WEBVTT 00:00:00.220 --> 00:00:04.179 We're so glad that you've joined us today on the relevant church podcast. 00:00:04.540 --> 00:00:07.389 There's so much God wants to do in and through you. 00:00:07.391 --> 00:00:15.490 As you listen to this message, if you want to learn more about relevant church, visit us online@thisisrelevant.cc. 00:00:17.609 --> 00:00:26.160 This is going to be the 17th Thanksgiving that I've gotten to spend with my chocolate princess, 17 years. 00:00:26.161 --> 00:00:28.890 We get to spend Thanksgiving together. 00:00:28.890 --> 00:00:35.130 It's been an incredible, incredible time, but our very first Thanksgiving was not that incredible. 00:00:36.329 --> 00:00:39.210 So let me tell you a little bit about Christina and I's first Thanksgiving. 00:00:39.570 --> 00:00:40.439 Christina and I met in college. 00:00:40.441 --> 00:00:41.579 This was her senior year. 00:00:41.700 --> 00:00:45.299 She was getting ready to graduate and I had just moved back in town. 00:00:45.301 --> 00:00:48.030 I was on an internship in Orlando, Florida. 00:00:48.119 --> 00:00:49.679 So I just came back out into the grooves. 00:00:49.920 --> 00:00:57.479 Things started working, started developing relationships, connecting with people, and then I met a friend by the name of, we'll call her Stacy. 00:00:58.380 --> 00:01:02.729 So in about July, August, I started hanging out with a friend, Stacy. 00:01:02.731 --> 00:01:04.109 It was so innocent. 00:01:04.650 --> 00:01:06.329 We just had the same career path. 00:01:06.331 --> 00:01:08.849 We both were in design and marketing communication. 00:01:08.939 --> 00:01:12.030 So we hit it off really well and she became a really good friend. 00:01:12.030 --> 00:01:23.010 And in about August, September, Stacy told me that she didn't have anywhere to go for Thanksgiving because her family was in Baltimore and she wasn't going to handle the handle a trip back there cause she had so much work to do. 00:01:23.280 --> 00:01:26.459 So I said, Stacy, why don't you come over for Thanksgiving? 00:01:28.129 --> 00:01:36.480 And then in October I met Christine and Christine and I knew that this was it. 00:01:37.170 --> 00:01:38.819 It was going to be me and her baby. 00:01:39.810 --> 00:01:45.540 We were going to be ride or die from day one ad and watching Christine's his freshman year. 00:01:45.540 --> 00:01:49.109 And this was finally the opportunity to get with Christine. 00:01:49.200 --> 00:01:50.129 I forget a single. 00:01:50.189 --> 00:01:53.280 So I stepped to her and I was like, baby, let's do this thing. 00:01:53.281 --> 00:01:55.379 We can make an eternity from today. 00:01:55.530 --> 00:01:57.269 And she was like, I'm about that life. 00:01:57.450 --> 00:02:05.670 And so we started talking, we started connecting and then I found out that Christine wasn't heading back to Toronto for Thanksgiving. 00:02:06.879 --> 00:02:06.879 Okay. 00:02:07.010 --> 00:02:11.750 But I had already invited Stacy over for Thanksgiving and I didn't want anybody to ask any crazy questions. 00:02:11.751 --> 00:02:16.250 I've got nieces and nephews, you know, little kids just always ask you, why do you have two girls at Thanksgiving? 00:02:17.599 --> 00:02:19.039 Which one's your girlfriend? 00:02:20.419 --> 00:02:28.189 I didn't want to deal with that, but you know what, who am I to tell this young, lovely lady who I'm courting that she can't come over for Thanksgiving. 00:02:28.191 --> 00:02:31.610 So I told Christine, why don't you come over Thanksgiving? 00:02:31.669 --> 00:02:33.949 I just didn't tell her Stacy was coming to. 00:02:36.050 --> 00:02:40.039 So I'm sitting there trying to figure out how I'm going to do all of this and calculate all of this. 00:02:40.159 --> 00:02:43.189 And I started rationalizing, man, Stacy, just friends, we're cool. 00:02:43.280 --> 00:02:48.199 There's nothing going on, but you know, it's still gonna look a little sketchy. 00:02:48.200 --> 00:02:55.189 So Thanksgiving comes around and uh, as Christine's coming to the house, I was like, Oh yeah, by the way, Stacy going to be at the house. 00:02:55.189 --> 00:02:56.240 And she said, say what? 00:02:57.439 --> 00:02:59.740 She says, Oh, like Stacy, who you been out with? 00:03:00.460 --> 00:03:01.180 I'm like, yeah. 00:03:01.181 --> 00:03:02.979 And she's like, she's going to be at your house at Thanksgiving. 00:03:03.580 --> 00:03:04.270 I was like, yes. 00:03:04.360 --> 00:03:06.400 She was like, but I'm going to be at your house for Thanksgiving. 00:03:06.460 --> 00:03:09.490 So I'm like, is there a reason why you both invited us over for Thanksgiving? 00:03:09.491 --> 00:03:10.750 I'm just like, you know a baby. 00:03:10.960 --> 00:03:11.650 It's all good. 00:03:11.651 --> 00:03:12.610 So Christina was cool. 00:03:12.610 --> 00:03:13.300 She was a good sport. 00:03:13.300 --> 00:03:13.870 She didn't mind. 00:03:14.229 --> 00:03:20.259 Stacy's going to be their coach was very cordial, but there was another conversation that took place that Christine had no clue about. 00:03:20.260 --> 00:03:23.289 That happened months ago, happened months ago. 00:03:24.009 --> 00:03:28.689 See, there was a stage play called the Nutcracker that was playing in December. 00:03:28.900 --> 00:03:31.569 Christine is already having PTSD about it right now. 00:03:31.780 --> 00:03:34.719 I can see her getting tense or jaws or clenching baby. 00:03:34.721 --> 00:03:35.349 I love you. 00:03:35.350 --> 00:03:36.430 15 years, baby. 00:03:36.431 --> 00:03:37.509 It's been a long time. 00:03:39.139 --> 00:03:43.669 Well, anyway, I didn't tell Christine that I was taking Stacy to the Nutcracker. 00:03:43.759 --> 00:03:51.199 It's something that we had planned beforehand and then I started hearing that Christine wanted to go to the Nutcracker and now again, I'm stuck in a dilemma. 00:03:52.919 --> 00:03:54.479 And what did you have it? 00:03:55.349 --> 00:03:58.469 What in fate, just be so cruel. 00:03:59.460 --> 00:04:05.360 They were sitting at the dinner table and Stacy sees me and Christine, we're kind of flirting. 00:04:05.379 --> 00:04:13.110 We're loud talking a little bit and say, said, Muhtar aren't you excited that we get to go see the Nutcracker together? 00:04:17.509 --> 00:04:20.569 I'm like, you are never ever coming over again. 00:04:20.660 --> 00:04:23.209 We're not friends to in fact, pack up your plate right now. 00:04:23.211 --> 00:04:23.959 Just go home. 00:04:25.839 --> 00:04:33.189 How many you guys know the holidays can bring about certain tensions in our lives or we just don't feel like encountering year after year. 00:04:34.490 --> 00:04:37.069 There's issues that take place in winter. 00:04:37.071 --> 00:04:38.389 The cold gets crazy. 00:04:38.391 --> 00:04:49.670 The frost, the long nights and the cold days, the drama field, holidays here, we want to equip you with some tools to survive the seasons. 00:04:49.670 --> 00:04:52.699 Hopefully you won't have an experience like mine. 00:04:54.959 --> 00:04:56.730 We want you to fare better this year. 00:04:56.730 --> 00:05:08.509 Last week we talked about the first tool in our toolkit of surviving the seasonal survival kit and we've got a tool kit for you guys. 00:05:08.689 --> 00:05:13.220 So the first K that we saw is kinesthetics. 00:05:14.079 --> 00:05:16.899 How moving our body can shift our attitude. 00:05:16.901 --> 00:05:21.550 It can help ease the anxiety, can literally lift the load of the pressure. 00:05:21.699 --> 00:05:22.420 That's honest. 00:05:22.420 --> 00:05:29.740 So we talked about exercising, worshiping, getting ourselves in a situation where we're literally moving our bodies. 00:05:29.740 --> 00:05:40.959 And it was so awesome to see that Sunday on, on that day that we preached that message, people were out there raking leaves, people started getting moving and it's been a great week of everybody moving. 00:05:40.961 --> 00:05:56.639 I literally[inaudible] moved stuff and picked up stuff and moved it cause we want to know that if we keep moving, our bodies remain agile, a mind keeping gauge and our bodies begin to feel better and we can survive the seasons. 00:05:58.019 --> 00:06:05.430 And so what we've done is actually, I don't know if you've been to the website yet, but we've built a toolkit online for you guys. 00:06:06.240 --> 00:06:13.860 You can go to this as relevant.cc forward slash S S kit, like our seasonal survival kit. 00:06:14.100 --> 00:06:21.180 This is relevant.cc four slash S S kit where you can go and you can find out all the gyms in the area. 00:06:21.180 --> 00:06:30.060 If you live in Michigan and all the gyms in Northern Indiana, there's workout playlist, there's home workout strategies or YouTube videos. 00:06:30.209 --> 00:06:38.850 We want to hook you up because we want to get you moving this this season and today we're in the eye. 00:06:41.019 --> 00:06:42.790 Let's jump into the next letter. 00:06:42.790 --> 00:06:44.649 Seasonal survival to kit. 00:06:46.589 --> 00:06:49.889 We've gone through K, now we're in the aisle. 00:06:49.891 --> 00:06:50.279 Let's pray. 00:06:50.281 --> 00:06:52.620 God, as we get into this word, speak to us. 00:06:53.970 --> 00:06:55.949 Make your words so sure, so plain. 00:06:56.069 --> 00:06:57.269 Allow us to receive it. 00:06:58.199 --> 00:07:00.870 In Jesus' name we pray, amen. 00:07:01.560 --> 00:07:03.120 If you got a Bible, go to first Kings. 00:07:03.240 --> 00:07:09.120 We're back in chapter 19 we're going to begin in verse nine but we want you to follow along in scripture with us. 00:07:09.300 --> 00:07:17.189 First Kings chapter 19 beginning in verse nine if you do have a Bible, I believe it's page one 71 is where you're going to be able to find it. 00:07:17.610 --> 00:07:19.800 Give you a little background about where we're at. 00:07:19.800 --> 00:07:21.660 We're studying through the book of Kings. 00:07:21.661 --> 00:07:23.459 There's this guy named Elijah. 00:07:23.699 --> 00:07:25.829 Elijah was a man of God. 00:07:25.831 --> 00:07:28.560 He, he listened to God and did what God said. 00:07:28.649 --> 00:07:30.000 He was a prophet of God. 00:07:30.000 --> 00:07:31.709 He honored God with his life. 00:07:31.769 --> 00:07:42.600 In fact, God used him as one of the greatest profits, one of the greatest evangelists of, uh, of the early, early, uh, temple period and the Jewish church. 00:07:42.779 --> 00:07:45.600 And, and we know that the Messiah came out of the Jewish church. 00:07:45.600 --> 00:07:48.689 Christianity was birthed out of Judaism. 00:07:48.930 --> 00:08:01.709 And so, uh, this is like a huge Jewish pillar in the faith and he is going all over the place letting people know about God's word and people Revere him and everybody honors him. 00:08:01.889 --> 00:08:04.709 And things are going really good for Elijah. 00:08:04.711 --> 00:08:16.470 He's been going through a really great season until he gets punched in the face until a situation arises, where his life now feels like it's flown upside down. 00:08:16.471 --> 00:08:20.490 Anybody been in that season where everything was going just fine? 00:08:20.579 --> 00:08:21.660 Everything was good. 00:08:21.661 --> 00:08:26.189 You were in your Stripe and then out of nowhere, all hell breaks loose. 00:08:26.850 --> 00:08:29.639 And that's the season that Elijah's in. 00:08:29.641 --> 00:08:33.899 And Elijah's running from this woman, this queen named Jessebelle. 00:08:34.889 --> 00:08:39.029 He's just had victory over Jessebelle and her false gods. 00:08:39.120 --> 00:08:42.570 And now she's angry and she's coming for the judge, alarming. 00:08:42.571 --> 00:08:50.950 She's coming for his throat and she's promised them, if I catch you slipping, you're out. 00:08:52.210 --> 00:08:53.200 You're done for. 00:08:54.850 --> 00:08:56.730 So Elijah has run away. 00:08:56.730 --> 00:08:58.440 He's telling God, just kill me. 00:08:58.529 --> 00:09:01.500 I'm depressed, I'm sad, I'm frustrated. 00:09:01.529 --> 00:09:06.149 And much like many of us in the seasons and the change of seasons, they come in like a flood. 00:09:06.419 --> 00:09:08.100 We're not expecting the anxiety. 00:09:08.159 --> 00:09:09.840 We're not expecting the depression. 00:09:09.960 --> 00:09:22.289 We know that things like these happen, but you can never be too prepared when the frustration comes, the Loge did you, Barry is is is very heavy and God lets him know. 00:09:22.291 --> 00:09:24.179 He says, listen, I know you're sad. 00:09:24.181 --> 00:09:25.049 I know you're depressed. 00:09:25.051 --> 00:09:26.100 I know you're frustrated. 00:09:26.100 --> 00:09:27.210 I know you're scared. 00:09:27.240 --> 00:09:37.169 But the journey is about to belong and that Tracy, when God is supposed to come and comfort you, God, I thought you were gonna come and tell me that you took care of Jessica Bell. 00:09:38.200 --> 00:09:42.460 I thought you were going to tell me I was going to be moved to a land flowing with milk and honey. 00:09:42.519 --> 00:09:48.570 Well, I could just be the profit of profits and I can be all good and God comes and tells him. 00:09:48.571 --> 00:09:51.629 He says, the journey's about to be long baby. 00:09:53.169 --> 00:09:53.679 Like really? 00:09:53.681 --> 00:09:58.240 God, I thought we were going to get over this situation easy. 00:09:58.240 --> 00:10:00.700 I thought my situation was going to change quickly. 00:10:00.820 --> 00:10:08.019 I thought it was going to get better, and God says, no, the journey's going to be long, but what God does, he gives him food to fuel his fight. 00:10:09.100 --> 00:10:09.639 Don't you? 00:10:09.700 --> 00:10:15.250 Aren't you glad that we serve a God who doesn't leave us high and dry, but he will give us the fuel for our fight? 00:10:15.250 --> 00:10:17.379 He says, listen, you may not get around it. 00:10:17.409 --> 00:10:26.799 You may have to go through it, but I want to let you know that I'm going to be with you every single step of the way and I'm going to equip you with everything you need for the long journey ahead. 00:10:27.399 --> 00:10:27.700 Yeah, 00:10:30.049 --> 00:10:48.600 so last week we're in verse one through eight and today we're going to track back right to verse eight as we go onto the next, it says in here, Rose Ann ate and drank with the food that God had provided for him and went in the strength of that food 40 days and 40 nights to Horeb the Mount of God. 00:10:49.820 --> 00:10:57.080 He's left a place called Beersheba and he's left and gone South to Mount Sinai called the mountain of God. 00:10:58.440 --> 00:11:01.649 He's traveled 250 miles on foot. 00:11:01.679 --> 00:11:08.789 His journey has been long, he's going further South, but we wondered last week, why in the world is he traveling South? 00:11:08.909 --> 00:11:22.350 Why is he going to this mountain point number one if you want to follow along in your teaching sheets, go to the place God's voice was heard last. 00:11:23.820 --> 00:11:37.919 When you go into a season of frustration, when you go into a season of lack, when you go into a season of sadness where the weight is so heavy with the frustrations and the tensions are so heavy, go to the place. 00:11:39.179 --> 00:11:40.980 God's voice was heard last. 00:11:42.700 --> 00:11:52.000 It says, he goes 40 days and 40 nights to hoard the mountains of God, and verse nine it says there he came to a cave and lodged in and everybody said he lodged in it. 00:11:52.690 --> 00:12:00.679 He in it, and behold the word of the Lord came to him and he said to him, what are you doing here, Elijah? 00:12:01.759 --> 00:12:01.970 I see. 00:12:02.120 --> 00:12:10.549 Let me tell you one of the reasons I believe is the primary reasons Elijah goes to the mountain of God. 00:12:11.090 --> 00:12:14.480 Why he goes to this place called Mount Sinai. 00:12:15.279 --> 00:12:18.860 See, Mount Sinai was very significant in Jewish tradition. 00:12:19.340 --> 00:12:24.590 Mount Sinai is a place, I don't know if you know much about scripture, but there was this guy named Moses. 00:12:24.679 --> 00:12:25.490 He was a deliverer. 00:12:25.610 --> 00:12:47.500 God used him to rescue a slave that had been slaves for hundreds and hundreds of years and generations and God called him to a special calling to be his, his chief slave liberator, and the place that God called him to go forth and to go into it through Egypt and get the slaves out was Mount Sinai. 00:12:48.009 --> 00:12:51.250 I don't know if you remember a story where Moses is walking in. 00:12:51.279 --> 00:13:05.289 He's a shepherd and he's walking through the mountain and he sees this Bush that's burning, but for some reason it's not being consumed and he gets closer because he's curious how many curious people in here you see a burning Bush and it's not burning and you get closer. 00:13:05.320 --> 00:13:06.789 You're crazy outta run the other way. 00:13:07.330 --> 00:13:13.360 He goes closer to it and God says, take your shoes off cause the place you're standing is Holy ground. 00:13:14.289 --> 00:13:16.840 See, Mount Sinai was seen as a Holy place. 00:13:17.409 --> 00:13:21.730 That was a place where Moses received his calling as a place where God's voice was heard last. 00:13:21.820 --> 00:13:31.059 But then you fast forward to after Moses had rescued the children out of Israel as they're heading to the place where God has promised to take them. 00:13:31.210 --> 00:13:41.740 All these Israelites that are moving to the place called the promised land, they pass by Mount Sinai again and it's at Mount Sinai. 00:13:41.740 --> 00:13:44.950 God calls Moses and says, Hey, I need you to come up on the mountain. 00:13:44.951 --> 00:13:46.450 I want to have a special meeting with you. 00:13:46.570 --> 00:13:48.159 I want to have a conversation with you. 00:13:48.279 --> 00:13:52.720 And he goes up to Mount Sinai and God gives him the 10 commandments. 00:13:52.750 --> 00:13:57.129 He gives them the law, so the Jewish nation reveres this mountain. 00:13:57.130 --> 00:13:58.750 They know that it's a Holy mountain. 00:13:58.870 --> 00:14:08.440 They know that it's a place of Holy ground and so Alijah when he gets distressed, goes to the place where God's voice was heard last. 00:14:09.039 --> 00:14:11.620 The time where he gets frustrated, he gets scared. 00:14:11.620 --> 00:14:15.070 He says, I'm going to run to the last place where safety was seen. 00:14:16.289 --> 00:14:22.570 When hope is lost, go to the place that hope was last seen. 00:14:24.409 --> 00:14:26.389 Where was hope last seen in your life? 00:14:27.779 --> 00:14:30.059 He says, he went and he lodged there. 00:14:30.090 --> 00:14:31.529 He dwelled there. 00:14:31.590 --> 00:14:35.279 Listen, find where God is and set up camp. 00:14:36.600 --> 00:14:39.480 That's where, this is what we believe here at relevant church. 00:14:40.610 --> 00:14:42.889 Find where God is at work and join him. 00:14:43.879 --> 00:14:44.809 Dwell there. 00:14:45.049 --> 00:14:45.799 Rest there. 00:14:45.830 --> 00:14:48.139 We believe that God is at work in his local church. 00:14:48.140 --> 00:14:54.409 There's nothing, there's no other establishment created to bring salvation and bring hope to the world. 00:14:54.410 --> 00:14:57.289 In fact, we say this, Jesus Christ is the hope of the world. 00:14:57.409 --> 00:14:58.970 The church is the body of Christ. 00:14:59.070 --> 00:15:01.220 That means the church is the hope of the world. 00:15:03.070 --> 00:15:05.590 And so we come and we dwell here and we connect here. 00:15:05.799 --> 00:15:15.789 We, we, we plug in here, we give our time, our talent, and our treasure because this is the last place where hope has seen Jesus Christ said, I will build my church and the Gates of hell will not prevail. 00:15:17.409 --> 00:15:19.570 Go to the place where hope was seen last. 00:15:21.309 --> 00:15:23.980 I remember my father modeled this so incredibly. 00:15:25.259 --> 00:15:35.990 Elijah is living on the coattails of Moses and the other greats of his history. 00:15:36.740 --> 00:15:46.129 And I remember for me too, when I was coming into faith, or when, when I was growing up, I was watching my dad every single day he would wake up, he would be laying in his bed. 00:15:46.130 --> 00:15:52.669 I could go into my dad's room and he'd be laying in his bed and he'll have his Bible open and he'd be reading and studying God's word. 00:15:52.730 --> 00:15:59.990 And as soon as he was finished reading his setting God's word, if he happened to close the Bible while I was standing there, he would say, son, kneel down with me and let's pray. 00:16:01.159 --> 00:16:03.590 And every time I saw frustration hit my father. 00:16:03.591 --> 00:16:18.110 Anytime I saw tensions at my father, every time I saw anything happen in my father's life where he was wrestling with something, the one thing that I would see him do, he was open up God's word and he'll kneel down and he'll pray and he'll sit at the feet of Jesus. 00:16:19.590 --> 00:16:28.620 So I remember in my own life when things would go nuts, when things would go crazy, I remember to go to the last place where hope was seen. 00:16:29.490 --> 00:16:32.370 I remember to go to the place why I saw God. 00:16:32.610 --> 00:16:34.139 This word come through first. 00:16:34.169 --> 00:16:42.809 So I would go to my word, I would open it up, I would read it, and I'll fall to my knees until this day I do that because I saw my dad do it. 00:16:43.889 --> 00:16:44.220 Yeah. 00:16:44.570 --> 00:16:50.559 I went to the place where God's voice was heard last going on. 00:16:50.590 --> 00:16:55.690 At the end of verse nine and going into verse 10 God asked him an interesting question. 00:16:55.779 --> 00:16:56.950 What are you doing here? 00:16:56.980 --> 00:16:58.210 It's like, God, listen. 00:16:58.211 --> 00:17:01.210 You know all things, God, you are sovereign. 00:17:01.240 --> 00:17:02.379 You're omniscient. 00:17:02.529 --> 00:17:04.000 I don't have to explain nothing to you. 00:17:04.019 --> 00:17:05.140 You know why I'm here. 00:17:05.259 --> 00:17:08.049 I already told you I'm scared for my life. 00:17:08.079 --> 00:17:09.099 They're trying to kill me. 00:17:09.160 --> 00:17:13.329 I came here to hear from you to get a solution, not to ask me questions. 00:17:14.259 --> 00:17:15.279 You ever been that way? 00:17:16.059 --> 00:17:16.900 Why should I pray? 00:17:16.901 --> 00:17:18.069 God, you already know what I need. 00:17:19.390 --> 00:17:20.049 Why should I? 00:17:20.109 --> 00:17:21.970 God says asking, this shall be given. 00:17:22.000 --> 00:17:23.319 You already know before I ask. 00:17:23.349 --> 00:17:27.309 Anyway, so how about we just cut all the red tape? 00:17:27.310 --> 00:17:28.509 Just go ahead and do it. 00:17:30.589 --> 00:17:34.849 God says, what are you doing here Elijah? 00:17:36.740 --> 00:17:48.730 Listen to how Elijah answers in verse 10 he said, I had been very jealous for the Lord, the God of hosts, for the people of Israel. 00:17:48.789 --> 00:17:56.039 Have your covenant thrown down your altars and killed your prophets with the sword, 00:17:56.140 --> 00:17:59.920 and I even only[inaudible] Jesus. 00:18:00.250 --> 00:18:02.079 Only I am left 00:18:02.150 --> 00:18:04.549 and they seek my life to take it away. 00:18:07.529 --> 00:18:12.900 Point number two, if you following along, get clear about the tensions you're really facing. 00:18:14.910 --> 00:18:17.039 Get clear about the tensions you're really facing. 00:18:17.040 --> 00:18:52.730 When frustration hits, when the season seasonal effective disorder starts to lean in, when your body starts feeling like it's falling apart, when everybody else around you looks like they've betrayed you, when you carrying the weight of the world on you, when anxiety comes, get clear with what you're really facing because Elijah says this, they've killed your prophets with this word, and I even only are everybody says, even only I even only I am left and they seek my life to take it away. 00:18:52.900 --> 00:18:53.619 I'm alone. 00:18:53.740 --> 00:18:54.700 I'm by myself. 00:18:54.759 --> 00:18:56.289 I'm the last prophet standing. 00:18:56.380 --> 00:19:02.259 I've done all that I could do God, I stood strong for you and now only I am left really 00:19:04.220 --> 00:19:05.269 cause all you gotta do is go back. 00:19:05.270 --> 00:19:12.200 One chapter, chapter 18 verse 13 this is what he says, he encounters a guy named Obadiah. 00:19:12.470 --> 00:19:13.789 I think we've got this for the screen. 00:19:15.420 --> 00:19:18.119 First Kings chapter 19 I mean 18 verse 38 00:19:19.880 --> 00:19:22.309 he says, open dire talking to Elijah. 00:19:22.579 --> 00:19:27.680 Has it not been told to my Lord what I did when Jezza bell killed the prophets of the Lord. 00:19:27.799 --> 00:19:32.299 How I hit a hundred men of the Lord profits by 50 00:19:32.740 --> 00:19:36.730 these in a cave and fed them with the bread and water. 00:19:39.220 --> 00:19:40.960 Even on the I God, 00:19:41.799 --> 00:19:42.849 this is me. 00:19:44.089 --> 00:19:45.589 I'm the only one dealing with this. 00:19:45.650 --> 00:19:47.750 Nobody understands the pressures that I feel. 00:19:47.869 --> 00:19:49.670 Nobody gets my situation. 00:19:49.819 --> 00:19:50.809 I'm by myself. 00:19:50.900 --> 00:19:51.920 Nobody cares. 00:19:52.009 --> 00:19:53.990 Nobody's interested in hearing my limit. 00:19:54.109 --> 00:19:54.829 Nobody. 00:19:54.859 --> 00:19:56.569 The whole world is against me. 00:20:00.329 --> 00:20:03.089 Depression and anxiety will seek to isolate you. 00:20:05.630 --> 00:20:09.529 It'll seat make you feel like you're the only one going through it. 00:20:10.460 --> 00:20:14.720 It'll make you feel like you're the only person dealing with the situation. 00:20:15.670 --> 00:20:18.250 It'll make you forget what's your made up. 00:20:18.279 --> 00:20:27.369 Listen, this guy just called down fire from heaven and consumed an entire altar and all the rocks and everything, something miraculous just took place. 00:20:27.490 --> 00:20:33.430 This one man goes and he gets rid of 950 profits and now I'm by myself. 00:20:33.670 --> 00:20:34.750 Nobody's with me. 00:20:35.950 --> 00:20:37.690 Forget the God was just with you. 00:20:38.230 --> 00:20:42.160 You forget that God just fed you so you could travel 250 miles. 00:20:42.789 --> 00:20:43.869 Let me ask you a question. 00:20:43.900 --> 00:20:46.539 Are your fears based on fact or fiction? 00:20:51.599 --> 00:20:54.480 Are you fears based on fact and fiction? 00:20:54.480 --> 00:21:03.569 I son Jeremiah, a few days ago, we recognized that he needed some stuff and so some shoes skews growing like a weed man. 00:21:03.570 --> 00:21:05.130 These kids grow so fast. 00:21:05.839 --> 00:21:08.460 My son Elijah, we bought him some school pants. 00:21:08.849 --> 00:21:10.589 Two weeks later they were too small. 00:21:11.099 --> 00:21:12.720 I was like, what in the world? 00:21:14.500 --> 00:21:14.500 Jeez. 00:21:15.490 --> 00:21:15.880 So we're good. 00:21:16.500 --> 00:21:19.170 Taking Jeremiah my youngest and we're taking him out shopping. 00:21:19.171 --> 00:21:20.130 We're getting them some shoes. 00:21:20.131 --> 00:21:24.059 We're getting them some clothes and we're going through the place, uh, and through the store. 00:21:24.210 --> 00:21:27.180 And it gets to a spot where there's candy on the lower shelves. 00:21:27.450 --> 00:21:31.380 By the way, why in the world do they put candy on the bottom shelf? 00:21:31.619 --> 00:21:35.849 Mainly so the little four year olds can see him that, daddy, can I have this, can I have this? 00:21:36.029 --> 00:21:37.980 And so now he's going hysterical. 00:21:38.069 --> 00:21:40.740 He knows this entire shopping trip is about him. 00:21:40.859 --> 00:21:42.390 But what is Jeremiah saying? 00:21:42.720 --> 00:21:45.450 Daddy, I never get anything. 00:21:47.470 --> 00:21:49.269 Yeah, a little ungrateful. 00:21:49.450 --> 00:21:49.960 The Jenner, 00:21:53.299 --> 00:21:55.250 he's like, I never get anything. 00:21:56.240 --> 00:21:57.170 He totally forgets. 00:21:57.289 --> 00:21:59.420 It's this entire trip is all about you. 00:22:00.390 --> 00:22:01.859 And how many of us come to God? 00:22:01.861 --> 00:22:03.839 And say, God, you never do this for me. 00:22:03.900 --> 00:22:05.609 Everybody else gets everything. 00:22:05.640 --> 00:22:07.589 I answered everybody else's prayers. 00:22:07.590 --> 00:22:10.710 Get answered, but I'm stuck right here I am in this moment. 00:22:10.740 --> 00:22:11.849 I'm by myself. 00:22:11.970 --> 00:22:12.869 Nobody gets it. 00:22:12.871 --> 00:22:15.630 God says, haven't you seen all I've been doing? 00:22:15.631 --> 00:22:17.519 Haven't you taken a breath? 00:22:17.549 --> 00:22:20.279 Remember when you were lamenting and you went[inaudible], 00:22:20.470 --> 00:22:23.470 that's my grace over your life. 00:22:28.869 --> 00:22:31.150 Got to get clear about the tensions we're really facing. 00:22:31.151 --> 00:22:31.990 Point number three. 00:22:33.940 --> 00:22:37.690 Point number three, be prepared for God to show up in ways you're not used to. 00:22:39.900 --> 00:22:43.140 Number one, go to the place God's voice was heard. 00:22:43.141 --> 00:22:43.559 Last. 00:22:43.560 --> 00:22:46.049 Number two, get clear about the tensions you're really facing. 00:22:46.050 --> 00:22:50.190 Point number three, be prepared for God to show up in ways you're not used to. 00:22:50.220 --> 00:22:51.059 Look at verse 11 00:22:52.579 --> 00:22:52.579 [inaudible] 00:22:54.549 --> 00:22:57.640 and God said to him, go out. 00:22:58.299 --> 00:22:59.589 Everybody say, go out. 00:23:00.130 --> 00:23:03.490 Go out and stand on the Mount before the Lord. 00:23:04.690 --> 00:23:12.759 And behold, the Lord passed by and a great and strong wind tore the mountains and broke in pieces, rocks before the Lord. 00:23:13.359 --> 00:23:17.500 But the Lord was not in the wind and after the wind, an earthquake. 00:23:17.500 --> 00:23:24.759 But the Lord was not in the earthquake and after the earthquake, a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. 00:23:24.940 --> 00:23:31.000 And after the fire, the sound of a low whisper and will lie. 00:23:31.059 --> 00:23:38.319 And when Elijah heard that he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. 00:23:43.400 --> 00:23:44.960 Be prepared for God to show up in. 00:23:45.440 --> 00:23:46.130 You're not used 00:23:46.130 --> 00:23:46.309 to. 00:23:48.690 --> 00:23:50.039 I want y'all to catch something. 00:23:51.970 --> 00:23:55.599 God said, go out and stand on the mountain before God. 00:23:57.619 --> 00:24:03.619 And then the winds came and then an earthquake cane and then the fire cane. 00:24:05.240 --> 00:24:06.740 And then the whisper came. 00:24:08.119 --> 00:24:11.059 And then did you catch what just happened when the whisper came? 00:24:12.970 --> 00:24:19.119 Look at verse 12 and after the earthquake fire and the Lord was not in the fire and after the fire, the sign of a low whisper. 00:24:19.269 --> 00:24:19.930 And then what? 00:24:20.049 --> 00:24:21.039 Elijah heard it. 00:24:21.069 --> 00:24:28.750 He wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave, meaning Elijah didn't get up when God told them to get up and go to the mountain. 00:24:31.319 --> 00:24:33.359 God said, listen, get up. 00:24:33.390 --> 00:24:34.740 We're about to have a conversation. 00:24:36.759 --> 00:24:39.819 And he sits there not doing anything. 00:24:44.509 --> 00:24:45.470 The winds came. 00:24:47.109 --> 00:24:48.039 It was familiar. 00:24:48.730 --> 00:24:49.779 He was used to the wind. 00:24:50.319 --> 00:24:54.160 He knew that when Moses was on the mountain, the winds came. 00:24:54.190 --> 00:24:55.509 So God was in that. 00:24:55.510 --> 00:24:57.819 So he like, well, whatever. 00:24:57.910 --> 00:25:02.630 You just doing the same old thing and then the, the earthquake came. 00:25:02.660 --> 00:25:06.289 He remembers what Moses was receiving of the 10 commandments. 00:25:06.380 --> 00:25:08.990 There was, when there was fire, there was earthquake. 00:25:09.019 --> 00:25:10.640 And so he was like, that's familiar. 00:25:12.450 --> 00:25:13.289 I'm not impressed. 00:25:13.290 --> 00:25:13.769 God. 00:25:16.730 --> 00:25:21.799 And then the fire came through and he was like, God, I just saw you throw fire down the other day. 00:25:24.200 --> 00:25:26.329 But then a whisper came and he was like, earth 00:25:27.509 --> 00:25:27.509 [inaudible] 00:25:28.509 --> 00:25:30.009 I've never heard that before. 00:25:31.490 --> 00:25:33.559 And that got him to get up. 00:25:34.930 --> 00:25:43.970 You know, it's so easy to inspect God's actions rather than to anticipate him to act well. 00:25:43.971 --> 00:25:44.539 God. 00:25:45.799 --> 00:25:46.789 Why aren't you doing it for me? 00:25:46.790 --> 00:25:48.230 Like you did it for everybody else. 00:25:50.220 --> 00:25:52.650 Well, how come I don't have a car like the other person? 00:25:53.849 --> 00:25:55.980 Well, how come I don't have a career like the other person will? 00:25:55.980 --> 00:25:57.000 How come I don't have the spouse? 00:25:57.000 --> 00:25:58.470 Like why am I still single? 00:25:58.471 --> 00:26:00.269 Why can't you give me a spouse like the other person? 00:26:00.390 --> 00:26:02.220 Why can't you give me a career like the other person? 00:26:02.279 --> 00:26:03.960 Why can't you give me a house like the other person? 00:26:04.019 --> 00:26:05.789 Why can't you give me kids like the other person? 00:26:05.880 --> 00:26:06.779 Why can't you give me this? 00:26:06.780 --> 00:26:09.420 Like the other person, like the other person, like the other person. 00:26:09.509 --> 00:26:15.750 We're always looking and inspecting what God's doing rather than anticipating to do something new in our lives. 00:26:16.859 --> 00:26:16.859 Yeah. 00:26:17.509 --> 00:26:19.430 He says, listen, don't box me. 00:26:20.710 --> 00:26:22.180 Listen, I'm guilty of it. 00:26:23.049 --> 00:26:23.589 I'm guilty. 00:26:23.590 --> 00:26:28.839 I'm guilty of looking at other people and saying, well God, how come you can't do it like that for me? 00:26:30.390 --> 00:26:33.029 Well, this is what you did in their life when they prayed. 00:26:33.059 --> 00:26:34.019 This is what happened. 00:26:34.049 --> 00:26:35.880 How come it's not happening for me? 00:26:37.380 --> 00:26:45.000 How come when they prayed for their kids to come to Christ, all of a sudden all of them were baptized in one day, but I can't even one person to show up to church. 00:26:47.339 --> 00:26:55.970 How come when you bless them in their situation, they had the incredible career and I hate my job, but I'm showing up to church every day. 00:26:56.059 --> 00:27:01.069 I'm tithing, but my situation is not changing, but you're doing this for them and you're doing that for them. 00:27:01.160 --> 00:27:04.390 He says, listen, don't box me. 00:27:06.309 --> 00:27:14.589 And that's the culture that we're trying to develop here at relevant churches, a culture that anticipates God's actions, not based on what he did before. 00:27:14.589 --> 00:27:24.309 In fact, the verse that we have on all of our wristbands, the first that got planted here was Isaiah 43 19 behold, I'm doing a new thing, but go back one verse before. 00:27:24.490 --> 00:27:25.539 Listen to what God says. 00:27:25.540 --> 00:27:26.529 We have this for the screen. 00:27:28.259 --> 00:27:37.200 Isaiah 43 18 he says, remember not the former things nor consider the things of old. 00:27:37.890 --> 00:27:41.519 Quit looking at what I did in the past when looking what I did for them. 00:27:41.640 --> 00:27:43.289 Quit looking what I did for you. 00:27:43.440 --> 00:27:44.490 Look at the new thing. 00:27:44.640 --> 00:27:47.190 Behold, I'm doing a new thing in your life. 00:27:48.480 --> 00:27:54.000 I'm doing a new thing and so our church, we're going to live in anticipatory expectation. 00:27:54.720 --> 00:27:59.940 We're going to be individuals who expect a fresh move from God, a fresh way from God. 00:28:00.059 --> 00:28:03.869 We're not going to look at what God did in the past and say, well God, you're going to do it again. 00:28:04.289 --> 00:28:06.900 We're going to say, God, I can't wait for what you're about to do next. 00:28:07.289 --> 00:28:17.640 It's old as on to the next day, cause I know my God is bigger and I know my God is batter and I know my God is greater and I know my God is able to do exceedingly abundantly. 00:28:18.240 --> 00:28:18.240 Whoa. 00:28:18.269 --> 00:28:27.119 I can think, ask or imagine according to his sovereign power, don't box God. 00:28:28.339 --> 00:28:29.450 We've got to get through this quick dinner. 00:28:29.451 --> 00:28:44.180 You want to come up here at verse 14 so verse 13 he hears the sound and he goes out and he stands before the entrance of the cave. 00:28:45.019 --> 00:28:54.130 And behold they came a voice to him and said, what are you doing here Elijah? 00:28:55.299 --> 00:28:55.960 It's interesting. 00:28:55.961 --> 00:28:58.569 God has him the very same question he asked him last time. 00:29:00.190 --> 00:29:02.710 He was given an opportunity to change his rhetoric. 00:29:03.700 --> 00:29:09.849