WEBVTT 00:00:01.919 --> 00:00:08.480 This podcast is presented to you by Pastor Jason and Liz Burns in Access Church in Lakeland and Bartow, Florida. 00:00:08.640 --> 00:00:11.519 For more information, visit Access.tv. 00:00:12.000 --> 00:00:13.439 Well, let's get to work, everybody. 00:00:13.599 --> 00:00:16.960 Today we are in part three of a series that I've really loved. 00:00:17.120 --> 00:00:18.879 A series called Make Room. 00:00:19.120 --> 00:00:20.640 Here's the thing I said week one. 00:00:20.800 --> 00:00:23.519 You have room for the stuff in your life that matters. 00:00:23.760 --> 00:00:24.559 You just do. 00:00:24.719 --> 00:00:29.199 Like if you care about health, you will make room for exercise or eating a different kind of way. 00:00:29.359 --> 00:00:34.159 If you care about doing vacations, you will make room in your budget to save money to go do the thing. 00:00:34.320 --> 00:00:35.439 And I want to challenge you. 00:00:35.600 --> 00:00:37.039 I love New Year's resolutions. 00:00:37.200 --> 00:00:40.719 Do them, make them, keep them, change your life, change everything around you. 00:00:40.880 --> 00:00:44.799 But there is only one thing that can actually change your life for all of eternity. 00:00:44.880 --> 00:00:46.240 So here's what I challenge you with. 00:00:46.320 --> 00:00:51.679 I said, what if in 2026 we made our resolution to make room for God's presence? 00:00:51.840 --> 00:00:55.039 So as a church, we're literally doing everything we can to help you with this. 00:00:55.200 --> 00:01:01.039 This is the reason that last week we kicked off three weeks of intentional prayer called 21 Days of Prayer. 00:01:01.280 --> 00:01:06.959 If you're new or we have some college students back today, go to Access.tv slash 21. 00:01:07.120 --> 00:01:08.799 Access.tv slash 21. 00:01:08.959 --> 00:01:12.239 We literally have a devotional that our staff wrote for you every single day. 00:01:12.400 --> 00:01:15.200 Our staff recorded those devotionals as podcasts. 00:01:15.359 --> 00:01:19.680 I had a lady after the second service run me down to tell me that she loves the podcast. 00:01:19.760 --> 00:01:22.079 She said we all have a voice for podcasts. 00:01:22.159 --> 00:01:25.040 And then she also told me, it's like you're all in my living room. 00:01:25.120 --> 00:01:27.519 And I was like, everything was cool, and that part felt creepy. 00:01:27.599 --> 00:01:29.359 Okay, everything else was good. 00:01:29.680 --> 00:01:31.439 But we want to help you start your day right. 00:01:31.519 --> 00:01:35.599 And then on the Wednesdays during this, we're gathering at all of our locations from 12 to 1. 00:01:35.680 --> 00:01:41.120 If you're able to come for even 20 minutes, just come for any part of that hour you can and let's seek the face of God. 00:01:41.359 --> 00:01:44.079 We all make room for the stuff that matters to us. 00:01:44.319 --> 00:01:46.319 Week one, I challenged you with this thought. 00:01:46.480 --> 00:01:49.680 The people of Israel, God's people, but messed up a lot of ways. 00:01:49.760 --> 00:01:54.799 But the way they messed up most was by having a relationship with God that kept God at arm's length. 00:01:54.879 --> 00:02:01.120 I challenge you to never allow your relationship with God to be filtered through the experience of another person. 00:02:01.359 --> 00:02:04.079 Secondhand faith never leads to firsthand miracles. 00:02:04.159 --> 00:02:05.439 Like you need to understand this. 00:02:05.680 --> 00:02:10.400 Second week, last week I talked about the power and the person of the Holy Spirit. 00:02:10.560 --> 00:02:12.080 And this is a big deal to me. 00:02:12.319 --> 00:02:17.759 He's not an it, he's not a force, he is the third person in the Holy Trinity, the Godhead. 00:02:17.919 --> 00:02:23.280 And the reason it matters is that if the Holy Spirit was an object or a force, you can't have a relationship with that. 00:02:23.439 --> 00:02:25.360 But he longs to be your best friend. 00:02:25.439 --> 00:02:26.000 He's a person. 00:02:26.159 --> 00:02:32.560 If you missed last week, I hope to bring some clarity to the topic of one of the most understood topics in the Bible, the Holy Spirit. 00:02:32.719 --> 00:02:36.080 Today, let me just jump ahead and tell you what I'm believing for. 00:02:36.400 --> 00:02:40.960 I want to challenge you to make room in your life for a miracle. 00:02:41.360 --> 00:02:44.400 To make room in your life to see God do what only God can do. 00:02:44.560 --> 00:02:47.520 One of my favorite verses in the Bible is found in Ephesians chapter 3. 00:02:47.680 --> 00:02:50.800 Paul writes a letter to a church in what would be modern-day Turkey. 00:02:50.879 --> 00:02:54.000 And this is what scholars call the crown jewel of the New Testament. 00:02:54.159 --> 00:02:55.120 Ephesians 3 20. 00:02:55.280 --> 00:03:03.680 He says, Now, glory be to God, who by his mighty power at work within us, say this, is able. 00:03:03.919 --> 00:03:08.400 Okay, if I were to shorten and summarize the sentence, I would say, God is able. 00:03:08.479 --> 00:03:10.080 And what's he able to do? 00:03:10.319 --> 00:03:13.039 Far more than we would ever dare ask or dream of. 00:03:13.280 --> 00:03:18.080 Infinitely more and infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, or hopes. 00:03:18.319 --> 00:03:19.199 Here's the thing. 00:03:19.360 --> 00:03:24.719 I think a lot of Christians believe that God is able to do more than we could ever imagine, right? 00:03:24.800 --> 00:03:25.840 Like he's able to do it. 00:03:26.000 --> 00:03:30.879 The question that I think some of us wrestle with is it's not is he able, it's is he willing? 00:03:31.120 --> 00:03:33.759 Today I want to show you that God is willing. 00:03:34.159 --> 00:03:39.759 To get us started today, uh several years ago, my my middle brother Mike, he was turning 26. 00:03:39.840 --> 00:03:40.960 It was his golden birthday. 00:03:41.120 --> 00:03:43.840 He was turning 26 on February 26th. 00:03:43.919 --> 00:03:47.520 And so for fun, he came up with this idea called 26 and 26. 00:03:47.680 --> 00:03:54.479 For the 26 days leading up to his 26th birthday, he came up with a list of 26 things that he had never done that he wanted to do. 00:03:54.639 --> 00:03:58.319 So some days were fun, like an eating challenge or going to a place he had never been. 00:03:58.479 --> 00:04:00.719 He learned how to ride a motorcycle during this. 00:04:00.879 --> 00:04:04.240 But he called me one day and he's like, bro, I want join me on this. 00:04:04.400 --> 00:04:07.599 For my 26th birthday, I want to go skydiving. 00:04:07.680 --> 00:04:10.319 Will you jump out of a plane with me? 00:04:10.560 --> 00:04:15.439 And I said yes, and then I remembered that I'm married, so I said, maybe, okay? 00:04:15.599 --> 00:04:18.160 And um I said, let me run this by Liz real quick. 00:04:18.240 --> 00:04:23.680 So I called, I called Liz and I was like, hey, good news, you know, Mike's turning 26 and he wants to go skydiving. 00:04:23.759 --> 00:04:25.120 And she goes, how do those two match? 00:04:25.199 --> 00:04:26.879 And I'm like, I don't know, I just want to go. 00:04:27.040 --> 00:04:29.120 And she goes, Well, look, I don't think that's wise. 00:04:29.279 --> 00:04:30.879 And I'm like, but it would be fun. 00:04:31.040 --> 00:04:33.759 She goes, we have two young kids at home. 00:04:33.920 --> 00:04:35.120 Like they need a father. 00:04:35.279 --> 00:04:36.879 I'm like, I know, but I'll be safe. 00:04:37.040 --> 00:04:38.319 She goes, how can you control that? 00:04:38.399 --> 00:04:41.839 I said, I don't know, but I've got a multi-million dollar life insurance policy. 00:04:42.000 --> 00:04:43.040 She said, have a good time. 00:04:43.120 --> 00:04:44.480 You know, uh, it was fun. 00:04:44.720 --> 00:04:45.920 A little too willing. 00:04:47.439 --> 00:04:48.399 That's crazy. 00:04:48.560 --> 00:04:57.600 Anyways, and so it's it's the day of, and Mike and I go to the like the most amazing place, uh, this happening city called Lake Wales. 00:04:57.759 --> 00:04:58.879 You ever been to Lake Wales? 00:04:59.120 --> 00:05:01.600 There's like a Wendy's there, and apparently skydiving. 00:05:01.680 --> 00:05:02.879 And so here is us. 00:05:03.040 --> 00:05:12.079 This is me, uh, a few pounds and a lot of facial hair ago, and um, and so we we're there and like we're strapped in, and it's this incredible, incredible day. 00:05:12.160 --> 00:05:17.360 And I'm so excited, I'm honestly a little bit nervous, but who was really nervous was not me, it was my bride. 00:05:17.519 --> 00:05:18.879 So all day she was texting me. 00:05:18.959 --> 00:05:20.720 She's like, please keep in touch, please keep in touch. 00:05:20.879 --> 00:05:22.319 So we're texting, she's like, How are you? 00:05:22.399 --> 00:05:23.199 And I'm like, I'm good. 00:05:23.279 --> 00:05:24.160 She's like, How are you? 00:05:24.319 --> 00:05:25.759 I'm I'm good, how are you? 00:05:25.839 --> 00:05:28.639 I'm like, see last three responses, still good. 00:05:28.720 --> 00:05:30.879 Like, she was just checking in, checking in, checking in. 00:05:30.959 --> 00:05:32.240 She goes, Do you know when you'll go? 00:05:32.399 --> 00:05:32.800 Not sure. 00:05:32.959 --> 00:05:35.279 It was just question after question after question. 00:05:35.519 --> 00:05:37.759 I could tell, I could tell she was nervous. 00:05:38.000 --> 00:05:39.519 Now, I I also was nervous. 00:05:39.680 --> 00:05:42.000 Here is a picture of my flight instructor. 00:05:42.079 --> 00:05:43.040 I want you to see him. 00:05:43.199 --> 00:05:45.199 And um, this dude was interesting. 00:05:45.279 --> 00:05:47.920 I I put this picture up and I'm like, he might come to our church. 00:05:48.000 --> 00:05:50.720 I don't know, but I'll never forget how nervous I felt. 00:05:50.800 --> 00:05:56.160 And this man who strapped to me, he had this distinct smell of granola and marijuana at the same time. 00:05:56.399 --> 00:05:57.839 Couldn't explain that. 00:05:58.800 --> 00:06:03.439 Anyways, we we get strapped in together, we get in the plane, and he goes, Are you nervous? 00:06:03.519 --> 00:06:05.600 And I'm like, Yeah, and he goes, Me too. 00:06:05.759 --> 00:06:06.720 I was like, cool. 00:06:06.879 --> 00:06:10.399 And then I say to him, I said, uh, he said, he said, is this your first time? 00:06:10.560 --> 00:06:11.199 And I said, yeah. 00:06:11.360 --> 00:06:12.800 He goes, me too. 00:06:13.040 --> 00:06:15.920 And I'm like, I will punch you in the throat, okay? 00:06:16.240 --> 00:06:16.879 Nervous. 00:06:17.040 --> 00:06:23.279 So we're back on the ground before we leave, and we're strapped in, and I'm texting with my wife, texting with her, and I'm like, it's gonna be soon. 00:06:23.360 --> 00:06:25.680 I don't know when it'll be, but I'm excited, I'm excited, I'm excited. 00:06:25.759 --> 00:06:31.439 And a few minutes later, the the pilot came in and he goes, guys, phones down, get on the plane, let's go, time to go. 00:06:31.600 --> 00:06:35.759 So I just threw my phone down, didn't send Liz a text, and I got on the plane. 00:06:35.920 --> 00:06:41.040 I don't know what was more dangerous jumping out of a plane or not texting my wife. 00:06:41.279 --> 00:06:43.120 Anyways, I jump out of the plane. 00:06:43.199 --> 00:06:47.120 If you're like a warrior and you don't connect dots on stories very well, I'm fine. 00:06:47.279 --> 00:06:48.639 I made it, okay? 00:06:48.879 --> 00:06:50.720 And the the jump is awesome. 00:06:50.879 --> 00:06:51.759 Little quick lesson. 00:06:51.839 --> 00:06:53.680 If you ever do it, don't open your mouth. 00:06:53.920 --> 00:06:55.439 Instant dry mouth when you do that. 00:06:55.680 --> 00:06:56.399 Super weird. 00:06:56.560 --> 00:07:00.319 Anyways, I land safely on the ground and I come back to my phone. 00:07:00.480 --> 00:07:02.319 I am buzzing at this moment. 00:07:02.480 --> 00:07:09.680 I come back to my phone and I've got roughly 1.7 billion missed text messages from Liz. 00:07:10.079 --> 00:07:11.360 They started normal. 00:07:11.600 --> 00:07:12.480 How's it going? 00:07:12.800 --> 00:07:13.920 Question mark. 00:07:14.720 --> 00:07:16.240 When do you think you'll go? 00:07:16.560 --> 00:07:18.160 Two question marks. 00:07:18.959 --> 00:07:22.079 Hello, five question marks. 00:07:22.560 --> 00:07:25.120 Babe, 12 question marks. 00:07:25.279 --> 00:07:28.959 Then a whole text that was like this long, just question marks. 00:07:29.199 --> 00:07:33.439 And then very quickly it went from like, how are you, what's going on, to increasingly dark. 00:07:33.600 --> 00:07:35.360 Like very quickly, it was like, You're dead. 00:07:35.519 --> 00:07:37.040 Oh my gosh, I'm a single mother. 00:07:37.199 --> 00:07:38.160 What is wrong with you? 00:07:38.319 --> 00:07:39.759 You have left me with our two sons. 00:07:39.920 --> 00:07:41.120 Our sons will be fatherless. 00:07:41.279 --> 00:07:42.639 What is wrong with you? 00:07:42.800 --> 00:07:46.879 She's sending like the emoji of the skull and crossbones, like, what is wrong with you? 00:07:47.920 --> 00:07:49.279 And how do you respond to that? 00:07:49.439 --> 00:07:51.519 I just responded, hi. 00:07:52.079 --> 00:07:53.519 Like, what do you say? 00:07:53.759 --> 00:07:54.639 What do you say? 00:07:54.879 --> 00:07:56.800 Well, this idea really got in my head. 00:07:56.959 --> 00:08:00.240 Like, this idea of like, you know, I'm pretty responsible. 00:08:00.319 --> 00:08:02.800 I'm responsible to my wife and to my kids. 00:08:02.959 --> 00:08:06.000 I have a church full of people who I'm responsible for. 00:08:06.160 --> 00:08:10.480 I have a staff of dozens and dozens of people that I'm responsible for. 00:08:10.720 --> 00:08:12.560 I'm I'm pretty responsible. 00:08:12.800 --> 00:08:14.959 Maybe I shouldn't do dumb stuff. 00:08:15.279 --> 00:08:18.560 Maybe I should play it safe. 00:08:18.959 --> 00:08:21.920 And this this is good advice sometimes. 00:08:22.160 --> 00:08:22.560 Alright? 00:08:22.639 --> 00:08:23.920 Like this is good advice. 00:08:24.079 --> 00:08:26.160 There's some places you should play it safe. 00:08:26.639 --> 00:08:29.360 Can I tell you the one area you should never play it safe? 00:08:30.959 --> 00:08:31.680 Faith. 00:08:32.879 --> 00:08:49.120 And I think somewhere along the way, a lot of Christians buy into the idea that if God doesn't answer my prayer exactly the way that I want or hope that he will, it's easier to lower my expectation of God than it is to have faith. 00:08:49.440 --> 00:08:50.799 Well, the Bible talks a lot about faith. 00:08:50.960 --> 00:09:02.559 The book of Hebrews, the author of Hebrews chapter 11, says, without faith, so without it, it's impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. 00:09:02.799 --> 00:09:05.120 So we have to have it in order to please God. 00:09:05.279 --> 00:09:12.159 In the book of Romans, Paul says it like this He says, For in the gospel, the righteousness of God is revealed. 00:09:12.320 --> 00:09:18.480 A righteousness which is like a right standing with God, that is by faith. 00:09:18.799 --> 00:09:26.480 You don't do something to earn it, you you get it by faith from first to last, just as it's written, the righteous will live by faith. 00:09:26.559 --> 00:09:28.000 And here's what I need you to know. 00:09:28.159 --> 00:09:32.879 Obviously, we have to have faith to please God, and we we can't get into right standing with God without it. 00:09:33.039 --> 00:09:35.120 But here's the question: what is it? 00:09:35.360 --> 00:09:41.600 My guess is if I were to poll our whole audience today, I would get hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of different answers. 00:09:41.759 --> 00:09:42.960 Many of them would be good. 00:09:43.120 --> 00:09:49.840 It's taking a step when I don't know what the step is, it's trusting, it's believing, it's putting my whole weight in Him with confidence. 00:09:50.000 --> 00:09:51.120 Lots of good answers. 00:09:51.279 --> 00:09:57.440 But today I'd like to give us a working definition of faith that I believe might change some stuff for you. 00:09:57.759 --> 00:10:03.200 Faith is about seeing, but it's seeing from God's point of view. 00:10:03.679 --> 00:10:05.519 I'm trying to explain it to you like this, okay? 00:10:05.679 --> 00:10:12.080 Um, I have a friend who will never allow his children to say that their day was good or bad. 00:10:12.559 --> 00:10:13.759 Okay, why? 00:10:14.000 --> 00:10:22.240 But because when you live in the middle of a day, it's impossible to actually know if in the grand scheme of your whole life, if this day was good or bad. 00:10:22.480 --> 00:10:25.600 Sometimes you have good days and it ends up bad. 00:10:25.759 --> 00:10:28.480 Sometimes you have bad days and it ends up good. 00:10:28.639 --> 00:10:36.559 Come on, anybody ever run into someone that used to have a crush on and they told you no, but then you saw them like 10 years later and you're like, thank you, God, that they said no. 00:10:36.720 --> 00:10:38.960 Like that bad day, actually good. 00:10:39.200 --> 00:10:39.519 Okay. 00:10:40.320 --> 00:10:41.200 You with me? 00:10:41.440 --> 00:10:43.919 Um, I'll I'll make it a little bit more personal. 00:10:44.159 --> 00:10:47.200 Six months into marriage, my wife found cancer in her body. 00:10:47.519 --> 00:10:48.879 That was a bad day. 00:10:49.120 --> 00:10:52.720 That was a bad season from my perspective. 00:10:52.960 --> 00:11:01.679 From God's point of view, that was the season required to attune our hearts to his will to do what became the genesis or the beginning of our church. 00:11:02.000 --> 00:11:07.679 Like I look at it from this point of view now, and I'm like, God, I would never wish that on my worst enemy. 00:11:07.840 --> 00:11:15.519 But thank you that you allowed us to go through that because you carved out of us this different kind of capacity to know you, love you, and to trust you. 00:11:15.759 --> 00:11:20.240 Like it's difficult for us to put our diagnosis on days good, bad, right, wrong. 00:11:20.399 --> 00:11:22.960 God sees from an entirely different perspective. 00:11:23.200 --> 00:11:25.679 God sees the beginning from the end. 00:11:25.840 --> 00:11:30.799 That diagnosis that you got, it is a word from the doctor, but listen to me, it's not the final word. 00:11:30.960 --> 00:11:35.840 Like, like you, you need to hear that we see from a perspective, God sees from a different perspective. 00:11:36.080 --> 00:11:39.279 So faith is aligning my sight to what God sees. 00:11:39.440 --> 00:11:40.799 Let me show you what faith is not. 00:11:40.960 --> 00:11:42.240 Faith is not desire. 00:11:42.399 --> 00:11:44.000 You can't like want it enough. 00:11:44.240 --> 00:11:46.799 Faith is not pretending that something is true. 00:11:46.960 --> 00:11:50.960 It's like you get a diagnosis, that is true, but it's just a word, it's not the final word. 00:11:51.120 --> 00:11:53.519 Faith is not a feeling, nothing wrong with feelings. 00:11:53.679 --> 00:11:56.480 Have your feelings, just get your feelings in the rightful seat. 00:11:56.559 --> 00:12:00.000 They're not the driver, they're an indicator, but they're not always truth tellers. 00:12:00.159 --> 00:12:02.720 One last thing, faith is not bargaining with God. 00:12:02.879 --> 00:12:03.200 Why? 00:12:03.360 --> 00:12:04.960 Because it's not let's make a deal. 00:12:05.120 --> 00:12:10.159 If you could force God to do what you want by offering him the right thing, then you actually become God. 00:12:10.320 --> 00:12:11.360 And how many of us have done this? 00:12:11.519 --> 00:12:13.679 Oh God, if you'll just come through, I'll start tithing. 00:12:13.919 --> 00:12:16.799 Oh God, if you just do a miracle, I'll never miss church again. 00:12:16.960 --> 00:12:18.320 Oh God, I'll pray every day. 00:12:18.399 --> 00:12:21.840 And we try to bargain with God and we miss it altogether. 00:12:22.240 --> 00:12:27.039 The author of Hebrews wrote Hebrews chapter 11, which we call the hall of faith. 00:12:27.200 --> 00:12:28.320 And it starts with this verse. 00:12:28.399 --> 00:12:31.279 It says, Now faith is confidence. 00:12:31.519 --> 00:12:32.480 And I love this word. 00:12:32.559 --> 00:12:33.840 It keeps popping up in my life. 00:12:33.919 --> 00:12:40.960 It's it's not cockiness, it's not self-assuredness, it's a holy, rightful confidence, not rooted in me, but in God. 00:12:41.200 --> 00:12:47.759 Faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. 00:12:48.240 --> 00:12:53.120 So another way to say it about faith is faith is a way of seeing. 00:12:53.279 --> 00:12:56.320 It's a way to see stuff that you can't always see. 00:12:56.480 --> 00:13:03.039 In the same way that the human eye can see the certain prism of colors, there are colors that exist outside of what the human eye can see. 00:13:03.200 --> 00:13:11.279 I believe that there is a way for you to see outside of your normal purview and to see from God's point of view on your circumstances. 00:13:11.759 --> 00:13:17.200 To get us going today, one of the most famous stories in the Bible, Christians and non-Christians alike know the story. 00:13:17.360 --> 00:13:20.159 It's a story about David versus Goliath. 00:13:20.480 --> 00:13:21.600 Anybody know this story? 00:13:21.759 --> 00:13:24.879 If you grew up going to church, going to Sunday school, you possibly heard it. 00:13:25.039 --> 00:13:28.960 Chances are, even if you had never been to church before today, you've heard it. 00:13:29.039 --> 00:13:30.960 And they use it as a sports analogy. 00:13:31.120 --> 00:13:36.399 This team versus this team, one is the massive favor, and the other one is the underdog. 00:13:36.480 --> 00:13:38.720 It's the David versus Goliath. 00:13:39.120 --> 00:13:42.320 If you know the story, David is a teenage shepherd boy. 00:13:42.480 --> 00:13:48.879 He's out watching his father's sheep, and he does have to fend off a few animals with his bare hands, but it's really what he was. 00:13:49.039 --> 00:13:53.440 And one day David was going to the battlefield in this place called the Valley of Elon. 00:13:53.519 --> 00:13:54.639 I've stood in this valley. 00:13:54.720 --> 00:13:55.279 It's really cool. 00:13:55.519 --> 00:13:56.799 You need to go to Israel someday. 00:13:56.960 --> 00:14:02.240 And I've stood in this valley, and David rolls up with a cart full of like an ancient version of a charcuterie board. 00:14:02.320 --> 00:14:04.879 You know, he's got some meats and some cheese and some bread. 00:14:05.120 --> 00:14:13.840 And when he pulls up, he hears the voice of this gigantic person screaming at the people of Israel to send a warrior out to fight him. 00:14:14.080 --> 00:14:18.399 It was common in those days for these kind of battles to be 1v1, winner take all. 00:14:18.559 --> 00:14:22.080 So they had this, on the other side, the Philistines had this man named Goliath. 00:14:22.240 --> 00:14:24.159 He was huge and overwhelming. 00:14:24.480 --> 00:14:27.120 And David says to his brothers, all right, who's gonna fight this guy? 00:14:27.279 --> 00:14:29.440 And they're like, Have you seen him? 00:14:29.840 --> 00:14:33.440 Like what they saw with their natural eyes was overwhelming. 00:14:33.600 --> 00:14:36.000 And David says, Why wouldn't if you fight him? 00:14:36.080 --> 00:14:38.720 They're like, he's massive, he's huge, we can't do it. 00:14:38.799 --> 00:14:40.799 And David says, I'll do it. 00:14:41.200 --> 00:14:43.759 David gathers up his courage and he goes to King Saul. 00:14:43.840 --> 00:14:45.600 And he says this to the king of Israel. 00:14:45.759 --> 00:14:49.759 He says, This, don't worry about this, Philistine, David told Saul. 00:14:50.720 --> 00:14:51.679 I got this. 00:14:52.320 --> 00:14:53.360 I'll go fight him. 00:14:53.519 --> 00:14:56.399 And try to put yourself in Saul's shoes for just a moment. 00:14:56.799 --> 00:15:05.919 Your trained warriors are scared to fight this guy, and a teenage boy who brought meat and cheese wants to fight him. 00:15:06.639 --> 00:15:08.720 What would your response be if you were king? 00:15:09.360 --> 00:15:14.320 King says exactly what I would say, which is don't be ridiculous. 00:15:15.440 --> 00:15:16.720 That is audacious. 00:15:16.879 --> 00:15:18.159 Don't be ridiculous. 00:15:18.320 --> 00:15:22.799 He goes on and he says, There's no way you can fight this Philistine and possibly win. 00:15:22.960 --> 00:15:26.879 You're only a boy, and he's been a man of war since his youth. 00:15:27.120 --> 00:15:29.360 Saul saw that moment in the natural. 00:15:29.519 --> 00:15:33.600 In the natural, it makes no sense for a boy to go fight a gigantic warrior. 00:15:33.759 --> 00:15:35.759 But David saw a little bit different. 00:15:35.919 --> 00:15:39.759 It raises this question because Saul says about David, don't be ridiculous. 00:15:39.919 --> 00:15:45.840 I want to ask you when it comes to the things of faith for you, am I reasonable or ridiculous? 00:15:47.120 --> 00:15:51.679 I think a lot of us, somewhere along the line, we settle for a reasonable kind of faith, don't we? 00:15:53.120 --> 00:15:55.200 I've got this sickness in my body. 00:15:55.519 --> 00:16:01.120 God, I know you can heal, but would you just give me the strength to endure? 00:16:02.559 --> 00:16:03.759 Is that a real prayer? 00:16:03.919 --> 00:16:04.799 Absolutely. 00:16:05.039 --> 00:16:07.919 But the healing power of Jesus is available to you. 00:16:08.080 --> 00:16:17.039 The book of Isaiah, some 600, 700 years before Jesus was born, says that when Jesus was beaten and nailed to the cross, healing was purchased for you. 00:16:17.200 --> 00:16:18.000 It's prepaid. 00:16:18.080 --> 00:16:20.559 All you have to do is just like receive it. 00:16:20.960 --> 00:16:31.679 So why would you settle for a reasonable kind of faith when God seems to use and bless those who have a ridiculous kind of faith? 00:16:31.919 --> 00:16:34.240 Okay, last week we we were talking about the Holy Spirit. 00:16:34.320 --> 00:16:36.320 We talked about Acts chapter 1, Acts chapter 2. 00:16:36.480 --> 00:16:38.720 In Acts chapter 2, the Holy Spirit falls. 00:16:38.879 --> 00:16:46.399 There's this incredible moment in an upper room, and it the Holy Spirit fills 120 believers, and that now they're filled with the power of the Holy Spirit. 00:16:46.559 --> 00:16:48.159 And then the story shifts to Peter. 00:16:48.320 --> 00:16:59.279 Peter was a guy who was kind of all over the map, but at one point in Peter's life, just days before, he was scared to even acknowledge his relationship with Jesus to a little girl. 00:16:59.919 --> 00:17:06.000 Peter gets so full of the Holy Spirit that the next day he goes out and preaches, and thousands of people are saved and baptized. 00:17:06.160 --> 00:17:07.599 Well then there's this other story. 00:17:07.759 --> 00:17:09.119 This is Acts chapter 3. 00:17:09.200 --> 00:17:11.599 It's literally the next chapter after the Holy Spirit falls. 00:17:11.759 --> 00:17:19.279 It says, Peter and John, two of Jesus' disciples, they went to the temple one afternoon to take part in the three o'clock prayer service. 00:17:19.359 --> 00:17:22.000 So we do ours at noon during 21 days of prayer. 00:17:22.079 --> 00:17:23.440 They did three o'clock, okay? 00:17:23.599 --> 00:17:28.480 And it says, as they approached the temple, a man lame from birth was being carried in. 00:17:28.640 --> 00:17:30.240 Just pause here for just a moment. 00:17:30.480 --> 00:17:42.960 The book of Acts, chapter 4, literally the next chapter, tells us one detail that this man had been lame, unambulatory, like unable to walk, and he was over 40 years old. 00:17:43.279 --> 00:17:46.720 And that they're bringing this man to the temple, and here's the reason. 00:17:47.359 --> 00:17:54.400 The only way he could survive was to sit outside of the temple gate and beg for money. 00:17:54.880 --> 00:18:02.720 His whole existence, getting food and meals and maybe money for a place to stay, depended on the generosity of those who were going to the temple. 00:18:02.880 --> 00:18:11.680 In ancient Jewish practice, it was common for Jews to think it was either wrong or sinful to pass a person who was in need and not give something to show help. 00:18:11.839 --> 00:18:15.440 So this man, he gets his friends to bring him out right in front of the temple. 00:18:15.519 --> 00:18:18.400 So now people probably feel morally obligated to help him. 00:18:18.559 --> 00:18:24.480 And every day he would sit there, and every day he would beg for the reasonable. 00:18:24.720 --> 00:18:33.839 It goes on, it says, when Peter, uh, when Peter saw, when he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for some money. 00:18:34.160 --> 00:18:34.400 Right? 00:18:34.480 --> 00:18:36.000 Now that's kind of interesting, isn't it? 00:18:36.319 --> 00:18:37.680 Isn't it a little weird to you? 00:18:37.839 --> 00:18:40.720 Like it's weird to me because he's there at this place. 00:18:40.880 --> 00:18:41.839 I think I skipped a verse. 00:18:41.920 --> 00:18:43.599 Let me go back one, if you would, for me. 00:18:43.759 --> 00:18:47.440 It says each day he was put beside the temple gate, the one called the beautiful gate. 00:18:47.599 --> 00:18:49.920 So he could beg from the people going into the temple. 00:18:50.079 --> 00:18:57.039 There's this interesting detail about this temple that the temple had this door system, this gate called the temple beautiful, the gate beautiful. 00:18:57.200 --> 00:18:59.920 Now, a detail about it that's fascinating to me is this. 00:19:00.079 --> 00:19:08.240 We don't have pictures, obviously, from the Old Testament and the New Testament, but what's interesting to me is this extra biblical writers write about this temple. 00:19:08.319 --> 00:19:10.000 It was so ornate and gorgeous. 00:19:10.160 --> 00:19:12.880 The gate or the doors were made of a Corinthian copper. 00:19:12.960 --> 00:19:21.039 Now we don't have pictures, so I went to ChatGPT and I said, like, draw for me the most realistic version of what the temple and the gate beautiful might have looked like. 00:19:21.119 --> 00:19:23.759 And here's what it came up with, and I think it's beautiful. 00:19:24.000 --> 00:19:27.039 The doors were made of a Corinthian copper, they were very, very tall. 00:19:27.200 --> 00:19:30.240 And people would come just to admire the doors of the temple. 00:19:30.319 --> 00:19:33.279 And I even like how Chat GPT put this guy in it. 00:19:33.359 --> 00:19:41.599 And he's sitting just a few feet away, and he's he's begging, asking for a handout. 00:19:41.839 --> 00:19:42.880 Why is it interesting? 00:19:43.359 --> 00:19:47.680 Because he's sitting on the outside of the temple asking for the reasonable. 00:19:48.079 --> 00:19:53.200 But what's interesting is that he could be carried in 15 more feet to the other side of the doors. 00:19:53.440 --> 00:20:02.000 Scripture says the presence of God so indwelt this place that the healing power of God was there to do a miracle. 00:20:02.799 --> 00:20:04.480 Okay, let's go a little farther. 00:20:04.799 --> 00:20:09.680 He's settling for the reasonable when the ridiculous is 15 feet away from him. 00:20:09.920 --> 00:20:16.720 Here's what it means: it means for you and for me that our expectation determines our experience. 00:20:17.039 --> 00:20:17.920 I'm gonna show it to you. 00:20:18.079 --> 00:20:20.960 Expectation determines experience. 00:20:21.200 --> 00:20:26.799 For this man, my guess is that he had prayed, my guess is he had cried out to God, Oh God, would you heal me? 00:20:26.960 --> 00:20:30.720 My friends are moving around, they're able to walk, my friends are getting married, I can't. 00:20:30.880 --> 00:20:33.039 Would you do a miracle and would you heal me? 00:20:33.200 --> 00:20:35.359 And it just never seemed to happen the way he wanted. 00:20:35.680 --> 00:20:42.880 And so instead of putting himself in an environment where the ridiculous might happen, he settled for the reasonable. 00:20:43.279 --> 00:20:43.839 Here's the point. 00:20:43.920 --> 00:20:47.519 Sometimes it's easier to exist than to expect. 00:20:47.920 --> 00:20:49.519 I think a lot of us get stuck there. 00:20:49.759 --> 00:20:54.640 We're good with just existing, we're good settling for the crumbs of this life. 00:20:55.039 --> 00:20:55.680 Story goes on. 00:20:55.839 --> 00:21:00.480 Peter and John go walking by and they see the man, and Peter looked straight at him as did John. 00:21:00.640 --> 00:21:02.400 Then Peter said, Look at us. 00:21:02.640 --> 00:21:03.599 I'm the captain now. 00:21:03.680 --> 00:21:04.559 Look at us. 00:21:04.799 --> 00:21:07.839 So the man gave them his attention, expecting. 00:21:08.000 --> 00:21:09.440 What was he expecting? 00:21:12.160 --> 00:21:14.079 He was just expecting some money. 00:21:14.240 --> 00:21:15.680 He wasn't expecting a healing. 00:21:15.759 --> 00:21:17.039 He wasn't expecting a miracle. 00:21:17.119 --> 00:21:22.240 He was expecting the lowest possible reasonable response. 00:21:22.559 --> 00:21:24.799 Then Peter said this, I like this. 00:21:25.039 --> 00:21:27.359 Silver or gold, I do not have. 00:21:27.599 --> 00:21:28.240 Pause. 00:21:28.480 --> 00:21:34.480 Any ever um anybody ever have a friend that every time you go out with them, they're like, oh, forgot my wallet. 00:21:34.640 --> 00:21:35.680 Anybody have that friend? 00:21:35.839 --> 00:21:36.960 I have that brother. 00:21:37.119 --> 00:21:38.720 Okay, um, it's funny. 00:21:39.039 --> 00:21:45.519 Like Peter and John go walking by and they say, Silver and gold, I don't got it. 00:21:45.599 --> 00:21:46.960 I ain't got no money. 00:21:47.279 --> 00:21:47.920 Comma. 00:21:48.079 --> 00:21:57.680 And this is important for me to say to you a lot of us, when it comes to faith, we settle for reasonable and we say, I don't have what I need, period. 00:21:58.720 --> 00:22:01.759 Peter and John say, Silver and gold, I don't got it. 00:22:02.079 --> 00:22:02.640 Comma. 00:22:02.880 --> 00:22:04.160 Massive conjunction. 00:22:04.400 --> 00:22:10.160 But I don't have what you want, but good news, I do have what you need. 00:22:11.759 --> 00:22:14.319 In the name of Jesus. 00:22:14.559 --> 00:22:15.759 We're gonna come back to that. 00:22:16.319 --> 00:22:18.640 In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk. 00:22:18.799 --> 00:22:19.359 And then it goes on. 00:22:19.440 --> 00:22:20.160 He says, taking him. 00:22:20.319 --> 00:22:23.599 He reaches down, pulls him up, taking him by the right hand, he helped him up. 00:22:23.759 --> 00:22:26.480 And instantly the man's feet and ankles became strong. 00:22:26.799 --> 00:22:39.680 This is written by Luke, who's a doctor, and Luke gives some kind of other detail in the original writing that makes it seem like the bones lined up, that the muscles strengthened, the tissues and all the connecting ligaments all came back into order. 00:22:39.839 --> 00:22:42.480 And he jumped to his feet and began to walk. 00:22:42.559 --> 00:22:48.559 And then he went uh next, then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping in and praising God. 00:22:48.720 --> 00:23:04.000 Now everybody knew who this guy was, and so when it says, when all the people saw him walking and praising God, they recognized him as the same man who used to sit begging at the temple gate called beautiful, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him. 00:23:04.480 --> 00:23:09.599 Here's the point there's a man who comes expecting the reasonable. 00:23:12.400 --> 00:23:13.279 But he got a miracle. 00:23:13.599 --> 00:23:14.160 Here's what you need. 00:23:14.720 --> 00:23:18.319 It's in the ridiculous that we find the miraculous. 00:23:18.799 --> 00:23:27.200 And let me say this to somebody God never called you to settle from reasonable, low-level faith. 00:23:27.440 --> 00:23:31.279 He called you to believe him, trust him for the miraculous. 00:23:31.519 --> 00:23:34.480 Now, here's what I'd like to do in just our last couple minutes together. 00:23:34.559 --> 00:23:36.559 I want to ask a couple questions about this story. 00:23:37.279 --> 00:23:41.119 Question number one is this whose faith healed this man? 00:23:41.440 --> 00:23:43.839 Now, this is a really important question for you to answer. 00:23:44.000 --> 00:23:49.200