1 00:00:01,520 --> 00:00:02,800 Speaker 1: Hey, this is Stephen Ferdick. 2 00:00:02,840 --> 00:00:05,840 Speaker 2: I'm the pastor of Elevation Church and this is our podcast. 3 00:00:05,920 --> 00:00:08,320 Speaker 1: I wanted to thank you for joining us today. Hope 4 00:00:08,320 --> 00:00:10,680 Speaker 1: this inspires you. Hope it builds your faith. 5 00:00:10,760 --> 00:00:12,840 Speaker 2: Hope it gives your perspective to see God is moving 6 00:00:12,920 --> 00:00:13,560 Speaker 2: in your life. 7 00:00:13,840 --> 00:00:19,880 Speaker 1: Enjoy the message. In Romans chapter one, verse twenty five. 8 00:00:19,920 --> 00:00:22,720 Speaker 2: There's a scripture I've been thinking about for quite a 9 00:00:22,760 --> 00:00:25,440 Speaker 2: while now, and I've been looking forward to the opportunity 10 00:00:25,480 --> 00:00:29,080 Speaker 2: to preach it, and this weekend Live as the appropriate time. 11 00:00:29,120 --> 00:00:31,040 Speaker 2: And God has really been using it this weekend. You're 12 00:00:31,080 --> 00:00:35,080 Speaker 2: not the first group that I've seen this weekend, and 13 00:00:35,159 --> 00:00:36,920 Speaker 2: yet I believe that God has saved the best for 14 00:00:37,000 --> 00:00:39,479 Speaker 2: last and that He desires to minister to you in 15 00:00:39,520 --> 00:00:44,720 Speaker 2: a specific way today. And I'll read this verse and 16 00:00:44,840 --> 00:00:47,440 Speaker 2: this will give you the premise for our message. And 17 00:00:48,400 --> 00:00:52,120 Speaker 2: it's found in Romans chapter one, verse twenty five. It 18 00:00:52,159 --> 00:00:54,920 Speaker 2: says that they exchanged the truth about God for a 19 00:00:55,000 --> 00:00:59,360 Speaker 2: lie and worshiped and served created things rather than the 20 00:00:59,400 --> 00:01:05,240 Speaker 2: Creator who is forever praised Amen. They exchanged the truth 21 00:01:05,280 --> 00:01:09,039 Speaker 2: about God for a lie. And as people say that 22 00:01:09,080 --> 00:01:11,440 Speaker 2: the Bible is not relevant to today's culture. But let 23 00:01:11,480 --> 00:01:13,039 Speaker 2: me read this again. It sounds like it was written 24 00:01:13,080 --> 00:01:16,920 Speaker 2: on Twitter last night. They exchanged the truth about God 25 00:01:16,959 --> 00:01:19,280 Speaker 2: for a lie and worshiped and served created things rather 26 00:01:19,319 --> 00:01:21,199 Speaker 2: than the Creator. Have you ever got your priorities mixed 27 00:01:21,280 --> 00:01:24,360 Speaker 2: up and started serving something that God gave to you 28 00:01:24,400 --> 00:01:25,880 Speaker 2: and forgotten about the God who gave them? 29 00:01:28,160 --> 00:01:29,160 Speaker 1: And that's what happened. 30 00:01:29,640 --> 00:01:32,120 Speaker 2: They exchanged the truth of God for a lie and 31 00:01:32,160 --> 00:01:35,160 Speaker 2: began to serve created things rather than the Creator who 32 00:01:35,200 --> 00:01:36,200 Speaker 2: is forever praised. 33 00:01:36,800 --> 00:01:40,200 Speaker 1: Amen. The subject heading I want to use today is. 34 00:01:40,200 --> 00:01:42,560 Speaker 2: Trading truth, and I want to talk to you on 35 00:01:42,600 --> 00:01:45,400 Speaker 2: this topic Trading truth. Lord, I thank you that your 36 00:01:45,400 --> 00:01:47,960 Speaker 2: word is truth. Illuminate it now and help us to 37 00:01:48,000 --> 00:01:51,360 Speaker 2: receive it with courage to obey it. In Jesus name, Amen, 38 00:01:52,080 --> 00:01:59,640 Speaker 2: you may be seated, God bless you. I lie in 39 00:01:59,720 --> 00:02:07,720 Speaker 2: my cai. Sometimes you have to do it. Sometimes, you 40 00:02:07,720 --> 00:02:09,359 Speaker 2: know what we're all doing in they were taking a nap. 41 00:02:09,440 --> 00:02:13,840 Speaker 2: Sometimes it's just for their own while it was the 42 00:02:13,880 --> 00:02:21,480 Speaker 2: door locked safety dangerous criminals. You have to do it sometimes. 43 00:02:23,240 --> 00:02:27,079 Speaker 2: Don't look at me judgmentally. You if you never lied 44 00:02:27,120 --> 00:02:32,440 Speaker 2: to your kids, you haven't had them yet. But sometimes 45 00:02:32,440 --> 00:02:34,640 Speaker 2: it's really a matter of survival. 46 00:02:35,720 --> 00:02:38,680 Speaker 3: And even a few days ago, we were at the 47 00:02:38,680 --> 00:02:43,160 Speaker 3: beach for the kid's spring break and they had talked 48 00:02:43,200 --> 00:02:44,800 Speaker 3: me out into the ocean. 49 00:02:45,080 --> 00:02:48,040 Speaker 2: They talked me out of the hot tub into the ocean. 50 00:02:49,000 --> 00:02:52,000 Speaker 2: I'm too old for this crap. It was a fifty 51 00:02:52,040 --> 00:02:57,240 Speaker 2: one degrees outside. But I'm hey, hey, I'm Dad of 52 00:02:57,280 --> 00:02:59,720 Speaker 2: the year. Don't worry about it. I already got the 53 00:03:00,320 --> 00:03:01,560 Speaker 2: I'm Dad of the Year. I went out in that 54 00:03:01,600 --> 00:03:06,360 Speaker 2: cold ocean with all three kids, and Abby was hanging 55 00:03:06,400 --> 00:03:09,920 Speaker 2: onto my arm the whole time, just every time. It 56 00:03:10,000 --> 00:03:12,640 Speaker 2: was really it was a really rough ocean, but it 57 00:03:12,680 --> 00:03:18,200 Speaker 2: made it kind of fun until until it wasn't fun anymore. 58 00:03:18,919 --> 00:03:21,760 Speaker 2: You know how it is when you're kind of playing out, 59 00:03:21,760 --> 00:03:23,040 Speaker 2: you kind of stepping. 60 00:03:22,800 --> 00:03:25,000 Speaker 3: Further and further out, and you don't even know how far, 61 00:03:25,560 --> 00:03:28,400 Speaker 3: how far out you've gotten, and then you kind of 62 00:03:28,440 --> 00:03:30,600 Speaker 3: get carried away, and you don't really realize how far 63 00:03:30,639 --> 00:03:33,919 Speaker 3: you've been carried away until you're looking and kind of 64 00:03:33,960 --> 00:03:35,720 Speaker 3: look at the original point where you were, which would 65 00:03:35,720 --> 00:03:37,480 Speaker 3: be a whole sermon in itself, but that's not what 66 00:03:37,520 --> 00:03:38,640 Speaker 3: I want to preach about. 67 00:03:38,880 --> 00:03:40,760 Speaker 2: What I wanted to tell you is we're kind of 68 00:03:40,800 --> 00:03:44,480 Speaker 2: getting carried away, and then the undercurrent got really strong 69 00:03:44,960 --> 00:03:47,360 Speaker 2: and started just pulling all of us, all four of us. 70 00:03:47,400 --> 00:03:49,080 Speaker 2: The only one who had good enough sense to be 71 00:03:49,080 --> 00:03:51,320 Speaker 2: in the house was Holly. She's not as committed to 72 00:03:51,360 --> 00:03:54,680 Speaker 2: parenting and making memories as I am. She was on 73 00:03:54,760 --> 00:03:59,520 Speaker 2: her phone, and I'm out there realizing in this moment, wait, 74 00:03:59,600 --> 00:04:01,120 Speaker 2: nobody else is in the ocean. 75 00:04:01,640 --> 00:04:02,320 Speaker 1: It's just us. 76 00:04:02,360 --> 00:04:06,000 Speaker 3: Everybody who knows anything about safety in the water is inside. 77 00:04:06,120 --> 00:04:10,920 Speaker 2: Right now, this is dangerous. And then it really got scary. 78 00:04:10,920 --> 00:04:13,120 Speaker 2: I couldn't touch the bottom, and Abby's on my arm, 79 00:04:13,720 --> 00:04:15,200 Speaker 2: and her being on my arm and is a problem. 80 00:04:15,200 --> 00:04:16,520 Speaker 1: I can curl her all day long. 81 00:04:16,600 --> 00:04:20,400 Speaker 2: She's just very well below my curling maximum weight ability, 82 00:04:20,720 --> 00:04:23,400 Speaker 2: trust me. But when she's on my arm and I 83 00:04:23,440 --> 00:04:27,200 Speaker 2: can't touch, and then Graham jumps on my back and 84 00:04:27,800 --> 00:04:31,160 Speaker 2: we're all simultaneously being pulled, and I realized, like, well, 85 00:04:31,160 --> 00:04:33,560 Speaker 2: we're way further out than I intended us to be. 86 00:04:33,960 --> 00:04:36,920 Speaker 2: And Abbey's on my arm and Graham's on my back, 87 00:04:37,360 --> 00:04:39,599 Speaker 2: and I'm like, Graham, I love you, dude, but you got. 88 00:04:39,400 --> 00:04:42,520 Speaker 1: To swim right now. It's every verdict for himself right now. 89 00:04:43,360 --> 00:04:45,120 Speaker 2: I need to take at least two of us back 90 00:04:45,120 --> 00:04:54,520 Speaker 2: in the house for your mom. We start swimming back in. 91 00:04:54,600 --> 00:04:57,120 Speaker 2: Abby's on my arm and Graham's swimming. Now Elijah's the 92 00:04:57,160 --> 00:05:00,560 Speaker 2: bravest one. He's out way past all of us, and 93 00:05:00,600 --> 00:05:02,839 Speaker 2: he's screaming at me to come get him or something, 94 00:05:02,960 --> 00:05:04,440 Speaker 2: and I can't come get him. 95 00:05:04,480 --> 00:05:06,920 Speaker 1: His sister's on my arm and it's my favorite. 96 00:05:06,960 --> 00:05:15,600 Speaker 2: And so I just kidding, I kidding, but this calmness 97 00:05:15,640 --> 00:05:19,800 Speaker 2: came over me, or at least I pretended that it did. 98 00:05:20,640 --> 00:05:25,240 Speaker 2: I said, Elijah, it's fine, son, And secretly I'm looking 99 00:05:25,279 --> 00:05:28,120 Speaker 2: at him, thinking this is our last time talking together, 100 00:05:28,800 --> 00:05:32,640 Speaker 2: you know, But I knew I had to keep him swimming. 101 00:05:32,680 --> 00:05:34,520 Speaker 1: It was just a leadership instinct that came over me. 102 00:05:34,560 --> 00:05:36,960 Speaker 1: I'm like, it's fine, just swim, You'll be fine. 103 00:05:36,960 --> 00:05:38,640 Speaker 2: It's not that bad here where we are if you 104 00:05:38,640 --> 00:05:39,320 Speaker 2: can just get here. 105 00:05:39,600 --> 00:05:43,720 Speaker 1: Meanwhile, I'm dying, you know. And so we made it. 106 00:05:43,760 --> 00:05:46,279 Speaker 2: We made it back to the shore, aren't you glad? 107 00:05:47,760 --> 00:05:48,920 Speaker 1: Thank you for praying me through. 108 00:05:51,360 --> 00:05:54,240 Speaker 2: And then Elijah said something really funny to me. I 109 00:05:54,240 --> 00:05:57,680 Speaker 2: thought this was really really profound. He's like, you didn't 110 00:05:57,720 --> 00:06:02,320 Speaker 2: even seem scared. Were you not worried about me. Were 111 00:06:02,360 --> 00:06:04,200 Speaker 2: you were you just gonna let me stay out there? 112 00:06:06,000 --> 00:06:08,680 Speaker 2: You know, well, of course I was. Your sisters only 113 00:06:08,720 --> 00:06:11,360 Speaker 2: had eight years to live, you've had thirteen. And it's 114 00:06:11,400 --> 00:06:17,680 Speaker 2: just but but I I think he was. 115 00:06:17,760 --> 00:06:18,680 Speaker 1: I think he was amazed. 116 00:06:18,720 --> 00:06:21,640 Speaker 2: He was like you, you just didn't even seem worried 117 00:06:21,680 --> 00:06:23,520 Speaker 2: about it, And to which I told him, well, son, 118 00:06:23,560 --> 00:06:27,000 Speaker 2: I was lying. I was lying for your own good. 119 00:06:28,000 --> 00:06:31,640 Speaker 2: I knew if you knew how bad it was, you'd 120 00:06:31,640 --> 00:06:34,920 Speaker 2: stop swimming. And so the best thing I could do 121 00:06:35,640 --> 00:06:38,960 Speaker 2: for your survival was to lie to you. It's like 122 00:06:38,960 --> 00:06:42,479 Speaker 2: a rahab lie. It's a lie for the purposes of God. 123 00:06:43,240 --> 00:06:49,680 Speaker 2: Don't judge me. Don't judge me. But sometimes I lie 124 00:06:49,839 --> 00:06:56,640 Speaker 2: to myself. It's a survival instinct. It's just that sometimes 125 00:06:56,680 --> 00:07:00,800 Speaker 2: my feet can't find the bottom, and life it's a 126 00:07:00,880 --> 00:07:05,440 Speaker 2: little bit turbulent, and I find myself drifting and in 127 00:07:05,480 --> 00:07:09,040 Speaker 2: the new reality that I'm trying to embrace according to 128 00:07:09,040 --> 00:07:11,920 Speaker 2: what God says I am. Sometimes what I used to 129 00:07:11,960 --> 00:07:16,360 Speaker 2: be feels more solid, more stable, and more comfortable. And 130 00:07:16,440 --> 00:07:20,120 Speaker 2: sometimes it's easier for me to lie to myself and 131 00:07:20,280 --> 00:07:25,240 Speaker 2: tell myself a story. I got good at it, even 132 00:07:25,280 --> 00:07:27,920 Speaker 2: as a little boy. It wasn't that my childhood was 133 00:07:27,960 --> 00:07:30,480 Speaker 2: bad or anything like that. But all of us experience 134 00:07:30,640 --> 00:07:35,680 Speaker 2: things in life that teach us to lie to ourselves. 135 00:07:35,760 --> 00:07:38,440 Speaker 2: When we read a scripture like Romans chapter one, verse 136 00:07:38,480 --> 00:07:42,080 Speaker 2: twenty five that says they exchange the truth about God 137 00:07:42,160 --> 00:07:44,800 Speaker 2: for a lie, a part of us says, who would 138 00:07:44,840 --> 00:07:49,280 Speaker 2: do that? Who would trade a perfectly good truth for 139 00:07:49,360 --> 00:07:52,800 Speaker 2: a lie? And yet the fact is, there are some 140 00:07:53,000 --> 00:07:56,960 Speaker 2: lies that we have learned so well that they feel 141 00:07:57,080 --> 00:08:01,520 Speaker 2: true even more than the truth does. Can I preach 142 00:08:01,600 --> 00:08:03,480 Speaker 2: like I've been out of the pulpit for three weeks 143 00:08:03,480 --> 00:08:08,720 Speaker 2: and I've got something to say. I want to show 144 00:08:08,760 --> 00:08:12,840 Speaker 2: you today an illustration from the life of Jesus, and 145 00:08:12,880 --> 00:08:15,920 Speaker 2: I want to show you how sometimes the enemy doesn't 146 00:08:16,160 --> 00:08:20,560 Speaker 2: sabotage your life with a lie. He tells you a 147 00:08:20,680 --> 00:08:26,600 Speaker 2: truth and he twists it just enough. And I believe 148 00:08:26,640 --> 00:08:29,400 Speaker 2: that the Lord desires to set us free today. But 149 00:08:30,160 --> 00:08:34,680 Speaker 2: only by the truth can we be set free. You know, 150 00:08:34,800 --> 00:08:37,960 Speaker 2: Jesus knew the truth because he was the truth. He 151 00:08:38,040 --> 00:08:40,000 Speaker 2: knew the word of God because he was the word 152 00:08:40,040 --> 00:08:42,679 Speaker 2: of God. And when the enemy came to Jesus and 153 00:08:42,760 --> 00:08:45,760 Speaker 2: Matthew Chapter four in the Wilderness, to Timptim, he made 154 00:08:45,960 --> 00:08:49,920 Speaker 2: the crucial mistake with the son of God of debating 155 00:08:50,000 --> 00:08:52,920 Speaker 2: the word of God. And it's a bad idea to 156 00:08:52,960 --> 00:08:55,040 Speaker 2: debate the word of God with the word of God. 157 00:08:56,120 --> 00:08:58,080 Speaker 2: John chapter one says, in the beginning was the Word, 158 00:08:58,120 --> 00:08:59,960 Speaker 2: and the word was with God, and the Word was God. 159 00:09:00,679 --> 00:09:03,440 Speaker 2: He's not arguing with someone who knows about the Word 160 00:09:03,440 --> 00:09:06,480 Speaker 2: of God. He is arguing with the embodiment of the 161 00:09:06,520 --> 00:09:09,320 Speaker 2: Word of God. And it gives us a pure picture 162 00:09:09,320 --> 00:09:12,280 Speaker 2: of the principle that is illustrated in Romans one twenty five, 163 00:09:12,320 --> 00:09:16,920 Speaker 2: but only in reverse in Matthew chapter four, verse one. 164 00:09:17,080 --> 00:09:21,320 Speaker 2: Our perspective is immediately challenged because it says that Jesus 165 00:09:21,400 --> 00:09:23,680 Speaker 2: was led by the spirit into the wilderness to be 166 00:09:23,760 --> 00:09:27,479 Speaker 2: tempted by the devil. And that is a strange construct, 167 00:09:27,480 --> 00:09:31,160 Speaker 2: that Jesus was led by God to be tempted by 168 00:09:31,160 --> 00:09:34,360 Speaker 2: the devil. If you've been told that God won't lead 169 00:09:34,400 --> 00:09:38,880 Speaker 2: you into difficult situations, you've been lied to. If you've 170 00:09:38,920 --> 00:09:41,560 Speaker 2: ever been told, or it's ever been implied or inferred, 171 00:09:41,960 --> 00:09:43,960 Speaker 2: that the will of God will always lead to the 172 00:09:44,000 --> 00:09:47,280 Speaker 2: path of least resistance, you've been lied to. If you've 173 00:09:47,280 --> 00:09:49,200 Speaker 2: ever been told that the proof of the favor of 174 00:09:49,280 --> 00:09:52,760 Speaker 2: God on your life is that situations become less difficult 175 00:09:53,320 --> 00:09:57,880 Speaker 2: and more agreeable. You've been lied to because Jesus, before 176 00:09:57,920 --> 00:10:01,640 Speaker 2: his ministry was fully announce was let into the wilderness 177 00:10:01,640 --> 00:10:04,120 Speaker 2: to be tempted by the devil. And yet I want 178 00:10:04,160 --> 00:10:08,679 Speaker 2: us to see that this passage is as much about 179 00:10:08,760 --> 00:10:13,840 Speaker 2: trust as it is about temptation. Now let me say 180 00:10:13,840 --> 00:10:19,040 Speaker 2: this real quickly. It's not the truth that you can quote, 181 00:10:19,880 --> 00:10:23,800 Speaker 2: it's not the truth that you know mentally, but it 182 00:10:23,920 --> 00:10:27,400 Speaker 2: is the truth that you do that guides your life 183 00:10:27,840 --> 00:10:34,760 Speaker 2: to its ultimate outcome. I will never forget watching y'all 184 00:10:35,080 --> 00:10:37,480 Speaker 2: when I was a kid with the Jane Fond to 185 00:10:37,520 --> 00:10:46,080 Speaker 2: work Out DVDs, eating a bowl of ice cream watching 186 00:10:46,120 --> 00:10:50,200 Speaker 2: the Jane Fond to work Out DVDs. And when I asked, 187 00:10:50,679 --> 00:10:53,920 Speaker 2: why aren't you doing the DVDs? I'm only like eight 188 00:10:54,000 --> 00:10:58,040 Speaker 2: years old and my mom and dad are eating briars 189 00:10:59,320 --> 00:11:03,400 Speaker 2: watching Fonda. They said, well, we've got to know what 190 00:11:03,559 --> 00:11:07,719 Speaker 2: to do before we can do it. But sometimes if 191 00:11:07,720 --> 00:11:14,679 Speaker 2: you would do what you knew, I might get it 192 00:11:14,760 --> 00:11:21,480 Speaker 2: worth it for me. After fasting forty days and forty nights, 193 00:11:22,000 --> 00:11:25,920 Speaker 2: he was hungry. I nominate this for most obvious verse 194 00:11:25,960 --> 00:11:29,760 Speaker 2: in the Bible. The Tempter came to him at his 195 00:11:29,800 --> 00:11:33,320 Speaker 2: weakest moment. The tempter came to him in the area 196 00:11:33,360 --> 00:11:35,679 Speaker 2: of his appetite. The tempter came to him at a 197 00:11:35,720 --> 00:11:38,839 Speaker 2: place of great vulnerability and said, if you are the 198 00:11:38,880 --> 00:11:42,600 Speaker 2: son of God, tell these stones to become bred. And 199 00:11:42,679 --> 00:11:45,000 Speaker 2: how many times in my life have I been tempted 200 00:11:45,000 --> 00:11:48,240 Speaker 2: in this exact way. It's a good thing Jesus knew 201 00:11:48,280 --> 00:11:51,400 Speaker 2: the truth. It's a good thing Jesus had just been 202 00:11:51,440 --> 00:11:55,240 Speaker 2: baptized by John and the Jordan River. It's it's a 203 00:11:55,280 --> 00:11:57,920 Speaker 2: good thing that Jesus had just heard his father say, 204 00:11:58,360 --> 00:11:59,760 Speaker 2: this is my beloved. 205 00:11:59,360 --> 00:12:00,920 Speaker 1: Son, and whom I'm well pleased. 206 00:12:01,760 --> 00:12:04,040 Speaker 2: It's a good thing he had just been told the truth, 207 00:12:05,000 --> 00:12:09,200 Speaker 2: because when you just encountered truth, when you know who 208 00:12:09,240 --> 00:12:12,319 Speaker 2: you are, when you have a full understanding of who 209 00:12:12,360 --> 00:12:14,040 Speaker 2: you are in God's eyes, you don't have to prove 210 00:12:14,080 --> 00:12:15,600 Speaker 2: it in anybody else's. 211 00:12:19,280 --> 00:12:20,600 Speaker 1: How many times have I been. 212 00:12:20,480 --> 00:12:24,120 Speaker 2: Susceptible to the temptation to prove who I am by 213 00:12:24,120 --> 00:12:27,040 Speaker 2: what I do? But when you know that who you 214 00:12:27,120 --> 00:12:30,480 Speaker 2: are is not dependent on what you do, your value 215 00:12:30,559 --> 00:12:33,760 Speaker 2: is not assessed by others. Then you don't have to 216 00:12:33,800 --> 00:12:38,520 Speaker 2: post stuff to prove stuff. You're going to set somebody 217 00:12:38,559 --> 00:12:41,439 Speaker 2: free today. You don't have to post stuff to prove 218 00:12:41,480 --> 00:12:47,720 Speaker 2: stuff when you know the truth about it. And Jesus answered, 219 00:12:47,760 --> 00:12:50,800 Speaker 2: it is written men shall not live on bread alone, 220 00:12:51,480 --> 00:12:55,200 Speaker 2: but on every word that comes from the mouth of God. 221 00:12:55,840 --> 00:12:58,600 Speaker 2: One of the hardest years of my life was twenty thirteen. 222 00:12:59,280 --> 00:13:02,680 Speaker 2: My dad was our church was under heavy criticism in 223 00:13:02,720 --> 00:13:05,360 Speaker 2: the media, and I was going through so many things 224 00:13:05,400 --> 00:13:07,880 Speaker 2: at once. I felt like Rocky when he said, I 225 00:13:07,920 --> 00:13:09,640 Speaker 2: don't know which one to hit. I see three of 226 00:13:09,679 --> 00:13:12,120 Speaker 2: them out there, and they said hit the one in 227 00:13:12,120 --> 00:13:14,920 Speaker 2: the middle. And there were so many things going on 228 00:13:15,000 --> 00:13:17,360 Speaker 2: around me. I didn't know what to do. But it 229 00:13:17,440 --> 00:13:20,520 Speaker 2: was really comforting to me that the things I had 230 00:13:20,559 --> 00:13:23,880 Speaker 2: preached to you I was able to live off of. 231 00:13:24,320 --> 00:13:28,280 Speaker 2: For me, the proof that something is true in your 232 00:13:28,320 --> 00:13:30,400 Speaker 2: life is not that you can understand it or say 233 00:13:30,400 --> 00:13:32,160 Speaker 2: amen to it, but that you. 234 00:13:32,120 --> 00:13:35,240 Speaker 1: Can live on it. That you can live on it. 235 00:13:38,640 --> 00:13:42,719 Speaker 2: Sometimes we're too impressed with cliches, and sometimes we think 236 00:13:42,720 --> 00:13:44,600 Speaker 2: something is true just because it rhymes. 237 00:13:44,640 --> 00:13:44,840 Speaker 1: You know. 238 00:13:46,000 --> 00:13:48,200 Speaker 2: I found out in preaching sometimes you can make something 239 00:13:48,280 --> 00:13:50,719 Speaker 2: rhyme and. 240 00:13:48,679 --> 00:13:52,240 Speaker 1: It can be totally totally opposite. 241 00:13:52,280 --> 00:13:54,760 Speaker 2: You know, you can make something start with the same letter, 242 00:13:55,720 --> 00:13:57,200 Speaker 2: curiosity killed the cat. 243 00:13:57,720 --> 00:14:01,040 Speaker 1: That's good, meow amen. 244 00:14:04,480 --> 00:14:07,400 Speaker 2: Actually, the original saying wasn't curiosity killed the cat. 245 00:14:07,440 --> 00:14:08,760 Speaker 1: It was care killed the cat. 246 00:14:09,720 --> 00:14:11,840 Speaker 2: And it was used to mean that they fed the 247 00:14:11,880 --> 00:14:14,079 Speaker 2: cat too much and he died because he was too fat. 248 00:14:14,400 --> 00:14:15,400 Speaker 1: They cared too much. 249 00:14:16,360 --> 00:14:18,679 Speaker 2: And then they changed it from care meaning they over 250 00:14:18,800 --> 00:14:22,000 Speaker 2: fed him to care he was too worried. So now 251 00:14:22,000 --> 00:14:24,800 Speaker 2: it means that worry killed the cat. But then one 252 00:14:24,880 --> 00:14:27,600 Speaker 2: day it just became curiosity killed the cat. Now there 253 00:14:27,600 --> 00:14:32,920 Speaker 2: are no statistical evidences of dead felines based on inquisitive natures. 254 00:14:33,720 --> 00:14:36,600 Speaker 1: But it just sounds good. And some stuff sounds good, 255 00:14:36,720 --> 00:14:37,520 Speaker 1: but it ain't true. 256 00:14:39,240 --> 00:14:42,640 Speaker 2: Just because it sounds good doesn't mean it is. Just 257 00:14:42,680 --> 00:14:46,080 Speaker 2: because it rhymes, just because it is aligned with your 258 00:14:46,120 --> 00:14:49,840 Speaker 2: life experience up to this point doesn't make it true. 259 00:14:50,320 --> 00:14:52,640 Speaker 2: Just because it's the way it's always been for you 260 00:14:52,840 --> 00:14:56,200 Speaker 2: and your mom and it doesn't make it true. And 261 00:14:56,280 --> 00:14:58,720 Speaker 2: so then we get really bad advice and we say 262 00:14:58,760 --> 00:15:01,520 Speaker 2: really bad things that that sound good on the surface, 263 00:15:01,600 --> 00:15:05,880 Speaker 2: but beneath them they're really bad belief systems. I thought 264 00:15:05,880 --> 00:15:09,720 Speaker 2: about calling this message what's your BS for belief system? 265 00:15:09,760 --> 00:15:18,360 Speaker 2: What's your belief system? And I wanted to call it 266 00:15:18,440 --> 00:15:23,960 Speaker 2: that because that's what's driving your life. They say, live 267 00:15:24,000 --> 00:15:26,760 Speaker 2: your truth. I heard that before. Live your truth. That's 268 00:15:26,800 --> 00:15:31,240 Speaker 2: the important thing. Just live your truth. And it sounds good. 269 00:15:32,960 --> 00:15:41,400 Speaker 2: But what if my truth is a trap? What if 270 00:15:41,440 --> 00:15:45,600 Speaker 2: your truth isn't the truth? Do you have to stay 271 00:15:45,640 --> 00:15:48,800 Speaker 2: stuck in a story and call it the truth. 272 00:15:51,040 --> 00:15:52,160 Speaker 1: Let me go back to Matthew four. 273 00:15:55,160 --> 00:15:57,600 Speaker 2: Jesus said it is written men shall not live on 274 00:15:57,680 --> 00:15:59,200 Speaker 2: bread alone, but on every word. 275 00:15:59,000 --> 00:16:01,080 Speaker 1: That comes from the mouth of God. 276 00:16:01,840 --> 00:16:05,240 Speaker 2: So then the devil he does something that I was 277 00:16:05,800 --> 00:16:10,040 Speaker 2: very interested to study this out. And if I've preached 278 00:16:10,040 --> 00:16:14,360 Speaker 2: on this passage ten times before, I apologize to the 279 00:16:14,360 --> 00:16:15,720 Speaker 2: other ten that. 280 00:16:15,720 --> 00:16:18,160 Speaker 1: I never pointed this out because I never saw it. 281 00:16:19,080 --> 00:16:22,640 Speaker 2: We always assume that the enemy comes to us with lies, 282 00:16:23,240 --> 00:16:25,400 Speaker 2: and then we quote the word of God, which is 283 00:16:25,440 --> 00:16:27,960 Speaker 2: the truth, and then the lies go away. 284 00:16:28,080 --> 00:16:30,520 Speaker 1: Okay, fine, whatever, But. 285 00:16:30,840 --> 00:16:35,800 Speaker 2: Many of us love God too much to just believe 286 00:16:35,840 --> 00:16:42,640 Speaker 2: a lie if we see it as a lie, and 287 00:16:42,680 --> 00:16:46,440 Speaker 2: so then what the enemy does is he presents you 288 00:16:46,480 --> 00:16:53,080 Speaker 2: not with a lie, but with a truth. The next 289 00:16:53,080 --> 00:16:57,680 Speaker 2: thing the enemy does to Jesus. Remember he's hungry. He's 290 00:16:57,720 --> 00:17:02,320 Speaker 2: in a week in physical state. He's on the verge 291 00:17:02,400 --> 00:17:05,080 Speaker 2: of three years of ministry that will shake the world 292 00:17:05,600 --> 00:17:11,040 Speaker 2: and overturn the Roman Empire. He's in a period of preparation. 293 00:17:12,480 --> 00:17:16,439 Speaker 2: He knows who he is. He not only knows truth, 294 00:17:16,600 --> 00:17:20,960 Speaker 2: but he is truth. And so the enemy knows that 295 00:17:21,080 --> 00:17:23,399 Speaker 2: the only way that he can fight truth is with truth. 296 00:17:24,600 --> 00:17:26,879 Speaker 2: And I promise you I'm not just trying to be confusing. 297 00:17:28,119 --> 00:17:30,400 Speaker 2: A lot of times, what the enemy will attack you. 298 00:17:30,359 --> 00:17:34,800 Speaker 1: With is a truth, a truth. 299 00:17:36,119 --> 00:17:39,199 Speaker 2: And in this particular instance, the devil took him to 300 00:17:39,200 --> 00:17:40,960 Speaker 2: the Holy City verse five and had him stand on 301 00:17:41,000 --> 00:17:43,199 Speaker 2: the highest point of the temple. If you are the 302 00:17:43,240 --> 00:17:48,679 Speaker 2: son of God, throw yourself down, for it is written. 303 00:17:50,200 --> 00:17:55,280 Speaker 2: The enemy doesn't attack Jesus with a lie. He attacks 304 00:17:55,320 --> 00:17:55,960 Speaker 2: him with a Bible. 305 00:17:56,040 --> 00:17:56,320 Speaker 1: Verse. 306 00:17:58,600 --> 00:18:03,159 Speaker 2: He quotes to Jesus this Psalm ninety one, verse eleven 307 00:18:03,200 --> 00:18:06,720 Speaker 2: and twelve. He quotes the word of God to the 308 00:18:06,720 --> 00:18:07,679 Speaker 2: Word of God. 309 00:18:10,200 --> 00:18:11,120 Speaker 1: For it is written. 310 00:18:11,800 --> 00:18:15,160 Speaker 2: He will command his angels concerning you, and they will 311 00:18:15,200 --> 00:18:18,120 Speaker 2: lift you up in their hands, so that you will 312 00:18:18,160 --> 00:18:23,400 Speaker 2: not strike your foot against a stone. That's true, That's 313 00:18:23,560 --> 00:18:28,640 Speaker 2: actually true. This is not made up. This is not imaginary, 314 00:18:28,200 --> 00:18:30,800 Speaker 2: it is It is the word of God. 315 00:18:31,280 --> 00:18:32,199 Speaker 1: It is the truth. 316 00:18:33,280 --> 00:18:36,280 Speaker 2: So here's what I'm realizing in my life. A lot 317 00:18:36,320 --> 00:18:39,119 Speaker 2: of times I'm not deciding. 318 00:18:38,640 --> 00:18:41,000 Speaker 1: Between a lie and the truth. 319 00:18:41,880 --> 00:18:48,320 Speaker 2: A lot of times I'm stuck between two truths. One 320 00:18:48,400 --> 00:18:52,520 Speaker 2: is the truth of my situation and one is the 321 00:18:52,560 --> 00:18:57,560 Speaker 2: truth of my revelation. I told you, Holly, this was 322 00:18:57,600 --> 00:19:00,800 Speaker 2: going to be the best one. That's the truth of 323 00:19:00,840 --> 00:19:04,080 Speaker 2: what I'm going through, and the other is the truth 324 00:19:04,119 --> 00:19:06,479 Speaker 2: of who's standing with me in the fire as I 325 00:19:06,520 --> 00:19:12,880 Speaker 2: go through it. So I've got two truths. I've got 326 00:19:12,880 --> 00:19:18,080 Speaker 2: two truths. And what Jesus said was so powerful. When 327 00:19:18,119 --> 00:19:19,959 Speaker 2: the enemy tried to get him to turn the stones 328 00:19:19,960 --> 00:19:22,639 Speaker 2: into bread, he said, it is written because he knew 329 00:19:22,960 --> 00:19:26,159 Speaker 2: the temptation to turn something into something that it's not. 330 00:19:27,040 --> 00:19:29,639 Speaker 2: A lot of times we try to do this with relationships. 331 00:19:29,640 --> 00:19:31,919 Speaker 1: We try to turn them into something that they're not. 332 00:19:33,119 --> 00:19:35,920 Speaker 2: We turn people into our God, and we need their 333 00:19:35,960 --> 00:19:39,040 Speaker 2: approval more than we need God's approval. And then when 334 00:19:39,040 --> 00:19:42,080 Speaker 2: they disappoint us, we lose our hope because we tried 335 00:19:42,080 --> 00:19:45,160 Speaker 2: to turn stones into bread. You know, some of us 336 00:19:45,280 --> 00:19:48,240 Speaker 2: try to turn money into security, but your trust was 337 00:19:48,280 --> 00:19:51,800 Speaker 2: never supposed to be in resources. Your trust was supposed 338 00:19:51,840 --> 00:19:54,880 Speaker 2: to be in the one. Your help comes from the source, 339 00:19:55,400 --> 00:19:58,840 Speaker 2: you are supposed to lift your eyes to him. Your 340 00:19:58,840 --> 00:20:01,160 Speaker 2: trust was never supposed sposed to be in the stuff. 341 00:20:02,160 --> 00:20:04,159 Speaker 1: Your trust was supposed to be in the source. 342 00:20:05,080 --> 00:20:07,120 Speaker 2: But when you don't know the truth of who you are, 343 00:20:07,240 --> 00:20:09,919 Speaker 2: you will try to turn stones into bread, and you 344 00:20:09,960 --> 00:20:10,560 Speaker 2: will try to. 345 00:20:10,520 --> 00:20:12,200 Speaker 1: Live off of people's compliments. 346 00:20:12,400 --> 00:20:15,840 Speaker 2: And then so you die by their criticism because you tried. 347 00:20:15,640 --> 00:20:17,080 Speaker 1: To turn it into what it was not. 348 00:20:20,520 --> 00:20:24,240 Speaker 2: And you trade the truth for a lie, and you 349 00:20:24,320 --> 00:20:27,280 Speaker 2: trade the truth of God's God's assessment of you for 350 00:20:27,320 --> 00:20:32,159 Speaker 2: someone else's opinion of you, serving created things rather than 351 00:20:32,200 --> 00:20:35,439 Speaker 2: the creator who is forever blessed a man Roman's won 352 00:20:35,520 --> 00:20:36,080 Speaker 2: twenty five. 353 00:20:38,280 --> 00:20:40,200 Speaker 1: I love what Jesus said. I never saw it before. 354 00:20:41,080 --> 00:20:42,680 Speaker 1: Did you ever see it this before? I appreciate it 355 00:20:42,680 --> 00:20:43,840 Speaker 1: A nine thirty. 356 00:20:44,119 --> 00:20:46,679 Speaker 2: I never saw it because first time he said it 357 00:20:46,720 --> 00:20:49,600 Speaker 2: is written, But this time he said something different. He said, 358 00:20:49,680 --> 00:21:03,120 Speaker 2: verse seven, it is also written. You just said, is true, 359 00:21:03,280 --> 00:21:13,960 Speaker 2: But I know something truer. It's true I made some 360 00:21:14,000 --> 00:21:18,439 Speaker 2: mistakes in my life. But it's also true that my 361 00:21:18,520 --> 00:21:24,000 Speaker 2: greatest mistake has the potential to become my greatest miracle. 362 00:21:26,720 --> 00:21:29,720 Speaker 1: It's true, but it's also true. 363 00:21:31,240 --> 00:21:35,040 Speaker 2: Somebody's shout, it's also true. Come on, shout it from 364 00:21:35,080 --> 00:21:40,520 Speaker 2: river Walk to Roanoke. It's also true, Paul said, I'm pressed. 365 00:21:41,160 --> 00:21:46,200 Speaker 2: It's true, but I'm not crushed. See, I know how 366 00:21:46,240 --> 00:21:51,400 Speaker 2: to stand between two truths. One is what I'm thinking, 367 00:21:51,520 --> 00:21:55,040 Speaker 2: One is what I'm feeling. One is what the doctor said. 368 00:21:55,400 --> 00:21:59,760 Speaker 2: One is what I'm experiencing. But it is also true, 369 00:22:00,119 --> 00:22:05,879 Speaker 2: not crushed. I'm persecuted. It's true, but I'm not abandoned. 370 00:22:05,920 --> 00:22:09,720 Speaker 2: It's also true. I'm struck down for a minute. But 371 00:22:10,040 --> 00:22:14,320 Speaker 2: it's also true. I'm not destroying. I'm lonely, but I'm 372 00:22:14,359 --> 00:22:15,040 Speaker 2: not alone. 373 00:22:15,160 --> 00:22:19,480 Speaker 1: I'm weak but he's strong. I'm poor but he's rich. 374 00:22:19,560 --> 00:22:27,520 Speaker 2: I'm It is also written, I've got a better word 375 00:22:27,560 --> 00:22:31,320 Speaker 2: on the situation. I did it, but I'm not it. 376 00:22:41,280 --> 00:22:44,879 Speaker 2: I got a new truth. I got a new truth. 377 00:22:46,960 --> 00:22:50,800 Speaker 2: I've got a new truth. That means I know the 378 00:22:50,880 --> 00:22:59,280 Speaker 2: difference between my truth and my story. So when Jesus 379 00:22:59,400 --> 00:23:03,280 Speaker 2: was confronted by the Jews, he had a conversation with 380 00:23:03,400 --> 00:23:06,440 Speaker 2: them about truth, and it says that many of the 381 00:23:06,520 --> 00:23:09,000 Speaker 2: Jews had believed in him because of what he did, 382 00:23:09,040 --> 00:23:12,600 Speaker 2: but they didn't fully understand who he was, and they 383 00:23:12,600 --> 00:23:15,040 Speaker 2: were putting their faith in him, but they were still 384 00:23:15,040 --> 00:23:15,680 Speaker 2: attached to. 385 00:23:15,640 --> 00:23:20,080 Speaker 1: The old story. The old story. You know, the old story, 386 00:23:20,080 --> 00:23:20,520 Speaker 1: the one you. 387 00:23:20,480 --> 00:23:25,600 Speaker 2: Tell yourself about why people reject you. And you did 388 00:23:25,600 --> 00:23:29,920 Speaker 2: it as a means of survival, because it is sometimes 389 00:23:30,040 --> 00:23:33,159 Speaker 2: easier for you to reject yourself in advance than to 390 00:23:33,200 --> 00:23:36,960 Speaker 2: put yourself out there and risk rejection again. So when 391 00:23:37,000 --> 00:23:40,120 Speaker 2: you can't touch the bottom, you tell yourself a story 392 00:23:40,160 --> 00:23:46,520 Speaker 2: for survival. It's called prejection. It's when instead of dealing 393 00:23:46,560 --> 00:23:49,760 Speaker 2: with the reality of rejection and healing from it, you 394 00:23:49,880 --> 00:23:53,040 Speaker 2: begin to tell yourself a story about how worthless you are. 395 00:23:53,560 --> 00:23:56,240 Speaker 2: And now you stay alone because to really be loved 396 00:23:56,280 --> 00:24:00,000 Speaker 2: requires vulnerability for the sake of connection. So you would 397 00:24:00,119 --> 00:24:02,960 Speaker 2: rather stay stuck in an old story than embrace a 398 00:24:03,000 --> 00:24:08,480 Speaker 2: new truth. And Jesus said to the Jews who believed 399 00:24:08,520 --> 00:24:12,080 Speaker 2: in him, watch this In John eight thirty two. He said, 400 00:24:12,280 --> 00:24:16,399 Speaker 2: you will know the truth, and the truth will set 401 00:24:16,440 --> 00:24:20,440 Speaker 2: you free. Now see the second part of that does 402 00:24:20,480 --> 00:24:21,960 Speaker 2: not work without the first. 403 00:24:23,200 --> 00:24:24,520 Speaker 1: You will know the truth. 404 00:24:25,240 --> 00:24:28,800 Speaker 2: This is not a propositional statement. This doesn't mean you 405 00:24:28,880 --> 00:24:31,959 Speaker 2: will be able to quote the truth. To know the 406 00:24:32,000 --> 00:24:35,160 Speaker 2: truth is not to quote the truth. It's to trust 407 00:24:35,200 --> 00:24:41,160 Speaker 2: in it. It's to trust in the truth. And what 408 00:24:41,200 --> 00:24:46,080 Speaker 2: you trust in is what is true to you. What 409 00:24:46,119 --> 00:24:52,400 Speaker 2: you trust in is what is true to you. That's 410 00:24:52,400 --> 00:24:56,959 Speaker 2: why he wouldn't turn the stone to bread. It wouldn't 411 00:24:56,960 --> 00:25:00,119 Speaker 2: have been a sin for him to do it have 412 00:25:00,160 --> 00:25:02,280 Speaker 2: been a substitute. 413 00:25:03,359 --> 00:25:08,000 Speaker 1: I don't live by that. I don't trust in that. 414 00:25:08,000 --> 00:25:08,919 Speaker 1: That's not my truth. 415 00:25:11,760 --> 00:25:14,720 Speaker 2: And when you know the truth, and a lot of 416 00:25:14,760 --> 00:25:16,960 Speaker 2: times we think we know the truth better than we do. 417 00:25:19,680 --> 00:25:21,560 Speaker 2: We think we know what other people are like because 418 00:25:21,560 --> 00:25:26,480 Speaker 2: we've never traded truth with them. 419 00:25:27,280 --> 00:25:29,320 Speaker 3: We think, we think we know what we would do 420 00:25:29,359 --> 00:25:31,320 Speaker 3: if we were them. 421 00:25:32,560 --> 00:25:36,159 Speaker 2: Sit down with a single mom. You know what you 422 00:25:36,200 --> 00:25:37,480 Speaker 2: would do if you were them. You would have a 423 00:25:37,520 --> 00:25:39,159 Speaker 2: pill addiction. You wouldn't make it out of bed in 424 00:25:39,200 --> 00:25:41,720 Speaker 2: the morning. You wouldn't you wouldn't be strong enough to 425 00:25:41,720 --> 00:25:42,000 Speaker 2: do it. 426 00:25:43,680 --> 00:25:46,040 Speaker 4: Well, if I were them, well, i'll tell you what 427 00:25:46,200 --> 00:25:48,440 Speaker 4: right now, if I was running that elevation church, i'd 428 00:25:48,480 --> 00:25:50,479 Speaker 4: do a few things differently. I'm sure we'll say that 429 00:25:50,560 --> 00:26:01,520 Speaker 4: right now. Jesus trading truth. Oh, it is written. 430 00:26:01,560 --> 00:26:06,760 Speaker 2: It is also written Okay, I'm accepting it, but it's 431 00:26:06,760 --> 00:26:08,520 Speaker 2: not It's not my truth. 432 00:26:08,560 --> 00:26:11,200 Speaker 1: It's just my story. 433 00:26:11,359 --> 00:26:13,560 Speaker 2: Sometimes you can live in a story so long that 434 00:26:13,600 --> 00:26:21,800 Speaker 2: you become a slave to it. Have you become a 435 00:26:21,880 --> 00:26:25,520 Speaker 2: slave to your own story to the extent that you 436 00:26:25,560 --> 00:26:31,159 Speaker 2: now think it's the truth? The Jews had Jesus said, 437 00:26:31,359 --> 00:26:33,080 Speaker 2: you will know the truth, and the truth will set 438 00:26:33,080 --> 00:26:38,320 Speaker 2: you free. And the next thing they said, the response 439 00:26:38,359 --> 00:26:41,680 Speaker 2: that they had to that shows us just how embedded 440 00:26:41,680 --> 00:26:43,280 Speaker 2: their identity had become. 441 00:26:43,040 --> 00:26:43,760 Speaker 1: In their story. 442 00:26:43,840 --> 00:26:47,560 Speaker 2: Because you gotta remember, these are people who had spent 443 00:26:47,640 --> 00:26:51,440 Speaker 2: four hundred and thirty years in Egypt as slaves making 444 00:26:51,440 --> 00:26:54,160 Speaker 2: bricks without straw under Pharaoh. 445 00:26:54,240 --> 00:26:55,600 Speaker 1: They had been taken captive by the. 446 00:26:55,520 --> 00:27:01,520 Speaker 2: Babylonians the Assyrians multiple times before Jesus came onto the sea, 447 00:27:02,520 --> 00:27:04,840 Speaker 2: and when he said you will know the truth, and 448 00:27:04,880 --> 00:27:08,000 Speaker 2: the truth will set you free, it offended them. So 449 00:27:08,040 --> 00:27:10,840 Speaker 2: they looked back at him in verse thirty three and said, 450 00:27:11,440 --> 00:27:16,720 Speaker 2: we are Abraham's descendants and have never been slaves of anyone. 451 00:27:16,880 --> 00:27:21,640 Speaker 2: The same people who had spent centuries as slaves had 452 00:27:21,680 --> 00:27:25,639 Speaker 2: told themselves a story that had become so true to 453 00:27:25,680 --> 00:27:26,160 Speaker 2: them they. 454 00:27:26,080 --> 00:27:27,760 Speaker 1: No longer knew the difference. 455 00:27:29,240 --> 00:27:32,240 Speaker 2: A lot of times in my life, I've lied to 456 00:27:32,320 --> 00:27:35,760 Speaker 2: myself so much that my lies. 457 00:27:35,600 --> 00:27:41,680 Speaker 1: Became truer than my truth. It is pretty good. 458 00:27:46,040 --> 00:27:51,920 Speaker 2: I don't willingly exchange the truth for a lie. It's 459 00:27:52,000 --> 00:27:55,520 Speaker 2: just that certain lives I tell myself. I've learned a love. 460 00:27:58,760 --> 00:28:05,399 Speaker 2: I like self pity. It's comfortable. It's my snuggie for 461 00:28:05,520 --> 00:28:08,480 Speaker 2: my soul to feel sorry for myself. 462 00:28:09,960 --> 00:28:13,000 Speaker 1: No one's checking on me, No one cares about me. 463 00:28:14,640 --> 00:28:16,760 Speaker 2: You know why, because I don't want to check on anybody. 464 00:28:16,960 --> 00:28:19,399 Speaker 2: So rather than face the fact of the truth that 465 00:28:19,520 --> 00:28:22,199 Speaker 2: I'm not checking on anybody, I would rather tell myself 466 00:28:22,200 --> 00:28:27,879 Speaker 2: the story that nobody's checking on me. I've never seen 467 00:28:28,000 --> 00:28:30,520 Speaker 2: every collective head nod in the church like it just 468 00:28:30,600 --> 00:28:39,080 Speaker 2: happened at Valentine. When you become a slave to your story, 469 00:28:39,920 --> 00:28:43,680 Speaker 2: you die a death between two truths. I'm preaching to 470 00:28:43,760 --> 00:28:47,720 Speaker 2: somebody today who's standing between two truths. One is the 471 00:28:47,760 --> 00:28:52,040 Speaker 2: old story, the way you always saw yourself. You know, 472 00:28:52,080 --> 00:28:54,320 Speaker 2: if David had stayed stuck in his old story, he 473 00:28:54,360 --> 00:28:57,960 Speaker 2: never would have thrown that stone at Glide's forehead, because 474 00:28:57,960 --> 00:28:59,880 Speaker 2: the way his brother saw him was, You're just down 475 00:28:59,880 --> 00:29:01,760 Speaker 2: here to make trouble and you didn't even get anybody 476 00:29:01,760 --> 00:29:02,440 Speaker 2: to keep the sheep. 477 00:29:04,080 --> 00:29:04,720 Speaker 1: There comes a. 478 00:29:04,680 --> 00:29:07,760 Speaker 2: Time when you have to challenge your old stories so 479 00:29:07,840 --> 00:29:14,000 Speaker 2: that the truth can set you free. They used to 480 00:29:14,080 --> 00:29:18,560 Speaker 2: train us in evangelism that we would ask people, how 481 00:29:18,880 --> 00:29:21,560 Speaker 2: do you know if you're going to heaven when you die? 482 00:29:21,880 --> 00:29:23,800 Speaker 2: And when they said their answer, you were to ask 483 00:29:23,840 --> 00:29:26,400 Speaker 2: them the follow up question, if you were wrong, would 484 00:29:26,440 --> 00:29:30,240 Speaker 2: you want to know? What? A powerful question if the 485 00:29:30,360 --> 00:29:34,479 Speaker 2: story you've been telling yourself about where you are and 486 00:29:34,680 --> 00:29:36,959 Speaker 2: why you are, and what you can and what you 487 00:29:37,000 --> 00:29:40,880 Speaker 2: can't remember the Israelites stayed stuck in the wilderness, not 488 00:29:41,040 --> 00:29:44,640 Speaker 2: for forty days like Jesus was tempted forty days. They 489 00:29:44,640 --> 00:29:49,640 Speaker 2: were there forty years, all because of the story they 490 00:29:49,680 --> 00:29:53,640 Speaker 2: told themselves. They're bigger than us, they're stronger than us, 491 00:29:53,680 --> 00:29:56,680 Speaker 2: they're greater than us. None of it was true. But 492 00:29:56,800 --> 00:30:00,120 Speaker 2: when it becomes true to you, it will keep you stuck. 493 00:30:00,120 --> 00:30:02,720 Speaker 2: And you are not stuck in your reality, You're stuck 494 00:30:02,720 --> 00:30:06,120 Speaker 2: in your story. But if the sun sets, you free, 495 00:30:06,440 --> 00:30:10,200 Speaker 2: If you get this truth, you will be free. 496 00:30:10,320 --> 00:30:22,480 Speaker 5: Indeed, so I want. 497 00:30:22,280 --> 00:30:24,440 Speaker 2: You to stand up on your feet right now, because 498 00:30:25,000 --> 00:30:26,920 Speaker 2: the spirit of the Lord is in this place and 499 00:30:26,920 --> 00:30:31,200 Speaker 2: where the Spirit is, there is freedom. Where the spirit 500 00:30:31,240 --> 00:30:34,520 Speaker 2: of the Lord is, there is freedom. And the Spirit 501 00:30:34,560 --> 00:30:37,160 Speaker 2: of the Lord is leading you today into the wilderness 502 00:30:37,240 --> 00:30:40,000 Speaker 2: to set you free from the story you've been telling yourself, 503 00:30:40,280 --> 00:30:45,680 Speaker 2: perhaps your whole life long. And I realize sometimes it's 504 00:30:45,760 --> 00:30:49,080 Speaker 2: easier to tell yourself a story of why you fail, 505 00:30:49,160 --> 00:30:52,560 Speaker 2: and tell yourself a story that you're a disappointment, because 506 00:30:52,560 --> 00:30:54,960 Speaker 2: then you don't have to actually step out and try, 507 00:30:55,080 --> 00:30:58,200 Speaker 2: because you've already told yourself a story that I'm a disappointment. 508 00:30:58,400 --> 00:31:02,760 Speaker 2: But that's why Jesus went into the wilderness, not only 509 00:31:02,800 --> 00:31:07,760 Speaker 2: to be tempted by the devil, but to rewrite a story. 510 00:31:08,680 --> 00:31:13,120 Speaker 2: What Moses couldn't do in forty years, Jesus did in 511 00:31:13,240 --> 00:31:22,520 Speaker 2: forty days. He wasn't just fasting, he was directing a 512 00:31:22,560 --> 00:31:26,480 Speaker 2: new story. The Gospel is a new story. The Cross 513 00:31:26,560 --> 00:31:31,440 Speaker 2: is a new ending. And you don't have to turn 514 00:31:31,520 --> 00:31:34,720 Speaker 2: stones into bread, and you don't have to trade truth 515 00:31:34,760 --> 00:31:38,120 Speaker 2: for lies, and you don't have to own the story 516 00:31:38,120 --> 00:31:40,200 Speaker 2: that you were handed if it does not match the 517 00:31:40,240 --> 00:31:41,040 Speaker 2: reality of what. 518 00:31:41,080 --> 00:31:51,920 Speaker 6: God has spoken. Not another day, and. 519 00:31:52,000 --> 00:31:54,520 Speaker 2: We say things that locate us and let us know 520 00:31:54,640 --> 00:31:57,880 Speaker 2: that we've embraced our story and turned it into truth. 521 00:32:00,080 --> 00:32:02,320 Speaker 2: Than bad happens, and we say us the story of 522 00:32:02,360 --> 00:32:09,560 Speaker 2: my life. This is the story of my life. This 523 00:32:09,640 --> 00:32:12,440 Speaker 2: is the story of my life. You need a new editor. 524 00:32:19,840 --> 00:32:25,560 Speaker 2: You've been letting the enemy edit the story of your life. 525 00:32:25,720 --> 00:32:34,520 Speaker 2: But it is also written. It is also written this 526 00:32:35,320 --> 00:32:39,280 Speaker 2: tension between two truths. Well, I feel in what I know, 527 00:32:40,600 --> 00:32:42,800 Speaker 2: what I was, and what I'm becoming. This tension between 528 00:32:42,840 --> 00:32:48,760 Speaker 2: two truths is exactly how faith grows. I've been waiting 529 00:32:48,840 --> 00:32:50,800 Speaker 2: to preach this message for a year and a half, 530 00:32:53,040 --> 00:32:55,040 Speaker 2: and today was the day that God wanted me to 531 00:32:55,080 --> 00:33:03,840 Speaker 2: preach it, perhaps so that you could hear it and 532 00:33:05,000 --> 00:33:12,040 Speaker 2: be set free from your old story. Are you trapped 533 00:33:12,080 --> 00:33:15,160 Speaker 2: in an old truth when God has given you a 534 00:33:15,200 --> 00:33:20,240 Speaker 2: new one, a higher one, a greater one. You know 535 00:33:20,280 --> 00:33:24,040 Speaker 2: the Law was true all of sin and fallen short 536 00:33:24,040 --> 00:33:28,720 Speaker 2: of the glory of God. But in Jesus was given 537 00:33:29,280 --> 00:33:35,240 Speaker 2: grace and truth. Both are true. I don't deserve the 538 00:33:35,280 --> 00:33:38,480 Speaker 2: blessings of God. Nothing I could do could earn it. 539 00:33:39,440 --> 00:33:42,800 Speaker 2: But it is also written that I am the righteousness 540 00:33:42,800 --> 00:33:54,320 Speaker 2: of God in Christ, through faith and helm. God brought 541 00:33:54,360 --> 00:33:57,440 Speaker 2: you here today to give you a new truth and 542 00:33:57,480 --> 00:33:59,040 Speaker 2: to receive your new truth. You're going to have to 543 00:33:59,080 --> 00:34:03,920 Speaker 2: let go of your old story. You let go of 544 00:34:03,920 --> 00:34:06,880 Speaker 2: that old story, you will know the truth, and the 545 00:34:06,920 --> 00:34:10,040 Speaker 2: truth will set you free. With your head bowt and 546 00:34:10,080 --> 00:34:12,360 Speaker 2: your eyes closed at every location, no one moving and 547 00:34:12,400 --> 00:34:17,200 Speaker 2: disturbing this moment. What is the story that God needs 548 00:34:17,239 --> 00:34:19,399 Speaker 2: to set you free from today? 549 00:34:20,440 --> 00:34:21,920 Speaker 1: The key is your belief. 550 00:34:23,239 --> 00:34:26,239 Speaker 2: That it is also written and that the blood of 551 00:34:26,320 --> 00:34:30,200 Speaker 2: Jesus has spoken a better word. There's a new covenant, 552 00:34:31,080 --> 00:34:34,759 Speaker 2: a new baptism, a new reality. 553 00:34:35,440 --> 00:34:35,680 Speaker 1: Father. 554 00:34:35,719 --> 00:34:39,120 Speaker 2: I thank you for each person who you brought here today, 555 00:34:39,840 --> 00:34:42,279 Speaker 2: whether they're physically in a church building or watching on 556 00:34:42,320 --> 00:34:47,279 Speaker 2: their phone, whether tears are streaming down the face because 557 00:34:47,320 --> 00:34:49,799 Speaker 2: they're facing a situation right now that's too great for them, 558 00:34:51,080 --> 00:34:53,239 Speaker 2: or whether they're in a place in their life where 559 00:34:53,239 --> 00:34:55,840 Speaker 2: they've actually accepted the lie and no longer even feels 560 00:34:55,880 --> 00:34:56,680 Speaker 2: like a lie anymore. 561 00:34:56,719 --> 00:34:58,680 Speaker 1: I pray that you would disturb. 562 00:35:00,120 --> 00:35:02,839 Speaker 2: Places of disbelief and dysfunction in our lives so that 563 00:35:02,880 --> 00:35:06,440 Speaker 2: we can know the truth and be set free. We 564 00:35:06,520 --> 00:35:09,880 Speaker 2: choose the unpredictability of freedom over the comfort and the 565 00:35:09,880 --> 00:35:13,319 Speaker 2: certainty of slavery. Today we want to be set free. 566 00:35:15,520 --> 00:35:19,000 Speaker 2: Thank you for telling us the truth. Thank you for 567 00:35:19,040 --> 00:35:26,239 Speaker 2: speaking over our lives a true identity. I ask now 568 00:35:26,280 --> 00:35:30,160 Speaker 2: Lord that in this moment, that you will speak your 569 00:35:30,160 --> 00:35:35,239 Speaker 2: word in that personal way, whether it's an area of 570 00:35:35,280 --> 00:35:39,560 Speaker 2: bitterness or resentment, or maybe it's something much more subtle 571 00:35:39,600 --> 00:35:41,920 Speaker 2: than that that we've been telling ourselves to keep ourselves 572 00:35:41,920 --> 00:35:43,400 Speaker 2: in a cycle of failure. 573 00:35:45,040 --> 00:35:46,640 Speaker 1: We believe that you have called. 574 00:35:46,440 --> 00:35:50,400 Speaker 2: Us overcomers, and we will only overcome as we embrace 575 00:35:51,239 --> 00:35:51,800 Speaker 2: that truth. 576 00:35:53,960 --> 00:35:55,080 Speaker 1: Thank you for joining us. 577 00:35:55,360 --> 00:35:57,799 Speaker 2: Special thanks to those of you who give generously to 578 00:35:57,880 --> 00:36:01,360 Speaker 2: this ministry. Is because of you that this ministry is possible. 579 00:36:01,840 --> 00:36:04,000 Speaker 2: You can click the link in the description to give 580 00:36:04,120 --> 00:36:08,360 Speaker 2: now or visit Elevationchurch dot org slash podcast. 581 00:36:07,960 --> 00:36:11,040 Speaker 1: For more information and if you enjoyed the podcast, you 582 00:36:11,080 --> 00:36:13,680 Speaker 1: can subscribe. You can share it with your friends. 583 00:36:13,960 --> 00:36:16,239 Speaker 2: You can click the share button, take a screenshot and 584 00:36:16,320 --> 00:36:18,399 Speaker 2: share it on your social stories and tag us at 585 00:36:18,440 --> 00:36:19,279 Speaker 2: Elevation Church. 586 00:36:19,360 --> 00:36:25,960 Speaker 1: Thanks again for listening. God bless you.