1 00:00:01,880 --> 00:00:04,439 Speaker 1: Hey, this is Stephen Ferdick. I'm the pastor of Elevation 2 00:00:04,720 --> 00:00:06,960 Speaker 1: Church and this is our podcast. I wanted to thank 3 00:00:06,960 --> 00:00:10,280 Speaker 1: you for joining us today. Hope this inspires you. Hope 4 00:00:10,280 --> 00:00:12,360 Speaker 1: it builds your faith. Hope it gives your perspective to 5 00:00:12,360 --> 00:00:15,160 Speaker 1: see God is moving in your life. Enjoy the message. 6 00:00:17,120 --> 00:00:19,599 Speaker 1: A lot of times when I'm up here, I'm welcoming 7 00:00:20,120 --> 00:00:21,919 Speaker 1: the guest who's going to preach, But today, I guess 8 00:00:21,920 --> 00:00:25,720 Speaker 1: I'm welcoming myself because I had the incredible honor of 9 00:00:25,840 --> 00:00:29,080 Speaker 1: being able to preach and bring God's word to you today. 10 00:00:29,120 --> 00:00:32,240 Speaker 1: I'm so grateful that Pastor Stephen would trust me to preach. 11 00:00:32,280 --> 00:00:34,559 Speaker 1: And I'm really excited about this word because God has 12 00:00:34,600 --> 00:00:37,360 Speaker 1: been working it in my heart over the last several weeks. 13 00:00:37,360 --> 00:00:39,320 Speaker 1: He's been preaching it to me so that I can 14 00:00:39,400 --> 00:00:41,600 Speaker 1: have something to bring to y'all. I'm going to stay 15 00:00:41,600 --> 00:00:43,880 Speaker 1: in the flow of our Savage Jesus series. Haven't you 16 00:00:43,920 --> 00:00:47,960 Speaker 1: loved Savage Jesus? In case you're new, We've been looking 17 00:00:48,040 --> 00:00:50,560 Speaker 1: at the life of Jesus through the Book of Mark, 18 00:00:50,600 --> 00:00:52,360 Speaker 1: and I think one of the reasons this series is 19 00:00:52,400 --> 00:00:55,280 Speaker 1: resonating so powerfully with me and with our churches is 20 00:00:55,320 --> 00:00:59,000 Speaker 1: really just an overflow of our pastor's heart. Because I've 21 00:00:59,000 --> 00:01:01,360 Speaker 1: been here for eleven year and I can say in 22 00:01:01,520 --> 00:01:04,759 Speaker 1: every single season, he has always fought to keep our 23 00:01:04,800 --> 00:01:07,080 Speaker 1: focus as a church on the main thing, which will 24 00:01:07,080 --> 00:01:10,520 Speaker 1: always and forever be Jesus. And it's not just what 25 00:01:10,600 --> 00:01:14,600 Speaker 1: he preaches on the platform. It's in the decisions he 26 00:01:14,720 --> 00:01:17,319 Speaker 1: makes behind the scenes. It's in the way that he's 27 00:01:17,400 --> 00:01:20,160 Speaker 1: kind of savage, and how he loves and encourages and 28 00:01:20,200 --> 00:01:22,880 Speaker 1: blesses people that you'll never hear about in a sermon. 29 00:01:22,959 --> 00:01:24,720 Speaker 1: So I just want to thank God for a pastor 30 00:01:24,760 --> 00:01:28,800 Speaker 1: he keeps as centered on the heart of God, which 31 00:01:28,840 --> 00:01:32,319 Speaker 1: is to reach people with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. 32 00:01:33,680 --> 00:01:35,880 Speaker 1: And I'm so excited about what God's going to do today. 33 00:01:35,880 --> 00:01:41,360 Speaker 1: You guys can have a seat now. This is a 34 00:01:41,400 --> 00:01:44,399 Speaker 1: significant weekend for me, not just because I get the 35 00:01:44,440 --> 00:01:47,760 Speaker 1: honor of preaching, but anyone who knows me knows that 36 00:01:47,800 --> 00:01:50,440 Speaker 1: I'm pretty excited that there's a new Star Wars movie 37 00:01:50,440 --> 00:01:55,160 Speaker 1: out this weekend. If you're watching this later, Solo came 38 00:01:55,200 --> 00:01:58,360 Speaker 1: out this weekend, and I am just a full fledged, 39 00:01:58,640 --> 00:02:01,680 Speaker 1: unashamed geek. I love anything that has to do with 40 00:02:01,840 --> 00:02:04,160 Speaker 1: a long time ago in a galaxy far far away. 41 00:02:04,720 --> 00:02:06,920 Speaker 1: And it's not just me, I've converted my kids. So 42 00:02:06,960 --> 00:02:09,000 Speaker 1: this is you can see our favorite like post dinner 43 00:02:09,480 --> 00:02:11,840 Speaker 1: lightsaber fight. That's kind of what we do to bond 44 00:02:12,160 --> 00:02:14,480 Speaker 1: as a family. But you know, my kids even have 45 00:02:14,520 --> 00:02:17,080 Speaker 1: a Star Wars YouTube channel called the Three Pos. I 46 00:02:17,160 --> 00:02:19,680 Speaker 1: was pretty impressed with that name. Three Kids, three Pos. 47 00:02:19,800 --> 00:02:22,680 Speaker 1: My wife came up with it. But I'm also a 48 00:02:22,720 --> 00:02:24,640 Speaker 1: forty two year old man who may or may not 49 00:02:24,720 --> 00:02:27,720 Speaker 1: collect Star Wars comics. But that's that's okay. But I'm 50 00:02:27,800 --> 00:02:30,920 Speaker 1: just I'm just a casual collector. I don't hold a 51 00:02:30,960 --> 00:02:34,200 Speaker 1: candle compared to some serious collectors out there. And my 52 00:02:34,280 --> 00:02:37,320 Speaker 1: friend who's on staff, Ryan Monette, he is a legit 53 00:02:37,720 --> 00:02:40,680 Speaker 1: Star Wars, just anything sci fi collector. You go to 54 00:02:40,720 --> 00:02:43,000 Speaker 1: his house and you feel like you're walking into a 55 00:02:43,120 --> 00:02:47,440 Speaker 1: sci fi museum. You got life sized, real costumes and replicas. 56 00:02:47,440 --> 00:02:49,600 Speaker 1: And let me show you how much better he is 57 00:02:49,600 --> 00:02:53,080 Speaker 1: as a collector than me. So this is the prize 58 00:02:53,080 --> 00:02:55,000 Speaker 1: of my collection. This was my R two D two 59 00:02:55,080 --> 00:02:59,240 Speaker 1: when I was five years old and I still have it. Actually, 60 00:02:59,240 --> 00:03:01,359 Speaker 1: one night it just randomly turned on in my room 61 00:03:01,400 --> 00:03:03,320 Speaker 1: as a kid and just felt that it freaked me out, 62 00:03:03,360 --> 00:03:06,000 Speaker 1: but still still kept it. But I love this thing. 63 00:03:06,080 --> 00:03:09,040 Speaker 1: This is this is like the pinnacle of my collection. 64 00:03:09,800 --> 00:03:12,600 Speaker 1: Let me show you the highlight of Ryan's collection. I 65 00:03:12,600 --> 00:03:19,880 Speaker 1: want to introduce that to you really quick. In case 66 00:03:19,919 --> 00:03:24,600 Speaker 1: you missed this, RTD two is on the stage at Valentine. 67 00:03:24,720 --> 00:03:29,079 Speaker 1: I'm living out every childhood dream. My eight year old 68 00:03:29,120 --> 00:03:32,680 Speaker 1: self would be going nuts right now. It took Ryan 69 00:03:33,560 --> 00:03:36,600 Speaker 1: four years to build this. First of all, I've never 70 00:03:36,640 --> 00:03:39,280 Speaker 1: realized R two is this big. I feel even kind 71 00:03:39,280 --> 00:03:44,240 Speaker 1: of short scented next to him. But my thanks, artwo. 72 00:03:45,680 --> 00:03:47,560 Speaker 1: It took him four years to build this because you 73 00:03:47,560 --> 00:03:49,360 Speaker 1: had to get parts from certain parts of the country 74 00:03:49,360 --> 00:03:51,120 Speaker 1: and they're only available at certain times of the year. 75 00:03:51,160 --> 00:03:53,760 Speaker 1: There's this whole R two builders club. And how many 76 00:03:53,800 --> 00:03:55,760 Speaker 1: of you think that the best way Ryan could honor 77 00:03:55,760 --> 00:03:57,560 Speaker 1: his worship pastor after preaching all week and would be 78 00:03:57,640 --> 00:04:00,000 Speaker 1: to let me take this home if you want to say, 79 00:04:00,120 --> 00:04:04,920 Speaker 1: start a petition. So R two, is there anything you'd 80 00:04:04,920 --> 00:04:09,880 Speaker 1: like to say to the people? Oh? Really, what was 81 00:04:09,920 --> 00:04:12,760 Speaker 1: your favorite sermon ins What was your favorite sermon in 82 00:04:12,760 --> 00:04:18,040 Speaker 1: savage Jesus? Oh this is significant. I like that one too. 83 00:04:17,960 --> 00:04:23,800 Speaker 1: Would you like to preach today instead of me? That's 84 00:04:23,800 --> 00:04:25,680 Speaker 1: how I feel too, buddy. All right, you need to 85 00:04:25,720 --> 00:04:28,120 Speaker 1: go because I'll play with R two the whole time. 86 00:04:28,160 --> 00:04:29,919 Speaker 1: I won't preach, So go that way, give it up 87 00:04:29,960 --> 00:04:37,240 Speaker 1: for our two. So that is what a true collector 88 00:04:37,960 --> 00:04:40,880 Speaker 1: will build. And you know, sometimes collections get out of hand, 89 00:04:40,920 --> 00:04:42,520 Speaker 1: and maybe some of you think four years to build 90 00:04:42,560 --> 00:04:44,239 Speaker 1: that is out of hand. I don't I fully endorse 91 00:04:44,320 --> 00:04:48,080 Speaker 1: that and support that. But if you've ever seen Hoarders, 92 00:04:48,640 --> 00:04:50,080 Speaker 1: you know what I have you ever seen that show? 93 00:04:51,000 --> 00:04:54,120 Speaker 1: There's some ridiculous, like gross stuff on that show. But 94 00:04:54,760 --> 00:04:57,080 Speaker 1: what you can see sometimes is that someone starts out 95 00:04:57,120 --> 00:04:59,760 Speaker 1: with an innocent collection, maybe a doll collection that's something 96 00:04:59,800 --> 00:05:02,080 Speaker 1: good that you love, or a book collection. And I've 97 00:05:02,120 --> 00:05:04,400 Speaker 1: seen the show where this woman was trapped in her 98 00:05:04,440 --> 00:05:07,600 Speaker 1: house by the fifty thousand dolls that she collected, this 99 00:05:07,680 --> 00:05:10,640 Speaker 1: tiny house surrounded by dolls, couldn't even move, couldn't function. 100 00:05:11,040 --> 00:05:13,640 Speaker 1: Or this one man who had five hundred thousand books, 101 00:05:14,160 --> 00:05:16,600 Speaker 1: and they're overwhelmed by their collection and they can't even 102 00:05:16,680 --> 00:05:19,839 Speaker 1: live their life anymore. And the crazy thing is they're 103 00:05:19,839 --> 00:05:22,320 Speaker 1: living in denial. They don't even see that they have 104 00:05:22,360 --> 00:05:24,960 Speaker 1: a problem. It takes somebody else to come and show 105 00:05:25,000 --> 00:05:28,919 Speaker 1: them that this collection isn't helping you anymore, it's hurting you. 106 00:05:29,000 --> 00:05:33,240 Speaker 1: So collections can get out of hand. And Jesus in 107 00:05:33,360 --> 00:05:36,400 Speaker 1: Mark Eate talks about a collection that can get out 108 00:05:36,400 --> 00:05:38,520 Speaker 1: of hand and maybe something more important that we should 109 00:05:38,560 --> 00:05:41,080 Speaker 1: collect instead. So this is our passage that we're going 110 00:05:41,120 --> 00:05:43,880 Speaker 1: to focus on today. It's in Mark chapter eight, verses 111 00:05:43,920 --> 00:05:47,280 Speaker 1: thirty four through thirty seven. So let's look at this now. 112 00:05:47,279 --> 00:05:50,120 Speaker 1: It says, then he called the crowd to him, along 113 00:05:50,160 --> 00:05:53,000 Speaker 1: with his disciples, and said, whoever wants to be my 114 00:05:53,080 --> 00:05:56,880 Speaker 1: disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and 115 00:05:56,960 --> 00:05:59,640 Speaker 1: follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will 116 00:05:59,640 --> 00:06:02,080 Speaker 1: lose it. But whoever loses their life for me and 117 00:06:02,120 --> 00:06:04,560 Speaker 1: for the Gospel will save it. What good is it 118 00:06:04,560 --> 00:06:07,160 Speaker 1: for someone to gain the whole world yet forfeit their soul, 119 00:06:07,640 --> 00:06:10,800 Speaker 1: Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? 120 00:06:11,279 --> 00:06:13,000 Speaker 1: So I want to talk to you today about living 121 00:06:13,400 --> 00:06:17,280 Speaker 1: in denial. Living in denial. Turn to your neighbor and 122 00:06:17,320 --> 00:06:22,000 Speaker 1: ask them, are you in denial? So here we have 123 00:06:22,080 --> 00:06:25,239 Speaker 1: Jesus talking. I'd be real curious to know. They answered 124 00:06:25,240 --> 00:06:28,679 Speaker 1: to some of that. Here we have Jesus talking about 125 00:06:29,040 --> 00:06:32,880 Speaker 1: a collection gaining the whole world, and it's meaningless you 126 00:06:32,960 --> 00:06:36,440 Speaker 1: lose your soul and instead taking up something far more valuable, 127 00:06:36,800 --> 00:06:41,279 Speaker 1: which is collecting, taking up across. And so for me, 128 00:06:41,960 --> 00:06:44,320 Speaker 1: I grew up in church. My granddad was a pastor, 129 00:06:44,440 --> 00:06:47,039 Speaker 1: my dad was the music minister, my mom played the organ. 130 00:06:47,120 --> 00:06:50,120 Speaker 1: My aunt and uncle they worked with the youth. So 131 00:06:50,320 --> 00:06:53,159 Speaker 1: I was always around these nice little Christian cliches. I 132 00:06:53,160 --> 00:06:55,599 Speaker 1: heard all these things in youth group and sermon, and 133 00:06:55,640 --> 00:06:58,400 Speaker 1: they would sound great on a bumper sticker, like deny yourself, 134 00:06:58,440 --> 00:07:04,160 Speaker 1: take up your cross, and sounds cute. Right. Can we 135 00:07:04,320 --> 00:07:07,960 Speaker 1: just admit that no one lives like that? No? I 136 00:07:08,000 --> 00:07:10,640 Speaker 1: mean maybe you do, maybe you're way more holy than 137 00:07:10,680 --> 00:07:14,000 Speaker 1: I am. But I'm trying to imagine how the disciples 138 00:07:14,080 --> 00:07:17,240 Speaker 1: must have felt when they heard Jesus say take up 139 00:07:17,240 --> 00:07:19,680 Speaker 1: your cross, because for them, across was not something you 140 00:07:19,720 --> 00:07:23,920 Speaker 1: wore on a necklace. Across was where someone was brutally 141 00:07:24,000 --> 00:07:28,280 Speaker 1: murdered and executed. And the disciples had to be freaking 142 00:07:28,280 --> 00:07:31,160 Speaker 1: out because, honestly, for them, up until this point, things 143 00:07:31,160 --> 00:07:33,840 Speaker 1: have been pretty good. In Galilee. I mean, the crowds 144 00:07:33,840 --> 00:07:36,360 Speaker 1: were growing, they were seeing miracles. Yeah, there was a 145 00:07:36,360 --> 00:07:38,760 Speaker 1: little controversy here and there, but all of a sudden, 146 00:07:38,840 --> 00:07:42,440 Speaker 1: Jesus is talking about taking up across and dying, and 147 00:07:42,440 --> 00:07:44,520 Speaker 1: not just him taking up across, telling them to take 148 00:07:44,600 --> 00:07:47,080 Speaker 1: up across. And so I'm imagining them kind of murmuring 149 00:07:47,120 --> 00:07:48,680 Speaker 1: to each other like wait a second, or we do 150 00:07:48,720 --> 00:07:51,320 Speaker 1: we have to die too. It wasn't what they wanted 151 00:07:51,680 --> 00:07:55,840 Speaker 1: to hear. And what they wouldn't realize until much later 152 00:07:56,040 --> 00:08:00,680 Speaker 1: is that Mark eight. This is the point where everything changes, because, 153 00:08:00,720 --> 00:08:02,400 Speaker 1: like I said, up until that point, they'd have been 154 00:08:02,440 --> 00:08:07,280 Speaker 1: in Galilee doing ministry there, doing miracles, feeding the five thousand, 155 00:08:07,880 --> 00:08:11,480 Speaker 1: and this is the point where Jesus turns and faces Jerusalem, 156 00:08:11,800 --> 00:08:13,200 Speaker 1: and the rest of the Book of Mark is the 157 00:08:13,280 --> 00:08:15,480 Speaker 1: last week of his life in Jerusalem as he goes 158 00:08:15,760 --> 00:08:20,160 Speaker 1: to take up his cross. And so, like I said, 159 00:08:20,320 --> 00:08:23,800 Speaker 1: when I was younger, that sounded nice, deny yourself, take 160 00:08:23,840 --> 00:08:25,280 Speaker 1: up your cross, follow me, And I thought, you know, 161 00:08:25,320 --> 00:08:29,080 Speaker 1: I've got this whole denying someend thing down, Like I 162 00:08:29,120 --> 00:08:32,000 Speaker 1: feel pretty good. I'm in church every time the doors 163 00:08:32,000 --> 00:08:33,560 Speaker 1: are open, but I kind of have to be because 164 00:08:33,600 --> 00:08:36,000 Speaker 1: my granddad's the pastor and my parents work there, but 165 00:08:36,400 --> 00:08:39,120 Speaker 1: that's cool, that should work in my favor. And yeah, 166 00:08:39,160 --> 00:08:41,280 Speaker 1: I watch MTV every now and then, even though my 167 00:08:41,320 --> 00:08:43,160 Speaker 1: parents tell me not to when they're out of the room. 168 00:08:43,200 --> 00:08:45,240 Speaker 1: And if I'm getting really crazy, I'll watch the Simpsons. 169 00:08:45,280 --> 00:08:49,959 Speaker 1: But you know, that's that's okay. And maybe I think 170 00:08:49,960 --> 00:08:52,760 Speaker 1: about Kelly Kapowski a little too much after watching Say 171 00:08:52,800 --> 00:08:54,280 Speaker 1: By the Bell. But I've repented of all this at 172 00:08:54,320 --> 00:08:59,040 Speaker 1: youth camp, so I'm good. I'm good. But then I 173 00:08:59,040 --> 00:09:03,480 Speaker 1: got older and I started to be confronted with the 174 00:09:03,520 --> 00:09:06,440 Speaker 1: depth of my sin, and I started to realize that 175 00:09:06,440 --> 00:09:09,040 Speaker 1: there was a lot of jealousy in my heart when 176 00:09:09,240 --> 00:09:13,040 Speaker 1: someone got something that I thought I deserved. And I 177 00:09:13,080 --> 00:09:17,160 Speaker 1: realized I was pretty selfish in my relationships and I 178 00:09:17,200 --> 00:09:21,040 Speaker 1: wasn't ever really content. I always wanted more. And I 179 00:09:21,080 --> 00:09:23,679 Speaker 1: began to feel really discouraged and defeated because I was like, well, 180 00:09:23,720 --> 00:09:25,959 Speaker 1: I gave my life to Christ. I said, I was 181 00:09:26,000 --> 00:09:28,760 Speaker 1: going to commit my life to following Jesus. But how 182 00:09:28,760 --> 00:09:31,440 Speaker 1: do I deny the sin because it's always right there 183 00:09:31,440 --> 00:09:33,520 Speaker 1: before me? And I feel defeated all the time, like 184 00:09:33,559 --> 00:09:35,520 Speaker 1: I could never live for God because I don't know 185 00:09:35,600 --> 00:09:39,000 Speaker 1: how to deny my sin, and maybe you feel the 186 00:09:39,040 --> 00:09:42,160 Speaker 1: same way. Maybe right now you just hear the voice 187 00:09:42,440 --> 00:09:47,160 Speaker 1: of accusation all around you, saying you're a liar, you're 188 00:09:47,160 --> 00:09:52,440 Speaker 1: an addict, you're an adulter, you're a cheat, you're insecure. 189 00:09:52,559 --> 00:09:55,200 Speaker 1: You're hearing just the voice of your sin right in 190 00:09:55,200 --> 00:09:57,679 Speaker 1: front of you, and you feel like it's impossible to 191 00:09:57,720 --> 00:09:59,920 Speaker 1: deny your sin, and you don't know what it means 192 00:10:00,080 --> 00:10:05,079 Speaker 1: to live for Christ. With that being the case, God 193 00:10:05,120 --> 00:10:08,520 Speaker 1: showed me something in this passage this week that has 194 00:10:08,559 --> 00:10:11,640 Speaker 1: helped me so much. And I've been praying all week 195 00:10:12,000 --> 00:10:14,640 Speaker 1: that would help you in the same way. Because I've 196 00:10:14,679 --> 00:10:17,959 Speaker 1: read this passage for years, for my whole life, I've 197 00:10:18,000 --> 00:10:20,920 Speaker 1: read it wrong. I've never noticed this until this week, 198 00:10:20,920 --> 00:10:23,000 Speaker 1: and I want us to look at it again. Let's 199 00:10:23,040 --> 00:10:26,120 Speaker 1: read it one more time. Then he called the crowd 200 00:10:26,160 --> 00:10:29,080 Speaker 1: to him along with his disciples, and said, whoever wants 201 00:10:29,120 --> 00:10:32,160 Speaker 1: to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up 202 00:10:32,160 --> 00:10:35,760 Speaker 1: their cross and follow me. Whoever wants to save their 203 00:10:35,800 --> 00:10:38,240 Speaker 1: life will lose it. But whoever loses their life from 204 00:10:38,280 --> 00:10:41,120 Speaker 1: me and for the Gospel will save it. What good 205 00:10:41,160 --> 00:10:43,360 Speaker 1: is it for someone to gain the whole world yet 206 00:10:43,440 --> 00:10:47,319 Speaker 1: forfeit their soul, or what can anyone gain in exchange 207 00:10:47,320 --> 00:10:52,120 Speaker 1: for their soul? Did you notice what's missing in that 208 00:10:52,160 --> 00:10:57,640 Speaker 1: passage The word sin. The word sin is nowhere in 209 00:10:57,679 --> 00:11:01,360 Speaker 1: that passage because Jesus wasn't talking about sin this whole time. 210 00:11:01,360 --> 00:11:04,200 Speaker 1: I thought it was about denying my sin. Jesus never 211 00:11:04,240 --> 00:11:10,800 Speaker 1: said deny your sin. He said deny yourself. But what 212 00:11:10,880 --> 00:11:13,480 Speaker 1: about my sin? I mean, that's still a pretty big deal. 213 00:11:13,559 --> 00:11:15,840 Speaker 1: Yet it is a big deal, And that's the whole reason. Jesus, 214 00:11:15,880 --> 00:11:18,360 Speaker 1: when he said this, was about to head to Jerusalem 215 00:11:18,720 --> 00:11:20,640 Speaker 1: to deal with your sin once and for all on 216 00:11:20,760 --> 00:11:23,719 Speaker 1: his cross, on his cross. He was going to deal 217 00:11:23,720 --> 00:11:25,959 Speaker 1: with your sin on his cross. He was going to 218 00:11:26,000 --> 00:11:28,200 Speaker 1: deal with your shame on his cross. He was going 219 00:11:28,280 --> 00:11:31,360 Speaker 1: to deal with your condemnation once and for all. We 220 00:11:31,440 --> 00:11:36,240 Speaker 1: receive his grace because of his cross. But the thing 221 00:11:36,320 --> 00:11:38,320 Speaker 1: that has just been blowing my mind all week is 222 00:11:38,360 --> 00:11:41,640 Speaker 1: that Jesus never told us to take up his cross. 223 00:11:42,480 --> 00:11:47,800 Speaker 1: He said take up yours. You can't take up his cross. 224 00:11:48,600 --> 00:11:51,120 Speaker 1: It's too big of a weight to bear. And the 225 00:11:51,120 --> 00:11:53,280 Speaker 1: good news is you don't have to. He took up 226 00:11:53,320 --> 00:11:56,640 Speaker 1: his cross, dealt with your sin once and for all 227 00:11:56,760 --> 00:11:59,280 Speaker 1: it is finished. You do not have to atone for 228 00:11:59,360 --> 00:12:04,280 Speaker 1: your sin. You do not have to make yourself righteous. 229 00:12:04,320 --> 00:12:08,520 Speaker 1: He made you righteous on his cross, and you can't 230 00:12:08,559 --> 00:12:11,640 Speaker 1: deal with your sin on your cross. Your cross has 231 00:12:11,720 --> 00:12:16,079 Speaker 1: nothing to do with sin. We deal with self on 232 00:12:16,120 --> 00:12:21,520 Speaker 1: our cross. And if our cross has nothing to do 233 00:12:21,600 --> 00:12:25,000 Speaker 1: with sin, maybe it means that there are some things 234 00:12:25,000 --> 00:12:28,760 Speaker 1: that we've never thought of as sin, maybe even some 235 00:12:28,840 --> 00:12:33,320 Speaker 1: good things that we're holding on to that God wants 236 00:12:33,400 --> 00:12:36,800 Speaker 1: us to let go of, that God wants us to 237 00:12:36,880 --> 00:12:39,800 Speaker 1: deny in order to follow him. Because this, I believe 238 00:12:39,840 --> 00:12:41,920 Speaker 1: is the word of the Lord for our church this week. 239 00:12:41,960 --> 00:12:45,839 Speaker 1: And if you're a follower of Christ, your sin has 240 00:12:45,880 --> 00:12:48,000 Speaker 1: been made right because of the cross of Jesus Christ. 241 00:12:48,080 --> 00:12:51,600 Speaker 1: But your refusal to deny yourself will cause you to 242 00:12:51,640 --> 00:12:54,640 Speaker 1: miss out on the power of God in your life. 243 00:12:54,840 --> 00:12:59,080 Speaker 1: We cannot experience the fullness of life in Jesus Christ 244 00:12:59,240 --> 00:13:02,920 Speaker 1: if we do not deny ourself. And His cross was 245 00:13:03,000 --> 00:13:06,040 Speaker 1: done once and for all, but we take up our 246 00:13:06,080 --> 00:13:10,560 Speaker 1: cross daily, every single day. We have to learn what 247 00:13:10,600 --> 00:13:12,880 Speaker 1: it means to take up our cross and deny ourselves. 248 00:13:12,880 --> 00:13:14,880 Speaker 1: In fact, in the Book of Luke, when Luke is 249 00:13:14,920 --> 00:13:17,920 Speaker 1: talking about this same passage. He says, you have to 250 00:13:17,920 --> 00:13:21,840 Speaker 1: take up your cross daily. This is a daily dying 251 00:13:21,960 --> 00:13:24,040 Speaker 1: to self. And I've been asking myself all week, and 252 00:13:24,120 --> 00:13:26,440 Speaker 1: God has been showing me that there are some good 253 00:13:26,440 --> 00:13:29,520 Speaker 1: things that I need to let go of, and maybe 254 00:13:29,600 --> 00:13:31,800 Speaker 1: there's some good things that you need to let go 255 00:13:31,840 --> 00:13:33,800 Speaker 1: of as well, in order to embrace the power of 256 00:13:33,840 --> 00:13:38,520 Speaker 1: God and your life. I know some of you are thinking, well, okay, 257 00:13:38,520 --> 00:13:40,840 Speaker 1: so I have to feel bad about my sin, and 258 00:13:40,920 --> 00:13:42,680 Speaker 1: now I have to feel bad about the good things too. 259 00:13:43,679 --> 00:13:46,600 Speaker 1: That's not the point at all. But Jesus is saying 260 00:13:47,000 --> 00:13:49,160 Speaker 1: that when you take up your cross, you're taking up 261 00:13:49,480 --> 00:13:52,080 Speaker 1: his way of life and his way of life. He 262 00:13:52,160 --> 00:13:57,120 Speaker 1: promises peace, he promises joy, he promises fulfillment, but it 263 00:13:57,160 --> 00:14:01,920 Speaker 1: does require letting go. So a couple weeks ago, I 264 00:14:01,920 --> 00:14:04,000 Speaker 1: have my little Saturday routine with my kids before I 265 00:14:04,040 --> 00:14:08,440 Speaker 1: get ready for church, and Ferris, my wife, she took Sydney, 266 00:14:08,480 --> 00:14:11,360 Speaker 1: our youngest daughter, to dance class, and so I was upstairs. 267 00:14:11,360 --> 00:14:14,160 Speaker 1: I have twin girls that are nine, and I was 268 00:14:14,240 --> 00:14:16,760 Speaker 1: upstairs and I was playing video games with them, which 269 00:14:16,760 --> 00:14:18,960 Speaker 1: is what any good dad would do when alone with 270 00:14:19,000 --> 00:14:22,720 Speaker 1: the kids. And so I'm playing video games, and I 271 00:14:22,720 --> 00:14:24,520 Speaker 1: feel guilty. After a while, I'm like, well, we need 272 00:14:24,560 --> 00:14:26,520 Speaker 1: to go downstairs and go outside. It's a nice day 273 00:14:26,560 --> 00:14:28,960 Speaker 1: and do something productive. And so I'm about to go 274 00:14:29,000 --> 00:14:31,080 Speaker 1: down the stairs. And here's one thing you need to 275 00:14:31,080 --> 00:14:35,840 Speaker 1: know about me. I am addicted to soda. I love if, PEPSI, coke, 276 00:14:35,920 --> 00:14:39,600 Speaker 1: whatever it is. I love it a little bit too much. 277 00:14:39,800 --> 00:14:42,840 Speaker 1: So like none ten soda is a day. I know 278 00:14:42,920 --> 00:14:51,280 Speaker 1: it's it's bad, don't judge me. But this is my 279 00:14:51,400 --> 00:14:53,760 Speaker 1: healthy option. This is ZeVA and so this is what 280 00:14:53,840 --> 00:14:55,640 Speaker 1: makes me feel a little bit better about drinking all that. 281 00:14:56,400 --> 00:14:58,320 Speaker 1: And so I always have one of these in my hand. 282 00:14:58,400 --> 00:15:01,640 Speaker 1: And so we have this long flight of wooden stairs 283 00:15:01,720 --> 00:15:05,400 Speaker 1: at our house. Zv is in my hand and I 284 00:15:05,480 --> 00:15:08,920 Speaker 1: get three stairs from the top. My feet slip out 285 00:15:08,920 --> 00:15:12,160 Speaker 1: from under me. It's like time stands still in this moment. 286 00:15:12,200 --> 00:15:14,280 Speaker 1: And the first thought, I kid you not. The first 287 00:15:14,280 --> 00:15:16,440 Speaker 1: thing I think of is oh no, I don't want 288 00:15:16,440 --> 00:15:22,240 Speaker 1: to spill my ZBA. First thought, second thought is wow, 289 00:15:22,400 --> 00:15:25,720 Speaker 1: that stair hurts my head really really bad. My head 290 00:15:25,760 --> 00:15:28,040 Speaker 1: slams against the stairs, my back slams, and then I 291 00:15:28,120 --> 00:15:31,160 Speaker 1: hit every single stair on the way down. I mean, 292 00:15:31,240 --> 00:15:33,240 Speaker 1: think of the worst scene in a movie you've ever 293 00:15:33,280 --> 00:15:35,560 Speaker 1: seen of someone falling down the stairs. I can't even 294 00:15:35,640 --> 00:15:38,440 Speaker 1: get words out. It hurts so much. It's just like 295 00:15:39,840 --> 00:15:43,480 Speaker 1: it's the sound I made in my mind. I'm thinking, 296 00:15:43,520 --> 00:15:45,320 Speaker 1: this is how I am. This is the worst way 297 00:15:45,360 --> 00:15:48,880 Speaker 1: to go, most embarrassing way to go. I slam on 298 00:15:48,920 --> 00:15:52,440 Speaker 1: the bottom of the floor in the fetal position, and 299 00:15:52,520 --> 00:15:54,840 Speaker 1: I hear adleon Leonna just come to the top of 300 00:15:54,840 --> 00:15:56,720 Speaker 1: the stairs in the rail and they just look down, 301 00:15:56,760 --> 00:15:59,680 Speaker 1: and I kind of like compare about them, like, Daddy, 302 00:15:59,720 --> 00:16:02,960 Speaker 1: are you okay? Once again, I can't like vocalize words. 303 00:16:02,960 --> 00:16:07,480 Speaker 1: I'm just like, ah, you would think my beloved daughters, 304 00:16:08,120 --> 00:16:12,280 Speaker 1: who love me, who are compassionate, who are kind, would 305 00:16:12,280 --> 00:16:15,040 Speaker 1: come and run to the aid of their loving father. 306 00:16:16,120 --> 00:16:19,240 Speaker 1: That is not what happened. They were so scared and 307 00:16:19,280 --> 00:16:21,600 Speaker 1: thought that I was dying that instead of coming to 308 00:16:21,600 --> 00:16:23,840 Speaker 1: help me, they ran to their room, screamed and slammed 309 00:16:23,840 --> 00:16:26,320 Speaker 1: the door and just left me there all by myself 310 00:16:27,680 --> 00:16:31,560 Speaker 1: for like five minutes. I'm there all by myself, and 311 00:16:31,600 --> 00:16:35,040 Speaker 1: then once I can finally move, and then I start 312 00:16:35,080 --> 00:16:37,040 Speaker 1: getting mad at them for running away, forgetting that I'm 313 00:16:37,080 --> 00:16:38,840 Speaker 1: the dad that they're not supposed to take care of me. 314 00:16:39,400 --> 00:16:41,640 Speaker 1: They come down the stairs to check on me, and 315 00:16:41,680 --> 00:16:43,520 Speaker 1: I'm just like, well, just clean up the zvia, And 316 00:16:43,560 --> 00:16:45,120 Speaker 1: so they clean up the zva and then we have 317 00:16:45,160 --> 00:16:47,040 Speaker 1: a nice chat about what to do if mommy or 318 00:16:47,080 --> 00:16:54,440 Speaker 1: daddy actually was hurt. But here's what I realized after 319 00:16:54,480 --> 00:16:58,000 Speaker 1: the fact. If I just let go of the zvia 320 00:16:58,280 --> 00:17:03,920 Speaker 1: and grabbed the handrail, I could have just saved myself 321 00:17:04,520 --> 00:17:10,960 Speaker 1: a lot of pain, a lot of embarrassment right now. 322 00:17:11,240 --> 00:17:13,480 Speaker 1: And I was driving later that day and I was wondering, 323 00:17:14,840 --> 00:17:17,719 Speaker 1: are there any things in my life that I'm holding 324 00:17:17,720 --> 00:17:21,000 Speaker 1: onto that are going to hurt me if I don't 325 00:17:21,080 --> 00:17:31,400 Speaker 1: let go? And in your life, are there any things 326 00:17:31,440 --> 00:17:34,600 Speaker 1: that you're holding onto any zba is that you're just 327 00:17:34,640 --> 00:17:36,439 Speaker 1: refusing to let go of. And God is saying, if 328 00:17:36,480 --> 00:17:39,040 Speaker 1: you just let go of this, not only will it 329 00:17:39,080 --> 00:17:41,240 Speaker 1: save you from getting hurt, but actually have something better. 330 00:17:42,320 --> 00:17:48,159 Speaker 1: And so today I want to talk about three things 331 00:17:48,200 --> 00:17:51,600 Speaker 1: that don't fall in the category of sin, and maybe 332 00:17:51,600 --> 00:17:54,400 Speaker 1: some are even good things that God may be calling 333 00:17:54,520 --> 00:17:57,960 Speaker 1: us to let go of. And I can't preach everything 334 00:17:58,000 --> 00:18:00,959 Speaker 1: about what it means to deny yourself. In twenty minutes. 335 00:18:01,000 --> 00:18:03,719 Speaker 1: But I think these are things that we can make 336 00:18:03,800 --> 00:18:07,120 Speaker 1: decisions on every single day, and I think God will 337 00:18:07,119 --> 00:18:08,920 Speaker 1: bless us if we learn how to have a posture 338 00:18:09,160 --> 00:18:11,840 Speaker 1: of letting go in the first thing is this, let 339 00:18:11,880 --> 00:18:21,359 Speaker 1: go approving yourself right. Let go approving yourself right now. 340 00:18:21,480 --> 00:18:25,560 Speaker 1: Do marriage counseling sometimes and one of the things I 341 00:18:25,560 --> 00:18:28,119 Speaker 1: try to tell the husband's right away this is marriage 342 00:18:28,119 --> 00:18:32,440 Speaker 1: one oh one fundamentalism. Marriage. There are four words, four 343 00:18:32,520 --> 00:18:35,280 Speaker 1: words that you have to avoid at all costs, no 344 00:18:35,280 --> 00:18:37,360 Speaker 1: matter how right you think you are, no matter how 345 00:18:37,440 --> 00:18:39,640 Speaker 1: vindicated you would feel in saying them, no matter how 346 00:18:39,800 --> 00:18:44,080 Speaker 1: justified you think your case is, don't say these four words. 347 00:18:44,119 --> 00:18:45,879 Speaker 1: I have never said these four words because I'm not 348 00:18:45,920 --> 00:18:48,119 Speaker 1: that foolish and my wife would never do anything wrong. 349 00:18:48,600 --> 00:18:53,240 Speaker 1: But fellas, tell me if you if you feel me 350 00:18:53,240 --> 00:18:59,360 Speaker 1: on this, I told you so. It's not worth it. 351 00:18:59,680 --> 00:19:03,639 Speaker 1: Do not do it. Not even if you're putting the 352 00:19:03,680 --> 00:19:06,399 Speaker 1: rowing machine on Craigslist that your wife begged for for 353 00:19:06,480 --> 00:19:08,800 Speaker 1: Christmas and you said, honey, you don't need a rowing machine, 354 00:19:08,840 --> 00:19:10,439 Speaker 1: you're perfect, and she said, no, I'm going to use 355 00:19:10,480 --> 00:19:11,960 Speaker 1: it every single day. I want to get in shape, 356 00:19:12,000 --> 00:19:14,120 Speaker 1: and I'm going to use it every day, and you're like, well, okay, 357 00:19:14,119 --> 00:19:15,520 Speaker 1: I'll go ahead and buy it for you. And then 358 00:19:15,720 --> 00:19:17,119 Speaker 1: she uses it twice and we use it as a 359 00:19:17,119 --> 00:19:18,720 Speaker 1: coat rack in the closet after that, and you're putting 360 00:19:18,720 --> 00:19:20,760 Speaker 1: it on Craigslist, which is exactly what you say, what happened. 361 00:19:21,520 --> 00:19:23,480 Speaker 1: I would never say I told you so if that happened. 362 00:19:23,480 --> 00:19:26,119 Speaker 1: That never happened in the Joy household. That's just a hypothetical, 363 00:19:26,640 --> 00:19:32,840 Speaker 1: hypothetical situation. But we love to be proven right. And 364 00:19:33,040 --> 00:19:36,919 Speaker 1: sometimes it's silly like that. Sometimes it's more serious. I 365 00:19:36,960 --> 00:19:40,959 Speaker 1: listen to a podcast sometimes on potential wrongful convictions, and 366 00:19:41,000 --> 00:19:44,359 Speaker 1: I can't imagine how infuriating it would be to be 367 00:19:44,440 --> 00:19:47,280 Speaker 1: on trial for something that you did not do and 368 00:19:47,320 --> 00:19:51,240 Speaker 1: to be convicted for that. But that's exactly what Jesus 369 00:19:51,280 --> 00:19:55,639 Speaker 1: was walking into in Mark chapter eight. He was going 370 00:19:55,680 --> 00:19:59,720 Speaker 1: to Jerusalem, where within days he would go from celebrated 371 00:19:59,760 --> 00:20:04,320 Speaker 1: miss Pah to accuse blasphemer, where the son of God 372 00:20:04,720 --> 00:20:07,120 Speaker 1: was going to be treated like a common criminal, and 373 00:20:07,240 --> 00:20:10,320 Speaker 1: he didn't fight back. He could have said one word 374 00:20:10,440 --> 00:20:12,960 Speaker 1: and a host a legion of angels could have come 375 00:20:13,000 --> 00:20:17,080 Speaker 1: down and proven his credentials, but instead he was mostly 376 00:20:17,200 --> 00:20:22,680 Speaker 1: silent at his trial. He didn't fight back. Jesus didn't 377 00:20:22,720 --> 00:20:26,480 Speaker 1: try to prove he was right with his words. He 378 00:20:26,600 --> 00:20:31,560 Speaker 1: simply did the right thing. And it's got me thinking 379 00:20:32,760 --> 00:20:37,120 Speaker 1: about all the times I've sabotaged my relationships, not by 380 00:20:37,160 --> 00:20:39,840 Speaker 1: what I did wrong, but by trying to prove that 381 00:20:39,880 --> 00:20:44,560 Speaker 1: I was right, refusing to humble myself. And I believe 382 00:20:44,680 --> 00:20:50,760 Speaker 1: taking up our cross in relationships means laying down our 383 00:20:50,840 --> 00:20:54,080 Speaker 1: needs and taking up the needs of others, because that 384 00:20:54,200 --> 00:20:56,560 Speaker 1: is the heart of Jesus, and we see that in 385 00:20:56,600 --> 00:20:59,640 Speaker 1: Philippians too. Let's look at this. It says, do nothing 386 00:20:59,680 --> 00:21:03,880 Speaker 1: out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility, 387 00:21:04,280 --> 00:21:07,800 Speaker 1: value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests, 388 00:21:07,840 --> 00:21:10,200 Speaker 1: but each of you to the interests of the others 389 00:21:10,440 --> 00:21:13,480 Speaker 1: in your relationships with one another. Had the same mindset 390 00:21:13,680 --> 00:21:17,000 Speaker 1: as Christ. Jesus, who, being in very nature God, did 391 00:21:17,040 --> 00:21:20,119 Speaker 1: not consider equality with God something to be used to 392 00:21:20,200 --> 00:21:24,720 Speaker 1: his own advantage. So have you been wronged? So is Jesus. 393 00:21:25,720 --> 00:21:28,399 Speaker 1: Have you been betrayed? Jesus was betrayed by one of 394 00:21:28,440 --> 00:21:32,080 Speaker 1: his closest friends. Have you been misunderstood? That is part 395 00:21:32,160 --> 00:21:35,320 Speaker 1: of following Christ. Jesus was misunderstood the whole time he 396 00:21:35,440 --> 00:21:38,760 Speaker 1: was in Jerusalem. And this isn't permission to be walked 397 00:21:38,800 --> 00:21:41,439 Speaker 1: all over, but this is a call to value the 398 00:21:41,480 --> 00:21:49,159 Speaker 1: relationship over the argument. I think the most powerful cross 399 00:21:49,200 --> 00:21:51,240 Speaker 1: you can take up in any relationship is the cross 400 00:21:51,240 --> 00:21:56,960 Speaker 1: of forgiveness. That means that instead of reminding your wife 401 00:21:57,000 --> 00:21:59,320 Speaker 1: at the fifty seven other times she did this wrong thing, 402 00:22:01,400 --> 00:22:05,760 Speaker 1: it means loving her and serving her, not reminding her 403 00:22:05,760 --> 00:22:08,160 Speaker 1: of her past failures, but reminding her of her potential. 404 00:22:08,720 --> 00:22:11,920 Speaker 1: It means maybe, instead of focusing on how she needs 405 00:22:11,960 --> 00:22:15,000 Speaker 1: to change, focusing on how you need to change. This 406 00:22:15,040 --> 00:22:16,520 Speaker 1: is the part where all the women are supposed to 407 00:22:16,600 --> 00:22:21,760 Speaker 1: give me an amen. But no matter how much you 408 00:22:21,840 --> 00:22:25,040 Speaker 1: feel like your hurt is justified, God is calling us 409 00:22:25,040 --> 00:22:28,719 Speaker 1: to take up this cross of forgiveness. And it's not 410 00:22:28,760 --> 00:22:32,800 Speaker 1: always when we're wronged, but it's when we're misunderstood as well. 411 00:22:32,800 --> 00:22:34,480 Speaker 1: And I wish I'd learned this in high school, that 412 00:22:34,560 --> 00:22:38,160 Speaker 1: following Jesus means you're going to be misunderstood, You're going 413 00:22:38,480 --> 00:22:41,680 Speaker 1: to be criticized, and it means trusting God that he 414 00:22:41,720 --> 00:22:44,480 Speaker 1: will prove that his way is right in his time 415 00:22:44,560 --> 00:22:46,920 Speaker 1: and he is the one who will make things right. 416 00:22:48,240 --> 00:22:51,280 Speaker 1: And I love how my friend Nico here at Valentine, 417 00:22:51,320 --> 00:22:54,200 Speaker 1: how he lives this out. He's one of our production volunteers, 418 00:22:54,400 --> 00:22:56,960 Speaker 1: eighteen years old. He's been serving since he was fifteen. 419 00:22:57,359 --> 00:23:01,760 Speaker 1: There he is right there action pose, but he he 420 00:23:02,320 --> 00:23:05,640 Speaker 1: just centers his life around serving. So he's serving every weekend, 421 00:23:05,680 --> 00:23:09,880 Speaker 1: every Christmas, every Easter inside Elevation, the live recording serve 422 00:23:09,920 --> 00:23:11,639 Speaker 1: as stacks. He's going to serve it youth x and 423 00:23:11,640 --> 00:23:14,800 Speaker 1: now as an eighteen year old, he's actually training volunteers 424 00:23:15,200 --> 00:23:17,919 Speaker 1: as a youth. But he used to do these camping 425 00:23:17,960 --> 00:23:21,399 Speaker 1: trips with his friends and they were pretty regular. But 426 00:23:21,480 --> 00:23:23,280 Speaker 1: when he got more involved in church and felt God 427 00:23:23,359 --> 00:23:26,520 Speaker 1: calling him to serve the needs of others through his gift, 428 00:23:27,119 --> 00:23:29,040 Speaker 1: he started saying he couldn't do some of those trips, 429 00:23:29,080 --> 00:23:31,479 Speaker 1: and his friends didn't get it. And then sometimes on 430 00:23:31,480 --> 00:23:33,560 Speaker 1: Saturday nights he said he I have to leave from 431 00:23:33,640 --> 00:23:36,080 Speaker 1: this because I get up early for church in the morning. 432 00:23:36,080 --> 00:23:37,760 Speaker 1: And I said, well, just skip church. He's say, no, 433 00:23:37,800 --> 00:23:39,439 Speaker 1: I can't skip church. I love church. This is what 434 00:23:39,480 --> 00:23:42,560 Speaker 1: God is calling me to do. And he was constantly misunderstood. 435 00:23:42,600 --> 00:23:44,359 Speaker 1: And when I asked Nico about it. This is what 436 00:23:44,400 --> 00:23:46,920 Speaker 1: he said. He said, when I tell them why church 437 00:23:47,000 --> 00:23:50,560 Speaker 1: is so important, sometimes they don't understand. It doesn't really 438 00:23:50,600 --> 00:23:52,640 Speaker 1: matter though I know what God has called me to do. 439 00:23:53,840 --> 00:24:00,800 Speaker 1: That's an eighteen year old who has his priorities straight 440 00:24:00,840 --> 00:24:03,200 Speaker 1: and realize that because he is taking up the needs 441 00:24:03,200 --> 00:24:06,000 Speaker 1: of others, the youth that he wants to reach, it 442 00:24:06,119 --> 00:24:08,639 Speaker 1: might mean letting go of the opinions of other people, 443 00:24:08,680 --> 00:24:10,199 Speaker 1: and it might mean letting go of some of the 444 00:24:10,200 --> 00:24:13,160 Speaker 1: things that he wanted to do. And I believe when 445 00:24:13,160 --> 00:24:15,080 Speaker 1: we learned to let go of other people's opinions, when 446 00:24:15,080 --> 00:24:16,920 Speaker 1: we learn to let go of offense, and we learn 447 00:24:17,240 --> 00:24:20,359 Speaker 1: to let go of being misunderstood, that's when we're the 448 00:24:20,440 --> 00:24:23,600 Speaker 1: most like Jesus. And that's when God wants to use this. 449 00:24:23,680 --> 00:24:25,520 Speaker 1: So that's the first thing. Let go of proving yourself 450 00:24:25,600 --> 00:24:31,119 Speaker 1: right now, Let go of living in the past. Let 451 00:24:31,200 --> 00:24:33,000 Speaker 1: go of living in the past. So this one hits 452 00:24:33,040 --> 00:24:37,120 Speaker 1: close to home for me. So Jesus says follow, which 453 00:24:37,119 --> 00:24:42,480 Speaker 1: implies moving forward, looking forward. But you've probably also noticed 454 00:24:42,480 --> 00:24:45,399 Speaker 1: a lot in scripture talks about looking back and remembering. 455 00:24:45,440 --> 00:24:47,159 Speaker 1: I mean, Psalm nine one says I'll give thanks to 456 00:24:47,160 --> 00:24:50,000 Speaker 1: the Lord of my whole heart. I will recount all 457 00:24:50,000 --> 00:24:53,240 Speaker 1: of your wonderful deeds. So looking back can build your faith. 458 00:24:53,440 --> 00:24:55,119 Speaker 1: I mean, I preached about a year ago about how 459 00:24:55,119 --> 00:24:57,159 Speaker 1: God healed my daughters and healed my family, So I 460 00:24:57,160 --> 00:24:59,480 Speaker 1: look back on that a lot to build my faith. 461 00:25:00,680 --> 00:25:02,760 Speaker 1: But sometimes Paul messes me up when I look at 462 00:25:02,760 --> 00:25:04,760 Speaker 1: Philippians three and it says, but one thing I do 463 00:25:04,840 --> 00:25:07,600 Speaker 1: forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead. 464 00:25:07,640 --> 00:25:09,760 Speaker 1: So what is it am I supposed to to forget? 465 00:25:09,760 --> 00:25:12,280 Speaker 1: I'm not supposed to remember? And I get confused. But 466 00:25:13,520 --> 00:25:16,760 Speaker 1: I think Mark eight helps put some of it in perspective. 467 00:25:16,800 --> 00:25:21,919 Speaker 1: Because Jesus was calling the disciples to look ahead towards Jerusalem, 468 00:25:22,760 --> 00:25:24,840 Speaker 1: but there's a cross waiting in Jerusalem that doesn't look 469 00:25:24,920 --> 00:25:28,840 Speaker 1: very appealing. Looking back at Galilee looks pretty nice. That's 470 00:25:28,880 --> 00:25:31,560 Speaker 1: where the miracles are, that's where the crowds are. I 471 00:25:31,600 --> 00:25:35,359 Speaker 1: could imagine them wanting to look that way instead of 472 00:25:35,600 --> 00:25:37,639 Speaker 1: looking forward to Jerusalem. Now, looking back at this can 473 00:25:37,720 --> 00:25:40,600 Speaker 1: inspire your faith to move forward, but that's not the 474 00:25:40,640 --> 00:25:43,600 Speaker 1: direction you need to continue to look. And I realize 475 00:25:43,600 --> 00:25:46,840 Speaker 1: in my life sometimes I'm so focused on looking back 476 00:25:46,880 --> 00:25:49,600 Speaker 1: at the good old days that I miss what God 477 00:25:49,640 --> 00:25:54,080 Speaker 1: wants to do right here and right now. I imagine 478 00:25:54,119 --> 00:25:57,879 Speaker 1: there's some parents out here that you're constantly looking back 479 00:25:58,920 --> 00:26:00,679 Speaker 1: at the days when your kids would run up to 480 00:26:00,680 --> 00:26:02,200 Speaker 1: you and greet you at the door. Your five year 481 00:26:02,200 --> 00:26:04,120 Speaker 1: old would come and be like, Mommy, Daddy, your home, 482 00:26:05,000 --> 00:26:08,040 Speaker 1: And there's nothing like that. And now you have teenagers 483 00:26:08,080 --> 00:26:11,879 Speaker 1: and the greeting is not the same way anymore, and 484 00:26:11,920 --> 00:26:14,840 Speaker 1: you wish things were like they used to be. But 485 00:26:14,880 --> 00:26:16,800 Speaker 1: you're missing out in the last two years you have 486 00:26:16,920 --> 00:26:19,600 Speaker 1: with your teenager when they actually need you the most, 487 00:26:20,119 --> 00:26:21,800 Speaker 1: And you're missing the work that God wants you to 488 00:26:21,840 --> 00:26:24,679 Speaker 1: do now because you're constantly looking back. And here is 489 00:26:24,720 --> 00:26:28,159 Speaker 1: what I'm learning that a momentary glance can be motivating, 490 00:26:28,840 --> 00:26:34,880 Speaker 1: but a constant gaze can be paralyzing. A momentary glance 491 00:26:36,040 --> 00:26:39,560 Speaker 1: can be motivating, but a constant gaze can be paralyzing. 492 00:26:40,359 --> 00:26:43,360 Speaker 1: So here is how I've learned this in my life. 493 00:26:43,480 --> 00:26:45,800 Speaker 1: About two years ago, I felt the Lord call me 494 00:26:46,720 --> 00:26:51,320 Speaker 1: to let go of something that I loved. I'd done 495 00:26:51,359 --> 00:26:53,520 Speaker 1: it for over two decades, and I felt a sense 496 00:26:53,520 --> 00:26:56,119 Speaker 1: of calling. When I did it, I felt so much joy. 497 00:26:56,359 --> 00:26:59,439 Speaker 1: I was passionate about it, and I define myself by 498 00:26:59,480 --> 00:27:01,879 Speaker 1: this for so long, and that was leading worship. For 499 00:27:02,320 --> 00:27:04,080 Speaker 1: over twenty years I was a worship leader. In the 500 00:27:04,080 --> 00:27:05,760 Speaker 1: fact that I got to be a worship leader at 501 00:27:05,800 --> 00:27:08,320 Speaker 1: Elevation Church, the greatest church in the world, was just 502 00:27:08,400 --> 00:27:11,639 Speaker 1: amazing for me, and God used me and it was great. 503 00:27:11,680 --> 00:27:14,800 Speaker 1: But over the years I began to sense the stirring 504 00:27:14,880 --> 00:27:16,639 Speaker 1: in my heart that one day God was going to 505 00:27:16,680 --> 00:27:19,520 Speaker 1: call me to let go of that because he was 506 00:27:19,560 --> 00:27:22,560 Speaker 1: bringing just anointed people to the team, and talented people 507 00:27:22,600 --> 00:27:24,879 Speaker 1: to the team, and people that were honestly better than me, 508 00:27:24,920 --> 00:27:27,600 Speaker 1: and He was showing me that my best use of 509 00:27:27,600 --> 00:27:29,640 Speaker 1: my gift was going to be able to empower them 510 00:27:29,680 --> 00:27:31,560 Speaker 1: and to push them forward so that they can reach 511 00:27:31,920 --> 00:27:33,399 Speaker 1: more people. And I wish I could tell you that. 512 00:27:33,440 --> 00:27:38,080 Speaker 1: I was like, that's awesome. Not so much. I was like, Okay, 513 00:27:38,080 --> 00:27:40,639 Speaker 1: that's great, but I could still lead worship, right And 514 00:27:41,200 --> 00:27:43,200 Speaker 1: I kind of fought that, And then about two years 515 00:27:43,240 --> 00:27:45,640 Speaker 1: ago I felt God saying no, like this is what 516 00:27:45,880 --> 00:27:47,440 Speaker 1: I want you to do, and so I just kind 517 00:27:47,440 --> 00:27:50,720 Speaker 1: of eased into it and I stopped scheduling myself at campuses, 518 00:27:50,800 --> 00:27:53,640 Speaker 1: and like I said, I wish I could say that 519 00:27:54,040 --> 00:27:58,119 Speaker 1: all this peace just flooded my soul, But instead I 520 00:27:58,200 --> 00:28:00,720 Speaker 1: began to see a lot of unk in my heart 521 00:28:01,400 --> 00:28:04,680 Speaker 1: that I didn't realize was there all this pride, all 522 00:28:04,680 --> 00:28:08,399 Speaker 1: this ego, the fact that I wanted people to know 523 00:28:08,440 --> 00:28:11,159 Speaker 1: who I was. I'm just being real, And I remember 524 00:28:11,200 --> 00:28:14,199 Speaker 1: the first time that I was at a campus and 525 00:28:14,680 --> 00:28:16,720 Speaker 1: I wasn't known as Wade the worship leader. Somebody said, hey, 526 00:28:16,760 --> 00:28:18,200 Speaker 1: are you here for the first time. I was like, Oh, 527 00:28:18,320 --> 00:28:23,399 Speaker 1: that's stings a little bit. And what I began to 528 00:28:23,440 --> 00:28:26,639 Speaker 1: realize was that God wanted me to let go of 529 00:28:26,680 --> 00:28:28,840 Speaker 1: That wasn't just about ushering me into a new season 530 00:28:28,840 --> 00:28:31,399 Speaker 1: of ministry. It was about wanting to give me a 531 00:28:31,440 --> 00:28:34,520 Speaker 1: new heart and a new perspective, because for too long, 532 00:28:34,600 --> 00:28:37,400 Speaker 1: I defined myself by what I did, and God wanted 533 00:28:37,400 --> 00:28:39,000 Speaker 1: me to realize that he didn't love me based on 534 00:28:39,040 --> 00:28:40,600 Speaker 1: what I did. He loved me based on the fact 535 00:28:40,640 --> 00:28:43,360 Speaker 1: that I was his child and based on the cross 536 00:28:43,400 --> 00:28:49,400 Speaker 1: of Jesus Christ. And so over the course of several months, 537 00:28:49,480 --> 00:28:51,360 Speaker 1: God began to work that out in me. And now 538 00:28:51,400 --> 00:28:53,000 Speaker 1: I can say, not just because it sounds great in 539 00:28:53,040 --> 00:28:55,960 Speaker 1: a sermon, but I'm more fulfilled in ministry than I've 540 00:28:55,960 --> 00:28:59,120 Speaker 1: ever been before. And it's because I let go of 541 00:28:59,160 --> 00:29:03,240 Speaker 1: something I thought I can never live without God. When 542 00:29:03,240 --> 00:29:05,200 Speaker 1: he calls us to let go, he wants to move 543 00:29:05,280 --> 00:29:08,239 Speaker 1: us in to a new perspective, a new season, and 544 00:29:08,280 --> 00:29:13,000 Speaker 1: sometimes a new understanding of ourselves. Sometimes you're not bound 545 00:29:13,040 --> 00:29:16,560 Speaker 1: by past success, though, you're bound by past pain. And 546 00:29:16,600 --> 00:29:19,000 Speaker 1: you're afraid to trust because of somehow someone's hurt you. 547 00:29:19,000 --> 00:29:21,160 Speaker 1: You're afraid to get involved in church because of a 548 00:29:21,200 --> 00:29:23,880 Speaker 1: bad church experience in your past. And God's word for 549 00:29:23,920 --> 00:29:26,120 Speaker 1: you today is that your destiny is not locked up 550 00:29:26,120 --> 00:29:28,320 Speaker 1: in your past. Your destiny is ahead of you. It's 551 00:29:28,360 --> 00:29:32,320 Speaker 1: in your future. So keep trusting, keep moving, keep walking forward. 552 00:29:33,040 --> 00:29:37,280 Speaker 1: God will honor that. And finally he wants us to 553 00:29:37,360 --> 00:29:42,040 Speaker 1: let go of living, let go of the need for certainty, 554 00:29:42,320 --> 00:29:47,560 Speaker 1: let go of the need for certainty. So one of 555 00:29:47,640 --> 00:29:49,440 Speaker 1: the things that I try to do with my daughters. 556 00:29:49,480 --> 00:29:51,040 Speaker 1: I don't do this all the time, I regularly, but 557 00:29:51,040 --> 00:29:53,840 Speaker 1: I try to do daddy dates and I'll take them 558 00:29:53,840 --> 00:29:56,160 Speaker 1: on a day to like get doughnuts or ice cream 559 00:29:56,160 --> 00:30:00,240 Speaker 1: because I'm trying to teach him to eat clean. And 560 00:30:00,240 --> 00:30:02,560 Speaker 1: and I was taking one of my daughters adlely on 561 00:30:02,560 --> 00:30:06,120 Speaker 1: this date, and she's like our type a Enneagram three 562 00:30:06,320 --> 00:30:08,480 Speaker 1: daughter always wants to make a plan. One time she 563 00:30:08,560 --> 00:30:10,000 Speaker 1: ran into our room at like six in the morning. 564 00:30:10,040 --> 00:30:11,920 Speaker 1: We were going on a trip, and she was like, mommy, Daddy, 565 00:30:12,520 --> 00:30:15,120 Speaker 1: who's going to take care of the dogs. And I 566 00:30:15,160 --> 00:30:16,320 Speaker 1: didn't have the heart to tell her that that was 567 00:30:16,320 --> 00:30:18,080 Speaker 1: the first time I'm Mary, Daddy had thought about the dog. 568 00:30:18,200 --> 00:30:21,800 Speaker 1: So Adley sometimes keeps things together in our house. But 569 00:30:21,880 --> 00:30:24,280 Speaker 1: I do this thing sometimes called ask Me Anything time, 570 00:30:24,400 --> 00:30:26,040 Speaker 1: because I want him to get comfortable talking to me 571 00:30:26,080 --> 00:30:28,800 Speaker 1: about anything. And usually it's who's your favorite avenger? But 572 00:30:28,920 --> 00:30:32,520 Speaker 1: this time she said, she said, daddy. In our devotionals 573 00:30:32,520 --> 00:30:36,479 Speaker 1: the other night it said that we shouldn't like trust 574 00:30:36,520 --> 00:30:38,320 Speaker 1: in our plans. But I'm a planner, so does that 575 00:30:38,360 --> 00:30:41,360 Speaker 1: make me bad? And I was like, oh gosh, this 576 00:30:41,440 --> 00:30:43,320 Speaker 1: is like a real life parenting moment right here. Please 577 00:30:43,360 --> 00:30:48,440 Speaker 1: don't let me screw this up. And I said, Adley 578 00:30:49,000 --> 00:30:52,000 Speaker 1: being a planner is great. Like look through the Bible 579 00:30:52,040 --> 00:30:54,520 Speaker 1: and it talks about how we're supposed to make plans 580 00:30:54,520 --> 00:30:56,320 Speaker 1: and that's a beautiful part of how God made you. 581 00:30:56,400 --> 00:30:58,480 Speaker 1: He's going to use it. I make plans a lot 582 00:30:58,520 --> 00:31:00,400 Speaker 1: with my job planning for the weekend, and we do 583 00:31:00,480 --> 00:31:02,640 Speaker 1: that at church, and so God's going to use your plans. 584 00:31:03,480 --> 00:31:06,280 Speaker 1: But we just can't hold too tightly to our plans 585 00:31:06,320 --> 00:31:11,240 Speaker 1: because sometimes God has a better plan. And I'm thinking 586 00:31:11,240 --> 00:31:16,040 Speaker 1: about the disciples hearing Jesus say we're going to Jerusalem, 587 00:31:17,080 --> 00:31:19,360 Speaker 1: and they're like, well, I thought if we were going 588 00:31:19,400 --> 00:31:21,280 Speaker 1: to Jerusalem, it's because you're going to be king and 589 00:31:21,640 --> 00:31:23,240 Speaker 1: you were going to deliver us. But you're going to 590 00:31:23,320 --> 00:31:27,680 Speaker 1: Jerusalem because of a cross that wasn't part of their plan, 591 00:31:28,920 --> 00:31:32,920 Speaker 1: but it was always part of God's. And they were 592 00:31:32,960 --> 00:31:35,440 Speaker 1: so comfortable in Galilee that I imagine they didn't want 593 00:31:35,440 --> 00:31:40,680 Speaker 1: to risk all of that for a cross. And are 594 00:31:40,720 --> 00:31:43,520 Speaker 1: we so comfortable where we're at sometimes that we don't 595 00:31:43,560 --> 00:31:46,680 Speaker 1: want to make the everyday risks that God is calling 596 00:31:46,760 --> 00:31:49,120 Speaker 1: us to make. And that's where God truly moves in 597 00:31:49,160 --> 00:31:51,080 Speaker 1: our life. It's not the big risk all the time. 598 00:31:51,160 --> 00:31:55,480 Speaker 1: Sometimes if those daily risks to get uncomfortable, So you 599 00:31:55,880 --> 00:31:59,160 Speaker 1: may know you need to volunteer at church, and you 600 00:31:59,240 --> 00:32:01,480 Speaker 1: love technology. You thought about production, but what if I'm 601 00:32:01,480 --> 00:32:02,960 Speaker 1: not good enough and you never go to the tent. 602 00:32:03,040 --> 00:32:05,480 Speaker 1: You talk yourself out of it, or maybe you have 603 00:32:05,520 --> 00:32:07,880 Speaker 1: this idea for your company, and it's going to increase 604 00:32:07,960 --> 00:32:10,320 Speaker 1: revenue and it's going to make things more efficient. But 605 00:32:10,480 --> 00:32:12,000 Speaker 1: you think your boss is going to laugh at you, 606 00:32:12,040 --> 00:32:14,760 Speaker 1: so you never actually make the presentation or the pitching. 607 00:32:14,840 --> 00:32:18,840 Speaker 1: We just settle for status quo because status quo is safe, 608 00:32:18,880 --> 00:32:21,320 Speaker 1: and we're afraid of the uncertainty on the other side 609 00:32:21,360 --> 00:32:23,720 Speaker 1: of a what if. But let me tell you, God 610 00:32:23,920 --> 00:32:27,280 Speaker 1: always moves on the other side of a what if. 611 00:32:27,320 --> 00:32:31,280 Speaker 1: He always moves on the other side of obedience. He 612 00:32:31,400 --> 00:32:35,160 Speaker 1: always moves on the other side of faith. And anytime 613 00:32:35,200 --> 00:32:37,880 Speaker 1: we take the step of faith and uncertainty to let 614 00:32:38,040 --> 00:32:42,080 Speaker 1: something go, God always gives us something greater. Every time, 615 00:32:42,120 --> 00:32:48,040 Speaker 1: anytime we surrender something good, God always gives us something better. 616 00:32:48,160 --> 00:32:50,160 Speaker 1: I've seen it in my life, and we see it 617 00:32:50,160 --> 00:32:52,560 Speaker 1: in the life of Jesus. Here. Jesus, if he had 618 00:32:52,600 --> 00:32:55,600 Speaker 1: stayed in Galilee, could have done more good things. He 619 00:32:55,640 --> 00:32:58,360 Speaker 1: could have healed more lepers, he could have fed more people. 620 00:32:58,720 --> 00:33:00,600 Speaker 1: He could have cast out more dem so he could 621 00:33:00,600 --> 00:33:04,320 Speaker 1: have writed in justice. He could have continued collecting those 622 00:33:04,440 --> 00:33:07,760 Speaker 1: miracles in Galilee. But he let that go so he 623 00:33:07,760 --> 00:33:10,840 Speaker 1: could go to Jerusalem, knowing he'd be persecuted, knowing he'd 624 00:33:10,840 --> 00:33:13,640 Speaker 1: be misunderstood, knowing he'd be falsely accused, and knowing that 625 00:33:13,680 --> 00:33:16,720 Speaker 1: he would ultimately die because his father had sent him 626 00:33:16,760 --> 00:33:20,560 Speaker 1: to collect something greater, something even better. And we find 627 00:33:20,600 --> 00:33:24,160 Speaker 1: that in John chapter fourteen says, truly, I tell you, 628 00:33:24,200 --> 00:33:27,040 Speaker 1: whoever believes in me will do the works I have 629 00:33:27,160 --> 00:33:29,920 Speaker 1: been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, 630 00:33:30,200 --> 00:33:33,920 Speaker 1: because I am going to the Father. So Jesus laid 631 00:33:33,920 --> 00:33:36,320 Speaker 1: down the works he could have continued to do on 632 00:33:36,400 --> 00:33:39,080 Speaker 1: this earth to do an even greater work through you. 633 00:33:40,000 --> 00:33:41,880 Speaker 1: And that is what see what God can do through 634 00:33:41,880 --> 00:33:44,920 Speaker 1: you is all about. It's about taking up the heart, 635 00:33:45,240 --> 00:33:47,800 Speaker 1: taking up the purpose of God, and knowing that God 636 00:33:47,840 --> 00:33:51,480 Speaker 1: wants to do a greater work, a greater miracle through you. 637 00:33:51,640 --> 00:33:55,160 Speaker 1: So when we live in denial, you're not losing, You're gaining. 638 00:33:55,600 --> 00:33:58,320 Speaker 1: When you're living in denial, this is actually how we 639 00:33:58,360 --> 00:34:02,360 Speaker 1: truly live because God has something better, something more fulfilling, 640 00:34:02,400 --> 00:34:04,920 Speaker 1: he actually wants to place in your hands. So when 641 00:34:04,920 --> 00:34:09,080 Speaker 1: we were talking about Nico earlier, Nico said, yeah, had 642 00:34:09,120 --> 00:34:10,759 Speaker 1: to give up some time with my friends. Yeah, I 643 00:34:10,800 --> 00:34:13,160 Speaker 1: had to give up some camping trips. But when I 644 00:34:13,200 --> 00:34:15,799 Speaker 1: saw these guys in my e group actually give their 645 00:34:15,800 --> 00:34:18,320 Speaker 1: life to Christ. To know that they were at Stack 646 00:34:18,400 --> 00:34:20,600 Speaker 1: when I was serving at Stack, and they were there 647 00:34:20,600 --> 00:34:22,200 Speaker 1: on the weekend when I was serving there, and they 648 00:34:22,200 --> 00:34:23,560 Speaker 1: were there on Eastern when I was serving, and I 649 00:34:23,640 --> 00:34:25,440 Speaker 1: know I had some part to play in them giving 650 00:34:25,480 --> 00:34:28,200 Speaker 1: their life to Christ. That is far greater than any 651 00:34:28,239 --> 00:34:33,399 Speaker 1: camping trip. He was not losing, he was gaining. Then 652 00:34:33,440 --> 00:34:38,520 Speaker 1: you've got my man Chris down here, and Chris right here. 653 00:34:38,719 --> 00:34:40,520 Speaker 1: This will be the third year the outreach coordinator here 654 00:34:40,520 --> 00:34:42,799 Speaker 1: at Valentine. This will be the third week you've taken 655 00:34:42,840 --> 00:34:45,920 Speaker 1: a week of vacation to help serve for Lovely. Is 656 00:34:45,960 --> 00:34:48,200 Speaker 1: that right, yes, sir. And so Chris was telling me 657 00:34:48,239 --> 00:34:50,320 Speaker 1: that he did that. He knew he could be spending 658 00:34:50,360 --> 00:34:52,359 Speaker 1: time with his family, but he wanted to set an 659 00:34:52,400 --> 00:34:54,640 Speaker 1: example to his family that this is what it means 660 00:34:54,640 --> 00:34:57,320 Speaker 1: to follow God, and that is to serve people. So, Chris, 661 00:34:57,480 --> 00:35:00,279 Speaker 1: you're losing a week of vacation, but you're game a 662 00:35:00,360 --> 00:35:03,680 Speaker 1: legacy for your family. You're gaining a legacy for your son. 663 00:35:03,800 --> 00:35:06,239 Speaker 1: So once again, when we open our hearts and our 664 00:35:06,280 --> 00:35:10,040 Speaker 1: hands to God, he gives us something better. Elena at 665 00:35:10,120 --> 00:35:12,799 Speaker 1: Lake Norman she's part of our welcome team there and 666 00:35:13,200 --> 00:35:15,600 Speaker 1: at the end of the year for the Waymaker End 667 00:35:15,600 --> 00:35:18,880 Speaker 1: of the Year offering season, she felt called to embrace 668 00:35:19,239 --> 00:35:22,240 Speaker 1: a life of generosity, to open her hands to God 669 00:35:22,480 --> 00:35:24,920 Speaker 1: and get herself uncomfortable and to begin to give. And 670 00:35:24,960 --> 00:35:28,239 Speaker 1: she also began to pray for her sister, Debbie, who 671 00:35:28,239 --> 00:35:30,959 Speaker 1: didn't know the Lord. So as she began to prioritize 672 00:35:30,960 --> 00:35:33,120 Speaker 1: her faith, she began to pray for her sister Debbie. 673 00:35:33,160 --> 00:35:36,279 Speaker 1: Debbie ended up coming to church, gave her life to Christ, 674 00:35:36,360 --> 00:35:41,560 Speaker 1: and last month, Debbie was baptized at Lake Norman. Anytime, 675 00:35:44,080 --> 00:35:47,440 Speaker 1: anytime we open our hands to God, he fills it 676 00:35:47,480 --> 00:35:51,200 Speaker 1: with something far greater than anything we ever let go of. 677 00:35:51,520 --> 00:35:55,640 Speaker 1: And I believe that is God's heart to you today 678 00:35:55,920 --> 00:35:59,600 Speaker 1: to go from this position because God won't bless this 679 00:35:59,640 --> 00:36:04,240 Speaker 1: position to this position, and this position is a position 680 00:36:04,280 --> 00:36:07,520 Speaker 1: and a posture that the Lord will always bless. So 681 00:36:07,560 --> 00:36:09,919 Speaker 1: I just want to invite you to stand at every 682 00:36:09,960 --> 00:36:12,879 Speaker 1: location and I want you to hold your hands out 683 00:36:12,920 --> 00:36:20,719 Speaker 1: like this. Let's close our eyes together. I believe there's 684 00:36:20,719 --> 00:36:24,680 Speaker 1: something I've been sharing God's word today that God has 685 00:36:24,760 --> 00:36:27,400 Speaker 1: put on your heart, that he is calling you to 686 00:36:27,480 --> 00:36:30,880 Speaker 1: let go of that he's calling me to let go of. 687 00:36:31,840 --> 00:36:34,800 Speaker 1: Hebrews twelve says, let us throw off everything that hinders 688 00:36:35,440 --> 00:36:39,839 Speaker 1: and the sin that so easily entangles. Let us run 689 00:36:39,880 --> 00:36:44,120 Speaker 1: the race marked out for us towards Jesus. So maybe 690 00:36:44,160 --> 00:36:46,000 Speaker 1: there is some sin that you need to confess and 691 00:36:46,040 --> 00:36:48,680 Speaker 1: you need to repent of, and you need to lay 692 00:36:48,680 --> 00:36:50,919 Speaker 1: at the feet of Jesus. But maybe there's some good 693 00:36:50,920 --> 00:36:53,680 Speaker 1: things that are no longer right for you in this season. 694 00:36:53,719 --> 00:36:57,840 Speaker 1: Maybe there's some attitudes, some mindsets that are slowing you 695 00:36:57,920 --> 00:37:00,000 Speaker 1: down and holding you back from the fullness of life 696 00:37:00,120 --> 00:37:03,680 Speaker 1: that God has for you. And today as a church family, 697 00:37:03,719 --> 00:37:07,479 Speaker 1: we want to let that go. So in a moment, 698 00:37:07,520 --> 00:37:10,480 Speaker 1: after I pray, we're gonna single come to the altar 699 00:37:10,520 --> 00:37:12,640 Speaker 1: and at every location we're gonna have ministry dreams and 700 00:37:12,680 --> 00:37:15,319 Speaker 1: prayer volunteers at the front. If you want to come 701 00:37:15,360 --> 00:37:17,719 Speaker 1: down and just ask somebody to pray for you to 702 00:37:17,760 --> 00:37:19,680 Speaker 1: have the strength to let go whatever it is that 703 00:37:19,719 --> 00:37:21,240 Speaker 1: you need to let go of, we have some people 704 00:37:21,239 --> 00:37:23,360 Speaker 1: that would love to pray with you. But I believe 705 00:37:23,360 --> 00:37:26,279 Speaker 1: all of us in our hearts can ask God to 706 00:37:26,280 --> 00:37:28,720 Speaker 1: show us what that is. Because taking up your cross 707 00:37:29,280 --> 00:37:32,160 Speaker 1: is an active thing. There's something that God is actually 708 00:37:32,160 --> 00:37:37,040 Speaker 1: calling us to release and then to take up. So God, 709 00:37:37,120 --> 00:37:40,200 Speaker 1: right now we come to you with open hands and 710 00:37:40,320 --> 00:37:44,320 Speaker 1: open hearts, thanking you for the fact that your plans 711 00:37:44,320 --> 00:37:48,640 Speaker 1: for us are perfect and they're far greater than anything 712 00:37:49,400 --> 00:37:51,840 Speaker 1: we could plan ourselves. So we surrender to your ways, 713 00:37:51,840 --> 00:37:55,040 Speaker 1: we surrender to your will, and we trust your heart 714 00:37:55,080 --> 00:38:01,000 Speaker 1: in this place in Jesus' name. Amen. Well, I hope 715 00:38:01,000 --> 00:38:03,440 Speaker 1: you enjoyed the podcast today. If you did, there are 716 00:38:03,480 --> 00:38:05,600 Speaker 1: just a couple things I'd love for you to do. 717 00:38:05,800 --> 00:38:09,319 Speaker 1: Number One, subscribe to our show. That way, the most 718 00:38:09,360 --> 00:38:12,600 Speaker 1: recent episode will always be in your feed, waiting for 719 00:38:12,640 --> 00:38:16,160 Speaker 1: you ready when you are. And Secondly, if this ministry 720 00:38:16,160 --> 00:38:18,640 Speaker 1: has impacted you and you'd like to help us continue 721 00:38:18,640 --> 00:38:20,719 Speaker 1: to reach others, you can click the link in the 722 00:38:20,719 --> 00:38:23,600 Speaker 1: description and you can give now and I'll see you 723 00:38:23,760 --> 00:38:26,240 Speaker 1: next time on the Elevation Podcast