WEBVTT 00:00:00.020 --> 00:00:00.862 Good morning to you, cal. 00:00:00.862 --> 00:00:01.465 How are y'all? 00:00:01.465 --> 00:00:04.466 It's good to see you guys this morning. 00:00:04.466 --> 00:00:23.690 We're continuing our series on At the Movies and I want to thank Pastor Larry two weeks ago for talking about Wakanda Forever and relationships and the prioritization of relationships, and last week, pastor Josh did a great job coming talking about the Spider-Man multiverse. 00:00:23.690 --> 00:00:27.629 But this week I think we feel the need for speed. 00:00:27.629 --> 00:00:28.643 What about you guys? 00:00:28.643 --> 00:00:32.247 I feel the need for speed this week. 00:00:33.859 --> 00:00:43.048 Now I can't preach with this because it's real dark, but for a fact, I thought I'd start it off with that, but we're going to talk about Top Gun Maverick this morning. 00:00:43.048 --> 00:00:49.979 How many people saw Top Gun Maverick in the theater and how many 80s babies are here? 00:00:49.979 --> 00:00:53.691 Remember in 1986, when the original Top Gun came out? 00:00:53.691 --> 00:00:55.527 Oh Lord, it's a whole bunch of them. 00:00:55.527 --> 00:00:58.048 So I know I have to do this justice today. 00:00:58.048 --> 00:00:58.981 Amen. 00:00:58.981 --> 00:01:07.665 So it was the much anticipated sequel that was 30 years into making to Top Gun and it did not disappoint. 00:01:07.665 --> 00:01:12.930 It grossed over $1.5 billion worldwide. 00:01:12.930 --> 00:01:20.250 It was the number one movie in the US in 2022 with the same name as our beloved basketball team. 00:01:20.250 --> 00:01:21.224 Amen, amen. 00:01:21.224 --> 00:01:23.465 Right here in Dallas. 00:01:24.420 --> 00:01:31.046 Maverick explores what it means to sometimes trust your gut and live out what you believe without fear. 00:01:31.046 --> 00:01:33.603 What is your gut? 00:01:33.603 --> 00:01:57.608 The gut is a metaphor for the heart and we've talked about this before this concept of the heart being the seed of the will and the emotions, where your will determines what you want, what you will to do, and the emotions are the ups and down fluctuations you go through, fulfilling whatever it is you pursue or live out the vicissitudes of life, the ups and downs. 00:01:57.608 --> 00:02:02.186 The best place for the gut is with the Lord. 00:02:02.186 --> 00:02:17.043 Although I don't all agree with all of Maverick's decisions in the movies, I believe his character exemplifies fearless pursuit of what a person can accomplish and an undeniable belief in self that we can all learn from amen. 00:02:18.740 --> 00:02:26.768 In the book your God is Too Safe, pastor Mark Buchanan explores this concept that many of us serve God from a safe distance. 00:02:26.768 --> 00:02:30.968 But the God of Abraham, isaac and Jacob is unpredictable. 00:02:30.968 --> 00:02:42.944 Just when we're feeling comfortable, he might suddenly say arise and go to Nineveh, or come, take up your cross and follow me, or tell Pharaoh to let my people go. 00:02:42.944 --> 00:02:48.430 And we want a church body where each we have individuals. 00:02:48.430 --> 00:03:03.407 When the Spirit of the Lord speaks to you, that you don't hesitate, that you're willing to be obedient, especially a young people that is willing to move when the Spirit of God tells you to move. 00:03:03.407 --> 00:03:13.585 The sermon and movie are for people who hear the whisper of God saying stop playing it, so safe that you don't fully walk in obedience to what it is I'm telling you to do. 00:03:13.585 --> 00:03:14.006 Amen. 00:03:15.300 --> 00:03:17.887 The theme of my sermon is a poem of an unknown artist. 00:03:17.887 --> 00:03:19.050 Check this out, I want you all to hear it. 00:03:19.050 --> 00:03:20.925 It's called Opportunities Missed. 00:03:20.925 --> 00:03:28.225 There was a very cautious man who never laughed or played, he never risked, he never tried, he never sang or prayed. 00:03:28.225 --> 00:03:31.722 And when he one day passed away, his insurance was denied. 00:03:31.722 --> 00:03:35.105 For since he never really lived, they claimed he never died. 00:03:35.105 --> 00:03:44.140 And what a sad thing it is to have lived and have never done what. 00:03:44.140 --> 00:03:46.007 You believe that the Lord laid on your heart. 00:03:46.007 --> 00:03:48.586 To do my prayers at the end of this sermon. 00:03:48.586 --> 00:03:55.467 You and I will live a life of occasional risk and make the most of the opportunities God presents before us, amen. 00:03:55.467 --> 00:04:03.524 So the question and the concept that I would have to present to you today is what will you do when the maverick moment presents itself in your life? 00:04:03.524 --> 00:04:06.507 Will you dare to believe or will you play it safe? 00:04:06.507 --> 00:04:11.490 Will you dare to believe or will you play it safe? 00:04:11.490 --> 00:04:16.600 First point I'd like to share with you guys today. 00:04:16.600 --> 00:04:22.600 What I would want you to know is no risk it, no biscuit. 00:04:22.600 --> 00:04:26.560 Life lived without fear will appear reckless to some. 00:04:26.560 --> 00:04:29.117 No risk it, no biscuit. 00:04:29.117 --> 00:04:32.579 Some people know where that comes from. 00:04:34.329 --> 00:04:36.096 Our movie begins with Maverick as a test pilot for the Navy. 00:04:36.096 --> 00:04:38.829 Now I must highlight that he was a very brave man. 00:04:38.829 --> 00:04:41.307 He was a good man for the Navy. 00:04:41.307 --> 00:04:45.144 Now I must highlight that he would have been at flag rank or an admiral. 00:04:45.144 --> 00:04:51.579 He would have been higher, but it was his repeated and subordination that kept from achieving leadership. 00:04:51.579 --> 00:05:02.600 A lesson for us all is learning to achieve and the parameters of the game is important, but there are sometimes that we will be challenged to function outside of the barrier to achieve greatness. 00:05:02.600 --> 00:05:07.802 Maverick has always been the one who was willing to step out there, would consider doing. 00:05:08.644 --> 00:05:10.127 I feel the need for speed. 00:05:10.127 --> 00:05:11.449 Don't think, just do. 00:05:11.449 --> 00:05:16.994 It can appear absolutely reckless to many, but what is it really all about? 00:05:16.994 --> 00:05:24.120 It's about living life where periodically we challenge ourselves to step outside of what's easy to do, what many won't do. 00:05:24.120 --> 00:05:32.211 He has given the task of training a team of young top guns on an impossible mission, the impossible mission. 00:05:32.211 --> 00:05:35.310 What is your impossible mission? 00:05:35.310 --> 00:05:39.630 What is the thing that God has laid on your heart to do? 00:05:39.630 --> 00:05:44.413 And for those watching online, is it getting an extra degree that God has laid on your heart? 00:05:44.413 --> 00:05:51.750 Traveling outside the country for the first time, learning another language, starting a new career later in life? 00:05:51.750 --> 00:05:59.833 In Corinthians 5 and 7 challenges us, it says, for we walk by faith and not by sight. 00:05:59.833 --> 00:06:09.069 To live a life of faith is to live a life prompted by God's spirit leading, guiding and directing us. 00:06:09.069 --> 00:06:19.192 And when we live by faith, we give opportunity for the spirit of God to work through us to do things outside of what's normal for us. 00:06:21.904 --> 00:06:33.889 No risk it, no biscuit is a phrase that was started by coach Bruce Arians, who was the football coach for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who, at 67, he wins the Super Bowl with Tom Brady as his quarterback. 00:06:33.889 --> 00:06:36.572 He had a conversation with a guy at a bar. 00:06:36.572 --> 00:06:41.404 Okay, we're in church, but we're talking about a bar, right, okay, it's okay. 00:06:41.404 --> 00:06:47.329 But the guy, the old man at the bar, challenged him to not be safe all the time and take a few calculated risks. 00:06:47.329 --> 00:06:51.790 And he came up with this term no risk it, no biscuit. 00:06:51.790 --> 00:06:54.988 And I think for us. 00:06:54.988 --> 00:07:02.173 Sometimes we have to think that way because sometimes we can play it so safe that we don't give God an opportunity to move in our life. 00:07:04.884 --> 00:07:15.935 In Luke 5, 4, jesus challenges the disciples to launch out into the deep to cast their nets on the other side of the boat to reap a great harvest of fish. 00:07:15.935 --> 00:07:22.874 If you don't launch, you don't give yourself a chance to get the great harvest of fish. 00:07:22.874 --> 00:07:27.310 You will miss every shot that you don't take. 00:07:27.310 --> 00:07:29.346 Amen. 00:07:29.346 --> 00:07:35.050 The number two point let it go. 00:07:36.444 --> 00:07:40.334 The past can be a hindrance if not understood in the eyes of faith. 00:07:40.334 --> 00:07:50.612 Maverick has a complicated past that consisted of his best friend dying and there were those who blamed him for it and he even in some way blamed himself. 00:07:50.612 --> 00:07:59.814 His best friend's son partially blamed him and he wasn't probably there for him the way he should have been because he was dealing with the anguish for so many years. 00:07:59.814 --> 00:08:07.509 How many of us realize that our past can create for us a perspective that can limit how we live, moving forward? 00:08:07.509 --> 00:08:11.952 Paul says that we should have this mindset. 00:08:13.185 --> 00:08:25.091 Philippians 3, 13 and 14 says brother, I do not count myself to have apprehended, but one thing I do I forget those things which are behind and I reach forward to those things which are ahead. 00:08:25.091 --> 00:08:31.697 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upper call of God in Christ Jesus. 00:08:31.697 --> 00:08:44.174 I press towards the mark, toward the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus, the mark, the standard of God's perfectionism in his holiness. 00:08:44.174 --> 00:08:48.749 I press forward Even though I'm not there yet. 00:08:48.749 --> 00:08:49.812 I press forward. 00:08:49.812 --> 00:08:59.691 I press to live in such a way that I'm honoring God the most and giving him a chance to work in and through my life, and I really challenge the young people. 00:08:59.691 --> 00:09:20.395 I love the fact of how excited you guys were at Camp Fuego and it takes me back to college days when I was in campus ministry, because that's where it was about just reckless abandon and just trusting God at a younger age and being able to get to know him through obedience at a young age. 00:09:20.395 --> 00:09:23.547 Don't wait until you're older, do it now. 00:09:25.524 --> 00:09:34.933 Heard a pastor one time who was baptized in an older lady and she was 60 years old and she was giving her life to Jesus and I shared this story once before but I'm going to share it again because I think it's relevant. 00:09:34.933 --> 00:09:44.067 And he says I'm so excited to baptize you and he stepped out into the crowd and he said I'm excited that she's giving her life to Christ. 00:09:44.067 --> 00:09:48.730 But he said I'm going to tell the young people don't eat all the red of the watermelon and give God the rind. 00:09:48.730 --> 00:09:58.072 You're going to eat all the sweet, red, juicy meat for yourself, but then you give God the white part because you're 60. 00:09:58.072 --> 00:10:00.971 He's like why don't you give your life to Christ at 18? 00:10:00.971 --> 00:10:04.291 So then you give God a lot of years he can work with. 00:10:04.291 --> 00:10:11.094 And so we're challenging us to let it go. 00:10:12.524 --> 00:10:16.515 If we're going to have what God has for us, we must forget it all to move forward. 00:10:16.515 --> 00:10:19.813 The good, the bad and the ugly must be forgotten to move forward. 00:10:19.813 --> 00:10:28.054 The good can sometimes move us towards stagnation, the bad can move us to depression and the ugly can move us into irrational views. 00:10:28.054 --> 00:10:33.692 It is best to follow Paul's advice Prepare for each new race in life continually. 00:10:33.692 --> 00:10:36.231 When I win, that's good, but how do I maintain? 00:10:36.231 --> 00:10:39.432 When I lose, how can I learn from it? 00:10:39.432 --> 00:10:40.469 How can I improve? 00:10:40.469 --> 00:10:49.764 And when it's ugly, forgive myself, if need be, and move forward, amen. 00:10:49.865 --> 00:10:52.567 Number three is game day, baby. 00:10:52.567 --> 00:10:57.519 The ultimate challenge requires skilled determination and faith. 00:10:57.519 --> 00:11:01.970 Maverick had to lead the young fighters on this near impossible mission. 00:11:01.970 --> 00:11:04.216 The mission requires skill. 00:11:04.216 --> 00:11:08.937 You need skill what are you good at and what are you trained at? 00:11:08.937 --> 00:11:16.240 Determination At some point you must be determined to reach your goal and to have a little bit of faith. 00:11:16.240 --> 00:11:17.950 That can go a very long way. 00:11:17.950 --> 00:11:26.518 Skill, determination and faith led to Maverick achieving his goal and will also help us In pharmacy school. 00:11:26.558 --> 00:11:33.501 I remember when it's time for exams I used to say it's game day, baby, it's game day, and it came from nine years of playing football. 00:11:33.501 --> 00:11:51.970 I played three in the University of Houston, played in high school, and I remember I looked back on it I don't think I'd have got through pharmacy school if I wasn't an athlete, because I took the mentality of athletics and applied it to a very intense curriculum. 00:11:51.970 --> 00:11:54.341 What do I mean by that? 00:11:54.341 --> 00:11:55.929 Practice was akin to studying. 00:11:55.929 --> 00:12:02.623 So studying intensely, very intensely. 00:12:02.623 --> 00:12:09.900 I remember there was one year I literally was in a library all the time. 00:12:09.900 --> 00:12:14.039 I only came out to watch the Cowboys, amen, amen. 00:12:14.039 --> 00:12:24.909 I came out to watch my boys you know it's a slide looking at me, you know the eagle swing, but I only came out to watch the Cowboys go to church, amen, and worship and serve. 00:12:24.909 --> 00:12:25.893 That was it. 00:12:25.913 --> 00:12:35.498 Other than that, I was studying and the practice time was so much and it needed to be so much, and the study time was so much because I had to become intimate with the material. 00:12:35.498 --> 00:12:38.177 I had to know the plays in and out. 00:12:38.177 --> 00:12:48.500 See, the beautiful thing is about a great team is when they understand the plays in and out, they can do different variations of the plays, they can switch them up because they're intimate with the playbook. 00:12:48.500 --> 00:12:50.923 That's the same thing. 00:12:50.923 --> 00:12:51.970 That's true in academics. 00:12:51.970 --> 00:12:54.818 That's what I'm trying to get my kids to learn amen, amen. 00:12:54.818 --> 00:12:58.801 You know the material, you can manipulate it, you can work with it. 00:12:58.801 --> 00:13:01.398 You understand numbers, you understand knowledge. 00:13:02.490 --> 00:13:12.451 So by the time I got to test day, it was game day and I would literally walk in there like it's game day, baby, like I'm hype, like it's game day For exams. 00:13:12.451 --> 00:13:13.215 I'm like Courtney, you're crazy. 00:13:13.215 --> 00:13:17.929 I'm like, hey, it's better than being worried and you know, and all that other stuff, right. 00:13:17.929 --> 00:13:25.620 But that was the attitude that I got through it with and in school the test at that time would be. 00:13:25.620 --> 00:13:30.578 Here's the examples of how the test answers would be you could choose A or B or C. 00:13:30.578 --> 00:13:32.970 You could do A and C, but not B. 00:13:32.970 --> 00:13:36.500 You could do C and B and not A or C only. 00:13:36.500 --> 00:13:38.697 And then lastly, none of the above. 00:13:38.697 --> 00:13:40.962 Then sometimes all of the above. 00:13:40.962 --> 00:13:44.596 Anybody have exams like that, oh, amen, yeah. 00:13:44.596 --> 00:13:55.950 So in order to answer a question that way, you had to be intimately close to the knowledge that they were trying to get you to be tested for. 00:13:55.950 --> 00:13:58.798 The thing is, the exam is like game day. 00:13:58.798 --> 00:14:00.898 It's changed the way you view test day. 00:14:00.898 --> 00:14:04.259 How will you and I perform on game day? 00:14:04.259 --> 00:14:08.950 It will be commiserate to our preparation and dependency on Jesus. 00:14:09.932 --> 00:14:13.658 So I want to show a list of what we talked about so far. 00:14:13.658 --> 00:14:20.855 The first three points no risk it, no biscuit, let it go in this game day. 00:14:20.855 --> 00:14:24.950 And now we want to go to a list of instructives. 00:14:24.950 --> 00:14:26.315 What are we to do? 00:14:26.315 --> 00:14:30.639 What do we take from Maverick and to apply to our own lives? 00:14:30.639 --> 00:14:34.038 Number one thing is pursue the danger zone. 00:14:34.038 --> 00:14:38.950 Kenny Loggan's song Highway to the Danger Zone was so very popular. 00:14:38.950 --> 00:14:44.883 It's based on this song, which was so perfect, and it was repeated in Top Gun Maverick. 00:14:44.883 --> 00:14:48.860 It was actually introduced in the first movie back in the 80s. 00:14:49.190 --> 00:14:58.619 But the danger zone is the place where we push ourselves into, the greatest place of challenge, where we would need God in order to fulfill what we're trying to accomplish. 00:14:58.619 --> 00:15:01.173 Reven up your engine. 00:15:01.173 --> 00:15:02.658 Listen to a howling roar. 00:15:02.658 --> 00:15:05.908 Okay, dustin, don't get too excited. 00:15:05.908 --> 00:15:06.793 You might scream. 00:15:06.793 --> 00:15:08.177 You might start running around here. 00:15:08.177 --> 00:15:11.638 You know metal under tension begging you to touch and go. 00:15:11.638 --> 00:15:14.397 Highway to the danger zone. 00:15:14.397 --> 00:15:17.437 Ride into the danger zone. 00:15:17.437 --> 00:15:26.878 People of God, he's looking for those of us who will ride into the danger zone, the place where he is our source and he is all we need. 00:15:26.878 --> 00:15:30.236 Will you go or will you play it safe? 00:15:30.236 --> 00:15:34.956 Will you go or will you play it safe? 00:15:36.990 --> 00:15:39.749 Second Chronicles, chapter 16, verse 9 in A. 00:15:39.749 --> 00:15:49.693 It says For the eyes of the Lord, go to and fro throughout the whole earth to show himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to him. 00:15:49.693 --> 00:15:56.443 The first requirement is that we are to have a heart that's loyal to him. 00:15:56.443 --> 00:16:10.143 The first requirement is that we are to have a heart that's loyal to him and then we give him the opportunity to show himself strong in and through us. 00:16:10.143 --> 00:16:20.923 Amen, loving him, church, in a way that's beyond being just a churchgoer, loving him in a way that propels you to what he has in store for you. 00:16:20.923 --> 00:16:36.563 He wants to show himself strong through people that believe this way and it eases the pressure off of us to know that what God wants to work through me to do ultimately accomplishes his will. 00:16:36.563 --> 00:16:38.760 It's his strength doing it through us. 00:16:38.760 --> 00:16:41.437 Amen, it's not about us, it's all about him. 00:16:47.034 --> 00:16:49.442 At that point, learn and know the Word of God. 00:16:49.442 --> 00:16:52.500 Faith over fear is an everyday decision. 00:16:52.500 --> 00:16:55.778 Romans 10.17 says so. 00:16:55.778 --> 00:16:59.865 Then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God. 00:16:59.865 --> 00:17:07.799 You and I will only grow as we prioritize God's Word into our every life Read it, learn it, grow in it. 00:17:07.799 --> 00:17:15.306 God's Word hidden in our hearts gives us confidence to live a life of faith over fear. 00:17:15.306 --> 00:17:21.205 Remember, we're talking about stepping out there, having our maverick moments. 00:17:21.205 --> 00:17:23.319 What is the maverick moment? 00:17:23.319 --> 00:17:38.182 The moment is when that challenge or when that whisper comes and says for us to do something that's outside of what's normal for us, for us to be obedient to what God is calling us to do, because that's how the church is going to make an impact in this generation. 00:17:38.182 --> 00:17:38.583 Amen. 00:17:38.583 --> 00:17:49.662 You and I will only grow as we prioritize God's Word into our everyday life, reading it, learning it, growing it, memorizing it. 00:17:49.662 --> 00:17:54.224 God's Word hidden in our hearts gives us confidence to walk in faith over fear. 00:17:54.654 --> 00:17:57.183 When I was in college, it was a gentleman named Roland DeLapp. 00:17:57.183 --> 00:17:58.359 I'll never forget him. 00:17:58.359 --> 00:18:03.506 He went all over the country talking to youth ministries. 00:18:03.506 --> 00:18:08.787 His whole thing was memorizing the Word of God, memorized to evangelize. 00:18:08.787 --> 00:18:11.564 He used to give you these little booklets and had these little cards. 00:18:11.564 --> 00:18:14.922 By hiding the Word of God in your hearts, it might not sin against thee. 00:18:14.922 --> 00:18:16.085 He would challenge. 00:18:16.085 --> 00:18:17.126 This man knew the Bible. 00:18:17.126 --> 00:18:21.218 He was like Jack Van Impen that you see on TV One of them guys that could just. 00:18:21.218 --> 00:18:23.964 I'd never seen anything like it in my life. 00:18:23.964 --> 00:18:29.502 Some of the scripture memory that I started back then was because of Roland DeLapp. 00:18:33.755 --> 00:18:37.415 When the time of challenge comes, you've got something that God can bring back to your memories. 00:18:37.415 --> 00:18:40.778 You're in this place of doubt. 00:18:40.778 --> 00:18:42.083 Man, can I do this? 00:18:42.083 --> 00:18:44.121 I can do all things through Christ's strength. 00:18:44.121 --> 00:18:48.744 You know Greatest things in me, that he's in this world. 00:18:48.744 --> 00:18:51.501 No weapon from him against me shall prosper. 00:18:51.501 --> 00:18:56.977 When you're feeling that doubt, what is it that comes to your heart and your mind in that moment? 00:18:59.555 --> 00:19:01.640 Maverick was on his own, but we don't have to be on our own. 00:19:01.640 --> 00:19:07.501 We take it and we apply the Word of God to our lives. 00:19:07.501 --> 00:19:09.326 So we live a life of faith over fear. 00:19:09.326 --> 00:19:16.067 John 1 14 says and the Word became flesh and dwelt among us and we beheld his glory. 00:19:16.067 --> 00:19:19.944 The glory is of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. 00:19:19.944 --> 00:19:24.244 The Word of God gives us an opportunity to know him in an intimate way. 00:19:24.244 --> 00:19:28.305 Knowing the Lord is what gives us confidence and what he asks us to do. 00:19:28.305 --> 00:19:32.344 We have it better than Maverick, because knowing the Lord leads to obedience. 00:19:32.344 --> 00:19:36.482 My last point is obedience is everything. 00:19:36.482 --> 00:19:44.268 God will require you and I to sometimes be obedient to get his best in our lives. 00:19:44.268 --> 00:19:50.337 Well, we should be obedient all the time, but he's going to require it sometimes to get his best. 00:19:52.078 --> 00:20:00.308 True story when I met my wife, there were many things about her that aligned to what I wanted, and I remember very clearly when the Holy Spirit spoke to my heart. 00:20:00.308 --> 00:20:04.382 It says you better move and pursue her or you're going to lose her. 00:20:04.382 --> 00:20:25.442 I remember it like yesterday because now I look at my life and I'm saying, okay, I can look back at certain choices and we were all a part of a ministry at that period of time and I was praying about, okay, next steps and I figured marriage was pretty soon. 00:20:25.442 --> 00:20:37.006 But I remember I'd met her months beforehand and I remember at clearest day we had this white get together for the singles, a white party, as they call it. 00:20:37.006 --> 00:20:39.739 Right, we were all dressed in white, we were clean, look good. 00:20:39.739 --> 00:20:42.605 And she was there. 00:20:43.275 --> 00:20:54.047 She was there that evening and my neighbor was the DJ for the party that night and I remember I helped him put his DJ equipment and he mentioned my wife to me. 00:20:54.047 --> 00:20:56.501 Like he said there was a young lady who served me. 00:20:56.501 --> 00:20:57.565 He said she's awesome. 00:20:57.565 --> 00:20:59.863 I was like and I thought to myself, yeah, she is awesome. 00:20:59.863 --> 00:21:11.939 Yeah, I've been checking out, I've been watching her and I remember in prayer that night the Lord was like hey, you better pursue her, you better pursue her, that's the one for you to pursue. 00:21:11.939 --> 00:21:15.240 And that was a small example. 00:21:15.240 --> 00:21:21.096 And I remember after we got together and after we got engaged, some guys even came up to me. 00:21:21.096 --> 00:21:24.865 I was like man, I was going to holler. 00:21:24.865 --> 00:21:27.383 I was like no, you wouldn't play. 00:21:27.383 --> 00:21:30.142 No, you were. 00:21:30.142 --> 00:21:30.703 Do you see? 00:21:30.703 --> 00:21:35.464 I could have missed my blessing if I was, if I was disobedient. 00:21:36.714 --> 00:21:47.806 How many of us do that when the Lord says move, we hesitate and you miss your Maverick moment because of fear and playing it safe. 00:21:47.806 --> 00:21:59.257 But we need to be a church that when God tells us to move, we're obedient, because how many of us want what God has for us, amen. 00:21:59.257 --> 00:22:03.902 How many of us want what God has for us to make an impact in this community? 00:22:03.902 --> 00:22:04.317 Amen. 00:22:04.317 --> 00:22:09.558 How many of us wanna make an impact in our families, on our jobs? 00:22:09.558 --> 00:22:20.286 The church is to be impactful and we can only be truly impactful through obedience Amen. 00:22:20.286 --> 00:22:30.760 He wants us to be a church that lives without limits, no limits on God and no limit to what he can do through our life to impact the world for his glory. 00:22:30.760 --> 00:22:37.202 There is a maverick in all of us, that part of us that steps out into the water like Peter did. 00:22:38.154 --> 00:22:40.838 The act of faith was about Jesus, it wasn't about Peter. 00:22:40.838 --> 00:22:45.284 Peter said Jesus, if it's you, bid me come. 00:22:45.284 --> 00:22:58.243 Matthew, chapter 14, verse 27a, says and Peter answered him and said Lord, if it be thou, bid me to come. 00:22:58.243 --> 00:23:09.900 Remember Jesus was with the disciples and he tells them to get into the boat to go to the other side. 00:23:09.900 --> 00:23:15.144 Before I get to that part, think about it for yourself. 00:23:15.144 --> 00:23:19.701 Should I start this business, jesus, if it's you, bid me come. 00:23:19.701 --> 00:23:25.104 Should I start a family, jesus, if it's you, bid me come. 00:23:25.104 --> 00:23:30.340 Should I major in medicine, jesus, if it's you, bid me come. 00:23:30.340 --> 00:23:31.420 Should I be an engineer? 00:23:31.420 --> 00:23:33.662 Jesus, if it's you, bid me come. 00:23:33.662 --> 00:23:35.801 Should I start a real estate business? 00:23:35.801 --> 00:23:38.482 Jesus, if it's you, bid me come. 00:23:38.482 --> 00:23:42.560 Should I be a leader in my community? 00:23:42.560 --> 00:23:45.061 Jesus, if it's you, bid me come. 00:23:46.315 --> 00:23:48.942 The thing is, when it's Jesus, you and I will not sink. 00:23:48.942 --> 00:23:53.306 His power holds us up in our Maverick moment. 00:23:53.306 --> 00:24:00.101 And, what's most interesting, if you go back and study that scripture, jesus set the whole thing up. 00:24:00.101 --> 00:24:03.682 Go to Matthew, chapter 14, verse 22. 00:24:03.682 --> 00:24:13.922 It says immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side while he sent the multitudes away. 00:24:13.922 --> 00:24:20.383 He sent the multitudes away, sent the disciples across the lake and sets a storm up. 00:24:20.383 --> 00:24:22.788 Y'all see that. 00:24:22.788 --> 00:24:26.461 Jesus set the whole thing up. 00:24:26.461 --> 00:24:36.044 Then he walks on the water through the storm and they look and see him and Peter was the only one that said Jesus, if it's you, bid me come. 00:24:36.044 --> 00:24:43.128 And he gets out of the boat and he's walking on water. 00:24:43.128 --> 00:24:49.262 In your life, god will set you up to trust him. 00:24:49.262 --> 00:24:53.038 It's ultimately about him working through us to accomplish his will. 00:24:53.038 --> 00:24:57.221 So I know that there's some who discern and saying what if I don't succeed? 00:24:57.221 --> 00:24:58.076 What if? 00:24:58.076 --> 00:24:58.577 What if? 00:24:58.577 --> 00:24:59.602 What if I fail? 00:24:59.602 --> 00:25:05.890 I think verse 30 tells you what this is all about. 00:25:06.714 --> 00:25:10.679 Peter began to look at the winds and wave and he began to sink. 00:25:10.679 --> 00:25:12.878 So what does that tell you? 00:25:12.878 --> 00:25:28.463 And I that in our Maverick moment, and we're on the water and we're walking, and we're going towards Jesus and we take our eyes off Jesus and we start to look at the wind and the wave, and then he started to sink. 00:25:28.463 --> 00:25:39.299 And when he started to sink the beautiful thing about Jesus, it says he started to sink and he cried out Lord, save me. 00:25:39.299 --> 00:25:43.059 How many of us know we serve God? 00:25:43.059 --> 00:25:44.083 Who's able to save the day? 00:25:44.083 --> 00:25:54.566 And when he started to save him, he said oh Peter, why did you doubt what happened to your faith? 00:25:54.566 --> 00:26:00.632 And the same thing he says to Peter, I believe he says to us Courtney, why'd you doubt? 00:26:00.632 --> 00:26:04.266 Why did you not trust me? 00:26:04.266 --> 00:26:08.704 We need a church. 00:26:09.861 --> 00:26:13.727 See, I remember growing up them folk believe God. 00:26:13.727 --> 00:26:15.515 My grandmother believe God. 00:26:15.515 --> 00:26:16.700 That's why I talk about it all the time. 00:26:16.700 --> 00:26:22.144 She was the most awesome woman ever Because she believed God. 00:26:22.144 --> 00:26:27.114 She I mean I was just like he's awesome the way you talk about him and live for him. 00:26:27.114 --> 00:26:28.782 Y'all remember that. 00:26:28.782 --> 00:26:30.508 Y'all remember people like they didn't play. 00:26:30.508 --> 00:26:31.671 It was like it was for real. 00:26:33.961 --> 00:26:47.130 But now we live in a time where we're so distracted we got technology, we got all this stuff that it's the wind and it's the waves and we see ourselves sinking. 00:26:47.130 --> 00:26:50.483 But we serve a God. 00:26:50.483 --> 00:26:53.471 Then we say Lord, save me, he will save us. 00:26:53.471 --> 00:26:57.905 You're not, you're not alone in your maverick moment. 00:26:57.905 --> 00:27:00.030 He's with us. 00:27:00.030 --> 00:27:00.792 A man. 00:27:06.381 --> 00:27:12.380 Luke 18 8b says nevertheless, when the Son of man comes, will he really find faith in the earth? 00:27:12.380 --> 00:27:17.772 That scripture always gets me because, just like he said, why did you doubt? 00:27:17.772 --> 00:27:23.229 He says to us Well, I really find people that believe. 00:27:23.229 --> 00:27:29.833 Will I really have a church that believes, or will it be lip service? 00:27:29.833 --> 00:27:33.119 Or will we get caught up in our own things? 00:27:33.119 --> 00:27:40.311 Or will we really be about promoting the gospel of Jesus Christ and going and making impact in this world for him? 00:27:40.311 --> 00:27:46.868 Little faith sometimes connects to little word. 00:27:46.868 --> 00:27:47.590 That stored up. 00:27:47.590 --> 00:27:48.394 We don't. 00:27:48.394 --> 00:27:50.240 We spend so little time in God's word. 00:27:50.240 --> 00:27:51.484 We don't know what we have. 00:27:51.484 --> 00:27:56.720 When we know Jesus's resume, it encourages us when we step out. 00:27:57.481 --> 00:28:04.971 I had a wonderful conversation with two neighbors a couple weeks ago who were telling me they were in the transition of church and I pray that they're able to come. 00:28:04.971 --> 00:28:10.328 I invited them to come here today but the thing that they said, that stood out, they were older Caucasian couple. 00:28:10.328 --> 00:28:12.252 You, my favorite world Caucasian. 00:28:12.252 --> 00:28:13.585 I know you hate it, doesn't hate it. 00:28:13.585 --> 00:28:17.527 When I say Caucasian, I said well, from the mountain of the Caucasus, you know. 00:28:17.527 --> 00:28:22.199 So you know it's a very nice way to say. 00:28:22.199 --> 00:28:49.539 It was older Caucasian couple and they said to me in my neighborhood they said that they left their church because They've gotten into the word of God and there were things that they never knew, that they know now that they're loving God in a different way because they've gotten into the word. 00:28:49.539 --> 00:29:01.065 And I was thinking to myself that is so awesome, but my prayers that the young people would know that now that we serve a great God. 00:29:02.107 --> 00:29:05.980 On the way here today I had to go back to some old Kurt Karr God, great God. 00:29:05.980 --> 00:29:07.384 I was listening to that this morning. 00:29:07.384 --> 00:29:10.803 Nobody greater, greater than our God. 00:29:10.803 --> 00:29:19.989 When you have a confidence in who God is like, that, he will propel you To do what he's called you to do. 00:29:19.989 --> 00:29:28.371 It has been said that it takes a special-breed, a person, to become a fighter pilot. 00:29:28.371 --> 00:29:32.046 You must be determined, persistent, physically, elite. 00:29:32.046 --> 00:29:37.967 Not only that, but you must also have possessed an aptitude for aviation, physics and flight discipline. 00:29:37.967 --> 00:29:45.740 The kingdom of heaven could use a special breed of believer that stands on the authority of scripture and trust God to do exceedingly Abundantly. 00:29:45.740 --> 00:29:49.571 Above all, he could ask or think he wants you. 00:29:49.571 --> 00:29:56.463 Will you enlist Last part of my sermon? 00:29:56.483 --> 00:30:03.230 I want to share an excerpt From the lion the witch in the wardrobe of the Chronicles of Narnia. 00:30:03.230 --> 00:30:06.663 How many have read it and watch the movie? 00:30:06.663 --> 00:30:18.429 But this is really gonna be for the readers, those who read the Chronicles of Narnia, and this comes from a conversation that Lucy has with the beavers. 00:30:18.429 --> 00:30:20.344 Remember the beavers? 00:30:20.344 --> 00:30:25.009 Beavers were preachers in the Chronicles of Narnia. 00:30:25.009 --> 00:30:25.730 They used to preach. 00:30:25.730 --> 00:30:26.051 Right? 00:30:26.051 --> 00:30:33.432 I want you guys to listen to this conversation is? 00:30:35.561 --> 00:30:36.988 Is he a man, asked Lucy. 00:30:36.988 --> 00:30:39.729 She's talking about aslan. 00:30:39.729 --> 00:30:44.065 Aslan the man, said mr Beaver sternly. 00:30:44.065 --> 00:30:44.806 Certainly not. 00:30:44.806 --> 00:30:45.827 I tell you. 00:30:45.827 --> 00:30:49.555 He is the king of the wood and the son of the great emperor beyond the sea. 00:30:49.555 --> 00:30:53.470 Don't you know who is the king of beasts? 00:30:53.470 --> 00:30:58.719 Aslan is a lion, the lion and great lion. 00:30:58.719 --> 00:31:01.766 Oh, oh, said Susan. 00:31:01.766 --> 00:31:03.750 I thought he was a man. 00:31:03.750 --> 00:31:06.497 Is he quite safe? 00:31:06.497 --> 00:31:14.303 I Shall feel rather nervous about meeting a lion that you will dearie. 00:31:14.303 --> 00:31:23.819 And no mistake, said mr Beaver, if there's anyone who can appear before aslan without their knees knocking, they're either braver than most or else just silly. 00:31:25.865 --> 00:31:28.172 Lucy says, then he isn't safe. 00:31:28.172 --> 00:31:31.883 Safe, said mr Beaver. 00:31:31.883 --> 00:31:35.130 Don't you hear what miss beaver tells you? 00:31:35.130 --> 00:31:37.594 Who said anything about safe? 00:31:37.594 --> 00:31:48.906 Course, he isn't safe, but he's good, he's the king, I tell you. 00:31:48.906 --> 00:31:52.691 She said buddy's good. 00:31:52.691 --> 00:31:57.163 God is gonna call us. 00:31:57.163 --> 00:32:02.233 He's gonna call you and I to do things outside of what's normal. 00:32:02.233 --> 00:32:10.332 It's not about safety, it's about the fact that he's good. 00:32:10.332 --> 00:32:19.871 So it brings in the context when people say God is good all the time and all the time God is good. 00:32:19.871 --> 00:32:26.531 And because he's good, that means you and I can trust him. 00:32:26.531 --> 00:32:41.660 So, church, when he calls you to your maverick moment, it's not about him being safe, it's about the fact that he's good. 00:32:41.660 --> 00:32:46.352 And the fact that he's good means I can trust him. 00:32:46.352 --> 00:32:52.090 And if he says he'll heal, he can heal. 00:32:52.090 --> 00:32:59.276 If he says he'll provide, he'll provide, don't know how he'll do it. 00:32:59.276 --> 00:33:05.145 I'm gonna ask the Faith Point team to come up front, and there's some of you right now. 00:33:05.145 --> 00:33:16.887 You've been listening to this sermon and you know what your Maverick moment is and some of you are on the verge and you've been fearful and you've been afraid. 00:33:16.887 --> 00:33:22.287 We're gonna ask you to come up here and our Faith Point team is gonna pray for you. 00:33:22.287 --> 00:33:32.946 But it is time, church, that we move forward in the fact that we serve a good God. 00:33:39.019 --> 00:33:47.928 Y'all know why people like Top Gun so much, and like Maverick, you know, and the kind of the crazy women that just screamed because Tom Cruise, I guess he look eyed. 00:33:47.928 --> 00:33:48.903 I guess he look eyed. 00:33:48.903 --> 00:33:51.907 It's like you know, we can't give dudes too much credit. 00:33:51.907 --> 00:33:53.227 Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. 00:33:53.227 --> 00:34:00.807 There's something about the person that lives outside of the box. 00:34:00.807 --> 00:34:02.685 It's very attractive, isn't it? 00:34:02.685 --> 00:34:07.805 Because you know it's unpredictable and there's a funness to that. 00:34:07.805 --> 00:34:09.088 Guess what. 00:34:09.088 --> 00:34:13.827 God puts a seed of that in all of us. 00:34:17.422 --> 00:34:27.266 But when we've learned to live life based on fear, not faith, we limit ourselves, we limit what God can do in and through us. 00:34:27.266 --> 00:34:30.025 But I'm challenging you guys. 00:34:30.025 --> 00:34:39.507 There's dreams in you that God has given you that he will empower you to fulfill, but you gotta step out on obedience. 00:34:39.507 --> 00:34:48.226 Let's say a word of prayer and then I'm gonna ask you guys to come up and allow the Faith Point team to pray for you. 00:34:49.943 --> 00:34:59.588 Father, I thank you for the time that we've had in your word today to discuss the Maverick Moment and for every person here, lord, they know what that is. 00:34:59.588 --> 00:35:05.206 Every person watching online, they know what their Maverick Moment is. 00:35:05.206 --> 00:35:23.489 Father, I pray that, lord, you give them the courage and the confidence to step out, to step out in faith, to see you do exceedingly a bunny above all that could be asked or thought, because of your power working in and through them. 00:35:23.489 --> 00:35:33.085 Jesus, we love you and we thank you that you're good, that it's not about you being safe. 00:35:33.085 --> 00:35:41.847 Your word declares and talks about the fact that the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, but the violent take it by force. 00:35:41.847 --> 00:35:49.907 You're a great God, you're mighty in battle and, lord, we can trust in you. 00:35:49.907 --> 00:35:55.788 Father, may we move forward with a new confidence, today as never before. 00:35:55.788 --> 00:35:59.481 It's in Jesus' name, amen.