WEBVTT 00:00:00.640 --> 00:00:11.279 This week I want to talk about a facet of being a hero, whether in the Bible or in life, that probably doesn't get too much attention. 00:00:13.039 --> 00:00:22.879 If you want to be a hero, if you want to walk out this thing in life called your calling, there's one thing every hero has to be. 00:00:23.839 --> 00:00:25.600 You have to be crazy. 00:00:27.440 --> 00:00:31.039 And I want to talk today about one of my heroes in the Bible. 00:00:32.399 --> 00:00:33.039 Noah. 00:00:33.600 --> 00:00:35.920 And the title of this message is quite simple. 00:00:36.240 --> 00:00:38.399 Noah was crazy. 00:00:40.000 --> 00:00:43.600 Let's read in Genesis chapter 6 together, starting in verse 9. 00:00:43.759 --> 00:00:45.840 This is the account of Noah and his family. 00:00:46.000 --> 00:00:52.560 Noah was a righteous man, the only blameless person living on earth at the time, and he walked in close fellowship with God. 00:00:52.880 --> 00:00:56.240 Noah was the father of three sons, Shem, Ham, and Japheth. 00:00:56.479 --> 00:01:00.159 Now God saw that the earth had become corrupt and was filled with violence. 00:01:00.399 --> 00:01:05.200 God observed all this corruption in the world, for everyone on earth was corrupt. 00:01:05.519 --> 00:01:11.840 So God said to Noah, I have decided to destroy all living creatures, for they have filled the earth with violence. 00:01:12.000 --> 00:01:15.439 Yes, I will wipe them all out along with the earth. 00:01:15.680 --> 00:01:17.359 Here's where it gets crazy. 00:01:17.680 --> 00:01:24.959 Build a large boat from cypress wood and waterproof it with tar inside and out. 00:01:25.519 --> 00:01:28.400 Then construct decks and stalls throughout its interior. 00:01:28.480 --> 00:01:33.680 Make the boat 450 feet long, 75 feet wide, and 45 feet high. 00:01:33.920 --> 00:01:38.000 Leave an 18-inch opening above the roof all the way around the boat. 00:01:38.159 --> 00:01:39.200 Time out for a second. 00:01:39.359 --> 00:01:42.079 Do you realize there were no windows in the ark? 00:01:42.319 --> 00:01:46.560 There was a door and an 18-inch gap all the way around the top. 00:01:46.719 --> 00:01:48.159 Let me point something out. 00:01:48.319 --> 00:01:52.400 There weren't windows because I believe God might have been communicating to Noah. 00:01:52.640 --> 00:01:55.519 Noah, this ride is not about the view. 00:01:56.959 --> 00:02:01.040 I believe God was saying, listen, Noah, it's gonna rain a whole lot. 00:02:01.200 --> 00:02:05.760 There's no need to look outside a window at the pouring down rain. 00:02:05.920 --> 00:02:10.800 I want you to keep your focus on the inside of this boat and on the one who does rain. 00:02:11.680 --> 00:02:14.159 So don't put any windows on the ark, Noah. 00:02:15.840 --> 00:02:19.520 Build three decks inside the boat, lower, middle, and upper, and then he gets firm. 00:02:19.759 --> 00:02:22.719 Look, almost to say, Noah, now believe me here. 00:02:22.800 --> 00:02:27.759 I am about to cover the earth with a flood that will destroy every living thing that breathes. 00:02:27.919 --> 00:02:29.840 Everything on earth will die. 00:02:31.599 --> 00:02:34.800 Here's what's crazy to me about Genesis chapter 6. 00:02:35.120 --> 00:02:39.520 We read the story of Noah and we think, Noah was crazy. 00:02:40.800 --> 00:02:47.840 God, I am so glad you're not gonna ask me to build some oversized cruise ship for love-struck animals. 00:02:49.520 --> 00:02:50.719 And you're right. 00:02:51.199 --> 00:02:57.599 God probably isn't gonna ask you to build some oversized cruise ship for love-struck animals. 00:02:59.039 --> 00:03:01.680 But he has called you to build something. 00:03:02.080 --> 00:03:11.840 And here's the reality what God has called you to build is going to look bigger to you than the Ark did to Noah. 00:03:13.919 --> 00:03:19.680 And if you're gonna be someone who builds it, you're gonna have to be crazy. 00:03:20.159 --> 00:03:28.479 So let's look at a few things that Noah embodied that we need to walk in if we're gonna walk out this crazy thing called our calling. 00:03:28.719 --> 00:03:30.240 Here's the first thing. 00:03:30.560 --> 00:03:32.960 Get comfortable with crazy. 00:03:33.840 --> 00:03:36.479 Get comfortable with crazy. 00:03:37.280 --> 00:03:47.599 Crazy is the word that those who are usually scared often call those filled with faith. 00:03:48.560 --> 00:03:56.800 Crazy is the word that the devil uses to describe you when God fills you with faith and you walk in it. 00:03:57.759 --> 00:04:02.240 There is nothing wrong with being called crazy under the right circumstances. 00:04:03.439 --> 00:04:10.400 When we're living a life filled with faith, there are many who will look at us and say, That's crazy. 00:04:10.560 --> 00:04:12.319 Take it as a compliment. 00:04:13.039 --> 00:04:14.879 That's exactly what it is. 00:04:16.000 --> 00:04:26.240 I remember when Pastor Robert took me to lunch a couple years ago and he said, It's time for you to leave Southlake and get ready to go to Scottsdale and start the first church plant. 00:04:26.560 --> 00:04:28.240 I wasn't ready for that information. 00:04:28.319 --> 00:04:35.920 I went home, I told my wife, and the first words out of her mouth were, Babe, this is crazy. 00:04:36.879 --> 00:04:39.839 And we got a little overwhelmed at what was ahead of us. 00:04:40.079 --> 00:04:46.319 And as we were kind of sitting there together, overwhelmed that at what was transpiring, the Lord spoke to me. 00:04:46.560 --> 00:04:53.680 And he said, Preston, the first time I called you to Phoenix for college, it was so that I could give you your bride. 00:04:54.000 --> 00:04:57.439 I'm calling you back the second time so that I can give you mine. 00:04:58.959 --> 00:05:00.639 You're not crazy. 00:05:03.680 --> 00:05:08.639 And in a moment, I went from feeling crazy to feeling normal. 00:05:09.600 --> 00:05:16.480 Listen, if if people are calling you crazy because you're walking in faith, you're in great company. 00:05:16.560 --> 00:05:20.959 The greatest hero in all of Scripture was called crazy by his own family. 00:05:21.199 --> 00:05:22.879 Jesus in Mark chapter 3. 00:05:22.959 --> 00:05:23.920 Listen to this. 00:05:24.399 --> 00:05:28.079 One time Jesus entered a house and the crowds began to gather again. 00:05:28.319 --> 00:05:31.680 Soon he and his disciples couldn't even find time to eat. 00:05:31.920 --> 00:05:35.040 When his family heard what was happening, they tried to take him away. 00:05:35.199 --> 00:05:37.759 He's out of his mind, they said. 00:05:39.279 --> 00:05:42.480 His own family called him crazy. 00:05:42.959 --> 00:05:43.600 Why? 00:05:45.920 --> 00:05:48.240 Because they didn't understand his calling. 00:05:48.959 --> 00:06:00.079 Anyone that calls you crazy for walking out your calling is proving they do not understand the scope of your calling. 00:06:01.600 --> 00:06:09.040 Don't ever let the opinion of the uninformed majority become your focus. 00:06:09.759 --> 00:06:17.120 And too many times the enemy uses the vocal chatter of the uninformed majority to taunt us. 00:06:17.839 --> 00:06:26.399 But listen, remind yourself and your enemy you are in phenomenal company when that majority calls you crazy. 00:06:26.639 --> 00:06:31.279 If you're gonna walk out your calling, you need to be comfortable with crazy. 00:06:31.519 --> 00:06:34.720 Here's the second thing count on confirmation. 00:06:35.839 --> 00:06:39.600 If you're gonna walk out this calling, count on confirmation. 00:06:39.920 --> 00:06:47.519 Confirmation is God's memorably creative way of repeating something He's already told you. 00:06:49.439 --> 00:06:54.560 Confirmation is in this season of my life, where this is the craziest season. 00:06:54.639 --> 00:07:01.360 I mean, imagine leaving all of this and going and starting all over again the way we did 12 years ago. 00:07:02.000 --> 00:07:03.920 On some levels, it's crazy to me. 00:07:04.000 --> 00:07:12.240 I can't wrap my mind around it other than I know God wants to do something in Scottsdale and God wants Gateway Church to be a part of it. 00:07:14.560 --> 00:07:16.240 But it's crazy to me. 00:07:16.480 --> 00:07:24.879 And confirmation is a gift God gives us on the days where the circumstances might make us feel crazy. 00:07:25.439 --> 00:07:36.720 There are gonna be days if you walk out this calling where the circumstances seemingly point to the fact that you have made the wrong decision by walking out your calling. 00:07:38.000 --> 00:07:42.879 But God gives us confirmation to rescue us on difficult days. 00:07:43.279 --> 00:07:47.680 When I was 14, I felt like the Lord told me what I was gonna do with my life. 00:07:48.000 --> 00:07:57.920 And I felt, kind of like Joseph did, I thought, well, Lord, surely the reason that you're telling me this at 14 is so that I'll walk in confidence all of my life. 00:07:58.160 --> 00:08:04.160 So I made the unbelievably bright decision to become extremely overconfident. 00:08:06.879 --> 00:08:11.199 I became the most overconfident person that I knew. 00:08:12.319 --> 00:08:19.360 Twenty years later, and now walking out the first few steps of that calling. 00:08:20.720 --> 00:08:28.959 I now know God doesn't give us confirmation for the sake of confidence, He does it for the sake of conviction. 00:08:30.079 --> 00:08:36.080 God doesn't give us confirmation so that we can be overconfident on the way to the palace. 00:08:36.320 --> 00:08:42.159 God gives us confirmation so that we will never become unconvinced in the bottom of the pit. 00:08:44.080 --> 00:08:50.960 One of my definitions for the word shallow is to be overconfident and underconvicted. 00:08:53.039 --> 00:09:00.960 Joseph shed his shallowness in a deep pit and found his true depth because it was there. 00:09:01.279 --> 00:09:02.639 God showed him. 00:09:16.480 --> 00:09:22.000 God says to Noah in Genesis 6, 18, I will confirm my covenant with you. 00:09:22.080 --> 00:09:25.279 Now, this is before Noah had even started building the boat. 00:09:25.519 --> 00:09:27.440 I will confirm my covenant with you. 00:09:27.600 --> 00:09:31.440 So enter the boat, you and your wife and your sons and their wives. 00:09:31.679 --> 00:09:37.039 Here's the thing: God says to Noah before he starts building the boat, I'm gonna confirm my covenant with you. 00:09:37.759 --> 00:09:42.480 But he doesn't confirm his covenant until Genesis 9, after the storm is totally over. 00:09:44.000 --> 00:09:48.000 Was God saying to Noah, now listen, I'm gonna ask you to be crazy. 00:09:48.159 --> 00:09:51.600 I'm gonna ask you to build this huge boat, and everybody's gonna make fun of you. 00:09:51.679 --> 00:09:55.200 And I'm not gonna give you confirmation until the story is all over. 00:09:56.080 --> 00:09:57.600 No, that's not what God was saying. 00:09:57.759 --> 00:10:01.919 God was saying, I'll confirm my covenant to you after this is all over. 00:10:03.919 --> 00:10:07.279 Is it possible that Noah got confirmation all along the way? 00:10:08.639 --> 00:10:09.200 Yes. 00:10:09.440 --> 00:10:10.879 Listen, think about this. 00:10:11.039 --> 00:10:17.679 The rainbow in Genesis 9 was the confirmation of God's covenant with Noah. 00:10:18.159 --> 00:10:25.279 But the fact that it actually rained was the confirmation of God's calling Noah. 00:10:26.480 --> 00:10:28.559 Noah got confirmation all along the way. 00:10:28.720 --> 00:10:29.360 Think about it. 00:10:29.519 --> 00:10:34.879 God says to Noah, fill a boat with all the animals on the earth. 00:10:35.200 --> 00:10:39.440 Do you think Noah actually knew all the animals on the earth? 00:10:40.639 --> 00:10:42.639 He probably knew like twelve. 00:10:43.360 --> 00:10:50.960 Let's see, there's the kangaroo, there's the rhinos, there's the beluga whale, that's my favorite one. 00:10:52.639 --> 00:10:53.679 Maybe 50 animals. 00:10:53.840 --> 00:10:55.200 There's no way he knew all the animals. 00:10:55.279 --> 00:10:59.200 Here's how we know God tells them, they'll all come to you. 00:11:00.240 --> 00:11:02.399 Don't you think it was a little bit of confirmation? 00:11:02.559 --> 00:11:12.559 One day, Noah might have been walking down the street, taking a break from building the boat, and he sees a rhinoceros walk across the street. 00:11:13.279 --> 00:11:18.720 And 50 yards later, walking down the same street, he sees a rabbit hop across the street. 00:11:19.440 --> 00:11:24.720 If I'm Noah, I start thinking, God, how is this gonna work? 00:11:24.960 --> 00:11:31.519 How am I gonna put a rhino and a rabbit next to each other and this rhino not kill one of the rabbits? 00:11:32.559 --> 00:11:42.159 Don't you think it was a little bit of confirmation when Noah saw the rhinos following the rabbits up the ramp and then giving each other personal space? 00:11:44.480 --> 00:11:48.399 The rhino looks at the rabbit and said, Here, go ahead, this is your spot. 00:11:49.519 --> 00:11:51.679 It had to be confirmation to Noah. 00:11:51.919 --> 00:11:53.039 How about this? 00:11:53.600 --> 00:11:56.240 How did the door of the ark get closed? 00:11:57.440 --> 00:11:58.720 Genesis 7. 00:11:58.960 --> 00:12:02.879 After we see the last animal comes onto the boat. 00:12:03.200 --> 00:12:11.759 Verse 15, two by two they came into the boat, representing every living thing that breathes, a male and female of each kind entered, just as God had commanded Noah. 00:12:11.919 --> 00:12:15.440 Then the Lord closed the door behind them. 00:12:18.960 --> 00:12:22.159 I guarantee it was confirmation when God closed that door. 00:12:23.200 --> 00:12:24.799 Let me ask you a question. 00:12:25.120 --> 00:12:31.120 When was the last time God closed the door on you, and instead of crying, you celebrated the fact that it was confirmation? 00:12:33.519 --> 00:12:38.799 Let me talk to those of you who maybe you're a little frustrated with God because he just closed the door in your face. 00:12:38.960 --> 00:12:42.559 Let me remind you about how sweet your God is. 00:12:42.799 --> 00:12:47.360 God never closes a door on you to keep you from enjoying paradise. 00:12:47.679 --> 00:12:52.080 God closes doors to keep you from drowning in the rain on the other side. 00:12:58.639 --> 00:13:01.360 Celebrate the fact that God closes the door. 00:13:01.519 --> 00:13:05.360 I'm sure Noah was looking at this door, going, How in the world are we gonna close this? 00:13:05.440 --> 00:13:07.200 And just then it closes. 00:13:07.360 --> 00:13:08.960 And here's some more confirmation. 00:13:09.120 --> 00:13:13.039 The door closes, and on the same day it starts pouring rain. 00:13:15.279 --> 00:13:18.960 Listen, you may be feeling like God's not giving you confirmation. 00:13:19.200 --> 00:13:22.879 Maybe you need to reevaluate what kind of confirmation you're looking for. 00:13:23.120 --> 00:13:30.639 If you're constantly waiting on rainbows, you're missing all of the little fun confirmations all along the way. 00:13:33.840 --> 00:13:35.039 They're everywhere. 00:13:35.279 --> 00:13:37.600 We get confirmation all the time. 00:13:38.480 --> 00:13:45.919 But if you're holding out for a rainbow, you're probably missing the rhinos and the rabbits peacefully walking up the ramp. 00:13:47.440 --> 00:13:52.960 Jesus, uh he was someone that completely enjoyed confirmation. 00:13:53.120 --> 00:14:02.799 He would walk up to someone and he would, I think he'd like to just play with people every once in a while, and they'd be thinking something, and he'd just confirm that he was the Messiah by saying, Hey, I know what you're thinking right now. 00:14:04.159 --> 00:14:05.200 Let me just tell you. 00:14:06.320 --> 00:14:07.679 And then they were blown away. 00:14:07.840 --> 00:14:08.240 Why? 00:14:08.399 --> 00:14:10.399 Confirmation is encouraging. 00:14:10.799 --> 00:14:18.080 Now, if you haven't gotten confirmation from the Lord in a while, and you'd say, Preston, how do I get confirmation from the Lord? 00:14:18.240 --> 00:14:19.679 Let me give you a piece of advice. 00:14:19.840 --> 00:14:21.600 Let me give you something not to do. 00:14:21.759 --> 00:14:22.080 Okay? 00:14:23.120 --> 00:14:27.919 Never look at a coincidence and call it a confirmation. 00:14:29.919 --> 00:14:35.039 Coincidence is something that any man can manipulate. 00:14:35.919 --> 00:14:40.480 Confirmation is something only God can reveal. 00:14:41.519 --> 00:14:55.360 But see, here's what we do: we start reaching for coincidences to call them confirmations when we keep wishing God would give us what our flesh keeps waiting to receive. 00:14:58.480 --> 00:15:02.080 Never look at a coincidence and call it a confirmation. 00:15:02.559 --> 00:15:04.720 We're looking for a house in Scottsdale. 00:15:04.799 --> 00:15:06.559 We've been looking for quite some time. 00:15:06.720 --> 00:15:09.600 Uh the last couple of homes, we've lost. 00:15:10.399 --> 00:15:12.559 It's a crazy market right now. 00:15:12.879 --> 00:15:14.480 Not many homes for sale. 00:15:14.720 --> 00:15:20.960 People are getting 30 and 40 offers on their homes to the point that listing agents are saying, we're not taking any more offers. 00:15:21.200 --> 00:15:29.519 The last couple houses that we've fallen in love with, we've lost to all cash offers that have gone for almost 10% above the listing price. 00:15:30.080 --> 00:15:41.039 So my wife was talking to a realtor and she said, Well, the Lord's gonna make it obvious which house is ours in the same way that he keeps making it obvious all of the ones that are not. 00:15:44.399 --> 00:15:47.360 And our realtor said that that reminds me of a funny story. 00:15:47.519 --> 00:15:51.759 He said, You know, I I've sold multimillion dollar homes and I've sold$100,000 homes. 00:15:51.840 --> 00:16:04.559 And he said, There was one time where I was selling a less expensive home to a real sweet Christian couple, and it was in a really bad neighborhood, and he said, I would never let anybody live in this neighborhood because of safety. 00:16:04.720 --> 00:16:09.440 And and someone had come into this home and kind of flipped it and made it look nicer than it really was. 00:16:09.519 --> 00:16:13.919 And so they're touring the home, and the wife just falls in love with the home. 00:16:14.159 --> 00:16:19.279 And they're they're going through every room, and and man, you know how your wife does when you're looking for a new house. 00:16:19.519 --> 00:16:21.919 It's like Jesus is in every room. 00:16:23.440 --> 00:16:28.399 Well, they go into the garage, and there's a picture of Jesus in the garage. 00:16:30.159 --> 00:16:34.480 And the wife goes in and she says, Honey, look at this. 00:16:35.200 --> 00:16:38.639 God is trying to tell us we need to buy this house. 00:16:39.600 --> 00:16:41.759 Jesus is confirming. 00:16:42.159 --> 00:16:43.279 This is our house. 00:16:43.440 --> 00:16:45.120 Honey, do you see this? 00:16:45.360 --> 00:16:47.840 Jesus is telling you we need to buy this house. 00:16:48.000 --> 00:16:55.519 And our realtor looked her right in the face and he said, Uh, ma'am, I believe Jesus is telling you you need to open that garage door and run straight for the hills. 00:16:55.679 --> 00:16:57.200 Don't buy this house. 00:16:58.879 --> 00:17:00.000 But that's what we do. 00:17:00.159 --> 00:17:10.880 We look for confirmation, but when we don't think we're getting it, we start to reach towards coincidence and call it godly confirmation. 00:17:11.519 --> 00:17:12.880 It will never work. 00:17:13.039 --> 00:17:21.599 So here's the question: How do I ensure that I live a life that gets to open up the gift of confirmation constantly? 00:17:22.079 --> 00:17:23.279 Simple answer. 00:17:23.519 --> 00:17:24.720 Obedience. 00:17:25.119 --> 00:17:26.960 That brings us to the second the third point. 00:17:27.119 --> 00:17:28.960 Don't settle for sort of. 00:17:29.839 --> 00:17:31.759 Don't settle for sort of. 00:17:32.079 --> 00:17:36.880 Confirmation is a gift that is most often opened by the obedient. 00:17:37.440 --> 00:17:41.200 And listen to what kind of a man Noah was in Genesis 6, 19. 00:17:41.440 --> 00:17:47.359 God says, Bring a pair of every kind of animal, a male and female, into the boat with you to keep them alive during the flood. 00:17:47.680 --> 00:17:54.640 Pairs of every kind of bird and every kind of animal and every kind of small animal that scurries along the ground will come to you to be kept alive. 00:17:54.799 --> 00:17:59.039 And be sure to take on board enough food for your family and for all the animals. 00:17:59.519 --> 00:18:05.359 So Noah did everything exactly as God had commanded him. 00:18:07.039 --> 00:18:08.160 Preston, wait a second. 00:18:08.240 --> 00:18:10.319 You're about to go down this road on obedience. 00:18:10.559 --> 00:18:14.480 Now I love Jesus, and I and I'm all in with Jesus. 00:18:14.720 --> 00:18:18.640 But but I kind of draw the line on this obedience thing. 00:18:18.720 --> 00:18:23.279 I mean, you read verses like you just did where it says God commanded Noah. 00:18:23.839 --> 00:18:29.359 Well, that makes me think, you know, God's kind of like a dictator, and I don't want to serve a dictator. 00:18:29.519 --> 00:18:31.359 Listen to me for a moment, please. 00:18:31.599 --> 00:18:43.759 Please stop looking at commands as orders that close doors you wish would open, and start seeing commands as opportunities to open doors you never imagined would. 00:18:46.640 --> 00:18:50.799 God says, listen, if you'll do it my way, I will bless you. 00:18:51.039 --> 00:18:53.759 I will take better care of you than you could take for yourself. 00:18:53.920 --> 00:18:55.200 But you have to do it my way. 00:18:55.279 --> 00:18:57.039 I want you to think about something. 00:18:57.279 --> 00:18:58.559 Think about this for a moment. 00:18:58.720 --> 00:19:03.440 God gives Noah the blueprint for this divine mode of transportation. 00:19:04.079 --> 00:19:07.039 But there's something missing in this boat. 00:19:07.359 --> 00:19:09.039 Can you guess what it is? 00:19:11.599 --> 00:19:13.440 A steering wheel. 00:19:15.039 --> 00:19:21.839 Nowhere in Scripture does it mention there is a rudder or any type of steering mechanism for this boat. 00:19:22.880 --> 00:19:25.839 Let me tell you why I believe that's the case. 00:19:26.079 --> 00:19:28.400 I believe this was a blueprint. 00:19:28.720 --> 00:19:33.119 The ark wasn't a blueprint for Noah's boat, it was a blueprint for our lives. 00:19:34.319 --> 00:19:44.160 God created our lives to be sanctuaries where hurting people could come and find salvation through Jesus Christ. 00:19:44.480 --> 00:19:50.000 God created our lives to be a place where people would find safe refuge. 00:19:51.279 --> 00:19:56.079 God says, listen, Noah, do you know where you're going? 00:19:56.960 --> 00:20:00.559 I'm sure Noah said, God, I have no idea. 00:20:01.519 --> 00:20:03.920 Well, Noah, do you know how to get there? 00:20:04.960 --> 00:20:07.599 No, God, I really don't know how to get there. 00:20:07.839 --> 00:20:09.599 Well, Noah, let's make a deal. 00:20:09.759 --> 00:20:16.000 Since you don't know where you're going and you don't know how to get there, why don't we leave the steering wheel out of this blueprint? 00:20:17.039 --> 00:20:25.440 Because Noah, if I give you a steering wheel, you're gonna be tempted to steer in the opposite direction I tell you at the first sign of choppy seas. 00:20:26.160 --> 00:20:30.240 So, Noah, let's leave the steering wheel out of the boat. 00:20:30.400 --> 00:20:34.640 Do you want a piece of wonderful advice if you struggle sleeping at night? 00:20:34.880 --> 00:20:39.039 Rip the steering wheel out of your boat and throw it out the window. 00:20:39.440 --> 00:20:47.839 There is nothing more stressful than trying to figure your own way through life, trying to find your way to a finish line you don't even know where it is. 00:20:50.079 --> 00:20:53.519 God not only knows where it is, he's the one that put it there. 00:20:53.759 --> 00:21:09.200 And if we'll just let him have control of the boat, even though it's a great storm on the outside, it will be peaceful on the inside because God will make sure you get to the right place at exactly the right time. 00:21:11.279 --> 00:21:15.359 People ask all the time, why why is Gateway so blessed? 00:21:16.400 --> 00:21:18.559 What is it about Gateway Church? 00:21:18.640 --> 00:21:22.640 What did Pastor Robert do that made Gateway so blessed? 00:21:22.880 --> 00:21:33.759 And I've heard so many answers over the last 12 years, but let me boil all of those answers down to what I believe is the real answer to this question. 00:21:33.920 --> 00:21:35.759 Why has God blessed Gateway Church? 00:21:35.839 --> 00:21:37.039 I'll tell you why. 00:21:37.279 --> 00:21:41.519 Because Pastor Robert has built a boat without a steering wheel. 00:21:46.960 --> 00:21:59.359 I have seen time and time again behind the scenes over the last 12 years where someone on the outside with an incredible opportunity, either for Pastor Robert or our church, has come quickly. 00:22:00.079 --> 00:22:03.359 A little forcefully and said, listen, you don't have much time to make this decision. 00:22:03.519 --> 00:22:06.000 It's a great opportunity for you andor the church. 00:22:06.160 --> 00:22:07.519 You need to make this decision now. 00:22:07.599 --> 00:22:08.720 We need to know by the end of the day. 00:22:08.799 --> 00:22:13.759 And I have seen Pastor Robert and the elders time and time again respond essentially like this. 00:22:15.519 --> 00:22:21.039 Uh see, the thing is, uh, there's no steering wheel on this boat. 00:22:21.359 --> 00:22:28.480 We would love to steer in your direction, but you know, we need to consult with the GPS and see where this is going. 00:22:29.759 --> 00:22:31.519 So we're gonna take a couple of days. 00:22:31.599 --> 00:22:36.000 I know you're in a hurry, and if you need to make a decision, go ahead and make it without us. 00:22:36.240 --> 00:22:38.720 God will take care of us on the other side. 00:22:39.119 --> 00:22:43.759 But we're gonna take a couple days and we're gonna pray about it, and then we'll come back to you and let you know what the Lord says. 00:22:43.920 --> 00:23:00.880 Time and time again, I have seen our senior pastor and our elders make the decision to never not only touch the steering wheel, but never even install one in this boat called Gateway Church. 00:23:01.039 --> 00:23:04.079 And I believe God looks at a boat like that and says, Really? 00:23:04.319 --> 00:23:05.680 I get to steer it? 00:23:06.000 --> 00:23:09.599 Well, how about I steer it in a way you never thought possible? 00:23:09.839 --> 00:23:17.759 How about I cause this to land in a place where you have dreamt of landing every morning since you were a child? 00:23:18.079 --> 00:23:19.680 Let me steer your boat. 00:23:19.839 --> 00:23:25.759 Not only will I take care of your storms, I will give you all the desires of your heart. 00:23:26.640 --> 00:23:32.559 And God blesses any man or woman who will build a boat like that. 00:23:33.680 --> 00:23:39.359 John 15, 14, when we talk about commands and obedience, Jesus says something that really stands out. 00:23:39.599 --> 00:23:43.519 He says, You are my friends if you do what I command. 00:23:45.680 --> 00:23:46.880 Listen to me. 00:23:47.200 --> 00:23:56.559 Obedience is so much easier than any other tactic of navigation. 00:23:57.680 --> 00:24:03.359 Obedience is so much better than your best strategy to get wherever you think you're going. 00:24:07.599 --> 00:24:09.519 Obedience is the way. 00:24:11.200 --> 00:24:19.200 Not only to honor God, but to live the crazy, faith-filled life that deep down we all dream of living. 00:24:19.759 --> 00:24:25.599 That brings us to the fourth thing that Noah did that we need to do if we're gonna walk out our calling. 00:24:25.839 --> 00:24:28.000 Savor the sacrifice. 00:24:28.880 --> 00:24:30.960 Savor the sacrifice. 00:24:31.200 --> 00:24:41.359 If you're going to live this crazy life of faith, it's going to require crazy sacrifices. 00:24:42.559 --> 00:24:48.400 Look at what happens with Noah after the storm is over and the water recedes in Genesis 8:18. 00:24:48.640 --> 00:24:51.920 So Noah, his wife, and his sons and their wives left the boat. 00:24:52.079 --> 00:24:56.319 And all of the large and small animals and birds came out of the boat pair by pair. 00:24:56.480 --> 00:25:00.079 Then Noah built an altar to the Lord. 00:25:00.960 --> 00:25:06.880 And there he sacrificed as burnt offerings the animals and birds that had been approved for that purpose. 00:25:07.119 --> 00:25:11.920 And the Lord was pleased with the aroma of the sacrifice. 00:25:13.599 --> 00:25:17.119 Why was Noah's sacrifice so romantic to God? 00:25:18.240 --> 00:25:19.119 I mean, think about this. 00:25:19.279 --> 00:25:24.880 God had already told him what he was allowed to sacrifice, which of the animals he could sacrifice. 00:25:25.039 --> 00:25:28.400 God already knew what the sacrifice was going to be. 00:25:29.200 --> 00:25:33.680 Now, ladies, it would be kind of like your husband giving you a gift and you already know what it's going to be. 00:25:33.759 --> 00:25:38.559 You know, sometimes you have to kind of conjure up that excitement, you know, because it ruins the surprise. 00:25:38.640 --> 00:25:39.519 You already know it's coming. 00:25:39.680 --> 00:25:41.519 God already knew the surprise was coming. 00:25:41.759 --> 00:25:45.200 Why was Noah's sacrifice so romantic to God? 00:25:46.400 --> 00:25:47.920 Let me give you something to think about. 00:25:49.039 --> 00:26:00.240 Is it possible that what you sacrifice to God is far less important than when and why? 00:26:01.599 --> 00:26:02.720 Think about this. 00:26:03.039 --> 00:26:10.160 Noah just spent countless years building this crazy big boat to save all these animals. 00:26:10.400 --> 00:26:18.559 And the first thing Noah does when he gets off the boat, rather than look around at this great new opportunity, listen, the whole earth belonged to Noah. 00:26:18.640 --> 00:26:21.039 There was no one else to share land with. 00:26:21.680 --> 00:26:31.279 And rather than get excited about this great new opportunity, Noah chose to get off that boat and instead of look around, Noah looked up. 00:26:32.880 --> 00:26:43.279 The first thing Noah does, rather than look at his new opportunity, was look up and thank God for his faithfulness in getting him to that place. 00:26:44.319 --> 00:26:45.839 And he sacrificed. 00:27:10.960 --> 00:27:13.359 And a couple months ago, I was asking the Lord. 00:27:13.440 --> 00:27:15.920 I was just thanking him for all of the blessings. 00:27:16.000 --> 00:27:19.680 And, you know, you just have those days where you're so overwhelmed at what all God's done. 00:27:19.759 --> 00:27:21.920 And I was thanking him for everything I could think of. 00:27:22.000 --> 00:27:24.960 And I said, Lord, why did you give me that? 00:27:25.200 --> 00:27:28.799 You you could have given me three sons, and I would have been completely happy. 00:27:29.039 --> 00:27:32.880 Why did you give me exactly what I asked for? 00:27:33.680 --> 00:27:37.359 And his answer scared me a little bit. 00:27:38.480 --> 00:27:50.400 He said, Preston, the season you're about to walk into is going to be the most sacrificial season of your entire life. 00:27:51.599 --> 00:28:19.279 And on the days where the enemy convinces you that you've given up too much, I wanted to give you something so that on that day you could walk into their bedroom and be reminded of the fact that no matter what I've asked you to give up, what I have given you in return far exceeds what you have sacrificed. 00:28:26.799 --> 00:28:28.319 And I want you to hear me. 00:28:28.559 --> 00:28:29.599 You need to hear this. 00:28:29.680 --> 00:28:33.119 If you don't hear anything else in this message, please hear this. 00:28:35.279 --> 00:28:46.559 Whatever you end up having to sacrifice to God will pale in comparison to what God does in response. 00:28:48.880 --> 00:28:53.119 You might be saying, Preston, I can't wait to sacrifice. 00:28:53.759 --> 00:28:57.440 I can't wait to have commands and the opportunity to be obedient. 00:28:57.599 --> 00:29:01.920 I can't wait for confirmation and the opportunity to even be called crazy. 00:29:02.000 --> 00:29:04.880 But Preston, God hasn't given me my blueprint yet. 00:29:05.440 --> 00:29:06.559 What do I do? 00:29:07.599 --> 00:29:09.200 Let me give you a suggestion. 00:29:10.720 --> 00:29:16.799 Find someone else to whom God has given a blueprint for their boat and help them build theirs. 00:29:16.960 --> 00:29:25.279 And in doing so, you will show God that by being willing to build their boat, you are ready to build yours. 00:29:29.759 --> 00:29:33.759 This entire message has been about one word. 00:29:34.400 --> 00:29:36.799 That one word is crazy. 00:29:37.680 --> 00:29:40.880 The Greek word for crazy is exystemie. 00:29:41.680 --> 00:29:44.720 Existemy has two main definitions. 00:29:44.880 --> 00:29:47.839 The first definition is to lose one's mind. 00:29:48.400 --> 00:29:52.720 The second definition is to astonish greatly. 00:29:54.160 --> 00:29:55.440 Do you know what that means? 00:29:56.720 --> 00:30:10.799 That means that all of these years that God has been telling you to walk out this crazy calling, and the enemy has been taunting you, telling you, you're crazy. 00:30:11.119 --> 00:30:12.720 You've lost your mind. 00:30:13.279 --> 00:30:14.640 You can't do this. 00:30:14.880 --> 00:30:17.200 This calling's too big for someone like you. 00:30:17.359 --> 00:30:18.640 That's impossible. 00:30:18.799 --> 00:30:20.559 You have lost your mind. 00:30:20.880 --> 00:30:34.400 This is what it means that at the very time that your enemy is using the word existemmy to taunt you, that your God is using the exact same word to encourage you by saying, sweetheart, you haven't lost your mind? 00:30:35.519 --> 00:30:44.880 If you'll hold my hand all the days of your life, you and me, we're gonna do some crazy big things that astonish this world greatly. 00:30:45.119 --> 00:30:46.079 So how about it? 00:30:47.279 --> 00:30:49.519 Why don't the two of us get crazy? 00:30:55.279 --> 00:30:58.319 I want you to bow your heads and close your eyes. 00:31:02.400 --> 00:31:11.759 And I want you to hear the Lord today calling you to a life of crazy faith. 00:31:15.119 --> 00:31:20.319 Maybe you've never given your heart to Christ and you want to live this crazy life of faith. 00:31:20.480 --> 00:31:21.359 You need to know. 00:31:21.599 --> 00:31:26.319 Step one in the life of crazy faith is to give your heart to Christ. 00:31:26.640 --> 00:31:30.960 In a moment, we're gonna have altar ministry workers here down at the altar when I'm done praying. 00:31:31.119 --> 00:31:36.559 If you haven't given your life to Christ, today is the perfect day to do so. 00:31:37.279 --> 00:31:41.759 You want to live a life where you don't even have words to describe it? 00:31:42.079 --> 00:31:44.000 Give your life to Christ. 00:31:45.599 --> 00:31:53.200 What He'll do with your life in His hands will be far better than anything you can ever do with your two hands. 00:31:54.799 --> 00:31:59.200 Maybe you've given your life to Christ, but you're sick and tired of normal. 00:31:59.839 --> 00:32:10.319 You read stories of biblical heroes and you want to be a hero, today's your day to get crazy. 00:32:12.400 --> 00:32:25.920 When I'm done praying, if you feel right now the Holy Spirit prompting you to take a bold step towards a new chapter of life called crazy faith. 00:32:26.160 --> 00:32:36.559 When I'm done praying, I'm gonna ask you to come forward and I'm gonna ask you to unite your faith with our altar ministry workers here so that they can send you out with more faith. 00:32:41.759 --> 00:32:46.000 God didn't create you to be normal, God created you to be crazy. 00:32:46.640 --> 00:32:48.799 And God, I pray for every person here. 00:32:49.039 --> 00:32:50.160 Lord, help them. 00:32:50.400 --> 00:32:55.119 If they need to come forward for ministry, no matter what it's for, give them the boldness to do so. 00:32:55.200 --> 00:33:04.240 If they've never given their lives to Christ, I pray that you would give them the courage and the crazy faith to come forward and give control of their life to you. 00:33:05.039 --> 00:33:18.079 And for those that need to turn their back on normal and embrace their crazy, faith filled life, give them the boldness and the faith to come forward and start that new chapter in Jesus' name. 00:33:18.400 --> 00:33:19.039 Amen.