WEBVTT 00:00:04.799 --> 00:00:12.480 This podcast is brought to you by Grand Parkway Baptist Church, helping people to know, enjoy, and glorify God. 00:00:12.960 --> 00:00:18.000 For more information about Grand Parkway, visit Grandparkway.org. 00:00:19.280 --> 00:00:21.199 Jesus, we just want to say thank you. 00:00:22.320 --> 00:00:25.199 Oh, for that grace that brought us into the fold. 00:00:28.879 --> 00:00:38.240 Because of the blood of Jesus and the power of Jesus, we claim our identity as sons and daughters. 00:00:38.640 --> 00:00:50.079 And we live into that and we ask right now, through the power of the Spirit, that you would destroy any lies that are hindering people from experiencing the full and final love of Jesus Christ in this room right now. 00:00:51.439 --> 00:00:56.640 For those who are just considering the claims of Christ who are far from God, would you be the Good Shepherd? 00:00:57.520 --> 00:01:01.840 Would you go out and put their brokenness on your shoulder and carry them home? 00:01:02.000 --> 00:01:03.920 Would you drop scales from their eyes? 00:01:04.159 --> 00:01:12.640 Would you infuse them with divine courage to repent and believe, to turn and to see life everlasting in your eyes? 00:01:15.040 --> 00:01:24.079 And those of us who are just struggling to make it through the next hour and want to avoid all the responsibility and pain that are waiting for us outside those doors, would you speak to us? 00:01:27.040 --> 00:01:28.879 Would you encourage us? 00:01:29.680 --> 00:01:31.519 And would you embolden us? 00:01:33.120 --> 00:01:36.319 In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. 00:01:36.640 --> 00:01:37.280 Amen. 00:01:38.480 --> 00:01:39.599 We can be seated. 00:01:39.920 --> 00:01:41.439 Good morning, church. 00:01:41.760 --> 00:01:46.000 I'll say, bless the Lord if you'll say, Oh my soul, bless the Lord. 00:01:47.280 --> 00:01:48.560 Bless his holy name. 00:01:48.719 --> 00:01:49.280 Hot dog. 00:01:50.239 --> 00:01:52.319 So glad to see you guys this morning. 00:01:53.120 --> 00:02:01.359 First service, there's this uh beautiful silver-haired lady named Mimi who drove all the way from Arkansas to hear Neil preach again. 00:02:03.920 --> 00:02:06.079 So I gave her some gas money. 00:02:06.239 --> 00:02:14.560 Um but I know sometimes there's unexpected things and unplanned things, and sometimes that goes good and sometimes that goes bad. 00:02:14.800 --> 00:02:17.280 I just want to honor you guys and honor your church. 00:02:17.360 --> 00:02:20.159 Uh thank you guys for being such a good friend and partner. 00:02:20.479 --> 00:02:22.800 Neil Marcy, thanks as always. 00:02:23.120 --> 00:02:23.840 Sorry. 00:02:24.000 --> 00:02:28.800 I'm tired, so I'm even more emotional than I normally am, which is a lot. 00:02:28.879 --> 00:02:31.120 Uh so I'm gonna try and keep that under under wraps. 00:02:31.199 --> 00:02:34.000 Uh Travis, thanks so much for the work for the men's weekend. 00:02:34.080 --> 00:02:36.240 You guys got a great bunch of men. 00:02:39.919 --> 00:02:53.280 Um yeah, I think my heart is uh for a church to be able to create places for men and women um to be fully known and loved and not have to hide in shame or secrecy or isolation. 00:02:53.520 --> 00:02:58.159 Um, and so that healthy relationships, healthy marriages, and families can flourish. 00:02:58.319 --> 00:03:00.479 Uh, because when that happens, the church flourishes. 00:03:00.639 --> 00:03:06.639 And so I'm really, really proud of the work that uh you guys are doing here and the battles that you're fighting. 00:03:06.719 --> 00:03:09.919 Um uh do not grow weary uh in doing good. 00:03:10.080 --> 00:03:11.680 So uh I just want to honor you for that. 00:03:11.759 --> 00:03:14.479 And also just want to say, hey, thanks for being here this morning. 00:03:14.719 --> 00:03:20.479 I don't know about you, but um, when it's time to go to church, all my family turns unchristian. 00:03:20.719 --> 00:03:28.479 Um it's uh you can call it a spiritual attack, or you can just call it our depravity, right? 00:03:28.560 --> 00:03:30.879 It's it's tough to get here sometimes. 00:03:31.039 --> 00:03:37.520 Um, and there's a thousand other things that you could be doing, and there's a thousand excuses that you can make, even some of them spiritual, right? 00:03:37.919 --> 00:03:39.120 But you're here. 00:03:39.759 --> 00:03:42.319 And it I honor that presence. 00:03:42.400 --> 00:03:48.319 And uh I've prayed over every chair in this room, especially those in the balcony, because you're usually the biggest sinners. 00:03:49.439 --> 00:03:50.560 I'm just kidding. 00:03:50.639 --> 00:03:51.680 You're already mad at me. 00:03:51.759 --> 00:03:52.719 Just don't do that. 00:03:52.879 --> 00:03:53.439 Don't do it. 00:03:53.599 --> 00:03:55.360 Give me another chance, okay? 00:03:56.000 --> 00:03:56.719 I'm just kidding. 00:03:56.879 --> 00:04:03.520 I just I think that there's so much happening spiritually around us that we're unaware of. 00:04:03.759 --> 00:04:08.879 And it's not gonna be because of what I say or how I say it. 00:04:08.960 --> 00:04:24.240 I think it's gonna be because of the person of Jesus Christ soaking and marinating in his word and his goodness and truly trusting him that he is still has the power over life and death and loves to restore all things and make all things new. 00:04:24.480 --> 00:04:25.839 That's my great hope. 00:04:26.000 --> 00:04:33.759 And that you'll experience that this morning in small and seemingly insignificant ways, as well as big and profound. 00:04:33.920 --> 00:04:36.639 I'll pray for the miraculous and healing and hope. 00:04:36.720 --> 00:04:41.920 I'll also just pray that our lives lived as a sign and wonder to the people around us. 00:04:42.079 --> 00:04:47.680 So I think this morning what I want to talk to you a little bit about is how do we swim upstream in a downstream culture? 00:04:48.959 --> 00:04:56.560 How is it possible for us who are marked by faith, joy, hope, and love, to swim upstream in a downstream culture? 00:04:57.360 --> 00:05:01.759 A lot of times I think the Christian journey, we had expected one thing and we got another thing. 00:05:01.920 --> 00:05:06.879 By the way, how many of you who you would say your lives right now are not really what you had planned? 00:05:08.000 --> 00:05:10.160 A little bit unexpected, unplanned, right? 00:05:10.319 --> 00:05:12.399 You were hoping for something different, maybe? 00:05:12.639 --> 00:05:16.480 Maybe it's sweeter, maybe it's a little bit more sour, right? 00:05:16.800 --> 00:05:31.519 Um, a while back, uh, when we were trying to get through COVID, uh, at the church I was working at, and I don't know how it worked out here, but we were really loving and compassionate towards one another during COVID, regardless of your political views, uh, regardless of how you felt about Mass. 00:05:31.680 --> 00:05:34.800 We just loved one another and we respected everyone's decision. 00:05:38.560 --> 00:05:40.879 So finally we're trying to get back together. 00:05:41.120 --> 00:05:48.639 Um my gosh, if I have another Zoom meeting, uh, I'm gonna punch myself in the face as I remember those times. 00:05:48.800 --> 00:05:52.560 Um so we finally get outside and realize, hey, we need to get outside. 00:05:52.720 --> 00:06:00.720 And so uh we get someone with a trailer because we need we need some kind of like elevated surface so that we can sing and um I could teach from. 00:06:00.879 --> 00:06:02.800 And so I'm like, does anybody know anybody with a trailer? 00:06:02.879 --> 00:06:04.399 And like, yeah, Tommy Stanfield. 00:06:04.480 --> 00:06:07.360 So I called him Tommy Trailer, and he's just a good old boy. 00:06:07.519 --> 00:06:08.720 It's middle Tennessee, right? 00:06:08.800 --> 00:06:13.600 He's got Georgia boots, he's like six foot four, dip can in the back, rolls up in a diesel dually. 00:06:13.839 --> 00:06:17.680 He's got more tools in his back of his trucks than I have pens in my book bag. 00:06:17.920 --> 00:06:19.040 I have a lot of pens. 00:06:19.680 --> 00:06:24.000 And so it I I this is just a front, just so we're clear. 00:06:24.079 --> 00:06:33.519 Uh this all this is is hey, I'm a really tender, sensitive kid, so I grow a lot of facial hair out, so you make false assumptions about me that fuel my false identity and insecurities, okay? 00:06:33.759 --> 00:06:38.560 So he rolls up in his big duel in his trailer, and so we come out and we're like kind of trying to help him. 00:06:38.639 --> 00:06:44.160 It's this big text gooseneck trailer, which I assume you guys know what it is, but that's the first time I've ever seen anything like that. 00:06:44.240 --> 00:06:48.720 I'm like, wow, somebody needs to name their kid a quattro name, big text gooseneck, right? 00:06:48.959 --> 00:06:49.680 Awesome. 00:06:49.920 --> 00:06:51.920 So we get it out, we get it done, right? 00:06:52.000 --> 00:06:53.439 And so I do what I'm supposed to do. 00:06:53.519 --> 00:06:56.000 I give him a good firm handshake, and I'm like, much obliged. 00:06:56.079 --> 00:06:57.360 Thanks so much, appreciate the trailer. 00:06:57.519 --> 00:06:58.560 He's like, You're welcome. 00:06:58.800 --> 00:06:59.759 So I'm like, all cool. 00:06:59.920 --> 00:07:01.360 So that night we're out there preaching. 00:07:01.439 --> 00:07:06.720 And by the way, uh, I don't, I when I signed up the ministry, I did not sign up to preach from the back of a trailer. 00:07:06.800 --> 00:07:09.120 I felt like a circus peanut, okay? 00:07:09.279 --> 00:07:15.360 Like some skeezy traveling evangelist making a circuit at some low-rate Christian festival, right? 00:07:15.680 --> 00:07:17.519 And so you're out there with your microphone. 00:07:17.680 --> 00:07:19.120 Okay, whatever, here we go. 00:07:19.279 --> 00:07:26.480 Um, and that night was a lot of things were going on, uh, health-wise, racial reconciliation-wise, like it was just tense. 00:07:26.560 --> 00:07:29.199 Things were happening in our city, in our churches, and our homes. 00:07:29.360 --> 00:07:31.759 So we talked about how the gospel sheds light on that. 00:07:31.920 --> 00:07:34.560 My wife had done a pretty powerful and prophetic prayer. 00:07:34.720 --> 00:07:38.959 And so I hopped down off that thing and I'm walking back, and here comes Tommy Trailer. 00:07:39.120 --> 00:07:40.879 And he he's walking pretty determined. 00:07:40.959 --> 00:07:45.839 And it's that kind of walk where you figure he's about to walk straight into a swing based off of what I said. 00:07:45.920 --> 00:07:49.600 So I'm kind of offering him this side of the face because this is the pretty one. 00:07:50.000 --> 00:07:53.120 So it's kind of like glints and I'm like, the joy of the Lord is my strength. 00:07:53.279 --> 00:07:54.560 Help me, Jesus. 00:07:54.800 --> 00:07:56.319 And he goes, I need to talk to you. 00:07:56.399 --> 00:07:57.600 I'm like, okay. 00:07:57.920 --> 00:07:59.680 It's brave face, it's brave face. 00:08:00.240 --> 00:08:02.240 And uh he says, I owe you an apology. 00:08:02.319 --> 00:08:03.120 I said, You do? 00:08:03.439 --> 00:08:04.879 You do, yes, you do. 00:08:05.279 --> 00:08:07.680 Yeah, what's that apology for, buddy? 00:08:08.240 --> 00:08:12.399 I said, Man, I had no idea you were the pastor until you got up on that trailer. 00:08:12.639 --> 00:08:14.240 I'm really thankful for what you said. 00:08:14.319 --> 00:08:15.120 That was really powerful. 00:08:15.279 --> 00:08:17.199 My wife and I, we haven't been in church for about two years. 00:08:17.279 --> 00:08:18.560 I think we'll be back. 00:08:20.000 --> 00:08:20.319 Okay. 00:08:21.839 --> 00:08:26.800 Unexpected, unplanned, but utterly delightful. 00:08:27.519 --> 00:08:29.600 Isn't that the journey of discipleship? 00:08:29.920 --> 00:08:31.759 It takes us on all these twists and turns. 00:08:31.839 --> 00:08:33.200 Isn't that Jesus himself, right? 00:08:33.360 --> 00:08:34.000 He shows up. 00:08:34.159 --> 00:08:35.840 He's not what people expected. 00:08:36.080 --> 00:08:37.600 He's not what people were planning for. 00:08:37.679 --> 00:08:47.519 They're planning for like this incredible military leader who would deliver them and who would rise to power and possibly set up his kingdom, right, on earth where everyone can see it and follow it and do it. 00:08:47.600 --> 00:08:53.440 And then here comes this poor, homeless rabbi who's hanging out with uneducated workers and dockhands. 00:08:55.200 --> 00:09:05.120 Here's the sinless, sovereign son of God who's powerful and authoritative, yet for some reason he's gentle, tender, lowly of heart. 00:09:06.159 --> 00:09:08.639 Came not to be served, but to serve. 00:09:10.080 --> 00:09:14.480 That's unexpected, unplanned, utterly delightful. 00:09:14.639 --> 00:09:20.559 Or in the words of Philip Yancey, the Jesus I never knew but secretly wished was true. 00:09:21.440 --> 00:09:24.240 And that's the Jesus that comes to us in Scripture this morning. 00:09:24.480 --> 00:09:27.360 So if you have your Bibles, would you turn with me to Matthew chapter 7? 00:09:27.679 --> 00:09:31.360 We'll read a couple verses and then see how the Holy Spirit wants to speak to us. 00:09:31.519 --> 00:09:32.799 Matthew chapter 7. 00:09:33.039 --> 00:09:34.639 As you're turning there, I'll pray for us. 00:09:34.879 --> 00:09:37.519 Holy Spirit, give us eyes to see and ears to hear. 00:09:40.080 --> 00:09:43.120 Jesus, would you go before us in this text and make a way? 00:09:44.799 --> 00:09:49.200 And together we say, Speak, Lord, and your servants are listening. 00:09:49.519 --> 00:09:50.159 Amen? 00:09:50.559 --> 00:09:51.039 Amen. 00:09:51.279 --> 00:09:53.279 Matthew 7, 13 and 14. 00:09:58.000 --> 00:09:59.679 Enter through the narrow gate. 00:10:01.679 --> 00:10:06.159 For wide is the gate, and broad is the road that leads to destruction. 00:10:06.879 --> 00:10:08.879 And many enter through it. 00:10:10.480 --> 00:10:16.159 Small is the gate, and narrow is the road that leads to life. 00:10:16.799 --> 00:10:19.360 And only a few find it. 00:10:25.120 --> 00:10:29.039 Just want us to sit and saturate on those two verses. 00:10:29.440 --> 00:10:32.000 In context, Matthew 5, 6, and 7. 00:10:32.159 --> 00:10:36.399 Jesus has laid down his kingdom manifesto called the Sermon on the Mount. 00:10:37.519 --> 00:11:05.759 In 2,474 words, he's kind of outlined what it looks like when we take this journey of dangerous and delightful discipleship by following and living the life Jesus is calling us to live, this upside down, inside out reversal of the kingdom values, that everything that this world holds up in a downstream culture of power and oppression, he's reversing and holding up what is holy, pure, and true. 00:11:06.000 --> 00:11:09.200 And the things that we often dismiss or overlook. 00:11:09.440 --> 00:11:21.200 But the Lord is going to take the small and the unwise and the shameful things that we detest to elevate who he is and who he can use at any point in time. 00:11:21.440 --> 00:11:27.919 After he's unpacking his Sermon on the Mount, then he's going to start to be one of the brilliant teachers, rabbinical fashion that he is. 00:11:28.000 --> 00:11:32.639 He's comparing and contrasting, helping us see the different hues of his kingdom. 00:11:32.799 --> 00:11:35.440 And he's in the middle of this section that's so much fun, right? 00:11:35.519 --> 00:11:47.440 You got two gates, you got two roads, you got two trees, two types of fruit, two types of builders, two types of animals, and he's all using them to paint a picture of what it looks like in his kingdom. 00:11:47.519 --> 00:11:54.399 And in this small, profound, densely two-packed verses, we see a picture, right? 00:11:56.559 --> 00:11:59.840 There is this narrow road. 00:12:00.320 --> 00:12:05.200 This narrow way, and only a few find it, and it leads to eternal joy and justice. 00:12:05.919 --> 00:12:11.600 But there is this wide road that leads to death and destruction, and many people are on it. 00:12:11.919 --> 00:12:16.240 There is a downstream culture headed to death and destruction. 00:12:16.799 --> 00:12:22.000 And there is an upstream culture that we are called to participate in in the narrow road. 00:12:22.240 --> 00:12:22.720 Right? 00:12:22.879 --> 00:12:24.879 Again, it's just comparing and contrasting. 00:12:25.039 --> 00:12:27.039 One is wide, one is narrow. 00:12:27.200 --> 00:12:30.159 One goes with the flow, one goes against the grain. 00:12:30.399 --> 00:12:35.519 One drifts downstream, one swims upstream. 00:12:35.919 --> 00:12:38.000 I really like that upstream picture, right? 00:12:38.080 --> 00:12:40.480 Uh that's like Bob Seeger running against the wind. 00:12:40.559 --> 00:12:47.360 I love it when we get to talk about people who are cutting a path against what normal people think is right. 00:12:47.519 --> 00:12:49.120 I love religious renegades. 00:12:49.279 --> 00:12:55.600 I love people who are saying, no, I'm not settling for pea-packaged, small-minded, comfortable, cultural Christianity. 00:12:55.759 --> 00:12:58.639 I'm a religious renegade, I'm a radical reformer. 00:12:58.799 --> 00:13:00.639 I will do whatever it takes. 00:13:00.799 --> 00:13:05.840 I will surrender it all so that I can see Christ in me, the hope of glory. 00:13:06.000 --> 00:13:12.080 I don't care what the cost, I don't care what the sacrifice, because the cost of not following him is even greater. 00:13:12.240 --> 00:13:17.120 And so I don't want any passion, spiritual gift going unfulfilled. 00:13:17.279 --> 00:13:18.879 I know the Lord has plans for me. 00:13:18.960 --> 00:13:26.240 I know he's given me Ephesians 2.10 gifting, that he calls me a masterpiece, that he's created works with me in Christ Jesus in advance to do that. 00:13:26.399 --> 00:13:30.000 I can only discover with a body of believers around me called the church. 00:13:30.080 --> 00:13:32.000 I'm locked, I'm loaded, I'm in. 00:13:32.080 --> 00:13:34.320 And it's not gonna be pretty, and it's not gonna be perfect. 00:13:34.399 --> 00:13:42.639 There's gonna be a lot of work that I have to do internally, and I become self-aware of things that I really don't like, and I'm gonna want to turn around and run back, but I am in. 00:13:43.200 --> 00:13:45.200 I'm so in, right? 00:13:45.679 --> 00:13:47.360 That's what we want to be. 00:13:48.799 --> 00:13:51.919 On our best days, on our worst days, it's leave me alone. 00:13:52.960 --> 00:13:54.799 I don't want to talk about it anymore. 00:13:55.120 --> 00:13:57.440 I really don't want to work on that character fall. 00:13:58.240 --> 00:14:00.960 I really don't like the Lord pressing in right there. 00:14:01.759 --> 00:14:07.679 Matter of fact, I just want to kick my feet up and I want to drift lazily and dangerously downstream. 00:14:08.559 --> 00:14:11.759 Because sometimes it feels like the cost is too high. 00:14:12.399 --> 00:14:14.960 This is why I love the picture of salmon, right? 00:14:15.039 --> 00:14:16.879 I think my next tattoo is gonna be a salmon. 00:14:16.960 --> 00:14:18.080 I'm gonna get it like right here. 00:14:18.159 --> 00:14:21.440 So if anybody wants to donate to that, feel free. 00:14:21.679 --> 00:14:22.240 Just kidding. 00:14:22.320 --> 00:14:22.639 Sorry. 00:14:22.799 --> 00:14:26.399 This is my time I spent as a trailer evangelist coming out to me. 00:14:28.480 --> 00:14:29.200 I love salmon. 00:14:29.279 --> 00:14:30.399 Look at those guys, right? 00:14:30.559 --> 00:14:38.159 They're bear dodging, waterfall leaping, crossover artists from salt water to fresh water. 00:14:38.320 --> 00:14:44.879 They're darting upstream, they're winking at gullible little guppies that are swimming downstream, right? 00:14:45.360 --> 00:14:46.799 They're just incredible. 00:14:46.879 --> 00:14:54.879 Like they have a mission, they have a destination, they have a determination, and they don't care what the obstacles are, they're going home. 00:14:55.200 --> 00:14:56.320 And that's what I found out. 00:14:56.559 --> 00:14:57.840 I mean, you guys are biology. 00:14:57.919 --> 00:15:00.720 I'm relearning everything I've forgotten in high school recently. 00:15:00.960 --> 00:15:08.159 But apparently, they're hanging out in saltwater, and something one day goes off in their brains that says, Hey, this isn't your home. 00:15:09.919 --> 00:15:12.159 This isn't what you were created for. 00:15:14.320 --> 00:15:16.720 And all of a sudden they begin the journey upstream. 00:15:16.879 --> 00:15:23.279 They cross over from saltwater to freshwater, and they start going up, and they're going back to the very place in which they were born. 00:15:25.120 --> 00:15:29.679 So that they can multiply, so that the legacy can live on. 00:15:29.840 --> 00:15:36.799 They are drawn by an undeniable and unexplainable force that says, Hey, where you wound up, that's not what you were created for. 00:15:38.639 --> 00:15:40.080 That's Ephesians, right? 00:15:40.559 --> 00:15:42.960 God's put eternity in the hearts of men and women. 00:15:43.120 --> 00:15:48.879 And some of your days you will have a holy depression which says, I was not created for this world. 00:15:49.039 --> 00:15:57.120 There is certain brokenness and injustice that is wrong, and my heavenly father wants it to change, and Jesus is gonna come back and he's gonna make all things new. 00:15:57.200 --> 00:15:58.720 He's gonna wipe every tear from our eye. 00:15:58.879 --> 00:16:00.559 The old order of things is passing away. 00:16:00.720 --> 00:16:03.279 Behold, I am making all things new. 00:16:04.799 --> 00:16:09.279 We have to patiently pursue the narrow way. 00:16:10.080 --> 00:16:11.519 That's what I want you to hear this morning. 00:16:11.679 --> 00:16:14.000 Just a gospel encouragement and reminder. 00:16:14.240 --> 00:16:17.039 Patiently pursue the narrow way. 00:16:17.200 --> 00:16:17.519 Why? 00:16:17.759 --> 00:16:26.480 Because it leads to eternity and life and joy and justice, all of which you can experience here and now. 00:16:26.799 --> 00:16:27.840 This is what C.S. 00:16:27.919 --> 00:16:29.120 Lewis was talking about, right? 00:16:29.279 --> 00:16:31.600 In his poetic, metaphorical way. 00:16:32.159 --> 00:16:35.200 It's the scent of a flower we have not yet found. 00:16:35.519 --> 00:16:38.159 It's the tune of a song we have not yet heard. 00:16:38.320 --> 00:16:41.600 It's news from a country we have not yet visited. 00:16:42.159 --> 00:16:44.159 This is how he's painting it, right? 00:16:44.240 --> 00:16:53.039 This is what our souls long for, to be connected to our Creator and find that which it is that we are created for. 00:16:53.440 --> 00:17:02.559 Now, as much of us may recognize and understand that, what it's like to be drawn up steam to eternal joy and justice and to patiently pursue the narrow way. 00:17:02.799 --> 00:17:06.720 We also need to contrast that with the wide road that leads to destruction. 00:17:09.200 --> 00:17:12.400 You and I both know what it's like to be downstream, don't we? 00:17:13.759 --> 00:17:18.079 You know what that demonic draw downstream feels like, don't you? 00:17:19.359 --> 00:17:25.200 You know what it feels like to be carried away by your own angry appetites and ambition. 00:17:26.319 --> 00:17:30.559 You know what the pull to be cruel to others feels like. 00:17:32.000 --> 00:17:37.680 You ever just go, why am I so angry right now, and why do I want to make you miserable? 00:17:38.079 --> 00:17:41.599 Why am I the meanest to the people who love me the most? 00:17:43.839 --> 00:17:46.400 You know what it feels like to be pulled downstream. 00:17:47.519 --> 00:17:48.960 You know what it feels like. 00:17:49.519 --> 00:18:00.720 Or you know what the truth is and you wanted to set it free, but you'd rather crawl back into the safety and security of your prison so that you don't have any responsibility to do the very things that God is calling you to do. 00:18:01.839 --> 00:18:09.200 And just a reminder from God's word this morning, for those of you who are drifting downstream, I need you to hear this, and this is love and kindness. 00:18:09.359 --> 00:18:12.319 It is not condemnation, that's death and destruction. 00:18:16.880 --> 00:18:22.160 Some of you in this very room, as I'm talking, I don't have to describe it anymore. 00:18:23.039 --> 00:18:27.759 But you know what downstream living is and where you're caught in the riptide of that right now. 00:18:29.759 --> 00:18:30.960 And you're drowning. 00:18:34.559 --> 00:18:37.680 And I pray the same prayer for you that I pray for my kids. 00:18:38.559 --> 00:18:43.359 That it'll make you sick spiritually and literally. 00:18:44.799 --> 00:18:47.119 And that you'll see it for what it is. 00:18:48.720 --> 00:18:49.359 Death. 00:18:49.759 --> 00:19:00.079 Dressed up in a Halloween costume, masquerading as life, offering you tiny little treats to trick you into self-destructing. 00:19:02.319 --> 00:19:03.359 But there's hope. 00:19:05.599 --> 00:19:08.880 The Holy Spirit can rescue us, give us eyes to see and ears to hear. 00:19:08.960 --> 00:19:10.880 We can patiently pursue the narrow way. 00:19:11.039 --> 00:19:12.799 Where can we go from your presence, O Lord? 00:19:12.880 --> 00:19:13.759 Psalm 139. 00:19:13.839 --> 00:19:15.599 If I go up into the heights of the heavens, you're there. 00:19:15.680 --> 00:19:28.640 If I go down into hell, into Sheol, even when there is darkness, is light with you, and even when I am as far from you as I possibly can be, even there. 00:19:30.880 --> 00:19:35.440 Your right hand will guide me, and it will hold me fast. 00:19:36.000 --> 00:19:37.839 You want to know where this emotion's coming from. 00:19:38.000 --> 00:19:42.000 One, because it's coming from my biography, and two, it's coming from me parenting. 00:19:44.240 --> 00:19:46.480 I need it to be true this morning. 00:19:48.319 --> 00:19:57.440 And I want you to experience it, and I want you to have hope and faith and trust that we've got a Father in heaven who's working all things together for our good and his glory. 00:19:57.599 --> 00:20:00.160 And I don't know how it's all gonna work out. 00:20:00.240 --> 00:20:02.240 I just know how the story ends. 00:20:04.160 --> 00:20:08.640 Patiently pursue the narrow way. 00:20:09.839 --> 00:20:11.119 It's not gonna be easy. 00:20:11.279 --> 00:20:13.519 Whoever told you it's gonna be easy is a lie. 00:20:14.000 --> 00:20:14.640 Right? 00:20:15.119 --> 00:20:23.039 Hey, we tell you parenting is awesome just so we can get you up here on the dedication, and now we're like, gotcha! You're screwed, okay? 00:20:23.920 --> 00:20:29.279 Here comes 10 years of physical exhaustion, and it's gonna turn into psychological exhaustion all the while. 00:20:29.359 --> 00:20:31.759 It's financial exhaustion, okay? 00:20:32.160 --> 00:20:33.680 Isn't it great? 00:20:34.640 --> 00:20:35.279 It is. 00:20:36.160 --> 00:20:39.039 Because hopefully you get to pass on a new legacy. 00:20:39.519 --> 00:20:45.440 And you get to give generation, commend to them the works of the Lord, and you try to give them a place to start. 00:20:46.079 --> 00:20:50.079 We always tell our kids this hey, you're probably gonna need a counselor, it's just not gonna be for our issues. 00:20:50.160 --> 00:20:55.039 All right, we're gonna give you different ones, but here's 10 bucks. 00:20:55.200 --> 00:20:58.240 Put that towards that's either that or college, what you pick. 00:21:00.079 --> 00:21:01.680 I'm messing with you. 00:21:03.200 --> 00:21:06.640 Patiently pursue the narrow road. 00:21:11.359 --> 00:21:16.559 Maybe this is my own work, and maybe it's with um what some of my teenagers are walking through. 00:21:16.640 --> 00:21:22.559 But hey, there's some students in here this morning, and you're dangerously drifting downstream. 00:21:23.599 --> 00:21:36.160 And you know exactly what it is that you're doing, and you know the truth about who Jesus is and who you are, and you're just flirting with little death and destruction, and you're thinking it's not gonna have any long-term consequences. 00:21:37.279 --> 00:21:43.279 With all the love as a dad and a pastor I can muster up, I'm asking you this morning to patiently pursue the narrow way. 00:21:43.359 --> 00:21:44.559 You know who you are. 00:21:47.279 --> 00:21:50.720 You know who Jesus is, you know you're a part of this family. 00:21:52.640 --> 00:21:59.519 I'd ask you to surrender your rebellious ways and submit yourself to the love of the Savior of Jesus Christ our Lord. 00:22:00.079 --> 00:22:03.440 Who sees you and accepts you and approves of you? 00:22:03.599 --> 00:22:10.559 And you don't need any of those other things to medicate or numb the pain or loneliness that you're feeling. 00:22:11.519 --> 00:22:12.640 He has plans for you. 00:22:12.799 --> 00:22:15.279 Oh, there's a hope and a future coming. 00:22:16.319 --> 00:22:20.720 But it's not going to excuse you from walking through the darkness and difficulty that you're in right now. 00:22:20.799 --> 00:22:21.359 Is that fair? 00:22:21.440 --> 00:22:25.279 Okay, maybe that was just for me, but this wants you to hear that. 00:22:29.119 --> 00:22:34.240 I think Christian authors have tried to tell us this throughout the centuries. 00:22:34.480 --> 00:22:36.160 We've seen it in a lot of stories, right? 00:22:36.240 --> 00:22:44.559 For those of you guys who are readers, there's uh John Bunyan's Pilgrim Progress, where he's taken this journey and it's an incredible metaphor for discipleship. 00:22:44.640 --> 00:22:47.119 And he gives us a bunch of characters, all of whom I've played, right? 00:22:47.279 --> 00:22:48.799 The first one is pliant. 00:22:49.440 --> 00:22:51.119 The first difficulty or obstacle. 00:22:51.279 --> 00:22:52.799 Nope, I'm out, I'm good. 00:22:53.839 --> 00:22:56.400 Only follows when it's comfortable or convenient. 00:22:56.559 --> 00:22:59.119 Then there's hypocrisy and formalist, right? 00:22:59.440 --> 00:23:03.200 Uh muck, no action, humble head, no heart. 00:23:03.519 --> 00:23:10.799 I don't know about you, but I've had all I can take with Christians who hide behind God talk but are not willing to do any of their own work. 00:23:11.599 --> 00:23:12.079 Right? 00:23:12.480 --> 00:23:15.680 Self-awareness is the new leadership of understanding who am I? 00:23:15.839 --> 00:23:22.640 And boy, a lot of times I love to ratchet up my intellect when secretly my character is scared of being exposed. 00:23:24.319 --> 00:23:29.680 And then, of course, you have uh talkative, which uh I don't like this because it's been me more times than not. 00:23:29.839 --> 00:23:31.200 All talk, no action. 00:23:31.359 --> 00:23:34.000 And talkative only likes to follow God. 00:23:34.240 --> 00:23:38.960 When it comes with a pair of silver slippers or Jordan 1s, if you want to contextualize it. 00:23:42.079 --> 00:23:50.319 And when the sun is shining and everyone's applauding, I'm so embarrassed of how long that was my journey. 00:23:50.559 --> 00:23:58.319 If I'm good while the sun is shining and people are applauding, but when the storm clouds gather and no one notices, who am I then? 00:23:59.519 --> 00:24:01.359 Hannah Hernard's done this, right? 00:24:01.599 --> 00:24:03.519 Heinz feet for Heinz places. 00:24:04.079 --> 00:24:12.559 She talks about the journey of much afraid, going to the heights of joy, and she's given two companions on her journey, suffering and sorrow. 00:24:15.759 --> 00:24:18.559 Joy and sorrow coexist, just so we're clear. 00:24:19.440 --> 00:24:29.440 And by the way, that's the model of our Savior Jesus Christ, who for the joy set before him endured the suffering and shame of the cross. 00:24:30.160 --> 00:24:32.559 Became obedient even to death. 00:24:33.119 --> 00:24:37.119 Because of the joy that he was thinking of, he could go on this journey. 00:24:37.279 --> 00:24:39.759 He could swim upstream in a downstream culture. 00:24:39.839 --> 00:24:42.079 He could go against people's expectations. 00:24:42.319 --> 00:24:44.799 He could be exactly who God created him to be. 00:24:44.880 --> 00:24:45.119 Why? 00:24:45.279 --> 00:24:54.319 Because his pure attachment with the Father gave him an incredible resiliency even in the face of betrayal and obstruction. 00:24:54.880 --> 00:24:56.559 I don't know where you're at this morning. 00:24:56.720 --> 00:24:58.400 I don't know what betrayals you're experiencing. 00:24:58.480 --> 00:24:59.759 I don't know what fears you're at. 00:24:59.920 --> 00:25:01.839 I don't know what the diagnosis is look like. 00:25:01.920 --> 00:25:03.680 I don't know where the bills are coming from. 00:25:03.839 --> 00:25:07.839 I don't know where there's unresolved conflict in your relationships or your family. 00:25:08.000 --> 00:25:16.000 What I do know this is patiently pursue the narrow way, and you have everything you need to live a life of godliness. 00:25:16.160 --> 00:25:19.359 And God's power will be made perfect in your weakness. 00:25:21.039 --> 00:25:21.920 He is with you. 00:25:22.079 --> 00:25:25.599 He will never leave you or abandon you or forsake you. 00:25:25.759 --> 00:25:30.799 And your capacity is greater spiritually than you could ever possibly imagine. 00:25:30.880 --> 00:25:35.759 And the usually the only way it becomes increased is by you depleting it. 00:25:38.799 --> 00:25:41.839 Here's another reason why I love salmon. 00:25:43.200 --> 00:25:43.839 You're welcome. 00:25:44.000 --> 00:25:44.880 It's great. 00:25:45.680 --> 00:25:46.960 Lean, healthy, fat. 00:25:47.039 --> 00:25:47.519 Incredible. 00:25:47.680 --> 00:25:49.279 Really good on the pellet grill. 00:25:49.519 --> 00:25:51.119 Here's what I found out. 00:25:51.440 --> 00:25:56.960 When that something goes off in their head where boom, it's time to go up seam, they cross over, they start doing it right. 00:25:57.039 --> 00:26:02.400 They're bear dodging, waterfall, leaping, fast fish, fish, darting, winking at those gullible little guppies. 00:26:02.559 --> 00:26:03.920 Man, that's incredible. 00:26:04.160 --> 00:26:11.440 What I found out is they begin to actually physically transform during that journey. 00:26:11.759 --> 00:26:12.960 Didn't know that. 00:26:13.279 --> 00:26:29.440 Their jaws elongate, their colors change, their muscle fibers go from slow twitch to fast twitch, so they can do that jumping and that darting, and that there's a journey ahead of them that for most of them, by the time they reach it, they'll die shortly thereafter. 00:26:29.680 --> 00:26:34.480 But there's this compulsive physical transformation, and the best one is this. 00:26:34.720 --> 00:26:40.960 In their brains, it secretes a chemical that allows the eyes to see infrared light. 00:26:41.359 --> 00:26:44.319 This is Ed Young, by the way, uh, in the Atlantic Journal. 00:26:44.400 --> 00:26:46.559 And I had to reread that sentence a couple of times. 00:26:46.720 --> 00:26:49.519 What he basically says is they can see in the dark. 00:26:50.799 --> 00:26:51.359 Why? 00:26:51.599 --> 00:26:56.000 Because it's as if they know this is what I will need to make the journey. 00:26:56.160 --> 00:26:57.920 I thought that was incredibly insightful. 00:26:58.000 --> 00:26:59.839 And I'm thinking, oh, that's awesome. 00:27:00.000 --> 00:27:01.200 When does that happen? 00:27:01.599 --> 00:27:03.440 When does that transformation happen? 00:27:03.839 --> 00:27:05.359 Before they start the journey? 00:27:06.079 --> 00:27:07.279 After they're done? 00:27:08.319 --> 00:27:10.559 The second they begin swimming upstream. 00:27:11.519 --> 00:27:16.799 Men and women, patiently pursue the narrow way. 00:27:17.200 --> 00:27:35.920 And the Holy Spirit will begin transforming you from one degree of glory to the next, and to begin to release within your soul divine possibilities and capabilities that you never thought you would ever have access to. 00:27:36.000 --> 00:27:44.960 But because of the dangers, toils, snares, trials, temptations, joys, and celebrations headed your way. 00:27:45.200 --> 00:27:47.119 He is transforming you. 00:27:47.359 --> 00:27:53.359 And one of the things that he always loves to do is give you eyes to see and ears to hear. 00:27:54.000 --> 00:27:58.000 His voice and his presence all along the way. 00:27:58.319 --> 00:27:58.960 Amen. 00:27:59.519 --> 00:27:59.920 Amen. 00:28:00.000 --> 00:28:04.640 So we like to preach the word of God clearly here and give your soul some space to respond. 00:28:05.440 --> 00:28:15.839 And so, just as an attitude of mental worship and hard engagement, I'm going to put a couple questions up on the screen, and I'm going to ask you to practice listening or centering prayer. 00:28:16.319 --> 00:28:19.519 Just that invite the Holy Spirit in on conversation. 00:28:23.759 --> 00:28:26.559 Why don't you just ponder the path that you're on? 00:28:29.359 --> 00:28:32.799 Ask the Holy Spirit for eyes to see and ears to hear. 00:28:33.119 --> 00:28:33.920 Who am I? 00:28:34.079 --> 00:28:36.640 Where am I, and what are you calling me to? 00:28:37.680 --> 00:28:40.160 Be honest, don't dodge it, please. 00:28:40.880 --> 00:28:46.640 Have the courage to be gut level honest about where you're at and what kind of emotions that stirs in you. 00:28:58.559 --> 00:29:02.079 But you got caught in a riptide in an undertow, and it's okay. 00:29:03.039 --> 00:29:04.000 It's okay. 00:29:14.559 --> 00:29:18.960 And he's going to remind you who you are and where you're headed. 00:29:19.680 --> 00:29:21.039 So let's listen together. 00:29:27.920 --> 00:29:32.480 Unto you, O Lord, do we lift up our souls? 00:29:34.079 --> 00:29:35.920 Oh my God, we trust in you. 00:29:37.680 --> 00:29:39.279 Let us not be ashamed. 00:29:40.720 --> 00:29:43.039 Let not our enemies triumph over us. 00:29:44.559 --> 00:29:50.079 Indeed, none who trust in you will ever be put to shame. 00:29:51.200 --> 00:29:51.839 Amen. 00:29:52.880 --> 00:29:53.519