WEBVTT 00:00:00.160 --> 00:00:02.080 Thank you for joining us for After the Message. 00:00:02.240 --> 00:00:12.720 To learn more about Celebration Church here in Orlando, you can follow us on social media under the handle at Celebration ORL or visit our website at celebrationorl.org. 00:00:15.839 --> 00:00:20.399 Ladies and gentlemen, this is what happens when after the message and equip collide. 00:00:20.559 --> 00:00:20.800 Yes. 00:00:21.039 --> 00:00:23.199 We get after the series. 00:00:23.440 --> 00:00:23.920 I don't know. 00:00:24.000 --> 00:00:24.719 I just made that up. 00:00:24.800 --> 00:00:25.199 Anyways. 00:00:25.440 --> 00:00:26.879 No, that's that could be a thing. 00:00:27.199 --> 00:00:27.600 After the series? 00:00:27.760 --> 00:00:28.399 It could be a thing. 00:00:28.559 --> 00:00:28.879 All right. 00:00:29.280 --> 00:00:31.280 Like you're you're you're gifted. 00:00:32.240 --> 00:00:38.000 Welcome to the Celebration Church Orlando podcast, the Celebration Church Orlando YouTube page. 00:00:38.960 --> 00:00:44.320 We are, for context's sake, coming out of a series called Deconstructed. 00:00:44.479 --> 00:00:45.039 Yes. 00:00:45.280 --> 00:00:52.560 And uh as part of that series, we're gonna have a two-part um equip podcast. 00:00:52.799 --> 00:00:53.200 Yeah. 00:00:53.520 --> 00:00:58.079 Um, answering some questions that uh people from our church have submitted. 00:00:58.799 --> 00:01:07.200 Um maybe some tough questions, some questions that um they would like to get our lead pastor, Pastor Keith Pittman's insight on. 00:01:07.519 --> 00:01:10.159 I'm sorry, I thought I was interviewing you and you were providing the answers. 00:01:10.480 --> 00:01:11.200 We can do that. 00:01:11.439 --> 00:01:15.359 This will be very short and it'll be one part, but we can do that. 00:01:16.400 --> 00:01:18.480 Um talk about the series a little bit. 00:01:18.560 --> 00:01:24.319 Like how was it for you, and now that we're on the other side of it and getting ready to answer some of these questions. 00:01:24.640 --> 00:01:26.959 Man, um it's it's been amazing. 00:01:27.120 --> 00:01:29.439 I've I've I've loved it every every step of the way. 00:01:29.519 --> 00:01:35.200 Because I mean it's it allows us to to tackle these weighty topics that I feel like are super important. 00:01:35.599 --> 00:01:53.680 Um, but man, it it it took a toll, like just the weight of kind of entering into this space and really, really wrestling and grappling um these weighty subjects and and and trying to presence it in a way that that honors people but puts God at the forefront, but doesn't like put a biblical band-aid on things. 00:01:53.760 --> 00:01:57.439 So um I always will believe in the power of God. 00:01:57.519 --> 00:02:03.760 I will always have a hope-filled perspective, but this this series allowed us to presence the pain a lot more. 00:02:04.000 --> 00:02:07.680 And um, but I've been inspired by seeing the response from it. 00:02:07.840 --> 00:02:15.360 So I I think as a pastor, specifically in in our current context in our modern day, we we think that people can handle these things. 00:02:15.439 --> 00:02:18.560 And so it's just been eye-opening that as we're like, oh, should we talk about it? 00:02:18.639 --> 00:02:19.360 Should we say that? 00:02:19.520 --> 00:02:20.879 We're actually seeing more people respond. 00:02:20.960 --> 00:02:36.560 Like, yes, please, let's talk about it because we're so tired of the the Bible band-aids, the quick fixes, the one-liners, the three points that um I think people want things that's gonna allow them to have a thicker um belief in God based off of a real um a thicker gospel that can handle the weight of our questions. 00:02:36.800 --> 00:02:37.120 Yeah. 00:02:37.280 --> 00:02:51.039 And and that's kind of been the feedback that I've got even was gratitude from from from our congregation, just like uh thanking us for for being able to have these conversations in the context of a church setting. 00:02:51.199 --> 00:02:52.639 So uh it's been good. 00:02:52.800 --> 00:02:54.639 Um you want to jump right in? 00:02:55.039 --> 00:02:55.759 Let's do it, man. 00:02:55.840 --> 00:02:56.319 All right, cool. 00:02:56.479 --> 00:02:57.120 Just jump in, man. 00:02:57.199 --> 00:02:57.680 Both feet. 00:02:58.000 --> 00:03:08.240 So so the the first question is what books or authors or resources would you recommend to dive deeper into the topics that we've covered in our deconstructed series? 00:03:08.639 --> 00:03:11.840 So I I would I don't have a ton of different books. 00:03:12.000 --> 00:03:22.240 Um I I you know, for me, the subject matter spoke to itself, spoke for itself, and then having an opportunity to to talk to friends and family members who are walking through deconstruction. 00:03:22.319 --> 00:03:31.759 So, what inspired me to really want to like delve into it after knowing the reality of people was really just reading the After Doubt book by um Dr. 00:03:31.840 --> 00:03:32.159 A.J. 00:03:32.240 --> 00:03:35.919 Swoboda, which we had on After the Message, which you did a phenomenal job of interviewing. 00:03:36.000 --> 00:03:46.800 So I do think reading that book, if anyone hasn't had an opportunity to get it and read that, um, I think it does a phenomenal job at going even deeper and expounding on things that we didn't even touch on. 00:03:46.960 --> 00:03:47.680 So that's a good one. 00:03:47.840 --> 00:03:50.159 But another one that I wrote down is similar. 00:03:50.240 --> 00:03:55.120 It's called Faith After Doubt, and it's written by uh a gentleman named David Um McLaren. 00:03:55.360 --> 00:04:02.960 And it seems as if all a lot of his writings deal with doubt and and pain and suffering and trying to understand Jesus in the midst of all of that stuff. 00:04:03.039 --> 00:04:09.599 So um, I haven't read all of his stuff, but I glimpsed at some of it, and I found that his writings seem to be speaking towards that stuff as well. 00:04:09.680 --> 00:04:16.399 So I think it could be really cool if people wanted to expound on it more that those are probably two authors and um books that I would recommend. 00:04:16.720 --> 00:04:18.160 You mind if I throw one out there? 00:04:18.319 --> 00:04:18.800 Yeah, please. 00:04:19.040 --> 00:04:21.040 The Reason for God by Timothy Keller. 00:04:21.279 --> 00:04:21.519 Yes. 00:04:21.680 --> 00:04:28.160 Um is a really good book, and it and it it he attempts to answer a lot of those questions like why does God cause suffering? 00:04:28.399 --> 00:04:28.480 Yeah. 00:04:28.720 --> 00:04:31.360 Why are there bad things that uh happen to good people? 00:04:31.439 --> 00:04:32.639 So I think that's a good one too. 00:04:32.800 --> 00:04:41.279 And I also think just sometimes our doubt can come from a lack of um understanding or even knowledge. 00:04:41.519 --> 00:04:52.160 And so, you know, even um like the Bible project, like just learning more about scripture and its original context and stuff can actually help us along our faith journeys. 00:04:52.639 --> 00:04:52.959 Absolutely. 00:04:53.120 --> 00:04:54.240 I agree with that 100%. 00:04:54.720 --> 00:04:56.240 So um so I would say this. 00:04:56.399 --> 00:04:58.879 Um I'm not sure if you ever heard of this guy, Timothy Keller. 00:04:59.120 --> 00:05:02.720 He has a phenomenal book that I think we should definitely check out, and then the Bible project. 00:05:02.800 --> 00:05:07.680 So um uh question number two. 00:05:08.079 --> 00:05:16.560 Um, so what are some practical uh coping mechanisms that are scripturally sound for dealing with disappointment uh and suffering? 00:05:16.720 --> 00:05:28.959 Uh this person says that they're used to uh using unhealthy coping mechanisms that are sinful because they soothe the flesh, but but what are what's a practical way for them to do that in in a healthy biblical manner? 00:05:29.519 --> 00:05:32.959 Man, I think um there's there's a couple of things. 00:05:33.120 --> 00:05:43.040 So as we talk about everything that we're gonna talk about over the next two sessions, you know, for for me I want to be, you know, there's there's a there's a thing of saying, okay, like question and answer. 00:05:43.439 --> 00:05:47.680 So so for me, here's here's my response to this, and I'm gonna say this to the camera. 00:05:47.839 --> 00:05:52.399 Um, I'm going to give you a biblical answer, but I'm going to give you a pastoral response. 00:05:52.560 --> 00:05:52.800 Okay. 00:05:52.959 --> 00:06:01.120 So there are going to be some things that I will give you what the Bible says, but then just try my best to give context as as I know through experience. 00:06:01.199 --> 00:06:06.639 And so the biblical answer um is it's it's found in scripture. 00:06:06.879 --> 00:06:20.079 So I'll reference uh Galatians chapter number five, and and verses 16 through 27 kind of basically presents this tension of walking in the flesh versus walking in the spirit, that tension that it creates. 00:06:20.240 --> 00:06:32.240 And so, one, I think it's being aware, and so I certainly commend that individual being aware of, hey, my coping mechanisms are things that aren't healthy, there are things that aren't good for me, it's something that I retreat to. 00:06:32.480 --> 00:06:39.279 So I I know for for me, the word of God was crucial um with even changing my behavior. 00:06:39.360 --> 00:06:43.600 And I know that seems like an oversimplification to say, like, man, I'm struggling with this. 00:06:43.680 --> 00:06:44.319 What should I do? 00:06:44.480 --> 00:06:45.040 Read the Bible. 00:06:45.199 --> 00:06:46.399 Like, like I get it. 00:06:46.560 --> 00:06:54.560 Um, but honestly, when the Bible speaks about the renewing of our minds, like really, really immersing ourselves in scripture, I can only speak from my own experience. 00:06:54.639 --> 00:07:04.560 It really does work, it really does help you to rethink things, even seeing where scripture says flee um from the lusts of the flesh, flee from the like those are things that are important. 00:07:04.639 --> 00:07:11.920 But practically speaking, I'd also would say um being aware of your triggers, um, just being aware of those things. 00:07:12.000 --> 00:07:19.199 And so a lot of times there's there's that moment where we kind of cross that threshold where we we realize that we're vulnerable. 00:07:19.360 --> 00:07:23.920 So so for me, I think being self-aware is super important. 00:07:24.560 --> 00:07:29.439 Um I I I use this example and it's it's it's an extreme one, but nonetheless, I'll still use it. 00:07:29.600 --> 00:07:34.480 Like if you know that you struggle with alcoholism, don't go to a bar. 00:07:34.720 --> 00:07:36.639 Like, and those are things that you have control over. 00:07:36.720 --> 00:07:42.560 So for me, don't put yourself in the area of your weakness and then expect God's strength to kind of help you to overcome it. 00:07:42.720 --> 00:07:56.959 So I think beginning to put boundaries in your life before the the accessibility of sin is so important because if you're trying to establish the boundary while you're weak, while you're tired, while you're exhausted, man, just real talk, man. 00:07:57.040 --> 00:07:58.800 You you probably have already lost a battle. 00:07:59.040 --> 00:08:08.480 So putting some things in place beforehand, it's like putting the alarm system in before you get robbed, like doing those things on the front, and I think are things that can really um help us with that. 00:08:08.560 --> 00:08:11.680 So being very aware of what are some of your triggers. 00:08:11.839 --> 00:08:13.279 Is it a stressful day at work? 00:08:13.360 --> 00:08:14.560 Is it like what are those things? 00:08:14.800 --> 00:08:25.040 And then trying to make sure you put healthy boundaries in place to prevent yourself from leaning towards those coping mechanisms when those moments happen and having accountability and community. 00:08:25.120 --> 00:08:26.079 I think that's the other thing. 00:08:26.160 --> 00:08:29.759 So triggers and having accountability and community is is vital. 00:08:29.839 --> 00:08:32.960 That's what's helped me um through my years of walking with God and still does. 00:08:33.200 --> 00:08:33.440 Yeah. 00:08:33.679 --> 00:08:42.960 And we would hope that um people would feel like this is a place where they can let us know about it, you know what I mean? 00:08:43.279 --> 00:08:45.840 And a way for us to walk to come alongside them. 00:08:46.000 --> 00:08:57.279 We obviously have here at Salt Richard Church Orlando a uh a great care team who is, you know, they've been around the block, they've seen some things, they you know, they know how to help. 00:08:57.440 --> 00:09:03.759 So uh I think being able to reach out uh is also a a key component, like you mentioned, with accountability. 00:09:04.080 --> 00:09:14.559 Um something we talk about uh on after the message quite a bit is uh interacting with God and and what happens when we don't feel like we're hearing anything back. 00:09:14.639 --> 00:09:20.960 And so uh that was obviously one of the questions that came up here is what do we what do we do when we feel like God's silent? 00:09:21.120 --> 00:09:25.919 What do we do when we feel like we're kind of doing all the talking and we're not really getting a response? 00:09:26.240 --> 00:09:29.840 Man, um so there's there's a couple of responses to that. 00:09:30.080 --> 00:09:36.639 So um first one would be what what was the last thing that he said? 00:09:37.440 --> 00:09:44.240 Um so so so what I mean by that is um what what was the last time you felt like you heard from God? 00:09:44.320 --> 00:09:50.320 When was the last time you really felt like you got clarity, um, direction, that sense of like, man, I feel like I've heard from God. 00:09:50.799 --> 00:10:06.559 So what I often do is I revisit that because I think what can happen a lot of times is um we hear God, we've heard from God, and it could be for something as big as a should I get married, should I not get married, should I move, should I not move, should I take this job? 00:10:06.720 --> 00:10:09.759 So we seek God, we get some sense of clarity around that. 00:10:09.919 --> 00:10:21.759 Um then there's other moments where where God kind of tells us something, and that could be happening when we're reading his word, that can happen in a service, that can happen through community where you feel like, man, I've okay, that feel like that's God. 00:10:22.000 --> 00:10:26.000 And then we have those other spaces that you're talking about when we feel like God is silent. 00:10:26.480 --> 00:10:32.559 For me, more often than not, when God is silent, it's because I've moved from the place that he is speaking in. 00:10:33.120 --> 00:10:39.279 So I will find myself saying, Okay, like I haven't felt like I've heard from God in a while, or I'm not getting a response from this. 00:10:39.519 --> 00:10:40.960 What is the last thing he said? 00:10:41.039 --> 00:10:46.639 And am I still in the place where I can hear his voice, or am I being obedient to the last thing he told me to do? 00:10:47.039 --> 00:11:01.200 Um, many times we'll we'll we'll drift from the assignment or drift from our obedience, but still want to hear something new when God's saying, I'm still speaking, I'm still saying the same thing, but I need you to follow through on what I said the last time if you want to hear what I want to say um the next time. 00:11:01.360 --> 00:11:02.799 So that's the the first thing. 00:11:02.960 --> 00:11:08.720 The the second thing, man, I I think it's um giving God the benefit of the doubt. 00:11:08.799 --> 00:11:16.240 That sounds super um I I know that can sound like so surface level, but um silence doesn't mean absence. 00:11:16.480 --> 00:11:25.519 So um a lot of times what I see in scripture is that when God is silent, a lot of times it's when he's doing some deep work. 00:11:25.679 --> 00:11:29.440 So so there's a couple of moments in scripture where where God is silent. 00:11:29.600 --> 00:11:33.679 The first that I'll reference is um what we refer to as the inner testamental period. 00:11:33.759 --> 00:11:39.519 It's the 400 years between the conclusion of what we know was the Old Testament and the arrival of John the Baptist. 00:11:39.759 --> 00:11:48.960 So if you can imagine, like they were used to prophets coming and kind of sharing an updated word from the Lord because they didn't have scripture as we have it. 00:11:49.039 --> 00:11:53.840 Like they had some books of the law and other things, but they're living the Bible that we're reading now. 00:11:54.000 --> 00:11:59.840 So they really relied on prophets to update them on what God was speaking to the community. 00:12:00.000 --> 00:12:04.960 So they went 400 years where they weren't, they didn't have any of that, where God was like, okay, it's silent. 00:12:05.200 --> 00:12:19.840 But in that 400 years, not only was there um the arrival of uh varying governments, which proves to be the Roman government, which God really used to kind of bring Jesus in, everything that kind of brought about redemption. 00:12:19.919 --> 00:12:21.759 So God was working on that. 00:12:21.840 --> 00:12:31.120 Um, John the Baptist is being established, so there's a lot of work that's happening behind the scenes so that when God does speak, it's the catalyst for redemption. 00:12:31.200 --> 00:12:33.360 So that's uh a great example. 00:12:33.600 --> 00:12:41.840 Also, even in the book of Revelation, and I love this, Revelation 8 talks about um there's this moment where, of course, like this is like the conclusion of the book. 00:12:41.919 --> 00:12:46.639 This is where the all the work that we've done, Revelation is wrapping it all up, it's all good news. 00:12:46.879 --> 00:12:52.159 But there's a space where it says that there was a silence in heaven for about 30 minutes. 00:12:52.399 --> 00:13:06.000 So, so for me, and I I probably will preach on this at another time, um, but like when heaven is silent, like silence in heaven means that heaven is a loud place, it's full of worship, all these things are going on. 00:13:06.080 --> 00:13:12.799 Like so, so heaven is a place filled with joy and all these things, but then the seal is cracked and heaven goes silent. 00:13:12.879 --> 00:13:17.840 I can't imagine how awkward that must have been for angels to be like for 30 whole minutes. 00:13:18.000 --> 00:13:18.159 Yeah. 00:13:18.320 --> 00:13:24.320 So imagine in eternity, time is created for the space just to say, I want everything to be silent. 00:13:24.480 --> 00:13:40.000 But what's happening in that moment is that the prayers of people are being ushered into the presence of God, and then ultimately the Lamb is then given the scroll, which is Jesus, and then the final redemptive plan is rolled out, and then all of eternity ushers us in. 00:13:40.080 --> 00:13:40.960 It's a beautiful thing. 00:13:41.120 --> 00:13:43.200 Wow, but heaven was silent. 00:13:43.279 --> 00:13:43.600 Yeah. 00:13:43.759 --> 00:13:50.240 So what I've have found in my own life, when I've evaluated, am I in the place where God last spoke? 00:13:50.399 --> 00:13:53.360 Um, am I doing the thing that God last told me to do? 00:13:53.600 --> 00:14:02.080 That silence is the symphony of salvation, that God is doing something in that silence, and I'm expecting a major breakthrough to come on the other side. 00:14:02.320 --> 00:14:03.679 So what do I do? 00:14:03.919 --> 00:14:04.960 I wait on the Lord. 00:14:05.679 --> 00:14:20.159 Yeah, and that waiting on the Lord obviously requires um a a relationship and and to know uh it's like you know, it's like with your spouse or anybody else that you're close to, you start to pick up on the rhythms of things, right? 00:14:20.240 --> 00:14:23.679 And so, like, okay, God's going quiet on me now, you know. 00:14:23.919 --> 00:14:32.080 So it's not like you're thrilled about it or even getting used to it, but it it's almost acknowledging the fact that yeah, there goes God being quiet on me. 00:14:32.399 --> 00:14:34.000 Yeah, he's doing his thing. 00:14:34.559 --> 00:14:42.159 Speaking of uh relationship with God, somebody wanted to know do people from other religions ever get saved? 00:14:42.320 --> 00:14:46.720 And before you answer this question, um, Lindsay, how are we looking on time? 00:14:46.879 --> 00:14:47.919 Our timer went off here. 00:14:48.000 --> 00:14:48.559 We're looking good. 00:14:48.720 --> 00:14:49.440 Okay, awesome. 00:14:49.840 --> 00:14:53.600 Um, but do people from other religions ever get saved? 00:14:54.240 --> 00:14:54.559 Man. 00:14:55.440 --> 00:15:07.120 So this is going to be uh an example of me providing a biblical um answer and then hopefully a pastoral response. 00:15:07.360 --> 00:15:18.320 So so here's here's how I'll preference this, and I'm I'm trying to find this passage of scripture that I think um hopefully can and pull it all together that helps us to uh to have a a healthy view of it. 00:15:18.559 --> 00:15:21.200 So here's here's what we have to remember. 00:15:21.440 --> 00:15:30.799 Um, every belief system, virtually every belief system, maybe with the exception of universalism, um, does believe that they hold the truth. 00:15:31.120 --> 00:15:33.759 So Christianity is not unique in believing that we hold the truth. 00:15:33.919 --> 00:15:39.919 Sometimes we kind of get vilified for it, but yeah, every belief system essentially believes that they hold the truth. 00:15:40.159 --> 00:15:43.759 Um so so what happens to people of other religions? 00:15:43.919 --> 00:15:57.679 I think the the book of Exodus is a beautiful, powerful narrative of of what it is that God's inviting us to be a part of and the consequence of not being a part of it. 00:15:57.759 --> 00:15:58.879 And it's a choice. 00:15:59.120 --> 00:16:03.120 So, so I'll answer the question by kind of giving us the the short version of it. 00:16:03.279 --> 00:16:15.360 So Passover was such a big deal because what it says is that um I'm going to come through and wherever I see the blood, I'm going to pass over and not exhibit my judgment on it. 00:16:15.440 --> 00:16:27.200 So, what they had to do is they had to get a blood of a lamb applied to the doorpost, and when judgment was coming by, as long as it saw the blood of the lamb and you were on the inside of the home, you weren't in fear of judgment. 00:16:27.360 --> 00:16:38.159 And what I think is so important about that is it says that even if there are foreigners among you, as long as they are in the home with you, covered under the blood, then there's no judgment that's going to come. 00:16:38.399 --> 00:16:45.120 So now let's fast forward to when John the Baptist sees Jesus, behold the Lamb of God who's coming to take away the sins of the world. 00:16:45.360 --> 00:16:55.279 So now John sees Jesus as the Lamb to take away the sins of the world, and that same principle still applies to this day, that that God is a God of justice. 00:16:55.519 --> 00:17:08.160 So even though we live in grace and and all the beautiful things that we see with God, even in Exodus 34, and what we see exhibited in God's character and even how he defines himself, that he is a God of justice. 00:17:08.400 --> 00:17:11.039 And justice does not exist without judgment. 00:17:11.519 --> 00:17:16.319 Um, so what judgment is, is he comes to judge the world for sin. 00:17:16.559 --> 00:17:23.920 So that's why it gives us hope that even though we live in a fallen and broken world, that God is going to come and judge and set things right. 00:17:24.079 --> 00:17:25.920 Vengeance is mine, says the Lord. 00:17:26.240 --> 00:17:38.799 So for people of different belief systems, what happens is when God's judgment, when God's justice shows up, if we are not covered by the blood of the lamb, then our sin goes before us. 00:17:38.960 --> 00:17:45.599 Right now, when when God sees us, all he sees is the blood of the lamb and his judgment passes over us. 00:17:45.920 --> 00:17:50.799 So people of different religions or people who are just indifferent to God, right? 00:17:50.960 --> 00:17:53.440 I don't want to vilify one group of people versus another. 00:17:53.680 --> 00:18:02.160 Anyone who's not covered by the blood of the lamb, unfortunately, will stand before God with their sin going before them, and and the consequence will be judgment. 00:18:02.319 --> 00:18:02.720 Yeah. 00:18:03.039 --> 00:18:12.720 And when you say covered on under the blood of the lamb, what what role does man play in that versus what role is is it a two-way street? 00:18:12.880 --> 00:18:17.440 Is it God I've heard it said that you know God goes 90% and you go 10%? 00:18:17.759 --> 00:18:19.599 Like, what's your viewpoint on that? 00:18:19.920 --> 00:18:29.440 Yeah, so those are those are like there's books and yeah things written on on that um on what salvation looks like. 00:18:29.759 --> 00:18:42.559 So so my my my view on it is that God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son that whosoever, um, this is the open invitation to whosoever, that anyone who accepts this is now part of the family of God. 00:18:42.720 --> 00:18:50.000 So so my view of of salvation as it relates to the part that we play is that it has been extended. 00:18:50.240 --> 00:18:52.000 The part that I play is to receive it. 00:18:52.079 --> 00:18:58.000 Yeah, and so it's no different than super corny example, but I'll use it anyway. 00:18:58.240 --> 00:19:02.400 Is um you're uh wide receiver, Nate. 00:19:02.559 --> 00:19:04.880 Yeah, I'm I'm the quarterback man. 00:19:05.039 --> 00:19:09.440 You do a move, you don't even have you you you don't have anybody on you, bro. 00:19:09.519 --> 00:19:12.559 You're wide open, you're in the you're in the end zone, just waiting. 00:19:12.640 --> 00:19:13.680 I throw the ball. 00:19:13.839 --> 00:19:14.400 It's easy. 00:19:14.480 --> 00:19:16.480 You're in the touchdown, there's no one covering you. 00:19:16.640 --> 00:19:18.079 You still gotta reach out, right? 00:19:18.319 --> 00:19:20.000 Catch it and secure the ball. 00:19:20.079 --> 00:19:20.480 Yeah. 00:19:20.799 --> 00:19:25.599 God has made salvation so available to us, but we still have to reach out and receive it. 00:19:25.839 --> 00:19:26.480 Yeah, that's good. 00:19:26.640 --> 00:19:28.000 And I was a wide receiver by the way. 00:19:28.079 --> 00:19:28.559 Were you really? 00:19:28.720 --> 00:19:33.599 Yeah, so I knew that the spirit of the Lord stirred me and revealed that to me. 00:19:34.000 --> 00:19:44.240 Um so I think for for part one, we'll we'll ask the follow-up question to to do people from other religions get saved and and they're getting saved from death, right? 00:19:44.319 --> 00:19:51.599 They're getting saved from themselves, and and but one one person asked, what really happens to us when we die? 00:19:51.920 --> 00:19:56.880 You know, so what do you think is on the other side, so to speak? 00:19:57.200 --> 00:20:11.759 Man, so um so so 2 Corinthians chapter 5 in its entirety, um, I think is a is a beautiful example of Paul giving us a sense of what happens when we die. 00:20:11.920 --> 00:20:18.079 One of the passages I'll pull out is in verse eight where it says um to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord. 00:20:18.240 --> 00:20:24.559 So Paul kind of paints this picture of, yeah, like when we when we die, we're in the presence of God. 00:20:24.960 --> 00:20:28.880 So another thing that Paul says is that we don't grieve like those who don't have hope. 00:20:28.960 --> 00:20:32.480 We know that that when we we die, that we're in the presence of God. 00:20:32.960 --> 00:20:49.200 Another thing that we that we see as an example is that when Stephen, um the first martyr, um, is being stoned, um, he says that he looks up into heaven, he sees Jesus, and he sees him standing on the right hand of the Father, and then he says these words, Lord, receive my spirit. 00:20:49.440 --> 00:20:55.039 Jesus, when he's on the cross, before he breathes his last breath, he says, Father, into your hands I commit my spirit. 00:20:55.279 --> 00:21:04.799 So what we're seeing are these examples scripturally of saying that um these earthly tabernacles, as Paul describes in um 2 Corinthians 5, are temporary. 00:21:04.960 --> 00:21:07.839 Um, that our true home is in the presence of God. 00:21:08.079 --> 00:21:18.960 So um, as I've heard it described, and as people have tabulated and pulled varying scriptures together, and I'll summarize it to the best of my ability, is that um we are eternal beings. 00:21:19.519 --> 00:21:23.200 We are giving a temporary house being our bodies. 00:21:23.359 --> 00:21:39.200 Um, and when we die, we return back to our true home, with the expectation that at the great resurrection, when when all things are set back to the way that God intended um back in Genesis, that we will have resurrected bodies and and everything will be good. 00:21:39.279 --> 00:21:42.319 I'll finally have my spiritual six pack, like it'll be amazing. 00:21:42.480 --> 00:21:43.839 Like, so we'll have that. 00:21:44.000 --> 00:21:49.200 Um, but what we believe is that when we breathe our last breath, that we are ushered into the presence of God. 00:21:49.279 --> 00:21:51.440 Now, um, what are we doing? 00:21:51.599 --> 00:21:52.960 I I don't know. 00:21:53.119 --> 00:21:59.359 Um, but what I've what I've seen described in scripture is that we're in a restful state in the presence of God. 00:21:59.519 --> 00:22:01.519 Um That's a beautiful thing. 00:22:01.680 --> 00:22:09.279 Now, there's extra biblical literature that talks about a whole bunch of other things and people who've experienced near-death experiences that have been consistent. 00:22:09.440 --> 00:22:12.640 I I can't speak to that because my standard is God's word. 00:22:12.960 --> 00:22:24.720 But what I can tell you, God's word can explains to us is that the moment that we breathe our last breath, and those of us who are in Christ, that we are ushered into the presence of God, where we will spend our time with him until he comes back. 00:22:24.799 --> 00:22:27.519 And that's when we start talking about the second coming of Christ. 00:22:27.680 --> 00:22:33.519 We come back, those who still are alive are transfigured, we get our resurrected bodies, and then we have a party for all eternity. 00:22:33.680 --> 00:22:33.920 Yeah. 00:22:34.000 --> 00:22:34.160 Yeah. 00:22:34.400 --> 00:22:34.960 Sounds good to me. 00:22:35.119 --> 00:22:35.440 Yeah, man. 00:22:35.519 --> 00:22:36.160 I'm all for it. 00:22:36.400 --> 00:22:36.799 All right. 00:22:37.039 --> 00:22:40.079 So um that was that was the easy stuff. 00:22:40.160 --> 00:22:41.440 You're warmed up, you're ready to go. 00:22:41.680 --> 00:22:43.440 Man, I thought that was the difficult stuff, man. 00:22:43.599 --> 00:22:56.799 Like so, we're actually going to uh we're gonna conclude there for part one of our uh equip uh uh video series after the series is what what we said. 00:22:56.880 --> 00:22:59.680 But I thought it was like uh like after the message after dark. 00:22:59.920 --> 00:23:00.079 Yeah. 00:23:00.319 --> 00:23:08.079 Well, it could be that too, but we're gonna conclude there for part one, and uh we hope you guys join us for part two next week. 00:23:08.720 --> 00:23:10.799 Thank you for joining us for after the message. 00:23:10.880 --> 00:23:21.440 To learn more about Celebration Church here in Orlando, you can follow us on social media under the handle at celebration or l or visit our website at celebrationorl.org.