1 00:00:02,160 --> 00:00:05,840 A while back, one of our very own members of Crossing Nation 2 00:00:05,840 --> 00:00:08,600 wrote a poem called The Turning of the Tide. 3 00:00:09,000 --> 00:00:12,040 We it made its way into one of our worship nights and I believe 4 00:00:12,040 --> 00:00:15,160 it actually showed up and was featured during one of our 5 00:00:15,440 --> 00:00:17,760 Easter experiences a couple years ago. 6 00:00:18,080 --> 00:00:20,600 I got the words and I fell in love with it. 7 00:00:20,600 --> 00:00:24,360 It goes, it opens like this. In the beginning God created 8 00:00:24,360 --> 00:00:27,280 everything. Or in the beginning God created 9 00:00:27,280 --> 00:00:32,080 and everything was very good. Creator and His creation dwelled 10 00:00:32,080 --> 00:00:37,720 together just as they should, until something slithered into 11 00:00:37,720 --> 00:00:41,520 the garden to tempt and deceive the serpent. 12 00:00:41,520 --> 00:00:47,560 Satan painted our Creator as a God who should not be believed. 13 00:00:48,400 --> 00:00:51,480 Doubt, birth, temptation, temptation, birth, sin. 14 00:00:51,480 --> 00:00:57,680 With one bite, we waged a war we alone could never win. 15 00:00:59,080 --> 00:01:06,760 Where there once was peace, pain spread across the land. 16 00:01:07,240 --> 00:01:11,200 One of the most obvious facts of history and of the human 17 00:01:11,200 --> 00:01:16,720 experience is that peace does not characterize our earthly 18 00:01:16,720 --> 00:01:20,680 existence. There is no peace now for at 19 00:01:20,680 --> 00:01:26,480 least two reasons, the spiritual opposition of Satan with very 20 00:01:26,480 --> 00:01:31,280 real and physical implications, and the simple disobedience of 21 00:01:31,280 --> 00:01:34,120 us. It has been reported that in 22 00:01:34,120 --> 00:01:42,320 1968 a major newspaper printed that since 36 years before 23 00:01:42,320 --> 00:01:45,120 Christ to that moment it was published. 24 00:01:45,120 --> 00:01:53,520 In 1968 there had been 14,533 known wars. 25 00:01:54,000 --> 00:01:58,040 Since 1945 there have been over 80 wars and almost 200 26 00:01:58,320 --> 00:02:01,480 internationally significant outbreaks of violence spread 27 00:02:01,480 --> 00:02:05,120 over almost 100 nations. And I wrote this two weeks ago, 28 00:02:05,280 --> 00:02:10,039 and we should probably add some. However, that only accounts for 29 00:02:10,039 --> 00:02:14,440 the wars that are beyond us. That does not even begin to 30 00:02:14,440 --> 00:02:17,240 touch the number of wars around us. 31 00:02:17,880 --> 00:02:20,960 Take the average American household, the one you live in, 32 00:02:21,520 --> 00:02:24,360 with all of its anger, arguments and abuse. 33 00:02:25,320 --> 00:02:29,840 Think about the number of affairs, fights, divorces. 34 00:02:30,760 --> 00:02:34,200 Add to that our internal personal wars. 35 00:02:35,440 --> 00:02:41,040 Our souls are weary of the fight against pain, emotional 36 00:02:41,040 --> 00:02:45,480 disorders, anxiety, depression and regret that never lets its 37 00:02:45,480 --> 00:02:48,400 foot off the gas. So what do we do? 38 00:02:48,640 --> 00:02:53,440 We try to manufacture peace. How do we manufacture it? 39 00:02:53,560 --> 00:02:56,760 Through at least two areas, substance abuse and materialism. 40 00:02:56,920 --> 00:03:01,600 But there's never enough. And my hope is that by the end 41 00:03:01,600 --> 00:03:05,840 of our time together today, you will be able to chart a 42 00:03:05,880 --> 00:03:10,560 different course towards peace. I want to welcome all of our 43 00:03:10,560 --> 00:03:13,520 different locations, those of you watching online and inside. 44 00:03:13,840 --> 00:03:16,280 And a special shout out to those of you who are here for the 45 00:03:16,280 --> 00:03:19,080 first time or the first time in a long time. 46 00:03:19,120 --> 00:03:22,720 In fact, I want to zoom in for just a little bit to those of 47 00:03:22,720 --> 00:03:24,920 you who are here for the first time or the first time in a long 48 00:03:24,920 --> 00:03:27,560 time Crossing nation, those of you who are part of this church 49 00:03:27,560 --> 00:03:30,120 on a regular basis, I need you to hear me say this. 50 00:03:30,440 --> 00:03:32,840 People who are here for the first time or the first time in 51 00:03:32,840 --> 00:03:36,920 a long time, they are the VI PS of this church. 52 00:03:36,920 --> 00:03:43,160 And let me tell you why there is often a peace problem that 53 00:03:43,160 --> 00:03:46,920 causes people to come to church for the first time or for the 54 00:03:46,920 --> 00:03:51,240 first time in a long time. In all my years of ministry, you 55 00:03:51,240 --> 00:03:52,760 guys have heard me talk about this before. 56 00:03:53,000 --> 00:03:56,440 I have never met somebody for the first time and said, hey, 57 00:03:56,440 --> 00:03:58,360 what brought you here? And they went, well, I got to be 58 00:03:58,360 --> 00:04:01,000 honest with you, we make too much money, our marriage has too 59 00:04:01,000 --> 00:04:03,920 much sex, our communication has never been stronger, our kids 60 00:04:03,920 --> 00:04:06,160 listen too well, and our health has never been better. 61 00:04:06,400 --> 00:04:09,160 And we were bored. That has never been the 62 00:04:09,160 --> 00:04:11,440 testimony of anybody that I've met. 63 00:04:11,760 --> 00:04:14,120 There is almost, and I know I'm using a big paintbrush. 64 00:04:14,520 --> 00:04:19,160 There is usually something wrong and it's usually a peace 65 00:04:19,200 --> 00:04:23,920 problem, a pain point that is pushing people back into a 66 00:04:23,920 --> 00:04:27,960 relationship with God. They've lost their peace. 67 00:04:29,080 --> 00:04:33,080 And that is why as a church, we ask you to serve, give, show up 68 00:04:33,080 --> 00:04:37,280 early, park far away, prioritize the needs of others. 69 00:04:37,560 --> 00:04:41,400 Because there are people who are going through something and when 70 00:04:41,400 --> 00:04:43,640 they walk into our church for the first time or the first time 71 00:04:43,640 --> 00:04:48,640 in a long time, they are trying to make a spiritual move as a 72 00:04:48,640 --> 00:04:53,000 result of very physical, emotional, relational or mental 73 00:04:53,000 --> 00:04:56,520 pain points. And as they're making that move 74 00:04:56,520 --> 00:05:00,200 towards Jesus in a spiritual way, they are facing spiritual 75 00:05:00,200 --> 00:05:03,560 opposition every step of the way. 76 00:05:04,600 --> 00:05:08,320 Now, this desire for peace is not a new one. 77 00:05:09,360 --> 00:05:12,720 It is one of the most prominent concepts featured in the Old 78 00:05:12,720 --> 00:05:17,320 Testament. The word for peace appears 236 79 00:05:17,320 --> 00:05:20,640 times in the Old Testament. The word, the Hebrew word, is 80 00:05:20,640 --> 00:05:22,000 Shalom. Turn to your neighbor. 81 00:05:22,200 --> 00:05:26,200 Say Shalom, hopefully we're going to get to go to Israel in 82 00:05:26,200 --> 00:05:28,760 2028. And when you do, when the tour 83 00:05:28,760 --> 00:05:31,200 guide hops on the bus, he's going to say to everybody, 84 00:05:31,200 --> 00:05:34,840 Shalom, children of Israel, it's how you say hi if you're in 85 00:05:34,840 --> 00:05:37,840 Israel. And Shalom means way more, way, 86 00:05:37,840 --> 00:05:40,320 way, way more than health and prosperity. 87 00:05:40,920 --> 00:05:44,800 It means way, way, way more than the absence of conflict. 88 00:05:45,120 --> 00:05:50,800 It carries with it the idea of wholeness, completeness, total 89 00:05:51,040 --> 00:05:54,360 well-being. And right now, if you were to 90 00:05:54,360 --> 00:06:01,160 rank yourself on the peace scale of 1 to 10, with one being I 91 00:06:01,160 --> 00:06:07,240 have no peace whatsoever, and 10 being rainbows fell out of my 92 00:06:07,240 --> 00:06:11,040 pockets when I was walking into church today, where would you 93 00:06:11,040 --> 00:06:17,720 put yourself on the peace scale? And what if I told you that your 94 00:06:17,720 --> 00:06:24,200 number could increase? What if I told you your number 95 00:06:24,200 --> 00:06:30,720 could never go down again? We are in a series of teachings 96 00:06:30,720 --> 00:06:34,200 called the Same Name, and we are showing that the God of the Old 97 00:06:34,200 --> 00:06:37,160 Testament and the God of the New Testament are the same God. 98 00:06:37,280 --> 00:06:40,000 They have the same name because it's the same God with the same 99 00:06:40,000 --> 00:06:44,480 power, offering the same promise if you will receive him. 100 00:06:44,960 --> 00:06:48,560 If you have a Bible, you can turn to Judges chapter 6. 101 00:06:49,040 --> 00:06:51,200 Quick history lesson. While you're turning to Judges 102 00:06:51,200 --> 00:06:56,440 chapter 6, Moses has led the people out of slavery in Egypt 103 00:06:56,440 --> 00:07:00,560 and they have moved into the wilderness, and Moses has died. 104 00:07:00,800 --> 00:07:03,440 The journey for the people of Israel is not complete though. 105 00:07:03,640 --> 00:07:06,280 They have yet to make it into the Promised Land. 106 00:07:06,560 --> 00:07:10,080 So God raises up Joshua to follow after Moses, and Moses 107 00:07:10,080 --> 00:07:14,200 leads the people across the Jordan River into the Promised 108 00:07:14,200 --> 00:07:18,800 Land, and they have been taken possession of it and he has 109 00:07:18,800 --> 00:07:21,800 died. And now the people are in the 110 00:07:21,800 --> 00:07:23,880 Promised land and in the book of Judges. 111 00:07:24,120 --> 00:07:27,880 They are living in the land that God promised them, but they are 112 00:07:27,880 --> 00:07:31,760 in a vicious cycle. As you read through the book of 113 00:07:31,760 --> 00:07:34,000 Judges, if you were to do that this week, you will see this 114 00:07:34,000 --> 00:07:38,560 cycle over and over and over and over again. 115 00:07:38,800 --> 00:07:43,480 Here is the cycle. The people of God abandoned God. 116 00:07:44,520 --> 00:07:47,600 Then God lets the people of Israel experience the 117 00:07:47,600 --> 00:07:52,560 consequences of abandoning God. And So what do the people do 118 00:07:52,560 --> 00:07:54,520 when they start to experience the things that they don't like 119 00:07:54,520 --> 00:07:56,800 to experience? They cry out to God. 120 00:07:57,240 --> 00:08:00,120 We don't like this and hear this. 121 00:08:00,560 --> 00:08:03,600 God hears the cries of disobedient people. 122 00:08:04,720 --> 00:08:08,080 And then God empowers someone to deliver Israel from their 123 00:08:08,080 --> 00:08:11,440 oppression. Now before you get to Judgey, 124 00:08:11,520 --> 00:08:16,640 while we're reading the book of Judges, that's kind of my story 125 00:08:16,640 --> 00:08:19,480 too. And I think if you were to be 126 00:08:19,480 --> 00:08:22,960 honest, it's probably your story. 127 00:08:24,320 --> 00:08:27,800 I've abandoned God. God allows me to experience the 128 00:08:27,800 --> 00:08:31,720 consequences of me walking outside of his path, outside of 129 00:08:31,720 --> 00:08:34,400 his ways. Eventually I'm like, I don't 130 00:08:34,400 --> 00:08:36,919 like this anymore. And I cry out to God and go, you 131 00:08:36,919 --> 00:08:38,360 know what? Let's turn this thing around. 132 00:08:38,840 --> 00:08:43,360 And our God is so good that even though I have been disobedient, 133 00:08:43,360 --> 00:08:47,760 he hears my cry, and the God begins to make moves on my 134 00:08:47,760 --> 00:08:50,840 behalf to empower someone to bring me back into a right 135 00:08:50,840 --> 00:08:53,440 relationship with Him. This is where we pick up the 136 00:08:53,440 --> 00:08:57,920 story in Judges chapter 6. See if you can see the cycle. 137 00:08:58,560 --> 00:09:02,680 The Israelites did evil in the eyes of the Lord, and for seven 138 00:09:02,680 --> 00:09:05,840 years He gave them into the hands of the many nights. 139 00:09:06,360 --> 00:09:10,560 Because the power of Midian was so oppressive, the Israelites 140 00:09:10,560 --> 00:09:14,320 prepared shelters for themselves in mountain clefts, caves, and 141 00:09:14,320 --> 00:09:16,720 strongholds. So they were in the land that 142 00:09:16,720 --> 00:09:20,120 God gave them, but they could not enjoy the land that God gave 143 00:09:20,120 --> 00:09:22,640 them, and they were left to the outskirts. 144 00:09:23,560 --> 00:09:26,480 When the Israelites planted their crops, the Midianites, the 145 00:09:26,480 --> 00:09:30,400 Amalekites and other eastern peoples invaded the country. 146 00:09:31,040 --> 00:09:34,600 They camped on the land and ruined the crops all the way to 147 00:09:34,600 --> 00:09:35,880 Gaza. Gaza. 148 00:09:35,960 --> 00:09:37,720 That Gaza? Yeah, that one. 149 00:09:38,080 --> 00:09:42,120 And did not spare a living thing for Israel, neither sheep nor 150 00:09:42,120 --> 00:09:43,480 cattle or donkeys, let's say. Right. 151 00:09:43,480 --> 00:09:46,760 Go back there for just a second. We're a primarily agrarian 152 00:09:46,760 --> 00:09:51,840 society. Imagine this May as the farmers 153 00:09:51,840 --> 00:09:55,960 had just completed planting all their crops of foreign invaders 154 00:09:55,960 --> 00:09:59,920 came in and they wiped out all of our farmland. 155 00:10:00,640 --> 00:10:03,360 And then we go out to our barns, and instead of the sheep and the 156 00:10:03,360 --> 00:10:05,600 cattle and the donkeys, they've taken the John Deere, the case 157 00:10:05,600 --> 00:10:07,920 and the Klaus. Oh, did I say Klaus? 158 00:10:07,920 --> 00:10:09,680 Yeah. Guys, I come home. 159 00:10:09,680 --> 00:10:11,600 I know. I know my farm stuff. 160 00:10:11,600 --> 00:10:14,040 OK? I'm that cool. 161 00:10:14,320 --> 00:10:16,520 OK. They came up with their 162 00:10:16,520 --> 00:10:19,320 livestock and their tents like swarms of locusts. 163 00:10:19,320 --> 00:10:22,400 It was impossible to count them or their camels. 164 00:10:23,000 --> 00:10:26,040 They invaded the land to ravage it. 165 00:10:26,960 --> 00:10:32,720 Midian so impoverished Israel that they cried out to the Lord 166 00:10:32,920 --> 00:10:37,920 for help. Quick reminder, God never 167 00:10:38,160 --> 00:10:44,400 blesses disobedience. God removes His protection and 168 00:10:44,400 --> 00:10:48,760 His provision in an effort watch this to bring you back to Him 169 00:10:49,760 --> 00:10:52,160 because if God were to continue to bless you while you were 170 00:10:52,160 --> 00:10:55,320 living in sin, you would not realize the consequences of your 171 00:10:55,320 --> 00:10:59,600 sin and your true need of Him. What was this evil that they 172 00:10:59,600 --> 00:11:01,800 were doing? I'll tell you they were 173 00:11:01,800 --> 00:11:07,040 worshipping other gods, false gods, alongside of their worship 174 00:11:07,040 --> 00:11:10,160 of Him. This violates the first two of 175 00:11:10,160 --> 00:11:13,440 the 10 commandments that God had given them when they were going 176 00:11:13,440 --> 00:11:16,280 into the Promised land that accompanied a blessing. 177 00:11:16,400 --> 00:11:18,200 If you do these things, I will bless you. 178 00:11:18,440 --> 00:11:19,960 God said. I am the Lord your God. 179 00:11:20,160 --> 00:11:22,800 You shall have no other gods before me, and you shall not 180 00:11:22,800 --> 00:11:25,280 make for yourselves idols to worship. 181 00:11:26,080 --> 00:11:28,960 In other words, while mutual funds might be a great 182 00:11:28,960 --> 00:11:32,480 investment strategy for your retirement to spread the risk 183 00:11:32,480 --> 00:11:36,360 across the place, it is a bad strategy when it comes to faith. 184 00:11:37,600 --> 00:11:45,920 God is a single stock God. You either trust Him or you 185 00:11:45,920 --> 00:11:50,920 don't. You either worship Him alone or 186 00:11:50,920 --> 00:11:54,280 you don't. Judges chapter 6, verses 11 187 00:11:54,280 --> 00:11:57,480 through 16. The Angel of the Lord came and 188 00:11:57,480 --> 00:12:01,120 sat down under the oak and Oprah that belonged to Joash the 189 00:12:01,120 --> 00:12:04,680 Abizarite, where his son Gideon was threshing wheat in a wine 190 00:12:04,680 --> 00:12:06,360 press to keep it from the many nights. 191 00:12:06,800 --> 00:12:08,400 If you guys, you guys probably caught it. 192 00:12:08,400 --> 00:12:10,120 He's threshing wheat in a wine press. 193 00:12:10,120 --> 00:12:11,800 This is like mowing the yard with your oven. 194 00:12:12,280 --> 00:12:14,160 He is. Things are not going the right 195 00:12:14,160 --> 00:12:17,480 way, but he's doing it because they are that impoverished. 196 00:12:18,200 --> 00:12:20,840 When the Angel of the Lord appeared to Gideon, he said the 197 00:12:20,840 --> 00:12:24,320 Lord is with you, mighty warrior. 198 00:12:24,720 --> 00:12:27,480 Gideon's gone. Yeah, I don't kind of see that 199 00:12:27,480 --> 00:12:29,320 happening. But sometimes you got to 200 00:12:29,320 --> 00:12:32,320 remember that God sees things in you that you are capable of with 201 00:12:32,320 --> 00:12:34,680 him that you don't see in yourselves. 202 00:12:35,120 --> 00:12:38,480 Gideon has a bit of a passive aggressive wife mood going on. 203 00:12:38,680 --> 00:12:40,920 You're going to see that. Have you ever had an argument 204 00:12:40,920 --> 00:12:43,080 with your spouse where you were super respectful? 205 00:12:44,600 --> 00:12:48,080 Pardon me, my Lord, Gideon replied. 206 00:12:48,800 --> 00:12:51,920 If the Lord is with us, why has all this happened? 207 00:12:52,640 --> 00:12:56,160 Where are all his wonders that our ancestors told us about when 208 00:12:56,160 --> 00:12:59,080 they said, did not the Lord bring us up out of Egypt? 209 00:12:59,360 --> 00:13:03,640 But now the Lord has abandoned us and given us into the hand of 210 00:13:03,640 --> 00:13:06,040 Midian. The Lord turned to him and said, 211 00:13:06,040 --> 00:13:09,320 Go in the strength that you have, and save Israel out of 212 00:13:09,320 --> 00:13:11,720 Midian's hand. Am I not sending you? 213 00:13:12,360 --> 00:13:18,040 Pardon me my Lord, dear wife, I beseech thee, how thou should I 214 00:13:18,040 --> 00:13:24,440 actually say or folded the hand towels getting replied But how 215 00:13:24,440 --> 00:13:27,400 can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in 216 00:13:27,400 --> 00:13:30,480 Manessa, and I am the least in my family. 217 00:13:30,480 --> 00:13:35,720 The Lord answered, I will be with you, and you will strike 218 00:13:35,720 --> 00:13:41,240 down all of the Midianites, leaving none alive. 219 00:13:42,000 --> 00:13:44,240 Let's pause before we can get into the real meat of the sermon 220 00:13:44,240 --> 00:13:46,360 because we just introduced something that I know is going 221 00:13:46,360 --> 00:13:50,040 to rattle around in your brains. Is God about to wipe out an 222 00:13:50,040 --> 00:13:53,400 entire group of people? The answer to that question is 223 00:13:53,400 --> 00:13:55,600 yes. Sometimes when you're sitting 224 00:13:55,600 --> 00:13:59,360 across the table from an atheist or a person who is struggling 225 00:13:59,360 --> 00:14:02,280 with their faith, they will actually have one of two 226 00:14:02,280 --> 00:14:03,760 questions. Here is one of them. 227 00:14:04,000 --> 00:14:08,400 If God is so good, why does he allow all the evil in the world? 228 00:14:08,520 --> 00:14:12,560 Why doesn't he do something about it? 229 00:14:12,560 --> 00:14:17,240 The answer to that question is you have the many nights doing 230 00:14:17,240 --> 00:14:19,960 evil and God is about to eradicate it. 231 00:14:20,120 --> 00:14:22,160 He's about to do something about it. 232 00:14:22,720 --> 00:14:25,440 But when God actually shows up to do something about removing 233 00:14:25,440 --> 00:14:27,760 some of the evil in the world, do you know what the very same 234 00:14:27,760 --> 00:14:30,160 people will say? They will switch sides of the 235 00:14:30,160 --> 00:14:32,840 balance sheet. They will argue from both sides, 236 00:14:32,840 --> 00:14:36,280 and they will go, how could a good God destroy all of these 237 00:14:36,280 --> 00:14:40,040 people? You can't blame God for both 238 00:14:40,040 --> 00:14:44,080 sides of the equation. God is stepping in to move on 239 00:14:44,080 --> 00:14:45,600 behalf of the people to save them. 240 00:14:45,880 --> 00:14:49,640 And when God ends the lives of people, he always does so 241 00:14:49,880 --> 00:14:53,560 justly. God has never ended the life of 242 00:14:53,560 --> 00:14:58,440 an innocent person, save one, and that was Jesus Christ. 243 00:14:59,160 --> 00:15:01,840 So when God actually does something about the evil in the 244 00:15:01,840 --> 00:15:04,600 world and wipes out the Midianites, people get mad at 245 00:15:04,600 --> 00:15:07,640 God for punishing people. Here's what it would look like 246 00:15:07,640 --> 00:15:10,680 in our world if police were real. 247 00:15:10,880 --> 00:15:14,000 Like, if they really existed, there wouldn't be crime. 248 00:15:16,040 --> 00:15:19,040 And then at the same time going, hey, there's all these bad guys, 249 00:15:19,040 --> 00:15:20,400 somebody should do something about it. 250 00:15:20,400 --> 00:15:23,120 The police show up, they take away the bad guys, and then the 251 00:15:23,120 --> 00:15:25,760 same people go, why are these guys removing these? 252 00:15:25,920 --> 00:15:28,520 Why are the police removing these guys from their homes and 253 00:15:28,520 --> 00:15:31,160 leaving kids without dads? Well, hold on a second. 254 00:15:31,920 --> 00:15:36,120 You can't have it both ways. Back to the story, Gideon pushes 255 00:15:36,120 --> 00:15:40,400 back on God. If you're with us, why has all 256 00:15:40,400 --> 00:15:43,080 this happened? I've heard of all the things 257 00:15:43,080 --> 00:15:47,280 you've done in the past, but I don't see you and I am not 258 00:15:47,280 --> 00:15:52,920 experiencing you in my present. Now this is a pretty bold 259 00:15:52,920 --> 00:15:57,160 question for Gideon to ask because God is not the one who 260 00:15:57,160 --> 00:16:00,640 moved. The people had. 261 00:16:01,920 --> 00:16:03,960 You're going to find this out if you go home and read the rest of 262 00:16:03,960 --> 00:16:06,960 the story. Gideon is having this pardon me 263 00:16:07,040 --> 00:16:12,000 my Lord conversation while he has idols in his house. 264 00:16:15,360 --> 00:16:18,880 The fact that God didn't just end him in the midst of the 265 00:16:19,000 --> 00:16:24,760 pardon me my Lord. Gideon is blaming God for the 266 00:16:24,760 --> 00:16:27,520 fact that God has not been taking care of them all while 267 00:16:27,520 --> 00:16:32,200 Gideon and his family are still worshipping other gods. 268 00:16:33,440 --> 00:16:35,560 They were mad at God for what was happening to them, all while 269 00:16:35,560 --> 00:16:40,400 living in rejection of Him. And isn't this us? 270 00:16:41,800 --> 00:16:46,200 We assume that God's the problem when things don't go right, 271 00:16:46,200 --> 00:16:48,480 we're like, yeah, God really let us down. 272 00:16:48,480 --> 00:16:52,160 God really didn't come through. Instead of owning our own 273 00:16:52,160 --> 00:16:56,320 disobedience to His perfect will and purpose that He has for our 274 00:16:56,320 --> 00:16:57,600 lives. And I know what you're thinking, 275 00:16:57,600 --> 00:17:00,640 but Clayton, I have 0 idols in my house. 276 00:17:01,360 --> 00:17:03,440 I have none. I took them all to the thrift 277 00:17:03,440 --> 00:17:06,079 store. We don't have any of them there 278 00:17:06,240 --> 00:17:09,040 anymore. But here, Lee, rarely is an 279 00:17:09,040 --> 00:17:11,920 idol, a piece of wood, or a graven image. 280 00:17:13,000 --> 00:17:16,880 An idol for you and I is anything that you ultimately 281 00:17:16,880 --> 00:17:22,440 count on for your provision, protection, and satisfaction. 282 00:17:23,599 --> 00:17:26,240 In the Old Testament, the the battle is always against 283 00:17:26,240 --> 00:17:29,160 idolatry. In the New Testament, the battle 284 00:17:29,160 --> 00:17:34,320 is always against worldliness. This is when you and I conform 285 00:17:34,320 --> 00:17:37,680 our lives to the God of culture rather than the God revealed in 286 00:17:37,680 --> 00:17:40,320 the Scriptures. That's why our men's conference 287 00:17:40,320 --> 00:17:44,680 is called uncommon, because we're trying to kill ordinary We 288 00:17:44,680 --> 00:17:47,720 want to be who God called us to be instead of what the world is 289 00:17:47,720 --> 00:17:52,760 trying to convince us to be. There are all kinds of things in 290 00:17:52,760 --> 00:17:57,280 the Bible that we are called to do, and when we don't do them, 291 00:17:57,560 --> 00:18:01,920 it is because we are trusting in the wisdom of culture instead of 292 00:18:01,920 --> 00:18:07,080 the wisdom of our Creator. Back to the story, verses 22 293 00:18:07,080 --> 00:18:11,200 through 24. When Gideon realized that it was 294 00:18:11,200 --> 00:18:14,840 an Angel of the Lord, he exclaimed, Alas, sovereign Lord, 295 00:18:14,840 --> 00:18:18,000 I have seen the Angel of the Lord face to face. 296 00:18:18,000 --> 00:18:24,200 But the Lord said to him, peace, do not be afraid, you are not 297 00:18:24,200 --> 00:18:27,640 going to die. So Gideon built an altar to the 298 00:18:27,640 --> 00:18:32,640 Lord there and called it, The Lord is peace. 299 00:18:33,560 --> 00:18:40,760 And here we get a name for God, a title, Jehovah Shalom. 300 00:18:41,720 --> 00:18:47,920 God is peace. Not only is God peace, God is 301 00:18:47,920 --> 00:18:52,520 the one who gives peace. You guys have heard this 100 302 00:18:52,520 --> 00:18:54,200 times in your life. If you've been going to church 303 00:18:54,200 --> 00:18:57,360 for a long time. Numbers chapter 624 through 26. 304 00:18:57,520 --> 00:19:00,400 Look at what it says. The Lord bless you and keep you. 305 00:19:00,960 --> 00:19:04,400 The Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you. 306 00:19:04,680 --> 00:19:10,640 The Lord turn his face towards you and give you Shalom. 307 00:19:11,520 --> 00:19:15,160 This is backed up in Isaiah chapter 26 verse three. 308 00:19:15,480 --> 00:19:23,280 It says you will keep in perfect Shalom those whose minds are 309 00:19:23,280 --> 00:19:27,560 steadfast because they trust in you. 310 00:19:28,560 --> 00:19:31,880 Watch this. God is the one who gives peace. 311 00:19:31,880 --> 00:19:37,800 Peace comes from Him. But it is released by us. 312 00:19:38,440 --> 00:19:43,720 How is it released by us when we shift our trust from wherever it 313 00:19:43,720 --> 00:19:47,520 is to our trust being placed in Him? 314 00:19:48,040 --> 00:19:50,600 The way I've heard it said, and maybe you've heard it said this 315 00:19:50,600 --> 00:19:59,960 way is like this. No God, no peace, no God, no 316 00:19:59,960 --> 00:20:07,960 peace, no God. You will not have any peace if 317 00:20:07,960 --> 00:20:11,480 you know God. You can no peace. 318 00:20:12,760 --> 00:20:15,000 So how can I know God? Easy. 319 00:20:15,480 --> 00:20:18,400 Through an intimate personal relationship with Jesus Christ. 320 00:20:18,680 --> 00:20:21,720 Let's Fast forward to the New Testament, John chapter 14, 321 00:20:21,720 --> 00:20:23,680 verse 27. This is Jesus talking. 322 00:20:23,840 --> 00:20:30,080 He says, this peace I leave with you, my peace I give you, but I 323 00:20:30,080 --> 00:20:32,720 do not give to you as the world gives. 324 00:20:33,080 --> 00:20:37,560 Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. 325 00:20:38,160 --> 00:20:41,840 You see, when you begin to walk with Jesus, you begin to walk in 326 00:20:41,840 --> 00:20:45,400 peace in Shalom. Jesus, through the gift of the 327 00:20:45,400 --> 00:20:50,320 Holy Spirit changes your mind, your soul, your heart, and as a 328 00:20:50,320 --> 00:20:55,440 result changes your peace. Now watch this very carefully. 329 00:20:55,680 --> 00:20:58,720 Romans chapter 8, verses 5 through 7. 330 00:20:59,880 --> 00:21:04,640 Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on 331 00:21:04,640 --> 00:21:09,360 what the flesh desires, but those who live according to the 332 00:21:09,360 --> 00:21:13,760 Spirit have their mind set on what the Spirit desires. 333 00:21:14,680 --> 00:21:22,920 The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed 334 00:21:22,920 --> 00:21:27,600 by the Spirit is life and Shalom. 335 00:21:29,440 --> 00:21:32,880 The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God. 336 00:21:33,360 --> 00:21:37,440 It does not submit to God's law, nor can it do so. 337 00:21:37,440 --> 00:21:40,400 Watch this. Watch this your life. 338 00:21:41,400 --> 00:21:46,120 If it is not being governed by the Holy Spirit, your mind is 339 00:21:46,120 --> 00:21:50,520 leading you to death. But when you allow the Holy 340 00:21:50,520 --> 00:21:53,120 Spirit into your life, which you get when you come into a right 341 00:21:53,120 --> 00:21:55,720 relationship with Jesus Christ, your obedience to God in the 342 00:21:55,720 --> 00:21:57,920 area of baptism, we receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 343 00:21:58,080 --> 00:22:01,360 The Holy Spirit comes into life and He changes how our mind 344 00:22:01,360 --> 00:22:03,600 functions and the decisions that we make. 345 00:22:03,760 --> 00:22:06,600 And when we have a spiritual mind that we cannot get on our 346 00:22:06,600 --> 00:22:08,480 own, that is a gift that God gives us. 347 00:22:08,640 --> 00:22:11,880 Through our belief in Him and our sacrifice and submission to 348 00:22:11,880 --> 00:22:17,080 Him, we get a new mind. And this new mind gives us US 349 00:22:17,120 --> 00:22:23,240 life and peace. God gives it, We release it. 350 00:22:25,000 --> 00:22:28,960 We release it, we access it, we lay hold of it through faith in 351 00:22:28,960 --> 00:22:31,840 Him. When we put our faith in Him. 352 00:22:32,600 --> 00:22:37,480 Peace comes from God, but it is released when you and I shift 353 00:22:37,480 --> 00:22:39,960 our trust from being placed on anywhere else and make it placed 354 00:22:39,960 --> 00:22:42,240 on Him. And since we don't submit to 355 00:22:42,240 --> 00:22:45,360 God's law, we don't experience peace. 356 00:22:46,160 --> 00:22:48,560 Hopefully at this point right now, you are noticing a theme. 357 00:22:49,280 --> 00:22:51,640 The God of the Old Testament offers peace. 358 00:22:52,160 --> 00:22:55,520 Jesus of the New Testament offers peace. 359 00:22:55,640 --> 00:22:58,440 Why? Because God is Jehovah Shalom, 360 00:22:59,280 --> 00:23:02,600 and so is Jesus. It is the same name because it's 361 00:23:02,600 --> 00:23:06,440 the same God with the same power offering the same promise. 362 00:23:06,640 --> 00:23:09,600 But don't miss this, OK? If you've tuned out, tune back 363 00:23:09,600 --> 00:23:10,480 in. Look at me. 364 00:23:12,840 --> 00:23:17,080 The peace comes before the problem is resolved. 365 00:23:19,880 --> 00:23:21,360 This is like, This is why you came. 366 00:23:21,360 --> 00:23:23,280 You didn't know why you're getting up early today. 367 00:23:23,520 --> 00:23:28,120 This is it. Gideon said Jehovah Shalom 368 00:23:28,120 --> 00:23:33,080 before he tore down the idols, he still had to go battle the 369 00:23:33,080 --> 00:23:36,240 Midianites. Remember what it said about the 370 00:23:36,240 --> 00:23:39,040 Midianites and the Amalekites that they showed up and there 371 00:23:39,040 --> 00:23:40,760 was, there was too numerous to count. 372 00:23:41,240 --> 00:23:44,000 So Gideon, he gathers up a group of people. 373 00:23:44,000 --> 00:23:47,000 He goes, hey, everybody show up. We're going to fight these guys. 374 00:23:47,280 --> 00:23:51,720 32,000 people show up. So it is 32,000 people versus 375 00:23:51,720 --> 00:23:53,880 too numerous to count. The odds aren't good. 376 00:23:54,320 --> 00:23:58,080 God says, hey, you're going to be tempted to think that you won 377 00:23:58,080 --> 00:24:00,080 this battle. And so we're just going to, 378 00:24:00,080 --> 00:24:02,520 we're going to, we're going to whittle this group of 32,000 379 00:24:02,520 --> 00:24:06,360 down. Whoever's afraid, tell them they 380 00:24:06,360 --> 00:24:08,440 can go home. Gideon's like, Are you sure 381 00:24:08,440 --> 00:24:11,280 about that? He's like, yeah, well, he didn't 382 00:24:11,280 --> 00:24:13,000 say that, but I'm you guys get the picture. 383 00:24:13,240 --> 00:24:14,440 Like I've been looking in the Bible. 384 00:24:14,440 --> 00:24:19,600 Clayton lied. And so 22,000 people were like, 385 00:24:19,600 --> 00:24:21,960 oh, the, the the scared people can go home. 386 00:24:22,920 --> 00:24:27,880 Yeah, I'm back, babe, You want me to vacuum? 387 00:24:27,880 --> 00:24:30,240 What are we doing? He said the scared guys could 388 00:24:30,240 --> 00:24:31,440 come home. This is great. 389 00:24:31,960 --> 00:24:36,080 So Gideon now has 10,000 dudes versus an army to numerous 390 00:24:36,080 --> 00:24:39,320 account. Jehovah, Shalom, God goes. 391 00:24:39,680 --> 00:24:43,400 So here's as I'm looking down at this, you'd be tempted to think 392 00:24:43,480 --> 00:24:46,640 that if you won, that you won. But I need you to know that I'm 393 00:24:46,640 --> 00:24:48,240 the one who provides the victory. 394 00:24:48,720 --> 00:24:51,480 He goes, so have them take a drink and we'll kind of separate 395 00:24:51,480 --> 00:24:54,040 them by how they drink. And 300 people drink one way and 396 00:24:54,040 --> 00:24:57,640 9700 people drink another way. And Gideon's going, OK, losing 397 00:24:57,640 --> 00:24:59,200 300 people's not that big of a deal. 398 00:24:59,200 --> 00:25:03,120 And God says, actually send the 9700 people home. 399 00:25:06,040 --> 00:25:08,960 So now it's 300 verse 2, numerous to count. 400 00:25:09,960 --> 00:25:12,560 Not good odds. They're gearing up for battle. 401 00:25:13,640 --> 00:25:16,640 What did they take? Did they pull out their katanas? 402 00:25:18,000 --> 00:25:20,280 Did they pull out their super good swords and the Super good 403 00:25:20,280 --> 00:25:21,200 bows and Aries? You listen. 404 00:25:21,200 --> 00:25:26,600 Here's what I want you to do. I want you to get your lanterns 405 00:25:29,480 --> 00:25:35,840 and your pottery and your trumpets and go to war. 406 00:25:37,600 --> 00:25:40,520 Just feel that for a second. When you go to the local high 407 00:25:40,520 --> 00:25:45,240 school, I want you to rob the pottery kids, the theater kids 408 00:25:45,240 --> 00:25:48,120 and the band kids. Take all their stuff. 409 00:25:57,890 --> 00:26:03,330 Is that who you'd pick? 300 people with band equipment? 410 00:26:07,690 --> 00:26:16,880 And guess what, they won. Because when Jehovah Shalom is 411 00:26:16,880 --> 00:26:20,840 your Jehovah Shalom, it doesn't matter what's stacked against 412 00:26:20,840 --> 00:26:25,000 you, because the peace comes from him, but it's released by 413 00:26:25,280 --> 00:26:28,480 you. He's saying, if you follow me, 414 00:26:28,480 --> 00:26:31,080 you will experience the victory. Watch this. 415 00:26:31,720 --> 00:26:36,520 Jesus said the words peace I leave with you, my peace I give 416 00:26:36,520 --> 00:26:38,080 you. Guess when he said it? 417 00:26:39,200 --> 00:26:43,120 He said it the night before he went to the cross and died for 418 00:26:43,120 --> 00:26:45,160 our sins and gave us the victory. 419 00:26:45,480 --> 00:26:48,720 Peace comes before the battle, before the victory. 420 00:26:49,000 --> 00:26:50,840 Paul writes to the church in Philippi. 421 00:26:51,000 --> 00:26:53,880 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me or 422 00:26:53,880 --> 00:26:59,440 seen in me, put it into practice and the God of peace will be 423 00:26:59,440 --> 00:27:01,560 with you. Guess where Paul writes this? 424 00:27:02,560 --> 00:27:04,880 Paul writes those words in prison. 425 00:27:06,000 --> 00:27:09,520 He's talking about a God of peace while being chained and 426 00:27:09,520 --> 00:27:12,040 imprisoned in Rome. The peace comes before the 427 00:27:12,040 --> 00:27:13,880 victory. Paul writes to the church in 428 00:27:13,880 --> 00:27:17,320 Thessalonica who are undergoing intense persecution for their 429 00:27:17,320 --> 00:27:20,480 faith, intense persecution for their faith. 430 00:27:20,880 --> 00:27:27,760 He says, now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at 431 00:27:27,760 --> 00:27:33,000 all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you. 432 00:27:33,000 --> 00:27:36,760 Here's what I'm trying to say today. 433 00:27:36,840 --> 00:27:40,280 You might be in a battle, or you might be preparing for one. 434 00:27:42,120 --> 00:27:47,000 You might be pushed out, cast aside, but you can still know 435 00:27:47,000 --> 00:27:51,720 peace because Jehovah Shalom has declared it. 436 00:27:53,080 --> 00:27:57,400 He has provided it. He has promised it. 437 00:27:58,360 --> 00:28:03,520 One day, 2 artists were requested to paint a picture of 438 00:28:03,520 --> 00:28:06,800 peace. The one who painted the best 439 00:28:06,800 --> 00:28:09,800 picture was going to win $250,000. 440 00:28:09,800 --> 00:28:13,200 As you can imagine, both painters attempted to paint the 441 00:28:13,200 --> 00:28:15,920 finest painting of piece they could paint. 442 00:28:16,720 --> 00:28:19,760 The first painter set to work creating a serene portrait of a 443 00:28:19,760 --> 00:28:23,000 lake with the sun glistening off of it just at the right angle so 444 00:28:23,000 --> 00:28:25,440 that it's sparkled across the top of the water. 445 00:28:26,040 --> 00:28:28,600 The purest blue shade lay across the top of the water, 446 00:28:28,720 --> 00:28:33,240 complementing the blue sky. The artist added a young girl 447 00:28:33,240 --> 00:28:35,880 skipping near the lake with a yellow balloon securely fastened 448 00:28:35,880 --> 00:28:38,480 to her wrist. Trees towered gracefully on one 449 00:28:38,480 --> 00:28:41,560 side of the lake, with birds gathering in their tallest 450 00:28:41,560 --> 00:28:44,320 branches. After completing his painting, 451 00:28:44,320 --> 00:28:47,880 the painter leaned back and took a deep breath of satisfaction. 452 00:28:47,880 --> 00:28:53,240 In his mind, he had portrayed peace and was sure to win the 453 00:28:53,240 --> 00:28:57,080 prize. The second artist had a very 454 00:28:57,080 --> 00:29:00,560 different idea in mind when he painted his image. 455 00:29:01,280 --> 00:29:04,680 In his painting, the sky was pitch black. 456 00:29:05,600 --> 00:29:09,880 Lightning zigzagged through the air in unpredictable movements. 457 00:29:10,640 --> 00:29:13,720 The painter also had water, but the waves in his painting roared 458 00:29:13,720 --> 00:29:16,280 as if they were somehow awakened from a terrible dream. 459 00:29:16,800 --> 00:29:19,840 Trees bent and bowed, whining in the wind. 460 00:29:19,840 --> 00:29:24,360 The painting looked more like a portrait of disaster, but all 461 00:29:24,360 --> 00:29:26,920 the way down at the bottom of the left hand side, just near 462 00:29:26,920 --> 00:29:30,600 the very edge of this horrific scene, a little bird stood on a 463 00:29:30,600 --> 00:29:33,160 rock. The little bird had its mouth 464 00:29:33,200 --> 00:29:38,120 open, singing a beautiful song. 1 Faint light shone down on the 465 00:29:38,120 --> 00:29:45,280 bird as it sang, despite the situation all around it. 466 00:29:46,520 --> 00:29:50,080 And it was the second painter who won the competition. 467 00:29:51,320 --> 00:29:54,200 The judges chose him as the winner because he showed the 468 00:29:54,200 --> 00:30:00,080 truest manifestation of peace, a well-being that resonates from 469 00:30:00,080 --> 00:30:06,280 within despite what's going on all around. 470 00:30:07,440 --> 00:30:13,040 And that is why Paul writes to the church in Rome, Romans 16 471 00:30:13,040 --> 00:30:15,360 verse 20. You should underline this. 472 00:30:16,120 --> 00:30:25,160 The God of peace will soon crush Satan underneath your feet. 473 00:30:26,080 --> 00:30:32,440 You see, God is a God of peace who walks in victory, and you 474 00:30:32,440 --> 00:30:35,440 and I will one day walk in his victory. 475 00:30:36,200 --> 00:30:43,400 And if you are in Christ, hear me, If you are in Christ, you 476 00:30:43,600 --> 00:30:48,360 have peace before the victory because He has declared it. 477 00:30:49,080 --> 00:30:51,760 And if you don't have a relationship with Jesus Christ, 478 00:30:52,040 --> 00:30:56,120 the good news is you can find peace today, and I hope you'll 479 00:30:56,120 --> 00:30:58,120 do so. We're moving to a time of 480 00:30:58,120 --> 00:31:05,720 decision. Can I finish the poem I started 481 00:31:05,720 --> 00:31:07,680 at the beginning of the sermon? You're going to fall in love 482 00:31:07,680 --> 00:31:11,040 with this. From Adam to Joseph, Mary's 483 00:31:11,040 --> 00:31:16,440 betrothed, not one man could overcome the seed of sin that 484 00:31:16,440 --> 00:31:21,400 had been sowed until in Bethlehem a virgin gave birth to 485 00:31:21,400 --> 00:31:25,680 Jesus. Emmanuel, God with us here on 486 00:31:25,680 --> 00:31:29,240 earth. This child a sure sign that God 487 00:31:29,360 --> 00:31:35,120 has not left us to fight alone, but has given everything of 488 00:31:35,120 --> 00:31:42,120 himself to bring us back home for the first time in history. 489 00:31:42,320 --> 00:31:45,600 A man who resists sin at every temptation. 490 00:31:45,840 --> 00:31:51,280 A man who commands angels and demons, disease, wind and waves, 491 00:31:51,280 --> 00:31:55,760 and they obey him. But this man looked nothing like 492 00:31:55,760 --> 00:32:00,600 the warrior we expected, and his claims to be the way, truth and 493 00:32:00,600 --> 00:32:07,680 the life we rejected. He was found guilty, though he 494 00:32:07,680 --> 00:32:11,840 committed no crime. His accusers struck him, 495 00:32:11,840 --> 00:32:15,320 taunting. Tell us who hit you if you are 496 00:32:15,560 --> 00:32:19,920 the Christ. He was delivered to Pilate, who 497 00:32:19,920 --> 00:32:25,120 freed Barabbas to please the crowd, and Jesus was dressed and 498 00:32:25,120 --> 00:32:30,800 spit a scarlet robe and thorns twisted into a crown. 499 00:32:32,240 --> 00:32:38,840 As Jesus breathed his last hanging on a tree, Satan and all 500 00:32:38,840 --> 00:32:44,520 of his powers of darkness shouted out with Glee. 501 00:32:46,240 --> 00:32:51,680 If this is God's chosen Messiah, the one who came to save, what 502 00:32:51,680 --> 00:32:57,960 good is it to have a Savior lying in a grave? 503 00:32:59,920 --> 00:33:04,760 Darkness has enveloped the world at the dying of the light, and 504 00:33:04,760 --> 00:33:11,600 now there is no way home, no way to be made right. 505 00:33:13,240 --> 00:33:23,720 Surely Satan won this battle and with this battle the war and God 506 00:33:23,720 --> 00:33:31,080 let Satan celebrate for three days and not one minute more. 507 00:33:32,240 --> 00:33:36,120 With the rolling of a stone comes the turning of the tide. 508 00:33:36,360 --> 00:33:40,760 Yes, Jesus was buried in the tomb, but he could not be kept 509 00:33:41,080 --> 00:33:44,080 inside. In the battle against good and 510 00:33:44,080 --> 00:33:46,760 evil. Jesus has won the war. 511 00:33:46,920 --> 00:33:52,080 Satan and his powers of darkness flee at the mighty lions roar. 512 00:33:52,120 --> 00:33:58,080 Where every man has failed, Jesus has succeeded. 513 00:34:00,520 --> 00:34:06,800 Sin has been resisted, and death has been defeated. 514 00:34:07,600 --> 00:34:12,840 Every chain has been broken. Every captive has been set free. 515 00:34:13,400 --> 00:34:21,520 God has taken on the record of our debt and He has nailed it to 516 00:34:21,560 --> 00:34:25,560 a tree where Satan staked his claim. 517 00:34:26,560 --> 00:34:31,880 Jesus poured out his blood and cast out the darkness with the 518 00:34:31,880 --> 00:34:39,600 light that cannot be overcome. The Son of God is risen and He 519 00:34:39,600 --> 00:34:45,880 fights on our side. Thanks be to God who gives us 520 00:34:45,920 --> 00:34:49,920 the victory through Jesus Christ. 521 00:34:50,520 --> 00:34:55,560 To those of you who don't know Jesus, if you are not in Christ, 522 00:34:55,840 --> 00:35:00,960 you are not part of the victory, but you can be. 523 00:35:02,200 --> 00:35:04,880 And it is time for you to start an intimate personal 524 00:35:04,880 --> 00:35:08,840 relationship with Jesus Christ. And can I encourage you to start 525 00:35:08,840 --> 00:35:11,760 it today? In just a few moments, the 526 00:35:11,760 --> 00:35:13,560 people around you are going to stand and sing. 527 00:35:13,560 --> 00:35:15,440 If you're watching online, they're going to make it 528 00:35:15,440 --> 00:35:18,480 available in the chat. And I want to encourage you to 529 00:35:18,480 --> 00:35:20,920 turn and talk to somebody that you know, turn and talk to 530 00:35:20,920 --> 00:35:23,520 somebody that brought you. Or if you would walk right up 531 00:35:23,520 --> 00:35:26,280 there underneath that screen next to that baptistry and say, 532 00:35:26,280 --> 00:35:31,280 hey, I need peace. I'm ready to walk in the victory 533 00:35:31,280 --> 00:35:34,560 of Christ. To those of you who do know 534 00:35:34,640 --> 00:35:40,800 Jesus, if you don't have peace today, you're struggling, you're 535 00:35:40,800 --> 00:35:43,320 in the middle of a battle, you're in a middle of a season. 536 00:35:43,320 --> 00:35:46,440 Let me just lay a couple things in front of you. 537 00:35:47,480 --> 00:35:51,520 One, you might not be operating in peace because you are still 538 00:35:51,520 --> 00:35:55,160 operating in sin. And so maybe one of the things 539 00:35:55,160 --> 00:35:57,160 you need to do is you just need to get down your knees and 540 00:35:57,160 --> 00:35:59,440 repent of the sins that you've been committing. 541 00:35:59,600 --> 00:36:02,720 There are other gods playing a role in your life and you need 542 00:36:02,720 --> 00:36:07,360 to be a one God person. Some of you, you are just in it 543 00:36:07,480 --> 00:36:10,320 and it just hurts and you just need to allow God to strengthen 544 00:36:10,320 --> 00:36:14,080 you through your prayer. You usually say, God, there is 545 00:36:14,080 --> 00:36:17,200 this thing in front of me and I don't have peace and that means 546 00:36:17,200 --> 00:36:20,520 that my trust is misplaced. Help me to place my trust in 547 00:36:20,520 --> 00:36:22,840 you. The disciples cried out to Jesus 548 00:36:22,840 --> 00:36:26,840 and they said help us in our disbelief and God will help you 549 00:36:27,080 --> 00:36:29,000 and grow your faith. Would you guys stand with me? 550 00:36:30,680 --> 00:36:42,110 Heavenly Father, thank you. Thank you for all the ways you 551 00:36:42,110 --> 00:36:47,000 have gone before us, provided for us, looked out for us, been 552 00:36:47,000 --> 00:36:49,520 patient with us. Thank you. 553 00:36:52,120 --> 00:36:56,480 Thank you for doing what we could have never done and doing 554 00:36:56,480 --> 00:36:59,440 it when we didn't deserve it yet. 555 00:36:59,440 --> 00:37:02,600 I'm asking that right now, not just here, but across all of our 556 00:37:02,600 --> 00:37:07,120 locations, and that you would use this moment to draw every 557 00:37:07,120 --> 00:37:11,560 single soul closer to you. Amen. 558 00:37:11,640 --> 00:37:13,000 I pray. Amen.