1 00:00:04,960 --> 00:00:06,200 Speaker 1: Hey, this is Stephen Fernick. 2 00:00:06,240 --> 00:00:09,280 Speaker 2: I'm the pastor of Elevation Church, and this is our podcast. 3 00:00:09,440 --> 00:00:11,600 Speaker 2: Be sure to subscribe so we can get you these 4 00:00:11,640 --> 00:00:14,680 Speaker 2: new sermons every week. I hope you're blessed. 5 00:00:14,680 --> 00:00:23,919 Speaker 3: Today I'm worship and now I'm reminded how the Scripture 6 00:00:23,920 --> 00:00:26,840 Speaker 3: says he inhabits the praises of his people. 7 00:00:28,080 --> 00:00:31,520 Speaker 1: Notice what it doesn't say. It doesn't say inhabits the 8 00:00:31,560 --> 00:00:36,080 Speaker 1: complaints of his people. It doesn't say inhabits the fears 9 00:00:36,120 --> 00:00:40,000 Speaker 1: of his people. He doesn't inhabit the worries of his people. 10 00:00:40,840 --> 00:00:43,040 Speaker 1: I don't know what your week has looked like. I 11 00:00:43,040 --> 00:00:44,880 Speaker 1: don't know if it's been a good week, bad week, 12 00:00:45,000 --> 00:00:46,720 Speaker 1: or tough week. In fact, I woke up this morning 13 00:00:46,760 --> 00:00:52,320 Speaker 1: with some difficult sad news. But today is Sunday, and 14 00:00:52,360 --> 00:00:55,720 Speaker 1: it's the first day of the week, and I'm gonna 15 00:00:55,720 --> 00:00:57,880 Speaker 1: give God my best praise. I'm not to gonna tell 16 00:00:57,880 --> 00:01:00,840 Speaker 1: God all about my problems. Come on, tell my problems 17 00:01:00,840 --> 00:01:05,120 Speaker 1: all about my God. Somebody worship him here today. He's here. 18 00:01:08,319 --> 00:01:10,880 Speaker 1: He's gonna speak to us. If you have a bible, 19 00:01:10,959 --> 00:01:13,200 Speaker 1: quickly reached for it. Hebrews chapter six is where I 20 00:01:13,200 --> 00:01:14,800 Speaker 1: want you to turn I've got a word on my 21 00:01:14,880 --> 00:01:16,720 Speaker 1: heart and I'm excited to share it. We're gonna stand 22 00:01:17,160 --> 00:01:20,839 Speaker 1: for the reading of God's Word. What a sweet sense 23 00:01:20,840 --> 00:01:24,080 Speaker 1: of God's presence in the house today. As you're turning there, 24 00:01:24,120 --> 00:01:26,080 Speaker 1: let me just say what a huge honor it always 25 00:01:26,120 --> 00:01:29,480 Speaker 1: is to stand behind this pulpit, to come back year 26 00:01:29,520 --> 00:01:31,479 Speaker 1: after year, to be here with all of you. When 27 00:01:31,520 --> 00:01:33,800 Speaker 1: I come to elevation, I just feel like I'm at home. 28 00:01:35,240 --> 00:01:39,000 Speaker 1: I love you, and I just I think it's just 29 00:01:39,040 --> 00:01:41,679 Speaker 1: important that we just always take some time weekend and 30 00:01:41,720 --> 00:01:45,119 Speaker 1: week out. I'm just more convinced the older I get, 31 00:01:45,160 --> 00:01:47,600 Speaker 1: am more and more convinced that the greatest blessings in 32 00:01:47,680 --> 00:01:52,560 Speaker 1: life they walk into your life on two legs. A 33 00:01:52,560 --> 00:01:55,559 Speaker 1: lot of people praying for miracles and breakthroughs and resources. 34 00:01:55,600 --> 00:01:57,040 Speaker 1: None of those things are bad to pray for. I 35 00:01:57,080 --> 00:01:59,360 Speaker 1: just want to remind you that the greatest breakthroughs, the 36 00:01:59,360 --> 00:02:03,960 Speaker 1: greatest mirrors, tend to be people. It's why it's important 37 00:02:04,000 --> 00:02:05,559 Speaker 1: to come to church, because you don't know who's sitting 38 00:02:05,560 --> 00:02:07,760 Speaker 1: in front of you, you don't know who's sitting next 39 00:02:07,800 --> 00:02:09,440 Speaker 1: to you, don't know who's sitting behind you. In fact, 40 00:02:09,440 --> 00:02:10,920 Speaker 1: just nudg your neighbors say, are you here from me? 41 00:02:11,320 --> 00:02:15,800 Speaker 1: Maybe just are that God sends you for me? Because 42 00:02:15,840 --> 00:02:19,400 Speaker 1: God blesses our life through people, through one another. And 43 00:02:19,480 --> 00:02:21,200 Speaker 1: I would just be remiss if I did not tell 44 00:02:21,280 --> 00:02:24,480 Speaker 1: you that one of the greatest gifts in my life 45 00:02:24,639 --> 00:02:28,440 Speaker 1: is the friendship and the mentorship of Pastor Stephen Ferdict. 46 00:02:28,520 --> 00:02:33,520 Speaker 1: Can we just thank God for Pastor Stephen and Holly. 47 00:02:34,840 --> 00:02:36,440 Speaker 1: Here's what the Word of God says. It's important that 48 00:02:36,440 --> 00:02:38,200 Speaker 1: you get this because this is not just what preachers do. 49 00:02:38,240 --> 00:02:40,040 Speaker 1: It's not just cliche. The Word of God says that 50 00:02:40,080 --> 00:02:42,240 Speaker 1: those that labor and teach and preach God's where they 51 00:02:42,440 --> 00:02:45,799 Speaker 1: deserve double honor. And I just want to say, twenty 52 00:02:45,919 --> 00:02:48,680 Speaker 1: years later, here they are still serving faithfully. Come on, 53 00:02:48,760 --> 00:02:50,280 Speaker 1: whatever you were going to do, can you just double 54 00:02:50,320 --> 00:02:52,800 Speaker 1: it right now? Can we tell Pastor Stephen and Holly 55 00:02:53,120 --> 00:02:55,880 Speaker 1: we love you. We love you. In the chef tell 56 00:02:55,960 --> 00:02:58,720 Speaker 1: them that you love I love you so much. Thank 57 00:02:58,760 --> 00:03:00,600 Speaker 1: you for making my life so much better, and thank 58 00:03:00,639 --> 00:03:02,520 Speaker 1: you for teaching and leading all of us. We're all 59 00:03:02,520 --> 00:03:05,000 Speaker 1: better because of you. Today, I've got a message on 60 00:03:05,000 --> 00:03:06,720 Speaker 1: my heart. Hebrews chapter six is whe I want to 61 00:03:06,720 --> 00:03:09,080 Speaker 1: read from today. I don't know what you walked in 62 00:03:09,120 --> 00:03:10,400 Speaker 1: here with today. I don't know what it is that 63 00:03:10,440 --> 00:03:13,600 Speaker 1: you're carrying. The Book of Hebrews is one of these 64 00:03:13,760 --> 00:03:15,359 Speaker 1: interesting books the Bible that we don't know who the 65 00:03:15,400 --> 00:03:17,840 Speaker 1: author is. But that's okay because we know who the 66 00:03:17,919 --> 00:03:23,720 Speaker 1: audience is. And the audience is believers that are being persecuted, 67 00:03:23,720 --> 00:03:26,600 Speaker 1: that are tired, that are fatigued, that are thinking about 68 00:03:26,800 --> 00:03:29,040 Speaker 1: going back to their old way, And here comes God 69 00:03:29,520 --> 00:03:31,320 Speaker 1: and he wants to remind them of the fulfillment of 70 00:03:31,360 --> 00:03:34,120 Speaker 1: who Jesus is. He wants to remind them that they 71 00:03:34,160 --> 00:03:36,240 Speaker 1: are never alone. He wants to remind them that they 72 00:03:36,240 --> 00:03:39,280 Speaker 1: have everything they need in Christ Jesus. This is Hebrews 73 00:03:39,360 --> 00:03:43,160 Speaker 1: chapter six. I'm going to start in verse ten. God 74 00:03:43,800 --> 00:03:49,520 Speaker 1: is not unjust. He will not forget your work and 75 00:03:49,560 --> 00:03:52,200 Speaker 1: the love you have shown him as you have helped 76 00:03:52,240 --> 00:03:56,360 Speaker 1: his people and continue to help them. We want each 77 00:03:56,440 --> 00:04:00,520 Speaker 1: of you to show this same diligence to the very end, 78 00:04:01,080 --> 00:04:04,200 Speaker 1: so that what you hope for may be fully realized. 79 00:04:05,560 --> 00:04:08,840 Speaker 1: We do not want you to become lazy, but to 80 00:04:09,160 --> 00:04:15,680 Speaker 1: imitate those who, through faith and patience, inherit what has 81 00:04:15,720 --> 00:04:20,840 Speaker 1: been promised. I like that line, imitate those who through 82 00:04:20,880 --> 00:04:24,440 Speaker 1: faith and patience inherit what has been promised. I want 83 00:04:24,440 --> 00:04:26,279 Speaker 1: to take the next few moments if I can, and 84 00:04:26,360 --> 00:04:29,000 Speaker 1: I want to preach to you from the subject God 85 00:04:29,480 --> 00:04:35,680 Speaker 1: keeps receipts. Sometimes you can just close after the title, 86 00:04:36,680 --> 00:04:38,920 Speaker 1: because that's a word for someone. God keeps receipts. Would 87 00:04:38,920 --> 00:04:41,839 Speaker 1: you pray with the Lord, We thank you for your word. God. 88 00:04:41,839 --> 00:04:43,520 Speaker 1: We thank you that today Lord, as we read it, Lord, 89 00:04:43,640 --> 00:04:46,400 Speaker 1: it reads us. God. We've come into this place for 90 00:04:46,440 --> 00:04:50,479 Speaker 1: one reason, which is to lift you up. It's to 91 00:04:50,520 --> 00:04:53,120 Speaker 1: make much out of your name, the one name that 92 00:04:53,240 --> 00:04:55,880 Speaker 1: at that name of Jesus, every knee, will bow, and 93 00:04:55,920 --> 00:04:59,040 Speaker 1: every tongue will confess. Today, Lord, I pray that you 94 00:04:59,080 --> 00:05:02,240 Speaker 1: would remind some people who they are in you. I 95 00:05:02,320 --> 00:05:04,560 Speaker 1: pray that your word would jump into our hearts and 96 00:05:04,640 --> 00:05:07,480 Speaker 1: we would leave here different from how we came. We 97 00:05:07,600 --> 00:05:09,920 Speaker 1: thank you in advance for what you're about to do. 98 00:05:10,400 --> 00:05:12,159 Speaker 1: We praise you in this place. And if you agree 99 00:05:12,160 --> 00:05:15,040 Speaker 1: with that prayer, all of God's people said, all of 100 00:05:15,120 --> 00:05:17,719 Speaker 1: God's people said, come on, makes some noise if you 101 00:05:17,760 --> 00:05:22,719 Speaker 1: love Jesus. High five two or three people and say, 102 00:05:22,760 --> 00:05:27,680 Speaker 1: God keeps receipts. God keeps receipts. Put that in the chat. 103 00:05:27,760 --> 00:05:37,960 Speaker 1: God keeps receipts. This is a very special year for me. 104 00:05:38,960 --> 00:05:41,720 Speaker 1: I know at Elevation, you guys have been celebrating twenty 105 00:05:41,800 --> 00:05:43,840 Speaker 1: years as a church. We put our hands together for 106 00:05:43,920 --> 00:05:49,200 Speaker 1: twenty years of faithfulness and service. But it's also a 107 00:05:49,240 --> 00:05:52,520 Speaker 1: special year for me because not only does Elevation turn twenty, 108 00:05:52,560 --> 00:06:00,080 Speaker 1: but this year I will celebrate my twenty year wedding anniversary. 109 00:06:00,800 --> 00:06:02,919 Speaker 1: I met my wife when I was seventeen years of 110 00:06:02,920 --> 00:06:05,600 Speaker 1: age and we got married young. I said, girl, if 111 00:06:05,640 --> 00:06:11,040 Speaker 1: you ever leave, I'm going with you, and I just 112 00:06:11,440 --> 00:06:14,520 Speaker 1: I love being married's She sends her greetings my wife 113 00:06:14,600 --> 00:06:18,360 Speaker 1: Dontrie are four little children. And it's funny, I want 114 00:06:18,400 --> 00:06:23,919 Speaker 1: to say to all the guys, like fellas, women remember anniversaries, 115 00:06:25,040 --> 00:06:29,320 Speaker 1: in fact, like women remember everything, like like my wife 116 00:06:29,400 --> 00:06:31,919 Speaker 1: makes me laugh. She'd like, rich, do you know what 117 00:06:32,000 --> 00:06:36,680 Speaker 1: today is? I'm like Tuesday? She's like, no, four years 118 00:06:36,720 --> 00:06:38,760 Speaker 1: ago we sat in the parking lot after brunch and 119 00:06:38,760 --> 00:06:41,479 Speaker 1: we drank sparkling water together. Remember that, No, I don't. 120 00:06:44,600 --> 00:06:47,720 Speaker 1: I remember some years ago I was away preaching and 121 00:06:47,800 --> 00:06:50,359 Speaker 1: teaching that I think I was in England and Dauntrey 122 00:06:50,520 --> 00:06:53,280 Speaker 1: was back home and we were on different you know, 123 00:06:53,400 --> 00:06:56,039 Speaker 1: time changes, and it was actually our anniversary day, and 124 00:06:56,320 --> 00:06:57,800 Speaker 1: somehow we got on the phone that morning. We were 125 00:06:57,800 --> 00:06:59,800 Speaker 1: talking chit chat and you know, all right, girl, yeah, 126 00:06:59,839 --> 00:07:01,800 Speaker 1: I love you, you know I love you. Shut up, you know, 127 00:07:01,920 --> 00:07:06,560 Speaker 1: just Christian toxic flirting. And we got off the phone, 128 00:07:07,200 --> 00:07:11,320 Speaker 1: but never said happy anniversary. Dawntri immediately called me back. 129 00:07:11,600 --> 00:07:15,880 Speaker 1: She said, Rich, did you forget our anniversary? I had 130 00:07:15,920 --> 00:07:20,000 Speaker 1: to think quick, I said, girl, every day's our anniversary. 131 00:07:21,320 --> 00:07:23,680 Speaker 1: Come on, somebody, that will work one time and one 132 00:07:23,720 --> 00:07:30,240 Speaker 1: time only. But if you know, we are a forgetful people, 133 00:07:31,480 --> 00:07:34,440 Speaker 1: and we don't just forget earthly relationships. Oftentimes, we have 134 00:07:34,480 --> 00:07:38,960 Speaker 1: a tendency to forget our heavenly relationship. And what I 135 00:07:38,960 --> 00:07:44,160 Speaker 1: want to remind you is that forgetfulness is expensive, because 136 00:07:44,280 --> 00:07:49,880 Speaker 1: your faith fades when your memory fails. A lot of 137 00:07:49,960 --> 00:07:52,040 Speaker 1: us we just have a tendency to forget all that 138 00:07:52,120 --> 00:07:55,920 Speaker 1: God has done in our life over and over and 139 00:07:56,000 --> 00:07:59,880 Speaker 1: over again. Our faith begins to suffer when we forget. 140 00:08:00,280 --> 00:08:03,040 Speaker 1: It's funny because you go back into the Old Testament 141 00:08:03,080 --> 00:08:04,880 Speaker 1: and you see time and time again, the Israelites they 142 00:08:04,920 --> 00:08:07,360 Speaker 1: had the same problem. I mean, how may y'all know 143 00:08:07,440 --> 00:08:12,200 Speaker 1: that yesterday's miracle becomes today's minimum requirement. I mean the Israelites. 144 00:08:12,240 --> 00:08:15,040 Speaker 1: God parts a red sea, and then a couple days 145 00:08:15,080 --> 00:08:19,760 Speaker 1: later they are actually complaining about the menu. What are 146 00:08:19,800 --> 00:08:23,120 Speaker 1: we gonna eat? Dude, he parted the red sea. I 147 00:08:23,160 --> 00:08:27,000 Speaker 1: think he can take care of breakfast. But we're so 148 00:08:27,120 --> 00:08:28,800 Speaker 1: quick to judge them, but we do the same thing. 149 00:08:29,640 --> 00:08:31,280 Speaker 1: God pays a bill, next wee thing we're going to 150 00:08:31,360 --> 00:08:34,000 Speaker 1: what about the next bill? God heals your body, but 151 00:08:34,040 --> 00:08:37,079 Speaker 1: now you're panicked about the future. God opens up a door. 152 00:08:37,160 --> 00:08:39,600 Speaker 1: Now you're worried. Will he open up the next door? 153 00:08:39,720 --> 00:08:42,960 Speaker 1: So often in life we are so good at remembering 154 00:08:42,960 --> 00:08:46,840 Speaker 1: what hurt us, but we forget what held us. I 155 00:08:46,880 --> 00:08:48,720 Speaker 1: wonder I'm not trying to come with shame today, but like, 156 00:08:49,160 --> 00:08:51,880 Speaker 1: how much more does God have to bless you before 157 00:08:51,960 --> 00:08:57,200 Speaker 1: you can be happy? How many more prayers does he 158 00:08:57,240 --> 00:08:58,880 Speaker 1: have to answer before you don't have to go into 159 00:08:58,880 --> 00:09:02,080 Speaker 1: the next season with anxiety? How many more times does 160 00:09:02,120 --> 00:09:04,600 Speaker 1: God have to pull you out before you can trust 161 00:09:04,760 --> 00:09:07,079 Speaker 1: He's gonna pull me through this one? Come on, somebody 162 00:09:07,160 --> 00:09:12,319 Speaker 1: my preaching anybody today. We don't need more proof, We 163 00:09:12,360 --> 00:09:17,520 Speaker 1: need a better memory. We have selective memory, and God 164 00:09:17,600 --> 00:09:19,480 Speaker 1: knows this about us. Have you noticed that? Like when 165 00:09:19,480 --> 00:09:21,600 Speaker 1: you read the Bible, what is God trying to do 166 00:09:21,760 --> 00:09:25,200 Speaker 1: over and over again? God's like, remember, remember the Covenant, 167 00:09:25,240 --> 00:09:28,520 Speaker 1: Remember the Sabbath. Remember I'm the one who brought you out. 168 00:09:28,840 --> 00:09:32,040 Speaker 1: In fact, so much of the Old Testament is stories 169 00:09:32,040 --> 00:09:34,760 Speaker 1: of traditions and rhythms and systems of God trying to 170 00:09:35,120 --> 00:09:38,760 Speaker 1: systematically help you not forget. What do you think passover 171 00:09:38,800 --> 00:09:43,240 Speaker 1: meal is? Passover meal is a systematic moment. It's not 172 00:09:43,520 --> 00:09:47,360 Speaker 1: just a meal. It's memory training. God says, hey, for 173 00:09:47,400 --> 00:09:49,840 Speaker 1: four hundred years you were in slavery, but I brought 174 00:09:49,880 --> 00:09:51,920 Speaker 1: you up out of Egypt. Not just brought you out. 175 00:09:52,280 --> 00:09:55,200 Speaker 1: You plunder the Egyptians when you left that place. So 176 00:09:55,280 --> 00:09:57,720 Speaker 1: here's what I want you to do. Every year. I 177 00:09:57,760 --> 00:10:00,679 Speaker 1: want you to put lamb on the table you drink 178 00:10:00,760 --> 00:10:03,000 Speaker 1: the cup because I want you to tell your kids, 179 00:10:03,280 --> 00:10:06,440 Speaker 1: once we were in slavery. But our God, he's the 180 00:10:06,440 --> 00:10:09,079 Speaker 1: God who makes a way out of no way. Anybody 181 00:10:09,200 --> 00:10:12,760 Speaker 1: thankful for a God who brings you out. Don't forget it, 182 00:10:13,720 --> 00:10:16,080 Speaker 1: because your fate's gonna suffer if you forget. But then 183 00:10:16,160 --> 00:10:17,679 Speaker 1: Jesus shows up on the scene, and all of a 184 00:10:17,720 --> 00:10:20,679 Speaker 1: sudden he re enacts this entire moment. It's called communion. 185 00:10:20,880 --> 00:10:24,160 Speaker 1: What does he do? He says, drink the cup and 186 00:10:24,240 --> 00:10:27,080 Speaker 1: do this in remembrance of me. What I love about 187 00:10:27,080 --> 00:10:29,080 Speaker 1: the New Testament version is that Jesus is at the 188 00:10:29,080 --> 00:10:31,280 Speaker 1: Passover meal, but for the first time, there's not just 189 00:10:31,400 --> 00:10:35,960 Speaker 1: lamb on the table. There's a lamb at the table. 190 00:10:36,880 --> 00:10:38,920 Speaker 1: Is that not what John said, Behold the Lamb of 191 00:10:38,960 --> 00:10:41,440 Speaker 1: God who takes away the sins of the world. And 192 00:10:41,480 --> 00:10:43,320 Speaker 1: as Jesus holds the cup and says, do this in 193 00:10:43,320 --> 00:10:45,959 Speaker 1: remembrance of me, what is he saying. He's saying, Moses 194 00:10:46,000 --> 00:10:49,320 Speaker 1: brought you out of physical slavery, but I'm getting ready 195 00:10:49,360 --> 00:10:53,280 Speaker 1: to bring you out of spiritual slavery. Ooh, Lamb's blood 196 00:10:53,280 --> 00:10:55,800 Speaker 1: on the door post protected you for the night. But 197 00:10:55,880 --> 00:10:59,400 Speaker 1: when my blood is slain and scattered across the cross, 198 00:11:00,120 --> 00:11:03,080 Speaker 1: you will be saved for eternity. I need you to 199 00:11:03,120 --> 00:11:06,040 Speaker 1: take a moment right now and thank God for his grace, 200 00:11:06,440 --> 00:11:09,400 Speaker 1: thank God for his goodness. If he doesn't do one 201 00:11:09,480 --> 00:11:12,880 Speaker 1: more thing, come on, he's been good to you. I 202 00:11:12,960 --> 00:11:19,880 Speaker 1: just can't to say thank you God. A generation who 203 00:11:19,920 --> 00:11:24,400 Speaker 1: forgets deliverance is a generation who will quickly lose gratitude 204 00:11:24,440 --> 00:11:32,480 Speaker 1: for freedom, and freedom forgotten is entitlement. May we never 205 00:11:32,600 --> 00:11:37,520 Speaker 1: be entitled? May we remember? If all we did today 206 00:11:37,640 --> 00:11:40,000 Speaker 1: was just remind you of what He's already done, it 207 00:11:40,080 --> 00:11:45,800 Speaker 1: would be more than enough. I feel like preaching a 208 00:11:45,840 --> 00:11:49,400 Speaker 1: little bit today because I could just land right there 209 00:11:49,400 --> 00:11:51,680 Speaker 1: and just take you down memory lane. But I want 210 00:11:51,679 --> 00:11:54,840 Speaker 1: to try to get personal with you, and I'll just 211 00:11:54,920 --> 00:11:57,760 Speaker 1: use me as an example. I don't just forget my 212 00:11:57,800 --> 00:12:03,520 Speaker 1: wife's anniversary or our anniversary. I forget God. But here's 213 00:12:03,559 --> 00:12:07,960 Speaker 1: what's so good about the Gospel. Anybody thankful that although 214 00:12:08,000 --> 00:12:13,600 Speaker 1: we forget God, God promises not to forget us. Anybody 215 00:12:13,600 --> 00:12:18,040 Speaker 1: grateful that even when we're faithless, he is still faithful. 216 00:12:18,040 --> 00:12:22,120 Speaker 1: Does anybody have a testimony of the faithfulness of God 217 00:12:28,080 --> 00:12:31,520 Speaker 1: in so many ways? That's what's happening here. In the 218 00:12:31,559 --> 00:12:35,760 Speaker 1: Book of Hebrews, you see there is this phrase in society, 219 00:12:35,840 --> 00:12:38,880 Speaker 1: I got receipts. Have you heard this before? This isn't 220 00:12:38,920 --> 00:12:43,199 Speaker 1: like grocery store language slang. Okay, I got receipts, me, 221 00:12:43,280 --> 00:12:46,400 Speaker 1: I got proof, I got screenshots. I will expose you. 222 00:12:46,440 --> 00:12:55,199 Speaker 1: I will go Candice owens on you. But God, he's 223 00:12:55,200 --> 00:13:00,240 Speaker 1: got receipts. But God doesn't keep receipts to shame you. 224 00:13:01,200 --> 00:13:05,400 Speaker 1: God keeps receipts to save you. The Bible says it 225 00:13:05,440 --> 00:13:07,920 Speaker 1: this way, that he forgets our sins as far as 226 00:13:07,920 --> 00:13:10,760 Speaker 1: the east is from the west. If you are in 227 00:13:10,840 --> 00:13:14,880 Speaker 1: Christ Jesus, your sins are no more. But another Bible 228 00:13:14,920 --> 00:13:17,439 Speaker 1: verse says that every one of your tears, he captures 229 00:13:17,480 --> 00:13:19,640 Speaker 1: them and he puts them in his bottle. Who is 230 00:13:19,679 --> 00:13:24,800 Speaker 1: this God who forgets my sins but records every one 231 00:13:24,840 --> 00:13:28,760 Speaker 1: of my tears. He is a good father who loves 232 00:13:28,840 --> 00:13:32,959 Speaker 1: us even when we don't feel lovable. No, God keeps 233 00:13:33,000 --> 00:13:36,480 Speaker 1: receipts not to expose us, but to exonerate us. God 234 00:13:36,559 --> 00:13:38,760 Speaker 1: keeps receipts not to punish you, but to promote you. 235 00:13:39,240 --> 00:13:42,160 Speaker 1: God keeps receipts not because he wants to condemn you, 236 00:13:42,400 --> 00:13:45,840 Speaker 1: but because he wants to commend you. Anybody thankful for 237 00:13:45,880 --> 00:13:51,520 Speaker 1: a God who says I will not forget you. I 238 00:13:51,559 --> 00:13:53,440 Speaker 1: won't forget you. And today I don't know who I'm 239 00:13:53,440 --> 00:13:54,800 Speaker 1: preaching to, but I just have a sense of my 240 00:13:54,800 --> 00:13:56,960 Speaker 1: heart that people have walked in. And maybe you're tired 241 00:13:57,040 --> 00:13:59,400 Speaker 1: or you're fatigued, and maybe you're on your faith journey 242 00:13:59,400 --> 00:14:01,680 Speaker 1: and you're having a difficult time. You're in a hard place, 243 00:14:01,679 --> 00:14:03,760 Speaker 1: you're in a tired place, you're in a place about 244 00:14:03,760 --> 00:14:06,360 Speaker 1: your thinking about giving up. I don't want to remind 245 00:14:06,400 --> 00:14:08,040 Speaker 1: you of your strength. I want to remind you of 246 00:14:08,080 --> 00:14:10,520 Speaker 1: his strength. I want to remind you of a God 247 00:14:10,559 --> 00:14:14,200 Speaker 1: who promises, if you're in Christ Jesus, to remember you. 248 00:14:15,440 --> 00:14:17,160 Speaker 1: I want to show you three things that God keeps 249 00:14:17,160 --> 00:14:20,480 Speaker 1: receipts on. Number one, God keeps receipts on who you are. 250 00:14:21,360 --> 00:14:23,720 Speaker 1: This is encouraging to me. This is Hebrews chapter six, 251 00:14:23,800 --> 00:14:26,560 Speaker 1: Verse ten. God is not unjust. He will not forget 252 00:14:26,600 --> 00:14:31,400 Speaker 1: your work and the love you have shown him. He 253 00:14:31,440 --> 00:14:33,520 Speaker 1: doesn't look at these tired people and say, I won't 254 00:14:33,520 --> 00:14:36,040 Speaker 1: forget the church. I won't forget the crowd, I won't 255 00:14:36,040 --> 00:14:40,240 Speaker 1: forget the gathering. He says, I won't forget you. God 256 00:14:40,320 --> 00:14:44,360 Speaker 1: is the god of individuals. Yes, he loves the world, 257 00:14:44,880 --> 00:14:47,600 Speaker 1: but you are what make up the world. And I 258 00:14:47,600 --> 00:14:49,280 Speaker 1: think today you've got to get some confidence in the 259 00:14:49,280 --> 00:14:51,480 Speaker 1: fact that He sees you. He knows what's going on 260 00:14:51,600 --> 00:14:55,480 Speaker 1: inside of your life. Every fear, every worry, every area 261 00:14:55,520 --> 00:14:58,120 Speaker 1: of doubt. Today he sees you in that place and 262 00:14:58,200 --> 00:15:01,240 Speaker 1: he cares about you. One of the greatest examples of 263 00:15:01,240 --> 00:15:02,880 Speaker 1: this is that as you read the New Testament, if 264 00:15:02,920 --> 00:15:04,960 Speaker 1: you ever get to the Book of Matthew, Matthew chapter 265 00:15:05,000 --> 00:15:08,000 Speaker 1: one starts with the genealogy of Jesus. Now, a lot 266 00:15:08,040 --> 00:15:09,680 Speaker 1: of us, if we have like a Bible reading plan, 267 00:15:09,920 --> 00:15:12,600 Speaker 1: some of us we skip that part. It's like, I 268 00:15:12,600 --> 00:15:14,840 Speaker 1: don't know about anybody who goes to the movies and 269 00:15:14,880 --> 00:15:16,840 Speaker 1: the movie ends and you're like, hey, steak, stick around, 270 00:15:17,240 --> 00:15:21,880 Speaker 1: Why I love the credits. No one really does that, 271 00:15:22,120 --> 00:15:25,520 Speaker 1: But I guess God likes the credits because God lists 272 00:15:25,560 --> 00:15:30,760 Speaker 1: out forty two different generations. Forty different names are enlisted 273 00:15:30,760 --> 00:15:33,520 Speaker 1: in Matthew chapter one. What is he letting us know? 274 00:15:33,680 --> 00:15:37,560 Speaker 1: He's letting us know I remember you, I remember names, 275 00:15:37,640 --> 00:15:41,160 Speaker 1: I remember individuals. And the best part about Matthew Chapter 276 00:15:41,200 --> 00:15:43,600 Speaker 1: one is not just the names. It's the names that 277 00:15:43,600 --> 00:15:47,520 Speaker 1: are in Matthew chapter one. These are jacked up people. 278 00:15:49,120 --> 00:15:54,280 Speaker 1: You think you think your family's dysfunctional, check out God's family. 279 00:15:55,920 --> 00:15:58,440 Speaker 1: God is in the business of using the jokers, the smokers, 280 00:15:58,440 --> 00:16:03,360 Speaker 1: even the midnight ookers. Sometimes he because God that had 281 00:16:03,400 --> 00:16:07,760 Speaker 1: just come for sinners. Come on, he came through sinners. 282 00:16:08,040 --> 00:16:11,120 Speaker 1: He said, I do not call the qualified, but I 283 00:16:11,240 --> 00:16:16,760 Speaker 1: qualified the called God. God loves you. He loves every 284 00:16:16,920 --> 00:16:19,400 Speaker 1: part of you. He loves you just the way that 285 00:16:19,480 --> 00:16:21,440 Speaker 1: you are. But he loves you too much to let 286 00:16:21,440 --> 00:16:24,840 Speaker 1: you stay the way that you are. God's greatest priority 287 00:16:24,920 --> 00:16:27,360 Speaker 1: is to get his glory. But the way that he 288 00:16:27,400 --> 00:16:33,080 Speaker 1: does that is by working with broken people. It's pretty practical. 289 00:16:33,160 --> 00:16:36,000 Speaker 1: If you're not broken, how will his glory ever shine through? 290 00:16:37,280 --> 00:16:39,040 Speaker 1: In fact, I'm gonna be careful today because I don't 291 00:16:39,040 --> 00:16:45,880 Speaker 1: want to get into trouble. God is borderline obsessed with you. 292 00:16:45,960 --> 00:16:50,400 Speaker 1: Like read the scriptures. He knew you before you were 293 00:16:50,440 --> 00:16:54,240 Speaker 1: in your mother's womb. He niche you are fearfully and 294 00:16:54,480 --> 00:16:59,080 Speaker 1: wonderfully made. All the days for you were written in 295 00:16:59,120 --> 00:17:03,000 Speaker 1: his book before one of them came to be. The 296 00:17:03,000 --> 00:17:11,920 Speaker 1: scripture says, he watches you while you sleep. What the 297 00:17:11,960 --> 00:17:18,520 Speaker 1: scripture says, He knows every hair on your head, even 298 00:17:18,560 --> 00:17:28,920 Speaker 1: the extensions, even the weave, even the turkey transplant. Come on, 299 00:17:29,119 --> 00:17:32,199 Speaker 1: Come on, a God who loves you and sees you 300 00:17:32,320 --> 00:17:34,879 Speaker 1: and cares about you. And if his eye is on 301 00:17:35,000 --> 00:17:40,159 Speaker 1: the sparrow, come on his eyes on you today. God's 302 00:17:40,160 --> 00:17:42,439 Speaker 1: in the business of working with broken people, into the Hebrew, 303 00:17:42,440 --> 00:17:45,480 Speaker 1: people that are tired and fatigued and walking away. He says, 304 00:17:45,480 --> 00:17:49,360 Speaker 1: I'm not unjust. I will not forget you. Go through 305 00:17:49,480 --> 00:17:53,760 Speaker 1: history and see I'm the God who works with dysfunctional people. 306 00:17:54,640 --> 00:17:57,720 Speaker 1: Anybody who says God can't use me as somebody who's 307 00:17:57,840 --> 00:18:02,879 Speaker 1: never read the Bible, You never read it. Because the 308 00:18:03,000 --> 00:18:06,920 Speaker 1: whole book is a story of broken people being used 309 00:18:06,960 --> 00:18:10,400 Speaker 1: by a perfect God that when his grace comes upon you, 310 00:18:10,800 --> 00:18:17,639 Speaker 1: even in your weakness, he is strong. I mean for 311 00:18:17,720 --> 00:18:21,840 Speaker 1: goodness sake. Noah was a drunk, Abraham was way too 312 00:18:21,880 --> 00:18:24,919 Speaker 1: old to be used by God. Isaac was a daydreamer, 313 00:18:25,720 --> 00:18:31,480 Speaker 1: Jacob was a liar, Joseph was abused. Moses had a 314 00:18:31,480 --> 00:18:37,439 Speaker 1: stuttering problem. Gideon was afraid. Samson had long hair and 315 00:18:37,520 --> 00:18:44,679 Speaker 1: was a womanizer. Rayhabb was a prostitute. Jeremiah was too young. 316 00:18:46,280 --> 00:18:49,960 Speaker 1: David was a murderer and he had an affair. Elijah 317 00:18:50,080 --> 00:19:02,680 Speaker 1: was suicidal. Isaiah preached naked, Jonah ran from God. Naomi 318 00:19:02,760 --> 00:19:06,840 Speaker 1: was a widow. Job went bankrupt, Peter denied Christ, the 319 00:19:06,840 --> 00:19:10,159 Speaker 1: Disciples fell asleep while praying. John the Baptist. He ate 320 00:19:10,320 --> 00:19:14,640 Speaker 1: bugs for goodness sakes, Martha worried about everything. This Samaritan 321 00:19:14,680 --> 00:19:18,560 Speaker 1: woman was divorced more than once. Zach Chius was too small, 322 00:19:18,880 --> 00:19:23,280 Speaker 1: Paul was too religious, Timothy had an ulcer, and Lazarus, 323 00:19:25,000 --> 00:19:29,399 Speaker 1: Lazarus was dead. Everybody, come on, I'm trying to tell 324 00:19:29,440 --> 00:19:32,480 Speaker 1: you about a God who's dying. Take it back. God 325 00:19:32,640 --> 00:19:37,760 Speaker 1: died to use you. He sees you. He's got receipts 326 00:19:37,800 --> 00:19:47,200 Speaker 1: on who you are. He knows who you are. We forget, 327 00:19:47,200 --> 00:19:51,120 Speaker 1: but he don't forget. God keeps receipts on who you are. 328 00:19:51,160 --> 00:19:53,159 Speaker 1: But look what the passage says, because it continues. This 329 00:19:53,240 --> 00:19:57,879 Speaker 1: is just good, good Bible study. God is don unjust. 330 00:19:57,920 --> 00:20:00,119 Speaker 1: He will not forget your work. I love this and 331 00:20:00,160 --> 00:20:02,919 Speaker 1: the love you have shown him as you have helped 332 00:20:03,240 --> 00:20:07,359 Speaker 1: his people. God's heart is for his church and his people. 333 00:20:07,520 --> 00:20:10,280 Speaker 1: His priority is his glory, the vehicle, and how he 334 00:20:10,320 --> 00:20:13,480 Speaker 1: does that is through his body his people. So God 335 00:20:13,480 --> 00:20:15,600 Speaker 1: doesn't forget your work or the love you've shown him 336 00:20:15,600 --> 00:20:17,879 Speaker 1: as you have helped his people. And here's the keyword, 337 00:20:18,160 --> 00:20:22,880 Speaker 1: and continue to help them. See, God keeps receipts on 338 00:20:23,200 --> 00:20:27,159 Speaker 1: what you do. And this is very, very encouraging me 339 00:20:27,400 --> 00:20:30,400 Speaker 1: because he doesn't just see me. He sees what I do. 340 00:20:30,800 --> 00:20:34,320 Speaker 1: He's recording what I do. God cares about what I do. 341 00:20:34,359 --> 00:20:36,800 Speaker 1: He says, I see your work, I see your love 342 00:20:36,840 --> 00:20:39,720 Speaker 1: for me, I see your love for my people, and 343 00:20:39,760 --> 00:20:42,080 Speaker 1: I see how you continue in it. I think the 344 00:20:42,119 --> 00:20:44,359 Speaker 1: keyword is continue because time y'all know, we're good at 345 00:20:44,359 --> 00:20:49,600 Speaker 1: starting things, but we're not always good at continuing things. 346 00:20:50,080 --> 00:20:52,240 Speaker 1: It's not hard to have faith at the start. It's 347 00:20:52,240 --> 00:20:57,640 Speaker 1: hard to have faith in the middle. The middle. Nobody 348 00:20:57,840 --> 00:21:01,359 Speaker 1: likes the middle. We like the beginning of something. But 349 00:21:01,480 --> 00:21:04,439 Speaker 1: this is where perseverance sets in. I think this is 350 00:21:04,440 --> 00:21:06,240 Speaker 1: so important because we live in a time right now 351 00:21:06,240 --> 00:21:10,720 Speaker 1: that we overestimate intensity, but we underestimate consistency. Let me 352 00:21:10,760 --> 00:21:12,800 Speaker 1: say to all my gen Z friends and all of 353 00:21:12,840 --> 00:21:15,400 Speaker 1: young Alpha out there, you want to be taken seriously 354 00:21:15,440 --> 00:21:19,879 Speaker 1: in life, be consistent. I need some parents to clap 355 00:21:19,920 --> 00:21:22,159 Speaker 1: their hands a little bit. Where's all the boomers that 356 00:21:22,280 --> 00:21:28,880 Speaker 1: come on, yes, preach the word pastor. It's not what 357 00:21:28,920 --> 00:21:33,840 Speaker 1: you do occasionally, it's what you do consistently in fact, 358 00:21:33,880 --> 00:21:40,960 Speaker 1: that would it. This way, repetition creates reputation. You will 359 00:21:41,000 --> 00:21:46,080 Speaker 1: be known for what you repeat repetition. Do it again 360 00:21:46,640 --> 00:21:51,879 Speaker 1: and again and again. Watch this. Your gain is in 361 00:21:51,960 --> 00:21:58,359 Speaker 1: your again. You want gains in life? Do it again. 362 00:21:59,640 --> 00:22:02,959 Speaker 1: You want to grow in life? Do it again. You 363 00:22:03,000 --> 00:22:05,879 Speaker 1: want to get stronger in life? Do it again. You 364 00:22:05,920 --> 00:22:08,920 Speaker 1: want your faith to increase this year? Do it again? 365 00:22:09,000 --> 00:22:11,359 Speaker 1: Are there any do it again people in the house today? 366 00:22:11,400 --> 00:22:18,000 Speaker 1: Do it again? Anybody can start something. Anybody can start 367 00:22:18,080 --> 00:22:21,600 Speaker 1: a marriage. Can you continue in a marriage. Anybody can 368 00:22:21,600 --> 00:22:23,040 Speaker 1: start a family. I don't want to break down how 369 00:22:23,040 --> 00:22:26,520 Speaker 1: that works, but anybody can start that. Can you continue 370 00:22:26,520 --> 00:22:30,200 Speaker 1: being a father? Shout out to all the dads out 371 00:22:30,200 --> 00:22:32,480 Speaker 1: there that are just in the middle of it, staying 372 00:22:32,520 --> 00:22:34,080 Speaker 1: in it. Come on, can we applaud every man in 373 00:22:34,119 --> 00:22:37,040 Speaker 1: this house, every man watching online? We salute you, We 374 00:22:37,160 --> 00:22:41,760 Speaker 1: honor you, great men of God. Anybody can start a business? 375 00:22:41,800 --> 00:22:45,200 Speaker 1: Can you continue? Anybody can start going to church? Woo? 376 00:22:48,640 --> 00:22:53,919 Speaker 1: Can you continue faithfully serving? I gotta be honest with you, 377 00:22:54,000 --> 00:22:57,520 Speaker 1: Like when I come to elevation, I'm always blown away 378 00:22:57,320 --> 00:22:59,960 Speaker 1: by just the beauty of this place and the people 379 00:23:00,160 --> 00:23:02,040 Speaker 1: come from all over the world, and how this ministry 380 00:23:02,280 --> 00:23:05,280 Speaker 1: touches the world. But the thing that I can't get 381 00:23:05,320 --> 00:23:09,240 Speaker 1: over is a man and a woman. Stephen and Hawley 382 00:23:09,359 --> 00:23:12,879 Speaker 1: some twenty years ago got a vision from God, and 383 00:23:12,920 --> 00:23:15,240 Speaker 1: they said, we're not just gonna do it one Sunday, 384 00:23:15,480 --> 00:23:20,159 Speaker 1: but twenty years later, we're gonna continue to persevere because 385 00:23:20,200 --> 00:23:23,720 Speaker 1: we believe God is watching what we do. One more time. 386 00:23:23,840 --> 00:23:30,840 Speaker 1: Let's thank God for Godly leadership. What a blessing wisdom 387 00:23:30,880 --> 00:23:34,720 Speaker 1: will be proven right by all her children. I'm sitting 388 00:23:34,760 --> 00:23:36,240 Speaker 1: here that I got a vision for my life. My 389 00:23:36,280 --> 00:23:39,000 Speaker 1: son Wyat's with me, eight years of age. Billy Graham 390 00:23:39,000 --> 00:23:41,960 Speaker 1: Ferdick walked up here, said, Jesus, I'm gonna get Graham 391 00:23:42,000 --> 00:23:48,200 Speaker 1: to lay hands on Wyat after this service, because it's 392 00:23:48,240 --> 00:23:53,600 Speaker 1: people that are persevering, not just starting, but continuing. God 393 00:23:54,000 --> 00:23:56,760 Speaker 1: keeps receipts on what you do, even if you think 394 00:23:56,800 --> 00:23:59,520 Speaker 1: it's small, even if you think it's insignificant, even if 395 00:23:59,520 --> 00:24:02,000 Speaker 1: you think it's mundane, even if you think it's average, 396 00:24:02,040 --> 00:24:04,520 Speaker 1: even if you think it's mediocre, He's watching. One of 397 00:24:04,520 --> 00:24:06,879 Speaker 1: my favorite illustrations is the Book of Nehemiah. If you 398 00:24:06,920 --> 00:24:10,359 Speaker 1: know the story Nehemiah, well, Neomyah was living the time 399 00:24:10,520 --> 00:24:14,200 Speaker 1: that Israel had been sieged and they were no more, 400 00:24:14,280 --> 00:24:18,320 Speaker 1: and he was actually a cup bearer to the king. Now, 401 00:24:18,680 --> 00:24:21,240 Speaker 1: if you don't know what a cup bearer is, a 402 00:24:21,280 --> 00:24:24,840 Speaker 1: cup bearer with somebody who would test the king's drink 403 00:24:24,960 --> 00:24:33,920 Speaker 1: for poison. So you think your job is bad, Hey, Nehemiah, man, 404 00:24:34,040 --> 00:24:40,520 Speaker 1: how's your job going so far? Pretty good? This dude 405 00:24:40,560 --> 00:24:43,719 Speaker 1: was a cup bearer and one day he hears the 406 00:24:43,760 --> 00:24:47,480 Speaker 1: news that his walls and the temple have been destroyed, 407 00:24:47,680 --> 00:24:50,000 Speaker 1: and although it had happened hundreds of years before, his 408 00:24:50,119 --> 00:24:53,479 Speaker 1: heart begins to break and he finds himself before the 409 00:24:53,520 --> 00:24:56,200 Speaker 1: Lord and a passion begins to emerge, and he has 410 00:24:56,240 --> 00:24:59,520 Speaker 1: this desire to go back to Jerusalem and rebuild the walls. 411 00:25:00,000 --> 00:25:01,920 Speaker 1: I want to encourage some people out there that many 412 00:25:01,920 --> 00:25:06,360 Speaker 1: times your burden is actually your assignment. The very thing 413 00:25:06,359 --> 00:25:09,560 Speaker 1: that's moving your heart, the very thing that feels like frustration, 414 00:25:09,800 --> 00:25:13,800 Speaker 1: is actually vision in disguise. God is telling you that 415 00:25:13,880 --> 00:25:15,560 Speaker 1: I put you on the earth to solve that. And 416 00:25:15,600 --> 00:25:18,879 Speaker 1: the Bible says that Neomiyah. He goes back to Jerusalem 417 00:25:18,920 --> 00:25:21,360 Speaker 1: and he begins to survey the rubble and the ruins, 418 00:25:21,520 --> 00:25:23,560 Speaker 1: and people are walking over the walls day in and 419 00:25:23,640 --> 00:25:26,240 Speaker 1: day out, because oftentimes we live in a place that 420 00:25:26,320 --> 00:25:28,920 Speaker 1: we just begin to lower our standards, and you get 421 00:25:28,920 --> 00:25:31,920 Speaker 1: what you allow. You cannot change that which you tolerate. 422 00:25:32,240 --> 00:25:34,040 Speaker 1: And so people have just been walking over the walls. 423 00:25:34,040 --> 00:25:36,000 Speaker 1: But Neomia said, no, it can't happen this way, and 424 00:25:36,000 --> 00:25:38,600 Speaker 1: so he assembles a team and he puts people together, 425 00:25:38,920 --> 00:25:41,439 Speaker 1: and the Bible says, they start building the walls. And 426 00:25:41,560 --> 00:25:44,439 Speaker 1: as you would understand, a great vision always comes with 427 00:25:44,440 --> 00:25:48,800 Speaker 1: great opposition. As Neomiah is building, here comes the critics 428 00:25:49,080 --> 00:25:51,840 Speaker 1: Sanballat and Tobias, and they come over there and they 429 00:25:51,840 --> 00:25:55,119 Speaker 1: try to put fear. They try to put comments out there, 430 00:25:55,480 --> 00:25:58,840 Speaker 1: they try to make videos, they try to hate on Neomyah. 431 00:25:59,000 --> 00:26:01,480 Speaker 1: And I like Neomiah because Neomiah is up on that wall. 432 00:26:01,520 --> 00:26:03,640 Speaker 1: He's got a sword in one hand and he's got 433 00:26:03,640 --> 00:26:07,280 Speaker 1: a hammer in the other, thick skin and soft heart. 434 00:26:07,600 --> 00:26:10,240 Speaker 1: I want to encourage some people. If you ever build 435 00:26:10,240 --> 00:26:16,800 Speaker 1: anything worth building, you will attract critics worth ignoring. And 436 00:26:16,840 --> 00:26:19,840 Speaker 1: they say, Neomyah, come down, we gotta talk to you. 437 00:26:20,280 --> 00:26:24,720 Speaker 1: But I like Neamiah's response. I'm sorry, I am doing 438 00:26:24,760 --> 00:26:27,960 Speaker 1: a great work and I cannot come down to you. 439 00:26:28,800 --> 00:26:30,520 Speaker 1: Some of y'all need to tattoo this on your soul 440 00:26:30,640 --> 00:26:34,359 Speaker 1: this year. I'm sorry, I'm building something great. I can't 441 00:26:34,359 --> 00:26:36,760 Speaker 1: come down to your pettiness. I can't come down to 442 00:26:36,800 --> 00:26:40,320 Speaker 1: your drama. I come down to your issues. Come on, somebody, 443 00:26:40,560 --> 00:26:49,719 Speaker 1: anybody building something worth building. And the Bible says in 444 00:26:50,000 --> 00:26:55,080 Speaker 1: fifty two days they rebuild those walls. Here's what's interesting 445 00:26:55,080 --> 00:26:59,400 Speaker 1: abot the book of Neimiah. There is not one supernatural miracle. 446 00:27:01,080 --> 00:27:07,399 Speaker 1: All there is is a submitted man. Sometimes. The greatest 447 00:27:07,440 --> 00:27:10,360 Speaker 1: testimony and the greatest miracle that people are looking for 448 00:27:11,000 --> 00:27:12,840 Speaker 1: is that when you step out and you start, and 449 00:27:12,880 --> 00:27:15,639 Speaker 1: you begin something, when you face all hell and high water, 450 00:27:15,680 --> 00:27:18,920 Speaker 1: when you face backlash, when you begin to face things 451 00:27:18,920 --> 00:27:20,879 Speaker 1: that are trying to oppose you, the fact that you 452 00:27:20,960 --> 00:27:23,560 Speaker 1: stay standing and keep on building. Let me tell you 453 00:27:23,600 --> 00:27:30,680 Speaker 1: what that is a work of God. In the summer, 454 00:27:30,720 --> 00:27:32,400 Speaker 1: I was studying the book of Nemi, and I never 455 00:27:32,440 --> 00:27:35,000 Speaker 1: noticed it before. But I got to DMI chapter three 456 00:27:35,760 --> 00:27:39,200 Speaker 1: and Nami chapter three. This is interesting. It records it's 457 00:27:39,240 --> 00:27:42,120 Speaker 1: God's receipts on everybody who was a part of rebuilding 458 00:27:42,160 --> 00:27:45,120 Speaker 1: the temple and the walls. And one guy stood out 459 00:27:45,119 --> 00:27:49,160 Speaker 1: to me, this is Neami chapter three, verse fourteen. The 460 00:27:49,320 --> 00:27:54,840 Speaker 1: dung gate was repaired by Malcajah, son of Racab. Let's 461 00:27:54,840 --> 00:27:59,920 Speaker 1: just stop right there. Do you know what the dung 462 00:28:00,359 --> 00:28:07,239 Speaker 1: is as God's toilet? The dumbgate is the bathroom. And 463 00:28:07,280 --> 00:28:09,880 Speaker 1: I had to stop. I said, oh my God. If 464 00:28:09,920 --> 00:28:15,280 Speaker 1: God keeps receipts on who rebuilt his toilet, if God's 465 00:28:15,320 --> 00:28:17,879 Speaker 1: got a record of his plumber, don't you think he 466 00:28:17,960 --> 00:28:22,040 Speaker 1: sees you today raising those kids? If God remembers who 467 00:28:22,040 --> 00:28:24,119 Speaker 1: built his toilet, don't you think he sees you ushering today? 468 00:28:24,359 --> 00:28:26,720 Speaker 1: Don't you think he sees everybody in the parking lot, 469 00:28:27,119 --> 00:28:29,800 Speaker 1: every person who's in our kids ministry right now, every 470 00:28:29,800 --> 00:28:32,800 Speaker 1: person who's persevering and continuing. Come on, why don't we 471 00:28:32,800 --> 00:28:36,000 Speaker 1: clap our hands and thank God that he keeps receipts 472 00:28:36,040 --> 00:28:44,560 Speaker 1: on what we do. What you repeat is what you 473 00:28:44,640 --> 00:28:49,400 Speaker 1: become known for. And today, as we often can forget God, 474 00:28:49,440 --> 00:28:51,400 Speaker 1: God says, I remember you. I see you for who 475 00:28:51,440 --> 00:28:54,480 Speaker 1: you are, but I also see what you do. Look 476 00:28:54,520 --> 00:28:56,440 Speaker 1: at As the passage continues, he says it this way. 477 00:28:57,080 --> 00:29:01,240 Speaker 1: We want each of you to show this same diligence, 478 00:29:01,360 --> 00:29:04,840 Speaker 1: keyword to the very end, so that what you hope 479 00:29:04,840 --> 00:29:08,720 Speaker 1: for may be fully realized. We do not want you 480 00:29:08,760 --> 00:29:13,480 Speaker 1: to become lazy, but to imitate those who, through faith 481 00:29:13,520 --> 00:29:17,600 Speaker 1: and patience inherit what has been promised. So God keeps 482 00:29:17,600 --> 00:29:19,440 Speaker 1: your seats on who you are. God keeps your seats 483 00:29:19,440 --> 00:29:21,440 Speaker 1: on what you do. Lastly, God keeps your seats on 484 00:29:21,680 --> 00:29:27,200 Speaker 1: how you do it. He says, we don't want you 485 00:29:27,600 --> 00:29:31,600 Speaker 1: to become lazy. We want you to be diligent. He's 486 00:29:31,600 --> 00:29:34,000 Speaker 1: saying it's not enough just to do the right thing. 487 00:29:35,120 --> 00:29:37,720 Speaker 1: There's a right thing to do in the right way. 488 00:29:38,920 --> 00:29:42,000 Speaker 1: That God doesn't just care about what he cares about. 489 00:29:42,000 --> 00:29:45,920 Speaker 1: How I'm twenty years married and I'm still learning this 490 00:29:46,000 --> 00:29:50,520 Speaker 1: principle my wife taught me early on. Rich is not 491 00:29:51,040 --> 00:29:57,400 Speaker 1: what you say I want to help some of the 492 00:29:57,480 --> 00:30:02,880 Speaker 1: single guys in this house today is how you say it? Ladies, 493 00:30:02,920 --> 00:30:04,200 Speaker 1: can you help me? Is that? Is that true? It's 494 00:30:04,200 --> 00:30:05,960 Speaker 1: not just what you say? Is how you said? Listen 495 00:30:06,040 --> 00:30:08,040 Speaker 1: to a man who's been married for almost twenty years. 496 00:30:08,800 --> 00:30:13,040 Speaker 1: I remember when I first, you know, got married to Downtree. 497 00:30:13,080 --> 00:30:14,560 Speaker 1: We would go shopping. In fact, it happened just this 498 00:30:14,600 --> 00:30:17,520 Speaker 1: past week, but I'll take her shopping somewhere. It's always 499 00:30:17,560 --> 00:30:19,920 Speaker 1: kind of a strange deal, you know, as a dude, 500 00:30:20,000 --> 00:30:22,200 Speaker 1: like going shopping with your wife. You need picking out 501 00:30:22,200 --> 00:30:24,440 Speaker 1: some jeans, and you know, she gets three pairs of 502 00:30:24,520 --> 00:30:26,720 Speaker 1: jeans and you go over to like the dressing room, 503 00:30:26,760 --> 00:30:28,360 Speaker 1: and then you have to sit there in that little 504 00:30:28,440 --> 00:30:31,560 Speaker 1: stool outside the dressing room. People walk by you look 505 00:30:31,600 --> 00:30:37,240 Speaker 1: really Creepy're like, no, I promise, I'm here with somebody. 506 00:30:37,400 --> 00:30:37,560 Speaker 3: You know. 507 00:30:39,760 --> 00:30:43,920 Speaker 1: It's like, there's a guy my wife and this is 508 00:30:43,960 --> 00:30:45,240 Speaker 1: what my wife does. My wife comes out of the 509 00:30:45,280 --> 00:30:52,640 Speaker 1: dressing room barefoot and she's always on her tippy does Babe, babe, babe, babe, babe, 510 00:30:53,160 --> 00:30:56,320 Speaker 1: how did the jeans look? I'm like, why is she 511 00:30:56,360 --> 00:30:59,960 Speaker 1: standing on her tippy toes? And as a young man, 512 00:31:00,160 --> 00:31:04,440 Speaker 1: stupid man, I used to respond, Babe, the genes look 513 00:31:04,560 --> 00:31:17,959 Speaker 1: good because good to a man means good. I mean, 514 00:31:17,960 --> 00:31:22,360 Speaker 1: if good was good for God in the beginning, God 515 00:31:22,360 --> 00:31:23,840 Speaker 1: created the heavens on the earth, and he said it 516 00:31:23,920 --> 00:31:28,360 Speaker 1: is good. You would think good is good for girls. 517 00:31:28,360 --> 00:31:31,080 Speaker 1: But good does not mean good to women. Good to 518 00:31:31,160 --> 00:31:36,360 Speaker 1: women means average mediocre. Oh so you think I look 519 00:31:36,480 --> 00:31:45,239 Speaker 1: fat in these genes, Jesus, I've had to learn that 520 00:31:45,280 --> 00:31:47,360 Speaker 1: if not just what I say, it's how I say it. 521 00:31:47,480 --> 00:31:50,080 Speaker 1: So now when we go shopping and she comes out 522 00:31:50,080 --> 00:31:52,080 Speaker 1: in a pair of gens. Babe, do they look good? 523 00:31:52,320 --> 00:31:55,280 Speaker 1: If I like the genes, I have to lose my 524 00:31:55,440 --> 00:32:06,440 Speaker 1: ever loving mind. What ah, there is a god somewhere. 525 00:32:07,560 --> 00:32:12,400 Speaker 1: I gotta go he shandoobo shinda a bahia. I gotta 526 00:32:12,440 --> 00:32:24,360 Speaker 1: do a praise break in the department store. My wife, Babe, 527 00:32:24,680 --> 00:32:30,880 Speaker 1: you like, oh, yes, yes, yes, yes, I love him. 528 00:32:30,880 --> 00:32:37,240 Speaker 1: Get him, get them all. Because it's not just what, 529 00:32:37,440 --> 00:32:41,840 Speaker 1: it's how. And I'm telling you our god, this is 530 00:32:41,880 --> 00:32:43,440 Speaker 1: our God. You want to know the difference between a 531 00:32:43,480 --> 00:32:46,920 Speaker 1: relationship and religion. It's the motivation of your heart. It's 532 00:32:46,920 --> 00:32:49,600 Speaker 1: the intention of why you do something. And here's God. 533 00:32:49,960 --> 00:32:51,800 Speaker 1: He said, I want you to be diligent. I want 534 00:32:51,800 --> 00:32:54,400 Speaker 1: you to do it with the right attitude. Do not 535 00:32:54,640 --> 00:32:58,880 Speaker 1: be lazy. Lazy doesn't mean that you couldn't do it. 536 00:32:58,960 --> 00:33:01,080 Speaker 1: Lazy means you could done it, but you chose not 537 00:33:01,160 --> 00:33:05,400 Speaker 1: to do it. Lazy means you chose not to put 538 00:33:05,400 --> 00:33:08,120 Speaker 1: forth the effort. It was within my power, but but 539 00:33:08,200 --> 00:33:10,960 Speaker 1: I stayed back. I could have, I should have, but 540 00:33:11,080 --> 00:33:14,440 Speaker 1: I didn't. I was lazy. I was apathetic. And sometimes 541 00:33:14,480 --> 00:33:17,320 Speaker 1: be honest with you. Sometimes lazy is just unawareness. Sometimes 542 00:33:17,520 --> 00:33:21,880 Speaker 1: lazy is just assumption. Some years ago, I was with 543 00:33:21,880 --> 00:33:25,040 Speaker 1: some pastor friends after church, and we were our couples, 544 00:33:25,040 --> 00:33:27,360 Speaker 1: and we were eating some dinner afterwards at the world 545 00:33:27,360 --> 00:33:31,760 Speaker 1: famous cheesecake Factory because I like to drink my calorie 546 00:33:31,800 --> 00:33:34,959 Speaker 1: strawberry lemon hay shout out. And we're having the best night, 547 00:33:35,000 --> 00:33:36,360 Speaker 1: you know those nights where you're just hanging out and 548 00:33:36,480 --> 00:33:38,480 Speaker 1: just talking and we're just enjoying each other. And we 549 00:33:38,520 --> 00:33:41,160 Speaker 1: had been at a meeting and we're laughing and we're 550 00:33:41,200 --> 00:33:44,720 Speaker 1: reminiscing and Wow, God moved, and we're telling jokes, and 551 00:33:44,760 --> 00:33:48,160 Speaker 1: we get up from the dinner table and we walk 552 00:33:48,240 --> 00:33:50,560 Speaker 1: out and we're still laughing, when all of a sudden 553 00:33:50,600 --> 00:33:55,320 Speaker 1: we hear excuse me, and we turn around and there 554 00:33:55,360 --> 00:33:59,800 Speaker 1: is the waitress holding the receipt and she said, you 555 00:33:59,840 --> 00:34:04,920 Speaker 1: for o God to pay your bill, to which I'm 556 00:34:05,120 --> 00:34:07,720 Speaker 1: quickly mortified because I can just already see the Miami Herald. 557 00:34:07,800 --> 00:34:12,520 Speaker 1: Pastor and his friends skips out on meal take it. 558 00:34:13,600 --> 00:34:15,360 Speaker 1: But we looked at each other and sayd whoa, whohoa, 559 00:34:15,920 --> 00:34:18,600 Speaker 1: I thought you paid for it. Well, whahoah, I thought 560 00:34:18,640 --> 00:34:20,879 Speaker 1: you were going to take care of it. I thought 561 00:34:20,880 --> 00:34:22,480 Speaker 1: you had paid it no, no, no, and all of 562 00:34:22,560 --> 00:34:25,640 Speaker 1: us watch this. All of us had the ability. We 563 00:34:25,760 --> 00:34:28,279 Speaker 1: all reached for our wall and said no, no, let me pay. 564 00:34:28,600 --> 00:34:30,960 Speaker 1: We had just assumed that the other had done it. 565 00:34:32,120 --> 00:34:33,960 Speaker 1: Can I just speak at the twenty year mark of 566 00:34:34,000 --> 00:34:37,920 Speaker 1: Elevation Church. If we're not careful, we will just assume 567 00:34:37,960 --> 00:34:39,680 Speaker 1: that somebody else is going to pick up the bill. 568 00:34:40,280 --> 00:34:42,440 Speaker 1: We'll just assume man the parking lot, they got the workers. 569 00:34:42,440 --> 00:34:44,400 Speaker 1: That's already good. They don't need any more help in 570 00:34:44,440 --> 00:34:46,560 Speaker 1: the kids ministry. I want to say it this way, 571 00:34:46,760 --> 00:34:50,799 Speaker 1: if everybody behaved like you at Elevation Church, would we 572 00:34:50,840 --> 00:34:53,480 Speaker 1: be better or would we be worse? Come on? May 573 00:34:53,520 --> 00:34:55,960 Speaker 1: we be a church that we say we want to 574 00:34:56,000 --> 00:35:03,080 Speaker 1: play our part? I want to play my part because 575 00:35:03,120 --> 00:35:06,719 Speaker 1: God's paying attention to how in which I do it. 576 00:35:09,840 --> 00:35:15,080 Speaker 1: How's your soul today? Where are you at with God? 577 00:35:16,040 --> 00:35:19,920 Speaker 1: I know we came out praising God loudly, but sometimes 578 00:35:19,960 --> 00:35:22,440 Speaker 1: we can gather corporately and we can worship Him with 579 00:35:22,560 --> 00:35:24,319 Speaker 1: might and strength. But we can walk out of these 580 00:35:24,320 --> 00:35:27,080 Speaker 1: doors and we can begin to live these quiet lives 581 00:35:27,080 --> 00:35:30,960 Speaker 1: of desperation. Does my life matter? Do I have purpose? 582 00:35:31,320 --> 00:35:35,160 Speaker 1: What's going on? How do I fit into the story. 583 00:35:36,120 --> 00:35:38,000 Speaker 1: And I love what the writer of Hebrews does here 584 00:35:38,880 --> 00:35:42,680 Speaker 1: because as he is reminding them that God doesn't forget them, 585 00:35:43,239 --> 00:35:45,520 Speaker 1: he gives them a practical application. I want to give 586 00:35:45,520 --> 00:35:51,319 Speaker 1: you the practical application today. He says, be imitators. Important word, 587 00:35:52,040 --> 00:35:56,680 Speaker 1: Imitate those who've come before you. Important principle life. What 588 00:35:56,760 --> 00:36:01,520 Speaker 1: you behold is what you become. He says, imitate those 589 00:36:01,560 --> 00:36:05,919 Speaker 1: who have gone before you. One theological Christian writer said 590 00:36:05,920 --> 00:36:08,279 Speaker 1: this that the great demise of the day is that 591 00:36:08,320 --> 00:36:10,319 Speaker 1: we are going through a time of what we call 592 00:36:10,680 --> 00:36:15,239 Speaker 1: historical dislocation. And let me just make that statement very, 593 00:36:15,320 --> 00:36:18,560 Speaker 1: very practical for you. All that simply means is is 594 00:36:18,560 --> 00:36:21,400 Speaker 1: that if you don't understand your history, you will not 595 00:36:21,440 --> 00:36:25,600 Speaker 1: care about your destiny. If you don't know where you 596 00:36:26,040 --> 00:36:29,280 Speaker 1: come from, you will not care where you are going. 597 00:36:30,960 --> 00:36:33,280 Speaker 1: And so what we must do is we must imitate 598 00:36:33,360 --> 00:36:37,399 Speaker 1: those who've gone before us. The Church of Jesus Christ 599 00:36:37,520 --> 00:36:40,200 Speaker 1: at large has not moved forward from success to success. 600 00:36:40,600 --> 00:36:43,440 Speaker 1: It hasn't moved forward from event to event. It hasn't 601 00:36:43,480 --> 00:36:46,640 Speaker 1: moved forward from concert to concert. It hasn't moved forward 602 00:36:46,640 --> 00:36:48,920 Speaker 1: from thing to thing. It has moved forward from sacrifice 603 00:36:48,960 --> 00:36:53,120 Speaker 1: to sacrifice. It's moved forward through blood, sweat and tears, 604 00:36:53,120 --> 00:36:56,840 Speaker 1: from grace to grace, strength to strength, and glory to glory. 605 00:36:57,719 --> 00:36:59,960 Speaker 1: And we got here because of the faithfulness of many 606 00:37:00,040 --> 00:37:03,000 Speaker 1: who went before us, many who know exactly how you 607 00:37:03,040 --> 00:37:05,560 Speaker 1: feel today, Many who are in a hard place even 608 00:37:05,680 --> 00:37:09,120 Speaker 1: right now, Many who felt the discouragement, who were tempted 609 00:37:09,160 --> 00:37:12,080 Speaker 1: to go backwards, but instead they leaned in and they 610 00:37:12,160 --> 00:37:15,360 Speaker 1: moved forward. The question is do you know your story? 611 00:37:16,200 --> 00:37:18,040 Speaker 1: And maybe you're hearing you're like, oh, but rich, I 612 00:37:18,040 --> 00:37:20,640 Speaker 1: don't have a story like yours. I don't come from 613 00:37:20,840 --> 00:37:24,160 Speaker 1: four generations of Pentecostal preachers. Maybe you're like, I see 614 00:37:24,160 --> 00:37:25,640 Speaker 1: Graham Ferdick up there on the stage, but that's not 615 00:37:25,680 --> 00:37:27,960 Speaker 1: my story. I didn't have a dad like Stephen Ferdick. 616 00:37:28,520 --> 00:37:30,600 Speaker 1: I didn't have a family of origin quite like that. 617 00:37:30,880 --> 00:37:33,200 Speaker 1: I hear you, and that is important, and I'm sorry 618 00:37:33,280 --> 00:37:35,400 Speaker 1: you did not get that gift. But I want to 619 00:37:35,400 --> 00:37:38,440 Speaker 1: remind you that equally powerful is not just your family 620 00:37:38,480 --> 00:37:41,400 Speaker 1: of origin, but it is your family of choice. And 621 00:37:41,440 --> 00:37:43,319 Speaker 1: that is the power of the Body of Christ, that 622 00:37:43,400 --> 00:37:51,720 Speaker 1: is the power of the Church. That maybe your daddy 623 00:37:51,800 --> 00:37:57,000 Speaker 1: wasn't there, but I'm grateful for this writer in Hebrews. 624 00:37:57,040 --> 00:37:58,920 Speaker 1: As he moves on from chapter six, he gets to 625 00:37:59,040 --> 00:38:02,120 Speaker 1: chapter twelve, and he gives us a picture of who 626 00:38:02,160 --> 00:38:06,680 Speaker 1: to imitate. He says in chapter twelve, Therefore, since we 627 00:38:06,719 --> 00:38:12,880 Speaker 1: are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses, let us 628 00:38:12,880 --> 00:38:15,319 Speaker 1: throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so 629 00:38:15,560 --> 00:38:20,520 Speaker 1: easily entangles. Maybe you feel alone today, but can I 630 00:38:20,560 --> 00:38:23,279 Speaker 1: remind you? You might feel secluded, but in reality you 631 00:38:23,320 --> 00:38:28,040 Speaker 1: are surrounded. All of Heaven is watching you, All of 632 00:38:28,120 --> 00:38:31,640 Speaker 1: Heaven is looking down upon you. All of Heaven is 633 00:38:31,680 --> 00:38:34,360 Speaker 1: seeing you run this race. I don't know if you 634 00:38:34,360 --> 00:38:36,200 Speaker 1: ever ran a race before. It's one thing to run 635 00:38:36,200 --> 00:38:38,200 Speaker 1: a race in the woods with no one looking. It's 636 00:38:38,239 --> 00:38:40,000 Speaker 1: another thing when you're getting close to the finish line 637 00:38:40,000 --> 00:38:42,200 Speaker 1: and the crowd is out there. You start running with 638 00:38:42,280 --> 00:38:48,680 Speaker 1: a whole brand new swag. Hey, and all of heaven 639 00:38:48,760 --> 00:38:51,680 Speaker 1: is watching you. Well, who's watching me? Rich? The Bible 640 00:38:51,719 --> 00:38:54,080 Speaker 1: tells you in Hebrews chapter eleven. It's called the Hall 641 00:38:54,120 --> 00:38:56,480 Speaker 1: of faith. It's men and women who died before us. 642 00:38:56,560 --> 00:38:59,360 Speaker 1: They die without ever seeing the promise. Enoch is watching you, 643 00:39:00,239 --> 00:39:04,080 Speaker 1: and Abel is watching you. Father Abraham, he's watching you, 644 00:39:04,560 --> 00:39:08,120 Speaker 1: and Isaac's watching you, and Jacob's watching you, and Joseph's 645 00:39:08,160 --> 00:39:10,600 Speaker 1: watching you, and Moses is watching you, and Samson is 646 00:39:10,640 --> 00:39:15,200 Speaker 1: watching you, and they are saying, run your race. Press on. 647 00:39:15,600 --> 00:39:18,719 Speaker 1: I know you're tired, but do not grow weary in 648 00:39:18,840 --> 00:39:22,680 Speaker 1: doing good, for at the proper time you will reap 649 00:39:22,960 --> 00:39:41,680 Speaker 1: a harvest. God is faithful. Sometimes when I'm weak, sometimes 650 00:39:43,040 --> 00:39:49,640 Speaker 1: when I'm tempted to quit, I pray to Jesus no doubt, 651 00:39:50,840 --> 00:39:54,400 Speaker 1: but I can hear the voices in my head of 652 00:39:54,520 --> 00:40:00,479 Speaker 1: my grandfather and my uncle's. I can hear my grain father, 653 00:40:00,920 --> 00:40:03,359 Speaker 1: Fulton Bontege passion the same church. You don't know his name, 654 00:40:03,400 --> 00:40:09,359 Speaker 1: but for forty years he preached really simple messages, short sermons. 655 00:40:10,280 --> 00:40:13,959 Speaker 1: He preached a message, crier river, build a bridge, get 656 00:40:14,000 --> 00:40:18,960 Speaker 1: over it. And I can hear the voice of Fulton 657 00:40:19,000 --> 00:40:21,600 Speaker 1: Bontang when I feel like quitting, when I feel overlooked, 658 00:40:21,600 --> 00:40:23,239 Speaker 1: when I feel not seen, I can hear him saying, rich, 659 00:40:23,239 --> 00:40:26,239 Speaker 1: it's always too soon to quit. I can hear my 660 00:40:26,320 --> 00:40:29,440 Speaker 1: uncle Mark Bonteyn, who gave his life in Calcutta, India, 661 00:40:29,520 --> 00:40:32,480 Speaker 1: worked with mother Teresa, built a hospital, built a church. 662 00:40:32,520 --> 00:40:35,080 Speaker 1: You don't know his name, but he gave his life 663 00:40:35,080 --> 00:40:38,480 Speaker 1: for the gospel and for the mission. I can hear 664 00:40:38,520 --> 00:40:40,960 Speaker 1: him quoting the words of Mother Teresa. Rich is not 665 00:40:41,040 --> 00:40:45,640 Speaker 1: about being successful, it's about being faithful. I can hear 666 00:40:45,680 --> 00:40:49,880 Speaker 1: My uncle David Wilkerson, who started Times Square Church and 667 00:40:50,239 --> 00:40:53,680 Speaker 1: who initiated and began Teen Challenge, the world's largest drug 668 00:40:53,719 --> 00:40:57,400 Speaker 1: rehab program in the world, went to New York as 669 00:40:57,440 --> 00:41:00,680 Speaker 1: a young man, stood in the face of adversity and opposition, 670 00:41:00,960 --> 00:41:03,359 Speaker 1: looked at gang members one time with a switch plate 671 00:41:03,440 --> 00:41:06,160 Speaker 1: to his throat. They said, preacher, if you don't stop preaching, 672 00:41:06,520 --> 00:41:09,040 Speaker 1: we're gonna cut you up into a million pieces. But 673 00:41:09,120 --> 00:41:11,440 Speaker 1: with the conviction and the courage of the Holy Spirit, 674 00:41:11,719 --> 00:41:13,440 Speaker 1: he looked back and said, you could cut me into 675 00:41:13,480 --> 00:41:15,879 Speaker 1: a million pieces, but every one of those pieces will 676 00:41:15,880 --> 00:41:17,960 Speaker 1: look back up at you and say I love you, 677 00:41:18,239 --> 00:41:27,279 Speaker 1: and Jesus Christ loves you as well. I hear his voice. Rich, 678 00:41:27,320 --> 00:41:29,759 Speaker 1: You're not called to a life of convenience. You're called 679 00:41:29,800 --> 00:41:37,319 Speaker 1: to a life of conviction. These voices are cheering me on. 680 00:41:37,719 --> 00:41:42,279 Speaker 1: Although at times I get tired and weary, I'm reminded 681 00:41:42,440 --> 00:41:48,040 Speaker 1: God is not unjust. He will not forget us. And 682 00:41:48,120 --> 00:41:51,520 Speaker 1: so today it's out of his strength and out of 683 00:41:51,600 --> 00:41:54,080 Speaker 1: his reminder and through the power of His Holy Spirit, 684 00:41:54,360 --> 00:41:58,600 Speaker 1: that we move forward. And you're saying, but Rich, that's 685 00:41:58,600 --> 00:42:01,480 Speaker 1: not my story. Oh, but you've been grafted into the 686 00:42:01,480 --> 00:42:04,279 Speaker 1: family of God. And because of what Jesus did on 687 00:42:04,320 --> 00:42:07,240 Speaker 1: across two thousand years ago, when his blood was shed, 688 00:42:07,480 --> 00:42:11,120 Speaker 1: that became your spiritual DNA. And now you got a 689 00:42:11,160 --> 00:42:14,160 Speaker 1: great great, great, great great great great granddaddy called Abraham, 690 00:42:14,400 --> 00:42:16,640 Speaker 1: who stepped out into the unknown, and it was there 691 00:42:16,680 --> 00:42:24,560 Speaker 1: in the unknown that all things became known. Moses, is 692 00:42:24,560 --> 00:42:29,640 Speaker 1: a part of your legacy. I can't do it. I'm 693 00:42:29,680 --> 00:42:32,640 Speaker 1: not qualified. But here comes God. He's looking at you 694 00:42:32,719 --> 00:42:38,839 Speaker 1: and saying, all I need is somebody who's available. I've 695 00:42:38,840 --> 00:42:46,920 Speaker 1: made so many mistakes, Yo, Samson. Samson made it him 696 00:42:46,960 --> 00:42:50,560 Speaker 1: to Hebrews eleven, because it reminds me it's not how 697 00:42:50,600 --> 00:42:54,279 Speaker 1: you start. Ooh, it is not about how you start. 698 00:42:54,320 --> 00:43:03,319 Speaker 1: Come on, somebody, it is about how you finish. Bring 699 00:43:03,400 --> 00:43:06,920 Speaker 1: up that verse. Therefore, since we are surrounded by such 700 00:43:06,960 --> 00:43:09,560 Speaker 1: a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything 701 00:43:09,600 --> 00:43:13,000 Speaker 1: that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and 702 00:43:13,120 --> 00:43:17,080 Speaker 1: let us run with perseverance. Someone say, perseverance. The race 703 00:43:17,200 --> 00:43:22,000 Speaker 1: marked out for us fixing our eyes on Jesus, the 704 00:43:22,120 --> 00:43:26,400 Speaker 1: pioneer and perfector of faith. Watch this, for the joy 705 00:43:26,680 --> 00:43:29,440 Speaker 1: set before him. He endured the cross. You know what 706 00:43:29,440 --> 00:43:32,560 Speaker 1: the joy set before him was relationship with you. For 707 00:43:32,640 --> 00:43:35,280 Speaker 1: the joy set before him, he endured the cross, scorning 708 00:43:35,320 --> 00:43:38,960 Speaker 1: its shame and sat down at the right hand of 709 00:43:39,040 --> 00:43:42,760 Speaker 1: the throne of God. If you're grateful for Jesus today, 710 00:43:42,960 --> 00:43:45,200 Speaker 1: can you go ahead and clap your hands and give 711 00:43:45,239 --> 00:43:47,319 Speaker 1: him praise all over this house? Come on, stand up 712 00:43:47,360 --> 00:43:50,040 Speaker 1: on your feet. This is a God who keeps your seats. 713 00:43:50,880 --> 00:43:54,440 Speaker 1: This is a God who doesn't forget. This is a 714 00:43:54,440 --> 00:43:56,919 Speaker 1: God who'll never leave you nor forsake you. He's with 715 00:43:56,960 --> 00:44:02,439 Speaker 1: you today, all over this house. Can we just shut 716 00:44:02,440 --> 00:44:05,960 Speaker 1: ourselves away? If you're at home watching right now, if 717 00:44:06,000 --> 00:44:08,799 Speaker 1: you're at one of our other locations. I just believe 718 00:44:08,840 --> 00:44:12,720 Speaker 1: it's a sweet moment in God's presence. God is faithful, 719 00:44:12,760 --> 00:44:17,560 Speaker 1: God is just. He knows your name. He picked you. 720 00:44:17,840 --> 00:44:19,279 Speaker 1: Don't you know that when he picked you, he knew 721 00:44:19,320 --> 00:44:24,400 Speaker 1: your flaws. He's not surprised by you. Oh but rich, 722 00:44:24,440 --> 00:44:26,200 Speaker 1: I feel like I let him down. You can't let 723 00:44:26,280 --> 00:44:28,040 Speaker 1: him down. You were never holding him up to begin with. 724 00:44:31,360 --> 00:44:33,560 Speaker 1: Some of us are. God's too small. He's big man. 725 00:44:35,239 --> 00:44:38,920 Speaker 1: He sees what you're doing. Don't grow weary in doing good. 726 00:44:39,840 --> 00:44:44,560 Speaker 1: He's faithful, he loves you, he sees how you're doing it. 727 00:44:47,040 --> 00:44:49,120 Speaker 1: Holy Spirit, would you begin to move in this place, 728 00:44:49,160 --> 00:44:52,680 Speaker 1: even right here, right now, just if you're hearing the 729 00:44:52,760 --> 00:44:55,040 Speaker 1: room today and you'd say, Rich, you're preaching to me today. 730 00:44:55,680 --> 00:44:59,759 Speaker 1: I'm tired, I feel overlooked. I don't know what this 731 00:44:59,800 --> 00:45:02,040 Speaker 1: say anario is or the sequence. If that's you, day, 732 00:45:02,080 --> 00:45:03,279 Speaker 1: would you just lift both your hands. I just want 733 00:45:03,280 --> 00:45:04,880 Speaker 1: to pray for you right where you are today. If 734 00:45:04,880 --> 00:45:07,120 Speaker 1: that's you, Yep, the hands are going up. That's me, Rich, 735 00:45:07,080 --> 00:45:10,000 Speaker 1: you're preaching to me. I need God to remind me today. 736 00:45:10,040 --> 00:45:11,319 Speaker 1: I want God to remind me. That's what the Holy 737 00:45:11,320 --> 00:45:13,560 Speaker 1: Spirit does. He's a reminder. He will come in and 738 00:45:13,600 --> 00:45:17,400 Speaker 1: remind you. Thank you, Holy Spirit, God, I thank you 739 00:45:17,480 --> 00:45:19,080 Speaker 1: every hand that's lifted right now. At the sound of 740 00:45:19,120 --> 00:45:25,399 Speaker 1: my voice, I decree and I declare Lord, Peace, refreshment, encouragement. Lord. 741 00:45:25,400 --> 00:45:28,839 Speaker 1: From the inside out. May they sense you even here 742 00:45:28,960 --> 00:45:31,960 Speaker 1: right now, that you are close God. That when we're 743 00:45:31,960 --> 00:45:35,680 Speaker 1: broken God, that's where you get really close God. Today 744 00:45:35,680 --> 00:45:37,960 Speaker 1: we've come into your house to worship you, that God. 745 00:45:38,000 --> 00:45:39,759 Speaker 1: We might be going through something bad, but we still 746 00:45:39,800 --> 00:45:44,839 Speaker 1: declare You are God. So Lord, when our words run out, 747 00:45:44,880 --> 00:45:47,680 Speaker 1: we lift our hands as a sign that we are surrendering, 748 00:45:48,120 --> 00:45:50,719 Speaker 1: that we need a supernatural Touchday, Holy Spirit, Would you 749 00:45:50,760 --> 00:45:55,000 Speaker 1: rush through this room like a rushing wind fire of 750 00:45:55,080 --> 00:46:01,279 Speaker 1: God fall in this place. Redefine priorities, remind us, remind 751 00:46:01,360 --> 00:46:06,600 Speaker 1: us we are your children. We're not forsaken, We're not forgotten. 752 00:46:06,680 --> 00:46:13,040 Speaker 1: We are remembered, sin forgotten, tears recorded. Who is this God? 753 00:46:13,960 --> 00:46:15,840 Speaker 1: Hallylujah today with your head bowed, your eyes closed. If 754 00:46:15,840 --> 00:46:17,520 Speaker 1: you're hearing this room today, or you're watching online and 755 00:46:17,520 --> 00:46:20,120 Speaker 1: you never given your life to Jesus before we worship, 756 00:46:20,160 --> 00:46:23,080 Speaker 1: before we sing, if that's you, if you say that's me, 757 00:46:23,600 --> 00:46:26,239 Speaker 1: I want to surrender my life to Jesus. For God 758 00:46:26,360 --> 00:46:28,719 Speaker 1: so loved the world. You're in the world. He gave 759 00:46:28,760 --> 00:46:31,360 Speaker 1: his one and only son that whoever believes that it 760 00:46:31,400 --> 00:46:34,239 Speaker 1: will not perish. But I've everlasting life, for God did 761 00:46:34,239 --> 00:46:36,080 Speaker 1: not send us und the world to condemned the world, 762 00:46:36,120 --> 00:46:39,480 Speaker 1: but to save the world. God wants to save your soul, 763 00:46:40,480 --> 00:46:41,919 Speaker 1: but he doesn't just want to get you to heaven. 764 00:46:42,080 --> 00:46:44,279 Speaker 1: He wants to walk with you through every trial and 765 00:46:44,400 --> 00:46:46,680 Speaker 1: every challenge. The Gospel is not a promise of a 766 00:46:46,680 --> 00:46:49,279 Speaker 1: problem free life. The gospel is a promise that every 767 00:46:49,280 --> 00:46:52,719 Speaker 1: problem you come up against, he will be there with you. 768 00:46:52,760 --> 00:46:54,120 Speaker 1: So your head is bout and your eyes are closed. 769 00:46:54,120 --> 00:46:55,839 Speaker 1: That's you today, you say, rich, that's me. What would 770 00:46:55,840 --> 00:46:56,200 Speaker 1: you pray with me? 771 00:46:56,200 --> 00:46:56,359 Speaker 3: Now? 772 00:46:56,600 --> 00:46:58,800 Speaker 1: I want to be included in this prayer of salvation. 773 00:46:58,920 --> 00:47:01,440 Speaker 1: I want to be in the face of God. I 774 00:47:01,520 --> 00:47:03,800 Speaker 1: believe Jesus is my lord, saying if that's you, on 775 00:47:03,840 --> 00:47:05,319 Speaker 1: the count of three, would you be bold with your 776 00:47:05,360 --> 00:47:07,239 Speaker 1: hand up high enough and long enough, and I'm gonna 777 00:47:07,280 --> 00:47:08,920 Speaker 1: lead you in a prayer, and then we're gonna give 778 00:47:08,960 --> 00:47:10,919 Speaker 1: glory to God in this place. Ready. One, the Bible says, 779 00:47:10,960 --> 00:47:13,560 Speaker 1: today's that day. Two, don't look at your Neighbor's not 780 00:47:13,600 --> 00:47:17,200 Speaker 1: about your neighbors. Between you and Jesus. Ready, one, two, three, 781 00:47:17,200 --> 00:47:19,000 Speaker 1: attach you lift up. That's me, that's me, that's me, 782 00:47:19,120 --> 00:47:22,600 Speaker 1: that's me. Thank you, Jesus, Thank you, Jesus, Thank you, Jesus, 783 00:47:24,360 --> 00:47:29,440 Speaker 1: Thank you God. Come on, evition, can we lift our 784 00:47:29,440 --> 00:47:31,799 Speaker 1: hands towards seven? The Bible says, believe in your heart, 785 00:47:32,400 --> 00:47:35,640 Speaker 1: confess with your mouth, and you will be saved. Say 786 00:47:35,680 --> 00:47:41,879 Speaker 1: dear Jesus, today, Lord, I surrender all of me over 787 00:47:41,920 --> 00:47:46,319 Speaker 1: to you. I believe and I confess that you are 788 00:47:46,960 --> 00:47:50,840 Speaker 1: who you said that you are. Forgive me. I receive 789 00:47:51,640 --> 00:47:57,360 Speaker 1: your salvation. Today. I declare I am yours. You're my Lord, 790 00:47:57,719 --> 00:48:03,080 Speaker 1: You're my savior. In Jesus' name, everybody said, come on church, 791 00:48:03,560 --> 00:48:06,120 Speaker 1: let's give God praise. Come. Hey. 792 00:48:06,160 --> 00:48:08,479 Speaker 2: I hope you enjoyed the podcast, and if you did, 793 00:48:09,040 --> 00:48:11,640 Speaker 2: make sure to share it and subscribe so we can 794 00:48:11,680 --> 00:48:14,239 Speaker 2: get you all of these new messages as soon as 795 00:48:14,280 --> 00:48:17,080 Speaker 2: they're available. I also want to take a moment and 796 00:48:17,160 --> 00:48:18,920 Speaker 2: thank all of you who are a part of Elevation. 797 00:48:19,440 --> 00:48:22,799 Speaker 2: Whether you support us financially, or serve with us, or 798 00:48:23,200 --> 00:48:25,879 Speaker 2: just share these messages, it's because of you that we're 799 00:48:25,920 --> 00:48:28,360 Speaker 2: able to reach people all around the world. 800 00:48:28,600 --> 00:48:31,080 Speaker 1: And if you want more information on how to be 801 00:48:31,120 --> 00:48:34,280 Speaker 1: a part of Elevation, click the link in the description. 802 00:48:34,800 --> 00:48:35,800 Speaker 1: Thanks again for listening. 803 00:48:35,800 --> 00:48:39,200 Speaker 2: Make sure to leave a review, share the message, and subscribe. 804 00:48:39,480 --> 00:48:48,840 Speaker 1: God bless you.