WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:02.319 Wow, what beautiful worship uh that was today. 00:00:02.479 --> 00:00:13.679 An incredible time of just being able to lift up the name of Jesus to love everything about this time of year, love everything about these songs and just the nostalgia both that it brings us, but also the reminder, God is faithful. 00:00:13.839 --> 00:00:14.960 God is faithful. 00:00:15.279 --> 00:00:18.160 He always comes through, he always fulfills his promises. 00:00:18.480 --> 00:00:19.359 I just want to encourage you. 00:00:19.440 --> 00:00:21.519 We've got some tickets left for tonight. 00:00:21.600 --> 00:00:24.239 Uh that last song that we sang was arranged by Shane and Shane. 00:00:24.399 --> 00:00:26.719 They're going to be one of the ones they'll be singing this evening. 00:00:26.960 --> 00:00:30.640 Want to encourage you to you can still get tickets concert tonight at 7 o'clock. 00:00:30.719 --> 00:00:32.479 Uh doors open at 6 o'clock. 00:00:32.560 --> 00:00:37.520 There's some VIP tickets ahead of that as well, but you can go and get those online for tonight. 00:00:37.600 --> 00:00:47.840 Um, but it's just gonna be an incredible time of Christmas worship together, ushering in the season as we just begin to celebrate all that God is, all that God has done. 00:00:48.000 --> 00:00:50.799 And of course, it is going to be a beautiful, beautiful time. 00:00:50.880 --> 00:00:53.520 Grab your Bibles, open them up with me to Luke chapter 1. 00:00:53.759 --> 00:00:54.719 Luke chapter 1. 00:00:54.880 --> 00:01:03.840 I want to take this opportunity to welcome all of the men and the women at our correctional facilities, those joining with us on the Pando app, and all of those that are online with us. 00:01:03.920 --> 00:01:06.799 Let's give them a hand and celebrate all of those that are here. 00:01:07.920 --> 00:01:11.599 I'm so grateful for you here in the room today as well. 00:01:14.480 --> 00:01:16.159 I'm not good enough. 00:01:20.079 --> 00:01:21.680 I'm not good enough. 00:01:24.159 --> 00:01:25.920 I remember where I was. 00:01:27.680 --> 00:01:30.079 I remember the people that were on the left. 00:01:31.040 --> 00:01:33.519 I remember the people that were there on the right. 00:01:34.799 --> 00:01:39.040 The worst part is the people in front of me I couldn't I couldn't avoid. 00:01:39.359 --> 00:01:42.000 So I really knew who they were. 00:01:44.319 --> 00:01:48.799 I remember the feeling that I felt when I said it. 00:01:50.640 --> 00:02:01.680 I remember the debate in my head was, should I say this out loud, even though it was screaming inside of my ears. 00:02:04.079 --> 00:02:12.319 I felt the intensity of the moment when it happened, and I knew there's really nowhere I can go. 00:02:14.319 --> 00:02:15.919 I'm not good enough. 00:02:17.759 --> 00:02:25.360 What's odd is how this moment that I was having, how much of a contrast it was from the way I felt when I woke up that day. 00:02:26.000 --> 00:02:33.919 It was completely opposite, and actually, I woke up that day with my my head uh held high, my my chest out, ready to conquer the world. 00:02:34.560 --> 00:02:39.439 Like I just had all the confidence that you could ever have. 00:02:40.719 --> 00:02:45.840 Which is why I think it gripped me and scared me in that moment the way that it did. 00:02:46.719 --> 00:02:50.879 Oh I'm not good enough. 00:02:52.319 --> 00:02:54.000 I was 10 years old. 00:02:54.240 --> 00:03:01.039 I was playing in the 12U All-Star team in Deer Park Little League across town. 00:03:01.520 --> 00:03:08.000 I was pumped because I actually made the little league team because I was a catcher and I was the youngest player in the entire league. 00:03:08.159 --> 00:03:09.439 And I was a really good catcher. 00:03:09.520 --> 00:03:15.599 I was one of those guys that I I didn't necessarily hit for a ton of power, but I could hit pretty consistently and I was lightning fast. 00:03:15.919 --> 00:03:20.400 If I got on base, it was guaranteed I was gonna steal second, it was guaranteed I was gonna steal home. 00:03:20.560 --> 00:03:26.560 Any contact whatsoever I was gonna be able to, or excuse me, steal third, any contact whatsoever, I was gonna be able to get home. 00:03:27.039 --> 00:03:28.639 I also had a pretty good arm. 00:03:28.800 --> 00:03:33.360 Not one single player stole on me the whole season. 00:03:33.680 --> 00:03:37.120 I threw every single one of them out, and man, I loved it. 00:03:37.919 --> 00:03:40.560 Not only that, I was somebody who was fearless. 00:03:40.719 --> 00:03:46.479 I had zero issues whatsoever throwing myself out there to be able to stop a ball from passing beside me. 00:03:46.560 --> 00:03:49.599 And the only ones that actually got by me were wild pitches. 00:03:49.680 --> 00:03:55.199 There was no passed balls because it was just such a bad pitch that I couldn't actually stop it. 00:03:55.759 --> 00:04:18.560 I was ecstatic because we'd won the championship that year on my team, and so therefore, the coach, the coach, the one who everybody knows is the best coach, he's the one who's got the most success, he's the one who's gonna be able to lead potentially the 12U All-Star team to places that had never gone, but also the coach who's talked so fast and is so intense, he called me. 00:04:18.800 --> 00:04:23.040 We'd won the championship and he calls me up and he says, I want you to be my catcher. 00:04:23.199 --> 00:04:25.120 And I was like, Coach, I got you. 00:04:25.279 --> 00:04:26.720 I'm your guy. 00:04:27.439 --> 00:04:31.040 The way that the schedule worked out, we didn't even have a chance to have a practice. 00:04:31.199 --> 00:04:43.040 And so we had our first game, and I knew that I was going onto a team, being the youngest guy in the league with a bunch of players who previously had not only been playing together, but had also were very familiar with this coach. 00:04:43.519 --> 00:04:51.759 Whenever we got there to the warmups, I remember just hearing the pop of the sound in that mitt, and it just sounded different than it did with my team. 00:04:52.000 --> 00:04:53.360 These guys were good. 00:04:53.680 --> 00:04:57.680 Like they were throwing with some velocity, they were throwing with some intensity. 00:04:57.839 --> 00:05:04.560 I noticed that the gear these guys walked up with was a lot better than the gear that I walked up with to that game. 00:05:04.800 --> 00:05:06.800 You could tell these guys were serious. 00:05:07.040 --> 00:05:09.040 You could tell these guys meant business. 00:05:09.279 --> 00:05:12.879 Things were fine as I was catching the pitcher in just the warm-up session. 00:05:12.959 --> 00:05:13.680 It wasn't anything. 00:05:13.839 --> 00:05:15.279 He was just loosening up his arm. 00:05:15.439 --> 00:05:18.879 And it wasn't until the game started when I realized it. 00:05:19.279 --> 00:05:24.800 I squat down to go and catch that very first pitch, and all of a sudden he throws a curved ball. 00:05:25.040 --> 00:05:25.920 You see, here's the deal. 00:05:26.079 --> 00:05:29.920 I'd never seen movement like that on my team that I played on the championship team. 00:05:30.160 --> 00:05:32.240 This kid was totally different. 00:05:32.480 --> 00:05:37.199 And sure enough, in my attempt to try to stop the ball, it goes back to the backstop, pass the ball. 00:05:37.519 --> 00:05:41.759 I remember walking back to the backstop, I pick up the ball, I throw it over to the pitcher. 00:05:41.839 --> 00:05:42.879 He comes up to the next one. 00:05:42.959 --> 00:05:48.480 This time I'm expecting a curved ball, but instead he throws the fastest fastball I had ever seen. 00:05:48.639 --> 00:05:52.720 It sticks off the side of my glove and goes to the back, another pass the ball. 00:05:53.040 --> 00:06:01.920 I go all the way to the backstop, I go and pick up the ball, and I throw it back to the pitcher, and this time I squat down, and all I'm thinking is, do not miss this ball. 00:06:02.560 --> 00:06:08.720 And sure enough, he goes and he throws a breaking ball, and that thing had more movement than I've ever seen a ball have in my entire life. 00:06:08.879 --> 00:06:13.519 And as much as I attempted to go and throw myself at it, it went right between my legs. 00:06:14.399 --> 00:06:23.920 I remember walking over there to the backstop, picking up the ball after the third pass ball, and it was at that moment when the coach yells, Cuba! I thought you were supposed to be good. 00:06:24.879 --> 00:06:26.399 What's the deal? 00:06:27.680 --> 00:06:30.160 And this thought was in my head. 00:06:30.560 --> 00:06:32.319 I'm not good enough to be here. 00:06:34.240 --> 00:06:41.839 These guys are at a different level, and I'm way out of my league. 00:06:42.879 --> 00:06:44.160 Here's the problem. 00:06:45.279 --> 00:06:46.720 Where's I gonna go? 00:06:47.759 --> 00:06:54.160 So I just threw the ball back and I sat there the whole time, just having this thought replay over and over and again in your head. 00:06:54.480 --> 00:06:56.160 You're not good enough to be here. 00:06:56.800 --> 00:06:58.240 You're not good enough. 00:06:59.839 --> 00:07:01.439 You ever had that moment before? 00:07:03.279 --> 00:07:18.879 You ever had a moment in your life when the reality of the situation so grips you that you begin to have fear and anxiety, and that little voice that you know is right says, I'm not good enough. 00:07:20.319 --> 00:07:22.480 Maybe for some of you it's not a moment. 00:07:22.639 --> 00:07:25.519 Maybe for some of you, I just described a lifestyle. 00:07:27.040 --> 00:07:48.079 You see, every day in your life, you just wake up and you know, I'm not, I'm not good enough, I don't, I don't sell enough, I'm not pretty enough, I'm not successful enough, I'm not, I'm not whatever enough, I all the things that you're supposed to be, I don't have enough money, I don't have enough things that I'm uh success, all the things that you're supposed to be in life, you just know this, you're not enough of it. 00:07:48.720 --> 00:07:56.079 And so because of that, you just have this voice that sits in your head and just continually says the same thing over and over again. 00:07:57.040 --> 00:07:58.480 I'm not enough. 00:07:59.759 --> 00:08:11.680 The problem is what has been starting in a relational situation, or maybe it started in a financial situation, or maybe it started in a work situation or a work dynamic has now transferred over into your spiritual life. 00:08:12.639 --> 00:08:21.040 And now when you hear these stories about how God's got a purpose and a plan for your life, and God wants to do something in and through you, it sounds really good, except for this reality. 00:08:21.199 --> 00:08:23.040 You know this to be the case. 00:08:23.839 --> 00:08:24.879 Not for me. 00:08:25.920 --> 00:08:27.120 Because I'm not good enough. 00:08:28.639 --> 00:08:34.720 We're starting a brand new sermon series today called Behold, and for the next few weeks, we're gonna be looking at the story of Christmas. 00:08:35.440 --> 00:08:40.879 There's some amazing words that show up over and over again that we're gonna focus on. 00:08:41.519 --> 00:08:45.440 It's the words, do not be afraid. 00:08:46.320 --> 00:08:52.879 You see, we kind of know how the story ends, and I love all that is about Christmas and all the celebration that is about Christmas. 00:08:52.960 --> 00:08:58.399 And so, because of that, Christmas, generally speaking, is at least associated with joy and excitement. 00:08:58.480 --> 00:09:04.639 But the story, the announcement of Christmas, in every scenario that it happens, is met with great fear. 00:09:05.039 --> 00:09:07.679 It's met with great anxiety. 00:09:08.240 --> 00:09:23.120 And so, what I want us to do is I want us to look at the story of Christmas and behold the one the story is all about, and see what it tells us and helps us in order how we deal with our fears. 00:09:23.840 --> 00:09:27.759 Let's begin reading in Luke chapter 1, beginning in verse 26. 00:09:29.440 --> 00:09:39.279 It says, In the sixth month of Elizabeth's pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a village in Galilee, to a virgin named Mary. 00:09:40.159 --> 00:09:44.000 She was engaged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of King David. 00:09:44.720 --> 00:09:49.120 Gabriel appeared to her and said, Greetings, favored woman, the Lord is with you. 00:09:50.000 --> 00:09:53.360 Confused and disturbed, Mary tried to think what the angel could mean. 00:09:54.000 --> 00:09:58.559 Don't be afraid, Mary, the angel told her, for you have found favor with God. 00:09:59.440 --> 00:10:03.600 You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus. 00:10:04.000 --> 00:10:07.440 He will be very great and will be called the Son of the Most High. 00:10:07.759 --> 00:10:13.679 The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David, and he will reign over Israel forever. 00:10:13.840 --> 00:10:15.519 His kingdom will never end. 00:10:16.399 --> 00:10:18.639 Mary asked the angel, But how can this happen? 00:10:18.799 --> 00:10:20.000 I am a virgin. 00:10:20.240 --> 00:10:25.919 The angel replied, The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. 00:10:26.159 --> 00:10:30.240 So the baby to be born will be holy, and he will be called the Son of God. 00:10:30.559 --> 00:10:34.480 What's more, your relative Elizabeth has become pregnant in her old age. 00:10:34.720 --> 00:10:39.519 People used to say she was barren, but she has conceived a son and is now in her sixth month. 00:10:39.840 --> 00:10:42.320 For the word of God will never fail. 00:10:42.879 --> 00:10:45.360 Mary responded, I am the Lord's servant. 00:10:45.600 --> 00:10:48.320 May everything you have said about me come true. 00:10:48.559 --> 00:10:51.120 And then the angel left her. 00:10:52.000 --> 00:10:55.919 The key verse that I want us to focus in on is verse 29. 00:10:56.080 --> 00:10:57.759 Let me read it for you again. 00:10:58.480 --> 00:11:04.559 Confused and disturbed, Mary tried to think what the angel could mean. 00:11:05.919 --> 00:11:08.320 Here's Mary, she's given an assignment. 00:11:08.399 --> 00:11:10.159 This is a pretty exciting assignment. 00:11:10.320 --> 00:11:11.600 You are pregnant. 00:11:11.840 --> 00:11:17.519 Anytime you have a pregnancy announcement, it is typically met with joy and excitement and anticipation. 00:11:17.679 --> 00:11:25.360 Yet in this moment, what we see from Mary is instead of all of those emotions, it instead is met with fear. 00:11:25.919 --> 00:11:34.159 Historically, it might help us to have a little bit of background to be able to understand maybe why I believe it was responded to with fear from Mary. 00:11:34.320 --> 00:11:45.279 When you get a little bit of an insight and discover a little bit about who Mary is, you see how unbelievably unlikely she was for this news to be given to. 00:11:45.919 --> 00:12:05.679 Commentator Kit Hughes says this she would marry humbly, give birth to numerous poor children, never travel farther than a few miles from home, and one day die like thousands of others before her, a nobody in a nothing town in the middle of nowhere. 00:12:06.320 --> 00:12:08.240 This was Mary's life. 00:12:08.720 --> 00:12:12.879 Essentially, it could be said, no one expected much. 00:12:14.320 --> 00:12:18.240 We don't know exactly what Mary was thinking in that moment. 00:12:18.320 --> 00:12:27.919 But if you will give me a little bit of liberty to just kind of play out a scenario that I think at least potentially could be true, I actually think it actually is true. 00:12:28.080 --> 00:12:40.799 But I believe the reason that Mary responded with fear and anxiety is because here's somebody who didn't expect nothing of herself and didn't know that never knows that everybody else expected nothing of her as well. 00:12:40.960 --> 00:12:48.799 And now all of a sudden God gives her an assignment that is so large and that is so massive, and here's what she knows to be true. 00:12:49.759 --> 00:12:51.039 I'm not good enough. 00:12:52.399 --> 00:12:54.240 I'm not good enough to do this. 00:12:55.120 --> 00:12:57.440 Like you must be talking to somebody else. 00:12:57.759 --> 00:13:01.679 Like this has got to be a word for someone else. 00:13:03.200 --> 00:13:10.000 I've got to feel that this reaction that she has is probably not unlike what some of you feel. 00:13:10.399 --> 00:13:17.600 When all of a sudden God steps up and says something to you, and you have this thought. 00:13:18.000 --> 00:13:19.840 Oh, I I can't I can't do that. 00:13:20.000 --> 00:13:21.440 I'm not good enough. 00:13:21.840 --> 00:13:23.120 Let's play a few of them out. 00:13:23.200 --> 00:13:33.679 How about the fact whenever you're around Thanksgiving and let's say that your house and your Thanksgiving meal and you all get together with family and you don't have like a pastor in your family, so like me, I'm like the designated prayer, right? 00:13:33.759 --> 00:13:34.720 Which is so boring, right? 00:13:34.879 --> 00:13:50.879 But if you don't have a designated prayer, right, and so therefore it's sort of like a potluck, you don't ever know who's gonna get picked, and so you're there and all of your Thanksgiving, and it's got all of this dynamic, and you know that you're gonna all of a sudden get spiritual for a moment, regardless of what it is that you were talking about, and your name gets called. 00:13:51.600 --> 00:13:57.840 Your heart starts beating a whole lot faster, and here's what you begin to think I can't do this, I'm not good enough. 00:13:58.879 --> 00:14:17.440 Or maybe it's something more when you're walking with the Lord and you're experiencing his favor and you're beginning to see how he's using you, and you you you sense that God may be just maybe calling you to ministry, and you're like, oh my goodness, this is a huge thing, like all of my life, and all and you think these thoughts, and you wonder these thoughts, and you're beginning, God, are you leading me in this way? 00:14:17.679 --> 00:14:23.919 But the reason why you haven't said yes is because you have this thought, but I'm not good enough. 00:14:24.720 --> 00:14:26.080 You can't do that. 00:14:27.200 --> 00:14:36.559 Maybe some of you find yourself in a situation to where you feel prompted and you feel led to pray with your spouse, like it's a big deal, like you're gonna pray with your spouse, and so maybe you talk about it earlier that day. 00:14:36.720 --> 00:14:46.159 Hey, we're gonna pray together when we get together that night, and maybe you get to that moment, and right before you go to bed, you're gonna pray and you look at each other, and you're all along you're thinking, but you're gonna do it. 00:14:48.000 --> 00:14:51.679 Because I'm I'm not good enough. 00:14:53.440 --> 00:15:18.480 Maybe some of you find yourself in a situation to where you are struggling because you hear about these mission trips and you hear about these church planning trips, and you hear about people sharing their faith, and you would love to be one of those people that do all of those things, and maybe you even get bold and you say, Man, I'm gonna sign up and I'm gonna force myself out of my comfort zone into those situations, and then you go and you're standing across from somebody who actually needs to hear the message, and here's the thing you think in your mind, you can't say this, you're gonna screw it up. 00:15:18.559 --> 00:15:19.120 But you know why? 00:15:19.279 --> 00:15:23.519 Because you're not good enough. 00:15:26.080 --> 00:15:32.879 You see, the assumption is that God calls us to things that we're comfortable doing and that we already are good at. 00:15:33.919 --> 00:15:55.360 And what we don't understand is the fact that God has a history of over and over and over again throughout the pages of scripture and all over the story of Christmas, where he calls people to come to the end of themselves and realize that they are not good enough, so then and only then they can see that God is actually sufficient the whole time. 00:15:56.799 --> 00:16:03.440 You see, if you think that God is leading and calling you to do something and you don't need God to do it, I can assure you of this. 00:16:03.519 --> 00:16:05.200 God's not calling you for that. 00:16:06.240 --> 00:16:08.639 He may want you to do it, that's great. 00:16:09.039 --> 00:16:17.759 But see, my experience has been this God instead calls me to things that I look at that and I'm like, oh no, no, no, no, no, you got the wrong guy. 00:16:18.399 --> 00:16:19.919 I'm not good enough. 00:16:20.559 --> 00:16:22.000 I can't do that. 00:16:23.120 --> 00:16:32.799 And instead of thinking that that is a reason to disqualify us from being used by God, what he teaches us is that's actually the requirement to be used by God. 00:16:34.000 --> 00:16:36.000 So here's what I would simply tell you. 00:16:36.480 --> 00:16:41.679 If you're here today and you don't think you're enough, then you're in luck. 00:16:42.480 --> 00:16:52.000 Isaiah chapter 55, verses 8 and 9 say this, for my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are my ways, or your ways my ways, declares the Lord. 00:16:52.399 --> 00:16:58.159 For as high as the heavens are than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. 00:16:58.320 --> 00:17:08.960 God does stuff that we don't understand, including calling us to things so that we can come to the place to realize I'm not enough. 00:17:09.359 --> 00:17:17.599 Here's my main point that I want you to write down, that I want you to take away with and write on your hearts today is this God calls those who are not good enough. 00:17:18.960 --> 00:17:22.079 God calls those who are not good enough. 00:17:23.119 --> 00:17:34.880 I've got to imagine that feeling that I had whenever I was 10 years old at the baseball field, which by the way, I've had many, many times since that moment is probably similar to the experiences that some of you may have in this room. 00:17:35.359 --> 00:17:38.079 And so if that is you, we're all in luck. 00:17:38.400 --> 00:17:42.160 God uses those who are not enough. 00:17:42.720 --> 00:17:55.759 If you aren't good enough, if you aren't talented enough, if you aren't smart enough or bright enough or polished enough or good looking enough, from the right neighborhood enough, have enough money enough, whatever enough you think you're supposed to have, if you're not that and you're not enough of it, then guess what? 00:17:55.920 --> 00:17:57.599 God says that I want to use you. 00:17:58.000 --> 00:18:01.759 You're a perfect candidate for me to choose. 00:18:02.160 --> 00:18:07.440 Because we're on this side of the story, I think we miss how radical Mary's response actually is. 00:18:07.599 --> 00:18:21.440 But I think go back to verse 29, it shows us Mary knew how crazy this was, and because of that, it caused her fear to be disturbed because she knew in her mind I'm not good enough. 00:18:22.640 --> 00:18:31.680 Let me give you some insight, two things I want to mention to you from this exchange with Mary that can help you when God calls those who are not good enough. 00:18:31.920 --> 00:18:35.599 First thing is this God gives favor to those he calls. 00:18:36.160 --> 00:18:38.079 God gives favor to those he calls. 00:18:38.160 --> 00:18:49.279 Some of the most significant moments in my life have been whenever I have stepped out and said yes to the Lord in faith, having no idea how the details are going to play themselves out. 00:18:49.839 --> 00:18:58.960 Like I can look back and see time and time and time and time again when I'm like, man, if I'd have known this was the road I was gonna go down, I'm not sure I'd have said yes. 00:18:59.920 --> 00:19:04.000 But instead, I saw God's faithfulness show up repeatedly. 00:19:04.559 --> 00:19:06.559 An obvious one would be in our finances. 00:19:06.720 --> 00:19:16.079 We are living, breathing testimonies, Hillary and I, of the mailbox money anonymously given in your mailbox at a time when you actually needed the money to be able to pay for something. 00:19:16.240 --> 00:19:17.839 We've had that happen to us. 00:19:18.160 --> 00:19:27.599 Like we are recipients of a refund check that we didn't know was coming, that all of a sudden is exactly what we needed in order for God to be able to do something that He was prompting us to do. 00:19:27.839 --> 00:19:40.000 Like we are people who have seen the the gift card that all of a sudden are the card that you get, a greeting card that has money in it that all of a sudden is exactly, exactly what God says. 00:19:41.680 --> 00:19:43.119 But here's what I would simply tell you. 00:19:43.200 --> 00:19:54.960 The reason why I can appreciate and have such joy in telling you those stories is because I also can tell you that all along the way, including the very early stages of our marriage, we were tithing faithfully to the local church and giving of our money. 00:19:55.039 --> 00:19:59.039 And I could simply tell you this: it wasn't because I was on staff at a church and I was supposed to. 00:19:59.200 --> 00:20:05.279 There was so many times whenever we would do it and we would look at each other and we would say this, we don't have enough. 00:20:06.799 --> 00:20:08.640 We don't have enough to do this. 00:20:09.599 --> 00:20:17.279 Yet I would simply trust the Lord, and so because of that, I now have these testimonies of how he proved faithful. 00:20:17.359 --> 00:20:17.839 Please hear me. 00:20:17.920 --> 00:20:18.799 It's not just about finances. 00:20:18.880 --> 00:20:22.319 I don't want this to be just about finances, I want this to be about everything in your life. 00:20:22.480 --> 00:20:30.720 Whenever you come to the place where you can admit, I am not good enough, and that's the point, and instead say, But I know he's good enough. 00:20:31.920 --> 00:20:44.880 Like I know that I am not gonna be able to get this done, but I know if he calls me, then he's gonna give me his favor, and in light of that, I can trust him, and because of that, we can do some stuff. 00:20:45.359 --> 00:20:47.119 Luke chapter 1, verse 30. 00:20:47.200 --> 00:20:48.720 Look at what it says. 00:20:49.680 --> 00:20:51.519 Don't be afraid, Mary. 00:20:52.400 --> 00:20:56.960 The angel told her, for you have found favor with God. 00:20:58.480 --> 00:21:01.440 The favor with God wasn't anything that Mary was owed. 00:21:01.599 --> 00:21:14.720 Unfortunately, the way that the scriptures have been abused in such a way where now people are praying towards Mary, and people have these very much elevated relationships with Mary, it kind of makes it look like God was just basically looking at her and being like, She's awesome. 00:21:14.799 --> 00:21:16.000 I'm gonna choose her. 00:21:16.240 --> 00:21:17.839 It's not how it went down. 00:21:18.559 --> 00:21:36.160 And I think whenever you have that abuse really of the elevation of Mary, I think instead what it does is it misses the idea that God is the one who instead picked the most random person of all and not only called her to something beyond herself, but it says there that he gave her favor. 00:21:36.960 --> 00:21:41.759 And just as God gave favor to Mary, God will give his favor to you. 00:21:41.920 --> 00:21:43.519 So what does this what does this mean? 00:21:43.680 --> 00:21:59.759 That means if God is calling you into the difficulty of trying to restore your relationship or trying to build your marriage on a foundation of the gospel, or for you to try to begin to walk in the difficult time of reconciliation and restoration in the midst of all of the bumpy rooms. 00:22:00.319 --> 00:22:03.440 That's gonna be, I want you to hear it loud and clear. 00:22:03.680 --> 00:22:06.240 God's favor will be with you when you do that. 00:22:07.440 --> 00:22:09.279 Like you're not doing it alone. 00:22:10.480 --> 00:22:23.519 What this means is that if God calls you to go and share your faith with somebody else, if God calls you to go and invite and lead someone else to the Lord by telling of your testimony of what he's done in your life, I can assure you of this. 00:22:23.680 --> 00:22:28.480 It may be awkward and it may be difficult, but God's favor will be with you. 00:22:29.359 --> 00:22:32.079 His favor is with those he calls. 00:22:32.880 --> 00:22:43.920 If you're here today and you want to read God's word, or maybe you want to study God's word and you've never done that before, it feels overwhelming, it feels daunting, and you begin to open up the Bible and you begin to read, get a reading plan, and start to read God's word. 00:22:44.160 --> 00:22:51.759 I can assure you at times it's gonna be confusing, and at times it may not make a whole lot of sense, but I can also assure you this God's favor is gonna be with you. 00:22:52.720 --> 00:22:56.559 I guess favor is gonna be alongside of you. 00:22:56.799 --> 00:23:11.519 I think part of the problem we have though sometimes is the fact that too often we are asking God to give us his favor on what we've already decided that we want to do instead of asking God what he wants us to do, saying yes to that, and then God gives us favor to that. 00:23:13.920 --> 00:23:15.119 You see, here's the problem. 00:23:15.200 --> 00:23:19.200 We begin to view God like he's some kind of like cosmic cheerleader. 00:23:19.759 --> 00:23:26.880 Like his whole goal is just basically to stand there with a bullhorn and watch you live your life being the best version of you and being like, way to go. 00:23:27.599 --> 00:23:31.119 Keep it up, keep going, you're doing great. 00:23:31.279 --> 00:23:32.319 I believe in you. 00:23:32.640 --> 00:23:34.000 That's not what God does. 00:23:34.960 --> 00:23:39.200 Instead, God calls us to the place where we look around and we're like, Where are you? 00:23:39.279 --> 00:23:40.640 Because I got nothing. 00:23:42.319 --> 00:23:53.200 Because in the midst of that situation, that's when we can see his favor, which is always so real and always so prevalent in our lives. 00:23:53.920 --> 00:23:59.279 I remember when God called me to preach when I was in fifth grade, I prayed this simple prayer, God, I want to be used by you. 00:23:59.359 --> 00:24:00.079 Would you show me how? 00:24:00.240 --> 00:24:06.480 And undeniably, I can't explain it, I don't really understand it, but I just knew without a doubt God was calling me to preach. 00:24:06.720 --> 00:24:08.240 I also knew this. 00:24:09.359 --> 00:24:11.200 I had no idea how I was gonna do that. 00:24:12.079 --> 00:24:19.279 It felt overwhelming, it felt too much, it felt like I didn't even know where to get from here to there. 00:24:19.440 --> 00:24:22.799 I just knew God called me, and so therefore I needed to trust him. 00:24:25.279 --> 00:24:32.559 I cannot begin to describe to you how often I have to sit right over there. 00:24:33.599 --> 00:24:42.319 And in the midst of the last worship song, instead of worshiping like I should be, getting ready to preach, I'm having a mental ping-pong battle going on in my mind. 00:24:43.119 --> 00:24:44.480 And here's the thought. 00:24:49.839 --> 00:24:59.119 You're not qualified enough, you're not eloquent enough, you're not articulate enough, you're not funny enough. 00:25:00.720 --> 00:25:02.640 You're not whatever enough. 00:25:04.400 --> 00:25:19.119 And as a result of that little ping-pong mash that goes along in my head, what I've started to do over the years, and is I have to physically do something to kind of prepare my heart to believe what I'm about to do. 00:25:19.759 --> 00:25:20.799 You see, here's the problem. 00:25:20.960 --> 00:25:23.039 James chapter 3, verse 1, listen to what it says. 00:25:23.200 --> 00:25:28.400 It says, Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness. 00:25:28.559 --> 00:25:35.920 So not only am I sitting there on the front row worried about the fact that I don't feel like I'm qualified enough, now God says you're gonna be judged more by doing this. 00:25:36.880 --> 00:25:41.599 It's like I'm just over here, like, man, I don't want to do this. 00:25:43.200 --> 00:25:46.960 And so what I will do, I encourage you not to watch me, catch me doing this. 00:25:47.039 --> 00:25:49.599 You need to be worshiping during the last song, okay? 00:25:51.839 --> 00:25:57.839 I will literally take a step forward and I will pray, God, I'm yours, use me today. 00:25:58.400 --> 00:26:09.359 And that simple, literal expression of stepping forward and praying that prayer is basically saying, okay, I'm gonna leave these fears and I'm gonna walk into my calling. 00:26:10.880 --> 00:26:17.279 Like I'm gonna come up on stage and I'm gonna do what I'm not qualified to do because you called me to do it, so let's go. 00:26:19.359 --> 00:26:21.519 Ephesians chapter 2, verses 8 through 10. 00:26:21.599 --> 00:26:23.119 Listen to this, it's a beautiful passage. 00:26:23.279 --> 00:26:31.119 For by grace you've been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing, it is the gift of God, not a result of work, so that no one may boast. 00:26:31.279 --> 00:26:35.440 If you stopped right there, this is some of the most amazing two verses in all of the Bible. 00:26:35.839 --> 00:26:43.759 But it keeps going, for we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. 00:26:44.000 --> 00:27:07.359 Your calling may not be that you are supposed to go up on a stage and preach in front of a bunch of people, but I can assure you this whatever God's calling is for your life, whether that's serving in preschool, whether that's serving in the parking lot, whether that's leading a Bible study at the office, whether that's you sharing faith, your faith with those that are in your classes, whatever God is calling you to do, I would simply plead and beg you to step into your calling. 00:27:08.960 --> 00:27:16.720 Don't allow the enemy to keep whispering things into your ear, which are true. 00:27:17.920 --> 00:27:19.279 You're not good enough. 00:27:20.880 --> 00:27:34.079 But instead, you let those very same words be the reason why you walk with confidence and step into the fact that I know I'm not good enough, but he's plenty good enough, and so therefore, let's go. 00:27:35.119 --> 00:27:39.440 Let's go do what God is calling us to do. 00:27:41.359 --> 00:27:42.799 Jesus gives favor. 00:27:43.519 --> 00:27:45.119 God gives favor to those he calls. 00:27:45.200 --> 00:27:50.799 Let me give you the second thing that I want you to see from this passage, which is this God gives his word to those he calls. 00:27:51.599 --> 00:27:53.839 God gives his word to those he calls. 00:27:54.400 --> 00:27:56.799 I love this exchange with Mary. 00:27:57.440 --> 00:28:01.599 Mainly, probably because it's a lot of how I respond to God's word a lot. 00:28:02.240 --> 00:28:10.960 Like what she does is she hears this incredible like calling and this incredible promise, and she has this tension that you kind of see behind the scenes from her. 00:28:11.200 --> 00:28:14.000 One, you see her being like, awesome, I'm all in. 00:28:14.160 --> 00:28:14.720 This is great. 00:28:14.880 --> 00:28:16.319 I'm so excited about this. 00:28:16.559 --> 00:28:18.400 On the other hand, you're like, but how? 00:28:20.480 --> 00:28:22.319 Like, okay, but what? 00:28:23.200 --> 00:28:25.039 Like, what do you what do you mean? 00:28:25.200 --> 00:28:32.240 Like, I'm not pregnant right now, and I don't I know how to get pregnant, and I'm getting, I'm not done that, so what do we do? 00:28:32.319 --> 00:28:32.960 How does this work? 00:28:33.039 --> 00:28:35.039 And like, how does this whole thing happen? 00:28:35.200 --> 00:28:54.079 And I feel like that's me a lot of times, whenever I read and hear the promises of God, when I sing them uh in worship together, or when I sing them in my car at home, and if I'm hearing worship songs being spoken, on the one end, I'm so grateful for the promises of God and the truths that are found in it, and I'm all about it, and they bring joy and excitement and confidence. 00:28:54.160 --> 00:28:59.839 Well, at the very same time, I'm like, yeah, but I got a life and I got a family and I got a job and I got all this stuff. 00:28:59.920 --> 00:29:04.480 So, how are all these things over here gonna play out in this reality over here? 00:29:05.359 --> 00:29:08.559 Like I'm in, but how? 00:29:09.839 --> 00:29:13.440 And what we see is God in his graciousness explains well, this is what's gonna happen. 00:29:13.599 --> 00:29:18.960 The Holy Spirit's gonna come upon you, you're gonna have a child, and by the way, your cousin, she's gonna be pregnant too. 00:29:19.039 --> 00:29:19.759 It's gonna be great. 00:29:19.920 --> 00:29:23.200 And here's what the word says in Luke chapter 1, verse 37. 00:29:24.640 --> 00:29:30.480 For the word of God never fail. 00:29:33.680 --> 00:29:39.519 For the word of God, it will never fail. 00:29:41.440 --> 00:29:48.079 Isaiah chapter 40, verse 8, the grass withers and the flowers fade, but the word of our God stands forever. 00:29:48.880 --> 00:30:02.400 When God calls you to follow him, you're gonna need to stay very close to his word and very close to his promises because you're going to have a voice inside of your head continually telling you, I'm not good enough. 00:30:02.559 --> 00:30:05.680 And because you're not good enough, then you shouldn't try anything. 00:30:05.759 --> 00:30:13.759 And instead, it is those times when you need to allow the truth and the promises of God's word to override your feelings. 00:30:15.200 --> 00:30:19.279 Let me just tell you, your feelings are terrible indicators of reality. 00:30:20.880 --> 00:30:34.400 There are so many times I'm standing there on the front row and I am fearful or I am angry or I am anxious or I've got all of these various emotions, and I've already decided what God's gonna do before I ever walk up on stage to do my calling. 00:30:35.519 --> 00:30:41.759 And because of that, it can cause me not to walk up with confidence, but instead to walk up with fear. 00:30:43.359 --> 00:30:50.799 Instead, God's word says that I am to read his word and I'm to allow his word to speak to me and hold true to these words. 00:30:50.960 --> 00:30:57.519 We have one of our core values at United City is the Bible speaks, and our goal is that you can be in a place where you know this. 00:30:57.680 --> 00:31:04.240 I don't know how I'm gonna get from point A to point B, but I know what God's Word says, and I'm gonna go with that. 00:31:05.279 --> 00:31:07.200 And I'm gonna walk in it. 00:31:07.440 --> 00:31:09.519 I'm gonna walk with confidence in it. 00:31:09.680 --> 00:31:14.240 Not because I'm good enough, because I know I'm not good enough, but he's good enough. 00:31:15.279 --> 00:31:18.559 And this is what he wants to do in and through me. 00:31:19.920 --> 00:31:22.240 Joshua chapter 1, verses 7 and 8. 00:31:23.200 --> 00:31:25.599 Be strong and very courageous. 00:31:26.240 --> 00:31:29.759 Be careful to obey all the instructions Moses gave you. 00:31:30.240 --> 00:31:34.319 Do not deviate from them turning either to the right or to the left. 00:31:34.720 --> 00:31:37.440 Then you will be successful in everything that you do. 00:31:37.599 --> 00:31:44.160 Study this book of instruction continually, meditate on it day and night so that you will be sure to obey everything written in it. 00:31:44.720 --> 00:31:52.480 Only then you will prosper and succeed in all you do. 00:31:55.440 --> 00:32:03.200 When you allow God's word to be true, and when you allow God's word to be, this is what it leads to. 00:32:03.519 --> 00:32:04.720 Luke 138. 00:32:20.960 --> 00:32:25.039 This guy calling you to this Christmas. 00:32:28.559 --> 00:32:31.440 The goal of this series is that you would be whole. 00:32:33.279 --> 00:32:36.160 The one who came in the most unexpected way. 00:32:38.079 --> 00:32:39.839 The most unexpected way. 00:32:42.079 --> 00:32:44.559 For the most unexpected reason. 00:32:47.680 --> 00:32:56.079 He not only came unexpectedly, but he lived a life that defied every possible conceivable expectation of him. 00:32:58.319 --> 00:33:00.640 It was a perfect, sinless life. 00:33:00.799 --> 00:33:04.319 Even his parents at 12 years old are like, what do I do with this kid? 00:33:05.759 --> 00:33:10.160 Like he's just led by a different place. 00:33:12.160 --> 00:33:16.400 The Bible says he grew in wisdom and stature and favor with God and man. 00:33:16.559 --> 00:33:20.400 Ultimately, he began his public-facing ministry when he was 30 years old. 00:33:20.559 --> 00:33:22.799 Let's just go ahead and speak to that really quickly. 00:33:22.960 --> 00:33:31.519 Let youth be something that we definitely realize God wants to do great things with us, but let's also realize this sometimes the weight is worth it. 00:33:35.119 --> 00:33:37.359 30 years old, he begins this public ministry. 00:33:37.519 --> 00:33:46.960 And as he begins this public ministry, he begins to say things that just drive the religious leaders crazy because it defies all of the control of the system that they had established. 00:33:47.200 --> 00:34:03.119 In the midst of all of that, he began to talk about rising from the dead, which meant he first of all had to die, which totally defied what they expected, which they wanted him to come and be a ruling military kingdom leader who's gonna kick out all the bad guys and put in all the good guys. 00:34:03.200 --> 00:34:09.280 And instead, he says, My kingdom is not of this world, my kingdom is of another world. 00:34:09.599 --> 00:34:12.639 And I want to invite you to believe in me. 00:34:12.719 --> 00:34:13.840 Let me tell you what that means. 00:34:13.920 --> 00:34:17.519 I'm gonna give my life as a sacrificial death on a cross. 00:34:17.679 --> 00:34:20.719 I'm gonna take away all the punishment that is due towards you. 00:34:20.880 --> 00:34:34.079 And then he rose from the dead three days later, and by raising from the dead, he allows us the opportunity to place our faith and our trust in him so that not only all of our sins can be forgiven, but also that we can be made right with God. 00:34:34.320 --> 00:34:38.639 That alone is enough, but he also says this, and that you can be my friend. 00:34:45.519 --> 00:34:49.679 When you feel like you are just overwhelmed, I will be with you. 00:34:51.920 --> 00:35:03.840 I will send a helper after me who is even better than me being here on the earth, the Holy Spirit who will guide you, who will comfort you, who will convict you, who will lead you into the things of righteousness. 00:35:06.159 --> 00:35:19.119 And when you behold the King of Kings, when you behold all who Jesus is, it allows all of the voices which are screaming in your head to go back to their rightful place. 00:35:20.880 --> 00:35:27.920 As you just step into your calling and say, Let's go. 00:35:28.559 --> 00:35:29.599 Would you bow your heads? 00:35:29.760 --> 00:35:31.280 Would you close your eyes all across this room? 00:35:31.440 --> 00:35:33.519 Those online, would you do the same? 00:35:36.239 --> 00:35:38.480 For some of you, this is your chance to check out. 00:35:38.559 --> 00:35:39.599 Don't do it. 00:35:40.880 --> 00:35:43.840 For some of you, this is the gathering time of all of your stuff. 00:35:43.920 --> 00:35:45.039 You're fine. 00:35:46.159 --> 00:35:48.639 What does God want you to do this Christmas? 00:35:52.159 --> 00:35:55.199 I believe God gives all of us next steps. 00:35:56.000 --> 00:36:02.079 For some, it's going into ministry, for some, it's praying with your spouse tonight, and everything in between. 00:36:02.800 --> 00:36:08.400 For some, it's offering forgiveness, and for others, it is going on a mission trip. 00:36:11.920 --> 00:36:15.119 For some of you, God is calling you to give financially. 00:36:15.760 --> 00:36:18.320 For some of you, God is calling you to give of your time. 00:36:18.559 --> 00:36:21.360 For some of you, God is calling you to give of your testimony. 00:36:21.519 --> 00:36:25.440 For some of you, God is calling you to give of your forgiveness. 00:36:26.559 --> 00:36:30.639 For some of you, God is calling you to give someone the benefit of the doubt. 00:36:36.400 --> 00:36:39.760 For some of you, God is calling you to give him your life. 00:36:43.199 --> 00:36:46.559 For you to realize that you are not good enough, but that's the point. 00:36:47.679 --> 00:37:03.119 Because the goal is not that you just spin your wheels and continually try to be a better version of yourself, but instead for you to come to the end of yourself and instead put your faith and your trust in the one who is completely good enough. 00:37:05.519 --> 00:37:12.239 He died for you, he rose from the dead, and he wants to be your friend to save you. 00:37:13.360 --> 00:37:16.400 It requires that you in these moments give your life to Jesus. 00:37:16.559 --> 00:37:17.280 You respond to him. 00:37:17.519 --> 00:37:23.119 We had somebody at our last service who came forward and she kept saying, You know, I just am not sure I'm good enough. 00:37:23.199 --> 00:37:25.039 I'm just not sure if I'm good enough to be baptized. 00:37:25.119 --> 00:37:27.599 I'm not sure if I'm good enough to give my life to Jesus. 00:37:27.760 --> 00:37:40.239 And and Julia read her, open up God's word and began to look at her and read to her the verse in 2 Corinthians chapter 12, which says, My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. 00:37:42.079 --> 00:37:46.000 Here's my translation so that when you're not good enough, that's when I show up. 00:37:46.719 --> 00:37:57.760 And she she said that she began to break down in tears and realizing the freedom that came when all of a sudden the voice of God can become louder than the voice in her head. 00:37:59.119 --> 00:38:02.719 She said, I gotta go, I gotta go tell my husband. 00:38:02.960 --> 00:38:15.599 And with joy and tears in her eyes, having given her life to Jesus, she experienced the freedom that comes with the relationship with him. 00:38:15.760 --> 00:38:19.119 If that's you today, I want to invite you to come forward in just a moment. 00:38:20.480 --> 00:38:21.920 We want to pray with you. 00:38:22.159 --> 00:38:24.800 We want to guide you, we want to answer questions that you have. 00:38:24.960 --> 00:38:28.079 We we realize some of you may not have been prepared for that, and that's okay. 00:38:28.159 --> 00:38:34.559 We just want you to know we're just gonna take a few moments to spend with you to make sure you know for sure you have a relationship with Jesus. 00:38:34.800 --> 00:38:39.920 Others of you need to come and join United City Church, we are a church full of people who aren't good enough. 00:38:40.719 --> 00:38:45.199 But man, we want to do everything that we can in every way that we can, lift up the one who is. 00:38:45.280 --> 00:38:46.480 That's Jesus. 00:38:46.800 --> 00:38:54.480 So if that's the kind of church you want to be a part of, I believe it's a Bible-believing church that lifts up the name of Jesus and shares the gospel. 00:38:54.639 --> 00:38:56.079 We want you to come and join us today. 00:38:56.239 --> 00:38:58.159 Be members with us at United City. 00:38:58.400 --> 00:39:03.679 Others of you need to come and be baptized, give public expression of your faith, like we just saw over these six. 00:39:03.840 --> 00:39:06.000 What an unbelievable picture that was. 00:39:06.320 --> 00:39:07.679 Maybe some of you need prayer. 00:39:07.840 --> 00:39:14.079 You know you're not good enough, and you need some help today battling that fight. 00:39:14.719 --> 00:39:15.840 We want to pray with you. 00:39:15.920 --> 00:39:22.159 Maybe some of you have a financial need or a physical need or you've got a need in your family, whatever God is leading you to do. 00:39:22.239 --> 00:39:30.719 We want to make sure every week this opportunity during this time of invitation is available to you to be prayed with and to be prayed for. 00:39:30.880 --> 00:39:33.119 Father, I pray you'd move in these moments. 00:39:33.920 --> 00:39:37.360