Where is God When Life Hurts? - The Elephant In The Room
If God is really good, why does He allow so much pain? Why does it feel like some prayers go unanswered? Why do I still feel broken, lonely, or unseen?
These are the questions we carry in secret, but here’s the good news:
God is not afraid of your questions. In fact, His Word shows us that He is close to the brokenhearted (Psalm34:18), He hears our cries, and even our tears are like prayers before him.
This message you’ll discover:
✅ Why God doesn’t waste your pain
✅ How His patience and kindness are designed to lead us to Him, not push us away
✅ What to do when God feels silent or distant
✅ How to join Christ’s victory procession and let Him give your pain a purpose Don’t carry your questions alone
-The Elephant in the Room is a safe place to wrestle with doubts, find hope in Jesus, and discover you are never alone.
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Hey, good morning.
Real life church welcome you
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excited to be here today, man,
we're excited to have you here
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today.
It's going to be a great
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morning.
I know God's got something big
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for us today.
I just invite you to stand to
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your feet.
We're going to kick off with
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some worship this morning.
And I just invite you just to
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lift hands, sing out, clap along
with us.
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Really just how do the Spirit
leads?
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I just invite you just to lean
into that this morning and
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really just give all of our
worship to Him today.
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Give them some glory.
So just sing out with us.
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Give you glory for all you've
brought me through.
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And now I'm ready for whatever
you want to do.
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I'm moving forward to follow
after you.
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Now I'm ready for whatever you
want to do.
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Your presence is an open door.
Your presence is an open door.
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So come now though, like never
before.
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Amen.
If you want to join us as a
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Clapper, keep singing.
In every season the grace has
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been eater and I believe it.
The best is yet to come.
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Do you believe that This morning
the cross before me.
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I hope all things are above.
And did you, Jesus, The best is
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yet to come.
Your presence is an open door.
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We want you though, like never
before.
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Your presence is an open door.
S Come now, Lord, I've never
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before.
It's a bold prayer to pray,
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isn't it?
That we want your presence here
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more than ever before?
But man, we believe that when we
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pray that prayer, God breaks
down some strongholds.
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Amen.
You ready for a breakthrough?
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Let's sing it.
I know breakthrough is coming
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and by faith I see a miracle.
My God made me a promise and it
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won't stop now.
I know breakthrough is coming.
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By faith I see a miracle.
My God made me a promise and it
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won't stop now.
Come on, Church, declare this
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this morning.
I know breakthrough is coming.
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I see a miracle, my God, maybe a
promise, and it won't stop now.
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Why settle for the status quo
when he's ready to give us a
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breakthrough?
Amen.
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Amen.
I invite you just to keep
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worshiping this morning as we
continue to sing.
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Feel free to lift your hands.
Just sing this to him.
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It's just you and him this
morning.
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Come on, Your presence is an
open door.
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We want you, Lord, like never
before.
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Your presence is an open door.
So come now, Lord, Lord, like
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never before.
Amen.
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Let's say.
I know breakthrough is coming by
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faith.
I see a miracle, my God maybe a
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promise, and it won't stop now.
I know breakthrough is coming by
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faith.
I see a miracle my God made me a
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promise that it won't stop now.
Breakthrough.
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Is coming by made me a.
Promise that it.
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Won't stop now.
Do you believe that is for the
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church?
Do you believe he's a God of
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breakthrough?
Do you believe that he won't
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stop?
And then come on, let him hear
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you this morning.
All the praise, all the glory
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from you to him.
Amen.
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Amen.
Give.
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Him some praise this morning.
Amen.
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And in the darkness we were
waiting.
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Without hope, without light.
From heaven you came running.
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There was mercy in your eyes to
fulfil the law and prophets.
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To a virgin came the world, my
throne of endless glory.
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To a cradle in the dirt.
And praise the Father, praise
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the Son, praise the Spirit. 3 In
one God of the glory, majesty,
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praise forever to the King of
peace, to reveal the Kingdom
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coming, and to reconcile the
lost, to redeem the whole
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creation.
You did not God despise the
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cross, for even in your
suffering gives all to the other
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side, knowing this was our
salvation.
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Jesus, for our sake you die.
Lift it up to Him today, say.
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Praise.
The Father praise the Son.
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Raise must be red. 3IN the wild
God of the rain, Manchester,
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Raise whatever to the king.
Of king, in the morning that you
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rose, all of heaven held its
breath till that stone was moved
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for good.
For the Lamb it conquered.
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Death in the dead rose from
their tombs, And the Angel stood
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in arm.
For the souls of all who'd come.
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To the Father our restored, and
the Church of Christ was born.
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Then the spirit.
With the flame and now this
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gospel true love shall not be,
shall not faint, and by his
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blood in his name and in.
His freedom I have free, for the
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love of Jesus Christ, who has
rested me.
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Sing praise, our Father, praise.
The sun praise the Spirit free
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in one God of the glory that
shall see.
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Praise forever to the King of
Kings, we pray.
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Forever to the King of Kings.
Father, we sing your praise.
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Father.
Praise forever to the King of
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Kings, to the only one who's
worthy of our praise this
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morning.
Father, we lift you up in this
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place.
Father, we love you.
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We have to sing of your name.
We thank you God for who you
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are.
Jesus name.
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I was rich.
I remember who I was.
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I was lost.
I was blind.
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I was running out of time.
Sin separated.
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The breach was far too high, but
from the far side of the chasm
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you had me in your side, so you
made away across the crate.
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Divide left behind Heaven's room
to build it here, inside there
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at the cross, you pay the debt I
owed, broke my chains, freed my
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soul.
For the first time I had heard
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you, Jesus boy, the blood of the
plight.
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You, Jesus, as you wash me away,
thank you Jesus, You have saved
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my life, brought me from the
darkness into glorious
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You took my place, laid inside
my tomb of sin, and you were
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buried for three days, but then
you walked right out of it.
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And now Ted has no steal and
life has no it.
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For I have been transformed by
the blood of you, and she's a
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spoken word of God.
When Jesus has washed me wild,
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thank you Jesus, You have saved
my life, brought me from the
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darkest into glorious life.
There's nothing stronger in the
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wonder working power up the
world because the sons and
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daughters we are handsome by our
father through the world.
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There is nothing stronger then
the wonder working Power up the
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below, the below, because the
Suns and tortoises be your
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ransom.
Power farther through the below,
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the below.
Jesus, come along.
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Thank you Jesus.
Jesus, wash me away.
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Thank you Jesus, you have saved
my life.
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Brought me from the tortoise
into glorious light.
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Glory to his word, glory to His
name.
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There to my heart, was the blood
of glory to His.
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Near man Amen.
Amen.
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Man who's thankful for Jesus.
Can we give it up this morning?
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Man, I love that song.
And just think about what God's
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done and God's given and God's
sacrifice for you and for me.
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Man, what an opportunity.
Just come in and worship him
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today.
Man, we're so excited that you
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chose to worship with us here in
real life.
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Want to take this opportunity to
let you guys know that we have
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some new people with us today.
They are online with this in
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person.
Can we show those guys some
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love?
Just give them a round of
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applause.
Amen.
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Amen.
Hey, won't you guys take 30
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seconds, find somebody around
you and greet them?
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all right, you The guys can go
ahead and be seated.
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Hey, what you guys know about
something awesome that you are
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sitting on or it's in a chair
next to you and that is our
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awesome connection card.
If you call real life home, we
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would love it when you guys fill
these out.
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Let us know what's going on in
your life.
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Maybe you've got a prayer
request.
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Something is going on in your
life, something you need prayer
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for or maybe God has just showed
up in your life in a miraculous
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this way this week and you've
got to praise.
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If you guys write those down.
We look at these week in week
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out, we pray over them.
We love to stay connected with
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knowing what's going on in your
life.
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Don't have to pin just on
Facebook.
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So if you guys send those in,
man, we love it.
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If you call real life home, if
you're neuter or newer to real
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life, this is a great
opportunity for you guys as
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well.
And I'm going to make you guys a
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simple promise.
We're not going to ask one other
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thing from you today except for
this one simple thing.
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Just introduce yourself when we
want to know who you are.
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And we just want to just thank
so thankful that you're here
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with us.
And if you feel that out to the
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level that you're comfortable
with, we're not going to do
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anything weird.
We won't show up your door, but
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we'd love to send you some
information this week about real
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life, let you know a little bit
about who we are.
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And so again, we're so excited
that you chose to worship with
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us today here in real life.
We like to say that we're a
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church on a mission here.
And that mission is, is to see
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people far from God discover the
real life and purpose in Jesus.
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That's why we do what we do.
That's why we make our
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decisions.
That's how we move throughout
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our week because we know that
lives get messy sometimes,
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right?
They get broken, they get jacked
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up, but we believe that we have
and know the person that has the
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answer for you to get connected
and be back on mission and
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that's Jesus.
So we love the living community
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here and we live as a body as,
as a fellow believers and, and
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disciples and we are reaching
out in our community and across
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the world to get people on
mission with God.
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So I have something awesome
before we get into, into the
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message today.
So this is calling all 6th
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graders through 12th.
We are going back to Sporting KC
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for our second annual sporting
event.
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Man, you guys heard about it
last year.
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The kids loved it.
So parents, teens, don't miss
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this opportunity.
This is a free event.
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This is for leaders and youth
that are in that age group and
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part of real life youth.
So don't miss out.
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Get signed up early.
I think they're playing Austin.
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This is on September the 7th and
they'll be sitting in the South
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stands.
So your, your kid does not want
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to miss this.
So get signed up early.
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So we are launching into a new
four part series called Elephant
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in the Room, right?
So do you guys love the elephant
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in the room?
It's the question nobody wants
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to ask, but everybody's thinking
about, right?
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And so today we're going to dive
into what the word of God says
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about some of the biggest
questions you guys have in your
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life.
And maybe it's a question about
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faith, eternity, pain.
And it's the thing that you're
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thinking about that you think
you're the only person dealing
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with and that's not true.
And today we're not going to go
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into a bunch of church cliches
try answers, but we're going to
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give some honest answers from
God's word about what God and
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Jesus have for you to answer
these questions.
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So once you guys take.
This opportunity give a big
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round of applause to Pastor Sean
as he comes up and he brings the
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word.
He gave me that a boy.
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Go get him, pastor.
Well, welcome today I want to
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say first of all, was that
worship awesome today?
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Come on, give it for Jesus one
more time.
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Love him that you love him.
It's always such a reminder of
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who we are and who God is.
And so in that line that Jesus
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did God set aside on us and that
that song was just fantastic.
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If you're new with us, I want to
welcome you guys one more time.
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Or new where I know a lot of
guys have been coming out
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recently.
I know we have some new faces
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today.
Will you guys make everybody
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feel welcome one more time?
Come on.
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So there's two families you got
to congratulate.
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This is pretty cool.
So last week we did the
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celebration Sunday to the youth
camp, kids camp, kind of just
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celebrate the stories, impact
and just all that God's doing
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and it's really cool.
We had two families that said
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yes, God just speaking to them
to serve and our kids program.
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So you can congratulate them,
let them know we love them for
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jumping on the team.
Come on, we love that some
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you're like, it wasn't me, but
it could be right?
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Oh man.
So just just amazing stuff.
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So one last thing before we jump
into the message.
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I just want to encourage you
guys, if you have a star
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relationship with Jesus, if you
commit your life to Christ
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recently or you have in the past
but not been baptized, I'd
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encourage you guys to get
baptized.
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We were baptizing on our, I
can't believe it said 8th
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birthday.
Come on somebody, and I'll
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invite you guys to be a part of
this.
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And so if you called on Jesus,
maybe I baptized as a baby or
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something, but I would encourage
you to take that step.
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It's really going public through
faith, just telling the whole
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world, you're unashamed of
Jesus.
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You're just confessing to the
world.
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Man, I love Jesus.
Jesus did something in me I want
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to show you.
And so really that we're dead
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and sin and now we're alive to
Jesus.
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And we have so many stories of
people doing this.
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This is amazing.
This picture, you guys who this
249
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is Jerry.
Jerry, I knew it was going to
250
00:21:56,080 --> 00:21:57,840
happen.
This is this is my
251
00:21:57,840 --> 00:22:00,200
father-in-law, Jerry.
He came to Christ a few years
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00:22:00,200 --> 00:22:02,080
ago here at real life.
Thank you Jesus, Amen.
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And he got baptized.
This was Easter this year, so
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about 5 months ago.
And I see this picture and it's
255
00:22:07,360 --> 00:22:09,440
it's very special because This
is why we launched a church.
256
00:22:10,080 --> 00:22:12,160
Really something special about
somebody close to you but far
257
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from God.
You see God moving their life
258
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and take those steps of faith.
And this is just a significant
259
00:22:17,320 --> 00:22:19,800
moment for me.
This makes every moment worth
260
00:22:19,800 --> 00:22:21,720
it.
There's a lot of like things we
261
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do behind the scenes and a lot
of energy and effort, activity
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things.
But this is the stories of
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impacting people, Amen.
And they see families change,
264
00:22:28,880 --> 00:22:30,600
lives change.
This is this is personal, Amen.
265
00:22:31,080 --> 00:22:32,360
And this can be personal for you
too.
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And I'm encouraging if you have
not been baptized, this is the
267
00:22:35,680 --> 00:22:36,920
impact.
Like somebody's gonna be
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excited.
We'll be excited, we'll be
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excited.
Church.
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Amen.
I mean, just I'll encourage you
271
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guys if you're like on the
fence, they can baptize.
272
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It is exciting.
It's a great day.
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And I'll encourage you a part of
that.
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00:22:46,440 --> 00:22:48,280
We would just love to be a part
of your story.
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00:22:48,280 --> 00:22:51,040
And if you're unsure what that
looks like, if you sign up on
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00:22:51,040 --> 00:22:54,040
there, it's not like you sign up
and just like you get thrown the
277
00:22:54,040 --> 00:22:55,280
deep end, all that be kind of
fun.
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00:22:55,760 --> 00:22:58,200
But we're gonna actually walk
you through this like help you
279
00:22:58,200 --> 00:22:59,960
understand, make sure it's the
right fit for you.
280
00:23:00,240 --> 00:23:02,080
And so don't feel like you sign
up and just like you're just
281
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gonna not know anything, we're
gonna walk you the whole
282
00:23:04,080 --> 00:23:06,400
process.
So today we're jumping to a new
283
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series, the Elephant in the
room.
284
00:23:08,040 --> 00:23:10,280
I don't know what I was thinking
when I started this series.
285
00:23:10,360 --> 00:23:13,400
So this elephant's getting, I'm
going to have to obviously
286
00:23:13,400 --> 00:23:15,440
preach some interesting messages
to talk about the elephant in
287
00:23:15,440 --> 00:23:17,400
the room.
We all have questions.
288
00:23:17,960 --> 00:23:20,000
Sometimes we don't even tell
anybody these questions.
289
00:23:20,200 --> 00:23:22,160
Maybe you tell your best friend,
maybe your spouse.
290
00:23:22,760 --> 00:23:25,440
Maybe you have questions that
you feel guilty about even
291
00:23:25,440 --> 00:23:27,960
having the question.
Like I don't know if I'd seem
292
00:23:27,960 --> 00:23:29,320
appropriate even thinking this
question.
293
00:23:29,760 --> 00:23:31,920
And sometimes we just don't say
anything to anybody and we walk
294
00:23:31,920 --> 00:23:34,760
around this these taboo thoughts
and we don't want to interact.
295
00:23:34,760 --> 00:23:36,840
And I also encourage the church
that God can handle your
296
00:23:36,840 --> 00:23:37,600
questions.
Amen.
297
00:23:38,400 --> 00:23:40,040
God, contend your hard
questions, your weird questions,
298
00:23:40,040 --> 00:23:42,160
all these different questions.
And some of the questions might
299
00:23:42,160 --> 00:23:43,480
be why?
Where is God?
300
00:23:43,880 --> 00:23:45,560
Why would God allow bad things
to happen?
301
00:23:45,760 --> 00:23:49,120
And is the Bible really true?
And no one's ever struggled that
302
00:23:49,120 --> 00:23:52,640
one, right?
Like, can he be trusted?
303
00:23:52,640 --> 00:23:54,320
I mean, I've asked all these
questions too.
304
00:23:54,320 --> 00:23:56,400
Amen.
Some of the questions are just
305
00:23:56,400 --> 00:23:58,120
like, maybe more personal, like,
you know, what's wrong with
306
00:23:58,120 --> 00:24:00,240
having sex outside of marriage
or sex before marriage?
307
00:24:00,240 --> 00:24:02,360
Like, you know, there's the
world, like just teaches a lot
308
00:24:02,360 --> 00:24:04,200
of stuff, right?
And I would encourage you guys
309
00:24:04,200 --> 00:24:06,760
as you walk through this to
really be open handed.
310
00:24:06,760 --> 00:24:09,240
I was at a church when I, when I
grew up that you couldn't ask
311
00:24:09,240 --> 00:24:11,840
these questions.
Like it was almost like if you
312
00:24:11,840 --> 00:24:14,280
confess Jesus, like if you
called on Jesus that you were
313
00:24:14,280 --> 00:24:16,000
perfect immediately.
You've been in this type of
314
00:24:16,000 --> 00:24:18,120
church before.
Like there's no room for saying
315
00:24:18,120 --> 00:24:20,840
like we trust you for salvation,
but but not for sanctification,
316
00:24:20,840 --> 00:24:22,600
not for growth.
And you just everybody's just
317
00:24:22,600 --> 00:24:24,920
perfect and you can never ask
the question.
318
00:24:25,120 --> 00:24:26,720
And so I would encourage you
guys that we're we're on a
319
00:24:26,720 --> 00:24:30,200
journey together, Amen.
Like the words discovery, like,
320
00:24:30,200 --> 00:24:33,120
like wandering, like just
seeking out God, like we're all
321
00:24:33,120 --> 00:24:35,000
coming from different faith
journeys and points.
322
00:24:35,280 --> 00:24:37,560
And these questions may you
might have like solved the
323
00:24:37,560 --> 00:24:39,560
question for yourself.
And it might be something next
324
00:24:39,560 --> 00:24:41,920
to you that like is just blown
out the water by that question.
325
00:24:42,200 --> 00:24:44,280
And some people maybe have gone
to church today and you've not
326
00:24:44,280 --> 00:24:46,920
been in church or followed God
because of these hard questions.
327
00:24:46,920 --> 00:24:50,160
And we're going to dive into, I
mean, definitely the easiest
328
00:24:50,160 --> 00:24:52,160
question, right?
Where is God?
329
00:24:52,160 --> 00:24:55,000
When I heard the questions of
pain and suffering, this might
330
00:24:55,000 --> 00:24:57,920
be one of the the heavier
questions and just going to go
331
00:24:57,920 --> 00:24:59,920
in the deep end and walk through
what God has for us.
332
00:24:59,920 --> 00:25:02,280
I would encourage him and
praying that you have an aha
333
00:25:02,280 --> 00:25:05,400
moment about your suffering,
like an aha moment about pain,
334
00:25:05,400 --> 00:25:06,840
like where is God?
Why God?
335
00:25:07,040 --> 00:25:08,280
That God would just show you
things.
336
00:25:08,280 --> 00:25:10,520
Holy Spirit would just come on
you and you maybe see things
337
00:25:10,520 --> 00:25:13,920
differently and actually worship
God for your suffering.
338
00:25:13,920 --> 00:25:15,400
So it's been a big prayer.
Amen.
339
00:25:16,200 --> 00:25:17,400
It's a big prayer.
So this is one of the main
340
00:25:17,400 --> 00:25:19,760
reasons people don't follow God
to go to church because of the
341
00:25:19,760 --> 00:25:22,920
pain that happens in their life.
And so where is God when life
342
00:25:23,080 --> 00:25:25,400
hurts?
A few weeks ago had the
343
00:25:25,400 --> 00:25:28,600
privilege and honor of speaking
and sharing God's word at my
344
00:25:28,640 --> 00:25:30,720
step brothers celebration of
life.
345
00:25:31,200 --> 00:25:34,200
My stepbrother Chad, he is 4
years older than me, so it makes
346
00:25:34,200 --> 00:25:36,760
him 44 and he passed away
unexpectedly.
347
00:25:37,280 --> 00:25:39,440
He was at work working at
Walmart and they found him in
348
00:25:39,440 --> 00:25:43,840
the backroom, in the storeroom
and he had passed away and it
349
00:25:43,840 --> 00:25:45,720
was a brain aneurysm, a heart
attack.
350
00:25:45,720 --> 00:25:48,000
Like, you know, people are
they're figuring things out, but
351
00:25:48,000 --> 00:25:50,480
it's just one of those things
like so unexpected, right?
352
00:25:50,480 --> 00:25:52,240
And so much pain, so many things
around it.
353
00:25:52,560 --> 00:25:54,800
And you know, it's just weird
for me.
354
00:25:54,800 --> 00:25:56,960
Like I've done a lot of funerals
and been in church for a long
355
00:25:56,960 --> 00:25:59,560
time, done a lot of ministry
stuff, but it's just different
356
00:25:59,560 --> 00:26:02,040
when it's like your sibling.
Like that was a different level
357
00:26:02,040 --> 00:26:04,000
for me.
Like I've never, you know, I
358
00:26:04,000 --> 00:26:06,800
thought a million years, like I
am going to be doing my
359
00:26:07,120 --> 00:26:09,640
stepbrothers funeral like this
year.
360
00:26:09,840 --> 00:26:11,920
I mean, it's just I just kept
thinking it's just too young,
361
00:26:11,920 --> 00:26:13,600
right?
This is he's just young, but
362
00:26:13,600 --> 00:26:14,600
anyway, I want to show you a
picture.
363
00:26:14,680 --> 00:26:17,560
I met Chad when I was 6.
My mom got married by step dad
364
00:26:17,560 --> 00:26:18,800
when I was 7, became part of
family.
365
00:26:18,800 --> 00:26:21,000
So this is my family.
Come on, somebody, this is
366
00:26:21,000 --> 00:26:22,640
awesome.
This is a great picture of the
367
00:26:22,640 --> 00:26:25,480
90s.
Come on on the right, the
368
00:26:25,480 --> 00:26:26,800
redhead.
That's my that's my brother
369
00:26:26,800 --> 00:26:27,640
Adam.
Come on.
370
00:26:27,720 --> 00:26:30,840
I met other Adam today.
The visitor guy down the corner
371
00:26:30,840 --> 00:26:32,600
there.
That's Alana.
372
00:26:33,240 --> 00:26:33,880
Where you at?
Alana?
373
00:26:33,880 --> 00:26:35,360
She in there.
Oh, she's back there.
374
00:26:35,560 --> 00:26:39,000
Everybody say oh, oh, that's so
cute.
375
00:26:39,040 --> 00:26:40,600
Yeah.
And then Tricia is my step
376
00:26:40,600 --> 00:26:43,280
sister in the middle, Chad.
So there's Chad he he he's the
377
00:26:43,280 --> 00:26:45,200
big guy in the front there.
He's always big.
378
00:26:45,480 --> 00:26:48,320
He's bigger than everybody just
larger than life down here at
379
00:26:48,320 --> 00:26:50,880
the glasses on the on the lower
level, that's the lower level
380
00:26:51,600 --> 00:26:54,200
that that's Gabe that's that's
my stepbrother Gabe.
381
00:26:54,360 --> 00:26:57,080
He he's six months younger man
the life of the party.
382
00:26:57,440 --> 00:26:59,320
This is my step.
My stepdad Alan, he passed away
383
00:26:59,320 --> 00:27:03,800
a couple years ago.
And then you'll words can't
384
00:27:03,800 --> 00:27:08,280
describe that picture of me that
that my mom's here.
385
00:27:08,280 --> 00:27:12,480
Where are you, Mom?
Thank you.
386
00:27:12,480 --> 00:27:16,200
I think you're trying to keep me
single as long as possible.
387
00:27:17,080 --> 00:27:19,240
Alan Jackson was not very proud
of that.
388
00:27:19,240 --> 00:27:21,560
It used to be really flowy and
amazing bullet and that turned
389
00:27:21,560 --> 00:27:23,160
like I was some kind of French
person there.
390
00:27:24,680 --> 00:27:27,480
It's really cool.
I think Dumb and Dumber found
391
00:27:27,480 --> 00:27:30,000
this picture and they bottled
the movie kind of after that a
392
00:27:30,000 --> 00:27:33,360
little bit there.
Oh, man, God can use anybody.
393
00:27:33,360 --> 00:27:35,240
Amen.
You never like that picture.
394
00:27:35,240 --> 00:27:36,840
You'd be like, that's the man's
going to play at the church.
395
00:27:37,200 --> 00:27:39,720
And I was a Chiefs fan proof
right here before they were
396
00:27:39,720 --> 00:27:41,560
good.
Amen.
397
00:27:41,600 --> 00:27:43,440
Praise the Lord.
All right, enough of that
398
00:27:43,440 --> 00:27:44,560
picture.
You can keep looking at that.
399
00:27:46,240 --> 00:27:48,960
That's awesome, man.
Oh, that's good.
400
00:27:48,960 --> 00:27:51,520
I'm going back in here.
We're in the I'm in a generation
401
00:27:51,520 --> 00:27:54,560
now where it's like it's going
to be like after maybe like
402
00:27:54,600 --> 00:27:57,600
1518, the pictures can be like,
man, that's really cool.
403
00:27:58,160 --> 00:28:01,240
And before 18 like you're so
old, you know, like I was going
404
00:28:01,240 --> 00:28:03,600
through the pictures of my
stepbrother, you know, and it's
405
00:28:03,600 --> 00:28:06,720
just like it's either you're
scanning it, it's old school or
406
00:28:06,720 --> 00:28:08,560
it's like a digital awesome
picture and there's like nothing
407
00:28:08,560 --> 00:28:11,160
between.
So anyway, this thoughts for
408
00:28:11,160 --> 00:28:14,480
you, but the thought about my
family, like where's God in the
409
00:28:14,480 --> 00:28:17,440
midst of suffering and hurt?
And there's verses I've been
410
00:28:17,560 --> 00:28:19,840
traveling through Psalms this
last year and there's been
411
00:28:19,840 --> 00:28:21,960
verses that just stick out to me
and speak to me.
412
00:28:22,120 --> 00:28:24,160
And this just was easy to go
back to as I walk through the
413
00:28:24,160 --> 00:28:26,840
Lord, like some verses that
remind me where God is and
414
00:28:26,840 --> 00:28:29,160
suffering.
And so this is Psalm 3418.
415
00:28:29,160 --> 00:28:30,800
This is what something has been
on my heart.
416
00:28:31,200 --> 00:28:33,840
It says this is the Lord is
close to The Who.
417
00:28:33,840 --> 00:28:36,480
What's it say?
Yeah, broken hearted.
418
00:28:37,040 --> 00:28:37,600
Yeah.
Where is he?
419
00:28:37,600 --> 00:28:39,640
He's right there.
He he's with you.
420
00:28:40,000 --> 00:28:41,920
It says that he saves those who
are what?
421
00:28:43,400 --> 00:28:44,040
Yeah.
Crush the spirit.
422
00:28:44,040 --> 00:28:45,000
This is good news.
Amen.
423
00:28:45,680 --> 00:28:47,320
Here's what about the Bible.
It's what makes it not a fable
424
00:28:47,320 --> 00:28:49,560
makes it real because you have
people that are struggling with
425
00:28:49,560 --> 00:28:51,760
real humanity, struggling to
follow God and they're being
426
00:28:51,760 --> 00:28:54,720
pressed down and and hurt and
they're emotionally broken.
427
00:28:54,880 --> 00:28:57,280
But the Bible says clear that
God is with us.
428
00:28:57,280 --> 00:28:58,600
I love it as a personal God.
Amen.
429
00:28:59,360 --> 00:29:00,520
I love it's not like, oh, he's
out there.
430
00:29:00,520 --> 00:29:02,720
Hope you hope you, you know, do
good enough and he loves, you
431
00:29:03,040 --> 00:29:05,840
know, God's a personal God and
he wants relationship with and
432
00:29:05,840 --> 00:29:07,960
he's close enough to us.
And I could have bridged the
433
00:29:07,960 --> 00:29:11,160
sermon down about, I don't know,
about 5 minutes and just answer
434
00:29:11,160 --> 00:29:13,680
the question, where is God when
you're hurting with you?
435
00:29:14,680 --> 00:29:16,480
Amen.
And we could just pray and be
436
00:29:16,480 --> 00:29:20,040
gone.
You're like, yes, not quite
437
00:29:20,040 --> 00:29:23,120
chiefs in the game today, but
one day you'll say Amen to that,
438
00:29:23,440 --> 00:29:25,320
right?
But Psalm 6, this is another
439
00:29:25,320 --> 00:29:26,760
Psalm that just sticks out to
me.
440
00:29:26,760 --> 00:29:28,960
This is one of the Psalms I
Amelium.
441
00:29:29,280 --> 00:29:32,080
I've read it and I just put it
in my heart, my mind, and I go
442
00:29:32,080 --> 00:29:34,200
back to the Psalm very often.
And this is something that I
443
00:29:34,320 --> 00:29:37,160
thought through with my family.
This is David Rice says have
444
00:29:37,160 --> 00:29:41,280
mercy on me, Lord, for I am what
even those seasons where you're
445
00:29:41,280 --> 00:29:44,760
just you're just overwhelmed,
you're weary like you're feeble
446
00:29:44,760 --> 00:29:47,560
minded, like you just have no
more energy to go forward.
447
00:29:47,560 --> 00:29:49,040
And this is this what I love
about the Bible.
448
00:29:49,040 --> 00:29:50,960
It's just so real because I can
relate to this, right?
449
00:29:50,960 --> 00:29:54,600
I lack the ability to move.
I'm uncertain, I'm unsettled.
450
00:29:54,920 --> 00:30:00,080
He says heal me, Lord, for my
bones are and what in agony?
451
00:30:00,400 --> 00:30:04,040
I mean, that's the emotional
pain that he's walking through
452
00:30:04,400 --> 00:30:06,400
that even to your core, you're
hurt.
453
00:30:06,400 --> 00:30:09,360
And there's moments of life
where the unexpected happens or
454
00:30:09,360 --> 00:30:13,040
the tragic happens or the things
around you are so broken that it
455
00:30:13,040 --> 00:30:15,400
actually bothers you to the to
your bones.
456
00:30:15,600 --> 00:30:18,160
You guys been here before.
You know, you're in that season
457
00:30:18,160 --> 00:30:20,680
when you wake up and then you
feel like man, God's good and
458
00:30:21,320 --> 00:30:23,880
everything is perfect and
they're not 20 or 30 seconds And
459
00:30:23,880 --> 00:30:26,480
after waking up, you just
remember what you're going
460
00:30:26,480 --> 00:30:28,360
through.
Like, you know, you forget the
461
00:30:28,360 --> 00:30:29,880
season went right at that
moment.
462
00:30:30,080 --> 00:30:31,320
That's how you know you're in
agony.
463
00:30:31,560 --> 00:30:33,680
And for some of us are walking
that season right now.
464
00:30:33,960 --> 00:30:36,200
For some of us, it's usually a
broken relationship.
465
00:30:36,520 --> 00:30:39,800
There's like a powerful loss and
we walk that season emotional
466
00:30:39,800 --> 00:30:41,240
pain.
And this is what David's doing
467
00:30:41,240 --> 00:30:43,000
is walking through there through
this agony.
468
00:30:43,000 --> 00:30:46,240
He says this in verse 3 says my
soul is in deep anguish.
469
00:30:46,640 --> 00:30:50,160
Just how long, Lord, How long
says turn, Lord, deliver me,
470
00:30:50,160 --> 00:30:52,360
save me because of your what
what to say?
471
00:30:53,880 --> 00:30:56,320
There's failing love.
Who knows, God is full of
472
00:30:56,320 --> 00:30:58,680
failing love.
You can call on God's life.
473
00:30:58,680 --> 00:31:01,880
It's just motivation for save me
because of your character, God,
474
00:31:01,880 --> 00:31:05,320
because you love me.
God speak to me, changed me, he
475
00:31:05,320 --> 00:31:07,080
said, worn out from my
groanings.
476
00:31:07,080 --> 00:31:09,760
I mean, there's this is like
pain without words, right?
477
00:31:10,360 --> 00:31:12,000
I just don't know what.
It just hurts.
478
00:31:12,480 --> 00:31:15,440
So all night long I flood my bed
with what?
479
00:31:16,640 --> 00:31:19,320
Yeah, weeping.
We've all been there in seasons.
480
00:31:20,080 --> 00:31:22,000
You just there's no comfort.
There's no solace.
481
00:31:22,080 --> 00:31:24,880
You're just beyond yourself.
He said drench my couch with
482
00:31:24,880 --> 00:31:27,000
tears.
My eyes grow weak with sorrow.
483
00:31:27,160 --> 00:31:30,080
They fail because of my foes.
In this situation, David is
484
00:31:30,080 --> 00:31:32,440
surrounded by his enemies.
He thinks he's being overtaken.
485
00:31:32,440 --> 00:31:35,240
He's tired of seeing his friends
die, his commanders die, the
486
00:31:35,240 --> 00:31:37,600
people around him being
persecuted, and he feels like
487
00:31:37,600 --> 00:31:40,600
he's up against the wall that
he's being buried and there's no
488
00:31:40,600 --> 00:31:43,000
way out.
Verse A says away from me all
489
00:31:43,000 --> 00:31:46,440
you do evil and I love this.
So it says for the Lord has
490
00:31:46,480 --> 00:31:50,040
what?
How many guys knew that the Lord
491
00:31:50,040 --> 00:31:53,280
hears your weeping.
It's pretty good, Amen that the
492
00:31:53,280 --> 00:31:56,520
Lord isn't isn't absent like
he's not gone.
493
00:31:56,880 --> 00:32:00,600
We can make the mistake of
thinking and mistaking silence
494
00:32:00,960 --> 00:32:03,920
for God's absence, but God's not
absent, Amen.
495
00:32:04,480 --> 00:32:06,640
Just because he's not speaking
doesn't mean he doesn't hear.
496
00:32:06,640 --> 00:32:09,360
Just because he's not speaking
doesn't mean he is not hearing.
497
00:32:09,360 --> 00:32:11,720
You're weeping.
So the Lord has heard my cry for
498
00:32:11,720 --> 00:32:16,160
mercy and the Lord accepts my
prayer that in my pain God is
499
00:32:16,280 --> 00:32:19,040
close.
I'll give you some some stories,
500
00:32:19,040 --> 00:32:21,160
some guys to talk about these,
the scripture and the pain to
501
00:32:21,160 --> 00:32:23,760
walk through This man who wrote
second most, second most famous
502
00:32:23,760 --> 00:32:27,080
book in history, John Bunyan,
pilgrims progress and he writes
503
00:32:27,080 --> 00:32:29,840
this about tears.
He says it's not the mouth that
504
00:32:29,840 --> 00:32:31,440
is the main thing in prayer, but
the heart.
505
00:32:31,440 --> 00:32:35,240
And if it is the heart that
prays, it matters not what the
506
00:32:35,240 --> 00:32:38,480
mouth if the mouth is silent.
So the prayer is the cry of the
507
00:32:38,480 --> 00:32:42,640
heart, sometimes with words and
sometimes without words.
508
00:32:43,240 --> 00:32:45,880
Amen.
I mean, God knows exactly what
509
00:32:45,880 --> 00:32:48,160
you're feeling, what you're
what's, what's inside of you,
510
00:32:48,160 --> 00:32:51,760
and you don't have to maybe even
mature even to express it or
511
00:32:51,760 --> 00:32:54,280
even figure out why it's
happening, but the Lord knows
512
00:32:54,640 --> 00:32:56,040
exactly the language of your
heart.
513
00:32:56,360 --> 00:32:58,640
Others say about this scripture,
it says that these prayer, these
514
00:32:58,640 --> 00:33:01,760
tears are the tears or liquid
prayers, Amen.
515
00:33:02,480 --> 00:33:05,040
That God had actually hear your
tears.
516
00:33:05,360 --> 00:33:08,800
He's listening to your weeping.
They're silent prayer requests.
517
00:33:09,160 --> 00:33:10,840
God knows exactly why you're
crying.
518
00:33:10,840 --> 00:33:13,600
He knows exactly what you're
walking through In that season.
519
00:33:13,800 --> 00:33:16,000
Spurgeon said this.
He said tears are the diamonds
520
00:33:16,000 --> 00:33:18,560
of heaven.
Sighs are part of prayer, and
521
00:33:18,560 --> 00:33:20,200
tears are the blood of the
heart.
522
00:33:20,440 --> 00:33:24,880
They're the essence of prayer
and the substance of devotion.
523
00:33:25,640 --> 00:33:29,320
Tears are almost paved the way
for God's will and our broken.
524
00:33:29,320 --> 00:33:31,840
This guy is going to speak to us
and this what it says about
525
00:33:31,840 --> 00:33:33,520
suffering and tears in the
Bible.
526
00:33:33,520 --> 00:33:37,960
Psalm 56, eight says this.
It says you being God have kept
527
00:33:37,960 --> 00:33:42,720
count of my what tossings
Anybody been in the season where
528
00:33:42,720 --> 00:33:46,600
they can't sleep through the
night right and you tried new
529
00:33:46,600 --> 00:33:47,880
pillows and it's still not
working right.
530
00:33:48,160 --> 00:33:50,760
Like you just there's anxiety
and there's worry and there's it
531
00:33:50,760 --> 00:33:53,360
catch you off guard.
Every season has a temptation
532
00:33:53,600 --> 00:33:55,080
like don't ever think you get
mature enough.
533
00:33:55,080 --> 00:33:57,640
We're like your life isn't going
to have some arrows and some
534
00:33:57,640 --> 00:34:00,120
attacks like God is always
showing us things about
535
00:34:00,120 --> 00:34:02,280
ourselves.
I actually bought 4 pillows
536
00:34:02,280 --> 00:34:03,520
yesterday.
I slept through the night,
537
00:34:03,960 --> 00:34:06,920
praise God, Hallelujah, but it
wasn't because of these kind of
538
00:34:06,920 --> 00:34:09,639
season, but my pillows were
dying's like I picked the $6
539
00:34:09,639 --> 00:34:11,239
pillows up all the time.
I'm like, let's just not do that
540
00:34:11,239 --> 00:34:13,360
anymore.
Let's get a $10 pillow.
541
00:34:13,360 --> 00:34:16,280
Let's move up, you know, but it
says this is amazing.
542
00:34:16,480 --> 00:34:21,400
He said, he says he puts my
tears in your bottle and they're
543
00:34:21,400 --> 00:34:24,639
not or they're not in your book.
He's not absent.
544
00:34:24,639 --> 00:34:26,960
Amen.
Like like your your pain isn't
545
00:34:26,960 --> 00:34:30,320
wasted with God to think that
God knows exactly what you're
546
00:34:30,320 --> 00:34:32,320
going through, exactly what
you're walking through,
547
00:34:32,320 --> 00:34:35,480
understands the situation and
it's collecting your tears.
548
00:34:35,800 --> 00:34:38,639
He's listening to your weeping.
He knows and he's close.
549
00:34:38,639 --> 00:34:41,400
Amen.
He's not distant, he's not gone,
550
00:34:41,560 --> 00:34:43,280
he's not absent, he's not
apathetic.
551
00:34:43,520 --> 00:34:46,840
He is there.
Romans 826 says this says the
552
00:34:46,840 --> 00:34:51,239
spirit Spirit of God intercedes
for us with what to say with
553
00:34:52,440 --> 00:34:56,480
groanings too deep for words
that even when we our words
554
00:34:56,480 --> 00:35:00,240
fail, our logic fails, our
emotions are heavy.
555
00:35:00,360 --> 00:35:05,080
The Holy Spirit is groaning and
having prayer requests for us
556
00:35:05,280 --> 00:35:08,760
and over us to the Father in
heaven, Amen.
557
00:35:09,440 --> 00:35:12,800
That's good news that that we're
not alone that that that the
558
00:35:12,800 --> 00:35:14,640
Holy Spirit is also called the
comforter.
559
00:35:15,000 --> 00:35:17,360
He is comforting us.
He's he's he's giving us what we
560
00:35:17,360 --> 00:35:20,040
really need to have.
He's praying prayer requests
561
00:35:20,040 --> 00:35:22,840
that we not even ever mutter.
These lead us to places that we
562
00:35:22,840 --> 00:35:25,080
don't even need that we know
don't need to go yet.
563
00:35:25,080 --> 00:35:27,320
We don't know we need to go
there yet And so we can find
564
00:35:27,320 --> 00:35:30,560
solace that got us close enough
to whisper that he, he knows us
565
00:35:30,560 --> 00:35:31,480
better.
We know ourselves.
566
00:35:31,480 --> 00:35:33,400
Amen.
But there are times, if you're
567
00:35:33,400 --> 00:35:35,520
real honest, that we we don't
feel God.
568
00:35:36,280 --> 00:35:37,840
There are times where it feels
distant.
569
00:35:37,960 --> 00:35:39,440
It feels cold.
Your prayers feel like they're
570
00:35:39,440 --> 00:35:41,200
hitting the ceiling.
You're wondering what's going
571
00:35:41,200 --> 00:35:42,000
on.
You're kind of getting
572
00:35:42,000 --> 00:35:45,680
aggravated like I, why'd you
leave me this far to, to kind of
573
00:35:45,680 --> 00:35:48,200
feel like you're not in this
season, like why am I feel like
574
00:35:48,200 --> 00:35:49,920
I'm a little abandoned?
Have you guys been that season
575
00:35:49,920 --> 00:35:51,200
before?
Real honest, show hands.
576
00:35:51,800 --> 00:35:52,840
Real honest.
Yeah.
577
00:35:52,840 --> 00:35:55,360
I think most of us have been
that season maybe more than
578
00:35:55,360 --> 00:35:57,640
once, right.
I feel like it just kind of
579
00:35:57,640 --> 00:35:59,880
comes with the journey.
And I think God wants us to
580
00:35:59,880 --> 00:36:03,200
teach us something like in the
deserts and the valleys where we
581
00:36:03,200 --> 00:36:04,560
don't have this awestruck
moment.
582
00:36:04,760 --> 00:36:07,800
He wants to show us a few things
about prayer, about our lives.
583
00:36:07,800 --> 00:36:12,040
What's interesting about prayer
is that when you pray, God does
584
00:36:12,040 --> 00:36:16,720
not often download the answer
that you're praying to your
585
00:36:16,720 --> 00:36:19,280
life.
It doesn't usually come if I can
586
00:36:19,280 --> 00:36:20,680
use this Good.
Met a guy that's in charge of
587
00:36:20,680 --> 00:36:24,600
this right now.
He doesn't fly the package of
588
00:36:24,600 --> 00:36:27,320
your prayer request with a blue
bow on it and drop it at your
589
00:36:27,320 --> 00:36:31,000
front porch, Amen.
It doesn't usually work that
590
00:36:31,000 --> 00:36:32,880
way.
God does usually answer your
591
00:36:32,880 --> 00:36:34,680
prayer with this an immediate
thing.
592
00:36:34,680 --> 00:36:36,560
Now there's two things the Bible
he'll do that for.
593
00:36:36,720 --> 00:36:40,040
But most of the time God gives
you the gift of an opportunity
594
00:36:40,800 --> 00:36:42,400
to become what you're praying
for.
595
00:36:42,960 --> 00:36:45,000
Like think about this when you
pray for patience, God doesn't
596
00:36:45,000 --> 00:36:48,120
download patience into your soul
typically, but God gives the
597
00:36:48,120 --> 00:36:52,760
opportunity to be patient, Amen.
God gives you circumstances and
598
00:36:52,760 --> 00:36:55,280
people and relationships and you
give those moments where you can
599
00:36:55,280 --> 00:36:58,560
trust in him and rely on him,
but very few times you can say,
600
00:36:58,560 --> 00:37:00,960
OK, now you're a patient person
that that's not typical works.
601
00:37:01,040 --> 00:37:02,400
He wants to develop your
character.
602
00:37:02,600 --> 00:37:04,240
Matter of fact, God is more
interested in developing
603
00:37:04,240 --> 00:37:07,280
character than for you to
download your wish list.
604
00:37:08,400 --> 00:37:10,760
Amen.
Because it doesn't doesn't
605
00:37:10,760 --> 00:37:12,400
change anything because gives
you the answer.
606
00:37:12,760 --> 00:37:15,240
He wants you to become something
that you're not.
607
00:37:15,240 --> 00:37:17,200
Think about this.
We pray for strength.
608
00:37:17,800 --> 00:37:20,520
He put you in seasons where you
feel weak, you feel like, oh
609
00:37:20,520 --> 00:37:21,920
Lord, I'll be strong.
What He's going to give you
610
00:37:21,920 --> 00:37:24,800
circumstance with your family or
your friends or whatever it is
611
00:37:24,920 --> 00:37:27,480
where you have to rely on Him
and His power and His strength
612
00:37:27,480 --> 00:37:30,440
made perfect in your weakness
and lean on Him.
613
00:37:30,760 --> 00:37:32,800
You pray for faith.
Typically it's because He's
614
00:37:32,800 --> 00:37:35,400
walking through a circumstance
where you don't have sight, like
615
00:37:35,800 --> 00:37:39,000
you have to walk by faith.
You have to hold His hand, lean
616
00:37:39,000 --> 00:37:41,840
His direction to seek His will,
and you're asking for faith, but
617
00:37:41,840 --> 00:37:45,040
He's given the circumstance.
If you pray for love, God often
618
00:37:45,400 --> 00:37:46,800
brings people in your life
that's hard to love.
619
00:37:48,680 --> 00:37:54,080
Amen because now a good time to
point, but often times it's just
620
00:37:54,080 --> 00:37:56,480
how it works, right.
And so in other words, God
621
00:37:56,480 --> 00:37:58,440
answer a purse, but it's always
the way we expect.
622
00:37:58,960 --> 00:38:01,960
Like instead of shortcuts, he
gives us soil, right?
623
00:38:01,960 --> 00:38:04,400
He gives you a place to grow.
He doesn't give you the the
624
00:38:04,400 --> 00:38:06,520
quick easy path.
Now sometimes God can do that,
625
00:38:07,360 --> 00:38:09,600
but often times he doesn't.
He takes a long way around the
626
00:38:09,600 --> 00:38:12,920
barn instead of comfort, he he
wants to develop our character.
627
00:38:13,280 --> 00:38:15,400
There's a couple things Bobby
can pray for though and get
628
00:38:15,960 --> 00:38:19,080
wisdom.
You can pray for wisdom and God
629
00:38:19,080 --> 00:38:21,040
will give it to you liberally as
long as you're asking faith.
630
00:38:21,320 --> 00:38:23,000
If you don't ask in faith, don't
expect anything.
631
00:38:23,040 --> 00:38:25,520
That's exactly what it says in
James one verse 5 and 6.
632
00:38:25,800 --> 00:38:27,720
And so you can ask for wisdom,
but by faith that God, I want
633
00:38:27,720 --> 00:38:28,880
wisdom.
I trust you.
634
00:38:28,880 --> 00:38:30,000
You know everything.
I'm gonna follow.
635
00:38:30,000 --> 00:38:32,240
You gotta give me divine wisdom.
And he will download it.
636
00:38:32,880 --> 00:38:35,360
Amen.
Amen.
637
00:38:35,560 --> 00:38:38,200
That's a daily prayer by the
way, like I'm not very smart,
638
00:38:38,200 --> 00:38:40,720
but God right.
He gives you peace beyond
639
00:38:40,720 --> 00:38:42,520
understanding is the Philippians
4.
640
00:38:42,720 --> 00:38:44,360
If you if you continue in
prayer.
641
00:38:44,640 --> 00:38:46,840
That was those who give you
peace by understanding of guard
642
00:38:46,840 --> 00:38:48,240
your hearts and mind Christ
Jesus.
643
00:38:48,440 --> 00:38:50,520
Those are two things you can
have, but everything else it's
644
00:38:50,520 --> 00:38:53,440
almost like God is giving the
opportunity to develop your
645
00:38:53,440 --> 00:38:55,720
character.
He's giving you the opportunity,
646
00:38:55,720 --> 00:38:58,920
the gift of growth to be the
kind of person that you're
647
00:38:58,920 --> 00:39:02,240
praying God to turn you into.
He's given opportunities to
648
00:39:02,240 --> 00:39:03,880
shape you.
And often times we walk through
649
00:39:03,880 --> 00:39:07,040
suffering and hardship and we
kind of get mad at God or we're
650
00:39:07,040 --> 00:39:10,960
upset about God's character and
God's timing and we don't like
651
00:39:10,960 --> 00:39:12,440
it.
Instead of send back to God, I
652
00:39:12,440 --> 00:39:14,800
know you're using this to
develop me, God.
653
00:39:14,800 --> 00:39:16,960
You're putting this in my life
to show me things about myself I
654
00:39:16,960 --> 00:39:18,960
need to develop.
God, I trust you in this season.
655
00:39:18,960 --> 00:39:22,440
God, I'll walk with you even
closer in this season.
656
00:39:22,880 --> 00:39:24,440
It's very easy though, to get
jaded.
657
00:39:24,640 --> 00:39:27,320
It's very easy to, to step back
and, and to get upset.
658
00:39:27,360 --> 00:39:29,720
And honestly, there's times
where you feel like you're,
659
00:39:29,720 --> 00:39:32,240
you're just, you're irritated.
God, things are broken.
660
00:39:32,480 --> 00:39:34,880
There's things in our past.
I see this quite often.
661
00:39:34,880 --> 00:39:37,680
I've seen this with my own
foster kids and different things
662
00:39:38,240 --> 00:39:41,800
where it's the heavy question
like elephants in the room.
663
00:39:41,800 --> 00:39:43,760
But now we can kind of put on
the table.
664
00:39:44,000 --> 00:39:45,680
It's fun as a leader, by the
way, put an elephant on the
665
00:39:45,680 --> 00:39:47,320
table.
Don't you like doing that?
666
00:39:48,080 --> 00:39:50,080
There's problems and people are
upset and you're like, hey, you
667
00:39:50,080 --> 00:39:52,080
know, let's just let's go on.
Just take that.
668
00:39:52,560 --> 00:39:54,320
It's over here.
It's actually pretty big and
669
00:39:54,320 --> 00:39:55,360
we're going to go put that right
here.
670
00:39:55,360 --> 00:39:59,240
We're going to talk about Amen.
That's what leaders do, Amen.
671
00:39:59,840 --> 00:40:02,600
That's kind of culture I love to
be in like families get real
672
00:40:02,600 --> 00:40:05,440
sideways when the elephant
Duggan talked about in a healthy
673
00:40:05,480 --> 00:40:07,480
God honoring way.
Amen.
674
00:40:07,480 --> 00:40:09,160
And just be real honest with
you.
675
00:40:09,160 --> 00:40:13,280
There's there's a lot of pain
that same causes that sin causes
676
00:40:13,440 --> 00:40:16,520
that the world causes that's
affected so many of our lives.
677
00:40:16,680 --> 00:40:19,240
Ever been in this room?
People, you know, could be watch
678
00:40:19,240 --> 00:40:22,840
things all the time and they're
they're the question like, why
679
00:40:22,840 --> 00:40:26,480
would God allow me to be abused
as a child?
680
00:40:27,400 --> 00:40:29,440
Why would God allow my dad to
hit me?
681
00:40:30,040 --> 00:40:33,960
Why, why would God allow my
parents to be Alcoholics and to
682
00:40:33,960 --> 00:40:36,720
be in the foster system?
Like, why would God put me
683
00:40:36,720 --> 00:40:39,240
through all this?
And those are the questions that
684
00:40:39,240 --> 00:40:41,640
we're not going to ask.
Typically we're going to ask God
685
00:40:41,880 --> 00:40:44,640
will you mad about it may tell a
friend, but then a day like the
686
00:40:44,640 --> 00:40:46,960
wrestle that I want to wrestle
through the hard elephant.
687
00:40:46,960 --> 00:40:48,680
Amen.
Yeah, I did that today.
688
00:40:49,360 --> 00:40:51,480
I told you to keep it real.
It's on the sign, you know?
689
00:40:51,480 --> 00:40:54,440
So I'm gonna put it on the table
and it's gonna talk through the
690
00:40:54,480 --> 00:40:55,440
through the.
Yeah, you know what you're
691
00:40:55,440 --> 00:40:58,120
getting into there, right?
About to talk through that hard
692
00:40:58,120 --> 00:40:59,400
question.
What does it look like?
693
00:40:59,680 --> 00:41:02,280
Like, why would God allow this?
Like, where is God and all his
694
00:41:02,280 --> 00:41:03,520
hurt and his suffering, this
pain?
695
00:41:03,840 --> 00:41:06,360
And I'm gonna do is just walk
through really a conversation.
696
00:41:06,360 --> 00:41:09,200
I saw it.
It's really a video I watched
697
00:41:09,200 --> 00:41:11,440
and I just turned into, I can't
play it, so I'm just gonna read
698
00:41:11,440 --> 00:41:12,720
it.
And it's very powerful.
699
00:41:12,720 --> 00:41:15,280
And there's this this lady
that's been through a ton and
700
00:41:15,280 --> 00:41:19,440
she's probably in her 60s and
she's asking this this preacher
701
00:41:19,760 --> 00:41:21,720
what where was God when?
And so I'm just going to read it
702
00:41:21,720 --> 00:41:24,560
for you guys ready.
Don't act too excited.
703
00:41:26,720 --> 00:41:29,000
Well, I'll just hear this is
what she said says where was
704
00:41:29,000 --> 00:41:32,240
your Jesus when young kids were
in institutions and being raped?
705
00:41:32,520 --> 00:41:34,360
Just I'm a survivor of being
raped.
706
00:41:34,720 --> 00:41:36,480
So you tell me where Jesus
really was.
707
00:41:36,800 --> 00:41:38,720
I love this guy's answer.
It's profound.
708
00:41:39,200 --> 00:41:41,320
He said the reasons why, the
reason why you went through what
709
00:41:41,320 --> 00:41:44,600
you went through is because of
the human heart of sinful
710
00:41:44,600 --> 00:41:47,200
actions of people.
Your parents, your community has
711
00:41:47,240 --> 00:41:50,440
opened the door, has affected
everybody else.
712
00:41:50,680 --> 00:41:52,640
It's sad.
You want to know where Jesus
713
00:41:52,640 --> 00:41:54,040
was?
I love this.
714
00:41:54,200 --> 00:41:56,920
He said Jesus was on the cross
dying for our sins.
715
00:41:57,320 --> 00:42:00,080
Before that he was calling
people to repent of their sins.
716
00:42:00,480 --> 00:42:04,360
But your family, your ancestors,
those around you have decided
717
00:42:04,360 --> 00:42:06,760
not to repent of their sins, and
it affected your life.
718
00:42:07,280 --> 00:42:10,680
And all those who harmed you and
did that will have their day
719
00:42:10,680 --> 00:42:12,520
before God.
And if they don't repent,
720
00:42:12,520 --> 00:42:15,200
they'll be sent to hell.
They'll face the wrath of God
721
00:42:15,200 --> 00:42:17,000
for what they did.
And God is going to bring
722
00:42:17,000 --> 00:42:19,680
justice to every person.
So in the meantime, don't let
723
00:42:19,680 --> 00:42:21,720
your past become your burden
forever.
724
00:42:22,040 --> 00:42:24,600
But because of the one man's
decision, Jesus Christ, you can
725
00:42:24,600 --> 00:42:27,560
now be delivered from your sin,
set free from your bondage, and
726
00:42:27,560 --> 00:42:30,400
you can be brought back to into
God's Kingdom.
727
00:42:31,640 --> 00:42:33,880
That was straight truth.
Amen.
728
00:42:34,600 --> 00:42:36,360
Now that that's pretty trite
when you're talking to somebody
729
00:42:36,360 --> 00:42:39,240
in the season, but if you think
about why the suffering happened
730
00:42:39,240 --> 00:42:42,600
and he put it on to the, to the
sin, to the human condition of
731
00:42:42,600 --> 00:42:47,280
sin, to to community, to family,
to those around you, we, we get,
732
00:42:47,360 --> 00:42:50,520
we get into some big issues when
we start to blame God for sin.
733
00:42:51,480 --> 00:42:54,680
Amen.
When we say God authored this
734
00:42:55,520 --> 00:42:58,360
God, why would you?
And we get mad at God, you know
735
00:42:58,360 --> 00:43:00,960
who she's mad at?
And he lays out your family,
736
00:43:00,960 --> 00:43:04,200
your community, the world.
Sin itself saved himself.
737
00:43:04,320 --> 00:43:07,400
That's to blame, Amen.
God is not to blame.
738
00:43:07,400 --> 00:43:10,640
And he said it so, so perfectly.
And I love how he gave the
739
00:43:10,640 --> 00:43:12,520
justice side of it too, because
we often think, well, they're
740
00:43:12,520 --> 00:43:13,160
getting away.
They're not.
741
00:43:13,160 --> 00:43:14,120
Nobody's getting away with
nothing.
742
00:43:14,720 --> 00:43:16,040
God's tails are just.
Amen.
743
00:43:16,040 --> 00:43:18,840
And when you stand before him,
which I mean face down on the
744
00:43:18,840 --> 00:43:23,120
ground, prostate on the ground,
right, you're prone and you're
745
00:43:23,120 --> 00:43:25,800
just like, there's no friends
there, there's no family,
746
00:43:25,800 --> 00:43:27,760
there's no, it's you and the
Lord.
747
00:43:28,360 --> 00:43:31,200
His skills are just Amen.
The Bible says you can account
748
00:43:31,200 --> 00:43:33,080
for every other word, for every
deed.
749
00:43:33,080 --> 00:43:35,920
Everything will go through the
fire in the judgment of God.
750
00:43:36,360 --> 00:43:39,280
There's wood, hay and stubble
and there's the things of God.
751
00:43:39,960 --> 00:43:42,280
And, and, and so I trust deeply
in God's justice.
752
00:43:42,280 --> 00:43:44,760
And it reminds me of like, well,
why do we, why would God allow
753
00:43:44,760 --> 00:43:46,760
this to even happen in this
season?
754
00:43:46,760 --> 00:43:47,960
I keep coming back to this
thought.
755
00:43:48,160 --> 00:43:52,040
How much God must love us to
endure such depravity in sin?
756
00:43:52,760 --> 00:43:57,960
Like how much must God love us
to tolerate all this junk?
757
00:43:58,800 --> 00:44:00,360
It's just just hear me out.
Just think about this.
758
00:44:00,520 --> 00:44:02,600
Second, Peter 39 says this.
This is Peter.
759
00:44:02,600 --> 00:44:05,080
He's he's speaking to one of the
most persecuted group of people
760
00:44:05,080 --> 00:44:06,960
in history.
There's a church that was
761
00:44:06,960 --> 00:44:10,280
started in a Rome and it was
persecuted by the emperor Nero,
762
00:44:10,480 --> 00:44:12,720
who blamed the Christians.
Nero burned down his own city of
763
00:44:12,720 --> 00:44:14,040
Rome and then blamed the
Christians.
764
00:44:14,200 --> 00:44:16,760
And now being arrested,
persecuted and they're being put
765
00:44:16,760 --> 00:44:19,240
on trial.
Peter will be crucified by Nero
766
00:44:19,240 --> 00:44:21,440
under his orders.
His wife would be crucified
767
00:44:21,440 --> 00:44:23,200
right before him.
Peter be crucified upside down.
768
00:44:23,440 --> 00:44:26,120
This is the kind of suffering we
don't even see right now.
769
00:44:26,760 --> 00:44:28,840
This is one of those wicked
leaders in all of history as
770
00:44:28,840 --> 00:44:31,560
Emperor Nero and he writes this
these people that are suffering
771
00:44:31,560 --> 00:44:34,360
greatly.
He says the Lord verse 9 says
772
00:44:34,360 --> 00:44:37,680
the Lord is not slow and keeping
his what his promise.
773
00:44:37,680 --> 00:44:39,680
He's not he's not slow in
keeping it but as some
774
00:44:39,680 --> 00:44:41,920
understand slowness that what
they're saying is where's God
775
00:44:41,920 --> 00:44:44,680
and all this Why is this
happening?
776
00:44:44,960 --> 00:44:48,400
I thought I prayed for Jesus my
life would get easier like any
777
00:44:48,400 --> 00:44:49,960
remember Jesus on the cross
right.
778
00:44:50,240 --> 00:44:52,560
This guy mentioned so so
eloquently like where was Jesus?
779
00:44:52,560 --> 00:44:55,800
He was suffering for us and to
think just as a holistic picture
780
00:44:55,960 --> 00:44:59,960
that if Jesus were to suffer at
the hands of sinful people, why
781
00:44:59,960 --> 00:45:03,240
would we be any different?
Like why would our lives be any
782
00:45:03,240 --> 00:45:06,240
more innocent or easy than
Jesus's life?
783
00:45:06,920 --> 00:45:08,880
Like to think that we prayed a
prayer that it was our life is
784
00:45:08,880 --> 00:45:11,360
going to be perfect is the
complete opposite of the gospel.
785
00:45:11,840 --> 00:45:15,240
And that Jesus would suffer and
die for us and we still have
786
00:45:15,240 --> 00:45:18,480
this brokenness and this humane
has fallen that we wouldn't
787
00:45:18,480 --> 00:45:21,200
somehow like partake in some
suffering as well.
788
00:45:22,000 --> 00:45:23,080
And this is what Peter's telling
him.
789
00:45:23,080 --> 00:45:24,520
He's not slow.
He knows exactly what he's
790
00:45:24,520 --> 00:45:26,920
doing, his promise.
God is seldom early, but never
791
00:45:27,240 --> 00:45:29,600
late.
I've learned this about people
792
00:45:29,600 --> 00:45:32,120
sometimes Satan.
He uses things in your life,
793
00:45:32,120 --> 00:45:37,000
voices and people, circumstances
to bury you to, to, to get you
794
00:45:37,000 --> 00:45:40,760
off of God's journey off of
God's path to keep you quiet,
795
00:45:40,880 --> 00:45:44,160
silent, to to be non active, for
the gospel, to not to share his
796
00:45:44,160 --> 00:45:47,560
goodness, to think less of God
and to bury under guilt, shame
797
00:45:47,880 --> 00:45:50,680
and all these things to stop you
from doing things of God.
798
00:45:51,200 --> 00:45:52,880
And I remember when I was
planting this church, it came
799
00:45:52,880 --> 00:45:54,480
out of season.
It was one of those seasons, you
800
00:45:54,480 --> 00:45:57,720
know, it was a hard season.
It was all I don't have time to
801
00:45:57,720 --> 00:46:00,440
go through it and I'd probably I
just came to say all the things
802
00:46:00,440 --> 00:46:02,640
I want to say about it.
It was a difficult season.
803
00:46:03,000 --> 00:46:05,240
And I just this, somebody said
this in that season and it
804
00:46:05,240 --> 00:46:08,320
always stuck with me is that
Satan didn't know when he when
805
00:46:08,320 --> 00:46:10,960
he buried you that you're a seed
being planted.
806
00:46:12,000 --> 00:46:14,280
He didn't know that you were
being planted in the things of
807
00:46:14,280 --> 00:46:15,920
God.
And oftentimes we don't
808
00:46:15,920 --> 00:46:18,200
understand that.
Like Satan has a agenda and God
809
00:46:18,200 --> 00:46:20,760
has an agenda.
We kind of forget that, that God
810
00:46:20,760 --> 00:46:22,560
is who he is.
He loves us and cares for us.
811
00:46:22,720 --> 00:46:24,400
And this is exactly what Peter
is saying.
812
00:46:24,800 --> 00:46:25,920
He's not.
He's not slow.
813
00:46:26,040 --> 00:46:27,360
He'll be on time when he wants
to be.
814
00:46:27,680 --> 00:46:31,720
Instead, he is What?
What's to say he is patient.
815
00:46:31,720 --> 00:46:33,600
I think that's the lost verse.
Yeah, we're still on the verse.
816
00:46:33,600 --> 00:46:34,960
Sorry, guys.
I'm preaching forever here.
817
00:46:36,280 --> 00:46:39,720
He is patient with you, not
wanting anyone to perish, but
818
00:46:39,720 --> 00:46:43,200
everyone to come to repentance.
He's patient.
819
00:46:43,200 --> 00:46:46,440
What's that mean?
He's patient with you like he's
820
00:46:46,440 --> 00:46:48,600
patient letting us to grow
towards Christ.
821
00:46:48,760 --> 00:46:49,960
We didn't pray a prayer of
perfection.
822
00:46:49,960 --> 00:46:51,280
We prayed a prayer of
confession.
823
00:46:51,440 --> 00:46:54,360
We said to Jesus, I talked to a
man yesterday who who's
824
00:46:54,360 --> 00:46:57,600
struggling, He's defeated.
He's walking through a valley, a
825
00:46:57,600 --> 00:47:01,040
very difficult season that's
going to cost him a lot and he
826
00:47:01,040 --> 00:47:03,240
just can't get his head up.
And I'm like, listen, it's a set
827
00:47:03,240 --> 00:47:05,840
back.
It's not the future, right?
828
00:47:06,560 --> 00:47:08,640
And and we think we're defeated,
not defeated.
829
00:47:09,200 --> 00:47:12,120
Like what is God trying to teach
you is the lesson you can learn
830
00:47:12,600 --> 00:47:15,320
when you look at this God as an
intention to the suffering?
831
00:47:15,440 --> 00:47:17,560
He's patient with us.
He's patient with humanity.
832
00:47:18,320 --> 00:47:21,440
But like, ultimately God could
come back any second he wanted
833
00:47:21,440 --> 00:47:25,160
to and he could wipe away all
sin from the earth, all
834
00:47:25,160 --> 00:47:27,040
suffering from the earth.
Do you guys believe you could do
835
00:47:27,040 --> 00:47:29,800
that right now if you want to?
He could do it right this
836
00:47:29,800 --> 00:47:31,320
second.
And one day he will.
837
00:47:31,680 --> 00:47:33,520
Amen.
The first time he came as a
838
00:47:33,520 --> 00:47:34,520
child.
The next time he comes as a
839
00:47:34,520 --> 00:47:37,720
warrior, he rides a horse.
Next time, first time he was a
840
00:47:37,720 --> 00:47:39,040
donkey.
You know what I mean?
841
00:47:39,680 --> 00:47:40,680
Like he could do what he wants
to.
842
00:47:40,680 --> 00:47:42,600
He wants to.
So why is God waiting like he's
843
00:47:42,600 --> 00:47:43,800
suffering?
He's watching the suffering,
844
00:47:43,800 --> 00:47:47,600
watch the genocides and and the
wars and the, and all the sex
845
00:47:47,600 --> 00:47:49,680
trafficking and all these
difficulties.
846
00:47:49,880 --> 00:47:53,400
Why he says right here, he's
patiently waiting through all
847
00:47:53,400 --> 00:47:58,160
the sin and depravity and the
pain with the with intention
848
00:47:59,280 --> 00:48:00,960
that no one perish.
But everyone comes repents to
849
00:48:00,960 --> 00:48:04,640
him like God's longing is for
people to know him, and by his
850
00:48:04,640 --> 00:48:08,600
mercy he allows suffering
because he's delaying his
851
00:48:08,600 --> 00:48:11,640
judgment so more people can
repent.
852
00:48:12,920 --> 00:48:15,000
So to think about if you wish
suffering away, you wish every
853
00:48:15,000 --> 00:48:17,560
person who doesn't know Jesus to
hell.
854
00:48:18,280 --> 00:48:20,040
That's what you're wishing for
right this second.
855
00:48:20,560 --> 00:48:23,280
You're saying my suffering is so
significant that nobody else has
856
00:48:23,280 --> 00:48:26,000
a chance of finding the good
news of Jesus.
857
00:48:26,640 --> 00:48:29,120
Am I preaching today?
Just keep it real.
858
00:48:29,760 --> 00:48:32,640
That's what we idolize ourself.
All this pain.
859
00:48:32,640 --> 00:48:35,600
I'm so mad.
What about other people I need
860
00:48:35,600 --> 00:48:37,160
Jesus.
There's a man I met today that
861
00:48:37,160 --> 00:48:39,600
spent a year in a wheelchair.
I'm about to get surgery on my
862
00:48:39,600 --> 00:48:41,320
shoulder.
You might not know that yet and
863
00:48:41,720 --> 00:48:43,440
and I'm like, it's going to kind
of like, oh man, this is going
864
00:48:43,440 --> 00:48:44,440
to suck.
Take forever.
865
00:48:44,440 --> 00:48:47,080
It's six months and that it's
like, brother, it could be
866
00:48:47,080 --> 00:48:48,680
worse.
Amen.
867
00:48:49,320 --> 00:48:51,760
It's not about me, it's about
Jesus.
868
00:48:52,080 --> 00:48:55,120
And so in my mind, suffering is
not the proof of God being evil.
869
00:48:55,200 --> 00:48:57,600
Suffering is the proof of
actually God being loving
870
00:48:58,560 --> 00:49:00,880
suffering actually a proof of
God's love.
871
00:49:01,240 --> 00:49:05,280
Paul says even better in Romans
2, four he says or do or do I
872
00:49:05,280 --> 00:49:09,680
show or do you show contempt for
the riches of listeners of God's
873
00:49:09,680 --> 00:49:13,680
kindness, usual contempt for
God's forbearance and God's
874
00:49:13,680 --> 00:49:16,640
patience loses us not realizing
like you're not smart, you don't
875
00:49:16,640 --> 00:49:18,200
know yet.
Not realizing, understanding
876
00:49:18,360 --> 00:49:23,120
that God's kindness is intended
to what, Yeah, lead us to
877
00:49:23,120 --> 00:49:26,720
repentance, like God's kindness,
intend to lead us to things of
878
00:49:26,720 --> 00:49:29,040
God like.
And what's God's kindness?
879
00:49:29,040 --> 00:49:30,960
And you know, we like the second
part of the verse.
880
00:49:31,240 --> 00:49:33,120
I've always thought of the
second part of the verse.
881
00:49:33,720 --> 00:49:35,840
So the first part of the verse
is, is God's forbearance.
882
00:49:36,040 --> 00:49:37,240
You know what it means to
forbear?
883
00:49:37,240 --> 00:49:43,880
Yeah, it means to put up with
forbear is just like, OK, this
884
00:49:43,880 --> 00:49:46,760
is the verse for all the teenage
parents in the house, right?
885
00:49:47,240 --> 00:49:49,840
Just put up with some things.
If you're married, you forbear.
886
00:49:49,840 --> 00:49:51,920
It's actually in the Bible.
You know, it says right there,
887
00:49:52,280 --> 00:49:53,720
there's forbearance.
There's things you just put up
888
00:49:53,720 --> 00:49:55,360
with, but there's patience as
well.
889
00:49:55,600 --> 00:49:58,120
And then there's God's kindness
and the reason that we have
890
00:49:58,120 --> 00:49:59,240
this.
You show contempt.
891
00:49:59,520 --> 00:50:03,280
God, why you so patient?
Yeah, why you put up all this
892
00:50:03,280 --> 00:50:06,200
stuff right now?
Should we be mad at God for
893
00:50:06,200 --> 00:50:09,120
being patient and forbearing and
having kindness?
894
00:50:09,560 --> 00:50:11,120
And he said, what's the
intention of all those things?
895
00:50:11,120 --> 00:50:12,400
What's it?
What does allow this, allow
896
00:50:12,400 --> 00:50:14,120
suffering?
What's the intention of
897
00:50:14,120 --> 00:50:19,400
suffering to lead you to
repentance?
898
00:50:20,440 --> 00:50:22,040
God's kindness, forbearance and
patience.
899
00:50:22,080 --> 00:50:25,440
The suffering has a purpose to
lead us to repentance.
900
00:50:25,440 --> 00:50:28,200
Amen.
These are hard truths, but
901
00:50:28,200 --> 00:50:28,960
they're real.
Amen.
902
00:50:29,720 --> 00:50:31,880
So one final word about the
elephant in the room, because we
903
00:50:31,880 --> 00:50:33,480
there's a lot of different
truths on this, right?
904
00:50:33,960 --> 00:50:35,840
This isn't like a touchy feely
certainly at the moment, right?
905
00:50:35,880 --> 00:50:38,400
But there's a lot of different
things you can talk about.
906
00:50:38,400 --> 00:50:40,080
I would just encourage you to do
this.
907
00:50:40,520 --> 00:50:43,360
Don't waste your pain.
Don't waste your pain.
908
00:50:44,520 --> 00:50:46,800
Don't waste it.
I think it's Charles Spurgeon.
909
00:50:46,800 --> 00:50:49,400
He said something like this.
He talked about the soul.
910
00:50:49,720 --> 00:50:54,760
He said how precious must the
soul be that both God and the
911
00:50:54,760 --> 00:51:00,680
devil are after it.
How precious must a soul be that
912
00:51:00,680 --> 00:51:05,880
wars are fought in heaven and
hell for a soul like how
913
00:51:05,880 --> 00:51:09,280
precious must it be and you're
going to war and sometimes at
914
00:51:09,280 --> 00:51:13,280
war you get you get hurt and you
suffer and Satan has a season
915
00:51:13,280 --> 00:51:16,480
and uses people they do evil
things that they hurt you like
916
00:51:16,480 --> 00:51:18,840
Joseph and his brothers and they
throw them in a pit to die and
917
00:51:18,840 --> 00:51:22,280
it's all I have some compassion
some the slavery and when all
918
00:51:22,280 --> 00:51:24,280
these things happen, but God
redeems Amen.
919
00:51:25,160 --> 00:51:29,320
And if you write this story
where Satan gets the glory of
920
00:51:29,320 --> 00:51:31,360
your story, you miss the point
of the story.
921
00:51:32,400 --> 00:51:34,680
Like if you don't purpose your
pain for God, your pain is
922
00:51:34,680 --> 00:51:37,280
wasted.
If your story doesn't end with
923
00:51:37,280 --> 00:51:40,400
but Jesus changed my life, I'm
here to share my story with
924
00:51:40,400 --> 00:51:43,400
somebody else.
Then we're missing the point of
925
00:51:43,400 --> 00:51:47,120
what God is asking us to do 7
Corinthians 214 says this.
926
00:51:47,960 --> 00:51:52,240
But thanks be to God, who always
leads us in triumphal procession
927
00:51:52,280 --> 00:51:55,560
in Christ.
It always leads us in this
928
00:51:55,560 --> 00:51:59,440
procession, this parade for
Christ, and who makes known.
929
00:51:59,640 --> 00:52:03,880
Listen to this through us the
fragrance that consists of the
930
00:52:03,880 --> 00:52:09,760
knowledge of him in every place
that God has lead us this pray
931
00:52:09,760 --> 00:52:14,760
to victory so that through us
the fragrance of God's victory
932
00:52:14,760 --> 00:52:18,120
goes out to every place.
Now think about this.
933
00:52:18,120 --> 00:52:20,720
In Jesus's time, there's
something very famous.
934
00:52:20,720 --> 00:52:23,440
It was actually called the
triumph, which is why this is
935
00:52:23,440 --> 00:52:25,840
written this way.
Paul knew this.
936
00:52:26,200 --> 00:52:29,080
The triumph is where a Roman
general will go to war, and
937
00:52:29,080 --> 00:52:31,280
they're pretty good at that.
And they come back after a
938
00:52:31,280 --> 00:52:33,440
victory and the whole city of
Rome will come out of the
939
00:52:33,440 --> 00:52:38,040
streets and they cheer maximus
maximus maximus.
940
00:52:38,320 --> 00:52:41,880
They would just go on in a
triumph of victory.
941
00:52:42,240 --> 00:52:44,960
There's a victory prey that was
well known in the Roman culture.
942
00:52:45,280 --> 00:52:49,200
And So what Paul is saying here
is that we are in the triumph of
943
00:52:49,320 --> 00:52:51,000
Christ.
Amen.
944
00:52:52,080 --> 00:52:54,480
Amen.
The victory parade of Christ.
945
00:52:54,640 --> 00:52:57,640
We're not on the sidelines.
We're not the ones cheering.
946
00:52:58,200 --> 00:53:02,480
We're the ones in the parade.
We're the victors in Christ.
947
00:53:02,480 --> 00:53:05,640
Amen, That He's given us the
victory to defeat sin.
948
00:53:05,760 --> 00:53:07,840
He's given the heart and the
mindset of the Holy Spirit of
949
00:53:07,840 --> 00:53:11,160
God inside of us to reconcile
and put those things in our
950
00:53:11,160 --> 00:53:13,840
lives that were broken on
suffering and bring it back to
951
00:53:13,840 --> 00:53:16,240
God.
And we can be in that parade and
952
00:53:16,240 --> 00:53:22,240
we can shout and share the
fragrance and the aroma of God's
953
00:53:22,240 --> 00:53:24,840
victory to all people
everywhere.
954
00:53:25,280 --> 00:53:27,040
It's not an accident what you've
been through.
955
00:53:28,200 --> 00:53:29,840
God could have.
He could have, in His
956
00:53:29,840 --> 00:53:33,040
sovereignty, stopped it.
But he wants to redeem it.
957
00:53:34,000 --> 00:53:37,000
Amen.
He wants to redeem your pain and
958
00:53:37,000 --> 00:53:39,960
now you get the opportunity and
it's a blessing that when you
959
00:53:39,960 --> 00:53:43,760
serve Jesus, God will bring you
into relationships with people
960
00:53:43,880 --> 00:53:47,680
where you can share your
brokenness and God's goodness
961
00:53:47,680 --> 00:53:52,040
together and be an aroma to
people who need saving knowledge
962
00:53:52,040 --> 00:53:54,280
of God.
There are so many people I get
963
00:53:54,280 --> 00:53:58,160
to talk to and share about the
hardships and the pain or this
964
00:53:58,160 --> 00:54:01,120
alcoholism or a loss in the
family or there's been sexual
965
00:54:01,120 --> 00:54:04,400
abuse in somebody's life.
And I get to share, like through
966
00:54:04,400 --> 00:54:07,600
my personal journey or through
experiences I see, I get to
967
00:54:07,600 --> 00:54:09,520
point people back to the
goodness of God, Amen.
968
00:54:09,520 --> 00:54:13,480
And if you take your story and
you're willing and you say, God,
969
00:54:13,480 --> 00:54:17,000
I want to purpose my pain.
I don't want to waste one tear
970
00:54:17,200 --> 00:54:20,280
or one moment of shame.
I want to use it for your glory.
971
00:54:20,480 --> 00:54:21,880
God will allow you to do that,
Amen.
972
00:54:22,560 --> 00:54:24,880
He will bring stories and
relationships and people into
973
00:54:24,880 --> 00:54:26,840
your life.
I can tell you this, you cannot
974
00:54:26,840 --> 00:54:29,520
change your past, but you can
change where you place the
975
00:54:29,520 --> 00:54:32,400
blame.
You can change what you learn
976
00:54:32,400 --> 00:54:36,040
from it, and you can change who
gets the glory.
977
00:54:37,120 --> 00:54:41,240
Who is getting the glory for the
story that God has put in your
978
00:54:41,240 --> 00:54:42,360
life.
Who?
979
00:54:42,360 --> 00:54:45,680
Who's the one, the only one?
And we look down and we're full
980
00:54:45,680 --> 00:54:49,000
of shame and pain and regret and
anger.
981
00:54:49,120 --> 00:54:50,560
There's only two people going to
glory.
982
00:54:50,880 --> 00:54:55,600
That's you and the devil.
Satan wants to rob you from
983
00:54:55,600 --> 00:54:58,960
God's goodness and his power.
If you can look at your pain and
984
00:54:58,960 --> 00:55:02,200
say God, I don't understand why,
but I trust you because you
985
00:55:02,200 --> 00:55:04,360
could do anything you want.
There is somebody in this world
986
00:55:04,360 --> 00:55:06,720
that needs your story.
You don't have to go very far to
987
00:55:06,720 --> 00:55:08,600
tell it.
I've had so many conversations
988
00:55:08,600 --> 00:55:11,000
with people, encourage them to
share their story.
989
00:55:11,120 --> 00:55:13,160
And I'm not saying go up here
and spill the beans about all
990
00:55:13,160 --> 00:55:15,360
this stuff.
Maybe that's what it is.
991
00:55:15,360 --> 00:55:18,000
As a preacher, I get to do some
of that and share some some
992
00:55:18,000 --> 00:55:19,360
wounds.
Sometimes people are still
993
00:55:19,360 --> 00:55:22,720
alive.
You can't share stories, Amen?
994
00:55:23,480 --> 00:55:25,000
But sometimes you can.
And there's sometimes there's
995
00:55:25,000 --> 00:55:27,560
people that you get in a
relationship with your life grip
996
00:55:27,560 --> 00:55:31,080
with, you're sitting next to or
you see somebody's upset, you
997
00:55:31,080 --> 00:55:32,840
see somebody hurting.
I was on the phone yesterday for
998
00:55:32,840 --> 00:55:34,520
an hour with a man.
He kept apologizing for taking
999
00:55:34,520 --> 00:55:35,880
my time up and he's really
struggling.
1000
00:55:36,000 --> 00:55:37,880
I said, stop apologizing.
I don't hear about that.
1001
00:55:38,440 --> 00:55:39,960
God put me here to talk to you,
Amen.
1002
00:55:40,840 --> 00:55:42,360
Like there's a reason on the
phone today.
1003
00:55:42,360 --> 00:55:44,280
I could be doing a lot of stuff,
but I'm here because God, I
1004
00:55:44,280 --> 00:55:47,280
picked the phone up.
You called like use that story,
1005
00:55:47,280 --> 00:55:49,040
weaponize it for the things of
Christ.
1006
00:55:49,200 --> 00:55:53,120
Let Christ purpose your pain.
Don't mistake God's patience for
1007
00:55:53,120 --> 00:55:55,600
his absence.
Don't confuse his silence for
1008
00:55:55,600 --> 00:55:58,080
apathy.
God wants to use your pain.
1009
00:55:58,640 --> 00:56:01,560
God wants to weaponize your pain
for his Kingdom.
1010
00:56:01,880 --> 00:56:03,880
We'll have scars, We'll have
skeletons.
1011
00:56:04,160 --> 00:56:05,960
We've all shed blood.
Amen.
1012
00:56:06,840 --> 00:56:11,240
And what if we said, Lord, I can
use this like you give me a
1013
00:56:11,240 --> 00:56:14,360
gift, like I can connect with
these people I can never connect
1014
00:56:14,360 --> 00:56:17,400
with before God, you didn't
write the story, but God in your
1015
00:56:17,400 --> 00:56:20,480
sovereignty and with this
brokenness we live in, I expect
1016
00:56:20,480 --> 00:56:22,800
to take some shots.
I expect people to come after
1017
00:56:22,800 --> 00:56:25,040
me.
I expect Satan to come after the
1018
00:56:25,040 --> 00:56:28,640
all the force of hell to stop me
from speaking up and sharing and
1019
00:56:28,640 --> 00:56:31,480
living out the love of God and
to keep my head down and step my
1020
00:56:31,480 --> 00:56:34,680
head up like I'm not a victim,
I'm a victor.
1021
00:56:35,080 --> 00:56:37,760
This isn't the victim parade,
it's the victory parade, Amen?
1022
00:56:37,760 --> 00:56:41,080
And I can just point to Jesus.
I like if he can help me, he can
1023
00:56:41,080 --> 00:56:43,240
help you, Amen.
This is the kind of people we
1024
00:56:43,240 --> 00:56:46,960
got to become and we got to stop
holding on to the past and
1025
00:56:46,960 --> 00:56:50,880
letting it dictate our life.
Like the past is over, like it's
1026
00:56:50,880 --> 00:56:53,160
gone.
You don't get it back, Amen.
1027
00:56:53,920 --> 00:56:55,600
But what does God wants to do?
Stand up.
1028
00:56:55,600 --> 00:56:58,280
Like be bold, be courageous.
He, he knows exactly what he's
1029
00:56:58,280 --> 00:57:01,280
doing and his perfect timing.
I trust when he comes back,
1030
00:57:01,520 --> 00:57:04,200
revenge is the Lords.
Like I'll have to get even,
1031
00:57:04,200 --> 00:57:06,720
Amen.
I don't, I don't have to like do
1032
00:57:06,720 --> 00:57:09,800
all this stuff and be angry.
Like do that, change it, dude.
1033
00:57:09,800 --> 00:57:10,960
That's not changing anybody
else.
1034
00:57:11,680 --> 00:57:14,600
Like let God work through your
life and be a be a picture of
1035
00:57:14,600 --> 00:57:16,960
God's grace and God's mercy and
God's love.
1036
00:57:17,240 --> 00:57:20,160
Speak up when you have the
opportunity and weaponize that
1037
00:57:20,160 --> 00:57:22,520
story.
Don't let Satan take it.
1038
00:57:23,240 --> 00:57:24,640
Use it.
Amen.
1039
00:57:25,520 --> 00:57:28,960
So Father, come before you.
I pray God, as we search out
1040
00:57:28,960 --> 00:57:31,720
where are you and we're hurting,
God, we have the aha moment
1041
00:57:31,720 --> 00:57:34,080
today, like some of us have
maybe seen through Scripture and
1042
00:57:34,080 --> 00:57:37,080
just reminded that man that
brokenness is used for God as we
1043
00:57:37,080 --> 00:57:38,320
struggle and walk through the
season.
1044
00:57:38,320 --> 00:57:40,400
God, I pray for somebody there
that say, no, I'm not wasting
1045
00:57:40,400 --> 00:57:43,200
one ounce of my pain.
Like Lord, I'm using it for your
1046
00:57:43,200 --> 00:57:45,080
Kingdom.
God, it's going to drive my
1047
00:57:45,080 --> 00:57:47,080
purpose.
It's going to drive my calling.
1048
00:57:47,440 --> 00:57:48,760
I'm not going to keep my head
down.
1049
00:57:48,760 --> 00:57:50,880
I'm going to put the head up
exactly where God wants it.
1050
00:57:51,200 --> 00:57:54,080
I trust you, Lord, with my pain.
I'm in your procession of
1051
00:57:54,080 --> 00:57:56,360
victory.
It's not my story that I'm
1052
00:57:56,360 --> 00:57:58,880
writing God, it's your story.
And so God, I trust you even
1053
00:57:58,880 --> 00:58:01,720
though I have all the answers,
God, I know right now I'm
1054
00:58:01,720 --> 00:58:03,520
waiting patiently for you
because you're being patient
1055
00:58:03,520 --> 00:58:05,320
with me.
So you got to trust you in this
1056
00:58:05,320 --> 00:58:06,880
season.
I'm going to say the day that
1057
00:58:06,880 --> 00:58:08,400
today you're not going to waste
your pain.
1058
00:58:08,400 --> 00:58:09,560
We just put your hand there
today.
1059
00:58:09,840 --> 00:58:11,720
Let the Lord see it.
Not going to waste your pain
1060
00:58:11,720 --> 00:58:13,640
today.
Are you going to use it?
1061
00:58:14,240 --> 00:58:16,600
That pain will drive our
purpose, will drive our
1062
00:58:16,600 --> 00:58:19,480
direction, will show us the
things of God.
1063
00:58:19,880 --> 00:58:22,360
So Lord, teach us through our
pain, teach us through our
1064
00:58:22,360 --> 00:58:23,600
suffering.
God, thank you.
1065
00:58:24,320 --> 00:58:28,920
Thank you, Lord, for the
opportunity to grow in patience
1066
00:58:29,160 --> 00:58:33,360
and grace and forgiveness and
love to be more like Jesus.
1067
00:58:33,880 --> 00:58:37,720
Thank you the opportunity to do
the hard things, not the easy
1068
00:58:37,720 --> 00:58:39,680
things.
Thank you God, that I can live
1069
00:58:39,680 --> 00:58:42,880
out a path that is maybe wronged
or maybe I'm persecuted or hurt
1070
00:58:42,880 --> 00:58:45,120
or offended.
But God, I still trust you.
1071
00:58:45,120 --> 00:58:47,680
And while other people would
have been angry and upset and
1072
00:58:47,680 --> 00:58:50,880
small, I don't have to do all
these things because of you.
1073
00:58:50,880 --> 00:58:52,840
And so God teach me to walk like
you.
1074
00:58:53,080 --> 00:58:54,560
God, forgive me when I've fallen
short.
1075
00:58:54,800 --> 00:58:57,400
Forgive me for being upset.
Forgive me for holding on to my
1076
00:58:57,400 --> 00:58:59,520
past so much.
And God free me today.
1077
00:58:59,520 --> 00:59:02,760
God set me free in your name
through your spirit.
1078
00:59:02,760 --> 00:59:04,480
God, you're groaning.
You've been praying for this
1079
00:59:04,480 --> 00:59:06,960
moment.
So God, we trust you.
1080
00:59:07,520 --> 00:59:08,880
I'll pray for a more group of
people in the room.
1081
00:59:08,880 --> 00:59:10,840
That's those you say, you know
what, I need to join the
1082
00:59:10,840 --> 00:59:14,120
procession of victory.
I need to be in the triumph of
1083
00:59:14,120 --> 00:59:17,040
Christ.
I have maybe been upset with God
1084
00:59:17,040 --> 00:59:20,040
because my past that you walked
in today and you have all these
1085
00:59:20,040 --> 00:59:22,800
wounds and these things have
happened and not recognizing
1086
00:59:22,800 --> 00:59:26,680
until today that's actually
God's grace that the kindness
1087
00:59:26,680 --> 00:59:28,400
and the goodness and the
forbearance and the patience of
1088
00:59:28,400 --> 00:59:31,880
the Lord is intended to lead you
to repentance today.
1089
00:59:32,200 --> 00:59:35,000
The greatest thing you could do
today is turn the Lord Jesus and
1090
00:59:35,000 --> 00:59:37,440
turn from your sin and say
Jesus, thank you for down a
1091
00:59:37,440 --> 00:59:40,360
cross for me.
Thank you for loving me, even
1092
00:59:40,360 --> 00:59:42,320
those unlovable God.
Thank you for loving me and
1093
00:59:42,320 --> 00:59:45,040
those around me.
God, in this season, I know I
1094
00:59:45,040 --> 00:59:48,080
was wronged and it wasn't from
you, but you will use it.
1095
00:59:48,720 --> 00:59:50,720
You'll turn to Jesus.
The Bible says that Jesus came
1096
00:59:50,720 --> 00:59:52,480
2000 years ago down a cross for
us.
1097
00:59:53,000 --> 00:59:55,880
He was on that cross while the
world was at its worst.
1098
00:59:55,880 --> 00:59:58,960
God was at his best, He was
allowing sinful humanity to
1099
00:59:58,960 --> 01:00:02,280
crucify himself so he could
become a substitute as a
1100
01:00:02,480 --> 01:00:07,080
sacrifice for our sin and make
the full payment, the permanent
1101
01:00:07,080 --> 01:00:10,840
perfect sacrifice for our sin.
The Bible says we call name of
1102
01:00:10,840 --> 01:00:13,400
Jesus to be saved, forgiven and
made new today for you Jesus.
1103
01:00:13,400 --> 01:00:15,720
That's a promise of God.
It will come true in this very
1104
01:00:15,720 --> 01:00:16,800
instant.
The Holy Spirit come in your
1105
01:00:16,800 --> 01:00:20,320
life and give you a name, a new
purpose, the purpose, your pain.
1106
01:00:20,480 --> 01:00:23,040
He'll be with you, His presence
be inside of you.
1107
01:00:23,720 --> 01:00:25,600
He made new from Christ to be
forgiven.
1108
01:00:26,200 --> 01:00:28,520
So if you need Jesus, I'm
looking around, you'll call on
1109
01:00:28,520 --> 01:00:30,760
Jesus.
You recognize who he is today.
1110
01:00:30,760 --> 01:00:31,840
Will you put your hand high in
this place?
1111
01:00:31,840 --> 01:00:34,000
I need Jesus all across this
room.
1112
01:00:34,480 --> 01:00:36,800
That's you Holy Spirit, just
pull my heart.
1113
01:00:37,600 --> 01:00:39,080
It's the Holy Spirit calling you
to himself.
1114
01:00:40,480 --> 01:00:42,040
Just pray this prayer.
The prayers not save you.
1115
01:00:42,520 --> 01:00:46,280
Is your heart towards Christ.
It's hard to believe to say,
1116
01:00:46,280 --> 01:00:47,520
Lord, thank you so much for
loving me.
1117
01:00:47,520 --> 01:00:50,520
Thanks for down the cross.
Thank you for doing what I could
1118
01:00:50,520 --> 01:00:53,200
ever do in a million lifetimes.
God, it's beginning to make
1119
01:00:53,200 --> 01:00:55,040
sense the story been writing
God.
1120
01:00:55,040 --> 01:00:57,560
I can't change my past God, but
I can change my future God, I
1121
01:00:57,560 --> 01:01:00,120
trust you.
I see the day God from your word
1122
01:01:00,360 --> 01:01:02,800
who you are is true that you
love me.
1123
01:01:03,120 --> 01:01:06,720
I'm being a procession of
victory, no longer a victim of
1124
01:01:06,720 --> 01:01:10,040
sin, a victim of humanity, a
victim of Satan, no longer in
1125
01:01:10,040 --> 01:01:12,280
that Kingdom God, I'm a Kingdom,
I'm your son, I'm your daughter
1126
01:01:12,280 --> 01:01:16,200
today and I pray that in Jesus
name and the church said Amen.
1127
01:01:16,200 --> 01:01:17,520
Come on, give it for Jesus.
Amen.
1128
01:01:21,040 --> 01:01:24,920
And such a word today, just a
reminder that God doesn't waste
1129
01:01:24,920 --> 01:01:27,080
our pain, but that he redeems
it.
1130
01:01:27,080 --> 01:01:30,520
That even the hard stuff, even
the, the shame and the sorrow
1131
01:01:30,520 --> 01:01:32,800
and all the things that we walk
through in our life, even that
1132
01:01:33,200 --> 01:01:35,560
can be used to point people to
the gospel.
1133
01:01:36,000 --> 01:01:38,560
And that we don't have to walk
in that, but that we can walk in
1134
01:01:38,560 --> 01:01:40,760
the parade of victory.
So what a word today and
1135
01:01:40,760 --> 01:01:43,360
encouragement today.
Some of you are walking in that
1136
01:01:43,360 --> 01:01:46,200
parade of victory today.
For the very first time you
1137
01:01:46,200 --> 01:01:48,480
accepted Jesus as your Lord and
Savior today.
1138
01:01:48,640 --> 01:01:51,440
Congratulations, we are so
excited for you.
1139
01:01:51,440 --> 01:01:53,920
We have a couple things for you.
If you would grab that
1140
01:01:53,920 --> 01:01:56,480
connection card, fill out your
information and just check that
1141
01:01:56,480 --> 01:01:59,360
box that says I committed my
life to Jesus.
1142
01:01:59,360 --> 01:02:01,320
You can drop it in the giving
buckets here in just a few
1143
01:02:01,320 --> 01:02:03,280
minutes.
But by doing that allows us to
1144
01:02:03,280 --> 01:02:05,760
get you a few things.
The first one is a free resource
1145
01:02:05,760 --> 01:02:06,600
for you.
It's a book.
1146
01:02:06,920 --> 01:02:08,680
It's called begin.
We'll drop it in the mail
1147
01:02:08,680 --> 01:02:10,520
tomorrow.
We would love to get that to
1148
01:02:10,520 --> 01:02:11,880
you.
Really will be a blessing to you
1149
01:02:11,880 --> 01:02:13,680
as you take these next steps
with Jesus.
1150
01:02:13,960 --> 01:02:15,920
And if you pray that prayer,
you're right here in the house
1151
01:02:15,920 --> 01:02:18,840
today as you exit the worship
center, there is a table with
1152
01:02:18,840 --> 01:02:21,520
some red bags as you leave.
Please grab one of those as
1153
01:02:21,520 --> 01:02:23,000
well.
There's a free Bible for you in
1154
01:02:23,000 --> 01:02:25,120
there and a list with some other
resources.
1155
01:02:25,120 --> 01:02:26,960
But we would love to get that to
you today.
1156
01:02:26,960 --> 01:02:30,360
And once again, congratulations
if that's you for accepting
1157
01:02:30,440 --> 01:02:33,800
Jesus at today.
Hey, I've got something exciting
1158
01:02:33,800 --> 01:02:36,640
today as well that's happening.
That's fall life groups.
1159
01:02:36,840 --> 01:02:39,360
They are live online today for
signups.
1160
01:02:39,600 --> 01:02:41,640
You can check them online.
You can check them out in the
1161
01:02:41,640 --> 01:02:43,440
hub.
We have groups meeting almost
1162
01:02:43,440 --> 01:02:46,120
every night of the week in both
Raymour and Belton.
1163
01:02:46,560 --> 01:02:48,920
They actually don't start
meeting until September 7th.
1164
01:02:49,240 --> 01:02:51,040
They're Live Today for you to
sign up.
1165
01:02:51,480 --> 01:02:54,920
And I could tell you story after
story of a life change that's
1166
01:02:54,920 --> 01:02:56,680
happened throughout these
semesters.
1167
01:02:56,680 --> 01:02:59,200
But what's better than me
telling you is for you to hear
1168
01:02:59,200 --> 01:03:01,120
it first hand from somebody
who's experienced that
1169
01:03:01,120 --> 01:03:02,720
themselves.
So I'm going to invite right
1170
01:03:02,720 --> 01:03:05,000
Megan Duvall to the stage, give
her some encouragement.
1171
01:03:05,280 --> 01:03:09,240
There we go.
But I've had the joy of
1172
01:03:09,440 --> 01:03:13,120
attending Life Group with Megan
this last semester and I just
1173
01:03:13,120 --> 01:03:16,160
wanted her to share with you
guys the impact that Life Groups
1174
01:03:16,160 --> 01:03:18,480
has made in her life.
So here's Megan.
1175
01:03:21,360 --> 01:03:25,400
So I've actually done 2 life
groups and I started right after
1176
01:03:25,400 --> 01:03:30,600
I started church here And I will
say that doing that, I have
1177
01:03:30,600 --> 01:03:33,720
found a community of multiple
different people that have made
1178
01:03:33,720 --> 01:03:37,920
me feel completely welcome along
with myself and my daughter.
1179
01:03:37,920 --> 01:03:40,680
And it has been an amazing
experience and I recommend it
1180
01:03:40,680 --> 01:03:44,440
for anybody that is looking for
people to make them feel welcome
1181
01:03:44,440 --> 01:03:46,120
in the church and in the
community.
1182
01:03:47,400 --> 01:03:49,120
I love that.
Okay, that's right, give it up
1183
01:03:49,120 --> 01:03:50,880
for her.
And that's what it's all about.
1184
01:03:50,880 --> 01:03:55,720
It's it's real people, it's real
growth, it's real community and
1185
01:03:55,720 --> 01:03:57,520
real relationships.
That's what you're signing up
1186
01:03:57,520 --> 01:03:59,320
for when you sign up for a life
group.
1187
01:03:59,320 --> 01:04:00,440
So we'd love for you guys to
sign up.
1188
01:04:00,440 --> 01:04:02,120
You can check them out on the
hub or online.
1189
01:04:02,120 --> 01:04:03,840
Give it up for Megan one more
time.
1190
01:04:04,560 --> 01:04:07,000
Thank you.
Well, if you're newer in the
1191
01:04:07,000 --> 01:04:09,400
house with us today, thank you
so much for being here.
1192
01:04:09,400 --> 01:04:11,880
You really are honored guests.
We have thought about you this
1193
01:04:11,880 --> 01:04:13,200
week.
We have prayed for you this
1194
01:04:13,200 --> 01:04:15,680
week, and we're just so glad
that you're here with us this
1195
01:04:15,680 --> 01:04:17,440
morning.
We really don't want anything
1196
01:04:17,440 --> 01:04:20,240
from you except for this.
And that's just to introduce
1197
01:04:20,240 --> 01:04:22,720
yourself to us.
If you can do that by grabbing
1198
01:04:22,720 --> 01:04:25,200
that same connection card, fill
out your information on the top
1199
01:04:25,200 --> 01:04:28,440
there and just check that box
that says it's your first time
1200
01:04:28,440 --> 01:04:30,320
here.
You can take that to the new
1201
01:04:30,320 --> 01:04:32,760
here booth as you exit.
We have a free gift for you.
1202
01:04:33,000 --> 01:04:35,320
Just our way of saying thank you
so much much for spending your
1203
01:04:35,320 --> 01:04:38,720
day here with us and we would
love to see you back next Sunday
1204
01:04:38,960 --> 01:04:43,120
right here at Kentucky Trail.
And hey, I get to share a really
1205
01:04:43,280 --> 01:04:45,960
super cool story with you guys
about generosity.
1206
01:04:46,440 --> 01:04:49,400
We have a lady in our church
who's really walking through
1207
01:04:49,560 --> 01:04:52,720
just a hard season.
She's had to move and relocate,
1208
01:04:52,720 --> 01:04:54,200
make some adjustments in her
life.
1209
01:04:54,480 --> 01:04:57,640
She actually was renting a car
to make it to to church on
1210
01:04:57,640 --> 01:04:59,240
Sundays and to run all of her
errands.
1211
01:04:59,520 --> 01:05:01,640
And she just found herself in a
difficult season.
1212
01:05:02,000 --> 01:05:04,920
And we had the opportunity this
week because of somebody's
1213
01:05:05,000 --> 01:05:08,640
generosity in our Church of
donating car, we had the
1214
01:05:08,640 --> 01:05:10,760
opportunity to gift this car
back to her.
1215
01:05:10,760 --> 01:05:13,520
So check out this picture.
Go God.
1216
01:05:14,400 --> 01:05:18,680
That's right.
So cool and the Bible calls us
1217
01:05:18,680 --> 01:05:21,440
to take care of the widows and
the orphans and those who are in
1218
01:05:21,720 --> 01:05:23,840
a tough season.
We had the opportunity to do
1219
01:05:23,840 --> 01:05:25,600
that.
And as somebody who was there
1220
01:05:25,600 --> 01:05:29,440
first hand to watch her get
those keys, I can tell you that
1221
01:05:29,440 --> 01:05:32,320
it is more blessed to give than
to receive.
1222
01:05:32,760 --> 01:05:35,520
To see the tears in her eyes and
her heartfelt gratitude.
1223
01:05:36,040 --> 01:05:39,440
It really is a blessing to be a
blessing.
1224
01:05:39,680 --> 01:05:42,760
And so we really did just get to
be conduits of that wasn't
1225
01:05:42,760 --> 01:05:44,560
anything we did.
We just got to be a conduit of
1226
01:05:44,560 --> 01:05:47,000
God's blessing through our
church and to her.
1227
01:05:47,000 --> 01:05:50,000
And so I you to be a blessing to
others as well.
1228
01:05:50,000 --> 01:05:53,040
And so if you call real life
church home, you can do that
1229
01:05:53,040 --> 01:05:54,400
too.
You can head on over to our
1230
01:05:54,400 --> 01:05:59,240
website reallifechurchkc.com.
You can click give on the
1231
01:05:59,240 --> 01:06:02,120
website there, you can scan the
QR, you can text, you can drop
1232
01:06:02,120 --> 01:06:04,360
it in the giving buckets in the
box in the back.
1233
01:06:04,360 --> 01:06:07,480
So many ways that you can take
part in that at today.
1234
01:06:07,760 --> 01:06:10,560
And hey, if you find yourself in
immediate need of food, of
1235
01:06:10,560 --> 01:06:13,080
clothing, of shelter this week,
whatever that looks like that
1236
01:06:13,080 --> 01:06:16,120
you need, please reach into the
giving buckets as they pass here
1237
01:06:16,120 --> 01:06:18,720
in just a few minutes.
Grab any loose cash in there.
1238
01:06:18,720 --> 01:06:20,520
We really do want to be a
blessing.
1239
01:06:20,520 --> 01:06:22,520
We want to help you in your time
of need.
1240
01:06:25,200 --> 01:06:27,360
Man, what an awesome day man, if
you guys were blessed by God
1241
01:06:27,360 --> 01:06:31,400
today, can you give it up for
God man those elephants in the
1242
01:06:31,400 --> 01:06:34,160
room, they're the questions we
all ask but I guarantee you guys
1243
01:06:34,160 --> 01:06:37,320
got an answer for you.
Hey so before we get out of here
1244
01:06:37,320 --> 01:06:41,160
one last awesome thing.
So we are getting ready to throw
1245
01:06:41,160 --> 01:06:43,760
a party here real life.
You guys ready party people
1246
01:06:44,040 --> 01:06:48,080
there we go Hey our 8th birthday
party September 21st be looking
1247
01:06:48,080 --> 01:06:50,400
for information on it.
We're going to do baptism we're
1248
01:06:50,400 --> 01:06:53,000
going to pull out all the steps.
One of the other awesome things,
1249
01:06:53,000 --> 01:06:55,120
once you guys mark your
calendars for anybody on the
1250
01:06:55,200 --> 01:06:57,720
Dream team or interested in the
dream team, on September the
1251
01:06:57,720 --> 01:06:59,760
16th, we are going to do a pig
roast.
1252
01:06:59,760 --> 01:07:02,000
I've never been a part of one.
I've heard they're awesome.
1253
01:07:02,000 --> 01:07:05,000
But we're going to do, we're
going to do a pig roast.
1254
01:07:05,000 --> 01:07:07,320
S'mores yard games, man.
You guys are invited to mark
1255
01:07:07,320 --> 01:07:09,280
your calendars and get ready for
that.
1256
01:07:09,600 --> 01:07:12,360
So hey, if you guys need prayer
for any reason, somebody will be
1257
01:07:12,360 --> 01:07:14,480
up here to pray with you,
whether it's individuals or as
1258
01:07:14,480 --> 01:07:16,400
families.
And we would love to pray with
1259
01:07:16,400 --> 01:07:17,680
you.
I can't wait to see you guys
1260
01:07:17,680 --> 01:07:19,920
again next week at 9:15 or
10:45.
1261
01:07:19,920 --> 01:07:22,840
And as always, remember, whoever
finds Jesus discovers real life
1262
01:07:23,080 --> 01:07:29,720
and purpose.
This is the end of this podcast.
1263
01:07:29,720 --> 01:07:32,400
We hope you've enjoyed it.
If you have, be sure to hit the
1264
01:07:32,400 --> 01:07:34,800
subscribe button so you don't
miss another inspirational
1265
01:07:34,800 --> 01:07:36,800
podcast.
For more great content and
1266
01:07:36,800 --> 01:07:39,680
updates, visit
reallifechurchkc.com.