WEBVTT 00:00:06.400 --> 00:00:07.040 Good morning. 00:00:07.200 --> 00:00:12.080 We have one more week after this week on our series, uh, The Jesus Life. 00:00:12.480 --> 00:00:23.920 As we started the Jesus Life series, I didn't want to just take uh the common Jesus stories, maybe that you've heard uh many of the miracles that Jesus performed or the teachings that he did. 00:00:24.160 --> 00:00:28.160 My heart behind the series was there's a lot to talk about when it comes to Jesus. 00:00:28.320 --> 00:00:43.359 I mean, we could be in this series for a really long time, and but my heart behind this series was this: that we would take parts of Jesus' life and ministry that he actually believes and says that we can now model what he did. 00:00:44.000 --> 00:00:49.439 That really the heart behind this series is that you would become more and more like Jesus. 00:00:49.520 --> 00:00:52.399 How many of y'all, when you get old, you want to look more like Jesus? 00:00:53.359 --> 00:00:57.840 How many of the old people in the room say, when I get old, I want to look more like Jesus? 00:00:59.280 --> 00:01:06.400 Our heart in this series is that Jesus came and he lived a life, and he didn't say, good luck, hope you have a good time. 00:01:06.719 --> 00:01:10.400 That Jesus came and he lived a life, and he actually said, The life that I lived, you can live. 00:01:10.560 --> 00:01:16.400 In fact, that's why a lot of places in Scripture, listen, don't get your theology from one verse in the Bible. 00:01:16.560 --> 00:01:25.599 What you're gonna see in the Bible is over and over, you'll see patterns and repetitions of scripture that you can tell God is trying to get the point across to you. 00:01:25.840 --> 00:01:28.400 Your kids ever tell you, Dad, I got it, I got it, I heard you. 00:01:28.480 --> 00:01:30.079 You're like, no, you didn't hear me. 00:01:30.319 --> 00:01:30.959 What do you do? 00:01:31.120 --> 00:01:32.000 You say it again. 00:01:32.239 --> 00:01:36.560 It doesn't matter how many times they say, Well, I heard you the first time, you say, Oh, I'm gonna tell you again. 00:01:36.640 --> 00:01:36.959 Why? 00:01:37.200 --> 00:01:38.640 Because I want you to know. 00:01:38.799 --> 00:01:48.879 And what I think Jesus is doing in us in the life of this series is saying, I'm gonna tell you again and again, because I want you to know that the life Jesus lived, you can live too. 00:01:49.040 --> 00:01:51.040 And today's message really is about that. 00:01:51.120 --> 00:01:54.159 I've titled the message The Secret of Success. 00:01:54.319 --> 00:01:56.239 How many of y'all want to be successful? 00:01:57.120 --> 00:01:58.000 Three of you. 00:01:58.239 --> 00:01:59.200 Bless God. 00:02:01.359 --> 00:02:07.439 Listen, uh, I was I got lost in the dark world of YouTube the other day. 00:02:07.760 --> 00:02:11.759 And uh, you know how it's just like, you're like, where did this video come from? 00:02:11.840 --> 00:02:17.840 I found myself watching this guy on YouTube approach complete strangers, or at least you think it's complete strangers. 00:02:17.919 --> 00:02:18.159 Who knows? 00:02:18.240 --> 00:02:21.840 The whole thing could have been set up, but uh he's approaching complete strangers. 00:02:22.000 --> 00:02:26.960 A guy's getting out of a Ferrari in a major city and he walks up to him and he says, Sir, are you a millionaire? 00:02:27.120 --> 00:02:27.919 And the guy says, Yeah. 00:02:28.080 --> 00:02:33.280 He says, Would you tell the next generation what it takes to be a successful millionaire just like yourself? 00:02:33.360 --> 00:02:37.280 You know, and he gets out of the car, he's got a big gold chain, you know, big nice glasses. 00:02:37.360 --> 00:02:39.680 He doesn't take the glasses off for the interview, can't see his eyeballs. 00:02:39.759 --> 00:02:42.000 You're like, I can't tell if you're really telling the truth, but you know. 00:02:42.159 --> 00:02:45.280 And uh he he just he starts asking him these all these questions. 00:02:45.360 --> 00:02:47.599 He says, What does it take to be successful? 00:02:47.759 --> 00:02:57.039 And the guy gets out of his Ferrari, he's got his gold chains, he's probably 60 years old, he's got about a 20-year-old girlfriend, and the guy says, How many millions do you have? 00:02:57.120 --> 00:02:58.000 Do you have 10 million? 00:02:58.080 --> 00:02:58.800 And the guy goes, Yeah. 00:02:58.879 --> 00:02:59.680 He goes, 20 million? 00:02:59.840 --> 00:03:00.639 Yeah, 30. 00:03:00.719 --> 00:03:03.680 And and the guy finally stops, he goes, Let's just put it this way, young man. 00:03:03.840 --> 00:03:11.680 He goes, I got enough money that her grandkids will be blessed and her grandkids' grandkids will be wealthy. 00:03:11.759 --> 00:03:15.280 And and he goes on, you ever met somebody like this? 00:03:15.599 --> 00:03:21.439 And uh and the guy starts asking me these questions, he says, Well, what is the secret to your success? 00:03:21.599 --> 00:03:27.280 And and how many of you know, like, how does it, how does the algorithm know that you can't wait to watch this? 00:03:27.520 --> 00:03:33.439 Like, it's like the ad comes up and you're like, Skip, skip, I want to watch, like, I gotta know how to. 00:03:33.919 --> 00:03:38.240 And like, they go on and they give you this advice that you're like, is that really it? 00:03:38.479 --> 00:03:41.280 Like, is that really gonna make you a millionaire? 00:03:41.439 --> 00:03:43.759 Is that like really a get rich quick scheme? 00:03:43.840 --> 00:03:46.000 Like, is it is this even gonna really work? 00:03:46.080 --> 00:03:52.960 And you know, sometimes I find myself watching that and I realize something about myself that I think is true in our culture, and that is this. 00:03:53.199 --> 00:03:56.719 We're always waiting for the guy with the magic bullet. 00:03:57.039 --> 00:04:02.479 We're always waiting for the guy who can give us the secret that nobody has ever heard. 00:04:02.639 --> 00:04:07.439 And if you just knew what the secret was, then you could be just like them. 00:04:08.080 --> 00:04:12.719 You know, I I wish that they would come interview me, because I could I could make a video go viral. 00:04:12.800 --> 00:04:17.439 Uh, I've never made a million dollars, but I could tell them a few things about how to make a million dollars. 00:04:17.680 --> 00:04:18.160 Ready? 00:04:18.399 --> 00:04:18.959 Here it is. 00:04:19.120 --> 00:04:21.839 I can say in one line: don't go to Starbucks. 00:04:23.519 --> 00:04:29.279 Take the money you'd spend at Starbucks, put it in investment, you'll be a millionaire by the time you're 65. 00:04:29.439 --> 00:04:32.240 Every 20-year-old in the room, that's free advice today, okay? 00:04:32.480 --> 00:04:40.000 Now, I don't know if I'm preaching to y'all or my wife, or I don't know, but let's just uh what is the secret to success? 00:04:40.319 --> 00:04:48.959 I want to talk to you about that secret today because I believe in the chapters of the Bible we're about to read, Jesus is revealing the secret to success. 00:04:49.439 --> 00:04:54.800 But how many of you know when Jesus came, he started teaching things that nobody really wanted to hear? 00:04:55.040 --> 00:05:02.560 Like this, I don't think if Jesus showed up today, he would be viral on YouTube with his teachings because his teachings go contrary. 00:05:02.720 --> 00:05:09.040 In fact, often what Jesus would say at the beginning of his messages is, you've heard it said this way, but I tell you this way. 00:05:09.279 --> 00:05:12.959 In other words, he's saying, everybody else says this is this secret. 00:05:13.120 --> 00:05:18.480 Everybody else says this is how you're gonna be successful, but Jesus says, but I've got a different idea about what success looks like. 00:05:18.720 --> 00:05:25.120 And I want to give you this passage today out of John chapter 14 through actually John chapter 17. 00:05:25.279 --> 00:05:38.480 There's several chapters in here where Jesus at the upper room, Last Supper that we just celebrated, the communion we just took, right before Jesus passes on on the cross, here's what he does. 00:05:38.639 --> 00:05:43.759 He sits down with his disciples and he gives them the secret sauce to living the Jesus life. 00:05:44.000 --> 00:05:48.319 He tells them, this is the secret, this is what you need to know. 00:05:48.639 --> 00:05:54.000 How many know we often are looking for the secret answer when what we've been doing isn't working? 00:05:54.240 --> 00:05:55.839 You you know, you ever feel that way? 00:05:56.079 --> 00:06:00.160 You're like, what I'm doing isn't working, there's gotta be something better. 00:06:00.399 --> 00:06:00.800 Right? 00:06:00.879 --> 00:06:05.279 That's about the time you get on and start looking at some blogs on Google. 00:06:05.759 --> 00:06:13.120 That's about the time when what you had planned isn't working, and you're saying, there's gotta be something better than this. 00:06:13.360 --> 00:06:18.959 Often when things in life don't work is when we go running for that secret magic quick fix. 00:06:19.600 --> 00:06:33.120 I have toddlers, I or I have a four-year-old, and uh, the biggest event of the week this week, y'all, uh, my son, uh just the the pre-K graduation, but um, before I tell you a little bit about that, I gotta tell you kids these days are terrible with secrets. 00:06:33.199 --> 00:06:34.000 You know what I'm saying? 00:06:34.160 --> 00:06:37.759 It's like, uh moms, how did the men do in the room on Mother's Day? 00:06:39.360 --> 00:06:40.800 How'd they do? 00:06:42.240 --> 00:06:45.040 Apparently I did great because my wife was the only one who cheered. 00:06:45.199 --> 00:06:47.439 Ladies, how did your husbands do for Mother's Day? 00:06:54.240 --> 00:06:57.040 All right, let's skip this message and go back. 00:06:57.920 --> 00:06:59.920 How to have a great marriage. 00:07:03.680 --> 00:07:06.160 Um, what was I saying? 00:07:06.480 --> 00:07:07.920 You guys really threw me. 00:07:08.160 --> 00:07:11.839 My kids, you know, it's really hard to buy your wife a gift for Mother's Day, right? 00:07:11.920 --> 00:07:14.000 Because in today's world, Amazon tracks everything. 00:07:14.079 --> 00:07:17.680 She's already got a notification on her phone ten times that the package is on the way, you know? 00:07:17.839 --> 00:07:20.319 And uh, but kids make it even harder, right? 00:07:20.560 --> 00:07:30.639 Because you'll take your four-year-old and will go buy mom a gift, and the first thing they do when they walk through the door is, Mom, we got you, and you're like, slap in that face, they're like, just cover it up, don't say, don't tell her. 00:07:31.040 --> 00:07:36.240 And then you finally convince them not to tell mom what it is that they got, and then they'll do something like this. 00:07:36.319 --> 00:07:40.399 They'll say, Mom, wouldn't you love a brand new pair of headphones? 00:07:41.519 --> 00:07:43.120 Like, you just told her. 00:07:43.680 --> 00:07:44.319 What am I saying? 00:07:44.560 --> 00:07:46.560 They can't help but tell the secret. 00:07:46.800 --> 00:07:48.800 They can't help but tell the secret. 00:07:49.120 --> 00:07:53.759 Before Jesus gets on the cross, he couldn't help but tell the secret. 00:07:54.480 --> 00:07:57.519 It's like he begins to reveal the secrets of heaven. 00:07:57.600 --> 00:08:00.800 Now, listen, I know some of you may be thinking, like, I don't know a lot about this church life. 00:08:00.879 --> 00:08:03.040 I've read some of my Bible, but I'm not really sure about all this. 00:08:03.120 --> 00:08:04.879 I don't know that I really understand everything. 00:08:04.959 --> 00:08:09.120 Here's what I want you to know: the mysteries of heaven have been revealed. 00:08:09.680 --> 00:08:12.959 This is not a secret that only a few people know. 00:08:13.199 --> 00:08:15.439 This is not a secret that is withheld. 00:08:15.600 --> 00:08:24.399 This is open information that the Lord says, if you catch these secrets that I'm about to reveal to you in the final moments of my life, he says, this will change your life. 00:08:24.560 --> 00:08:26.000 This is not a YouTube gimmick. 00:08:26.160 --> 00:08:28.879 This is not an algorithm meant to bait and switch you. 00:08:29.120 --> 00:08:32.000 This is the Lord Jesus Christ Himself. 00:08:32.159 --> 00:08:34.559 It's as if it's his deathbed confession. 00:08:34.799 --> 00:08:35.120 Right? 00:08:35.200 --> 00:08:40.720 You know the deathbed confession, you know, like where grandma's like, hey, there's a million dollars in a coffee can buried in the backyard. 00:08:40.879 --> 00:08:42.320 You're like, bless God, you know? 00:08:42.559 --> 00:08:48.879 It's like, have you ever had somebody before they go, they say, I just want to make sure you know this. 00:08:49.200 --> 00:08:51.039 I want you to know that I love you. 00:08:51.279 --> 00:08:56.879 I want you to know that uh despite everything we've been through, I want you to know this simple truth. 00:08:56.960 --> 00:08:58.639 This is what Jesus is doing. 00:08:58.720 --> 00:09:02.960 It's like a deathbed confession, John chapter 14 through 17. 00:09:03.120 --> 00:09:08.080 In fact, it's probably one of the most uh dense uh red letters in your Bible. 00:09:08.240 --> 00:09:11.519 Uh, red letters in the Bible is not because Jesus said, I'm just gonna use a red pen. 00:09:11.679 --> 00:09:16.240 It's because the in modern day we say, What are the words that Jesus spoke? 00:09:16.399 --> 00:09:22.080 And most of John 14 through 17 are red letters, which means Jesus himself is saying these things. 00:09:22.240 --> 00:09:29.200 He's giving them the secrets of heaven, he's revealing them like my toddler coming in the house saying, I can't wait to tell you this. 00:09:29.440 --> 00:09:36.240 I need you to know this because the world is going to say this is how you are successful, but I have another way all together. 00:09:36.480 --> 00:09:41.919 So the heart behind today's message really is this the secret to being successful in your faith. 00:09:42.080 --> 00:09:43.840 Listen to this verse in John chapter 16. 00:09:44.000 --> 00:09:45.600 I think it sums all of these chapters up. 00:09:45.679 --> 00:09:47.039 I couldn't get over this verse this week. 00:09:47.120 --> 00:09:48.159 I wanted to share it with you. 00:09:48.399 --> 00:09:49.679 John 16, verse 1. 00:09:49.759 --> 00:09:51.840 Jesus says, I've said all of these things. 00:09:53.120 --> 00:09:56.000 He's several paragraphs into the discourse by now. 00:09:56.320 --> 00:10:00.480 He's telling the disciples, I've told you all of this because of this one reason. 00:10:00.639 --> 00:10:04.000 I want to help keep you from falling away. 00:10:05.679 --> 00:10:07.279 How many of y'all want to be successful? 00:10:07.360 --> 00:10:08.480 You don't want to fail. 00:10:09.200 --> 00:10:16.399 Jesus is saying, I'm going to reveal this information to you because I don't want you to walk away from your faith. 00:10:16.639 --> 00:10:18.240 I want to reveal this information to you. 00:10:18.320 --> 00:10:18.480 Why? 00:10:18.559 --> 00:10:20.480 Because the disciples are about to find themselves alone. 00:10:20.639 --> 00:10:28.879 Jesus is about to be gone, and Jesus is saying, I want to give you the secret sauce to staying with your faith when everything in your world gets turned upside down. 00:10:29.039 --> 00:10:29.919 I don't want you to fail. 00:10:30.000 --> 00:10:31.120 I want you to keep going. 00:10:31.279 --> 00:10:33.600 And he begins to reveal his heart to them. 00:10:33.679 --> 00:10:35.840 And I'm telling you this because here's what I want you to know. 00:10:36.000 --> 00:10:39.360 You need to take your name and put it in John chapter 16, verse 1. 00:10:39.600 --> 00:10:42.480 Jesus is saying today, this message is for you. 00:10:42.639 --> 00:10:47.360 I'm telling you, Jesus says, not just to the disciples, he's saying, I'm saying this to you. 00:10:47.600 --> 00:10:50.799 I don't want your faith to fail, so let me give you the answers to the test. 00:10:50.879 --> 00:10:52.399 Bless God when the teachers do that. 00:10:53.200 --> 00:10:59.519 Remember when you used to study for a test, and the teacher said, Hey, I'm going to give you an answer key or a study guide that's going to help. 00:10:59.600 --> 00:11:01.679 You're like, yes, this is going to be the best thing ever. 00:11:01.840 --> 00:11:03.440 Jesus says, here it is, right here. 00:11:03.600 --> 00:11:05.440 There's nothing secret or hidden about it. 00:11:05.600 --> 00:11:10.240 The Bible says that Jesus reveals the mysteries of heaven. 00:11:10.480 --> 00:11:14.000 That for generations they were scratching their head trying to figure it out. 00:11:14.080 --> 00:11:21.440 And Jesus just showing up on the scene is a revelation of the mysteries of God coming to us, which means this for you. 00:11:21.600 --> 00:11:23.440 The secrets of heaven are for you. 00:11:23.679 --> 00:11:25.759 The secrets of heaven can be revealed to you in your life. 00:11:25.840 --> 00:11:32.639 So I want to give you some things that Jesus said in this final discourse that can help you be successful in your faith. 00:11:32.799 --> 00:11:36.240 Not success the way the world looks, but success the way faith looks. 00:11:36.399 --> 00:11:44.000 Number one, Jesus says this to you the secret is this you will do what I do and greater. 00:11:45.759 --> 00:11:48.799 Jesus' final words, this is what he wants to say. 00:11:49.200 --> 00:11:51.679 Anybody hear that and think, yeah, not me. 00:11:52.480 --> 00:11:54.639 Like, there's no way he could have been talking to me. 00:11:54.960 --> 00:11:55.840 Don't you know my life? 00:11:55.919 --> 00:11:56.960 Don't you know my background? 00:11:57.679 --> 00:11:59.360 Don't you know I haven't even read all my Bible? 00:11:59.440 --> 00:12:00.320 I don't even pray every day. 00:12:00.399 --> 00:12:02.720 Like, don't you know I don't get it all right? 00:12:03.039 --> 00:12:06.080 And Jesus is parting words to this group of 12 disciples. 00:12:06.240 --> 00:12:08.960 Listen, this is not the crowds of 5,000. 00:12:09.519 --> 00:12:15.759 This is the 12 right here around the table, taking the Passover festival communion together. 00:12:15.919 --> 00:12:25.039 And Jesus is looking at them and he's saying, This, you're gonna do the things that I do, the things that I've done, and you're gonna do them on an even greater level. 00:12:25.279 --> 00:12:27.600 How many of y'all know that's a revolutionary thought? 00:12:28.159 --> 00:12:40.559 John chapter 14 tells us this, truly, truly, he says, I tell to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do, and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father. 00:12:40.720 --> 00:12:46.320 Whatever you ask in my name, he says, This I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 00:12:46.559 --> 00:12:52.000 If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it. 00:12:52.720 --> 00:13:00.720 I think I can live on that one passage for the next 20 years and still not understand the depth of what it is that he's saying. 00:13:00.960 --> 00:13:03.600 Like, I mean, we're talking about Jesus, okay? 00:13:04.480 --> 00:13:12.559 Jesus did miracles, Jesus taught, Jesus showed compassion to those we would say don't deserve it. 00:13:12.720 --> 00:13:16.000 He was merciful and kind and generous and benevolent. 00:13:16.159 --> 00:13:20.399 Like Jesus is the ultimate standard and the ultimate model. 00:13:20.879 --> 00:13:32.399 And how many of you know when your mentor or the one you look after says, you're gonna be just like me, there's something about that that is encouraging but daunting at the same time. 00:13:32.720 --> 00:13:36.240 And Jesus is looking at the disciples saying, the things that I did, you're gonna do. 00:13:36.399 --> 00:13:38.320 Well, Jesus worked miracles. 00:13:39.039 --> 00:13:41.519 What kind of miracles are you working in your life? 00:13:41.759 --> 00:13:44.480 Jesus taught the word of God to everybody around him. 00:13:44.639 --> 00:13:49.039 What kind of word of God are you teaching to your family and the people around you? 00:13:49.360 --> 00:13:51.360 Jesus did incredible things. 00:13:51.440 --> 00:13:55.679 And it doesn't just stop with, you're gonna do the things that I do, you're gonna look like me, Jesus says. 00:13:55.840 --> 00:13:58.159 You're also gonna do even greater things. 00:13:58.480 --> 00:14:05.120 And it's about that point that we begin to scratch our head and say, Jesus, how could you ever say such a thing about a person like me? 00:14:05.679 --> 00:14:11.360 The event of the week, actually, the event of the year around our house was this week, uh, pre-K graduation. 00:14:11.519 --> 00:14:12.559 Bless God, somebody. 00:14:13.759 --> 00:14:15.279 How many of y'all know you want to grow a church? 00:14:15.360 --> 00:14:16.879 Just have a pre-K graduation. 00:14:17.200 --> 00:14:20.399 There was like 10 kids up here and like 500 people out there, you know? 00:14:20.639 --> 00:14:22.799 Grandmas and uncles and ex-relatives. 00:14:22.879 --> 00:14:24.000 I mean, everybody's there. 00:14:24.159 --> 00:14:30.080 And uh, you know, uh, they they did this thing, the teacher gave every four-year-old an award. 00:14:30.399 --> 00:14:37.440 And uh, and so uh, you know, the the girl that got up before my son walked up there and the teacher gave her the Fashionista award. 00:14:37.759 --> 00:14:40.240 How many of y'all know the mom was so proud back there? 00:14:40.480 --> 00:14:42.000 So I did it, you know? 00:14:42.240 --> 00:14:46.559 And like the last time my kid was at one of these things, he just cried the whole time in front of everybody. 00:14:46.639 --> 00:14:49.759 So I'm like, just let's just make it out of here without a tear, you know. 00:14:49.840 --> 00:14:54.720 And he walks up the little stage in his cap and gown and and all cute and and all the things. 00:14:54.879 --> 00:15:00.879 Mom has got the video camera, and the teacher says, Cohen Small gets the hardest worker award. 00:15:01.039 --> 00:15:02.960 And I'm like, yes. 00:15:04.879 --> 00:15:07.840 I'm like, that's my boy, you know? 00:15:08.159 --> 00:15:10.240 I'm thinking he got it from me, y'all. 00:15:10.320 --> 00:15:11.200 Just just so you know. 00:15:11.360 --> 00:15:13.840 Like, he he got it from me. 00:15:14.320 --> 00:15:21.279 Like, so much so that um, you know, uh the other day, uh yesterday, uh we were out running around town and he wanted to do one thing. 00:15:21.360 --> 00:15:26.000 We had all these activities planned, all this stuff going on, and he said, Dad, I want to fix the sprinklers. 00:15:26.240 --> 00:15:27.039 I said, What do you mean? 00:15:27.120 --> 00:15:28.799 He said, I'm time to go fix the sprinklers. 00:15:28.879 --> 00:15:29.360 I took them all. 00:15:29.440 --> 00:15:31.120 Dad, you want to go to Chick-fil-A, play on the playground? 00:15:31.200 --> 00:15:32.639 No, no, no, I want to go fix the sprinklers. 00:15:32.720 --> 00:15:37.679 So finally I drove him home, and for 30 minutes he went out in the yard with a screwdriver, a shovel, and a level. 00:15:37.840 --> 00:15:40.159 Don't know what he needed the level for, but he was gonna figure it out. 00:15:40.320 --> 00:15:42.399 And for 30 minutes, he fixed the sprinkler. 00:15:42.720 --> 00:15:45.440 And he walked into the garage, he said, Dad, it's time to test it. 00:15:45.519 --> 00:15:48.960 Because we'd fixed the sprinklers three weeks ago, so now that's what he's fixated on. 00:15:49.120 --> 00:15:50.080 We go in, we test it. 00:15:50.159 --> 00:15:51.200 He says, Ah, it works. 00:15:51.279 --> 00:15:53.200 You owe me a hundred bucks. 00:15:53.919 --> 00:15:57.440 I'm like, you got all the things I want you to get, buddy. 00:15:58.000 --> 00:16:04.000 But parents, how many of you know you want your kids to do greater things that you've done than you've done? 00:16:04.320 --> 00:16:07.679 You know, maybe an older brother would say, I want you to fail. 00:16:09.039 --> 00:16:16.320 But there's not a mom in the room that wouldn't look at their kids and say, The things that I've done, I want you to do more than I've done. 00:16:16.639 --> 00:16:19.759 The things that I have, I want you to have more than I have. 00:16:20.080 --> 00:16:21.919 And even greater levels. 00:16:22.080 --> 00:16:27.759 And I was reflecting on that this week because that is the heart of the father towards you. 00:16:28.320 --> 00:16:31.679 And the the reality is you have to embrace this. 00:16:31.759 --> 00:16:33.519 And I remember this in my own life. 00:16:33.600 --> 00:16:38.720 My dad, I never forget having the conversation with him when I was 17 or 18 about going into ministry. 00:16:38.879 --> 00:16:46.000 I felt the pull of God calling me into ministry, but my dad had lived in the same town his whole life, and he was in business and he had done well in business. 00:16:46.080 --> 00:16:51.759 He it just seemed like everything I watched my dad do, everything he put his hands to, it's like it would succeed and he would have success. 00:16:51.840 --> 00:16:53.360 And I remember weighing the cost. 00:16:53.519 --> 00:16:54.720 The Bible says, count the cost. 00:16:54.799 --> 00:17:00.720 I was weighing the cost of going into ministry, and what I was really weighing is, Dad, I don't know that I'll be able to do the things that you can do. 00:17:00.879 --> 00:17:02.159 Have you ever felt the people in your life? 00:17:02.240 --> 00:17:04.400 You feel the pressure to live up to them. 00:17:04.559 --> 00:17:06.559 And I'll never forget what my dad told me. 00:17:06.720 --> 00:17:15.359 I remember my dad looking me in the eyes when I was contemplating going into ministry, and he looked at me with all sincerity and he said, The things that I have, you'll have more of. 00:17:16.160 --> 00:17:20.160 The things that you'll do, I've never been able to do. 00:17:20.400 --> 00:17:25.440 And he looked at me with all sincerity, he said, You will be able to go places I was never able to go. 00:17:25.599 --> 00:17:30.640 And at 17 years old, I'm looking at him thinking, Yeah, but dad, how could I ever be like you? 00:17:30.799 --> 00:17:31.599 And he told me this. 00:17:31.680 --> 00:17:38.000 He said, Listen, he goes, but it has nothing to do with you going into business and everything to do with you following God. 00:17:40.319 --> 00:17:41.599 What's the heart of a father? 00:17:41.759 --> 00:17:46.799 The heart of a father is that you would do what he has done and even greater. 00:17:46.960 --> 00:17:52.000 And Jesus' final deathbed parting words to us are the same thing, that same truth. 00:17:52.079 --> 00:17:53.680 But listen, I already know what some of y'all are thinking. 00:17:53.839 --> 00:17:55.440 Y'all thinking, yeah, but not me. 00:17:55.680 --> 00:18:00.079 Maybe those Christians that have gone to church their whole life, yeah, maybe those Christians that don't cuss when they're not at church, yeah. 00:18:00.160 --> 00:18:06.880 Maybe those Christians who got their life all cleaned up or study their Bible every day, maybe those guys, but listen, you need to hear this. 00:18:07.119 --> 00:18:10.480 Don't disqualify what God has already qualified. 00:18:10.880 --> 00:18:12.160 This is really important. 00:18:12.720 --> 00:18:20.480 Jesus' final parting words to you are the things that I've done, you will do, and you will do even greater. 00:18:20.720 --> 00:18:22.319 The Jesus life is for you. 00:18:22.480 --> 00:18:28.480 This is not wishful thinking, this is not just a good idea, this is not just a preacher trying to encourage you today. 00:18:28.640 --> 00:18:33.039 This is the word of God coming to you, saying the things that He's done, you're gonna do even greater. 00:18:33.200 --> 00:18:37.119 And here's what He says He says, You're qualified for that. 00:18:37.599 --> 00:18:40.079 So stop trying to disqualify yourself. 00:18:40.799 --> 00:18:43.440 What disqualifies us, our past often. 00:18:43.839 --> 00:18:49.839 Many people in the room, in fact, oftentimes people walk in the doors of the church the first time, and I've heard this phrase said out loud. 00:18:49.920 --> 00:18:52.799 I'm so shocked the walls aren't falling down on me yet. 00:18:53.039 --> 00:18:54.240 And I know what they're saying. 00:18:54.319 --> 00:19:03.359 They're saying they feel like their life's so messed up that they're just gonna walk into church and the whole place is gonna fall apart because of how bad they've been or the places they've gone or the things that they've done. 00:19:03.519 --> 00:19:04.960 And this is what Jesus is saying. 00:19:05.119 --> 00:19:10.640 He's saying, even that person who feels that way is qualified to do the things that Jesus did and greater. 00:19:11.039 --> 00:19:12.400 Why am I telling you this? 00:19:12.559 --> 00:19:14.160 Because this is the secret. 00:19:14.559 --> 00:19:17.920 Maybe your faith, it's not your faith, but listen to this for just a second. 00:19:18.079 --> 00:19:19.200 Humor, for just a second. 00:19:19.359 --> 00:19:24.799 Maybe you feel like your faith is failing because you're not believing the very thing that God told you to believe. 00:19:25.519 --> 00:19:33.599 Maybe the challenge of your faith and getting the freedom you've been looking for for years has nothing to do with what God is or isn't doing. 00:19:33.839 --> 00:19:39.119 Maybe it has everything to do with what you believe about what he already said about you. 00:19:39.359 --> 00:19:41.119 Because here's the Bible that I read. 00:19:41.279 --> 00:19:46.400 In Genesis chapter 1, the Bible says that you were made in the image of God. 00:19:46.559 --> 00:19:53.359 In other words, your very wiring and DNA, the very breath of life that you have on the inside of you, comes from heaven. 00:19:53.599 --> 00:19:56.400 He says, You were born looking like me. 00:19:56.559 --> 00:20:08.079 The challenge is not whether or not you can do the things God said you do, the challenge is whether or not you believe he can put back together all the pieces that done got messed up along the way so that you can still look like him. 00:20:08.799 --> 00:20:10.559 This is this is the truth of the God. 00:20:10.880 --> 00:20:11.599 This is a secret. 00:20:11.680 --> 00:20:11.920 Why? 00:20:12.079 --> 00:20:15.440 Because so many times we walk into a room and we feel so unqualified. 00:20:15.680 --> 00:20:16.799 I don't know if I can do it. 00:20:16.960 --> 00:20:19.200 Listen, if God says you can do it, you can do it. 00:20:20.480 --> 00:20:24.240 If God says that in his name you can pray and ask, then guess what? 00:20:24.400 --> 00:20:26.480 In his name you can pray and ask. 00:20:26.720 --> 00:20:32.559 If God says that you can call on him when your family is in trouble, you can call on him when your family is in trouble. 00:20:32.720 --> 00:20:36.079 And it's not about whether or not you're a preacher or been at your faith for a long time. 00:20:36.240 --> 00:20:40.319 It has everything to do with you believing the word that he's already said about you. 00:20:40.559 --> 00:20:41.759 That's the secret. 00:20:42.079 --> 00:20:43.359 You're like, is that it, Clayton? 00:20:43.440 --> 00:20:44.559 Like, where's the ten steps? 00:20:44.640 --> 00:20:45.599 Well, that's it. 00:20:46.079 --> 00:20:49.839 Do you believe what God says about you? 00:20:50.240 --> 00:20:53.759 Number two, that one came out of John where Jesus said this. 00:20:53.839 --> 00:20:58.720 And in John chapter 14, and then he goes on to John chapter 15, and I want to give this one to you. 00:20:58.799 --> 00:21:01.680 It says this, apart from him, you can do nothing. 00:21:01.920 --> 00:21:05.519 Jesus says, You can do nothing apart from me. 00:21:05.839 --> 00:21:08.799 So he tells you, you're gonna do everything I did, and you're gonna do greater things. 00:21:08.960 --> 00:21:13.359 And he says, But I want to remind you that apart from me, you're going to not be able to do anything. 00:21:13.519 --> 00:21:16.799 And here's how he begins to unpack this. 00:21:17.279 --> 00:21:19.039 I'm sorry, I I I totally jumped down. 00:21:19.119 --> 00:21:20.240 I got lost in my notes. 00:21:20.400 --> 00:21:21.599 Number the number two is this one. 00:21:21.680 --> 00:21:22.720 I'm gonna give you this one first. 00:21:22.880 --> 00:21:24.319 I will send you a helper. 00:21:24.559 --> 00:21:25.599 I will send you a helper. 00:21:25.680 --> 00:21:26.960 Sorry, not trying to be confusing. 00:21:27.119 --> 00:21:28.319 Just got a bird in the room. 00:21:30.000 --> 00:21:31.920 I will send you a helper. 00:21:32.240 --> 00:21:32.559 Okay? 00:21:32.880 --> 00:21:35.599 How are you gonna do the things that Jesus said you could do? 00:21:35.839 --> 00:21:38.880 How are you gonna do greater things than even what Jesus did? 00:21:39.039 --> 00:21:41.680 Number two is He's gonna send you a helper. 00:21:41.839 --> 00:21:43.440 How many of y'all know you need some help? 00:21:44.319 --> 00:21:46.720 Stop elbowing your spouse. 00:21:47.680 --> 00:21:49.759 John chapter 14, verse 26. 00:21:50.000 --> 00:21:58.640 But the helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. 00:21:58.720 --> 00:21:59.759 I love how he equates. 00:22:00.319 --> 00:22:03.279 The name of the Holy Spirit to the helper. 00:22:03.599 --> 00:22:04.799 They go hand in hand. 00:22:04.960 --> 00:22:07.200 You can call them the Holy Spirit, you can call him the helper. 00:22:07.680 --> 00:22:10.559 You can call him the Holy Spirit, you can call them the comforter. 00:22:10.720 --> 00:22:16.880 In other words, what he's saying, when you start asking the question, well, God, how am I going to be able to do all the things that you said that I'm going to do? 00:22:16.960 --> 00:22:20.000 And he tells the disciples, because I'm going to send you a helper. 00:22:20.160 --> 00:22:22.000 In other words, you're not in this alone. 00:22:22.160 --> 00:22:24.319 You're not going to have to figure this out on your own. 00:22:24.400 --> 00:22:25.680 This isn't about your smarts. 00:22:25.759 --> 00:22:26.880 This isn't about your finances. 00:22:27.039 --> 00:22:28.400 This isn't about your resources. 00:22:28.640 --> 00:22:31.359 This isn't about your skill, your gifts, or your talents. 00:22:31.599 --> 00:22:32.720 This isn't about your past. 00:22:32.880 --> 00:22:33.920 This isn't about what you've had. 00:22:34.079 --> 00:22:35.279 This isn't about what you've done. 00:22:35.440 --> 00:22:39.039 Jesus says, this is about the Holy Spirit being your helper all the days of your life. 00:22:39.440 --> 00:22:44.079 He's saying the helper's going to come to you, and that's how you're going to look more like Jesus. 00:22:44.319 --> 00:22:46.880 Listen, sometimes I'm I'm a little nervous about preaching. 00:22:46.960 --> 00:22:49.680 And the reason I'm nervous about preaching is not because y'all are crazy. 00:22:49.839 --> 00:22:55.519 The reason I get nervous about preaching is because I think sometimes what happens if it gets lost in translation. 00:22:55.839 --> 00:23:00.720 I want you to know I'm not here to tell you to look like Jesus to be a burden to you. 00:23:01.440 --> 00:23:01.839 Right? 00:23:02.160 --> 00:23:05.119 Sometimes you go to church and you're like, well, the pastor told me to do another thing. 00:23:05.200 --> 00:23:07.119 I can't even do the last five things he said. 00:23:07.279 --> 00:23:10.960 And by the way, I slept through the last message because I couldn't even do the first message. 00:23:11.039 --> 00:23:16.160 And like sometimes we can feel like it's a burden, but I'm telling you, this isn't meant to be a burden. 00:23:16.240 --> 00:23:18.000 It's meant to be a blessing. 00:23:18.799 --> 00:23:20.160 Here's what he is saying. 00:23:20.319 --> 00:23:24.319 You're going to look more like Jesus, not because you're so good, but because he's so good. 00:23:24.960 --> 00:23:28.640 You're going to look more like Jesus not because you're so perfect, but because he's so perfect. 00:23:29.039 --> 00:23:32.640 You're going to look more like Jesus not because you're so faithful, but because he's so faithful. 00:23:32.960 --> 00:23:37.680 And what he's saying is, I'm going to help you navigate these things in your life. 00:23:38.079 --> 00:23:41.440 So don't disqualify yourself because the Holy Spirit's going to come live inside you. 00:23:41.519 --> 00:23:43.359 And listen to what he says in John chapter 16. 00:23:43.519 --> 00:23:44.319 He uses another word. 00:23:44.400 --> 00:23:44.720 I love it. 00:23:44.799 --> 00:23:46.480 Nevertheless, I tell you the truth. 00:23:46.720 --> 00:23:48.000 It is to your advantage. 00:23:48.240 --> 00:23:49.359 Say advantage. 00:23:49.839 --> 00:23:51.759 It's to your advantage that I go away. 00:23:51.839 --> 00:23:54.559 For if I do not go away, the helper will not come to you. 00:23:54.720 --> 00:23:57.839 But if I go, I will send him to you. 00:23:58.000 --> 00:24:00.880 How many of y'all would like to have an advantage in your life? 00:24:01.359 --> 00:24:03.519 The Holy Spirit is an advantage. 00:24:03.839 --> 00:24:07.680 In other words, the Holy Spirit helps you do the things that you can't do. 00:24:08.000 --> 00:24:10.640 The Holy Spirit gives you wisdom that you don't have. 00:24:11.839 --> 00:24:14.799 The Holy Spirit will help you answer things you can't answer. 00:24:15.359 --> 00:24:21.599 The Holy Spirit will give you guidance in places that even the guidance of your friends and your peers and the people that you love falls short. 00:24:22.160 --> 00:24:22.559 Why? 00:24:22.799 --> 00:24:24.400 Because here's what Jesus is after. 00:24:24.720 --> 00:24:26.480 John chapter 16, verse 1. 00:24:26.720 --> 00:24:28.960 He's after your faith, not failing. 00:24:29.440 --> 00:24:30.720 And he will do whatever it takes. 00:24:30.799 --> 00:24:34.960 And what it takes is his Holy Spirit coming to you to be an advantage to you. 00:24:35.200 --> 00:24:36.799 When you go to work, you have an advantage. 00:24:36.960 --> 00:24:38.720 When you go to school, you have an advantage. 00:24:38.960 --> 00:24:42.319 When you're fighting in your marriage, you still have an advantage. 00:24:43.039 --> 00:24:45.759 When you're going through challenges, you have an advantage. 00:24:45.839 --> 00:24:46.720 And this is the Holy Spirit. 00:24:46.799 --> 00:24:48.480 I want to give you a theology lesson real quick. 00:24:48.640 --> 00:24:50.400 This is what we call the Trinity in the church. 00:24:50.559 --> 00:24:59.039 You're not going to find the word Trinity in the Bible, but what you're going to find throughout Scripture is the teaching of the Trinity, which is this: that we believe in one God in three persons. 00:24:59.200 --> 00:25:00.960 One God, three persons. 00:25:01.119 --> 00:25:06.400 In other words, we what makes Christianity so unique is we believe in God the Father. 00:25:06.640 --> 00:25:07.759 We believe in God the Son. 00:25:07.920 --> 00:25:08.720 His name is Jesus. 00:25:08.880 --> 00:25:10.880 He came to earth and died on the cross for our sins. 00:25:11.039 --> 00:25:12.160