1 00:00:02,160 --> 00:00:04,680 Speaker 1: Hey, this is Stephen Ferdick. I'm the pastor of Elevation 2 00:00:04,960 --> 00:00:07,200 Speaker 1: Church and this is our podcast. I wanted to thank 3 00:00:07,200 --> 00:00:10,520 Speaker 1: you for joining us today. Hope this inspires you. Hope 4 00:00:10,560 --> 00:00:12,600 Speaker 1: it builds your faith. Hope it gives your perspective to 5 00:00:12,600 --> 00:00:18,600 Speaker 1: see God is moving in your life. Enjoy the message. 6 00:00:19,680 --> 00:00:23,959 Speaker 1: All right, stay standing, Stay standing. I want to share 7 00:00:23,960 --> 00:00:29,640 Speaker 1: with you today a story in Mark chapter nine, Mark 8 00:00:29,720 --> 00:00:39,280 Speaker 1: chapter nine, verse fourteen through twenty nine. And let's don't 9 00:00:39,320 --> 00:00:43,720 Speaker 1: let the dramatic nature of this Bible story make us 10 00:00:43,720 --> 00:00:47,920 Speaker 1: think that it doesn't apply to us. Because the story 11 00:00:47,960 --> 00:00:53,639 Speaker 1: I'm going to read you it's very extreme, and there 12 00:00:53,680 --> 00:00:56,120 Speaker 1: are people here who have extreme situations that you're dealing 13 00:00:56,160 --> 00:01:01,440 Speaker 1: with and joining us who have extreme situations. But even 14 00:01:01,480 --> 00:01:03,760 Speaker 1: if the situation that you're dealing with in your life 15 00:01:03,760 --> 00:01:06,000 Speaker 1: today and the need that you have isn't this dramatic 16 00:01:06,080 --> 00:01:08,959 Speaker 1: or doesn't fit this particular description of this picture, I 17 00:01:09,000 --> 00:01:12,160 Speaker 1: believe the dynamics of what God wants to teach us 18 00:01:12,200 --> 00:01:14,400 Speaker 1: what apply to every person in the room of every age. 19 00:01:14,520 --> 00:01:18,399 Speaker 1: So just with that in your mind, listen as I 20 00:01:18,440 --> 00:01:21,720 Speaker 1: read this account. The scripture says Mark chapter nine, verse 21 00:01:21,800 --> 00:01:26,520 Speaker 1: fourteen when they came to the other disciples, they saw 22 00:01:26,600 --> 00:01:30,120 Speaker 1: a large crowd around them and the teachers of the 23 00:01:30,200 --> 00:01:33,479 Speaker 1: law arguing with them. As soon as all the people 24 00:01:33,560 --> 00:01:37,000 Speaker 1: saw Jesus, they were overwhelmed with wonder and ran to 25 00:01:37,040 --> 00:01:41,520 Speaker 1: greet him. What are you arguing with them about? He asked. 26 00:01:42,319 --> 00:01:44,680 Speaker 1: A man in the crowd answered, teacher, I brought you 27 00:01:44,760 --> 00:01:49,440 Speaker 1: my son, who is possessed by a spirit that has 28 00:01:49,560 --> 00:01:55,920 Speaker 1: robbed him of speech. Whenever it seizes him. Whenever it 29 00:01:56,120 --> 00:02:00,560 Speaker 1: seizes him, it throws him to the ground. He foams 30 00:02:00,600 --> 00:02:05,720 Speaker 1: at the mouth, gnashes his teeth, and becomes rigid. I 31 00:02:05,800 --> 00:02:08,960 Speaker 1: asked your disciples to drive out the spirit, but they 32 00:02:08,960 --> 00:02:14,920 Speaker 1: could not. And listen to Jesus, How frustrated he solves 33 00:02:14,960 --> 00:02:20,360 Speaker 1: you unbelieving generation, Jesus replied, how long shall I stay 34 00:02:20,400 --> 00:02:23,320 Speaker 1: with you? How long shall I put up with you? 35 00:02:24,480 --> 00:02:29,280 Speaker 1: Bring the boy to me. Bring him to me. Now, 36 00:02:29,280 --> 00:02:31,480 Speaker 1: hear the Lord saying that today to somebody. Bring him 37 00:02:31,520 --> 00:02:37,079 Speaker 1: to me. Now, let's keep reading. So they brought him, 38 00:02:37,280 --> 00:02:39,880 Speaker 1: and when the spirit saw Jesus, it immediately threw the 39 00:02:39,880 --> 00:02:42,600 Speaker 1: boy into a convulsion. He fell to the ground and 40 00:02:42,760 --> 00:02:45,160 Speaker 1: rolled around, foaming at the mouth, and Jesus asked the 41 00:02:45,200 --> 00:02:49,840 Speaker 1: boy's father, how long has he been like this? From childhood? 42 00:02:49,840 --> 00:02:53,600 Speaker 1: He answered? It has often thrown him into fire or 43 00:02:53,680 --> 00:02:57,239 Speaker 1: water to kill him. But if you can do anything, 44 00:02:58,080 --> 00:03:02,280 Speaker 1: take pity on us and help us if you can, 45 00:03:03,919 --> 00:03:09,280 Speaker 1: said Jesus, I like that part. You like that too. 46 00:03:10,880 --> 00:03:19,720 Speaker 1: Everything is possible for one who believes. Oh. Immediately, the 47 00:03:19,760 --> 00:03:25,720 Speaker 1: boy's father exclaimed, I do believe. Help me overcome my unbelief. 48 00:03:27,120 --> 00:03:29,440 Speaker 1: When Jesus saw that a crowd was running to the scene, 49 00:03:29,480 --> 00:03:33,840 Speaker 1: he rebuked the impure spirit, you deaf and mute spirit. 50 00:03:33,960 --> 00:03:37,320 Speaker 1: He said, I command you come out of him and 51 00:03:37,400 --> 00:03:43,480 Speaker 1: never enter him again. And the spirit shrieked, convulsed him violently, 52 00:03:43,560 --> 00:03:46,200 Speaker 1: and came out. The boy looked so much like a 53 00:03:46,240 --> 00:03:52,720 Speaker 1: corpse that many said, he's dead. But Jesus MANI said, 54 00:03:52,880 --> 00:04:00,520 Speaker 1: he's dead, but Jesus. Many said, that's it. But Jesus. 55 00:04:01,360 --> 00:04:08,040 Speaker 1: Many said it's over. But Jesus, WHOA, that's not my message. 56 00:04:08,120 --> 00:04:10,120 Speaker 1: But I want to shut in the middle of the 57 00:04:10,320 --> 00:04:20,880 Speaker 1: cities by God, Hey, but God who But Jesus took 58 00:04:20,960 --> 00:04:23,600 Speaker 1: him by the hand and lifted him to his feet, 59 00:04:23,680 --> 00:04:27,800 Speaker 1: and he stood up. Now, this is the part I 60 00:04:27,800 --> 00:04:31,760 Speaker 1: want to preach about. After Jesus had gone indoors. His 61 00:04:31,839 --> 00:04:37,039 Speaker 1: disciples asked him privately, kind of embarrassed about the way 62 00:04:37,120 --> 00:04:41,440 Speaker 1: things went down, just experienced a terrible failure and got 63 00:04:41,480 --> 00:04:46,120 Speaker 1: called out in front of the Son of God. They 64 00:04:46,160 --> 00:04:53,919 Speaker 1: asked him, why couldn't we drive it out? And here's 65 00:04:53,960 --> 00:04:59,600 Speaker 1: why Verse twenty nine. This kind can come out only 66 00:05:00,320 --> 00:05:08,920 Speaker 1: by prayer? Why couldn't we dry it out? This kind 67 00:05:09,880 --> 00:05:12,920 Speaker 1: can only come out by prayer? And I want to 68 00:05:12,920 --> 00:05:22,240 Speaker 1: give you this message today. You are not it. You 69 00:05:22,320 --> 00:05:25,560 Speaker 1: remember aenie meenie, miney moe, My mama told me two 70 00:05:25,640 --> 00:05:30,760 Speaker 1: fifty and you put your finger six feet from your 71 00:05:30,800 --> 00:05:33,040 Speaker 1: neighbor's face. Let's obey the law. But look at him 72 00:05:33,120 --> 00:05:36,159 Speaker 1: right now and say you are put it in the chat. 73 00:05:36,360 --> 00:05:43,400 Speaker 1: Not it be seated. Let's talk about it. You are 74 00:05:45,320 --> 00:05:54,719 Speaker 1: not it. Oh. It's my oldest son's sixteenth birthday today, 75 00:05:54,800 --> 00:06:05,000 Speaker 1: Happy birthday alive. He's not in church today, he's on 76 00:06:05,000 --> 00:06:07,560 Speaker 1: a little trip with his mom. They're coming back today. 77 00:06:08,120 --> 00:06:11,840 Speaker 1: And I love you so much. I'm so proud of you. 78 00:06:12,680 --> 00:06:15,800 Speaker 1: It hurts how much you love your kids, doesn't it. 79 00:06:15,800 --> 00:06:20,120 Speaker 1: It hurts how much you love your kids. Sometimes I 80 00:06:20,200 --> 00:06:22,080 Speaker 1: just walk by them. I can't even speak. I just 81 00:06:23,120 --> 00:06:26,240 Speaker 1: sometimes I just walk by them and just think, Man, 82 00:06:27,800 --> 00:06:31,200 Speaker 1: it hurts. I hate you for making me love you 83 00:06:31,240 --> 00:06:38,279 Speaker 1: so much. I love you. Man. He's watching. They're flying back. 84 00:06:38,320 --> 00:06:40,480 Speaker 1: I think they're headed to the airport as we speak. 85 00:06:40,480 --> 00:06:42,480 Speaker 1: And if the signal's good, he'll be getting this message. 86 00:06:42,600 --> 00:06:44,599 Speaker 1: If not, I I'd be watching this message and taking 87 00:06:44,640 --> 00:06:48,719 Speaker 1: notes later in the week. Little birthday trip. They're headed 88 00:06:48,720 --> 00:06:51,960 Speaker 1: back today. We're excited to have Holly back today. Our family, 89 00:06:51,960 --> 00:06:55,440 Speaker 1: our Graham and Abbey, are really excited. We have door 90 00:06:55,520 --> 00:07:01,000 Speaker 1: dashed every restaurant in the Carolina's three days a mirror. 91 00:07:02,960 --> 00:07:08,320 Speaker 1: So sixteen, I got a sixteen year old, y'all, that 92 00:07:08,480 --> 00:07:13,000 Speaker 1: is the devil. I rebuke that accusation on my age 93 00:07:13,200 --> 00:07:20,120 Speaker 1: sixteen year old. But Elijah is I don't know if 94 00:07:20,120 --> 00:07:22,320 Speaker 1: he's a litigator at heart. He always finds a loophole, 95 00:07:23,360 --> 00:07:27,560 Speaker 1: kind of reflecting on his personality because when you're a dad, 96 00:07:27,600 --> 00:07:31,200 Speaker 1: you look for all these techniques and you'll steal, begborrow 97 00:07:31,240 --> 00:07:33,760 Speaker 1: anything as a dad, you know, like the guy in 98 00:07:33,800 --> 00:07:35,720 Speaker 1: this passage, he's doing anything he can to get a 99 00:07:35,760 --> 00:07:38,760 Speaker 1: son healed. And when you become a parent, since God 100 00:07:38,800 --> 00:07:42,080 Speaker 1: forgot to put the manual and the instruction sheet inside, 101 00:07:42,120 --> 00:07:44,640 Speaker 1: all the little seventy five million pieces of parenting a 102 00:07:44,720 --> 00:07:48,280 Speaker 1: human life. And since they make you take a test 103 00:07:48,280 --> 00:07:51,640 Speaker 1: to drive a car, but not to be responsible for 104 00:07:51,720 --> 00:07:55,600 Speaker 1: a human life, you'll try anything. My friend Judah Smith 105 00:07:55,880 --> 00:07:58,800 Speaker 1: told me that his dad used to tell him when 106 00:07:58,800 --> 00:08:01,240 Speaker 1: he was a little boy, of all the five year 107 00:08:01,280 --> 00:08:03,160 Speaker 1: olds in the world or whatever age he was seven 108 00:08:03,160 --> 00:08:04,440 Speaker 1: and nine. He said he did this all the time 109 00:08:04,480 --> 00:08:08,040 Speaker 1: growing up. He said that his dad would say, if 110 00:08:08,080 --> 00:08:11,120 Speaker 1: they lined up all the five year olds, seven year olds, 111 00:08:11,200 --> 00:08:13,440 Speaker 1: nine year olds in the world, and then he would 112 00:08:13,520 --> 00:08:18,360 Speaker 1: name all the continents and countries, all the seven year 113 00:08:18,360 --> 00:08:24,040 Speaker 1: olds from India and Australia, Africa, all the foreign countries, Alabama, 114 00:08:27,120 --> 00:08:32,080 Speaker 1: Chief Shock, and they let me choose of all the 115 00:08:32,320 --> 00:08:36,960 Speaker 1: five year olds, I choose you. So I tried that 116 00:08:37,040 --> 00:08:40,720 Speaker 1: on my kids, and of course Elijah is our lab rat. 117 00:08:40,760 --> 00:08:43,440 Speaker 1: And I do have a theory about firstborn children. While 118 00:08:43,440 --> 00:08:45,960 Speaker 1: you're putting away their college funds, save them a therapy fund, 119 00:08:45,960 --> 00:08:49,000 Speaker 1: because you're learning all the stuff that doesn't work on them. 120 00:08:49,640 --> 00:08:54,240 Speaker 1: And Elijah, when I was putting him to bed one night, 121 00:08:54,360 --> 00:08:56,920 Speaker 1: I said, of all the kids in the world, if 122 00:08:56,960 --> 00:08:58,920 Speaker 1: they lined up every kid from and I went through 123 00:08:58,920 --> 00:09:01,480 Speaker 1: the role call of all the countries and states that 124 00:09:01,520 --> 00:09:03,360 Speaker 1: I could think of. If I could choose anyone, if 125 00:09:03,400 --> 00:09:05,400 Speaker 1: God let me choose any little boy, a little five 126 00:09:05,440 --> 00:09:08,760 Speaker 1: year old boy, I would choose you. And he'd say thing, 127 00:09:09,040 --> 00:09:10,760 Speaker 1: and then I'll do it again the next night and 128 00:09:10,840 --> 00:09:12,400 Speaker 1: the next night. But the third night I did it. 129 00:09:13,040 --> 00:09:15,320 Speaker 1: Elijah says, I say, if they lined up all the 130 00:09:15,640 --> 00:09:17,560 Speaker 1: kids in the world that were five years old and 131 00:09:17,640 --> 00:09:21,319 Speaker 1: let me choose one, I would choose you. And he goes, technically, 132 00:09:21,720 --> 00:09:24,600 Speaker 1: you can't say that because you haven't seen all the 133 00:09:24,640 --> 00:09:30,320 Speaker 1: five year olds in the world, And y'all think that's bad. 134 00:09:30,400 --> 00:09:34,080 Speaker 1: Graham is much worse. Graham's he's a couple of years 135 00:09:34,120 --> 00:09:37,880 Speaker 1: younger than Elijah, and he's much more ruthless. And one 136 00:09:37,960 --> 00:09:39,520 Speaker 1: night with Graham I tried to turn it on him. 137 00:09:39,520 --> 00:09:42,040 Speaker 1: I said, now, if they lined up all the daddy's 138 00:09:42,080 --> 00:09:44,800 Speaker 1: in the world, would you pick me? And he goes, 139 00:09:44,960 --> 00:09:47,880 Speaker 1: just cold blooded, He goes, how could I know? I 140 00:09:47,920 --> 00:09:55,520 Speaker 1: haven't seen all the different dads talking about the demon 141 00:09:55,559 --> 00:10:01,679 Speaker 1: possessed children today in the scriptures. No, no, no, I know. 142 00:10:03,760 --> 00:10:06,040 Speaker 1: Part of me was like, I feel you man, because 143 00:10:07,679 --> 00:10:09,439 Speaker 1: I really mean the part about I wouldn't pick a 144 00:10:09,440 --> 00:10:11,559 Speaker 1: different kid. I make a lot of jokes in the fullpit, 145 00:10:11,640 --> 00:10:15,320 Speaker 1: but you know, being a dad is to me, it's 146 00:10:15,480 --> 00:10:18,280 Speaker 1: the greatest privilege other than being Holly's husband, even more 147 00:10:18,320 --> 00:10:21,480 Speaker 1: than being your pastor. Yes, yes, yes, yes, I would 148 00:10:21,520 --> 00:10:23,360 Speaker 1: let you'll all go to hell before I would let 149 00:10:23,360 --> 00:10:26,079 Speaker 1: one of my kids grow up without an active dad. 150 00:10:26,160 --> 00:10:28,160 Speaker 1: That's just a fact. And I'm not even saying it's right, 151 00:10:28,200 --> 00:10:33,360 Speaker 1: but that's how I feel about it. One guy said 152 00:10:33,400 --> 00:10:35,800 Speaker 1: to me one of the kids baseball games, I was 153 00:10:35,840 --> 00:10:38,440 Speaker 1: getting kind of fired up. Nothing really bad at the umpire, 154 00:10:38,520 --> 00:10:41,200 Speaker 1: but I was kind of, you know, making myself known 155 00:10:41,360 --> 00:10:43,480 Speaker 1: because he made a bad call on my kid. And 156 00:10:43,520 --> 00:10:44,960 Speaker 1: one of the other parents said, I thought you were 157 00:10:45,000 --> 00:10:48,439 Speaker 1: supposed to be a pastor, and I said, but right now, 158 00:10:48,440 --> 00:10:51,440 Speaker 1: I'm a dad. And I went back to yelling at 159 00:10:51,480 --> 00:10:56,280 Speaker 1: the umpire. Right now, you could take my ordination certificate. 160 00:10:56,280 --> 00:10:58,800 Speaker 1: I don't care, man, I'm a dad right now, but 161 00:10:58,880 --> 00:11:01,439 Speaker 1: I do think and when it comes to your kids, 162 00:11:01,480 --> 00:11:04,840 Speaker 1: like how crazy it can be that I thought the 163 00:11:04,880 --> 00:11:07,600 Speaker 1: same thing. Graham was just kidding, obviously when he said 164 00:11:07,600 --> 00:11:09,200 Speaker 1: that he knows I'm the greatest dad of all time. 165 00:11:09,240 --> 00:11:14,600 Speaker 1: But he said what I fear sometimes I think they 166 00:11:14,640 --> 00:11:19,920 Speaker 1: could do better with a different dad. And not to 167 00:11:19,960 --> 00:11:22,200 Speaker 1: go so deep, so quick on y'all, but you know, 168 00:11:22,240 --> 00:11:24,000 Speaker 1: I think every parent has thought it before. I don't 169 00:11:24,040 --> 00:11:28,320 Speaker 1: want to pass this on to you. I don't want to. 170 00:11:29,240 --> 00:11:32,280 Speaker 1: I don't want you to be later in life showing 171 00:11:32,360 --> 00:11:35,920 Speaker 1: up for something, not having the tuition to pay for 172 00:11:35,960 --> 00:11:37,480 Speaker 1: a lesson that I should have taught you when you 173 00:11:37,480 --> 00:11:39,120 Speaker 1: were twelve, but I didn't know I was supposed to 174 00:11:39,120 --> 00:11:42,680 Speaker 1: teach you. And it's nerve wracking. And that's why I 175 00:11:42,679 --> 00:11:44,560 Speaker 1: want to cry when I walk by him sometimes, because 176 00:11:44,600 --> 00:11:46,920 Speaker 1: I'm like, you are so much better of a kid 177 00:11:46,920 --> 00:11:48,839 Speaker 1: than I am of a parent, and I just don't 178 00:11:48,840 --> 00:11:50,800 Speaker 1: want to mess this up for you. And it's a 179 00:11:50,840 --> 00:11:53,120 Speaker 1: real feeling. And I know this isn't Father's Day or 180 00:11:53,200 --> 00:11:56,679 Speaker 1: Mother's Day, but it's my kid's sixteenth birthday. And this 181 00:11:57,200 --> 00:11:59,600 Speaker 1: dad and this passage got me thinking of all the 182 00:11:59,600 --> 00:12:03,360 Speaker 1: different ways that Graham was right. You know, maybe you 183 00:12:03,400 --> 00:12:05,960 Speaker 1: should have a better dad. We watched a Space Gym 184 00:12:06,440 --> 00:12:09,960 Speaker 1: two the other night, and I thought to myself, how 185 00:12:10,040 --> 00:12:13,480 Speaker 1: much better would Graham's life be if Lebron were his dad, like, 186 00:12:13,559 --> 00:12:16,720 Speaker 1: what's inside of him that will never come out? Because 187 00:12:16,760 --> 00:12:19,880 Speaker 1: I'm five to nine, right, So I'm punishing myself for 188 00:12:19,960 --> 00:12:32,040 Speaker 1: genetics that have nothing to do with my decision. I 189 00:12:32,080 --> 00:12:34,560 Speaker 1: don't wonder if Jesus ever looked at the disciples and 190 00:12:34,600 --> 00:12:39,760 Speaker 1: thought I could do a whole lot more with different disciples, 191 00:12:40,400 --> 00:12:44,200 Speaker 1: because you see it in the passage. Jesus wasn't always 192 00:12:44,360 --> 00:12:48,680 Speaker 1: feeding little children Captain D's happy meals, regardless of the 193 00:12:48,679 --> 00:12:51,360 Speaker 1: selected Bible stories that you've had cherry pick for you 194 00:12:51,440 --> 00:12:54,520 Speaker 1: to personify Jesus to always be so patient that he 195 00:12:54,600 --> 00:12:58,320 Speaker 1: never corrected anyone in the passage I just read you, 196 00:12:58,520 --> 00:13:02,760 Speaker 1: and I'm talking seven minutes ago. When I started the sermon, Jesus, 197 00:13:02,920 --> 00:13:08,680 Speaker 1: your Savior, your loving arm Savior, your sheep stroking Savior, 198 00:13:09,120 --> 00:13:12,600 Speaker 1: your good shepherd Savior, your let the children come to 199 00:13:12,679 --> 00:13:15,840 Speaker 1: me Savior, said something that every parent in this room 200 00:13:15,840 --> 00:13:20,120 Speaker 1: has said before. How long shall I put up with you? 201 00:13:23,800 --> 00:13:26,760 Speaker 1: Made me wonder do you ever feel that way about me? 202 00:13:27,600 --> 00:13:32,640 Speaker 1: Heavenly Daddy, Like if you could pick all the preachers 203 00:13:32,679 --> 00:13:35,240 Speaker 1: in the world to be in this pulpit today and 204 00:13:35,320 --> 00:13:39,080 Speaker 1: line them all, the forty one year old preachers, all 205 00:13:39,120 --> 00:13:42,520 Speaker 1: the forty one year old five nine preachers. Would you 206 00:13:42,559 --> 00:13:54,120 Speaker 1: have put me in this pulpit? Sometimes I can't figure 207 00:13:54,120 --> 00:13:56,960 Speaker 1: out did he pick me? Or is he putting up 208 00:13:56,960 --> 00:14:05,800 Speaker 1: with me? Because you know, like I think that I 209 00:14:05,880 --> 00:14:13,320 Speaker 1: am what I do. I am what I do. The 210 00:14:13,400 --> 00:14:16,440 Speaker 1: disciples here stand on the other can work? Can we 211 00:14:16,480 --> 00:14:18,760 Speaker 1: work backwards through the passage, because there's a lot to 212 00:14:18,800 --> 00:14:21,240 Speaker 1: talk about, the only thing you really need to know 213 00:14:21,240 --> 00:14:23,920 Speaker 1: about what happened right before this miracle for the lesson 214 00:14:23,960 --> 00:14:30,360 Speaker 1: today is that Jesus has just taken his favorite three disciples, Peter, James, 215 00:14:30,360 --> 00:14:34,240 Speaker 1: and John up on the mountain to see him transformed 216 00:14:35,320 --> 00:14:37,760 Speaker 1: when they get back down the mountain. And this might 217 00:14:37,800 --> 00:14:40,920 Speaker 1: remind you of Moses coming down Mount Sinai with ten 218 00:14:40,960 --> 00:14:43,600 Speaker 1: commandments and the children of Israel or dance and naked 219 00:14:43,640 --> 00:14:46,920 Speaker 1: around a caf like you can't leave these disciples alone 220 00:14:47,000 --> 00:14:50,680 Speaker 1: for seven days. And they're fighting with the teachers of 221 00:14:50,720 --> 00:14:54,400 Speaker 1: the Law, arguing about something that they were very capable 222 00:14:54,440 --> 00:14:58,200 Speaker 1: of doing but didn't exactly accomplish. And Jesus is explaining 223 00:14:58,240 --> 00:15:01,400 Speaker 1: to them the root of their failure, and he says, 224 00:15:02,040 --> 00:15:05,480 Speaker 1: the reason you couldn't drive it out this evil spirit 225 00:15:05,560 --> 00:15:09,120 Speaker 1: who possessed this boy who has been thrown into fire 226 00:15:09,200 --> 00:15:12,200 Speaker 1: and water, and whose life is on the line. The 227 00:15:12,280 --> 00:15:16,080 Speaker 1: reason you couldn't do it is because this kind of 228 00:15:16,160 --> 00:15:25,160 Speaker 1: situation can only be fixed by prayer. Let me point 229 00:15:25,200 --> 00:15:29,880 Speaker 1: out the obvious. I know you're thinking it. If it 230 00:15:29,880 --> 00:15:34,840 Speaker 1: can only be driven out by prayer, why didn't Jesus 231 00:15:34,920 --> 00:15:40,960 Speaker 1: pray before he cast the spirit out? I'm sure he did, 232 00:15:41,760 --> 00:15:48,960 Speaker 1: Bester Furick, I'm sure he did. Let me see, no, Jesus, look, 233 00:15:49,120 --> 00:15:52,200 Speaker 1: the boy said. The father said, I do believe. Help 234 00:15:52,240 --> 00:15:54,280 Speaker 1: my belief. And Jesus saw a crowd was running, and 235 00:15:54,320 --> 00:15:57,800 Speaker 1: he rebuked the impure spirit, you deafen, mute spirit. He said, 236 00:15:57,840 --> 00:16:01,080 Speaker 1: I command you come out of him and never enter 237 00:16:01,160 --> 00:16:03,440 Speaker 1: him again. And the spirit didn't like it, but he 238 00:16:03,520 --> 00:16:06,680 Speaker 1: had to go. It didn't want to go, but it 239 00:16:06,720 --> 00:16:08,120 Speaker 1: had to go. Put up a fight, but it had 240 00:16:08,160 --> 00:16:11,280 Speaker 1: to go. And the disciples said, why couldn't we do that? 241 00:16:11,320 --> 00:16:13,120 Speaker 1: Because they've done a lot of amazing things, They've healed 242 00:16:13,120 --> 00:16:14,760 Speaker 1: a lot of people. Why couldn't we do it? And 243 00:16:14,760 --> 00:16:17,200 Speaker 1: she said you had to pray, But he didn't pray. 244 00:16:18,360 --> 00:16:24,040 Speaker 1: He just did it, didn't pray. Maybe Jesus isn't so 245 00:16:24,160 --> 00:16:30,040 Speaker 1: much talking about the activity of prayer as the attitude 246 00:16:30,040 --> 00:16:35,320 Speaker 1: of prayer. Maybe he's not talking about the technique. If 247 00:16:35,360 --> 00:16:37,400 Speaker 1: you would have said the right words, you know, if 248 00:16:37,440 --> 00:16:41,040 Speaker 1: you would have done the right whatever you grow up in, 249 00:16:41,960 --> 00:16:43,480 Speaker 1: if you would have done that, if you would have 250 00:16:43,480 --> 00:16:47,520 Speaker 1: done this, you could have had the result. No, it 251 00:16:47,560 --> 00:16:51,040 Speaker 1: seems like the disciples in this particular passage of scripture 252 00:16:52,040 --> 00:16:58,000 Speaker 1: have confused the power with the source. Because when Jesus 253 00:16:58,080 --> 00:17:01,720 Speaker 1: gets down the mountain, they're arguing with the teachers of 254 00:17:01,760 --> 00:17:06,880 Speaker 1: the law. So here's what's happened. They have confused their 255 00:17:07,000 --> 00:17:11,720 Speaker 1: ability to do it with their dependence on the one 256 00:17:11,800 --> 00:17:21,720 Speaker 1: who can enable them. You are not it. Maybe a 257 00:17:21,760 --> 00:17:27,960 Speaker 1: little pride started entering into the disciples. You know, Oh, 258 00:17:28,119 --> 00:17:30,919 Speaker 1: look how God used us last time. If you're not 259 00:17:31,080 --> 00:17:35,200 Speaker 1: careful in your life, you will start to believe that 260 00:17:35,240 --> 00:17:39,879 Speaker 1: you are what you do. One scripture that got my 261 00:17:39,920 --> 00:17:42,800 Speaker 1: attention one time was about Jacob and the Old Testament 262 00:17:42,880 --> 00:17:44,719 Speaker 1: and just came to my mind when I was studying today, 263 00:17:45,000 --> 00:17:47,080 Speaker 1: and I thought I should share it with you. Because 264 00:17:47,600 --> 00:17:50,440 Speaker 1: when he was in the wound with his twin brother Esau, 265 00:17:50,720 --> 00:17:54,240 Speaker 1: he was fighting for position with Esau, and he tried 266 00:17:54,280 --> 00:17:56,360 Speaker 1: to come out first so that he could get all 267 00:17:56,400 --> 00:18:00,200 Speaker 1: the blessings that the firstborn gets. But it didn't exactly 268 00:18:00,240 --> 00:18:03,240 Speaker 1: work because instead of coming out first, he came out 269 00:18:03,240 --> 00:18:08,399 Speaker 1: being named after his aspiration, Jacob Deceiver, supplanter, heel grabber. 270 00:18:09,200 --> 00:18:12,320 Speaker 1: Now Jacob grows up and he does this little trick 271 00:18:12,400 --> 00:18:15,040 Speaker 1: thing where he tricks his brother out of his birthright 272 00:18:15,080 --> 00:18:17,000 Speaker 1: and his blessing, and he learns how to play a 273 00:18:17,000 --> 00:18:20,359 Speaker 1: certain game, and he even wears this really willy suit 274 00:18:20,480 --> 00:18:22,360 Speaker 1: to pretend to be his brother so that his blindfather 275 00:18:22,440 --> 00:18:24,080 Speaker 1: Isaac will think that he's blessing the older one, but 276 00:18:24,080 --> 00:18:25,719 Speaker 1: he's really blessing the younger one. Because you can learn 277 00:18:25,720 --> 00:18:27,480 Speaker 1: how to trick people with stuff you can, you can 278 00:18:27,600 --> 00:18:31,720 Speaker 1: actually act like it and not be it. That's the 279 00:18:31,880 --> 00:18:34,560 Speaker 1: message here to the point that when Jacob had to 280 00:18:34,640 --> 00:18:37,159 Speaker 1: run away from his brother Esau and go stay with 281 00:18:37,240 --> 00:18:39,640 Speaker 1: his uncle Laban, and he was coming back to make 282 00:18:39,680 --> 00:18:43,840 Speaker 1: peace with Esau after twenty years away from his homeland, 283 00:18:44,359 --> 00:18:47,280 Speaker 1: the Bible says something really interesting in Genesis thirty two, 284 00:18:47,800 --> 00:18:51,280 Speaker 1: verse twenty. He said to his messengers, be sure to 285 00:18:51,320 --> 00:18:55,919 Speaker 1: say your servant Jacob is coming behind us, For he 286 00:18:56,040 --> 00:18:59,480 Speaker 1: thought I will pacify my brother, the one I trick. 287 00:19:00,119 --> 00:19:03,439 Speaker 1: I will pacify the issue. I will pacify the thing 288 00:19:03,480 --> 00:19:06,000 Speaker 1: I need to deal with. I will pacify the thing 289 00:19:06,000 --> 00:19:09,520 Speaker 1: I've been running from. I'm going to preach today. I'm 290 00:19:09,520 --> 00:19:14,639 Speaker 1: going to preach today a man. I will pacify my problem. 291 00:19:14,680 --> 00:19:18,919 Speaker 1: With these gifts. He sent out all these animals that 292 00:19:19,000 --> 00:19:21,960 Speaker 1: he had accumulated. He sent out all these clothes that 293 00:19:22,040 --> 00:19:24,760 Speaker 1: he wanted to offer to Esau, and he sent put 294 00:19:24,800 --> 00:19:28,320 Speaker 1: it back off. He sent his gifts ahead. Say it, 295 00:19:28,640 --> 00:19:33,080 Speaker 1: He sent his gifts ahead. One more time. He sent 296 00:19:33,600 --> 00:19:37,040 Speaker 1: his gift ahead. And when I see him, perhaps he'll 297 00:19:37,080 --> 00:19:39,240 Speaker 1: receive me. And I look at Verse twenty one. So 298 00:19:39,480 --> 00:19:44,400 Speaker 1: Jacob's gifts went on ahead of him. The things went 299 00:19:44,440 --> 00:19:48,320 Speaker 1: ahead of him. The things that represented his status went 300 00:19:48,400 --> 00:19:52,560 Speaker 1: ahead of him. The things that were impressive when ahead 301 00:19:52,560 --> 00:19:56,359 Speaker 1: of him. Because maybe Esau will see all these blessings 302 00:19:56,359 --> 00:19:59,679 Speaker 1: that I've acquired, and maybe if I send my gift 303 00:20:00,160 --> 00:20:05,960 Speaker 1: he will accept me. So I'm sending it so that 304 00:20:06,080 --> 00:20:10,000 Speaker 1: he will receive me. But here's the separation. Watch this, 305 00:20:10,720 --> 00:20:18,679 Speaker 1: you are not your gift. His gifts went ahead, but 306 00:20:18,840 --> 00:20:21,359 Speaker 1: he one more time. I'm going to leave this alone 307 00:20:21,359 --> 00:20:24,240 Speaker 1: in a minute. But he himself spent the night in 308 00:20:24,320 --> 00:20:27,960 Speaker 1: the camp when I saw that, it gave me such 309 00:20:28,040 --> 00:20:31,399 Speaker 1: a clear picture of what we do when we confuse 310 00:20:32,000 --> 00:20:40,760 Speaker 1: ourselves with our stuff, ourselves with our gift, ourselves with 311 00:20:40,800 --> 00:20:43,960 Speaker 1: our ability. Did the disciples come to a point where 312 00:20:43,960 --> 00:20:47,360 Speaker 1: they begin to believe that they could do ministry without Jesus? 313 00:20:49,280 --> 00:20:52,679 Speaker 1: And how many times have I found myself in a 314 00:20:52,720 --> 00:20:56,359 Speaker 1: state of failure because I tried to do what God 315 00:20:56,440 --> 00:21:01,400 Speaker 1: called me to do without him. You begin to believe 316 00:21:01,400 --> 00:21:05,960 Speaker 1: you can just do stuff I work last time and 317 00:21:06,040 --> 00:21:12,040 Speaker 1: do it again. You know what that's called manipulation? Huh. 318 00:21:12,160 --> 00:21:14,560 Speaker 1: You have me to say more about that, I'm honestly 319 00:21:14,600 --> 00:21:18,479 Speaker 1: a lot more about that. You are not your gift. 320 00:21:19,440 --> 00:21:21,920 Speaker 1: When Jacob was left alone from all of his stuff, 321 00:21:22,040 --> 00:21:24,280 Speaker 1: he had to wrestle with who he was. And that's 322 00:21:24,320 --> 00:21:26,760 Speaker 1: the season of life some of us are in right now. 323 00:21:27,920 --> 00:21:29,720 Speaker 1: Is that we realize at the end of the day, 324 00:21:30,080 --> 00:21:32,639 Speaker 1: I can drive it, but eventually I have to park it. 325 00:21:34,800 --> 00:21:38,560 Speaker 1: I can wear it, but eventually nobody else's name can 326 00:21:38,600 --> 00:21:41,959 Speaker 1: make me feel sure of who I am. If I 327 00:21:42,040 --> 00:21:44,960 Speaker 1: wear a brand name on the outside, but I don't 328 00:21:45,119 --> 00:21:48,560 Speaker 1: know it on the inside. If my identity is given 329 00:21:48,680 --> 00:21:51,840 Speaker 1: through a gift that I have, or even a label 330 00:21:51,880 --> 00:21:55,000 Speaker 1: that people confer on me, I will always be a 331 00:21:55,119 --> 00:22:03,680 Speaker 1: slave to their label. It says. The other disciples were 332 00:22:03,760 --> 00:22:08,120 Speaker 1: standing there arguing with the teachers of the law, arguing 333 00:22:08,160 --> 00:22:11,360 Speaker 1: and fighting, while a young boy is dying, and Jesus said, 334 00:22:11,440 --> 00:22:13,800 Speaker 1: how long do I have to put up with y'all? 335 00:22:15,800 --> 00:22:20,240 Speaker 1: I picked y'all, but I'm sick of y'all. Heavenly Father, 336 00:22:20,400 --> 00:22:22,959 Speaker 1: deliver me from stupid. You haven't pray anything like this, 337 00:22:26,640 --> 00:22:32,399 Speaker 1: and yet God, God is not like Graham. God isn't 338 00:22:32,480 --> 00:22:37,760 Speaker 1: still shopping his options on you. I read something in 339 00:22:37,840 --> 00:22:41,399 Speaker 1: Ephesians too that helped me one time. That says, for 340 00:22:41,520 --> 00:22:46,120 Speaker 1: it is by grace you have been saved. Woo. How 341 00:22:46,160 --> 00:22:50,720 Speaker 1: many are really glad about that? Right there? Let me 342 00:22:50,800 --> 00:22:52,960 Speaker 1: show you how it could have been without Jesus, without 343 00:22:53,000 --> 00:22:55,400 Speaker 1: the blood of Christ, without the mercy of God. If 344 00:22:55,400 --> 00:22:57,240 Speaker 1: God were not slow to anger and bounding in love, 345 00:22:57,520 --> 00:23:01,480 Speaker 1: it could say by behavior you are saved, and you'd 346 00:23:01,480 --> 00:23:03,600 Speaker 1: be burning up your butt wouldn't be able to be 347 00:23:03,640 --> 00:23:05,600 Speaker 1: in that seat right now. You'd be burning with the 348 00:23:05,760 --> 00:23:09,760 Speaker 1: fire of judgment right now, little sneaky self, I know 349 00:23:09,800 --> 00:23:11,560 Speaker 1: what you've been up to. If it was by behavior 350 00:23:11,600 --> 00:23:15,200 Speaker 1: you have been saved. But he said, by grace, you've 351 00:23:15,200 --> 00:23:21,119 Speaker 1: been saved. Watch us through faith. And this is not 352 00:23:21,240 --> 00:23:27,840 Speaker 1: from yourself. It is the gift of God, not of work, 353 00:23:27,920 --> 00:23:31,760 Speaker 1: so that no one can boast. But Verse ten really 354 00:23:31,760 --> 00:23:34,240 Speaker 1: sealed the deal for me because that made me happy 355 00:23:34,240 --> 00:23:37,639 Speaker 1: to think about is God's gift not mine that identifies me? 356 00:23:39,960 --> 00:23:41,680 Speaker 1: I think I need to teach this more in the church. 357 00:23:41,920 --> 00:23:43,960 Speaker 1: I don't think we understand what it means to have 358 00:23:44,119 --> 00:23:49,480 Speaker 1: imputed righteousness, our standing in Christ. I think we still 359 00:23:49,520 --> 00:23:53,119 Speaker 1: secretly think that some days God doesn't even want to 360 00:23:53,160 --> 00:23:58,199 Speaker 1: talk to you. I think we still secretly think that 361 00:23:58,240 --> 00:24:01,040 Speaker 1: we can hit a certain point where we actually deserve 362 00:24:01,119 --> 00:24:03,040 Speaker 1: and are worthy of the grace of God. So we 363 00:24:03,119 --> 00:24:06,440 Speaker 1: haven't truly accepted Ephesians to it. Yet we still can't 364 00:24:06,480 --> 00:24:12,080 Speaker 1: receive his gift because we're still identifying ourselves by ours. 365 00:24:13,960 --> 00:24:16,439 Speaker 1: He said it's not a work, so that no one 366 00:24:16,720 --> 00:24:22,320 Speaker 1: can boast. The disciples are down there arguing because they 367 00:24:22,359 --> 00:24:26,280 Speaker 1: thought they were the work they were doing. Now Verse 368 00:24:26,320 --> 00:24:28,760 Speaker 1: ten is awesome. You thought eight and nine were good. 369 00:24:28,960 --> 00:24:33,400 Speaker 1: Look at verse ten. This is a prime cut. Baby, 370 00:24:34,480 --> 00:24:41,520 Speaker 1: you ready for we are God's handiwork created in Christ 371 00:24:41,640 --> 00:24:47,840 Speaker 1: Jesus to do good works which God prepared in advance 372 00:24:48,000 --> 00:24:54,200 Speaker 1: for us to do. That blessed me to know that 373 00:24:54,280 --> 00:24:59,359 Speaker 1: God created the work for me to do before he 374 00:24:59,440 --> 00:25:04,080 Speaker 1: created me me to do it with diverse again, it said, 375 00:25:04,160 --> 00:25:08,520 Speaker 1: God prepared the work in advance. We define ourselves by 376 00:25:08,520 --> 00:25:11,040 Speaker 1: the work that we do. That's why for some of you, 377 00:25:11,080 --> 00:25:12,800 Speaker 1: the last year and a half has been the hardest, 378 00:25:13,119 --> 00:25:15,600 Speaker 1: because either you've been unemployed for the first time in 379 00:25:15,640 --> 00:25:19,160 Speaker 1: your life or your position has been shifted. I told 380 00:25:19,160 --> 00:25:22,399 Speaker 1: our campus pastors a few months ago how hard it 381 00:25:22,560 --> 00:25:24,639 Speaker 1: was to be a pastor when there were no people 382 00:25:24,640 --> 00:25:28,680 Speaker 1: in the building, when there were no people to pastor, 383 00:25:28,920 --> 00:25:31,680 Speaker 1: and you can't lay hands on people, and you can't 384 00:25:31,720 --> 00:25:34,520 Speaker 1: pray for people touching or they'll come lock you up. 385 00:25:35,119 --> 00:25:37,840 Speaker 1: The CDC will shut you down. And that's fine, and 386 00:25:37,840 --> 00:25:39,880 Speaker 1: that's good to be healthy. But I talked to them 387 00:25:39,920 --> 00:25:43,720 Speaker 1: about how difficult it is when you've identified yourself one 388 00:25:43,760 --> 00:25:46,840 Speaker 1: way in one season to have that strip. But the 389 00:25:46,880 --> 00:25:50,040 Speaker 1: Bible says that Jacob got the greatest blessing of his 390 00:25:50,160 --> 00:25:54,879 Speaker 1: life when he was stripped of his gifts and left 391 00:25:55,359 --> 00:25:59,320 Speaker 1: with himself. So if it gets me to the core 392 00:25:59,400 --> 00:26:02,720 Speaker 1: of my self off to realize that before God gave 393 00:26:02,800 --> 00:26:05,720 Speaker 1: me the work to do, he created a work with 394 00:26:05,840 --> 00:26:09,640 Speaker 1: my name on it. God isn't like Graham. He isn't shopping. 395 00:26:09,800 --> 00:26:11,800 Speaker 1: Would they be a better parent, would they be a 396 00:26:11,840 --> 00:26:14,200 Speaker 1: better fit for this opportunity? Huh? I wonder if I 397 00:26:14,200 --> 00:26:16,720 Speaker 1: could get somebody a little bit smarter, a little bit taller. 398 00:26:16,800 --> 00:26:18,280 Speaker 1: I wish I was a baller. I wish I had 399 00:26:18,320 --> 00:26:20,840 Speaker 1: a good No, that's another era and Todd. God's not 400 00:26:20,960 --> 00:26:23,919 Speaker 1: doing all that. God doesn't pick people like people pick people. 401 00:26:24,520 --> 00:26:28,600 Speaker 1: God formed the role, and then he filled you with 402 00:26:28,760 --> 00:26:32,240 Speaker 1: his spirit to do the thing he formed you to do. 403 00:26:37,080 --> 00:26:43,840 Speaker 1: This is where theology becomes therapy. See it. This is 404 00:26:43,880 --> 00:26:50,040 Speaker 1: where I understand that I'm not it. I'm not it. 405 00:26:50,080 --> 00:26:53,000 Speaker 1: For years I preached this passage, and I would share 406 00:26:53,119 --> 00:26:56,440 Speaker 1: it's a difficult passage to preach, right because okay, okay, 407 00:26:56,520 --> 00:26:58,359 Speaker 1: the first group of Christians, they want to make it 408 00:26:58,440 --> 00:27:01,119 Speaker 1: all about foaming at the mouth and all about the 409 00:27:01,160 --> 00:27:03,960 Speaker 1: symptoms of the boy and demon possession. And I've seen 410 00:27:04,000 --> 00:27:07,800 Speaker 1: all of that. I've been preaching since I was sixteen, 411 00:27:07,840 --> 00:27:11,440 Speaker 1: so I've seen every manifestation of evil. I think I've 412 00:27:11,480 --> 00:27:14,719 Speaker 1: seen every category, if not every specific one, I've at 413 00:27:14,800 --> 00:27:18,000 Speaker 1: least been in the neighborhood. Some of it I saw 414 00:27:19,200 --> 00:27:22,640 Speaker 1: even in my own dad, when he was dying. We'd 415 00:27:22,640 --> 00:27:26,000 Speaker 1: be like, that's not him, that's not him. It was 416 00:27:26,440 --> 00:27:29,560 Speaker 1: partially he died of als. It was partially the sickness, 417 00:27:31,000 --> 00:27:35,080 Speaker 1: It was partially the I think the medication, the loss 418 00:27:35,119 --> 00:27:40,240 Speaker 1: of control. Part of it is the crazy that you 419 00:27:40,280 --> 00:27:44,120 Speaker 1: can keep down for most of your life and then 420 00:27:44,119 --> 00:27:46,360 Speaker 1: it just builds all this strength and comes back up 421 00:27:46,640 --> 00:27:49,600 Speaker 1: when it sees the door. And my dad had a 422 00:27:49,600 --> 00:27:52,639 Speaker 1: lot of crazy. Oh man, he start telling me stories 423 00:27:52,640 --> 00:27:54,280 Speaker 1: in the last year of his life, and I'm like, 424 00:27:54,600 --> 00:27:57,639 Speaker 1: how were you so normal compared to what you should 425 00:27:57,680 --> 00:28:00,520 Speaker 1: have been? And I thought he was crazy till I 426 00:28:00,600 --> 00:28:03,480 Speaker 1: understood the context of his crazy and realized he was 427 00:28:03,480 --> 00:28:05,560 Speaker 1: the most normal person on earth for the context of 428 00:28:05,600 --> 00:28:10,960 Speaker 1: crazy that he could have been. Look at somebody and say, 429 00:28:11,080 --> 00:28:14,040 Speaker 1: be nice to me. You don't know how bad I 430 00:28:14,200 --> 00:28:24,760 Speaker 1: could be. Be nice to me. You don't know if 431 00:28:24,800 --> 00:28:28,399 Speaker 1: you only knew what I wanted to do that I 432 00:28:28,520 --> 00:28:32,640 Speaker 1: don'd you you wouldn't judge me so much? After all, 433 00:28:33,040 --> 00:28:35,880 Speaker 1: there is a judge. But didn't you hear the preacher. 434 00:28:36,200 --> 00:28:40,120 Speaker 1: You are not it. You're not my judge, You're not 435 00:28:40,240 --> 00:28:42,480 Speaker 1: my jury. You loll get to tell me how far 436 00:28:42,560 --> 00:28:45,560 Speaker 1: I've come on my journey, how crazy God from where 437 00:28:45,600 --> 00:28:55,520 Speaker 1: I am? God made me. I'm his handywork. He's my manufacturer. 438 00:28:55,920 --> 00:28:59,360 Speaker 1: You are not the customer service hotline. I'm not calling 439 00:28:59,400 --> 00:29:08,760 Speaker 1: you about my detects. I'm bringing it to Jesus. There 440 00:29:08,880 --> 00:29:11,680 Speaker 1: is a power that can heal, there is a power 441 00:29:11,720 --> 00:29:14,920 Speaker 1: that can deliver, There is a power that can save. 442 00:29:15,320 --> 00:29:27,560 Speaker 1: And you are not it. Don't tell what the Holy 443 00:29:27,600 --> 00:29:29,160 Speaker 1: Spirit starts speaking to me. When I will say I 444 00:29:29,160 --> 00:29:31,040 Speaker 1: don't want to preach today, he said, you don't have 445 00:29:31,080 --> 00:29:39,640 Speaker 1: to those other preachers. You're not it. You know to 446 00:29:39,800 --> 00:29:42,640 Speaker 1: to to two letter word in the passage. Y'all were 447 00:29:42,680 --> 00:29:46,600 Speaker 1: laughing when I read it, because it's so funny. If 448 00:29:46,680 --> 00:29:54,360 Speaker 1: you can do anything, If you can do anything, how 449 00:29:54,360 --> 00:29:59,720 Speaker 1: long has he been like this? From childhood? He didn't 450 00:29:59,720 --> 00:30:05,600 Speaker 1: always say, if there's a good chance his father, if 451 00:30:05,640 --> 00:30:09,240 Speaker 1: he's the kind of man who has the instinct to 452 00:30:09,280 --> 00:30:12,560 Speaker 1: put up with the dumb disciples long enough to wait 453 00:30:12,600 --> 00:30:15,000 Speaker 1: on Jesus to get down the mountain, put up with 454 00:30:15,000 --> 00:30:18,200 Speaker 1: the arrogant Pharisees and Sadducees who are arguing with the disciples. 455 00:30:18,400 --> 00:30:20,120 Speaker 1: I gotta put this in because I'm gonna forget it 456 00:30:20,160 --> 00:30:21,920 Speaker 1: once I take this next turn. There's no coming back 457 00:30:21,920 --> 00:30:23,680 Speaker 1: to this. But I gotta tell you. I gotta tell 458 00:30:23,720 --> 00:30:31,720 Speaker 1: you this. Sometimes you are fighting against them and the 459 00:30:31,760 --> 00:30:37,880 Speaker 1: real enemy is it That first verse said that they 460 00:30:37,960 --> 00:30:41,120 Speaker 1: were arguing with the teachers of the law while the 461 00:30:41,160 --> 00:30:46,200 Speaker 1: spirit was wreaking havoc on this boy. Sometimes we are 462 00:30:46,200 --> 00:30:51,080 Speaker 1: fighting somebody when we really ought to be fighting a spirit. 463 00:30:55,880 --> 00:30:58,920 Speaker 1: Everybody that's been married under two years two years are 464 00:30:59,000 --> 00:31:05,720 Speaker 1: under been married? Stand up. Sometimes she's gonna be the 465 00:31:05,720 --> 00:31:09,080 Speaker 1: one that you're frustrated at. But y'all got to square 466 00:31:09,160 --> 00:31:13,560 Speaker 1: up together, man, y'all got to square up together, because 467 00:31:13,720 --> 00:31:15,720 Speaker 1: it's this is what the Lord showed me one time 468 00:31:15,720 --> 00:31:19,240 Speaker 1: with Holly. It's not me versus you right now, it's 469 00:31:19,360 --> 00:31:29,840 Speaker 1: us versus it. You'll hear me. I know y'all don't 470 00:31:29,840 --> 00:31:33,560 Speaker 1: ever fight, but if you ever did, well, am, I yeah, 471 00:31:33,680 --> 00:31:35,680 Speaker 1: you could sit down. I know it's embarrassing standing up 472 00:31:35,720 --> 00:31:38,120 Speaker 1: in church. The people with the other campuses aren't even 473 00:31:38,120 --> 00:31:40,040 Speaker 1: doing it. They're like he's on a screen. I'm not 474 00:31:40,120 --> 00:31:46,360 Speaker 1: doing money. Sayst hate this guy, but watch y'all we 475 00:31:46,440 --> 00:31:48,240 Speaker 1: fight against them and not it. I was talking to 476 00:31:48,280 --> 00:31:49,920 Speaker 1: somebody I loved the other day and this came out 477 00:31:49,960 --> 00:31:51,360 Speaker 1: of my mouth. Oh, I wish I could take it back. 478 00:31:51,360 --> 00:31:52,560 Speaker 1: I wish I could have took it back. And I 479 00:31:52,560 --> 00:31:54,480 Speaker 1: said it, but I didn't really mean it. I said it, 480 00:31:54,480 --> 00:31:56,600 Speaker 1: but I was just frustrated in the moment. I said, 481 00:31:56,840 --> 00:32:00,200 Speaker 1: you're so negative, and I could see the color dre 482 00:32:00,320 --> 00:32:02,680 Speaker 1: now of their face. And the more we talked about it, 483 00:32:02,720 --> 00:32:05,520 Speaker 1: this is what the person said to me. Next time, 484 00:32:06,480 --> 00:32:08,440 Speaker 1: can you make it about what I did, not who 485 00:32:08,480 --> 00:32:14,480 Speaker 1: I am, because I can't fix it if it's who 486 00:32:14,520 --> 00:32:18,000 Speaker 1: I am. But if it's about what I did, we 487 00:32:18,040 --> 00:32:23,240 Speaker 1: can discuss it. So next time, will you say, man, 488 00:32:23,280 --> 00:32:26,800 Speaker 1: I feel like being kind of negative right now now? 489 00:32:26,840 --> 00:32:28,600 Speaker 1: It still would have pissed the person off. And I'm 490 00:32:28,640 --> 00:32:31,320 Speaker 1: sorry I said that word in my surmember back in 491 00:32:31,360 --> 00:32:35,320 Speaker 1: the rhythm here, but that would have made it about 492 00:32:35,360 --> 00:32:40,360 Speaker 1: the problem, not the person, and the devil wants us 493 00:32:40,440 --> 00:32:52,520 Speaker 1: arguing against them, so we never deal with it. I 494 00:32:52,600 --> 00:32:56,640 Speaker 1: have an enemy, but you're not it. You're not it 495 00:32:59,080 --> 00:33:02,640 Speaker 1: any meaning. I just heard that phrase, you are not it, 496 00:33:03,280 --> 00:33:08,920 Speaker 1: and the Father said, if you can do anything, if 497 00:33:09,320 --> 00:33:15,280 Speaker 1: you can't do anything, help us, help me. In fact, 498 00:33:15,280 --> 00:33:20,520 Speaker 1: he says something pretty powerful when Jesus said if if 499 00:33:22,800 --> 00:33:24,840 Speaker 1: I thought, I used to think he was insulted. But 500 00:33:26,440 --> 00:33:28,960 Speaker 1: did you know that this man's gift was an invitation? 501 00:33:31,840 --> 00:33:36,480 Speaker 1: The boy still got healed. The Lord didn't say, go 502 00:33:36,560 --> 00:33:40,520 Speaker 1: straighten out your theology, and when you get this if out. 503 00:33:41,200 --> 00:33:43,240 Speaker 1: I grew up in a time of ministry where people 504 00:33:43,280 --> 00:33:46,640 Speaker 1: taught that you had to show God your faith, and 505 00:33:46,680 --> 00:33:49,520 Speaker 1: if you showed him anything other than your faith, you know, 506 00:33:49,680 --> 00:33:51,760 Speaker 1: when you pray, you have to say, Lord, I enter 507 00:33:51,800 --> 00:33:53,800 Speaker 1: your gates with thanksgiving, and I enter your courts with praise. 508 00:33:53,840 --> 00:33:56,560 Speaker 1: But sometimes that left me standing outside the gate for 509 00:33:56,640 --> 00:33:58,680 Speaker 1: like six days out of seven during the week because 510 00:33:58,680 --> 00:34:02,800 Speaker 1: I didn't feel thankful and I didn't feel it's crazy 511 00:34:02,880 --> 00:34:05,360 Speaker 1: in this situation. I know what the Bible says, that 512 00:34:05,400 --> 00:34:06,880 Speaker 1: you should not doubt in your heart. And if your 513 00:34:06,920 --> 00:34:08,600 Speaker 1: double minded man unstable and all he does you like 514 00:34:08,600 --> 00:34:09,800 Speaker 1: tost in, dream with the wind and love not that 515 00:34:09,840 --> 00:34:11,320 Speaker 1: man think you receive anything from the Lord for his 516 00:34:11,400 --> 00:34:15,280 Speaker 1: double mind. I know the Bible, y'all, But Jesus didn't 517 00:34:15,280 --> 00:34:23,160 Speaker 1: penalize the man for his if I do believe, help 518 00:34:23,239 --> 00:34:28,080 Speaker 1: me overcome my unbelief. Now, this man's son is sick, 519 00:34:28,120 --> 00:34:31,360 Speaker 1: but there's something very healthy that's happening in this passage. 520 00:34:33,200 --> 00:34:36,560 Speaker 1: This is where the theology meets the therapy. You ready, 521 00:34:37,360 --> 00:34:44,920 Speaker 1: He separates his faith from his feelings. We are going 522 00:34:45,000 --> 00:34:49,960 Speaker 1: to have a million different feelings every day of our life. 523 00:34:51,080 --> 00:34:52,960 Speaker 1: We are going to go from feeling like even in 524 00:34:53,000 --> 00:34:56,280 Speaker 1: this service today. I don't know how many, but somebody, 525 00:34:56,320 --> 00:35:00,719 Speaker 1: probably at Gaston, probably Gaston, thought this is the best 526 00:35:00,760 --> 00:35:02,880 Speaker 1: thing I've ever heard in my life. This is exactly 527 00:35:02,960 --> 00:35:07,560 Speaker 1: what's for lunch. Wasn't even a breath, wasn't even a coma, 528 00:35:07,719 --> 00:35:12,080 Speaker 1: Just in the same sentence, God help my unbel We're 529 00:35:12,120 --> 00:35:20,279 Speaker 1: gonna go over to So what I noticed about the 530 00:35:20,320 --> 00:35:25,920 Speaker 1: man is he owned his unbelief, but he did not 531 00:35:26,160 --> 00:35:35,839 Speaker 1: identify himself with it. So I didn't see this when 532 00:35:35,880 --> 00:35:38,640 Speaker 1: I was when I was twenty eight preaching this text. 533 00:35:38,920 --> 00:35:41,480 Speaker 1: All I saw was the boy foaming and gnawing, and 534 00:35:41,520 --> 00:35:44,560 Speaker 1: I thought this was all about demons and evil. I 535 00:35:44,640 --> 00:35:46,440 Speaker 1: missed the point because I was so hung up on 536 00:35:46,480 --> 00:35:48,959 Speaker 1: the word if, and I was trying to eliminate the if, 537 00:35:49,200 --> 00:35:51,799 Speaker 1: and I was trying to eliminate the insecurity, and I 538 00:35:51,840 --> 00:35:53,600 Speaker 1: was trying to eliminate the doubt. And I was like, 539 00:35:53,640 --> 00:35:54,879 Speaker 1: if I could just get this out of my life, 540 00:35:54,920 --> 00:35:56,480 Speaker 1: I could just be a better person. You know, I 541 00:35:56,480 --> 00:35:59,799 Speaker 1: was still trying to qualify myself rather than understanding that 542 00:35:59,880 --> 00:36:03,479 Speaker 1: I was created for what God will qualify me for. 543 00:36:03,760 --> 00:36:07,280 Speaker 1: And if I'm available, my ability will never be the issue. 544 00:36:07,480 --> 00:36:14,319 Speaker 1: It's not about. If put verse twenty two on the screen, Oh, 545 00:36:14,400 --> 00:36:19,480 Speaker 1: this is so good, he said, it has often thrown 546 00:36:19,600 --> 00:36:25,279 Speaker 1: him into fire or water to kill him. But if 547 00:36:25,280 --> 00:36:28,680 Speaker 1: you can do anything, take pity on us and help us. 548 00:36:29,160 --> 00:36:33,319 Speaker 1: If the Lord told me to look at the other 549 00:36:33,360 --> 00:36:39,040 Speaker 1: two letter word in verse twenty two, he said it 550 00:36:39,040 --> 00:36:43,800 Speaker 1: it has often thrown him. Look how this father sees 551 00:36:43,840 --> 00:37:01,399 Speaker 1: his son. He knows that it is not him. That's 552 00:37:01,440 --> 00:37:05,000 Speaker 1: why it drives you crazy when your disciples are kids 553 00:37:05,520 --> 00:37:09,560 Speaker 1: are doing something that you know is so driven by 554 00:37:09,560 --> 00:37:15,040 Speaker 1: their amygdala. But you know, if I can keep you 555 00:37:15,040 --> 00:37:20,399 Speaker 1: because because I know you, I've seen you, and this 556 00:37:21,600 --> 00:37:27,160 Speaker 1: is not you. This isn't it. Your kids may not 557 00:37:27,239 --> 00:37:30,440 Speaker 1: be foaming at the mouth, that's fine. Don't get distracted 558 00:37:30,440 --> 00:37:34,320 Speaker 1: by the dynamics don't think this is about a demon possession. 559 00:37:34,480 --> 00:37:40,799 Speaker 1: This is about everybody's it. I could elaborate on that, 560 00:37:41,960 --> 00:37:49,840 Speaker 1: but let me just say this. Everybody has an it. 561 00:37:49,840 --> 00:37:54,160 Speaker 1: It has thrown him into the fire, it has thrown 562 00:37:54,239 --> 00:37:56,640 Speaker 1: him into the water. No, Pastor, I don't have anything 563 00:37:56,680 --> 00:37:58,640 Speaker 1: like that. Now. I never just went and just jumped 564 00:37:58,640 --> 00:38:00,560 Speaker 1: in swimming pool. Now I do have good I don't 565 00:38:00,560 --> 00:38:02,520 Speaker 1: go in there with the alligators in there. I don't 566 00:38:02,520 --> 00:38:04,640 Speaker 1: gonna touch fire. Man. I know what's on them better 567 00:38:04,640 --> 00:38:14,040 Speaker 1: than that. But you're drowning in debt. It you're you're 568 00:38:14,360 --> 00:38:18,080 Speaker 1: you complain. I appreaciate myself right now. Not you don't 569 00:38:18,080 --> 00:38:23,240 Speaker 1: take it hard. See everybody else is. It is something 570 00:38:23,280 --> 00:38:28,520 Speaker 1: you can see, but you're it. Help me, Holy ghosts, 571 00:38:28,560 --> 00:38:34,440 Speaker 1: help me, help me. Lord. You're it is hidden because 572 00:38:34,480 --> 00:38:39,200 Speaker 1: you think it's you. But you are God's workmanship. You 573 00:38:39,239 --> 00:38:42,879 Speaker 1: are a new creation. You are not a body. You 574 00:38:42,920 --> 00:38:46,360 Speaker 1: are a spirit in a body. You understand what I'm saying. 575 00:38:47,239 --> 00:38:52,200 Speaker 1: So it is not you, and you are not it. 576 00:38:54,560 --> 00:39:02,360 Speaker 1: You are not it. No, the devil made me do it. 577 00:39:02,400 --> 00:39:04,839 Speaker 1: How many times have we used that excuse? Ah? The 578 00:39:04,880 --> 00:39:08,360 Speaker 1: devil took my joy. The devil gave me a flat tire. No, 579 00:39:08,560 --> 00:39:10,640 Speaker 1: that was a nail, and you knew the tire pressure 580 00:39:10,719 --> 00:39:12,839 Speaker 1: was low, and it was a construction site anyway, and 581 00:39:12,880 --> 00:39:15,400 Speaker 1: you weren't paying attention. The devil made me late. You 582 00:39:15,440 --> 00:39:18,520 Speaker 1: slew seven times. I'm not talking about blaming the devil 583 00:39:18,680 --> 00:39:21,480 Speaker 1: for decisions that we should make ourselves. I'm just saying 584 00:39:21,680 --> 00:39:26,160 Speaker 1: that even at the root of what you did, we 585 00:39:26,200 --> 00:39:28,560 Speaker 1: get so distracted by the behavior foam at the teeth, 586 00:39:28,600 --> 00:39:35,279 Speaker 1: become rigid. But what has it robbed you off? God, 587 00:39:35,360 --> 00:39:38,520 Speaker 1: it's heavy, man, because it takes from you. It takes 588 00:39:38,520 --> 00:39:41,839 Speaker 1: from you. I'm talking to every person who who has 589 00:39:41,920 --> 00:39:50,719 Speaker 1: been in a battle with depression. You are not it. 590 00:39:50,719 --> 00:39:53,480 Speaker 1: It might it might be throwing you around right now, 591 00:39:54,080 --> 00:39:55,880 Speaker 1: because you know, you get happy for a minute and 592 00:39:55,880 --> 00:39:58,080 Speaker 1: then you're like, God, I can't even hold happy for 593 00:39:58,120 --> 00:40:03,600 Speaker 1: five minutes. I guess I'm just depressed. I guess I'm 594 00:40:03,640 --> 00:40:06,200 Speaker 1: just just said that this it for this boy. This 595 00:40:06,360 --> 00:40:11,920 Speaker 1: spirit tried to drown him, try to throw him in 596 00:40:11,960 --> 00:40:16,120 Speaker 1: the fire. He could have had no way of knowing 597 00:40:17,920 --> 00:40:21,520 Speaker 1: that his healing was the last thing that Jesus would 598 00:40:21,560 --> 00:40:24,799 Speaker 1: do before he headed to Jerusalem to give his life 599 00:40:24,800 --> 00:40:32,880 Speaker 1: for our sin. When you identify yourself with it, whether 600 00:40:32,920 --> 00:40:36,359 Speaker 1: it's your gift and your good stuff, you end up 601 00:40:36,440 --> 00:40:41,920 Speaker 1: like I read about one Olympic athlete, guy Michael something 602 00:40:44,640 --> 00:40:50,759 Speaker 1: felts twenty eight gold medals, y'all, and I googled him 603 00:40:50,800 --> 00:40:52,200 Speaker 1: the other day to try to find out how many 604 00:40:52,239 --> 00:40:55,440 Speaker 1: gold medals, and they pulled up an article about Michael Phelps, 605 00:40:55,719 --> 00:40:58,520 Speaker 1: the most decorated Olympic athlete. A y'all, watching the Olympics, 606 00:40:59,160 --> 00:41:01,920 Speaker 1: I can't watch water. That gives me heart palpitations watching 607 00:41:01,960 --> 00:41:07,120 Speaker 1: people treadwater for that long. But the headline said from 608 00:41:07,200 --> 00:41:10,520 Speaker 1: twenty eighteen, I didn't want to be a part of 609 00:41:10,560 --> 00:41:14,759 Speaker 1: the sport. I didn't want to live. That's how he 610 00:41:14,760 --> 00:41:28,080 Speaker 1: would feel after he did it. He said, I could compartmentalize. 611 00:41:28,120 --> 00:41:31,160 Speaker 1: I could do it, but deep down I never dealt 612 00:41:31,160 --> 00:41:36,640 Speaker 1: with me. Got a gift. I got more gold metals 613 00:41:36,640 --> 00:41:38,680 Speaker 1: than letters in the alphabet. And I didn't want to 614 00:41:38,760 --> 00:41:48,920 Speaker 1: live because I started to think I wasn't it. Jesus 615 00:41:48,960 --> 00:41:58,719 Speaker 1: never called the boy it. He said, bring him to me. 616 00:42:02,239 --> 00:42:08,480 Speaker 1: Are you thankful that when he sees you, he doesn't 617 00:42:08,560 --> 00:42:15,880 Speaker 1: see what you did? People do? Oh, she gained a 618 00:42:15,880 --> 00:42:22,200 Speaker 1: little bit. They're in quarantine, say that's how they identify you. 619 00:42:23,320 --> 00:42:25,920 Speaker 1: But I'm not this. I can lose this, gain this, 620 00:42:26,080 --> 00:42:28,440 Speaker 1: put it on, take it off. I'm not I'm not 621 00:42:28,520 --> 00:42:30,360 Speaker 1: this sad or the other that you can see or 622 00:42:30,360 --> 00:42:34,680 Speaker 1: counterway or measure. No, no, no, I am a spirit, 623 00:42:35,440 --> 00:42:40,279 Speaker 1: and my spirit testifies with God's spirit that I am 624 00:42:40,400 --> 00:42:47,359 Speaker 1: his child. That Dad said, I know my boy, and 625 00:42:47,440 --> 00:42:51,200 Speaker 1: this is not him. And Jesus said, how long has 626 00:42:51,239 --> 00:42:54,520 Speaker 1: he been like this? Now? I asked God, what do 627 00:42:54,640 --> 00:42:57,319 Speaker 1: I tell them after I've told them that they are 628 00:42:57,360 --> 00:43:00,520 Speaker 1: not it, that they are chosen by you and you you, 629 00:43:00,600 --> 00:43:02,399 Speaker 1: but they have to include you, and they can't get 630 00:43:02,440 --> 00:43:04,719 Speaker 1: out there in their own power. And that's why they've 631 00:43:04,719 --> 00:43:07,080 Speaker 1: been tired, and that's why they've been dying. And that's 632 00:43:07,080 --> 00:43:09,680 Speaker 1: why there's no life detached from the vine. Because you 633 00:43:09,840 --> 00:43:12,080 Speaker 1: started to think that you were the vine, but you're 634 00:43:12,160 --> 00:43:14,880 Speaker 1: just the branch. You were not it. And you started 635 00:43:14,880 --> 00:43:16,520 Speaker 1: to think that you were the sin, but you are 636 00:43:16,560 --> 00:43:19,640 Speaker 1: not the sin. We are so sin conscious in church 637 00:43:19,880 --> 00:43:22,640 Speaker 1: that we can name everything that's wrong with us and 638 00:43:22,719 --> 00:43:25,759 Speaker 1: not name anything that God has done for us. If 639 00:43:25,800 --> 00:43:33,000 Speaker 1: your instinct is to identify with it, Jesus said, bring 640 00:43:33,320 --> 00:43:37,799 Speaker 1: him to me, Bring him to me. The father said, 641 00:43:37,800 --> 00:43:40,560 Speaker 1: I believe. Help my unbelief. Jesus said, bring that to 642 00:43:40,600 --> 00:43:44,560 Speaker 1: me too. That's not you, that's it. Your doubt is 643 00:43:44,600 --> 00:43:47,680 Speaker 1: not you, Your doubt is it. You can overcome that. 644 00:43:47,800 --> 00:43:50,840 Speaker 1: With this help, all things are possible To him who believes. 645 00:43:53,960 --> 00:43:58,560 Speaker 1: How long has he been like this? Jesus said, He's 646 00:43:58,600 --> 00:44:01,640 Speaker 1: been like this so long that all I've got left 647 00:44:02,320 --> 00:44:07,840 Speaker 1: is an if. And God said to tell you won't 648 00:44:07,840 --> 00:44:12,839 Speaker 1: always be this way. What has been taken from you 649 00:44:12,920 --> 00:44:16,640 Speaker 1: can be restored to you. What has been snatched from you. 650 00:44:16,880 --> 00:44:20,520 Speaker 1: The man said, he robbed his ability to speak. He 651 00:44:20,560 --> 00:44:23,840 Speaker 1: can't hear, so he can't speak. You know, the enemy 652 00:44:23,880 --> 00:44:25,759 Speaker 1: loves to do that. He loves to get it where 653 00:44:25,800 --> 00:44:28,640 Speaker 1: you can't hear God. You can't hear truth, you can't 654 00:44:28,680 --> 00:44:32,080 Speaker 1: hear beauty, you can't hear peace, you can't hear it anymore. 655 00:44:32,239 --> 00:44:34,920 Speaker 1: So now you can't speak. You can't do it. Every 656 00:44:34,920 --> 00:44:37,720 Speaker 1: time you go to it throws you into fire and water, 657 00:44:39,320 --> 00:44:41,200 Speaker 1: and you push the people away that could help you. 658 00:44:41,280 --> 00:44:44,719 Speaker 1: But the Lord said, it's not always gonna be like this, 659 00:44:46,120 --> 00:44:55,279 Speaker 1: because you are not it, and any it that you 660 00:44:55,360 --> 00:44:57,439 Speaker 1: will bring into the presence of Jesus I'm not talking 661 00:44:57,440 --> 00:44:59,200 Speaker 1: about bringing it to church. You can bring it to church, 662 00:44:59,239 --> 00:45:01,040 Speaker 1: put it in your purse and chew it with chewing gum, 663 00:45:01,200 --> 00:45:04,879 Speaker 1: and you won't get better. But if you will bring 664 00:45:04,920 --> 00:45:07,799 Speaker 1: it to Jesus, the man said, I brought my boy 665 00:45:07,880 --> 00:45:09,320 Speaker 1: to you, and she said, you haven't brought him to 666 00:45:09,360 --> 00:45:13,680 Speaker 1: me yet. You brought him to my boys. Bring it 667 00:45:13,719 --> 00:45:19,520 Speaker 1: to me, but make sure you bring the boy, not 668 00:45:19,600 --> 00:45:23,319 Speaker 1: just the issue. Now. What we've been doing in church 669 00:45:23,400 --> 00:45:26,680 Speaker 1: so long is we keep bringing God issues that we 670 00:45:26,760 --> 00:45:31,600 Speaker 1: want him to fix. Well, they're so quiet. I know 671 00:45:31,680 --> 00:45:40,680 Speaker 1: I'm preaching good. I got your penned. I know sometimes 672 00:45:40,680 --> 00:45:43,760 Speaker 1: I think of myself even like some kind of machine. 673 00:45:45,280 --> 00:45:48,759 Speaker 1: It and men are the most dysfunctional. We want to 674 00:45:48,760 --> 00:45:54,239 Speaker 1: compliment another man. We say he's a beast. He said it, 675 00:45:57,080 --> 00:46:01,719 Speaker 1: and the Lord said, bring me your boy. Whatever you're 676 00:46:01,800 --> 00:46:08,000 Speaker 1: it is, today I see God separating it out for 677 00:46:08,080 --> 00:46:11,400 Speaker 1: you to understand that you are not it. Yes, he 678 00:46:11,480 --> 00:46:14,719 Speaker 1: chose you, he wants you, and before he created you, 679 00:46:14,760 --> 00:46:16,839 Speaker 1: he created what he wanted you to do. So in 680 00:46:16,880 --> 00:46:20,360 Speaker 1: that sense, you're it right. One time I told Holly, 681 00:46:20,520 --> 00:46:22,439 Speaker 1: I don't think I'm the right pastor for this church. 682 00:46:22,520 --> 00:46:24,919 Speaker 1: We were three or four years into the ministry, trying 683 00:46:24,960 --> 00:46:26,799 Speaker 1: to have a date night at Firebirds, and I was 684 00:46:26,880 --> 00:46:28,800 Speaker 1: mad at every staff member. I couldn't fire any of 685 00:46:28,800 --> 00:46:30,399 Speaker 1: them because I didn't have any better options. I would 686 00:46:30,440 --> 00:46:31,920 Speaker 1: have if I could have, but I couldn't, So I 687 00:46:31,960 --> 00:46:33,680 Speaker 1: said I might just fire me if all the players 688 00:46:33,719 --> 00:46:37,080 Speaker 1: sucked fire to coach right, I said, I don't think 689 00:46:37,120 --> 00:46:39,440 Speaker 1: I'm it. I don't think I'm it. She said, this 690 00:46:39,560 --> 00:46:41,480 Speaker 1: is so, this is how, this is how Holly can 691 00:46:41,560 --> 00:46:44,520 Speaker 1: just cut through with a sentence. She said, you're the 692 00:46:44,520 --> 00:46:54,000 Speaker 1: one we got now, Graham, you watching this, boy, I'm 693 00:46:54,040 --> 00:46:58,360 Speaker 1: the one you got. This is not CarMax, this is 694 00:46:58,400 --> 00:47:01,719 Speaker 1: not Amazon dot Com. You cannot shop, this is not 695 00:47:02,000 --> 00:47:07,040 Speaker 1: this is not this is not a selection process. I'm 696 00:47:07,040 --> 00:47:11,120 Speaker 1: the one God gave you. I'm the one God gave you. 697 00:47:13,440 --> 00:47:17,120 Speaker 1: And even this imperfect Dad said, I got a lot 698 00:47:17,120 --> 00:47:22,600 Speaker 1: of unbelief, but deeper down I do believe and see, 699 00:47:22,600 --> 00:47:25,719 Speaker 1: deeper down there is an anointing, and deeper down there 700 00:47:25,719 --> 00:47:27,480 Speaker 1: is a knowledge, and deeper down there is a wisdom. 701 00:47:27,480 --> 00:47:36,160 Speaker 1: But you have let it take over you. Jesus spoke 702 00:47:36,719 --> 00:47:43,160 Speaker 1: to it to free him. And I want to thank 703 00:47:43,160 --> 00:47:49,560 Speaker 1: God today that even when I feel unbelief. And it's 704 00:47:49,560 --> 00:47:51,440 Speaker 1: no secret to me what people are going home to. 705 00:47:53,320 --> 00:47:56,759 Speaker 1: I'm not stupid, y'all. I know everybody isn't leaving here 706 00:47:58,040 --> 00:48:00,520 Speaker 1: to cross, stitch and crochet of as you will love 707 00:48:00,520 --> 00:48:05,640 Speaker 1: my sermon from today. But the Bible says that he 708 00:48:06,440 --> 00:48:08,759 Speaker 1: looked at that boy whose body was as good as dead, 709 00:48:09,840 --> 00:48:12,960 Speaker 1: and took him by the hand and helped him out. 710 00:48:15,000 --> 00:48:20,920 Speaker 1: In my prayer time today, I saw God separating you 711 00:48:22,040 --> 00:48:26,719 Speaker 1: from it, because honestly, the depression has been talking, and 712 00:48:26,719 --> 00:48:28,799 Speaker 1: the anxiety has been talking, and the fear has been 713 00:48:28,840 --> 00:48:32,000 Speaker 1: talking so loud we talk about these spirits that we 714 00:48:32,080 --> 00:48:35,640 Speaker 1: can see, and he shook and convulsed and shrieked. But 715 00:48:35,719 --> 00:48:40,560 Speaker 1: what about the ones that throw you around? What about 716 00:48:40,600 --> 00:48:45,080 Speaker 1: the spirit of fear that's been throwing you around. You 717 00:48:45,120 --> 00:48:49,040 Speaker 1: can't even speak up anymore. Things that you used to 718 00:48:49,120 --> 00:48:53,040 Speaker 1: be able to do easily, things that you see others 719 00:48:53,040 --> 00:48:56,239 Speaker 1: do easily. And it's a spirit, but it's not you. 720 00:48:57,640 --> 00:49:01,319 Speaker 1: And there's a greater spirit. Greater is he that is 721 00:49:01,920 --> 00:49:07,279 Speaker 1: in you than he that is in the world. And 722 00:49:07,280 --> 00:49:09,239 Speaker 1: it is by grace you are saved through faith. You 723 00:49:09,280 --> 00:49:14,000 Speaker 1: are not it. And the devil's been telling you that 724 00:49:14,040 --> 00:49:15,600 Speaker 1: one way, and you've been hearing it. You're not it. 725 00:49:16,520 --> 00:49:19,480 Speaker 1: You're not a good dad, you're not it. You're not 726 00:49:19,480 --> 00:49:21,680 Speaker 1: a fit for this. You're not it. You're not experienced, 727 00:49:21,719 --> 00:49:24,680 Speaker 1: you're not it. Look at you, you're not it. Look 728 00:49:24,719 --> 00:49:27,279 Speaker 1: at them, they're it. You're there, You're not it. So 729 00:49:28,520 --> 00:49:32,000 Speaker 1: here's what we're gonna do all week long. We're gonna 730 00:49:32,040 --> 00:49:36,279 Speaker 1: agree with him to a point. Okay, I'm not it. 731 00:49:37,640 --> 00:49:41,719 Speaker 1: There is a savior, I'm not it. There is a 732 00:49:41,760 --> 00:49:44,080 Speaker 1: power that is greater than all sin and shame, and 733 00:49:44,120 --> 00:49:47,239 Speaker 1: I'm not it. There is a righteousness that comes from 734 00:49:47,239 --> 00:49:52,080 Speaker 1: God by faith, and I'm not it. But let me 735 00:49:52,080 --> 00:49:56,279 Speaker 1: tell you something, devil, you accuser of the brethren. At 736 00:49:56,280 --> 00:49:58,960 Speaker 1: the same time you're pointing your finger in my inadequacy 737 00:49:59,000 --> 00:50:01,600 Speaker 1: and my shortage of my life of knowledge, at the 738 00:50:01,640 --> 00:50:04,120 Speaker 1: same time that you're dragging out my mistakes from three 739 00:50:04,200 --> 00:50:07,160 Speaker 1: years ago or three months ago or three minutes ago 740 00:50:07,200 --> 00:50:10,080 Speaker 1: and throwing them in my face, you need to understand something. 741 00:50:10,360 --> 00:50:14,120 Speaker 1: He became sin, who knew no sin, that I might 742 00:50:14,239 --> 00:50:19,120 Speaker 1: become the righteousness of God. God. I pray for a 743 00:50:19,239 --> 00:50:25,480 Speaker 1: restoration of your understanding of righteousness. I am the righteousness 744 00:50:25,520 --> 00:50:30,640 Speaker 1: of God. I am a child of God. I'm a son. 745 00:50:32,080 --> 00:50:37,560 Speaker 1: I am not it. I'm in him, I'm his workmanship. 746 00:50:40,960 --> 00:50:47,880 Speaker 1: You are not your sin. You are not your fear. 747 00:50:48,120 --> 00:50:51,480 Speaker 1: I command insecurity. Get out in the name of Jesus. 748 00:50:51,880 --> 00:50:55,400 Speaker 1: Step aside, But Gloria, the Lord is in this place. 749 00:50:55,840 --> 00:51:08,080 Speaker 1: The keg is here. You gotta go. I'm not it. God. 750 00:51:08,160 --> 00:51:13,560 Speaker 1: You have all authority, you have all power, and you 751 00:51:13,640 --> 00:51:18,920 Speaker 1: have all might. We think you by the hand right now, 752 00:51:20,440 --> 00:51:35,520 Speaker 1: just stand up on our feet. You are not it. 753 00:51:37,960 --> 00:51:40,960 Speaker 1: Our sins had to be punished, had to be dealt with. 754 00:51:42,400 --> 00:51:46,480 Speaker 1: God needed a lamb, a perfect lamb, without blemish, without spot, 755 00:51:47,080 --> 00:51:49,719 Speaker 1: with a sacrifice, so that your shame and your sin 756 00:51:49,920 --> 00:51:53,759 Speaker 1: wouldn't stay with you the rest of your life. And 757 00:51:53,800 --> 00:51:57,680 Speaker 1: God needed a sacrifice. And guess what you are not it? 758 00:52:00,200 --> 00:52:04,800 Speaker 1: Not it. You're going to punish yourself for what Jesus 759 00:52:04,840 --> 00:52:10,359 Speaker 1: paid for on your behalf. He became sin, who knew 760 00:52:10,400 --> 00:52:16,479 Speaker 1: no sin, so I could be the righteousness of God. 761 00:52:21,480 --> 00:52:27,520 Speaker 1: Right now, there's an opportunity for you to bring your 762 00:52:27,560 --> 00:52:32,080 Speaker 1: sin and unbelief to Jesus. I want to pray for 763 00:52:32,239 --> 00:52:36,279 Speaker 1: those of you who need to be set free from 764 00:52:36,360 --> 00:52:40,880 Speaker 1: your sin today. It is by grace. You are saved 765 00:52:41,640 --> 00:52:46,360 Speaker 1: through faith. It everybody say it. It is the gift 766 00:52:46,360 --> 00:52:49,440 Speaker 1: of God. It is the gift. And you know what, 767 00:52:50,320 --> 00:52:52,680 Speaker 1: not just the grace is the gift of God. The 768 00:52:52,719 --> 00:52:56,360 Speaker 1: faith is a gift too. God will give you the faith. 769 00:52:56,600 --> 00:52:58,920 Speaker 1: I want to believe Lord, I want to trust you. 770 00:52:59,040 --> 00:53:02,080 Speaker 1: I want to move forward. Help my unbelief. So here's 771 00:53:02,120 --> 00:53:06,239 Speaker 1: what we're gonna do. You bring your imperfect faith, You 772 00:53:06,320 --> 00:53:10,840 Speaker 1: bring your unbelief to Jesus, and watch him take you 773 00:53:10,920 --> 00:53:15,440 Speaker 1: by the hand and give you a brand new life. 774 00:53:15,719 --> 00:53:17,520 Speaker 1: Right now, For all of those who came into this 775 00:53:17,600 --> 00:53:21,279 Speaker 1: service today or who logged on and you say I'm 776 00:53:21,320 --> 00:53:23,480 Speaker 1: far away from God, man, I feel like I've been 777 00:53:23,560 --> 00:53:28,360 Speaker 1: robbed by that same enemy. Different manifestation, but the same enemy. 778 00:53:28,520 --> 00:53:32,040 Speaker 1: I've been robbed. Well, the thief comes to kill, still 779 00:53:32,040 --> 00:53:34,400 Speaker 1: and destroy, but he came that you might have life 780 00:53:34,680 --> 00:53:37,279 Speaker 1: and that you might have him more abundantly. So right 781 00:53:37,360 --> 00:53:40,400 Speaker 1: now I'm going to lead you in a prayer. And 782 00:53:40,480 --> 00:53:43,840 Speaker 1: this is how we bring it to Jesus. He's not 783 00:53:44,120 --> 00:53:46,640 Speaker 1: in a physical form before us today, but he's seated 784 00:53:46,640 --> 00:53:49,400 Speaker 1: in heavenly places. And the Bible says that if you 785 00:53:49,400 --> 00:53:51,879 Speaker 1: will confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, and 786 00:53:51,920 --> 00:53:53,959 Speaker 1: believe in your heart God raised him from the dead. 787 00:53:54,239 --> 00:54:00,600 Speaker 1: You will be saved. You are not it. You can't 788 00:54:00,640 --> 00:54:03,200 Speaker 1: do it on your own. You're not supposed to. He 789 00:54:03,280 --> 00:54:07,560 Speaker 1: already did it. So right now, all across this church, 790 00:54:07,560 --> 00:54:09,799 Speaker 1: whether you're by yourself or in ability, I want you 791 00:54:09,840 --> 00:54:12,279 Speaker 1: to repeat after me this prayer. If you honestly in 792 00:54:12,320 --> 00:54:14,480 Speaker 1: your heart you say, I want to turn from my sin. 793 00:54:14,640 --> 00:54:17,240 Speaker 1: I want to trust Christ. I want to receive his grace. 794 00:54:17,400 --> 00:54:20,000 Speaker 1: I want the gift. You pray with me. Right now 795 00:54:20,000 --> 00:54:21,760 Speaker 1: We're going to pray out loud as a church family 796 00:54:21,800 --> 00:54:24,240 Speaker 1: for the benefit of those who are coming to Jesus, 797 00:54:24,440 --> 00:54:27,480 Speaker 1: are coming back to Jesus. Repeat after me, Heavenly Father, 798 00:54:29,360 --> 00:54:34,040 Speaker 1: I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God 799 00:54:35,080 --> 00:54:39,359 Speaker 1: and the Savior of the world. And today I make 800 00:54:39,480 --> 00:54:43,720 Speaker 1: Jesus the lord of my life. I believe he died 801 00:54:44,880 --> 00:54:49,120 Speaker 1: that I could be forgiven and rose again to give 802 00:54:49,160 --> 00:54:55,040 Speaker 1: me life. I receive this new life. This is my 803 00:54:55,160 --> 00:54:57,640 Speaker 1: new beginning. On the counter of three. Shoot your hand up. 804 00:54:57,640 --> 00:55:00,520 Speaker 1: If you prayed that one, two, three, look at that 805 00:55:00,680 --> 00:55:06,600 Speaker 1: new life. Thank you for joining us. Special thanks to 806 00:55:06,640 --> 00:55:09,520 Speaker 1: those of you who give generously to this ministry. Is 807 00:55:09,560 --> 00:55:12,560 Speaker 1: because of you that this ministry is possible. You can 808 00:55:12,600 --> 00:55:15,480 Speaker 1: click the link in the description to give now, or 809 00:55:15,560 --> 00:55:19,880 Speaker 1: visit Elevationchurch dot org slash podcast for more information and 810 00:55:19,920 --> 00:55:23,120 Speaker 1: if you enjoyed the podcast, you can subscribe. You can 811 00:55:23,160 --> 00:55:25,600 Speaker 1: share it with your friends. You can click the share button, 812 00:55:25,640 --> 00:55:28,080 Speaker 1: take a screenshot and share it on your social stories 813 00:55:28,080 --> 00:55:30,840 Speaker 1: and tag us at Elevation Church. Thanks again for listening. 814 00:55:30,880 --> 00:55:37,200 Speaker 1: God bless you.