1 00:00:02,080 --> 00:00:04,600 Speaker 1: Hey, this is Stephen Ferdick. I'm the pastor of Elevation 2 00:00:04,880 --> 00:00:06,880 Speaker 1: Church and this is our podcast and I wanted to 3 00:00:06,920 --> 00:00:09,800 Speaker 1: thank you for joining us today. Hope this inspires you. 4 00:00:10,240 --> 00:00:12,400 Speaker 1: Hope it builds your faith. Hope it gives your perspective 5 00:00:12,440 --> 00:00:18,000 Speaker 1: to see God is moving in your life. Enjoy the message. 6 00:00:18,320 --> 00:00:24,120 Speaker 1: Let's look at John chapter seven together. I feel God's 7 00:00:24,120 --> 00:00:28,760 Speaker 1: presence in this place. Now. Even if I didn't feel it, 8 00:00:28,800 --> 00:00:31,840 Speaker 1: I would know that it was real. But it's good 9 00:00:31,840 --> 00:00:37,159 Speaker 1: to feel it. And I feel God's presence in this place. Amen. 10 00:00:38,880 --> 00:00:46,440 Speaker 1: John chapter seven is a very interesting scenario, or more accurately, 11 00:00:46,520 --> 00:00:49,920 Speaker 1: episode in the life of Jesus. And I think you 12 00:00:50,000 --> 00:00:54,440 Speaker 1: probably will say I never really heard a sermon on 13 00:00:54,480 --> 00:00:57,080 Speaker 1: that story before, and then you won't be able to 14 00:00:57,120 --> 00:01:01,200 Speaker 1: say that after today. But it's a it's a really 15 00:01:01,320 --> 00:01:06,120 Speaker 1: human moment in the life of Jesus, and it's a 16 00:01:06,120 --> 00:01:10,080 Speaker 1: great example to us today. So as we look at this, 17 00:01:11,000 --> 00:01:13,440 Speaker 1: we hope that we will see the example of Jesus 18 00:01:13,920 --> 00:01:16,800 Speaker 1: and how it applies to our lives. In John chapter seven, 19 00:01:16,920 --> 00:01:19,199 Speaker 1: verse one, the Bible says after this, Jesus went around 20 00:01:19,240 --> 00:01:23,600 Speaker 1: in Galilee, purposely staying away from Judea because the Jews 21 00:01:23,600 --> 00:01:26,640 Speaker 1: there were waiting to take his life. But when the 22 00:01:26,720 --> 00:01:31,080 Speaker 1: Jewish feast of Tabernacles was near, Jesus's brother said to him, 23 00:01:31,480 --> 00:01:34,000 Speaker 1: you ought to leave here. How many know, there's always 24 00:01:34,040 --> 00:01:37,720 Speaker 1: somebody to tell you what you ought to do, always, 25 00:01:37,800 --> 00:01:40,640 Speaker 1: and usually as people with your same last name, you 26 00:01:40,680 --> 00:01:44,960 Speaker 1: know you oughta well, you ought to leave here and 27 00:01:45,000 --> 00:01:47,920 Speaker 1: go to Judea so that your disciples may see the 28 00:01:47,960 --> 00:01:50,440 Speaker 1: miracles you do. No one who wants to become a 29 00:01:50,440 --> 00:01:54,120 Speaker 1: public figure action secret. Since you are doing these things, 30 00:01:54,440 --> 00:01:57,440 Speaker 1: post them on Instagram. For even his own brothers did 31 00:01:57,480 --> 00:02:00,920 Speaker 1: not believe him, and therefore Jesus told them the right 32 00:02:01,000 --> 00:02:05,520 Speaker 1: time for me has not yet come for you. Anytime 33 00:02:05,640 --> 00:02:11,120 Speaker 1: is right, salty Jesus. The world cannot hate you, but 34 00:02:11,200 --> 00:02:14,560 Speaker 1: it hates me because I testify that what it does 35 00:02:14,880 --> 00:02:18,120 Speaker 1: is evil. If you haven't had a head on collision 36 00:02:18,120 --> 00:02:20,600 Speaker 1: with the devil lately, it means you might be headed 37 00:02:20,600 --> 00:02:23,799 Speaker 1: in the same direction. That's what Pastor Mickey used to say. 38 00:02:24,200 --> 00:02:27,280 Speaker 1: Of course I'm in conflict. I am a contradiction of 39 00:02:27,320 --> 00:02:29,920 Speaker 1: the world's values, and so it's not easy for me 40 00:02:30,000 --> 00:02:33,120 Speaker 1: to live on this earth. According to Kingdom principles. But 41 00:02:33,240 --> 00:02:35,840 Speaker 1: Jesus said verse eight, you go to the feast. I'm 42 00:02:35,880 --> 00:02:37,960 Speaker 1: not going to control you, but you do what you 43 00:02:38,040 --> 00:02:40,480 Speaker 1: need to do. You go ahead and go. I am 44 00:02:40,560 --> 00:02:44,000 Speaker 1: not yet going up to this feast because for me 45 00:02:44,480 --> 00:02:48,680 Speaker 1: the right time has not come. I wonder how different 46 00:02:48,760 --> 00:02:50,520 Speaker 1: our lives would be if we would learn the power 47 00:02:50,560 --> 00:02:56,080 Speaker 1: of those two words, not yet, not yet. And having 48 00:02:56,120 --> 00:02:59,560 Speaker 1: said this, he stayed in Galilee. However, after his brothers 49 00:02:59,600 --> 00:03:02,760 Speaker 1: had left for the feast, he went also, not publicly, 50 00:03:03,360 --> 00:03:10,919 Speaker 1: but in secret. Not publicly, but in secret. Now at 51 00:03:10,919 --> 00:03:14,560 Speaker 1: the feast, the Jews were watching for him and asking 52 00:03:14,880 --> 00:03:19,440 Speaker 1: where is that man Among the crowds. There was widespread whispering, 53 00:03:20,440 --> 00:03:24,239 Speaker 1: widespread whispering about him. Some said he is a good man. 54 00:03:25,080 --> 00:03:29,639 Speaker 1: Others replied, no, he deceives the people. But no one 55 00:03:29,639 --> 00:03:35,000 Speaker 1: would say anything publicly about him for fear of the Jews. 56 00:03:35,320 --> 00:03:40,640 Speaker 1: The key for this message today is in verse ten. However, 57 00:03:40,680 --> 00:03:44,040 Speaker 1: after his brothers had left for the feast, he went also, 58 00:03:44,160 --> 00:03:47,120 Speaker 1: not publicly, but in secret. And what I want to 59 00:03:47,160 --> 00:03:50,200 Speaker 1: talk to you about today is the pressure to perform, 60 00:03:51,360 --> 00:03:54,560 Speaker 1: the pressure to perform. And let's pray one more time, 61 00:03:54,680 --> 00:03:58,000 Speaker 1: Spirit of God. I thank you for the accuracy with 62 00:03:58,080 --> 00:04:01,920 Speaker 1: which you register in the hearts and the minds of 63 00:04:01,960 --> 00:04:05,320 Speaker 1: people who are open. Give us this openness that we 64 00:04:05,360 --> 00:04:07,880 Speaker 1: may receive whatever you wish to speak, and we give 65 00:04:07,920 --> 00:04:12,480 Speaker 1: you praise in advance in Jesus' name. Amen, would you 66 00:04:12,520 --> 00:04:14,240 Speaker 1: touch somebody on your way to your seat and say, 67 00:04:14,280 --> 00:04:23,719 Speaker 1: I don't have to post it to prove it. It's 68 00:04:23,760 --> 00:04:28,960 Speaker 1: so great to have the opportunity now to apologize to 69 00:04:29,040 --> 00:04:33,760 Speaker 1: my mom for my teenage years. I just didn't have 70 00:04:33,800 --> 00:04:38,719 Speaker 1: an appreciation at the time for the pressure of parenting. 71 00:04:38,800 --> 00:04:42,160 Speaker 1: You really can't until you are blessed with the same 72 00:04:42,240 --> 00:04:50,599 Speaker 1: pressure of parental responsibility for yourself, because like, really, my 73 00:04:50,640 --> 00:04:57,560 Speaker 1: mom and dad stretched their resources in order for me 74 00:04:57,600 --> 00:05:03,719 Speaker 1: as a as a I guess like a spoiled, entitled 75 00:05:03,839 --> 00:05:10,279 Speaker 1: brat of a kid to not appreciate the sacrifices and 76 00:05:10,360 --> 00:05:14,600 Speaker 1: really the pressure that they were under to buy me 77 00:05:14,760 --> 00:05:21,320 Speaker 1: those rebock pumps. And since my dad was a barber, 78 00:05:22,360 --> 00:05:25,640 Speaker 1: and he started out just five dollars a haircut six 79 00:05:25,720 --> 00:05:28,000 Speaker 1: dollars by the time he quit cutting hair, he was 80 00:05:28,080 --> 00:05:31,400 Speaker 1: up to thirteen dollars a haircut, I believe. And my 81 00:05:31,520 --> 00:05:35,800 Speaker 1: mom had been in education, teaching special education and then 82 00:05:35,960 --> 00:05:40,599 Speaker 1: as an early interventionist, which wasn't exactly a high paying job, 83 00:05:41,200 --> 00:05:48,120 Speaker 1: but they provided for me so competently that I never 84 00:05:48,160 --> 00:05:51,239 Speaker 1: really thought about the pressure that it must have been 85 00:05:51,839 --> 00:05:55,200 Speaker 1: to try to make sure that I never really felt 86 00:05:55,760 --> 00:06:01,760 Speaker 1: their pressure. I remember going to this telephone office, the 87 00:06:01,800 --> 00:06:05,640 Speaker 1: Berkeley Telephone Company, and my parents would clean the office 88 00:06:06,839 --> 00:06:09,039 Speaker 1: at night after they would get off their other job, 89 00:06:09,080 --> 00:06:12,279 Speaker 1: and all I could do was complain, and I thought 90 00:06:12,520 --> 00:06:14,480 Speaker 1: that it was child abuse that they made me empty 91 00:06:14,520 --> 00:06:20,200 Speaker 1: the trash, but I just didn't understand when she was 92 00:06:20,240 --> 00:06:23,279 Speaker 1: making me run the vacuum cleaner while she was cleaning 93 00:06:23,320 --> 00:06:28,120 Speaker 1: the toilets on Saturday, just like I didn't appreciate the 94 00:06:28,160 --> 00:06:32,400 Speaker 1: pressure even emotionally. I remember when my dad kind of 95 00:06:32,480 --> 00:06:36,080 Speaker 1: quit coming home. I didn't realize that the reason he 96 00:06:36,160 --> 00:06:38,839 Speaker 1: was doing that was because of not having a father 97 00:06:39,040 --> 00:06:43,359 Speaker 1: example for himself when I hit the teenage stage, he 98 00:06:43,480 --> 00:06:46,640 Speaker 1: had no frame of reference for how to deal with 99 00:06:46,680 --> 00:06:49,480 Speaker 1: what he felt, and I thought he was lazy. So 100 00:06:49,520 --> 00:06:51,919 Speaker 1: he went to go drink with my uncle. But it 101 00:06:52,000 --> 00:06:54,640 Speaker 1: wasn't so much laziness, I now have come to believe, 102 00:06:55,080 --> 00:06:57,440 Speaker 1: as it was the fact that he was under a 103 00:06:57,480 --> 00:07:00,679 Speaker 1: weight that he hadn't felt like he had been built 104 00:07:00,720 --> 00:07:04,160 Speaker 1: for and there is a sense in which his pressure 105 00:07:04,680 --> 00:07:08,240 Speaker 1: in his own life paralyzed him, like pressure often can. 106 00:07:08,640 --> 00:07:11,120 Speaker 1: When you find yourself in a situation where you have 107 00:07:11,240 --> 00:07:15,520 Speaker 1: not been exposed to that particular responsibility, and now you 108 00:07:15,560 --> 00:07:19,160 Speaker 1: are responsible for something that you've never been exposed to. 109 00:07:20,080 --> 00:07:22,720 Speaker 1: It can create a lot of pressure, not only on 110 00:07:22,760 --> 00:07:27,880 Speaker 1: the financial side with kids, but just emotionally and how 111 00:07:27,920 --> 00:07:29,720 Speaker 1: by the time you come home from work where you're 112 00:07:29,760 --> 00:07:33,320 Speaker 1: providing materially, you don't have anything left to give emotionally, 113 00:07:33,640 --> 00:07:37,240 Speaker 1: and even if you do. There was this dude that 114 00:07:37,320 --> 00:07:39,800 Speaker 1: came up to me Friday night at the baseball game 115 00:07:40,120 --> 00:07:42,240 Speaker 1: and he just looked. He had the look on his 116 00:07:42,240 --> 00:07:44,800 Speaker 1: face like all parents get from time to time, like 117 00:07:44,880 --> 00:07:47,440 Speaker 1: if you shoot me, I'll give you half the insurance money. 118 00:07:47,720 --> 00:07:49,400 Speaker 1: It was just a parent look, and you only know 119 00:07:49,480 --> 00:07:54,640 Speaker 1: it if you've been there. But I just said to him, 120 00:07:54,720 --> 00:07:57,080 Speaker 1: kind of randomly, I said, you're such a good man, 121 00:07:57,120 --> 00:07:58,720 Speaker 1: because I could tell he was having one of those 122 00:07:58,800 --> 00:08:00,840 Speaker 1: days and he was running back and forth and it 123 00:08:00,920 --> 00:08:02,760 Speaker 1: kind of stopped them in his tracks. And he's like, really, 124 00:08:03,080 --> 00:08:05,400 Speaker 1: I don't feel like a good man today, you know. 125 00:08:05,680 --> 00:08:08,080 Speaker 1: I was I was at work, and then I left 126 00:08:08,120 --> 00:08:09,720 Speaker 1: work at four because I'm supposed to get off fit 127 00:08:09,800 --> 00:08:12,000 Speaker 1: for But then the idiot who took my next shift, 128 00:08:12,160 --> 00:08:13,680 Speaker 1: he didn't show up in time for a shift. So 129 00:08:13,720 --> 00:08:15,800 Speaker 1: who does the manager call Not the person who didn't 130 00:08:15,840 --> 00:08:17,480 Speaker 1: show up, but me, because they know they can count 131 00:08:17,480 --> 00:08:19,400 Speaker 1: on me, because the people we treat the worst are 132 00:08:19,480 --> 00:08:21,080 Speaker 1: usually the people that we know we can count on 133 00:08:21,120 --> 00:08:23,320 Speaker 1: the most, and we expect the most out of them. 134 00:08:23,480 --> 00:08:25,480 Speaker 1: But by the time he got off work, he was 135 00:08:25,520 --> 00:08:27,320 Speaker 1: throwing the ball with his daughter to get it ready 136 00:08:27,320 --> 00:08:29,240 Speaker 1: for the game. And by the time he finished throwing 137 00:08:29,240 --> 00:08:31,080 Speaker 1: with his daughter, he said, this is what he's telling me. 138 00:08:31,240 --> 00:08:33,400 Speaker 1: By the time I finished throwing my daughter, my manager 139 00:08:33,520 --> 00:08:35,800 Speaker 1: been blowing up my phone. Now my manager is mad 140 00:08:35,800 --> 00:08:37,720 Speaker 1: at me, and I'm walking in the house talking to 141 00:08:37,760 --> 00:08:40,040 Speaker 1: my manager who's yelling at me, and my wife's got 142 00:08:40,080 --> 00:08:42,080 Speaker 1: dinner ready, but I can't eat dinner because I'm talking 143 00:08:42,080 --> 00:08:44,080 Speaker 1: to my manager, and so my wife is mad because 144 00:08:44,080 --> 00:08:45,800 Speaker 1: the food is coll But I can't help it that 145 00:08:45,840 --> 00:08:47,760 Speaker 1: the food is coll because if I lose this job, 146 00:08:47,760 --> 00:08:49,520 Speaker 1: we're not going to have any food to cook. So 147 00:08:49,640 --> 00:08:51,920 Speaker 1: coal food is better than no food, and all that 148 00:08:52,040 --> 00:08:54,240 Speaker 1: they're on the baseball team and I want to die. 149 00:08:54,240 --> 00:08:56,080 Speaker 1: And funny thing is he doesn't come to the church. 150 00:08:57,120 --> 00:08:58,959 Speaker 1: He doesn't come to the church. He's only been one 151 00:08:58,960 --> 00:09:00,599 Speaker 1: time that I know of. And when he came that 152 00:09:00,679 --> 00:09:03,880 Speaker 1: one time, he told me it was a good sermon. 153 00:09:04,240 --> 00:09:06,320 Speaker 1: So I knew that he didn't have like a Christian 154 00:09:06,480 --> 00:09:11,080 Speaker 1: vocabulary the word that he put in there. But he 155 00:09:11,120 --> 00:09:14,520 Speaker 1: didn't know that I was preaching on pressure today. He 156 00:09:14,559 --> 00:09:16,640 Speaker 1: didn't know that he was giving me, he was helping 157 00:09:16,679 --> 00:09:20,319 Speaker 1: me see that it's not just as a preacher, or 158 00:09:20,360 --> 00:09:22,839 Speaker 1: it's not just those of us who stand on a 159 00:09:22,920 --> 00:09:26,640 Speaker 1: stage who feel this pressure. Because it used to be 160 00:09:26,880 --> 00:09:30,840 Speaker 1: enough if you just provide for your kids. It used 161 00:09:30,840 --> 00:09:33,000 Speaker 1: to be enough if you just protect your kids. It 162 00:09:33,120 --> 00:09:36,360 Speaker 1: used to be enough if you would just prepare your kids. 163 00:09:36,440 --> 00:09:40,479 Speaker 1: And sometimes all of those things seem to be in conflict, 164 00:09:40,520 --> 00:09:44,559 Speaker 1: that while you want to protect your kids, you also 165 00:09:44,640 --> 00:09:48,280 Speaker 1: have to prepare your kids. And so sometimes I don't know, 166 00:09:48,720 --> 00:09:51,760 Speaker 1: should I catch you or should I let you fall 167 00:09:51,800 --> 00:09:55,600 Speaker 1: a little bit so you don't fall a lot? Should 168 00:09:55,600 --> 00:09:58,560 Speaker 1: I let you skin your knee now so that you 169 00:09:58,600 --> 00:10:01,280 Speaker 1: don't break your neck later? Should I should I let 170 00:10:01,320 --> 00:10:05,000 Speaker 1: you Peter sink down into the water and let you 171 00:10:05,120 --> 00:10:09,520 Speaker 1: sink and not let you drown. Sometimes, even Jesus, if 172 00:10:09,559 --> 00:10:12,760 Speaker 1: you read the scripture, he did not prevent the failure. 173 00:10:13,080 --> 00:10:16,400 Speaker 1: He allowed the failure so that the person could learn 174 00:10:16,480 --> 00:10:20,240 Speaker 1: the lesson that would enable them later. Sometimes there's so 175 00:10:20,360 --> 00:10:24,520 Speaker 1: much pressure coming from so many different directions, And if 176 00:10:24,520 --> 00:10:27,120 Speaker 1: you stop to think about the life of Jesus, he 177 00:10:27,600 --> 00:10:31,760 Speaker 1: was he was under pressure from the Pharisees who wanted 178 00:10:31,760 --> 00:10:35,280 Speaker 1: to kill him because he threatened their political power, And 179 00:10:35,360 --> 00:10:38,560 Speaker 1: so they were watching everything that he did, and they 180 00:10:38,559 --> 00:10:44,320 Speaker 1: were watching him with very, very scrutinizing eyes, even to 181 00:10:44,360 --> 00:10:47,720 Speaker 1: the point that if he healed somebody, not only would 182 00:10:47,720 --> 00:10:50,720 Speaker 1: they watch him heal the person, but they would they 183 00:10:50,760 --> 00:10:54,040 Speaker 1: would find him healing on the wrong day, and if 184 00:10:54,080 --> 00:10:57,040 Speaker 1: he healed on the Sabbath, they would stand up and 185 00:10:57,160 --> 00:11:00,760 Speaker 1: accuse him for doing something good. Would you like to 186 00:11:00,760 --> 00:11:04,319 Speaker 1: get accused not only for doing the wrong thing, but 187 00:11:04,360 --> 00:11:07,559 Speaker 1: for doing the right thing at the wrong time. This 188 00:11:07,600 --> 00:11:10,360 Speaker 1: is Jesus. He shows up and they follow him to 189 00:11:10,360 --> 00:11:13,000 Speaker 1: see if he's gonna wash his hands before he eats. 190 00:11:13,240 --> 00:11:16,320 Speaker 1: How creepy is it when you have people following you 191 00:11:16,600 --> 00:11:19,640 Speaker 1: in the bathroom to see one time I was at PF. 192 00:11:19,720 --> 00:11:25,240 Speaker 1: Chanin's and there was a man that was standing there 193 00:11:25,440 --> 00:11:33,360 Speaker 1: watching me while I was and it was threatening to me. 194 00:11:35,120 --> 00:11:37,160 Speaker 1: It was threatening to me, So I kind of looked 195 00:11:37,200 --> 00:11:40,040 Speaker 1: down my fishies in the bathroom and I washed my hands. 196 00:11:40,040 --> 00:11:42,160 Speaker 1: I walked over to him and he said, I was 197 00:11:42,160 --> 00:11:44,360 Speaker 1: waiting to see if you do wash your hands after 198 00:11:44,400 --> 00:11:55,959 Speaker 1: you went I go to your church. I'm like, bro, 199 00:11:56,040 --> 00:11:58,000 Speaker 1: there's a lot of other great churches I would like 200 00:11:58,040 --> 00:12:03,640 Speaker 1: to tell you about right now. But for Jesus, it 201 00:12:03,720 --> 00:12:07,560 Speaker 1: was ceremonial. It wasn't It wasn't a hygienic thing. They 202 00:12:07,600 --> 00:12:09,360 Speaker 1: were watching to see what he breaked the law and 203 00:12:09,360 --> 00:12:11,840 Speaker 1: not wash his hands. They weren't worried about the fact 204 00:12:11,840 --> 00:12:13,760 Speaker 1: that he was trying to eat with people that they 205 00:12:13,800 --> 00:12:16,839 Speaker 1: considered unclean, because he was righteousness and grace and truth. 206 00:12:17,080 --> 00:12:19,800 Speaker 1: They were so focused on the cosmetics, and so everything 207 00:12:19,840 --> 00:12:22,240 Speaker 1: that he did was under scrutiny. Oh he's talking with 208 00:12:22,240 --> 00:12:24,400 Speaker 1: a woman. Oh he's touching a leper al. He's not 209 00:12:24,440 --> 00:12:26,680 Speaker 1: supposed to act like that, he's not supposed to speak 210 00:12:26,760 --> 00:12:31,120 Speaker 1: like that. And then sometimes for Jesus he would perform 211 00:12:31,200 --> 00:12:34,560 Speaker 1: a miracle for the crowd, but they would miss the 212 00:12:34,600 --> 00:12:39,200 Speaker 1: deeper meaning, which is what has just happened when we 213 00:12:39,240 --> 00:12:43,080 Speaker 1: read on chapter seven. Because he just fed five thousand 214 00:12:43,160 --> 00:12:49,240 Speaker 1: men and women and children, and he provided for their 215 00:12:49,320 --> 00:12:53,120 Speaker 1: needs in such a great way that they all ate 216 00:12:53,280 --> 00:12:57,679 Speaker 1: and had their fill. But after he filled them up physically, 217 00:12:58,360 --> 00:13:01,720 Speaker 1: he turned to fill them spiritually. And it turns out 218 00:13:01,800 --> 00:13:06,000 Speaker 1: that they were following him not for the spiritual dynamics 219 00:13:06,160 --> 00:13:09,400 Speaker 1: of who he was, but for the physical benefits of 220 00:13:09,440 --> 00:13:12,560 Speaker 1: what he could provide. And when he began to speak 221 00:13:12,640 --> 00:13:15,640 Speaker 1: at a deeper level, the Bible says that many of 222 00:13:15,679 --> 00:13:18,800 Speaker 1: them didn't want to hear it. After he fed them 223 00:13:18,840 --> 00:13:21,360 Speaker 1: the bread, he turned around and said, now that you've 224 00:13:21,440 --> 00:13:25,400 Speaker 1: had bread, recognize that I am bread. The miracle that 225 00:13:25,480 --> 00:13:28,600 Speaker 1: I just performed was not about what I did. It 226 00:13:28,679 --> 00:13:31,440 Speaker 1: was to point to who I am. I am the 227 00:13:31,480 --> 00:13:34,680 Speaker 1: bread of life, and if you eat my flesh and 228 00:13:34,800 --> 00:13:38,480 Speaker 1: drink my blood, you can remain in me. Well, they 229 00:13:38,480 --> 00:13:41,480 Speaker 1: didn't like that very much. It's like he had the 230 00:13:41,559 --> 00:13:44,920 Speaker 1: crowd and then he lost them. He had the following 231 00:13:45,160 --> 00:13:47,360 Speaker 1: and then he lost it. And the Bible says in 232 00:13:47,480 --> 00:13:51,720 Speaker 1: John six sixty six sixty sixty six, I always remember 233 00:13:51,720 --> 00:13:54,719 Speaker 1: that like it's a bad number, six sixty six. I 234 00:13:54,760 --> 00:13:57,280 Speaker 1: always remember it because it said many then deserted him 235 00:13:57,480 --> 00:14:01,800 Speaker 1: and followed him no more, then went away because this 236 00:14:01,880 --> 00:14:05,080 Speaker 1: is a hard saying, and followed him no more. And 237 00:14:05,120 --> 00:14:08,240 Speaker 1: as they're walking away, Jesus turns to his disciples and says, 238 00:14:08,480 --> 00:14:11,040 Speaker 1: do you want to walk away too? And Peter said, 239 00:14:11,280 --> 00:14:13,680 Speaker 1: we don't have no options. I already gave my boat 240 00:14:13,679 --> 00:14:16,200 Speaker 1: away for a little while, and I already put my 241 00:14:16,480 --> 00:14:19,080 Speaker 1: investment in you, and I got to see where this ends, 242 00:14:19,480 --> 00:14:23,680 Speaker 1: even if it ends at a cross. That's the context 243 00:14:23,680 --> 00:14:27,920 Speaker 1: of John chapter seven. And it's one thing to kind 244 00:14:27,920 --> 00:14:32,960 Speaker 1: of have to deal with opposition from the devil. It's 245 00:14:33,000 --> 00:14:34,840 Speaker 1: another thing to kind of have to deal with it 246 00:14:35,600 --> 00:14:41,640 Speaker 1: from inside your own house. And Jesus had seven siblings. 247 00:14:42,160 --> 00:14:47,440 Speaker 1: Some traditions infer these are his human brothers, And whether 248 00:14:47,560 --> 00:14:50,840 Speaker 1: or not Jesus had any sisters, it's interesting to me 249 00:14:51,200 --> 00:14:54,560 Speaker 1: that it was his brothers who pulled him aside with 250 00:14:54,600 --> 00:14:58,240 Speaker 1: a strategy watch this for how to get his followers back. 251 00:15:00,080 --> 00:15:02,640 Speaker 1: And they've got it all figured out, and they've got 252 00:15:02,720 --> 00:15:07,760 Speaker 1: it all calculated, and they say, Jesus, do more of 253 00:15:07,800 --> 00:15:12,800 Speaker 1: the stuff like where you're feeding people, and less of 254 00:15:12,840 --> 00:15:16,920 Speaker 1: the cannibal stuff that you say in your speeches. Let's 255 00:15:16,920 --> 00:15:20,680 Speaker 1: take out the cannibalism. And why don't you go to 256 00:15:20,760 --> 00:15:24,880 Speaker 1: Judea because the Feast of Tabernacles is about to start, 257 00:15:25,480 --> 00:15:27,880 Speaker 1: and you can come with us and you can do 258 00:15:28,000 --> 00:15:30,440 Speaker 1: the kinds of things that you've been doing here in Galilee, 259 00:15:31,040 --> 00:15:33,960 Speaker 1: which was in the northern part of Palestine, which was 260 00:15:34,040 --> 00:15:38,600 Speaker 1: not as densely populated as Jerusalem and Judea. You can 261 00:15:38,640 --> 00:15:43,200 Speaker 1: do publicly what you've been doing privately. You can take 262 00:15:43,240 --> 00:15:45,800 Speaker 1: this show on the road. We can get you a 263 00:15:45,840 --> 00:15:50,120 Speaker 1: headlining spot at the Coachella. Of the Old Testament. This 264 00:15:50,320 --> 00:15:53,040 Speaker 1: was the feast where they would come and build booths. 265 00:15:53,080 --> 00:15:56,240 Speaker 1: It was actually called the Festival of Booths or Tabernacles. 266 00:15:56,560 --> 00:15:58,600 Speaker 1: And they would build the booth when they got there, 267 00:15:58,880 --> 00:16:01,040 Speaker 1: and they would stay for a while, and they would 268 00:16:01,080 --> 00:16:03,880 Speaker 1: thank God for the water that he gave them, and 269 00:16:03,920 --> 00:16:06,800 Speaker 1: they would thank God for the sustenance that he gave them. 270 00:16:07,120 --> 00:16:10,240 Speaker 1: They would remember in the wilderness how God saw his 271 00:16:10,360 --> 00:16:13,480 Speaker 1: people through even though they didn't have quail or grain. 272 00:16:13,760 --> 00:16:16,880 Speaker 1: But he made manna, which literally means what is it, 273 00:16:17,160 --> 00:16:20,480 Speaker 1: and it means what it is? So God meets what 274 00:16:20,600 --> 00:16:22,960 Speaker 1: is it? With what it is, and it shows that 275 00:16:23,000 --> 00:16:25,960 Speaker 1: he can show up in any situation and take what 276 00:16:26,000 --> 00:16:28,920 Speaker 1: it is, and when he fills what it is with 277 00:16:29,000 --> 00:16:31,560 Speaker 1: who he is, it will become what you need it 278 00:16:31,600 --> 00:16:34,720 Speaker 1: to be for the season that you're in. Two people 279 00:16:34,760 --> 00:16:38,880 Speaker 1: recognize good preaching when they hear it, and they say, 280 00:16:40,200 --> 00:16:43,520 Speaker 1: come on and do some of the flashy stuff that 281 00:16:43,560 --> 00:16:46,880 Speaker 1: you've been doing here in Nazareth, and take this show 282 00:16:46,960 --> 00:16:50,840 Speaker 1: fifty five miles south to Judea. And if you can 283 00:16:50,880 --> 00:16:54,280 Speaker 1: do these public things in front of people, you can 284 00:16:54,320 --> 00:16:58,640 Speaker 1: become a public figure. In fact, that's the phrase that 285 00:16:58,760 --> 00:17:02,200 Speaker 1: drew me to the text. It said, no one who 286 00:17:02,240 --> 00:17:07,560 Speaker 1: wants to become a public figure acts in secret. We 287 00:17:07,680 --> 00:17:11,040 Speaker 1: live in a time where everybody wants to be a 288 00:17:11,080 --> 00:17:15,120 Speaker 1: public figure. We live in a time and please don't 289 00:17:15,160 --> 00:17:18,160 Speaker 1: get mad at me for saying this, where even people 290 00:17:18,560 --> 00:17:24,120 Speaker 1: who have a private account spend their whole LIFs posting 291 00:17:24,240 --> 00:17:28,879 Speaker 1: stuff and commenting on stuff to create an image and 292 00:17:28,920 --> 00:17:33,199 Speaker 1: a projection of a reality that may bear no resemblance. 293 00:17:33,200 --> 00:17:35,640 Speaker 1: The awkward golf collapse really helped me. I appreciate that 294 00:17:36,560 --> 00:17:41,160 Speaker 1: to the reality of their situation and Jesus's brothers pull 295 00:17:41,200 --> 00:17:44,560 Speaker 1: them aside and say, we've got a great idea. Why 296 00:17:44,560 --> 00:17:48,439 Speaker 1: don't you show the world who you really are. The 297 00:17:48,520 --> 00:17:50,600 Speaker 1: interesting thing about the text, and I'm gonna give this 298 00:17:50,640 --> 00:17:53,760 Speaker 1: to you quick, because the nexus of this text is 299 00:17:53,800 --> 00:17:58,280 Speaker 1: in verse five. It says that even Jesus' brothers did 300 00:17:58,320 --> 00:18:04,480 Speaker 1: not believe in him, and since they didn't believe, they 301 00:18:04,480 --> 00:18:09,040 Speaker 1: were trying to get him to perform. Any time you 302 00:18:09,160 --> 00:18:12,560 Speaker 1: have unbelief in your heart, it will cause you to 303 00:18:12,640 --> 00:18:16,879 Speaker 1: try to perform to prove something that you don't really believe. 304 00:18:19,200 --> 00:18:24,160 Speaker 1: In psychological terms, it's called the fraudulence complex, or some 305 00:18:24,240 --> 00:18:28,520 Speaker 1: call it the impostor syndrome, and it speaks about how 306 00:18:28,600 --> 00:18:34,359 Speaker 1: many of us have an inability to internalize our strengths 307 00:18:34,720 --> 00:18:40,080 Speaker 1: and our accomplishments. Psychologists call it the impostor syndrome because 308 00:18:40,119 --> 00:18:44,399 Speaker 1: they say that many of us secretly, deep down feel 309 00:18:44,440 --> 00:18:48,960 Speaker 1: like we're a fraud. Many of us secretly, deep down 310 00:18:49,359 --> 00:18:52,480 Speaker 1: feel like we have so much less to offer than 311 00:18:52,480 --> 00:18:56,640 Speaker 1: what people expect, and that even when people compliment us, 312 00:18:56,920 --> 00:19:00,160 Speaker 1: we figure that the reason that they're complimenting us is 313 00:19:00,160 --> 00:19:02,800 Speaker 1: because they don't really see us for who we are. 314 00:19:03,440 --> 00:19:05,600 Speaker 1: And if they ever saw us for who we are, 315 00:19:06,119 --> 00:19:09,199 Speaker 1: if they ever saw how stupid we feel. If they 316 00:19:09,240 --> 00:19:13,120 Speaker 1: ever saw how inexperienced we feel, if they really saw 317 00:19:13,119 --> 00:19:16,760 Speaker 1: how nervous we really feel, they would kick us out 318 00:19:16,840 --> 00:19:20,800 Speaker 1: the room. It happens to fathers, It happens to mothers. 319 00:19:21,320 --> 00:19:25,119 Speaker 1: It happens to leaders, it happens to teenagers. It is 320 00:19:25,240 --> 00:19:29,520 Speaker 1: the fear of being found out to be less than 321 00:19:29,560 --> 00:19:32,800 Speaker 1: they thought you were. It is the fear that keeps 322 00:19:32,840 --> 00:19:36,159 Speaker 1: you in a performance mode. It is the fear that 323 00:19:36,280 --> 00:19:40,479 Speaker 1: keeps you spending money to look like something important, because 324 00:19:40,520 --> 00:19:44,080 Speaker 1: deep down you're afraid that you're really not. It is 325 00:19:44,160 --> 00:19:47,680 Speaker 1: the fear that keeps you over compensating, and you get 326 00:19:47,720 --> 00:19:50,800 Speaker 1: in situations and rather than letting other people be the 327 00:19:50,840 --> 00:19:54,520 Speaker 1: center of attention, you feel the need to overcompensate to 328 00:19:54,560 --> 00:19:57,680 Speaker 1: show how intelligent you are because deep down you don't 329 00:19:57,680 --> 00:20:01,280 Speaker 1: feel intelligent enough, so people think you're cocky, but you're 330 00:20:01,320 --> 00:20:05,320 Speaker 1: really not cocky. You're scared with the conflict between who 331 00:20:05,520 --> 00:20:08,040 Speaker 1: they think you're supposed to be and who you feel 332 00:20:08,080 --> 00:20:12,639 Speaker 1: like you really are. It's called the imposter syndrome. It 333 00:20:12,680 --> 00:20:16,760 Speaker 1: means that sometimes even as I'm trying to fulfill my purpose, 334 00:20:17,119 --> 00:20:20,280 Speaker 1: I feel like a fake. It's not that I'm a hypocrite. 335 00:20:20,520 --> 00:20:24,399 Speaker 1: It's not that I'm insincere. It's just that deep down inside, 336 00:20:24,680 --> 00:20:27,720 Speaker 1: I'm a man who sometimes feels like a little boy. 337 00:20:28,080 --> 00:20:31,280 Speaker 1: I'm a preacher who sometimes feels like a sinner. I 338 00:20:31,320 --> 00:20:34,320 Speaker 1: want to be wise, but sometimes I feel like a fool. 339 00:20:34,680 --> 00:20:38,160 Speaker 1: And I'm wondering, is there anybody here who lately has 340 00:20:38,200 --> 00:20:49,440 Speaker 1: been up under the pressure of an expectation? And when 341 00:20:49,480 --> 00:20:54,800 Speaker 1: you feel that, the temptation and the tendency is to 342 00:20:54,920 --> 00:21:00,399 Speaker 1: prove it. I gotta prove I'm a good dad, prove 343 00:21:00,800 --> 00:21:03,199 Speaker 1: I'm a good mom. I got to prove I'm a 344 00:21:03,240 --> 00:21:07,280 Speaker 1: good preacher. I got to prove it. And when you 345 00:21:07,320 --> 00:21:09,800 Speaker 1: do it to prove it, it takes the joy out 346 00:21:09,840 --> 00:21:17,119 Speaker 1: of it. See Jesus, Jesus didn't mind performing miracles. He 347 00:21:17,280 --> 00:21:20,760 Speaker 1: just wasn't going to do it for the wrong motives. 348 00:21:21,480 --> 00:21:25,480 Speaker 1: Jesus was going to Judea. He just wasn't going to 349 00:21:25,520 --> 00:21:30,359 Speaker 1: make a public spectacle out of his power. Jesus was 350 00:21:30,520 --> 00:21:34,960 Speaker 1: ultimately determined to show the world who he was, but 351 00:21:35,119 --> 00:21:46,280 Speaker 1: he wasn't going to do it for the gram. I 352 00:21:46,320 --> 00:21:50,000 Speaker 1: think the key thing that he says in the text 353 00:21:50,920 --> 00:21:55,919 Speaker 1: is not now I'm going to Judea, which is the 354 00:21:55,960 --> 00:21:59,919 Speaker 1: region where he would ultimately give his life, but not now. 355 00:22:02,040 --> 00:22:04,720 Speaker 1: And it's such a weird world we live in, isn't it. 356 00:22:05,840 --> 00:22:09,600 Speaker 1: I mean, I'm so scared for my kids. Honestly, I 357 00:22:09,640 --> 00:22:13,480 Speaker 1: don't even know what to tell them about growing up 358 00:22:13,520 --> 00:22:16,720 Speaker 1: in a time where we've always had the pressure, but 359 00:22:16,840 --> 00:22:22,320 Speaker 1: now the performance. Now everybody gets to experience performance anxiety 360 00:22:22,400 --> 00:22:25,080 Speaker 1: because we all perform our lives for one another all 361 00:22:25,119 --> 00:22:31,359 Speaker 1: the time, just constantly. I mean, if you cook a 362 00:22:31,400 --> 00:22:35,159 Speaker 1: good meal for your family, it does not count unless 363 00:22:35,200 --> 00:22:41,000 Speaker 1: you make an Instagram story out of the meal. This 364 00:22:41,080 --> 00:22:45,040 Speaker 1: is a very common thing to preach about. Is common 365 00:22:45,920 --> 00:22:51,159 Speaker 1: because it's killing us. Jesus said, if I go to 366 00:22:51,280 --> 00:22:55,000 Speaker 1: Judea for the wrong reasons, and if I show up 367 00:22:55,040 --> 00:22:58,320 Speaker 1: with the wrong motives, and if I live my life 368 00:22:58,840 --> 00:23:02,919 Speaker 1: to perform for others rather than to glorify my father, 369 00:23:03,600 --> 00:23:08,480 Speaker 1: it'll kill me. The religious leaders were waiting to literally 370 00:23:08,600 --> 00:23:11,600 Speaker 1: kill Jesus. But I wonder, what are the things that 371 00:23:11,640 --> 00:23:16,399 Speaker 1: are killing you? It says that he purposely stayed away 372 00:23:16,840 --> 00:23:20,840 Speaker 1: from Judea. What do you need to purposely stay away 373 00:23:20,880 --> 00:23:24,760 Speaker 1: from in this season of your life? What do you 374 00:23:24,840 --> 00:23:28,600 Speaker 1: need to purposely stop thinking about in this season of 375 00:23:28,640 --> 00:23:32,280 Speaker 1: your life, who do you need to purposely stop comparing 376 00:23:32,320 --> 00:23:36,600 Speaker 1: yourself to in this season of your life? For me, 377 00:23:37,240 --> 00:23:45,560 Speaker 1: it's Buck. I was doing squats the other day and Chunks, 378 00:23:46,560 --> 00:23:49,199 Speaker 1: Chunks was watching me do these squats and I was 379 00:23:49,280 --> 00:23:53,560 Speaker 1: doing them deep, deep squats. I only do leg day 380 00:23:53,760 --> 00:23:55,679 Speaker 1: once every six weeks, so I got to make it 381 00:23:55,720 --> 00:23:57,919 Speaker 1: count when I do it. And I don't know if 382 00:23:57,960 --> 00:23:59,440 Speaker 1: I can do it in these genes. I should have 383 00:23:59,520 --> 00:24:02,960 Speaker 1: tested this. I hadn't done this illustration yet, but I mean, 384 00:24:03,040 --> 00:24:06,720 Speaker 1: I was down deep on the squad. Now. Buck wasn't 385 00:24:06,720 --> 00:24:09,800 Speaker 1: there that day. Chunks was there, and Chunks was spotting 386 00:24:09,840 --> 00:24:13,640 Speaker 1: me and he said, what are you doing? And I said, 387 00:24:13,680 --> 00:24:17,240 Speaker 1: I'm doing I'm doing my squats like Buck. But he 388 00:24:17,280 --> 00:24:20,720 Speaker 1: said something so important. He said, don't do them like Buck. 389 00:24:22,440 --> 00:24:30,560 Speaker 1: Buck is built different than you. You're gonna break your 390 00:24:30,720 --> 00:24:35,920 Speaker 1: back trying to be like Buck. And I wonder how 391 00:24:35,920 --> 00:24:42,760 Speaker 1: we look to God trying to You are gonna snap 392 00:24:42,880 --> 00:24:49,320 Speaker 1: your hamstring, you are gonna pop your quads, trying to 393 00:24:49,600 --> 00:24:54,040 Speaker 1: trying to be Buck, getting getting trying to turn, trying 394 00:24:54,080 --> 00:24:59,159 Speaker 1: to I went on Instagram the other day and I 395 00:24:59,200 --> 00:25:03,679 Speaker 1: saw I I saw Kevin Hart, and I felt like 396 00:25:03,760 --> 00:25:08,800 Speaker 1: a failure in my whole life. I felt like, what 397 00:25:09,000 --> 00:25:12,520 Speaker 1: am I doing with my whole life? What is the 398 00:25:12,640 --> 00:25:20,080 Speaker 1: point of my existence? Within fifteen seconds, here I am 399 00:25:20,119 --> 00:25:23,480 Speaker 1: with a burden on me that I wasn't built for 400 00:25:24,320 --> 00:25:31,359 Speaker 1: by comparing myself to someone with a different calling. And 401 00:25:31,560 --> 00:25:35,680 Speaker 1: please don't judge me while I am in this vulnerable position, 402 00:25:37,040 --> 00:25:40,359 Speaker 1: because the truth of the matter is some of you 403 00:25:40,440 --> 00:25:43,240 Speaker 1: are hurting in ways that you don't have to hurt, 404 00:25:44,000 --> 00:25:47,679 Speaker 1: because you are putting yourself in a position that you 405 00:25:47,760 --> 00:25:51,040 Speaker 1: were not built to live in. Jesus said, I'm not 406 00:25:51,280 --> 00:25:54,800 Speaker 1: going to Judea because you want me to go to Judea. 407 00:25:55,359 --> 00:25:57,879 Speaker 1: I don't have to post it to prove it. I 408 00:25:57,920 --> 00:26:01,040 Speaker 1: don't have to turn stones into breadth to show that 409 00:26:01,119 --> 00:26:04,160 Speaker 1: I'm the son of God. I live out of purpose, 410 00:26:04,640 --> 00:26:08,400 Speaker 1: not for popularity. I live out of purpose, not for 411 00:26:08,440 --> 00:26:11,320 Speaker 1: the praises of men, but for the praise that can 412 00:26:11,359 --> 00:26:14,840 Speaker 1: only come from God. And I wonder if there's somebody 413 00:26:14,880 --> 00:26:18,439 Speaker 1: today who is content to stay in Galilee to know 414 00:26:18,520 --> 00:26:23,600 Speaker 1: that it's my season to be obedient. And that's all 415 00:26:23,640 --> 00:26:32,119 Speaker 1: I have to do. All I have to do is 416 00:26:32,240 --> 00:26:38,600 Speaker 1: be obedient in this season of my life. And Jesus said, 417 00:26:39,000 --> 00:26:47,440 Speaker 1: you'll go. I'm not going. Not now you'll go. I'm 418 00:26:47,440 --> 00:26:51,960 Speaker 1: gonna stay. I'm purposely staying away because if I go 419 00:26:52,080 --> 00:26:55,280 Speaker 1: here to impress people with that motive, it'll kill me. 420 00:26:56,840 --> 00:27:00,239 Speaker 1: And trying to impress people and trying to as you're 421 00:27:00,320 --> 00:27:03,480 Speaker 1: up to arbitrary standards that are changing so fast, it'll 422 00:27:03,600 --> 00:27:07,120 Speaker 1: kill your contentment, it'll kill your joy, it'll kill your marriage, 423 00:27:07,280 --> 00:27:12,920 Speaker 1: it'll kill your ministry, it'll kill your family. And now 424 00:27:12,960 --> 00:27:19,880 Speaker 1: even Jesus couldn't please everybody, and he was sinless and spotless. Jesus, 425 00:27:20,280 --> 00:27:24,159 Speaker 1: Jesus Christ, the Son of God, couldn't please everybody, and 426 00:27:24,200 --> 00:27:30,840 Speaker 1: we expect that we can. Even Jesus had to say, 427 00:27:31,000 --> 00:27:33,800 Speaker 1: y'all are my family. I love you, but it's not 428 00:27:33,880 --> 00:27:40,639 Speaker 1: for me, and just those words, it's not for me. 429 00:27:42,359 --> 00:27:44,399 Speaker 1: You ought to go down there, as Judea, show them 430 00:27:44,400 --> 00:27:46,840 Speaker 1: what you've made of because I think they were under 431 00:27:46,840 --> 00:27:49,840 Speaker 1: pressure too. Honestly, I think probably it was a lot 432 00:27:49,840 --> 00:27:53,960 Speaker 1: of pressure to be a sibling of Jesus. And you're 433 00:27:54,000 --> 00:27:58,119 Speaker 1: bringing home seas in chemistry, you know, and he's turning 434 00:27:58,160 --> 00:28:02,080 Speaker 1: water into wine like affect molecular structures in real time, 435 00:28:06,160 --> 00:28:10,080 Speaker 1: a lot of pressure. You got that weird brother, you know, 436 00:28:10,560 --> 00:28:12,719 Speaker 1: the one who stays at the temple teaching people at 437 00:28:12,760 --> 00:28:19,119 Speaker 1: age twelve. It's a pressure to feel special. And sometimes 438 00:28:19,160 --> 00:28:22,880 Speaker 1: the pressure that we feel to be special does not 439 00:28:22,920 --> 00:28:27,840 Speaker 1: come from God. It comes from culture, who tells you 440 00:28:27,960 --> 00:28:31,760 Speaker 1: that you've got to be so special, so different, so unique, 441 00:28:31,880 --> 00:28:36,600 Speaker 1: so set apart. But you already, are you already? Are 442 00:28:39,400 --> 00:28:45,880 Speaker 1: you already? Are already? Am set apart? Jesus? If you 443 00:28:45,920 --> 00:28:47,960 Speaker 1: go down to Judea, you could, you could, really, you 444 00:28:47,960 --> 00:28:49,960 Speaker 1: could show them who you are. You could, you could 445 00:28:49,960 --> 00:28:51,800 Speaker 1: show them who you are. I don't need to show them. 446 00:28:52,720 --> 00:28:57,720 Speaker 1: I know. When you live out of that place, it 447 00:28:57,800 --> 00:29:00,840 Speaker 1: affects you to be able to do it for purpose 448 00:29:02,200 --> 00:29:06,640 Speaker 1: and not for proof, because really, who are you trying 449 00:29:06,640 --> 00:29:09,520 Speaker 1: to prove it to? I mean, whoever you're trying to 450 00:29:09,520 --> 00:29:13,960 Speaker 1: prove something to isn't paying attention, because they're trying to 451 00:29:13,960 --> 00:29:17,760 Speaker 1: prove it to somebody who's not paying attention. And they're 452 00:29:17,760 --> 00:29:21,040 Speaker 1: proving it to someone who's not paying attention. And so 453 00:29:21,160 --> 00:29:24,040 Speaker 1: while we're busy posting to each other our results to 454 00:29:24,120 --> 00:29:28,160 Speaker 1: prove to one another what we're worth, our purpose is 455 00:29:28,280 --> 00:29:37,680 Speaker 1: dying in the place of our insecurity. When you know 456 00:29:37,760 --> 00:29:41,400 Speaker 1: it's real, when you know it's authentic, it enables you 457 00:29:41,440 --> 00:29:43,320 Speaker 1: to do it from a place of purpose. I'm going 458 00:29:43,360 --> 00:29:46,240 Speaker 1: to Judea, I'm going to go. I'm just not going 459 00:29:46,320 --> 00:29:49,880 Speaker 1: to go because you pushed me into it. Be careful 460 00:29:49,920 --> 00:29:55,080 Speaker 1: what you let people or cultural norms push you into. 461 00:29:56,640 --> 00:29:59,040 Speaker 1: You'll never be pushed into purpose. You will be pulled 462 00:29:59,040 --> 00:30:03,520 Speaker 1: from within. If it's pushing, it's not purpose. God does 463 00:30:03,560 --> 00:30:09,360 Speaker 1: not drive, he leads. They are very different. Jesus said, 464 00:30:09,400 --> 00:30:13,000 Speaker 1: I'm going when it's time for me to go. I'm 465 00:30:13,040 --> 00:30:17,320 Speaker 1: not going for clout. I'm going for Cairos. That's the 466 00:30:17,360 --> 00:30:21,800 Speaker 1: Greek word that means the timing of God. In Greek philosophy, 467 00:30:22,040 --> 00:30:26,960 Speaker 1: fate determined timing. In Kingdom philosophy, God determines timing. It 468 00:30:27,040 --> 00:30:29,640 Speaker 1: means I'm where I need to be right now, and 469 00:30:29,680 --> 00:30:33,720 Speaker 1: I'm good in Galilee. I'm good in Galilee. I'm good 470 00:30:33,720 --> 00:30:37,320 Speaker 1: if nobody knows my name. I'm good being anonymous. I 471 00:30:37,400 --> 00:30:39,720 Speaker 1: was listening to a podcast the other day with a 472 00:30:39,760 --> 00:30:42,560 Speaker 1: former First Lady of the United States, and she said 473 00:30:42,600 --> 00:30:45,440 Speaker 1: the number one sacrifice that she gave to serve the 474 00:30:45,440 --> 00:30:49,160 Speaker 1: country was the loss of anonymity. That Isn't it crazy 475 00:30:49,320 --> 00:30:51,920 Speaker 1: that everybody else is trying to climb out of the 476 00:30:51,960 --> 00:30:56,880 Speaker 1: thing that she wishes she could have back, And now 477 00:30:56,920 --> 00:30:59,640 Speaker 1: we've got a whole generation that's just trying to be 478 00:30:59,800 --> 00:31:03,000 Speaker 1: a public figure. I went on somebody's Instagram account the 479 00:31:03,000 --> 00:31:06,280 Speaker 1: other day. They had seventy followers, and it said public 480 00:31:06,320 --> 00:31:08,920 Speaker 1: figure under the name. Why do you need a label 481 00:31:09,600 --> 00:31:13,400 Speaker 1: so bad? Why do you so badly need to be 482 00:31:13,520 --> 00:31:17,640 Speaker 1: perceived by others? It's the pressure to be special, It's 483 00:31:17,680 --> 00:31:21,000 Speaker 1: the pressure to be important. But when you belong to 484 00:31:21,120 --> 00:31:23,320 Speaker 1: God and you are living on assignment, and you know 485 00:31:23,400 --> 00:31:26,400 Speaker 1: your anointing and you know your gift, it takes the 486 00:31:26,480 --> 00:31:30,640 Speaker 1: pressure off. Because I'm good in Galilee. I'll walk on 487 00:31:30,800 --> 00:31:34,840 Speaker 1: water in Galilee. I'll heal blind eyes in Galilee. I'll 488 00:31:34,960 --> 00:31:44,280 Speaker 1: teach in Galilee, I'll pray in Galilee. I'm good in Galilee. 489 00:31:45,080 --> 00:31:50,880 Speaker 1: I see it even seep into our ministry in very 490 00:31:50,920 --> 00:31:54,760 Speaker 1: subtle ways when we sit down to measure our ministry. 491 00:31:55,240 --> 00:31:59,360 Speaker 1: If I'm not careful, I will become so performance oriented 492 00:32:00,080 --> 00:32:03,000 Speaker 1: in the way I pastor this church that I will 493 00:32:03,000 --> 00:32:07,120 Speaker 1: get my priorities more on the statistics than the substance 494 00:32:12,960 --> 00:32:15,200 Speaker 1: and I felt it happening the other day because we're 495 00:32:15,240 --> 00:32:17,840 Speaker 1: looking at all of these Instagram posts that we put out, 496 00:32:17,840 --> 00:32:20,760 Speaker 1: and we use it all. I promise you Jesus would 497 00:32:20,760 --> 00:32:22,840 Speaker 1: have had an Instagram account. It would have been the 498 00:32:22,880 --> 00:32:25,840 Speaker 1: dopest Instagram account that you've ever seen in your life. 499 00:32:25,920 --> 00:32:28,040 Speaker 1: You would have swiped up and got healed. You wouldn't 500 00:32:28,080 --> 00:32:30,280 Speaker 1: even had to click on anything after that. It would 501 00:32:30,280 --> 00:32:34,520 Speaker 1: have been but swipe up and lose your leprosy. It 502 00:32:34,560 --> 00:32:37,520 Speaker 1: would have been an amazing Instagram account. But what I'm 503 00:32:37,560 --> 00:32:40,120 Speaker 1: saying about it is I was in this moment where 504 00:32:40,160 --> 00:32:44,200 Speaker 1: we were showing how this post perform, perform, perform, perform. Now, 505 00:32:44,200 --> 00:32:47,400 Speaker 1: for me, that's a dangerous word because I am performance 506 00:32:47,440 --> 00:32:50,640 Speaker 1: oriented by nature. I don't know why I would ask 507 00:32:50,680 --> 00:32:53,320 Speaker 1: for your prayers for that. I sometimes feel like I'm 508 00:32:53,360 --> 00:32:55,720 Speaker 1: just showing up to regular conversations and oh God, I 509 00:32:55,800 --> 00:32:57,600 Speaker 1: hope I say the right thing. I had a friend 510 00:32:57,640 --> 00:32:59,600 Speaker 1: who got in trouble the other day, and it took 511 00:32:59,600 --> 00:33:01,800 Speaker 1: me a week to call him, not because I didn't 512 00:33:01,800 --> 00:33:03,760 Speaker 1: care about him, but because I didn't think I would 513 00:33:03,800 --> 00:33:06,520 Speaker 1: have anything valid to say, so rather than call him 514 00:33:06,520 --> 00:33:08,800 Speaker 1: and say what I had, I waited and hurt him 515 00:33:08,800 --> 00:33:10,720 Speaker 1: by not calling because I didn't think i'd have something 516 00:33:10,760 --> 00:33:13,120 Speaker 1: to say. And when I finally called him, I realized 517 00:33:13,160 --> 00:33:16,400 Speaker 1: he didn't need my performance. He just needed my presence. 518 00:33:20,440 --> 00:33:25,239 Speaker 1: He didn't need me to say anything. He didn't need 519 00:33:25,280 --> 00:33:30,800 Speaker 1: me to say anything. He just needed me to be there. 520 00:33:32,920 --> 00:33:37,880 Speaker 1: And when you don't believe that, it kills you. Unbelief 521 00:33:37,920 --> 00:33:41,719 Speaker 1: always leads to performance. They didn't believe in him. They 522 00:33:41,720 --> 00:33:43,800 Speaker 1: thought he was a fraud. When you think you're a fraud, 523 00:33:43,800 --> 00:33:45,440 Speaker 1: when you get unbelief in your heart, when you go 524 00:33:45,520 --> 00:33:52,720 Speaker 1: to those places in your mind, you kill yourself trying 525 00:33:52,720 --> 00:34:01,920 Speaker 1: to prove something. You know. We're analyzing, and you can 526 00:34:01,960 --> 00:34:03,840 Speaker 1: look at it. You can look at how how many 527 00:34:03,880 --> 00:34:06,120 Speaker 1: people like this post. And here's a sermon clip we 528 00:34:06,160 --> 00:34:09,759 Speaker 1: put out in. Here's a song that we put out in. 529 00:34:09,840 --> 00:34:12,160 Speaker 1: Here's another sermon clip, and this one performed better than 530 00:34:12,160 --> 00:34:15,160 Speaker 1: that one. And that's good to know. I think should 531 00:34:15,200 --> 00:34:16,960 Speaker 1: look at all that. I mean, I definitely want the 532 00:34:17,000 --> 00:34:20,200 Speaker 1: person who's managing my retirement account to look at the 533 00:34:20,200 --> 00:34:22,239 Speaker 1: performance of the retirement account. I don't just want them 534 00:34:22,280 --> 00:34:24,640 Speaker 1: to pray about it. Amen. Now it's losing money, but 535 00:34:24,680 --> 00:34:26,560 Speaker 1: it's a great company. We believe in their values and 536 00:34:26,600 --> 00:34:31,400 Speaker 1: I want to make some money, But with ministry, you 537 00:34:31,440 --> 00:34:35,919 Speaker 1: can't always measure that, can you. And I don't really 538 00:34:35,960 --> 00:34:40,799 Speaker 1: know if the one that got the most likes was 539 00:34:40,840 --> 00:34:43,960 Speaker 1: the one that God used, because who am I to 540 00:34:44,000 --> 00:34:47,080 Speaker 1: say that the one that didn't get as many likes. 541 00:34:48,840 --> 00:34:53,480 Speaker 1: Maybe it came across somebody's feed when their hands were 542 00:34:53,520 --> 00:34:56,080 Speaker 1: shaken too bad to click like or to comment because 543 00:34:56,120 --> 00:34:58,319 Speaker 1: they had a bottle of pills in their hand, and 544 00:34:58,360 --> 00:35:01,279 Speaker 1: something that was spoken through that I just really hit 545 00:35:01,280 --> 00:35:08,480 Speaker 1: their situation. And you can't measure that when you do 546 00:35:08,560 --> 00:35:13,319 Speaker 1: it for the wrong audience, when people don't clap, you quit, 547 00:35:16,800 --> 00:35:18,440 Speaker 1: when they don't say thank you, or when you get 548 00:35:18,440 --> 00:35:21,560 Speaker 1: the feeling like they don't even appreciate me, they don't 549 00:35:21,600 --> 00:35:27,440 Speaker 1: even notice, they wouldn't even miss me, they don't even 550 00:35:28,440 --> 00:35:30,200 Speaker 1: they don't even know what I bring to this. They 551 00:35:30,200 --> 00:35:37,400 Speaker 1: don't really Jesus wasn't doing it for the people, and 552 00:35:37,440 --> 00:35:40,960 Speaker 1: he certainly wasn't doing it for their praise. He was 553 00:35:41,000 --> 00:35:45,040 Speaker 1: doing it for a purpose, and the people were not 554 00:35:45,080 --> 00:35:49,120 Speaker 1: his audience. And when the brothers said, you need to 555 00:35:49,160 --> 00:35:53,400 Speaker 1: do it so they'll see, you need to do it 556 00:35:53,480 --> 00:35:55,520 Speaker 1: so they'll know you need to do it to prove it, 557 00:35:56,520 --> 00:36:01,160 Speaker 1: Jesus said, I believe. Twenty nineteen version Jesus said, I 558 00:36:01,160 --> 00:36:05,759 Speaker 1: don't have to post it to prove it. I don't 559 00:36:05,760 --> 00:36:08,680 Speaker 1: have to do it because they're clapping. I do it 560 00:36:08,800 --> 00:36:16,279 Speaker 1: because I'm called. I'm not doing it for clout. I'm 561 00:36:16,280 --> 00:36:21,120 Speaker 1: doing it for calling. I am not chasing their approval. 562 00:36:22,000 --> 00:36:26,719 Speaker 1: I am fulfilling my assignment. Now, this message is for 563 00:36:26,760 --> 00:36:29,839 Speaker 1: our generation. And I do not mean people that are 564 00:36:29,880 --> 00:36:33,000 Speaker 1: my age. I mean the time that we live in 565 00:36:33,440 --> 00:36:39,080 Speaker 1: is consumed and obsessed with chasing clout, approval and publicity. 566 00:36:39,440 --> 00:36:43,400 Speaker 1: But some things ought to stay private. Some things that 567 00:36:43,480 --> 00:36:48,000 Speaker 1: God does in your life are not for ppa. Some 568 00:36:48,040 --> 00:36:51,680 Speaker 1: things are not for a public display of ability or 569 00:36:51,760 --> 00:36:55,040 Speaker 1: a public display of affection. You know, back in my day, 570 00:36:55,239 --> 00:36:57,640 Speaker 1: if you were making out with somebody in public, they 571 00:36:57,640 --> 00:37:00,239 Speaker 1: would holler at you. Get a room. And I heard 572 00:37:00,320 --> 00:37:03,239 Speaker 1: Jesus say, when you pray, don't do it out in 573 00:37:03,360 --> 00:37:07,480 Speaker 1: public like the Pagans do trying to impress somebody or 574 00:37:07,480 --> 00:37:11,759 Speaker 1: the Pharisees do. But get in a secret place, get 575 00:37:11,760 --> 00:37:15,720 Speaker 1: in your closet, get a room where you get alone 576 00:37:15,760 --> 00:37:19,480 Speaker 1: with God, and ask God what am I called to 577 00:37:19,480 --> 00:37:22,719 Speaker 1: do what am I called to be. I can't take 578 00:37:22,800 --> 00:37:27,320 Speaker 1: my cues from culture or the crowd is killing me. God, 579 00:37:27,400 --> 00:37:30,480 Speaker 1: what do you want me to do in this season? 580 00:37:30,800 --> 00:37:34,520 Speaker 1: It's too much pressure to please people. God. I just 581 00:37:34,600 --> 00:37:40,680 Speaker 1: want to please you. I do it for you. God. 582 00:37:42,800 --> 00:37:45,960 Speaker 1: I show up for you, I stay late for you, 583 00:37:46,719 --> 00:37:50,360 Speaker 1: I forgive for you. I love for you, I serve 584 00:37:50,440 --> 00:37:53,560 Speaker 1: for you. I breathe for you. I live for you. 585 00:37:53,960 --> 00:37:59,719 Speaker 1: I worship for you. It's not for an audience of them. 586 00:38:00,040 --> 00:38:08,160 Speaker 1: God is my audience. And when God is your audience, 587 00:38:09,360 --> 00:38:15,640 Speaker 1: the opinions of people are no longer your sustenance. I 588 00:38:15,760 --> 00:38:23,520 Speaker 1: don't turn stones into bread. We so need this word 589 00:38:23,560 --> 00:38:25,680 Speaker 1: from the Lord because we're sure not going to get 590 00:38:25,680 --> 00:38:32,200 Speaker 1: it from the world. It's getting weirder and weirder and weirder. 591 00:38:33,080 --> 00:38:37,800 Speaker 1: How we're all performing for each other all the time. 592 00:38:38,480 --> 00:38:43,359 Speaker 1: It's exhausting and it sucks and it's worthless and it 593 00:38:43,440 --> 00:38:49,480 Speaker 1: doesn't matter. And God sent me today. Watch this with 594 00:38:49,600 --> 00:38:56,839 Speaker 1: a word of sanity. The crowd will kill you. I 595 00:38:56,880 --> 00:38:59,400 Speaker 1: love the phrase that he put. Jod said there was 596 00:38:59,560 --> 00:39:05,879 Speaker 1: wide spread whispering about Jesus. Everybody had a comment to make, 597 00:39:05,920 --> 00:39:08,440 Speaker 1: but nobody had the courage to say it out loud 598 00:39:08,480 --> 00:39:11,960 Speaker 1: to his face. Everybody was whispering. And this is the 599 00:39:12,000 --> 00:39:16,560 Speaker 1: world that we live in, and when we give too 600 00:39:16,640 --> 00:39:21,439 Speaker 1: much weight to the whispers of people and not enough 601 00:39:21,480 --> 00:39:25,080 Speaker 1: weight to the word of God, it will kill us 602 00:39:25,480 --> 00:39:36,399 Speaker 1: on the inside. So the impostor syndrome was coined as 603 00:39:36,440 --> 00:39:42,600 Speaker 1: a phrase several decades ago in psychological terms, but it's 604 00:39:42,600 --> 00:39:46,880 Speaker 1: as old as Moses, who stood up one day just 605 00:39:46,920 --> 00:39:50,319 Speaker 1: to see a burning bush that wasn't consumed talking about 606 00:39:50,360 --> 00:39:52,839 Speaker 1: who am I that I should go stand before Pharaoh. 607 00:39:53,600 --> 00:39:57,200 Speaker 1: No matter how many miracles God did through Moses, he 608 00:39:57,320 --> 00:40:00,399 Speaker 1: still had trouble believing that he was enough to lead 609 00:40:00,440 --> 00:40:03,439 Speaker 1: the people. That's why he struck the rock instead of 610 00:40:03,480 --> 00:40:06,319 Speaker 1: speaking to it. That's why he was still trying to 611 00:40:06,360 --> 00:40:09,680 Speaker 1: prove at the end of his ministry, I am something, 612 00:40:10,000 --> 00:40:12,879 Speaker 1: I am somebody I can do it. And now I'm 613 00:40:12,880 --> 00:40:15,800 Speaker 1: spending too much money over here, and now I'm spending 614 00:40:15,840 --> 00:40:18,840 Speaker 1: too much energy over here, and now I'm becoming something 615 00:40:18,880 --> 00:40:21,239 Speaker 1: that I don't even like to prove it to who 616 00:40:23,120 --> 00:40:30,239 Speaker 1: to who? Jesus said, I'm going to Judea when it's 617 00:40:30,320 --> 00:40:36,239 Speaker 1: right for me, and God give us the clarity to 618 00:40:36,320 --> 00:40:42,359 Speaker 1: know what's right for us what we're built for, so 619 00:40:42,440 --> 00:40:48,120 Speaker 1: we stop finding ourselves and compromising positions that do not 620 00:40:48,239 --> 00:40:52,440 Speaker 1: even fit our build God, give us the wisdom to 621 00:40:52,520 --> 00:40:57,880 Speaker 1: know when people are pushing us. Just because it's normal 622 00:40:57,920 --> 00:41:02,080 Speaker 1: doesn't mean it's wise. God, give us the wisdom to 623 00:41:02,160 --> 00:41:06,279 Speaker 1: know our timing. Give us the wisdom to know when 624 00:41:06,280 --> 00:41:09,400 Speaker 1: we need to put something in a journal not on Facebook. 625 00:41:10,320 --> 00:41:17,280 Speaker 1: Give us the wisdom to know when it's your voice. Father, 626 00:41:17,360 --> 00:41:19,759 Speaker 1: I thank you for what you've spoken today, and I 627 00:41:20,000 --> 00:41:22,160 Speaker 1: believe that I will be hearing for a long time 628 00:41:24,000 --> 00:41:29,560 Speaker 1: how it was applied in individual lives. With everyone standing, 629 00:41:29,960 --> 00:41:32,879 Speaker 1: I want to pray a prayer or a blessing over 630 00:41:32,960 --> 00:41:36,440 Speaker 1: you today that if you can receive it with your spirit, 631 00:41:37,880 --> 00:41:42,080 Speaker 1: it will save you so much pain and consternation and 632 00:41:42,120 --> 00:41:49,160 Speaker 1: agony to be able to receive that you don't have 633 00:41:49,200 --> 00:41:51,719 Speaker 1: to live on bread alone, but every word that proceeds 634 00:41:51,719 --> 00:41:54,880 Speaker 1: from the mouth of God. And just to know in 635 00:41:54,960 --> 00:41:59,960 Speaker 1: this moment that it is okay to stay in Galilee, 636 00:42:03,480 --> 00:42:08,560 Speaker 1: it's okay to operate in your gift, it's okay to 637 00:42:08,600 --> 00:42:11,239 Speaker 1: do it the way you need to do it, and 638 00:42:11,280 --> 00:42:14,919 Speaker 1: that proving stuff to people never produce the power of God. 639 00:42:15,200 --> 00:42:19,600 Speaker 1: Never Even when Jesus hung on the cross, they were 640 00:42:19,719 --> 00:42:21,960 Speaker 1: still trying to get him to prove it. If you 641 00:42:22,040 --> 00:42:24,800 Speaker 1: are the son of God, come down from that cross. 642 00:42:25,000 --> 00:42:28,400 Speaker 1: But he couldn't come down. He wasn't up there to 643 00:42:28,480 --> 00:42:31,600 Speaker 1: prove it. He was up there to do it for 644 00:42:31,680 --> 00:42:35,239 Speaker 1: you and for me, to despise the shame and to 645 00:42:35,440 --> 00:42:43,920 Speaker 1: endure the cross. The presence of the Lord is here 646 00:42:45,280 --> 00:42:49,799 Speaker 1: to remind you of your righteousness and to remind you 647 00:42:51,440 --> 00:42:54,400 Speaker 1: that you don't have to perform a religious act or 648 00:42:54,440 --> 00:42:59,360 Speaker 1: a behavior modification program to be accepted by your heavenly Father. 649 00:43:00,480 --> 00:43:03,680 Speaker 1: With your head's bowed and your eyes closed, there's somebody 650 00:43:03,719 --> 00:43:06,359 Speaker 1: here who's been feeling like you're not enough, and it 651 00:43:06,360 --> 00:43:11,319 Speaker 1: has caused you to enter into modes of communication and 652 00:43:11,480 --> 00:43:15,040 Speaker 1: methods of life and paces of lifestyle that do not 653 00:43:15,120 --> 00:43:18,600 Speaker 1: even fit your assignment or your calling. And there are 654 00:43:18,640 --> 00:43:21,200 Speaker 1: some places that you're going to purposely need to stay 655 00:43:21,239 --> 00:43:25,760 Speaker 1: away from in the coming days. Places in your mind 656 00:43:26,200 --> 00:43:29,880 Speaker 1: and places in your imagination. There are places that you 657 00:43:29,920 --> 00:43:33,680 Speaker 1: will need to stay away from on purpose in order 658 00:43:33,719 --> 00:43:37,040 Speaker 1: to live in peace. And you've been under a pressure 659 00:43:37,400 --> 00:43:40,120 Speaker 1: that did not come from God, to live up to 660 00:43:40,200 --> 00:43:44,800 Speaker 1: something that was not even originated in his heart. Today, 661 00:43:44,840 --> 00:43:47,680 Speaker 1: I pray that the peace of God would be your 662 00:43:47,760 --> 00:43:51,040 Speaker 1: portion as you enter this next season of your life, 663 00:43:51,360 --> 00:43:53,799 Speaker 1: and that whatever you do, you would not do it 664 00:43:53,840 --> 00:43:57,239 Speaker 1: for popularity or for praise, but that you would do 665 00:43:57,280 --> 00:44:01,440 Speaker 1: it on purpose, that you would do it with an 666 00:44:01,480 --> 00:44:05,720 Speaker 1: intentionality like Jesus had as he set his face toward 667 00:44:05,960 --> 00:44:10,120 Speaker 1: the future with destiny in his heart, praying, even under 668 00:44:10,160 --> 00:44:13,399 Speaker 1: pressure in the garden of gethsemone, nevertheless, not my will, 669 00:44:13,440 --> 00:44:16,400 Speaker 1: but Thine be done. May God give you this spirit 670 00:44:16,600 --> 00:44:20,640 Speaker 1: of focus and determination to raise your family and to 671 00:44:20,760 --> 00:44:23,799 Speaker 1: run your race, and to live your life, and to 672 00:44:23,920 --> 00:44:30,080 Speaker 1: ignore the whispers to come out of unbelief. Stop trying 673 00:44:30,120 --> 00:44:34,040 Speaker 1: to prove it. You don't have to prove it. It's 674 00:44:34,080 --> 00:44:40,200 Speaker 1: already spoken. It's already settled. With heads bout and eyes closed. 675 00:44:40,880 --> 00:44:43,680 Speaker 1: This is the moment of our service where we give 676 00:44:43,719 --> 00:44:47,560 Speaker 1: you the opportunity to begin a relationship with God. If 677 00:44:47,600 --> 00:44:50,399 Speaker 1: you are here today and you are far away from God, 678 00:44:50,440 --> 00:44:52,960 Speaker 1: you don't have to leave that way, and you don't 679 00:44:53,000 --> 00:44:55,520 Speaker 1: have to perform up to a standard. That's what they 680 00:44:55,560 --> 00:44:58,279 Speaker 1: tried to do through the law, but nobody could keep it. 681 00:44:58,440 --> 00:45:01,680 Speaker 1: There is no unrighteous one and you can make plans 682 00:45:01,719 --> 00:45:04,440 Speaker 1: to change your life, and you can have better priorities, 683 00:45:04,560 --> 00:45:06,560 Speaker 1: and you could try to be a better person, but 684 00:45:06,600 --> 00:45:08,760 Speaker 1: none of it will get you there. It all comes 685 00:45:08,800 --> 00:45:11,359 Speaker 1: down to the grace of God. It all comes down 686 00:45:11,440 --> 00:45:14,560 Speaker 1: to believing and surrendering your life to Him. And I 687 00:45:14,640 --> 00:45:17,719 Speaker 1: believe there are a special few today that God brought 688 00:45:17,760 --> 00:45:20,799 Speaker 1: you here for this moment, for this moment, that He 689 00:45:20,800 --> 00:45:23,799 Speaker 1: can make you his child, that He can give you 690 00:45:23,880 --> 00:45:26,520 Speaker 1: a new beginning in your life, that you can begin 691 00:45:26,600 --> 00:45:28,880 Speaker 1: to walk with Him, that you can give your life 692 00:45:28,920 --> 00:45:31,600 Speaker 1: to Jesus Christ. And with our heads bowed and our 693 00:45:31,600 --> 00:45:34,960 Speaker 1: eyes closed, we pray together as a church family, out 694 00:45:35,080 --> 00:45:38,160 Speaker 1: loud on every campus for the benefit of those who 695 00:45:38,200 --> 00:45:40,440 Speaker 1: are coming to God or coming back to God. The 696 00:45:40,480 --> 00:45:43,240 Speaker 1: Bible says, if you confess with your mouth Jesus's Lord, 697 00:45:43,520 --> 00:45:45,839 Speaker 1: and believe in your heart God raised him from the dead, 698 00:45:46,120 --> 00:45:48,759 Speaker 1: you will be saved. It is by grace you are 699 00:45:48,800 --> 00:45:51,480 Speaker 1: saved through faith. It is the gift of God, not 700 00:45:51,600 --> 00:45:54,320 Speaker 1: of work, So no one can boast. It's not about 701 00:45:54,320 --> 00:45:57,080 Speaker 1: what you can do, It's about what has already been done. 702 00:45:57,280 --> 00:46:01,279 Speaker 1: He died for you, he rose for you today. This 703 00:46:01,320 --> 00:46:04,120 Speaker 1: can be your moment with heads about and eyes closed. 704 00:46:04,280 --> 00:46:06,360 Speaker 1: If you want to give your life to Jesus Christ, 705 00:46:06,600 --> 00:46:10,000 Speaker 1: repeat this prayer after me. Church Family, pray along, Heavenly Father. 706 00:46:10,840 --> 00:46:14,800 Speaker 1: I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God 707 00:46:15,560 --> 00:46:19,120 Speaker 1: and the Savior of the world. And today I make 708 00:46:19,239 --> 00:46:22,959 Speaker 1: Jesus the Lord of my life. I believe he died 709 00:46:23,680 --> 00:46:27,239 Speaker 1: that I could be forgiven and rose again to give 710 00:46:27,280 --> 00:46:32,520 Speaker 1: me life. I receive this new life. This is my 711 00:46:32,680 --> 00:46:35,080 Speaker 1: new beginning. On the count of three, if you prayed 712 00:46:35,120 --> 00:46:37,839 Speaker 1: that prayer, shoots your hand up high. One, two, three. 713 00:46:37,880 --> 00:46:41,879 Speaker 1: I want to celebrate with you. Bless you God, Bless Him, 714 00:46:42,440 --> 00:46:45,600 Speaker 1: bless Him. I think we can celebrate better than that. 715 00:46:46,360 --> 00:46:49,360 Speaker 1: Let's do it like a family. Let's do it like 716 00:46:49,440 --> 00:46:53,640 Speaker 1: the angels. Let's throw a little party, a little birthday party. 717 00:46:54,080 --> 00:46:57,120 Speaker 1: Come on, let's throw a little birthday party. Welcome to 718 00:46:57,160 --> 00:47:03,400 Speaker 1: the Family of God. Thank you for joining us. Special 719 00:47:03,440 --> 00:47:06,280 Speaker 1: thanks to those of you who give generously to this ministry. 720 00:47:06,600 --> 00:47:09,560 Speaker 1: Is because of you that this ministry is possible. You 721 00:47:09,600 --> 00:47:11,960 Speaker 1: can click the link in the description to give now, 722 00:47:12,560 --> 00:47:16,400 Speaker 1: or visit Elevationchurch dot org slash podcast for more information, 723 00:47:16,960 --> 00:47:20,080 Speaker 1: and if you enjoyed the podcast, you can subscribe. You 724 00:47:20,120 --> 00:47:22,160 Speaker 1: can share it with your friends. You can click the 725 00:47:22,200 --> 00:47:24,480 Speaker 1: share button, take a screenshot and share it on your 726 00:47:24,520 --> 00:47:27,480 Speaker 1: social stories and tag us at Elevation Church. Thanks again 727 00:47:27,520 --> 00:47:33,680 Speaker 1: for listening. God bless you.