1 00:00:02,120 --> 00:00:06,280 Speaker 1: Welcome to the Elevation Church Podcast. Today, we wanted to 2 00:00:06,320 --> 00:00:09,400 Speaker 1: share a message with you that Pastor Stephen preached at 3 00:00:09,400 --> 00:00:13,280 Speaker 1: our annual praise party on New Year's Eve twenty nineteen. 4 00:00:13,800 --> 00:00:16,439 Speaker 1: We never could have known the hardships that would be ahead, 5 00:00:16,600 --> 00:00:19,959 Speaker 1: but we believe this message will still encourage you that 6 00:00:20,079 --> 00:00:23,440 Speaker 1: no matter how big our problems may seem, we serve 7 00:00:23,560 --> 00:00:28,880 Speaker 1: an even bigger God. Enjoy the message. I believe that 8 00:00:28,920 --> 00:00:32,040 Speaker 1: God has given you strategic influence and He's positioned you, 9 00:00:32,600 --> 00:00:35,479 Speaker 1: and I want to help in this new year to 10 00:00:35,560 --> 00:00:38,040 Speaker 1: set a trajectory for your faith that you can believe 11 00:00:38,080 --> 00:00:39,440 Speaker 1: that God is going to use you to make a 12 00:00:39,479 --> 00:00:43,839 Speaker 1: difference wherever you are. Tell somebody next to you you're 13 00:00:43,880 --> 00:00:47,360 Speaker 1: a big deal. Ask him, can I get a selfie 14 00:00:47,400 --> 00:00:51,559 Speaker 1: with you? In fact, pull out your phone right now? 15 00:00:51,560 --> 00:00:54,800 Speaker 1: Would you do that? Just real quick, real quick? Pull 16 00:00:54,840 --> 00:00:59,520 Speaker 1: out your phone, pull up your camera app, put it 17 00:00:59,560 --> 00:01:05,880 Speaker 1: in self and point it right at that beautiful face 18 00:01:06,880 --> 00:01:10,520 Speaker 1: of yours. And when I say three, I want you 19 00:01:10,560 --> 00:01:13,160 Speaker 1: to take a picture. Are you ready? Come on, We're 20 00:01:13,160 --> 00:01:16,119 Speaker 1: going to do this together, and there's a reason for it. 21 00:01:17,360 --> 00:01:18,960 Speaker 1: When I say three, I want you to get a 22 00:01:19,000 --> 00:01:21,600 Speaker 1: picture real quick. Are you ready on every location. If 23 00:01:21,600 --> 00:01:30,080 Speaker 1: you're ready to say ready one, two, three, cool, put 24 00:01:30,120 --> 00:01:36,399 Speaker 1: your phone on. I just wanted you to have proof. 25 00:01:38,640 --> 00:01:43,119 Speaker 1: I just wanted you to have proof because all this year, 26 00:01:43,480 --> 00:01:45,480 Speaker 1: the enemy is going to try to get you to 27 00:01:45,520 --> 00:01:49,280 Speaker 1: think that you can't make it, and that your faith 28 00:01:49,360 --> 00:01:52,800 Speaker 1: isn't strong enough, and that you don't have what it takes, 29 00:01:53,680 --> 00:01:57,160 Speaker 1: and that you can't survive the storm. And when he 30 00:01:57,200 --> 00:02:00,240 Speaker 1: does that, I want you to pull that picture up 31 00:02:01,440 --> 00:02:04,480 Speaker 1: and remind him that he told you that same bs 32 00:02:04,600 --> 00:02:09,760 Speaker 1: at the beginning of twenty nineteen. I'm sorry, it's late. 33 00:02:09,840 --> 00:02:15,480 Speaker 1: My filter comes off at ten thirty. And I want 34 00:02:15,520 --> 00:02:20,440 Speaker 1: you to have proof that the weapon may be formed, 35 00:02:21,600 --> 00:02:25,600 Speaker 1: but it didn't work last time and it won't work 36 00:02:25,680 --> 00:02:29,760 Speaker 1: this time. And so when he comes in your face 37 00:02:29,919 --> 00:02:33,240 Speaker 1: trying to make you think this is the end and 38 00:02:33,320 --> 00:02:36,320 Speaker 1: you can't do it and you're not enough and you 39 00:02:36,360 --> 00:02:39,000 Speaker 1: are not significant, I want you to show him that 40 00:02:39,160 --> 00:02:42,960 Speaker 1: selfie how you were in church for the last hour 41 00:02:43,040 --> 00:02:46,840 Speaker 1: of twenty nineteen and all for the next ten years. 42 00:02:47,320 --> 00:02:50,440 Speaker 1: Just flash it at the devil and say I got proof. 43 00:02:57,639 --> 00:03:02,800 Speaker 1: You know, we so easily confused use the presence of 44 00:03:02,880 --> 00:03:08,440 Speaker 1: God with the absence of problems, the goodness of God 45 00:03:08,480 --> 00:03:11,760 Speaker 1: with the absence of problems. I'm preaching already and I 46 00:03:11,840 --> 00:03:16,720 Speaker 1: haven't read my verse. Second Kings, chapter six, verse eight. 47 00:03:16,720 --> 00:03:18,680 Speaker 1: How many of you this is your first New Year's 48 00:03:18,720 --> 00:03:23,840 Speaker 1: Eve ever in church? How many of you? If I 49 00:03:23,919 --> 00:03:26,040 Speaker 1: knew what you were doing last New Year's Eve, I'd 50 00:03:26,040 --> 00:03:30,399 Speaker 1: be really proud of how much progress you've made. Wow, 51 00:03:31,560 --> 00:03:37,360 Speaker 1: You're my favorite. In Second Kings chapter six, there is 52 00:03:37,400 --> 00:03:41,560 Speaker 1: an illustration of what happens in these moments where we 53 00:03:41,640 --> 00:03:45,120 Speaker 1: must make a decision whether we are going to view 54 00:03:45,160 --> 00:03:49,680 Speaker 1: our life through faith or through fear. And I want 55 00:03:49,680 --> 00:03:53,040 Speaker 1: to share it with you from Second Kings chapter six, 56 00:03:53,440 --> 00:03:57,120 Speaker 1: beginning in verse eight. And please pray for me, because 57 00:03:57,160 --> 00:04:00,640 Speaker 1: I take these moments seriously. Not so much just to 58 00:04:00,680 --> 00:04:02,440 Speaker 1: give you a lesson where you can write a few 59 00:04:02,440 --> 00:04:06,800 Speaker 1: things down or a few tweetable, quotable lines, but to 60 00:04:06,920 --> 00:04:10,720 Speaker 1: really speak something over your life that will bring to 61 00:04:10,840 --> 00:04:13,400 Speaker 1: closure some of the conflict that you've been going through, 62 00:04:14,080 --> 00:04:16,880 Speaker 1: so that you can transform it and convert it into 63 00:04:17,000 --> 00:04:20,880 Speaker 1: power for what's ahead of you. That's why we came tonight, 64 00:04:21,800 --> 00:04:25,320 Speaker 1: and that's what we intend to do. In tewod Kings 65 00:04:25,400 --> 00:04:28,680 Speaker 1: chapter six, verse eight, the Bible says now the King 66 00:04:28,839 --> 00:04:33,240 Speaker 1: of Aram was at war with Israel. After conferring with 67 00:04:33,320 --> 00:04:36,800 Speaker 1: his officers, he said, I will set up my camp 68 00:04:37,240 --> 00:04:40,880 Speaker 1: in such and such a place. The Man of God 69 00:04:40,960 --> 00:04:45,000 Speaker 1: sent word to the King of Israel, beware of passing 70 00:04:45,040 --> 00:04:49,240 Speaker 1: that place, because the Aramians are going down there. So 71 00:04:49,480 --> 00:04:52,200 Speaker 1: the King of Israel checked on the place indicated by 72 00:04:52,279 --> 00:04:56,640 Speaker 1: the Man of God time and again. Elisha warned the 73 00:04:56,720 --> 00:05:01,920 Speaker 1: king so that he was on his guard in such places. 74 00:05:02,800 --> 00:05:08,880 Speaker 1: This enraged the King of Aram. He summoned his officers 75 00:05:09,240 --> 00:05:12,880 Speaker 1: and demanded of them, will you not tell me which 76 00:05:12,920 --> 00:05:15,239 Speaker 1: of us is on the side of the King of Israel. 77 00:05:15,720 --> 00:05:18,960 Speaker 1: Do you know how mad you made the devil just 78 00:05:19,040 --> 00:05:23,360 Speaker 1: by showing up tonight. I mean, he said, so many 79 00:05:23,560 --> 00:05:27,120 Speaker 1: traps for you this year. Tried to make you bitter, 80 00:05:27,640 --> 00:05:30,920 Speaker 1: tried to make you envious of others, tried to keep 81 00:05:30,960 --> 00:05:34,159 Speaker 1: you in a depression. I know you've been going through things. 82 00:05:34,440 --> 00:05:36,440 Speaker 1: He tried. He couldn't get you to go crazy, so 83 00:05:36,480 --> 00:05:39,120 Speaker 1: he started messing with your kids. He thought, if he 84 00:05:39,120 --> 00:05:41,839 Speaker 1: could get your kids to go crazy enough, maybe you 85 00:05:41,880 --> 00:05:44,880 Speaker 1: would lose your hope in God. Even some people in 86 00:05:44,960 --> 00:05:47,800 Speaker 1: your life left this year that you were counting on 87 00:05:48,240 --> 00:05:51,320 Speaker 1: and after all of that, here you are. The Bible 88 00:05:51,360 --> 00:05:55,599 Speaker 1: says it enraged the enemies of Israel because no matter 89 00:05:55,680 --> 00:05:58,320 Speaker 1: what they did to try to bring down the king, 90 00:05:58,800 --> 00:06:02,960 Speaker 1: God had someone on the inside to warn them about it. 91 00:06:04,320 --> 00:06:06,359 Speaker 1: Tell the person next to you, I got somebody on 92 00:06:06,440 --> 00:06:11,080 Speaker 1: the inside. And it makes the devil mad, and it 93 00:06:11,120 --> 00:06:13,920 Speaker 1: makes them a little bit confused, And honestly, it makes 94 00:06:13,960 --> 00:06:16,960 Speaker 1: him nervous to see you praising God like you've been 95 00:06:16,960 --> 00:06:20,880 Speaker 1: praising God tonight. I mean this that some of you, 96 00:06:21,040 --> 00:06:25,839 Speaker 1: just by lifting your hands tonight, you caused all kinds 97 00:06:25,880 --> 00:06:31,200 Speaker 1: of confusion in hell. Not only have angels been watching 98 00:06:31,240 --> 00:06:34,200 Speaker 1: you this year, but the demons have been watching you too, 99 00:06:34,920 --> 00:06:38,000 Speaker 1: the ones that were assigned to wreak havoc in your mind. 100 00:06:38,440 --> 00:06:43,120 Speaker 1: And they thought, surely by now you'd be tired. They thought, surely, 101 00:06:43,160 --> 00:06:46,640 Speaker 1: after all you've been through, you would skip church and 102 00:06:46,800 --> 00:06:50,440 Speaker 1: sleep in. But look at you in the presence of God. 103 00:06:50,839 --> 00:06:55,960 Speaker 1: To confuse the enemy, now we need to take nineteen 104 00:06:56,160 --> 00:07:01,159 Speaker 1: seconds and embarrass the enemy to let him know him. 105 00:07:01,279 --> 00:07:07,039 Speaker 1: Then what he did, it didn't work. Then what he 106 00:07:07,160 --> 00:07:13,680 Speaker 1: did it hurt, but it didn't work. You'll still got 107 00:07:13,720 --> 00:07:28,160 Speaker 1: eleven seconds on the clock. Read my scripture. I'm reading 108 00:07:28,200 --> 00:07:37,160 Speaker 1: my scripture. This is a dignified moment. You're chaotic, church members. Well, 109 00:07:37,200 --> 00:07:42,320 Speaker 1: he was mad because everywhere he wanted to attack Israel, 110 00:07:42,360 --> 00:07:49,400 Speaker 1: God's chosen people. There was a there was a I 111 00:07:49,400 --> 00:07:51,040 Speaker 1: don't want to call him a spy. He was a 112 00:07:51,080 --> 00:07:56,520 Speaker 1: prophet Elisha. He had an ability to see things. And 113 00:07:56,640 --> 00:08:05,440 Speaker 1: you think Siri is scary. Really, Alexa scares me. How 114 00:08:05,480 --> 00:08:08,840 Speaker 1: stuff starts showing up on my phone And I think 115 00:08:08,920 --> 00:08:12,240 Speaker 1: Alexa is talking to Siri, and Siri is talking to Google, 116 00:08:12,480 --> 00:08:15,960 Speaker 1: and Google is talking to Instagram, and I'm terrified that 117 00:08:16,040 --> 00:08:18,640 Speaker 1: they're listening to me. Now watch this. This is interesting 118 00:08:19,920 --> 00:08:23,720 Speaker 1: because the spirit of God in Elisha would give him 119 00:08:24,280 --> 00:08:28,760 Speaker 1: a location where the enemy was going to attack God's people. 120 00:08:29,520 --> 00:08:32,520 Speaker 1: And when they called together all of the different high 121 00:08:32,600 --> 00:08:35,800 Speaker 1: ranking officials to see who is the one who is 122 00:08:35,920 --> 00:08:40,000 Speaker 1: spoiling our ambushes and causing our attempts to attack the 123 00:08:40,040 --> 00:08:43,160 Speaker 1: people of God not to work, the response came in 124 00:08:43,240 --> 00:08:47,679 Speaker 1: verse twelve, none of us, my lord the king, but Elisha, 125 00:08:48,440 --> 00:08:52,040 Speaker 1: the prophet who is in Israel, tells the King of 126 00:08:52,120 --> 00:08:57,160 Speaker 1: Israel the very words you speak in your bedroom. Yikes. 127 00:09:00,120 --> 00:09:06,600 Speaker 1: So everywhere that Israel travel, God would send a word 128 00:09:06,720 --> 00:09:10,920 Speaker 1: through Elisha to tell them where they needed Verse tences 129 00:09:10,920 --> 00:09:16,880 Speaker 1: to be on their guard in such places. Tonight, I 130 00:09:16,920 --> 00:09:21,360 Speaker 1: want to tell you that for this year twenty twenty, 131 00:09:22,240 --> 00:09:25,160 Speaker 1: you know, like twenty twenty vision. Yeah, for this year, 132 00:09:25,880 --> 00:09:30,400 Speaker 1: you need to see some things with your spirit that 133 00:09:30,480 --> 00:09:36,719 Speaker 1: you cannot see with your senses. And the reason this 134 00:09:36,800 --> 00:09:41,240 Speaker 1: is so important is because if you don't recognize where 135 00:09:41,280 --> 00:09:44,800 Speaker 1: the enemy is attacking you the most frequently and ask 136 00:09:44,880 --> 00:09:48,280 Speaker 1: God to give you insight into the places of your 137 00:09:48,320 --> 00:09:52,559 Speaker 1: greatest vulnerability, you will spend all of your energy this 138 00:09:52,679 --> 00:09:57,000 Speaker 1: year fighting battles that you could have avoided if you 139 00:09:57,040 --> 00:10:03,960 Speaker 1: would have learned the lessons of last year. Yeah. I 140 00:10:03,960 --> 00:10:08,040 Speaker 1: don't like this part of my sermon. I know makes 141 00:10:08,080 --> 00:10:10,840 Speaker 1: you mad when you realize that a lot of the 142 00:10:10,880 --> 00:10:16,000 Speaker 1: battles that you fought you could have avoided if you 143 00:10:16,040 --> 00:10:20,560 Speaker 1: had listened to what was on the inside instead of 144 00:10:20,600 --> 00:10:30,400 Speaker 1: responding to what was on the outside. So I want 145 00:10:30,400 --> 00:10:34,680 Speaker 1: to spend this year with what Paul called open eyes 146 00:10:34,840 --> 00:10:38,520 Speaker 1: in my heart. It sounds grotesque when you describe it 147 00:10:38,600 --> 00:10:41,400 Speaker 1: like that, but he was saying that there is a 148 00:10:41,559 --> 00:10:46,360 Speaker 1: kind of sight that does not revolve around external stimuli, 149 00:10:47,280 --> 00:10:50,959 Speaker 1: and it is more based on internal processing. If I 150 00:10:50,960 --> 00:10:53,360 Speaker 1: could break it down even more for you, I would 151 00:10:53,480 --> 00:10:57,680 Speaker 1: use this phrase on his guard in such places to 152 00:10:57,800 --> 00:11:00,440 Speaker 1: describe how I think God intends to pret text you 153 00:11:01,280 --> 00:11:04,600 Speaker 1: as you go into this next season, this next decade 154 00:11:05,200 --> 00:11:09,600 Speaker 1: of your life, and that requires self awareness. There's a 155 00:11:09,640 --> 00:11:16,120 Speaker 1: theological term progressive revelation. It means that while God never changes, 156 00:11:16,240 --> 00:11:22,319 Speaker 1: our understanding of Him unfolds over time, not necessarily chronologically, 157 00:11:22,920 --> 00:11:25,520 Speaker 1: but as we experience different things in our life, we 158 00:11:25,600 --> 00:11:29,480 Speaker 1: come to see God in different ways. Even the Bible 159 00:11:29,559 --> 00:11:33,360 Speaker 1: is constructed with the progressive revelation in mind, so that 160 00:11:33,440 --> 00:11:37,720 Speaker 1: you see concepts introduced in the Book of Genesis that 161 00:11:37,760 --> 00:11:40,400 Speaker 1: are mirrored in the Book of Revelation. That's the first 162 00:11:40,480 --> 00:11:43,240 Speaker 1: and the last, and by the time you get to Revelation, 163 00:11:43,400 --> 00:11:46,040 Speaker 1: you get a full picture of what was hinted at 164 00:11:46,080 --> 00:11:50,160 Speaker 1: in Genesis. So you see types and shadows in the 165 00:11:50,200 --> 00:11:54,480 Speaker 1: Old Testament which ultimately point to Jesus Christ, but they're 166 00:11:54,520 --> 00:11:57,360 Speaker 1: pointing to something that you have not clearly seen yet. 167 00:11:58,360 --> 00:12:02,439 Speaker 1: Life is this way. It is that many of us, 168 00:12:02,480 --> 00:12:05,480 Speaker 1: in this season of our life are going to see 169 00:12:05,520 --> 00:12:09,000 Speaker 1: things that we only saw a shadow of in a 170 00:12:09,040 --> 00:12:13,839 Speaker 1: previous season of our life. Progressive revelation means that God 171 00:12:13,880 --> 00:12:18,800 Speaker 1: wants to show you some things about himself and even 172 00:12:18,920 --> 00:12:21,800 Speaker 1: about you that will cause you to be able to 173 00:12:21,920 --> 00:12:27,880 Speaker 1: avoid what I call unnecessary roughness. It's a football term, 174 00:12:28,120 --> 00:12:31,320 Speaker 1: but it also applies when we're going up against the devil. 175 00:12:31,960 --> 00:12:34,560 Speaker 1: And let me help you with something real quick. Some 176 00:12:34,679 --> 00:12:38,760 Speaker 1: of the battles that you fought last year were in 177 00:12:38,880 --> 00:12:49,160 Speaker 1: places that you never should have been. I know it's 178 00:12:49,160 --> 00:12:53,120 Speaker 1: supposed to be a praise party, but before we party, 179 00:12:53,880 --> 00:12:57,880 Speaker 1: can I preach for a moment? I got twenty four 180 00:12:57,920 --> 00:13:01,559 Speaker 1: minutes to tell you about this. There are certain places 181 00:13:02,120 --> 00:13:06,079 Speaker 1: that you need to stay away from this year, because 182 00:13:06,160 --> 00:13:09,560 Speaker 1: if you go there and then ask God to protect 183 00:13:09,600 --> 00:13:14,760 Speaker 1: you in those places. I don't know whether to start 184 00:13:14,800 --> 00:13:19,280 Speaker 1: with Facebook, or whether to start with CNN, or whether 185 00:13:19,320 --> 00:13:22,320 Speaker 1: to start with Fox News, but we have to be 186 00:13:22,559 --> 00:13:26,320 Speaker 1: very careful about where we go. Watch this not just 187 00:13:26,400 --> 00:13:36,880 Speaker 1: with our bodies, but with our minds, because it is 188 00:13:37,040 --> 00:13:40,680 Speaker 1: very possible that God is trying to warn you about 189 00:13:40,720 --> 00:13:43,880 Speaker 1: certain places that every time you go there you start 190 00:13:43,880 --> 00:13:47,920 Speaker 1: feeling judgmental, or every time you go there you start 191 00:13:47,960 --> 00:13:51,320 Speaker 1: having comparison, or every time you go there you start 192 00:13:51,320 --> 00:13:54,360 Speaker 1: feeling like your life is missing something. And if I 193 00:13:54,440 --> 00:13:57,240 Speaker 1: were you, I would put that Bible app on the 194 00:13:57,240 --> 00:14:01,720 Speaker 1: front screen of my iPhone this year. For those of 195 00:14:01,760 --> 00:14:03,920 Speaker 1: you who aren't saved yet, you might have an Android, 196 00:14:03,920 --> 00:14:06,359 Speaker 1: but you could put the Bible app on there too, 197 00:14:09,640 --> 00:14:11,960 Speaker 1: and I would find that thing that deletes some of 198 00:14:12,000 --> 00:14:14,520 Speaker 1: the other apps. And can we all just make a 199 00:14:14,559 --> 00:14:16,840 Speaker 1: covenantal agreement in the presence of God on this the 200 00:14:16,960 --> 00:14:22,400 Speaker 1: last sermon of twenty nineteen. Let's all not post our 201 00:14:22,440 --> 00:14:26,120 Speaker 1: workouts until we have been doing them consistently for at 202 00:14:26,200 --> 00:14:32,160 Speaker 1: least four weeks this year. Can we do that? Now, 203 00:14:33,160 --> 00:14:34,920 Speaker 1: look at somebody and say, I don't have to post 204 00:14:34,960 --> 00:14:38,880 Speaker 1: it to prove it, because if I do the work, 205 00:14:38,920 --> 00:14:43,640 Speaker 1: you will notice the results. I won't have to screenshot 206 00:14:44,040 --> 00:14:48,280 Speaker 1: my sweat on the floor. Nobody wants to see your spandex. 207 00:14:48,680 --> 00:14:52,000 Speaker 1: Thank you very much. Do a rep in the secret place, 208 00:14:55,560 --> 00:15:01,800 Speaker 1: will know, will know. And it's really interesting how certain 209 00:15:01,920 --> 00:15:04,920 Speaker 1: places bring me into vulnerability. And I just want to 210 00:15:04,960 --> 00:15:08,240 Speaker 1: ask the question, have you lived long enough to know 211 00:15:08,400 --> 00:15:14,200 Speaker 1: yet where you're most vulnerable? There were certain places where 212 00:15:14,240 --> 00:15:17,960 Speaker 1: the enemy intended to attack, but because the king had 213 00:15:18,040 --> 00:15:21,440 Speaker 1: somebody on the inside. Wouldn't it be nice to have 214 00:15:21,480 --> 00:15:26,120 Speaker 1: somebody on the inside that could tell you, like it 215 00:15:26,120 --> 00:15:29,200 Speaker 1: can tell you where there's traffic, and it can show 216 00:15:29,280 --> 00:15:33,120 Speaker 1: you on the GPS where there's gonna be traffic. Wouldn't 217 00:15:33,160 --> 00:15:36,280 Speaker 1: it be nice to have somebody on the inside like 218 00:15:36,400 --> 00:15:40,640 Speaker 1: Elisha was on the inside and he was feeding information 219 00:15:41,080 --> 00:15:43,920 Speaker 1: to the King saying, don't go there. Wouldn't it be 220 00:15:44,040 --> 00:15:49,920 Speaker 1: nice to have somebody on the inside. Wouldn't it be 221 00:15:50,000 --> 00:15:54,080 Speaker 1: cool if you didn't have to go into this year alone, 222 00:15:55,040 --> 00:15:59,280 Speaker 1: but you could have somebody on the inside. Wouldn't it 223 00:15:59,280 --> 00:16:03,560 Speaker 1: be awesome if when Jesus Christ went to heaven he 224 00:16:03,760 --> 00:16:08,200 Speaker 1: sent down his spirit to live in those who would 225 00:16:08,280 --> 00:16:12,240 Speaker 1: believe in his name. Wouldn't it be awesome if you 226 00:16:12,360 --> 00:16:16,720 Speaker 1: had somebody on the inside, the spirit of truth, the 227 00:16:16,760 --> 00:16:21,120 Speaker 1: spirit of righteousness, the spirit of God telling you don't 228 00:16:21,120 --> 00:16:24,640 Speaker 1: go there, don't think that, don't complete that, cut off 229 00:16:24,640 --> 00:16:27,960 Speaker 1: that conversation, don't give them all that information. And here's 230 00:16:28,000 --> 00:16:30,880 Speaker 1: the beautiful thing about it. God will show you where 231 00:16:31,040 --> 00:16:33,200 Speaker 1: to be on your guard if you will give him 232 00:16:33,240 --> 00:16:42,680 Speaker 1: the opportunity. Even this, God will even show you what 233 00:16:42,960 --> 00:16:46,360 Speaker 1: days of the week you are more susceptible to discouragement, 234 00:16:46,480 --> 00:16:50,560 Speaker 1: so you can plan around it. Y'all, don't believe in God. 235 00:16:52,360 --> 00:16:56,000 Speaker 1: You don't think he's in you. You don't think God 236 00:16:56,080 --> 00:17:00,400 Speaker 1: can show you about yourself what he knows from the 237 00:17:00,400 --> 00:17:03,520 Speaker 1: inside up. You don't think the one who created you 238 00:17:05,840 --> 00:17:11,080 Speaker 1: knows how to counsel you. And yet we all the 239 00:17:11,160 --> 00:17:17,280 Speaker 1: time we go into states of discouragement and then we 240 00:17:17,359 --> 00:17:20,320 Speaker 1: try to pray our way out of them. But we 241 00:17:20,440 --> 00:17:24,280 Speaker 1: got discouraged because of a mental game that we played, 242 00:17:26,280 --> 00:17:32,720 Speaker 1: and no cliches can rescue us. New Year Knew You 243 00:17:42,440 --> 00:17:45,880 Speaker 1: because if we told the truth, it doesn't sound as cute, right. 244 00:17:46,840 --> 00:17:48,560 Speaker 1: What really has to happen for you to change is 245 00:17:48,600 --> 00:17:50,320 Speaker 1: that Romans twelfth says you have to be transformed by 246 00:17:50,320 --> 00:17:53,399 Speaker 1: the renewing of your mind. Okay, So that means that 247 00:17:53,440 --> 00:17:56,320 Speaker 1: you have to do things a different way for a 248 00:17:56,320 --> 00:17:58,920 Speaker 1: long time. And so the pathways that were in your 249 00:17:58,920 --> 00:18:02,399 Speaker 1: mind called neuropathway, that were causing you to do the 250 00:18:02,400 --> 00:18:04,760 Speaker 1: things that you don't want to do anymore, whether that's 251 00:18:04,920 --> 00:18:07,119 Speaker 1: an addiction to pornography, or whether that's an addiction to 252 00:18:07,119 --> 00:18:09,440 Speaker 1: a substance, or whether that's an addiction to food, or 253 00:18:09,480 --> 00:18:12,240 Speaker 1: whether that's an addiction to gossip or whether that's an 254 00:18:12,920 --> 00:18:16,960 Speaker 1: addiction to judging people who struggle with pornography, food, or substances. 255 00:18:16,960 --> 00:18:26,400 Speaker 1: Because I can preach to everybody in the room, I'll 256 00:18:26,440 --> 00:18:29,960 Speaker 1: tell you, Pastor Steve, I don't struggle with these sins 257 00:18:29,960 --> 00:18:33,159 Speaker 1: that you mention. It's actually great because I'm starting this 258 00:18:33,240 --> 00:18:36,280 Speaker 1: new year with a pretty clean slate. I'll tell you 259 00:18:36,560 --> 00:18:39,760 Speaker 1: I've been walking with the Lord for a long time, 260 00:18:40,119 --> 00:18:43,160 Speaker 1: and I don't really have any of these struggles except 261 00:18:43,200 --> 00:18:46,920 Speaker 1: the one with self righteousness that I am expressing by 262 00:18:47,000 --> 00:18:50,960 Speaker 1: saying that I don't need anything new from God this year. 263 00:18:51,920 --> 00:18:58,320 Speaker 1: But to really have a new year, New year, new 264 00:18:58,400 --> 00:19:04,200 Speaker 1: you doesn't really work like that new year new neural pathways. See, 265 00:19:04,240 --> 00:19:08,280 Speaker 1: it doesn't preach's good. Who's gonna put that on Instagram? 266 00:19:08,680 --> 00:19:11,479 Speaker 1: But the fact of the matter is for God to 267 00:19:11,560 --> 00:19:14,600 Speaker 1: do something new in your life this year. You will 268 00:19:14,640 --> 00:19:18,040 Speaker 1: have to save your strength for the things that matter, 269 00:19:18,280 --> 00:19:20,560 Speaker 1: and that means you are going to have to listen 270 00:19:20,600 --> 00:19:23,200 Speaker 1: to the spirit of God. And the spirit of God 271 00:19:23,280 --> 00:19:26,959 Speaker 1: will tell you, don't return that phone call, don't return 272 00:19:27,040 --> 00:19:31,679 Speaker 1: that text, don't even go there. You'll start thinking something 273 00:19:31,720 --> 00:19:34,120 Speaker 1: in your mind and the Spirit of the Lord will 274 00:19:34,160 --> 00:19:36,880 Speaker 1: show you. You can't afford to play with that, you 275 00:19:36,920 --> 00:19:40,240 Speaker 1: can't play around with the devil, and then ask God 276 00:19:40,320 --> 00:19:42,960 Speaker 1: to deliver you from the devil that you were playing with. 277 00:19:43,359 --> 00:19:47,200 Speaker 1: There are some places you cannot afford to go this year. 278 00:19:47,560 --> 00:19:51,280 Speaker 1: Your soul cannot afford it, your joy cannot afford it, 279 00:19:51,520 --> 00:19:56,119 Speaker 1: your peace cannot afford it. And I've got somebody on 280 00:19:56,160 --> 00:19:59,600 Speaker 1: the inside that can show me where the attack is. 281 00:20:00,800 --> 00:20:03,520 Speaker 1: Wouldn't it be cool if some of the battles that 282 00:20:03,640 --> 00:20:09,920 Speaker 1: you fought last year you could avoid this year, so 283 00:20:10,000 --> 00:20:13,520 Speaker 1: you'd be singing, this is how I fight my battles. 284 00:20:17,119 --> 00:20:23,520 Speaker 1: And you're just sitting there and they're expecting you to 285 00:20:23,560 --> 00:20:28,520 Speaker 1: be swinging, but you're not fighting your battles by swinging. 286 00:20:30,359 --> 00:20:35,400 Speaker 1: You're fighting your battles by staying away from the places. 287 00:20:36,400 --> 00:20:38,800 Speaker 1: I know this is heavy for a party, but I 288 00:20:38,840 --> 00:20:43,640 Speaker 1: got to preach it because God will not strengthen you 289 00:20:43,680 --> 00:20:49,080 Speaker 1: for a battle that He did not call you to fight. 290 00:20:52,320 --> 00:20:56,520 Speaker 1: So you've got to let go this year of the 291 00:20:56,640 --> 00:21:00,240 Speaker 1: need to prove things to people because that it is 292 00:21:00,280 --> 00:21:03,200 Speaker 1: not a battle God has called you to fight. You've 293 00:21:03,240 --> 00:21:06,040 Speaker 1: got to let go this year of trying to of 294 00:21:06,080 --> 00:21:08,520 Speaker 1: trying to make up for things that are in the 295 00:21:08,560 --> 00:21:11,199 Speaker 1: past and that God has already forgiven. That is not 296 00:21:11,280 --> 00:21:14,040 Speaker 1: a battle God has called you to fight. It is over. 297 00:21:14,400 --> 00:21:17,840 Speaker 1: It is gone, the oldest gone, the newest come. You 298 00:21:17,920 --> 00:21:21,639 Speaker 1: have got to ask the spirit of God what areas 299 00:21:21,920 --> 00:21:27,600 Speaker 1: to avoid in this year? Okay? So Elisha is giving 300 00:21:28,000 --> 00:21:33,480 Speaker 1: the information for the military attack, and I wonder if 301 00:21:33,520 --> 00:21:36,879 Speaker 1: the spirit of God is trying to give you information 302 00:21:37,080 --> 00:21:41,080 Speaker 1: for the spiritual attacks that you're under, but you keep 303 00:21:41,119 --> 00:21:46,240 Speaker 1: going two old places. And when he found out about it, 304 00:21:46,320 --> 00:21:50,399 Speaker 1: not only was he mad, but he was determined to 305 00:21:50,400 --> 00:21:54,200 Speaker 1: get rid of this guy because Elisha was a problem. 306 00:21:55,800 --> 00:22:00,040 Speaker 1: Elisha was a it was a problem. Are you a 307 00:22:00,160 --> 00:22:08,359 Speaker 1: problem for the enemy? I'm gonna tell you how you 308 00:22:08,400 --> 00:22:13,800 Speaker 1: can know if you are. If nothing ever goes wrong 309 00:22:13,840 --> 00:22:22,880 Speaker 1: in your life and you never burned the toast, if 310 00:22:22,920 --> 00:22:26,720 Speaker 1: everything is so nice and neat and orderly, and you 311 00:22:26,840 --> 00:22:30,560 Speaker 1: never face any kind of resistance, it means that the 312 00:22:30,560 --> 00:22:42,200 Speaker 1: devil isn't threatened by you at all. And here's how 313 00:22:42,200 --> 00:22:45,719 Speaker 1: I know that from the text, because again we often 314 00:22:45,800 --> 00:22:49,240 Speaker 1: perceive that the presence of God is proven by the 315 00:22:49,280 --> 00:22:55,800 Speaker 1: absence of problems. Right. Wrong couldn't be more untrue, because 316 00:22:55,840 --> 00:22:59,520 Speaker 1: when Elisha was giving the word of the Lord to 317 00:22:59,600 --> 00:23:02,879 Speaker 1: prevent the attack. For the people of God, watch what 318 00:23:02,920 --> 00:23:05,760 Speaker 1: the king did in verse thirteen. Go find out where 319 00:23:05,760 --> 00:23:10,840 Speaker 1: he is. The moment that you begin to fulfill the 320 00:23:10,840 --> 00:23:16,959 Speaker 1: purpose God created you for, the enemy will dispatch special forces. 321 00:23:20,760 --> 00:23:24,320 Speaker 1: Raise your hand. If you had some things happened this 322 00:23:24,400 --> 00:23:27,320 Speaker 1: year that made you question if God even loved you, 323 00:23:27,400 --> 00:23:30,919 Speaker 1: raise your hand. Be honest enough to raise it. I 324 00:23:31,119 --> 00:23:35,640 Speaker 1: suggest to you keep it up. I suggest to you 325 00:23:36,280 --> 00:23:39,919 Speaker 1: that the reason you had some of your problems is 326 00:23:40,000 --> 00:23:47,479 Speaker 1: because you are such a problem for the darkness, because 327 00:23:47,520 --> 00:23:57,360 Speaker 1: of the light that you carry. Somebody shout, I'm a problem. 328 00:23:58,680 --> 00:24:00,159 Speaker 1: So let me tell you how you can prove that 329 00:24:00,240 --> 00:24:02,440 Speaker 1: God is with you. Okay, the way that you can 330 00:24:02,560 --> 00:24:05,280 Speaker 1: prove that God is with you is not by the 331 00:24:05,320 --> 00:24:09,560 Speaker 1: fact that nothing bad ever happens to you. The proof, 332 00:24:09,720 --> 00:24:13,359 Speaker 1: my mom used to say, the proof is in the pudding. 333 00:24:14,840 --> 00:24:16,879 Speaker 1: Well I found out when it comes to the things 334 00:24:16,880 --> 00:24:21,320 Speaker 1: of God, the proof is in the problem. How do 335 00:24:21,440 --> 00:24:23,800 Speaker 1: I know that God is using me and that He 336 00:24:23,880 --> 00:24:27,000 Speaker 1: has great plans for me? How do I know that 337 00:24:27,040 --> 00:24:30,280 Speaker 1: God has put a big calling on my life? How 338 00:24:30,320 --> 00:24:34,480 Speaker 1: do I know that God has something outstanding for my future. 339 00:24:35,160 --> 00:24:39,640 Speaker 1: I know the size of my calling by the size 340 00:24:39,840 --> 00:24:43,200 Speaker 1: of my problem. Y'all shout if you've been through something 341 00:24:43,240 --> 00:24:51,639 Speaker 1: this year. When Elsa started telling the king where to 342 00:24:51,680 --> 00:24:54,639 Speaker 1: look for the attack, the King of Arab said, you 343 00:24:54,760 --> 00:24:58,840 Speaker 1: gotta find him. He's a problem. The enemy set special 344 00:24:58,960 --> 00:25:02,840 Speaker 1: forces for you because you are right on the verge 345 00:25:03,280 --> 00:25:07,760 Speaker 1: of breaking a generational curse and changing a plot line. 346 00:25:08,000 --> 00:25:16,399 Speaker 1: You're a problem for the darkness. You're a problem, he said, 347 00:25:16,440 --> 00:25:20,119 Speaker 1: Go find out where he is so I can send 348 00:25:20,160 --> 00:25:23,600 Speaker 1: men and capture him. And the report came back, he's 349 00:25:23,640 --> 00:25:26,639 Speaker 1: in Dothan. Then he sent horses and chariots and a 350 00:25:26,720 --> 00:25:30,159 Speaker 1: strong force there, and they went by night and surrounded 351 00:25:30,160 --> 00:25:32,280 Speaker 1: the city. Now verse fifteen is really what I want 352 00:25:32,280 --> 00:25:34,960 Speaker 1: to preach. You'll get ready. You're ready? Are you ready? 353 00:25:35,560 --> 00:25:38,200 Speaker 1: Are you ready? Because I only got twelve minutes to 354 00:25:38,240 --> 00:25:39,920 Speaker 1: preach this, and I'm gonna need a little bit of help. 355 00:25:40,000 --> 00:25:44,959 Speaker 1: Are you ready for verse fifteen? No, you're not. You 356 00:25:45,000 --> 00:25:47,159 Speaker 1: can't be, because when the servant of the men of 357 00:25:47,200 --> 00:25:48,879 Speaker 1: God got up and went out early the next morning 358 00:25:48,920 --> 00:25:52,359 Speaker 1: an army with horses and chariots that surrounded the city. 359 00:25:53,480 --> 00:26:02,640 Speaker 1: Oh no, my lord, what shall we do? Asked, Now, 360 00:26:02,680 --> 00:26:05,879 Speaker 1: this is this is something that I need to illustrate. 361 00:26:07,400 --> 00:26:11,120 Speaker 1: Give me, like Wade, give me like a six men 362 00:26:11,520 --> 00:26:13,840 Speaker 1: on the stage, real quick, and six men that are 363 00:26:13,840 --> 00:26:20,920 Speaker 1: not very big. The team captain. Yeah, he's too big, 364 00:26:21,200 --> 00:26:23,960 Speaker 1: he's too big. I need six men that are not 365 00:26:24,080 --> 00:26:27,399 Speaker 1: very big. Six men that are not very big, and 366 00:26:27,480 --> 00:26:31,800 Speaker 1: don't be insulted if he chooses you. Six men that 367 00:26:31,840 --> 00:26:34,440 Speaker 1: are not very big. Six men they are not very big. 368 00:26:34,480 --> 00:26:36,400 Speaker 1: Come on up, six men that are not very big, 369 00:26:36,480 --> 00:26:39,760 Speaker 1: Six men that are not very big, Six men that 370 00:26:39,800 --> 00:26:41,880 Speaker 1: are not very big. I want you all to form 371 00:26:41,920 --> 00:26:44,879 Speaker 1: a circle around me and look intimidating. All right, not 372 00:26:44,960 --> 00:26:48,640 Speaker 1: too close, just like how the servant woke up. Get 373 00:26:48,640 --> 00:26:51,120 Speaker 1: around me. Six men that are not too big. Six 374 00:26:51,200 --> 00:26:52,840 Speaker 1: men that are not too big. We need we may 375 00:26:52,880 --> 00:26:54,439 Speaker 1: need two more. Give me eight men that are not 376 00:26:54,480 --> 00:26:57,639 Speaker 1: too big. One, two, three, four, y'all get all around me, 377 00:26:57,720 --> 00:27:02,520 Speaker 1: Get all around me and look ferocious, look at me like, oh, 378 00:27:02,680 --> 00:27:06,399 Speaker 1: we're gonna kill you. He're that prophet, that's man you know, 379 00:27:07,080 --> 00:27:19,439 Speaker 1: messing up? Aul. Come on, it's a problem. Come on, 380 00:27:19,480 --> 00:27:20,919 Speaker 1: give me all the way around, all the way around. 381 00:27:21,119 --> 00:27:23,119 Speaker 1: Six men that are not too big. Eight men that 382 00:27:23,160 --> 00:27:25,600 Speaker 1: are not too big, and the servant, I want to 383 00:27:25,600 --> 00:27:28,879 Speaker 1: show you something. This is gonna be so helpful for 384 00:27:28,960 --> 00:27:33,639 Speaker 1: you to understand what you go through in the next 385 00:27:33,680 --> 00:27:36,800 Speaker 1: twelve months and in the next ten years, and for 386 00:27:36,880 --> 00:27:39,679 Speaker 1: as long as God's hand will be on you. The 387 00:27:39,760 --> 00:27:42,840 Speaker 1: servant woke up right, and the first thing he saw 388 00:27:42,840 --> 00:27:47,280 Speaker 1: that morning when he got up, he saw something that 389 00:27:47,359 --> 00:27:57,439 Speaker 1: he didn't know how to handle. Hm hmm. And I 390 00:27:57,480 --> 00:28:02,399 Speaker 1: think everybody here, personally speaking, has something that they're looking 391 00:28:02,440 --> 00:28:06,959 Speaker 1: at that they don't know how to handle. It's usually 392 00:28:06,960 --> 00:28:11,920 Speaker 1: not a military thing, it's a mental thing. So I've 393 00:28:11,960 --> 00:28:15,919 Speaker 1: got I've got maybe like, I got a decision I 394 00:28:15,920 --> 00:28:18,000 Speaker 1: don't know how to make. I got bills, I got this, 395 00:28:18,119 --> 00:28:21,560 Speaker 1: I got that, I got transitioned. So he's looking around 396 00:28:22,960 --> 00:28:27,479 Speaker 1: and he's like, oh no, my lord, what shall we 397 00:28:27,480 --> 00:28:32,920 Speaker 1: do now? Elisha is the prophet that would tell the 398 00:28:33,040 --> 00:28:36,639 Speaker 1: king where the enemy was going to attack. And here's 399 00:28:36,640 --> 00:28:40,040 Speaker 1: my question. If he knew where the king was going 400 00:28:40,120 --> 00:28:46,840 Speaker 1: to be attacked, why did he get attacked? Wow? If 401 00:28:46,880 --> 00:28:51,640 Speaker 1: you have the ability to know when other people are 402 00:28:51,680 --> 00:28:54,440 Speaker 1: going to be attacked, how can you not see it 403 00:28:54,640 --> 00:28:58,840 Speaker 1: when you're going to be attacked. Have you ever noticed 404 00:28:58,840 --> 00:29:01,640 Speaker 1: how easy it is to give other people advice for 405 00:29:01,840 --> 00:29:07,560 Speaker 1: their marriage, for raising their children. All but mess around 406 00:29:07,600 --> 00:29:10,480 Speaker 1: and have one of your own, and you will shut 407 00:29:10,520 --> 00:29:17,120 Speaker 1: your stupid mouth when it happens to you. And the 408 00:29:17,160 --> 00:29:20,720 Speaker 1: servant goes, oh no, my lord, what shall we do? Now? 409 00:29:20,720 --> 00:29:23,480 Speaker 1: Watch what Elisha says. Give me next verse put on 410 00:29:23,520 --> 00:29:27,640 Speaker 1: the screen. Please don't be afraid. The prophet answer, oh man, 411 00:29:27,720 --> 00:29:30,880 Speaker 1: this sounds like great advice. Don't be afraid. Now. These 412 00:29:30,920 --> 00:29:35,640 Speaker 1: are chariots and horses. These are not you know, no offense. 413 00:29:35,960 --> 00:29:39,800 Speaker 1: But this is not you. This is trained Syrian soldiers. 414 00:29:40,360 --> 00:29:43,200 Speaker 1: And the prophet says, don't be afraid. Those who are 415 00:29:43,240 --> 00:29:51,080 Speaker 1: with us are more than those who are with them. James, 416 00:29:51,280 --> 00:29:55,920 Speaker 1: get me twelve men who are real big, twelve men 417 00:29:56,040 --> 00:29:58,440 Speaker 1: who are as big as you. Come on right now. 418 00:29:58,560 --> 00:30:05,480 Speaker 1: I need twelve big men, twelve really fierce men, twelve 419 00:30:05,560 --> 00:30:11,000 Speaker 1: men that are on CrossFit and creating and protein and 420 00:30:11,120 --> 00:30:17,920 Speaker 1: TRT and AH and steroids. Come on, I need twelve 421 00:30:18,320 --> 00:30:21,040 Speaker 1: big men, and I need you to come here because 422 00:30:21,040 --> 00:30:23,280 Speaker 1: I'm gonna be Elisha. I'm gonna be Elisha, and I'm 423 00:30:23,280 --> 00:30:24,880 Speaker 1: gonna stand here in the middle, and I need you 424 00:30:24,920 --> 00:30:27,800 Speaker 1: all to come surround. Me, because the Bible says that 425 00:30:27,840 --> 00:30:30,040 Speaker 1: when Elishah praid, come on, get real close, get real close. 426 00:30:30,200 --> 00:30:32,400 Speaker 1: Come on, I don't have any proximity issues, not that close. 427 00:30:32,440 --> 00:30:34,680 Speaker 1: Back up a little bit, come in, Come in close 428 00:30:34,720 --> 00:30:36,240 Speaker 1: as we can get and I can still you have 429 00:30:36,280 --> 00:30:40,640 Speaker 1: function functionality. Come on, getting close, getting close, because Elisha said. 430 00:30:40,760 --> 00:30:43,760 Speaker 1: Elisha said, don't be afraid those who are with us, 431 00:30:43,760 --> 00:30:45,800 Speaker 1: come on, surround me all the way. Those who are 432 00:30:45,800 --> 00:30:49,000 Speaker 1: with us are more than those who are with them. 433 00:30:49,240 --> 00:30:51,880 Speaker 1: Those who are with us are more than those who 434 00:30:51,880 --> 00:30:54,320 Speaker 1: are with them. It not only means we've got more 435 00:30:54,360 --> 00:30:58,200 Speaker 1: in quantity, but they are greater in strength because those 436 00:30:58,200 --> 00:31:00,920 Speaker 1: who are with us are more than those who are 437 00:31:00,960 --> 00:31:03,160 Speaker 1: with them. So I'm gonna show you something real quick. 438 00:31:03,480 --> 00:31:06,640 Speaker 1: So he said, he said, don't be afraid. Those who 439 00:31:06,680 --> 00:31:08,920 Speaker 1: are with us are more than those who are with them. 440 00:31:09,000 --> 00:31:13,200 Speaker 1: And then the next verse, verse seventeen, says and Elisha prayed, 441 00:31:13,920 --> 00:31:20,720 Speaker 1: Oh Lord, open his eyes so that he may see. Okay, now, 442 00:31:22,200 --> 00:31:24,240 Speaker 1: if I'm the servant, I'll be right back. Stay right there, 443 00:31:24,240 --> 00:31:26,680 Speaker 1: stay right there, stay right there. If I'm the servant, 444 00:31:27,840 --> 00:31:31,760 Speaker 1: I'm thinking that God is about to do something so awesome, 445 00:31:33,160 --> 00:31:36,640 Speaker 1: and he's gonna make all the enemies, the first ones 446 00:31:36,680 --> 00:31:40,959 Speaker 1: that came to attack. I'm gonna close my eyes and 447 00:31:41,000 --> 00:31:45,280 Speaker 1: he's gonna pray. And when I open my eyes, all 448 00:31:45,440 --> 00:31:50,080 Speaker 1: the enemies are gonna be gone. So you'll leave real quick, 449 00:31:50,160 --> 00:31:52,320 Speaker 1: just leave, just go somewhere. Not the good ones, the 450 00:31:52,360 --> 00:32:00,280 Speaker 1: bad ones. So yeah, yeah, that's what I'm expecting. Open 451 00:32:00,320 --> 00:32:04,680 Speaker 1: my eyes. Wow, it's a miracle. But come back, come back, 452 00:32:04,680 --> 00:32:05,959 Speaker 1: come back, come back, come back, come back, come back, 453 00:32:05,960 --> 00:32:09,479 Speaker 1: come back. Instead, get back in position quickly, quickly. It's 454 00:32:09,480 --> 00:32:14,880 Speaker 1: almost midnight. Am I gonna show you something? So Elisha's praying, right, 455 00:32:15,280 --> 00:32:20,600 Speaker 1: He's like, oh, Lord, open his eyes that he may see. 456 00:32:20,720 --> 00:32:23,880 Speaker 1: And he opens his eyes, and what does he see? 457 00:32:24,120 --> 00:32:30,320 Speaker 1: The same enemy that he saw before the prayer. In fact, 458 00:32:31,120 --> 00:32:34,200 Speaker 1: go to the next verse, verse eighteen. As the enemy 459 00:32:34,320 --> 00:32:41,720 Speaker 1: came toward him, Now stop. How did Elisha pray and 460 00:32:41,840 --> 00:32:47,160 Speaker 1: the enemy still came toward him? How did Elisha, the 461 00:32:47,400 --> 00:32:51,520 Speaker 1: powerful man of God? How did Elisha who had the word? 462 00:32:51,680 --> 00:32:55,280 Speaker 1: How did Elisha the prophet that struck the water? How 463 00:32:55,320 --> 00:33:00,280 Speaker 1: did Elisha the successor to Elijah? How did Elisha who 464 00:33:00,400 --> 00:33:03,920 Speaker 1: let an entire nation into a time of revival? Who 465 00:33:03,920 --> 00:33:08,040 Speaker 1: could purify the waters of the Jericho. How could Elisha 466 00:33:08,240 --> 00:33:12,800 Speaker 1: keep praying but the attack kept coming. Well, the proof 467 00:33:12,840 --> 00:33:16,680 Speaker 1: of the presence of God is not the absence of problems. 468 00:33:17,000 --> 00:33:19,760 Speaker 1: The proof of the presence of God is not that 469 00:33:19,840 --> 00:33:23,440 Speaker 1: the problems disappeared. The proof of the presence of God 470 00:33:23,840 --> 00:33:27,760 Speaker 1: is that He kept me surrounded and the enemy came, 471 00:33:28,200 --> 00:33:32,520 Speaker 1: but he couldn't kill me. The enemy came, de presant came, 472 00:33:32,920 --> 00:33:37,000 Speaker 1: the panic attack came. I could barely catch my breath, 473 00:33:37,320 --> 00:33:42,080 Speaker 1: but somehow the word of God sustained me through every 474 00:33:42,240 --> 00:33:46,680 Speaker 1: season of my life. I almost lost my mind, I 475 00:33:46,880 --> 00:33:51,400 Speaker 1: almost gave up, I almost let go, But there were 476 00:33:51,520 --> 00:33:56,120 Speaker 1: more for me than against me. And I declare into 477 00:33:56,240 --> 00:34:01,440 Speaker 1: the darkness of your life, greater is he that is 478 00:34:01,560 --> 00:34:16,480 Speaker 1: in me. And the proof is in the problem. If 479 00:34:16,520 --> 00:34:21,200 Speaker 1: God sent you a really big problem, he's about to 480 00:34:21,239 --> 00:34:25,520 Speaker 1: demonstrate that he's a really big God. I got a 481 00:34:25,640 --> 00:34:29,640 Speaker 1: really big God, I got a really good God. I 482 00:34:29,880 --> 00:34:38,440 Speaker 1: got a really faithful Savior. So I got a really 483 00:34:39,360 --> 00:34:47,560 Speaker 1: great praise, not because of the absence of problems, but 484 00:34:47,680 --> 00:34:58,400 Speaker 1: because of the presence of God. Hey, hey, stand up 485 00:34:58,400 --> 00:35:00,759 Speaker 1: as two minutes and forty three second until the next 486 00:35:00,800 --> 00:35:04,560 Speaker 1: decade of your life it's two minutes and thirty eight 487 00:35:04,640 --> 00:35:09,040 Speaker 1: seconds until the next decade of your life. And tomorrow 488 00:35:09,040 --> 00:35:13,080 Speaker 1: morning when you open your eyes, guess what's still going 489 00:35:13,160 --> 00:35:24,120 Speaker 1: to be there? Your problems, but guess what's within you. Wow, 490 00:35:27,000 --> 00:35:31,760 Speaker 1: y'all got my back when I say this. Get ready 491 00:35:31,800 --> 00:35:38,480 Speaker 1: to rejoice. Get ready to rejoice. The bigger the problem, 492 00:35:38,719 --> 00:35:45,080 Speaker 1: the greater the opportunity for the presence of God. Y'all 493 00:35:45,080 --> 00:35:48,359 Speaker 1: don't even need me to finish the sentence. You know 494 00:35:48,400 --> 00:35:52,600 Speaker 1: what I'm saying. The devil's in everything. He could detrack 495 00:35:52,680 --> 00:35:55,839 Speaker 1: you down. He put a target on your back. He 496 00:35:55,880 --> 00:35:59,160 Speaker 1: ain't right in your head. But look at your praise. 497 00:36:00,080 --> 00:36:04,720 Speaker 1: It's your purpose. Look at your praise, look at your God. 498 00:36:09,880 --> 00:36:13,440 Speaker 1: And I say, I'm gonna put it up to a vote. 499 00:36:13,719 --> 00:36:18,399 Speaker 1: What say ye, elevation. Let's stop telling God how big 500 00:36:18,440 --> 00:36:23,160 Speaker 1: our problem is and start telling our problem. I got 501 00:36:23,200 --> 00:36:28,000 Speaker 1: it even bigger. God greater as He greater is he? 502 00:36:29,640 --> 00:36:35,840 Speaker 1: If God mean for you, look, get there guess him. 503 00:36:35,920 --> 00:36:38,440 Speaker 1: Thank you for joining us. Special thanks to those of 504 00:36:38,480 --> 00:36:41,480 Speaker 1: you who give generously to this ministry. Is because of 505 00:36:41,520 --> 00:36:44,440 Speaker 1: you that this ministry is possible. You can click the 506 00:36:44,480 --> 00:36:47,760 Speaker 1: link in the description to give now or visit Elevation 507 00:36:47,920 --> 00:36:51,560 Speaker 1: Church dot org slash podcast for more information and if 508 00:36:51,560 --> 00:36:54,879 Speaker 1: you enjoyed the podcast, you can subscribe. You can share 509 00:36:54,880 --> 00:36:57,080 Speaker 1: it with your friends. You can click the share button, 510 00:36:57,120 --> 00:36:59,520 Speaker 1: take a screenshot and share it on your social stories 511 00:36:59,560 --> 00:37:02,560 Speaker 1: and tag at Elevation Church. Thanks again for listening. God 512 00:37:02,600 --> 00:37:02,960 Speaker 1: bless you.