1 00:00:00,560 --> 00:00:02,960 Welcome to the Illuminate Church podcast. 2 00:00:03,400 --> 00:00:05,120 We hope today's message is encouraging. 3 00:00:05,120 --> 00:00:12,400 To you, welcome to Illuminate church. 4 00:00:12,400 --> 00:00:14,920 If this is your first Sunday here, you made a really good 5 00:00:14,920 --> 00:00:20,680 decision to be in a house that is inhabited by the Lord our 6 00:00:20,680 --> 00:00:22,120 God. He made a promise where my 7 00:00:22,120 --> 00:00:24,320 people praise me, I come and live with them. 8 00:00:25,080 --> 00:00:32,880 And what I just heard was ridonkulous praise, like true 9 00:00:32,880 --> 00:00:36,880 and sincere hearts, passionate to make sure God knows that we 10 00:00:36,880 --> 00:00:41,320 love them and that we're grateful for all that he's done, 11 00:00:41,320 --> 00:00:43,600 all that he's doing. We're grateful for his Son 12 00:00:43,720 --> 00:00:49,240 Jesus, who shed his blood for you and for me. 13 00:00:49,240 --> 00:00:52,440 And we're grateful for the Holy Spirit that empowers us to life. 14 00:00:53,160 --> 00:00:57,120 We are not alone. You do not bear the burden 15 00:00:57,120 --> 00:00:59,800 alone. I'll be honest. 16 00:01:01,520 --> 00:01:07,080 My heart is right here. And what I feel is the 17 00:01:07,080 --> 00:01:11,200 compassion of the Lord for everybody that's hurting today. 18 00:01:13,280 --> 00:01:19,360 And God wants to minister to you in a very personal way, but you 19 00:01:19,360 --> 00:01:25,800 have to choose it, OK? It's like he set up this grand 20 00:01:25,800 --> 00:01:29,200 buffet and all of it is there for you. 21 00:01:29,200 --> 00:01:33,880 Not Golden Corral. Way better than a chocolate. 22 00:01:33,880 --> 00:01:38,560 Wonderful is his love. And if you just dip yourself in 23 00:01:39,560 --> 00:01:47,800 to his wonderful love, I, I pray healing for you today. 24 00:01:51,320 --> 00:01:53,240 I almost jumped to the end of the message and just like, let's 25 00:01:53,240 --> 00:01:57,560 get it over with. But she came all this way. 26 00:01:57,560 --> 00:02:03,600 So I want to speak just a second to our dream team, our dream 27 00:02:03,600 --> 00:02:06,800 team with those volunteers who serve in the church, in the 28 00:02:06,800 --> 00:02:10,479 region and in the world. And they are spectacular at this 29 00:02:10,479 --> 00:02:13,000 church. I just, I'm blown away by the 30 00:02:13,000 --> 00:02:16,400 quality of people, but more than that, the quality of heart. 31 00:02:16,400 --> 00:02:19,920 Yes, yes, yes, what do you need? Yes, how can I help? 32 00:02:19,920 --> 00:02:22,040 Yes, I want to. I'm in. 33 00:02:22,640 --> 00:02:25,560 And I just want to make sure you're aware that we want to 34 00:02:25,560 --> 00:02:28,640 celebrate you and invest in you and say thank you to you with a 35 00:02:28,640 --> 00:02:30,560 special event. We want to do that all the time. 36 00:02:31,080 --> 00:02:34,160 But on the first weekend of October, we're having something 37 00:02:34,160 --> 00:02:37,000 called the Dream Team Weekend. And it's going to be a 38 00:02:37,000 --> 00:02:39,360 beautiful, incredible time. All the information, all that 39 00:02:39,360 --> 00:02:42,240 you need, how to register, head to Connect Central. 40 00:02:42,240 --> 00:02:44,400 It's not an open event, so you're not going to find it on 41 00:02:44,400 --> 00:02:47,160 the app, the church center app or illuminate that church. 42 00:02:47,160 --> 00:02:49,920 It's an invite only. So if you've missed the invite, 43 00:02:49,920 --> 00:02:52,400 whatever, go to Connect Central today. 44 00:02:52,400 --> 00:02:55,280 They can help you get registered or your ministry lead can help 45 00:02:55,280 --> 00:02:57,960 you get registered. We want to spend time with you 46 00:02:57,960 --> 00:03:00,920 because a dream without a team is just a wish. 47 00:03:01,760 --> 00:03:04,040 But a dream with a team is a reality, right? 48 00:03:04,200 --> 00:03:05,520 And y'all are making out and go ahead. 49 00:03:05,640 --> 00:03:14,480 Everybody should say Hallelujah. Well, today we are on week five 50 00:03:14,520 --> 00:03:16,440 of the seven Habits of Jesus People. 51 00:03:17,040 --> 00:03:21,080 Today is habit 4 because week 1 was an introduction and we have 52 00:03:21,080 --> 00:03:23,360 three more habits to go after this. 53 00:03:23,360 --> 00:03:25,240 Thank you for the feedback we're hearing from you. 54 00:03:25,240 --> 00:03:28,120 It's always helpful. I mean, we're just going to obey 55 00:03:28,120 --> 00:03:29,320 the Lord and preach whatever He wants. 56 00:03:29,320 --> 00:03:32,240 Sometimes we don't get a lot of feedback and other series is we 57 00:03:32,240 --> 00:03:35,480 get a lot of feedback of how this is helpful to you. 58 00:03:35,880 --> 00:03:37,320 And so thank you for those notes. 59 00:03:37,960 --> 00:03:44,000 A Jesus person is a distinct person, a person of distinction. 60 00:03:44,000 --> 00:03:49,040 I'm going to keep repeating this as long as I'm preaching this 61 00:03:49,040 --> 00:03:51,360 series. Philippians chapter 2 verse 15 62 00:03:51,360 --> 00:03:53,760 says that we will shine like stars in the darkness. 63 00:03:54,360 --> 00:03:57,600 So think of the night sky and see those little dots. 64 00:03:59,880 --> 00:04:03,960 When we adopt the habits of Jesus people, we become like 65 00:04:03,960 --> 00:04:09,720 those stars in this world. God called us the light of the 66 00:04:09,720 --> 00:04:13,040 world. So our job is to shine. 67 00:04:14,880 --> 00:04:19,360 Jesus people are peculiar people, which means that you are 68 00:04:19,360 --> 00:04:23,760 slightly odd. And I want you to know Jesus was 69 00:04:23,760 --> 00:04:28,560 incredibly odd, if by odd we mean no one else like him. 70 00:04:29,800 --> 00:04:33,240 Not seeing love like this, not seeing miracles like this, not 71 00:04:33,240 --> 00:04:36,760 seeing service like this, not seeing truth speaking like this. 72 00:04:36,760 --> 00:04:40,600 That guy's different. And when you become a Jesus 73 00:04:40,600 --> 00:04:44,360 person, people will note, man, you are different. 74 00:04:44,360 --> 00:04:47,000 And at first they call you odd because they're not sure what to 75 00:04:47,000 --> 00:04:49,200 do with you. Like, I don't know what to do 76 00:04:49,200 --> 00:04:51,840 with you. Jesus weirdness, right? 77 00:04:54,640 --> 00:04:57,720 But I want to amend the list. Not only distinct, not only 78 00:04:57,720 --> 00:04:59,600 peculiar, not just a Jesus person. 79 00:04:59,600 --> 00:05:02,800 But if I were to change out the word peculiar, I would say that 80 00:05:02,840 --> 00:05:08,920 Jesus people are powerful people, full of the power of the 81 00:05:08,920 --> 00:05:13,960 Holy Spirit, full of the power to overcome, and full of the 82 00:05:13,960 --> 00:05:17,760 power to help others overcome. It's in you. 83 00:05:18,600 --> 00:05:21,480 By the grace of the Lord Jesus, the Spirit has been given to 84 00:05:21,480 --> 00:05:29,120 you, powerful people to kill your people, distinct people. 85 00:05:29,120 --> 00:05:33,520 We're adopting these transformational habits so that 86 00:05:33,520 --> 00:05:36,120 we pattern our lives after Jesus and the disciples. 87 00:05:37,000 --> 00:05:38,720 I want you to know we're listing 7. 88 00:05:38,720 --> 00:05:40,920 You can add to them many, many, many more, but these are 89 00:05:40,920 --> 00:05:43,720 foundational and can be plugged into your life. 90 00:05:43,760 --> 00:05:46,120 And if you begin practicing them, it's one thing just to 91 00:05:46,120 --> 00:05:48,280 talk about them. It's another thing to practice 92 00:05:48,280 --> 00:05:50,280 them. Rick Connor, is that you? 93 00:05:51,840 --> 00:05:58,200 Oh, my word, This is a brother from a long old time ago. 94 00:05:58,200 --> 00:06:03,120 We went to youth group together and he's a pastor now in Tampa 95 00:06:03,120 --> 00:06:08,400 at Lake Magdalen Church, Right. And I just saw you, and now I'm 96 00:06:08,400 --> 00:06:14,160 having a squirrel moment. Good to see you. 97 00:06:15,520 --> 00:06:18,120 Honored that you're here. How'd you get a Sunday off? 98 00:06:22,120 --> 00:06:24,880 Habit one week 1. Christine taught it so 99 00:06:24,880 --> 00:06:26,200 wonderfully. Rule of life. 100 00:06:27,640 --> 00:06:31,080 This is really a scaffolding by which you can put in all the 101 00:06:31,080 --> 00:06:33,160 other habits. A rule of life is biblical 102 00:06:33,160 --> 00:06:36,840 values that are matched with biblical practices. 103 00:06:36,840 --> 00:06:40,400 We value this, so we do this. I value this, and now it's 104 00:06:40,400 --> 00:06:44,280 evidenced in my life by the practice, the habit of my life. 105 00:06:44,760 --> 00:06:46,640 So the other six habits you can plug in. 106 00:06:46,640 --> 00:06:48,360 We value these things, so we do this. 107 00:06:48,480 --> 00:06:50,400 Second week we said we value the word of God. 108 00:06:50,400 --> 00:06:53,000 So we said we read the word of God, but that's not the habit. 109 00:06:53,000 --> 00:06:57,760 The actual habit is to apply the word of God. 110 00:06:58,920 --> 00:07:01,520 Lots of people read the word of God, but kill your people. 111 00:07:01,800 --> 00:07:08,000 Do it, live it. Week 3 Last week we said that 112 00:07:08,000 --> 00:07:11,320 peculiar people practice confession. 113 00:07:12,840 --> 00:07:16,200 Have the habit of confession in your faith in Jesus. 114 00:07:16,200 --> 00:07:18,480 He removed from you the penalty of sin, but it is your 115 00:07:18,480 --> 00:07:24,280 confession that heals you from the power, the residue of sin. 116 00:07:25,360 --> 00:07:27,640 Confess your sins one to another and you will be healed. 117 00:07:28,600 --> 00:07:30,920 And we open the altars. And y'all, we stayed here for an 118 00:07:30,920 --> 00:07:35,560 hour last week after service with people coming, even had 119 00:07:35,560 --> 00:07:38,040 emails later like hey, I didn't go forward and I wish that I 120 00:07:38,040 --> 00:07:39,240 did. I'm like, it's not too late. 121 00:07:40,080 --> 00:07:43,720 Start right now. Confess your sins in. 122 00:07:43,880 --> 00:07:46,320 And by the way, it's not what you think of when you think of 123 00:07:46,320 --> 00:07:47,800 the Catholic Church and confessional. 124 00:07:47,800 --> 00:07:50,360 It's completely different. Confess your sins one to 125 00:07:50,360 --> 00:07:55,400 another, not just to a priest. Bring into the light what the 126 00:07:55,400 --> 00:07:57,080 devil wants to keep in the darkness. 127 00:07:59,640 --> 00:08:03,680 Habit 4. Aren't you anticipatory? 128 00:08:04,880 --> 00:08:06,280 Aren't you just like, what is it? 129 00:08:06,320 --> 00:08:07,960 I want to know before I reveal it. 130 00:08:07,960 --> 00:08:11,160 I will tell you that you can just call this one the one Tim 131 00:08:11,160 --> 00:08:17,000 Ingram needs work on. The one Tim Ingram needs help 132 00:08:17,000 --> 00:08:19,480 with ain't so good at. The one Tim Ingram needs to be 133 00:08:19,480 --> 00:08:21,640 held accountable by the church regarding. 134 00:08:22,280 --> 00:08:24,240 So if you're willing to hold me accountable, say I will. 135 00:08:25,120 --> 00:08:26,320 If you're not willing, what's wrong with you? 136 00:08:30,400 --> 00:08:35,520 Before I reveal it, I want to set some structure in your mind. 137 00:08:37,240 --> 00:08:41,360 I believe, and the first service was evidence of this, that there 138 00:08:41,360 --> 00:08:47,080 is a primary universal posture pose for victory. 139 00:08:48,600 --> 00:08:53,280 It's known world round. You see it all the time. 140 00:08:53,280 --> 00:08:56,200 It's not some fading victory poses like this. 141 00:08:58,000 --> 00:09:01,800 Remember that? Did a picture just pop up? 142 00:09:02,640 --> 00:09:09,080 Pretend like you didn't see that see what exactly it's not. 143 00:09:09,560 --> 00:09:11,160 We did this some people for victory. 144 00:09:11,160 --> 00:09:20,640 I don't know why do you ever do that like dude, home run. 145 00:09:22,400 --> 00:09:26,320 I don't know does that. I watched a YouTube video and 146 00:09:26,320 --> 00:09:38,160 I'm going to try to do the. I did it over here, away from my 147 00:09:38,160 --> 00:09:41,280 kids. So sorry, kids. 148 00:09:42,320 --> 00:09:45,720 Yeah, that's called the gritty. I have no idea why. 149 00:09:46,920 --> 00:09:52,160 Thank you, Justin Jefferson. I'm going to count to 3 and when 150 00:09:52,160 --> 00:09:57,040 I count to three, I want you to strike the universal victory 151 00:09:57,040 --> 00:10:01,680 pose posture and to feed you. Just pretend like somebody 152 00:10:01,680 --> 00:10:05,040 called you and said I'm going to give you $10,000 for the rest of 153 00:10:05,040 --> 00:10:06,800 your life. Every week, $10,000. 154 00:10:06,920 --> 00:10:09,120 You hang up the phone and you strike this pose. 155 00:10:09,120 --> 00:10:16,400 Ready, 123 go. I should have said strike the 156 00:10:16,400 --> 00:10:18,480 pose and make the noise. Ready 123 go. 157 00:10:22,840 --> 00:10:24,520 All of a sudden, I felt like you guys were riding a roller 158 00:10:24,520 --> 00:10:27,360 coaster. Yeah, it looks like this. 159 00:10:27,360 --> 00:10:30,000 And it sounds like this. Yeah, whatever, right. 160 00:10:31,000 --> 00:10:32,200 And you see it all over the world, right? 161 00:10:32,200 --> 00:10:35,640 You saw C's picture. Here's Rory McIlroy winning the 162 00:10:35,640 --> 00:10:38,080 Masters, finishing the career against Grand Slam. 163 00:10:38,080 --> 00:10:40,760 He's won all four majors now. And look at the people in the 164 00:10:40,760 --> 00:10:42,800 back. Oh, look at Argentina winning. 165 00:10:43,320 --> 00:10:48,320 There you go. One day the United States will 166 00:10:48,320 --> 00:10:50,880 win the World Cup. I'll be. 167 00:10:50,960 --> 00:10:54,920 I'll be dead. But they're going to win it one 168 00:10:54,920 --> 00:10:56,280 day. Then you have these people, they 169 00:10:56,440 --> 00:11:01,520 as a business, they just won wee they're I don't. 170 00:11:01,880 --> 00:11:04,360 That's New York City. Clearly there's the Empire State 171 00:11:04,360 --> 00:11:05,000 Building. Do you? 172 00:11:05,800 --> 00:11:07,520 Yeah. They're all like, you know, OK. 173 00:11:07,600 --> 00:11:08,680 Mary Poppins. Exactly. 174 00:11:08,960 --> 00:11:12,400 And then you have the OG where all of this began right here. 175 00:11:18,920 --> 00:11:21,760 Owen and Audrey down here. We ran up the rocky steps many, 176 00:11:21,760 --> 00:11:23,520 many moons ago. They were teeny tiny. 177 00:11:23,520 --> 00:11:25,000 We got to the top. I'm like, hold on a minute. 178 00:11:26,360 --> 00:11:27,160 And then OK. Yeah. 179 00:11:28,440 --> 00:11:32,600 The universal victory pose known throughout the world this 180 00:11:32,600 --> 00:11:33,880 morning. I'm wondering what is the 181 00:11:33,880 --> 00:11:41,560 universal pose or posture for suffering like? 182 00:11:41,560 --> 00:11:44,680 We have many expressions based on the person and the situation. 183 00:11:44,680 --> 00:11:47,480 Everyone has it a little bit different way they do it. 184 00:11:48,120 --> 00:11:51,160 Some of us have the ugly cry. Anyone ever had the ugly cry? 185 00:11:52,160 --> 00:11:54,960 Come on, let's all confess. What's interesting about the 186 00:11:54,960 --> 00:11:56,920 ugly cry is it like healing in the middle of it? 187 00:11:56,920 --> 00:11:59,880 At least for me, because I start making these weird sounds and I 188 00:11:59,880 --> 00:12:01,800 kind of start laughing at myself in the middle. 189 00:12:02,520 --> 00:12:05,000 Or you look down and you got these two diet bubbles right 190 00:12:05,000 --> 00:12:09,680 here under your nostrils. You're like, those are kind of 191 00:12:09,680 --> 00:12:10,680 cool. Like, look at those. 192 00:12:15,080 --> 00:12:19,080 Yep, ugly cry. Oh, we have indulgence when 193 00:12:19,080 --> 00:12:21,680 we're suffering. We indulge gallons and gallons 194 00:12:21,680 --> 00:12:26,200 of ice cream or gallons and gallons of alcohol. 195 00:12:29,480 --> 00:12:34,960 We have lashing out as a way that we walk through suffering 196 00:12:34,960 --> 00:12:38,320 and trials. Lashing out is merely an outlet. 197 00:12:38,560 --> 00:12:41,600 There's so much going on in here that I cannot contain it, so it 198 00:12:41,600 --> 00:12:44,240 comes uncontrollably spilling out of me. 199 00:12:44,240 --> 00:12:47,480 I'm like the smokestack. And here's my word all over you. 200 00:12:51,160 --> 00:12:55,400 And then freaking out. I think that this is mine. 201 00:12:56,520 --> 00:12:58,840 This is the one little bit of bad news. 202 00:12:58,840 --> 00:13:03,320 You're like, it's ruined or everyone's going to die. 203 00:13:04,680 --> 00:13:07,840 Woe is me. It's exasperation. 204 00:13:07,840 --> 00:13:11,480 We talked about this a little bit in the Sabbath series about 205 00:13:11,480 --> 00:13:14,040 Chicken Little. Exactly. 206 00:13:17,680 --> 00:13:21,560 But what about Jesus? People, Peculiar people, 207 00:13:21,560 --> 00:13:25,920 powerful people? Is there a response that should 208 00:13:25,920 --> 00:13:30,840 be universal to the church that makes it shine like a star in 209 00:13:30,840 --> 00:13:35,400 the midst of the valley, in the midst of the grief and the 210 00:13:35,400 --> 00:13:37,320 struggling? Jesus has said this himself. 211 00:13:37,320 --> 00:13:39,360 This will not be on the screen. I just want you to hear the 212 00:13:39,360 --> 00:13:41,960 Scripture. And it's a promise from Jesus. 213 00:13:41,960 --> 00:13:43,560 And we love his promises, don't we? 214 00:13:44,280 --> 00:13:47,120 Don't you love his promises? OK, He said this. 215 00:13:47,120 --> 00:13:49,480 I promise you, in this world you will have trouble. 216 00:13:50,920 --> 00:13:54,400 Yay. I love all your promises, God, 217 00:13:54,400 --> 00:13:57,720 but that one you will is a promise. 218 00:13:57,720 --> 00:14:04,440 You will have trouble. On this side of heaven, we 219 00:14:04,440 --> 00:14:08,960 experience the brokenness of the world and as a result, we 220 00:14:08,960 --> 00:14:16,400 suffer, we grieve, we go through trials, pain. 221 00:14:18,000 --> 00:14:21,840 The way that I think about it is like God designed this perfect 222 00:14:21,840 --> 00:14:25,320 bicycle that could move freely and the wind is blowing in your 223 00:14:25,320 --> 00:14:29,600 hairs. And then men, we men, by men, I 224 00:14:29,600 --> 00:14:32,920 mean all people, men and women, we came along and in our sin, we 225 00:14:32,920 --> 00:14:34,280 removed the seat in one of the pedals. 226 00:14:34,280 --> 00:14:35,440 And that's what we're riding now. 227 00:14:36,800 --> 00:14:39,120 And the whole time it kind of works like it's supposed to. 228 00:14:39,120 --> 00:14:42,400 But man, does it hurt to take this ride. 229 00:14:48,040 --> 00:14:49,840 But then Jesus completes his thoughts. 230 00:14:49,840 --> 00:14:54,080 He says in this world you will have trouble, but take heart. 231 00:14:55,160 --> 00:14:59,520 I've overcome the world. This taking heart is the 232 00:14:59,520 --> 00:15:02,840 distinction. This taking heart is what makes 233 00:15:02,840 --> 00:15:05,880 us peculiar. Most of the world will suffer 234 00:15:05,880 --> 00:15:09,840 and not take heart. But but as believers in Jesus, 235 00:15:10,520 --> 00:15:15,520 we are invited to take heart. And that my friends, is what 236 00:15:15,520 --> 00:15:19,520 makes the difference in your suffering and it's the basis of 237 00:15:19,520 --> 00:15:21,760 our 4th habit. Are you finally ready to hear 238 00:15:21,760 --> 00:15:24,760 it? OK, for the six of you that are 239 00:15:24,760 --> 00:15:29,960 ready, pay attention. The rest of you have it. 240 00:15:29,960 --> 00:15:37,000 For Jesus people suffer well. Jesus people will say, I have 241 00:15:37,000 --> 00:15:44,320 the habit of suffering well. When trials come my way, I 242 00:15:44,320 --> 00:15:54,280 travel through well. People may not notice when you 243 00:15:54,280 --> 00:15:59,120 rejoice because the whole world rejoices kind of the same way it 244 00:15:59,120 --> 00:16:02,560 looks the same. But when we as Jesus people 245 00:16:02,560 --> 00:16:08,360 learn to suffer peculiarly by taking heart, the opposite is 246 00:16:08,360 --> 00:16:11,240 losing heart. I've lost all heart. 247 00:16:11,280 --> 00:16:14,800 Well, taking heart, it is then that we become like Jesus and we 248 00:16:14,800 --> 00:16:17,760 shine like stars. People will marvel and they will 249 00:16:17,760 --> 00:16:23,520 ask you, how is it that you are going through this so well? 250 00:16:26,040 --> 00:16:32,600 I only have two points today, 2. But I want you to know two 251 00:16:32,600 --> 00:16:34,760 things before I get to the two points #1 remember, I'm 252 00:16:34,760 --> 00:16:37,720 preaching to myself first, chiefly me. 253 00:16:37,720 --> 00:16:39,920 I need to learn this throughout my entire being. 254 00:16:40,840 --> 00:16:45,800 And the second is this, if you are hurting today, I'm not 255 00:16:45,800 --> 00:16:51,840 asking you at all to fake like you're not hurting. 256 00:16:54,400 --> 00:16:56,400 I'm not asking you to put on a happy face. 257 00:16:58,440 --> 00:17:00,120 I'm not asking you not to grieve. 258 00:17:01,760 --> 00:17:05,760 I'm not telling you to get over it, whatever it may be. 259 00:17:07,319 --> 00:17:11,200 But I believe in all my heart that God is speaking to his 260 00:17:11,200 --> 00:17:15,720 church to say I have given you, you have at your disposal more 261 00:17:16,200 --> 00:17:18,920 than what you're using to get through your trouble, your 262 00:17:18,920 --> 00:17:24,800 struggles, your suffering, so that you can respond differently 263 00:17:25,200 --> 00:17:27,480 than the world does. 2 points #1 Here's the first one. 264 00:17:27,520 --> 00:17:29,160 Jesus. People suffer well because they 265 00:17:29,160 --> 00:17:33,680 have hope. Everyone say hope. 266 00:17:34,640 --> 00:17:40,480 Say it hopefully. Yeah, Jesus, people suffer well 267 00:17:40,480 --> 00:17:45,640 because they have hope in First Thessalonians. 268 00:17:45,640 --> 00:17:47,400 If you want to turn there in your Bible. 269 00:17:47,760 --> 00:17:51,640 By the way, interesting fact, all the TS T books in the New 270 00:17:51,640 --> 00:17:55,640 Testament are in the same place. Thessalonians, Timothy, Titus, 271 00:17:55,640 --> 00:17:58,000 and God put them there in alphabetical order to help us. 272 00:17:58,000 --> 00:18:01,480 I love that so much. So near the end of the New 273 00:18:01,480 --> 00:18:04,600 Testament, you'll run into the T books and the first is First 274 00:18:04,600 --> 00:18:08,360 Thessalonians chapter 4. Paul makes a summary statement 275 00:18:08,760 --> 00:18:10,520 that is very similar. By the way, if you need to Bible 276 00:18:10,520 --> 00:18:11,960 the ushers have one. Just raise your hand. 277 00:18:11,960 --> 00:18:14,520 They'll bring one to you. Thank you, Allison and others 278 00:18:14,520 --> 00:18:17,280 for doing that right over here, all the way down front. 279 00:18:17,280 --> 00:18:20,480 Is that you, Javier? I can't see that far. 280 00:18:20,560 --> 00:18:22,400 Here he comes running like the wind. 281 00:18:24,920 --> 00:18:27,680 First Thessalonians, chapter 4, Paul makes this statement verse 282 00:18:27,680 --> 00:18:29,680 one. As for other matters, brothers 283 00:18:29,680 --> 00:18:31,600 and sisters, look, listen to this. 284 00:18:31,720 --> 00:18:33,280 This is very similar to our series. 285 00:18:33,600 --> 00:18:40,160 We instructed you how to live in order to please God, as in fact 286 00:18:40,160 --> 00:18:43,240 you are living. You've taken up these habits, 287 00:18:43,240 --> 00:18:46,360 this way of living in order to please God. 288 00:18:47,520 --> 00:18:52,680 Now we ask you and urge you in the Lord Jesus to do this more 289 00:18:52,680 --> 00:18:55,920 and more. Paul's teaching the church in 290 00:18:55,920 --> 00:18:58,600 Thessaloniki, basically all the churches then and all the 291 00:18:58,600 --> 00:19:02,840 churches today, even now, the same thing that we are teaching 292 00:19:02,840 --> 00:19:04,680 in the series. There is an order, there are 293 00:19:04,680 --> 00:19:07,320 habits to learn. There is a practice to have in 294 00:19:07,320 --> 00:19:10,600 your life, instructions that will help you to please God, to 295 00:19:10,600 --> 00:19:13,960 be used of God for your own benefit, for the benefit of 296 00:19:13,960 --> 00:19:20,360 others and for the benefit of his Kingdom, the church and that 297 00:19:20,360 --> 00:19:22,360 day we're doing them and Paul's like do them more and more. 298 00:19:25,160 --> 00:19:26,800 Let these habits be ingrained in you. 299 00:19:27,200 --> 00:19:30,480 And then First Thessalonians chapter 4, verse 13, if you skim 300 00:19:30,480 --> 00:19:33,320 down, we get this instruction, this habit to form. 301 00:19:33,320 --> 00:19:36,000 Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about 302 00:19:36,000 --> 00:19:40,520 those who sleep in death so that you do not grieve like the rest 303 00:19:40,520 --> 00:19:47,200 of mankind who have no hope. Paul invites them to grieve 304 00:19:47,200 --> 00:19:50,880 differently than the rest of humanity because unlike the rest 305 00:19:50,880 --> 00:19:55,640 of humanity, followers of Jesus have a hope, which means today 306 00:19:55,640 --> 00:19:59,720 we have a hope. When Jesus said, take heart, 307 00:19:59,720 --> 00:20:02,840 I've overcome the world, he's saying, listen, sin and death 308 00:20:03,760 --> 00:20:05,520 are what's the broken part of this world. 309 00:20:06,480 --> 00:20:09,760 But they crucified me and buried me in the tomb. 310 00:20:09,760 --> 00:20:13,160 And three days later, the evidence is the empty tomb. 311 00:20:13,920 --> 00:20:17,560 I have authority over sin and death. 312 00:20:17,600 --> 00:20:23,320 I have overcome these things. So that he can make promises 313 00:20:23,320 --> 00:20:26,560 like this. John Chapter 11 verse 25, Jesus 314 00:20:26,560 --> 00:20:29,840 said to her, I am the resurrection and the life. 315 00:20:30,360 --> 00:20:34,280 Whoever believes in me will live even though he dies. 316 00:20:34,640 --> 00:20:38,240 And everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. 317 00:20:38,880 --> 00:20:43,320 Do you believe this? It's a good question to ask 318 00:20:43,320 --> 00:20:47,480 yourself this morning. Anyone who believes in him will 319 00:20:47,480 --> 00:20:51,880 never die, even should they die. Meaning your physical body, this 320 00:20:51,880 --> 00:20:56,360 tent suit will wear out and you will graduate to an immortal 321 00:20:56,360 --> 00:21:02,040 body and you will live there forever with the Lord your God 322 00:21:02,680 --> 00:21:05,800 because he has overcome and this we put our hope. 323 00:21:05,800 --> 00:21:08,120 I've shared this story before and I almost was like I'm not 324 00:21:08,120 --> 00:21:09,840 going to share it again but I just felt the Lord keep 325 00:21:10,160 --> 00:21:13,040 prompting it in my spirit. And maybe it's because we 326 00:21:13,040 --> 00:21:16,520 haven't learned it yet. It hasn't sunken down when I'm 327 00:21:16,520 --> 00:21:18,120 pointing all fingers at myself right now. 328 00:21:19,800 --> 00:21:22,960 At another church, sister Church of ours, a man was brought 329 00:21:22,960 --> 00:21:26,920 forward who is ravaged with cancer, stood in front of the 330 00:21:26,920 --> 00:21:30,760 church to be prayed over. Now imagine your family going 331 00:21:30,760 --> 00:21:32,760 through this and you're invited up on the platform. 332 00:21:32,760 --> 00:21:36,240 You can imagine the family walking up with a heavy burden, 333 00:21:38,480 --> 00:21:42,840 walking forward, bent over, faces kind of dour. 334 00:21:43,600 --> 00:21:46,760 This is heavy. Well, here comes this family 335 00:21:46,760 --> 00:21:49,520 walking up with the man with cancer in the front and he's 336 00:21:49,520 --> 00:21:54,480 beaming. He's got cancer all throughout 337 00:21:54,480 --> 00:21:58,040 his body. He was so peculiar that the 338 00:21:58,040 --> 00:22:03,000 pastor noticed. He was so odd and powerful that 339 00:22:03,000 --> 00:22:08,160 the pastor's like, how is it that you're behaving like this 340 00:22:08,400 --> 00:22:10,560 when we all know the report that you've been given? 341 00:22:11,960 --> 00:22:15,560 And a man said two things. First thing he said is either 342 00:22:15,560 --> 00:22:21,400 way I win. I either get to live here on the 343 00:22:21,400 --> 00:22:26,040 earth with people I love or I go to get my eternal reward and be 344 00:22:26,040 --> 00:22:29,040 face to face with Jesus. Like give me that. 345 00:22:32,200 --> 00:22:34,760 But the second thing you said is what I've said here many, many 346 00:22:34,760 --> 00:22:36,040 times. It might be my favorite words 347 00:22:36,040 --> 00:22:40,080 ever spoken by a human except for I love you from my family is 348 00:22:40,080 --> 00:22:42,800 this. You cannot threaten me with 349 00:22:42,800 --> 00:22:45,640 heaven. Come on now, think about that. 350 00:22:46,480 --> 00:22:48,440 You can. I'm not afraid to die. 351 00:22:49,320 --> 00:22:53,000 In fact, it's a graduation to the greatest season of my life, 352 00:22:53,000 --> 00:22:55,640 forever and ever. In eternity, even though I die, 353 00:22:55,680 --> 00:22:58,240 yet shall I live, and I will live with him. 354 00:22:58,840 --> 00:23:03,840 You can't throw me to heaven. That man looked at his situation 355 00:23:04,080 --> 00:23:07,520 and could have had despair, but instead, because of the truth of 356 00:23:07,520 --> 00:23:11,000 God's Word, he had hope. I'm all right. 357 00:23:14,040 --> 00:23:16,520 That's what Jesus said for people who are already dead. 358 00:23:17,040 --> 00:23:19,240 He also said something for people who are still living. 359 00:23:19,600 --> 00:23:24,120 Raise your hand if you're still living John chapter 14 verse 360 00:23:24,120 --> 00:23:26,640 one. Do not let your hearts be 361 00:23:26,640 --> 00:23:28,080 troubled. You believe in God, believe in 362 00:23:28,080 --> 00:23:30,560 me as well. In my father's house are many 363 00:23:30,560 --> 00:23:33,280 rooms. If it were not So what I have 364 00:23:33,280 --> 00:23:36,040 told you that I'm going there to prepare a place for you and if I 365 00:23:36,040 --> 00:23:40,200 go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and welcome you 366 00:23:40,200 --> 00:23:44,400 into my presence so that you also may be where I am. 367 00:23:46,480 --> 00:23:51,280 Jewish tradition custom man asks a woman to marry him. 368 00:23:51,760 --> 00:23:54,680 He says hold tight right here. He goes to his father's 369 00:23:54,680 --> 00:23:59,080 household and he builds on to the house a room for he and his 370 00:23:59,080 --> 00:24:00,960 bride. He says hold on. 371 00:24:00,960 --> 00:24:04,520 When I'm done making the space for us, I'm going to come back 372 00:24:04,720 --> 00:24:07,520 and get you, my bride, and take you to our new home. 373 00:24:09,880 --> 00:24:12,320 They would have understood Jesus's words immediately 374 00:24:12,320 --> 00:24:15,200 because it was their custom for us. 375 00:24:15,200 --> 00:24:18,160 It means the same. Jesus is saying I am your 376 00:24:18,160 --> 00:24:21,040 bridegroom, I am preparing a place for you. 377 00:24:21,280 --> 00:24:23,880 And as it says in the book of Thessalonians, I will come back 378 00:24:23,880 --> 00:24:25,920 in the clouds and rapture the church. 379 00:24:25,920 --> 00:24:30,320 It's a Latin word, rapturo, which means to be caught up and 380 00:24:30,320 --> 00:24:33,680 the church will be taken. The believers in Jesus will be 381 00:24:33,680 --> 00:24:38,080 taken with Jesus. Here's what I'm trying to say. 382 00:24:39,280 --> 00:24:44,840 Whether you die or whether you live, believers in Jesus have a 383 00:24:44,840 --> 00:24:52,800 very, very, very, very, very, very, very good end. 384 00:24:54,120 --> 00:25:01,080 The end is very good. And then, which is important 385 00:25:02,000 --> 00:25:05,000 because between this time and that, there's going to be a lot 386 00:25:05,000 --> 00:25:07,640 of things that happen, but I can always look up and see there is 387 00:25:07,640 --> 00:25:11,080 light at the end of the tunnel. My savior has made a promise. 388 00:25:11,240 --> 00:25:13,880 He's overcome the grave. He's he can overcome whatever 389 00:25:13,880 --> 00:25:15,600 I'm going through. If he's overcome the grave, then 390 00:25:15,600 --> 00:25:20,800 this is easy, right? So I'm going to put my eyes on 391 00:25:20,800 --> 00:25:22,360 him. One of our elders in the church, 392 00:25:22,360 --> 00:25:26,000 Matt Call has been on a journey of cancer himself for the last 393 00:25:26,000 --> 00:25:29,400 couple of years. Pancreatic gallbladder like 394 00:25:29,400 --> 00:25:32,840 intense, severe. He's a many, many me too many 395 00:25:32,840 --> 00:25:36,240 surgeries that I can even name. It's been in New York City had 396 00:25:36,240 --> 00:25:38,600 surgeries, the chemo to radio all that stuff. 397 00:25:39,520 --> 00:25:44,040 He's cancer free, but all of the healing has his body and sorts 398 00:25:45,200 --> 00:25:47,720 and things are it's just been a wild ride. 399 00:25:47,720 --> 00:25:49,840 You think are we finally clear and free and there's another 400 00:25:49,840 --> 00:25:51,680 thing and another thing and another thing and another thing. 401 00:25:52,560 --> 00:25:56,000 Listen to me closely. The other elders in the room can 402 00:25:56,000 --> 00:26:03,680 testify. There has never, ever one single 403 00:26:03,680 --> 00:26:07,480 time been a word of complaint that has passed. 404 00:26:07,480 --> 00:26:12,240 Matt calls lips every time he texts, Hey, this is happening, 405 00:26:12,240 --> 00:26:15,320 but God is good. Let's pray and believe. 406 00:26:16,920 --> 00:26:19,920 Faith, faith, faith. I keep waiting for that weak 407 00:26:19,920 --> 00:26:21,560 moment so that I'd be like, yeah, I would. 408 00:26:21,600 --> 00:26:23,480 I mean, if I found out, the first thing I would do is 409 00:26:23,480 --> 00:26:26,080 complain. This is the one I need to work 410 00:26:26,080 --> 00:26:28,720 on. I just confessing again, not 411 00:26:28,720 --> 00:26:34,800 Matt every time confessing. His hope could choose despair, 412 00:26:34,800 --> 00:26:39,480 but instead he chooses hope. There's a movie out that says 413 00:26:39,680 --> 00:26:43,480 hope isn't a plan. I think it might be a Star Wars 414 00:26:43,480 --> 00:26:46,200 movie. I think it might be Rogue One. 415 00:26:47,240 --> 00:26:49,520 Somebody help me. Yes or no? 416 00:26:50,640 --> 00:26:55,840 Nobody cares. It says hope is not a plan. 417 00:26:55,840 --> 00:26:59,960 I'm telling you, for believers, hope is not a plan either. 418 00:27:01,480 --> 00:27:05,840 Hope is the plan. It's the only plan. 419 00:27:06,360 --> 00:27:09,560 Our hope is in something heavenly that's beyond our 420 00:27:09,560 --> 00:27:11,440 ability to endure it by ourselves. 421 00:27:11,440 --> 00:27:14,040 But when we put our hope in Jesus, not just for our eternal 422 00:27:14,040 --> 00:27:19,280 life, but for everyday life, then we can suffer. 423 00:27:19,280 --> 00:27:22,600 Well, I know in the middle of my sufferings, I forget my hope. 424 00:27:24,000 --> 00:27:27,160 I forget God's ability, I forget the end of the story, and I'm 425 00:27:27,160 --> 00:27:29,560 mixed up in the mess that's happening right here, right now 426 00:27:29,560 --> 00:27:34,440 in front of me. It's got my full attention with 427 00:27:34,440 --> 00:27:36,000 some moments of prayer and clarity. 428 00:27:36,000 --> 00:27:40,040 You remember, oh wait, I've got God on my side. 429 00:27:42,800 --> 00:27:47,960 We can do this. We can endure Jesus. 430 00:27:47,960 --> 00:27:49,880 People suffer well because they have hope. 431 00:27:50,240 --> 00:27:53,560 Secondly, and the only second point I have, Jesus. 432 00:27:53,560 --> 00:27:56,520 People suffer well, because they have purpose. 433 00:27:56,960 --> 00:28:00,760 Everyone say purpose. Yeah, I'm going to read to you 434 00:28:01,040 --> 00:28:05,000 no one's favorite verse. I've never seen this tattooed or 435 00:28:05,000 --> 00:28:07,760 in a T-shirt. Nope. 436 00:28:08,360 --> 00:28:10,800 Nobody's got this on a bumper sticker in the back of the car. 437 00:28:11,000 --> 00:28:13,360 Not this one. James chapter 1. 438 00:28:13,360 --> 00:28:15,120 If you're in Thessalonians, flip to the right. 439 00:28:15,120 --> 00:28:16,880 You're going to get to James. That's at the end of the Bible. 440 00:28:16,880 --> 00:28:20,160 They're close to the end. James, chapter one, verse 2. 441 00:28:20,680 --> 00:28:25,200 Check this out. Consider it pure joy, my 442 00:28:25,200 --> 00:28:28,520 brothers and sisters, whatever. You face trials of many kinds, 443 00:28:29,080 --> 00:28:31,440 because you know that the testing of your faith produces 444 00:28:31,440 --> 00:28:34,200 perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work 445 00:28:34,200 --> 00:28:38,080 so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. 446 00:28:38,080 --> 00:28:44,400 To which I say, yeah, right, pure joy, my elbow. 447 00:28:48,800 --> 00:28:51,480 Maybe we need a refresher on what joy actually is. 448 00:28:53,360 --> 00:28:55,560 I don't know if you've confused this, but joy is not an emotion. 449 00:28:55,560 --> 00:28:57,720 Happiness is an emotion. Giddiness is an emotion. 450 00:28:58,280 --> 00:29:04,280 Joy is the stimulus that causes the emotion. 451 00:29:06,720 --> 00:29:12,840 You picking up what I'm putting down, Bob is for the believer, 452 00:29:13,680 --> 00:29:17,880 for one that's taking heart. For a Jesus person, Joy is the 453 00:29:17,880 --> 00:29:24,800 deep recognition of grace. I have considered the grace of 454 00:29:24,800 --> 00:29:30,360 God and it astounds me and I feel something when you sing 455 00:29:30,360 --> 00:29:33,720 Amazing Grace. How sweet the sound. 456 00:29:34,600 --> 00:29:37,640 You know this song Save the rich. 457 00:29:39,440 --> 00:29:40,560 Come on, you might as well sing now. 458 00:29:40,720 --> 00:29:50,080 I once was lost, but now when found was blind. 459 00:29:53,080 --> 00:29:56,520 Beautiful. If you sing that song of the 460 00:29:56,520 --> 00:30:03,440 right season of your life, your heart will fill with joy and 461 00:30:03,440 --> 00:30:09,000 your eyes will brim with tears because you realize the audacity 462 00:30:09,000 --> 00:30:14,520 of the price that Jesus paid and the immensity of His love to do 463 00:30:14,520 --> 00:30:17,520 it. And you say Amazing Grace in 464 00:30:17,520 --> 00:30:22,440 this emotion comes with it. James is teaching us that if we 465 00:30:22,440 --> 00:30:26,120 can adjust our thinking in regards to our suffering, we 466 00:30:26,120 --> 00:30:29,280 will have joy because we realize that God, even in the midst of 467 00:30:29,280 --> 00:30:37,320 pain, is up to something good. And I'm flipping the script on 468 00:30:37,320 --> 00:30:43,520 this pain when I recognize God's grace to use it for something 469 00:30:43,520 --> 00:30:46,800 good. Jesus, people put purpose to 470 00:30:46,800 --> 00:30:50,080 pain because God puts purpose to our pain. 471 00:30:51,600 --> 00:30:54,320 Now, to be clear, God could be causing you pain. 472 00:30:56,600 --> 00:31:02,360 It's called discipline. He disciplines those that He 473 00:31:02,360 --> 00:31:04,640 loves. And so when you feel the 474 00:31:04,640 --> 00:31:07,640 discipline of God, it's painful. It's a struggle, man that hurts. 475 00:31:07,640 --> 00:31:11,280 He's cutting something away from you, whatever the case may be. 476 00:31:12,160 --> 00:31:18,440 Or the pain comes from grief, loss, It's real, it's deep. 477 00:31:19,400 --> 00:31:22,040 Or the pain comes from sin that you have committed, so it's a 478 00:31:22,040 --> 00:31:24,680 self-inflicted wound. Or the sins of others that's 479 00:31:25,360 --> 00:31:29,040 consequences lap over into your life. 480 00:31:31,000 --> 00:31:35,920 But regardless of what kind of pain it is, God's promise to us 481 00:31:35,920 --> 00:31:37,880 is to use it for good. How does he use it? 482 00:31:37,880 --> 00:31:42,240 Well, first of all, James tells us he uses it as a test, a test 483 00:31:42,240 --> 00:31:45,720 of faith. Suffering is a test of faith. 484 00:31:45,920 --> 00:31:49,400 In this test, will I trust my victorious, overcoming, chain 485 00:31:49,400 --> 00:31:52,440 breaking God? Or will I behave like there is 486 00:31:52,440 --> 00:31:54,480 no God? Or even worse, while I confess 487 00:31:54,480 --> 00:31:57,840 that there is a God, but behave like my God is a lousy and 488 00:31:57,840 --> 00:32:03,200 capable loser by the way that I suffer? 489 00:32:05,120 --> 00:32:09,360 As we stand in the faith in the middle of our storm, God endows 490 00:32:09,360 --> 00:32:11,920 us with a gift. It's the gift of perseverance. 491 00:32:13,160 --> 00:32:16,960 Like I'd rather just have joy and peace. 492 00:32:17,320 --> 00:32:20,520 I don't know that I want perseverance because 493 00:32:20,520 --> 00:32:22,000 perseverance comes through trials. 494 00:32:22,000 --> 00:32:26,720 Perseverance biblically means to remain under, to remain under a 495 00:32:26,720 --> 00:32:28,800 weight. The muscles of your body and the 496 00:32:28,800 --> 00:32:30,360 muscles of your faith grow the same way. 497 00:32:30,360 --> 00:32:40,520 By resistance, dumbbells and dumb people, they'll grow your 498 00:32:40,520 --> 00:32:42,280 faith. Just kidding. 499 00:32:43,520 --> 00:32:44,400 Kind of. Not really. 500 00:32:46,400 --> 00:32:51,480 Every child we face is a test. To stay under the weight is not 501 00:32:51,480 --> 00:32:53,520 to stay under the weight of the trial. 502 00:32:54,000 --> 00:32:58,640 The burden, the brokenness, the grief, the the perseverance 503 00:32:58,640 --> 00:33:01,960 comes when we stay under the weight of our belief. 504 00:33:02,920 --> 00:33:05,360 I'm staying under the umbrella of your covering, under the 505 00:33:05,360 --> 00:33:07,520 umbrella of your hope, God, that you've given me. 506 00:33:07,520 --> 00:33:09,720 I'm staying here. It takes discipline. 507 00:33:09,840 --> 00:33:13,160 It's like forming a habit. No, I'm not going to revert to 508 00:33:13,160 --> 00:33:16,560 indulgence and freaking out and ugly cries, although ugly cries 509 00:33:16,560 --> 00:33:18,040 are totally understandable. I get it. 510 00:33:19,160 --> 00:33:24,520 I'm not saying don't, we don't, don't grieve, but I'm going to 511 00:33:24,520 --> 00:33:29,160 do my best in the midst of my trial to persevere in my faith. 512 00:33:30,440 --> 00:33:33,800 And as I persevere in my faith, James says I will become mature, 513 00:33:33,800 --> 00:33:37,920 not lacking anything. We feel so terrible in our 514 00:33:37,920 --> 00:33:43,040 suffering because we feel like we lack, we lack peace, we lack 515 00:33:43,040 --> 00:33:48,760 a person, we lacking money or job or strategy, you name it, we 516 00:33:48,760 --> 00:33:51,160 lack. And as we persevere in our 517 00:33:51,160 --> 00:33:55,800 faith, we become mature and realize in Christ Jesus, I lack 518 00:33:55,960 --> 00:33:57,480 nothing. The Lord is my shepherd. 519 00:33:57,480 --> 00:33:59,240 I shall not want. Amen. 520 00:34:00,200 --> 00:34:03,920 Because I have everything that I need, but I've got to persevere 521 00:34:03,920 --> 00:34:09,560 in that belief. I got to remain under my belief. 522 00:34:09,560 --> 00:34:12,280 The more you apply your faith and your hope during times of 523 00:34:12,280 --> 00:34:15,880 suffering, the more you give purpose to your pain and what 524 00:34:15,880 --> 00:34:18,880 was meant to destroy you are permanently traumatize you gets 525 00:34:18,880 --> 00:34:23,920 flipped on its head and now God uses it for something glorious, 526 00:34:24,080 --> 00:34:27,199 something useful in his Kingdom. That's why we have this promise 527 00:34:27,199 --> 00:34:30,080 that people do put on tattoos. They do have on bumper stickers. 528 00:34:30,199 --> 00:34:33,080 They do make T-shirts. Romans chapter 8 verse 28. 529 00:34:33,080 --> 00:34:38,159 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those 530 00:34:38,159 --> 00:34:41,679 who love Him who have been called according to His purpose. 531 00:34:41,679 --> 00:34:45,040 In the midst of your trial. You can suffer well by asking 532 00:34:45,040 --> 00:34:50,320 God this question. How are you using this pain for 533 00:34:50,320 --> 00:34:54,159 your purposes? Help me to see what you are 534 00:34:54,159 --> 00:34:59,600 doing God, to make this good. I'm going to partner with you 535 00:34:59,600 --> 00:35:03,240 there and believe in your goodness. 536 00:35:04,520 --> 00:35:06,960 Can we just take a moment right in the middle of the message to 537 00:35:06,960 --> 00:35:09,640 pray into this? If you would just bow your heads 538 00:35:09,640 --> 00:35:13,000 and close your eyes, I'm going to ask you to do something. 539 00:35:13,000 --> 00:35:17,400 I don't want to use the word dangerous. 540 00:35:17,400 --> 00:35:18,840 I want you to be careful as you do this. 541 00:35:18,840 --> 00:35:22,800 But what I want you to do is to bring whatever is causing you to 542 00:35:22,800 --> 00:35:25,280 suffer to the forefront of your mind. 543 00:35:27,000 --> 00:35:29,360 And when I do that, I don't want it to put you in a tailspin. 544 00:35:29,360 --> 00:35:31,680 And I don't want it to become something that you obsess about 545 00:35:31,680 --> 00:35:34,840 and perseverate on and marinate in and suddenly you're down in 546 00:35:34,840 --> 00:35:36,240 this brokenness. That's why I'm saying be 547 00:35:36,240 --> 00:35:39,640 cautious. We're only bringing this to mind 548 00:35:40,360 --> 00:35:43,400 so that we can ask the Lord Jesus to minister to us in this 549 00:35:43,400 --> 00:35:47,960 struggle, in this suffering, whatever name it has for you. 550 00:35:50,040 --> 00:35:54,280 So, Father, in the name of Jesus, we release your ministry 551 00:35:54,280 --> 00:35:58,200 into this house and all those watching online, that you might 552 00:35:58,200 --> 00:36:02,240 come and intimately personally answer this prayer for us. 553 00:36:02,240 --> 00:36:08,520 God, why this suffering? What are you trying to teach me? 554 00:36:08,520 --> 00:36:12,040 What good are you using it for? Help me to see your hand at work 555 00:36:12,040 --> 00:36:17,320 that I might have faith in what you are doing. 556 00:36:17,320 --> 00:36:23,280 I'm just going to be quiet for a moment and let Holy Spirit speak 557 00:36:23,280 --> 00:36:26,920 to you and answer the question captured in your heart. 558 00:36:28,040 --> 00:36:31,760 God, give pain. Give purpose to our pain 559 00:36:49,610 --> 00:36:55,730 in Jesus name, Amen. I've been in a suffering mode 560 00:36:55,730 --> 00:36:57,490 myself. Yesterday at 7:15 in the 561 00:36:57,490 --> 00:36:59,930 morning, I received a text that one of our dear brothers, Jody 562 00:36:59,930 --> 00:37:03,930 Staley, had a ruptured brain aneurysm and was taken to the 563 00:37:03,930 --> 00:37:08,810 ER, then helicoptered an hour away to a hospital in Seattle. 564 00:37:08,810 --> 00:37:12,320 They were on vacation in Washington and this happened. 565 00:37:12,320 --> 00:37:18,040 Today is Jody's birthday. Yesterday he underwent surgery. 566 00:37:18,960 --> 00:37:23,360 There's signs of good news but way too early to tell exactly 567 00:37:23,360 --> 00:37:25,560 what's going on with him and his brain. 568 00:37:25,560 --> 00:37:29,920 Let's keep praying for Jody and Jess's wife that have 5 kids and 569 00:37:30,080 --> 00:37:32,800 just believe if you've seen our social media posts, there's ways 570 00:37:32,800 --> 00:37:36,560 that you can lean in especially financially supporting them in 571 00:37:36,560 --> 00:37:38,680 the season. And Jody and Jess, if you're 572 00:37:38,680 --> 00:37:42,360 watching we love you the church now that they know we are 573 00:37:42,360 --> 00:37:46,880 praying for you and believing God to breathe life into your 574 00:37:46,880 --> 00:37:53,320 brain in Jesus name, Amen. We have friends. 575 00:37:53,440 --> 00:37:56,560 Yesterday night I took him to the ER. 576 00:37:56,560 --> 00:37:59,680 We have friends whose parents have died this week. 577 00:37:59,920 --> 00:38:04,840 We have friends, our neighbors who are on the the death watch, 578 00:38:04,880 --> 00:38:08,080 a loved 1 of theirs is is about here's what I'm trying to say in 579 00:38:08,080 --> 00:38:11,520 COVID, there seemed like this wave of grief and then it kind 580 00:38:11,520 --> 00:38:13,400 of subsided and there's these little pop ups. 581 00:38:13,760 --> 00:38:16,920 But this week as I'm preparing to preach this message on 582 00:38:16,920 --> 00:38:23,040 suffering, there is so much suffering, so many people hurt 583 00:38:23,880 --> 00:38:29,280 and broken and I was suffering because of it. 584 00:38:30,480 --> 00:38:35,520 Wanted to stand and be like what's going on God like and I 585 00:38:35,520 --> 00:38:39,440 went through all my own little emotions and my I told you this 586 00:38:39,440 --> 00:38:44,800 is the one I got to work on my own little freaking out and then 587 00:38:44,800 --> 00:38:49,840 I ended up in a place that I hope that you will end up today 588 00:38:49,840 --> 00:38:55,560 as well. Let me say it to you this way. 589 00:38:55,560 --> 00:38:57,520 And I've asked the band to come back out because we're going to 590 00:38:57,520 --> 00:38:58,640 end it a little differently today. 591 00:38:58,640 --> 00:39:02,280 So coming out band. But when I went to write this 592 00:39:02,280 --> 00:39:05,880 message, I was very curious about how this became the 593 00:39:05,920 --> 00:39:13,800 universal victory response. So I asked Google, how did this 594 00:39:13,800 --> 00:39:16,480 become our victory pose? Like where did that come from? 595 00:39:16,920 --> 00:39:21,240 And AI searched the entire interweb throughout all history 596 00:39:21,240 --> 00:39:27,680 and in 0.7 seconds, this secular monolith called Google gave Me 2 597 00:39:27,680 --> 00:39:32,640 answers, says this is the way that this became the victory 598 00:39:32,640 --> 00:39:35,760 pose I was expecting. Like hey, in 1832 this guy 599 00:39:35,760 --> 00:39:37,800 invented peanut butter and his arms went up. 600 00:39:39,240 --> 00:39:42,880 I'm like, I thought there had to be some sort of story somewhere 601 00:39:42,880 --> 00:39:46,920 where this became what we did. Well, it turns out there's two 602 00:39:46,920 --> 00:39:50,760 stories. The first one is a story of a 603 00:39:50,760 --> 00:39:56,120 man who was leading his nation into an army battle and he went 604 00:39:56,120 --> 00:39:58,760 up on a mountainside and he looked down and his troops were 605 00:39:58,760 --> 00:40:03,360 losing. And so he did this, and he 606 00:40:03,360 --> 00:40:10,320 raised his arms, and while his arms were raised, his army was 607 00:40:10,320 --> 00:40:13,800 winning the battle. And when he put down his arms, 608 00:40:14,200 --> 00:40:16,880 his army was losing the battle. So he kept putting his arms up 609 00:40:16,880 --> 00:40:19,040 until they got tired and his buddies held his arm up. 610 00:40:22,000 --> 00:40:26,440 Sound familiar? Google gave this answer. 611 00:40:28,160 --> 00:40:31,160 Google said the reason we put our arms up like this is because 612 00:40:31,160 --> 00:40:35,280 of Exodus chapter 17. As long as Moses held up his 613 00:40:35,280 --> 00:40:38,840 hands, the Israelites were winning, but whenever he lowered 614 00:40:38,840 --> 00:40:41,440 his hands, the Amalekites were winning. 615 00:40:43,600 --> 00:40:47,600 That was the first answer. Google gave me a second answer. 616 00:40:49,920 --> 00:40:55,800 Google said Jesus on the cross. Jesus's outstretched arms on the 617 00:40:55,800 --> 00:40:59,680 cross also interpreted as the victory pose, symbolizing his 618 00:40:59,680 --> 00:41:04,360 triumph over death and darkness. What's up with that? 619 00:41:09,520 --> 00:41:15,320 So here's what I learned. The victory pose and the 620 00:41:15,320 --> 00:41:18,560 suffering pose is the same thing. 621 00:41:19,840 --> 00:41:24,800 We stand like this in victory and we stand like this when we 622 00:41:24,800 --> 00:41:29,280 suffer to reach our arms out to the one who has overcome sin and 623 00:41:29,280 --> 00:41:32,920 death and said, God, you can do it and only you can do it. 624 00:41:34,280 --> 00:41:37,360 So we're going to do it. Would you stand to your feet? 625 00:41:38,440 --> 00:41:42,040 I want to say to you, if you're suffering today, you would 626 00:41:42,040 --> 00:41:45,120 stretch your arms up to the ceiling, you reach your hands 627 00:41:45,120 --> 00:41:49,000 out to heaven and you let your voice be heard by the Lord. 628 00:41:49,320 --> 00:41:52,560 Sing your Hallelujah in the middle of your storm and he will 629 00:41:52,560 --> 00:41:55,400 come healing in Jesus name, Amen. 630 00:42:01,360 --> 00:42:04,480 Thanks for joining us today. We hope God is speaking to your 631 00:42:04,480 --> 00:42:07,040 heart through this message. If you'd like to connect with 632 00:42:07,040 --> 00:42:14,680 us, you can text Connect to 4:07 588-0115 or visit Illuminate 633 00:42:14,680 --> 00:42:16,880 Church. Have a great week.