WEBVTT 00:00:00.040 --> 00:00:01.282 Amen, you can have a seat. 00:00:01.282 --> 00:00:04.892 We're going to be in Numbers, chapter 13 this morning, numbers 13. 00:00:04.892 --> 00:00:11.612 And the message is entitled this morning how to Defeat Negative Thoughts. 00:00:11.612 --> 00:00:16.827 How many of you have ever had a negative thought before? 00:00:16.827 --> 00:00:18.952 Okay, that means okay. 00:00:18.952 --> 00:00:20.885 Some of you are honest in the room this morning. 00:00:21.967 --> 00:00:29.068 I got another question for y'all this morning, for you spiritual people out there how many of you really like football, football fans in the room? 00:00:29.068 --> 00:00:31.120 Come on, let's go, let's go. 00:00:31.120 --> 00:00:40.523 I mean, there are just a few things as amazing as watching 22 massive human beings try to kill each other on a Sunday afternoon. 00:00:40.523 --> 00:00:42.966 I mean it's just wonderful. 00:00:42.966 --> 00:00:51.590 And if you watch football or maybe you don't watch football they got something called instant replay Instant replay. 00:00:51.590 --> 00:00:54.121 So how many know what instant replay is? 00:00:54.121 --> 00:01:06.786 So what that is is the refs can see a play happen from a certain angle, and what instant replay will allow them to do is to look at the same play but from a different angle. 00:01:06.786 --> 00:01:13.352 So, for example, a lot of times this just makes a really, really big difference. 00:01:14.480 --> 00:01:20.805 The first game of the NFL season this year was between the Chiefs and the Ravens. 00:01:20.805 --> 00:01:23.748 Those stinking Chiefs, all right. 00:01:23.748 --> 00:01:30.106 And the very end of the game, lamar Jackson, the Ravens quarterback, made this incredible throw. 00:01:30.106 --> 00:01:31.439 In fact I think we got a picture of it. 00:01:31.439 --> 00:01:37.948 He made this awesome throw and the receiver made this amazing catch and Ravens fans everywhere like we won. 00:01:37.948 --> 00:01:39.039 It's going to be amazing. 00:01:39.039 --> 00:01:48.634 And then they took a closer look and the receiver's foot was actually out of bounds. 00:01:48.634 --> 00:01:50.120 Can we get that next picture up there? 00:01:50.120 --> 00:01:59.972 Oh boy, and those annoying Kansas City Chiefs won once again. 00:01:59.972 --> 00:02:02.635 Yeah, it was hard. 00:02:02.635 --> 00:02:03.477 It was hard. 00:02:03.477 --> 00:02:08.123 I'm still recovering from the Super Bowl and the refs. 00:02:08.123 --> 00:02:19.651 When they see the play from a different angle, from a different frame, it changes what they see. 00:02:19.651 --> 00:02:27.973 As far as what happened didn't change, but how they see it changes. 00:02:29.640 --> 00:02:34.932 We're in a series right now entitled Change your Thinking, change your Life. 00:02:34.932 --> 00:02:54.627 We've been talking about our thoughts and today we're going to see specifically how do we overcome negative thinking and the way that you are going to overcome negative thinking and the way that you are going to overcome negative thinking and the way that we're going to see this in Scripture today is by learning something called the reframe principle, the reframe principle. 00:02:54.627 --> 00:02:58.311 Everybody say the word reframe together Ready, reframe. 00:02:58.311 --> 00:03:00.649 Can we get that reframe principle up on the screen? 00:03:00.649 --> 00:03:02.467 Here's what the reframe principle is. 00:03:02.560 --> 00:03:10.932 Groeschel says you can't control what happens to you, but you can control how you frame it. 00:03:10.932 --> 00:03:26.454 You can't always control that you lost your job, you can't always control that your kid is struggling or you got the medical diagnosis, but you can control how you frame it. 00:03:26.454 --> 00:03:40.616 Said another way, you can't change the facts, but you can change the frame, how you see a situation. 00:03:40.616 --> 00:03:43.242 You ever done this. 00:03:43.242 --> 00:03:47.673 You ever taken a picture and you put a filter on the picture. 00:03:47.673 --> 00:04:03.546 So maybe your picture you took the picture and it was a color picture or whatnot, and you made it black and white, or maybe you did one of those like ridiculous, ridiculous filters on it where you got like the dog ears or like the tongue sticking out. 00:04:03.546 --> 00:04:06.088 Y'all know what I'm saying, right? 00:04:06.088 --> 00:04:16.870 Well, the picture itself doesn't change, like it's still you, but the filter causes you to see the picture differently. 00:04:16.870 --> 00:04:21.745 It just changes how the picture is seen. 00:04:22.466 --> 00:04:38.026 And what the reframe principle tells all of us is we can't change the facts, we can't always change what happened or what we're going through, but we can cognitively determine how you choose to frame it. 00:04:38.026 --> 00:05:02.326 We're going to go to this really powerful place in Numbers, chapter 13, where there was a couple dudes faced a really tough situation with some really big, strong guys, with some really crazy fortified cities, and they framed this situation in such a way that not only changed their future, but it affected their mental health in a positive way and it allowed them to see what God could do. 00:05:02.326 --> 00:05:16.254 Because they framed it through the presence and promises of God and because they framed a situation through the presence and promises of God, it allowed them to see the situation differently. 00:05:16.254 --> 00:05:23.752 And the reason why this matters so much is because all of us have something called a cognitive bias. 00:05:23.752 --> 00:05:25.800 Who's ever heard of a cognitive bias before? 00:05:25.800 --> 00:05:26.516 Okay, some of you have heard of a cognitive bias. 00:05:26.516 --> 00:05:26.778 This is what a cognitive bias. 00:05:26.778 --> 00:05:27.185 Who's ever heard of a cognitive bias before? 00:05:27.185 --> 00:05:28.228 Okay, some of you have heard of a cognitive bias. 00:05:28.228 --> 00:05:30.391 This is what a cognitive bias is. 00:05:30.992 --> 00:05:34.803 It's just a mental filter for how we frame things. 00:05:34.803 --> 00:05:57.521 So, for example, if growing up, every time you messed up, if you made a mistake, if you were condemned or you were put down, it's possible that you could have a cognitive bias as an adult that says I can't ever mess up or I can't ever make a mistake because if I do, I'm going to be put down and I'm going to feel condemned. 00:05:57.521 --> 00:06:02.512 So because of that, we have this filter, this cognitive bias of I can't make any mistakes. 00:06:02.512 --> 00:06:03.562 I can't do anything wrong. 00:06:03.562 --> 00:06:05.605 I can't even admit that I make a mistake. 00:06:05.605 --> 00:06:05.966 Why? 00:06:05.966 --> 00:06:07.928 Because of the cognitive bias. 00:06:07.928 --> 00:06:18.774 It could be that you have a cognitive bias that every time I get close to somebody in a relationship, I get hurt every single time. 00:06:18.774 --> 00:06:25.218 So now what happens in your life is you have a really hard time having community with people. 00:06:25.218 --> 00:06:33.312 You have a really hard time having trust with people, because what is a very real defense mechanism you want to protect yourself can be a cognitive bias. 00:06:33.312 --> 00:06:41.901 So every time you view a relationship, you have this filter, this bias of I cannot get too close or else I'll get hurt, and that's how you see people. 00:06:41.901 --> 00:06:44.307 It's a bias. 00:06:45.228 --> 00:07:03.571 And here's the reality, before we get into the text is your filters and frames determine how you see and experience life, and all of us have filters and all of us have frameworks. 00:07:03.571 --> 00:07:05.694 We just have to admit that we do. 00:07:05.694 --> 00:07:21.494 This is exactly why you can have two people experience the exact same situation and respond in two completely different ways and explain it in two completely different ways. 00:07:21.494 --> 00:07:23.786 Did the facts change? 00:07:23.786 --> 00:07:25.882 No, like this happened. 00:07:25.882 --> 00:07:29.482 What changed Filter, the framework. 00:07:29.482 --> 00:07:44.211 And here's the incredible thing that can happen if we will change our filter, if we'll change our facts through the filter and the framework of the presence and promises of God, is when you change your filter, it changes the feels. 00:07:44.211 --> 00:07:48.136 Is, when you change your filter, it changes the feels. 00:07:48.136 --> 00:07:52.259 So we can feel a certain way about a certain situation and your feeling is valid and your feeling is real. 00:07:52.259 --> 00:07:59.048 But if you would change the filter for how you see that situation, you could change how you feel about it. 00:07:59.800 --> 00:08:02.408 Now this takes us to Numbers, chapter 13. 00:08:02.408 --> 00:08:04.423 We're 12 guys. 00:08:04.423 --> 00:08:06.930 We're doing something really, really cool. 00:08:06.930 --> 00:08:13.428 They were on a reconnaissance mission for 40 days. 00:08:13.428 --> 00:08:15.793 They were spying out of land. 00:08:15.793 --> 00:08:23.612 So they got their infrared goggles, they got their drone. 00:08:23.612 --> 00:08:41.970 They got their drone, they got their tactical plans and 12 guys spent 40 days spying out of land, hiding in the bushes, using their night vision goggles and after 40 days they had done a complete report on the land. 00:08:41.970 --> 00:08:53.215 They knew all about the land, they knew where things were, they knew what was happening there, and now they're going to go back and they're going to report on what they saw. 00:08:53.215 --> 00:08:59.491 They're going to share the results of the mission. 00:09:00.561 --> 00:09:04.010 And this is what it says in Numbers 13, verse number 26. 00:09:04.010 --> 00:09:05.606 Do you want to know their reports? 00:09:05.606 --> 00:09:06.393 Do you want to know their reports? 00:09:06.393 --> 00:09:07.077 Do you want to know their reports? 00:09:07.077 --> 00:09:24.764 Yes, okay, it says the men went back to Moses and Aaron those were the leaders and the entire Israelite community in the wilderness of Paran at Kadesh, and they brought back a report for them and the whole community and they showed them the fruit of the land. 00:09:24.764 --> 00:09:27.187 They reported to Moses. 00:09:27.187 --> 00:09:29.831 We went into the land where you sent us. 00:09:29.831 --> 00:09:40.364 Indeed, it is flowing with milk and honey, and here's some of its fruits. 00:09:40.364 --> 00:09:41.066 We know from earlier verses. 00:09:41.066 --> 00:09:41.888 They brought some clusters of grapes. 00:09:41.888 --> 00:09:42.750 How many of you like grapes in the room? 00:09:42.750 --> 00:09:43.894 Okay, come on, let's go Green grapes all day. 00:09:43.894 --> 00:09:45.157 How many of you like grapes in the room? 00:09:45.157 --> 00:09:46.119 Okay, come on, let's go Green grapes all day. 00:09:46.119 --> 00:09:47.081 All right, this is a great place. 00:09:47.081 --> 00:09:50.828 They just spied out a land that had lots of food, milk, honey. 00:09:50.828 --> 00:09:53.215 Come on, verse 28. 00:09:57.563 --> 00:10:05.869 However, the people living in the land are strong and the cities are large and fortified. 00:10:05.869 --> 00:10:10.230 I mean, this isn't just some little random encampment on the side of the hill. 00:10:10.230 --> 00:10:13.567 These are fortified cities. 00:10:13.567 --> 00:10:24.639 We also saw the descendants of Anak there Now. 00:10:24.639 --> 00:10:25.982 The sons of Annoch were literally giant people. 00:10:25.982 --> 00:10:26.865 These were like massive people. 00:10:26.865 --> 00:10:31.693 These are a bunch of NBA player seven-footers, shaquille O'Neals, walking around. 00:10:31.693 --> 00:10:34.123 These are big old boys, sons of Enoch. 00:10:34.123 --> 00:10:34.605 These are big. 00:10:34.605 --> 00:10:41.090 The Amalekites are living in the land of Negev, the Hethites, the Jebusites and Amorites. 00:10:41.090 --> 00:10:44.447 They live in the hill country and the Canaanites live by the sea along the Jordan. 00:10:44.447 --> 00:10:48.447 This is what the land is like. 00:10:48.860 --> 00:10:53.725 Then, caleb, he quieted the people in the presence of Moses Shh, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey. 00:10:53.725 --> 00:11:05.561 Caleb says let's go, let's go up now and take possession of the land, because we can certainly conquer it Now. 00:11:05.561 --> 00:11:14.514 Here's something I didn't tell y'all In the beginning of Numbers 13, god had clearly told these people that he wanted them to take this land. 00:11:14.514 --> 00:11:16.947 He wanted them to go to this place. 00:11:16.947 --> 00:11:18.907 This was God's desire for them. 00:11:18.907 --> 00:11:24.024 And Caleb here says guys, let's do it Like, let's roll up our sleeves. 00:11:24.024 --> 00:11:29.595 We got this, but the men who had gone up with them verse 31,. 00:11:29.595 --> 00:11:34.772 They responded we can't attack the people because they're stronger than we are. 00:11:34.772 --> 00:11:39.410 So they gave a negative report to the Israelites about the land they'd scouted. 00:11:40.081 --> 00:11:44.412 The land we passed through to explore is one that devours its inhabitants. 00:11:44.412 --> 00:11:48.551 All the people we saw in it are men of great size. 00:11:48.551 --> 00:11:51.947 We even saw the Nephilim there. 00:11:51.947 --> 00:11:54.386 The descendants of Enoch come from the Nephilim. 00:11:54.386 --> 00:12:03.100 To ourselves we seem like grasshoppers and we must have seemed the same to them Like man. 00:12:03.100 --> 00:12:05.570 Compared to those guys we're like well, it's any grasshoppers. 00:12:05.570 --> 00:12:07.625 He uses the word Nephilim here. 00:12:07.625 --> 00:12:18.806 Time prevents me from talking about this, but if you ever want to do a really interesting Bible study, go to gotquestionsorg and study Nephilim and look up Nephilim. 00:12:18.806 --> 00:12:19.826 It's pretty fascinating. 00:12:19.826 --> 00:12:22.690 They see Nephilim there. 00:12:22.730 --> 00:12:27.895 And God had clearly told these people he wanted them to go in the land, like it was undeniable. 00:12:27.895 --> 00:12:36.427 This was God's desire for them. 00:12:36.427 --> 00:12:39.059 But a lot of things happened in that land, a lot of challenges. 00:12:39.059 --> 00:12:42.023 Verse number one the whole community. 00:12:42.023 --> 00:12:45.669 Hearing about this, they broke out into loud cries and the people wept that night, all the Israelites. 00:12:45.669 --> 00:12:47.994 They complained about Moses and Aaron. 00:12:47.994 --> 00:12:57.427 The whole community told them if only we had died in the land of Egypt or if only we had died in this wilderness. 00:12:57.427 --> 00:13:01.275 Remember they had been in slavery in Egypt. 00:13:01.275 --> 00:13:07.109 Y'all, slavery is bad and they're saying if only we were there and had died there. 00:13:07.470 --> 00:13:15.211 Why is the Lord verse 3, bring us into this land to die by the sword Our wives and children? 00:13:15.211 --> 00:13:16.114 They'll become plunder. 00:13:16.114 --> 00:13:22.207 Wouldn't it be better for us to go back to Egypt? 00:13:22.207 --> 00:13:27.034 Hold on y'all, guys, guys, guys. 00:13:27.034 --> 00:13:30.629 There was blessing in this land, where God wanted them to go. 00:13:30.629 --> 00:13:35.730 There were some hardships, there were some challenges, but there was blessing. 00:13:36.120 --> 00:13:37.504 And these people, they're blaming God. 00:13:37.504 --> 00:13:38.187 They're like God. 00:13:38.187 --> 00:13:40.586 Why'd you bring us here blessing? 00:13:40.586 --> 00:13:42.374 And these people, they're blaming God. 00:13:42.374 --> 00:13:43.017 They're like God. 00:13:43.017 --> 00:13:43.620 Why'd you bring us here? 00:13:43.620 --> 00:13:47.801 Here's the deal. 00:13:47.801 --> 00:13:48.621 God wants these people to have victory. 00:13:48.621 --> 00:13:49.624 God wants these people to experience his blessing. 00:13:49.624 --> 00:13:51.126 God has something for these people. 00:13:51.126 --> 00:13:51.928 That's what he has. 00:13:51.928 --> 00:13:55.981 But these people can't see it In verse four. 00:13:56.221 --> 00:14:00.893 So they said to one another let's appoint a leader. 00:14:00.893 --> 00:14:02.826 Remember, moses and Aaron are their leaders. 00:14:02.826 --> 00:14:05.868 They're saying here let's appoint a leader. 00:14:05.868 --> 00:14:07.726 And what are those next two words? 00:14:07.726 --> 00:14:10.950 And let's go back to Egypt. 00:14:10.950 --> 00:14:14.229 They're thinking about overthrowing the leaders. 00:14:14.229 --> 00:14:17.990 They're like let's do a coup here, let's take over. 00:14:17.990 --> 00:14:32.464 Did they forget what Egypt was like? 00:14:32.464 --> 00:14:33.184 Did they forget how bad slavery was? 00:14:33.184 --> 00:14:33.465 Watch this. 00:14:33.465 --> 00:14:50.030 The frame in which they saw this situation caused them to be irrational and fearful, because your frame determines your feels. 00:14:50.030 --> 00:15:11.804 And their frame caused them to be so fearful because all they saw was the fortified cities and all they saw was these giant NBA players Shaquille O'Neal's walking around and they didn't see the presence and promises of God, and it had caused them to say we need, we, should we better go back? 00:15:11.804 --> 00:15:14.951 Look at Moses and Aaron's response. 00:15:14.951 --> 00:15:15.572 They're hearing this. 00:15:15.572 --> 00:15:16.581 They're like are you kidding me? 00:15:16.581 --> 00:15:17.663 What's Moses, aaron? 00:15:17.682 --> 00:15:28.046 In verse five, they fell down in front of the whole assembly of the Israelite community, joshua, the son of Nun, and Caleb, the son of Jephthah, who were among those who scouted out the land. 00:15:28.046 --> 00:15:29.450 They tore their clothes. 00:15:29.450 --> 00:15:34.284 Tearing clothes in scripture is a sign of grief, a sign of sorrow. 00:15:34.284 --> 00:15:37.169 Joshua and Caleb, they tear their clothes. 00:15:37.169 --> 00:15:51.822 They say to the entire Israelite community the land we passed through and explored is an extremely good land. 00:15:51.822 --> 00:15:52.644 They're trying to convince the people. 00:15:52.644 --> 00:15:54.128 They're trying to say guys, guys, it's a good land. 00:15:54.128 --> 00:15:56.572 If the Lord is pleased with us. 00:15:56.572 --> 00:15:58.582 Can we see this? 00:15:58.582 --> 00:16:07.369 Through the framework of the Lord, he will bring us into this land, a land flowing with milk and honey, and give it to us. 00:16:07.369 --> 00:16:11.660 Only, don't rebel against the Lord verse 9,. 00:16:11.660 --> 00:16:18.208 And don't be afraid of the people of the land, for we will devour them. 00:16:18.208 --> 00:16:23.975 Their protection has been removed from them and the Lord is with us. 00:16:23.975 --> 00:16:27.484 Don't be afraid of them. 00:16:27.484 --> 00:16:29.287 That's what he says. 00:16:30.870 --> 00:16:32.373 Now here's the facts of the situation. 00:16:32.373 --> 00:16:34.041 We just walked through the text together. 00:16:34.041 --> 00:16:37.326 People were strong and the cities were strong. 00:16:37.326 --> 00:16:40.331 The people were really big and tall, unlike me. 00:16:40.331 --> 00:16:42.674 There were challenges. 00:16:42.674 --> 00:16:49.682 This was also a place that God wanted them to go and this was a great place. 00:16:49.682 --> 00:16:51.245 These were the facts. 00:16:52.587 --> 00:16:57.623 Now, joshua and Caleb saw the facts through a God-centered frame. 00:16:57.623 --> 00:17:06.102 So, joshua and Caleb, they saw these facts through the reality of, well, god is with us. 00:17:06.102 --> 00:17:08.026 That's what they saw. 00:17:08.026 --> 00:17:09.689 It's coming up there. 00:17:09.689 --> 00:17:11.733 I promise Next slide. 00:17:11.733 --> 00:17:18.106 There we go, thank you, god is with us, god will guide us. 00:17:18.106 --> 00:17:21.332 God has a blessing for us through this challenge. 00:17:21.332 --> 00:17:24.982 That's how Joshua and Caleb saw the facts. 00:17:24.982 --> 00:17:27.527 This is how they saw the facts. 00:17:28.268 --> 00:17:34.483 The other 10 over here they saw the same facts, but through a different frame. 00:17:34.483 --> 00:17:36.067 Here's how the other 10 spies saw it. 00:17:36.067 --> 00:17:45.820 This is impossible by a thought. 00:17:45.820 --> 00:17:46.242 This is impossible. 00:17:46.242 --> 00:17:48.150 This feels really hard and is uncomfortable and God is not for us and we should turn back. 00:17:48.150 --> 00:17:52.507 By the way, let me just say this Isn't it so cool that we have young families coming to our church with babies and kids? 00:17:52.507 --> 00:17:53.450 Let's go, sorry. 00:17:53.450 --> 00:17:59.486 Hey, kids and babies are always welcome in our services. 00:17:59.486 --> 00:18:00.549 Okay, I just want to say that. 00:18:00.549 --> 00:18:00.851 All right. 00:18:00.851 --> 00:18:02.144 I think that's amazing. 00:18:02.144 --> 00:18:03.906 Just remind us the guys just bringing people here. 00:18:04.599 --> 00:18:06.405 This is how the other 10 spies saw the. 00:18:06.405 --> 00:18:07.670 They framed it. 00:18:07.670 --> 00:18:11.509 So Joshua and Caleb saw it through one frame. 00:18:11.509 --> 00:18:15.670 These 10 spies saw it through another frame. 00:18:15.670 --> 00:18:20.326 They saw the exact same thing. 00:18:20.326 --> 00:18:22.309 These 10 spies. 00:18:22.309 --> 00:18:24.794 All they saw was the challenges. 00:18:24.794 --> 00:18:33.561 All they saw was the difficulties. 00:18:33.561 --> 00:18:36.990 That's how they framed it, and the challenges in their mind were in the way of their plans. 00:18:36.990 --> 00:18:38.452 And did you know this for all of us? 00:18:38.452 --> 00:18:52.329 And did you know this for all of us Is that challenges sometimes are in the way of our plan, but at times they're actually a part of God's plan. 00:18:52.329 --> 00:19:08.021 I don't like challenges and difficulties and hardships and they're almost always in the way of my plan, but sometimes they're actually a part of God's plan. 00:19:08.021 --> 00:19:13.239 Sometimes they're not there accidentally. 00:19:13.239 --> 00:19:30.674 Sometimes this is what God wants to do, because sometimes God brings the challenges to grow us and to mold us and to shape us, and it's through the challenges that we're going to grow and be molded and be shaped. 00:19:30.674 --> 00:19:40.510 It wasn't just about the promised land, but it was about what God wanted to do in the people as they walked through the challenges to get to the promised land, but it was about what God wanted to do in the people as they walked through the challenges to get to the promised land. 00:19:42.355 --> 00:19:51.329 I remember when I was growing in my faith and I was a teenager and I was starting to own my faith, where my faith no longer was my parents' faith. 00:19:51.329 --> 00:19:56.061 That became my faith and I was looking at people that were very mature in their faith. 00:19:56.061 --> 00:20:10.358 And I was looking at people that were very mature in their faith, people that had almost this like peace and confidence, and they were filled with faith and you could just tell they walk with the Lord and you can just tell they knew God. 00:20:10.358 --> 00:20:15.701 And I remember thinking how do I be like that? 00:20:15.701 --> 00:20:20.898 Is there a magic prayer that you pray? 00:20:20.898 --> 00:20:23.618 Is there like a pill that you take? 00:20:23.618 --> 00:20:32.058 How can I have this like resolute faith, like how can I have this strong walk with God? 00:20:32.058 --> 00:20:35.778 How can I have this that these people have? 00:20:37.670 --> 00:20:52.739 And as I got closer to these people and started asking them questions, I learned that every single one of them had walked through hardships and difficulties Every single one of them. 00:20:52.739 --> 00:21:00.471 And in the face of hardships and difficulties and challenges, they chose to walk by faith. 00:21:00.471 --> 00:21:03.696 They chose to be faithful and trust God. 00:21:03.696 --> 00:21:06.522 They chose to rely on God's word. 00:21:06.522 --> 00:21:11.799 They chose to see the situation through the framework of the promises and presence of God. 00:21:11.799 --> 00:21:25.722 And now what they had in their life was this undeniable and inspiring peace and confidence and emotional stability in their life that came on the other side of their hardships. 00:21:25.722 --> 00:21:34.714 But the way they got on the other side of the hardships and the way they grew through those hardships is they saw it through the framework of the presence and the power and the promises of God. 00:21:34.714 --> 00:21:38.921 And then, on the other side of the hardships, god has produced something in them. 00:21:38.921 --> 00:21:41.198 God has grown them in great ways. 00:21:41.630 --> 00:21:46.558 And I'm like a teenager, like trying to figure out faith, trying to figure out Jesus, trying to figure out scripture. 00:21:46.558 --> 00:21:49.936 And I'm looking at them and I'm like those people are incredible. 00:21:49.936 --> 00:21:52.615 I want what they have, but here's what they had. 00:21:52.615 --> 00:21:59.090 They just had this resolute faith, this dependence on God, this heart. 00:21:59.090 --> 00:22:04.521 That said, I'm going to view my difficulties through the framework of the presence and the promises of God. 00:22:04.521 --> 00:22:12.884 And these people understood that their hardships were time of stretching and pulling and maturing and shaping. 00:22:12.884 --> 00:22:27.853 And here's my question for all of us this morning what would your life look like if, when you faced a hardship, you saw the hardship through the framework of the presence and the promises of God. 00:22:27.853 --> 00:22:46.637 What would your life look like if, every time you walked into a hardship, what would your life look like if, every time you walked into a hardship, you said okay, god, I know you're real, I know you have a plan for me. 00:22:46.637 --> 00:22:49.269 What are you going to do in this situation? 00:22:49.269 --> 00:22:58.090 What are you trying to teach me? 00:22:58.090 --> 00:22:59.753 How different, how much more clarity would we have if we viewed things through that? 00:22:59.773 --> 00:23:03.599 Some of us are at a place in our life where God has brought some hardships to you. 00:23:03.599 --> 00:23:13.809 Maybe, honestly, maybe you've brought some hardships on yourself and maybe you're at a place where you're at rock bottom. 00:23:13.809 --> 00:23:20.161 And can I say that sometimes God has to allow us to hit rock bottom so we can discover that he's the rock at the bottom. 00:23:20.161 --> 00:23:24.538 Yeah, we can give Tony Evans a hand for that one. 00:23:24.538 --> 00:23:25.099 That's a good one. 00:23:25.099 --> 00:23:29.655 And some of you might be at a place where you are at rock bottom. 00:23:29.655 --> 00:23:35.537 Sometimes God has to allow us to do it so you can see and experience that God is the rock at the bottom. 00:23:35.537 --> 00:23:44.946 So you can see and experience that God is the rock at the bottom so you can see and experience and understand your need for Jesus, your need to come to Jesus Christ by faith. 00:23:44.946 --> 00:23:55.354 Maybe you're spiritual or maybe you're religious, maybe you're just a good-hearted person and all those things are great, but that doesn't mean that you're a true Christian, that doesn't mean that you're a true follower of Jesus. 00:23:55.354 --> 00:24:03.123 And to be a follower of Jesus that means I turn from my sin and I put my faith in Jesus Christ to be my Lord and Savior. 00:24:03.123 --> 00:24:09.785 And sometimes God allows us to hit rock bottom to show us how much we need him. 00:24:09.785 --> 00:24:16.142 And sometimes it's his loving goodness and mercy that allows us to get to that place. 00:24:16.142 --> 00:24:19.619 Because once we discover our need for him, life will never be the same. 00:24:19.619 --> 00:24:27.461 And there are times when our hardships are part of God's plan. 00:24:27.461 --> 00:24:40.354 And there are other times where we experience challenges and hardships that are not necessarily a part of God's plan and are part of, maybe, the brokenness of this world and the brokenness of sin. 00:24:40.354 --> 00:24:47.771 And in those times, more than any other time, it's really important that we frame it. 00:24:47.771 --> 00:24:50.095 Through what can God do? 00:24:50.095 --> 00:24:52.657 Through what does God want to do? 00:24:52.657 --> 00:24:58.986 Because how we frame those seasons and those trials often determine our future. 00:25:00.569 --> 00:25:01.692 Joshua and Caleb. 00:25:01.692 --> 00:25:10.316 They viewed this situation through a God-centered framework and because of that, it allowed them to go into the promised land. 00:25:10.316 --> 00:25:25.855 Get this 40 years later, years later, 40 years later that's probably longer than they wanted to wait. 00:25:25.855 --> 00:25:33.405 And because they saw this challenge through God's presence and God's promises in Joshua 1, they're about to enter the promised land. 00:25:33.405 --> 00:25:35.326 And the other 10,? 00:25:35.326 --> 00:25:39.907 They didn't get in, the other 10, they didn't go to the promised land. 00:25:39.907 --> 00:25:40.107 Why? 00:25:40.107 --> 00:25:42.288 Because they were like nope, can't do it, nope, can't do it, no, nope. 00:25:42.288 --> 00:25:44.915 So they wander around for 40 years, 40 years, 40 years. 00:25:45.277 --> 00:25:48.872 Joshua and Caleb said no, no, we're going to see this through the presence of promises of God. 00:25:48.872 --> 00:25:50.513 We know that God's going to do something. 00:25:50.513 --> 00:25:51.714 We know that God's not done. 00:25:51.714 --> 00:25:55.159 Yes, the challenges are big, yes, the giants are big, but our God is bigger. 00:25:55.159 --> 00:25:58.662 We're going to obey God, we're going to take steps of faith and now they're walking in the promised land. 00:25:58.662 --> 00:26:24.817 And for some of us, we have proverbial promised lands in our life where God wants to take you and God wants to take your family, and the challenges are big and the sons of Anak are all around and you hear all the naysayers and your feelings are telling you all these things, but if you will keep your eyes on Jesus, the author and finisher of your faith, if you will see it through a framework of who God is and what God can do, I say on behalf of the word of God the best is yet to come. 00:26:24.817 --> 00:26:30.231 It is so. 00:26:30.251 --> 00:26:31.175 How do we do this, though? 00:26:31.175 --> 00:26:33.135 Like, how do we actually do this? 00:26:33.135 --> 00:26:53.505 Because it's one thing for us to be in a church service and, you know, pastor Nate, get a little rah-rah and getting all excited, but when we walk out of the door and we face the real world and we face hardships and we face issues, how do we find God's goodness? 00:26:53.505 --> 00:26:59.721 Here's some reframing questions I think can help you God's goodness. 00:26:59.721 --> 00:27:02.109 Here's some reframing questions I think can help you. 00:27:08.501 --> 00:27:10.849 What are the things that God is teaching you in the hardship? 00:27:10.849 --> 00:27:15.446 God wants to teach you something. 00:27:15.446 --> 00:27:16.109 What is God teaching you? 00:27:16.109 --> 00:27:19.253 Where are the places in your life where God is showing his goodness to you? 00:27:19.253 --> 00:27:37.057 Maybe God is showing his goodness to you in the fact that I'm in a really hard situation, but I see his goodness through other people that are loving me and caring for me and praying for me and supporting me, and I see God's goodness through other people through the body of Christ being what the body of Christ does, and that's what I'm seeing. 00:27:37.057 --> 00:27:39.930 I'm seeing God's goodness through other people, through the body of Christ being what the body of Christ does, and that's what I'm saying. 00:27:39.930 --> 00:27:41.634 I'm seeing God's goodness there. 00:27:41.654 --> 00:27:47.113 Here's another question what good can come from this hardship? 00:27:47.113 --> 00:27:57.045 I think a really healthy exercise for some of us may be for you to actually take out your iPhone notes or take out your journal or something and actually write down. 00:27:57.045 --> 00:28:07.116 Maybe this is a really hard, bad situation, but what are things that can possibly good come from this? 00:28:07.116 --> 00:28:09.482 And you will be surprised how many things can possibly come from that. 00:28:09.482 --> 00:28:22.510 It might be something as simple, as there are people that I'm praying will come to faith in Christ and they're going to see my life and my dependence on God, and this could be the very thing that's going to draw those people to Christ. 00:28:22.510 --> 00:28:23.412 It's a possibility. 00:28:23.412 --> 00:28:30.114 It could be that you're going to learn to trust God in ways that you've never been able to trust God before. 00:28:30.114 --> 00:28:30.795 That could happen. 00:28:30.795 --> 00:28:38.500 It could be that there's a piece of your character that God wants to mold and God wants to change, and this is going to be the thing that's going to change your character. 00:28:38.500 --> 00:28:40.423 It may be because of this hardship. 00:28:40.423 --> 00:28:47.233 There may be a relationship or a person or some connection that you make because of this that you wouldn't make any other ways. 00:28:47.233 --> 00:28:53.015 It may be an opportunity that comes across your path because of this that you wouldn't have any other way. 00:28:53.135 --> 00:29:08.922 These are reframing questions that we have to ask ourselves, and if you reframe a situation through the presence and the promises of God and you look for that, I promise you'll find God's goodness, because something that I've learned is we often find what we're looking for. 00:29:08.922 --> 00:29:16.137 If you're looking for something negative, it's easy to find something negative. 00:29:16.137 --> 00:29:19.443 It's super easy. 00:29:19.443 --> 00:29:21.154 I'll help you find something. 00:29:21.154 --> 00:29:27.740 But if you're looking for God's goodness, you can find that too. 00:29:27.740 --> 00:29:30.919 I'll give you a really silly illustration. 00:29:31.651 --> 00:29:51.813 My grandparents live in the country, in a rural area of South Carolina, and you drive around those old country roads, it's a common occurrence that you'll see some type of animal carcass on the side of the road and usually what you'll see at some point is you'll see some vultures Vultures going down and they're having a buffet. 00:29:51.813 --> 00:29:52.794 You know, and having a good old time. 00:29:52.794 --> 00:30:11.114 You know, and having a good old time, and I've never seen and I've never even heard of when you have the vultures doing their thing. 00:30:11.114 --> 00:30:12.415 I've never seen a hummingbird coming down to the dead carcass. 00:30:12.415 --> 00:30:13.458 They don't go to dead carcasses. 00:30:13.458 --> 00:30:20.757 In fact, when I go out there if I want to see a hummingbird this is what I do I go sit on my grandma's porch, my Mimi's porch. 00:30:20.757 --> 00:30:22.682 Sit on Mimi's porch. 00:30:22.682 --> 00:30:30.778 She's got a hummingbird feeder just right outside the porch and she's got all kinds of whatever the sweet stuff is that all the hummingbirds like. 00:30:30.778 --> 00:30:32.123 And this is what happens. 00:30:32.123 --> 00:30:34.594 The hummingbirds go right there and they find it. 00:30:34.594 --> 00:30:39.202 But you know what has never been there off Mimi's porch in that feeder? 00:30:39.202 --> 00:30:43.732 I ain't never seen a vulture. 00:30:43.732 --> 00:30:46.375 Tell you what Mimi would bring out her 22 if that happened. 00:30:46.375 --> 00:30:50.701 I don't know if I'm allowed to say that here, but you never see that. 00:30:50.701 --> 00:30:51.622 Why? 00:30:51.622 --> 00:30:55.586 Because a vulture intentionally looks for a dead carcass. 00:30:55.586 --> 00:31:00.512 A hummingbird intentionally looks for something sweet. 00:31:00.532 --> 00:31:05.743 Joshua and Caleb intentionally look at God's promises and God's presence and guess what? 00:31:05.743 --> 00:31:06.371 They found it. 00:31:06.371 --> 00:31:11.722 And when we intentionally look for the goodness of God, we will see it. 00:31:11.722 --> 00:31:14.233 We will see what God is doing. 00:31:14.233 --> 00:31:20.630 We will believe that the best is yet to come and this is not like new age manifestations, like I'm gonna speak it into existence. 00:31:20.630 --> 00:31:25.615 On this cool TikTok Instagram reel, just give manifestations. 00:31:25.615 --> 00:31:26.618 No, no, this is what this is. 00:31:26.618 --> 00:31:31.096 This is living your life based on the presence and promises of the word of God. 00:31:31.096 --> 00:31:31.778 That's what this is. 00:31:32.430 --> 00:31:39.240 So I'm gonna end with a question for all of us to ask what do you need to reframe? 00:31:39.240 --> 00:31:43.480 What do you need to reframe? 00:31:43.480 --> 00:31:57.338 Maybe in your life it's a health struggle, maybe it's a job loss, maybe it's a relational issue. 00:31:57.338 --> 00:32:01.098 Maybe it's a job loss, maybe it's a relational issue, maybe it's a financial issue. 00:32:01.098 --> 00:32:13.318 If you were to reframe that through the presence and the promises of God, how differently would you experience that? 00:32:13.318 --> 00:32:34.651 And if you change how you frame it, you can often and it often changes the feels of it Because, remember, you can't always control what happens to you, but you can control how you frame it. 00:32:34.651 --> 00:32:45.041 And when you frame things through the presence, promises of God and you look for the goodness of God, it changes everything. 00:32:45.041 --> 00:32:47.593 Let me pray for you this morning that we would do this. 00:32:47.593 --> 00:32:47.972 Let's pray.