1 00:00:01,560 --> 00:00:04,120 Speaker 1: Hey, this is Stephen Ferdick. I'm the pastor of Elevation 2 00:00:04,360 --> 00:00:06,600 Speaker 1: Church and this is our podcast. I wanted to thank 3 00:00:06,640 --> 00:00:09,920 Speaker 1: you for joining us today. Hope this inspires you. Hope 4 00:00:09,960 --> 00:00:12,000 Speaker 1: it builds your faith. Hope it gives your perspective to 5 00:00:12,039 --> 00:00:14,720 Speaker 1: see God is moving in your life. Enjoy the message. 6 00:00:16,360 --> 00:00:18,200 Speaker 1: In just the moment, we're going to welcome Holly to 7 00:00:18,239 --> 00:00:20,520 Speaker 1: the stage. She's going to share God's word with us today. 8 00:00:20,880 --> 00:00:22,960 Speaker 1: My wife come right now. As a matter of fact, 9 00:00:23,520 --> 00:00:25,720 Speaker 1: come on, let's thank God for her as she comes. 10 00:00:32,479 --> 00:00:34,640 Speaker 1: What I wanted to say, just by way of introduction 11 00:00:35,240 --> 00:00:38,559 Speaker 1: to her sermon today is that as the world becomes 12 00:00:38,600 --> 00:00:42,480 Speaker 1: more and more artificial, the authentic becomes more and more attractive. 13 00:00:43,280 --> 00:00:45,600 Speaker 1: And what we love about you I speak on behalf 14 00:00:45,640 --> 00:00:48,480 Speaker 1: of all of these people, the ones who have good 15 00:00:48,479 --> 00:00:52,960 Speaker 1: sense to appreciate a woman of God who is comfortable 16 00:00:53,080 --> 00:00:56,200 Speaker 1: being who she is. I remember when we first started 17 00:00:56,200 --> 00:00:58,200 Speaker 1: the church, and there were so many questions that you 18 00:00:58,280 --> 00:01:00,840 Speaker 1: had about what is a pastor's wife to do and be? 19 00:01:01,400 --> 00:01:04,319 Speaker 1: And there's so many different templates, models and bolts. But 20 00:01:04,440 --> 00:01:06,800 Speaker 1: you had the courage to play the role that God 21 00:01:06,800 --> 00:01:09,240 Speaker 1: had given you. And when people come up to us 22 00:01:09,280 --> 00:01:11,080 Speaker 1: in the mall, and they come up to us at 23 00:01:11,120 --> 00:01:13,440 Speaker 1: Red Lobster and they come up to us and say, 24 00:01:13,480 --> 00:01:16,360 Speaker 1: thank God for your ministry. Usually they just push me 25 00:01:16,440 --> 00:01:19,160 Speaker 1: out of the way to get straight to you. And 26 00:01:19,400 --> 00:01:22,600 Speaker 1: there's something that they know that they're very correct and assessing, 27 00:01:23,120 --> 00:01:25,280 Speaker 1: is that for so many times that you could have 28 00:01:26,680 --> 00:01:30,000 Speaker 1: grabbed a spotlight, you chose to be a servant and 29 00:01:30,040 --> 00:01:33,080 Speaker 1: a support system for me and our three children. So 30 00:01:33,120 --> 00:01:37,880 Speaker 1: I thank God for you. What they usually say is 31 00:01:38,520 --> 00:01:41,600 Speaker 1: thank you for giving me permission to be real. And 32 00:01:41,640 --> 00:01:43,760 Speaker 1: I want you to be assured today there are thousands 33 00:01:43,760 --> 00:01:46,839 Speaker 1: of people in our physical locations all over the world 34 00:01:46,920 --> 00:01:50,440 Speaker 1: with our EFAM who are excited and expected to hear 35 00:01:50,480 --> 00:01:52,120 Speaker 1: the word of hope that God has given you for 36 00:01:52,280 --> 00:01:55,760 Speaker 1: us today. So do your thing. I love you. Let's 37 00:01:55,800 --> 00:02:08,960 Speaker 1: thank God for Pastor Holly Burn. Well, Happy Mother's Day 38 00:02:09,560 --> 00:02:12,880 Speaker 1: for me, And we already welcomed all of our campuses, 39 00:02:12,880 --> 00:02:15,080 Speaker 1: so you can go ahead and be seated. I do 40 00:02:15,200 --> 00:02:19,040 Speaker 1: want to say, oh, there's my table like magic. I 41 00:02:19,080 --> 00:02:21,120 Speaker 1: do want to say welcome to all of our campuses 42 00:02:21,160 --> 00:02:23,200 Speaker 1: because I don't get to say it very often, and 43 00:02:23,320 --> 00:02:26,160 Speaker 1: I just want everyone to know how much I love you, 44 00:02:26,280 --> 00:02:29,079 Speaker 1: and I appreciate you. And I love our church. Do 45 00:02:29,120 --> 00:02:34,680 Speaker 1: you love our church? I love our church? And of course, 46 00:02:34,760 --> 00:02:37,120 Speaker 1: Happy Mother's Day to my own mother. And it's a 47 00:02:37,160 --> 00:02:39,720 Speaker 1: special day, like Pastor Stephen said, it's her birthday. Can 48 00:02:39,720 --> 00:02:46,200 Speaker 1: we give her one more hand? Happy birthday, Mom. I'm 49 00:02:46,200 --> 00:02:48,880 Speaker 1: really excited to be able to bring the word of 50 00:02:48,919 --> 00:02:51,359 Speaker 1: God to you today. But first, I have a secret. 51 00:02:51,680 --> 00:02:53,760 Speaker 1: And I kind of didn't want my husband to know this, 52 00:02:53,840 --> 00:02:55,799 Speaker 1: but now he knows because he's heard me preach this 53 00:02:55,880 --> 00:03:00,960 Speaker 1: sermon twice already. But here's my secret. Unfortunate that he 54 00:03:01,000 --> 00:03:04,400 Speaker 1: knows this. But I don't mind doing the dishes. I 55 00:03:05,919 --> 00:03:10,400 Speaker 1: actually kind of love loading the dishwasher because to me, 56 00:03:11,600 --> 00:03:13,720 Speaker 1: tell me, if you agree to me, it's kind of 57 00:03:13,760 --> 00:03:20,400 Speaker 1: like playing Tetris, and Tetris Tetris is the only video 58 00:03:20,440 --> 00:03:23,880 Speaker 1: game I have ever been even remotely good at. My 59 00:03:24,000 --> 00:03:26,240 Speaker 1: kids are like, mom, Tetris. I don't know. I just 60 00:03:26,320 --> 00:03:29,000 Speaker 1: I love puzzles, and so to me, loading the dishwasher 61 00:03:29,040 --> 00:03:31,840 Speaker 1: is like a challenge, how many dishes can I get 62 00:03:31,880 --> 00:03:36,840 Speaker 1: in this dishwasher. My husband doesn't like loading the dishwasher. 63 00:03:36,840 --> 00:03:39,400 Speaker 1: In fact, he usually chooses to just hand wash everything. 64 00:03:39,440 --> 00:03:41,640 Speaker 1: I don't know. He's not good at puzzles, so maybe 65 00:03:41,640 --> 00:03:44,360 Speaker 1: that's one reason. But also he grew up in one 66 00:03:44,400 --> 00:03:47,560 Speaker 1: of those houses where they had a dishwasher, but they 67 00:03:47,600 --> 00:03:51,080 Speaker 1: didn't use it anybody, something about his dad not wanting 68 00:03:51,120 --> 00:03:53,120 Speaker 1: to wear it out, or they didn't think it cleaned 69 00:03:53,160 --> 00:03:55,360 Speaker 1: as good, or I don't know anybody else. You grew 70 00:03:55,440 --> 00:03:58,040 Speaker 1: up in a house where you okay, okay, Well, there's 71 00:03:58,080 --> 00:04:00,520 Speaker 1: this thing that happens to me. I don't know when 72 00:04:00,520 --> 00:04:03,160 Speaker 1: I'm going to learn my lesson, but I will load 73 00:04:03,200 --> 00:04:05,800 Speaker 1: the dishwasher after dinner, and I will know in my 74 00:04:05,920 --> 00:04:08,800 Speaker 1: heart this dishwasher is full enough, and you need to 75 00:04:08,840 --> 00:04:11,680 Speaker 1: go ahead, put this oapen and run the cycle. But 76 00:04:12,280 --> 00:04:17,240 Speaker 1: inevitably I will decide, no, I'm gonna wait till bedtime, 77 00:04:17,400 --> 00:04:19,960 Speaker 1: because there are a couple of boys that live in 78 00:04:20,000 --> 00:04:23,960 Speaker 1: my house, and they always come in after dinner and 79 00:04:24,000 --> 00:04:25,919 Speaker 1: they have a bowl of cereal or they have a 80 00:04:25,920 --> 00:04:28,599 Speaker 1: bowl of Ramen noodles, And I just want all the 81 00:04:28,640 --> 00:04:30,680 Speaker 1: dishes to be in the dishwasher and all of them 82 00:04:30,680 --> 00:04:34,599 Speaker 1: to get clean, right. But I always forget, and the 83 00:04:34,640 --> 00:04:37,520 Speaker 1: next morning I will open up the dishwasher, and always 84 00:04:37,520 --> 00:04:40,080 Speaker 1: on that night when we had salmon, you know, and 85 00:04:40,120 --> 00:04:42,080 Speaker 1: I'll open up the dish and it will smell so 86 00:04:42,279 --> 00:04:44,320 Speaker 1: bad and I'll be so mad at myself. When am 87 00:04:44,360 --> 00:04:46,960 Speaker 1: I going to learn to just run the cycle? I 88 00:04:47,000 --> 00:04:48,760 Speaker 1: know this is silly, and you're probably going like, where's 89 00:04:48,800 --> 00:04:51,479 Speaker 1: she going with this? Pastor Steven is way funnier. And 90 00:04:51,560 --> 00:04:55,040 Speaker 1: if your first time guest just come back next week, 91 00:04:55,440 --> 00:04:59,080 Speaker 1: he'll be here and it'll be amazing. Okay, But I 92 00:04:59,120 --> 00:05:01,120 Speaker 1: do have a point. I do. I want to talk 93 00:05:01,120 --> 00:05:03,680 Speaker 1: about a different kind of cycle today. And so the 94 00:05:03,720 --> 00:05:07,360 Speaker 1: title of my message is the hope cycle. So if 95 00:05:07,400 --> 00:05:09,640 Speaker 1: you have a Bible, would you turn with me to 96 00:05:09,920 --> 00:05:13,799 Speaker 1: Romans chapter five, and I want to read a passage 97 00:05:13,800 --> 00:05:19,240 Speaker 1: of scripture Romans chapter five. Starting in verse one, it says, Therefore, 98 00:05:19,800 --> 00:05:23,080 Speaker 1: since we have been justified through faith, we have peace 99 00:05:23,160 --> 00:05:26,120 Speaker 1: with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we 100 00:05:26,200 --> 00:05:29,640 Speaker 1: have gained access by faith into this grace in which 101 00:05:29,680 --> 00:05:32,880 Speaker 1: we now stand. And we boast in the hope of 102 00:05:32,920 --> 00:05:36,000 Speaker 1: the glory of God. Not only so, but we also 103 00:05:36,080 --> 00:05:41,920 Speaker 1: glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance, perseverance, 104 00:05:42,160 --> 00:05:46,160 Speaker 1: character and character hope, and hope does not put us 105 00:05:46,200 --> 00:05:49,679 Speaker 1: to shame, because God's love has been poured out into 106 00:05:49,720 --> 00:05:52,680 Speaker 1: our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given 107 00:05:53,000 --> 00:05:55,560 Speaker 1: to us. Will you pray with me? Lord? We thank 108 00:05:55,600 --> 00:05:58,760 Speaker 1: you for your word. We thank you that you speak 109 00:05:58,800 --> 00:06:01,800 Speaker 1: to us, and so today I ask that we would 110 00:06:01,839 --> 00:06:04,159 Speaker 1: open up our hearts to hear what you have to say. 111 00:06:04,200 --> 00:06:07,600 Speaker 1: Would you speak through me in this moment in Jesus name, Amen. 112 00:06:08,839 --> 00:06:10,880 Speaker 1: I thought I would teach a little bit today. Some 113 00:06:10,920 --> 00:06:12,640 Speaker 1: of you may not know that I have a degree 114 00:06:12,640 --> 00:06:14,680 Speaker 1: in elementary ed and so I thought it would be 115 00:06:14,680 --> 00:06:17,200 Speaker 1: fun if I brought out a blackboard. Now, this is 116 00:06:17,240 --> 00:06:20,159 Speaker 1: not the blackboard that I used fifteen years ago in 117 00:06:20,200 --> 00:06:22,640 Speaker 1: public school. It's actually kind of a fancy one. But 118 00:06:23,279 --> 00:06:26,839 Speaker 1: I want to draw out for you this hope cycle 119 00:06:27,080 --> 00:06:29,720 Speaker 1: that just leapt off the page for me when I 120 00:06:29,760 --> 00:06:33,279 Speaker 1: was reading Romans five. So Paul gives us this hope cycle. 121 00:06:33,279 --> 00:06:35,480 Speaker 1: I have some little girly ass and give me some 122 00:06:35,520 --> 00:06:38,280 Speaker 1: gurly colors up here. So Paul tells us that we 123 00:06:38,800 --> 00:06:44,000 Speaker 1: hope in the glory of God. And then he says, 124 00:06:44,480 --> 00:06:55,080 Speaker 1: not only this, but you also glory in your sufferings. Sorry, 125 00:06:55,080 --> 00:06:56,960 Speaker 1: if my handwriting is a little bad, you would be 126 00:06:57,000 --> 00:06:58,680 Speaker 1: nervous if you were doing this in front of all 127 00:06:58,720 --> 00:07:11,840 Speaker 1: these people too. And our sufferings produce perseverance. I've spelled 128 00:07:11,880 --> 00:07:25,840 Speaker 1: it right every time. Perseverance, character, and character. Hope. This 129 00:07:25,880 --> 00:07:29,640 Speaker 1: is the hope cycle. All of us, as believers, we 130 00:07:29,800 --> 00:07:32,680 Speaker 1: have this hope, Romans five tells us. And this is 131 00:07:32,720 --> 00:07:35,960 Speaker 1: not just a generic hope. Generic hope is good. Generic 132 00:07:36,000 --> 00:07:38,920 Speaker 1: hope is that, like I hope my situation will get better, 133 00:07:39,040 --> 00:07:42,320 Speaker 1: or I hope that my spouse will change, or I 134 00:07:42,400 --> 00:07:44,520 Speaker 1: hope that my help will improve. I hope that my 135 00:07:44,680 --> 00:07:47,880 Speaker 1: children write me a card for Mother's Day. You can 136 00:07:47,920 --> 00:07:50,680 Speaker 1: always hope for these sort of things, But that's not 137 00:07:50,760 --> 00:07:53,800 Speaker 1: the hope that Romans five is talking about. Romans five 138 00:07:53,880 --> 00:07:56,680 Speaker 1: is talking about a special hope. Paul tells us that 139 00:07:56,760 --> 00:08:00,560 Speaker 1: our hope is in the glory of God. This is 140 00:08:00,600 --> 00:08:03,760 Speaker 1: that Romans eight twenty eight hope. Do you know that verse? 141 00:08:03,800 --> 00:08:06,080 Speaker 1: It says God works all things to the good of 142 00:08:06,120 --> 00:08:10,160 Speaker 1: those who love him. This is the belief that God 143 00:08:10,280 --> 00:08:16,240 Speaker 1: takes everything that happens to me, every suffering, every disappointment, 144 00:08:16,600 --> 00:08:20,400 Speaker 1: every mistake, and he works it for his good. Now 145 00:08:20,400 --> 00:08:22,680 Speaker 1: it may not be my good, but he works it 146 00:08:22,800 --> 00:08:24,480 Speaker 1: for his good. It may not turn out the way 147 00:08:24,760 --> 00:08:26,880 Speaker 1: I thought it would turn out. I may not even 148 00:08:27,120 --> 00:08:31,040 Speaker 1: ever get to see the good, but I can hope 149 00:08:31,320 --> 00:08:34,400 Speaker 1: that He is working all of these things in my 150 00:08:34,559 --> 00:08:40,000 Speaker 1: life for his glory. We all believe that deep down somewhere, 151 00:08:40,040 --> 00:08:43,040 Speaker 1: but then we kind of forget because we head into 152 00:08:43,120 --> 00:08:48,280 Speaker 1: a season of suffering. Now, unfortunately, one thing that is 153 00:08:48,320 --> 00:08:52,400 Speaker 1: guaranteed in life is suffering. Being a follower of Christ 154 00:08:52,679 --> 00:08:55,680 Speaker 1: does not exempt me from suffering. Being a good person, 155 00:08:56,040 --> 00:08:59,040 Speaker 1: or a nice person, or following all of the rules 156 00:08:59,280 --> 00:09:04,520 Speaker 1: does not exempt you from suffering. Suffering is a part 157 00:09:04,840 --> 00:09:08,160 Speaker 1: of life. But remember, as followers of Christ, we have 158 00:09:08,440 --> 00:09:11,760 Speaker 1: this hope. So we operate out of the assumption that 159 00:09:12,360 --> 00:09:14,640 Speaker 1: God is working all of these things for our good. 160 00:09:14,640 --> 00:09:16,920 Speaker 1: And Paul tells us that part of that good is 161 00:09:16,960 --> 00:09:22,959 Speaker 1: that our suffering produces perseverance. Perseverance is when you keep 162 00:09:23,000 --> 00:09:26,360 Speaker 1: going even when you don't think that you can. Have 163 00:09:26,440 --> 00:09:29,080 Speaker 1: you ever been in a situation where you just had 164 00:09:29,120 --> 00:09:31,840 Speaker 1: to keep putting one foot in front of the other 165 00:09:32,080 --> 00:09:34,440 Speaker 1: and you have no idea how you were doing it, 166 00:09:34,480 --> 00:09:37,520 Speaker 1: but you were able to keep going. I feel like, moms, 167 00:09:37,559 --> 00:09:40,920 Speaker 1: we know a lot about perseverance, right, I mean, we 168 00:09:40,920 --> 00:09:45,319 Speaker 1: can operate under very little sleep, and when we're sick, 169 00:09:46,000 --> 00:09:51,160 Speaker 1: we have to keep going. Not everybody has to do that, 170 00:09:51,400 --> 00:09:54,520 Speaker 1: but moms, we have to keep going. And and you know, 171 00:09:54,600 --> 00:09:57,600 Speaker 1: for me, this week, I went through a lot of things. 172 00:09:57,640 --> 00:09:59,800 Speaker 1: I was preparing this sermon and the sort of a 173 00:09:59,840 --> 00:10:05,000 Speaker 1: time was suffering for me, and it's something abnormal that 174 00:10:05,040 --> 00:10:07,440 Speaker 1: I don't normally do. And then on top of that, 175 00:10:07,520 --> 00:10:11,280 Speaker 1: it just felt like things were not going so well 176 00:10:11,320 --> 00:10:13,320 Speaker 1: in my family with my kids. I had a meeting 177 00:10:13,720 --> 00:10:16,680 Speaker 1: at school for one of my children, and then another 178 00:10:16,720 --> 00:10:21,200 Speaker 1: one of my children just randomly threw up all over 179 00:10:21,240 --> 00:10:25,280 Speaker 1: the bathroom floor. I was I was downstairs exercising and 180 00:10:25,440 --> 00:10:29,280 Speaker 1: Abby came to me and she said, Mom, Graham just 181 00:10:29,320 --> 00:10:32,240 Speaker 1: threw up all over the bathroom floor and it's gross. 182 00:10:32,920 --> 00:10:36,440 Speaker 1: It's like awesome. And I get up there and it 183 00:10:36,480 --> 00:10:43,760 Speaker 1: was gross, like our air vents are on the floor. Yeah, 184 00:10:43,800 --> 00:10:47,520 Speaker 1: it was gross. And then another one of my kids 185 00:10:47,600 --> 00:10:49,920 Speaker 1: like it was just really good. Can I get a 186 00:10:49,920 --> 00:10:52,280 Speaker 1: break here? Another one of my kids are having breathing issues. 187 00:10:52,280 --> 00:10:55,160 Speaker 1: So I'm doing breathing treatments and I'm working on my message. 188 00:10:55,160 --> 00:10:57,480 Speaker 1: And you, as moms, we had to push through a lot. 189 00:10:57,520 --> 00:11:00,360 Speaker 1: But It's not only moms who have to push through. 190 00:11:00,400 --> 00:11:04,200 Speaker 1: We all have to keep going to work every day 191 00:11:04,520 --> 00:11:07,319 Speaker 1: when we're sick, when we're struggling, because how many of 192 00:11:07,360 --> 00:11:11,280 Speaker 1: you know your bills don't just pay themselves. This is perseverance. 193 00:11:11,400 --> 00:11:14,679 Speaker 1: Life does not just stop because you're going through a 194 00:11:14,720 --> 00:11:18,120 Speaker 1: difficult season. But the beauty of perseverance is that you 195 00:11:18,160 --> 00:11:21,880 Speaker 1: get to find out how strong you really are. You 196 00:11:21,960 --> 00:11:24,480 Speaker 1: tap into that strength that you didn't know you had, 197 00:11:24,720 --> 00:11:31,280 Speaker 1: and then perseverance leads us to character. So just as 198 00:11:31,280 --> 00:11:34,160 Speaker 1: you get on the other side of this trial, you 199 00:11:34,240 --> 00:11:37,560 Speaker 1: start to realize that you're stronger now than you ever 200 00:11:37,640 --> 00:11:41,319 Speaker 1: were before, because before that's suffering, and you're wiser now, 201 00:11:41,480 --> 00:11:44,920 Speaker 1: and you're kinder now, and you're more compassionate because God 202 00:11:45,160 --> 00:11:49,000 Speaker 1: has sustained you through something He got you through, and 203 00:11:49,160 --> 00:11:54,000 Speaker 1: now you have more hope. This is the hope cycle. 204 00:11:56,559 --> 00:12:01,679 Speaker 1: Several years ago, I endured one of these major cycles 205 00:12:01,760 --> 00:12:05,800 Speaker 1: when the local news started running a series of stories 206 00:12:06,120 --> 00:12:09,320 Speaker 1: on my husband and our church here in Charlotte, and 207 00:12:10,000 --> 00:12:13,320 Speaker 1: I was so hurt because the things that they were 208 00:12:13,400 --> 00:12:17,040 Speaker 1: reporting about us were exaggerated and a lot of it 209 00:12:17,120 --> 00:12:20,880 Speaker 1: was just simply not true. And these stories would run 210 00:12:20,920 --> 00:12:25,240 Speaker 1: on and off for months, and I remember waking up 211 00:12:25,280 --> 00:12:28,800 Speaker 1: in the morning and just opening my eyes and realizing 212 00:12:28,840 --> 00:12:31,800 Speaker 1: that this nightmare was still going on, that it wasn't 213 00:12:31,800 --> 00:12:34,240 Speaker 1: a bad dream, that this was a reality. Do you 214 00:12:34,320 --> 00:12:36,880 Speaker 1: know that feeling when you open your eyes in the 215 00:12:36,920 --> 00:12:40,640 Speaker 1: morning and immediately the anxiety just sets in because you 216 00:12:40,760 --> 00:12:44,440 Speaker 1: remember the situation that you're going through. And just when 217 00:12:44,480 --> 00:12:46,960 Speaker 1: I would think they cannot have any more news or 218 00:12:47,040 --> 00:12:49,240 Speaker 1: your stories to make up about us, they would run 219 00:12:49,240 --> 00:12:52,679 Speaker 1: another story and the paper would pick it up, and 220 00:12:52,720 --> 00:12:58,199 Speaker 1: then the comments would start and the comments, the freaking comments, 221 00:12:58,320 --> 00:13:03,880 Speaker 1: they were so terrible. Don't recomments, don't comment. Just my 222 00:13:03,960 --> 00:13:06,280 Speaker 1: mom always said, if you can't say something nice, don't 223 00:13:06,280 --> 00:13:10,560 Speaker 1: say something at all. Right, Sorry, it's very raw. It's 224 00:13:10,600 --> 00:13:14,280 Speaker 1: coming back for me. So I remember right around my 225 00:13:14,360 --> 00:13:18,719 Speaker 1: husband's birthday, we were watching the opening ceremony for the Olympics, 226 00:13:19,559 --> 00:13:22,920 Speaker 1: and the local news kept running this commercial, this teaser 227 00:13:22,960 --> 00:13:25,600 Speaker 1: to get you to stay on and watch the eleven 228 00:13:25,600 --> 00:13:28,280 Speaker 1: o'clock news, and I will never forget it. And they 229 00:13:28,320 --> 00:13:30,600 Speaker 1: did it like twelve times, and it just was seered 230 00:13:30,600 --> 00:13:34,320 Speaker 1: into my brain. And here's what they kept saying. Steven Ferdick, 231 00:13:34,960 --> 00:13:38,920 Speaker 1: pastor of local mega church and New York Times best 232 00:13:39,000 --> 00:13:47,080 Speaker 1: selling author or is he? The story was suggesting that 233 00:13:47,160 --> 00:13:49,880 Speaker 1: he had cheated his way onto the Times list, and 234 00:13:50,080 --> 00:13:53,000 Speaker 1: I was so hurt. I was hurt for our church 235 00:13:53,080 --> 00:13:55,959 Speaker 1: members who were hearing these things and having to sort 236 00:13:56,040 --> 00:13:59,440 Speaker 1: out what the truth was. I was hurt for my husband, 237 00:13:59,679 --> 00:14:03,680 Speaker 1: who not only did he not cheat to get onto 238 00:14:03,720 --> 00:14:06,560 Speaker 1: this list, but he actually gave up sales so that 239 00:14:06,679 --> 00:14:08,960 Speaker 1: his book could be sold to our church members at 240 00:14:08,960 --> 00:14:12,880 Speaker 1: our church for a discounted rate. It was absolutely crushing 241 00:14:12,920 --> 00:14:17,359 Speaker 1: for me, as his wife, to watch my husband's integrity 242 00:14:17,720 --> 00:14:21,360 Speaker 1: come into question. And he never defended himself. He just 243 00:14:21,480 --> 00:14:25,280 Speaker 1: kept ministering to people week after week, this is your 244 00:14:25,360 --> 00:14:34,800 Speaker 1: pastor so. At different points during this season, I remember 245 00:14:35,480 --> 00:14:39,800 Speaker 1: driving to church and just wondering if people were even 246 00:14:39,840 --> 00:14:43,080 Speaker 1: going to come. And I remember not wanting to walk 247 00:14:43,120 --> 00:14:46,600 Speaker 1: my children into school because they didn't know what people 248 00:14:46,640 --> 00:14:49,320 Speaker 1: had heard or read or commented or what they thought 249 00:14:49,320 --> 00:14:51,400 Speaker 1: about me. And I remember not wanting to go play 250 00:14:51,520 --> 00:14:55,280 Speaker 1: tennis with my tennis team. I was suffering, But you 251 00:14:55,360 --> 00:14:58,280 Speaker 1: know what I did. I walked my kids into school 252 00:14:58,320 --> 00:15:00,080 Speaker 1: with my head held high. I don't know how I 253 00:15:00,000 --> 00:15:02,240 Speaker 1: I did, but I did. And I kept playing tennis, 254 00:15:02,240 --> 00:15:03,960 Speaker 1: although not very well, but that had nothing to do 255 00:15:04,000 --> 00:15:08,840 Speaker 1: with the situation. And I kept coming to church and 256 00:15:08,920 --> 00:15:13,880 Speaker 1: you did too, right. I just kept going, and I 257 00:15:14,000 --> 00:15:19,240 Speaker 1: remember feeling God's presence almost as if it was tangible. 258 00:15:19,320 --> 00:15:22,120 Speaker 1: I mean, even in this moment, I can remember the 259 00:15:22,240 --> 00:15:25,960 Speaker 1: promises that God spoke to me. There was a source 260 00:15:26,160 --> 00:15:30,160 Speaker 1: of strength there that I experienced that I had never 261 00:15:30,280 --> 00:15:34,720 Speaker 1: before known in my life. Did God cause that reporter 262 00:15:35,200 --> 00:15:39,160 Speaker 1: to do those stories on us? No? But did God 263 00:15:39,440 --> 00:15:45,600 Speaker 1: use it to build endurance in me? Absolutely? He was 264 00:15:45,720 --> 00:15:51,280 Speaker 1: building my character. The situation forced me to place my 265 00:15:51,520 --> 00:15:56,720 Speaker 1: church and our ministry and our reputation in his hands. 266 00:15:56,960 --> 00:15:59,880 Speaker 1: And I'm stronger for it today, and I'm wiser for 267 00:16:00,200 --> 00:16:07,600 Speaker 1: it today. And I never read newspaper comments. So there's 268 00:16:07,680 --> 00:16:12,080 Speaker 1: this thing that each time I go through this cycle, 269 00:16:12,480 --> 00:16:16,040 Speaker 1: my hope gets stronger. Where's my pen? It's like this, 270 00:16:16,600 --> 00:16:20,400 Speaker 1: Every time that I cycle, my hope it gets bigger, 271 00:16:20,840 --> 00:16:25,160 Speaker 1: it gets stronger because I've experienced it and I felt it, 272 00:16:25,440 --> 00:16:27,400 Speaker 1: and I know that God was with me, and I 273 00:16:27,440 --> 00:16:30,240 Speaker 1: know He's gonna be with me. There's a newer translation 274 00:16:30,320 --> 00:16:32,720 Speaker 1: of the Bible, the Passion translation, and it actually says, 275 00:16:33,000 --> 00:16:38,200 Speaker 1: and proven character leads us back to hope. So here's 276 00:16:38,240 --> 00:16:41,920 Speaker 1: the thing. When the cycle begins again, because it will, 277 00:16:42,640 --> 00:16:48,440 Speaker 1: I go into it stronger, I go into it more hopeful. Now, 278 00:16:49,160 --> 00:16:51,960 Speaker 1: wouldn't it be nice if we only had to deal 279 00:16:52,000 --> 00:16:56,360 Speaker 1: with one cycle at a time, But the reality is 280 00:16:56,720 --> 00:17:00,360 Speaker 1: that we have many cycles going on simultaneous, and they 281 00:17:00,400 --> 00:17:03,840 Speaker 1: can be all different sizes. So this large one might 282 00:17:03,880 --> 00:17:07,280 Speaker 1: be an ongoing issue for you. Maybe you have a 283 00:17:07,320 --> 00:17:10,159 Speaker 1: health issue, or maybe you have something going on in 284 00:17:10,200 --> 00:17:13,960 Speaker 1: your marriage or whatever. It's an ongoing it's a big one. 285 00:17:14,320 --> 00:17:18,600 Speaker 1: But then we also have these smaller ones. So maybe 286 00:17:19,000 --> 00:17:22,600 Speaker 1: over here you have a bill that you don't know 287 00:17:22,640 --> 00:17:26,919 Speaker 1: how you're going to pay. And then maybe one of 288 00:17:26,960 --> 00:17:31,200 Speaker 1: your children is just struggling in school this year. They're 289 00:17:31,240 --> 00:17:33,920 Speaker 1: having a hard time clicking with their teacher. Their grades 290 00:17:33,920 --> 00:17:37,000 Speaker 1: aren't good, So maybe that's an issue that you're going through. 291 00:17:37,160 --> 00:17:39,679 Speaker 1: And then maybe you have just a little one, like 292 00:17:39,720 --> 00:17:42,640 Speaker 1: a one that happens all in one day and your 293 00:17:42,840 --> 00:17:46,600 Speaker 1: child throws up in the air conditioning vent. That's gonna 294 00:17:46,680 --> 00:17:50,399 Speaker 1: right yuck. Just a little one. And then maybe you 295 00:17:50,480 --> 00:17:53,480 Speaker 1: have one that's you know, a little bit bigger, that 296 00:17:53,720 --> 00:17:57,639 Speaker 1: is a relationship issue, maybe something that you have going 297 00:17:57,720 --> 00:18:00,840 Speaker 1: on with a friend in your life. And then maybe 298 00:18:00,880 --> 00:18:03,320 Speaker 1: you're a student and you have a class that you're 299 00:18:03,359 --> 00:18:07,080 Speaker 1: taking and you have no idea how you are going 300 00:18:07,280 --> 00:18:10,920 Speaker 1: to pass this class. I have no idea how I 301 00:18:10,960 --> 00:18:13,280 Speaker 1: passed physical science in college, as it was a miracle 302 00:18:13,280 --> 00:18:19,560 Speaker 1: of God. So remember, each trial, each problem, each suffering 303 00:18:20,119 --> 00:18:24,520 Speaker 1: is running the cycle. And each cycle is not only 304 00:18:24,560 --> 00:18:28,520 Speaker 1: building up your perseverance and your character, but they are 305 00:18:28,680 --> 00:18:33,119 Speaker 1: feeding into one another, and they're feeding into this big 306 00:18:33,160 --> 00:18:36,120 Speaker 1: situation that's going on in your life. So maybe from 307 00:18:36,160 --> 00:18:42,520 Speaker 1: this situation you learned from this bill, you learned self control. 308 00:18:42,800 --> 00:18:45,159 Speaker 1: Like you just you have to budget. There was no 309 00:18:45,200 --> 00:18:47,560 Speaker 1: way you could pay that bill if you didn't cut 310 00:18:47,560 --> 00:18:49,960 Speaker 1: some things out. So you learned self control in that fit. 311 00:18:50,080 --> 00:18:53,000 Speaker 1: And maybe in this situation you learn to pray, and 312 00:18:53,040 --> 00:18:55,639 Speaker 1: maybe you learn when to speak up and when to 313 00:18:55,680 --> 00:18:58,480 Speaker 1: keep your mouth shut. So that's building into that situation. 314 00:18:58,720 --> 00:19:00,800 Speaker 1: And maybe from this one just learn, you know what, 315 00:19:00,880 --> 00:19:03,720 Speaker 1: I can do gross things without complaining. It wasn't that bad. 316 00:19:03,760 --> 00:19:06,280 Speaker 1: I got it done, So that's building into that. Maybe 317 00:19:06,280 --> 00:19:09,080 Speaker 1: with your friend, you learn the power of an apology 318 00:19:09,440 --> 00:19:13,120 Speaker 1: and how that major relationship better. Maybe in this class 319 00:19:13,200 --> 00:19:15,760 Speaker 1: you're learning discipline, You're learning that you're gonna have to 320 00:19:16,400 --> 00:19:20,240 Speaker 1: work and study and ask for help. So here I 321 00:19:20,280 --> 00:19:23,760 Speaker 1: am in this big one, but my hope is being 322 00:19:23,880 --> 00:19:25,840 Speaker 1: built up and I don't know how I'm gonna make 323 00:19:25,880 --> 00:19:28,720 Speaker 1: it through this one, but I know that I made 324 00:19:28,760 --> 00:19:33,360 Speaker 1: it through before, and this time my hope is stronger. 325 00:19:34,560 --> 00:19:36,680 Speaker 1: I almost called this sermon thank you next. You know, 326 00:19:36,720 --> 00:19:38,840 Speaker 1: my husband always has multiple titles. I thought that might 327 00:19:38,840 --> 00:19:41,199 Speaker 1: have been a good one. What I want you to 328 00:19:41,240 --> 00:19:44,920 Speaker 1: know today is that you have got to run the cycle. 329 00:19:45,680 --> 00:19:50,320 Speaker 1: Don't get stuck in the suffering stage. The more that 330 00:19:50,359 --> 00:19:53,720 Speaker 1: you lean into this process, the more that you will 331 00:19:53,720 --> 00:19:55,760 Speaker 1: be able to gain from it. There are a few 332 00:19:55,800 --> 00:19:58,960 Speaker 1: things that will get you stuck in this in this 333 00:19:59,040 --> 00:20:01,560 Speaker 1: suffering stage that will like break up your cycle. And 334 00:20:01,560 --> 00:20:02,840 Speaker 1: I don't want to spend a lot of time talking 335 00:20:02,880 --> 00:20:05,439 Speaker 1: about it because I don't like negative things, but we should, 336 00:20:05,480 --> 00:20:08,200 Speaker 1: you know, actually talk about them. Sometimes one of those 337 00:20:08,200 --> 00:20:14,800 Speaker 1: things is comparison. Nobody understands, nobody's ever felt this way before, Nobody, 338 00:20:15,000 --> 00:20:18,240 Speaker 1: nobody can has felt the pain that I feel. Or 339 00:20:18,280 --> 00:20:21,800 Speaker 1: maybe we complain and we think, why is this happening 340 00:20:21,840 --> 00:20:26,199 Speaker 1: to me? I mean me, why again, God, you know 341 00:20:26,440 --> 00:20:29,840 Speaker 1: I can't do this. Or maybe we blame because there's 342 00:20:29,840 --> 00:20:32,840 Speaker 1: something in our minds that wants to have a reason 343 00:20:33,280 --> 00:20:35,679 Speaker 1: for our pain and a reason for our suffering. So 344 00:20:35,720 --> 00:20:37,600 Speaker 1: the easiest thing to do is just say, well, if 345 00:20:37,600 --> 00:20:40,200 Speaker 1: my husband hadn't have done what he did, I wouldn't 346 00:20:40,240 --> 00:20:43,560 Speaker 1: be in this position. Or if my parents had fed 347 00:20:43,640 --> 00:20:48,240 Speaker 1: me healthier food, then I wouldn't be overweight, or whatever 348 00:20:48,359 --> 00:20:51,440 Speaker 1: your situation is. It's so easy to blame. And then 349 00:20:51,440 --> 00:20:54,280 Speaker 1: sometimes we just get angry. If you've ever been angry 350 00:20:54,320 --> 00:20:58,440 Speaker 1: with God, just like, God, why did you let this 351 00:20:58,840 --> 00:21:03,080 Speaker 1: happen to me? These things are all valid ways to feel, 352 00:21:03,359 --> 00:21:06,879 Speaker 1: and some days you have to feel all of these things. 353 00:21:07,160 --> 00:21:09,719 Speaker 1: Some days you can't get out of the bed, and 354 00:21:09,760 --> 00:21:13,160 Speaker 1: you're hurt and you're angry, and you're blaming because your 355 00:21:13,200 --> 00:21:16,720 Speaker 1: pain is real, and you will want to numb. But 356 00:21:16,920 --> 00:21:22,160 Speaker 1: I'm telling you be very careful, don't stay here too long, 357 00:21:22,440 --> 00:21:26,400 Speaker 1: because these thoughts and these attitudes will get you stuck, 358 00:21:26,800 --> 00:21:29,960 Speaker 1: and then you'll become a resentful person, and then you'll 359 00:21:30,000 --> 00:21:33,080 Speaker 1: become a bitter person, and then you're gonna smell like 360 00:21:33,119 --> 00:21:38,480 Speaker 1: that dishwasher because you got stuck. Don't prolong the process 361 00:21:38,640 --> 00:21:43,240 Speaker 1: of what God wants to do in your life. Yes, 362 00:21:43,400 --> 00:21:47,840 Speaker 1: it hurts, but did you know that complaining? I know 363 00:21:47,920 --> 00:21:52,119 Speaker 1: you know this complaining costs Israel forty years in the desert. 364 00:21:52,320 --> 00:21:55,239 Speaker 1: It was supposed to be a two week journey and 365 00:21:55,320 --> 00:21:58,800 Speaker 1: they ended up being there forty years because of complaining. 366 00:21:59,359 --> 00:22:02,439 Speaker 1: I know it hurts. I know what it feels like 367 00:22:02,720 --> 00:22:05,560 Speaker 1: to not want to get out of bed and continue 368 00:22:05,800 --> 00:22:09,560 Speaker 1: fighting this situation that seems like it's never going to end. 369 00:22:09,840 --> 00:22:12,160 Speaker 1: I know what it feels like to have a wave 370 00:22:12,200 --> 00:22:14,800 Speaker 1: of anxiety hit you so hard that you have to 371 00:22:14,840 --> 00:22:18,119 Speaker 1: sneak into the bathroom just to make it through the moment. 372 00:22:18,320 --> 00:22:21,879 Speaker 1: I know, I know what it feels like to not 373 00:22:22,080 --> 00:22:24,879 Speaker 1: want to come to church because I don't want to 374 00:22:24,920 --> 00:22:27,159 Speaker 1: look anyone in the eyes. I don't want them to 375 00:22:27,240 --> 00:22:29,960 Speaker 1: see my pain. And I know that Pastor Stephen is 376 00:22:30,000 --> 00:22:31,960 Speaker 1: going to make me look at my neighbor and say 377 00:22:32,000 --> 00:22:37,920 Speaker 1: something to them. But I know from experience that stopping 378 00:22:38,480 --> 00:22:42,440 Speaker 1: only delays the process and keeps me from what God 379 00:22:42,720 --> 00:22:47,280 Speaker 1: has for me. So just like there are some things 380 00:22:47,440 --> 00:22:50,119 Speaker 1: that will slow your cycle down, there are also some 381 00:22:50,240 --> 00:22:53,639 Speaker 1: things that will give you momentum. One of those things 382 00:22:53,680 --> 00:22:58,600 Speaker 1: for me is church. You're here, This is the best 383 00:22:58,640 --> 00:23:01,919 Speaker 1: place that you can be when you're suffering. Maybe I 384 00:23:01,920 --> 00:23:05,680 Speaker 1: shouldn't have told you it's so true. Maybe I shouldn't 385 00:23:05,720 --> 00:23:08,040 Speaker 1: have told you that as a pastor's wife that I 386 00:23:08,119 --> 00:23:10,879 Speaker 1: have days where I don't want to come to church. 387 00:23:11,160 --> 00:23:13,720 Speaker 1: But I hope that that encourages you to know that 388 00:23:13,800 --> 00:23:17,280 Speaker 1: it is totally normal that when you're hurting, you are 389 00:23:17,320 --> 00:23:19,560 Speaker 1: and you're struggling, that you're not gonna want to come 390 00:23:19,560 --> 00:23:21,840 Speaker 1: to church. The pool is always going to be for 391 00:23:21,920 --> 00:23:25,240 Speaker 1: you to stay home, don't get dressed, you can't see people. 392 00:23:25,520 --> 00:23:28,440 Speaker 1: This is your only day to rest, But it is here. 393 00:23:28,600 --> 00:23:32,800 Speaker 1: Can anybody anybody agree with me that here is where 394 00:23:32,880 --> 00:23:37,360 Speaker 1: God meets with me, and God will speak to you 395 00:23:37,680 --> 00:23:41,560 Speaker 1: if you can just get here. I know that sometimes 396 00:23:41,240 --> 00:23:44,520 Speaker 1: the best you got is to open up your computer 397 00:23:44,600 --> 00:23:46,840 Speaker 1: and just watch online. I get it, and I know 398 00:23:46,920 --> 00:23:48,720 Speaker 1: that some of you that watch online every week you 399 00:23:48,760 --> 00:23:51,439 Speaker 1: don't have an elevation location that you can come to. 400 00:23:51,560 --> 00:23:54,639 Speaker 1: But I got to tell you there is something special 401 00:23:55,000 --> 00:23:58,919 Speaker 1: about coming together with a body of believers and getting 402 00:23:59,000 --> 00:24:03,440 Speaker 1: in this faith environment and being able to pull from 403 00:24:03,480 --> 00:24:06,800 Speaker 1: her faith and from his faith and God will just 404 00:24:06,960 --> 00:24:10,080 Speaker 1: give you a word that will get you through the 405 00:24:10,119 --> 00:24:13,720 Speaker 1: next moment, that next step. You know, another thing that 406 00:24:13,760 --> 00:24:17,199 Speaker 1: will give you momentum is having the right voices in 407 00:24:17,240 --> 00:24:21,639 Speaker 1: your life. Sometimes the last thing you want to do 408 00:24:21,720 --> 00:24:24,640 Speaker 1: when you're suffering is to tell someone else what you're 409 00:24:24,680 --> 00:24:27,560 Speaker 1: going through. I know how that feels. Maybe sometimes you 410 00:24:27,720 --> 00:24:31,000 Speaker 1: just you feel shame over what's happening, where you just 411 00:24:31,040 --> 00:24:33,200 Speaker 1: feel to her you can't even talk about it, or 412 00:24:33,240 --> 00:24:36,919 Speaker 1: maybe you feel like nobody could possibly understand. But I 413 00:24:37,000 --> 00:24:40,760 Speaker 1: have been through some situations where the words and the 414 00:24:40,840 --> 00:24:44,160 Speaker 1: prayers and the encouragement of some of my friends were 415 00:24:44,200 --> 00:24:47,840 Speaker 1: just life to me. And I know that it's counterintuitive 416 00:24:48,080 --> 00:24:52,879 Speaker 1: that when you're here the instinct is to withdraw. But 417 00:24:53,000 --> 00:24:57,399 Speaker 1: when you are here and you open yourself up and 418 00:24:57,440 --> 00:25:00,320 Speaker 1: you're vulnerable with a person that you trust and you 419 00:25:00,400 --> 00:25:05,679 Speaker 1: say i'm hurting, I need help, you experience an intimacy 420 00:25:05,880 --> 00:25:09,720 Speaker 1: in this place with that friendship that you cannot experience 421 00:25:09,760 --> 00:25:14,280 Speaker 1: when everything is awesome. It's a special place when you 422 00:25:14,320 --> 00:25:18,800 Speaker 1: have the right people. Another thing that's small, but it's 423 00:25:19,040 --> 00:25:20,760 Speaker 1: huge for me, and I don't know if it is 424 00:25:20,800 --> 00:25:22,720 Speaker 1: for you too, But have any of you ever had 425 00:25:22,880 --> 00:25:26,440 Speaker 1: a song that just got you through a worship song. 426 00:25:28,600 --> 00:25:32,760 Speaker 1: We're so blessed to be able to have a church 427 00:25:33,080 --> 00:25:35,640 Speaker 1: that the songs that come out of this church, they're 428 00:25:35,760 --> 00:25:40,560 Speaker 1: just life giving for me. Unstoppable God was an anthem 429 00:25:40,880 --> 00:25:43,240 Speaker 1: for me during that time where the news media was 430 00:25:43,320 --> 00:25:47,360 Speaker 1: running all of those stories that I still to this day. 431 00:25:47,440 --> 00:25:50,920 Speaker 1: How many times have we sang Unstoppable God at Elevation Church? 432 00:25:51,040 --> 00:25:53,560 Speaker 1: And still every time they sing it, even if they 433 00:25:53,600 --> 00:25:56,680 Speaker 1: just do a little tag, I tear up because when 434 00:25:56,680 --> 00:26:01,520 Speaker 1: I sing that song, I remember the promises that God 435 00:26:01,560 --> 00:26:04,240 Speaker 1: spoke to me during that time. I can almost. It's 436 00:26:04,280 --> 00:26:06,920 Speaker 1: funny because songs they're kind of like smells. Have you 437 00:26:06,960 --> 00:26:08,960 Speaker 1: ever And all of a sudden, when they started playing 438 00:26:08,960 --> 00:26:12,239 Speaker 1: that song, you put yourself back in that moment and 439 00:26:12,280 --> 00:26:15,200 Speaker 1: you feel the pain, but then you feel the joy 440 00:26:15,240 --> 00:26:18,200 Speaker 1: and you feel the presence of God all at that time. 441 00:26:19,920 --> 00:26:22,760 Speaker 1: Get you a song, Get you a song that will 442 00:26:22,800 --> 00:26:24,880 Speaker 1: get you through this time. Do it again. I mean 443 00:26:24,920 --> 00:26:29,400 Speaker 1: that one works every time for every situation. A couple 444 00:26:29,440 --> 00:26:31,800 Speaker 1: of weeks ago, we sang the song this is how 445 00:26:31,800 --> 00:26:33,240 Speaker 1: I Fight My Battles. I don't know if that's the 446 00:26:33,240 --> 00:26:36,040 Speaker 1: title of it. It was exactly what I needed in 447 00:26:36,080 --> 00:26:38,080 Speaker 1: that moment. There are some things that you can do 448 00:26:38,119 --> 00:26:40,639 Speaker 1: that will give you momentum so that you can run 449 00:26:40,920 --> 00:26:45,760 Speaker 1: the cycle. Now, there's this story in John chapter nine 450 00:26:46,040 --> 00:26:49,000 Speaker 1: that I loved, the story of Jesus healing the man 451 00:26:49,080 --> 00:26:50,680 Speaker 1: who was born blind. I don't know if you've ever 452 00:26:50,680 --> 00:26:55,600 Speaker 1: read it before. I love John because John gives so 453 00:26:55,720 --> 00:26:58,000 Speaker 1: many details. The story is so long, and even when 454 00:26:58,000 --> 00:26:59,760 Speaker 1: I was preparing for this message, my husband was like, 455 00:26:59,760 --> 00:27:02,240 Speaker 1: you've be careful because that's a really long story. I 456 00:27:02,320 --> 00:27:05,080 Speaker 1: love long stories. I love details. John gives us details 457 00:27:05,080 --> 00:27:07,280 Speaker 1: that a lot of the other Gospels don't give. In fact, 458 00:27:07,320 --> 00:27:10,480 Speaker 1: my dream, I just have this dream that my husband 459 00:27:10,520 --> 00:27:14,080 Speaker 1: will look me in the eyes and he'll say, Holly, 460 00:27:14,920 --> 00:27:17,600 Speaker 1: please do not leave one detail out of this story. 461 00:27:17,840 --> 00:27:26,960 Speaker 1: Tell me everything still waiting Enneagram experts say it's called 462 00:27:27,040 --> 00:27:29,720 Speaker 1: epic talk style. That's what I have, epic talk style. 463 00:27:30,119 --> 00:27:32,200 Speaker 1: So I don't worry. I'm not going to read the 464 00:27:32,240 --> 00:27:34,600 Speaker 1: whole story. John also has a little bit of epic 465 00:27:34,600 --> 00:27:37,399 Speaker 1: talk story, but talk what did I say, talk style? 466 00:27:38,560 --> 00:27:40,080 Speaker 1: I'm just going to start out and read a couple 467 00:27:40,160 --> 00:27:43,919 Speaker 1: verses for you. In John nine, verse one, it says, 468 00:27:44,280 --> 00:27:47,360 Speaker 1: as he went along this talking about Jesus, he saw 469 00:27:47,400 --> 00:27:51,280 Speaker 1: a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him, Rabbi, 470 00:27:51,560 --> 00:27:54,919 Speaker 1: who's sin this man or his parents that he was 471 00:27:54,960 --> 00:27:57,600 Speaker 1: born blind? You see, we are just like the disciples. 472 00:27:57,720 --> 00:28:01,680 Speaker 1: We immediately ask the wrong question because we want an answer. 473 00:28:01,840 --> 00:28:04,879 Speaker 1: Whose fault is this Jesus? And Jesus looks back at 474 00:28:04,920 --> 00:28:08,439 Speaker 1: them and he says, neither this man nor his parents sinned, 475 00:28:08,720 --> 00:28:12,160 Speaker 1: said Jesus. But this happened so that the works of 476 00:28:12,280 --> 00:28:18,360 Speaker 1: God might be displayed in him. Jesus is saying, stop 477 00:28:18,720 --> 00:28:23,680 Speaker 1: trying to explain it. God will not be constrained by 478 00:28:23,720 --> 00:28:28,320 Speaker 1: our formulas. God is so much bigger than cause and effect. 479 00:28:30,119 --> 00:28:32,719 Speaker 1: And so Jesus is telling them this is not a 480 00:28:32,760 --> 00:28:35,879 Speaker 1: cause and effect situation. Take your eyes off of the 481 00:28:35,920 --> 00:28:39,480 Speaker 1: suffering of this man. And because I am doing something 482 00:28:39,600 --> 00:28:42,160 Speaker 1: so much bigger, he said, this happens so that my 483 00:28:42,320 --> 00:28:46,400 Speaker 1: glory might be displayed through this man. And Voss can't 484 00:28:46,400 --> 00:28:49,680 Speaker 1: put it like this, She said, my darkness becomes a 485 00:28:49,800 --> 00:28:55,720 Speaker 1: canvas for his light. So Jesus bends down and he 486 00:28:55,880 --> 00:29:00,160 Speaker 1: spits in the dirt and he makes some mud. So 487 00:29:00,320 --> 00:29:04,800 Speaker 1: much in this story. One tradition says that when people 488 00:29:04,800 --> 00:29:07,320 Speaker 1: would walk by this man, they would spit on the 489 00:29:07,320 --> 00:29:10,400 Speaker 1: ground because they believed that to be born with a 490 00:29:10,440 --> 00:29:12,680 Speaker 1: deformity meant that you were cursed, you had some kind 491 00:29:12,720 --> 00:29:16,400 Speaker 1: of curse. So by spitting, they were rejecting that curse 492 00:29:16,760 --> 00:29:19,880 Speaker 1: from them. And so here comes Jesus and he makes 493 00:29:19,920 --> 00:29:24,360 Speaker 1: that familiar sound. He hears that familiar spitting, but Jesus 494 00:29:24,400 --> 00:29:27,840 Speaker 1: is not rejecting him. Jesus is accepting him. And Jesus 495 00:29:27,920 --> 00:29:30,360 Speaker 1: is about to heal him. And he takes the spit 496 00:29:30,400 --> 00:29:31,960 Speaker 1: and he makes the mud and he puts it on 497 00:29:32,000 --> 00:29:36,320 Speaker 1: the man's eyes, and he says, go and wash, and 498 00:29:36,360 --> 00:29:39,040 Speaker 1: so the man does. And the Bible says that he 499 00:29:39,160 --> 00:29:44,920 Speaker 1: went home seeing cycle ended man healed. Everyone parties, God's glorified, right, 500 00:29:46,560 --> 00:29:51,560 Speaker 1: not exactly. So the man comes home seeing. Just remember 501 00:29:51,680 --> 00:29:54,360 Speaker 1: this man has been born blind, and the Bible tells 502 00:29:54,400 --> 00:29:56,280 Speaker 1: us he's a man, so he's at least, you know, 503 00:29:56,520 --> 00:29:59,920 Speaker 1: thirty years old. He comes home seeing and his neighbors 504 00:30:00,000 --> 00:30:03,880 Speaker 1: aren't questioning him, and they say, who opened your eyes? 505 00:30:04,800 --> 00:30:07,280 Speaker 1: And then they say, is this really the man that 506 00:30:07,520 --> 00:30:09,840 Speaker 1: was born blind? And the man says to them, he says, 507 00:30:10,400 --> 00:30:13,320 Speaker 1: the man they called Jesus healed me, and they say 508 00:30:13,760 --> 00:30:17,520 Speaker 1: where is he? And the man says, I never saw him. 509 00:30:17,520 --> 00:30:22,240 Speaker 1: I was blind. Remember the Bible's funny, there's some great 510 00:30:22,280 --> 00:30:26,320 Speaker 1: details in the Bible. But the people were upset because 511 00:30:26,680 --> 00:30:30,280 Speaker 1: Jesus had healed him on the Sabbath. So never mind 512 00:30:30,560 --> 00:30:33,880 Speaker 1: that the poor guy he was born blind and now 513 00:30:33,920 --> 00:30:36,840 Speaker 1: he can see. It's not good enough because he was 514 00:30:36,920 --> 00:30:39,880 Speaker 1: healed on the wrong day. So they take him to 515 00:30:39,920 --> 00:30:43,760 Speaker 1: the Pharisees because really the people were afraid because the 516 00:30:43,760 --> 00:30:46,560 Speaker 1: Pharisees had been throwing people out of the synagogue who 517 00:30:46,560 --> 00:30:49,400 Speaker 1: believed in Jesus, and so they didn't want to be 518 00:30:49,440 --> 00:30:51,840 Speaker 1: associated with this healing because if you got thrown out 519 00:30:51,840 --> 00:30:53,400 Speaker 1: of the synagogue, that meant you were thrown out of 520 00:30:53,440 --> 00:30:54,959 Speaker 1: the community. And they didn't want to be cast out 521 00:30:54,960 --> 00:30:57,800 Speaker 1: of the community. And so they just take him to 522 00:30:57,880 --> 00:31:01,160 Speaker 1: the Pharisees. And then the Pharisees evenquestion the man's parents, 523 00:31:01,200 --> 00:31:03,360 Speaker 1: and the man's parents don't even stand up for him. 524 00:31:03,520 --> 00:31:06,280 Speaker 1: They say, ask him, we don't know he's a grown man. 525 00:31:07,200 --> 00:31:10,840 Speaker 1: Have you ever felt like you came out of one 526 00:31:10,960 --> 00:31:13,600 Speaker 1: victory and then you just like you went right back 527 00:31:13,640 --> 00:31:18,000 Speaker 1: in to another trial. I mean, the man was blind 528 00:31:18,920 --> 00:31:22,520 Speaker 1: and he deserved a party, but they're not partying. They're 529 00:31:22,560 --> 00:31:26,320 Speaker 1: giving him an inquisition. And so the man I'm telling 530 00:31:26,320 --> 00:31:28,000 Speaker 1: you got to read the story. It's really cool. He 531 00:31:28,000 --> 00:31:30,000 Speaker 1: starts to get an attitude with the Pharisees, like they're 532 00:31:30,000 --> 00:31:32,960 Speaker 1: asking him all of these questions, and he says at 533 00:31:32,960 --> 00:31:37,000 Speaker 1: one point, he says, look, I don't know if he 534 00:31:37,040 --> 00:31:38,840 Speaker 1: was a sinner or not. All I know is I 535 00:31:38,960 --> 00:31:43,040 Speaker 1: was blind, and now I see. And so the Pharisees 536 00:31:43,920 --> 00:31:47,000 Speaker 1: casts him out from the community again. They throw him out, 537 00:31:47,240 --> 00:31:51,040 Speaker 1: but guess who finds out Jesus and he comes to 538 00:31:51,160 --> 00:31:57,200 Speaker 1: him and he asks him this question because sometimes we 539 00:31:57,320 --> 00:32:01,040 Speaker 1: have to stop asking so many quess questions and we 540 00:32:01,080 --> 00:32:04,640 Speaker 1: have to let Jesus do the asking. Jesus asked some 541 00:32:04,680 --> 00:32:07,480 Speaker 1: really cool questions in the Bible, and so look what happens. 542 00:32:07,600 --> 00:32:10,840 Speaker 1: In verse thirty five, it says Jesus heard that they 543 00:32:10,840 --> 00:32:14,160 Speaker 1: had thrown him out, and when he found him. Isn't 544 00:32:14,200 --> 00:32:16,200 Speaker 1: it great that we serve a god who finds us, 545 00:32:16,560 --> 00:32:19,440 Speaker 1: who comes to us right where we are. He doesn't 546 00:32:19,520 --> 00:32:23,520 Speaker 1: leave us wandering around blind physically spiritually, but he comes 547 00:32:23,520 --> 00:32:26,640 Speaker 1: to us and he asks us a personal question. And 548 00:32:26,760 --> 00:32:30,400 Speaker 1: Jesus says to him, do you believe in the Son 549 00:32:30,440 --> 00:32:34,280 Speaker 1: of Man? Now? I was reading a commentary this week 550 00:32:34,480 --> 00:32:36,960 Speaker 1: about this verse. I have this computer program that you 551 00:32:37,000 --> 00:32:39,520 Speaker 1: click on the verse and it gives you some extra information, 552 00:32:39,600 --> 00:32:44,000 Speaker 1: and so what I read just blew me away, and 553 00:32:44,040 --> 00:32:48,920 Speaker 1: it said this. It said, Jesus wasn't asking the man 554 00:32:49,280 --> 00:32:52,120 Speaker 1: the question do you believe that I am the Messiah? 555 00:32:52,640 --> 00:32:57,120 Speaker 1: What he was really asking was do you trust me? 556 00:32:58,600 --> 00:33:01,680 Speaker 1: And I believe that that's the question that God wants 557 00:33:01,680 --> 00:33:05,160 Speaker 1: to ask you today. He wants you to stop asking 558 00:33:05,240 --> 00:33:07,959 Speaker 1: all of your questions and he wants you to answer 559 00:33:08,000 --> 00:33:14,720 Speaker 1: his Do you trust me? My husband says it this way. 560 00:33:15,160 --> 00:33:20,320 Speaker 1: He says, do you trust that even when God doesn't 561 00:33:20,360 --> 00:33:25,240 Speaker 1: fix it, that He's going to fix something in you, 562 00:33:25,920 --> 00:33:30,040 Speaker 1: and He's going to do something through you. Remember, as 563 00:33:30,080 --> 00:33:33,600 Speaker 1: believers of Christ, we're not exempt from suffering, but we 564 00:33:34,080 --> 00:33:38,520 Speaker 1: have a hope. Hebrews six's eighteen says, to take hold 565 00:33:38,760 --> 00:33:42,240 Speaker 1: of this hope because it is an anchor for your soul. 566 00:33:42,760 --> 00:33:46,400 Speaker 1: Paul says in Colossians one twenty seven, he saysys to them, 567 00:33:46,720 --> 00:33:49,360 Speaker 1: God has chosen to make known among the gentiles the 568 00:33:49,360 --> 00:33:53,760 Speaker 1: glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, 569 00:33:54,520 --> 00:33:58,320 Speaker 1: the hope of glory. See. I may not be able 570 00:33:58,360 --> 00:34:00,880 Speaker 1: to hope that people will change, and I may not 571 00:34:00,960 --> 00:34:03,120 Speaker 1: be able to hope that I will get a new job, 572 00:34:03,240 --> 00:34:05,800 Speaker 1: or that my suffering or my situation is going to 573 00:34:05,840 --> 00:34:09,239 Speaker 1: get any better. It's not a question of can God 574 00:34:09,400 --> 00:34:14,120 Speaker 1: change the situation? That's just the wrong question. The question 575 00:34:14,320 --> 00:34:19,240 Speaker 1: is do I trust him? He's never failed me yet. 576 00:34:24,320 --> 00:34:27,040 Speaker 1: As I was thinking and praying about this message, I 577 00:34:27,080 --> 00:34:29,520 Speaker 1: was thinking about a friend of mine who is walking 578 00:34:29,640 --> 00:34:34,240 Speaker 1: through the big one. I mean, she is just in pain. 579 00:34:34,320 --> 00:34:38,240 Speaker 1: Her pain is raw right now, and I was wondering 580 00:34:38,680 --> 00:34:42,360 Speaker 1: would this message be encouraging for her, because you know, 581 00:34:42,400 --> 00:34:45,960 Speaker 1: when someone is suffering, they don't want to hear Oh, 582 00:34:46,000 --> 00:34:50,200 Speaker 1: you just need to trust God. When you are in 583 00:34:50,320 --> 00:34:53,520 Speaker 1: intense pain, you don't want to be told you just 584 00:34:53,560 --> 00:34:56,760 Speaker 1: need to persevere. Don't You want God to build your character? 585 00:34:59,320 --> 00:35:02,279 Speaker 1: And I get it. I know what it feels like 586 00:35:02,719 --> 00:35:05,840 Speaker 1: when you just can't see how anything good could possibly 587 00:35:05,920 --> 00:35:08,280 Speaker 1: come from this situation. And if you're in that place, 588 00:35:08,360 --> 00:35:12,600 Speaker 1: it's okay. Sometimes it does hurt so bad that you 589 00:35:12,719 --> 00:35:16,920 Speaker 1: cannot imagine how you're going to get through. And if 590 00:35:16,920 --> 00:35:19,480 Speaker 1: you're in this place, and I could look you in 591 00:35:19,520 --> 00:35:21,319 Speaker 1: the eyes like I would my friend. I would say 592 00:35:21,320 --> 00:35:26,920 Speaker 1: to you, I'm sorry, I'm sorry that you're hurting. I 593 00:35:26,960 --> 00:35:29,279 Speaker 1: can't even imagine the pain that you're in and I 594 00:35:29,320 --> 00:35:34,680 Speaker 1: would not wish this situation on anyone. But I do 595 00:35:34,840 --> 00:35:38,920 Speaker 1: know that God is going to get you through. God 596 00:35:39,000 --> 00:35:43,600 Speaker 1: is going to be with you every step of this process. 597 00:35:44,280 --> 00:35:49,440 Speaker 1: He will never leave you. Never, no, never remember on Easter, 598 00:35:50,040 --> 00:35:53,160 Speaker 1: never no, never. When you don't feel him, and when 599 00:35:53,200 --> 00:35:56,320 Speaker 1: you do feel him, he comes to you right there 600 00:35:56,440 --> 00:35:59,560 Speaker 1: in your pain. He is the hope that you can 601 00:35:59,600 --> 00:36:02,759 Speaker 1: cling too when you have nothing else to hold on to. 602 00:36:02,800 --> 00:36:07,759 Speaker 1: You just don't let go of that He's here with 603 00:36:07,840 --> 00:36:10,960 Speaker 1: you in this moment. Will you stand so I can 604 00:36:11,000 --> 00:36:14,799 Speaker 1: pray for you. I know that there are so many 605 00:36:14,920 --> 00:36:17,239 Speaker 1: people that are hurting today. I know that Mother's Day 606 00:36:17,640 --> 00:36:20,759 Speaker 1: is a really painful day for some people. Maybe you've 607 00:36:20,760 --> 00:36:23,680 Speaker 1: lost your mother or maybe you can't be a mother. 608 00:36:23,760 --> 00:36:27,080 Speaker 1: And I know that it's a painful that so many 609 00:36:27,160 --> 00:36:30,879 Speaker 1: people in this size, in a church this size, there 610 00:36:30,920 --> 00:36:33,520 Speaker 1: is so much pain. And I just want to pray 611 00:36:33,600 --> 00:36:36,719 Speaker 1: for you. If you just lift your hands to the 612 00:36:36,760 --> 00:36:44,960 Speaker 1: Lord today, God, we thank you that You are our hope, 613 00:36:45,080 --> 00:36:48,680 Speaker 1: and that our hope builds, and that you are with us, 614 00:36:49,480 --> 00:36:53,319 Speaker 1: and that you are here in this moment comforting us. 615 00:36:53,920 --> 00:36:57,879 Speaker 1: You are the great comforter. And I just pray right now, 616 00:36:57,920 --> 00:37:03,920 Speaker 1: in this moment, that you would just whisper words of 617 00:37:04,040 --> 00:37:09,680 Speaker 1: encouragement to your people, that you would tell us that 618 00:37:09,760 --> 00:37:15,520 Speaker 1: your grace is sufficient for this season. And Lord, I 619 00:37:15,560 --> 00:37:20,840 Speaker 1: pray for those that are hurting today, God, would you 620 00:37:20,960 --> 00:37:27,640 Speaker 1: just comfort them. I pray for those that are weary, 621 00:37:28,320 --> 00:37:31,680 Speaker 1: that just those feel like I can't do this anymore. 622 00:37:31,719 --> 00:37:34,480 Speaker 1: I pray that you would just give them a breath 623 00:37:34,520 --> 00:37:38,560 Speaker 1: of fresh air, a second wind today. Thank you God, 624 00:37:38,640 --> 00:37:42,840 Speaker 1: that you are our hope, you are our anchor. You're 625 00:37:42,880 --> 00:37:45,920 Speaker 1: the one that we can cling to. We love you, Lord, 626 00:37:45,960 --> 00:37:50,280 Speaker 1: you are so amazing. Thank you. It'send Jesus Name. I pray, Amen, 627 00:37:54,640 --> 00:37:57,200 Speaker 1: thank you for joining us. Special thanks to those of 628 00:37:57,239 --> 00:38:00,279 Speaker 1: you who give generously to this ministry. Is because of 629 00:38:00,280 --> 00:38:03,200 Speaker 1: you that this ministry is possible. You can click the 630 00:38:03,239 --> 00:38:06,960 Speaker 1: link in the description to give now or visit Elevationchurch 631 00:38:07,120 --> 00:38:10,400 Speaker 1: dot org slash podcast for more information and if you 632 00:38:10,480 --> 00:38:13,680 Speaker 1: enjoyed the podcast, you can subscribe. You can share it 633 00:38:13,719 --> 00:38:16,040 Speaker 1: with your friends, you can click the share button, take 634 00:38:16,040 --> 00:38:18,400 Speaker 1: a screenshot and share it on your social stories and 635 00:38:18,440 --> 00:38:21,319 Speaker 1: tag us at Elevation Church. Thanks again for listening. God 636 00:38:21,360 --> 00:38:40,799 Speaker 1: bless you.