WEBVTT 00:00:04.000 --> 00:00:07.280 Welcome to the Awakening Church podcast. 00:00:07.599 --> 00:00:11.599 We exist to awaken this generation to new life in Christ. 00:00:11.839 --> 00:00:13.039 Thanks for tuning in. 00:00:13.199 --> 00:00:16.399 To find out more, go to awakeningchurch.com. 00:00:17.920 --> 00:00:19.440 Welcome to Awakening. 00:00:19.519 --> 00:00:20.480 My name's Ryan. 00:00:20.559 --> 00:00:25.039 We're absolutely thrilled to have you uh tune in this morning. 00:00:25.199 --> 00:00:30.800 And it's hard to believe that next Sunday is Easter already. 00:00:31.039 --> 00:00:33.600 And honestly, I gotta just be honest. 00:00:33.759 --> 00:00:44.479 When I realized that we were not able to gather in person in Easter, and we saw that, you know, coming a few weeks ago, I was so sad, you know, and we're wrestling like it. 00:00:44.560 --> 00:00:48.000 I mean, this is the biggest Sunday of the year for us. 00:00:48.240 --> 00:00:54.640 It's at the center point of Christianity is the resurrection, the historic resurrection of Jesus. 00:00:54.799 --> 00:00:56.479 This is the Super Bowl of our faith. 00:00:56.560 --> 00:00:59.119 And we're like, we're not gathering, we're not getting everybody together. 00:00:59.200 --> 00:01:01.520 And I'm just like crushed and sad. 00:01:02.079 --> 00:01:16.640 And yet then I began to realize this obstacle of us not being able to gather together is actually an incredible opportunity for the gospel to go out in ways that has never been before. 00:01:16.959 --> 00:01:26.560 In fact, in fact, I believe us not gathering together is gonna allow us to have greater impact than any other Sunday in the life of our church. 00:01:26.640 --> 00:01:38.879 And I think because of this COVID season that we're living in, this crisis, I believe this might be the most impactful Easter in the history of our country. 00:01:39.200 --> 00:01:46.079 See, people never more have been searching for answers to life's deepest questions and looking for hope. 00:01:46.239 --> 00:01:53.040 And we need more now than ever this the hope of the resurrection and the gospel of Jesus. 00:01:53.120 --> 00:01:57.760 In a world filled with bad news, we need the good news that God loves us. 00:01:58.159 --> 00:02:07.840 And so I there's two things actually happening this week that I see that are just so profound that I want to invite you in to making an incredible Easter impact. 00:02:08.080 --> 00:02:13.439 The first is on Wednesday, uh, we're praying and fasting together as a church. 00:02:13.599 --> 00:02:19.919 It's called If My People, and it's not just our church, it's tons of other churches in the Bay Area. 00:02:20.000 --> 00:02:23.439 It's exciting, thousands of people gathering together, praying together. 00:02:23.599 --> 00:02:34.879 The church is uniting in prayer, and we're actually gonna have a multi-church prayer service on the Transform the Bay for Christ Facebook page, and we'll get all the information out to you. 00:02:35.039 --> 00:02:37.520 But would you pray and fast on Wednesday with us? 00:02:37.680 --> 00:02:44.159 Would you tune in at noon for our prayer service with a bunch of other pastors, noon to 1230? 00:02:44.400 --> 00:02:45.919 It's really exciting. 00:02:46.159 --> 00:02:50.560 And the other thing that's happening that is again, it's actually a movement of churches. 00:02:50.639 --> 00:02:51.680 It's not just our church. 00:02:51.759 --> 00:03:00.400 We're joining in the course of what God's doing here in the Bay and across the country is a movement called Jesus Changed My Life. 00:03:00.560 --> 00:03:01.360 This is cool. 00:03:01.520 --> 00:03:04.080 And I want us to engage in this. 00:03:04.240 --> 00:03:08.960 Uh, it's happening not only just in California, but churches across the country. 00:03:09.120 --> 00:03:21.039 And here's what this is: this is we're asking you to video yourself a 60-second selfie video of sharing your story about how Jesus changed your life. 00:03:21.280 --> 00:03:36.719 And then this week, Holy Week, would you post it on your Instagram, your Facebook, or your Twitter and uh page and hashtag JesusChangedMyLife, and then our handle, awakening SV, uh, for all of that. 00:03:36.879 --> 00:03:37.599 It would be amazing. 00:03:37.759 --> 00:03:46.400 Here's what's gonna happen the gospel is gonna get shared by thousands of people sharing how Jesus changed their life. 00:03:46.479 --> 00:03:53.360 Not just us, but churches in uh the Bay Area are doing it and all across the country of how Jesus changed my life. 00:03:53.439 --> 00:04:01.039 And in this season, people who are scrolling their phone, just trying to numb out, are gonna come across how Jesus changed your life. 00:04:01.199 --> 00:04:07.039 And God's gonna use your story this Easter season to change someone else's life. 00:04:07.199 --> 00:04:15.840 And so I want you to go ahead this week, and we have some stuff up on our website about, you know, how to share your story and some of those sort of things. 00:04:16.000 --> 00:04:17.199 You can check that out. 00:04:17.360 --> 00:04:26.480 But I'm really excited for Easter because you know what we celebrate in the midst of this crazy corona season, we celebrate God is bigger. 00:04:27.199 --> 00:04:33.839 We celebrate that the cross is greater, that death is defeated, and that Jesus is alive. 00:04:33.920 --> 00:04:40.319 And next Sunday, we're throwing a massive celebration that Jesus is alive. 00:04:40.560 --> 00:04:46.959 Well, this morning we're continuing our series we kicked off last week called God is Bigger. 00:04:47.120 --> 00:04:57.519 And I hope you're enjoying it because it's reframing our attention and focus on who God is in the midst of these swirling, chaotic, uncertain times. 00:04:57.759 --> 00:05:05.279 And we asked this question What do you do when you find yourself caught in the middle of a pandemic? 00:05:05.439 --> 00:05:08.879 We never thought we'd ask this question, but this is the question we're asking. 00:05:09.040 --> 00:05:12.800 What do you do when you find yourself caught in the middle of a pandemic? 00:05:12.959 --> 00:05:21.360 And we looked at Isaiah, the prophet Isaiah's story, Isaiah chapter six, and we said, when you're caught in the middle of a pandemic, you look up and you see God for who he is. 00:05:21.439 --> 00:05:24.800 You get your eyes off of the circumstances, get your eyes onto God. 00:05:24.879 --> 00:05:26.560 And when you do that, you're gonna look in. 00:05:26.720 --> 00:05:30.240 You can't help it, but you begin to see yourself as you truly are. 00:05:30.399 --> 00:05:40.480 And there's this healing whole process of confession that God takes us through, and then we look out and we begin to see our world as it truly is and the needs around us. 00:05:40.639 --> 00:05:46.399 We get our eyes off ourselves and onto others, and we ask questions like this How can I serve? 00:05:46.639 --> 00:05:47.920 How can I care? 00:05:48.480 --> 00:05:49.759 How can I love? 00:05:50.399 --> 00:05:58.399 Now, it's hard to believe that it was literally four weeks ago was our very first church online broadcast. 00:05:58.720 --> 00:06:00.800 Doesn't it feel like we've been doing this forever? 00:06:00.959 --> 00:06:05.120 And time is weird in this corona climate, isn't it? 00:06:05.199 --> 00:06:11.680 Like, I mean, it just seems like a day is a month and yet a blink all at the same time. 00:06:12.000 --> 00:06:14.480 And when we did this, I quoted A. 00:06:14.639 --> 00:06:14.720 W. 00:06:14.879 --> 00:06:23.040 Tozer on our very first broadcast, and I said this a scared world needs a courageous church. 00:06:23.839 --> 00:06:33.759 The world's scared, anxiety-ridden, fear is only growing as the disease spreads. 00:06:34.720 --> 00:06:35.680 And what a W. 00:06:35.839 --> 00:06:41.759 Tozer would say, and I believe he's right, is a scared world needs a courageous church. 00:06:42.160 --> 00:06:46.160 Well, how do we become this courageous and fearless church? 00:06:46.319 --> 00:06:47.920 Well, God's bigger. 00:06:48.399 --> 00:06:49.120 Look up. 00:06:49.920 --> 00:06:54.240 We gotta reorient our eyes on the God who is bigger and above. 00:06:54.399 --> 00:06:56.879 And then where we're going today, God's bigger. 00:06:57.279 --> 00:06:58.160 Take courage. 00:06:58.639 --> 00:07:00.480 Take courage, church. 00:07:01.120 --> 00:07:08.319 I want to teach us today about how in the midst of really uncertain times, you you don't have to wait for courage. 00:07:08.399 --> 00:07:10.399 You can actually take courage. 00:07:10.639 --> 00:07:14.639 And for some, you're wrestling with me right now, and you know, that quote by A.W. 00:07:14.800 --> 00:07:19.199 Tozer is like, my fearless church and a scared world, Ryan, I'm scared. 00:07:19.519 --> 00:07:22.959 Ryan, I'm anxious, I'm nervous. 00:07:24.240 --> 00:07:32.079 I mean, we thought, you know, a month ago this was something, and then now it's something bigger, and now it's something bigger. 00:07:32.319 --> 00:07:35.680 And it seems like every day it escalates. 00:07:36.480 --> 00:07:43.680 How in the world do I take courage in the midst of these times? 00:07:44.000 --> 00:07:45.199 Like I'm really afraid. 00:07:45.279 --> 00:07:47.439 It's not the world out there, it's me. 00:07:48.959 --> 00:07:52.000 Where do I find courage? 00:07:52.240 --> 00:07:55.040 Well, that's what we want to talk about this morning. 00:07:55.600 --> 00:08:00.959 And first, let's actually define courage and get clear on what it is and what it's not. 00:08:01.279 --> 00:08:05.839 Because courage, courage is not the absence of fear. 00:08:06.160 --> 00:08:09.839 It's not like you experience no fear whatsoever. 00:08:10.000 --> 00:08:22.079 And courage is actually not carelessness, it's not recklessness, it's not, you know, throwing caution to the wind and just kind of doing what you feel you want to do. 00:08:22.480 --> 00:08:29.839 Courage, listen to this, is the ability to face and deal with danger or fear without flinching. 00:08:30.079 --> 00:08:41.200 It's facing fear, it's facing danger, and it's going, I might be afraid, but I'm going to continue forward on what I know is the correct or right path. 00:08:41.759 --> 00:08:45.759 I like how uh Nelson Mandela said it in his memoirs. 00:08:45.840 --> 00:08:51.840 I read this a year ago, and he defined courage this way in his fight for equality. 00:08:52.000 --> 00:08:58.159 He said, I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. 00:08:58.480 --> 00:09:06.159 The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear. 00:09:06.960 --> 00:09:10.480 A scared world needs a courageous church. 00:09:10.799 --> 00:09:14.639 So, where do we find courage when we need it most? 00:09:15.440 --> 00:09:21.919 How do you live courageously in the midst of these uncertain times? 00:09:22.960 --> 00:09:28.399 Like we said last week, uncertain times are nothing new for the people of God. 00:09:28.639 --> 00:09:39.919 In fact, it is in the soil of uncertainty, through the storms and the turbulent season, that God does some of his greatest work through the church. 00:09:40.720 --> 00:09:44.480 And we're gonna look at one such leader, Joshua. 00:09:44.879 --> 00:09:55.679 Joshua was one leader that was thrust into this incredibly chaotic, uncertain time in an impossible situation, and he had to lead. 00:09:55.759 --> 00:10:02.000 And in his story, we actually are gonna learn where do we find courage in these uncertain times? 00:10:02.080 --> 00:10:06.559 And so if you got your Bibles, would you open up to Joshua chapter one, verse one? 00:10:06.799 --> 00:10:08.559 Joshua chapter one, verse one. 00:10:08.720 --> 00:10:13.600 If you're actually using your Bible, the analog version, which is awesome, you can do that. 00:10:13.679 --> 00:10:17.440 You can just go to the front and flip over five books after that. 00:10:17.519 --> 00:10:20.000 Uh, then it's Joshua right there. 00:10:20.159 --> 00:10:22.480 We pick it up, verse one, it says this. 00:10:23.120 --> 00:10:33.919 After the death of Moses, the servant of the Lord, the Lord said to Joshua, son of Nun, Moses' aide, Moses, my servant, is dead. 00:10:34.080 --> 00:10:42.159 Now then, you and all these people get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I'm about to give them to the Israelites. 00:10:42.320 --> 00:10:48.639 I will give you every place where you set your foot as I promised Moses. 00:10:49.200 --> 00:10:51.200 Now, now let me set the context for you. 00:10:51.279 --> 00:10:53.759 Let me paint the picture of what's happening here. 00:10:54.000 --> 00:11:01.840 Uh, one commentator rightly noted it would be difficult to overestimate the importance of Moses to Israel. 00:11:02.159 --> 00:11:06.879 Moses was the great liberator and leader of the Israelite people. 00:11:07.120 --> 00:11:19.039 Moses led the people 40 years prior to this out of slavery and bondage from Egypt, and he's leading them into the promised land, and that's where they were headed. 00:11:19.200 --> 00:11:20.639 It took 40 years. 00:11:20.879 --> 00:11:25.200 Moses is the one who set Israel up as its own nation. 00:11:25.759 --> 00:11:31.600 He's the one that was went on to Mount Sinai and brought down the Ten Commandments. 00:11:31.759 --> 00:11:35.360 He was bridging the gap between Israel and God. 00:11:35.759 --> 00:11:40.480 And yet he lived, left something uncomplete, incomplete. 00:11:40.960 --> 00:11:45.759 He never was able to lead the people into the promised land. 00:11:46.240 --> 00:11:51.759 And here we find Joshua taking over the reins of Moses. 00:11:52.240 --> 00:12:04.559 And he's being called to do what his mentor and leader never was able to do and fulfill the purpose and the calling his mentor and leader was to do. 00:12:05.039 --> 00:12:06.799 Now, think about this. 00:12:07.120 --> 00:12:16.720 Joshua sitting on the far side of the Jordan River, same place where Moses sat 40 years prior, looking into it, and they were unable to go in. 00:12:16.799 --> 00:12:18.960 They're so afraid to go in. 00:12:19.519 --> 00:12:28.799 Sitting there, assuming the heavy weight of leadership, having to step into the very shoes of the great leader Moses. 00:12:29.360 --> 00:12:30.480 Just imagine. 00:12:31.120 --> 00:12:38.559 Imagine the doubt, the anxiety, the sleepless nights Joshua must have had. 00:12:39.360 --> 00:12:40.240 Notice this. 00:12:40.480 --> 00:12:46.000 Everything they were about to do they had never done before. 00:12:46.240 --> 00:12:51.360 They were entering a land that was completely foreign to them. 00:12:54.399 --> 00:12:59.519 Everything we're about to do, we've never done before. 00:12:59.759 --> 00:13:10.879 We've entered a land that's completely foreign to us, shelter in place, a disease wiping out so much of our life as we know it. 00:13:11.279 --> 00:13:14.320 And we're just trying to figure out how do we navigate this. 00:13:14.639 --> 00:13:19.840 Joshua, I mean, just imagine the pressure he felt in that moment to lead and to provide. 00:13:19.919 --> 00:13:27.919 And I think some of you are in that very space for yourselves or for your families or for your friends. 00:13:28.480 --> 00:13:34.320 The uncertainty he must have felt, the inner questioning and wondering, is he up for the task? 00:13:34.559 --> 00:13:35.919 Will he make it? 00:13:36.720 --> 00:13:43.519 I want you to listen very carefully to what God says to Joshua in the middle of that moment. 00:13:44.240 --> 00:13:45.200 Listen here. 00:13:45.840 --> 00:13:53.200 God says to Joshua, as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. 00:13:53.759 --> 00:13:54.399 Wow. 00:13:55.600 --> 00:14:05.519 The same way I met and walked with Moses, you have full access in exactly the same way. 00:14:05.759 --> 00:14:10.960 And then he goes on, I will never leave you nor forsake you. 00:14:11.200 --> 00:14:14.799 Like my presence will never draw away from you. 00:14:14.960 --> 00:14:15.840 I'm with you. 00:14:16.000 --> 00:14:16.720 I'm in it. 00:14:16.799 --> 00:14:19.440 I'm not sending you out to go figure it out. 00:14:19.600 --> 00:14:21.200 I'm actually in it with you. 00:14:21.360 --> 00:14:23.440 I'm walking it with you. 00:14:23.679 --> 00:14:26.080 I'm going through it with you. 00:14:26.240 --> 00:14:30.799 And then he says, This be strong and courageous. 00:14:31.120 --> 00:14:31.759 Why? 00:14:32.080 --> 00:14:40.240 Because you'll lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their ancestors to give them. 00:14:41.200 --> 00:14:43.840 You gotta be strong, you gotta have courage. 00:14:44.000 --> 00:14:45.759 You have a purpose, you have a plan. 00:14:45.919 --> 00:14:52.799 I'm the God who fulfills my promise, and I swore we're gonna take them into the land, and you're the one who's gonna lead them. 00:14:52.960 --> 00:14:57.120 And he says this again be strong and very courageous. 00:14:57.360 --> 00:15:02.879 No, notice this: be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you. 00:15:03.039 --> 00:15:08.480 Do not turn to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. 00:15:09.360 --> 00:15:24.879 I think it's so powerful as we're reminded that he says, success is found in you walking closely with God, not you figuring out the future, not you figuring out the economic reality. 00:15:25.120 --> 00:15:31.360 He says, no, no, those aren't bad things, but success has to do with how closely you walk with God. 00:15:31.600 --> 00:15:36.000 He goes on, this book of the law, uh, keep always on your lips. 00:15:36.240 --> 00:15:42.000 Meditate on it day and night so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. 00:15:42.240 --> 00:15:45.120 Then you'll be prosperous and successful. 00:15:45.679 --> 00:15:47.120 Now, verse nine. 00:15:48.399 --> 00:15:50.960 I want us to memorize as a church. 00:15:51.440 --> 00:15:56.639 I want us this week to put it to memory, to get it deep in our heart. 00:15:56.879 --> 00:16:03.200 And it goes this way Have I not commanded you, be strong and courageous. 00:16:03.360 --> 00:16:04.720 He says it again three times. 00:16:04.879 --> 00:16:07.519 He says, be strong and courageous. 00:16:07.600 --> 00:16:09.279 Now notice what he says next. 00:16:09.519 --> 00:16:13.200 Do not be afraid, do not be discouraged. 00:16:13.360 --> 00:16:13.840 Why? 00:16:14.080 --> 00:16:19.120 For the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go. 00:16:19.679 --> 00:16:24.559 All right, I'm gonna have you do something in your home or your apartment or wherever you're watching. 00:16:24.639 --> 00:16:26.000 Um, and I'm gonna ask you to do it. 00:16:26.080 --> 00:16:27.919 It might be a little weird, and that's okay. 00:16:28.080 --> 00:16:31.519 Um, would you say this out loud with me, this verse? 00:16:31.600 --> 00:16:36.080 And so, Nick, go back one slide with me, and we're gonna say it out loud. 00:16:36.159 --> 00:16:36.639 You ready? 00:16:36.720 --> 00:16:39.679 We're gonna repeat it, and I want us to get this deep. 00:16:39.840 --> 00:16:40.320 You ready? 00:16:40.480 --> 00:16:41.279 You ready to go with me? 00:16:41.440 --> 00:16:42.639 Okay, here we go. 00:16:42.960 --> 00:16:59.840 Have I not commanded you be strong and courageous, do not be afraid, do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go. 00:17:00.399 --> 00:17:20.400 I want you to take time this week and put that singular verse into memorization, into your heart, so that God can use the word that he's giving you in this sermon to encourage you, that he can bring that to your mind and your heart throughout this week and throughout this season. 00:17:20.640 --> 00:17:24.880 So, so how do we find courage when we need it most? 00:17:25.599 --> 00:17:32.720 I want to suggest there are actually four things in this text that God wants to speak to you this morning about. 00:17:33.359 --> 00:17:34.960 Where do we find courage? 00:17:35.200 --> 00:17:42.559 Well, the first thing I want you to notice is God's calling on your life requires courage. 00:17:43.279 --> 00:17:47.839 God's calling on your life requires courage. 00:17:48.160 --> 00:17:54.799 God said three times, have I not commanded you, be strong and courageous, be strong and courageous. 00:17:54.960 --> 00:18:00.240 Well, why in the world would God say, be strong and courageous? 00:18:00.559 --> 00:18:07.440 Because what God is calling Joshua into required courage and it required strength. 00:18:07.680 --> 00:18:15.440 He says, No, no, no, I am calling you to something that is gonna require courage of you. 00:18:15.599 --> 00:18:17.839 Now, here's the problem in America. 00:18:18.160 --> 00:18:31.200 We have built our lives and our theology around safety and comfort, convenience and happiness, so that when courage is required, we feel as if God has let us down. 00:18:31.599 --> 00:18:38.880 All of a sudden, we're confronted with circumstances in our life where we have to face fear and we have to move forward in the face of fear. 00:18:38.960 --> 00:18:40.240 And we go, God, where are you? 00:18:40.319 --> 00:18:40.720 What's going on? 00:18:40.799 --> 00:18:41.759 He's going, No, no, no. 00:18:41.920 --> 00:18:46.160 I'm with you and my calling on you, you need to have courage. 00:18:46.400 --> 00:18:49.680 God tells us up front, this is going to require courage. 00:18:49.839 --> 00:18:59.920 Now, here's what I love: God doesn't just require courage from us, He actually, He actually models it for us. 00:19:00.559 --> 00:19:06.720 See, we're celebrating Easter, the God who responds in courage. 00:19:07.119 --> 00:19:11.279 The incarnation of God becoming flesh. 00:19:12.400 --> 00:19:19.680 The reality that Jesus would allow himself to be hung on a cross by the ones he created. 00:19:20.640 --> 00:19:22.079 Now think about this. 00:19:22.880 --> 00:19:30.240 Friday before or night before he was crucified in the Garden of Gethsemane. 00:19:30.960 --> 00:19:32.640 Jesus is praying. 00:19:33.440 --> 00:19:41.519 And he's praying, Father, if it's all possible, take this cup from me. 00:19:43.119 --> 00:19:44.400 But not my will. 00:19:44.960 --> 00:19:46.480 Your will be done. 00:19:47.440 --> 00:19:53.839 It's stressed to the point that he's bleeding drops of blood, or he's sweating drops of blood. 00:19:54.240 --> 00:19:58.799 Father, if it's all possible, like I don't like what's ahead. 00:19:58.960 --> 00:20:03.920 I understand the gravity and the consequences and the pain, and it's hard. 00:20:04.400 --> 00:20:07.200 But I'm gonna move forward in the face of it. 00:20:07.359 --> 00:20:10.240 I like how John Stott said it. 00:20:10.559 --> 00:20:15.599 Insistence on security is incompatible with the way of the cross. 00:20:15.839 --> 00:20:30.079 What daring adventures the incarnation and the atonement were, what a breach of convention and decorum the Almighty God should renounce his privileges in order to take human flesh and bear human sin. 00:20:30.640 --> 00:20:35.519 Jesus had no security except uh for his father. 00:20:35.839 --> 00:20:46.559 So to follow Jesus is always to accept at least a measure of uncertainty, danger, and rejection for his sake. 00:20:47.200 --> 00:20:52.000 See, God's calling on your life will require courage. 00:20:52.240 --> 00:20:55.599 Well, I guess the question then is what is God's calling? 00:20:56.079 --> 00:20:58.000 Jesus makes it so clear. 00:20:58.319 --> 00:21:02.240 It goes back to the great commandments. 00:21:02.880 --> 00:21:09.839 He says this in Matthew chapter 22 Love the Lord your God with all your heart. 00:21:10.799 --> 00:21:12.880 Love your neighbor as yourself. 00:21:13.119 --> 00:21:23.039 All the law, all the prophets, everything that was being passed on to Joshua in that moment hangs on those two commands. 00:21:23.440 --> 00:21:27.119 See, the calling on your life is to love God and love others. 00:21:27.359 --> 00:21:39.359 The calling on your life is to seek God with all of your heart, soul, mind, and strake, and then to serve your neighbors, your friends, the people around you is to know God and to make him known. 00:21:39.519 --> 00:21:40.960 Now listen up, don't miss this. 00:21:41.039 --> 00:21:41.920 This is important. 00:21:42.640 --> 00:21:49.440 God's calling on your life hasn't changed even though the circumstances of your life has. 00:21:50.319 --> 00:21:51.839 I want to say it again. 00:21:52.160 --> 00:21:59.680 God's calling on your life has not changed, even though the circumstance of your life has changed. 00:22:00.480 --> 00:22:03.359 See, you still have his purpose and plan. 00:22:03.599 --> 00:22:08.079 He's still calling you and inviting you into what he's doing in this world. 00:22:08.160 --> 00:22:11.599 And the circumstances and the landscape has changed around us. 00:22:11.759 --> 00:22:25.119 But he says, listen, your purpose and your aim is to love God with all that you have and to love neighbors in the way that you would want to be loved, in the way that you would love and care for yourself. 00:22:25.519 --> 00:22:28.240 What does it look like to love your neighbor? 00:22:28.400 --> 00:22:31.039 Let me give you just maybe a few ideas. 00:22:31.599 --> 00:22:36.079 First, I think it's obeying the laws and guidelines in this pandemic. 00:22:36.240 --> 00:22:44.160 I think it's important that we love our neighbors by protecting the most vulnerable around us. 00:22:44.799 --> 00:22:45.839 It looks like this. 00:22:46.000 --> 00:22:52.240 It's loving our neighbors by maybe having a neighborhood happy hour where you do the, you know, our neighbors have been doing it. 00:22:52.319 --> 00:22:53.279 It's a 5 p.m. 00:22:53.519 --> 00:23:00.799 We do physical distancing, and now with the CDC new regulation, we'll add the face mask on top of that. 00:23:01.039 --> 00:23:05.519 It's where we're asking this question: how can I help? 00:23:05.920 --> 00:23:07.599 How can I help? 00:23:07.839 --> 00:23:13.519 Instead of the question what so many are asking, what can I hoard? 00:23:14.400 --> 00:23:24.960 See, the reason it takes courage is hoarding gives us some level of security because we can get as much as we can and feel like we feel good about that. 00:23:25.200 --> 00:23:30.400 And yet the gospel and the calling of God on your life is how can I help? 00:23:30.559 --> 00:23:32.160 How can I serve? 00:23:32.480 --> 00:23:34.319 How can I take care of you? 00:23:34.559 --> 00:23:45.200 It looks like this calling and checking in on people and praying for them, serving those who are elderly, making sure they're taken care of. 00:23:45.759 --> 00:23:52.319 It looks like praying for people that you know and inviting them to our Easter service. 00:23:53.039 --> 00:24:06.079 Friends, for some, the most courageous thing you're gonna do this week, and it's gonna be a brand new step for many of you, is to step into the Jesus Change My Life movement, where you're gonna record. 00:24:06.160 --> 00:24:11.359 I wish I had my phone on me, uh, where you're gonna record yourself sharing how Jesus changed your life. 00:24:11.440 --> 00:24:13.680 And for some, you've never shared that story. 00:24:13.839 --> 00:24:30.799 And it's time for you to go public with your faith, and you're gonna be bold about it because people desperately need to hear good news, and you have good news and you experience good news, and you're gonna share it, and God's gonna use it, and you step into that, and where we love our neighbors. 00:24:30.960 --> 00:24:35.279 See, God's calling on your life requires courage. 00:24:35.519 --> 00:24:39.200 But not only does it require courage, I want you to see something else. 00:24:39.599 --> 00:24:42.880 God wants to encourage you. 00:24:43.920 --> 00:24:53.519 Do you notice that in the midst of Joshua's circumstances and the what was going on around him, God comes to Joshua and he encourages him. 00:24:53.680 --> 00:24:55.119 Isn't that such good news? 00:24:55.440 --> 00:24:57.920 God wants to encourage you. 00:24:58.400 --> 00:25:02.480 He wants to like think about that, infuse courage. 00:25:02.640 --> 00:25:12.880 Like before you are lacking courage, before you're trepidation, before you're uncertain, God wants to come and he wants to fill up your heart, fill up your soul with courage. 00:25:13.039 --> 00:25:16.240 He wants to infuse courage to you. 00:25:16.960 --> 00:25:18.559 And I think this is so important. 00:25:18.640 --> 00:25:20.000 So don't miss this. 00:25:20.880 --> 00:25:24.880 See, to have courage isn't somehow look within yourself. 00:25:25.359 --> 00:25:37.759 You know, I think that's kind of like we're waiting to somehow muster something up and try to find it, or we wait until something happens, you know, maybe I got to put on the right music to kind of get into the zone. 00:25:38.720 --> 00:25:39.359 No, no, no. 00:25:39.519 --> 00:25:45.920 It says actually, God is the one who wants to deposit courage in you in this season. 00:25:46.079 --> 00:25:49.839 Well, how does God infuse courage into us? 00:25:50.079 --> 00:25:55.440 I want to bring us back to a moment, a snapshot that we see when Joshua was a young man. 00:25:56.079 --> 00:26:02.000 He was the protege of Moses, and as his protege, he would follow him wherever he went. 00:26:02.319 --> 00:26:10.799 And Moses would go into what we call, or I don't call it, the Bible calls it, the tent of meetings, and he would meet with God face to face. 00:26:11.279 --> 00:26:16.559 It says as one would speak to a friend, and Joshua would follow him in here. 00:26:16.799 --> 00:26:19.839 Notice what it says in Exodus 33, verse 11. 00:26:20.160 --> 00:26:21.279 It says this. 00:26:30.799 --> 00:26:35.759 Then Moses would return to the camp, and Joshua, who followed Moses everywhere. 00:26:35.920 --> 00:26:36.960 Watch what he does. 00:26:37.119 --> 00:26:44.160 But his young aide, Joshua, son of none, did not leave the tents. 00:26:45.920 --> 00:26:47.200 And we know this. 00:26:47.519 --> 00:26:52.640 Isn't there something about being in the presence of God that you just don't want to leave? 00:26:52.880 --> 00:27:02.960 In fact, when we gather as a community in person, one of the ways that I see, like, man, the Spirit of God worked powerfully is people just linger. 00:27:03.279 --> 00:27:07.359 They just hang out in the Silicon Valley rush, hurry, everything else. 00:27:07.519 --> 00:27:15.519 They're like, no, we just want to stay in this space because being in the presence of God just it is so powerful and wonderful, and you don't want to leave it. 00:27:15.759 --> 00:27:18.640 It says in Joshua, he did not leave the tent. 00:27:18.799 --> 00:27:24.880 In fact, one translation says it this way and Joshua lingered in the tent. 00:27:25.839 --> 00:27:29.440 See, how does God infuse courage? 00:27:30.079 --> 00:27:35.920 God infuses courage to those who linger in the tent of God. 00:27:36.480 --> 00:27:44.799 See, we got to linger in the tent of God and give time to be in his presence for him to fill up and infuse us with courage. 00:27:45.200 --> 00:27:49.440 See, God in this moment, right now, wants to fill you up with courage. 00:27:49.519 --> 00:27:52.880 But the question is, what tent are you lingering in? 00:27:53.680 --> 00:27:59.200 See, I think in the midst of this pandemic, a lot of us are lingering in the tent of anxiety and worry. 00:27:59.680 --> 00:28:08.160 I think some of us are lingering in the tent of Netflix and numbing out and just binging and trying to get our minds off of whatever. 00:28:08.480 --> 00:28:38.720 I think some of us are lingering in the tent of control and trying to, everything feels out of control, so I'm just going to try to get something that feels within my control, or lingering in the tent of performance or approval, or maybe even comparison as you look around and it seems like other people are doing better than you, or making it through better as you scroll the social media feed and you just see, like, wow, man, they're doing great, but I'm getting killed. 00:28:39.039 --> 00:28:42.000 See, what tent are you lingering in? 00:28:42.240 --> 00:28:48.400 For us to experience the encouragement of God, we have to linger in the tent of God. 00:28:48.559 --> 00:28:50.160 That's why the psalmist, look at this. 00:28:50.559 --> 00:28:54.240 This is why the psalmist says it this way Psalm 27, verse 14. 00:28:54.480 --> 00:28:55.839 Wait for the Lord. 00:28:56.079 --> 00:28:58.480 Wait, like stop, wait. 00:28:59.359 --> 00:29:00.480 Be strong. 00:29:00.720 --> 00:29:01.680 Look at that. 00:29:01.920 --> 00:29:07.039 Be strong, and then notice this next line let your heart take courage. 00:29:07.359 --> 00:29:11.839 Like you don't have to just hope for courage, you can let your heart take it. 00:29:12.160 --> 00:29:12.799 Why? 00:29:13.279 --> 00:29:15.519 For those who wait for the Lord. 00:29:15.680 --> 00:29:17.759 Again, Psalm 31, verse 24. 00:29:18.079 --> 00:29:21.519 Be strong and let your heart take courage. 00:29:21.759 --> 00:29:22.240 Who? 00:29:22.799 --> 00:29:26.799 All you who wait for the Lord. 00:29:28.640 --> 00:29:43.759 Would you identify the tent you're lingering in, the tent that you're drawn to, the tent that you go to, that just maybe it's your addiction, maybe it's you're just trying to check the news feed, maybe it's the worry and the panic and the anxiety. 00:29:44.880 --> 00:29:47.119 And would you make a willful decision? 00:29:47.279 --> 00:29:50.400 I'm going to linger in the tent of God. 00:29:50.880 --> 00:29:52.000 How do we linger? 00:29:52.319 --> 00:29:54.079 Joshua tells us right here. 00:29:54.240 --> 00:29:58.480 Notice what he says in Joshua verse 9 or verse 8. 00:29:58.880 --> 00:30:03.039 Keep this book of the law always on your lips. 00:30:03.440 --> 00:30:10.799 Meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. 00:30:11.039 --> 00:30:15.200 Like keep this book on your lips. 00:30:15.440 --> 00:30:17.759 I don't know what's on your lips right now. 00:30:18.000 --> 00:30:20.720 I don't know what you've been meditating on. 00:30:22.319 --> 00:30:27.759 But whatever that is, would you begin to shift your linger factor into God's word? 00:30:28.160 --> 00:30:32.559 You know, Christina earlier talked about our Bible reading plan and the podcast. 00:30:32.799 --> 00:30:37.680 We want you to linger in the tent of God and get into his word and give you resources to do that. 00:30:37.920 --> 00:30:44.799 That's why we're doing our awakening midweek and why we have uh our groups diving in together and responding. 00:30:45.119 --> 00:30:49.519 Would you get into God's word and allow his word to get into you? 00:30:49.839 --> 00:30:55.680 Because his word is living and active, sharper than a double-edged sword. 00:30:55.920 --> 00:31:00.079 It actually is powerful and will transform our life. 00:31:00.319 --> 00:31:11.519 As Paul said in Timothy, that all scripture is God-breathing, useful for teaching, training, rebuking, so that the person of God might be fully equipped for every good work. 00:31:12.559 --> 00:31:18.720 Even in this season, even in this moment, would you linger in the tent of God? 00:31:18.880 --> 00:31:24.400 See, God's calling on your life requires courage, and God doesn't just leave you on your own. 00:31:24.640 --> 00:31:26.400 He wants to encourage you. 00:31:26.559 --> 00:31:31.680 But we, as we linger in the tent of God, we got to be aware of two big enemies of the heart. 00:31:31.920 --> 00:31:34.720 The two big enemies of the heart, you saw it in one nine. 00:31:34.880 --> 00:31:36.079 Have I not commanded you? 00:31:36.240 --> 00:31:37.359 Be strong and courageous. 00:31:37.440 --> 00:31:42.400 And then he says this do not be afraid and do not be discouraged. 00:31:42.799 --> 00:31:46.079 Fear and discouragement are the enemies of the heart. 00:31:46.240 --> 00:31:47.440 Don't be afraid. 00:31:47.680 --> 00:31:48.640 Like I'm afraid. 00:31:48.720 --> 00:31:49.920 Don't be discouraged. 00:31:50.160 --> 00:31:53.759 Man, it's hard not to get discouraged when I look at what the stock market's doing. 00:31:53.839 --> 00:32:00.400 It's hard not to get discouraged when I see how the pandemic's exponentially growing every single day. 00:32:00.720 --> 00:32:03.599 Fear is being scared, it's being frightened. 00:32:03.759 --> 00:32:07.920 It's where anxiety and panic attacks find their home. 00:32:08.160 --> 00:32:10.640 Trepidation there. 00:32:11.039 --> 00:32:14.720 Discouragement is when you lose heart or hope. 00:32:14.960 --> 00:32:18.400 You feel broken down, you're made low in spirit. 00:32:18.960 --> 00:32:20.319 Now notice this. 00:32:20.880 --> 00:32:25.279 Fear actually produces or breeds insecurity. 00:32:25.519 --> 00:32:28.480 And discouragement breeds apathy. 00:32:29.039 --> 00:32:32.559 These are a vicious one-two punch. 00:32:32.799 --> 00:32:37.440 And if we're not aware, they'll creep in and become housemates. 00:32:38.240 --> 00:32:42.799 And for many in this season, haven't they become traveling companions with you? 00:32:43.279 --> 00:32:46.480 And they subtly start to feel like old friends. 00:32:47.359 --> 00:32:51.759 And they feel like a safety net, but they will suffocate you. 00:32:52.000 --> 00:32:53.440 Here's what God's saying here. 00:32:53.519 --> 00:32:55.519 Because I wrestle with this, you know, do not be afraid. 00:32:55.599 --> 00:32:56.960 I'm like, oh my gosh, I'm afraid. 00:32:57.039 --> 00:32:59.920 And now I feel like a failure because I'm not, I'm afraid. 00:33:00.079 --> 00:33:01.440 And it says, do not be afraid. 00:33:01.519 --> 00:33:02.880 And I'm like, I can't do that. 00:33:03.039 --> 00:33:04.799 Listen, this is what God's saying. 00:33:05.039 --> 00:33:07.599 Don't be surprised if you're afraid. 00:33:08.319 --> 00:33:12.480 Don't be surprised if waves of discouragement come your way. 00:33:12.720 --> 00:33:16.240 Just don't let fear and discouragement have the final word. 00:33:16.960 --> 00:33:20.880 Don't be surprised, don't be shocked, don't be caught off our guard. 00:33:20.960 --> 00:33:23.599 Be aware that there's enemies of the heart. 00:33:23.839 --> 00:33:25.759 Courage is found in your heart. 00:33:26.000 --> 00:33:35.920 Remember, we talked months ago, it feels like that, about above all else, guard your heart, watch the streams that are flowing into your heart, linger into the tent of God. 00:33:36.000 --> 00:33:40.240 Don't be surprised when fear and discouragement come knocking. 00:33:40.960 --> 00:33:46.640 Just don't let fear and discouragement have the final say. 00:33:46.880 --> 00:33:55.359 See, courage is not the absence of fear, courage is taking the next right step in the face of fear and discouragement. 00:33:55.440 --> 00:33:58.240 And for some, you're like, ah, but I'm afraid. 00:33:58.799 --> 00:33:59.839 Do it scared. 00:34:00.079 --> 00:34:01.839 Like that, Jesus changed my life. 00:34:01.920 --> 00:34:02.799 I'm afraid. 00:34:02.960 --> 00:34:05.119 Don't wait until you're not afraid. 00:34:05.359 --> 00:34:06.400 Do it scared. 00:34:06.559 --> 00:34:10.079 Go ahead and move forward and do it scared. 00:34:10.239 --> 00:34:11.840 And then he closes it out. 00:34:11.920 --> 00:34:13.199 And this is so powerful. 00:34:13.280 --> 00:34:16.079 I'm so glad we're finishing this out. 00:34:16.400 --> 00:34:18.960 God's calling on your life requires courage. 00:34:19.119 --> 00:34:20.320 God wants to encourage us. 00:34:20.480 --> 00:34:24.800 We got to be aware of the two big enemies of heart, fear and discouragement. 00:34:24.960 --> 00:34:29.760 Now notice this God is with you. 00:34:31.039 --> 00:34:32.559 God's not distant. 00:34:33.280 --> 00:34:34.880 God's not aloof. 00:34:37.440 --> 00:34:41.760 He's with you right now in this moment. 00:34:43.039 --> 00:34:53.440 You know, the most often command in the Bible, in fact, in the new in the NIV, it's almost over, it's over 70 times in the NIV. 00:34:53.760 --> 00:34:56.559 The most often command is do not be afraid. 00:34:56.880 --> 00:35:02.559 And that command is almost always coupled with this next promise. 00:35:03.119 --> 00:35:06.639 For I am with you. 00:35:07.360 --> 00:35:12.079 You see, God's presence is enough for you in this moment. 00:35:12.800 --> 00:35:17.920 In fact, in major transitions, especially of leadership, we see this progression. 00:35:18.800 --> 00:35:28.559 This progression of a calling to be strong and courageous, to obey God's call or commands, and then the promise of his presence. 00:35:28.719 --> 00:35:31.360 We see that with Moses and Joshua. 00:35:31.760 --> 00:35:35.440 Then we see that with David and with Solomon. 00:35:35.679 --> 00:35:40.159 Be strong, obey the commands, and I'm with you. 00:35:40.320 --> 00:35:43.760 And then we even see it with Jesus and his disciples. 00:35:44.000 --> 00:35:47.360 And yet he flips the script a little bit and it's so good. 00:35:47.920 --> 00:35:52.400 And what's known as the Great Commission, Jesus says this. 00:35:57.840 --> 00:36:02.400 I believe Matthew or John chapter 17 says, be strong to his disciples. 00:36:02.559 --> 00:36:07.920 But instead of that, he says, All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 00:36:08.800 --> 00:36:11.920 You don't have to be strong because he's already strong. 00:36:12.239 --> 00:36:15.679 He has all authority and all power and all dominion. 00:36:15.920 --> 00:36:19.840 He says, You draw from my strength. 00:36:20.000 --> 00:36:26.559 Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and Holy Spirit. 00:36:26.719 --> 00:36:30.800 Then he says, Teaching them to obey everything I've commanded you. 00:36:30.880 --> 00:36:32.239 There we have it again. 00:36:33.599 --> 00:36:39.360 Like, friends, we got to become people of God's word, responsive and obedient to his word. 00:36:40.480 --> 00:36:42.800 And then Jesus says this. 00:36:43.920 --> 00:36:46.719 And surely I'm with you always. 00:36:47.679 --> 00:36:50.320 Even to the very end of the age. 00:36:50.480 --> 00:36:52.800 And surely I'm with you always. 00:36:53.119 --> 00:36:55.519 Even in the middle of this pandemic. 00:36:55.679 --> 00:36:57.360 I have not left you. 00:36:57.679 --> 00:36:59.840 I am with you. 00:37:00.880 --> 00:37:09.440 You know, fully trying to understand the power of his presence and why that's enough has been a struggle for me. 00:37:11.039 --> 00:37:20.159 And there was one moment years and years ago that made me understand why God thinks his presence with us is enough. 00:37:20.480 --> 00:37:22.480 In fact, it was a number of years ago. 00:37:22.559 --> 00:37:27.840 So my daughter's a high schooler, and so this was when she was just a little girl. 00:37:28.239 --> 00:37:37.440 And we were at the beach and I was paddleboarding out there, and she came to me, you know, as I came in, she said, Daddy, Daddy, I want to go paddleboarding with you. 00:37:37.519 --> 00:37:39.119 I said, Fantastic, that would be awesome. 00:37:39.280 --> 00:37:40.800 I'd love to take you paddleboarding. 00:37:40.880 --> 00:37:58.400 And so, you know, we get a life vest on her, and we hop on the paddleboard and we get past the breakers, and then all of a sudden she had her feet, let's see if I can do this, up on the paddleboard like this, and her arms clenched tight around her, and she just began to shake. 00:37:58.880 --> 00:38:01.599 And she said, Daddy, I want to go back. 00:38:01.840 --> 00:38:03.199 Daddy, I'm so scared. 00:38:03.280 --> 00:38:07.840 The waves are so big that we're so far from land and it's so deep. 00:38:08.000 --> 00:38:09.599 Daddy, daddy, daddy. 00:38:09.840 --> 00:38:11.840 And you know what I said to her? 00:38:13.519 --> 00:38:15.679 I said, Suck it up, kid. 00:38:16.639 --> 00:38:17.679 No, I'm just kidding. 00:38:17.760 --> 00:38:19.840 I'm sorry I didn't say that at all. 00:38:22.000 --> 00:38:31.039 You know what I said is I actually leaned over on that paddle board and I got as close as I could to her ear and I whispered gently, it's okay, honey. 00:38:31.360 --> 00:38:32.960 You're safe with me. 00:38:33.599 --> 00:38:35.199 Your daddy's with you. 00:38:35.519 --> 00:38:37.039 He's gonna take you through it. 00:38:37.199 --> 00:38:43.920 The waves aren't as big as they seem, you're not as far from land as it looks, and the water isn't as deep as it feels. 00:38:44.079 --> 00:38:51.119 And it doesn't matter, anyways, because you're with your daddy, and I'm gonna get you through this. 00:38:52.559 --> 00:38:54.719 Your heavenly father's with you. 00:38:56.400 --> 00:38:58.719 Whispering into your ear. 00:38:58.960 --> 00:39:03.920 And he's not whispering into your ear, suck it up, do better. 00:39:04.239 --> 00:39:06.159 Why are you afraid? 00:39:06.719 --> 00:39:10.079 Why do you keep going back to that addiction? 00:39:10.400 --> 00:39:13.199 He's saying, please lean into me, I'm with you. 00:39:13.360 --> 00:39:15.519 Don't be afraid, lean into me. 00:39:16.480 --> 00:39:20.400 And for some, you think about this. 00:39:21.360 --> 00:39:31.039 My daughter at that age, if she had gone out there on her own, it would have been a most fearful and dangerous thing, wouldn't it have? 00:39:32.079 --> 00:39:35.360 And it would have been a really scary moment. 00:39:36.639 --> 00:39:43.119 And the truth is, there's many who are listening to me right now, and that's exactly where you're at. 00:39:44.480 --> 00:39:55.840 You're in the middle of this pandemic, and fear and discouragement are your companions because you don't have a personal relationship with your heavenly father through the finished work of Jesus. 00:39:56.079 --> 00:40:02.639 And you have every right looking around to be afraid and scared, and it is, you're like, I don't know how it's gonna end. 00:40:04.159 --> 00:40:09.760 And in this moment, would you call upon Jesus? 00:40:10.000 --> 00:40:11.039 Cry out to him. 00:40:11.360 --> 00:40:19.440 In fact, respond in the prayer chat right now and click on the button and say, I want to begin a relationship with God. 00:40:19.599 --> 00:40:20.559 We're gonna have that. 00:40:20.960 --> 00:40:22.000 I want to make a commitment. 00:40:22.079 --> 00:40:26.320 I made a commitment to Jesus' hand, go up, click that hand in this moment. 00:40:26.559 --> 00:40:30.079 Do not wait, do not delay. 00:40:32.639 --> 00:40:34.800 Would you turn to God? 00:40:35.280 --> 00:40:37.679 Would you call out and say, Jesus, I need you. 00:40:37.840 --> 00:40:39.519 Would you come into my life? 00:40:39.760 --> 00:40:41.440 Would you save me? 00:40:42.239 --> 00:40:50.400 And the Spirit of God will come, reside in with you, and he will empower you through this season. 00:40:50.960 --> 00:40:52.239 God is with you. 00:40:53.360 --> 00:40:55.760 Would you call upon him? 00:40:56.800 --> 00:40:57.760 It's okay. 00:40:58.400 --> 00:41:04.559 Your Heavenly Father is saying, I'm with you, and my presence is enough. 00:41:06.480 --> 00:41:23.519 Heavenly Father, we invite you in this moment to draw out of us the tents we've been lingering in so that we might lean into you. 00:41:26.480 --> 00:41:41.840 God, I ask in this moment as we wait on you, as we are actually being deeply encouraged by you through this moment out of your word, that you would cause us to be a people that linger in your tent. 00:41:42.800 --> 00:41:46.239 A scared world needs a courageous church. 00:41:46.960 --> 00:41:48.559 You want to encourage us. 00:41:48.719 --> 00:41:50.960 May we be that church. 00:41:52.079 --> 00:41:59.440 May we be a church that offers hope and life and the good news that you love them, that you came for them. 00:42:00.079 --> 00:42:10.480 That God, you're bigger, that the cross is greater, that death is defeated, and Jesus, you are alive. 00:42:11.199 --> 00:42:12.400 In Jesus' name. 00:42:13.360 --> 00:42:14.000 Amen.