WEBVTT 00:00:01.280 --> 00:00:05.839 Hey, this is Andrew Demazio, lead pastor of Rose Church here in Portland, Oregon. 00:00:06.000 --> 00:00:06.879 Welcome to our podcast. 00:00:07.040 --> 00:00:13.679 Our mission here at Rose is building big people, becoming like Jesus in community while growing in our faith. 00:00:13.839 --> 00:00:20.559 Whoever you are, wherever you are, I pray today's message challenges you and encourages you on your walk with Jesus. 00:00:20.719 --> 00:00:22.079 Thank you so much for listening. 00:00:22.239 --> 00:00:24.320 Enjoy today's podcast. 00:00:25.920 --> 00:00:28.879 Hey, we're gonna get into uh the word today. 00:00:29.039 --> 00:00:32.640 And um, again, if you're new, my name is Andrew, and uh we're so honored to have you. 00:00:32.719 --> 00:00:36.079 All the overflows, nurse moms room, family room, wherever you're at, the nurse of this building. 00:00:36.240 --> 00:00:39.200 Thank you for being here and uh sitting and standing, wherever you're at. 00:00:39.600 --> 00:00:43.840 Um, you know, throughout the month of you know July, we uh it's called Summer of the City. 00:00:43.920 --> 00:00:47.359 We have a lot of stuff planned, hence all the kids' stuff today, and next week we have a bunch of stuff planned. 00:00:47.439 --> 00:00:52.079 But it's also kind of an opportunity for me to uh throughout the month to kind of uh talk about things that are in my heart. 00:00:52.159 --> 00:00:55.119 We're not on a real necessary series uh through this month. 00:00:55.200 --> 00:00:59.920 And uh this happens every once in a while where I will have a thought or an idea that I want to share. 00:01:00.079 --> 00:01:05.680 Um, but then something else is just rototilling, bouncing around my heart that I that I really can't ignore. 00:01:05.840 --> 00:01:12.000 And uh today's one of those days, and um, every once in a while I'll do this um in my devotions in my study. 00:01:12.079 --> 00:01:17.920 I'll just take one book of the Bible, whether it's Romans or Hebrews or whatever, and I'll just read it the whole book in one day. 00:01:18.079 --> 00:01:21.120 Just sit there really slowly and just really dive into one book. 00:01:21.200 --> 00:01:24.079 And I did that uh this last week in 2 Corinthians. 00:01:24.159 --> 00:01:28.000 I just sat there and took some time working my way through this book called 2 Corinthians. 00:01:28.159 --> 00:01:34.959 And uh there's just these two verses, three verses that jumped out to me while I was praying and studying through that book that I just can't really get out of my heart. 00:01:35.120 --> 00:01:36.480 And so today's gonna be a bit different. 00:01:36.560 --> 00:01:45.359 Today's not going to be uh a typical sermon uh um like I normally would, but today's really gonna be an impartation from my heart to yours. 00:01:45.680 --> 00:01:53.120 And um, I really hope uh the things I'm gonna share today are gonna impact you and your heart and how you think about God, and uh, especially if you're far from God. 00:01:53.200 --> 00:01:58.000 Maybe you're here today with a loved one or neighbor or girlfriend that decided to come to church today, and you're like, man, I'm not a Christian. 00:01:58.159 --> 00:02:02.239 Maybe I've been in church my entire life, or maybe raised in a different religion, this is so new to you. 00:02:02.319 --> 00:02:08.639 Uh we're we're so glad that you're here, and I do believe that God is going to speak to you today and deposit something in your heart. 00:02:08.800 --> 00:02:16.960 And so we're gonna read today out of 2 Corinthians chapter 2, sorry, chapter 3, 2 Corinthians 3, verses 1 to 3. 00:02:17.039 --> 00:02:18.719 Just three verses really short. 00:02:18.879 --> 00:02:23.120 Uh, just these a few words I'd like to bring out uh in this sermon today. 00:02:24.080 --> 00:02:27.039 2 Corinthians 3, 1 through 3. 00:02:27.840 --> 00:02:33.360 Uh, we're jumping mid-rant, and I'll explain the rant that's going on between Paul and this church. 00:02:33.520 --> 00:02:39.599 The book of 2 Corinthians, a little bit of a context, is Paul's by far most emotional letter. 00:02:39.840 --> 00:02:45.439 Like, if you go read 2 Corinthians today, uh he's he's taking shots toward them, they're taking shots at him. 00:02:45.520 --> 00:02:50.240 Like, it is a deeply emotional uh because Paul and this church have had a lot of issues going back and forth. 00:02:50.319 --> 00:02:56.879 They're arguing, they've lost some stuff, there's some church drama, there's some people Paul's mad at, there's some people that are mad at Paul, uh, some people have left the church. 00:02:56.960 --> 00:02:58.639 There's a lot of crazy stuff going on in this church. 00:02:58.719 --> 00:03:03.520 And so if you think uh church drama is new, it's been going on since the church started, okay? 00:03:03.759 --> 00:03:06.159 Uh uh church and drama kind of go together. 00:03:06.319 --> 00:03:09.759 So uh so Paul and this church are just going back and forth. 00:03:09.919 --> 00:03:11.439 And uh, there's actually four letters. 00:03:11.599 --> 00:03:15.759 We don't have the other two, but we have first and second, there is a third and fourth that Paul addresses. 00:03:15.840 --> 00:03:16.719 Hey, my other letter. 00:03:16.800 --> 00:03:17.680 Did you get my first letter? 00:03:17.840 --> 00:03:27.520 So there's other letters that are going back and forth, and this is Paul's by far most emotional one, and you'll see in a few verses, uh, and I'll give you some context here in a moment on what he's talking about. 00:03:27.599 --> 00:03:28.159 But here we go. 00:03:28.319 --> 00:03:30.000 Verse one says this. 00:03:30.719 --> 00:03:34.639 Are we beginning to commend ourselves again? 00:03:35.680 --> 00:03:40.719 Or do we need, like some people, letters of recommendation? 00:03:40.879 --> 00:03:41.759 We'll address that. 00:03:42.000 --> 00:03:46.639 Letters of recommendation to you or from you. 00:03:47.360 --> 00:03:51.680 You are sell, you yourselves are our letter. 00:03:52.479 --> 00:03:56.639 Written on our hearts, known and read by everyone. 00:03:56.800 --> 00:03:57.840 Look at this. 00:03:58.400 --> 00:04:09.280 You show that you are a letter from Christ, the result of our ministry, written not with ink, but with the spirit of the living God. 00:04:09.840 --> 00:04:15.120 Not on tablets of stone, but on tablets of human hearts. 00:04:15.520 --> 00:04:18.079 I want to zoom in on that verse three one more time. 00:04:18.720 --> 00:04:23.519 You show that you are a letter from Christ, the result of our ministry. 00:04:24.399 --> 00:04:25.120 Right here. 00:04:25.360 --> 00:04:29.600 Written not with ink, but with the spirit of the living God. 00:04:29.839 --> 00:04:34.959 Not on tablets of stone, but on tablets of human hearts. 00:04:35.199 --> 00:04:39.360 Today I want to talk and just share from this theme living letters. 00:04:40.560 --> 00:04:43.040 Living letters. 00:04:43.759 --> 00:04:45.680 Let's pray as we jump into the word today. 00:04:45.759 --> 00:04:46.879 Father, I thank you for your word. 00:04:47.279 --> 00:04:48.959 God, I thank you for these few verses. 00:04:49.360 --> 00:04:51.519 Just these three verses that we're gonna unpack today, God. 00:04:51.680 --> 00:04:57.759 I thank you for this story in this church in Paul and this church in Corinth, God, just everything going on in this letter is deeply profound. 00:04:57.839 --> 00:05:02.319 And God, I pray for every every person on the sound of my voice today in this room overflows other rooms, God. 00:05:02.639 --> 00:05:04.560 Where your spirit reign and rule in this room. 00:05:05.199 --> 00:05:09.600 We open our eyes, we open our heart, our mind to receive your word today. 00:05:09.839 --> 00:05:12.079 God, let your word be like seed to the soil. 00:05:12.800 --> 00:05:15.120 I'm bringing forth 30, 16 a hundredfold. 00:05:15.759 --> 00:05:16.959 God, we thank you for today. 00:05:17.040 --> 00:05:18.639 We thank you for moments in your presence, God. 00:05:19.040 --> 00:05:24.560 Holy Spirit, I'm praying that you would be active and speaking to people's hearts today, God. 00:05:24.879 --> 00:05:26.639 I pray these things in the mighty name of Jesus. 00:05:27.120 --> 00:05:29.759 And everyone said, Amen. 00:05:31.680 --> 00:05:37.199 Um, many, many moons ago, I was a freshman in high school. 00:05:37.920 --> 00:05:42.160 I went to a Christian school, K-8th grade. 00:05:42.480 --> 00:05:45.199 And uh anyone else raised in a Christian school? 00:05:45.439 --> 00:05:46.560 Okay, like six of you. 00:05:46.720 --> 00:05:47.600 Awesome. 00:05:48.079 --> 00:05:49.360 The rest of you are normal. 00:05:49.600 --> 00:05:52.720 Um, so I was raised in a small Christian school. 00:05:52.800 --> 00:05:54.160 It was a K-12 school. 00:05:54.240 --> 00:05:58.879 And in that K-12, I don't know, it's probably 300 students, 250 students, in the entire K-12. 00:05:59.040 --> 00:06:01.920 And this is back in the like 90s, friends. 00:06:02.160 --> 00:06:07.600 Not like modern Christian school, like Jesuit and Special Catholic and like these other like Catholic Christian whatever schools. 00:06:07.759 --> 00:06:20.480 Like this is an old school 90s Christian school where we would sign, your parents would sign, this is no word of a lie, that when you signed up to go to the school, your parents also signed off that the principal and any teacher could spank you. 00:06:21.839 --> 00:06:23.120 This is big facts. 00:06:23.360 --> 00:06:26.160 And I got spanked by a lot of teachers back then. 00:06:26.560 --> 00:06:26.879 Okay. 00:06:27.360 --> 00:06:29.600 Um, so this is Christian school. 00:06:29.680 --> 00:06:36.720 But my dad was the pastor of the church, my dad was the president or principal of the school, and he was my baseball coach back then. 00:06:36.879 --> 00:06:41.040 And so by eighth grade, my dad was like, This is too much, you are getting kicked out. 00:06:41.120 --> 00:06:42.959 So he dismissed me from the school. 00:06:43.519 --> 00:06:44.319 This is real. 00:06:44.560 --> 00:06:46.639 After he spent me, he dismissed me from the school. 00:06:46.800 --> 00:06:49.279 So and I'm just kidding. 00:06:49.360 --> 00:06:51.439 And so he sent me to Kloakamas High School. 00:06:52.000 --> 00:06:53.839 And so, you know what I was from Kloakamas Thai? 00:06:53.920 --> 00:06:56.319 Yeah, hopefully we didn't go to school together because I was probably mean to you. 00:06:56.480 --> 00:06:58.959 So um, so I went to Kloakamas Thai. 00:06:59.040 --> 00:07:03.439 So, freshman year, I step on premise, literally not knowing anyone. 00:07:03.600 --> 00:07:07.680 Like, I went from a small little Christian school to this massive high school. 00:07:07.839 --> 00:07:12.879 And uh my dad was like, you should play football just to get some friends, like, because football starts in July and August. 00:07:12.959 --> 00:07:13.519 I was like, sure. 00:07:13.600 --> 00:07:15.600 So I started playing football, but I was the basketball player. 00:07:15.680 --> 00:07:17.439 So I was just waiting for basketball season to start. 00:07:17.600 --> 00:07:20.079 For those who know, basketball goes from November till March. 00:07:20.160 --> 00:07:24.160 And so I went out for the freshman team and made the freshman team, ended up starting for the freshman team. 00:07:24.240 --> 00:07:25.120 It's not a big deal. 00:07:25.360 --> 00:07:28.079 But um just like I'm like 14, you know. 00:07:28.240 --> 00:07:32.800 So I start for the freshman team, and and uh and we're pretty good. 00:07:32.879 --> 00:07:37.920 Uh mean mean me and Carson, Matt, and all my friends on the team, and and we end up being like undefeated our freshman year. 00:07:38.000 --> 00:07:41.040 We get to the the league championship game versus West Lynn. 00:07:43.120 --> 00:07:47.040 So to all those that went to one to West Lynn, you're dismissed from the church. 00:07:47.199 --> 00:07:49.120 But uh so we play Westlin. 00:07:49.519 --> 00:07:50.720 And it's a very close game. 00:07:50.800 --> 00:07:53.600 We played them earlier and once, it's a very close game, championship game, right? 00:07:53.759 --> 00:07:57.199 And you know this in like high school sports, like all the varsity guys are watching, right? 00:07:57.360 --> 00:08:04.800 So the varsity team is there, like all the parents are there, and and uh we we end up being down one with like seven seconds to go. 00:08:05.120 --> 00:08:08.000 Call timeout, we have our huddle with Coach Griffin. 00:08:08.240 --> 00:08:12.800 So Coach Griffin, he sits there and he goes, All right, we've we one final shot. 00:08:12.959 --> 00:08:14.160 Who wants to take it? 00:08:14.399 --> 00:08:15.439 And everyone's like, look in. 00:08:15.600 --> 00:08:17.519 And I was like, I'll take it. 00:08:18.160 --> 00:08:19.600 I'll do it, I'll shoot it. 00:08:19.839 --> 00:08:22.319 And so he's like, okay, switch all this play up, right? 00:08:22.399 --> 00:08:27.519 And now I'm like, I'm 14 years old, 15 years old, and so I'm like, this whole, it's a movie scene for me, right? 00:08:27.600 --> 00:08:30.800 Like, we're walking out, girls are screaming, like it's a whole, right? 00:08:30.879 --> 00:08:31.600 Like, that didn't happen. 00:08:31.680 --> 00:08:32.879 But you know, in my mind, right? 00:08:32.960 --> 00:08:36.320 Like, babe, it's only been you my whole life, I promise, only been you. 00:08:36.480 --> 00:08:38.320 Even since I was 14, only you. 00:08:38.559 --> 00:08:43.840 So um, so right, it's like this is a movie scene for me, right? 00:08:43.919 --> 00:08:50.159 Like the varsity team's there, like it's championship game, we're down one, I walk out, like I'm I'm hyped. 00:08:50.720 --> 00:08:54.879 Come off this double strain, get the ball, see the clock going down, you know. 00:08:54.960 --> 00:08:57.440 I shoot, it's going in slow motion, like the whole thing for me, right? 00:08:57.519 --> 00:08:59.039 Like I shoot and I miss. 00:08:59.919 --> 00:09:01.200 And we lose. 00:09:01.440 --> 00:09:02.559 We lose by one. 00:09:02.639 --> 00:09:04.480 And I was devastated. 00:09:05.279 --> 00:09:05.519 Right? 00:09:05.600 --> 00:09:08.080 Imagine just being 14, brand new high school. 00:09:08.240 --> 00:09:10.320 The varsity team's there, everyone's watching. 00:09:10.399 --> 00:09:12.320 I asked to take the shot. 00:09:13.279 --> 00:09:14.240 I missed. 00:09:15.039 --> 00:09:15.600 Devastated. 00:09:15.679 --> 00:09:17.519 I remember sitting in the locker room crying. 00:09:17.840 --> 00:09:22.480 All my teammates are walking out, and I'm just like, I'm gonna have to go to school tomorrow. 00:09:22.879 --> 00:09:24.159 People are gonna say something. 00:09:24.399 --> 00:09:25.519 Why make the team next year? 00:09:25.600 --> 00:09:26.720 Right, I'm like 14 years old. 00:09:27.279 --> 00:09:27.840 Going through. 00:09:28.720 --> 00:09:32.080 My dad already left, and uh, you don't have to take a bus home. 00:09:32.320 --> 00:09:36.879 You know, so I'm sitting in the back of the bus and the season's over, and I'm just in it, right? 00:09:37.360 --> 00:09:40.639 And and we I get to the bus and get a ride home. 00:09:41.039 --> 00:09:46.639 And uh sorry late by by now when I get home and there is a letter on my pillow from my dad. 00:09:47.759 --> 00:09:54.000 Um for those of you who don't know, my dad was an author, you know, wrote, I don't know, 40, 50 books, whatever it was, has two masters, a doctorate. 00:09:54.159 --> 00:09:58.480 Like my dad was a very learned writer, um, you know, academic person. 00:09:58.720 --> 00:10:03.519 And so throughout my life, my dad has written me letters um about life and you know, whatever. 00:10:03.679 --> 00:10:15.679 So I get home and I'm still just like losing it, and there is a letter on my on my pillow, and it's a letter from my dad about how proud he is of me and what he thinks of me, and you know, this whole letter. 00:10:15.840 --> 00:10:20.480 Um and I and I kept that letter um my whole life. 00:10:22.559 --> 00:10:23.279 Look away, mom. 00:10:24.240 --> 00:10:35.759 So um this this is usually in my office that's fr uh framed and hung up, and I I kept this letter my whole life, and you know, I'll be 40 here in a little bit. 00:10:35.840 --> 00:10:41.840 Um hence the gray beard, and um you know, and I and I read it every once in a while. 00:10:41.919 --> 00:10:48.639 I don't read it all the time, but it hangs up in my office in my study at my house, and um you know, letters carry weight. 00:10:49.759 --> 00:10:54.960 What's shocking about letters is they are weightless, but they're weighty. 00:10:56.000 --> 00:11:01.440 In what world can something that literally does not carry weight at all, you can't measure this. 00:11:01.600 --> 00:11:03.279 Oh, but you can measure this. 00:11:04.559 --> 00:11:06.480 Letters carry weight. 00:11:06.960 --> 00:11:17.279 I don't know if you've ever received a letter from a doctor or from a friend or someone overseas, like when you go to the mail and you open it, it's like, oh, this these words are not words. 00:11:18.320 --> 00:11:24.960 Letters carry weight, they carry weight in our day and age, but so much more significantly back then. 00:11:25.919 --> 00:11:36.320 Back then, there is no LinkedIn, there is no job review stuff, there is no job history, there is no credit score, there is nothing like that. 00:11:36.480 --> 00:11:39.840 All you have is someone else's words about your life. 00:11:41.039 --> 00:11:41.919 That's it. 00:11:42.720 --> 00:11:52.399 So in the ancient world, you would have a letter from someone with a stamp or a signet ring or a signature or something that would prove that you would show up. 00:11:52.639 --> 00:11:54.399 Go ahead, I have a letter. 00:11:55.279 --> 00:12:00.320 And it's not what's on your life that gets you in that room, it's the letter that you hold. 00:12:01.120 --> 00:12:04.000 It's the person that has given you authority. 00:12:04.320 --> 00:12:09.519 So Paul brings up in this letter, he goes, Are you asking me for a letter of recommendation? 00:12:10.159 --> 00:12:20.080 Because what was happening is Paul left Rome and was in Corinth, different nation, different part of the different area, and he starts a church in the city of Corinth. 00:12:20.320 --> 00:12:24.799 And some Jews get really upset because they go, Hey, you're from Jerusalem. 00:12:25.039 --> 00:12:27.360 Where's your letter of recommendation? 00:12:28.000 --> 00:12:30.000 You aren't supposed to be here. 00:12:30.320 --> 00:12:35.039 We run this, and these these apostles are asking Paul, where's your letter? 00:12:35.600 --> 00:12:37.279 Where's your accreditation? 00:12:37.440 --> 00:12:38.480 Where's your authority? 00:12:38.639 --> 00:12:40.399 And look what Paul says back. 00:12:40.799 --> 00:12:44.000 Verse 2, he's like, You think we need a letter of recommendation? 00:12:44.559 --> 00:12:46.159 You're my letter. 00:12:47.120 --> 00:12:52.799 In other words, he tells the Corinthian church, I don't need a written letter, I have a living letter. 00:12:53.600 --> 00:12:58.879 The church that has started, the church that's been birthed, is my living letter. 00:13:00.080 --> 00:13:05.039 Today I want to talk about the idea that you are God's living letter. 00:13:07.279 --> 00:13:09.200 You are God's living letter. 00:13:10.000 --> 00:13:14.799 And if a letter that is weightless could carry weight, how much more in your life? 00:13:16.000 --> 00:13:28.480 If something like this could carry that much weight, how much more should the weight that you hold in this life that God has written on your heart, not with ink, but by the Spirit of the living God. 00:13:28.960 --> 00:13:33.039 And that you are a living letter. 00:13:34.960 --> 00:13:36.480 You're a living letter. 00:13:36.720 --> 00:13:41.360 Look what William Barclay says, great scholar, about these three verses right here. 00:13:42.080 --> 00:13:44.879 He says, There is a great truth here. 00:13:45.679 --> 00:13:50.960 Look at this, which is both an inspiration and an awful warning. 00:13:51.679 --> 00:13:55.440 Every individual is an open letter for Jesus Christ. 00:13:55.919 --> 00:14:00.960 All Christians, whether they like it or not, are advertisements for Christianity. 00:14:01.200 --> 00:14:02.000 Look at this. 00:14:02.159 --> 00:14:05.679 The honor of Christ is in the hands of his followers. 00:14:06.399 --> 00:14:09.919 We judge a shopkeeper by the kind of goods sold. 00:14:10.159 --> 00:14:13.120 We judge a craftsman by the kind of articles produced. 00:14:13.360 --> 00:14:16.399 We judge a church by the kind of men and women it creates. 00:14:16.559 --> 00:14:20.240 And therefore, people judge Christ by his followers. 00:14:22.000 --> 00:14:33.360 When we go out into the world, we have the awe-inspiring responsibility of being open letters, advertisements for Christ and His church. 00:14:46.159 --> 00:14:49.200 Long before they ever read a Bible, they will read you. 00:14:50.480 --> 00:14:53.279 Sometimes, for some people, they will never read a Bible. 00:14:53.360 --> 00:14:55.200 You are the only letter they will ever read. 00:14:56.960 --> 00:15:12.399 And now, no one's saying this to you, but understand that when they interact with you and your home and your marriage and your Twitter account and your Instagram account and who you date and who you marry and how you tip and how you act and how you eat out and how you go with your friends and where you go. 00:15:13.600 --> 00:15:16.559 You are a breathing manuscript. 00:15:19.360 --> 00:15:26.159 You are a living letter that people are interacting with every single day. 00:15:27.679 --> 00:15:33.679 So, to those in the room that are not a believer, I think this is a good Sunday for you to consider what it would mean for you to become one. 00:15:35.440 --> 00:15:38.879 Because there has to be weight behind these words. 00:15:41.039 --> 00:15:43.200 See, I could read this letter to you today. 00:15:43.440 --> 00:15:45.519 I'm not going to because it's none of your business. 00:15:45.679 --> 00:15:51.440 But I could read this to you and you would cry because it'd be emotional, but you don't hear his voice, I do. 00:15:53.360 --> 00:15:57.120 The weight of relationship is for me behind these words, not for you. 00:15:57.679 --> 00:15:59.919 Because there's weight behind these words. 00:16:01.200 --> 00:16:03.679 Is there weight behind yours when people read your letter? 00:16:05.919 --> 00:16:06.799 Is there weight? 00:16:06.960 --> 00:16:08.000 Is there density? 00:16:08.320 --> 00:16:09.679 Is there texture? 00:16:10.320 --> 00:16:11.440 Notice what he says. 00:16:11.600 --> 00:16:13.759 This is not written on stone. 00:16:14.320 --> 00:16:16.639 It's written on living human hearts. 00:16:17.600 --> 00:16:20.159 So again, this is flattened. 00:16:21.279 --> 00:16:22.639 It's just words on a piece of paper. 00:16:22.720 --> 00:16:27.840 Now, of course, we believe this is living inactive, don't get me wrong, but this is a flattened parchment. 00:16:28.080 --> 00:16:29.279 You and I are not friends. 00:16:29.360 --> 00:16:34.399 There's texture, there's emotion, there's life. 00:16:35.360 --> 00:16:44.799 So today I just want to impart this thing that's been rattling in my mind and heart to you today, on what would it mean for you and I to realize and act like we are a living letter? 00:16:46.080 --> 00:16:47.919 Okay, just just it won't be on the screen. 00:16:48.000 --> 00:16:49.679 This is just me talking. 00:16:50.240 --> 00:17:00.320 So if that's true, if what I'm proposing today, perpetuating through this pulpit, if what I'm laying at your feet today is true, I have a few questions for you. 00:17:00.559 --> 00:17:04.799 If you are a living letter, first question, what story are people reading? 00:17:07.680 --> 00:17:14.240 When people are interacting with you and your letter of life, what are they reading? 00:17:15.039 --> 00:17:17.920 What is the story that you are communicating? 00:17:18.799 --> 00:17:20.559 Is it a story of anger? 00:17:21.680 --> 00:17:26.160 Resentment, loss, disparaging circumstances. 00:17:27.039 --> 00:17:29.519 Is it a letter of resentment and bitterness? 00:17:31.200 --> 00:17:34.000 Is it a resentment of could've, should have, would've, didn't? 00:17:35.039 --> 00:17:39.200 Or is it a letter of peace and joy and patience and kindness and goodness? 00:17:39.839 --> 00:17:42.880 Is the letter, are you the main character in the letter? 00:17:44.160 --> 00:17:46.079 How many eyes are in your letter? 00:17:46.240 --> 00:18:00.480 Well, I did this and I married her and I got this job, and I graduated from this school, and I got this degree, and I have this, or is it God did this and God did that and God gave who who's the main character of the story of your life? 00:18:02.720 --> 00:18:05.920 What story is being told? 00:18:07.839 --> 00:18:08.559 See, okay. 00:18:08.640 --> 00:18:11.920 Uh what would be your magnum opus in this room? 00:18:12.720 --> 00:18:15.920 All the chefs and cooks in the room, what would be the meal? 00:18:16.319 --> 00:18:23.039 Right, the president of your company or the first time you're meeting your in-laws or the first date at your house, what would be your meal? 00:18:23.440 --> 00:18:28.160 All the cooks in the room, what is your magnum opus of like, oh, if I had to cook a meal, this is it? 00:18:28.799 --> 00:18:58.240 I know for Julia, I'd make her make her homemade spicy vodka sauce, homemade faccia bread, glass of wine, like top shelf, like what for all the artists in the room, what clothing of merch, what photo, what song, what lyric, what poem, what design, what social media campaign would be your Magnus open for the business people in the room, what portfolio I got this person, I signed this on, I'll receive this kind of money. 00:18:58.319 --> 00:19:04.720 What for you in your life right now, if you had to put something forth to show your worth, what would it be? 00:19:05.839 --> 00:19:06.799 A degree? 00:19:08.079 --> 00:19:09.680 Home, bank account, social. 00:19:10.000 --> 00:19:12.640 Like, what would be your thing that you would bring forward? 00:19:12.799 --> 00:19:15.119 This is this carries my weight. 00:19:15.519 --> 00:19:15.839 Okay. 00:19:16.640 --> 00:19:20.799 Have you considered that you are God's magnus open? 00:19:22.559 --> 00:19:25.200 You are God's greatest accomplishment. 00:19:26.880 --> 00:19:29.519 Okay, look at Ephesians chapter 2, verse 6. 00:19:30.559 --> 00:19:38.960 For he has raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with him in heavenly places, heavenly realms, because we are united with Christ Jesus. 00:19:39.200 --> 00:19:49.119 So God can point to us in all future ages as examples of the incredible wealth of his grace and kindness. 00:19:49.920 --> 00:19:50.559 Do you see? 00:19:50.880 --> 00:19:53.519 One translation says, We are trophies of grace. 00:19:54.480 --> 00:20:04.559 So think of it this way: the next time that somebody wants to challenge God on his work, he points to you, saying, You want to see grace, go read that story. 00:20:04.799 --> 00:20:07.119 You want to see kindness, go read that story. 00:20:07.359 --> 00:20:09.839 You want to see redemption, go read that story. 00:20:10.160 --> 00:20:15.839 You are the thing that God points to when he wants to show off his work. 00:20:18.480 --> 00:20:19.519 Yes, you. 00:20:20.799 --> 00:20:22.960 Every one of you, I got me talking about the pastors in the room. 00:20:23.039 --> 00:20:23.519 No, no, no. 00:20:24.000 --> 00:20:32.160 If you are saved, transformed, made righteous, clean in his name, every single one of you, God can point to you saying, You want to see my work? 00:20:33.759 --> 00:20:36.000 You want to see what I do around here? 00:20:36.240 --> 00:20:38.000 Go read that story. 00:20:39.599 --> 00:20:40.799 Go read that letter. 00:20:40.960 --> 00:20:42.559 You want to see my grace? 00:20:42.880 --> 00:20:45.359 Look where I found her, where she is now. 00:20:46.559 --> 00:20:48.000 You want to see my power? 00:20:48.160 --> 00:20:51.440 Go read that man's story, where he came from, how he got here, what go? 00:20:51.519 --> 00:20:52.799 You want to see my work? 00:20:53.680 --> 00:20:56.240 Or in other words, you want a letter of recommendation? 00:20:56.480 --> 00:20:57.839 Go read her story. 00:20:59.920 --> 00:21:01.680 I don't need no letter. 00:21:02.160 --> 00:21:03.839 I don't need words on paper. 00:21:04.000 --> 00:21:07.440 You wanna you want to see my work, my letter of recommendation? 00:21:08.079 --> 00:21:09.920 Oh, I have a living letter. 00:21:10.880 --> 00:21:17.119 I have a breathing manuscript that you can go read and find out who I am. 00:21:17.440 --> 00:21:21.519 When people come to interact with your story, friends, what are they hearing? 00:21:22.240 --> 00:21:27.440 What is the story that you are telling? 00:21:28.880 --> 00:21:30.319 Because this is the thing. 00:21:31.680 --> 00:21:35.839 It comes down to the story you've been telling yourself. 00:21:38.559 --> 00:21:42.640 You are perpetuating the story that you think is true. 00:21:47.920 --> 00:21:59.519 The story you tell yourself, the more that you tell it, even if it's false, becomes real because it's become repetitive and the norm, and you are perpetuating what you think is real. 00:22:01.200 --> 00:22:05.359 So I also want to like dive into the what have you been telling you? 00:22:08.480 --> 00:22:10.640 So I, uh, for those who don't know, we have three kids. 00:22:10.960 --> 00:22:15.359 Uh this fall I'll have a 13-year-old, an 11-year-old, and a five-year-old. 00:22:15.759 --> 00:22:17.359 Which is insane. 00:22:17.440 --> 00:22:18.640 I want to have a 13-year-old. 00:22:19.039 --> 00:22:21.279 Um but my youngest, uh, he's four. 00:22:21.359 --> 00:22:22.480 He'll be five in September. 00:22:22.960 --> 00:22:27.599 And um he's something else. 00:22:29.440 --> 00:22:31.839 He he makes me laugh uncontrollably. 00:22:32.000 --> 00:22:34.559 Um, you know, he's in this stage, he's like, you know, he's gonna be five. 00:22:34.640 --> 00:22:36.559 He's like, I'm five now, I got it. 00:22:36.880 --> 00:22:39.039 You know, so the other day he's like, Dog, I gotta go poop, can you help? 00:22:39.119 --> 00:22:40.240 I was like, take him over to the bathroom. 00:22:40.400 --> 00:22:42.880 He goes, No, you stand outside, I got it. 00:22:43.519 --> 00:22:48.480 And I was like, all right, that's why you stand outside, and apparently the toll paper was all gone. 00:22:49.279 --> 00:22:49.599 Yeah. 00:22:49.759 --> 00:22:52.960 So he gets in there and goes, Is this some kind of sick joke? 00:22:56.880 --> 00:22:59.440 So he's in he's he's unbelievably funny. 00:22:59.680 --> 00:23:02.960 And so those of you who don't know, here's a photo of him from Kids Camp. 00:23:03.039 --> 00:23:05.279 Um, here is his perpetual mood. 00:23:05.519 --> 00:23:14.000 Um that there he is, in all of his glory. 00:23:14.720 --> 00:23:17.920 Uh, here's also a video for Emmanuel's ring camera. 00:23:39.680 --> 00:23:41.119 Watch it one more time. 00:23:41.359 --> 00:23:44.240 Notice how he like winds up to hit Santa. 00:23:44.559 --> 00:23:49.119 And then notice how he turns back and goes, watch it again. 00:23:56.960 --> 00:23:57.519 Watch. 00:24:06.240 --> 00:24:07.279 Oh, hi. 00:24:08.799 --> 00:24:16.240 So so he's he's he's funny, but he uh he's he's the best. 00:24:16.319 --> 00:24:20.480 He's in this um it's interesting watching him grow and become a human. 00:24:21.279 --> 00:24:26.400 His his mind and his memory and his emotions, like watching him develop has been quite interesting. 00:24:26.799 --> 00:24:28.079 I was too young when we had crews. 00:24:28.240 --> 00:24:29.519 I don't remember him at this stage. 00:24:29.839 --> 00:24:32.480 I was 20, I was I I had two kids by 25. 00:24:33.119 --> 00:24:39.759 So I was just too young when when those kids were that age, and so like now being older and watching him develop is quite interesting. 00:24:40.079 --> 00:24:42.960 And watching how he talks to himself is fascinating. 00:24:43.519 --> 00:24:48.480 Like the other day, he's in this like weird lying stage right now to get his older siblings in trouble. 00:24:49.119 --> 00:24:52.000 At least 10 times a day, he's like, Dad, can you spank with his butt? 00:24:52.240 --> 00:24:55.359 Um at least like 10 times a day, can you spank with his butt? 00:24:55.519 --> 00:24:58.960 Um, and so there are a day I'm like I'm studying for this sermon. 00:24:59.039 --> 00:25:09.839 I'm on I'm at the computer at my desk and they're over in the couch, and and Cruz like shoves him and he and Rhodes like falls off the couch, you know, in the most like dramatic Italian fashion in the whole world. 00:25:10.000 --> 00:25:14.640 It just like falls off, and you know, and and he he comes over to me weeping. 00:25:15.119 --> 00:25:15.920 I'm sitting right here. 00:25:16.799 --> 00:25:22.960 Cruz choked me, and then he kicked me and he shoved me off the couch, dad. 00:25:23.279 --> 00:25:27.839 And I was like, bro, I watched the whole thing. 00:25:29.839 --> 00:25:31.440 He just shoved you off the catch. 00:25:31.839 --> 00:25:33.680 No, Dad, he choked me. 00:25:34.240 --> 00:25:35.839 And I go, I didn't see it. 00:25:36.000 --> 00:25:37.599 He goes, It happened so fast. 00:25:40.480 --> 00:25:42.640 He's like, No, he choked me. 00:25:42.799 --> 00:25:45.039 And this kid is seriously distraught. 00:25:45.759 --> 00:25:51.759 Legitimately, this is what's playing in his mind, and he's acting like it's true. 00:25:57.119 --> 00:25:59.119 Some of you are doing the same right now. 00:26:01.599 --> 00:26:07.200 The story you are telling yourself is not what actually happened. 00:26:07.839 --> 00:26:09.920 But you're living like it did. 00:26:12.160 --> 00:26:17.519 So when people come to interact with your living letter friends, what story is happening? 00:26:19.200 --> 00:26:21.119 What story are you perpetuating? 00:26:21.359 --> 00:26:29.359 What story are you telling your I'm getting there, Venus? 00:26:29.440 --> 00:26:30.799 We're gonna get there, I promise. 00:26:34.000 --> 00:26:36.480 This is what I saw really prophetic this week. 00:26:37.039 --> 00:26:41.440 You know, like when you go to a kid's you know paper or whatever, and there's just scribblys everywhere. 00:26:42.079 --> 00:26:44.160 And they act like they wrote a name or something, right? 00:26:44.240 --> 00:26:45.039 It's like look at whatever. 00:26:45.359 --> 00:26:46.640 I wrote my name, it's just scribbly. 00:26:47.039 --> 00:26:50.799 Some of you, the the chapter you're in right now, people are reading your story now, and all this is scribbles. 00:26:52.640 --> 00:26:55.200 And this is why I felt really deep from the Holy Spirit. 00:26:55.359 --> 00:26:58.000 It's because you and the author are fighting over the pen. 00:27:00.559 --> 00:27:04.480 And people reading your store your story right now are like, where did where did you go? 00:27:04.559 --> 00:27:05.920 And where that what is what word is that? 00:27:06.000 --> 00:27:10.400 And where did like they're trying to follow the lineage right now, they're trying to follow the story. 00:27:10.480 --> 00:27:12.960 They're like, it's just all scribbles right now. 00:27:13.039 --> 00:27:15.359 It's because you and the author are fighting over the pen. 00:27:18.480 --> 00:27:22.319 Because for some of you, you are more committed to being the author of your story than him. 00:27:24.319 --> 00:27:25.359 No, I'm gonna write this. 00:27:27.359 --> 00:27:28.880 This is what I dreamed. 00:27:29.519 --> 00:27:30.960 This was my ten-year plan. 00:27:32.240 --> 00:27:35.680 This is what my dad did, this is what my mom did, this is what we do around here. 00:27:36.960 --> 00:27:50.880 And you have not relinquished the control of your pen yet to go, you're a better writer than me, you're a better storyteller than me, you're a better description than me, you're a better wordsmith than me, you're a better visionary than me. 00:27:51.039 --> 00:27:54.559 Lord, would you take over my pen and write my story? 00:27:55.200 --> 00:28:02.480 To all those in the room today that do not serve Jesus, and your story has not gone how you wanted it. 00:28:03.119 --> 00:28:11.839 Let me tell you about a man that can step into your story mid-chapter and take over the authorship. 00:28:13.599 --> 00:28:19.680 And we're gonna rewrite a whole new story that you have never fathomed in your life. 00:28:20.880 --> 00:28:26.400 But it's gonna take a relenting ability to give up control. 00:28:28.240 --> 00:28:29.440 Say, God, you're right. 00:28:30.640 --> 00:28:34.960 The story's not going how I thought it would go when I was 22, when I was 55. 00:28:35.039 --> 00:28:40.160 This is not the story I was writing, but God has begun writing a story, and this is what you need here. 00:28:40.559 --> 00:28:46.640 The Bible says that Paul says, it was not with ink, but by the Spirit of the living God. 00:28:46.960 --> 00:28:52.720 Which tells me that someone is here today, the people that walked out don't own the ink. 00:28:54.880 --> 00:28:57.200 The people that left don't own the ink. 00:28:58.079 --> 00:29:00.799 No one gets to write your story but him. 00:29:01.440 --> 00:29:24.960 Not the ex-wife, not the old business partner, not the old friend, not anybody else in this life has the authority or the ability to grab the ink and write your story, for your story is not one of ink, it is one of the spirit of God, not on stone, but on human hearts. 00:29:25.920 --> 00:29:29.599 Oh, friend, you need to understand today, you are a living letter. 00:29:32.000 --> 00:29:33.759 So, what's the story? 00:29:34.880 --> 00:29:36.319 What's the story? 00:29:38.160 --> 00:29:39.279 What is it? 00:29:40.160 --> 00:29:42.000 What have you been retelling? 00:29:47.039 --> 00:29:53.440 See, some of you, you you are so obsessed with an old chapter, you're at you're acting like that's the whole story. 00:29:54.720 --> 00:29:58.079 Like people are walking into your life right now at chapter 11. 00:29:58.640 --> 00:30:00.559