1 00:00:04,900 --> 00:00:07,900 Well, I'm so glad that every single one of you guys are here 2 00:00:07,900 --> 00:00:12,400 today, when we began this sermon series, I told you that I was 3 00:00:12,400 --> 00:00:15,700 more than a little nervous. There are all kinds of people 4 00:00:15,700 --> 00:00:17,400 who've been helping with this sermon series. 5 00:00:17,400 --> 00:00:20,200 There have been people who've been praying for this sermon 6 00:00:20,200 --> 00:00:24,900 series and I am just so amazed at the faithfulness of our God 7 00:00:24,900 --> 00:00:27,800 through it. So far, the very first weekend 8 00:00:27,800 --> 00:00:30,900 that we launched the sermon series, our attendance jumped by 9 00:00:30,900 --> 00:00:33,500 10% and I thought it was for sure. 10 00:00:33,500 --> 00:00:34,600 Going to go the opposite direction. 11 00:00:36,100 --> 00:00:40,900 Yeah, and got amazing. We have already had 88 baptisms 12 00:00:40,900 --> 00:00:44,400 across our different locations during this sermon series. 13 00:00:45,300 --> 00:00:48,300 You guys know that. I am a hardliner when it comes 14 00:00:48,300 --> 00:00:51,500 to social media it. But if you're going to be on it, 15 00:00:51,500 --> 00:00:53,700 you at least might as well follow what our church is doing. 16 00:00:53,700 --> 00:00:56,800 Because people who are sitting in the road, next to you are 17 00:00:56,800 --> 00:01:00,500 working with our media team and they're filming unbelievably 18 00:01:00,600 --> 00:01:04,200 powerful stories that will encourage you and help you 19 00:01:04,200 --> 00:01:06,400 realize. What God can do. 20 00:01:06,400 --> 00:01:09,500 And to those of you who are sharing your story, they are 21 00:01:09,500 --> 00:01:12,800 heartbreaking stories, but they are powerful and they are 22 00:01:13,000 --> 00:01:17,100 encouraging my favorite one. This is just our church. 23 00:01:17,800 --> 00:01:22,600 I got a very sweet email this week from a lady who goes who 24 00:01:22,600 --> 00:01:26,500 watches online and she was telling her story and I mean, it 25 00:01:26,508 --> 00:01:30,400 was awesome. And her shirt said, heifer, I 26 00:01:30,400 --> 00:01:34,100 will put you in the trunk and I was like, like that's our 27 00:01:34,100 --> 00:01:36,100 church. Like we're just being completely 28 00:01:36,100 --> 00:01:38,900 if we're real that's us and like of course it is. 29 00:01:38,900 --> 00:01:41,700 What sure what other shirt would you wear? 30 00:01:41,700 --> 00:01:44,800 What you do? It just like, praise God for 31 00:01:44,800 --> 00:01:46,700 this. I love, I'll absolutely love 32 00:01:46,700 --> 00:01:47,800 that. Our church is like that. 33 00:01:47,800 --> 00:01:51,000 For those of you who've been emailing me, hear me. 34 00:01:51,200 --> 00:01:53,400 I'm doing my best to keep up with your emails, but you are 35 00:01:53,400 --> 00:01:58,000 emailing faster than I can read return, an email and still do my 36 00:01:58,008 --> 00:02:00,700 job. So I'm going to get to a mall, 37 00:02:00,700 --> 00:02:05,400 just be patient, but the courage that you You guys have had to 38 00:02:05,400 --> 00:02:06,900 share. Your thoughts has been 39 00:02:06,900 --> 00:02:10,600 incredibly precious to me. I know that there are some of 40 00:02:10,600 --> 00:02:13,800 you across all of our different locations, who may not be 41 00:02:13,800 --> 00:02:17,200 inclined to this sermon series and I just want you to know that 42 00:02:17,200 --> 00:02:20,400 I am incredibly thankful for you for loving and leading. 43 00:02:20,400 --> 00:02:24,000 Well through this series, one of the signs of spiritual maturity 44 00:02:24,000 --> 00:02:28,700 is the ability to be others focused when you can say, it's 45 00:02:28,700 --> 00:02:32,300 not about me and I do hope that you will continue through 46 00:02:32,600 --> 00:02:34,300 continue to lean in through the sermon series. 47 00:02:35,000 --> 00:02:38,000 Because all of you and all of our locations are going to 48 00:02:38,000 --> 00:02:42,400 interact with people that you love and care for that, have to 49 00:02:42,400 --> 00:02:45,400 wrestle with one of these issues that were talking about and I 50 00:02:45,408 --> 00:02:48,400 want you to be prepared in that moment to be a light in a dark 51 00:02:48,400 --> 00:02:51,200 place. I want you to be ready to love 52 00:02:51,200 --> 00:02:53,500 and Lead. Well, I want you to be prepared 53 00:02:53,500 --> 00:02:57,700 to offer solid Council. A Biblical framework and above 54 00:02:57,700 --> 00:03:00,800 all. Hope, one of my favorite things 55 00:03:00,800 --> 00:03:03,000 that we've done during the sermon series is create 56 00:03:03,000 --> 00:03:06,100 additional resources. Where Cinnamon our social media, 57 00:03:06,300 --> 00:03:09,900 as well as our website. There are testimonies there is 58 00:03:10,200 --> 00:03:13,200 new released. This week are is video teaching 59 00:03:13,200 --> 00:03:17,300 from a dear friend of mine and Difference Maker at ARC Macomb. 60 00:03:17,400 --> 00:03:21,700 No are Keokuk campus. Mike Maher who is a professional 61 00:03:21,700 --> 00:03:24,800 counselor and you can watch those videos and they will put 62 00:03:24,800 --> 00:03:27,700 you in a position to provide hope and help for the people 63 00:03:27,800 --> 00:03:30,200 that you love. The other thing that we did is 64 00:03:30,300 --> 00:03:33,100 biscuit here at our 48th Street campus who works on our Tech 65 00:03:33,100 --> 00:03:36,400 Team created a Spotify. A playlist called weeds in my 66 00:03:36,400 --> 00:03:41,200 garden, and I listened to those songs on Non-Stop. 67 00:03:41,200 --> 00:03:43,600 It's the only thing I have listened to when I've been 68 00:03:43,600 --> 00:03:46,500 writing the sermons. They are the soundtrack to the 69 00:03:46,500 --> 00:03:49,600 sermons that I have been preaching and I promise you you 70 00:03:49,600 --> 00:03:52,500 will enjoy listening to those songs. 71 00:03:52,700 --> 00:03:54,800 I want to welcome all of you who are joining here from our 72 00:03:54,800 --> 00:03:58,900 different locations online. Inside I want to offer a 73 00:03:58,908 --> 00:04:01,600 special, welcome to those of you who are joining us for the first 74 00:04:01,600 --> 00:04:05,600 time, we are so glad that you are here in At any point during 75 00:04:05,600 --> 00:04:09,500 the sermon, you want to connect with our church, or maybe take a 76 00:04:09,500 --> 00:04:12,400 next step or learn more about our church or take a step of 77 00:04:12,400 --> 00:04:15,200 Faith. You can either use the QR code 78 00:04:15,200 --> 00:04:18,899 on the chair in front of you or you can talk to someone after 79 00:04:18,899 --> 00:04:21,500 the service. In one of our lobbies, I want to 80 00:04:21,500 --> 00:04:24,500 encourage you to make contact with one of our campus pastors 81 00:04:24,500 --> 00:04:26,200 staff members, or difference makers. 82 00:04:26,500 --> 00:04:29,500 They are some of the very best people on planet Earth, and I am 83 00:04:29,500 --> 00:04:32,800 so thankful that I get to do ministry alongside of them. 84 00:04:33,100 --> 00:04:36,300 And to those of you who are new, we are In a sermon series, about 85 00:04:36,300 --> 00:04:40,800 being honest about mental health, called weeds in my 86 00:04:40,800 --> 00:04:45,500 garden, it has been a more somber and serious collection of 87 00:04:45,500 --> 00:04:48,200 messages. But a survey we did internally 88 00:04:48,200 --> 00:04:51,200 at our church revealed to us that we desperately needed to 89 00:04:51,200 --> 00:04:57,100 speak into these issues. And it also showed us that there 90 00:04:57,100 --> 00:04:59,800 are so many people that we love and care for that are having to 91 00:04:59,800 --> 00:05:05,500 navigate weeds in their Garden. If you want to get caught up on 92 00:05:05,500 --> 00:05:10,100 this sermon series, you can watch them on our website or a, 93 00:05:10,100 --> 00:05:13,300 perhaps an easier place for you to get caught up is for you to 94 00:05:13,300 --> 00:05:16,600 go to YouTube, look for our logo, and then, all of those 95 00:05:16,600 --> 00:05:21,600 sermons are posted there. This very well may be the most 96 00:05:21,600 --> 00:05:23,500 difficult message. I'm going to preach this year. 97 00:05:23,800 --> 00:05:29,100 You'll notice about anytime Bring this bad boy, out needing 98 00:05:29,100 --> 00:05:32,700 Jesus to help me. And I've got all of the words 99 00:05:32,700 --> 00:05:34,800 I'm supposed to stay right here because I don't want to say 100 00:05:34,800 --> 00:05:37,500 anything wrong. So if you were going, hey, you 101 00:05:37,500 --> 00:05:40,000 should really come hang out and here, Clayton, preach this 102 00:05:40,000 --> 00:05:42,500 weekend. He's, he's young, he's hip, he's 103 00:05:42,500 --> 00:05:43,600 fat. And he's funny. 104 00:05:44,900 --> 00:05:47,300 That's the only joke you're getting this week, okay? 105 00:05:49,500 --> 00:05:53,900 Because we were going to be talking Well, for two weeks I've 106 00:05:53,900 --> 00:05:55,900 been trying to figure out the best way to actually talk about 107 00:05:55,900 --> 00:06:00,000 this in a meaningful way and in a conscientious way because 108 00:06:00,000 --> 00:06:03,300 today we're going to be talking about suicide and there may be 109 00:06:03,300 --> 00:06:07,000 some of you who are going. I'm not suicidal and I want you 110 00:06:07,008 --> 00:06:12,200 to hear me most people who died by Suicide at one point in time, 111 00:06:12,200 --> 00:06:14,200 weren't thinking about it either. 112 00:06:16,300 --> 00:06:18,900 There are some of you who are going but I'm not going to do 113 00:06:18,900 --> 00:06:22,600 that and I want you to know that most people who die by Suicide 114 00:06:22,600 --> 00:06:27,200 at one point in time didn't think that they were either and 115 00:06:27,200 --> 00:06:31,300 you might be thinking this will never happen to me and I want 116 00:06:31,300 --> 00:06:34,000 you to know that some of the people out there who died by 117 00:06:34,000 --> 00:06:35,600 Suicide, who are one point in time. 118 00:06:35,800 --> 00:06:39,200 Numbered among you weren't thinking it was going to happen 119 00:06:39,200 --> 00:06:43,100 to them either. And as I preach this sermon, 120 00:06:43,100 --> 00:06:46,500 there are three groups of people that I cannot stop thinking 121 00:06:46,500 --> 00:06:48,900 about. I keep thinking about those of 122 00:06:48,900 --> 00:06:51,600 you who are Christians, you love God. 123 00:06:51,600 --> 00:06:54,800 And you want to love people, well you care deeply for the 124 00:06:54,800 --> 00:06:57,300 people around you and you know that some of them are dealing 125 00:06:57,300 --> 00:07:01,000 with deep battles. You can hear the darkness and 126 00:07:01,000 --> 00:07:03,700 their words and in their voice. You can see the pain in their 127 00:07:03,700 --> 00:07:05,900 face. You want to do something, but 128 00:07:05,900 --> 00:07:09,300 you don't know what to do. You want to say something, but 129 00:07:09,300 --> 00:07:14,200 you're not sure what to say. You want to help but you're not 130 00:07:14,200 --> 00:07:23,300 sure what that looks like. I'm thinking about those of you 131 00:07:23,300 --> 00:07:26,200 that have lost a loved one to Suicide. 132 00:07:27,300 --> 00:07:30,100 There isn't a hole in your heart, your heart is not broken, 133 00:07:30,100 --> 00:07:34,500 it is shattered. There are so many pieces and so 134 00:07:34,500 --> 00:07:38,200 many different places that you cannot even begin to articulate 135 00:07:38,200 --> 00:07:42,400 the pain. It comes in waves. 136 00:07:45,900 --> 00:07:50,000 It could be in a man your ISM that you see in a stranger at a 137 00:07:50,008 --> 00:07:54,000 grocery store the smell of a deodorant cologne or perfume 138 00:07:54,000 --> 00:07:56,400 that they used to wear. It shows up when their favorite 139 00:07:56,400 --> 00:07:59,400 band comes over the radio or when you're at a friend's house 140 00:07:59,400 --> 00:08:02,300 and they unknowingly make their favorite meal. 141 00:08:03,600 --> 00:08:06,200 It could be when you walk down the hallway, past the room, that 142 00:08:06,200 --> 00:08:10,300 is left exactly the way it was. It shows up when you look at the 143 00:08:10,308 --> 00:08:13,800 pictures on the wall or during a celebration of their favorite 144 00:08:14,000 --> 00:08:18,800 holiday, It happens during the changing of the seasons. 145 00:08:19,600 --> 00:08:24,900 As you enter the one that they enjoyed the most It shows up as 146 00:08:24,900 --> 00:08:30,800 guilt and shame, when you finally have a long-awaited good 147 00:08:30,800 --> 00:08:36,299 day and then you feel guilty and horrible for having one in the 148 00:08:36,299 --> 00:08:40,299 first place. I'm also thinking about those of 149 00:08:40,299 --> 00:08:43,400 you right now, who are self harming or inundated with 150 00:08:43,400 --> 00:08:53,700 suicidal thoughts, Your mothers fathers, husbands wives, Sons, 151 00:08:54,100 --> 00:08:58,600 daughters and behind the smiles, are long showers never-ending 152 00:08:58,600 --> 00:09:02,800 fatigue and the endless are erosion of Hope the thoughts 153 00:09:02,800 --> 00:09:06,300 become Whispers, The Whispers become shouts, except when you 154 00:09:06,300 --> 00:09:08,700 cover your ears, it only gets louder. 155 00:09:09,500 --> 00:09:12,700 Because the noise is coming from the inside. 156 00:09:15,500 --> 00:09:19,900 Suicide is now the third leading cause of death for teens and 157 00:09:19,900 --> 00:09:27,400 young adults between the ages of 15 and 24. 25 percent of adults 158 00:09:28,100 --> 00:09:33,000 between 18 and 24, reported having seriously, considered 159 00:09:33,000 --> 00:09:36,800 suicide in the past. Month. 160 00:09:41,100 --> 00:09:44,400 Eighteen percent of high school students reported seriously 161 00:09:44,400 --> 00:09:49,000 considered suicide in the past year. if you want to understand 162 00:09:49,000 --> 00:09:54,000 how big of a problem, this is when you hop on Zillow to find 163 00:09:54,000 --> 00:09:56,900 out where you're going to go live and where you want to move 164 00:09:56,900 --> 00:09:59,900 and you worry about the crime rate in the murder rate, there 165 00:09:59,900 --> 00:10:05,700 were 24,000 homicides in America last year and there were 45 166 00:10:05,700 --> 00:10:12,700 thousand suicides. Which means that in America you 167 00:10:12,700 --> 00:10:26,900 are twice as likely to die from suicide. and by homicide, There 168 00:10:26,900 --> 00:10:30,500 is a suicide death in America, every 11 and a half minutes. 169 00:10:31,900 --> 00:10:37,100 And there is one death for every 25 attempts. 170 00:10:39,300 --> 00:10:42,900 That means that there is an attempted suicide, every 27 and 171 00:10:42,900 --> 00:10:49,200 a half seconds. That means from the moment, our 172 00:10:49,200 --> 00:10:52,800 service started at 6 p.m. on Thursday until our services and 173 00:10:52,800 --> 00:11:00,300 on Sunday at noon, 66 hours, later there will be 8640 174 00:11:00,300 --> 00:11:01,900 attempts in the United States of America. 175 00:11:04,100 --> 00:11:07,000 If we bring this closer to home when we did the survey here at 176 00:11:07,000 --> 00:11:09,800 our church 1 out of 11, people in our church struggle with 177 00:11:09,800 --> 00:11:14,600 suicidal thoughts, and self-harm 1 and 11 were women and 1 in 12 178 00:11:14,600 --> 00:11:20,100 or men. 20% were in their teens 22% in their 20s 24% were in 179 00:11:20,100 --> 00:11:22,800 their 30s. That means that 66% of the 180 00:11:22,800 --> 00:11:25,600 people in our church who struggle with thoughts and 181 00:11:25,600 --> 00:11:29,000 ideations about suicide are under the age of 40. 182 00:11:30,400 --> 00:11:34,100 So today what I want to do is I want to answer some very simple 183 00:11:34,200 --> 00:11:37,900 and basic questions surrounding suicide and self-harm. 184 00:11:39,700 --> 00:11:42,900 The first question is, does the Bible talk about suicide? 185 00:11:43,700 --> 00:11:48,200 The answer is yes, depending on how you count, they're either 186 00:11:48,200 --> 00:11:52,000 six or seven suicides mentioned in the bible. 187 00:11:52,700 --> 00:11:56,900 There was a bit Melech and Judges chapter 9, he was an evil 188 00:11:56,900 --> 00:11:59,000 King. He had burned down a temple with 189 00:11:59,000 --> 00:12:00,900 a thousand people in it and they died. 190 00:12:01,100 --> 00:12:04,200 He went to another town and as he approached the tower to set 191 00:12:04,200 --> 00:12:08,000 it on fire, a woman dropped a huge Millstone on his head and 192 00:12:08,100 --> 00:12:11,900 At his skull unwilling to Bear the humiliation of being killed 193 00:12:11,900 --> 00:12:14,200 by a woman. He ordered his armor Bearer to 194 00:12:14,200 --> 00:12:17,600 run him through with a sword. There were same sin in Judges 195 00:12:17,600 --> 00:12:21,000 chapter, 16 some consider his act of suicide and others do 196 00:12:21,000 --> 00:12:21,900 not. Which is why there's a 197 00:12:21,900 --> 00:12:26,500 discrepancy between whether there were six or seven but his 198 00:12:26,500 --> 00:12:30,000 final Act was that he wished to die with his enemies who had 199 00:12:30,000 --> 00:12:33,000 captured him, blinded him and humiliated him. 200 00:12:33,200 --> 00:12:35,600 And he pushed with all of his might and the temple pillars, 201 00:12:35,700 --> 00:12:38,000 collapsed around him and he killed all of those. 202 00:12:38,200 --> 00:12:41,600 In it and around it. There was King saw the very 203 00:12:41,600 --> 00:12:45,700 first king of Israel, he was the one who brought David into the 204 00:12:45,700 --> 00:12:47,700 palace. He was the one who gave David 205 00:12:47,700 --> 00:12:51,800 permission to go and fight Goliath in a battle. 206 00:12:51,800 --> 00:12:55,700 He was wounded with arrows and he ordered his armor Bearer to 207 00:12:55,700 --> 00:12:59,500 run him through with a sword. But his armor Bearer refused. 208 00:12:59,500 --> 00:13:01,700 And so Saul fell on his own sword. 209 00:13:02,100 --> 00:13:05,600 One verse later and first Samuel chapter 31 verse 5, the 210 00:13:05,600 --> 00:13:08,000 armour-bearer sing that Saul was dead. 211 00:13:08,100 --> 00:13:11,300 Fell on his sword. And so, he died alongside of 212 00:13:11,300 --> 00:13:14,700 him. In second, Samuel chapter 17, 213 00:13:14,700 --> 00:13:18,300 verse 23, where he read of the death of ahithophel. 214 00:13:18,500 --> 00:13:22,100 A one-time companion of David, whose relationship with David 215 00:13:22,100 --> 00:13:25,800 turned sour and he ended up fighting against David and tried 216 00:13:25,800 --> 00:13:30,000 to overthrow David by installing David's, son, Absalom as king, 217 00:13:30,400 --> 00:13:33,100 he became distraught over the events of a battle and his vice 218 00:13:33,100 --> 00:13:36,100 was not being heated. And so he went home, put his 219 00:13:36,100 --> 00:13:38,000 house in order and then he hanged himself. 220 00:13:39,500 --> 00:13:42,700 First Kings chapter, 16 verse 18 tells of an evil King by the 221 00:13:42,700 --> 00:13:46,400 name of zimring who plotted his way to power through deception 222 00:13:46,400 --> 00:13:49,100 and betrayal. When it all caught up to him, he 223 00:13:49,100 --> 00:13:53,900 went to the palace and set it on fire around him and then there 224 00:13:53,900 --> 00:13:56,000 is the most famous suicide of all. 225 00:13:57,400 --> 00:14:01,200 Judas, who betrayed. Jesus, Matthew chapter 27, verse 226 00:14:01,200 --> 00:14:04,800 1, through 5 early in the morning, all the chief priests 227 00:14:04,800 --> 00:14:07,900 and Elders of the people made their plans to have Jesus 228 00:14:07,900 --> 00:14:11,600 executed, so they bound him. Led him away and handed him 229 00:14:11,600 --> 00:14:15,800 over, to pilate the governor when Judas who had betrayed him 230 00:14:15,900 --> 00:14:18,600 saw that. Jesus was condemned, he was 231 00:14:18,600 --> 00:14:21,900 seized with remorse and returned. 232 00:14:21,900 --> 00:14:25,700 The thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and the 233 00:14:25,700 --> 00:14:28,700 elders. I have sinned. 234 00:14:28,700 --> 00:14:33,700 He said for I have betrayed innocent blood. 235 00:14:35,000 --> 00:14:39,000 What is that to us? They replied that's your 236 00:14:39,000 --> 00:14:42,300 responsibility. So Judas threw the money into 237 00:14:42,300 --> 00:14:46,200 the temple and left. Then he went away and hanged 238 00:14:46,200 --> 00:14:55,300 himself. Second question is suicide a 239 00:14:55,300 --> 00:14:59,500 sin? The answer that question is yes. 240 00:15:01,300 --> 00:15:07,200 Exodus 20:13 States. You shall not murder. 241 00:15:08,200 --> 00:15:11,400 This is the sixth of the Ten Commandments that God gave to 242 00:15:11,400 --> 00:15:17,200 the people of Israel. And suicide is self murder. 243 00:15:18,700 --> 00:15:22,100 We are told in the Psalms that God is The Giver of Life. 244 00:15:22,100 --> 00:15:28,400 Some 36 9 says for for with you is the Fountain of Life, in your 245 00:15:28,400 --> 00:15:31,200 light. We see like God is the giver, 246 00:15:31,200 --> 00:15:34,300 the Breather of life that you and I have. 247 00:15:34,300 --> 00:15:37,700 We are also told that our days belong to him. 248 00:15:37,800 --> 00:15:41,000 That's what it says. In job Chapter 14 verse 5, a 249 00:15:41,000 --> 00:15:46,200 person's days are determined You have decreed the number of his 250 00:15:46,200 --> 00:15:49,600 months, you have the set the limits that he cannot exceed. 251 00:15:49,900 --> 00:15:54,300 Suicide is a sin because suicide is against the will of God and 252 00:15:54,300 --> 00:15:59,000 it robs us of our potential and Christ and participation in his 253 00:15:59,000 --> 00:16:02,400 glorious Mission. There's no doubt about it. 254 00:16:02,800 --> 00:16:07,700 Suicide is a sin. The next question that I'm going 255 00:16:07,700 --> 00:16:11,900 to answer is one of the most common questions that I get from 256 00:16:11,900 --> 00:16:15,800 people. It is easily in the top 20. 257 00:16:16,500 --> 00:16:19,100 If you invite me over to your house to answer, all of your 258 00:16:19,100 --> 00:16:22,300 questions, I will place all the money in my bank account that 259 00:16:22,300 --> 00:16:25,300 somebody in there, will ask me this question. 260 00:16:27,400 --> 00:16:35,800 Is suicide and unforgivable sin. The answer to that question. 261 00:16:36,800 --> 00:16:42,700 And if you only take one thing away from this message, the 262 00:16:42,700 --> 00:16:50,000 answer is no. Is suicide an unforgivable sin. 263 00:16:50,200 --> 00:16:58,500 The answer is no. I am absolutely amazed at how 264 00:16:58,500 --> 00:17:03,100 well this lie has creeped into our hearts and Minds that people 265 00:17:03,300 --> 00:17:07,300 think that a person who committed suicide is not worthy 266 00:17:07,300 --> 00:17:13,300 of the grace and forgiveness of God and shame on anyone who has 267 00:17:13,300 --> 00:17:17,000 taught this. Or spoken this over you. 268 00:17:19,099 --> 00:17:22,500 I can't imagine looking at a family who are trying to pick up 269 00:17:22,500 --> 00:17:26,900 the pieces of their lives and speaking something that is so 270 00:17:27,099 --> 00:17:30,400 foreign to the Bible and the gospel message. 271 00:17:31,900 --> 00:17:42,500 I'm listen to me. the reason people say this, Is because they 272 00:17:42,500 --> 00:17:45,800 say you can't repent of the sin of suicide. 273 00:17:47,200 --> 00:17:52,200 And maybe they're saying hey, make suicide, the unforgivable 274 00:17:52,400 --> 00:17:56,300 sense that people will be worried about committing suicide 275 00:17:56,300 --> 00:18:00,400 because it will put up a barrier but lying to people is not how 276 00:18:00,400 --> 00:18:05,700 you treat people. When people say that suicide is 277 00:18:05,700 --> 00:18:08,700 an unforgivable sin because you can't repent of the sentence 278 00:18:08,700 --> 00:18:10,400 suicide. Listen to me. 279 00:18:11,400 --> 00:18:16,300 We are not saved based on our repentance of each of our sins. 280 00:18:17,300 --> 00:18:20,900 There are sins. You commit every single day that 281 00:18:20,900 --> 00:18:23,800 you do not repent of some of them. 282 00:18:23,800 --> 00:18:26,600 You are aware of. And some of them, you are not 283 00:18:26,600 --> 00:18:30,500 aware of. We are not saved based on our 284 00:18:30,500 --> 00:18:35,800 last act on Earth. We are saved by the blood of 285 00:18:35,800 --> 00:18:43,600 Jesus. We are not saved. 286 00:18:44,700 --> 00:18:53,800 Based on our sinless state. We are saved by a sinless, 287 00:18:54,100 --> 00:18:58,100 savior. The Bible is clear. 288 00:18:58,400 --> 00:19:02,200 There is only one sin that is unforgivable. 289 00:19:02,400 --> 00:19:03,800 And so, I'm going to teach this to you. 290 00:19:04,000 --> 00:19:07,500 So, that way, when somebody says something like this, you can 291 00:19:07,500 --> 00:19:11,600 address it. Matthew chapter 12 verse, 31, to 292 00:19:11,600 --> 00:19:14,800 32, and so, I tell you, this is Jesus, talking. 293 00:19:15,100 --> 00:19:20,500 Every kind of sin, and slander can be forgiven. 294 00:19:20,900 --> 00:19:25,000 Blasphemy against the spirit will not be forgiven. 295 00:19:26,000 --> 00:19:29,200 Anyone who speaks a word against the son of man will be forgiven, 296 00:19:29,300 --> 00:19:32,900 but anyone who speaks against the holy spirit, will not be 297 00:19:32,900 --> 00:19:37,300 forgiven either in this age or in the age to come. 298 00:19:38,600 --> 00:19:40,700 What kind of sin can be forgiven? 299 00:19:41,300 --> 00:19:47,200 Every kind of sin? And suicide is a kind of sin 300 00:19:47,300 --> 00:19:53,100 which means suicide can be forgiven What cannot be forgiven 301 00:19:54,100 --> 00:19:58,800 is when the Holy Spirit who convicts us and Wu's us and 302 00:19:58,800 --> 00:20:02,800 draws us to the heart of Christ, exposes us to the gospel, 303 00:20:02,800 --> 00:20:06,600 message and Christian Community, and reveals the truth of God's 304 00:20:06,600 --> 00:20:09,500 word in our life. And a person says, I don't want 305 00:20:09,500 --> 00:20:14,600 anything to do with that, that is the unforgivable sin because 306 00:20:14,600 --> 00:20:20,100 that person refuses to accept the Forgiveness that God bestows 307 00:20:20,100 --> 00:20:22,900 upon them. They See refused to receive the 308 00:20:22,900 --> 00:20:26,300 gift of God's forgiveness. That's why it's unforgivable 309 00:20:26,400 --> 00:20:29,900 because I never take hold of the forgiveness in the first place. 310 00:20:32,700 --> 00:20:35,500 Listen to what Paul who wrote a majority of the book in the New 311 00:20:35,500 --> 00:20:39,500 Testament wrote In First Timothy chapter 1, even though I was 312 00:20:39,500 --> 00:20:43,700 once a blasphemer and a persecutor and violent, man, I 313 00:20:43,700 --> 00:20:48,700 was shown Mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief the 314 00:20:48,700 --> 00:20:53,300 grace of our Lord was poured out on me, abundantly along with the 315 00:20:53,300 --> 00:20:55,800 faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. 316 00:20:56,000 --> 00:21:00,700 Paul committed egregious sins and blaspheming against God and 317 00:21:00,700 --> 00:21:04,500 the Holy Spirit. But then Received and responded 318 00:21:04,500 --> 00:21:09,800 to the wooing of God's grace. So what do I do? 319 00:21:11,000 --> 00:21:14,800 If I know if someone I know is struggling with suicidal 320 00:21:14,800 --> 00:21:24,100 thoughts, take it seriously. It is never a joke. 321 00:21:25,300 --> 00:21:28,300 It is so much better to be safe than sorry. 322 00:21:30,200 --> 00:21:35,200 Talk about it. It is a myth that asking a 323 00:21:35,200 --> 00:21:39,300 person about suicide will encourage the person to attempt 324 00:21:39,300 --> 00:21:42,500 suicide. The exact opposite is true. 325 00:21:44,300 --> 00:21:47,900 Think about the work that Satan has done wonder, how many of you 326 00:21:47,908 --> 00:21:50,700 would have raised your hand that talking about suicide increases 327 00:21:50,700 --> 00:21:52,700 the chance of a person committing suicide. 328 00:21:52,900 --> 00:21:56,500 So Satan actually comes in gets us to believe a lie that 329 00:21:56,500 --> 00:22:00,200 actually makes matters worse. Do you see the work that he is 330 00:22:00,200 --> 00:22:04,300 trying to do in our communities and in your family's asking, 331 00:22:04,300 --> 00:22:08,600 somebody directly about suicides are directly about their 332 00:22:08,600 --> 00:22:12,700 suicidal feelings, will lower their anxiety, level and act. 333 00:22:12,900 --> 00:22:17,600 As a deterrent your openness and concern and asking about suicide 334 00:22:17,800 --> 00:22:20,600 will allow the person experiencing pain to talk about 335 00:22:20,600 --> 00:22:23,900 their challenges. This may allow the person with 336 00:22:23,900 --> 00:22:27,900 suicidal thoughts to feel less lonely, less isolated and 337 00:22:27,900 --> 00:22:32,800 perhaps a bit relieved. This is an a little side note. 338 00:22:32,900 --> 00:22:36,500 When you talk about it, talk about it carefully. 339 00:22:37,000 --> 00:22:40,000 This is when you are not ministering to a person who is 340 00:22:40,000 --> 00:22:43,100 struggling with the idea of suicide, but people who have 341 00:22:43,100 --> 00:22:47,800 been impacted by the suicide of a family member or a friend. 342 00:22:48,900 --> 00:22:55,100 Don't use terms like committed suicide or killed themselves, 343 00:22:55,800 --> 00:23:00,300 refer to it as death by Suicide or simply that they died. 344 00:23:00,600 --> 00:23:03,400 And I know for some of you that might seem incredibly trivial 345 00:23:03,600 --> 00:23:08,800 but words have power and we want to use our words to bring hope 346 00:23:08,900 --> 00:23:12,500 and help and not push people away in pain when they need 347 00:23:12,500 --> 00:23:15,300 Community. The most when you are talking to 348 00:23:15,300 --> 00:23:18,500 somebody who has struggling with Suicidal Thoughts, talk about 349 00:23:18,500 --> 00:23:19,700 it. Directly. 350 00:23:20,200 --> 00:23:23,600 When you notice warning signs of suicide, it's important to ask 351 00:23:23,600 --> 00:23:26,600 direct questions. Don't ask. 352 00:23:26,600 --> 00:23:29,200 Are you planning on harming or hurting yourself? 353 00:23:29,800 --> 00:23:32,500 That may be too vague and the person may not be sure what you 354 00:23:32,500 --> 00:23:36,000 mean, ask are you thinking about killing yourself? 355 00:23:36,700 --> 00:23:41,000 Are you thinking about suicide? If they say yes, have you 356 00:23:41,000 --> 00:23:42,900 thought about how you would kill yourself? 357 00:23:42,900 --> 00:23:45,500 Have you decided when you would do it? 358 00:23:45,500 --> 00:23:48,500 Have you done any, have you done anything to get the things you? 359 00:23:48,600 --> 00:23:52,400 Need to kill yourself. And if they answer yes to any of 360 00:23:52,400 --> 00:23:56,900 those questions, call 911 tell the dispatcher. 361 00:23:57,000 --> 00:23:59,100 That the person is at risk for suicide. 362 00:23:59,100 --> 00:24:02,900 If available ask for a mental health crisis, professional, and 363 00:24:02,900 --> 00:24:08,100 you stay with them until help arrives, I want you to love 364 00:24:08,100 --> 00:24:09,800 them. The way you would want to be 365 00:24:09,800 --> 00:24:13,000 loved, I want you to fight for them the way you would want 366 00:24:13,000 --> 00:24:22,200 someone to fight for you. Mark 12:31 the second greatest 367 00:24:22,200 --> 00:24:25,000 Commandment that was given to all of us to live out, is to 368 00:24:25,000 --> 00:24:28,200 love your neighbor as yourself. How would you want to be loved 369 00:24:28,200 --> 00:24:32,600 in that moment in those moments? We, as Christians must rise to 370 00:24:32,600 --> 00:24:35,200 the occasion and being all in friend. 371 00:24:35,500 --> 00:24:37,700 I'll go with you. I'll check you in. 372 00:24:37,800 --> 00:24:41,100 I'll make the call, I'll mow the lawn, I'll help out. 373 00:24:41,200 --> 00:24:44,800 It is better to save a life than worry about what they might. 374 00:24:44,800 --> 00:24:49,600 Think about you, or them being offended about you get Over 375 00:24:49,600 --> 00:24:54,800 yourself and focus on them. I would so much rather us be 376 00:24:54,800 --> 00:24:59,100 safe than sorry. Look what it says in first John 377 00:24:59,100 --> 00:25:03,800 3:18, dear children let us not love with words or speech, but 378 00:25:03,800 --> 00:25:09,100 with actions and Truth, our love must motivate us into action, 379 00:25:09,600 --> 00:25:12,900 Galatians 6:2 calls, each? And every single one of us to 380 00:25:12,900 --> 00:25:16,700 carry each other's burdens. And in this way, you fulfill the 381 00:25:16,700 --> 00:25:19,100 law of Christ. What is the law of Christ? 382 00:25:19,100 --> 00:25:21,600 The first one is to love the Lord, your God, with all your 383 00:25:21,600 --> 00:25:24,300 heart, mind, soul and strength. And the second one is to love 384 00:25:24,300 --> 00:25:27,700 your neighbor as yourself when you carry somebody else's bird. 385 00:25:28,100 --> 00:25:32,100 You are fulfilling the command to love, God, and love people. 386 00:25:33,800 --> 00:25:37,500 I want you to remember it is not a sin to be sick. 387 00:25:39,800 --> 00:25:45,000 No looks of disdain. They are in a fight for their 388 00:25:45,000 --> 00:25:49,100 life and Satan is trying to take the gift of Life. 389 00:25:49,100 --> 00:25:53,100 Put in them by God himself, there are chemical malfunctions 390 00:25:53,300 --> 00:25:57,000 situational trauma and clinical challenges that are all crashing 391 00:25:57,000 --> 00:26:01,100 down on them. The last thing they need is your 392 00:26:01,100 --> 00:26:04,200 condescension. They just need your help. 393 00:26:09,700 --> 00:26:11,800 What do I do? If I lost someone, I love to 394 00:26:11,800 --> 00:26:17,700 suicide. One remember that God knows what 395 00:26:17,700 --> 00:26:22,600 it's like to lose a child. He's been through the pain and 396 00:26:22,600 --> 00:26:26,100 he knows the pain of death and the beauty of the Resurrection. 397 00:26:28,200 --> 00:26:32,800 You can trust him. To, I want you to remember that. 398 00:26:32,800 --> 00:26:37,500 God is closed. Cling to these words, Psalm 34 399 00:26:37,500 --> 00:26:40,100 Verse 18. The Lord is close to the 400 00:26:40,100 --> 00:26:45,800 Brokenhearted and he saves those who are crushed in spirit and I 401 00:26:45,800 --> 00:26:48,400 can't think of a more broken. Hearted crushed in spirit 402 00:26:48,400 --> 00:26:51,500 circumstance than coming home to a letter or getting the 403 00:26:51,500 --> 00:26:54,500 unforgettable phone call or discovering the body of a loved 404 00:26:54,500 --> 00:26:57,000 one. God is close to you and his 405 00:26:57,000 --> 00:27:04,500 strength will get you through. Third thing. 406 00:27:06,100 --> 00:27:15,200 Let go of any guilt or shame that you carry, it was not your 407 00:27:15,200 --> 00:27:22,300 fault. Any guilt or shame that you feel 408 00:27:22,300 --> 00:27:27,400 is not coming from God. It is coming from Satan and he 409 00:27:27,400 --> 00:27:29,900 is using the terrible choice of a loved one. 410 00:27:30,200 --> 00:27:33,000 And the horrible pain that you feel to isolate. 411 00:27:33,000 --> 00:27:38,500 You deceive you and Rob you of Joy purpose and a future. 412 00:27:39,800 --> 00:27:41,800 You did what you thought was best. 413 00:27:42,700 --> 00:27:45,800 If you knew then what you know now of course you would have 414 00:27:45,800 --> 00:27:49,300 done things differently. But you didn't know then what 415 00:27:49,300 --> 00:27:57,200 you know now And even if you did something wrong, God's love for 416 00:27:57,200 --> 00:28:03,300 you and Christ has conquered it. Isaiah 43:18 says forget what 417 00:28:03,300 --> 00:28:07,400 happened in the past, do not dwell on events from long ago. 418 00:28:10,300 --> 00:28:15,200 Proverbs 3:5 and 6 trust in the Lord, with all your heart, and 419 00:28:15,200 --> 00:28:18,600 do not lean on your own understanding, in all your ways 420 00:28:18,600 --> 00:28:24,200 acknowledge Him, and He will make straight your paths, you 421 00:28:24,200 --> 00:28:29,800 are in a horrible spot, a gut-wrenching life-altering spot 422 00:28:29,800 --> 00:28:33,500 and you cannot rely on your own feelings and you cannot rely on 423 00:28:33,500 --> 00:28:35,100 your own strength to get you through. 424 00:28:35,100 --> 00:28:38,600 You are going to have to trust fully on the word of God and the 425 00:28:38,600 --> 00:28:42,400 spirit of God and the strength of God to pull you through. 426 00:28:42,900 --> 00:28:45,600 Otherwise you will make decisions that will only make 427 00:28:45,800 --> 00:28:50,100 matters worse. He will take a suicide in your 428 00:28:50,100 --> 00:28:53,400 family and turn it into a divorce financial problems. 429 00:28:53,700 --> 00:28:57,200 Relational woes, you are going to have to cling to the Good 430 00:28:57,200 --> 00:29:00,000 Shepherd and he will pull you through. 431 00:29:01,500 --> 00:29:04,300 I believe we serve a God. Who loves you cares for you and 432 00:29:04,300 --> 00:29:06,900 has a purpose for you. I believe that we serve a God 433 00:29:06,900 --> 00:29:09,600 who can bring Beauty out of ashes and strength from 434 00:29:09,600 --> 00:29:12,300 weakness, I believe we serve a God who makes all things 435 00:29:12,300 --> 00:29:15,200 beautiful and his timing. I'm not asking you to forget 436 00:29:15,200 --> 00:29:18,000 them, or stop mourning their loss or hurting in their 437 00:29:18,000 --> 00:29:20,900 absence. I am telling you not or am 438 00:29:20,900 --> 00:29:24,300 telling you to stop carrying the guilt and shame that Satan is 439 00:29:24,300 --> 00:29:27,900 trying to put on you to expand the devastating toll, that he 440 00:29:27,900 --> 00:29:31,700 already levied on your family. Finally. 441 00:29:34,500 --> 00:29:36,100 Clayton. What do I do if I'm struggling 442 00:29:36,100 --> 00:29:38,600 with self-harm or Suicidal Thoughts? 443 00:29:40,800 --> 00:29:44,700 One. Call the new hotline number 444 00:29:44,700 --> 00:29:47,900 effective January or July 16th of this year. 445 00:29:48,000 --> 00:29:55,200 The number is nine eight eight. You call that number. 446 00:29:57,300 --> 00:30:00,500 Hear me. Suicide is a permanent solution 447 00:30:00,500 --> 00:30:03,400 to a temporary problem. Rick Warren. 448 00:30:03,700 --> 00:30:06,300 Who lost his son to Suicide says that this way. 449 00:30:06,600 --> 00:30:11,400 Most people don't want to die. They want out of their pain. 450 00:30:13,900 --> 00:30:17,000 And I want you to hear me say this, you don't have to end your 451 00:30:17,000 --> 00:30:21,600 life to end your pain. Suicide is using a nuclear bomb 452 00:30:21,600 --> 00:30:29,000 to get rid of the mosquitoes. No emotion lasts forever, they 453 00:30:29,000 --> 00:30:32,300 come in waves. They come in, they crash and 454 00:30:32,300 --> 00:30:34,200 then they dissipate and fall away. 455 00:30:34,400 --> 00:30:37,900 No matter how, intense the pain, no matter how intense the 456 00:30:37,900 --> 00:30:44,700 struggle it cannot last forever. So, never make a permanent 457 00:30:44,700 --> 00:30:47,800 decision based on a temporary feeling. 458 00:30:48,900 --> 00:30:57,700 Realize you are not thinking clearly It is not possible to 459 00:30:57,700 --> 00:31:01,400 think logically when you are deeply, depressed, overwhelmed 460 00:31:01,400 --> 00:31:04,400 and exasperated. It is a lie. 461 00:31:04,700 --> 00:31:09,500 It is a lie to think that those around you would be better off 462 00:31:09,500 --> 00:31:25,200 without you. if you had to sit in the homes 463 00:31:25,600 --> 00:31:33,200 of the people that mourn you It is a lie. 464 00:31:33,600 --> 00:31:39,400 It is a Lie from Satan. Your family wants you don't ever 465 00:31:39,700 --> 00:31:45,000 doubt that recognize that Satan is trying to use this moment to 466 00:31:45,000 --> 00:31:52,200 rob you and your family. God has placed you in your 467 00:31:52,200 --> 00:31:55,800 family. You are one of God's gifts to 468 00:31:55,800 --> 00:31:58,900 them. Don't let Satan win. 469 00:32:01,100 --> 00:32:06,100 Get in community. You are never meant to do life 470 00:32:06,100 --> 00:32:09,100 alone. We Are Better Together. 471 00:32:09,500 --> 00:32:11,600 You need the safety. Net of God's Community. 472 00:32:11,600 --> 00:32:15,600 Joy is doubled in community and pain is cut in half. 473 00:32:16,800 --> 00:32:21,800 And finally you cannot fight this fight on your own strength. 474 00:32:23,900 --> 00:32:27,200 You may need counselors. You may need medication. 475 00:32:27,400 --> 00:32:31,400 You may need a support group. You may need therapy and for 476 00:32:31,400 --> 00:32:36,200 sure, 100%, you are going to need the power of Jesus, and the 477 00:32:36,200 --> 00:32:38,300 work of the holy spirit in your life. 478 00:32:40,200 --> 00:32:43,000 They're going to be dark days, devastatingly, dark days. 479 00:32:43,600 --> 00:32:45,100 And we don't get to pick when they come. 480 00:32:46,500 --> 00:32:48,800 But when they come, I want to make sure that you have 481 00:32:48,800 --> 00:32:52,300 everything you need. And the most important thing 482 00:32:52,300 --> 00:32:55,100 that you're going to need is the spirit of God working in your 483 00:32:55,100 --> 00:32:59,000 life and you can have that, you can have that Holy Spirit a lie 484 00:32:59,000 --> 00:33:02,300 when you are in an intimate personal relationship with Jesus 485 00:33:02,300 --> 00:33:03,400 Christ. Were moving to a time of 486 00:33:03,400 --> 00:33:13,000 decision. so to those of you who are in this room here at 48th 487 00:33:13,000 --> 00:33:17,100 Street, and there are those of you who are watching online, I 488 00:33:17,100 --> 00:33:19,900 know that some of you this was way too close to home and for 489 00:33:19,900 --> 00:33:27,000 some of you this was like, why why this It's because suicide is 490 00:33:27,000 --> 00:33:31,200 on the rise. So while your generation, Maybe 491 00:33:31,200 --> 00:33:35,200 not, maybe not, have navigated it by the time, your grandkids, 492 00:33:35,200 --> 00:33:39,300 or your great kid, grandkids, get around, it will have 493 00:33:40,000 --> 00:33:43,800 multiplied drastically. And so, you're going to have to 494 00:33:43,800 --> 00:33:46,900 be prepared, to be the hands and feet of Jesus, you're going to 495 00:33:46,900 --> 00:33:50,200 have to be prepared to know how to walk, and navigate and love 496 00:33:50,200 --> 00:33:54,900 and Lead very well. And there's some of you in this 497 00:33:54,900 --> 00:33:58,100 room that have never started an intimate personal relationship 498 00:33:58,100 --> 00:34:01,800 with Jesus. And I believe, I believe that 499 00:34:01,800 --> 00:34:04,500 Jesus is the first answer to every question. 500 00:34:04,900 --> 00:34:16,000 I just do. and, And the lies that Satan has woven into the 501 00:34:16,000 --> 00:34:21,699 fabric of your life. You will never be able to fight 502 00:34:21,699 --> 00:34:24,100 those on your own power, and on your own strength. 503 00:34:24,400 --> 00:34:27,000 And so, if you are not in an intimate, personal relationship 504 00:34:27,000 --> 00:34:30,400 with Jesus Christ, you are a sheep without a shepherd and the 505 00:34:30,400 --> 00:34:41,000 wolves are coming. Here's the Story of My Life in a 506 00:34:41,007 --> 00:34:46,800 nutshell. I will make 999 really great 507 00:34:46,800 --> 00:34:50,699 decisions. And then I will make one bad 508 00:34:50,699 --> 00:34:53,500 decision. That is so, blatantly stupid and 509 00:34:53,500 --> 00:34:57,200 out of character. You'll be like, how does this 510 00:34:57,200 --> 00:35:00,900 guy put his pants on? Like, how could you be so dumb? 511 00:35:02,200 --> 00:35:09,900 And when I was in high school I you know 99 good decision 998 512 00:35:10,100 --> 00:35:14,900 and then good decision 999 and then it was my turn. 513 00:35:16,000 --> 00:35:20,800 And I made an absolute mess of my life. 514 00:35:22,000 --> 00:35:24,200 And I was not convicted of my sin. 515 00:35:25,500 --> 00:35:31,500 I was didn't really give a rip. I was worried about the 516 00:35:31,500 --> 00:35:34,900 consequences. And I didn't want to be around 517 00:35:34,900 --> 00:35:41,200 for what was coming. And I remember that whole night 518 00:35:41,600 --> 00:35:45,600 having unbelievably deep dark thoughts. 519 00:35:47,300 --> 00:35:51,000 And I remember going in high school, this is it. 520 00:35:54,600 --> 00:35:58,800 And I was like you know I can't I can't necessarily do that. 521 00:35:59,400 --> 00:36:01,700 I can't do what I'm going to do without my family notice and 522 00:36:01,700 --> 00:36:03,000 I'll have to just get up in the morning. 523 00:36:03,500 --> 00:36:06,900 I don't know how serious I really was in my heart and in my 524 00:36:06,900 --> 00:36:10,900 mind that night but but I can tell you this, I woke up in the 525 00:36:10,900 --> 00:36:13,700 middle of the night thinking that I was going to go do the 526 00:36:13,700 --> 00:36:17,800 unthinkable and my mom was at the core at the edge of my bed 527 00:36:17,900 --> 00:36:32,000 holding my ankle I think about the marriages, I've been able to 528 00:36:32,000 --> 00:36:35,600 be a part of and the counseling. I've been able to provide in the 529 00:36:35,800 --> 00:36:39,000 baptisms, I've been able to minister to in the sermons. 530 00:36:39,000 --> 00:36:41,800 I've been able to preach, then Satan could have wiped all of 531 00:36:41,800 --> 00:36:45,200 that off the map. Because he got me to think of 532 00:36:45,200 --> 00:36:49,400 just my situation. And not my savior. 533 00:36:51,100 --> 00:36:55,600 God did a mighty redeeming work in my life and I would tell you 534 00:36:55,600 --> 00:36:56,900 that that's the, I wish I could tell you. 535 00:36:56,900 --> 00:37:02,500 That's the only time I've had that but I would say like, I 536 00:37:02,508 --> 00:37:06,800 don't know how many years ago I went through like a 3-day spell, 537 00:37:07,000 --> 00:37:12,000 where I wasn't highly suicidal, but I started just hearing over 538 00:37:12,000 --> 00:37:15,300 and over again, main things would just be better off if you 539 00:37:15,300 --> 00:37:19,400 were And I know that there's some of you that you're going 540 00:37:19,400 --> 00:37:21,700 Clayton, three days. Sounds like a vacation of that 541 00:37:22,300 --> 00:37:24,700 because I can never Escape it. I can't shake it. 542 00:37:24,700 --> 00:37:27,100 I can't get away from it. I can't get rid of. 543 00:37:27,100 --> 00:37:30,400 It is just knocking on the door of my head all the time. 544 00:37:32,400 --> 00:37:36,400 And what grounds me? What pulls me through is that. 545 00:37:36,400 --> 00:37:39,900 I'm spending time with the word of God, having the spirit of 546 00:37:39,900 --> 00:37:42,100 God. The people of God around me. 547 00:37:43,900 --> 00:37:45,800 My intimate, personal relationship with. 548 00:37:45,800 --> 00:37:50,900 Jesus makes not just made makes all the difference if you have 549 00:37:50,900 --> 00:37:52,300 questions about that. Or what that is. 550 00:37:52,300 --> 00:37:55,800 I want to encourage you to today, come over, find someone 551 00:37:55,800 --> 00:37:58,100 talk to them about what it means to start that intimate personal 552 00:37:58,100 --> 00:38:01,900 relationship to those of you. In this room who are Christians, 553 00:38:01,900 --> 00:38:05,300 you have family members who are hurting and suffering, would you 554 00:38:05,300 --> 00:38:08,100 be willing to just get down on your knees and lift them up? 555 00:38:08,400 --> 00:38:11,400 You know, people who are going through incredibly difficult and 556 00:38:11,400 --> 00:38:14,600 dark times right now, and maybe Been dismissive. 557 00:38:14,700 --> 00:38:18,000 Would you just bombard the Gates of Heaven on their behalf? 558 00:38:18,500 --> 00:38:21,100 Maybe some of you would be willing your teachers, your your 559 00:38:21,100 --> 00:38:24,100 service providers and you hear on a regular basis, people 560 00:38:24,100 --> 00:38:26,100 around you who are struggle? Would you just get down on your 561 00:38:26,100 --> 00:38:29,000 knees and say, God help me to be a support system for those who 562 00:38:29,000 --> 00:38:33,000 are hanging on. Be on one us to be a church that 563 00:38:33,000 --> 00:38:35,500 wants to help and wants to point people to Hope. 564 00:38:35,600 --> 00:38:37,300 And I hope you guys will join me in that mission. 565 00:38:37,300 --> 00:38:45,700 Would you guys stand with me? God, one of the things I don't 566 00:38:45,700 --> 00:38:51,700 understand about you. Is how you see? 567 00:38:53,500 --> 00:39:02,300 All the pain in this world. How you're there for every hurt? 568 00:39:07,000 --> 00:39:10,200 I don't get it. I don't know how you manage. 569 00:39:12,000 --> 00:39:15,600 Car crash, after car, crash train, wreck after train wreck. 570 00:39:18,400 --> 00:39:23,200 At the same time. Rejoice with those who rejoice. 571 00:39:25,800 --> 00:39:29,600 But while I don't understand how you do it, God, I'm so thankful 572 00:39:29,600 --> 00:39:33,400 that you do. I'm thankful that you are there 573 00:39:33,400 --> 00:39:37,900 for every hurt for every trial for every dark thought. 574 00:39:38,500 --> 00:39:43,000 God, I'm thankful for your son, Jesus, who died on the cross, 575 00:39:43,100 --> 00:39:45,800 who conquered the grave and made sure. 576 00:39:45,800 --> 00:39:49,900 That this is, that all there. Is that there is something 577 00:39:50,100 --> 00:39:52,500 coming. Something better something, 578 00:39:52,500 --> 00:39:56,700 brighter, something beautiful. And God, we await that day where 579 00:39:56,700 --> 00:39:59,000 you wipe every tear from our eye. 580 00:40:00,300 --> 00:40:04,800 But until then, God, Give every person within the sound of my 581 00:40:04,800 --> 00:40:09,100 voice, the strength to carry on the wisdom, not to fall victim 582 00:40:09,100 --> 00:40:13,600 to the lies of Satan in the courage to help and hope those 583 00:40:13,700 --> 00:40:16,200 are giving give hope those to those around us. 584 00:40:16,200 --> 00:40:17,500 You never pray. Amen.