1 00:00:00,090 --> 00:00:02,590 Speaker 1: Hey, thank you for listening to Elevation with Stephen Furtick. 2 00:00:02,890 --> 00:00:05,270 Speaker 1: Make sure you listen and follow along with Elevation with 3 00:00:05,290 --> 00:00:08,580 Speaker 1: Stephen Furtick on Amazon Music. And don't forget, you can 4 00:00:08,640 --> 00:00:12,400 Speaker 1: also just ask Alexa. Hey, Alexa, can you play Elevation 5 00:00:12,440 --> 00:00:16,340 Speaker 1: with Stephen Furtick on Amazon Music? Also, with Amazon Music Unlimited, 6 00:00:16,440 --> 00:00:18,960 Speaker 1: you can now listen to all your favorite music, podcasts, 7 00:00:19,000 --> 00:00:21,220 Speaker 1: and audiobooks all on the Amazon Music app. 8 00:00:22,140 --> 00:00:26,349 Speaker 2: Mark chapter 9, verse 14 through 29. I want to 9 00:00:26,370 --> 00:00:29,310 Speaker 2: read this whole passage to you again. And let's look 10 00:00:29,330 --> 00:00:36,400 Speaker 2: at this. proclamation God wants to make. You didn't lose it. 11 00:00:37,380 --> 00:00:40,050 Speaker 2: Say that to the person next to you. You didn't 12 00:00:40,590 --> 00:00:43,210 Speaker 2: lose it. Put it in the chat. Those of you 13 00:00:43,250 --> 00:00:46,210 Speaker 2: who are on YouTube right now, say, I didn't lose it. 14 00:00:48,550 --> 00:00:52,010 Speaker 2: Mark 9.14. When they came to the other disciples, they 15 00:00:52,110 --> 00:00:55,370 Speaker 2: saw a large crowd around them and the teachers of 16 00:00:55,410 --> 00:00:58,670 Speaker 2: the law arguing with them. As soon as all the 17 00:00:58,710 --> 00:01:02,780 Speaker 2: people saw Jesus, They were overwhelmed with wonder and ran 18 00:01:02,860 --> 00:01:07,000 Speaker 2: to greet him.' What are y'all fighting about now?' Jesus asked. 19 00:01:07,880 --> 00:01:12,000 Speaker 2: I wonder if he's still asking that question. A man 20 00:01:12,020 --> 00:01:14,780 Speaker 2: in the crowd answered, verse 17,' Teacher, I brought you 21 00:01:14,819 --> 00:01:17,840 Speaker 2: my son who is possessed by a spirit that has 22 00:01:17,970 --> 00:01:22,550 Speaker 2: robbed him of speech. Whenever it seizes him, it throws 23 00:01:22,580 --> 00:01:25,750 Speaker 2: him to the ground. He foams at the mouth, gnashes 24 00:01:25,810 --> 00:01:29,050 Speaker 2: his teeth, and becomes rigid. I asked your disciples to 25 00:01:29,090 --> 00:01:32,520 Speaker 2: drive out the spirit.' but they could not. Now listen 26 00:01:32,560 --> 00:01:39,360 Speaker 2: to the phrase Jesus uses. You unbelieving generation, how long 27 00:01:40,000 --> 00:01:43,560 Speaker 2: shall I stay with you? How long shall I put 28 00:01:43,640 --> 00:01:47,630 Speaker 2: up with you? Bring the boy to me. So they 29 00:01:47,650 --> 00:01:52,390 Speaker 2: brought him, and when the Spirit saw Jesus, it immediately 30 00:01:53,050 --> 00:01:56,290 Speaker 2: threw the boy into a convulsion. So this thing that's 31 00:01:56,310 --> 00:01:58,860 Speaker 2: been controlling this boy isn't going out without a fight. 32 00:02:00,320 --> 00:02:01,860 Speaker 2: It's not going to go out just because you came 33 00:02:01,900 --> 00:02:05,700 Speaker 2: to church one time. It's not going to happen just 34 00:02:05,770 --> 00:02:09,329 Speaker 2: because you watched one YouTube sermon. It's not going to 35 00:02:09,370 --> 00:02:11,270 Speaker 2: happen because you listened to worship on the way to 36 00:02:11,310 --> 00:02:17,510 Speaker 2: work for two days in a row. And so the 37 00:02:17,530 --> 00:02:20,070 Speaker 2: boy falls to the ground and rolls around and foams 38 00:02:20,110 --> 00:02:21,810 Speaker 2: at the mouth. And we said last week, let's don't 39 00:02:21,830 --> 00:02:26,580 Speaker 2: get so caught up in the symptoms that we miss 40 00:02:26,600 --> 00:02:30,620 Speaker 2: the spirit that was at work in this situation. It's 41 00:02:30,660 --> 00:02:33,700 Speaker 2: the devil. It's the evil one. He comes to kill 42 00:02:33,919 --> 00:02:36,920 Speaker 2: and steal and destroy. And in this boy's case, it 43 00:02:36,940 --> 00:02:40,280 Speaker 2: was a physical manifestation. But in many of our cases, 44 00:02:40,340 --> 00:02:44,140 Speaker 2: it doesn't manifest in this way. It manifests in different ways. 45 00:02:45,360 --> 00:02:49,340 Speaker 2: We all have different ways that we experience this. But 46 00:02:49,400 --> 00:02:51,000 Speaker 2: Jesus asked the boy's father, and I think this is 47 00:02:51,020 --> 00:02:53,540 Speaker 2: an important question, how long has he been like this? 48 00:02:54,590 --> 00:02:58,450 Speaker 2: From childhood, he answered. It has often thrown him into 49 00:02:58,530 --> 00:03:01,230 Speaker 2: fire or water to kill him. But if you can 50 00:03:01,290 --> 00:03:04,760 Speaker 2: do anything, take pity on us and help us. This 51 00:03:04,840 --> 00:03:08,020 Speaker 2: is the part that stood out to us last week.' 52 00:03:07,780 --> 00:03:12,420 Speaker 2: If you can,' said Jesus,' everything is possible for the 53 00:03:12,540 --> 00:03:17,019 Speaker 2: one who believes.' Immediately the boy's father exclaimed,' I do believe. 54 00:03:17,620 --> 00:03:21,380 Speaker 2: Help me overcome my unbelief.' So when Jesus saw that 55 00:03:21,430 --> 00:03:24,169 Speaker 2: a crowd was running to the scene, he rebuked the 56 00:03:24,230 --> 00:03:27,530 Speaker 2: impure spirit and You deaf and mute spirit, he said, 57 00:03:27,889 --> 00:03:30,950 Speaker 2: I command you, come out of him and never enter 58 00:03:31,010 --> 00:03:35,120 Speaker 2: him again. The spirit shrieked, convulsed him violently, and came out. 59 00:03:35,520 --> 00:03:38,520 Speaker 2: The boy looked so much like a corpse that many 60 00:03:38,620 --> 00:03:49,350 Speaker 2: said he's dead. Many said he's dead. Many said he's dead, 61 00:03:49,870 --> 00:03:59,540 Speaker 2: but Jesus. Popular opinion never overrides God's purpose. Many said, 62 00:04:00,060 --> 00:04:04,510 Speaker 2: but Jesus. Y'all love the Bible. Many said, but Jesus. 63 00:04:04,870 --> 00:04:08,750 Speaker 2: They don't have the last word. they don't have the 64 00:04:08,780 --> 00:04:13,290 Speaker 2: last word. Many said, but Jesus took him by the 65 00:04:13,330 --> 00:04:17,630 Speaker 2: hand and lifted him to his feet, and he stood up. Now, 66 00:04:17,650 --> 00:04:20,250 Speaker 2: here's where we want to go today. After Jesus had 67 00:04:20,300 --> 00:04:24,960 Speaker 2: gone indoors, his disciples asked him privately, why couldn't we 68 00:04:25,020 --> 00:04:28,820 Speaker 2: drive it out? He replied, this kind can only come 69 00:04:28,920 --> 00:04:36,159 Speaker 2: out by prayer. Why couldn't we do it? My first 70 00:04:36,279 --> 00:04:39,630 Speaker 2: instinct in reading the text was to judge the disciples 71 00:04:40,910 --> 00:04:44,589 Speaker 2: for their lack of faith to help this boy. I 72 00:04:44,670 --> 00:04:47,430 Speaker 2: even wanted to tell them, if you would have spent 73 00:04:47,550 --> 00:04:51,130 Speaker 2: less time arguing with the teachers of the law, maybe 74 00:04:51,170 --> 00:04:53,950 Speaker 2: you could have helped the boy. Now, I have to 75 00:04:53,990 --> 00:04:57,590 Speaker 2: be honest. I'm hard on myself, so maybe I'm reading 76 00:04:57,630 --> 00:05:00,110 Speaker 2: into the text how I feel about myself. Holly helps 77 00:05:00,150 --> 00:05:04,180 Speaker 2: me with this. Holly has helped me in so many ways. 78 00:05:05,170 --> 00:05:07,219 Speaker 2: One of the main things she helps me with … 79 00:05:07,260 --> 00:05:09,300 Speaker 2: I'm telling you, man, people will come up to me 80 00:05:09,360 --> 00:05:11,460 Speaker 2: all the time. It's like, we like you a lot, 81 00:05:11,500 --> 00:05:14,440 Speaker 2: but we love Holly. I'm like, that's how I feel too. 82 00:05:15,080 --> 00:05:18,570 Speaker 2: I only like me. Sometimes I love her. She's amazing, 83 00:05:18,589 --> 00:05:21,669 Speaker 2: and however amazing she looks, she's much more amazing up close. 84 00:05:21,690 --> 00:05:24,090 Speaker 2: Not everybody is like that, but she really is like that. 85 00:05:24,150 --> 00:05:27,240 Speaker 2: She's gotten better every year, and she's taught me so much. 86 00:05:27,779 --> 00:05:32,210 Speaker 2: She teaches me things She'll say after she did a 87 00:05:32,230 --> 00:05:34,210 Speaker 2: Bible study for y'all, and we're going to share this 88 00:05:34,250 --> 00:05:37,230 Speaker 2: with our e-groups. It's called Essentials, and she's going to 89 00:05:37,510 --> 00:05:41,010 Speaker 2: break down the essentials, just getting back to basics, fundamental training, 90 00:05:41,390 --> 00:05:44,170 Speaker 2: core strength, to put it in fitness terms. We're going 91 00:05:44,190 --> 00:05:47,870 Speaker 2: to share it this fall with our e-groups, but when 92 00:05:47,910 --> 00:05:49,890 Speaker 2: she came home from filming it, she said something I've 93 00:05:49,950 --> 00:05:55,010 Speaker 2: never said after I preached. It was really good. Never 94 00:05:55,150 --> 00:05:59,300 Speaker 2: once have I put down the mic and walked off 95 00:05:59,339 --> 00:06:02,690 Speaker 2: and gone That was really good. Never. 96 00:06:03,750 --> 00:06:03,950 Speaker 3: Ever. 97 00:06:05,210 --> 00:06:07,070 Speaker 2: The best it gets for me on the inside, because 98 00:06:07,089 --> 00:06:08,710 Speaker 2: I'm really hard on myself and she helps me with this, 99 00:06:08,779 --> 00:06:11,000 Speaker 2: the best it gets for me is I don't want 100 00:06:11,040 --> 00:06:15,680 Speaker 2: to die. Right? That would be my version of really good. 101 00:06:17,740 --> 00:06:19,340 Speaker 2: I don't want to quit and go get a job 102 00:06:19,380 --> 00:06:21,400 Speaker 2: at Guitar Center. I'm really hard on myself. She helps 103 00:06:21,440 --> 00:06:24,870 Speaker 2: me with that. My instinct is, and I shouldn't be 104 00:06:24,910 --> 00:06:27,510 Speaker 2: confessing all this, I always feel like I said too 105 00:06:27,550 --> 00:06:29,010 Speaker 2: much after I preach too, which is part of the 106 00:06:29,050 --> 00:06:31,250 Speaker 2: reason I never like it after I preach it, because 107 00:06:31,310 --> 00:06:33,610 Speaker 2: I open up my gaping wounds and bleed all over you, 108 00:06:33,650 --> 00:06:36,190 Speaker 2: and then I walk back to stitch it together myself. 109 00:06:36,770 --> 00:06:41,409 Speaker 2: Holly helps me, because I'm typically thinking that my best 110 00:06:42,240 --> 00:06:49,750 Speaker 2: is behind me. For instance, if I preach a sermon 111 00:06:49,770 --> 00:06:51,120 Speaker 2: and I feel like, ah, I didn't say it like 112 00:06:51,160 --> 00:06:54,140 Speaker 2: I was supposed to, and I saw seven people yawn 113 00:06:54,180 --> 00:06:57,340 Speaker 2: when I was in only my first point, and wow, 114 00:06:57,380 --> 00:06:59,300 Speaker 2: that guy's asleep over there. If I see all that 115 00:06:59,560 --> 00:07:02,770 Speaker 2: when I'm preaching, my instinct is to think, like, I 116 00:07:03,690 --> 00:07:07,430 Speaker 2: think I've lost it. Or if I open my Bible 117 00:07:07,490 --> 00:07:09,930 Speaker 2: and I'm looking for a sermon and it's Monday and 118 00:07:09,970 --> 00:07:12,150 Speaker 2: I can't find one, that's fine. If I'm looking for 119 00:07:12,170 --> 00:07:15,190 Speaker 2: a sermon and it's Tuesday, I don't know, that's fine. Wednesday, 120 00:07:15,250 --> 00:07:24,250 Speaker 2: I'm okay. Thursday, Friday, Saturday. Saturday, I start repenting of 121 00:07:25,630 --> 00:07:28,750 Speaker 2: every sin I committed from childhood, stuff I did when 122 00:07:28,800 --> 00:07:30,860 Speaker 2: I was 16. I start telling the Lord I'm sorry 123 00:07:30,900 --> 00:07:33,540 Speaker 2: for everything, just in case, because I'm like, where did 124 00:07:33,580 --> 00:07:40,480 Speaker 2: you go, Lord? I think I lost it. Sometimes when 125 00:07:40,500 --> 00:07:43,720 Speaker 2: I'm going to create, and Chris can tell you this, 126 00:07:43,840 --> 00:07:45,640 Speaker 2: but A lot of times, if we go to write 127 00:07:45,670 --> 00:07:48,590 Speaker 2: a song and we don't get a good song that day, 128 00:07:49,410 --> 00:07:51,989 Speaker 2: I'll leave, and I'll be like, I don't know. Maybe 129 00:07:52,190 --> 00:07:55,390 Speaker 2: my season of songwriting is over. It only takes one 130 00:07:55,430 --> 00:08:01,370 Speaker 2: bad day. I lost it. Holly is really good, because 131 00:08:02,010 --> 00:08:06,370 Speaker 2: she'll get in there, and she talks tough to me. 132 00:08:07,070 --> 00:08:10,170 Speaker 2: She has a whole other gear, a whole other demeanor 133 00:08:10,210 --> 00:08:14,070 Speaker 2: that's not sweet, but at the same time, she's like, 134 00:08:14,650 --> 00:08:19,250 Speaker 2: You didn't lose it. She's really good about getting me 135 00:08:19,270 --> 00:08:23,450 Speaker 2: to see that a bad day doesn't mean you're going 136 00:08:23,560 --> 00:08:28,380 Speaker 2: backwards in general. I'm a catastrophizer. If I walk in 137 00:08:28,400 --> 00:08:30,320 Speaker 2: the room and the church is kind of only like 138 00:08:30,380 --> 00:08:32,760 Speaker 2: there's not as many people as there were the week before, 139 00:08:32,780 --> 00:08:38,360 Speaker 2: I'm like, it's over. We're losing relevance. We're losing ground. 140 00:08:40,679 --> 00:08:41,420 Speaker 2: It's terrible. 141 00:08:41,679 --> 00:08:43,140 Speaker 4: I'm not bragging about this. 142 00:08:44,580 --> 00:08:47,370 Speaker 2: I just relate to the disciples, because I think they're afraid. 143 00:08:47,390 --> 00:08:50,480 Speaker 2: They go to cast out this demon, and they can't 144 00:08:50,520 --> 00:08:55,670 Speaker 2: do it. They're like, Jesus, what happened? Did we lose it? 145 00:08:56,380 --> 00:08:58,900 Speaker 2: They did this before. They cast out demons before. It 146 00:08:59,120 --> 00:09:00,950 Speaker 2: isn't like they never did it before, but they go 147 00:09:00,970 --> 00:09:04,270 Speaker 2: to do it, and it doesn't work. Then Bartholomew tries, 148 00:09:04,570 --> 00:09:07,790 Speaker 2: and it doesn't work. Andrew tries, and it doesn't work. 149 00:09:08,270 --> 00:09:10,969 Speaker 2: Then Judas tries, and you know it didn't work. After 150 00:09:10,990 --> 00:09:14,490 Speaker 2: they're all finished trying … Now, Jesus is up on 151 00:09:14,530 --> 00:09:18,460 Speaker 2: a mountain being transfigured. The voice of the Father is 152 00:09:18,500 --> 00:09:21,740 Speaker 2: speaking over him. This is my Son, whom I love, 153 00:09:22,260 --> 00:09:24,000 Speaker 2: and I am well pleased in him. That's what happened 154 00:09:24,040 --> 00:09:26,940 Speaker 2: in Mark 9, part A. He's got with him his 155 00:09:27,080 --> 00:09:32,120 Speaker 2: favorite disciples, like you have your favorite kid. Peter, James, 156 00:09:32,160 --> 00:09:34,040 Speaker 2: and John come back down the mountain only to find 157 00:09:34,920 --> 00:09:37,480 Speaker 2: that the glory they experienced and the radiance they experienced 158 00:09:37,559 --> 00:09:41,179 Speaker 2: on the mountain is not exactly in full operation in 159 00:09:41,220 --> 00:09:44,710 Speaker 2: the valley. Isn't life just like that to where You 160 00:09:44,730 --> 00:09:48,880 Speaker 2: have to get from the mountains of inspiration and encouragement 161 00:09:50,260 --> 00:09:56,809 Speaker 2: to get into the valleys of these hardships. Now, more 162 00:09:56,830 --> 00:09:59,170 Speaker 2: than ever, I'm kind of looking at the disciples in 163 00:09:59,210 --> 00:10:05,110 Speaker 2: a new light. because I'm a middle-aged man, and I 164 00:10:05,150 --> 00:10:08,150 Speaker 2: know what it feels like to be like, this isn't 165 00:10:08,190 --> 00:10:12,530 Speaker 2: working like it used to work. Before I go in 166 00:10:12,570 --> 00:10:15,170 Speaker 2: the gym, I have to wrap up my elbow, my wrists. 167 00:10:15,490 --> 00:10:25,770 Speaker 2: I'm wearing headgear before I go in there soon. My 168 00:10:25,809 --> 00:10:28,410 Speaker 2: son says, Dad, you look like a robot. You're so 169 00:10:28,490 --> 00:10:30,700 Speaker 2: wrapped up because stuff hurts. It doesn't work like it 170 00:10:30,770 --> 00:10:35,940 Speaker 2: used to work. I think for a split second here, 171 00:10:35,980 --> 00:10:38,699 Speaker 2: the disciples, they're asking Jesus, and I want to point 172 00:10:38,740 --> 00:10:40,540 Speaker 2: this out. Give me the Scripture back on the screen. 173 00:10:41,300 --> 00:10:44,880 Speaker 2: It said after Jesus, verse 28, had gone indoors, his 174 00:10:44,980 --> 00:10:49,320 Speaker 2: disciples asked him privately, why couldn't we drive it out? 175 00:10:50,580 --> 00:10:55,739 Speaker 2: Everybody say privately. They asked Jesus privately. And I wrote 176 00:10:55,760 --> 00:10:58,750 Speaker 2: down a question. How much better off would we be 177 00:10:58,920 --> 00:11:04,790 Speaker 2: if we asked Jesus some things privately instead of saying 178 00:11:05,070 --> 00:11:16,230 Speaker 2: things publicly? Y'all don't like that? Because instead of blaming 179 00:11:17,250 --> 00:11:20,689 Speaker 2: the teachers of the law, They finally realized that we 180 00:11:20,730 --> 00:11:26,570 Speaker 2: have to fix this internally, privately. Jesus said, this kind 181 00:11:27,550 --> 00:11:33,020 Speaker 2: can come out only by prayer. Now the disciples are 182 00:11:33,140 --> 00:11:37,360 Speaker 2: asking Jesus privately, why couldn't we drive it out? The Father, 183 00:11:37,400 --> 00:11:39,080 Speaker 2: I don't know if you noticed this, but the Father 184 00:11:39,140 --> 00:11:42,860 Speaker 2: in verse 24 says something that sounds like a contradiction 185 00:11:43,020 --> 00:11:48,120 Speaker 2: on the surface. And the really spiritual, over-spiritual, scratch-and-sniff Christians 186 00:11:48,179 --> 00:11:51,359 Speaker 2: don't like this verse because it doesn't sound so concrete. 187 00:11:52,020 --> 00:11:54,319 Speaker 2: It's a little too abstract. It's got too much tension 188 00:11:54,380 --> 00:11:57,980 Speaker 2: in it. He said, I do believe, verse 24, help 189 00:11:58,070 --> 00:12:02,510 Speaker 2: me overcome my unbelief. The father who brought his son 190 00:12:02,550 --> 00:12:04,709 Speaker 2: to Jesus who needed healing is struggling with the same 191 00:12:04,750 --> 00:12:11,120 Speaker 2: thing that the disciples are struggling with, unbelief. He immediately exclaimed, 192 00:12:11,679 --> 00:12:14,829 Speaker 2: I do believe. help my unbelief. So the message last 193 00:12:14,890 --> 00:12:18,069 Speaker 2: week was built around the idea that there is a 194 00:12:18,210 --> 00:12:22,650 Speaker 2: difference between you and your feelings. There's a difference between 195 00:12:22,710 --> 00:12:25,130 Speaker 2: you and your thoughts. There's a difference between you and 196 00:12:25,150 --> 00:12:28,209 Speaker 2: your emotions. There's a difference between you and your successes. 197 00:12:28,250 --> 00:12:30,450 Speaker 2: There's a difference between you and your failures. You are 198 00:12:30,490 --> 00:12:34,840 Speaker 2: not it. This boy is possessed by a spirit that's 199 00:12:34,880 --> 00:12:37,150 Speaker 2: making him do all kinds of things to harm him, 200 00:12:37,780 --> 00:12:40,320 Speaker 2: but he's still the son of the father, and the 201 00:12:40,360 --> 00:12:43,929 Speaker 2: father still sees his son beneath the things he struggles with. 202 00:12:44,850 --> 00:12:47,230 Speaker 2: Just like your Father still sees you, your heavenly Father 203 00:12:47,270 --> 00:12:50,510 Speaker 2: still sees you separate from the things you struggle with 204 00:12:51,179 --> 00:12:53,360 Speaker 2: and how he dealt with the sin that stood against 205 00:12:53,400 --> 00:12:56,080 Speaker 2: you on the cross. He doesn't see your sin when 206 00:12:56,120 --> 00:12:59,340 Speaker 2: he looks at you. He doesn't see your successes when 207 00:12:59,360 --> 00:13:02,060 Speaker 2: he looks at you. He sees a son. He sees 208 00:13:02,140 --> 00:13:06,780 Speaker 2: a daughter. You are not it. You are not it. 209 00:13:09,910 --> 00:13:12,830 Speaker 2: We are so addicted to it in our culture that 210 00:13:12,870 --> 00:13:15,449 Speaker 2: when we really want to compliment somebody that they're good 211 00:13:15,510 --> 00:13:20,330 Speaker 2: at something, we'll say, you're a machine. Man, you're a machine. Wow, 212 00:13:20,370 --> 00:13:24,830 Speaker 2: you're just amazing. You're a machine. That's a downgrade. How 213 00:13:24,850 --> 00:13:27,790 Speaker 2: did you take me out of the animal kingdom and 214 00:13:27,830 --> 00:13:31,890 Speaker 2: make me a machine? How did you demote me into 215 00:13:31,929 --> 00:13:35,610 Speaker 2: what I just did? The trick is you can't let 216 00:13:35,770 --> 00:13:39,880 Speaker 2: people do that to you positively or negatively, right? You 217 00:13:39,900 --> 00:13:42,990 Speaker 2: can't let people identify you with your gift because you're 218 00:13:43,010 --> 00:13:45,970 Speaker 2: more than your gift. You can't let people identify you 219 00:13:46,010 --> 00:13:49,530 Speaker 2: with your sin because you're more than your sin. You 220 00:13:49,750 --> 00:13:54,380 Speaker 2: are the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus. You are 221 00:13:54,420 --> 00:13:58,210 Speaker 2: made in his image and in his likeness. And the 222 00:13:58,260 --> 00:14:00,970 Speaker 2: Father said, this is my son. Just like God the 223 00:14:01,010 --> 00:14:03,950 Speaker 2: Father said over Jesus, this is my son. The Father 224 00:14:04,010 --> 00:14:06,650 Speaker 2: in Mark chapter 9 says, this is my son. And 225 00:14:06,710 --> 00:14:11,200 Speaker 2: he's got problems, but he is not it. He is 226 00:14:11,250 --> 00:14:15,980 Speaker 2: not it. And the disciples are learning a valuable lesson, 227 00:14:16,020 --> 00:14:19,620 Speaker 2: and the Father is learning a valuable lesson that in 228 00:14:19,880 --> 00:14:27,530 Speaker 2: owning your doubts, you don't disqualify your faith. I do believe... 229 00:14:28,090 --> 00:14:31,880 Speaker 2: Help me overcome my unbelief. Now, there's a couple miracles 230 00:14:31,940 --> 00:14:34,780 Speaker 2: in this passage. One is that the boy gets healed 231 00:14:34,800 --> 00:14:39,460 Speaker 2: of his condition, and two is that the man asks 232 00:14:39,540 --> 00:14:43,220 Speaker 2: for help. How many women know that for a man 233 00:14:43,560 --> 00:14:49,930 Speaker 2: to ask for help is a miracle in itself? Now, 234 00:14:49,990 --> 00:14:54,370 Speaker 2: not me. I ask Holly for help all the time. Particularly, 235 00:14:54,390 --> 00:14:55,910 Speaker 2: this is one of the things in our marriage. I 236 00:14:55,950 --> 00:14:58,340 Speaker 2: told you that she helps me a lot. I am 237 00:14:58,530 --> 00:15:03,980 Speaker 2: horrible about losing things and then freaking out and thinking 238 00:15:04,020 --> 00:15:07,840 Speaker 2: it's gone forever. Holly is more calm. Every morning we 239 00:15:07,880 --> 00:15:12,160 Speaker 2: start our day with me losing my AirPods. Every morning. 240 00:15:13,200 --> 00:15:15,720 Speaker 2: I know this is some real first-world problems I'm telling 241 00:15:15,740 --> 00:15:17,740 Speaker 2: you about up here, but every morning this is the 242 00:15:17,780 --> 00:15:19,850 Speaker 2: first thing we do. I don't seek the Lord. I 243 00:15:19,870 --> 00:15:22,590 Speaker 2: look for my AirPods, because I have sleep issues. I 244 00:15:22,630 --> 00:15:25,250 Speaker 2: always put something really boring in my AirPod to fall 245 00:15:25,290 --> 00:15:27,270 Speaker 2: asleep to, and I spend the first 10 minutes of 246 00:15:27,310 --> 00:15:30,390 Speaker 2: the day looking for the AirPod. Then after five minutes 247 00:15:30,410 --> 00:15:33,340 Speaker 2: of looking for it, I ask Holly to help me, 248 00:15:33,630 --> 00:15:35,180 Speaker 2: and I ask her to help me, and she does. 249 00:15:35,560 --> 00:15:37,360 Speaker 2: She has been doing this our whole marriage, because my 250 00:15:37,400 --> 00:15:43,620 Speaker 2: first instinct is, it's gone. It's gone. It'll never be 251 00:15:43,660 --> 00:15:52,430 Speaker 2: back again, whether it's sunglasses, AirPods, my anointing. I told 252 00:15:52,490 --> 00:15:58,360 Speaker 2: you my first instinct is, it's gone. It's gone. I 253 00:15:58,400 --> 00:16:00,680 Speaker 2: don't feel God's presence right now. I guess it's gone. 254 00:16:01,540 --> 00:16:03,460 Speaker 2: I've been looking for my AirPods for 30 seconds. They're 255 00:16:03,480 --> 00:16:07,900 Speaker 2: not here. They're gone. She says, do you think they 256 00:16:07,980 --> 00:16:12,420 Speaker 2: got up and walked away? You put them in your 257 00:16:12,720 --> 00:16:17,240 Speaker 2: ear seven hours ago. They are here somewhere. This is 258 00:16:17,260 --> 00:16:17,900 Speaker 2: what she taught me. 259 00:16:18,280 --> 00:16:28,109 Speaker 5: You don't know how to look. Y'all shut up. She said, 260 00:16:28,150 --> 00:16:30,490 Speaker 5: you don't know how to look. I said, I look. 261 00:16:30,550 --> 00:16:35,040 Speaker 5: She said, you look with your eyes. To really look, 262 00:16:35,080 --> 00:16:36,800 Speaker 5: you can't just use your eyes. 263 00:16:39,560 --> 00:16:41,380 Speaker 2: This was several years ago. She said, I'm going to 264 00:16:41,440 --> 00:16:42,480 Speaker 2: teach you how to look. 265 00:16:44,560 --> 00:16:49,600 Speaker 3: She started picking stuff up. She said, see what I'm doing? 266 00:16:50,700 --> 00:16:59,030 Speaker 3: I'm lifting while I'm looking. I'm lifting while I'm looking. See, 267 00:16:59,150 --> 00:17:03,690 Speaker 3: I'm looking underneath stuff. I'm moving the pillow. I'm peeling 268 00:17:03,730 --> 00:17:06,510 Speaker 3: back the covers. God said, some of y'all look, but 269 00:17:06,550 --> 00:17:10,970 Speaker 3: you don't lift. You don't know how to look. 270 00:17:12,690 --> 00:17:14,890 Speaker 2: In the past six months, you've said stuff like this, 271 00:17:15,310 --> 00:17:21,389 Speaker 2: I've lost my faith. You didn't lose it. You just 272 00:17:21,410 --> 00:17:25,730 Speaker 2: don't know how to look. Why were y'all shouting so 273 00:17:25,770 --> 00:17:36,530 Speaker 2: much when I was talking about me and Holly? When 274 00:17:36,570 --> 00:17:39,030 Speaker 2: I talk to people, I notice the way we phrase things. 275 00:17:39,109 --> 00:17:45,139 Speaker 2: We say, I lost my joy. I lost my peace. 276 00:17:46,119 --> 00:17:50,330 Speaker 2: How many of y'all have said in the last 30 days, 277 00:17:51,369 --> 00:17:59,170 Speaker 2: I feel like I'm losing my mind? How many of 278 00:17:59,210 --> 00:18:02,890 Speaker 2: y'all didn't even get that specific? Just, I feel like 279 00:18:02,950 --> 00:18:11,680 Speaker 2: I'm losing it. You didn't lose it. You just have 280 00:18:11,720 --> 00:18:20,460 Speaker 2: to learn how to look. Sometimes looking means lifting stuff, 281 00:18:21,720 --> 00:18:25,810 Speaker 2: looking under stuff, not just walking in. 282 00:18:25,869 --> 00:18:26,409 Speaker 3: It's gone. 283 00:18:26,430 --> 00:18:30,889 Speaker 2: Well, I woke up in a good mood, but y'all 284 00:18:30,930 --> 00:18:35,950 Speaker 2: just … The Devil just stole my joy. I guess 285 00:18:35,970 --> 00:18:38,590 Speaker 2: he did. You left it lying right out for him 286 00:18:38,630 --> 00:18:42,560 Speaker 2: to take. You didn't lock the door, roll up the window. No, 287 00:18:42,580 --> 00:18:43,400 Speaker 2: I'm preaching to me. 288 00:18:43,420 --> 00:18:55,220 Speaker 6: I'll say I lost it, but I haven't really even looked. 289 00:18:56,560 --> 00:18:58,520 Speaker 2: The man said, I do believe. That's why I brought 290 00:18:58,540 --> 00:19:03,290 Speaker 2: my boy to you. I still have faith, but will 291 00:19:03,330 --> 00:19:07,000 Speaker 2: you help me with my unbelief? What I want to 292 00:19:07,040 --> 00:19:10,320 Speaker 2: teach you today, there's a difference between having unbelief and 293 00:19:10,440 --> 00:19:15,590 Speaker 2: being an unbeliever. He did not say, I'm an unbeliever. 294 00:19:17,290 --> 00:19:22,330 Speaker 2: He said, I have unbelief. When you have doubts about 295 00:19:22,470 --> 00:19:24,409 Speaker 2: anything in your life, what God spoke to you or 296 00:19:24,550 --> 00:19:27,790 Speaker 2: even who God is, sometimes many of us doubt the 297 00:19:27,810 --> 00:19:32,410 Speaker 2: existence of God. That doesn't make you an unbeliever. There's 298 00:19:32,450 --> 00:19:37,760 Speaker 2: a difference between having unbelief Immediately he exclaimed. Did you 299 00:19:37,780 --> 00:19:42,960 Speaker 2: see that word? Immediately he exclaimed. Immediately he exclaimed. I 300 00:19:43,060 --> 00:19:49,359 Speaker 2: do believe, but help my unbelief. We understand that although 301 00:19:49,390 --> 00:19:54,940 Speaker 2: his explanation was immediate, his unbelief probably came over time, 302 00:19:56,680 --> 00:19:59,940 Speaker 2: because his boy has been in this condition since childhood. 303 00:20:01,240 --> 00:20:03,440 Speaker 2: Perhaps at the first sign or symptom that his boy 304 00:20:03,480 --> 00:20:09,340 Speaker 2: had something wrong with him, he believed. But Life has 305 00:20:09,380 --> 00:20:14,700 Speaker 2: a way of layering unbelief. And beneath the layers of 306 00:20:14,760 --> 00:20:19,480 Speaker 2: unbelief is still a you that trusts God. And we 307 00:20:20,180 --> 00:20:23,450 Speaker 2: try to bring you into church sometimes and remove all 308 00:20:23,490 --> 00:20:27,610 Speaker 2: of the doubts from the equation. We do that sometimes 309 00:20:27,650 --> 00:20:30,910 Speaker 2: through preaching cliches or by making vague promises that you're 310 00:20:30,930 --> 00:20:32,800 Speaker 2: going to make it to the other side and things 311 00:20:32,859 --> 00:20:34,919 Speaker 2: like that. And I preach those things too, and sometimes 312 00:20:34,940 --> 00:20:37,800 Speaker 2: they have value. But sometimes I think we. 313 00:20:39,390 --> 00:20:42,110 Speaker 2: We think that God is going to decrease our doubts. 314 00:20:43,570 --> 00:20:47,020 Speaker 2: The Father in this passage prayed that Jesus would increase 315 00:20:47,060 --> 00:20:53,880 Speaker 2: his faith. Help me overcome my unbelief. And he's shifted now. 316 00:20:54,280 --> 00:20:57,510 Speaker 2: When he first started talking to Jesus, your disciples couldn't 317 00:20:57,550 --> 00:21:02,310 Speaker 2: do it. The first instinct was to blame. But now 318 00:21:02,350 --> 00:21:05,850 Speaker 2: he's understanding that it's not going to get me anywhere 319 00:21:05,970 --> 00:21:10,330 Speaker 2: to blame Jesus' staff. If I want my boy healed, 320 00:21:10,410 --> 00:21:12,750 Speaker 2: I'm going to have to get beneath all the surface 321 00:21:12,890 --> 00:21:17,040 Speaker 2: reasons that it didn't work. I'm going to have to 322 00:21:17,260 --> 00:21:23,100 Speaker 2: own this for myself. Help my unbelief. Would you have 323 00:21:23,119 --> 00:21:28,540 Speaker 2: the guts to pray that out loud? Help my unbelief. Now, 324 00:21:28,840 --> 00:21:32,660 Speaker 2: we pray, help my bank account. We pray, help my 325 00:21:33,300 --> 00:21:37,850 Speaker 2: husband act right. We pray all kinds of things, but 326 00:21:37,890 --> 00:21:43,629 Speaker 2: when you say, help my unbelief, power happens. That's the 327 00:21:43,670 --> 00:21:49,129 Speaker 2: connection right there. Help my unbelief. There are some things 328 00:21:49,369 --> 00:21:52,649 Speaker 2: we need to unbelieve before we can believe what we 329 00:21:52,690 --> 00:21:56,379 Speaker 2: need to believe. Unbelief creeps in. It doesn't come in 330 00:21:56,460 --> 00:21:58,399 Speaker 2: all at once. You don't wake up one day and 331 00:21:58,440 --> 00:22:01,679 Speaker 2: talk about, like, I just don't believe anymore. As years 332 00:22:01,740 --> 00:22:04,920 Speaker 2: go by, as disappointments accumulate … Here's one way of 333 00:22:04,940 --> 00:22:12,190 Speaker 2: saying that. Faith doesn't disappear. It deteriorates. Just it wears away. 334 00:22:12,210 --> 00:22:16,210 Speaker 2: I wrote a book in 2010 in my journey of 335 00:22:16,250 --> 00:22:22,090 Speaker 2: faith called Sun Stands Still. Two people read that book, 336 00:22:22,410 --> 00:22:26,959 Speaker 2: my mom and Israel. That's all I heard. But it's 337 00:22:26,980 --> 00:22:29,139 Speaker 2: a good book. It was about believing God for the impossible. 338 00:22:29,240 --> 00:22:32,420 Speaker 2: I watched my dad die of ALS a couple years later. 339 00:22:33,880 --> 00:22:36,980 Speaker 2: I had to go back and revisit, do I still 340 00:22:37,000 --> 00:22:40,590 Speaker 2: believe that God can do the impossible? My friend Levi 341 00:22:40,650 --> 00:22:45,649 Speaker 2: Lusko prayed sun stand still over his five-year-old daughter, and 342 00:22:45,690 --> 00:22:47,389 Speaker 2: she died in his arms of an asthma attack as 343 00:22:47,430 --> 00:22:52,110 Speaker 2: he tried to resuscitate her. I have to go back 344 00:22:52,170 --> 00:22:56,300 Speaker 2: in my life now and and separate out the events 345 00:22:56,400 --> 00:22:59,820 Speaker 2: that happened that caused me to doubt from the faith 346 00:22:59,880 --> 00:23:04,540 Speaker 2: that I have to realize that sometimes we didn't really 347 00:23:04,859 --> 00:23:11,590 Speaker 2: lose our faith. We misplaced it. Is this too deep, babe? 348 00:23:12,710 --> 00:23:15,409 Speaker 2: We misplaced it. It didn't get up and walk away. 349 00:23:15,730 --> 00:23:19,510 Speaker 2: You didn't lose your faith. You misplaced it. In the 350 00:23:19,550 --> 00:23:22,750 Speaker 2: Father's case, he said, your disciples couldn't drive it out. 351 00:23:24,500 --> 00:23:27,700 Speaker 2: Your disciples couldn't do it. The disciples weren't the ones 352 00:23:27,920 --> 00:23:31,510 Speaker 2: you needed to believe in to begin with. Many of 353 00:23:31,590 --> 00:23:33,889 Speaker 2: us lost our faith in Jesus because we put our 354 00:23:33,950 --> 00:23:41,910 Speaker 2: trust in people. So we lose our faith in God 355 00:23:42,010 --> 00:23:45,670 Speaker 2: because somebody else let us down? Because the disciples couldn't 356 00:23:45,710 --> 00:23:47,390 Speaker 2: do it? You're going to walk away from what God 357 00:23:47,430 --> 00:23:50,050 Speaker 2: has for you? I don't go to church anymore. I 358 00:23:50,070 --> 00:23:55,280 Speaker 2: got burned. Have you ever had a bad meal? Do 359 00:23:55,320 --> 00:23:55,980 Speaker 2: you still eat? 360 00:23:56,000 --> 00:24:06,730 Speaker 7: Help my unbelief. 361 00:24:08,230 --> 00:24:11,209 Speaker 2: I've watched my son like this so long. When it's 362 00:24:11,270 --> 00:24:14,920 Speaker 2: been so long like this, it just adds up over 363 00:24:14,980 --> 00:24:18,560 Speaker 2: time to where his first instinct is, I do believe, 364 00:24:18,600 --> 00:24:22,699 Speaker 2: but will you help me overcome the part of me 365 00:24:22,720 --> 00:24:28,480 Speaker 2: that doesn't? I'll never forget when I was in Orangeburg, 366 00:24:28,500 --> 00:24:32,760 Speaker 2: South Carolina, preaching on a Friday night. I preached a 367 00:24:32,780 --> 00:24:36,800 Speaker 2: sermon back in the day on Jonathan from 1 Samuel 14, 368 00:24:36,800 --> 00:24:39,140 Speaker 2: Old Testament character. He's the son of Saul the king. 369 00:24:40,100 --> 00:24:43,770 Speaker 2: I preached that thing, 1 Samuel 14, 6, so many times. 370 00:24:44,119 --> 00:24:46,450 Speaker 2: I preached it so many times. I used to talk 371 00:24:46,490 --> 00:24:49,929 Speaker 2: about how Jonathan said, perhaps the Lord will act in 372 00:24:49,950 --> 00:24:52,790 Speaker 2: our behalf. Nothing can hinder the Lord from saving. I 373 00:24:52,830 --> 00:24:56,210 Speaker 2: talked about how that sounds kind of like he's… He 374 00:24:56,250 --> 00:24:59,410 Speaker 2: hadn't quite made up his mind. Nothing can hinder the Lord. 375 00:24:59,530 --> 00:25:03,340 Speaker 2: Perhaps God will act. I called it the perhaps paradox. Now, 376 00:25:03,680 --> 00:25:06,879 Speaker 2: this was a little small church. I don't know. Was 377 00:25:06,980 --> 00:25:09,560 Speaker 2: I 19 years old that this guy drove me back 378 00:25:09,680 --> 00:25:14,060 Speaker 2: to the host home where we were staying? The guy's 379 00:25:14,100 --> 00:25:18,080 Speaker 2: name was Rodney that was driving me. On the way home, 380 00:25:19,600 --> 00:25:23,639 Speaker 2: I'm insecure, so I said, How did you like the sermon, Rodney? Well, 381 00:25:23,660 --> 00:25:29,909 Speaker 2: I shouldn't have asked that. He said, I don't know 382 00:25:29,930 --> 00:25:31,810 Speaker 2: if I'd call that a sermon, what you did up there. 383 00:25:33,690 --> 00:25:38,900 Speaker 2: I'm not making this up. He said, there's no perhaps 384 00:25:38,980 --> 00:25:40,889 Speaker 2: about it. If God said he'll do it, he'll do it. 385 00:25:42,640 --> 00:25:44,760 Speaker 2: That stuff you're preaching up there isn't faith. It's doubt. 386 00:25:44,880 --> 00:25:46,790 Speaker 2: I said, but I got it from the Bible, Rodney. 387 00:25:48,609 --> 00:25:50,970 Speaker 2: I read the Bible. That's what Jonathan said in the Bible. 388 00:25:50,990 --> 00:25:54,350 Speaker 2: I was preaching the Bible verse. He said, no, no. 389 00:25:55,630 --> 00:25:57,669 Speaker 2: If God said he'll do it, he'll do it, and 390 00:25:57,690 --> 00:26:07,050 Speaker 2: there's no if about it. Hold on. If you can 391 00:26:07,090 --> 00:26:09,210 Speaker 2: do anything, take pity on us and help us. If 392 00:26:09,260 --> 00:26:11,000 Speaker 2: you can, everything is possible for the one who believes, 393 00:26:11,400 --> 00:26:13,239 Speaker 2: and Jesus did it even though the man said if. 394 00:26:15,240 --> 00:26:18,540 Speaker 2: So I started arguing with Rodney. I said, Rodney, there's 395 00:26:18,560 --> 00:26:20,460 Speaker 2: a lot of people in the Bible, and I'm putting 396 00:26:20,540 --> 00:26:23,820 Speaker 2: a substitute name in there, His real name wasn't Rodney. 397 00:26:23,859 --> 00:26:25,320 Speaker 2: I still remember what it was. I'm not going to 398 00:26:25,359 --> 00:26:29,919 Speaker 2: say it. I don't want to get sued or canceled. 399 00:26:30,200 --> 00:26:33,140 Speaker 2: The man said, well, real faith in the Bible. I said, 400 00:26:33,180 --> 00:26:35,590 Speaker 2: Moses had doubts. He said God couldn't use him. God 401 00:26:35,619 --> 00:26:37,629 Speaker 2: got so mad at Moses that the Bible said his 402 00:26:37,750 --> 00:26:39,350 Speaker 2: anger burned against him, but he still used him even 403 00:26:39,369 --> 00:26:40,720 Speaker 2: though he had to give him Aaron to speak for him. 404 00:26:41,790 --> 00:26:46,290 Speaker 2: You got more faith than Moses? I said, Abraham lied 405 00:26:46,310 --> 00:26:48,129 Speaker 2: about his wife. I went through a whole list of 406 00:26:48,310 --> 00:26:51,070 Speaker 2: people who doubted, but God still used them. I said, 407 00:26:51,090 --> 00:26:53,210 Speaker 2: you got more faith than all of them? He said, well, 408 00:26:53,270 --> 00:26:56,310 Speaker 2: I guess when it comes to that, I do. By 409 00:26:56,350 --> 00:26:57,970 Speaker 2: the time we got to where he was dropping me 410 00:26:58,100 --> 00:27:01,360 Speaker 2: off in the driveway, we were about to fist fight 411 00:27:02,540 --> 00:27:05,459 Speaker 2: in the driveway. The man whose home it was, he 412 00:27:05,500 --> 00:27:07,040 Speaker 2: came running out the house. He said, what in the 413 00:27:07,100 --> 00:27:09,629 Speaker 2: world is going on? He kind of broke us up, 414 00:27:09,680 --> 00:27:11,740 Speaker 2: and he took us in the house. Rodney left and 415 00:27:12,180 --> 00:27:15,949 Speaker 2: spun out the driveway pickup truck. I sat down in 416 00:27:15,970 --> 00:27:18,550 Speaker 2: the house. I said, man, we were arguing about … 417 00:27:18,609 --> 00:27:20,250 Speaker 2: He said, if you have any doubt, you don't have 418 00:27:20,290 --> 00:27:22,470 Speaker 2: real faith. This is what the man said to me. 419 00:27:22,830 --> 00:27:26,290 Speaker 2: He said, if you teach that and preach that, you're 420 00:27:26,310 --> 00:27:29,750 Speaker 2: going to be broke, poor, and sick all your life, 421 00:27:29,890 --> 00:27:32,070 Speaker 2: and so will all the people you lead and your 422 00:27:32,090 --> 00:27:36,760 Speaker 2: future children, if you have any. I'm like, hey, man. 423 00:27:40,000 --> 00:27:44,320 Speaker 2: Leave my hypothetical future children out of this. Make fun 424 00:27:44,359 --> 00:27:47,530 Speaker 2: of me if you want. But he really thought that. 425 00:27:48,630 --> 00:27:51,910 Speaker 2: He really thought that. He really thought that the proof 426 00:27:52,070 --> 00:27:56,470 Speaker 2: of faith is the absence of doubt. He had no 427 00:27:56,550 --> 00:27:59,090 Speaker 2: room in his view of who God is for an if. 428 00:28:00,869 --> 00:28:03,990 Speaker 2: But Jesus did what the man needed, even though the 429 00:28:04,030 --> 00:28:07,949 Speaker 2: man wasn't perfectly convinced he could do it, because the 430 00:28:08,050 --> 00:28:11,629 Speaker 2: man invited Jesus into the place where he had the 431 00:28:11,710 --> 00:28:16,780 Speaker 2: greatest doubt and the greatest pain. Now I think this 432 00:28:16,859 --> 00:28:19,790 Speaker 2: might be my favorite prayer in the Bible, because I 433 00:28:19,830 --> 00:28:22,270 Speaker 2: can get with this. I can get with this when 434 00:28:22,290 --> 00:28:23,810 Speaker 2: I'm in a bad mood. I can get with this 435 00:28:23,830 --> 00:28:25,870 Speaker 2: when I'm in a good mood. I can get with 436 00:28:25,890 --> 00:28:28,410 Speaker 2: this when I'm riding high. I can get with this 437 00:28:28,970 --> 00:28:31,380 Speaker 2: when the news is bad. I can get with this 438 00:28:31,500 --> 00:28:34,360 Speaker 2: any day of the week. I do believe, help me 439 00:28:34,580 --> 00:28:37,540 Speaker 2: overcome my unbelief. I'm not asking God to just take 440 00:28:37,580 --> 00:28:42,070 Speaker 2: it away. I'm asking God, help me overcome it. Help me. 441 00:28:42,270 --> 00:28:45,230 Speaker 2: My faith is not gone. I just have to learn 442 00:28:45,490 --> 00:28:51,430 Speaker 2: where to look. Sometimes the greatest faith is right underneath 443 00:28:51,470 --> 00:28:54,910 Speaker 2: that biggest doubt. Sometimes the greatest thing God wants to 444 00:28:54,970 --> 00:29:00,150 Speaker 2: show you is if you will start lifting and looking. 445 00:29:00,450 --> 00:29:03,460 Speaker 2: You see what I'm saying? We can't just cover over it. 446 00:29:05,440 --> 00:29:07,940 Speaker 2: We can't just come to church for a fresh coat 447 00:29:08,000 --> 00:29:11,990 Speaker 2: of paint over our problems. We can't just come to 448 00:29:12,030 --> 00:29:15,530 Speaker 2: church for a three-hour scriptural sugar boost to get us 449 00:29:15,590 --> 00:29:18,650 Speaker 2: feeling good for a moment. It won't work, and we'll 450 00:29:18,760 --> 00:29:22,060 Speaker 2: end up like the disciples saying, Why did I shout 451 00:29:22,120 --> 00:29:25,400 Speaker 2: and sing and listen and take notes in church? Because 452 00:29:25,480 --> 00:29:29,140 Speaker 2: you didn't invite Jesus into the real place of your pain. 453 00:29:34,910 --> 00:29:38,810 Speaker 2: You didn't lose your faith. You just stopped looking at 454 00:29:38,870 --> 00:29:39,470 Speaker 2: the surface. 455 00:29:39,590 --> 00:29:39,930 Speaker 5: It's gone. 456 00:29:42,200 --> 00:29:42,560 Speaker 7: Gone. 457 00:29:44,120 --> 00:29:46,380 Speaker 2: One boy broke up with you. I guess I'll never 458 00:29:46,440 --> 00:29:53,390 Speaker 2: be loved. You're 14 years old. I guess it's gone. 459 00:29:53,410 --> 00:29:57,110 Speaker 2: I guess you can't trust anybody. 460 00:29:57,130 --> 00:29:58,800 Speaker 7: See how we do it? 461 00:29:59,210 --> 00:30:02,760 Speaker 2: It's gone. You have to know where to look. Can 462 00:30:02,930 --> 00:30:07,280 Speaker 2: I preach something else? Sometimes you are so intimidated by 463 00:30:07,600 --> 00:30:16,160 Speaker 2: it that you forget about him. When Jesus saw that 464 00:30:16,220 --> 00:30:18,900 Speaker 2: a crowd was running to the scene, he rebuked the 465 00:30:18,960 --> 00:30:22,660 Speaker 2: impure spirit. He didn't argue with the disciples. He didn't 466 00:30:22,760 --> 00:30:24,680 Speaker 2: argue with the teachers. He didn't have to. He was 467 00:30:24,700 --> 00:30:36,410 Speaker 2: bigger than it. So the disciples said, why couldn't we 468 00:30:36,450 --> 00:30:40,630 Speaker 2: drive it out? He said, because you lost your focus. 469 00:30:40,670 --> 00:30:44,370 Speaker 2: This kind can only come out through prayer. When we 470 00:30:44,390 --> 00:30:47,720 Speaker 2: think about prayer, we think about maybe like a list 471 00:30:47,760 --> 00:30:52,040 Speaker 2: of things that we say to God. But God is 472 00:30:52,640 --> 00:30:55,820 Speaker 2: showing me lately that prayer is more about a lens 473 00:30:56,720 --> 00:31:02,630 Speaker 2: than a list. And it's more about what I see 474 00:31:02,670 --> 00:31:07,260 Speaker 2: than what I say. So if my prayer is always just, 475 00:31:07,540 --> 00:31:11,720 Speaker 2: let me just say my prayers. When Jesus said, this 476 00:31:11,780 --> 00:31:15,220 Speaker 2: kind can only come out by prayer, the King James says, 477 00:31:15,440 --> 00:31:18,870 Speaker 2: and fasting, but the original manuscripts don't say by fasting. 478 00:31:19,240 --> 00:31:21,370 Speaker 2: And even the fact, look, even the fact that he said, 479 00:31:21,410 --> 00:31:23,970 Speaker 2: this kind can only come out by prayer, he's letting 480 00:31:23,990 --> 00:31:28,430 Speaker 2: you know, you can't do it alone. You can't do 481 00:31:28,450 --> 00:31:30,790 Speaker 2: it alone. I looked on my message last week and 482 00:31:31,270 --> 00:31:33,570 Speaker 2: somebody said on a comment, I don't usually read the comments. 483 00:31:34,200 --> 00:31:35,460 Speaker 2: Pray for me. I read them more than I should. 484 00:31:36,060 --> 00:31:39,420 Speaker 2: They said, you left out fasting. It said by prayer 485 00:31:39,550 --> 00:31:41,700 Speaker 2: and fasting. They didn't get the demon out because they 486 00:31:41,720 --> 00:31:43,450 Speaker 2: didn't fast. Isn't that just like us to think if 487 00:31:43,490 --> 00:31:47,330 Speaker 2: we'll just do one more thing, if we just do 488 00:31:47,390 --> 00:31:52,070 Speaker 2: one more step, but it was their inability to rely 489 00:31:52,170 --> 00:31:54,610 Speaker 2: on God's power in them that got them in the 490 00:31:54,650 --> 00:31:57,430 Speaker 2: predicament to begin with. He said it's only by prayer. 491 00:31:57,450 --> 00:32:01,790 Speaker 2: It's intimidating. How dare we judge the disciples that they 492 00:32:01,810 --> 00:32:06,260 Speaker 2: couldn't cast out a demon? That's like all the out-of-shape 493 00:32:06,300 --> 00:32:11,530 Speaker 2: people watching these Olympic athletes. I'm talking about, well, that 494 00:32:11,570 --> 00:32:15,070 Speaker 2: was pretty good. I mean, second place. It's all right. 495 00:32:19,250 --> 00:32:21,360 Speaker 2: I want to judge the disciples. Why couldn't you drive 496 00:32:21,420 --> 00:32:23,540 Speaker 2: out the demon? You should have confessed the name of 497 00:32:23,560 --> 00:32:27,239 Speaker 2: Jesus and prayed and fasted. I can't even get my 498 00:32:27,320 --> 00:32:30,050 Speaker 2: kids to clean their room, y'all. I'm going to judge 499 00:32:30,070 --> 00:32:33,450 Speaker 2: the disciples for not casting out a demon. This is 500 00:32:33,510 --> 00:32:38,340 Speaker 2: a demon that's been with this boy since childhood. How 501 00:32:38,400 --> 00:32:44,500 Speaker 2: dare we judge them for that? It was intimidating. He said, 502 00:32:44,540 --> 00:32:48,370 Speaker 2: this kind can only come out by prayer. This isn't 503 00:32:48,390 --> 00:32:51,030 Speaker 2: going to be like one of your other problems that 504 00:32:51,050 --> 00:32:56,230 Speaker 2: you can fix in your own strength. I wonder, have 505 00:32:56,250 --> 00:33:00,060 Speaker 2: you been Have you been losing it because you've been 506 00:33:00,100 --> 00:33:05,940 Speaker 2: fighting on the wrong level? One of my friends went 507 00:33:06,000 --> 00:33:09,960 Speaker 2: into a business situation a few weeks ago, and he 508 00:33:10,000 --> 00:33:13,420 Speaker 2: said when he pulled up to the person's house for 509 00:33:13,440 --> 00:33:16,510 Speaker 2: the meeting, the house was so big and so beautiful 510 00:33:16,950 --> 00:33:21,210 Speaker 2: that he lost his confidence. He said, and I went 511 00:33:21,250 --> 00:33:25,830 Speaker 2: in there, and I thought, I can't do this. I 512 00:33:25,850 --> 00:33:28,830 Speaker 2: can't do this. When he went in to meet with 513 00:33:29,130 --> 00:33:31,990 Speaker 2: the people, after he left, they sent him a text 514 00:33:32,030 --> 00:33:36,520 Speaker 2: and said, You are amazing. We have not stopped talking 515 00:33:36,580 --> 00:33:40,140 Speaker 2: about your spirit. He's a great Christian. He has an 516 00:33:40,180 --> 00:33:43,560 Speaker 2: amazing … Oh, man, this guy changes the atmosphere of 517 00:33:43,660 --> 00:33:46,600 Speaker 2: every room he walks into. He said, Afterward, they were 518 00:33:46,660 --> 00:33:49,080 Speaker 2: texting me how amazing the meeting was and how they 519 00:33:49,120 --> 00:33:51,660 Speaker 2: were so impressed with me. He said, I couldn't believe 520 00:33:51,720 --> 00:33:53,680 Speaker 2: it because I went in so scared. You know what 521 00:33:53,700 --> 00:33:56,920 Speaker 2: I told him? I said, Yeah, because … You got 522 00:33:56,960 --> 00:33:59,040 Speaker 2: so caught up in what you were walking into that 523 00:33:59,060 --> 00:34:06,750 Speaker 2: you forgot what you were walking in with. You forgot 524 00:34:08,719 --> 00:34:12,140 Speaker 2: what you were walking in with. Because you were so 525 00:34:12,320 --> 00:34:15,480 Speaker 2: focused … Who is this for? You were so focused 526 00:34:15,880 --> 00:34:18,380 Speaker 2: on what you were walking into, but God says, if 527 00:34:18,440 --> 00:34:20,640 Speaker 2: you will get a focus on what you are walking 528 00:34:21,060 --> 00:34:25,080 Speaker 2: in with, the Spirit of God … Not just your abilities, 529 00:34:25,460 --> 00:34:28,989 Speaker 2: not just your education, not just your knowledge, not just 530 00:34:29,030 --> 00:34:31,710 Speaker 2: your wisdom. At some point, that will fail you, but 531 00:34:31,750 --> 00:34:34,230 Speaker 2: if you remember that you were walking in with the 532 00:34:34,430 --> 00:34:37,810 Speaker 2: Spirit of God … This is a guarantee of your inheritance. 533 00:34:38,510 --> 00:34:43,150 Speaker 2: This is not corruptible. It cannot perish. It cannot spoil. 534 00:34:43,170 --> 00:34:44,810 Speaker 2: It cannot fade. 535 00:34:45,430 --> 00:34:49,700 Speaker 4: Whatever it I'm walking into, I'm walking in with something 536 00:34:49,719 --> 00:34:50,600 Speaker 4: that is greater. 537 00:34:51,140 --> 00:34:55,339 Speaker 8: Greater is he that is in me than he that 538 00:34:55,420 --> 00:34:56,340 Speaker 8: is in the world. 539 00:34:56,860 --> 00:34:59,439 Speaker 2: When Jesus confronted it, it. 540 00:34:59,420 --> 00:35:03,739 Speaker 8: Had to back down, because greater is he that is 541 00:35:03,860 --> 00:35:06,930 Speaker 8: in me than he that is in the world. 542 00:35:07,340 --> 00:35:10,430 Speaker 2: I got it, devil. I got the Spirit of God. 543 00:35:10,790 --> 00:35:13,670 Speaker 2: I got the calling of God. I've got the purpose 544 00:35:13,710 --> 00:35:16,629 Speaker 2: of God. I've got the Word of God. I've got 545 00:35:16,670 --> 00:35:17,930 Speaker 2: the assurance of God. 546 00:35:18,310 --> 00:35:20,050 Speaker 7: I've got the anointing of God. 547 00:35:20,410 --> 00:35:23,000 Speaker 4: I've got a sling and a stone and a promise 548 00:35:23,260 --> 00:35:24,180 Speaker 4: and a Savior. 549 00:35:24,200 --> 00:35:31,200 Speaker 7: And I still got faith. 550 00:35:32,160 --> 00:35:34,920 Speaker 2: After all I've been through and all it cost me 551 00:35:35,260 --> 00:35:38,600 Speaker 2: and all they took, it robbed my speech, but it 552 00:35:38,700 --> 00:35:40,180 Speaker 2: didn't take my thing. 553 00:35:42,580 --> 00:35:43,480 Speaker 7: I do believe. 554 00:35:43,920 --> 00:35:51,960 Speaker 2: I still believe. Let me give you a Scripture. Lift 555 00:35:52,080 --> 00:35:56,940 Speaker 2: before you look. Stop looking at stuff on the surface 556 00:35:57,000 --> 00:36:00,780 Speaker 2: and saying, oh, there's nothing there. Lift before you look. 557 00:36:00,840 --> 00:36:03,379 Speaker 2: This is what Holly taught me. It's not gone. You 558 00:36:03,400 --> 00:36:07,680 Speaker 2: just haven't looked yet. You haven't looked so you haven't 559 00:36:07,739 --> 00:36:10,690 Speaker 2: seen the opportunity that's in this hardship. You haven't seen 560 00:36:10,730 --> 00:36:14,270 Speaker 2: the blessing that's in this rejection yet because you haven't looked. 561 00:36:21,200 --> 00:36:26,160 Speaker 2: I will lift my eyes to the hills. What did 562 00:36:26,200 --> 00:36:29,760 Speaker 2: the psalmist do? He said, I have to lift before 563 00:36:29,840 --> 00:36:33,340 Speaker 2: I look. They looked at the boy, and he looked dead, 564 00:36:33,780 --> 00:36:37,340 Speaker 2: but Jesus reached down and lifted him up. Why? Lift 565 00:36:38,020 --> 00:36:41,790 Speaker 2: before you look. Before you look at your schedule for 566 00:36:41,830 --> 00:36:44,790 Speaker 2: the day, lift your eyes to the hills. You're going 567 00:36:44,810 --> 00:36:48,150 Speaker 2: to need help today, and you have it on the inside. 568 00:36:49,040 --> 00:36:51,680 Speaker 2: Don't look so much at what you're walking into that 569 00:36:51,719 --> 00:36:54,650 Speaker 2: you forget what you're walking in with. Oh, no. 570 00:36:54,989 --> 00:36:58,109 Speaker 4: I'm a nobody with a somebody on the inside of me. 571 00:36:58,590 --> 00:37:06,959 Speaker 4: I've got to decrease so he can increase. I lift 572 00:37:07,000 --> 00:37:10,080 Speaker 4: my eyes to the hills. I might be preaching for 573 00:37:10,120 --> 00:37:14,029 Speaker 4: three people, but you haven't really looked yet. You've been saying, 574 00:37:14,050 --> 00:37:16,470 Speaker 4: there's nothing special about me. I don't really have a gift. 575 00:37:16,850 --> 00:37:18,450 Speaker 4: I'm not anointed like those other people. 576 00:37:18,750 --> 00:37:20,670 Speaker 2: I'm not called. I don't really see any benefit in 577 00:37:20,710 --> 00:37:28,930 Speaker 2: this situation. You haven't really looked until you've lifted. When 578 00:37:28,969 --> 00:37:33,830 Speaker 2: you lift your eyes to the hills, the turning point 579 00:37:34,510 --> 00:37:38,030 Speaker 2: for the Father is when he stopped looking at the crowd, 580 00:37:38,770 --> 00:37:42,430 Speaker 2: stopped looking at the disciples, stopped looking at the symptoms, 581 00:37:43,680 --> 00:37:53,750 Speaker 2: And he finally saw Jesus. I see Jesus coming toward 582 00:37:53,790 --> 00:37:59,430 Speaker 2: your unbelief, coming toward your struggle, coming toward your issue. 583 00:38:00,790 --> 00:38:08,540 Speaker 2: Will you lift your eyes? Lift. Lift before you look. 584 00:38:10,140 --> 00:38:14,129 Speaker 2: He said, I lift my eyes to the hills. whence 585 00:38:14,190 --> 00:38:16,410 Speaker 2: cometh my help. It's not going to come from the disciples. 586 00:38:17,890 --> 00:38:20,680 Speaker 2: It's not going to come from my own flesh. It's 587 00:38:20,700 --> 00:38:23,799 Speaker 2: not going to come from my own solutions. My help 588 00:38:23,840 --> 00:38:28,919 Speaker 2: comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. 589 00:38:30,900 --> 00:38:34,440 Speaker 2: He will not suffer your foot to be moved. The 590 00:38:34,500 --> 00:38:39,870 Speaker 2: Lord keepeth thee. He will not slumber nor sleep, for 591 00:38:39,910 --> 00:38:44,640 Speaker 2: the Lord is thy keeper. The Lord is thy shade 592 00:38:44,700 --> 00:38:48,569 Speaker 2: upon thy right hand, and the sun shall not smite 593 00:38:48,620 --> 00:38:53,370 Speaker 2: you by day, nor the moon by night. He that 594 00:38:53,430 --> 00:39:01,549 Speaker 2: keepeth Israel shall preserve your soul even forevermore. Will you 595 00:39:01,590 --> 00:39:06,110 Speaker 2: lift your eyes for a moment? You've been looking in 596 00:39:06,150 --> 00:39:16,580 Speaker 2: the wrong places for your joy, for your peace. You 597 00:39:18,719 --> 00:39:23,300 Speaker 2: didn't lose it. You just need somebody to help you look. 598 00:39:25,969 --> 00:39:28,469 Speaker 2: That's what the Spirit of God does. He searches all things. 599 00:39:28,489 --> 00:39:30,370 Speaker 2: He helps you look in the places where you haven't 600 00:39:30,410 --> 00:39:36,350 Speaker 2: looked yet. You know God has put his help on 601 00:39:36,370 --> 00:39:39,270 Speaker 2: the inside of you, and I just want to help 602 00:39:39,290 --> 00:39:46,009 Speaker 2: you look for a moment. Stand to your feet. One 603 00:39:46,030 --> 00:39:49,410 Speaker 2: time Paul prayed that the eyes of your heart might 604 00:39:49,430 --> 00:39:57,810 Speaker 2: be opened. eyes of your heart might be open. Prayer 605 00:39:57,850 --> 00:40:02,890 Speaker 2: isn't just about saying things to God. It's about seeing 606 00:40:03,200 --> 00:40:12,400 Speaker 2: things as God sees them. I do believe. Would you 607 00:40:12,420 --> 00:40:17,730 Speaker 2: say that? I do believe. Life has layered me with unbelief, 608 00:40:17,770 --> 00:40:21,049 Speaker 2: but I'm not an unbeliever. I do believe. That's why 609 00:40:21,090 --> 00:40:26,439 Speaker 2: I came today I still believe. Sometimes my faith feels 610 00:40:26,480 --> 00:40:29,640 Speaker 2: very weak and my joy feels very low, but I 611 00:40:29,680 --> 00:40:33,920 Speaker 2: received this prophetic word today. I didn't lose it. I 612 00:40:36,510 --> 00:40:43,170 Speaker 2: just need Jesus to help me look for it. I 613 00:40:43,210 --> 00:40:46,250 Speaker 2: want you to pray like I asked Holly. I want 614 00:40:46,290 --> 00:40:51,960 Speaker 2: you to ask God, say, help me look, Lord. Because 615 00:40:51,980 --> 00:40:54,379 Speaker 2: when I see things with my own eyes, I misjudge them. 616 00:40:55,520 --> 00:40:59,200 Speaker 2: I see them from a human appearance. Show me what's 617 00:40:59,260 --> 00:41:03,259 Speaker 2: really going on with my children. Show me what's really 618 00:41:03,300 --> 00:41:08,430 Speaker 2: driving that behavior. Show me what's really beneath the fear 619 00:41:08,469 --> 00:41:12,270 Speaker 2: that I feel. Show me what's lurking beneath that. Help 620 00:41:13,130 --> 00:41:20,360 Speaker 2: me overcome my unbelief. Thank you for joining us. Special 621 00:41:20,400 --> 00:41:23,200 Speaker 2: thanks to those of you who give generously to this ministry. 622 00:41:23,580 --> 00:41:26,580 Speaker 2: It's because of you that this ministry is possible. You 623 00:41:26,600 --> 00:41:28,919 Speaker 2: can click the link in the description to give now 624 00:41:29,540 --> 00:41:34,210 Speaker 2: or visit elevationchurch.org slash podcast for more information. And if 625 00:41:34,230 --> 00:41:37,529 Speaker 2: you enjoyed the podcast, you can subscribe. You can share 626 00:41:37,550 --> 00:41:39,730 Speaker 2: it with your friends. You can click the share button, 627 00:41:39,830 --> 00:41:42,190 Speaker 2: take a screenshot and share it on your social stories 628 00:41:42,250 --> 00:41:44,990 Speaker 2: and tag us at Elevation Church. Thanks again for listening. 629 00:41:45,090 --> 00:41:45,569 Speaker 2: God bless you.