1 00:00:09,480 --> 00:00:11,559 Speaker 1: And I want to turn that around before we get 2 00:00:11,560 --> 00:00:14,360 Speaker 1: into the sermon, and I want to say how thankful 3 00:00:14,400 --> 00:00:18,159 Speaker 1: I am for you, and you are an answer to 4 00:00:18,200 --> 00:00:22,000 Speaker 1: prayer is what you don't realize. We started praying for 5 00:00:22,040 --> 00:00:25,840 Speaker 1: you before we ever had our first church service, that 6 00:00:25,920 --> 00:00:29,240 Speaker 1: the Lord would send us people who first of all, 7 00:00:29,240 --> 00:00:34,040 Speaker 1: that he would send people that needed Jesus. And do 8 00:00:34,120 --> 00:00:42,480 Speaker 1: you qualify it? I'm like, God, send people who need 9 00:00:42,479 --> 00:00:46,080 Speaker 1: you in their life as much as I do. And 10 00:00:46,120 --> 00:00:48,640 Speaker 1: then we prayed that he would send us people. You 11 00:00:48,640 --> 00:00:51,640 Speaker 1: remember the scripture where Jesus said the harvest is plentiful, 12 00:00:52,560 --> 00:00:56,160 Speaker 1: but the laborers are few. And so we asked the 13 00:00:56,160 --> 00:00:59,200 Speaker 1: Lord to send people who would not just want to 14 00:00:59,240 --> 00:01:01,520 Speaker 1: pull up to the all you can eat crab like 15 00:01:01,560 --> 00:01:06,920 Speaker 1: buffet and and just and just consume, but would really 16 00:01:06,959 --> 00:01:10,800 Speaker 1: want to bring to God an offering. And that's prayer, 17 00:01:11,080 --> 00:01:15,640 Speaker 1: that's giving, that service, that's worship. But you know who 18 00:01:15,720 --> 00:01:18,319 Speaker 1: you are, the thousands of you that actually make it happen, 19 00:01:19,480 --> 00:01:22,080 Speaker 1: that don't just come and go. I wonder if Best 20 00:01:22,120 --> 00:01:24,520 Speaker 1: or Steven's preaching today or is it one of them guests. 21 00:01:24,600 --> 00:01:26,400 Speaker 1: Some of them are pretty good. I don't luck all 22 00:01:26,440 --> 00:01:31,760 Speaker 1: of them, but they're all right, but some people just 23 00:01:31,800 --> 00:01:36,440 Speaker 1: show up in their life. It doesn't matter who's preaching, 24 00:01:41,319 --> 00:01:46,280 Speaker 1: because I know and you know that it's not about 25 00:01:46,280 --> 00:01:50,880 Speaker 1: a preacher a personality. It's about the purpose that God 26 00:01:50,920 --> 00:01:55,840 Speaker 1: has given us to advance the Gospel of Jesus Christ 27 00:01:57,320 --> 00:02:01,280 Speaker 1: into all the world. So all right, get it out 28 00:02:01,280 --> 00:02:04,520 Speaker 1: of your system. Twenty one seconds, I mean twenty two, 29 00:02:05,440 --> 00:02:17,760 Speaker 1: twenty twenty two, twenty two seconds. I'm ray, praisey woke. 30 00:02:18,440 --> 00:02:24,960 Speaker 1: It's our proc full out the cander. I a list 31 00:02:33,600 --> 00:02:36,040 Speaker 1: the Scripture of the Lord gave us for today. Stay 32 00:02:36,040 --> 00:02:40,800 Speaker 1: standing is from Acts chapter twelve, one of the coolest 33 00:02:40,840 --> 00:02:44,799 Speaker 1: Bible stories that you ever will read. Now. They're all inspired, 34 00:02:45,440 --> 00:02:49,320 Speaker 1: but some of them are more intriguing than others, at 35 00:02:49,400 --> 00:02:53,480 Speaker 1: least to me. This passage I preached to you back 36 00:02:53,520 --> 00:02:56,880 Speaker 1: in twenty nineteen. The only reason I know that because 37 00:02:56,880 --> 00:02:58,960 Speaker 1: I forget. You know, I don't always hunt to the 38 00:02:59,000 --> 00:03:05,040 Speaker 1: next sermon, because someday happens every seven days. But I 39 00:03:05,120 --> 00:03:09,760 Speaker 1: do write down when I preached certain things. The sermon 40 00:03:09,800 --> 00:03:17,000 Speaker 1: I've preached in July twenty nineteen was from this passage 41 00:03:17,040 --> 00:03:21,040 Speaker 1: called Knock Knock. All right, well, this is sort of 42 00:03:21,080 --> 00:03:24,520 Speaker 1: like a sequel, But I see it differently now in 43 00:03:24,560 --> 00:03:29,160 Speaker 1: the context of just what we're celebrating today and kind 44 00:03:29,160 --> 00:03:32,760 Speaker 1: of the redefinition that the Church is going through in 45 00:03:32,800 --> 00:03:35,320 Speaker 1: the world is going through. So I hope that you'll 46 00:03:35,320 --> 00:03:39,880 Speaker 1: find an admonistion. I think I believe by faith, you 47 00:03:40,080 --> 00:03:48,840 Speaker 1: will find an encouragement for yourself through this today. Verse one. 48 00:03:49,000 --> 00:03:51,880 Speaker 1: It was about this time that King Herod arrested some 49 00:03:51,960 --> 00:03:57,440 Speaker 1: who belonged to the Church, intending to persecute them. He 50 00:03:57,480 --> 00:03:59,800 Speaker 1: had James, the brother of John, put to death with 51 00:03:59,800 --> 00:04:03,520 Speaker 1: the sword. When he saw that this met with approval 52 00:04:03,600 --> 00:04:09,640 Speaker 1: among the Jews, he proceeded to seize Peter. Also. This 53 00:04:09,760 --> 00:04:14,680 Speaker 1: happened during the festival of unleavened Bread. After arresting him, 54 00:04:15,200 --> 00:04:19,479 Speaker 1: he put him in prison, handing him over to be 55 00:04:19,760 --> 00:04:26,760 Speaker 1: guarded by four squads of four soldiers each. He must 56 00:04:26,800 --> 00:04:31,880 Speaker 1: be powerful to be under this much attack. You must 57 00:04:31,960 --> 00:04:41,080 Speaker 1: be powerful to be up under this much attack. Wow. 58 00:04:41,320 --> 00:04:46,000 Speaker 1: Verse five. Ah. So Peter was kept in prison. But 59 00:04:46,200 --> 00:04:51,280 Speaker 1: the church, but the church, But the church, But the church. 60 00:04:51,800 --> 00:04:59,680 Speaker 1: But the Church was earnestly praying to God for him. 61 00:05:00,000 --> 00:05:01,839 Speaker 1: The night before Herod was to bring him to trial, 62 00:05:02,240 --> 00:05:05,520 Speaker 1: Peter was sleeping between two soldiers down with two chains, 63 00:05:05,680 --> 00:05:09,159 Speaker 1: and Sentry stood guard at the entrance. Suddenly an angel 64 00:05:09,160 --> 00:05:12,279 Speaker 1: of the Lord appeared, and a light shone in the cell. 65 00:05:12,520 --> 00:05:16,040 Speaker 1: It's the last minute, down to the wire, sudden death, overtime, 66 00:05:16,200 --> 00:05:19,960 Speaker 1: and here comes the angel. He struck Peter on the side. 67 00:05:20,000 --> 00:05:23,680 Speaker 1: What kind of angel hits you while you're asleep, blond side, 68 00:05:24,920 --> 00:05:28,160 Speaker 1: and woke him up. Quick, get up, he said, and 69 00:05:28,200 --> 00:05:31,240 Speaker 1: the chains fell off Peter's wrists. Then the angel said 70 00:05:31,279 --> 00:05:33,839 Speaker 1: to him, put on your clothes and sandals. You can't 71 00:05:33,920 --> 00:05:36,440 Speaker 1: leave naked. Cover up. I got somewhere for you to 72 00:05:36,480 --> 00:05:39,280 Speaker 1: go touch somebody, say, get dressed for what's next. Get 73 00:05:39,360 --> 00:05:42,160 Speaker 1: dressed for what's next. Get dressed for what's next, and 74 00:05:42,240 --> 00:05:45,640 Speaker 1: Peter did, so, wrap your cloak around you and follow me, 75 00:05:45,800 --> 00:05:48,200 Speaker 1: the angel told him. Peter followed him out of the prison, 76 00:05:48,320 --> 00:05:50,160 Speaker 1: but he had no idea that what the angel was 77 00:05:50,200 --> 00:05:52,599 Speaker 1: doing was really happening. He thought he was seeing a vision. 78 00:05:52,839 --> 00:05:55,279 Speaker 1: They passed the first and second guards, came to the 79 00:05:55,320 --> 00:05:57,960 Speaker 1: iron gate leading to the city. It opened for them 80 00:05:58,000 --> 00:06:04,280 Speaker 1: by itself, and then they win through it. They went 81 00:06:05,000 --> 00:06:07,560 Speaker 1: through it. That could be about you. How many of 82 00:06:07,600 --> 00:06:11,240 Speaker 1: you went through it? You don't even have to tell 83 00:06:11,279 --> 00:06:16,240 Speaker 1: me what it was, but you went through it. Irongate 84 00:06:17,000 --> 00:06:19,800 Speaker 1: opened by itself, and they went through it, and when 85 00:06:19,800 --> 00:06:23,480 Speaker 1: they had walked the length of one street, suddenly the 86 00:06:23,520 --> 00:06:30,000 Speaker 1: angel left him. Then Peter came to himself and said, 87 00:06:30,600 --> 00:06:37,279 Speaker 1: now I know, now I know without a doubt that 88 00:06:37,640 --> 00:06:40,760 Speaker 1: the Lord has sent his angel and rescued me from 89 00:06:40,839 --> 00:06:46,160 Speaker 1: Herod's clutches and from everything the Jewish people were hoping 90 00:06:46,480 --> 00:06:53,240 Speaker 1: would happen, everything my enemies thought would happen, but it 91 00:06:53,279 --> 00:06:57,640 Speaker 1: didn't work. That's what Peter said, How many of you 92 00:06:57,640 --> 00:07:01,080 Speaker 1: have the same testimony that no weapon that was formed 93 00:07:01,120 --> 00:07:11,400 Speaker 1: against you? And when this had dawned on him, he 94 00:07:11,520 --> 00:07:13,920 Speaker 1: went to the house of Mary, the mother of John 95 00:07:14,360 --> 00:07:18,240 Speaker 1: also called Mark, where many people had gathered and were 96 00:07:18,240 --> 00:07:21,600 Speaker 1: praying just a few more verses, stay with me. Peter 97 00:07:21,760 --> 00:07:26,120 Speaker 1: knocked at the outer entrance. A servant named Rhoda came 98 00:07:26,160 --> 00:07:29,680 Speaker 1: to answer the door, and when she recognized Peter's voice, 99 00:07:30,200 --> 00:07:36,520 Speaker 1: she was so overjoyed and excited she ran back without 100 00:07:36,560 --> 00:07:43,240 Speaker 1: opening it and exclaimed, Peter's at the door. Peter's at 101 00:07:43,280 --> 00:07:47,120 Speaker 1: the door, y'all, Peter's at the door. Shut up. Rhoda 102 00:07:47,200 --> 00:07:51,400 Speaker 1: were praying for Peter. But Peter's at the door. You're 103 00:07:51,400 --> 00:07:57,000 Speaker 1: out of your mind, they told her, and she kept insisting. 104 00:07:57,280 --> 00:08:00,360 Speaker 1: She kept insisting, there's a pattern in this past I'm 105 00:08:00,360 --> 00:08:06,000 Speaker 1: about to show you. When she kept insisting that it 106 00:08:06,080 --> 00:08:10,160 Speaker 1: was so, they said it must be his angel because 107 00:08:10,160 --> 00:08:15,760 Speaker 1: he's already dead by now. Wow, more faith to believe 108 00:08:16,440 --> 00:08:21,640 Speaker 1: that his angel came to the door than that God 109 00:08:21,840 --> 00:08:27,920 Speaker 1: actually answered their prayers for him. But this is the 110 00:08:28,000 --> 00:08:35,200 Speaker 1: verse I'll stop on. Peter kept on knocking, y'all like that. 111 00:08:36,320 --> 00:08:38,640 Speaker 1: I love that Peter kept on knocking. And when they 112 00:08:38,640 --> 00:08:42,560 Speaker 1: opened the door and saw him, they were astonished. So 113 00:08:42,960 --> 00:08:45,120 Speaker 1: I'll give you three titles for this message, depending on 114 00:08:45,160 --> 00:08:48,160 Speaker 1: what kind of sauce level you want. If you want 115 00:08:48,480 --> 00:08:52,040 Speaker 1: the mild message, title is called waiting for an Answer. 116 00:08:53,240 --> 00:08:55,120 Speaker 1: That's if you're a first time guest and you need 117 00:08:55,200 --> 00:08:59,200 Speaker 1: something kind of appropriate to right now. If you want 118 00:08:59,240 --> 00:09:02,240 Speaker 1: something a little bit more, just a little bit more 119 00:09:02,559 --> 00:09:09,559 Speaker 1: attitude on it, it could be called God's Gonna shock You. Yeah, 120 00:09:09,640 --> 00:09:14,439 Speaker 1: sound like y'all want to the tongue torch. Sweet sixteen 121 00:09:14,559 --> 00:09:23,240 Speaker 1: anniversary tied on? All right? Hear this? Never stop knocking? Never. 122 00:09:24,520 --> 00:09:30,200 Speaker 1: If there's one thing I've learned. If there's one thing 123 00:09:30,280 --> 00:09:33,840 Speaker 1: it taught me getting up here in this pulpit to 124 00:09:33,920 --> 00:09:38,880 Speaker 1: preach Jesus Christ, crucify, buried, risen from the dead and 125 00:09:39,080 --> 00:09:42,520 Speaker 1: soon to come again and present in this moment is 126 00:09:43,000 --> 00:09:48,880 Speaker 1: never stop knocking. So put it in the chat. Never 127 00:09:49,800 --> 00:09:53,840 Speaker 1: stop knock it. Put some knuckles in the chat. I 128 00:09:54,000 --> 00:10:01,480 Speaker 1: will never stop knocking, you said Lord, asking it will 129 00:10:01,520 --> 00:10:04,520 Speaker 1: be given seeking we will find knocking. The door will 130 00:10:04,520 --> 00:10:09,600 Speaker 1: be open. We're asking in this moment that you would speak, infuse, 131 00:10:09,720 --> 00:10:14,240 Speaker 1: and impart faith and courage like only you can. We 132 00:10:14,400 --> 00:10:16,319 Speaker 1: thank you that we're standing in front of an open 133 00:10:16,360 --> 00:10:21,040 Speaker 1: door this day. We bless you for it. In Jesus' name. Amen, 134 00:10:22,240 --> 00:10:26,360 Speaker 1: you may be seated. I made y'all stand a long time, 135 00:10:26,400 --> 00:10:34,080 Speaker 1: didn't I That's all right? Love you. Christian good Man. 136 00:10:35,520 --> 00:10:38,760 Speaker 1: He's been with me almost all sixteen. I met him. 137 00:10:39,400 --> 00:10:41,679 Speaker 1: Listen to this when I was sixteen. I've known him 138 00:10:41,720 --> 00:10:46,520 Speaker 1: that long. A isn't that crazy? Asked him to start 139 00:10:46,720 --> 00:10:51,800 Speaker 1: a church with me. He said, nope, he did. We 140 00:10:51,800 --> 00:10:54,400 Speaker 1: were actually not the start. We were kind of already started. 141 00:10:54,440 --> 00:10:56,839 Speaker 1: I said, Chris, come out here and be my worship leader. 142 00:10:57,240 --> 00:10:59,320 Speaker 1: When the church started. I'm gonna tell you a few 143 00:10:59,400 --> 00:11:02,960 Speaker 1: old men today, just once a year. But I was 144 00:11:03,000 --> 00:11:07,160 Speaker 1: the worship leader, singing songs like these are the days 145 00:11:07,240 --> 00:11:14,480 Speaker 1: of Elijah declaring the word of the Lord, and these 146 00:11:14,559 --> 00:11:20,000 Speaker 1: are the days of somebody else in the Bible. It 147 00:11:20,600 --> 00:11:23,520 Speaker 1: was too much, though, like trying to lead worship. Plus 148 00:11:24,040 --> 00:11:26,400 Speaker 1: I knew that God would send people. I asked Chris. 149 00:11:26,440 --> 00:11:30,280 Speaker 1: He said, nope, I'm going to Nashville. I told him, 150 00:11:30,280 --> 00:11:32,760 Speaker 1: why don't should come here, build a church and make 151 00:11:32,920 --> 00:11:39,640 Speaker 1: Nashville come to us. That's true, isn't it. They're looking 152 00:11:39,679 --> 00:11:41,520 Speaker 1: at me like I'm some kind of liar up here. 153 00:11:41,559 --> 00:11:44,480 Speaker 1: You didn't say that I did. I say, you can 154 00:11:44,480 --> 00:11:47,319 Speaker 1: go to Nashville and maybe you make it, or maybe 155 00:11:47,320 --> 00:11:54,240 Speaker 1: you're a roofer in three years, and come here and 156 00:11:54,320 --> 00:12:01,440 Speaker 1: build a church, write songs for people that they can 157 00:12:01,480 --> 00:12:04,600 Speaker 1: sing that will make them. And the first songs that 158 00:12:04,640 --> 00:12:07,720 Speaker 1: we wrote here sucked, but they've gotten better and better 159 00:12:08,600 --> 00:12:14,520 Speaker 1: and better. Never stop knock him because he told me no. 160 00:12:16,120 --> 00:12:22,199 Speaker 1: But I just you know, I have techniques that here 161 00:12:22,240 --> 00:12:26,200 Speaker 1: we are now that dude's been nominated for multiple Grammys. 162 00:12:27,240 --> 00:12:34,679 Speaker 1: You know what I'm saying, He said, Can I change 163 00:12:34,679 --> 00:12:39,319 Speaker 1: my answer? I said, yeah, I'm desperate. I'll still take you. 164 00:12:39,880 --> 00:12:45,120 Speaker 1: I have no pride. Everybody I started, well, it's kind 165 00:12:45,120 --> 00:12:50,560 Speaker 1: of a contrast. We're skinner. Yeah. I had him on standby, 166 00:12:50,559 --> 00:12:53,520 Speaker 1: come here, because I was like, I told him to 167 00:12:53,559 --> 00:12:59,200 Speaker 1: be on standby. I told him be ready to preach today. 168 00:13:00,600 --> 00:13:02,680 Speaker 1: But I'm using to preach. But he's not. He's not 169 00:13:02,720 --> 00:13:05,880 Speaker 1: gonna have to say anything. I asked him. I said, 170 00:13:06,040 --> 00:13:08,280 Speaker 1: I'm going to start a church. And here's the kicker. 171 00:13:09,320 --> 00:13:14,160 Speaker 1: I don't know where, and it is what he said. 172 00:13:14,840 --> 00:13:19,840 Speaker 1: I'm going with with, not not I'm going with you 173 00:13:21,880 --> 00:13:25,080 Speaker 1: just some Minnesota grammar. I guess that's how they talk 174 00:13:25,120 --> 00:13:34,480 Speaker 1: in Minnesota. Bad grammar, great faith. I'm going with Now, 175 00:13:34,520 --> 00:13:37,360 Speaker 1: this guy chunks, come here. Can you make it up 176 00:13:37,400 --> 00:13:41,680 Speaker 1: the stairs? Y'all? He's only like forty five, but he's 177 00:13:41,720 --> 00:13:47,720 Speaker 1: got so many injuries. This is like my this is 178 00:13:47,800 --> 00:13:50,040 Speaker 1: like my euro man. I love him so much. He's 179 00:13:50,120 --> 00:13:52,080 Speaker 1: like my guy. If he ever told me he would 180 00:13:52,120 --> 00:13:53,880 Speaker 1: stop doing it, I would tie him up and not 181 00:13:53,920 --> 00:13:56,200 Speaker 1: let him leave. I'll put him in the trunk. But 182 00:13:56,280 --> 00:13:58,760 Speaker 1: he was different. I said, I want you to start 183 00:13:58,760 --> 00:14:01,640 Speaker 1: the church with me, and he was, I'll pray about it. 184 00:14:03,920 --> 00:14:06,000 Speaker 1: You remember that list. You pulled me in the Sunday 185 00:14:06,000 --> 00:14:08,640 Speaker 1: school room and you had a list. Now, now, how 186 00:14:08,640 --> 00:14:11,040 Speaker 1: about this? And how about that? How about that? He 187 00:14:11,120 --> 00:14:16,840 Speaker 1: wanted answers, Right, I need some answers. What about this? 188 00:14:16,960 --> 00:14:21,640 Speaker 1: And what about that? Bo was amazing because even though 189 00:14:21,680 --> 00:14:26,520 Speaker 1: I couldn't answer give him any of his answers that 190 00:14:26,600 --> 00:14:33,400 Speaker 1: he wanted. In the absence of answers, he chose faith 191 00:14:34,360 --> 00:14:36,880 Speaker 1: at the last minute, like in the passage where the 192 00:14:36,920 --> 00:14:39,640 Speaker 1: angel showed up on the night. Couldn't you have showed 193 00:14:39,720 --> 00:14:41,800 Speaker 1: up three nights before I was about to get my 194 00:14:41,840 --> 00:14:45,160 Speaker 1: head cut off. Angel? But sometimes at the last minute, 195 00:14:45,320 --> 00:14:47,440 Speaker 1: and I had already given up on you. And Holly said, 196 00:14:47,480 --> 00:14:51,880 Speaker 1: wait for him. He's worth waiting for. He's worth waiting for. 197 00:14:52,840 --> 00:14:55,360 Speaker 1: He's supposed to be your guy's worth waiting for. I said, 198 00:14:55,600 --> 00:14:57,360 Speaker 1: I need an answer. How many of you have been 199 00:14:57,360 --> 00:14:59,360 Speaker 1: in a position lately where you say I need an answer. 200 00:15:00,200 --> 00:15:02,520 Speaker 1: I need an answer from God. I need an answer 201 00:15:02,560 --> 00:15:07,000 Speaker 1: from someone, he said. He said, I'm praying about it. 202 00:15:07,080 --> 00:15:10,560 Speaker 1: I said, I need an answer by noon on Thursday. 203 00:15:11,040 --> 00:15:12,840 Speaker 1: I gotta have an answer because I got to move 204 00:15:12,840 --> 00:15:14,400 Speaker 1: on because God has called me to do this. And 205 00:15:14,440 --> 00:15:15,440 Speaker 1: if you want to do it with me. I really 206 00:15:15,440 --> 00:15:16,400 Speaker 1: want you to do with me, but you don't do 207 00:15:16,400 --> 00:15:17,680 Speaker 1: it with me. I gotta find somebody else, and the 208 00:15:17,760 --> 00:15:19,480 Speaker 1: w me my second choice. But I gotta do it 209 00:15:19,480 --> 00:15:20,800 Speaker 1: because God told me to do it. You got to 210 00:15:20,960 --> 00:15:30,800 Speaker 1: noon Thursday, eleven fifty seven am on that Thursday, my 211 00:15:31,080 --> 00:15:35,920 Speaker 1: motorola ring. This is this is an anniversary. So we're 212 00:15:35,960 --> 00:15:39,760 Speaker 1: just telling old stories. And I said, I said, hey, 213 00:15:40,360 --> 00:15:44,280 Speaker 1: he said I'm in. We're in, and he and Amy 214 00:15:44,320 --> 00:15:54,360 Speaker 1: have been with us ever since. That's cool, y'all give 215 00:15:54,400 --> 00:15:56,000 Speaker 1: them a little bigger hand than that. For all the 216 00:15:56,000 --> 00:16:13,080 Speaker 1: faith that it puts. People go on pretend like y'all 217 00:16:13,080 --> 00:16:15,600 Speaker 1: are those two guards that Peter was chained to. All right, 218 00:16:15,680 --> 00:16:19,640 Speaker 1: for a moment, just go with me here and think 219 00:16:19,680 --> 00:16:24,160 Speaker 1: about what kind of faith it took for Peter in 220 00:16:24,240 --> 00:16:31,560 Speaker 1: the passage to sleep while they were deciding whether or 221 00:16:31,640 --> 00:16:36,520 Speaker 1: not he would live. And think about who Peter was 222 00:16:37,600 --> 00:16:40,080 Speaker 1: and the kind of personality that he had in other 223 00:16:40,120 --> 00:16:44,120 Speaker 1: passages of scripture, and realize what a miracle it is 224 00:16:44,960 --> 00:16:48,280 Speaker 1: for the same disciple who ran down into the stern 225 00:16:48,360 --> 00:16:51,160 Speaker 1: of the ship one time in a storm and said, Jesus, 226 00:16:51,720 --> 00:16:55,800 Speaker 1: why are you sleeping? We're about to die and you 227 00:16:55,960 --> 00:17:01,240 Speaker 1: don't care. Think about the transformation that has happened in 228 00:17:01,320 --> 00:17:05,320 Speaker 1: these years and the spirit that has empowered Peter to 229 00:17:05,400 --> 00:17:10,080 Speaker 1: be able to sleep between two guards. Actually it was 230 00:17:10,160 --> 00:17:14,440 Speaker 1: sixteen guards, wasn't it that I read that right? It was? 231 00:17:14,560 --> 00:17:18,560 Speaker 1: It wasn't a sweet sixteen It was four squads of 232 00:17:18,720 --> 00:17:25,160 Speaker 1: four soldiers that sixteen guards, sixteen people for one Peter. 233 00:17:26,920 --> 00:17:33,840 Speaker 1: What kind of power was in Peter? What kind of 234 00:17:34,040 --> 00:17:39,320 Speaker 1: power is in you? Because you've been through some things 235 00:17:40,840 --> 00:17:46,959 Speaker 1: and you've been asking God for answers. Faith is the 236 00:17:47,000 --> 00:17:56,440 Speaker 1: ability sometimes to lay down and sleep and let Faith 237 00:17:56,520 --> 00:18:04,280 Speaker 1: answer the questions. I'm picturing Peter's sleeping, and I'm realizing 238 00:18:04,560 --> 00:18:08,600 Speaker 1: in scripture that this is not the first time that 239 00:18:08,640 --> 00:18:14,320 Speaker 1: we've seen Peter asleep in the Bible. In the garden 240 00:18:14,640 --> 00:18:17,679 Speaker 1: of Gathsemone, y'all remember it. Raise your hand if you 241 00:18:17,680 --> 00:18:21,400 Speaker 1: remember the garden of Gethsemone, that place before Jesus went 242 00:18:21,440 --> 00:18:27,480 Speaker 1: to the cross where he gave his father an unqualified yes. Now, remember, 243 00:18:27,720 --> 00:18:31,000 Speaker 1: he asked God, if it's possible take this cup away 244 00:18:31,000 --> 00:18:34,080 Speaker 1: from me as he went to pay the price for 245 00:18:34,160 --> 00:18:36,760 Speaker 1: your sin, my sin. As he went to take on 246 00:18:36,800 --> 00:18:39,720 Speaker 1: the punishment that we rightly deserved. As he went to 247 00:18:39,760 --> 00:18:43,040 Speaker 1: be the sacrifice to atone for our sin, not trying 248 00:18:43,040 --> 00:18:45,200 Speaker 1: to use a bunch of fancy words, just to let 249 00:18:45,240 --> 00:18:48,000 Speaker 1: you know that, he canceled the debt that was stood 250 00:18:48,000 --> 00:18:52,439 Speaker 1: against us. But it cost him. It cost him, And 251 00:18:52,480 --> 00:18:55,720 Speaker 1: as he considered encountered that cost, he prayed, and he 252 00:18:56,000 --> 00:19:00,240 Speaker 1: asked God, if there's any other way take this cup 253 00:19:00,280 --> 00:19:04,720 Speaker 1: from me. God did not answer by removing the cup 254 00:19:04,960 --> 00:19:10,120 Speaker 1: of suffering. He answered by filling Jesus with the strength 255 00:19:10,560 --> 00:19:14,639 Speaker 1: to endure what he had to do. And so for 256 00:19:14,720 --> 00:19:18,760 Speaker 1: the joy set before him, he endured the cross, despising 257 00:19:18,800 --> 00:19:21,680 Speaker 1: its shame, and then sat down at the right hand 258 00:19:21,680 --> 00:19:31,320 Speaker 1: of God. So if Jesus is seated, I can sleep Helvy, 259 00:19:32,080 --> 00:19:35,639 Speaker 1: my goodness, I feel like preaching to this, Oh, I 260 00:19:35,640 --> 00:19:38,760 Speaker 1: can sleep through anything. When I know that he's seated, 261 00:19:39,000 --> 00:19:42,040 Speaker 1: I can sleep through anything. I can rest through anything. 262 00:19:42,240 --> 00:19:45,280 Speaker 1: You know. In the garden of gethsemone, while Jesus prayed, 263 00:19:45,280 --> 00:19:48,280 Speaker 1: Peter slept, and he said, wake up. My soul is 264 00:19:48,320 --> 00:19:52,160 Speaker 1: in anguish. He's sweating like drops of blood, and Peter's sleeping. 265 00:19:52,359 --> 00:19:54,800 Speaker 1: He said that the spirit is willing, but the flesh 266 00:19:54,880 --> 00:19:58,760 Speaker 1: is weak. Peter was sleeping out of weakness in the garden, 267 00:19:59,359 --> 00:20:02,720 Speaker 1: but he's not I'm sleeping out of weakness in Acts 268 00:20:02,800 --> 00:20:09,639 Speaker 1: chapter twelve. He's sleeping from a place of knowing that 269 00:20:09,880 --> 00:20:15,520 Speaker 1: I am seated in heavenly places with Jesus. And if 270 00:20:15,560 --> 00:20:20,920 Speaker 1: I'm seated with him, it doesn't matter what Herod has planned. 271 00:20:21,560 --> 00:20:27,000 Speaker 1: It matters what God has purpose for my life. That's 272 00:20:27,080 --> 00:20:33,640 Speaker 1: how he slept, all right. I need to sit y'all 273 00:20:33,680 --> 00:20:35,919 Speaker 1: down before LB tackles me on this stage. I'm good 274 00:20:35,960 --> 00:20:37,680 Speaker 1: with y'all. I might call you back. I might not. 275 00:20:37,800 --> 00:20:40,920 Speaker 1: I hadn't decided yet. But no matter what, we come 276 00:20:40,960 --> 00:20:43,960 Speaker 1: to this text in Acts chapter twelve looking for we 277 00:20:44,080 --> 00:20:52,880 Speaker 1: certainly find an incredible picture of persistence. Persistence. On one hand, 278 00:20:52,920 --> 00:20:58,199 Speaker 1: the passage is about peace. That Peter has peace to 279 00:20:58,320 --> 00:21:00,960 Speaker 1: sleep on the worst night of his life. And y'all, 280 00:21:01,119 --> 00:21:07,040 Speaker 1: they didn't have lu nesta in Acts chapter twelve. Isn't 281 00:21:07,040 --> 00:21:12,800 Speaker 1: that the sleep medicine. Peter didn't even have a white 282 00:21:12,840 --> 00:21:15,960 Speaker 1: noise on his iPhone to put on the white noise 283 00:21:16,000 --> 00:21:23,280 Speaker 1: that I'm thinking that this is a passage about peace 284 00:21:24,920 --> 00:21:29,760 Speaker 1: and persistent. Can remember that the church was earnestly praying. 285 00:21:31,400 --> 00:21:35,280 Speaker 1: I think the word earnestly is important because we let's 286 00:21:35,280 --> 00:21:37,760 Speaker 1: be honest, and I know there's like five prayer warriors 287 00:21:37,760 --> 00:21:41,160 Speaker 1: in this room, but for the other thousands of us, 288 00:21:41,840 --> 00:21:46,440 Speaker 1: we passively pray. Okay, I'm gonna say it stronger because 289 00:21:46,480 --> 00:21:53,359 Speaker 1: y'all are real fake right now, we worry out loud 290 00:21:53,400 --> 00:21:59,720 Speaker 1: and call it prayer too strong. I'm backing off, backing 291 00:21:59,720 --> 00:22:08,880 Speaker 1: off a dance celebration. We we give God our grocery list, 292 00:22:08,960 --> 00:22:14,600 Speaker 1: like he's in Stacart. Holly said last week or whatever 293 00:22:14,600 --> 00:22:17,280 Speaker 1: week she preached, she said that was such a good thing, 294 00:22:17,359 --> 00:22:19,879 Speaker 1: she said, she said, telling God what to do is 295 00:22:19,920 --> 00:22:26,960 Speaker 1: not praying. I was like, who are you? I like 296 00:22:27,080 --> 00:22:29,320 Speaker 1: what you just said, and you are right, and I 297 00:22:29,359 --> 00:22:33,320 Speaker 1: had done that and it's exactly right. And you know, 298 00:22:34,720 --> 00:22:38,000 Speaker 1: the church is praying for Peter, but it doesn't say 299 00:22:38,040 --> 00:22:44,919 Speaker 1: what they were praying about for Peter. And remember, although 300 00:22:44,920 --> 00:22:49,800 Speaker 1: the passage gets kind of funny, it doesn't start funny. 301 00:22:48,920 --> 00:22:53,080 Speaker 1: It It not only takes place in the time of famine. 302 00:22:53,440 --> 00:22:55,480 Speaker 1: There was there was a feminine xt chapter eleven you 303 00:22:55,520 --> 00:22:59,040 Speaker 1: can read about. But if this is chronologically, If if 304 00:22:59,080 --> 00:23:02,119 Speaker 1: this is chronological, the next thing in sequence than at 305 00:23:02,160 --> 00:23:05,240 Speaker 1: the same time that the church in Jerusalem is recovering 306 00:23:05,240 --> 00:23:11,440 Speaker 1: from famine, Herod is persecuting the church, and he has 307 00:23:11,880 --> 00:23:18,119 Speaker 1: just killed James. Do you think the church prayed for James? 308 00:23:21,800 --> 00:23:26,280 Speaker 1: So understand when it says they are earnestly praying for Peter. 309 00:23:28,000 --> 00:23:35,080 Speaker 1: That takes more faith when you've just lost James. Have 310 00:23:35,160 --> 00:23:37,480 Speaker 1: you ever had to pray and ask God and believe 311 00:23:37,520 --> 00:23:41,919 Speaker 1: God and trust God when he didn't answer the last 312 00:23:41,920 --> 00:23:46,640 Speaker 1: thing that you prayed for. That's hard, whether we will 313 00:23:46,680 --> 00:23:51,280 Speaker 1: admit it or not. Our faith deteriorates when our expectations 314 00:23:51,280 --> 00:23:58,000 Speaker 1: are not met. I wrote a book called Sunstand Still 315 00:23:58,800 --> 00:24:03,320 Speaker 1: early in the church. Y'all didn't even read that one. 316 00:24:04,200 --> 00:24:08,600 Speaker 1: Go get that book and you will hear. You will 317 00:24:08,640 --> 00:24:15,600 Speaker 1: hear my version of faith before I lost my dad 318 00:24:15,640 --> 00:24:19,320 Speaker 1: to als. I don't take it back. I believe God 319 00:24:19,359 --> 00:24:22,480 Speaker 1: can do anything. I haven't changed what I believe about God. 320 00:24:23,920 --> 00:24:28,240 Speaker 1: It's just that on the other side of some unanswered prayers. 321 00:24:28,320 --> 00:24:32,160 Speaker 1: Because you don't think I asked God to heal my dad. 322 00:24:33,720 --> 00:24:35,840 Speaker 1: You don't think I asked him for a miracle and 323 00:24:35,880 --> 00:24:41,040 Speaker 1: sat by his bed and watched him breathe his last breath. Anyway, 324 00:24:42,600 --> 00:24:45,800 Speaker 1: and then it becomes a challenge. The next time you're 325 00:24:45,840 --> 00:24:49,919 Speaker 1: faced with something that seems impossible, you are tasked with 326 00:24:50,840 --> 00:24:55,680 Speaker 1: having to believe God on the other side of your 327 00:24:55,760 --> 00:25:02,760 Speaker 1: last unanswered prayer. I think what really draws me into 328 00:25:02,800 --> 00:25:05,800 Speaker 1: this text for our anniversary on this day because I 329 00:25:05,840 --> 00:25:08,120 Speaker 1: prayed a lot about it. I mean, I think I've 330 00:25:08,119 --> 00:25:10,520 Speaker 1: got sermons for the next year, just that I went 331 00:25:10,520 --> 00:25:13,840 Speaker 1: through looking for this one for today because I wanted 332 00:25:13,840 --> 00:25:16,280 Speaker 1: to see God, what do you want me to say 333 00:25:16,320 --> 00:25:20,040 Speaker 1: to our church? What do you want me to say 334 00:25:20,440 --> 00:25:22,280 Speaker 1: to them as individuals? What do you want me to 335 00:25:22,280 --> 00:25:24,639 Speaker 1: say about the moment that we're in kind of on 336 00:25:24,680 --> 00:25:28,960 Speaker 1: the other side, maybe of a pandemic. Maybe my favorite 337 00:25:29,000 --> 00:25:32,639 Speaker 1: word of twenty twenty and twenty twenty one and twenty 338 00:25:32,680 --> 00:25:36,760 Speaker 1: twenty two is maybe now I got that, maybe faith 339 00:25:37,800 --> 00:25:40,840 Speaker 1: that in maybe this or maybe that. And the problem 340 00:25:40,920 --> 00:25:43,440 Speaker 1: is as a leader, people want answers, and we don't 341 00:25:43,440 --> 00:25:50,240 Speaker 1: have any right now. In the absence of answers, what 342 00:25:50,440 --> 00:25:56,080 Speaker 1: grows could be either one for you could be cynicism. 343 00:25:56,480 --> 00:26:00,480 Speaker 1: Some of you have gotten really really mean the last 344 00:26:00,560 --> 00:26:04,159 Speaker 1: two years because in the absence of answers, you have 345 00:26:04,200 --> 00:26:08,480 Speaker 1: allowed anger to grow. I'm mad that I can't control it. 346 00:26:08,760 --> 00:26:10,880 Speaker 1: I'm mad that nobody will tell me what to do. 347 00:26:11,200 --> 00:26:14,159 Speaker 1: I'm mad that I'm wearing a mask and they're not, 348 00:26:14,280 --> 00:26:16,240 Speaker 1: or they're wearing a mask and I'm not. I'm mad 349 00:26:16,280 --> 00:26:18,320 Speaker 1: that I don't know whether to wear a mask. I'm 350 00:26:18,359 --> 00:26:20,120 Speaker 1: mad that you're looking at me because I'm wearing a mask. 351 00:26:20,240 --> 00:26:21,720 Speaker 1: I'm mad that you're looking at me because I'm not. 352 00:26:21,960 --> 00:26:24,680 Speaker 1: I'm mad because I can't figure out with somebody tell 353 00:26:24,760 --> 00:26:34,520 Speaker 1: me what to do. I need answers. When's the church 354 00:26:34,600 --> 00:26:36,720 Speaker 1: going to open back up? I heard that for a year. 355 00:26:36,920 --> 00:26:44,439 Speaker 1: I was like, it's still open. It's still open. I 356 00:26:44,520 --> 00:26:48,240 Speaker 1: said that all through the pandemic. What you mean when 357 00:26:48,359 --> 00:26:51,040 Speaker 1: is oh, oh oh, We've never been through anything like 358 00:26:51,119 --> 00:26:54,400 Speaker 1: this before. Herod was cutting off heads in the church 359 00:26:54,480 --> 00:27:02,440 Speaker 1: for vail. We are we are so silly, we are 360 00:27:02,560 --> 00:27:06,280 Speaker 1: so silly. We think it's the first time that there 361 00:27:06,280 --> 00:27:09,919 Speaker 1: has ever been unanswered questions in the history of the 362 00:27:10,000 --> 00:27:14,399 Speaker 1: Christian faith. That's one reason I like this passage is 363 00:27:14,520 --> 00:27:20,359 Speaker 1: because they're still praying in the face of a prayer 364 00:27:20,359 --> 00:27:31,800 Speaker 1: that God just didn't answer. The miscarriage, the end of 365 00:27:31,840 --> 00:27:38,439 Speaker 1: the relationship, the addiction that they went back to the 366 00:27:38,520 --> 00:27:43,280 Speaker 1: relapse give us a little different shade of meaning, doesn't 367 00:27:43,280 --> 00:27:46,359 Speaker 1: it When I said the church is earnestly praying to 368 00:27:46,480 --> 00:27:50,199 Speaker 1: know that James just had his head cut off and 369 00:27:50,240 --> 00:27:54,320 Speaker 1: there's no expectation that anything different will happen to Peter. 370 00:27:55,640 --> 00:28:01,399 Speaker 1: That's a dangerous place because in that place, if the 371 00:28:01,520 --> 00:28:06,080 Speaker 1: devil knocks in that place and tries to tell you 372 00:28:06,800 --> 00:28:09,760 Speaker 1: this is how it will always be, you can't really 373 00:28:09,800 --> 00:28:12,879 Speaker 1: believe all that stuff that you were singing about mountains 374 00:28:12,920 --> 00:28:16,840 Speaker 1: moving and chains breaking. God doesn't really do that stuff, 375 00:28:17,119 --> 00:28:20,000 Speaker 1: or he does it for other people or not for you. 376 00:28:20,320 --> 00:28:27,200 Speaker 1: It can deteriorate your faith. I am impressed by how 377 00:28:27,480 --> 00:28:31,560 Speaker 1: this church in Acts twelve and this global body of 378 00:28:31,600 --> 00:28:35,320 Speaker 1: believers that I'm speaking to around the world never stop 379 00:28:35,400 --> 00:28:40,959 Speaker 1: knocking in the midst of a global pandemic. That's amazing 380 00:28:41,000 --> 00:28:43,360 Speaker 1: to me. It might not be amazing to you. But 381 00:28:43,600 --> 00:28:46,440 Speaker 1: I have other friends who pastor churches, and they're not 382 00:28:46,480 --> 00:28:50,280 Speaker 1: pastors anymore because while they were pastoring in the pandemic, 383 00:28:50,480 --> 00:28:54,960 Speaker 1: their church wasn't supporting them. I don't have that deestimony. 384 00:28:55,400 --> 00:28:57,360 Speaker 1: That's why I can cry if I think about it, 385 00:28:57,760 --> 00:29:03,560 Speaker 1: Because y'all kept knocking that blesses my heart. Do you 386 00:29:03,600 --> 00:29:08,320 Speaker 1: know what that means to me? To know we'll go online, 387 00:29:08,760 --> 00:29:11,560 Speaker 1: we'll go in the building, we'll do whatever we have 388 00:29:11,680 --> 00:29:14,920 Speaker 1: to do, We'll do whatever needs to be done. And so, 389 00:29:15,280 --> 00:29:18,840 Speaker 1: what can the devil do with the church that won't 390 00:29:18,840 --> 00:29:23,560 Speaker 1: stop knocking even if James Head gets caught off? Question? 391 00:29:24,640 --> 00:29:28,600 Speaker 1: What can the devil do with a believer that won't 392 00:29:28,640 --> 00:29:33,200 Speaker 1: stop believing even when the worst case scenario is on 393 00:29:33,280 --> 00:29:38,320 Speaker 1: your doorstep? What can the devil do with the faith 394 00:29:38,800 --> 00:29:46,160 Speaker 1: that can't sleep but to a sixty soldiers, never stop, 395 00:29:46,680 --> 00:29:53,680 Speaker 1: Never stop, because sometimes you've got to knock and say, God, 396 00:29:53,720 --> 00:29:58,440 Speaker 1: it's me again. Remember me. Sometimes you gotta get on 397 00:29:58,520 --> 00:30:03,000 Speaker 1: God's nerves. Sometimes you gotta call God until you think 398 00:30:03,000 --> 00:30:06,640 Speaker 1: he's about to block your number. Sometimes you gotta stalk 399 00:30:06,680 --> 00:30:10,320 Speaker 1: the Holy Spirit. Ah, don't take your joy from me. Ah, 400 00:30:10,560 --> 00:30:12,719 Speaker 1: I will not. I'll prove it to you with the Bible. 401 00:30:12,920 --> 00:30:17,360 Speaker 1: Jacob said, I will not let go unless you bless me. 402 00:30:17,720 --> 00:30:21,680 Speaker 1: If I wrestle all night, if it cost me my popularity, 403 00:30:22,120 --> 00:30:27,960 Speaker 1: if I have to let go of some things, I 404 00:30:28,000 --> 00:30:32,080 Speaker 1: want to see God's Kingdom come in my life. Never 405 00:30:32,760 --> 00:30:44,640 Speaker 1: stop knocking, Never stop knocking, Never stop believing that it 406 00:30:44,640 --> 00:30:49,840 Speaker 1: can still happen. I said, still, that means you have 407 00:30:49,880 --> 00:30:53,720 Speaker 1: a reason to believe it can't. Now, Jesus said, asking 408 00:30:53,800 --> 00:30:55,160 Speaker 1: it will be given to you. Seek and you will 409 00:30:55,240 --> 00:30:58,840 Speaker 1: find knock and the door be open. Here's problem, Matthews. 410 00:30:58,920 --> 00:31:01,120 Speaker 1: Have to seven verse seven. You read that like it's 411 00:31:01,160 --> 00:31:06,440 Speaker 1: a one time thing. You read that like you said, tap, 412 00:31:10,160 --> 00:31:15,040 Speaker 1: I didn't come to preach about a soft knock. This 413 00:31:15,080 --> 00:31:21,680 Speaker 1: is a message for the hard knocks, when you have 414 00:31:21,840 --> 00:31:25,640 Speaker 1: had the crap beat out of you, when you have 415 00:31:25,760 --> 00:31:27,920 Speaker 1: had the mess beat up, when you have had your 416 00:31:27,920 --> 00:31:33,520 Speaker 1: faith tried, just trying to bring everybody together. I don't 417 00:31:33,560 --> 00:31:37,120 Speaker 1: want to beat devised when you have been through it. 418 00:31:39,880 --> 00:31:48,040 Speaker 1: Don't try to get God to explain it. What blew 419 00:31:48,120 --> 00:31:55,760 Speaker 1: my mind about this text. Sit down, JJ, he's excited 420 00:31:59,720 --> 00:32:03,040 Speaker 1: is if Peter had been me, I don't think he 421 00:32:03,040 --> 00:32:06,719 Speaker 1: would have gotten out of prison. And if Peter had 422 00:32:06,760 --> 00:32:09,240 Speaker 1: been some of us, he would have stood at the 423 00:32:09,320 --> 00:32:13,880 Speaker 1: door for three days. The sixteen soldiers would attracted him 424 00:32:13,880 --> 00:32:15,520 Speaker 1: down and cut off his head, even though God set 425 00:32:15,560 --> 00:32:20,440 Speaker 1: him free. But it said Peter kept on knocking. When 426 00:32:20,440 --> 00:32:25,640 Speaker 1: it really matters to you, you knock even through the 427 00:32:25,720 --> 00:32:33,800 Speaker 1: no when it matters. Peter had been with Jesus, he'd 428 00:32:33,800 --> 00:32:35,600 Speaker 1: been filled with spirit. He preached on Day of Pentecost. 429 00:32:35,640 --> 00:32:39,440 Speaker 1: He's come too far to just no three tons bupah booh, book. 430 00:32:40,920 --> 00:32:43,400 Speaker 1: Peter's knocking his yell. I know he was yelling too, 431 00:32:43,440 --> 00:32:49,640 Speaker 1: because it said that she recognized his voice. Let me in. 432 00:32:51,640 --> 00:32:56,880 Speaker 1: God is waiting to hear your voice. He's waiting for 433 00:32:56,920 --> 00:33:01,960 Speaker 1: you to call on him. Mother's prayers can only take 434 00:33:02,040 --> 00:33:09,200 Speaker 1: you so far. God wants to hear your voice quits. 435 00:33:09,880 --> 00:33:12,800 Speaker 1: May twenty twenty two be the year that you stop 436 00:33:13,040 --> 00:33:19,080 Speaker 1: standing there during worship thinking it's a concert. I don't 437 00:33:19,120 --> 00:33:23,640 Speaker 1: care who's up here singing. God wants to hear your 438 00:33:23,720 --> 00:33:39,400 Speaker 1: voice off key one note, you are enough one note, 439 00:33:40,120 --> 00:33:43,080 Speaker 1: one note? How many one note knockers do I have? 440 00:33:43,440 --> 00:33:57,280 Speaker 1: Somebody said doe, because God is not looking for my melody. 441 00:33:58,280 --> 00:34:07,760 Speaker 1: God wants to see me move move, So let me 442 00:34:07,800 --> 00:34:09,520 Speaker 1: pretend like I'm the angel for a minute. Okay, they 443 00:34:09,520 --> 00:34:12,040 Speaker 1: were the guards. I was Peter. Now I'm the angel. 444 00:34:13,080 --> 00:34:15,840 Speaker 1: This is the only time in the whole week that 445 00:34:15,840 --> 00:34:18,160 Speaker 1: I would compare myself to an angel. Trust me about that. 446 00:34:18,880 --> 00:34:25,000 Speaker 1: But get up. That's what the angel did you know? 447 00:34:25,040 --> 00:34:27,759 Speaker 1: That picture of the angel that you have up in 448 00:34:27,800 --> 00:34:34,680 Speaker 1: your house, that little precious angel. This angel, this angel 449 00:34:34,760 --> 00:34:39,560 Speaker 1: had this This angel looks like a UFC fighter. All right, 450 00:34:41,320 --> 00:34:43,920 Speaker 1: get up, get dressed. I want to show you this 451 00:34:44,000 --> 00:34:46,120 Speaker 1: verse because I want to show you why most of 452 00:34:46,200 --> 00:34:51,040 Speaker 1: us stay in prison. We stay in prison to ourselves. 453 00:34:51,040 --> 00:34:56,160 Speaker 1: We stay in prison to our we stay in prison 454 00:34:56,200 --> 00:35:00,239 Speaker 1: to our past, we stay in prison to our preference. Says, 455 00:35:01,680 --> 00:35:05,280 Speaker 1: we stay in prison to our pain. Am I preaching? 456 00:35:08,320 --> 00:35:13,319 Speaker 1: Is it just that anniversary anointing? Because I read through 457 00:35:13,360 --> 00:35:17,160 Speaker 1: what the angel told Peter, and I noticed something about 458 00:35:17,160 --> 00:35:20,239 Speaker 1: the interaction that's different than how I relate to God. 459 00:35:20,680 --> 00:35:22,480 Speaker 1: This angel, by the way, I want to be serious 460 00:35:22,480 --> 00:35:25,400 Speaker 1: about the angel. For a moment, it represents an appearance 461 00:35:25,440 --> 00:35:32,399 Speaker 1: of God. But Peter doesn't know that yet, and that's 462 00:35:32,440 --> 00:35:36,799 Speaker 1: important to point out. You won't always know that it's God. 463 00:35:38,840 --> 00:35:43,440 Speaker 1: In fact, sometimes you'll think the opposite. If somebody hits me, 464 00:35:44,760 --> 00:35:49,239 Speaker 1: I don't think it's an angel. Isn't that crazy? God 465 00:35:49,280 --> 00:35:53,359 Speaker 1: shows up in the first thing he does bah and 466 00:35:53,440 --> 00:35:58,200 Speaker 1: some of us have been through the BAB Have you 467 00:35:58,200 --> 00:36:01,160 Speaker 1: been through the BAP? What if that's not the devil? 468 00:36:03,440 --> 00:36:07,760 Speaker 1: What if that's the angel. What if that slap across 469 00:36:07,800 --> 00:36:12,399 Speaker 1: the face lovingly is from your good, good love a father. 470 00:36:14,760 --> 00:36:17,239 Speaker 1: What if he loves you enough that he would rather 471 00:36:17,400 --> 00:36:26,799 Speaker 1: strike you than allow the enemy to slay you. Now, 472 00:36:26,800 --> 00:36:32,400 Speaker 1: don't try this at home. But this is an aggressive angel. 473 00:36:34,719 --> 00:36:39,000 Speaker 1: It's an aggressive attempt to get Peter free. And the 474 00:36:39,120 --> 00:36:43,640 Speaker 1: angel doesn't have time to explain to Peter. So Peter 475 00:36:44,320 --> 00:36:49,560 Speaker 1: just has to move forward by faith without explanations. Say 476 00:36:49,560 --> 00:36:54,280 Speaker 1: all three of us move forward by faith without explanations. 477 00:36:55,239 --> 00:36:59,719 Speaker 1: And here's what it says. He struck Peter seven part 478 00:36:59,800 --> 00:37:03,640 Speaker 1: by on the side, woke him up. Quick get up, 479 00:37:04,480 --> 00:37:08,360 Speaker 1: he said, and the chains fell off Peter's dress, and 480 00:37:08,520 --> 00:37:10,239 Speaker 1: just had to put on your clothes and sandals, Peter did, 481 00:37:10,280 --> 00:37:12,840 Speaker 1: So wrap your cloak around you and follow me, the 482 00:37:12,880 --> 00:37:15,080 Speaker 1: angel told her. So I wrote some notes about that. 483 00:37:16,160 --> 00:37:18,080 Speaker 1: Here's what I would have said to each of those commands. 484 00:37:18,120 --> 00:37:26,479 Speaker 1: There are three. Quick get up, I would have said, 485 00:37:26,480 --> 00:37:34,120 Speaker 1: how I'm chained to these guards? How do you expect 486 00:37:34,120 --> 00:37:37,080 Speaker 1: me to get up when I'm chained to something bigger 487 00:37:37,120 --> 00:37:42,359 Speaker 1: than me? Have you ever felt like that? How you 488 00:37:42,400 --> 00:37:45,359 Speaker 1: expect me to get up when I'm chained to something 489 00:37:45,400 --> 00:37:50,839 Speaker 1: bigger than me? So I would have said, how notice this, 490 00:37:53,000 --> 00:38:04,400 Speaker 1: Peter got up and then the chains fell off, not 491 00:38:04,520 --> 00:38:08,080 Speaker 1: the other way around. You know how I wanted to work. 492 00:38:09,239 --> 00:38:14,920 Speaker 1: The chains fall off, then I'll get up. God just 493 00:38:15,000 --> 00:38:19,320 Speaker 1: give me the desire and I'll obate. No, No, you obey, 494 00:38:19,840 --> 00:38:25,680 Speaker 1: and you develop the desire as you obey. That's why 495 00:38:25,719 --> 00:38:28,200 Speaker 1: you can't say things like I'm just not one of 496 00:38:28,239 --> 00:38:32,120 Speaker 1: those kind of people and limit yourself to your current 497 00:38:32,160 --> 00:38:38,600 Speaker 1: state of progress, because the freedom comes through obedience. How 498 00:38:38,600 --> 00:38:40,359 Speaker 1: many of you have been delivered from something in your 499 00:38:40,360 --> 00:38:41,840 Speaker 1: life that one time you thought is stronger than me. 500 00:38:41,880 --> 00:38:44,000 Speaker 1: I'll never be free of this, And now, by the 501 00:38:44,040 --> 00:38:48,480 Speaker 1: grace of God, you're free. You didn't get free by 502 00:38:48,560 --> 00:38:53,480 Speaker 1: asking more questions. You got free by taking action. True, 503 00:38:54,000 --> 00:38:57,879 Speaker 1: so you reached out to somebody, you went to God 504 00:38:57,920 --> 00:38:59,560 Speaker 1: with it. You prayed, you not, but you did more 505 00:38:59,600 --> 00:39:02,080 Speaker 1: than that. There was something that you did, and there 506 00:39:02,239 --> 00:39:06,640 Speaker 1: is something that God is giving you to do right now, 507 00:39:07,080 --> 00:39:10,200 Speaker 1: not something not not an explanation. Because Peter could have said, 508 00:39:10,920 --> 00:39:12,839 Speaker 1: how's this, how am I supposed to get up? I'm 509 00:39:12,840 --> 00:39:15,399 Speaker 1: happy sleep, the guards are here. No, he got up 510 00:39:15,480 --> 00:39:19,799 Speaker 1: and the chains fell. He didn't get an answer. He 511 00:39:19,880 --> 00:39:24,879 Speaker 1: just took an action. How good is that? How good 512 00:39:24,960 --> 00:39:29,120 Speaker 1: is that? Because he could he could have waited for 513 00:39:29,200 --> 00:39:31,799 Speaker 1: an answer until his head was rolling on the floor 514 00:39:31,840 --> 00:39:36,080 Speaker 1: next to James, but he acted. I don't know what 515 00:39:36,080 --> 00:39:38,759 Speaker 1: that means to you, but I know that I never 516 00:39:38,840 --> 00:39:46,600 Speaker 1: get anywhere by waiting for God to explain everything. Never. Oh, 517 00:39:46,640 --> 00:39:50,080 Speaker 1: I do actually get somewhere. It's a nice little town 518 00:39:50,160 --> 00:39:56,719 Speaker 1: called Depression, USA, Anxiety, North America. That's where I end up. 519 00:39:56,880 --> 00:40:00,319 Speaker 1: That's the only place that ever takes me. Then then 520 00:40:00,360 --> 00:40:03,360 Speaker 1: the angel says something else makes no sense. He said, 521 00:40:03,680 --> 00:40:06,320 Speaker 1: put on your clothes and sandals. Now I'm going to 522 00:40:06,400 --> 00:40:13,040 Speaker 1: ask why for what? So I can look good for 523 00:40:13,120 --> 00:40:18,120 Speaker 1: my execution. So then we ask why. Now, what's the 524 00:40:18,160 --> 00:40:24,160 Speaker 1: point why? Well, Peter has learned a lot because he 525 00:40:24,280 --> 00:40:27,400 Speaker 1: used to be that why guy. He used to be 526 00:40:27,440 --> 00:40:30,480 Speaker 1: the one always questioning, confronting Jesus. This passage is so 527 00:40:30,600 --> 00:40:34,239 Speaker 1: much richer if you know Peter's natural personality, because it 528 00:40:34,239 --> 00:40:38,200 Speaker 1: gives you hope that anybody can change. He was the 529 00:40:38,320 --> 00:40:41,600 Speaker 1: craziest one of all of all of these disciples. He 530 00:40:41,719 --> 00:40:43,879 Speaker 1: was the one that he is the dumbest one too. 531 00:40:43,960 --> 00:40:47,239 Speaker 1: Sometimes he was telling Jesus stuff like you can't go 532 00:40:47,280 --> 00:40:49,400 Speaker 1: to Jerusalem. They're going to kill you, and Jesus is 533 00:40:49,400 --> 00:40:51,359 Speaker 1: like new Sledge. I told you three times I have 534 00:40:51,400 --> 00:40:53,359 Speaker 1: to die. That's why I came, because you're a sinner 535 00:40:53,360 --> 00:40:55,120 Speaker 1: and I got to save you. If I don't bleed, 536 00:40:55,160 --> 00:40:59,120 Speaker 1: you don't get a breakthrough. So you better let me go. Now. 537 00:41:00,080 --> 00:41:03,319 Speaker 1: He's just doing what God's telling him to in the 538 00:41:03,440 --> 00:41:09,120 Speaker 1: absence of answers. The Angel didn't say good news, we're 539 00:41:09,160 --> 00:41:12,600 Speaker 1: getting out of jail. He just said get up, then 540 00:41:12,680 --> 00:41:16,239 Speaker 1: show you everything all at once. One guy asked me 541 00:41:16,320 --> 00:41:20,319 Speaker 1: the other day, this is funny, So what's the ten 542 00:41:20,400 --> 00:41:25,000 Speaker 1: year plan for elevation Church. I wanted to say back, 543 00:41:26,200 --> 00:41:31,240 Speaker 1: I'm looking for it ten minute plan for elevation Church, 544 00:41:31,840 --> 00:41:35,160 Speaker 1: because that's crazy right now, and none of us really 545 00:41:35,200 --> 00:41:37,480 Speaker 1: know all of the outcomes of how things are going 546 00:41:37,520 --> 00:41:40,040 Speaker 1: to be. And it takes faith to stand up here 547 00:41:40,120 --> 00:41:43,680 Speaker 1: and preach to you people every week because you want answers, 548 00:41:43,840 --> 00:41:46,359 Speaker 1: and all I have to give you is commands from 549 00:41:46,360 --> 00:41:53,279 Speaker 1: God's word, not from my mouth. But the promises of 550 00:41:53,280 --> 00:41:57,120 Speaker 1: God are not automatic either, So he acts on the 551 00:41:57,160 --> 00:41:59,440 Speaker 1: first one, he acts on the second one. I think 552 00:41:59,440 --> 00:42:02,320 Speaker 1: that's a beautiful scripture put on your clothes and sandals 553 00:42:02,880 --> 00:42:07,239 Speaker 1: verse eight. And Peter did so, I would have said 554 00:42:07,280 --> 00:42:13,640 Speaker 1: why he just did? So? This is how we can 555 00:42:14,280 --> 00:42:20,040 Speaker 1: take as a model for our unanswered questions. Could be 556 00:42:20,080 --> 00:42:22,640 Speaker 1: anything God, when am I going to have somebody? Or God, 557 00:42:22,680 --> 00:42:24,240 Speaker 1: when is this going to turn around? Are God? When's 558 00:42:24,239 --> 00:42:27,680 Speaker 1: it gonna happen? But you'll get your head cut off 559 00:42:29,080 --> 00:42:32,719 Speaker 1: if you stay stuck in how And if you stay 560 00:42:32,719 --> 00:42:35,719 Speaker 1: stuck in why. This is the third thing, This might 561 00:42:35,719 --> 00:42:40,000 Speaker 1: be the biggest, the hardest one of all. Y'all wrap 562 00:42:40,040 --> 00:42:44,080 Speaker 1: your cloak around you verse eight and follow me. Now, 563 00:42:44,120 --> 00:42:50,319 Speaker 1: what would you have asked? Where he said I'm going with? 564 00:42:51,440 --> 00:42:54,960 Speaker 1: I would have been like, as long as the temperature 565 00:42:55,640 --> 00:42:59,160 Speaker 1: is good and the job market is solid and the 566 00:42:59,200 --> 00:43:03,200 Speaker 1: cost of living is love. But I love LB because 567 00:43:03,239 --> 00:43:06,720 Speaker 1: he just said I'm going with. And that's what reminded 568 00:43:06,760 --> 00:43:09,840 Speaker 1: me of Peter Lbe. You remind me of Peter because 569 00:43:09,840 --> 00:43:15,080 Speaker 1: you do dumb stuff sometimes. This man, this man almost 570 00:43:15,239 --> 00:43:18,879 Speaker 1: drove through the gate of a storage unit to get 571 00:43:18,880 --> 00:43:21,240 Speaker 1: a prop that I needed one Sunday because he couldn't 572 00:43:21,280 --> 00:43:23,560 Speaker 1: get the code in. He was backing up the truck 573 00:43:23,680 --> 00:43:26,240 Speaker 1: to run into the gate. So you're kind of dumb, 574 00:43:27,560 --> 00:43:30,360 Speaker 1: but I like you because you will do it. You 575 00:43:30,400 --> 00:43:32,600 Speaker 1: will do it, you will do it. He said, I'm 576 00:43:32,640 --> 00:43:39,920 Speaker 1: going with where with Peter is going. Peter is going 577 00:43:40,400 --> 00:43:45,200 Speaker 1: with the Angel, So you gotta let God know I'm 578 00:43:45,200 --> 00:43:51,759 Speaker 1: going with I'm going with Even if Psalm twenty three 579 00:43:52,120 --> 00:43:56,960 Speaker 1: becomes a reality, Yay, though I walk through the valley 580 00:43:58,040 --> 00:44:00,920 Speaker 1: of the Shadow of Death, I will fear no evil. 581 00:44:01,000 --> 00:44:06,520 Speaker 1: Why because you are with me. Say it out loud. 582 00:44:06,520 --> 00:44:10,000 Speaker 1: God is with me, and that's my confidence. And that's 583 00:44:10,000 --> 00:44:11,880 Speaker 1: what I know, and that's how I hold on in 584 00:44:11,960 --> 00:44:14,360 Speaker 1: this season, and that's why I'm not gonna let my 585 00:44:14,440 --> 00:44:16,880 Speaker 1: head hang low. That's why I'm not gonna have a 586 00:44:16,880 --> 00:44:19,160 Speaker 1: panic attack about this. That's why I'm not going to 587 00:44:19,239 --> 00:44:22,920 Speaker 1: control the situation by human means and flesh. That's why 588 00:44:22,960 --> 00:44:25,880 Speaker 1: I'm not gonna send in Abraham to sleep with Hagar 589 00:44:26,160 --> 00:44:29,280 Speaker 1: and try to produce a promise from God in human strength, 590 00:44:29,440 --> 00:44:39,239 Speaker 1: because God is with me and the Angel took him 591 00:44:39,280 --> 00:44:42,040 Speaker 1: out of the gate. Let's don't even stop and preach 592 00:44:42,040 --> 00:44:47,480 Speaker 1: about the gate open by itself, how it was motion activated. 593 00:44:51,440 --> 00:44:53,560 Speaker 1: I wonder if some of the things I'm not going 594 00:44:53,600 --> 00:44:56,640 Speaker 1: to preach this point, but I could that You're standing 595 00:44:56,719 --> 00:45:02,680 Speaker 1: there waiting for an answer, and God is waiting for 596 00:45:02,840 --> 00:45:14,240 Speaker 1: an action, and it's like the church is praying knocking. 597 00:45:15,280 --> 00:45:18,560 Speaker 1: That's how prayers described to Matthew seven. Ask to begin 598 00:45:18,600 --> 00:45:21,800 Speaker 1: and seek you' find knock the door be open. They're praying, 599 00:45:22,040 --> 00:45:26,080 Speaker 1: which is a kind of knocking. While they are knocking 600 00:45:26,160 --> 00:45:32,879 Speaker 1: on God's door. God is knocking on theirs. Right now. 601 00:45:32,920 --> 00:45:38,880 Speaker 1: Peter's at the door and he knocks, and there's no answer. 602 00:45:40,800 --> 00:45:43,439 Speaker 1: They have no idea that what they're praying for actually happen. 603 00:45:47,280 --> 00:45:48,879 Speaker 1: So I'll tell you why. I really was crying when 604 00:45:48,880 --> 00:45:50,680 Speaker 1: I came up here for the little opening song. And 605 00:45:50,680 --> 00:45:52,080 Speaker 1: I don't want to talk about it, but I will, 606 00:45:55,280 --> 00:46:12,640 Speaker 1: because I'm standing in an answered prayer. Not only this 607 00:46:12,719 --> 00:46:19,120 Speaker 1: church that the Lord Jesus allows us to pastor, but 608 00:46:19,239 --> 00:46:21,120 Speaker 1: all the times that I stood in this church with 609 00:46:21,239 --> 00:46:30,280 Speaker 1: you and I needed God to Preachers have prisons. Peter's 610 00:46:30,320 --> 00:46:34,600 Speaker 1: not the only one. You're not the only one. I 611 00:46:34,680 --> 00:46:37,759 Speaker 1: stood and had to sing songs of lyrics that I 612 00:46:37,800 --> 00:46:41,640 Speaker 1: wrote while I was laughing at the reality that they 613 00:46:41,680 --> 00:46:47,360 Speaker 1: could even be true. It's almost laughable that they're praying 614 00:46:47,440 --> 00:46:50,680 Speaker 1: for the one who's standing at the door and they 615 00:46:50,680 --> 00:46:53,879 Speaker 1: don't want to interrupt their prayer meeting to praise God 616 00:46:53,920 --> 00:47:00,600 Speaker 1: for the answer. And the Lord said to me today, 617 00:47:01,640 --> 00:47:04,680 Speaker 1: because you know, hey, man, I got a sermon to preach, 618 00:47:04,680 --> 00:47:06,360 Speaker 1: and I got another one to preach after that, and 619 00:47:06,400 --> 00:47:10,320 Speaker 1: another one to preach. He said, pause for a moment 620 00:47:12,080 --> 00:47:18,680 Speaker 1: in between knocks about what's next, and take a moment 621 00:47:19,360 --> 00:47:27,880 Speaker 1: to notice what I've already done. In other words, open 622 00:47:27,920 --> 00:47:32,399 Speaker 1: the door. I prayed for Holly while she was going 623 00:47:32,400 --> 00:47:35,440 Speaker 1: through things, and I was standing next to her holding 624 00:47:35,440 --> 00:47:38,120 Speaker 1: her hand today while we were singing do it again, 625 00:47:38,200 --> 00:47:42,399 Speaker 1: And we sang that song all different times. We sang 626 00:47:42,440 --> 00:47:45,319 Speaker 1: it when the media was saying that we were a 627 00:47:45,480 --> 00:47:48,800 Speaker 1: cult and that we were putting liquor in the communion 628 00:47:48,840 --> 00:47:51,200 Speaker 1: cups or whatever the people said about us through the years, 629 00:47:51,480 --> 00:47:54,000 Speaker 1: putting water slides in the church, all kinds of crap 630 00:47:54,040 --> 00:47:58,120 Speaker 1: people said. And really, y'all, really, really really really really, 631 00:47:59,120 --> 00:48:04,640 Speaker 1: if they can through that, surely we can make it 632 00:48:05,160 --> 00:48:13,920 Speaker 1: through anything together if we don't stop knocking it. Some 633 00:48:14,000 --> 00:48:16,640 Speaker 1: things you need to sleep through. Other things you need 634 00:48:16,680 --> 00:48:19,280 Speaker 1: to act on. Some things you need to pray about, 635 00:48:19,600 --> 00:48:23,120 Speaker 1: other things you need to act on. Now, what if 636 00:48:23,160 --> 00:48:27,680 Speaker 1: the Lord, this is my final question. I really could 637 00:48:27,680 --> 00:48:30,759 Speaker 1: preach all day because I get excited. I didn't hear 638 00:48:30,840 --> 00:48:34,680 Speaker 1: much enthusiasm about that wrap it up pastor heard there's 639 00:48:34,719 --> 00:48:46,120 Speaker 1: pizza out there, some weird And yet maybe when I 640 00:48:46,200 --> 00:48:51,280 Speaker 1: finished preaching today, you could take a moment in between 641 00:48:51,320 --> 00:48:55,280 Speaker 1: all the knocking that you've been doing, all the changes 642 00:48:55,360 --> 00:48:57,759 Speaker 1: that you need God to make, all the things that 643 00:48:57,800 --> 00:48:59,759 Speaker 1: you're asking God, and you know, maybe you're not even 644 00:48:59,760 --> 00:49:03,760 Speaker 1: asked God for I personally think that the church wasn't 645 00:49:03,800 --> 00:49:08,920 Speaker 1: even asking God to keep Peter alive. I think they 646 00:49:08,920 --> 00:49:11,640 Speaker 1: were asking that He would give Peter peace, and that's 647 00:49:11,640 --> 00:49:20,040 Speaker 1: why Peter was sleeping. So my favorite verse, y'all, has 648 00:49:20,120 --> 00:49:21,839 Speaker 1: been for years. This is the one that I put 649 00:49:21,880 --> 00:49:26,000 Speaker 1: in Remember JJ, when I signed your book, Ephesians three twenty, 650 00:49:26,840 --> 00:49:29,040 Speaker 1: is that what I put in your book. He stood 651 00:49:29,040 --> 00:49:31,480 Speaker 1: in the back. He's the campus pastor at Valentine. He 652 00:49:31,520 --> 00:49:33,800 Speaker 1: stood in the back of a book line at Liberty 653 00:49:33,880 --> 00:49:36,640 Speaker 1: University where I was speaking because he wanted to say 654 00:49:36,640 --> 00:49:39,240 Speaker 1: thank you for the ministry of Elevation Church. He stood 655 00:49:39,239 --> 00:49:42,000 Speaker 1: there for I don't know how long, till everybody was gone, 656 00:49:42,320 --> 00:49:44,799 Speaker 1: and I put Ephesians three twenty and he said he 657 00:49:44,920 --> 00:49:49,600 Speaker 1: was from Toronto, GTA, and I took that as greater 658 00:49:49,719 --> 00:49:54,200 Speaker 1: things ahead, GTA, because I'm corny. I'm corny, and I 659 00:49:54,280 --> 00:49:57,799 Speaker 1: put GTA greater things ahead Ephesians three twenty. Now, unto 660 00:49:57,840 --> 00:50:06,200 Speaker 1: him who is able to do immeasurably more than we ask. 661 00:50:08,640 --> 00:50:11,399 Speaker 1: All right, let he who has ears, she who has 662 00:50:11,480 --> 00:50:13,760 Speaker 1: ears to hear, hear what I'm about to say next. 663 00:50:15,160 --> 00:50:25,600 Speaker 1: Exceedingly more is at the door right now. Let he 664 00:50:25,719 --> 00:50:28,560 Speaker 1: that has an ear to hear hear what the spirit 665 00:50:28,640 --> 00:50:34,800 Speaker 1: is saying to the church, because they're praying on this level. 666 00:50:35,160 --> 00:50:39,600 Speaker 1: God help Peter before he dies to feel your presence. 667 00:50:39,880 --> 00:50:43,600 Speaker 1: And God's like, Nah, I'm gonna one up you on that. 668 00:50:46,160 --> 00:50:50,160 Speaker 1: Watch this. I'm gonna give you what you didn't even 669 00:50:50,200 --> 00:50:53,120 Speaker 1: think to ask me for because you didn't think it 670 00:50:53,200 --> 00:50:58,480 Speaker 1: was possible. If you don't stop knocking, watch this. If 671 00:50:58,520 --> 00:51:02,080 Speaker 1: you will be like in this season of your life, 672 00:51:02,560 --> 00:51:06,440 Speaker 1: you can't be like one of these little weak Christians 673 00:51:06,680 --> 00:51:10,000 Speaker 1: that the first time something happens that you have to 674 00:51:10,080 --> 00:51:12,760 Speaker 1: park at the back of the parking lot in Target, 675 00:51:13,000 --> 00:51:16,120 Speaker 1: you say, my God, my God, why have you forsaken me? 676 00:51:16,440 --> 00:51:19,799 Speaker 1: This is my God, simony. Nevertheless, not my will, but 677 00:51:19,920 --> 00:51:22,360 Speaker 1: yours be done. You can't go out of this church. 678 00:51:22,520 --> 00:51:24,440 Speaker 1: And the first time you feel a bad feeling, or 679 00:51:24,440 --> 00:51:26,799 Speaker 1: think of bad thought, or get a temptation, you'll just 680 00:51:26,840 --> 00:51:29,520 Speaker 1: give into it. You gotta be one of those who 681 00:51:29,560 --> 00:51:34,080 Speaker 1: won't stop knocking. By the grace of God, something more 682 00:51:34,239 --> 00:51:39,600 Speaker 1: is at the door. I will live and not die. 683 00:51:40,360 --> 00:51:44,880 Speaker 1: I will live and not die. And the gates of 684 00:51:45,160 --> 00:51:53,600 Speaker 1: hell will not free them. Come on, let's give him 685 00:51:53,600 --> 00:52:00,239 Speaker 1: sixty seconds. Afraid. Come on, worship teams, get out there, 686 00:52:00,280 --> 00:52:03,600 Speaker 1: get out here. Come on, come on, come on, come up, 687 00:52:04,680 --> 00:52:11,920 Speaker 1: Come on, come on, give them a great price. Let's 688 00:52:12,000 --> 00:52:15,680 Speaker 1: knock on the door of heaven. Let's knock on the 689 00:52:15,840 --> 00:52:25,040 Speaker 1: door of heaven. Come on, get your fist in the air. 690 00:52:25,160 --> 00:52:30,880 Speaker 1: Like this, God said, never stop nothing, never stop nothing, 691 00:52:31,360 --> 00:52:36,600 Speaker 1: never stop knocking. Hey, road out after the door. Peter 692 00:52:37,480 --> 00:52:48,600 Speaker 1: is alive. And I declare, by the grace of God 693 00:52:49,600 --> 00:52:55,040 Speaker 1: that upon this rock God will build his church. And 694 00:52:55,160 --> 00:53:04,600 Speaker 1: guess who Jesus said back to Peter every time Peter 695 00:53:04,680 --> 00:53:09,280 Speaker 1: knocked on that door, And let the devil know. God 696 00:53:09,320 --> 00:53:14,200 Speaker 1: is still building now. I'm preaching to people today who 697 00:53:14,200 --> 00:53:19,840 Speaker 1: are not perfect, but are persistent. And that's how I 698 00:53:19,840 --> 00:53:21,600 Speaker 1: feel about this church. Maybe we can make a T 699 00:53:21,719 --> 00:53:28,040 Speaker 1: shirt that says this not perfect but persistent. Actually don't 700 00:53:28,080 --> 00:53:31,360 Speaker 1: make the listen. That sounded better in my head, but 701 00:53:31,440 --> 00:53:38,439 Speaker 1: it's good for a sermon. And Peter kept knocking. God 702 00:53:38,560 --> 00:53:42,480 Speaker 1: might shock you some of the things that you thought 703 00:53:42,480 --> 00:53:44,319 Speaker 1: were as good as dead. I know sometimes you have 704 00:53:44,360 --> 00:53:48,160 Speaker 1: to let it go. James did lose his head. God 705 00:53:48,239 --> 00:53:52,000 Speaker 1: wanted to give us a side by side example that 706 00:53:52,080 --> 00:53:54,000 Speaker 1: whether it ends the way you didn't want it to, 707 00:53:55,600 --> 00:53:57,880 Speaker 1: or whether you have unanswered questions and you don't know 708 00:53:57,920 --> 00:54:07,799 Speaker 1: what's going to happen tomorrow morning, never stop knocking, no 709 00:54:07,880 --> 00:54:12,280 Speaker 1: matter what you feel through mental illness, never stop knocking. 710 00:54:14,760 --> 00:54:20,120 Speaker 1: Get a doctor, get new friends, get a new pattern. 711 00:54:20,239 --> 00:54:26,160 Speaker 1: Take some time, but don't stop praying just because you've 712 00:54:26,200 --> 00:54:32,800 Speaker 1: been through pain. And in the absence of answers, sometimes 713 00:54:32,840 --> 00:54:39,000 Speaker 1: the greatest faith grows. I want to sing build your 714 00:54:39,080 --> 00:54:43,279 Speaker 1: Church one time on our anniversary again, across all of 715 00:54:43,320 --> 00:54:47,919 Speaker 1: our locations. I want us to sing it in defiance 716 00:54:48,840 --> 00:54:52,279 Speaker 1: of everything the devil did to try to take you out, 717 00:54:54,200 --> 00:55:07,120 Speaker 1: but to let him know we're still knocking. We're still knocking. Well, Lord, 718 00:55:07,160 --> 00:55:10,840 Speaker 1: you bless me today. I don't know who else the 719 00:55:10,880 --> 00:55:15,520 Speaker 1: word was for, but I receive it. Lift your hands 720 00:55:15,520 --> 00:55:20,000 Speaker 1: if you receive it. Father, I thank you for moms 721 00:55:20,000 --> 00:55:25,280 Speaker 1: and dads and sons and daughters who, although like Peter, 722 00:55:25,440 --> 00:55:30,120 Speaker 1: might be sleeping between some situations that make them really 723 00:55:30,160 --> 00:55:32,720 Speaker 1: scared right now and make them really sad right now, 724 00:55:34,480 --> 00:55:36,920 Speaker 1: that between that place where the church was praying in 725 00:55:37,000 --> 00:55:41,399 Speaker 1: the place where Peter was in prison, your grace made 726 00:55:41,400 --> 00:55:46,959 Speaker 1: the difference. I just declare your grace over every home, 727 00:55:49,760 --> 00:55:53,480 Speaker 1: over every person who's joining right now online. I speak 728 00:55:53,520 --> 00:55:57,480 Speaker 1: your peace into their home. God, I speak your power 729 00:55:58,880 --> 00:56:01,280 Speaker 1: in our soul that would be strengthen in our inner man. 730 00:56:02,520 --> 00:56:04,839 Speaker 1: I thank you Lord, that strength is rising up by 731 00:56:04,920 --> 00:56:09,799 Speaker 1: faith through the preached word of God today. And we're 732 00:56:09,800 --> 00:56:12,600 Speaker 1: gonna say it like Peter said to the angel. We're 733 00:56:12,600 --> 00:56:16,839 Speaker 1: gonna say it like LB said it to me. We're 734 00:56:16,840 --> 00:56:23,319 Speaker 1: going with. We're going with. We thank you that there 735 00:56:23,320 --> 00:56:26,920 Speaker 1: are angels all around us right now. We thank you 736 00:56:27,000 --> 00:56:30,480 Speaker 1: that your spirit is inside of us. We declare what 737 00:56:30,600 --> 00:56:33,880 Speaker 1: Jesus said, Lift those hands, hide, say aloud, the gates 738 00:56:34,640 --> 00:56:40,440 Speaker 1: of hell will not prevail upon this rock. You build 739 00:56:40,440 --> 00:56:43,560 Speaker 1: your church. Let's sing at one time like it's our birthday. 740 00:56:44,320 --> 00:56:48,920 Speaker 1: Come on church, Lift a mighty shot of praise. Well, 741 00:56:48,920 --> 00:56:51,400 Speaker 1: if you enjoy today's podcast, there are a couple things 742 00:56:51,440 --> 00:56:54,719 Speaker 1: I'd love for you to do. Make sure to subscribe, rate, 743 00:56:55,040 --> 00:56:58,040 Speaker 1: and review this podcast. You can also help us reach 744 00:56:58,080 --> 00:57:01,560 Speaker 1: others by investing today at Elevation Church dot org, slash 745 00:57:01,719 --> 00:57:05,160 Speaker 1: give and thanks again for joining us on the Elevation Podcast.