1 00:00:01,860 --> 00:00:05,680 Oh, crossing family, I am so thankful for you and on 2 00:00:05,680 --> 00:00:08,180 behalf of all the staff, all the difference makers, 3 00:00:08,660 --> 00:00:10,920 all of the group leaders, all the elders, Jennifer 4 00:00:10,920 --> 00:00:14,320 and myself, I hope you know you are deeply, deeply 5 00:00:14,320 --> 00:00:16,700 loved. I also want you to know that 6 00:00:16,700 --> 00:00:20,300 God is using you to change people's lives and it is 7 00:00:20,300 --> 00:00:23,000 such an honor that we get the opportunity to serve 8 00:00:23,000 --> 00:00:25,180 alongside of you. There is life change happening 9 00:00:25,180 --> 00:00:28,580 every single week at almost all of our locations and I 10 00:00:28,580 --> 00:00:31,340 am so thankful for what God is doing. Now 11 00:00:31,348 --> 00:00:33,800 before I jump into this sermon, I want to give you 12 00:00:33,800 --> 00:00:37,180 a couple updates. First off, on Mother's Day 13 00:00:37,180 --> 00:00:39,560 weekend, Jennifer and I will be sharing the stage 14 00:00:39,560 --> 00:00:41,160 and if you are ever wondering, what would 15 00:00:41,160 --> 00:00:44,280 Jennifer say back to me in light of everything that I 16 00:00:44,280 --> 00:00:47,280 have said about her, this is a weekend you are not 17 00:00:47,280 --> 00:00:49,640 going to want to miss. God will do something special 18 00:00:49,640 --> 00:00:52,440 and it is going to be a great weekend for you to 19 00:00:52,440 --> 00:00:55,260 bring some friends and some family. The 20 00:00:55,260 --> 00:00:58,920 second thing is, the week after Mother's Day and all 21 00:00:58,920 --> 00:01:01,940 the way until Father's Day weekend, we will be doing 22 00:01:01,940 --> 00:01:10,800 a four part sermon series focusing on politics and 23 00:01:10,800 --> 00:01:13,620 faith. This is an election year and 24 00:01:13,620 --> 00:01:15,860 there are going to be some of you who are feeling 25 00:01:15,860 --> 00:01:18,440 like the world is ending and there are going to be 26 00:01:18,440 --> 00:01:20,900 some of you who think that people are losing their 27 00:01:20,900 --> 00:01:23,440 minds and there are going to be some of you who are 28 00:01:23,440 --> 00:01:26,500 going, Jesus take me now. And 29 00:01:26,500 --> 00:01:27,920 there are going to be others of you who are 30 00:01:27,920 --> 00:01:31,220 asking a deep question, which is how should a 31 00:01:31,220 --> 00:01:34,580 Christian respond during these interesting seasons? 32 00:01:34,940 --> 00:01:36,420 And that is going to be the 33 00:01:36,420 --> 00:01:40,400 goal, the aim, the target on the wall of that sermon 34 00:01:40,400 --> 00:01:42,300 series. So, if you are the praying 35 00:01:42,300 --> 00:01:45,420 type, I would love for you to start praying over that 36 00:01:45,420 --> 00:01:47,400 sermon series because I believe that God could do 37 00:01:47,400 --> 00:01:51,080 something very cool through it. Now, 38 00:01:51,200 --> 00:01:54,620 we have been in a sermon series called God's Way, or 39 00:01:54,620 --> 00:01:56,600 Jesus is better than you thought with the tagline, 40 00:01:57,100 --> 00:01:59,980 God's Way is the best way. And 41 00:01:59,980 --> 00:02:04,680 here at the crossing, we believe this to our core. 42 00:02:05,200 --> 00:02:06,640 That is why we work tirelessly 43 00:02:06,640 --> 00:02:09,100 to help people find an intimate personal 44 00:02:09,100 --> 00:02:11,680 relationship with Jesus Christ. We 45 00:02:11,680 --> 00:02:14,480 believe that God's Way is the best way in every area 46 00:02:14,480 --> 00:02:16,780 of your life. When you've been hurt, when 47 00:02:16,780 --> 00:02:19,800 you've failed, when things are going well, or when 48 00:02:19,800 --> 00:02:22,260 you find yourself in a situation that you never 49 00:02:22,260 --> 00:02:25,640 thought you'd find yourself in, we genuinely believe in 50 00:02:25,640 --> 00:02:29,120 every area of your life that God's Way is the best 51 00:02:29,120 --> 00:02:31,060 way. I'm not saying it's the easiest 52 00:02:31,060 --> 00:02:33,300 way. I am saying it's the best 53 00:02:33,300 --> 00:02:36,680 way. Proverbs chapter 14 says this, there 54 00:02:36,680 --> 00:02:40,880 is a way that seems right to a man. But 55 00:02:40,880 --> 00:02:44,680 its end is the way to death. So 56 00:02:44,680 --> 00:02:47,820 there is a way that seems right to us. But 57 00:02:47,820 --> 00:02:50,800 if you were to follow that way, it has a destination, 58 00:02:51,260 --> 00:02:53,780 that destination is death. But 59 00:02:53,780 --> 00:02:57,840 Jesus offers a different path, a better way. Look 60 00:02:57,840 --> 00:03:00,340 what it says in Proverbs chapter 8. This 61 00:03:00,340 --> 00:03:04,640 is the Lord talking. Listen to my instruction and be 62 00:03:04,640 --> 00:03:09,200 wise. Do not disregard it. Blessed 63 00:03:09,200 --> 00:03:13,080 are those who listen to me, watching daily at my 64 00:03:13,080 --> 00:03:15,800 doors, waiting at my doorway. For 65 00:03:15,800 --> 00:03:20,200 those who find me, find life. And 66 00:03:20,200 --> 00:03:23,600 receive favor from the Lord. So 67 00:03:23,600 --> 00:03:26,000 in other words, there's a way that seems right to 68 00:03:26,000 --> 00:03:28,500 us. That road leads to death. But 69 00:03:28,500 --> 00:03:31,180 there's God's Way, and it says it leads to blessings. 70 00:03:31,820 --> 00:03:33,520 It leads to life, and it 71 00:03:33,520 --> 00:03:36,260 leads to favor. You don't have to be a rocket 72 00:03:36,260 --> 00:03:39,740 surgeon to figure out which one of those two you 73 00:03:39,740 --> 00:03:43,380 should probably do. Because these three things sound a 74 00:03:43,380 --> 00:03:45,520 whole lot better than death. In 75 00:03:45,520 --> 00:03:48,060 fact, one of the closest people to Jesus, his name 76 00:03:48,060 --> 00:03:51,240 was John, actually recorded some of the words that 77 00:03:51,240 --> 00:03:54,720 Jesus said about why he came to earth in John 78 00:03:54,720 --> 00:03:58,760 chapter 10 verse 10. Jesus says this, I have come 79 00:03:58,760 --> 00:04:04,800 that they may have life and have it to the full. 80 00:04:05,440 --> 00:04:06,860 So instead of experiencing life 81 00:04:06,860 --> 00:04:12,740 at 30 % or 60 % or even 95%, Jesus is saying that 82 00:04:12,740 --> 00:04:16,640 God's Way allows you and I to live life to the max, 83 00:04:17,200 --> 00:04:20,040 to live life that is abundant. That 84 00:04:20,040 --> 00:04:22,600 is why I am so glad that you are joining us today 85 00:04:22,600 --> 00:04:24,560 from wherever you are joining from. Whether 86 00:04:24,560 --> 00:04:26,560 you're joining us at one of our physical locations, 87 00:04:26,980 --> 00:04:29,060 whether you're watching online or a part of the 88 00:04:29,060 --> 00:04:31,740 crossing inside. And whether it's your first 89 00:04:31,740 --> 00:04:34,980 time or your first time in a long time, I'm glad that 90 00:04:34,980 --> 00:04:37,400 you are here because we believe that God's Way is 91 00:04:37,400 --> 00:04:39,600 the best way. And today we're going to look 92 00:04:39,600 --> 00:04:42,600 at an area of our life that maybe we didn't think 93 00:04:42,600 --> 00:04:47,880 God would show up in. Or maybe an area of your life 94 00:04:47,880 --> 00:04:50,960 where you're kind of ticked because God didn't show up. 95 00:04:51,360 --> 00:04:52,860 Today, we're going to talk about 96 00:04:52,860 --> 00:04:55,700 this. I believe that God's Way is 97 00:04:55,700 --> 00:05:01,100 the best way when life seems unfair. There's 98 00:05:01,100 --> 00:05:04,820 not a parent in the world who is not on multiple 99 00:05:04,820 --> 00:05:09,500 occasions, had to look at their kids and say life is 100 00:05:09,500 --> 00:05:14,640 not fair. However, in 2016, there was a 101 00:05:14,640 --> 00:05:18,280 survey conducted of adults and the results were 102 00:05:18,280 --> 00:05:21,440 surprising. This was the first question. Do 103 00:05:21,440 --> 00:05:26,180 you think life is fair or not fair? You 104 00:05:26,180 --> 00:05:27,240 guys already know the answer to this. You 105 00:05:27,240 --> 00:05:29,040 don't even have to raise your hand. Well, 106 00:05:29,360 --> 00:05:32,240 it's going to surprise you. 38 % of the people said 107 00:05:32,240 --> 00:05:36,500 life is fair. Who are these idiots? I'll 108 00:05:36,500 --> 00:05:37,440 tell you who they are. They're 109 00:05:37,440 --> 00:05:41,940 going to be voting in the upcoming election. This 110 00:05:41,940 --> 00:05:46,800 is why we got to do this series. 46 % said life is 111 00:05:46,800 --> 00:05:50,380 not fair. And then there's 16 % who are 112 00:05:50,380 --> 00:05:54,420 like, me and a, I don't know. You 113 00:05:54,420 --> 00:05:57,800 don't know. Okay. How's it? Here's 114 00:05:57,800 --> 00:06:01,640 the next question. Do you think life should be 115 00:06:01,640 --> 00:06:06,960 fair? 63 % of them said, yeah, life 116 00:06:06,960 --> 00:06:13,720 should be fair. 18 % said life should not be fair. 117 00:06:14,840 --> 00:06:22,700 And 19 % don't know, man. Can 118 00:06:22,700 --> 00:06:25,380 you imagine being that person just going through 119 00:06:25,380 --> 00:06:28,760 life? Don't know, man. They're 120 00:06:28,760 --> 00:06:34,260 moving to Colorado. So actually, weed's legal here 121 00:06:34,260 --> 00:06:37,160 in Illinois too. So we joke. That's 122 00:06:37,160 --> 00:06:39,180 why you should be praying for the politics series 123 00:06:39,180 --> 00:06:41,160 guys. Because who knows what I'm going 124 00:06:41,160 --> 00:06:44,620 to say. Now, you know this. Trying 125 00:06:44,620 --> 00:06:48,540 to make life fair is almost impossible. For 126 00:06:48,540 --> 00:06:53,060 instance, your older child had better clothes, but 127 00:06:53,060 --> 00:06:56,980 worse furniture. And your youngest child had 128 00:06:56,980 --> 00:07:00,620 nice furniture, but all the hand me down clothes. Have 129 00:07:00,620 --> 00:07:02,320 you ever looked at the pictures of you when you 130 00:07:02,320 --> 00:07:04,540 were a little bitty? If you're the oldest, what was 131 00:07:04,540 --> 00:07:06,700 that stuff your parents were putting you on? It 132 00:07:06,700 --> 00:07:08,560 wasn't, it wasn't safe. Your 133 00:07:08,560 --> 00:07:11,520 oldest kids get more time with the grandparents. But 134 00:07:11,520 --> 00:07:14,380 the youngest kid gets more time with the parents alone 135 00:07:14,380 --> 00:07:16,760 when they're in high school. There 136 00:07:16,760 --> 00:07:17,980 are parents. You don't have to raise your 137 00:07:17,980 --> 00:07:19,700 hand because I don't want to make you feel bad. But 138 00:07:19,700 --> 00:07:22,340 out of the kindness of their heart, you have tried 139 00:07:22,340 --> 00:07:24,960 when it comes Christmas time to match the presence 140 00:07:24,960 --> 00:07:32,360 dollar for dollar. You're a psycho. At 141 00:07:32,360 --> 00:07:35,440 our house, we had to navigate intense birthday 142 00:07:35,440 --> 00:07:38,700 pressure. Because the day before one of our 143 00:07:38,700 --> 00:07:41,440 kids would have a birthday, the brothers would be super 144 00:07:41,440 --> 00:07:42,900 excited for the other one. Oh, 145 00:07:43,000 --> 00:07:44,460 tomorrow's going to be your birthday. We're 146 00:07:44,460 --> 00:07:46,860 going to get cake. It's going to be super fun. And 147 00:07:46,860 --> 00:07:50,960 tell it was fun up until we started opening up the 148 00:07:50,960 --> 00:07:53,640 presents for the person who was their birthday. And 149 00:07:53,640 --> 00:07:56,360 then the other kids started crying. He's 150 00:07:56,360 --> 00:08:01,580 getting so many presents and I didn't get any. It's 151 00:08:01,580 --> 00:08:06,680 because it's not your birthday. You 152 00:08:06,680 --> 00:08:09,560 guys been there? Maybe for you, it's more 153 00:08:09,560 --> 00:08:13,560 sophisticated than that. Why did they get a better 154 00:08:13,560 --> 00:08:17,180 metabolism? Why did they get better hair? 155 00:08:18,960 --> 00:08:22,800 Why did they get hair? Why 156 00:08:22,800 --> 00:08:27,780 do I have hair there? Some of you are like, oh yeah, 157 00:08:27,920 --> 00:08:32,220 preach. Okay. When you go to the barber 158 00:08:32,220 --> 00:08:34,120 and they start doing a lot with the ears and nose, 159 00:08:34,320 --> 00:08:37,960 you're like, okay, let's settle down, man. It 160 00:08:37,960 --> 00:08:39,340 could have show up in different ways. Your 161 00:08:39,340 --> 00:08:41,840 friend marries into a rich family and doesn't have to 162 00:08:41,840 --> 00:08:44,120 work. That's been a real tough one for 163 00:08:44,120 --> 00:08:47,620 us. Because Jennifer's family was broke 164 00:08:47,620 --> 00:08:49,620 and that's why I'm doing what I'm doing right now. 165 00:08:50,180 --> 00:08:51,720 I wanted to be a stay -at 166 00:08:51,720 --> 00:08:53,060 -home dad. I did. Can 167 00:08:53,060 --> 00:08:57,220 you imagine me just... It would have been no bueno. 168 00:08:57,220 --> 00:09:00,440 Or your neighbor was born into 169 00:09:00,440 --> 00:09:02,980 a family business and you were born into a family 170 00:09:02,980 --> 00:09:05,580 that had wheels underneath your living room. Or 171 00:09:05,580 --> 00:09:09,360 for me, I grew up from kindergarten through sixth 172 00:09:09,360 --> 00:09:13,660 grade sleeping on the floor in a sleeping bag under 173 00:09:13,660 --> 00:09:17,240 the business manager's desk at my dad's vet clinic. 174 00:09:17,900 --> 00:09:19,660 And so sleepovers at other 175 00:09:19,660 --> 00:09:22,200 people's houses was a really big deal. And 176 00:09:22,200 --> 00:09:23,960 I don't know if I was actually friends with those 177 00:09:23,960 --> 00:09:28,620 people or if I just wanted to sleep in a bed. Or 178 00:09:28,620 --> 00:09:31,740 maybe you've seen something like this happen. You 179 00:09:31,740 --> 00:09:35,220 have actually been like the picture of health your 180 00:09:35,220 --> 00:09:36,920 whole life. Like you've done all the right 181 00:09:36,920 --> 00:09:39,520 things when it comes to your body and yet sickness 182 00:09:39,520 --> 00:09:45,040 and disease and diagnosis never leaves you. And 183 00:09:45,040 --> 00:09:47,400 you have a friend who has done nothing but abused 184 00:09:47,400 --> 00:09:51,260 their body and they're the picture of health. Or 185 00:09:51,260 --> 00:09:57,060 maybe you're a leader in a business and you are always 186 00:09:57,060 --> 00:10:00,080 doing things properly and you're always doing things 187 00:10:00,080 --> 00:10:03,920 legally and you can barely get by. Meanwhile, 188 00:10:04,260 --> 00:10:07,660 the guy who is never there, who's definitely 189 00:10:07,660 --> 00:10:11,260 shady and can't control his anger, seems to always have 190 00:10:11,260 --> 00:10:15,440 the line on where the next best move is. For 191 00:10:15,440 --> 00:10:18,960 some of you, you can't get over how much you invested 192 00:10:18,960 --> 00:10:22,940 in your kids and how intentional you were at 193 00:10:22,940 --> 00:10:26,860 raising them. And you paid a lot of 194 00:10:26,860 --> 00:10:29,800 attention to their development and your kids 195 00:10:29,800 --> 00:10:32,220 grew up to make a mess out of their lives. 196 00:10:33,100 --> 00:10:34,760 Meanwhile, the parents who were 197 00:10:34,760 --> 00:10:38,660 selfish and unattentive, their kids end up on the 198 00:10:38,660 --> 00:10:41,760 honor roll and turn into highly productive citizens. 199 00:10:42,520 --> 00:10:45,240 For some of you, your life was 200 00:10:45,240 --> 00:10:48,500 falling apart. You hit rock bottom. You 201 00:10:48,500 --> 00:10:50,600 started your intimate personal relationship with 202 00:10:50,600 --> 00:10:52,440 Jesus Christ. You realize your needed for a 203 00:10:52,440 --> 00:10:55,000 savior and you thought life was going to get easier. 204 00:10:55,820 --> 00:10:57,260 You thought that life was going 205 00:10:57,260 --> 00:11:00,580 to get better. However, it seems like at every 206 00:11:00,580 --> 00:11:04,220 turn there has been opposition, challenges, 207 00:11:04,980 --> 00:11:07,880 storms. And you show up for church at 208 00:11:07,880 --> 00:11:10,900 one of our locations and you sit next to the one 209 00:11:10,900 --> 00:11:17,100 person who just can't stop smiling. And 210 00:11:17,100 --> 00:11:18,360 you say, what's going on with you? Like, 211 00:11:18,440 --> 00:11:21,720 well, I came to church last week because my 212 00:11:21,720 --> 00:11:24,000 marriage was falling apart and I started a 213 00:11:24,000 --> 00:11:27,000 relationship with Jesus Christ and then I lost all 214 00:11:27,000 --> 00:11:29,680 this weight. And my kids started getting up 215 00:11:29,680 --> 00:11:31,920 and folding their own laundry and my husband 216 00:11:31,920 --> 00:11:34,100 wants to renew our vows and he said, can we watch 217 00:11:34,100 --> 00:11:37,320 more Hallmark movies? And you're sitting there and 218 00:11:37,320 --> 00:11:39,060 you're going, so you said you have a relationship 219 00:11:39,060 --> 00:11:41,720 with Jesus? Yeah, you sure? Yeah, 220 00:11:41,960 --> 00:11:46,260 Jesus, I'm about to send her to you. You 221 00:11:46,260 --> 00:11:49,220 better take her out. Give her a phone call. Get 222 00:11:49,220 --> 00:11:52,600 her away from me. What do you do when life's not 223 00:11:52,600 --> 00:11:55,480 fair? Now, there's some of you, maybe 224 00:11:55,480 --> 00:11:58,780 I listed your challenges, others of you, you have a 225 00:11:58,780 --> 00:12:01,800 completely different subset of challenges. Challenges 226 00:12:01,800 --> 00:12:04,860 that you don't want to utter, pain that you don't 227 00:12:04,860 --> 00:12:08,360 want to navigate. Because that's ultimately what 228 00:12:08,360 --> 00:12:10,060 happens when we're talking about life being fair. 229 00:12:10,180 --> 00:12:12,380 There is a unresolved pain 230 00:12:12,380 --> 00:12:16,420 problem and we're not completely sure how to deal 231 00:12:16,420 --> 00:12:20,080 with it. What do you do when life's not 232 00:12:20,080 --> 00:12:24,540 fair? My position is that even when 233 00:12:24,540 --> 00:12:28,600 life is not fair, God's way is the best way. Now 234 00:12:28,600 --> 00:12:31,240 I want to be clear so that way you don't think 235 00:12:31,240 --> 00:12:33,460 I'm saying what I'm not saying. I 236 00:12:33,460 --> 00:12:36,780 am not today talking about justice and I am not 237 00:12:36,780 --> 00:12:39,280 talking about favoritism. God 238 00:12:39,280 --> 00:12:44,140 is just and always does what is right. And 239 00:12:44,140 --> 00:12:46,420 he commands his followers, that would be you and me, 240 00:12:46,820 --> 00:12:51,960 to not show favoritism to treat people fairly. So 241 00:12:51,960 --> 00:12:56,040 while it is not possible or responsible to advocate 242 00:12:56,040 --> 00:13:01,260 for equity, Christians should be firmly on the 243 00:13:01,260 --> 00:13:05,920 side of equality. Regardless of who you are, you should 244 00:13:05,920 --> 00:13:08,560 have the laws fairly protect you. Regardless 245 00:13:08,560 --> 00:13:12,700 of who you are, you should be treated with dignity and 246 00:13:12,700 --> 00:13:16,120 respect. Why? Because every single person 247 00:13:16,120 --> 00:13:19,420 you will meet is an image bearer of God. They 248 00:13:19,420 --> 00:13:21,840 are made in his likeness and deserve to be treated 249 00:13:21,840 --> 00:13:26,080 as such. However, we live in a sinful world 250 00:13:26,080 --> 00:13:31,260 full of sinful people. And history shows that when 251 00:13:31,260 --> 00:13:34,320 oppressed people are given freedom from their 252 00:13:34,320 --> 00:13:38,540 oppressors, eventually those very same people will 253 00:13:38,540 --> 00:13:42,980 oppress others. They will do to others what has 254 00:13:42,980 --> 00:13:46,380 actually been done to them. If 255 00:13:46,380 --> 00:13:49,620 you were to look at some of the people that God 256 00:13:49,620 --> 00:13:54,040 used the most, what you might think as some of his 257 00:13:54,040 --> 00:13:58,300 favorite people in Scripture, what you would 258 00:13:58,300 --> 00:14:02,980 find is that almost every single one of them had a 259 00:14:02,980 --> 00:14:07,460 great deal of pain, a great deal of problems, a 260 00:14:07,460 --> 00:14:10,580 great deal of hardships. Abraham 261 00:14:10,580 --> 00:14:14,420 was loved by God, but God said you have to leave 262 00:14:14,420 --> 00:14:18,620 your homeland. Joseph was betrayed by his 263 00:14:18,620 --> 00:14:22,160 brothers, sold into slavery, had to grow up in a 264 00:14:22,160 --> 00:14:25,360 different country, and was wrongfully put in prison. 265 00:14:26,160 --> 00:14:29,320 Daniel was captured, taken from 266 00:14:29,320 --> 00:14:33,300 his homeland in Jerusalem and forced to live in 267 00:14:33,300 --> 00:14:37,740 Babylon. Job lost his entire family. 268 00:14:38,460 --> 00:14:41,620 Peter was put in jail. Paul 269 00:14:41,620 --> 00:14:45,780 was beaten multiple times for his faith. And 270 00:14:45,780 --> 00:14:49,160 while you and I might be sitting here wondering why 271 00:14:49,160 --> 00:14:52,580 life is so unfair, looking at all the other people in 272 00:14:52,580 --> 00:14:56,040 our lives, if we were to sit across the table from 273 00:14:56,040 --> 00:14:58,620 some of the people in the Scriptures, they would be 274 00:14:58,620 --> 00:15:02,480 wondering how come you got it so easy? How 275 00:15:02,480 --> 00:15:07,460 come your life is so much fairer than what my life 276 00:15:07,460 --> 00:15:11,319 or my spiritual journey was? Life 277 00:15:11,319 --> 00:15:14,640 is going to have ups and downs. It's 278 00:15:14,640 --> 00:15:17,000 going to have twists and turns. The 279 00:15:17,000 --> 00:15:22,120 promise of God is that he will bring purpose out of 280 00:15:22,120 --> 00:15:25,960 your pain. Romans 828 says this, and we know 281 00:15:25,960 --> 00:15:30,380 that in all things God works for the good of 282 00:15:30,380 --> 00:15:34,220 those who love him, who have been called according 283 00:15:34,220 --> 00:15:37,280 to his purpose. I've seen it again and again. 284 00:15:37,640 --> 00:15:39,840 You have seen it too. The 285 00:15:39,840 --> 00:15:41,600 people who have gone through the deepest pain 286 00:15:41,600 --> 00:15:43,580 become the best counselors. The 287 00:15:43,580 --> 00:15:45,720 people who have had the deepest losses are the ones 288 00:15:45,720 --> 00:15:48,680 who can have the greatest amount of joy in a moment. 289 00:15:49,060 --> 00:15:50,000 The people who have gone 290 00:15:50,000 --> 00:15:51,880 through the harshest abuse become the greatest 291 00:15:51,880 --> 00:15:54,020 advocates. The people who have suffered 292 00:15:54,020 --> 00:15:56,420 the most have the greatest amount of empathy. The 293 00:15:56,420 --> 00:15:59,160 people who have sinned the most develop the greatest 294 00:15:59,160 --> 00:16:03,160 measure of grace. What that means, crossing family, 295 00:16:03,880 --> 00:16:07,000 is I may not be responsible for what comes 296 00:16:07,000 --> 00:16:12,060 to me, but I am responsible for what comes 297 00:16:12,060 --> 00:16:14,920 through me. You may not have any choice 298 00:16:14,920 --> 00:16:18,680 about what is going to happen to you, what is 299 00:16:18,680 --> 00:16:22,580 going to come to you, but you are completely 300 00:16:22,580 --> 00:16:27,640 responsible for how you respond to it. Some 301 00:16:27,640 --> 00:16:32,020 people will use their pain as a permission slip. You 302 00:16:32,020 --> 00:16:34,820 know those people. Because they've had a bad 303 00:16:34,820 --> 00:16:38,400 experience, they inflict bad experiences. They 304 00:16:38,400 --> 00:16:41,360 are always playing the blame game. Well, 305 00:16:41,420 --> 00:16:43,560 if I had grown up the way you grew up, well, then I 306 00:16:43,560 --> 00:16:46,260 would be different. Well, if I had different parents, 307 00:16:46,420 --> 00:16:48,880 I would be like you if it's always somebody else. 308 00:16:50,440 --> 00:16:53,240 However, there are other people who 309 00:16:53,240 --> 00:16:57,100 use the pain to purify their purpose. We 310 00:16:57,100 --> 00:17:00,000 have a campus pastor at one of our locations, who 311 00:17:00,000 --> 00:17:03,060 probably the simplest way to say it is that he 312 00:17:03,060 --> 00:17:07,859 suffered at the hands of generational sins. Stuff 313 00:17:07,859 --> 00:17:10,020 that had kind of been passed on generation to 314 00:17:10,020 --> 00:17:13,500 generation to generation showed up in his life as 315 00:17:13,500 --> 00:17:16,680 a kid. And what he decided to do is 316 00:17:16,680 --> 00:17:19,119 not use what happened to him as a permission slip. 317 00:17:19,480 --> 00:17:20,780 He allowed it to purify his 318 00:17:20,780 --> 00:17:23,339 purpose. And what I see him when I 319 00:17:23,339 --> 00:17:26,700 look at him is I see him standing like this over his 320 00:17:26,700 --> 00:17:30,820 kids and his marriage. And everything that came to him 321 00:17:30,820 --> 00:17:34,160 is not going through him. It 322 00:17:34,160 --> 00:17:39,060 is stopping with him. And you and I have the 323 00:17:39,060 --> 00:17:41,040 opportunity through Christ's power. When 324 00:17:41,040 --> 00:17:42,760 we have the power of the Holy Spirit in our lives, 325 00:17:42,880 --> 00:17:45,100 the same power of the Holy Spirit that raised Jesus 326 00:17:45,100 --> 00:17:47,740 from the dead. We have the ability to go, 327 00:17:47,860 --> 00:17:51,520 what happened to me is not going through me. It 328 00:17:51,520 --> 00:17:56,180 stops with me. Next thing I tell you is that 329 00:17:56,180 --> 00:17:59,740 the adversity that I encounter is an invitation 330 00:17:59,740 --> 00:18:05,020 to deeper dependence. Peter did not walk on water on 331 00:18:05,020 --> 00:18:07,800 the shallow end of the sea on a calm day. Nope. 332 00:18:08,620 --> 00:18:10,660 It was in the middle of the sea in the midst of a 333 00:18:10,660 --> 00:18:13,440 storm on a dark night. James 334 00:18:13,440 --> 00:18:16,980 chapter 1 verse 2 through 4 says this, consider it 335 00:18:16,980 --> 00:18:18,980 pure, you guys say the next word, I don't want to 336 00:18:18,980 --> 00:18:20,880 say it. You didn't want to say it 337 00:18:20,880 --> 00:18:23,300 either. My brothers and sisters, when 338 00:18:23,300 --> 00:18:25,900 should we consider it pure joy? Oh, 339 00:18:25,940 --> 00:18:29,380 I'll tell you when. When you face trials of many 340 00:18:29,380 --> 00:18:34,340 kinds. What? Because you know that the 341 00:18:34,340 --> 00:18:38,620 testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let 342 00:18:38,620 --> 00:18:43,860 perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature 343 00:18:43,860 --> 00:18:50,580 and complete, not lacking anything. Here's 344 00:18:50,580 --> 00:18:54,480 what that means. When things are not going your 345 00:18:54,480 --> 00:18:58,580 way, you just might be on a path that leads to 346 00:18:58,580 --> 00:19:01,960 maturity in Christ. Let me explain it this way. 347 00:19:03,220 --> 00:19:05,960 Ladies, you married a deadbeat 348 00:19:05,960 --> 00:19:11,220 dude. Just pretend if you will. Some 349 00:19:11,220 --> 00:19:15,380 of you are like, oh yeah, this is the week. You're 350 00:19:15,380 --> 00:19:19,380 in it. And life is not going the way 351 00:19:19,380 --> 00:19:20,320 you thought it would go. Your 352 00:19:20,320 --> 00:19:22,540 marriage is not looking the way you thought it would 353 00:19:22,540 --> 00:19:26,040 go. And you are angry and you are 354 00:19:26,040 --> 00:19:30,040 frustrated and you are ticked. What 355 00:19:30,040 --> 00:19:36,640 if this is an invitation for maturity in Christ? 356 00:19:38,740 --> 00:19:40,200 What if this is an opportunity 357 00:19:40,200 --> 00:19:45,000 for you to learn how to have joy? I 358 00:19:45,000 --> 00:19:48,220 am not excusing the sin or trying to cover over the 359 00:19:48,220 --> 00:19:50,420 fact that there might be all kinds of dysfunction 360 00:19:50,420 --> 00:19:52,580 inside of your marriage. But 361 00:19:52,580 --> 00:19:55,580 you are not responsible for what comes to you. But 362 00:19:55,580 --> 00:19:59,300 you are responsible for what comes through you. You 363 00:19:59,300 --> 00:20:02,060 might be at work with a co -worker and you've been 364 00:20:02,060 --> 00:20:03,680 working really, really hard. Everything's 365 00:20:03,680 --> 00:20:05,820 going, you know, you've been nailing it. And 366 00:20:05,820 --> 00:20:09,580 all of a sudden, this person you don't like gets 367 00:20:09,580 --> 00:20:15,740 the promotion. And you're going, I'm so 368 00:20:15,740 --> 00:20:18,680 thankful that they got this promotion. Because 369 00:20:18,680 --> 00:20:21,380 now I'm going to get to grow in Christ. That 370 00:20:21,380 --> 00:20:23,500 is not what you are doing. That 371 00:20:23,500 --> 00:20:25,640 is not what you are doing. You 372 00:20:25,640 --> 00:20:30,540 are not doing that. When your kids, oh, are not 373 00:20:30,540 --> 00:20:33,140 behaving the way your kids are supposed to behave. I'm 374 00:20:33,140 --> 00:20:36,360 guessing, crossing family, that we're not going. Oh, 375 00:20:36,420 --> 00:20:38,800 good news. Our kids are being absolute 376 00:20:38,800 --> 00:20:42,340 tyrants today. I'm going to grow so much with 377 00:20:42,340 --> 00:20:44,680 Jesus. Thank you, Jesus, for these 378 00:20:44,680 --> 00:20:50,200 disobedient, destitute, depraved children that have 379 00:20:50,200 --> 00:20:54,860 so much of their father's DNA in them. Right? 380 00:20:55,560 --> 00:20:57,000 You're not doing that. You're 381 00:20:57,000 --> 00:20:58,580 going, God, this is wonderful. I'm 382 00:20:58,580 --> 00:21:00,280 going to grow in you today. No, 383 00:21:01,080 --> 00:21:03,960 you are going. And then you see the other 384 00:21:03,960 --> 00:21:09,500 parents dropping their kids off and matching outfits. I 385 00:21:09,500 --> 00:21:12,640 cannot consider it pure joy. But 386 00:21:12,640 --> 00:21:15,020 what if the hardships you face are the things that 387 00:21:15,020 --> 00:21:20,360 actually draw you closer to him to depend on him? You 388 00:21:20,360 --> 00:21:23,620 guys know this. You don't get healthy eating 389 00:21:23,620 --> 00:21:26,380 what you've always eaten. I've 390 00:21:26,380 --> 00:21:30,080 been told. This week, you'll love this. 391 00:21:30,560 --> 00:21:32,080 This week I went to a store 392 00:21:32,080 --> 00:21:35,880 and they have these energy drinks called Alane New. 393 00:21:36,440 --> 00:21:37,840 And I didn't read them. I 394 00:21:37,840 --> 00:21:39,700 was just told that you like shop the outside of 395 00:21:39,700 --> 00:21:42,980 the grocery store. And so I did that and they 396 00:21:42,980 --> 00:21:44,040 had these energy drinks. And 397 00:21:44,040 --> 00:21:48,120 so I bought like 50. And I drank three in one day. 398 00:21:48,300 --> 00:21:49,280 And I'm just going to tell you 399 00:21:49,280 --> 00:21:50,740 that's hard on your heart. I 400 00:21:50,740 --> 00:21:53,720 found out later that each can has 100 % of everything 401 00:21:53,720 --> 00:21:55,740 you need for a whole day. So 402 00:21:55,740 --> 00:21:57,640 I was good till Thursday. And 403 00:21:57,648 --> 00:22:01,400 if each can has 200 milligrams of caffeine, so 404 00:22:01,400 --> 00:22:04,960 600 milligrams is like drinking 18 pack of Coke. 405 00:22:05,200 --> 00:22:08,240 So I was wired. Okay, 406 00:22:08,460 --> 00:22:11,460 you don't get fit keeping the same routine. You 407 00:22:11,460 --> 00:22:14,440 don't get strong unless you either increase the weight, 408 00:22:14,960 --> 00:22:20,560 the reps or the sets. You will never grow inside your 409 00:22:20,560 --> 00:22:24,300 comfort zone. And so your maturity in Christ 410 00:22:24,300 --> 00:22:28,260 to grow in Christ, you're going to have to be in 411 00:22:28,260 --> 00:22:32,320 positions that you're not normally accustomed to. A 412 00:22:32,320 --> 00:22:35,020 long time ago, I got asked to go to Colorado and 413 00:22:35,020 --> 00:22:37,840 speak at a camp. They had me speaking in the 414 00:22:37,840 --> 00:22:40,400 mornings and they had me speaking in the evenings. 415 00:22:40,400 --> 00:22:42,180 And we drove up to this 416 00:22:42,180 --> 00:22:43,880 campsite and it was beautiful. I 417 00:22:43,880 --> 00:22:45,640 mean, it was just gorgeous to look at. And 418 00:22:45,640 --> 00:22:48,580 then they said on Wednesday, I think it was 419 00:22:48,580 --> 00:22:50,760 Wednesday, we're going to hike to the top of the 420 00:22:50,760 --> 00:22:54,040 mountain. And I'm like, okay, and then 421 00:22:54,040 --> 00:23:00,500 you're going to preach. I'm like, why? And 422 00:23:00,500 --> 00:23:03,480 they're like, oh, it's just so, it's so pretty up 423 00:23:03,480 --> 00:23:08,360 there. Really? Like, yeah. Like, 424 00:23:08,380 --> 00:23:09,400 well, what's up there? Well, 425 00:23:09,420 --> 00:23:14,160 like you can, you can just see everything. Like 426 00:23:14,160 --> 00:23:16,540 how many of you woke up today like, what does the 427 00:23:16,540 --> 00:23:19,060 top of a tree look like? Anybody? 428 00:23:19,620 --> 00:23:21,720 Yeah, me neither. That's the only reason you'd hike 429 00:23:21,720 --> 00:23:23,260 up. I want to see a tree from 430 00:23:23,260 --> 00:23:25,620 the top. Just go to Home Depot, walk 431 00:23:25,620 --> 00:23:27,640 through the plant aisle and just look down on. That's 432 00:23:27,640 --> 00:23:30,460 all it is. Save yourself the hike. I 433 00:23:30,460 --> 00:23:33,140 got all the way, we started hiking all the way 434 00:23:33,140 --> 00:23:34,260 up there. Do you know what's up at the 435 00:23:34,260 --> 00:23:36,620 top of a mountain? I'm going to save you guys a 436 00:23:36,620 --> 00:23:39,640 trip. Nothing. There is nothing there. 437 00:23:40,180 --> 00:23:42,160 There's no trees for shade. There's 438 00:23:42,160 --> 00:23:44,600 no water if you're a little thirsty. There's 439 00:23:44,600 --> 00:23:47,060 no food. There's nothing. There's 440 00:23:47,060 --> 00:23:49,540 no restaurants up at the top. All 441 00:23:49,540 --> 00:23:52,660 you can see is trees from the top. And 442 00:23:52,660 --> 00:23:54,240 I'll be honest with you, I can go my whole life 443 00:23:54,240 --> 00:23:57,940 without it. We get up there and I have 444 00:23:57,940 --> 00:23:59,340 to preach the message. And then you know what we did? 445 00:24:00,040 --> 00:24:02,480 We walked back down. And 446 00:24:02,480 --> 00:24:03,760 you know what we did when we walked back down into 447 00:24:03,760 --> 00:24:06,860 the valley? You know what I noticed? There 448 00:24:06,860 --> 00:24:11,880 were trees for shade. There was water. When 449 00:24:11,880 --> 00:24:16,000 we got far enough down, there were restaurants. And 450 00:24:16,000 --> 00:24:18,820 you know this. Things don't grow on the mountain 451 00:24:18,820 --> 00:24:23,080 tops. They grow in the valleys. And 452 00:24:23,080 --> 00:24:26,240 when you find yourself in a valley of life, that is 453 00:24:26,240 --> 00:24:28,440 where the growth happens. The 454 00:24:28,440 --> 00:24:31,580 only thing you can do on a mountain top is see it 455 00:24:31,580 --> 00:24:34,220 from another perspective. But 456 00:24:34,220 --> 00:24:37,540 it is in the valley where we grow. And 457 00:24:37,540 --> 00:24:41,140 God promises that in the valleys, he will be with 458 00:24:41,140 --> 00:24:44,420 us. He will never desert us. Now 459 00:24:44,420 --> 00:24:46,980 the next thing I want to tell you is that when you 460 00:24:46,980 --> 00:24:48,460 are going through struggles in life and you are 461 00:24:48,460 --> 00:24:51,620 dealing with the pain of life not being fair, I 462 00:24:51,620 --> 00:24:54,220 want to remind you that there is more than this 463 00:24:54,220 --> 00:24:58,620 life ahead of me. And God promises to reward me. 464 00:24:59,740 --> 00:25:01,360 Galatians chapter six says, Let us 465 00:25:01,360 --> 00:25:03,800 not become weary in doing good, for at the proper 466 00:25:03,800 --> 00:25:06,800 time we will reap a harvest if we do not give 467 00:25:06,800 --> 00:25:09,720 up. James chapter one verse 12 says, 468 00:25:09,920 --> 00:25:13,100 Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial, 469 00:25:13,620 --> 00:25:17,760 because having stood the test, that person will 470 00:25:17,760 --> 00:25:20,500 receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised 471 00:25:20,500 --> 00:25:24,140 to those who love him. Revelation 472 00:25:24,140 --> 00:25:28,820 22 verse 12 says this, Look, I am coming soon. 473 00:25:28,820 --> 00:25:30,720 This is Jesus talking. My 474 00:25:30,720 --> 00:25:35,100 reward is with me, and I will give to each person 475 00:25:35,100 --> 00:25:40,020 according to what they have done. I 476 00:25:40,020 --> 00:25:42,180 wonder, well no, let me do second Corinthians chapter 477 00:25:42,180 --> 00:25:44,440 four. Therefore we do not lose heart, 478 00:25:44,800 --> 00:25:47,780 though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly 479 00:25:47,780 --> 00:25:51,480 we are being renewed day by day. For 480 00:25:51,480 --> 00:25:55,580 our light and momentary troubles are achieving for 481 00:25:55,580 --> 00:26:01,520 us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So 482 00:26:01,520 --> 00:26:05,020 we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but what is 483 00:26:05,020 --> 00:26:10,420 unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is 484 00:26:10,420 --> 00:26:15,840 unseen is eternal. Here's what he's saying. Guys, 485 00:26:16,240 --> 00:26:19,320 you're going to go through some bumps, you're going to 486 00:26:19,320 --> 00:26:22,080 experience some bruises, you're going to go through 487 00:26:22,080 --> 00:26:25,620 some pain and some hardship, but this is not 488 00:26:25,620 --> 00:26:29,320 all there is. This has an end date. This 489 00:26:29,320 --> 00:26:33,260 pain will eventually come to pass, and one day you 490 00:26:33,260 --> 00:26:35,840 will be in heaven, and God says that he sees 491 00:26:35,840 --> 00:26:39,020 everything and will reward you according to what you 492 00:26:39,020 --> 00:26:40,820 have done. So the pain that you 493 00:26:40,820 --> 00:26:44,080 experience may be an invitation to a reward from 494 00:26:44,080 --> 00:26:46,540 God from how you handled the pain that you had to 495 00:26:46,540 --> 00:26:49,920 go through. In other words, let me take 496 00:26:49,920 --> 00:26:52,060 you on a quick church history tour. This 497 00:26:52,060 --> 00:26:53,700 sounds like it's not going to be fun, but trust me 498 00:26:53,700 --> 00:26:56,340 you'll be blessed in the end. If 499 00:26:56,340 --> 00:26:58,960 you were to look at all time heroes in the Bible, 500 00:26:59,080 --> 00:27:01,080 you'd be hard pressed to find anybody better than 501 00:27:01,080 --> 00:27:04,960 Paul. His story gives hope to so 502 00:27:04,960 --> 00:27:08,320 many people. And so Paul is traveling around 503 00:27:08,320 --> 00:27:10,840 and he's telling people about Jesus, and he shows 504 00:27:10,840 --> 00:27:13,740 up in the town of Philippi, and he shows up 505 00:27:13,740 --> 00:27:17,020 with Silas, and they are walking through the town 506 00:27:17,020 --> 00:27:19,280 and they're telling everybody about Jesus, and 507 00:27:19,280 --> 00:27:22,120 it's fantastic. Well, there is this slave girl 508 00:27:22,120 --> 00:27:25,980 who is a fortune teller, and so she makes money for 509 00:27:25,980 --> 00:27:29,340 her owners by telling people their futures. 510 00:27:29,640 --> 00:27:31,000 Because you would pay to know your 511 00:27:31,000 --> 00:27:33,240 future, wouldn't you? If you knew there was a real 512 00:27:33,240 --> 00:27:34,740 person that could tell you what your future looked 513 00:27:34,740 --> 00:27:36,700 like, we'd cough up all the cash. So 514 00:27:36,700 --> 00:27:39,860 this girl is raking in money for her owners, and 515 00:27:39,860 --> 00:27:42,000 she starts going around telling everybody, pay 516 00:27:42,000 --> 00:27:44,880 attention to these guys, they know about the real 517 00:27:44,880 --> 00:27:47,440 God. Eventually Paul gets tired of it, 518 00:27:47,680 --> 00:27:49,760 turns to this woman who's been talking for way too 519 00:27:49,760 --> 00:27:53,540 much, and he says, demon be gone, and she loses her 520 00:27:53,540 --> 00:27:55,460 ability to tell the future. Her 521 00:27:55,460 --> 00:27:57,840 owners are super upset because basically their 522 00:27:57,840 --> 00:28:00,460 business just got closed down because Paul told this 523 00:28:00,460 --> 00:28:02,260 girl to stop telling the future and remove the 524 00:28:02,260 --> 00:28:04,120 spirit that gave her the ability to do it. And 525 00:28:04,120 --> 00:28:07,380 so her owners captured Paul and Silas, put them in the 526 00:28:07,380 --> 00:28:10,360 marketplace, they beat them, and then they had them 527 00:28:10,360 --> 00:28:13,720 thrown in jail. And if that had happened to 528 00:28:13,720 --> 00:28:17,280 you, or if that had happened to me, what would 529 00:28:17,280 --> 00:28:21,420 we have been doing? Well, that's not fair, Jesus. We 530 00:28:21,420 --> 00:28:23,980 were telling people about you, we were trying to 531 00:28:23,980 --> 00:28:25,400 help people find an intimate personal 532 00:28:25,400 --> 00:28:28,180 relationship with you, and now we're going through 533 00:28:28,180 --> 00:28:30,120 this. That was not their response at 534 00:28:30,120 --> 00:28:31,600 all. In fact, it tells us what 535 00:28:31,600 --> 00:28:34,280 their response was, they were in the jail, and the 536 00:28:34,280 --> 00:28:36,660 Bible says that they were praying, worshipping, and 537 00:28:36,660 --> 00:28:40,140 singing songs. That is probably different than 538 00:28:40,140 --> 00:28:45,440 our response, right? The worship service and the 539 00:28:45,440 --> 00:28:48,820 prayers were so impactful that God sent a violent 540 00:28:48,820 --> 00:28:52,300 earthquake to shake the entire jail. And 541 00:28:52,300 --> 00:28:56,180 when it did, all the gates fell off, and all the 542 00:28:56,180 --> 00:29:01,340 prisoners stayed. They didn't leave. And 543 00:29:01,340 --> 00:29:03,440 the jailer came in and was about to commit suicide, 544 00:29:03,860 --> 00:29:07,800 and they said, hey guys, we haven't left, because 545 00:29:07,800 --> 00:29:09,540 the jailer thought he was going to get killed for 546 00:29:09,540 --> 00:29:11,880 all the prisoners escaping, but they didn't. They 547 00:29:11,880 --> 00:29:14,420 all stayed. And so they told the jailer 548 00:29:14,420 --> 00:29:17,260 about Jesus, and he started an intimate personal 549 00:29:17,260 --> 00:29:19,680 relationship with Jesus, and then he went home and his 550 00:29:19,680 --> 00:29:23,740 whole family did the exact same thing. And 551 00:29:23,740 --> 00:29:28,180 so when you read the book of Philippians, you are 552 00:29:28,180 --> 00:29:32,200 reading a book that was written to a church that 553 00:29:32,200 --> 00:29:36,300 was started by a suicidal jailer, but because these 554 00:29:36,300 --> 00:29:38,960 guys decided that they were going to tell people about 555 00:29:38,960 --> 00:29:42,160 Jesus, got put in prison for it, and continued to 556 00:29:42,160 --> 00:29:44,740 worship while they were in prison. And 557 00:29:44,740 --> 00:29:46,040 so if you want to go home, you can check this 558 00:29:46,040 --> 00:29:49,220 out for yourself. Read the book of Philippians and 559 00:29:49,220 --> 00:29:51,740 go, hold on a second. This is a different way of 560 00:29:51,740 --> 00:29:54,580 looking at life. Paul is talking to them and 561 00:29:54,580 --> 00:29:56,640 saying this is how you should live, and these 562 00:29:56,640 --> 00:29:59,820 people know it because they've seen what Paul has 563 00:29:59,820 --> 00:30:02,740 gone through. Look at Philippians chapter one. 564 00:30:03,400 --> 00:30:05,220 Paul says this, Now I want you 565 00:30:05,220 --> 00:30:06,820 to know, brothers and sisters, these are the 566 00:30:06,820 --> 00:30:09,120 people in the church in Philippi, that what has 567 00:30:09,120 --> 00:30:13,780 happened to me has actually served to advance the 568 00:30:13,780 --> 00:30:16,740 gospel. As a result, it has become 569 00:30:16,740 --> 00:30:19,200 clear throughout the whole palace guard and to 570 00:30:19,200 --> 00:30:23,600 everyone else that I am in chains for Christ. And 571 00:30:23,600 --> 00:30:26,540 because of my chains, because of my chains, 572 00:30:26,960 --> 00:30:32,080 because of my chains, most of the brothers and sisters 573 00:30:32,080 --> 00:30:36,360 have become confident in the Lord and dare more, 574 00:30:36,700 --> 00:30:40,760 all the more to proclaim the gospel without fear. I 575 00:30:40,760 --> 00:30:42,980 just want to pause for a second. Paul's 576 00:30:42,980 --> 00:30:45,660 not writing about him being in that prison. Paul's 577 00:30:45,660 --> 00:30:48,620 writing in this letter to them from another prison. 578 00:30:48,980 --> 00:30:50,760 Paul is what we like to call a 579 00:30:50,760 --> 00:30:55,020 repeat offender. He is going, he just keeps 580 00:30:55,020 --> 00:30:59,420 doing stuff for Jesus and getting thrown in jail. So 581 00:30:59,420 --> 00:31:01,820 he's writing to the church that was started because he 582 00:31:01,820 --> 00:31:04,740 was in jail from another jail cell, and he's telling 583 00:31:04,740 --> 00:31:06,380 them, hey, check this out. The 584 00:31:06,380 --> 00:31:08,580 same thing that happened when I was in the jail in 585 00:31:08,580 --> 00:31:11,280 your town is happening in the new jail where I'm at 586 00:31:11,280 --> 00:31:13,300 now. People are starting to go, hey, 587 00:31:13,380 --> 00:31:16,580 there's something different about this guy. And 588 00:31:16,580 --> 00:31:20,040 other people are witnessing him cling into the promises 589 00:31:20,040 --> 00:31:23,000 of God in the midst of the pain. And 590 00:31:23,000 --> 00:31:25,700 they're deciding that I want that kind of faith 591 00:31:25,700 --> 00:31:28,400 too. And the gospel is going out 592 00:31:28,400 --> 00:31:30,500 further. Philippians chapter 1 verse 27, 593 00:31:31,380 --> 00:31:35,900 whatever happens, conduct yourself in a manner worthy 594 00:31:35,900 --> 00:31:39,040 of the gospel of Christ. In 595 00:31:39,040 --> 00:31:41,960 other words, when things aren't going your way in 596 00:31:41,960 --> 00:31:44,520 your marriage, when things aren't going your way at 597 00:31:44,520 --> 00:31:46,880 work, when things aren't going your way in the 598 00:31:46,880 --> 00:31:49,060 mirror, when things aren't going your way on the 599 00:31:49,060 --> 00:31:51,320 scale, when things aren't going your way financially, 600 00:31:51,860 --> 00:31:53,880 when things aren't going your way relationally, 601 00:31:54,160 --> 00:31:59,620 conduct yourself. In a manner worthy of the 602 00:31:59,620 --> 00:32:01,800 good news of Jesus Christ. What 603 00:32:01,800 --> 00:32:03,800 is the good news of Jesus Christ? That 604 00:32:03,800 --> 00:32:07,340 God looked down, saw your sin, still moved on your 605 00:32:07,340 --> 00:32:10,700 behalf, sent his son Jesus to not only pay for the 606 00:32:10,700 --> 00:32:13,500 sins that you've committed, suffer eternity in hell on 607 00:32:13,500 --> 00:32:16,340 your behalf, but give you new life and a deposit of 608 00:32:16,340 --> 00:32:19,580 his spirit as a guarantee of the heavenly reward that 609 00:32:19,580 --> 00:32:21,320 you will one day receive. And 610 00:32:21,320 --> 00:32:24,480 in light of all of that cosmic reality, deal with 611 00:32:24,480 --> 00:32:27,740 the temporary stuff. Like get through it. Like 612 00:32:27,740 --> 00:32:29,600 just go, I'm going through. Philippians 613 00:32:29,600 --> 00:32:32,560 chapter 3 says, but one thing I do, forgetting what 614 00:32:32,560 --> 00:32:35,480 is behind and straining towards what is ahead. I 615 00:32:35,480 --> 00:32:37,860 press on towards the goal to win the prize for which 616 00:32:37,860 --> 00:32:41,160 God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. 617 00:32:41,820 --> 00:32:44,460 Philippians chapter 4, rejoice in the 618 00:32:44,460 --> 00:32:47,380 Lord always. I will say it again, rejoice. 619 00:32:48,140 --> 00:32:50,200 Let your gentleness be evident 620 00:32:50,200 --> 00:32:51,680 to all. I'm going to pause there for a 621 00:32:51,680 --> 00:32:54,340 second. Sometimes people who've been through 622 00:32:54,340 --> 00:32:59,640 a ton of pain are the least gentle people. They're 623 00:32:59,640 --> 00:33:02,120 permission slip people. Christians 624 00:33:02,120 --> 00:33:06,240 are different. Rejoice until you can be gentle 625 00:33:06,240 --> 00:33:09,340 about it. The Lord is near. Do 626 00:33:09,340 --> 00:33:12,560 not be anxious about anything, but in every 627 00:33:12,560 --> 00:33:15,480 situation by prayer and petition with Thanksgiving, 628 00:33:15,740 --> 00:33:18,980 present your request to God. And 629 00:33:18,980 --> 00:33:21,940 peace of God, which transcends all understanding 630 00:33:21,940 --> 00:33:23,980 will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 631 00:33:24,460 --> 00:33:26,560 Paul is a picture of this in 632 00:33:26,560 --> 00:33:29,420 that Philippian jail cell. I'm 633 00:33:29,420 --> 00:33:30,200 not going to be anxious. I'm 634 00:33:30,200 --> 00:33:32,260 going to pray. I'm not going to be anxious. 635 00:33:32,540 --> 00:33:33,060 I'm going to worship. 636 00:33:34,139 --> 00:33:36,820 Philippians chapter 4 says this, I 637 00:33:36,820 --> 00:33:39,600 have learned to be content whatever the circumstances, 638 00:33:40,440 --> 00:33:45,080 content whatever the circumstances. I 639 00:33:45,080 --> 00:33:47,300 know what it is to be in need and I know what it 640 00:33:47,300 --> 00:33:50,120 is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of 641 00:33:50,120 --> 00:33:54,140 being content in any and every situation, whether 642 00:33:54,140 --> 00:33:57,200 well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in 643 00:33:57,200 --> 00:34:00,080 want. I can do all of this through 644 00:34:00,080 --> 00:34:03,300 him who gives me strength. Paul 645 00:34:03,300 --> 00:34:05,880 was not responsible for what happened to him, but 646 00:34:05,880 --> 00:34:08,620 he was responsible for what happened or what came 647 00:34:08,620 --> 00:34:11,520 through him. And what came through him was 648 00:34:11,520 --> 00:34:14,199 the gospel of Jesus Christ. Paul 649 00:34:14,199 --> 00:34:17,520 allowed the adversity that he faced to give him a 650 00:34:17,520 --> 00:34:20,420 deeper dependence on who God is. How 651 00:34:20,420 --> 00:34:22,239 would he have known that he could be content 652 00:34:22,239 --> 00:34:25,440 whatever the circumstances unless he had been through 653 00:34:25,440 --> 00:34:27,540 whatever the circumstances. How 654 00:34:27,540 --> 00:34:29,960 would Paul have known that God can be good when 655 00:34:29,960 --> 00:34:32,800 you're hungry if he hadn't been hungry and found out 656 00:34:32,800 --> 00:34:35,380 that God was good? How would he have known that 657 00:34:35,380 --> 00:34:38,100 God would be there for him when he didn't have 658 00:34:38,100 --> 00:34:41,139 everything he needed? Then he finds out that God is 659 00:34:41,139 --> 00:34:43,699 all he actually needs. How do you know that God's 660 00:34:43,699 --> 00:34:45,699 good in the valley until you've walked through the 661 00:34:45,699 --> 00:34:47,260 valley? How do you know that God's 662 00:34:47,260 --> 00:34:49,960 good in the middle of a storm unless you've walked 663 00:34:49,960 --> 00:34:52,380 through the storm? How do you know that the cross 664 00:34:52,380 --> 00:34:55,320 is good until you give your sins to him and he 665 00:34:55,320 --> 00:34:58,040 says I've covered it? How would you know? You 666 00:34:58,040 --> 00:35:01,180 know because you endure and that endurance gives you 667 00:35:01,180 --> 00:35:04,500 hope and that hope brings about a perseverance in you 668 00:35:04,500 --> 00:35:07,740 that cannot be robbed by Satan or your circumstances. 669 00:35:08,220 --> 00:35:11,220 Maybe, just maybe. This 670 00:35:11,220 --> 00:35:14,520 sermon was for you too. Because 671 00:35:14,520 --> 00:35:19,660 deep down inside we spend a lot of time trying to 672 00:35:19,660 --> 00:35:23,200 make life fair. And if I could put anything on 673 00:35:23,200 --> 00:35:26,800 you and me today it would be this. Instead 674 00:35:26,800 --> 00:35:31,920 of calculating fairness, we should be focused on our 675 00:35:31,920 --> 00:35:35,700 faithfulness. So that you and I can say 676 00:35:35,700 --> 00:35:40,820 too whatever the circumstances. Whether 677 00:35:40,820 --> 00:35:44,820 in times of plenty or in times of want. When 678 00:35:44,820 --> 00:35:50,440 life's not fair, I'm convinced that God's way is 679 00:35:50,440 --> 00:35:52,580 the best way. We're moving to a time of 680 00:35:52,580 --> 00:36:00,060 decision. For those of you who don't 681 00:36:00,060 --> 00:36:02,840 have a relationship with Jesus Christ yet, I just 682 00:36:02,840 --> 00:36:06,740 want to give you a mini devotional. The 683 00:36:06,740 --> 00:36:10,980 last thing that you would want is a God who's fair. 684 00:36:13,280 --> 00:36:14,780 It's the last thing you would 685 00:36:14,780 --> 00:36:19,760 want. Because the Bible says that the 686 00:36:19,760 --> 00:36:23,820 wages of sin are death. Our 687 00:36:23,820 --> 00:36:27,840 sins have brought about an eternal separation from God. 688 00:36:28,540 --> 00:36:30,800 That is what we deserve. That 689 00:36:30,800 --> 00:36:34,900 is what is fair. And when you look through the 690 00:36:34,900 --> 00:36:38,540 pages of Scripture, what you'll see is we serve a 691 00:36:38,540 --> 00:36:41,560 God who hasn't been fair to us and thank God he 692 00:36:41,560 --> 00:36:44,360 hasn't been fair. Because the cross wasn't fair 693 00:36:44,360 --> 00:36:47,380 because I wasn't on it. The 694 00:36:47,380 --> 00:36:51,320 cross wasn't fair because you weren't on it. That 695 00:36:51,320 --> 00:36:54,320 would have been fair, but it was unfair. It 696 00:36:54,320 --> 00:36:57,900 was gloriously unfair because the one who had no 697 00:36:57,900 --> 00:37:01,720 sin became my sin and your sin for us. That's 698 00:37:01,720 --> 00:37:04,120 not fair. I'm glad I have a God who's 699 00:37:04,120 --> 00:37:07,720 unfair. Mercy is not fair. Grace 700 00:37:07,720 --> 00:37:12,380 is not fair. Love is not fair. Eternity 701 00:37:12,380 --> 00:37:16,760 in heaven is not fair, but it is available. And 702 00:37:16,760 --> 00:37:22,400 if you want it, you can start it today. If 703 00:37:22,400 --> 00:37:24,400 you have questions about what it means to have an 704 00:37:24,400 --> 00:37:26,840 intimate personal relationship with Jesus 705 00:37:26,840 --> 00:37:29,920 Christ, I want to encourage you. Don't 706 00:37:29,920 --> 00:37:35,520 put it off any longer. Because 707 00:37:35,520 --> 00:37:39,320 that decision is the single greatest decision you will 708 00:37:39,320 --> 00:37:41,800 ever make. And it gives you the ability 709 00:37:41,800 --> 00:37:45,460 to endure every decision that somebody else makes on 710 00:37:45,460 --> 00:37:49,700 your behalf in the future. And 711 00:37:49,700 --> 00:37:51,500 if you're here and you want to ask questions about 712 00:37:51,500 --> 00:37:54,840 it, in just a few moments, when other people around 713 00:37:54,840 --> 00:37:57,120 you start to stand and sing and some of them come 714 00:37:57,120 --> 00:37:59,300 to the steps to pray, right over there underneath 715 00:37:59,300 --> 00:38:01,540 that screen, right next to the baptistery, there will 716 00:38:01,540 --> 00:38:03,440 be a couple there that would love to talk to you 717 00:38:03,440 --> 00:38:08,080 and answer some of your questions. To 718 00:38:08,080 --> 00:38:10,460 the rest of you in here, to those of you who 719 00:38:10,460 --> 00:38:15,400 already have a relationship with Jesus Christ, maybe 720 00:38:15,400 --> 00:38:25,100 envy of how God is writing other people's stories is 721 00:38:25,100 --> 00:38:29,840 robbing you of the joy of allowing God to write 722 00:38:29,840 --> 00:38:35,060 yours. We've all been there. We 723 00:38:35,060 --> 00:38:37,640 wish that things were going the way in our life, the 724 00:38:37,640 --> 00:38:41,420 way they seem to be going in somebody else's. And 725 00:38:41,420 --> 00:38:44,060 instead of thanking God for the story that he's writing 726 00:38:44,060 --> 00:38:47,500 in their life, we're mad at God for the story that 727 00:38:47,500 --> 00:38:52,440 he's writing in ours. And so maybe, maybe we could 728 00:38:52,440 --> 00:38:55,920 spend a little bit of time saying, God, I don't want 729 00:38:55,920 --> 00:38:59,660 this pen back. Even when life seems unfair, I 730 00:38:59,660 --> 00:39:02,960 believe that you can write a better story. I 731 00:39:02,960 --> 00:39:05,960 believe that your way is the best way. And 732 00:39:05,960 --> 00:39:08,880 so God, here's the pen. Every 733 00:39:08,880 --> 00:39:10,760 day, Satan is going to tempt you to put the pen, 734 00:39:10,920 --> 00:39:13,400 pull the pen back and put it in your hand. And 735 00:39:13,400 --> 00:39:15,760 you start taking over right in the chapter. But 736 00:39:15,760 --> 00:39:18,500 we have no power. Like I said on Easter weekend, 737 00:39:18,600 --> 00:39:20,840 the only power that you and I have is the right 738 00:39:20,840 --> 00:39:23,520 of story that leads from life to death. But 739 00:39:23,520 --> 00:39:26,460 when God has the pen, he has the ability to write a 740 00:39:26,460 --> 00:39:30,060 story that starts in death and ends in life. Whatever 741 00:39:30,060 --> 00:39:33,060 you do, don't take back the pen. Do 742 00:39:33,060 --> 00:39:35,460 you guys stand with me? Heavenly 743 00:39:35,460 --> 00:39:38,140 Father, I'm asking you to move in the hearts of the 744 00:39:38,140 --> 00:39:40,420 people in this room and those watching online and 745 00:39:40,420 --> 00:39:44,440 at all of our different locations right now. God, 746 00:39:44,480 --> 00:39:46,500 I know that in a sermon like this, it's impossible 747 00:39:46,500 --> 00:39:50,200 to capture every hurt and every heartache. God, 748 00:39:50,260 --> 00:39:53,140 I know that it's impossible to know the nuances of 749 00:39:53,140 --> 00:39:55,880 every situation, but God, none of that is hidden 750 00:39:55,880 --> 00:39:59,260 from you. And so God, I pray that you 751 00:39:59,260 --> 00:40:02,640 would give every person some clarity about what it 752 00:40:02,640 --> 00:40:05,680 is that you want them to do. Show 753 00:40:05,680 --> 00:40:08,880 them clearly the step that they're supposed to take. 754 00:40:09,980 --> 00:40:11,220 And then God, give them the 755 00:40:11,220 --> 00:40:14,600 courage to take it. In your name I pray, amen.