WEBVTT 00:00:02.240 --> 00:00:05.040 Welcome to the Celebration Church Orlando podcast. 00:00:05.280 --> 00:00:06.879 Thank you so much for listening today. 00:00:07.120 --> 00:00:09.279 We hope it encourages you and inspires you. 00:00:09.839 --> 00:00:10.960 Here's today's message. 00:00:11.679 --> 00:00:12.320 Hey church. 00:00:12.640 --> 00:00:13.919 Welcome to Church at Home. 00:00:14.000 --> 00:00:16.160 We are so, so glad that you're here with us. 00:00:16.320 --> 00:00:23.120 And as always, we're honored whenever you allow us to come into your homes, in your cars, or wherever you may be enjoying this content. 00:00:23.199 --> 00:00:25.199 It is something that we're always so honored to do. 00:00:25.280 --> 00:00:27.679 We're so, so glad that you are here. 00:00:27.839 --> 00:00:31.600 I also want to take a quick moment to say happy 4th of July weekend to everyone. 00:00:31.760 --> 00:00:36.719 I pray that you're having a great time with your family and friends and that you are being safe. 00:00:36.880 --> 00:00:40.560 And I also want to take this moment to welcome you into our home. 00:00:40.719 --> 00:00:44.159 That's right, we're right back inside of the Pittman household. 00:00:44.240 --> 00:00:46.960 Now I know what some of us may be thinking, and I'm thinking the exact same thing. 00:00:47.039 --> 00:00:53.039 You're saying to yourself, well, Keith, I just a couple of weeks ago, we were we were all gathered together in this great venue. 00:00:53.119 --> 00:00:56.719 We had people around and we had crowd participation, we had engagement. 00:00:56.799 --> 00:01:06.159 And Keith, you laid out this incredibly brilliant, well-spoken, well-thought-out plan about us beginning to strategically gather again. 00:01:06.319 --> 00:01:07.040 And you know what? 00:01:07.200 --> 00:01:08.159 You're absolutely right. 00:01:08.239 --> 00:01:08.719 We did that. 00:01:08.799 --> 00:01:20.239 We had a true um anticipation and expectation of us coming back together and slowly beginning to work through the phases while being safe and being responsible, but also beginning to move forward with us beginning to gather once again. 00:01:20.319 --> 00:01:21.920 And then we're excited about that. 00:01:22.079 --> 00:01:24.959 But then we began to see a massive uptick. 00:01:25.040 --> 00:01:30.400 We began to see a peak and a spike in the coronavirus hitting here in Orlando. 00:01:30.560 --> 00:01:34.079 And quite quite honestly, it actually began to hit close to home for us as well. 00:01:34.159 --> 00:01:36.799 We've had family members that have tested positive for COVID. 00:01:36.959 --> 00:01:42.480 We also had other staff members here at Celebration Orlando that have tested positive in some of our other locations as well. 00:01:42.560 --> 00:01:48.319 So it caused us to pause and begin to make sure that we were not moving at a pace that was outpacing God. 00:01:48.400 --> 00:01:49.680 So we began to slow down. 00:01:49.840 --> 00:01:51.359 So here's what that means for us. 00:01:51.519 --> 00:02:05.200 For for right now, we're going to begin to go back into quarantine and recording from our home here and maybe from some other strategic locations, but still doing our best to be socially distancing and doing our best to begin to minimize the spread of this. 00:02:05.439 --> 00:02:07.599 I know that all of us are anxious to get back out. 00:02:07.680 --> 00:02:10.479 I know all of us are looking forward to gathering once again. 00:02:10.560 --> 00:02:12.240 And believe me, I am with you 100%. 00:02:12.639 --> 00:02:17.520 But here's something that's really important for us your utmost safety is one of our top concerns. 00:02:17.680 --> 00:02:21.680 We want to be obedient, we want to be faithful, but we also want to operate with wisdom. 00:02:21.759 --> 00:02:22.879 So that's kind of where we are. 00:02:23.039 --> 00:02:23.840 But guess what? 00:02:24.000 --> 00:02:27.280 We also still do have some incredible good news for us as well. 00:02:27.439 --> 00:02:34.080 You know, a couple weeks ago we mentioned that we were going to be doing serve day, and we've been praying and processing what does that look like in light of all these things. 00:02:34.240 --> 00:02:39.599 Now I'm here to, I'm happy to announce that we're still going to do serve day um in July on July 11th. 00:02:39.680 --> 00:02:48.400 And here's why we're going to do that because this was very well thought out and prayed through, and even put in a great plan to make sure that this is actually going to be social distancing. 00:02:48.560 --> 00:02:49.520 Here's what I want you to do. 00:02:49.680 --> 00:02:54.000 I want you to go into our website and check out all the information about Serve Day. 00:02:54.080 --> 00:02:58.560 The whole idea is really just being and expressing a city that we love. 00:02:58.719 --> 00:03:12.560 I believe in times just like this, it is so important for us as a church to continue to do our best that even in times of a global pandemic, even in times of uncertainty, for us to do our best to say that we're standing with you even in seasons when we can't stand next to you. 00:03:12.639 --> 00:03:14.240 So that's what Survey is really going to be. 00:03:14.319 --> 00:03:19.919 So I want us to go onto the website, register, to be a part of this incredible thing that we're going to be doing in our community. 00:03:20.000 --> 00:03:22.159 You're going to see the organizations that we're partnering with. 00:03:22.319 --> 00:03:27.919 I truly do believe it's going to be a powerful time for us as a church to show the love of Jesus in our community. 00:03:28.159 --> 00:03:33.039 Also, we have some special release merch that's going to be available and it's going relatively quick. 00:03:33.120 --> 00:03:39.120 So go into the website, and not only are you going to have a really cool serve day shirt, but you're also going to be able to grab a hold of our mask. 00:03:39.199 --> 00:03:40.639 It's going to be absolutely awesome. 00:03:40.719 --> 00:03:46.960 So please consider partnering with us as we make a difference in our city, as we have been able to do, even during this pandemic. 00:03:47.199 --> 00:03:49.039 But here's what I also know, church. 00:03:49.199 --> 00:03:52.000 We are truly in just uncharted territory. 00:03:52.159 --> 00:03:54.240 I guess that's just the best way for me to put it. 00:03:54.400 --> 00:03:57.520 I mean, we are in a season that I don't think any of us saw coming. 00:03:57.680 --> 00:04:00.639 We're in the middle of things that none of us have ever been in before. 00:04:00.800 --> 00:04:04.319 If we really were to take it seriously, here's what I think it's safe to say. 00:04:04.560 --> 00:04:08.560 None of us expected for us to be here as we were going into 2020. 00:04:08.639 --> 00:04:10.159 We just we just didn't see it happen. 00:04:10.400 --> 00:04:12.000 Let's look around for a moment. 00:04:12.240 --> 00:04:15.840 We are in the middle of a global pandemic. 00:04:16.240 --> 00:04:17.519 Nobody saw this coming. 00:04:17.600 --> 00:04:19.040 This is uncharted territory. 00:04:19.279 --> 00:04:30.720 In addition to that, we are we are in the middle of a deep divide in our country between politics and and even this racial tension that we're feeling and the arguments and all the things that are happening. 00:04:30.800 --> 00:04:41.839 And while some of those elements are not new in and of themselves, but but this crock pot that these things seem to be all working together right now, and we're we're in some very uncharted territory right now. 00:04:42.160 --> 00:04:42.959 Unemployment. 00:04:43.040 --> 00:04:52.480 Let's consider for a moment that we have people that are among us, even amongst our own community, many of which that have been furloughed, went back to work, and now are furloughed again. 00:04:52.639 --> 00:04:54.639 This is just this is uncharted territory. 00:04:54.720 --> 00:04:56.079 This is there's no schema for this. 00:04:56.160 --> 00:04:59.680 This is a place that I think it's safe to say that that we haven't been here. 00:04:59.759 --> 00:05:06.560 Even as a parent, I can stand before you right now, and I legitimately have no clue what next school year is going to look like for my son. 00:05:06.720 --> 00:05:08.560 It's it's it's uncharted territory. 00:05:08.639 --> 00:05:18.399 And while in and of itself, some of these things may not be that big of a deal, but when you mix it all together, I think it's safe to say that that this is deeply, deeply uncharted territory. 00:05:18.639 --> 00:05:21.279 That word uncharted simply means it's unknown. 00:05:21.519 --> 00:05:27.839 It means that we things didn't go according to plan, that that we didn't expect this, that there's this is not even on a map yet. 00:05:28.000 --> 00:05:29.519 That's kind of where we find ourselves. 00:05:29.680 --> 00:05:33.839 So here's my encouragement for every student that's out there, be patient. 00:05:34.000 --> 00:05:36.160 This is uncharted territory for your parents. 00:05:36.319 --> 00:05:39.120 For every parent that's out there, be patient with your student. 00:05:39.199 --> 00:05:41.519 They are on this is uncharted territory. 00:05:41.759 --> 00:05:45.199 For every staff member that's a part of an organization, be patient. 00:05:45.360 --> 00:05:46.800 This is uncharted territory. 00:05:46.879 --> 00:05:56.959 And while I know there's a lot of great resources out there that we're all trying to figure things out, none of us are experts at this because this is all uncharted territory. 00:05:57.360 --> 00:05:59.519 But you know, I find my hope in this. 00:05:59.759 --> 00:06:04.399 I find my hope in the fact that we are not without having good company. 00:06:04.639 --> 00:06:12.480 In fact, when you look at the scriptures, when you look at the word of God, you'll often find when we take that concept that many people found themselves in uncharted territory. 00:06:12.639 --> 00:06:23.839 And I truly believe that the passage that we're going to read today brilliantly illustrates and it really helps us walk through what does it look like when things don't go according to plan, but how do you navigate through it anyway? 00:06:24.000 --> 00:06:26.160 We're going to be looking at Acts chapter 27. 00:06:26.240 --> 00:06:34.720 But before we get there, let me give us a little bit of context because I really feel like this is really going to help us to be informed on how we see this passage of scripture. 00:06:34.959 --> 00:06:38.560 See, Paul was on a mission to preach the gospel in Rome. 00:06:38.720 --> 00:06:43.360 He was arrested in Acts chapter 21 for causing a riot for his beliefs. 00:06:43.519 --> 00:06:53.680 And from that point forward, he was kind of passed on from one location to the next in hopes of finding someone that would issue a judgment and maybe even and maybe even issue a verdict of possible death. 00:06:53.839 --> 00:06:55.279 But God had other plans. 00:06:55.439 --> 00:07:11.360 What it says here in Acts 23, in light of what I just said to you, that it says this the following night the Lord, this is Jesus, stood by him and said, Take courage, for as you have testified of the facts of me in Jerusalem, so must you testify also in Rome. 00:07:11.759 --> 00:07:26.000 This this is this is important because what Paul was given is even though he had a calling, even though he had varying assignments, Jesus appears to him while he's in jail, a circumstance that I'm pretty sure none of us would ever want to be in. 00:07:26.160 --> 00:07:28.000 And Jesus says, Take courage. 00:07:28.240 --> 00:07:31.360 I have an assignment for you to take place in Rome. 00:07:31.600 --> 00:07:43.360 So I truly believe that Paul was able to grab a hold of what Jesus said and was able to say, no matter what season, no matter where I might find myself, that Jesus spoke a word to me, and I know that he's going to bring it to pass. 00:07:43.439 --> 00:07:44.319 That is so important. 00:07:44.560 --> 00:07:55.279 So take that concept here into Acts 27, looking at verses 1 through 11, and maybe we can begin to understand how Paul was able to respond with such faith in the moment of crisis. 00:07:55.439 --> 00:07:56.319 Let's read it all together. 00:07:56.399 --> 00:07:58.160 It says it here, starting at verse number one. 00:07:58.720 --> 00:08:06.480 And when it was decided that we should sail for Italy, they delivered Paul and some other prisoners to a centurion of the Augustan cohort named Julius. 00:08:06.560 --> 00:08:18.000 And embarking in a ship of Amadrotium, which was about to sail from the ports to the coast of Asia, we put the sea, accompanied by Aristocarus, a Macedonian from Thessaloniki. 00:08:18.399 --> 00:08:26.079 The next day we put into sail to Sidon, and Julius treated Paul kindly and gave him leave to go with his friends and to be cared for. 00:08:26.240 --> 00:08:31.839 And putting out the sea from there, we were sailed under the Lee of Cyprus because the winds were against us. 00:08:32.080 --> 00:08:34.080 Underline that, because we're going to see a theme here. 00:08:34.159 --> 00:08:35.360 The winds were against us. 00:08:35.519 --> 00:08:40.799 And we had sailed across the open sea to the coast of Sicilia, and Pamphylia, we came to Myra and Lysia. 00:08:41.039 --> 00:08:46.080 There is a centurion ship found there, Alexandria sailing for Italy, and they put us aboard that. 00:08:46.159 --> 00:08:51.279 They had the ship, they had to switch ships now because they found another ship that was going to that destination. 00:08:51.360 --> 00:09:00.639 They went over and it says that we sailed slowly for a number of days, and we arrived with difficulty in Nidus, and the winds did not allow us to go any further. 00:09:00.799 --> 00:09:03.600 We sailed under the Lee of Crete off of Salimone. 00:09:04.080 --> 00:09:11.519 This resistance, coasting along with difficulty, we came to a place called Fair Havens, near which was the city of Lycia. 00:09:12.240 --> 00:09:17.519 Since much time has passed, the voyage was now dangerous because even the fast was already over. 00:09:17.600 --> 00:09:22.639 That means that we're entering into the winter season, that season of storms, when it says the fast, they're talking about the Day of Atonement. 00:09:22.720 --> 00:09:29.519 So they're giving us markers and time and saying that we've been out here floating around for way too long, so we're in a very dangerous spot. 00:09:29.600 --> 00:09:32.960 Because if we keep moving forward, we're going to be sailing into the winter season. 00:09:33.200 --> 00:09:34.399 Here's what it says here. 00:09:34.559 --> 00:09:38.799 So starting here at verse number nine, um, or sorry, I'm sorry, starting at verse number uh ten. 00:09:39.120 --> 00:09:52.960 So so since much time has passed and the voyage was now dangerous because even the fast was over, Paul advised them, saying, Sirs, I perceive that the voyage will be with injury and much loss, not only of cargo and the ship, but also of our lives. 00:09:53.120 --> 00:10:00.159 But the centurion paid more attention to the pilot and to the owner of the ship than to what Paul was saying. 00:10:00.720 --> 00:10:10.480 Paul was able to discern that there was something off, and so he offered up this bit of wisdom, saying, like, maybe it's best for us to kind of hang out and chill here, get past the season, and then we can make it to our destination. 00:10:10.559 --> 00:10:12.639 But they chose not to listen to Paul. 00:10:12.879 --> 00:10:17.919 Today I want to talk to us around this idea of what does it feel like when we're in a place that we didn't expect to be. 00:10:18.159 --> 00:10:21.120 If you're taking notes, I want you to write this message title down uncharted. 00:10:21.360 --> 00:10:22.960 Let's pray and let's let's jump in. 00:10:23.120 --> 00:10:34.240 Lord, we thank you so much for your word, and we thank you for every opportunity that we're able to gather, whether it be all together collectively as a community, or whether it be right now in our homes or however we're engaging this. 00:10:34.399 --> 00:10:36.879 Holy Spirit, we know that you're with us, so we invite you to speak to us. 00:10:36.960 --> 00:10:43.360 And we ask that you give us open eyes, open ears, and open hearts that we can receive everything that you have for us in Jesus' name. 00:10:43.679 --> 00:10:44.320 Amen. 00:10:44.559 --> 00:10:54.320 Okay, so Paul, Paul was a seasoned sailor, and this concept was was relatively rare for Jews because they had some superstitions about um abundant came to the sea. 00:10:54.480 --> 00:11:00.879 The sea was often viewed as a dark force, it was viewed as a place that that dark powers would even emerge. 00:11:01.039 --> 00:11:04.000 They even considered a place to be where monsters live. 00:11:04.159 --> 00:11:07.519 I know that sounds crazy, but but remember Jonah getting swallowed by a whale? 00:11:07.600 --> 00:11:13.360 And they're in their context, the sea was this place where where danger often emerged. 00:11:13.440 --> 00:11:18.559 Even in Daniel chapter 7, verse number 3, Daniel says that four beasts came out of the sea. 00:11:18.720 --> 00:11:21.039 In this context, they would have been familiar with this. 00:11:21.120 --> 00:11:24.240 So the sea was often viewed as this very scary place. 00:11:24.320 --> 00:11:27.360 In fact, the sea was also viewed as being unpredictable. 00:11:27.519 --> 00:11:28.799 Noah is an example of that. 00:11:28.879 --> 00:11:31.840 They were in the waters and it was they had no idea when things were going to stop. 00:11:32.000 --> 00:11:37.919 So it built this theology, possibly, or this ideology, that that the sea was unpredictable. 00:11:38.000 --> 00:11:40.240 It was scary, there was no control over it. 00:11:40.399 --> 00:11:41.440 And so here's what I believe. 00:11:41.519 --> 00:11:46.799 I sense that this may be why God used the sea as a canvas to paint so many miracles on. 00:11:46.960 --> 00:11:47.679 Here, watch this. 00:11:47.840 --> 00:11:53.120 The Exodus narrative included crossing the Red Sea, getting out of bondage, and going into a place of freedom. 00:11:53.279 --> 00:12:01.679 We also know that they had to cross over the Jordan River, that same Jordan River where John did baptisms and where Jesus was baptized and the Holy Spirit uh descended upon him. 00:12:01.840 --> 00:12:04.879 We even see instances where Jesus was walking on the water. 00:12:05.039 --> 00:12:10.159 Remember, the sea was often viewed as a scary place, but we see God is now redeeming this just a little bit. 00:12:10.320 --> 00:12:22.240 We even see moments where Jesus silences a storm, this unpredictable process and thing that would often fuel fear that we see Jesus comes in and silences it like it didn't even exist anymore. 00:12:22.480 --> 00:12:25.519 Maybe, just maybe, that God was showing us something. 00:12:25.679 --> 00:12:32.799 That maybe God is using this because what I can what I truly believe is that all of us have those things that that maybe we have some superstitions about. 00:12:32.960 --> 00:12:40.399 Certainly we wouldn't use those words, but those things that that if we're honest with ourselves, it makes us feel uncomfortable, those things that that may even keep us up at night. 00:12:40.480 --> 00:12:46.159 But I believe that this passage, this concept can begin to bring a little bit of peace into our minds, into our hearts. 00:12:46.240 --> 00:12:47.840 Here's what thing I want us to walk away with. 00:12:48.000 --> 00:12:55.120 I believe that it's in moments like this that God is showing us that He conquered the things that keep us up at night so we can rest in Him. 00:12:55.919 --> 00:12:56.639 That was so good. 00:12:56.720 --> 00:12:57.679 I'm gonna say that again. 00:12:57.840 --> 00:13:02.159 That Jesus conquered the things that keep us up at night so we can rest in Him. 00:13:02.320 --> 00:13:06.159 I assure you that whatever it is that you're facing right now, Jesus conquered it. 00:13:06.320 --> 00:13:10.080 That whatever the things that may keep you up at night, Jesus has already defeated it. 00:13:10.159 --> 00:13:14.960 So the idea is that we can rest in him because we know that Jesus was able to conquer all of it. 00:13:15.200 --> 00:13:22.960 So it's with this concept, it's with this understanding that when Paul, who has been through so many things, he's able to stand on the finished work of Christ. 00:13:23.120 --> 00:13:25.679 We even see here in 2 Corinthians chapter 11. 00:13:25.759 --> 00:13:30.159 Now remember that that the book of Acts, when it is written, it covers a lot of times. 00:13:30.240 --> 00:13:34.960 So the book of Corinth, and when that was when that book was written, Paul had already lived that moment. 00:13:35.039 --> 00:13:37.440 So here we have Paul saying this about himself. 00:13:37.600 --> 00:13:45.840 He says that three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, and at night and day I was adrift at sea. 00:13:46.080 --> 00:13:50.240 So Paul had all of these experiences, and now here he is on this ship. 00:13:50.399 --> 00:13:54.799 Now you would think, with a resume like that, that they would have listened to him. 00:13:54.879 --> 00:14:01.759 You would think that with someone who has been shipwrecked three times, don't let him drive, but maybe you could just listen to what he has to say. 00:14:01.919 --> 00:14:05.279 Someone who's been through so many things that you would consider listening to him. 00:14:05.440 --> 00:14:06.159 But they didn't. 00:14:06.320 --> 00:14:13.679 Instead, it says that they chose to listen to the owner and they chose to listen to the pilot because they both had they had some very personal interests. 00:14:13.840 --> 00:14:18.720 For the owner, he had baggage there that he wanted to make sure that made it to the destination and he can get paid. 00:14:18.799 --> 00:14:21.519 And for the pilot, he was going to rely on his experience. 00:14:21.679 --> 00:14:22.559 So watch this. 00:14:22.799 --> 00:14:25.519 That makes logical sense, but it's not wise. 00:14:25.759 --> 00:14:27.440 I want us to lean in for this. 00:14:27.759 --> 00:14:32.720 Sometimes we can mistake logic for wisdom and we can miss out on what God is trying to show us. 00:14:32.960 --> 00:14:42.000 Our logic can begin to kick in in such a way that it can override wisdom what God is really trying to show us, and we can completely miss out on this opportunity. 00:14:42.080 --> 00:14:47.519 So as a result of them leaning on logic and not listening to wisdom, now we begin to see things go downhill. 00:14:47.600 --> 00:14:53.600 And really quick, they find themselves in a storm and and and being shifted from one direction to the next, and it doesn't get any better. 00:14:53.759 --> 00:14:59.519 In fact, verse 20 says this they haven't seen the sun or stars in days. 00:14:59.840 --> 00:15:01.759 Now that is how they were able to navigate. 00:15:01.840 --> 00:15:04.399 They didn't have GPS in the ways that we'd have right now. 00:15:04.559 --> 00:15:08.960 They navigated by looking at the sun and the stars, and that's what allowed them to know where they were. 00:15:09.120 --> 00:15:18.000 But the text says that they were in this spot for so long that they didn't even know where they were because they couldn't see the sun and the stars. 00:15:18.399 --> 00:15:23.840 So what they had to do is they began to offload things in hopes that maybe they wouldn't be capsized. 00:15:24.000 --> 00:15:32.960 So as they were throwing everything overboard, as they were throwing off the very resources they were going to try to sell, they had to offload those things, they also threw off their hope. 00:15:33.120 --> 00:15:39.120 Because what the Bible says is that they came to a point where they didn't even have hope that they would be saved. 00:15:39.519 --> 00:15:45.039 It occurs to me, church, that there's times where we can find ourselves in seasons that that we lose hope. 00:15:45.279 --> 00:15:46.399 I I wrote it down like this. 00:15:46.480 --> 00:15:50.080 I believe that there's some times where the struggle can deplete our hope. 00:15:50.320 --> 00:15:55.279 See, when your marriage hits a rough spot and you struggle for too long, you can begin to lose a little bit of hope. 00:15:55.440 --> 00:16:03.120 When the quarantine seems as if it has no end in sight, we can wrestle and struggle for so long that we can we can truly begin to lose hope. 00:16:03.440 --> 00:16:26.080 When each day we we go on social media or go into the news and we see such diametric opposition when it comes to basic human rights, when it comes to equality, when it comes to issues that that really don't need to be debated, like racism, and yet we still see people that want to ignore that it even is a real thing, or we want to we have these moments where we we could be in this space for so long that we can slowly begin to lose hope. 00:16:26.320 --> 00:16:29.919 It could be exhausting when you when you look at a world that that refuses to change. 00:16:30.000 --> 00:16:39.840 It could be exhausting when you're when you're trying your best to raise a family in an environment that is honoring to God, but it seems as if there's the that the culture is not walking in concert with you. 00:16:40.000 --> 00:16:42.000 You can begin to slowly lose hope. 00:16:42.080 --> 00:16:43.919 But let me let me encourage us really quick. 00:16:44.159 --> 00:16:45.759 We need to change our source. 00:16:46.000 --> 00:16:48.159 I want us to hear me really close. 00:16:48.399 --> 00:16:50.159 Change your source. 00:16:50.879 --> 00:17:00.960 Stop looking to the media, stop looking to social media, stop looking to politics, stop looking for people to give you permission on what you should care about or give you the guidelines on what you should do. 00:17:01.120 --> 00:17:07.119 We need to begin to have eyes for the kingdom of God, allowing that to be the thing that draws us in all together. 00:17:07.279 --> 00:17:08.480 I want us to understand this. 00:17:08.640 --> 00:17:14.559 I'm not saying that we should not be aware of what's around us, but please don't lose sight of who dwells on the inside of us. 00:17:14.799 --> 00:17:23.039 Yes, we should absolutely, we should absolutely be informed by what we see, but please don't let what you see inform you. 00:17:23.519 --> 00:17:24.559 Did you catch that? 00:17:24.799 --> 00:17:29.119 Be informed by what you see, but don't let what you see inform you. 00:17:29.359 --> 00:17:33.119 Begin to form the way that you see people, form the way that you think about things. 00:17:33.279 --> 00:17:35.440 We gotta be mindful of these things. 00:17:35.680 --> 00:17:41.599 Be informed by what you see, but we need to be informed by who we know. 00:17:41.920 --> 00:17:46.160 See, it's important for us to get context, but we look to Jesus for our content. 00:17:46.319 --> 00:17:48.000 This is the tension that we all find ourselves in. 00:17:48.160 --> 00:17:54.640 And what I love that Paul says here in 2 Corinthians verse 4, 8, and 9, he says this, we are afflicted in every way. 00:17:54.720 --> 00:17:58.880 I see that we are inflicted, but on the inside I know that we are not crushed. 00:17:59.119 --> 00:18:03.279 We are perplexed, I see that, but we are not driven to despair. 00:18:03.519 --> 00:18:07.119 We are persecuted, I see that, but inside I know that we are not forsaken. 00:18:07.279 --> 00:18:11.200 We are struck down, I see that, but on the inside I know that we are not destroyed. 00:18:11.359 --> 00:18:19.440 Paul goes on to say in Romans chapter 8, for I consider the present sufferings at this time not worthy to be compared with the glory that shall be revealed in us. 00:18:19.599 --> 00:18:25.839 What we see is Paul is building this tension where he says, I see some things on the outside, but I know who dwells on the inside. 00:18:26.000 --> 00:18:30.720 That's my encouragement for some of us right now as we find ourselves in this uncharted territory. 00:18:30.880 --> 00:18:35.200 Be aware of what you see, but don't you allow what you see to inform you. 00:18:35.440 --> 00:18:39.920 Allow that to be exclusively a position that we only give to Jesus. 00:18:40.319 --> 00:18:48.480 Paul was able to recognize where he was and where the people were in the fear that was in the room, so he began to stand up and he began to speak with boldness. 00:18:48.720 --> 00:18:54.079 Paul even has a little bit of a I told you so in his speech, but he wasn't doing that from the context of being arrogant. 00:18:54.240 --> 00:19:02.000 What he was saying is, I told you that we were going to go down this path, so maybe now you can begin to listen to wisdom and not yield to your logic. 00:19:02.240 --> 00:19:10.799 There's four quick points that I want to share with us that I believe can be an encouragement for us as we navigate through this uncharted territory that I think we all find ourselves in. 00:19:11.039 --> 00:19:15.359 These are four steps that I think can help us if we can put these into practice immediately. 00:19:15.599 --> 00:19:17.440 Here's the first thing I want you to write down. 00:19:17.680 --> 00:19:18.880 Pray about it. 00:19:19.279 --> 00:19:20.000 Pray about it. 00:19:20.079 --> 00:19:22.240 Here's what it says here at verse 29. 00:19:22.400 --> 00:19:30.160 And fearing that we might run upon the rocks, they let down four anchors from the stern and they prayed for the day to come. 00:19:30.559 --> 00:19:41.519 It is so self-explanatory, it is so powerful, but I still want to explain it to us that these men were desperate, that they had no hope, that they had no peace, that they had no clarity. 00:19:41.759 --> 00:19:45.839 There was darkness all around, but the Bible says that they prayed about it. 00:19:46.000 --> 00:19:48.240 We don't see that there was any eloquent prayer. 00:19:48.400 --> 00:19:54.319 They don't have a long list of all the things that they say, they were simply looking at where they were and they prayed for the opposite. 00:19:54.400 --> 00:19:59.759 And I want to encourage somebody right now who may feel, Keith, I don't have, I don't have all the language, I don't know all the scriptures. 00:19:59.839 --> 00:20:06.640 And while that is very powerful when we have moments where we can do that, but please understand, all you need to do is just pray about what you need. 00:20:06.799 --> 00:20:11.920 And if you're in a place right now where you're dealing with confusion, then you pray and ask God to give you clarity. 00:20:12.079 --> 00:20:17.440 When you find yourself in a place where you're where you're recognizing that you have fear, then you pray and ask God to give you boldness. 00:20:17.599 --> 00:20:21.039 When you're wondering about your provision, then you pray and ask God to provide for it. 00:20:21.200 --> 00:20:24.640 Whatever it is that you stand in need of, that is the thing that you pray about. 00:20:24.720 --> 00:20:31.599 You don't have to get lost in all the words, but you just stand and come boldly before the throne of grace and say, God, this is where I am and this is where I need to be. 00:20:31.680 --> 00:20:33.839 Lord, can you please order my steps? 00:20:34.000 --> 00:20:37.279 What these men did is they simply prayed about it. 00:20:37.440 --> 00:20:40.720 They prayed and said, God, can you can you just allow the next day to come? 00:20:40.960 --> 00:20:43.599 Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning. 00:20:43.680 --> 00:20:47.039 God, I'm in a night season right now, but can you just get me to the next morning? 00:20:47.119 --> 00:20:50.480 Sometimes we just gotta pray and ask God to make it to the next day. 00:20:50.640 --> 00:20:55.279 Whatever that is, whatever you do, make sure you pray about it first. 00:20:55.839 --> 00:20:59.119 Here's a second thing that I think we need to do eat something. 00:20:59.440 --> 00:21:00.720 We gotta eat something. 00:21:00.960 --> 00:21:05.440 That sounds super, that sounds super basic, but but let me give you some context around it. 00:21:05.599 --> 00:21:17.359 At verse 33 and 34 says this, and as the day was about to dawn, Paul urged the men to take some food, saying, Today is the 14th day that you have continued in suspense and without food have taken nothing. 00:21:17.519 --> 00:21:21.039 Therefore I urge you to take some food, for it will give you strength. 00:21:21.200 --> 00:21:24.720 For not a hair is gonna perish from this head from any of you. 00:21:24.960 --> 00:21:27.759 Paul said, Man, like, y'all got y'all need to eat something. 00:21:27.920 --> 00:21:33.680 Fourteen days they went without eating, because they were filled with such anxiety and so much stress. 00:21:33.839 --> 00:21:40.160 I can't imagine how weak they were, but you know how it is that sometimes we when we get a little stressed out, we we lose our appetites. 00:21:40.240 --> 00:21:44.559 When we when we begin to to be filled with anxiety, we we lose our appetites. 00:21:44.799 --> 00:21:56.559 Now I can't help but look at a parallel here because did you know that that there are so many passages of scripture that refer to the word of God as nourishment that refers to the word of God as food? 00:21:56.720 --> 00:21:59.759 You're gonna see come up on the screen right now varying passages. 00:22:00.480 --> 00:22:06.640 That all refer to the word of God as being something that we need to digest and get into our systems. 00:22:06.880 --> 00:22:20.480 Passages like Ezekiel chapter 2, Revelation 10, Jeremiah 15, Psalm 119, Matthew 4, which really was my theme scripture when I first got saved, that man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God. 00:22:20.640 --> 00:22:21.680 We see these passages. 00:22:21.759 --> 00:22:33.440 We even see there Peter tells us that there's many that are drinking the sincere milk of the word, but but there also that tension of understanding the importance of drinking and eating the meat of maturity that allows us to grow and to develop. 00:22:33.519 --> 00:22:40.960 We see these instances in Hebrews chapter 5, verses 12 through 14, Psalms 34, taste and see that the Lord is good. 00:22:41.039 --> 00:22:48.559 We see this concept and this parallel of the word of God as being something that we need to make sure that we are nourishing ourselves on. 00:22:48.799 --> 00:22:55.440 Because I think if we're honest with ourselves, we can go through prolonged seasons where we can lose our appetite and become spiritually malnourished. 00:22:55.759 --> 00:22:56.960 We know how it is. 00:22:57.200 --> 00:23:10.160 When this quarantine first started, man, you could scroll through people's Instagram feeds and you will see these really cool pictures of Bibles open, highlighters open, and all of us sharing what God was speaking and sharing with us, man. 00:23:10.240 --> 00:23:13.839 Loving the quarantine, God is speaking and doing some incredible things. 00:23:14.079 --> 00:23:18.240 We get a couple weeks into it, and maybe that maybe that ambition shifted a little bit. 00:23:18.319 --> 00:23:19.599 It's understandable. 00:23:20.079 --> 00:23:22.400 But then another day passes. 00:23:22.640 --> 00:23:23.759 Another day passes. 00:23:24.000 --> 00:23:32.240 This once open book becomes closed because we've been in this season for so prolonged period of time that we've lost our appetite altogether. 00:23:33.039 --> 00:23:47.039 And now we may find ourselves in the same way that the men that were Paul was with, going 14 days, literally, figuratively, or maybe spiritually, completely disengaged from the very source that can give us strength. 00:23:47.680 --> 00:23:58.160 I believe that it's in seasons like this that when we find ourselves in uncharted territory, that we need to reevaluate our diet and find ourselves engaging the Word of God more now than ever. 00:23:58.400 --> 00:24:02.400 See, the Word of God will nourish your soul and strengthen your faith. 00:24:02.559 --> 00:24:04.160 And you don't have to do this alone. 00:24:04.319 --> 00:24:08.799 As a community, we are all reading from the same Bible reading plan, the whole story Bible reading plan. 00:24:09.039 --> 00:24:11.039 As a community, we read this all together. 00:24:11.200 --> 00:24:18.160 This is a great Bible reading plan with resources that can help you to understand what the Word of God is saying with videos from the Bible project. 00:24:18.240 --> 00:24:30.160 And we even have another tool that we give you from Mondays through Fridays, where our our our pastor, Pastor Stovval Weems, along with our other community members, are all unpacking the very same passages that we're reading. 00:24:30.319 --> 00:24:34.319 Here's what I want to encourage us with in this season where we're in uncharted territory. 00:24:34.559 --> 00:24:35.519 Eat something. 00:24:35.759 --> 00:24:39.279 Get into the word of God so that it can activate your strength. 00:24:39.440 --> 00:24:40.400 Here's how I see it. 00:24:40.559 --> 00:24:44.319 When we engage the word of God, we activate our strength. 00:24:44.480 --> 00:24:48.799 When we distance ourselves from the word of God, it can weaken our faith. 00:24:49.039 --> 00:24:51.599 And maybe right now we're in a malnourished place. 00:24:51.759 --> 00:24:53.759 Maybe right now we feel a little bit weakened. 00:24:53.839 --> 00:24:56.960 But my encouragement for us right now is to eat something. 00:24:57.200 --> 00:25:06.000 Get back into this book, get connected to community, begin to find your strength because you're going to need it if we're going to ever survive being in this uncharted territory. 00:25:06.160 --> 00:25:08.319 Here's the third thing: lighten up. 00:25:08.640 --> 00:25:11.440 Now that doesn't mean what you may think it means, but let me give you some context. 00:25:11.519 --> 00:25:18.079 What it says here in verse 38, it says that when we had eaten enough, they lightened the ship, throwing the wheat into the sea. 00:25:18.240 --> 00:25:20.720 That means that the wheat was weighing the ship down. 00:25:20.880 --> 00:25:25.519 And after they ate, they had the strength to get rid of the things that were weighing them down. 00:25:25.839 --> 00:25:26.160 Okay. 00:25:26.559 --> 00:25:29.279 I gotta believe that you're catching what I'm saying right now. 00:25:29.440 --> 00:25:38.960 That after they ate something, that after they got something into their souls that gave them strength, they now had the ability to offload the things that were weighing them down. 00:25:39.200 --> 00:25:40.240 Listen to me, church. 00:25:40.319 --> 00:25:48.960 I believe that we are in the middle of uncharted territory, but there may be some things that are weighing us down that perhaps we're not supposed to take with us. 00:25:49.200 --> 00:25:54.160 I found myself saying at different periods of time, I can't wait for us to get back to normal. 00:25:54.319 --> 00:25:57.440 But it occurs to me there is no normal for us to get back to. 00:25:57.599 --> 00:26:00.400 Because when we truly think about normal, you know what normal is? 00:26:00.640 --> 00:26:02.400 Normal is high divorce rates. 00:26:02.559 --> 00:26:03.599 You know what normal is? 00:26:03.839 --> 00:26:04.240 Addiction. 00:26:04.400 --> 00:26:05.440 You know what normal is? 00:26:05.680 --> 00:26:06.240 Homelessness. 00:26:06.400 --> 00:26:07.519 You know what normal is? 00:26:07.680 --> 00:26:08.960 Racism and hatred. 00:26:09.119 --> 00:26:10.240 Those things are normal. 00:26:10.400 --> 00:26:13.920 Why are we in a rush to get back to things that are so destructive in the first place? 00:26:14.000 --> 00:26:22.720 I believe that God is allowing this to be a pause so there could be a fresh reset because there are certain things that we're not supposed to bring with us if we're going to make it to our destination. 00:26:22.880 --> 00:26:26.079 Why are we trying to get back to something that God is trying to lead us from? 00:26:26.240 --> 00:26:31.680 Maybe this is a season for us to take inventory and simply say, God, what are the things that are weighing me down? 00:26:31.839 --> 00:26:35.839 What are the things that are keeping me from making it to the destination that you've called me to go to? 00:26:36.000 --> 00:26:39.119 Lord, I want you to begin to evaluate my heart. 00:26:39.279 --> 00:26:42.079 Reveal to me the areas of my life where I am missing the mark. 00:26:42.319 --> 00:26:48.079 I want you to reveal to me the things that I'm holding on to that's weighing me down and allow me to have the strength to offload it. 00:26:48.400 --> 00:26:49.359 Listen to me, friends. 00:26:49.440 --> 00:26:52.799 I believe that normal, normal is still being defined. 00:26:53.200 --> 00:27:00.640 And I think that we have to reset the way that we think about things and stop trying to get back to what it was and recognize where God is trying to lead us to go to. 00:27:02.000 --> 00:27:06.640 We have to lighten up, we have to begin to shift some things around just a little bit. 00:27:06.960 --> 00:27:12.960 We have to let go of what we have been carrying so we can carry what we are never supposed to let go of. 00:27:13.279 --> 00:27:14.880 Here's my fourth and final point. 00:27:15.119 --> 00:27:16.319 We need to hold on. 00:27:16.799 --> 00:27:18.480 Because I know that's a little bit confusing. 00:27:18.559 --> 00:27:26.000 Because we're saying we have to let go of the things that have been weighing us down, but we also have to hold on to the things that God has told us to hold on to. 00:27:26.240 --> 00:27:31.279 So let me show you what it says here in Acts chapter 27, verses 43 and 44. 00:27:31.599 --> 00:27:35.599 But the centurion, wishing to save Paul, kept them from carrying out their plan. 00:27:35.839 --> 00:27:46.240 He ordered those who could swim jump overboard first and make it for the land, and the rest grab onto the planks or the pieces of the ship so that they were all able and be brought to the land with safety. 00:27:46.400 --> 00:27:50.160 See, this ship has been through a lot and it has finally fallen apart. 00:27:50.319 --> 00:27:54.240 They were close to their destination, but they still had a little bit of ways to go. 00:27:54.400 --> 00:27:59.759 And while it is true that the ship fell apart, there was still something for them to hold on to. 00:28:00.000 --> 00:28:08.000 It's true that what they were hoping was going to take them to their destination has fallen apart, but there was still something for them to hold on to. 00:28:08.160 --> 00:28:10.799 Listen to me, friends, all is not lost. 00:28:10.960 --> 00:28:14.960 If God really needed to use what you had, you would still have it. 00:28:15.039 --> 00:28:19.039 But I can promise you, what you do have is the thing that's going to move you into the future. 00:28:19.200 --> 00:28:21.200 Hold on to whatever it is that's in front of you. 00:28:21.359 --> 00:28:23.599 If you only have a little bit of faith, hold on to it. 00:28:23.759 --> 00:28:25.839 If you only have a little bit of strength, hold on to it. 00:28:26.000 --> 00:28:28.319 If you only have a little bit of hope, hold on to it. 00:28:28.480 --> 00:28:31.279 Whatever you do have, continue to hold on. 00:28:31.440 --> 00:28:36.160 I'm reminded of Jacob, where he said, Lord, I will not let you go until you bless me. 00:28:36.319 --> 00:28:41.279 That's the kind of faith that we have to have in saying that, Lord, I'm gonna hold on until I make it to my destination. 00:28:41.359 --> 00:28:43.359 I'm gonna hold on until I get my breakthrough. 00:28:43.440 --> 00:28:45.200 I'm gonna hold on until I see the miracle. 00:28:45.279 --> 00:28:48.400 I'm gonna hold on until I see the thing that you have promised me. 00:28:48.559 --> 00:29:01.359 Paul was holding on to the word of God that was given to him in Acts 23, that even though he was in the middle of a storm, that the ship has fallen apart, but the plate that he was holding on to was a little bit different than what everybody else was holding on to. 00:29:01.519 --> 00:29:05.839 He was holding on to the fact that Jesus said that you're gonna preach the gospel in Rome. 00:29:05.920 --> 00:29:09.920 And Paul was saying that I'm not in Rome yet, which means that God is not done with me yet. 00:29:10.079 --> 00:29:19.440 And I promise you, there's some of us right now that have gotten a word from God, and if we take inventory of where we are, we can clearly see that I have not made it to my destination just yet. 00:29:19.599 --> 00:29:22.240 So hold on to that, hold on to the promises of God. 00:29:22.400 --> 00:29:26.880 Let us stop taking inventory of what we lost and hold on to what we have. 00:29:27.200 --> 00:29:28.799 God is with you. 00:29:29.920 --> 00:29:40.160 You see, Samuel tells us this powerful story of where God tells him that he was moving on from Saul and told him that there's another king that he has now put his favor on. 00:29:40.319 --> 00:29:49.680 And the Bible tells us that Samuel understandably went through a season of grieving, but then God showed up and said, How long are you gonna hold on to the past when I'm trying to move you to the future? 00:29:50.000 --> 00:30:00.160 I believe that there's many of us that are lost sight of what God is trying to do in our lives, and I understand this, I believe this, that while God will redeem our past, he's leading us to another another future. 00:30:00.799 --> 00:30:08.720 Hold on to what's in front of you because I believe that's gonna be the thing that's gonna get you to the destination that God is calling you to be in. 00:30:09.680 --> 00:30:14.400 See, Paul was he was rooted in Christ and he was holding on to God's promises. 00:30:15.440 --> 00:30:22.160 Paul was a mature follower of Christ, but he was still being formed through his trials. 00:30:22.640 --> 00:30:28.160 It occurs to me that that we are very object-oriented, but God is process-oriented. 00:30:28.400 --> 00:30:29.440 Here's what I mean by that. 00:30:29.759 --> 00:30:31.039 We just want to get to Rome. 00:30:31.519 --> 00:30:34.400 We just want to get to the destination, we just want to get to the breakthrough. 00:30:34.720 --> 00:30:36.480 Understandable, so do I. 00:30:37.119 --> 00:30:41.200 But God is also equally concerned about how we get there. 00:30:41.920 --> 00:30:51.200 Making it to the destination, but how we get there, that lesson is something that often deepens our dependency on God as well as it strengthens our testimony to so many others. 00:30:52.319 --> 00:30:56.640 It occurs to me, church, that sometimes our storms can be for others. 00:30:57.039 --> 00:31:10.400 Because if we really were to play this thing out sequentially, if they made it to their destination in the way that they planned it, the 270 plus men that were also on this ship with Paul, they would have all gone to their separate destinations. 00:31:10.640 --> 00:31:12.640 But they were all in this storm together. 00:31:12.880 --> 00:31:15.519 They all make it to this island of Malta together. 00:31:15.599 --> 00:31:17.759 And while they were there, Paul preaches the gospel. 00:31:17.920 --> 00:31:19.680 While they were there, Paul heals people. 00:31:19.839 --> 00:31:28.640 While they were there, we see lives that are radically changed, that somehow this storm blew them off course, but they end up at a location where lives are radically changed. 00:31:28.720 --> 00:31:40.799 And here's the thing: I don't believe it's outside of the realm of possibility that maybe, maybe some of the men that were on that ship were also the recipients of the ministry that Paul was doing in Malta. 00:31:42.079 --> 00:31:56.799 Maybe it's possible that for seasons like this, that for times like this, that we're in a moment where maybe we're experiencing the storm so that Christ can be seen through how we respond to it in a way that could be beneficial for others. 00:31:57.920 --> 00:31:59.759 We're in uncharted territory. 00:32:00.319 --> 00:32:05.279 But as long as we're anchored in Christ, we know that God is in complete control. 00:32:06.000 --> 00:32:12.960 And what I know that there's many of them in our community, maybe some who are watching right now, that you can feel it, that you're in uncharted territory. 00:32:13.359 --> 00:32:15.359 But right now you're not anchored in Christ. 00:32:15.680 --> 00:32:19.519 Right now you can feel like you're just going to and fro, but there is no hope. 00:32:19.759 --> 00:32:24.160 There is no peace, there is no joy, there is no clarity, there's just hopelessness. 00:32:24.640 --> 00:32:42.640 I believe that if we can activate this idea of being people that can pray, that if we can be people that can find ourselves in the word of God, that if we can be people that offload the things that are slowing us down and stop trying to get back to the way that things were when God is trying to take us to a new thing. 00:32:42.960 --> 00:32:50.400 And if we can hold on to the truth of God's word, hold on to what's in front of us, that maybe we can make it to our destination with peace. 00:32:50.880 --> 00:33:05.680