1 00:00:03,640 --> 00:00:08,039 This weekend is the biggest. Game of the year 192 million 2 00:00:08,039 --> 00:00:10,560 adults plan to watch. The game. 3 00:00:10,800 --> 00:00:13,840 Well, it's the most important thing to 42% of the viewers. 4 00:00:14,200 --> 00:00:17,400 The commercials are the most important thing to 19% of the 5 00:00:17,400 --> 00:00:21,600 viewers, and the halftime show is the most important to 18%. 6 00:00:22,360 --> 00:00:26,640 An estimated 16.5 billion will be spent on food, decorations 7 00:00:26,640 --> 00:00:29,760 and furniture. Usher is going to headline the 8 00:00:29,760 --> 00:00:34,440 Apple Music halftime show. Last year, over 50 million 9 00:00:34,440 --> 00:00:38,880 Americans, or about 15% of the entire US population, placed a 10 00:00:38,880 --> 00:00:42,360 bet on the Super Bowl. Their estimates that between 11 00:00:42,360 --> 00:00:46,640 legal sports, books, illegal bookmakers and friends, around 12 00:00:46,640 --> 00:00:50,280 $16 billion is going to be wagered during the game. 13 00:00:50,960 --> 00:00:53,480 For the players, the stage could not be bigger. 14 00:00:54,040 --> 00:00:56,840 Their whole lives have been leading them to this moment, 15 00:00:57,280 --> 00:00:59,200 from the early beginnings, throwing the ball with their 16 00:00:59,200 --> 00:01:03,160 fathers and friends to the first game on a Saturday with Pop 17 00:01:03,160 --> 00:01:06,240 Warner. Eventually they were able to 18 00:01:06,240 --> 00:01:12,080 play underneath the Friday Night Lights, surrounded by the cheers 19 00:01:12,160 --> 00:01:15,600 of family and friends. Their success? 20 00:01:15,960 --> 00:01:19,680 Well, it LED them back to Saturdays, but this time with a 21 00:01:19,680 --> 00:01:22,920 statewide fan base as they exerted their efforts on the 22 00:01:22,920 --> 00:01:26,600 college stage. They survived the combine, the 23 00:01:26,600 --> 00:01:30,360 draft and beat out all the other talent to finally play in the 24 00:01:30,360 --> 00:01:34,720 NFL on Thursdays, Sundays and Mondays. 25 00:01:35,360 --> 00:01:38,520 They've managed their diets, their workouts, the recoveries, 26 00:01:38,520 --> 00:01:42,600 their surgeries, their rehabs, their practices, countless hours 27 00:01:42,600 --> 00:01:46,800 of watching tape, a tough season and intense playoff bracket to 28 00:01:46,800 --> 00:01:51,280 arrive at the Super Bowl for the chance to become a champion. 29 00:01:52,400 --> 00:01:54,760 There was a time when my boys wanted to be preachers. 30 00:01:55,640 --> 00:02:00,120 However, since Patrick Mahomes rose to prominence, my boys both 31 00:02:00,120 --> 00:02:03,360 dream of one day playing in the Super Bowl. 32 00:02:04,320 --> 00:02:07,160 They regularly tell Jennifer and I about the nice things that 33 00:02:07,160 --> 00:02:10,960 they're going to buy us, and I'm just going to give you a heads 34 00:02:10,960 --> 00:02:14,160 up. Both of my boys plan on buying 35 00:02:14,160 --> 00:02:18,840 Jennifer and I jets, so if you want to go somewhere almost 36 00:02:18,840 --> 00:02:21,880 every single weekend, they'll be an extra jet in our family 37 00:02:21,880 --> 00:02:24,560 hangar and I hope you pick some place nice to go. 38 00:02:25,240 --> 00:02:28,640 Well, after the singing of the national anthem, the game will 39 00:02:28,640 --> 00:02:32,600 begin and it will become readily apparent if the teams are ready 40 00:02:33,000 --> 00:02:35,560 or not. Some players will rise to the 41 00:02:35,560 --> 00:02:40,040 occasion and others will not. Some will make the play of their 42 00:02:40,040 --> 00:02:43,840 lives and others will make a mistake they'll never forget. 43 00:02:44,440 --> 00:02:48,960 Four quarters later and the game will end and one team will raise 44 00:02:48,960 --> 00:02:52,800 the Vince Lombardi Trophy. News outlets, social media, 45 00:02:53,200 --> 00:02:58,200 bloggers, merchandisers will all cash in on the coverage and for 46 00:02:58,200 --> 00:03:01,120 the winners, it will feel like they are the center of the 47 00:03:01,120 --> 00:03:04,320 universe and no one will ever forget what they did on that 48 00:03:04,320 --> 00:03:07,520 day. However, in the not so distant 49 00:03:07,520 --> 00:03:11,680 future, very few will remember the details of the game and who 50 00:03:11,680 --> 00:03:14,520 won? My boys can barely remember Tom 51 00:03:14,520 --> 00:03:18,200 Brady or Peyton Manning. They know nothing of Joe 52 00:03:18,200 --> 00:03:21,320 Montana, Elway or movie. Come on. 53 00:03:23,480 --> 00:03:27,080 While the games and players will eventually be forgotten, too 54 00:03:27,080 --> 00:03:31,760 many of us either carry scars or have caused scars that will 55 00:03:31,760 --> 00:03:34,560 never be forgotten. We've said things we wish we 56 00:03:34,560 --> 00:03:36,920 could take back. We've done things we deeply 57 00:03:36,920 --> 00:03:39,200 regret. We've not been the spouse or the 58 00:03:39,200 --> 00:03:41,160 parent that we knew we were supposed to be. 59 00:03:41,880 --> 00:03:45,520 Others of us have deep wounds, words from a parent or a friend 60 00:03:45,520 --> 00:03:49,200 that are etched into our hearts and in our minds, unspeakable 61 00:03:49,200 --> 00:03:52,480 things have been done to us. Many of us have been sacked in 62 00:03:52,480 --> 00:03:56,000 life because those who are supposed to protect us abandoned 63 00:03:56,000 --> 00:03:58,320 us and our moment of greatest need. 64 00:03:58,880 --> 00:04:02,200 Some of us have never become all we were supposed to become 65 00:04:02,360 --> 00:04:04,720 because we didn't have the coaches or parents who would 66 00:04:04,720 --> 00:04:09,080 grow us, shape us, and guide us to become all that God created 67 00:04:09,080 --> 00:04:11,520 us to be. There's so many of us who wish 68 00:04:11,520 --> 00:04:14,440 we could make a spiritual difference in this world, but 69 00:04:14,440 --> 00:04:17,399 every time we get the opportunity, we end up fumbling 70 00:04:17,399 --> 00:04:20,760 the ball. You and I both know, but unless 71 00:04:20,760 --> 00:04:25,000 my boys put in a ton of work, they will never set foot on the 72 00:04:25,000 --> 00:04:30,720 NFL turf last year on Super Bowl. 73 00:04:30,720 --> 00:04:33,280 Weekend we had Steve. Weatherford, come and speak to 74 00:04:33,320 --> 00:04:35,360 us. He was the fittest man in the 75 00:04:35,360 --> 00:04:38,640 NFL and a Super Bowl champion is a punter for the New York 76 00:04:38,640 --> 00:04:40,760 Giants. He said something I have not 77 00:04:40,760 --> 00:04:42,600 been able to shake. He said this you. 78 00:04:43,040 --> 00:04:45,960 Start to GoPro spiritually so the difference between an 79 00:04:45,960 --> 00:04:49,000 amateur and a Pro is an amateur makes decisions based upon his 80 00:04:49,000 --> 00:04:51,480 feelings and a pro makes decisions based upon his 81 00:04:51,480 --> 00:04:53,240 commitments. Say it one more time and say it 82 00:04:53,240 --> 00:04:55,080 a lot slower, because everybody needs to hear this. 83 00:04:55,400 --> 00:04:57,520 Amateurs. The difference between amateurs 84 00:04:57,520 --> 00:04:59,080 and pros. And I believe that we all inside 85 00:04:59,080 --> 00:05:00,960 of this room, we all want to GoPro in life. 86 00:05:00,960 --> 00:05:04,280 We all want to be excellent. So the the way that we GoPro is 87 00:05:04,280 --> 00:05:06,160 we figure out what we're committed to. 88 00:05:06,440 --> 00:05:09,160 Amateurs make decisions upon their feelings. 89 00:05:09,760 --> 00:05:13,760 Pros Pros make decisions based upon commitments and so. 90 00:05:14,080 --> 00:05:17,600 But like when a pro goes to sleep, a pro decides what 91 00:05:17,600 --> 00:05:19,840 tomorrow holds and what they're committed to. 92 00:05:19,840 --> 00:05:22,080 And so when they wake up, they don't wake up and say, well, 93 00:05:22,280 --> 00:05:23,960 well, what are my feelings saying? 94 00:05:24,320 --> 00:05:26,440 Because I'll let them be their my. 95 00:05:26,440 --> 00:05:30,240 Leader between you and me. I really. 96 00:05:30,240 --> 00:05:31,720 Don't care if they GoPro in sports. 97 00:05:32,520 --> 00:05:33,880 But I do care about whether or not they. 98 00:05:33,880 --> 00:05:36,800 GoPro and the things that matter the most. 99 00:05:38,200 --> 00:05:40,000 Next Let's go. Oh boy. 100 00:05:40,800 --> 00:05:43,560 This is why when I take my kids to school, part of my prayer. 101 00:05:43,560 --> 00:05:46,880 Over them is this. I pray, Heavenly Father, help my 102 00:05:46,880 --> 00:05:51,040 boys grow up to love you with all of their heart, mind, soul 103 00:05:51,040 --> 00:05:54,160 and strength, and help them to embrace the Great Commission and 104 00:05:54,160 --> 00:05:57,360 make disciples of all nations. This comes right out of 105 00:05:57,360 --> 00:06:00,160 scripture. In Mark chapter 12 we find this 106 00:06:00,400 --> 00:06:02,920 Love the Lord your God with all of your heart, with all of your 107 00:06:02,920 --> 00:06:06,120 soul, with all of your mind, and with all of your strength. 108 00:06:06,680 --> 00:06:10,320 The second is this love your neighbor as yourself. 109 00:06:10,640 --> 00:06:13,520 There is no commandment greater than these. 110 00:06:14,000 --> 00:06:16,360 Then in Matthew chapter 28 we find these words. 111 00:06:16,680 --> 00:06:19,360 Then Jesus came to them and said all authority in. 112 00:06:19,360 --> 00:06:21,680 Heaven and on earth has been given to me. 113 00:06:22,200 --> 00:06:24,440 Therefore, go and make. Disciples of all. 114 00:06:24,440 --> 00:06:27,760 Nations baptizing them. In the name of the Father and 115 00:06:27,760 --> 00:06:31,640 the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey 116 00:06:32,000 --> 00:06:35,320 everything, I have commanded you, and surely I am with you 117 00:06:35,320 --> 00:06:38,280 always to the very end of the age. 118 00:06:38,680 --> 00:06:42,800 It's time for us as a church to GoPro and loving God and loving 119 00:06:42,800 --> 00:06:45,280 others. And helping people find what? 120 00:06:45,280 --> 00:06:48,000 We have. Found in Jesus, It's time. 121 00:06:48,000 --> 00:06:52,560 For us to GoPro in the things that matter the most. 122 00:06:53,120 --> 00:06:56,600 That is why today we are launching the 50 for 50 123 00:06:56,840 --> 00:06:59,280 initiative. We're asking every person who 124 00:06:59,280 --> 00:07:04,040 calls the crossing home to give 50 minutes a day for the next 50 125 00:07:04,200 --> 00:07:07,920 days to live out the Great Commandments and the Great 126 00:07:08,120 --> 00:07:10,240 Commission. Our team has been working 127 00:07:10,240 --> 00:07:14,520 diligently behind the scenes to build out workbooks and videos 128 00:07:14,520 --> 00:07:18,320 and Bible reading plans and challenges and sermons to help 129 00:07:18,360 --> 00:07:22,440 each of us GoPro in the things that matter most. 130 00:07:23,040 --> 00:07:26,000 A while back I had a friend that I spoke to you regularly on the 131 00:07:26,000 --> 00:07:28,920 phone, but I didn't see all that often. 132 00:07:29,400 --> 00:07:31,640 And he was sharing about how he was trying to get a little bit 133 00:07:31,640 --> 00:07:34,400 more healthy and he was trying to eat right and he was going to 134 00:07:34,400 --> 00:07:36,920 the gym, but it really didn't register to me. 135 00:07:37,480 --> 00:07:41,600 And then I saw him and the change was dramatic. 136 00:07:42,240 --> 00:07:45,320 However, that change did not happen overnight. 137 00:07:45,800 --> 00:07:50,160 It happened a little bit at a time, over a long period of 138 00:07:50,160 --> 00:07:53,320 time, and I'm sure that there are a lot of times when he 139 00:07:53,440 --> 00:07:57,000 wanted a shortcut, wanted a cheat day, wanted to quit. 140 00:07:57,240 --> 00:07:59,440 But the important thing is, he didn't. 141 00:08:00,080 --> 00:08:03,800 He kept pushing himself even when he didn't see immediate 142 00:08:03,840 --> 00:08:06,640 results. And that's the tough thing about 143 00:08:06,680 --> 00:08:09,680 a journey like this. One day of working out doesn't 144 00:08:09,680 --> 00:08:13,200 produce dramatic results, just a lot of pain and a lot of 145 00:08:13,200 --> 00:08:16,000 soreness. Skipping a day doesn't cost you 146 00:08:16,280 --> 00:08:21,320 all that much, however. Whichever thing gets repeated 147 00:08:21,320 --> 00:08:27,040 consistently will shape you. For better or for worse? 148 00:08:28,000 --> 00:08:33,240 50 days from now our church will be gathering all across this 149 00:08:33,240 --> 00:08:39,360 region to celebrate Easter and my question is what do you want 150 00:08:39,360 --> 00:08:43,159 to be different about you 50 days from now? 151 00:08:43,760 --> 00:08:46,800 And I don't want you to make a decision based on your feelings. 152 00:08:47,560 --> 00:08:50,800 We all have feelings that we need to be a better follower of 153 00:08:50,880 --> 00:08:53,080 Jesus. We all feel like we need to be 154 00:08:53,080 --> 00:08:56,080 better spouses and parents and friends. 155 00:08:56,320 --> 00:09:00,280 We've had these feelings before and we will have these feelings 156 00:09:00,280 --> 00:09:02,640 again. What I want to know is there 157 00:09:02,640 --> 00:09:05,360 somebody who's ready to make a commitment. 158 00:09:06,120 --> 00:09:09,800 There was an old song that was saying at my ordination when I 159 00:09:09,800 --> 00:09:12,040 committed my life to full time ministry. 160 00:09:12,400 --> 00:09:16,120 The song was I have decided to follow Jesus. 161 00:09:16,760 --> 00:09:20,240 The lyrics go like this. I have decided to follow Jesus. 162 00:09:20,520 --> 00:09:25,280 I have decided to follow Jesus. I have decided to follow Jesus. 163 00:09:25,640 --> 00:09:29,560 No turning back. No turning back though none go 164 00:09:29,560 --> 00:09:32,520 with me. I still will follow though none 165 00:09:32,520 --> 00:09:34,840 go with me. I still will follow. 166 00:09:35,040 --> 00:09:37,520 Though none go with me. I still will follow. 167 00:09:37,520 --> 00:09:39,000 I still will follow. No turning back. 168 00:09:39,480 --> 00:09:42,600 No turning back. The world behind me and the 169 00:09:42,600 --> 00:09:44,960 cross before me. The world behind me. 170 00:09:45,120 --> 00:09:47,720 The cross before me. The world behind me. 171 00:09:47,840 --> 00:09:51,400 The cross before me. No turning back, no turning 172 00:09:51,400 --> 00:09:54,720 back. At the CrossFit gym where I used 173 00:09:54,720 --> 00:09:56,960 to work out, emphasis on used to. 174 00:09:57,480 --> 00:10:01,320 There's a saying painted on the wall, and it reads like this. 175 00:10:01,800 --> 00:10:08,480 Find out what happens if you don't quit, and I'll never know 176 00:10:09,440 --> 00:10:14,360 because I quit. 50 days from now, there are going to be 177 00:10:14,360 --> 00:10:18,520 people who will have a closer walk with Jesus 50 days from 178 00:10:18,520 --> 00:10:19,880 now. They're going to be people who 179 00:10:19,880 --> 00:10:23,280 are experiencing a deepening of their faith and a widening of 180 00:10:23,280 --> 00:10:25,800 their impact. The question is whether or not 181 00:10:25,800 --> 00:10:30,200 you will be numbered among them. I want to know, is there 182 00:10:30,200 --> 00:10:34,200 somebody out there, somebody who is at one of our locations who's 183 00:10:34,200 --> 00:10:37,160 ready to make a commitment? Is there somebody at one of our 184 00:10:37,160 --> 00:10:38,960 locations who's ready to make a difference? 185 00:10:38,960 --> 00:10:42,240 Is there someone today at 48th St. in Macomb and Kirksville 186 00:10:42,240 --> 00:10:46,000 who's ready to make a change? Is there someone today at 929 in 187 00:10:46,000 --> 00:10:48,960 Pike County and Hannibal who's ready to make a decision? 188 00:10:49,240 --> 00:10:52,280 Is there someone today at Lima and Mount Sterling in Keokuk, in 189 00:10:52,280 --> 00:10:54,280 Monmouth, who's ready to make a difference? 190 00:10:54,560 --> 00:10:58,440 Is there someone today in Jacksonville watching online or 191 00:10:58,440 --> 00:11:01,520 part of our crossing inside who's ready to GoPro in the 192 00:11:01,520 --> 00:11:06,840 things that matter most? I know I do, and I hope you'll 193 00:11:06,840 --> 00:11:07,320 join. Me. 194 00:11:13,200 --> 00:11:23,320 For far too long, for far too long, many of us, we've been 195 00:11:23,320 --> 00:11:27,960 playing the wrong game. We have been so focused, if you 196 00:11:27,960 --> 00:11:30,800 could be honest with yourself. We have been so focused on 197 00:11:30,880 --> 00:11:34,400 everything. But what's most important, and 198 00:11:34,400 --> 00:11:38,680 that is Jesus and his mission for our lives. 199 00:11:40,400 --> 00:11:42,440 For some of us in this room, and for those of you who are 200 00:11:42,440 --> 00:11:46,360 watching online, you maybe have been winning at work, but we're 201 00:11:46,360 --> 00:11:51,080 not really doing very well in the area of worship for others 202 00:11:51,080 --> 00:11:53,320 of us. You've wanted money. 203 00:11:53,320 --> 00:11:56,040 You've accumulated the money. You're doing really well, and it 204 00:11:56,040 --> 00:12:00,640 feels good, but not so much in your generosity. 205 00:12:02,520 --> 00:12:07,720 A lot of us, or some of us, or just a couple of us, you've won 206 00:12:07,720 --> 00:12:11,320 at material wealth. But if I had to, if I had to 207 00:12:11,320 --> 00:12:15,600 guess that the spiritual temperature in this room, some 208 00:12:15,600 --> 00:12:17,720 of you feel very spiritually empty. 209 00:12:19,080 --> 00:12:24,480 And for far too long we've won at being comfortable doing 210 00:12:24,480 --> 00:12:26,480 things the way that we want to do them. 211 00:12:28,720 --> 00:12:33,760 But a lot of us are not making that big of a difference. 212 00:12:34,840 --> 00:12:38,160 Matthew chapter 16, verse 24 says this If anyone wants to 213 00:12:38,160 --> 00:12:44,160 follow after me, if we want to follow after Jesus, let him deny 214 00:12:44,160 --> 00:12:48,040 himself, take up his cross and follow me. 215 00:12:48,520 --> 00:12:52,440 Jesus saying, listen, it's not about comfortability, it's about 216 00:12:52,440 --> 00:12:56,840 denying yourself, picking up my heavy cross and following me. 217 00:12:56,840 --> 00:13:04,280 And for far too long we've been playing the wrong game and I 218 00:13:04,280 --> 00:13:09,080 need somebody in this room to join with me to say, listen, 219 00:13:10,360 --> 00:13:14,840 it's got to stop, It's got to come to an end and that that 220 00:13:14,840 --> 00:13:17,840 comes to an end today and someone's going to have to say 221 00:13:17,880 --> 00:13:19,320 I'm done. I'm sick of it. 222 00:13:19,800 --> 00:13:23,520 For far too long we've been playing the wrong way, haven't 223 00:13:23,520 --> 00:13:24,720 we? Think about it. 224 00:13:24,800 --> 00:13:27,000 We see the world. You just walk out these doors, 225 00:13:27,000 --> 00:13:28,880 you get in your car, you go to Walmart. 226 00:13:28,920 --> 00:13:33,320 You go to your workplace, and we see a world that is in shambles. 227 00:13:34,440 --> 00:13:38,760 We see the hurt and the havoc and the lives and the people 228 00:13:38,880 --> 00:13:41,360 that we love. And we see all that Satan is 229 00:13:41,360 --> 00:13:45,600 trying to do, not only in our lives but also in our culture. 230 00:13:46,560 --> 00:13:50,160 You don't have to look far. A lot of us, and in those 231 00:13:50,160 --> 00:13:53,000 moments we we turn to what do we do? 232 00:13:53,000 --> 00:13:56,320 We turn to shaming instead of serving. 233 00:13:58,040 --> 00:14:00,960 We we turn to pointing fingers like, hey, that's you, that's 234 00:14:00,960 --> 00:14:02,280 that's not me, that's that's you. 235 00:14:04,400 --> 00:14:08,520 Instead of helping this year as we get into an election year, 236 00:14:08,520 --> 00:14:11,720 it's going to be one of the most divisive years in, in our recent 237 00:14:11,720 --> 00:14:16,920 history. Maybe since last election we'll 238 00:14:16,920 --> 00:14:22,560 turn to elections instead of being on our knees, praying for 239 00:14:22,560 --> 00:14:25,800 the process, praying for our government officials, praying 240 00:14:25,880 --> 00:14:29,920 for unity that can be found within this country that we live 241 00:14:29,920 --> 00:14:32,520 in. And I know you know this is 242 00:14:32,520 --> 00:14:38,880 true, but our hope is not found in ourselves. 243 00:14:39,400 --> 00:14:42,440 Our hope is not found in those elections or government 244 00:14:42,440 --> 00:14:44,960 officials. Our hope's not found in 245 00:14:44,960 --> 00:14:47,440 psychology. What you can read in books, our 246 00:14:47,440 --> 00:14:50,520 hope's not found in the science class or what scientists have 247 00:14:50,520 --> 00:14:54,840 said, our hope's not in the mindless and the endless 248 00:14:54,840 --> 00:14:58,240 scrolling of social media where we just keep. 249 00:14:58,800 --> 00:15:02,000 Is it just meat or we just keep scrolling thinking like are we 250 00:15:02,000 --> 00:15:04,920 going to find what fulfills us? Are we going to find what 251 00:15:04,920 --> 00:15:08,560 satisfies us? Our hope is not in those things, 252 00:15:09,400 --> 00:15:15,280 but our hope is in a blood stained cross in an empty tomb 253 00:15:15,280 --> 00:15:17,640 that we're going to celebrate on resurrected Sunday. 254 00:15:19,640 --> 00:15:25,360 We keep wanting when I say we I am putting myself in this boat 255 00:15:25,360 --> 00:15:28,360 with us. We keep wanting everybody else 256 00:15:28,360 --> 00:15:32,040 to take their faith seriously without taking hours. 257 00:15:32,080 --> 00:15:36,520 Very serious at all. Here's what I know. 258 00:15:36,520 --> 00:15:39,520 We all want the harvest that God produces. 259 00:15:39,920 --> 00:15:42,520 We want to see man, just the Providence of God. 260 00:15:42,520 --> 00:15:44,360 We want to see what he can produce. 261 00:15:44,560 --> 00:15:47,480 But a lot of us in this room, we're not willing to work the 262 00:15:47,480 --> 00:15:50,160 soil, are we? Or or even sow the seed. 263 00:15:50,160 --> 00:15:53,520 We're not willing to get our our knees dirty and our our hands 264 00:15:53,520 --> 00:15:55,480 dirty and get calluses on our hands. 265 00:15:55,480 --> 00:15:59,560 We we just want the harvest. And somebody in this room and 266 00:15:59,560 --> 00:16:03,080 somebody online, you have to stand up at some point. 267 00:16:03,080 --> 00:16:05,920 And you got to say, that has to end today. 268 00:16:07,440 --> 00:16:14,960 For far too long, Satan, he has been taking ground in the lives 269 00:16:14,960 --> 00:16:18,520 of the people that we care about, the people that we love 270 00:16:18,600 --> 00:16:22,040 the most. He takes ground in different 271 00:16:22,040 --> 00:16:24,680 habits that we've been talking about over this last series. 272 00:16:24,840 --> 00:16:29,040 These habits of he takes over in anger, he takes over in 273 00:16:29,040 --> 00:16:33,000 selfishness, he takes over in our own, our own selfish pride. 274 00:16:35,640 --> 00:16:39,600 And what happens is he starts when he does that, he starts 275 00:16:39,760 --> 00:16:43,760 stirring confusion, he starts messing with things around us. 276 00:16:43,760 --> 00:16:46,400 And through all those different habits, he starts producing 277 00:16:46,400 --> 00:16:54,840 depression and suicidal thoughts and self harm and even 278 00:16:54,840 --> 00:16:56,360 addiction. You're just like, man, if I 279 00:16:56,360 --> 00:16:59,000 could just feed this addiction, maybe some of those things will 280 00:16:59,000 --> 00:17:01,560 go away. I got so much anger and so I'll 281 00:17:01,560 --> 00:17:04,760 just resort to something else that will fill me up other than 282 00:17:04,760 --> 00:17:08,079 going to the source of hope that we have in Jesus. 283 00:17:08,200 --> 00:17:12,079 We keep thinking this is almost like insanity. 284 00:17:12,079 --> 00:17:14,880 Insanity is when we keep doing the same thing, expecting 285 00:17:14,880 --> 00:17:17,560 different results. But we keep going back and 286 00:17:17,560 --> 00:17:23,720 saying if I just try harder, if I just resist more, then I can 287 00:17:23,720 --> 00:17:25,800 win this thing. I can do this. 288 00:17:25,920 --> 00:17:28,119 I'm strong enough. You don't know me. 289 00:17:28,119 --> 00:17:30,520 I got tough skin. You don't know my childhood. 290 00:17:30,520 --> 00:17:31,760 You don't know what I was raised with. 291 00:17:31,760 --> 00:17:33,160 You don't know what my parents did to me. 292 00:17:33,160 --> 00:17:35,720 You don't know anything. I will win this battle. 293 00:17:35,880 --> 00:17:41,000 But I need to tell you, listen, if that is you, these are not 294 00:17:41,000 --> 00:17:43,040 physical fights that we are fighting. 295 00:17:44,480 --> 00:17:48,800 These are not physical battles. These are spiritual ones. 296 00:17:49,400 --> 00:17:51,920 And scripture is very clear about that in Ephesians chapter 297 00:17:51,920 --> 00:17:55,560 6. For our struggle is not against 298 00:17:55,560 --> 00:17:58,560 flesh and blood. It's not of the body. 299 00:17:58,840 --> 00:18:01,840 It's not a flesh and blood. It's not a physical fight, but 300 00:18:01,840 --> 00:18:04,600 against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers 301 00:18:04,600 --> 00:18:08,600 of The Dark World, and against the spiritual forces of evil and 302 00:18:08,600 --> 00:18:14,080 the heavenly realms. This battle, this battle is a 303 00:18:14,080 --> 00:18:19,920 spiritual one and for far too long, way too long we have been 304 00:18:19,920 --> 00:18:23,400 ill equipped to fight these spiritual battles because what 305 00:18:23,400 --> 00:18:26,440 we have been doing again is we've been resorting to our own 306 00:18:26,440 --> 00:18:31,160 strength, our own weapons. But Paul the Apostle Paul, he 307 00:18:31,160 --> 00:18:34,880 goes on to remind us that spiritual battles, they require 308 00:18:34,880 --> 00:18:37,720 spiritual weapons. Let's check this out in 309 00:18:37,720 --> 00:18:42,960 Ephesians chapter 6, verse 13. Therefore, put on the full armor 310 00:18:42,960 --> 00:18:46,160 of God. Notice it says full armor of 311 00:18:46,160 --> 00:18:48,360 God. Not just a couple pieces, not 312 00:18:48,360 --> 00:18:51,280 just one piece. The full armor of God. 313 00:18:51,280 --> 00:18:54,120 So that when the day of evil comes, is evil here. 314 00:18:54,760 --> 00:18:57,800 Yep, it's here. You may be able to stand your 315 00:18:57,800 --> 00:18:59,320 ground. And after you have done 316 00:18:59,320 --> 00:19:04,600 everything to stand, stand firm. Then here's the pieces of armor 317 00:19:04,720 --> 00:19:09,200 with this belt of truth buckled around your waist, with this 318 00:19:09,280 --> 00:19:13,960 breastplate of righteousness and place, and with your feet fitted 319 00:19:13,960 --> 00:19:16,480 with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 320 00:19:16,640 --> 00:19:21,120 In addition to all this, take up this shield of faith for which 321 00:19:21,120 --> 00:19:24,720 you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 322 00:19:24,960 --> 00:19:28,200 Listen, some of you, you're like, I can't hold this up much 323 00:19:28,200 --> 00:19:30,800 longer. There are arrows flying at me. 324 00:19:30,880 --> 00:19:33,640 You've been holding up this shield of faith, and that's what 325 00:19:33,640 --> 00:19:36,640 I love about this place, That's what I love about the church, is 326 00:19:36,640 --> 00:19:39,840 that there's going to be someone in times of those fiery arrows. 327 00:19:39,840 --> 00:19:41,680 They're going to come, and they're going to help you hold 328 00:19:41,680 --> 00:19:44,760 up that shield of faith. And I'm telling you, don't let 329 00:19:44,960 --> 00:19:46,680 it down. Hold it up. 330 00:19:47,520 --> 00:19:51,160 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the spirit, which 331 00:19:51,160 --> 00:19:54,680 is the word of God. Thanks be to God for this helmet 332 00:19:54,680 --> 00:19:57,120 of salvation that we have through Jesus Christ. 333 00:19:57,280 --> 00:19:59,640 Thanks be to God for this full armor of God. 334 00:19:59,840 --> 00:20:02,800 But here's what I need you to realize about this armor of God 335 00:20:03,520 --> 00:20:08,720 is almost all of those pieces are defensive weapons, right? 336 00:20:09,000 --> 00:20:11,240 Think about it. Except for one. 337 00:20:12,000 --> 00:20:14,680 And that's the sword of the Spirit, the word of God. 338 00:20:15,600 --> 00:20:18,680 And that is why it is so beneficial for us as a people of 339 00:20:18,680 --> 00:20:21,560 God to be so committed to his word. 340 00:20:22,080 --> 00:20:25,880 Because it fights our battles. It is our offensive weapon. 341 00:20:25,880 --> 00:20:31,040 And for far too long we have made excuses. 342 00:20:31,480 --> 00:20:34,600 I have made excuses for my own passivity. 343 00:20:34,600 --> 00:20:37,480 Have you? We've complained about our 344 00:20:37,480 --> 00:20:39,720 ignorance of the scriptures. I don't know enough. 345 00:20:39,920 --> 00:20:41,400 I don't even know where to start. 346 00:20:41,600 --> 00:20:44,520 I don't understand that verse. I got lost in the book of 347 00:20:44,520 --> 00:20:47,360 numbers. I got lost in in Revelation. 348 00:20:47,440 --> 00:20:49,480 I don't understand what God's word is saying. 349 00:20:49,480 --> 00:20:53,160 So what am I going to do? I'm going to leave it nice and 350 00:20:53,160 --> 00:20:56,680 clean, right in my living room, right when people come in and 351 00:20:56,680 --> 00:20:59,320 they'll see it. But I will never open it. 352 00:21:00,920 --> 00:21:05,800 For far too long we've neglected our spiritual birthright and our 353 00:21:05,800 --> 00:21:09,920 inheritance in the Kingdom of God, that we are His children, 354 00:21:10,760 --> 00:21:18,280 that we have a savior in Jesus. And for far too long, Satan, 355 00:21:19,440 --> 00:21:22,720 who's good at confusing He's been able to get us to forget 356 00:21:22,720 --> 00:21:28,800 who we are, whose we are, and the power that we have through 357 00:21:28,800 --> 00:21:31,160 Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit. 358 00:21:32,200 --> 00:21:35,280 And we're told clearly, very clearly in Romans chapter 8, 359 00:21:35,280 --> 00:21:40,280 verse 31. If God is for us, who can be 360 00:21:40,280 --> 00:21:44,400 against us? If God is for us, who can be 361 00:21:44,520 --> 00:21:47,160 against us when those fiery arrows are coming? 362 00:21:47,160 --> 00:21:51,320 If God is for us, who can be against us when evil is coming? 363 00:21:51,320 --> 00:21:55,040 We're in this spiritual battle. If God is for us, who can be 364 00:21:55,040 --> 00:21:57,240 against us in just a few verses down in 37? 365 00:21:57,240 --> 00:22:02,640 Says We you in Christ, we are more than conquerors through 366 00:22:02,880 --> 00:22:07,680 Jesus, through him who loved us. He loves you and he cares for 367 00:22:07,680 --> 00:22:08,840 you. And when you have that 368 00:22:08,840 --> 00:22:11,520 relationship with Jesus Christ, you're no longer doing it on 369 00:22:11,520 --> 00:22:13,920 your own. It's no longer your battle. 370 00:22:14,000 --> 00:22:18,040 He gives you a helper. The Holy Spirit takes residence 371 00:22:18,040 --> 00:22:21,000 inside the believer. And inside of that, the Holy 372 00:22:21,000 --> 00:22:24,080 Spirit produces something that we can't produce, at least for 373 00:22:24,080 --> 00:22:26,440 very long, in Galatians chapter 5. 374 00:22:26,800 --> 00:22:29,920 But the fruit of the Spirit, here's what it's produces, 375 00:22:30,240 --> 00:22:35,480 Lovejoy. Peace, forbearance, kindness, 376 00:22:35,760 --> 00:22:39,960 goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. 377 00:22:40,600 --> 00:22:43,840 And you may be like, well, Corey, listen, I have joy. 378 00:22:45,120 --> 00:22:49,800 Maybe for a moment the world and you you can manufacture 379 00:22:49,800 --> 00:22:54,680 something for a little bit. I have peace right now, but how 380 00:22:54,680 --> 00:22:59,320 long does that last? I I'm a kind person, but the 381 00:22:59,320 --> 00:23:01,680 Holy Spirit produces these things inside of us. 382 00:23:01,680 --> 00:23:05,480 We can manufacture it for a little bit and for far too long 383 00:23:06,680 --> 00:23:10,800 our walk, it's been weak. If you could be honest with 384 00:23:10,800 --> 00:23:13,280 yourself, if you could do this, this gut check, if you could 385 00:23:13,280 --> 00:23:18,040 look back in the last 10 days, 30 days, last year, five years, 386 00:23:18,360 --> 00:23:22,600 our walk has been weak. Our witness it's been diminished 387 00:23:22,920 --> 00:23:26,920 and our light and this very Dark World has been dimmed. 388 00:23:27,680 --> 00:23:31,400 As I was reading in Exodus yesterday my quiet time I was 389 00:23:31,400 --> 00:23:34,920 reading about Moses and he was going up the mountain to talk to 390 00:23:34,920 --> 00:23:37,720 the Lord and and this is the second time he he got the 10 391 00:23:37,720 --> 00:23:41,120 commandments and and it says when Moses came back down this 392 00:23:41,120 --> 00:23:45,160 this radiance filled just his face and around him and when 393 00:23:45,160 --> 00:23:46,600 when he came down people were looking at it. 394 00:23:46,760 --> 00:23:50,360 Do we look like that? Does the radiance of God go 395 00:23:50,360 --> 00:23:54,160 around us as we spend time with them, as we walk out of here, as 396 00:23:54,160 --> 00:23:58,360 we go into this Dark World? Today's the game, right? 397 00:23:58,360 --> 00:24:00,000 There's some football game going on today. 398 00:24:00,000 --> 00:24:04,880 It's called the Super Bowl. And wouldn't it be weird that if 399 00:24:04,880 --> 00:24:08,080 you showed up to the Super Bowl just to watch the huddle, you're 400 00:24:08,080 --> 00:24:11,280 like, yo, Brock Purdy. That's a good huddle, dude. 401 00:24:11,520 --> 00:24:13,320 Thanks, man. I got my coke and I'm out. 402 00:24:13,480 --> 00:24:16,440 Hey, yo, Pat Mahomes, you led that huddle. 403 00:24:16,440 --> 00:24:18,360 Very good. That was an awesome huddle. 404 00:24:18,360 --> 00:24:21,240 Great job. We don't show up to see the 405 00:24:21,240 --> 00:24:23,560 huddle. We show up to see what happens 406 00:24:23,960 --> 00:24:29,280 after the huddle and when we gather in this place, when we 407 00:24:29,280 --> 00:24:33,240 gather online. Can I I need to give you 408 00:24:33,240 --> 00:24:35,120 something here. Here's maybe a revelation for 409 00:24:35,120 --> 00:24:37,320 some. This is the huddle. 410 00:24:38,840 --> 00:24:43,600 This is not the game. This is not the end zone. 411 00:24:44,760 --> 00:24:48,200 It's what we do after this that makes all the difference in the 412 00:24:48,200 --> 00:24:50,840 halls of heaven, doesn't it? It's what happens when you go to 413 00:24:50,840 --> 00:24:52,560 work tomorrow morning. Come on. 414 00:24:52,760 --> 00:24:55,920 It's what happens when you go to work tomorrow morning and that 415 00:24:55,920 --> 00:24:59,560 coworker is just he's hurting or she's hurting and and what you 416 00:24:59,560 --> 00:25:01,640 do is you say I'm going to step up in the gaps and I'm going to 417 00:25:01,640 --> 00:25:03,600 pray for them. It's what happens when you go 418 00:25:03,600 --> 00:25:07,000 home after this huddle and you start pouring into your kids 419 00:25:07,000 --> 00:25:08,920 spiritually reading the Bible, praying with them. 420 00:25:08,920 --> 00:25:12,000 It's what happens when you take your spouse and you say we are 421 00:25:12,000 --> 00:25:15,440 going to do this together. This is not the huddle. 422 00:25:16,520 --> 00:25:20,360 And for far too long we've been coming in, these auditoriums, 423 00:25:20,360 --> 00:25:22,920 we've been watching online and you're wearing the jersey of 424 00:25:22,920 --> 00:25:24,400 Christ. You've got it on. 425 00:25:24,440 --> 00:25:25,840 You look good. And I'm not talking about the 426 00:25:25,840 --> 00:25:27,560 Chiefs jersey out there. That's not the the, the. 427 00:25:27,840 --> 00:25:32,920 Yeah, no, you've been wearing this jersey of Christ and it's 428 00:25:32,920 --> 00:25:37,520 messy. It's got some stains on it, some 429 00:25:37,520 --> 00:25:41,360 of our coffee stains, some I see there's probably some Mac and 430 00:25:41,360 --> 00:25:43,240 cheese stains out there. If you had some before you came 431 00:25:43,240 --> 00:25:44,600 in, a little dribbles of milkshake. 432 00:25:44,600 --> 00:25:47,080 If you would have got those out in the lobby, they they got some 433 00:25:47,080 --> 00:25:49,560 stains on it. But it's time to turn all those 434 00:25:49,560 --> 00:25:51,720 stains in and actually get in the game and get some grass 435 00:25:51,720 --> 00:25:55,440 stains on our jerseys, isn't it? Because for far too long we've 436 00:25:55,440 --> 00:25:59,240 settled from watching in the seats instead of playing on the 437 00:25:59,240 --> 00:26:03,800 field and that has to end today. And I'm asking, is there someone 438 00:26:03,800 --> 00:26:06,040 in this room? Is there a group of people in 439 00:26:06,040 --> 00:26:09,520 this room that says I'm with you that has to go to an end today? 440 00:26:13,840 --> 00:26:16,880 And I get it. There's people who are like, you 441 00:26:16,880 --> 00:26:18,400 love it. There's other people who are 442 00:26:18,400 --> 00:26:20,920 like, Nope, Corey, I don't understand what what could 50 443 00:26:20,920 --> 00:26:25,400 minutes a day for 50 days, What difference could that make in my 444 00:26:25,400 --> 00:26:27,000 own walk? What difference can that make in 445 00:26:27,000 --> 00:26:30,480 my life? To those of those, to those 446 00:26:30,480 --> 00:26:34,560 people, I would say this. I know a God who can draw water 447 00:26:34,720 --> 00:26:39,120 from a rock. I know a God like when you read 448 00:26:39,120 --> 00:26:42,080 his word, it comes alive. I know a God who can. 449 00:26:42,200 --> 00:26:44,960 When the Israelite people are walking through the desert and 450 00:26:44,960 --> 00:26:47,280 they're they're begging for food and they're like, why did you 451 00:26:47,280 --> 00:26:49,040 bring me here? I know a God who can provide 452 00:26:49,040 --> 00:26:51,760 manna from heaven and feed his entire people. 453 00:26:52,280 --> 00:26:55,360 I would remind them that nothing is impossible for God. 454 00:26:55,360 --> 00:26:57,760 If God is for you, who can be against you? 455 00:26:58,040 --> 00:27:00,200 That you are more than conquerors through Christ? 456 00:27:01,720 --> 00:27:05,480 I would remind you that he used a virgin to give birth to the 457 00:27:05,480 --> 00:27:08,080 Messiah. I would remind you that he could 458 00:27:08,080 --> 00:27:11,480 feed 5000 people. He did in fact feed 5000 people 459 00:27:11,480 --> 00:27:14,640 plus women and children with five loaves of bread and just 460 00:27:14,640 --> 00:27:17,440 two fish. I would remind them that he took 461 00:27:17,520 --> 00:27:20,360 2 pennies and he made it the largest offering. 462 00:27:20,360 --> 00:27:27,360 I would remind them that he took two pieces of wood and a stone 463 00:27:28,480 --> 00:27:31,560 and he used it to save the world through Jesus. 464 00:27:32,640 --> 00:27:36,920 I would remind them that Jesus said, if we have faith just the 465 00:27:36,920 --> 00:27:45,280 size of a mustard seed, that you and you and you and you and me, 466 00:27:45,800 --> 00:27:49,920 we can move mountains. I would remind you that the 467 00:27:49,920 --> 00:27:54,200 disciples of Jesus, his friends who followed him, who saw the 468 00:27:54,200 --> 00:28:00,280 miracles, who saw his ministry when he was crucified, they were 469 00:28:00,280 --> 00:28:03,360 running. They were hiding. 470 00:28:04,560 --> 00:28:06,440 They were scared. Wouldn't you be? 471 00:28:06,640 --> 00:28:09,880 You just saw your best friend, the guy that you, you, you said 472 00:28:09,880 --> 00:28:12,680 his, your Lord and savior, and you saw all the cool things he 473 00:28:12,680 --> 00:28:14,000 did. But all of a sudden, now they're 474 00:28:14,000 --> 00:28:21,400 timid, they're worried, they're embarrassed, they were sad, They 475 00:28:21,400 --> 00:28:23,040 were. They were distraught and they 476 00:28:23,040 --> 00:28:24,800 were discouraged. Wouldn't you be? 477 00:28:24,800 --> 00:28:28,320 You just saw your friend, this guy that you gave your life to. 478 00:28:28,320 --> 00:28:30,400 You fought. You left all those fishing Nets, 479 00:28:30,400 --> 00:28:32,120 and you followed him. You left your life. 480 00:28:32,120 --> 00:28:34,160 And now all of a sudden this happened to Jesus. 481 00:28:34,680 --> 00:28:36,000 They have all these different emotions. 482 00:28:36,000 --> 00:28:38,000 Maybe you have those same emotions right now, but I need 483 00:28:38,000 --> 00:28:41,040 you to know this. Not 300 days. 484 00:28:42,640 --> 00:28:48,400 Not 200 days, not 100, not 75. But fifty days after the 485 00:28:48,400 --> 00:28:51,960 resurrection on Easter Sunday that we celebrate the 486 00:28:51,960 --> 00:28:56,360 resurrection of Jesus, These disciples, these followers of 487 00:28:56,360 --> 00:29:00,560 Jesus, they went out and they boldly proclaimed the message of 488 00:29:00,560 --> 00:29:04,520 the gospel message of Jesus. And three 1000 people came to 489 00:29:04,520 --> 00:29:08,000 faith. 50 days. See what God can do. 490 00:29:08,080 --> 00:29:11,200 You're wondering what He can do with just 50 minutes a day for 491 00:29:11,200 --> 00:29:15,240 just 50 days. I'm here to tell you what can't 492 00:29:15,560 --> 00:29:19,600 He do? The question is that you have to 493 00:29:19,640 --> 00:29:23,240 answer as an individual, not as a group, not as a family, but as 494 00:29:23,240 --> 00:29:27,600 a person, as a creation of the Lord. 495 00:29:28,440 --> 00:29:31,880 What will you do it with it? Will you let them do it inside 496 00:29:31,880 --> 00:29:33,280 of you? We're moving to a time of 497 00:29:33,280 --> 00:29:44,410 decision. This is a message that I have 498 00:29:44,410 --> 00:29:48,170 been looking forward to for a long time, one because I need a 499 00:29:48,170 --> 00:29:51,530 jump start, but also because I feel like our church needs a 500 00:29:51,530 --> 00:29:54,370 jump start. For too many times, we've been 501 00:29:54,570 --> 00:29:57,610 living based on feelings, and we have not been living based on 502 00:29:57,610 --> 00:29:59,880 commitments. And for those of you in this 503 00:29:59,880 --> 00:30:02,080 room and for those of you who are watching online right now, 504 00:30:02,080 --> 00:30:04,080 for those of you who don't have a relationship with Jesus 505 00:30:04,080 --> 00:30:07,160 Christ, listen you need to hear this. 506 00:30:07,800 --> 00:30:12,080 If you haven't heard it already. You have been living your life 507 00:30:12,120 --> 00:30:15,760 on your own terms. You've been doing it with your 508 00:30:15,760 --> 00:30:19,640 own control. You've been calling your own 509 00:30:19,640 --> 00:30:23,680 shots. And you have to really reflect 510 00:30:23,720 --> 00:30:25,920 how is that working out in your life? 511 00:30:27,080 --> 00:30:31,600 You've neglected this life that God has created for you, and for 512 00:30:31,600 --> 00:30:35,440 far too long you have been driven by your feelings too much 513 00:30:36,240 --> 00:30:41,240 and not by your commitments. But today on Super Bowl Sunday, 514 00:30:41,600 --> 00:30:46,600 when everyone's going to get into a round of TV, around the 515 00:30:46,600 --> 00:30:50,160 smartphones, around the computer or in the stadium, they're going 516 00:30:50,160 --> 00:30:53,080 to make some ginormous celebrations when there's a 517 00:30:53,080 --> 00:30:55,040 touchdown or whether it's an interception. 518 00:30:56,240 --> 00:30:58,240 But for those of you who don't have a relationship with Jesus, 519 00:30:58,240 --> 00:31:01,680 and you say today's the day I lay my life down. 520 00:31:02,000 --> 00:31:05,800 I deny myself, I pick up the cross of Jesus and I start 521 00:31:05,800 --> 00:31:08,920 following him. You get into the waters of 522 00:31:08,920 --> 00:31:10,920 baptism. You make a decision for him. 523 00:31:10,920 --> 00:31:17,480 Listen, that has no comparison to the cheers we're going to 524 00:31:17,480 --> 00:31:20,600 hear in Vegas. There's going to be louder 525 00:31:20,600 --> 00:31:23,040 cheers in this room. There's going to be louder 526 00:31:23,040 --> 00:31:26,960 cheers in heaven for one Sinner who repents and turns to Jesus. 527 00:31:26,960 --> 00:31:31,080 And I'm saying, is it you? Is today the day that you make 528 00:31:31,080 --> 00:31:34,560 that decision? He wants to have the intimate, 529 00:31:34,560 --> 00:31:37,600 personal relationship with you. And I'm saying in this moment of 530 00:31:37,600 --> 00:31:41,600 worship, in just a little bit as we get ready to worship myself 531 00:31:41,600 --> 00:31:44,160 and Chuck and Karen, we're going to be right over there. 532 00:31:44,160 --> 00:31:46,360 If you're like, hey, I want to talk to somebody. 533 00:31:46,600 --> 00:31:49,160 I want to figure out what that looks like to have that 534 00:31:49,160 --> 00:31:51,120 relationship. But I have so many questions. 535 00:31:51,880 --> 00:31:54,000 We would love to pray with you, talk with you, and figure out 536 00:31:54,120 --> 00:31:58,840 how you take that next step today and how the Holy Spirit 537 00:31:58,840 --> 00:32:02,320 can now take residence in your life and produce all the fruit 538 00:32:02,480 --> 00:32:06,320 that He produces inside of you. And I would tell you this, 539 00:32:06,600 --> 00:32:09,240 although that's the greatest decision you can possibly make, 540 00:32:09,680 --> 00:32:12,040 you can also make the decision to go on this journey with us 541 00:32:12,040 --> 00:32:14,920 for 50 days. To grow in your faith, to commit 542 00:32:14,920 --> 00:32:19,040 to them for 50 minutes a day, for 50 days to help mature and 543 00:32:19,040 --> 00:32:22,480 your faith, to read the word, to pray, to exercise your heart, 544 00:32:22,640 --> 00:32:24,920 your your soul, your mind, your strength. 545 00:32:28,960 --> 00:32:30,280 I would encourage you in this moment. 546 00:32:30,440 --> 00:32:33,920 Don't let it pass up. Don't let the the events of 547 00:32:33,920 --> 00:32:38,240 today and the busyness of today or the excuses of tomorrow get 548 00:32:38,240 --> 00:32:40,200 in the way of your greatest decision. 549 00:32:41,400 --> 00:32:43,640 And for the rest of us in this room, as Christians, as 550 00:32:43,640 --> 00:32:47,000 followers of Jesus, you gave your life to Jesus Christ. 551 00:32:49,240 --> 00:32:52,840 You've committed it, you've laid it down, and you said, I'm 552 00:32:52,840 --> 00:32:56,160 following you. I need you to know that you're 553 00:32:56,160 --> 00:33:00,560 not alone on this journey. Sometimes you just need to hear 554 00:33:00,560 --> 00:33:03,200 that there's others going on this journey with you. 555 00:33:04,200 --> 00:33:06,040 They may not have the same story as you. 556 00:33:06,560 --> 00:33:08,240 They may not have the same hurts as you. 557 00:33:08,320 --> 00:33:11,800 They may not have the same past as you, but I want you to know 558 00:33:11,800 --> 00:33:14,880 that Clayton and Jennifer, they're going on this journey 559 00:33:14,880 --> 00:33:18,000 with us. My wife Katie and I, we are 560 00:33:18,000 --> 00:33:21,760 going to fight for 50 days on this journey together. 561 00:33:21,760 --> 00:33:25,600 Our staff across 10,000 square miles along with their 562 00:33:25,600 --> 00:33:27,920 congregations. We're going on this journey 563 00:33:27,920 --> 00:33:29,880 together. And my biggest thing is this. 564 00:33:30,600 --> 00:33:34,040 What would it look like as a church 10,000 square miles, to 565 00:33:34,040 --> 00:33:38,000 be unified for 50 days, to say, Lord, I want to love you with 566 00:33:38,000 --> 00:33:40,040 all my heart, soul, strength and minds. 567 00:33:40,800 --> 00:33:44,400 You're not alone, so don't ever feel like you are. 568 00:33:45,280 --> 00:33:48,720 There's someone rooting for you. There's somebody that's in your 569 00:33:48,720 --> 00:33:51,000 corner, specifically this church. 570 00:33:51,000 --> 00:33:55,240 What would happen and your family? 571 00:33:55,400 --> 00:33:57,040 What would happen in your marriage? 572 00:33:57,280 --> 00:33:58,640 What would happen with your kids? 573 00:33:58,640 --> 00:34:00,360 What would happen in your workplace? 574 00:34:00,360 --> 00:34:04,000 What would happen in your heart if you just said this is 575 00:34:04,000 --> 00:34:10,920 something I have to do. And so in just a little bit one 576 00:34:10,920 --> 00:34:14,400 of the ways that I'm going to encourage you to respond, it's 577 00:34:14,400 --> 00:34:17,360 going to take some movement it it might even take some 578 00:34:17,360 --> 00:34:19,440 uncomfortability. And and for some of you, you've 579 00:34:19,440 --> 00:34:22,679 heard this so many times and you're just like, I know, I know 580 00:34:22,679 --> 00:34:24,159 Corey, I know Clayton, I know Jerry. 581 00:34:24,159 --> 00:34:28,040 Like I know it's coming. But this is a movement that I 582 00:34:28,040 --> 00:34:30,239 want to see our whole church take one. 583 00:34:30,239 --> 00:34:32,719 When you take it seriously, there is a commitment card on 584 00:34:32,719 --> 00:34:34,960 every single chair in this auditorium. 585 00:34:35,080 --> 00:34:36,880 You can look at it right now. Pull it out. 586 00:34:37,480 --> 00:34:39,080 Pulled out. Some of you already maybe threw 587 00:34:39,080 --> 00:34:40,440 in the trash. Go get in the trash and pull it 588 00:34:40,440 --> 00:34:43,199 back out. Some of you put in your pocket. 589 00:34:44,159 --> 00:34:45,400 But I want you to hold it out right now. 590 00:34:45,400 --> 00:34:52,239 In your hands there's a pen. Even these last few moments that 591 00:34:52,239 --> 00:34:55,600 I'm preaching, I want you to right now ask Is this the 592 00:34:55,600 --> 00:35:01,280 commitment I'm willing to make to spend 50 minutes a day for 50 593 00:35:01,280 --> 00:35:04,280 days with the Lord? Will it hurt you? 594 00:35:04,280 --> 00:35:09,440 Will it benefit you? And during this next song, as we 595 00:35:09,440 --> 00:35:12,640 sing, I have decided to follow Jesus. 596 00:35:13,560 --> 00:35:15,720 And when you fill that out, you would just come late. 597 00:35:15,720 --> 00:35:18,280 At these steps. You drop it at the steps. 598 00:35:18,280 --> 00:35:20,400 Maybe you get on your knees and you pray over it. 599 00:35:20,400 --> 00:35:22,560 Lord, I'm scared. I'm scared. 600 00:35:22,560 --> 00:35:24,080 I've never made a commitment this big. 601 00:35:24,640 --> 00:35:26,760 Lord, would you help me? I don't want to fail you. 602 00:35:27,640 --> 00:35:30,640 And he will be there with you. You'll see an army of brothers 603 00:35:30,640 --> 00:35:32,800 and sisters that are doing this with you. 604 00:35:34,520 --> 00:35:37,480 We make a commitment today. I'm begging you. 605 00:35:37,960 --> 00:35:42,440 The Lord is begging you. Spend time with him, invest in 606 00:35:42,440 --> 00:35:46,960 this relationship with him and see what he can do over the next 607 00:35:47,280 --> 00:35:48,880 50 days. Would you stand with me? 608 00:35:49,320 --> 00:35:51,080 Let's pray together. God, we love you. 609 00:35:51,640 --> 00:35:55,560 Thank you, Jesus, for this time. Thank you for our leadership, 610 00:35:55,560 --> 00:35:59,880 our elders and and Father for Clayton and God, just for this 611 00:35:59,880 --> 00:36:04,040 vision that they have felt that you just lead them in and lead 612 00:36:04,040 --> 00:36:06,080 them through. And God, I pray right now and 613 00:36:06,080 --> 00:36:09,160 for every heart and every person that's listening to my voice as 614 00:36:09,160 --> 00:36:11,600 they hold a pen in their hand, as they hold the card in their 615 00:36:11,600 --> 00:36:14,920 hand that they would declare, I can do this. 616 00:36:15,720 --> 00:36:17,280 I can grow in my relationship with you. 617 00:36:17,280 --> 00:36:20,440 There's room for growth. That for far too long we've 618 00:36:20,440 --> 00:36:24,200 settled for mediocracy. But today we we we want to 619 00:36:24,200 --> 00:36:26,200 surrender at all. We want to join you in this 620 00:36:26,200 --> 00:36:29,080 journey. God, I pray for this moment. 621 00:36:29,680 --> 00:36:33,920 I pray for the fear that it's going to find somebody, the 622 00:36:33,920 --> 00:36:36,280 excuses that's coming through their minds and their hearts. 623 00:36:36,720 --> 00:36:40,040 And I pray, Holy Spirit, that you would remove those and you 624 00:36:40,040 --> 00:36:42,960 let them see and be encouraged by movement in this room. 625 00:36:43,440 --> 00:36:45,760 But they don't respond because of their feelings. 626 00:36:45,760 --> 00:36:47,480 They respond because of their commitment. 627 00:36:47,840 --> 00:36:52,120 That day one starts tomorrow. We thank you so much, Jesus. 628 00:36:52,120 --> 00:36:54,240 We pray all this in your name. Amen.