1 00:00:02,120 --> 00:00:04,680 Speaker 1: Hey, this is Stephen Ferdick. I'm the pastor of Elevation 2 00:00:04,960 --> 00:00:07,160 Speaker 1: Church and this is our podcast. I wanted to thank 3 00:00:07,200 --> 00:00:10,520 Speaker 1: you for joining us today. Hope this inspires you. Hope 4 00:00:10,520 --> 00:00:12,559 Speaker 1: it builds your faith. Hope it gives your perspective to 5 00:00:12,600 --> 00:00:18,480 Speaker 1: see God is moving in your life. Enjoy the message. Woo. 6 00:00:18,840 --> 00:00:21,040 Speaker 1: How many thankful that you're feeling more than the air 7 00:00:21,079 --> 00:00:24,639 Speaker 1: conditioning this morning? Come on, do you sense the presence 8 00:00:24,680 --> 00:00:28,360 Speaker 1: of God in here? Y'all? To just look at your 9 00:00:28,400 --> 00:00:31,760 Speaker 1: neighbor that you're kind of socially distanced from, and even 10 00:00:31,840 --> 00:00:33,880 Speaker 1: right there on the e fam wherever you're watching us from, 11 00:00:33,880 --> 00:00:36,280 Speaker 1: just look at your neighbor right in their face. Say, neighbor, 12 00:00:37,240 --> 00:00:43,800 Speaker 1: I'm ready to receive everything that God's got for me. 13 00:00:44,920 --> 00:00:47,800 Speaker 1: Oh come on, find you another neighbor. Find you another neighbor. 14 00:00:47,840 --> 00:00:52,320 Speaker 1: Look at that other neighbor. Tell them I'm ready to 15 00:00:52,479 --> 00:01:07,160 Speaker 1: receive everything that God's got for me. Whoo. See, you 16 00:01:07,240 --> 00:01:09,759 Speaker 1: have to be expected to receive what he has because 17 00:01:09,760 --> 00:01:13,039 Speaker 1: sometimes you don't even know what it is. That's why 18 00:01:13,080 --> 00:01:16,759 Speaker 1: I like the o's in that saw, because the o's 19 00:01:16,880 --> 00:01:19,160 Speaker 1: just articulate. I don't even know what you got for me, 20 00:01:19,200 --> 00:01:26,280 Speaker 1: But I'm ready to receive. So whatever it is, I'm 21 00:01:26,319 --> 00:01:31,200 Speaker 1: ready to receive it. Father. We honor you today. They say, 22 00:01:31,240 --> 00:01:34,960 Speaker 1: have your way in this place. Do whatever you want 23 00:01:34,959 --> 00:01:39,520 Speaker 1: to do, Shake whatever you want to shake, Move whatever 24 00:01:39,560 --> 00:01:46,400 Speaker 1: you want to move. We do have great anticipation. Even 25 00:01:46,440 --> 00:01:50,760 Speaker 1: in spite of what we've been through, We're still anticipating 26 00:01:52,360 --> 00:01:56,680 Speaker 1: you to move because we know that you work all things, 27 00:01:58,080 --> 00:02:01,400 Speaker 1: all things the good of those that love you, and 28 00:02:01,440 --> 00:02:06,480 Speaker 1: are called according to your purpose. Speak to our hearts 29 00:02:07,880 --> 00:02:14,040 Speaker 1: in Jesus' name. Everybody said, come on. Everybody said, amen, 30 00:02:14,160 --> 00:02:17,040 Speaker 1: you may be seated in the presence of the Lord. 31 00:02:17,160 --> 00:02:20,920 Speaker 1: How you're doing elevation, Oh, come on, you can do 32 00:02:20,960 --> 00:02:23,000 Speaker 1: better than that. Are you glad to be in the 33 00:02:23,040 --> 00:02:28,720 Speaker 1: House of God this morning? I tell you what. It 34 00:02:28,760 --> 00:02:32,560 Speaker 1: is always a privilege to be an elevation church, but 35 00:02:32,840 --> 00:02:36,640 Speaker 1: it's a special privilege to be invited back, be invited. Fact, 36 00:02:36,639 --> 00:02:39,400 Speaker 1: this is like my sixth time here, and man, I 37 00:02:39,520 --> 00:02:42,200 Speaker 1: never take it for granted. I am truly honored and 38 00:02:42,240 --> 00:02:45,840 Speaker 1: humbled to be here, especially to be here this week. 39 00:02:46,360 --> 00:02:50,200 Speaker 1: This week. You know, time is measured in minutes, but 40 00:02:50,240 --> 00:02:54,040 Speaker 1: life is measured in moments. And I'll never forget this 41 00:02:54,200 --> 00:02:57,680 Speaker 1: time last year, we were right here in this room, 42 00:02:58,240 --> 00:03:00,960 Speaker 1: and the pandemic was upon us, and we didn't know 43 00:03:01,040 --> 00:03:04,360 Speaker 1: what the future was gonna look like. But isn't it 44 00:03:04,400 --> 00:03:08,200 Speaker 1: awesome to see that we're still here and we're still standing. 45 00:03:08,960 --> 00:03:11,200 Speaker 1: Oh come on, don't act like you weren't scared this 46 00:03:11,400 --> 00:03:13,720 Speaker 1: time last year. You didn't know what was gonna happen. 47 00:03:13,720 --> 00:03:16,440 Speaker 1: But look at you. You're still standing. Come on, you 48 00:03:16,560 --> 00:03:19,720 Speaker 1: still got a pulse. That's the beauty of our God. 49 00:03:19,880 --> 00:03:22,320 Speaker 1: You didn't know this moment was hit on a comeback then, 50 00:03:22,400 --> 00:03:27,080 Speaker 1: but look at you, you're still here. So I'm just 51 00:03:27,120 --> 00:03:30,000 Speaker 1: thankful for God's goodness. I'm thankful for his grace, and 52 00:03:30,560 --> 00:03:33,040 Speaker 1: I'm excited to preach the word to you. I want to, 53 00:03:33,639 --> 00:03:37,360 Speaker 1: first of all, really and truly give honor to where 54 00:03:37,400 --> 00:03:41,560 Speaker 1: honor is due. I'm so thankful for the life and 55 00:03:42,120 --> 00:03:46,200 Speaker 1: really just the leadership pastor Stephen and Holly Ferdick. Come. 56 00:03:46,240 --> 00:03:52,000 Speaker 1: You know, y'all are crazy blessed. See y'all know them 57 00:03:52,040 --> 00:03:54,720 Speaker 1: as great pastors, y'all know them as great leaders, But 58 00:03:55,120 --> 00:03:57,080 Speaker 1: my wife and I just know them as great friends. 59 00:03:57,600 --> 00:03:59,880 Speaker 1: And you can try to be better friends to the 60 00:04:00,840 --> 00:04:03,440 Speaker 1: than they are to you. But it's impossible. It's impossible 61 00:04:03,920 --> 00:04:07,480 Speaker 1: because they're incredibly loyal. They're just always there. They will 62 00:04:07,520 --> 00:04:10,000 Speaker 1: show up when you need them. And I don't want 63 00:04:10,000 --> 00:04:12,440 Speaker 1: you to ever take the gift that they are for granted. 64 00:04:12,840 --> 00:04:14,400 Speaker 1: In fact, one more time, would you let them know 65 00:04:14,440 --> 00:04:17,480 Speaker 1: how much you love them, how much you appreciate them. 66 00:04:17,600 --> 00:04:26,120 Speaker 1: Come on, y'all, you're blessed, You're blessed. That's who I 67 00:04:26,200 --> 00:04:29,160 Speaker 1: listen to to feed my soul. I listened to your pastor, 68 00:04:29,760 --> 00:04:32,159 Speaker 1: Pastor Stephen Ferdick, and try not to steal his stuff 69 00:04:33,240 --> 00:04:35,200 Speaker 1: while I'm listening to him. And then during the pandemic, 70 00:04:35,240 --> 00:04:38,040 Speaker 1: I realize it's two verdicts in that house that can 71 00:04:38,120 --> 00:04:44,559 Speaker 1: preach because Pastor Holly have me shouting and throwing stuff 72 00:04:44,600 --> 00:04:47,600 Speaker 1: at the TV screen. So I thank God for her. 73 00:04:47,720 --> 00:04:49,760 Speaker 1: My wife and my family sends her love. I still 74 00:04:50,040 --> 00:04:53,320 Speaker 1: live in the great country of Texas, still married to 75 00:04:53,320 --> 00:04:55,800 Speaker 1: the finest woman on the planet, Taylor to do. We 76 00:04:55,880 --> 00:04:59,560 Speaker 1: still have three little humans and they're doing good. But 77 00:04:59,640 --> 00:05:02,359 Speaker 1: I guess there is one update. There is one update. 78 00:05:02,920 --> 00:05:05,560 Speaker 1: My wife and I we started this gathering in Dallas 79 00:05:05,640 --> 00:05:09,520 Speaker 1: called Social Dallas in twenty nineteen, just once a month 80 00:05:09,600 --> 00:05:12,719 Speaker 1: gathering and I've told God. I told God, you have 81 00:05:12,760 --> 00:05:15,479 Speaker 1: to tell God something. I told him this. I'm not 82 00:05:15,560 --> 00:05:18,159 Speaker 1: a church planner, I'm not a pastor. That is just 83 00:05:18,200 --> 00:05:21,360 Speaker 1: the gathering that I told him, that specifically told him. 84 00:05:21,880 --> 00:05:25,240 Speaker 1: This is not a church plan I'm just having a gathering. 85 00:05:25,600 --> 00:05:29,240 Speaker 1: Oh but surprise. I mean, you know, you can tell 86 00:05:29,279 --> 00:05:32,080 Speaker 1: God your plan is, but he'll laugh at him. And man, 87 00:05:32,120 --> 00:05:34,159 Speaker 1: I'm excited to announce. I guess for the first time 88 00:05:34,200 --> 00:05:36,680 Speaker 1: on this stage that Social Dallas is now Social Church 89 00:05:37,720 --> 00:05:44,240 Speaker 1: and we're gonna have our opening Sunday this Easter. Come on, somebody, 90 00:05:44,320 --> 00:05:49,200 Speaker 1: so you're ever in the Dallas area, come check us 91 00:05:49,240 --> 00:05:53,880 Speaker 1: out and Social Dallas. And man, we are excited and 92 00:05:54,040 --> 00:05:57,359 Speaker 1: scared to death for all that God is gonna do. 93 00:05:57,440 --> 00:06:00,320 Speaker 1: But man, I'm ready to preach the Word today, all 94 00:06:00,320 --> 00:06:02,240 Speaker 1: ready to hear it. I got some good back up 95 00:06:02,839 --> 00:06:05,279 Speaker 1: here to help me. Say Amen, So to turn with 96 00:06:05,360 --> 00:06:08,360 Speaker 1: me to the Gospel of John today. John chapter three. 97 00:06:09,880 --> 00:06:14,600 Speaker 1: I'm gonna look at verses twenty two through thirty. Well, 98 00:06:14,600 --> 00:06:18,400 Speaker 1: also look at the Book of Revelation or somebody else 99 00:06:18,440 --> 00:06:23,080 Speaker 1: say Revelations, even though that's not in the Bible. And 100 00:06:23,160 --> 00:06:27,320 Speaker 1: we'll look at chapter four, verses nine through eleven. John 101 00:06:27,440 --> 00:06:31,440 Speaker 1: Chapter three. We'll start at verse number twenty two. When 102 00:06:31,440 --> 00:06:35,719 Speaker 1: you're ready to read it, say yeah. If you ain't 103 00:06:35,760 --> 00:06:39,440 Speaker 1: ready to say hold up, come on, somebody that's on 104 00:06:39,480 --> 00:06:44,840 Speaker 1: the screen. Look at what it says. It says. After this, 105 00:06:46,120 --> 00:06:49,320 Speaker 1: Jesus and his disciples went out into the Judaan countryside, 106 00:06:49,720 --> 00:06:53,400 Speaker 1: where he spent some time with them and baptized. Now, 107 00:06:53,480 --> 00:06:58,080 Speaker 1: John also was baptizing at Anne near Seline. Because there 108 00:06:58,120 --> 00:07:01,800 Speaker 1: was plenty of water, people were coming and being baptized. 109 00:07:02,600 --> 00:07:06,240 Speaker 1: This was before John was put in prison. An argument 110 00:07:06,279 --> 00:07:08,920 Speaker 1: developed between some of John's disciples and a certain Jew 111 00:07:09,200 --> 00:07:12,640 Speaker 1: over the matter of ceremonial washing. And came to John 112 00:07:12,680 --> 00:07:16,800 Speaker 1: and said to him, Rabbi, that man who was with 113 00:07:16,880 --> 00:07:19,280 Speaker 1: you on the other side of the Jordan talking about Jesus, 114 00:07:19,400 --> 00:07:23,960 Speaker 1: the one you testified about. Look, he is baptizing and 115 00:07:24,080 --> 00:07:27,320 Speaker 1: everyone is going to him. Isn't it crazy the news 116 00:07:27,320 --> 00:07:30,480 Speaker 1: that some people will bring to you like that. These 117 00:07:30,480 --> 00:07:33,120 Speaker 1: are John's disciples talking about U. John, hold on, like 118 00:07:33,200 --> 00:07:35,560 Speaker 1: people are actually focusing on Jesus more than you. This 119 00:07:35,640 --> 00:07:38,560 Speaker 1: is a problem. That's what they came to say to John. 120 00:07:39,200 --> 00:07:42,360 Speaker 1: And look at what John said. A person can only 121 00:07:42,640 --> 00:07:46,000 Speaker 1: receive what is given to them from heaven. You yourselves 122 00:07:46,000 --> 00:07:48,560 Speaker 1: can testify that I said it. I told you I'm 123 00:07:48,560 --> 00:07:51,800 Speaker 1: not the Messiah, but I'm sent ahead of him. The 124 00:07:51,920 --> 00:07:55,520 Speaker 1: bride belongs to the bridegroom. The friend who attends the 125 00:07:55,520 --> 00:07:58,360 Speaker 1: bridegroom waits and listens for him, and is full of 126 00:07:58,440 --> 00:08:02,800 Speaker 1: joy when he hears the bridegrooms voice that joy is 127 00:08:02,920 --> 00:08:08,600 Speaker 1: mine and it is now complete. He must become greater, 128 00:08:10,800 --> 00:08:15,680 Speaker 1: and I must become less. Show that is good. Go 129 00:08:15,720 --> 00:08:22,040 Speaker 1: to Revelation chapter four. Just a few verses here, starting 130 00:08:22,040 --> 00:08:25,160 Speaker 1: in verse number nine, and it says, whenever the living 131 00:08:25,200 --> 00:08:27,880 Speaker 1: creatures give glory, honor, and thanks to Him who sits 132 00:08:27,920 --> 00:08:30,640 Speaker 1: on the throne and who lives forever and ever, the 133 00:08:30,680 --> 00:08:33,800 Speaker 1: twenty four elders fall down before him who sits on 134 00:08:33,840 --> 00:08:36,840 Speaker 1: the throne, and worship him who lives forever and ever. 135 00:08:37,720 --> 00:08:41,640 Speaker 1: They lay their crowns before the throne and say, you 136 00:08:41,679 --> 00:08:45,240 Speaker 1: are worthy, o, Lord and God, to receive glory and 137 00:08:45,400 --> 00:08:50,560 Speaker 1: honor and power. You created all things, and by your 138 00:08:50,600 --> 00:08:54,720 Speaker 1: will they were created and have their being. Can you 139 00:08:54,800 --> 00:09:01,199 Speaker 1: say amen? John says he must become greater, I must 140 00:09:01,240 --> 00:09:07,720 Speaker 1: become less, and the elders throw down their crowns before 141 00:09:07,760 --> 00:09:11,280 Speaker 1: the throne. Oh God, I want to preach today, not long, 142 00:09:11,280 --> 00:09:15,800 Speaker 1: about six and a half hours, just using this as 143 00:09:15,840 --> 00:09:21,120 Speaker 1: a title, No crown, no crown. Would you help me 144 00:09:21,120 --> 00:09:24,240 Speaker 1: preach and look at your neighbor one last time and say, neighbor, 145 00:09:25,640 --> 00:09:33,400 Speaker 1: I know you think you cute, but no crowd, father, 146 00:09:33,520 --> 00:09:37,839 Speaker 1: thank you for your word today speak to us a 147 00:09:38,080 --> 00:09:44,320 Speaker 1: bad elevation. Fam. Before the service started, we had a 148 00:09:44,440 --> 00:09:49,440 Speaker 1: pre service production meeting, little mini production meeting, And in 149 00:09:49,480 --> 00:09:53,040 Speaker 1: the production meeting, they asked me a question that I'm 150 00:09:53,080 --> 00:09:57,480 Speaker 1: actually often asked. Matter of fact, I've been preaching sixteen 151 00:09:57,559 --> 00:10:01,640 Speaker 1: years now, and I am always asked this question before 152 00:10:01,679 --> 00:10:06,079 Speaker 1: I preach, either through texts, through email, through facts on person. 153 00:10:06,679 --> 00:10:12,000 Speaker 1: I asked this question. The question is, Pastor Robert, do 154 00:10:12,040 --> 00:10:16,280 Speaker 1: you have any props or illustrations that you'll be using 155 00:10:16,280 --> 00:10:18,719 Speaker 1: in your message today? Do you have any props or 156 00:10:18,720 --> 00:10:21,920 Speaker 1: illustrations that you'll be using? And I think it's my 157 00:10:22,040 --> 00:10:26,880 Speaker 1: familiarity with this question that's actually made me unaware of 158 00:10:26,920 --> 00:10:29,760 Speaker 1: how nuanced that is to what I'm called to do. 159 00:10:30,320 --> 00:10:35,360 Speaker 1: Some you know, preachers, we will use some props to 160 00:10:35,440 --> 00:10:37,760 Speaker 1: prove a point. I mean, we will use some if 161 00:10:37,760 --> 00:10:39,960 Speaker 1: you don't believe it, just scroll down your timeline tomorrow. 162 00:10:39,960 --> 00:10:42,520 Speaker 1: Look at some preachers pages. You will see all kinds 163 00:10:42,559 --> 00:10:46,239 Speaker 1: of pictures with foreign objects of them trying to illustrate 164 00:10:46,320 --> 00:10:49,000 Speaker 1: some point. We will use some props. Preachers might be 165 00:10:49,000 --> 00:10:51,920 Speaker 1: the only people that will call you up before service, 166 00:10:52,000 --> 00:10:53,760 Speaker 1: call you for a service, say real quick, real quick, 167 00:10:53,880 --> 00:10:57,400 Speaker 1: I need some dynamite, some matches, a bull horn, and 168 00:10:57,440 --> 00:11:01,400 Speaker 1: a fire extinguisher, and nobody will question why in the 169 00:11:01,440 --> 00:11:04,160 Speaker 1: world do you need these items. They'll be like, yeah, 170 00:11:04,200 --> 00:11:06,120 Speaker 1: pastor Nesa, you're probably preaching on how you need to 171 00:11:06,120 --> 00:11:08,840 Speaker 1: be a dynamite witness for Jesus. Don't let the devil 172 00:11:08,880 --> 00:11:11,800 Speaker 1: extinguish your fire. I mean, people will just go get 173 00:11:11,840 --> 00:11:16,959 Speaker 1: the stuff and not ask you a question. Because preachers, 174 00:11:17,320 --> 00:11:20,800 Speaker 1: we use props. We love to use props to illustrate 175 00:11:21,080 --> 00:11:24,600 Speaker 1: what God is saying to us. And it's funny the 176 00:11:24,640 --> 00:11:27,760 Speaker 1: props that we use to illustrate what God is saying. 177 00:11:27,760 --> 00:11:29,280 Speaker 1: And the reason we do it is not just to 178 00:11:29,320 --> 00:11:31,360 Speaker 1: be cute. It's not just to be cute. It's because 179 00:11:31,480 --> 00:11:34,760 Speaker 1: we have been given the task, the daunting task. If 180 00:11:34,800 --> 00:11:39,679 Speaker 1: I might add, to articulate the gospel, the good news 181 00:11:39,760 --> 00:11:43,479 Speaker 1: about Jesus, we have been given the task to express 182 00:11:43,600 --> 00:11:48,040 Speaker 1: that which is inexpressible, to talk about the intangible, to 183 00:11:48,120 --> 00:11:51,960 Speaker 1: talk about a kingdom that is so transcended, the Kingdom 184 00:11:52,040 --> 00:11:55,280 Speaker 1: of God, a kingdom whose ways are above your ways, 185 00:11:55,360 --> 00:11:58,600 Speaker 1: and whose thoughts are above your thoughts. How in the 186 00:11:58,600 --> 00:12:03,160 Speaker 1: world can you aulate something that really your mind can't comprehend, 187 00:12:03,360 --> 00:12:06,760 Speaker 1: but your spirit has to comprehend it. Oh, it is 188 00:12:06,800 --> 00:12:10,560 Speaker 1: a difficult task to try to articulate the ideas of 189 00:12:10,600 --> 00:12:13,000 Speaker 1: the Kingdom of God. Even Jesus, when he preached the 190 00:12:13,040 --> 00:12:15,000 Speaker 1: Bible says, every time he preached to a crowd, he 191 00:12:15,160 --> 00:12:19,199 Speaker 1: told stories. He told stories. He had to use things 192 00:12:19,240 --> 00:12:21,839 Speaker 1: in the earth that you could understand to express a 193 00:12:21,960 --> 00:12:27,840 Speaker 1: kingdom that you could never understand. Jesus use parables, and 194 00:12:27,920 --> 00:12:31,080 Speaker 1: we use props. And so I'm just having fun with this. 195 00:12:31,200 --> 00:12:34,080 Speaker 1: I actually made a list of all the props that 196 00:12:34,120 --> 00:12:37,360 Speaker 1: I've used, like in my sixteen years of preaching. This 197 00:12:37,440 --> 00:12:39,679 Speaker 1: is fun. This is not a comprehensive list, but all 198 00:12:39,720 --> 00:12:41,840 Speaker 1: these props have been used in some shape or form. 199 00:12:42,040 --> 00:12:46,800 Speaker 1: A ladder, toy train, basketball, barbies, barbells, hammer, nails and 200 00:12:47,000 --> 00:12:54,080 Speaker 1: built sword, seeds, trolls, plants, dirt mannequins, buckspring, violin, cliometric boxes, 201 00:12:54,440 --> 00:12:59,440 Speaker 1: cardboard boxes, gift boxes, brooms, shovel trees, dog bull, toilet, 202 00:12:59,600 --> 00:13:06,760 Speaker 1: rug flowers, mirrors, magnifying glass, oversize sunglasses, candles, salt, dollar bill, dimes, 203 00:13:06,800 --> 00:13:13,720 Speaker 1: tiger pulls, inflatables, oils, extension cords, bunge of cords, ropes, keys, 204 00:13:13,840 --> 00:13:18,800 Speaker 1: Christmas tree, a cow tongue, cow tongk It's a long story. 205 00:13:18,800 --> 00:13:20,840 Speaker 1: I'll tell you about it later. I'll tell you about 206 00:13:20,880 --> 00:13:23,959 Speaker 1: it now. I was a O was school. I was school. 207 00:13:24,040 --> 00:13:25,760 Speaker 1: I was preaching like a junior high camp, preaching like 208 00:13:25,800 --> 00:13:27,400 Speaker 1: a junior high camp, and you know, you gotta do 209 00:13:27,440 --> 00:13:29,560 Speaker 1: whatever you can a junior high And I brought in 210 00:13:29,679 --> 00:13:34,600 Speaker 1: a cow tongue and I say, young people, sit up, said, 211 00:13:34,640 --> 00:13:39,800 Speaker 1: in this bag, I have the most lethal weapon that 212 00:13:39,920 --> 00:13:42,400 Speaker 1: you have ever seen. What is it? Oh, I'm gonna 213 00:13:42,400 --> 00:13:44,959 Speaker 1: tell you what it is in this bag. It's something 214 00:13:45,000 --> 00:13:49,120 Speaker 1: that is deadly, It is poisonous, and it will kill you. 215 00:13:50,920 --> 00:13:55,000 Speaker 1: This bag has destroyed lives. What is it? Oh, I'm 216 00:13:55,040 --> 00:13:56,560 Speaker 1: gonna show you what it is. I pull out the 217 00:13:56,600 --> 00:14:00,280 Speaker 1: cow tongue, put it everywhere, almost sudden like eh oh. 218 00:14:01,000 --> 00:14:03,360 Speaker 1: I'm like, oh, that's nasty. That's gross. Not as gross 219 00:14:03,360 --> 00:14:04,679 Speaker 1: as the things that come out of your mouth and 220 00:14:04,760 --> 00:14:10,960 Speaker 1: the cafeteria every second time. Whatever it takes to get 221 00:14:11,000 --> 00:14:16,840 Speaker 1: them to the altar that els use props, and I'm 222 00:14:16,840 --> 00:14:19,360 Speaker 1: adding to my list today. I'm adding to my list 223 00:14:19,920 --> 00:14:26,280 Speaker 1: of props today. I haven't used this one before. Anybody 224 00:14:26,320 --> 00:14:32,160 Speaker 1: know what This is a smoke detector. Yeah, I'm so 225 00:14:32,240 --> 00:14:34,120 Speaker 1: glad you said smoke detector. It looks like it's a 226 00:14:34,120 --> 00:14:38,760 Speaker 1: smoke detector. Smoke detectors are good, but the reality is 227 00:14:39,520 --> 00:14:43,760 Speaker 1: you can see smoke. Now, you can smell smoke. The 228 00:14:43,760 --> 00:14:46,720 Speaker 1: beep is a little extra. You can see a fire. 229 00:14:47,960 --> 00:14:55,280 Speaker 1: This is a This is a carbon monoxide detector. Carbon 230 00:14:55,280 --> 00:14:59,120 Speaker 1: dioxide detectors are vital. They are critical. As matter of fact, 231 00:14:59,160 --> 00:15:03,239 Speaker 1: you cannot build the building without having carbon monoxide detectors. 232 00:15:03,440 --> 00:15:07,120 Speaker 1: Every building, by code has to have a carbon monoxide 233 00:15:07,160 --> 00:15:13,320 Speaker 1: detector because carbon monoxide is lethally dangerous, always a lethally dangerous. 234 00:15:13,320 --> 00:15:14,880 Speaker 1: I don't want to start off morbid, but you have 235 00:15:14,960 --> 00:15:20,000 Speaker 1: to understand that almost twenty thousand people a year found 236 00:15:20,040 --> 00:15:24,280 Speaker 1: themselves in the emergency room because of carbon monoxide. Four 237 00:15:24,360 --> 00:15:29,840 Speaker 1: hundred people a year die because of carbon monoxide. And 238 00:15:29,880 --> 00:15:34,360 Speaker 1: what makes carbon monoxide so lethally dangerous is because it 239 00:15:34,440 --> 00:15:38,520 Speaker 1: is colorless and it is odorless. So it could be 240 00:15:38,640 --> 00:15:42,520 Speaker 1: in the room right now and you wouldn't even know it. 241 00:15:42,520 --> 00:15:45,680 Speaker 1: It could be in the room right now, seeping throughout 242 00:15:45,680 --> 00:15:49,440 Speaker 1: this room, and it would slowly start to affect your body. 243 00:15:49,680 --> 00:15:51,760 Speaker 1: All of a sudden, you just get nauseous, and you 244 00:15:51,800 --> 00:15:54,920 Speaker 1: would have a headache, and you would start feeling the symptoms, 245 00:15:55,000 --> 00:15:58,760 Speaker 1: and before you know it, you would die from motoxin 246 00:15:59,440 --> 00:16:04,560 Speaker 1: that you couldn't even see. The CDC calls carbon monoxide 247 00:16:05,320 --> 00:16:09,440 Speaker 1: the silent killer. Obviously, I didn't come all the way 248 00:16:09,440 --> 00:16:12,880 Speaker 1: to Charlotte today to talk to you about carbon monoxide, 249 00:16:13,080 --> 00:16:16,240 Speaker 1: but I do want to talk about a silent killer. 250 00:16:18,240 --> 00:16:26,120 Speaker 1: The silent killer is pride. Pride is the carbon monoxide 251 00:16:26,360 --> 00:16:31,960 Speaker 1: of sin. Pride is the carbon monoxide slowly and secretly 252 00:16:32,160 --> 00:16:37,320 Speaker 1: and subtly seeping into your spirit, suffocating the plans and 253 00:16:37,360 --> 00:16:40,680 Speaker 1: the purposes of God. I'm telling you, Pride is the 254 00:16:41,040 --> 00:16:45,840 Speaker 1: silent killer. Pride will destroy your life. Pride will stop 255 00:16:45,880 --> 00:16:50,240 Speaker 1: God from doing exceedingly abundantly above all you may ask, think, 256 00:16:50,360 --> 00:16:53,720 Speaker 1: or imagine. It is nothing like pride that will shut 257 00:16:53,800 --> 00:16:57,080 Speaker 1: down the plan of God for your life. Pride is 258 00:16:57,120 --> 00:17:02,560 Speaker 1: what destroys marriages. Pride is what ruins relationships. Pride is 259 00:17:02,600 --> 00:17:06,359 Speaker 1: what tears apart families. Pride is what makes you hold 260 00:17:06,400 --> 00:17:10,719 Speaker 1: on to bitterness and refuse to forgive. Pride is the 261 00:17:10,760 --> 00:17:14,639 Speaker 1: reason why family members have been talked for years. Pride 262 00:17:14,680 --> 00:17:20,200 Speaker 1: destroys churches, It shuts down ministries, It kills companies. Pride 263 00:17:20,520 --> 00:17:26,080 Speaker 1: is the silent killer ood. There's nothing like pride that 264 00:17:26,160 --> 00:17:28,760 Speaker 1: will stop God from doing what he wants to do 265 00:17:28,880 --> 00:17:33,080 Speaker 1: in you and through you. Pride has always been the problem. 266 00:17:33,119 --> 00:17:37,480 Speaker 1: Who can I go there? But pride is America's stronghold. 267 00:17:39,040 --> 00:17:41,160 Speaker 1: You know, we got EFAM people watching all over the 268 00:17:41,200 --> 00:17:44,280 Speaker 1: world right now. But how many know different regions and 269 00:17:44,359 --> 00:17:49,400 Speaker 1: different nations, Sometimes different states and cities have particular strongholds. 270 00:17:49,600 --> 00:17:51,359 Speaker 1: And you ain't got to be prophetic or have a 271 00:17:51,400 --> 00:17:57,000 Speaker 1: sociology degree to know that pride is America's biggest stronghold. Oh, 272 00:17:57,200 --> 00:17:59,320 Speaker 1: it is our stronghold. We read the Bible and think 273 00:17:59,359 --> 00:18:03,640 Speaker 1: the Bible just talking about us. Pride is a stronghold. 274 00:18:04,840 --> 00:18:07,600 Speaker 1: Don't mess with me. I'm from Texas. You know, Texas 275 00:18:07,640 --> 00:18:11,480 Speaker 1: really got some pride. It's just we're our own country. 276 00:18:11,560 --> 00:18:16,920 Speaker 1: We think, how do you deal with pride? See, pride 277 00:18:16,960 --> 00:18:21,280 Speaker 1: is interesting because pride is the sin beneath the sin. 278 00:18:22,320 --> 00:18:24,720 Speaker 1: Can I just take my time real quick, let me 279 00:18:24,760 --> 00:18:31,040 Speaker 1: pause for a water break. Pride is the sin beneath 280 00:18:31,040 --> 00:18:33,480 Speaker 1: the sin. That's what Augustine said. In other words, there 281 00:18:33,520 --> 00:18:35,920 Speaker 1: can be issues in your life that on the surface 282 00:18:36,000 --> 00:18:38,760 Speaker 1: it looks like it's one thing, but at the bottom 283 00:18:38,800 --> 00:18:41,920 Speaker 1: it's really just pride. Give us some examples, Robert, Okay, 284 00:18:41,920 --> 00:18:45,320 Speaker 1: I give you some examples. So like, on the surface 285 00:18:45,359 --> 00:18:50,480 Speaker 1: of your life, you think the issue is anxiety or worry, 286 00:18:50,680 --> 00:18:55,600 Speaker 1: but at the root, it's pride. Because you told God, 287 00:18:55,640 --> 00:18:58,360 Speaker 1: didn't you tell me so? God? I specifically told you 288 00:18:58,720 --> 00:19:01,159 Speaker 1: that I had to be married by twenty eight. I 289 00:19:01,280 --> 00:19:04,520 Speaker 1: told you that he had to be six four. Did 290 00:19:04,640 --> 00:19:06,679 Speaker 1: not tell you God that we had to live in 291 00:19:06,680 --> 00:19:10,040 Speaker 1: the suburbs. I specifically that we prayed about this. Our 292 00:19:10,040 --> 00:19:12,439 Speaker 1: house had to be mid century modern. I told you 293 00:19:12,480 --> 00:19:14,560 Speaker 1: the car had to be a BMW, nothing less than 294 00:19:14,600 --> 00:19:17,200 Speaker 1: a five series. Didn't I tell you? That was my plan? 295 00:19:19,040 --> 00:19:23,600 Speaker 1: And now you anxious and you're upset cause you're thirty 296 00:19:23,640 --> 00:19:28,760 Speaker 1: eight and you're not married, or you are, but he's 297 00:19:28,800 --> 00:19:33,280 Speaker 1: five to two and you don't got the house or 298 00:19:33,280 --> 00:19:36,160 Speaker 1: the career that you wanted, and you're driving the Prius 299 00:19:36,440 --> 00:19:38,439 Speaker 1: and you're like, God, what is woman? You're trying to 300 00:19:38,520 --> 00:19:41,639 Speaker 1: understand what is not happening? And it's not anxiety, is 301 00:19:41,800 --> 00:19:46,919 Speaker 1: just it was fried pride trying to tell God the 302 00:19:46,960 --> 00:19:49,679 Speaker 1: way you thought your life. Shit, Oh, I should have 303 00:19:49,680 --> 00:19:54,480 Speaker 1: preached something that will make you shall so so on 304 00:19:54,520 --> 00:20:00,159 Speaker 1: the surface, on the surface, it looks like indecisiveness. The 305 00:20:00,240 --> 00:20:05,439 Speaker 1: root is pride. Because if I actually take a step 306 00:20:05,480 --> 00:20:07,680 Speaker 1: of faith and do what God has called me to do, 307 00:20:08,119 --> 00:20:10,760 Speaker 1: what if I fail? What if I mess up? What 308 00:20:10,800 --> 00:20:13,320 Speaker 1: are people gonna think about me? If I don't show 309 00:20:13,359 --> 00:20:15,280 Speaker 1: up the way I'm supposed to show up. So I'd 310 00:20:15,400 --> 00:20:19,440 Speaker 1: rather stay at the bay of procrastination and never step 311 00:20:19,480 --> 00:20:23,240 Speaker 1: into what God has for me, because if I do, 312 00:20:24,280 --> 00:20:27,160 Speaker 1: I might fall flat on my face and I got 313 00:20:27,160 --> 00:20:32,760 Speaker 1: a reputation. It's always pride is always at the root 314 00:20:32,920 --> 00:20:35,200 Speaker 1: of it. Oh, that's what's at the root of every 315 00:20:35,240 --> 00:20:39,000 Speaker 1: fride fight in your life. It's pride. That's why you're 316 00:20:39,040 --> 00:20:42,760 Speaker 1: bitter because of pride, Because you're only bitter because you 317 00:20:42,840 --> 00:20:46,920 Speaker 1: think you're better than that person. Because it's pride. Yeah, 318 00:20:46,920 --> 00:20:49,760 Speaker 1: that's why you're angry talking about I cannot believe that 319 00:20:49,800 --> 00:20:52,639 Speaker 1: she would do that to me. I would never do 320 00:20:52,800 --> 00:20:56,520 Speaker 1: that to anybody. I would never treat anybody like that girl. 321 00:20:56,560 --> 00:20:59,400 Speaker 1: I would never talk behind anybody's back as you're telling 322 00:20:59,400 --> 00:21:02,640 Speaker 1: your friend. I would never ever do that. How could 323 00:21:02,760 --> 00:21:11,320 Speaker 1: she do something like that? The root it is pride. 324 00:21:12,520 --> 00:21:18,239 Speaker 1: Pride is the sin beneath the sin. What do we 325 00:21:18,240 --> 00:21:23,680 Speaker 1: do with the pride? Pride preceded the fall of man. 326 00:21:24,960 --> 00:21:30,080 Speaker 1: Pride is what turned an angel into a devil. It 327 00:21:30,119 --> 00:21:32,800 Speaker 1: made its way into heaven. Satan Lucifer, you know, it 328 00:21:32,880 --> 00:21:34,680 Speaker 1: used to be the praise and worship leader of heaven. 329 00:21:34,920 --> 00:21:38,080 Speaker 1: But pride was found in his heart. And not only 330 00:21:38,080 --> 00:21:41,520 Speaker 1: did he fall, two thirds of the angels, sixty six 331 00:21:41,600 --> 00:21:46,560 Speaker 1: percent of the angels fail because of pride. I came 332 00:21:46,600 --> 00:21:49,240 Speaker 1: to tell you that pride, hear me, is the dead 333 00:21:49,280 --> 00:21:54,720 Speaker 1: bolt that will block your access into the presence of God. 334 00:21:55,680 --> 00:22:02,800 Speaker 1: But humility. Humility is the hinge upon which the heavens 335 00:22:02,920 --> 00:22:06,760 Speaker 1: open up in your life. Humility is the hinge upon 336 00:22:06,800 --> 00:22:09,879 Speaker 1: which the heavens open up in your life. If you 337 00:22:09,920 --> 00:22:12,159 Speaker 1: ever want to see the heavens open up in your life. 338 00:22:12,240 --> 00:22:15,640 Speaker 1: You gotta start saying, God, let me be humble, let 339 00:22:15,680 --> 00:22:19,080 Speaker 1: me have humility. That's how the heavens will open up 340 00:22:19,119 --> 00:22:21,160 Speaker 1: in your life. If you really want to see a 341 00:22:21,240 --> 00:22:24,640 Speaker 1: miracle and a move of God, you start with humility. 342 00:22:24,960 --> 00:22:27,840 Speaker 1: Begin your day, every single day, getting down on your 343 00:22:27,920 --> 00:22:31,399 Speaker 1: knees and saying, God, I cannot do life without you. God. 344 00:22:31,440 --> 00:22:33,720 Speaker 1: I need you. God. I don't know how to run 345 00:22:33,760 --> 00:22:35,920 Speaker 1: this company without you. God. I don't know how to 346 00:22:36,000 --> 00:22:38,439 Speaker 1: raise these kids without you. God. I don't know how 347 00:22:38,480 --> 00:22:40,280 Speaker 1: to be a father. I don't know how to be 348 00:22:40,359 --> 00:22:44,280 Speaker 1: a mom. God, you gotta help me. I need you. 349 00:22:44,280 --> 00:22:47,600 Speaker 1: You're not in addition to my life, you are my life. 350 00:22:47,720 --> 00:22:52,240 Speaker 1: I need you. Oh. When you begin your life like that, 351 00:22:52,480 --> 00:22:55,479 Speaker 1: your day like that, That's what gets God's attention. He 352 00:22:55,560 --> 00:22:58,800 Speaker 1: is attracted to humility. He has to show up when 353 00:22:58,800 --> 00:23:03,440 Speaker 1: you get humble, because humility is the hinge upon which 354 00:23:03,480 --> 00:23:07,879 Speaker 1: the heavens open up. God is attracted to the fragrance 355 00:23:07,920 --> 00:23:10,720 Speaker 1: of humility. Who come here, James? Chapter four? What does 356 00:23:10,760 --> 00:23:14,840 Speaker 1: it say? It says that God resists the proud, but 357 00:23:14,960 --> 00:23:18,440 Speaker 1: he gives grace to the humble. He resists the proud, 358 00:23:18,560 --> 00:23:22,360 Speaker 1: but gives grace to the humble. Later John James will 359 00:23:22,359 --> 00:23:27,360 Speaker 1: also say that who resists the devil and he will flee. 360 00:23:27,520 --> 00:23:30,600 Speaker 1: So wait a minute. I gotta resist the devil for 361 00:23:30,720 --> 00:23:34,160 Speaker 1: him to flee. But if I got pride, God will 362 00:23:34,200 --> 00:23:39,680 Speaker 1: resist me. I gotta resist the devil for him to flee. 363 00:23:39,840 --> 00:23:43,560 Speaker 1: But if I have pride, God will resist me. So 364 00:23:43,600 --> 00:23:46,240 Speaker 1: I wonder what the enemy is gonna constantly hit me 365 00:23:46,320 --> 00:23:54,360 Speaker 1: with pride? Pride? I think that's what the enemy will 366 00:23:54,359 --> 00:24:01,080 Speaker 1: always tell you. Do you boo? Do you Pride is 367 00:24:01,480 --> 00:24:05,720 Speaker 1: the silent killer? God told me to preach this message. 368 00:24:05,760 --> 00:24:08,320 Speaker 1: I don't know who this is for today. Because I 369 00:24:08,320 --> 00:24:11,000 Speaker 1: love the core value, I love the ethos of Elevation Church, 370 00:24:11,680 --> 00:24:16,640 Speaker 1: and see what God can do through you, See what 371 00:24:16,680 --> 00:24:20,080 Speaker 1: God can do through you. I just came to tell 372 00:24:20,119 --> 00:24:23,879 Speaker 1: you the thing that will stop what God can do 373 00:24:23,960 --> 00:24:31,159 Speaker 1: through you. It's pride. So quick question, it's just us 374 00:24:31,160 --> 00:24:35,280 Speaker 1: stopping and y'all at home etham, quick question and be honest. 375 00:24:35,800 --> 00:24:40,359 Speaker 1: How many would just say by showing up hands that 376 00:24:40,560 --> 00:24:43,160 Speaker 1: like you're super prideful. See your hand up, You're like prideful. 377 00:24:43,880 --> 00:24:45,640 Speaker 1: Come on, you be honest, like raise your hand said 378 00:24:45,640 --> 00:24:49,480 Speaker 1: like I'm I'm prideful, raising real high ephan raising high. Okay, 379 00:24:50,720 --> 00:24:55,200 Speaker 1: let me see. Okay, if you didn't lift up your hand, 380 00:24:55,880 --> 00:24:59,600 Speaker 1: I'm worried about you. I'm worried about you. I got 381 00:24:59,600 --> 00:25:07,760 Speaker 1: some serious questions because the problem with pride is it hides. See, 382 00:25:08,119 --> 00:25:11,399 Speaker 1: the people that struggle with pride the most will be 383 00:25:11,440 --> 00:25:15,000 Speaker 1: the last one to lift up the hand because the 384 00:25:15,080 --> 00:25:19,320 Speaker 1: pride stops them from saying that they have it. See, 385 00:25:19,400 --> 00:25:24,320 Speaker 1: pride is like bad breath. You're generally the last one 386 00:25:24,359 --> 00:25:28,760 Speaker 1: to know that you have it, but yet it's affecting everybody. 387 00:25:29,760 --> 00:25:32,320 Speaker 1: Oh so you didn't lift up the hand. I'm worried 388 00:25:32,320 --> 00:25:36,600 Speaker 1: about you because because because pride hides. Okay, I'm trying 389 00:25:36,760 --> 00:25:39,960 Speaker 1: another question. How many of you say that like you're 390 00:25:40,040 --> 00:25:43,040 Speaker 1: super humble? Like you're humble? I mean, come on, lift 391 00:25:43,119 --> 00:25:44,879 Speaker 1: up your hand. Come on, like you're really, really humble. 392 00:25:45,800 --> 00:25:47,240 Speaker 1: Now you don't lift up your hand. Come on, y'all 393 00:25:47,240 --> 00:25:48,760 Speaker 1: don't want how many need to write the book on 394 00:25:48,840 --> 00:25:52,280 Speaker 1: how I became humble? Come on, start your website. I'm 395 00:25:52,320 --> 00:25:56,639 Speaker 1: the epitome of humility dot com. You see the challenge? 396 00:25:57,280 --> 00:26:02,080 Speaker 1: What does humility look like? See, pride hides and humility 397 00:26:02,119 --> 00:26:06,600 Speaker 1: is hidden. Generally when you come across a person that 398 00:26:06,680 --> 00:26:09,560 Speaker 1: is humble, you don't walk away going, oh, they were 399 00:26:09,560 --> 00:26:12,600 Speaker 1: really humble. You actually don't walk away thinking about them 400 00:26:12,600 --> 00:26:14,920 Speaker 1: at all. You think about yourself going, man, they really 401 00:26:14,920 --> 00:26:18,800 Speaker 1: made me feel seen and loved. So humility is hidden, 402 00:26:19,400 --> 00:26:23,640 Speaker 1: but pride hide. So how do you know which one 403 00:26:23,680 --> 00:26:25,560 Speaker 1: is it? I'm confused. I came here to ask y'all, 404 00:26:27,680 --> 00:26:32,399 Speaker 1: how do you know that there's actually some things on 405 00:26:32,440 --> 00:26:37,800 Speaker 1: the outside that looked like humility, but it's really just 406 00:26:37,960 --> 00:26:42,480 Speaker 1: pride and costume. And there's some things on the outside 407 00:26:42,480 --> 00:26:47,240 Speaker 1: that look like pride, but it's really confidence in the 408 00:26:47,280 --> 00:26:51,080 Speaker 1: fact that God can do something through you. Okay, let 409 00:26:51,119 --> 00:26:53,840 Speaker 1: me go to the Bible. You remember David. You remember 410 00:26:53,920 --> 00:26:56,240 Speaker 1: David when he's showed up on the battlefield and he 411 00:26:56,320 --> 00:26:58,560 Speaker 1: just came to drop the ham and cheese sandwich, and 412 00:26:58,600 --> 00:27:01,440 Speaker 1: he heard the giant defy the armies of the Living God. 413 00:27:01,560 --> 00:27:03,600 Speaker 1: And he's like, hold up, y'all, gonna let this giant 414 00:27:03,800 --> 00:27:06,440 Speaker 1: talk about my God like this? He's like, no, no, no, 415 00:27:06,680 --> 00:27:10,359 Speaker 1: is there not a cause? And remember David's brother accused 416 00:27:10,400 --> 00:27:13,200 Speaker 1: him of pride. He said, what what are those sheep? 417 00:27:13,240 --> 00:27:15,280 Speaker 1: You're supposed to be with the sheep? I know your heart. 418 00:27:15,520 --> 00:27:18,760 Speaker 1: Pride is in your heart. But David didn't have pride. 419 00:27:18,880 --> 00:27:22,359 Speaker 1: He just had confidence in his God. He had confidence 420 00:27:22,520 --> 00:27:25,040 Speaker 1: that God could do something through him. He said, wait 421 00:27:25,040 --> 00:27:27,320 Speaker 1: a minute, I know it's not me. I know it's 422 00:27:27,359 --> 00:27:29,480 Speaker 1: God in me because I know I couldn't have killed 423 00:27:29,560 --> 00:27:32,399 Speaker 1: that bear, but God showed up. I know I couldn't 424 00:27:32,400 --> 00:27:35,720 Speaker 1: defeated that lion, but God showed up. And the same 425 00:27:35,840 --> 00:27:38,480 Speaker 1: God that helped me defeat the lion and the bear 426 00:27:38,840 --> 00:27:41,400 Speaker 1: is the same God that will help me knock this 427 00:27:41,560 --> 00:27:45,480 Speaker 1: giant down. Somebody needs to take ten seconds and give 428 00:27:45,520 --> 00:27:48,600 Speaker 1: God some praise. If you know that God can do 429 00:27:48,760 --> 00:27:53,800 Speaker 1: great things through you when you trust him. Oh that's 430 00:27:53,800 --> 00:27:56,040 Speaker 1: a cute golf clap. Give him a real praise in 431 00:27:56,119 --> 00:28:04,239 Speaker 1: this place to you gotta be careful what you call pride, 432 00:28:04,480 --> 00:28:09,520 Speaker 1: because godly confidence sometimes looks like arrogance, because there's something 433 00:28:09,560 --> 00:28:12,320 Speaker 1: about stepping out saying I know God can do this 434 00:28:12,400 --> 00:28:15,080 Speaker 1: through me. They accused him of pride, and it wasn't 435 00:28:15,119 --> 00:28:20,199 Speaker 1: pride or remember another moment in David's life. Goliath was 436 00:28:20,240 --> 00:28:24,520 Speaker 1: long gone. Now he's the king, now he's in the palace. 437 00:28:25,640 --> 00:28:30,240 Speaker 1: The Bible says that one day he counted. He counted 438 00:28:31,200 --> 00:28:38,080 Speaker 1: his Instagram followers. My bad, he counted his military He counted, 439 00:28:38,800 --> 00:28:40,320 Speaker 1: and I looked at that from the outside, I said, 440 00:28:40,320 --> 00:28:47,160 Speaker 1: he just counted. That's a military census. That's good stewardship. 441 00:28:48,520 --> 00:28:52,240 Speaker 1: God know how many people in my army. That's not pride, 442 00:28:52,480 --> 00:28:57,920 Speaker 1: not in the eyes of God. Seventy thousand men died 443 00:28:58,000 --> 00:29:03,560 Speaker 1: that day because the David counted, because God could see 444 00:29:03,600 --> 00:29:08,400 Speaker 1: what nobody else could say. The David, you forgotten when 445 00:29:08,400 --> 00:29:11,680 Speaker 1: you're just a little shepherd boy and all you had 446 00:29:12,080 --> 00:29:15,400 Speaker 1: was a sling shot and a big God, and your 447 00:29:15,440 --> 00:29:19,479 Speaker 1: confidence was in me. But now you got an army, 448 00:29:20,640 --> 00:29:27,520 Speaker 1: now you're in the palace, You've lost your humility. How 449 00:29:28,600 --> 00:29:31,800 Speaker 1: do you find this out? I'm telling you this is 450 00:29:31,800 --> 00:29:36,960 Speaker 1: difficult because pride hides and humility is hidden. I wish 451 00:29:37,240 --> 00:29:43,040 Speaker 1: I wish there was like a pride monoxide detector. Don't 452 00:29:43,080 --> 00:29:47,080 Speaker 1: you wish You're like, push it and it will let 453 00:29:47,080 --> 00:29:49,800 Speaker 1: you know. I wish, because you can't tell see some 454 00:29:49,800 --> 00:29:52,200 Speaker 1: of y'all even have the image of pride, and somebody 455 00:29:52,200 --> 00:29:56,000 Speaker 1: who's inside with sunglasses on, that's your image of somebody 456 00:29:56,040 --> 00:29:57,960 Speaker 1: to prove for like, oh, they think they all that, 457 00:29:58,440 --> 00:30:01,520 Speaker 1: so you only see pride is superiority, but there's another 458 00:30:01,560 --> 00:30:06,280 Speaker 1: level of pride that manifest an inferiority. That person is like, yeah, 459 00:30:06,360 --> 00:30:08,920 Speaker 1: nobody ever cares about me, nobody ever thinks about me. Yes, 460 00:30:09,000 --> 00:30:11,160 Speaker 1: nobody even calls on me, nobody ever checks on me, 461 00:30:11,200 --> 00:30:13,600 Speaker 1: like the whole pandemic, Like nobody even called me, nobody 462 00:30:13,640 --> 00:30:15,240 Speaker 1: even asked me how it was today. I got walk 463 00:30:15,240 --> 00:30:17,040 Speaker 1: in to church and nobody even waved at me today. Man. 464 00:30:17,040 --> 00:30:18,640 Speaker 1: I know they's social distancing, but I mean, can you 465 00:30:18,640 --> 00:30:20,400 Speaker 1: at least wave and say hi to me? Nobody asks 466 00:30:20,440 --> 00:30:24,640 Speaker 1: me how my they were? Me Me, Me, It's inferiority, 467 00:30:24,680 --> 00:30:28,840 Speaker 1: but it's still pride because all pride cares about is 468 00:30:28,880 --> 00:30:32,440 Speaker 1: that you are in the center of your world. So 469 00:30:32,480 --> 00:30:34,320 Speaker 1: I'm trying to tell you you don't know what it 470 00:30:34,360 --> 00:30:38,520 Speaker 1: looks like. You need a detector. How do I I 471 00:30:38,520 --> 00:30:42,320 Speaker 1: wish this was a pride monoxide detector. Actually, I'm gonna 472 00:30:42,320 --> 00:30:46,640 Speaker 1: give you the promele monoxide detector because I think humility 473 00:30:47,400 --> 00:30:52,040 Speaker 1: and pride manifest and how you respond to situations in 474 00:30:52,080 --> 00:30:57,160 Speaker 1: your life. How you respond. You want to test whether 475 00:30:57,160 --> 00:30:59,800 Speaker 1: you got pride, whether you have humility? Number one, how 476 00:30:59,800 --> 00:31:04,880 Speaker 1: do you respond to criticism. How do you respond to 477 00:31:04,920 --> 00:31:09,800 Speaker 1: criticism when somebody criticizes you? What is your initial response? 478 00:31:10,760 --> 00:31:13,640 Speaker 1: Is it to deflect, to immediately deny it? Up? Here 479 00:31:13,720 --> 00:31:18,600 Speaker 1: goes another hater. Do you immediately deflect? How do you 480 00:31:18,680 --> 00:31:24,720 Speaker 1: respond to criticism? That's a good test. Do you immediately 481 00:31:24,760 --> 00:31:26,680 Speaker 1: go but no, that's nothing, that's something you get defensive? 482 00:31:27,800 --> 00:31:31,480 Speaker 1: That's a good way to test. Or are you completely 483 00:31:31,520 --> 00:31:36,600 Speaker 1: deflated when somebody criticizes you? Now your whole year is 484 00:31:36,720 --> 00:31:41,240 Speaker 1: ruined because somebody talked about you one morning in five minutes, 485 00:31:41,360 --> 00:31:45,040 Speaker 1: Now your whole year is over. That's the inferiority version. 486 00:31:45,720 --> 00:31:49,640 Speaker 1: How do you respond to criticism? It's a good test 487 00:31:50,360 --> 00:31:54,600 Speaker 1: of your pride and humility. See, humble people are able 488 00:31:54,640 --> 00:31:58,240 Speaker 1: to laugh at themselves, like they're able to laugh at everything. 489 00:31:58,280 --> 00:32:00,720 Speaker 1: They're able to get somebody of everything. You go to 490 00:32:00,760 --> 00:32:02,680 Speaker 1: a person that's humble, you're like, man, your breast things. 491 00:32:02,720 --> 00:32:04,760 Speaker 1: You're like, oh man, my bad bro. You know I 492 00:32:04,840 --> 00:32:07,239 Speaker 1: switched toothpaste. I don't even realize that, man, Thank you, 493 00:32:07,280 --> 00:32:10,280 Speaker 1: thank you, thank you for letting me know. And that's 494 00:32:10,280 --> 00:32:16,000 Speaker 1: why humble people grow. Yeah, because they're open to hear. 495 00:32:17,120 --> 00:32:21,480 Speaker 1: They don't deflect, and they're not completely deflated. They're open 496 00:32:21,520 --> 00:32:23,120 Speaker 1: to see. What can I learn from this? I don't 497 00:32:23,120 --> 00:32:26,080 Speaker 1: know if my brother was thinking, how do you respond 498 00:32:26,080 --> 00:32:31,200 Speaker 1: to criticism? Here's another one? How do you respond to rejection? 499 00:32:33,920 --> 00:32:38,720 Speaker 1: Who don't you hate to be rejected? Don't you hate 500 00:32:38,800 --> 00:32:42,440 Speaker 1: especially from stuck up people? Come on, don't you hate 501 00:32:42,480 --> 00:32:45,480 Speaker 1: stuck up people? Just stuck up people? Oh? I can't 502 00:32:45,480 --> 00:32:47,440 Speaker 1: stand to be rejected by stuck up people. You don't 503 00:32:47,440 --> 00:32:49,040 Speaker 1: know people don't just walk in act like they can't 504 00:32:49,040 --> 00:32:51,920 Speaker 1: speak to anybody? Like? Really, you that's special? Okay, you 505 00:32:52,040 --> 00:32:54,200 Speaker 1: floated in the room today, all right here? You can't 506 00:32:54,240 --> 00:32:57,040 Speaker 1: speak to people, don't you? Oh, stuck up people. Don't 507 00:32:57,040 --> 00:33:00,680 Speaker 1: you hate to be rejected by stuck up people? Oh? 508 00:33:00,800 --> 00:33:04,400 Speaker 1: Who does he think he is? Don't even speak to anybody? Oh, 509 00:33:05,160 --> 00:33:09,360 Speaker 1: you ain't better than me. I fact, I'm better than you. Like, 510 00:33:09,400 --> 00:33:11,760 Speaker 1: you ain't gonna speak to me? Okay, I ain't gonna 511 00:33:11,760 --> 00:33:16,760 Speaker 1: speak to you. You see the hypocrisy. You end up 512 00:33:16,760 --> 00:33:22,040 Speaker 1: being stuck up to stuck up people. You'll end up 513 00:33:22,120 --> 00:33:26,080 Speaker 1: rejected people that rejected you because you thought that they 514 00:33:26,080 --> 00:33:27,320 Speaker 1: thought they ever better than you. You're like, no, I'm 515 00:33:27,360 --> 00:33:32,560 Speaker 1: better than you. Can see, how do you respond to rejection. 516 00:33:33,480 --> 00:33:37,640 Speaker 1: Humble people will talk to everybody, even the stuck up persons, like, ay, 517 00:33:37,720 --> 00:33:39,960 Speaker 1: how you doing. I guess you didn't see me since 518 00:33:39,960 --> 00:33:44,400 Speaker 1: you didn't speak. Yeah, oh, are you like your glasses 519 00:33:44,440 --> 00:33:50,080 Speaker 1: that you're wearing inside? Are those very bad? How do 520 00:33:50,120 --> 00:33:54,480 Speaker 1: you respond to rejection? Here's another test. How do you 521 00:33:54,560 --> 00:34:00,440 Speaker 1: respond to advice? How do you respond to it? Advice 522 00:34:02,040 --> 00:34:06,800 Speaker 1: people are funny people, especially church people. Church people will 523 00:34:06,840 --> 00:34:09,359 Speaker 1: go around and ask people for advice, but they really 524 00:34:09,360 --> 00:34:11,880 Speaker 1: don't want advice. They just want you to confirm what 525 00:34:11,920 --> 00:34:15,120 Speaker 1: they already want to do. They just want to hear 526 00:34:15,120 --> 00:34:18,440 Speaker 1: their opinion in somebody else's voice, So they go around 527 00:34:18,440 --> 00:34:19,839 Speaker 1: to ask and like as soon as they say, well, 528 00:34:19,880 --> 00:34:21,319 Speaker 1: I've been praying about something, what do you think about this? 529 00:34:21,360 --> 00:34:23,000 Speaker 1: And this person says what you want to say, Yeah, 530 00:34:23,000 --> 00:34:25,120 Speaker 1: I appreciate it. Yeah, i'mnna keep praying. I'm gonna keep praying. 531 00:34:26,760 --> 00:34:30,319 Speaker 1: But the minute somebody gives them advice that's contradictory to 532 00:34:30,360 --> 00:34:32,680 Speaker 1: the thing that they want to do, Oh, that's a 533 00:34:32,680 --> 00:34:36,440 Speaker 1: good revealer of pride. As soon as somebody says, oh no, no, no, no, no, 534 00:34:36,719 --> 00:34:38,360 Speaker 1: I wouldn't marry him, no, Like, did you see a 535 00:34:38,440 --> 00:34:41,000 Speaker 1: driver's license. Like his first name is Freddie, his last 536 00:34:41,040 --> 00:34:44,719 Speaker 1: name is Krueger, Like I wouldn't I wouldn't marry it, 537 00:34:44,840 --> 00:34:46,880 Speaker 1: Like I don't know that that might not be. Oh no, 538 00:34:47,040 --> 00:34:49,040 Speaker 1: well you don't know him. You don't know him like 539 00:34:49,120 --> 00:34:54,200 Speaker 1: I know him. How do you respond to advice? It's 540 00:34:54,239 --> 00:34:59,279 Speaker 1: a good test for pride or humility. Here's another one. 541 00:35:00,000 --> 00:35:08,480 Speaker 1: How do you respond to praise? To praise, to the handclap, 542 00:35:10,360 --> 00:35:15,200 Speaker 1: to the cheer, epham, it's just us talking, elevation, it's 543 00:35:15,239 --> 00:35:17,600 Speaker 1: just us talking. Can I tell you what I don't like? 544 00:35:19,239 --> 00:35:24,279 Speaker 1: I don't like how much I like to be liked. 545 00:35:25,920 --> 00:35:31,040 Speaker 1: I can't stand it, how much I love approval. I 546 00:35:31,120 --> 00:35:33,000 Speaker 1: have to have conversations with me, Chris, I have to 547 00:35:33,000 --> 00:35:35,200 Speaker 1: have a conversation with myself before I step on any 548 00:35:35,200 --> 00:35:37,759 Speaker 1: stage to preach. I have to talk to myself still 549 00:35:37,800 --> 00:35:40,120 Speaker 1: to this day, before I get up and say, you 550 00:35:40,200 --> 00:35:44,319 Speaker 1: have nothing to prove and nothing to lose, nothing to prove, 551 00:35:44,360 --> 00:35:46,080 Speaker 1: because if I'm not careful, I get on stage and 552 00:35:46,120 --> 00:35:48,280 Speaker 1: I'll be trying to prove to you that I'm funny, 553 00:35:48,680 --> 00:35:49,880 Speaker 1: and I'll be trying to make you laugh, like I'm 554 00:35:49,920 --> 00:35:52,719 Speaker 1: caring hard or something. I'll be trying to prove that 555 00:35:52,760 --> 00:35:54,399 Speaker 1: I'm brilliant. I'll be trying to use a big word, 556 00:35:54,440 --> 00:35:57,600 Speaker 1: be like super confunctionalistic, HBI. Do shit suck? Like, Oh 557 00:35:57,640 --> 00:36:03,239 Speaker 1: my goodness, see it as doctor degree. That's because the 558 00:36:03,280 --> 00:36:05,960 Speaker 1: praise the praise. And I think this is an issue 559 00:36:06,120 --> 00:36:10,120 Speaker 1: now more than ever, because even psychologists are scrambling to 560 00:36:10,160 --> 00:36:13,520 Speaker 1: do the research of what social media is literally doing 561 00:36:13,560 --> 00:36:17,080 Speaker 1: to our brains, to the pleasure part of our brains, 562 00:36:17,320 --> 00:36:22,200 Speaker 1: this incessant, unhealthy need to be noticed by other people, 563 00:36:22,560 --> 00:36:26,040 Speaker 1: to get the validation and affirmation from other people, not 564 00:36:26,160 --> 00:36:28,239 Speaker 1: in a healthy way, just from a community, but no, 565 00:36:28,400 --> 00:36:34,120 Speaker 1: we need likes from strangers. They're saying that the pleasure 566 00:36:34,160 --> 00:36:37,120 Speaker 1: principle in our brain, the pleasure part the dopamine when 567 00:36:37,120 --> 00:36:40,399 Speaker 1: you get a like, when you get a notification. It's 568 00:36:40,400 --> 00:36:43,840 Speaker 1: not as close to cocaine, but it's close. The thrill 569 00:36:43,920 --> 00:36:47,200 Speaker 1: that you get, like they said, we couple goals, but 570 00:36:49,320 --> 00:36:52,040 Speaker 1: the thrill that you get from that. Oh, you don't 571 00:36:52,040 --> 00:36:53,680 Speaker 1: believe it. Put it to the test. I dare you 572 00:36:53,719 --> 00:36:56,400 Speaker 1: post something today and don't look at it till next week. 573 00:36:58,440 --> 00:37:00,560 Speaker 1: Just let us sit there. Oh, you ever had a 574 00:37:00,560 --> 00:37:03,719 Speaker 1: conversation with somebody that posted something and they're waiting for 575 00:37:03,719 --> 00:37:06,080 Speaker 1: the notification to come through. You talk about somebody that 576 00:37:06,200 --> 00:37:08,680 Speaker 1: just will start twitching it like, yeah, you can't even 577 00:37:08,719 --> 00:37:10,440 Speaker 1: listen to the conversation. Yeah you went to the monist. 578 00:37:10,440 --> 00:37:13,040 Speaker 1: Excuse me one second. Let me see what they say that. 579 00:37:16,520 --> 00:37:21,440 Speaker 1: How do you respond to praise? How do you respond 580 00:37:23,560 --> 00:37:28,799 Speaker 1: to criticism? How do you respond to rejection? How do 581 00:37:28,800 --> 00:37:33,120 Speaker 1: you respond to advice? How do you respond to praise? 582 00:37:37,040 --> 00:37:41,640 Speaker 1: How do you respond to the crap in your life? 583 00:37:41,760 --> 00:37:45,440 Speaker 1: That is a good test. That is a good test 584 00:37:45,520 --> 00:37:49,120 Speaker 1: to see whether you got humility or prop That's all 585 00:37:49,120 --> 00:37:52,560 Speaker 1: it is anyway, it's just crap. God wants to know 586 00:37:52,840 --> 00:37:56,600 Speaker 1: how you respond to the crap of life. Oh I 587 00:37:56,600 --> 00:37:58,279 Speaker 1: wish I had a church that would help me preach 588 00:37:58,320 --> 00:38:05,719 Speaker 1: in here today. How do you respond? Because that's all 589 00:38:05,719 --> 00:38:11,800 Speaker 1: it is anyway, That's all it is. Anyway, it's just crap, 590 00:38:13,480 --> 00:38:16,799 Speaker 1: that's all it is. And that what Paul said, I'm 591 00:38:16,840 --> 00:38:19,640 Speaker 1: landing on the plane. Isn't that what Paul said? In Philippians. 592 00:38:19,960 --> 00:38:22,920 Speaker 1: You remember in Philppius chapter three, we quote this verse 593 00:38:22,920 --> 00:38:27,800 Speaker 1: all the time. Paul says, one thing I do forgetting 594 00:38:28,880 --> 00:38:35,080 Speaker 1: what's behind a press on to what's ahead? And how 595 00:38:35,080 --> 00:38:37,640 Speaker 1: do we quote that verse? We quote that verse for 596 00:38:37,719 --> 00:38:41,239 Speaker 1: like twenty twenty. You gotta forget twenty twenty, like that 597 00:38:41,360 --> 00:38:45,000 Speaker 1: was in the past. Press on to what's ahead. Have 598 00:38:45,080 --> 00:38:48,360 Speaker 1: you ever read the context of that verse? If you 599 00:38:48,400 --> 00:38:50,719 Speaker 1: go up in that verse. In Philippians chapter three, Paul 600 00:38:50,880 --> 00:38:55,160 Speaker 1: starts flexing. He starts naming all his accolades. He's like, oh, 601 00:38:55,239 --> 00:38:57,160 Speaker 1: y'all want somebody to flex in the flesh. I'll let 602 00:38:57,200 --> 00:38:58,800 Speaker 1: you know about what I did, Like I had a 603 00:38:58,840 --> 00:39:01,120 Speaker 1: blue check before y'all were on the ground. He said, 604 00:39:01,120 --> 00:39:03,800 Speaker 1: I'm of the tribe of Benjamin. I'm a Hebrew of Hebrews. 605 00:39:03,960 --> 00:39:06,640 Speaker 1: I speak all kinds of languages. He starts telling you 606 00:39:06,719 --> 00:39:10,200 Speaker 1: all his accomplishments and his pedigree, but then he says, 607 00:39:10,320 --> 00:39:16,759 Speaker 1: I treat all that as a loss, as dune for 608 00:39:16,920 --> 00:39:19,439 Speaker 1: one thing that I may know him. He said, all 609 00:39:19,480 --> 00:39:23,000 Speaker 1: of that I counted as a loss. It's all crap. 610 00:39:24,960 --> 00:39:29,719 Speaker 1: Why so that I may know who? Jesus says. So 611 00:39:29,760 --> 00:39:31,759 Speaker 1: when he gets to that verse and he says, one 612 00:39:31,760 --> 00:39:34,520 Speaker 1: thing I do forgetting what's behind, he's not talking about sin, 613 00:39:34,920 --> 00:39:38,080 Speaker 1: he's not talking about pain. He said, I gotta forget 614 00:39:38,120 --> 00:39:41,680 Speaker 1: all my successes. I gotta forget all of my likes, 615 00:39:41,800 --> 00:39:44,799 Speaker 1: he said. I gotta forget all those notifications, he said, 616 00:39:44,800 --> 00:39:47,640 Speaker 1: because those are the things my pedigree is going to 617 00:39:47,719 --> 00:39:51,439 Speaker 1: produce a pride that'll stop me from receiving what God 618 00:39:51,520 --> 00:39:54,719 Speaker 1: has to me. He said, I gotta forget my wins. 619 00:39:57,080 --> 00:40:00,759 Speaker 1: If I keep reflecting on my winds, I'm going to 620 00:40:00,840 --> 00:40:05,360 Speaker 1: lose the power that comes from humility, because it's in 621 00:40:05,480 --> 00:40:12,080 Speaker 1: humility that I know Him. That's what he's said. Can 622 00:40:12,120 --> 00:40:17,200 Speaker 1: you forget what's behind you? All the successes for one 623 00:40:17,239 --> 00:40:21,200 Speaker 1: thing to say, God, I want to know you, the 624 00:40:21,280 --> 00:40:28,879 Speaker 1: fellowship of your suffering, the power of your resurrection. It's 625 00:40:28,920 --> 00:40:35,520 Speaker 1: all crap. What I love about my text today is 626 00:40:35,560 --> 00:40:40,440 Speaker 1: that John the Baptist was able to forget the crap. 627 00:40:42,200 --> 00:40:46,759 Speaker 1: It came to him with news trying to get him 628 00:40:46,800 --> 00:40:52,040 Speaker 1: to be upset that people were noticing Jesus. John said, no, 629 00:40:52,120 --> 00:40:57,799 Speaker 1: I'm not upset. Quite the contrary. My joy is complete 630 00:40:58,680 --> 00:41:04,400 Speaker 1: in him. I have to decrease so that he may increase. 631 00:41:05,960 --> 00:41:10,000 Speaker 1: I have to die because the heavens open up on 632 00:41:10,080 --> 00:41:13,400 Speaker 1: the hinge of humility. Give me some of that water. 633 00:41:18,760 --> 00:41:27,120 Speaker 1: I notice saying a shouting message. I notice saying the 634 00:41:27,120 --> 00:41:30,359 Speaker 1: message that makes you want to run around. You knew 635 00:41:30,400 --> 00:41:35,120 Speaker 1: the Holy Ghost two step and I'm telling you the 636 00:41:35,160 --> 00:41:43,720 Speaker 1: heavens open up on the hinge of humility. Pride blocks 637 00:41:43,719 --> 00:41:47,640 Speaker 1: the access. I'm just in a season of life where 638 00:41:47,640 --> 00:41:54,000 Speaker 1: I'm like God, I just want to know you. That's 639 00:41:54,040 --> 00:41:59,880 Speaker 1: the wind. It's him, not even what he does through me, 640 00:42:01,760 --> 00:42:05,719 Speaker 1: but that I may know him. Don't let me get 641 00:42:05,719 --> 00:42:13,560 Speaker 1: caught up in the crap that pride shuts me out 642 00:42:13,600 --> 00:42:19,600 Speaker 1: from knowing you. Don't let me get intoxicated by the 643 00:42:19,600 --> 00:42:25,760 Speaker 1: approval of men, and I miss out on the greatest treasure, 644 00:42:25,800 --> 00:42:33,880 Speaker 1: which is knowing you. It's interesting in the days of 645 00:42:33,960 --> 00:42:40,400 Speaker 1: caesars in Rome, they had what they called a triumph. 646 00:42:40,520 --> 00:42:46,960 Speaker 1: It was after a victory, huge parade, people cheering and screaming, 647 00:42:49,520 --> 00:42:51,839 Speaker 1: and the caesar would stand on his chariot and all 648 00:42:51,920 --> 00:42:56,920 Speaker 1: his regal attire going throughout the towns as people were 649 00:42:56,920 --> 00:43:02,799 Speaker 1: clapping and cheering, and behind the caesar you would see 650 00:43:02,800 --> 00:43:08,120 Speaker 1: a servant, and the servant's job was number one to 651 00:43:08,239 --> 00:43:13,320 Speaker 1: hold the crown of the caesar. Some of these triumphs 652 00:43:13,320 --> 00:43:17,800 Speaker 1: would last several days. It's hard to have that crown 653 00:43:17,880 --> 00:43:22,239 Speaker 1: on your head for that long, So the servant's job 654 00:43:22,400 --> 00:43:27,920 Speaker 1: was to hold the crown. Servant also had another job. 655 00:43:30,000 --> 00:43:33,840 Speaker 1: Servant was to whisper in the ear of the caesar 656 00:43:34,800 --> 00:43:42,400 Speaker 1: while the crown is cheering, momentomorrey, momentomorrey. People would be 657 00:43:42,440 --> 00:43:44,400 Speaker 1: shouting at the top of the lungs, but the servant 658 00:43:44,440 --> 00:43:50,000 Speaker 1: is holding the crown, whispering in the caesar's ear. Momentomorray, mamentomorray, 659 00:43:51,080 --> 00:43:57,120 Speaker 1: which means, remember you are mortal, Remember you die. You 660 00:43:57,200 --> 00:44:00,920 Speaker 1: are just a man. Do not let the praise of 661 00:44:00,920 --> 00:44:05,680 Speaker 1: this crowd go to your hand. Do not become intoxicated 662 00:44:06,320 --> 00:44:08,360 Speaker 1: with the cheers of the crowd, because how you know. 663 00:44:08,680 --> 00:44:13,080 Speaker 1: We were not created to receive glory. You cannot handle glory. 664 00:44:13,280 --> 00:44:16,520 Speaker 1: I'm telling you, glory will crush you. We were created 665 00:44:16,560 --> 00:44:20,120 Speaker 1: to reflect glory, to give it back to God. You 666 00:44:20,200 --> 00:44:23,799 Speaker 1: cannot handle the weight of glory on your life. You 667 00:44:23,880 --> 00:44:26,160 Speaker 1: were created to give it back to the one who 668 00:44:26,280 --> 00:44:30,000 Speaker 1: made you, who created you, who farmed you. You can't 669 00:44:30,040 --> 00:44:38,080 Speaker 1: handle the way it will crush you. The service job 670 00:44:38,200 --> 00:44:42,240 Speaker 1: was to say, remember you irem mortal, so he wouldn't 671 00:44:42,239 --> 00:44:46,120 Speaker 1: get intoxicated with the cheers of the crowd, because you 672 00:44:46,160 --> 00:44:52,840 Speaker 1: can't handle the crowd. Then I remember John the Disciple 673 00:44:52,880 --> 00:44:55,160 Speaker 1: who wrote about John the Baptist. He gets a vision 674 00:44:55,160 --> 00:44:58,680 Speaker 1: of heaven and revelation. And as soon as it gets 675 00:44:58,719 --> 00:45:02,240 Speaker 1: to heaven, what does he say? He sees a throne, 676 00:45:03,560 --> 00:45:06,239 Speaker 1: and God is on the throne, and surrounded by the 677 00:45:06,400 --> 00:45:09,640 Speaker 1: throne are the twenty four elders. Twenty four elders. Who 678 00:45:09,680 --> 00:45:12,719 Speaker 1: are these elders? This is the church. Every time you 679 00:45:12,760 --> 00:45:15,560 Speaker 1: see elders in the Bible, it's talking about you and I, 680 00:45:15,960 --> 00:45:18,959 Speaker 1: the Church of the Living God. That's why it's twenty four. 681 00:45:19,280 --> 00:45:22,759 Speaker 1: Come on, twelve tribes of the Old Testament, twelve disciples, 682 00:45:22,800 --> 00:45:25,920 Speaker 1: and the New Testament twenty four. This is the church 683 00:45:26,200 --> 00:45:33,319 Speaker 1: that is surrounded the throne of God. And all of 684 00:45:33,360 --> 00:45:37,839 Speaker 1: the elders have a crown, and the crown represents the 685 00:45:37,920 --> 00:45:43,520 Speaker 1: reward you receive for being faithful on earth. And I'm 686 00:45:43,520 --> 00:45:46,080 Speaker 1: gonna pause right there and thank God that there is 687 00:45:46,120 --> 00:45:49,560 Speaker 1: a reward for being faithful, that there is a reward 688 00:45:49,880 --> 00:45:52,360 Speaker 1: even in the midst of your suffering. That God is 689 00:45:52,400 --> 00:45:54,840 Speaker 1: a great record keeper. That's why you don't ever have 690 00:45:54,920 --> 00:45:57,920 Speaker 1: to defend yourself. You don't never have to fight your battle. 691 00:45:58,160 --> 00:46:00,839 Speaker 1: Please let the Lord fight your battle. He is a 692 00:46:00,880 --> 00:46:04,319 Speaker 1: great record keeper. Come, you know, he will reward you 693 00:46:04,640 --> 00:46:08,120 Speaker 1: for being nice to nasty people. He will reward you 694 00:46:08,400 --> 00:46:11,520 Speaker 1: for loving your enemies and blessing them that curse you. 695 00:46:11,920 --> 00:46:17,120 Speaker 1: There is a reward for being faithful. Oh when nobody 696 00:46:17,120 --> 00:46:20,920 Speaker 1: else sees, Thank God that you see there is a crown. 697 00:46:21,040 --> 00:46:27,839 Speaker 1: That is a reward. Thank God that he sees. Did 698 00:46:27,880 --> 00:46:33,600 Speaker 1: I get a crown? But what did John see? He 699 00:46:33,719 --> 00:46:39,680 Speaker 1: said that the elders take their crowns off in the 700 00:46:39,719 --> 00:46:44,040 Speaker 1: presence of God because even though they got the reward, 701 00:46:45,120 --> 00:46:49,280 Speaker 1: when then the presence of God, they realize, wait a minute, 702 00:46:50,000 --> 00:46:54,400 Speaker 1: this isn't a reward. You are the reward. They realize 703 00:46:54,440 --> 00:46:57,319 Speaker 1: in heaven what you should realize in the earth, that 704 00:46:57,440 --> 00:47:01,479 Speaker 1: the greatest reward is His presence. The greatest reward is Him. 705 00:47:01,800 --> 00:47:05,600 Speaker 1: So they cast down their crowds before Him for the 706 00:47:05,719 --> 00:47:09,520 Speaker 1: greatest reward, which is just to be in this present. 707 00:47:15,480 --> 00:47:17,520 Speaker 1: They just take it off, and they say, I thought 708 00:47:18,200 --> 00:47:20,360 Speaker 1: this was something, but man, to be here with you, 709 00:47:22,560 --> 00:47:27,080 Speaker 1: this is the greatest choice. Can I just imagine what 710 00:47:27,160 --> 00:47:33,720 Speaker 1: a church would look like with no crowns, no crowns, 711 00:47:33,760 --> 00:47:41,560 Speaker 1: or church that knows the greatest reward It's him greatest reward, 712 00:47:41,600 --> 00:47:45,680 Speaker 1: not how he uses you, not how much you've known. 713 00:47:46,400 --> 00:47:54,799 Speaker 1: You have the reward. It's his presence. No crown. Why 714 00:47:54,840 --> 00:47:58,799 Speaker 1: do I need a crown when I have you? Why 715 00:47:58,800 --> 00:48:02,360 Speaker 1: do I need a crown? But I'm in your presence? 716 00:48:07,239 --> 00:48:09,799 Speaker 1: Thank you for joining us. Special thanks to those of 717 00:48:09,840 --> 00:48:12,839 Speaker 1: you who give generously to this ministry. Is because of 718 00:48:12,840 --> 00:48:15,799 Speaker 1: you that this ministry is possible. You can click the 719 00:48:15,800 --> 00:48:19,560 Speaker 1: link in the description to give now, or visit Elevationchurch 720 00:48:19,719 --> 00:48:22,960 Speaker 1: dot org slash podcast for more information and if you 721 00:48:23,040 --> 00:48:26,279 Speaker 1: enjoyed the podcast, you can subscribe. You can share it 722 00:48:26,320 --> 00:48:28,640 Speaker 1: with your friends. You can click the share button, take 723 00:48:28,640 --> 00:48:31,000 Speaker 1: a screenshot and share it on your social stories and 724 00:48:31,040 --> 00:48:33,919 Speaker 1: tag us at Elevation Church. Thanks again for listening. God 725 00:48:33,920 --> 00:48:40,160 Speaker 1: bless you.