1 00:00:01,520 --> 00:00:02,800 Speaker 1: Hey, this is Stephen Ferdick. 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 --> 00:00:18,960 Speaker 1: In your life. Enjoy the message. 7 00:00:19,160 --> 00:00:22,560 Speaker 2: I just want to share with you nine verses of 8 00:00:22,600 --> 00:00:28,120 Speaker 2: scripture and finish something that I started back in twenty fourteen. 9 00:00:28,560 --> 00:00:31,479 Speaker 2: It seems like to me that New Year's Eve is 10 00:00:31,520 --> 00:00:36,720 Speaker 2: a perfect time to finish your business. And I started 11 00:00:36,760 --> 00:00:42,479 Speaker 2: something in twenty fourteen. I preached a little message about 12 00:00:42,560 --> 00:00:46,159 Speaker 2: holding on to the promise of God through the storms 13 00:00:46,159 --> 00:00:50,239 Speaker 2: of life. And I called the message from something that 14 00:00:50,280 --> 00:00:54,000 Speaker 2: the apostle Paul said during a shipwreck that he survived. 15 00:00:54,080 --> 00:01:00,920 Speaker 2: I called the message it will happen the first message 16 00:01:01,520 --> 00:01:04,000 Speaker 2: this year. God gave me a sequel to that message 17 00:01:04,080 --> 00:01:06,000 Speaker 2: that I preached a few months ago in our church, 18 00:01:06,640 --> 00:01:11,600 Speaker 2: and it was about making sense of setbacks and that 19 00:01:11,720 --> 00:01:14,160 Speaker 2: after you have survived the storm, you have to find 20 00:01:14,240 --> 00:01:15,520 Speaker 2: out why you survived. 21 00:01:16,840 --> 00:01:17,800 Speaker 1: It was for a reason. 22 00:01:17,880 --> 00:01:20,399 Speaker 2: So we followed Paul from the Adriatic Sea where he 23 00:01:20,520 --> 00:01:22,840 Speaker 2: was adrift with no hope of being saved all the 24 00:01:22,880 --> 00:01:25,440 Speaker 2: way to a little strange island called Malta, where God 25 00:01:25,520 --> 00:01:29,480 Speaker 2: used him to perform miracles and release healing. Not without difficulty, 26 00:01:29,840 --> 00:01:36,640 Speaker 2: but destiny never is. It's difficult by design that way, 27 00:01:37,160 --> 00:01:40,640 Speaker 2: when God uses you, you won't get confused about who is 28 00:01:40,680 --> 00:01:46,480 Speaker 2: doing the great things, and you'll give him the glory. 29 00:01:46,520 --> 00:01:49,080 Speaker 2: And so we preached that message this year, and that 30 00:01:49,120 --> 00:01:54,640 Speaker 2: message was called it had to Happen. And I've heard 31 00:01:54,680 --> 00:01:58,360 Speaker 2: a lot of good feedback about those messages. But tonight 32 00:01:58,440 --> 00:02:02,160 Speaker 2: I want to complete the trilogy, and I want to 33 00:02:02,200 --> 00:02:05,600 Speaker 2: finish this series of messages from Philippians chapter one, verses 34 00:02:05,640 --> 00:02:08,840 Speaker 2: twelve through twenty. We're going to follow Paul all the 35 00:02:08,840 --> 00:02:13,519 Speaker 2: way to Rome. He's crossed the Mediterranean, he's left Malta 36 00:02:13,600 --> 00:02:20,120 Speaker 2: after three months of ministry. He's now, according to many scholars, 37 00:02:21,240 --> 00:02:23,360 Speaker 2: under house arrest in Rome, where the Book of Acts 38 00:02:23,360 --> 00:02:27,960 Speaker 2: incidentally ends. But his ministry did an end where the 39 00:02:27,960 --> 00:02:31,000 Speaker 2: book did. And I want to pick up on this 40 00:02:31,240 --> 00:02:36,760 Speaker 2: letter that he wrote from the prison in Rome and 41 00:02:36,880 --> 00:02:38,640 Speaker 2: just read it to you. I'm going to take my 42 00:02:38,680 --> 00:02:43,279 Speaker 2: time to read it because the context of this message 43 00:02:43,520 --> 00:02:46,120 Speaker 2: will determine whether or not you can receive it at 44 00:02:46,120 --> 00:02:49,040 Speaker 2: a level that will make it effective in your life. 45 00:02:49,120 --> 00:02:51,919 Speaker 2: And starting in verse twelve, Paul says, now I want 46 00:02:51,919 --> 00:02:54,520 Speaker 2: you to know, brothers and sisters, that what has happened 47 00:02:54,600 --> 00:03:00,359 Speaker 2: to me has actually served to advance the Gospel. As 48 00:03:00,400 --> 00:03:04,240 Speaker 2: a result, it has become clear throughout the whole Palace 49 00:03:04,320 --> 00:03:06,920 Speaker 2: Guard and to everyone else, that I am in chains 50 00:03:07,480 --> 00:03:12,120 Speaker 2: for Christ and because of my chains. Not in spite 51 00:03:12,120 --> 00:03:18,720 Speaker 2: of my chains, but the power of God is being 52 00:03:18,800 --> 00:03:21,680 Speaker 2: released through the thing that you might pity me for 53 00:03:21,880 --> 00:03:26,440 Speaker 2: because of my chains, because of my confinement, there is 54 00:03:26,680 --> 00:03:32,280 Speaker 2: a great purpose unfolding where I am positioned. As a result, 55 00:03:32,320 --> 00:03:34,520 Speaker 2: it has become clear throughout the whole Palace Guard and 56 00:03:34,560 --> 00:03:36,600 Speaker 2: to everyone else that I am in Chaine for Christ, 57 00:03:36,680 --> 00:03:38,960 Speaker 2: and because of my chains. Most of the brothers and 58 00:03:39,000 --> 00:03:42,960 Speaker 2: sisters have become confident in the Lord and dare all 59 00:03:43,000 --> 00:03:47,200 Speaker 2: the more to proclaim the Gospel without fear. It's true 60 00:03:47,320 --> 00:03:50,720 Speaker 2: that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but 61 00:03:50,880 --> 00:03:54,040 Speaker 2: others out of love, knowing that I am put here. 62 00:03:54,640 --> 00:03:56,280 Speaker 1: See, when you understand. 63 00:03:55,800 --> 00:03:59,160 Speaker 2: That God is positioning you, you don't fear what people 64 00:03:59,240 --> 00:04:02,840 Speaker 2: might do to you, because there is not a situation 65 00:04:03,080 --> 00:04:04,720 Speaker 2: that they can put you in that God will not 66 00:04:04,800 --> 00:04:09,760 Speaker 2: show up in the midst of don't make me preach, 67 00:04:09,800 --> 00:04:11,360 Speaker 2: because I'm just trying to read the scripture and I 68 00:04:11,400 --> 00:04:13,240 Speaker 2: hadn't even really set it up appropriately yet, and I 69 00:04:13,280 --> 00:04:15,920 Speaker 2: only got so long on this clock. But as those 70 00:04:15,960 --> 00:04:18,279 Speaker 2: Hebrew boys who went into a fiery furnace, if a 71 00:04:18,320 --> 00:04:21,279 Speaker 2: fourth man won't step in just when it gets cranked 72 00:04:21,360 --> 00:04:25,080 Speaker 2: up seven times hotter than it's supposed to be, and 73 00:04:25,120 --> 00:04:27,240 Speaker 2: the only thing that's gonna fall off in the fire 74 00:04:27,320 --> 00:04:30,120 Speaker 2: is the ropes that had you bown. God lets you 75 00:04:30,200 --> 00:04:41,000 Speaker 2: be in the fire to set you free. And so 76 00:04:41,040 --> 00:04:45,239 Speaker 2: he said the former seventeen preached Christ out of selfish ambition, 77 00:04:45,360 --> 00:04:49,520 Speaker 2: not sincerely supposing they can stir up trouble for me 78 00:04:49,600 --> 00:04:52,680 Speaker 2: while I am in chains. This is a cool part 79 00:04:52,680 --> 00:04:56,000 Speaker 2: that only an old man can say. But what does 80 00:04:56,040 --> 00:05:02,560 Speaker 2: it matter. I live enough to let some of my 81 00:05:02,640 --> 00:05:08,640 Speaker 2: concerns fall off of me. Now I have a sense 82 00:05:08,680 --> 00:05:12,040 Speaker 2: of priority, and I'm not concerned about what they say, 83 00:05:13,000 --> 00:05:17,239 Speaker 2: and I'm not concerned about their motives, because God's intention 84 00:05:18,240 --> 00:05:25,719 Speaker 2: is always more powerful than human motive. The important thing 85 00:05:25,880 --> 00:05:28,840 Speaker 2: is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, 86 00:05:28,920 --> 00:05:32,920 Speaker 2: Christ is preached, and because of this. Because of this, 87 00:05:33,800 --> 00:05:37,799 Speaker 2: I rejoice, not because of a new car, but because 88 00:05:37,800 --> 00:05:38,360 Speaker 2: of a calling. 89 00:05:38,920 --> 00:05:41,680 Speaker 1: Because of this, I. 90 00:05:41,680 --> 00:05:47,840 Speaker 2: Rejoice, yes, and I will continue to rejoice, for I 91 00:05:47,920 --> 00:05:51,279 Speaker 2: know that, through your prayers and God's provision of the 92 00:05:51,320 --> 00:05:56,400 Speaker 2: Spirit of Jesus Christ, what has happened to me will 93 00:05:56,480 --> 00:06:01,599 Speaker 2: turn out for my deliverance. I eagerly expect and hope 94 00:06:02,360 --> 00:06:05,200 Speaker 2: that I will in no way be ashamed, but will 95 00:06:05,320 --> 00:06:09,960 Speaker 2: have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will 96 00:06:09,960 --> 00:06:15,320 Speaker 2: be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. 97 00:06:16,279 --> 00:06:17,640 Speaker 2: Now I read all that just to go back to 98 00:06:17,720 --> 00:06:20,840 Speaker 2: verse twelve where I started. Now, I want you to know, 99 00:06:21,440 --> 00:06:26,080 Speaker 2: brothers and sisters, that what has happened to me, what 100 00:06:26,160 --> 00:06:30,920 Speaker 2: has happened to me, has actually served to advance the gospel. 101 00:06:32,800 --> 00:06:39,400 Speaker 2: All right, it will happen. It had to happen. And 102 00:06:39,480 --> 00:06:41,640 Speaker 2: my message for you tonight, if you can say it 103 00:06:41,680 --> 00:06:46,200 Speaker 2: with Paul by faith, is this, it will happen. 104 00:06:47,320 --> 00:06:48,200 Speaker 1: It had to happen. 105 00:06:49,279 --> 00:06:52,240 Speaker 2: But tonight look at your neighbor and say, I want 106 00:06:52,240 --> 00:07:03,720 Speaker 2: you to know I'm glad it happened. Now, this one's 107 00:07:03,760 --> 00:07:07,200 Speaker 2: going to be kind of tough to get with this, 108 00:07:07,360 --> 00:07:09,640 Speaker 2: because there are really two reasons that we put on 109 00:07:09,680 --> 00:07:12,920 Speaker 2: this praise party. One year I turned to Holly, I said, 110 00:07:12,920 --> 00:07:14,600 Speaker 2: we're getting too old to try to stay up on 111 00:07:14,640 --> 00:07:16,120 Speaker 2: New Year's Eve without accountability. 112 00:07:16,200 --> 00:07:17,520 Speaker 1: Let's have church on New Year's Eve. 113 00:07:20,080 --> 00:07:22,600 Speaker 2: And it really serves two purposes if you allow it to. 114 00:07:22,840 --> 00:07:27,360 Speaker 2: It serves the purpose of allowing you to reflect and expect. 115 00:07:28,760 --> 00:07:30,560 Speaker 2: So two questions I want to hang over your head 116 00:07:30,560 --> 00:07:32,920 Speaker 2: as you sit there tonight on whatever campus or around 117 00:07:32,960 --> 00:07:35,640 Speaker 2: whatever screen, how are your viewing this? I want to 118 00:07:35,640 --> 00:07:39,800 Speaker 2: ask you two things. Are you where you want to be? 119 00:07:41,960 --> 00:07:47,680 Speaker 2: And are you ready for what's next? God brought you 120 00:07:47,720 --> 00:07:51,520 Speaker 2: here tonight to give you the opportunity to reflect and 121 00:07:51,560 --> 00:07:55,360 Speaker 2: to expect. So as I reflect, am I where I 122 00:07:55,440 --> 00:07:58,840 Speaker 2: want to be? And as I expect, am I ready 123 00:07:59,520 --> 00:08:06,000 Speaker 2: for what's next? Now, as you reflect, you've got to 124 00:08:06,080 --> 00:08:09,920 Speaker 2: understand that reflection must be done correctly in order to 125 00:08:09,920 --> 00:08:14,200 Speaker 2: be productive. There is a way of reflecting on your life, 126 00:08:14,240 --> 00:08:16,320 Speaker 2: and I think this is why some of us avoid 127 00:08:16,480 --> 00:08:20,600 Speaker 2: looking back that can leave you paralyzed in a sense. 128 00:08:22,000 --> 00:08:24,920 Speaker 2: There is a type of reflection that does not energize you. 129 00:08:26,000 --> 00:08:28,400 Speaker 2: There's a type of reflection that can. 130 00:08:28,480 --> 00:08:32,280 Speaker 1: Bring you into a state of resentment. 131 00:08:33,640 --> 00:08:37,800 Speaker 2: As you look back over what happened to you for 132 00:08:37,840 --> 00:08:43,640 Speaker 2: you this year, there may be a temptation for you 133 00:08:43,720 --> 00:08:47,880 Speaker 2: to reflect to the point of resentment. And there may 134 00:08:47,920 --> 00:08:51,480 Speaker 2: be some people this year who were supposed to support you, 135 00:08:53,200 --> 00:08:55,560 Speaker 2: and maybe you expected them to be standing by you, 136 00:08:55,640 --> 00:08:59,360 Speaker 2: but you find yourself a little more lonely at the 137 00:08:59,440 --> 00:09:01,560 Speaker 2: end of this year. You're even going through your photo 138 00:09:01,559 --> 00:09:03,840 Speaker 2: stream on your phone. I found can be dangerous because 139 00:09:04,559 --> 00:09:06,880 Speaker 2: some of the people that I'm scrolling through that I 140 00:09:06,920 --> 00:09:12,040 Speaker 2: felt one way about in January, I feel differently about 141 00:09:12,080 --> 00:09:18,160 Speaker 2: them in December because and you have to be careful. 142 00:09:18,200 --> 00:09:19,560 Speaker 2: You have to be careful if you want to go 143 00:09:19,600 --> 00:09:23,240 Speaker 2: back on the timeline. You may feel some things and 144 00:09:23,280 --> 00:09:28,480 Speaker 2: when you reflect, it's important that you avoid resentment on 145 00:09:28,480 --> 00:09:31,160 Speaker 2: one level. But I think also you should be very 146 00:09:31,160 --> 00:09:33,800 Speaker 2: careful when you reflect, because not only can you begin 147 00:09:33,840 --> 00:09:39,280 Speaker 2: to resent opportunities that you didn't get or maybe ways 148 00:09:39,320 --> 00:09:41,719 Speaker 2: that you were not acknowledged, which can bring you into 149 00:09:41,720 --> 00:09:43,440 Speaker 2: a state of resentment, but you also got to watch 150 00:09:43,440 --> 00:09:47,599 Speaker 2: out for regret. This is like the devils are in 151 00:09:47,800 --> 00:09:52,800 Speaker 2: r you know, regret and resentment, Now they're really the same. 152 00:09:53,440 --> 00:09:58,559 Speaker 2: Regret is just resentment turned inward. It's when you take 153 00:09:58,559 --> 00:10:01,360 Speaker 2: a look at where you said you would be on 154 00:10:01,400 --> 00:10:08,240 Speaker 2: December thirty one, twenty seventeen, and the scale says something 155 00:10:08,280 --> 00:10:15,520 Speaker 2: different than your list said three sixty five ago. Or 156 00:10:15,559 --> 00:10:22,559 Speaker 2: it can be when you are thinking about all of the. 157 00:10:21,240 --> 00:10:22,960 Speaker 1: Dance recitals that you missed. 158 00:10:23,240 --> 00:10:25,840 Speaker 2: Or it could be that you think about how you 159 00:10:25,960 --> 00:10:28,400 Speaker 2: promised to be more faithful in church this year, but 160 00:10:28,440 --> 00:10:30,400 Speaker 2: you didn't quite make it happen. But you did get 161 00:10:30,400 --> 00:10:33,160 Speaker 2: here tonight, high five of your neighbor and say you're 162 00:10:33,200 --> 00:10:35,880 Speaker 2: ahead for twenty eighteen. You already got a gold star 163 00:10:36,559 --> 00:10:42,240 Speaker 2: on the Jesus Christ chart. Now, there is a type 164 00:10:42,240 --> 00:10:45,959 Speaker 2: of reflection that leads to regret. 165 00:10:46,000 --> 00:10:49,319 Speaker 1: There is a type of reflection that leads to resentment. 166 00:10:50,559 --> 00:10:54,160 Speaker 2: But the right kind of reflection will lead to resolution. 167 00:10:56,840 --> 00:11:00,400 Speaker 2: The right kind of reflection as demonstrated by the apostle 168 00:11:00,440 --> 00:11:05,000 Speaker 2: Paul in Philippians Chapter one from I Believe a Roman 169 00:11:05,600 --> 00:11:08,160 Speaker 2: prison cell, which was really a rented home where. 170 00:11:07,960 --> 00:11:09,240 Speaker 1: He was allowed to see people. 171 00:11:09,520 --> 00:11:14,680 Speaker 2: But remember now he's been waiting for a trial for 172 00:11:14,760 --> 00:11:18,800 Speaker 2: maybe as much as four years, and still after four 173 00:11:18,920 --> 00:11:22,400 Speaker 2: years of bouncing around from prelate to pre late, from 174 00:11:22,480 --> 00:11:26,800 Speaker 2: governor to governor, there's still no resolution for his situation. 175 00:11:28,000 --> 00:11:31,320 Speaker 2: Yet Paul exhibits the kind of attitude in Philippians chapter 176 00:11:31,360 --> 00:11:33,800 Speaker 2: one that I am striving to see. 177 00:11:33,679 --> 00:11:37,000 Speaker 1: Manifest in my own life. As he reflects, he. 178 00:11:37,000 --> 00:11:42,080 Speaker 2: Demonstrates that your spirit does not have to be a 179 00:11:42,120 --> 00:11:46,839 Speaker 2: reflection of your situation. What I'm trying to say is 180 00:11:46,960 --> 00:11:49,440 Speaker 2: you do not have to allow your outlook to be 181 00:11:49,559 --> 00:11:53,320 Speaker 2: defined by the events that brought you to this point. 182 00:11:54,480 --> 00:11:58,560 Speaker 2: Paul proves it clearly in Philippians chapter one, verse twelve 183 00:11:58,880 --> 00:12:02,640 Speaker 2: through twenty. And really I see him in Philippians chapter one, 184 00:12:02,760 --> 00:12:07,880 Speaker 2: verses twelve through twenty, correcting some of the rumors that 185 00:12:07,960 --> 00:12:11,199 Speaker 2: have apparently begun to surface in ephesis about his situation. 186 00:12:13,480 --> 00:12:15,600 Speaker 2: I don't mean to say ephesis, I mean to say Philippi. 187 00:12:15,679 --> 00:12:18,920 Speaker 2: But really, everybody, every church that Paul started has started 188 00:12:18,920 --> 00:12:20,719 Speaker 2: to talk a little bit. I can almost hear them 189 00:12:20,760 --> 00:12:22,040 Speaker 2: whispering behind his back. 190 00:12:22,960 --> 00:12:24,079 Speaker 1: Did you hear about Paul. 191 00:12:25,280 --> 00:12:28,800 Speaker 2: He still hasn't had his trial yet, looks like his 192 00:12:28,920 --> 00:12:29,840 Speaker 2: ministry is over. 193 00:12:31,360 --> 00:12:32,839 Speaker 1: It's horrible what happened to Paul. 194 00:12:33,920 --> 00:12:37,200 Speaker 2: He was only trying to help, but you know, he 195 00:12:37,280 --> 00:12:40,520 Speaker 2: probably pushed it a little too far. He kept on 196 00:12:40,600 --> 00:12:43,679 Speaker 2: preaching to the Gentiles, and the Jews told him to 197 00:12:43,720 --> 00:12:45,800 Speaker 2: stop it, but he wouldn't stop it, and then he 198 00:12:45,840 --> 00:12:48,920 Speaker 2: told those gentiles they didn't have to get circumcised. And well, 199 00:12:49,600 --> 00:12:53,600 Speaker 2: you know, he probably if he would have toned it 200 00:12:53,640 --> 00:12:55,720 Speaker 2: down a little bit, you know, if he wouldn't have 201 00:12:55,760 --> 00:12:58,120 Speaker 2: appealed his case to Caesar, he might have got set 202 00:12:58,160 --> 00:13:00,720 Speaker 2: free by Festus. Did you hear what happened to Paul? 203 00:13:01,720 --> 00:13:05,520 Speaker 2: It's horrible what happened to Paul. Terrible thing what happened 204 00:13:05,520 --> 00:13:09,000 Speaker 2: to Paul. You can almost hear them whispering from the 205 00:13:09,080 --> 00:13:11,920 Speaker 2: church at Philippi, which Paul founded a decade earlier. 206 00:13:11,920 --> 00:13:14,080 Speaker 1: But now some things have happened. 207 00:13:14,960 --> 00:13:17,240 Speaker 2: And not only has time passed, but it seems that 208 00:13:17,280 --> 00:13:18,920 Speaker 2: Paul's ministry has come. 209 00:13:18,720 --> 00:13:19,800 Speaker 1: To a grinding hall. 210 00:13:21,040 --> 00:13:24,040 Speaker 2: There is to be no more movement during this period. 211 00:13:24,240 --> 00:13:26,040 Speaker 1: And I can almost hear. 212 00:13:25,920 --> 00:13:29,440 Speaker 2: The whispers from the Church at Philippi when Paul speaks 213 00:13:29,520 --> 00:13:32,720 Speaker 2: up in verse twelve and says, now, I want you 214 00:13:32,800 --> 00:13:37,640 Speaker 2: to know, brothers and sisters, that what has happened to 215 00:13:37,720 --> 00:13:44,040 Speaker 2: me has actually somebody say, actually, actually I know what 216 00:13:44,120 --> 00:13:46,520 Speaker 2: you heard. But forget what you heard for a minute. 217 00:13:46,920 --> 00:13:49,640 Speaker 2: Let me set the record straight and you know, I 218 00:13:49,679 --> 00:13:51,960 Speaker 2: hear the spirit of the Lord saying tonight that before 219 00:13:52,000 --> 00:13:55,840 Speaker 2: you leave twenty seventeen, you need to set the record 220 00:13:55,960 --> 00:13:58,040 Speaker 2: straight about. 221 00:13:57,679 --> 00:14:01,400 Speaker 1: What really went down this year. You need to set 222 00:14:01,400 --> 00:14:01,960 Speaker 1: the record straight. 223 00:14:01,960 --> 00:14:04,120 Speaker 2: As a matter of fact, we came tonight to give 224 00:14:04,120 --> 00:14:08,560 Speaker 2: God praise for what he brought us through, and we 225 00:14:08,640 --> 00:14:10,720 Speaker 2: came tonight to make our commitment to Him that we 226 00:14:10,760 --> 00:14:13,600 Speaker 2: will follow him throughout the course of this year, no 227 00:14:13,600 --> 00:14:15,560 Speaker 2: matter how the road might wind or where it might 228 00:14:15,679 --> 00:14:19,720 Speaker 2: lead us. But we also came to set the record straight, 229 00:14:20,080 --> 00:14:23,320 Speaker 2: to let the devil know that everything we went through 230 00:14:23,360 --> 00:14:27,560 Speaker 2: this year was a scroof of the promise and the 231 00:14:27,600 --> 00:14:32,880 Speaker 2: power and the unlimited potential of the ever ruling, ever rating, 232 00:14:33,200 --> 00:14:38,800 Speaker 2: ever present. God, tell your neighbor, I came to set 233 00:14:38,800 --> 00:14:42,800 Speaker 2: the record straight. I don't know what you heard. You 234 00:14:42,880 --> 00:14:45,080 Speaker 2: might have heard that I was on the way down, 235 00:14:45,520 --> 00:14:48,400 Speaker 2: but I came to set the record straight. There's some 236 00:14:48,480 --> 00:14:49,680 Speaker 2: things I need you to. 237 00:14:49,680 --> 00:14:52,680 Speaker 1: Know before January hits my watch. 238 00:14:58,920 --> 00:15:01,120 Speaker 2: So one thing I'm trying to before I make a 239 00:15:01,160 --> 00:15:05,320 Speaker 2: New Year's resolution, I want to make a few revisions. 240 00:15:08,920 --> 00:15:11,640 Speaker 2: Paul wants to make a few revisions. Let's talk for 241 00:15:11,680 --> 00:15:17,480 Speaker 2: a moment about the revision. The revision. I've noticed a 242 00:15:17,480 --> 00:15:20,000 Speaker 2: lot of times that when we write a song or 243 00:15:20,080 --> 00:15:24,280 Speaker 2: when I write a sermon, the magic happens not on 244 00:15:24,320 --> 00:15:29,840 Speaker 2: the first draft or the second draft or the third draft, 245 00:15:31,200 --> 00:15:35,120 Speaker 2: but it is in the revision that the potential of 246 00:15:35,160 --> 00:15:39,000 Speaker 2: the song or the sermon is revealed. Oh. I love that, 247 00:15:39,040 --> 00:15:42,160 Speaker 2: because when I think about it, I think that maybe 248 00:15:42,200 --> 00:15:45,520 Speaker 2: there are some things this year where I'm getting the 249 00:15:45,600 --> 00:15:52,800 Speaker 2: story wrong and I need to see it differently. He's 250 00:15:52,800 --> 00:15:56,440 Speaker 2: not looking good for Paul. That looks like he's gonna 251 00:15:56,480 --> 00:16:00,520 Speaker 2: make it. It doesn't look like it's embarrassing when your 252 00:16:00,560 --> 00:16:01,600 Speaker 2: pastor is in jail. 253 00:16:02,840 --> 00:16:05,760 Speaker 1: I would imagine. 254 00:16:06,400 --> 00:16:08,560 Speaker 2: I hope you never have to find out firsthand what 255 00:16:08,640 --> 00:16:11,640 Speaker 2: that's like, not planning that. 256 00:16:13,760 --> 00:16:15,240 Speaker 1: But remember, now. 257 00:16:15,280 --> 00:16:19,720 Speaker 2: He's been driven across the Adriatic Sea, three months in Malta. 258 00:16:20,560 --> 00:16:23,760 Speaker 2: Now he finds himself in Rome and he's still waiting, 259 00:16:23,960 --> 00:16:27,600 Speaker 2: and the situation is still unresolved. 260 00:16:28,240 --> 00:16:28,840 Speaker 1: But he's not. 261 00:16:32,000 --> 00:16:39,000 Speaker 2: Resolution is not an event, It is a decision. And 262 00:16:39,000 --> 00:16:42,720 Speaker 2: as Paul reflects from Rome and looks at what's happening, 263 00:16:43,000 --> 00:16:47,840 Speaker 2: he understands that, Well, sometimes people will misjudge your situation 264 00:16:48,480 --> 00:16:52,400 Speaker 2: because they do not know the backstory, and so he 265 00:16:52,480 --> 00:16:56,080 Speaker 2: is informing them. He's taking the opportunity to inform them 266 00:16:56,440 --> 00:17:01,400 Speaker 2: about what is apparent and what is actual. I love 267 00:17:01,440 --> 00:17:04,920 Speaker 2: it because sometimes what's happening on the surface is not 268 00:17:05,080 --> 00:17:09,320 Speaker 2: the real story. And so Paul is focusing here not 269 00:17:09,480 --> 00:17:13,760 Speaker 2: on what is happening to him, but what is happening 270 00:17:14,040 --> 00:17:18,320 Speaker 2: through him. The story that you tell is dependent on 271 00:17:18,400 --> 00:17:22,120 Speaker 2: the point of view that you have. So while others 272 00:17:22,200 --> 00:17:24,800 Speaker 2: are looking at Paul's life from the outside end, they 273 00:17:24,800 --> 00:17:26,240 Speaker 2: are judging him a failure. 274 00:17:26,960 --> 00:17:27,760 Speaker 1: While others are. 275 00:17:27,680 --> 00:17:30,320 Speaker 2: Looking at Paul's life from the outside end, they're saying 276 00:17:30,320 --> 00:17:33,959 Speaker 2: he's going down now. While others are looking at Paul's 277 00:17:34,000 --> 00:17:37,640 Speaker 2: life from the outside end far away from Philippi across 278 00:17:37,680 --> 00:17:39,919 Speaker 2: the Mediterranean Sea, it doesn't look. 279 00:17:39,800 --> 00:17:40,480 Speaker 1: Good from Paul. 280 00:17:40,600 --> 00:17:43,359 Speaker 2: But Paul is not looking at his situation from the 281 00:17:43,400 --> 00:17:47,200 Speaker 2: outside end. He's looking at his situation from. 282 00:17:47,000 --> 00:17:47,920 Speaker 1: The inside out. 283 00:17:48,640 --> 00:17:51,240 Speaker 2: Now, the inside is where the spirit of God lives, 284 00:17:51,720 --> 00:17:53,960 Speaker 2: and the spirit of God lives in you. Greater is 285 00:17:54,000 --> 00:17:56,080 Speaker 2: he that is in you than he that is in 286 00:17:56,119 --> 00:17:59,640 Speaker 2: the world. So it means that no matter what resistance 287 00:17:59,760 --> 00:18:05,600 Speaker 2: is against me, somebody shot, I'm glad it happened. There 288 00:18:05,640 --> 00:18:08,280 Speaker 2: are some things that I went through this year that 289 00:18:08,400 --> 00:18:11,320 Speaker 2: I didn't like. There are some things that I went 290 00:18:11,359 --> 00:18:14,199 Speaker 2: through this year that hurt. And I'm not saying that 291 00:18:14,280 --> 00:18:17,480 Speaker 2: they didn't hurt. They hurt. I'm not saying that they 292 00:18:17,480 --> 00:18:20,679 Speaker 2: didn't hurt. They hurt, Like hell, you should have. 293 00:18:20,680 --> 00:18:23,080 Speaker 1: Left your kids home. It's New Year's Eve. I'm not 294 00:18:23,240 --> 00:18:25,520 Speaker 1: saying that I would have chosen. 295 00:18:25,119 --> 00:18:28,199 Speaker 2: Them if I had had the opportunity. But now that 296 00:18:28,280 --> 00:18:31,359 Speaker 2: I've been through it, there is something that I learned 297 00:18:31,400 --> 00:18:34,960 Speaker 2: through what I went through that made me who I am, 298 00:18:35,359 --> 00:18:38,919 Speaker 2: and I'm standing to take John didn't come to given praise. 299 00:18:39,400 --> 00:18:41,280 Speaker 1: Somebody shot. I'm glad. 300 00:18:51,640 --> 00:18:55,159 Speaker 2: They probably felt sorry for Paul. They were probably signing 301 00:18:55,280 --> 00:18:59,639 Speaker 2: petitions to their senators to get Paul out of prison. 302 00:19:01,640 --> 00:19:06,560 Speaker 2: Paul said, stop all your petitions. Don't feel sorry for me. 303 00:19:08,280 --> 00:19:10,280 Speaker 2: I know I got these chains on me. 304 00:19:11,440 --> 00:19:13,040 Speaker 1: But I'm freer than all y'all. 305 00:19:17,280 --> 00:19:20,600 Speaker 2: Now. I didn't like it at the time. I didn't 306 00:19:20,640 --> 00:19:21,720 Speaker 2: get it at the time. 307 00:19:22,560 --> 00:19:23,640 Speaker 1: It didn't make. 308 00:19:23,520 --> 00:19:26,880 Speaker 2: Sense while I was in it. But I've been here 309 00:19:26,920 --> 00:19:30,919 Speaker 2: long enough to recognize, and I've been through enough storms 310 00:19:31,000 --> 00:19:33,720 Speaker 2: to know. And I held on to the planks of 311 00:19:33,760 --> 00:19:36,960 Speaker 2: the boat and made it across the sea and saw 312 00:19:37,080 --> 00:19:41,680 Speaker 2: Gods provision at a level that now I can tell 313 00:19:41,720 --> 00:19:50,720 Speaker 2: you that actually God is up to something. Vaul says, 314 00:19:52,080 --> 00:19:55,679 Speaker 2: I'm not a hostage. I want you to say that 315 00:19:55,720 --> 00:19:57,400 Speaker 2: because this is a revision that you need to make, 316 00:19:57,440 --> 00:20:01,199 Speaker 2: because some of you have made yourself the victim of 317 00:20:01,240 --> 00:20:04,320 Speaker 2: twenty seventeen, and we need to. 318 00:20:04,240 --> 00:20:05,960 Speaker 1: Make some revisions. 319 00:20:07,000 --> 00:20:11,000 Speaker 2: Because you cannot leave twenty seventeen like a victim and 320 00:20:11,040 --> 00:20:15,040 Speaker 2: go into twenty eighteen like a victor. And you've got 321 00:20:15,080 --> 00:20:19,639 Speaker 2: to make a decision tonight. You've got to revise some 322 00:20:19,760 --> 00:20:22,720 Speaker 2: of the stuff in your story and take a cue 323 00:20:22,720 --> 00:20:25,120 Speaker 2: from Paul. I was confused at first because he said, 324 00:20:25,119 --> 00:20:28,080 Speaker 2: I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that what has. 325 00:20:27,960 --> 00:20:28,560 Speaker 1: Happened to me. 326 00:20:28,640 --> 00:20:31,000 Speaker 2: But then he gives no detail about what actually happened 327 00:20:31,040 --> 00:20:36,200 Speaker 2: to him. All he talks about is what God did 328 00:20:36,359 --> 00:20:39,720 Speaker 2: through the events that he could have been bitter about. 329 00:20:41,560 --> 00:20:43,160 Speaker 1: I'm not a hostage. 330 00:20:43,720 --> 00:20:47,919 Speaker 2: Don't feel sorry for me. In fact, Paul might say, 331 00:20:48,119 --> 00:20:51,040 Speaker 2: I always wanted to go to Rome to preach the gospel. 332 00:20:53,400 --> 00:20:56,400 Speaker 2: I didn't think I'd have to drag these shackles through 333 00:20:56,440 --> 00:20:57,400 Speaker 2: the streets to do it. 334 00:20:58,560 --> 00:20:59,600 Speaker 1: But it actually works out. 335 00:20:59,640 --> 00:21:03,040 Speaker 2: Pretty good, because all these guards have to listen to 336 00:21:03,080 --> 00:21:10,120 Speaker 2: me preach anytime I open my mouth. I'm not a hostage. 337 00:21:10,400 --> 00:21:14,760 Speaker 2: I'm not a hostage to your opinions. I'm not a 338 00:21:14,800 --> 00:21:20,200 Speaker 2: hostage to what went wrong. I hear Paul saying all 339 00:21:20,240 --> 00:21:24,760 Speaker 2: the way from Rome, shouting across the Mediterranean Sea, shouting 340 00:21:24,800 --> 00:21:28,880 Speaker 2: all the way into twenty seventeen, just before midnight Eastern 341 00:21:28,920 --> 00:21:33,840 Speaker 2: Standard time, shouting to Elevation Blakeney, shouting to University City, 342 00:21:34,200 --> 00:21:38,640 Speaker 2: shouting to Lake Norman, shouting to the overflowing Valentine, shouting 343 00:21:38,640 --> 00:21:42,040 Speaker 2: to the epham watching online. I hear God shouting into 344 00:21:42,080 --> 00:21:42,840 Speaker 2: your iPhone. 345 00:21:42,880 --> 00:21:43,080 Speaker 1: Ten. 346 00:21:43,400 --> 00:21:46,199 Speaker 2: I hear this message. I hear Paul saying, I'm not 347 00:21:46,320 --> 00:21:49,800 Speaker 2: a hostage. I'm a weapon. See, I'm made up my 348 00:21:49,880 --> 00:21:57,359 Speaker 2: mind anywhere God puts me, there's no purpose for it. 349 00:21:58,600 --> 00:22:01,680 Speaker 2: I'm not a hostage. You better stuff your neighbor right now. 350 00:22:01,760 --> 00:22:06,560 Speaker 2: Say I'm not a hostage. I'm a weapon, formed in 351 00:22:06,640 --> 00:22:08,640 Speaker 2: the fire hell, steady, in. 352 00:22:08,640 --> 00:22:11,320 Speaker 1: The hands of God. And it ain't nothing dark it. 353 00:22:13,680 --> 00:22:17,240 Speaker 1: Somebody shut out a weapon, wats out devil. 354 00:22:17,640 --> 00:22:19,119 Speaker 2: Every time he'll cut on me. 355 00:22:19,680 --> 00:22:21,040 Speaker 1: You make me sharper. 356 00:22:24,600 --> 00:22:29,119 Speaker 2: I'm loading now, I'm focused now I mean, now I 357 00:22:29,280 --> 00:22:37,119 Speaker 2: know what matters now. He was like a sphirit of 358 00:22:37,200 --> 00:22:40,359 Speaker 2: God is breaking out on this side of the church. 359 00:22:40,880 --> 00:22:44,159 Speaker 2: Somebody thoughts you were trapped. It's not you this trapped. 360 00:22:44,440 --> 00:22:47,080 Speaker 2: It's the enemy. If you got the devil on the run, 361 00:22:47,600 --> 00:22:48,200 Speaker 2: come to your. 362 00:22:48,200 --> 00:22:59,840 Speaker 1: Back town, go set the record straight. I came here 363 00:23:00,119 --> 00:23:00,720 Speaker 1: and change. 364 00:23:02,560 --> 00:23:06,120 Speaker 2: But because I'm here, somebody's gonna get set free. 365 00:23:06,640 --> 00:23:12,639 Speaker 1: God would be here, not Caesar, not Festus. 366 00:23:15,080 --> 00:23:16,879 Speaker 2: It wasn't the boat that brought me here. It was 367 00:23:16,960 --> 00:23:21,160 Speaker 2: the purpose of God. People goes. 368 00:23:21,200 --> 00:23:24,280 Speaker 1: I thought something out. I found out that I found out. 369 00:23:24,400 --> 00:23:27,240 Speaker 1: I got like twenty six minutes. I found out. 370 00:23:28,920 --> 00:23:39,440 Speaker 2: That that progress is relative to priorities. I'll ask a question. 371 00:23:40,520 --> 00:23:46,240 Speaker 2: It's kind of stupid illustration, but it's late. Uh what 372 00:23:46,359 --> 00:23:50,800 Speaker 2: was that progress? Come on? Now, it depends on what 373 00:23:51,080 --> 00:23:56,760 Speaker 2: destination I intended to arrive at. Just because I stepped 374 00:23:56,800 --> 00:23:59,960 Speaker 2: toward you doesn't mean that's where I had in mind 375 00:24:00,200 --> 00:24:03,680 Speaker 2: to go. So I might have been going the wrong 376 00:24:03,760 --> 00:24:06,560 Speaker 2: way if I really needed to get over here, because 377 00:24:06,600 --> 00:24:08,639 Speaker 2: I was thinking all night how cool it would be 378 00:24:08,920 --> 00:24:12,320 Speaker 2: to preach from up here, just all the way up 379 00:24:12,400 --> 00:24:12,960 Speaker 2: at the top. 380 00:24:14,840 --> 00:24:16,440 Speaker 1: Let's see, this might be progress. 381 00:24:17,720 --> 00:24:25,639 Speaker 2: I can't tell yet because progress is relative to priorities. Now, 382 00:24:25,680 --> 00:24:27,560 Speaker 2: I didn't come tonight to do cardio. I already got 383 00:24:27,600 --> 00:24:31,960 Speaker 2: my workout before we came, right right down the word, 384 00:24:32,000 --> 00:24:34,960 Speaker 2: did you write down revision? Because there's some parts of 385 00:24:35,000 --> 00:24:36,800 Speaker 2: your story you need to rewrite before we go into 386 00:24:36,840 --> 00:24:39,200 Speaker 2: a new year, because if you carry the mentality that 387 00:24:39,320 --> 00:24:42,040 Speaker 2: you are trapped in a situation, or trapped in what 388 00:24:42,160 --> 00:24:44,080 Speaker 2: they thought, or trapped in what they did, or trapped 389 00:24:44,119 --> 00:24:47,200 Speaker 2: in the event, somebody shot, I'm glad it happened. And 390 00:24:47,320 --> 00:24:50,280 Speaker 2: here's why number two, Because I'm focused on the results. 391 00:24:54,200 --> 00:24:58,080 Speaker 2: I don't have to like the event to celebrate the result. 392 00:24:59,480 --> 00:25:01,600 Speaker 2: And I if you saw it, but Paul said it clearly. 393 00:25:01,680 --> 00:25:06,160 Speaker 2: He said, as a result, that's thirteen as they want 394 00:25:06,200 --> 00:25:12,920 Speaker 2: to reinforce it with screen support. As a result. I 395 00:25:13,119 --> 00:25:15,080 Speaker 2: was talking to one CrossFit dude. We were talking about 396 00:25:15,080 --> 00:25:18,639 Speaker 2: exercise a minute ago. One crossfitter in the whole New 397 00:25:18,720 --> 00:25:25,119 Speaker 2: Year's Eve praise party, and he was meeting me at 398 00:25:25,160 --> 00:25:26,960 Speaker 2: an event that I was preaching at. He said he 399 00:25:27,040 --> 00:25:28,800 Speaker 2: was coming. He was a little lady, wasn't too late. 400 00:25:29,359 --> 00:25:32,160 Speaker 2: But he was apologizing because apparently he likes to be prompt. 401 00:25:32,200 --> 00:25:36,200 Speaker 2: He said, so sorry, I just had a great workout. Now, 402 00:25:36,920 --> 00:25:39,720 Speaker 2: to me, that's paradoxical in nature great workout. I never 403 00:25:39,800 --> 00:25:44,399 Speaker 2: felt that way about a workout. I said, what was 404 00:25:44,440 --> 00:25:46,560 Speaker 2: a great workout? What made it great? He said, I 405 00:25:46,600 --> 00:25:55,440 Speaker 2: threw up three times. Now, brain damage twisted value system. 406 00:25:56,480 --> 00:25:57,000 Speaker 1: But I get it. 407 00:25:58,240 --> 00:26:03,760 Speaker 2: What he enjoyed wasn't how he felt during the routine 408 00:26:03,760 --> 00:26:08,600 Speaker 2: of working out. You don't have to like what it 409 00:26:08,680 --> 00:26:13,800 Speaker 2: felt like to appreciate the change that it is creating. 410 00:26:17,680 --> 00:26:20,360 Speaker 2: And a lot of us when we assess a year, 411 00:26:21,680 --> 00:26:24,040 Speaker 2: we assess it by how much we enjoyed the different 412 00:26:24,119 --> 00:26:27,160 Speaker 2: experiences in that year. I was reading an interesting book 413 00:26:27,280 --> 00:26:31,360 Speaker 2: by the Heath Brothers. They have written several books. They're 414 00:26:31,680 --> 00:26:34,760 Speaker 2: more sociological in nature, but they're also good for businesses. 415 00:26:34,880 --> 00:26:37,520 Speaker 2: Most recent book The Power of Moments. It gave a 416 00:26:37,600 --> 00:26:42,840 Speaker 2: snapshot of what psychologists call the peak ind theory. And 417 00:26:42,920 --> 00:26:45,840 Speaker 2: here's what they say. When we assess our experiences, we 418 00:26:45,960 --> 00:26:52,520 Speaker 2: don't average our minute by minute sensations. Rather, we tend 419 00:26:52,760 --> 00:26:59,240 Speaker 2: to remember flagship moments. That's the peaks, the pits, and 420 00:26:59,359 --> 00:27:04,560 Speaker 2: the transition. They used the example of Disney World. They said, 421 00:27:04,760 --> 00:27:08,679 Speaker 2: if you were rating your experience at Disney World minute 422 00:27:08,760 --> 00:27:12,679 Speaker 2: by minute on a scale of one to ten, your 423 00:27:12,760 --> 00:27:16,040 Speaker 2: average rating would probably be one point seven, and no 424 00:27:16,160 --> 00:27:18,520 Speaker 2: one would ever go if you think of all the 425 00:27:18,600 --> 00:27:20,960 Speaker 2: lines that you stand in and all of the heat 426 00:27:21,000 --> 00:27:24,400 Speaker 2: that you endure, and it's a small, small world after all, 427 00:27:24,680 --> 00:27:31,320 Speaker 2: what a blessing. But you don't assess the experience by 428 00:27:31,480 --> 00:27:34,440 Speaker 2: what did they say? Your minute by minute sensations. Rather, 429 00:27:35,040 --> 00:27:39,480 Speaker 2: we tend to remember the peak and the end, or 430 00:27:39,720 --> 00:27:43,159 Speaker 2: the peaks, the pits and the transition. So when I 431 00:27:43,200 --> 00:27:48,840 Speaker 2: say to you, how was this year for you, don't 432 00:27:48,880 --> 00:27:52,639 Speaker 2: be so quick to call it a bad year just 433 00:27:52,720 --> 00:27:54,960 Speaker 2: because you went through some hard things. 434 00:27:57,640 --> 00:27:58,199 Speaker 1: I'm trying to. 435 00:27:58,200 --> 00:28:06,080 Speaker 2: Get you, by faith to accept whatever God allowed, and 436 00:28:06,200 --> 00:28:11,000 Speaker 2: not only that, but to now see how it actually 437 00:28:11,760 --> 00:28:20,200 Speaker 2: can serve to advance the gospel. If that's not your priority, 438 00:28:21,480 --> 00:28:24,680 Speaker 2: if God is not your focus, then you have no 439 00:28:24,760 --> 00:28:27,399 Speaker 2: way of measuring your progress against a standard that you 440 00:28:27,520 --> 00:28:32,320 Speaker 2: have not set for your life. Paul isn't writing about 441 00:28:32,359 --> 00:28:36,359 Speaker 2: how wonderful the food is. Paul is not writing about 442 00:28:36,440 --> 00:28:40,640 Speaker 2: how strong the Wi Fi signal is in the Roman 443 00:28:40,680 --> 00:28:47,000 Speaker 2: prison system. What he's talking about is the results. He's saying, 444 00:28:47,800 --> 00:28:50,160 Speaker 2: I don't necessarily like what I'm going through. And I'm 445 00:28:50,200 --> 00:28:53,160 Speaker 2: not saying that it's fair. That's not the point. The 446 00:28:53,280 --> 00:28:55,960 Speaker 2: point is that God is achieving a purpose through this 447 00:28:57,160 --> 00:29:00,160 Speaker 2: that is making it clearer and clearer what he put 448 00:29:00,200 --> 00:29:02,680 Speaker 2: me on the earth for. So touch somebody and say 449 00:29:02,680 --> 00:29:07,400 Speaker 2: I'm making progress. I'm making progress, And as long as 450 00:29:07,440 --> 00:29:09,800 Speaker 2: I know I'm making progress, I can endure anything. 451 00:29:10,640 --> 00:29:11,760 Speaker 1: I'm glad it happened. 452 00:29:12,160 --> 00:29:15,240 Speaker 2: I was reminiscent with a friend about something that happened 453 00:29:15,240 --> 00:29:18,120 Speaker 2: earlier this year. What happened was so horrible. At the time, 454 00:29:18,160 --> 00:29:20,120 Speaker 2: we didn't think we could make it through. But you know, 455 00:29:20,160 --> 00:29:22,200 Speaker 2: when we were talking about it and looking back on it, 456 00:29:22,560 --> 00:29:25,040 Speaker 2: we realized that some things are so much better. Now. 457 00:29:25,120 --> 00:29:26,360 Speaker 1: Come on, now, how many of you can relate? 458 00:29:26,600 --> 00:29:29,320 Speaker 2: Somebody broke up with you and you thought you couldn't 459 00:29:29,320 --> 00:29:31,560 Speaker 2: make it without them, And then you looked them up 460 00:29:31,600 --> 00:29:34,560 Speaker 2: on Facebook and you fell on your knees and thank 461 00:29:34,800 --> 00:29:35,720 Speaker 2: God that. 462 00:29:35,840 --> 00:29:37,040 Speaker 1: They broke your heart. 463 00:29:37,400 --> 00:29:43,080 Speaker 2: Oh, thank God they weren't interested in me. Look what 464 00:29:43,320 --> 00:29:51,360 Speaker 2: could have been. Look what the Lord has done. I 465 00:29:51,440 --> 00:29:55,360 Speaker 2: don't always understand the reason, but I praise God for 466 00:29:55,440 --> 00:29:55,959 Speaker 2: the result. 467 00:29:57,320 --> 00:29:58,520 Speaker 1: This takes faith. 468 00:29:59,440 --> 00:30:03,480 Speaker 2: Can you praise God for the result of a situation 469 00:30:03,680 --> 00:30:09,440 Speaker 2: that has not yet resolved, not to say ten years later. 470 00:30:09,320 --> 00:30:10,280 Speaker 1: I'm glad it happened. 471 00:30:10,960 --> 00:30:15,400 Speaker 2: But while you are still sitting in a Roman prison self, 472 00:30:15,760 --> 00:30:20,160 Speaker 2: can you say, God, if you're gonna get some glory 473 00:30:20,720 --> 00:30:22,520 Speaker 2: out of this, I'm glad. 474 00:30:29,800 --> 00:30:31,360 Speaker 1: Paul might have talked to Lazarus. 475 00:30:32,520 --> 00:30:35,760 Speaker 2: He might have. I don't know when Lazarus died the 476 00:30:35,840 --> 00:30:36,360 Speaker 2: second time. 477 00:30:36,560 --> 00:30:38,440 Speaker 1: Now, the first time he died was weird. 478 00:30:39,680 --> 00:30:42,520 Speaker 2: Because Jesus knew he was sick, and he was about 479 00:30:42,520 --> 00:30:44,680 Speaker 2: to go to him, but he delayed his trip to 480 00:30:44,760 --> 00:30:48,680 Speaker 2: let him die. Weirdest thing in the world for the 481 00:30:48,800 --> 00:30:52,960 Speaker 2: Son of God, the savior of a humankind, the compassionate Christ, 482 00:30:53,280 --> 00:30:55,800 Speaker 2: the one who comes the hair of lambs on his 483 00:30:55,960 --> 00:30:58,520 Speaker 2: lap as he sings lullabies to the lambs. You know, 484 00:30:58,600 --> 00:31:01,240 Speaker 2: the Jesus you always hear about. He says something so 485 00:31:01,440 --> 00:31:04,040 Speaker 2: shocking to his disciples when they came to him with 486 00:31:04,080 --> 00:31:06,680 Speaker 2: the news that Lazarus, who he loved, had died. And 487 00:31:06,720 --> 00:31:07,920 Speaker 2: I want to put it on the screen because you 488 00:31:07,920 --> 00:31:09,440 Speaker 2: won't believe it's in the Bible if I don't show 489 00:31:09,480 --> 00:31:15,040 Speaker 2: it to you, He told his disciples plainly, Lazarus is dead. 490 00:31:15,280 --> 00:31:21,680 Speaker 2: Watch what comes next. Not weeping, not tears, but for 491 00:31:21,800 --> 00:31:35,520 Speaker 2: your sake. I'm glad. I'm glad it happened. I'm glad 492 00:31:35,560 --> 00:31:40,360 Speaker 2: I didn't get there in time to heal him. I'm 493 00:31:40,400 --> 00:31:46,040 Speaker 2: glad because now I get to show you a level 494 00:31:48,280 --> 00:31:56,440 Speaker 2: of my glory that you could not see if I 495 00:31:56,520 --> 00:31:59,120 Speaker 2: had shown up and done what you thought I should do. 496 00:32:02,880 --> 00:32:06,280 Speaker 2: I'm glad it happened. I looked at my friend. I said, 497 00:32:06,320 --> 00:32:13,120 Speaker 2: you know, I wouldn't choose what we went through, but 498 00:32:13,200 --> 00:32:18,200 Speaker 2: I don't think i'd change it either. I don't think 499 00:32:18,240 --> 00:32:23,920 Speaker 2: I would change it. See, I'm glad it happened, whatever 500 00:32:24,040 --> 00:32:27,000 Speaker 2: it may be for you. I'm not talking about the promotion. 501 00:32:27,120 --> 00:32:30,880 Speaker 2: Of course you're glad that happened. I'm not talking about 502 00:32:30,880 --> 00:32:33,160 Speaker 2: the miracle breakthrough that you got to check in the mail, 503 00:32:33,200 --> 00:32:34,000 Speaker 2: the tax refund. 504 00:32:34,040 --> 00:32:35,240 Speaker 1: Of course you're glad that happened. 505 00:32:37,960 --> 00:32:41,320 Speaker 2: I'm talking about the thing that other people feel sorry 506 00:32:41,360 --> 00:32:46,440 Speaker 2: for you about having the faith to say, I'm glad 507 00:32:47,200 --> 00:32:53,240 Speaker 2: for my weakness. It led me to deeper strength. Getting 508 00:32:53,320 --> 00:32:57,320 Speaker 2: quiet at the praise party. I know how to preacher 509 00:32:57,360 --> 00:32:59,040 Speaker 2: you into a little bit of frenzy. I can do 510 00:32:59,120 --> 00:33:04,360 Speaker 2: that anytime. This is the deep work that requires mature 511 00:33:04,400 --> 00:33:06,120 Speaker 2: faith to. 512 00:33:06,160 --> 00:33:07,280 Speaker 1: Be able to look at something. 513 00:33:07,280 --> 00:33:09,040 Speaker 2: When I grew up in the Methodist Church, we used 514 00:33:09,080 --> 00:33:11,240 Speaker 2: to have in the youth group, we had prayer request 515 00:33:11,280 --> 00:33:12,160 Speaker 2: and praise reports. 516 00:33:13,840 --> 00:33:17,440 Speaker 1: This is old school. Why don't we bring that back 517 00:33:17,480 --> 00:33:18,920 Speaker 1: into church. That would be wonderful. 518 00:33:18,960 --> 00:33:21,200 Speaker 2: Pastor Steven though people are too crazy and I will 519 00:33:21,240 --> 00:33:22,000 Speaker 2: not give them the mic. 520 00:33:22,080 --> 00:33:23,880 Speaker 1: Okay, all right, that's great. 521 00:33:29,840 --> 00:33:32,520 Speaker 2: But Paul would have messed up praise reports and prayer 522 00:33:32,560 --> 00:33:34,400 Speaker 2: requests because the praise reports is where you put the 523 00:33:34,480 --> 00:33:37,240 Speaker 2: good stuff and the prayer request is where you put 524 00:33:37,240 --> 00:33:37,840 Speaker 2: the bad stuff. 525 00:33:39,640 --> 00:33:40,520 Speaker 1: But Paul has. 526 00:33:40,400 --> 00:33:42,560 Speaker 2: Reached the point in his life now where he said, 527 00:33:45,480 --> 00:33:51,560 Speaker 2: I don't know the difference anymore. My prayer requests have 528 00:33:51,760 --> 00:33:58,000 Speaker 2: become my praise reports because I know y'all are praying 529 00:33:58,080 --> 00:34:00,560 Speaker 2: for me to get out of prison, and I gotta be. 530 00:34:00,600 --> 00:34:01,160 Speaker 1: Honest with you. 531 00:34:01,720 --> 00:34:03,960 Speaker 2: I'm running a revival and I'm not sure I'm ready 532 00:34:04,000 --> 00:34:06,400 Speaker 2: to leave yet. So could y'all bring the prayers down 533 00:34:06,440 --> 00:34:09,000 Speaker 2: a little bit, because I think there's something God still 534 00:34:09,080 --> 00:34:11,400 Speaker 2: wants to do while I'm in this prison. 535 00:34:12,840 --> 00:34:13,719 Speaker 1: Are y'all clapping to. 536 00:34:13,760 --> 00:34:16,680 Speaker 2: Be polite or do you really believe that some of 537 00:34:16,760 --> 00:34:17,400 Speaker 2: the things. 538 00:34:17,239 --> 00:34:23,120 Speaker 1: You would have prayed away are the instruments of change. 539 00:34:25,920 --> 00:34:30,480 Speaker 2: And see Paul has no problem rejoicing because he knows 540 00:34:30,560 --> 00:34:31,160 Speaker 2: the result. 541 00:34:32,520 --> 00:34:34,800 Speaker 1: He knows the result when I showed. 542 00:34:34,680 --> 00:34:38,040 Speaker 2: Graham Rockie for I wasn't nervous when Drugo won the 543 00:34:38,120 --> 00:34:39,080 Speaker 2: first three rounds. 544 00:34:39,120 --> 00:34:41,239 Speaker 1: Why I know how this ends. 545 00:34:42,640 --> 00:34:45,400 Speaker 2: Some of y'all need to look at twenty eighteen before 546 00:34:45,480 --> 00:34:48,880 Speaker 2: it even gets started and declare, in the face of the. 547 00:34:49,000 --> 00:34:53,400 Speaker 1: Devil, I'm not nervous. I'm not worried. I'm not anxious. 548 00:34:53,680 --> 00:34:56,880 Speaker 2: I'm not freaked down, stess down, nutched out, I know 549 00:34:57,040 --> 00:35:01,239 Speaker 2: how this is. That take a teen seconds right here 550 00:35:01,600 --> 00:35:05,200 Speaker 2: and brace him for how it is before it even 551 00:35:12,960 --> 00:35:17,399 Speaker 2: on the temple. Hanks says he hates when you get 552 00:35:17,560 --> 00:35:22,399 Speaker 2: glad about what's your eyes have not seen and your 553 00:35:22,520 --> 00:35:32,600 Speaker 2: ears have not heard. God is going to get some 554 00:35:32,880 --> 00:35:39,000 Speaker 2: glory out of everything I've gone through, and the more 555 00:35:39,080 --> 00:35:41,680 Speaker 2: I've gone through, the greater the glory. 556 00:35:42,120 --> 00:35:51,000 Speaker 3: Shout about that this is a resurrection moment. Glad about it. 557 00:35:51,920 --> 00:35:55,560 Speaker 3: I'm glad about it. I'm not glad about the pain. 558 00:35:56,280 --> 00:35:59,560 Speaker 3: I'm glad that in the pain is a purpose. I'm 559 00:35:59,640 --> 00:36:04,439 Speaker 3: glad about it. Somebody say I'm glad about it, I'm 560 00:36:04,520 --> 00:36:07,319 Speaker 3: glad about it. I cried enough about it. I spent 561 00:36:07,520 --> 00:36:09,200 Speaker 3: enough time wishing it would go away. 562 00:36:09,600 --> 00:36:13,360 Speaker 2: But now I'm standing here with my praise intact in 563 00:36:13,520 --> 00:36:26,600 Speaker 2: my right mind, I'm glad about it. I'm glad. I'm 564 00:36:26,640 --> 00:36:31,879 Speaker 2: glad they rejected me, showed me that God was enough 565 00:36:31,920 --> 00:36:32,680 Speaker 2: and I don't need them. 566 00:36:37,440 --> 00:36:38,960 Speaker 1: Where'd y'all go on that one? Where did you go? 567 00:36:39,040 --> 00:36:46,399 Speaker 2: IU? Didn't hear anything on that one? And so Paul 568 00:36:46,480 --> 00:36:50,000 Speaker 2: makes a resolution. Now he made the revision. He set 569 00:36:50,040 --> 00:36:53,520 Speaker 2: the record straight. He said, I want you to know 570 00:36:53,600 --> 00:36:55,839 Speaker 2: what really was really happening here, because y'all are feeling 571 00:36:55,880 --> 00:36:58,440 Speaker 2: sorry for me, but don't don't feel sorry for me, 572 00:37:00,080 --> 00:37:08,000 Speaker 2: and results God's getting some glory through my life. Don't 573 00:37:08,000 --> 00:37:10,839 Speaker 2: feel sorry for me. Some of y'all need to call 574 00:37:10,920 --> 00:37:14,239 Speaker 2: some people and say, uh, I don't need you to apologize, 575 00:37:18,480 --> 00:37:21,720 Speaker 2: and then if you want to mess with their whole 576 00:37:22,239 --> 00:37:30,600 Speaker 2: mental statement, send them a gift card. Whoever hurts you. No, 577 00:37:30,800 --> 00:37:35,520 Speaker 2: I'm serious about it. When I first preached it will happen, 578 00:37:35,920 --> 00:37:38,040 Speaker 2: I told you about that message. Did I tell you 579 00:37:38,080 --> 00:37:41,040 Speaker 2: about it? I can't remember. It was a It was 580 00:37:41,120 --> 00:37:43,480 Speaker 2: a It was a real tough message to preach because 581 00:37:44,200 --> 00:37:47,000 Speaker 2: I appreciate it. Under attack, for our church was under 582 00:37:47,040 --> 00:37:49,560 Speaker 2: attack about something that was very important to us, which 583 00:37:49,640 --> 00:37:53,799 Speaker 2: was our baptisms. And there was a fictitious story run 584 00:37:53,920 --> 00:38:00,160 Speaker 2: by a very unethical and scrupulous journalist who insinuated that we. 585 00:38:00,200 --> 00:38:02,879 Speaker 1: Fake baptisms in our church. 586 00:38:03,840 --> 00:38:05,800 Speaker 2: Now, I got to be careful right now because this 587 00:38:05,960 --> 00:38:07,719 Speaker 2: is on tape and everything like that, and it's in 588 00:38:07,800 --> 00:38:10,680 Speaker 2: the archives forever, and I don't want to say anything 589 00:38:10,760 --> 00:38:12,839 Speaker 2: right here that could hurt me at a future point. 590 00:38:16,000 --> 00:38:17,600 Speaker 1: Can I tell you I'm actually. 591 00:38:17,360 --> 00:38:21,400 Speaker 2: Glad that he did what he did because when he 592 00:38:21,520 --> 00:38:23,759 Speaker 2: ran that story at the time, he ran the story 593 00:38:23,760 --> 00:38:26,600 Speaker 2: and said we faked our baptisms, we did baptisms only 594 00:38:26,719 --> 00:38:31,239 Speaker 2: once a year and occasionally throughout. But when he ran 595 00:38:31,320 --> 00:38:36,600 Speaker 2: the story, I got the idea that maybe the area 596 00:38:36,680 --> 00:38:41,800 Speaker 2: that they're attacking us is the area where we should advance. 597 00:38:44,440 --> 00:38:44,960 Speaker 2: And now. 598 00:38:48,520 --> 00:38:50,439 Speaker 1: Now we do baptisms every week. 599 00:38:53,000 --> 00:38:58,200 Speaker 2: So now, please, I am not asking for another story, 600 00:39:02,600 --> 00:39:03,960 Speaker 2: but I can say about that one. 601 00:39:05,719 --> 00:39:08,480 Speaker 1: I'm glad it happened. 602 00:39:09,600 --> 00:39:09,920 Speaker 2: I am. 603 00:39:10,520 --> 00:39:11,160 Speaker 1: I'm sorry. 604 00:39:11,600 --> 00:39:14,880 Speaker 2: I know it sounds kind of sadistic. I know it 605 00:39:15,000 --> 00:39:17,359 Speaker 2: sounds kind of weird to be glad that somebody came 606 00:39:17,440 --> 00:39:21,360 Speaker 2: against me. But I'm glad it happened, aren't Aren't you 607 00:39:21,560 --> 00:39:24,520 Speaker 2: glad that the storm stripped away everything that you really 608 00:39:24,600 --> 00:39:27,080 Speaker 2: didn't need so you could know what was core to 609 00:39:27,200 --> 00:39:29,960 Speaker 2: the essential nature of who Christ made you to be. 610 00:39:32,000 --> 00:39:35,239 Speaker 2: Aren't you glad that you're not going into the next 611 00:39:35,360 --> 00:39:44,680 Speaker 2: year carrying dead weight of workless relationships? Aren't you glad 612 00:39:44,880 --> 00:39:48,920 Speaker 2: that God closed some doors so that you wouldn't spend 613 00:39:49,040 --> 00:39:50,759 Speaker 2: years of your life in the wrong room. 614 00:39:54,840 --> 00:40:01,600 Speaker 1: I'm glad it happened. I am glad it happened. I'm glad. 615 00:40:02,360 --> 00:40:04,160 Speaker 1: I might not be able to smile when I say it, 616 00:40:04,280 --> 00:40:11,120 Speaker 1: but I'm getting there. I'm glad. I'm glad it happened. 617 00:40:13,200 --> 00:40:18,600 Speaker 1: He said, I made a resolution. How about this just 618 00:40:18,680 --> 00:40:20,640 Speaker 1: one New Year's resolution. This is the only one you 619 00:40:20,719 --> 00:40:21,120 Speaker 1: really need. 620 00:40:21,920 --> 00:40:23,440 Speaker 2: I mean, do everything else you want to do to 621 00:40:23,600 --> 00:40:26,320 Speaker 2: save the money, put the kids to college fund, go 622 00:40:26,440 --> 00:40:28,320 Speaker 2: to the moon with Elon Musk. I don't care what 623 00:40:28,400 --> 00:40:33,279 Speaker 2: you do, but do this too. This is eighteen b yes, 624 00:40:35,120 --> 00:40:40,640 Speaker 2: and I will continue to rejoice. Now that's the resolution. 625 00:40:44,920 --> 00:40:47,840 Speaker 2: I worry about that word rejoice because. 626 00:40:47,600 --> 00:40:51,279 Speaker 1: I think that you might think that it only means this. 627 00:40:53,880 --> 00:40:59,520 Speaker 2: Or this. No, he's making a decision or a resolution, 628 00:41:00,080 --> 00:41:06,359 Speaker 2: because remember, resolution is a decision, not an event. I'm 629 00:41:06,400 --> 00:41:09,520 Speaker 2: not waiting to see how this turns out before I 630 00:41:09,640 --> 00:41:16,279 Speaker 2: make my decision about my faith. So I reflect and 631 00:41:16,400 --> 00:41:19,840 Speaker 2: I expect, and Paul says, I don't know how this 632 00:41:19,960 --> 00:41:21,719 Speaker 2: is going to turn out. Yet they might kill me. 633 00:41:22,080 --> 00:41:23,880 Speaker 2: I don't know what you're going through this right now, 634 00:41:24,120 --> 00:41:26,919 Speaker 2: but it ain't this bad. That's why I brought Paul 635 00:41:27,000 --> 00:41:30,879 Speaker 2: to the praise party, because if I say this crap, 636 00:41:30,920 --> 00:41:32,480 Speaker 2: you might just think I had never been through anything. 637 00:41:32,719 --> 00:41:35,080 Speaker 2: But you haven't been through You haven't had your life 638 00:41:35,120 --> 00:41:39,959 Speaker 2: on the line for the gospel, not yet. So Paul says, 639 00:41:40,320 --> 00:41:42,560 Speaker 2: I want you to know I've made my resolution and 640 00:41:42,840 --> 00:41:44,360 Speaker 2: I will continue to rejoice. 641 00:41:44,480 --> 00:41:46,600 Speaker 1: Oh Paul, did you get good news? Are they about 642 00:41:46,600 --> 00:41:47,040 Speaker 1: to release it? 643 00:41:47,200 --> 00:41:52,120 Speaker 2: Don't know. Resolution is not an event, it's a decision. 644 00:41:53,320 --> 00:42:00,160 Speaker 2: Now watch the decision. It's verse twenty, verse twenty. He says, Oh, 645 00:42:00,200 --> 00:42:02,080 Speaker 2: we get it. We gotta get nineteen as well. It's 646 00:42:02,160 --> 00:42:03,919 Speaker 2: just too good. I can't do this to nineteen, can't. 647 00:42:03,960 --> 00:42:06,040 Speaker 2: I can't leave nineteen sitting right there just looking all 648 00:42:06,120 --> 00:42:11,840 Speaker 2: pretty for I know that through your prayers and God's 649 00:42:11,920 --> 00:42:15,880 Speaker 2: provision of the spirit of Jesus Christ. What has happened? 650 00:42:15,960 --> 00:42:19,359 Speaker 2: Somebody say, I'm glad it happened. I want that ringing 651 00:42:19,440 --> 00:42:21,800 Speaker 2: in your spirit. So you go out really confessing it 652 00:42:22,040 --> 00:42:24,359 Speaker 2: and really declaring it, and really living in that state 653 00:42:24,400 --> 00:42:27,960 Speaker 2: of rejoicing that is not dependent on the outcome of 654 00:42:28,080 --> 00:42:31,160 Speaker 2: your situation. I know that what has happened to me 655 00:42:31,760 --> 00:42:38,879 Speaker 2: will turn out for my deliverance. And here's the word 656 00:42:39,400 --> 00:42:44,000 Speaker 2: I eagerly expect. How many remember I preached a whole 657 00:42:44,120 --> 00:42:48,320 Speaker 2: sermon on the Greek word that Paul made up because 658 00:42:48,360 --> 00:42:51,799 Speaker 2: he couldn't find a word in the lexicon that described 659 00:42:51,840 --> 00:42:54,799 Speaker 2: how he felt about the situation, because he couldn't say 660 00:42:55,000 --> 00:42:57,719 Speaker 2: I have a good feeling about this. Oh no, no, 661 00:42:57,880 --> 00:43:01,400 Speaker 2: I'm enthusiastic, Bill. It wasn't one of those things. It 662 00:43:01,560 --> 00:43:04,600 Speaker 2: was a from the gut gladness that only comes when 663 00:43:04,680 --> 00:43:07,680 Speaker 2: your sole priority is the glory of God and nothing 664 00:43:07,719 --> 00:43:12,080 Speaker 2: else holds weight in the court of your reasoning. So 665 00:43:12,239 --> 00:43:15,240 Speaker 2: he made up a word from three different words. Remember apo, 666 00:43:15,680 --> 00:43:24,760 Speaker 2: kara dokia three words apo to look away, kara, head, dokia, stretch. 667 00:43:25,800 --> 00:43:29,880 Speaker 2: Paul said, I'm chained to the floor, but these chains 668 00:43:29,920 --> 00:43:34,040 Speaker 2: make a good sermon prop because my feet are bound, 669 00:43:34,200 --> 00:43:39,400 Speaker 2: but my mind is free. And I can't change my 670 00:43:39,560 --> 00:43:42,720 Speaker 2: situation right now, but I can make up my mind. 671 00:43:43,080 --> 00:43:45,600 Speaker 2: And here's when I've decided, and I need about one 672 00:43:45,719 --> 00:43:48,400 Speaker 2: hundred and thirty people who will make this decision. 673 00:43:48,920 --> 00:43:53,799 Speaker 1: I eagerly expect. In other words, I stretch my. 674 00:43:54,000 --> 00:44:03,239 Speaker 2: Head toward my future. I can see we need some exercise. 675 00:44:03,280 --> 00:44:06,600 Speaker 2: Stand up. I'm gonna help you with your New Year's resolution. 676 00:44:06,760 --> 00:44:09,160 Speaker 2: You wanted to exercise more. We're gonna do it before 677 00:44:09,200 --> 00:44:12,000 Speaker 2: you hit the parking lot tonight. High five your neighbors say, 678 00:44:12,000 --> 00:44:12,960 Speaker 2: I'm glad it happened. 679 00:44:14,040 --> 00:44:18,719 Speaker 1: I'm glad it happened. I'm glad it happened. Now I 680 00:44:18,760 --> 00:44:19,840 Speaker 1: want you to do me a favor. 681 00:44:20,040 --> 00:44:22,279 Speaker 2: Everybody, every campus, even the cool people who are too 682 00:44:22,320 --> 00:44:23,839 Speaker 2: cool to high five your neighbor. Every time I tell 683 00:44:23,880 --> 00:44:27,840 Speaker 2: you to high five your neighbor, I want you to 684 00:44:27,920 --> 00:44:36,400 Speaker 2: turn around one hundred and eighty degrees now. If you 685 00:44:36,480 --> 00:44:39,960 Speaker 2: are geometrically challenged, you should be facing the opposite direction 686 00:44:41,000 --> 00:44:41,680 Speaker 2: a moment ago. 687 00:44:45,120 --> 00:44:45,440 Speaker 1: All right. 688 00:44:51,120 --> 00:44:54,360 Speaker 2: The word of God on this pulpit represents the promises 689 00:44:54,440 --> 00:44:55,920 Speaker 2: that God has made to you in the future that 690 00:44:55,960 --> 00:44:56,720 Speaker 2: He has in store. 691 00:44:57,880 --> 00:45:01,800 Speaker 1: And we came to night, to reflect, but also to expect. 692 00:45:06,760 --> 00:45:07,600 Speaker 1: You can't. 693 00:45:09,800 --> 00:45:12,080 Speaker 2: Go into what's next that has your name on it, 694 00:45:13,280 --> 00:45:19,000 Speaker 2: your next assignment, your next breakthrough, your next level of influence, 695 00:45:20,520 --> 00:45:24,520 Speaker 2: your next season of real joy. You can't go into 696 00:45:24,640 --> 00:45:38,399 Speaker 2: it facing this way. What happened happened. It happened, whether 697 00:45:38,440 --> 00:45:42,759 Speaker 2: you wanted it to or not, Whether it was your 698 00:45:42,800 --> 00:45:51,279 Speaker 2: fault or not, happen. Acknowledge it. There were some disappointments 699 00:45:51,320 --> 00:46:02,800 Speaker 2: this year, some stuff that broke your heart. But you 700 00:46:02,920 --> 00:46:07,760 Speaker 2: cannot experience the purpose of God in twenty eighteen. 701 00:46:09,640 --> 00:46:10,760 Speaker 1: With your head in your past. 702 00:46:14,760 --> 00:46:18,640 Speaker 2: I hear the spirit of God saying, tonight's turnaround time. 703 00:46:24,360 --> 00:46:30,359 Speaker 2: It's turn around time. Don't turn around yet, messing up 704 00:46:30,360 --> 00:46:37,400 Speaker 2: my illustration, Paul said, I eagerly expect that what has 705 00:46:37,480 --> 00:46:41,400 Speaker 2: happened to me will turn out for my deliverance. No, 706 00:46:41,400 --> 00:46:44,280 Speaker 2: I want you to turn ninety degrees, ninety degrees, just ninety, 707 00:46:44,400 --> 00:46:48,360 Speaker 2: just ninety, just ninety degrees. I don't care which ninety, 708 00:46:48,480 --> 00:46:52,239 Speaker 2: just ninety, preferably so you're facing someone else? Could you 709 00:46:52,320 --> 00:46:59,759 Speaker 2: face somebody? Hey, now shut up, don't strike up a conversation. 710 00:47:01,360 --> 00:47:02,480 Speaker 1: But listen. Listen to me. 711 00:47:04,200 --> 00:47:06,560 Speaker 2: You can't go into this next year facing your past, 712 00:47:06,680 --> 00:47:09,520 Speaker 2: and you can't go into this next year facing other people. 713 00:47:12,080 --> 00:47:15,759 Speaker 2: You cannot look to them and compare yourself to them 714 00:47:16,440 --> 00:47:18,240 Speaker 2: and compare your situation to theirs. 715 00:47:19,480 --> 00:47:21,440 Speaker 1: Not in going to the future that God has for you. 716 00:47:21,680 --> 00:47:23,640 Speaker 2: Paul said, I want you to know that what has 717 00:47:23,760 --> 00:47:26,840 Speaker 2: happened to me, what God has for me, is for me. 718 00:47:28,440 --> 00:47:33,279 Speaker 2: And sometimes we are so busy comparing our situation to 719 00:47:33,360 --> 00:47:37,040 Speaker 2: the situation of others. We are locked in cycles of 720 00:47:37,120 --> 00:47:43,160 Speaker 2: resentment and regret. But it's turnaround time. Somebody shouts, turn 721 00:47:43,239 --> 00:47:43,719 Speaker 2: around time. 722 00:47:45,600 --> 00:47:45,719 Speaker 1: Now. 723 00:47:45,719 --> 00:47:47,800 Speaker 2: I want you to turn another ninety degrees and we 724 00:47:47,960 --> 00:47:50,160 Speaker 2: all should be facing forward. 725 00:47:52,960 --> 00:47:57,200 Speaker 1: This is where, this is where I'm facing. 726 00:47:59,320 --> 00:48:04,080 Speaker 2: I got my eyes, put the camera on the put 727 00:48:04,120 --> 00:48:05,160 Speaker 2: the camera on the puppet. 728 00:48:05,680 --> 00:48:10,320 Speaker 1: I got my eyes on the word that God spoke 729 00:48:10,800 --> 00:48:11,080 Speaker 1: to me. 730 00:48:11,840 --> 00:48:16,080 Speaker 2: My eyes are on the high calling of God. 731 00:48:16,560 --> 00:48:17,840 Speaker 1: In Christ Jesus. 732 00:48:18,480 --> 00:48:21,719 Speaker 2: I got my head out my past, I got my 733 00:48:21,920 --> 00:48:23,040 Speaker 2: feet in my lane. 734 00:48:23,600 --> 00:48:24,880 Speaker 1: I got my eyes on. 735 00:48:24,960 --> 00:48:29,360 Speaker 2: The prize for which God called me heaven word in Christ. 736 00:48:32,040 --> 00:48:35,920 Speaker 1: I'm glad it happened. I'm glad it happened. 737 00:48:37,000 --> 00:48:41,839 Speaker 2: I'm glad for the dangers, the toils, the snares. I'm 738 00:48:41,920 --> 00:48:45,360 Speaker 2: glad for the battles. I'm glad for the blessings. I 739 00:48:45,560 --> 00:48:48,000 Speaker 2: came tonight to give you praise. 740 00:48:48,200 --> 00:48:48,960 Speaker 3: For all of it. 741 00:48:49,160 --> 00:48:55,560 Speaker 2: God, all things work together for the good because I'm called. 742 00:48:58,800 --> 00:49:00,719 Speaker 2: Come on. We only got a few minutes to get 743 00:49:00,800 --> 00:49:01,959 Speaker 2: ready for what's next. 744 00:49:04,040 --> 00:49:07,919 Speaker 1: We only got a few minutes to get ready. Somebody's shot. 745 00:49:07,960 --> 00:49:12,360 Speaker 1: I'm ready now. I've made peace with what's behind me. 746 00:49:12,920 --> 00:49:15,960 Speaker 2: My eyes are all the choice set before me, and 747 00:49:16,120 --> 00:49:18,200 Speaker 2: there is a thought who reads upub me. 748 00:49:21,880 --> 00:49:22,960 Speaker 1: Thank you for joining us. 749 00:49:23,320 --> 00:49:25,719 Speaker 2: Special thanks to those of you who give generously to 750 00:49:25,840 --> 00:49:29,280 Speaker 2: this ministry. Is because of you that this ministry is possible. 751 00:49:29,760 --> 00:49:31,960 Speaker 2: You can click the link in the description to give 752 00:49:32,080 --> 00:49:35,960 Speaker 2: now or visit Elevation Church dot org slash podcast for 753 00:49:36,080 --> 00:49:39,839 Speaker 2: more information and if you enjoyed the podcast, you can subscribe. 754 00:49:40,320 --> 00:49:41,600 Speaker 1: You can share it with your friends. 755 00:49:41,920 --> 00:49:44,160 Speaker 2: You can click the share button, take a screenshot and 756 00:49:44,239 --> 00:49:46,319 Speaker 2: share it on your social stories and tag us at 757 00:49:46,400 --> 00:49:47,239 Speaker 2: Elevation Church. 758 00:49:47,320 --> 00:49:48,920 Speaker 1: Thanks again for listening. God bless you.