WEBVTT 00:00:00.320 --> 00:00:03.040 It's great to be all back together. 00:00:03.279 --> 00:00:12.400 You know, God uh has a lot of attributes, but they're all summed up in that uh verse that Susan read: that God is love. 00:00:12.960 --> 00:00:15.039 You know, and there's so many ways he shows that. 00:00:15.119 --> 00:00:25.600 And one of the ways is that he teaches us and he instructs us and uh lets us know how to get along with each other, lets us know how to have a uh a great life. 00:00:25.839 --> 00:00:28.719 And so in a few minutes we're gonna jump into a little bit of that. 00:00:28.960 --> 00:00:31.440 First, I want to remind you of a couple things. 00:00:31.679 --> 00:00:34.880 One is that Wednesday night at his hands is coming up quick. 00:00:35.039 --> 00:00:41.280 It starts a week from Wednesday night, and uh that's our groups and classes that meet here at seven. 00:00:41.359 --> 00:00:43.280 The coffee shops open before. 00:00:43.520 --> 00:00:47.920 There's uh child care, and there's something for all ages. 00:00:48.079 --> 00:00:53.520 Um I'm gonna quickly just kind of go through what this the fall lineup is. 00:00:53.759 --> 00:00:55.679 And it's on these flyers. 00:00:55.759 --> 00:00:59.679 They're the new orange ones, and so you they might be at a table in the back. 00:00:59.840 --> 00:01:03.920 If not, they're definitely gonna be um at the info desk. 00:01:04.719 --> 00:01:07.040 And uh starting with the guys' group. 00:01:07.120 --> 00:01:11.439 Uh Brian Skurs leads a fantastic uh men's group. 00:01:11.680 --> 00:01:16.239 We had probably 35, 40 men uh every Wednesday night. 00:01:16.319 --> 00:01:22.959 And John Eldridge, you may may know of, he wrote the book Wild at Heart, and he has a book that I just love called Beautiful Outlaw. 00:01:23.120 --> 00:01:44.879 And what it does is there's 18 chapters in the book, and each chapter goes through one of the um aspects of Jesus' personality, you know, how he was humorous and how he was uh cunning and how the just you know, and really it's it's it's it's a great book on just getting to know uh Jesus and getting a sense for who he really uh is. 00:01:45.680 --> 00:01:50.719 And uh it's a video series, and after the video we break into groups and really get to know each other. 00:01:50.879 --> 00:01:56.319 So if you haven't been to that group, please uh men um men come to uh to that. 00:01:56.480 --> 00:02:01.920 The ladies' group is a Joyce Myers video series this time, and it's called Never Give Up. 00:02:02.000 --> 00:02:09.039 I think it's the first time we've had uh a series um by Joyce, but she's a great teacher, and this is gonna be a great group. 00:02:09.120 --> 00:02:14.639 And Lynn Walker leads the group, and I know she's gonna be adding her insight and and uh and wisdom. 00:02:14.719 --> 00:02:20.319 And again, it's just a great way to uh meet new friends and uh get closer to God at the same time. 00:02:20.879 --> 00:02:26.800 Ben Sykes is leading the junior high group, and uh that is gonna be a fantastic uh group. 00:02:26.960 --> 00:02:30.800 So if you're in junior high or have uh students in junior high, please come for that. 00:02:30.960 --> 00:02:33.840 The high school group meets on Wednesday night. 00:02:34.000 --> 00:02:40.479 And as you know, we've just got a uh a great group of high school students that uh we're excited about and proud of. 00:02:40.719 --> 00:02:53.520 If uh if you're in high school and haven't uh connected with those folks yet, I mean this Wednesday night or that Wednesday night, actually this Wednesday night would be a good time because the high school group meets um most of the year, including this Wednesday. 00:02:53.680 --> 00:02:59.680 If you're a parent of a student in high school, there's kind of a fall kickoff parent meeting at 815. 00:02:59.759 --> 00:03:10.319 So normally when you'd come and pick up the students, um, if you could come at 8.15 and plan to come in, they can hang out and spend a little time with Justin, and we'll have a parents meeting then. 00:03:10.479 --> 00:03:13.360 Uh the art group is a fantastic group. 00:03:13.439 --> 00:03:22.960 You know, God, you're talking about God and different aspects of God, just um art and music and creativity are so much uh what God is about. 00:03:23.039 --> 00:03:30.719 And so this group gets together and learns to paint, uh, you know, worship music, hangs out, uh Marlon Yoder. 00:03:30.800 --> 00:03:35.199 In fact, in this, if you get one of these flyers, Marlon probably hasn't seen this, but it says led by local artist. 00:03:35.599 --> 00:03:44.800 I suppose to say led by local artist Marlon Yoder, but um but anyway, Marlon has donated most of the paintings that you see all around the building. 00:03:45.039 --> 00:03:52.479 And so it's a great time to learn from him and just be with each other and express worship to God uh through art. 00:03:52.639 --> 00:03:54.800 I've got a Freedom from Addiction Group. 00:03:54.960 --> 00:03:57.759 This is uh maybe one of my favorite groups. 00:03:57.919 --> 00:04:04.560 It's uh a Jesus-centered 12-step uh group that uh shows us how to have real freedom. 00:04:04.719 --> 00:04:12.159 And addiction is such a big problem, you know, as you know and maybe are even experiencing in our society. 00:04:12.319 --> 00:04:25.519 It takes all different forms and all different ways, and unfortunately, it has such a shame attached to it, you know, where if you're struggling with anything else, you might not have that same level of shame, but don't give into that. 00:04:25.680 --> 00:04:30.879 I mean, we all need God in some area of our lives, and you really can be free from addictions. 00:04:30.959 --> 00:04:36.720 And we're gonna talk a little bit later on how that one step can turn your whole life um completely around. 00:04:36.800 --> 00:04:44.959 And it's such Mike Mamone leads this group, and it's such a uh an awesome group of humble, loving, and very strong um people. 00:04:45.920 --> 00:04:53.439 So if if that's a group that could help you, please think about uh uh joining uh that first Wednesday in September. 00:04:53.680 --> 00:04:56.079 And then finally, parenting with love and logic. 00:04:56.240 --> 00:05:01.279 Uh I think that uh any of us that are parents can use all the help we can get from time to time. 00:05:01.519 --> 00:05:04.639 And uh Daniel and Athea Griesbeck are leading this group. 00:05:04.720 --> 00:05:15.040 And again, it's a video series, and um it's just fantastic on how to both to raise our kids both with love and both with uh and also with logic. 00:05:15.360 --> 00:05:17.600 And so please come on on Wednesday night. 00:05:17.680 --> 00:05:20.079 There's sometimes, you know, there's different times in each of our lives. 00:05:20.160 --> 00:05:28.240 There's times when we can really sense we're supposed to kind of take a step forward, if you will, and we want more, and we want more of God. 00:05:28.480 --> 00:05:36.319 And there's also times sometimes where we take a little step back and we and we need to catch our breath, you know, and and the Holy Spirit can show us all those. 00:05:36.399 --> 00:05:39.680 But if you're like, boy, I I want to take another step with God. 00:05:39.839 --> 00:05:43.360 I want to meet some new people, I want to have some some great friends. 00:05:43.519 --> 00:05:46.959 You know, it it's like we're talking about through Proverbs, it's choices. 00:05:47.040 --> 00:05:49.680 It's stuff we don't just sit back and it happens to us. 00:05:50.160 --> 00:05:51.439 We have to make the choice. 00:05:51.600 --> 00:05:53.199 We have to take the step. 00:05:53.519 --> 00:05:57.759 And this is always a great opportunity to take a step uh with God. 00:05:57.920 --> 00:06:04.480 So think about that uh as uh we get closer to the first Wednesday in September. 00:06:04.639 --> 00:06:11.199 The groups and classes on Wednesday night, it'll be every Wednesday night in September uh through every Wednesday night in October. 00:06:11.360 --> 00:06:19.600 I want to let you know King King Ken Kington, you know, our friend and extended family member, uh, is going to be here uh to share next Sunday. 00:06:19.680 --> 00:06:21.439 So we can look forward to that. 00:06:21.759 --> 00:06:25.839 And we talked about generosity last week, and I just want to thank you for your giving. 00:06:26.000 --> 00:06:39.759 You know that we don't pass a play, but we can give online, we can give at the giving stations, and uh it's uh just such a big step when we start to trust God with with our money and and make him a part of that part of our lives. 00:06:40.000 --> 00:06:41.519 So thank you for that. 00:06:41.680 --> 00:06:42.959 Let's pray. 00:06:43.360 --> 00:06:44.959 Our Father, we just praise you this morning. 00:06:45.040 --> 00:06:52.319 We thank you for being such a great God, for loving us, for being our Abba Father, our Daddy Father, for adopting us each as your very own children. 00:06:52.560 --> 00:06:57.360 Thank you for caring for us and giving us instructions on how to live a great life. 00:06:57.439 --> 00:06:59.920 And Holy Spirit, we thank you for being our teacher and counselor. 00:07:00.079 --> 00:07:06.480 And please speak to each one of us this morning that we would leave uh with something that we know was for us and from you. 00:07:06.720 --> 00:07:08.079 And Jesus, we just praise you. 00:07:08.160 --> 00:07:11.839 We thank you for being our friend, the friend of sinners. 00:07:12.000 --> 00:07:13.759 Thank you for being our friend. 00:07:14.000 --> 00:07:15.920 We just praise you for that, and we trust you. 00:07:16.079 --> 00:07:17.439 And it's in your name we pray. 00:07:17.759 --> 00:07:18.399 Amen. 00:07:19.759 --> 00:07:24.240 So this morning we're finishing our study on the book of Proverbs. 00:07:24.480 --> 00:07:27.360 Now, Proverbs is really a remarkable book. 00:07:27.519 --> 00:07:31.600 You know, it's packed with instructions on how to live a great life. 00:07:31.839 --> 00:07:54.240 Um it's I was raised religiously, you know, legalistically, and the in all of God's instructions I thought were to test my loyalty, to see if I really loved him, to see how much I really cared, to see if I was willing to sacrifice fun stuff in order to make God happy. 00:07:54.399 --> 00:07:56.720 And I didn't understand what God is really like. 00:07:56.879 --> 00:08:05.279 That that's not him at all, that he is wanting us to have the best life possible, that he has a plan and a purpose and a life for each of us. 00:08:05.439 --> 00:08:14.000 And he's gone to the trouble of sharing that wisdom through Solomon, preserving it all these years for us today. 00:08:14.160 --> 00:08:34.559 I know with my kids, some of you have experienced this, some of you haven't, but they hit a certain age, and you know, and it's like, you know, maybe you should study a little more for that test, or maybe you shouldn't hang out with with that particular friend, or maybe you should, you know, choose this instead, work harder at this. 00:08:34.960 --> 00:08:41.200 And, you know, they at times would look at me like, you are so stupid. 00:08:42.159 --> 00:08:44.159 I mean, you just don't get it. 00:08:44.399 --> 00:08:49.039 I mean, maybe, maybe 25 years ago that's what was how things worked. 00:08:49.200 --> 00:08:51.360 But no, this is how things work now. 00:08:51.600 --> 00:08:56.480 And uh, and they didn't understand that, you know, and then it would be like, oh, you're just trying to control me. 00:08:57.360 --> 00:08:59.360 You know, but I wasn't trying to control them. 00:08:59.440 --> 00:09:04.879 I just wanted them to have a great life, that I had had some experiences and I knew some things that worked and didn't work. 00:09:05.039 --> 00:09:08.080 And uh and sometimes we can feel the same way about God. 00:09:08.240 --> 00:09:13.840 We get into a situation where like, oh yeah, God, maybe in your perfect spiritual world, this works. 00:09:14.080 --> 00:09:17.200 But not here on earth, not here in the real world, you know. 00:09:17.440 --> 00:09:22.320 And besides, you're just trying to control me, and and and the opposite is true. 00:09:22.559 --> 00:09:33.840 You know, he is our loving father, and what he wants to do is step into the great life that he has planned for us, for things to go as good as they possibly can, for us to be happy, for us to have um joy. 00:09:34.320 --> 00:09:38.559 And he's written those instructions down in this book uh that we call Proverbs. 00:09:38.639 --> 00:09:42.000 It's a small book, it's 25 to 35 pages in most of our Bibles. 00:09:42.159 --> 00:09:45.279 It starts like this this is Proverbs 1, verse 1. 00:09:45.600 --> 00:09:54.879 These are the wise sayings of Solomon, David's son, Israel's king, written down so we'll know how to live well and right, to understand what life means and where it's going. 00:09:55.120 --> 00:10:05.200 A manual for living, for learning what's right and just and fair, to teach the inexperienced the ropes, and give our young people a grasp on reality. 00:10:05.440 --> 00:10:07.919 There's something here also for seasoned men and women. 00:10:08.080 --> 00:10:16.399 Still a thing or two for the experienced to learn, fresh wisdom to probe and penetrate the rhymes and reasons of wise men and women. 00:10:16.720 --> 00:10:17.840 Start with God. 00:10:18.080 --> 00:10:20.399 The first step in learning is bowing down to God. 00:10:20.559 --> 00:10:24.960 Only fools thumb their noses as such wisdom and learning. 00:10:25.440 --> 00:10:28.000 And so we've divided Proverbs into choices. 00:10:32.480 --> 00:10:33.360 We make choices. 00:10:33.519 --> 00:10:34.399 Often they're difficult. 00:10:34.480 --> 00:10:36.480 Sometimes they're actually gut-wrenching. 00:10:37.600 --> 00:10:38.399 Choices. 00:10:38.879 --> 00:10:40.399 And God knows it's difficult. 00:10:40.559 --> 00:10:47.279 But if we seek His way, do things His way, it'll make all the difference. 00:10:48.080 --> 00:10:50.639 In Proverbs 3, we've read this most Sundays. 00:10:50.799 --> 00:10:52.399 Wisdom is more precious than rubies. 00:10:52.480 --> 00:10:56.559 Nothing you desire, nothing you desire can compare with her. 00:10:56.799 --> 00:11:00.399 She offers you long life in her right hand and riches and honor in her left. 00:11:00.559 --> 00:11:02.559 She will guide you down delightful paths. 00:11:02.720 --> 00:11:04.480 All her ways are satisfying. 00:11:04.720 --> 00:11:07.440 Wisdom is a tree of life to those who embrace her. 00:11:07.600 --> 00:11:10.159 Happy are those who hold her tightly. 00:11:10.399 --> 00:11:17.840 Proverbs 4 says, My child, listen to me, and do as I say, and you will have a long, good life. 00:11:18.399 --> 00:11:21.919 And so we've made some great choices together so far. 00:11:22.399 --> 00:11:45.200 We chose at the very start just to seek God's wisdom, you know, to see the value, to see that his ways are good, to really go for it, you know, which means reading Proverbs, absorbing his wisdom, especially asking God to supernaturally help us, just to make us more wise and give us the ability to walk it out. 00:11:45.600 --> 00:11:50.879 We chose to work hard because Proverbs 14 says that hard work always pays off. 00:11:51.120 --> 00:11:56.240 We chose our words, because Proverbs 18 says, words kill, words give life. 00:11:56.399 --> 00:11:58.639 They're either poison or fruit. 00:11:58.960 --> 00:11:59.919 You choose. 00:12:00.399 --> 00:12:05.840 We chose our friends because Proverbs 13 says, Become wise by walking with the wise. 00:12:06.080 --> 00:12:09.840 Hang out with fools and watch your life fall to pieces. 00:12:10.639 --> 00:12:19.840 We chose self-control because it's Proverbs 16 says it's better to be patient and powerful, better to have self-control than to conquer a city. 00:12:20.159 --> 00:12:21.440 You know, and we kept choosing. 00:12:21.519 --> 00:12:25.440 We chose to do good, we chose a great marriage, we chose to control our anger. 00:12:25.679 --> 00:12:29.919 And last week we chose to be generous because Proverbs 11 says the generous will prosper. 00:12:30.080 --> 00:12:34.480 Those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed. 00:12:34.720 --> 00:12:36.320 And we're down to our final choice. 00:12:36.480 --> 00:12:46.960 And this choice is a great one to finish on because it really is the choice that empowers, if you will, all of our other choices. 00:12:48.240 --> 00:12:51.919 It's probably the most famous proverb in all of Solomon's writing. 00:12:52.399 --> 00:12:55.440 It's Proverbs 3, verses 5 and 6. 00:12:55.759 --> 00:12:58.320 Trust in the Lord with all your heart. 00:12:58.639 --> 00:13:01.279 Do not depend on your own understanding. 00:13:01.519 --> 00:13:06.799 Seek His will in all you do, and He will show you which path to take. 00:13:07.120 --> 00:13:10.559 And so today today we will choose to trust God. 00:13:17.279 --> 00:13:26.480 The first was to choose wisdom, how we really want to, you know, want wisdom and want to have that as part of our lives and to live the life that God has planned for all of us. 00:13:26.799 --> 00:13:30.559 But once we read it, once we understand it, we have to apply it. 00:13:30.960 --> 00:13:32.799 We have to live it. 00:13:33.039 --> 00:13:37.120 And what it takes for each of us is trust. 00:13:38.320 --> 00:13:39.600 And it's not always easy. 00:13:39.759 --> 00:13:45.679 But Proverbs 37, 5 says, Commit everything you do to the Lord, trust him, and he will help you. 00:13:46.000 --> 00:13:50.159 Proverbs 16, 20 says, Those who listen to instruction will prosper. 00:13:50.399 --> 00:13:52.879 Those who trust the Lord will be joyful. 00:13:54.000 --> 00:13:57.360 Proverbs 28, 25 said, Greed causes fighting. 00:13:57.679 --> 00:13:59.919 Trusting the Lord leads to prosperity. 00:14:00.240 --> 00:14:07.279 Proverbs 22, 18 and 19, for it is good to keep these sayings in your heart and always ready on your lips. 00:14:07.519 --> 00:14:09.679 I am teaching you today. 00:14:10.000 --> 00:14:11.039 Yes, you. 00:14:11.919 --> 00:14:15.039 So you will trust in the Lord. 00:14:16.480 --> 00:14:21.600 China Airlines flight 006 is a rather famous flight. 00:14:21.840 --> 00:14:26.240 It was a 747, it was flying from Taipei to Los Angeles. 00:14:26.559 --> 00:14:28.480 The flight was getting close to its destination. 00:14:28.559 --> 00:14:34.320 It was over uh Northern California when one of its four engines flamed out. 00:14:34.879 --> 00:14:38.159 And the captain tried to restart it, but it wouldn't start. 00:14:38.480 --> 00:14:51.679 So he rolled the plane to the maximum 23 degrees left, but the speed of the plane started decreasing, and it actually, this huge 747, rolled to 60 degrees right. 00:14:52.720 --> 00:14:56.240 And the nose of the plane started to roll over and to point down. 00:14:56.720 --> 00:15:06.159 And the captain noticed the altimeter that was showing excessive bank and pitch, but his experience told him that that couldn't be right in this circumstance. 00:15:06.399 --> 00:15:16.720 And the plane started to dive, and that's when the engines two and three and four all went out. 00:15:18.320 --> 00:15:26.960 With no power, no instruments, the 747 plunged 30,000 feet in a little over two minutes. 00:15:29.039 --> 00:15:30.960 Anybody like me flying this week? 00:15:37.519 --> 00:15:39.039 It gets a little better. 00:15:40.320 --> 00:15:45.039 Because with 40 seconds left before hitting the ground, the plane broke through the clouds. 00:15:45.840 --> 00:15:52.399 The pilot seeing the the ground was able to create a little bit of a glide path. 00:15:54.559 --> 00:16:02.080 It was then that engines two, three, and four miraculously restarted on their own. 00:16:04.320 --> 00:16:07.759 The captain then quickly attempted to restart the fourth engine. 00:16:08.320 --> 00:16:12.799 It also started and the plane gained altitude. 00:16:13.039 --> 00:16:22.159 Now, with all four engines working, the crew radioed the tower that everything was fine and they were going to go ahead and land in Los Angeles. 00:16:22.960 --> 00:16:25.360 The disaster had been averted. 00:16:26.000 --> 00:16:28.320 But everything actually wasn't fine. 00:16:28.799 --> 00:16:38.159 Because the crew didn't know that several of the passengers had broken bones and suffered under other injuries when the plane plunged towards Earth. 00:16:38.320 --> 00:16:53.360 They also didn't know that the force of that fall had permanently twisted the wings upward, that the landing gear had been forced open and was stuck, and all the hydraulic fluid had been forced out of the plane. 00:16:53.600 --> 00:16:56.240 So they became aware, especially of the injuries. 00:16:56.559 --> 00:17:00.320 It doesn't take long to figure out you got a bunch of people with broken bones. 00:17:00.960 --> 00:17:05.359 But they became aware and they landed the plane safely in San Francisco. 00:17:06.640 --> 00:17:10.240 And China Airlines Flight 006 became famous. 00:17:10.960 --> 00:17:22.079 Not because of the heroics of the pilot, but because nothing was ever really wrong with the plane. 00:17:23.839 --> 00:17:28.160 The first engine had in fact flamed out, but that's not really uncommon. 00:17:29.200 --> 00:17:32.720 A pilot would check to make sure it's getting fuel and restart the plane. 00:17:34.000 --> 00:17:35.920 It can happen for a variety of reasons. 00:17:37.759 --> 00:17:46.079 The reason the engine didn't restart is because it was designed to only start when the plane was below 30,000 feet. 00:17:46.559 --> 00:17:48.319 They were well above 30,000 feet. 00:17:48.400 --> 00:17:54.000 And all the instructions and all the flight training taught the pilots this. 00:18:11.839 --> 00:18:18.720 If the pilot had trusted the altimeter, he could have easily leveled the plane off. 00:18:19.759 --> 00:18:25.039 Engines two, three, and four did not miraculously come on. 00:18:26.400 --> 00:18:30.480 They had been on and operating perfectly the entire time. 00:18:31.279 --> 00:18:37.119 It was just that when the plane plunged, it felt to him like there was no power to the engines. 00:18:37.680 --> 00:18:46.880 And when it finally leveled out, he could start to feel that power again and thought they had miraculously restarted themselves. 00:18:47.839 --> 00:18:52.079 Well, as you can imagine, the passengers were not just injured, but traumatized. 00:18:53.599 --> 00:18:58.319 The plane was severely damaged, and the captain's career was ruined. 00:18:59.519 --> 00:19:08.319 Because he trusted his own experience, his own feelings, and did not trust his training or the instruments. 00:19:09.759 --> 00:19:11.839 Trust in the Lord with all your heart. 00:19:12.160 --> 00:19:15.440 Do not depend on your own understanding. 00:19:16.079 --> 00:19:21.119 Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take. 00:19:23.519 --> 00:19:29.839 How many times can we take a situation from bad to horrible because we get overwhelmed? 00:19:30.079 --> 00:19:35.279 Maybe we get a little panicked, and we just have to do what we have to do. 00:19:35.680 --> 00:19:39.359 Sorry, God, I know you say this, but you don't get it. 00:19:39.920 --> 00:19:42.160 I gotta go with my gut this time. 00:19:44.160 --> 00:19:50.319 You know, one of the greatest moments in many of our lives is when we realize we cannot pilot a plane by ourselves. 00:19:51.759 --> 00:19:52.240 I did. 00:19:52.319 --> 00:19:54.319 I spent years figuring everything out. 00:19:54.559 --> 00:19:55.759 You know, I always had a plan. 00:19:55.920 --> 00:20:00.799 You know, things might be getting progressively worse, but I would think and I would think and I'd think and I'd come up with some plan. 00:20:00.960 --> 00:20:04.240 Okay, I could call this person, I could do this, I'll I'll try this. 00:20:04.559 --> 00:20:12.559 And somehow I was able to keep all the balls in the air, and everything seemed to be going okay until that one day when it wasn't. 00:20:17.359 --> 00:20:20.319 I realized I was not going to get out of the nosedive. 00:20:21.279 --> 00:20:23.519 That's when I realized I needed God. 00:20:23.759 --> 00:20:28.319 That I wanted him in my life, that I wasn't near as smart as I thought that I was. 00:20:30.319 --> 00:20:35.359 But it felt like the worst time in my life in retrospect was the greatest time in my entire life. 00:20:35.519 --> 00:20:39.519 It was the moment it started to turn around when I said, Here God, help me. 00:20:39.759 --> 00:20:40.640 Show me. 00:20:40.960 --> 00:20:41.920 I need you. 00:20:42.400 --> 00:20:46.079 You know, and I certainly grabbed the controls back from time to time. 00:20:46.160 --> 00:20:51.279 I ignored the altimeter, and the plane starts spinning. 00:20:53.119 --> 00:21:00.000 But when I trust God's way, take a deep breath, look at what he says, things start to level out. 00:21:00.240 --> 00:21:02.160 Trust in the Lord with all your heart. 00:21:02.319 --> 00:21:04.720 Do not depend on your own understanding. 00:21:05.039 --> 00:21:09.279 Seek His will in all you do, and He will show you which path to take. 00:21:09.839 --> 00:21:17.680 And I'm hoping this choice will be really encouraging to some of us this morning, especially if you are someone who is feeling overwhelmed. 00:21:18.079 --> 00:21:22.400 That if you feel like just everything is going wrong at once. 00:21:29.200 --> 00:21:34.079 We grab the controls, overcorrect, and now it just seems like nothing is going right. 00:21:34.240 --> 00:21:36.319 It's all going bad at once. 00:21:36.640 --> 00:21:41.279 I talk to people all the time, and not just here, but in all different situations. 00:21:42.319 --> 00:21:44.319 And it's like I cannot believe this. 00:21:44.480 --> 00:21:47.039 This is all happening to me at once. 00:21:47.440 --> 00:21:48.960 I have legal problems. 00:21:49.440 --> 00:21:50.799 I lost my job. 00:21:51.119 --> 00:21:52.960 My marriage is going bad. 00:21:54.240 --> 00:21:56.000 My finances are terrible. 00:21:56.319 --> 00:21:57.279 I must be cursed. 00:21:57.359 --> 00:21:59.839 I must be the unluckiest person in the whole world. 00:22:00.319 --> 00:22:01.039 World. 00:22:01.359 --> 00:22:02.240 But it's not true. 00:22:02.319 --> 00:22:03.759 We're not unlucky. 00:22:04.000 --> 00:22:05.680 And we're not cursed. 00:22:06.079 --> 00:22:08.559 That actually is how it works. 00:22:09.200 --> 00:22:10.960 That is how it works. 00:22:11.759 --> 00:22:15.440 Often everything goes wrong at the same time. 00:22:17.599 --> 00:22:20.400 Almost everyone in the freedom group gets this. 00:22:21.039 --> 00:22:26.720 You know, we might be legitimately hurt by someone, something happened to us, or we've had horrible experiences. 00:22:27.680 --> 00:22:29.519 And so we take control, you know? 00:22:29.759 --> 00:22:37.519 It might be by drinking too much, it might be by smoking a lot of weed, it might be by taking the pain medicine even after we still don't need it. 00:22:38.319 --> 00:22:41.279 It could be a lot of different things. 00:22:42.559 --> 00:22:46.960 You know, but then we're addicted, and our job suffers, and our relationships are damaged. 00:22:47.039 --> 00:22:53.440 And all of a sudden it might be a DUI and that's expensive, and the job goes away, and the spouse has had enough. 00:22:53.839 --> 00:22:58.079 And everything in our life is going wrong at once. 00:23:00.640 --> 00:23:12.720 The only answer is to let go of the controls and trust God that He has a way that works, that His instrument is correct. 00:23:13.039 --> 00:23:14.319 Our way's not working. 00:23:20.400 --> 00:23:28.559 But the exciting thing, and I hope the encouraging thing, is it feels like all the engines are out. 00:23:29.119 --> 00:23:44.720 There's no saving us, but often if we just focus on one thing, like if that pilot had just believed the altimeter, we focus on one thing, and will it affect our whole life? 00:23:46.240 --> 00:23:51.680 You know, we get clean or we get sober, and all of a sudden another engine starts up miraculously. 00:23:51.920 --> 00:23:55.279 And then another engine, then another engine, and we level off. 00:23:56.319 --> 00:24:00.400 And pretty soon everything's okay. 00:24:01.359 --> 00:24:05.680 You know, and you can get free from addiction God's way. 00:24:05.839 --> 00:24:09.359 And it doesn't matter if you've tried and failed, it doesn't matter at all. 00:24:11.039 --> 00:24:16.000 That's the great thing about this group, is because it's centered in God's power. 00:24:16.240 --> 00:24:19.759 You know, trying our hardest doesn't get us anywhere. 00:24:20.319 --> 00:24:26.400 We got to make these choices, but we have to have God's power to live them out. 00:24:26.559 --> 00:24:32.799 I use that example just to let you know if that's your situation, that there is an answer to that struggle. 00:24:32.960 --> 00:24:34.079 But it can be anything. 00:24:34.240 --> 00:24:37.359 You know, someone can have a great business idea that just can't miss. 00:24:37.839 --> 00:24:44.960 And so against their second or against their spouse's judgment, they get a second mortgage on the house to fund the startup. 00:24:45.279 --> 00:25:04.640 The business doesn't go so good, money gets really tight, spouse is resentful, friction in the relationship is bad, that spills over at work, all of a sudden the marriage, the business are failing, the house is going to be foreclosed on. 00:25:05.759 --> 00:25:08.799 I must be the most cursed, most unlucky person in the world. 00:25:08.960 --> 00:25:12.240 How can all of this be happening to me at once? 00:25:13.519 --> 00:25:15.200 Because that's how it works. 00:25:15.519 --> 00:25:17.200 That's how it works. 00:25:18.559 --> 00:25:25.119 One engine goes out, we take control, and all of a sudden it feels like everything's out of control. 00:25:25.839 --> 00:25:27.039 That's a common situation. 00:25:27.119 --> 00:25:32.559 So and I hope I wasn't thinking of anyone here, so I hope I didn't step on anybody's toes too bad. 00:25:32.720 --> 00:25:34.400 All these things can step on mine. 00:25:34.559 --> 00:25:37.599 Um but um but it's a real situation. 00:25:37.680 --> 00:25:41.440 It's a friend of mine that doesn't live anywhere uh near here. 00:25:41.680 --> 00:25:50.480 And it might be that we just ignored God's instruction about debt, or maybe honoring our spouse or whatever. 00:25:50.640 --> 00:25:58.400 But the point is, and he is, if he just owns it, makes amends with his spouse, asks God, what do I do from here? 00:25:58.960 --> 00:26:01.119 That restarts engine number one. 00:26:01.759 --> 00:26:11.200 And pretty soon engine two fires back up, and then engine three and engine four, and the plane's leveling off, and the big crash is averted. 00:26:11.680 --> 00:26:18.480 So we can start the process of fixing it by realizing we have to look to God and just trust His way. 00:26:18.960 --> 00:26:24.480 And we all mess up, but our lives can turn around fast. 00:26:25.119 --> 00:26:27.759 One of my favorite Proverbs is Proverbs 13, 12. 00:26:27.920 --> 00:26:35.759 It says, unrelenting disappointment leaves you heartsick, but a sudden good break can turn life around. 00:26:38.079 --> 00:26:50.400 Our sudden good break could just be being here this morning, you know, and having the Holy Spirit show us one area in our life where we haven't trusted Him to do it His way. 00:26:50.640 --> 00:26:54.880 You know, we do that, everything can start turning around. 00:26:55.039 --> 00:27:00.400 Sometimes trusting God is the easiest thing to say, and sometimes it's the most difficult thing to do. 00:27:00.559 --> 00:27:03.359 It reminds me of an interaction that Jesus had. 00:27:03.680 --> 00:27:12.480 I think of this often in my own life when I'm praying, and uh and we talk about it now and then. 00:27:12.640 --> 00:27:17.839 Jesus tells a dad who's worried about a son that anything is possible if a person believes. 00:27:18.079 --> 00:27:27.119 And the dad says it's in Mark 9, the father instantly cried out, I do believe, but help me overcome my unbelief. 00:27:29.359 --> 00:27:31.200 You know, God, I trust you. 00:27:31.359 --> 00:27:32.559 I do trust you. 00:27:33.359 --> 00:27:34.960 Help my lack of trust. 00:27:35.440 --> 00:27:38.160 God, I do trust you in this and this and this. 00:27:39.039 --> 00:27:43.359 But you know, with my kids, help my lack of trust. 00:27:44.319 --> 00:27:56.480 You know, with my business, with our finances, with our relationship, with my salvation, help my lack of trust. 00:27:56.720 --> 00:27:58.000 God, I do trust you. 00:27:58.240 --> 00:28:00.079 Help me my lack of trust. 00:28:00.240 --> 00:28:04.880 I don't know anyone who doesn't struggle from time to time with trusting God. 00:28:05.839 --> 00:28:11.039 But we can ask God, and He will give us more trust, and it'll keep growing. 00:28:11.200 --> 00:28:17.599 Personally, when I pray, and I think it's because this isn't just something I do struggle with. 00:28:17.839 --> 00:28:24.400 You know, the when I pray, I often say, I trust you, I trust you, I trust you. 00:28:24.480 --> 00:28:29.519 When we pray together, I often say, uh, thank you, and we trust you. 00:28:30.559 --> 00:28:49.200 I'm not really kind of a name it and claim it type of guy, but man, if we just keep saying it, you know, we do trust you, we do trust you, we do trust you, we do trust you, that that can just become part of us, and we can just trust more and more and more and more. 00:28:50.079 --> 00:28:56.480 Because for all of us, there's some area of our lives, there's more that we can trust God. 00:28:59.359 --> 00:29:01.200 And we can trust God. 00:29:03.759 --> 00:29:13.519 You know, even when we're deeply disappointed in God, like when someone we love dies and goes to heaven before us. 00:29:14.000 --> 00:29:16.559 You know, it feels like such a break in trust. 00:29:16.720 --> 00:29:17.279 It does. 00:29:17.519 --> 00:29:19.519 And it can be shattering. 00:29:20.160 --> 00:29:24.240 That is why Jesus so definitively talks about heaven. 00:29:26.160 --> 00:29:28.799 He says, Don't let your hearts be troubled. 00:29:29.119 --> 00:29:33.039 Trust in God and trust also in me. 00:29:33.599 --> 00:29:36.240 There is more than enough room in my Father's home. 00:29:36.400 --> 00:29:41.519 If this were not so, would I have told you that I'm going to prepare a place for you? 00:29:42.720 --> 00:29:43.920 We can trust him. 00:29:44.240 --> 00:29:49.119 We are going to be safe and healthy and happy forever with our loved ones. 00:29:49.519 --> 00:29:53.039 We can trust God with everything. 00:29:54.880 --> 00:29:58.559 I want to take a quick look at another part of this great proverb. 00:29:58.720 --> 00:30:02.720 It says, Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take. 00:30:02.960 --> 00:30:05.039 Seek his will in all you do. 00:30:06.000 --> 00:30:10.799 There's no one area of our lives that God doesn't affect and want to be part of. 00:30:10.960 --> 00:30:12.559 You know, he wants to be part of our work. 00:30:12.720 --> 00:30:23.359 He wants to be part of our friends, our relationships, our money, our families, our sexuality, our kids, our emotions, our neighborhoods, our schools. 00:30:25.119 --> 00:30:27.519 We can seek his will in everything. 00:30:27.920 --> 00:30:35.039 I've got a friend who recently just told me how God spoke to him so clearly in kind of a unique way, and it was about a business situation. 00:30:35.279 --> 00:30:38.319 You know, that same thing has happened with me and God. 00:30:38.480 --> 00:30:41.440 It's also happened with me and God in all different kinds of situations. 00:30:41.680 --> 00:30:43.440 He cares about everything. 00:30:44.720 --> 00:30:48.480 And he has a way for us to do everything. 00:30:48.799 --> 00:30:49.519 Trust him. 00:30:49.839 --> 00:30:51.279 Go about it his way. 00:30:51.519 --> 00:30:54.000 You know, he wants to bless every part of our lives. 00:30:54.240 --> 00:30:55.680 I mean, what's his will? 00:30:56.160 --> 00:30:57.680 I mean, God, should I take this job? 00:30:57.839 --> 00:30:58.720 Should I date this person? 00:30:58.880 --> 00:31:00.559 Should I hold this grudge? 00:31:01.039 --> 00:31:03.119 Is there someone I should be helping? 00:31:03.440 --> 00:31:04.640 Should I make this agreement? 00:31:04.799 --> 00:31:09.119 You know, there are several specific proverbs that say not to co-sign for a loan. 00:31:09.839 --> 00:31:13.119 See, some of us wish we'd been reading Proverbs our whole life. 00:31:14.400 --> 00:31:16.720 One of them is Proverbs 22. 00:31:16.799 --> 00:31:21.839 It says, don't agree to guarantee another person's debt or put up security for someone else. 00:31:22.079 --> 00:31:25.440 If you can't pay it, even your bet will be snatched from under you. 00:31:26.240 --> 00:31:27.680 So I just think that's interesting. 00:31:27.839 --> 00:31:30.160 That God cares about everything. 00:31:30.960 --> 00:31:32.640 Even something like that. 00:31:33.039 --> 00:31:41.440 You know, following Jesus is not a belief system, it is a relationship with God. 00:31:42.319 --> 00:31:45.440 And he wants to be involved in every part of our lives. 00:31:45.599 --> 00:31:50.720 You know, Jesus said once, if you're worshiping God and you remember that someone has something against you, just go. 00:31:51.039 --> 00:31:51.519 Stop. 00:31:51.759 --> 00:31:53.200 Go and fix that. 00:31:53.920 --> 00:31:59.119 Then come back and worship all of our lives. 00:31:59.759 --> 00:32:04.720 Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take. 00:32:05.039 --> 00:32:14.720 Chase and I were talking a couple weeks ago about this idea that God's a big puppet master in the sky and that everything that happens to us must be his will. 00:32:16.240 --> 00:32:18.400 That, of course, is not true. 00:32:19.119 --> 00:32:24.240 He has a plan and a purpose and a path for us, but we get to seek him. 00:32:25.039 --> 00:32:27.359 And then he's going to give us a choice. 00:32:27.599 --> 00:32:30.000 We get to choose his way. 00:32:30.160 --> 00:32:35.920 And one thing he does promise is when we mess up, which we all do, he's going to turn it out for good. 00:32:36.160 --> 00:32:42.240 He's going to make it turn out for good, but not necessarily for the great he intended. 00:32:42.480 --> 00:32:43.200 You know what I mean? 00:32:43.359 --> 00:32:49.039 He's got a path for us, but we've got to seek him and choose that path. 00:32:49.599 --> 00:32:55.519 Deuteronomy 30, 19 says, Today I've given you the choice between life and death, between blessings and curses. 00:32:55.680 --> 00:32:59.119 Now I call on heaven and earth to witness the choice you make. 00:33:00.160 --> 00:33:05.279 Oh, that you would choose life, so that you and your descendants might live. 00:33:08.400 --> 00:33:13.440 Now, one thing to know is that God's not mad at us for poor choices. 00:33:14.880 --> 00:33:20.480 You know, I would guess that we've all made poor choices at some time so far. 00:33:20.960 --> 00:33:30.480 Peter was so close to Jesus, and yet he denied him right in front of them, just before they took Jesus away to be crucified. 00:33:31.279 --> 00:33:35.680 Paul wasn't a very nice guy for a very long time. 00:33:36.559 --> 00:33:39.920 He arranged the murder of many Christians. 00:33:40.400 --> 00:33:42.079 Was God mad at them? 00:33:43.279 --> 00:33:43.599 No. 00:33:44.400 --> 00:33:45.440 He loved them. 00:33:45.759 --> 00:33:49.759 He had a path for them that was good. 00:33:50.559 --> 00:33:54.799 Jeremiah 29, 11 says, For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord. 00:33:54.960 --> 00:33:58.000 They are plans for good and not for disaster. 00:33:58.240 --> 00:34:01.359 To give you a future and a hope. 00:34:03.839 --> 00:34:07.920 We've all made some bad choices, but God loves us. 00:34:08.239 --> 00:34:09.840 He just wants us to get on the path. 00:34:09.920 --> 00:34:11.440 You know, he's got a great life. 00:34:11.599 --> 00:34:12.639 That's his heart. 00:34:12.800 --> 00:34:14.559 He wants us to have a great life. 00:34:14.800 --> 00:34:16.079 He wants us to have joy. 00:34:16.239 --> 00:34:17.920 He wants us to have enough. 00:34:21.519 --> 00:34:30.239 And he wants us to walk out that purpose and freedom and joy that he has planned for us. 00:34:30.960 --> 00:34:32.400 We just have to trust him. 00:34:32.800 --> 00:34:38.400 We just have to trust him that his way is best. 00:34:39.519 --> 00:34:41.440 The message version says it this way. 00:34:41.519 --> 00:34:44.159 This is uh Proverbs 3, 5, and 6 again. 00:34:44.320 --> 00:34:47.039