WEBVTT 00:00:04.639 --> 00:00:06.959 Welcome to the MetaCurch Podcast. 00:00:07.120 --> 00:00:08.080 My name's Clayton. 00:00:08.160 --> 00:00:10.240 I'm the pastor here at MetaCurch. 00:00:10.400 --> 00:00:17.920 And my hope is that today's podcast finds you at the perfect time in your life that God uses it to inspire and enlighten you. 00:00:18.079 --> 00:00:20.559 I hope that you enjoy today's message. 00:00:24.239 --> 00:00:25.760 Well, I want to welcome you in. 00:00:25.839 --> 00:00:27.440 If you're new with us, my name's Clayton. 00:00:27.519 --> 00:00:32.960 I'm the lead pastor here at Meta, and we are starting a new series today called What You Started. 00:00:33.119 --> 00:00:40.719 Last week, we saw a glimpse of what God has started here at Meta when 71 people got baptized. 00:00:40.880 --> 00:00:42.399 God is moving here. 00:00:45.359 --> 00:00:51.840 On top of that, next Sunday is the grand opening of MetaCurch Helotus, our second location. 00:00:52.079 --> 00:00:56.640 Right now, our launch team is at the 4-H in Helotus. 00:00:56.799 --> 00:01:10.239 They're ironing out details, they're figuring things out, they're setting up and tearing down and setting up and tearing down, putting it in the trailer, taking it out of the trailer, setting it up, tearing it down, getting it all down to prepare for people to show up next Sunday. 00:01:10.400 --> 00:01:18.799 There's so much excitement about our future, but today I want us to spend a little bit of time looking back to prepare us to move forward. 00:01:18.959 --> 00:01:20.640 I'm excited about today's message. 00:01:20.799 --> 00:01:36.079 If you've been with us over the last four weeks, we've been in a series helping us to overcome our insecurity, and that is so critical because God created every one of you to live a dynamic life on purpose and with purpose. 00:01:36.159 --> 00:01:43.920 And so often, fear and uncertainty can cause us to shrink back and to settle for the status quo in life. 00:01:44.079 --> 00:01:47.280 And we believe that God desires more for you. 00:01:47.439 --> 00:01:49.519 My message today is shoot your shot. 00:01:49.760 --> 00:01:50.480 Shoot your shot. 00:01:50.640 --> 00:01:51.599 Would you pray with me? 00:01:51.840 --> 00:01:54.719 Jesus, we love you and we thank you for your great love for us. 00:01:54.959 --> 00:02:00.079 Holy Spirit, we know that you are here and you are moving, and I pray we would be receptive to that. 00:02:00.239 --> 00:02:05.359 I thank you for MetaCurch, a place for anybody at any point in their faith journey. 00:02:05.519 --> 00:02:12.479 And I ask that all of us would be humble enough to have open minds and open hearts to allow you to speak to us today. 00:02:12.719 --> 00:02:14.319 And so we just ask that you would do that. 00:02:14.479 --> 00:02:15.919 We pray it all in Jesus' name. 00:02:16.000 --> 00:02:18.400 And if you're ready to shoot your shot, say amen. 00:02:18.719 --> 00:02:19.280 Amen. 00:02:19.680 --> 00:02:22.000 Today we're gonna be looking in the Jewish scriptures. 00:02:22.080 --> 00:02:24.479 This is what we often call the Old Testament. 00:02:24.639 --> 00:02:36.000 And in the Old Testament, there are the two books of the kings, and they tell the story of the kingdoms of Israel, God's chosen people, from the perspective of the human monarchy. 00:02:36.159 --> 00:02:46.479 We're gonna be in 2 Kings 13, and there we see King Jehoash come into power and immediately follow the example of the kings who were before him. 00:02:46.719 --> 00:02:49.599 He became an idol worshiping sellout. 00:02:49.919 --> 00:02:52.000 He did what was evil in the sight of the Lord. 00:02:52.159 --> 00:02:53.520 He did not follow God. 00:02:53.680 --> 00:02:56.159 He led the entire nation into idolatry. 00:02:56.319 --> 00:03:01.039 They turned their back on the God who had given them victory after victory after victory. 00:03:01.199 --> 00:03:08.000 In the same chapter, we're gonna see the death of Elisha, one of the greatest prophets in the history of Israel. 00:03:08.159 --> 00:03:22.800 And in the interaction between these two men, the evil king Jehoash and the great prophet Elisha, we are gonna get a glimpse of how God's omnipotence works together with our obedience. 00:03:23.039 --> 00:03:29.680 Now, this dynamic is critical for us to understand as we navigate lives on purpose and with purpose. 00:03:29.919 --> 00:03:34.960 God is omnipotent, which simply means he has all of the power. 00:03:35.199 --> 00:03:39.680 There is no power available that God does not already possess. 00:03:39.840 --> 00:03:51.599 However, scripture also demonstrates clearly that God, in his unlimited power, has granted us freedom to make real choices that actually matter. 00:03:51.919 --> 00:03:57.280 Not understanding this dynamic can cause us to fall too far on one side or the other. 00:03:57.520 --> 00:04:10.000 Some people misunderstand God's sovereignty to mean that we play no role at all, whatsoever, in what happens in the world, that our choices don't really account for anything. 00:04:10.240 --> 00:04:18.639 And this is a dangerous way to think because it's very fatalistic and it really absolves us of any responsibility for the choices that we make. 00:04:18.879 --> 00:04:27.600 On the other side of the spectrum, some people overestimate their own actions and are in danger of stealing glory that rightly belongs to God. 00:04:27.759 --> 00:04:35.519 Now, this dynamic is admittedly not easy to understand, but I think today's passage will help us learn how to navigate this practically. 00:04:35.680 --> 00:04:47.759 Now it starts with Israel under attack from a foreign nation, and the Arameans, they have come in and they have won a decisive and humiliating victory at a place called Aphak. 00:04:48.000 --> 00:04:51.680 And Aphak was now a stronghold of Aram. 00:04:52.000 --> 00:04:53.839 And the king feels out of option. 00:04:53.920 --> 00:05:01.759 So even though he doesn't worship God, and even though he doesn't follow God, and even though he's turned his back on God, he runs to Elisha. 00:05:02.160 --> 00:05:11.600 All throughout Elisha's life, he has been given insight from God that throughout Israel's history has led them to great military victories. 00:05:11.759 --> 00:05:16.480 And so let's watch how the king approaches Elisha in 2 Kings 13, verse 14. 00:05:16.639 --> 00:05:29.680 When Elisha became sick with illness, from which he eventually died, King Jehoash of Israel went down and wept over him and said, My father, my father, the chariots and horsemen of Israel. 00:05:29.920 --> 00:05:35.839 Now this greeting gives us an indication of where the king's remorse is rooted. 00:05:36.079 --> 00:05:39.360 God still loves Israel, even though they are living in sin. 00:05:39.680 --> 00:05:47.279 He continues to provide guidance and even military direction, largely through the insight of Elisha. 00:05:47.600 --> 00:05:52.720 And so why would the king be so devastated by a prophet of God falling sick? 00:05:52.879 --> 00:05:57.839 It's because he sees Elisha as useful in the battle at hand. 00:05:58.079 --> 00:06:04.079 It's not because he is magically converted back to really believing in God or trying to follow God or worshiping God. 00:06:04.319 --> 00:06:06.480 He just sees Elisha as useful. 00:06:06.639 --> 00:06:12.160 And we see this in what he says: the chariots and horsemen of Israel. 00:06:12.720 --> 00:06:24.319 You see, Jehoash understands that the prophet Elisha is more beneficial to him militarily than all of his chariot riders and all of the horsemen that he currently has in his army. 00:06:24.639 --> 00:06:29.759 Elisha growing sick is a threat to the king's military power. 00:06:30.000 --> 00:06:33.839 And this is especially pertinent because they are under attack. 00:06:34.079 --> 00:06:42.800 And because they are living in such rebellion and he's living in sin and has led the nation into sin, they've already lost their first battle in a humiliating way. 00:06:43.680 --> 00:06:49.199 Typically, Jehoash doesn't listen to Elisha, he doesn't heed any of his warnings, he doesn't follow God. 00:06:49.439 --> 00:06:58.720 However, now that he finds himself in a very tough spot, having lost this battle, Jehoash has rediscovered some good old-fashioned religion. 00:06:58.959 --> 00:07:01.120 He wants some help from God. 00:07:01.360 --> 00:07:04.959 And God loves his people, and he's going to give the king a chance. 00:07:05.120 --> 00:07:11.600 And God has all of the power, and so God can secure the victory, but he's going to ask for Jehoash's cooperation. 00:07:11.759 --> 00:07:13.839 He's going to ask for his obedience. 00:07:14.000 --> 00:07:17.519 In verse 15, Elisha responded, Get a bow and arrows. 00:07:17.680 --> 00:07:19.360 And so he got a bow and arrows. 00:07:19.439 --> 00:07:22.319 And Elisha said to the king of Israel, Grasp the bow. 00:07:22.480 --> 00:07:27.040 And the king grasped it, and Elisha put his hand on the king's hands. 00:07:27.199 --> 00:07:32.079 Now, you guys know I like to, you know, sometimes bring some uh stage metaphors up here. 00:07:32.240 --> 00:07:34.959 I really wanted to have a bow and arrow up here with me. 00:07:35.040 --> 00:07:40.319 And the team said something about insurance and liability, and I don't know how to use a bow and arrow, and someone could get really hurt. 00:07:40.480 --> 00:07:43.600 What I heard was, my staff doesn't want me to have any fun up here. 00:07:43.680 --> 00:07:45.040 That's what I heard personally. 00:07:45.279 --> 00:08:00.480 I could just show y'all, you know, the bow and he gets the bow and arrow, and then, you know, if you've ever taught your kid how to shoot, then they grab it and you kind of get behind them, you put your hands on their hands, and you help them walk through the motion. 00:08:00.560 --> 00:08:10.480 This is what Elisha on death's door gets up from his bed, takes the big stud king, and goes around him and puts his hands on the king's hands. 00:08:10.720 --> 00:08:18.879 And see, oftentimes the way that prophets would work in the Old Testament is they would prophesy through these symbolic gestures. 00:08:19.120 --> 00:08:23.519 First, they would act something out, and then they would give the prophecy. 00:08:23.600 --> 00:08:33.200 And by Elisha putting his hands on the king's hands, it is a symbol that what comes next is sealed by the word of the Lord. 00:08:33.440 --> 00:08:38.240 In verse 17, Elisha said, Open the east window, and so he opened it. 00:08:38.399 --> 00:08:40.159 And Elisha said, Shoot. 00:08:40.320 --> 00:08:41.279 So he shot. 00:08:41.440 --> 00:08:44.799 And then Elisha said, The Lord's arrow of victory. 00:08:44.960 --> 00:08:48.480 Yes, the arrow of victory over Aram. 00:08:49.279 --> 00:08:55.840 In other words, Elisha said, Open the east window and shoot your shot. 00:08:56.320 --> 00:09:12.320 Now, this is really critical because the east window was the window from where they were that was facing directly toward Aphakh, where they had just lost a decisive and humiliating battle against a foreign enemy. 00:09:12.720 --> 00:09:17.519 And often God presents us with windows of opportunity. 00:09:17.759 --> 00:09:20.240 This is a window of opportunity for the king. 00:09:20.399 --> 00:09:26.080 This is an opportunity for God to act on behalf of a king who is actively spit in the face of that God. 00:09:26.399 --> 00:09:29.039 And so Elisha says, I'm gonna put my hands on your hands. 00:09:29.120 --> 00:09:41.840 We're gonna open the east window, the window that's facing your problem, the window that's facing your worry, the window that's facing your opposition, and we are going to shoot our shot with the guidance of Elisha through the window. 00:09:42.159 --> 00:09:46.480 And there are windows of opportunity that are being presented to us all of the time. 00:09:47.360 --> 00:09:52.960 Unfortunately, a lot of times we miss our windows of opportunity because we're not aware of them. 00:09:53.919 --> 00:10:06.399 I've always said the devil, who's real and has a vested interest in you living a life that is not lived on purpose and with purpose, the devil doesn't need you to become uh the next drug lord. 00:10:06.480 --> 00:10:11.120 He doesn't need you to be a serial killer, he just needs you distracted. 00:10:13.679 --> 00:10:23.440 And we miss our windows of opportunity because the devil doesn't need us to be a level 10 criminal, he just needs us to try to get to level 100 on Candy Crush, right? 00:10:23.679 --> 00:10:25.840 He just needs us distracted. 00:10:26.559 --> 00:10:28.879 I I honestly thought that was gonna get a bigger laugh. 00:10:28.960 --> 00:10:30.399 We got some Candy Crush players in the room. 00:10:30.480 --> 00:10:31.440 I feel it. 00:10:33.840 --> 00:10:41.200 He doesn't need us to go on like a spree of trying to like rob every bank. 00:10:41.360 --> 00:10:45.840 He just needs us to scroll for about three or four hours a day to keep our heads down. 00:10:46.000 --> 00:10:52.960 He just needs us so insecure that we never look outside of ourself, that we never break away from every reflection that bears our face. 00:10:53.679 --> 00:10:55.840 He just needs us distracted. 00:10:56.399 --> 00:11:04.399 Because if we're distracted, we will miss the opportunities that God is constantly placing in the lives of his children. 00:11:05.840 --> 00:11:12.000 Now, for some of us, we see the windows of opportunity, we just don't seize the windows of opportunity. 00:11:12.320 --> 00:11:21.120 It's significant that they open towards the east because the king would not have seen the east as a window of opportunity, he would have seen it as a window of opposition. 00:11:21.679 --> 00:11:26.000 And oftentimes we're so desperate to live lives that really matter, that really impact the world. 00:11:26.080 --> 00:11:29.039 We want to see the giftings that God has placed inside of us unleashed. 00:11:29.200 --> 00:11:34.240 We want to know why we're here and how we can live a life of purpose and meaning and significance. 00:11:35.759 --> 00:11:43.519 And often we have to walk into the areas of opposition in our life to really see God begin to work through us. 00:11:43.759 --> 00:11:48.480 Some of us miss the windows of opportunity because they look just like windows of worry. 00:11:48.720 --> 00:11:50.320 We're not willing to shoot our shot. 00:11:50.399 --> 00:11:54.879 We're not willing to do something brave, we don't have the faith to do something audacious. 00:11:55.120 --> 00:12:00.480 Some of us miss the windows because we see the window, but it's way outside of our comfort zone. 00:12:00.639 --> 00:12:02.000 And I think we know this. 00:12:02.159 --> 00:12:18.000 We just often are hesitant to live it out that your best life is not going to be found where you're comfortable, that if you're willing to get uncomfortable a little bit in life, then God can begin to do things in your life and move through you in ways that will take you to places that you can't even imagine. 00:12:22.080 --> 00:12:32.720 Some of you sit in a life team every week and you're like dreaming of your like dream girl and getting married someday, and you sit in life team every week with a beautiful single woman of God. 00:12:32.799 --> 00:12:37.440 You got a window of opportunity sitting in life team every week, and you just won't shoot your shot, right? 00:12:37.759 --> 00:12:40.159 Like, it takes courage. 00:12:40.559 --> 00:12:46.240 And here's the problem we can see the window, but we don't quite know God's will. 00:12:47.679 --> 00:12:56.000 And shooting your shot when you can see the window of opportunity, but you don't yet know God's will, is called walking by faith. 00:12:56.879 --> 00:13:05.360 And we have to trust Him enough, and we have to be courageous enough, and we have to be focused enough, and we have to be secure enough to go ahead and pull it back and shoot our shot anyway. 00:13:06.159 --> 00:13:08.159 Today is Katie and I's anniversary. 00:13:08.240 --> 00:13:09.120 That's how much I love you. 00:13:09.200 --> 00:13:12.080 I'm here with you on my anniversary. 00:13:13.440 --> 00:13:15.600 Well, we celebrated earlier this month. 00:13:15.759 --> 00:13:26.159 And uh 15 years ago, in this same time of year, 15 years ago, Katie walked in to the church where I was leading worship. 00:13:26.399 --> 00:13:30.720 And I didn't know much, but it felt like a window of opportunity. 00:13:32.480 --> 00:13:35.919 And I didn't have a very clear vision for my life at that point. 00:13:36.080 --> 00:13:38.559 Uh I knew that God had called me into ministry. 00:13:38.879 --> 00:13:42.000 I actually kind of assumed that I might not get married. 00:13:42.080 --> 00:13:43.200 Uh I don't really know why. 00:13:43.360 --> 00:13:44.879 Probably I just didn't have a lot of game, you know. 00:13:44.960 --> 00:13:46.639 I didn't know if I'd be a dad. 00:13:46.799 --> 00:13:51.279 Um Katie actually walked in with our two boys, you know. 00:13:51.440 --> 00:13:55.360 She she had two sons, and now they're my sons, and I actually didn't even know they were hers. 00:13:55.440 --> 00:13:56.879 I thought she was like a hot nanny or something. 00:13:57.279 --> 00:14:00.639 I really did not see past the window of opportunity. 00:14:00.799 --> 00:14:01.919 I did not know. 00:14:02.559 --> 00:14:04.000 And I really didn't have much game. 00:14:04.080 --> 00:14:05.440 I was real nervous around girls. 00:14:05.600 --> 00:14:08.240 Oh, I sh I shot my shot though, all right? 00:14:08.399 --> 00:14:12.080 I went for it, and God had a plan on the other side. 00:14:13.679 --> 00:14:19.360 And after we got married, we started the process of trying to adopt, and that's all we knew. 00:14:19.440 --> 00:14:20.720 There was a window of opportunity. 00:14:20.879 --> 00:14:32.639 And I gotta tell you, for years, it was nothing but suffering, nothing but pain, nothing but opposition, years and years, tens of thousands of dollars, so much disappointment, so much heartache, it all fell apart. 00:14:32.799 --> 00:14:34.159 Our whole process fell apart. 00:14:35.519 --> 00:14:39.360 And then we got a call about a little girl a couple hours away, and we knew almost nothing. 00:14:39.759 --> 00:14:41.840 We didn't know about her, we didn't know about the situation. 00:14:41.919 --> 00:14:45.360 It was happening kind of outside of the foster care system. 00:14:46.720 --> 00:14:47.759 It was a window. 00:14:48.639 --> 00:14:55.519 And I thank God every day we we were willing to shoot our shot that brought Kimberly into our family and made our family complete. 00:14:55.600 --> 00:14:59.679 And you don't always see God's full will, but God sees it, and that's called faith. 00:14:59.919 --> 00:15:03.039 Scripture says God sees the ends from the beginning and the beginnings from the end. 00:15:03.120 --> 00:15:12.720 If he presents you a window of opportunity and and you push past the distraction and you see it, and you push past the worry, and you push past the fear, and you push past the insecurity, and you're willing to just line it up and shoot your shot. 00:15:12.879 --> 00:15:16.720 You have no idea what might be on the other side of that. 00:15:16.799 --> 00:15:23.679 And I also know throughout my life, there have been many, many times where I've missed those windows. 00:15:24.080 --> 00:15:24.720 That's painful. 00:15:26.080 --> 00:15:31.360 And I want to live a life where the windows come and I'm willing and ready to pull back and shoot. 00:15:31.440 --> 00:15:34.960 And I want you to live that kind of life as well. 00:15:35.919 --> 00:15:40.480 In verse 17, Elisha said, open the east window, and so he opened it, and Elisha said, Shoot, so he shot. 00:15:40.559 --> 00:15:45.840 And Elisha said, The Lord's arrow of victory, yes, the victory over Aaron. 00:15:46.799 --> 00:15:55.200 And it goes on to say, you are to strike down the Aramaeans in Aphakh until you have put an end to them. 00:15:55.840 --> 00:15:58.399 This will come to pass. 00:15:59.840 --> 00:16:01.279 This is a promise from God. 00:16:01.440 --> 00:16:08.000 They will win in Aphakh, in that one geographical location, they will have victory. 00:16:08.480 --> 00:16:11.519 That's God's power, it's his omnipotence. 00:16:12.000 --> 00:16:16.639 But in God's omnipotence, he also asks for our obedience. 00:16:17.440 --> 00:16:21.440 So far, Jehoash, to his credit, had the faith to open the window. 00:16:21.759 --> 00:16:26.159 Elisha put his hands on his hands, they both pulled back, they shot the arrow. 00:16:27.039 --> 00:16:31.279 Now, God is going to test Jehoash's faith. 00:16:31.840 --> 00:16:33.919 Does he really trust God? 00:16:34.159 --> 00:16:36.240 Is he willing to put his faith in him? 00:16:36.559 --> 00:16:40.879 Is he willing to do whatever it takes to secure a victory? 00:16:41.120 --> 00:16:49.039 This is where God's plan meets our participation, God's omnipotence and our obedience. 00:16:49.600 --> 00:16:52.639 In verse 18, Elisha said, Take the arrows. 00:16:52.799 --> 00:16:53.919 And so he took them. 00:16:54.080 --> 00:16:59.919 And Elisha said to the king of Israel, strike the ground. 00:17:01.200 --> 00:17:05.599 It's interesting, it quits calling him Jehoash and calls him the King of Israel. 00:17:05.759 --> 00:17:07.119 It's his formal title. 00:17:07.680 --> 00:17:09.359 And I think that matters. 00:17:09.839 --> 00:17:21.119 You see, they got a bow and they got arrows, and so you have a bow and then you have a quiver, and the quiver holds your arrows, and these are fresh off the shelf, so they probably have six to twelve arrows inside the quiver. 00:17:21.440 --> 00:17:23.440 And first they fire one off. 00:17:23.519 --> 00:17:24.960 And that's pretty cool, right? 00:17:25.119 --> 00:17:28.240 It's very kingly, it's very manly, right? 00:17:28.480 --> 00:17:30.480 Just pulling back, shooting. 00:17:30.640 --> 00:17:32.079 Don't even know what's out there, you know. 00:17:32.240 --> 00:17:32.880 You look good. 00:17:33.119 --> 00:17:37.039 Woo! You know, let it go, let it fly, shoot to the east, victory over Aram. 00:17:37.279 --> 00:17:37.839 I'm about it. 00:17:38.000 --> 00:17:40.000 If you're a king, this is a good look. 00:17:40.160 --> 00:17:41.920 This you this could be a painting. 00:17:42.000 --> 00:17:42.559 That's easy. 00:17:42.640 --> 00:17:43.920 You know, everyone likes Elisha. 00:17:44.079 --> 00:17:44.880 Paint it up, baby. 00:17:44.960 --> 00:17:46.559 This looks very kingly. 00:17:47.599 --> 00:17:52.880 Now, Elisha asks him to do something that looks ridiculous. 00:17:53.519 --> 00:17:59.680 I want you to take the quiver, and I want you to start pulling out arrows, and it's just what it sounds like. 00:17:59.920 --> 00:18:04.960 I literally want you to strike the ground with the arrows. 00:18:05.200 --> 00:18:10.000 Now, I don't know how much you are into archery, that's not how arrows work, okay? 00:18:10.240 --> 00:18:12.160 Not what you're supposed to do with them, right? 00:18:12.720 --> 00:18:14.480 This is a bad look. 00:18:15.119 --> 00:18:17.039 This would be something very embarrassing. 00:18:17.759 --> 00:18:20.640 You know, we we live in a culture that kind of embraces shame to some degree. 00:18:20.720 --> 00:18:23.359 That was not the culture 2,000, 3,000 years ago. 00:18:23.599 --> 00:18:26.079 This was an honor-shame culture. 00:18:26.640 --> 00:18:34.720 And as the king of Israel, you always upheld your honor, and you never allowed yourself to be shamed. 00:18:35.119 --> 00:18:39.119 You never did anything even slightly embarrassing. 00:18:39.680 --> 00:18:41.680 And this would have been embarrassing. 00:18:42.559 --> 00:18:46.880 It's foolish, it doesn't make any sense, it's not a good use of arrows, it's not a good look for the king. 00:18:47.200 --> 00:18:54.640 But this is what God has asked him to do take the quiver, take one arrow at a time, and beat the ground with it. 00:18:56.000 --> 00:18:58.400 And the king isn't into it. 00:18:59.039 --> 00:19:03.839 And so Elisha said, Take the arrows, and he took them, and Elisha said, Strike the ground. 00:19:04.079 --> 00:19:09.039 And so he struck the ground three times and he stopped. 00:19:10.799 --> 00:19:14.000 Now it's a full quiver of arrows. 00:19:14.319 --> 00:19:17.680 Probably somewhere between half a dozen and a dozen arrows in there. 00:19:17.920 --> 00:19:20.400 He grabs three and he stops. 00:19:21.599 --> 00:19:23.200 God is looking for faith. 00:19:23.359 --> 00:19:38.400 He is looking for obedience, he is looking for full participation, he is looking for people who are willing to look foolish if it's what God asks us to do, because we have so much faith that if we look foolish, God will be shown to be faithful and his power will be unleashed in our life. 00:19:38.480 --> 00:19:44.240 And instead, the king of Israel participated, but not even half-heartedly. 00:19:46.079 --> 00:20:15.279 I imagine he was like, Okay, I did it. 00:20:15.359 --> 00:20:15.839 I did it. 00:20:16.000 --> 00:20:16.960 Is God happy? 00:20:17.200 --> 00:20:18.240 Can we win now? 00:20:18.640 --> 00:20:19.599 Are we good? 00:20:20.960 --> 00:20:22.319 First, you have to shoot your shot. 00:20:22.559 --> 00:20:25.119 God's presenting us windows of opportunity all of the time. 00:20:25.200 --> 00:20:32.960 And if we can push back distraction, and we can manage our fear, and we can truly have faith in God, then we can shoot our shot. 00:20:33.920 --> 00:20:39.759 But then we must be willing to do the work, even if it doesn't make sense. 00:20:41.440 --> 00:20:44.079 The king would have been embarrassed, he would have seen this as beneath him. 00:20:44.160 --> 00:20:50.640 This would have been a bad look for him, he wouldn't have wanted anyone to see it, so he participates, but just a little bit. 00:20:51.200 --> 00:21:04.400 In verse 19, the man of God was angry with him and said, You should have struck the ground five or six times, and then you would have struck down Aram until you had put it into them, but now you will strike down Aram only three times. 00:21:04.640 --> 00:21:05.440 God is faithful. 00:21:06.240 --> 00:21:07.519 They will win three battles. 00:21:08.079 --> 00:21:09.200 They will win an aphet. 00:21:10.319 --> 00:21:15.920 God is good for his word, but they will not win the war. 00:21:18.319 --> 00:21:25.680 Their king did not have enough faith, their leader did not have enough faith to trust God with the process. 00:21:26.640 --> 00:21:30.400 He obviously believed that God had the power, that's why he went to Elisha. 00:21:30.480 --> 00:21:31.599 He was out of options. 00:21:32.480 --> 00:21:36.960 But this is where God's power meets our participation. 00:21:37.039 --> 00:21:38.480 And this just didn't make enough sense to him. 00:21:38.559 --> 00:21:42.000 It was too embarrassing to him, and so he did it half-hearted. 00:21:42.240 --> 00:21:46.880 And it's very clear when you look at verse 18, Elisha said, Take the arrows. 00:21:47.519 --> 00:21:54.240 In the original Hebrew, the command is clear: you are to take and strike every single arrow. 00:21:54.400 --> 00:21:58.480 Your job, King Jehoash, is to empty the quiver. 00:21:58.640 --> 00:21:59.759 You strike the arrow. 00:22:11.119 --> 00:22:20.640 His insecurity, his pride, his hubris, his embarrassment, and his lack of faith does not allow him to fully participate. 00:22:21.920 --> 00:22:25.680 They would have victory at Aphet, God had promises they would win three more times. 00:22:25.759 --> 00:22:30.799 However, Jehoash's lack of obedience would cause Israel to lose this war. 00:22:32.480 --> 00:22:36.720 In the old Spurs training facility, there was a quote that was plastered all over the walls. 00:22:36.880 --> 00:22:40.880 It's an essential quote to understand the philosophy of the San Antonio Spurs. 00:22:41.039 --> 00:22:50.799 In fact, it's such an important part of their culture that when new players came on who spoke new languages, Pop would have it translated and put in the new languages on the wall. 00:22:50.960 --> 00:22:56.880 It's so important to their culture that it's the reason their new training facility is called The Rock. 00:22:57.440 --> 00:23:00.079 The quote is called the Stonecutter's Credo. 00:23:00.240 --> 00:23:11.920 It goes like this When nothing seems to help, I go and look at a stone cutter hammering away at his rock, perhaps a hundred times without as much as a crack showing in it. 00:23:12.160 --> 00:23:17.200 And yet, at the 101st blow, it will split in two. 00:23:17.519 --> 00:23:23.680 And I know it was not that blow that did it, but all that had gone before. 00:23:24.079 --> 00:23:32.960 It wasn't that the hundred and first hit magically broke the rock, it was the 100 consistently that had come before it. 00:23:33.279 --> 00:23:46.559 The lesson to keep pounding the rock, keep doing the work, even when you don't see any progress, even when it feels hopeless, even when it becomes embarrassing, keep pounding the rock. 00:23:46.720 --> 00:23:58.160 The idea that breakthrough does not happen with just one swing of the hammer, that victory is coming if you keep pounding the rock is something King Jehoash could have really learned something from. 00:23:59.359 --> 00:24:00.640 Empty the quiver. 00:24:01.680 --> 00:24:03.519 Keep striking the ground. 00:24:04.240 --> 00:24:08.640 His pride got in the way of God's supernatural power. 00:24:08.960 --> 00:24:13.759 Keep striking the ground until you have nothing left to strike it with. 00:24:14.799 --> 00:24:20.640 This is where God's power meets with our participation, his omnipotence, our obedience. 00:24:21.200 --> 00:24:24.559 It is God that provides us with these windows of opportunity. 00:24:24.720 --> 00:24:31.039 It is God who secures our victories, however, he asks us to shoot our shot. 00:24:31.839 --> 00:24:36.880 To trust him enough to move forward and take a leap of faith. 00:24:37.200 --> 00:24:44.240 He asks us to strike the ground, to continue in obedience to him, even if it doesn't make sense to us. 00:24:47.599 --> 00:24:53.920 A lot of times we miss our windows of opportunity because they look so much like weapons of opposition. 00:24:55.839 --> 00:24:58.400 So many marriages are struggling. 00:24:59.440 --> 00:25:06.240 As a pastor, this is actually one of the things I spend the most time with is working with couples who are really struggling in their marriages. 00:25:06.640 --> 00:25:08.240 Marriage is very difficult. 00:25:08.799 --> 00:25:12.559 And a lot of times people are not willing to shoot their shot. 00:25:13.119 --> 00:25:20.559 They know there's help available, they know there's processes to go through, they know that there are loving acts that they could do towards their spouse. 00:25:20.720 --> 00:25:24.799 But they're like, you just don't understand, you don't know how mean they are to me these days. 00:25:25.359 --> 00:25:31.279 It's like the more opposition that comes, the more opportunity there is for God to work. 00:25:32.079 --> 00:25:34.400 And finally, you're willing to shoot your shot. 00:25:34.480 --> 00:25:36.720 You're like, I believe God, I can trust them with this. 00:25:36.880 --> 00:25:41.279 I'll sign up, I'll go to some biblical marriage counseling, I'll get in the process. 00:25:41.599 --> 00:25:45.039 I've seen far too many couples take the first shot. 00:25:45.200 --> 00:25:46.720 Woo! Sign up for counseling. 00:25:46.880 --> 00:25:52.480 Six months later, they have not done one single thing the counselor has asked them to do. 00:25:53.759 --> 00:25:55.519 You have to strike the ground. 00:25:55.759 --> 00:25:56.880 It's daily. 00:25:57.200 --> 00:25:58.880 What about when it seems like it's not working? 00:25:58.960 --> 00:26:00.960 What about when it seems like we're not making progress? 00:26:01.119 --> 00:26:02.960 What about when it seems like things are getting worse? 00:26:03.039 --> 00:26:05.119 What about when it seems like they're gonna file for divorce? 00:26:05.359 --> 00:26:11.519 You have to trust God enough to stay in the process, keep pounding the rock, keep striking the ground. 00:26:11.759 --> 00:26:14.240 This happens in every area of our lives. 00:26:14.400 --> 00:26:22.880 It happens in our parenting, it happens in our career, it happens in our finances, it happens in our relationships, it happens with our addictions, there are windows of opportunity. 00:26:23.039 --> 00:26:34.240 We have to have faith enough to move, but once we move, we have to keep moving, keep striking the ground, keep trusting God, and when it doesn't make any sense, will we continue to trust him? 00:26:34.480 --> 00:26:37.599 And when it seems hopeless, will we continue to pound the rock? 00:26:37.759 --> 00:26:41.680 And when it gets embarrassing, and all of your friends are saying, Why don't you leave him? 00:26:41.920 --> 00:26:42.960 Why don't you leave her? 00:26:43.119 --> 00:26:48.240 Why are you still in this when you trust God enough to keep striking the ground? 00:26:48.480 --> 00:26:50.000 This is our call. 00:26:54.960 --> 00:27:03.920 This is a part of the mystery of how God is and who he is, how he operates this universe. 00:27:05.039 --> 00:27:10.480 We don't save ourselves, we don't secure our own victories. 00:27:50.559 --> 00:27:51.680 Even when it gets hard. 00:27:52.720 --> 00:28:03.920 Even when it feels like a powerful, impactful life on purpose and with purpose that you were created to live requires the courage to shoot your shot. 00:28:05.039 --> 00:28:16.640 And requires the commitment to continue striking the ground, listening and obeying with passion, with zeal, even if it doesn't make sense. 00:28:16.960 --> 00:28:19.119 Even if it's embarrassing. 00:28:20.000 --> 00:28:22.640 We're in such a unique time at a church. 00:28:22.799 --> 00:28:25.279 Uh we're really changing on a fundamental level. 00:28:25.519 --> 00:28:28.559 We're becoming a multi-site ministry. 00:28:29.359 --> 00:28:32.400 We are one movement, we have one vision. 00:28:32.640 --> 00:28:34.799 We're now gonna be meeting in multiple locations. 00:28:34.960 --> 00:28:37.200 The way our staff is structured has completely changed. 00:28:37.599 --> 00:28:43.599 Big, big changes, and so many exciting things as God begins to expand us and multiply our impact. 00:28:43.839 --> 00:28:46.400 So much excitement in our future. 00:28:46.799 --> 00:28:49.519 I want to talk today, though, a little bit about our past. 00:28:49.920 --> 00:28:55.440 We planted MetaCurch in 2019 and we were meeting in the 151 saloon just down the highway. 00:28:55.759 --> 00:29:00.880 God had really been growing our movement, and we were not looking to go multi-site. 00:29:01.519 --> 00:29:11.279 The Holotus 4H called us and asked us if we'd be willing to put a venue in their building on Sundays. 00:29:11.599 --> 00:29:14.319 That was a window of opportunity. 00:29:14.559 --> 00:29:17.119 And there were a million reasons not to do it. 00:29:17.359 --> 00:29:27.839 We were like six months old as a church, we didn't really have the money to do it, we didn't really have the staff to do it, but we felt like God was calling us to shoot our shot. 00:29:28.000 --> 00:29:28.480 We did. 00:29:28.640 --> 00:29:29.839 And he was faithful. 00:29:30.000 --> 00:29:32.559 And we did kind of a soft open through December of that year. 00:29:32.720 --> 00:29:39.599 Grand opening was in January of 2020, and just a few weeks later, COVID came and shut us down for eight months. 00:29:39.839 --> 00:29:49.599 When we opened back up shortly after God had given us this building, and the wise thing to do was to bring all the troops together and all of our staff together and make sure we could steward this new work. 00:29:49.759 --> 00:29:55.759 And we said then we are not closing Helotus, we are hitting pause. 00:29:56.720 --> 00:30:00.640 And I didn't know what that meant, and I didn't know how long that would be. 00:30:00.880 --> 00:30:02.720 And as y'all know, I am an optimist. 00:30:02.960 --> 00:30:04.319 It's like six months, probably. 00:30:05.599 --> 00:30:14.960 Well, three and a half years later, we had been paying every month, writing a check for a building that we were not in. 00:30:17.039 --> 00:30:19.519 We were willing to shoot our shot right away. 00:30:19.920 --> 00:30:21.359 We got in there, we opened it up. 00:30:22.079 --> 00:30:23.279 Had a little run in there. 00:30:24.240 --> 00:30:25.680 Some people came to know the Lord. 00:30:27.359 --> 00:30:34.640 But then for the last three and a half years, we've had to keep striking the ground again and again and again. 00:30:35.039 --> 00:30:36.880 And I'm always gonna be honest with you. 00:30:37.440 --> 00:30:49.680 As one year turned to two years, and two years turned to three years, every time we would strike the ground and write that check for the building that we were not having services in, it got a little bit harder. 00:30:50.559 --> 00:30:54.400 And the temptation grew and the seeds of doubt. 00:30:54.960 --> 00:30:56.720 Is this really where God has us? 00:30:58.640 --> 00:31:08.720 But we continued and continued to strike the ground, holding on to our faith that God had spoken and we had listened, and we would hold on to hope. 00:31:09.119 --> 00:31:12.960 And we began to see God organizing things behind the scenes. 00:31:13.440 --> 00:31:19.119 About a year and a half ago, a church reached out to us who was getting kicked out of their location. 00:31:19.279 --> 00:31:24.880 They were given two weeks to completely be out of the high school where they were meeting, and they needed a spot, and we had a spot. 00:31:25.119 --> 00:31:40.000 And so we were able to sublease to them, and we were a huge blessing to them because they had nowhere to go, and they were a huge blessing to us because they were offsetting the money that we were putting in there, and God helped bring them a location at the same time that we were looking to get back out to Helotus in these last three and a half years. 00:31:40.160 --> 00:31:45.359 God has brought the leadership to this team that is now going to lead out in Helotus. 00:31:45.519 --> 00:31:52.319 When we hit pause on Holotus, Tony and Tori Albano had not yet shown up to MetaCurch, and Tony is our venue pastor out there. 00:31:52.480 --> 00:31:57.759 Casey and Janina Burrow had not yet shown up to MetaCurch, and Janina is our Metakids director out there. 00:31:57.920 --> 00:32:03.200 Randy Bonias had not yet shown up to MetaCurch, and he is now our first impressions director out there. 00:32:03.359 --> 00:32:06.000 God was organizing things behind the scenes. 00:32:06.160 --> 00:32:13.839 Sometimes you can see the window and you can't yet see God's will, and will you have the faith and the courage to shoot your shot and keep striking the ground? 00:32:13.920 --> 00:32:18.000 Because if you will, in time, God will show up. 00:32:18.720 --> 00:32:26.559 And all of this work and all of this participation will unleash the power of God through faith in our life. 00:32:27.119 --> 00:32:32.319 In 2019, we did a series called What You Started. 00:32:33.599 --> 00:32:39.680 We see this as a continuation of that series that launched Helotus the first time. 00:32:41.119 --> 00:32:45.599 God has been behind the scenes organizing and working. 00:32:45.759 --> 00:32:53.200 And next Sunday we're gonna open a new location where God has already gone before us and is working things in his time. 00:32:53.680 --> 00:33:01.200 Helotus is like 25 minutes away, and that's a 25-minute drive a lot of people would not make to come to this venue. 00:33:01.519 --> 00:33:07.200 If people can't come to us, then we will do whatever it takes to get the movement of Jesus to them. 00:33:08.160 --> 00:33:09.519 The same is true in your life. 00:33:10.079 --> 00:33:11.680 There are windows of opportunity. 00:33:12.319 --> 00:33:13.519 You've got to shoot your shot. 00:33:13.759 --> 00:33:15.680 It's the life God created you to live. 00:33:16.240 --> 00:33:19.039 But then even when it doesn't make sense. 00:33:19.680 --> 00:33:31.039 And in the process when it starts feeling hopeless, and maybe even sometimes when it gets embarrassing, you must keep striking the ground. 00:33:31.599 --> 00:33:40.319 Hold on to your faith and trust that if God has spoken in his timing with his power, he will see it through. 00:33:40.559 --> 00:33:44.400 As we close service, I'm gonna ask the band to come back up on stage and join us. 00:33:44.480 --> 00:33:46.720 They're gonna worship over us here in just a moment. 00:33:46.880 --> 00:33:49.039 But I want us to spend some time in prayer. 00:33:49.279 --> 00:33:54.400 And specifically, I want us to pray for what's about to happen next week in Helotus. 00:33:54.559 --> 00:33:57.440 I got a text from Tony just before I walked on stage. 00:33:57.680 --> 00:33:59.279 Grand opening is next Sunday. 00:33:59.440 --> 00:34:02.079 A family showed up today, right? 00:34:02.240 --> 00:34:04.400 It's just dress rehearsal out there. 00:34:04.880 --> 00:34:06.799 It's just the launch team out there. 00:34:07.039 --> 00:34:12.079 And a family showed up because God is moving and God goes ahead of us. 00:34:12.239 --> 00:34:16.880 He's like, y'all have been striking the ground so hard, people can't even wait for grand opening. 00:34:17.039 --> 00:34:18.880 They're already breaking down the doors. 00:34:19.039 --> 00:34:20.960 God is getting ready to do something. 00:34:21.199 --> 00:34:32.000 Here at Petrenko, we have seen for 560 people baptized in about five and a half years. 00:34:33.199 --> 00:34:39.039 God has moved incredibly, and he's going to do it again. 00:34:39.840 --> 00:34:47.840 And our launch team is out there, and it's not like Petrenko, where we show up, the building's set up, the chairs, they gotta set it up from scratch. 00:34:48.320 --> 00:34:49.920 And that's gonna get hard sometimes. 00:34:51.679 --> 00:34:57.119 And they're gonna keep striking the ground, and problems will arise, and they will just keep striking the ground. 00:34:58.719 --> 00:35:00.960 Things will feel shaky, and they'll keep striking the ground. 00:35:02.639 --> 00:35:12.639 Just like we've done for five and a half years, and the power of God has been unleashed through this movement, and you are this movement, which is why I'm asking you to pray. 00:35:13.440 --> 00:35:17.119 So we're gonna give you this time, and I want you to pray for God to move. 00:35:17.360 --> 00:35:29.119 I want you to pray for our launch team that is out there, that God would bless them, that He would give them the energy that they need, that you would pray for the people and the families in the Holodus area who are living without hope. 00:35:29.360 --> 00:35:35.679 That Helotus would be this beacon of light in a world that is so often filled with darkness. 00:35:35.920 --> 00:35:40.159 So, this is your time to pray and to worship, and then I'll come back and close us out. 00:35:40.320 --> 00:35:42.320 God, we give you this time in Jesus' name. 00:35:42.400 --> 00:35:43.519 Let's pray. 00:36:08.880 --> 00:36:19.519