1 00:00:01,560 --> 00:00:04,120 Speaker 1: Hey, this is Stephen Ferdick. I'm the pastor of Elevation 2 00:00:04,360 --> 00:00:04,840 Speaker 1: Church and. 3 00:00:04,800 --> 00:00:05,840 Speaker 2: This is our podcast. 4 00:00:05,920 --> 00:00:08,360 Speaker 1: I wanted to thank you for joining us today. Hope 5 00:00:08,360 --> 00:00:11,080 Speaker 1: this inspires you. Hope it builds your faith. Hope it 6 00:00:11,080 --> 00:00:13,600 Speaker 1: gives you perspective to see God is moving in your life. 7 00:00:13,880 --> 00:00:20,400 Speaker 1: Enjoy the message. I want to continue to look at 8 00:00:20,400 --> 00:00:24,319 Speaker 1: something from Paul's life this week, and I want to 9 00:00:24,320 --> 00:00:26,280 Speaker 1: talk to you for a few moments about pressure points. 10 00:00:27,560 --> 00:00:30,920 Speaker 1: This message is only if you've been experiencing some stress, 11 00:00:32,080 --> 00:00:37,040 Speaker 1: or maybe a considerable amount of uncertainty about some things, 12 00:00:37,200 --> 00:00:40,479 Speaker 1: or life has seemed a little too much for you. 13 00:00:40,560 --> 00:00:42,839 Speaker 2: That's the only people that's going to bless today. So 14 00:00:42,880 --> 00:00:43,400 Speaker 2: if you need to. 15 00:00:43,440 --> 00:00:46,560 Speaker 1: Leave now because that's not applicable to you. 16 00:00:46,800 --> 00:00:47,479 Speaker 2: Feel free. 17 00:00:48,080 --> 00:00:49,400 Speaker 1: But the rest of us we're going to go over 18 00:00:49,400 --> 00:00:53,680 Speaker 1: to Second Corinthians chapter four. I think I want to 19 00:00:53,680 --> 00:00:56,560 Speaker 1: do verse five. Yeah, I think I gave you verse five. 20 00:00:56,840 --> 00:00:59,320 Speaker 1: I was trying to decide how much to read. You understand, 21 00:00:59,320 --> 00:01:01,840 Speaker 1: that's the issue you. Every week is all so good 22 00:01:02,920 --> 00:01:05,800 Speaker 1: and I want to eat it all, but I know 23 00:01:05,840 --> 00:01:08,840 Speaker 1: you can only digest so much, and so I want 24 00:01:08,880 --> 00:01:11,080 Speaker 1: to talk about pressure points. But let's kind of get 25 00:01:11,120 --> 00:01:14,759 Speaker 1: into it. Here from Tewod Corinthians four or five, where 26 00:01:14,800 --> 00:01:18,160 Speaker 1: Paul is talking to a church that he has authority 27 00:01:18,360 --> 00:01:21,880 Speaker 1: and responsibility for. He says, for what we preach is 28 00:01:21,920 --> 00:01:26,360 Speaker 1: not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as 29 00:01:26,400 --> 00:01:27,039 Speaker 1: your servants. 30 00:01:27,160 --> 00:01:28,240 Speaker 2: For Jesus's sake. 31 00:01:29,160 --> 00:01:34,080 Speaker 1: For God, who said let the light shine out of darkness, 32 00:01:34,240 --> 00:01:38,560 Speaker 1: made his light shine in our hearts to give us 33 00:01:38,640 --> 00:01:44,080 Speaker 1: the light of the knowledge of God's glory displayed in 34 00:01:44,160 --> 00:01:45,080 Speaker 1: the face of Christ. 35 00:01:45,160 --> 00:01:47,319 Speaker 2: But we have this treasure in. 36 00:01:47,400 --> 00:01:52,480 Speaker 1: Jars of clay to show that this all surpassing power 37 00:01:53,240 --> 00:01:58,840 Speaker 1: is from God and not from us. We are hard 38 00:01:58,920 --> 00:02:05,040 Speaker 1: press on every side, but not crushed, perplexed but not 39 00:02:05,120 --> 00:02:09,440 Speaker 1: in despair, persecuted but not a band and touch. 40 00:02:09,480 --> 00:02:12,520 Speaker 2: Somebody say, I'm not alone. I'm never alone. 41 00:02:12,560 --> 00:02:13,680 Speaker 1: So if you want to roll up on me, you 42 00:02:13,680 --> 00:02:15,120 Speaker 1: need to know before you start anything. 43 00:02:15,400 --> 00:02:20,080 Speaker 2: I got angels all around me. I've got a great 44 00:02:20,200 --> 00:02:21,280 Speaker 2: God down deep. 45 00:02:21,360 --> 00:02:28,600 Speaker 1: Get back to the scripture for Nick, where was I Yeah, 46 00:02:28,639 --> 00:02:35,000 Speaker 1: not abandoned, not abandoned, struck down but not destroyed. We 47 00:02:35,040 --> 00:02:38,040 Speaker 1: always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, 48 00:02:38,520 --> 00:02:41,560 Speaker 1: so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed 49 00:02:42,000 --> 00:02:43,840 Speaker 1: in our body good un too verse sixteen. 50 00:02:44,040 --> 00:02:46,120 Speaker 2: Therefore we do not lose heart. 51 00:02:46,360 --> 00:02:50,720 Speaker 1: Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are 52 00:02:50,760 --> 00:02:55,519 Speaker 1: being renewed day by day. Four our light and momentary 53 00:02:55,600 --> 00:03:01,239 Speaker 1: troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that outweighs 54 00:03:01,360 --> 00:03:04,119 Speaker 1: them all. I can tell we're going to have church 55 00:03:04,200 --> 00:03:07,079 Speaker 1: today because you won't even let me read my scripture. 56 00:03:07,240 --> 00:03:08,919 Speaker 2: Look how excited you are. 57 00:03:09,160 --> 00:03:14,399 Speaker 1: About the glory of God being revealed in your life. 58 00:03:15,680 --> 00:03:18,480 Speaker 2: So last verse I'm going to read for now. 59 00:03:19,040 --> 00:03:23,160 Speaker 1: So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, 60 00:03:24,160 --> 00:03:28,720 Speaker 1: but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, 61 00:03:29,480 --> 00:03:34,200 Speaker 1: but what is unseen is eternal. And you kind of 62 00:03:34,200 --> 00:03:36,000 Speaker 1: get a different picture here of Paul than you got 63 00:03:36,080 --> 00:03:40,920 Speaker 1: last week, because last week we were hearing Luke, who 64 00:03:40,960 --> 00:03:45,640 Speaker 1: wrote the Book of Acts, describe what Paul did. But 65 00:03:45,720 --> 00:03:49,520 Speaker 1: this is not someone describing what Paul did. This is 66 00:03:49,520 --> 00:03:53,880 Speaker 1: Paul describing how he felt. And the tour really different. 67 00:03:55,160 --> 00:03:59,880 Speaker 1: The tour really different because sometimes someone can make something 68 00:04:00,080 --> 00:04:04,480 Speaker 1: looks so easy that you assume that it is, make 69 00:04:04,520 --> 00:04:09,480 Speaker 1: it look so effortless. Holly makes parenting look so effortless, 70 00:04:09,800 --> 00:04:11,640 Speaker 1: and then every once in a while she leaves them 71 00:04:11,880 --> 00:04:15,200 Speaker 1: with me for thirty five minutes so I can remember 72 00:04:15,200 --> 00:04:15,760 Speaker 1: how much I. 73 00:04:15,760 --> 00:04:17,240 Speaker 2: Need her in my life. 74 00:04:17,320 --> 00:04:20,560 Speaker 1: But she just does make it, just makes it look easy. 75 00:04:20,600 --> 00:04:24,400 Speaker 1: Touch somebody say you make it look too easy. Sometimes 76 00:04:24,440 --> 00:04:26,640 Speaker 1: I think you don't even need faith because you just 77 00:04:26,680 --> 00:04:27,040 Speaker 1: got it. 78 00:04:27,080 --> 00:04:29,120 Speaker 2: And it makes me feel bad about. 79 00:04:28,839 --> 00:04:31,680 Speaker 1: Myself because I look at you and it looks easy. 80 00:04:31,720 --> 00:04:33,640 Speaker 1: That's why I hate working out with Buck makes it 81 00:04:33,680 --> 00:04:34,839 Speaker 1: look easy. 82 00:04:34,720 --> 00:04:36,480 Speaker 2: And I get under that same weight. 83 00:04:36,320 --> 00:04:39,839 Speaker 1: And he got twelve of them and I'm on number two, 84 00:04:39,920 --> 00:04:42,880 Speaker 1: crushing my sternum. But since you asked me for some 85 00:04:42,920 --> 00:04:47,720 Speaker 1: parenting advice, let me get some parenting advice. Actually it's 86 00:04:47,760 --> 00:04:50,400 Speaker 1: kind of life advice. I don't think I ever told you, Holly, 87 00:04:50,680 --> 00:04:54,560 Speaker 1: what Eric Ferrell told me. Eric Ferrell is pastor in Virginia, 88 00:04:54,600 --> 00:04:59,120 Speaker 1: and so I have a lot of ministry advice filed 89 00:04:59,160 --> 00:05:02,239 Speaker 1: away in my mind because I've been preparing for ministry 90 00:05:02,279 --> 00:05:03,640 Speaker 1: since I was young, because I thought. 91 00:05:03,440 --> 00:05:04,720 Speaker 2: This is what I was supposed to do. 92 00:05:05,200 --> 00:05:07,080 Speaker 1: So I took a lot of opportunities at a young 93 00:05:07,120 --> 00:05:09,920 Speaker 1: age to ask people, Hey, tell me one piece of advice. 94 00:05:09,960 --> 00:05:11,560 Speaker 1: You know, if there's only one thing you could tell me, 95 00:05:11,839 --> 00:05:14,559 Speaker 1: and so I was kind of trying to get ready 96 00:05:14,560 --> 00:05:17,880 Speaker 1: for it and prepare for the pressure of ministry. And 97 00:05:17,920 --> 00:05:20,040 Speaker 1: nothing can really prepare you for it, but you know, 98 00:05:20,160 --> 00:05:22,080 Speaker 1: maybe somebody can tell you something that you can. 99 00:05:21,920 --> 00:05:22,719 Speaker 2: Hold on to. Well. 100 00:05:22,800 --> 00:05:26,120 Speaker 1: Eric Ferrell was kind enough he invited me into his church. 101 00:05:26,160 --> 00:05:28,960 Speaker 1: And this was right around the time that Elevation Church 102 00:05:29,040 --> 00:05:32,160 Speaker 1: was starting. Elijah was a baby, and I asked him, 103 00:05:32,640 --> 00:05:33,880 Speaker 1: what do I need to know to make it. 104 00:05:33,960 --> 00:05:35,640 Speaker 2: He's been in the same church for thirty years. 105 00:05:35,680 --> 00:05:37,159 Speaker 1: I thought he could probably give me a little bit 106 00:05:37,200 --> 00:05:39,760 Speaker 1: of insight on how to make it for the long term, which. 107 00:05:39,560 --> 00:05:39,960 Speaker 2: Is the goal. 108 00:05:40,279 --> 00:05:43,479 Speaker 1: He goes, and he's a real fast talker, real fast 109 00:05:43,520 --> 00:05:44,000 Speaker 1: talker guy. 110 00:05:44,160 --> 00:05:45,680 Speaker 2: He goes, pressure. 111 00:05:45,360 --> 00:05:51,040 Speaker 1: Management is all pressure management. You gotta manage the pressure, 112 00:05:52,720 --> 00:05:54,560 Speaker 1: you know, manage the pressure. You go off and you 113 00:05:54,600 --> 00:05:57,920 Speaker 1: know ruin your life and manage pressure. You managed pressure, 114 00:05:59,440 --> 00:06:02,159 Speaker 1: And I said, how do you manage He said pressure? 115 00:06:05,440 --> 00:06:08,560 Speaker 2: He goes play and I thought I heard him wrong. 116 00:06:09,200 --> 00:06:12,240 Speaker 1: Because I heard play, But I thought, sure, he probably said, pray. 117 00:06:13,160 --> 00:06:15,120 Speaker 1: That's what we tell you to do, you know, just 118 00:06:15,160 --> 00:06:18,760 Speaker 1: pray about everything makes everything better when you pray. And 119 00:06:18,800 --> 00:06:21,000 Speaker 1: we're gonna tell you sometimes your mind is so scrambled 120 00:06:21,040 --> 00:06:22,479 Speaker 1: that you can't even figure out. 121 00:06:22,279 --> 00:06:24,640 Speaker 2: What to pray. We don't talk about that. Just pray. 122 00:06:25,080 --> 00:06:28,479 Speaker 2: But he didn't say pray. He said play. He said play. 123 00:06:29,320 --> 00:06:32,600 Speaker 1: You gotta play, he said, especially with your kids. He said, 124 00:06:32,640 --> 00:06:35,120 Speaker 1: when your kids get a little older. When you get home, 125 00:06:35,240 --> 00:06:36,560 Speaker 1: he said, this is what saved my life. That's what 126 00:06:36,640 --> 00:06:37,800 Speaker 1: kept me from having an affair of this is what 127 00:06:37,880 --> 00:06:39,240 Speaker 1: kept me from running off shooting one. 128 00:06:39,120 --> 00:06:40,320 Speaker 2: Of the deacons. He said. 129 00:06:41,880 --> 00:06:44,039 Speaker 1: He said, every day when I got home, no matter 130 00:06:44,080 --> 00:06:45,880 Speaker 1: how bad the day had been, I just got down 131 00:06:45,920 --> 00:06:49,760 Speaker 1: on that floor and played with my kids. He said, 132 00:06:49,800 --> 00:06:51,159 Speaker 1: So do that. He said, when you don't feel like 133 00:06:51,120 --> 00:06:52,720 Speaker 1: I do it. In five minutes into it, you feel 134 00:06:52,720 --> 00:06:56,359 Speaker 1: like it. And I took his advice. I have I 135 00:06:56,400 --> 00:06:58,640 Speaker 1: play with my kids. I think that's really my only 136 00:06:58,640 --> 00:07:01,479 Speaker 1: hobby in life is torture. 137 00:07:01,520 --> 00:07:08,360 Speaker 2: I mean playing with say that I love the most 138 00:07:08,400 --> 00:07:11,200 Speaker 2: recent game that I made up. I'm gonna do this 139 00:07:11,240 --> 00:07:14,119 Speaker 2: with with you, JT. So I'm gonna just just sit there. 140 00:07:14,880 --> 00:07:19,720 Speaker 1: I play games with them that involve pressure and and 141 00:07:19,720 --> 00:07:23,120 Speaker 1: and Holly. Holly has to leave the room because these 142 00:07:23,120 --> 00:07:27,880 Speaker 1: games can get aggressive and for different parts of their body. 143 00:07:28,200 --> 00:07:31,320 Speaker 1: It all started with the calf muscle. And this is 144 00:07:31,720 --> 00:07:33,720 Speaker 1: now I'm gonna tell you the names of these things. 145 00:07:33,880 --> 00:07:35,360 Speaker 1: And I won't spend long because I know they came 146 00:07:35,400 --> 00:07:38,480 Speaker 1: to hear a Bible study. But just so you can 147 00:07:38,520 --> 00:07:42,360 Speaker 1: respect my creative parenting, it started off with this move 148 00:07:42,680 --> 00:07:45,920 Speaker 1: right there where I squeezed that calf. Now, now Abby's 149 00:07:45,960 --> 00:07:51,040 Speaker 1: calf muscle didn't quite like yours, but I squeeze that 150 00:07:51,120 --> 00:07:53,200 Speaker 1: things so tight. That's called and I don't know why 151 00:07:53,200 --> 00:07:54,680 Speaker 1: we call it this. I don't even remember how it started, 152 00:07:54,760 --> 00:07:56,480 Speaker 1: but it's called the Alabama Creamshaw. 153 00:07:56,960 --> 00:07:59,720 Speaker 2: I don't know how. I don't know Alabama Creamshaw. 154 00:08:01,840 --> 00:08:05,040 Speaker 1: Then me and the boys were going to Liberty University, 155 00:08:05,160 --> 00:08:08,040 Speaker 1: so that's in Lynchburg, Virginia. So we've been at the 156 00:08:08,080 --> 00:08:13,200 Speaker 1: Lynchburg like squeeze. By the way, if you ever think 157 00:08:13,200 --> 00:08:15,480 Speaker 1: about sitting in the front row at Valentine, you need 158 00:08:15,520 --> 00:08:18,080 Speaker 1: to know this is like the splash zone. 159 00:08:17,880 --> 00:08:20,920 Speaker 2: At Sea World, and you gotta be willing to participate. 160 00:08:20,960 --> 00:08:23,840 Speaker 2: If you come over here. You fell. That pressure feels good, 161 00:08:23,880 --> 00:08:24,320 Speaker 2: doesn't it. 162 00:08:26,200 --> 00:08:35,400 Speaker 1: We got the h the Pennsylvania poke, the Pittsburgh pinch. WHOA, 163 00:08:36,840 --> 00:08:40,400 Speaker 1: there's some other ones. I'm not going to do I'm 164 00:08:40,440 --> 00:08:50,360 Speaker 1: not going to do the Boston, but Chicago shoulder right there, 165 00:08:51,000 --> 00:08:54,120 Speaker 1: right there feels kind of good. So here's what Grandma 166 00:08:54,120 --> 00:08:56,920 Speaker 1: always will dude, before I get started, He'll go, He'll go, 167 00:08:56,960 --> 00:08:59,440 Speaker 1: wait a minute, what level are you going to do 168 00:08:59,480 --> 00:08:59,760 Speaker 1: this on? 169 00:09:02,200 --> 00:09:05,880 Speaker 2: What level? What level of pressure? 170 00:09:06,840 --> 00:09:12,360 Speaker 1: Because I need to know before I submit myself. Have 171 00:09:12,520 --> 00:09:20,360 Speaker 1: you ever wanted to ask God before I do this? 172 00:09:22,520 --> 00:09:25,120 Speaker 1: Before I trust you on this. 173 00:09:26,559 --> 00:09:26,719 Speaker 3: What. 174 00:09:28,200 --> 00:09:32,880 Speaker 2: Level of pressure is it going to involve? 175 00:09:33,800 --> 00:09:35,560 Speaker 1: And the truth be told, if some of you would 176 00:09:35,559 --> 00:09:38,480 Speaker 1: have known the level of pressure that came along with parenting, 177 00:09:39,920 --> 00:09:46,080 Speaker 1: you would have stay celibate, because, hey, you prayed for 178 00:09:46,200 --> 00:09:48,720 Speaker 1: the baby, but along with the baby came the pressure. 179 00:09:49,760 --> 00:09:50,520 Speaker 2: Write this down. 180 00:09:50,760 --> 00:09:57,200 Speaker 1: With privilege comes pressure, And sometimes I see people who 181 00:09:57,880 --> 00:10:03,800 Speaker 1: want certain privileges but don't welcome the pressure that comes 182 00:10:03,840 --> 00:10:09,280 Speaker 1: with the privilege. When we see Paul and Second Corinthians, 183 00:10:09,320 --> 00:10:14,160 Speaker 1: we are getting a picture of a minister and a 184 00:10:14,200 --> 00:10:15,640 Speaker 1: man who is. 185 00:10:15,600 --> 00:10:17,080 Speaker 2: At that point. 186 00:10:17,280 --> 00:10:19,840 Speaker 1: Have you ever been at that point of pressure where 187 00:10:19,880 --> 00:10:24,480 Speaker 1: it feels like something is unraveling on the inside of you. 188 00:10:24,559 --> 00:10:28,120 Speaker 1: I don't necessarily mean it's a clinical breakdown, but Paul 189 00:10:28,200 --> 00:10:30,839 Speaker 1: is under pressure, he says, from every side let's read 190 00:10:30,880 --> 00:10:33,120 Speaker 1: it again in verse eight, because I think it describes 191 00:10:33,160 --> 00:10:37,240 Speaker 1: something that maybe you've experienced, maybe not on Paul's level, 192 00:10:37,360 --> 00:10:40,439 Speaker 1: because there's levels to it. But one thing that I 193 00:10:40,520 --> 00:10:44,560 Speaker 1: have learned is that pressure is relative. So when a 194 00:10:44,640 --> 00:10:48,200 Speaker 1: sixteen year old gets their heart broken, they don't have 195 00:10:48,280 --> 00:10:52,120 Speaker 1: the wisdom of experience to know that there will be others, 196 00:10:52,240 --> 00:10:56,000 Speaker 1: and so it really does feel like they want to die. 197 00:10:57,160 --> 00:11:01,120 Speaker 1: And a lot of times you minimize other people's misery 198 00:11:01,760 --> 00:11:05,880 Speaker 1: because you have graduated beyond that season. But if you 199 00:11:05,920 --> 00:11:09,000 Speaker 1: could find the compassion to remember there was a time 200 00:11:09,360 --> 00:11:12,400 Speaker 1: when you too listen to Milli Vanilli blame it on 201 00:11:12,440 --> 00:11:18,720 Speaker 1: the rain seventeen times, Oh just me, when Melissa Hydrick 202 00:11:18,760 --> 00:11:22,280 Speaker 1: broke up with you, Oh just me. There was a 203 00:11:22,360 --> 00:11:26,040 Speaker 1: time when the pressure. 204 00:11:25,720 --> 00:11:26,440 Speaker 2: Felt so great. 205 00:11:26,440 --> 00:11:32,240 Speaker 1: Paul said, we are hard pressed on every side, and 206 00:11:32,280 --> 00:11:38,360 Speaker 1: that means it was all of the areas at once, 207 00:11:40,120 --> 00:11:41,280 Speaker 1: all at once. 208 00:11:42,679 --> 00:11:44,000 Speaker 2: And I believe that. 209 00:11:45,480 --> 00:11:47,920 Speaker 1: The times in our life when we are able to 210 00:11:48,080 --> 00:11:54,040 Speaker 1: pick our battles and focus our concentration, generally most of 211 00:11:54,120 --> 00:11:56,760 Speaker 1: us are able to stand up under pressure if it 212 00:11:56,840 --> 00:12:00,120 Speaker 1: is coming from one directions. 213 00:12:00,160 --> 00:12:04,880 Speaker 2: When I can't find any relief. 214 00:12:05,920 --> 00:12:12,440 Speaker 1: On any side, Sometimes when I preach, I'll be preaching 215 00:12:13,440 --> 00:12:18,400 Speaker 1: to one side and and and then I'll turn to 216 00:12:18,480 --> 00:12:22,960 Speaker 1: another side, and then I'll turn to another side to 217 00:12:23,080 --> 00:12:26,560 Speaker 1: see is this helping anybody? And if I can't find 218 00:12:26,600 --> 00:12:31,640 Speaker 1: any love in the middle, on the right, on the left, 219 00:12:31,640 --> 00:12:34,080 Speaker 1: sometimes I just turn around and look at LJ because. 220 00:12:33,840 --> 00:12:37,439 Speaker 2: I pay him to look happy. 221 00:12:39,720 --> 00:12:44,280 Speaker 1: But Paul says it was coming at us from every side. 222 00:12:44,280 --> 00:12:47,160 Speaker 1: Now I understand what this means for Paul, because last 223 00:12:47,160 --> 00:12:49,360 Speaker 1: week we were talking about Paul on an island called 224 00:12:49,400 --> 00:12:52,920 Speaker 1: Malta a little later in his ministry, and he's there 225 00:12:53,000 --> 00:12:55,400 Speaker 1: is a prisoner and he makes it through a shipwreck, 226 00:12:55,480 --> 00:12:57,800 Speaker 1: and Luke gives us a picture of Paul that is 227 00:12:57,880 --> 00:13:01,480 Speaker 1: kind of a heroic portrait be because Luke respected Paul 228 00:13:01,600 --> 00:13:04,120 Speaker 1: so much, and he talks about how Paul got up 229 00:13:04,160 --> 00:13:07,880 Speaker 1: and gave a motivational speech to the other prisoners about 230 00:13:07,960 --> 00:13:11,560 Speaker 1: courage and faith in God no matter the circumstance, and 231 00:13:11,600 --> 00:13:14,040 Speaker 1: how Paul prayed and had a vision and then relay 232 00:13:14,120 --> 00:13:16,920 Speaker 1: that vision to the people to inspire their faith, because 233 00:13:16,920 --> 00:13:21,120 Speaker 1: sometimes somebody is waiting on you to encourage them to 234 00:13:21,240 --> 00:13:23,839 Speaker 1: put courage in them that they don't have right now. 235 00:13:24,120 --> 00:13:25,480 Speaker 2: And so Paul did that. 236 00:13:25,760 --> 00:13:27,720 Speaker 1: And then when Paul got to the shore, he gets 237 00:13:27,720 --> 00:13:28,600 Speaker 1: bit by a snake. 238 00:13:28,840 --> 00:13:30,719 Speaker 2: Remember did anybody listen to the message? 239 00:13:30,800 --> 00:13:34,600 Speaker 1: And watch how cool and calm and collected Paul was 240 00:13:34,880 --> 00:13:37,560 Speaker 1: on the shore of Malta. The snake didn't even seem 241 00:13:37,600 --> 00:13:40,439 Speaker 1: to bother him. He didn't rebuke the snake. He didn't 242 00:13:40,480 --> 00:13:42,600 Speaker 1: cry out to God, he didn't in the name of 243 00:13:42,679 --> 00:13:45,120 Speaker 1: Jesus plead the blood of Christ the lamb. He just 244 00:13:45,160 --> 00:13:47,760 Speaker 1: shook it all so cool. Don't you admire people who 245 00:13:47,800 --> 00:13:49,800 Speaker 1: are like that? By the way, don't you hate people 246 00:13:49,840 --> 00:13:51,960 Speaker 1: who are like that? By the way, Just people who 247 00:13:52,000 --> 00:13:54,880 Speaker 1: never get rattled, Just people who nothing bothers them, Just 248 00:13:54,920 --> 00:13:57,679 Speaker 1: people who shake stuff off. And Lucas telling us, man, 249 00:13:57,720 --> 00:13:58,440 Speaker 1: it was amazing. 250 00:13:58,480 --> 00:13:59,079 Speaker 2: I was there. 251 00:13:59,200 --> 00:14:01,160 Speaker 1: Paul just shook the snake off and in the fire, 252 00:14:01,240 --> 00:14:02,840 Speaker 1: it was amazing. And they thought he was gonna die, 253 00:14:02,880 --> 00:14:04,040 Speaker 1: and he didn't die, and he just stood there and 254 00:14:04,080 --> 00:14:05,560 Speaker 1: they thought he was gonna swell up, but didn't even 255 00:14:05,559 --> 00:14:07,400 Speaker 1: say anything. And he just stood there. And then he 256 00:14:07,440 --> 00:14:09,880 Speaker 1: went to Publias's house and he started healing everybody, and 257 00:14:09,920 --> 00:14:11,800 Speaker 1: it was amazing. And then Paul went to Rome and 258 00:14:11,840 --> 00:14:13,719 Speaker 1: he lived in a rented house for two years, and 259 00:14:13,840 --> 00:14:19,560 Speaker 1: and and and Paul says, way, man, women, it wasn't 260 00:14:19,600 --> 00:14:30,040 Speaker 1: that easy on the inside. 261 00:14:30,400 --> 00:14:32,800 Speaker 2: Because what you saw. 262 00:14:32,720 --> 00:14:36,440 Speaker 1: Was what I did, But you did not see the 263 00:14:36,600 --> 00:14:38,160 Speaker 1: doubts that I had. 264 00:14:38,160 --> 00:14:39,280 Speaker 2: While I was doing it. 265 00:14:43,320 --> 00:14:47,000 Speaker 1: You make it look so easy sometimes that nobody even 266 00:14:47,080 --> 00:14:50,560 Speaker 1: knows that you need to be encouraged because you just. 267 00:14:50,560 --> 00:14:53,440 Speaker 2: You just do that. You just do it. 268 00:14:54,320 --> 00:14:57,800 Speaker 1: You just pay the bills, you just smile at people, 269 00:14:58,320 --> 00:15:02,160 Speaker 1: you just dress well. You just walk strong and walk 270 00:15:02,280 --> 00:15:05,920 Speaker 1: tall and walk proud. But on the inside, Paul said, 271 00:15:06,320 --> 00:15:09,520 Speaker 1: I was so pressured. I couldn't find relief on the right, 272 00:15:09,760 --> 00:15:12,280 Speaker 1: on the left, in the middle, I looked top, I 273 00:15:12,320 --> 00:15:15,360 Speaker 1: looked down, I looked all around. I couldn't find a companion. 274 00:15:15,560 --> 00:15:19,400 Speaker 1: I couldn't find a helper. But I didn't die at 275 00:15:19,440 --> 00:15:31,720 Speaker 1: the pressure. Fore pressure but not crushed. So they have 276 00:15:31,800 --> 00:15:35,320 Speaker 1: sayings that they put out, sayings that they put out 277 00:15:35,360 --> 00:15:40,960 Speaker 1: to encourage you under pressure. And we say that pressure 278 00:15:41,000 --> 00:15:43,640 Speaker 1: makes diamonds. You ever heard that pressure makes diamonds. Raise 279 00:15:43,680 --> 00:15:46,000 Speaker 1: your hand if you've heard pressure makes diamonds. Pressure does 280 00:15:46,040 --> 00:15:52,200 Speaker 1: make diamonds, but it also makes dumb decisions. Hello, for real, 281 00:15:52,600 --> 00:15:59,080 Speaker 1: pressure does make diamonds, but it also makes divorces. Pressure 282 00:15:59,120 --> 00:16:03,760 Speaker 1: does make diamonds, but it also can leave you the 283 00:16:03,880 --> 00:16:05,120 Speaker 1: proud owner of a timeshare. 284 00:16:06,120 --> 00:16:10,440 Speaker 2: Some of the things you do under pressure. 285 00:16:12,080 --> 00:16:20,520 Speaker 1: Pressure, I don't think. I don't think God wants to 286 00:16:20,560 --> 00:16:26,560 Speaker 1: prevent pressure in our lives. Though, I think, let's read 287 00:16:26,600 --> 00:16:31,240 Speaker 1: it again. I think there's a point to the pressure, 288 00:16:32,960 --> 00:16:36,280 Speaker 1: and maybe today you have come to that point. Paul 289 00:16:36,320 --> 00:16:40,720 Speaker 1: describes it. He said, in verse ten, we carry around 290 00:16:40,720 --> 00:16:42,480 Speaker 1: in our body the death of Jesus. 291 00:16:43,360 --> 00:16:49,160 Speaker 2: It means that I feel like I'm dying inside. That's 292 00:16:49,240 --> 00:16:50,680 Speaker 2: the kind of pressure. 293 00:16:51,200 --> 00:16:57,640 Speaker 1: That Paul snake shaker, Paul shipwreck survivor Paul, he says earlier. 294 00:16:57,240 --> 00:17:00,800 Speaker 2: In his ministry, he says, there was so much pressure, 295 00:17:01,800 --> 00:17:04,160 Speaker 2: I thought I was dying. 296 00:17:06,040 --> 00:17:12,440 Speaker 1: And he says that I was hard pressed on every side, 297 00:17:12,600 --> 00:17:16,560 Speaker 1: but not crushed. Now, I always heard people shout about 298 00:17:16,560 --> 00:17:20,080 Speaker 1: that verse, but realize that it's not automatic. 299 00:17:21,920 --> 00:17:22,159 Speaker 4: You know. 300 00:17:22,200 --> 00:17:22,760 Speaker 2: When I read that. 301 00:17:22,800 --> 00:17:25,680 Speaker 1: Verse, some people are like, yeah, hard pressed but not crushed. 302 00:17:25,720 --> 00:17:30,879 Speaker 1: But that verse suggests that pressure can crush you. 303 00:17:32,760 --> 00:17:35,000 Speaker 2: Oh yeah, I've met so many. 304 00:17:34,720 --> 00:17:39,800 Speaker 1: People that let the pressure I'm thinking of, Like I 305 00:17:39,840 --> 00:17:42,520 Speaker 1: had a friend whose family had a recycling plant and 306 00:17:43,200 --> 00:17:46,919 Speaker 1: you'd see the cans just crushed into these cubes. I 307 00:17:47,040 --> 00:17:52,919 Speaker 1: have seen people crushed into cubes and melded into a 308 00:17:52,960 --> 00:17:56,879 Speaker 1: little bit of nothing and sent away, and their dreams 309 00:17:56,920 --> 00:17:58,440 Speaker 1: deferred and their. 310 00:17:58,320 --> 00:18:00,560 Speaker 2: Hope crushed because pressure. 311 00:18:00,640 --> 00:18:05,040 Speaker 1: So before you shout I'm pressed, but not crushed, realize 312 00:18:05,080 --> 00:18:08,200 Speaker 1: that if you don't know what to do with the pressure, 313 00:18:08,640 --> 00:18:11,800 Speaker 1: it will crush you. If you don't know what to 314 00:18:11,880 --> 00:18:19,840 Speaker 1: do with the snake, poison will kill you. I'm pressed, 315 00:18:20,119 --> 00:18:26,840 Speaker 1: Paul said, but I'm not crushed. I'm perplexed. That's mental pressure, 316 00:18:27,920 --> 00:18:33,800 Speaker 1: but not in despair. I'm persecuted. That's pressure from other people, 317 00:18:34,680 --> 00:18:38,720 Speaker 1: but not abandoned. I'm struck down, but not destroyed. 318 00:18:38,800 --> 00:18:39,840 Speaker 2: Not see a contrast. 319 00:18:39,880 --> 00:18:45,560 Speaker 1: It is the contrast between what is pushing on Paul 320 00:18:45,680 --> 00:18:49,080 Speaker 1: and what is pushing in Paul. Can I preach a 321 00:18:49,119 --> 00:18:53,880 Speaker 1: little bit. I'm gonna help you today because your pressure 322 00:18:54,600 --> 00:18:59,000 Speaker 1: is trying to point to something, and so many times 323 00:18:59,040 --> 00:19:01,720 Speaker 1: in my life, listen, I'll help you. So many times 324 00:19:01,760 --> 00:19:05,640 Speaker 1: in my life. The reason that I was under pressure 325 00:19:06,200 --> 00:19:13,520 Speaker 1: is because I was full of pride. He said, we 326 00:19:13,720 --> 00:19:20,040 Speaker 1: have this power, this treasure in earthen vessels or vessels 327 00:19:20,119 --> 00:19:25,719 Speaker 1: of clay, an ordinary vessel, and it's an extraordinary power. 328 00:19:26,880 --> 00:19:31,720 Speaker 1: And so I'm an ordinary person with an extraordinary promise 329 00:19:31,800 --> 00:19:36,880 Speaker 1: of the presence of God. But sometimes I get confused 330 00:19:37,560 --> 00:19:39,400 Speaker 1: and I forget that. 331 00:19:39,440 --> 00:19:42,360 Speaker 2: I'm just the pot I'm not the power. 332 00:19:44,440 --> 00:19:49,600 Speaker 1: And sometimes I get so burdened because I put the 333 00:19:49,600 --> 00:19:55,879 Speaker 1: weight of the world on my shoulders and carry across 334 00:19:56,320 --> 00:19:59,680 Speaker 1: that I'm not strong enough to carry that has already 335 00:19:59,680 --> 00:20:01,360 Speaker 1: been married for me. 336 00:20:02,680 --> 00:20:04,200 Speaker 5: So I'm under pressure. 337 00:20:03,960 --> 00:20:08,280 Speaker 1: Sometimes because I'm full of pride. 338 00:20:08,359 --> 00:20:10,200 Speaker 2: And sometimes not all the time. 339 00:20:10,440 --> 00:20:14,919 Speaker 1: Pressure comes into your life not because of what you're handling, 340 00:20:15,000 --> 00:20:16,240 Speaker 1: but because of how. 341 00:20:16,080 --> 00:20:17,200 Speaker 2: You're handling it. 342 00:20:19,560 --> 00:20:21,920 Speaker 1: You forgot your. 343 00:20:21,640 --> 00:20:27,480 Speaker 2: Source and you lose your strength. Pressure. 344 00:20:28,880 --> 00:20:34,080 Speaker 1: Pressure sometimes points to pride in your life. 345 00:20:34,560 --> 00:20:37,800 Speaker 2: Thank you so much, God gave it to me. 346 00:20:38,040 --> 00:20:40,159 Speaker 1: I can't preach anything God doesn't give to me. And 347 00:20:40,200 --> 00:20:41,760 Speaker 1: God gave this to me. And you know, and I 348 00:20:41,760 --> 00:20:43,359 Speaker 1: think that way is so much easier to preach. 349 00:20:47,280 --> 00:20:48,920 Speaker 2: I'm gonna help you. I'm gonna help you. I'm gonna 350 00:20:48,920 --> 00:20:50,000 Speaker 2: help you today. If I don't help. 351 00:20:50,160 --> 00:20:52,440 Speaker 1: If I help three people, email me email me three 352 00:20:52,440 --> 00:20:54,000 Speaker 1: people at Elevation Church dot org. 353 00:20:54,080 --> 00:20:55,240 Speaker 2: Three people that I help today. 354 00:20:55,320 --> 00:20:56,840 Speaker 1: If you're one of the three it's gonna be email 355 00:20:56,920 --> 00:20:59,000 Speaker 1: dress three people at Elevation Church dot org. I'm gonna 356 00:20:59,000 --> 00:21:01,399 Speaker 1: help three people today who are under pressure, because when 357 00:21:01,480 --> 00:21:07,879 Speaker 1: pressure comes, some of us begin to perform to a 358 00:21:07,920 --> 00:21:11,240 Speaker 1: standard that we have projected. 359 00:21:13,080 --> 00:21:19,159 Speaker 2: That isn't even true to our purpose. I saw it 360 00:21:19,200 --> 00:21:19,399 Speaker 2: like this. 361 00:21:19,480 --> 00:21:20,800 Speaker 1: I can't say it again, Mom, I don't even know 362 00:21:20,880 --> 00:21:21,240 Speaker 1: what I said. 363 00:21:21,280 --> 00:21:23,400 Speaker 2: I hope you wrote it down. My mom says, say 364 00:21:23,400 --> 00:21:24,120 Speaker 2: it again. I can. 365 00:21:24,240 --> 00:21:25,760 Speaker 1: I don't know what I said. It just came out, 366 00:21:26,640 --> 00:21:29,679 Speaker 1: but maybe I could illustrate. You know, I've been preaching 367 00:21:29,720 --> 00:21:32,840 Speaker 1: a lot in the last year about the gap. I've 368 00:21:32,840 --> 00:21:36,280 Speaker 1: been preaching this message really all over the all over 369 00:21:36,320 --> 00:21:39,480 Speaker 1: the country, all over the world. I guess about the gap, 370 00:21:40,080 --> 00:21:42,000 Speaker 1: and it's the gap between where I am and where 371 00:21:42,000 --> 00:21:45,440 Speaker 1: I want to be, where I am and where I. 372 00:21:45,440 --> 00:21:47,919 Speaker 2: Used to be. And I've kind of been defining it. 373 00:21:47,960 --> 00:21:50,000 Speaker 1: I think I'm going to keep preaching it because it 374 00:21:50,040 --> 00:21:52,560 Speaker 1: continues to speak to me that there are two gaps 375 00:21:52,600 --> 00:21:55,560 Speaker 1: in my life. One is for my gratitude and one 376 00:21:55,600 --> 00:21:56,359 Speaker 1: is for my growth. 377 00:21:57,280 --> 00:21:57,680 Speaker 2: Got it. 378 00:21:58,840 --> 00:22:01,400 Speaker 1: One is how far I've come. Look back makes me grateful. 379 00:22:01,960 --> 00:22:04,359 Speaker 1: Can't stay there too long, though, because I got to grower. 380 00:22:04,400 --> 00:22:07,800 Speaker 1: I die. But this week I was seeing a different 381 00:22:07,840 --> 00:22:12,280 Speaker 1: gap in my mind, and it's the pressure gap. It's 382 00:22:12,320 --> 00:22:13,080 Speaker 1: the pressure gap. 383 00:22:14,680 --> 00:22:15,000 Speaker 2: Again. 384 00:22:16,240 --> 00:22:18,159 Speaker 1: I'm not saying that all pressure is bad, but there 385 00:22:18,240 --> 00:22:22,080 Speaker 1: is a type of pressure that is rooted in pride 386 00:22:22,119 --> 00:22:23,760 Speaker 1: and manifest in performance. 387 00:22:25,880 --> 00:22:29,440 Speaker 2: And this is it. This is the gap. 388 00:22:30,359 --> 00:22:34,080 Speaker 1: Between who I think I need to be and who 389 00:22:34,160 --> 00:22:40,679 Speaker 1: I believe I really am. Stay right there with me, 390 00:22:40,760 --> 00:22:46,920 Speaker 1: because when you think you need to be something that 391 00:22:46,960 --> 00:22:52,280 Speaker 1: you secretly believe you are not, the pressure is crushing. 392 00:22:54,480 --> 00:22:56,560 Speaker 2: When you secretly believe. 393 00:22:57,080 --> 00:23:01,399 Speaker 1: That you need to have an ability, that you need 394 00:23:01,720 --> 00:23:07,600 Speaker 1: to have a strength, when you secretly think this is 395 00:23:07,600 --> 00:23:10,040 Speaker 1: what I do all the time? Okay, therapy session bill me. 396 00:23:12,240 --> 00:23:14,280 Speaker 1: Holly says, I do it. She says that I got 397 00:23:14,280 --> 00:23:16,199 Speaker 1: it from my dad. He's not here anymore, so he 398 00:23:16,200 --> 00:23:18,200 Speaker 1: can't defend himself. So we talk about this genetic stuff 399 00:23:18,200 --> 00:23:18,600 Speaker 1: all the time. 400 00:23:18,600 --> 00:23:20,119 Speaker 2: But my mom is perfect. She's right over there in 401 00:23:20,119 --> 00:23:24,399 Speaker 2: the front row, she says. 402 00:23:24,400 --> 00:23:28,240 Speaker 1: Holly says, you gotta quit drawing thought bubbles on other people. 403 00:23:31,440 --> 00:23:38,640 Speaker 1: She says, you project expectations on people that they don't 404 00:23:38,680 --> 00:23:46,239 Speaker 1: even have of you, and you disappoint imaginary expectations that 405 00:23:46,280 --> 00:23:47,600 Speaker 1: don't even really exist. 406 00:23:48,680 --> 00:23:50,720 Speaker 2: Can you believe my wife would talk to me like this. 407 00:23:51,960 --> 00:23:52,880 Speaker 2: She didn't read. 408 00:23:52,680 --> 00:23:56,320 Speaker 1: That verse about submit woman, that Bible verse. 409 00:23:57,760 --> 00:24:01,560 Speaker 2: But she's right, it's just right. I do it all 410 00:24:01,600 --> 00:24:02,080 Speaker 2: the time. 411 00:24:02,280 --> 00:24:05,000 Speaker 1: And then guess what I do because of the pressure. 412 00:24:05,320 --> 00:24:09,400 Speaker 1: I'll start blowing up and exploding at people with frustration 413 00:24:09,920 --> 00:24:13,840 Speaker 1: because of projection of expectations. 414 00:24:12,880 --> 00:24:13,959 Speaker 2: That they didn't even have. 415 00:24:19,119 --> 00:24:23,600 Speaker 1: So now I'm mat on the inside and I'm walking around. 416 00:24:23,280 --> 00:24:26,840 Speaker 2: With all this combustible pressure. What do you want from me? 417 00:24:26,920 --> 00:24:27,760 Speaker 2: And people are like nothing. 418 00:24:27,840 --> 00:24:39,920 Speaker 1: Man, One time I was getting up to preach and 419 00:24:40,280 --> 00:24:42,960 Speaker 1: when actually it was when the podium comes up. We 420 00:24:43,040 --> 00:24:46,040 Speaker 1: have some traditions here at elevation chirts that people come. 421 00:24:46,359 --> 00:24:48,600 Speaker 1: My little pulpit comes out, like write at a certain 422 00:24:48,640 --> 00:24:51,560 Speaker 1: moment during a certain song. It's just little things we 423 00:24:51,600 --> 00:24:53,320 Speaker 1: do because it has to get out here at some time. 424 00:24:53,680 --> 00:24:55,120 Speaker 2: So we just put it out there right then. 425 00:24:55,880 --> 00:24:58,680 Speaker 1: And they were carrying the pulpit out and I felt 426 00:24:58,720 --> 00:25:04,800 Speaker 1: this weird pressure to perform. And God spoke to me, 427 00:25:07,680 --> 00:25:09,480 Speaker 1: when you were sixteen, did I call you to be 428 00:25:09,520 --> 00:25:20,719 Speaker 1: a performer? And the moment I realized that I was 429 00:25:20,800 --> 00:25:26,399 Speaker 1: projecting an expectation that was not from the heart of God, 430 00:25:27,960 --> 00:25:33,359 Speaker 1: the pressure left the building and I was free to preach. 431 00:25:38,520 --> 00:25:40,480 Speaker 1: But it was right when that pulpit was coming out 432 00:25:41,359 --> 00:25:44,679 Speaker 1: and they were doing the last song and Chris was 433 00:25:44,760 --> 00:25:48,399 Speaker 1: hitting the high note, and it was a pressure point. 434 00:25:48,640 --> 00:25:52,040 Speaker 1: I wonder what it is for you, the Alabama creamshaw, 435 00:25:54,680 --> 00:25:55,760 Speaker 1: the Buffalo bicep. 436 00:25:55,800 --> 00:26:02,200 Speaker 2: I didn't show you that one. Pressure points, those points, 437 00:26:02,280 --> 00:26:04,439 Speaker 2: those those things. 438 00:26:04,440 --> 00:26:09,560 Speaker 1: And I'm asking the question today, Could it be that 439 00:26:09,680 --> 00:26:14,479 Speaker 1: your pressure is trying to point you to a higher power. 440 00:26:18,640 --> 00:26:21,200 Speaker 1: The enemy will always point to what you don't have, 441 00:26:22,040 --> 00:26:28,720 Speaker 1: what you can't be, what you can't do. But when 442 00:26:28,760 --> 00:26:37,760 Speaker 1: he does point back, when pressure points, point back, I 443 00:26:37,760 --> 00:26:39,399 Speaker 1: want you to point at your neighbor's face, put your 444 00:26:39,400 --> 00:26:40,880 Speaker 1: finger right in front of their nose, and tell them 445 00:26:40,880 --> 00:26:46,040 Speaker 1: you need this message. Tell them point back, point back. 446 00:26:48,359 --> 00:26:53,040 Speaker 1: I see Paulin's Second Corinthians defending himself against the Judaizers 447 00:26:53,119 --> 00:26:58,920 Speaker 1: because they are questioning his credentials for ministry, and they're pointing. 448 00:26:58,600 --> 00:27:01,600 Speaker 2: Their finger in his face. Who do you think you are. 449 00:27:01,760 --> 00:27:05,320 Speaker 1: Preaching that circumcision is of no avail and it is 450 00:27:05,320 --> 00:27:08,480 Speaker 1: a new creation in Christ's accounts. I see a church 451 00:27:08,560 --> 00:27:10,840 Speaker 1: pointing their finger in the face of Paul But what's 452 00:27:10,880 --> 00:27:12,960 Speaker 1: what point Paul does when they're. 453 00:27:12,760 --> 00:27:13,639 Speaker 2: Pointing their finger. 454 00:27:14,080 --> 00:27:16,679 Speaker 1: You know those you know those things, those those points, 455 00:27:16,720 --> 00:27:17,560 Speaker 1: you know, those. 456 00:27:17,440 --> 00:27:19,080 Speaker 2: Those things the devil uses to. 457 00:27:19,040 --> 00:27:22,000 Speaker 1: Make you feel smaller than and less than and not 458 00:27:22,240 --> 00:27:23,320 Speaker 1: enough for and. 459 00:27:23,200 --> 00:27:26,240 Speaker 2: Never enough for and never gonna be. And you never were, 460 00:27:26,440 --> 00:27:26,840 Speaker 2: and your. 461 00:27:26,760 --> 00:27:29,760 Speaker 1: Mama wasn't and your daddy wasn't and you can't be either. 462 00:27:29,960 --> 00:27:33,840 Speaker 1: When he points point back, I have this treasure in 463 00:27:33,920 --> 00:27:37,200 Speaker 1: earthen vessels that the excellency. 464 00:27:36,880 --> 00:27:40,359 Speaker 2: Of the power might be proven to me from God 465 00:27:40,680 --> 00:27:49,240 Speaker 2: and not from me. That's how you turn. 466 00:27:49,160 --> 00:27:57,760 Speaker 1: Pressure into power, pressure into power. Pressure whanted somebody say 467 00:27:57,840 --> 00:28:04,720 Speaker 1: pressure into power, pressure into power. So Paul says, we 468 00:28:04,720 --> 00:28:09,240 Speaker 1: were pressed but not crushed. Maybe he has in mind 469 00:28:09,280 --> 00:28:12,360 Speaker 1: here the garden of Getsemone, you know, the place where 470 00:28:12,400 --> 00:28:17,120 Speaker 1: the Savior knelt down, all alone but not abandoned, struck 471 00:28:17,200 --> 00:28:21,359 Speaker 1: down but not destroyed, headed to the cross, but the 472 00:28:21,560 --> 00:28:25,199 Speaker 1: joy set before him enabled him to endure it. The 473 00:28:25,280 --> 00:28:28,600 Speaker 1: Bible says he knelt down and prayed. He prayed so 474 00:28:28,840 --> 00:28:32,719 Speaker 1: hard that he started sweating drops that were like blood. 475 00:28:33,119 --> 00:28:36,359 Speaker 1: He prayed so long that his cathillaries might have burst. 476 00:28:36,800 --> 00:28:41,200 Speaker 1: He prayed so long with nobody around to relieve the pressure. 477 00:28:41,520 --> 00:28:44,960 Speaker 1: But as he sweat, came forth from the mouth of 478 00:28:45,040 --> 00:28:49,720 Speaker 1: the living eternal word of God. Nevertheless, not my will, 479 00:28:50,040 --> 00:28:55,160 Speaker 1: but yours be done. What happened He turned pressure into power, 480 00:28:55,520 --> 00:28:56,240 Speaker 1: and he did it. 481 00:28:56,600 --> 00:29:01,280 Speaker 2: In a place called cat semony. Get semony means olive press. 482 00:29:01,600 --> 00:29:04,080 Speaker 2: And the world's greatest power. 483 00:29:04,200 --> 00:29:07,120 Speaker 1: Came from the Savior's greatest pressure. 484 00:29:07,480 --> 00:29:11,440 Speaker 2: And whatever you're going through today, I came with an announcement. 485 00:29:11,960 --> 00:29:25,160 Speaker 5: Paul said, we have this treasure, but. 486 00:29:25,160 --> 00:29:29,120 Speaker 1: You don't even know what you have until you're under pressure. 487 00:29:32,640 --> 00:29:40,080 Speaker 1: Pressure points. Pressure points. Pressure comes to call you out 488 00:29:41,360 --> 00:29:45,880 Speaker 1: and to know do you really trust God? The devil 489 00:29:45,880 --> 00:29:48,080 Speaker 1: got up in God's station and said, let me put 490 00:29:48,080 --> 00:29:52,320 Speaker 1: some pressure on job and let's see what's really in him. 491 00:29:52,480 --> 00:29:54,440 Speaker 1: Because you claim to be an orange, but you might 492 00:29:54,480 --> 00:29:57,760 Speaker 1: be a lemon, and I won't know to I squeeze you. 493 00:29:57,760 --> 00:30:00,760 Speaker 1: You might just be painted a certain color. Let me 494 00:30:00,800 --> 00:30:04,400 Speaker 1: find out what's inside by pressure. 495 00:30:08,200 --> 00:30:12,240 Speaker 2: Pressure proves whether you really believe the promise. 496 00:30:15,800 --> 00:30:19,240 Speaker 1: So I want to read the scripture again pressure points. 497 00:30:20,440 --> 00:30:23,600 Speaker 1: Paul has reached that point. Have you ever been at 498 00:30:23,640 --> 00:30:27,320 Speaker 1: that point? Is Paul the only one? Are you more 499 00:30:27,400 --> 00:30:31,320 Speaker 1: spiritual than Paul? Where nothing ever pressured you to the 500 00:30:31,360 --> 00:30:33,280 Speaker 1: point where you wondered would you make it? 501 00:30:36,440 --> 00:30:45,080 Speaker 2: So Paul says, the pressure came verse seven to show. 502 00:30:46,280 --> 00:30:48,960 Speaker 1: That's what it came for. You put verse seven on 503 00:30:49,000 --> 00:30:55,920 Speaker 1: the screen, please. The pressure came to show, to reveal, 504 00:30:57,280 --> 00:31:04,200 Speaker 1: to point out that this power, this all surpassing power, 505 00:31:05,280 --> 00:31:09,280 Speaker 1: this great power that raised Christ from the grave, can 506 00:31:09,400 --> 00:31:11,480 Speaker 1: only be proven. 507 00:31:12,240 --> 00:31:18,960 Speaker 2: After the pressure is applied. So the pressure shows me 508 00:31:20,760 --> 00:31:21,680 Speaker 2: that it's not about me. 509 00:31:24,800 --> 00:31:26,440 Speaker 1: You know how they say God will never put more 510 00:31:26,440 --> 00:31:29,880 Speaker 1: on you than you can bear. That's not true. That 511 00:31:29,960 --> 00:31:31,640 Speaker 1: is a Bible verse, but it's out of context. It's 512 00:31:31,640 --> 00:31:33,640 Speaker 1: talking about temptation as talking about God is not the 513 00:31:33,640 --> 00:31:36,600 Speaker 1: author of evil. But they can't fit all that on 514 00:31:36,600 --> 00:31:38,280 Speaker 1: a bumper sticker, so they just put God won't put 515 00:31:38,280 --> 00:31:39,600 Speaker 1: on any more on you than you can bear. It 516 00:31:39,680 --> 00:31:42,440 Speaker 1: sounds thatter on pinterest, but that's not what the verse means. 517 00:31:42,640 --> 00:31:47,080 Speaker 1: God will most certainly put more on you than you 518 00:31:47,120 --> 00:31:51,480 Speaker 1: can bear, so you will realize that you were not 519 00:31:51,600 --> 00:31:58,880 Speaker 1: meant to bear it, so you can access the supply. 520 00:32:00,400 --> 00:32:04,160 Speaker 2: That was yours all along. You've been under pressure. 521 00:32:04,440 --> 00:32:09,360 Speaker 1: Good, The pressure came to show you where your power 522 00:32:09,400 --> 00:32:10,040 Speaker 1: came from. 523 00:32:10,560 --> 00:32:15,880 Speaker 2: No pressure, no pressure, no pressure. 524 00:32:17,080 --> 00:32:19,440 Speaker 1: If you're not under pressure, you're only going to have 525 00:32:19,760 --> 00:32:21,040 Speaker 1: the power that you have. 526 00:32:21,760 --> 00:32:25,000 Speaker 2: But the pressure came to show you power. 527 00:32:25,360 --> 00:32:29,600 Speaker 1: And provision that you could not have accessed any other way. 528 00:32:29,760 --> 00:32:32,920 Speaker 2: How many get some out of this? Make some noise now, 529 00:32:38,360 --> 00:32:40,160 Speaker 2: he says, therefore. 530 00:32:41,240 --> 00:32:50,320 Speaker 1: Verse sixteen, because we know that pressure produces power. Because 531 00:32:50,360 --> 00:32:53,200 Speaker 1: we know that what is coming at me is not 532 00:32:53,440 --> 00:32:55,560 Speaker 1: greater than what lives within me. 533 00:32:57,840 --> 00:33:00,320 Speaker 2: Because we know that. Somebody say, I already know. 534 00:33:02,160 --> 00:33:12,600 Speaker 1: All pressure, all press, press pressure, pre sure, because I 535 00:33:12,680 --> 00:33:18,280 Speaker 1: am pre sure. God said you gotta fight pressure with 536 00:33:18,760 --> 00:33:22,280 Speaker 1: pre sure you got You've got to know some things 537 00:33:22,800 --> 00:33:25,120 Speaker 1: so deeply in your Therefore. 538 00:33:24,960 --> 00:33:26,640 Speaker 2: We do not lose heart. 539 00:33:27,040 --> 00:33:30,640 Speaker 1: Though outwardly it doesn't look very good we are wasting away. 540 00:33:30,680 --> 00:33:31,600 Speaker 2: I'm not crushed. 541 00:33:31,920 --> 00:33:36,440 Speaker 1: Yet inwardly I got something on the inside greater than 542 00:33:36,480 --> 00:33:44,200 Speaker 1: whatever surrounds me on the outside. We are being renewed 543 00:33:44,320 --> 00:34:00,479 Speaker 1: day by day four our light and momentary pressure troubles, trials, teenagers, bills, aches, pains. 544 00:34:00,040 --> 00:34:05,200 Speaker 2: Yes, I'm not gonna lie. Some people here are under 545 00:34:05,800 --> 00:34:09,360 Speaker 2: horrendous pressure. I'm not minimizing it. 546 00:34:11,120 --> 00:34:16,120 Speaker 1: I'm just saying that a certainty of what I'm about 547 00:34:16,160 --> 00:34:18,759 Speaker 1: to share with you next that Paul. This is what 548 00:34:19,120 --> 00:34:24,879 Speaker 1: Paul knew that he could only learn under pressure. He said, 549 00:34:24,920 --> 00:34:28,399 Speaker 1: I've learned because of what I've been through, and I've 550 00:34:28,480 --> 00:34:31,719 Speaker 1: learned because of what God has done for me. I 551 00:34:31,760 --> 00:34:36,719 Speaker 1: have learned that my light and momentary troubles are achieving 552 00:34:37,080 --> 00:34:41,839 Speaker 1: for me an eternal glory. 553 00:34:43,360 --> 00:34:47,359 Speaker 2: So the pressure that I'm under right now. 554 00:34:48,080 --> 00:34:52,239 Speaker 1: Is pointing to a glory that is going to be 555 00:34:52,600 --> 00:34:53,640 Speaker 1: so much greater. 556 00:34:54,719 --> 00:34:58,759 Speaker 2: How many believe the glory that is on the. 557 00:34:58,680 --> 00:35:03,080 Speaker 1: Other side, It's gonna be so much greater. 558 00:35:06,640 --> 00:35:07,600 Speaker 2: What God is. 559 00:35:07,600 --> 00:35:11,879 Speaker 1: Doing through my life in this season of pressure. I'm 560 00:35:11,920 --> 00:35:16,600 Speaker 1: gonna be stronger. I'm gonna be stable. I'm gonna be steady. 561 00:35:16,960 --> 00:35:19,959 Speaker 2: Next time. I know how to sake it off. Next time, 562 00:35:20,000 --> 00:35:22,560 Speaker 2: I know how to walk right through it. Next time, 563 00:35:22,600 --> 00:35:23,839 Speaker 2: I know how to spend. 564 00:35:23,520 --> 00:35:26,000 Speaker 1: The night in the fiery furnace and come out. 565 00:35:25,840 --> 00:35:27,880 Speaker 2: Without the smell of smoke on my clothes. 566 00:35:28,280 --> 00:35:29,120 Speaker 1: Who is this for? 567 00:35:29,640 --> 00:35:32,759 Speaker 2: You've been under pressure. The pressure has been pointing to 568 00:35:32,880 --> 00:35:36,480 Speaker 2: your end. But God says, I'm putting. 569 00:35:36,120 --> 00:35:41,920 Speaker 1: A glory for the joy set before him in tore the. 570 00:35:41,960 --> 00:35:44,800 Speaker 5: Crow despising his share. 571 00:35:48,400 --> 00:35:54,440 Speaker 6: The glory of the Lord is released and the power 572 00:35:55,120 --> 00:35:58,600 Speaker 6: of God is released through the pressure. 573 00:35:59,040 --> 00:36:01,360 Speaker 1: I'm telling you right now, I know what it feels 574 00:36:01,440 --> 00:36:03,360 Speaker 1: like to feel like there's no way out. I know 575 00:36:03,400 --> 00:36:05,279 Speaker 1: what it feels like to feel like there's no way 576 00:36:05,280 --> 00:36:08,000 Speaker 1: of escape. But when you can't find a way out, 577 00:36:08,320 --> 00:36:09,960 Speaker 1: that's when God makes a way in. 578 00:36:10,440 --> 00:36:12,959 Speaker 2: He's coming in to spend the night with you. He's 579 00:36:13,040 --> 00:36:26,320 Speaker 2: right there with you. In the pressure. I'm pushing to somebody. 580 00:36:24,239 --> 00:36:30,799 Speaker 1: And I'm pointing toward glory. I'm pointing toward glory. The 581 00:36:30,960 --> 00:36:35,759 Speaker 1: enemy will point toward your shame, your failure, your weakness, 582 00:36:37,520 --> 00:36:39,040 Speaker 1: Paul said, I'm pointing. 583 00:36:40,520 --> 00:36:48,560 Speaker 4: To glory. I'm pointing to glory. Come on, let's practice 584 00:36:49,160 --> 00:36:51,359 Speaker 4: when you get under pressure this week. What you're gonna do, 585 00:36:52,840 --> 00:36:53,640 Speaker 4: What you're gonna do. 586 00:36:55,239 --> 00:37:01,040 Speaker 1: We have this treasure in earthen vessels, seeing that what 587 00:37:01,160 --> 00:37:03,239 Speaker 1: the promise of God and the presence of God does 588 00:37:03,280 --> 00:37:05,680 Speaker 1: in my life, it does what they learned how to 589 00:37:05,719 --> 00:37:08,600 Speaker 1: do to the airplane, because if they didn't learn how 590 00:37:08,640 --> 00:37:12,279 Speaker 1: to pressurize the cabin of the airplane, we couldn't. 591 00:37:11,960 --> 00:37:13,560 Speaker 2: Make it to thirty thousand feet. 592 00:37:15,600 --> 00:37:18,200 Speaker 1: Because our bodies were designed to breathe at sea level. 593 00:37:18,760 --> 00:37:22,279 Speaker 1: But our minds conceived something that could fly in an 594 00:37:22,320 --> 00:37:27,640 Speaker 1: atmosphere that we could not retain consciousness in. And that's 595 00:37:27,640 --> 00:37:32,319 Speaker 1: why the cabin had to be pressurized. Why I come 596 00:37:32,400 --> 00:37:37,000 Speaker 1: to the word of God is to pressurize my spirit 597 00:37:38,080 --> 00:37:43,080 Speaker 1: with the promises of God, because I have this treasure 598 00:37:43,120 --> 00:37:46,399 Speaker 1: in earth and vessels, and the pressure is too great 599 00:37:46,440 --> 00:37:49,600 Speaker 1: for me, and my humanity cannot bear the weight of 600 00:37:49,640 --> 00:37:52,120 Speaker 1: the glory of God, because I'm. 601 00:37:51,960 --> 00:37:55,360 Speaker 2: Made of dust, and to the dust I will return. 602 00:37:55,480 --> 00:37:58,319 Speaker 1: And I am weak, and I am poor, and I 603 00:37:58,360 --> 00:38:02,200 Speaker 1: am broken, and without him I can do nothing. But 604 00:38:02,280 --> 00:38:04,960 Speaker 1: when I get my spirit pressurized, touch somebody say, I'm 605 00:38:04,960 --> 00:38:08,640 Speaker 1: pressurized when I get into the presence of God, and 606 00:38:08,719 --> 00:38:14,080 Speaker 1: I am reminded that these light and momentary afflictions are 607 00:38:14,120 --> 00:38:18,839 Speaker 1: not worthy to be compared with the cool I can 608 00:38:18,960 --> 00:38:27,319 Speaker 1: go higher. And Paul said, I made it through it 609 00:38:28,239 --> 00:38:31,640 Speaker 1: because I got above it. 610 00:38:33,360 --> 00:38:38,360 Speaker 2: Lift your hands in the presence of the Lawyer on 611 00:38:38,440 --> 00:38:41,560 Speaker 2: your feet now for everybody who's under pressure. 612 00:38:41,600 --> 00:38:45,000 Speaker 1: This message came to you just at this time to 613 00:38:45,080 --> 00:38:48,200 Speaker 1: reveal to you what the pressure is for, to show 614 00:38:49,040 --> 00:38:55,759 Speaker 1: that this all surpassing power, power, the raised Christ from 615 00:38:55,800 --> 00:39:00,520 Speaker 1: the dead, power, this book the world's into existence, power 616 00:39:00,520 --> 00:39:01,560 Speaker 1: that makes winds. 617 00:39:01,239 --> 00:39:06,360 Speaker 2: And waves still with one word. This all surpassing power 618 00:39:07,360 --> 00:39:08,680 Speaker 2: is from God and not from us. 619 00:39:11,480 --> 00:39:16,000 Speaker 1: Are you at the point where you realize. 620 00:39:17,360 --> 00:39:19,320 Speaker 2: That you can't carry the weight of your calling. 621 00:39:21,440 --> 00:39:24,640 Speaker 1: Are you at the point where you realize that you 622 00:39:24,680 --> 00:39:26,640 Speaker 1: don't have the wisdom you need to guide your life 623 00:39:26,640 --> 00:39:30,440 Speaker 1: by your own intuition and decisions? Have you come to 624 00:39:30,480 --> 00:39:34,160 Speaker 1: that point. We're on the right and on the left, 625 00:39:35,120 --> 00:39:38,480 Speaker 1: to the north and to the south. All you see 626 00:39:38,520 --> 00:39:43,200 Speaker 1: is pressure all around you. The word of the Lord 627 00:39:43,239 --> 00:39:47,800 Speaker 1: this day is that what is within you is greater 628 00:39:47,880 --> 00:39:48,719 Speaker 1: than what's around you. 629 00:39:51,600 --> 00:39:54,800 Speaker 2: And God brought you into his presence this. 630 00:39:54,760 --> 00:40:03,520 Speaker 1: Day to pressure eyes your resolve with the promises of God. 631 00:40:03,840 --> 00:40:06,920 Speaker 1: Lift your hands to heaven. See that that's how we 632 00:40:06,960 --> 00:40:12,319 Speaker 1: point back. When the enemy is pointing at everything that 633 00:40:12,360 --> 00:40:14,520 Speaker 1: I'm not, I lift my hands to point to all 634 00:40:14,560 --> 00:40:18,040 Speaker 1: that God is. Come on in this place, begin to 635 00:40:18,040 --> 00:40:22,960 Speaker 1: clap your hands and praise God. Praise points back. Praise 636 00:40:23,120 --> 00:40:26,840 Speaker 1: points back. Praise points back. When you give him the praise, 637 00:40:26,880 --> 00:40:27,520 Speaker 1: he gives. 638 00:40:27,320 --> 00:40:31,400 Speaker 2: You his peace. Praise points back. Come on, give him 639 00:40:31,440 --> 00:40:35,880 Speaker 2: the praise. If you know the power, the power of 640 00:40:35,920 --> 00:40:47,120 Speaker 2: God is operative in your situation. Pressure points. 641 00:40:50,520 --> 00:40:54,400 Speaker 1: Father, Today, I want to pray very specifically for someone 642 00:40:55,040 --> 00:40:58,839 Speaker 1: who has never surrendered their life to you, someone who 643 00:40:58,880 --> 00:41:02,160 Speaker 1: has never made the decision to give you complete control, 644 00:41:04,200 --> 00:41:06,920 Speaker 1: someone who has been carrying the weight and the shame 645 00:41:07,920 --> 00:41:10,959 Speaker 1: of their sin and never received your grace. Heads bowed, 646 00:41:10,960 --> 00:41:13,040 Speaker 1: eyes close. Spirit of the Lord is in this place, 647 00:41:13,080 --> 00:41:15,960 Speaker 1: and I want to pray a prayer right now for 648 00:41:17,320 --> 00:41:20,680 Speaker 1: those who are far away from God in your heart today. 649 00:41:20,719 --> 00:41:22,879 Speaker 1: The truth of the matter is, he's never far from you. 650 00:41:24,200 --> 00:41:29,560 Speaker 1: He's never far from you, and his presence is in 651 00:41:29,600 --> 00:41:33,400 Speaker 1: this place, and he longs to live inside of you, 652 00:41:34,920 --> 00:41:36,680 Speaker 1: and he longs to roll away the burden that you've 653 00:41:36,719 --> 00:41:41,320 Speaker 1: been carrying. All that is required for you to access 654 00:41:41,360 --> 00:41:45,360 Speaker 1: this grace and forgiveness and new beginning is faith. 655 00:41:46,280 --> 00:41:46,759 Speaker 2: That's it. 656 00:41:47,600 --> 00:41:50,640 Speaker 1: Scripture says that if you confess with your mouth that 657 00:41:50,760 --> 00:41:52,600 Speaker 1: Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God 658 00:41:52,640 --> 00:41:53,880 Speaker 1: raised him from the dead. 659 00:41:53,840 --> 00:41:54,720 Speaker 2: You will be safe. 660 00:41:55,880 --> 00:41:57,760 Speaker 1: So I want to give you that opportunity right now. 661 00:41:58,719 --> 00:42:00,760 Speaker 2: So I've been living my life on my own terms. 662 00:42:01,800 --> 00:42:04,160 Speaker 1: I've been carrying the weight of my life on my 663 00:42:04,200 --> 00:42:07,120 Speaker 1: own and right now I want to invite God to 664 00:42:07,160 --> 00:42:10,080 Speaker 1: be the center of my life and receive the mercy 665 00:42:10,120 --> 00:42:10,919 Speaker 1: of Jesus Christ. 666 00:42:11,000 --> 00:42:11,879 Speaker 2: I want to pray with you. 667 00:42:12,440 --> 00:42:14,440 Speaker 1: We're gonna pray as a church family out loud for 668 00:42:14,480 --> 00:42:16,520 Speaker 1: the benefit of those who are coming to God at 669 00:42:16,560 --> 00:42:19,319 Speaker 1: all of our campuses. Let's pray out loud, Heavenly Father, 670 00:42:20,640 --> 00:42:24,840 Speaker 1: I come to you a sinner in need of a savior, 671 00:42:25,840 --> 00:42:32,000 Speaker 1: and today I confess that Jesus Christ is my savior. 672 00:42:33,040 --> 00:42:37,080 Speaker 1: And Lord, I believe he died to forgive my sin 673 00:42:37,920 --> 00:42:43,279 Speaker 1: and rose again to give me life. I receive this 674 00:42:43,400 --> 00:42:48,560 Speaker 1: new life. Come into my heart, make me new. This 675 00:42:48,719 --> 00:42:53,040 Speaker 1: is my new beginning. Had still vowed, eyes still closed. 676 00:42:53,080 --> 00:42:54,759 Speaker 1: If you just pray that on the count of three, 677 00:42:54,840 --> 00:42:56,080 Speaker 1: shoot your hand up in the air. 678 00:42:56,160 --> 00:42:59,200 Speaker 2: One, two, three. I want to celebrate with you. I 679 00:42:59,320 --> 00:43:02,440 Speaker 2: see you, man, We'll see you guys on every location. 680 00:43:02,719 --> 00:43:07,120 Speaker 2: God bless you, God bless you. Come on, let's celebrate church. 681 00:43:07,200 --> 00:43:08,280 Speaker 2: Put those hands together. 682 00:43:09,200 --> 00:43:11,960 Speaker 3: Give God some grace for what he's doing in this place, 683 00:43:13,040 --> 00:43:18,920 Speaker 3: for his great grace, for his awesome love, for his 684 00:43:19,120 --> 00:43:22,200 Speaker 3: great grace, for his awesome love. 685 00:43:22,960 --> 00:43:24,279 Speaker 2: Come on, thank something seeing. 686 00:43:24,360 --> 00:43:29,560 Speaker 3: Let's celebrate the precessome don see. 687 00:43:28,160 --> 00:43:33,000 Speaker 2: Yes see. Thank you for joining us. 688 00:43:33,280 --> 00:43:35,759 Speaker 1: Special thanks to those of you who give generously to 689 00:43:35,800 --> 00:43:39,280 Speaker 1: this ministry. Is because of you that this ministry is possible. 690 00:43:39,760 --> 00:43:41,960 Speaker 1: You can click the link in the description to give 691 00:43:42,040 --> 00:43:45,960 Speaker 1: now or visit Elevation Church dot org slash podcast for 692 00:43:46,040 --> 00:43:50,000 Speaker 1: more information and if you enjoyed the podcast, you can subscribe. 693 00:43:50,280 --> 00:43:51,600 Speaker 2: You can share it with your friends. 694 00:43:51,880 --> 00:43:54,160 Speaker 1: You can click the share button, take a screenshot and 695 00:43:54,239 --> 00:43:56,359 Speaker 1: share it on your social stories and tag us at 696 00:43:56,360 --> 00:43:57,240 Speaker 1: Elevation Church. 697 00:43:57,280 --> 00:43:58,920 Speaker 2: Thanks again for listening. God bless you.