WEBVTT - Say Hey By Faith

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<v Speaker 1>Hey, this is Stephen Ferdick.

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<v Speaker 2>I'm the pastor of Elevation Church and this is our podcast.

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<v Speaker 2>Be sure to subscribe so we can get you these

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<v Speaker 2>new sermons every week. I hope you're blessed today. Our

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<v Speaker 2>year end offering will be amazing. I hope that all

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<v Speaker 2>of you will participate. We ask each family that's participating

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<v Speaker 2>to choose a word that reflects what you're believing God

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<v Speaker 2>for in this season of your life, and then I

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<v Speaker 2>usually pick a word for our whole church.

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<v Speaker 1>And this year is going to be really simple.

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<v Speaker 2>Our word that we're gathering around for this offering is

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<v Speaker 2>the word trust. Touch your neighbors, say I trust in God.

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<v Speaker 2>Come on, tell them again, say I trust in God.

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<v Speaker 2>So we'll call it our trust offering, not like a

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<v Speaker 2>trust fund or something like that.

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<v Speaker 1>But in a way it is. In a way it

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<v Speaker 1>is is because it's.

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<v Speaker 2>Us believing that our God, our Jehovah Jirah, has stored

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<v Speaker 2>up for us everything that we will ever need is

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<v Speaker 2>in his hand. How many have a testimony that all

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<v Speaker 2>you have needed his hand has provided.

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<v Speaker 1>I trust in God.

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<v Speaker 2>Oh yeah, tell your neighbor, I'm not so sure about you.

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<v Speaker 2>I don't know if I can trust you, but I

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<v Speaker 2>trust in God, and I think it will be amazing.

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<v Speaker 2>So I trust in God. And that's kind of the

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<v Speaker 2>subject I'll preach around for the next few weeks as

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<v Speaker 2>we've moved this year to a close, and today I'm

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<v Speaker 2>excited to journey with you into the scripture.

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<v Speaker 1>We're excited to see, well, God will speak to you today, y'all.

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<v Speaker 2>I was running out the house and this is the

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<v Speaker 2>only Bible I could I could find close by it.

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<v Speaker 2>I didn't feel like going back downstairs and getting the

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<v Speaker 2>regular ones, so I got this big.

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<v Speaker 1>Boy today, big boy Bible.

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<v Speaker 2>Not to beat the devil half to death with this

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<v Speaker 2>Bible today, I believe.

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<v Speaker 3>It all right.

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<v Speaker 2>In Hebrews chapter eleven, there is a scripture that leads

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<v Speaker 2>to a scripture that leads to a scripture that I

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<v Speaker 2>never thought about before today. But I want to share

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<v Speaker 2>it with you because I think it's gonna help us

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<v Speaker 2>to trust in God for where he's taking us.

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<v Speaker 1>Hebrews chapter eleven, Verse six.

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<v Speaker 2>I thought about only reading a few of these verses,

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<v Speaker 2>but they're all so good I figured they would be

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<v Speaker 2>offended if we left them out. So we're gonna need

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<v Speaker 2>to do verses six through sixteen? Can you handle that

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<v Speaker 2>all right? Did you wear your elastic waistband today? For

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<v Speaker 2>this word that I'm gonna get you fat?

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<v Speaker 1>Off of.

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<v Speaker 2>Hebrews eleven verse and without faith, it is impossible to

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<v Speaker 2>please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe

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<v Speaker 2>that He exists and that he rewards those who earnestly

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<v Speaker 2>seek him by faith. Noah, when warned about things not

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<v Speaker 2>yet seen and holy fear, built an arc to save

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<v Speaker 2>his family. By his faith. He condemned the world and

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<v Speaker 2>became heir of the righteousness that is in keeping with faith.

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<v Speaker 1>By faith.

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<v Speaker 2>Abraham, when called to go to a place he would

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<v Speaker 2>later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though

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<v Speaker 2>he did not know where he was going.

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<v Speaker 1>You don't have that much faith, do you. I don't

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<v Speaker 1>think I do. Didn't know where he was going, but

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<v Speaker 1>he went by faith.

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<v Speaker 2>He made his home in the Promised Land, like a

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<v Speaker 2>stranger in a foreign country. He lived in tents, as

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<v Speaker 2>did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of

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<v Speaker 2>the same promise, For he was looking forward to the

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<v Speaker 2>city with foundations whose architect.

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<v Speaker 1>And builder is God.

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<v Speaker 2>And by faith, even Sarah, who was past child bearing

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<v Speaker 2>age was enabled to bear children because she considered him

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<v Speaker 2>faithful who had made the promise. And so from this

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<v Speaker 2>one man and he as good as dead, came descendants,

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<v Speaker 2>as numerous as the stars in the sky, and as

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<v Speaker 2>countless as the sand on the seashore. All these people

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<v Speaker 2>were still living by faith.

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<v Speaker 1>When they died.

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<v Speaker 2>They did not receive the things promised. They only saw

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<v Speaker 2>them and welcomed them from a distance, admitting that they

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<v Speaker 2>were foreigners and strangers on earth.

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<v Speaker 1>People who say such things.

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<v Speaker 2>Show that they are looking for a country of their own.

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<v Speaker 2>If they had been thinking of the country they had left,

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<v Speaker 2>they would have had opportunity to return. Instead, they were

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<v Speaker 2>looking for a better country. Somebody say, I'm believing for

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<v Speaker 2>a better one. I'm believing for a better one, a

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<v Speaker 2>heavenly one. Yeah yeah yeah, yeah, yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah.

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<v Speaker 2>Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their god,

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<v Speaker 2>for he has prepared a city for them. Go back

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<v Speaker 2>to that first verse one more time. And without faith,

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<v Speaker 2>it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes

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<v Speaker 2>to him must believe that he exists and that he

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<v Speaker 2>rewards those who earnestly seek him. Before you take your seat,

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<v Speaker 2>look at your neighbor and say, hey, come on.

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<v Speaker 1>You gotta do it.

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<v Speaker 2>You gotta look at your neighbor, all right, look at

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<v Speaker 2>the other one, the other neighbor. Hey, Now, why did

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<v Speaker 2>you do that? Why did you say hey? You don't

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<v Speaker 2>know how they're gonna respond. You did it because I

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<v Speaker 2>said so, for no other reason, right, I said, say hey,

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<v Speaker 2>you said hey. Okay, that's our lesson today. How to

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<v Speaker 2>say hey by faith? Say hey by faith one more time.

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<v Speaker 2>On your way to your seat, tell your neighbor, hey,

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<v Speaker 2>you may be seated online.

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<v Speaker 1>Just put it in the thing.

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<v Speaker 2>Put hey with the thing, the moji, and say hey,

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<v Speaker 2>let us know where you're from. Hey, everybody say hey

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<v Speaker 2>back to everybody online, everybody on YouTube.

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<v Speaker 1>Just put a hay in the chat.

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<v Speaker 2>Hey, Blakeney, Hey, Lake Norman, Hey, everybody pull up my

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<v Speaker 2>phone real quick, get in the YouTube comments and see

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<v Speaker 2>who's saying hey to us today from.

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<v Speaker 1>All over the world.

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<v Speaker 2>I believe, by faith that they're saying hey all over

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<v Speaker 2>the world, don't you don't you amen? So anyway, y'all,

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<v Speaker 2>I think our phones have changed our relationship with faith.

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<v Speaker 1>Honestly, you agree? And what I mean by that isn't

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<v Speaker 1>just that your phone is listening to you?

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<v Speaker 2>And because why why did I just talk about it

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<v Speaker 2>three minutes ago and now it's all up in my phone?

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<v Speaker 1>If the phone isn't listening to me, why did I.

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<v Speaker 2>Talk to somebody about a tonal gym the other day

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<v Speaker 2>and there was tonal stuff on my phone? There has

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<v Speaker 2>never been tonal advertisements on my phone until three minutes

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<v Speaker 2>after I set it to a friend.

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<v Speaker 1>So why I don't trust my phone.

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<v Speaker 2>I don't trust Steve Jobs and he hadn't been alive

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<v Speaker 2>in several years, and I still don't trust him. I

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<v Speaker 2>think he's listening to me from somewhere right now, preaching

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<v Speaker 2>this message.

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<v Speaker 1>I don't trust any of it.

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<v Speaker 2>Okay, but that's not what I mean about the relationship

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<v Speaker 2>with our phone. I mean, there was a time where

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<v Speaker 2>if somebody called you on the phone, it took faith

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<v Speaker 2>to pick up the phone because you didn't know who

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<v Speaker 2>was on the other end of the phone. How many remember, Yeah,

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<v Speaker 2>it took faith before on the eighth Day when God

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<v Speaker 2>made caller id, it would take faith to pick up

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<v Speaker 2>on the phone because you didn't know who it was.

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<v Speaker 2>It could be your boyfriend, it could be a bill collector,

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<v Speaker 2>it could be somebody wanting you to help them move

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<v Speaker 2>next Saturday. It could be the person you've been dodging

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<v Speaker 2>on purpose. So then you get answering machine. You let

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<v Speaker 2>the answering machine pick up, You let them start leaving

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<v Speaker 2>a message you remember this, and then you pick up

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<v Speaker 2>like you just happened to walk in the house when

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<v Speaker 2>they started talking.

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<v Speaker 1>Because you're a liar.

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<v Speaker 2>Now, my mom did something one time that really takes

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<v Speaker 2>the cake. And I didn't ask her permission to tell this,

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<v Speaker 2>and I'm going to tell it to you to open

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<v Speaker 2>my sermon, because it's a good little story to set

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<v Speaker 2>up my premise. My mom had this one friend who

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<v Speaker 2>would call a certain time most every week, and when

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<v Speaker 2>it was around that time, within that window that that

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<v Speaker 2>friend would call, my mom would make me answer the

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<v Speaker 2>phone because she did not particularly enjoy talking to this friend.

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<v Speaker 2>So I kind of knew it was like my time

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<v Speaker 2>to be by the phone when this certain time rolled around.

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<v Speaker 2>And I'm not gonna say this woman's real name, but

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<v Speaker 2>let's call her Miss Martha. In the South, you use

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<v Speaker 2>mister and miss, and I know that's kind of old

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<v Speaker 2>fashioned too, but that's how you did it, Miss Martha.

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<v Speaker 1>Names have been changed to protect the innocent.

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<v Speaker 2>But when miss Martha call, I always knew when she

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<v Speaker 2>said is your mom there, that I had to.

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<v Speaker 1>Check with my mom before I said yes.

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<v Speaker 2>And so one day the phone rang around that time

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<v Speaker 2>and she said pick it up, and I picked it

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<v Speaker 2>up and I said, hell up and uh and I said, oh, hey,

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<v Speaker 2>miss Martha. And I looked at my mom to see

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<v Speaker 2>what's the move, because now she knows this, Miss Martha,

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<v Speaker 2>it's her move. And she's over there going and I'm like,

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<v Speaker 2>what do I tell her? She said, it is your

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<v Speaker 2>mom there, and she mouths to me, tell her I'm

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<v Speaker 2>in the shower. So I said, miss Martha, she's in

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<v Speaker 2>the shower. And then Miss Martha threw a curveball. She said,

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<v Speaker 2>all right, how about your dad? Now I got improvise,

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<v Speaker 2>and since I'm already lying, I just went with this, yes, ma'am, but.

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<v Speaker 1>He's in the shower too. She snatched that phone. Hey

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<v Speaker 1>Martha here. Anyway, we would take faith to pick up the.

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<v Speaker 2>Phone because it might be Martha, it might be Ed

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<v Speaker 2>McMahon calling you to tell you you want a million dollars.

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<v Speaker 2>But it doesn't take faith anymore because I know exactly

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<v Speaker 2>who this is. So I get to make a conscious

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<v Speaker 2>decision do I want to enter into this particular conversation.

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<v Speaker 1>It takes faith. This is what I'm trying to get

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<v Speaker 1>you to see. It takes faith to.

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<v Speaker 2>Enter into a conversation when you are not sure who

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<v Speaker 2>you will be conversing with. Should you choose to accept

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<v Speaker 2>the call? Shout amen, somebody? It takes faith. It takes

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<v Speaker 2>a certain amount of faith. And I know that a

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<v Speaker 2>lot of times we forget this, but even to say

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<v Speaker 2>that God is calling me to do something, it takes

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<v Speaker 2>a certain amount of faith to know that this is

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<v Speaker 2>really God on the other line.

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<v Speaker 1>Because what if it sounds like God, but it's really

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<v Speaker 1>just my ambition. What if it is kind.

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<v Speaker 2>Of like God, but I'm not sure if really it's

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<v Speaker 2>just me being delusional. What if while I'm preaching today,

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<v Speaker 2>something leaps in your spirit while I'm talking, and you

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<v Speaker 2>believe that it's God's will for you to hear that

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<v Speaker 2>and act on it. Because the starting place of faith

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<v Speaker 2>is the word of God. Write that down somewhere where

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<v Speaker 2>you can remember it later this week when you're like, well,

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<v Speaker 2>I don't know if I should do this or not. Well,

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<v Speaker 2>the starting place of faith is the Word of God.

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<v Speaker 2>We cannot treat every whim that we have as if

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<v Speaker 2>it's the word of God and just say I have

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<v Speaker 2>faith because the starting faith of place is the Word.

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<v Speaker 1>Of God, the starting place of faith. I say that

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<v Speaker 1>backwards the start okay, the.

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<v Speaker 2>Starting place of faith is the Word of God. In fact,

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<v Speaker 2>the author of Hebrews wants you to know that you

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<v Speaker 2>can't even come to God to begin with without faith

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<v Speaker 2>verse success, and without faith, it is impossible to please God.

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<v Speaker 2>Anyone who comes to him must believe.

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<v Speaker 1>It does not say.

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<v Speaker 2>That the prerequisite for coming to God is that he

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<v Speaker 2>who comes to God must behave a certain way, but

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<v Speaker 2>to believe a certain thing. I was talking to a

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<v Speaker 2>guy the other day who said, I need to get

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<v Speaker 2>right with God. I said, and what do you think

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<v Speaker 2>it will take for you to get right with God?

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<v Speaker 2>And he said, well, I need to change some things

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<v Speaker 2>in my life. And I said, indeed you may, and

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<v Speaker 2>indeed I do too. But the starting place of your

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<v Speaker 2>relationship with God is not changed behavior. The starting place

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<v Speaker 2>of a relationship with God is belief belief.

0:13:49.480 --> 0:13:52.559
<v Speaker 1>It begins with belief.

0:13:53.360 --> 0:13:59.000
<v Speaker 2>Every fear you're experiencing in your life today begins with belief.

0:14:00.240 --> 0:14:02.959
<v Speaker 1>Of faith. That you will ever take. Every step you will.

0:14:02.760 --> 0:14:04.960
<v Speaker 2>Make in the direction of God's will for your life

0:14:05.840 --> 0:14:11.320
<v Speaker 2>will begin with belief, or it won't be sustainable. If

0:14:11.320 --> 0:14:15.400
<v Speaker 2>it does not start with faith, it will not be sustainable.

0:14:17.360 --> 0:14:20.880
<v Speaker 2>Any New Year's resolution that doesn't start with faith depends

0:14:20.920 --> 0:14:25.600
<v Speaker 2>on you. If it depends on you, when you run

0:14:25.640 --> 0:14:31.080
<v Speaker 2>out of strength, you run out of stamina. Any goal

0:14:31.160 --> 0:14:32.920
<v Speaker 2>that I established in my life, now, look, this is

0:14:33.280 --> 0:14:36.120
<v Speaker 2>something I'm making up. This is a principle that the

0:14:36.160 --> 0:14:40.480
<v Speaker 2>writer of Hebrews is sharing with a group of people

0:14:41.320 --> 0:14:45.800
<v Speaker 2>who are standing in between their old belief and their

0:14:45.840 --> 0:14:50.560
<v Speaker 2>new belief. Their old belief revolved around being right with

0:14:50.680 --> 0:14:55.400
<v Speaker 2>God through the works of the law. By performing these

0:14:55.800 --> 0:15:00.560
<v Speaker 2>religious duties and by moving into these protocols, they could

0:15:00.760 --> 0:15:04.520
<v Speaker 2>approach God through the sacrifices of bulls and goats.

0:15:05.520 --> 0:15:06.880
<v Speaker 1>And now they've come into a.

0:15:06.800 --> 0:15:11.400
<v Speaker 2>Different relationship through Jesus, whereby we no longer come in

0:15:12.240 --> 0:15:12.840
<v Speaker 2>through our.

0:15:12.720 --> 0:15:14.960
<v Speaker 1>Works, but through our faith.

0:15:15.800 --> 0:15:19.240
<v Speaker 2>He says, anyone who comes to God must believe that

0:15:19.360 --> 0:15:20.080
<v Speaker 2>He exists.

0:15:21.120 --> 0:15:22.720
<v Speaker 1>And I know that you won't admit.

0:15:22.480 --> 0:15:24.240
<v Speaker 2>This, because when you come to church, you put on

0:15:24.240 --> 0:15:25.920
<v Speaker 2>your holiest face and you pretend like you have no

0:15:26.000 --> 0:15:27.960
<v Speaker 2>idea what I'm talking about when I say stuff like this,

0:15:28.440 --> 0:15:30.520
<v Speaker 2>But sometimes it takes faith just to pray, because you

0:15:30.560 --> 0:15:32.160
<v Speaker 2>wonder is anybody even really listening?

0:15:32.160 --> 0:15:32.920
<v Speaker 1>And does this matter?

0:15:35.800 --> 0:15:38.680
<v Speaker 2>That's why we can't sometimes pray for thirteen seconds without

0:15:38.680 --> 0:15:42.200
<v Speaker 2>losing our train of thought, because after thirteen seconds, I'm.

0:15:42.080 --> 0:15:43.160
<v Speaker 1>Like, am I crazy? Am I do?

0:15:43.200 --> 0:15:45.080
<v Speaker 2>I just have an imaginary friend, a grown up version

0:15:45.120 --> 0:15:45.560
<v Speaker 2>called God?

0:15:45.560 --> 0:15:47.200
<v Speaker 1>And is he really listening? If he is really listening?

0:15:47.240 --> 0:15:48.480
<v Speaker 1>And then what did my friend died last year?

0:15:50.840 --> 0:15:53.200
<v Speaker 2>He says, without faith, it is impossible to please God.

0:15:53.280 --> 0:15:54.080
<v Speaker 1>And not only is it.

0:15:54.000 --> 0:15:57.400
<v Speaker 2>Impossible to please God, but it's impossible to even.

0:15:57.200 --> 0:15:57.720
<v Speaker 1>Come to him.

0:15:57.760 --> 0:16:00.160
<v Speaker 2>Now, I show you this because I love it in

0:16:00.240 --> 0:16:02.440
<v Speaker 2>detail of a scripture, and you might have skimmed over this.

0:16:02.400 --> 0:16:04.600
<v Speaker 1>And I don't want you to. It says, without faith.

0:16:04.400 --> 0:16:09.040
<v Speaker 2>It is impossible to please God because he who comes

0:16:09.120 --> 0:16:14.560
<v Speaker 2>to God. So when you come to God, you don't

0:16:14.640 --> 0:16:18.240
<v Speaker 2>come to God because you were really good today and

0:16:18.280 --> 0:16:20.280
<v Speaker 2>He wants to hear from you because you.

0:16:20.240 --> 0:16:21.200
<v Speaker 1>Did really good today.

0:16:21.960 --> 0:16:24.600
<v Speaker 2>You don't come to God because you got something to

0:16:24.640 --> 0:16:27.040
<v Speaker 2>brag about and you want him to give you a

0:16:27.080 --> 0:16:29.560
<v Speaker 2>gold star for everything you did for him that day.

0:16:30.240 --> 0:16:32.400
<v Speaker 2>You don't come to God bringing him a list of

0:16:32.600 --> 0:16:35.720
<v Speaker 2>reasons that he should use you in, showing him your

0:16:35.800 --> 0:16:39.600
<v Speaker 2>resume for how valuable you would be for his kingdom.

0:16:39.800 --> 0:16:42.440
<v Speaker 2>You don't come to God because wow, if he could

0:16:42.520 --> 0:16:44.760
<v Speaker 2>really get hold of your life, then he could really

0:16:44.800 --> 0:16:50.520
<v Speaker 2>start changing the world. You come to God by by

0:16:50.920 --> 0:16:54.720
<v Speaker 2>by the very starting point of believing that I can

0:16:54.800 --> 0:16:58.080
<v Speaker 2>come to a God that I cannot see that he

0:16:58.200 --> 0:17:01.960
<v Speaker 2>is real. Somebody's shout, he's real. I need to do

0:17:02.000 --> 0:17:08.960
<v Speaker 2>a test. How many believe Jesus is real? I need

0:17:09.000 --> 0:17:11.200
<v Speaker 2>a few testimonies to happen. Just break out in every

0:17:11.240 --> 0:17:13.160
<v Speaker 2>section of the church. Look at your neighbors, say he's

0:17:13.160 --> 0:17:13.679
<v Speaker 2>real to me.

0:17:15.440 --> 0:17:15.840
<v Speaker 1>Tell him.

0:17:15.840 --> 0:17:20.159
<v Speaker 2>You can't make me doubt him. I know too much.

0:17:21.480 --> 0:17:24.320
<v Speaker 1>About him.

0:17:24.320 --> 0:17:26.879
<v Speaker 2>As a matter of fact, God is real to me.

0:17:27.440 --> 0:17:29.600
<v Speaker 2>God is realer to me than you are to me,

0:17:30.640 --> 0:17:32.120
<v Speaker 2>because you're in a body and.

0:17:32.080 --> 0:17:33.960
<v Speaker 1>You're a person, and you're sitting.

0:17:33.640 --> 0:17:36.080
<v Speaker 2>Next to me, and you might be here one day

0:17:36.119 --> 0:17:39.280
<v Speaker 2>and not hear the next. But God is real to

0:17:39.320 --> 0:17:43.320
<v Speaker 2>me because he is the one who was and is.

0:17:43.440 --> 0:17:47.200
<v Speaker 1>I feel like preaching today. Y'all help me pace.

0:17:47.040 --> 0:17:50.240
<v Speaker 2>My message, but just high five three people say he's real.

0:17:51.440 --> 0:17:52.040
<v Speaker 1>He's real.

0:17:52.680 --> 0:17:55.720
<v Speaker 2>So I come to God with the confidence that when

0:17:55.760 --> 0:17:58.080
<v Speaker 2>I roll over and see Holly in the morning, I

0:17:58.160 --> 0:18:04.359
<v Speaker 2>say hey, and I say hey to her because her

0:18:04.400 --> 0:18:08.639
<v Speaker 2>head is next to mine. I say hey because I

0:18:08.680 --> 0:18:13.000
<v Speaker 2>see her. When I turn to God, I have to

0:18:13.040 --> 0:18:19.760
<v Speaker 2>say hey, somebody say hey to somebody I can't see.

0:18:19.920 --> 0:18:21.120
<v Speaker 1>And not only can I not.

0:18:21.240 --> 0:18:25.560
<v Speaker 2>See him, sometimes I can't feel him. Will you be

0:18:25.640 --> 0:18:28.439
<v Speaker 2>real with me for fifteen seconds so I can start

0:18:28.480 --> 0:18:34.680
<v Speaker 2>this sermon today. It takes faith to start praying to God.

0:18:34.960 --> 0:18:38.479
<v Speaker 2>It takes faith to start declare. It takes faith to

0:18:38.600 --> 0:18:42.399
<v Speaker 2>believe that your sins are forgiven when you still feel

0:18:42.400 --> 0:18:48.040
<v Speaker 2>the guilt of Him. Because I can sing Jesus paid

0:18:48.080 --> 0:18:51.040
<v Speaker 2>it all. But it takes faith for me to say that,

0:18:51.440 --> 0:18:54.720
<v Speaker 2>because I'm carrying it with me and I still feel

0:18:54.720 --> 0:18:56.800
<v Speaker 2>a debt for the things that I did.

0:18:57.160 --> 0:19:03.000
<v Speaker 1>But He's real. I believe that we believe this.

0:19:04.520 --> 0:19:07.320
<v Speaker 2>The writer of Hebrews is saying to the church that

0:19:07.400 --> 0:19:10.240
<v Speaker 2>they're all new. They're all new to this, and so

0:19:10.280 --> 0:19:14.520
<v Speaker 2>they're in between a place of working their way to

0:19:14.560 --> 0:19:18.399
<v Speaker 2>God and believing in the God that they can't see.

0:19:19.040 --> 0:19:20.719
<v Speaker 1>And he knows that they need encouragement.

0:19:21.480 --> 0:19:24.480
<v Speaker 2>So he says, first of all, anyone who comes to

0:19:24.480 --> 0:19:27.000
<v Speaker 2>God must believe that he exists or that he's real.

0:19:27.080 --> 0:19:29.760
<v Speaker 2>And that second thing, give me verse six again, that

0:19:29.840 --> 0:19:33.879
<v Speaker 2>he is a rewarder of those who earnestly seek him.

0:19:34.160 --> 0:19:35.480
<v Speaker 1>He is a rewarder.

0:19:35.640 --> 0:19:38.560
<v Speaker 2>Now, if you believe that he's real, but don't believe

0:19:38.600 --> 0:19:42.520
<v Speaker 2>he's a rewarder, you won't pick up the phone when

0:19:42.520 --> 0:19:47.359
<v Speaker 2>he calls, because you'll be suspicious about what he wants.

0:19:51.520 --> 0:19:54.160
<v Speaker 2>And you'll be sitting over there silently like my mom

0:19:54.240 --> 0:19:59.600
<v Speaker 2>going and we'll be saying, we'll give your life to God.

0:19:59.600 --> 0:20:01.800
<v Speaker 2>And but what is he gonna make me do if

0:20:01.840 --> 0:20:07.879
<v Speaker 2>I do give your life to God? Well, where is

0:20:07.920 --> 0:20:08.520
<v Speaker 2>he gonna make me?

0:20:08.600 --> 0:20:12.800
<v Speaker 1>Am? I gonna have to go? We're gonna I talked

0:20:12.840 --> 0:20:13.400
<v Speaker 1>to God one time.

0:20:13.400 --> 0:20:14.960
<v Speaker 2>This guy has so much money, and he thought that

0:20:15.000 --> 0:20:15.920
<v Speaker 2>God wanted his money.

0:20:17.080 --> 0:20:18.119
<v Speaker 1>And I thought that was funny.

0:20:19.000 --> 0:20:22.280
<v Speaker 2>I thought that was hilarious, that God has a need

0:20:22.280 --> 0:20:23.520
<v Speaker 2>and he's gonna tell you about it.

0:20:26.240 --> 0:20:27.800
<v Speaker 1>So I'm trying to explaining about the streets.

0:20:27.560 --> 0:20:30.760
<v Speaker 2>Of gold and heaven. I was like, they pave what

0:20:30.800 --> 0:20:35.280
<v Speaker 2>we save. They paved the streets in heaven with what

0:20:35.320 --> 0:20:38.840
<v Speaker 2>we save up down here. And he was so concerned.

0:20:38.840 --> 0:20:40.840
<v Speaker 2>He was so concerned what God was gonna make him

0:20:40.840 --> 0:20:43.879
<v Speaker 2>give up because he didn't understand yet. He was starting

0:20:43.880 --> 0:20:46.800
<v Speaker 2>to believe that God is real, but he didn't see

0:20:46.800 --> 0:20:47.800
<v Speaker 2>God as a rewarder.

0:20:49.480 --> 0:20:52.360
<v Speaker 1>He saw the Lord as a liability.

0:20:54.240 --> 0:20:56.639
<v Speaker 2>And sometimes we are afraid to take the step that

0:20:56.680 --> 0:20:58.760
<v Speaker 2>God is calling us to take.

0:21:00.440 --> 0:21:02.560
<v Speaker 1>And accept his call because of what it might cost.

0:21:05.000 --> 0:21:08.080
<v Speaker 2>Into this premise and the tension. I would like to

0:21:08.119 --> 0:21:15.199
<v Speaker 2>talk to you about saying hey by faith, about the

0:21:15.200 --> 0:21:17.320
<v Speaker 2>fact that a relationship with God does not begin the

0:21:17.320 --> 0:21:19.280
<v Speaker 2>moment that you get your act together, but the moment

0:21:19.320 --> 0:21:22.480
<v Speaker 2>that you throw yourself on the mercy of God and say,

0:21:22.560 --> 0:21:24.360
<v Speaker 2>just as I am without one plea, but that Thy

0:21:24.400 --> 0:21:28.160
<v Speaker 2>blood was shed for me, O Lamb of God, I come.

0:21:29.200 --> 0:21:31.000
<v Speaker 2>That is the faith that it takes to enter into

0:21:31.000 --> 0:21:34.560
<v Speaker 2>the presence of God. And when God prompts your heart,

0:21:34.680 --> 0:21:35.919
<v Speaker 2>as he's prompting.

0:21:35.520 --> 0:21:36.760
<v Speaker 1>Many of you today.

0:21:38.040 --> 0:21:41.520
<v Speaker 2>To get right with Him, it is not a righteousness

0:21:41.920 --> 0:21:46.199
<v Speaker 2>that you go for. It is a righteousness that is

0:21:46.359 --> 0:21:51.600
<v Speaker 2>ingrafted in you and gifted to you from.

0:21:51.359 --> 0:21:51.880
<v Speaker 1>Time to time.

0:21:51.920 --> 0:21:54.880
<v Speaker 2>I think I need to say these things because when

0:21:54.920 --> 0:21:58.960
<v Speaker 2>we say faith, we mean a lot of different things.

0:21:59.359 --> 0:21:59.960
<v Speaker 1>For some faith.

0:22:00.000 --> 0:22:03.800
<v Speaker 2>It has come to me nothing more than an optimistic outlook. Well,

0:22:03.840 --> 0:22:06.080
<v Speaker 2>if that's your take on faith, it won't take much

0:22:06.119 --> 0:22:09.639
<v Speaker 2>to undo it, because when things don't turn out like

0:22:09.720 --> 0:22:13.560
<v Speaker 2>they looked in your mind, in your life, you will

0:22:13.600 --> 0:22:17.000
<v Speaker 2>abandon your faith. On the other hand, for some, faith

0:22:17.080 --> 0:22:19.680
<v Speaker 2>is a classification. They'll say it in a political sense.

0:22:19.720 --> 0:22:22.000
<v Speaker 2>These are the people of faith, the faith community, as

0:22:22.040 --> 0:22:26.960
<v Speaker 2>if faith were synonymous with a voting block, like people

0:22:27.040 --> 0:22:29.359
<v Speaker 2>of faith all vote one way, Like our God isn't

0:22:29.359 --> 0:22:34.280
<v Speaker 2>bigger than your little, petty, little political, little agenda driven

0:22:34.400 --> 0:22:37.720
<v Speaker 2>boxes that you try to get us to check. God

0:22:37.720 --> 0:22:42.199
<v Speaker 2>can't be contained that way, and neither can faith. For some,

0:22:42.320 --> 0:22:44.360
<v Speaker 2>faith means nothing more than the moment when you give

0:22:44.359 --> 0:22:46.119
<v Speaker 2>your life to Jesus, and then after that you're on

0:22:46.160 --> 0:22:47.679
<v Speaker 2>your own to work your butt off and show them

0:22:47.720 --> 0:22:51.919
<v Speaker 2>how grateful you are. So you receive Jesus by faith.

0:22:52.359 --> 0:22:54.679
<v Speaker 2>Good luck with the rest of your life. Hope you

0:22:54.720 --> 0:22:58.359
<v Speaker 2>make it to heaven. The writer of Hebrews is encouraging

0:22:58.400 --> 0:22:59.600
<v Speaker 2>these people to continue in the faith.

0:22:59.640 --> 0:23:01.800
<v Speaker 1>Now much what he does something so good.

0:23:02.160 --> 0:23:05.159
<v Speaker 2>He says, I know that what you're going through is

0:23:05.320 --> 0:23:08.679
<v Speaker 2>new to you. I know that this trusting in the

0:23:08.800 --> 0:23:10.280
<v Speaker 2>righteousness of Jesus.

0:23:10.320 --> 0:23:15.760
<v Speaker 1>Now this is the gospel in one sentence, he died Jesus.

0:23:17.040 --> 0:23:25.879
<v Speaker 2>Jesus died as if he sinned, so I can live

0:23:26.720 --> 0:23:27.520
<v Speaker 2>as if I didn't.

0:23:32.160 --> 0:23:36.919
<v Speaker 1>I love that when God showed it to me like that, because.

0:23:36.640 --> 0:23:38.200
<v Speaker 2>I think if we're going to say we're putting our

0:23:38.280 --> 0:23:41.160
<v Speaker 2>faith in something, we ought to know what we're believing.

0:23:41.880 --> 0:23:44.679
<v Speaker 2>And what I'm believing isn't just that the situation is

0:23:44.720 --> 0:23:47.720
<v Speaker 2>going to turn out or turn around or make me

0:23:47.840 --> 0:23:50.199
<v Speaker 2>happy or be everything I wanted it to be.

0:23:51.440 --> 0:23:53.960
<v Speaker 1>But what I'm believing is.

0:23:53.280 --> 0:23:59.040
<v Speaker 2>That Jesus died as if he sinned, so that I

0:23:59.080 --> 0:24:05.800
<v Speaker 2>could live as if I didn't. He died as if

0:24:05.840 --> 0:24:10.600
<v Speaker 2>he deserved to die, so I could live like I

0:24:10.680 --> 0:24:16.520
<v Speaker 2>could never deserve to live in his grace. He died

0:24:17.560 --> 0:24:21.600
<v Speaker 2>like a criminal so I could be called a child

0:24:21.720 --> 0:24:22.200
<v Speaker 2>of God.

0:24:23.200 --> 0:24:27.480
<v Speaker 1>That's what we believe. And so it begins with this.

0:24:28.040 --> 0:24:31.200
<v Speaker 2>We come to God and we believe that he exists,

0:24:31.640 --> 0:24:34.360
<v Speaker 2>and we believe that He is a rewarder of them

0:24:34.359 --> 0:24:37.560
<v Speaker 2>that seek him. So this week, when you don't feel

0:24:37.600 --> 0:24:41.479
<v Speaker 2>worthy to come to God, just remember he died so

0:24:41.600 --> 0:24:45.199
<v Speaker 2>you could live as if you never sin so you

0:24:45.240 --> 0:24:49.040
<v Speaker 2>could pray as if you never sin, so you could come.

0:24:48.960 --> 0:24:52.520
<v Speaker 1>Boldly in his face and tell him what you need in.

0:24:52.480 --> 0:24:55.560
<v Speaker 2>The time of your trouble, so that you can move

0:24:55.640 --> 0:24:59.560
<v Speaker 2>forward from your past and not be stuck back in it,

0:25:00.080 --> 0:25:02.720
<v Speaker 2>and not drag around a shame that he broke two

0:25:02.800 --> 0:25:07.639
<v Speaker 2>thousand years ago. This is what we believe. Somebody shout,

0:25:07.680 --> 0:25:12.800
<v Speaker 2>I believe by faith. And so the next time the

0:25:12.840 --> 0:25:16.119
<v Speaker 2>devil tells you you can't come to God and starts

0:25:16.119 --> 0:25:20.800
<v Speaker 2>putting condemnation in your face, remember Romans eight one. There

0:25:21.160 --> 0:25:23.160
<v Speaker 2>is therefore now.

0:25:23.160 --> 0:25:25.080
<v Speaker 1>No condemnation for.

0:25:25.080 --> 0:25:31.920
<v Speaker 2>Those who are in Christ Jesus. Then zilch zero zip nana.

0:25:31.960 --> 0:25:34.200
<v Speaker 1>When the devil tries to condemn.

0:25:33.800 --> 0:25:38.639
<v Speaker 2>You tell him, hey, devil, I appreciate what you're saying.

0:25:39.160 --> 0:25:42.440
<v Speaker 2>I probably did do something wrong. I know I did

0:25:42.520 --> 0:25:45.320
<v Speaker 2>stuff wrong. I can add some stuff to the list,

0:25:45.720 --> 0:25:49.199
<v Speaker 2>but I got the faith to say, hey, devil is

0:25:49.359 --> 0:25:57.480
<v Speaker 2>paid for in full. All right.

0:25:57.560 --> 0:25:58.359
<v Speaker 1>Let me run a pole.

0:25:58.600 --> 0:26:01.000
<v Speaker 2>How many of you the devil's been eating you up over.

0:26:00.840 --> 0:26:02.880
<v Speaker 1>Something this week? All right?

0:26:02.920 --> 0:26:03.800
<v Speaker 2>Do you have faith?

0:26:04.800 --> 0:26:08.400
<v Speaker 1>Did he die for you? Was his blood enough for you?

0:26:09.400 --> 0:26:12.359
<v Speaker 2>Did he satisfy the righteous requirements of the law in

0:26:12.400 --> 0:26:16.320
<v Speaker 2>his body? Did the spotless Lamb of God lay down

0:26:16.400 --> 0:26:18.240
<v Speaker 2>his life for you.

0:26:18.240 --> 0:26:19.120
<v Speaker 1>You got faith.

0:26:19.920 --> 0:26:24.359
<v Speaker 2>You believe that you got the faith to say, hey, devil.

0:26:25.240 --> 0:26:26.520
<v Speaker 1>I hear your voice.

0:26:26.640 --> 0:26:30.840
<v Speaker 4>But it is silence in the face of a greater voice,

0:26:31.200 --> 0:26:34.359
<v Speaker 4>a greater grace, a greater coming at us.

0:26:34.480 --> 0:26:34.680
<v Speaker 5>Come.

0:26:43.000 --> 0:26:45.920
<v Speaker 2>He does something so good. He goes, I know this

0:26:46.000 --> 0:26:48.720
<v Speaker 2>is new to you. How many of you live in

0:26:48.760 --> 0:26:50.480
<v Speaker 2>God's way? Is new to you. I just want to

0:26:50.520 --> 0:26:54.040
<v Speaker 2>see a show of hands. Yeah, it's just really you

0:26:54.119 --> 0:26:55.359
<v Speaker 2>want to talk to you, sir, about can go home?

0:26:55.800 --> 0:26:57.720
<v Speaker 2>Let's just stay here together for a minute.

0:26:58.320 --> 0:27:02.600
<v Speaker 1>And really, if you didn't raise your hand, you.

0:27:02.560 --> 0:27:07.800
<v Speaker 2>Haven't spoken with God lately, because it will always feel

0:27:07.960 --> 0:27:17.879
<v Speaker 2>new to you if you are going forward. The only

0:27:17.920 --> 0:27:21.520
<v Speaker 2>way for you to stop feeling that feeling off.

0:27:21.680 --> 0:27:23.920
<v Speaker 1>And the writer describes it in a very particular way.

0:27:23.920 --> 0:27:25.360
<v Speaker 1>He goes, Abraham.

0:27:25.440 --> 0:27:28.720
<v Speaker 2>Remember, Abraham was the guy who got this all started.

0:27:29.680 --> 0:27:32.679
<v Speaker 2>He was called the Father of faith, the father of

0:27:32.720 --> 0:27:33.320
<v Speaker 2>many nations.

0:27:33.320 --> 0:27:35.480
<v Speaker 1>That's what God calls him. That's not what he was.

0:27:35.960 --> 0:27:37.720
<v Speaker 2>He didn't have a single son when God called him that,

0:27:38.320 --> 0:27:41.000
<v Speaker 2>and he was seventy five when God called him. The

0:27:41.000 --> 0:27:43.560
<v Speaker 2>Bible says about Abraham and verse number eight put it

0:27:43.640 --> 0:27:44.399
<v Speaker 2>back up on the screen.

0:27:44.560 --> 0:27:46.160
<v Speaker 1>This is the verse that I thought was so annoyted.

0:27:46.200 --> 0:27:48.480
<v Speaker 2>It might break a yoke, and it might scare a devil,

0:27:48.480 --> 0:27:50.800
<v Speaker 2>and it might bring somebody's heart back to a place

0:27:50.800 --> 0:27:54.840
<v Speaker 2>a beating again, and said by faith Abraham when called

0:27:55.680 --> 0:27:59.120
<v Speaker 2>to go to a place he would later receive as

0:27:59.160 --> 0:28:02.600
<v Speaker 2>his inheritance, obeyed and went.

0:28:03.520 --> 0:28:05.400
<v Speaker 1>The more I studied this word, the better.

0:28:05.240 --> 0:28:09.000
<v Speaker 2>It got, because it actually is connected. Where it says

0:28:09.040 --> 0:28:10.840
<v Speaker 2>by faith Abraham when called to go to a.

0:28:10.760 --> 0:28:11.800
<v Speaker 1>Place he would later receive.

0:28:12.520 --> 0:28:15.480
<v Speaker 2>It literally is juxtaposed in the grammar that it's written

0:28:15.480 --> 0:28:19.160
<v Speaker 2>in in the Letter to the Hebrews as an immediate response.

0:28:20.160 --> 0:28:23.719
<v Speaker 2>So what it means is that as he was being called,

0:28:23.760 --> 0:28:28.280
<v Speaker 2>he went as soon as he was being called. So

0:28:28.400 --> 0:28:34.040
<v Speaker 2>now you can measure your spirituality in inverse proportion the

0:28:34.119 --> 0:28:37.919
<v Speaker 2>time that God tells you to do something, however long

0:28:38.720 --> 0:28:39.880
<v Speaker 2>it takes you to do it.

0:28:41.520 --> 0:28:43.840
<v Speaker 1>That's how immature you are in your relationship with Him.

0:28:45.120 --> 0:28:46.560
<v Speaker 1>And I've got a lot of growing up to do.

0:28:47.360 --> 0:28:50.560
<v Speaker 2>So I need this word because look at it again,

0:28:51.800 --> 0:28:53.760
<v Speaker 2>he was called to go to a place he would

0:28:53.800 --> 0:28:55.760
<v Speaker 2>later receive, So he's not going to get it right away.

0:28:57.040 --> 0:28:58.000
<v Speaker 1>He obeyed and went.

0:28:58.880 --> 0:29:03.440
<v Speaker 2>And this part will probably trip you up, even though

0:29:03.440 --> 0:29:08.920
<v Speaker 2>he didn't know where he was going. Going without knowing?

0:29:10.840 --> 0:29:16.560
<v Speaker 2>That is faith, isn't it answering and not even knowing?

0:29:17.720 --> 0:29:20.760
<v Speaker 2>Is this really God? Is this really going to happen?

0:29:22.120 --> 0:29:23.800
<v Speaker 2>At this point in the sermon, there are usually about

0:29:23.840 --> 0:29:26.400
<v Speaker 2>ten reckless people who just used this as an excuse

0:29:26.440 --> 0:29:30.600
<v Speaker 2>to quit your job and move to Canada.

0:29:31.200 --> 0:29:33.000
<v Speaker 1>That's not the essence of the text, though, is it.

0:29:34.360 --> 0:29:36.520
<v Speaker 1>Because it is not about a geographical location change. It

0:29:36.600 --> 0:29:39.480
<v Speaker 1>is actually about staying in faith.

0:29:41.200 --> 0:29:43.800
<v Speaker 2>Now, look, if we celebrate this text on the first level,

0:29:43.920 --> 0:29:45.280
<v Speaker 2>is good Abraham?

0:29:46.080 --> 0:29:48.840
<v Speaker 1>He went without.

0:29:49.960 --> 0:29:50.280
<v Speaker 6>Knowing?

0:29:51.520 --> 0:29:54.800
<v Speaker 2>That is that is worthy of our admiration that he

0:29:54.840 --> 0:29:58.080
<v Speaker 2>did that. So the writer of Hebrew says, I know

0:29:58.120 --> 0:29:59.640
<v Speaker 2>this is new for you. Let me call one of

0:29:59.680 --> 0:30:02.680
<v Speaker 2>your familiar characters that you know so well, that actually

0:30:02.800 --> 0:30:05.000
<v Speaker 2>is the hero of this entire faith system that you

0:30:05.040 --> 0:30:08.440
<v Speaker 2>are coming from, And let me use it to juxtapose

0:30:08.520 --> 0:30:10.880
<v Speaker 2>against what you now have in Jesus, that is the

0:30:10.920 --> 0:30:15.640
<v Speaker 2>new and living way opened by his covenant. He says, Hey, Abraham,

0:30:16.200 --> 0:30:20.520
<v Speaker 2>show us how to do it. Exhibit a exhibit Abraham,

0:30:20.760 --> 0:30:24.760
<v Speaker 2>as he gives us this this case study.

0:30:24.440 --> 0:30:27.400
<v Speaker 1>In faith. He says, by faith, Abraham.

0:30:27.600 --> 0:30:31.120
<v Speaker 2>Was called to go somewhere he did not know, and

0:30:31.160 --> 0:30:34.280
<v Speaker 2>he obeyed and went by faith. Put the scripture back

0:30:34.320 --> 0:30:35.719
<v Speaker 2>up one more time, because I don't think we're done

0:30:35.760 --> 0:30:38.240
<v Speaker 2>with it yet. It said he didn't know where he

0:30:38.360 --> 0:30:42.920
<v Speaker 2>was going. And don't we love to celebrate when someone

0:30:43.040 --> 0:30:48.280
<v Speaker 2>goes to something new. I don't really enjoy weddings.

0:30:51.760 --> 0:30:56.240
<v Speaker 1>Whatever. I really like him. I want to come back

0:30:57.520 --> 0:31:01.720
<v Speaker 1>in like seven years and have the big party. But

0:31:01.800 --> 0:31:02.720
<v Speaker 1>I know that's mean in.

0:31:02.760 --> 0:31:05.600
<v Speaker 2>Everything, because that's like pessimistic or something like that.

0:31:05.720 --> 0:31:12.520
<v Speaker 1>Right, I just can't get too happy right yet, for y'all, I.

0:31:12.480 --> 0:31:14.760
<v Speaker 2>See everybody else's In many ways, I feel like I

0:31:14.800 --> 0:31:19.600
<v Speaker 2>have a very dark heart, and I'm probably I'm probably

0:31:19.600 --> 0:31:22.360
<v Speaker 2>confessing a very deep character flaw to you. But I

0:31:22.400 --> 0:31:24.920
<v Speaker 2>would be much happier for you, Like I would love

0:31:24.960 --> 0:31:28.080
<v Speaker 2>to show up at your twenty fifth thing. I would

0:31:28.160 --> 0:31:30.840
<v Speaker 2>love then the longer it goes, the happier I could

0:31:30.840 --> 0:31:33.920
<v Speaker 2>be for you, and the more inspired I can be

0:31:34.000 --> 0:31:36.600
<v Speaker 2>for you. But you know, the Bible says for this

0:31:36.640 --> 0:31:39.960
<v Speaker 2>call shaw man leave his father and mother, and there

0:31:40.040 --> 0:31:43.480
<v Speaker 2>is a leaving and a cleaving, right, And so I'm

0:31:43.560 --> 0:31:50.440
<v Speaker 2>really just confused why we so celebrate the leaving, but

0:31:50.560 --> 0:31:56.520
<v Speaker 2>the cleaving, the commitment that it requires, what it takes

0:31:56.560 --> 0:32:00.840
<v Speaker 2>to really cleave in your relationship with Jesus.

0:32:02.320 --> 0:32:05.760
<v Speaker 1>It is worthy to celebrate that you left.

0:32:06.120 --> 0:32:09.480
<v Speaker 2>A life of sin when you take a step of faith.

0:32:09.600 --> 0:32:13.760
<v Speaker 2>It is worthy of celebrating that you have now stepped

0:32:13.800 --> 0:32:17.840
<v Speaker 2>out into the unknown. And that's wonderful. And if God

0:32:17.880 --> 0:32:20.800
<v Speaker 2>tells you to go start a business, I'll clap for you.

0:32:21.520 --> 0:32:24.280
<v Speaker 2>But I'll clap for you, and I'll be happy for you,

0:32:24.760 --> 0:32:26.800
<v Speaker 2>but not as happy for you as I can be

0:32:27.560 --> 0:32:31.840
<v Speaker 2>when you call me in three years, five years and

0:32:31.880 --> 0:32:35.080
<v Speaker 2>you say it's been a recession. But I stuck with

0:32:35.120 --> 0:32:39.360
<v Speaker 2>it in the recession. And God showed me strategies for

0:32:39.520 --> 0:32:42.360
<v Speaker 2>this business in the recession.

0:32:42.280 --> 0:32:44.640
<v Speaker 1>And we had to lay some people off and we

0:32:44.720 --> 0:32:45.040
<v Speaker 1>had to.

0:32:45.040 --> 0:32:48.239
<v Speaker 2>Change a business model and that was really rough. And

0:32:48.280 --> 0:32:50.720
<v Speaker 2>I had an ulcer and I asked the doctor to

0:32:50.800 --> 0:32:54.360
<v Speaker 2>prescribe something for it, and it took three different medications,

0:32:54.640 --> 0:32:56.600
<v Speaker 2>and I had a hard time knowing when to be

0:32:56.680 --> 0:32:59.040
<v Speaker 2>home versus when to be at the office.

0:32:59.120 --> 0:32:59.920
<v Speaker 1>But here I am.

0:33:00.000 --> 0:33:04.560
<v Speaker 2>I'm still staying and standing and believing. And rains flew

0:33:04.960 --> 0:33:12.080
<v Speaker 2>and winds came and the house stood firm. What I'm

0:33:12.160 --> 0:33:16.120
<v Speaker 2>trying to say is that stepping out faith is great.

0:33:17.600 --> 0:33:22.360
<v Speaker 1>So is staying faith. So is staying faith.

0:33:23.680 --> 0:33:27.040
<v Speaker 2>Because in all the years I read about Abraham, I

0:33:27.160 --> 0:33:30.760
<v Speaker 2>celebrated that he had the faith to go. He obeyed

0:33:31.400 --> 0:33:34.800
<v Speaker 2>and went, And that's wonderful that he went. Here's all

0:33:34.880 --> 0:33:37.160
<v Speaker 2>God told him, I'm gonna bless you. I'm gonna make

0:33:37.160 --> 0:33:39.520
<v Speaker 2>you a great nation. All the nations of the earth

0:33:39.560 --> 0:33:43.080
<v Speaker 2>will be blessed through you. You're gonna have descendants as numerous.

0:33:43.080 --> 0:33:44.880
<v Speaker 2>I gotta calmed down, I gotta come down. He said,

0:33:44.880 --> 0:33:48.280
<v Speaker 2>I'm gonna bless you. You're gonna have descendants as numerous

0:33:48.320 --> 0:33:51.160
<v Speaker 2>as the stars in the sky, the sand in the seashore.

0:33:51.440 --> 0:33:58.360
<v Speaker 2>And Abraham obeyed and went. What I never thought about, though,

0:33:59.440 --> 0:34:03.160
<v Speaker 2>was after he obeyed and went, Oh, in that wonderful

0:34:03.200 --> 0:34:05.640
<v Speaker 2>he went to a place he didn't know in' that wonderful,

0:34:06.960 --> 0:34:09.919
<v Speaker 2>what I never wondered was what happened when he got there.

0:34:12.040 --> 0:34:16.319
<v Speaker 2>Now look at verse nine. By faith, he made his

0:34:16.400 --> 0:34:24.040
<v Speaker 2>home in the Promised Land like a stranger. In my imagination,

0:34:25.440 --> 0:34:29.759
<v Speaker 2>I always kind of pictured Abraham go into the Promised Land,

0:34:30.480 --> 0:34:33.400
<v Speaker 2>and when he got there, there was a parade for

0:34:33.480 --> 0:34:37.120
<v Speaker 2>him in his honor. I know the Bible doesn't say that,

0:34:37.160 --> 0:34:38.920
<v Speaker 2>and I know that's a stupid thing to think, but

0:34:39.000 --> 0:34:40.680
<v Speaker 2>that's the way I thought of it. Maybe not an

0:34:40.719 --> 0:34:43.719
<v Speaker 2>actual literal parade, but you know what I'm saying. It's like,

0:34:44.080 --> 0:34:46.360
<v Speaker 2>you're here, Ding ding ding. You made it to the

0:34:46.400 --> 0:34:49.319
<v Speaker 2>Promised Land. You're here, Abraham, congratulations. You have the faith

0:34:49.360 --> 0:34:50.280
<v Speaker 2>to step out and I'll.

0:34:50.160 --> 0:34:50.600
<v Speaker 1>Come on in.

0:34:52.200 --> 0:34:58.040
<v Speaker 2>So when I read that by faith, he obeyed and went,

0:34:59.520 --> 0:35:01.640
<v Speaker 2>and it was followed by by faith he made his

0:35:01.640 --> 0:35:04.839
<v Speaker 2>home in the Promised Land. Like a stranger in a

0:35:05.000 --> 0:35:13.560
<v Speaker 2>foreign country. He lived intense. See, here's what I want

0:35:13.560 --> 0:35:18.280
<v Speaker 2>to tell you. It's possible to arrive at your promise

0:35:20.040 --> 0:35:32.160
<v Speaker 2>and live in a tent. It's this feeling of I'm here.

0:35:33.800 --> 0:35:37.680
<v Speaker 2>But this is way different than how it sounded when

0:35:37.680 --> 0:35:43.680
<v Speaker 2>I left. Anybody there, I'm here. Remember when you were

0:35:43.680 --> 0:35:46.400
<v Speaker 2>in seventh grade and all you wanted was your driver's license?

0:35:46.400 --> 0:35:47.000
<v Speaker 1>You're driving?

0:35:49.560 --> 0:35:54.879
<v Speaker 2>Where are you going? What you're going to do when

0:35:54.920 --> 0:35:59.719
<v Speaker 2>you get there? Now, two things happen. He got there

0:36:00.560 --> 0:36:04.960
<v Speaker 2>without knowing where there was. That in his self is complicated.

0:36:06.600 --> 0:36:09.000
<v Speaker 2>I've heard people say things and I don't mean to

0:36:09.040 --> 0:36:10.520
<v Speaker 2>pick on it. I'm sure I've said something like this,

0:36:11.800 --> 0:36:17.880
<v Speaker 2>if I could just have clarity from God, clarity from God,

0:36:18.680 --> 0:36:22.120
<v Speaker 2>and if he would just confirm his word to me,

0:36:22.719 --> 0:36:31.240
<v Speaker 2>and I am waiting for confirmation is what I'm waiting for. Okay,

0:36:32.680 --> 0:36:37.319
<v Speaker 2>confirmation comes after commitment.

0:36:40.160 --> 0:36:45.880
<v Speaker 1>Mike drop, I gotta tell y'all where the good parts

0:36:45.920 --> 0:36:46.759
<v Speaker 1>of the sermon is.

0:36:46.760 --> 0:36:49.560
<v Speaker 2>Because you're confused about it, that's the good part of

0:36:49.560 --> 0:36:54.040
<v Speaker 2>the sermon. He obeyed ask God was calling him like

0:36:54.160 --> 0:36:57.800
<v Speaker 2>it wasn't even complete yet. It wasn't even a destination yet.

0:36:58.120 --> 0:37:00.640
<v Speaker 2>It was just something that got moved bye. But then

0:37:00.680 --> 0:37:05.720
<v Speaker 2>he got there hundreds of miles with hundreds of people,

0:37:06.280 --> 0:37:09.719
<v Speaker 2>with a caravan full of people that he's responsible for.

0:37:10.680 --> 0:37:14.600
<v Speaker 1>And he lived in tents.

0:37:16.400 --> 0:37:19.000
<v Speaker 2>Have you ever had God bring you to a promise

0:37:20.080 --> 0:37:22.359
<v Speaker 2>and then make you pitch a tent.

0:37:25.360 --> 0:37:29.279
<v Speaker 1>It's like he brings you. Should we start passing out

0:37:29.280 --> 0:37:30.960
<v Speaker 1>caffeine in the communion cups at the door.

0:37:31.680 --> 0:37:36.359
<v Speaker 2>He brings you to a place, He brings you to

0:37:36.480 --> 0:37:41.880
<v Speaker 2>a moment, he brings you to a relationship, he brings.

0:37:41.520 --> 0:37:43.480
<v Speaker 1>You to a stage of life.

0:37:43.920 --> 0:37:47.920
<v Speaker 2>He brings you to your anointing, he brings you into

0:37:47.960 --> 0:37:52.239
<v Speaker 2>the area of your giftedness and you know this is it,

0:37:52.840 --> 0:37:59.960
<v Speaker 2>but then you think, is this it? I could understand

0:38:01.120 --> 0:38:04.279
<v Speaker 2>if he lived in a tent for a week while

0:38:04.320 --> 0:38:09.040
<v Speaker 2>the apartment least was going through. I could understand if

0:38:09.040 --> 0:38:12.200
<v Speaker 2>he lived there for six months while he found the

0:38:12.239 --> 0:38:13.920
<v Speaker 2>best school district in Canaan.

0:38:15.400 --> 0:38:20.920
<v Speaker 1>Abraham lived in tents the entire time he was in

0:38:20.960 --> 0:38:21.800
<v Speaker 1>the Promised Land.

0:38:24.080 --> 0:38:27.759
<v Speaker 2>So what I'm trying to say is you might be

0:38:27.880 --> 0:38:31.200
<v Speaker 2>a pilgrim in something that God called you.

0:38:31.200 --> 0:38:34.160
<v Speaker 1>To possess, and just.

0:38:34.200 --> 0:38:37.560
<v Speaker 2>Because it doesn't feel stable doesn't.

0:38:37.200 --> 0:38:42.800
<v Speaker 1>Mean it's not secure. Whoever is for You're.

0:38:42.680 --> 0:38:45.840
<v Speaker 2>Gonna get it deep because I got it deep. Because

0:38:45.880 --> 0:38:50.239
<v Speaker 2>there's times where I questioned God and my faith gets low.

0:38:50.719 --> 0:38:52.279
<v Speaker 1>Did you really say to do this?

0:38:52.600 --> 0:38:55.719
<v Speaker 2>Did you really say to forgive them sometimes even.

0:38:55.480 --> 0:38:56.839
<v Speaker 1>When I get up here, God?

0:38:56.880 --> 0:39:00.000
<v Speaker 2>Did you really tell me to preach this just because

0:39:00.239 --> 0:39:03.359
<v Speaker 2>I don't feel it in the moment. Just because it's

0:39:03.520 --> 0:39:06.080
<v Speaker 2>foreign doesn't mean it isn't yours.

0:39:08.239 --> 0:39:09.120
<v Speaker 1>So here's what I.

0:39:09.080 --> 0:39:12.680
<v Speaker 2>Want you to declare by faith. Say it's mine.

0:39:13.160 --> 0:39:13.800
<v Speaker 1>It's mine.

0:39:14.000 --> 0:39:16.640
<v Speaker 2>Now that sounds selfish because we're not supposed to talk

0:39:16.680 --> 0:39:20.160
<v Speaker 2>in church about what we have and what God gave us.

0:39:20.320 --> 0:39:24.280
<v Speaker 2>It's supposed to be all about him, but he said,

0:39:24.320 --> 0:39:28.680
<v Speaker 2>I will bless you, he said I will make you,

0:39:29.680 --> 0:39:30.440
<v Speaker 2>he said.

0:39:30.200 --> 0:39:31.200
<v Speaker 1>I will guide you.

0:39:32.719 --> 0:39:37.640
<v Speaker 2>And it's not really Him that we doubt, it's us.

0:39:51.239 --> 0:39:53.040
<v Speaker 2>You ever had to hold on to the truth living

0:39:53.040 --> 0:39:59.800
<v Speaker 2>in a tent. You ever had to suffer from clinical

0:40:00.000 --> 0:40:06.200
<v Speaker 2>depression and show up smiling at an office building. You

0:40:06.280 --> 0:40:11.239
<v Speaker 2>ever had your kid's not doing well, but you had

0:40:11.280 --> 0:40:17.279
<v Speaker 2>to be there for somebody else's kid. Have you, then

0:40:17.320 --> 0:40:24.239
<v Speaker 2>you've lived intents. It is being somewhere you're supposed to be.

0:40:24.360 --> 0:40:27.640
<v Speaker 2>Say I'm supposed to be here, I'm supposed to be here.

0:40:27.719 --> 0:40:30.800
<v Speaker 2>It's being somewhere you're supposed to be, but the accommodations

0:40:30.840 --> 0:40:38.600
<v Speaker 2>aren't what you imagine. I was reading some definitions of faith.

0:40:39.000 --> 0:40:39.680
<v Speaker 1>Check this out.

0:40:39.920 --> 0:40:43.360
<v Speaker 2>It said that faith not only is it about our salvation,

0:40:43.480 --> 0:40:45.520
<v Speaker 2>but there is a situational faith as well.

0:40:45.600 --> 0:40:46.360
<v Speaker 1>Uh huh.

0:40:46.520 --> 0:40:49.080
<v Speaker 2>And it is a faith that defies all contradictions and

0:40:49.120 --> 0:40:54.760
<v Speaker 2>outward circumstances, but looks entirely to God and his promises alone.

0:40:55.760 --> 0:41:00.000
<v Speaker 2>It is a faith that defies all contradictions and outward circumstances,

0:41:00.760 --> 0:41:05.560
<v Speaker 2>but looks entirely to God and his promises alone.

0:41:05.880 --> 0:41:06.319
<v Speaker 1>One said.

0:41:06.719 --> 0:41:11.840
<v Speaker 2>Faith is living as if God's power for the present

0:41:11.960 --> 0:41:14.560
<v Speaker 2>is real and his promise.

0:41:14.200 --> 0:41:19.240
<v Speaker 1>For the future is secure. That's faith saving. Faith.

0:41:19.719 --> 0:41:23.399
<v Speaker 2>He died as if he sinned so I could live

0:41:23.880 --> 0:41:30.399
<v Speaker 2>as if I didn't. Faith is living as if I'm

0:41:30.400 --> 0:41:35.359
<v Speaker 2>gonna say this again. Faith is living as if who

0:41:35.400 --> 0:41:40.280
<v Speaker 2>am I preaching to right now? Faith is going forward

0:41:41.080 --> 0:41:44.640
<v Speaker 2>as if you knew where you were going, and then

0:41:44.719 --> 0:41:48.720
<v Speaker 2>going home and wondering am I there because you're living

0:41:49.280 --> 0:41:54.840
<v Speaker 2>in a tent. Faith is saying I am fully forgiven

0:41:55.040 --> 0:41:58.640
<v Speaker 2>by Christ, even as the waves of shame wash over you,

0:41:59.280 --> 0:42:01.800
<v Speaker 2>and instead of drowning in the regret of that shame,

0:42:02.239 --> 0:42:05.760
<v Speaker 2>you transform it by the power of grace into wisdom

0:42:05.840 --> 0:42:07.160
<v Speaker 2>so that you never make.

0:42:07.040 --> 0:42:09.040
<v Speaker 1>Those mistakes again.

0:42:10.680 --> 0:42:14.320
<v Speaker 2>Faith is showing up to church as if you knew

0:42:14.320 --> 0:42:17.320
<v Speaker 2>God had a word for you, even though you secretly

0:42:17.400 --> 0:42:21.200
<v Speaker 2>wonder is he talking to someone else. Faith is picking

0:42:21.280 --> 0:42:24.239
<v Speaker 2>up your tent and moving even though you don't know

0:42:24.320 --> 0:42:28.160
<v Speaker 2>how far you'll have to go. Faith is making your

0:42:28.320 --> 0:42:32.359
<v Speaker 2>home enjoy even though sorrow may last for the night.

0:42:33.200 --> 0:42:36.480
<v Speaker 2>Faith is giving God praise for who he is when

0:42:36.520 --> 0:42:40.240
<v Speaker 2>you can't even see what he's doing. Faith is reaching

0:42:40.280 --> 0:42:46.520
<v Speaker 2>on your inside reserves and pulling from your experience to say, Hey, God,

0:42:47.400 --> 0:42:51.240
<v Speaker 2>I need you right now. Faith will stretch a stick

0:42:51.280 --> 0:42:54.160
<v Speaker 2>over the water. Faith will pick up a rock and

0:42:54.239 --> 0:42:57.880
<v Speaker 2>hit a giant in the head. Faith will say, hey, Jesus,

0:42:58.360 --> 0:43:02.600
<v Speaker 2>if it's you, tell me calm and Jesus will say back,

0:43:02.719 --> 0:43:05.680
<v Speaker 2>come and Faith will walk on one word.

0:43:06.239 --> 0:43:10.200
<v Speaker 1>Faith will step out on four letters. Faith will jump out.

0:43:10.080 --> 0:43:12.799
<v Speaker 2>The boat and say, God, hold me up.

0:43:12.719 --> 0:43:14.360
<v Speaker 1>By your righteous right hand.

0:43:14.920 --> 0:43:18.680
<v Speaker 2>If you had not been on my side, my enemies

0:43:18.719 --> 0:43:20.280
<v Speaker 2>would have swallowed me alive.

0:43:21.000 --> 0:43:26.240
<v Speaker 4>So here I am God. Hey, God, is your man verdict?

0:43:26.600 --> 0:43:29.600
<v Speaker 4>And I need you now? And I don't deserve it,

0:43:30.040 --> 0:43:31.839
<v Speaker 4>but I receive it man.

0:43:31.880 --> 0:43:35.719
<v Speaker 2>I claim it by faith. What do you need from

0:43:35.760 --> 0:43:39.879
<v Speaker 2>God today? Claim it by faith? What do you need

0:43:39.920 --> 0:43:41.240
<v Speaker 2>him to do in your body?

0:43:41.480 --> 0:43:43.600
<v Speaker 1>Claim it? Bye? Faith?

0:43:44.080 --> 0:43:46.120
<v Speaker 2>If what do you need him to carry you through?

0:43:46.600 --> 0:43:49.960
<v Speaker 2>Claim it bye Faith? Clap those hands.

0:43:49.960 --> 0:43:57.279
<v Speaker 1>If you've got a claim by faith. I don't have

0:43:58.640 --> 0:43:59.879
<v Speaker 1>what you think I need.

0:44:02.800 --> 0:44:06.440
<v Speaker 2>Oh, fath faith, faith, faith, faith, faith, Father, blessing the

0:44:06.520 --> 0:44:08.840
<v Speaker 2>name of Jesus, bless her right now. Everybody shall faith

0:44:09.520 --> 0:44:13.520
<v Speaker 2>by faith? Say by faith by faith? So how are

0:44:13.560 --> 0:44:16.680
<v Speaker 2>you coming to God? After everything you've done by faith?

0:44:17.480 --> 0:44:19.279
<v Speaker 2>How are you really believing that God is going to

0:44:19.320 --> 0:44:20.480
<v Speaker 2>redeem the years when you're the.

0:44:20.440 --> 0:44:25.680
<v Speaker 1>One who wasted them by faith? By faith? And here's

0:44:25.719 --> 0:44:26.239
<v Speaker 1>what I love.

0:44:27.560 --> 0:44:32.680
<v Speaker 2>He had to show up as a stranger to something

0:44:32.760 --> 0:44:37.919
<v Speaker 2>God gave him. Have you ever had to show up

0:44:39.040 --> 0:44:43.960
<v Speaker 2>as a stranger to something God gave you? I had

0:44:43.960 --> 0:44:47.000
<v Speaker 2>a friend invite me over the other day and nobody

0:44:47.080 --> 0:44:51.040
<v Speaker 2>knew I was coming. I was invited by my friend,

0:44:52.000 --> 0:44:55.440
<v Speaker 2>but I was treated as a stranger by the people

0:44:55.440 --> 0:44:58.200
<v Speaker 2>who had to let me in the door. They had

0:44:58.280 --> 0:45:02.440
<v Speaker 2>no idea who I was. I waited, and I waited

0:45:03.040 --> 0:45:06.160
<v Speaker 2>because I knew when my friend finds out I'm here,

0:45:07.040 --> 0:45:11.680
<v Speaker 2>I'm gonna walk right past all these people who don't

0:45:11.680 --> 0:45:15.359
<v Speaker 2>believe that I belong. I need three people to help

0:45:15.400 --> 0:45:17.960
<v Speaker 2>me finish. I'll finish if I get three people. Three people.

0:45:22.440 --> 0:45:28.640
<v Speaker 1>So he showed up as a stranger to a place

0:45:28.719 --> 0:45:30.040
<v Speaker 1>God gave him.

0:45:30.800 --> 0:45:35.200
<v Speaker 2>Is that not what Jesus did for us, who came

0:45:35.320 --> 0:45:38.520
<v Speaker 2>to his own and his own received him.

0:45:38.600 --> 0:45:38.680
<v Speaker 3>Not.

0:45:39.480 --> 0:45:41.239
<v Speaker 1>He showed up in the earth.

0:45:40.960 --> 0:45:45.320
<v Speaker 2>That he created, was rejected by the humans that he fashioned,

0:45:45.840 --> 0:45:49.239
<v Speaker 2>was crucified by the ones he came to save. But

0:45:49.400 --> 0:45:52.920
<v Speaker 2>because he showed up as a stranger, I could come

0:45:52.960 --> 0:46:06.080
<v Speaker 2>to him as his child. How many are grateful for access.

0:46:06.160 --> 0:46:10.800
<v Speaker 2>Just because it feels foreign doesn't mean it isn't yours.

0:46:17.320 --> 0:46:21.080
<v Speaker 2>When you've heard a long time healing feels for it,

0:46:21.080 --> 0:46:25.759
<v Speaker 2>it doesn't mean you won't be healed. You just might

0:46:25.800 --> 0:46:31.200
<v Speaker 2>have to live in a tent. A tent is an

0:46:31.200 --> 0:46:35.520
<v Speaker 2>interesting image because the New Testament also calls our mortal

0:46:35.560 --> 0:46:41.080
<v Speaker 2>bodies a tent and tewod Corinthians five to four. Paul

0:46:41.160 --> 0:46:47.160
<v Speaker 2>says that while we are in this tent speaking about

0:46:47.160 --> 0:46:51.799
<v Speaker 2>our bodies were grown and are burden. Wait, I thought

0:46:51.840 --> 0:46:55.799
<v Speaker 2>we were blessed. We're blessed, but.

0:46:55.840 --> 0:47:03.000
<v Speaker 1>We're burden because we're living intents. I don't know if

0:47:03.000 --> 0:47:05.040
<v Speaker 1>you're getting this or not. Help me. Are you getting this?

0:47:05.600 --> 0:47:07.879
<v Speaker 2>I want to help you. You're living in a tent.

0:47:09.680 --> 0:47:13.799
<v Speaker 2>It doesn't mean you're not in the promise. You're just

0:47:13.920 --> 0:47:21.680
<v Speaker 2>living in the tent. It takes faith to say hey,

0:47:23.520 --> 0:47:25.920
<v Speaker 2>It takes faith to welcome something into your life that

0:47:25.960 --> 0:47:27.400
<v Speaker 2>you've never had before.

0:47:30.160 --> 0:47:34.320
<v Speaker 1>And so often we are glorifying the goodbye.

0:47:35.400 --> 0:47:44.239
<v Speaker 2>But we're not saying hello to the promise. Imagine Abraham

0:47:45.440 --> 0:47:51.760
<v Speaker 2>walking through Canaan. Nobody knows who he is. He's living

0:47:52.560 --> 0:47:56.240
<v Speaker 2>like a nomad, but he's the father of many nations.

0:47:57.680 --> 0:48:01.000
<v Speaker 2>Can I prophesy this to you. You're bigger than what

0:48:01.040 --> 0:48:13.239
<v Speaker 2>you're living in the bondage the dysfunction. Abraham was the

0:48:13.280 --> 0:48:16.520
<v Speaker 2>most famous person that the writer of Hebrews could bring

0:48:16.600 --> 0:48:17.760
<v Speaker 2>up to illustrate faith.

0:48:18.440 --> 0:48:21.279
<v Speaker 6>But he showed up like a stranger.

0:48:22.560 --> 0:48:24.520
<v Speaker 1>It takes faith to show up like a stranger.

0:48:26.120 --> 0:48:28.640
<v Speaker 2>You think Abraham walked in Canaan and they were all like, Oh,

0:48:28.640 --> 0:48:29.959
<v Speaker 2>you're Abraham, take over.

0:48:30.600 --> 0:48:35.000
<v Speaker 6>This is great. He had to show up.

0:48:36.440 --> 0:48:36.960
<v Speaker 1>In a tent.

0:48:39.320 --> 0:48:40.080
<v Speaker 6>That's a stranger.

0:48:41.520 --> 0:48:43.480
<v Speaker 2>I see you coming into your promise. I see you

0:48:43.520 --> 0:48:46.320
<v Speaker 2>coming into your wholeness. I see you coming into the

0:48:46.360 --> 0:48:48.319
<v Speaker 2>next season of your life, but you're coming in as

0:48:48.320 --> 0:48:48.920
<v Speaker 2>a stranger.

0:48:51.840 --> 0:48:54.120
<v Speaker 6>Stay.

0:48:55.239 --> 0:48:55.600
<v Speaker 1>Stay.

0:48:57.160 --> 0:49:05.920
<v Speaker 2>Faith feels foreign. Stay joy feels foreign. Stay peace feels

0:49:06.040 --> 0:49:07.960
<v Speaker 2>foreign when all you've known is storms.

0:49:08.719 --> 0:49:09.759
<v Speaker 6>Is stay.

0:49:10.920 --> 0:49:17.879
<v Speaker 2>Because if you can stay in faith, watch what Abraham does.

0:49:18.239 --> 0:49:22.319
<v Speaker 6>Oh you're gonna love this mishe hollie, this so does.

0:49:22.360 --> 0:49:23.439
<v Speaker 6>I just appreached to her, y'all.

0:49:24.719 --> 0:49:25.399
<v Speaker 1>Look what he did.

0:49:25.400 --> 0:49:30.200
<v Speaker 2>In verse thirteen of Hebrews, Chapter eleven, all these people.

0:49:30.760 --> 0:49:32.280
<v Speaker 1>Were still living by faith.

0:49:32.360 --> 0:49:37.160
<v Speaker 2>When they died, they did not receive the things promised.

0:49:38.480 --> 0:49:44.200
<v Speaker 2>They only saw them and welcomed them from a distance.

0:49:45.880 --> 0:49:49.239
<v Speaker 2>I see you welcoming your dream from a distance. I

0:49:49.280 --> 0:49:51.960
<v Speaker 2>see you welcoming your prodigal child coming back home from

0:49:51.960 --> 0:49:55.359
<v Speaker 2>a distance. You can't really see it yet, spell it yet,

0:49:55.440 --> 0:49:59.239
<v Speaker 2>touch it yet, but it's coming from the distance. And

0:49:59.320 --> 0:50:01.959
<v Speaker 2>they admitted that they were foreigners and strangers on earth.

0:50:01.960 --> 0:50:02.600
<v Speaker 1>And WA's what they did.

0:50:02.680 --> 0:50:04.680
<v Speaker 2>Not only did they welcome it from a distance. For

0:50:04.840 --> 0:50:10.280
<v Speaker 2>verse fourteen, people who say such things show that they.

0:50:10.120 --> 0:50:12.799
<v Speaker 6>Are looking for a country of their own.

0:50:14.000 --> 0:50:17.120
<v Speaker 2>So they saw it in the distance, and they had

0:50:17.160 --> 0:50:18.200
<v Speaker 2>the faith to say.

0:50:19.160 --> 0:50:30.560
<v Speaker 3>Hey, hey, joy, hey peace, Hey new beginning, Hey redemption.

0:50:32.600 --> 0:50:33.359
<v Speaker 1>I welcome you.

0:50:34.840 --> 0:50:38.359
<v Speaker 2>I'm not walking in it yet, I'm still living in

0:50:38.360 --> 0:50:39.160
<v Speaker 2>this tent for a.

0:50:39.200 --> 0:50:41.960
<v Speaker 1>Little bit, but I welcome you.

0:50:42.320 --> 0:50:44.440
<v Speaker 2>Will you welcome the Holy Spirit in your life in

0:50:44.480 --> 0:50:48.640
<v Speaker 2>this season. You're living in a tent, but you're not

0:50:48.760 --> 0:50:52.280
<v Speaker 2>your body. Some of you are living in a very

0:50:52.400 --> 0:50:57.200
<v Speaker 2>very hard situation, but you are not this situation. You

0:50:57.239 --> 0:51:01.120
<v Speaker 2>are bigger than what you've been living in. You're walking

0:51:01.160 --> 0:51:05.960
<v Speaker 2>as a nomad, but there are nations in you, purpose.

0:51:05.560 --> 0:51:13.239
<v Speaker 1>In you, glory in you. I'm bigger than what I'm

0:51:13.239 --> 0:51:19.959
<v Speaker 1>living in. So come on and say, hey, my faith.

0:51:20.640 --> 0:51:23.080
<v Speaker 2>I see it in the distance, I feel it. Sometimes

0:51:23.200 --> 0:51:26.000
<v Speaker 2>I get a glimpse of it. Sometimes I get a

0:51:26.000 --> 0:51:27.560
<v Speaker 2>little bit of freedom. Then I go back, I get

0:51:27.560 --> 0:51:29.720
<v Speaker 2>a little bit of relief. Then I come back. Welcome

0:51:29.760 --> 0:51:35.839
<v Speaker 2>it in. Don't just believe in it, believe it in.

0:51:37.280 --> 0:51:39.240
<v Speaker 2>Don't just believe in what he did.

0:51:39.040 --> 0:51:39.760
<v Speaker 1>On the cross.

0:51:40.040 --> 0:51:43.279
<v Speaker 2>Believe it in until it permeates you, until you.

0:51:43.280 --> 0:51:53.320
<v Speaker 5>Know I am what he says I am.

0:51:53.360 --> 0:51:57.720
<v Speaker 2>With everyone standing, there is an anointing on this word.

0:51:59.640 --> 0:52:06.560
<v Speaker 2>There is say, heavy anointing on this word. I don't

0:52:06.560 --> 0:52:08.719
<v Speaker 2>know who it was for. I don't know what you

0:52:08.800 --> 0:52:11.480
<v Speaker 2>are living in. I don't know what tent you are

0:52:11.480 --> 0:52:15.040
<v Speaker 2>disappointed by. I don't know exactly what God has called

0:52:15.080 --> 0:52:16.000
<v Speaker 2>you to do or be.

0:52:16.920 --> 0:52:17.680
<v Speaker 1>But I know this.

0:52:19.520 --> 0:52:24.680
<v Speaker 2>If you will welcome it, you can walk in it.

0:52:24.680 --> 0:52:31.120
<v Speaker 1>It begins with you saying yes to God and to

0:52:31.239 --> 0:52:31.919
<v Speaker 1>agree with.

0:52:31.880 --> 0:52:37.920
<v Speaker 2>Him concerning what he sees you to be. Abraham believed

0:52:37.960 --> 0:52:40.080
<v Speaker 2>and so became. What might you become if you believe?

0:52:42.640 --> 0:52:44.800
<v Speaker 2>If you didn't go back to what you came from,

0:52:44.800 --> 0:52:49.759
<v Speaker 2>but said, hey, by faith, okay, God, this is a

0:52:49.800 --> 0:52:52.960
<v Speaker 2>new thing for me. But people who talk this way

0:52:53.000 --> 0:52:58.760
<v Speaker 2>are looking forward to a city with foundations whose builder

0:52:58.800 --> 0:53:04.480
<v Speaker 2>and maker is God. And since the starting point is faith,

0:53:05.440 --> 0:53:07.439
<v Speaker 2>I would like to invite you right now to pray

0:53:08.160 --> 0:53:13.000
<v Speaker 2>a prayer. This prayer is specifically for all of you

0:53:13.440 --> 0:53:17.560
<v Speaker 2>who have been distant from God. You don't bridge that

0:53:17.680 --> 0:53:21.600
<v Speaker 2>gap by good behavior. You bridge that gap by faith.

0:53:22.640 --> 0:53:25.360
<v Speaker 2>You put your total trust in faith in Him. Right now,

0:53:25.520 --> 0:53:28.160
<v Speaker 2>you call on him, he will save you. You call

0:53:28.200 --> 0:53:30.719
<v Speaker 2>on him, he will cleanse you. You call on him,

0:53:30.760 --> 0:53:33.240
<v Speaker 2>he will lift your life from the pit and crown

0:53:33.320 --> 0:53:36.920
<v Speaker 2>you with love and compassion. The Bible says it is

0:53:36.960 --> 0:53:41.040
<v Speaker 2>by grace. We are saved through faith. It's the gift

0:53:41.080 --> 0:53:45.600
<v Speaker 2>of God. It's the gift of God. Right now I

0:53:45.600 --> 0:53:48.400
<v Speaker 2>would like to lead you in receiving this good gift,

0:53:50.239 --> 0:53:53.560
<v Speaker 2>this gift of His grace, for a new beginning in

0:53:53.600 --> 0:53:56.399
<v Speaker 2>your life. With heads bowed and eyes closed. Maybe you've

0:53:56.440 --> 0:53:59.560
<v Speaker 2>never put your trust in Jesus Christ. Maybe you've done

0:53:59.600 --> 0:54:03.480
<v Speaker 2>that once, but you haven't said hey to Him in

0:54:03.520 --> 0:54:06.239
<v Speaker 2>a long time. And today He is calling you, and

0:54:06.280 --> 0:54:07.680
<v Speaker 2>today he is welcoming you.

0:54:09.600 --> 0:54:10.120
<v Speaker 1>Right now.

0:54:11.200 --> 0:54:13.120
<v Speaker 2>If the desire of your heart is to believe in

0:54:13.239 --> 0:54:17.200
<v Speaker 2>Jesus and turn from your old way of life and

0:54:17.239 --> 0:54:20.720
<v Speaker 2>give him your everything. I assure you that he exists

0:54:21.600 --> 0:54:24.319
<v Speaker 2>and that he is a rewarder of them who will

0:54:24.320 --> 0:54:27.759
<v Speaker 2>diligently seek him all over this church and online. I

0:54:27.760 --> 0:54:30.000
<v Speaker 2>want you to repeat this prayer after me. We're praying

0:54:30.040 --> 0:54:32.239
<v Speaker 2>all together out loud for the benefit of those who

0:54:32.280 --> 0:54:35.239
<v Speaker 2>are coming to God in this moment. Say, Heavenly Father,

0:54:36.680 --> 0:54:40.680
<v Speaker 2>I am a sinner in need of a savior, and

0:54:40.719 --> 0:54:45.240
<v Speaker 2>I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God

0:54:46.160 --> 0:54:50.200
<v Speaker 2>and the savior of the world. And today I make

0:54:50.360 --> 0:54:54.440
<v Speaker 2>Jesus the lord of my life. I believe he died

0:54:55.320 --> 0:54:59.560
<v Speaker 2>that I would be forgiven, and rose again to give

0:54:59.560 --> 0:55:06.239
<v Speaker 2>me life. I receive this new life. This is my

0:55:06.400 --> 0:55:09.160
<v Speaker 2>new beginning. On the counter of three shoots, your hand

0:55:09.200 --> 0:55:12.160
<v Speaker 2>up if you prayed that one, two, three, all over

0:55:12.200 --> 0:55:13.799
<v Speaker 2>the room, hands going up before.

0:55:13.560 --> 0:55:15.160
<v Speaker 1>I even said three.

0:55:15.560 --> 0:55:20.400
<v Speaker 2>Welcome God, bless you. We receive you with open arms.

0:55:21.280 --> 0:55:24.360
<v Speaker 2>God receives you with open arms. This church receives you

0:55:25.239 --> 0:55:35.120
<v Speaker 2>with open arms. Congratulations on your new beginning. Congratulations for

0:55:35.200 --> 0:55:37.359
<v Speaker 2>all of those who just place their faith in Christ.

0:55:37.480 --> 0:55:39.800
<v Speaker 1>First of all, let's clap our hands one more time.

0:55:39.600 --> 0:55:47.960
<v Speaker 2>For them, it sounds like I plan this announcement with

0:55:48.040 --> 0:55:53.200
<v Speaker 2>my message. But if you'll stop by the tent on

0:55:53.200 --> 0:55:55.360
<v Speaker 2>your way out, there's a Bible we'd like to give you.

0:55:57.120 --> 0:55:59.759
<v Speaker 1>Stop by the tent. Touch three. People say stop by

0:55:59.760 --> 0:56:00.720
<v Speaker 1>the tim.

0:56:03.160 --> 0:56:07.080
<v Speaker 2>Because what nobody knew was in that tent was the

0:56:07.120 --> 0:56:20.520
<v Speaker 2>father of many nations. Say, hey, by faith, this is

0:56:20.560 --> 0:56:25.600
<v Speaker 2>not a dating seminar, but I believe there are some

0:56:25.640 --> 0:56:28.719
<v Speaker 2>things that God is bringing into your life that you

0:56:28.760 --> 0:56:33.440
<v Speaker 2>are welcoming from a distance, and it may take a while,

0:56:34.200 --> 0:56:38.880
<v Speaker 2>but don't let the tent fool you. By faith, it

0:56:39.000 --> 0:56:42.760
<v Speaker 2>shall be Clap those hands one more time, everybody who.

0:56:42.600 --> 0:56:48.080
<v Speaker 7>Receives it, Thanks for joining us today. We pray that

0:56:48.120 --> 0:56:50.320
<v Speaker 7>God has spoken to you in a unique and powerful

0:56:50.360 --> 0:56:52.719
<v Speaker 7>way through the message. Well, we are in our year

0:56:52.719 --> 0:56:54.880
<v Speaker 7>in offering season as a church where we get the

0:56:54.920 --> 0:56:57.799
<v Speaker 7>opportunity to reflect back on all the ways that God

0:56:57.800 --> 0:57:00.480
<v Speaker 7>has been faithful to our ministry this year, but also

0:57:00.680 --> 0:57:03.040
<v Speaker 7>to look ahead at what we're believing God for in

0:57:03.080 --> 0:57:05.360
<v Speaker 7>the upcoming year. And each year as a church, we

0:57:05.400 --> 0:57:08.239
<v Speaker 7>get to come around a special offering and offering that

0:57:08.280 --> 0:57:11.480
<v Speaker 7>contributes to both outreach efforts in local and global cities

0:57:11.680 --> 0:57:14.520
<v Speaker 7>and as well as the expansion of our ministry continuing

0:57:14.520 --> 0:57:17.280
<v Speaker 7>to reach people all over with the hope of the Gospel.

0:57:17.480 --> 0:57:19.680
<v Speaker 7>And we'd invite you to take part and participate in

0:57:19.720 --> 0:57:21.640
<v Speaker 7>our year end offering. To do so, you can go

0:57:21.680 --> 0:57:24.200
<v Speaker 7>to Elevationchurch dot org. Just click the banner there at

0:57:24.240 --> 0:57:26.280
<v Speaker 7>the top, and then you'll be able to see everything

0:57:26.320 --> 0:57:27.880
<v Speaker 7>that you need to be a part of our year

0:57:27.960 --> 0:57:30.800
<v Speaker 7>end offering. You'll see two options. The first is to

0:57:30.840 --> 0:57:33.800
<v Speaker 7>begin tithing. Maybe you've been wanting to prioritize God in

0:57:33.840 --> 0:57:36.520
<v Speaker 7>your finances, but you haven't taken that step to make

0:57:36.560 --> 0:57:38.800
<v Speaker 7>a commitment to doing so. This is a great place

0:57:38.840 --> 0:57:42.400
<v Speaker 7>to begin. Or perhaps you've been giving consistently in this season,

0:57:42.480 --> 0:57:45.080
<v Speaker 7>God may be challenging you to stretch above and beyond

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<v Speaker 7>the tithe to give a sacrificial gift to our year

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<v Speaker 7>end offering. If you're part of one of our physical locations,

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<v Speaker 7>you can choose your campus there, or if you're part

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<v Speaker 7>of our online ministry, of course, you'll choose Epham or

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<v Speaker 7>online and then enter the amount that you'd like to give.

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<v Speaker 7>We are believing for all the ways that God is

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<v Speaker 7>going to stretch our faith in this season through our

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<v Speaker 7>year end offering and we can't wait to see what

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<v Speaker 7>God does through you. God bless and we'll see you soon.