WEBVTT 00:00:00.160 --> 00:00:02.399 Welcome to the Awakening Church podcast. 00:00:02.560 --> 00:00:07.040 We pray this message encourages you and provides the hope and light of Jesus Christ. 00:00:07.200 --> 00:00:08.640 Thanks for tuning in. 00:00:18.879 --> 00:00:19.839 Here's what we're gonna do. 00:00:20.000 --> 00:00:21.440 We're gonna uh talk about the Bible. 00:00:21.679 --> 00:00:22.800 I'm gonna read to you what it says. 00:00:22.960 --> 00:00:24.800 Hopefully, we can talk about what it means. 00:00:24.879 --> 00:00:29.120 Um, and then obviously I'll tell you what to do based on a microphone, and that's what people who have a microphone do. 00:00:29.199 --> 00:00:30.079 They tell you what to do. 00:00:30.160 --> 00:00:31.440 Um, and then we'll pray and cry. 00:00:31.519 --> 00:00:32.399 Mostly that'll be me. 00:00:32.479 --> 00:00:33.359 And then I'll get you out of here. 00:00:33.520 --> 00:00:34.159 Sound good? 00:00:34.880 --> 00:00:36.000 Here's what's gonna happen. 00:00:36.079 --> 00:00:38.240 Uh, this isn't on the slides, but I'm gonna read it to you. 00:00:38.399 --> 00:00:41.280 If you were at church last week, I read it as our call to worship. 00:00:41.359 --> 00:00:44.960 Um it's 2 Corinthians uh chapter 10, it's just two verses. 00:00:45.119 --> 00:00:46.799 Uh the Bible says this there. 00:00:46.960 --> 00:00:50.079 Uh we are human, but we don't wage war as humans do. 00:00:50.240 --> 00:00:56.799 We use God's mighty weapons, not worldly ones, to knock down the strongholds of human reasoning and to destroy false arguments. 00:00:56.960 --> 00:01:00.079 We destroy every proud obstacle that keeps people from knowing God. 00:01:00.240 --> 00:01:03.280 We capture their rebellious thoughts and teach them to obey Christ. 00:01:03.600 --> 00:01:06.319 Then I'll go back to that part in verse 5. 00:01:06.400 --> 00:01:10.480 It says, we destroy every proud obstacle that keeps people from knowing God. 00:01:12.079 --> 00:01:19.359 New King James or King James, I'm not sure exactly which one it is, but it reads the scripture and it says, For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, right? 00:01:19.439 --> 00:01:20.799 They're not flesh and blood. 00:01:20.879 --> 00:01:23.439 Um the whole idea of this is there are things that are happening, right? 00:01:23.599 --> 00:01:34.799 Obviously, we have this physical world where you can see me and I can see you, and we can talk to each other, but in the unseen realms, in the spiritual places, right, and in the heavens, there's another place where things happen. 00:01:35.040 --> 00:01:38.719 And in that space specifically, there are obstacles to knowing God. 00:01:39.920 --> 00:01:43.280 And my hope is not necessarily just like preaching or teaching to you. 00:01:43.519 --> 00:01:47.519 We'll see a lot of scripture, and I'll say things that you've probably heard before. 00:01:48.079 --> 00:01:55.439 But my hope is that like we encounter these scriptures, we have this conversation, um, I make bad jokes, you laugh anyway to make me feel good, you know. 00:01:55.519 --> 00:01:57.359 We cry, mostly me, again. 00:01:57.519 --> 00:02:08.159 Like we do these things, we're gonna focus on Jesus, and as we talk about these things, we'll use this these spiritual weapons, this warfare, this worship, this preaching, this teaching to actually get rid of some of the barriers to knowing God. 00:02:08.319 --> 00:02:10.000 Are you okay with trying to do that with me today? 00:02:11.360 --> 00:02:12.879 Literally, you slept in. 00:02:13.439 --> 00:02:14.639 You should be awake. 00:02:14.879 --> 00:02:16.800 Are you okay with trying to do that with me today? 00:02:17.039 --> 00:02:17.520 Yes. 00:02:18.080 --> 00:02:19.039 Thank you. 00:02:19.520 --> 00:02:20.879 Some of you that didn't say anything. 00:02:20.960 --> 00:02:22.479 You I know you're a libertarian, right? 00:02:22.560 --> 00:02:24.319 No one tells you what to do, but gosh. 00:02:24.639 --> 00:02:25.280 Come on. 00:02:25.360 --> 00:02:28.960 Uh we all know it. 00:02:29.039 --> 00:02:29.840 Come on. 00:02:30.800 --> 00:02:31.840 Love you. 00:02:32.800 --> 00:02:33.280 All right. 00:02:33.520 --> 00:02:34.319 Here's what we're gonna do. 00:02:34.400 --> 00:02:41.439 We're gonna read the scriptures and then I'm gonna talk, and then actually we're gonna read the scriptures and pray because I probably shouldn't have said that. 00:02:41.599 --> 00:02:43.039 Um, and then we'll talk. 00:02:43.199 --> 00:02:43.520 Okay. 00:02:49.520 --> 00:02:53.360 Um is what I affectionately refer to as the servant's gospel. 00:02:53.680 --> 00:02:57.759 All four gospels kind of have like um have a direct audience, right? 00:02:57.840 --> 00:02:59.680 They have the people that they're intended to encounter. 00:02:59.759 --> 00:03:02.800 They're also written to portray Jesus a certain way, right? 00:03:02.879 --> 00:03:05.039 So Matthew, you'd see, like, shows Jesus as king. 00:03:05.120 --> 00:03:09.520 That's what it talks about, like the lineage, you know, from David's line and all like him, obviously. 00:03:09.599 --> 00:03:11.919 He's king, he's like David's heir, you know. 00:03:12.080 --> 00:03:16.000 Mark shows Jesus as a servant, like serving people, doing lots of things like that. 00:03:16.159 --> 00:03:24.159 Luke has is really descriptive, lots of detail, so it shows Jesus as a man, and then John, the Gospel of John, really portrays Jesus as God, as divine, right? 00:03:24.319 --> 00:03:25.439 Um, I like Mark. 00:03:25.599 --> 00:03:27.520 Number one, it's the shortest, amen. 00:03:28.159 --> 00:03:30.800 Uh and number two, I just really like Jesus as a servant. 00:03:30.879 --> 00:03:31.840 That really appeals to me. 00:03:32.000 --> 00:03:33.919 You know, so anyway, we're gonna read this. 00:03:34.080 --> 00:03:39.439 Um, because I was raised apostolic Pentecostal, you I'm gonna ask you to stand up and honor the word of the Lord, okay? 00:03:39.599 --> 00:03:41.680 So when we read the scriptures, that's what you do. 00:03:41.840 --> 00:03:46.080 You're not gonna have to read it aloud, though, because I can't read that well, you can't read that fast. 00:03:46.240 --> 00:03:47.039 It's it's gonna be fine. 00:03:47.199 --> 00:03:49.039 All right, Bible says this, Mark chapter two. 00:03:49.520 --> 00:04:00.000 When Jesus came back to Capernaum a few days later, it was heard that he was at home, and many were gathered together so that there was no longer space, not even near the door, and he was speaking the word to them. 00:04:00.240 --> 00:04:13.840 And some people came, bringing to him a man who was paralyzed, carried by four men, and when they were unable to get to him because of the crowd, they removed the roof above him, and after digging an opening, they let down the pallet on which the paralyzed man was lying. 00:04:14.000 --> 00:04:18.639 And Jesus, seeing their faith, said to the paralyzed man, Son, your sins are forgiven. 00:04:19.279 --> 00:04:24.079 But some of the scribes were sitting there and thinking it over in their hearts, why does this man speak that way? 00:04:24.240 --> 00:04:25.120 He's blaspheming. 00:04:25.279 --> 00:04:27.839 Who can forgive sins except God alone? 00:04:28.000 --> 00:04:37.120 Immediately Jesus, aware in his spirit, what they were thinking, and that they were thinking that way within themselves, said to them, Why are you thinking about these things in your hearts? 00:04:37.279 --> 00:04:47.600 Which is easier, to say to the paralyzed man, Your sins are forgiven, or to say, Get up and pick up your mat or your pallet and walk, so that you may know that the Son of Man has the authority on earth to forgive sins. 00:04:47.680 --> 00:04:52.240 He said to the paralyzed man, I say to you, get up, pick up your pallet, and go home. 00:04:52.879 --> 00:05:01.040 And he got up and immediately picked up the pallet and went out into the sight of everyone, so that they were all amazed and they were glorifying God, saying, We have never seen anything like this. 00:05:01.199 --> 00:05:03.519 It's Mark 2, 1 through 12 in the NASP. 00:05:03.600 --> 00:05:05.040 While you're standing, let's pray together. 00:05:06.079 --> 00:05:09.360 Lord Jesus, uh, thank you for your word, thank you for your scriptures. 00:05:09.439 --> 00:05:12.160 I pray that they would encounter us. 00:05:14.000 --> 00:05:20.720 Lord, that um as we read these scriptures, as we talk about what they mean, Lord, that uh by the power of your Holy Spirit you change us from the inside. 00:05:21.279 --> 00:05:24.160 God like Isaiah, would you touch my lips with hot coal? 00:05:24.720 --> 00:05:28.399 Lord, that so you purify them and clean them so that everything comes out is of you. 00:05:29.439 --> 00:05:46.480 Lord, if there's anything God that would seek to distract us, um, I pray that you just silence it, that you'd focus our attention um God on your voice, on your words, God on your will, and we would be responded to in a change according to your image in Jesus' name. 00:05:46.879 --> 00:05:47.279 Amen. 00:05:48.079 --> 00:05:49.040 You guys can have a seat. 00:05:49.920 --> 00:05:50.800 Thanks for standing with me. 00:05:51.759 --> 00:05:57.600 Um I kind of came up in a Hillsong church. 00:05:57.759 --> 00:06:01.120 Like I, you know, I got saved to Apostolic Pentecostal, but I left it. 00:06:01.199 --> 00:06:04.800 Clearly, the services are three hours long, and you have to dress up. 00:06:04.959 --> 00:06:08.079 It's like 50 degrees hotter than this room, which is crazy. 00:06:08.319 --> 00:06:10.319 And you're wearing like a three-piece suit, it's a mess. 00:06:10.560 --> 00:06:14.560 And then I really cut my teeth at a Hillsong, may they rest in peace. 00:06:14.879 --> 00:06:17.920 Um, and then if you know, you know, you've seen the documentary. 00:06:18.079 --> 00:06:21.040 Anyway, so I'm gonna tell a story, then we're gonna talk about how it applies. 00:06:21.839 --> 00:06:23.600 If you watched it, so did I. 00:06:23.839 --> 00:06:24.399 All right. 00:06:24.800 --> 00:06:27.759 Um, I'm gonna tell a story about my friend when I changed her name to Chriselle. 00:06:27.920 --> 00:06:30.879 Shout out to my Selling Sunset girlies, if you know you know. 00:06:31.040 --> 00:06:33.600 Um, no one here watches Selling Sunset? 00:06:35.360 --> 00:06:35.839 A couple? 00:06:36.000 --> 00:06:36.959 Thank you, thank you. 00:06:37.120 --> 00:06:39.199 I'm gonna rebuke you for it later, so I'm so glad. 00:06:39.279 --> 00:06:42.000 But anyways, don't worry, I'm way worse than all of you. 00:06:42.079 --> 00:06:42.639 We'll talk about it. 00:06:42.800 --> 00:06:43.839 Anyways, not my story. 00:06:43.920 --> 00:06:45.199 I'm gonna call my friend Chriselle. 00:06:45.360 --> 00:06:47.759 It's like 10 years ago, living in Ohio. 00:06:48.000 --> 00:06:55.199 Um, Chriselle graduated college, was working, wanted to go to grad school, applied to grad school, right, uh, and got an interview. 00:06:55.360 --> 00:06:57.120 And so she's like, Oh, I'm so nervous. 00:06:57.199 --> 00:07:01.360 I need time to like prepare, so I'm gonna go pray and read my Bible, spend time with God. 00:07:01.680 --> 00:07:03.199 So I'm gonna go to this cool coffee shop. 00:07:03.360 --> 00:07:04.639 Coffee shop's called Ghost Light. 00:07:04.720 --> 00:07:10.079 And Chriselle's like, here's the thing, Ghost Light's around the corner from uh UD, University of Dayton, where she applied. 00:07:10.240 --> 00:07:18.240 She's like, I'm gonna go there and then I'm just gonna spend some time reading my Bible, get some coffee, then just walk across the street and go to school, have this interview. 00:07:18.399 --> 00:07:20.959 So she gets there, you know, and Ghost Light's really cool. 00:07:21.120 --> 00:07:22.879 It's like it's really like an old house. 00:07:22.959 --> 00:07:27.040 Um and so you walk into like the side door, like the side of the house, and there's a hallway. 00:07:27.120 --> 00:07:31.920 Um and to the right, there's like a room that would have been like a bedroom or something, but they've turned it into like a quiet study area. 00:07:32.000 --> 00:07:43.040 And if you turn left when you go inside the house, you like walk down the hallway, and where the kitchen and living room uh and like dining room would be, they've gutted it and it's like opened up into a real, like just like coffee shop space. 00:07:43.199 --> 00:07:46.319 And where the kitchen is is kind of like where they make the coffee, you know, all the things like that. 00:07:46.480 --> 00:07:50.000 So anyway, so she goes in, orders a drink, sits down, is talking. 00:07:50.160 --> 00:07:52.480 I mean, not talking, talking to God, reading the Bible. 00:07:52.720 --> 00:07:56.639 Um, and she's like, Uh-oh, coffee's a diuretic. 00:07:56.720 --> 00:07:58.399 I have the potty, you know. 00:07:58.639 --> 00:08:01.600 So she gets up and she walks back down the hallway to go. 00:08:01.759 --> 00:08:03.680 And no, she doors locked. 00:08:03.759 --> 00:08:06.720 And she's like, ah, maybe it's one of those places where you need a key, right? 00:08:07.040 --> 00:08:14.240 Goes back around and she talks to the girl working, and she's like, uh hey, do you have a key for the bathroom? 00:08:14.399 --> 00:08:16.480 And the girl's like, no, no key for the bathroom. 00:08:16.560 --> 00:08:18.160 If it's locked, that means that somebody's in there. 00:08:18.240 --> 00:08:24.639 And I like, or Chriselle, whoopsie! Did that first hopefully she hasn't watched this. 00:08:24.879 --> 00:08:28.800 Anyway, so she sits down, uh, man leaves the bathroom. 00:08:28.959 --> 00:08:30.399 At this point, she says it's in a hurry. 00:08:30.560 --> 00:08:31.439 We don't actually know. 00:08:31.680 --> 00:08:35.840 Either way, Chriselle's like, ah, left the man left the bathroom in a hurry. 00:08:36.000 --> 00:08:37.279 I have to, I'm in a hurry, also. 00:08:37.360 --> 00:08:38.799 I've been waiting, I need to go. 00:08:39.600 --> 00:08:42.240 And so she goes to the bathroom and goes. 00:08:43.679 --> 00:08:53.039 Um, and so she's in there and she says, Looking back, I should have known, because like telltale sign of a clogged toilet is like toilet paper swirling around, you know? 00:08:53.279 --> 00:08:57.200 You go to a public restaurant and you're like, there's toilet paper in there, it's probably not going down, you know. 00:08:57.600 --> 00:08:58.960 She didn't think anything of it. 00:08:59.200 --> 00:09:00.240 She went. 00:09:00.639 --> 00:09:01.759 She went. 00:09:02.080 --> 00:09:02.399 Okay. 00:09:03.039 --> 00:09:05.759 Um, and so she's finishing and she you know, finishes up. 00:09:05.840 --> 00:09:10.639 And this is a classy lady, I'm telling you, velvet everywhere, you know, corduroy velvet, she's fancy. 00:09:11.120 --> 00:09:14.399 She goes to flush and the water starts to rise. 00:09:15.440 --> 00:09:20.559 And she does what any reasonable person would do when like you know, the the toilet starts to rise. 00:09:20.639 --> 00:09:25.039 You flush it again, hoping that it actually goes down, you know, and it didn't. 00:09:25.519 --> 00:09:26.559 It kept going. 00:09:26.720 --> 00:09:31.600 And she's like, oh my gosh, oh my gosh, oh my gosh, this bathroom has clogged, it's got my junk in there. 00:09:31.759 --> 00:09:33.440 You know, like what am I going to do? 00:09:33.600 --> 00:09:42.399 And so she's like, Ah, I know when the bathroom would clog, you know, at home growing up, my dad would just like open up the commode and like jiggle the handle a little bit or something. 00:09:42.639 --> 00:09:44.000 So she's like, I can do that. 00:09:44.240 --> 00:09:55.519 So she takes off the commode, being the handywoman that she is, and she starts jiggling like you know, the chain inside the commode inside the commode, not knowing that that's actually the mechanism that makes water keep flowing. 00:09:55.759 --> 00:09:59.279 And so in this moment, she jiggles and it flows, right? 00:09:59.440 --> 00:10:08.080 She says things are mm-hmm, it's swirling around at the top, water's coming out of the bowl, and she's like, Yeah, please, please, please, please, please. 00:10:08.240 --> 00:10:11.120 And I don't know who she was pranking to, but he didn't answer, okay? 00:10:11.360 --> 00:10:14.960 Because at that moment, the chain broke, okay? 00:10:15.200 --> 00:10:16.960 And the mechanism just keeps going. 00:10:17.039 --> 00:10:19.840 So it's overflowing at this point, continually. 00:10:20.000 --> 00:10:23.600 Water's just flowing, and it's like that kind of water, okay? 00:10:23.759 --> 00:10:24.799 It's going, it's going. 00:10:24.879 --> 00:10:25.840 She doesn't know what to do. 00:10:26.000 --> 00:10:28.000 She's getting wet, you know. 00:10:28.879 --> 00:10:29.519 Crazy. 00:10:29.600 --> 00:10:34.480 All of a sudden, her eyes open, sees the plunger next to the toilet that she should have used in the first place. 00:10:34.559 --> 00:10:35.759 But this point, it's no use. 00:10:35.840 --> 00:10:37.120 But she's gonna try it anyway. 00:10:37.279 --> 00:10:39.200 She maneuvers around, okay? 00:10:39.360 --> 00:10:41.759 You know, water's still coming out at this point. 00:10:42.000 --> 00:10:42.960 That's continuous. 00:10:43.039 --> 00:10:45.440 And she's plunging, plunging, plunging, plunging. 00:10:45.679 --> 00:10:47.360 Water is getting everywhere. 00:10:47.600 --> 00:10:50.799 Not only is it continually flowing, the bowl is full, okay? 00:10:50.960 --> 00:10:54.480 So she's splashing poopy water everywhere, okay? 00:10:56.799 --> 00:10:59.440 She's going, she's going, she's like, oh my gosh, what am I gonna do? 00:10:59.519 --> 00:11:09.519 At this point, she's sloshing around, okay, like singing in the rainstile, you know, like and the water is everywhere, and she's like, I have to go. 00:11:10.080 --> 00:11:11.039 I have to leave. 00:11:11.120 --> 00:11:12.159 I have an interview. 00:11:12.320 --> 00:11:15.600 I'm late, my shoes have poop water on them. 00:11:15.840 --> 00:11:17.200 Like, what am I going to like? 00:11:17.279 --> 00:11:18.000 But I have to leave. 00:11:18.080 --> 00:11:19.120 Like, what am I gonna do? 00:11:19.279 --> 00:11:20.639 What am I gonna do? 00:11:21.200 --> 00:11:25.919 And so she's like, I'm gonna muster up the courage, go outside, tell them sorry, scram. 00:11:26.240 --> 00:11:27.600 Okay, that's what I'm gonna do. 00:11:27.840 --> 00:11:30.480 Now, she sloshes over, swims, mind you. 00:11:30.559 --> 00:11:34.159 Like, you know, she sloshes over to the door and opens it up. 00:11:34.320 --> 00:11:36.480 I told you the ghost light had a hallway, right? 00:11:36.879 --> 00:11:37.759 Uh-huh. 00:11:38.080 --> 00:11:47.840 She opens the door, and little poopy river is starting to seep out from under the door and down into the hallway where everybody's sitting. 00:11:48.639 --> 00:11:50.000 Yeah, it's disgusting. 00:11:50.080 --> 00:11:51.759 And so she's like, oh my god. 00:11:52.000 --> 00:11:54.159 So she hops to the Poopy Jordan River, okay? 00:11:54.399 --> 00:11:55.759 And she bums out. 00:11:56.000 --> 00:11:58.000 And she's like, oh my god, excuse me, excuse me, excuse me. 00:11:58.159 --> 00:11:59.759 She was like, I was gonna leave, but I can't. 00:11:59.840 --> 00:12:01.440 I asked the girl for the bathroom key. 00:12:01.519 --> 00:12:02.879 She knows that it was me. 00:12:03.200 --> 00:12:04.240 So she goes back to the girl. 00:12:04.399 --> 00:12:05.759 She's like, hey, sorry, like the bathroom. 00:12:05.840 --> 00:12:09.200 I think it was clogged before I went in there and used it, but I used it, and now it's clogged and overflowing. 00:12:09.279 --> 00:12:10.720 I tried to fix it, I couldn't fix it. 00:12:10.799 --> 00:12:12.879 And now it's overflowing out into here. 00:12:12.960 --> 00:12:14.559 Like it's really, really, really, really, really bad. 00:12:14.720 --> 00:12:15.840 Please you have to fix it. 00:12:15.919 --> 00:12:17.519 But I would love to take it out, but I can't have to go. 00:12:17.600 --> 00:12:19.039 I have to have to go, I have to go, I have to go, go. 00:12:19.200 --> 00:12:21.519 And the girl's like, no worries, it's okay. 00:12:21.679 --> 00:12:24.639 And Chriselle's like, no, you don't understand. 00:12:26.080 --> 00:12:26.799 This is bad. 00:12:26.879 --> 00:12:29.120 And the girl, the girl's like, no, don't worry about it. 00:12:29.279 --> 00:12:32.080 And she goes, I obviously can't do anything else. 00:12:32.320 --> 00:12:34.240 Obviously, she'll probably like slosh around in it, too. 00:12:34.320 --> 00:12:34.720 You know what I mean? 00:12:34.799 --> 00:12:35.759 Before she realizes there's a problem. 00:12:35.919 --> 00:12:39.840 Christelle hops back over the river, okay, and then runs outside. 00:12:40.320 --> 00:12:41.440 Happily ever after. 00:12:41.600 --> 00:12:44.080 She gets into grad school, gets her dream job. 00:12:44.240 --> 00:12:45.840 It's absolutely amazing. 00:12:46.799 --> 00:12:53.919 I mean, it was amazing too, because like uh she said she goes back like six months later, bleached hair, wore glasses, cut the bangs. 00:12:54.320 --> 00:12:55.039 Whole situation. 00:12:55.120 --> 00:12:59.039 She was like, I was expecting to walk in and see like a most wanted picture. 00:12:59.200 --> 00:13:01.600 And like, girl, poopy shoes, like she did it. 00:13:01.679 --> 00:13:02.960 Don't let her back in. 00:13:03.279 --> 00:13:04.960 Why do I tell you all that? 00:13:05.759 --> 00:13:06.960 No reason. 00:13:08.720 --> 00:13:10.639 But really, really, no reason. 00:13:10.879 --> 00:13:12.639 Because you don't know her. 00:13:14.080 --> 00:13:15.440 You won't know her. 00:13:15.679 --> 00:13:18.559 Like, she lives across the country at this point. 00:13:18.799 --> 00:13:22.399 Like, you are in no way informed by any of the details of that story. 00:13:22.879 --> 00:13:24.399 You don't even know if I'm telling the truth. 00:13:24.559 --> 00:13:25.600 I am, I swear. 00:13:25.840 --> 00:13:27.360 But like you have no idea. 00:13:27.679 --> 00:13:35.039 And I tell you that, in a similar way, that you heard this story, that I heard this story, that we experience this story together, for better or for worse. 00:13:35.200 --> 00:13:35.519 Okay. 00:13:36.000 --> 00:13:41.039 Um like I want us to be moved by the accounts of scriptures the same way we're moved by stories. 00:13:41.279 --> 00:13:41.519 Right? 00:13:41.600 --> 00:13:48.639 There's so many stories that we hear, so many things that we're passionate about, so things that we're really moved by, so many causes we'll spring into action for. 00:13:48.720 --> 00:13:49.759 And maybe it's just me. 00:13:50.000 --> 00:13:50.720 I doubt it. 00:13:50.799 --> 00:13:53.200 I don't, you know, but it might just be me. 00:13:53.440 --> 00:13:57.120 Most of the times, nine nine times out of ten, those things are not about Jesus. 00:13:58.399 --> 00:14:00.240 And they don't have any life in them. 00:14:01.360 --> 00:14:03.200 Much like this poopy story. 00:14:03.919 --> 00:14:05.519 I'll give you an example. 00:14:06.000 --> 00:14:08.000 A couple examples, actually, a whole list. 00:14:08.240 --> 00:14:10.639 We talked about emo night a few months ago, right? 00:14:10.720 --> 00:14:13.440 I go to that thing every every month, just about. 00:14:13.519 --> 00:14:15.679 It seems like they have them all the time, at least once a quarter. 00:14:15.919 --> 00:14:18.639 And all those lyrics are so sad about being depressed and being lonely. 00:14:18.720 --> 00:14:19.279 And what do I do? 00:14:19.360 --> 00:14:23.679 I gather in a room with hundreds of other people and scream at the top of my lungs about how sad that I am. 00:14:23.759 --> 00:14:24.720 I'm not that sad. 00:14:25.039 --> 00:14:26.000 Not anymore, at least. 00:14:26.080 --> 00:14:27.759 It really was a phase, a little bit. 00:14:29.519 --> 00:14:30.720 You want to know your thing? 00:14:30.799 --> 00:14:35.519 I told you about Beyonce at a leadership event, I think like a year ago, team night. 00:14:36.960 --> 00:14:39.679 First 10 seconds, she comes out out of the ground. 00:14:39.759 --> 00:14:41.200 I'm screaming, lost my voice. 00:14:41.279 --> 00:14:42.799 I have never screamed that way for Jesus. 00:14:42.960 --> 00:14:46.799 Not for worship, not my favorite worship leader, not for a good sermon. 00:14:47.039 --> 00:14:47.600 Never in my life. 00:14:47.759 --> 00:14:51.039 I've seen Coldplay like four times at this point. 00:14:52.000 --> 00:14:52.799 Coldplay. 00:14:52.960 --> 00:14:57.360 Screaming, tear stream, your face, crying. 00:14:57.519 --> 00:14:59.440 Chris Martin doesn't know me. 00:15:00.639 --> 00:15:02.159 He won't know me. 00:15:02.799 --> 00:15:08.559 But I'm spending my money and my time and my effort and my energy getting caught up into these lyrics, and they have no life in them. 00:15:08.720 --> 00:15:09.200 None. 00:15:09.759 --> 00:15:11.120 Concerts aren't your thing. 00:15:11.279 --> 00:15:12.480 How about sports? 00:15:13.039 --> 00:15:16.320 My wife casually wears um an LA Dodgers hat all the time. 00:15:16.480 --> 00:15:17.120 Don't boo. 00:15:17.279 --> 00:15:18.320 We'll have a problem if you do. 00:15:18.480 --> 00:15:19.440 She's great. 00:15:19.679 --> 00:15:20.399 All the time. 00:15:20.639 --> 00:15:23.679 So many of you and people in this city, right? 00:15:24.000 --> 00:15:26.639 In Giants territory will be like, go Dodgers. 00:15:26.720 --> 00:15:27.120 You know what I mean? 00:15:27.200 --> 00:15:29.120 It'll be like, LA really, Britta? 00:15:29.840 --> 00:15:30.799 It's crazy. 00:15:31.039 --> 00:15:32.720 The Giants don't know you. 00:15:33.360 --> 00:15:34.799 They won't know you. 00:15:35.039 --> 00:15:37.120 There's no life in a Giants game. 00:15:37.440 --> 00:15:38.080 We'll move on. 00:15:38.159 --> 00:15:38.639 We'll move on. 00:15:38.799 --> 00:15:39.759 Tough crap. 00:15:40.000 --> 00:15:42.559 Football, 49ers territory, right? 00:15:43.120 --> 00:15:46.000 You guys will skip church to go watch the 49ers. 00:15:47.120 --> 00:15:48.480 On a regular basis. 00:15:48.639 --> 00:15:50.639 Football season, half y'all, not here. 00:15:50.799 --> 00:15:53.679 It's crazy to go watch some men run around in tights. 00:15:54.240 --> 00:15:57.519 And then you'll be mad when they lose for days. 00:15:58.240 --> 00:15:58.879 Days. 00:15:59.120 --> 00:16:00.720 There's no life in it. 00:16:01.200 --> 00:16:01.840 None. 00:16:02.399 --> 00:16:04.799 It adds nothing to you, nothing of eternal value. 00:16:04.960 --> 00:16:06.639 And they don't know you. 00:16:07.200 --> 00:16:10.159 You're about to argue with somebody who has on like a Rams t-shirt. 00:16:10.240 --> 00:16:10.720 I did it one time. 00:16:10.799 --> 00:16:12.159 Okay, we moved it from LA. 00:16:12.720 --> 00:16:13.279 Mad at me. 00:16:13.440 --> 00:16:16.559 Still, to this day, I hear people, me wearing that Rams t-shirt. 00:16:16.720 --> 00:16:17.919 I don't know them, they don't know me. 00:16:18.000 --> 00:16:19.120 And it doesn't really matter. 00:16:19.440 --> 00:16:22.799 Sports is a little tough though for this crowd, so I'll keep going. 00:16:23.519 --> 00:16:24.480 Game of Thrones? 00:16:24.799 --> 00:16:25.600 House of Dragons. 00:16:25.759 --> 00:16:26.799 Anybody watch that? 00:16:27.360 --> 00:16:27.759 Mm-hmm. 00:16:27.919 --> 00:16:28.559 I know you do. 00:16:28.720 --> 00:16:29.120 That's okay. 00:16:29.279 --> 00:16:29.919 I'll watch it too. 00:16:30.000 --> 00:16:31.759 I'm telling you all this because do the same thing. 00:16:32.000 --> 00:16:33.279 There's no life in that show. 00:16:33.440 --> 00:16:35.600 It's literally about like murder and treachery. 00:16:35.840 --> 00:16:36.960 It's terrible. 00:16:37.200 --> 00:16:37.840 For the soul. 00:16:37.919 --> 00:16:38.639 Good for the enjoyment. 00:16:38.720 --> 00:16:39.759 Thank you, HBO. 00:16:40.559 --> 00:16:41.679 Not your cup of tea? 00:16:41.840 --> 00:16:43.039 Bridgerton. 00:16:44.799 --> 00:16:45.919 The Bachelor. 00:16:48.080 --> 00:16:49.519 Too hot to handle. 00:16:50.000 --> 00:16:51.519 We watch that all the time. 00:16:51.840 --> 00:16:52.399 Terrible. 00:16:52.559 --> 00:16:53.200 No life in it. 00:16:53.279 --> 00:16:55.120 It's literally awful. 00:16:55.840 --> 00:16:57.039 Selling Sunset. 00:16:57.200 --> 00:16:58.159 Selling OC. 00:16:58.720 --> 00:16:59.679 Selling Manhattan. 00:16:59.840 --> 00:17:03.600 No, no, no, it's awning Manhattan, buying London, selling Tampa. 00:17:04.000 --> 00:17:05.200 We watch them all. 00:17:05.440 --> 00:17:09.279 All this money, so much Botox, so many fillers, right? 00:17:09.519 --> 00:17:12.240 All of this stuff, no life. 00:17:13.200 --> 00:17:13.759 Nothing. 00:17:13.920 --> 00:17:15.519 And we're wrapped up into these stories. 00:17:15.599 --> 00:17:19.519 I argue with people that go to this church about whether to believe someone or not in selling OC. 00:17:19.920 --> 00:17:20.880 It's crazy. 00:17:21.119 --> 00:17:22.400 We argue about it. 00:17:22.720 --> 00:17:24.079 More than we talk about Jesus. 00:17:24.319 --> 00:17:25.519 Isn't that crazy? 00:17:26.480 --> 00:17:27.119 I know it is. 00:17:27.200 --> 00:17:27.759 That's why I said it. 00:17:27.839 --> 00:17:31.119 Alright, Bible says this in 2 Timothy chapter 3. 00:17:31.279 --> 00:17:34.960 All scripture in the NSB, NASB, North American Standard Bible, it says this. 00:17:35.119 --> 00:17:44.480 All scripture is inspired by God and beneficial for teaching, for rebuke, for correction, for training and righteousness, so that the man or woman of God may be fully capable and equipped for every good work. 00:17:44.640 --> 00:17:45.759 I like the way the message says it. 00:17:45.839 --> 00:17:46.960 It says it like this. 00:17:47.839 --> 00:17:52.720 There's nothing like the written word of God for showing you the way to salvation through faith in Jesus Christ. 00:17:52.960 --> 00:18:01.119 Every part of Scripture is God-breathed and useful in one way or another, showing us truth, exposing our rebellion, correcting our mistakes, training us to live in God's way. 00:18:01.200 --> 00:18:05.359 Through the word we were put together and shaped for the task God had for us. 00:18:07.519 --> 00:18:09.599 This book, this story, right? 00:18:09.759 --> 00:18:11.039 This one book. 00:18:12.079 --> 00:18:15.440 One collection, right? 00:18:15.599 --> 00:18:16.880 Sixty-six books. 00:18:17.359 --> 00:18:29.119 Like thousands of years, hundreds of people, multiple parts of the world, page after page, story after story in this book, we see that from the beginning of time, God has always made it a priority to meet with his people. 00:18:30.240 --> 00:18:30.640 Right? 00:18:30.720 --> 00:18:32.319 This has real life in it. 00:18:32.640 --> 00:18:34.640 I left the Apostolic Pentecostal church. 00:18:34.720 --> 00:18:38.559 Number one, it was too long, and I got tired of being told to speak in tongues all the time. 00:18:39.039 --> 00:18:40.079 It was crazy. 00:18:40.480 --> 00:18:42.799 Came to a church right here that has like an hour, 15 minute service. 00:18:42.880 --> 00:18:43.279 It's great. 00:18:43.359 --> 00:18:44.720 So what about Jesus? 00:18:44.960 --> 00:18:49.039 But like, if the spirit is not really your thing, one day it will be. 00:18:49.119 --> 00:18:50.559 I hope that you encounter God that way. 00:18:51.440 --> 00:18:54.640 But this, at the very least, has life in it. 00:18:55.279 --> 00:18:56.880 It really, really has life in it. 00:18:56.960 --> 00:19:01.039 There are stories to get caught up in and to care about and to be changed by and to be moved by. 00:19:01.119 --> 00:19:02.480 And I hope we do that over the next four weeks. 00:19:04.640 --> 00:19:05.599 Clearly, right? 00:19:05.839 --> 00:19:07.039 There's a few other people preaching. 00:19:07.119 --> 00:19:08.079 They'll be much better than this. 00:19:08.160 --> 00:19:09.200 Please come back. 00:19:10.079 --> 00:19:22.640 But my prayer for you as an individual, for me as an individual, for us as a body, as a community, as a church, it's like through our studies and conversations that we really glean the wisdom from people that encountered God in the written scriptures. 00:19:23.279 --> 00:19:24.720 And that we're changed. 00:19:24.960 --> 00:19:25.200 Right? 00:19:25.359 --> 00:19:28.640 That we're really corrected, that we're really strengthened, that we're really rebuked, right? 00:19:28.720 --> 00:19:34.400 That God really rips some stuff up out of us and equips us for his work. 00:19:34.640 --> 00:19:36.160 That's the whole reason we come here. 00:19:39.599 --> 00:19:41.200 I'm gonna put verses one and two on the screens. 00:19:41.440 --> 00:19:42.319 Bible says this. 00:19:42.400 --> 00:19:45.839 Uh we'll just go by it verse by verse essentially and talk about it. 00:19:46.079 --> 00:19:47.119 Um and two. 00:19:47.279 --> 00:19:56.640 When Jesus came back to Capernaum a few days later, it was heard that he was at home, and many were gathered together so that there was no longer space, not even near the door, and he was speaking the word to them. 00:19:56.799 --> 00:20:02.240 So coming up to Mark 2, uh, Mark chapter 1, uh servants gospel, right? 00:20:02.400 --> 00:20:10.880 Jesus gets commissioned, he has his baptism, Holy Spirit descends like a dove, and Jesus is literally going around doing his ministry, he's preaching the word, and he's healing people, healing, healing, healing. 00:20:11.039 --> 00:20:15.279 Mark chapter 1 talks about Jesus healing a man that was uh afflicted by demons, okay? 00:20:15.359 --> 00:20:19.680 And they were Jesus was like, Hey, you've been afflicted, you've been set free, go back and mind your business. 00:20:19.839 --> 00:20:22.000 Guys, like, actually, I'm not gonna go mind my business. 00:20:22.079 --> 00:20:24.160 I'm gonna go tell the ten cities, okay? 00:20:24.400 --> 00:20:25.680 Hold the copolis. 00:20:25.920 --> 00:20:29.519 And people are like, Oh, this guy Jesus heals. 00:20:29.680 --> 00:20:30.640 I'm gonna go follow him. 00:20:30.799 --> 00:20:35.279 So Jesus is being followed by crowds, masses, continuing to do healings, continuing to preach. 00:20:35.440 --> 00:20:40.079 Um, and so much so, he goes, like he normally does, to go get away and to pray to God. 00:20:40.160 --> 00:20:45.839 And the Bible says um in verse Mark 1:38, he says, Um, his purpose in Galilee was to preach. 00:20:46.319 --> 00:20:54.079 Simon Peter comes up to him with a few other disciples, with a few other of the disciples, and he says, Uh, Jesus, hey, they're looking for you. 00:20:54.319 --> 00:20:57.920 People are looking for you, with the intent that Jesus would continue to heal. 00:20:58.079 --> 00:21:00.720 And Jesus says, No, I came to preach. 00:21:00.960 --> 00:21:02.640 I'm going around to the cities to preach. 00:21:02.799 --> 00:21:05.119 Obviously, it's well within his abilities to heal, right? 00:21:05.359 --> 00:21:06.480 Obviously, he's willing to do it. 00:21:06.559 --> 00:21:07.920 He's done it so many times before. 00:21:08.160 --> 00:21:09.759 But his purpose was to preach. 00:21:09.839 --> 00:21:11.920 I want to highlight the last phrase right there. 00:21:12.079 --> 00:21:14.799 Um verse two, he was speaking the word to them. 00:21:14.960 --> 00:21:16.880 It really stuck out to me when I was studying it. 00:21:17.200 --> 00:21:21.839 Because uh in the Gospel of John, it really identifies Jesus as the Word, right? 00:21:21.920 --> 00:21:25.519 It says, in the beginning was the Word, and the Word was God, and the Word was with God. 00:21:25.680 --> 00:21:28.640 Through the Word, all things were made and sustains all things. 00:21:28.799 --> 00:21:32.160 That word, right, was preaching the Word. 00:21:32.720 --> 00:21:34.400 It's kind of crazy, right? 00:21:34.720 --> 00:21:41.680 This eternal God, like this person, this this being, this thing, that's so amazing, was preaching himself. 00:21:42.799 --> 00:21:44.319 And that was his intent. 00:21:45.519 --> 00:21:47.200 Which takes us to the first point. 00:21:47.920 --> 00:21:51.359 The primary purpose of an encounter with God is to know God. 00:21:53.279 --> 00:21:57.599 The word, the living word, was preaching the written word so that people could really understand it. 00:21:57.759 --> 00:21:59.759 Colossians 1 says it this way Christ. 00:22:00.079 --> 00:22:02.400 Christ is the visible image of the invisible God. 00:22:02.559 --> 00:22:06.400 He existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation. 00:22:06.559 --> 00:22:10.240 For through him, God created everything in the heavenly realms and on earth. 00:22:10.480 --> 00:22:16.160 He made the things we can see and the things we can't see, such as thrones, kingdoms, rulers, and authorities in the unseen world. 00:22:16.319 --> 00:22:18.400 Everything was created through him and for him. 00:22:18.559 --> 00:22:21.440 He's quite literally everything. 00:22:22.400 --> 00:22:25.759 And everything, put on flesh, right? 00:22:25.920 --> 00:22:33.279 With a face that we could see, with eyes that you could really look into, with a voice that you could hear and understand, a person to walk with, right? 00:22:34.079 --> 00:22:36.319 So that we could know God. 00:22:37.119 --> 00:22:38.720 That's really amazing. 00:22:38.960 --> 00:22:42.480 Especially if you think about the history of like Israel and the church. 00:22:42.720 --> 00:22:47.279 They messed it up in the garden and walking with Jesus like this, walking with God like this. 00:22:47.519 --> 00:22:51.519 And so over the course of time, God has continually been making ways for people to meet with Him. 00:22:51.839 --> 00:22:54.240 At first it was a tent, then it was a tabernacle. 00:22:54.480 --> 00:22:56.400 Then you have Jesus, like face to face. 00:22:56.480 --> 00:23:00.960 And now, like us on this side of the gospel on the cross, like have the presence of the Holy Spirit living on the inside. 00:23:02.319 --> 00:23:05.440 God, the purpose of an encounter with God is to know God. 00:23:05.759 --> 00:23:06.799 Does that make sense? 00:23:09.039 --> 00:23:09.599 Thanks. 00:23:10.079 --> 00:23:12.319 We're going to keep going, verses three through five. 00:23:12.720 --> 00:23:16.799 And some people came, bringing to him a man who was paralyzed, carried by four men. 00:23:16.880 --> 00:23:24.799 And when they were unable to get to him because of the crowd, they removed the roof above him, and after digging an opening, they let down the pallet on which the paralyzed man was lying. 00:23:24.880 --> 00:23:28.960 And Jesus, seeing their face, said to the paralyzed man, Son, your sins are forgiven. 00:23:29.200 --> 00:23:30.240 Imagine this. 00:23:32.160 --> 00:23:34.079 God's coming to your house. 00:23:34.400 --> 00:23:34.720 Okay? 00:23:35.039 --> 00:23:37.039 Him and his friends, he's been going around. 00:23:37.200 --> 00:23:38.960 God's coming to your house. 00:23:39.119 --> 00:23:40.559 And so you clean up, right? 00:23:40.640 --> 00:23:41.759 You tidy up. 00:23:42.240 --> 00:23:45.039 He always has a gang with him, so you rearrange your furniture. 00:23:45.200 --> 00:23:45.519 Okay? 00:23:45.839 --> 00:23:52.240 You know that he likes wine and fish and loaves and you know, quail eggs or whatever. 00:23:52.880 --> 00:23:55.119 Some unleavened bread, that's really his thing. 00:23:55.279 --> 00:23:55.599 Okay? 00:23:55.920 --> 00:24:01.200 And so you make it enough for him and his friends, and you're anticipating God coming to your house. 00:24:01.440 --> 00:24:03.039 And then God gets to your house. 00:24:03.119 --> 00:24:08.240 And not only does he bring the gang with him, it's everybody around town. 00:24:08.400 --> 00:24:09.119 All the neighborhoods. 00:24:09.279 --> 00:24:12.640 Campbell, Willow Glenn, South San Jose, the Boonies, literally. 00:24:12.880 --> 00:24:14.319 Willow, Morgan Hill. 00:24:14.720 --> 00:24:15.359 Like they came up. 00:24:15.519 --> 00:24:16.720 Hollow, Morgan Hill. 00:24:16.960 --> 00:24:18.000 They came up. 00:24:18.079 --> 00:24:19.839 Like everybody's in your house. 00:24:20.000 --> 00:24:21.119 They're eating up your food. 00:24:21.200 --> 00:24:22.960 They took your spot next to Jesus. 00:24:23.119 --> 00:24:23.440 Okay. 00:24:24.319 --> 00:24:25.839 They're dirty, right? 00:24:26.000 --> 00:24:26.640 Ain't no roads. 00:24:26.880 --> 00:24:27.920 It's dusty. 00:24:28.960 --> 00:24:30.640 You know they smell bad. 00:24:30.880 --> 00:24:32.319 They've been walking around for days. 00:24:32.400 --> 00:24:33.200 It's hot. 00:24:33.440 --> 00:24:38.000 They smell, and they're in your house, taking up space, eating up your food, on your good furniture. 00:24:38.160 --> 00:24:39.039 That's crazy. 00:24:39.279 --> 00:24:47.200 And after all that's happening, after you've slaved your entire way, your entire day away to meet with God, which was your pleasure because it is the Lord, okay? 00:24:48.079 --> 00:24:50.480 Someone is opening up your roof. 00:24:50.720 --> 00:24:56.319 Some hoodlums get up on your roof and start ripping it open. 00:24:58.000 --> 00:24:59.920 And they lower their friend down. 00:25:00.319 --> 00:25:05.920 So not only have you spent your entire day, they're messing up all your stuff, you have structural damage to your home. 00:25:06.640 --> 00:25:09.680 And you know Judas Iscariot is stingy with the coin purse. 00:25:09.759 --> 00:25:11.839 So it's not like you're getting reimbursed. 00:25:12.079 --> 00:25:12.400 Okay? 00:25:12.799 --> 00:25:14.079 I would be upset. 00:25:14.559 --> 00:25:17.359 I would use a different word, but this is a microphone and this is on the internet. 00:25:18.079 --> 00:25:19.519 I would be upset. 00:25:19.839 --> 00:25:20.480 Right? 00:25:21.200 --> 00:25:23.039 I'm not upset though, because it's not my house. 00:25:23.119 --> 00:25:24.640 I just get to be amazed. 00:25:24.880 --> 00:25:27.680 Because these people were desperate to get their friend to Jesus. 00:25:28.559 --> 00:25:31.599 They were gonna do whatever it took to get to wherever he was. 00:25:31.920 --> 00:25:34.640 And not only were they gonna do what it took to get to where he was, right? 00:25:34.799 --> 00:25:35.920 Their friend needed a healing. 00:25:36.000 --> 00:25:37.200 Their friend was paralyzed. 00:25:37.359 --> 00:25:42.079 This guy, like he was like, oh, condition, Jesus fixes those. 00:25:42.160 --> 00:25:43.119 I'm gonna get you there. 00:25:43.200 --> 00:25:44.240 They were desperate. 00:25:44.480 --> 00:25:50.720 Imagine climbing upon the roof with someone who can't move, ripping it open, and lowering someone down. 00:25:52.079 --> 00:25:53.599 That's amazing. 00:25:54.559 --> 00:25:57.519 And the most amazing thing about it is that God responds to it. 00:25:59.599 --> 00:26:00.559 Next point. 00:26:01.200 --> 00:26:03.039 God responds to faith-filled desperation. 00:26:03.200 --> 00:26:05.279 Psalm 51 is a song of repentance. 00:26:05.440 --> 00:26:09.200 Uh you probably heard it before about like purge me with hyssip, don't take your Holy Spirit away from me. 00:26:09.359 --> 00:26:11.359 It gets toward the end at 16 and 17. 00:26:11.440 --> 00:26:18.640 Um, and the psalm is, it's David this time, and he says, He's like, Oh, if you delighted in burnt offerings and sacrifices, I would do that. 00:26:19.039 --> 00:26:20.319 But that's not what you want. 00:26:20.559 --> 00:26:23.279 What a broken and contrite heart you won't deny. 00:26:23.759 --> 00:26:30.240 And uh and a or a broken heart you won't deny, and a broken and contrite spirit you won't despise. 00:26:31.680 --> 00:26:37.200 God really, he's like, I would do all the extra, I would do all the things, I would do all the stuff if that's what you wanted, but that's not what you want. 00:26:37.279 --> 00:26:38.000 You really want my heart. 00:26:38.079 --> 00:26:39.119 You really want my desperation. 00:26:39.359 --> 00:26:42.000 God loves when we know that we need him. 00:26:43.039 --> 00:26:51.279 The other thing, um, Hebrews 11, uh, verse 1 says, for faith is the what? 00:26:51.599 --> 00:26:54.319 Substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things unseen. 00:26:55.039 --> 00:27:07.599 What would it be like if people like you and me really embraced our need for God and like were confident that he could fix them, that he could do it, you know? 00:27:07.920 --> 00:27:14.319 Maybe it is like paralysis or healing or something, something physical that really needs to be in working order, whatever it is, right? 00:27:14.480 --> 00:27:16.240 Whatever it is, like fill in the blank. 00:27:16.480 --> 00:27:19.119 What would it be like if I took that thing to God? 00:27:19.759 --> 00:27:21.279 Gosh, I can't pay my bills. 00:27:21.519 --> 00:27:22.799 God, I know that you're gyrup. 00:27:22.960 --> 00:27:24.880 I have I literally, there's nothing that I can do. 00:27:24.960 --> 00:27:26.000 I know that you're a provider. 00:27:26.160 --> 00:27:28.240 What would it be like if I actually took those needs to God? 00:27:28.319 --> 00:27:28.799 You know? 00:27:29.119 --> 00:27:29.839 Patience. 00:27:30.319 --> 00:27:32.640 I have a wife and kids now, they get on my nerves. 00:27:33.920 --> 00:27:35.200 God is patient. 00:27:35.839 --> 00:27:38.799 He's the most patient, he's the most loving, he's the most kind. 00:27:38.960 --> 00:27:40.720 I'm continually at a deficit. 00:27:40.880 --> 00:27:50.000 What would it be like if I recognized my need for love and patience and kindness and grace for the people that matter to me most, just like Jesus did and knew that he could give me that. 00:27:50.160 --> 00:27:51.599 Wouldn't that be amazing? 00:27:52.480 --> 00:27:56.400 Casually, I've been struggling with like mental health stuff for like 20 years. 00:27:56.960 --> 00:27:59.279 Like, I think it was 11 or 12. 00:27:59.359 --> 00:28:04.960 I was like diagnosed with like ADHD and depress like a depressive disorder and all sorts of stuff like that. 00:28:05.200 --> 00:28:10.000 And I'm kind of ashamed to say, like, even like standing up here, um, and it's been ups and downs over the last 20 years. 00:28:10.160 --> 00:28:11.599 Most of them have been okay. 00:28:11.839 --> 00:28:19.039 Um, but like I I've never, I could probably count on my fingers the times that I actually took that to God. 00:28:19.680 --> 00:28:22.960 It's like, oh God, I'm really sad and I can't do anything about it. 00:28:23.119 --> 00:28:25.200 My body doesn't work the way that it should. 00:28:25.279 --> 00:28:27.119 I don't produce the things that I need to produce. 00:28:27.279 --> 00:28:30.240 I don't have what I need, God, but I know that you actually do. 00:28:30.480 --> 00:28:31.599 So can you help me with this? 00:28:31.680 --> 00:28:34.240 I don't think I've ever sincerely probably count on my fingers. 00:28:34.480 --> 00:28:36.880 Sincerely, I don't think I've ever taken that to God. 00:28:37.039 --> 00:28:39.839 And not saying that you can like pray it away, because clearly that doesn't work. 00:28:39.920 --> 00:28:44.400 We'd all be in perfect health if you could say one quick prayer and everything go away. 00:28:44.480 --> 00:28:45.200 Sometimes it does. 00:28:45.440 --> 00:28:46.079 Praise be to God. 00:28:46.400 --> 00:28:52.559 Supernatural spirit, like Holy Spirit does supernatural amazing things and healings and stuff like that really comes into working order sometimes when I pray. 00:28:52.720 --> 00:28:54.559 But my story is that it isn't. 00:28:55.119 --> 00:28:58.160 And I haven't actually really taken it to God that way. 00:28:58.319 --> 00:29:06.000 Like, like, not like unseriously, but in a way that I really recognize my need for him and have faith that he can do something with it. 00:29:06.720 --> 00:29:09.599 And I wonder what it would be like, you know? 00:29:10.000 --> 00:29:13.519 If I if I actually was full of faith and desperate for his presence. 00:29:13.680 --> 00:29:14.799 Like what would happen? 00:29:17.519 --> 00:29:18.559 I'll keep going. 00:29:19.200 --> 00:29:21.759 Uh verses 6 to 9, Mark chapter 2 say this. 00:29:22.000 --> 00:29:26.319 But some of the scribes, these religious leaders, were sitting there and thinking it over in their hearts. 00:29:26.559 --> 00:29:29.440 What does this man, like, why does this man speak that way? 00:29:29.599 --> 00:29:30.720 He's blaspheming. 00:29:30.880 --> 00:29:33.039 Who can forgive sins except God alone? 00:29:34.400 --> 00:29:41.680 Immediately, Jesus, aware in his spirit of what they were thinking that way within themselves, said to them, Why are you thinking about these things in your hearts? 00:29:41.839 --> 00:29:48.240 Which is easier, to say to the paralyzed man, your sins are forgiven, or to say, get up and pick up your palate and walk. 00:29:49.200 --> 00:29:51.759 Obviously, there's some people in the crowd that are like, What is going on? 00:29:51.920 --> 00:29:53.920 Specifically these religious leaders, right? 00:29:54.160 --> 00:29:56.400 These people who are who really know the law. 00:29:56.559 --> 00:29:59.200 And they have this growing negativity, this growing discomfort. 00:29:59.359 --> 00:30:01.519 First are confused, what's happening? 00:30:02.319 --> 00:30:03.440 A little bit uncomfortable. 00:30:03.519 --> 00:30:04.079 What is he doing? 00:30:04.319 --> 00:30:05.279 Full-on rejection. 00:30:05.359 --> 00:30:06.240 This is blasphemy. 00:30:06.319 --> 00:30:07.119 He can't do that. 00:30:07.200 --> 00:30:08.240 He's not God. 00:30:09.599 --> 00:30:16.559 And aside from them, which really makes sense for who they were, think about the rest of us, you know, in that room with the roof getting ripped open. 00:30:16.960 --> 00:30:22.960 Obviously, Jesus, this man came here to be healed, and you're talking about sins and calling him son. 00:30:23.279 --> 00:30:26.160 Why wouldn't you just do the thing that we need you to do? 00:30:26.960 --> 00:30:27.599 Right? 00:30:30.160 --> 00:30:32.000 I think the answer is this. 00:30:32.319 --> 00:30:34.079 It's because God, right? 00:30:34.240 --> 00:30:37.759 The Lord is the answer to whatever it is that you think that you need. 00:30:38.000 --> 00:30:41.440 The first time I heard that, I was watching Jesus Culture Encounter in 2012. 00:30:41.599 --> 00:30:47.440 Shout out to my charismatic millennials who would watch worship sets and listen to songs that are 20 minutes long. 00:30:47.599 --> 00:30:49.119 Um me. 00:30:51.440 --> 00:30:52.960 And Kim Walker was singing it. 00:30:53.039 --> 00:30:56.319 She was singing Father of Lights, I think, like everything good comes from me, Father of Lights. 00:30:56.400 --> 00:30:59.519 Anyway, she goes on to like the spontaneous worship moment at the end. 00:30:59.599 --> 00:31:05.440 And she's like, Oh, if he's your peace if you need peace, he's your healer if you need a healer, if he's your provider, if you need provision. 00:31:05.599 --> 00:31:07.279 Like God is love if you feel unlimited. 00:31:07.359 --> 00:31:08.799 He's whatever you think that you need. 00:31:09.039 --> 00:31:09.839 He is the answer. 00:31:10.079 --> 00:31:11.440 He is the answer, he is the answer. 00:31:11.519 --> 00:31:12.319 And it's really true. 00:31:12.559 --> 00:31:20.240 At that moment in my life, I was sitting down uh at a little computer desk in like a room that was probably the size of a Harry Potter closet, okay? 00:31:20.720 --> 00:31:29.359 And I had moved clear across the country because of a bad relationship with my parents, partially and partially because I wanted to pursue like a ministry opportunity. 00:31:29.519 --> 00:31:41.279 And then the ministry opportunity wasn't happening, and I was alone in November in the dead of winter, which is November in other parts of the country, literally negative degrees, snowing. 00:31:41.759 --> 00:31:45.599 I was there and I was alone, and I lived in that room by myself, had no friends. 00:31:45.759 --> 00:31:49.839 I would take the bus an hour to go to a job where I worked at a cubicle. 00:31:50.480 --> 00:31:52.880 Nine to five, no friends, no nothing. 00:31:53.359 --> 00:31:57.519 Take the bus like an hour and a half back because of traffic, and then sit in that room. 00:31:57.599 --> 00:31:59.759 And that was my life for months. 00:32:00.160 --> 00:32:07.279 And I in that moment, I remember a friend who had mine had left a year before me when she graduated high school and moved on to college and stuff. 00:32:07.519 --> 00:32:13.359 And she was like, Oh, you will not, you'll never know that like God is all that you need until He's all that you have. 00:32:13.440 --> 00:32:15.920 We had a great life in Virginia Beach where we grew up. 00:32:16.160 --> 00:32:20.480 You know, and she was like top of her class, really smart, great community at church. 00:32:20.720 --> 00:32:23.519 Went away to school, no Christian community. 00:32:23.680 --> 00:32:27.839 The churches there were preaching whack stuff, in her opinion, so she didn't really want to go and be a part of it. 00:32:28.000 --> 00:32:29.200 She was struggling in school. 00:32:29.359 --> 00:32:34.000 Everything that was in her life that brought any kind of safety and stability had crumbled. 00:32:34.240 --> 00:32:37.119 And she was like, the Lord is really all that I have. 00:32:37.200 --> 00:32:41.680 And I didn't know until this moment where everything was taken away from me that he was all that I need. 00:32:42.559 --> 00:32:44.160 It was really amazing. 00:32:44.960 --> 00:32:52.960 And so the people in the room, those friends, the spectators, the guy that's like paralyzed, you know what I mean, the religious leaders could only see the physical need. 00:32:53.119 --> 00:32:56.799 The masses that had been following to him only saw physical needs. 00:32:56.960 --> 00:32:57.279 Right? 00:32:57.359 --> 00:33:01.759 And the issue is that they did see, I mean, they saw a need, and they were right, you know. 00:33:02.240 --> 00:33:04.000 But the issue is they saw a need. 00:33:04.160 --> 00:33:05.440 They didn't see the need. 00:33:05.599 --> 00:33:09.119 Jesus took care of the thing, the root of his pain and suffering, right? 00:33:09.279 --> 00:33:15.359 The root of everything that's negative and evil in this world, the things that we control and can't control is because of sin. 00:33:15.680 --> 00:33:16.640 The man forgave him. 00:33:16.720 --> 00:33:21.200 Like we were talking about earlier of like we tear down the things that would prohibit people from knowing God. 00:33:21.440 --> 00:33:27.680 In the I like in that day, there would have been the idea that he had an unrepentant sin, which is why he was paralyzed, whether it was him or his parents. 00:33:27.839 --> 00:33:31.279 Like he'd inherited some really bad sin and he'd done something wrong. 00:33:31.440 --> 00:33:33.039 And I'm not conflating those two things. 00:33:33.119 --> 00:33:34.240 I don't think that that's real. 00:33:34.400 --> 00:33:40.079 I think that bad things happen sometimes because we live in a fallen world and we're separated from God. 00:33:40.160 --> 00:33:49.200 And Jesus did what only he could do, taking care of this man's greatest need, addressing his sinful condition, the root of his pain and suffering, and said, Hey, you're forgiven. 00:33:51.119 --> 00:33:53.200 And that's why he's asking, what's easier? 00:33:53.519 --> 00:33:57.039 He's like, uh, why are you thinking about these things? 00:33:57.519 --> 00:34:01.920 Like what like what's easier to say to the paralyzed man, Your sins are forgiven, or to say, get up your palate and walk? 00:34:02.240 --> 00:34:09.119 It would have been way easier for Jesus, for God to just say, I'm gonna fix this thing, and you're good to go. 00:34:09.360 --> 00:34:11.039 It's way more difficult. 00:34:11.280 --> 00:34:20.079 It's way more serious, it's way better, crazier, more amazing miracle for Jesus to say, Oh, I'm gonna rip apart the thing that's separating you from God. 00:34:20.639 --> 00:34:22.559 And that's what he does, that's what he's been doing. 00:34:22.639 --> 00:34:24.320 That was his purpose in coming. 00:34:24.880 --> 00:34:30.719 That's the that's like the faith and and the and the and the need that he's responding to. 00:34:30.880 --> 00:34:32.079 That's what he came to reveal. 00:34:32.239 --> 00:34:35.039 He wanted to rip the thing apart that separated people from God. 00:34:35.199 --> 00:34:36.960 And that's what he's telling him, you don't get it. 00:34:37.039 --> 00:34:39.039 I'm taking care of the important thing. 00:34:39.840 --> 00:34:41.519 And he did that for me. 00:34:41.840 --> 00:34:42.239 You know? 00:34:42.559 --> 00:34:48.239 I was terrible for like six months, like in that way, but to look back at my life, I'd go back and repeat it. 00:34:49.119 --> 00:34:51.679 If it meant that I could experience it again for the first time. 00:34:51.920 --> 00:34:54.880 Because I didn't, I only know God the way that I know him. 00:34:55.760 --> 00:35:00.639 He only prepared me in those six months, literally, of six months of winter and solitude. 00:35:02.159 --> 00:35:05.760 I got to know Jesus in the scriptures in a way that I never knew before. 00:35:06.000 --> 00:35:17.679 And then I got made friends and had like ministry opportunities, and and like I got put on a trajectory to full time vocational ministry, which I look back at that time, and that really is the genesis for how I ended up here. 00:35:19.679 --> 00:35:25.599 God didn't give me what I wanted at the moment, but he really gave me what I needed, and it was better than I could have thought. 00:35:25.840 --> 00:35:41.440 And isn't that like God always for you to ask for something, to want something, and him to not give you what you want, to give you something else that seems terrible, and it actually is the best thing for you. 00:35:42.000 --> 00:35:45.199 Like they were crying out for a savior, and he gave them a baby, you know? 00:35:45.840 --> 00:35:50.719 Like, we need a savior, we need a messiah, and they were like, she's pregnant, and that was it. 00:35:50.880 --> 00:35:53.199 And they were supposed to be like, okay, thanks, you know? 00:35:53.440 --> 00:35:55.440 But it was better than they could have thought. 00:35:55.840 --> 00:35:56.400 Right? 00:35:57.440 --> 00:35:58.639 Think about it. 00:36:01.519 --> 00:36:02.880 It's amazing. 00:36:04.639 --> 00:36:06.559 We'll go on to verses 10 to 12. 00:36:06.800 --> 00:36:14.880 But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins, he said to the paralyzed man, I say to you, get up, pick up your pallet and go home. 00:36:15.039 --> 00:36:23.519 And he got up and immediately picked up the pallet and went out into the sight of everyone, so that they were all amazed and were glorifying God and saying, We have never seen anything like this. 00:36:24.000 --> 00:36:28.719 Not only did Jesus have the power to heal, clearly he demonstrated it before he got there. 00:36:29.199 --> 00:36:31.920 He also has the authority to forgive sin. 00:36:33.519 --> 00:36:36.639 Like power and authority like really does belong to him. 00:36:37.760 --> 00:36:38.320 Right? 00:36:39.840 --> 00:36:46.239 And by extension, you would imagine that, like, oh, if he said that, that must mean that he's forgiven, right? 00:36:47.199 --> 00:36:52.960 If this thing, he'd be fixed the thing that we could see at his word, the thing that we can see, he must really be who he says he is. 00:36:53.119 --> 00:36:56.159 Do you know Jesus identifies himself as a son of man? 00:36:56.400 --> 00:36:56.719 Right? 00:36:56.800 --> 00:36:58.960 He's saying, Oh, I am your Messiah. 00:36:59.199 --> 00:36:59.679 Missed him. 00:36:59.840 --> 00:37:02.159 As many times if I've read this scripture, I love this. 00:37:02.239 --> 00:37:03.920 Mark Chapel is one of my favorite passages. 00:37:04.079 --> 00:37:09.519 As many times as I've read this and seen this, I've never considered there about how Jesus identifies himself. 00:37:09.920 --> 00:37:12.079 He says, I'm the Messiah, I'm the Son of Man. 00:37:12.159 --> 00:37:14.000 He's calling himself the answer. 00:37:14.239 --> 00:37:20.400 And it's almost as if to say, like, I don't identify with what you say that you want, but I'm actually the one that you need. 00:37:22.159 --> 00:37:24.079 Hey, you you didn't really want me to do this thing. 00:37:24.159 --> 00:37:26.480 You're critiquing me for forgiving sins, right? 00:37:26.800 --> 00:37:27.760 I can do that. 00:37:27.920 --> 00:37:30.079 You're critiquing me for not taking care of the need. 00:37:30.239 --> 00:37:31.280 What's easier? 00:37:31.519 --> 00:37:36.559 To do the thing that you want me to do or the thing that I came here to do that you actually need. 00:37:38.960 --> 00:37:40.079 God wants you to know him. 00:37:40.320 --> 00:37:41.760 You guys can come back up. 00:37:43.039 --> 00:37:45.599 Chris, will you put the Philippians chapter 2 passage up there? 00:37:45.760 --> 00:37:48.079 We talked about Jesus being the image of the invisible God, right? 00:37:48.159 --> 00:37:51.360 Philippians says it a little bit differently, specifically talking about the gospel. 00:37:51.519 --> 00:38:00.880 He's talking to the people of Philippi, and uh uh the Apostle Paul's talking to the people of Philippi, and he says, um, he says this like, take on the attitude of Christ, and this is the attitude of Christ. 00:38:01.039 --> 00:38:16.480 He already existed in the form of God, did not consider equality with God as something to be grasped, but emptied himself by taking on the form of a bondservant and being born in the likeness of men, and being found in the appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, death on the cross. 00:38:16.719 --> 00:38:30.960 For this reason, God also highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name which is above every name, so that the name of Jesus, every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father. 00:38:31.119 --> 00:38:33.119 That's really the main thing. 00:38:35.280 --> 00:38:38.559 We already talked about how amazing is all the stuff that he could do, right? 00:38:38.719 --> 00:38:40.079 Which is really, really cool. 00:38:40.239 --> 00:38:42.880 And it's amazing that we reap those benefits. 00:38:44.400 --> 00:38:45.840 But he emptied himself. 00:38:46.320 --> 00:38:51.519 Another translation says he accounted equality with God as something not to be grasped. 00:38:51.599 --> 00:38:55.119 It says that he like he emptied himself. 00:38:55.760 --> 00:39:02.000 He really was like, I am God, and I'm actually above you, but I won't be. 00:39:02.559 --> 00:39:05.280 So that you could know God, so that you can actually know me. 00:39:05.440 --> 00:39:09.199 I'm gonna remove every separation, remove every barrier. 00:39:09.920 --> 00:39:12.000 I want you to actually know him. 00:39:12.719 --> 00:39:15.280 I want you to know me, I want you to encounter God. 00:39:18.000 --> 00:39:19.920 Because it's the best thing for you. 00:39:21.679 --> 00:39:22.960 That's amazing. 00:39:24.239 --> 00:39:26.079 Like, think about it. 00:39:29.840 --> 00:39:31.280 It's amazing. 00:39:36.079 --> 00:39:39.280 I can't not be moved by that fact. 00:39:40.880 --> 00:39:45.519 He's really amazing, and not only is he amazing, right? 00:39:45.679 --> 00:39:51.039 I can't grasp how often he actually is, but he gives me the chance to know him. 00:39:51.199 --> 00:39:54.719 And on this side, it's way better than a healing, right? 00:39:54.880 --> 00:40:03.599 On this side of the cross, on this side of the gospel, on this side of this book, he lives on the inside, he's changing me on the he's as close as close can be. 00:40:03.920 --> 00:40:05.519 That's really amazing. 00:40:09.679 --> 00:40:14.159 So, as we wrap up and then about the singing stuff, I want to talk to two groups of people. 00:40:14.239 --> 00:40:17.599 I'm sure there's more of you in here, but these two get the attention today. 00:40:18.079 --> 00:40:22.559 First is those of you who have encountered God, who know Jesus. 00:40:22.800 --> 00:40:27.519 I want to tell you that the true mark of encountering God is wanting other people to know Him. 00:40:29.760 --> 00:40:34.639 Like it's doing your best, as much as you can possibly do, to make sure that other people encounter God. 00:40:35.039 --> 00:40:41.199 We have to be like full of faith and desperate for people to have what we have. 00:40:41.760 --> 00:40:43.039 We have to be. 00:40:47.280 --> 00:40:48.960 You know, it's like the Dead Sea. 00:40:49.119 --> 00:40:50.800 I've never been overseas. 00:40:50.880 --> 00:40:51.360 Not like that. 00:40:51.440 --> 00:40:53.840 I've been to the Caribbean, but never been overseas. 00:40:54.000 --> 00:40:55.519 Overseas is a sea called the Dead Sea. 00:40:55.679 --> 00:40:56.239 You familiar? 00:40:56.400 --> 00:40:58.400 Do you know why the Dead Sea is the Dead Sea? 00:40:58.639 --> 00:41:01.119 Because it has such rich mineral deposits. 00:41:01.360 --> 00:41:04.800 All the runoff, all the things in the surrounding land, they're so amazing. 00:41:04.960 --> 00:41:09.840 So many minerals, so much amazing stuff runs off and runs down and populates. 00:41:10.639 --> 00:41:12.079 It lives in the Dead Sea. 00:41:12.159 --> 00:41:16.320 And the Dead Sea is so dense and so full of amazing things. 00:41:17.440 --> 00:41:19.119 But they have nowhere to go. 00:41:19.360 --> 00:41:21.360 So it can't sustain life. 00:41:22.559 --> 00:41:24.960 Like there's no outlet for the Dead Sea. 00:41:25.840 --> 00:41:27.440 Like it doesn't, it doesn't flow anywhere. 00:41:27.599 --> 00:41:29.679 Stuff just gets in there and it doesn't move. 00:41:29.840 --> 00:41:31.199 So it kills everything in it. 00:41:31.360 --> 00:41:32.960 That's what some of us are like. 00:41:34.000 --> 00:41:40.639 We literally have the deposit of life within us, the most amazing thing, the most amazing contact with us, like they do to the Dead Sea, and they kind of sting. 00:41:40.880 --> 00:41:41.679 And it's awful. 00:41:41.760 --> 00:41:42.800 They have to wash themselves off. 00:41:42.880 --> 00:41:45.519 People who get in the Dead Sea don't swim, they just float. 00:41:45.599 --> 00:41:48.639 And then you get out and you have to quickly wash off because of all the crystal deposits on you. 00:41:48.800 --> 00:41:50.159 They they hurt. 00:41:51.760 --> 00:41:54.159 That's how the experience with some of us is. 00:41:55.039 --> 00:41:56.800 We have everything that we need, right? 00:41:56.960 --> 00:41:59.119 We get so much and don't give anything out. 00:41:59.440 --> 00:42:04.639 We come to church, are sustained, and encouraged, get a little bit of life, and it's like our quick snack for the rest of the week. 00:42:04.800 --> 00:42:06.239 And that's not the way that's supposed to be. 00:42:06.480 --> 00:42:13.760 God made that relationship right between us and him, so that and it's expressed in our love for each other. 00:42:14.159 --> 00:42:20.480 The real mark of someone that's encountering Jesus, that has encountered Jesus, is wanting other people to also encounter him. 00:42:20.639 --> 00:42:21.519 That's really important. 00:42:21.599 --> 00:42:23.280 It's crucial to the thing that we believe. 00:42:23.440 --> 00:42:24.960 This means nothing. 00:42:25.199 --> 00:42:29.679 None of this stuff that we do here in a ceremony means anything if we don't do that. 00:42:33.519 --> 00:42:34.880 Nothing at all. 00:42:35.840 --> 00:42:37.519 Second group of people I want to talk to. 00:42:37.679 --> 00:42:38.960 I don't think that you're paralyzed. 00:42:39.039 --> 00:42:40.079 Clearly, you walked in here. 00:42:40.159 --> 00:42:40.719 I think. 00:42:42.719 --> 00:42:45.760 Um, as people like I would identify you as the person on the mat. 00:42:47.360 --> 00:42:49.039 You need to encounter God. 00:42:50.639 --> 00:42:58.079 And I want to let you know that, not to pat ourselves on the back, but this whole shebang, this whole thing, is for you to know God. 00:42:58.320 --> 00:43:02.559 Nick and the space team out here blazing heat every week. 00:43:02.800 --> 00:43:13.840 And when it's not hot, it's bitter cold and rainy, every week, setting up these chairs, moving these lights, moving these tables, setting up these curtains, doing all this stuff so that people like you could come here and meet Jesus. 00:43:14.719 --> 00:43:19.920 We don't get up here and sing songs and play music because we like to hear ourselves play guitar and like to hear ourselves sing. 00:43:20.719 --> 00:43:23.360 We grow out of that in our emo phase. 00:43:23.920 --> 00:43:26.320 Seriously, we do this and practice and don't sleep. 00:43:26.480 --> 00:43:35.679 Get up at five o'clock in the morning and come over here, like to sing songs so that you can hear in a song form like what it means to know Jesus. 00:43:35.840 --> 00:43:38.400 People prepare these sermons for weeks at a time, right? 00:43:38.480 --> 00:43:39.920 This is only my I only do this one time. 00:43:40.000 --> 00:43:40.880 I have another job. 00:43:41.039 --> 00:43:42.960 This was crazy to do, okay? 00:43:43.199 --> 00:43:50.239 To literally read this book to talk about what it means and to put it into a way that you can understand over and over and over and over and over and over and over again. 00:43:50.400 --> 00:43:51.440 It's also that you can know God. 00:43:51.519 --> 00:43:52.719 Now don't do that to pat us on the back. 00:43:52.800 --> 00:43:54.880 People watch your kids and teach them about Jesus. 00:43:54.960 --> 00:43:59.760 So hopefully, like they have an encounter so that you don't have to worry about taking care of anybody, so you can really. 00:44:00.159 --> 00:44:01.360 Come in here and meet Jesus. 00:44:01.519 --> 00:44:02.719 That's the main thing. 00:44:02.880 --> 00:44:05.039 It's really like the important thing. 00:44:05.119 --> 00:44:07.280 It's the most amazing thing. 00:44:08.639 --> 00:44:15.199 And so if you recognize today that you're like, ah, there's a part of me that needs to encounter God. 00:44:15.920 --> 00:44:17.519 There's gonna be a prayer team in the back. 00:44:17.599 --> 00:44:19.119 Some people that work here are gonna be all around. 00:44:19.199 --> 00:44:22.000 You can talk to any of the people that have been on stage at all today. 00:44:22.800 --> 00:44:25.519 Talk to him because God wants to encounter you. 00:44:25.760 --> 00:44:26.639 It's true. 00:44:26.800 --> 00:44:28.719 Those scriptures are true. 00:44:29.119 --> 00:44:31.039 He is absolutely everything. 00:44:31.360 --> 00:44:39.760 Emptied himself and put on flesh to live perfectly and die the most gruesome death you can imagine. 00:44:42.480 --> 00:44:44.079 So that you could know him. 00:44:46.320 --> 00:44:48.159 And all you have to do is believe it. 00:44:53.519 --> 00:44:56.079 You want to highlight the end of verse 12 really quick? 00:44:56.639 --> 00:45:00.320 They were all amazed and we're glorifying God, saying, We have never seen anything like this. 00:45:00.480 --> 00:45:03.360 If you not, I'm pretty sure you've heard a lot of these scriptures before. 00:45:03.440 --> 00:45:08.159 I'm pretty sure that a lot of you know this stuff, at least, like a general gist of it. 00:45:09.679 --> 00:45:11.599 But it actually is amazing. 00:45:12.079 --> 00:45:13.920 We get the chance to be amazed. 00:45:14.239 --> 00:45:20.400 And we sing these songs, not because we want to make ourselves feel good, or at least I don't, that's why I don't sing them to make you feel good. 00:45:20.559 --> 00:45:21.920 I sing them so you can encounter God. 00:45:22.000 --> 00:45:22.719 There's a thing that happens. 00:45:22.800 --> 00:45:28.559 The Bible says in the Psalms that the Lord inhabits, God inhabits the praise of his people, he lives there, right? 00:45:28.719 --> 00:45:35.440 When you sing, he actually like meets us in a space in like in an unseen way that we can't actually grasp. 00:45:35.599 --> 00:45:40.079 And we're doing work, tearing things down that are prohibiting people from knowing God. 00:45:40.480 --> 00:45:45.519 And so if you know the Lord, if you're really amazed by the gospel, would you sing? 00:45:46.480 --> 00:45:48.079 Would you worship? 00:45:48.400 --> 00:45:49.679 You have no idea. 00:45:49.840 --> 00:45:51.679 The Bible talks about in Acts chapter 16. 00:45:51.760 --> 00:46:00.239 Paul and Silas were in prison, singing to God, and as they were singing to God, the prison doors, like they're in jail, like the chains fell off and the door swung open. 00:46:00.480 --> 00:46:01.519 Other people are set free. 00:46:01.599 --> 00:46:05.679 They really do get to encounter God when you worship him, honestly. 00:46:06.239 --> 00:46:11.679 So in the next few minutes, before it's time to go, would you just cultivate desperation in your heart? 00:46:13.920 --> 00:46:18.239 Would you cultivate faith that God actually is able to do it, whatever it is? 00:46:18.639 --> 00:46:22.639 And you would you respond to the gospel and be amazed at the work that He's done? 00:46:22.880 --> 00:46:24.159 Let's pray. 00:46:24.639 --> 00:46:25.599 Lord, thank you. 00:46:25.760 --> 00:46:28.239 Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you. 00:46:28.639 --> 00:46:30.960 Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you. 00:46:31.280 --> 00:46:32.400 God, you're amazing. 00:46:32.559 --> 00:46:36.800 You've done amazing things, and you've put your amazing spirit within us. 00:46:37.440 --> 00:46:41.760 Lord, we can be changed to live like you and to look like you and to love like you and to the things that you do. 00:46:41.840 --> 00:46:43.519 So, God, in these moments, would you do that? 00:46:43.679 --> 00:46:51.280 Lord, if there's anything that I'm saying that it's absolutely absurd, God, would you cast it out from memory and into the sea of forgetfulness, God, and leave only the things that really matter. 00:46:51.360 --> 00:46:54.800 God, leave only the things that are true, that are life-giving and encouraging. 00:46:55.039 --> 00:46:59.599 God, that really know or that really talk about the truth of who you are. 00:46:59.760 --> 00:47:01.360 Lord, we I don't want any of that stuff. 00:47:01.440 --> 00:47:03.760 God, I just want you to be revealed today. 00:47:03.840 --> 00:47:07.599 So as we worship, as we sing together, Lord, would you reveal yourself a little bit more? 00:47:08.400 --> 00:47:11.760 Would you teach us to respond to your spirit in Jesus' name? 00:47:12.559 --> 00:47:14.880 We hope you are blessed by this message. 00:47:15.039 --> 00:47:19.440 Please subscribe to our podcast for access to every episode as they're uploaded. 00:47:19.599 --> 00:47:21.760 And hey, we'd love to connect with you. 00:47:21.920 --> 00:47:27.840 Take a next step by filling out our virtual connection card at awakeningchurch.com slash card.