WEBVTT 00:00:04.799 --> 00:00:07.200 Welcome to the MetaCurch Podcast. 00:00:07.360 --> 00:00:08.320 My name's Clayton. 00:00:08.400 --> 00:00:10.480 I'm the pastor here at MetaCurch. 00:00:10.560 --> 00:00:18.160 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. 00:00:18.320 --> 00:00:20.800 I hope that you enjoy today's message. 00:00:23.920 --> 00:00:27.440 Welcome to MetaCurch Online and Happy Father's Day, man. 00:00:27.519 --> 00:00:34.399 I hope you guys are finding unique ways to celebrate uh the dads in your life today and the rest of this week. 00:00:34.560 --> 00:00:38.399 I want to encourage you guys to follow us on social media. 00:00:38.560 --> 00:00:43.280 Man, we're on Facebook, we're on Instagram, we're trying to put out a lot of encouraging content. 00:00:43.439 --> 00:00:50.079 We're also finding ways to serve in the community, and that is the main way that you will find out how to get involved with those things. 00:00:50.320 --> 00:00:56.719 Also, I want to continue to remind and encourage you guys to give generously and sacrificially to this movement. 00:00:56.880 --> 00:00:59.439 We give in three ways here at MetaCurch. 00:00:59.520 --> 00:01:00.479 We give first. 00:01:00.640 --> 00:01:08.319 That means if you still have income coming in during this crazy time, the first thing that you give to is funding the movement of Jesus. 00:01:08.480 --> 00:01:10.159 We also give sacrificially. 00:01:10.319 --> 00:01:12.719 We give in a way where we feel it a little bit. 00:01:12.879 --> 00:01:18.560 This was a movement started by a sacrifice on a cross, and we are a sacrificial people. 00:01:18.799 --> 00:01:20.400 We also give automatically. 00:01:20.560 --> 00:01:23.359 We don't give because generosity is something to do. 00:01:23.519 --> 00:01:26.159 We give because we are generous people. 00:01:26.239 --> 00:01:28.079 And so let's make sure we're all doing our part. 00:01:28.239 --> 00:01:33.280 You can give online at metachurch.tv or by downloading the MetaCurch app. 00:01:33.519 --> 00:01:35.200 If you're new with us, my name's Clayton. 00:01:35.280 --> 00:01:39.840 I'm the lead pastor here today, uh, but I won't be the one sharing the message today. 00:01:40.000 --> 00:01:42.000 We have such a special treat for you guys. 00:01:42.159 --> 00:01:48.159 Pastor John Whitdy has been one of the primary mentors and influences in my life. 00:01:48.319 --> 00:01:54.879 I don't know if he actually wants to take credit for this, but most everything I've learned about preaching, I learned from John Whitdy. 00:01:55.040 --> 00:02:03.840 Uh he is someone who has gone before me, he's ahead of me, and he's someone that I can look to, I can call night or day, and I'm so thankful for him. 00:02:04.000 --> 00:02:08.639 I'm so glad that we all get uh the honor of really learning from him today. 00:02:08.800 --> 00:02:16.960 And so, right there in the comments, right on the live stream, on the chat, y'all make some online noise as we get ready to introduce Pastor John Woody. 00:02:17.199 --> 00:02:20.560 I love you guys, and I hope you enjoy the rest of the service. 00:02:21.439 --> 00:02:23.680 Hey, Metachurch, good to be with you guys. 00:02:23.759 --> 00:02:31.520 It's been a while, so uh really looking forward to uh being together with you this weekend, and I appreciate Clayton's intro. 00:02:31.680 --> 00:02:35.120 You know, uh Clayton and I have a lot in common. 00:02:35.360 --> 00:02:39.759 We both uh came from great families, really fantastic parents. 00:02:39.919 --> 00:02:43.680 We both married way over our heads, Katie and Linda. 00:02:43.759 --> 00:02:50.159 Uh Clayton and I both had dreams when we were younger of, you know, playing basketball in uh the NBA. 00:02:50.240 --> 00:02:53.280 The only difference was Clayton actually had talent. 00:02:53.520 --> 00:02:57.439 I had some height that he didn't have, but uh fantastic. 00:02:57.680 --> 00:03:01.599 And um, you know, Clayton has just done a fabulous job. 00:03:01.759 --> 00:03:14.000 One of the things, whenever you do get to mentor someone else and they actually claim you as a mentor, is it's always fun to see uh the person that you worked with move beyond where you are. 00:03:14.159 --> 00:03:16.319 And Clayton has done that rapidly. 00:03:16.479 --> 00:03:19.039 I wish I could preach as well as he does. 00:03:19.360 --> 00:03:25.120 Meta, you're fortunate to have him and the staff that you serve with here at MetaCurch. 00:03:25.199 --> 00:03:27.439 I'm proud of them, and it's good to be with you. 00:03:27.599 --> 00:03:33.199 You know, for 30 years, Linda and I have been drinking coffee together every morning. 00:03:33.280 --> 00:03:40.400 It gives us a chance to kind of clear the cobwebs from our mind and to connect with each other and get ready for the day. 00:03:40.479 --> 00:03:54.400 And back in March, whenever uh the coronavirus became a real thing to us, our conversation changed because Linda and I just openly spoke to the fact that someone in our family could die. 00:03:54.719 --> 00:04:03.120 Uh both of our parents are quite aged and old, and heck, you know, Linda and I are actually old now, and that sort of dawned on us. 00:04:03.280 --> 00:04:09.840 Linda and two of our daughters are nurses on the front lines, and so we knew that they might be exposed. 00:04:10.000 --> 00:04:15.840 Our other daughter is living up in Alaska, and we felt pretty safe about her and the grandkids up there. 00:04:16.000 --> 00:04:26.160 And then our son is a trainer, and since gyms were closing down, his business was actually picking up, and we knew that he might have some extra exposure to it. 00:04:26.240 --> 00:04:30.639 And so the reality of the pandemic, it became a real thing to us. 00:04:30.720 --> 00:04:40.000 It was no longer out there happening to someone else, it was happening to us, and we had to recognize that we could be affected by it. 00:04:40.240 --> 00:04:46.560 Well, that was back in March, and still today in June, there is uncertainty in the air. 00:04:46.720 --> 00:04:47.839 It's everywhere. 00:04:48.160 --> 00:04:51.839 The economy is trying to recover, but it's still struggling. 00:04:52.000 --> 00:04:56.879 COVID-19 cases are spiking, we're told, in about six different states. 00:04:57.040 --> 00:05:00.240 One of those is here in our own state of Texas. 00:05:00.399 --> 00:05:04.399 Um, the coronavirus, we're all wondering, is it gonna come roaring back? 00:05:04.560 --> 00:05:06.079 Is there gonna be a second wave? 00:05:06.240 --> 00:05:10.639 And what does that mean for basic things that we kind of take for granted? 00:05:10.800 --> 00:05:13.600 Are our kids gonna be able to go back to school in the fall? 00:05:13.759 --> 00:05:16.160 Can we get a week of summer camp this summer? 00:05:16.319 --> 00:05:18.399 Am I gonna be able to go back to the office? 00:05:18.560 --> 00:05:23.519 Is my uh are my finances gonna be able to handle the pressure that they're under? 00:05:23.680 --> 00:05:28.720 Can my marriage handle us being cooped up together 24-7 all the time? 00:05:28.800 --> 00:05:30.720 And uh, are people gonna handle it? 00:05:30.879 --> 00:05:32.319 People are angry at each other. 00:05:32.399 --> 00:05:38.560 And what do I say to my children during times that are as uncertain as this? 00:05:38.879 --> 00:05:45.759 You know, it seems like about the only thing that is really certain is the uncertainty of tomorrow. 00:05:46.079 --> 00:05:51.839 And all of us have to admit that uncertainty is pretty uncomfortable. 00:05:52.240 --> 00:05:55.199 What are we supposed to anchor ourselves to? 00:05:55.360 --> 00:05:57.680 What are we supposed to say to our children? 00:05:57.839 --> 00:06:00.000 What are we supposed to think about our future? 00:06:00.160 --> 00:06:05.199 Where does our help come from during these kinds of uncertain times? 00:06:05.360 --> 00:06:12.800 Whenever we're a little bit panicked, we're a little bit alarmed, and we might even have to admit we are a little bit afraid. 00:06:13.120 --> 00:06:27.600 Because let's admit it, when things get as unsettled as they are right now, we aren't always sure that we're strong enough or independent enough or smart enough or capable enough to manage the chaos around us. 00:06:27.839 --> 00:06:34.480 So where do we find stability during uncertain times like these? 00:06:35.360 --> 00:06:40.800 We know, as is often the case, the scriptures give us some insight. 00:06:40.959 --> 00:06:50.879 And in the Jewish scriptures, the writer of uh Psalm 121 asked the very same question that we're asking today. 00:06:51.040 --> 00:06:52.319 This is how he said it. 00:06:52.560 --> 00:06:54.959 He said, I look up to the mountains. 00:06:55.279 --> 00:06:58.319 Does my help come from there? 00:06:58.639 --> 00:07:02.639 Now, that's a rather odd way to ask, where do I find my help? 00:07:02.800 --> 00:07:03.920 Do I look up to the mountains? 00:07:04.079 --> 00:07:05.839 Why would he ask that question? 00:07:06.079 --> 00:07:10.800 Well, Psalm 121 is called a Psalm of Ascent. 00:07:11.360 --> 00:07:22.639 And actually it was sung by uh Israeli travelers, pilgrims, who whenever they would go up to Jerusalem, they would sing this psalm. 00:07:22.879 --> 00:07:30.000 And Jerusalem was the center of their religious life because the Solomon of the Temple of Solomon had been built there. 00:07:30.160 --> 00:07:43.199 And whenever Solomon built and dedicated the temple, he prayed a certain prayer, asking that whenever God's people would pray toward that temple, that God would answer. 00:07:43.360 --> 00:07:48.160 And so the psalmist asked the question Does my help come from the mountains? 00:07:48.319 --> 00:07:51.120 Does my help come from Jerusalem? 00:07:51.360 --> 00:07:57.279 And whenever Solomon prayed this prayer of dedication, I mean, he, it's really interesting what he said. 00:07:57.360 --> 00:08:02.560 Let's just read some of his prayer to God about Jerusalem and about the temple being there. 00:08:02.720 --> 00:08:14.319 He said, When a man wrongs his neighbor and is required to take an oath, and he comes and swears the oath before your altar in this temple, then hear from heaven and act. 00:08:14.560 --> 00:08:25.600 When your people, Israel, have been defeated by an enemy because they sinned and they confess your name in this temple, then hear from heaven and forgive. 00:08:25.839 --> 00:08:34.320 When the heavens are shut up and there is no rain, and when they pray toward this place, then hear from heaven and forgive. 00:08:34.559 --> 00:08:47.279 And he said, when famine or plague comes to the land, kind of his version of the coronavirus, and when a prayer or plea is made toward this temple, then hear from heaven. 00:08:47.600 --> 00:09:04.080 So in the minds of Hebrew people, whenever there was a disaster, when it struck, if they could just get to Jerusalem, if they could just get to the temple, if they could just pray a prayer in that place, then in their minds everything would be okay. 00:09:04.720 --> 00:09:16.480 You know, one of the things that has maybe uh happened to you in the last four months has become a reality to me is that we all have our Jerusalems, don't we? 00:09:16.720 --> 00:09:23.120 That's that place that if we can just get to, then we think everything will be okay. 00:09:23.360 --> 00:09:33.360 If I can just get to the office, if I can just get to HEB and get the supplies I need, if I can just get my kids to camp for one summer this week, then it'll be all right. 00:09:33.519 --> 00:09:42.879 If I can just hang out with my friends, if I can just, you know, revive my savings account, if I can just get my job back, if the country can just stabilize. 00:09:43.039 --> 00:09:46.080 We all have our Jerusalems and we look to those things. 00:09:46.320 --> 00:09:50.960 In fact, this kind of thinking is what I call looking about. 00:09:51.840 --> 00:10:05.279 Looking about is when you and I look to some place, some thing, some routine, some person, a government organization, a school, or some created thing to make things right. 00:10:05.840 --> 00:10:12.559 And so many times, whenever we face challenges, what we do is we look about for a solution. 00:10:12.879 --> 00:10:16.720 But looking about isn't what the psalmist proposed at all. 00:10:16.960 --> 00:10:23.759 Because in his very next breath, after he asked the question where his help comes from, he answered his own question. 00:10:23.840 --> 00:10:25.039 And this is what he said. 00:10:25.200 --> 00:10:31.679 He said, My help comes from the Lord who made heaven and earth. 00:10:31.919 --> 00:10:40.480 The psalmist knew that our help is not in any created thing, it is in the creator of all things. 00:10:41.200 --> 00:10:50.720 And probably there is no better illustration of this in the scriptures than the story of Abraham and Lot in Genesis chapter 13. 00:10:50.960 --> 00:10:53.120 Let me quickly tell you their story. 00:10:53.360 --> 00:11:01.600 Abraham and his wife Sarah and their nephew Lot had a bunch of people who already lived and worked with them and worked for them. 00:11:01.759 --> 00:11:03.440 Abraham was a very wealthy man. 00:11:03.600 --> 00:11:06.720 And they had moved to the land of Palestine. 00:11:07.039 --> 00:11:12.240 And while they moved there, after they got there, they experienced a killer drought. 00:11:12.399 --> 00:11:15.279 It was kind of the pandemic of their day. 00:11:15.440 --> 00:11:19.360 And so they traveled to Egypt, which was just close by. 00:11:19.519 --> 00:11:22.080 They traveled to Egypt in order to survive. 00:11:22.320 --> 00:11:24.240 But Abraham had another problem. 00:11:24.399 --> 00:11:30.240 Sarah, his wife, was an absolutely beautiful woman according to the scriptures. 00:11:30.399 --> 00:11:46.240 And so Abraham knew that traveling as a foreigner into the land of Egypt, that when he and Sarah got there, all the men were going to take note of Sarah and they were gonna tell the king about this new woman, and the king would kill Abraham in order to take Sarah as his wife. 00:11:46.399 --> 00:11:50.960 And so Abraham had to try to solve this, and he solved it in the oddest way, ladies. 00:11:51.039 --> 00:11:55.919 He asked Sarah, he said, Would you just tell everyone that you're my sister? 00:11:56.240 --> 00:12:01.600 And amazingly, Sarah agreed to do this, and it worked. 00:12:01.840 --> 00:12:17.759 Because whenever they got there, the men noticed Sarah just like they said, and they reported to the king, just like Abraham knew they would, and the king offered Abraham and Lot a dowry, a bride price, in order to be able to marry Sarah. 00:12:17.919 --> 00:12:19.840 And this was their custom of the day. 00:12:19.919 --> 00:12:24.559 This is how two families agreed that they were gonna intermarry with each other. 00:12:24.720 --> 00:12:27.919 And so essentially the king was offering to buy Sarah. 00:12:28.000 --> 00:12:35.279 And we're told that he gave Abraham and Lot thousands of animals as a bride price for Sarah. 00:12:35.600 --> 00:12:55.039 But then the king found out, eventually, before he and Sarah got married, he found out that Sarah was already married to Abraham, and it made him so angry that he threw Abraham, Lot, and Sarah out of the land of Egypt and forced them to go back to Palestine where there was already a drought. 00:12:55.200 --> 00:13:00.879 And unbelievably, he was also afraid of Abraham, and so he let him keep the dowry. 00:13:01.120 --> 00:13:06.879 Y'all, this was unheard of, but he allowed Abraham and Lot to keep the animals that they had been given. 00:13:06.960 --> 00:13:12.879 But now, as they were back in the land of Palestine, it created a completely new problem for them. 00:13:13.279 --> 00:13:15.679 Because Palestine was in the middle of a drought. 00:13:15.840 --> 00:13:27.840 People were already living there with animals, and now Abraham and Lot were moving back in, and they had even more animals than before, and there simply was not enough resources to support them. 00:13:28.080 --> 00:13:30.159 There wasn't enough grass and water. 00:13:30.559 --> 00:13:36.480 In our COVID-19 lockdown, there just wasn't enough rice and beans on the shelves at HEB. 00:13:36.720 --> 00:13:38.240 There wasn't food. 00:13:38.720 --> 00:13:46.399 Well, as often happens, problems create conflict and fighting, and it created conflict and fighting in the family of Abraham and Lot. 00:13:46.480 --> 00:13:53.600 And so Abraham's herdsmen and Lot's herdsmen began to fight with each other over grass and water. 00:13:54.000 --> 00:13:57.759 And so the question came up: well, what are we gonna do about that? 00:13:58.000 --> 00:14:03.120 Well, according to the culture, Lot, who was younger, he was Abraham's nephew. 00:14:03.360 --> 00:14:09.039 Lot, out of respect for his uncle, should have gone to Abraham and he should have offered to move. 00:14:09.200 --> 00:14:15.120 He should have said, Uncle Abraham, you live wherever you want to, I'll move out, I'll find another place to go. 00:14:15.360 --> 00:14:25.200 But instead of that happening, Abraham called the meeting and he gave Lot first choice of where he wanted to live. 00:14:25.440 --> 00:14:27.360 This is how it's said in the scriptures. 00:14:27.519 --> 00:14:34.879 He said, Let's not have any quarreling between you and me, or between your herdsmen and mine, for we are brothers. 00:14:35.200 --> 00:14:37.440 Is not the whole land before you? 00:14:37.679 --> 00:14:39.039 Let's part company. 00:14:39.200 --> 00:14:44.559 If you go to the left, I'll go to the right, and if you go to the right, I'll go to the left. 00:14:44.799 --> 00:14:55.200 Now, y'all, this is simply amazing because Abraham knew exactly what Isaac, I mean what Lot was going to do. 00:14:55.360 --> 00:14:57.679 He knew exactly what Lot was going to choose. 00:14:57.840 --> 00:14:58.960 Let's keep reading. 00:14:59.200 --> 00:15:05.200 We're told that Lot looked up and he saw the whole plain of the Jordan was well watered. 00:15:05.360 --> 00:15:12.639 So Lot chose for himself the whole plain of the Jordan and he set out toward the east. 00:15:12.879 --> 00:15:15.519 Now let me help you get the picture in your mind. 00:15:15.840 --> 00:15:28.639 The land of Palestine runs from the western seashore on the Mediterranean Sea at sea level, it runs eastward, and there is a high plateau right in the middle of the land of Palestine. 00:15:28.720 --> 00:15:31.919 And that is where Abraham and Lot were apparently at. 00:15:32.080 --> 00:15:37.600 And then off to the eastern border, it drops off again down into the Jordan River Valley. 00:15:37.759 --> 00:15:42.399 And the Jordan River Valley is actually below sea level. 00:15:42.639 --> 00:15:54.559 And so from where Abraham and Lot were standing, possibly even somewhere near Jerusalem, Lot could look up and he could look in every direction and see everything around him. 00:15:54.879 --> 00:16:04.639 And we're told that Lot could see the Jordan River Valley, that there was tons of water and there was tons of grass, which was exactly what he needed to survive this pandemic. 00:16:04.799 --> 00:16:11.679 And of course, if Lot could see that, Abraham was standing next to him, he could see the very thing that Lot could see. 00:16:11.919 --> 00:16:15.600 And so he knew exactly what Lot was going to do. 00:16:15.759 --> 00:16:26.320 It was a foregone conclusion that Lot looked about, and when he looked about, he chose the best things, the best place that could sustain him. 00:16:26.639 --> 00:16:32.320 Lot did what every one of us would have done. 00:16:33.200 --> 00:16:36.879 Everyone that is, except Abraham. 00:16:37.840 --> 00:16:44.960 By giving Lot first choice, Abraham was giving away the best place. 00:16:46.159 --> 00:16:48.159 So why did he do that? 00:16:48.320 --> 00:16:52.559 Why did he let Lot choose first, since he knew he was going to take the Jordan Valley? 00:16:52.720 --> 00:16:59.360 Well, I want to suggest that while Lot looked about, Abraham looked above. 00:17:01.200 --> 00:17:03.279 Let's read what happened next in the text. 00:17:03.440 --> 00:17:13.279 The Lord said to Abraham after Lot had parted from him, lift up your eyes from where you are, and look north and look south and east and west. 00:17:13.599 --> 00:17:20.720 All the land you see, I will give to you and your offspring forever. 00:17:20.880 --> 00:17:26.720 Go walk through the length and breadth of the land, for I am giving it to you. 00:17:27.440 --> 00:17:30.079 See y'all get the picture clearly in your mind. 00:17:30.319 --> 00:17:32.160 Lot and Abraham are standing there. 00:17:32.240 --> 00:17:33.680 They're on this high plateau. 00:17:33.920 --> 00:17:38.240 Lot looks around, he looks about, and he says, Yeah, I'll take the Jordan Valley. 00:17:38.319 --> 00:17:45.759 And no sooner has Lot left than God comes to Abraham and he tells Abraham to do the very same thing that Lot had just done. 00:17:45.920 --> 00:17:55.759 And then God upped Lot one, he said, Abraham, everything you can see, including the Jordan Valley, I give to you and to your descendants forever. 00:17:56.160 --> 00:18:02.799 God gave to Abraham what Lot thought he had taken for himself. 00:18:04.480 --> 00:18:10.079 Lot looked about, but Abraham looked above. 00:18:10.640 --> 00:18:13.839 Lot trusted in grass and water. 00:18:14.160 --> 00:18:20.160 Abraham trusted in the God who made grass and water. 00:18:20.960 --> 00:18:24.480 Where does our help come from in uncertain times? 00:18:24.720 --> 00:18:26.960 It comes from exactly where the psalmist said. 00:18:27.119 --> 00:18:28.400 It comes from the Lord. 00:18:28.559 --> 00:18:33.920 And that's why it makes more sense to look above than it does to look about. 00:18:34.240 --> 00:18:37.599 And y'all, this is exactly what Jesus taught us. 00:18:37.759 --> 00:18:39.279 It's how he taught us to live. 00:18:39.440 --> 00:18:50.079 In Luke chapter 12, Jesus said to his disciples, Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat, or about your body, what you will wear. 00:18:50.319 --> 00:18:55.279 And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink. 00:18:55.359 --> 00:18:56.880 Do not worry about it. 00:18:57.200 --> 00:19:01.279 That term, set your heart, translates such a cool Greek word. 00:19:01.359 --> 00:19:02.960 It's the Greek word zeteo. 00:19:03.200 --> 00:19:04.240 It's a hunting term. 00:19:04.400 --> 00:19:07.920 It meant to hunt something down or to pursue something. 00:19:08.079 --> 00:19:14.240 And Jesus was telling his disciples do not pursue the created things. 00:19:14.480 --> 00:19:16.319 Don't worry about your life. 00:19:16.480 --> 00:19:18.880 And he told them why they shouldn't do that. 00:19:19.119 --> 00:19:25.599 He said in the next verse, for the pagan world runs after all such things. 00:19:26.480 --> 00:19:32.640 Think of people running, making a run on H E B to get toilet paper, or making a run on Costco to get their favorite food. 00:19:32.799 --> 00:19:36.960 He says, This is what the pagan world, people who don't even believe in God, this is how they live. 00:19:37.039 --> 00:19:39.759 And that world runs, that word runs there. 00:19:40.640 --> 00:19:44.480 It's a really cool little wordplay from Set Your Heart On. 00:19:44.640 --> 00:19:48.240 Set Your Heart On in the first verse is Zateo. 00:19:48.559 --> 00:19:52.079 The word runs in the second verse is epizeteo. 00:19:52.160 --> 00:19:54.400 You can hear they share the same common root. 00:19:54.559 --> 00:20:00.079 But in Greek, whenever you add a little prefix on the front, it intensifies the word. 00:20:00.720 --> 00:20:11.680 In other words, Jesus is saying, everyone else looks about, everyone else runs after the created things, but you know that your help comes from the Lord. 00:20:11.839 --> 00:20:13.200 Why would Jesus say this? 00:20:13.359 --> 00:20:14.400 Because of what he said next. 00:20:14.480 --> 00:20:18.559 He said, And your Father knows that you need them. 00:20:19.519 --> 00:20:24.400 This is Jesus' way of saying, like the psalmist did, our help comes from the Lord. 00:20:24.559 --> 00:20:31.200 This is Jesus' way of telling his disciples, don't worry about these things, look above. 00:20:32.000 --> 00:20:34.720 But you know, looking above is hard. 00:20:34.960 --> 00:20:38.400 It's hard to do when things are uncertain. 00:20:38.799 --> 00:20:47.200 You know, maybe in the lockdown, you're single and and you have found yourself in the lockdown that you're just incredibly lonely in your own apartment there. 00:20:47.279 --> 00:20:50.240 And you begin to wonder, man, I'm getting all a little up in age. 00:20:50.319 --> 00:20:51.519 Am I ever gonna find anyone? 00:20:51.680 --> 00:20:52.880 Am I ever gonna marry someone? 00:20:53.039 --> 00:20:54.559 Is the right person ever gonna come along? 00:20:54.640 --> 00:20:55.440 And so what do you do? 00:20:55.599 --> 00:21:05.839 You join every dating site around, even those ones that flash up singles that are the same age on your Facebook page or whatever, and you even start calling some of them. 00:21:06.079 --> 00:21:07.519 That's looking about. 00:21:07.839 --> 00:21:13.440 It never crossed your mind to actually pray and say, God, could you bring somebody into my life? 00:21:13.519 --> 00:21:16.640 I'll be patient, I'll wait until you do that. 00:21:16.799 --> 00:21:19.519 Instead of looking above, you look about. 00:21:20.559 --> 00:21:24.240 During the lockdown, some of you have had to spend so much time with your spouse. 00:21:24.400 --> 00:21:39.680 When you got married, you knew you said, for, you know, till death do us part, but you didn't think that meant you were gonna have to spend 24 hours a day, seven days a week with them, and now you've discovered that you don't really like the person you're married to, and so you're thinking about leaving. 00:21:40.240 --> 00:21:48.079 And so you start looking about instead of looking above for a solution for a way for you guys to work it out. 00:21:48.400 --> 00:21:54.079 Why does looking above calm our fears? 00:21:55.200 --> 00:21:59.440 Well, the psalmist said it should calm our fears because of who God is. 00:22:00.079 --> 00:22:05.359 I want us to look at what he wrote, how he continued to describe God in Psalm 121. 00:22:05.519 --> 00:22:08.559 He said, He will not let you stumble. 00:22:09.200 --> 00:22:12.799 The one who watches over you will not slumber. 00:22:13.039 --> 00:22:18.160 Indeed, he who watches over Israel never slumbers or sleeps. 00:22:18.400 --> 00:22:20.640 God's on the Job 24, 7. 00:22:20.799 --> 00:22:23.279 He's like a parent who won't let their child stumble. 00:22:23.359 --> 00:22:29.599 He's like a parent standing by the crib of their newborn baby that isn't gonna let anything hurt it. 00:22:29.759 --> 00:22:37.119 It says the Lord Himself watches over you, the Lord stands beside you as your protective shade. 00:22:37.359 --> 00:22:42.400 The sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night. 00:22:43.039 --> 00:22:44.720 I just love this last phrase. 00:22:44.880 --> 00:22:50.240 You know, we who live here in South Texas, we all understand how the sun can harm us. 00:22:50.400 --> 00:23:02.240 If you've been out in the last couple of weeks on those really hot days when the heat index was like 110, 114 in some places around San Antonio, you know how the sun can sap your strength. 00:23:02.400 --> 00:23:10.240 If you've ever been out and you didn't have enough sunblock on and your skunk, your uh skin was burned, you know how the sun can harm you. 00:23:10.400 --> 00:23:17.839 But you know, as I read that last verse, it crossed my mind, I've never thought about being harmed by the moon at night. 00:23:18.640 --> 00:23:20.640 I've never had a moon burn. 00:23:21.119 --> 00:23:22.640 It just isn't even possible. 00:23:22.799 --> 00:23:38.640 And I think it's the psalmist's poetic way of saying that if you and I look above, because of the kind of God that God is, an all-knowing, all-wise, benevolent, loving Heavenly Father, that nothing can harm you. 00:23:39.440 --> 00:23:41.920 And so I want to ask you a question today. 00:23:42.319 --> 00:23:45.839 Do you actually believe that? 00:23:47.200 --> 00:23:51.920 Do you believe that it's better to look above than to look about? 00:23:53.039 --> 00:23:58.319 Now I know that when I asked that question, all of us, you know, would say, oh, yeah, of course. 00:23:58.400 --> 00:24:00.000 I mean, of course, Witty, you're a preacher. 00:24:00.079 --> 00:24:01.440 You're supposed to say, look above. 00:24:01.599 --> 00:24:04.240 You're supposed to say trust God during a pandemic. 00:24:04.400 --> 00:24:07.440 I mean, all we church people, that's what we always say. 00:24:07.599 --> 00:24:09.279 It's what you expect me to say. 00:24:09.519 --> 00:24:13.119 But how, how do you actually look above? 00:24:13.359 --> 00:24:19.599 Is it just words that you say during this streaming session, or is it something you can actually do? 00:24:20.319 --> 00:24:25.599 Well, I want to suggest that the way you and I look above is by doing what Abraham did. 00:24:26.079 --> 00:24:33.440 We look above when we look out for the people in need around us. 00:24:34.000 --> 00:24:35.519 That's what Abraham did. 00:24:35.759 --> 00:24:44.160 Because he looked above to the God who made grass and water, he looked out for his nephew Lot. 00:24:45.039 --> 00:24:54.799 Looking above means to find someone near you who is in need, who needs help that you're aware of, and do something to actually serve them. 00:24:55.119 --> 00:24:57.279 Stream together, serve together. 00:24:57.440 --> 00:24:58.720 That's what it means. 00:24:58.960 --> 00:25:09.839 It might be your own child, it might be your spouse, your mother, your mother-in-law, a brother, a brother-in-law, a neighbor, someone who's a close friend, someone that isn't a friend, might even be an enemy of yours. 00:25:09.920 --> 00:25:12.319 You don't even really like them, but they're in need. 00:25:12.480 --> 00:25:13.519 Help them first. 00:25:13.680 --> 00:25:18.640 Look above by looking out for others. 00:25:19.759 --> 00:25:25.440 Now, if you're a thinking person, you would probably be thinking right now, but Witty, isn't that risky? 00:25:25.839 --> 00:25:33.200 I mean, when there's not enough supplies to sustain us, isn't that kind of a risky way to live? 00:25:33.759 --> 00:25:37.039 You know, Linda and I have four wonderful adult children. 00:25:37.279 --> 00:25:51.920 They're all special in their own way, but there is one who has this particular sense of her purpose in life, is that whenever people are in trouble, she is gonna run to the crisis and get in the middle of the crisis with them. 00:25:52.160 --> 00:26:00.640 She's an ICU nurse, so when COVID-19 first broke out, if you can remember back in March, the first place that it really hit was in Italy. 00:26:00.799 --> 00:26:06.240 And she wanted to go to Italy to serve there, but the opportunity passed and she didn't get to go. 00:26:06.400 --> 00:26:10.400 And this was completely consistent with the kind of things that she has always done. 00:26:10.559 --> 00:26:21.279 And so when the opportunity came up in New York City, which was ground zero for the pandemic here in the United States, she came to me and she said, Dad, do you think I should go to New York City? 00:26:21.440 --> 00:26:27.279 Samaritan's Purse is setting up a tinted hospital in Central Park, and they've asked me to come work with them. 00:26:27.440 --> 00:26:29.119 Do you think I ought to go? 00:26:29.599 --> 00:26:36.640 Now, you can imagine as a father, the first thought in my mind is, Oh, honey, let somebody else go do that. 00:26:36.799 --> 00:26:39.519 You could get, you know, you could literally get it there. 00:26:39.599 --> 00:26:40.880 You could die there. 00:26:41.359 --> 00:26:43.680 But there's no way that's what I said. 00:26:44.559 --> 00:26:49.119 Instead, I gave my daughter the same advice that I've given to all my children. 00:26:49.200 --> 00:26:51.039 It's what the witty family believes. 00:26:51.119 --> 00:26:54.559 And I told her, I said, look, honey, we don't mind if you die. 00:26:54.720 --> 00:26:56.559 Mom and I don't mind if you die. 00:26:56.720 --> 00:26:57.920 We will be sad. 00:26:59.279 --> 00:27:02.319 But don't die for something that is foolish. 00:27:03.279 --> 00:27:06.319 Die for what you believe in. 00:27:07.680 --> 00:27:19.839 You see, it's legitimate to risk looking out for others if what you're risking for is because you're looking above to God. 00:27:20.720 --> 00:27:25.440 As followers of Jesus, this is what we believe. 00:27:25.839 --> 00:27:40.640 Give your life away for the benefit of others, even at cost to yourself, because this is how Jesus lived, and it's why he died on the cross for you and me. 00:27:41.200 --> 00:27:44.000 Giving his life away for our benefit. 00:27:44.240 --> 00:27:46.240 Y'all, this is what we mean at Meta. 00:27:46.640 --> 00:27:52.319 When we say stream together, serve together, give your life away for the benefit of others. 00:27:52.480 --> 00:28:03.359 When we say meet together, move together, we mean serving and moving is making the effort and taking the risk to look out for others. 00:28:04.559 --> 00:28:16.559 We are called to be a people of faith, a people that express our faith in love toward others, even at cost to ourselves. 00:28:16.880 --> 00:28:19.759 You know, Dad, this weekend is our weekend. 00:28:19.839 --> 00:28:21.359 It's Father's Day, right? 00:28:21.599 --> 00:28:29.920 And I want you to just make sure to understand that what we're talking about today is what your children need from you. 00:28:30.319 --> 00:28:34.640 Model looking above, model for them looking out for others. 00:28:34.799 --> 00:28:39.119 Make sure your children see you do this, lead your family this way. 00:28:39.359 --> 00:28:49.119 Make sure that when your kids get older, they talk about the fact that my dad was a dad who looked above to God, and because he did, he looked out for others. 00:28:49.440 --> 00:28:53.200 This is what we are called to as we follow Jesus. 00:28:53.440 --> 00:28:59.920 And so I want to lead us today as we close in a prayer that you and I will be the kind of people who look above. 00:29:00.640 --> 00:29:10.079 Heavenly Father, we thank you for the demonstration of your love for us by sending Jesus to live here among us, to die on a cross. 00:29:10.160 --> 00:29:18.240 And we thank you for the confidence that we have that because of his resurrection, it's worth the risk to live the way he lived. 00:29:18.319 --> 00:29:21.359 It's worth the risk to live the way Abraham lived. 00:29:21.519 --> 00:29:33.920 And so, Lord, during this time of uncertainty, we pray for ourselves that we will be people who look to you, who look for our help from you, and that we'll live that out in real ways in how we live with others. 00:29:34.000 --> 00:29:36.960 And we pray this in Jesus' name, amen. 00:29:40.400 --> 00:29:43.039 Thanks so much for listening to the message today. 00:29:43.200 --> 00:29:48.480 If this was helpful to you and you want to help us get the word out, you can subscribe to this podcast. 00:29:48.640 --> 00:29:51.599 You can rate and review or share it with your friends. 00:29:51.839 --> 00:29:58.480 If you want to get connected further with what MetaCurch is doing, you can go online to metachurch.tv. 00:29:58.720 --> 00:30:00.960 There you can learn how to take next steps. 00:30:01.119 --> 00:30:08.880 You can learn where our different venues are at if you ever wanted to visit, and you can also give financially to help push this movement forward. 00:30:09.200 --> 00:30:12.559 Man, I love you guys, and I hope you have a great rest of your day.