WEBVTT 00:00:02.479 --> 00:00:05.200 Thank you for joining us on the CCW podcast. 00:00:05.360 --> 00:00:11.039 Make sure you connect with us on social media to stay up to date on ministries and events happening at CCW. 00:00:11.279 --> 00:00:14.960 We hope you're encouraged, inspired, and motivated by today's message. 00:00:15.119 --> 00:00:19.039 To find out how to connect with us, keep listening after the message ends. 00:00:23.280 --> 00:00:24.239 Thessalonians. 00:00:24.399 --> 00:00:26.800 We made it through 1 Thessalonians. 00:00:27.039 --> 00:00:34.079 As you're turning there, a couple of things that are worth celebrating that I wanted to share. 00:00:34.399 --> 00:00:39.600 We have a set of twins here, Luke and Olivia, who've turned 21. 00:00:39.759 --> 00:00:41.679 Luke and Olivia Fairs. 00:00:42.799 --> 00:00:44.479 Happy birthday. 00:00:45.200 --> 00:00:49.200 I saw Olivia Proper come in with her birthday girl hat on. 00:00:49.359 --> 00:00:50.880 Happy birthday, Olivia. 00:00:51.840 --> 00:00:56.159 And uh we have Nate and Becca Smith with us. 00:00:56.320 --> 00:00:59.439 Her new worship pastor is here. 00:01:02.399 --> 00:01:02.960 Somewhere. 00:01:03.119 --> 00:01:05.040 I don't see them right now, but they're here. 00:01:06.000 --> 00:01:06.799 There we go. 00:01:07.040 --> 00:01:08.159 Right up front. 00:01:08.400 --> 00:01:09.519 Praise the Lord. 00:01:09.599 --> 00:01:11.120 Y'all can take lessons. 00:01:11.439 --> 00:01:12.959 First Sunday. 00:01:13.200 --> 00:01:14.879 Those are high dollar seats. 00:01:14.959 --> 00:01:15.920 There we go. 00:01:16.400 --> 00:01:18.239 Right in the back, right up front. 00:01:18.879 --> 00:01:22.400 And I want y'all to uh, this is so exciting. 00:01:22.719 --> 00:01:28.719 Ben and Jasmine and Delema would like for you to know their special announcement. 00:01:28.799 --> 00:01:30.560 They are pregnant once again. 00:01:33.920 --> 00:01:34.560 Amen. 00:01:36.239 --> 00:01:38.879 So excited about all of these things. 00:01:39.040 --> 00:01:44.319 I had a sweet opportunity to uh be with our teens this week at camp as well. 00:01:44.560 --> 00:01:47.040 And uh it was it was a precious time. 00:01:47.200 --> 00:01:58.719 So thank you for all of you leaders, and um, it was just a sweet, sweet uh spirit there at Covenant, and so thank you, church, for supporting that. 00:01:59.120 --> 00:02:00.959 All right, take your Bibles. 00:02:01.680 --> 00:02:06.159 I want to say, kids, welcome today. 00:02:06.560 --> 00:02:07.840 We have our kids in with us. 00:02:07.920 --> 00:02:08.400 We do this. 00:02:08.479 --> 00:02:14.080 If you're visiting uh on our fifth Sundays or waving to me, raise your hands if you're a kid in here. 00:02:14.159 --> 00:02:14.879 I mean, amen. 00:02:15.199 --> 00:02:17.599 Some of you kid at heart, that's okay. 00:02:17.840 --> 00:02:20.240 Alright, kids, I got some uh I got some guidelines. 00:02:20.319 --> 00:02:21.680 That's what I tell when I speak to kids. 00:02:21.759 --> 00:02:23.039 So, adults, you're gonna have to bear with me. 00:02:23.199 --> 00:02:27.759 When I speak to kids, I want to see bug eyes sit up nice and tall. 00:02:28.000 --> 00:02:31.439 All right, and I will do my best not to put you to sleep. 00:02:31.599 --> 00:02:35.840 I can't say every week that doesn't happen with the adults, but I do my best. 00:02:36.560 --> 00:02:39.199 2 Thessalonians chapter 1. 00:02:40.240 --> 00:02:41.520 Move that bus. 00:02:44.319 --> 00:03:08.400 At the end of every episode of Extreme Home Makeover, there's this grand crescendo, and the crowd starts chanting, move that bus, move that bus, and then there's a guy named Ty Pennington who would put his megaphone to work and he would say, Bus driver, move that bus. 00:03:08.560 --> 00:03:14.960 And when he did, it would be the grand reveal of a completely madeover home. 00:03:15.280 --> 00:03:18.000 And I love makeovers. 00:03:18.080 --> 00:03:21.759 I love seeing something from front to finish being totally changed. 00:03:22.000 --> 00:03:26.240 And uh, so that big reveal is something that always kind of stick out to me. 00:03:26.400 --> 00:03:28.719 They hold you just waiting for that moment. 00:03:28.879 --> 00:03:36.159 The people would have to turn around like this and the bus behind them, and then finally they turn around and they see the big reveal. 00:03:36.400 --> 00:03:46.240 And now I started naming this sermon several weeks ago, so if you want to change the title, I would change it to Revealing Truth and Justice. 00:03:46.479 --> 00:03:53.680 But that big reveal, before any reveal happens on that show, a lot of other things happen. 00:03:53.759 --> 00:03:55.199 I don't know if you've ever seen that. 00:03:55.439 --> 00:04:02.479 But before any big reveal of something brand new, something fully functional, there's a big demolition. 00:04:03.199 --> 00:04:16.800 Before any big reveal, there is tons of work and rework and changing and fixing and all kinds of things going into action before any reveal. 00:04:17.040 --> 00:04:20.240 There's chiseling, there's lots of work. 00:04:20.639 --> 00:04:22.560 We're gonna be looking into that today. 00:04:22.639 --> 00:04:30.000 And as you pray and ask God to work on you, you know, I've never met anybody who prayed, God help me, Lord, make me more gracious. 00:04:30.160 --> 00:04:34.399 And they were excited when God sent difficult people on Wednesday. 00:04:35.120 --> 00:04:42.399 Lord, help me deepen my faith, and I'm really excited on Tuesday when financial trouble hits. 00:04:43.600 --> 00:04:53.759 Yet, me, my faith has so often been deepened by circumstances I myself would have never chosen. 00:04:54.079 --> 00:04:59.680 And God used them and changed my life and my wife and my families through them. 00:04:59.839 --> 00:05:01.600 Would you pray with me? 00:05:02.720 --> 00:05:04.240 God, we love you this morning. 00:05:04.399 --> 00:05:06.079 We're thankful for your word. 00:05:06.480 --> 00:05:09.759 And God, we ask that it would do its work on us. 00:05:09.920 --> 00:05:13.680 God, we're thankful for our kids being in here with us. 00:05:13.839 --> 00:05:16.079 I pray that you would speak to their hearts. 00:05:16.319 --> 00:05:26.560 And God, it's already been a sweet week, and God, we just pray that as we dive in, Lord, that you would speak to our hearts in Jesus' name. 00:05:26.800 --> 00:05:27.439 Amen. 00:05:27.759 --> 00:05:32.160 2 Thessalonians chapter 1, we're gonna read 1 through 4. 00:05:32.399 --> 00:05:37.839 The first thing this morning is this we see that they are tested by trials. 00:05:38.240 --> 00:05:46.319 2 Thessalonians 1, Paul, Savanius, and Timothy to the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and Lord Jesus Christ. 00:05:46.480 --> 00:05:49.680 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and Lord Jesus Christ. 00:05:49.920 --> 00:06:16.959 We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is fitting, because look at this, highlight these words, your faith grows exceedingly, and the love of every one of you all abounds toward each other, so that we ourselves boast of you among the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that you endure. 00:06:17.279 --> 00:06:21.120 Letter A this morning is this a faith that exceeds. 00:06:22.079 --> 00:06:32.720 This church, this has been about the commentators say a few weeks to a few months between 1 Thessalonians and 2 Thessalonians, the letter was drafted. 00:06:32.879 --> 00:06:39.360 And they write again because persecution has gotten the church to having a need. 00:06:39.519 --> 00:06:44.639 Timothy comes back, he reports, he says we we need to write to them about what is going on. 00:06:44.800 --> 00:06:51.600 And so it says that they are growing, groweth, your faith groweth exceedingly. 00:06:51.759 --> 00:06:57.839 That word is huperano, and it means like an overflowing river. 00:06:58.639 --> 00:07:07.279 Unfortunately, comfort rarely deepens faith like an overflowing river, but conflict does. 00:07:07.839 --> 00:07:15.040 I don't want to tell you to say, Amen, if you've been given a growth opportunity, but I do want to say thank you, Lord. 00:07:16.639 --> 00:07:24.959 See, for this new church, the refusal of emperor worship and having their faith be outspoken. 00:07:25.040 --> 00:07:34.959 And listen to me, faith doesn't do a good job being hidden if it's real, it caused an environment of persecution. 00:07:35.279 --> 00:07:37.279 Healthy faith is growing. 00:07:37.439 --> 00:07:38.480 Listen to me, church. 00:07:38.639 --> 00:07:40.720 Healthy faith is not just existing. 00:07:40.959 --> 00:07:45.439 If you're where you were five years ago, is that growth? 00:07:45.759 --> 00:07:50.800 If you're behind where you were five years ago, is that growth? 00:07:50.959 --> 00:07:56.480 Healthy faith, it says they're growing exceedingly, and I gotta write to you and boast of you. 00:07:56.720 --> 00:08:02.240 So my question this morning, as we really start in, what is your next faith step? 00:08:02.480 --> 00:08:05.920 Because there has to be a step in order for growth. 00:08:06.079 --> 00:08:07.759 What is your next faith step? 00:08:07.839 --> 00:08:13.600 You would treat your business this way, you would treat your marriage this way, you would treat health goals this way. 00:08:13.839 --> 00:08:16.319 What's my next step for growth? 00:08:16.560 --> 00:08:20.720 When I think about that, I think about some of the people in this church. 00:08:21.360 --> 00:08:25.519 I've heard people say, Well, I've served. 00:08:25.680 --> 00:08:27.040 And you've heard it too, probably. 00:08:27.120 --> 00:08:32.399 Well, I've served there, well, I've done all that, and I'm done with it. 00:08:33.039 --> 00:08:35.120 Or they have the same servitude. 00:08:35.279 --> 00:08:36.799 And then I see other people. 00:08:36.960 --> 00:08:39.120 Some of y'all, she may be serving today. 00:08:39.200 --> 00:08:41.440 She may be Miss Pam. 00:08:41.919 --> 00:08:48.399 There's a lady in this church named Miss Pam, and Miss Pam all the time is serving with children. 00:08:48.639 --> 00:08:48.960 Okay. 00:08:49.120 --> 00:08:55.039 I'm not giving away Miss Pam's age, but Miss Pam could say, I have served my time. 00:08:55.919 --> 00:08:59.200 But she continues, I see her, she'll hit me in the lobby. 00:08:59.279 --> 00:09:01.440 Oh, I got children's today, Pastor Rick. 00:09:01.519 --> 00:09:02.960 I'm gonna catch the message later. 00:09:03.120 --> 00:09:05.600 And then she'll be here on Wednesday serving, serving. 00:09:05.840 --> 00:09:08.159 Miss Wanda will come in on Wednesdays. 00:09:08.320 --> 00:09:11.039 My wife's made the meal and she'll come in. 00:09:11.120 --> 00:09:12.159 Do you need me? 00:09:12.399 --> 00:09:12.720 Right? 00:09:12.879 --> 00:09:17.440 It's not like, well, I've matured and I've grown and now I'm done. 00:09:18.240 --> 00:09:20.320 That's called plateauing. 00:09:21.919 --> 00:09:25.200 One is plateauing, one is maturing. 00:09:27.120 --> 00:09:30.480 Out of your faith, this is what it says. 00:09:30.720 --> 00:09:32.320 It says, it grows exceedingly. 00:09:32.399 --> 00:09:38.159 Then it says, out of your faith in God, the love for each one of you all is what we boast of. 00:09:38.559 --> 00:09:40.799 We see you loving each other. 00:09:40.960 --> 00:09:43.120 That's what Paul says about Thessalonians. 00:09:43.200 --> 00:09:51.039 Timothy's seen this, and we're we're telling other churches, you gotta be like the Thessalonian church. 00:09:51.200 --> 00:09:52.799 They love each other. 00:09:53.120 --> 00:09:55.679 How many of you ever been on a mission trip? 00:09:57.440 --> 00:10:00.399 Mission trip, people would ask us in youth ministry. 00:10:00.559 --> 00:10:07.759 We did seven years in a row mission trips, and one of the greatest bonding experiences we had. 00:10:08.080 --> 00:10:10.000 Camps were amazing, really great. 00:10:10.240 --> 00:10:15.200 Mission trips is one of those, it's just a little different of a thing, that serving together heart. 00:10:15.600 --> 00:10:22.159 And if I were to write to you about some of the churches, I thought about what Paul was considering with these Thessalonians. 00:10:22.240 --> 00:10:39.279 I would write back and say, of CBC Denton, Maryland, of Calvary Baptist Church Denton, Maryland, you need to know the way that they made food, the hospitality of Calvary Baptist Church Denton, Maryland made me want to boast of that church. 00:10:39.519 --> 00:10:53.519 If I wanted to tell you of my previous church and what God did through this group of kids, if I was writing to you, I would say God took the breakfast club, some of y'all in the 80s know what I'm talking about, the breakfast club and brought them together. 00:10:53.759 --> 00:10:56.159 And their love didn't make sense. 00:10:56.720 --> 00:10:58.320 But they loved each other. 00:10:58.559 --> 00:11:05.519 This jock over here, this A plus student over here, this what I, you know, total different lives. 00:11:06.159 --> 00:11:11.200 And the gospel in serving bonded them together. 00:11:11.440 --> 00:11:16.399 And it's hard to explain anything like that other than this bond of love we have in Christ. 00:11:16.639 --> 00:11:20.559 It will pull some of you together that have totally different backgrounds. 00:11:20.879 --> 00:11:24.960 So Timothy brings back this report of a love boast. 00:11:25.360 --> 00:11:29.039 And Paul said, Your love abounds, and we boast to these churches. 00:11:29.440 --> 00:11:35.679 He said, Listen to me, every one of you, church, every one of you matter. 00:11:36.159 --> 00:11:38.960 Every one of you matter for somebody else in this room. 00:11:39.120 --> 00:11:41.120 Every person here matters. 00:11:41.440 --> 00:11:46.240 Kids, you come to church and you think, well, my parents are having me come to church. 00:11:46.399 --> 00:11:50.000 Kids, I want you to know God has a plan and purpose for your lives. 00:11:50.159 --> 00:11:51.759 Give me some bug eyes. 00:11:52.080 --> 00:11:53.360 And it matters. 00:11:53.600 --> 00:11:54.559 It matters now. 00:11:54.720 --> 00:11:57.600 It doesn't matter one day when I'm 20 or 30. 00:11:57.759 --> 00:12:00.159 You being at church now matters. 00:12:00.480 --> 00:12:02.799 You serving now matters. 00:12:03.120 --> 00:12:05.919 Every generation of Christianity matters. 00:12:06.080 --> 00:12:08.320 Now, this is what the enemy would have you do. 00:12:08.559 --> 00:12:09.919 Just plateau. 00:12:10.639 --> 00:12:11.759 Or regress. 00:12:12.960 --> 00:12:16.159 And I know that life brings hard things. 00:12:16.240 --> 00:12:18.799 And when hard things come, what do we feel like? 00:12:18.960 --> 00:12:20.879 We feel like just quitting. 00:12:21.519 --> 00:12:32.559 It'd just be easier if I just took a break, a breath, and I'm not saying sometimes that's not needed or warranted, but not a forever break, not a forever breath. 00:12:32.720 --> 00:12:34.000 Don't quit. 00:12:35.759 --> 00:12:46.159 I would say to you as a church, when I talk to other pastors and churches, it is one of the great joys of my life to boast of the love of CCW. 00:12:46.559 --> 00:12:51.759 It's one of the great joys of my life to boast at other pastors at the way that this church serves. 00:12:51.840 --> 00:12:54.320 And so I want to tell you today, thank you. 00:12:54.720 --> 00:12:58.080 Thank you for the way that you love and the way that you show God. 00:12:58.320 --> 00:13:00.080 Eli and Kirby this week. 00:13:00.320 --> 00:13:02.000 Y'all, I wish you could see. 00:13:03.679 --> 00:13:11.840 There's nothing like it, because we've experienced it, but there's nothing like watching a couple give 112 hours of their week. 00:13:12.000 --> 00:13:12.399 Right? 00:13:12.559 --> 00:13:12.879 Whatever. 00:13:12.960 --> 00:13:13.919 I'm making up a number. 00:13:14.000 --> 00:13:15.039 You all know my math. 00:13:15.120 --> 00:13:15.279 Okay. 00:13:15.919 --> 00:13:16.799 Five days. 00:13:16.960 --> 00:13:21.039 But I wish you could see the love that they shared for students. 00:13:21.279 --> 00:13:26.399 I want to boast to everyone in this world about that kind of love. 00:13:28.720 --> 00:13:31.519 Kyle, I got to spend time with Kyle. 00:13:31.679 --> 00:13:34.399 We're gonna license Kyle Edwards next week. 00:13:34.559 --> 00:13:41.440 And the love of God that's in his heart to go to a camp five days, and then I saw Kyle every day this week. 00:13:42.000 --> 00:13:43.200 I've seen him Saturday. 00:13:44.240 --> 00:13:48.639 And he has this burden to be a chaplain for the military. 00:13:48.799 --> 00:13:57.039 God's put this burden on his heart to see he was a he was in the army and he saw what people went through, and he wants to go back and help and love people. 00:13:57.120 --> 00:13:58.480 I boast in that, Kyle. 00:13:58.559 --> 00:14:01.840 And we boast in that, and this is what Paul is saying: your love. 00:14:01.919 --> 00:14:03.840 It's a faith that exceeds. 00:14:05.120 --> 00:14:06.720 Let her be, though. 00:14:07.440 --> 00:14:13.360 So but, Pastor, let her be as a friction that gives evidence. 00:14:14.000 --> 00:14:17.600 Look down there at the second part of verse four and then five. 00:14:23.440 --> 00:14:31.600 Says, so that we ourselves boast of you, among other churches of God, your patience and faith and all your persecutions and tribulations that you endure. 00:14:31.759 --> 00:14:44.879 Which is, hear this, highlight this, which is manifest evidence of the righteous judgment of God that should be counted worthy of the kingdom of God for which you also suffer. 00:14:45.200 --> 00:14:50.159 He says, manifest in the KJV, it's a manifest token. 00:14:50.720 --> 00:14:55.519 And that word is enigma, and it means a visible demonstration. 00:14:55.759 --> 00:15:06.480 Your persecutions, what you're suffering, Thessalonians, is a manifesto, it's a visible demonstration of worthiness of who you serve. 00:15:09.279 --> 00:15:14.399 Alright, I brought some of y'all even shared the field with me with this baby. 00:15:14.960 --> 00:15:15.840 A few of you. 00:15:16.080 --> 00:15:20.559 Garrett, Derek, you saw magic happen, I'm sure. 00:15:21.440 --> 00:15:26.080 Some of y'all see my weed eater string because I had to keep it alive. 00:15:26.879 --> 00:15:30.159 Why is an old glove important? 00:15:30.559 --> 00:15:31.440 You see that? 00:15:31.679 --> 00:15:32.399 That's important. 00:15:32.559 --> 00:15:34.559 That doesn't happen right when you buy it. 00:15:34.639 --> 00:15:37.279 When you buy a glove, it's like this, right? 00:15:37.679 --> 00:15:42.639 And a ball hits it, pops out, and you you have to work it in. 00:15:42.879 --> 00:15:43.200 Right? 00:15:43.279 --> 00:15:44.159 You have to work it in. 00:15:44.240 --> 00:16:02.559 And then over time, so when I buy a new glove, what my dad taught me, you put three or four baseballs in it, you put leather conditioner in it, you heat it up in the oven, and you let the thing settle, and you build a pocket in it, and then you just, I mean, you roll it around, you get it to where it works. 00:16:02.960 --> 00:16:04.080 What am I saying? 00:16:05.039 --> 00:16:07.759 My glove is a visible demonstration. 00:16:07.919 --> 00:16:13.759 It's been used, it can receive, it has been worn in. 00:16:14.559 --> 00:16:21.360 And what Paul is saying to the church, what you've been through is a manifest token. 00:16:21.600 --> 00:16:23.519 It's a visible demonstration. 00:16:23.679 --> 00:16:25.840 Don't get all discouraged. 00:16:26.159 --> 00:16:30.559 You are encouraging other people because you've been through some stuff. 00:16:31.759 --> 00:16:37.840 1 Peter 1 7 says, faith that's tried by fire is more precious than gold. 00:16:39.440 --> 00:16:46.080 A furnace, church, does not destroy gold, it reveals what's there. 00:16:46.720 --> 00:16:52.720 So God allows trial because he sees in you something that is treasure. 00:16:53.039 --> 00:16:56.320 It says, We're counted worthy to suffer. 00:16:56.480 --> 00:16:59.440 Someone's like, I ain't signing up for that, Pastor. 00:16:59.679 --> 00:17:02.159 Counted, count me unworthy to suffer. 00:17:02.399 --> 00:17:03.919 How's that sound? 00:17:05.440 --> 00:17:14.720 The Army Rangers have a highly regarded competition, and it's basically called the best army ranger. 00:17:14.880 --> 00:17:18.480 They have a 63-hour physical competition. 00:17:19.039 --> 00:17:21.200 Some of y'all triathletes and stuff like that. 00:17:21.359 --> 00:17:24.240 I don't look, I'm not swimming, biking, and running. 00:17:24.319 --> 00:17:25.359 I'll do one. 00:17:25.920 --> 00:17:29.279 I don't know which one, but I'm not doing all of them. 00:17:29.599 --> 00:17:30.720 63 hours. 00:17:30.880 --> 00:17:34.160 Well, there was a guy named Thomas Pat Payne. 00:17:34.480 --> 00:17:35.599 What a name, right? 00:17:36.000 --> 00:17:37.599 Major Payne. 00:17:37.920 --> 00:17:44.559 And in 2012, Thomas Paine won the Army's Best Ranger competition. 00:17:44.799 --> 00:17:45.920 Isn't that interesting? 00:17:46.160 --> 00:18:02.160 Because in 2015, when Thomas Paine was sent into enemy territory, he ran in three times into a smoke-filled building while ISIS is opening fire, and he saved and freed 75 hostages. 00:18:03.359 --> 00:18:05.680 You see, he went through the training. 00:18:05.920 --> 00:18:07.279 He went through the suffering. 00:18:07.359 --> 00:18:12.079 And when the time came that he needed to act, it was all there. 00:18:13.119 --> 00:18:14.720 He saved lives. 00:18:16.799 --> 00:18:19.920 But it started in the practice. 00:18:20.240 --> 00:18:22.640 It started in the training. 00:18:22.880 --> 00:18:26.319 It started in the daily doing things. 00:18:26.480 --> 00:18:28.000 Not when I feel them. 00:18:29.119 --> 00:18:30.960 I don't always feel them. 00:18:31.599 --> 00:18:35.839 You know what I'm saying, I always feel it, but I do it because it's right. 00:18:36.000 --> 00:18:43.759 I told the teenagers this week I was eating my salad and it had no dressing on it. 00:18:43.920 --> 00:18:46.000 And they were looking at me like something was wrong with me. 00:18:46.160 --> 00:18:46.880 No dressing. 00:18:47.359 --> 00:18:48.079 Even the adults. 00:18:49.839 --> 00:18:52.799 And I said, I don't eat salad because it tastes good. 00:18:53.039 --> 00:18:54.799 I eat it because it's right. 00:18:55.839 --> 00:18:59.359 It does something to my body that my body needs. 00:18:59.599 --> 00:19:01.039 And I practice that. 00:19:01.119 --> 00:19:03.680 And so you do it even when you don't feel it. 00:19:03.920 --> 00:19:04.799 What did Paul say? 00:19:04.880 --> 00:19:05.759 Y'all know this. 00:19:06.000 --> 00:19:12.480 I press toward the mark of the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. 00:19:13.279 --> 00:19:22.400 I don't think one person in heaven is going to one day feel regret because they were full of faith. 00:19:24.880 --> 00:19:29.759 Our race produces the greatest prize in history. 00:19:30.000 --> 00:19:35.680 Paul said, I pressed toward the mark, but our race produces the greatest prize in history. 00:19:35.839 --> 00:19:41.279 Last spring, the Upward Soccer kids were out there, and I was like, How do I get involved with this? 00:19:41.359 --> 00:19:43.519 Um, you know, what do they call it? 00:19:43.839 --> 00:19:44.640 The preview? 00:19:44.880 --> 00:19:47.920 When we get them all out there and we're testing them, I don't know the word. 00:19:48.079 --> 00:19:49.519 And it's like a tryout. 00:19:49.839 --> 00:19:58.400 We're gonna measure their abilities and try to make sure, you know, a seven isn't with, you know, ten sevens, if y'all understand what I'm saying. 00:19:58.720 --> 00:20:04.240 So I get out there after church in my boots, and I don't mean to brag. 00:20:05.200 --> 00:20:08.240 But not one of them kids could beat me in a race, y'all. 00:20:08.559 --> 00:20:12.079 I was winning that race, and I was like, kid. 00:20:14.079 --> 00:20:19.119 That's that you're a four, okay, because on one to seven I'm nine. 00:20:19.920 --> 00:20:24.799 When it comes to kid soccer, I'm just saying, I could beat a lot of fifth graders. 00:20:25.920 --> 00:20:30.319 And so, anyway, racing, racing, racing. 00:20:31.039 --> 00:20:34.400 Usain Bolt had this great quote that I saw this week. 00:20:34.640 --> 00:20:39.599 He said, I trained for four years every day. 00:20:39.920 --> 00:20:43.359 Four years for nine seconds. 00:20:45.119 --> 00:20:46.799 He won the prize. 00:20:47.200 --> 00:20:48.720 Trained for four years. 00:20:48.960 --> 00:20:51.440 Parents, I want to give you something practical. 00:20:52.160 --> 00:21:02.240 With your kids here, your children learn more when you suffer and how you respond to suffering than when you preach. 00:21:03.519 --> 00:21:12.400 They learn so much more by watching you struggle and learn and be real and share through ups and downs than when you just preach to them. 00:21:12.640 --> 00:21:17.519 Listen to what Paul said to the Philippians, because we're still on that, this is worthy. 00:21:17.839 --> 00:21:31.920 Philippians 1 29, he says, For you, it has been granted on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in him, but also to suffer for his sake. 00:21:32.400 --> 00:21:34.400 He said it like it was a wish. 00:21:34.720 --> 00:21:40.640 It's been granted to you the chance to suffer for him. 00:21:41.599 --> 00:21:45.519 Suffering is a growth gift that's granted. 00:21:45.680 --> 00:21:48.160 So these Thessalonians were being persecuted. 00:21:48.319 --> 00:21:49.440 And you know what the Bible says? 00:21:49.599 --> 00:21:56.720 Jesus said, I was persecuted, so don't be surprised when they persecute you who follow me. 00:21:57.759 --> 00:21:58.799 Kyle, how about this? 00:21:58.880 --> 00:22:06.480 A soldier wearing The same uniform as his commander should expect to enter in the same battle. 00:22:08.240 --> 00:22:11.519 We should expect that we're going to go through some battles. 00:22:11.680 --> 00:22:21.920 And I said, if, I said, if, if, hear me, church, if we wear his name, if, then we probably will wear his scars. 00:22:22.720 --> 00:22:31.599 And I want to say to you, if you're going through a trial today, I'm not trying to minimize the trial. 00:22:31.839 --> 00:22:38.160 Because as a pastor, one of the great joys I feel like that I have, if you'll let me, is to help. 00:22:38.319 --> 00:22:56.799 If I can help, if we as a church can help you walk through a trial, it's not we want you to go through it, but when you do, if we can be a help, if we can be a prayer help, if we can be there by your side, if we can go to the props hospital with you, when you're going through, I don't want to minimize try that. 00:22:56.960 --> 00:22:59.200 I'm not saying that this is easy. 00:22:59.839 --> 00:23:01.039 Let me just ask this. 00:23:01.119 --> 00:23:06.960 Is there some people that'd be honest this morning and say, Pastor, I got something right now that's just difficult? 00:23:07.440 --> 00:23:10.480 And before the service is over, I want you to know I'm lifting my hand. 00:23:10.799 --> 00:23:13.279 I would like, I would like people to join me in prayer. 00:23:13.440 --> 00:23:14.880 I'm going through it right now. 00:23:15.039 --> 00:23:16.319 Would you raise your hand? 00:23:18.160 --> 00:23:19.920 Hands all over church here. 00:23:20.079 --> 00:23:22.000 You're going through something. 00:23:22.480 --> 00:23:22.960 All right. 00:23:23.119 --> 00:23:27.599 I'm not, hear me, I'm not trying to minimize or make it like this is easy. 00:23:27.839 --> 00:23:29.599 A lot of this is difficult. 00:23:29.759 --> 00:23:32.960 And I don't want you to go through it, but we want to help. 00:23:33.279 --> 00:23:34.880 We want your church to be with you. 00:23:34.960 --> 00:23:36.799 But let me say this to you. 00:23:37.279 --> 00:23:55.039 2 Corinthians 4, 17 says, for our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding eternal weight of glory. 00:23:56.240 --> 00:23:59.039 It's working to reveal something. 00:23:59.200 --> 00:24:02.400 Can I get all the kids to say, move the bus? 00:24:02.640 --> 00:24:03.599 All the kids, here we go. 00:24:03.759 --> 00:24:04.640 One, two, three. 00:24:06.000 --> 00:24:06.720 Move the bus. 00:24:06.799 --> 00:24:08.960 So this is the big reveal from point one. 00:24:09.359 --> 00:24:12.400 Trials reveal your faith. 00:24:13.119 --> 00:24:14.000 Point two. 00:24:14.640 --> 00:24:16.559 Tormented by eternal judgment. 00:24:16.720 --> 00:24:18.799 Go back to 2 Thessalonians. 00:24:20.079 --> 00:24:27.119 I'm gonna read this, I'm gonna share a quote, and then I got a kid's disclaimer because parents, what I'm going to share is a little heavy. 00:24:27.599 --> 00:24:28.480 It's very heavy. 00:24:28.640 --> 00:24:31.839 I think it's appropriate for church. 00:24:32.400 --> 00:24:56.640 It says, since it is a righteous thing with God to repay with tribulation those who trouble you, and to give you who are troubled, rest with us when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, in flaming fire, taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. 00:24:56.799 --> 00:25:04.240 These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, from the glory of his power. 00:25:04.880 --> 00:25:07.920 The second point is tormented by eternal judgment. 00:25:08.079 --> 00:25:12.000 Charles Spurgeon said this, and I feel this this morning. 00:25:12.240 --> 00:25:23.680 He said, These are such weighty things, such that when I dwell upon them, I feel far more inclined to sit down and cry than to stand up and speak to you. 00:25:25.119 --> 00:25:30.559 I'm gonna share for the next two points about what the Bible says about hell. 00:25:30.720 --> 00:25:34.640 We believe in that in this church and with kids in the room. 00:25:34.880 --> 00:25:37.680 I'm not going to manipulate what I'm saying. 00:25:37.839 --> 00:25:44.720 I'm gonna share some scriptures, but I do want you to know I believe the topic is scary. 00:25:44.880 --> 00:25:48.880 I believe the topic is true, and I believe it's difficult. 00:25:49.440 --> 00:25:57.119 And so, however you feel led, I think your children need to hear it, but I want you to know that before I move further. 00:25:57.279 --> 00:26:02.880 The Bible says here, letter A, is that hell is faithless. 00:26:04.319 --> 00:26:05.839 Hell is faithless. 00:26:06.079 --> 00:26:21.279 Revelation 21, 8 says the cowardly, unbelieving, or the King James Version of that, faithless, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, all will have their part in hell. 00:26:21.920 --> 00:26:28.880 The faithless, it says in this scripture here that we just read, them who do not know and do not obey. 00:26:29.200 --> 00:26:33.359 People who do not respond to God's call. 00:26:33.599 --> 00:26:45.359 John 3.36 says, Whoever, that is anyone who believes on the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God's wrath remains on them. 00:26:45.599 --> 00:26:50.960 People have this question: why does God send people to hell? 00:26:51.279 --> 00:27:07.759 And what John says and what we shared, you have to climb past the nail pierced, hands and feet, climb over the cross of Jesus, the one who gave everything to enter hell. 00:27:08.079 --> 00:27:13.440 God doesn't send people to hell, people choose to go there. 00:27:14.319 --> 00:27:21.039 2 Peter 3 9 says, God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance in faith. 00:27:21.279 --> 00:27:27.279 Revelation 21, 8, and here in 201 it says, hell is filled with the unbelieving. 00:27:27.920 --> 00:27:31.359 God gave every person here the capacity for faith. 00:27:31.599 --> 00:27:34.480 I don't even believe that the atheist has no faith. 00:27:34.640 --> 00:27:36.240 They have faith in something. 00:27:36.480 --> 00:27:38.720 I think their faith is a little greater than my faith. 00:27:38.880 --> 00:27:44.319 I can look at all this and see intellectual design and go, my faith is in a God who created. 00:27:44.480 --> 00:27:47.759 They say, right, bang. 00:27:49.440 --> 00:27:52.559 That takes faith, and that created things. 00:27:53.680 --> 00:28:07.839 And so we have this capacity for faith, but the scripture here says hell will be filled with people who didn't choose to place their faith in Jesus Christ's death, burial, and resurrection. 00:28:08.799 --> 00:28:12.079 Bible says that the demons believe. 00:28:12.799 --> 00:28:18.240 But they didn't trust and they didn't repent and they didn't place their faith, they didn't surrender. 00:28:18.559 --> 00:28:27.759 Hell will have people who believed that Jesus was real, but did not place their faith and trust in him. 00:28:36.960 --> 00:28:45.359 Years ago, folks, Judgy was barely 16. 00:28:45.519 --> 00:28:47.759 I didn't know what the machine could do. 00:28:48.160 --> 00:28:49.920 And I tested its very limit. 00:28:50.000 --> 00:28:51.359 It was a four-cylinder. 00:28:53.839 --> 00:29:01.359 The judge said, if a deer run out, he said, No, if a big fly came out, you could have been crushed. 00:29:01.599 --> 00:29:04.640 Anyway, that a man got up before me, and I'll never forget this. 00:29:04.720 --> 00:29:13.839 I've shared it probably to you before, but he got up and he was very nervous to address the judge, and he said, Well, I'd like to say, Your Majesty. 00:29:14.799 --> 00:29:18.559 And the judge said, Your honor would do just fine. 00:29:19.759 --> 00:29:22.480 I want you to imagine something with that in mind. 00:29:23.039 --> 00:29:24.400 Kids, you can imagine this. 00:29:24.480 --> 00:29:28.720 Imagine you're at home and you're fighting with your brother and you insult your brother. 00:29:29.519 --> 00:29:32.480 Bears a little bit of weight, a little bit of consequence. 00:29:32.720 --> 00:29:38.799 Imagine you go to a police officer, kids, and you insult the police officer. 00:29:39.039 --> 00:29:42.000 And you call him something and you say something about him. 00:29:42.240 --> 00:29:43.359 A little more weight. 00:29:43.519 --> 00:29:51.519 Imagine you go to court and there's a judge who's in front of you with your sentence, and you insult the judge. 00:29:52.240 --> 00:29:53.440 A little bit more weight. 00:29:53.519 --> 00:30:01.039 Well, even further, you're with the president of the United States and you insult him in front of a judge. 00:30:01.519 --> 00:30:07.279 A lot more weight, same mouth, same words, different consequences. 00:30:07.440 --> 00:30:07.759 Why? 00:30:08.000 --> 00:30:10.160 Because authority matters. 00:30:10.319 --> 00:30:11.440 Now catch this. 00:30:11.759 --> 00:30:17.519 Sin is infinitely wicked because it rises against infinite authority. 00:30:19.200 --> 00:30:27.279 When you have the capacity for faith in God, but you deny faith in him, then what you do is choose hell. 00:30:29.440 --> 00:30:32.559 The Bible shares the plans of its author. 00:30:33.599 --> 00:30:38.240 And its author makes a response to wickedness. 00:30:39.440 --> 00:30:42.319 Our author is the author of justice. 00:30:42.880 --> 00:30:48.720 And in response to wickedness, justice is a real place called hell. 00:30:49.839 --> 00:30:55.920 So let her be, and parents, again, this is scripture, but this is hard scripture. 00:30:56.319 --> 00:30:58.000 Mark chapter 9. 00:30:58.640 --> 00:31:00.720 Let her be as hell is fire. 00:31:03.440 --> 00:31:05.680 Verse 43 through 48. 00:31:08.640 --> 00:31:12.240 It says, if your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. 00:31:12.480 --> 00:31:21.839 It is better you for enter to enter into life maimed, rather than having two hands to go to hell into the fire that will never be quenched. 00:31:22.000 --> 00:31:25.599 Where the worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched. 00:31:25.759 --> 00:31:28.160 And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. 00:31:28.319 --> 00:31:39.440 It is better for you to enter life lame, rather than having two feet to be cast into the hell, into the fire that shall never be quenched, where the worm does not die and the fire is not quenched. 00:31:39.519 --> 00:31:41.759 And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out. 00:31:41.839 --> 00:31:52.240 It's better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye rather than having two eyes to be cast in a hellfire, where the worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched. 00:31:54.160 --> 00:31:58.319 Church, Jesus talks about hell more than he talks about heaven. 00:31:58.640 --> 00:32:02.000 He talks about hell more than anyone else in the Bible. 00:32:05.279 --> 00:32:08.799