WEBVTT 00:00:00.080 --> 00:00:00.959 Hello everyone, I'm Dr. 00:00:01.040 --> 00:00:01.679 Steve Holt. 00:00:01.919 --> 00:00:04.879 I want to welcome you to the Road Church Podcast. 00:00:05.040 --> 00:00:07.280 Each week we go into God's Word. 00:00:07.440 --> 00:00:10.160 We teach chapter by chapter and verse by verse. 00:00:10.320 --> 00:00:15.599 And we are here to build a Kingdom of God revolution through empowering people to change the world. 00:00:15.759 --> 00:00:21.199 So we pray this will minister to you at your heart level and change your life. 00:00:21.519 --> 00:00:24.960 Today, be encouraged by our guest speaker. 00:00:28.480 --> 00:00:32.880 Well, if you have your Bibles, would you open them with me to 1 Samuel chapter 5? 00:00:33.359 --> 00:00:35.439 1 Samuel chapter 5. 00:00:36.479 --> 00:00:40.640 And before we get started this morning, I just want to ask you a question. 00:00:42.000 --> 00:00:46.960 The question I have for you is have you ever asked God to move in your life? 00:00:47.200 --> 00:00:52.000 And then when he actually does, he does it in a way that you did not expect. 00:00:53.039 --> 00:00:57.759 You pray, God have your way, and then five minutes later you're looking around and you're like, wait, hold on. 00:00:58.000 --> 00:00:59.119 Not like that. 00:00:59.759 --> 00:01:01.759 Raise your hand if you if that's been you. 00:01:02.000 --> 00:01:03.119 Awesome. 00:01:03.439 --> 00:01:05.519 If not, just wait. 00:01:05.599 --> 00:01:10.640 You're either lying or you haven't walked, you haven't walked on enough with God yet. 00:01:11.840 --> 00:01:17.439 You ask him to bring change and suddenly everything starts shifting faster than you're comfortable with. 00:01:17.920 --> 00:01:21.760 You ask for peace and your comfort zone starts falling apart. 00:01:22.079 --> 00:01:23.280 And it's funny, isn't it? 00:01:23.439 --> 00:01:30.079 How we invite God in genuinely, sincerely, and then we flinch when he starts moving furniture around. 00:01:30.879 --> 00:01:34.879 We say, Holy Spirit, would you come and would you make this heart your home? 00:01:35.120 --> 00:01:37.280 Holy Spirit, we invite you into our hearts. 00:01:37.439 --> 00:01:40.239 We ask you to make this heart your home. 00:01:40.560 --> 00:01:45.120 And when he comes in, we say, Awesome, welcome God, welcome to the kitchen of my heart. 00:01:45.439 --> 00:01:47.040 Don't go in the basement. 00:01:47.200 --> 00:01:54.000 That is where all the mess is, that is where everything that I don't want people to see, that's where it's all at with the Christmas decorations. 00:01:54.159 --> 00:01:55.200 No one's allowed down there. 00:01:55.280 --> 00:01:56.159 I don't go down there. 00:01:56.319 --> 00:01:57.920 You're not allowed down there either. 00:01:58.159 --> 00:02:09.759 Also, don't touch the living room because I've worked very hard to make that a comfortable space for when people come into my life, they can come in, they're comforted, and they can feel at home. 00:02:10.000 --> 00:02:22.400 Also, Lord, don't go in the bedroom because I've worked so hard and tirelessly and put so many hours to make it a place where I can feel safe, to make it a place where I can feel comfortable, and a place where I can feel at peace. 00:02:22.639 --> 00:02:24.319 But Lord, have your way. 00:02:24.479 --> 00:02:29.039 Do whatever it is you will, just don't go to those three places in my heart. 00:02:29.280 --> 00:02:34.400 We say, Lord, have your way, but what we really mean is have your way without touching that. 00:02:35.520 --> 00:02:37.360 And then life starts shaking a little bit. 00:02:37.439 --> 00:02:43.199 Your job gets disrupted, a relationship hits turbulence, and your routine feels off. 00:02:43.680 --> 00:02:46.479 And what once felt like peace now feels like pressure. 00:02:46.639 --> 00:02:52.400 You're like, God, I asked for breakthrough, but all I see is broken stuff. 00:02:53.199 --> 00:02:57.919 Lord, I've asked for breakthrough, but all I see are things that are breaking. 00:02:58.560 --> 00:03:00.560 But what if that's not a mistake? 00:03:00.800 --> 00:03:02.800 What if that is breakthrough? 00:03:02.960 --> 00:03:07.360 What if God is moving just not in the way that you imagined? 00:03:07.919 --> 00:03:10.719 Because here's the truth: God doesn't always come in and renovate. 00:03:10.879 --> 00:03:14.639 Sometimes he tears things down and he tears them to the studs. 00:03:14.800 --> 00:03:19.039 Not to punish you, not to hurt you, but to build something stronger. 00:03:19.199 --> 00:03:25.039 Something that's not held together by idols, something that's not held together by ego or your own strength. 00:03:25.599 --> 00:03:28.080 And here's where a lot of believers get stuck. 00:03:28.319 --> 00:03:34.000 We ask God to build something new, but we never give him permission to remove what's already there. 00:03:34.639 --> 00:03:38.719 And he is far too kind to build on a cracked foundation. 00:03:39.039 --> 00:03:40.639 Some of you feel stuck right now. 00:03:40.800 --> 00:03:42.319 You feel stuck in your faith. 00:03:42.400 --> 00:03:51.919 You feel like, man, the moment you gave your life to God, you felt like you were on cloud nine, but you felt like that that was that was so long ago, and you feel like you haven't felt anything since. 00:03:52.159 --> 00:03:55.759 You feel stuck in your growth, or maybe you feel stuck in prayer. 00:03:55.919 --> 00:03:58.800 You've prayed the same prayers over and over. 00:03:58.960 --> 00:04:00.400 God, would you bring healing? 00:04:00.639 --> 00:04:02.240 God, would you bring freedom? 00:04:02.479 --> 00:04:05.759 God, would you bring an answer to this and bring clarity? 00:04:05.919 --> 00:04:10.560 But you feel like those prayers are bouncing off the ceiling or they're falling on deaf ears. 00:04:10.719 --> 00:04:12.719 Do you know what I'm talking about this morning? 00:04:14.159 --> 00:04:16.959 We feel stuck in a season that doesn't make sense anymore. 00:04:17.040 --> 00:04:19.120 But what if you're not stuck at all? 00:04:19.360 --> 00:04:24.000 What if you're just standing in the ruins of what God so lovingly tore down? 00:04:24.319 --> 00:04:31.680 What if you're standing in the ruins of what God's tore down and what you're doing is you're trying to rebuild what He has broken? 00:04:32.160 --> 00:04:42.079 What if instead of moving forward, you're in the ruins of what God has broken and you're picking up the pieces, trying to put it back together, and we call that stuck? 00:04:42.879 --> 00:04:44.959 What if you're not stuck? 00:04:45.040 --> 00:04:46.560 What if you're rebuilding? 00:04:46.879 --> 00:04:54.800 And instead of rebuilding, what if you're invited to build with a new perspective, a new posture, and no idol sitting at the center of your life? 00:04:55.759 --> 00:05:02.319 So the title of my message today, if you're taking notes, and I hope you are, is you are not stuck, you are rebuilding. 00:05:02.480 --> 00:05:06.560 Maybe a better way to put that is you are not stuck, you are just rebuilding. 00:05:07.199 --> 00:05:10.879 And I just want to be clear, today's message isn't about trying harder. 00:05:11.120 --> 00:05:19.680 It is not a hellfire and brimstone message, it is not a try hard and do more message because here at the road, we believe in the finished work of the new covenant. 00:05:19.839 --> 00:05:28.000 We believe in the finished work of Jesus Christ, and we believe that the only way for us to be saved and changed from the inside out is Christ in Christ alone. 00:05:28.639 --> 00:05:30.959 But this message is not a pep talk either. 00:05:31.120 --> 00:05:33.279 It's not a message to tell you how amazing you are. 00:05:33.439 --> 00:05:35.680 It is not a message to tell you how put together you are. 00:05:35.839 --> 00:05:41.759 It is not a message to tell you just how everyone else is against you, but you're fine, okay, exactly where you're at. 00:05:41.920 --> 00:05:48.319 No, this message is about what happens when God starts moving in the ways that break your comfort but grow your capacity. 00:05:48.639 --> 00:05:57.759 It's about what happens, and it's about what we do when your old foundation collapses and God is calling you to move forward, anyways. 00:05:58.160 --> 00:06:01.040 So before we dive into the word, would you bow your heads and would you pray with me? 00:06:01.439 --> 00:06:03.680 Well, Heavenly Father, I ask right now. 00:06:04.079 --> 00:06:14.560 Lord, I ask for the courage to preach this word, I ask for the gentle words as they need to be given, but I ask for a boldness to preach this word, God. 00:06:15.360 --> 00:06:19.519 Lord, I ask, would you let everyone in this room or everyone who is listening online know? 00:06:20.560 --> 00:06:22.240 Lord, that you love them. 00:06:22.879 --> 00:06:26.720 Lord, that you have sent your son to die for them because you want to spend eternity with them. 00:06:26.959 --> 00:06:33.600 But God, I do ask right now, if I'm adding anything of my own cleverness into this word, Lord, would you cast it as far as the east is to the west? 00:06:34.079 --> 00:06:36.800 Father, would you hide me behind the cross of your son Jesus? 00:06:36.959 --> 00:06:42.079 And would you let the only thing that we remember and the only thing that we see here is him and him alone. 00:06:42.319 --> 00:06:46.560 Father, would you help us elevate the name of Jesus today in our hearts? 00:06:46.959 --> 00:06:48.240 Pray this in the name of Jesus. 00:06:48.399 --> 00:06:48.959 Amen. 00:06:49.199 --> 00:06:50.160 And amen. 00:06:50.560 --> 00:06:53.759 First Samuel chapter 5, starting in verse 1, it says this. 00:07:12.720 --> 00:07:15.439 So they took Dagon and they put him back in his place. 00:07:15.680 --> 00:07:27.600 But when they rose early on the next morning, behold, Dagon had fallen face downward on the ground before the Ark of the Lord, and the head of Dagon, and both his hands were lying cut off on the threshold. 00:07:27.839 --> 00:07:30.160 Only the trunk of Dagon was left to him. 00:07:30.560 --> 00:07:38.000 This is why the priest of Dagon and all who were under the house of Dagon do not tread on the threshold of Dagon in Ashdot to this day. 00:07:38.399 --> 00:07:44.240 You see, in that time it was common for warring kingdoms to capture their rivals' gods. 00:07:44.720 --> 00:07:48.560 To capture a people's god meant that they were completely conquered. 00:07:48.800 --> 00:07:58.160 To capture a kingdom's god meant that the only source of protection and provision they had was now under a different reign, and that God has now been captured. 00:07:58.240 --> 00:08:01.759 So now there is no more provision, now there is no more protection. 00:08:02.240 --> 00:08:08.800 That means that this kingdom of whatever of whatever kingdom their God has taken, that means that they are completely defeated. 00:08:09.759 --> 00:08:14.399 And if that were true, it wasn't true for the Philistines in this moment. 00:08:14.639 --> 00:08:17.040 You see, the Philistines had no victory that day. 00:08:17.199 --> 00:08:20.959 Instead, the Lord proved to them that he cannot be conquered. 00:08:21.519 --> 00:08:30.959 The Lord proved to them that even though his people lose a battle and cannot fight for themselves, he, the Lord, will still fight for them on their behalf. 00:08:31.519 --> 00:08:33.279 The Lord will fight for you. 00:08:33.519 --> 00:08:39.200 Notice that when the Philistines walk into the temple of Dagon, they find him bowing before the throne of God. 00:08:39.279 --> 00:08:44.559 And the first thing they do is they get him off the floor and they put him back into an elevated position. 00:08:44.720 --> 00:08:54.639 The first thing they do when they see their idol fallen is they pick him up and they re-erect this idol to be able to be back where he was at, to be in his rightful place. 00:08:55.519 --> 00:09:03.039 The next day, Dagon is not Dagon is not only face down before the Ark of God, but this time his head and his hands are cut off. 00:09:03.200 --> 00:09:04.480 Now, why is this significant? 00:09:04.639 --> 00:09:05.840 Well, I'll tell you why. 00:09:06.080 --> 00:09:09.360 You see, a head is where it is where a crown sits. 00:09:09.519 --> 00:09:15.679 Whether it's a king, whether it's an idol, a head is where you place the authority of a crown. 00:09:15.919 --> 00:09:18.799 A head is also where orders are given. 00:09:18.960 --> 00:09:26.559 And so what the Lord has shown in this moment with the head of Dagon being cut off is he no longer has authority and he no longer has a voice. 00:09:26.720 --> 00:09:37.200 So this idol can no longer speak to his people, this idol can no longer give commands to his people, and this idol no longer has authority over his people. 00:09:37.519 --> 00:09:47.679 Now the hands of Dagon, you see, the hands are a symbol of strength, the hands are a symbol of power, and the hands are a symbol of war and fighting. 00:09:48.000 --> 00:09:53.200 The psalmist writes, Lord, train our hands for war and our fingers for battle. 00:09:53.919 --> 00:09:57.440 You see, to be in one's hands meant that they had a grip in your life. 00:09:57.600 --> 00:10:01.600 It meant that they were either in control of you or that they were protecting you. 00:10:01.759 --> 00:10:11.440 And so to have his hands cut off shows that there is now no more strength, to show that there is now no more protection, and to show that now that there is no more fight left in this idol. 00:10:11.919 --> 00:10:16.960 Even Dagon himself, the name Dagon is being their idol, he is the god of grain. 00:10:17.200 --> 00:10:20.399 This idol was supposed to be their provider. 00:10:20.799 --> 00:10:24.879 This idol was supposed to be the provider for the Philistines. 00:10:25.279 --> 00:10:32.000 And so what God has shown here is that the Lord has killed their means of provision because he has killed their God of provision. 00:10:32.320 --> 00:10:42.240 Matthew Henry says this, he says, But they, the Philistines, but they were mistaken in the God of Israel when in putting his ark by Dagon's image, they intended to do him honor. 00:10:42.480 --> 00:10:48.000 For he, the Lord, for he is not worshipped at all if he is not worshipped alone. 00:10:49.200 --> 00:10:54.240 For he is not worshipped at all if he is not worshipped alone. 00:10:55.039 --> 00:10:57.600 You see, we pray, God, have your way. 00:10:57.840 --> 00:10:58.720 Lord, have your way. 00:10:58.799 --> 00:11:06.320 And then we start panicking when he starts knocking over our comfort, when he starts knocking over our habits, our identity, our routines. 00:11:07.440 --> 00:11:08.639 Beloved, can I say this? 00:11:08.799 --> 00:11:10.480 The Lord will not share a temple. 00:11:10.559 --> 00:11:11.679 We've seen that with Dagon. 00:11:11.759 --> 00:11:15.279 He won't share a temple, but the Lord will also not share a throne. 00:11:15.840 --> 00:11:20.480 Some of you cry out time after time, oh Lord, would you work in this situation? 00:11:20.720 --> 00:11:22.960 Lord, would you work in this circumstance? 00:11:23.200 --> 00:11:24.480 God, would you have your way? 00:11:24.720 --> 00:11:26.799 Would you move in my life? 00:11:27.200 --> 00:11:31.600 As long as you move, as long as you're as long as you free me from this trial, Lord, would you have your way? 00:11:31.679 --> 00:11:38.720 And then the next thing we do is we start declaring to the winds and the waves, as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. 00:11:38.879 --> 00:11:41.360 As for me in my house, we will honor the Lord. 00:11:41.440 --> 00:11:45.200 We start we start yelling at the devil, devil, you have no power in my life. 00:11:45.440 --> 00:11:50.879 Devil, you have no you you have no purpose in my life, you have no authority in my life. 00:11:51.120 --> 00:11:56.240 But when we look around, we see these trials still happening, we see these attacks still happening. 00:11:56.480 --> 00:11:57.120 Why? 00:11:57.759 --> 00:12:03.759 Because we try to take hold of the authority of God, but we have an idol sitting on the throne in our heart. 00:12:04.000 --> 00:12:10.000 I just want to say this sometimes an idol can be built in our heart, sometimes unintentionally. 00:12:10.879 --> 00:12:14.879 Some of us have idols in our heart that are there unintentionally. 00:12:15.200 --> 00:12:17.120 Well, Marcus, what do you mean by that? 00:12:17.360 --> 00:12:18.799 How is that done unintentionally? 00:12:18.879 --> 00:12:25.360 If you look at the book of Genesis and you look at the account of Abraham, we see Abraham had an idol in his heart. 00:12:25.600 --> 00:12:28.320 The idol I'm speaking of is his son Isaac. 00:12:28.639 --> 00:12:31.120 You see, Isaac was a promise from God. 00:12:31.279 --> 00:12:32.559 He is the promised son. 00:12:32.639 --> 00:12:38.799 He is the fulfillment of the covenant that God has made with Abraham, and Abraham has made him an idol. 00:12:38.960 --> 00:12:44.960 We know this because the Lord had woke up Abraham and he said, Hey, you were gonna take Isaac and you were gonna sacrifice him to me. 00:12:45.120 --> 00:12:48.480 You were gonna put him on the altar and you were gonna sacrifice him to me. 00:12:48.639 --> 00:12:52.320 Abraham, being a faithful man of God, woke up early the next day. 00:12:52.480 --> 00:13:01.840 He took Isaac towards the mountains, he laid him on the altar, and being an obedient servant, he was ready to sacrifice his son before the before the Lord stilled his hand. 00:13:02.320 --> 00:13:07.279 You might be like, Marcus, what where where does that what does that have to do with Isaac being an idol? 00:13:07.519 --> 00:13:11.440 Well, as I said before, Isaac was the promise of God. 00:13:12.399 --> 00:13:20.559 Abraham was not able to have children, but yet he was told he was gonna be the father of many nations, and that promise was gonna come through his son Isaac. 00:13:20.720 --> 00:13:28.320 And what has what had happened was that Abraham has taken Isaac and put Isaac on the throne of his heart. 00:13:28.639 --> 00:13:38.399 And Abraham, knowing God's character, knew one of two things: either the Lord is going to steal my hand and save Isaac, or the Lord is going to resurrect Isaac. 00:13:38.799 --> 00:13:43.120 But the thing is, Isaac was called to be sacrificed. 00:13:43.519 --> 00:13:46.639 Abraham was called to sacrifice his son. 00:13:47.840 --> 00:13:54.879 Now we also know that that is a foreshadowing of Christ, that God the Father was going to send his son to be a sacrifice for all of us. 00:13:55.039 --> 00:13:57.600 But we also see another foreshadowing in that story. 00:13:57.840 --> 00:14:05.679 We see that when the Lord stilled Abraham's hand, that there was a ram in the thicket, and the Lord has provided a sacrifice. 00:14:05.919 --> 00:14:11.919 The whole reason was to be able to get Isaac off the throne of Abraham's heart because that place belongs to the Lord and the Lord alone. 00:14:12.080 --> 00:14:22.799 Now I'm not gonna stand here and pretend to know what your idol is, but I will say this: an idol is anything you give your trust, identity, or devotion to that rightfully belongs to God. 00:14:23.120 --> 00:14:30.799 It's anything you look to for security, purpose, comfort, control, or provision in the place of Him. 00:14:31.360 --> 00:14:33.519 You could also phrase it this way, write this down. 00:14:33.679 --> 00:14:38.879 An idol is anything that sits on the throne of your heart where only God belongs. 00:14:39.519 --> 00:14:45.519 An idol is anything that sits on the throne of your heart where only God belongs. 00:14:45.840 --> 00:14:52.720 So it may not look like a statue, but it shapes your decisions, it dominates your thoughts, and it defines your worth. 00:14:52.960 --> 00:14:56.159 Some idols you may deal with are, I just have a short list of these. 00:14:56.320 --> 00:15:00.080 Some idols that we deal with here in the Western Church are comfort. 00:15:00.240 --> 00:15:02.000 We idolize comfort. 00:15:02.320 --> 00:15:10.080 We desire to avoid difficulty, pain, or inconvenience, even if it means compromising obedience. 00:15:10.879 --> 00:15:20.399 We idolize control, the need to be in charge of outcomes, the need to be in charge of people, the need to be in charge of plans, trusting yourself over God. 00:15:21.039 --> 00:15:23.279 We idolize success and achievement. 00:15:23.440 --> 00:15:34.080 We do that by basing our identity on performance, on titles, on recognition, on our job, on our occupation rather than who you are in Christ. 00:15:34.320 --> 00:15:40.720 Now, some of you might be sitting there, you might be like, Well, Marcus, I actually prayed for the Lord to open this, open this door for me to have this job. 00:15:40.799 --> 00:15:43.600 I've actually prayed to the Lord to give me this opportunity. 00:15:43.759 --> 00:15:45.519 He's opened the door and I've walked through it. 00:15:45.679 --> 00:15:49.679 So don't you dare call that an idol because that is an answered prayer. 00:15:50.720 --> 00:15:52.480 I'll get to that in a moment. 00:15:54.320 --> 00:16:05.759 Some things we, another thing we idol is image and appearance, worshiping how we are perceived, or how your spouse is perceived, or how your children are perceived to the world around you. 00:16:06.080 --> 00:16:14.240 We idolize relationships by placing a boyfriend, a girlfriend, a spouse, or even our own children in the center of our heart instead of God. 00:16:14.639 --> 00:16:15.679 And here's a big one. 00:16:16.000 --> 00:16:19.039 This one this one might step on toes a little bit. 00:16:19.279 --> 00:16:29.039 We idolize money insecurity, trusting in our savings accounts, trusting in our job titles, our financial status instead of God's provision. 00:16:29.519 --> 00:16:33.600 All of these are idols because each one of these can glorify self. 00:16:33.840 --> 00:16:43.919 The biggest idol most American Christians deal with is the idol of self, the idol of me, my truth, my dreams, my comfort, my timing. 00:16:44.159 --> 00:16:48.320 Friends, the modern the modern altar is not a place of stone and wood. 00:16:48.480 --> 00:16:50.799 The modern altar is often our own ego. 00:16:51.600 --> 00:16:59.120 The late Tim Keller would have put it this way: he said, an idol is often a good thing that becomes a God thing. 00:16:59.279 --> 00:17:15.279 Meaning this the idol can be a place, it can be something that starts with good intentions, it could be something that God has promised, but we have festered on it so long, we have focused on it so long that it has become a good thing, and we have made it a God, lowercase g a god thing. 00:17:15.839 --> 00:17:23.759 Looking at scripture, we see that the ark is a representation of the presence of God, and Dagon is a representation of idol worship. 00:17:24.079 --> 00:17:27.759 Friends, I will say that the Lord will not share his glory. 00:17:27.920 --> 00:17:32.000 Isaiah 42.8 says this I am the Lord, that is my name. 00:17:33.119 --> 00:17:38.079 My glory I give to no other, nor my praise to carved idols. 00:17:38.880 --> 00:17:42.720 Your heart was not made to worship both Jesus and your own comfort. 00:17:42.880 --> 00:17:46.079 Your heart was not made to worship both Jesus and your own control. 00:17:46.240 --> 00:17:51.920 Your heart was not made to worship both Jesus and your own lust, your own pride, your own addiction. 00:17:52.160 --> 00:17:56.400 Many believers want a broken idol but not crucified. 00:17:56.880 --> 00:17:59.759 They want Dagon humbled but not removed. 00:18:00.000 --> 00:18:07.440 See, many believers don't want to remove their idol, they just want the Lord to humble their idol so they can feel something inside of them again. 00:18:08.000 --> 00:18:08.960 How do I know this? 00:18:09.119 --> 00:18:17.599 Because too many times, too many, too many of us come to the altar to watch Dagon fall, and then we spend the next week trying to glue him back together. 00:18:19.920 --> 00:18:23.119 We come to the altar, we ask, God, would you remove anything that's not of you? 00:18:23.359 --> 00:18:24.319 Dagon falls. 00:18:24.400 --> 00:18:25.839 The Lord allows that idol to fall. 00:18:26.000 --> 00:18:35.359 We spend the next week trying to glue him back together, and then we call it things like, oh, that thing happened because that's spiritual warfare, that's a spiritual attack. 00:18:35.920 --> 00:18:46.880 We call it these things when the Lord breaks an idol, instead of us realizing, hey, that's an idol in my heart, we look at something we cherish and it's being attacked, and we say it's the work of the enemy. 00:18:47.039 --> 00:18:51.759 When it's the Lord saying, No, you've asked me to do this, I am tearing down this idol. 00:18:52.079 --> 00:18:55.680 God does not come to coexist, he comes to conquer. 00:18:56.559 --> 00:19:00.160 God does not come to coexist, he comes to conquer. 00:19:00.640 --> 00:19:02.799 Turn with me to Luke chapter 9. 00:19:03.279 --> 00:19:05.599 God has not come to coexist, he comes to conquer. 00:19:05.759 --> 00:19:07.599 You see, we have to let these idols fall. 00:19:07.759 --> 00:19:10.880 That is the whole point of being a follower of Christ. 00:19:11.200 --> 00:19:13.920 Luke chapter 9, verse 23, it says this. 00:19:14.160 --> 00:19:20.960 And he said to all, if anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. 00:19:21.200 --> 00:19:27.440 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. 00:19:27.759 --> 00:19:32.480 For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself? 00:19:33.119 --> 00:19:35.119 That verse sounds powerful. 00:19:35.519 --> 00:19:39.680 That verse we quote across all the churches in America, we quote that all the time. 00:19:39.839 --> 00:19:41.920 Pick up your cross daily and follow me. 00:19:42.160 --> 00:19:46.400 And it sounds powerful until you actually try to live it. 00:19:47.599 --> 00:19:53.119 Because the truth is this cross that we are called to carry is heavy. 00:19:53.599 --> 00:19:59.359 It's not decorative, it's not a tattoo, it's not a necklace, it is a death beam. 00:19:59.519 --> 00:20:03.119 It is an instrument of death, and it is heavy. 00:20:04.000 --> 00:20:09.359 AW Tozer said, We have made the cross a charm instead of a sword. 00:20:10.240 --> 00:20:13.680 We have made the cross a charm instead of a sword. 00:20:14.000 --> 00:20:18.640 David Wilkerson said, We want resurrection power without crucifixion pain. 00:20:19.279 --> 00:20:20.319 Let me ask you this. 00:20:20.480 --> 00:20:25.119 In your life, through your trials, in your family, do you want resurrection power? 00:20:25.440 --> 00:20:27.039 Do you want to see the Lord move? 00:20:27.200 --> 00:20:30.160 Do you want to see the Spirit of the living God move? 00:20:30.799 --> 00:20:31.279 Amen. 00:20:31.359 --> 00:20:32.880 That's what I want to see. 00:20:33.359 --> 00:20:36.400 But there have been so many times in my life when I'm like, God, would you move? 00:20:36.480 --> 00:20:37.839 He said, Yes, will you pick up your cross? 00:20:38.000 --> 00:20:39.519 Oh, Jesus, that hurts. 00:20:40.160 --> 00:20:41.680 The cross is heavy. 00:20:41.920 --> 00:20:43.759 Physically, I know I can't carry it. 00:20:43.920 --> 00:20:46.240 Physically, I know Emmanuel can't carry it. 00:20:46.960 --> 00:20:48.559 I know Emmanuel, I share an office with him. 00:20:48.640 --> 00:20:49.680 I've seen the biceps. 00:20:49.759 --> 00:20:51.759 I know Emmanuel can't carry it. 00:20:54.240 --> 00:20:57.200 Physically, we cannot carry the cross. 00:20:57.519 --> 00:20:58.480 But can I say this? 00:20:58.559 --> 00:21:00.400 We're still called to carry it anyways. 00:21:00.720 --> 00:21:01.759 The cross? 00:21:02.079 --> 00:21:04.319 It's meant to crush the flesh. 00:21:04.559 --> 00:21:10.480 It's meant to press you down, to break your pride and bring you to the end of yourself. 00:21:10.640 --> 00:21:12.240 That means death. 00:21:13.119 --> 00:21:14.720 That means surrender. 00:21:14.880 --> 00:21:18.000 That means I don't just let it go, I let it die. 00:21:19.279 --> 00:21:22.720 You cannot carry the cross and Dagon at the same time. 00:21:23.359 --> 00:21:24.799 It's designed that way. 00:21:25.119 --> 00:21:26.799 You guys ever seen a one-handed cross? 00:21:26.880 --> 00:21:29.839 Have you ever seen a picture of Jesus carrying the cross one-handed? 00:21:29.920 --> 00:21:30.079 No. 00:21:30.240 --> 00:21:31.519 If you did, throw that image out. 00:21:31.599 --> 00:21:33.039 That's a weird image. 00:21:33.279 --> 00:21:34.559 I'm not saying anything's wrong with it. 00:21:34.640 --> 00:21:35.759 It's just weird. 00:21:36.480 --> 00:21:44.000 The cross is supposed to be something that we have to carry with our not just our hands, but our whole body to move forward. 00:21:44.240 --> 00:21:45.680 The cross is heavy. 00:21:45.839 --> 00:21:51.200 It is impossible to carry the cross and Dagon at the same time. 00:21:53.359 --> 00:21:56.559 You can't follow Jesus and prop up idols in your heart. 00:21:56.720 --> 00:22:01.359 The cross isn't just a burden, friends, it is a Death sentence. 00:22:02.319 --> 00:22:04.559 It is a death sentence for the flesh. 00:22:04.799 --> 00:22:09.200 And the cross is not a decoration, it is an execution. 00:22:10.799 --> 00:22:12.559 It is an execution. 00:22:13.440 --> 00:22:14.640 Don't miss this. 00:22:16.000 --> 00:22:19.119 Even Jesus couldn't carry his cross alone. 00:22:20.240 --> 00:22:21.279 And I might take you back. 00:22:21.359 --> 00:22:23.599 You might be like, Marcus, what are you saying? 00:22:23.680 --> 00:22:25.119 Why would you say something like that? 00:22:25.279 --> 00:22:26.319 But that's not me saying it. 00:22:26.400 --> 00:22:27.680 I got that from scripture. 00:22:27.920 --> 00:22:29.920 Luke 23, 26 says this. 00:22:40.160 --> 00:22:45.680 The sinless Son of God, the one who raised the dead and calmed the storm. 00:22:46.160 --> 00:22:49.279 When it came time to carry the cross, he collapsed. 00:22:49.519 --> 00:22:54.160 Not because he was weak in spirit, but because the weight of the cross is so real. 00:22:55.359 --> 00:22:58.960 He could have called down angels to wipe out the Romans. 00:22:59.119 --> 00:23:03.440 He could have called down angels to wipe out the crowd who was mocking him. 00:23:03.519 --> 00:23:08.480 He could have even called down angels to pick up the cross and put it to Calvary because he had to die. 00:23:08.640 --> 00:23:11.119 He could have, but he didn't. 00:23:12.160 --> 00:23:15.599 Instead, he let himself fall into the dust. 00:23:15.680 --> 00:23:16.160 Why? 00:23:16.400 --> 00:23:17.839 Because he was showing us something. 00:23:17.920 --> 00:23:21.440 He was showing us that you will not carry the cross alone. 00:23:21.920 --> 00:23:27.759 He was showing us that the weight of the cross will break you, but he will be there in the breaking. 00:23:28.319 --> 00:23:29.680 Well, Marcus, time out. 00:23:29.920 --> 00:23:34.079 You said first Jesus couldn't carry the cross, and now you're saying Jesus chose not to carry the cross. 00:23:34.240 --> 00:23:35.119 Well, which one is it? 00:23:35.200 --> 00:23:38.960 Well, my answer to that is uh yes and both. 00:23:39.680 --> 00:23:43.759 You see, Jesus was 100% God, and Jesus was also 100% man. 00:23:44.000 --> 00:23:48.240 Being 100% man, Jesus has taken a beating. 00:23:48.400 --> 00:23:50.559 He was beaten, he was imprisoned. 00:23:50.720 --> 00:23:56.559 I mean, I don't know how I don't know how many days exactly he was having to stand trial before the Pharisees. 00:23:56.640 --> 00:23:58.720 He was trying having to stand trial before the Sanhedrin. 00:23:58.880 --> 00:24:01.680 He was supposed to stand trial before Pontius Pilate. 00:24:01.759 --> 00:24:03.279 But we do know that days have happened. 00:24:03.359 --> 00:24:05.200 So so I don't know how long it took. 00:24:05.279 --> 00:24:09.279 I don't know how great his sleep was, but I do know that he had to stand trial and it was several days. 00:24:09.359 --> 00:24:14.880 I do know that his back was beaten for us with a cat of nine-tails, and it was ripped open. 00:24:15.039 --> 00:24:18.079 You could see his muscle fibers, you could see his bone. 00:24:18.640 --> 00:24:25.359 And if that happened and he had to go back and sleep, I don't know about you, but like I can't even sleep when I tweaked my foot the wrong way. 00:24:26.079 --> 00:24:28.480 There is no way I can sleep with my back ripped open. 00:24:28.559 --> 00:24:32.720 I don't think anybody in existence can sleep with their back ripped open. 00:24:32.960 --> 00:24:42.240 And so being a hundred percent man, he could physically not carry the cross because of the beatings and his back being ripped open and the lack of sleep. 00:24:42.559 --> 00:24:44.799 So that is where Jesus couldn't carry the cross. 00:24:44.880 --> 00:24:48.799 Now, being a hundred percent God, he chose it that way. 00:24:49.440 --> 00:24:57.680 He chose to take the beating for you, he chose to have his back ripped open for you, he chose to carry this cross to fall down in the dust. 00:24:57.839 --> 00:24:58.240 Why? 00:24:58.400 --> 00:24:59.759 To be an example. 00:25:00.000 --> 00:25:04.480 Some of you think you're failing God because you keep falling under the weight of the cross. 00:25:05.039 --> 00:25:08.160 But hear me, you are not failing God. 00:25:08.960 --> 00:25:11.920 You are in the process of sanctification. 00:25:12.160 --> 00:25:17.519 When you carry your cross, it is meant to knock you into the dust. 00:25:17.680 --> 00:25:19.359 You are in a great place. 00:25:19.519 --> 00:25:26.640 You are walking where Jesus has walked when you are in the dust because you are being emptied of yourself. 00:25:27.119 --> 00:25:29.599 The cross is supposed to drop you to your knees. 00:25:29.680 --> 00:25:32.559 It is supposed to wreck your self-reliance. 00:25:32.640 --> 00:25:37.359 It was supposed to make you cry out, God, I can't do this without you. 00:25:38.400 --> 00:25:42.079 And Jesus says, I know, that's the whole point. 00:25:42.160 --> 00:25:44.880 Now let me carry this cross for you. 00:25:45.440 --> 00:25:52.160 You see, the reason why Jesus calls us to take up our cross daily is not because he expects us to be strong. 00:25:52.559 --> 00:25:58.880 He has us carry our cross daily, not because he expects us to be strong, but because he wants us to stay dependent on him. 00:25:59.440 --> 00:26:01.920 You don't grow stronger by carrying your cross. 00:26:02.079 --> 00:26:08.000 I don't care what crossfit tells you, you can carry a log over your head all the day and run down your neighborhood like a weirdo. 00:26:09.200 --> 00:26:12.559 The cross does not actually the cross does not make you stronger like that. 00:26:12.720 --> 00:26:15.519 The cross is actually supposed to make you weaker. 00:26:16.480 --> 00:26:19.519 You don't grow stronger by carrying the cross, you grow emptier. 00:26:19.680 --> 00:26:23.119 And the emptier you are, the more he can fill you with himself. 00:26:23.759 --> 00:26:33.839 The emptier you are, the more you realize, hey, there are idols in here with all with all the mess away, with all the clutter away, with all the hoarding away that's in my heart, there are idols in here that I need to get out. 00:26:34.079 --> 00:26:45.200 See, the cross is supposed to empty you so you can stay dependent on him, so he can fill you with his power, so he can fill you with his presence, so he can fill you with his goodness. 00:26:45.839 --> 00:26:48.000 You're not weak because you're tired. 00:26:48.720 --> 00:26:50.960 You're not broken because you've stumbled. 00:26:51.839 --> 00:26:55.359 Friends, you have not failed God because you are in the dust. 00:26:55.759 --> 00:26:58.480 You have not failed God because you have stumbled. 00:26:58.960 --> 00:27:06.400 You are right where Jesus meets people with a cross that is too heavy to carry and a heart that is too surrendered to fake it anymore. 00:27:08.000 --> 00:27:09.279 Are you there today? 00:27:09.759 --> 00:27:10.960 Are you there this morning? 00:27:11.119 --> 00:27:19.279 Are some of you in here putting on a fake face, putting on a smile to make it look like everything's together, but you feel like you're licking dirt. 00:27:19.599 --> 00:27:21.279 You feel like you're in the dust. 00:27:22.640 --> 00:27:27.680 Well, for those of you that are there, our friends, I just want to say you are exactly where God meets people. 00:27:28.240 --> 00:27:35.119 Let the cross do its work, let it crush what needs to die, and let Jesus carry you where your strengths can't. 00:27:36.400 --> 00:27:41.279 Jesus didn't carry the cross alone, so stop pretending that you can do that you can carry yours without him. 00:27:42.400 --> 00:27:45.839 The cross will break you down, but Jesus will lift you up. 00:27:46.160 --> 00:27:49.039 You're not stuck, you're just where surrender begins. 00:27:49.200 --> 00:27:52.960 Stop rebuilding the idols and pick up your cross. 00:27:53.279 --> 00:28:12.480 If you still have a cry in your heart for the Lord, if you still have a desire for God, if you still want to be delivered, if you've given your heart to Jesus Christ, even though you may have stumbled, even though you may still be having some problems, you are still the Son of Almighty God. 00:28:12.799 --> 00:28:16.799 You are still the daughter of Holy Father. 00:28:17.519 --> 00:28:21.519 You are still a child who was bought with the blood of Jesus Christ. 00:28:21.599 --> 00:28:31.519 So even though you're struggling, if you have a cry in your heart, Lord, free me, Lord, heal me, Lord, use me, Lord, move in me, break whatever idols are in my heart, God. 00:28:32.480 --> 00:28:34.000 I feel like I'm failing you. 00:28:34.160 --> 00:28:35.839 God is saying, No, no, no, no, no. 00:28:36.079 --> 00:28:38.960 You are still my son, you are still my daughter. 00:28:39.119 --> 00:28:40.799 Nothing has changed. 00:28:42.160 --> 00:28:46.720 You can still stand up against the devil without fear and trembling. 00:28:47.519 --> 00:28:53.599 The whole reason for the cross is to help us refocus on whose strength we are actually fighting in. 00:28:54.160 --> 00:28:57.440 You see, the devil wants you to go out and fight your own battles. 00:28:57.599 --> 00:29:05.759 He wants you to try to resist your sins, he wants you to try to try to tear down your idols in your own strength because he knows that we can't do it on our own. 00:29:06.000 --> 00:29:10.079 He wants us to get frustrated with God, he wants us to doubt and throw our hands up. 00:29:10.160 --> 00:29:17.599 Well, I guess God doesn't work for me, he works for everyone else, but I guess I'm the exception, and I guess he doesn't work in my life. 00:29:17.920 --> 00:29:19.839 That's exactly what he wants to do. 00:29:20.000 --> 00:29:20.400 Why? 00:29:20.559 --> 00:29:26.559 Because the devil wants you to do it on your own, so that way your walk for the rest of your life is under condemnation. 00:29:26.640 --> 00:29:28.160 He wants you to do it on your own. 00:29:28.319 --> 00:29:36.400 That way the walk for the rest of your life is under guilt and shame is fear because he is terrified of the living God sitting on the throne in your heart. 00:29:36.799 --> 00:29:42.640 The devil is terrified of God sitting on the throne in your heart. 00:29:43.359 --> 00:29:45.599 The cross is the way to Calvary. 00:29:45.759 --> 00:29:48.960 We know this, we hear this all the time to come to Calvary. 00:29:49.119 --> 00:29:54.240 Well, the cross is the way to Calvary, and Calvary is the place where victory was won for us. 00:29:54.960 --> 00:29:58.640 Don't let the devil keep you from that place of victory. 00:29:58.880 --> 00:30:04.880 Don't let the devil keep you from that place of victory by saying, Hey, here's another idol you can focus on. 00:30:05.039 --> 00:30:07.440 Hey, here's another problem you can have. 00:30:07.599 --> 00:30:09.839 Here's something else you can build your identity on. 00:30:10.079 --> 00:30:13.119 Just take this, feel good, feel comforted about yourself. 00:30:13.279 --> 00:30:15.440 Don't let him keep you from Calvary. 00:30:15.519 --> 00:30:24.880 Don't let him keep you from that place of victory because Calvary is the place where we find the strength to stand against anything the devil tries to throw our way. 00:30:25.440 --> 00:30:26.559 I'm gonna say that again. 00:30:26.720 --> 00:30:32.880 Calvary is the place where we find the strength to stand against anything the devil tries to throw our way. 00:30:33.839 --> 00:30:38.640 But the only way for us to get there is to fall under the weight of the cross. 00:30:38.960 --> 00:30:43.359 The only way to Calvary for us is to fall under the weight of the cross. 00:30:43.519 --> 00:30:49.039 So Jesus Himself can come, he can pick us up, he can dust us off, and he can show us the way. 00:30:49.440 --> 00:30:51.359 You've seen Dagon fall. 00:30:52.000 --> 00:30:54.400 You've seen God break the idol. 00:30:54.640 --> 00:30:56.079