WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:02.399 Welcome to Gateway Churches Podcast. 00:00:02.560 --> 00:00:06.959 Wherever you're tuning in from, we hope you're encouraged by today's message. 00:00:19.760 --> 00:00:21.600 Well, welcome to church, everybody. 00:00:21.760 --> 00:00:23.600 We do want to say good morning again. 00:00:23.679 --> 00:00:25.120 Welcome to all of our campuses. 00:00:25.280 --> 00:00:27.920 Everyone joining us online, on demand later in the week. 00:00:28.079 --> 00:00:31.280 Of course, our prison campuses and our gateway gatherings. 00:00:31.440 --> 00:00:35.359 And anyone that may be visiting for the first time or the first time in a long time. 00:00:35.520 --> 00:00:36.399 We're glad you're here. 00:00:36.479 --> 00:00:42.320 Come on, every campus, put the hands together for those that may be with us for the first time in a little bit. 00:00:43.759 --> 00:00:47.359 Glad you're here starting a new series today called Best Days. 00:00:47.439 --> 00:00:51.359 But before we get into that, I want to bring your attention to a few things coming up this fall. 00:00:51.520 --> 00:00:56.479 Just want to get it on your radar because you will want to be a part of this at your campus. 00:00:56.640 --> 00:01:00.000 Number one is this September the 13th, everybody. 00:01:00.320 --> 00:01:03.359 We're going to do a teaching series called This Is Us. 00:01:03.679 --> 00:01:10.560 And really, if you call Gateway Home, you're going to want to be in the room for this because we're going to be talking about vision for the future. 00:01:11.040 --> 00:01:13.519 Since we've got here, people are like, What are your vision for the future? 00:01:13.680 --> 00:01:14.879 I was like, give me a year. 00:01:15.200 --> 00:01:17.680 And uh let me fill this place out and love on people. 00:01:17.760 --> 00:01:20.719 And so now we're gonna we're gonna talk about what does God have for us. 00:01:20.879 --> 00:01:25.359 Really talking about what what I think from my own theology, what is the purpose of the church? 00:01:25.439 --> 00:01:26.400 Why are we here? 00:01:26.560 --> 00:01:28.959 And uh why are what mission are we on together? 00:01:29.120 --> 00:01:30.319 And so we're gonna be talking about that. 00:01:30.480 --> 00:01:33.040 Then September 24th is women's night. 00:01:37.040 --> 00:01:39.439 So get registered for that if you haven't yet. 00:01:39.599 --> 00:01:43.760 And uh, and then on October 24th, this is gonna be a very special day. 00:01:43.920 --> 00:01:44.719 Something brand new. 00:01:44.799 --> 00:01:48.239 We're starting as a church, and it's called this Serve My City. 00:01:48.560 --> 00:01:58.079 And so the goal of this day, listen, is to mobilize every single person that calls Gateway home on this one day to serve your city in some way. 00:01:58.159 --> 00:01:59.200 We'll give you more information. 00:01:59.280 --> 00:02:06.959 We're gonna have lots of projects, lots of opportunities to make a difference to what the Bible says: give a cup of cold water in the name of Jesus. 00:02:07.120 --> 00:02:09.759 How many of you know that our communities don't need to know what we're against? 00:02:09.840 --> 00:02:11.120 They need to know what we're for. 00:02:11.759 --> 00:02:18.960 And we're for the gospel, we're for transformed lives, we're for making a difference in the lives of people, we're for living on the mission of Jesus. 00:02:19.120 --> 00:02:21.360 And so it's a beautiful, beautiful way to do that. 00:02:21.520 --> 00:02:22.319 That's in October. 00:02:22.400 --> 00:02:28.960 And then, of course, in December, we're gonna do Love My City offering again, where 100% of that will be given away to local community partners. 00:02:29.039 --> 00:02:32.400 And then it'll be candlelight, everybody, and then 2027. 00:02:34.240 --> 00:02:35.360 Just like that. 00:02:35.599 --> 00:02:37.439 Glad I could encourage you today. 00:02:38.000 --> 00:02:42.719 And then, of course, we'll kick off the year with prayer and fasting, 12 days of prayer and fasting. 00:02:42.800 --> 00:02:50.400 So if you're unable to be a part of that last year, powerful times, so many answered prayer, and uh so much good stuff coming up, all right? 00:02:50.479 --> 00:02:52.800 So don't miss out, be a part, lean in. 00:02:52.960 --> 00:02:54.639 Um, but let's pray before we get into the word. 00:02:54.879 --> 00:02:57.120 Father, we love you and we honor you. 00:02:57.439 --> 00:03:00.159 Holy Spirit, speak to our hearts today through your word. 00:03:00.479 --> 00:03:03.360 We believe it has the power to change us and transform us. 00:03:03.520 --> 00:03:06.879 We don't want to just do church, we want to hear from you. 00:03:07.360 --> 00:03:10.719 So we pray this in faith in the name of Jesus. 00:03:10.879 --> 00:03:12.560 Everybody said, Amen. 00:03:12.960 --> 00:03:13.439 Amen. 00:03:13.599 --> 00:03:21.199 How many of you uh you would admit like me that anytime you go anywhere before you go, you're most likely checking the reviews. 00:03:21.439 --> 00:03:27.360 Anybody looking at reviews, reading reviews, restaurants, hotels, vacations, resorts, right? 00:03:27.520 --> 00:03:29.120 Reading the reviews, checking the reviews. 00:03:29.280 --> 00:03:32.960 Have you ever noticed that they're like there's two extremes? 00:03:33.120 --> 00:03:37.840 Either it was awful and they're letting everybody know. 00:03:38.560 --> 00:03:43.199 Or it was life-changing and the best thing ever, and they're letting everybody know. 00:03:43.360 --> 00:03:45.919 How many of you know that the truth is somewhere in the middle? 00:03:46.479 --> 00:03:51.520 Like the the honesty, like you got the critic that nothing is good, they're giving it a one-star. 00:03:51.840 --> 00:03:56.800 The person that thinks everything is wonderful, and you know, they're giving it a five-star. 00:03:57.199 --> 00:03:59.199 But some of the most honest are in the middle. 00:03:59.280 --> 00:04:00.960 They're like a three-star review. 00:04:01.039 --> 00:04:03.439 They're like, it was fine. 00:04:04.800 --> 00:04:05.759 It was good. 00:04:06.879 --> 00:04:09.840 Don't think it was great, but it was alright. 00:04:10.080 --> 00:04:11.280 I'll come back. 00:04:11.520 --> 00:04:16.240 It was it wasn't amazing, it wasn't horrible, it was just, eh. 00:04:18.000 --> 00:04:22.560 Kind of okay, some of you have been there, you've been to those restaurants, you've been to that place, right? 00:04:22.720 --> 00:04:24.000 It's like, ehh, meh. 00:04:24.240 --> 00:04:32.319 And I was thinking about this, and I thought, how many of us maybe, if we were given an honest review of our life, would give ourselves a three-star? 00:04:33.600 --> 00:04:38.319 Like it's not thriving, but it's not falling apart. 00:04:38.480 --> 00:04:39.839 It's just kind of meh. 00:04:40.480 --> 00:04:56.959 I'm getting up, going to school, go to work, do the thing, come home, same routine, dinner, get everybody to bed, watch Netflix for a few minutes, go to sleep, get up and do the next thing the next day, do it over. 00:04:57.040 --> 00:04:58.480 It's not, it's not amazing. 00:04:58.639 --> 00:05:04.639 Life isn't like thriving, it's not like I'm filled with joy, and man, I can't wait to attack the day and it's awesome. 00:05:04.959 --> 00:05:07.360 And I don't want to run away. 00:05:08.079 --> 00:05:09.120 Just kind of, eh. 00:05:10.160 --> 00:05:16.240 There's actually an article written in 2021 by a psychologist named Adam Grant, and he gave language to this. 00:05:16.399 --> 00:05:18.639 He said it's called languishing. 00:05:19.600 --> 00:05:30.079 He said it's the it's the middle stepchild of mental health, that it's not that we're not thriving or flourishing and we're not depressed, we're just kind of languishing. 00:05:30.240 --> 00:05:31.680 It's life isn't vibrant. 00:05:31.920 --> 00:05:40.959 It's like we're looking through the lens of a foggy lens, and it's not that we don't know where we're going, we're just kind of stuck, and life is moving. 00:05:41.120 --> 00:05:42.639 We don't feel like we're really moving. 00:05:42.720 --> 00:05:50.720 There's there's nothing out in front of us that's really thriving and excited for and anticipating, and we're not filled with expectation anymore. 00:05:50.879 --> 00:05:53.600 We're just kind of eh. 00:05:56.720 --> 00:06:01.920 And I think this so describes Revelation chapter 3, the church at Laodicea. 00:06:02.399 --> 00:06:08.639 Never read Revelation, John is writing to seven churches, and the church at Laodicea, he says, This is what God says to you. 00:06:08.879 --> 00:06:13.839 You're not hot and you're not cold, you're lukewarm, and that turns my stomach. 00:06:14.959 --> 00:06:16.240 I'm just giving you the Bible. 00:06:16.319 --> 00:06:18.240 My name's Daniel, I'm your friend. 00:06:20.399 --> 00:06:30.959 And I think sometimes if we were really honest and we were to give our faith a one, two, three, four, five-star review, some of us would say we'd give it a three-star. 00:06:31.600 --> 00:06:37.439 We're not really thriving in our faith, but it's not like we're walking away from God either. 00:06:37.680 --> 00:06:52.720 It's not vibrant and on fire, as some would say, and it's not anticipating the good things of God, and it's not one that is so leaned into the things of God, but it's also we're not like walking, we're not like done with our faith. 00:06:52.800 --> 00:06:54.240 We're just kind of like, eh. 00:06:55.519 --> 00:07:06.720 Like I just I go to church, stand up, sing the four songs, greet someone, sit down, watch the video. 00:07:07.120 --> 00:07:12.399 He's gonna get up and talk for 35 minutes, or 40 if he's been off a week. 00:07:15.199 --> 00:07:16.399 Go home. 00:07:17.120 --> 00:07:18.720 There's a Bible laying there. 00:07:19.040 --> 00:07:20.560 Not really sure I look at it much. 00:07:20.800 --> 00:07:24.560 Turn to it when I'm in crisis, and then just keep going. 00:07:24.639 --> 00:07:26.879 It's not great and it's not falling apart. 00:07:26.959 --> 00:07:29.360 It's just man. 00:07:30.160 --> 00:07:33.680 And can I tell you that is not what God wants for you? 00:07:34.879 --> 00:07:37.040 That's not what God wants for his church. 00:07:37.199 --> 00:07:41.519 Can I tell you a languishing church isn't a transformational church? 00:07:41.759 --> 00:07:50.959 That a languishing church isn't a church that changes the world, that that makes a major difference and eternal impact with eternal return on the investment of our life. 00:07:51.120 --> 00:07:53.920 That's not what have that's not what God wants for you. 00:07:54.079 --> 00:07:58.079 He wants you to have a faith that is flourishing, that is thriving. 00:07:58.240 --> 00:08:01.839 That your best days, can I tell you, they're your faith-filled days. 00:08:02.079 --> 00:08:05.199 Your best days are the days where your faith is on fire. 00:08:05.279 --> 00:08:14.480 And I just want to, if I could, just maybe shake you a little bit today, if I could give you a gentle pastoral shake and go, are you languishing? 00:08:15.199 --> 00:08:16.560 Is your faith thriving? 00:08:16.720 --> 00:08:27.360 Do you look back in your journey of faith and go, there was a time where I was more in love with Jesus, more passionate about my worship, more into the Word of God than I am right now? 00:08:27.519 --> 00:08:30.079 If so, you could have a three-star faith. 00:08:31.839 --> 00:08:34.240 God doesn't want you to live that way. 00:08:34.879 --> 00:08:39.360 Matter of fact, without faith, it's impossible to please God. 00:08:39.679 --> 00:08:44.159 So the only life that is pleasing to God is the life of faith. 00:08:44.399 --> 00:08:55.039 It's the life where we live according to his promises and his principles, and we go all in with Jesus, that is the one that honors God. 00:08:55.440 --> 00:08:57.840 So I would ask you, you don't have to raise your hand. 00:08:58.879 --> 00:09:00.639 Is it a languishing face? 00:09:01.039 --> 00:09:02.639 Is it a fragile face? 00:09:03.200 --> 00:09:05.039 Is it a frantic face? 00:09:06.159 --> 00:09:10.240 When something hits my life that's bad, God, please, please, please. 00:09:11.120 --> 00:09:13.279 Or is it an on-fire faith? 00:09:13.759 --> 00:09:15.519 A thriving, flourishing. 00:09:15.919 --> 00:09:19.360 Because your best days are your faith-filled days. 00:09:20.000 --> 00:09:23.120 So if we're going to have that kind of faith, we've got to know what faith is. 00:09:23.360 --> 00:09:28.720 Hebrews 11 says this faith shows the reality of what we hope for. 00:09:28.960 --> 00:09:32.960 Here's the phrase: it's the evidence of things we cannot see. 00:09:33.759 --> 00:09:37.200 So faith isn't this ethereal thing out here. 00:09:37.519 --> 00:09:40.399 Faith isn't a feeling that you have during worship. 00:09:40.559 --> 00:09:45.600 Faith is not goosebumps on your arms and hair standing up on the back of your neck. 00:09:45.679 --> 00:09:46.240 That's not it. 00:09:46.480 --> 00:09:47.840 Faith is evidence. 00:09:48.159 --> 00:09:56.320 In other words, it is an action in your life that when you take it, people around you go, you trust God. 00:09:57.759 --> 00:09:59.360 In other words, let me say it this way. 00:09:59.519 --> 00:10:05.759 If I were to follow you around for a day, would I see any evidence that would stand up in court that you trust God? 00:10:06.480 --> 00:10:07.679 That's what faith is. 00:10:07.840 --> 00:10:09.039 Faith is the evidence. 00:10:09.120 --> 00:10:12.639 It's tangible, it's observable, it's I can see it in your life. 00:10:12.799 --> 00:10:15.600 Faith is what you all demonstrated today. 00:10:16.240 --> 00:10:22.559 No matter where you are, if you're seated, I doubt any of you turned around and tested the chair. 00:10:24.559 --> 00:10:30.159 I don't think you pushed on it and said, Did building services tighten these bolts? 00:10:30.720 --> 00:10:32.480 Are these chairs good to go? 00:10:32.799 --> 00:10:33.120 No. 00:10:33.440 --> 00:10:39.440 You demonstrated faith by just being seated expecting the chair to hold you. 00:10:39.679 --> 00:10:43.519 Your evidence is that you bent your knees and sat down. 00:10:43.840 --> 00:10:47.279 That's the evidence that you trusted that the chair would hold you. 00:10:47.440 --> 00:10:48.159 Are you with me? 00:10:48.320 --> 00:10:50.080 The same thing is true in your faith. 00:10:50.240 --> 00:11:03.919 The evidence is whenever you can't see it and it hasn't even come to pass yet, you trust the promise of God and live as though what God said is true, not what everybody else has said is true. 00:11:04.320 --> 00:11:06.960 And so all of us have been given a measure of faith. 00:11:07.120 --> 00:11:08.639 Romans 12, 3 tells us. 00:11:08.720 --> 00:11:12.879 It says that we shouldn't think of ourselves more highly than we should. 00:11:13.039 --> 00:11:14.799 We shouldn't have a bloated view. 00:11:14.879 --> 00:11:15.360 But what? 00:11:15.519 --> 00:11:20.000 It says we should have sober judgment and we should, in accordance with what? 00:11:20.159 --> 00:11:21.919 The faith that God's distributed. 00:11:22.080 --> 00:11:24.480 So God distributed faith to everybody. 00:11:24.720 --> 00:11:26.480 You have a measure of faith. 00:11:26.720 --> 00:11:31.200 Now your job is to grow that faith and to strengthen that faith. 00:11:31.360 --> 00:11:33.440 But here's the challenging news, everybody. 00:11:33.600 --> 00:11:34.559 You ready? 00:11:35.039 --> 00:11:37.200 It doesn't grow in comfort. 00:11:38.879 --> 00:11:44.480 Faith never grows on the mountaintops of life, it grows in the valleys of life. 00:11:44.720 --> 00:11:49.840 It doesn't grow in the comfortable places, it grows in the uncomfortable places. 00:11:50.159 --> 00:11:53.519 Matter of fact, faith needs resistance to grow. 00:11:53.759 --> 00:11:57.200 Just like your muscles don't grow by admiring them. 00:12:01.120 --> 00:12:07.840 They grow by loading them with a heavier weight and then a heavier weight and then a heavier weight. 00:12:08.000 --> 00:12:12.639 And that is actually what grows it is the resistance of it. 00:12:13.039 --> 00:12:15.440 And so you are responsible to grow your faith. 00:12:15.519 --> 00:12:17.200 And it doesn't matter if you have a little bit of faith. 00:12:17.360 --> 00:12:22.480 The Bible says the faith, the size of a Mutzer seed, can say to this mountain, be moved, and it'll be moved. 00:12:23.120 --> 00:12:24.720 So God has given you faith. 00:12:24.879 --> 00:12:28.399 Your job is to embrace the growing of that faith. 00:12:28.639 --> 00:12:35.519 And so if your best days are your faith-filled days, then what do we got to know about a growing faith? 00:12:35.919 --> 00:12:37.200 And a faith that is on fire. 00:12:37.279 --> 00:12:44.480 I want to share with you four things that I think we learned from Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego from Daniel chapter three. 00:12:44.639 --> 00:12:47.120 If you've been around the Bible, you may be familiar with this story. 00:12:47.279 --> 00:12:49.039 If not, it's a fascinating story. 00:12:49.200 --> 00:12:50.879 Daniel chapter 3 in the Old Testament. 00:12:51.039 --> 00:12:52.799 If you have a copy of the scriptures, you can turn there. 00:12:52.960 --> 00:12:54.399 If not, it'll be on the screen. 00:12:54.559 --> 00:12:59.600 It says this in verse 4 of Daniel chapter 3. 00:12:59.679 --> 00:13:07.200 It said, King Nebuchadnezzar has created this golden image, and he's about to make everybody bow down to it. 00:13:07.279 --> 00:13:08.159 And this is what we're reading. 00:13:08.240 --> 00:13:15.279 It said, Then the herald loudly proclaimed, This is what you are commanded to do, O peoples, nations, and men of every language. 00:13:15.440 --> 00:13:22.080 So no matter who you are, as soon as you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, heart, pipes, and all kinds. 00:13:22.320 --> 00:13:28.159 So when the band starts playing, you must fall down and worship the image of gold that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up. 00:13:28.320 --> 00:13:34.720 And whoever does not fall down and worship will immediately be thrown into a blazing furnace. 00:13:34.879 --> 00:13:36.000 So here's the picture. 00:13:40.159 --> 00:13:45.360 King Nebuchadnezzar has said, you've got to bow down to this golden image, this false God. 00:13:45.440 --> 00:13:49.360 And whoever doesn't bow down, they're going to be thrown into the flames. 00:13:49.519 --> 00:13:51.600 So it's either bow or die. 00:13:52.159 --> 00:13:53.600 That's the choices. 00:13:53.840 --> 00:14:04.320 And so you have these three Hebrew boys, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abendigo, and they decide, because we serve the one true living God, we're not going to bow down to any golden image. 00:14:04.480 --> 00:14:09.039 And so they get brought before the king. 00:14:09.200 --> 00:14:12.879 And the Bible says this in verse 12 of Daniel chapter 3. 00:14:12.960 --> 00:14:17.840 It says, But there are some Jews whom you have set over the affairs of the province of Babylon. 00:14:17.919 --> 00:14:18.639 So time out. 00:14:18.799 --> 00:14:25.440 They had been brought, Israel's in exile, they had been brought into Babylon, but they had been given positions of authority. 00:14:25.600 --> 00:14:28.480 So these weren't just somebody on the fringe of the crowd. 00:14:28.559 --> 00:14:31.440 These were leaders, these were influential people. 00:14:31.679 --> 00:14:35.600 And it says, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who pay no attention to you, O king. 00:14:35.759 --> 00:14:39.840 They neither serve your gods nor worship the image of gold you have set up. 00:14:40.080 --> 00:14:45.039 Furious with rage, Nebuchadnezzar summoned Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. 00:14:45.200 --> 00:14:48.399 So these men were brought before the king. 00:14:48.639 --> 00:14:54.559 Thought number one for a growing faith is this a growing faith expects opposition. 00:14:56.159 --> 00:14:57.679 You gotta know this. 00:14:58.320 --> 00:15:02.240 If you're gonna grow your faith, expect opposition. 00:15:03.039 --> 00:15:06.879 Expect for resistance to come into your life. 00:15:07.120 --> 00:15:10.080 These boys, they had to expect opposition. 00:15:10.480 --> 00:15:16.080 They knew if we don't bow, we're gonna be brought for the king and thrown into the furnace. 00:15:16.240 --> 00:15:18.799 And so there's an expectation of opposition. 00:15:18.960 --> 00:15:25.440 Can I tell you though, the danger of opposition is opposition can get us so narrow-minded and myopic. 00:15:25.919 --> 00:15:29.039 Opposition can cause us to think, this is only happening to me. 00:15:29.120 --> 00:15:30.720 I'm the only one going through this. 00:15:30.879 --> 00:15:34.399 We can begin to say things like, God, why are you doing this to me? 00:15:35.360 --> 00:15:36.960 It's like Elijah. 00:15:37.200 --> 00:15:40.000 He thinks that there, he's, he's like, I'm the only prophet left. 00:15:40.080 --> 00:15:42.000 I'm the only one in the whole nation serving God. 00:15:42.080 --> 00:15:44.240 And God's like, chill out, Elijah. 00:15:44.320 --> 00:15:46.720 I've got 7,000 people that still bow their knee to Jesus. 00:15:47.519 --> 00:15:51.120 So we can get so myopic and think, God, why are you doing this to me? 00:15:51.279 --> 00:15:59.919 And I would propose that God isn't doing it to you, but God will leverage it if you'll allow Him for your good and for your benefit. 00:16:00.799 --> 00:16:01.840 Have you ever noticed this? 00:16:01.919 --> 00:16:08.399 Maybe you've been walking with Jesus enough to know this, that the moment you decide to go all in, like I'm not gonna have a languishing faith. 00:16:08.480 --> 00:16:12.320 I'm just not gonna do like church on the weekend, just check the box and do the things. 00:16:12.480 --> 00:16:15.840 We're in, you know, South, that's what we go through, is how we do it. 00:16:16.399 --> 00:16:19.840 And then you just something happens and you go, Man, I'm going all in with God. 00:16:20.000 --> 00:16:27.440 And maybe you start serving and you're reading your Bible daily and you're praying, and you begin returning the tithe that belongs to God, and you go all in. 00:16:27.600 --> 00:16:33.679 Have you ever noticed that the moment you start going all in for God, it seems like everything starts to push against you? 00:16:34.399 --> 00:16:40.639 Because do you think that for a moment that the enemy wants you to move from a three-star review to a five-star review? 00:16:40.960 --> 00:16:45.120 Like, do you really think he's gonna set back and be like, that's amazing? 00:16:45.360 --> 00:16:46.879 I'm so proud of you. 00:16:47.039 --> 00:16:53.279 You're like loving God more, you're serving others, you're forgiving and not holding bitterness. 00:16:53.919 --> 00:16:54.240 No. 00:16:54.879 --> 00:17:01.039 The moment you begin to get all in and lean into God, the enemy is definitely gonna push against you. 00:17:01.200 --> 00:17:08.000 But here's what the Bible says: that what the enemy means for evil in your life, God means for good in your life. 00:17:08.160 --> 00:17:12.000 Paul told us in Romans, we're gonna clap, let's all clap, all right. 00:17:15.839 --> 00:17:17.279 Honestly, it's been a year. 00:17:17.440 --> 00:17:18.880 We should know that by now. 00:17:19.200 --> 00:17:21.039 If some of us are gonna clap, we all clap. 00:17:21.279 --> 00:17:22.079 Okay, just say. 00:17:22.480 --> 00:17:29.599 Paul said in Romans that God has a way of working all things together for the good of those who love him and are the called according to his purpose. 00:17:29.759 --> 00:17:35.759 He didn't say God works all the good things, said he works all of them if we'll allow him. 00:17:36.319 --> 00:17:42.319 But too many times opposition hits, and instead of pressing in, we back off. 00:17:43.200 --> 00:17:45.279 And go, I I didn't want this. 00:17:45.359 --> 00:17:47.759 I this is a straw, I didn't want this challenge. 00:17:47.920 --> 00:17:54.319 But I'm telling you that if you lean in, it is actually the opposition that is growing the muscle of faith in you. 00:17:54.880 --> 00:17:56.400 Let me just illustrate it this way. 00:17:56.559 --> 00:18:04.319 Whenever I was doing a lot of races, I was running a couple marathons, half marathons, tons of 10Ks, 5K's, all that. 00:18:04.960 --> 00:18:09.680 And in one race, I was actually running at Disney. 00:18:10.000 --> 00:18:11.359 Running a half marathon. 00:18:11.440 --> 00:18:17.440 I'd just come through the Magic Kingdom, taking a left, going out the backside of it. 00:18:17.680 --> 00:18:24.000 And I felt something down this IT band, I felt it a pain just shoot from my hip to my kneecap. 00:18:24.799 --> 00:18:29.599 So I walked from it and then I tried to run again and it just wouldn't go, and tried to run again, and it just wouldn't go. 00:18:29.759 --> 00:18:32.079 So I I was like, I'm finishing. 00:18:32.319 --> 00:18:35.200 And if you if you're not fast enough, they have a bus that picks you up. 00:18:35.279 --> 00:18:37.200 I was like, that bus will not get me. 00:18:38.400 --> 00:18:40.319 Because they got to clear you out to open the park. 00:18:40.480 --> 00:18:43.279 So I was like, this I am not getting picked up by this bus. 00:18:43.920 --> 00:18:48.880 And so I I hobbled, ran the rest of it, and made it across the finish line. 00:18:48.960 --> 00:18:53.599 We got back, and anytime I got over three miles, my IT band would flare again. 00:18:53.759 --> 00:18:55.359 And I just I couldn't do it. 00:18:55.599 --> 00:18:58.559 Every time, anytime I ran three miles, flare up again. 00:18:58.799 --> 00:19:03.200 So I finally went to a physical therapist and athletic trainer, and I was like, hey, this is what's going on. 00:19:03.359 --> 00:19:05.920 And he's like, Well, it's because we got to strengthen your IT band. 00:19:06.000 --> 00:19:08.880 So we got to get the inflammation down and we got to strengthen your IT band. 00:19:08.960 --> 00:19:10.160 And he goes, Here's how we're gonna do it. 00:19:10.319 --> 00:19:11.759 We're gonna teach you to run a different way. 00:19:11.920 --> 00:19:14.000 So I had to relearn how I run. 00:19:14.400 --> 00:19:16.559 And then he said, I'm gonna give you this band. 00:19:16.880 --> 00:19:20.720 And the band, everybody, when it wasn't stressed, was about this big around. 00:19:22.079 --> 00:19:28.880 He said, You're gonna pull that up over both of your legs, and then I want you to squat, and I want you to do this. 00:19:29.839 --> 00:19:33.599 And he would just make me do this and the pain, everybody. 00:19:33.759 --> 00:19:35.599 I was like, What are you doing to me? 00:19:35.920 --> 00:19:37.680 He's like, No, I'm helping you. 00:19:38.880 --> 00:19:45.759 You know what I learned though is the physical therapist wasn't targeting my pain, he was targeting my weakness to get rid of the pain. 00:19:47.279 --> 00:19:48.400 And can I tell you something? 00:19:48.480 --> 00:19:55.680 That when God is wanting to grow your faith, he will use opposition in your life, and he's not targeting your pain, he's targeting your weakness. 00:19:55.920 --> 00:20:01.519 Because if he can strengthen that muscle of faith in your life, it'll reduce the pain in your life. 00:20:01.759 --> 00:20:07.359 And a lot of us are like, God, we're praying, God take the pain away, God stop the issue, God fix the thing. 00:20:07.519 --> 00:20:15.519 And some guys, God, in a miracle moment, does it in your life, but a lot of times God will give you a band and go, I need you to squat and I need you to do some side. 00:20:15.839 --> 00:20:23.119 I need to strengthen the weak area of your faith so that you can handle what is coming down the road in your life. 00:20:23.279 --> 00:20:26.640 Can I tell you, God knows your life beginning to end? 00:20:28.720 --> 00:20:33.119 God stands outside of time and eternity and sees your life beginning to end. 00:20:33.200 --> 00:20:36.799 So he saw the day you were born, the day you would die at the same time. 00:20:37.440 --> 00:20:49.680 And so, do you not think that God knows what is coming next month in your life, next year in your life, three years from your life, and a good, good father, which he is, prepares his children in advance. 00:20:49.920 --> 00:20:58.319 So it could be that the fire you are walking through right now is developing a muscle of faith in you that you are gonna need in 2028. 00:20:58.400 --> 00:21:02.079 And God is going, I see what's coming, I'm gonna get them ready now. 00:21:02.160 --> 00:21:15.039 But some of us were jumping out and resisting it instead of leaning into it, and so we continue to not get progress, we continue to languish, and it's the same thing over and over. 00:21:15.200 --> 00:21:20.400 And there's no passion in our relationship with God, there's no fire in our faith. 00:21:21.519 --> 00:21:26.799 Could it be because we've stepped back instead of leaned in? 00:21:27.920 --> 00:21:38.480 Or maybe we thought following Jesus was blessings and all blessings and fairy tales and roses. 00:21:39.519 --> 00:21:42.319 We just wanted long hair, flowy Jesus. 00:21:42.960 --> 00:21:44.160 Bless your children. 00:21:44.720 --> 00:21:46.559 God's good all the time. 00:21:48.799 --> 00:21:56.000 No, he didn't promise to remove the fire, he just said, I'll show up in the fire when you're in it. 00:21:57.359 --> 00:22:06.000 Verse 16 says this says That Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego replied to the king of Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. 00:22:07.599 --> 00:22:17.119 If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O King. 00:22:17.680 --> 00:22:26.319 But even if he does not, we want you to know, O King, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up. 00:22:26.559 --> 00:22:27.519 Thought number two. 00:22:28.079 --> 00:22:31.839 A faith on fire is one that establishes convictions. 00:22:35.200 --> 00:22:38.720 These young boys, they were teenagers most likely at the time. 00:22:39.680 --> 00:22:49.200 These young boys, you can tell from what they said, they had already established in their heart before they ever got in front of the king, this is what we are holding fast to. 00:22:50.240 --> 00:22:53.359 We are holding firm to some things before we can I tell you something. 00:22:54.480 --> 00:23:00.000 When you're standing at the door of the fire, that's not the time to figure out whether or not you believe God is who he said he is. 00:23:01.440 --> 00:23:15.440 When you're about to be tossed in it, that's not the time to wonder, do you believe that he's the God that can move mountains and split waters and can take down a Goliath and can open blinded eyes and can cause a resurrection to happen in the life of a dead man? 00:23:15.599 --> 00:23:16.400 That is not the time. 00:23:16.559 --> 00:23:19.599 You've got to establish some things before you get into the fire. 00:23:19.839 --> 00:23:24.960 And these boys that already established, and you see it in the verse that said, Oh King, don't worry about us. 00:23:25.200 --> 00:23:26.799 Our God is able. 00:23:27.599 --> 00:23:29.680 And you have to settle that in your heart. 00:23:29.920 --> 00:23:31.119 Is God able? 00:23:31.279 --> 00:23:43.119 Is he just a good luck charm, a trinket, uh, an add-on to your life, or is he God Almighty, the one who spoke the earth into existence and all the universe and galaxies? 00:23:43.279 --> 00:23:46.640 That he is the God that breathed into dirt and created Adam. 00:23:46.799 --> 00:23:50.640 He is the God that took a rib out of Adam and created woman. 00:23:50.799 --> 00:24:08.720 He is the God that caused the Red Sea to part for the nation of Israel, but water out of a rock, that he is the God that took down Goliath with the little stone and a sling, that he is the God that caused Jesus to get out of the tomb and come alive again, proving that he is the Son of God. 00:24:08.799 --> 00:24:23.279 And he is not just he didn't stop in the tomb, but that he built a church in the book of Acts, full of the power and the fire and the presence of God that now, thousands of years later, we are beneficiaries of our God is well able. 00:24:23.759 --> 00:24:25.839 You've got to settle that in your heart. 00:24:29.279 --> 00:24:33.279 You've got to have your feet in concrete on that. 00:24:34.480 --> 00:24:36.480 Because the winds will blow. 00:24:37.119 --> 00:24:39.039 I thought this was about our best days. 00:24:39.200 --> 00:24:40.799 That's all encouraging. 00:24:41.039 --> 00:24:43.599 Your best days are your faith-filled days. 00:24:44.079 --> 00:24:47.839 Because your faith-filled days can take an awful day and make it your best day. 00:24:48.160 --> 00:24:51.839 Because you have the strength of God on the inside of you in the middle of it. 00:24:52.079 --> 00:24:56.559 They said he's well able, but I want you to know what they said next because they didn't stop there. 00:24:58.160 --> 00:25:04.720 And I think this is so important to point out because some of us we want to have an only if faith. 00:25:05.759 --> 00:25:11.119 Our God is well able, parentheses, only if he spares us out of the furnace. 00:25:11.440 --> 00:25:14.319 But these young boys had an even-if faith. 00:25:14.640 --> 00:25:22.960 They said, Oh, King, we want you to know our God is able, but if he makes a different choice, we still won't bow before your gods. 00:25:23.519 --> 00:25:26.240 And only if faith is a transactional faith. 00:25:26.480 --> 00:25:29.519 God, if you cause the deal to go through, I'll keep worshiping you. 00:25:29.680 --> 00:25:32.000 If you heal my body, I'll keep honoring you. 00:25:32.240 --> 00:25:35.359 God, I'll keep attending church if you make this happen for me. 00:25:35.519 --> 00:25:38.400 God, I'll keep doing this if my kid would come back to you. 00:25:38.799 --> 00:25:40.720 I'll keep that's a transactional faith. 00:25:40.880 --> 00:25:41.920 If you do this, I'll do that. 00:25:42.000 --> 00:25:44.720 And if you do this, if you scratch my back, God, I'll scratch yours. 00:25:44.880 --> 00:25:47.680 Can I tell you, God isn't in the back scratching business. 00:25:47.920 --> 00:25:50.319 He is God Almighty and we are not. 00:25:50.559 --> 00:25:53.279 That He is king of the universe and we are not. 00:25:53.440 --> 00:25:56.000 We are His subjects, His servants. 00:25:56.720 --> 00:26:03.839 These boys said we serve God regardless, and even if He doesn't spare us, we're not bowing. 00:26:04.079 --> 00:26:07.279 Even if it doesn't turn out the way I want, I'm not bowing. 00:26:07.440 --> 00:26:12.319 I think the world needs some even if Christians that are like, I'm staying in the fight. 00:26:12.400 --> 00:26:15.759 If I end up in the fire, I know he'll be with me in the fire. 00:26:15.920 --> 00:26:25.039 But even if I'm gonna keep serving, I'm gonna keep praying, I'm gonna keep giving, I'm gonna keep reading my word, I'm gonna keep being a light to those around me. 00:26:25.200 --> 00:26:27.440 I'm not giving up, I'm not backing down. 00:26:27.599 --> 00:26:30.559 Come on, do I got an even if kind of people today? 00:26:30.799 --> 00:26:33.519 I've got an even if faith, not an only if. 00:26:34.880 --> 00:26:38.960 This is the God that we serve, and this is what he deserves. 00:26:39.200 --> 00:26:41.680 That we'd settle some things in our heart. 00:26:42.000 --> 00:26:49.119 Settle some convictions and go, come, they say it in Tennessee where I grew up, come hell or high water. 00:26:50.079 --> 00:26:52.000 I don't even know what that means. 00:26:52.960 --> 00:26:54.319 I just know it's bad. 00:26:54.480 --> 00:26:57.599 I know hell's bad, and I know water isn't good if it floods your house. 00:26:57.839 --> 00:26:58.960 I'm figuring. 00:27:00.160 --> 00:27:06.240 In other words, whatever life throws at me, I've settled some things in my heart. 00:27:07.119 --> 00:27:11.279 Even if I think about Job. 00:27:12.000 --> 00:27:15.440 Even if he slay me, yet will I serve him? 00:27:15.920 --> 00:27:17.519 I think about Habakkuk. 00:27:18.160 --> 00:27:22.480 No fruit on the fig tree, no produce, no crop, no provision. 00:27:22.720 --> 00:27:25.680 Yet I will rejoice in the Lord. 00:27:26.720 --> 00:27:32.319 I think about Horatio Spafford, 19, 1873. 00:27:33.200 --> 00:27:37.200 Horatio Spafford is living in America with his family and four daughters. 00:27:37.440 --> 00:27:43.519 He puts his wife and his four daughters on a boat to go across the pond to London. 00:27:44.799 --> 00:27:48.720 That vessel collides with another vessel, his four daughters die. 00:27:50.400 --> 00:27:56.000 His wife sends him a telegram that says this saved alone. 00:27:56.960 --> 00:27:58.960 She's the only one that made it. 00:28:00.000 --> 00:28:05.680 Horatio Spafford would soon after get on a boat and make his way to London. 00:28:06.720 --> 00:28:14.160 And he would get over the part of the water, he would ask them, Tell me where the vessel went down, where are my daughters' bodies? 00:28:15.200 --> 00:28:18.160 And over that he would write these words. 00:28:18.480 --> 00:28:19.599 This hymn. 00:28:34.960 --> 00:28:48.480 Whatever my life thou hast taught me to say it is well, it is well. 00:28:53.440 --> 00:28:55.200 That's even if faith. 00:28:56.319 --> 00:28:57.359 Not only if. 00:29:09.200 --> 00:29:10.000 Not only if. 00:29:14.000 --> 00:29:20.960 The scripture goes on to tell us that then Nebuchadnezzar was furious because they didn't bow and because of what they said. 00:29:22.960 --> 00:29:28.319 And Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, and his attitude toward them changed because they did have favor with him. 00:29:28.480 --> 00:29:31.039 That's how they got the positions in government they had. 00:29:31.839 --> 00:29:36.160 So he ordered the furnace heated seven times hotter than usual. 00:29:36.799 --> 00:29:45.759 And commanded some of the strongest soldiers in his army to tie up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego and throw them into the blazing furnace. 00:29:45.920 --> 00:29:47.599 Let me say this quickly. 00:29:48.000 --> 00:29:54.880 Number three: a growing, a growing faith, a faith on fire in trust outcomes. 00:29:57.279 --> 00:30:00.319 In other words, I love the quote by Dr. 00:30:00.400 --> 00:30:01.680 Charles Stanley, the late Dr. 00:30:01.759 --> 00:30:04.880 Charles Stanley, the pastor of First Baptist Church in Atlanta. 00:30:05.039 --> 00:30:05.920 He would say this all the time. 00:30:06.079 --> 00:30:10.480 Maybe his most famous quote, obey God and leave all the consequences to him. 00:30:12.559 --> 00:30:14.480 That's the heart of this thought. 00:30:14.799 --> 00:30:23.440 Is that a growing faith, a faith that on fire just goes, God, I'll obey you, and however it turns out, I leave all the consequences to you. 00:30:23.839 --> 00:30:31.920 I just know my job is to trust you, to be faithful to you, and to walk with you, and you take care of the consequences. 00:30:33.200 --> 00:30:34.880 I had this thought too, though. 00:30:36.799 --> 00:30:46.880 Maybe the text doesn't tell us, this is speculation, but just maybe they could entrust outcomes and they had the strength to stand because they stood together. 00:30:48.799 --> 00:30:53.519 How many of you know it's hard when everybody's bowing and you're standing alone? 00:30:55.039 --> 00:30:56.079 There were three of them. 00:30:56.400 --> 00:30:57.519