1 00:00:05,030 --> 00:00:07,910 Speaker 1: Hey, this is Stephen Furtick. I'm the pastor of Elevation Church, 2 00:00:08,070 --> 00:00:10,710 Speaker 1: and this is our podcast. Be sure to subscribe so 3 00:00:10,750 --> 00:00:13,810 Speaker 1: we can get you these new sermons every week. I 4 00:00:13,970 --> 00:00:14,890 Speaker 1: hope you're blessed today. 5 00:00:21,890 --> 00:00:23,370 Speaker 2: Church, stay standing for a moment. 6 00:00:25,650 --> 00:00:28,909 Speaker 3: Been thinking a lot about this moment, and before I 7 00:00:28,930 --> 00:00:30,950 Speaker 3: do anything else and before I preach the word of God, 8 00:00:31,510 --> 00:00:32,470 Speaker 3: I want to take a moment. 9 00:00:32,290 --> 00:00:35,330 Speaker 2: To just honor your pastors and honor your church. There's 10 00:00:35,350 --> 00:00:36,710 Speaker 2: some people that. 11 00:00:36,620 --> 00:00:38,760 Speaker 3: You know from afar. You don't know them up close, 12 00:00:39,060 --> 00:00:40,420 Speaker 3: but even though you don't know them, they have an 13 00:00:40,520 --> 00:00:43,300 Speaker 3: impact on you. Like I remember when Kobe died and 14 00:00:43,360 --> 00:00:46,140 Speaker 3: I cried like if a family member died because even 15 00:00:46,159 --> 00:00:48,379 Speaker 3: though I didn't know him, he had made an impact 16 00:00:48,700 --> 00:00:51,839 Speaker 3: on my life. Recently, I went to the movies and 17 00:00:51,860 --> 00:00:56,720 Speaker 3: watched Spider-Man and I cried a lot. 18 00:00:58,080 --> 00:01:00,300 Speaker 2: Because I felt like even though I don't know Spider-Man, 19 00:01:00,600 --> 00:01:02,440 Speaker 2: he is real. But I felt like even though I 20 00:01:02,480 --> 00:01:04,250 Speaker 2: don't know him, I know him. 21 00:01:04,370 --> 00:01:07,130 Speaker 3: And he's made an impact on my life from afar. 22 00:01:07,270 --> 00:01:10,270 Speaker 3: And I can't tell you the kind of impact that 23 00:01:10,390 --> 00:01:14,590 Speaker 3: Elevation Church and Pastor Stephen and Holly Furtick have made 24 00:01:14,630 --> 00:01:18,540 Speaker 3: on my life. I can't talk about my relationship with Jesus. 25 00:01:19,060 --> 00:01:22,520 Speaker 3: I can't talk about my ministry. I can't talk about 26 00:01:22,540 --> 00:01:26,100 Speaker 3: my life without talking about Elevation Church and Elevation Worship. 27 00:01:26,780 --> 00:01:28,520 Speaker 2: And Pastor Steven and Holly. 28 00:01:28,560 --> 00:01:30,060 Speaker 3: Come on, if you love your church, if you love 29 00:01:30,080 --> 00:01:32,740 Speaker 3: your pastors, can you make a little bit of noise today? 30 00:01:32,760 --> 00:01:34,900 Speaker 3: Come on, all of our campuses, can you make a 31 00:01:34,920 --> 00:01:38,319 Speaker 3: little bit of noise today? Do me a favor, high 32 00:01:38,360 --> 00:01:40,060 Speaker 3: five five people and let them know I'm glad you. 33 00:01:39,980 --> 00:01:43,980 Speaker 2: Came to church today. Glad you came to church. After that, 34 00:01:44,000 --> 00:01:44,620 Speaker 2: you can go ahead. 35 00:01:45,220 --> 00:01:52,480 Speaker 3: Take a seat. Take a seat, take a seat. Is 36 00:01:52,520 --> 00:01:56,390 Speaker 3: anybody happy to be in God's house today? Can we 37 00:01:56,410 --> 00:01:58,710 Speaker 3: say thank you to the worship team for leading us today? 38 00:02:00,090 --> 00:02:02,480 Speaker 3: Come on. If you love my friend, Graham Furtick, you 39 00:02:02,520 --> 00:02:09,460 Speaker 3: make a little bit of noise today. Got a word 40 00:02:09,500 --> 00:02:13,350 Speaker 3: that I've been praying over and preparing, and I really 41 00:02:13,370 --> 00:02:15,210 Speaker 3: feel like it's going to be an encouragement. 42 00:02:14,669 --> 00:02:17,410 Speaker 2: To somebody in this room today. But before I go 43 00:02:17,430 --> 00:02:19,170 Speaker 2: into the work, can I introduce you to my family 44 00:02:19,210 --> 00:02:23,980 Speaker 2: really quickly? Yeah, yeah, yeah. This is a picture of 45 00:02:24,040 --> 00:02:28,169 Speaker 2: my wife. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Your boy did good. 46 00:02:29,389 --> 00:02:31,850 Speaker 2: Your boy did good. He gave me a Colombian queen. 47 00:02:31,870 --> 00:02:33,110 Speaker 2: Someone say hallelujah. 48 00:02:34,370 --> 00:02:36,609 Speaker 3: Now I'm about to show you a picture of my son. 49 00:02:36,650 --> 00:02:38,290 Speaker 3: When I show you this picture of my son, I 50 00:02:38,330 --> 00:02:39,870 Speaker 3: need you to absolutely. 51 00:02:39,410 --> 00:02:40,010 Speaker 2: Lose your mind. 52 00:02:40,050 --> 00:02:40,510 Speaker 4: Are you ready? 53 00:02:40,530 --> 00:02:43,220 Speaker 3: This is my son, Tobias. Come on, put that picture 54 00:02:43,240 --> 00:02:44,340 Speaker 3: up on the screen for me. 55 00:02:45,460 --> 00:02:48,100 Speaker 2: Yeah, that's my boy. That's my boy. 56 00:02:49,230 --> 00:02:50,850 Speaker 3: Also, the last thing that I'll do, I need to 57 00:02:50,889 --> 00:02:53,370 Speaker 3: give a special shout out. I am a proud Puerto 58 00:02:53,389 --> 00:02:58,450 Speaker 3: Rican from Orlando, Florida. And so shout out to Elevation Orlando. 59 00:02:58,510 --> 00:03:01,970 Speaker 3: Shout out to Elevation Melbourne. So thankful for what God's 60 00:03:02,000 --> 00:03:04,100 Speaker 3: doing in our city and in our state. 61 00:03:04,120 --> 00:03:05,540 Speaker 2: Is anybody ready for the word of God today? 62 00:03:07,389 --> 00:03:09,590 Speaker 3: I need you to do three things for me. Number one, 63 00:03:09,660 --> 00:03:11,190 Speaker 3: I need you to take some notes. I heard y'all 64 00:03:11,220 --> 00:03:12,560 Speaker 3: take notes at Elevation Church. 65 00:03:12,600 --> 00:03:15,060 Speaker 2: Is that true? Show me your notebook. Show me your notebook. 66 00:03:15,100 --> 00:03:17,080 Speaker 2: Show me your notebook. Does anybody have a Bible in 67 00:03:17,120 --> 00:03:19,400 Speaker 2: the room? Show me your Bible. Show me your Bible. 68 00:03:19,419 --> 00:03:22,139 Speaker 2: Show me your Bible. I like big Bibles and I 69 00:03:22,200 --> 00:03:26,040 Speaker 2: cannot lie. Today I need you to take some notes. 70 00:03:26,580 --> 00:03:29,239 Speaker 3: Write some stuff down because you can't remember what God 71 00:03:29,280 --> 00:03:31,260 Speaker 3: told you if you don't remember. 72 00:03:30,960 --> 00:03:31,680 Speaker 2: What God told you. 73 00:03:31,700 --> 00:03:33,600 Speaker 3: You're going to want to go back and remember what 74 00:03:33,639 --> 00:03:36,460 Speaker 3: God spoke to you today. Somebody say amen. That's the 75 00:03:36,520 --> 00:03:38,000 Speaker 3: second thing that I need you to do. I heard 76 00:03:38,040 --> 00:03:40,390 Speaker 3: that at Elevation Church, y'all talk back to the preacher. 77 00:03:40,450 --> 00:03:42,870 Speaker 2: Is that right? Now, I want you to. 78 00:03:42,850 --> 00:03:45,770 Speaker 3: Know, you don't talk back to the preacher because we 79 00:03:45,790 --> 00:03:47,650 Speaker 3: just like to have ruckus and noise. 80 00:03:48,150 --> 00:03:51,150 Speaker 2: When you talk back, when you say amen, it's actually. 81 00:03:50,830 --> 00:03:54,000 Speaker 3: An expression of faith, saying, God, I received that word 82 00:03:54,280 --> 00:03:57,089 Speaker 3: from my life. Somebody say amen. Come on, where's my 83 00:03:57,190 --> 00:03:59,290 Speaker 3: amen corner today? Where's the people who. 84 00:03:59,230 --> 00:04:01,990 Speaker 2: Are saying, is it over here? Is it over here? 85 00:04:02,010 --> 00:04:05,589 Speaker 2: Is it over here? Is it over here? Is it 86 00:04:05,650 --> 00:04:06,670 Speaker 2: over here? No, it's over here. 87 00:04:06,690 --> 00:04:07,590 Speaker 5: I feel like it's over here. 88 00:04:07,610 --> 00:04:10,190 Speaker 2: I feel like it's over here. Y'all, my amen corner today. 89 00:04:11,570 --> 00:04:13,250 Speaker 3: Last but not least, I want you to open up 90 00:04:13,290 --> 00:04:15,770 Speaker 3: your heart because I truly believe that today, someone say today, 91 00:04:16,810 --> 00:04:19,070 Speaker 3: God has a word that he wants to share with you. 92 00:04:19,070 --> 00:04:20,480 Speaker 3: If you got a Bible, I want you to go 93 00:04:20,500 --> 00:04:27,210 Speaker 3: to Philippians chapter one, verses 12 through 14. Reading the 94 00:04:27,430 --> 00:04:30,020 Speaker 3: book of Philippians, which is really a letter. It's a 95 00:04:30,080 --> 00:04:32,320 Speaker 3: letter from the Apostle Paul. Apostle Paul is one of 96 00:04:32,339 --> 00:04:34,099 Speaker 3: the most important people in all the Bible. 97 00:04:34,140 --> 00:04:36,900 Speaker 2: He's an apostle. He wrote two thirds of the New Testament. 98 00:04:37,020 --> 00:04:41,789 Speaker 3: And in my mind, he's kind of the goal. He 99 00:04:41,830 --> 00:04:43,890 Speaker 3: writes this letter to a group of people that are 100 00:04:43,950 --> 00:04:48,349 Speaker 3: worried about him. And he wants to encourage them. because 101 00:04:48,490 --> 00:04:52,130 Speaker 3: right now he's in prison. And his situation doesn't look 102 00:04:52,550 --> 00:04:55,680 Speaker 3: very promising and doesn't look very hopeful. But he writes 103 00:04:55,690 --> 00:05:00,219 Speaker 3: them to encourage him and he has this peculiar passage. 104 00:05:00,540 --> 00:05:02,950 Speaker 2: That I would like to share with you today. Philippians 1, 105 00:05:02,950 --> 00:05:04,480 Speaker 2: 12 through 14, here's what it says. 106 00:05:05,140 --> 00:05:07,760 Speaker 3: Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that 107 00:05:07,779 --> 00:05:08,850 Speaker 3: what has happened to. 108 00:05:08,820 --> 00:05:12,990 Speaker 2: Me has actually served to advance the gospel. 109 00:05:13,170 --> 00:05:13,490 Speaker 1: Pause. 110 00:05:14,510 --> 00:05:20,260 Speaker 3: He's saying, me being in prison behind bars, in chains, 111 00:05:20,680 --> 00:05:27,080 Speaker 3: has actually served to advance the gospel. And as a result, 112 00:05:27,100 --> 00:05:29,720 Speaker 3: it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and 113 00:05:29,740 --> 00:05:33,120 Speaker 3: to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ. 114 00:05:33,560 --> 00:05:36,770 Speaker 3: And because of my chains, most of the brothers and 115 00:05:36,830 --> 00:05:38,789 Speaker 3: sisters have become confident. 116 00:05:38,390 --> 00:05:39,310 Speaker 2: In the Lord. 117 00:05:40,670 --> 00:05:44,589 Speaker 3: And dare all the more to proclaim the gospel without fear. 118 00:05:45,130 --> 00:05:45,810 Speaker 2: Taking notes tonight. 119 00:05:45,950 --> 00:05:47,250 Speaker 3: Over the next few minutes, I'd like to speak to 120 00:05:47,310 --> 00:05:49,029 Speaker 3: you from this thought. 121 00:05:50,010 --> 00:05:56,880 Speaker 2: A problem for my problem. A problem for my problem. 122 00:05:56,900 --> 00:05:57,799 Speaker 2: I'll say it again. A problem. 123 00:05:58,360 --> 00:06:01,340 Speaker 3: For my problem. Can you bow your heads and close 124 00:06:01,360 --> 00:06:03,320 Speaker 3: your eyes? Let's pray over the preaching of God's word. 125 00:06:03,360 --> 00:06:06,060 Speaker 2: Lord, we love you. This is your house and we 126 00:06:06,120 --> 00:06:06,820 Speaker 2: are your people. 127 00:06:07,200 --> 00:06:09,520 Speaker 3: And I pray that today as we look into your word, 128 00:06:09,540 --> 00:06:12,350 Speaker 3: you would speak to us through your spirit in the ways. 129 00:06:12,060 --> 00:06:13,320 Speaker 2: That only you can. 130 00:06:13,650 --> 00:06:15,630 Speaker 3: And in the end, we promise to give you all 131 00:06:15,650 --> 00:06:18,110 Speaker 3: the glory and all the honor and all the praise. 132 00:06:18,510 --> 00:06:21,250 Speaker 3: In Jesus' name, can someone shout out amen? Come on, 133 00:06:21,250 --> 00:06:22,530 Speaker 3: if you're ready for the word of God today, can 134 00:06:22,550 --> 00:06:24,150 Speaker 3: you make a little bit of noise? 135 00:06:27,620 --> 00:06:29,240 Speaker 2: Last thing, I got to give a shout out. 136 00:06:29,620 --> 00:06:33,120 Speaker 3: I am the campus pastor at Southeastern University, and I 137 00:06:33,160 --> 00:06:36,159 Speaker 3: heard that Elevation College might be in the room today. 138 00:06:37,000 --> 00:06:37,380 Speaker 4: Come on. 139 00:06:37,500 --> 00:06:41,339 Speaker 3: Shout out to Elevation College. Excited about what God's doing 140 00:06:41,680 --> 00:06:44,669 Speaker 3: with you guys. Real quick, make some noise if you 141 00:06:44,700 --> 00:06:49,429 Speaker 3: love history. You're a history buff. You like history. All right, let's. 142 00:06:49,290 --> 00:06:49,740 Speaker 2: Do this one. 143 00:06:49,750 --> 00:06:51,550 Speaker 3: This will get some more amens. Raise your hand if 144 00:06:51,570 --> 00:06:55,650 Speaker 3: you like a good documentary. You like a documentary. I'm 145 00:06:55,670 --> 00:07:00,370 Speaker 3: worried about you. Because all y'all are watching documentaries about 146 00:07:00,430 --> 00:07:03,370 Speaker 3: murderers and serial killers, and that's the reason why you 147 00:07:03,410 --> 00:07:04,190 Speaker 3: can't sleep at night. 148 00:07:05,450 --> 00:07:09,310 Speaker 2: But I love history. I love biographies. I love documentaries. 149 00:07:09,750 --> 00:07:13,760 Speaker 3: I love hearing the story of how something became what 150 00:07:13,780 --> 00:07:18,120 Speaker 3: it became, or how someone became what they became. I 151 00:07:18,220 --> 00:07:21,300 Speaker 3: love documentaries, and I love stories, especially about things that 152 00:07:21,320 --> 00:07:22,060 Speaker 3: I'm passionate about. 153 00:07:22,290 --> 00:07:24,810 Speaker 2: So for example, I love Apple. I've got an iPhone, 154 00:07:24,930 --> 00:07:27,230 Speaker 2: I've got an iPad, I've got an iMac, a lot 155 00:07:27,250 --> 00:07:29,050 Speaker 2: of i's. I got all of them. 156 00:07:29,610 --> 00:07:31,780 Speaker 3: And I want to hear the story of how Apple 157 00:07:31,840 --> 00:07:33,960 Speaker 3: started as a company. And when I started doing research, 158 00:07:34,040 --> 00:07:37,220 Speaker 3: I saw something I'd never seen before. See, most people 159 00:07:37,280 --> 00:07:38,920 Speaker 3: have heard of a guy named Steve Jobs. Raise your 160 00:07:38,940 --> 00:07:40,000 Speaker 3: hand if you heard of Steve Jobs. 161 00:07:40,740 --> 00:07:42,320 Speaker 2: Put your hands down. Raise your hand if you ever 162 00:07:42,340 --> 00:07:45,250 Speaker 2: heard of a man named Steve Wozniak. Raise your hand. 163 00:07:45,670 --> 00:07:48,770 Speaker 2: Fewer people. Put your hands down. There's one name that 164 00:07:48,930 --> 00:07:52,490 Speaker 2: most people have never heard of. They've heard of Steve Jobs. 165 00:07:52,830 --> 00:07:55,330 Speaker 2: They've heard of Steve Wozniak. But many people have never 166 00:07:55,370 --> 00:07:57,510 Speaker 2: heard of a man named Ronald Wayne. 167 00:07:58,240 --> 00:08:02,450 Speaker 3: The reason why is because Ronald Wayne isn't part of 168 00:08:02,490 --> 00:08:05,130 Speaker 3: the story the way that Steve and Steve are. 169 00:08:05,190 --> 00:08:05,920 Speaker 2: See, here's what happened. 170 00:08:05,920 --> 00:08:11,239 Speaker 3: 50 years ago, April 1st, 1976, there was three co-founders 171 00:08:11,620 --> 00:08:15,590 Speaker 3: of the Apple company, not two. Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak, 172 00:08:15,890 --> 00:08:19,510 Speaker 3: and Ronald Wayne. Ronald Wayne did some pretty important stuff. 173 00:08:19,550 --> 00:08:22,290 Speaker 3: He was actually part of creating the first manual for 174 00:08:22,330 --> 00:08:26,540 Speaker 3: the first Apple computer. Not only did he do that, 175 00:08:26,880 --> 00:08:29,720 Speaker 3: he was also the one who created the first ever 176 00:08:30,280 --> 00:08:33,400 Speaker 3: Apple logo. It wasn't an Apple, it was actually something else. 177 00:08:33,420 --> 00:08:35,819 Speaker 3: Can you put that picture on the screen? This is 178 00:08:35,840 --> 00:08:40,930 Speaker 3: the first ever Apple logo that was ever created. Ronald 179 00:08:41,170 --> 00:08:44,530 Speaker 3: Wayne did that. And because of his work, he was 180 00:08:44,550 --> 00:08:48,670 Speaker 3: going to receive 10% of the Apple company. But something happened. 181 00:08:48,990 --> 00:08:54,410 Speaker 3: After 12 days, he quit. Couldn't handle the stress. Couldn't 182 00:08:54,429 --> 00:08:58,050 Speaker 3: handle the worry. Couldn't handle the anxiety. Steve and Steve 183 00:08:58,240 --> 00:09:00,319 Speaker 3: were driving him crazy. Maybe they didn't like him because 184 00:09:00,360 --> 00:09:02,520 Speaker 3: his name wasn't Steve. Because then it would have been Steve, Steve, 185 00:09:02,559 --> 00:09:05,060 Speaker 3: and Steve. But it was Steve, Steve, and Ronald. They 186 00:09:05,080 --> 00:09:07,829 Speaker 3: didn't like the sound of that. So here's what he does, 187 00:09:07,850 --> 00:09:11,390 Speaker 3: he quits and he sells his 10% of the company. 188 00:09:12,590 --> 00:09:15,030 Speaker 2: For $ 800. 189 00:09:13,890 --> 00:09:20,280 Speaker 3: Now we all know Apple went on to be a 190 00:09:20,410 --> 00:09:23,840 Speaker 3: real small mom and pop shop in San Francisco. 191 00:09:23,860 --> 00:09:26,160 Speaker 2: It's actually not what happened. 192 00:09:26,620 --> 00:09:28,939 Speaker 3: Apple goes on to be one of, if not the 193 00:09:29,059 --> 00:09:31,880 Speaker 3: biggest company in the entire world. Quick question, would you 194 00:09:31,920 --> 00:09:37,819 Speaker 3: like to know how much is $ 800? His 10% of 195 00:09:38,059 --> 00:09:39,800 Speaker 3: Apple stock will be worth. 196 00:09:39,600 --> 00:09:49,630 Speaker 2: 50 years later in 2026. $ 200 billion. That's not an 197 00:09:51,250 --> 00:09:54,310 Speaker 2: M with a B. Billion, billion. 198 00:10:03,500 --> 00:10:06,300 Speaker 3: Now once you look at me I Have a question 199 00:10:06,330 --> 00:10:09,150 Speaker 3: that I would like to ask you today Have you 200 00:10:09,290 --> 00:10:17,809 Speaker 3: ever seen somebody quit too soon? Have you ever seen 201 00:10:17,929 --> 00:10:21,860 Speaker 3: somebody that threw in the white towel and Too soon. 202 00:10:23,620 --> 00:10:25,859 Speaker 3: Have you ever seen someone quit on a job too soon? 203 00:10:27,140 --> 00:10:30,840 Speaker 3: Quit on a friendship too soon? Quit on a marriage 204 00:10:30,940 --> 00:10:35,410 Speaker 3: too soon? Quit on a dream too soon? Have you 205 00:10:35,610 --> 00:10:37,250 Speaker 3: ever seen somebody quit. 206 00:10:37,130 --> 00:10:39,410 Speaker 2: On God too soon? 207 00:10:41,130 --> 00:10:44,230 Speaker 3: See, what's sad about that is the possibility of what 208 00:10:44,270 --> 00:10:45,670 Speaker 3: could have been and what should have been and what 209 00:10:45,710 --> 00:10:48,210 Speaker 3: would have been but did not happen because sometimes we 210 00:10:48,250 --> 00:10:51,550 Speaker 3: give up too soon and we miss out on everything 211 00:10:51,570 --> 00:10:55,920 Speaker 3: that god had in store for us came to encourage 212 00:10:55,940 --> 00:10:58,860 Speaker 3: somebody at elevation church today look at me it's too 213 00:10:58,940 --> 00:11:03,040 Speaker 3: soon to quit look at your neighbor say neighbor it's 214 00:11:03,120 --> 00:11:06,060 Speaker 3: too soon to quit look at your other neighbor your 215 00:11:06,100 --> 00:11:09,630 Speaker 3: second option and let your neighbor know neighbor it's too. 216 00:11:09,530 --> 00:11:16,050 Speaker 2: Soon to quit One day, you and I will stand 217 00:11:16,090 --> 00:11:19,090 Speaker 2: before God. You and I will stand before Jesus and 218 00:11:19,110 --> 00:11:20,580 Speaker 2: we will give an account for. 219 00:11:20,480 --> 00:11:22,580 Speaker 3: The life that we lived. And he will ask us, 220 00:11:22,679 --> 00:11:24,360 Speaker 3: what did you do with the life that I gave you? 221 00:11:25,080 --> 00:11:27,020 Speaker 3: What did you do with the talents that I gave you? 222 00:11:27,280 --> 00:11:29,320 Speaker 3: What did you do with the family that I gave you? 223 00:11:29,520 --> 00:11:31,690 Speaker 3: What did you do with the resources that I gave you? 224 00:11:31,700 --> 00:11:34,059 Speaker 3: There's actually a scripture about this in the Bible. There's 225 00:11:34,080 --> 00:11:36,600 Speaker 3: something called the judgment seat of Christ. There's going to 226 00:11:36,620 --> 00:11:39,200 Speaker 3: be a judgment around eternity, but then there's going to 227 00:11:39,220 --> 00:11:41,600 Speaker 3: be a judgment for the believers, for followers of Jesus, 228 00:11:41,860 --> 00:11:43,920 Speaker 3: where Jesus is going to talk to you about the 229 00:11:44,000 --> 00:11:47,079 Speaker 3: life that you live. Second Corinthians 5.10, here's what it says, 230 00:11:47,340 --> 00:11:50,160 Speaker 3: for we must all appear before the judgment seat of 231 00:11:50,240 --> 00:11:52,500 Speaker 3: Christ so that each one may receive what is due 232 00:11:52,760 --> 00:11:55,069 Speaker 3: for what he has done in the body, whether good 233 00:11:55,520 --> 00:11:59,710 Speaker 3: or evil. I remember hearing preachers preach about this text 234 00:12:00,090 --> 00:12:01,730 Speaker 3: and talking about how one day we're going to stand 235 00:12:01,770 --> 00:12:04,210 Speaker 3: before Jesus and we're going to give an account for 236 00:12:04,230 --> 00:12:07,010 Speaker 3: the life that we lived. But the preacher preached it 237 00:12:07,030 --> 00:12:09,030 Speaker 3: in an interesting way. Maybe you've heard this before. Maybe 238 00:12:09,150 --> 00:12:12,170 Speaker 3: you and I listened to the same preacher. He would say, 239 00:12:12,290 --> 00:12:13,910 Speaker 3: one day you're going to get to heaven and there's 240 00:12:13,929 --> 00:12:19,250 Speaker 3: going to be a gigantic screen. Has anyone heard this before? 241 00:12:20,070 --> 00:12:22,070 Speaker 2: There's going to be a screen in heaven and God's 242 00:12:22,090 --> 00:12:26,670 Speaker 2: going to play a movie of your life. And people 243 00:12:26,830 --> 00:12:28,189 Speaker 2: are going to see. 244 00:12:28,210 --> 00:12:30,150 Speaker 3: The good things that you did, but they're also going 245 00:12:30,170 --> 00:12:31,350 Speaker 3: to see the bad things that you did. 246 00:12:31,590 --> 00:12:33,850 Speaker 2: Do you want people to watch a movie about all 247 00:12:33,870 --> 00:12:35,150 Speaker 2: the bad things that you did? 248 00:12:35,870 --> 00:12:37,569 Speaker 3: And the whole time that I'm watching it, I'm thinking, 249 00:12:38,030 --> 00:12:40,579 Speaker 3: I just hope my mom isn't there to watch the movie. 250 00:12:41,700 --> 00:12:45,559 Speaker 3: Because there's a season, there's parts of that movie that 251 00:12:45,660 --> 00:12:50,569 Speaker 3: are not PG-13. And I don't want my mother to see. See, 252 00:12:50,590 --> 00:12:52,720 Speaker 3: the older that I got, I came to two conclusions. 253 00:12:52,780 --> 00:12:53,660 Speaker 3: The first thing is this. 254 00:12:54,000 --> 00:12:56,930 Speaker 2: The Bible doesn't say anything about a TV screen. The 255 00:12:56,990 --> 00:13:00,420 Speaker 2: preacher added that part. That part's not there. And then 256 00:13:00,460 --> 00:13:01,260 Speaker 2: the second thing is this. 257 00:13:01,679 --> 00:13:04,350 Speaker 3: Even if that is true, even if everyone that I 258 00:13:04,370 --> 00:13:06,470 Speaker 3: know will see all the mistakes that I made and 259 00:13:06,490 --> 00:13:08,390 Speaker 3: all the bad things that I did and the sins 260 00:13:08,410 --> 00:13:10,230 Speaker 3: that I committed, I don't have to be worried about 261 00:13:10,250 --> 00:13:12,230 Speaker 3: that because Jesus died on the cross for me. 262 00:13:12,510 --> 00:13:15,210 Speaker 2: I'm covered by the blood of Christ. I've been redeemed. 263 00:13:15,390 --> 00:13:19,210 Speaker 3: There is now therefore no condemnation for those who are 264 00:13:19,429 --> 00:13:20,390 Speaker 3: in Christ Jesus. 265 00:13:20,610 --> 00:13:27,260 Speaker 2: Play the movie. I'm not worried about it. Now, here's 266 00:13:27,280 --> 00:13:30,250 Speaker 2: the thing. Like I mentioned, the movie part isn't in 267 00:13:30,290 --> 00:13:30,670 Speaker 2: the Bible. 268 00:13:31,410 --> 00:13:34,270 Speaker 3: But you know what will be worse than a movie 269 00:13:34,870 --> 00:13:37,250 Speaker 3: about all the mistakes that you made and all the 270 00:13:37,290 --> 00:13:39,380 Speaker 3: things that you committed? I remember my youth pastor told 271 00:13:39,400 --> 00:13:41,180 Speaker 3: me one time, you know what will be worse than that? 272 00:13:41,640 --> 00:13:44,660 Speaker 3: Could you imagine God played a movie of the life 273 00:13:44,900 --> 00:13:50,630 Speaker 3: that you could have lived? 274 00:13:50,670 --> 00:13:53,950 Speaker 3: 275 00:13:54,010 --> 00:13:57,190 Speaker 3: 276 00:13:57,230 --> 00:14:00,730 Speaker 3: 277 00:14:00,790 --> 00:14:03,530 Speaker 3: 278 00:14:03,570 --> 00:14:04,609 Speaker 3: . 279 00:14:04,390 --> 00:14:06,180 Speaker 2: . 280 00:14:07,559 --> 00:14:11,140 Speaker 3: Because you allow life to get in the way. Listen 281 00:14:11,179 --> 00:14:13,800 Speaker 3: to me, that is horrible. I hate to think about that. 282 00:14:14,000 --> 00:14:14,500 Speaker 2: You know why? 283 00:14:14,640 --> 00:14:20,390 Speaker 3: Because the only thing harder than obedience is regret. The 284 00:14:20,530 --> 00:14:22,170 Speaker 3: only thing harder than saying yes to. 285 00:14:22,110 --> 00:14:25,970 Speaker 2: God is wishing you would have said yes to God. See, 286 00:14:26,010 --> 00:14:28,650 Speaker 2: God has so much in store for our lives, our marriages, 287 00:14:29,060 --> 00:14:33,220 Speaker 2: our children, our families, our businesses, our church, our callings. 288 00:14:33,300 --> 00:14:34,750 Speaker 2: God has so much in store for us. 289 00:14:34,820 --> 00:14:37,380 Speaker 3: But all of that, listen to me, is on the 290 00:14:37,540 --> 00:14:41,080 Speaker 3: other side of something called perseverance. 291 00:14:42,180 --> 00:14:45,770 Speaker 2: Somebody say perseverance. Someone shout out perseverance. Perseverance. 292 00:14:46,880 --> 00:14:50,570 Speaker 3: Let me give you Miriam Webster's definition of perseverance. Perseverance 293 00:14:50,640 --> 00:14:57,930 Speaker 3: is continued effort to do or achieve something despite difficulties, failure, 294 00:14:58,410 --> 00:15:01,370 Speaker 3: or opposition. Let me put that in plain English for you. 295 00:15:01,650 --> 00:15:08,300 Speaker 3: You need to push past the pain. You need to 296 00:15:08,540 --> 00:15:11,680 Speaker 3: push past. past the pain. Can you say that with me? 297 00:15:12,220 --> 00:15:14,680 Speaker 3: Push past the pain. 298 00:15:14,740 --> 00:15:18,010 Speaker 2: Say it one more time. Push past the pain. I 299 00:15:18,040 --> 00:15:21,790 Speaker 2: kinda like this. Push past the pain. Only do it 300 00:15:21,810 --> 00:15:22,930 Speaker 2: when I put my hands toward you. 301 00:15:22,970 --> 00:15:23,170 Speaker 3: Ready? 302 00:15:23,570 --> 00:15:26,230 Speaker 2: Push past the pain. Watch this. Push past the. 303 00:15:28,930 --> 00:15:29,010 Speaker 1: Pain. 304 00:15:29,030 --> 00:15:30,290 Speaker 2: Give yourselves a round of applause. 305 00:15:32,730 --> 00:15:37,830 Speaker 3: The truth is, pain is part of the human experience. 306 00:15:39,450 --> 00:15:41,530 Speaker 3: I want y'all to know today, I confess to you, 307 00:15:41,690 --> 00:15:42,330 Speaker 3: my back hurts. 308 00:15:44,230 --> 00:15:46,730 Speaker 2: My knee hurts. My life hurts. 309 00:15:48,370 --> 00:15:50,820 Speaker 3: Pain is part of the human experience and there's all 310 00:15:50,890 --> 00:15:53,360 Speaker 3: kinds of pain. And I came today to church to 311 00:15:53,400 --> 00:15:57,660 Speaker 3: let you know that God cares about your pain. God 312 00:15:57,680 --> 00:16:04,560 Speaker 3: doesn't cause all pain. Breaks God's heart. Some of the 313 00:16:04,600 --> 00:16:06,220 Speaker 3: things that you've had to go through, it breaks my 314 00:16:06,240 --> 00:16:07,730 Speaker 3: heart as a pastor. Some of the things that you've 315 00:16:07,750 --> 00:16:10,120 Speaker 3: had to walk through. I bet if I walked around 316 00:16:10,160 --> 00:16:13,180 Speaker 3: and passed the microphone, I'd hear so many stories of 317 00:16:13,220 --> 00:16:16,540 Speaker 3: things that people are even walking through right now in 318 00:16:16,560 --> 00:16:19,000 Speaker 3: this church. And nobody would know. They could be sitting 319 00:16:19,040 --> 00:16:20,720 Speaker 3: on your left, sitting on your right, behind you or 320 00:16:20,740 --> 00:16:22,620 Speaker 3: in front of you. They have no idea what you're 321 00:16:22,640 --> 00:16:25,660 Speaker 3: walking through. There's all kinds of pain. There's relational pain. 322 00:16:26,320 --> 00:16:29,830 Speaker 3: There's emotional pain. There's physical pain. There's financial pain. But 323 00:16:29,850 --> 00:16:32,170 Speaker 3: what I love about the Bible is the Bible is 324 00:16:32,210 --> 00:16:34,310 Speaker 3: a book that doesn't run away from pain. 325 00:16:36,510 --> 00:16:38,890 Speaker 2: Actually read the Bible. If you've ever really read the Bible, 326 00:16:38,910 --> 00:16:42,140 Speaker 2: here's what you see. A lot of pain. A lot 327 00:16:42,180 --> 00:16:42,740 Speaker 2: of brokenness. 328 00:16:45,320 --> 00:16:47,260 Speaker 3: The Bible doesn't run away from pain, which brings me 329 00:16:47,400 --> 00:16:51,380 Speaker 3: to the book of Philippians, where we find our passage today. 330 00:16:52,060 --> 00:16:55,240 Speaker 3: Philippians is an interesting book. See, Philippians is written by 331 00:16:55,280 --> 00:16:56,040 Speaker 3: the Apostle Paul. 332 00:16:56,060 --> 00:16:56,680 Speaker 2: Someone say Paul. 333 00:16:58,370 --> 00:17:01,530 Speaker 3: And the book of Philippians is written in prison. It's 334 00:17:01,550 --> 00:17:05,130 Speaker 3: a prison epistle. Someone say prison. Look at your neighbor 335 00:17:05,150 --> 00:17:07,510 Speaker 3: and say neighbor. I don't want to go back to prison. 336 00:17:09,210 --> 00:17:12,550 Speaker 3: Your neighbor's like, you went to prison? I didn't know 337 00:17:12,590 --> 00:17:14,310 Speaker 3: who I was sitting next to, dang. 338 00:17:17,390 --> 00:17:19,250 Speaker 2: The book of Philippians is written by Paul. 339 00:17:20,320 --> 00:17:24,780 Speaker 3: It's written in prison, but there's one additional factor that 340 00:17:24,800 --> 00:17:29,919 Speaker 3: makes it an interesting book. Theologians, scholars, they call the 341 00:17:30,000 --> 00:17:36,100 Speaker 3: book of Philippians the book of joy. The epistle of joy, 342 00:17:36,359 --> 00:17:39,680 Speaker 3: the letter of joy, which to me sounds like an oxymoron. 343 00:17:40,040 --> 00:17:43,340 Speaker 3: Paul writes a book in prison and is the epistle 344 00:17:43,880 --> 00:17:47,810 Speaker 3: of joy. That feels like a contradiction because how do 345 00:17:47,850 --> 00:17:51,810 Speaker 3: you have joy while you're sitting in a prison cell? 346 00:17:53,190 --> 00:17:58,909 Speaker 3: That doesn't feel like the appropriate response to chains. So Paul, 347 00:17:59,130 --> 00:18:02,060 Speaker 3: he's trying to encourage the church in Philippi. The people 348 00:18:02,340 --> 00:18:04,419 Speaker 3: are worried about him and he's trying to encourage them 349 00:18:04,440 --> 00:18:06,980 Speaker 3: and he's saying all these encouraging things and he's speaking 350 00:18:07,160 --> 00:18:07,820 Speaker 3: about joy. 351 00:18:08,080 --> 00:18:09,800 Speaker 2: But as I'm listening to this, I gotta be honest. 352 00:18:09,820 --> 00:18:13,100 Speaker 2: I'm thinking to myself, Paul, are you faking it? Just 353 00:18:13,119 --> 00:18:14,460 Speaker 2: tell me the truth. Are you struggling? 354 00:18:14,480 --> 00:18:17,030 Speaker 3: Are you not okay? Just tell me what's really going on. 355 00:18:17,090 --> 00:18:17,790 Speaker 3: Are you faking it? 356 00:18:17,869 --> 00:18:18,630 Speaker 2: Are you lying? 357 00:18:19,490 --> 00:18:22,430 Speaker 3: Is the situation actually worse than you wanna be honest about? 358 00:18:22,490 --> 00:18:26,929 Speaker 3: Because Paul, this doesn't feel genuine. You're in prison, but 359 00:18:26,950 --> 00:18:29,370 Speaker 3: you're talking about Joy, I used to ask the same 360 00:18:29,410 --> 00:18:30,770 Speaker 3: question about my mama. 361 00:18:31,690 --> 00:18:32,869 Speaker 2: Mom, if you're listening, I'm sorry. 362 00:18:34,150 --> 00:18:39,260 Speaker 3: Because my mom would fight with me on Friday, and 363 00:18:39,300 --> 00:18:43,440 Speaker 3: my mama would spank me on Saturday. My mother didn't 364 00:18:43,480 --> 00:18:47,920 Speaker 3: believe in gentle parenting. My mother, she's Pentecostal and Puerto Rican. 365 00:18:47,940 --> 00:18:50,530 Speaker 3: She believed in the laying on of hands, if you 366 00:18:50,550 --> 00:18:51,470 Speaker 3: know what I'm talking about. 367 00:18:51,490 --> 00:18:58,510 Speaker 2: Oh, you in therapy too, anyways. So my mama would 368 00:18:58,590 --> 00:19:01,609 Speaker 2: argue with me on Friday. She would spank me on Sunday, 369 00:19:02,410 --> 00:19:06,310 Speaker 2: on Saturday, but she would sing on Sunday. We had 370 00:19:06,359 --> 00:19:08,940 Speaker 2: a bad week. But my mama would show up to church. 371 00:19:08,980 --> 00:19:09,820 Speaker 2: Maybe you know this song. 372 00:19:10,380 --> 00:19:15,030 Speaker 4: I've got a joy like a river. Joy like a river. 373 00:19:15,050 --> 00:19:15,550 Speaker 2: Sing with me. 374 00:19:16,050 --> 00:19:23,630 Speaker 4: Joy like a river in my soul. I got a joy, joy. 375 00:19:24,030 --> 00:19:30,550 Speaker 4: Joy like a river. Joy like a river in my soul. 376 00:19:31,570 --> 00:19:38,359 Speaker 2: But she wasn't singing on Saturday. She was spanking. Singing 377 00:19:38,420 --> 00:19:44,030 Speaker 2: and spanking. She's doing both. I think about my mom 378 00:19:44,090 --> 00:19:45,979 Speaker 2: and I think about Paul and I've got a question. 379 00:19:46,060 --> 00:19:48,720 Speaker 2: Which one is it? Is it joy or is it chains? 380 00:19:50,760 --> 00:19:54,950 Speaker 2: Is it praise or is it pain? Which one is it? 381 00:19:55,100 --> 00:19:57,939 Speaker 3: Because it doesn't feel like both of those can go together, 382 00:19:57,960 --> 00:19:59,660 Speaker 3: but the answer is it's actually both. 383 00:20:00,020 --> 00:20:02,460 Speaker 2: It's praising in my pain. 384 00:20:04,119 --> 00:20:10,490 Speaker 3: And not allowing my pain to stop my praise. Someone 385 00:20:10,510 --> 00:20:15,390 Speaker 3: say perseverance today. We see this in first in Acts 386 00:20:15,410 --> 00:20:18,590 Speaker 3: chapter 16. This is not Paul's first time in prison. 387 00:20:18,609 --> 00:20:23,629 Speaker 3: He is a repeat offender. Says Acts chapter 16, Paul 388 00:20:23,890 --> 00:20:26,109 Speaker 3: and Silas are in prison. Pastor Jonathan preached about this 389 00:20:26,150 --> 00:20:28,950 Speaker 3: a couple of weeks ago. Paul and Silas, they're in prison. 390 00:20:29,150 --> 00:20:31,540 Speaker 3: And the Bible says they're praying and singing hymns. And 391 00:20:31,560 --> 00:20:33,540 Speaker 3: the other prisoners were listening to them. And suddenly there 392 00:20:33,560 --> 00:20:35,720 Speaker 3: was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the 393 00:20:35,760 --> 00:20:38,660 Speaker 3: prison were shaken. And at once all the prison doors 394 00:20:38,900 --> 00:20:42,620 Speaker 3: flew open and everyone's chains came loose. That's a powerful sermon. 395 00:20:42,680 --> 00:20:45,609 Speaker 3: I could preach that sermon. That's a powerful story. I 396 00:20:45,630 --> 00:20:48,290 Speaker 3: believe that God can set people free. I believe that 397 00:20:48,330 --> 00:20:51,450 Speaker 3: God does miracles. I believe that God does the impossible. 398 00:20:51,470 --> 00:20:54,340 Speaker 3: I believe that God sets chains loose and brings freedom. 399 00:20:54,359 --> 00:20:56,820 Speaker 3: But what do you do when you're singing about joy, 400 00:20:56,840 --> 00:21:00,979 Speaker 3: but you're still in chains? Coming to church on Sunday, 401 00:21:01,440 --> 00:21:06,359 Speaker 3: you're serving, you're worshiping, you're giving, you're listening, but your 402 00:21:06,380 --> 00:21:11,149 Speaker 3: kid's still acting up. And you still can't sleep. And 403 00:21:11,170 --> 00:21:14,210 Speaker 3: your spouse still isn't coming to church. And that addiction 404 00:21:14,270 --> 00:21:17,490 Speaker 3: keeps knocking at your door and you still can't. 405 00:21:17,340 --> 00:21:21,540 Speaker 2: Find a job. The apostle Paul can relate. 406 00:21:21,560 --> 00:21:25,659 Speaker 3: See, at the very top, we read Philippians chapter one, 407 00:21:25,780 --> 00:21:28,760 Speaker 3: verses 12 through 14. In this moment where Paul is 408 00:21:28,800 --> 00:21:32,379 Speaker 3: writing this, he's still in prison. He's still in chains, 409 00:21:32,420 --> 00:21:36,200 Speaker 3: but he says something interesting about his experience. He says 410 00:21:36,260 --> 00:21:38,639 Speaker 3: in verse 12, now I want you to know, brothers 411 00:21:38,680 --> 00:21:42,360 Speaker 3: and sisters, that what has happened to me has actually 412 00:21:42,440 --> 00:21:43,800 Speaker 3: served to advance. 413 00:21:43,820 --> 00:21:46,220 Speaker 2: Someone say advance. The gospel. 414 00:21:47,250 --> 00:21:50,350 Speaker 3: When he says what has happened to me, he's talking 415 00:21:50,410 --> 00:21:57,130 Speaker 3: about his chains. These chains are advancing the gospel. What 416 00:21:57,190 --> 00:22:00,810 Speaker 3: has happened to me, me being in prison, me being 417 00:22:00,930 --> 00:22:05,790 Speaker 3: in chains, unfairly, unjustly, and I'm here for preaching the gospel. 418 00:22:05,990 --> 00:22:09,330 Speaker 3: Have you ever done everything right and still things go wrong? 419 00:22:10,550 --> 00:22:12,790 Speaker 3: You come in a church, you're trying to get right. 420 00:22:12,970 --> 00:22:14,910 Speaker 3: You're trying to lead your family the right way. You're 421 00:22:14,950 --> 00:22:17,230 Speaker 3: trying to honor God at your workplace. You're trying to 422 00:22:17,290 --> 00:22:19,130 Speaker 3: honor God in your relationships. You're trying to. 423 00:22:19,050 --> 00:22:21,090 Speaker 2: Do the right thing and the wrong thing happens. 424 00:22:23,160 --> 00:22:26,899 Speaker 3: Paul says, what has happened to me, being in prison, 425 00:22:28,000 --> 00:22:31,290 Speaker 3: has actually served to advance the gospel. He's talking about 426 00:22:31,310 --> 00:22:34,190 Speaker 3: it like it's a good thing. He even talks about 427 00:22:34,230 --> 00:22:36,990 Speaker 3: it in a way where it almost implies, listen to me, 428 00:22:37,290 --> 00:22:41,690 Speaker 3: that he's grateful for it. How can you be grateful 429 00:22:42,109 --> 00:22:44,810 Speaker 3: for the pain that you're going through? How can you 430 00:22:45,070 --> 00:22:47,840 Speaker 3: celebrate the struggle that you're living in? 431 00:22:47,869 --> 00:22:50,370 Speaker 2: Now listen to me, I don't think Paul likes pain. 432 00:22:50,410 --> 00:22:54,660 Speaker 2: He's not a masochist. I don't think anybody likes pain. 433 00:22:54,720 --> 00:22:56,679 Speaker 2: It's like when I talk to people who go on 434 00:22:56,720 --> 00:22:58,520 Speaker 2: a diet. Nobody likes a diet. 435 00:22:59,900 --> 00:23:02,330 Speaker 3: If someone tells you they like a diet, they're either 436 00:23:02,380 --> 00:23:03,600 Speaker 3: lying to you or trying to. 437 00:23:03,570 --> 00:23:04,250 Speaker 2: Sell you something. 438 00:23:06,150 --> 00:23:08,430 Speaker 3: Nobody likes a diet, but here's what they do like. 439 00:23:08,690 --> 00:23:16,170 Speaker 3: They like the results that it produces. I've been living 440 00:23:16,210 --> 00:23:21,070 Speaker 3: long enough and following Jesus long enough, and I've read 441 00:23:21,090 --> 00:23:24,359 Speaker 3: the Bible long enough to notice I don't understand why, 442 00:23:25,660 --> 00:23:33,780 Speaker 3: but pain produces. Produces, produces something on the inside of you. 443 00:23:34,280 --> 00:23:37,340 Speaker 3: James would say in chapter one of his book, he 444 00:23:37,380 --> 00:23:40,119 Speaker 3: would say, consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, 445 00:23:40,140 --> 00:23:43,100 Speaker 3: when you go through trials of all many kinds, because 446 00:23:43,220 --> 00:23:44,400 Speaker 3: it is producing. 447 00:23:44,440 --> 00:23:45,280 Speaker 2: Someone say produce. 448 00:23:46,580 --> 00:23:49,360 Speaker 3: I don't know why pain does it the way it does, 449 00:23:49,420 --> 00:23:52,240 Speaker 3: but pain produces. See, I'm not thankful that you went 450 00:23:52,270 --> 00:23:55,359 Speaker 3: through the divorce. I'm not thankful that you lost the job. 451 00:23:55,820 --> 00:23:58,939 Speaker 3: I'm not thankful for the betrayal. I'm not thankful that 452 00:23:58,980 --> 00:24:01,320 Speaker 3: I lost those people. I'm not thankful that I went 453 00:24:01,340 --> 00:24:03,719 Speaker 3: through that season. I'm not thankful that they lied about me. 454 00:24:03,859 --> 00:24:05,260 Speaker 2: It hurt me. It broke me. 455 00:24:05,560 --> 00:24:07,740 Speaker 3: It did something to me. But listen to me on 456 00:24:07,780 --> 00:24:12,130 Speaker 3: the other side of it. Pain produced something that success 457 00:24:12,170 --> 00:24:16,200 Speaker 3: couldn't produce. Pain produced something that money couldn't produce. Pain 458 00:24:16,260 --> 00:24:19,800 Speaker 3: produced something that promotion couldn't produce. Pain produced something that 459 00:24:19,840 --> 00:24:23,820 Speaker 3: that relationship couldn't produce. Pain produced something that fame couldn't produce. 460 00:24:24,160 --> 00:24:29,560 Speaker 2: Pain produced something that an answered prayer couldn't produce. Pain. 461 00:24:30,109 --> 00:24:32,810 Speaker 3: Produces, and I don't thank him for the pain, but 462 00:24:32,869 --> 00:24:34,990 Speaker 3: I do thank him for how he used the pain 463 00:24:35,290 --> 00:24:37,950 Speaker 3: to produce something in me that I could not produce 464 00:24:38,410 --> 00:24:39,430 Speaker 3: in myself. 465 00:24:39,650 --> 00:24:41,710 Speaker 2: Listen to me, if you've ever been on the other. 466 00:24:41,530 --> 00:24:44,590 Speaker 3: Side of pain and looked back and said, thank you, Jesus, 467 00:24:44,830 --> 00:24:47,070 Speaker 3: can you make a little bit of noise today? If 468 00:24:47,090 --> 00:24:49,470 Speaker 3: he got you through, if he did something in you, 469 00:24:49,710 --> 00:24:53,040 Speaker 3: he made you stronger, he made you wiser, he made 470 00:24:53,080 --> 00:24:54,400 Speaker 3: you better, he made. 471 00:24:54,220 --> 00:24:56,699 Speaker 2: You more loving, he made you more compassionate. 472 00:24:56,780 --> 00:24:59,020 Speaker 3: I don't understand why it works that way, All I 473 00:24:59,060 --> 00:25:05,050 Speaker 3: know is that pain produces. What has happened to me 474 00:25:05,090 --> 00:25:08,690 Speaker 3: has actually served to advance the gospel. 475 00:25:08,910 --> 00:25:11,930 Speaker 2: That's the other thing. The gospel is advancing. 476 00:25:12,820 --> 00:25:15,000 Speaker 3: I want someone to know today, there's nothing that could 477 00:25:15,040 --> 00:25:17,540 Speaker 3: stop the gospel. There's nothing that could stop the kingdom 478 00:25:17,580 --> 00:25:19,760 Speaker 3: of God. There's nothing that could stop the word of God. 479 00:25:19,940 --> 00:25:22,260 Speaker 3: There's nothing that could stand in the way of my Jesus. 480 00:25:22,300 --> 00:25:24,659 Speaker 3: It doesn't matter what TikTok says. It doesn't matter what 481 00:25:24,740 --> 00:25:27,139 Speaker 3: Instagram says. It doesn't matter what the news says. It 482 00:25:27,340 --> 00:25:29,900 Speaker 3: doesn't matter what you hear on the street. The gospel 483 00:25:30,200 --> 00:25:35,290 Speaker 3: is on the move. Your God and my God, listen 484 00:25:35,330 --> 00:25:39,030 Speaker 3: to me, he's always working. Look at your neighbor, say labor. 485 00:25:39,970 --> 00:25:45,920 Speaker 3: I said labor, neighbor. Let them cook. Tell your other neighbor, neighbor, 486 00:25:46,900 --> 00:25:53,470 Speaker 3: let them cook. What I love about God is how 487 00:25:53,530 --> 00:25:56,510 Speaker 3: he moves the gospel forward in ways that we could 488 00:25:56,630 --> 00:26:01,149 Speaker 3: never imagine. Like God is always looking for Forrest Gump. 489 00:26:03,220 --> 00:26:06,679 Speaker 3: He's always looking to do things in a way that 490 00:26:06,700 --> 00:26:10,709 Speaker 3: you and I wouldn't have done it. He always does 491 00:26:10,770 --> 00:26:11,129 Speaker 3: things in. 492 00:26:11,109 --> 00:26:13,250 Speaker 2: A way where you and I couldn't see the potential 493 00:26:13,270 --> 00:26:13,480 Speaker 2: of it. 494 00:26:13,770 --> 00:26:20,390 Speaker 3: But God did. Someone say God did. Paul's situation isn't 495 00:26:20,410 --> 00:26:24,940 Speaker 3: looking good. He is in chains. He's in prison. This 496 00:26:25,000 --> 00:26:29,200 Speaker 3: feels like a loss. The show is over, bro. Throw 497 00:26:29,280 --> 00:26:33,180 Speaker 3: up the white flag. Hang up the jersey. But Paul 498 00:26:33,780 --> 00:26:34,400 Speaker 3: doesn't do that. 499 00:26:34,800 --> 00:26:34,919 Speaker 1: See. 500 00:26:35,500 --> 00:26:39,120 Speaker 3: Paul's a preacher, but how do you preach behind bars? 501 00:26:40,220 --> 00:26:42,900 Speaker 3: Paul is a church planter. How do you plant churches 502 00:26:43,480 --> 00:26:47,260 Speaker 3: in chains? Paul goes on to say, as a result, 503 00:26:47,280 --> 00:26:50,330 Speaker 3: it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and 504 00:26:50,350 --> 00:26:55,050 Speaker 3: to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ. 505 00:26:56,609 --> 00:26:57,330 Speaker 2: Context matters. 506 00:26:57,350 --> 00:27:00,870 Speaker 3: Someone say context. If you're not careful, you'll skip over 507 00:27:00,910 --> 00:27:03,970 Speaker 3: a pretty significant detail. In this passage. That's why you 508 00:27:04,010 --> 00:27:08,490 Speaker 3: need context. Someone say context. Paul says, it has become 509 00:27:08,570 --> 00:27:09,670 Speaker 3: clear throughout. 510 00:27:09,450 --> 00:27:13,820 Speaker 2: The whole palace. Everybody knows. The security guard knows. The 511 00:27:13,859 --> 00:27:14,760 Speaker 2: secretary knows. 512 00:27:14,780 --> 00:27:17,419 Speaker 3: The housekeeping team knows. 513 00:27:19,040 --> 00:27:21,200 Speaker 2: Everybody knows. I'm in chains. 514 00:27:21,700 --> 00:27:25,570 Speaker 3: But then he says this other phrase, the whole palace guard. 515 00:27:26,200 --> 00:27:27,790 Speaker 3: If you read that, you're like, well, what does that mean? 516 00:27:27,970 --> 00:27:31,490 Speaker 3: How many people is that? In Roman culture, the palace 517 00:27:31,510 --> 00:27:35,530 Speaker 3: guard was also known as the praetorian guard. The praetorian 518 00:27:35,550 --> 00:27:39,770 Speaker 3: guard was a small army of a thousand soldiers. 519 00:27:41,300 --> 00:27:43,580 Speaker 2: And they all know about Paul. You know why? 520 00:27:43,920 --> 00:27:46,560 Speaker 3: Because in Roman prisons, what they would do is they 521 00:27:46,600 --> 00:27:48,960 Speaker 3: would get the prisoner, they would put him in chains, 522 00:27:49,340 --> 00:27:51,940 Speaker 3: but he wasn't just left in the prison cell by himself. 523 00:27:52,320 --> 00:27:53,960 Speaker 3: What they would do is they would put a soldier 524 00:27:54,300 --> 00:27:57,139 Speaker 3: on his right and they would put a soldier on 525 00:27:57,180 --> 00:28:00,280 Speaker 3: his left. If you could use your imagination for a second, 526 00:28:00,300 --> 00:28:03,639 Speaker 3: I just got a feeling Paul was an evangelist. He 527 00:28:03,680 --> 00:28:05,570 Speaker 3: was going to talk to everybody, even if they didn't 528 00:28:05,590 --> 00:28:11,030 Speaker 3: want to listen. I can imagine someone sitting next to him, amen, 529 00:28:11,750 --> 00:28:12,230 Speaker 3: What's your name? 530 00:28:13,550 --> 00:28:18,950 Speaker 2: Julio? Nice to meet you, Julio. Julio, you Puerto Rican? 531 00:28:21,250 --> 00:28:22,629 Speaker 2: I went to Puerto Rico one time. It was a 532 00:28:22,650 --> 00:28:27,350 Speaker 2: good time, man. I like Mofongo, you know. Julio, you 533 00:28:27,390 --> 00:28:31,880 Speaker 2: see these chains? I'm in chains, but I'm free. 534 00:28:34,500 --> 00:28:36,180 Speaker 3: And I want you to know, you might be free, 535 00:28:37,040 --> 00:28:38,100 Speaker 3: but you still in chains. 536 00:28:40,130 --> 00:28:42,010 Speaker 2: But I believe God's going to set you free, Julio. 537 00:28:42,970 --> 00:28:48,200 Speaker 2: He's going to do something in your life. What's your name? James? 538 00:28:49,360 --> 00:29:03,870 Speaker 2: What's up, James? You doing good? Yeah, I'm all right. James, 539 00:29:03,890 --> 00:29:06,850 Speaker 2: y'all on rotation, right? What's your shift? What time you 540 00:29:06,890 --> 00:29:07,190 Speaker 2: got out of here? 541 00:29:07,210 --> 00:29:08,690 Speaker 3: Four? Four? 542 00:29:09,070 --> 00:29:09,730 Speaker 2: Y'all on rotation? 543 00:29:09,750 --> 00:29:09,830 Speaker 1: Four? 544 00:29:10,290 --> 00:29:14,350 Speaker 2: That's cool. Listen to me. While you're here, we're going 545 00:29:14,370 --> 00:29:19,020 Speaker 2: to talk, James. Have you heard about Jesus? You haven't 546 00:29:19,040 --> 00:29:20,580 Speaker 2: heard about Jesus? I want you to know Jesus heard 547 00:29:20,600 --> 00:29:24,740 Speaker 2: about you. He's going back. And guess what? 548 00:29:24,800 --> 00:29:26,780 Speaker 3: 549 00:29:26,800 --> 00:29:29,360 Speaker 3: 550 00:29:29,660 --> 00:29:31,910 Speaker 3: 551 00:29:31,990 --> 00:29:33,970 Speaker 3: . 552 00:29:33,730 --> 00:29:35,610 Speaker 2: . 553 00:29:35,270 --> 00:29:42,040 Speaker 3: his chains he 554 00:29:42,120 --> 00:29:51,570 Speaker 3: turned his prison guards into his congregation Philippians is a 555 00:29:51,610 --> 00:29:55,870 Speaker 3: prison epistle. Ephesians is also a prison epistle. That means 556 00:29:55,890 --> 00:29:58,510 Speaker 3: that he wrote Ephesians in prison and he wrote Philippians 557 00:29:58,810 --> 00:30:01,310 Speaker 3: in prison. And there's this interesting thing at the end 558 00:30:01,390 --> 00:30:04,280 Speaker 3: of Ephesians, Ephesians chapter six, it says that he starts 559 00:30:04,320 --> 00:30:09,980 Speaker 3: talking about the full armor of God, the helmet of salvation, 560 00:30:10,760 --> 00:30:15,540 Speaker 3: the breastplate of righteousness, the belt of truth, the sword 561 00:30:15,840 --> 00:30:19,030 Speaker 3: of a spirit. What does that sound like to you? 562 00:30:20,380 --> 00:30:24,880 Speaker 3: It sounds like a Roman soldier. What does that mean? 563 00:30:25,140 --> 00:30:28,950 Speaker 3: That he did not allow his circumstance to stop his 564 00:30:29,190 --> 00:30:32,270 Speaker 3: message from going forward. He said, listen to me, I'm 565 00:30:32,290 --> 00:30:34,130 Speaker 3: going to write what's going on. I'm going to make 566 00:30:34,170 --> 00:30:36,130 Speaker 3: a message out of this mess. And I'm going to 567 00:30:36,150 --> 00:30:38,490 Speaker 3: believe that in spite of my chains and in spite 568 00:30:38,510 --> 00:30:41,730 Speaker 3: of the bars and inside this prison cell, the message 569 00:30:41,810 --> 00:30:43,710 Speaker 3: of the gospel is still. 570 00:30:43,710 --> 00:30:45,490 Speaker 2: Going to move forward. 571 00:30:45,530 --> 00:30:49,590 Speaker 3: What has happened to me has actually served to advance 572 00:30:50,390 --> 00:30:51,080 Speaker 3: the gospel. 573 00:30:54,580 --> 00:30:55,690 Speaker 2: I'm going to finish with this. I'm going to start 574 00:30:55,710 --> 00:30:56,430 Speaker 2: landing this plane. 575 00:30:58,360 --> 00:31:01,160 Speaker 3: Paul is preaching the gospel in the midst of his pain. 576 00:31:02,160 --> 00:31:04,880 Speaker 3: And the soldiers are coming to Christ in the midst 577 00:31:04,960 --> 00:31:05,520 Speaker 3: of his pain. 578 00:31:05,760 --> 00:31:10,280 Speaker 2: But watch this. And the church is being encouraged by 579 00:31:10,380 --> 00:31:15,440 Speaker 2: his pain. How are you encouraged by somebody else's pain? 580 00:31:16,620 --> 00:31:18,680 Speaker 2: But that's what's happening. Look at what the next verse says. 581 00:31:18,700 --> 00:31:19,770 Speaker 2: Verse 14. 582 00:31:19,770 --> 00:31:22,870 Speaker 3: And because of my chains, most of the brothers and 583 00:31:22,950 --> 00:31:27,820 Speaker 3: sisters have become confident in the Lord and. 584 00:31:27,880 --> 00:31:33,380 Speaker 2: Dare all the more to proclaim the gospel without fear. 585 00:31:35,280 --> 00:31:36,840 Speaker 2: That's interesting. You know why? 586 00:31:37,100 --> 00:31:42,030 Speaker 3: See, Paul's preaching. And then he goes to prison. And 587 00:31:42,070 --> 00:31:44,350 Speaker 3: then people see the correlation. 588 00:31:44,830 --> 00:31:47,130 Speaker 2: He preached. He went to prison. 589 00:31:48,130 --> 00:31:50,790 Speaker 3: And they see him in prison and they say, now 590 00:31:50,850 --> 00:31:57,000 Speaker 3: I want to preach. But preaching is what landed him 591 00:31:57,040 --> 00:31:59,780 Speaker 3: in prison. Why would you want to go to prison? 592 00:32:00,500 --> 00:32:02,520 Speaker 3: Why would you want that pain? Why would you have 593 00:32:02,560 --> 00:32:06,200 Speaker 3: that experience? Not only do they have more confidence, they 594 00:32:06,300 --> 00:32:10,900 Speaker 3: have less fear. They're not afraid of the prison. They're 595 00:32:10,920 --> 00:32:13,560 Speaker 3: not afraid of the soldiers. They're not afraid of the bars. 596 00:32:15,010 --> 00:32:20,570 Speaker 3: So why would Paul's chains encourage them to preach if 597 00:32:20,670 --> 00:32:26,440 Speaker 3: they know the end result? And what is it that 598 00:32:26,500 --> 00:32:31,380 Speaker 3: is making them less afraid? If you've heard nothing else 599 00:32:31,400 --> 00:32:33,580 Speaker 3: that I've said today, I want you to hear this. 600 00:32:34,920 --> 00:32:42,360 Speaker 3: Could it be that Paul's chains removed the mystery behind 601 00:32:42,440 --> 00:32:45,730 Speaker 3: what was on the other side I wanna. 602 00:32:47,380 --> 00:32:48,120 Speaker 2: Say that one more time. 603 00:32:48,820 --> 00:32:52,960 Speaker 3: Could it be that Paul's chains removed the mystery behind 604 00:32:53,020 --> 00:32:56,400 Speaker 3: what was on the other side of pain, on the 605 00:32:56,500 --> 00:32:59,290 Speaker 3: other side of the prison, on the other side of 606 00:32:59,310 --> 00:33:02,050 Speaker 3: the chains, on the other side of the soldiers? 607 00:33:03,190 --> 00:33:05,630 Speaker 2: What do I mean by that? In plain language, they. 608 00:33:05,490 --> 00:33:08,870 Speaker 3: Don't have to guess what's going to happen when they 609 00:33:08,910 --> 00:33:13,850 Speaker 3: go through their worst moment. I remember when I got 610 00:33:13,890 --> 00:33:16,490 Speaker 3: my first tattoo, I had a younger brother who passed 611 00:33:16,530 --> 00:33:18,830 Speaker 3: away and me and a group of friends and his parents, 612 00:33:19,150 --> 00:33:21,210 Speaker 3: we went and got a tattoo in his honor. And 613 00:33:21,270 --> 00:33:23,750 Speaker 3: I remember we're getting the tattoos, but I looked at 614 00:33:23,770 --> 00:33:24,950 Speaker 3: my friend, I said, you go first. 615 00:33:27,040 --> 00:33:29,060 Speaker 2: I'd never gotten a tattoo before. I said, you go first. 616 00:33:29,800 --> 00:33:32,540 Speaker 2: He said, why? Why won't you go? I said, because 617 00:33:32,560 --> 00:33:35,820 Speaker 2: I want to see what the pain looks like. 618 00:33:38,200 --> 00:33:40,880 Speaker 3: I want to see it first. And if I could 619 00:33:41,100 --> 00:33:47,480 Speaker 3: see it, I feel like I can endure it. See, 620 00:33:48,060 --> 00:33:49,260 Speaker 3: you know what I wanted to do in that moment? 621 00:33:49,920 --> 00:33:53,740 Speaker 2: I wanted to remove the mystery of pain. 622 00:33:54,960 --> 00:33:57,490 Speaker 3: I wanted to remove the mystery of what was on 623 00:33:57,530 --> 00:34:02,810 Speaker 3: the other side of that experience. See, they saw Paul 624 00:34:03,090 --> 00:34:06,390 Speaker 3: preach and they saw Paul get arrested and they saw 625 00:34:06,450 --> 00:34:08,430 Speaker 3: Paul go through his worst moment, but on. 626 00:34:08,410 --> 00:34:10,489 Speaker 2: The other side of it, look at me, he was 627 00:34:10,530 --> 00:34:15,310 Speaker 2: all right. He was still in prison. I'm not trying 628 00:34:15,330 --> 00:34:18,029 Speaker 2: to minimize his pain. He was in prison. He was 629 00:34:18,150 --> 00:34:18,610 Speaker 2: in chains. 630 00:34:18,630 --> 00:34:21,380 Speaker 3: He was surrounded by soldiers, but he was all right. 631 00:34:23,280 --> 00:34:24,860 Speaker 3: Which means if you're taking those, I want you to 632 00:34:24,880 --> 00:34:25,460 Speaker 3: write this down. 633 00:34:25,800 --> 00:34:34,880 Speaker 2: Which means I don't have to be afraid anymore. See, 634 00:34:35,540 --> 00:34:40,780 Speaker 2: y'all remember the movie Home Alone? By the way, part 635 00:34:40,810 --> 00:34:45,259 Speaker 2: two is the better one. But there's a scene in 636 00:34:45,320 --> 00:34:48,850 Speaker 2: Home Alone where Kevin comes out and he says, I'm 637 00:34:48,890 --> 00:34:53,290 Speaker 2: not afraid anymore. I'm not afraid anymore. 638 00:34:53,310 --> 00:34:56,089 Speaker 3: I think we need to walk out of church today 639 00:34:56,360 --> 00:34:58,010 Speaker 3: and look at the enemy and let him know, hey, 640 00:34:58,120 --> 00:35:01,420 Speaker 3: I want you to know, devil, I'm not afraid anymore. 641 00:35:01,440 --> 00:35:03,879 Speaker 5: I'm not worried about what's going to come my way. 642 00:35:04,260 --> 00:35:06,940 Speaker 2: I know who my God is. I know who's with me. 643 00:35:07,280 --> 00:35:09,759 Speaker 2: I've seen other people's stories and. 644 00:35:09,760 --> 00:35:10,840 Speaker 6: I saw how. 645 00:35:10,700 --> 00:35:13,860 Speaker 3: They made it through, which means I'm going to. 646 00:35:13,760 --> 00:35:17,340 Speaker 2: Make it through too. I'm going to be all right. 647 00:35:21,730 --> 00:35:23,490 Speaker 2: Sit down for just a moment. Sit down for a moment. 648 00:35:23,690 --> 00:35:24,270 Speaker 2: I'm almost done. 649 00:35:25,870 --> 00:35:28,230 Speaker 3: The good news is that you and I have examples 650 00:35:28,290 --> 00:35:29,870 Speaker 3: of this all over the Bible. 651 00:35:32,380 --> 00:35:33,110 Speaker 2: All over the Bible. 652 00:35:35,400 --> 00:35:40,020 Speaker 3: Moses is standing in front of an ocean with millions 653 00:35:40,060 --> 00:35:42,560 Speaker 3: of people behind him and Pharaoh's. 654 00:35:42,239 --> 00:35:47,840 Speaker 2: Shoulders at his neck. But in the end, he was alright. 655 00:35:50,820 --> 00:35:56,640 Speaker 2: David is sent to go take some Lunchables to his brothers. 656 00:35:58,400 --> 00:36:03,719 Speaker 2: He's a cheese boy. Comes with a little picnic basket 657 00:36:03,739 --> 00:36:08,810 Speaker 2: and some sandwiches. See, he's a giant. And he said, 658 00:36:09,370 --> 00:36:10,330 Speaker 2: I'll take care of that giant. 659 00:36:10,870 --> 00:36:13,129 Speaker 3: And David, listen to me, because if you're not careful, 660 00:36:13,150 --> 00:36:14,609 Speaker 3: you've heard the story so many times that you don't. 661 00:36:14,510 --> 00:36:19,549 Speaker 2: Realize the impact of it. David thought a giant. But 662 00:36:19,590 --> 00:36:25,440 Speaker 2: in the end, David was all right. Daniel is in 663 00:36:25,460 --> 00:36:29,230 Speaker 2: the lion's den with a lion looking him face to face. 664 00:36:30,610 --> 00:36:32,870 Speaker 2: And in the end, Daniel was all right. 665 00:36:34,140 --> 00:36:39,520 Speaker 3: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego get thrown into a fire because 666 00:36:39,540 --> 00:36:42,420 Speaker 3: they will not bow down to the king, and at 667 00:36:42,460 --> 00:36:45,069 Speaker 3: the end of the story, they come out of the 668 00:36:45,180 --> 00:36:48,830 Speaker 3: fire untouched, and the king even said, I feel like 669 00:36:48,930 --> 00:36:49,390 Speaker 3: I see a. 670 00:36:49,489 --> 00:36:52,609 Speaker 2: Fourth man in the fire, and it looks like the 671 00:36:52,850 --> 00:36:56,009 Speaker 2: son of man. They went through the fire, but in 672 00:36:56,050 --> 00:36:57,820 Speaker 2: the end, they were all right. 673 00:37:01,750 --> 00:37:05,130 Speaker 3: And the angel comes down to Mary and says, Mary, 674 00:37:05,150 --> 00:37:08,630 Speaker 3: I know you're young and I know that you haven't. 675 00:37:08,430 --> 00:37:09,250 Speaker 2: Been married yet. 676 00:37:10,239 --> 00:37:16,220 Speaker 3: But Mary, you will give birth to a son, Emmanuel, 677 00:37:16,900 --> 00:37:18,379 Speaker 3: God with us. 678 00:37:19,460 --> 00:37:23,100 Speaker 2: And Mary said, let it be as you have said. 679 00:37:23,660 --> 00:37:26,020 Speaker 2: And in the end, Mary was all right. 680 00:37:29,670 --> 00:37:39,490 Speaker 3: Paul is in prison Soldiers, prison bars, chains. And somehow 681 00:37:40,030 --> 00:37:42,649 Speaker 3: in the end, Paul was all right. 682 00:37:45,830 --> 00:37:46,570 Speaker 2: He said, I'm all right. 683 00:37:47,620 --> 00:37:51,140 Speaker 3: He said, even if they take my life, to be 684 00:37:51,360 --> 00:37:53,880 Speaker 3: absent from the body is to be present with the Lord. 685 00:37:55,180 --> 00:37:57,040 Speaker 2: Even if I'm not right here, I'm going to be 686 00:37:57,160 --> 00:38:00,109 Speaker 2: all right up there. You ain't got to worry about me. 687 00:38:00,390 --> 00:38:05,200 Speaker 2: I'm going to be just fine. Paul was all right. 688 00:38:06,250 --> 00:38:13,890 Speaker 2: This last one. Jesus is on a cross. A sign 689 00:38:14,030 --> 00:38:17,310 Speaker 2: over his head. The king of the Jews. People mocking him. 690 00:38:17,350 --> 00:38:19,950 Speaker 2: If you're really the son of God, come down from 691 00:38:19,989 --> 00:38:23,210 Speaker 2: that cross and show us who you are. Nails in 692 00:38:23,250 --> 00:38:27,240 Speaker 2: his hands. Nails in his feet. A spear in his side. 693 00:38:27,540 --> 00:38:30,960 Speaker 2: Wine in his mouth. People mocking him. And guess what? 694 00:38:31,100 --> 00:38:34,080 Speaker 2: Jesus dies. But Jesus, he died. 695 00:38:34,320 --> 00:38:36,600 Speaker 3: They took him down and they put him in a grave, 696 00:38:36,840 --> 00:38:38,240 Speaker 3: but he didn't stay in the grave. 697 00:38:38,480 --> 00:38:40,600 Speaker 2: He was there for one day. He was there for 698 00:38:40,640 --> 00:38:41,180 Speaker 2: two days. 699 00:38:41,420 --> 00:38:45,089 Speaker 3: But on the third day, the Bible says he is resurrected. 700 00:38:45,340 --> 00:38:46,640 Speaker 2: He comes out of the grave. 701 00:38:46,910 --> 00:38:49,069 Speaker 5: You might have seen him on a cross, but I 702 00:38:49,110 --> 00:38:52,990 Speaker 5: want you to know Jesus is doing just fine. 703 00:38:53,210 --> 00:38:54,310 Speaker 2: He's resurrected. 704 00:38:54,489 --> 00:38:56,190 Speaker 5: He's got a glorious body. 705 00:38:56,450 --> 00:38:57,310 Speaker 2: He's sitting at. 706 00:38:57,210 --> 00:38:58,730 Speaker 3: The right hand of the Father. 707 00:38:59,090 --> 00:39:03,560 Speaker 5: Interceding for you and interceding for me. He has to 708 00:39:03,580 --> 00:39:06,280 Speaker 5: go to the cross. He has to go to the jail. 709 00:39:06,320 --> 00:39:07,859 Speaker 5: He has to go through the hurt. 710 00:39:08,060 --> 00:39:10,560 Speaker 2: But in the end, I want you to know, Jesus 711 00:39:11,540 --> 00:39:22,330 Speaker 2: is all right. Which means that if he died, He resurrected. 712 00:39:22,890 --> 00:39:25,090 Speaker 3: And if he came out of the grave, it means 713 00:39:25,130 --> 00:39:35,000 Speaker 3: that you and I will too. stand on your feet 714 00:39:35,020 --> 00:39:36,540 Speaker 3: this morning church I'm. 715 00:39:36,460 --> 00:39:42,840 Speaker 2: Almost done if God could take. 716 00:39:44,140 --> 00:39:51,210 Speaker 3: Jonathan Rivera broken Puerto Rican kid on the city bus 717 00:39:53,050 --> 00:40:01,520 Speaker 3: single handicapped mom going from one painful event to another 718 00:40:01,580 --> 00:40:06,080 Speaker 3: painful event fighting every day to try to move forward 719 00:40:07,520 --> 00:40:10,340 Speaker 3: called to preach but he's got a stuttering. 720 00:40:09,900 --> 00:40:17,390 Speaker 7: Problem if God could do it with David And he 721 00:40:17,430 --> 00:40:20,009 Speaker 7: could do it with Moses. And he could do it 722 00:40:20,290 --> 00:40:23,230 Speaker 7: with Daniel. And he could do it with Mary. And 723 00:40:23,250 --> 00:40:25,750 Speaker 7: he could do it with Jesus. And he could do 724 00:40:25,790 --> 00:40:28,630 Speaker 7: it with me. It also means he could do it 725 00:40:28,950 --> 00:40:29,790 Speaker 7: with you. 726 00:40:38,330 --> 00:40:43,720 Speaker 3: This is why testimonies are so important. The Bible says 727 00:40:43,760 --> 00:40:47,489 Speaker 3: that we overcome by the blood of the lamb and 728 00:40:47,550 --> 00:40:51,500 Speaker 3: the word of our testimony. I remember I grew up 729 00:40:51,540 --> 00:40:53,239 Speaker 3: in a church where once in a while we would 730 00:40:53,260 --> 00:40:56,339 Speaker 3: have a testimony night and the elderly lady would come 731 00:40:56,380 --> 00:40:58,259 Speaker 3: to the front and the pastor would give her the mic, 732 00:40:58,280 --> 00:40:59,420 Speaker 3: but he held the mic because he didn't know what 733 00:40:59,440 --> 00:41:01,450 Speaker 3: she was going to say. And so the elderly lady 734 00:41:01,680 --> 00:41:03,770 Speaker 3: would come to the front and she would say, pastor 735 00:41:03,989 --> 00:41:06,469 Speaker 3: and church, I want you to know that six months 736 00:41:06,510 --> 00:41:09,049 Speaker 3: ago I went to the doctor and the doctor gave 737 00:41:09,110 --> 00:41:10,969 Speaker 3: me a report and I looked at the doctor and 738 00:41:11,030 --> 00:41:13,649 Speaker 3: I told the doctor, listen, doctor, I don't believe you. 739 00:41:14,010 --> 00:41:17,739 Speaker 2: I believe my God. And I know he's going to 740 00:41:17,760 --> 00:41:19,450 Speaker 2: heal me and he's going to restore me. 741 00:41:19,770 --> 00:41:21,609 Speaker 3: And the doctor said, that's fine, ma'am. But I want 742 00:41:21,630 --> 00:41:23,110 Speaker 3: you to come back in six months so we could 743 00:41:23,130 --> 00:41:25,690 Speaker 3: check on you. Which, by the way, go check with 744 00:41:25,710 --> 00:41:28,830 Speaker 3: your doctor. Go to the doctor, all right? Take your vitamins, kids. 745 00:41:28,870 --> 00:41:32,730 Speaker 3: Take your vitamins. She says, I came back to the 746 00:41:32,770 --> 00:41:35,670 Speaker 3: doctor six months later and he shows the report and 747 00:41:35,690 --> 00:41:37,649 Speaker 3: he says, ma'am, I can't explain this. 748 00:41:37,969 --> 00:41:39,230 Speaker 2: I don't know what happened. 749 00:41:39,510 --> 00:41:43,029 Speaker 3: I can't scientifically prove what took place, but I saw 750 00:41:43,070 --> 00:41:46,450 Speaker 3: cancer and there's not cancer anymore. I saw a sickness 751 00:41:46,680 --> 00:41:49,540 Speaker 3: and there's no sickness anymore. I saw a disease and 752 00:41:49,580 --> 00:41:50,740 Speaker 3: there's no disease anymore. 753 00:41:50,960 --> 00:41:53,520 Speaker 2: She's got a testimony. Someone shout out testimony. 754 00:41:55,780 --> 00:41:57,739 Speaker 3: Then somebody else will come to the mic and they 755 00:41:57,760 --> 00:42:01,120 Speaker 3: will say, a year ago, me and my wife were 756 00:42:01,140 --> 00:42:03,040 Speaker 3: going through a really rough patch. We're going through a 757 00:42:03,040 --> 00:42:05,880 Speaker 3: tough situation. And the truth is we had divorce papers 758 00:42:06,380 --> 00:42:10,379 Speaker 3: on the table. And we didn't move it off the table, 759 00:42:10,400 --> 00:42:14,640 Speaker 3: but we didn't sign it either. We knew stuff was rough, 760 00:42:15,840 --> 00:42:19,549 Speaker 3: but we didn't know what was going to happen. And 761 00:42:19,570 --> 00:42:22,210 Speaker 3: then we came to church on a Sunday. And there 762 00:42:22,230 --> 00:42:24,770 Speaker 3: was a word that the pastor gave. And on the 763 00:42:24,810 --> 00:42:28,210 Speaker 3: way home, we just started crying. Because we felt like 764 00:42:28,250 --> 00:42:30,589 Speaker 3: God was doing something in our heart. And we felt 765 00:42:30,610 --> 00:42:32,710 Speaker 3: like God wanted us to fight for our marriage. And 766 00:42:32,730 --> 00:42:34,390 Speaker 3: we came to let you know today, church, that we 767 00:42:34,430 --> 00:42:37,339 Speaker 3: ripped up the divorce papers. And God's working on our marriage. 768 00:42:37,540 --> 00:42:39,719 Speaker 3: And we're still coming to church. And we're trying to 769 00:42:39,760 --> 00:42:42,920 Speaker 3: be faithful. And we're restoring our family. And God's working 770 00:42:42,960 --> 00:42:44,799 Speaker 3: on us. And it's one day at a time. But 771 00:42:44,840 --> 00:42:47,239 Speaker 3: I want you to know, we're going to be all right. Today. 772 00:42:53,910 --> 00:42:54,170 Speaker 2: Today. 773 00:42:55,130 --> 00:42:59,150 Speaker 3: My encouragement to you is all over the Bible, there 774 00:42:59,190 --> 00:43:03,670 Speaker 3: is proof that you don't have to be afraid of 775 00:43:03,710 --> 00:43:05,750 Speaker 3: what's on the other side. Someone say the other side. 776 00:43:06,930 --> 00:43:08,180 Speaker 3: Do me a favor real quick. If you're in this 777 00:43:08,219 --> 00:43:13,200 Speaker 3: room today and you've got a testimony of God's faithfulness. 778 00:43:12,780 --> 00:43:16,580 Speaker 2: In your life, in your marriage, in your kids, in 779 00:43:16,620 --> 00:43:20,339 Speaker 2: your business, in your body, in your mind, right where 780 00:43:20,390 --> 00:43:30,649 Speaker 2: you are, lift up your hand. Listen to me. I 781 00:43:30,670 --> 00:43:31,890 Speaker 2: just get, no, keep it up, keep it up, keep 782 00:43:31,910 --> 00:43:32,069 Speaker 2: it up. 783 00:43:35,270 --> 00:43:39,110 Speaker 3: I just gave you a bunch of reasons to believe 784 00:43:39,850 --> 00:43:42,140 Speaker 3: that you're going to make it, that God's going to 785 00:43:42,180 --> 00:43:46,580 Speaker 3: get you through, that you and I are going to 786 00:43:46,660 --> 00:43:48,980 Speaker 3: be all right. 787 00:43:52,360 --> 00:43:54,680 Speaker 2: I don't got to be afraid anymore. And listen to me. 788 00:43:55,400 --> 00:44:01,020 Speaker 2: That is a problem for my problem. I don't know 789 00:44:01,040 --> 00:44:03,480 Speaker 2: what problem you walked in with today. I don't know 790 00:44:03,500 --> 00:44:04,839 Speaker 2: what situation you. 791 00:44:04,739 --> 00:44:07,800 Speaker 3: Might be walking through with your marriage, with your kids, 792 00:44:07,980 --> 00:44:11,200 Speaker 3: with your business, at your job, in your health, in 793 00:44:11,239 --> 00:44:13,660 Speaker 3: your mind. I don't know what you're walking through today, 794 00:44:13,880 --> 00:44:15,299 Speaker 3: but I want you to know that. 795 00:44:15,219 --> 00:44:17,060 Speaker 2: Your problem has a problem. 796 00:44:17,300 --> 00:44:20,660 Speaker 3: His name is Jesus. And I know that right now 797 00:44:20,680 --> 00:44:24,009 Speaker 3: you might be afraid of your problem, but your problem 798 00:44:24,270 --> 00:44:25,669 Speaker 3: is afraid. 799 00:44:25,390 --> 00:44:28,550 Speaker 5: Of your God, which means that today, it doesn't matter 800 00:44:28,590 --> 00:44:31,210 Speaker 5: what you're going through, It doesn't matter what prison you 801 00:44:31,230 --> 00:44:32,049 Speaker 5: find yourself in. 802 00:44:32,350 --> 00:44:34,730 Speaker 2: It doesn't matter what change you might have in your life. 803 00:44:34,989 --> 00:44:37,069 Speaker 2: Guess what you could do? You could still lift up 804 00:44:37,090 --> 00:44:39,830 Speaker 2: your hands. You could still lift up your voice. You 805 00:44:39,870 --> 00:44:41,310 Speaker 2: could still say hallelujah. 806 00:44:41,570 --> 00:44:44,370 Speaker 5: You could still say thank you, Jesus, because I might 807 00:44:44,450 --> 00:44:47,410 Speaker 5: be here right now, but I don't got to be 808 00:44:47,430 --> 00:44:51,109 Speaker 5: afraid because I know what's on the other side of this, 809 00:44:51,410 --> 00:44:54,110 Speaker 5: and the truth is that I know I'm going to. 810 00:44:54,030 --> 00:44:56,319 Speaker 2: Be all right. I'm going to walk out of this 811 00:44:56,610 --> 00:44:57,390 Speaker 2: with a testimony. 812 00:44:57,410 --> 00:45:00,040 Speaker 5: I'm going to walk out of this with a story 813 00:45:00,100 --> 00:45:02,239 Speaker 5: of God's goodness. I'm going to walk out of this 814 00:45:02,500 --> 00:45:04,260 Speaker 5: with a story of God's faithfulness. 815 00:45:04,340 --> 00:45:05,580 Speaker 2: Come on. 816 00:45:06,060 --> 00:45:13,520 Speaker 8: I'm giving all that I am. You gave me chance 817 00:45:13,700 --> 00:45:16,330 Speaker 8: after chance. After chance. 818 00:45:16,510 --> 00:45:19,130 Speaker 2: After chance. 819 00:45:21,070 --> 00:45:22,910 Speaker 8: I'm lifting. 820 00:45:23,430 --> 00:45:25,630 Speaker 2: I'm lifting both of my hands. 821 00:45:26,600 --> 00:45:34,549 Speaker 8: Cause you gave me chance after chance, after chance. And I, 822 00:45:35,730 --> 00:45:40,770 Speaker 8: I'm giving all that I am. Cause you gave me 823 00:45:40,850 --> 00:45:48,209 Speaker 8: chance after chance, after chance. Who am I that you 824 00:45:48,330 --> 00:45:49,740 Speaker 8: keep me on? 825 00:45:49,810 --> 00:45:53,109 Speaker 6: God, I'm just grateful for you. 826 00:45:54,960 --> 00:45:57,160 Speaker 2: God, I'm just grateful for. 827 00:45:58,300 --> 00:45:58,580 Speaker 3: You. 828 00:46:00,320 --> 00:46:03,720 Speaker 8: And all my life, you've been. 829 00:46:03,520 --> 00:46:09,299 Speaker 2: Right here by my side. God, I'm just grateful for you. 830 00:46:09,469 --> 00:46:13,930 Speaker 8: I'm really, really grateful. Think, who am I? Who am I? 831 00:46:14,150 --> 00:46:17,550 Speaker 8: That you keep me on your mind. God, I'm just. 832 00:46:18,489 --> 00:46:18,689 Speaker 3: I'm. 833 00:46:18,790 --> 00:46:19,740 Speaker 8: Just grateful for you. 834 00:46:19,750 --> 00:46:22,549 Speaker 2: God, I'm just grateful for you. 835 00:46:22,570 --> 00:46:28,290 Speaker 8: All my life, all my life, you've been right here 836 00:46:28,350 --> 00:46:29,089 Speaker 8: by my side. 837 00:46:29,210 --> 00:46:33,049 Speaker 6: God, I'm just grateful for you. 838 00:46:33,180 --> 00:46:35,080 Speaker 2: I'm really, really grateful. 839 00:46:35,900 --> 00:46:41,200 Speaker 8: I survived. I survived. And I'm here to testify. 840 00:46:41,260 --> 00:46:43,600 Speaker 2: You better testify, testify. 841 00:46:43,739 --> 00:46:53,810 Speaker 6: I'm just grateful. You gotta testify, testify Sing I'm alright, 842 00:46:57,450 --> 00:47:03,640 Speaker 6: I'm alright God I'm just grateful for you God I'm 843 00:47:03,820 --> 00:47:04,919 Speaker 6: just grateful for. 844 00:47:04,860 --> 00:47:14,450 Speaker 1: You Hey, I hope you enjoyed the podcast. And if 845 00:47:14,489 --> 00:47:17,799 Speaker 1: you did, make sure to share it and subscribe so 846 00:47:17,820 --> 00:47:20,299 Speaker 1: we can get you all of these new messages as 847 00:47:20,380 --> 00:47:22,719 Speaker 1: soon as they're available. I also want to take a 848 00:47:22,760 --> 00:47:24,779 Speaker 1: moment and thank all of you who are a part 849 00:47:24,820 --> 00:47:28,700 Speaker 1: of Elevation. Whether you support us financially or serve with 850 00:47:28,880 --> 00:47:32,040 Speaker 1: us or just share these messages, it's because of you 851 00:47:32,080 --> 00:47:34,720 Speaker 1: that we're able to reach people. all around the world. 852 00:47:35,080 --> 00:47:37,580 Speaker 1: And if you want more information on how to be 853 00:47:37,600 --> 00:47:40,799 Speaker 1: a part of Elevation, click the link in the description. 854 00:47:41,300 --> 00:47:43,370 Speaker 1: Thanks again for listening. Make sure to leave a review, 855 00:47:43,910 --> 00:47:46,480 Speaker 1: share the message and subscribe. God bless you.