WEBVTT 00:00:04.000 --> 00:00:07.280 Welcome to the Awakening Church podcast. 00:00:07.519 --> 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. 00:00:18.320 --> 00:00:24.800 Well, last week we kicked off our new series Arrival, A Weary World Rejoices. 00:00:25.280 --> 00:00:28.640 And it's been a wearying season, hasn't it? 00:00:29.199 --> 00:00:40.000 I mean, just as the restrictions have come back and things are shutting down, uh holiday plans have been augmented, travel has been canceled. 00:00:40.079 --> 00:00:54.000 It's it 2020s just felt like um like one wave after another just keeps hitting us and hitting us, and we barely have time to get our head above water to catch our breath. 00:00:54.960 --> 00:01:04.560 And I think in the midst of all this, we're wrestling with this question: Is God big enough to handle? 00:01:05.280 --> 00:01:11.920 And whatever your blank is, is God big enough to handle 2020? 00:01:12.079 --> 00:01:22.799 Is God big enough to handle the COVID crisis, the economic uncertainty, the the national division? 00:01:23.200 --> 00:01:29.760 Is God big enough to handle the health uh crisis in your life or with your loved one? 00:01:30.159 --> 00:01:47.680 Is God big enough to handle the problems in your marriage or in your relationships or the betrayal that you've gone through, the loss of friendships over this season, the heartache and pain and depression and anxiety, the loss of job? 00:01:48.159 --> 00:02:15.759 And you see, when we answer this question, it's so important because how we answer it determines whether we run to God and find him a refuge and strength, or if we run from him, trying to handle it on our own, trying to figure it out, overwhelmed by the moment, looking for something to just satiate, perhaps numb just to get through. 00:02:16.240 --> 00:02:18.560 Here's what's amazing about Advent. 00:02:18.719 --> 00:02:31.039 Advent means arrival, and it's at Advent that we're reminded of the God who is at work even when things around us aren't working outright. 00:02:31.520 --> 00:02:40.639 Advent reminds us of the God who's in control even in the midst of a world spinning out of control. 00:02:41.199 --> 00:02:49.840 See, a weary world rejoices because of the arrival of Emmanuel, God with us. 00:02:52.080 --> 00:03:00.639 And Isaiah, the prophet, he tells about this Emmanuel, God with us. 00:03:00.800 --> 00:03:15.120 He prophesies about Jesus who is to come, and he tells us there's these four character traits, these four descriptions, that in him we find confidence and we can celebrate and rejoice no matter the circumstances. 00:03:15.280 --> 00:03:27.759 And Isaiah says it this way for unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given, and the government shall be on his shoulders, and we shall call him wonderful counselor. 00:03:28.000 --> 00:03:30.080 Christina talked about that last week. 00:03:30.240 --> 00:03:32.719 If you missed it, go back and listen to it. 00:03:33.039 --> 00:03:36.159 Mighty God, that's what we're talking about this week. 00:03:36.479 --> 00:03:37.840 Everlasting Father. 00:03:38.000 --> 00:03:43.599 Chris is gonna talk about that next week, and we'll close with Prince of Peace. 00:03:45.039 --> 00:03:50.560 A weary world rejoices because of Emmanuel God with us. 00:03:50.800 --> 00:04:01.360 And what you need, what I need in this moment in the middle of the messy 2020, is we need a mighty God. 00:04:02.080 --> 00:04:11.680 That word mighty is can also mean champion, hero, one who has the power to bring about the victory. 00:04:12.080 --> 00:04:13.919 A mighty God. 00:04:14.960 --> 00:04:21.920 You know, when we think about Jesus, we don't often think about him as a mighty God. 00:04:22.160 --> 00:04:30.560 Last week, as Christina was talking about wonderful counselor, we we we understand Jesus as the wonderful counselor who's humble and gentle of heart. 00:04:30.720 --> 00:04:42.000 We we we recognize Jesus as this, you know, faithful friend and companion, and you know, who's often we can kind of talk about him as my buddy, and there's this casualness. 00:04:42.560 --> 00:04:47.920 But you see, Jesus, he's not just an amazing man. 00:04:49.040 --> 00:04:56.240 He's not just an amazing man, a good man, a great teacher, a miracle worker, one sent from God. 00:04:56.639 --> 00:05:02.000 Jesus is the almighty God. 00:05:03.199 --> 00:05:13.600 And when the storm rages, when when the life is falling apart, what we need is Jesus, the Almighty God. 00:05:14.319 --> 00:05:28.240 And what I want to do with our time is help you understand and see Jesus as the Almighty God and experience Him in this way, this Advent season. 00:05:28.560 --> 00:05:33.120 And to do that, I I want to take you to Mark chapter four and five. 00:05:33.199 --> 00:05:46.240 And in Mark chapter four and five, we actually see four series of events in the life of Jesus that that unveil or reveal Jesus as this mighty God, that he's more than just an amazing man. 00:05:46.560 --> 00:05:52.160 He is the almighty God of the universe. 00:05:52.720 --> 00:05:58.079 And we pick it up in Mark chapter four, verse thirteen. 00:05:58.399 --> 00:05:59.920 It begins this way. 00:06:00.160 --> 00:06:08.480 That day when the evening came, he, being Jesus, said to his disciples, Let us go over to the other side, leaving the crowd behind him. 00:06:08.959 --> 00:06:12.079 They took him along just as he was in the boat. 00:06:12.319 --> 00:06:13.920 There were also other boats with him. 00:06:14.079 --> 00:06:19.279 A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat so that it was nearly swamped. 00:06:19.439 --> 00:06:22.959 Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. 00:06:23.199 --> 00:06:28.399 The disciples woke him up and said to him, Teacher, don't you care if we drowned? 00:06:28.639 --> 00:06:31.839 And that's the question in the middle of storms that we ask of God. 00:06:32.160 --> 00:06:33.839 God, don't you care? 00:06:34.240 --> 00:06:36.720 And next week we're going to talk about that question. 00:06:36.879 --> 00:06:38.079 God, don't you care? 00:06:38.319 --> 00:06:41.279 Our perfect heavenly Father. 00:06:41.759 --> 00:06:47.360 Well, Jesus got up, rebuked the winds, and said to the waves, Quiet, be still. 00:06:47.839 --> 00:06:51.120 Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. 00:06:51.279 --> 00:06:55.199 And he said to the disciples, Why are you so afraid? 00:06:56.240 --> 00:06:59.199 Don't you, do you still have no faith? 00:06:59.360 --> 00:07:01.040 Now notice this, verse 41. 00:07:01.279 --> 00:07:05.839 They were terrified and asked each other, Who is this? 00:07:06.000 --> 00:07:09.439 Even the wind and the waves obey him. 00:07:09.759 --> 00:07:11.759 Jesus is not just an amazing man. 00:07:11.920 --> 00:07:13.759 Jesus is the Almighty God. 00:07:14.000 --> 00:07:17.839 Jesus has the power over nature. 00:07:18.160 --> 00:07:23.680 He spoke, and with the word the wind ceased, and the waves calmed. 00:07:24.480 --> 00:07:28.959 Now, there's a lot that we could pull from this text. 00:07:29.199 --> 00:07:34.800 And in fact, we're going to circle back to it in our final week, the Prince of Peace. 00:07:35.040 --> 00:07:39.839 But in this moment, I just want us you to notice the response of the disciples. 00:07:40.000 --> 00:07:46.000 They're in the middle of the storm, and now remember, they're professional fishermen. 00:07:46.160 --> 00:07:49.439 They've been on this the Sea of Galilee thousands of times. 00:07:50.160 --> 00:07:54.319 They've been through storms before, and they're afraid for their lives. 00:07:54.480 --> 00:07:57.040 They're thinking they might drown. 00:07:58.079 --> 00:08:05.600 But then did you notice that the disciples didn't wake up Jesus to calm the storm? 00:08:07.519 --> 00:08:14.000 Because if they did, they wouldn't have been terrified when he calmed the storm. 00:08:14.399 --> 00:08:19.040 The disciples woke up Jesus to bell water. 00:08:19.600 --> 00:08:20.319 Don't you care? 00:08:20.800 --> 00:08:25.279 We're trying to save each other here and to bell water. 00:08:26.000 --> 00:08:32.240 And in that moment, you saw at the end, and they were terrified, and they asked this question: Who is this? 00:08:32.480 --> 00:08:35.919 Even the wind and waves obey him. 00:08:37.039 --> 00:08:43.039 You see, the disciples knew Jesus was an amazing man, a miracle worker, anointed one sent from God. 00:08:43.200 --> 00:08:48.399 And in this moment, they knew only God had the power over nature itself. 00:08:48.639 --> 00:08:52.320 Only God could steal the wind and the waves. 00:08:52.399 --> 00:08:57.440 And they're in the boat with God Almighty, and they're afraid in that moment. 00:08:57.600 --> 00:09:00.639 Like, who is this man? 00:09:01.919 --> 00:09:08.399 You know, that revelation was so instrumental in my own prayer life. 00:09:09.120 --> 00:09:15.919 Of where am I asking Jesus to bell water when he has the power to calm storms? 00:09:16.080 --> 00:09:17.279 Where am I asking little things? 00:09:17.360 --> 00:09:18.320 God, I just need to get through. 00:09:18.399 --> 00:09:19.200 I just need to get by. 00:09:19.360 --> 00:09:20.879 If you could, would you, might you? 00:09:20.960 --> 00:09:22.399 I'm not sure if you would. 00:09:22.720 --> 00:09:27.120 And he is the God Almighty to calm the storms. 00:09:27.360 --> 00:09:33.600 Your God is stronger than any of the storms of life. 00:09:33.919 --> 00:09:46.559 Stronger than the loss of your job, a crisis with your friendship, a relationship fractured, a global pandemic, economic uncertainty, national division. 00:09:46.720 --> 00:09:49.440 Jesus has the power over nature. 00:09:49.919 --> 00:09:53.279 Your God is stronger than the storms of your life. 00:09:53.360 --> 00:09:59.759 And Jesus, notice this, has the power over the demonic, over the spiritual realm. 00:10:00.000 --> 00:10:09.679 When they got to the other side of the lake, the Sea of Galilee, Jesus got out of the boat and a man with an impure spirit came from the tombs to meet him. 00:10:09.759 --> 00:10:13.360 That's an odd greeting, by the way, not one that I would want. 00:10:13.840 --> 00:10:25.600 This man lived in the tombs, and no one can bind him anymore, not even with a chain, for he had often been chained hand and foot, but he had torn the chains apart and broke the irons with his feet. 00:10:25.759 --> 00:10:35.360 No one, notice this, was strong enough to subdue him night and day among the tombs and in the hills, he would cry out and cut himself with stones. 00:10:35.600 --> 00:10:39.279 That's a terrible neighbor, by the way, too. 00:10:39.840 --> 00:10:46.000 When he saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and fell on his knees in front of him. 00:10:46.159 --> 00:10:53.200 He shouted at the top of his voice, What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? 00:10:53.519 --> 00:10:59.679 And even the demonic demons shudder at the name of Jesus, recognizing the Almighty God. 00:11:00.399 --> 00:11:05.200 And we learn from the text that this man is not just possessed by one demon, but by many. 00:11:05.440 --> 00:11:07.440 They call themselves Legion. 00:11:07.600 --> 00:11:16.720 And he's crying out to Jesus to not torture us, but if you would just send us into this herd of pigs, there's a herd of like 2,000 pigs in the field by. 00:11:17.039 --> 00:11:18.799 And Jesus says, that's fine. 00:11:18.879 --> 00:11:21.360 And they go from that man into the pigs. 00:11:21.519 --> 00:11:29.279 And the the text says that the pigs stampede and they go down the steep ravine and they end up drowning in the lake. 00:11:29.519 --> 00:11:35.679 Now the workers who were working with the pigs run into town and tell everybody what had happened. 00:11:35.759 --> 00:11:48.960 And they come out and they see the man who they could not control, the man who was too strong for them to withhold, sitting in his right mind, clothed, talking. 00:11:49.039 --> 00:11:54.480 And they it says that they were terrified and they pleaded with Jesus to leave. 00:11:54.720 --> 00:11:59.200 You see, Jesus has the power over the demonic. 00:12:00.159 --> 00:12:09.039 Friends, the spiritual world is just as real as the physical and visible world. 00:12:09.200 --> 00:12:18.320 And followers of Jesus, we have a spiritual enemy, Satan and his adversaries, who are seeking to destroy you. 00:12:18.720 --> 00:12:22.639 They're seeking to undermine and still your joy. 00:12:22.799 --> 00:12:25.039 They're seeking to kill your peace. 00:12:25.200 --> 00:12:37.840 They're seeking to destroy the relationships in your life, to sow division and discord and distrust, to tempt you down a path that will ultimately undermine your very good. 00:12:38.080 --> 00:12:46.159 And then when you bite on the temptation to shame you and to tell you you're no good. 00:12:47.600 --> 00:12:54.000 This is why Peter would say it this way in 1 Peter 5:8, be alert and sober a mind. 00:12:54.320 --> 00:13:00.559 Your enemy, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. 00:13:00.720 --> 00:13:04.639 Be alert, be aware, don't be uninformed. 00:13:05.360 --> 00:13:13.840 And do you know when a lion hits its prey, when they're most vulnerable, when they're isolated from the pack? 00:13:14.000 --> 00:13:15.600 Are you isolated from community? 00:13:15.759 --> 00:13:17.039 Are you not in a group? 00:13:17.200 --> 00:13:19.600 Are you not engaged in God's word daily? 00:13:19.759 --> 00:13:20.879 You're vulnerable. 00:13:21.200 --> 00:13:27.840 When you're stressed out and alone, when you're overwhelmed, you're vulnerable. 00:13:28.000 --> 00:13:28.639 Be alert. 00:13:28.799 --> 00:13:35.279 You're you have an enemy, but we do not need to be afraid. 00:13:35.600 --> 00:13:43.679 First John 4, 4 says, Greater is he, speaking of Jesus who is in you than he who is in the world. 00:13:44.399 --> 00:13:53.039 Greater is the one, the one who spoke, and demons flee, than the one who is in the world. 00:13:53.200 --> 00:13:56.799 And so we do not fight for victory. 00:13:57.039 --> 00:13:58.799 We fight from victory. 00:13:59.039 --> 00:14:04.799 You might feel defeated in this season, but you are not defeated because of Jesus. 00:14:04.960 --> 00:14:12.480 This is why James 5:7 would say it this way: resist the devil and he will flee. 00:14:12.720 --> 00:14:13.679 He will run. 00:14:14.000 --> 00:14:14.480 Why? 00:14:14.799 --> 00:14:21.039 Because Jesus has the power over the spiritual realm, over the demonic. 00:14:21.279 --> 00:14:25.360 Your God is greater than all the forces of evil. 00:14:25.440 --> 00:14:27.679 And so there's no need to be afraid. 00:14:27.919 --> 00:14:34.960 The enemy, the enemy has a loud bark, but his teeth have been taken out. 00:14:35.120 --> 00:14:36.879 He don't got a bite. 00:14:37.360 --> 00:14:43.360 And now for some over this season, you've opened yourself up to the work of the enemy. 00:14:43.919 --> 00:14:48.480 For some in this season, maybe you've dabbled in the new age and the cold. 00:14:48.559 --> 00:15:04.559 Maybe you've allowed habitual sin, anger, and bitterness to get in, where you've given the enemy a foothold into your life, and where you would cry upon the name of the Lord Jesus, and he will bring freedom in your life. 00:15:04.720 --> 00:15:06.799 Jesus has the power over nature. 00:15:06.960 --> 00:15:09.200 Jesus has the power over the demonic. 00:15:09.279 --> 00:15:14.639 And then we see Jesus has the power over sickness and disease. 00:15:14.799 --> 00:15:19.440 Well, the people said, Hey, Jesus, um, we're not sure what's going on. 00:15:19.600 --> 00:15:23.279 You go away from here and he says, Okay, so he gets back into the boat. 00:15:23.360 --> 00:15:24.480 They go to the other side. 00:15:24.639 --> 00:15:29.200 When he shows up there, a man named Jarius, he was a synagogue leader. 00:15:29.360 --> 00:15:33.600 He he comes to Jesus and he just pleads with him, his daughter's sick. 00:15:33.840 --> 00:15:36.480 Would you come and heal my daughter? 00:15:36.799 --> 00:15:45.279 And as Jesus is on his way to heal his daughter, it's the text says a large crowd followed and pressed all around him. 00:15:45.519 --> 00:15:49.440 And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for 12 years. 00:15:49.600 --> 00:15:54.559 She had suffered a great deal under the care of many doctors and spent all she had. 00:15:54.720 --> 00:15:57.360 Yet instead of getting better, she grew worse. 00:15:57.679 --> 00:16:06.559 When she heard about Jesus, she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak because she thought, if I just touch his clothes, I'll be healed. 00:16:06.799 --> 00:16:12.080 Immediately her bleeding stopped, and she felt in her body that she was freed from her suffering. 00:16:12.320 --> 00:16:13.919 Now notice this, verse 30. 00:16:14.159 --> 00:16:19.440 At once Jesus realized that power had gone out from him. 00:16:19.840 --> 00:16:24.960 He turned around in the crowd and he asked, Who touched my clothes? 00:16:25.200 --> 00:16:28.480 Now the disciple was going, Jesus, there's so many people around you. 00:16:28.559 --> 00:16:29.279 Everybody's touching. 00:16:29.519 --> 00:16:31.039 He's like, No, who touched me? 00:16:31.120 --> 00:16:34.000 Somebody, he's like, they're like, Come on, Jesus, this is crazy. 00:16:34.159 --> 00:16:37.279 And then the woman comes forward and she begins to share. 00:16:37.440 --> 00:16:41.679 And it says that she was afraid, but she told the whole truth in her story. 00:16:41.919 --> 00:16:45.679 And Jesus says this to her, daughter, next slide. 00:16:45.919 --> 00:16:48.159 Your faith has made you well. 00:16:48.320 --> 00:16:53.440 Go in peace and be cured of your disease. 00:16:53.840 --> 00:16:58.639 Jesus has the power over sickness and disease. 00:16:59.279 --> 00:17:01.120 And this one's hard, isn't it? 00:17:02.799 --> 00:17:07.680 This one's hard because there's times when God heals. 00:17:08.960 --> 00:17:11.839 And then there's times when he doesn't. 00:17:14.160 --> 00:17:17.200 I've seen God do supernatural healing. 00:17:17.440 --> 00:17:26.559 I I've been actually in third world countries and praying for people and seen someone who's crippled be able to walk and a person who's blind gain sight. 00:17:26.720 --> 00:17:40.319 I've seen my own daughter have supernatural healing where she had an intestinal disease at six months, and we're going to all these specialists, uh, six months of age, that is, and all these specialists and our church fasted and prayed together. 00:17:40.400 --> 00:17:46.319 And the night before she was to have surgery, God healed her, and the doctor's like, there's no explanation. 00:17:46.480 --> 00:17:48.880 I've seen God supernaturally heal. 00:17:49.920 --> 00:17:54.160 And then I've prayed for healing. 00:17:55.279 --> 00:18:00.400 And I've also seen that there's no healing coming, and I don't know why. 00:18:01.920 --> 00:18:20.240 In fact, some of our closest friends in the whole world have been going through, and we've been praying for our friend, and she's been needing healing for four and a half years, and we've fasted and we've prayed and we've anointed oil, we've done everything. 00:18:20.400 --> 00:18:28.640 We've we've we we are praying nonstop, and God hasn't healed her yet. 00:18:29.759 --> 00:18:31.200 And I don't know. 00:18:32.160 --> 00:18:36.400 I don't know why God hasn't healed her yet, but here's what I do know. 00:18:37.759 --> 00:18:44.720 I do know that my God is mightier than the suffering and pain in this world. 00:18:45.759 --> 00:18:52.960 I don't understand his ways, but I do know that he is mightier than the suffering and pain in this world. 00:18:54.240 --> 00:19:02.559 And with the things I do not know, I bring those to my wonderful counselor. 00:19:03.519 --> 00:19:06.960 To the stuff and the questions of my heart and soul. 00:19:07.119 --> 00:19:12.799 I come to my wonderful counselor who says, like Christina said last week, come to me. 00:19:13.359 --> 00:19:16.160 Weary and heavy laden. 00:19:16.799 --> 00:19:21.119 Your God is mightier than the suffering in this world. 00:19:21.279 --> 00:19:26.880 Jesus has the power over nature, over the demonic, over sickness and disease. 00:19:27.039 --> 00:19:32.559 And finally, Jesus has the power over death itself. 00:19:33.440 --> 00:19:43.359 The text goes on and says, While Jesus was still speaking to the woman, that is, some people came from the house of Jarius, the synagogue leader. 00:19:43.599 --> 00:19:45.920 Your daughter is dead, they said. 00:19:46.160 --> 00:19:49.200 Why bother the teacher anymore? 00:19:49.519 --> 00:19:52.240 Can you imagine that moment as a dad? 00:19:52.799 --> 00:20:01.200 You went and got help, and help was on the way, and then he stopped to help someone else. 00:20:01.680 --> 00:20:07.599 And in helping someone else, your daughter died, and now all hope is gone. 00:20:08.720 --> 00:20:19.359 I mean, you can only imagine the heart of expectation that you're gonna receive your daughter back, and now it's disappointment and devastation. 00:20:21.119 --> 00:20:30.400 Overhearing what Jesus uh what they said, Jesus told them, do not be afraid and just believe. 00:20:30.720 --> 00:20:34.240 Do not be afraid, just believe. 00:20:34.480 --> 00:20:40.400 And if you've been noticing all throughout all four of these stories, this is the theme that God is inviting us into. 00:20:40.480 --> 00:20:41.440 Don't be afraid. 00:20:41.599 --> 00:20:44.400 The disciples in the boat, why are you so afraid? 00:20:44.559 --> 00:20:47.519 The presence of the Almighty God is with you in the boat. 00:20:47.599 --> 00:20:49.279 Don't be afraid, just believe. 00:20:49.440 --> 00:20:53.759 Lean in, put the weight of your trust of your life on me. 00:20:55.440 --> 00:21:06.000 The woman she reaches out though, trembling in fear, believing that if she just touched the hem of the cloak of Jesus, she would be healed. 00:21:07.039 --> 00:21:10.079 And he says, daughter, your faith has healed you. 00:21:10.319 --> 00:21:15.519 Don't be afraid, don't be concerned, don't let worry overcome you. 00:21:16.000 --> 00:21:22.240 Just believe the Almighty God has the power over death. 00:21:22.960 --> 00:21:28.640 When they came to the home of the synagogue leader, Jesus saw a commotion with the people crying and wailing loudly. 00:21:28.720 --> 00:21:31.599 All the professional uh mourners had shown up. 00:21:31.920 --> 00:21:35.839 He he went in and said to them, Why all this commotion and wailing? 00:21:36.000 --> 00:21:37.920 The child is not dead but asleep. 00:21:38.079 --> 00:21:39.599 But they laughed at him. 00:21:39.920 --> 00:21:44.319 You see, to the author of life, death is but sleep. 00:21:46.319 --> 00:21:57.920 And so after he put them all out, because that's what you do, the people who laugh at you, he took the child's father and mother and disciples who were with him, and went in there where the child was. 00:21:58.160 --> 00:22:04.559 He took her by the hand and said to her, Talitha Kaum, which means little girl, I say to you, get up. 00:22:04.799 --> 00:22:08.240 Immediately the girl stood up and began to walk around. 00:22:08.400 --> 00:22:14.400 She was twelve years old, and at this they were completely astonished. 00:22:14.799 --> 00:22:24.559 At the word of Jesus, he spoke, and at his word, death is reversed and life ushered in. 00:22:25.359 --> 00:22:30.880 Jesus has the power of death over death. 00:22:31.599 --> 00:22:36.480 And he didn't come just to raise one person to life. 00:22:36.799 --> 00:22:41.839 He came to defeat sin and death once and for all. 00:22:42.319 --> 00:22:49.279 You see, at the cross, Jesus took on and overcame our biggest problem: sin. 00:22:49.839 --> 00:22:57.920 Sin is the reason we experience the pain and the devastation in our world, the brokenness and all that is wrong in this world. 00:22:58.079 --> 00:23:00.799 And he took that on and it was nailed to the cross. 00:23:00.880 --> 00:23:07.680 And in the grave, as he was buried, he took on our biggest fear. 00:23:08.319 --> 00:23:16.319 Your biggest fear, my biggest fear is to be abandoned and alone, to be isolated and kept in darkness. 00:23:17.119 --> 00:23:21.200 And he was abandoned and alone in that cold grave, and he took that on. 00:23:21.359 --> 00:23:34.960 And at the resurrection, he defeated our greatest enemy, death itself, so that the apostle Paul would say, Where O death is your victory. 00:23:38.240 --> 00:23:43.200 But thanks be to God who leads us into victory. 00:23:43.519 --> 00:23:47.440 Jesus has defeated the crave. 00:23:49.279 --> 00:23:52.880 Defeated the finality of the grave. 00:23:53.599 --> 00:24:00.960 See, the worst this world can throw at you has already been taken care of by Jesus. 00:24:01.200 --> 00:24:15.519 This is why followers of Jesus lived with such confidence and courage in the face of persecution, in the face of death itself, why they would risk their life for the least of these. 00:24:16.880 --> 00:24:25.440 Because the greatest thing, the greatest enemy had been defeated by Jesus. 00:24:25.759 --> 00:24:26.960 Death itself. 00:24:27.200 --> 00:24:34.240 See, the worst of 2020 can throw you has already been conquered by Jesus. 00:24:35.279 --> 00:24:42.720 So the question is God big enough to handle your blank. 00:25:04.480 --> 00:25:07.519 In fact, I want to leave you with this picture. 00:25:07.759 --> 00:25:17.599 And if you wouldn't mind doing this with me in your home or wherever you're watching, would you take your hands and hold them like this? 00:25:19.519 --> 00:25:20.880 Just look at them. 00:25:22.400 --> 00:25:25.839 What in your life do you have a tight grip on? 00:25:26.400 --> 00:25:30.160 What in your life are you worried and concerned? 00:25:30.400 --> 00:25:34.720 Where when you try to answer that question, is God big enough to handle it? 00:25:34.960 --> 00:25:39.440 You grab a hold of it and you're just like, I'm so fearful, I'm so worried, I don't know. 00:25:39.599 --> 00:25:57.599 Is it maybe it's your marriage, maybe it's your kids, maybe it's uh a fractured relationship, maybe it's your health, maybe it's the future, maybe it's your emotional well-being, and just you're holding on so tightly, and you go intellectually, I get that God can handle this, but I'm still trying to handle it myself. 00:25:57.839 --> 00:25:59.599 And I want you to do this. 00:26:00.000 --> 00:26:06.319 I want you to let it go like this, and to open your hands and cup them. 00:26:07.440 --> 00:26:09.599 And this picture is twofold. 00:26:11.119 --> 00:26:19.599 One, one in where you say, God, you're not only big enough, I'm gonna let you handle everything. 00:26:21.839 --> 00:26:23.039 Here it is. 00:26:24.079 --> 00:26:38.319 And the other is scripture actually tells us that that Jesus has us in his hands, and nothing can snatch us or take us away. 00:26:38.480 --> 00:26:46.160 Like he's got you right here in his hands, and he can handle it. 00:26:46.480 --> 00:26:48.000 Would you bring it to him? 00:26:48.480 --> 00:26:51.519 Would you bring your fears and your concerns? 00:26:51.759 --> 00:26:58.880 Would you turn toward the Almighty God, Jesus your Savior, and say, God, I can't handle it. 00:26:59.119 --> 00:27:00.319 Would you handle this? 00:27:00.480 --> 00:27:06.720 Would I give my concerns, my worries, my fears, my relationships to you? 00:27:07.920 --> 00:27:10.559 Right now, just hold your hands open. 00:27:10.880 --> 00:27:20.640 Heavenly Father, we ask that you would encounter each person as they listen to this afresh. 00:27:21.680 --> 00:27:33.599 The Almighty Savior of the world, who has the power over all, and who cares for us. 00:27:34.720 --> 00:27:40.720 Would you give him your cares, your concerns, the things you're trying to handle? 00:27:45.119 --> 00:27:52.799 That you might experience your mighty God, a refuge, and a strength. 00:27:53.680 --> 00:27:54.720 In Jesus' name. 00:27:55.359 --> 00:27:55.839 Amen.