WEBVTT 00:00:05.599 --> 00:00:07.280 Hey, I'm Pastor Steve Hall. 00:00:07.679 --> 00:00:11.759 I want to empower you today to walk in your true identity as a worshiper and warrior. 00:00:11.919 --> 00:00:15.839 Today, embrace the power of God's Word and the Holy Spirit. 00:00:16.079 --> 00:00:18.960 Welcome to the Born for War podcast. 00:00:23.679 --> 00:00:31.920 Well, Pastor Steve is up with a whole group that is hunting, and so we're just praying that they uh kill something, huh? 00:00:32.240 --> 00:00:34.880 Um our hope this morning is death. 00:00:35.119 --> 00:00:35.759 Yes. 00:00:36.079 --> 00:00:41.840 Um, we're just hoping that they're having a great time, that they're uh being successful and what they're doing. 00:00:42.000 --> 00:00:46.719 So he called me up and asked me if I would bring the word this morning, which I'm honored to do. 00:00:46.960 --> 00:00:52.880 And so I began to pray and I begin to ask the Lord what uh he wanted me to speak on. 00:00:53.119 --> 00:00:54.799 And man, I had all kinds of stuff. 00:00:54.880 --> 00:00:59.280 I wanted to speak on worship, and I wanted to speak on you know stuff that I'm really passionate about. 00:00:59.359 --> 00:01:02.320 I'm kind of in that mode right now with Worship Academy going on. 00:01:02.399 --> 00:01:08.959 We're teaching about David, and um, and the Lord said, no, speak on uh this topic. 00:01:09.120 --> 00:01:10.640 And I said, Really? 00:01:10.879 --> 00:01:11.920 That topic? 00:01:12.159 --> 00:01:19.840 And um, but here's the thing: I'm not gonna tell you the title of the message until probably about halfway. 00:01:19.920 --> 00:01:21.920 So I'm gonna leave you on the cliff, okay? 00:01:22.159 --> 00:01:23.599 I'm gonna leave you hanging. 00:01:23.840 --> 00:01:34.400 Um, but I do want you to know this that the topic and the issue that I'm speaking on this morning is for everybody. 00:01:35.760 --> 00:01:40.079 In fact, everybody take your hand, just point at yourself, say it's for me. 00:01:40.799 --> 00:01:44.719 In fact, I just got back from Africa, um, Czech Republic. 00:01:44.799 --> 00:01:57.760 You talk about two polar opposites, two different extremes, went to Europe, Czech Republic, the worship conference is there, and then the very next week I find myself in Africa, and I'm like, whoa, what just happened? 00:01:57.920 --> 00:02:00.480 I mean, it was just crazy the difference. 00:02:00.640 --> 00:02:27.439 But can I tell you that this topic, and what I'm gonna touch on today, was for everybody, whether they lived in Czech Republic, miles and miles away, or in Africa, or here in the United States, Pastor Steve, who leads, who pastors, who teaches us week after week, to maybe you're in church for the first time, never heard about Jesus. 00:02:27.599 --> 00:02:49.680 I want you to know, even when I was in Africa, we were singing songs, You Are the only King forever, and we're worshiping God, and all of a sudden the windows are all open in this building, and we hear burn his horns going off, and they're out there bowing to Allah, and they're singing, and we're hearing their chanting, and we're singing to Jesus, and they're singing to Allah at the same time. 00:02:50.080 --> 00:02:52.080 We're like, we got the true God. 00:02:52.240 --> 00:03:00.159 We're like, and but can I tell you that this topic even would touch the Muslim? 00:03:01.680 --> 00:03:12.479 It would touch both unbeliever, or if you've been in church your entire life, this topic will touch you. 00:03:13.120 --> 00:03:14.879 So, what am I gonna talk about? 00:03:15.039 --> 00:03:17.599 Well, I'm gonna talk a little bit about the patriarchs. 00:03:17.919 --> 00:03:20.479 Anyone know who the patriarchs of the faith are? 00:03:20.800 --> 00:03:23.360 The original patriarchs, who are they? 00:03:24.000 --> 00:03:28.960 Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, later called what? 00:03:29.599 --> 00:03:30.240 Israel. 00:03:30.479 --> 00:03:31.120 Yeah. 00:03:31.759 --> 00:03:40.800 God shows up in Abraham's life, and he says, Abraham, or actually Abram, because he hadn't changed his name yet. 00:03:41.120 --> 00:03:44.400 He said, I'm gonna make you the father of many nations. 00:03:45.840 --> 00:03:48.080 In fact, I'm gonna bless you. 00:03:48.400 --> 00:03:53.520 And when I bless you, you're gonna bless all the nations of the world. 00:03:53.840 --> 00:04:01.039 Every nation on this planet is gonna be blessed to Abraham because I'm gonna bless you. 00:04:01.280 --> 00:04:05.199 I'm gonna bless you with the sun, I'm gonna bless you with the promise. 00:04:05.520 --> 00:04:07.680 You're gonna be my chosen people. 00:04:08.159 --> 00:04:08.960 How many know? 00:04:09.039 --> 00:04:14.479 They still, still today, Israel's around, still blessing the nations. 00:04:14.879 --> 00:04:16.639 He says, I'm gonna bless you. 00:04:16.879 --> 00:04:23.279 And Pastor Steve gets up here and he says, Hey, you came to church this morning. 00:04:23.360 --> 00:04:24.480 Good job. 00:04:25.040 --> 00:04:30.639 But just because you came to church doesn't mean that you're walking in the blessings of God. 00:04:30.959 --> 00:04:32.319 Here's what the Bible says. 00:04:32.480 --> 00:04:33.439 Here's what the Bible says. 00:04:33.600 --> 00:04:42.879 The Bible says, the thief cometh not, but for to kill, to steal, and to destroy. 00:04:43.360 --> 00:04:47.839 I am come that they might have life, and they might have it more what? 00:04:48.959 --> 00:04:50.000 Abundantly. 00:04:50.240 --> 00:04:51.600 How many of you are here? 00:04:51.839 --> 00:05:00.959 You could have been doing something else on Sunday morning, could have been shopping, could have been hiking, but we came this morning because of this promise, right? 00:05:01.199 --> 00:05:05.439 We don't want the blessing, we don't want the stealing, the killing, the hurting, the destroying. 00:05:05.519 --> 00:05:07.759 How many of you want the blessing? 00:05:08.000 --> 00:05:10.079 We want abundant life, right? 00:05:11.279 --> 00:05:15.759 So God shows up in Abraham's life and he says, I want to bless you. 00:05:16.000 --> 00:05:18.480 I want to give you abundant life. 00:05:18.959 --> 00:05:22.160 But there is only one problem. 00:05:23.759 --> 00:05:32.480 God shows up and speaks this promise to a man and a woman who can't have children. 00:05:33.439 --> 00:05:35.120 Have you ever thought about that? 00:05:35.920 --> 00:05:37.519 I want to bless you. 00:05:38.079 --> 00:05:40.639 You're gonna be the father of many nations. 00:05:41.600 --> 00:05:44.959 Oh, by the way, you're barren. 00:05:46.319 --> 00:05:49.360 Pastor Steve gets up here and he says, Hey, good for you. 00:05:49.600 --> 00:05:51.600 Way to make it to church this morning. 00:05:51.920 --> 00:05:53.680 But here's the key. 00:05:54.160 --> 00:06:01.040 If you really want to serve God and walk in abundant life, you gotta give God everything. 00:06:01.439 --> 00:06:08.240 Don't give him half your heart, don't give him 99% of your heart, give him your whole heart. 00:06:08.480 --> 00:06:10.480 I may have heard Pastor Steve say that. 00:06:10.800 --> 00:06:11.920 Be wholehearted. 00:06:12.160 --> 00:06:17.439 Tuesday morning, he's telling the guys, hey, you can't do this on your own. 00:06:17.759 --> 00:06:20.480 Why don't you, you've made a mess of things. 00:06:20.720 --> 00:06:28.000 Why don't you surrender, hand the reins over to Jesus and let him have a chance with your life? 00:06:28.160 --> 00:06:28.800 And guess what? 00:06:28.959 --> 00:06:29.920 You'll be blessed. 00:06:30.000 --> 00:06:31.120 You'll be better for it. 00:06:31.279 --> 00:06:34.560 How many came to church so that you could end up better? 00:06:34.879 --> 00:06:35.360 All right? 00:06:35.519 --> 00:06:37.120 That's why we're here, right? 00:06:37.680 --> 00:06:48.160 The only problem is that sometimes God will show up and He'll ask you to do things that seem impossible. 00:06:49.040 --> 00:06:59.040 Point one of my message is this God will ask you to believe things that seem impossible. 00:07:00.480 --> 00:07:04.879 You mean I give my life to Jesus. 00:07:05.759 --> 00:07:08.560 I don't belong to myself anymore. 00:07:09.759 --> 00:07:11.839 I hand him the reins. 00:07:12.560 --> 00:07:16.560 I'm not in control, and that's better. 00:07:19.120 --> 00:07:21.199 That's the way I'm supposed to live this life? 00:07:21.439 --> 00:07:22.879 Doesn't make sense. 00:07:23.519 --> 00:07:28.399 And that is the great oxymoron called the gospel. 00:07:29.680 --> 00:07:31.759 It's counterintuitive. 00:07:32.000 --> 00:07:36.000 In our mind, we cannot wrap our minds around it. 00:07:36.240 --> 00:07:37.759 It doesn't make sense. 00:07:38.000 --> 00:07:39.759 Less is more, more is less. 00:07:39.920 --> 00:07:40.399 What? 00:07:41.600 --> 00:07:42.879 Have you heard this scripture? 00:07:43.040 --> 00:07:44.319 Matthew 16. 00:07:45.120 --> 00:07:48.720 For whoever will save his life shall lose it. 00:07:49.680 --> 00:07:54.079 But whoever will lose his life, for my sake, shall what? 00:07:55.040 --> 00:07:56.000 Find it. 00:07:56.399 --> 00:07:57.040 What? 00:07:58.319 --> 00:08:02.959 So I'm gonna lose and I'm gonna find. 00:08:03.600 --> 00:08:07.759 And then I'm gonna, if I find, then I'm gonna lose. 00:08:10.000 --> 00:08:12.000 What are you talking about? 00:08:12.959 --> 00:08:15.040 It doesn't make any sense. 00:08:15.600 --> 00:08:17.360 It doesn't compute. 00:08:18.639 --> 00:08:24.079 Abraham, I'm gonna bless you and make you the father of many nations, but your wife is barren. 00:08:24.720 --> 00:08:36.720 Sometimes God will ask us to believe things that in our minds and in our flesh and in our humanity seem utterly impossible. 00:08:38.000 --> 00:08:40.159 Have you read the Sermon on the Mount? 00:08:40.639 --> 00:08:48.559 Matthew 5 through 7, incredible, probably Jesus' most famous sermon that he spoke throughout the whole New Testament. 00:08:49.200 --> 00:08:50.159 He says this. 00:08:50.399 --> 00:08:55.200 He says, But I say unto you, love your enemies. 00:08:55.679 --> 00:08:57.919 Bless those that curse you. 00:08:58.639 --> 00:09:06.559 Do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you and persecute you. 00:09:07.039 --> 00:09:07.679 What? 00:09:08.320 --> 00:09:09.759 What are you talking about? 00:09:10.000 --> 00:09:12.080 Somebody's alarm is going off. 00:09:13.600 --> 00:09:15.360 Take your pill or whatever you need to do. 00:09:15.519 --> 00:09:17.120 All right, okay, all right. 00:09:17.679 --> 00:09:19.120 Just turn it off. 00:09:19.759 --> 00:09:22.399 And it doesn't make any sense at all, right? 00:09:22.960 --> 00:09:32.639 You mean I you mean you're asking me the people that despitefully use me and hurt me and persecute me. 00:09:32.799 --> 00:09:36.080 You want me to love them and not hate them? 00:09:36.399 --> 00:09:42.240 When everything within me tells me the right thing to do is to lash out and get revenge. 00:09:42.799 --> 00:09:46.000 Oh, and by the way, he goes on to say this in Luke 6. 00:09:46.159 --> 00:09:51.519 He says, if someone slaps you on the cheek, turn the other cheek also. 00:09:52.240 --> 00:09:57.279 Do good to them that hate you, and pray for them, which despitefully use- I'm sorry. 00:09:57.519 --> 00:10:01.919 If someone takes your coat, do not withhold your shirt from them also. 00:10:02.399 --> 00:10:08.000 So if somebody slaps you on the cheek, he says, give them the other one also. 00:10:08.159 --> 00:10:09.120 Give me another one. 00:10:09.279 --> 00:10:09.919 Come on. 00:10:10.240 --> 00:10:14.799 Somebody takes your coat, say, Hey, you want my shirt too? 00:10:15.600 --> 00:10:18.399 How many think this sound sounds crazy to you? 00:10:18.559 --> 00:10:20.960 I mean, am I the only one? 00:10:21.600 --> 00:10:24.240 It it doesn't make any sense at all. 00:10:25.279 --> 00:10:37.279 In fact, he goes on all through the Beatitudes at the very beginning of his sermon, and he says things like, Blessed are they that mourn. 00:10:39.279 --> 00:10:39.600 Huh? 00:10:39.759 --> 00:10:40.320 Come again? 00:10:40.480 --> 00:10:41.120 What? 00:10:42.159 --> 00:10:44.320 Blessed are they that mourn? 00:10:45.840 --> 00:10:48.639 For they shall be comforted. 00:10:49.679 --> 00:11:07.759 And then he goes all down the line, the peacemakers, all the way down to the to the end of the Beatitudes, and he says, Hey, blessed are you when men persecute you, when they say all manner of evil against you, when they revile you, when they oppress you. 00:11:08.879 --> 00:11:09.919 Rejoice. 00:11:11.519 --> 00:11:14.000 Can you imagine being in the crowd that day? 00:11:14.559 --> 00:11:18.399 He's like, rejoice and be exceedingly glad. 00:11:18.639 --> 00:11:20.399 And everybody's like, what? 00:11:21.679 --> 00:11:26.159 Literally, there's Roman guards roaming around watching the crowd. 00:11:27.200 --> 00:11:40.720 The Israelites are oppressed, ridiculed, persecuted, and he's saying, Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven. 00:11:41.840 --> 00:11:47.279 Sometimes God will ask you to believe things that seem impossible. 00:11:47.840 --> 00:11:52.000 And that's exactly what many of you have done. 00:11:53.039 --> 00:12:11.360 If you remember, if you didn't grow up around this thing, if you didn't grow up around church, maybe you're a first-generation Christian, came into the house of God for the first time, and somebody got up and began to preach and tell you, hey, give your life away. 00:12:12.080 --> 00:12:13.519 Jesus loves you. 00:12:13.759 --> 00:12:16.080 Give him your life, trust him with your life. 00:12:16.240 --> 00:12:23.759 And you're like, oh, I don't know, I don't know, but something inside of you said, Hey, this way is better. 00:12:23.919 --> 00:12:25.360 This way is better. 00:12:25.759 --> 00:12:27.519 The way you've been going isn't better. 00:12:27.679 --> 00:12:29.200 This way is better. 00:12:30.000 --> 00:12:39.759 And then you finally give in, even though it doesn't make a lick of sense, and you don't understand everything about the Bible, and you're confused about some of the things that are even being said. 00:12:40.000 --> 00:12:46.639 How many of you would say, When you gave your life to Jesus, my life got better? 00:12:46.879 --> 00:12:47.919 Raise your hand. 00:12:48.399 --> 00:12:49.039 Right? 00:12:49.519 --> 00:12:51.759 But it's counterintuitive, right? 00:12:52.159 --> 00:12:54.879 It's the oxymoron of the gospel. 00:12:55.360 --> 00:13:03.759 It doesn't make compute, it doesn't make sense, but we give our life away, and how many know that we gain everything? 00:13:04.799 --> 00:13:06.720 So I'm gonna give a caveat. 00:13:06.960 --> 00:13:11.039 I'm gonna give, let's say, an add-on to point one. 00:13:11.120 --> 00:13:11.919 Is that okay? 00:13:12.080 --> 00:13:13.279 Let me remind you too. 00:13:13.440 --> 00:13:15.279 I've not told you the topic yet. 00:13:15.519 --> 00:13:15.840 Okay? 00:13:16.080 --> 00:13:17.519 We don't know the topic. 00:13:17.679 --> 00:13:21.600 I haven't given you the title, but here's point number two. 00:13:22.320 --> 00:13:31.759 God will ask us to believe things that seem impossible without his help. 00:13:32.559 --> 00:13:34.080 Let me say it one more time. 00:13:34.399 --> 00:13:43.039 God will ask you to believe things that seem impossible without his help. 00:13:44.559 --> 00:13:51.519 So that loving our enemy's part, glorying and rejoicing in persecution. 00:13:52.799 --> 00:13:57.919 Abraham, you're gonna be blessed and bless the nations. 00:13:58.480 --> 00:14:00.240 This is my promise to you. 00:14:00.720 --> 00:14:02.080 Yet your wife is barren. 00:14:02.240 --> 00:14:08.960 How many know that sometimes God will ask us to believe things that in our minds seem utterly insane? 00:14:10.240 --> 00:14:12.080 But we have his help, right? 00:14:12.960 --> 00:14:17.679 And we can do it because he empowers us to do it. 00:14:18.080 --> 00:14:21.440 And this is exactly what God did in Abraham's life. 00:14:22.399 --> 00:14:26.480 He says, Believe me, trust me. 00:14:27.279 --> 00:14:29.039 And Abraham does. 00:14:29.440 --> 00:14:36.799 In fact, at the very beginning, he tells Abraham, pack up your stuff and go to a new land. 00:14:37.519 --> 00:14:39.919 And Abraham's like, Well, where are we going? 00:14:40.080 --> 00:14:42.720 And he says, I'll tell you when you get there. 00:14:44.879 --> 00:14:46.159 Um, okay. 00:14:47.200 --> 00:14:48.960 But Abraham does it. 00:14:49.440 --> 00:14:52.000 He actually believes what God said. 00:14:52.559 --> 00:14:57.440 Packs up his stuff, they begin to move, and he says, I'm gonna take you to this promised land. 00:14:57.679 --> 00:14:59.759 I'm gonna take you into a new thing. 00:14:59.919 --> 00:15:04.399 And in fact, your child is gonna bless all the nations. 00:15:04.639 --> 00:15:08.240 And Abraham believes him, and he trusts him. 00:15:08.480 --> 00:15:13.519 And Sarah gets pregnant in Abraham and Sarah's old age. 00:15:13.679 --> 00:15:17.840 How many know they gave birth to a son, and his name was Isaac? 00:15:18.399 --> 00:15:20.320 The promise is coming. 00:15:20.720 --> 00:15:22.639 The promise is happening. 00:15:23.440 --> 00:15:24.799 It's come to pass. 00:15:25.519 --> 00:15:26.159 It's good. 00:15:26.240 --> 00:15:28.240 I gave my life to Jesus, and you know what? 00:15:28.399 --> 00:15:30.159 Life is getting better. 00:15:30.480 --> 00:15:38.559 Yeah, I mean, I'm a first-generation Christian, and you know, I'm still learning a lot, and I'm still learning how to, you know, love people the way Jesus loves people. 00:15:38.720 --> 00:15:40.240 I'm learning about God's love. 00:15:40.320 --> 00:15:43.519 And man, but I just feel such peace. 00:15:43.840 --> 00:15:53.200 I know people have told me when they come to Christ for the first time, it's like their life went from black and white to high definition color. 00:15:54.480 --> 00:16:00.320 It was like they took in a breath and breathes for the first time. 00:16:00.559 --> 00:16:03.919 Whoa, my life has meaning now. 00:16:04.159 --> 00:16:04.799 Wow. 00:16:05.679 --> 00:16:08.000 And Abraham's believing God. 00:16:08.240 --> 00:16:13.279 The child comes, the promise is coming to pass, everything is going good. 00:16:13.440 --> 00:16:17.360 And then Isaac has a son, and his name was Jacob. 00:16:18.000 --> 00:16:20.639 And then it really starts taking off. 00:16:20.879 --> 00:16:32.000 And Jacob believes God, encounters God, wrestles with God, did some screwy things and some stuff that he shouldn't, deceive some people, but God wrestles him down. 00:16:32.320 --> 00:16:35.279 He starts having sons, he has 12 sons. 00:16:35.440 --> 00:16:39.519 I won't name them all because I can't pronounce them, but there's 12 of them. 00:16:39.759 --> 00:16:43.360 One of them was named Joseph, and the last one was named Benjamin. 00:16:43.440 --> 00:16:44.399 I know that. 00:16:44.799 --> 00:16:48.320 And he has all 12 of these sons. 00:16:49.919 --> 00:17:01.200 And now, as the promise is coming to pass, and Jacob's sons, by this time, his name is Israel. 00:17:01.440 --> 00:17:18.000 Israel's sons are now having sons, and they're becoming a nation, and the promise is happening, and we're serving God, and we're being faithful, and we're going after the things of God, and we're serving in the church, and we're learning and we're growing. 00:17:18.240 --> 00:17:23.200 All of a sudden, let me give you the title of my message. 00:17:24.720 --> 00:17:28.720 Dealing with disappointment. 00:17:29.759 --> 00:17:32.079 That's what God told me this week. 00:17:33.839 --> 00:17:36.880 I'm like, Lord, you must have another topic. 00:17:37.599 --> 00:17:39.039 Anything else? 00:17:39.440 --> 00:17:42.000 He said, No, this is what I want you to talk about. 00:17:43.680 --> 00:17:47.440 Dealing with disappointment. 00:17:48.640 --> 00:17:52.319 All of a sudden, you're serving God. 00:17:53.759 --> 00:17:56.880 God's promises are being fulfilled. 00:17:58.720 --> 00:18:00.319 You're trucking, man. 00:18:01.039 --> 00:18:04.480 And then something comes along and wham. 00:18:05.519 --> 00:18:07.359 It blindsides you. 00:18:08.720 --> 00:18:12.079 And just knocks you and throws you for a loop. 00:18:12.480 --> 00:18:15.680 And you're like, I didn't what just happened? 00:18:15.759 --> 00:18:19.839 I I didn't I didn't see that coming. 00:18:21.759 --> 00:18:23.119 God, you promised. 00:18:24.880 --> 00:18:27.279 You promised all these good things. 00:18:29.200 --> 00:18:37.839 But then all of a sudden you find yourself facing something that is very disappointing. 00:18:38.880 --> 00:18:40.559 And it shakes you. 00:18:41.519 --> 00:18:43.680 And it tests your faith. 00:18:44.400 --> 00:18:47.200 And it says, okay, big boy. 00:18:48.480 --> 00:18:50.319 Let's see what you're made of. 00:18:50.640 --> 00:18:56.480 Let's take you from childhood to adulthood. 00:18:56.799 --> 00:18:58.960 Let's mature your faith. 00:18:59.839 --> 00:19:02.000 You've had a certain level of faith. 00:19:02.160 --> 00:19:05.599 You've had a certain level of relationship with me. 00:19:05.759 --> 00:19:08.880 Let's see if you cannot just endure in the good times. 00:19:09.119 --> 00:19:14.160 Let's see if you can endure in the midst of disappointment. 00:19:15.119 --> 00:19:18.559 And this is exactly what Jacob encounters. 00:19:19.039 --> 00:19:22.480 All of a sudden, it'll come up on the screen here. 00:19:22.720 --> 00:19:27.759 It's just a regular day, no different from any others. 00:19:28.160 --> 00:19:36.480 So when Joseph came to his brothers, they stripped him of his robe, the Ornite robe he was wearing. 00:19:36.720 --> 00:19:39.680 And they took him and they threw him into a cistern. 00:19:40.079 --> 00:19:51.599 So when the Midianite merchants came by, his brothers pulled Joseph out of the cistern and sold him for 20 shekels of silver to the Ishmaelites, who took him to Egypt. 00:19:52.960 --> 00:19:59.279 Then they got Joseph's robe, slaughtered a goat, and dipped the robe in the blood. 00:19:59.680 --> 00:20:05.440 They took the ornate robe back to the father and said, We found this. 00:20:06.160 --> 00:20:07.359 Examine it. 00:20:07.839 --> 00:20:10.640 See whether this is your son's robe. 00:20:11.440 --> 00:20:14.480 Jacob recognizes it immediately. 00:20:14.799 --> 00:20:17.680 Of course, that's the robe I gave my son. 00:20:18.160 --> 00:20:20.160 It is my son's robe. 00:20:20.480 --> 00:20:24.880 Some ferocious animal must have devoured him. 00:20:25.279 --> 00:20:28.559 Joseph has surely been torn to pieces. 00:20:29.039 --> 00:20:36.319 Then Jacob tore his clothes, put sackcloth, mourned for his sons many days. 00:20:37.279 --> 00:20:42.960 Blessed are those who mourn. 00:20:44.960 --> 00:20:47.519 For they shall be comforted. 00:20:49.119 --> 00:20:50.640 Is that really true? 00:20:52.480 --> 00:20:54.960 Or is it just is that a good concept? 00:20:55.119 --> 00:20:56.240 Is that a good theory? 00:20:56.559 --> 00:20:59.680 No, you won't understand it until you walk through it. 00:21:01.680 --> 00:21:05.200 And here, Jacob is walking through it. 00:21:06.799 --> 00:21:12.720 I had twelve sons, but all of a sudden one is no more. 00:21:13.519 --> 00:21:15.119 I was humming, man. 00:21:15.440 --> 00:21:16.640 We were trucking. 00:21:16.880 --> 00:21:19.039 The promises of God are happening. 00:21:36.240 --> 00:21:49.039 Point number three is this in the midst of believing God's promises, everyone deals with loss and disappointment. 00:21:50.960 --> 00:21:52.720 Pastor Steve deals with it. 00:21:54.160 --> 00:21:55.359 I've dealt with it. 00:21:56.480 --> 00:21:59.039 You've been serving God your whole life, you've dealt with it. 00:22:00.000 --> 00:22:02.160 The unbeliever deals with it. 00:22:03.599 --> 00:22:06.960 Every person you've encountered has dealt with it. 00:22:07.519 --> 00:22:09.519 What are you going to do with it? 00:22:09.920 --> 00:22:19.599 What are you going to do with it when you prayed and believed and walked with this better life and then all of a sudden find yourself disappointed? 00:22:20.480 --> 00:22:22.160 What are you going to do then? 00:22:23.599 --> 00:22:25.359 Some of you have heard my story. 00:22:25.759 --> 00:22:30.640 I've spoken, I don't know, five, six, seven times since I've been on staff here. 00:22:32.240 --> 00:22:35.279 I've encountered a lot of disappointment in my life. 00:22:35.599 --> 00:22:38.400 Starting at age eight, sexually abused. 00:22:39.279 --> 00:22:45.039 Somebody in my father, who was the pastor of his church, abused me three years. 00:22:45.920 --> 00:22:53.200 Threw me into a kind of a tailspin that took me several years to get out of. 00:22:54.079 --> 00:22:56.640 But I I know disappointment. 00:22:57.440 --> 00:23:00.240 Maybe you've encountered a failed marriage. 00:23:07.039 --> 00:23:09.359 And they were dissolving a marriage. 00:23:10.000 --> 00:23:20.640 And they just sat there kind of contemplating this message I was going to speak, and I thought, man, I bet these two individuals never dreamed they'd be sitting here right now. 00:23:22.000 --> 00:23:27.119 They gave their hearts to one another, and then all of a sudden they find themselves here. 00:23:30.319 --> 00:23:32.640 Maybe it's a failed business. 00:23:34.960 --> 00:23:36.799 Maybe COVID. 00:23:37.119 --> 00:23:39.119 Maybe COVID ruined it for you. 00:23:39.440 --> 00:23:43.359 Man, I was building something, we were trucking, and then all of a sudden, wham. 00:23:45.279 --> 00:23:46.720 Disappointment. 00:23:47.200 --> 00:23:53.839 Maybe you lose your job, you know, or a career path, or you're headed a certain direction. 00:23:54.000 --> 00:23:58.240 I was thinking about athletes that are training to go pro. 00:23:58.960 --> 00:24:00.559 How many have heard this story? 00:24:00.720 --> 00:24:02.160 Man, I was on my way. 00:24:02.319 --> 00:24:09.759 I was in my third year of college at a Division I school, and then all of a sudden I blew my knee out and my career is over. 00:24:09.839 --> 00:24:11.599 How many have heard that story? 00:24:11.920 --> 00:24:13.200 Can you imagine? 00:24:14.480 --> 00:24:15.759 Can you imagine? 00:24:16.400 --> 00:24:22.319 This is where I'm going, but my body says, uh-uh, nope, not gonna happen. 00:24:22.799 --> 00:24:23.440 Whoa. 00:24:24.559 --> 00:24:25.200 Whoa. 00:24:25.440 --> 00:24:26.799 Disappointment. 00:24:27.279 --> 00:24:36.000 Maybe that son, that daughter, maybe you're a first generation Christian, and you're like, man, it's not gonna be like it was in my childhood. 00:24:36.160 --> 00:24:38.079 I'm bringing my kids to church, man. 00:24:38.160 --> 00:24:39.359 We're gonna we're gonna serve it. 00:24:39.519 --> 00:24:43.839 As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. 00:24:44.079 --> 00:24:51.200 And then they grow up, and then all of a sudden, they're questioning their faith. 00:24:52.319 --> 00:24:55.039 And they're not wanting to come to church anymore. 00:24:56.960 --> 00:24:58.400 Disappointment. 00:24:59.279 --> 00:25:03.839 Maybe that dream you hope for seemingly dies. 00:25:04.960 --> 00:25:10.160 Told the story of the conference that I did in the DFW area. 00:25:10.240 --> 00:25:18.720 It was this massive regional conference, and then my pastor came in and kind of took it from me and then fired me. 00:25:18.799 --> 00:25:23.759 And it was just a really, really hard situation to go through. 00:25:23.920 --> 00:25:30.480 And I literally, at that point, God speaks to me and he says, Go plant a church in San Diego. 00:25:30.640 --> 00:25:33.039 I'm like, I thought I was gonna be doing that. 00:25:33.119 --> 00:25:35.039 And he said, No, go do this. 00:25:37.119 --> 00:25:41.119 And it was, it was really kind of the death of a dream for me. 00:25:41.599 --> 00:25:44.000 But how many know that God is a restorer? 00:25:44.799 --> 00:25:47.599 How many know that we have a worship conference here now? 00:25:47.920 --> 00:25:52.240 And he has ways of kind of turning it all around and bringing things full circle. 00:25:52.559 --> 00:25:55.519 Maybe you felt like God had a ministry for you. 00:25:56.079 --> 00:26:04.640 I was gonna go to the nations, or I was gonna start this ministry, or we're gonna do this for God, and you tried and it didn't seem to happen. 00:26:04.880 --> 00:26:06.960 Can I give you three, just three? 00:26:07.039 --> 00:26:08.720 I could give you ten, okay? 00:26:08.880 --> 00:26:13.440 I could give you twenty things to do to deal with disappointment. 00:26:13.519 --> 00:26:14.960 But I'm gonna narrow it down to three. 00:26:15.039 --> 00:26:17.200 Is that okay this morning for time's sake? 00:26:17.440 --> 00:26:29.200 Three things to do when you find yourself blindsided and in the midst of incredible, maybe even life-shaking disappointment. 00:26:29.440 --> 00:26:35.119 Letter A is this don't give up praying. 00:26:35.440 --> 00:26:36.079 Amen. 00:26:37.839 --> 00:26:39.759 Here's what 1 Thessalonians says. 00:26:39.839 --> 00:26:42.400 It says this rejoice always. 00:26:42.880 --> 00:26:44.960 Pray without ceasing. 00:26:45.359 --> 00:26:51.119 Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is the will of God in Jesus Christ for you. 00:26:51.839 --> 00:27:01.599 You know, as a pastor, for years and years people have come to me and they've said, Brian, it's not that I don't want to do God's will. 00:27:02.640 --> 00:27:05.920 I just have no idea what God's will is. 00:27:06.000 --> 00:27:06.960 Have you ever heard of that? 00:27:07.119 --> 00:27:08.240 You ever thought that? 00:27:09.200 --> 00:27:12.559 If you would just tell me what to do, I would do it. 00:27:13.519 --> 00:27:14.480 You ready? 00:27:15.039 --> 00:27:16.880 Can I give you God's will? 00:27:18.160 --> 00:27:20.000 Rejoice always. 00:27:21.119 --> 00:27:23.119 Pray without ceasing. 00:27:24.160 --> 00:27:35.359 Give thanks in all good, bad, ugly circumstances. 00:27:36.319 --> 00:27:41.839 For this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 00:27:42.240 --> 00:27:44.000 Now you know God's will. 00:27:45.680 --> 00:27:50.640 Hebrews 11:6 says this, but without faith it is impossible to please him. 00:27:51.200 --> 00:27:58.480 For he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of those who what? 00:27:59.759 --> 00:28:10.240 Diligently seek him, who keep after it, keep praying, keep believing. 00:28:10.480 --> 00:28:14.559 Abraham, I'm gonna bless you with the sun, but your wife is barren. 00:28:14.799 --> 00:28:24.400 He kept believing, and then all of a sudden it happens, and God comes through, and God, that suddenly moment comes. 00:28:24.640 --> 00:28:26.799 So I mesh these two verses together. 00:28:27.039 --> 00:28:33.279 1 Thessalonians 5, Hebrews 11, and you can write this down just as a, I don't know, a mantra. 00:28:33.359 --> 00:28:33.759 Here we go. 00:28:33.920 --> 00:28:37.119 This is what you do if you're disappointed, if you're discouraged. 00:28:37.680 --> 00:28:39.759 Don't cease praying. 00:28:40.640 --> 00:28:47.920 Pray by faith, seek God diligently, and you will be rewarded. 00:28:48.000 --> 00:28:49.279 I'm gonna say it one more time. 00:28:49.519 --> 00:28:52.559 Don't cease praying by faith. 00:28:53.200 --> 00:28:59.279 Seek God diligently, and you will be rewarded. 00:28:59.440 --> 00:29:00.960 Do you believe that this morning? 00:29:02.720 --> 00:29:04.480 Don't stop praying. 00:29:05.839 --> 00:29:07.839 Don't stop believing. 00:29:08.799 --> 00:29:11.200 Even in the midst of disappointment. 00:29:12.000 --> 00:29:13.359 Keep after it. 00:29:14.240 --> 00:29:15.599 Keep praying. 00:29:16.480 --> 00:29:18.079 Keep believing. 00:29:18.640 --> 00:29:20.960 Because we know that the story is not over. 00:29:21.519 --> 00:29:22.559 Letter B. 00:29:23.119 --> 00:29:26.720 Praise and worship your way out of it. 00:29:27.200 --> 00:29:28.000 Praise. 00:29:28.559 --> 00:29:31.920 I know you guys knew I was gonna say this one because I'm the worship leader here. 00:29:32.000 --> 00:29:32.799 All right, okay. 00:29:33.119 --> 00:29:36.559 You're like, I knew it would come to this eventually, alright? 00:29:36.880 --> 00:29:41.519 In fact, I think a couple sermons ago that I spoke, I spoke on this passage. 00:29:41.599 --> 00:29:45.279 I'm not gonna say any of the verses, but you can read it yourself. 00:29:45.440 --> 00:29:48.640 Acts 16, verses 16 through 40. 00:29:48.720 --> 00:29:52.000 We know that Paul and Silas are in jail. 00:29:53.440 --> 00:29:57.039 And uh it's pretty bad. 00:29:57.599 --> 00:30:01.599 But at midnight, they get this thought. 00:30:01.920 --> 00:30:09.599 Hey, we can't help where we're at, but we can help our attitude. 00:30:11.359 --> 00:30:14.480 You are the only king forever. 00:30:15.279 --> 00:30:18.400 Almighty God, we lift you higher. 00:30:18.720 --> 00:30:21.359 You are the only king forever. 00:30:21.519 --> 00:30:36.799 And they start singing, and they're singing in jail, they're singing in disappointment, they're singing in their circumstances, they're singing and worshiping and praising and glorifying God in the midst of the jail. 00:30:37.279 --> 00:30:39.599 Bible says something starts to rumble. 00:30:40.240 --> 00:30:42.559