WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:02.319 Welcome to the Awakening Church podcast. 00:00:02.479 --> 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. 00:00:25.600 --> 00:00:30.000 Haven't you noticed just how loud everything is? 00:00:31.760 --> 00:00:46.079 We're constantly bombarded, this relentless onslaught of notifications, of text, of DMs, of um emails if you're into that thing. 00:00:48.320 --> 00:00:53.759 Like all of around us, I mean, the phone is constantly dinging. 00:00:53.920 --> 00:00:58.079 There's more to scroll and to search on Instagram. 00:00:58.799 --> 00:01:05.200 I mean, and then we haven't even gotten to podcast and the backlog and the new one that you need to hear. 00:01:05.599 --> 00:01:08.480 Life is incredibly noisy. 00:01:08.560 --> 00:01:16.000 In fact, um, economists call it, and you can turn me down a little bit in the house here, uh, because I will get louder and I don't want to hurt anybody's ears. 00:01:16.079 --> 00:01:17.920 Uh, talking about noisy. 00:01:18.079 --> 00:01:26.879 Um, but um, economists call this we are in the what's called the attention economy. 00:01:27.519 --> 00:01:40.959 One of the most valuable resources today, or commodities, is your attention, and companies are spending millions and billions to capture your attention. 00:01:41.200 --> 00:01:47.439 Netflix, YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, constantly. 00:01:49.040 --> 00:01:57.280 Because if they got your attention, and the more they have of it, the more profit they make. 00:01:58.400 --> 00:02:14.960 No wonder we're scrolling mindlessly, drawn to it, caught into this frenzy, the noise that we often fall asleep to and wake up to, and just is constant throughout the day. 00:02:15.199 --> 00:02:16.960 Now, here's the interesting part. 00:02:17.120 --> 00:02:18.159 We know this, we get this. 00:02:18.319 --> 00:02:21.840 The noise isn't just harmless, it's actually powerful. 00:02:23.039 --> 00:02:30.319 It shapes what we think, the values we have, who we become. 00:02:30.639 --> 00:02:35.199 And so the question really today is who are you listening to? 00:02:37.439 --> 00:02:39.919 Like, who are you really listening to? 00:02:40.080 --> 00:02:44.560 What voices are loudest in your life? 00:02:45.759 --> 00:02:52.560 How do you filter the noise to discern what's good and true? 00:02:54.400 --> 00:03:00.240 When everything's shouting at you, how do you know what voice to listen to? 00:03:01.039 --> 00:03:03.280 And here's what we all know to be true. 00:03:03.439 --> 00:03:13.520 We've experienced this, we've seen this, we know this in other people's lives, that the voice that you listen to shapes the person you become. 00:03:13.759 --> 00:03:20.159 The voices that we listen to shapes fundamentally the person that you become. 00:03:20.240 --> 00:03:24.479 Uh, the voice that you listen to most will shape you most. 00:03:26.479 --> 00:03:31.599 And so today the sermon title is simply filtering the noise. 00:03:31.680 --> 00:03:34.240 Would you go ahead and say that to your neighbor? 00:03:35.520 --> 00:03:36.159 Very good. 00:03:36.319 --> 00:03:43.520 How do we navigate this noisy world in a way that allows us to hear God's voice in the midst of all the noise? 00:03:43.680 --> 00:03:45.120 That's where John is taking us. 00:03:45.199 --> 00:03:56.000 If you have your Bibles, would you open up to 1 John 4, verses 1 through 6 as we learn and discover how to discern and filter tune into what truly matters? 00:03:56.159 --> 00:04:01.599 The first thing that the Apostle John is going to tell us is simply this. 00:04:02.000 --> 00:04:05.039 Not every voice deserves your trust. 00:04:05.599 --> 00:04:08.159 Not every voice deserves your trust. 00:04:08.319 --> 00:04:12.719 We live in a world overwhelmed with information and advice, yet starve for wisdom, don't we? 00:04:13.759 --> 00:04:21.439 And today, what happens in our young people and us, we're we're so much told what to think, we're not actually taught how to think. 00:04:21.759 --> 00:04:23.439 Listen to what John says. 00:04:23.680 --> 00:04:33.199 Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they're from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. 00:04:33.360 --> 00:04:38.240 Many people have said, this is good, this is right, but it's not right or true. 00:04:38.399 --> 00:04:44.160 Okay, so as we dive in, you're gonna see this word spirit a lot, so let's talk about that before we move on. 00:04:44.319 --> 00:04:47.600 What is John talking about, this whole idea of spirits? 00:04:47.759 --> 00:04:55.439 Well, the Bible clearly defines the spiritual realm as an unseen reality that is just as real as the physical realm. 00:04:55.759 --> 00:04:58.800 You are an embodied spirit. 00:04:58.959 --> 00:05:01.360 You are both body and soul. 00:05:01.600 --> 00:05:12.560 God is spirit, and scriptures clear is we have a very real enemy whose agenda is to bring chaos, destruction, and death to God's good creation. 00:05:12.959 --> 00:05:13.360 C.S. 00:05:13.439 --> 00:05:16.079 Lewis writes in the screw tape letters. 00:05:16.399 --> 00:05:21.839 There are two equal and opposite airs into which our race can fall about the devils. 00:05:22.079 --> 00:05:25.839 One is to disbelieve in their existence, that's the Silicon Valley way. 00:05:26.480 --> 00:05:31.439 The other is to believe and to feel an excessive and unhealthy interest in them. 00:05:31.519 --> 00:05:32.639 That's the Santa Cruz way. 00:05:32.720 --> 00:05:33.759 I grew up there. 00:05:35.839 --> 00:05:48.079 They, speaking of the devils, of the demonic themselves, are equally pleased by both heirs and hail a materialist or a magician with the same delight. 00:05:49.839 --> 00:05:51.439 And here's what John is saying. 00:05:51.600 --> 00:05:54.399 He says, Dear friends, do not believe every spirit. 00:05:54.720 --> 00:05:58.879 Words always originate from the immaterial. 00:06:00.000 --> 00:06:04.000 Are they from the spirit of God, truth, life, goodness? 00:06:04.399 --> 00:06:11.439 Do they carry the spirit of falsehood, criticism, confusion, division, the spirit of the enemy? 00:06:11.680 --> 00:06:16.639 In fact, as we talk about the spirit, you can just write in the voice right there. 00:06:16.879 --> 00:06:20.480 And here's what he says: not every voice deserves your trust. 00:06:20.560 --> 00:06:21.519 This is so good. 00:06:21.759 --> 00:06:22.639 I love this. 00:06:22.800 --> 00:06:25.759 I love that God's word says this. 00:06:26.560 --> 00:06:29.519 Don't believe every spirit. 00:06:31.600 --> 00:06:35.680 Listen, blind faith is not biblical. 00:06:37.600 --> 00:06:44.879 Naivity, uncritical acceptance is not the way of Jesus. 00:06:46.160 --> 00:06:49.360 God gave you a mind, so use it. 00:06:50.480 --> 00:06:53.680 Blind faith in Jesus Himself is not biblical. 00:06:53.759 --> 00:07:02.319 That you would love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. 00:07:02.480 --> 00:07:05.920 I love that he says, don't believe everything you hear. 00:07:06.079 --> 00:07:09.199 Don't trust any in every voice. 00:07:09.600 --> 00:07:17.519 This happens in church world when we talk around the area of prophecy or words of knowledge, and God told me to tell you. 00:07:18.079 --> 00:07:19.439 Well, wonderful. 00:07:19.759 --> 00:07:21.360 That's maybe he did. 00:07:21.439 --> 00:07:27.839 And I can tell you stories where someone's given me a word and it's been incredibly on point. 00:07:27.920 --> 00:07:30.879 And other times, I think they smoke something. 00:07:30.959 --> 00:07:32.079 I don't know. 00:07:32.959 --> 00:07:35.759 But we are to exercise discernment. 00:07:36.000 --> 00:07:37.519 We are to go to God's word. 00:07:37.759 --> 00:07:42.160 We are to sit and discern is this actually true? 00:07:42.480 --> 00:07:46.639 And so to exercise discernment, we have to identify the voices we're listening to. 00:07:46.800 --> 00:07:50.959 What are the voices that are loudest in our lives? 00:07:51.199 --> 00:07:58.959 And often we simply accept the voices and don't challenge them that we hear most consistently. 00:07:59.279 --> 00:08:03.600 Let me give you just three voices that I think we hear most consistently. 00:08:03.680 --> 00:08:05.839 The first voice is in our own head. 00:08:07.439 --> 00:08:18.800 And there's a repeating narrative, and it operates in the backdrop of your life, often of shame or guilt, insecurity, or hopelessness. 00:08:19.120 --> 00:08:25.279 That repeating, you know, back in the day we'd call it the tapes on repeat, and nobody knows what a tape is anymore. 00:08:25.519 --> 00:08:27.360 The tracks on repeat. 00:08:28.959 --> 00:08:30.399 You're not enough. 00:08:30.639 --> 00:08:32.240 You'll never measure up. 00:08:32.480 --> 00:08:34.000 You're worthless. 00:08:34.320 --> 00:08:36.240 You are what you did. 00:08:38.399 --> 00:08:40.480 There's no return. 00:08:42.559 --> 00:08:48.799 Your worth and your approval, your lovability is based on what you do. 00:08:49.440 --> 00:08:55.679 And it's these voices that are on repeat in our head that shape us so powerfully. 00:08:55.919 --> 00:08:58.879 Another voice is the voices in our life. 00:08:59.759 --> 00:09:08.080 Whether past or present, maybe it's a parent, a coach, a teacher, a pastor, boss, your friends. 00:09:08.159 --> 00:09:09.600 These are the voices in our lives. 00:09:09.679 --> 00:09:11.600 You know, I talk to our kids all the time. 00:09:11.759 --> 00:09:12.399 They repeat it. 00:09:12.559 --> 00:09:15.200 Show me your friends, and I can show you your future. 00:09:15.360 --> 00:09:20.480 Because their voices in their lives, we simply begin to lockstep with them. 00:09:21.679 --> 00:09:32.000 But it's also the voice of a coach that spoke death instead of life, or of a parent, or of a pastor, or of a boss that spoke into, that shaped profoundly who we are. 00:09:32.720 --> 00:09:38.480 And on the positive side, when we allow those into our lives, it shapes us for good. 00:09:38.799 --> 00:09:49.840 And then in our world, culture, news, social media, political party, I mean, how much noise can we get from the political? 00:09:50.159 --> 00:09:51.200 Anyway, so never mind. 00:09:51.679 --> 00:09:54.879 Jeez, I'm ready for that to be done. 00:09:56.159 --> 00:10:02.559 Everything we consume has an agenda that tells us what to think, how to live, and who we should become. 00:10:03.200 --> 00:10:05.440 And so what does John tell us? 00:10:05.679 --> 00:10:08.320 Don't believe every spirit but test. 00:10:09.360 --> 00:10:16.720 This word test means to examine carefully, to look at closely, to determine the genuineness of. 00:10:18.240 --> 00:10:21.679 A little while back, my wife got a new wedding ring. 00:10:21.759 --> 00:10:28.480 Now, when we first got married, we I had zero money, and I used my uh grandma's diamond. 00:10:28.639 --> 00:10:33.360 I couldn't use her whole ring because the metal on it was wasn't even worth scrap. 00:10:33.440 --> 00:10:34.799 Um, it was Depression era. 00:10:34.960 --> 00:10:38.320 The diamond's so small you could barely tell there was a diamond on her finger. 00:10:38.639 --> 00:10:50.480 Wore it for 20 years, and she was happened to be at the thrift box, and there was this great, you know, diamond ring, and you know, assume it's costume jewelry, but she's like, oh, that's really cool looking. 00:10:50.639 --> 00:10:52.000 It wasn't the right size. 00:10:52.240 --> 00:10:58.080 And so Jenny and I go to the jeweler to bring in this, you know, diamond ring, and there's something in me. 00:10:58.159 --> 00:11:00.480 I'm like, maybe you found it, you know. 00:11:00.879 --> 00:11:03.679 There's those stories of like, oh yeah, is that the garage sale? 00:11:03.840 --> 00:11:06.559 Paid five dollars, and then it's you know$500,000. 00:11:06.879 --> 00:11:08.879 I love the antiques rocho, by the way. 00:11:09.120 --> 00:11:13.679 Um, and you know what the jeweler did? 00:11:13.840 --> 00:11:21.919 She got out her little magnifier, examines the ring, and I can't tell you, do you know what she told us? 00:11:22.240 --> 00:11:23.440 It's costume jewelry. 00:11:23.519 --> 00:11:24.879 That's what she told us. 00:11:25.200 --> 00:11:28.080 But it was really well done. 00:11:28.480 --> 00:11:36.080 When you look at her ring, it looks like she's got a big old diamond and it's shiny and it looks real. 00:11:38.159 --> 00:11:46.000 It looks genuine, but it's not, it's not a real diamond, it's fake. 00:11:46.799 --> 00:11:49.600 And so much of life is that way. 00:11:49.759 --> 00:11:55.759 So much of the voices, so many of the ideologies, the narratives coming out at us, they sound good. 00:11:56.159 --> 00:12:09.039 They seem good, they look like they're really good things, but ultimately, though they look on the outside, if you're gonna take a closer examination of it, if you really look at it, you go, no, that's actually fake. 00:12:09.279 --> 00:12:12.799 It's not trustworthy, it's not good, it's not helpful. 00:12:12.960 --> 00:12:21.840 In fact, Ted Turno writes this: he says that most people are not driven by a well-understood, articulated, philosophical worldview. 00:12:22.000 --> 00:12:37.600 More typically, people express their life philosophy in what we call a street philosophy, which is held intuitively, unexamined, but powerfully captures the gist of one's perspective on reality. 00:12:38.320 --> 00:12:41.279 Here's some of the street philosophies of today. 00:12:41.600 --> 00:12:43.039 Live your truth. 00:12:43.519 --> 00:12:45.360 If it feels good, do it. 00:12:46.559 --> 00:12:47.679 Follow your heart. 00:12:48.159 --> 00:12:49.360 I like this one. 00:12:50.159 --> 00:12:51.519 Don't change me. 00:12:52.639 --> 00:12:53.919 Just love me. 00:12:55.759 --> 00:12:57.120 They sound good. 00:12:58.000 --> 00:12:59.840 They sound really nice. 00:13:00.960 --> 00:13:02.879 Yeah, I want that. 00:13:05.360 --> 00:13:19.519 But if we were to stop and examine them, to put them under the magnifying glass, and I we don't have time to do that here, but if I could just kind of apply this to one area of our life. 00:13:21.039 --> 00:13:24.399 Well, what about um our diet and food? 00:13:25.039 --> 00:13:26.559 Live your truth. 00:13:27.600 --> 00:13:33.360 Like, like who cares what nutritionists say and what the best science of our day talks about nutrition? 00:13:33.519 --> 00:13:36.080 Just live your truth, do it your way. 00:13:36.320 --> 00:13:39.759 Whatever you want is can be true for you. 00:13:40.000 --> 00:13:41.519 If it feels good, do it. 00:13:41.679 --> 00:13:44.720 That's how I ate a lot of my 20s, by the way. 00:13:44.960 --> 00:13:46.559 Follow your heart, amen. 00:13:46.639 --> 00:13:49.600 I have a sweet tooth and I love to follow my heart. 00:13:49.759 --> 00:13:52.480 Don't change me, just love me, doctor. 00:13:56.080 --> 00:13:56.639 Why? 00:13:56.879 --> 00:13:58.639 Come on, come on, come on, come on, come on. 00:13:59.200 --> 00:14:10.639 If we wouldn't apply this to our diets, why in the world would we allow things like this to direct our lives and shape our relationships? 00:14:12.879 --> 00:14:19.600 First thing John is going to tell us, not every voice deserves your trust. 00:14:21.600 --> 00:14:23.519 We have to be discerning. 00:14:24.879 --> 00:14:26.399 You have to be discerning here. 00:14:26.480 --> 00:14:27.200 I love this. 00:14:27.279 --> 00:14:28.960 Don't just trust me. 00:14:29.200 --> 00:14:31.600 I love that the Bible teaches this. 00:14:31.919 --> 00:14:35.440 Go and sit with it, get into God's word. 00:14:36.159 --> 00:14:39.440 Questioning is allowed in the church. 00:14:40.720 --> 00:14:41.039 Okay. 00:14:41.519 --> 00:14:43.360 I could teach that one all day long. 00:14:44.000 --> 00:14:50.720 So, how in the world do we exercise discernment of what's good and from God and what's false and from the enemy? 00:14:51.120 --> 00:14:53.279 John gives us just one test. 00:14:54.159 --> 00:14:58.240 One test, and it's simply does it align with the gospel of Jesus? 00:14:58.960 --> 00:15:00.879 Does it align with the gospel of Jesus? 00:15:01.039 --> 00:15:03.519 This is how you can recognize the spirit of God. 00:15:03.759 --> 00:15:14.320 Every spirit of voice that acknowledges this that Jesus has come in the flesh is from God, but every spirit of voice that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. 00:15:14.639 --> 00:15:22.879 This is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you've heard is coming and even is now in the world today. 00:15:23.039 --> 00:15:25.759 How do I discern among all the voices today? 00:15:25.919 --> 00:15:28.559 John says the answer is the gospel of Jesus. 00:15:29.759 --> 00:15:33.919 We have to be a people that get back to the gospel of Jesus. 00:15:34.240 --> 00:15:35.279 Well, what is the gospel? 00:15:35.440 --> 00:15:38.320 I just want to give it to you just in three words. 00:15:38.559 --> 00:15:44.720 The gospel is the person of Jesus, the practice of Jesus, and the provision of Jesus. 00:15:45.120 --> 00:15:46.159 That is the gospel. 00:15:46.320 --> 00:15:48.639 The gospel first is the person of Jesus. 00:15:48.879 --> 00:15:50.399 Who is Jesus? 00:15:50.639 --> 00:15:51.519 Who is Jesus? 00:15:51.679 --> 00:15:55.519 Jesus is fully God and fully man. 00:15:56.320 --> 00:16:09.360 He lived a life that we could not live and died the death we deserve to die, defeating death and rose to victory, sits right now at the right hand of the Father. 00:16:09.600 --> 00:16:13.679 He will return and restore and make all things right. 00:16:14.159 --> 00:16:17.120 And as a result, he is Savior of the world. 00:16:17.360 --> 00:16:20.159 He is Lord, King Most High. 00:16:20.399 --> 00:16:24.480 He is God, eternal one, Redeemer and Leader. 00:16:24.720 --> 00:16:26.320 He is the God man. 00:16:26.720 --> 00:16:28.480 This is Jesus. 00:16:30.559 --> 00:16:37.840 And anything that moves Jesus out of that place is not from God. 00:16:38.399 --> 00:16:42.720 But then the practice of Jesus, what did Jesus teach and how did he live? 00:16:43.600 --> 00:16:48.879 Jesus, John starts his gospel, is the fullness of grace and truth. 00:16:50.159 --> 00:16:54.960 That Jesus, those who were far from him, he went close to them. 00:16:55.120 --> 00:17:00.559 Those who were who were hypocritical and misrepresented God, he called them out. 00:17:00.720 --> 00:17:03.600 Jesus was not limpy in any way, by the way. 00:17:06.160 --> 00:17:10.880 Jesus turned over tables and he touched lepers. 00:17:13.200 --> 00:17:16.480 He spoke the truth in love. 00:17:19.039 --> 00:17:21.200 It's both love and holiness. 00:17:21.440 --> 00:17:28.960 He called us to a new way of life, a new kingdom that was ushered in by his very presence because he is the king. 00:17:29.200 --> 00:17:37.839 For us to then live out a new upside-down reality where the first will be last and the last will be first. 00:17:38.400 --> 00:17:42.400 Where we love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us. 00:17:44.319 --> 00:17:50.079 Where we hold a sexual ethic because of the dignity of all humanity. 00:17:53.279 --> 00:18:06.319 And we care for the poor and the press because of the dignity of all humanity who are made in the image of God, the person of Jesus, the practice of Jesus, then the provision of Jesus. 00:18:06.480 --> 00:18:07.759 What did Jesus provide? 00:18:07.920 --> 00:18:10.480 In his death, he atoned for our sins. 00:18:10.640 --> 00:18:14.160 He made payments and covered all that we have ever done. 00:18:15.839 --> 00:18:19.279 He bought you back from death and brought you to life. 00:18:19.519 --> 00:18:24.640 He brought us out of darkness into the kingdom of God and the Son He loves. 00:18:24.799 --> 00:18:26.799 He's adopted us into the family of God. 00:18:26.960 --> 00:18:28.400 We are heirs of his grace. 00:18:28.640 --> 00:18:35.200 You are in Christ justified, which means just as if I'd never sinned. 00:18:36.319 --> 00:18:41.440 The imputed, placed upon righteousness of God, you are forgiven and free. 00:18:41.599 --> 00:18:44.960 The person of Jesus, the practice of Jesus, the provision of Jesus. 00:18:45.200 --> 00:18:53.920 And anything that speaks against those things is not of Jesus and not of the Spirit of God. 00:18:54.799 --> 00:19:06.799 You know, he used this term antichrist, and in this context, it doesn't refer to a future political leader, but to any teaching or worldview that offers a spiritual substitute for Jesus. 00:19:08.240 --> 00:19:10.559 Let me give you some counterfeit gospels. 00:19:11.279 --> 00:19:13.279 We could do this all day, by the way. 00:19:13.519 --> 00:19:15.920 I'll only give you three spiritual substitutes. 00:19:16.079 --> 00:19:20.240 The first one, very common in our day, is the therapeutic gospel. 00:19:22.079 --> 00:19:26.160 Cultural anthropologists say that we are in the therapeutic age. 00:19:26.400 --> 00:19:32.000 The therapeutic culture is of self-help, self-esteem, and happiness as the ultimate goal. 00:19:32.559 --> 00:19:43.359 And so Jesus exists not as Lord, God, and Savior, but as a self-help guru to make you feel better and feel good about yourselves. 00:19:43.519 --> 00:19:54.000 Now, even in defining and saying the word therapeutic gospel, what I want to be clear on is I think therapists are incredibly helpful and powerful, and Jenny and I have one, okay? 00:19:54.160 --> 00:19:56.720 So we're not anti-any of that. 00:19:57.519 --> 00:20:05.440 And at the same time, unfortunately, what the one of the things we've done is we shifted that the therapist will save us instead of Jesus. 00:20:06.799 --> 00:20:09.680 Only Jesus can save. 00:20:09.839 --> 00:20:13.839 Instead of the self-help guru, we need a savior. 00:20:14.240 --> 00:20:20.160 Another counterfeit gospel was the humanistic gospel, or you could write in there the technological gospel. 00:20:20.559 --> 00:20:36.079 In humanism, it's humans are the center, there is no God, and the fundamental belief that we're inherently good, and if we have enough education, enough technology, we can create our own utopia, heaven on earth. 00:20:36.400 --> 00:20:40.720 And if you want to include Jesus in the humanistic gospel, he's simply a guide. 00:20:41.039 --> 00:20:43.279 Because he's a really good moral teacher. 00:20:43.440 --> 00:20:46.480 He's got good things to say, but some of them they're not that good. 00:20:47.359 --> 00:20:56.799 So you pick and choose from what you like out of Jesus' teachings to the things that actually speak to you, and you leave out the rest. 00:20:58.079 --> 00:21:01.200 And if Jesus is not God, it is not the gospel. 00:21:01.920 --> 00:21:06.160 If he is not the creator, then you do not have purpose and meaning. 00:21:06.319 --> 00:21:10.079 If there is no God, there is no purpose and beauty in life. 00:21:10.559 --> 00:21:18.960 The therapeutic gospel, the humanistic gospel, the spiritual gospel, especially took rise over COVID. 00:21:19.519 --> 00:21:24.240 That's where personal experience and feelings are what determines truth. 00:21:26.480 --> 00:21:30.400 My experience, my feelings, it's what matters most. 00:21:30.880 --> 00:21:34.960 And so Jesus, if you include him, is a technique for enlightenment. 00:21:35.519 --> 00:21:45.519 I'll add a little bit of Jesus, I'll add a little bit of new age, maybe incorporate some crystals, Ricky, or manifestations, whatever I want to do. 00:21:45.759 --> 00:21:47.440 Jesus is not a technique. 00:21:47.519 --> 00:21:51.119 He said, I am the way, I am the truth, and the life. 00:21:51.200 --> 00:21:55.519 And no man, no woman comes to the Father except through me. 00:21:56.720 --> 00:21:59.680 And if Jesus rose from the grave. 00:22:01.839 --> 00:22:05.920 Then all that he said is true and trustworthy. 00:22:06.319 --> 00:22:11.440 And here's one of the things back to the blind faith and testing. 00:22:12.319 --> 00:22:17.200 Like if you're here and you're struggling, I'm not sure if I believe in that, Jesus Ryan. 00:22:18.720 --> 00:22:23.519 I would encourage you to research, examine the evidence. 00:22:24.240 --> 00:22:29.680 It's worth your while because if what he said is true, it's of infinite importance. 00:22:29.759 --> 00:22:34.480 And if Jesus did not rise from the dead, then it's of no value and no importance. 00:22:34.559 --> 00:22:35.599 And this is a waste of time. 00:22:35.680 --> 00:22:44.880 And watch whatever football game or go to the beach, do something else with your time, then here, if this is just here to help you feel better about your life, it's not good enough. 00:22:47.839 --> 00:22:52.480 And don't you dare throw your brain out as you examine the evidence. 00:22:53.359 --> 00:22:57.279 Jesus will show himself faithful and trustworthy. 00:22:57.440 --> 00:23:00.720 The first thing, not everything deserves your trust. 00:23:00.880 --> 00:23:06.319 Secondly, then what we must do is the test is what does it say about Jesus? 00:23:06.480 --> 00:23:08.799 Does it align with the gospel of Jesus? 00:23:08.960 --> 00:23:13.519 Now our world's so noisy, the voices so loud, we're constantly pulled. 00:23:13.599 --> 00:23:16.880 There's just just culture just pulls us, doesn't it? 00:23:17.039 --> 00:23:18.640 It's overwhelming. 00:23:19.119 --> 00:23:22.240 I feel like, gosh, I can't barely keep my head above water. 00:23:22.400 --> 00:23:24.880 And I love where John takes us next. 00:23:25.279 --> 00:23:28.160 Victory is already yours. 00:23:30.240 --> 00:23:33.119 Is it even possible, Ryan, to sift through the noise? 00:23:35.039 --> 00:23:40.079 With all the things that are coming at me and the busyness and the hurry of modern day life? 00:23:40.400 --> 00:23:42.559 He's gonna say, victory is already yours. 00:23:42.640 --> 00:23:45.599 And if you want to memorize a verse, start here. 00:23:46.000 --> 00:23:55.200 You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them because the one who is in you is greater than the one who's in the world. 00:23:56.079 --> 00:23:59.200 You, dear children, you're from God. 00:24:00.240 --> 00:24:01.680 You're originating. 00:24:02.400 --> 00:24:03.359 You know God. 00:24:03.920 --> 00:24:06.400 And you have already overcome. 00:24:07.200 --> 00:24:11.200 You're not fighting for victory, you're fighting from victory. 00:24:12.559 --> 00:24:16.400 The world wants you to believe you're powerless against the noise, fear, and distraction. 00:24:16.640 --> 00:24:21.519 John reminds us that the spirit in you is greater than the noise around you. 00:24:26.720 --> 00:24:28.079 I'm a Warriors fan. 00:24:28.240 --> 00:24:33.519 This week starts, I think they start on Wednesday, the first opening game. 00:24:33.839 --> 00:24:35.519 Steph Curry fan, really. 00:24:35.680 --> 00:24:36.960 You guys have heard me talk about it. 00:24:37.039 --> 00:24:38.240 I know it's annoying. 00:24:38.480 --> 00:24:42.559 Um I'm a Cowboys fan, and we're sad, okay? 00:24:42.799 --> 00:24:51.359 So but I'm such a fan of the Warriors, I can't stand to watch them play badly. 00:24:51.519 --> 00:24:53.839 I don't know if anybody else is like this. 00:24:54.640 --> 00:25:08.960 And so when I watch the Warriors, I wait until the game is already over and I've seen the score, I know the outcome, and then I sit with incredible delight. 00:25:10.240 --> 00:25:18.720 Even when we're down 20 with, you know, four minutes to go in the fourth quarter, I sit there and go, it's not the end. 00:25:18.799 --> 00:25:21.599 I know how it ends, it's amazing. 00:25:21.759 --> 00:25:23.599 And if you haven't tried it, try it. 00:25:23.680 --> 00:25:24.640 It's fantastic. 00:25:24.799 --> 00:25:25.759 I love it. 00:25:32.400 --> 00:25:34.240 Friends, we know how the story ends. 00:25:35.920 --> 00:25:47.200 I don't know what you're walking through, I don't know what you're going through, I don't know the noise around you, but I know how the story ends, and I know that he has already overcome and he already has given victory. 00:25:47.359 --> 00:25:57.440 And I just was challenged this week as I was stepping into some high-pressure meetings that were important for the future of our church, that Jesus already had the victory. 00:25:57.519 --> 00:26:00.319 So I'm not trying to walk in there to somehow give victory. 00:26:00.400 --> 00:26:02.880 I know how the story ends, and so I'm just excited. 00:26:02.960 --> 00:26:05.920 It doesn't matter if it's the third or fourth quarter and we're down by 20. 00:26:06.079 --> 00:26:08.400 Jesus, I'm excited to see what you're gonna do. 00:26:09.200 --> 00:26:13.920 Imagine if he started to step into your day with that type of confidence. 00:26:15.920 --> 00:26:18.559 I'm not trying to eek out and get by. 00:26:19.279 --> 00:26:21.920 I'm just not trying to struggle through this. 00:26:22.160 --> 00:26:22.880 How are you doing? 00:26:23.039 --> 00:26:23.920 Struggling, brother. 00:26:25.920 --> 00:26:29.519 No, you're victorious, you're an overcomer. 00:26:31.119 --> 00:26:36.079 The one, the spirit of God in you is greater than the one in the world. 00:26:36.240 --> 00:26:40.799 That Jesus said when he rose from the dead, he will give us his very spirit. 00:26:40.960 --> 00:26:47.759 Scripture is clear, it's the very spirit that raised Christ from the dead, lives and dwells inside every single follower of Jesus. 00:26:47.839 --> 00:26:59.519 You have everything you need to be everything God has called you to be, and you are fully equipped for any moment that he has placed you in, and you begin to realize, okay, greater is he that's in me than he that's in the world. 00:27:01.519 --> 00:27:03.759 Walk in confidence. 00:27:06.000 --> 00:27:09.200 Victory is already yours. 00:27:09.359 --> 00:27:13.279 So stop living like you're defeated. 00:27:14.160 --> 00:27:15.440 So how do we do this? 00:27:15.759 --> 00:27:17.279 He brings it home. 00:27:17.680 --> 00:27:22.799 We have to intentionally turn down the noise and tune in to God's voice. 00:27:23.839 --> 00:27:31.119 In fact, just this is gonna look so weird, but would you just do this physically, like you're turning the dial of an object? 00:27:31.200 --> 00:27:33.279 Yeah, no, with your hands, I know, I can see you. 00:27:33.519 --> 00:27:35.759 So I can see when you're not doing it, okay? 00:27:36.480 --> 00:27:37.440 Thank you. 00:27:39.279 --> 00:27:41.039 Turn, like, come on, come on, come on. 00:27:41.200 --> 00:27:44.799 Like, like, like, turn down the noise. 00:27:47.279 --> 00:27:48.480 Notice what he says. 00:27:48.640 --> 00:27:49.279 I think so. 00:27:49.359 --> 00:27:51.359 I probably won't do that next service. 00:27:53.759 --> 00:28:01.440 They are from the world, and therefore speak from the viewpoint of the world, and the world listens to them. 00:28:02.000 --> 00:28:07.200 There's a whole group that just hears everything, and yeah, that's that's what we know. 00:28:07.440 --> 00:28:12.640 We are from God, and whoever knows God listens to us, but whoever is not from God does not listen to us. 00:28:12.799 --> 00:28:16.960 This is how we recognize the spirit of truth and the spirit of falsehood. 00:28:18.400 --> 00:28:23.359 Like the noise of the world is not gonna stop, and it's gonna be loud. 00:28:23.519 --> 00:28:25.440 What's loudest doesn't mean it's right. 00:28:26.319 --> 00:28:29.839 What's most consistent doesn't mean it's right. 00:28:30.319 --> 00:28:35.200 The person who's most confident doesn't mean they're right. 00:28:36.079 --> 00:28:38.880 And so what we have to do is we have to turn down the noise of the world. 00:28:38.960 --> 00:28:39.759 How do we do that? 00:28:39.920 --> 00:28:42.559 I have right here my beats. 00:28:43.920 --> 00:28:45.279 Noise canceling headphones. 00:28:45.359 --> 00:28:48.480 How many of you guys use noise canceling headphones? 00:28:48.880 --> 00:28:49.440 Yeah. 00:28:49.680 --> 00:28:56.000 Here's what I love about noise canceling headphones is the minute you put them on, like, I can't hear you. 00:28:58.160 --> 00:29:04.240 What happens is noise canceling headphones do not silence the noise out there, does it? 00:29:04.720 --> 00:29:06.480 The noise is still happening. 00:29:06.559 --> 00:29:09.039 It's going and taking place all around you. 00:29:09.200 --> 00:29:15.920 What it does is it just cancels out the noise right here so you can tune in to what matters and the voices you need to hear from. 00:29:16.799 --> 00:29:26.799 One of the cool parts about noise canceling headphones is there's a little microphone in here, uh, and I want to get the term right, but it sends out an anti-phase. 00:29:27.279 --> 00:29:33.039 So when noise comes in, it sends out a opposite sound wave to cancel out that noise. 00:29:33.119 --> 00:29:36.559 It's simply called a destructive interference. 00:29:36.960 --> 00:29:39.359 It's what the Holy Spirit does in our eyes. 00:29:39.519 --> 00:29:53.759 When you turn down the noise, when you put on noise-canceling headphones, when you get God's truth into your life, then the Holy Spirit, as you're going throughout the day, is able to send out these anti-waves with the oncoming noise, and it cancels out and drowns out that noise. 00:29:53.920 --> 00:29:57.039 He does destructive interference in your life. 00:29:57.599 --> 00:30:03.519 And so many of us, we have it all with us, but we never tune in. 00:30:06.000 --> 00:30:10.079 We're just walking around like this, wondering why. 00:30:11.839 --> 00:30:12.480 Why? 00:30:13.039 --> 00:30:15.279 Gosh, I got I just feel so overwhelmed. 00:30:15.359 --> 00:30:18.160 I feel there's so much going on, it's so hard. 00:30:18.480 --> 00:30:20.240 So much is coming at me. 00:30:20.480 --> 00:30:21.119 I know. 00:30:23.119 --> 00:30:32.799 But you tune into God's voice, but it means you actually got to turn down the noise around you. 00:30:33.039 --> 00:30:40.160 The problem isn't that God isn't speaking, the problem is we're too distracted to listen. 00:30:43.200 --> 00:30:46.240 Do you need the voice of the Lord today? 00:30:47.680 --> 00:30:49.680 Do you need to hear from Him? 00:30:50.559 --> 00:30:57.119 Are we so fixated on what we're doing that if God actually spoke, it wouldn't be welcomed? 00:30:58.880 --> 00:31:02.000 Let me give you some application, and you know what we're gonna do? 00:31:02.160 --> 00:31:03.759 I just want to give you the heads up. 00:31:04.000 --> 00:31:06.799 We're gonna close our service in silence. 00:31:06.960 --> 00:31:08.240 Or at least this sermon. 00:31:08.400 --> 00:31:10.720 We're gonna come back and worship in a second. 00:31:11.039 --> 00:31:13.440 But I don't want to teach just teach about it. 00:31:13.519 --> 00:31:14.960 I want us to do it. 00:31:15.440 --> 00:31:17.119 Here's the application. 00:31:18.319 --> 00:31:20.720 Would you track what you consume? 00:31:21.680 --> 00:31:26.400 Would you pay attention to the voices that are shaping your life? 00:31:29.839 --> 00:31:31.759 They do it for us. 00:31:33.920 --> 00:31:43.359 You can look on your phone and see how much time social media, you can see how much time Netflix, YouTube, all of it. 00:31:44.880 --> 00:31:49.440 If I listen to those voices, who will I become? 00:31:50.000 --> 00:31:52.240 Who is the person it's shaping? 00:31:52.400 --> 00:31:57.039 We have to be aware of the voices before we can even begin to address it. 00:31:57.200 --> 00:32:00.559 Then, secondly, tune in to God's voice. 00:32:01.359 --> 00:32:05.359 If you're not already doing this, start with five minutes a day. 00:32:05.680 --> 00:32:08.160 Five minutes a day, I'm just putting these on. 00:32:09.680 --> 00:32:13.119 Five minutes a day where you're silent and in God's word. 00:32:13.599 --> 00:32:20.480 You put your phone in another room, you take your watch off so you can't get notifications. 00:32:22.240 --> 00:32:25.680 You get to a place where you can be present. 00:32:26.559 --> 00:32:29.200 We need to become friends with silence. 00:32:30.640 --> 00:32:32.240 And actually, this is going to be hard. 00:32:32.319 --> 00:32:33.920 We actually need to embrace boredom too. 00:32:34.000 --> 00:32:36.000 That's a sermon for another day. 00:32:36.799 --> 00:32:42.079 But if you don't make space for God's voice, the noise of the world will fill that space every time. 00:32:43.440 --> 00:32:44.960 We need it daily. 00:32:45.200 --> 00:32:47.599 And then speak truth of your life. 00:32:47.839 --> 00:32:49.279 Speak truth of your life. 00:32:49.440 --> 00:32:50.799 Greater is the one in me. 00:32:50.960 --> 00:32:52.319 Greater is the spirit in me. 00:32:52.480 --> 00:32:54.240 Greater is he that's in me. 00:32:54.400 --> 00:32:58.079 As I'm walking into this moment, I walk in victory. 00:32:58.400 --> 00:33:00.880 Every day we're being shaped. 00:33:01.119 --> 00:33:08.640 Either by the voices of the world or the voice of God, the voices you listen shape the person you become. 00:33:09.200 --> 00:33:16.799 The voice you listen to most, the loudest voice in your life shapes you most. 00:33:19.200 --> 00:33:31.519 And so I want you, if you wouldn't mind, I don't have a chair, so I can't do this, but I'll just get both feet on the ground. 00:33:35.119 --> 00:33:36.559 Take a deep breath. 00:33:40.079 --> 00:33:42.880 If you're comfortable, you don't close your eyes. 00:33:42.960 --> 00:33:45.200 If you're not comfortable doing that, that's fine. 00:33:48.960 --> 00:33:56.799 And simply say, Heavenly Father, would you speak to me in this moment? 00:33:58.960 --> 00:34:00.240 And be still. 00:34:00.720 --> 00:34:03.119 And know that He is God. 00:37:07.119 --> 00:37:09.199 And hey, we'd love to connect with you. 00:37:09.360 --> 00:37:15.280 Take a next step by filling out our virtual connection card at awakeningchurch.com slash card.