WEBVTT 00:00:00.320 --> 00:00:04.480 One church family, I'm so honored to be back with you guys. 00:00:04.639 --> 00:00:10.320 Um, this is my third time, third time at one church, third time in Ohio. 00:00:11.039 --> 00:00:18.399 And um, so the you know, the first time I I come visit a church, and uh it's kind of like we're we're testing this thing out. 00:00:18.480 --> 00:00:20.399 Let's see if we like you. 00:00:20.800 --> 00:00:24.960 You know, you come back, it's like, hey, we're we're friends now, we're cool. 00:00:25.120 --> 00:00:35.840 But if you ask me to come back a third time, we we family, like I'm walking in your house, opening the refrigerator, I'm getting my own bottle of water. 00:00:36.159 --> 00:00:37.679 You know, I'm I'm gonna feel like home. 00:00:37.759 --> 00:00:40.159 In my home today, in my home, home today. 00:00:40.479 --> 00:00:41.119 All right. 00:00:41.840 --> 00:00:48.479 Now, before um I open up God's word, uh, we do have to just take a moment and say thank God for our pastors here. 00:00:48.560 --> 00:00:51.520 Can we thank God for Pastor Greg and uh Shaylin? 00:00:51.679 --> 00:00:59.359 I mean, uh you guys just celebrating your 15-year anniversary this year in the 16th year of ministry. 00:00:59.520 --> 00:01:07.599 God has been so faithful uh to have a pastor of integrity uh that preaches with passion, that's faithful. 00:01:07.840 --> 00:01:12.319 Uh I believe, like when I watch Pastor Greg's message, I'm like, he's like a philosopher. 00:01:12.480 --> 00:01:16.239 Like he just gives me a picture of a way to see the world. 00:01:16.319 --> 00:01:17.599 And I got a question. 00:01:17.680 --> 00:01:19.519 Um, do you do you pray for your pastor? 00:01:19.680 --> 00:01:21.439 Do you do you pray for them? 00:01:21.599 --> 00:01:23.280 Do you hold their arms up? 00:01:23.359 --> 00:01:25.519 Um in order to see God continue to move. 00:01:25.599 --> 00:01:27.680 They're gonna need people that are gonna hold their arms up. 00:01:27.840 --> 00:01:30.879 You look around, see all of the building construction going on. 00:01:31.120 --> 00:01:32.400 God is moving. 00:01:32.560 --> 00:01:38.159 This is good ground, and I'm so honored, so honored to be able to hold his arms up preaching today. 00:01:38.319 --> 00:01:43.680 Now, uh, one of my customs, um, I'd love if we all could just stand for the reading of God's word. 00:01:44.000 --> 00:01:45.920 Uh, there are two scriptures I want to read. 00:01:46.000 --> 00:01:47.599 You won't be standing long. 00:01:47.840 --> 00:01:51.200 Um, if you decide to get up here in a couple minutes, that's up to you. 00:01:51.359 --> 00:01:54.719 If you get happy and uh want to stand up again, you can. 00:01:54.799 --> 00:01:56.959 Uh, but we're gonna read um two verses. 00:01:57.040 --> 00:01:58.959 Um, one verse from the New Testament. 00:01:59.040 --> 00:02:02.239 I'm gonna read a statement uh that Jesus made. 00:02:02.400 --> 00:02:08.639 And then uh we're gonna go back to the Old Testament in 2 Samuel and read a story uh from King David's life. 00:02:08.719 --> 00:02:11.439 And I believe that that God's gonna minister through this. 00:02:11.520 --> 00:02:15.120 Um we're gonna start at John chapter 10, verse 10. 00:02:15.280 --> 00:02:18.800 Um, you'll see the scriptures on the screen. 00:02:19.039 --> 00:02:22.800 Common verse right here, but I believe God's gonna minister to you through it. 00:02:22.879 --> 00:02:30.879 Here's what it says the thief comes only to steal, kill, and destroy. 00:02:31.120 --> 00:02:32.879 What does a thief do? 00:02:33.520 --> 00:02:36.879 Steal, kill and destroy. 00:02:37.120 --> 00:02:38.639 The only thing. 00:02:39.439 --> 00:02:43.919 The thief comes only to steal, kill and destroy. 00:02:44.080 --> 00:02:45.599 That's what he does. 00:02:45.919 --> 00:02:47.599 But I love the second part of this verse. 00:02:47.680 --> 00:02:48.479 What does Jesus do? 00:02:48.560 --> 00:02:53.840 He said, But I have come that they may have life and have it to the full. 00:02:54.080 --> 00:03:00.560 While the thief comes to steal, I come that you may have life and that you may have it to the full. 00:03:00.800 --> 00:03:02.800 That verse blesses me all by itself. 00:03:02.960 --> 00:03:08.479 Let's unpack it and set that as a foundation for this story in 2 Samuel. 00:03:08.560 --> 00:03:10.719 Let's go to 2 Samuel chapter 5. 00:03:10.879 --> 00:03:13.520 Um, I'm just gonna read verse 17 right now. 00:03:13.680 --> 00:03:23.759 And here's what it says it says, When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king over Israel, they went up in full force to search for him. 00:03:24.159 --> 00:03:28.159 But David heard about it and went down to the stronghold. 00:03:28.319 --> 00:03:32.159 Uh the title of my message today is Hold on to it. 00:03:32.319 --> 00:03:34.319 Tell your neighbor, say, Hold on to it. 00:03:34.639 --> 00:03:35.680 Hold on to it. 00:03:35.840 --> 00:03:37.360 Let me pray a blessing over you. 00:03:37.520 --> 00:03:38.719 Uh Jesus, we love you. 00:03:38.960 --> 00:03:39.439 We thank you. 00:03:39.520 --> 00:03:41.360 You're a good God, you're a faithful God. 00:03:41.680 --> 00:03:44.960 God, I pray that you would encourage who needs to be encouraged today. 00:03:45.840 --> 00:03:47.840 You would strengthen who needs to be strengthened. 00:03:48.400 --> 00:03:50.800 That those that need to be refreshed would be refreshed. 00:03:51.439 --> 00:03:55.919 God, I pray that as I preach and do my best to communicate what you've given me. 00:03:56.159 --> 00:03:59.439 God, I pray that as word leave my mouth, you would snatch them. 00:03:59.599 --> 00:04:03.439 You would add your power, you add your love, your grace, your mercy. 00:04:03.520 --> 00:04:10.319 And by the time it hits the hearts of your sons and daughters, God, it would have power that could change their lives. 00:04:10.560 --> 00:04:12.400 And God, we love you, we thank you. 00:04:12.560 --> 00:04:16.240 And it's in the mighty name of Jesus I pray, Amen, amen. 00:04:16.399 --> 00:04:23.040 Now, before you take your seat, introduce yourself, give your neighbor a hug, tell them welcome to church, tell them welcome to church. 00:04:34.240 --> 00:04:36.399 I saw some extended hugs. 00:04:37.920 --> 00:04:40.959 Somebody sitting next to a cute girl said, Thank you. 00:04:41.920 --> 00:04:42.399 Thank you. 00:04:42.560 --> 00:04:44.000 I was holding on tightly. 00:04:44.079 --> 00:04:46.639 You said hold, hold on to it. 00:04:47.360 --> 00:04:49.120 I appreciate you. 00:04:50.800 --> 00:04:58.319 Um I'm gonna start with uh just a little quick story about the last time I played football. 00:04:58.800 --> 00:05:00.720 The last time I played football. 00:05:00.879 --> 00:05:09.360 I was in eighth grade and I was a tight end, and uh we're in the scrimmage, and so I line up and we're gonna do a play where it was just a slant route. 00:05:09.519 --> 00:05:17.360 Um so I line up as a tight end, and you know, I give my defender a little shimmy, just a little, just a little something. 00:05:17.839 --> 00:05:20.639 And I I go across the field for my route. 00:05:20.720 --> 00:05:23.920 Now the quarterback throws a dart right here, right on time. 00:05:24.079 --> 00:05:27.040 I catch it, and I think it's show time. 00:05:27.680 --> 00:05:29.759 I catch the ball, I think it's show time. 00:05:30.000 --> 00:05:32.720 But little did I know it was about to be lights out. 00:05:34.079 --> 00:05:39.199 Because right after I catch the ball, I get hit so hard. 00:05:39.519 --> 00:05:43.279 I I mean, so hard, I break two bones in my leg. 00:05:44.079 --> 00:05:45.519 I'm laid out. 00:05:46.000 --> 00:05:58.639 Now, eventually I start to come back to, and I see the you know, the the birds going in in circles, and and and I realized something when I was coming to. 00:05:59.120 --> 00:06:00.959 I still had the ball. 00:06:05.519 --> 00:06:12.959 Now, here's the thing when you catch the ball on the football field, you are now the most dangerous person on the football field. 00:06:13.199 --> 00:06:20.560 Do I have anybody in the room that's anointed, that's blessed, that's got favor, that God's hand is on your life? 00:06:20.800 --> 00:06:27.439 And when that is true, I want you to understand that the enemy now puts a target on your back. 00:06:28.000 --> 00:06:36.160 There's a thief that's made a decision to say, I am a thief, so I've come to steal, kill, and destroy. 00:06:36.319 --> 00:06:42.240 He wants nothing more than to take what heaven has given to you. 00:06:42.319 --> 00:07:00.399 I want to let somebody in the room know that hell isn't happy, that heaven opened up and blessed you, hell isn't happy, that heaven opened up and anointed you, hell isn't happy in the enemy, the thief, he comes steal, kill, and destroy. 00:07:00.480 --> 00:07:08.879 And my question is at the end of your life, at the end of this season, will you still be holding on to what God gave you? 00:07:09.519 --> 00:07:14.000 Will you still be walking in his favor, in his peace, in his blessing? 00:07:14.079 --> 00:07:29.360 Now, now, many of you maybe you're new to the faith, and uh maybe you gave your life to Christ, you got baptized, and maybe you were thinking everything was gonna be like walking on clouds, that it was just gonna be rainbows and butterflies. 00:07:29.519 --> 00:07:33.279 And uh I just wanted to let you know if that's what you've heard. 00:07:33.360 --> 00:07:46.079 Um, no, the enemy is mad, he's mad that hell has been robbed, and so now he's the thief that says, I want to come and take what the that what the Lord has blessed you with. 00:07:46.160 --> 00:07:48.480 And so today I want to help you. 00:07:48.720 --> 00:07:58.160 I want to help someone to be able to recognize one that the reason why he's after you is because you're blessed, because you are anointed. 00:07:58.480 --> 00:08:03.759 He knows that because you're saved, your family now could be saved through your testimony. 00:08:04.000 --> 00:08:13.360 He recognizes that your school could be turned upside down because you know Jesus, and so he wants to do nothing more than to take it from you. 00:08:13.519 --> 00:08:15.600 But I want to help you hold on to it. 00:08:15.680 --> 00:08:17.839 Tell your neighbors, hey, I'm gonna hold on to it. 00:08:18.079 --> 00:08:20.800 I'm not gonna let the enemy just steal from me. 00:08:20.959 --> 00:08:22.639 I'm gonna hold on to it. 00:08:22.800 --> 00:08:26.879 And so that's why I love studying uh David's story. 00:08:27.040 --> 00:08:31.839 You see, what we just read is when David was anointed king over all of Israel. 00:08:32.080 --> 00:08:36.559 And now David had actually been anointed king three times in his journey. 00:08:36.720 --> 00:08:38.480 What we read was the third time. 00:08:38.720 --> 00:08:45.600 The first time David was anointed to be king of Israel, he was a little boy, he's about 13 to 15 years old. 00:08:45.840 --> 00:08:54.399 Uh Samuel comes to find and anoint the new king of Israel, and his dad, Jesse, lines up all of his son and leaves David out. 00:08:54.879 --> 00:08:57.200 Samuel goes through and goes through all of the brothers. 00:08:57.360 --> 00:09:00.159 He says, Neither one of these the God has chosen. 00:09:00.399 --> 00:09:01.440 God hasn't anointed. 00:09:01.600 --> 00:09:02.960 Who is who you got another one? 00:09:03.120 --> 00:09:03.840 You got another son? 00:09:04.000 --> 00:09:05.200 He says, Yeah, I got David. 00:09:05.279 --> 00:09:07.120 He's out in the back taking care of the sheep. 00:09:07.360 --> 00:09:13.600 So David comes out as a little boy, and and and God says, This is the one, and Samuel anoints him. 00:09:13.840 --> 00:09:17.919 The second time is, you know, David's actually on the run for his life. 00:09:18.080 --> 00:09:27.360 Uh, he's out running, he's hiding in caves, and he knows that he's anointed to be king, but uh he's not attacking Saul because that's God's anointed as well. 00:09:27.519 --> 00:09:30.240 So it's this interesting in-between season. 00:09:30.399 --> 00:09:38.480 Now people start following David, he's building up military strength, and people are following him, and he ends up becoming the king of Judah. 00:09:38.639 --> 00:09:44.000 So now he's leading one of the tribes of Israel, and so there's some civil unrest. 00:09:44.320 --> 00:09:53.120 Now, the last time that he's anointed is the time that we just read, where now he gets anointed to be king over all of Israel, the whole tribe, every single tribe he's leading now. 00:09:53.440 --> 00:09:57.039 Now, as I was studying this, I noticed an interesting trend. 00:09:57.840 --> 00:10:01.759 Immediately following the anointing, there was an attack. 00:10:04.080 --> 00:10:08.720 Every time David was anointed, there was an attack. 00:10:08.960 --> 00:10:11.120 The first time is the most famous. 00:10:11.440 --> 00:10:23.679 He comes to deliver some cheese and some bread to his brothers, and Goliath is out shouting to the children of Israel, their army, and David defeats him with a slingshot and a stone. 00:10:24.080 --> 00:10:33.919 The second time was when there's this civil unrest, there's like civil war breaking out because part of Israel wants to follow David, and there's still people that are loyal to Saul. 00:10:34.159 --> 00:10:40.559 And so Saul's people come down and they pick a battle, they attack David's people, and and David's people win. 00:10:40.879 --> 00:10:42.159 David continues to win. 00:10:42.320 --> 00:10:43.679 And then we come to this last one. 00:10:43.759 --> 00:10:47.600 This last one is when he gets anointed to be king over all of Israel. 00:10:47.840 --> 00:10:52.240 And what caught my attention immediately when you read this is what happens. 00:10:52.320 --> 00:10:54.000 Uh go at verse 17. 00:10:54.559 --> 00:11:02.559 When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king over Israel, they went up in full force to search for him. 00:11:02.799 --> 00:11:06.879 They heard that David was anointed and they said, It's time, we gotta go get him. 00:11:07.200 --> 00:11:09.440 We gotta go get him, we gotta go get him. 00:11:09.679 --> 00:11:13.759 And so in this moment, David hears that he's under attack. 00:11:13.840 --> 00:11:15.200 There's people that are coming to get him. 00:11:15.279 --> 00:11:17.600 The Philistine armies that they're on their way. 00:11:17.840 --> 00:11:22.879 Now, verse 18 says, Now the Philistines had come and spread out in the valley of Raphim. 00:11:23.120 --> 00:11:28.399 So David, David inquired of the Lord, Shall I go and attack the Philistines? 00:11:28.879 --> 00:11:32.399 There's something interesting that happens here at verse 17. 00:11:32.480 --> 00:11:34.799 If you if you caught it, I'm gonna make sure you see this. 00:11:34.960 --> 00:11:42.639 It says, When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king over Israel, listen to this, they went up in full force to search for him. 00:11:42.799 --> 00:11:47.279 But David heard about it and he went down to the stronghold. 00:11:48.159 --> 00:11:53.919 Uh, many, many of you, like, you know, if you heard somebody was talking about you, you don't go down, you go off. 00:11:55.360 --> 00:11:57.120 You, you, you go, you go off. 00:11:57.200 --> 00:12:00.639 You like, hey, I know they lay hands at church, but I throw hands. 00:12:00.879 --> 00:12:02.240 You you want to talk to me? 00:12:02.320 --> 00:12:04.240 Uh talk to find out. 00:12:04.799 --> 00:12:05.519 Find out. 00:12:05.759 --> 00:12:08.240 Uh so some of you, some of you is like, hey, no, no, no. 00:12:08.320 --> 00:12:11.039 If I heard they went up, I'm I'm going off. 00:12:11.360 --> 00:12:13.519 But David does something interesting. 00:12:13.840 --> 00:12:18.720 It says that David went went down, went down to the to the stronghold. 00:12:18.799 --> 00:12:20.320 Can I tell you about the stronghold? 00:12:20.639 --> 00:12:24.320 The shrunk, the stronghold is they believe it is the cave of Adulum. 00:12:24.480 --> 00:12:33.840 This is a cave that when he was he was running for his life, that he would go and he would hide out, he would seek the Lord, he would grab his generals and they would create strategies together. 00:12:34.080 --> 00:12:36.559 And so, what David's doing is he says, you know what? 00:12:36.799 --> 00:12:42.559 Before I go up to battle, I'm gonna go down and ask the Lord if he's blessing this fight. 00:12:43.840 --> 00:12:48.159 So here's what I want you to write down uh go down before you go up. 00:12:50.000 --> 00:12:51.840 Go down before you go up. 00:12:52.080 --> 00:12:55.919 Before you go out to battle, the attack is coming before you go out. 00:12:56.080 --> 00:13:00.399 Make sure you do something to strengthen your faith before you go out to fight. 00:13:00.960 --> 00:13:04.960 Make sure you go be in the presence of God to see what he wants to speak to you. 00:13:05.200 --> 00:13:09.039 Inquire of the Lord, what is it that you would have me to do? 00:13:09.919 --> 00:13:15.679 Some of us are fighting battles that God never blessed, and you're wondering why it's getting so bloody. 00:13:17.600 --> 00:13:20.639 You're wondering, you're wondering, you weren't supposed to be in that battle. 00:13:20.879 --> 00:13:27.840 Uh, King Jehosaphat is another king that we can read about in Chronicles, and and uh I believe it's 2 Chronicles, King Jehoshaphat. 00:13:28.000 --> 00:13:29.919 There's this battle that's starting to start to come. 00:13:30.000 --> 00:13:35.679 And God tells him, He says, Hey, you guys go up, get into positions, but you don't have to fight this battle. 00:13:35.840 --> 00:13:36.960 I got that one. 00:13:37.360 --> 00:13:43.519 There's some there's some battles that you run out to fight that God said, I would have taken care of for you, I would have taken care for you. 00:13:43.679 --> 00:13:48.480 And then some of you are jumping into other people's battles that God didn't grace you to fight. 00:13:50.240 --> 00:13:54.480 Go down before you go up. 00:13:55.200 --> 00:13:58.320 Uh I I I was convicted of this here recently. 00:13:58.480 --> 00:14:03.200 Uh last year, uh, my wife and I, we were we were blessed to go and start a journey of building a home. 00:14:03.360 --> 00:14:10.480 Uh, we were building a house, and uh, in order to finish the purchase of the house that we were building, we had to sell our current house. 00:14:10.799 --> 00:14:15.279 And so uh we put the house on the market, and let's just say it was moving slow. 00:14:16.960 --> 00:14:19.279 I'm talking sloth slow. 00:14:20.399 --> 00:14:29.120 Like, you know, like nobody's coming and you know, we've got the house repainted, all of this stuff to get the house on the market, and nobody's coming to see the house. 00:14:29.200 --> 00:14:31.679 And I'm watching the clock and looking at the calendar. 00:14:31.759 --> 00:14:34.720 I'm like, we gotta sell, we gotta sell this house. 00:14:34.879 --> 00:14:36.480 I'm starting to get stressed out. 00:14:36.559 --> 00:14:38.559 The dates getting closer, getting closer. 00:14:38.639 --> 00:14:40.080 And so I start strategizing. 00:14:40.159 --> 00:14:41.200 I'm like, what we gotta do? 00:14:41.279 --> 00:14:43.120 Let me get on Zillow myself. 00:14:43.440 --> 00:14:45.679 I'm talking to my real, why am I on Zillow? 00:14:45.759 --> 00:14:49.440 You supposed to be on Zillow, making sure this house gets sold. 00:14:49.759 --> 00:14:50.960 And I'm stressed out. 00:14:51.039 --> 00:14:52.000 I'm about to pull up my head. 00:14:52.159 --> 00:15:00.159 I'm like, I'm really like, I'm overwhelmed thinking because if this doesn't get done in time, it's gonna push back, it's gonna cost us this money, and this was just so I'm trying to figure out. 00:15:00.240 --> 00:15:03.200 I'm over here on the calculator trying to figure out what I'm gonna have to do. 00:15:03.279 --> 00:15:05.440 I if I have to pull money from this to do that, how's it? 00:15:05.600 --> 00:15:06.799 I'm stressed out. 00:15:08.080 --> 00:15:12.080 We have this uh this prayer night um at our church. 00:15:12.159 --> 00:15:13.919 Just it's just not a prayer. 00:15:14.159 --> 00:15:15.919 Uh just you know, no programming. 00:15:16.240 --> 00:15:18.799 Just people can come in and you can just pray to seek the Lord. 00:15:18.960 --> 00:15:26.720 Worship team will just be singing, and you can just come and pray God, I pray to God, just whether it's you're coming in with a grateful heart or you're coming in, you're sorrowful, whatever it is. 00:15:26.799 --> 00:15:28.080 You're just you're just coming in to pray. 00:15:28.399 --> 00:15:33.440 And I walked in and I felt like immediately the Holy Spirit was like, You never went down. 00:15:34.559 --> 00:15:37.440 You you didn't even ask me about this. 00:15:37.679 --> 00:15:39.519 You didn't even ask my help. 00:15:39.759 --> 00:15:43.679 You tried to do it in your own strength, you tried to do it in your own ability. 00:15:43.919 --> 00:15:45.600 Well, why why won't you just come to me? 00:15:45.679 --> 00:15:48.480 And so I began to just cry out to God, God, I'm sorry. 00:15:48.720 --> 00:15:51.360 I don't know why I'm trying to like, why do I keep being prideful? 00:15:51.440 --> 00:15:54.960 Trying to think that I got I got the smarts that I'm I'm strong enough for this. 00:15:55.039 --> 00:15:57.759 I need to remember, I need to go down before I go up. 00:15:58.000 --> 00:16:03.919 I I made a stronghold in that auditorium that day, just connecting to God, saying, God, I need you. 00:16:04.240 --> 00:16:06.159 God, and let your will be done. 00:16:06.399 --> 00:16:07.440 I know that I'm your son. 00:16:07.679 --> 00:16:08.559 I know that you love me. 00:16:08.639 --> 00:16:10.639 You want nothing more than to bless me. 00:16:10.879 --> 00:16:13.440 And so I inquired of the Lord, what do you want me to do? 00:16:13.600 --> 00:16:14.399 What do you want me to do? 00:16:14.559 --> 00:16:15.600 God, move in this place. 00:16:15.679 --> 00:16:16.799 I'm just asking. 00:16:16.960 --> 00:16:18.240 I'm I'm asking in. 00:16:18.559 --> 00:16:20.159 And that night I look at my phone. 00:16:20.320 --> 00:16:22.000 I got a call from my realtor. 00:16:24.159 --> 00:16:29.360 She says, she says, hey, hey, hey, I think I gotta, I think I gotta offer. 00:16:29.519 --> 00:16:31.360 I want an offer, I want a contract. 00:16:31.440 --> 00:16:34.480 I want don't call me, tell we got somebody. 00:16:34.559 --> 00:16:39.600 I need a sign on a dotted line that we got this thing sold. 00:16:40.159 --> 00:16:41.600 So I go back to praying. 00:16:41.679 --> 00:16:42.559 God, move now. 00:16:42.720 --> 00:16:43.440 Hallelujah. 00:16:43.600 --> 00:16:44.720 Thank you, Jesus. 00:16:44.879 --> 00:16:47.039 I need you, I need you. 00:16:47.200 --> 00:16:48.480 I'm not making this up. 00:16:48.559 --> 00:16:49.840 I screenshot it on my phone. 00:16:50.080 --> 00:16:50.399 I have it. 00:16:50.480 --> 00:16:53.200 I I said, she called me back or sent me a text later that night. 00:16:53.279 --> 00:16:59.360 She says, Hey, they're asking if we can make this change, and if we make this change, they will sign the contract in the morning. 00:17:00.399 --> 00:17:05.519 Make the change, do it now. 00:17:07.519 --> 00:17:17.279 I lost sleep, peace, joy, because I didn't go down before I went up. 00:17:18.079 --> 00:17:19.599 Is there anybody in the room? 00:17:19.759 --> 00:17:21.519 You've got an attack on you right now. 00:17:21.599 --> 00:17:23.920 There's an obstacle in front of you right now. 00:17:24.160 --> 00:17:27.599 And God came and told you through me, he says, No, no, no, go down. 00:17:27.759 --> 00:17:30.160 See, inquire of the Lord. 00:17:30.400 --> 00:17:32.799 What is it that he would have you do? 00:17:33.200 --> 00:17:34.799 How are we gonna move through this? 00:17:34.880 --> 00:17:36.720 How are we gonna make it on the other side? 00:17:37.359 --> 00:17:40.480 So I just I just use this example for you to maybe slow down. 00:17:40.799 --> 00:17:42.160 Slow down, slow down, slow down. 00:17:42.319 --> 00:17:43.920 Inquire of the Lord. 00:17:44.240 --> 00:17:45.279 Inquire of the Lord. 00:17:45.359 --> 00:17:47.039 What would he have you to do? 00:17:47.680 --> 00:17:51.200 Is this is this a battle that he is blessing? 00:17:51.920 --> 00:17:54.799 Is this a fight that he's calling you to fight? 00:17:55.039 --> 00:18:01.200 Or is this one of those moments where he's saying, No, I need you to be still and know that I am God? 00:18:02.240 --> 00:18:06.640 Now, just shift gears for a little bit because David is a man of war. 00:18:07.279 --> 00:18:10.160 And uh, so he's inquiring of the Lord. 00:18:10.400 --> 00:18:12.079 Let's go to verse 18. 00:18:12.319 --> 00:18:16.319 Uh now the Philistines had come and spread out over the valley of Raphim. 00:18:16.720 --> 00:18:20.559 So David inquired of the Lord, Shall I go and attack the Philistines? 00:18:20.799 --> 00:18:23.279 He says, Will you deliver them into my hands? 00:18:23.519 --> 00:18:30.319 The Lord answered, Go, for I will surely deliver the Philistines into your hands. 00:18:30.480 --> 00:18:35.039 So David went to Baal Pyrrhism, and there he defeated them. 00:18:37.680 --> 00:18:45.279 I don't know if you saw this, but at the beginning it says that the Philistine army they went up to search for David. 00:18:45.680 --> 00:18:47.200 They went up to search for him. 00:18:47.680 --> 00:18:50.240 David went down to the stronghold to pray. 00:18:50.559 --> 00:18:53.599 The moment he got the word, he went out to battle. 00:18:55.599 --> 00:19:01.759 Um, I never see the Philistines throw a spear. 00:19:03.119 --> 00:19:06.960 I never see the Philistines throw a punch. 00:19:07.200 --> 00:19:08.799 I never see the Philistines start. 00:19:09.119 --> 00:19:11.279 They just came up and was searching for him. 00:19:14.319 --> 00:19:16.319 I was just blown away. 00:19:17.119 --> 00:19:22.640 You see, immediately after David hears the word go, he goes right up to battle. 00:19:23.200 --> 00:19:25.920 David threw the first punch in this fight. 00:19:28.799 --> 00:19:31.119 Maybe this side is a little bit more. 00:19:33.359 --> 00:19:40.720 I'm wondering if there's somebody in the room that's that's gonna make a decision, say, I'm not gonna wait for the enemy to attack me. 00:19:42.240 --> 00:19:43.519 How about I say it this way? 00:19:43.680 --> 00:19:44.880 How about you make a decision? 00:19:44.960 --> 00:19:47.599 I'm gonna hit the enemy before he hits me. 00:19:48.000 --> 00:19:51.119 I'm tired of sitting back and getting hit after hit. 00:19:51.279 --> 00:19:54.240 I'm tired of just waiting for him to come and ravage my home. 00:19:54.400 --> 00:19:55.359 I'm tired of him coming. 00:19:55.440 --> 00:19:58.240 No, no, no, I'm going to go after him. 00:19:59.680 --> 00:20:02.880 I'm gonna show up and I'm gonna make sure I do everything I can. 00:20:03.039 --> 00:20:04.880 God said, Go, I'm going. 00:20:05.359 --> 00:20:07.599 God said, move, I'm moving. 00:20:08.480 --> 00:20:12.480 Hit the enemy before he hits you. 00:20:12.720 --> 00:20:13.839 Stop waiting. 00:20:14.079 --> 00:20:16.960 Now there's there's someone that's here today. 00:20:17.279 --> 00:20:21.440 And uh you came because you're in the middle of an attack right now. 00:20:21.920 --> 00:20:25.359 Like it's very difficult, whatever it is that you're walking through. 00:20:25.519 --> 00:20:27.920 And uh, you made a decision to come to the house of the Lord. 00:20:28.000 --> 00:20:29.599 I want to let you know I'm so proud of you. 00:20:29.759 --> 00:20:32.480 So, best decision you could make to come to God. 00:20:34.319 --> 00:20:37.839 But but but some of you, you haven't been here in a long time. 00:20:38.640 --> 00:20:42.480 And the only reason why you came was because you were in an attack. 00:20:42.880 --> 00:20:47.839 The only reason why you showed up was because you're like, I need God to do something, and I need you to do that. 00:20:48.079 --> 00:20:53.279 But but why you want to wait until you're in the middle of a fight to build your faith? 00:20:53.599 --> 00:20:58.799 Like, why do you want to wait until you're in the middle of struggle to surrender and say, God, I need you? 00:20:58.960 --> 00:21:02.079 Don't you know that your praise and your worship is a weapon? 00:21:02.559 --> 00:21:12.559 Don't you know that coming into the house of God and lifting his name up and declaring that he's good and declaring that he's worthy will build your strength, will build your faith? 00:21:12.799 --> 00:21:16.400 Why are you waiting for the attack to be in his presence? 00:21:16.559 --> 00:21:20.319 Why are you waiting for the attack to say, God, I need you? 00:21:21.200 --> 00:21:33.759 You know, hey, uh the the the worst time, the worst time to buy an umbrella is in the middle of a rainstorm. 00:21:34.799 --> 00:21:39.839 And and and so so, what is it that God is leading you to do to be on the offensive in this season? 00:21:40.079 --> 00:21:43.039 To not just wait for the enemy to come in and pick you off. 00:21:43.200 --> 00:21:44.400 What does it mean for you to make a decision? 00:21:44.559 --> 00:21:46.240 Say, I'm gonna do what God told me to do now. 00:21:46.319 --> 00:21:47.440 I'm moving now. 00:21:47.759 --> 00:21:49.519 You know, this is an amazing church. 00:21:49.680 --> 00:21:51.839 I mean, God is using this church in such a powerful way. 00:21:52.000 --> 00:21:54.559 Y'all have hosts that come up here, they have big smiles on their face. 00:21:56.319 --> 00:21:59.839 And they say stuff like this hey, today you're gonna have an opportunity. 00:22:00.640 --> 00:22:02.079 To join a small group. 00:22:07.680 --> 00:22:11.759 Today you're gonna have an opportunity to join a serve team. 00:22:15.359 --> 00:22:17.039 And many of you hear that? 00:22:17.279 --> 00:22:20.640 Walk right out of the door and don't take that action step. 00:22:20.880 --> 00:22:24.480 I want you to know this isn't something we want from you, this is something we want for you. 00:22:25.039 --> 00:22:30.079 I want you to understand that the enemy knows if he keeps you in isolation, it'll be easy to pick you off. 00:22:31.440 --> 00:22:36.960 Because you're you're you're not in community, because you don't have people surrounding you, you don't have people around you. 00:22:37.119 --> 00:22:44.079 You you get in the middle of an attack, you don't have somebody to call, you don't have somebody to reach out to, and you're like, hey, I'm by myself, and then you make a decision. 00:22:44.160 --> 00:22:46.240 No, no, no, why would I not take that step now? 00:22:46.400 --> 00:22:49.200 Next time they come up, I want you to see me spinning around. 00:22:51.359 --> 00:22:52.240 You know what? 00:22:52.720 --> 00:22:53.359 You know what? 00:22:53.440 --> 00:22:57.200 I might be in the best season of my life, but I still need people to celebrate with. 00:22:58.400 --> 00:23:01.440 I uh I might be experiencing promotion and success right now. 00:23:01.519 --> 00:23:05.279 What would it look like for me to pause and give God gratitude in this season? 00:23:05.599 --> 00:23:10.640 I am not waiting until the enemy comes to attack me for me to be in the presence of God. 00:23:10.799 --> 00:23:14.319 I'm not waiting, I'm gonna I'm gonna attack him before he attacks me. 00:23:16.000 --> 00:23:20.960 This is a church that you can trust God through your finances. 00:23:21.359 --> 00:23:22.640 This is a this is a church. 00:23:22.720 --> 00:23:27.279 Look at the construction, look at the outreach, look at what God is doing in the community. 00:23:27.519 --> 00:23:28.720 Why am I bringing this up? 00:23:28.880 --> 00:23:38.400 It's because when you start putting God first in the area of your finances, one I believe this, I believe that when you put him first, the first 10% of the tithe, when you put him first, everything else is blessed. 00:23:39.200 --> 00:23:41.200 But when you start tithing, guess what you gotta do? 00:23:41.359 --> 00:23:42.559 You gotta start budgeting. 00:23:44.720 --> 00:23:46.720 Because you're like, how is this gonna work now? 00:23:47.279 --> 00:23:49.039 How am I going to be able to manage this? 00:23:49.200 --> 00:23:52.799 If I start giving to God, if I start putting him first, how is this gonna work? 00:23:53.359 --> 00:23:55.440 Let's stay on let's stay on finances for a second. 00:23:55.599 --> 00:23:59.039 Um, when's the worst time to start building an emergency fund? 00:24:08.799 --> 00:24:16.319 But but if but if I'm on the offensive, I start setting aside some money to be able to say, trust God, there needs to be a storehouse mentality. 00:24:16.480 --> 00:24:18.720 This is principles that God has put into place. 00:24:18.880 --> 00:24:25.680 But the enemy knows that if you don't have a savings account, that the moment you get a flat tire and you gotta replace the fat tire, you're gonna lose joy. 00:24:25.839 --> 00:24:29.599 You're gonna lose peace, you're gonna be overwhelmed, you're gonna be bent out of shape. 00:24:29.759 --> 00:24:36.319 But if you say, no, God, I'm putting you first, trusting you with everything else, and I'm gonna steward what you've trusted me with, I'm being offensive. 00:24:36.480 --> 00:24:38.960 I'm not waiting for the enemy to attack me, I'm ready for him. 00:24:39.279 --> 00:24:41.039 Pick me, devil, come after me. 00:24:41.279 --> 00:24:41.839 Come after me. 00:24:42.000 --> 00:24:53.440 Is there anybody bold enough to say, hey, I trust the God that created the heavens and the earth, I trust him to heal me, I trust him to protect me, I trust him to guide me. 00:24:54.400 --> 00:24:59.599 I'm not waiting for the enemy to attack me. 00:24:59.839 --> 00:25:02.160 I'm gonna hit the enemy first. 00:25:03.200 --> 00:25:11.039 There's one question that David asked, that I think we all ask when we're in the middle of an attack. 00:25:12.160 --> 00:25:16.160 Uh, when you go to let's go to verse uh 18. 00:25:16.799 --> 00:25:22.559 It says, Now the Philistines had come and spread out in the valley of Raphaim. 00:25:22.799 --> 00:25:27.519 So David inquired of the Lord, shall I go and attack the Philistines? 00:25:27.680 --> 00:25:28.799 Listen to this. 00:25:29.200 --> 00:25:32.319 Will you deliver them into my hands? 00:25:33.119 --> 00:25:36.319 Will you deliver them into my hands? 00:25:36.880 --> 00:25:41.599 When you're in the middle of an attack, I think the question you're asking, will I make it through this? 00:25:42.799 --> 00:25:43.599 Will you deliver me? 00:25:43.759 --> 00:25:44.720 Will I make it through this? 00:25:45.200 --> 00:25:47.279 Will our marriage make it through this? 00:25:48.000 --> 00:25:50.400 Will we make it through this diagnosis? 00:25:51.279 --> 00:25:52.880 Will we make it through this difficulty? 00:25:53.440 --> 00:25:55.119 Like, will you deliver me? 00:25:55.759 --> 00:25:56.880 Will you deliver me? 00:25:57.599 --> 00:26:05.119 And as I'm studying and I'm seeing David's life, he has a path that he takes, and when he stays on his path, you can see the deliverance of the Lord. 00:26:05.359 --> 00:26:07.279 Because I told you, you're anointed. 00:26:07.519 --> 00:26:08.640 God has blessed you. 00:26:08.880 --> 00:26:10.079 His hand is on your life. 00:26:10.160 --> 00:26:12.240 It's time for you to hold on to it. 00:26:12.480 --> 00:26:15.759 And so, but when but when you you get anointed, you get blessed, just like David. 00:26:16.079 --> 00:26:17.200 There's an attack that comes. 00:26:17.759 --> 00:26:19.519 You experience resistance. 00:26:20.000 --> 00:26:20.319 Okay? 00:26:20.559 --> 00:26:23.680 So maybe you're in an attack, you're experiencing the resistance. 00:26:23.759 --> 00:26:25.839 And here's the process that I want you to go on. 00:26:26.160 --> 00:26:29.920 More resistance should lead to more dependence. 00:26:30.640 --> 00:26:35.119 So the more resistance that you experience, it should lead to more dependence. 00:26:35.279 --> 00:26:36.400 That's what you see in David. 00:26:36.559 --> 00:26:39.440 More resistance, I go down before I go up. 00:26:39.680 --> 00:26:41.119 I go down to the stronghold. 00:26:41.200 --> 00:26:42.319 I'm gonna depend on God. 00:26:42.400 --> 00:26:46.319 This won't be by my strength and might, it will be by the power of God. 00:26:47.279 --> 00:26:50.880 So so more resistance will go to more dependence. 00:26:51.119 --> 00:26:57.359 The more that you walk with God and that you put him first and you depend on him, more dependence will lead to more obedience. 00:26:58.960 --> 00:27:01.440 Now, this is when you say, Yes, Lord. 00:27:02.079 --> 00:27:03.359 Yes, Lord. 00:27:03.680 --> 00:27:04.880 Yes, Lord. 00:27:05.200 --> 00:27:06.720 You want me to go, I'll go. 00:27:06.960 --> 00:27:08.799