1 00:00:01,520 --> 00:00:02,800 Speaker 1: Hey, this is Stephen Ferdik. 2 00:00:02,840 --> 00:00:05,280 Speaker 2: I'm the pastor of Elevation Church, and this is our 3 00:00:05,280 --> 00:00:07,760 Speaker 2: podcast and I wanted to thank you for joining us today. 4 00:00:08,080 --> 00:00:10,959 Speaker 2: Hope this inspires you. Hope it builds your faith. Hope 5 00:00:10,960 --> 00:00:13,080 Speaker 2: it gives your perspective to see God is moving. 6 00:00:12,920 --> 00:00:13,560 Speaker 1: In your life. 7 00:00:13,880 --> 00:00:19,560 Speaker 3: Enjoy the message I want to share with you from 8 00:00:19,600 --> 00:00:25,239 Speaker 3: a scripture that really demonstrates something that I think is 9 00:00:25,320 --> 00:00:27,880 Speaker 3: difficult to do in our lives but will be so 10 00:00:27,960 --> 00:00:28,760 Speaker 3: helpful to us. 11 00:00:28,800 --> 00:00:31,920 Speaker 2: We're in a season called Game Changer, and so our 12 00:00:32,000 --> 00:00:32,919 Speaker 2: y're in series. 13 00:00:33,159 --> 00:00:34,319 Speaker 1: We're taking a moment to. 14 00:00:34,400 --> 00:00:37,760 Speaker 2: Pause, reflect and respond to God's goodness in our lives. 15 00:00:38,159 --> 00:00:41,440 Speaker 2: And so from the scriptural foundation today, I want to 16 00:00:41,479 --> 00:00:43,640 Speaker 2: help you see something that I think will help you 17 00:00:44,159 --> 00:00:47,080 Speaker 2: to carry forward with you into the next season of 18 00:00:47,080 --> 00:00:51,400 Speaker 2: your life. Momentum for what God has already done is 19 00:00:51,840 --> 00:00:53,800 Speaker 2: something significant, and what He. 20 00:00:53,760 --> 00:00:55,200 Speaker 1: Wants to do is even greater. 21 00:00:55,480 --> 00:00:57,680 Speaker 2: And I believe that, believe that with all of my 22 00:00:57,760 --> 00:01:00,880 Speaker 2: heart for myself and my family, and you and your family, 23 00:01:00,920 --> 00:01:03,400 Speaker 2: and for our church. And so with that spirit of faith, 24 00:01:03,400 --> 00:01:08,880 Speaker 2: today let's go to the Word of God Joshua, chapter four, verses. 25 00:01:08,560 --> 00:01:09,360 Speaker 1: One through nine. 26 00:01:10,319 --> 00:01:13,240 Speaker 2: And as I read this story to you over the 27 00:01:13,240 --> 00:01:15,400 Speaker 2: next few moments. I want you pay attention to the 28 00:01:15,440 --> 00:01:18,639 Speaker 2: details of it, okay, because on the surface, the story 29 00:01:18,720 --> 00:01:22,319 Speaker 2: is really very simple. The people of Israel are crossing 30 00:01:22,600 --> 00:01:25,640 Speaker 2: into the Promised Land. They haven't fought any battles yet, 31 00:01:25,800 --> 00:01:28,880 Speaker 2: but it's already theirs because God has promised to give 32 00:01:28,880 --> 00:01:32,120 Speaker 2: it to them. So they're coming to realize what God 33 00:01:32,280 --> 00:01:35,440 Speaker 2: has already revealed, and he showed it to them for 34 00:01:35,560 --> 00:01:39,600 Speaker 2: many generations. But now they're coming into that moment where 35 00:01:39,680 --> 00:01:43,840 Speaker 2: they're having to actually believe that what God spoke in 36 00:01:43,880 --> 00:01:47,720 Speaker 2: their lives, and what God spoke that they haven't seen 37 00:01:47,760 --> 00:01:50,440 Speaker 2: come to pass yet is about to happen. And so 38 00:01:50,560 --> 00:01:53,800 Speaker 2: I think this is an appropriate scripture for where we 39 00:01:53,840 --> 00:01:56,480 Speaker 2: are as a church, and maybe for where you are 40 00:01:56,480 --> 00:01:56,800 Speaker 2: as well. 41 00:01:56,800 --> 00:01:59,040 Speaker 1: And I pray that God will help me deliver it today. 42 00:01:59,200 --> 00:02:05,440 Speaker 1: Are you excited. I'll be honest, it's not very convince him, 43 00:02:05,440 --> 00:02:07,280 Speaker 1: but I am. I'm excited enough for all of us, 44 00:02:07,280 --> 00:02:09,960 Speaker 1: so we'll do it anyway. Joshua Chapter four, verse one. 45 00:02:10,080 --> 00:02:12,040 Speaker 2: When the whole nation had finished crossing the Jordan, the 46 00:02:12,040 --> 00:02:13,840 Speaker 2: Lord said to Joshua, choose twelve. 47 00:02:13,680 --> 00:02:15,040 Speaker 1: Men from among the people. 48 00:02:15,080 --> 00:02:17,360 Speaker 2: One from each tribe, and tell them to take up 49 00:02:17,360 --> 00:02:20,560 Speaker 2: twelve stones from the middle of the Jordan, from right 50 00:02:20,600 --> 00:02:24,480 Speaker 2: where the priests are standing, and carry them over with 51 00:02:24,520 --> 00:02:26,280 Speaker 2: you and put them down at the place where you 52 00:02:26,360 --> 00:02:30,520 Speaker 2: stay tonight. So joshuall call the twelve men he had 53 00:02:30,520 --> 00:02:33,480 Speaker 2: appointed from the Israelites, one from each tribe, and said 54 00:02:33,480 --> 00:02:36,000 Speaker 2: to them, go for the ark of the Lord your 55 00:02:36,000 --> 00:02:38,680 Speaker 2: got into the middle of the Jordan. Each of you 56 00:02:38,760 --> 00:02:41,160 Speaker 2: is to take up a stone on his shoulder according 57 00:02:41,160 --> 00:02:44,560 Speaker 2: to the number of tribes of the Israelites, to serve 58 00:02:45,040 --> 00:02:48,720 Speaker 2: as a sign among you in the future. 59 00:02:49,560 --> 00:02:51,720 Speaker 1: When your children ask. 60 00:02:51,639 --> 00:02:58,120 Speaker 4: You what do these stones mean, tell them that the 61 00:02:58,160 --> 00:03:01,280 Speaker 4: flow of the Jordan was cut off off before the 62 00:03:01,480 --> 00:03:02,960 Speaker 4: Ark of the Covenant of the Lord. 63 00:03:03,760 --> 00:03:06,560 Speaker 2: When it crossed the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan 64 00:03:06,639 --> 00:03:11,720 Speaker 2: were cut off. These stones are to be a memorial 65 00:03:11,800 --> 00:03:16,000 Speaker 2: to the people of Israel forever. So Israelites did as 66 00:03:16,080 --> 00:03:20,520 Speaker 2: Joshua commanded them. They took twelve stones in the middle 67 00:03:20,560 --> 00:03:23,440 Speaker 2: of the Jordan, according to the number of the tribes 68 00:03:23,480 --> 00:03:26,360 Speaker 2: of the Israelites, as the Lord had told Joshua, and 69 00:03:26,400 --> 00:03:29,320 Speaker 2: they carried them over with them to the camp, where 70 00:03:29,360 --> 00:03:30,240 Speaker 2: they put them. 71 00:03:30,080 --> 00:03:32,200 Speaker 1: Down Joshua set up the twelve. 72 00:03:32,000 --> 00:03:34,720 Speaker 2: Stones that had been in the middle of the Jordan 73 00:03:35,280 --> 00:03:38,040 Speaker 2: at the spot where the priests who had carried the 74 00:03:38,200 --> 00:03:42,320 Speaker 2: Ark of the Covenant had stood, and they are there 75 00:03:42,600 --> 00:03:45,160 Speaker 2: to this day. Would you look at the person next 76 00:03:45,200 --> 00:03:46,920 Speaker 2: to you and give them my sermon title, tell them 77 00:03:46,960 --> 00:03:51,080 Speaker 2: it's mine to manage. Look at your other neighbor. I 78 00:03:51,080 --> 00:03:53,080 Speaker 2: know they were your second choice, but they're important to 79 00:03:53,120 --> 00:03:57,280 Speaker 2: the Lord as well, And tell them it's mine to manage. 80 00:03:58,800 --> 00:04:01,320 Speaker 1: It's mine to man. And how many of you have children? 81 00:04:02,440 --> 00:04:04,600 Speaker 2: How many of you have children who have a phone 82 00:04:05,160 --> 00:04:09,200 Speaker 2: or an electronic device with a data plan. It's a 83 00:04:09,200 --> 00:04:11,720 Speaker 2: big debate around my house. When will our children be 84 00:04:11,760 --> 00:04:17,240 Speaker 2: old enough to be entrusted with data? Real first world problems. 85 00:04:17,240 --> 00:04:19,920 Speaker 2: I get it, But you know, parenting is challenging. It's 86 00:04:19,920 --> 00:04:22,680 Speaker 2: a great privilege, but I find it to be challenging, 87 00:04:23,160 --> 00:04:25,239 Speaker 2: and I find it to be exhilarating, and I find. 88 00:04:25,040 --> 00:04:26,000 Speaker 1: It to be exhausting. 89 00:04:26,480 --> 00:04:28,400 Speaker 2: And one woman wrote me on YouTube and said, I 90 00:04:28,400 --> 00:04:31,080 Speaker 2: think you had kids too soon. You're always complaining about them, 91 00:04:32,240 --> 00:04:39,960 Speaker 2: And I prayed for her in tongues. But you know, 92 00:04:40,080 --> 00:04:42,520 Speaker 2: the more of a privilege you see something to be 93 00:04:42,600 --> 00:04:44,800 Speaker 2: the more of a responsibility you feel toward it. 94 00:04:47,320 --> 00:04:49,599 Speaker 1: So complaining isn't always a sign that you don't care. 95 00:04:49,800 --> 00:04:53,799 Speaker 1: You're not grateful, you'd have an attitude of gratitude. Gratitude 96 00:04:53,839 --> 00:04:56,560 Speaker 1: is not an attitude. Gratitude is an action. And then 97 00:04:56,560 --> 00:04:58,320 Speaker 1: the action of being. 98 00:04:58,160 --> 00:05:02,000 Speaker 2: Grateful leads to a feeling of gratitude. But God would 99 00:05:02,080 --> 00:05:06,680 Speaker 2: not command you to be grateful if gratitude was a feeling, 100 00:05:06,760 --> 00:05:09,440 Speaker 2: because you can't command a feeling. Doesn't work that way. 101 00:05:10,200 --> 00:05:13,520 Speaker 2: God instead instructs you to praise him. One Psalma said 102 00:05:13,560 --> 00:05:16,599 Speaker 2: it this way. He said, Ah, this is the day 103 00:05:17,480 --> 00:05:21,800 Speaker 2: that the Lord has made. I will rejoice and be 104 00:05:21,880 --> 00:05:26,080 Speaker 2: glad in it. This is the day that the Lord 105 00:05:26,440 --> 00:05:27,359 Speaker 2: has made. 106 00:05:27,960 --> 00:05:33,040 Speaker 5: I will rejoice and be glad in it. Oh, this 107 00:05:33,320 --> 00:05:38,599 Speaker 5: is the day. This is the day that the Lord 108 00:05:39,160 --> 00:05:46,440 Speaker 5: has made. Hey, this is the day. This is the 109 00:05:46,560 --> 00:05:50,120 Speaker 5: day that the Lord has made. Now who made it? 110 00:05:50,800 --> 00:05:51,400 Speaker 5: Who made it? 111 00:05:52,600 --> 00:05:55,080 Speaker 1: Now? I will rejoice. 112 00:05:55,760 --> 00:06:03,040 Speaker 5: I will rejoice and be glad in it. So God 113 00:06:03,160 --> 00:06:05,799 Speaker 5: made it, But I get to manage it. Touch somebody 114 00:06:05,880 --> 00:06:09,440 Speaker 5: say it's mine to manage. 115 00:06:08,279 --> 00:06:10,080 Speaker 1: And what I do with this day is up to me. 116 00:06:10,240 --> 00:06:14,640 Speaker 2: So when I gave my oldest kid his phone, I said. 117 00:06:14,880 --> 00:06:17,400 Speaker 1: I wrapped it. It was his birthday, and I rapped it. 118 00:06:17,480 --> 00:06:20,000 Speaker 2: And I said, this phone has data, and this phone 119 00:06:20,200 --> 00:06:22,880 Speaker 2: is yours, not really. 120 00:06:25,400 --> 00:06:26,080 Speaker 1: For your birthday. 121 00:06:26,160 --> 00:06:32,560 Speaker 2: I am giving you my phone to use, which means 122 00:06:33,800 --> 00:06:38,360 Speaker 2: that this phone, the contents thereof, and the communications that 123 00:06:38,480 --> 00:06:47,800 Speaker 2: shall be initiated thereby are under my jurisdiction. One good 124 00:06:47,839 --> 00:06:52,880 Speaker 2: parent clapped when I said that. And I dare you 125 00:06:52,920 --> 00:06:54,520 Speaker 2: to put a pass code on that phone that I 126 00:06:54,560 --> 00:06:58,279 Speaker 2: don't know. I dare you to put a pass code 127 00:06:58,279 --> 00:07:00,720 Speaker 2: on that phone. You change your past, and I will 128 00:07:00,839 --> 00:07:10,440 Speaker 2: change your destiny. But it was a principle in the 129 00:07:10,480 --> 00:07:14,000 Speaker 2: modern age of stewardship that is really the same principle. 130 00:07:14,320 --> 00:07:16,120 Speaker 2: You know that God has been trying to teach us 131 00:07:16,160 --> 00:07:19,840 Speaker 2: all along that it's his to give and it's ours 132 00:07:19,880 --> 00:07:23,680 Speaker 2: to manage. And the moment you begin to understand that 133 00:07:23,760 --> 00:07:32,080 Speaker 2: about your life, your money. 134 00:07:30,600 --> 00:07:33,680 Speaker 1: Y'all don't like this sermon already. This is the motivational part. 135 00:07:35,440 --> 00:07:38,640 Speaker 2: It takes some of the pressure off to realize that 136 00:07:38,720 --> 00:07:43,200 Speaker 2: it's his to give, it's mine to manage. Say it 137 00:07:43,200 --> 00:07:47,120 Speaker 2: out loud, it's his to give mine to manage. So 138 00:07:47,160 --> 00:07:50,960 Speaker 2: I didn't make the day, but I will rejoice in it. 139 00:07:51,120 --> 00:07:54,600 Speaker 2: So he gave me the day, and now it's mine 140 00:07:54,760 --> 00:07:59,360 Speaker 2: to manage. That's a really powerful distinction to know that 141 00:07:59,760 --> 00:08:02,640 Speaker 2: there are certain things that God has given you under 142 00:08:02,840 --> 00:08:08,640 Speaker 2: your jurisdiction. One of those things is your joy. I 143 00:08:08,680 --> 00:08:12,440 Speaker 2: will rejoice and be glad in it. And so this 144 00:08:12,480 --> 00:08:14,360 Speaker 2: is the day that the Lord has made. I rejoice 145 00:08:14,360 --> 00:08:18,600 Speaker 2: and be glad in it, regardless of if the traffic 146 00:08:18,680 --> 00:08:19,400 Speaker 2: is congested. 147 00:08:21,040 --> 00:08:21,920 Speaker 1: I don't manage the. 148 00:08:21,920 --> 00:08:26,560 Speaker 2: Traffic, but I am I am A I like it 149 00:08:26,600 --> 00:08:27,240 Speaker 2: this way. 150 00:08:28,200 --> 00:08:30,720 Speaker 1: My joy is my job. 151 00:08:31,680 --> 00:08:34,960 Speaker 2: No matter what happens when I get to my job. 152 00:08:35,559 --> 00:08:40,520 Speaker 2: No one can steal my joy because my joy is 153 00:08:40,520 --> 00:08:42,600 Speaker 2: not under anyone else else's jurisdiction. 154 00:08:43,760 --> 00:08:45,959 Speaker 1: See what I'm saying, It's mine to manage. 155 00:08:47,120 --> 00:08:49,480 Speaker 2: And one time I made the mistake of saying that 156 00:08:49,559 --> 00:08:52,040 Speaker 2: somebody stole my joy, and the spear of the Lord 157 00:08:52,080 --> 00:08:56,520 Speaker 2: really corrected me on that, like they stole your joy there, 158 00:08:57,559 --> 00:09:00,720 Speaker 2: your joy is not their job. And if they sold it, 159 00:09:00,840 --> 00:09:02,559 Speaker 2: you should have done a better job locking the door 160 00:09:02,640 --> 00:09:03,520 Speaker 2: so they couldn't. 161 00:09:03,200 --> 00:09:07,600 Speaker 1: Get to it. You need a better security system. If 162 00:09:07,600 --> 00:09:08,920 Speaker 1: someone else can steal. 163 00:09:08,679 --> 00:09:11,600 Speaker 2: Your joy, then you've got your joy hiding out there 164 00:09:11,600 --> 00:09:14,480 Speaker 2: in the open where anybody can see it and snatch it. 165 00:09:15,360 --> 00:09:18,920 Speaker 1: And so this principle emerges in the Book of Joshua. 166 00:09:19,000 --> 00:09:21,640 Speaker 2: Can I tell you a little bit about this historic incident. 167 00:09:21,880 --> 00:09:24,720 Speaker 2: I'm so thankful for the gift of your attention today. 168 00:09:24,960 --> 00:09:28,160 Speaker 2: I find it a great privilege that you would lean 169 00:09:28,200 --> 00:09:30,720 Speaker 2: into the word of God and allow these words to 170 00:09:30,760 --> 00:09:32,720 Speaker 2: be spoken. I think it's amazing. I want to make 171 00:09:32,760 --> 00:09:34,360 Speaker 2: it worth your while. I want to tell a little bit about. 172 00:09:34,120 --> 00:09:36,280 Speaker 1: This passage of scripture is really amazing. 173 00:09:36,320 --> 00:09:38,960 Speaker 2: What God is doing for his people here, because the 174 00:09:39,040 --> 00:09:44,680 Speaker 2: nation of Israel is under new management, under new management. 175 00:09:44,640 --> 00:09:45,120 Speaker 6: And this. 176 00:09:46,600 --> 00:09:51,760 Speaker 2: Promise that God began making generations ago is now about 177 00:09:51,800 --> 00:09:54,840 Speaker 2: to come to pass. This land that they are going 178 00:09:54,920 --> 00:09:59,199 Speaker 2: to possess is going to become theirs, but it's really God's, 179 00:09:59,240 --> 00:10:01,600 Speaker 2: but it's theirs. It's theirs to possess, but it's God's 180 00:10:01,600 --> 00:10:04,479 Speaker 2: to give. So it's Gods and it's theirs. And Joshua 181 00:10:04,679 --> 00:10:07,240 Speaker 2: is the person God is using to bring it to pass. 182 00:10:08,000 --> 00:10:11,480 Speaker 1: Now, Moses was the leader that brought the people out of. 183 00:10:11,480 --> 00:10:16,040 Speaker 2: Egypt, where they spent several centuries enslave to the systems 184 00:10:16,080 --> 00:10:20,000 Speaker 2: of that nation, and now they're no longer just wandering 185 00:10:20,040 --> 00:10:22,720 Speaker 2: around in the wilderness like they did under Moses for 186 00:10:22,840 --> 00:10:27,360 Speaker 2: over forty years. But they're coming into their own land. 187 00:10:27,840 --> 00:10:32,360 Speaker 2: They're coming into their own spacious place. They're coming into 188 00:10:32,360 --> 00:10:37,080 Speaker 2: their own homes, and they're coming into their own community 189 00:10:37,280 --> 00:10:40,000 Speaker 2: that God has been in the process of forming. But 190 00:10:40,040 --> 00:10:43,920 Speaker 2: it's going to require a different mindset because up until 191 00:10:43,960 --> 00:10:47,360 Speaker 2: this point in their life, they have existed on the 192 00:10:47,400 --> 00:10:50,719 Speaker 2: miracles that God provided, Like God gave them manna when 193 00:10:50,720 --> 00:10:53,440 Speaker 2: they were in the wilderness because they didn't have quail 194 00:10:53,600 --> 00:10:56,200 Speaker 2: like they had in Egypt that their masters would give 195 00:10:56,240 --> 00:10:59,240 Speaker 2: them to feed them. But now they're coming into their 196 00:10:59,280 --> 00:11:02,520 Speaker 2: own and the mana that used to fall from the sky, 197 00:11:02,640 --> 00:11:05,240 Speaker 2: it was miraculous how it came down. They would just 198 00:11:05,640 --> 00:11:08,000 Speaker 2: walk out their front door and there it would be 199 00:11:08,080 --> 00:11:11,600 Speaker 2: Amazon Prime on the doorstep. The drone would drop it 200 00:11:11,640 --> 00:11:14,040 Speaker 2: off and they would have enough for the day. 201 00:11:14,320 --> 00:11:16,160 Speaker 1: But the thing that's about. 202 00:11:15,960 --> 00:11:18,280 Speaker 2: To happen to them in just a moment is that 203 00:11:18,320 --> 00:11:21,040 Speaker 2: they're going to cross over into this land where the 204 00:11:21,080 --> 00:11:23,880 Speaker 2: mana is going to stop coming, and they are going 205 00:11:23,920 --> 00:11:27,200 Speaker 2: to have to learn to manage in a different way. 206 00:11:27,280 --> 00:11:30,199 Speaker 2: So they're going to have to mature in their mindset, 207 00:11:30,400 --> 00:11:31,959 Speaker 2: And I guess one way that you could say this, 208 00:11:32,440 --> 00:11:35,760 Speaker 2: they're having to learn how to manage their miracle. 209 00:11:36,840 --> 00:11:38,360 Speaker 1: And this is something you don't hear. 210 00:11:38,960 --> 00:11:45,520 Speaker 2: Taught enough in settings like these, because we often tell 211 00:11:45,559 --> 00:11:49,760 Speaker 2: you to expect a miracle and to believe for a miracle, 212 00:11:50,480 --> 00:11:53,880 Speaker 2: and to receive for a miracle. But how many know 213 00:11:54,040 --> 00:11:59,280 Speaker 2: that you are responsible to manage your miracles. 214 00:12:00,440 --> 00:12:01,559 Speaker 1: I'll prove it to you from the. 215 00:12:01,520 --> 00:12:03,720 Speaker 2: Text, because you're acting kind of suspicious, and I don't 216 00:12:03,760 --> 00:12:06,160 Speaker 2: blame you. It sounds weird because a miracle is something 217 00:12:06,160 --> 00:12:06,880 Speaker 2: that God does. 218 00:12:07,720 --> 00:12:09,080 Speaker 1: It's something that God gives. 219 00:12:09,960 --> 00:12:15,439 Speaker 2: But the cooperation between Heaven and humanity has always been this. 220 00:12:16,160 --> 00:12:21,000 Speaker 2: It's God's to give, but it's mine to manage. It's 221 00:12:21,080 --> 00:12:25,360 Speaker 2: my father's to give, but it's mine to manage. And 222 00:12:25,400 --> 00:12:28,240 Speaker 2: so God is bringing his people through the Jordan River. 223 00:12:28,280 --> 00:12:29,840 Speaker 2: How many of you have something God has brought you 224 00:12:29,880 --> 00:12:34,079 Speaker 2: through this year? Did God bring you through it? I'm 225 00:12:34,080 --> 00:12:35,920 Speaker 2: gonna give you twelve seconds to praise Him for something 226 00:12:35,960 --> 00:12:46,720 Speaker 2: that he brought you through. We all have a Jordan 227 00:12:47,360 --> 00:12:50,079 Speaker 2: that we came through. And the interesting thing about the 228 00:12:50,160 --> 00:12:53,120 Speaker 2: Jordan River is it's mentioned a lot in scripture, but 229 00:12:53,200 --> 00:12:54,920 Speaker 2: not because it's a big body of water. 230 00:12:55,520 --> 00:12:57,679 Speaker 1: It's only like fifteen. 231 00:12:57,320 --> 00:13:00,920 Speaker 2: Yards wide at its widest points, and it's not the 232 00:13:01,080 --> 00:13:02,360 Speaker 2: deepest body of water. 233 00:13:02,480 --> 00:13:04,120 Speaker 1: That's not what makes it significant. 234 00:13:04,400 --> 00:13:10,000 Speaker 2: What it symbolizes gives its biblical significance in that the 235 00:13:10,040 --> 00:13:14,480 Speaker 2: people of God saw the Jordan River as representing transitions 236 00:13:15,080 --> 00:13:18,200 Speaker 2: and new beginnings. You see it a lot in the 237 00:13:18,200 --> 00:13:23,000 Speaker 2: prophetic record, like Elisha God Elijah's mantle in the Old Testament, 238 00:13:23,480 --> 00:13:26,400 Speaker 2: and he crossed the Jordan River. It's not a big river, 239 00:13:26,840 --> 00:13:30,880 Speaker 2: but it's symbolic. It's significant not because of its size, 240 00:13:30,960 --> 00:13:34,520 Speaker 2: not because of its scope physically, not because of its 241 00:13:34,520 --> 00:13:36,959 Speaker 2: geographical implications, but because. 242 00:13:36,720 --> 00:13:38,480 Speaker 1: Of what God did there. 243 00:13:39,400 --> 00:13:42,680 Speaker 2: Now they're standing at this place, this body of water, 244 00:13:43,280 --> 00:13:45,840 Speaker 2: and God does something amazing and does it in a 245 00:13:45,920 --> 00:13:46,920 Speaker 2: very particular way. 246 00:13:46,960 --> 00:13:49,439 Speaker 1: He tells the priest to stand in the middle of. 247 00:13:49,400 --> 00:13:53,320 Speaker 2: The Jordan with the arc of the Covenant. That's where 248 00:13:53,320 --> 00:13:57,360 Speaker 2: they kept the Ten Commandments. It represented the presence of God. 249 00:13:58,400 --> 00:14:02,240 Speaker 1: And when the priest put their foot in. 250 00:14:02,240 --> 00:14:08,360 Speaker 2: The water, the water stopped flowing to provide passageway for 251 00:14:08,440 --> 00:14:13,040 Speaker 2: the people to cross through. God did not carry his 252 00:14:13,200 --> 00:14:20,160 Speaker 2: people across the Jordan. He enabled his people to cross over. 253 00:14:26,120 --> 00:14:28,480 Speaker 2: This is how a lot of us live, our lives 254 00:14:29,000 --> 00:14:34,480 Speaker 2: waiting for God to carry us over something when He 255 00:14:34,600 --> 00:14:38,720 Speaker 2: is waiting for us to cross. You see me def 256 00:14:38,800 --> 00:14:42,760 Speaker 2: lepparn It is true. My kids one time, when they 257 00:14:42,760 --> 00:14:45,320 Speaker 2: were real little, we were at a public restroom and 258 00:14:45,400 --> 00:14:48,080 Speaker 2: they were washing their hands and they had their hands 259 00:14:48,120 --> 00:14:51,400 Speaker 2: out like this, and nothing was happening because I realized 260 00:14:51,440 --> 00:14:54,080 Speaker 2: they were used to the fuscet being automatic. 261 00:14:54,320 --> 00:14:55,920 Speaker 1: And it wasn't an automatic faucet. 262 00:14:57,120 --> 00:14:59,080 Speaker 2: And I watched and I stood back to see how 263 00:14:59,120 --> 00:15:01,880 Speaker 2: long they would stand there with their hands under the 264 00:15:01,880 --> 00:15:05,760 Speaker 2: faucet waiting for something to happen without turning the foss 265 00:15:05,800 --> 00:15:09,720 Speaker 2: in on. And finally, in compassion, I told, I told 266 00:15:09,800 --> 00:15:13,600 Speaker 2: my oldest child, I said, this is not an automatic faucet. 267 00:15:14,440 --> 00:15:17,120 Speaker 2: I know that you're used to the water just coming 268 00:15:17,160 --> 00:15:19,680 Speaker 2: on like this. See when you've had Man'm falling out 269 00:15:19,680 --> 00:15:22,640 Speaker 2: of the sky for so many years, you're used to 270 00:15:22,760 --> 00:15:25,120 Speaker 2: just something falling down out of the just because you 271 00:15:25,200 --> 00:15:27,800 Speaker 2: put your hand there. But it is going to require 272 00:15:27,920 --> 00:15:36,800 Speaker 2: an action. It's going to require So the water didn't 273 00:15:36,800 --> 00:15:38,560 Speaker 2: stop flowing til the people start walking, And when they 274 00:15:38,560 --> 00:15:40,680 Speaker 2: start walking, the water stuff flowing, and the people passed 275 00:15:40,680 --> 00:15:42,520 Speaker 2: through and the priests stood in the middle of the Jordan, 276 00:15:42,560 --> 00:15:44,240 Speaker 2: which must have taken faith for them to stand in 277 00:15:44,280 --> 00:15:46,160 Speaker 2: the middle of the Jordan, not knowing if it was 278 00:15:46,200 --> 00:15:48,240 Speaker 2: going to continue to pile up in a heat or 279 00:15:48,280 --> 00:15:49,960 Speaker 2: if it was going to flood over them. But the 280 00:15:50,040 --> 00:15:53,720 Speaker 2: leaders had the faith to stand in the middle of 281 00:15:53,760 --> 00:15:55,800 Speaker 2: the Jordan. Isn't that significant that it said it was 282 00:15:55,920 --> 00:15:59,640 Speaker 2: in the middle of the Jordan. Isn't that the hardest 283 00:15:59,640 --> 00:16:03,600 Speaker 2: thing in life to do is to manage the middle? 284 00:16:05,320 --> 00:16:09,240 Speaker 2: Because I understand that God has made me promises and 285 00:16:09,320 --> 00:16:13,720 Speaker 2: that he knows the end from the beginning, but I don't. 286 00:16:15,280 --> 00:16:18,280 Speaker 2: I don't know the end from the beginning. I know 287 00:16:18,880 --> 00:16:22,840 Speaker 2: the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans 288 00:16:22,880 --> 00:16:25,040 Speaker 2: to pross for you and not to harm you. 289 00:16:25,400 --> 00:16:27,680 Speaker 1: Plans to give you hope and a future. 290 00:16:27,960 --> 00:16:30,680 Speaker 2: Well, I'm glad that God knows the plans he have 291 00:16:30,800 --> 00:16:33,480 Speaker 2: for me, but I don't know the plans he has 292 00:16:33,680 --> 00:16:33,960 Speaker 2: for me. 293 00:16:34,280 --> 00:16:35,080 Speaker 1: And so the. 294 00:16:35,240 --> 00:16:38,600 Speaker 2: Challenge isn't believing that he knows how this is going 295 00:16:38,640 --> 00:16:39,120 Speaker 2: to end. 296 00:16:39,600 --> 00:16:46,200 Speaker 1: My challenge is yah standing in the middle. 297 00:16:48,120 --> 00:16:53,520 Speaker 2: And believing that what he spoke is indeed significant. It's 298 00:16:53,560 --> 00:16:57,080 Speaker 2: different when you're in the middle, it's a lot different 299 00:16:58,120 --> 00:16:59,360 Speaker 2: it was. 300 00:16:59,440 --> 00:17:00,000 Speaker 1: It was weird. 301 00:17:00,240 --> 00:17:03,720 Speaker 2: A few weeks ago, they had a baptism testimony on 302 00:17:03,800 --> 00:17:06,680 Speaker 2: the on the screens, and I love the baptism stories. 303 00:17:06,720 --> 00:17:11,680 Speaker 2: Do you love those stories that they tell? 304 00:17:11,680 --> 00:17:13,359 Speaker 1: If it was your child, you might love it, you. 305 00:17:13,400 --> 00:17:15,600 Speaker 2: Know what I'm saying, Like if it was somebody that 306 00:17:15,680 --> 00:17:18,280 Speaker 2: you knew and loved. I try to always picture like 307 00:17:18,720 --> 00:17:19,520 Speaker 2: I always picture if. 308 00:17:19,480 --> 00:17:22,240 Speaker 1: That was my brother or if that was my sister. 309 00:17:23,720 --> 00:17:25,960 Speaker 2: And when I hear somebody share a testimony, I always 310 00:17:26,000 --> 00:17:30,000 Speaker 2: listen for the details. And one thing that I noticed 311 00:17:30,160 --> 00:17:34,080 Speaker 2: that they normally share in their story, they'll share a sermon. 312 00:17:34,840 --> 00:17:37,240 Speaker 1: That where God spoke to them. 313 00:17:37,640 --> 00:17:40,240 Speaker 2: And a few weeks ago, the young lady sharing the 314 00:17:40,280 --> 00:17:44,399 Speaker 2: sermon that she shared shared a sermon that I remember 315 00:17:44,480 --> 00:17:46,720 Speaker 2: preaching and thinking that it was the worst sermon that 316 00:17:46,760 --> 00:17:50,400 Speaker 2: I ever preached, because it's different when you're doing it. 317 00:17:51,800 --> 00:17:52,119 Speaker 1: Now. 318 00:17:52,280 --> 00:17:55,400 Speaker 2: It was a year later and she was talking about 319 00:17:55,440 --> 00:17:59,520 Speaker 2: that story, that sermon, and in her story she referenced 320 00:17:59,560 --> 00:18:04,280 Speaker 2: that's as a turning point in her relationship with God. 321 00:18:04,440 --> 00:18:07,760 Speaker 2: And here's what I remember. I remember how I felt 322 00:18:08,240 --> 00:18:12,000 Speaker 2: while I was doing it, and I realized that even 323 00:18:12,080 --> 00:18:16,639 Speaker 2: though I felt nothing while I was preaching it. She 324 00:18:16,880 --> 00:18:20,560 Speaker 2: was sitting somewhere in that room, maybe not even in 325 00:18:20,600 --> 00:18:23,280 Speaker 2: the room where I was preaching it, and she was 326 00:18:24,240 --> 00:18:28,879 Speaker 2: having a completely different experience hearing it than I was 327 00:18:28,960 --> 00:18:29,560 Speaker 2: preaching it. 328 00:18:30,440 --> 00:18:35,399 Speaker 1: But it's different when you're in the middle of it, huh. 329 00:18:35,720 --> 00:18:40,399 Speaker 2: Is different when you're raising your kids believing that they're 330 00:18:40,520 --> 00:18:43,760 Speaker 2: receiving the values that you're trying to impart to them, 331 00:18:44,200 --> 00:18:47,280 Speaker 2: because when you are teaching your kid's responsibility, they do 332 00:18:47,359 --> 00:18:49,680 Speaker 2: not thank you and recognize you for being a voice 333 00:18:49,720 --> 00:18:52,760 Speaker 2: of wisdom and an encouraging force of good. 334 00:18:52,520 --> 00:18:55,879 Speaker 1: In their lives. Is different when you're in the middle 335 00:18:55,920 --> 00:18:56,240 Speaker 1: of it. 336 00:18:56,880 --> 00:18:59,560 Speaker 2: And see, the reason that we can sometimes look at 337 00:18:59,560 --> 00:19:03,960 Speaker 2: the biblic miracles and experience them and celebrate them is 338 00:19:04,040 --> 00:19:08,360 Speaker 2: because we know how they end. But it's different when 339 00:19:08,359 --> 00:19:11,960 Speaker 2: you're in the middle of it. It's different when you're 340 00:19:11,960 --> 00:19:13,439 Speaker 2: in the middle of it, when you were having to 341 00:19:13,560 --> 00:19:16,760 Speaker 2: stand in the middle of something and say, no, God, 342 00:19:16,800 --> 00:19:20,280 Speaker 2: I know that you're faithful, and I know that you're good, 343 00:19:20,280 --> 00:19:23,480 Speaker 2: but I don't feel that you're faithful, and I don't feel. 344 00:19:23,160 --> 00:19:24,280 Speaker 1: That you're good right now. 345 00:19:24,640 --> 00:19:28,000 Speaker 2: That's called a sacrifice of praise. That's where you have 346 00:19:28,080 --> 00:19:31,520 Speaker 2: to dig somewhere deeper than your feelings or your knowledge, 347 00:19:31,920 --> 00:19:38,040 Speaker 2: or your certainty, or your circumstance or your bank account. 348 00:19:42,600 --> 00:19:46,399 Speaker 2: God show me how to manage the middle. I have 349 00:19:46,440 --> 00:19:48,040 Speaker 2: a hard time with that. I don't have a hard 350 00:19:48,080 --> 00:19:53,440 Speaker 2: time being excited about the beginning, and I don't have 351 00:19:53,480 --> 00:19:55,080 Speaker 2: a hard time celebrating the end. 352 00:19:55,119 --> 00:19:56,800 Speaker 1: But this middle. 353 00:19:58,240 --> 00:20:03,359 Speaker 2: Teach me how demand the middle? Ooh ooh. One of 354 00:20:03,359 --> 00:20:05,560 Speaker 2: my best friends pastors of big church, and they had 355 00:20:05,560 --> 00:20:09,080 Speaker 2: three years where they didn't grow. In fact, they went backward. 356 00:20:10,240 --> 00:20:12,120 Speaker 2: I said, what was the problem in those three years 357 00:20:12,160 --> 00:20:16,840 Speaker 2: when you didn't grow? He said, middle management. We got 358 00:20:16,880 --> 00:20:22,040 Speaker 2: so large, the organization got so big that there was 359 00:20:22,080 --> 00:20:27,199 Speaker 2: a layer of people in the middle who started to 360 00:20:27,320 --> 00:20:31,320 Speaker 2: block the values that were a part of the organization 361 00:20:31,440 --> 00:20:32,320 Speaker 2: in the early days. 362 00:20:33,240 --> 00:20:34,760 Speaker 1: And it was middle management. 363 00:20:35,320 --> 00:20:37,520 Speaker 2: It wasn't the people that were executing the job. 364 00:20:37,760 --> 00:20:40,000 Speaker 1: It wasn't the vision had changed. 365 00:20:40,280 --> 00:20:43,800 Speaker 2: It was what happened in the middle that almost cost 366 00:20:43,960 --> 00:20:46,320 Speaker 2: us the momentum. 367 00:20:45,840 --> 00:20:48,240 Speaker 1: Of what God was doing. I wonder, is that how 368 00:20:48,240 --> 00:20:49,480 Speaker 1: it happens in our lives. 369 00:20:50,600 --> 00:20:54,480 Speaker 2: I wonder if sometimes the reason that Joyce stops flowing, 370 00:20:54,880 --> 00:20:58,639 Speaker 2: the reason that fate stops growing, the reason that sometimes 371 00:20:58,680 --> 00:21:03,080 Speaker 2: we lose our sense perspective about who God is. Is 372 00:21:03,280 --> 00:21:06,919 Speaker 2: is not the end, it's not the beginning. It's middle management. 373 00:21:07,160 --> 00:21:09,480 Speaker 2: We don't know how to manage the middle. We don't 374 00:21:09,520 --> 00:21:12,480 Speaker 2: know how to deal with Monday. So we shout good 375 00:21:12,480 --> 00:21:15,000 Speaker 2: on Sunday. But I need a sermon. I need an 376 00:21:15,119 --> 00:21:18,200 Speaker 2: mma sermon. I need some Monday morning application. 377 00:21:18,680 --> 00:21:20,640 Speaker 1: I need something to help me manage. 378 00:21:20,320 --> 00:21:24,439 Speaker 2: This middle because I'm not fighting the devil on Sunday morning. 379 00:21:24,720 --> 00:21:31,480 Speaker 2: I'm fighting him on Tuesday at three thirty seven. So 380 00:21:31,600 --> 00:21:36,520 Speaker 2: the key to this, Joshua says, take twelve stones. Twelve 381 00:21:36,520 --> 00:21:42,520 Speaker 2: stones January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December, 382 00:21:42,680 --> 00:21:45,840 Speaker 2: twelve months, twelve stones, twelve tribes, twelve disciples, twelve everybody 383 00:21:45,880 --> 00:21:50,320 Speaker 2: say twelve, take twelve, Pile them up, and in the future, 384 00:21:51,280 --> 00:21:55,600 Speaker 2: when your children ask you, what's up with these stones, 385 00:21:57,240 --> 00:21:59,919 Speaker 2: or like my kids ask me, what's up with these 386 00:22:00,280 --> 00:22:01,480 Speaker 2: cassette tapes. 387 00:22:02,240 --> 00:22:06,960 Speaker 1: I still got some. When your children ask you, tell 388 00:22:06,960 --> 00:22:09,000 Speaker 1: them what the Lord did. 389 00:22:10,200 --> 00:22:16,800 Speaker 6: Tell them, tell them, take them to the shum the stones, 390 00:22:17,720 --> 00:22:21,639 Speaker 6: and tell them we didn't know if we were going 391 00:22:21,680 --> 00:22:22,000 Speaker 6: to make it. 392 00:22:22,040 --> 00:22:22,320 Speaker 1: Through. 393 00:22:24,040 --> 00:22:27,320 Speaker 2: But God did something only he could do, and we 394 00:22:27,359 --> 00:22:30,720 Speaker 2: made it. Somebody shot, I made it. Tell the person 395 00:22:30,760 --> 00:22:33,000 Speaker 2: next to you, you have no idea what I've been through. 396 00:22:36,440 --> 00:22:38,040 Speaker 2: Look at him right in the eye and say, and 397 00:22:38,119 --> 00:22:39,080 Speaker 2: God brought me over. 398 00:22:42,280 --> 00:22:43,879 Speaker 1: And look at him one more time and say, how 399 00:22:43,880 --> 00:22:47,280 Speaker 1: about you ask him? 400 00:22:47,320 --> 00:22:53,640 Speaker 2: Have you been through anything? Imagine this? Imagine this. They 401 00:22:53,640 --> 00:22:56,600 Speaker 2: come through the Jordan. Let's play the story out for 402 00:22:56,600 --> 00:23:00,280 Speaker 2: a moment. They come through the Jordan. God brings them through. 403 00:23:00,960 --> 00:23:03,920 Speaker 2: They set up the stones. God does a great miracle. 404 00:23:04,720 --> 00:23:07,520 Speaker 2: They go on to fight battles, but they set up 405 00:23:07,520 --> 00:23:10,439 Speaker 2: the stones to remember what God did in that moment. 406 00:23:10,920 --> 00:23:14,720 Speaker 2: It's very beautiful. And then they go forward into the 407 00:23:14,800 --> 00:23:17,040 Speaker 2: land and they fight. They fight many battles, and God 408 00:23:17,040 --> 00:23:19,040 Speaker 2: gives them any victories. But every once in a while, 409 00:23:20,119 --> 00:23:23,040 Speaker 2: maybe they come back with their kids and they show 410 00:23:23,080 --> 00:23:26,040 Speaker 2: them the stones, because they left the stones in Gilgal 411 00:23:26,160 --> 00:23:29,879 Speaker 2: and then they moved on to conquer Canaan. And you 412 00:23:29,920 --> 00:23:33,439 Speaker 2: know how it is when when somebody is reflecting on 413 00:23:33,480 --> 00:23:38,240 Speaker 2: something and they get nostalgic, and maybe maybe the parents 414 00:23:38,640 --> 00:23:42,520 Speaker 2: start telling the children. We didn't know if we were 415 00:23:42,520 --> 00:23:47,760 Speaker 2: going to make it. Joshua was our new leader. And 416 00:23:47,800 --> 00:23:51,879 Speaker 2: we had never we'd never been this way before. And 417 00:23:51,920 --> 00:23:55,600 Speaker 2: he told us. He told us that if the priests 418 00:23:55,600 --> 00:23:57,919 Speaker 2: would stand in the middle, the waters would stand at 419 00:23:57,960 --> 00:24:00,280 Speaker 2: attention until the people passed through. 420 00:24:01,200 --> 00:24:03,119 Speaker 1: So we hurried through as fast as we could. We 421 00:24:03,240 --> 00:24:05,640 Speaker 1: ran through. The Bible says in Joshua, chapter four, verse 422 00:24:05,640 --> 00:24:06,000 Speaker 1: twenty one. 423 00:24:06,040 --> 00:24:08,120 Speaker 2: They hurried through. They didn't have a whole lot of faith, 424 00:24:08,200 --> 00:24:12,520 Speaker 2: just enough to get through it. They were dancing through 425 00:24:12,520 --> 00:24:15,040 Speaker 2: the middle. They were running through the middle. Let me 426 00:24:15,080 --> 00:24:17,000 Speaker 2: tell you something, when you got the devil chasing you, 427 00:24:17,119 --> 00:24:19,240 Speaker 2: sometimes all you can do is get through it. You 428 00:24:19,240 --> 00:24:23,120 Speaker 2: don't look flashy, you're not shooting, you're not flossing, you're 429 00:24:23,160 --> 00:24:25,480 Speaker 2: not doing nothing but running for your life. So they 430 00:24:25,480 --> 00:24:29,800 Speaker 2: got through it. But they said God got us through it. 431 00:24:30,320 --> 00:24:33,520 Speaker 2: That was amazing, amazing because we didn't know. It was 432 00:24:33,600 --> 00:24:35,600 Speaker 2: amazing and the arc was there and it represented the 433 00:24:35,640 --> 00:24:37,720 Speaker 2: presence of God. Oh I wish you could have been 434 00:24:37,760 --> 00:24:41,160 Speaker 2: their son. It was just so amazing. And we didn't 435 00:24:41,160 --> 00:24:42,600 Speaker 2: know if we were going to be able to do it, 436 00:24:42,600 --> 00:24:43,679 Speaker 2: but we did. God did it. God. 437 00:24:43,760 --> 00:24:44,960 Speaker 1: It wasn't I say, God did. 438 00:24:44,880 --> 00:24:47,760 Speaker 2: It, Okay, And they say that, And then so maybe 439 00:24:47,800 --> 00:24:51,919 Speaker 2: a few years go by maybe they go back to 440 00:24:52,000 --> 00:24:54,879 Speaker 2: the place again and they look at the stones, but 441 00:24:56,000 --> 00:24:58,119 Speaker 2: you know, maybe the stones. 442 00:24:57,760 --> 00:25:00,240 Speaker 1: Are they're still there, they haven't gone any where. 443 00:25:00,320 --> 00:25:03,480 Speaker 2: But the story starts to get lost a little bit, 444 00:25:04,720 --> 00:25:07,640 Speaker 2: and maybe a few years later they're telling their children, 445 00:25:07,640 --> 00:25:10,320 Speaker 2: they're like, oh, yeah, it's pretty cool. I mean we 446 00:25:10,359 --> 00:25:12,760 Speaker 2: got through it. I mean God did it, but we 447 00:25:12,920 --> 00:25:14,679 Speaker 2: were the ones who had to walk because you know, 448 00:25:14,800 --> 00:25:18,720 Speaker 2: like God didn't. God didn't carry us through. But but 449 00:25:18,800 --> 00:25:20,880 Speaker 2: we got through it. And then a few more years 450 00:25:20,920 --> 00:25:23,600 Speaker 2: passed and maybe they're telling their kids again, making another trip, 451 00:25:23,640 --> 00:25:26,359 Speaker 2: and they're telling them, yeah, those stones they're they're cool. 452 00:25:26,440 --> 00:25:27,920 Speaker 2: Joshua made us get them out the middle of the 453 00:25:27,960 --> 00:25:28,800 Speaker 2: Jordan news. 454 00:25:29,080 --> 00:25:31,600 Speaker 1: It was weird. We were ready to move on. But Joshua. 455 00:25:31,720 --> 00:25:33,440 Speaker 2: Let me tell you how I know that the story 456 00:25:34,520 --> 00:25:36,800 Speaker 2: stopped being told because when you get to the end 457 00:25:36,840 --> 00:25:41,800 Speaker 2: of Joshua's life, you read in Judges chapter two, verse ten, 458 00:25:41,960 --> 00:25:43,640 Speaker 2: just a verse just as verse. I want to show 459 00:25:43,640 --> 00:25:47,439 Speaker 2: you and I want you to think about the space 460 00:25:47,520 --> 00:25:52,679 Speaker 2: between when Joshua led the people through the Jordan and 461 00:25:52,720 --> 00:25:56,800 Speaker 2: when the next generation arose. It says it after that 462 00:25:56,880 --> 00:26:02,840 Speaker 2: whole generation, Joshua's generation had gathered to their ancestors. Another 463 00:26:02,920 --> 00:26:07,919 Speaker 2: generation grew up who knew neither the Lord nor what 464 00:26:08,040 --> 00:26:16,120 Speaker 2: he had done for Israel. Joshua's generation set up the stones. 465 00:26:17,119 --> 00:26:21,560 Speaker 1: The next generation didn't even know the story. What happened. 466 00:26:22,920 --> 00:26:25,240 Speaker 1: Somewhere along the way between. 467 00:26:25,080 --> 00:26:29,919 Speaker 2: Joshua chapter four and Judges chapter two, they. 468 00:26:29,840 --> 00:26:32,040 Speaker 1: Stopped telling the story. 469 00:26:32,720 --> 00:26:36,960 Speaker 2: Something changed about the story somewhere in that space. And God, 470 00:26:37,000 --> 00:26:39,639 Speaker 2: if I'm just preaching this for one person, help me 471 00:26:39,720 --> 00:26:42,840 Speaker 2: to do it now, because they have been telling themselves 472 00:26:42,920 --> 00:26:47,920 Speaker 2: the wrong story, and now their faith is feeling feeble, 473 00:26:48,359 --> 00:26:51,720 Speaker 2: and now their worship has been weakened, and they are 474 00:26:51,720 --> 00:26:56,440 Speaker 2: in a cycle of dependence on false gods because they 475 00:26:56,600 --> 00:26:59,000 Speaker 2: stopped telling the story. 476 00:26:59,520 --> 00:27:04,159 Speaker 1: The storyory of salvation is this. I was lost and 477 00:27:04,359 --> 00:27:08,240 Speaker 1: dead in my sin. I had no hope in myself. 478 00:27:08,640 --> 00:27:13,320 Speaker 2: I could not save myself. I could not help myself. 479 00:27:13,640 --> 00:27:17,480 Speaker 2: I could not lift myself. I would not have made 480 00:27:17,520 --> 00:27:20,359 Speaker 2: it if He had not reached down, and with a 481 00:27:20,480 --> 00:27:24,439 Speaker 2: mighty hand and an outstretched arm, he died for me. 482 00:27:25,040 --> 00:27:27,640 Speaker 1: He came into my life. 483 00:27:27,040 --> 00:27:30,040 Speaker 2: He intersected me at the point of my sin, and 484 00:27:30,160 --> 00:27:31,240 Speaker 2: while I was still. 485 00:27:31,119 --> 00:27:33,119 Speaker 1: A sinner, Christ died for me. 486 00:27:33,560 --> 00:27:36,720 Speaker 2: Why are you screaming because I've got a story that 487 00:27:36,880 --> 00:27:40,560 Speaker 2: didn't start with me, is started with the mercy of God. 488 00:27:52,560 --> 00:27:54,920 Speaker 2: And the enemy doesn't want you to tell this story. 489 00:27:55,040 --> 00:27:57,880 Speaker 2: See he wants He wants you to lose your testimony. 490 00:27:59,440 --> 00:28:00,600 Speaker 1: They kept the stones. 491 00:28:00,640 --> 00:28:04,040 Speaker 2: The stones are still there to this day, but they 492 00:28:04,160 --> 00:28:08,359 Speaker 2: stop telling the story. You know, you can have all 493 00:28:08,840 --> 00:28:19,480 Speaker 2: of the monuments of religion but lose your relationship with God. 494 00:28:21,640 --> 00:28:24,399 Speaker 2: You can have all the stones in the world, You 495 00:28:24,440 --> 00:28:27,080 Speaker 2: can come to church, you can. 496 00:28:26,720 --> 00:28:29,480 Speaker 1: Still live a lifeness between the lives. 497 00:28:29,960 --> 00:28:32,960 Speaker 2: But if the truth we're told today some of us 498 00:28:33,240 --> 00:28:39,080 Speaker 2: have stopped telling the story, We've lost our testimony. 499 00:28:39,520 --> 00:28:40,840 Speaker 1: You have a testimony. 500 00:28:41,080 --> 00:28:43,360 Speaker 2: There are things that God has done for you that 501 00:28:43,520 --> 00:28:46,080 Speaker 2: only He could do, and nobody else can tell it 502 00:28:46,160 --> 00:28:49,040 Speaker 2: for you, and nobody else can tell it like you. 503 00:28:52,560 --> 00:28:55,280 Speaker 2: It can happen. It can happen in your own heart. 504 00:28:55,480 --> 00:28:58,160 Speaker 2: It can happen in a generation. It can happen within 505 00:28:58,160 --> 00:29:01,440 Speaker 2: a lifetime. It could happen within three years. You can 506 00:29:01,520 --> 00:29:05,240 Speaker 2: actually have God do something amazing for you and have 507 00:29:05,360 --> 00:29:09,360 Speaker 2: the stones to prove it. Some of you are sitting 508 00:29:09,440 --> 00:29:12,400 Speaker 2: next to the woman that you ask God to give you, 509 00:29:14,960 --> 00:29:18,480 Speaker 2: but now you want out of your marriage. The problem 510 00:29:18,520 --> 00:29:23,520 Speaker 2: is in your marriage. It's your management. I'll go back 511 00:29:23,560 --> 00:29:24,800 Speaker 2: here because. 512 00:29:27,120 --> 00:29:29,720 Speaker 1: I'm not scared to say this stuff. We need to 513 00:29:29,800 --> 00:29:34,000 Speaker 1: manage our miracles. God has been good to us. God 514 00:29:34,120 --> 00:29:35,400 Speaker 1: has been more than enough. 515 00:29:35,840 --> 00:29:38,760 Speaker 2: He is a provider, He is Jehovah Tyra. 516 00:29:39,160 --> 00:29:40,760 Speaker 1: He did bring you through. 517 00:29:40,800 --> 00:29:43,480 Speaker 7: He did bless you, he did make a way. 518 00:29:43,800 --> 00:29:47,280 Speaker 1: He is more than enough. He is el Shadai. He 519 00:29:47,480 --> 00:29:50,000 Speaker 1: is a great king. He is a good father. 520 00:29:54,120 --> 00:29:56,200 Speaker 2: Touch somebody say, manage your miracle. 521 00:29:57,880 --> 00:29:59,840 Speaker 1: It's constangin. What is yours to ma? 522 00:30:12,960 --> 00:30:15,960 Speaker 2: I told Elijah, if you cracked the screen, I'm not 523 00:30:16,080 --> 00:30:17,200 Speaker 2: replacing it. 524 00:30:17,200 --> 00:30:21,920 Speaker 1: It's yours to manage if you crack the screen, or 525 00:30:21,920 --> 00:30:25,440 Speaker 1: if you here's here's what happens to me. Let me 526 00:30:25,520 --> 00:30:28,240 Speaker 1: tell you something. Now, let's talk. 527 00:30:30,840 --> 00:30:39,600 Speaker 2: I sometimes I I stopped telling myself the testimony because 528 00:30:39,640 --> 00:30:42,400 Speaker 2: to me sometimes it seems it seems small. 529 00:30:43,040 --> 00:30:43,160 Speaker 8: Right. 530 00:30:43,880 --> 00:30:46,400 Speaker 2: You know, something happened between when they crossed the Jordan. 531 00:30:46,440 --> 00:30:47,640 Speaker 1: I don't know exactly what it is. 532 00:30:48,840 --> 00:30:52,800 Speaker 2: I think there's evidence to support this hypothesis. They fought 533 00:30:52,840 --> 00:30:56,640 Speaker 2: a lot of battles between Joshua before and judges too, 534 00:30:58,000 --> 00:31:02,560 Speaker 2: and I wonder if the battles became bigger in their 535 00:31:02,600 --> 00:31:09,520 Speaker 2: minds than the blessings. And I wonder if they started 536 00:31:09,720 --> 00:31:13,120 Speaker 2: telling themselves the stories that centered around their struggles rather 537 00:31:13,160 --> 00:31:16,400 Speaker 2: than God's sovereign hand that saw them through the struggles. 538 00:31:18,960 --> 00:31:21,080 Speaker 2: I wonder if they got in survival mode to the 539 00:31:21,080 --> 00:31:25,200 Speaker 2: point that they stopped telling the story. And I wonder 540 00:31:25,240 --> 00:31:28,240 Speaker 2: if when they saw God do all these other things. 541 00:31:28,240 --> 00:31:31,000 Speaker 2: I wonder, I wonder if they just didn't go back 542 00:31:31,240 --> 00:31:34,480 Speaker 2: to the stones they were placed on the bank of 543 00:31:34,520 --> 00:31:38,760 Speaker 2: the Jordan, back where they started. And sometimes when you 544 00:31:38,800 --> 00:31:42,160 Speaker 2: don't go back where you started and remember what God 545 00:31:42,200 --> 00:31:47,240 Speaker 2: did where you started, you lose perspective when you get 546 00:31:47,240 --> 00:31:50,920 Speaker 2: where you're going. Oh man, I feel so guilty preaching 547 00:31:51,000 --> 00:31:55,720 Speaker 2: this point. It's so easy for me to get caught 548 00:31:55,800 --> 00:32:01,600 Speaker 2: up and consumed in my own convenience, my own drama, 549 00:32:02,360 --> 00:32:07,320 Speaker 2: my own insecurities, my own dysfunction, and a lot of times, 550 00:32:07,960 --> 00:32:11,040 Speaker 2: I'll be honest with you, I don't share what God 551 00:32:11,120 --> 00:32:13,280 Speaker 2: is doing in my life because it doesn't seem big, 552 00:32:14,360 --> 00:32:16,000 Speaker 2: because I can compare it to something. 553 00:32:15,760 --> 00:32:20,800 Speaker 1: Else and it seems small. It seems small, like these stones. 554 00:32:21,880 --> 00:32:23,800 Speaker 2: You know, at one point in your life you're really 555 00:32:23,840 --> 00:32:26,320 Speaker 2: grateful for it, but then at some point it can 556 00:32:26,400 --> 00:32:31,920 Speaker 2: lose its significance. I was asking somebody the other day 557 00:32:32,120 --> 00:32:37,480 Speaker 2: if I could hear their testimony, and it's a church word, right, testimony. 558 00:32:37,520 --> 00:32:39,880 Speaker 1: People don't really talk like that except in courts and church, 559 00:32:39,920 --> 00:32:41,560 Speaker 1: you know what I mean. Like it's just a real 560 00:32:41,640 --> 00:32:42,600 Speaker 1: churchy thing to say. 561 00:32:42,920 --> 00:32:44,680 Speaker 2: And they were like, well when I was twelve and 562 00:32:44,680 --> 00:32:46,080 Speaker 2: they were fifty three, I was like. 563 00:32:46,040 --> 00:32:49,080 Speaker 1: Not that testimony. 564 00:32:49,960 --> 00:32:55,520 Speaker 2: You can't fight today's devils if you don't have today's testimony. 565 00:32:56,560 --> 00:32:59,040 Speaker 2: There needs to be a current work that God is 566 00:32:59,080 --> 00:33:01,360 Speaker 2: doing in your life. Yes, he saved me, and I 567 00:33:01,400 --> 00:33:03,440 Speaker 2: want to talk about that, but what is He doing 568 00:33:03,480 --> 00:33:06,800 Speaker 2: in my life today? Another generation that knew not the 569 00:33:06,840 --> 00:33:08,840 Speaker 2: Lord nor what he had done for Israel. 570 00:33:09,440 --> 00:33:13,560 Speaker 1: This is your testimony. You know, it can be a 571 00:33:13,840 --> 00:33:16,960 Speaker 1: tiny testimony. It doesn't have to be a big rock. 572 00:33:17,280 --> 00:33:19,160 Speaker 1: You can fight the devil with a little rock. 573 00:33:19,440 --> 00:33:24,920 Speaker 2: Ask David, you can fight a big giant with a little. 574 00:33:24,720 --> 00:33:26,640 Speaker 1: Rock if you know how to throw it. 575 00:33:28,320 --> 00:33:31,480 Speaker 2: I said, you can fight depression with a little rock 576 00:33:31,800 --> 00:33:32,680 Speaker 2: if you know how. 577 00:33:32,560 --> 00:33:35,880 Speaker 1: To throw it. You can fight discouragement with a. 578 00:33:35,920 --> 00:33:37,400 Speaker 2: Lid, a tiny. 579 00:33:38,760 --> 00:33:45,440 Speaker 1: Lit a tiny testimony. I don't have a big testimony. 580 00:33:45,960 --> 00:33:49,560 Speaker 1: Pretty much on my life. I've been serving the Lord. 581 00:33:48,640 --> 00:33:52,920 Speaker 1: I have never was owned drugs and women and running 582 00:33:53,000 --> 00:33:54,760 Speaker 1: around pretty much grew. 583 00:33:54,680 --> 00:33:58,320 Speaker 2: Up in Come on, man, you don't have to have 584 00:33:58,360 --> 00:34:02,959 Speaker 2: a met lab in your garage to have a testimony. 585 00:34:03,800 --> 00:34:06,440 Speaker 2: You don't have to be fresh off death row to 586 00:34:06,520 --> 00:34:10,760 Speaker 2: have a testimony. You don't have to have fourteen children 587 00:34:10,880 --> 00:34:14,440 Speaker 2: by fourteen women to have a testimony. 588 00:34:15,200 --> 00:34:19,279 Speaker 1: A testimony, it can be the smallest thing. Like a 589 00:34:19,320 --> 00:34:20,960 Speaker 1: few weeks ago, I's getting ready come out and preach. 590 00:34:21,080 --> 00:34:23,279 Speaker 2: I don't want to tell you this because because Joshua said, 591 00:34:23,520 --> 00:34:27,399 Speaker 2: tell them, tell them what God did for you, tell them, 592 00:34:27,719 --> 00:34:28,719 Speaker 2: tell them about it. 593 00:34:28,880 --> 00:34:30,040 Speaker 1: Preach it, teach it. 594 00:34:30,200 --> 00:34:32,560 Speaker 2: You overcome by the blood of the Lamb and the 595 00:34:32,600 --> 00:34:38,160 Speaker 2: word of your testimony. There is power in your personal testimony. 596 00:34:38,760 --> 00:34:40,479 Speaker 2: So a few weeks ago, I was getting ready to preach, 597 00:34:41,440 --> 00:34:42,360 Speaker 2: I didn't feel like preaching. 598 00:34:43,920 --> 00:34:49,000 Speaker 1: Wo I love the Lord. 599 00:34:49,080 --> 00:34:51,520 Speaker 2: I believe his word, and I believe he's coming again. 600 00:34:51,560 --> 00:34:53,600 Speaker 1: I just didn't feel like preaching. On that Saturday night, 601 00:34:54,560 --> 00:34:58,000 Speaker 1: weather was nasty. I didn't feel like preaching. So I 602 00:34:58,040 --> 00:35:00,880 Speaker 1: was having a little pity party. 603 00:35:01,680 --> 00:35:05,319 Speaker 2: I hate to tell you this, but I was. I 604 00:35:05,400 --> 00:35:11,120 Speaker 2: was being so childish. But then I had this moment. 605 00:35:11,160 --> 00:35:13,239 Speaker 2: I was like, FaceTime one of your friends and get 606 00:35:13,280 --> 00:35:15,439 Speaker 2: him to pray for you, because the service was about 607 00:35:15,440 --> 00:35:19,400 Speaker 2: to start, so the staff was out doing staff stuff, 608 00:35:19,600 --> 00:35:21,719 Speaker 2: so they couldn't come pray for me. So I was 609 00:35:21,719 --> 00:35:23,000 Speaker 2: going to face one of my friends who didn't have 610 00:35:23,000 --> 00:35:27,000 Speaker 2: a Saturday night service, and he didn't answer. Apparently Judah 611 00:35:27,000 --> 00:35:29,200 Speaker 2: Smith had better things to do than pray for his friend. 612 00:35:30,120 --> 00:35:33,719 Speaker 2: Pray that the Carolina Panthers will wreak havoc upon the 613 00:35:33,719 --> 00:35:36,200 Speaker 2: Seattle Seahawks today to punish him for not being there 614 00:35:36,200 --> 00:35:38,480 Speaker 2: in my time of FaceTime need you don't want to 615 00:35:38,520 --> 00:35:45,399 Speaker 2: FaceTime ferdict, I hope you go down today royally. Then 616 00:35:45,400 --> 00:35:48,120 Speaker 2: I called Craig Groschel, that's my pastor, that's my guy, 617 00:35:48,680 --> 00:35:52,920 Speaker 2: and he didn't answer, and he always answers. He didn't answer, 618 00:35:54,080 --> 00:35:55,640 Speaker 2: and I was running out of time because I needed 619 00:35:55,680 --> 00:35:58,719 Speaker 2: to get out there and preach. So I said this little. 620 00:35:58,520 --> 00:36:01,319 Speaker 1: Pitiful prayer, you know, not the kind I pray in 621 00:36:01,320 --> 00:36:01,920 Speaker 1: front of people. 622 00:36:05,840 --> 00:36:11,560 Speaker 8: I was like, oh Lord, since nobody wants to pray 623 00:36:11,600 --> 00:36:16,360 Speaker 8: for me, I'm always praying for everybody else. 624 00:36:16,600 --> 00:36:19,720 Speaker 2: That's all go out pre schoe. I pray for myself 625 00:36:21,200 --> 00:36:22,000 Speaker 2: and I start praying. 626 00:36:22,040 --> 00:36:24,640 Speaker 8: You know this real mumbly, grumbly, grumpy prayer, a little 627 00:36:24,760 --> 00:36:27,200 Speaker 8: bad attitude prayer, a little like kids going to make 628 00:36:27,280 --> 00:36:27,920 Speaker 8: up the bed. 629 00:36:28,000 --> 00:36:31,920 Speaker 1: Fun that kind of prayer. Have you ever had that 630 00:36:32,040 --> 00:36:33,160 Speaker 1: level of faith where it's like. 631 00:36:33,280 --> 00:36:37,600 Speaker 2: Fine, faith, fine God, Fine. 632 00:36:37,360 --> 00:36:38,360 Speaker 1: I pray for myself. 633 00:36:38,719 --> 00:36:43,480 Speaker 2: So I start praying fathering the images out loud. I 634 00:36:43,520 --> 00:36:45,960 Speaker 2: say that when I said Father, in the name of Jesus, 635 00:36:46,320 --> 00:36:48,800 Speaker 2: the moment I got it out of my mouth, Father namages, 636 00:36:48,920 --> 00:36:53,880 Speaker 2: my phone rang my phone hardly ever, rang rings my phone. 637 00:36:53,960 --> 00:36:56,560 Speaker 2: I mostly communicate my text I don't do a lot 638 00:36:56,640 --> 00:36:59,360 Speaker 2: talking on the phone. And my phone rings and it 639 00:36:59,400 --> 00:37:01,719 Speaker 2: hardly ever and never rings at that time of day. 640 00:37:03,000 --> 00:37:10,640 Speaker 1: And it said no caller. I d but I'm not 641 00:37:10,719 --> 00:37:18,000 Speaker 1: making this up. I said, I should answer this. I 642 00:37:18,040 --> 00:37:22,359 Speaker 1: said hello. His deep voice comes on the phone, what 643 00:37:22,400 --> 00:37:26,759 Speaker 1: are you doing? The voice of none other? It could 644 00:37:26,840 --> 00:37:28,360 Speaker 1: only be Bishop TD Jakes. 645 00:37:29,800 --> 00:37:33,400 Speaker 2: That's like my favorite preacher since I'm like this big, 646 00:37:34,080 --> 00:37:37,440 Speaker 2: since I started wanting to be a preacher, this was 647 00:37:37,480 --> 00:37:38,480 Speaker 2: my favorite preacher. 648 00:37:39,160 --> 00:37:42,120 Speaker 1: Here he is calling me, what do you deal with? 649 00:37:44,800 --> 00:37:47,399 Speaker 1: And I was like, hey, mister Jakes is going out. 650 00:37:47,440 --> 00:37:50,240 Speaker 1: The preacher from Saturday Night service. 651 00:37:50,760 --> 00:37:54,839 Speaker 2: He said, oh, well, since this is a bad time, 652 00:37:55,520 --> 00:37:57,640 Speaker 2: let me just pray for you before you go out 653 00:37:57,640 --> 00:38:01,040 Speaker 2: there and preach real quick father, the name of Jesus, 654 00:38:01,640 --> 00:38:04,120 Speaker 2: knowing him with your spirit and filling with your wisdom, 655 00:38:04,520 --> 00:38:08,799 Speaker 2: give him words to say from him. I'm telling you, 656 00:38:10,760 --> 00:38:12,440 Speaker 2: I'm telling you, I'm. 657 00:38:12,239 --> 00:38:15,400 Speaker 1: Not waiting until something to me. 658 00:38:16,080 --> 00:38:19,520 Speaker 2: I need to fight the devil sometimes with a phone call. 659 00:38:19,920 --> 00:38:22,240 Speaker 2: There are little things that God has done. 660 00:38:22,080 --> 00:38:23,839 Speaker 1: For me, Moments where I. 661 00:38:23,920 --> 00:38:27,480 Speaker 2: Called his name and there was nobody there to answer, 662 00:38:27,960 --> 00:38:30,600 Speaker 2: and then all of a sudden, something from heaven with 663 00:38:30,800 --> 00:38:35,160 Speaker 2: no caller id and God reached down and God dragged 664 00:38:35,239 --> 00:38:36,320 Speaker 2: my tears. 665 00:38:36,160 --> 00:38:38,080 Speaker 1: And God strengthened me, and. 666 00:38:38,239 --> 00:38:51,879 Speaker 7: God upheld me with a mighty hand in and outstretched arm. 667 00:38:51,920 --> 00:38:55,319 Speaker 2: You need to tell these stories. You need to tell 668 00:38:55,360 --> 00:38:59,200 Speaker 2: these stories. Stop telling yourself the story that nobody cares 669 00:38:59,239 --> 00:39:02,080 Speaker 2: about you, that you're alone, and that it doesn't matter 670 00:39:02,120 --> 00:39:04,839 Speaker 2: another generation who didn't know what the Lord had done 671 00:39:04,920 --> 00:39:06,640 Speaker 2: for Israel because they. 672 00:39:06,640 --> 00:39:09,680 Speaker 1: Stopped telling the story. 673 00:39:09,719 --> 00:39:13,319 Speaker 2: And when you stop preaching the gospel to yourself and 674 00:39:13,440 --> 00:39:18,000 Speaker 2: reminding yourself that the Son of God accepted and chose 675 00:39:18,120 --> 00:39:22,600 Speaker 2: you and brought you out of Egypt and brought you 676 00:39:22,719 --> 00:39:26,080 Speaker 2: out of sin, and brought you through the Red Sea, 677 00:39:26,239 --> 00:39:28,359 Speaker 2: and brought you through the Jordan. 678 00:39:28,920 --> 00:39:31,640 Speaker 1: And brought down the Jericho walls. 679 00:39:32,080 --> 00:39:35,399 Speaker 2: And brought you out of bondage, and brought you out 680 00:39:35,440 --> 00:39:44,000 Speaker 2: of fear. Please hear me, When you stop telling that story, 681 00:39:44,640 --> 00:39:50,120 Speaker 2: you lose your strength. The children of Israel went through 682 00:39:51,040 --> 00:39:54,040 Speaker 2: fifteen cycles. 683 00:39:54,040 --> 00:39:56,880 Speaker 1: Of disobedience to God. 684 00:39:57,640 --> 00:40:00,279 Speaker 2: And not only did they go through fifteen psychs of 685 00:40:00,320 --> 00:40:04,040 Speaker 2: disobedience to God through fifteen different judges, but they went 686 00:40:04,080 --> 00:40:09,920 Speaker 2: through four hundred and twenty years of dependence on gods 687 00:40:09,920 --> 00:40:18,760 Speaker 2: that could not save them because they stopped telling the story. 688 00:40:19,760 --> 00:40:24,239 Speaker 2: What story have you been telling yourself? What story have 689 00:40:24,320 --> 00:40:27,120 Speaker 2: you been telling your children? What story? 690 00:40:28,680 --> 00:40:28,840 Speaker 7: You know? 691 00:40:28,880 --> 00:40:33,240 Speaker 2: What I was thinking, what story is our church telling 692 00:40:34,400 --> 00:40:37,040 Speaker 2: in this day? Because you know, God has done amazing 693 00:40:37,120 --> 00:40:41,359 Speaker 2: things for us. But sometimes it really rips my heart 694 00:40:41,360 --> 00:40:45,560 Speaker 2: out when I see a canvas pastor giving an invitation 695 00:40:46,600 --> 00:40:50,320 Speaker 2: in our church and people get up and start leaving 696 00:40:50,360 --> 00:40:52,439 Speaker 2: so they can beat traffic out the parking. 697 00:40:52,120 --> 00:40:55,040 Speaker 1: Lot while somebody's soul is on the line. That really 698 00:40:55,120 --> 00:40:56,440 Speaker 1: hurts my heart because. 699 00:40:56,200 --> 00:40:59,279 Speaker 2: When we started the church, we weren't starting the church 700 00:40:59,320 --> 00:41:03,120 Speaker 2: to have a Christian entertainment center. Where we could give 701 00:41:03,160 --> 00:41:05,840 Speaker 2: people a little anecdote and a little song and a 702 00:41:05,840 --> 00:41:07,319 Speaker 2: little goosebump. 703 00:41:06,760 --> 00:41:07,880 Speaker 1: And they could get to lunch. 704 00:41:10,120 --> 00:41:13,320 Speaker 2: Is that the story we're telling that we gather together 705 00:41:13,360 --> 00:41:16,880 Speaker 2: when it's convenient and we consume spiritual food, but we 706 00:41:16,960 --> 00:41:20,799 Speaker 2: never contribute. This is why I think it's important that 707 00:41:20,840 --> 00:41:27,319 Speaker 2: we have traditions our year end offering, because God is 708 00:41:27,360 --> 00:41:29,200 Speaker 2: inviting a new generation. 709 00:41:30,760 --> 00:41:37,560 Speaker 1: To tell the story. And it's so vital in this moment. 710 00:41:38,880 --> 00:41:44,080 Speaker 2: That you realize that the gospel is God's story, but 711 00:41:44,160 --> 00:41:48,800 Speaker 2: it's ours to manage. We are stewards of the story 712 00:41:48,840 --> 00:41:50,680 Speaker 2: that God is telling in the world today. 713 00:41:51,040 --> 00:41:52,239 Speaker 1: What a privilege it is. 714 00:41:54,440 --> 00:42:00,200 Speaker 2: Come on, can we praise Him for the privilege? 715 00:42:01,320 --> 00:42:09,120 Speaker 9: Do you know the hem? This is my story. This 716 00:42:09,520 --> 00:42:26,600 Speaker 9: is my song, praising my avery, lo, this is my story. 717 00:42:28,440 --> 00:42:41,640 Speaker 1: This is my song, prazy my say, stand to your feet. 718 00:42:41,640 --> 00:42:46,920 Speaker 1: I want to pray with you. Now, just give me 719 00:42:46,960 --> 00:42:47,360 Speaker 1: a path. 720 00:42:49,880 --> 00:42:51,759 Speaker 2: You're in the middle of a story right now that 721 00:42:51,800 --> 00:42:54,240 Speaker 2: God is telling through your life. 722 00:42:55,040 --> 00:42:55,920 Speaker 1: You're in the middle of it. 723 00:42:57,800 --> 00:42:59,680 Speaker 2: The priest stood in the middle of the stones came 724 00:42:59,719 --> 00:43:02,200 Speaker 2: from the Everything good that God does in our life 725 00:43:02,200 --> 00:43:05,520 Speaker 2: comes from our ability to recognize it in the middle 726 00:43:07,160 --> 00:43:11,040 Speaker 2: and sometimes what happens, I know, you feel like you've 727 00:43:11,040 --> 00:43:11,839 Speaker 2: come to the end. 728 00:43:12,040 --> 00:43:15,920 Speaker 1: You feel like is this for you? You feel like 729 00:43:15,960 --> 00:43:17,520 Speaker 1: you get to the end of something, You get to 730 00:43:17,560 --> 00:43:19,319 Speaker 1: the end of your own strength, You get to the end. 731 00:43:19,600 --> 00:43:20,239 Speaker 1: And sometimes the. 732 00:43:20,280 --> 00:43:23,640 Speaker 2: Season shifts in your life, and something is always ending 733 00:43:23,640 --> 00:43:27,040 Speaker 2: as something else's beginning. The Jordan is both it's their 734 00:43:27,080 --> 00:43:30,400 Speaker 2: exodus from the wilderness and it's their entrance into Canaan. 735 00:43:30,560 --> 00:43:33,040 Speaker 2: It's happening all at the same time, right, and so 736 00:43:33,960 --> 00:43:37,719 Speaker 2: you think you're at the end of something. Your ability 737 00:43:37,800 --> 00:43:43,480 Speaker 2: to manage that emotion in the middle of it determines 738 00:43:44,040 --> 00:43:45,560 Speaker 2: what happens next in your life. 739 00:43:45,560 --> 00:43:46,120 Speaker 1: Remember this. 740 00:43:47,280 --> 00:43:52,200 Speaker 2: Moses died on Mountain Nebo looking at the promised land. 741 00:43:53,400 --> 00:43:57,080 Speaker 2: Joshua led the people into the land that God had 742 00:43:57,080 --> 00:44:01,520 Speaker 2: promised Moses. The difference was what God had promised. God 743 00:44:01,560 --> 00:44:07,160 Speaker 2: promised Moses and Joshua the same result. The difference wasn't 744 00:44:07,520 --> 00:44:12,400 Speaker 2: the promise. The difference was how they managed the miracle 745 00:44:13,120 --> 00:44:16,080 Speaker 2: in the middle of it. God gave Moses a miracle, 746 00:44:16,320 --> 00:44:19,239 Speaker 2: He parted the Red Sea, but Moses stayed stuck in 747 00:44:19,280 --> 00:44:22,600 Speaker 2: what other people said. Moses managed according to his fear, 748 00:44:22,680 --> 00:44:25,600 Speaker 2: not his faith. God gave Joshua the same promise, and 749 00:44:25,680 --> 00:44:28,719 Speaker 2: Joshua said, even in spite of our fear, even in 750 00:44:28,760 --> 00:44:31,360 Speaker 2: spite of our failures, even in spite of the fact 751 00:44:31,400 --> 00:44:33,600 Speaker 2: that they're more out there than there are in here, 752 00:44:33,640 --> 00:44:36,080 Speaker 2: We're going forward in the name of the Lord, with 753 00:44:36,160 --> 00:44:38,960 Speaker 2: his presence as our banner. And we are standing in 754 00:44:39,000 --> 00:44:41,640 Speaker 2: the middle, and we will stand in the middle until 755 00:44:41,680 --> 00:44:45,640 Speaker 2: everything that God has spoken comes to pass. I wonder, 756 00:44:45,680 --> 00:44:48,240 Speaker 2: is there anybody who's willing to get in the middle 757 00:44:48,280 --> 00:44:52,040 Speaker 2: of it and take your stand and declare, I will 758 00:44:52,160 --> 00:44:56,000 Speaker 2: see the goodness of the Lord in my generation, in 759 00:44:56,040 --> 00:45:01,080 Speaker 2: my life. 760 00:45:01,760 --> 00:45:03,320 Speaker 1: That's what I want to pray for you about. 761 00:45:04,120 --> 00:45:05,759 Speaker 2: And if you lift your hands right now, I'll do 762 00:45:05,840 --> 00:45:10,800 Speaker 2: it because the Lord is in this moment. The Lord 763 00:45:10,880 --> 00:45:17,000 Speaker 2: is very present even in your pain, and I believe 764 00:45:17,080 --> 00:45:19,120 Speaker 2: that God is even present in some of. 765 00:45:19,120 --> 00:45:24,720 Speaker 1: The mistakes that you've made. Lord, right now, would you. 766 00:45:23,440 --> 00:45:26,560 Speaker 2: Visit the heart of each of your sons and daughters 767 00:45:26,600 --> 00:45:31,920 Speaker 2: with a reminder, maybe, like those twelve rocks that the 768 00:45:31,960 --> 00:45:35,880 Speaker 2: people piled up, give us a rock of remembrance today 769 00:45:35,920 --> 00:45:42,000 Speaker 2: that we can build on the firm foundation of your faithfulness. 770 00:45:42,880 --> 00:45:50,239 Speaker 1: The victory is yours to give, but it's mine to manage. 771 00:45:50,600 --> 00:45:53,920 Speaker 2: God, remind me of the responsibility that you have given me, 772 00:45:54,000 --> 00:45:58,479 Speaker 2: and teach me to lean on your grace as I do. 773 00:46:01,320 --> 00:46:03,120 Speaker 1: Give me the faith to stay standing. 774 00:46:02,760 --> 00:46:06,600 Speaker 2: In the middle, with the waters all around me, and 775 00:46:06,719 --> 00:46:12,440 Speaker 2: to worship You in this moment, with our heads bowed 776 00:46:12,480 --> 00:46:15,760 Speaker 2: and our eyes closed. And wonder if there's somebody here 777 00:46:16,120 --> 00:46:20,560 Speaker 2: today who needs to receive the grace of God for 778 00:46:20,640 --> 00:46:24,919 Speaker 2: the salvation of your soul, the forgiveness of your sin. 779 00:46:26,360 --> 00:46:29,160 Speaker 2: I wonder, is there's someone here today who needs to 780 00:46:29,200 --> 00:46:31,040 Speaker 2: begin a relationship. 781 00:46:30,320 --> 00:46:32,399 Speaker 1: With God, or maybe you want to. 782 00:46:32,360 --> 00:46:36,640 Speaker 2: Reconnect in that relationship with God. You've been feeling for 783 00:46:36,680 --> 00:46:39,399 Speaker 2: a long time like you're far from him, but it's 784 00:46:39,440 --> 00:46:43,959 Speaker 2: not true. He's near, and if you call on his name, 785 00:46:44,719 --> 00:46:47,960 Speaker 2: he is in this moment, and he longs to come 786 00:46:48,000 --> 00:46:53,120 Speaker 2: and live inside of you. He longs to allow you 787 00:46:53,200 --> 00:46:56,120 Speaker 2: to follow him, even when you don't know what's next. 788 00:46:57,040 --> 00:47:05,000 Speaker 2: It's very simple what the Bible says about salvation. It 789 00:47:05,080 --> 00:47:07,319 Speaker 2: is by grace that you are saved through faith. It's 790 00:47:07,360 --> 00:47:10,440 Speaker 2: the gift of God. It's not of works. So that 791 00:47:10,520 --> 00:47:13,680 Speaker 2: no one can boast that if you confess with your 792 00:47:13,719 --> 00:47:15,879 Speaker 2: mouth that Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart 793 00:47:15,960 --> 00:47:17,120 Speaker 2: God raised him from the dead. 794 00:47:17,160 --> 00:47:18,000 Speaker 1: You will be saved. 795 00:47:18,719 --> 00:47:23,560 Speaker 2: As the promise of God doesn't require good works. You 796 00:47:23,600 --> 00:47:26,359 Speaker 2: can't stack enough stones to climb your way to heaven. 797 00:47:26,400 --> 00:47:29,839 Speaker 2: And it doesn't work like that. God's not watching your 798 00:47:29,880 --> 00:47:32,319 Speaker 2: behavior to see whether or not he will relate to you. 799 00:47:33,160 --> 00:47:35,600 Speaker 2: He's already done through the person of his son Jesus, 800 00:47:35,680 --> 00:47:37,799 Speaker 2: all that needs to be done for you to have 801 00:47:37,840 --> 00:47:39,239 Speaker 2: a right relationship with Him. 802 00:47:39,960 --> 00:47:41,480 Speaker 1: And right now, in this moment, I want to pray 803 00:47:41,480 --> 00:47:43,640 Speaker 1: with you. At every location. 804 00:47:45,520 --> 00:47:47,400 Speaker 2: We're going to pray out loud as a church family 805 00:47:47,520 --> 00:47:49,640 Speaker 2: for the benefit of those who are coming to God 806 00:47:51,000 --> 00:47:53,439 Speaker 2: or come in back to God. But will all pray 807 00:47:53,480 --> 00:47:58,880 Speaker 2: out loud together, repeat after me, Heavenly Father. I believe 808 00:48:00,040 --> 00:48:05,200 Speaker 2: Jesus Christ. It's the son of God. And today I 809 00:48:05,280 --> 00:48:08,960 Speaker 2: make Jesus the Lord of my life. I believe you 810 00:48:09,120 --> 00:48:13,960 Speaker 2: die to forgive my sin and rose again to give 811 00:48:14,000 --> 00:48:19,600 Speaker 2: me life. I receive this new life. This is my 812 00:48:19,760 --> 00:48:22,239 Speaker 2: new beginning. On the count of three, if you just 813 00:48:22,320 --> 00:48:24,120 Speaker 2: pray that prayer, shoot your hand up. I want to 814 00:48:24,160 --> 00:48:27,799 Speaker 2: celebrate with you. One, two, three, come on as a testimony. 815 00:48:27,840 --> 00:48:32,000 Speaker 10: Shoot your hand up. That's a lot of hands. That's 816 00:48:32,040 --> 00:48:36,960 Speaker 10: a lot of hands. Let's praise God for it. Come on, 817 00:48:37,040 --> 00:48:41,240 Speaker 10: let's praise God for it. I said, let's praise God 818 00:48:41,360 --> 00:48:45,120 Speaker 10: for it. Today is the day of salvation. Let's praise 819 00:48:45,160 --> 00:48:45,799 Speaker 10: God for it. 820 00:48:51,120 --> 00:48:52,239 Speaker 1: Thank you for joining us. 821 00:48:52,520 --> 00:48:55,000 Speaker 2: Special thanks to those of you who give generously to 822 00:48:55,040 --> 00:48:58,560 Speaker 2: this ministry. Is because of you that this ministry is possible. 823 00:48:59,000 --> 00:49:01,560 Speaker 2: You can click the lincoln the description to give now 824 00:49:02,080 --> 00:49:04,040 Speaker 2: or visit Elevationchurch dot. 825 00:49:03,920 --> 00:49:05,600 Speaker 1: Org slash podcast. 826 00:49:05,120 --> 00:49:08,239 Speaker 2: For more information and if you enjoyed the podcast, you 827 00:49:08,239 --> 00:49:09,120 Speaker 2: can subscribe. 828 00:49:09,520 --> 00:49:10,840 Speaker 1: You can share it with your friends. 829 00:49:11,120 --> 00:49:13,440 Speaker 2: You can click the share button, take a screenshot and 830 00:49:13,480 --> 00:49:15,600 Speaker 2: share it on your social stories and tag us at 831 00:49:15,600 --> 00:49:16,439 Speaker 2: Elevation Church. 832 00:49:16,520 --> 00:49:18,160 Speaker 1: Thanks again for listening. God bless you.