --> 00:17:49,560 Speaker 2: one day, but can I just say that in the meantime, 342 00:17:49,960 --> 00:17:52,080 Speaker 2: the only thing that God has. 343 00:17:51,920 --> 00:17:54,439 Speaker 1: Ever wanted from you was all of you. 344 00:17:54,920 --> 00:17:57,760 Speaker 2: The only thing that God has ever asked of you 345 00:17:58,359 --> 00:18:01,840 Speaker 2: is here I am. It's what Jeremiah said, it's what 346 00:18:01,960 --> 00:18:04,480 Speaker 2: Moses said, it's what Isaiah. 347 00:18:03,960 --> 00:18:06,080 Speaker 1: Said, it's what Samuel said. 348 00:18:06,640 --> 00:18:10,760 Speaker 2: And when he made himself available, the word of God 349 00:18:10,840 --> 00:18:15,800 Speaker 2: became abundant. I want you to stand to your feet 350 00:18:16,160 --> 00:18:20,479 Speaker 2: because God has been speaking your whole life. He's been 351 00:18:20,880 --> 00:18:26,639 Speaker 2: speaking through hard things, he's been speaking through painful things, 352 00:18:27,480 --> 00:18:32,800 Speaker 2: he's been speaking through pleasure, passion. He's been speaking through rejection, 353 00:18:33,720 --> 00:18:39,119 Speaker 2: He's been speaking through restlessness. It wasn't that God wasn't speaking, 354 00:18:40,160 --> 00:18:43,359 Speaker 2: is that the people had lost their ability to listen. 355 00:18:44,160 --> 00:18:47,639 Speaker 2: And so God said to Samuel, before you can speak 356 00:18:47,680 --> 00:18:52,080 Speaker 2: for me, I need you to learn to listen. This 357 00:18:52,200 --> 00:18:54,560 Speaker 2: is what God wants to fine tune in our lives 358 00:18:55,000 --> 00:18:56,200 Speaker 2: over the next few weeks. 359 00:18:57,080 --> 00:18:58,440 Speaker 1: This is what God wants to do. 360 00:18:58,520 --> 00:19:01,240 Speaker 2: In your heart over the next few weeks, because honestly, 361 00:19:01,960 --> 00:19:04,120 Speaker 2: some of you are still running to Eli when it's 362 00:19:04,160 --> 00:19:09,879 Speaker 2: really God. Some of you are running trying to find 363 00:19:09,920 --> 00:19:12,560 Speaker 2: something out there when God is trying. 364 00:19:12,320 --> 00:19:14,680 Speaker 1: To speak to you in your place. 365 00:19:16,440 --> 00:19:18,440 Speaker 2: That's what got me this time, because I didn't preach 366 00:19:18,480 --> 00:19:21,520 Speaker 2: that last night, But when I was speaking to you, 367 00:19:21,600 --> 00:19:23,760 Speaker 2: God was speaking to me, and I try to listen, 368 00:19:24,520 --> 00:19:28,000 Speaker 2: and he said, tell him stay in your place. Samuel 369 00:19:28,040 --> 00:19:30,240 Speaker 2: didn't wake up that morning looking for a calling. 370 00:19:31,080 --> 00:19:32,480 Speaker 1: And maybe that's the problem with. 371 00:19:32,440 --> 00:19:36,680 Speaker 2: Us, Maybe that we've made this thing about calling and 372 00:19:36,760 --> 00:19:39,560 Speaker 2: what God has for my life. What if what God 373 00:19:39,560 --> 00:19:47,840 Speaker 2: has called you to first and foremost is himself, wouldn't 374 00:19:47,840 --> 00:19:54,320 Speaker 2: that set you free? That the will of God is 375 00:19:54,359 --> 00:19:58,359 Speaker 2: not which job the will of God is not which 376 00:19:58,359 --> 00:19:59,600 Speaker 2: school you put your kids in. 377 00:20:00,800 --> 00:20:01,160 Speaker 1: My God. 378 00:20:01,160 --> 00:20:02,639 Speaker 2: I was talking to Buck the other day. One thing 379 00:20:02,720 --> 00:20:04,840 Speaker 2: I love about Monk's Corner better than Charlotte. 380 00:20:05,160 --> 00:20:08,960 Speaker 1: There was two schools you could go to. There was 381 00:20:09,040 --> 00:20:09,400 Speaker 1: just two. 382 00:20:10,640 --> 00:20:12,920 Speaker 2: It was the public one and the one that everybody 383 00:20:12,960 --> 00:20:15,159 Speaker 2: that smoked weed at the public one. 384 00:20:15,000 --> 00:20:21,639 Speaker 1: Got sent to the Christian school. But listen to me. 385 00:20:23,560 --> 00:20:25,679 Speaker 1: We've made the will of God a resource. It's not 386 00:20:25,720 --> 00:20:30,720 Speaker 1: a resource, it's a relationship. It's a relationship. It's a relationship. 387 00:20:35,880 --> 00:20:38,080 Speaker 2: So I want us to go through this next several 388 00:20:38,119 --> 00:20:42,639 Speaker 2: weeks not looking for clarity, certainty, but confidence to know 389 00:20:43,640 --> 00:20:47,119 Speaker 2: that if I will make myself available to this calling 390 00:20:47,160 --> 00:20:55,240 Speaker 2: in this moment, his speak, he will speak. Question is 391 00:20:55,280 --> 00:21:00,600 Speaker 2: will you respond. What I've learned to do now is 392 00:21:00,680 --> 00:21:04,320 Speaker 2: not necessarily say this is God or this isn't God. 393 00:21:04,760 --> 00:21:07,320 Speaker 2: I got this new thing. It may be God. 394 00:21:08,680 --> 00:21:09,040 Speaker 1: I don't know. 395 00:21:10,000 --> 00:21:12,960 Speaker 2: The only way for me to find out. The only 396 00:21:13,000 --> 00:21:16,040 Speaker 2: way I can experience the breakthrough is in the blue. 397 00:21:16,720 --> 00:21:19,040 Speaker 2: So speak Lord, I'm listening.