1 00:00:00,920 --> 00:00:05,320 I am continuing. In our Hope series. 2 00:00:05,640 --> 00:00:06,960 And as I said to you at the start. 3 00:00:07,280 --> 00:00:09,480 Of this series this. Is going to. 4 00:00:09,480 --> 00:00:11,920 Run all the way. Up into Easter Sunday. 5 00:00:12,840 --> 00:00:15,480 Which is a wonderful way to celebrate the hope that we have 6 00:00:15,480 --> 00:00:18,760 in our risen Lord and that we get to be with Him for eternity. 7 00:00:19,520 --> 00:00:21,760 And over the course. Of the next few weeks. 8 00:00:22,040 --> 00:00:25,120 I'm pleased to say you will have the blessing and the benefit of 9 00:00:25,120 --> 00:00:27,760 other people. Than just me preaching and 10 00:00:27,760 --> 00:00:29,560 speaking on this topic. Got some? 11 00:00:29,560 --> 00:00:33,680 Wonderful speakers lined up. And we're going to dive into the 12 00:00:33,680 --> 00:00:35,560 promises. Of God and therefore. 13 00:00:35,560 --> 00:00:39,120 What we can have hope in And so really these first three weeks 14 00:00:39,120 --> 00:00:41,560 have been a bit of an introduction for the series. 15 00:00:41,840 --> 00:00:44,720 The first week if you missed. It was outlining the what and 16 00:00:44,720 --> 00:00:47,040 the why of hope why. Do we need? 17 00:00:47,040 --> 00:00:50,200 Hope and What is Biblical hope? And if you missed that, you can 18 00:00:50,200 --> 00:00:52,360 catch up online. And last. 19 00:00:52,360 --> 00:00:56,040 Week I talked about hope changes everything, and I looked at what 20 00:00:56,040 --> 00:00:59,400 are the benefits of walking in a biblical hope. 21 00:01:00,240 --> 00:01:04,080 And this week, we are. Looking in the question. 22 00:01:04,080 --> 00:01:07,120 Of how we walk. In hope, walking in hope. 23 00:01:07,120 --> 00:01:09,760 And I've touched on this a little bit on the previous two 24 00:01:09,760 --> 00:01:12,760 weeks, but I want to dive. Specifically into the question. 25 00:01:12,760 --> 00:01:15,160 Of. How do we actually walk in 26 00:01:15,160 --> 00:01:16,600 Biblical hope? How do we make it? 27 00:01:16,840 --> 00:01:20,960 A more of a lifestyle that we can cultivate and that we can 28 00:01:20,960 --> 00:01:22,120 walk in hope. Because I don't know. 29 00:01:22,120 --> 00:01:23,920 About you but I. Find that a challenge. 30 00:01:24,200 --> 00:01:28,720 Personally, and I really have been blessed and benefited by 31 00:01:28,960 --> 00:01:31,640 the study that I've. Put into this series. 32 00:01:32,360 --> 00:01:34,720 Because certainly I feel. Like I'm in a season where I 33 00:01:34,720 --> 00:01:35,400 need a lot. Of hope. 34 00:01:35,560 --> 00:01:38,920 And maybe you come to church this morning saying hope. 35 00:01:38,920 --> 00:01:41,000 Yeah, I am. Desperate need of hope, Mark. 36 00:01:41,720 --> 00:01:45,160 And I want to reference what has become and is the anchor. 37 00:01:45,160 --> 00:01:48,880 Text for this series. And it's in Romans. 1212 It'll 38 00:01:48,880 --> 00:01:52,120 be on the screen behind me and on your device Home. 39 00:01:52,120 --> 00:01:55,720 It'll be online for you as well. This is the Apostle Paul. 40 00:01:55,880 --> 00:01:58,280 And he is writing to the church in Rome. 41 00:01:58,280 --> 00:02:00,240 And he's. Talking about what it means to 42 00:02:00,240 --> 00:02:03,040 be a true Christian. In other words, what marks out 43 00:02:03,040 --> 00:02:05,360 somebody? That is walking with Jesus. 44 00:02:05,760 --> 00:02:07,440 Because who knows? That being a Christian. 45 00:02:07,440 --> 00:02:09,720 Isn't about signing on the dotted line. 46 00:02:09,720 --> 00:02:11,680 It's not. About inheriting a faith from 47 00:02:11,680 --> 00:02:13,960 your parents. It is a personal. 48 00:02:13,960 --> 00:02:16,760 Decision to walk with Jesus and so. 49 00:02:16,760 --> 00:02:19,200 Paul is saying this. Rejoice in hope. 50 00:02:21,840 --> 00:02:26,280 Be patient in tribulation and be constant in. 51 00:02:26,280 --> 00:02:28,960 Prayer. And as I said, I believe that. 52 00:02:28,960 --> 00:02:31,720 This is a verse for us as. A church this year, and this is 53 00:02:31,720 --> 00:02:33,480 certainly the verse for me this year. 54 00:02:33,720 --> 00:02:36,360 Three very important. Pointers of how we. 55 00:02:36,880 --> 00:02:38,680 Walk with Jesus. Rejoice. 56 00:02:38,680 --> 00:02:41,960 In hope and be patient in tribulation. 57 00:02:41,960 --> 00:02:44,960 In other words, you will face many trials and troubles. 58 00:02:44,960 --> 00:02:49,680 As Jesus said, the gospel of Jesus isn't a gospel of wealth 59 00:02:49,680 --> 00:02:51,560 and health, and everything will be fine. 60 00:02:52,640 --> 00:02:55,400 The Gospel of Jesus. Is that you will go through 61 00:02:55,400 --> 00:02:57,520 troubles. And you can have. 62 00:02:57,520 --> 00:03:01,320 Victory through them. But whether it's good or bad, 63 00:03:01,320 --> 00:03:03,400 you can have a constant. Hope and peace in. 64 00:03:03,440 --> 00:03:06,320 Jesus. That's that's the gospel message 65 00:03:06,760 --> 00:03:09,640 and be patient and be constant. Should I say in prayer, 66 00:03:09,640 --> 00:03:12,440 Everything should undergird what we do in prayer. 67 00:03:12,440 --> 00:03:15,640 And this has been a very personal challenge to me to say, 68 00:03:15,640 --> 00:03:17,920 you know what? I am not praying enough. 69 00:03:19,320 --> 00:03:20,880 The pastor is not praying enough. 70 00:03:22,480 --> 00:03:24,840 I can admit it. I need to pray more. 71 00:03:24,840 --> 00:03:27,440 I need to be undergirded all that the. 72 00:03:27,520 --> 00:03:29,920 Lord's. Called me to do my family, my 73 00:03:29,920 --> 00:03:34,280 friends, my my job, everything needs to be undergirded and 74 00:03:34,480 --> 00:03:36,120 being. Built on prayer. 75 00:03:36,720 --> 00:03:39,880 And so rejoice in hope, be patient and tribulation. 76 00:03:39,880 --> 00:03:41,640 Be constant in prayer. So let's. 77 00:03:41,640 --> 00:03:45,160 Dive into how we. Can rejoice in hope. 78 00:03:45,160 --> 00:03:51,160 How do we walk in hope? And as I said last week, hope is 79 00:03:51,160 --> 00:03:53,080 not the biblical hope that we looked at. 80 00:03:53,080 --> 00:03:55,480 And as way of a recap, Biblical hope is. 81 00:03:56,040 --> 00:04:00,360 Being rooted in the promises of God and the Promise Keeper, it's 82 00:04:00,360 --> 00:04:04,560 not a hope based on wishful thinking that circumstances will 83 00:04:04,560 --> 00:04:06,560 align up. You know, I hope that I win the 84 00:04:06,560 --> 00:04:10,200 lottery or I hope that the weather's good, you know? 85 00:04:10,200 --> 00:04:11,600 This is not biblical. Hope. 86 00:04:11,800 --> 00:04:14,120 These things will be dashed and I. 87 00:04:14,120 --> 00:04:15,200 Said to you. There is a link. 88 00:04:15,200 --> 00:04:17,160 Between what you trust. In them and therefore. 89 00:04:17,160 --> 00:04:20,760 Where your hope is, what you'll find is. 90 00:04:20,760 --> 00:04:22,040 That whatever you put your trust. 91 00:04:22,040 --> 00:04:23,920 In. Is the thing that you? 92 00:04:23,920 --> 00:04:27,160 Have your hope in. If you put your trust in your 93 00:04:27,240 --> 00:04:29,120 finances. What you'll find is, is that 94 00:04:29,120 --> 00:04:32,760 your hope is in money. And so. 95 00:04:32,840 --> 00:04:35,960 Biblical hope is. Recognising that as we put our 96 00:04:35,960 --> 00:04:40,200 trust in him for all things, then we can walk. 97 00:04:40,200 --> 00:04:43,000 In the hope that the promises he gives to us. 98 00:04:44,120 --> 00:04:47,720 And so the thing about hope is that it's not a passive thing, 99 00:04:47,720 --> 00:04:49,920 that. From By osmosis that you lie on 100 00:04:49,920 --> 00:04:53,400 your sofa and say all right, life is rubbish, can I have? 101 00:04:53,600 --> 00:04:57,320 An injection of hope, please, God, lovely though that would 102 00:04:57,320 --> 00:04:59,240 be, and much. Easier would it be? 103 00:04:59,640 --> 00:05:01,880 That's not how. The Bible talks about. 104 00:05:01,880 --> 00:05:04,600 Hope, because hope is part of our walk. 105 00:05:04,600 --> 00:05:08,800 With Jesus and requires us to make a decision to trust in him 106 00:05:08,800 --> 00:05:11,520 for all things and then? As we do that, as we make that 107 00:05:11,520 --> 00:05:14,040 first step by the power of His holy. 108 00:05:14,040 --> 00:05:16,320 Spirit. He helps us walk in there. 109 00:05:16,600 --> 00:05:19,960 And we walk in the hope that comes from him so. 110 00:05:19,960 --> 00:05:23,320 I want to look at how we make that walk and I want to look at. 111 00:05:23,320 --> 00:05:25,360 Three areas that we can. Walk in. 112 00:05:25,720 --> 00:05:27,120 To walk in hope. And the first. 113 00:05:27,120 --> 00:05:29,240 One is this. We should walk. 114 00:05:29,360 --> 00:05:37,000 Through the pain. Walk through the pain I talked 115 00:05:37,000 --> 00:05:38,480 about over the past couple of weeks. 116 00:05:38,480 --> 00:05:39,120 The, the. The. 117 00:05:39,160 --> 00:05:41,360 Truth of that we. Need to be real with God. 118 00:05:42,920 --> 00:05:45,280 So when we talk about hope, we're not talking. 119 00:05:45,280 --> 00:05:47,920 About ignoring the pain and saying it's OK. 120 00:05:47,920 --> 00:05:50,240 Actually, I talked. About the fact. 121 00:05:50,240 --> 00:05:53,440 That I'm quite an optimistic. Guy, you know the. 122 00:05:53,440 --> 00:05:55,240 Glass is always half full for me. 123 00:05:56,400 --> 00:05:58,560 But the way I sometimes achieve that is. 124 00:05:58,560 --> 00:06:00,960 By ignoring the reality of the situation. 125 00:06:00,960 --> 00:06:03,240 I don't know if. Anyone's like me, but you don't 126 00:06:03,240 --> 00:06:04,760 put your hands up, but it's like. 127 00:06:04,760 --> 00:06:06,120 It's. Fine, It's fine. 128 00:06:06,120 --> 00:06:09,240 It's all good. I'll just squeeze that paint as. 129 00:06:09,240 --> 00:06:12,320 Low as I can down. Here so that. 130 00:06:12,320 --> 00:06:16,760 I can believe that it's all OK. Because I just want to 131 00:06:16,760 --> 00:06:20,960 experience some peace and if I can somehow manufacture good 132 00:06:20,960 --> 00:06:23,080 circumstances. In my head, I'll be hopeful. 133 00:06:24,080 --> 00:06:28,000 That is not that is a short. Circuit to a false kind of 134 00:06:28,000 --> 00:06:29,520 peace. You see? 135 00:06:29,520 --> 00:06:32,480 Biblical hope requires us to walk through the pain and be 136 00:06:32,480 --> 00:06:36,360 real about it. And I I joked last week that 137 00:06:36,360 --> 00:06:38,480 sometimes we come to. Church Putting our church face 138 00:06:38,480 --> 00:06:40,920 on. How are you, brother or sister? 139 00:06:40,920 --> 00:06:42,240 I'm fine. Praise God. 140 00:06:43,200 --> 00:06:44,400 How's your week been? Hallelujah. 141 00:06:44,400 --> 00:06:45,520 It's been amazing. You walk away. 142 00:06:45,520 --> 00:06:50,200 I think it's been terrible. Only then you And how ironic is 143 00:06:50,200 --> 00:06:52,680 it that of all the? Places that we should be Real 144 00:06:52,920 --> 00:06:57,720 church is one of those that we find it challenging too, but you 145 00:06:57,720 --> 00:07:00,240 see throughout. The Bible we see men and women 146 00:07:00,240 --> 00:07:01,600 of. God who are real. 147 00:07:01,600 --> 00:07:04,240 With God. Who are real with God? 148 00:07:04,640 --> 00:07:07,880 And last year I did a talk entitled. 149 00:07:09,200 --> 00:07:12,760 What to do when life sucks? Or was it something like what? 150 00:07:12,760 --> 00:07:16,200 What What we do when? When we are given lemons or 151 00:07:16,200 --> 00:07:17,920 something like that, something like that. 152 00:07:18,520 --> 00:07:22,040 And I took that looked at the biblical the place of biblical 153 00:07:22,040 --> 00:07:25,080 Lamentations laments. Should I say? 154 00:07:25,880 --> 00:07:28,440 And that's a very. Sounds like a very old kind of 155 00:07:28,440 --> 00:07:30,680 word lament, doesn't it? But you see a. 156 00:07:30,680 --> 00:07:32,920 Lament if you were to look at the dictionary. 157 00:07:34,520 --> 00:07:38,320 It means that it's a. Passionate expression of grief 158 00:07:38,320 --> 00:07:44,120 or sorrow, you could call it. Wailing, but biblical lament, I 159 00:07:44,120 --> 00:07:46,280 would suggest, is more than this. 160 00:07:46,280 --> 00:07:48,720 It's not just a passionate expression. 161 00:07:48,880 --> 00:07:50,720 Of grief and sorrow, and staying in that. 162 00:07:50,720 --> 00:07:52,880 Place. A biblical lament has a. 163 00:07:52,880 --> 00:07:57,440 Particular objective to it. You see lamenting in the. 164 00:07:57,440 --> 00:08:01,280 Biblical sense is. Coming to God and. 165 00:08:01,280 --> 00:08:05,280 Talking to him about. Our pain and sorrow and then 166 00:08:05,280 --> 00:08:07,000 choosing. To look to him. 167 00:08:07,000 --> 00:08:08,520 Through it and. Give it to him. 168 00:08:09,640 --> 00:08:12,920 That is what a biblical lament is, and that's what I mean by. 169 00:08:13,080 --> 00:08:16,720 Walking through the pain. It doesn't mean wallow in it. 170 00:08:16,960 --> 00:08:20,880 It doesn't mean ignore. It it means walk through it. 171 00:08:21,480 --> 00:08:25,440 And give that. Pain to him and then fix our 172 00:08:25,440 --> 00:08:28,280 eyes on him. You know the the Psalms. 173 00:08:28,280 --> 00:08:32,840 Are a wonderful place to read biblical laments. 174 00:08:33,559 --> 00:08:37,280 Psalm 13. Verse two, let me read this it. 175 00:08:37,280 --> 00:08:41,559 Starts this how long a lament can be a question. 176 00:08:41,799 --> 00:08:43,440 Typically my. Laments are why. 177 00:08:43,440 --> 00:08:47,400 Or how? Why, Lord, anyone's done that? 178 00:08:47,560 --> 00:08:51,280 Why, Lord, how long, O God? And the Psalmist is saying, how 179 00:08:51,280 --> 00:08:55,560 long must I take counsel in my soul and have sorrow? 180 00:08:55,560 --> 00:08:57,880 In my heart. All the day. 181 00:09:01,320 --> 00:09:05,640 How long shall my enemy be exalted over me? 182 00:09:05,920 --> 00:09:09,600 Anyone feel like that? I'm doing everything you've 183 00:09:09,600 --> 00:09:12,760 asked me to do, Lord. I'm walking in the truth. 184 00:09:12,760 --> 00:09:14,000 That you've laid before. Me. 185 00:09:14,480 --> 00:09:18,320 I'm choosing to make sacrifices for your truth, and yet my 186 00:09:18,320 --> 00:09:21,920 neighbour over there doesn't even know you has got an easy 187 00:09:21,920 --> 00:09:26,400 life and he's laughing at me. How long? 188 00:09:26,560 --> 00:09:30,200 Oh Lord, Because right now I'm feeling hopeless. 189 00:09:30,200 --> 00:09:34,800 Oh God. This is a biblical lament, and 190 00:09:34,800 --> 00:09:36,400 I've done so much lamenting this week. 191 00:09:36,400 --> 00:09:37,160 I have. To tell you. 192 00:09:38,200 --> 00:09:39,360 You'll be pleased to know the pastor's. 193 00:09:39,360 --> 00:09:43,000 Practice this this week, so I'm talking from experience. 194 00:09:43,960 --> 00:09:47,000 And I want, I want you to know that God doesn't mind hearing 195 00:09:47,000 --> 00:09:48,520 it. In fact, he wants to hear. 196 00:09:48,520 --> 00:09:52,280 How you feel? Our God is a relational God. 197 00:09:53,000 --> 00:09:55,000 It's not a force. God. 198 00:09:55,000 --> 00:09:58,920 Is not an entity. God is a person and we have been 199 00:09:58,920 --> 00:10:04,000 created in his image. God has emotions too, and he is 200 00:10:04,000 --> 00:10:06,200 inviting us to be. Real with him. 201 00:10:06,880 --> 00:10:08,480 The psalmist didn't write this and by. 202 00:10:08,760 --> 00:10:10,560 Verse 3 the. Psalmist had. 203 00:10:10,560 --> 00:10:13,280 Obliterated because God had smiked him down. 204 00:10:13,880 --> 00:10:17,960 That's not what happened. And it's not about just being 205 00:10:17,960 --> 00:10:21,000 angry for the sake of anger. And it's not about. 206 00:10:21,000 --> 00:10:25,280 Wallowing it I I. Actually, this this week caught 207 00:10:25,280 --> 00:10:30,960 myself lamenting, wailing. Not physically, but in my heart. 208 00:10:31,520 --> 00:10:34,200 And I recognised what happened in that moment. 209 00:10:34,320 --> 00:10:39,680 Listen is I let the pain take. Me on a walk. 210 00:10:40,280 --> 00:10:42,320 I didn't walk through the pain myself. 211 00:10:43,440 --> 00:10:46,520 Now what do I mean by? That I mean this, that sometimes 212 00:10:46,520 --> 00:10:49,320 what can happen is in the pain. In the hopelessness. 213 00:10:49,480 --> 00:10:52,960 We let the pain tell us a. Story about where it's going to 214 00:10:52,960 --> 00:10:58,840 lead us to. That's the pain taking you for a 215 00:10:58,840 --> 00:11:00,720 walk. We're supposed to walk through 216 00:11:00,720 --> 00:11:03,480 it. Well, it's bad. 217 00:11:03,480 --> 00:11:04,760 Now it's only going to get worse. 218 00:11:06,600 --> 00:11:08,360 You think? That was silly that you said you 219 00:11:08,360 --> 00:11:10,120 think they? Think that they think. 220 00:11:10,120 --> 00:11:14,560 Worse than that, Who knows? The battlefield is in the mind. 221 00:11:15,920 --> 00:11:19,080 And so we have to take control and we turn the pain and rather 222 00:11:19,080 --> 00:11:22,920 than let the pain walk us, we then walk through the pain and 223 00:11:22,920 --> 00:11:25,720 we share. That with God, and we bring it 224 00:11:25,720 --> 00:11:28,160 to God. And then this is what? 225 00:11:28,160 --> 00:11:32,400 We do. We turn the pain, the questions 226 00:11:32,720 --> 00:11:37,720 into a request. Let's continue to read what the 227 00:11:37,720 --> 00:11:41,680 Psalmist wrote in verse three. Listen, he's done the the pain. 228 00:11:41,680 --> 00:11:43,880 He's he's been real with God. Then he says this. 229 00:11:44,080 --> 00:11:50,760 Consider. And answer me, oh Lord, my God, 230 00:11:50,920 --> 00:11:57,280 light up my eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death. 231 00:11:57,720 --> 00:12:00,360 In other words, I just told you God. 232 00:12:00,360 --> 00:12:03,360 What is happening? Now, would you do this for me? 233 00:12:03,360 --> 00:12:06,840 Would you consider what I have said and would you? 234 00:12:06,960 --> 00:12:12,600 Answer my request, Lord. God, would you light up my eyes. 235 00:12:14,840 --> 00:12:17,440 Would you let me sleep in peace. Do you see what's happening 236 00:12:17,440 --> 00:12:19,160 here? You're now take, you're now 237 00:12:19,160 --> 00:12:22,160 walking through the pain and you're in this moment. 238 00:12:22,160 --> 00:12:26,960 You're choosing to trust in God and. 239 00:12:26,960 --> 00:12:29,880 Not the situation. As I said last week, it's about 240 00:12:29,880 --> 00:12:33,000 looking at the pain and then looking up to him. 241 00:12:34,400 --> 00:12:36,360 And then you move from turn it to a. 242 00:12:36,640 --> 00:12:40,040 Request. And I love Psalm. 5:00 and 6:00 243 00:12:40,040 --> 00:12:41,440 This is a wonderful. Psalm. 244 00:12:41,640 --> 00:12:44,880 To meditate on and as a. Biblical model for how we can 245 00:12:44,880 --> 00:12:46,720 walk. Through the pain verse 5 and. 246 00:12:46,720 --> 00:12:51,240 Six but. I love a but nevertheless. 247 00:12:51,880 --> 00:12:59,080 In spite of this, but I have trusted in your steadfast joy, 248 00:13:05,220 --> 00:13:08,780 in spite of the pain that I'm feeling, in spite of the reality 249 00:13:08,780 --> 00:13:13,180 that's painful, I will make. A choice God. 250 00:13:14,460 --> 00:13:18,900 To trust in you, you see, a biblical lament will always head 251 00:13:18,900 --> 00:13:22,700 in that direction to a declaration that As for me and 252 00:13:22,700 --> 00:13:23,740 my. House we're going to praise the 253 00:13:23,740 --> 00:13:27,040 Lord. That in my life, I'm going to 254 00:13:27,040 --> 00:13:29,520 get to this point of walking through the pain. 255 00:13:29,760 --> 00:13:32,760 And then trusting you God, and declaring that right now. 256 00:13:33,920 --> 00:13:35,520 And. Then it says this my heart shall 257 00:13:35,520 --> 00:13:37,440 rejoice in your salvation. Where? 258 00:13:37,440 --> 00:13:40,320 Else did we hear? Rejoice, Rejoice in hope. 259 00:13:42,400 --> 00:13:45,560 Are you seeing this the? The the progress of walking 260 00:13:45,560 --> 00:13:48,800 through the pain. It's about starting to be real 261 00:13:48,800 --> 00:13:52,840 with God, with our. Questions. 262 00:13:53,800 --> 00:13:55,360 It's then making the decision to trust. 263 00:13:55,360 --> 00:13:57,760 Him and then. Praise him. 264 00:13:58,960 --> 00:14:01,720 And I want to say that if you are here this morning, you've 265 00:14:01,720 --> 00:14:03,560 started on this. Series, and said, I want to 266 00:14:03,560 --> 00:14:05,280 rejoice in hope, I want to tell you that. 267 00:14:05,280 --> 00:14:06,600 Means you're going. To have to get real with your 268 00:14:06,600 --> 00:14:09,080 stuff, you can't short circuit that. 269 00:14:09,080 --> 00:14:12,800 I'm sorry, you're. Going to have to get real and 270 00:14:12,800 --> 00:14:15,680 it's in that process. Of being real, that God then 271 00:14:15,920 --> 00:14:19,680 ministers to our heart, pours out his peace. 272 00:14:20,280 --> 00:14:21,880 Maybe there's healing there. Maybe there's. 273 00:14:22,080 --> 00:14:26,080 Hurts and wounds maybe we're. Operating out of insecurities. 274 00:14:26,080 --> 00:14:28,960 Because of words that people have spoken over us. 275 00:14:29,800 --> 00:14:32,360 Maybe it's to do? With our our our, our natural 276 00:14:32,360 --> 00:14:35,120 mother and father and. The way we grew up, maybe that's 277 00:14:35,120 --> 00:14:38,880 impacted how we see the world, whatever it might be, in the 278 00:14:38,880 --> 00:14:41,520 place of a biblical lament as we make the. 279 00:14:41,520 --> 00:14:43,840 Choice to walk through it and be real about it. 280 00:14:44,440 --> 00:14:45,880 We. Are coming in humility. 281 00:14:45,880 --> 00:14:48,320 And he can heal us in that place. 282 00:14:48,320 --> 00:14:50,000 Are you with me? We. 283 00:14:50,000 --> 00:14:51,280 All get to thank you for that, Sally. 284 00:14:51,280 --> 00:14:56,280 Bless you, sister. So the first thing I. 285 00:14:56,280 --> 00:14:59,280 Want to tell you is this? If you want to rejoice in hope, 286 00:14:59,880 --> 00:15:02,080 be real about the hopelessness. And. 287 00:15:02,080 --> 00:15:04,200 Walk through the pain. Don't let the pain walk you, 288 00:15:04,200 --> 00:15:09,040 because it will. It will. #2 We've only got 3 289 00:15:09,040 --> 00:15:10,920 this morning. Happy days. 290 00:15:14,360 --> 00:15:19,160 Here's the other the other one walk with others you want to 291 00:15:19,160 --> 00:15:19,720 walk in. Biblical. 292 00:15:19,720 --> 00:15:20,760 Hope. Hope. 293 00:15:20,760 --> 00:15:24,240 Hope, hope, hope, walk with others. 294 00:15:25,160 --> 00:15:27,040 And I want to say. Doing. 295 00:15:27,040 --> 00:15:30,000 Life with one. Another is so important, in 296 00:15:30,000 --> 00:15:33,120 fact, God has created us too. God, I said. 297 00:15:33,120 --> 00:15:36,560 This God is a relational God. And he's created us to be 298 00:15:36,560 --> 00:15:39,040 relational. And when Jesus died on the 299 00:15:39,040 --> 00:15:40,280 cross. He died so he could have a 300 00:15:40,280 --> 00:15:43,640 relationship with our father and relationship with one another, 301 00:15:46,040 --> 00:15:49,360 relationship with God in relationship with one another. 302 00:15:49,360 --> 00:15:51,080 That's why Jesus died on the cross. 303 00:15:53,480 --> 00:15:56,880 And fellowship you've. Who's heard? 304 00:15:56,880 --> 00:16:00,160 That word fellowship, I mean, when I was growing up, we. 305 00:16:00,160 --> 00:16:02,000 Used to have fellowship groups at church. 306 00:16:02,000 --> 00:16:04,120 I don't think we call them these things anymore, do we? 307 00:16:04,120 --> 00:16:05,920 But. Fellowship is an important word. 308 00:16:05,920 --> 00:16:09,160 It's not just an old word that you can swap out for. 309 00:16:09,360 --> 00:16:12,680 Connection or friendship? There is something weighty about 310 00:16:12,680 --> 00:16:17,240 the Word Fellowship. And I want to say that 311 00:16:17,240 --> 00:16:21,240 fellowship is more than just. Friendship, although it contains 312 00:16:21,240 --> 00:16:23,920 friendship. It is about walking out our 313 00:16:23,920 --> 00:16:27,240 lives. With fellow believers, fellow 314 00:16:27,240 --> 00:16:29,920 brothers and sisters, all purchased by the blood of. 315 00:16:30,000 --> 00:16:32,160 Jesus, you know that we're family, right? 316 00:16:32,360 --> 00:16:33,960 Like that's not a glib. Word. 317 00:16:33,960 --> 00:16:38,680 To make us feel warm and cozy. It's a biblical truth that we 318 00:16:38,680 --> 00:16:40,800 are brothers and sisters in Christ. 319 00:16:41,800 --> 00:16:44,520 That the blood that has purchased me and made me a child 320 00:16:44,520 --> 00:16:47,160 of God is the same blood that purchased you and made you a 321 00:16:47,160 --> 00:16:49,520 child of God. And so we're brothers and 322 00:16:49,520 --> 00:16:55,240 sisters, and it's Paul in Romans. 12 verse 10 in. 323 00:16:55,240 --> 00:16:58,120 Fact in the same chapter and a few. 2 verses before it says, be 324 00:16:58,120 --> 00:17:03,160 devoted to one another in love, honor one another above 325 00:17:03,160 --> 00:17:08,240 yourselves. That's hard, but that's what it 326 00:17:08,240 --> 00:17:10,960 means to have fellowship the hardest thing I've ever. 327 00:17:10,960 --> 00:17:12,920 Done in my life is loving other people. 328 00:17:17,040 --> 00:17:18,720 I'm sure that says more about me than you, but. 329 00:17:19,760 --> 00:17:21,079 Love is difficult. Let's be. 330 00:17:21,079 --> 00:17:24,280 Real. And I can just about love people 331 00:17:24,400 --> 00:17:26,280 but honour one another above. Yourselves, I mean. 332 00:17:26,280 --> 00:17:29,680 That is a place of sacrifice and humility, and yet that is what 333 00:17:29,680 --> 00:17:30,640 fellowship? Is about. 334 00:17:32,320 --> 00:17:34,560 You know the body of. Christ is a beautiful thing. 335 00:17:35,400 --> 00:17:38,960 It is a beautiful thing and so I want to tell you you need other. 336 00:17:38,960 --> 00:17:42,360 People in your life. If you want to walk in, hope you 337 00:17:42,360 --> 00:17:45,400 need other people with you to. Have fellowship with and to do 338 00:17:45,400 --> 00:17:48,040 life together the. Enemy wants nothing more. 339 00:17:48,320 --> 00:17:51,360 Than to isolate you. You know the biggest lie, one of 340 00:17:51,360 --> 00:17:53,040 the biggest lies. At the moment is you can do 341 00:17:53,040 --> 00:17:54,920 church on home at home on on your own. 342 00:17:57,000 --> 00:17:58,840 And I said this a couple of weeks ago, and I said this 343 00:17:58,920 --> 00:18:00,640 lovingly to. Those that watching online this 344 00:18:00,640 --> 00:18:02,320 and we. Know that many of you watch. 345 00:18:02,320 --> 00:18:04,720 Online because you're unable to get to the building or. 346 00:18:05,040 --> 00:18:06,560 Whether that be health issues or whatever. 347 00:18:06,560 --> 00:18:09,440 It might be. We know many of you are a window 348 00:18:09,440 --> 00:18:11,360 shopping, and that sounds like a funny phrase, isn't it? 349 00:18:11,360 --> 00:18:11,920 But. I've. 350 00:18:11,920 --> 00:18:13,320 Heard about this church? Let me check them out on 351 00:18:13,320 --> 00:18:14,480 YouTube. That's a great thing. 352 00:18:14,880 --> 00:18:15,920 I hope you're being blessed by it. 353 00:18:15,920 --> 00:18:18,000 And some of you can't connect where you are locally. 354 00:18:18,000 --> 00:18:21,120 And so we know that we reach across the globe and that's 355 00:18:21,120 --> 00:18:23,760 wonderful. But if you're there at home and 356 00:18:23,760 --> 00:18:25,440 you're like, well, this is. More comfortable for me. 357 00:18:25,440 --> 00:18:28,160 And it means I can do that in the afternoon and it means I 358 00:18:28,160 --> 00:18:30,560 don't have to get in the car. And it means this and the other. 359 00:18:30,560 --> 00:18:32,080 I want to tell you that's not Church. 360 00:18:33,360 --> 00:18:36,160 That's just watching content online. 361 00:18:36,160 --> 00:18:38,720 And God willing, it's great content that you've been blessed 362 00:18:38,720 --> 00:18:43,000 by the Word and worship. But church is about his people. 363 00:18:43,920 --> 00:18:47,720 Church isn't a. Structure of programs Church. 364 00:18:47,720 --> 00:18:51,120 Isn't a building church is the. Body of Christ. 365 00:18:51,920 --> 00:18:55,120 And so, if you want to walk with others, you need to come to 366 00:18:55,120 --> 00:18:57,200 church. In other words, you need to be 367 00:18:57,200 --> 00:18:59,800 with one another. You need to love one another 368 00:18:59,920 --> 00:19:02,640 practically. By serving one another. 369 00:19:02,760 --> 00:19:05,400 You need to be here for one another to say how are you 370 00:19:05,400 --> 00:19:07,400 doing? Can we pray together? 371 00:19:07,960 --> 00:19:09,880 That is what churches and I laid down, a challenge A. 372 00:19:09,880 --> 00:19:10,800 Couple of weeks ago. Said. 373 00:19:10,960 --> 00:19:13,120 I want this to be a year where we're committed to coming to 374 00:19:13,120 --> 00:19:16,000 church, that we say, you know what, Lord, I'm not going to be 375 00:19:16,000 --> 00:19:18,840 lazy with you. I'm going to prioritize. 376 00:19:18,840 --> 00:19:22,200 Running into your sanctuary. To worship you and to be with 377 00:19:22,200 --> 00:19:23,840 your body. I. 378 00:19:23,840 --> 00:19:25,320 Believe. That is the challenge of our 379 00:19:25,320 --> 00:19:30,800 modern day. And so Fellowship is about 380 00:19:31,080 --> 00:19:35,040 joining and being together. And you know there's a. 381 00:19:35,040 --> 00:19:37,120 Beautiful picture. Of what it means? 382 00:19:37,120 --> 00:19:39,280 To do life together and encouraging one another. 383 00:19:39,560 --> 00:19:43,240 In Exodus when? The Israelites. 384 00:19:43,600 --> 00:19:47,080 Are fighting the Amaleks and Moses is ordered. 385 00:19:47,080 --> 00:19:50,320 To kind of put his staff up, and as long as his staff is up, some 386 00:19:50,320 --> 00:19:52,520 of you recall this story, the Israelites are winning. 387 00:19:52,520 --> 00:19:53,880 But the moment? The staff goes down. 388 00:19:53,880 --> 00:19:55,880 They don't and. I'm just going to read this from 389 00:19:55,880 --> 00:20:00,040 the message. Bible exodus. 1710 to 13 Joshua 390 00:20:00,040 --> 00:20:03,280 did what Moses ordered ordered. In order to fight Amalek. 391 00:20:03,680 --> 00:20:07,040 And Moses, Aaron and her went to the top of the hill. 392 00:20:07,560 --> 00:20:09,000 It turned out that whenever Moses. 393 00:20:09,000 --> 00:20:11,440 Raised his hands, Israel was winning. 394 00:20:11,720 --> 00:20:15,360 But whenever he lowered his hands, Amalek was winning. 395 00:20:15,880 --> 00:20:18,960 But Moses hands got tired. I mean, life is tiring. 396 00:20:19,600 --> 00:20:22,080 So they got a stone and they set it under him. 397 00:20:22,440 --> 00:20:23,640 He sat. On it. 398 00:20:24,040 --> 00:20:26,400 And Aaron and her held up his hands. 399 00:20:26,560 --> 00:20:29,920 One on each side so. His hands remained steady until 400 00:20:29,920 --> 00:20:31,440 the. Sun went down. 401 00:20:32,000 --> 00:20:34,880 Joshua defeated Amalek and it's army and battle. 402 00:20:35,600 --> 00:20:37,160 I. Think that is a beautiful 403 00:20:37,160 --> 00:20:40,240 picture of what it means to have fellowship with one another. 404 00:20:41,080 --> 00:20:44,280 We're all called. In this spiritual battle. 405 00:20:44,280 --> 00:20:46,120 That we're in. Who knows that? 406 00:20:46,640 --> 00:20:49,280 We. All got our part to play but. 407 00:20:49,280 --> 00:20:54,040 Just like Moses, sometimes we lose our strength and our arms 408 00:20:54,040 --> 00:20:58,240 drop and we look around and think, If only someone could 409 00:20:58,240 --> 00:21:01,160 help me put my arms back up. That's fellowship. 410 00:21:01,960 --> 00:21:04,400 Who is around you? That needs you to. 411 00:21:04,400 --> 00:21:06,880 Say, you know what? I'm I know it's tough, but I'm 412 00:21:06,880 --> 00:21:08,560 here for you. Let's pray about this together. 413 00:21:09,320 --> 00:21:09,600 Tell. Me. 414 00:21:09,600 --> 00:21:12,200 How you're feeling. Let me hold your hands up for 415 00:21:12,200 --> 00:21:13,240 you. Do you need? 416 00:21:13,240 --> 00:21:16,040 A stone to sit on. That's what it means to have. 417 00:21:16,040 --> 00:21:18,760 Fellowship. You know, it says in Galatians 418 00:21:18,760 --> 00:21:20,240 that we are to. Serve one another. 419 00:21:20,240 --> 00:21:22,960 In James we are to pray for one another. 420 00:21:22,960 --> 00:21:25,240 In Romans it says to build one another up. 421 00:21:25,440 --> 00:21:29,200 This is the key keys of fellowship and. 422 00:21:29,200 --> 00:21:31,600 It is in. That place that you can speak 423 00:21:31,600 --> 00:21:34,400 hope into other people. I have been, I'm sure you. 424 00:21:34,400 --> 00:21:37,640 Have been in those situations where everything looks hopeless 425 00:21:38,000 --> 00:21:41,160 and a brother or sister in Christ who said to me, Mark, I 426 00:21:41,160 --> 00:21:43,720 know you can't see it right now, but I want to tell you there is 427 00:21:43,720 --> 00:21:46,080 hope because God has got you right now. 428 00:21:47,160 --> 00:21:49,920 God loves you, you know. Sometimes we're too. 429 00:21:49,920 --> 00:21:52,040 Weak to even. Be able to say that God's got 430 00:21:52,040 --> 00:21:54,760 it. We're so battered by life. 431 00:21:54,760 --> 00:21:56,800 We're so we've been so real here. 432 00:21:56,800 --> 00:21:58,560 I hope you don't mind us being real, right? 433 00:22:00,680 --> 00:22:02,800 But you know, we're in that place and we feel battered and 434 00:22:02,800 --> 00:22:04,880 we just need a brother or. Sister in Christ, say it's going 435 00:22:04,880 --> 00:22:07,400 to be OK. You know God says this. 436 00:22:07,600 --> 00:22:10,120 God, God says that. Greater is he that is in you 437 00:22:10,120 --> 00:22:13,440 than he that is in the world. And so I want to say this, we 438 00:22:13,440 --> 00:22:16,640 need fellowship. We've got. 439 00:22:16,640 --> 00:22:20,120 Our new booklets, which I know that many who are. 440 00:22:20,120 --> 00:22:22,360 New would have. Got these in the welcome bag. 441 00:22:22,640 --> 00:22:24,880 There's one for serving, one for. 442 00:22:24,880 --> 00:22:28,080 Giving this one is how we. How you Join Now? 443 00:22:29,080 --> 00:22:31,000 We don't have a formal membership. 444 00:22:32,080 --> 00:22:35,000 We don't have that structure, unlike other denominations that 445 00:22:35,000 --> 00:22:37,280 may do we? Don't have a formal membership 446 00:22:37,280 --> 00:22:41,240 but for us membership does mean a commitment to being part of 447 00:22:41,240 --> 00:22:43,720 the church. And can I just encourage you if 448 00:22:43,720 --> 00:22:46,240 you if you're if you haven't had one of these and. 449 00:22:46,240 --> 00:22:48,240 Maybe you've been at church for many, many years. 450 00:22:48,240 --> 00:22:49,880 Can you pick up one of these and have a read? 451 00:22:50,440 --> 00:22:53,200 Because I think it does a great job of articulating what it 452 00:22:53,200 --> 00:22:55,880 means to be church here at Verso Church. 453 00:22:57,040 --> 00:23:00,640 The first thing is this. Come along on a Sunday like you 454 00:23:00,640 --> 00:23:03,600 can't be part of this church. Unless you're coming along. 455 00:23:03,760 --> 00:23:04,760 On a Sunday. Now let me hear. 456 00:23:04,760 --> 00:23:06,880 My heart I'm. Not saying that there are going 457 00:23:06,880 --> 00:23:08,200 to be. Occasions where you can't make a 458 00:23:08,200 --> 00:23:11,200 Sunday, you've got a family. I'm, you know, I'm not going to 459 00:23:11,200 --> 00:23:13,760 be taking the register. That's what I'm saying, and 460 00:23:13,760 --> 00:23:15,280 life. Happens and all that. 461 00:23:15,280 --> 00:23:18,280 So let's have some you know. Let's understand that. 462 00:23:18,920 --> 00:23:20,080 I hope you heard my heart earlier. 463 00:23:20,080 --> 00:23:22,720 I'm talking about where our heart attitude is in terms of 464 00:23:22,720 --> 00:23:25,360 how we deal with God, but come. Along to a Sunday, whether it's 465 00:23:25,360 --> 00:23:28,760 the 9:30, 11/30 or the. Well. 466 00:23:28,760 --> 00:23:31,960 Done 630. And we're going to be starting 467 00:23:31,960 --> 00:23:33,880 that tonight as you. Heard once? 468 00:23:33,880 --> 00:23:35,600 A month. But we're looking, God willing 469 00:23:35,600 --> 00:23:38,400 to make that a weekly thing. So there really is a lot of 470 00:23:38,400 --> 00:23:39,680 options there. Would. 471 00:23:39,680 --> 00:23:44,520 You agree? #2 Join a Verso group like 472 00:23:45,120 --> 00:23:48,760 coming to church isn't just about a Sunday thing, It's. 473 00:23:48,760 --> 00:23:50,840 About doing life with people through the week. 474 00:23:51,720 --> 00:23:55,000 We have. Loads of Verso groups OK. 475 00:23:55,440 --> 00:23:58,000 Get connected if you're not in a group and you know, I've got to 476 00:23:58,000 --> 00:23:59,960 tell you the percentage of people that come. 477 00:23:59,960 --> 00:24:02,440 To our church that is in a group is very low. 478 00:24:03,120 --> 00:24:04,560 And I. Know it's difficult committing 479 00:24:04,560 --> 00:24:07,320 to something like that, I get that, but I want to challenge us 480 00:24:07,320 --> 00:24:08,000 all and me. Too. 481 00:24:08,000 --> 00:24:09,360 Where's our? Priority in life. 482 00:24:10,880 --> 00:24:13,160 And what God called you? Maybe God called you. 483 00:24:13,400 --> 00:24:17,480 To walk alongside others, maybe. God's placed in you the gift of 484 00:24:17,480 --> 00:24:18,360 being a. Hope giver now. 485 00:24:19,000 --> 00:24:21,840 You can get on our website. Pick a day, Monday, Tuesday, 486 00:24:21,840 --> 00:24:23,320 Wednesday, whatever day it is and you'll. 487 00:24:23,320 --> 00:24:25,640 See all the groups that we run? Go to. 488 00:24:25,840 --> 00:24:28,160 Verso dot church forward slash groups and if. 489 00:24:28,160 --> 00:24:30,200 You can't find a group. E-mail the office. 490 00:24:30,200 --> 00:24:32,360 Office at. Verso dot church or. 491 00:24:32,360 --> 00:24:33,960 Find Trevor. Heads up. 492 00:24:33,960 --> 00:24:36,240 Our pastoral and discipleship or myself or any. 493 00:24:36,240 --> 00:24:38,920 Of the other staff. But I really want to push. 494 00:24:38,920 --> 00:24:45,120 This point life doing, life together, having fellowship. 495 00:24:45,480 --> 00:24:48,480 Isn't just about a Sunday thing, whether it's the business club 496 00:24:48,480 --> 00:24:50,440 on a Sunday night or it's another group. 497 00:24:51,080 --> 00:24:53,520 Can I challenge you right? Now, if you're not in a group, 498 00:24:54,480 --> 00:24:56,320 ask yourself the question, is this the year that I'm going to 499 00:24:56,320 --> 00:25:02,120 get part of a Verso group? Other things Three, find 500 00:25:02,120 --> 00:25:05,960 somewhere to serve you know where are you serving if you're 501 00:25:05,960 --> 00:25:08,520 not serving. Then we know that many find it 502 00:25:08,520 --> 00:25:10,560 difficult to commit. Or maybe you've just joined us. 503 00:25:10,560 --> 00:25:13,160 That's fine, but at some point in our journey. 504 00:25:13,440 --> 00:25:15,320 We need to say, listen, I'm not consuming. 505 00:25:15,320 --> 00:25:17,360 Church. I'm doing church. 506 00:25:17,720 --> 00:25:21,080 Big difference. I don't want to come and consume 507 00:25:21,080 --> 00:25:22,160 church. I want to do church. 508 00:25:22,320 --> 00:25:25,520 I want to be church. And if you're here and this is 509 00:25:25,520 --> 00:25:27,480 your home, then you should be be in church with one. 510 00:25:27,480 --> 00:25:31,640 Another. And you know, we have 8 morning 511 00:25:31,640 --> 00:25:34,200 services a month, why not serve on one? 512 00:25:34,200 --> 00:25:36,160 Out of eight, that's not a lot, really. 513 00:25:37,400 --> 00:25:40,800 Welcome Team Hospitality team Head up by Anne Lee. 514 00:25:40,800 --> 00:25:43,680 They do an. Amazing job with the the 515 00:25:43,680 --> 00:25:45,400 refreshments. And the stewards. 516 00:25:45,880 --> 00:25:48,000 Maybe the car parking? Team, maybe Venture and maybe 517 00:25:48,000 --> 00:25:50,640 Village. I mean, there are a plethora of 518 00:25:50,640 --> 00:25:53,800 teams that you can. Serve on and if you go to Verso 519 00:25:53,800 --> 00:25:56,840 dot church, you'll find them. But if we're talking about 520 00:25:56,840 --> 00:26:00,040 walking in, hope you're going to find that when you see God. 521 00:26:00,040 --> 00:26:03,600 Moving as you serve, that's going to build your trust and 522 00:26:03,600 --> 00:26:05,480 your faith in God and hope will come in. 523 00:26:06,840 --> 00:26:09,800 And lastly, give a portion of your income regularly. 524 00:26:10,520 --> 00:26:11,680 The pastor. 'S talking about money. 525 00:26:11,680 --> 00:26:14,360 Yeah, I am. Can he do that? 526 00:26:14,360 --> 00:26:15,480 Well, I I guess. So it's in the. 527 00:26:15,480 --> 00:26:18,840 Bible. You know, we're so thankful for 528 00:26:18,840 --> 00:26:20,280 the generosity of all those. Who give to? 529 00:26:20,280 --> 00:26:23,440 Verso Vineyard Church providing us with the resources to fulfill 530 00:26:23,440 --> 00:26:26,280 our mission to make Jesus known. And the Bible teaches us that 531 00:26:26,280 --> 00:26:28,040 giving to the Lord is part of our worship. 532 00:26:28,040 --> 00:26:30,880 To him and we. Do so with thankful and grateful 533 00:26:30,880 --> 00:26:32,480 hearts. Part. 534 00:26:32,480 --> 00:26:34,040 Of being a member here part of saying this. 535 00:26:34,040 --> 00:26:36,360 Is my home church is about saying I. 536 00:26:36,360 --> 00:26:38,880 Am going to worship in this way, in this place. 537 00:26:39,040 --> 00:26:41,680 And I'm going to bring to the storehouse my tithes and my 538 00:26:41,680 --> 00:26:44,640 offerings. All right, so that's what it 539 00:26:44,640 --> 00:26:46,040 means to be a member of this church. 540 00:26:46,880 --> 00:26:49,000 But you see this is not. Rules for rules say. 541 00:26:49,880 --> 00:26:53,200 These are. We live and do fellowship with 542 00:26:53,200 --> 00:26:56,200 one another, and we can walk in the blessings that God has for 543 00:26:56,200 --> 00:26:57,320 us. I hope you hear my heart in 544 00:26:57,320 --> 00:26:59,920 that. And we could probably invite 545 00:26:59,920 --> 00:27:02,840 many people up to to give testimony of all these. 546 00:27:02,840 --> 00:27:05,040 Things to say when. I gave to God this. 547 00:27:05,040 --> 00:27:06,640 Happened when. I served. 548 00:27:06,640 --> 00:27:09,560 I saw God move in that way. When I was in a Verso group. 549 00:27:09,560 --> 00:27:12,440 I was going through a tough time, but they came around me. 550 00:27:12,560 --> 00:27:14,320 Not only did they pray for me, but they got. 551 00:27:14,320 --> 00:27:16,920 Together a rota. And they provided meals for me, 552 00:27:19,800 --> 00:27:22,320 so we need to. Walk in hope by walking with 553 00:27:22,320 --> 00:27:24,960 others, and I know there is a challenge there for all of us. 554 00:27:25,520 --> 00:27:29,400 And lastly, but of course. Not least walk towards Christ. 555 00:27:30,280 --> 00:27:35,240 We walk through the pain. We don't let the the pain walk 556 00:27:35,240 --> 00:27:37,200 us. We walk with. 557 00:27:37,240 --> 00:27:41,160 Others in fellowship and lastly. We walk towards Christ. 558 00:27:41,480 --> 00:27:45,800 This is a very famous 2 verses that I read to you Matthew 1128. 559 00:27:45,800 --> 00:27:48,800 Thirty. Jesus says this come to me. 560 00:27:49,800 --> 00:27:50,840 Who are? You going to? 561 00:27:51,440 --> 00:27:54,920 I was reminded recently in. Fact it was this week. 562 00:27:55,120 --> 00:27:59,880 When I was lamenting. And there was a split thought 563 00:27:59,880 --> 00:28:01,080 in. My mind which is? 564 00:28:02,000 --> 00:28:04,160 This would be so. Much easier to ignore it and 565 00:28:04,160 --> 00:28:07,200 numb the pain by having a drink or watching something TV. 566 00:28:07,240 --> 00:28:08,760 Watching TV like you know what I mean. 567 00:28:08,760 --> 00:28:11,640 Just zone out. There. 568 00:28:11,640 --> 00:28:13,960 Are so many numbing opportunities that we have in 569 00:28:13,960 --> 00:28:17,360 this world so that we can numb the pain and ignore it. 570 00:28:19,160 --> 00:28:20,880 But you see and then we go to those. 571 00:28:20,880 --> 00:28:23,600 Things, we go to those things for a fix. 572 00:28:23,600 --> 00:28:25,280 We go to those things to make us feel. 573 00:28:25,280 --> 00:28:27,920 Better we go to those. Things so we can get some hope 574 00:28:28,120 --> 00:28:31,320 and what we find and I'm sure you'll agree, is that it is 575 00:28:31,320 --> 00:28:36,680 momentary at best and at worst it's detrimental to us. 576 00:28:38,000 --> 00:28:40,720 But you see, Jesus says this. He gives us another alternative. 577 00:28:41,040 --> 00:28:45,480 Come to me. Come to me, all who labor and 578 00:28:45,480 --> 00:28:49,400 are heavy laden, come to me. All who are hopeless. 579 00:28:49,640 --> 00:28:51,000 And I will give you. Rest. 580 00:28:51,920 --> 00:28:54,000 Take my yoke upon you and learn from. 581 00:28:54,000 --> 00:28:57,240 Me for I am. Gentle and lowly in heart, and 582 00:28:57,240 --> 00:29:01,360 you will find rest. For your souls, for my yoke is 583 00:29:01,360 --> 00:29:10,650 easy and my burden is light. You see walking in hope. 584 00:29:10,650 --> 00:29:16,370 Friends is about walking to the one that gives us hope, Living 585 00:29:16,370 --> 00:29:19,920 hope, that is Jesus. You see, walking in hope is 586 00:29:19,920 --> 00:29:22,440 about walking towards hope himself. 587 00:29:23,000 --> 00:29:29,240 Jesus, I want, I want this really to be super practical for 588 00:29:29,240 --> 00:29:32,240 you guys. I want you to go away from this 589 00:29:32,240 --> 00:29:35,840 place and take something you can try and walk in. 590 00:29:37,200 --> 00:29:38,840 And so I want to. Encourage you to walk through 591 00:29:38,840 --> 00:29:43,440 the pain and lament Biblically, I want you to walk with others 592 00:29:43,440 --> 00:29:46,680 and have fellowship with one another and make that a priority 593 00:29:46,680 --> 00:29:50,160 for this year for you. And sign up for a group and get 594 00:29:50,160 --> 00:29:53,240 involved in church and #3. I want you to walk towards 595 00:29:53,240 --> 00:29:56,880 Christ in all things, and with that I'd like us to stand as I 596 00:29:56,880 --> 00:29:59,120 pray. Thank you, Jesus.