1 00:00:02,280 --> 00:00:05,360 Oh, Crossing Nation, it is so good to be with you. 2 00:00:05,360 --> 00:00:07,280 I want to welcome those of you joining from all of our 3 00:00:07,280 --> 00:00:11,240 different locations, those of you watching online and inside. 4 00:00:11,240 --> 00:00:13,760 And a special welcome to those of you who are joining us for 5 00:00:13,760 --> 00:00:16,239 the first time or the first time in a long time. 6 00:00:16,280 --> 00:00:19,760 Our hope is that you will find and start and grow in your 7 00:00:19,760 --> 00:00:22,760 intimate personal relationship with Jesus Christ. 8 00:00:22,840 --> 00:00:25,880 I also want to tell you to take advantage of the QR code on the 9 00:00:25,880 --> 00:00:28,840 seat in front of you. I am so excited. 10 00:00:28,840 --> 00:00:31,840 Tyler McKenzie did such an incredible job last weekend that 11 00:00:31,840 --> 00:00:34,880 we asked him to come back and speak to us again today. 12 00:00:34,880 --> 00:00:38,600 So would you guys please give a warm crossing welcome to Tyler 13 00:00:38,600 --> 00:00:47,960 McKenzie all. Right, glad to be back real 14 00:00:47,960 --> 00:00:51,000 quick wherever you're at. I want you to raise your hand 15 00:00:51,000 --> 00:00:52,800 right now if when you were younger. 16 00:00:53,160 --> 00:00:55,040 You played baseball or softball so. 17 00:00:55,040 --> 00:00:57,200 Just by show of hands. OK, so a lot of people. 18 00:00:57,280 --> 00:00:59,120 I love baseball. It is America's. 19 00:00:59,120 --> 00:01:00,520 Pastime. My favorite sport. 20 00:01:00,520 --> 00:01:01,560 Better than football, am I right? 21 00:01:02,480 --> 00:01:04,560 OK, we got one. One man in the front. 22 00:01:04,879 --> 00:01:06,560 Listen, go, Reds. We stink. 23 00:01:06,560 --> 00:01:07,280 I get it. All right. 24 00:01:07,280 --> 00:01:09,960 Now, here's the deal. I'm not trying to pat myself on 25 00:01:09,960 --> 00:01:13,280 the back or anything, but when I played baseball. 26 00:01:14,440 --> 00:01:15,000 I was. I was. 27 00:01:15,000 --> 00:01:17,560 Pretty good. Really good. 28 00:01:17,600 --> 00:01:19,040 So I I. Played all the way through. 29 00:01:19,040 --> 00:01:22,120 College started all four years lead off batter. 30 00:01:22,360 --> 00:01:26,640 Did you know that my senior year in college I actually set an NCA 31 00:01:26,640 --> 00:01:29,240 record? Do you want to guess what the 32 00:01:29,240 --> 00:01:31,680 record is? Just shout it out at any of the 33 00:01:31,680 --> 00:01:32,400 campuses. Shout it out. 34 00:01:32,400 --> 00:01:34,680 See if you can get it right. Hit by. 35 00:01:34,680 --> 00:01:36,720 Pitches and I wasn't the. Pitcher. 36 00:01:36,720 --> 00:01:39,840 I was the batter. In my senior year, 66 games got 37 00:01:39,840 --> 00:01:42,240 hit 33 times. My dad. 38 00:01:42,240 --> 00:01:43,760 Called it the Idiot Awards. So that's the sort. 39 00:01:43,760 --> 00:01:45,320 Of parental reinforcement I had at home. 40 00:01:45,320 --> 00:01:48,920 Now, not only did I set an NCAA. Record that year, but. 41 00:01:49,480 --> 00:01:52,920 My team went to the. College World Series. 42 00:01:53,400 --> 00:01:56,360 Here's my College World Series ring, and again, just wherever 43 00:01:56,360 --> 00:01:58,800 you're at watching this, raise your hand right now if you have 44 00:01:58,800 --> 00:02:00,960 a College World Series ring. With you at church today, I. 45 00:02:02,320 --> 00:02:03,120 Didn't think so. It's OK. 46 00:02:03,120 --> 00:02:05,960 You don't have to feel guilty. Just not all of us can be a 47 00:02:05,960 --> 00:02:06,920 champion. I'm gonna leave that right 48 00:02:06,920 --> 00:02:10,479 there. Now the reason why I bring that. 49 00:02:10,479 --> 00:02:14,800 Up today is because of. What I'm about to ask next, you 50 00:02:14,800 --> 00:02:18,040 all see that that can over there on the chair. 51 00:02:18,040 --> 00:02:21,200 OK, again, I'm pretty good at. Baseball. 52 00:02:22,040 --> 00:02:24,600 How many of you think from right here I could take this baseball 53 00:02:24,600 --> 00:02:27,000 and knock that can? Off the chair. 54 00:02:27,200 --> 00:02:29,000 Just by show of hands, wherever you're at, raise your hand. 55 00:02:29,360 --> 00:02:30,720 All right, so many people, All right, so. 56 00:02:30,960 --> 00:02:32,640 Let me see who the true believers are today though. 57 00:02:32,840 --> 00:02:34,960 How many people have so much faith in me? 58 00:02:35,520 --> 00:02:37,680 If they would come up here and they'd take the can you put it 59 00:02:37,680 --> 00:02:40,840 in your hand, OK, and. Hold it out to the side of you. 60 00:02:42,040 --> 00:02:43,520 And still believe I can knock it off. 61 00:02:43,920 --> 00:02:46,280 Knock it off. OK, so that's way less people. 62 00:02:46,960 --> 00:02:48,640 At least in the room that I'm in right now, it's way less. 63 00:02:48,640 --> 00:02:49,920 People. So for those of you put your 64 00:02:49,920 --> 00:02:51,720 hands down, oh ye of little faith shame. 65 00:02:51,720 --> 00:02:54,000 Now let me take this one step. Further though. 66 00:02:54,200 --> 00:02:58,040 How many of you have so much faith in me that you would be 67 00:02:58,040 --> 00:03:02,720 willing to come up here, sit in that chair, and put the can on 68 00:03:02,720 --> 00:03:04,520 your head? Show of hands. 69 00:03:04,520 --> 00:03:09,800 All right, so 1/2. All right, Corey, come on up. 70 00:03:10,640 --> 00:03:12,480 Let's do this. Let's. 71 00:03:12,480 --> 00:03:15,160 Do this crossing nation. This is going to be awesome. 72 00:03:15,320 --> 00:03:17,840 Give Corey a hand so. Corey, Corey is on staff here, 73 00:03:17,840 --> 00:03:19,880 All right. And so, Corey, the first thing I 74 00:03:19,880 --> 00:03:21,560 need you to do is I'm going to need you to sign this waiver. 75 00:03:21,760 --> 00:03:25,320 Got it. Risk management was insisted on 76 00:03:25,320 --> 00:03:28,000 it just in case you die, which you won't. 77 00:03:28,160 --> 00:03:31,400 I practiced beforehand, I was 7 out of 10, so it's good, good 78 00:03:31,400 --> 00:03:32,520 chances. So sit right there all. 79 00:03:32,960 --> 00:03:34,640 Right. And get comfortable. 80 00:03:34,640 --> 00:03:40,560 Yeah, put the can on your head and let's do this. 81 00:03:40,760 --> 00:03:43,760 I've got this. Do you have like a specific? 82 00:03:43,760 --> 00:03:44,920 Pitch. You want me to throw Fastball. 83 00:03:44,920 --> 00:03:47,040 Curveball change. Slider. 84 00:03:47,320 --> 00:03:48,440 I didn't have a slider. So. 85 00:03:49,280 --> 00:03:51,440 OK, here we go. Are you going to keep your eyes 86 00:03:51,440 --> 00:03:52,920 open? That's awkward. 87 00:03:53,920 --> 00:03:56,000 All right, well, all right. Here we go. 88 00:03:56,240 --> 00:04:00,760 Cross the fan count of three. One. 2. 89 00:04:01,560 --> 00:04:03,080 I'm just kidding. I'm not going to do it. 90 00:04:03,480 --> 00:04:06,800 I'm not going to give it to you. If you were down, you were down. 91 00:04:06,800 --> 00:04:08,800 Give me, give me a hug, man. You were down, all right. 92 00:04:09,080 --> 00:04:13,800 Hey, give Corey a ham this. Is a church service. 93 00:04:13,880 --> 00:04:15,960 Not an execution. OK, so I'm not going to throw 94 00:04:15,960 --> 00:04:17,519 the ball. All right. 95 00:04:17,680 --> 00:04:19,560 Now there's a point to that. There's a point to that 96 00:04:19,560 --> 00:04:20,560 illustration. Here's my point. 97 00:04:21,800 --> 00:04:26,920 Who believed in me? Who believed Corey? 98 00:04:26,960 --> 00:04:30,200 Believed in me. Did the people who raised their 99 00:04:30,200 --> 00:04:31,840 hand at did they really have faith? 100 00:04:31,840 --> 00:04:34,440 In me, no, not really, because when I asked them to come up and 101 00:04:34,440 --> 00:04:37,120 put it in their hand, about 3/4 of the hands went down. 102 00:04:38,760 --> 00:04:40,240 But do the people who who kept their. 103 00:04:40,240 --> 00:04:41,680 Hands up when I said put it in your hand. 104 00:04:41,680 --> 00:04:43,920 Do they really believe in me? Well, that's. 105 00:04:43,920 --> 00:04:47,120 Sort of, but their faith. Wasn't bold enough to come up 106 00:04:47,120 --> 00:04:50,080 here, sit in the chair and put the can on their head. 107 00:04:50,240 --> 00:04:52,520 Corey believed in me. Now Corey, I will say there is a 108 00:04:52,520 --> 00:04:54,640 fine line between stupidity and bold faith. 109 00:04:55,400 --> 00:04:56,760 Go and learn the meanings of this word. 110 00:04:56,960 --> 00:05:00,880 But here's what I'm after today with my message, right? 111 00:05:01,960 --> 00:05:09,120 Belief belief, true belief is. When your confidence is stronger 112 00:05:09,960 --> 00:05:14,000 than your fear and belief isn't being fearless. 113 00:05:15,440 --> 00:05:17,960 Often times believers have some levels of fear. 114 00:05:18,200 --> 00:05:21,600 Belief isn't ignoring reality, plain and simple. 115 00:05:21,600 --> 00:05:24,080 Belief is when your confidence. Is just a little bit. 116 00:05:24,440 --> 00:05:29,120 More stronger than your fear Now here's my argument today when it 117 00:05:29,120 --> 00:05:31,840 comes to belief in God, I would contend with you that if we. 118 00:05:31,840 --> 00:05:34,400 Actually believe what the Bible says about God if we actually 119 00:05:34,400 --> 00:05:38,640 believe what's. In God's word about him, then, 120 00:05:38,640 --> 00:05:40,880 our confidence in God should always be stronger than our 121 00:05:40,880 --> 00:05:43,600 fear. And that's what we're going to 122 00:05:43,600 --> 00:05:48,480 see in our next story in our Decisions in the Desert series. 123 00:05:49,360 --> 00:05:50,480 Now this. Story today is a little bit 124 00:05:50,480 --> 00:05:53,880 different because. This one's not exactly about 125 00:05:53,880 --> 00:05:55,640 Moses. It's about. 126 00:05:55,640 --> 00:06:00,240 Moses, successor Joshua and. One of his friends, Caleb, who 127 00:06:00,240 --> 00:06:01,440 had incredibly bold. Faith. 128 00:06:01,920 --> 00:06:03,200 You all know where we're at in the story. 129 00:06:03,200 --> 00:06:05,480 They've come out of Egyptian slavery. 130 00:06:05,480 --> 00:06:07,400 They've seen the Tim Plagues, they've seen the Red Sea 131 00:06:07,400 --> 00:06:08,520 crossing. They've seen them. 132 00:06:08,840 --> 00:06:11,400 Led by. Fire in the night, cloud by day, 133 00:06:11,400 --> 00:06:13,880 manna and meat falling from the sky. 134 00:06:13,880 --> 00:06:16,160 Moses's face is glowing. They've got the law off the 135 00:06:16,160 --> 00:06:18,600 mountain. They have seen some Incredible. 136 00:06:18,600 --> 00:06:21,600 Stuff and we find ourselves. Today, numbers 13. 137 00:06:22,160 --> 00:06:24,240 They've trekked for over a year across the. 138 00:06:24,240 --> 00:06:26,640 Wilderness and they're on the cusp of the promised land about 139 00:06:26,640 --> 00:06:30,160 to take it. And I would suggest to you, 140 00:06:30,160 --> 00:06:35,640 based on what they've seen, God. Do their confidence? 141 00:06:35,640 --> 00:06:36,960 In God should be stronger than their. 142 00:06:36,960 --> 00:06:39,160 Fear. But here's what you're. 143 00:06:39,160 --> 00:06:40,960 Going to see in this story, you're going to see that it 144 00:06:40,960 --> 00:06:44,440 wasn't. It wasn't, at least for most of 145 00:06:44,440 --> 00:06:47,040 them. And So what could? 146 00:06:47,040 --> 00:06:49,800 Have been about a year wandering in the wilderness and an 147 00:06:49,800 --> 00:06:52,480 entrance into the promised land turned to 40. 148 00:06:53,440 --> 00:06:56,560 I know what a tragedy is. Let me read to you numbers 13 149 00:06:56,560 --> 00:06:58,440 and 14. These are select passages from 150 00:06:58,440 --> 00:07:01,080 those two chapters, but. It'll help you grasp the story. 151 00:07:01,880 --> 00:07:08,120 Numbers 13, starting in verse one, it says the Lord now said 152 00:07:08,120 --> 00:07:11,640 to Moses, send out men to explore the land of Canaan, the 153 00:07:11,640 --> 00:07:14,760 land I'm given to the Israelites send one leader from each of the 154 00:07:14,760 --> 00:07:17,960 12 ancestral tribes. So Moses did as the Lord 155 00:07:17,960 --> 00:07:19,680 commanded him. He sent out 12 men. 156 00:07:20,400 --> 00:07:22,800 All tribal leaders of Israel. From their camp in the 157 00:07:22,800 --> 00:07:24,680 wilderness of Paran, Joshua and Caleb. 158 00:07:24,680 --> 00:07:27,760 Were two of us. Now, after exploring the land 159 00:07:27,760 --> 00:07:31,600 for 40 days, the men returned to Moses, Aaron, the whole 160 00:07:31,600 --> 00:07:34,080 community of Israel at Kadesh, in the wilderness of Paran. 161 00:07:34,840 --> 00:07:36,600 And they? Reported to the whole community 162 00:07:36,760 --> 00:07:39,160 what they had seen and showed them the. 163 00:07:39,160 --> 00:07:41,320 Fruit, the broader story says. They found these. 164 00:07:41,400 --> 00:07:44,120 Huge like bushels of of grapes. It was fruitful there. 165 00:07:44,160 --> 00:07:46,080 They showed them the fruit they had taken from the land. 166 00:07:46,760 --> 00:07:49,440 This was their report to Moses. They said we entered the. 167 00:07:49,440 --> 00:07:52,720 Land you sent us to explore, and it is indeed bountiful country, 168 00:07:52,880 --> 00:07:54,720 a land flowing with milk and honey. 169 00:07:54,840 --> 00:07:56,560 Here is. The kind of fruit it produces, 170 00:07:57,160 --> 00:08:01,680 but the. People living there are 171 00:08:01,680 --> 00:08:04,360 powerful, and their towns are large and fortified. 172 00:08:04,360 --> 00:08:07,240 We even saw giants there, the descendants of an act. 173 00:08:08,920 --> 00:08:10,880 But Caleb? Tried to quiet the people. 174 00:08:10,880 --> 00:08:15,840 As they stood before Moses. She said let's go take the land 175 00:08:15,840 --> 00:08:21,440 at once. We can certainly conquer it, but 176 00:08:21,440 --> 00:08:22,680 the. Other men who had explored the 177 00:08:22,680 --> 00:08:24,760 land with him disagreed. We can't go up against them. 178 00:08:25,440 --> 00:08:29,640 They're stronger than we are. Then the whole community began 179 00:08:29,640 --> 00:08:32,280 weeping aloud, and they cried all night. 180 00:08:32,440 --> 00:08:34,080 Their voices. Rose in a great course of 181 00:08:34,080 --> 00:08:39,360 protest against Moses and Aaron. If only we had died in Egypt, or 182 00:08:39,360 --> 00:08:41,240 even here in the wilderness, they complained. 183 00:08:41,919 --> 00:08:44,000 Why is the Lord? Taking us to this country. 184 00:08:44,159 --> 00:08:47,640 Only to have us. Die in battle, our wives and our 185 00:08:47,640 --> 00:08:49,640 little ones will be carried off as plunder. 186 00:08:49,760 --> 00:08:51,480 Wouldn't it be better for us to just? 187 00:08:51,480 --> 00:08:55,200 Return to Egypt. Then they plotted among 188 00:08:55,200 --> 00:08:57,000 themselves. Let's choose a new leader and go 189 00:08:57,000 --> 00:09:01,320 back. Then Moses and Aaron fell face 190 00:09:01,320 --> 00:09:04,160 down on the ground before the whole community of Israel, two 191 00:09:04,160 --> 00:09:06,720 of the men who had explored the land there it is Joshua and 192 00:09:06,720 --> 00:09:09,080 Caleb. Tore their clothing. 193 00:09:09,440 --> 00:09:11,320 And they said to all. The people of Israel. 194 00:09:11,560 --> 00:09:15,520 The land we travelled through and explored is a wonderful land 195 00:09:15,840 --> 00:09:17,360 and if the Lord is. Pleased with us, he. 196 00:09:17,360 --> 00:09:19,600 Will bring us safely into the land and give it to us. 197 00:09:20,120 --> 00:09:22,200 It is a rich land flowing with milk and honey. 198 00:09:22,720 --> 00:09:26,200 Do not rebel against the Lord. Don't be. 199 00:09:26,200 --> 00:09:28,680 Afraid of the people? Of the land they are only. 200 00:09:28,680 --> 00:09:31,920 Helpless pray to us. They have no protection. 201 00:09:32,080 --> 00:09:36,520 But the Lord is with us. Don't be afraid of them. 202 00:09:38,600 --> 00:09:44,000 This is the word of the Lord. Now what we see. 203 00:09:44,000 --> 00:09:50,800 Here is 2 reactions we see fear. From the 10 and the rest of the 204 00:09:50,800 --> 00:09:58,000 community and faith from the two, Joshua and Caleb, bold 205 00:09:58,000 --> 00:10:00,080 faith. And that's who we want to be 206 00:10:00,600 --> 00:10:03,760 when we are put in the pressure cooker of life and the crowd 207 00:10:03,920 --> 00:10:05,720 turns against us. We want to have enough 208 00:10:05,720 --> 00:10:12,080 confidence in who God is, what he promises, that our faith can 209 00:10:12,080 --> 00:10:15,560 overcome our fear and I believe. This story shows us how. 210 00:10:16,040 --> 00:10:19,360 Because in Caleb and Joshua we actually see what I'm calling 211 00:10:19,360 --> 00:10:22,600 the two major movements of genuine belief. 212 00:10:22,680 --> 00:10:26,440 The two major movements of genuine belief 1 is divine truth 213 00:10:29,160 --> 00:10:31,560 and the other is death defying trust or let me say it like 214 00:10:31,560 --> 00:10:34,600 this, divine truth. Which leads to. 215 00:10:35,840 --> 00:10:38,280 Death defying trust and if we can master. 216 00:10:38,280 --> 00:10:39,640 The first we'll have the. 2nd So let's. 217 00:10:41,040 --> 00:10:42,760 Start with the 1st. Divine truth. 218 00:10:42,880 --> 00:10:44,440 Divine truth. This is what I believe. 219 00:10:44,440 --> 00:10:46,400 This is the sermon. This is what I came to say to 220 00:10:46,400 --> 00:10:51,360 you all today. Carlson, Caleb and Joshua's. 221 00:10:51,560 --> 00:10:57,120 Theology is what gave. Them the confidence to face down 222 00:10:57,120 --> 00:11:02,800 giants and face down the crowd. It was their theology now y'all. 223 00:11:02,800 --> 00:11:05,200 See that hand in the? Back go ahead, Tyler. 224 00:11:05,480 --> 00:11:08,520 What's what's theology? Nerd word right? 225 00:11:08,680 --> 00:11:09,760 OK. What's theology for? 226 00:11:09,760 --> 00:11:11,560 Those of you don't. Know theology is just your. 227 00:11:11,560 --> 00:11:14,400 Belief in the divine. It's your divine truth. 228 00:11:14,400 --> 00:11:18,680 It's what you believe about God. OK, so back to the story. 229 00:11:18,680 --> 00:11:21,680 First, let's see their beliefs about reality. 230 00:11:21,840 --> 00:11:23,960 I don't know if you noticed. But all 12 spies. 231 00:11:23,960 --> 00:11:26,000 Came back and they gave the same scouting report. 232 00:11:26,000 --> 00:11:29,000 Joshua and Caleb agreed. The scouting report was twofold. 233 00:11:29,160 --> 00:11:31,760 One, the land is great. It's great. 234 00:11:31,840 --> 00:11:34,600 It's bountiful, flowing with milk and honey. 235 00:11:34,800 --> 00:11:36,800 It is a it. Is truly a promised land. 236 00:11:39,440 --> 00:11:41,920 But two the. Land is great 2. 237 00:11:42,120 --> 00:11:45,400 The people are scary. They're giants, the. 238 00:11:45,400 --> 00:11:47,840 Cities are well. Fortified, they look like 239 00:11:47,840 --> 00:11:49,480 mighty. Warriors to us. 240 00:11:49,800 --> 00:11:52,480 Now real quick sidebar, I know the idea of giants sounds kind 241 00:11:52,480 --> 00:11:54,560 of like crazy to us. In the modern enlightened States 242 00:11:54,560 --> 00:11:56,720 of America where anything old and regressive is stupid. 243 00:11:56,720 --> 00:12:01,240 This sounds kind of crazy to us, so I just want you to know that 244 00:12:01,240 --> 00:12:04,240 the Bible is not the only ancient source that confirms 245 00:12:04,240 --> 00:12:06,360 there were big people in the land of Canaan. 246 00:12:06,680 --> 00:12:08,280 Did you know? Next slide here. 247 00:12:08,520 --> 00:12:10,640 That an Egyptian letter was discovered called the. 248 00:12:10,640 --> 00:12:15,600 Papyrus Anastasi 1 And in the Papyrus Anastasi one, it's said 249 00:12:15,600 --> 00:12:21,280 that in the 13th century, the 13th century, in the land of 250 00:12:21,280 --> 00:12:27,600 Canaan, there were mighty warriors 7 to 9 feet tall. 251 00:12:31,480 --> 00:12:33,120 That's not the only ancient source that confirms it. 252 00:12:33,120 --> 00:12:35,080 Did you know that archaeology has actually found? 253 00:12:35,840 --> 00:12:41,400 2. Skeletons Female skeletons from 254 00:12:41,400 --> 00:12:47,120 the 12th century in Canaan. That were both. 7 feet tall. 255 00:12:48,800 --> 00:12:52,400 Those are the women. OK, so were there giants in the? 256 00:12:52,400 --> 00:12:54,640 Land or not I'm I'm not sure. But. 257 00:12:54,720 --> 00:12:59,200 Here's the thing Joshua and Caleb did not dispute. 258 00:13:00,120 --> 00:13:02,640 The fearful realities of the report, did they? 259 00:13:03,000 --> 00:13:05,600 What they dispute is what the people should do about it. 260 00:13:06,600 --> 00:13:09,920 They saw the same thing the other 10 did, but while the 10 261 00:13:09,920 --> 00:13:11,680 say no. The two said let's go. 262 00:13:12,680 --> 00:13:16,080 And the reason why is there is a major gap in their theology. 263 00:13:16,440 --> 00:13:18,480 Now I've made a. Theological chart for you? 264 00:13:18,480 --> 00:13:19,840 Can you put the theological chart up? 265 00:13:20,640 --> 00:13:23,280 And I want to show you. How they process their theology. 266 00:13:23,280 --> 00:13:25,480 Here it's the 10 and the rest of the community versus the two. 267 00:13:25,960 --> 00:13:28,720 So first row. The 10 said and these are just 268 00:13:29,000 --> 00:13:31,040 almost direct quotes pulled. Straight out of the scripture. 269 00:13:31,040 --> 00:13:33,560 The 10 said God's leading us to our death, but the two said no. 270 00:13:33,560 --> 00:13:34,760 The. Lord is pleased with us. 271 00:13:34,920 --> 00:13:37,800 What's the good theology there? Well, the two believe that 272 00:13:37,800 --> 00:13:39,680 Yahweh is good. They. 273 00:13:39,680 --> 00:13:42,320 Trust in the goodness of God, the 10 said. 274 00:13:42,440 --> 00:13:45,280 Let's choose a new leader. The two said. 275 00:13:45,480 --> 00:13:47,360 No, no, do not rebel against the Lord. 276 00:13:47,440 --> 00:13:49,800 What's the theology there? Will they believe that God is 277 00:13:49,800 --> 00:13:54,920 trustworthy? Last example the the 10 said I 278 00:13:54,920 --> 00:13:57,480 think they're stronger than us but the two said no the Lord. 279 00:13:57,480 --> 00:14:01,600 Is with us, so what's the good theology there The the two 280 00:14:01,600 --> 00:14:04,360 believe that. Yahweh is almighty, the goodness 281 00:14:04,360 --> 00:14:05,680 of. God, the trustworthy of God. 282 00:14:05,680 --> 00:14:08,080 The omnipotence of God. Do you see here? 283 00:14:08,800 --> 00:14:11,000 Do you see how their theology ultimately? 284 00:14:11,000 --> 00:14:15,560 Determined their response. Good theology results in bold. 285 00:14:15,560 --> 00:14:18,520 Faith, let's go at. Once bad theology results in 286 00:14:18,520 --> 00:14:20,920 doubt deconversion. Devastation. 287 00:14:21,000 --> 00:14:26,520 Let's go back to Egypt. It's divine truth which leads to 288 00:14:26,520 --> 00:14:29,480 the death defying faith. Now look, I'm a nerd y'all don't 289 00:14:29,480 --> 00:14:31,400 know a bit about. Me, but I love theology. 290 00:14:31,640 --> 00:14:32,920 Some of y'all ain't about that in here. 291 00:14:33,280 --> 00:14:36,160 That's fine. OK, some of y'all, some of y'all 292 00:14:36,160 --> 00:14:38,840 would rather, you know, binge Netflix and manage your fantasy 293 00:14:38,840 --> 00:14:40,280 football team important things, but I like. 294 00:14:40,280 --> 00:14:42,560 Theology. So here's what I would suggest 295 00:14:42,560 --> 00:14:44,640 to you as somebody. Who loves theology in the Bible 296 00:14:44,880 --> 00:14:46,840 and also. Pastors a lot of people. 297 00:14:46,840 --> 00:14:49,960 I have found that about nine out of 10 times. 298 00:14:50,080 --> 00:14:52,960 One of the primary. One of the. 299 00:14:52,960 --> 00:14:56,960 Primary issues underneath your problem, whatever. 300 00:14:56,960 --> 00:15:00,920 Your problem is that anxiety, that sadness. 301 00:15:01,640 --> 00:15:04,240 That anger issue, That addiction. 302 00:15:05,000 --> 00:15:07,000 That sin that you just can't seem to. 303 00:15:07,000 --> 00:15:08,760 Kick. That emptiness that you. 304 00:15:08,760 --> 00:15:13,120 Carry with you everywhere. 9 out of 10 * 1 of the primary issues 305 00:15:13,160 --> 00:15:17,720 underneath that. Is distorted theology and if we 306 00:15:17,720 --> 00:15:21,320 would just believe what we say we believe about God or trust 307 00:15:21,320 --> 00:15:24,240 that his word is. True and good. 308 00:15:24,920 --> 00:15:26,240 Then what? Happens is healing will 309 00:15:26,240 --> 00:15:28,840 breakthrough in our life. And we'll find spiritual 310 00:15:28,840 --> 00:15:31,840 resources to begin to be sanctified. 311 00:15:32,480 --> 00:15:35,800 By the Holy Spirit, or in other words, good theology, is 312 00:15:35,800 --> 00:15:37,760 actually. Good for you and bad theology is 313 00:15:37,760 --> 00:15:38,400 bad. For you let. 314 00:15:39,480 --> 00:15:42,960 Me give you an example. So psychologists will tell you. 315 00:15:43,120 --> 00:15:45,480 That negative self talk is terrible. 316 00:15:45,480 --> 00:15:50,600 For you, it's terrible for you. Because over time it becomes a 317 00:15:50,600 --> 00:15:53,000 self fulfilling. Prophecy, for example, if you 318 00:15:53,000 --> 00:15:55,280 were to tell yourself. Over and over that, you know, 319 00:15:55,320 --> 00:15:57,840 I'm I'm just an unlovable person. 320 00:15:57,840 --> 00:16:00,400 That's not true, by the way. Good theology says that you are. 321 00:16:00,400 --> 00:16:02,800 Created in God's image. Died for by Jesus which? 322 00:16:02,800 --> 00:16:05,680 Means you are. Incredibly lovable, beloved by 323 00:16:05,680 --> 00:16:07,640 the God of the universe. But if you're to tell yourself. 324 00:16:07,640 --> 00:16:10,560 Over and over, I'm just so unlovable. 325 00:16:10,560 --> 00:16:13,120 Then what happens is over time you become an unlovable person. 326 00:16:14,560 --> 00:16:19,440 You start to become defensive, insular, maybe judgmental of the 327 00:16:19,440 --> 00:16:21,840 people around you. You don't bring friends in your 328 00:16:21,840 --> 00:16:23,560 life because you just believe. They're going to leave you or 329 00:16:23,560 --> 00:16:25,160 you don't believe they actually like you. 330 00:16:26,280 --> 00:16:29,520 And if you run that negative playbook in your mind one. 331 00:16:29,520 --> 00:16:32,480 Year five years. Ten years down the road, 10 332 00:16:32,480 --> 00:16:34,680 years of believing that you become a person that's. 333 00:16:34,720 --> 00:16:39,560 Difficult for others to love. So you see how this works like 334 00:16:39,560 --> 00:16:42,120 bad theology is actually bad for you over time. 335 00:16:43,760 --> 00:16:46,240 OK so let me give you like another petty church example. 336 00:16:48,000 --> 00:16:51,360 Some of y'all come into church on Sundays and within the 1st 5 337 00:16:51,360 --> 00:16:53,080 minutes of the service you ruin the. 338 00:16:53,080 --> 00:16:56,560 Entire service for yourself because. 339 00:16:56,560 --> 00:16:57,400 Immediately, you know what? You. 340 00:16:57,400 --> 00:17:00,640 Say you say. I just don't like the worship 341 00:17:00,640 --> 00:17:04,920 today. Maybe you don't like the the 342 00:17:04,920 --> 00:17:06,880 volume, maybe you don't like the songs, maybe you don't like the 343 00:17:06,880 --> 00:17:07,880 worship leader. I don't know. 344 00:17:08,079 --> 00:17:10,640 I just don't like the worship today. 345 00:17:13,560 --> 00:17:15,200 Now do you realize how? Idiotic. 346 00:17:15,560 --> 00:17:17,440 Idiotic of a theological belief, that is. 347 00:17:17,960 --> 00:17:19,480 Think about that. I just don't. 348 00:17:19,480 --> 00:17:22,000 Like the worship today did never occur to. 349 00:17:22,000 --> 00:17:25,880 You that I don't know. The worship isn't about you for 350 00:17:25,880 --> 00:17:27,640 you. Like no, because the good 351 00:17:27,640 --> 00:17:29,720 theology here is that. God and God alone. 352 00:17:29,720 --> 00:17:31,640 Is worthy of our worship and He gets it all. 353 00:17:31,680 --> 00:17:33,800 All the time. Every day, everybody, 354 00:17:33,920 --> 00:17:36,520 everywhere. And so you bring that mindset in 355 00:17:36,520 --> 00:17:38,440 here that somehow the worship environment is about being. 356 00:17:38,440 --> 00:17:40,720 That bad theology it actually. Steals from you. 357 00:17:40,840 --> 00:17:43,480 The opportunity to worship God. Experience the power and 358 00:17:43,480 --> 00:17:46,200 intimacy and the collective effervescence of being in the In 359 00:17:46,200 --> 00:17:49,520 the room with God's people on Resurrection Sunday. 360 00:17:49,640 --> 00:17:52,240 It steals the meanings of the songs and the lyrics that you 361 00:17:52,240 --> 00:17:53,520 could. Pray to God it. 362 00:17:53,680 --> 00:17:55,800 Sometimes can steal the sermon from you because you're thinking 363 00:17:55,800 --> 00:17:57,480 about. I just don't like the Today and 364 00:17:57,480 --> 00:17:59,360 this bad theology ends up being really. 365 00:17:59,360 --> 00:18:00,560 Really bad for you. Can I get an? 366 00:18:00,600 --> 00:18:08,760 Amen from all the worship. Leaders, This is why, by the 367 00:18:08,760 --> 00:18:12,240 way, false. Teaching and dispelling bad 368 00:18:12,240 --> 00:18:14,400 theology is one of the main emphasis. 369 00:18:14,400 --> 00:18:18,080 Of the Bible, the old. Testament is flush. 370 00:18:18,200 --> 00:18:20,120 With passages about false prophets. 371 00:18:20,200 --> 00:18:22,400 And the dangers they pose the New Testament. 372 00:18:23,000 --> 00:18:25,600 This is one of the three main issues the New Testament church 373 00:18:25,600 --> 00:18:27,640 is constantly duking out. Do you know what the three main 374 00:18:27,640 --> 00:18:28,960 issues for the New Testament church was? 375 00:18:29,160 --> 00:18:31,800 One was multi ethnic unity. How do we get the? 376 00:18:31,800 --> 00:18:34,080 Jews and the Gentiles. To eat and worship together. 377 00:18:34,160 --> 00:18:37,560 Still relevant. The second one was perseverance. 378 00:18:38,840 --> 00:18:42,760 How do we remain strong and faithful as a minority in an 379 00:18:42,760 --> 00:18:45,120 empire that doesn't like us very much? 380 00:18:45,200 --> 00:18:47,960 Still relevant, and the last one was. 381 00:18:48,280 --> 00:18:50,240 False teaching or false doctrine? 382 00:18:50,520 --> 00:18:53,360 How do we? How do we main the How do we? 383 00:18:54,000 --> 00:18:56,800 Protect the Orthodox faith, the true Gospel. 384 00:18:56,800 --> 00:18:59,200 That was handed down to us from Jesus himself. 385 00:19:00,640 --> 00:19:02,160 So. Doctrine matters. 386 00:19:02,720 --> 00:19:05,760 Theology matters. Now some people in here are 387 00:19:05,760 --> 00:19:11,400 like, OK theology nerd guy. Glad you're here, but chill. 388 00:19:11,400 --> 00:19:15,280 This is America and in America. People get to believe. 389 00:19:15,280 --> 00:19:19,720 Whatever they want to believe. Now, for what it's worth, that's 390 00:19:19,720 --> 00:19:20,480 true. This is America. 391 00:19:20,480 --> 00:19:22,760 You can believe whatever you want to believe in America. 392 00:19:23,320 --> 00:19:27,960 But that's also another example of one of the false teachings in 393 00:19:28,000 --> 00:19:29,800 that's been normalized in our culture. 394 00:19:29,840 --> 00:19:38,080 That is so so so bad for you. It goes something like this. 395 00:19:38,160 --> 00:19:41,400 The truth is found within you. You've heard the fad phrases. 396 00:19:41,400 --> 00:19:44,200 Follow your heart, live your truth. 397 00:19:44,800 --> 00:19:49,880 You do you, which by the way is. Terrible theology and terrible. 398 00:19:49,880 --> 00:19:55,120 Advice Charles Taylor is a. Canadian philosopher and he 399 00:19:55,120 --> 00:19:58,240 actually makes the argument that our culture, our society has 400 00:19:58,240 --> 00:19:59,720 transitioned from what he calls an. 401 00:19:59,720 --> 00:20:02,520 Age of authority. To an age of authenticity. 402 00:20:02,760 --> 00:20:05,840 By that he means that. For like the big. 403 00:20:05,840 --> 00:20:08,240 Questions of life Who am I? Who is? 404 00:20:08,240 --> 00:20:09,960 God, what should I be? Doing with my life. 405 00:20:10,240 --> 00:20:13,080 People used. To look to external authorities 406 00:20:13,240 --> 00:20:16,760 for help and guidance from that. People used to ask their parents 407 00:20:16,760 --> 00:20:19,320 or they would go to the church or they would look to. 408 00:20:19,320 --> 00:20:22,000 Societal norms and traditions or maybe even look to the 409 00:20:22,000 --> 00:20:25,360 government to help give them guidance in life but not so 410 00:20:25,360 --> 00:20:27,320 anymore we've transitioned out of an age of. 411 00:20:27,320 --> 00:20:29,920 Authority. Into the age of authenticity. 412 00:20:29,920 --> 00:20:32,240 Where people are suspicious of external authorities. 413 00:20:33,720 --> 00:20:38,200 And instead they look within in order to find what's. 414 00:20:38,200 --> 00:20:40,600 True to their desires, to their feelings, the whole the whole 415 00:20:40,600 --> 00:20:41,480 process. Is one. 416 00:20:41,560 --> 00:20:43,680 Look within and discover the true you and then two. 417 00:20:43,760 --> 00:20:48,560 Express that to the world. And demand that they affirm it 418 00:20:50,160 --> 00:20:53,120 now for Christians. This whole idea of the truth is 419 00:20:53,120 --> 00:20:54,360 within you. It's bad theology. 420 00:20:55,000 --> 00:20:56,280 We actually. Believe that the truth is found 421 00:20:56,280 --> 00:20:59,320 in God. We've always said that our 422 00:20:59,320 --> 00:21:02,360 identity is found outside of us in Christ. 423 00:21:02,840 --> 00:21:05,680 Our purpose is found outside of us in the designs. 424 00:21:05,680 --> 00:21:09,320 Of our Creator, our moral. Code is found outside of us, in 425 00:21:09,320 --> 00:21:12,200 our sacred texts. That are inspired by the Spirit 426 00:21:12,200 --> 00:21:13,320 of God. So what do we do as? 427 00:21:13,320 --> 00:21:17,000 Christians, we submit to these external authorities, we 428 00:21:17,000 --> 00:21:21,280 experience inner transformation, and then we express that 429 00:21:21,280 --> 00:21:24,120 transformation as resurrection life. 430 00:21:24,360 --> 00:21:30,720 To the world, through worship and witness, we're an. 431 00:21:30,720 --> 00:21:35,360 Outside, inside out faith. Can I just speak the truth to 432 00:21:35,360 --> 00:21:37,720 like the? The teens in in the crossing 433 00:21:37,720 --> 00:21:42,520 congregation teenagers 20 somethings too if you. 434 00:21:42,520 --> 00:21:47,400 Buy this bad theology. And you decide that you're just 435 00:21:47,400 --> 00:21:49,680 going to like go your own way and live your truth and I ain't 436 00:21:49,680 --> 00:21:52,040 going to listen to God or the Bible or my Mama or, you know, 437 00:21:52,040 --> 00:21:54,840 anybody or the church and and you just build your own identity 438 00:21:54,840 --> 00:21:56,760 on your own overtime that. Bad theology is going to be 439 00:21:56,760 --> 00:21:57,680 really, really. Bad for you. 440 00:21:57,680 --> 00:21:59,840 In fact, it's going to be a heavy burden that I believe 441 00:21:59,840 --> 00:22:00,920 will. Crush you. 442 00:22:02,080 --> 00:22:03,800 Through your adolescence and young adulthood. 443 00:22:05,000 --> 00:22:08,520 I want you to think about how. Crushing of a burden, that is. 444 00:22:10,320 --> 00:22:12,840 You're 15 years old, but somehow you have to go into your heart, 445 00:22:12,840 --> 00:22:14,520 which is a mess. Every human heart's a mess My 446 00:22:14,520 --> 00:22:15,600 heart's a mess. Your heart's a mess, you. 447 00:22:15,600 --> 00:22:17,160 Got to go into your heart during puberty. 448 00:22:17,280 --> 00:22:18,440 Of all times and you got to like. 449 00:22:18,440 --> 00:22:20,400 Figure out like who you. Are and what you're going to be 450 00:22:20,400 --> 00:22:23,120 for like the next 70 years of your life and you have to brand 451 00:22:23,120 --> 00:22:25,040 it on social media and then figure out a way. 452 00:22:25,040 --> 00:22:26,840 To make your parents and your. School and your gut. 453 00:22:26,840 --> 00:22:29,640 And everybody like. Get behind it. 454 00:22:29,640 --> 00:22:34,680 Let's OK, I'm not trying to demean you here, but yes, I am 455 00:22:34,680 --> 00:22:37,640 absolutely saying that high schoolers aren't capable of 456 00:22:37,640 --> 00:22:40,800 sorting out the big questions of meaning, morality, and identity 457 00:22:41,080 --> 00:22:44,200 on their own. And that's because no one is. 458 00:22:46,400 --> 00:22:50,560 We all crumble underneath the weight of trying to play God. 459 00:22:52,520 --> 00:22:56,560 So you know what we all need? We need a version of truth that 460 00:22:56,560 --> 00:23:00,240 aligns with reality. We need a way of life that 461 00:23:00,240 --> 00:23:03,720 transcends cultural trends. We need a doctrine that's wiser 462 00:23:03,720 --> 00:23:06,560 than our own personal designs, teaching that's more stable than 463 00:23:06,560 --> 00:23:09,640 our feelings. We need something or someone. 464 00:23:09,640 --> 00:23:13,280 Outside our flawed selves. That can set us free, and here's 465 00:23:13,280 --> 00:23:15,520 what Jesus says. John 831 and 30. 466 00:23:15,520 --> 00:23:18,520 Two, Jesus said to the. People who believed Him in Him. 467 00:23:18,880 --> 00:23:22,600 You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my. 468 00:23:22,600 --> 00:23:25,800 Teachings his truth. Because then you will know the 469 00:23:25,800 --> 00:23:29,120 truth and the. Truth will set you free. 470 00:23:30,800 --> 00:23:34,560 Or in other words, Jesus says God's truth sets you free. 471 00:23:35,360 --> 00:23:37,440 And on the flip. Side false truth. 472 00:23:37,640 --> 00:23:40,360 Puts you back in chains. Let's bring this back. 473 00:23:40,360 --> 00:23:42,800 To the story, that's the. Difference between the two and 474 00:23:42,800 --> 00:23:45,280 the 10? The two are ready to take the 475 00:23:45,280 --> 00:23:47,240 promised. Land and March into freedom, but 476 00:23:47,240 --> 00:23:50,720 the 10 are ready to go back in chains, and it all boils down to 477 00:23:50,720 --> 00:23:52,600 their. Theology. 478 00:23:55,840 --> 00:23:57,840 Now back to the story. Maybe the most disappointing 479 00:23:57,840 --> 00:24:01,360 part of numbers 13 and 14 is that a community riot takes 480 00:24:01,360 --> 00:24:04,520 place. That was started by the. 481 00:24:04,520 --> 00:24:07,800 Fear of the 10, did you see? The Bible tells us that. 482 00:24:07,800 --> 00:24:11,320 These ten men were leaders, and yet they used their influence to 483 00:24:11,320 --> 00:24:14,240 spread false views about the goodness, trustworthiness and 484 00:24:14,240 --> 00:24:18,600 omnipotence of God and the lies took and the fear spread, and 485 00:24:18,600 --> 00:24:21,440 the crowd turned. Sidebar here Did you know that 486 00:24:21,560 --> 00:24:23,840 your willingness to trust in God is. 487 00:24:23,840 --> 00:24:26,400 Actually, your declaration to the world of how trustworthy. 488 00:24:26,400 --> 00:24:30,600 He is the intensity of your faith is evangelism. 489 00:24:31,720 --> 00:24:34,520 How in the world are we? Supposed to expect the world to 490 00:24:34,520 --> 00:24:37,120 trust. God, when we won't, how in the 491 00:24:37,120 --> 00:24:39,320 world are we supposed to? Expect the people to have. 492 00:24:39,320 --> 00:24:41,520 Bold faith when the leaders don't. 493 00:24:44,240 --> 00:24:45,560 You see, we. See what the crowd does in the 494 00:24:45,560 --> 00:24:48,400 story. The crowd gets scared, so scared 495 00:24:48,400 --> 00:24:50,680 that they're ready to. Do violence to Moses. 496 00:24:50,680 --> 00:24:52,800 Aaron, Joshua and Caleb. If they make them go. 497 00:24:52,800 --> 00:24:55,480 To the promised land. They're about to stone them. 498 00:24:56,680 --> 00:24:58,200 But here's. What I love about Joshua and 499 00:24:58,200 --> 00:25:01,400 Caleb, they were fearless in the face of the. 500 00:25:01,400 --> 00:25:04,480 Giants. They were fearless. 501 00:25:05,000 --> 00:25:09,600 In the face. Of the crowds which leads us to 502 00:25:09,600 --> 00:25:11,160 our. Second major movement in the 503 00:25:11,160 --> 00:25:17,000 story, divine truth leads to death defying trust. 504 00:25:17,120 --> 00:25:19,280 And do you see, do you see it in the story? 505 00:25:22,400 --> 00:25:25,640 So in the story, once, once the community sort of turns, there's 506 00:25:25,640 --> 00:25:28,520 this moment where Joshua and Caleb, like, tear their clothes 507 00:25:28,720 --> 00:25:31,720 in agony. Beg the people to change. 508 00:25:31,720 --> 00:25:36,680 Their minds, but it's clear they're unshaken by the 509 00:25:36,680 --> 00:25:39,800 disbelief of the 10 and the growing unrest of the community. 510 00:25:39,880 --> 00:25:41,600 Their names are actually a clue to their faith. 511 00:25:41,600 --> 00:25:42,440 Do you know what their names mean? 512 00:25:42,840 --> 00:25:45,240 Joshua actually means Yahweh saves. 513 00:25:46,120 --> 00:25:48,000 And Joshua knew that Yahweh was going to save him from the 514 00:25:48,000 --> 00:25:49,240 giants, going to save him from the crowd. 515 00:25:49,240 --> 00:25:51,040 He knew. Do you know what Caleb means? 516 00:25:51,640 --> 00:25:55,360 Caleb in in Hebrew derivatives it means it means both faithful 517 00:25:55,360 --> 00:25:59,600 and dog, and I love that Caleb. Had that sort of dogged? 518 00:25:59,600 --> 00:26:01,720 Faithfulness. When I'm coaching my kids in 519 00:26:01,720 --> 00:26:03,440 Little League baseball, I always look at him and say who? 520 00:26:03,440 --> 00:26:05,520 Got that dog. Like I got that dog. 521 00:26:05,520 --> 00:26:06,840 Who got that dog? I got that dog. 522 00:26:07,560 --> 00:26:08,560 The dog. Is the one who will. 523 00:26:08,600 --> 00:26:10,520 He'll dive head first, he'll take the pitch. 524 00:26:10,640 --> 00:26:12,600 He's got that tenacity where he'll do. 525 00:26:12,600 --> 00:26:14,400 Anything for the team. That's the sort of. 526 00:26:14,400 --> 00:26:17,480 Faith that Caleb has. In 1320, he basically. 527 00:26:17,480 --> 00:26:18,800 Tells the community to shut up you. 528 00:26:18,800 --> 00:26:20,520 Remember that moment? He's like shut. 529 00:26:20,520 --> 00:26:22,640 I mean, the Bible doesn't say he says that, but that's that's how 530 00:26:22,680 --> 00:26:24,480 that's my version. He's like, shut up. 531 00:26:25,120 --> 00:26:26,760 No, let's go, take that. Let's. 532 00:26:26,760 --> 00:26:30,720 Go take the land now. We can certainly conquer it. 533 00:26:33,600 --> 00:26:36,440 Now I'm running out of time, so it's time for me to do my Jesus 534 00:26:36,440 --> 00:26:37,400 Juke here. OK, you ready? 535 00:26:39,800 --> 00:26:41,280 I want to. Suggest to you that the. 536 00:26:41,280 --> 00:26:45,280 Pure and bold faith in God's goodness, trustworthiness and 537 00:26:45,280 --> 00:26:49,080 omnipotence that we see and Joshua and. 538 00:26:49,080 --> 00:26:53,960 Caleb is exactly what we see. And Jesus. 539 00:26:53,960 --> 00:26:57,960 But better. But better because. 540 00:26:58,520 --> 00:27:02,680 God comes and rescues Caleb and Joshua from the crowd, as we'll 541 00:27:02,680 --> 00:27:07,640 see. But Jesus was not rescued from 542 00:27:07,640 --> 00:27:09,640 the crowd. If you remember on Palm Sunday, 543 00:27:09,640 --> 00:27:12,160 he rode in on a donkey and they shouted hosanna. 544 00:27:13,120 --> 00:27:16,160 But then a few days later, on Good Friday, that same crowd was 545 00:27:16,160 --> 00:27:19,040 shouting Crucify him. Crucify him. 546 00:27:19,640 --> 00:27:23,200 Give us the the the. Revolutionary Barabbas crucify 547 00:27:23,200 --> 00:27:24,680 him the. Blood of Jesus. 548 00:27:24,680 --> 00:27:30,680 Can be on our hands and our children crucify him and then 549 00:27:30,680 --> 00:27:37,280 they do but on the. Cross as Jesus faces. 550 00:27:37,280 --> 00:27:40,240 Down the. Crowd and as Jesus faces. 551 00:27:40,240 --> 00:27:41,800 Down. Death we. 552 00:27:41,800 --> 00:27:46,760 Still see Death Defying faith, Luke 2346. 553 00:27:47,840 --> 00:27:50,360 Says that Jesus last words were this father. 554 00:27:52,240 --> 00:27:55,400 I entrust my spirit into your hands. 555 00:27:55,600 --> 00:28:02,160 Father, I trust you so Jesus shows us what it looks like. 556 00:28:02,400 --> 00:28:05,280 To trust the heavenly. Father, you know one. 557 00:28:05,280 --> 00:28:07,040 Of the things I've always done for my kids is when they're 558 00:28:07,040 --> 00:28:09,680 young, in order to engender trust with them, I'll tell him 559 00:28:09,680 --> 00:28:12,120 to like jump off things to me or I'll do the whole throw your kid 560 00:28:12,120 --> 00:28:13,120 in the air really happy you know you. 561 00:28:13,520 --> 00:28:16,240 Probably shouldn't, but. Like, I'm not endorsing this as 562 00:28:16,240 --> 00:28:18,560 a pastor of the church. I'm just saying I do this. 563 00:28:18,720 --> 00:28:19,760 Throw your kid really high and catch him. 564 00:28:19,840 --> 00:28:22,080 So I'll tell my kid, I'll be like, hey, you're on the couch, 565 00:28:22,080 --> 00:28:23,640 jump to daddy. Or hey, you're on the edge of 566 00:28:23,640 --> 00:28:25,920 the pool, jump to daddy. Hey, you're on like the fifth 567 00:28:25,920 --> 00:28:28,240 step, get on the 7th step and jump to daddy. 568 00:28:28,480 --> 00:28:30,320 And my oldest son was always really. 569 00:28:30,320 --> 00:28:32,280 Good at he's like. You know, I'd catch him every 570 00:28:32,280 --> 00:28:35,080 time. But then we have my daughter and 571 00:28:35,080 --> 00:28:38,160 she wasn't as stressing. I remember one time she was like 572 00:28:38,160 --> 00:28:40,160 two or three years old. She's on the third step of the 573 00:28:40,160 --> 00:28:41,560 stairs. Like this is an easy one. 574 00:28:41,680 --> 00:28:47,040 And I'm like Larkin jump to daddy and she's and out of 575 00:28:47,040 --> 00:28:50,640 nowhere my son walks up. He's 5 at the time and he starts 576 00:28:50,640 --> 00:28:54,200 preaching to her. Preaching, he says. 577 00:28:54,200 --> 00:28:58,960 Larkin, jump to Daddy. Don't be scared, he catches me 578 00:28:58,960 --> 00:29:01,880 every. Time jump to Daddy. 579 00:29:03,760 --> 00:29:06,720 And so she did, and I dropped her. 580 00:29:06,720 --> 00:29:07,400 Now I'm kidding. I caught. 581 00:29:07,400 --> 00:29:08,120 Her. I caught her. 582 00:29:08,440 --> 00:29:13,840 And I and I and I caught her and look, no this bring it back in 583 00:29:13,840 --> 00:29:16,280 crossing fam. This is the This is the sermon. 584 00:29:16,360 --> 00:29:17,920 Jesus is. Preaching to us right here. 585 00:29:20,240 --> 00:29:21,600 And here's the thing. The. 586 00:29:21,600 --> 00:29:25,960 Father catches Jesus because on Sunday he rose from the dead. 587 00:29:26,040 --> 00:29:27,280 And he was elevated to the place of. 588 00:29:27,280 --> 00:29:29,400 Highest honor given the name above every other name. 589 00:29:30,720 --> 00:29:33,320 And guess what, the Heavenly Father catches Joshua and Caleb 590 00:29:33,320 --> 00:29:34,960 too. Do you know how the story ends? 591 00:29:35,480 --> 00:29:38,880 As they're about to stone Joshua and Caleb like a glory cloud 592 00:29:38,880 --> 00:29:42,440 descends down and God pronounces punishment over the crowd. 593 00:29:43,480 --> 00:29:45,840 He says instead of being one year and going into the promised 594 00:29:45,840 --> 00:29:47,200 land, you're. About to get 40. 595 00:29:47,680 --> 00:29:49,960 And all of you are going to perish in the. 596 00:29:49,960 --> 00:29:53,920 Desert except for two 2 will lead the. 597 00:29:53,920 --> 00:29:56,840 People into the promised land, you know whose whose names? 598 00:29:57,320 --> 00:30:04,240 Those were Joshua and Caleb. So can I make a suggestion to 599 00:30:04,240 --> 00:30:08,440 you today for some of y'all? I believe the answer to your 600 00:30:08,440 --> 00:30:11,280 problem is just to actually. Believe what you say, you 601 00:30:11,280 --> 00:30:15,160 already do. The reason? 602 00:30:15,160 --> 00:30:17,840 Why many of us are living lives of numbing mediocrity, 603 00:30:17,960 --> 00:30:21,560 paralyzing fear, or crippling anxiety is because we don't 604 00:30:21,560 --> 00:30:23,640 believe. What we already? 605 00:30:23,640 --> 00:30:29,440 Have in Christ one week I was struggling with this mightily 606 00:30:29,760 --> 00:30:33,320 and I was in a hotel room and so I pulled out my Bible and I 607 00:30:33,320 --> 00:30:35,520 started writing down all the inheritance. 608 00:30:35,520 --> 00:30:37,640 All the riches, all the truth that was. 609 00:30:37,640 --> 00:30:42,040 True of me and God because of my relationship in Christ and I 610 00:30:42,040 --> 00:30:43,840 want to share that. With you today and if you are a 611 00:30:43,840 --> 00:30:45,520 Christian, in. Christ I. 612 00:30:45,520 --> 00:30:48,360 Want you to just receive this as blessing as. 613 00:30:48,360 --> 00:30:51,000 Confidence. But if you're not a Christian, I 614 00:30:51,000 --> 00:30:53,600 want you to hear this and know that. 615 00:30:53,600 --> 00:30:56,800 Before you leave church today, you could have all this. 616 00:30:58,040 --> 00:31:00,600 If you want it. Here's what you have. 617 00:31:02,160 --> 00:31:06,600 You have been chosen, saved, accepted and adopted in Christ. 618 00:31:07,760 --> 00:31:10,840 You have freedom, innocence, grace upon grace, redemption, 619 00:31:10,840 --> 00:31:13,760 and the righteousness of God in Christ. 620 00:31:14,560 --> 00:31:17,960 You have a Heavenly Father, a selfless Son, a Holy Spirit, and 621 00:31:17,960 --> 00:31:22,480 an adopted forever family. In Christ you have no 622 00:31:22,480 --> 00:31:25,720 condemnation, a new birth, a new life, a new clothes, new mind, 623 00:31:25,720 --> 00:31:27,480 new heart, new nature and a new covenant. 624 00:31:28,520 --> 00:31:31,640 In Christ you have been consecrated, liberated, 625 00:31:31,640 --> 00:31:34,920 initiated, supplied, anointed, purified, sanctified and 626 00:31:34,920 --> 00:31:37,480 justified. In Christ you have Lovejoy, 627 00:31:37,480 --> 00:31:39,560 peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, 628 00:31:39,560 --> 00:31:42,680 faithfulness and self-control. In Christ you have wisdom, 629 00:31:42,680 --> 00:31:45,520 knowledge, courage, power, authority and a spirit, not a 630 00:31:45,520 --> 00:31:49,120 fear or timidity, but of love. In Christ you have the mission 631 00:31:49,120 --> 00:31:52,360 of God, the meaning of life, and the mystery of the gospel. 632 00:31:52,600 --> 00:31:56,040 In Christ you have been made alive, made new, made steadfast, 633 00:31:56,040 --> 00:31:59,280 made one and made grateful. In Christ the veil has been 634 00:31:59,280 --> 00:32:01,680 lifted and toured. Please God, the distance has 635 00:32:01,680 --> 00:32:04,480 been narrowed, the ransom has been paid, the trespasses have 636 00:32:04,480 --> 00:32:07,040 been canceled, the chains have been broken, and the battle has 637 00:32:07,040 --> 00:32:09,400 been won. In Christ you have been given 638 00:32:09,400 --> 00:32:12,280 victory, triumph. Hope a future every spiritual. 639 00:32:12,280 --> 00:32:15,280 Blessing in the heavenly realm. In Christ you have been promised 640 00:32:15,440 --> 00:32:18,280 consummation, vindication, resurrection, commendation, 641 00:32:18,280 --> 00:32:21,800 celebration and perfection. In Christ you have an identity. 642 00:32:22,600 --> 00:32:25,280 You have a story. You have eternal worth. 643 00:32:25,360 --> 00:32:26,960 You have the image of. God, you have a. 644 00:32:26,960 --> 00:32:29,920 Realistic assessment of your sin, no doubt, but you also. 645 00:32:29,920 --> 00:32:32,600 Have a way out? And a way up if. 646 00:32:32,600 --> 00:32:38,080 You are in Christ. Oh, and that's just the 647 00:32:38,080 --> 00:32:41,400 beginning. Did you know I could drain your 648 00:32:41,400 --> 00:32:44,280 savings account today? Or burn your house. 649 00:32:44,280 --> 00:32:46,680 Down tomorrow and the next morning you would still have all 650 00:32:46,680 --> 00:32:51,960 you need in Christ. Did you know that you could quit 651 00:32:51,960 --> 00:32:56,120 your job tomorrow, or lose your closest loved one, or be 652 00:32:56,120 --> 00:33:01,520 entirely discluded and cancelled from proper society, and the 653 00:33:01,520 --> 00:33:03,120 next day you still have all you need in Christ? 654 00:33:04,360 --> 00:33:05,080 Did. You know that you could be 655 00:33:05,080 --> 00:33:08,000 ripped from your home. Persecuted for your? 656 00:33:08,000 --> 00:33:10,320 Faith, and while your head was on the chopping block, you could 657 00:33:10,320 --> 00:33:14,120 smile, knowing that eternally, in that moment, you have. 658 00:33:14,240 --> 00:33:17,320 All. That you need in Christ. 659 00:33:19,320 --> 00:33:20,640 Hey, here's my question Crossing fans. 660 00:33:21,480 --> 00:33:25,680 What if we believed that? What if we lived into that? 661 00:33:25,680 --> 00:33:28,240 Lived as if. That was the truest identity of 662 00:33:28,240 --> 00:33:31,160 us. We'd have death defying faith. 663 00:33:31,760 --> 00:33:34,000 Now here's the problem though. Most of us tend to just. 664 00:33:34,000 --> 00:33:37,160 Spiritualize all that away. Yeah, I'm a child of God. 665 00:33:37,160 --> 00:33:38,600 Yes I am. I know how the songs. 666 00:33:38,600 --> 00:33:40,400 Go, you know, great is. His faithfulness. 667 00:33:40,440 --> 00:33:45,360 What we do is we tend to under identify with the things that. 668 00:33:45,360 --> 00:33:48,840 God, say, is true about. Him and us and over identify 669 00:33:48,840 --> 00:33:54,080 with all the worldly identities that we're given hey girl tell 670 00:33:54,080 --> 00:33:56,560 me a little about yourself well hi my name is Christina 671 00:33:56,800 --> 00:34:05,960 Enneagram 9 boy mom I'm in marketing here's a picture of 672 00:34:05,960 --> 00:34:11,080 my. Fur baby Buster also. 673 00:34:12,159 --> 00:34:13,880 You know, I lean left politically. 674 00:34:13,880 --> 00:34:18,000 Also she her also it's fall orchards. 675 00:34:18,000 --> 00:34:20,480 Also hashtag pink Stanley Cup I'll show hashtag. 676 00:34:20,480 --> 00:34:22,520 Not my president. Also #hashtag. 677 00:34:22,520 --> 00:34:23,920 Whatever. Like whatever it is you'd say 678 00:34:23,920 --> 00:34:25,800 about you. Like we chuckle, we chuckle. 679 00:34:25,880 --> 00:34:27,360 Because we all have our own little story, right? 680 00:34:27,440 --> 00:34:30,080 But this is what we do. What if we believed a different 681 00:34:30,080 --> 00:34:33,960 story, A better story? Like hi, I'm Tyler. 682 00:34:34,000 --> 00:34:37,080 I used to be an orphan and a rebel, but I've been adopted 683 00:34:38,440 --> 00:34:40,760 into the most powerful family on the planet Earth. 684 00:34:42,639 --> 00:34:45,360 It's a royal family, so I'm a Prince and I have. 685 00:34:45,360 --> 00:34:48,679 Full inheritance rights. But I'm also an ambassador, 686 00:34:48,679 --> 00:34:50,840 which means. I carry the spiritual values. 687 00:34:50,840 --> 00:34:52,560 Of the King with me. Everywhere. 688 00:34:52,560 --> 00:34:55,040 And guess what? We're taking over the world. 689 00:34:55,159 --> 00:34:58,880 We got we've got ambassadors. Planted on foreign soil. 690 00:34:58,880 --> 00:35:01,480 All across the world. It's a divine conspiracy. 691 00:35:01,480 --> 00:35:07,240 That will echo into eternity. What if we believe what? 692 00:35:07,240 --> 00:35:09,280 Would it mean? For us to actually live. 693 00:35:09,360 --> 00:35:12,240 Every moment of our life. Like we believe God's truth. 694 00:35:13,320 --> 00:35:15,800 What would change is is if during during the next worship 695 00:35:15,800 --> 00:35:18,360 song that we sing, we just acknowledge that. 696 00:35:18,360 --> 00:35:20,680 Just out of our sight. Jesus is on the throne of the 697 00:35:20,680 --> 00:35:22,760 universe and there's millions of angels singing with us. 698 00:35:24,760 --> 00:35:26,960 What would change this election season if we believe that? 699 00:35:27,040 --> 00:35:29,600 Jesus really is in charge. God's bending the macro arc of 700 00:35:29,600 --> 00:35:33,120 human history towards His will, and the right side of history is 701 00:35:33,120 --> 00:35:37,240 His side of history. What would change next Monday? 702 00:35:37,480 --> 00:35:39,680 At work if you. Saw it as a mission field. 703 00:35:39,800 --> 00:35:40,960 What would it? Look like for us. 704 00:35:41,120 --> 00:35:45,160 Every moment if we saw our primary citizenship in Christ 705 00:35:45,280 --> 00:35:47,520 rather than in anything else, Like we were like, hey, I'm more 706 00:35:47,520 --> 00:35:49,480 Christian than American. Hey, I'm more Christian than 707 00:35:49,480 --> 00:35:51,040 Democrat or Republican. I'm more Christian than 708 00:35:51,040 --> 00:35:52,640 McKenzie. I'm more Christian than white, 709 00:35:52,640 --> 00:35:55,520 black, brown, Anglo, African, Hispanic, whatever. 710 00:35:55,520 --> 00:35:57,440 Like I'm just more Christian than all that. 711 00:35:58,440 --> 00:36:00,840 What would change if our outlook truly was that death? 712 00:36:00,840 --> 00:36:04,720 Has been defeated. What would change if we really 713 00:36:04,720 --> 00:36:07,440 believed that we had? Power over sin and that I could 714 00:36:07,440 --> 00:36:10,040 conquer any evil in my life today. 715 00:36:11,200 --> 00:36:13,560 What would change if we lived with a sort of urgency that we 716 00:36:13,560 --> 00:36:15,280 knew that any second, maybe today? 717 00:36:15,520 --> 00:36:17,160 Jesus could. Slash open the sky. 718 00:36:17,320 --> 00:36:20,680 Heaven could come pouring in and it would be so terrifying that 719 00:36:20,680 --> 00:36:23,720 every knee would bow and tongue would confess him as Lord, but 720 00:36:23,720 --> 00:36:26,120 also so majestic and magnificent. 721 00:36:26,120 --> 00:36:27,960 Because there'd be no more death, sorrow. 722 00:36:27,960 --> 00:36:30,120 Crying or pain like. What would change about our? 723 00:36:30,120 --> 00:36:32,560 Conversations tonight, if we believed. 724 00:36:32,560 --> 00:36:38,640 That truth maybe a lot. So look. 725 00:36:39,640 --> 00:36:44,000 I know this all sounds intense and supernatural, but crossing 726 00:36:45,360 --> 00:36:48,080 if the Christian faith is true, everything that I just. 727 00:36:48,080 --> 00:36:52,480 Said is true. And hear me all you are one 728 00:36:52,640 --> 00:36:55,760 decision of belief. Away from having all that. 729 00:36:56,600 --> 00:36:59,120 In Christ. So don't run away from this 730 00:36:59,120 --> 00:37:01,880 truth today, back into the chains of Egypt. 731 00:37:03,280 --> 00:37:07,120 You were made for the Promised Land, and you don't have to wait 732 00:37:07,120 --> 00:37:08,920 until heaven to begin experiencing it. 733 00:37:09,640 --> 00:37:13,400 Whatever giants are trying to hold you back, I encourage you 734 00:37:13,400 --> 00:37:15,000 today. Go with. 735 00:37:15,080 --> 00:37:25,670 Jesus, now as we move into this time of decision, oh, crossing 736 00:37:25,670 --> 00:37:28,990 family and we don't get a chance to do this all the time, but I 737 00:37:28,990 --> 00:37:31,190 get an opportunity to have this moment with you at all of our 738 00:37:31,190 --> 00:37:35,030 different locations. And what Tyler just said is 739 00:37:35,030 --> 00:37:38,360 exactly what you needed to hear. And right now I want to talk to 740 00:37:38,360 --> 00:37:40,400 those of you who've never started a relationship with 741 00:37:40,440 --> 00:37:44,640 Jesus Christ. Everything he just said is true. 742 00:37:45,520 --> 00:37:47,880 The question is, is it true for you? 743 00:37:49,120 --> 00:37:52,800 There's a gap between what you believe and how you behave, and 744 00:37:53,320 --> 00:37:55,880 that's not good. And I know you might be going, 745 00:37:55,880 --> 00:37:58,160 Clayton, I know it's great for everybody else to have a 746 00:37:58,160 --> 00:38:00,720 relationship with Jesus Christ, but I'm still working through 747 00:38:00,720 --> 00:38:04,040 this stuff on my end. I hear you and for just a second 748 00:38:04,880 --> 00:38:07,760 can I be the kid at the bottom of the steps telling you jump to 749 00:38:07,800 --> 00:38:12,000 Jesus, he's caught me every single time. 750 00:38:12,960 --> 00:38:16,160 And if you think that I'm the only person that's had that as 751 00:38:16,160 --> 00:38:18,520 an experience, you'd be dead wrong. 752 00:38:18,960 --> 00:38:22,480 In fact, crossing family across all of this region, if every 753 00:38:22,480 --> 00:38:24,920 time you've jumped to Jesus he has caught you every single 754 00:38:24,920 --> 00:38:25,960 time, would you put your hand up? 755 00:38:27,400 --> 00:38:29,080 You don't have to take my word for it. 756 00:38:29,160 --> 00:38:31,720 Take the word of the people that brought you, that are sitting 757 00:38:31,720 --> 00:38:34,960 next to you. You can have your citizenship in 758 00:38:34,960 --> 00:38:37,960 Christ. You can have new life in Christ 759 00:38:38,080 --> 00:38:40,160 today. And if you have questions about 760 00:38:40,160 --> 00:38:42,880 what that looks like or how to begin it, or you're wanting to 761 00:38:42,880 --> 00:38:44,880 figure out what your next step is, what I want to encourage you 762 00:38:44,880 --> 00:38:47,160 to do in just a few moments when the people at all of our 763 00:38:47,160 --> 00:38:49,720 different locations start coming to the steps and praying. 764 00:38:49,720 --> 00:38:52,160 I'm going to encourage you to walk over to the side of the 765 00:38:52,160 --> 00:38:54,800 auditorium where a staff member would love a chance to talk to 766 00:38:54,800 --> 00:38:57,880 you about how to begin an intimate, personal relationship 767 00:38:58,160 --> 00:39:01,160 with Jesus Christ. To the rest of you in the room, 768 00:39:03,040 --> 00:39:07,720 how we behave determines what we actually believe about God. 769 00:39:08,600 --> 00:39:14,200 And if you're like me, a normal, messed up fallen person, there 770 00:39:14,200 --> 00:39:18,800 is a gap and it's wider than you want it to be. 771 00:39:20,080 --> 00:39:23,560 And so in an act of humility, would you spend a little bit of 772 00:39:23,560 --> 00:39:26,640 time on the steps in prayer or while you're worshiping? 773 00:39:26,640 --> 00:39:30,560 Or maybe find a spot in the room and spend some time begging God 774 00:39:30,800 --> 00:39:35,840 to give you the strength to close the gap, not just for you, 775 00:39:36,960 --> 00:39:40,760 but for the people that are looking to you to determine what 776 00:39:40,760 --> 00:39:45,880 they believe about God. Heavenly Father, would you do a 777 00:39:45,880 --> 00:39:50,560 work in our church right now, a work that only you can do in 778 00:39:50,560 --> 00:39:56,120 ways that only you can do? It bring about a change that is 779 00:39:56,120 --> 00:40:01,400 desperately needed in us, in our homes, in our workplace, and in 780 00:40:01,400 --> 00:40:07,320 our communities. God, there was a time in our 781 00:40:07,320 --> 00:40:11,160 lives where we believed that you could do great and magnificent 782 00:40:11,160 --> 00:40:16,040 things. Bring us back to that. 783 00:40:18,400 --> 00:40:20,440 God, there was a time in our lives. 784 00:40:21,080 --> 00:40:27,240 Where we believe that anything was possible with you, Bring us 785 00:40:27,240 --> 00:40:31,720 back to that God. Stir in US. 786 00:40:31,720 --> 00:40:40,600 Awaken in US a desire to believe and trust and obey and advance. 787 00:40:40,760 --> 00:40:43,200 For your Kingdom. Your name I pray. 788 00:40:43,680 --> 00:40:44,000 Amen.