1 00:00:01,520 --> 00:00:02,800 Speaker 1: Hey, this is Stephen Ferdick. 2 00:00:02,840 --> 00:00:05,840 Speaker 2: I'm the pastor of Elevation Church and this is our podcast. 3 00:00:05,920 --> 00:00:07,760 Speaker 1: I wanted to thank you for joining us today. 4 00:00:08,080 --> 00:00:10,959 Speaker 2: Hope this inspires you. Hope it builds your faith. Hope 5 00:00:10,960 --> 00:00:13,000 Speaker 2: it gives you perspective to see God is moving in 6 00:00:13,039 --> 00:00:13,600 Speaker 2: your life. 7 00:00:13,880 --> 00:00:14,680 Speaker 1: Enjoy the message. 8 00:00:17,600 --> 00:00:20,800 Speaker 2: Philippians, Chapter three, Verse one. I'll give you my title 9 00:00:20,840 --> 00:00:22,760 Speaker 2: before I read my text. Today we're in a series 10 00:00:22,800 --> 00:00:25,880 Speaker 2: called Triggered, taking back your Mind in the Age of Anxiety, 11 00:00:26,640 --> 00:00:30,480 Speaker 2: and I will keep preaching until you are totally sane, 12 00:00:31,840 --> 00:00:35,360 Speaker 2: until you are no longer hiding Dorito's under. 13 00:00:35,200 --> 00:00:36,760 Speaker 1: Your bed because of. 14 00:00:36,720 --> 00:00:39,680 Speaker 2: Stress, eating and cussing people out in your car while 15 00:00:39,680 --> 00:00:42,040 Speaker 2: you're listening to Elevation Worship at the same time, you 16 00:00:42,040 --> 00:00:46,960 Speaker 2: don't even pause the music. So the series is going 17 00:00:47,000 --> 00:00:51,120 Speaker 2: to go a little bit longer, and this text is 18 00:00:51,159 --> 00:00:54,240 Speaker 2: going to help us today. The apostle paulis in his 19 00:00:54,320 --> 00:00:57,880 Speaker 2: own way, upset and triggered for good reason about something 20 00:00:57,880 --> 00:01:00,880 Speaker 2: that is going on to affect the blak And so 21 00:01:00,960 --> 00:01:02,640 Speaker 2: the title I want to use. I need you to 22 00:01:02,760 --> 00:01:05,520 Speaker 2: announce this title to the person sitting next to you, 23 00:01:05,560 --> 00:01:06,920 Speaker 2: and you don't have to talk to him another time 24 00:01:06,959 --> 00:01:09,560 Speaker 2: after this, it would be the last time that you 25 00:01:09,640 --> 00:01:11,920 Speaker 2: have to talk to him. But tell him this, say, 26 00:01:12,400 --> 00:01:16,840 Speaker 2: I hate to admit it, but I lost my confidence. 27 00:01:18,720 --> 00:01:20,760 Speaker 1: Hey man, Philippians, Chapter three, verse one. 28 00:01:22,680 --> 00:01:26,800 Speaker 2: Further, my brothers and sisters, rejoice in the Lord. It 29 00:01:26,880 --> 00:01:28,840 Speaker 2: is no trouble for me to write the same things 30 00:01:28,840 --> 00:01:31,800 Speaker 2: to you again, And it is a safeguard for you. 31 00:01:33,040 --> 00:01:38,720 Speaker 2: Watch out for those dogs, those evildoers, those mutilators of 32 00:01:38,760 --> 00:01:42,640 Speaker 2: the flesh. For it is we who are the circumcision, 33 00:01:43,640 --> 00:01:46,880 Speaker 2: We who serve God by his spirit, who boast in 34 00:01:46,959 --> 00:01:49,480 Speaker 2: Christ Jesus, and who put no. 35 00:01:50,840 --> 00:01:58,080 Speaker 1: New, zero, new new confidence in the flesh. 36 00:01:58,680 --> 00:02:03,720 Speaker 2: Though I myself have reason for such confidence, if anyone else, 37 00:02:03,800 --> 00:02:07,200 Speaker 2: if someone else thinks they have reasons to put confidence 38 00:02:07,280 --> 00:02:08,280 Speaker 2: in the flesh. 39 00:02:08,120 --> 00:02:10,840 Speaker 1: I have more. 40 00:02:11,600 --> 00:02:14,120 Speaker 2: We're gonna stop right there and talk a little, and 41 00:02:14,160 --> 00:02:16,359 Speaker 2: then we'll work through the rest of the passage. 42 00:02:16,440 --> 00:02:18,440 Speaker 1: But tell you something real quick. 43 00:02:18,480 --> 00:02:22,880 Speaker 2: That seminary professor taught me about preaching when I was 44 00:02:22,919 --> 00:02:25,640 Speaker 2: preaching from the Old Testament Book of First Samuel, and 45 00:02:25,639 --> 00:02:27,720 Speaker 2: there were a lot of names and places that I 46 00:02:27,760 --> 00:02:30,360 Speaker 2: didn't know how to pronounce because they were based on 47 00:02:30,440 --> 00:02:33,440 Speaker 2: Hebrew words. And I took all of them up to 48 00:02:33,520 --> 00:02:36,280 Speaker 2: him to ask him to help me pronounce them correctly, 49 00:02:36,800 --> 00:02:39,920 Speaker 2: because I was preaching in a few days and I 50 00:02:39,960 --> 00:02:41,680 Speaker 2: wanted to make sure I said all the words right. 51 00:02:42,280 --> 00:02:45,799 Speaker 2: And he said he well, first of all, he laughed 52 00:02:45,840 --> 00:02:48,800 Speaker 2: at my list of words, and he said, it's not 53 00:02:48,840 --> 00:02:52,280 Speaker 2: important that you say it right. It only matters that 54 00:02:52,360 --> 00:02:56,720 Speaker 2: you say it with confidence. He said, don't worry about 55 00:02:56,840 --> 00:03:01,520 Speaker 2: mispronouncing the words. Nobody will know that difference if you 56 00:03:01,600 --> 00:03:05,640 Speaker 2: say it with confidence. Kind of seems to be the 57 00:03:05,680 --> 00:03:09,639 Speaker 2: thing these days. It's kind of like, you know, we're 58 00:03:09,639 --> 00:03:12,680 Speaker 2: all it's kind of like we all found a Bible verse, 59 00:03:12,720 --> 00:03:14,240 Speaker 2: fake it till you make it, only it's not. 60 00:03:14,240 --> 00:03:14,800 Speaker 1: In the Bible. 61 00:03:17,600 --> 00:03:19,400 Speaker 2: That's how I was taught to get girls, you know, 62 00:03:19,480 --> 00:03:22,840 Speaker 2: Harold Staley. He said, it is really doesn't matter. You 63 00:03:22,840 --> 00:03:25,240 Speaker 2: could your car doesn't have to. 64 00:03:25,160 --> 00:03:26,360 Speaker 1: Be fast or nice. 65 00:03:27,040 --> 00:03:31,320 Speaker 2: He said, You're not especially good looking or tall, he said, 66 00:03:31,320 --> 00:03:33,200 Speaker 2: but I'm gonna tell you, if you just walk up 67 00:03:33,200 --> 00:03:36,400 Speaker 2: to a girl with confidence, you'd be surprised how much 68 00:03:36,440 --> 00:03:38,520 Speaker 2: better looking confidence can make you. 69 00:03:39,320 --> 00:03:40,200 Speaker 1: But then that's only. 70 00:03:40,080 --> 00:03:42,160 Speaker 2: Kind of true, because there's a fine line between confident 71 00:03:42,200 --> 00:03:42,680 Speaker 2: and creepy. 72 00:03:43,040 --> 00:03:44,000 Speaker 1: Am I right about it? 73 00:03:47,760 --> 00:03:49,280 Speaker 2: And I'm kind of trying to figure that out as 74 00:03:49,320 --> 00:03:51,680 Speaker 2: a parent, Like how much confidence do I really want 75 00:03:51,680 --> 00:03:55,800 Speaker 2: my kids to have? Because you kind of like them 76 00:03:55,840 --> 00:04:00,160 Speaker 2: being confident when they're younger, it's cute. And then in 77 00:04:00,200 --> 00:04:02,480 Speaker 2: their teenage years when they are so confident that they 78 00:04:02,520 --> 00:04:06,000 Speaker 2: no longer believe that you have any knowledge about anything, 79 00:04:07,000 --> 00:04:07,760 Speaker 2: it's an issue. 80 00:04:07,760 --> 00:04:08,600 Speaker 1: It's like, can we find a. 81 00:04:08,600 --> 00:04:11,800 Speaker 2: Middle ground on this this confidence thing? Can you be 82 00:04:11,920 --> 00:04:17,240 Speaker 2: like confident enough to be socially not awkward, but then 83 00:04:17,279 --> 00:04:19,960 Speaker 2: be humble enough to listen to me when I'm telling 84 00:04:20,000 --> 00:04:25,159 Speaker 2: you what's best for you? Is there is there like 85 00:04:25,200 --> 00:04:27,240 Speaker 2: a is there an in between? Is there a middle 86 00:04:27,279 --> 00:04:30,720 Speaker 2: ground on this confidence thing? Like is there somewhere between 87 00:04:31,120 --> 00:04:33,760 Speaker 2: you being intimidated and scared to death and feeling the 88 00:04:33,800 --> 00:04:36,600 Speaker 2: need to apologize for your existence on planet Earth? And 89 00:04:36,800 --> 00:04:39,520 Speaker 2: like Connor McGregor on the other end of the spectrum. 90 00:04:39,120 --> 00:04:41,440 Speaker 1: Is there anywhere? But here's what's happening now. 91 00:04:42,200 --> 00:04:46,560 Speaker 2: It's like, we we have confidence without competence. 92 00:04:48,880 --> 00:04:49,640 Speaker 1: Can I preach a. 93 00:04:49,560 --> 00:04:51,680 Speaker 2: Little bit today before I send you to join any group? 94 00:04:53,279 --> 00:04:57,960 Speaker 2: It's like we are okay, we are we are approaching 95 00:04:57,960 --> 00:05:00,640 Speaker 2: it like they were approaching it in Philip is three, 96 00:05:01,480 --> 00:05:05,120 Speaker 2: where Paul says, you need to watch out for the dogs. 97 00:05:05,640 --> 00:05:08,000 Speaker 2: And I know you're wondering who are these dogs? It's 98 00:05:08,000 --> 00:05:12,440 Speaker 2: in verse two. Who is Paul calling a dog? Who 99 00:05:12,480 --> 00:05:15,120 Speaker 2: are these dogs? And who let them out? 100 00:05:15,960 --> 00:05:16,839 Speaker 1: We need to know. 101 00:05:20,480 --> 00:05:22,719 Speaker 2: And you would assume that these are people who are 102 00:05:22,960 --> 00:05:26,880 Speaker 2: tempting the church at Philippi, the church that Paul founded 103 00:05:26,920 --> 00:05:30,440 Speaker 2: and fathered in the gospel. Maybe they are luring them 104 00:05:30,520 --> 00:05:36,160 Speaker 2: with sin. Maybe he's talking about drug dealers or liberals, 105 00:05:37,200 --> 00:05:40,960 Speaker 2: you know, all the things that threaten the Christian worldview. 106 00:05:41,040 --> 00:05:44,960 Speaker 2: But really what he's talking about here is religious people. 107 00:05:46,800 --> 00:05:50,919 Speaker 2: They're trying to get the newly converted gentiles who weren't 108 00:05:50,960 --> 00:05:58,599 Speaker 2: Jewish to be circumcised with no anesthesia, because that was 109 00:05:58,640 --> 00:06:02,120 Speaker 2: the outward sign of the covenant with the Jewish people 110 00:06:02,440 --> 00:06:03,240 Speaker 2: before Christ. 111 00:06:04,320 --> 00:06:06,120 Speaker 1: But Christ came along and changed that. 112 00:06:07,080 --> 00:06:10,880 Speaker 2: And Paul knows that it's not what you can show 113 00:06:10,960 --> 00:06:15,000 Speaker 2: on the outside, but it's what happens in your heart 114 00:06:15,080 --> 00:06:18,839 Speaker 2: that proves the authenticity of your relationship with God and 115 00:06:18,960 --> 00:06:24,080 Speaker 2: validates your relationship with Him by faith. Everybody say, by faith, 116 00:06:25,000 --> 00:06:29,479 Speaker 2: not flesh. It is impossible for you to please God 117 00:06:29,560 --> 00:06:35,240 Speaker 2: with your flesh, with your effort it is impossible for 118 00:06:35,360 --> 00:06:39,400 Speaker 2: you to impress God with your Bible reading streak. I'm 119 00:06:39,440 --> 00:06:42,600 Speaker 2: sorry he didn't call the angels over today because you 120 00:06:42,680 --> 00:06:43,400 Speaker 2: read a psalm. 121 00:06:44,080 --> 00:06:47,839 Speaker 1: Wow, check this out. She went a whole week. 122 00:06:47,760 --> 00:06:51,360 Speaker 2: Without telling anybody off. Didn't impress God a bit. On 123 00:06:51,400 --> 00:06:54,599 Speaker 2: the other hand, we can please God by faith. And 124 00:06:54,680 --> 00:07:02,960 Speaker 2: so Paul is talking about the dogs. Wooooooo, woo wooooooooo. 125 00:07:03,360 --> 00:07:06,240 Speaker 1: How long are you going to do it? 126 00:07:06,520 --> 00:07:13,920 Speaker 2: Well, no, but he's triggered. He says, what they're doing 127 00:07:14,080 --> 00:07:18,320 Speaker 2: is evil. They're evildoers. They're mutilating the flesh. They're making 128 00:07:18,360 --> 00:07:22,280 Speaker 2: it worse. They're telling you all these rules and regulations 129 00:07:22,320 --> 00:07:24,440 Speaker 2: that will make you acceptable. 130 00:07:24,200 --> 00:07:27,960 Speaker 1: To God, and it's making it worse. 131 00:07:28,600 --> 00:07:31,560 Speaker 2: Because it is teaching you to put confidence in the 132 00:07:31,640 --> 00:07:32,160 Speaker 2: wrong thing. 133 00:07:33,000 --> 00:07:36,040 Speaker 1: And it is a perversion of the Gospel. 134 00:07:36,080 --> 00:07:38,720 Speaker 2: To think that there are things that we can do outwardly, 135 00:07:39,440 --> 00:07:42,120 Speaker 2: or behaviors that we can quit, or habits that we 136 00:07:42,200 --> 00:07:47,160 Speaker 2: can enforce. And sometimes our consistency can become the enemy 137 00:07:47,240 --> 00:07:51,520 Speaker 2: of our humility because we stop doing stuff and start 138 00:07:51,640 --> 00:07:54,960 Speaker 2: doing stuff, and then immediately we start to create categories 139 00:07:55,040 --> 00:07:58,200 Speaker 2: for people who have not yet arrived at the place 140 00:07:58,240 --> 00:08:02,120 Speaker 2: of consistency that we're at and now, God help us, 141 00:08:02,560 --> 00:08:06,040 Speaker 2: because we're raising a generations that don't have to train 142 00:08:06,200 --> 00:08:09,800 Speaker 2: for their trophies. So it's as if we think that 143 00:08:09,960 --> 00:08:16,280 Speaker 2: confidence is our birthright. We have developed a sick, twisted version. 144 00:08:16,080 --> 00:08:19,000 Speaker 1: Of confidence that knows nothing in the biblical context. 145 00:08:19,840 --> 00:08:29,040 Speaker 2: We have put our confidence in confidence, But confidence that 146 00:08:29,160 --> 00:08:32,960 Speaker 2: has developed outside of the process that produces true confidence 147 00:08:33,120 --> 00:08:37,440 Speaker 2: is false confidence. And you know, I'm just thinking about 148 00:08:37,480 --> 00:08:42,360 Speaker 2: it now a little differently than age sixteen, when I 149 00:08:42,480 --> 00:08:45,600 Speaker 2: first gave my life to Christ and was very confident, 150 00:08:46,760 --> 00:08:50,240 Speaker 2: very confident in my ability to live for Jesus, very 151 00:08:50,320 --> 00:08:55,920 Speaker 2: confident in my ability to stay away from certain temptations. Oh, 152 00:08:56,000 --> 00:09:01,720 Speaker 2: it's so easy to be confident when you've never lived 153 00:09:01,760 --> 00:09:06,199 Speaker 2: through a crisis. It's so easy to preach faith when 154 00:09:06,200 --> 00:09:08,480 Speaker 2: you never watched your dad take his die and gasping 155 00:09:08,559 --> 00:09:11,880 Speaker 2: breath from als, and watched his body completely shut down, 156 00:09:11,920 --> 00:09:14,559 Speaker 2: and prayed every prayer that you knew to pray over him, 157 00:09:14,600 --> 00:09:17,120 Speaker 2: and quoted every scripture that you learned and wrote about 158 00:09:17,120 --> 00:09:18,760 Speaker 2: in a book about sunstand still. 159 00:09:20,240 --> 00:09:24,120 Speaker 1: And then things happen to shake your confidence. 160 00:09:25,640 --> 00:09:29,720 Speaker 2: Paul is talking here about people who have lost their 161 00:09:29,800 --> 00:09:35,240 Speaker 2: confidence in the Gospel. Or they are on the verge 162 00:09:35,320 --> 00:09:39,439 Speaker 2: of losing their confidence in the gospel and putting their 163 00:09:39,520 --> 00:09:44,360 Speaker 2: confidence in their performance, and that's dangerous. 164 00:09:45,760 --> 00:09:49,599 Speaker 1: I'm starting to wonder do we need more confidence. 165 00:09:51,160 --> 00:09:54,040 Speaker 2: It's just a question because lately I've been thinking that 166 00:09:54,160 --> 00:09:57,599 Speaker 2: the dangers of overconfidence are just as great as the 167 00:09:57,679 --> 00:10:02,400 Speaker 2: dangers of under confidence, that really. 168 00:10:02,280 --> 00:10:04,520 Speaker 1: Maybe it's not about the amount of confidence that we 169 00:10:04,600 --> 00:10:05,040 Speaker 1: have at all. 170 00:10:06,280 --> 00:10:08,199 Speaker 2: I wrote a little note to my son when he 171 00:10:08,280 --> 00:10:11,160 Speaker 2: turned thirteen, and it wasn't really about him. It was 172 00:10:11,200 --> 00:10:15,959 Speaker 2: about me remembering that age. And one thing I was 173 00:10:16,000 --> 00:10:19,520 Speaker 2: trying to tell him in the note is that everybody, 174 00:10:19,720 --> 00:10:23,240 Speaker 2: in some way is faking it. I just thought I 175 00:10:23,240 --> 00:10:25,320 Speaker 2: would show him that there is no Wizard of Oz, 176 00:10:25,480 --> 00:10:27,800 Speaker 2: just a little short dude behind a curtain, pulling levers 177 00:10:27,880 --> 00:10:31,920 Speaker 2: and posting stuff with filters and captions that are perfectly crafted. 178 00:10:31,960 --> 00:10:33,320 Speaker 2: And they spend an hour and a half to write 179 00:10:33,320 --> 00:10:35,360 Speaker 2: that caption to make themselves sound witty, and they're really 180 00:10:35,400 --> 00:10:37,240 Speaker 2: not that witty off the cuff, And if you compare 181 00:10:37,280 --> 00:10:39,840 Speaker 2: your off the cuff to their manufactured caption, you're going 182 00:10:39,920 --> 00:10:41,959 Speaker 2: to always feel like there's something missing and lacking in you. 183 00:10:44,520 --> 00:10:48,520 Speaker 2: But so hard because it's like, we're living in a 184 00:10:48,559 --> 00:10:53,400 Speaker 2: culture that projects confidence at all costs, and the cost 185 00:10:53,520 --> 00:10:55,200 Speaker 2: of false confidence. 186 00:10:56,440 --> 00:11:04,320 Speaker 1: Is ignorance. The cost of false confidence is ignorance. 187 00:11:05,040 --> 00:11:07,480 Speaker 2: And trust me, some of the people who are the 188 00:11:07,600 --> 00:11:14,319 Speaker 2: most confident are also the most ignorant. Some of the 189 00:11:14,480 --> 00:11:18,439 Speaker 2: wisest people that I've ever talked to in my life 190 00:11:19,200 --> 00:11:20,560 Speaker 2: didn't have a lot of answers. 191 00:11:20,640 --> 00:11:23,840 Speaker 1: They asked a lot of questions. You see what I'm saying. 192 00:11:24,800 --> 00:11:28,000 Speaker 2: But it's tough because we're teaching this to our kids, 193 00:11:28,120 --> 00:11:32,800 Speaker 2: right Just just be confident, you know, be confident. I'm 194 00:11:32,840 --> 00:11:36,120 Speaker 2: trying to find the balance because I do want to 195 00:11:36,280 --> 00:11:39,200 Speaker 2: raise confident kids and I want to be a confident Christian. 196 00:11:39,280 --> 00:11:42,600 Speaker 1: But I'm trying to find I'm trying to find the balance, 197 00:11:42,679 --> 00:11:45,360 Speaker 1: you know. Like our kids are out playing sports, just 198 00:11:45,440 --> 00:11:46,360 Speaker 1: like many of your kids. 199 00:11:47,040 --> 00:11:49,160 Speaker 2: Someone said to me a few weeks ago, stop talking 200 00:11:49,200 --> 00:11:51,559 Speaker 2: about your kids so much in your sermons. We don't 201 00:11:51,600 --> 00:11:53,600 Speaker 2: come to hear about your family. We come to hear 202 00:11:53,640 --> 00:11:55,880 Speaker 2: the word of God. And I'm like, well, I got 203 00:11:55,880 --> 00:11:57,719 Speaker 2: another solution. Just quit coming and you won't have to 204 00:11:57,760 --> 00:11:58,800 Speaker 2: hear me talk about anything. 205 00:12:00,200 --> 00:12:03,920 Speaker 1: That'll be fine, work well for both of us. Let's 206 00:12:03,960 --> 00:12:04,520 Speaker 1: just agree to. 207 00:12:05,679 --> 00:12:09,640 Speaker 2: We don't share the same interests, but that's my life 208 00:12:09,720 --> 00:12:11,920 Speaker 2: right now, is raising these kids. So it's just like 209 00:12:12,920 --> 00:12:14,839 Speaker 2: it's just what I mean. I'm always out at some 210 00:12:15,360 --> 00:12:17,760 Speaker 2: baseball field or football game or. 211 00:12:17,840 --> 00:12:18,400 Speaker 1: Something like that. 212 00:12:18,920 --> 00:12:22,960 Speaker 2: And now even Abby is playing seven year old softball 213 00:12:23,920 --> 00:12:26,760 Speaker 2: and she says she likes it, but I don't know 214 00:12:26,760 --> 00:12:32,199 Speaker 2: if she really likes softball or dugout cheers, because honestly, no, 215 00:12:32,840 --> 00:12:35,120 Speaker 2: I'm gonna make a plea here, and if anybody's watching 216 00:12:35,120 --> 00:12:37,559 Speaker 2: this online that has any kind of authority in girls 217 00:12:37,640 --> 00:12:41,160 Speaker 2: seven year old softball, I'm begging you, in the name 218 00:12:41,240 --> 00:12:44,760 Speaker 2: of Jesus Christ, whose gospel I preach, could we possibly 219 00:12:44,960 --> 00:12:49,520 Speaker 2: ban dugout cheering for seven year old softball? And I 220 00:12:49,640 --> 00:12:52,760 Speaker 2: know it's cute and it's delightful, but I'm just trying 221 00:12:52,800 --> 00:12:55,880 Speaker 2: to protect these girls because I'm listening to them in 222 00:12:55,960 --> 00:12:59,120 Speaker 2: the dugout and not only is it bad for my hearing, 223 00:12:59,240 --> 00:13:02,160 Speaker 2: not only is it and it's rough on their voices, 224 00:13:02,640 --> 00:13:05,439 Speaker 2: but what they're saying in these cheers is not true. 225 00:13:08,000 --> 00:13:09,480 Speaker 1: I heard hat Abby the other day. 226 00:13:10,920 --> 00:13:13,079 Speaker 2: She was doing a cheer my name is Abby, and 227 00:13:13,160 --> 00:13:15,800 Speaker 2: you know what I got, and the whole team said, 228 00:13:15,800 --> 00:13:19,640 Speaker 2: what do you got, Abby said, I got a team 229 00:13:19,720 --> 00:13:24,800 Speaker 2: that is hotter than hot. See right there, we just 230 00:13:24,920 --> 00:13:27,880 Speaker 2: st the realm of reality because I've been watching all 231 00:13:28,000 --> 00:13:31,320 Speaker 2: three innings of this and y'all are not hotter than hot. 232 00:13:31,880 --> 00:13:34,640 Speaker 2: Y'all are not even lukewarm. Baby girl, you're frozen in 233 00:13:34,720 --> 00:13:37,120 Speaker 2: the center. You need to be in the microwave. About 234 00:13:37,160 --> 00:13:47,839 Speaker 2: three more. Then she said, grand slams and homers too. 235 00:13:48,600 --> 00:13:50,680 Speaker 2: I'm like, how about a base hit? Can we start 236 00:13:50,720 --> 00:13:57,560 Speaker 2: with a base hit? Praise the Lord. 237 00:13:59,120 --> 00:14:04,000 Speaker 1: It's danger is to have too much confidence in. 238 00:14:04,160 --> 00:14:09,480 Speaker 2: The wrong place, in the wrong place. But the Bible 239 00:14:09,559 --> 00:14:13,120 Speaker 2: says to be confident. You know, in this I will 240 00:14:13,200 --> 00:14:14,679 Speaker 2: be confident. Doesn't the Bible say that? 241 00:14:14,840 --> 00:14:17,120 Speaker 1: Yes? But the question is in what? Will you be 242 00:14:17,240 --> 00:14:19,440 Speaker 1: confident in what? 243 00:14:21,680 --> 00:14:26,160 Speaker 2: And sometimes we want to have a confident belief without 244 00:14:26,880 --> 00:14:31,040 Speaker 2: the behaviors that build confidence in our lives, you know, 245 00:14:31,120 --> 00:14:34,440 Speaker 2: Because to have real confidence, you gotta have consistency, don't you. 246 00:14:35,720 --> 00:14:40,160 Speaker 2: I mean to have confidence, you gotta have competence. Competence 247 00:14:40,240 --> 00:14:45,600 Speaker 2: is built through consistency. You gotta If you're gonna have 248 00:14:45,720 --> 00:14:51,040 Speaker 2: real confidence, you gotta have character. Amen, Amen, you know 249 00:14:51,120 --> 00:14:52,960 Speaker 2: what I'm gonna spend the rest of my life preaching 250 00:14:53,040 --> 00:14:55,400 Speaker 2: what I think is true, whether anybody says amen to 251 00:14:55,480 --> 00:14:56,480 Speaker 2: it or not, I'm. 252 00:14:56,360 --> 00:15:01,360 Speaker 1: Committing to that. These these little gray hairs. 253 00:15:01,120 --> 00:15:03,800 Speaker 2: That keep popping up or trying to tell me, you 254 00:15:03,880 --> 00:15:06,120 Speaker 2: don't have time to get up there in that pulpit 255 00:15:06,400 --> 00:15:12,080 Speaker 2: and just hype people anymore, because while we're hyping people 256 00:15:12,800 --> 00:15:17,160 Speaker 2: in one sense to believe God, we are actually making 257 00:15:17,200 --> 00:15:23,760 Speaker 2: the problem worse because when their circumstance is not reflecting 258 00:15:23,840 --> 00:15:30,680 Speaker 2: their confession, their faith collapses beneath the weight of unmat expectations. 259 00:15:33,120 --> 00:15:35,520 Speaker 2: And so the Lord was really speaking to me, you know, 260 00:15:35,760 --> 00:15:39,760 Speaker 2: because I go back and forth of feeling really confident 261 00:15:39,920 --> 00:15:43,000 Speaker 2: sometimes and then sometimes I feel I can't find my 262 00:15:43,080 --> 00:15:45,880 Speaker 2: confidence anywhere, and so then I think, well, I had 263 00:15:45,960 --> 00:15:46,960 Speaker 2: too much confidence. 264 00:15:47,280 --> 00:15:49,560 Speaker 1: I need to be more humble. And then sometimes I think, 265 00:15:49,600 --> 00:15:51,080 Speaker 1: well I don't have enough confidence. 266 00:15:51,320 --> 00:15:53,760 Speaker 2: I need to just bump myself in a mirror mirror 267 00:15:54,040 --> 00:15:56,920 Speaker 2: a few times and get out there and put myself 268 00:15:57,280 --> 00:15:58,080 Speaker 2: back in the game. 269 00:15:58,200 --> 00:16:04,800 Speaker 1: Coach, get out there. And I'm back and forth. And 270 00:16:05,560 --> 00:16:06,720 Speaker 1: God spoke to me this week. 271 00:16:06,800 --> 00:16:09,960 Speaker 2: He said, it's not how much confidence you have, is 272 00:16:10,040 --> 00:16:12,680 Speaker 2: where you put it that counts. 273 00:16:15,560 --> 00:16:17,600 Speaker 1: Paul said, I have no confidence in the flesh. 274 00:16:18,760 --> 00:16:20,880 Speaker 2: All of these people who are telling you you need 275 00:16:20,960 --> 00:16:24,920 Speaker 2: to be circumcised and that's how you prove that you 276 00:16:25,000 --> 00:16:28,480 Speaker 2: have a relationship with God. Or you know, this temptation 277 00:16:28,720 --> 00:16:33,960 Speaker 2: that we all have to fake it until we break, 278 00:16:35,160 --> 00:16:39,880 Speaker 2: that's what really happens. You know, you fake it and 279 00:16:39,960 --> 00:16:43,840 Speaker 2: you never make it because no matter how much you 280 00:16:43,960 --> 00:16:46,360 Speaker 2: work to develop your confidence in your flesh, it will 281 00:16:46,400 --> 00:16:47,120 Speaker 2: always fail you. 282 00:16:48,680 --> 00:16:49,720 Speaker 1: It will always fail you. 283 00:16:51,720 --> 00:16:55,040 Speaker 2: And all of this behavioral modification that I know is 284 00:16:55,160 --> 00:16:59,520 Speaker 2: necessary for us to make improvements in our lives. And 285 00:16:59,600 --> 00:17:02,440 Speaker 2: maybe it's important for us to have confidence if we're 286 00:17:02,440 --> 00:17:04,600 Speaker 2: going to stand on stage and give a presentation or 287 00:17:05,280 --> 00:17:07,200 Speaker 2: go into a meeting that we don't feel qualified for. 288 00:17:07,320 --> 00:17:12,080 Speaker 2: I understand that, But my question is, have have you 289 00:17:12,200 --> 00:17:18,520 Speaker 2: put that confidence in the right place? And the other 290 00:17:18,640 --> 00:17:21,399 Speaker 2: day I noticed Holly didn't have her wedding ring on. 291 00:17:25,160 --> 00:17:27,280 Speaker 2: Wasn't anything sketchy. We were just at the house. She 292 00:17:27,440 --> 00:17:30,200 Speaker 2: wasn't going out without her wedding ring on. In fact, 293 00:17:31,000 --> 00:17:33,520 Speaker 2: I got that cover too. I made her put a 294 00:17:33,600 --> 00:17:37,160 Speaker 2: tattoo on her ring finger. So even if she wanted 295 00:17:37,240 --> 00:17:40,760 Speaker 2: to take it off, it says h and s and 296 00:17:40,880 --> 00:17:43,080 Speaker 2: so if she wants to leave me. The dude is 297 00:17:43,119 --> 00:17:45,680 Speaker 2: already going to be narrowed down. His name better start 298 00:17:45,760 --> 00:17:48,160 Speaker 2: with S or she'll have to turn it into an eight. 299 00:17:48,480 --> 00:17:49,400 Speaker 1: But she is mine. 300 00:17:57,280 --> 00:18:01,800 Speaker 2: But I said, where's your ring? She said, oh, I 301 00:18:01,880 --> 00:18:05,119 Speaker 2: put it over here. So I watched him dishes and 302 00:18:05,200 --> 00:18:07,960 Speaker 2: I asked her a question. I didn't have to say much. 303 00:18:08,520 --> 00:18:10,720 Speaker 2: I said, is that a good place to put it? 304 00:18:11,040 --> 00:18:16,480 Speaker 2: Because listen, she lost it once, and when she lost it, 305 00:18:16,960 --> 00:18:20,679 Speaker 2: we had insurance she got a better one. So now 306 00:18:20,720 --> 00:18:28,639 Speaker 2: I'm starting to wonder, are you trying to ask somebody 307 00:18:28,720 --> 00:18:30,399 Speaker 2: next to you is that a good place to put it? 308 00:18:32,359 --> 00:18:35,920 Speaker 2: Because you keep putting your confidence in people, and you 309 00:18:36,080 --> 00:18:39,960 Speaker 2: keep putting your confidence in your performance, and you keep 310 00:18:40,000 --> 00:18:43,680 Speaker 2: putting your confidence in your ability to be disciplined and all, 311 00:18:43,680 --> 00:18:46,080 Speaker 2: I'm a exercise and now I'm gonna stay on my 312 00:18:46,240 --> 00:18:49,200 Speaker 2: diet this time, and I'm gonna pray for fifteen minutes 313 00:18:49,240 --> 00:18:53,119 Speaker 2: every day. You know, I hear people say sometimes I 314 00:18:53,240 --> 00:18:56,320 Speaker 2: gave up on God because some people in the church 315 00:18:56,520 --> 00:18:59,040 Speaker 2: let me down. But let me ask you a question. 316 00:18:59,520 --> 00:19:03,400 Speaker 2: You're a relationship with God is so precious. Why would 317 00:19:03,480 --> 00:19:06,960 Speaker 2: you put your confidence in God in how people. 318 00:19:06,880 --> 00:19:11,840 Speaker 1: Treat you, people will always let you down. People will 319 00:19:11,920 --> 00:19:13,440 Speaker 1: always fall short. 320 00:19:13,640 --> 00:19:17,040 Speaker 2: Even if they have good intentions, they have limited ability. 321 00:19:17,480 --> 00:19:19,159 Speaker 1: Do you really want to put it in people? 322 00:19:19,600 --> 00:19:22,600 Speaker 2: Haven't you spend enough time trusting in people who. 323 00:19:22,480 --> 00:19:23,280 Speaker 1: Eats your needs? 324 00:19:25,040 --> 00:19:32,639 Speaker 2: I feel like preaching? Ask them again, is that a 325 00:19:32,680 --> 00:19:36,159 Speaker 2: good place to put it? Do you really want to 326 00:19:36,200 --> 00:19:38,879 Speaker 2: put confidence in your flesh, your effort, your ability to 327 00:19:38,960 --> 00:19:44,040 Speaker 2: keep the law? Now, Paul said, if you want to 328 00:19:44,119 --> 00:19:47,040 Speaker 2: play the game of who has more reasons to be 329 00:19:47,160 --> 00:19:53,640 Speaker 2: confident on the basis of lifestyle or legality, He says, 330 00:19:53,640 --> 00:19:57,200 Speaker 2: if you want to play the game whose circumcision is better, 331 00:19:58,520 --> 00:20:00,800 Speaker 2: let's play watch this. 332 00:20:01,760 --> 00:20:04,880 Speaker 1: He starts reading off his resume, and what a weird 333 00:20:04,960 --> 00:20:09,000 Speaker 1: game this is. Watch this? You know people try to 334 00:20:09,040 --> 00:20:09,679 Speaker 1: top everything. 335 00:20:09,920 --> 00:20:14,400 Speaker 2: Paul's like, my circumcision is better than your circumcision. 336 00:20:17,280 --> 00:20:18,320 Speaker 1: Because watch verse five. 337 00:20:19,480 --> 00:20:22,160 Speaker 2: I was circumcised on the eighth day when you're supposed 338 00:20:22,200 --> 00:20:24,080 Speaker 2: to be a lot of the Judaizers the dog who 339 00:20:25,119 --> 00:20:27,440 Speaker 2: they were circumcised after the fact, Paul said, I was 340 00:20:27,480 --> 00:20:29,359 Speaker 2: circumcised when I was supposed to be circumcised, because I. 341 00:20:29,359 --> 00:20:30,680 Speaker 1: Was born the way he was supposed to be born 342 00:20:30,760 --> 00:20:31,520 Speaker 1: into the race. 343 00:20:31,560 --> 00:20:33,320 Speaker 2: That God said that he would use to bless all 344 00:20:33,359 --> 00:20:36,400 Speaker 2: the nations of the earth through So I was circumcised 345 00:20:36,440 --> 00:20:38,720 Speaker 2: before all y'all on the eighth day. 346 00:20:39,800 --> 00:20:43,800 Speaker 1: I don't remember it. I'm glad I got that out 347 00:20:43,840 --> 00:20:47,680 Speaker 1: of the way early in life. I was of the 348 00:20:47,760 --> 00:20:52,200 Speaker 1: people of Israel, so I have connections. I was not 349 00:20:52,320 --> 00:20:52,800 Speaker 1: only of the. 350 00:20:52,800 --> 00:20:56,200 Speaker 2: People of Israel. I was of the tribe of Benjamin. 351 00:20:57,040 --> 00:20:59,320 Speaker 2: That was the tribe that the kings came out of, 352 00:21:00,080 --> 00:21:03,680 Speaker 2: the tribe of Benjamin. So he's like, I'm already one 353 00:21:03,720 --> 00:21:07,479 Speaker 2: of God's favorite people because I'm an Israelite, and then 354 00:21:07,600 --> 00:21:11,159 Speaker 2: I'm the favorite tribe within the favorite people. Come on, 355 00:21:11,280 --> 00:21:15,000 Speaker 2: you want to talk about flesh. My flesh is impressive. 356 00:21:16,080 --> 00:21:16,480 Speaker 1: Mm hmm. 357 00:21:18,040 --> 00:21:19,920 Speaker 2: And I was not only of the tribe of Benjamin. 358 00:21:20,160 --> 00:21:21,840 Speaker 2: It was not only a matter of birth. I wasn't 359 00:21:21,880 --> 00:21:25,720 Speaker 2: only born into fortunate circumstances. But I was a Hebrew 360 00:21:25,840 --> 00:21:26,560 Speaker 2: of Hebrews. 361 00:21:27,560 --> 00:21:29,399 Speaker 1: Wow, I was. 362 00:21:30,160 --> 00:21:34,000 Speaker 2: I was a Hebrew of Hebrews. I was competent. Watch this, 363 00:21:34,840 --> 00:21:39,359 Speaker 2: I was connected. I was competent in regard to the 364 00:21:39,480 --> 00:21:43,480 Speaker 2: law of Pharisee. That's the strictest order of religious law 365 00:21:43,560 --> 00:21:47,399 Speaker 2: for the Jewish people. So he says I was on 366 00:21:47,520 --> 00:21:52,159 Speaker 2: a scholarship. I was a prize pupil of Gamaliel. He 367 00:21:52,240 --> 00:21:55,360 Speaker 2: doesn't mention that in Philippians three. He mentions it elsewhere 368 00:21:55,400 --> 00:21:58,560 Speaker 2: that he sat underneath the tutelage of one of the 369 00:21:58,600 --> 00:21:59,920 Speaker 2: greatest teachers of his dad. 370 00:22:01,200 --> 00:22:06,040 Speaker 1: This is like you interned under Elon Musk. Paul said, 371 00:22:06,119 --> 00:22:09,720 Speaker 1: let's talk. You want to talk to me, You dogs 372 00:22:10,160 --> 00:22:12,080 Speaker 1: that think you're so much better than other people. 373 00:22:12,760 --> 00:22:15,280 Speaker 2: He said, I had all of that. I was so 374 00:22:15,480 --> 00:22:19,200 Speaker 2: good at it that I was promoted to the highest level. 375 00:22:19,640 --> 00:22:23,359 Speaker 2: I was so zealous. Verse six, polase I was persecuting 376 00:22:23,440 --> 00:22:28,080 Speaker 2: the church as for righteousness based on the law faultless. 377 00:22:28,440 --> 00:22:33,760 Speaker 2: So stop, make sure we got this. He's connected. He's competent. 378 00:22:34,680 --> 00:22:38,639 Speaker 2: And his character, he says, according to human law and 379 00:22:38,760 --> 00:22:41,480 Speaker 2: what you can measure and what you can see and 380 00:22:41,600 --> 00:22:48,639 Speaker 2: what you can judge faultless. Connect it competent and his 381 00:22:48,840 --> 00:22:53,520 Speaker 2: character is faultless. And he build his confidence to a 382 00:22:53,600 --> 00:22:56,680 Speaker 2: certain level. But then something happened to Paul. 383 00:22:57,760 --> 00:23:01,400 Speaker 1: Paul saw a contrast, and sometimes. 384 00:23:01,040 --> 00:23:03,160 Speaker 2: What we need when we get a little too full 385 00:23:03,200 --> 00:23:09,359 Speaker 2: of ourselves, come on. Happens to all of us. Quiet people, 386 00:23:09,480 --> 00:23:14,120 Speaker 2: loud people, flashy people, low key people. It can happen 387 00:23:14,200 --> 00:23:16,760 Speaker 2: to every one of us that we start to trust 388 00:23:16,920 --> 00:23:21,320 Speaker 2: in our flesh. And about the time you think you 389 00:23:21,440 --> 00:23:23,320 Speaker 2: get it figured out, you know how we do. We 390 00:23:23,440 --> 00:23:27,040 Speaker 2: get our categories exactly right. Okay, here's the kind of 391 00:23:27,160 --> 00:23:29,959 Speaker 2: people that are going to heaven, and here's the kind 392 00:23:30,000 --> 00:23:32,840 Speaker 2: of people that are going to hell. And the way 393 00:23:32,880 --> 00:23:35,199 Speaker 2: I know is there are certain things that people who 394 00:23:35,240 --> 00:23:38,399 Speaker 2: are going to heaven do and don't do, and certain 395 00:23:38,440 --> 00:23:40,639 Speaker 2: people who are going to hell. Here's what they do 396 00:23:41,200 --> 00:23:43,840 Speaker 2: and they don't do. The only problem that I'm finding 397 00:23:43,960 --> 00:23:46,800 Speaker 2: with this is a lot of our confidence that we 398 00:23:46,960 --> 00:23:50,840 Speaker 2: put in our judgments, and our assessment is based on 399 00:23:51,040 --> 00:23:55,080 Speaker 2: our external observations of people, and we can never really 400 00:23:55,200 --> 00:23:58,200 Speaker 2: know anyone's heart. And now here's a case in point. 401 00:23:58,840 --> 00:24:00,760 Speaker 2: And I told this story the wrong way last night, 402 00:24:00,840 --> 00:24:02,399 Speaker 2: so if you were here last night, I messed it up. 403 00:24:02,440 --> 00:24:04,560 Speaker 2: But here's how it actually happened. This is why I 404 00:24:04,600 --> 00:24:06,480 Speaker 2: put no confidence in the flesh, because I can't even 405 00:24:06,480 --> 00:24:08,640 Speaker 2: tell my own stories right while I'm preaching about confidence. 406 00:24:08,680 --> 00:24:10,119 Speaker 1: That's how much I need the Holy Spirit. 407 00:24:10,960 --> 00:24:13,280 Speaker 2: But I was watching a sermon with my father in 408 00:24:13,400 --> 00:24:16,800 Speaker 2: law when I was first starting in ministry, and he 409 00:24:17,000 --> 00:24:19,760 Speaker 2: was telling me how the person preaching the sermon was 410 00:24:19,880 --> 00:24:23,119 Speaker 2: cocky and arrogant. He said, look at him. You can 411 00:24:23,200 --> 00:24:27,000 Speaker 2: tell he's strutting around that stage. He's wearing a five 412 00:24:27,080 --> 00:24:31,320 Speaker 2: thousand dollars suit. Look at him. He's cocky and he's arrogant. 413 00:24:31,720 --> 00:24:35,520 Speaker 2: Even his tie is loud. He's cocky and he's arrogant. 414 00:24:35,880 --> 00:24:38,840 Speaker 2: He's so cocky and he's arrogant. Of course, I asked 415 00:24:38,880 --> 00:24:40,760 Speaker 2: my father in law, have you met him? No, but 416 00:24:40,880 --> 00:24:44,159 Speaker 2: you can tell he's cocky and he's arrogant. Do you 417 00:24:44,240 --> 00:24:45,399 Speaker 2: know anybody who's met him? 418 00:24:45,440 --> 00:24:46,200 Speaker 1: No, but I don't have to. 419 00:24:46,359 --> 00:24:50,040 Speaker 2: You can tell he's cocky and he's arrogant. And I said, 420 00:24:50,160 --> 00:24:53,520 Speaker 2: just kind of innocently, well, who's somebody that you think 421 00:24:53,640 --> 00:24:56,600 Speaker 2: is not cocky and arrogant? That would be better to 422 00:24:56,680 --> 00:25:00,040 Speaker 2: model my ministry after. Because he was in ministry. I 423 00:25:00,119 --> 00:25:02,240 Speaker 2: wanted to hear his wisdom. And he named the name 424 00:25:02,320 --> 00:25:04,760 Speaker 2: of somebody that I knew. It was a man who 425 00:25:04,880 --> 00:25:12,480 Speaker 2: had the Greek New Testament memorized. No, not the not 426 00:25:12,640 --> 00:25:15,800 Speaker 2: the Little Philippians four thirteen, in the. 427 00:25:15,880 --> 00:25:18,080 Speaker 1: Whole New Testament. He would show up. I took the 428 00:25:18,119 --> 00:25:19,040 Speaker 1: class with him. One time. 429 00:25:19,400 --> 00:25:22,919 Speaker 2: He would say the Bible verse without looking at the Bible. 430 00:25:23,920 --> 00:25:25,800 Speaker 2: But he wouldn't say it in our translation. He would 431 00:25:25,800 --> 00:25:29,800 Speaker 2: be translating it in his mind from Greek. He never 432 00:25:29,960 --> 00:25:33,399 Speaker 2: looked at the Bible to teach us the Bible. And 433 00:25:33,520 --> 00:25:36,280 Speaker 2: my father in law said, that guy, that's a. 434 00:25:36,320 --> 00:25:36,800 Speaker 1: Man of God. 435 00:25:37,480 --> 00:25:39,680 Speaker 2: That's a humble man of God. That's a man of 436 00:25:39,760 --> 00:25:42,720 Speaker 2: God who knows what matters and what doesn't. That's a 437 00:25:42,800 --> 00:25:45,360 Speaker 2: man of God who has understated. That's a man of God. 438 00:25:45,840 --> 00:25:51,000 Speaker 2: And twelve months later, the man of God who knew 439 00:25:51,000 --> 00:25:54,240 Speaker 2: the Bible in Greek had left his wife for a 440 00:25:54,320 --> 00:25:58,359 Speaker 2: woman in Russia. He had been taking mission trips to Russia. 441 00:25:59,200 --> 00:26:03,600 Speaker 2: Mission trip to Russia, but one mission he went for 442 00:26:03,800 --> 00:26:07,200 Speaker 2: and he never came back. And the man that was 443 00:26:07,520 --> 00:26:11,879 Speaker 2: cocky and arrogant is still serving God today and his 444 00:26:12,080 --> 00:26:13,360 Speaker 2: kids are in ministry too. 445 00:26:13,840 --> 00:26:15,360 Speaker 1: And here's what I'm trying to say. 446 00:26:15,920 --> 00:26:20,280 Speaker 2: Let's stop being so quick to categorize people based on 447 00:26:20,440 --> 00:26:23,439 Speaker 2: what we see with our eyes or where they are 448 00:26:23,600 --> 00:26:27,960 Speaker 2: in certain behaviors in their lives. Judge nothing before the 449 00:26:28,000 --> 00:26:31,200 Speaker 2: appointed time. You don't even know what battles they're fighting, 450 00:26:31,480 --> 00:26:33,560 Speaker 2: and you don't know how far they've come. And you 451 00:26:33,600 --> 00:26:35,960 Speaker 2: don't know what has taken them, just to keep running 452 00:26:36,000 --> 00:26:38,760 Speaker 2: the race. And they might be limping, but they might 453 00:26:38,880 --> 00:26:41,280 Speaker 2: make it to the finish line because they lived. 454 00:26:45,240 --> 00:26:50,960 Speaker 1: I don't know anymore. I put no confidence in the flesh. 455 00:26:52,080 --> 00:26:54,920 Speaker 1: I don't have categories. They're not as clear anymore. 456 00:26:54,560 --> 00:26:57,439 Speaker 2: For who's a godly person and who's not, and. 457 00:26:58,720 --> 00:27:01,160 Speaker 1: Who God has favored and who God hasn't. 458 00:27:01,720 --> 00:27:03,680 Speaker 2: Because some of the people that I thought were walking 459 00:27:03,720 --> 00:27:06,000 Speaker 2: in the favor of God were faking it. 460 00:27:08,160 --> 00:27:09,960 Speaker 1: But I know it till they fell apart. 461 00:27:11,240 --> 00:27:15,280 Speaker 2: Past writing to Damascus one day a Hebrew of Hebrews, 462 00:27:15,960 --> 00:27:19,879 Speaker 2: a Pharisee of Pharisees, in regards to the law righteousness, 463 00:27:20,119 --> 00:27:25,359 Speaker 2: connected and competent, connected and competent, And all of a 464 00:27:25,400 --> 00:27:28,400 Speaker 2: sudden he was blinded by a light on his way 465 00:27:28,480 --> 00:27:32,320 Speaker 2: to imprison Christians in Damascus and bring them back to 466 00:27:32,440 --> 00:27:35,760 Speaker 2: Jerusalem to be sentenced. And something happened to him that 467 00:27:35,800 --> 00:27:38,520 Speaker 2: will happen to all of us in one way or another. 468 00:27:39,200 --> 00:27:42,399 Speaker 2: If it hasn't happened to you yet, send me a 469 00:27:42,520 --> 00:27:47,080 Speaker 2: text message when it does. God in his mercy and 470 00:27:47,200 --> 00:27:50,720 Speaker 2: God in his wisdom, knew that if I allow Paul 471 00:27:51,320 --> 00:27:54,040 Speaker 2: to remain confident in his flesh. 472 00:27:54,720 --> 00:27:58,320 Speaker 1: He will not fulfill my purpose for his life. He 473 00:27:58,400 --> 00:28:00,080 Speaker 1: will live the rest of his life. 474 00:28:00,359 --> 00:28:05,639 Speaker 2: Putting his confidence in himself and his competence and his character, 475 00:28:06,200 --> 00:28:07,960 Speaker 2: and so all of a sudden you can read it. 476 00:28:08,040 --> 00:28:12,000 Speaker 2: In Acts, chapter nine, a blinding light throws Paul from 477 00:28:12,080 --> 00:28:12,600 Speaker 2: his horse. 478 00:28:13,240 --> 00:28:16,920 Speaker 1: He is thrown to the ground on the way to exercise. 479 00:28:16,600 --> 00:28:21,480 Speaker 2: His gift with authoritative letters from the Jewish Ruling Council. 480 00:28:21,800 --> 00:28:22,800 Speaker 1: He falls off of. 481 00:28:22,880 --> 00:28:26,680 Speaker 2: His horse, and a voice from heaven asks him, Saul, 482 00:28:27,040 --> 00:28:29,640 Speaker 2: who do you think you are? And Saul said back, 483 00:28:29,680 --> 00:28:31,360 Speaker 2: I don't know who are you? And the voice said 484 00:28:31,359 --> 00:28:34,800 Speaker 2: I am Jesus. And Paul spent three days blind and 485 00:28:35,119 --> 00:28:37,200 Speaker 2: someone had to lead him by the hand. You know, 486 00:28:37,320 --> 00:28:40,360 Speaker 2: that's when life gets really interesting. When you're used to 487 00:28:40,480 --> 00:28:43,280 Speaker 2: leading others, when you're used to knowing what to do, 488 00:28:43,760 --> 00:28:46,360 Speaker 2: when you're used to making it happen, when you're used 489 00:28:46,360 --> 00:28:49,080 Speaker 2: to smiling and getting through it. But then every once 490 00:28:49,120 --> 00:28:51,600 Speaker 2: in a while, something will come along in your life 491 00:28:51,640 --> 00:28:54,280 Speaker 2: and you'll say, I didn't take a class on this, 492 00:28:55,160 --> 00:28:58,520 Speaker 2: I didn't read a book about this. Nobody told me 493 00:28:58,600 --> 00:29:02,280 Speaker 2: it would feel like this. I wasn't prepared for this, I. 494 00:29:02,320 --> 00:29:07,720 Speaker 1: Didn't know it would be like this, and Paul said, 495 00:29:07,760 --> 00:29:16,080 Speaker 1: I lost my confidence. I lost my confidence and I 496 00:29:16,120 --> 00:29:17,000 Speaker 1: had to start all over. 497 00:29:18,920 --> 00:29:21,560 Speaker 2: And I had to I had to give up all 498 00:29:21,600 --> 00:29:24,040 Speaker 2: my connections because everybody hated me that I used to 499 00:29:24,120 --> 00:29:27,880 Speaker 2: serve with. And I had to start all over because 500 00:29:27,880 --> 00:29:29,560 Speaker 2: I didn't know how to preach Jesus because I just 501 00:29:29,640 --> 00:29:32,480 Speaker 2: met him, and I had to humble myself, and I 502 00:29:32,560 --> 00:29:35,240 Speaker 2: had to reevaluate my character because I had been comparing 503 00:29:35,320 --> 00:29:36,120 Speaker 2: myself to others. 504 00:29:37,400 --> 00:29:40,840 Speaker 1: You know how we do. Holly preached this brilliant message 505 00:29:40,880 --> 00:29:47,040 Speaker 1: to the ladies a couple weeks ago, and. 506 00:29:47,120 --> 00:29:48,840 Speaker 2: Everything about it was good. But I just want to 507 00:29:48,880 --> 00:29:53,960 Speaker 2: correct one thing she said. She said, we need to 508 00:29:53,960 --> 00:29:57,520 Speaker 2: stop comparing ourselves to others. And I think she's wrong 509 00:29:57,560 --> 00:30:00,680 Speaker 2: about that. I think we need to come compare ourself 510 00:30:00,720 --> 00:30:04,560 Speaker 2: to others every chance we get, until we are so 511 00:30:04,760 --> 00:30:10,080 Speaker 2: sick of comparing ourself to others. You know, because if 512 00:30:10,120 --> 00:30:13,280 Speaker 2: you compare yourself to others long enough, you will come 513 00:30:13,360 --> 00:30:15,160 Speaker 2: to the place eventually. If you're not there yet, you'll 514 00:30:15,200 --> 00:30:17,600 Speaker 2: get there. Just keep doing it, keep comparing yourself to others. 515 00:30:18,120 --> 00:30:20,120 Speaker 2: Just keep right on doing it, and do it. Do 516 00:30:20,200 --> 00:30:21,360 Speaker 2: it to make yourself feel better. 517 00:30:21,960 --> 00:30:22,160 Speaker 1: Do it. 518 00:30:22,360 --> 00:30:24,880 Speaker 2: When you see somebody whose kids are on drugs, you 519 00:30:25,040 --> 00:30:28,000 Speaker 2: just silently tell yourself, my kids would never do that. 520 00:30:28,520 --> 00:30:30,040 Speaker 2: Go ahead, go ahead and go ahead and do that. 521 00:30:30,480 --> 00:30:32,320 Speaker 2: Just go ahead and do it. 522 00:30:32,480 --> 00:30:34,280 Speaker 1: Just go ahead and do it. When you see somebody 523 00:30:34,320 --> 00:30:35,400 Speaker 1: who's not married, I'll tell. 524 00:30:35,280 --> 00:30:37,400 Speaker 2: You if they go ahead and compare yourself to them, 525 00:30:37,480 --> 00:30:39,440 Speaker 2: because you know you're better than them. That's why you're married, 526 00:30:39,480 --> 00:30:40,600 Speaker 2: they're not. Just go ahead, compare yourselff. 527 00:30:40,600 --> 00:30:42,239 Speaker 1: Go ahead and do it. Go ahead and do it too. 528 00:30:42,360 --> 00:30:44,000 Speaker 2: The other way to go ahead and compare yourself to 529 00:30:44,040 --> 00:30:46,120 Speaker 2: people that are better than you all the time, just 530 00:30:46,280 --> 00:30:49,320 Speaker 2: all the time. Look at everybody sucking in on the ground, 531 00:30:49,520 --> 00:30:52,360 Speaker 2: and then compare yourself bloated after a whole day of 532 00:30:52,440 --> 00:30:55,440 Speaker 2: running your kids around, and then compare yourself who didn't 533 00:30:55,480 --> 00:30:57,520 Speaker 2: have time to eat healthy because you actually care about 534 00:30:57,520 --> 00:30:59,480 Speaker 2: other people and that's why you had to go through McDonald's. 535 00:30:59,560 --> 00:31:01,920 Speaker 1: But compare yourself to them. You won't even know that. 536 00:31:01,960 --> 00:31:03,720 Speaker 2: They're selfish and that's why their body looks like that 537 00:31:03,880 --> 00:31:04,400 Speaker 2: because they. 538 00:31:04,760 --> 00:31:06,440 Speaker 1: They never have time for anybody else and all their 539 00:31:06,480 --> 00:31:07,840 Speaker 1: things going. Here's what I want you to do. 540 00:31:07,880 --> 00:31:10,240 Speaker 2: I want you to completely compare out of context for 541 00:31:10,320 --> 00:31:12,400 Speaker 2: as long as you can, and don't ask the question. 542 00:31:12,480 --> 00:31:14,160 Speaker 2: You know, like, they're real successful on their job, but 543 00:31:14,200 --> 00:31:16,560 Speaker 2: I wonder are they happy? Don't ask that question, because 544 00:31:16,600 --> 00:31:18,640 Speaker 2: if you can compare across all the categories, you might 545 00:31:18,720 --> 00:31:21,280 Speaker 2: see that their success is costing them their fulfillment. 546 00:31:21,760 --> 00:31:22,360 Speaker 1: But don't do that. 547 00:31:22,840 --> 00:31:25,440 Speaker 2: Just compare, Just completely take it all out of context 548 00:31:25,640 --> 00:31:29,000 Speaker 2: and compare what people show you to what you can see, 549 00:31:29,280 --> 00:31:31,280 Speaker 2: and don't take time to wonder what's really going on, 550 00:31:31,600 --> 00:31:33,239 Speaker 2: and don't take time to stop and think about how 551 00:31:33,400 --> 00:31:34,800 Speaker 2: they're so gifted and they're so wonderful. 552 00:31:34,880 --> 00:31:35,920 Speaker 1: Just compare yourself to them. 553 00:31:36,040 --> 00:31:39,600 Speaker 2: Until you feel so terrible that the only place left 554 00:31:39,640 --> 00:31:42,840 Speaker 2: for you to go, the only thing left for you 555 00:31:42,960 --> 00:31:45,800 Speaker 2: to conclude, the only thing left for you to do, 556 00:31:46,520 --> 00:31:49,480 Speaker 2: is to fall down off your horse and. 557 00:31:49,680 --> 00:31:52,080 Speaker 1: Say, God, I'm sick of myself. 558 00:31:52,720 --> 00:31:56,840 Speaker 3: I'm sick of false standards, I'm sick of worldly measurements, 559 00:31:57,280 --> 00:32:00,560 Speaker 3: I'm tired of my flesh, I'm tired of keeping up, 560 00:32:01,000 --> 00:32:04,640 Speaker 3: I'm tired of falling short, I'm tired of looking around. 561 00:32:04,960 --> 00:32:09,280 Speaker 2: And in that moment, you will come to the point 562 00:32:09,360 --> 00:32:12,480 Speaker 2: that Paul came to in verse seven, where he said, 563 00:32:12,520 --> 00:32:17,840 Speaker 2: I compared myself to everyone else so long, and it 564 00:32:18,000 --> 00:32:21,120 Speaker 2: finally brought me to a point, not because I hit 565 00:32:21,200 --> 00:32:26,520 Speaker 2: the bottom, but because I was on top. And then 566 00:32:26,600 --> 00:32:31,400 Speaker 2: something happened in my life. I compared myself to Jesus. 567 00:32:34,560 --> 00:32:37,840 Speaker 2: And when I compared myself to him, I didn't have 568 00:32:37,880 --> 00:32:44,680 Speaker 2: anything left to brag about. When I compared myself to him, 569 00:32:48,520 --> 00:32:51,800 Speaker 2: I wasn't such a good person after all. When I 570 00:32:51,880 --> 00:32:54,280 Speaker 2: compared myself to him, I lost my confidence in me. 571 00:32:55,640 --> 00:32:58,240 Speaker 2: I lost my confidence and how nice I am, and 572 00:32:58,360 --> 00:33:01,240 Speaker 2: how sweet I am, and how light I am, and 573 00:33:01,320 --> 00:33:03,560 Speaker 2: how educated I am. When I compared myself to the 574 00:33:03,600 --> 00:33:06,920 Speaker 2: fullness of wisdom that was revealed in Jesus Christ, I 575 00:33:07,000 --> 00:33:09,000 Speaker 2: didn't bring up my IQ anymore, and I didn't show 576 00:33:09,040 --> 00:33:12,000 Speaker 2: them my sat scourse. When I compared myself to him. 577 00:33:12,280 --> 00:33:15,280 Speaker 2: My posture changed. When I compared myself to him, I 578 00:33:15,400 --> 00:33:17,280 Speaker 2: quit trying to be first place in a race that 579 00:33:17,400 --> 00:33:20,280 Speaker 2: I realized I couldn't win. When I compared myself to him, 580 00:33:20,520 --> 00:33:22,719 Speaker 2: I fell off my horse and I was led by 581 00:33:22,800 --> 00:33:26,960 Speaker 2: the hand. And Paul says in verse seven, Now whatever 582 00:33:27,040 --> 00:33:30,240 Speaker 2: were gains to me, I consider loss. 583 00:33:31,760 --> 00:33:36,160 Speaker 1: I lost my confidence. But watch this I gained Christ 584 00:33:39,600 --> 00:33:44,320 Speaker 1: speak this message today in the hopes that someone. 585 00:33:44,800 --> 00:33:49,720 Speaker 2: Who has lost your confidence in yourself would realize that 586 00:33:50,000 --> 00:33:54,560 Speaker 2: this is a necessary step for you to receive the 587 00:33:54,680 --> 00:33:56,320 Speaker 2: righteousness that comes by faith. 588 00:33:57,280 --> 00:33:58,440 Speaker 1: And that's what Paul says here. 589 00:33:58,520 --> 00:34:02,640 Speaker 2: He says, I lost my connections, I lost my sense 590 00:34:02,680 --> 00:34:03,320 Speaker 2: of competence. 591 00:34:03,920 --> 00:34:05,600 Speaker 1: I found out I wasn't so good at everything. 592 00:34:05,640 --> 00:34:07,200 Speaker 2: You know how life is, man, Just about the time 593 00:34:07,240 --> 00:34:09,360 Speaker 2: you master a set of skills, the whole game changes. 594 00:34:11,040 --> 00:34:12,640 Speaker 2: By the time I figure out how to get my 595 00:34:12,719 --> 00:34:17,440 Speaker 2: kids to you know, sh then they are teenagers and 596 00:34:17,480 --> 00:34:18,920 Speaker 2: I'm trying to get them to talk to me. You know, 597 00:34:19,360 --> 00:34:24,160 Speaker 2: the whole the whole opposite changes. So it's designed that way. 598 00:34:25,400 --> 00:34:28,480 Speaker 2: It is designed that way. I wonder if God is 599 00:34:29,320 --> 00:34:31,400 Speaker 2: trying to strip you of your confidence today so that 600 00:34:31,480 --> 00:34:36,400 Speaker 2: you can gain something greater. I lost my confidence to 601 00:34:36,680 --> 00:34:38,920 Speaker 2: preach to people and tell them, you know, if you 602 00:34:39,040 --> 00:34:39,279 Speaker 2: do this. 603 00:34:39,400 --> 00:34:40,160 Speaker 1: God's going to do that. 604 00:34:40,960 --> 00:34:44,400 Speaker 2: I don't make those kinds of promises anymore because now 605 00:34:44,440 --> 00:34:48,319 Speaker 2: I have a different kind of confidences. It's a kind 606 00:34:48,360 --> 00:34:52,520 Speaker 2: of confidence that doesn't come from circumcision and changing your behavior, 607 00:34:53,440 --> 00:34:56,080 Speaker 2: getting it right, knowing all the answers. 608 00:34:56,960 --> 00:34:58,520 Speaker 1: It's it's an inward confidence. 609 00:34:58,560 --> 00:35:01,400 Speaker 2: I wonder if that's the real contract here, is that 610 00:35:01,480 --> 00:35:05,040 Speaker 2: we are trying to project confidence and God is trying 611 00:35:05,080 --> 00:35:09,319 Speaker 2: to impart it. I wonder if we're so busy trying 612 00:35:09,440 --> 00:35:14,000 Speaker 2: to be confident and seem confident that we have isolated 613 00:35:14,080 --> 00:35:17,239 Speaker 2: ourselves so we stay in places where no one really 614 00:35:17,320 --> 00:35:21,000 Speaker 2: knows us and no one can really touch us, because 615 00:35:21,000 --> 00:35:23,880 Speaker 2: we have gotten so good at looking confident, but on 616 00:35:24,000 --> 00:35:27,759 Speaker 2: the inside, we have lost a sense of ourselves, and 617 00:35:27,880 --> 00:35:31,000 Speaker 2: we have lost touch with our humanity as we project 618 00:35:31,040 --> 00:35:33,200 Speaker 2: into the world, pretend images of who we wish we 619 00:35:33,280 --> 00:35:36,480 Speaker 2: were and who we think we should be. But Paul said, 620 00:35:36,480 --> 00:35:39,840 Speaker 2: I lost all that. I lost all that, and you 621 00:35:39,960 --> 00:35:43,480 Speaker 2: know what, I'm glad I lost it. I'm glad I 622 00:35:43,520 --> 00:35:46,920 Speaker 2: got knocked off my horse. Glad I got my heart broken, 623 00:35:47,719 --> 00:35:51,040 Speaker 2: Glad I got my plans disrupted. I'm glad I found 624 00:35:51,040 --> 00:35:54,439 Speaker 2: out that the world wasn't flat. I'm glad I found 625 00:35:54,480 --> 00:35:57,400 Speaker 2: out that it didn't revolve around me. I'm glad that 626 00:35:57,520 --> 00:35:59,120 Speaker 2: I didn't know what to do, because if I'd have 627 00:35:59,200 --> 00:36:01,920 Speaker 2: kept trusting in my flesh, I would have spent the 628 00:36:02,000 --> 00:36:05,560 Speaker 2: rest of my life measureing myself against an irrelevant standard. 629 00:36:06,200 --> 00:36:09,719 Speaker 2: But something wonderful happened when I lost my confidence. 630 00:36:10,440 --> 00:36:11,320 Speaker 1: I gained Christ. 631 00:36:12,320 --> 00:36:15,640 Speaker 2: And what is more versay, I consider everything a loss 632 00:36:15,719 --> 00:36:19,239 Speaker 2: because of the surpassing word of knowing Christ, Jesus, my Lord, 633 00:36:19,360 --> 00:36:22,400 Speaker 2: for whose sake I have lost all things. I'm letting 634 00:36:22,440 --> 00:36:25,040 Speaker 2: it go. I'm not trying to get back on my horse. 635 00:36:25,360 --> 00:36:27,720 Speaker 2: I don't even want to ride in that direction anymore. 636 00:36:28,040 --> 00:36:31,160 Speaker 2: I've been down that road, and I'm ready for something better. 637 00:36:32,080 --> 00:36:34,960 Speaker 2: I consider them garbage that I may gain. 638 00:36:35,200 --> 00:36:35,560 Speaker 1: Christ. 639 00:36:36,040 --> 00:36:39,960 Speaker 2: Take the whole world, Take my skills, take my knowledge, 640 00:36:40,280 --> 00:36:44,440 Speaker 2: take my insight, take my appearances, take my youth. 641 00:36:44,520 --> 00:36:45,760 Speaker 1: But give me Jesus. 642 00:36:46,200 --> 00:36:49,600 Speaker 2: I want to be found in Him, not having a 643 00:36:49,760 --> 00:36:53,560 Speaker 2: righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but 644 00:36:53,680 --> 00:36:58,000 Speaker 2: that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness that 645 00:36:58,160 --> 00:37:00,680 Speaker 2: comes from God on the bay basis of faith. 646 00:37:00,800 --> 00:37:01,239 Speaker 1: Stand up. 647 00:37:01,280 --> 00:37:05,479 Speaker 2: It's not about how much confidence you have, it's about 648 00:37:05,520 --> 00:37:11,320 Speaker 2: on what basis you've built it. And the answer to 649 00:37:11,440 --> 00:37:25,400 Speaker 2: our anxiety isn't just more confidence, it's more Christ, he 650 00:37:25,480 --> 00:37:28,360 Speaker 2: says Verse ten. I used to know a lot of 651 00:37:28,440 --> 00:37:31,359 Speaker 2: things about the law. I used to know a lot 652 00:37:31,400 --> 00:37:35,120 Speaker 2: of things about life. But now look what happens after 653 00:37:35,160 --> 00:37:39,640 Speaker 2: you lose your confidence and your arrogance and your prejudice 654 00:37:40,440 --> 00:37:45,680 Speaker 2: and your presuppositions. He said, now that I've lost my confidence, 655 00:37:46,880 --> 00:37:51,360 Speaker 2: I want to know Christ. I don't want to know 656 00:37:51,440 --> 00:37:54,960 Speaker 2: about him. I don't want to know what I think 657 00:37:55,000 --> 00:37:59,560 Speaker 2: I know about him. I want to know Christ. Yes, 658 00:37:59,719 --> 00:38:07,120 Speaker 2: to know the power. Watch this of his resurrection. So 659 00:38:07,360 --> 00:38:12,799 Speaker 2: after you have lost your confidence, you can expect a resurrection. 660 00:38:18,480 --> 00:38:21,160 Speaker 2: I told my friend what I was going to preach 661 00:38:21,239 --> 00:38:22,600 Speaker 2: to you today. I said, I'm going to preach on 662 00:38:22,680 --> 00:38:24,719 Speaker 2: I lost my confidence. And he texted me after I 663 00:38:24,800 --> 00:38:28,120 Speaker 2: preached it the first message, and he said, did you 664 00:38:28,160 --> 00:38:28,680 Speaker 2: get it back? 665 00:38:31,040 --> 00:38:33,319 Speaker 1: And I said no. I told the people to let 666 00:38:33,400 --> 00:38:33,719 Speaker 1: it die. 667 00:38:36,160 --> 00:38:39,560 Speaker 2: To let that confidence that we put in what we 668 00:38:39,680 --> 00:38:43,160 Speaker 2: can see and then what we can know, and then 669 00:38:43,200 --> 00:38:45,399 Speaker 2: what we can feel, let it die. 670 00:38:46,680 --> 00:38:47,920 Speaker 1: Let it be nailed to the cross. 671 00:38:49,000 --> 00:38:51,879 Speaker 2: You know, God will allow certain circumstances in your life, 672 00:38:51,920 --> 00:38:56,160 Speaker 2: and he will use those circumstances to crucify your false confidence. 673 00:38:58,840 --> 00:39:00,200 Speaker 1: And if we don't understand this. 674 00:39:01,400 --> 00:39:04,880 Speaker 2: We will try to pray our confidence back down off 675 00:39:04,920 --> 00:39:06,840 Speaker 2: the cross, and we'll try to get it back, and 676 00:39:06,960 --> 00:39:10,719 Speaker 2: we'll go back into those same modes. But only after 677 00:39:10,840 --> 00:39:16,200 Speaker 2: it dies can it be resurrected as faith. I lost 678 00:39:16,280 --> 00:39:20,600 Speaker 2: my confidence, and I'm glad I did, because while I 679 00:39:20,800 --> 00:39:22,400 Speaker 2: was confident. 680 00:39:22,040 --> 00:39:26,080 Speaker 1: In me, I could not have faith in him. 681 00:39:27,520 --> 00:39:31,719 Speaker 2: And I wonder if today God brought you here not 682 00:39:31,880 --> 00:39:35,920 Speaker 2: to give you back your confidence, you know, so you 683 00:39:36,000 --> 00:39:36,920 Speaker 2: can get the girl. 684 00:39:38,280 --> 00:39:42,480 Speaker 1: And win the bid. I wonder if God brought you 685 00:39:42,560 --> 00:39:43,960 Speaker 1: here to give you something better. 686 00:39:45,480 --> 00:39:49,879 Speaker 2: Then, now that we have buried your need to prove 687 00:39:50,040 --> 00:39:52,640 Speaker 2: that you're better than everybody, helps because you realize that 688 00:39:55,000 --> 00:39:58,480 Speaker 2: all of our righteousness is like filthy rags. Are you 689 00:39:58,600 --> 00:40:02,359 Speaker 2: ready now for a resurrect of faith? That's what had 690 00:40:02,400 --> 00:40:06,200 Speaker 2: to happen to the disciples. They were so confident in 691 00:40:06,360 --> 00:40:11,600 Speaker 2: Jesus as an earthly king. When he went to the cross, 692 00:40:11,800 --> 00:40:15,800 Speaker 2: it killed their confidence because they couldn't understand how he 693 00:40:15,840 --> 00:40:16,400 Speaker 2: could set. 694 00:40:16,320 --> 00:40:17,800 Speaker 1: Up a kingdom and die on a cross. 695 00:40:19,000 --> 00:40:23,800 Speaker 2: But he had to crucify their confidence in order to 696 00:40:23,880 --> 00:40:25,160 Speaker 2: give life to their faith. 697 00:40:26,560 --> 00:40:28,759 Speaker 1: The same thing is happening in your life right now. 698 00:40:32,280 --> 00:40:37,520 Speaker 2: You're getting older, or you got rejected, or something's happening. 699 00:40:37,280 --> 00:40:39,279 Speaker 1: In your body and it's not working like it used to. 700 00:40:41,000 --> 00:40:45,120 Speaker 2: God is trying to give you something greater than confidence 701 00:40:45,200 --> 00:40:49,360 Speaker 2: in your flesh. I've seen what my flesh can do, 702 00:40:50,560 --> 00:40:53,759 Speaker 2: and I put no confidence in it anymore. I've seen 703 00:40:53,800 --> 00:40:56,959 Speaker 2: what my effort can accomplish. I don't want to preach 704 00:40:57,320 --> 00:41:02,000 Speaker 2: based on my opinions anymore. I'm ready now for the 705 00:41:02,120 --> 00:41:04,359 Speaker 2: righteousness that comes on the basis of faith. 706 00:41:06,040 --> 00:41:08,120 Speaker 1: Will you lift your hands in God's presence, Father, I 707 00:41:08,200 --> 00:41:10,640 Speaker 1: thank you for the word that you sent forth from 708 00:41:10,680 --> 00:41:15,080 Speaker 1: this pulpit today. While I understand God that. 709 00:41:16,560 --> 00:41:18,600 Speaker 2: There's a deep need in all of our hearts to 710 00:41:18,680 --> 00:41:21,520 Speaker 2: feel assured that everything is going to be all right, 711 00:41:21,840 --> 00:41:24,280 Speaker 2: I understand that also there are times that are necessary 712 00:41:24,440 --> 00:41:30,040 Speaker 2: for us that we have to question everything, and sometimes 713 00:41:30,080 --> 00:41:32,960 Speaker 2: we have to be shaken to our core in order 714 00:41:33,000 --> 00:41:36,040 Speaker 2: to find a foundation that is worth building on. And 715 00:41:36,120 --> 00:41:38,080 Speaker 2: I just believe today that you didn't give me this 716 00:41:38,239 --> 00:41:43,080 Speaker 2: word so that I could preach it for myself. I 717 00:41:43,160 --> 00:41:46,040 Speaker 2: believe that there is a brother or a sister who 718 00:41:46,120 --> 00:41:50,320 Speaker 2: has lost their confidence because their circumstances have changed, or 719 00:41:51,000 --> 00:41:53,800 Speaker 2: they've come to a place where something that used to 720 00:41:53,880 --> 00:41:56,320 Speaker 2: work for them doesn't work anymore, or they have not 721 00:41:56,440 --> 00:41:58,640 Speaker 2: been affirmed in certain ways. And I believe that you 722 00:41:59,680 --> 00:42:01,640 Speaker 2: sent me here to tell them today, let it go 723 00:42:02,880 --> 00:42:06,200 Speaker 2: and receive something better. And so as their hands are 724 00:42:06,239 --> 00:42:09,720 Speaker 2: lifted to you and their hearts are open to you, God. 725 00:42:09,600 --> 00:42:09,920 Speaker 1: Would you. 726 00:42:11,640 --> 00:42:15,480 Speaker 2: In each and every heart in this place fill our 727 00:42:15,560 --> 00:42:21,640 Speaker 2: perspectives with faith, take away our confidence and our flesh. God, 728 00:42:21,719 --> 00:42:24,120 Speaker 2: Even if we can do it in our own strength, 729 00:42:24,200 --> 00:42:26,360 Speaker 2: we can't sustain it in our own strength. We need you. 730 00:42:27,760 --> 00:42:33,239 Speaker 1: We need you. You are our righteousness, and you are 731 00:42:33,960 --> 00:42:40,719 Speaker 1: the only confidence that we have. Thank you for joining us. 732 00:42:41,080 --> 00:42:43,480 Speaker 2: Special thanks to those of you who give generously to 733 00:42:43,600 --> 00:42:47,040 Speaker 2: this ministry. Is because of you that this ministry is possible. 734 00:42:47,520 --> 00:42:49,719 Speaker 2: You can click the link in the description to give 735 00:42:49,840 --> 00:42:53,960 Speaker 2: now or visit Elevationchurch dot org slash podcast for more 736 00:42:54,000 --> 00:42:57,600 Speaker 2: information and if you enjoyed the podcast, you can subscribe. 737 00:42:58,080 --> 00:42:59,360 Speaker 1: You can share it with your friends. 738 00:42:59,680 --> 00:43:01,920 Speaker 2: You can look the share button, take a screenshot and 739 00:43:02,000 --> 00:43:04,080 Speaker 2: share it on your social stories and tag us at 740 00:43:04,160 --> 00:43:05,000 Speaker 2: Elevation Church. 741 00:43:05,080 --> 00:43:06,680 Speaker 1: Thanks again for listening. God bless you.