1 00:00:01,480 --> 00:00:04,840 Speaker 1: Welcome to the Elevation Church Podcast. Today we have the 2 00:00:04,880 --> 00:00:08,600 Speaker 1: privilege of welcoming Pastor Daniel Floyd from Life Point Church 3 00:00:08,680 --> 00:00:12,560 Speaker 1: in Fredericksburg, Virginia. This is Pastor Floyd's first time preaching 4 00:00:12,600 --> 00:00:14,880 Speaker 1: at Elevation and we're excited for you to hear what 5 00:00:14,920 --> 00:00:18,200 Speaker 1: he shared with our church. We hope you enjoy this message. 6 00:00:20,440 --> 00:00:25,240 Speaker 1: What's up, Elevation, Come on, give Jesus your very best, 7 00:00:26,160 --> 00:00:30,240 Speaker 1: Come on. Great is the Lord. He's greatly to be praised. 8 00:00:32,200 --> 00:00:34,320 Speaker 1: And it's an honor. It's an honor to be with 9 00:00:34,320 --> 00:00:36,200 Speaker 1: you today. I want to welcome all of our locations. 10 00:00:36,400 --> 00:00:38,839 Speaker 1: We're actually broadcasting back to Virginia as well at all 11 00:00:38,880 --> 00:00:43,960 Speaker 1: of our campuses this weekend. And I kind of I 12 00:00:44,000 --> 00:00:46,640 Speaker 1: tell you, it feels like home here, been here so 13 00:00:46,720 --> 00:00:50,160 Speaker 1: many times. I was a text Pastor Stephen yesterday and said, 14 00:00:50,200 --> 00:00:54,520 Speaker 1: I was thinking about two thousand and seven. I was 15 00:00:54,760 --> 00:00:57,480 Speaker 1: trying to plan a church. We didn't know what we 16 00:00:57,480 --> 00:00:59,440 Speaker 1: were doing, really didn't know anything about anything, just knew 17 00:00:59,440 --> 00:01:01,279 Speaker 1: we love people and love Jesus and wanted to make 18 00:01:01,280 --> 00:01:04,280 Speaker 1: a difference. And so somebody said, you got to go 19 00:01:04,280 --> 00:01:07,640 Speaker 1: to Charlotte. There's something happening in Charlotte, and I was like, 20 00:01:07,680 --> 00:01:09,319 Speaker 1: all right, I'll go visit. I need to learn some 21 00:01:09,400 --> 00:01:13,679 Speaker 1: things and walked into Providence High School and blew my 22 00:01:13,760 --> 00:01:17,440 Speaker 1: mind and somehow I ended up meeting Pastor Stephen, and 23 00:01:17,480 --> 00:01:19,959 Speaker 1: I knew then in that moment. I was like, my 24 00:01:20,000 --> 00:01:23,720 Speaker 1: life needs to be aligned with this man, because how 25 00:01:23,800 --> 00:01:31,720 Speaker 1: of you know that alignment comes before assignment? And I 26 00:01:31,760 --> 00:01:33,640 Speaker 1: was saying, I never knew how much that moment would 27 00:01:33,680 --> 00:01:36,560 Speaker 1: impact my life. In this text to him yesterday, I 28 00:01:36,600 --> 00:01:40,280 Speaker 1: can turn back to almost every major turning point in 29 00:01:40,319 --> 00:01:43,680 Speaker 1: our ministry. And it was some phone conversation we had. 30 00:01:43,800 --> 00:01:46,720 Speaker 1: It was some message he preached, like this is the dream, 31 00:01:46,840 --> 00:01:49,320 Speaker 1: or take your seat at the gate. It was some 32 00:01:49,600 --> 00:01:52,120 Speaker 1: environment he created where God gave me a revelation I 33 00:01:52,200 --> 00:01:55,440 Speaker 1: needed for this season ahead for us. And here's what 34 00:01:55,520 --> 00:01:59,840 Speaker 1: I know about environments like this is that when you're 35 00:01:59,880 --> 00:02:02,320 Speaker 1: in them every week, they can become common to you. 36 00:02:03,320 --> 00:02:07,400 Speaker 1: And if you don't know, common is the opposite of honor, 37 00:02:08,400 --> 00:02:11,600 Speaker 1: and you don't intentionally dishonor something, it just becomes common. 38 00:02:12,520 --> 00:02:14,240 Speaker 1: And so can I just encourage you never let this 39 00:02:14,360 --> 00:02:19,639 Speaker 1: environment become common. But more important, more important, never let 40 00:02:19,680 --> 00:02:23,800 Speaker 1: your leaders. Pastor Stephen and Holly become common in your life. 41 00:02:24,200 --> 00:02:26,959 Speaker 1: How you perceive someone is how you will receive them, 42 00:02:27,280 --> 00:02:29,280 Speaker 1: and so I hope you'll always perceive them as the 43 00:02:29,320 --> 00:02:31,440 Speaker 1: gift that they are Fesis force that he gives gifts 44 00:02:31,440 --> 00:02:33,920 Speaker 1: to the body one of those as pastors. God must 45 00:02:33,960 --> 00:02:35,480 Speaker 1: love you because He gave you one of the best 46 00:02:35,520 --> 00:02:37,760 Speaker 1: gifts you could ever get in your leaders. Come on, 47 00:02:37,840 --> 00:02:40,919 Speaker 1: can we thank God for Pastor Stephen and Holly Man? 48 00:02:40,919 --> 00:02:47,040 Speaker 1: We love them. Thank God for them. We're not gonna 49 00:02:47,080 --> 00:02:49,840 Speaker 1: stand the whole time. I mean, I'll see you in 50 00:02:49,840 --> 00:02:51,840 Speaker 1: a moment, you know, if the message is good at points, 51 00:02:51,840 --> 00:02:53,840 Speaker 1: if you feel like you can, you stand if you want. 52 00:02:53,840 --> 00:02:57,119 Speaker 1: I don't care. But we are from Virginia. My wife 53 00:02:57,200 --> 00:03:01,200 Speaker 1: Tammy is with me. She is pastor of the church. Together. 54 00:03:01,639 --> 00:03:04,440 Speaker 1: My little girl Faith is with us. She's ten and 55 00:03:05,520 --> 00:03:10,560 Speaker 1: she's ten going on twenty one. We have four kids, though, 56 00:03:11,080 --> 00:03:13,919 Speaker 1: and it's we call it the greatest show. We don't 57 00:03:13,919 --> 00:03:15,800 Speaker 1: want to call it a circus. That's not very life giving. 58 00:03:15,880 --> 00:03:18,560 Speaker 1: We call it the greatest show. But I have a 59 00:03:18,600 --> 00:03:21,680 Speaker 1: twelve year old son named Owen. Faith is ten. We 60 00:03:21,720 --> 00:03:24,640 Speaker 1: have a two year old named Abigail, which in Hebrew 61 00:03:24,639 --> 00:03:26,840 Speaker 1: means Father's joy. And if you ever meet her, she 62 00:03:27,040 --> 00:03:29,400 Speaker 1: just lights up every room she comes into. And she 63 00:03:29,520 --> 00:03:32,120 Speaker 1: wasn't a surprise. We did that on purpose. Don't ask 64 00:03:32,200 --> 00:03:33,920 Speaker 1: us why. We don't know why. We started over again. 65 00:03:34,639 --> 00:03:37,440 Speaker 1: And then we just adopted. And we have a seventh 66 00:03:37,640 --> 00:03:43,480 Speaker 1: month old little boy named Jonas, and yeah, he's he's sweep. 67 00:03:45,320 --> 00:03:50,480 Speaker 1: And you say, ah, but he's not sleeping, y'all. And 68 00:03:50,600 --> 00:03:52,760 Speaker 1: so pray for that. Pray a spirit of sleep and 69 00:03:52,840 --> 00:03:56,440 Speaker 1: Slamber comes over him. If not, Benadrul may come over him. 70 00:03:57,440 --> 00:04:00,839 Speaker 1: I'm I'm joking. Don't call anybody on me, don't call 71 00:04:01,040 --> 00:04:04,360 Speaker 1: social services or anything. I'm joking. Have you ready to 72 00:04:04,360 --> 00:04:06,760 Speaker 1: get into the word today? I know this is a 73 00:04:06,760 --> 00:04:10,120 Speaker 1: house that loves the Word of God. Let me read 74 00:04:10,120 --> 00:04:12,280 Speaker 1: one verse to you, give you the title the message. 75 00:04:12,320 --> 00:04:14,440 Speaker 1: Then we're going to jump into it. James, Chapter two 76 00:04:15,160 --> 00:04:17,279 Speaker 1: be on the screen for you, beginning in verse twenty five. 77 00:04:17,279 --> 00:04:20,080 Speaker 1: I'm me read verse twenty five and twenty six in 78 00:04:20,120 --> 00:04:24,880 Speaker 1: the same way. Was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous. 79 00:04:24,920 --> 00:04:26,360 Speaker 1: That's the way you want to start your first time 80 00:04:26,400 --> 00:04:31,120 Speaker 1: at elevation reading about a prostitute considered righteous. For what 81 00:04:31,160 --> 00:04:33,560 Speaker 1: she did when she gave lodging to the spies and 82 00:04:33,640 --> 00:04:37,400 Speaker 1: sent them off in a different direction. As the body 83 00:04:37,480 --> 00:04:43,719 Speaker 1: without the spirit is dead. So faith without deeds is dead. 84 00:04:44,000 --> 00:04:48,800 Speaker 1: Some trains us and say so faith without works is dead. 85 00:04:48,920 --> 00:04:55,440 Speaker 1: Faith without activity, faith without action, faith without works is dead. 86 00:04:55,760 --> 00:04:58,040 Speaker 1: If you need a message title today, it's this, work 87 00:04:58,080 --> 00:05:00,960 Speaker 1: it out. Work it out. Look at your neighbor and 88 00:05:01,000 --> 00:05:03,719 Speaker 1: say work it out. On your way to your seat, 89 00:05:03,720 --> 00:05:06,440 Speaker 1: look at your other neighbor and say, work it out, 90 00:05:06,839 --> 00:05:12,560 Speaker 1: work it out. I came from a family of five. 91 00:05:12,680 --> 00:05:14,839 Speaker 1: I have two older sisters. I'm the baby, I'm the 92 00:05:14,839 --> 00:05:20,120 Speaker 1: baby boy. I'm the only boy. I'm the favorite. Come on, somebody, 93 00:05:20,200 --> 00:05:23,120 Speaker 1: mamas their baby boys, they're their favorites. They won't say it, 94 00:05:23,279 --> 00:05:25,440 Speaker 1: they won't speak it, but I know it right here 95 00:05:25,440 --> 00:05:28,440 Speaker 1: in my heart. I'm the favorite. And have of you 96 00:05:28,520 --> 00:05:32,400 Speaker 1: know that. When you got siblings, there is conflict. Come on, somebody, 97 00:05:32,400 --> 00:05:34,919 Speaker 1: there's conflict. And so there would often be conflict in 98 00:05:34,920 --> 00:05:37,440 Speaker 1: the Floyd household and we would go to mom, right 99 00:05:37,560 --> 00:05:40,880 Speaker 1: because Mom's supposed to take sides and solve it. And 100 00:05:40,920 --> 00:05:43,280 Speaker 1: she would say this too, you guys need to go 101 00:05:43,360 --> 00:05:46,520 Speaker 1: learn to work it out. Oh you had that mom too, right, 102 00:05:46,920 --> 00:05:48,800 Speaker 1: come on somebody, Yeah, you got to learn to work 103 00:05:48,839 --> 00:05:51,880 Speaker 1: it out right. And so some would happen at school, 104 00:05:52,040 --> 00:05:53,680 Speaker 1: and my mom was not one of those moms that 105 00:05:53,720 --> 00:05:56,320 Speaker 1: would run to the school and fix everything for me. 106 00:05:56,480 --> 00:05:58,120 Speaker 1: She would go, Daniel, you need to go back to 107 00:05:58,160 --> 00:06:00,880 Speaker 1: school tomorrow, and you need to learn to work it 108 00:06:01,480 --> 00:06:03,880 Speaker 1: out right. And now that I have kids, I have 109 00:06:04,000 --> 00:06:06,120 Speaker 1: for it. And now they come to me with arguments 110 00:06:06,120 --> 00:06:09,039 Speaker 1: and I go, you two need to go work it out. 111 00:06:09,080 --> 00:06:11,360 Speaker 1: We just got back from vacation. We were away for 112 00:06:11,400 --> 00:06:13,240 Speaker 1: two weeks and by the end of the week, I 113 00:06:13,320 --> 00:06:16,560 Speaker 1: was like, one get away from me. And I love 114 00:06:16,640 --> 00:06:19,000 Speaker 1: my kids, but like we've been in two close quarters 115 00:06:19,040 --> 00:06:21,960 Speaker 1: for too long. Come on, somebody, and I'm like, any argument. 116 00:06:22,040 --> 00:06:24,440 Speaker 1: You guys need to work it out. Why Because what 117 00:06:24,560 --> 00:06:26,440 Speaker 1: we're trying to teach them, what my mom was trying 118 00:06:26,480 --> 00:06:28,880 Speaker 1: to teach me, is this is that there's a skill 119 00:06:28,960 --> 00:06:32,279 Speaker 1: set gained, and there is a strength gained, an ability 120 00:06:32,320 --> 00:06:35,279 Speaker 1: gain when you have to figure something out on your own. 121 00:06:35,760 --> 00:06:37,560 Speaker 1: And what my mom knew is that one day she 122 00:06:37,640 --> 00:06:39,240 Speaker 1: wanted me to move out of the house. As much 123 00:06:39,240 --> 00:06:40,720 Speaker 1: as she loved me, and as much as I love 124 00:06:40,800 --> 00:06:44,600 Speaker 1: my four in you know, eighteen years, the last one 125 00:06:44,640 --> 00:06:47,720 Speaker 1: will be out of the house. Theoretically, parenthetically that will 126 00:06:47,760 --> 00:06:50,680 Speaker 1: move out. And I want them to have the ability 127 00:06:51,120 --> 00:06:54,080 Speaker 1: to be able to last in the real world, hello, 128 00:06:54,600 --> 00:06:56,760 Speaker 1: on their own. I want them to have the skills 129 00:06:56,760 --> 00:06:58,680 Speaker 1: to deal with conflict. I want them to have the 130 00:06:58,720 --> 00:07:01,279 Speaker 1: skills to how to reason all the situation. I don't 131 00:07:01,279 --> 00:07:02,960 Speaker 1: want them to have to run. I don't want them 132 00:07:02,960 --> 00:07:04,919 Speaker 1: to spend their life going with it was their fault. 133 00:07:04,920 --> 00:07:07,200 Speaker 1: I didn't succeed, it was their fault that it didn't 134 00:07:07,200 --> 00:07:09,320 Speaker 1: come through. It was their fault. No, I want them 135 00:07:09,360 --> 00:07:12,720 Speaker 1: to take personal responsibility. I want them to learn to 136 00:07:12,840 --> 00:07:17,160 Speaker 1: work it out. Somebody shall work it out. And so 137 00:07:17,440 --> 00:07:20,400 Speaker 1: what some we think, some of us think we should 138 00:07:20,400 --> 00:07:23,720 Speaker 1: do is shelter our kids from that. But rather there 139 00:07:23,720 --> 00:07:27,480 Speaker 1: are some situations we should send them back into. And 140 00:07:27,560 --> 00:07:29,119 Speaker 1: how many of you know that there are some things 141 00:07:29,160 --> 00:07:31,800 Speaker 1: in life as you grow up that you've got to 142 00:07:31,880 --> 00:07:35,920 Speaker 1: learn to work out that there comes some challenging situations 143 00:07:35,920 --> 00:07:38,960 Speaker 1: in life. There comes some difficult things that we all face, 144 00:07:39,120 --> 00:07:41,440 Speaker 1: no matter whether you're here at one of our locations. 145 00:07:41,520 --> 00:07:44,240 Speaker 1: And you believe in Jesus, don't believe in Jesus. We 146 00:07:44,360 --> 00:07:48,800 Speaker 1: all experience life, and I found that life can be difficult, 147 00:07:48,880 --> 00:07:51,080 Speaker 1: and I found that life can throw some things at 148 00:07:51,120 --> 00:07:53,400 Speaker 1: you that are hard. And I found that it happens 149 00:07:53,400 --> 00:07:56,000 Speaker 1: from two different angles. One is, sometimes we do it 150 00:07:56,000 --> 00:07:59,400 Speaker 1: to ourselves. Hello, let's be honest. Sometimes we just make 151 00:07:59,480 --> 00:08:02,320 Speaker 1: some dumb choices and we do it to ourselves. And 152 00:08:02,360 --> 00:08:04,480 Speaker 1: some things happened to us. We had no control over 153 00:08:04,760 --> 00:08:06,800 Speaker 1: the phone call that came and we had no control 154 00:08:06,800 --> 00:08:09,160 Speaker 1: over it. The person that walked out of our life 155 00:08:09,200 --> 00:08:11,560 Speaker 1: and we had no control over it. There's some things 156 00:08:11,600 --> 00:08:14,280 Speaker 1: that happened because we had no control. But there's some 157 00:08:14,320 --> 00:08:16,400 Speaker 1: things that happened because we had control and we just 158 00:08:16,480 --> 00:08:20,360 Speaker 1: caused it. But in either situation, if we assume that 159 00:08:20,600 --> 00:08:23,800 Speaker 1: just because God is good, which he is, that he 160 00:08:23,880 --> 00:08:26,920 Speaker 1: will shelter us from everything, we are going to be 161 00:08:27,040 --> 00:08:31,680 Speaker 1: sorely disappointed because God, instead of sheltering us, will often 162 00:08:32,440 --> 00:08:37,560 Speaker 1: leverage that situation to develop something in us. See. I 163 00:08:37,600 --> 00:08:40,480 Speaker 1: found that whenever we face challenging in hard times in life, 164 00:08:40,520 --> 00:08:43,400 Speaker 1: there's usually three responses. We have one we try to 165 00:08:43,440 --> 00:08:46,480 Speaker 1: fix it ourselves. Right, I can do this. I can 166 00:08:46,480 --> 00:08:49,720 Speaker 1: pull myself up by my own bootstraps. I can try harder. 167 00:08:49,920 --> 00:08:52,560 Speaker 1: I'm gonna do better. It's what we do in January, right, y'all. 168 00:08:52,559 --> 00:08:56,920 Speaker 1: Remember that diet plan you had giving you a moment 169 00:08:56,960 --> 00:08:59,880 Speaker 1: to think about it. Remember that workout. I'm gonna do keto, 170 00:09:00,240 --> 00:09:02,040 Speaker 1: I'm going to get I'm gonna hit the gym. Right. 171 00:09:02,120 --> 00:09:04,119 Speaker 1: Some of you are like, oh, yeah, that's still automatically 172 00:09:04,160 --> 00:09:07,080 Speaker 1: withdrawing from my account. I haven't been in three months. 173 00:09:07,080 --> 00:09:09,400 Speaker 1: Come on, so and so you get. But I can 174 00:09:09,440 --> 00:09:11,960 Speaker 1: do this myself, right. And here's the thing is that 175 00:09:12,000 --> 00:09:14,120 Speaker 1: you'll find is that there's some things in life that 176 00:09:14,200 --> 00:09:16,480 Speaker 1: no matter how much effort you put into them, it 177 00:09:16,520 --> 00:09:20,240 Speaker 1: will not resolve it. Some of us, the next step 178 00:09:20,320 --> 00:09:21,920 Speaker 1: is we go we go to find a solution from 179 00:09:21,920 --> 00:09:26,520 Speaker 1: everybody else around us, and so we we crowdsource counseling 180 00:09:26,600 --> 00:09:30,000 Speaker 1: on social media. Please stop that, by the way, we 181 00:09:30,280 --> 00:09:32,040 Speaker 1: go to every person. In the Bible does say that 182 00:09:32,080 --> 00:09:35,559 Speaker 1: in a multitude of counselors there is wisdom. But maybe 183 00:09:35,559 --> 00:09:39,240 Speaker 1: that shouldn't be step one. I found that some of us, 184 00:09:39,280 --> 00:09:40,719 Speaker 1: if we don't go to ourselfs or we don't go 185 00:09:40,760 --> 00:09:43,480 Speaker 1: to other people, we end up just saying, well, this 186 00:09:43,559 --> 00:09:46,040 Speaker 1: is my lot in life. That I'm just gonna live 187 00:09:46,120 --> 00:09:49,200 Speaker 1: stuck that I've just got to live. I've got to 188 00:09:49,240 --> 00:09:50,840 Speaker 1: deal with this for I think for some of us, 189 00:09:50,880 --> 00:09:54,080 Speaker 1: we somehow have twisted in our mind that maybe the 190 00:09:54,160 --> 00:09:57,160 Speaker 1: life I'm living now and the difficulties I'm facing now, 191 00:09:57,440 --> 00:10:00,920 Speaker 1: I'm paying penance to God for some life that I 192 00:10:01,040 --> 00:10:04,439 Speaker 1: lived previously, whenever I before Jesus. And so now I've 193 00:10:04,520 --> 00:10:06,680 Speaker 1: just kind of deal with this, and I just I 194 00:10:06,720 --> 00:10:08,760 Speaker 1: love this about this house, and I love this about 195 00:10:08,760 --> 00:10:11,719 Speaker 1: Pastor Stephen Is. He is bent on letting you know 196 00:10:11,800 --> 00:10:14,240 Speaker 1: you don't have to live stuck in life, that God 197 00:10:14,320 --> 00:10:16,360 Speaker 1: does have a good plan for your life. Come on, 198 00:10:16,520 --> 00:10:18,679 Speaker 1: that He does have a good purpose for your life, 199 00:10:18,760 --> 00:10:21,520 Speaker 1: and you don't have to live stuck in your current situation. 200 00:10:22,200 --> 00:10:24,680 Speaker 1: Life does not have to be a merry go round 201 00:10:24,720 --> 00:10:26,760 Speaker 1: where you feel like you're dealing with the same thing 202 00:10:26,920 --> 00:10:30,040 Speaker 1: over and over and over and over. The name's changed, 203 00:10:30,080 --> 00:10:32,839 Speaker 1: the situation's changed, but I just can't seem to get 204 00:10:32,880 --> 00:10:35,199 Speaker 1: out of that. That is not God's plan for you. 205 00:10:36,360 --> 00:10:38,960 Speaker 1: And so if it's not, I'll fix it myself. And 206 00:10:39,000 --> 00:10:41,800 Speaker 1: it's not other people can fix it for me. And 207 00:10:41,840 --> 00:10:44,880 Speaker 1: it's not that I'm just supposed to live less than 208 00:10:45,000 --> 00:10:49,480 Speaker 1: life than what is it? Then, these challenging situations, what 209 00:10:49,520 --> 00:10:52,000 Speaker 1: are their purpose? Why? I would say this that they 210 00:10:52,120 --> 00:10:56,480 Speaker 1: can be leveraged for God to increase the one thing 211 00:10:56,559 --> 00:11:01,120 Speaker 1: that pleases him, and that is faith. The Bible says 212 00:11:01,160 --> 00:11:06,400 Speaker 1: that without faith, it's impossible to please God. So the 213 00:11:06,440 --> 00:11:09,720 Speaker 1: one thing that pleases God. Not your performance doesn't please God. 214 00:11:10,960 --> 00:11:14,760 Speaker 1: Not your best day, not trying harder, not I'll do better, 215 00:11:15,120 --> 00:11:17,720 Speaker 1: Not God, Look at me, God, I did the right thing. God, 216 00:11:17,720 --> 00:11:20,680 Speaker 1: I didn't. I didn't lay into that person. I didn't, 217 00:11:20,920 --> 00:11:24,360 Speaker 1: you know, I didn't tell my coworker what I really thought. God, 218 00:11:24,400 --> 00:11:27,760 Speaker 1: didn't I do a great job today? Hello, somebody, I 219 00:11:27,800 --> 00:11:29,880 Speaker 1: know you're also spiritual. Y'all don't do that. We were 220 00:11:29,920 --> 00:11:31,839 Speaker 1: on vacation and I had my little two year old 221 00:11:31,840 --> 00:11:35,720 Speaker 1: and she's a little swimming diaper, right, And there was 222 00:11:35,800 --> 00:11:40,080 Speaker 1: this individual, we'll call it that, by the pool at 223 00:11:40,120 --> 00:11:44,160 Speaker 1: the resort, and evidently in the condos we were staying in, 224 00:11:44,200 --> 00:11:46,319 Speaker 1: evidently there's a rule you can't wear swimming diapers in 225 00:11:46,400 --> 00:11:50,400 Speaker 1: this certain pool, and this one lady made sure the 226 00:11:50,440 --> 00:11:52,040 Speaker 1: people in charge knew that, so they would come to 227 00:11:52,080 --> 00:11:53,480 Speaker 1: us and tell us to get her out. Of the pool. 228 00:11:55,080 --> 00:12:01,640 Speaker 1: So I deemed her the pool Nazi, and I knew 229 00:12:01,679 --> 00:12:04,320 Speaker 1: that I was not walking in the spirit enough to 230 00:12:04,360 --> 00:12:06,200 Speaker 1: go over and have a conversation with her, so I 231 00:12:06,200 --> 00:12:11,760 Speaker 1: asked my wife to I was like, go get her baby, 232 00:12:13,440 --> 00:12:15,839 Speaker 1: and Tammy's got like that southern sweet thing. Hey, how 233 00:12:15,840 --> 00:12:18,080 Speaker 1: are you? What's your name? Like, introduce yourself. I didn't 234 00:12:18,080 --> 00:12:19,720 Speaker 1: went over there and been like, what's your problem? Are 235 00:12:19,720 --> 00:12:26,079 Speaker 1: you trying to kill my joy? Kill my vacation? You 236 00:12:26,160 --> 00:12:29,199 Speaker 1: all with me? I know y'all don't face any days 237 00:12:29,240 --> 00:12:32,520 Speaker 1: like that, But maybe in those moments, God's trying to 238 00:12:32,559 --> 00:12:34,640 Speaker 1: develop something in me. And I heard the Holy Spirit 239 00:12:34,679 --> 00:12:37,320 Speaker 1: go the fruit of me is self control. It's like, 240 00:12:38,080 --> 00:12:40,400 Speaker 1: all right, let's I may need a day or two 241 00:12:40,400 --> 00:12:42,880 Speaker 1: to work on this, Jesus, because if she's at the 242 00:12:42,880 --> 00:12:46,840 Speaker 1: pool tomorrow, I may not have self control. But in 243 00:12:46,840 --> 00:12:49,280 Speaker 1: that moment, God was like, I'm trying to do something 244 00:12:49,320 --> 00:12:52,560 Speaker 1: in you. I'm not trying to do something to you. 245 00:12:54,720 --> 00:12:55,880 Speaker 1: Just so you know the end of the story. I 246 00:12:55,880 --> 00:12:57,880 Speaker 1: took her swimming dipper off. I was like, whatever she does, 247 00:12:57,920 --> 00:13:10,160 Speaker 1: she does, get in the pool, baby, shine, potty Trenia. 248 00:13:13,320 --> 00:13:15,640 Speaker 1: So I just want you to know that those challenging moments. 249 00:13:15,720 --> 00:13:17,920 Speaker 1: It's not that God is doing something to you. Sometimes 250 00:13:17,920 --> 00:13:19,480 Speaker 1: we can go God, what are you doing to me? 251 00:13:20,320 --> 00:13:22,160 Speaker 1: And God's going now, I'm not trying to do something 252 00:13:22,160 --> 00:13:24,600 Speaker 1: to you. I'm trying to do something in you so 253 00:13:24,640 --> 00:13:27,240 Speaker 1: that i can do something through you. But I've got 254 00:13:27,240 --> 00:13:29,520 Speaker 1: to do something in you first before i can do 255 00:13:29,559 --> 00:13:32,959 Speaker 1: the thing through you. I'm trying to elevate your faith. 256 00:13:33,600 --> 00:13:36,440 Speaker 1: And here's what I found is that faith does not 257 00:13:36,679 --> 00:13:41,880 Speaker 1: grow in comfort. That if you want a comfortable life, 258 00:13:41,920 --> 00:13:44,240 Speaker 1: then you may never have faith that has grown or 259 00:13:44,240 --> 00:13:49,480 Speaker 1: elevated to another level. It requires discomfort for faith to grow. 260 00:13:50,080 --> 00:13:53,240 Speaker 1: And without faith, it's impossible to please God. So that 261 00:13:53,400 --> 00:13:57,959 Speaker 1: means God will allow some uncomfortable situations in your life 262 00:13:58,320 --> 00:14:00,800 Speaker 1: so that he can elevate your faith to take you 263 00:14:00,880 --> 00:14:04,360 Speaker 1: to another level. So faith, the Bible says, is evidence 264 00:14:04,559 --> 00:14:07,040 Speaker 1: or faith is substance. Are you with me, say, man, 265 00:14:07,920 --> 00:14:10,720 Speaker 1: faith is evidence. Faith is not a feeling. It's not 266 00:14:10,960 --> 00:14:14,160 Speaker 1: the emotion that you get when elevation worship. Who has 267 00:14:14,200 --> 00:14:17,439 Speaker 1: thankfully written the anthem of generation of a generation? Now, 268 00:14:17,520 --> 00:14:21,120 Speaker 1: I mean amazing, But that's not faith. That feeling you 269 00:14:21,200 --> 00:14:24,480 Speaker 1: get that's wonderful, but that's not faith. It's it's not 270 00:14:24,600 --> 00:14:26,720 Speaker 1: when the hairs on the back of your neck stand 271 00:14:26,800 --> 00:14:29,600 Speaker 1: up in the goosebunska. That's not faith. The Bible says 272 00:14:29,640 --> 00:14:33,480 Speaker 1: faith is evidence. Now I'm no attorney, but I understand 273 00:14:33,480 --> 00:14:35,800 Speaker 1: that evidence is what is required whenever you go into 274 00:14:35,840 --> 00:14:39,200 Speaker 1: a courtroom, that you have to produce evidence to back 275 00:14:39,280 --> 00:14:42,400 Speaker 1: up your case for what you are saying is true. 276 00:14:42,800 --> 00:14:48,400 Speaker 1: So faith is evidence, meaning faith is seen, it's tangible, 277 00:14:48,480 --> 00:14:53,000 Speaker 1: it's observable in something of my behavior or in my speech. 278 00:14:54,040 --> 00:14:56,800 Speaker 1: So I cannot say that I have faith if my 279 00:14:56,960 --> 00:15:01,680 Speaker 1: behavior doesn't follow up what I'm saying. I believe it 280 00:15:01,800 --> 00:15:05,720 Speaker 1: is the evidence. Are y'all following me? So faith without 281 00:15:05,800 --> 00:15:09,560 Speaker 1: let's say it this way works. Our faith without evidence 282 00:15:10,440 --> 00:15:14,600 Speaker 1: is dead or isn't really faith at all. And so 283 00:15:14,720 --> 00:15:18,320 Speaker 1: God will give me the opportunity to produce evidence in 284 00:15:18,440 --> 00:15:21,640 Speaker 1: my life that I have faith so that I can 285 00:15:21,680 --> 00:15:25,480 Speaker 1: please Him. So the challenging situations in my life are 286 00:15:25,480 --> 00:15:27,800 Speaker 1: not God doing something to me. They're God doing something 287 00:15:27,880 --> 00:15:30,440 Speaker 1: in me, and it is strengthening my faith. And the 288 00:15:30,600 --> 00:15:36,280 Speaker 1: muscle of faith does not grow in comfort. So if 289 00:15:36,320 --> 00:15:38,360 Speaker 1: you're in the middle of discomfort right now, you should 290 00:15:38,400 --> 00:15:45,480 Speaker 1: rejoice because God is growing something in you, meaning God 291 00:15:45,680 --> 00:15:51,920 Speaker 1: is about to do something through you. Come on, somebody, 292 00:15:53,520 --> 00:15:57,120 Speaker 1: So how do I work out my faith? Then? How 293 00:15:57,160 --> 00:15:59,600 Speaker 1: do I work it out? Like that sounds all good 294 00:15:59,760 --> 00:16:02,840 Speaker 1: and and that's great, But how do I work it out? 295 00:16:03,160 --> 00:16:05,600 Speaker 1: What does it look like when God is working out 296 00:16:05,640 --> 00:16:09,640 Speaker 1: my faith so that I can grow this faith muscle 297 00:16:09,680 --> 00:16:12,440 Speaker 1: to believe for greater things. And here's I want to 298 00:16:12,480 --> 00:16:15,080 Speaker 1: put this caveat. If I could insert this caveat into 299 00:16:15,120 --> 00:16:17,640 Speaker 1: the message so that you understand this clearly that I'm 300 00:16:17,640 --> 00:16:21,720 Speaker 1: not talking about working out faith for salvation. She need 301 00:16:21,760 --> 00:16:24,480 Speaker 1: to make that clear for you. You are saved by 302 00:16:24,560 --> 00:16:28,080 Speaker 1: faith alone, through grace alone. Are you following me? It 303 00:16:28,160 --> 00:16:29,800 Speaker 1: is not of your work, so that you don't get 304 00:16:29,800 --> 00:16:32,360 Speaker 1: the credit. It's the gift of God. So none of 305 00:16:32,440 --> 00:16:34,920 Speaker 1: us can boast in that. I'm talking about the faith 306 00:16:34,920 --> 00:16:37,840 Speaker 1: to believe God for greater things in your life. Are 307 00:16:37,840 --> 00:16:39,560 Speaker 1: you with me? All right? So I want us to 308 00:16:39,600 --> 00:16:41,840 Speaker 1: look at the story in the Old Testament, Second Samuel 309 00:16:42,320 --> 00:16:45,120 Speaker 1: chapter one, the story of Hannah, and I see a 310 00:16:45,200 --> 00:16:48,160 Speaker 1: couple of things in Hannah's life that helps us see 311 00:16:48,280 --> 00:16:51,720 Speaker 1: how God works out faith. I'm sorry. First Samuel chapter one, 312 00:16:51,920 --> 00:16:54,200 Speaker 1: first Samuel chapter one. What you need to know real 313 00:16:54,240 --> 00:16:58,280 Speaker 1: click cliff notes about Hannah is that she is married 314 00:16:59,120 --> 00:17:01,200 Speaker 1: to a guy. He also has another wife. That's a 315 00:17:01,240 --> 00:17:06,000 Speaker 1: whole nother day, Pastor Stephen, w'clear up all that. But 316 00:17:06,960 --> 00:17:10,320 Speaker 1: he's and she is unable to have children, and she 317 00:17:10,320 --> 00:17:12,600 Speaker 1: she very much desires to have children. So first Samuel 318 00:17:12,680 --> 00:17:15,160 Speaker 1: chapter one, we're gonna start reading in verse three. Verse 319 00:17:15,200 --> 00:17:16,639 Speaker 1: three to be on the screen, it says this, the 320 00:17:16,720 --> 00:17:20,040 Speaker 1: year after year, this man, being Hannah's husband, he went 321 00:17:20,119 --> 00:17:22,439 Speaker 1: up from the town to worship and sacrifice to the 322 00:17:22,440 --> 00:17:25,760 Speaker 1: Lord Almighty at Shiloh, where Hofni and Phineas not Phineas 323 00:17:25,760 --> 00:17:29,720 Speaker 1: and ferb Hello I have little children. The two sons 324 00:17:29,720 --> 00:17:32,919 Speaker 1: of Eli were the priests of the Lord. And whenever 325 00:17:32,920 --> 00:17:36,160 Speaker 1: the day came for Alcana to sacrifice, he would give 326 00:17:36,200 --> 00:17:39,200 Speaker 1: portions of the meat to his wife Pannina and all 327 00:17:39,200 --> 00:17:41,800 Speaker 1: of her sons and daughters. But to Hannah he gave 328 00:17:41,840 --> 00:17:45,200 Speaker 1: a double portion because he loved her and the Lord 329 00:17:45,200 --> 00:17:48,280 Speaker 1: had closed her womb. And because the Lord had closed 330 00:17:48,280 --> 00:17:50,679 Speaker 1: her womb. Listen to this, the other wife, her rival, 331 00:17:50,760 --> 00:17:54,720 Speaker 1: kept provoking her in order to irritate her. This went 332 00:17:54,760 --> 00:17:57,760 Speaker 1: on year after year, and whenever Hannah went up to 333 00:17:57,800 --> 00:18:01,080 Speaker 1: the house of the Lord, her rival provoked her until 334 00:18:01,160 --> 00:18:05,200 Speaker 1: she wept, and she could not eat till she wept, 335 00:18:05,200 --> 00:18:06,719 Speaker 1: and she could not eat. When if you've ever been 336 00:18:06,760 --> 00:18:09,480 Speaker 1: in a place in life where you so desired something 337 00:18:10,320 --> 00:18:14,240 Speaker 1: but it seemed impossible to obtain it, you know, some 338 00:18:14,280 --> 00:18:19,600 Speaker 1: of life's challenges aren't just challenging, they're impossible. They look like, 339 00:18:19,760 --> 00:18:23,480 Speaker 1: how could this ever happen? How could this ever come through? 340 00:18:23,600 --> 00:18:26,159 Speaker 1: How could I ever find a solution to this? And 341 00:18:26,200 --> 00:18:28,119 Speaker 1: I would say today at all of our locations, that 342 00:18:28,160 --> 00:18:29,520 Speaker 1: there's some of you that feel like you're in the 343 00:18:29,520 --> 00:18:34,000 Speaker 1: middle of impossible situations. It's where Hannah was. Her womb 344 00:18:34,119 --> 00:18:37,680 Speaker 1: was closed. She could not have a child. She could 345 00:18:37,720 --> 00:18:41,000 Speaker 1: not control that outcome. You know, life is a lot 346 00:18:41,080 --> 00:18:44,040 Speaker 1: easier when you can control the outcome. She could not 347 00:18:44,200 --> 00:18:48,000 Speaker 1: control the outcome. And not only that, but she had 348 00:18:48,000 --> 00:18:52,320 Speaker 1: an antagonist in the story that constantly was antagonizing her 349 00:18:52,359 --> 00:18:56,119 Speaker 1: and provoking her. Hey, Hannah, you can't have kids. Hey Hannah, 350 00:18:56,119 --> 00:18:57,800 Speaker 1: how's it feel? Hey Hannah, look at it? Could you 351 00:18:57,880 --> 00:19:02,400 Speaker 1: mind the babysit my kids? While I go out constantly 352 00:19:02,520 --> 00:19:06,280 Speaker 1: antagonizing and provoking her and So Hannah was living daily. 353 00:19:06,480 --> 00:19:09,080 Speaker 1: Every day she woke up, she lived in the reality 354 00:19:09,080 --> 00:19:11,560 Speaker 1: of the deficit that was in her life. The deficit 355 00:19:11,600 --> 00:19:13,800 Speaker 1: the gap between where she was and where she wanted 356 00:19:13,840 --> 00:19:16,080 Speaker 1: to be, between what she currently had and what she 357 00:19:16,200 --> 00:19:20,119 Speaker 1: was desperately wanting from God. And there was nothing she 358 00:19:20,119 --> 00:19:22,600 Speaker 1: could do to change it. And I want you to 359 00:19:22,680 --> 00:19:25,040 Speaker 1: notice this that as we would learn to work out 360 00:19:25,080 --> 00:19:27,800 Speaker 1: our faiths, we learned to work out our faith. If 361 00:19:27,840 --> 00:19:29,680 Speaker 1: your note taker writing this down number one is this 362 00:19:30,200 --> 00:19:36,359 Speaker 1: is that the deficit is faith's opportunity. The deficit is 363 00:19:36,480 --> 00:19:40,119 Speaker 1: faith's opportunity. Many of us look at the deficits in 364 00:19:40,119 --> 00:19:42,240 Speaker 1: our life and look at it as the obstacle. But 365 00:19:42,320 --> 00:19:45,000 Speaker 1: it is not the obstacle. It is the opportunity for 366 00:19:45,080 --> 00:19:48,439 Speaker 1: our faiths to grow. It's opportunity for the muscle of 367 00:19:48,440 --> 00:19:51,280 Speaker 1: faith to get stronger so that we can carry the 368 00:19:51,320 --> 00:19:53,879 Speaker 1: weightier thing that God wants to do in our life 369 00:19:54,040 --> 00:19:57,440 Speaker 1: in the seasons ahead. Without the deficit, our faith would 370 00:19:57,480 --> 00:20:00,440 Speaker 1: not grow. The deficit is required for ours, our faith 371 00:20:00,520 --> 00:20:04,800 Speaker 1: to grow. I remember whenever my daughter Faith was Tammy 372 00:20:04,880 --> 00:20:07,240 Speaker 1: was pregnant with her, we went for you know, you 373 00:20:07,280 --> 00:20:09,919 Speaker 1: go for all the ultrasounds around twenty weeks, and so 374 00:20:09,920 --> 00:20:11,520 Speaker 1: we were going for that. We're gonna find out boy 375 00:20:11,600 --> 00:20:13,440 Speaker 1: or girl. We were all excited about that. My first 376 00:20:13,440 --> 00:20:16,120 Speaker 1: one was a son, and everybody thought it was a girl. 377 00:20:16,119 --> 00:20:17,479 Speaker 1: And I told Tammy, I was like, I make men 378 00:20:17,520 --> 00:20:20,200 Speaker 1: at least for the first one, and so it's gonna 379 00:20:20,240 --> 00:20:21,920 Speaker 1: be a boy. First one's gonna be a boy, and 380 00:20:21,960 --> 00:20:23,359 Speaker 1: the second one. I was like, I want of a 381 00:20:23,359 --> 00:20:25,520 Speaker 1: little girl. There's nothing like daddy, and there's the little girls, 382 00:20:25,520 --> 00:20:26,960 Speaker 1: you know, and so I was like, I want a girl. 383 00:20:27,119 --> 00:20:28,719 Speaker 1: So we went in. We were all excited. Everything, all 384 00:20:28,760 --> 00:20:30,520 Speaker 1: the all the visits up to this. We're all healthy, 385 00:20:30,640 --> 00:20:32,639 Speaker 1: I know, everything's great. So they do this and then 386 00:20:32,640 --> 00:20:34,240 Speaker 1: they calls back and they say we need to go 387 00:20:34,359 --> 00:20:38,439 Speaker 1: for a more intense ultrasound. And so we were like, 388 00:20:38,440 --> 00:20:40,679 Speaker 1: all right, that doesn't sound good. We haven't done this before. 389 00:20:41,200 --> 00:20:42,919 Speaker 1: And so we went for that more intense thing. And 390 00:20:42,960 --> 00:20:44,399 Speaker 1: they got done with that and set us down in 391 00:20:44,440 --> 00:20:48,240 Speaker 1: that room and they were like, hey, we found a 392 00:20:48,240 --> 00:20:50,720 Speaker 1: couple of abnormalities, a couple of spots on the brain. 393 00:20:53,400 --> 00:20:55,280 Speaker 1: You know, in those moments where you get that kind 394 00:20:55,280 --> 00:20:57,600 Speaker 1: of news, how it just there's like a rush that 395 00:20:57,640 --> 00:21:00,399 Speaker 1: goes from your head to your feet like it's like 396 00:21:00,440 --> 00:21:05,119 Speaker 1: a mixture of weight and heat and like anxiety, and 397 00:21:05,160 --> 00:21:10,160 Speaker 1: then your mind begins to race, doesn't it? All? Right? 398 00:21:10,200 --> 00:21:15,480 Speaker 1: The brain is pretty important. And so in my mind 399 00:21:15,520 --> 00:21:22,640 Speaker 1: as a dad, I went from from zero to uh, 400 00:21:22,760 --> 00:21:24,240 Speaker 1: will I ever be able to walk her down the 401 00:21:24,280 --> 00:21:29,680 Speaker 1: aisle like that? From zero to will she be able 402 00:21:29,720 --> 00:21:35,160 Speaker 1: to walk like that? There was a deficit that I 403 00:21:35,240 --> 00:21:40,760 Speaker 1: could not control. I can't fix a brain. Yeah, So 404 00:21:40,800 --> 00:21:43,120 Speaker 1: we went away from that appointment. And I'm not saying 405 00:21:43,160 --> 00:21:45,560 Speaker 1: that I'm super spiritual and this always happens, because it 406 00:21:45,560 --> 00:21:47,560 Speaker 1: doesn't always happen. And I'm not saying I got there 407 00:21:47,560 --> 00:21:50,919 Speaker 1: that day. It took me a few days. But I 408 00:21:51,000 --> 00:21:53,600 Speaker 1: just begin every night to put my hand on Tammy's stomach, 409 00:21:53,680 --> 00:21:57,000 Speaker 1: and I just begin to pray and declare healing and 410 00:21:57,080 --> 00:22:00,760 Speaker 1: believe God to touch this little girl's mind. And I 411 00:22:00,840 --> 00:22:04,560 Speaker 1: begin to prophesy destiny over her and purpose over her 412 00:22:04,800 --> 00:22:07,680 Speaker 1: and calling over her, and that God would use this 413 00:22:07,920 --> 00:22:10,000 Speaker 1: and that He would perform a miracle in our life. 414 00:22:10,040 --> 00:22:12,320 Speaker 1: And I just begin to pray and pray and pray 415 00:22:12,400 --> 00:22:15,440 Speaker 1: and pray, and weep and cry and pray, and every 416 00:22:15,560 --> 00:22:17,520 Speaker 1: night and sometimes Tammy be asleep, and I'd wake up 417 00:22:17,560 --> 00:22:18,880 Speaker 1: in the middle of the night and I would put 418 00:22:18,880 --> 00:22:20,400 Speaker 1: my hand on her stomach and I would just begin 419 00:22:20,480 --> 00:22:22,560 Speaker 1: to pray that God, You're going to touch this. This 420 00:22:22,640 --> 00:22:24,920 Speaker 1: is my inheritance, this is not going to go down 421 00:22:24,960 --> 00:22:27,760 Speaker 1: this way. I just begin to decree and declare and 422 00:22:27,800 --> 00:22:30,040 Speaker 1: pray over this over and over and over. But here's 423 00:22:30,040 --> 00:22:32,959 Speaker 1: the deal. If I had not had the deficit, I 424 00:22:33,000 --> 00:22:36,240 Speaker 1: would not have prayed that way. The deficit is what 425 00:22:36,440 --> 00:22:39,200 Speaker 1: brought a new level of prayer up on the inside 426 00:22:39,200 --> 00:22:41,960 Speaker 1: of me. The deficit brought a new level of faith 427 00:22:42,080 --> 00:22:44,639 Speaker 1: up on the inside of me. The deficit in my 428 00:22:44,760 --> 00:22:47,359 Speaker 1: life brought a new level of healing up on the 429 00:22:47,359 --> 00:22:49,840 Speaker 1: inside of me. It caused me to speak as those 430 00:22:49,880 --> 00:22:52,920 Speaker 1: those things that were not were in my life. It 431 00:22:53,000 --> 00:22:57,800 Speaker 1: became the evidence. My prayer became the evidence that I 432 00:22:57,880 --> 00:23:00,679 Speaker 1: believed that my God was a healer, that I believe 433 00:23:00,760 --> 00:23:02,840 Speaker 1: that he would make a way where there was no way, 434 00:23:03,040 --> 00:23:05,359 Speaker 1: that he could open doors that no man could open. 435 00:23:05,480 --> 00:23:08,359 Speaker 1: Though the doctor may declare one thing, I believe my 436 00:23:08,520 --> 00:23:12,320 Speaker 1: God would declare another thing. That prayer was the evidence. 437 00:23:12,600 --> 00:23:16,399 Speaker 1: Because faith without works is dead. You gotta work it out. 438 00:23:20,920 --> 00:23:23,399 Speaker 1: And now she sits on the front row completely fine, 439 00:23:23,960 --> 00:23:30,479 Speaker 1: completely her mind. Okay, But the deficit I needed in 440 00:23:30,520 --> 00:23:34,480 Speaker 1: my life. See, I'm trying to flip your perspective today 441 00:23:34,480 --> 00:23:37,680 Speaker 1: to help you see that the deficit isn't God doing 442 00:23:37,760 --> 00:23:42,399 Speaker 1: something to you. That the deficit isn't God trying to 443 00:23:42,760 --> 00:23:45,440 Speaker 1: get you. No. God, it can leverage it in your 444 00:23:45,480 --> 00:23:48,640 Speaker 1: life if you will allow him to grow a new 445 00:23:48,720 --> 00:23:53,440 Speaker 1: muscle of faith on the inside of you. See. I 446 00:23:53,480 --> 00:23:58,280 Speaker 1: think sometimes we pray counterproductive prayers in our life. God, 447 00:23:58,440 --> 00:24:04,720 Speaker 1: use me, God, grow me. God. I want everything that 448 00:24:04,800 --> 00:24:07,920 Speaker 1: you have for me. Some other good church things we say, God, 449 00:24:07,920 --> 00:24:10,240 Speaker 1: I want to fulfill my purpose God, I want to 450 00:24:10,280 --> 00:24:13,120 Speaker 1: fulfill my destiny in this life. And God's like, okay, 451 00:24:14,320 --> 00:24:17,560 Speaker 1: at your current stage of faith, because we've all been 452 00:24:17,600 --> 00:24:20,080 Speaker 1: given a measure of faith, and it's our responsibility in 453 00:24:20,119 --> 00:24:24,480 Speaker 1: response to God to grow that faith. All right, at 454 00:24:24,480 --> 00:24:27,280 Speaker 1: the certain measure of faith you have, you cannot handle 455 00:24:27,320 --> 00:24:29,000 Speaker 1: the weight of the thing that I want to do 456 00:24:29,080 --> 00:24:33,000 Speaker 1: in your life. So I need to strengthen you in 457 00:24:33,119 --> 00:24:36,320 Speaker 1: your spirit man to prepare you for the thing that 458 00:24:36,400 --> 00:24:39,200 Speaker 1: I have for you. So then all sudden trouble will 459 00:24:39,200 --> 00:24:42,399 Speaker 1: come your way. I'm not trying to depress you on 460 00:24:42,480 --> 00:24:46,000 Speaker 1: this first time with you. But the Bible says, in 461 00:24:46,040 --> 00:24:49,080 Speaker 1: this world you will have trouble. David said this in 462 00:24:49,160 --> 00:24:52,040 Speaker 1: the Psalm one nineteen. He said, I was glad that 463 00:24:52,119 --> 00:24:54,800 Speaker 1: I was afflicted because I know you in a way 464 00:24:54,880 --> 00:24:57,520 Speaker 1: I would not have known you otherwise. I believe you 465 00:24:57,640 --> 00:24:59,919 Speaker 1: in a way I would not have believed you otherwise. 466 00:25:00,359 --> 00:25:03,119 Speaker 1: I walk with an intimacy with you I would not 467 00:25:03,200 --> 00:25:06,480 Speaker 1: have had otherwise. But we begin to pray God use me. 468 00:25:06,560 --> 00:25:10,760 Speaker 1: So trouble comes our way, and then we begin to 469 00:25:10,800 --> 00:25:15,679 Speaker 1: pray God removed the trouble. I rebuke it in the 470 00:25:15,760 --> 00:25:19,080 Speaker 1: name of Jesus. I declare, this is not my day, 471 00:25:19,400 --> 00:25:24,360 Speaker 1: not today, Devil and God's like hold up time out. 472 00:25:24,400 --> 00:25:27,560 Speaker 1: I thought you wanted to be used. I thought you 473 00:25:27,600 --> 00:25:31,359 Speaker 1: wanted destiny. I thought you wanted purpose. I found that 474 00:25:31,400 --> 00:25:35,280 Speaker 1: purpose comes through the conduit of pain, because it is 475 00:25:35,320 --> 00:25:38,040 Speaker 1: in the middle of pain and discomfort is where my 476 00:25:38,119 --> 00:25:41,560 Speaker 1: faith grows. My faith doesn't grow on the mountaintop. My 477 00:25:41,680 --> 00:25:45,400 Speaker 1: faith celebrates on the mountaintop, but my faith grows best 478 00:25:45,600 --> 00:25:48,399 Speaker 1: in the valley moments of my life, where I learned 479 00:25:48,400 --> 00:25:50,840 Speaker 1: that He walks with me and he talks with me 480 00:25:51,200 --> 00:25:53,840 Speaker 1: and he tells me that I'm his own. I've learned 481 00:25:53,840 --> 00:25:56,560 Speaker 1: that in the valley moments of my life, I develop 482 00:25:56,600 --> 00:26:00,119 Speaker 1: an intimacy with the Father that I've never had before, 483 00:26:00,280 --> 00:26:04,320 Speaker 1: so that I have the strength to stand whenever he 484 00:26:04,320 --> 00:26:08,040 Speaker 1: puts me on the mountain. So the deficit is not 485 00:26:08,119 --> 00:26:12,040 Speaker 1: the obstacle in your life. The deficit is faith opportunity 486 00:26:12,119 --> 00:26:15,960 Speaker 1: in your life to grow to another level. If you're 487 00:26:16,000 --> 00:26:18,000 Speaker 1: going to go to another level, you've got to grow 488 00:26:18,040 --> 00:26:22,320 Speaker 1: your faith to another level because you don't want to 489 00:26:22,359 --> 00:26:24,720 Speaker 1: get to a place where you can't handle the weightiness 490 00:26:24,760 --> 00:26:28,520 Speaker 1: of what God wants to put on you. Hannah had 491 00:26:28,520 --> 00:26:32,360 Speaker 1: a deficit. She was desperate for a child. She had 492 00:26:32,440 --> 00:26:36,080 Speaker 1: no control, and so the Bible tells us that she 493 00:26:36,119 --> 00:26:38,200 Speaker 1: would go and pray and she'd call out to the Lord. 494 00:26:38,240 --> 00:26:42,320 Speaker 1: We see it in First Samuel, chapter one, verse twelve 495 00:26:42,400 --> 00:26:46,200 Speaker 1: says this she said as she kept on praying. Notice 496 00:26:46,240 --> 00:26:50,280 Speaker 1: she didn't pray one time. Sometimes we're like God, I 497 00:26:50,320 --> 00:26:54,480 Speaker 1: prayed about that pray one time. And it says as 498 00:26:54,520 --> 00:26:59,359 Speaker 1: she kept on praying, Eli observed her mouth and Hannah 499 00:26:59,400 --> 00:27:02,399 Speaker 1: was praying heart and her lips were moving, but her 500 00:27:02,480 --> 00:27:05,720 Speaker 1: voice was not heard. Can you imagine being so distraught 501 00:27:05,720 --> 00:27:08,239 Speaker 1: over something that when you pray, you can't get your 502 00:27:08,320 --> 00:27:11,000 Speaker 1: voice to engage. Only your lips can move, and your 503 00:27:11,000 --> 00:27:14,240 Speaker 1: heart hurts. So this is where she is. And Eli 504 00:27:14,320 --> 00:27:17,360 Speaker 1: thought she was drunk and said to her, how long 505 00:27:17,400 --> 00:27:19,440 Speaker 1: will you keep on getting drunk? Get rid of your wine? 506 00:27:20,560 --> 00:27:23,200 Speaker 1: Not so, my lord, Hannah replied, I'm a woman who's 507 00:27:23,200 --> 00:27:26,600 Speaker 1: deeply troubled. I've not been drinking wine or beer. She's 508 00:27:26,600 --> 00:27:29,439 Speaker 1: covering it all. I'm not classy, I ain't country, I 509 00:27:29,440 --> 00:27:37,160 Speaker 1: ain't done all that way. I grew up in East Tennessee, 510 00:27:37,320 --> 00:27:45,880 Speaker 1: where straight solo cups. That's it. I was pouring out 511 00:27:45,920 --> 00:27:47,840 Speaker 1: my soul to the lord. Verse sixteen, she says, do 512 00:27:47,960 --> 00:27:49,919 Speaker 1: not take your servant for a wicked woman. I've been 513 00:27:49,960 --> 00:27:54,800 Speaker 1: praying here out of great anguish and grief. Eli answered, 514 00:27:54,840 --> 00:27:57,600 Speaker 1: go in peace, and may the God of Israel grant 515 00:27:57,640 --> 00:28:00,080 Speaker 1: you what you have asked of him. Listen to this. 516 00:28:00,080 --> 00:28:03,120 Speaker 1: This verse is fascinating. She said, may your servant find 517 00:28:03,160 --> 00:28:06,240 Speaker 1: favor in your eyes. And then she went her way 518 00:28:06,560 --> 00:28:12,320 Speaker 1: and ate something, and her face was no longer downcast. 519 00:28:14,440 --> 00:28:20,359 Speaker 1: She is distraught, she's weeping. She's praying to a point 520 00:28:20,400 --> 00:28:24,520 Speaker 1: where her voice isn't even engaging, but her lips are moving. 521 00:28:25,680 --> 00:28:28,440 Speaker 1: Eli says one sentence to her, the Man of God, 522 00:28:29,800 --> 00:28:36,840 Speaker 1: and it says her countenance changes and she's hungry. If 523 00:28:36,880 --> 00:28:41,960 Speaker 1: the deficit is face opportunity, the word is faith's foundation. 524 00:28:44,640 --> 00:28:48,800 Speaker 1: If the deficit is face opportunity, then the word is 525 00:28:48,840 --> 00:28:54,960 Speaker 1: face foundation. The only change in her circumstance from weeping 526 00:28:55,080 --> 00:29:01,480 Speaker 1: and praying to eating and her countenance changing was a word. 527 00:29:02,840 --> 00:29:07,840 Speaker 1: That's it. Now. Whenever you hear that a word, maybe 528 00:29:07,840 --> 00:29:09,360 Speaker 1: you're not used to church and you're like, what do 529 00:29:09,400 --> 00:29:12,240 Speaker 1: you mean a word like like an article D or 530 00:29:12,280 --> 00:29:15,360 Speaker 1: a or like, what do you mean she got a word? Well, 531 00:29:15,720 --> 00:29:19,240 Speaker 1: there's there's the word, God's word, the scripture. God will 532 00:29:19,240 --> 00:29:21,400 Speaker 1: speak to you through. That's why it's that you read it. 533 00:29:22,360 --> 00:29:24,120 Speaker 1: You don't want to just eat on Sundays, although you 534 00:29:24,120 --> 00:29:27,480 Speaker 1: get served some good meals here. You got probably the 535 00:29:27,480 --> 00:29:32,240 Speaker 1: greatest preacher of this generation serving up like file at Mignon, 536 00:29:32,720 --> 00:29:36,360 Speaker 1: Hello every week. But then there's another way. There is 537 00:29:36,520 --> 00:29:38,120 Speaker 1: a word called a ram a word or an en 538 00:29:38,240 --> 00:29:41,280 Speaker 1: seasoned word that is a word. Let me say it 539 00:29:41,360 --> 00:29:44,520 Speaker 1: like this. I know you've been to church here and 540 00:29:44,880 --> 00:29:48,160 Speaker 1: you're like, uh, did Pastor Stephen bug my house, like 541 00:29:48,360 --> 00:29:50,320 Speaker 1: was he following me around this week? Did he have people? 542 00:29:50,480 --> 00:29:53,200 Speaker 1: Because everything he's saying is everything I dealt with that week. 543 00:29:53,800 --> 00:29:56,800 Speaker 1: That is a word that is in season for you. 544 00:29:57,680 --> 00:30:00,880 Speaker 1: That's how God takes the word and gives you a word. 545 00:30:01,480 --> 00:30:03,120 Speaker 1: Are you following me? The difference in the two Are 546 00:30:03,160 --> 00:30:07,200 Speaker 1: you with me? And so Hannah got a word in season? 547 00:30:07,200 --> 00:30:12,120 Speaker 1: May God grant your request? And that word changed everything 548 00:30:12,200 --> 00:30:14,440 Speaker 1: for her. Here's what I want you to notice. She 549 00:30:14,560 --> 00:30:19,600 Speaker 1: didn't get a child, she got a word, and the 550 00:30:19,680 --> 00:30:22,920 Speaker 1: word was enough to change her countenance and to make 551 00:30:22,960 --> 00:30:26,400 Speaker 1: her want to go eat. If you're waiting on God 552 00:30:26,440 --> 00:30:29,120 Speaker 1: to give you the answer to your prayer before you 553 00:30:29,200 --> 00:30:33,400 Speaker 1: start walking out in faith evidence that you believe his word, 554 00:30:33,880 --> 00:30:35,920 Speaker 1: then you may never get to the answer to the prayer. 555 00:30:36,280 --> 00:30:39,320 Speaker 1: God is waiting for you to respond in faith to 556 00:30:39,400 --> 00:30:42,480 Speaker 1: believe Him at his word before he gives you the 557 00:30:42,520 --> 00:30:44,560 Speaker 1: answer to the prayer. Are you following me? She didn't 558 00:30:44,560 --> 00:30:46,480 Speaker 1: get a child, she got a word. I think about Peter. 559 00:30:46,560 --> 00:30:49,640 Speaker 1: Peter's one of my favorite disciples because I just think 560 00:30:49,680 --> 00:30:51,360 Speaker 1: you can build a great church with Peter. He's like 561 00:30:51,400 --> 00:30:54,960 Speaker 1: half hood, half saved, and he carries a knife, cutting 562 00:30:54,960 --> 00:30:57,880 Speaker 1: people's ear off, kind of bold. I just like him. 563 00:30:58,040 --> 00:31:00,120 Speaker 1: He's like, I'd rather ring somebody back than have to 564 00:31:00,120 --> 00:31:01,960 Speaker 1: beat a Donkey'd rather rain back a stallion. Are you 565 00:31:02,120 --> 00:31:04,080 Speaker 1: with me? Peter's like that, you got to rain him 566 00:31:04,080 --> 00:31:05,320 Speaker 1: in a little bit, but you kind of want to 567 00:31:05,360 --> 00:31:07,320 Speaker 1: let him go a little bit. See what he'll do, right, 568 00:31:08,280 --> 00:31:10,640 Speaker 1: And so acts chapter three I think is first chapter three, 569 00:31:10,720 --> 00:31:13,440 Speaker 1: Verse one. Peter is going up to the temple at 570 00:31:13,440 --> 00:31:15,360 Speaker 1: the time of worship, and it says there's a lane man. 571 00:31:15,520 --> 00:31:17,320 Speaker 1: That's how he's identified. We don't know his name. His 572 00:31:17,360 --> 00:31:19,840 Speaker 1: identity is found in his sickness. And so there's a 573 00:31:19,920 --> 00:31:22,800 Speaker 1: layeman at the city gate, called beautiful, and he says 574 00:31:22,840 --> 00:31:26,240 Speaker 1: to him, can I have some money? Because that was 575 00:31:26,280 --> 00:31:28,920 Speaker 1: his expectation. All everybody ever gave him was money. No 576 00:31:28,960 --> 00:31:30,960 Speaker 1: one that could ever give him anything more, So he 577 00:31:31,040 --> 00:31:34,080 Speaker 1: asked for money. Peter said, look at me, And the 578 00:31:34,120 --> 00:31:36,680 Speaker 1: Bible says this fascinating, says the man looked at him 579 00:31:36,840 --> 00:31:41,680 Speaker 1: expecting to receive something. Can I tell you your level 580 00:31:41,720 --> 00:31:45,520 Speaker 1: of expectation will determine what you receive? Can I tell 581 00:31:45,560 --> 00:31:49,760 Speaker 1: you something I hear people say, man? That man service 582 00:31:49,880 --> 00:31:52,120 Speaker 1: was so good today. I'm like, it's good every week. 583 00:31:52,240 --> 00:31:55,560 Speaker 1: Your level of expectation was better this week. Are y'all 584 00:31:55,600 --> 00:31:58,840 Speaker 1: following me? What you expect come in and expecting is 585 00:31:58,880 --> 00:32:01,880 Speaker 1: what you will receive? Said, expecting to receive them, Peter said. 586 00:32:02,040 --> 00:32:04,479 Speaker 1: Look at me, He said, expecting to receive something to him. 587 00:32:04,520 --> 00:32:06,640 Speaker 1: Peter replied to him silver and gold I do not have, 588 00:32:06,840 --> 00:32:09,280 Speaker 1: but what I do have in the name of Jesus, 589 00:32:09,440 --> 00:32:12,560 Speaker 1: rise up and walk. Now. Now, now I think about this. 590 00:32:12,960 --> 00:32:20,360 Speaker 1: That man had been lame from birth, but at a 591 00:32:20,400 --> 00:32:26,640 Speaker 1: word from the Man of God, he decided to put 592 00:32:26,720 --> 00:32:31,240 Speaker 1: evidence to his faith and put his feet underneath him. 593 00:32:31,720 --> 00:32:36,360 Speaker 1: He never done this, never done this, but he had 594 00:32:36,440 --> 00:32:39,800 Speaker 1: to put action. If he'd laid there and said, thank 595 00:32:39,840 --> 00:32:44,360 Speaker 1: you Peter for saying that. That's awesome. Guys, carry me 596 00:32:44,440 --> 00:32:48,400 Speaker 1: back home. Here's what I'm concerned is there's too many 597 00:32:48,480 --> 00:32:52,360 Speaker 1: Christians still laying at the city gate, not living out 598 00:32:52,360 --> 00:32:55,560 Speaker 1: their inheritance because they won't act on they won't work 599 00:32:55,600 --> 00:32:58,840 Speaker 1: out the word that God has given them. God has 600 00:32:58,920 --> 00:33:01,920 Speaker 1: given you so much in Jesus, and all you have 601 00:33:02,000 --> 00:33:04,400 Speaker 1: to do is begin to work it out. We're still 602 00:33:04,480 --> 00:33:07,240 Speaker 1: laying by the gate going I know healing is mine. 603 00:33:07,400 --> 00:33:10,480 Speaker 1: I know deliverance is mine. I know freedom is mine. 604 00:33:10,520 --> 00:33:13,040 Speaker 1: But I'd rather lay by the gate begging for a 605 00:33:13,040 --> 00:33:16,280 Speaker 1: little bit of change. Whenever my daddy owns the cattle 606 00:33:16,320 --> 00:33:19,040 Speaker 1: on a thousand hills and I could have everything that 607 00:33:19,120 --> 00:33:23,720 Speaker 1: Heaven has to offer, but we're still laying by the gate. 608 00:33:23,800 --> 00:33:26,960 Speaker 1: So here's the deal. I don't wait to praise him 609 00:33:28,880 --> 00:33:33,320 Speaker 1: until the baby is born. Hannah gets up and changes 610 00:33:33,360 --> 00:33:37,920 Speaker 1: her She physiologically has changes because of the word. This 611 00:33:38,040 --> 00:33:40,200 Speaker 1: is why it's so important you're in the house every 612 00:33:40,200 --> 00:33:43,200 Speaker 1: week to get yourself in an atmosphere where you can 613 00:33:43,280 --> 00:33:46,200 Speaker 1: receive a word that is on time, that is in 614 00:33:46,400 --> 00:33:49,760 Speaker 1: season for what you're going through, because that word could 615 00:33:49,840 --> 00:33:56,920 Speaker 1: save your life. That word could change your situation. So 616 00:33:57,000 --> 00:33:59,600 Speaker 1: I didn't wait to praise him until faith was born 617 00:33:59,640 --> 00:34:02,480 Speaker 1: in the doctor says everything is okay. I had to 618 00:34:02,520 --> 00:34:05,160 Speaker 1: go in on the weekend, going, God, I thank you 619 00:34:05,200 --> 00:34:08,160 Speaker 1: that she's healed. I thank you that everything is okay. 620 00:34:08,400 --> 00:34:11,000 Speaker 1: I worship you right now. I don't think God is 621 00:34:11,040 --> 00:34:15,000 Speaker 1: impressed when we can worship him when everything is going okay. 622 00:34:15,239 --> 00:34:18,479 Speaker 1: I think he's impressed when I lip into church going 623 00:34:18,600 --> 00:34:21,680 Speaker 1: I'm hurting, I'm not sure about how it's gonna turn out. 624 00:34:21,880 --> 00:34:25,560 Speaker 1: But he's good anyways, and he's gracious anyways, and his 625 00:34:25,760 --> 00:34:29,520 Speaker 1: mercies are new every morning. Great is his faithfulness at 626 00:34:29,520 --> 00:34:33,160 Speaker 1: every location. Why don't you give him praise just because 627 00:34:33,200 --> 00:34:40,880 Speaker 1: he's good? Come on, give him praise just because he's God, 628 00:34:41,800 --> 00:34:45,319 Speaker 1: just because he's faithful, just because the grasp may with 629 00:34:45,440 --> 00:34:48,480 Speaker 1: her and the flower fades. But the word of our 630 00:34:48,600 --> 00:35:01,560 Speaker 1: God will last forever. Here's good. So the word is 631 00:35:01,640 --> 00:35:06,040 Speaker 1: faith foundation. So you may know the story. Samuel was born, 632 00:35:07,600 --> 00:35:10,239 Speaker 1: Hannah stayed with him for two years. Can you imagine 633 00:35:10,840 --> 00:35:15,120 Speaker 1: two years of holding on to the baby. Then it 634 00:35:15,160 --> 00:35:17,920 Speaker 1: says this that she went back to the same place 635 00:35:18,239 --> 00:35:21,520 Speaker 1: where she prayed for him. She went to the Eli, 636 00:35:21,640 --> 00:35:24,440 Speaker 1: the prophet who had gave her the word. That's what 637 00:35:24,480 --> 00:35:27,080 Speaker 1: she said is she said to him, as surely as 638 00:35:27,080 --> 00:35:29,759 Speaker 1: you live, my Lord, I'm the woman who stood here 639 00:35:29,760 --> 00:35:32,920 Speaker 1: beside you praying to the Lord. I prayed for this child. 640 00:35:34,040 --> 00:35:37,200 Speaker 1: Some of you been praying for some things, and the 641 00:35:37,239 --> 00:35:40,680 Speaker 1: Lord has granted me what I ask of him. So 642 00:35:40,840 --> 00:35:45,560 Speaker 1: now I give him to the Lord for his whole life. 643 00:35:45,719 --> 00:35:48,480 Speaker 1: He will be given over to the Lord. And he 644 00:35:48,560 --> 00:35:54,040 Speaker 1: worshiped the Lord there the deficit is face opportunity, and 645 00:35:54,080 --> 00:35:58,760 Speaker 1: the word is faith foundation. Then the sacrifice is faith's test. 646 00:36:00,160 --> 00:36:03,920 Speaker 1: Listen to me. The test was not could Hannah believe 647 00:36:04,040 --> 00:36:08,520 Speaker 1: God for Samuel? The test was once Samuel was in 648 00:36:08,560 --> 00:36:15,279 Speaker 1: her arms, be could she given back to God. The 649 00:36:15,320 --> 00:36:17,439 Speaker 1: test is not whether or not you can believe God 650 00:36:17,480 --> 00:36:22,920 Speaker 1: can put you something in your hand. God can do anything. 651 00:36:23,920 --> 00:36:25,919 Speaker 1: The test is once He puts it in your hand. 652 00:36:26,000 --> 00:36:30,160 Speaker 1: Can you still live with an open one? Can you 653 00:36:30,239 --> 00:36:32,360 Speaker 1: still say the Lord gives and the Lord takes away? 654 00:36:32,400 --> 00:36:37,080 Speaker 1: Blessed be the name of the Lord forever. Because see 655 00:36:37,120 --> 00:36:40,160 Speaker 1: I have found that it is often the last blessing 656 00:36:40,200 --> 00:36:43,200 Speaker 1: of God that is keeping you from receiving the next, 657 00:36:45,600 --> 00:36:47,719 Speaker 1: because whatever is in your hand, God put it there, 658 00:36:49,360 --> 00:36:51,160 Speaker 1: and too many times we get our grip on it, 659 00:36:52,400 --> 00:36:55,960 Speaker 1: and God is going, no, if you'll release what I 660 00:36:56,000 --> 00:37:00,719 Speaker 1: gave you before, I will give again. If you will give, 661 00:37:01,239 --> 00:37:05,799 Speaker 1: I can give, press down, shaken together and running over, 662 00:37:06,760 --> 00:37:11,440 Speaker 1: I can put it into your hand. And so the 663 00:37:11,520 --> 00:37:17,520 Speaker 1: test isn't can I believe God? The test is once 664 00:37:17,600 --> 00:37:20,840 Speaker 1: God gives it to me? Can I say, God, everything 665 00:37:20,880 --> 00:37:23,160 Speaker 1: I have is from you and returns it back to you? 666 00:37:25,360 --> 00:37:32,719 Speaker 1: Can I sacrifice, it the sacrifices faced test. Because see, 667 00:37:32,719 --> 00:37:38,400 Speaker 1: God isn't moving me to just a place of one blessing. 668 00:37:39,400 --> 00:37:41,760 Speaker 1: The Bible tells me He's moving me from victory to victory, 669 00:37:41,760 --> 00:37:45,239 Speaker 1: glory to glory. So the last thing that God did 670 00:37:45,280 --> 00:37:47,120 Speaker 1: in my life is not the last thing God wants 671 00:37:47,160 --> 00:37:50,120 Speaker 1: to do in my life. Is it a series of 672 00:37:50,160 --> 00:37:54,480 Speaker 1: events of things God wants to bless in my life. See, 673 00:37:55,400 --> 00:37:57,960 Speaker 1: God wasn't doing something to Hannah as God doing something 674 00:37:58,000 --> 00:38:01,320 Speaker 1: through Hannah, because it was Samuel that would annoy Saul. 675 00:38:02,160 --> 00:38:04,719 Speaker 1: It was Samuel that would annoint David. It is through 676 00:38:04,800 --> 00:38:11,320 Speaker 1: David Jesus would come. Can I take it a little deeper? 677 00:38:13,280 --> 00:38:19,920 Speaker 1: The whole thing wasn't even about Samuel. Wasn't about Samuel. 678 00:38:20,560 --> 00:38:23,000 Speaker 1: The thing you're going through right now isn't about that thing. 679 00:38:24,840 --> 00:38:27,279 Speaker 1: It wasn't about Samuel. It was about God opening her 680 00:38:27,320 --> 00:38:30,799 Speaker 1: womb because she wouldn't just have Samuel, she'd have five more. 681 00:38:32,160 --> 00:38:34,880 Speaker 1: The thing you're going through right now isn't even about 682 00:38:34,960 --> 00:38:38,520 Speaker 1: the thing you're going throughout through right now. It is 683 00:38:38,560 --> 00:38:41,160 Speaker 1: about what God wants to do beyond the thing you're 684 00:38:41,160 --> 00:38:44,080 Speaker 1: going through right now? Are you following me? The thing 685 00:38:44,120 --> 00:38:47,239 Speaker 1: you're going through right now is the test to see 686 00:38:47,280 --> 00:38:49,680 Speaker 1: if you can handle the blessing that is on the 687 00:38:49,719 --> 00:38:53,239 Speaker 1: other side of the thing that you're going through right now. See. 688 00:38:53,280 --> 00:38:56,160 Speaker 1: I came to declare over you today that the struggle 689 00:38:56,200 --> 00:38:58,640 Speaker 1: you're facing right now, if you will work it out, 690 00:38:58,840 --> 00:39:01,000 Speaker 1: if you will leave with an open hand, that God 691 00:39:01,080 --> 00:39:03,680 Speaker 1: isn't just going to give you a blessing. God is 692 00:39:03,719 --> 00:39:07,959 Speaker 1: going to open your womb where multiple, multiplied blessings will 693 00:39:07,960 --> 00:39:10,680 Speaker 1: flow in and through your life. God is not the 694 00:39:10,760 --> 00:39:13,160 Speaker 1: God of just one blessing. He is the God of 695 00:39:13,239 --> 00:39:18,440 Speaker 1: exceedingly abundantly and above all that you can ask or imagine. 696 00:39:18,640 --> 00:39:20,920 Speaker 1: And if you can live with an open hand, if 697 00:39:20,960 --> 00:39:23,520 Speaker 1: you can say, God, whatever you put into my hand, 698 00:39:23,800 --> 00:39:26,400 Speaker 1: I can release it back to you. God will open 699 00:39:26,520 --> 00:39:31,160 Speaker 1: up your womb and send multiplied blessing after blessing after 700 00:39:31,239 --> 00:39:35,960 Speaker 1: blessing after blessing. Somebody shall work it out. Come on, 701 00:39:36,120 --> 00:39:40,799 Speaker 1: shall work it out, shout work it out. Thank you 702 00:39:40,840 --> 00:39:43,359 Speaker 1: for joining us. Special thanks to those of you who 703 00:39:43,400 --> 00:39:46,400 Speaker 1: give generously to this ministry. Is because of you that 704 00:39:46,440 --> 00:39:49,360 Speaker 1: this ministry is possible. You can click the link in 705 00:39:49,400 --> 00:39:53,160 Speaker 1: the description to give now or visit Elevation Church dot 706 00:39:53,280 --> 00:39:56,600 Speaker 1: org slash podcast for more information and if you enjoyed 707 00:39:56,600 --> 00:39:59,600 Speaker 1: the podcast, you can subscribe. You can share it with 708 00:39:59,640 --> 00:40:01,920 Speaker 1: your friends. You can click the share button, take a 709 00:40:01,960 --> 00:40:04,520 Speaker 1: screenshot and share it on your social stories and tag 710 00:40:04,600 --> 00:40:07,560 Speaker 1: us at Elevation Church. Thanks again for listening. God bless you.