Not Something, But Someone (Still In It)

0:00:04.960 --> 0:00:06.200 Hey, this is Stephen Ferdick. 0:00:06.240 --> 0:00:09.280 I'm the pastor of Elevation Church and this is our podcast. 0:00:09.440 --> 0:00:11.600 Be sure to subscribe so we can get you these 0:00:11.640 --> 0:00:20.120 new sermons every week. Hope you're blessed today. 0:00:21.000 --> 0:00:23.560 I'm so glad you're here. It's great to see you 0:00:23.600 --> 0:00:26.000 in the presence of the Lord today. Give yourself a 0:00:26.000 --> 0:00:29.520 hand because you made it. I said, give yourself a 0:00:29.560 --> 0:00:38.120 hand because you made it. I want to share this 0:00:38.200 --> 0:00:41.360 scripture from Isaiah forty three to one and two, a 0:00:41.440 --> 0:00:44.080 promise that I have never preached about before, but it 0:00:44.080 --> 0:00:46.160 has meant a lot to me personally through the years, 0:00:46.159 --> 0:00:49.680 and I think you'll see why. 0:00:49.240 --> 0:00:50.080 The prophet says. 0:00:50.120 --> 0:00:54.400 But now this is what the Lord says, He who 0:00:54.480 --> 0:01:01.360 created you, Jacob, he who formed you, Israel, fear, for 0:01:01.600 --> 0:01:02.640 I have redeemed you. 0:01:03.440 --> 0:01:07.720 I have summoned you by name. You are mine. When 0:01:07.720 --> 0:01:10.560 you pass through the waters, I will be with you. 0:01:11.520 --> 0:01:13.760 And when you pass through the rivers, they will not 0:01:14.640 --> 0:01:18.399 sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you 0:01:18.440 --> 0:01:22.920 will not be burned. The flames will not set you ablaze. 0:01:23.120 --> 0:01:27.000 For I am the Lord, your God, the Holy One 0:01:27.240 --> 0:01:29.120 of Israel, your Savior. 0:01:30.360 --> 0:01:32.479 Today I want to talk to you from this subject. 0:01:32.520 --> 0:01:37.640 The title of this message is not something but someone, 0:01:38.360 --> 0:01:43.200 not something but someone. And then for a subtitle to 0:01:43.280 --> 0:01:45.360 the message, we're gonna call it. 0:01:45.120 --> 0:01:48.360 Still in it, Still in it? 0:01:49.400 --> 0:01:51.840 High five four people that you can reach and say 0:01:51.880 --> 0:01:55.160 still in it, and please put it in the chat 0:01:55.200 --> 0:01:58.560 as well. Still in it, Still in it. Welcome today 0:01:58.600 --> 0:02:01.000 to our epham around the world, world. Wherever you are, 0:02:01.640 --> 0:02:05.080 God is with you. Still in it. You may be seated. 0:02:05.800 --> 0:02:15.000 Somebody shouts still in it, still in it, Still in it. Well, 0:02:15.040 --> 0:02:21.280 thank you so much. Forty six looks good on me. Huh, 0:02:22.080 --> 0:02:34.919 forty six years old. Forty six and still not fixed. Well, now, 0:02:34.960 --> 0:02:40.360 this is ridiculous. Y'all are a disobedient class. I didn't 0:02:40.360 --> 0:02:41.120 tell you to say this. 0:02:47.080 --> 0:02:50.160 Thank you so much. That is very kind. 0:02:51.520 --> 0:03:07.040 Thank you, thank you, Okay, thank you? Oh thank you? 0:03:07.680 --> 0:03:08.280 Are y'all done? 0:03:08.280 --> 0:03:14.440 Now messing up my sermon intro. I appreciate it so much. 0:03:14.480 --> 0:03:18.080 It means a lot. It kind of goes along with 0:03:18.120 --> 0:03:19.840 what I was going to say to start the sermon. 0:03:22.320 --> 0:03:23.359 Forty six years old. 0:03:23.360 --> 0:03:27.360 I've been preaching for thirty years, and then I've been 0:03:27.360 --> 0:03:28.400 pastoring for twenty. 0:03:30.320 --> 0:03:31.640 I'm still learning how to do this. 0:03:33.560 --> 0:03:35.840 Not saying that, like humble pie, I am still learning 0:03:35.840 --> 0:03:40.200 how to do this, and even sometimes I realize that 0:03:40.200 --> 0:03:42.560 the way I've been doing it is completely wrong, and 0:03:42.600 --> 0:03:44.480 then I try to correct and let the Lord speak 0:03:44.520 --> 0:03:44.720 to me. 0:03:44.920 --> 0:03:47.840 When that happens. It happened a year or two ago. 0:03:48.080 --> 0:03:50.000 I was praying so hard for God to give me 0:03:50.080 --> 0:03:51.000 my sermon points. 0:03:51.680 --> 0:03:53.320 I'm kind of ocd about. 0:03:53.040 --> 0:03:56.120 My sermon points. I don't care as much about matching 0:03:56.160 --> 0:03:58.360 my clothes. But I like all of my message to match. 0:03:58.400 --> 0:03:59.960 I like it all to start with the same letter. 0:04:00.760 --> 0:04:02.480 I like for it all to have the same cadence. 0:04:02.680 --> 0:04:04.320 I like for it to have an arc. I like 0:04:04.360 --> 0:04:06.800 for it to have continuity. I like for there to 0:04:06.840 --> 0:04:08.800 be layers to the message. And I want to present 0:04:08.880 --> 0:04:12.680 something pretty when I preach. But the Lord spoke to 0:04:12.720 --> 0:04:14.720 me in my preparation one time and said, I didn't 0:04:14.720 --> 0:04:19.560 die for pretty. I died for people. And you're so 0:04:19.640 --> 0:04:22.400 worried about your points. You keep praying, Lord, give me 0:04:22.440 --> 0:04:24.600 my points, give me my points, give me my points. 0:04:25.320 --> 0:04:27.560 And he said, I want you to shift that and 0:04:27.640 --> 0:04:30.200 start praying not for the points, but pray for the people. 0:04:31.600 --> 0:04:32.640 And if you'll pray for. 0:04:32.640 --> 0:04:35.640 The people, I'll give you the points, because the points 0:04:35.640 --> 0:04:37.400 are what you care about, and the people are what 0:04:37.480 --> 0:04:39.479 I care about. And if you'll pray about what I 0:04:39.520 --> 0:04:43.960 care about, I'll give you what you need. Ever since 0:04:43.960 --> 0:04:47.200 then it shifted me so that when I sit down 0:04:47.240 --> 0:04:51.760 to preach, I picture people, some that I know, some 0:04:51.839 --> 0:04:55.800 that I've invented, some who are a composite sketch. 0:04:55.520 --> 0:04:57.560 Of many individuals that I've met through the years. 0:04:58.600 --> 0:05:01.680 I bring Tom to the table all that you've been 0:05:01.720 --> 0:05:04.320 through and all that God has done in your life. 0:05:05.400 --> 0:05:07.479 I tell myself, if this isn't true for Tom, it 0:05:07.520 --> 0:05:10.559 isn't true for anyone because of what you've been through. 0:05:11.560 --> 0:05:13.839 I tell myself when I'm preparing a sermon that even 0:05:13.839 --> 0:05:17.160 if they don't all start with the letter in, it's 0:05:17.200 --> 0:05:22.560 okay because somebody in the room is going through Parkinson's 0:05:23.560 --> 0:05:25.480 and they don't care anything about my points. 0:05:26.880 --> 0:05:30.800 They don't care anything about my points. 0:05:31.640 --> 0:05:34.480 Somebody in the room just got a promotion and they 0:05:34.480 --> 0:05:36.320 don't really care about my points either. They just think 0:05:36.320 --> 0:05:38.520 about that paycheck. They're just thinking about that vacation they're 0:05:38.520 --> 0:05:39.840 going to be able to take now. Then I think 0:05:39.880 --> 0:05:41.520 about a those people are gonna have to manage now, 0:05:41.600 --> 0:05:43.320 they didn't think about that part when they prayed for 0:05:43.400 --> 0:05:45.159 the promotion, but they can find out real soon. So 0:05:45.200 --> 0:05:47.159 I need to get them prepared for that promotion. And 0:05:47.160 --> 0:05:50.920 they don't care anything about the points. And instead of 0:05:51.400 --> 0:05:55.120 focusing on something to say, I've learned to focus on 0:05:55.200 --> 0:06:00.279 someone to say it too. Always remember that God gives 0:06:00.320 --> 0:06:04.560 you influence in life, not for some thing, but for someone. 0:06:05.839 --> 0:06:08.239 Seek first the Kingdom and his righteousness, and all these 0:06:08.680 --> 0:06:11.760 things will be added to you as well. If you 0:06:11.880 --> 0:06:14.680 seek the Kingdom, you get the things thrown in like 0:06:14.760 --> 0:06:18.280 a prize at the bottom of a happy meal. But 0:06:18.320 --> 0:06:20.200 if you seek the things, you miss the kingdom, and 0:06:20.240 --> 0:06:22.920 the things aren't even the things you think they're going 0:06:22.960 --> 0:06:26.880 to be. Many of us live our entire lives thinking 0:06:27.200 --> 0:06:30.120 that there is a thing. We think there is a 0:06:30.200 --> 0:06:32.960 thing that will make us satisfied. We think there is 0:06:33.000 --> 0:06:35.400 a thing that will make us confident. We think there 0:06:35.480 --> 0:06:38.000 is a thing that will make us feel finally happy. 0:06:38.200 --> 0:06:40.160 We think that there is a thing that will make 0:06:40.240 --> 0:06:42.760 us feel secure. We think there is a thing that 0:06:42.800 --> 0:06:45.520 will bring us joy. And things can bring for a 0:06:45.760 --> 0:06:51.960 little while it works until it doesn't. A thing can 0:06:52.000 --> 0:06:54.440 be a thing, but the thing has a thing. That's 0:06:54.520 --> 0:06:57.039 only the thing until the thing is just a thing. 0:06:58.720 --> 0:07:00.400 The thing can do the thing until the thing is 0:07:00.440 --> 0:07:04.560 just a thing. What I'm trying to say is it's someone, not. 0:07:06.120 --> 0:07:06.600 Something. 0:07:07.640 --> 0:07:10.960 I'm preaching to someone today who is going through something 0:07:11.080 --> 0:07:13.720 very difficult in your life. You say that's generic. I'll 0:07:13.720 --> 0:07:17.840 be more specific. You are still in it, even though 0:07:17.840 --> 0:07:24.440 you thought God brought you out of it. Somebody says, 0:07:24.480 --> 0:07:29.040 still in it. And that's why we are surprised sometimes 0:07:29.080 --> 0:07:33.680 by the fiery trials One Peter four, verse twelve. The 0:07:33.720 --> 0:07:38.400 disciple said, my friends, do not be surprised at the 0:07:38.440 --> 0:07:40.920 fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you 0:07:40.960 --> 0:07:42.080 as though something. 0:07:42.440 --> 0:07:44.640 Strange were happening to you. 0:07:45.800 --> 0:07:48.880 But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, 0:07:49.600 --> 0:07:53.840 so that you may be overjoyed when His glory is revealed. 0:07:54.600 --> 0:07:56.239 Did you see the progression in the text? 0:07:56.280 --> 0:07:57.200 He said, You're going to. 0:07:57.240 --> 0:08:01.240 Rejoice when his glory is revealed, but don't be surprised 0:08:01.280 --> 0:08:04.960 when the fire comes to test the proven value of 0:08:05.000 --> 0:08:08.640 that which your life is built upon. I won't spend 0:08:08.720 --> 0:08:11.240 very long in that because in the Book of Isaiah, 0:08:11.320 --> 0:08:15.840 in a different context, the prophet is speaking to someone 0:08:16.000 --> 0:08:19.280 or actually a group of people who are in exile 0:08:19.400 --> 0:08:21.360 because of their sin and disobedience. 0:08:22.080 --> 0:08:23.360 The Lord has allowed. 0:08:23.040 --> 0:08:25.800 Them to be carried away into Babylon for a while 0:08:26.440 --> 0:08:29.200 to bring them back to himself forever. 0:08:30.240 --> 0:08:32.280 The Lord allowed them to be carried. 0:08:31.960 --> 0:08:35.000 Away for a little while in order to bring them 0:08:35.040 --> 0:08:40.120 back to himself forever. And in Isaiah forty three, verse one, 0:08:40.679 --> 0:08:44.200 two of the most hopeful words that can appear appear 0:08:44.280 --> 0:08:47.600 in scripture, where the prophet says, I know you've been 0:08:47.640 --> 0:08:50.720 a long way off. I know you're in a strange place. 0:08:51.320 --> 0:08:53.240 I know you're in a situation that you are not 0:08:53.280 --> 0:08:56.880 equipped to deal with, and I know that it's your fault. 0:08:57.440 --> 0:09:00.000 When you open Isaiah forty three, verse one, get ready 0:09:00.160 --> 0:09:04.600 to shout. But now, I think those two words should 0:09:04.640 --> 0:09:08.360 be our first point. But now, and as a matter 0:09:08.400 --> 0:09:12.840 of fact, let's just focus on one word. Now, somebody shout. Now, 0:09:13.840 --> 0:09:15.559 you whispered it like you were gonna get in trouble. 0:09:15.600 --> 0:09:17.240 If you said it loud, you won't get in trouble. 0:09:17.280 --> 0:09:17.800 Say it loud. 0:09:17.920 --> 0:09:22.400 Now, say it to your past, Say now, say it 0:09:22.440 --> 0:09:25.480 to your shame, Say now, say it to that stuff 0:09:25.520 --> 0:09:26.200 from childhood. 0:09:26.280 --> 0:09:29.280 You're still dragging around. Say now, say. 0:09:29.120 --> 0:09:31.559 It to the people who rejected you, but God's bringing 0:09:31.600 --> 0:09:35.160 somebody else to replace them. Say now, yeah, say it 0:09:35.160 --> 0:09:37.640 to the side of you that worries about the future 0:09:37.679 --> 0:09:39.800 so much that you can't concentrate. 0:09:39.280 --> 0:09:39.840 On the present. 0:09:39.920 --> 0:09:43.199 Say now, I feel a now anointing rising up in 0:09:43.280 --> 0:09:46.400 this place today. I feel that the Lord has anointed 0:09:46.440 --> 0:09:48.960 me for you. Now. I know I didn't know you 0:09:49.080 --> 0:09:51.600 fifteen years ago, but God put you here. 0:09:51.720 --> 0:09:52.080 Now. 0:09:52.360 --> 0:09:54.520 I know there have been some times in your life 0:09:54.520 --> 0:09:57.720 that you wish you could get back. But now, if 0:09:57.760 --> 0:10:00.360 I could nominate two words from the text to turn 0:10:00.440 --> 0:10:03.960 on the lights and encourage somebody, I would nominate. But 0:10:04.280 --> 0:10:07.080 now the butt lets me know something came before it 0:10:07.120 --> 0:10:09.640 that was gonna cancel it out. Then now lets me 0:10:09.760 --> 0:10:12.560 know it's not over and it's not too late. The 0:10:12.559 --> 0:10:14.600 butt lets me know that there was something that was 0:10:14.640 --> 0:10:17.439 blocking me. The now lets me know that there's something 0:10:17.480 --> 0:10:22.079 bigger that's breaking through. Somebody shout, But now I better 0:10:22.120 --> 0:10:25.200 calm down, because this is just my first point. But 0:10:25.320 --> 0:10:28.440 I came to announce now to somebody. I came to 0:10:28.480 --> 0:10:31.040 get you out of your pity party today. I came 0:10:31.040 --> 0:10:33.720 to get you from thinking about when you're seventy years old. 0:10:33.920 --> 0:10:36.080 You're seventeen, somebody, shout now. 0:10:36.840 --> 0:10:38.880 I came to preach to a student section to tell 0:10:38.920 --> 0:10:40.480 you you don't have to wait till later to have 0:10:40.520 --> 0:10:44.160 an impact for God. Shout now. I came to say 0:10:44.160 --> 0:10:47.160 you're called right now. I came to say you're chosen 0:10:47.240 --> 0:10:50.160 right now. I came to say you're wis right now. 0:10:50.480 --> 0:10:52.600 I came to say your life doesn't start when you 0:10:52.640 --> 0:10:55.800 go to college. You got a ministry on your campus. Now, 0:10:56.280 --> 0:10:59.240 I need a sixteen year old to shout now, I 0:10:59.280 --> 0:11:02.200 need an eighteen year oldest shout now. I need an 0:11:02.200 --> 0:11:05.520 eighty year old to shout now. I need a midlife 0:11:05.559 --> 0:11:10.160 christis forty six year old to shout now now, Jesus, 0:11:10.200 --> 0:11:11.160 I need you now. 0:11:14.520 --> 0:11:19.760 But now, two beautiful words married. 0:11:19.800 --> 0:11:23.079 The sister of Lazarus wouldn't go to the gate, and 0:11:23.120 --> 0:11:25.040 Martha came to Jesus and said, if you would have 0:11:25.080 --> 0:11:27.840 been here, my brother wouldn't have died. But I know 0:11:28.480 --> 0:11:32.160 that even now God will give you whatever you ask. 0:11:32.720 --> 0:11:34.600 I'm not going to make you shout the whole sermon, 0:11:34.640 --> 0:11:36.040 but let's just keep it going for. 0:11:36.000 --> 0:11:36.600 A little while. 0:11:36.840 --> 0:11:41.880 Shout now, but now, and every time the devil tries 0:11:41.920 --> 0:11:46.520 to drag you back to your past, but now, but now, 0:11:46.920 --> 0:11:49.199 every time he tries to drag you back to your shame, 0:11:49.720 --> 0:11:56.880 But now, but now, this is what the Lord says 0:11:56.920 --> 0:12:01.280 Isaiah forty three, Verse one. Please, this is what the 0:12:01.320 --> 0:12:09.360 Lord says, He who created you, Jacob, he who formed you, Israel. 0:12:10.720 --> 0:12:11.480 Do not fear. 0:12:13.040 --> 0:12:16.960 Somebody needs to hear that. Do not fear. 0:12:19.200 --> 0:12:21.320 You say you brought me all the way out here 0:12:22.120 --> 0:12:25.880 just to tell me something that simple. Do not fear. No, 0:12:27.040 --> 0:12:29.840 I brought you all the way out here so God 0:12:29.880 --> 0:12:33.760 could tell you something that simple. Because if I say it, 0:12:33.800 --> 0:12:38.600 who cares? Because I don't know what you're facing. But 0:12:38.679 --> 0:12:42.360 if God says it, and he only knows what you're facing, 0:12:43.280 --> 0:12:44.720 but he knows the plans he. 0:12:44.679 --> 0:12:46.640 Has for you to give you a hope in the future. 0:12:48.880 --> 0:12:55.040 See, it's not saying something, it's someone saying something that 0:12:55.120 --> 0:12:59.000 gives it the power so that if someone says to 0:12:59.080 --> 0:13:02.839 you it'll be okay. It may mean nothing, but if 0:13:02.880 --> 0:13:05.520 somebody who lived through the death of a spouse says. 0:13:05.320 --> 0:13:09.120 To you, when you lose your spouse, it will be okay. 0:13:10.040 --> 0:13:15.440 It's not something that they said. Is someone who said it. 0:13:16.120 --> 0:13:20.640 But now this is what the Lord says. 0:13:21.040 --> 0:13:24.720 There's the thing that he says, don't fear, and there's 0:13:24.800 --> 0:13:28.520 the one who said it, the Lord. I love the 0:13:28.559 --> 0:13:32.240 Lord because only he can tell me something that ridiculous, 0:13:32.840 --> 0:13:34.160 and I have to submit to it. 0:13:35.240 --> 0:13:36.680 If you tell me, don't be afraid. 0:13:36.960 --> 0:13:39.400 I love when people give me advice about pastor in 0:13:39.480 --> 0:13:42.080 the church. Just let the Lord lead you. And that 0:13:42.160 --> 0:13:45.320 means a lot, considering you've never done it before. But 0:13:45.679 --> 0:13:49.120 the fact no, I mean, I appreciate it, but I 0:13:49.160 --> 0:13:52.800 appreciate the fact that the one who knows where he's 0:13:52.840 --> 0:13:56.080 taking me is the one who's speaking to me. And 0:13:56.160 --> 0:13:58.679 I also want to point out not only the phrase 0:13:59.160 --> 0:14:01.959 but now, but I want to point out the phrase 0:14:02.080 --> 0:14:04.199 in verse one, where he says, I have redeemed you, 0:14:04.640 --> 0:14:09.760 I have summoned you by name. Our first point is 0:14:09.800 --> 0:14:14.720 but now our second point is by name. And yes, 0:14:14.760 --> 0:14:16.600 they're all going to start with the same letter, because 0:14:16.679 --> 0:14:20.720 I still like my points. The Lord is working on me. 0:14:22.920 --> 0:14:24.880 You know, when the Lord is speaking this verse, he's 0:14:24.880 --> 0:14:28.240 speaking it to the nation of Israel. And so it's 0:14:28.280 --> 0:14:31.560 interesting that in order to deal with their fear, in 0:14:31.640 --> 0:14:33.800 order to deal with their panic, in order to deal 0:14:33.840 --> 0:14:36.600 with their pain. He speaks to their past. He says, 0:14:37.080 --> 0:14:41.200 he who created you Jacob, he who formed you Israel. 0:14:41.480 --> 0:14:43.120 Now you may be confused and think that God is 0:14:43.160 --> 0:14:47.000 speaking two different people, and he kind of is. But 0:14:47.040 --> 0:14:51.640 the interesting thing about God calling them by name is 0:14:51.680 --> 0:14:59.080 that Jacob is both a name and a nation. Israel 0:14:59.480 --> 0:15:04.000 is both a a name and a nation. By this point, 0:15:04.000 --> 0:15:08.720 when Isaiah is prophesying, they have become a nation in captivity. 0:15:09.360 --> 0:15:14.400 But he calls them from captivity, and he calls them Jacob, 0:15:14.880 --> 0:15:18.680 and he calls them Israel. He calls them by name. 0:15:19.720 --> 0:15:22.960 But the interesting thing is that Jacob's name was changed 0:15:23.000 --> 0:15:25.440 to Israel when he wrestled with God. 0:15:25.320 --> 0:15:26.240 And did not let go. 0:15:27.240 --> 0:15:29.280 And so you would think that by the time God 0:15:29.360 --> 0:15:32.880 calls them by name, he would no longer speak to Jacob, 0:15:33.640 --> 0:15:35.840 only call them Israel. 0:15:36.000 --> 0:15:37.880 However, God is not. 0:15:38.080 --> 0:15:42.320 Uncomfortable with bringing all of who you are into the 0:15:42.360 --> 0:15:46.200 season of your life that you're in. And for every 0:15:46.320 --> 0:15:49.520 nation that God builds, there is a name that comes 0:15:49.520 --> 0:15:53.680 along with it. So for every Israel that God raises up, 0:15:53.960 --> 0:15:57.160 there is a Jacob that comes along and rides shotgun 0:15:57.200 --> 0:15:57.760 in the car. 0:15:58.720 --> 0:16:01.640 For everything that God in your life that is awesome. 0:16:02.000 --> 0:16:04.240 There are some other things that you bring along in 0:16:04.280 --> 0:16:06.400 the process that you wish he would get rid of. 0:16:07.080 --> 0:16:08.840 And so when God says I have. 0:16:08.920 --> 0:16:13.600 Called you by name, Jacob, I have called you by 0:16:13.760 --> 0:16:16.760 name Israel, he is speaking. 0:16:16.360 --> 0:16:19.160 To both parts of me, not only the part of me. 0:16:19.240 --> 0:16:21.160 And I can tell this is a little too fancy. 0:16:21.360 --> 0:16:25.320 So let me say a little bit simpler. God knew 0:16:25.360 --> 0:16:29.560 you when he named you. And so when God calls you, 0:16:29.640 --> 0:16:33.480 he calls you Jacob, he calls you Israel. One speaks 0:16:33.520 --> 0:16:36.120 to all that you have been, one speaks to all 0:16:36.160 --> 0:16:39.760 that you will be. And God calls both to come forth. 0:16:40.880 --> 0:16:43.520 And so that's why you don't have to be afraid. 0:16:43.720 --> 0:16:46.440 When you're still in it, when. 0:16:46.280 --> 0:16:49.160 There's a situation in your life that you thought God 0:16:49.200 --> 0:16:50.800 would have delivered you out of. And I'm going to 0:16:50.880 --> 0:16:53.200 work on this for a moment, because it can confuse 0:16:53.320 --> 0:16:56.320 you to the point where you think that the event 0:16:56.920 --> 0:17:01.880 is your identity. And so you struggle with a certain thing, 0:17:02.040 --> 0:17:04.920 or you have struggled with a certain thing, the event 0:17:05.080 --> 0:17:09.520 becomes the identity. This even happens to entire families because 0:17:09.520 --> 0:17:12.399 of the brokenness that a family can experience, which is 0:17:12.440 --> 0:17:15.240 an event, we will say things like I come from 0:17:15.320 --> 0:17:19.359 a broken home. The only issue I have with you 0:17:19.480 --> 0:17:21.560 calling the home broken is that. 0:17:21.520 --> 0:17:25.280 God might want to call it blessed. And so don't 0:17:25.359 --> 0:17:27.080 let the fact that there. 0:17:27.000 --> 0:17:30.679 Was some brokenness in your past or even in your present, 0:17:30.880 --> 0:17:33.240 because let's be honest, some of us, it's not I. 0:17:33.200 --> 0:17:36.760 Come from a broken home. My home is still. 0:17:38.040 --> 0:17:45.160 Broken, but it's still blessed even though it's still broken. 0:17:45.920 --> 0:17:48.800 And so be careful of people who give. 0:17:48.640 --> 0:17:50.520 You partial testimonies. 0:17:51.000 --> 0:17:55.840 A partial testimony goes like this, I was struggling with depression, 0:17:56.080 --> 0:17:59.600 and God delivered me from depression. The problem I have 0:17:59.720 --> 0:18:03.160 with you your testimony is I know you still cry sometimes. 0:18:03.640 --> 0:18:06.359 The problem I have with your testimony is I know 0:18:06.440 --> 0:18:09.160 that it sounds good on a microphone, but you are 0:18:09.200 --> 0:18:12.479 still struggling to live it out on Monday. The problem 0:18:12.560 --> 0:18:15.640 I have with that testimony that God delivered me from 0:18:15.720 --> 0:18:20.760 anxiety makes the person feel like if they still feel anxiety, 0:18:21.040 --> 0:18:25.359 that God has failed them in deliverance. But feeling anxious 0:18:25.440 --> 0:18:30.880 doesn't mean God has failed. Feeling is not failing. Feeling 0:18:31.160 --> 0:18:36.560 is not failing. Feeling is not failing. So that when 0:18:36.600 --> 0:18:38.960 you feel that you have failed, it does not mean 0:18:39.000 --> 0:18:43.240 that you have failed. Because God, the one who created you, God, 0:18:43.280 --> 0:18:46.680 the one who formed you, God, the one who named you, God, 0:18:46.720 --> 0:18:50.040 the one who makes nations out of names. God knows 0:18:50.119 --> 0:18:53.040 my Jacob, even as he calls my Israel. 0:18:57.240 --> 0:18:58.879 Does it make sense out of my mouth like it 0:18:58.920 --> 0:18:59.600 does in my head? 0:19:02.400 --> 0:19:07.720 He said, I called you by name. I think I 0:19:07.760 --> 0:19:11.480 want to demonstrate this. Let's say right now, in this sermon, 0:19:11.560 --> 0:19:17.160 I was thirsty and I was like, I need some water. 0:19:19.600 --> 0:19:23.560 I'm making my need known. I need some water. 0:19:30.160 --> 0:19:33.639 Thank you, Chunks. I watched that I got the water. 0:19:35.080 --> 0:19:42.399 Thank you. I appreciate Chunks. I'm just grateful for you, Chunks. 0:19:42.440 --> 0:19:48.680 I'm just grateful for you got the water. But I wonder, 0:19:48.720 --> 0:19:53.760 what's just now. All I did in that situation was 0:19:54.160 --> 0:19:58.600 I made the need known. So I didn't say, Chunks, 0:19:58.600 --> 0:20:00.159 I need some water. I didn't tell them I'm was 0:20:00.200 --> 0:20:02.160 going to do this in my sermon or anything like that. 0:20:03.320 --> 0:20:05.679 I just kind of figured somebody, all these people that 0:20:05.720 --> 0:20:08.200 love me and saying me Happy birthday, you're not gonna. 0:20:08.080 --> 0:20:10.320 Let me stand up here and go I'm gonna bring 0:20:10.359 --> 0:20:10.760 me some water. 0:20:11.720 --> 0:20:18.080 Right. But the Lord said, when I called you, look 0:20:18.080 --> 0:20:20.400 at this This is a powerful word, he said, verse one, 0:20:20.720 --> 0:20:26.280 I have summoned you by name. Someon is a powerful word. 0:20:27.000 --> 0:20:30.760 It's a specific word. It's not a word like I 0:20:30.800 --> 0:20:34.520 wish someone would someone means that God knows who he 0:20:34.520 --> 0:20:35.159 wants to do it. 0:20:35.240 --> 0:20:36.840 So let me try again. 0:20:37.800 --> 0:20:40.640 Take the water. We're just gonna do the illustration again. 0:20:41.400 --> 0:20:43.760 And this is what I want you to see. But 0:20:43.920 --> 0:20:52.159 now by name Israel, Jacob, Jacob Israel. All the parts 0:20:52.160 --> 0:20:54.280 of you that sit in that seat with you, all 0:20:54.320 --> 0:20:56.080 of the parts of you, all the parts of your home, 0:20:56.119 --> 0:20:58.520 all the parts of your family situation. The Lord said, 0:20:58.520 --> 0:21:02.120 when I called you, I summon you by name. 0:21:02.400 --> 0:21:05.600 Watch this, Holly, would you please bring me some water? 0:21:07.920 --> 0:21:10.959 And this is what's great about it, because she doesn't 0:21:10.960 --> 0:21:14.600 mind bringing me the water. Watch this because verse one, 0:21:14.720 --> 0:21:17.920 she said, I have summoned you by name. 0:21:18.640 --> 0:21:22.320 You are mine. 0:21:23.119 --> 0:21:26.760 So now I don't know what would happen if I 0:21:26.800 --> 0:21:30.359 asked your wife to bring me water. You might be 0:21:30.440 --> 0:21:32.920 offended and she might have an attitude, she might spit 0:21:33.000 --> 0:21:36.080 in it. I don't know your wife like that, but 0:21:36.240 --> 0:21:41.280 she's mine. So when I said her name and I said, Holly, 0:21:41.440 --> 0:21:42.080 would you bring me? 0:21:42.240 --> 0:21:46.760 When I summoned you. I could get used to this. 0:21:46.800 --> 0:21:50.360 That's a good feeling. I wonder if this summoning thing 0:21:50.400 --> 0:21:52.040 only works when I'm preaching a sermon. 0:21:53.200 --> 0:21:54.920 I'm I try to summon out at home. 0:21:56.680 --> 0:22:00.280 I summoned her right Holly by name, and she brought 0:22:00.320 --> 0:22:03.800 me the water. So I've got the water from my wife. 0:22:06.960 --> 0:22:10.200 But then there's something I can get from her that 0:22:10.280 --> 0:22:13.280 I don't really want to get from him. 0:22:14.040 --> 0:22:15.040 She can hold my hand. 0:22:17.119 --> 0:22:21.920 Everybody's turning red in the church. I'm just talking about this. 0:22:22.800 --> 0:22:23.240 Watch this. 0:22:23.640 --> 0:22:27.080 I got the water, and I bet, because it's her, 0:22:27.480 --> 0:22:33.200 I bet she'd give me some sugar too. That's all right, Hey, 0:22:33.200 --> 0:22:37.240 don't be jealous about it. Get in some marriage counseling. 0:22:37.320 --> 0:22:42.320 You can get some sugar too, because she's mine. Because 0:22:42.359 --> 0:22:48.120 she's mine, she's mine. When I just asked for the thing, 0:22:49.280 --> 0:22:53.800 when I called for something, I got the thing. 0:22:55.480 --> 0:22:58.080 But when I summoned by. 0:22:58.119 --> 0:23:04.959 Name, I didn't get the thing. I got someone. And 0:23:05.040 --> 0:23:09.640 nothing against chunks, but there is an intimacy to this 0:23:09.720 --> 0:23:13.359 thing that is not there for that thing. And I 0:23:13.440 --> 0:23:16.600 need the one to come to me in my low moments, 0:23:16.960 --> 0:23:19.479 who will not only bring me the water, but who 0:23:19.520 --> 0:23:23.480 will watch this walk with me because after this water 0:23:23.640 --> 0:23:26.840 is gone, I still need somebody to walk with me. 0:23:27.480 --> 0:23:29.919 And I'm gonna help you because some of the things 0:23:29.960 --> 0:23:32.520 that you've been praying about in your life, you just 0:23:32.640 --> 0:23:36.040 keep asking God to give you the thing, the thing, 0:23:36.400 --> 0:23:39.560 the thing. So God, get me through this situation. So 0:23:39.680 --> 0:23:43.480 God change this circumstance. So God take away this pain. 0:23:43.760 --> 0:23:46.879 So God give me this advance, So God give me 0:23:46.920 --> 0:23:50.080 this favorable outcome. And you can call for the thing 0:23:50.400 --> 0:23:53.199 you can. You can ask God for something, or you 0:23:53.240 --> 0:23:56.600 can ask for someone. You can get somebody to bring 0:23:56.640 --> 0:23:59.520 you water, or you can have the water and the walk, 0:24:00.240 --> 0:24:03.439 because there will be times in your life where you 0:24:03.600 --> 0:24:06.840 might be standing at a red sea and you might 0:24:06.920 --> 0:24:10.119 need someone to show you what to do at that 0:24:10.280 --> 0:24:13.320 red sea. So if all you have is the thing, 0:24:13.440 --> 0:24:16.800 all you're ever gonna be is stuck at the sea. 0:24:16.920 --> 0:24:19.600 But if you learn not to call of the God 0:24:19.800 --> 0:24:24.520 of Moses, the one who opened up the oceans, and say, 0:24:24.920 --> 0:24:30.800 I need you now to do the same thing for me. 0:24:32.720 --> 0:24:39.199 I don't just need something, I need someone someone. And 0:24:39.240 --> 0:24:42.280 the Lord said, I've called you by name, I have 0:24:42.800 --> 0:24:47.560 summoned you by name. I have called you by name, 0:24:47.800 --> 0:24:50.680 which means that when he called you, he knew you 0:24:50.800 --> 0:24:54.359 had what he needed you to have. So don't freak 0:24:54.440 --> 0:24:58.000 out about the situation. If he summoned you for it, 0:24:58.040 --> 0:25:05.400 you're the one for it, say, lie, pause and think 0:25:05.440 --> 0:25:09.000 about it. I called her to be with me because 0:25:09.040 --> 0:25:11.479 I knew she had what I needed for what I 0:25:11.520 --> 0:25:14.840 wanted to prove. And this is why the Lord says, 0:25:15.359 --> 0:25:18.960 do not fear, because I knew what I put inside 0:25:18.960 --> 0:25:20.080 of you when I summoned you. 0:25:21.560 --> 0:25:24.680 And here's the other thing. He didn't just call Israel. 0:25:25.400 --> 0:25:29.399 He called Jacob too, so when he called you to 0:25:29.480 --> 0:25:32.720 do it, he knew where you would be. 0:25:32.800 --> 0:25:36.520 Right now, go back to the history of this for 0:25:36.560 --> 0:25:40.879 a moment, would you. I already alluded to it, he said, 0:25:41.080 --> 0:25:41.680 do not fear. 0:25:41.720 --> 0:25:43.639 I ever deemed you. I've summoned you by name. You 0:25:43.640 --> 0:25:45.639 are mine. But verse two is really what I wanted 0:25:45.640 --> 0:25:48.240 to preach about, because this is where I think so 0:25:48.320 --> 0:25:52.080 many of us are. When you pass through the waters, 0:25:53.160 --> 0:25:57.680 I will be with you. And just like he can 0:25:57.720 --> 0:26:02.600 call you by name, you can call him too. When 0:26:02.600 --> 0:26:05.080 you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. 0:26:05.960 --> 0:26:07.680 When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned. 0:26:07.680 --> 0:26:09.080 The flames will not say you blaze that this is 0:26:09.119 --> 0:26:10.840 not just nice things God's saying so you can sleep 0:26:10.840 --> 0:26:14.080 better at night. These are actually historically anchored events that 0:26:14.119 --> 0:26:18.120 God's people have seen him do in the past. But see, 0:26:18.160 --> 0:26:21.880 they haven't seen it firsthand just yet. It's one thing 0:26:21.920 --> 0:26:24.760 to hear that God opened up in ocean. It's another 0:26:24.800 --> 0:26:26.679 thing to stand in front of one and believe him 0:26:26.680 --> 0:26:30.720 to do it. Now. It's one thing to believe that 0:26:30.760 --> 0:26:33.159 God can do it for your friend, but it's another 0:26:33.200 --> 0:26:38.119 thing to believe that he's calling your name. And I 0:26:38.160 --> 0:26:42.000 love the promise because he's reaching in to the history 0:26:42.080 --> 0:26:44.919 things that they've heard about God doing and speaking to 0:26:44.960 --> 0:26:47.960 something that they're about to see him do. Now, watch this. 0:26:47.960 --> 0:26:53.960 This is really good. He said, when you walk through 0:26:55.080 --> 0:27:01.400 the fire, you will not be burned. I think every 0:27:01.400 --> 0:27:02.879 word of that is important. 0:27:03.680 --> 0:27:07.320 First of all, he says, when not if. 0:27:09.560 --> 0:27:14.000 We got to be careful promising people stuff that God 0:27:14.040 --> 0:27:19.560 did not promise them. We got to be careful claiming 0:27:19.600 --> 0:27:22.600 things as promises from God that are really just preferences 0:27:22.640 --> 0:27:27.240 of our flesh. Because the Bible would be a lot 0:27:27.280 --> 0:27:29.000 easier for me to preach if I can write it 0:27:29.040 --> 0:27:32.439 how I want, and I wish that there was a 0:27:32.480 --> 0:27:34.879 work around for this water that you're walking through, but 0:27:34.920 --> 0:27:37.760 there may not be. And so the Lord says, there 0:27:37.760 --> 0:27:41.639 will be times when you walk through the waters and 0:27:41.680 --> 0:27:44.160 I will be with you, and when you pass through 0:27:44.160 --> 0:27:44.639 the rivers. 0:27:44.680 --> 0:27:46.440 These are two different incidents, by the way. 0:27:46.480 --> 0:27:49.320 One can be found in Exodus fourteen, where the people 0:27:49.359 --> 0:27:54.680 of God crossed through the waters the ocean the Red Sea. Also, 0:27:54.760 --> 0:27:57.200 you may want to read in Joshua chapter three, how 0:27:57.200 --> 0:28:00.720 they crossed over the Jordan River into the Promise land. 0:28:01.200 --> 0:28:02.400 Moses, my servant is dead. 0:28:02.520 --> 0:28:05.439 Now Joshua will get ready to lead these people. And 0:28:05.480 --> 0:28:08.240 the Lord did all of that for them, But will 0:28:08.240 --> 0:28:10.600 he do it for me? Isn't this the question that 0:28:10.640 --> 0:28:12.600 we wonder when we come up on the situation? 0:28:13.000 --> 0:28:18.240 Will he do it for me? Can he use me? 0:28:18.640 --> 0:28:22.920 I understand how God can use them. Remember he summoned 0:28:22.960 --> 0:28:28.320 you by name, but now by name, and he says, 0:28:28.440 --> 0:28:32.160 when you walk through the waters. But here's the part 0:28:32.160 --> 0:28:36.200 I couldn't figure out. In verse two, he says, when 0:28:36.960 --> 0:28:40.560 you walk through the fire, you will not be burned. 0:28:40.560 --> 0:28:42.400 The flames will not set you ablaze. 0:28:42.560 --> 0:28:45.760 And what I couldn't figure out is if I'm in 0:28:45.800 --> 0:28:55.640 a fire, Why am I walking? So I mean, let's 0:28:55.640 --> 0:28:58.680 just take a vote. How many of you fire on 0:28:58.800 --> 0:29:04.280 both sides, just gonna slow it down to a cool walk. 0:29:06.320 --> 0:29:08.880 How many of you would vote that there is a 0:29:09.000 --> 0:29:13.800 better way to get through the fire than walk. So 0:29:14.080 --> 0:29:20.800 the fire represents something that you're going through, and the 0:29:20.840 --> 0:29:26.560 walk represents someone that you're doing it with. And the 0:29:26.560 --> 0:29:29.520 Lord said, the reason that you cannot do what he 0:29:29.600 --> 0:29:33.280 said in verse one, do not fear, is because you 0:29:33.360 --> 0:29:39.920 are so focused on something you have forgotten someone. So 0:29:40.040 --> 0:29:42.640 now you're running all around how to do this? Now 0:29:42.640 --> 0:29:49.520 you're trying to escape situations. It's not something, it's someone. 0:29:49.680 --> 0:29:52.600 And the someone that is with you in the fire 0:29:53.040 --> 0:29:56.880 is another than the God who created you and formed 0:29:56.920 --> 0:30:01.480 you and knows you and called you by But now 0:30:01.720 --> 0:30:05.520 in the fire, I'm beside you. It must take faith 0:30:05.560 --> 0:30:08.719 for you to walk through fire. It must take faith 0:30:08.920 --> 0:30:11.360 for you to slow down the pace a little bit. 0:30:11.480 --> 0:30:13.320 It must take faith for you to come through this 0:30:13.520 --> 0:30:15.800 like I know it's gonna be all right. It must 0:30:15.840 --> 0:30:18.800 take faith for you to continue in what God spoke 0:30:18.880 --> 0:30:22.480 to you, even though you don't feel his presence. And 0:30:22.520 --> 0:30:26.760 so I wish we had an example somewhere in the 0:30:26.760 --> 0:30:36.400 Bible of when some one was in the fire and 0:30:36.480 --> 0:30:44.040 God did something about it. Should I use Jonah? No, 0:30:44.320 --> 0:30:46.960 Jonah was in the belly of fish, the only thing 0:30:46.960 --> 0:30:52.400 we could use Jonah. Should I use Lazarus? No, he 0:30:52.480 --> 0:30:57.720 was in the tomb, then got the wrong one. Should 0:30:57.720 --> 0:31:03.760 I use I'm just going through. Should I use Shadrack? 0:31:05.760 --> 0:31:11.040 Should I use me Shack? Should I use a bed Nogo? Well, 0:31:11.160 --> 0:31:15.120 let's call on the three Hebrew boys then to find 0:31:15.120 --> 0:31:20.040 out about how God but now calls me and summons 0:31:20.080 --> 0:31:24.080 me by name, because he said, when you're in the fire, 0:31:24.480 --> 0:31:27.600 you will not That's my third word, is not so 0:31:27.680 --> 0:31:32.480 I got now, I got name? I got not. He said, 0:31:32.560 --> 0:31:35.280 but now when you walk through the fire, I have 0:31:35.400 --> 0:31:39.160 summoned you by name, and you will not be burned. 0:31:39.280 --> 0:31:40.920 I don't know if you're getting good notes from. 0:31:40.800 --> 0:31:44.400 This message, but this is prophetic for somebody. Let's check 0:31:44.440 --> 0:31:48.840 on Shadrack, me Shack, and a bed Nogo. Let's check 0:31:48.880 --> 0:31:54.000 on King Nebkinesser, who erected a statue ninety feet tall 0:31:54.360 --> 0:31:58.400 made of gold nine feet why, and said, everybody here 0:31:58.520 --> 0:31:59.640 the sound of. 0:31:59.640 --> 0:32:02.160 Them, and bow to the statue. 0:32:02.320 --> 0:32:06.080 I made of myself and there were three boys who 0:32:06.080 --> 0:32:11.760 were exiles in Babylon who said, we will not bow. 0:32:12.920 --> 0:32:14.680 And the king said, we'll see about that. 0:32:16.000 --> 0:32:19.120 What if verse fifteen, when you hear the sound of 0:32:19.160 --> 0:32:21.400 the horn, the flu, the zither, the lyar, the harp, 0:32:21.440 --> 0:32:24.120 the pipe, and all kinds of music, if you're ready 0:32:24.200 --> 0:32:26.920 to fall down and worship the image I made, that's good. 0:32:27.120 --> 0:32:29.360 But if you do not worship it, you will be 0:32:29.440 --> 0:32:35.200 thrown immediately into a blazing furnace. Then what God. 0:32:35.880 --> 0:32:40.000 Will be able to rescue you from my hand? You've 0:32:40.040 --> 0:32:42.400 got to find out, because. 0:32:42.120 --> 0:32:50.240 It's not something. Because see he's a king who made 0:32:50.240 --> 0:32:54.400 a statue, and that's a thing, and it's ninety feet 0:32:54.480 --> 0:32:58.400 tall and it's nine feet wide, and it's made of gold. 0:32:58.760 --> 0:33:02.960 But God is not a thing. He is God. He's 0:33:03.000 --> 0:33:08.080 a sum one. What God will be able to rescue you? 0:33:08.240 --> 0:33:12.800 And here we get the names Shadrack, Mishaq, and Abed Andago, 0:33:12.920 --> 0:33:16.360 And they replied to him, King Nebukanezar, we do not 0:33:16.600 --> 0:33:20.440 need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. If 0:33:20.480 --> 0:33:24.880 we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we 0:33:25.040 --> 0:33:31.000 serve is able to deliver us from it. That is 0:33:31.120 --> 0:33:35.360 something he can do. God can get you out of debt. 0:33:35.680 --> 0:33:40.240 That's something he can do. God can restore your relationship 0:33:40.280 --> 0:33:44.560 with your daughter. That's something he can do. God can 0:33:44.600 --> 0:33:48.560 give you freedom from the craving. That's something he can do. 0:33:48.800 --> 0:33:51.479 It's a thing he can do because he's God, and 0:33:51.520 --> 0:33:55.520 there is nothing that is impossible to God. So God 0:33:55.600 --> 0:33:57.760 can do this thing, whatever. 0:33:57.360 --> 0:33:57.960 The thing is. 0:33:58.120 --> 0:34:01.200 He can reduce the prison sentence. He can cause the 0:34:01.280 --> 0:34:04.120 marriage to have love again. He can heal the pain 0:34:04.160 --> 0:34:07.120 in your body. God can give you a better job. 0:34:07.520 --> 0:34:10.040 God can move you to a more favorable part of 0:34:10.040 --> 0:34:15.320 the office. God can do the thing. But I didn't 0:34:15.400 --> 0:34:21.040 come to get a thing for my situation, because things change. 0:34:21.640 --> 0:34:28.560 But Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever. 0:34:29.440 --> 0:34:35.000 So if y'all gonna sit there while I preach, go ahead. 0:34:35.400 --> 0:34:40.080 But if we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the 0:34:40.200 --> 0:34:46.080 God we serve is abl to do exceeding abundantly above 0:34:46.120 --> 0:34:56.160 all we ask or thing, and he will deliver us 0:34:56.360 --> 0:35:08.040 from Your Majesty's hand nixt Verse. But but even if 0:35:08.080 --> 0:35:19.879 he doesn't, we're doing the grown up Bible today. We're 0:35:19.920 --> 0:35:23.320 doing the He did not take my panic attacks away. 0:35:23.520 --> 0:35:26.160 I had one last night, but I came to church 0:35:26.440 --> 0:35:29.839 and praised him anyway, because he's the Lord. Oh got 0:35:29.920 --> 0:35:37.000 me doing. I'm preaching that Kenvi would preach that that 0:35:37.200 --> 0:35:43.239 even is this of Jesus. We want you to know 0:35:43.400 --> 0:35:45.560 your Majesty, that. 0:35:45.400 --> 0:35:55.160 We will not but now by name will not what's 0:35:55.200 --> 0:35:55.680 your will? 0:35:55.719 --> 0:36:00.520 Not? What's your will? Not? What's your Even if the 0:36:00.600 --> 0:36:04.640 feeling stays, I have faith to walk through it. Even 0:36:04.680 --> 0:36:08.439 if they walk away, God walks with me. What's your 0:36:09.400 --> 0:36:14.399 will not? I've told you mine before. The enemy torments me. 0:36:14.560 --> 0:36:17.520 A lot of times with feelings that my entire. 0:36:17.320 --> 0:36:23.560 Ministry will end in failure. Many do, many do, and 0:36:23.640 --> 0:36:28.160 yet I made a decision one day that it may 0:36:28.400 --> 0:36:33.360 end in failure, but I will not live in fear. 0:36:35.400 --> 0:36:36.359 I just won't do it. 0:36:39.160 --> 0:36:40.120 I'm plan to fail. 0:36:40.160 --> 0:36:41.080 O't pray to fail. 0:36:41.320 --> 0:36:42.399 I'm preparing not. 0:36:42.440 --> 0:36:45.400 To fail, and I'm taking every precaution. But if something 0:36:45.480 --> 0:36:49.200 happens and it ends in failure. There was a time 0:36:49.320 --> 0:36:52.319 where I was terrified to get on the stage and 0:36:52.360 --> 0:36:55.040 speak in public, and. 0:36:55.000 --> 0:36:56.520 That's kind of important for me to do. 0:36:58.000 --> 0:36:59.960 You're like, what were you twelve? No, I'm talking about 0:37:00.200 --> 0:37:03.400 when I was in my thirties, and I would. 0:37:03.280 --> 0:37:04.440 Have to get up and do it. 0:37:05.960 --> 0:37:07.560 And a lot of times the only way that I 0:37:07.600 --> 0:37:09.919 could get through the first five minutes was to grip 0:37:09.960 --> 0:37:15.600 the sides of the pulpit real hard. But I will 0:37:15.600 --> 0:37:23.600 not stop preaching just because I have to preach. 0:37:24.880 --> 0:37:25.640 Your panic. 0:37:27.400 --> 0:37:30.319 And see, I want you to have some conviction in 0:37:30.360 --> 0:37:36.239 some area of your life that even if I will not, 0:37:37.560 --> 0:37:41.759 I will not. You know this story about Daniel and 0:37:41.800 --> 0:37:44.000 the lions, then he wasn't even in there. Shadrack, Mishack 0:37:44.040 --> 0:37:45.520 and have been to go, we're in there. He was 0:37:45.520 --> 0:37:48.400 in the lions then he would you understand what I'm saying. 0:37:48.800 --> 0:37:51.400 Daniel went to the lions, then Shadrack and Mishak and 0:37:51.440 --> 0:37:53.200 have been to go went to the furnace. And then 0:37:53.200 --> 0:37:55.279 we want to preach those things and expect God to 0:37:55.360 --> 0:37:59.760 bring us out of our situation by five o'clock today. 0:38:00.760 --> 0:38:03.319 Because what I love about the scripture that I gave you, 0:38:04.480 --> 0:38:08.160 listen to this when they said we will not serve 0:38:08.200 --> 0:38:11.560 your God, so worship the image of gold. You have 0:38:11.640 --> 0:38:14.440 set up. It gave me a picture. It's okay to 0:38:14.600 --> 0:38:24.160 feel it, but don't kneel to it. You got it, 0:38:26.960 --> 0:38:29.839 so I may feel lust, but I don't kneel to lust. 0:38:32.400 --> 0:38:34.440 Everybody wants to preach about the stuff. We want God 0:38:34.480 --> 0:38:37.359 to take away, take away anxiety. We'll deal with your lust. 0:38:38.440 --> 0:38:40.560 Some of your anxiety is dealing from your lust because 0:38:40.560 --> 0:38:42.399 you crave what you can't have and what you want 0:38:42.440 --> 0:38:44.319 what you don't have. And now you're lusting after stuff 0:38:44.360 --> 0:38:46.319 that you're not supposed to have, and you're anxious because 0:38:46.320 --> 0:38:47.640 you can't get it because God don't want to give 0:38:47.680 --> 0:38:48.880 it to you, because it's not meant for you to 0:38:48.920 --> 0:38:56.799 have it. Stop praying about anxiety so much. Start, start, start, 0:38:56.880 --> 0:39:08.440 start controlling comparison. So I want this fruit, but I'm 0:39:08.480 --> 0:39:11.200 attached to this root that ain't gonna work. It's going 0:39:11.239 --> 0:39:16.000 to keep growing and growing and growing and growing. Do 0:39:16.120 --> 0:39:18.680 not be afraid. Yes, Pastor, I agree with that. I 0:39:18.680 --> 0:39:21.840 want the Lord to remove fear from my life. But 0:39:21.920 --> 0:39:23.759 you might have to change some of what you watch 0:39:23.840 --> 0:39:28.560 before you fall asleep at night. If they are killing 0:39:28.640 --> 0:39:31.520 people while you are falling asleep, you're not going to 0:39:31.560 --> 0:39:37.000 be counting sheep at three am. 0:39:37.040 --> 0:39:39.799 And it's fine. We watch normal TV too, I'm not 0:39:39.840 --> 0:39:40.239 telling you. 0:39:40.320 --> 0:39:42.960 All I watch is The Chosen and the But I'm 0:39:43.000 --> 0:39:49.719 saying that you may have to make some adjustments. What 0:39:49.760 --> 0:39:51.640 does this have to do with Shadratmishek In a bend 0:39:51.640 --> 0:39:57.160 to go, they said, we will not kneel even if 0:39:57.200 --> 0:40:01.040 the fire gets hot. And by the way, the Lord 0:40:01.120 --> 0:40:07.680 did not promise that it would not be hot. He 0:40:07.719 --> 0:40:11.600 did not promise that you would never feel Stop holding 0:40:11.760 --> 0:40:17.319 God to promises that he did not make. God did 0:40:17.360 --> 0:40:20.960 not say you would never feel stressed. God did not 0:40:21.000 --> 0:40:25.120 say you would never feel lonely. You will feel lonely sometimes, 0:40:25.280 --> 0:40:28.279 especially if you follow Christ. You're going to feel ostracized, 0:40:28.360 --> 0:40:34.840 left out, uninvited. You're gonna have fomo. And why are 0:40:34.840 --> 0:40:38.520 you laughing at that? When we grew up it was 0:40:38.560 --> 0:40:41.560 fomo like. It was fear of missing out right, and 0:40:41.600 --> 0:40:43.879 we were scared that everybody was off doing something fun 0:40:43.880 --> 0:40:46.560 without us when we grew up, right, But now they 0:40:46.560 --> 0:40:47.040 don't have fun. 0:40:47.120 --> 0:40:48.919 They have they have proof of missing out. 0:40:49.120 --> 0:40:51.920 It's looking at all the pictures and scrolling at all 0:40:51.920 --> 0:40:52.239 the stuff. 0:40:52.320 --> 0:40:54.480 Yeah, they're there without me, and they didn't ask me there. 0:40:54.480 --> 0:40:55.080 They are right there. 0:40:55.080 --> 0:41:01.640 I see them right there, pomo, And it's going to 0:41:01.719 --> 0:41:04.560 be some flames. I just want to talk to you today. 0:41:04.719 --> 0:41:08.440 Because I'm so sick of it. I'm so sick of 0:41:08.520 --> 0:41:11.880 the preaching that is not based in a real promise. 0:41:21.840 --> 0:41:23.879 The moment I tell you shout and he'll bring you out, 0:41:24.000 --> 0:41:27.440 you just lose your voice. And now I shouted, and 0:41:28.120 --> 0:41:31.200 now I got laryngitis, and I'm still not out, and 0:41:31.280 --> 0:41:33.840 I'm still dealing with it, and I still got to 0:41:33.840 --> 0:41:38.680 be disciplined. So now I shouted, and I'm still not out. 0:41:39.480 --> 0:41:41.879 But the beauty of Daniel three is they said he will. 0:41:44.160 --> 0:41:45.799 We just don't know how he wants to do it yet, 0:41:47.760 --> 0:41:51.080 and so we are not going to bow to this pressure. 0:41:51.160 --> 0:41:53.719 Even though we don't know how God is going to 0:41:53.800 --> 0:41:55.360 do it, read the Bible with me. 0:41:56.040 --> 0:41:57.480 Even if he does not. 0:41:57.640 --> 0:42:01.200 We want you to know we will not serve your 0:42:01.239 --> 0:42:03.520 gods or worship the image of gold you have set up. Now. 0:42:04.800 --> 0:42:06.399 I told my friend when I preached this part, I'm 0:42:06.400 --> 0:42:07.880 just gonna let it come out however it wants to 0:42:07.880 --> 0:42:12.560 come out. Then. Nebukinnezzar was furious with Shadrack, Meshack, and Abednego, 0:42:12.840 --> 0:42:15.440 and his attitude toward them changed. He ordered the furnace 0:42:15.480 --> 0:42:17.719 heated seven times hotter than usual and commanded some of 0:42:17.719 --> 0:42:20.280 the strongest soldiers in the army to tie up Shadrack, 0:42:20.360 --> 0:42:22.640 Meshack and abed to go and throw them into the 0:42:22.680 --> 0:42:27.520 blazing furnace. So these men, wearing their robes, trousers, turbans, 0:42:27.520 --> 0:42:30.520 and other clothes, were bound and thrown into the blazing furnace. 0:42:31.040 --> 0:42:33.239 It's getting close to the part that I want to read. 0:42:33.560 --> 0:42:36.000 The King's command was so urgent and the furnace so 0:42:36.120 --> 0:42:39.200 hot that the flames of the fire killed the soldiers 0:42:39.239 --> 0:42:42.919 who took up Shadrack, Meshack and Abed to go. These 0:42:42.960 --> 0:42:47.480 three men firmly tied fell into the blazing furnace, firmly tied, 0:42:48.160 --> 0:42:50.040 bound with ropes. Now I know why the Lord left 0:42:50.040 --> 0:42:55.520 the fire on burn the ropes off set them free. 0:42:57.520 --> 0:43:00.160 God to use a fire to set you free. 0:43:00.880 --> 0:43:03.200 God will use a fire to set you free. 0:43:10.080 --> 0:43:11.680 That's not the verse I wanted to preach either. 0:43:11.760 --> 0:43:13.319 Verse twenty four says then. 0:43:13.320 --> 0:43:16.160 King Nevichanezar leaped to his feet in amazement and asked 0:43:16.160 --> 0:43:22.640 the advisors, weren't there three men that we tied up 0:43:22.680 --> 0:43:29.440 and threw into the fire. They replied, certainly, your majesty, 0:43:29.560 --> 0:43:31.440 You know these are some real sycophants. Man I mean 0:43:31.480 --> 0:43:34.600 they've built the dude a ninety foot tall statue. He's compensating, 0:43:34.640 --> 0:43:37.560 and they're going along with it, all right. And they said, 0:43:37.800 --> 0:43:41.120 they said, certainly, your majesty, yes, serves all three of them, 0:43:41.200 --> 0:43:42.880 shod wreck me shock in a bit and a go 0:43:43.120 --> 0:43:45.360 all three of them, just as you requested. 0:43:45.719 --> 0:44:01.120 And he said verse twenty five. Look, I see. 0:43:57.560 --> 0:43:58.480 Four men. 0:44:00.280 --> 0:44:02.400 That we tied up and threw into the fire. 0:44:03.640 --> 0:44:05.239 I see four men. 0:44:05.280 --> 0:44:11.560 Wait, no, no, we tied three. We threw three. I 0:44:11.680 --> 0:44:19.320 see four. This is like a math impossibility, So we 0:44:19.800 --> 0:44:23.880 threw three. I see four walking around in the fire, 0:44:24.400 --> 0:44:31.960 unbound and unharmed. The fire did not kill them, It 0:44:32.160 --> 0:44:36.400 only took off what was holding them. I see four 0:44:37.880 --> 0:44:45.040 walking around in the fire, unbound and unharmed. And the 0:44:45.160 --> 0:44:51.160 fourth looks like a son of the gods, because he was. 0:44:52.120 --> 0:44:57.080 Because it was Jesus in the fire with shad Raggy, 0:44:57.680 --> 0:45:00.920 me Shaggy and a bed in nego, we might as 0:45:00.960 --> 0:45:04.759 well not guess like Nebukanezar. We know his name. It 0:45:04.840 --> 0:45:09.080 was Jesus. We know he is the fourth man in 0:45:09.160 --> 0:45:12.560 the fire. We know it was Jesus the bride and 0:45:12.640 --> 0:45:15.920 morning scar. We know it was Jesus the lamb that 0:45:16.040 --> 0:45:18.600 was slain from the foundations of the world. We know 0:45:18.719 --> 0:45:21.880 it was Jesus, just like it was Aaron's branch that 0:45:22.000 --> 0:45:25.840 butt it. It was Jesus. It was Jesus. In the fire, 0:45:25.960 --> 0:45:28.759 there were three men, and there's four men, and I 0:45:28.840 --> 0:45:32.480 see a fourth man that looks like a son of 0:45:32.800 --> 0:45:35.919 the God. So shadrack me shake in a bed. Neigo said, 0:45:36.239 --> 0:45:40.839 God can do something, but it's not something that I'm 0:45:40.840 --> 0:45:45.920 confident in. It's some wood that I'm confident in. Because 0:45:45.960 --> 0:45:48.760 if I was confident that there would be no fire, 0:45:49.200 --> 0:45:52.200 my faith would fail me. Now, if I was confident 0:45:52.480 --> 0:45:55.880 that there would be no water, my faith would stop short. 0:45:56.320 --> 0:46:02.960 For my faith is not in something someone hans I nosing. 0:46:09.280 --> 0:46:15.120 So nether Canessar approached the opening. I'm almost done. I'm 0:46:15.160 --> 0:46:20.880 almost done. But tell somebody still in it. Tell somebody 0:46:20.920 --> 0:46:25.960 else still in it. Tell a third person still in it. Now, 0:46:26.040 --> 0:46:30.440 tell a fourth person still in it, because never Canessar 0:46:30.560 --> 0:46:35.200 approached the opening of the blazing furnace and shouted, shadrack 0:46:35.800 --> 0:46:39.400 me shack, and a bed ago. Servants of the Most 0:46:39.440 --> 0:46:45.080 High God come out come here. So shadrack me shack 0:46:45.600 --> 0:46:49.160 and a bed and ago came out of the fire. 0:46:49.800 --> 0:46:56.160 Wait a minute, Three went in, four walked around, three 0:46:56.800 --> 0:47:00.040 came out, Come on, help me real quick. Three he 0:47:00.520 --> 0:47:07.400 went in, four, walked around, three came out. That means 0:47:07.440 --> 0:47:17.320 there's someone still in it. So I came to the 0:47:17.480 --> 0:47:25.760 player for every firewalking, say, talking, shutting out, shot a side. 0:47:26.400 --> 0:47:30.680 I don't know what your fire is, but there's Sublie 0:47:32.400 --> 0:47:38.000 still in it. It hurts, but he's in it. Made 0:47:38.040 --> 0:47:42.640 me cry, buddy is in it? S not what I expected. 0:47:43.520 --> 0:47:44.239 But he did. 0:47:44.960 --> 0:47:47.160 He did it, He said it. 0:47:47.280 --> 0:47:47.880 He did it. 0:47:52.400 --> 0:47:56.720 High five four people say he's still in it. He's 0:47:56.800 --> 0:48:01.080 still in it. God's not drunk with you. God will 0:48:01.160 --> 0:48:04.800 make a house visit to Babylon. Gone'll make a house 0:48:04.920 --> 0:48:08.200 visit to a prison. Gone'll make a house visit to 0:48:08.320 --> 0:48:11.640 the belly of a fish. Gonal make a house visits. 0:48:12.160 --> 0:48:17.440 He's still in it. He still in it. He still 0:48:17.520 --> 0:48:28.040 in it. Even though I made the mistake. My God 0:48:28.239 --> 0:48:40.480 will make a way. But now I have smmon you. 0:48:42.840 --> 0:48:46.239 Summon not something. 0:48:49.400 --> 0:48:51.319 But some one. 0:48:53.480 --> 0:48:56.120 God called you. 0:48:56.120 --> 0:49:04.840 You. Hear me, bro, He called you, and he called 0:49:04.880 --> 0:49:08.600 your Jacob, just the same as he is calling your Israel. 0:49:10.560 --> 0:49:18.600 It's not something someone now stand to your feet wherever 0:49:18.640 --> 0:49:25.800 you are, even if you're only joining this message online. 0:49:26.360 --> 0:49:35.000 When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned. 0:49:36.719 --> 0:49:39.600 When lets me know that the trial is guaranteed. Don't 0:49:39.640 --> 0:49:43.799 be surprised at the fiery trials. Matter of fact, don't 0:49:43.800 --> 0:49:48.160 be surprised. If this entire sermon at three o'clock doesn't 0:49:48.160 --> 0:49:51.160 even feel like it was for you, don't be surprised 0:49:51.160 --> 0:49:58.600 by it. When you walk through the fire, Behali, my 0:49:58.719 --> 0:50:06.799 confidence is who I'm walking with. So if listen to me, 0:50:07.840 --> 0:50:11.160 if there is something that you thought God was going 0:50:11.239 --> 0:50:13.720 to do in your life and it is not happening, 0:50:13.840 --> 0:50:16.920 or it is not happening on schedule, the word of 0:50:16.920 --> 0:50:23.160 the Lord is your confidence is not something, is someone. 0:50:23.960 --> 0:50:24.840 That's what he said. 0:50:25.040 --> 0:50:30.120 He said, I will walk with you, and that's how 0:50:30.120 --> 0:50:32.400 I can walk through fire, and that's how I can 0:50:32.440 --> 0:50:35.520 walk through failure, and that's how I can walk through struggles. 0:50:35.640 --> 0:50:40.200 And that's how because he summoned me. 0:50:41.640 --> 0:50:46.239 By name Father, it is my sincere prayer that this 0:50:46.360 --> 0:50:53.560 message today will go far deeper than a head knowledge. 0:50:54.320 --> 0:50:57.880 It is my sincere hope today that we will not 0:50:57.960 --> 0:51:03.800 hear this as a candy coded placebo message of principles 0:51:04.000 --> 0:51:08.960 to help us survive just another six days. My prayer 0:51:09.000 --> 0:51:12.080 is that we would not hear this message with a 0:51:12.120 --> 0:51:18.240 false expectation of a delusional deliverance that leads us doubting 0:51:18.320 --> 0:51:22.759 even more on the back end. But my prayer is 0:51:22.800 --> 0:51:27.239 that we would see the fourth man. Yeah, the one 0:51:27.280 --> 0:51:32.400 who is still in the fire. I prayed as I 0:51:32.520 --> 0:51:35.120 prepared today, Lord, for someone who is still in it. 0:51:36.640 --> 0:51:39.200 I was praying for something to say, and you gave 0:51:39.239 --> 0:51:42.840 me someone to say it to. You're still in the fire, 0:51:44.400 --> 0:51:49.480 and so is he. Jesus never left that fire. He's 0:51:49.520 --> 0:51:53.840 still in it. So that whatever fire you face today, 0:51:54.880 --> 0:51:56.920 he is your fourth man. 0:51:58.080 --> 0:51:59.680 You can talk to him. 0:52:00.239 --> 0:52:02.880 You can walk with him, you can cry with him, 0:52:03.160 --> 0:52:05.200 you can process your pain with him. 0:52:06.920 --> 0:52:10.680 Not something, but someone. 0:52:11.040 --> 0:52:16.920 And his name is Jesus, the one who will never fail. 0:52:19.280 --> 0:52:26.839 I trust in God, my Savior, the one who will 0:52:26.880 --> 0:52:27.520 never fail. 0:52:29.600 --> 0:52:32.160 Hey, I hope you enjoyed the podcast, and if you did, 0:52:32.680 --> 0:52:35.279 make sure to share it and subscribe so we can 0:52:35.320 --> 0:52:37.920 get you all of these new messages as soon as 0:52:37.920 --> 0:52:40.719 they're available. I also want to take a moment and 0:52:40.840 --> 0:52:42.600 thank all of you who are a part of Elevation. 0:52:43.120 --> 0:52:46.480 Whether you support us financially, or serve with us, or 0:52:46.840 --> 0:52:49.560 just share these messages. It's because of you that we're 0:52:49.560 --> 0:52:52.480 able to reach people all around the world. And if 0:52:52.520 --> 0:52:55.040 you want more information on how to be a part 0:52:55.040 --> 0:52:58.959 of Elevation, click the link in the description. Thanks again 0:52:59.000 --> 0:53:01.360 for listening. Make sure to leave if a review, share 0:53:01.400 --> 0:53:02.839 the message and subscribe. 0:53:03.120 --> 0:53:03.759 God bless you.