Places Everyone!

0:00:02.120 --> 0:00:03.400 Hey, this is Stephen Ferdick. 0:00:03.400 --> 0:00:06.400 I'm the pastor of Elevation Church and this is our podcast. 0:00:06.480 --> 0:00:08.360 I wanted to thank you for joining us today. 0:00:08.680 --> 0:00:11.280 Hope this inspires you. Hope it builds your faith. 0:00:11.360 --> 0:00:13.440 Hope it gives your perspective to see God is moving 0:00:13.480 --> 0:00:14.160 in your life. 0:00:14.440 --> 0:00:21.480 Enjoy the message. Glory to God, Glory to God. 0:00:22.800 --> 0:00:27.320 What an amazing atmosphere, What an amazing room of beautiful people, 0:00:28.120 --> 0:00:31.960 What a tapestry of transformed lives. You are the temple 0:00:32.000 --> 0:00:35.600 of the Living God. Make sure today that the temple 0:00:35.640 --> 0:00:38.640 is filled with praise. All right, open your mouth and 0:00:38.680 --> 0:00:39.600 praise Him right now. 0:00:39.640 --> 0:00:44.720 Come on all over the world, old many are now 0:00:45.720 --> 0:00:47.519 and turn wherever you are. 0:00:48.040 --> 0:00:50.240 Into a sanctuary. Do it right now. 0:00:51.000 --> 0:00:54.600 Take a responsibility for your space right now and fill 0:00:54.640 --> 0:00:55.400 it with praise. 0:00:58.000 --> 0:01:02.360 Glory to God. Wow. 0:01:04.200 --> 0:01:06.399 Grab hands with the person next to you. We're gonna 0:01:06.400 --> 0:01:14.920 pray for each other. Repeat after me, Father, bless them 0:01:14.920 --> 0:01:17.800 real good in Jesus' name. 0:01:19.000 --> 0:01:19.400 Amen. 0:01:20.319 --> 0:01:22.240 Now hug seven people and tell them you're in the 0:01:22.280 --> 0:01:28.720 right place today. Don't sit out when you finished hugging, 0:01:28.800 --> 0:01:29.560 stay standing. 0:01:30.920 --> 0:01:33.800 I agreet you online. Please let me know in the 0:01:33.840 --> 0:01:35.319 comments where you're joining us. 0:01:35.360 --> 0:01:40.600 From everyone everywhere all around the world. We welcome you everyone. 0:01:40.640 --> 0:01:43.520 We're so glad you're here. Put it in the comments, 0:01:43.520 --> 0:01:47.440 say I'm glad to be here. Say it out loud, 0:01:47.440 --> 0:01:48.920 by faith, I'm glad to be here. 0:01:50.760 --> 0:01:51.160 Awesome. 0:01:51.240 --> 0:01:54.920 Also, y'all, we just announced Elevation Nights our tour that 0:01:55.040 --> 0:01:57.200 is coming to the West Coast later this year. 0:01:58.400 --> 0:02:02.400 Go to Elevation Nights for details. 0:02:03.200 --> 0:02:09.200 Looks like we'll be going to Seattle, Vancouver, Sacramento, Los Angeles, Anaheim, Boise, Idaho, 0:02:09.760 --> 0:02:14.440 Salt Lake City, Utah, and Denver, Colorado. Make plans for Tuesday, 0:02:14.520 --> 0:02:19.600 September twenty fourth through Thursday October. It will be awesome 0:02:19.680 --> 0:02:27.680 Elevation Nights dot com. Also today, the Lord said a 0:02:27.720 --> 0:02:30.919 special word for somebody, and I can't wait to find 0:02:31.000 --> 0:02:35.600 out who it is that he sent it for. I 0:02:35.639 --> 0:02:38.920 thanked him before I came out because he gave it 0:02:38.960 --> 0:02:42.080 to me, and I thanked him that I get to 0:02:42.120 --> 0:02:46.240 now partner with him in delivering what the father wants 0:02:46.280 --> 0:02:50.080 to say to his children. I'm going to be sharing 0:02:50.120 --> 0:02:54.240 the next installment on my series called ghost Writer, and 0:02:54.280 --> 0:02:58.360 I'm using as a metaphor you know how somebody needs 0:02:58.360 --> 0:02:59.919 to write a book but they're not a good rite. 0:03:00.760 --> 0:03:02.240 They hire somebody because they have. 0:03:02.240 --> 0:03:05.200 A great story, but that doesn't make them a good writer. 0:03:05.960 --> 0:03:08.160 So you can hire somebody called a ghost writer to 0:03:08.200 --> 0:03:11.680 help you. I'm just using that to represent how the 0:03:11.680 --> 0:03:15.240 Holy Spirit in our lives will help us with the 0:03:15.320 --> 0:03:18.880 story that we're telling. Our lives are meant to tell 0:03:18.919 --> 0:03:22.000 the story of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We were 0:03:22.040 --> 0:03:24.720 singing it earlier. I was dead and gone and you 0:03:24.800 --> 0:03:29.160 raised me. I was lost in sin and you found me. Hallelujah, 0:03:29.200 --> 0:03:30.840 you saved my soul. 0:03:31.080 --> 0:03:32.400 But just like some of us have. 0:03:32.400 --> 0:03:36.840 Trouble singing on pitch, and I'm one of you, but 0:03:37.640 --> 0:03:39.600 we have trouble sometimes telling. 0:03:39.320 --> 0:03:41.520 That story on cue. 0:03:42.240 --> 0:03:45.200 And so the Holy Spirit will help us not only 0:03:45.240 --> 0:03:47.960 tell the story to others, but how many know you're 0:03:47.960 --> 0:03:51.200 telling yourself a story every second of every day. 0:03:52.480 --> 0:03:54.800 And that's where I really need his help. 0:03:55.360 --> 0:03:57.640 And as you look through the Book of Acts, not 0:03:57.840 --> 0:04:00.200 acts like a thing you cut down a tree with, 0:04:00.280 --> 0:04:03.800 but acts like action. It's the things that the Holy 0:04:03.880 --> 0:04:08.720 Spirit did through the early Church, and we are continuing 0:04:08.960 --> 0:04:11.680 just two thousand years later in that same stream of 0:04:11.680 --> 0:04:14.880 the Spirit's activity. So the subtitle of the series is 0:04:14.920 --> 0:04:17.200 making sense of your story through the lens of the 0:04:17.200 --> 0:04:17.839 Holy Spirit. 0:04:18.200 --> 0:04:20.520 Now, if everything in your life makes sense. 0:04:21.440 --> 0:04:24.040 Then you can go ahead and leave now and beat 0:04:24.040 --> 0:04:28.680 everybody to the restaurant, go ahead and get some brunch logo, 0:04:28.839 --> 0:04:32.520 on over to something else more interesting online. But if 0:04:32.520 --> 0:04:34.200 there are some things in your life that don't make 0:04:34.240 --> 0:04:37.800 sense right now, from a natural perspective, I believe that 0:04:37.800 --> 0:04:40.320 today God wants to give you a lens through his word, 0:04:41.000 --> 0:04:42.680 and as we worship him, he does that. 0:04:43.200 --> 0:04:44.680 And now as you receive. 0:04:44.480 --> 0:04:46.440 This word from him, He's going to give you a 0:04:46.480 --> 0:04:51.560 way to see your situations. I'm going to Acts Chapter three, JJ, 0:04:51.640 --> 0:04:54.039 do you want this? I don't need it today. I 0:04:54.040 --> 0:04:56.800 told him I don't need that little screen today. No, 0:04:56.920 --> 0:05:00.080 I'm preaching like a wild man in a revival today. 0:05:00.480 --> 0:05:04.600 I'm not circling nothing, highlighting nothing, writing nothing. I'm gonna 0:05:04.640 --> 0:05:09.719 just holler for about forty minutes. Y'all act right today, 0:05:09.760 --> 0:05:16.480 don't act crazy. I can't take it. Acts Chapter three. 0:05:16.640 --> 0:05:21.080 I love this story. This is my favorite Bible story today. 0:05:21.960 --> 0:05:25.640 I have another one next week. Listen to this one. 0:05:25.680 --> 0:05:25.880 Though. 0:05:27.520 --> 0:05:29.960 One day, Peter and John were going up to the 0:05:30.000 --> 0:05:33.240 temple at the time of prayer at three in the afternoon. 0:05:34.520 --> 0:05:39.120 Now now a man who was lame from birth was 0:05:39.200 --> 0:05:42.279 being carried to the temple gate called Beautiful, where he 0:05:42.440 --> 0:05:45.920 was put every day to beg from those going into 0:05:46.040 --> 0:05:49.200 the temple courts. When he saw Peter and John about 0:05:49.240 --> 0:05:53.119 to enter, he asked them for money. Peter looked straight 0:05:53.160 --> 0:05:56.560 at him, as did John. Then Peter said, look at us. 0:05:57.800 --> 0:06:01.360 So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get 0:06:01.400 --> 0:06:06.440 something from them. Then Peter said, silver or gold I 0:06:06.520 --> 0:06:10.640 do not have. But what I do have, I give 0:06:10.720 --> 0:06:16.279 you in the name of Jesus. In the name of 0:06:16.400 --> 0:06:22.320 Jesus Christ of Nazareth, that's a place walk. Taking him 0:06:22.360 --> 0:06:24.839 by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly 0:06:24.880 --> 0:06:28.640 the man's feet and ankles became strong. He jumped to 0:06:28.720 --> 0:06:32.400 his feet and began to walk. Then he went with 0:06:32.600 --> 0:06:37.560 them into the temple courts, walking and jumping and doing 0:06:37.680 --> 0:06:39.960 all kinds of stuff he couldn't do before he came 0:06:40.040 --> 0:06:44.560 that day and praising God. When all the people saw 0:06:44.680 --> 0:06:49.080 him walking and praising God, they recognized him as the 0:06:49.160 --> 0:06:53.719 same man who used to sit begging at the temple 0:06:53.720 --> 0:06:57.240 gate called Beautiful, and they were filled with wonder and 0:06:57.360 --> 0:07:00.320 amazement at what had happened to him. 0:07:00.040 --> 0:07:03.039 The final verse we'll read for now is verse eleven. 0:07:03.960 --> 0:07:07.839 While the man held on to Peter and John, all 0:07:08.040 --> 0:07:13.200 the people were astonished and came running to them in 0:07:13.280 --> 0:07:18.080 the place called Solomon's Colonnade. Now, today, I want to 0:07:18.160 --> 0:07:20.560 use for my sermon title something that you normally hear 0:07:21.120 --> 0:07:24.720 in the theater or on a movie set when they're 0:07:24.760 --> 0:07:27.360 getting ready to shoot the scene, and you'll hear a 0:07:27.360 --> 0:07:29.840 stage manager or a director say these words. 0:07:29.840 --> 0:07:31.400 But I'm going to use them today in church. 0:07:31.440 --> 0:07:37.320 Okay, the title of this sermon is places everyone. 0:07:38.600 --> 0:07:42.600 Places everyone. Help me with this. Say it in your 0:07:42.600 --> 0:07:45.000 own voice. Places. Everyone. 0:07:45.640 --> 0:07:47.640 Look at your neighbor in case they're not paying attention 0:07:47.720 --> 0:07:50.160 to me, say places everyone. 0:07:50.960 --> 0:07:56.280 We're about to have some action in here, lights. 0:07:56.400 --> 0:08:02.320 Camera, Places everyone. That's why I'm glad you came today. 0:08:02.360 --> 0:08:05.080 You almost didn't come, but I'm glad you came today 0:08:05.280 --> 0:08:08.040 because the Holy Spirit said, Places, everyone. 0:08:08.400 --> 0:08:12.360 Something's about to happen. Place us everyone. Something important is 0:08:12.400 --> 0:08:15.920 about to go down. Place us everyone. A story is 0:08:15.960 --> 0:08:18.520 about to unfold. Places everyone. 0:08:18.640 --> 0:08:19.040 Say it. 0:08:19.080 --> 0:08:27.240 Places everyone in glory to God and now be seated. Everyone. 0:08:27.800 --> 0:08:33.880 Places everyone. 0:08:33.800 --> 0:08:37.640 The most beautiful opening illustration emerged from my kitchen table. 0:08:38.120 --> 0:08:42.240 Just yesterday, Elijah brought several friends home from college to visit. 0:08:42.920 --> 0:08:44.959 A few of them have never been to Charlotte. They 0:08:44.960 --> 0:08:49.800 were debating what to do with their day. The subject 0:08:49.800 --> 0:08:53.360 of Carowins came up. Carowins is an amusement park in 0:08:53.400 --> 0:08:57.200 the Greater Charlotte area. It's technically in South Carolina, but 0:08:57.320 --> 0:08:59.000 that's complicated to explain. 0:08:59.160 --> 0:09:01.000 It's just a place with roller coasters. 0:09:02.320 --> 0:09:05.240 I was laughing because I haven't been to Carowins once 0:09:05.720 --> 0:09:07.160 since I've lived in Sharply. 0:09:07.840 --> 0:09:09.840 I may Holley take the kids when they were little. 0:09:10.440 --> 0:09:11.199 I don't like it. 0:09:11.960 --> 0:09:14.000 The last time I went to Carowins, I was about 0:09:14.040 --> 0:09:20.160 Abbey's age truth And so after I said that, Elijah said, yeah, 0:09:20.720 --> 0:09:25.079 Carowins was so much better like five years ago. His friend, 0:09:25.080 --> 0:09:29.600 without missing a beat, said, it wasn't better you were younger. 0:09:32.240 --> 0:09:36.040 I thought that was kind of profound. I mean, Carowins 0:09:36.080 --> 0:09:38.440 hasn't changed that much. They had a few different rides 0:09:38.440 --> 0:09:42.640 and everything. I guess protocols, I don't know, but it's 0:09:42.760 --> 0:09:48.040 just the way you experience Carowin's has changed since you 0:09:48.040 --> 0:09:52.720 were a kid. To now that you're in college. It 0:09:52.800 --> 0:09:57.800 didn't get worse or it wasn't better. You were just younger. 0:09:57.920 --> 0:10:00.800 You just got older. That happened to me one time. 0:10:01.400 --> 0:10:04.880 I wanted to take all the family to this barbecue 0:10:04.880 --> 0:10:06.319 restaurant we used to go to a lot as a kid. 0:10:06.320 --> 0:10:08.040 It was on our rotation. It would be Ryan's one 0:10:08.080 --> 0:10:08.600 Friday night. 0:10:08.640 --> 0:10:13.280 You'll know about Ryan's Quincy's, Ryan's Quincy's Chinese. 0:10:13.320 --> 0:10:13.760 And then this. 0:10:13.800 --> 0:10:17.360 Barbecue place in Ridgeville, South Carolina called Duke's Barbecue. And 0:10:17.400 --> 0:10:19.559 I was explaining to them how we would go on 0:10:19.640 --> 0:10:22.960 Friday nights off into Duke's Barbecue. And I said, and 0:10:23.080 --> 0:10:25.400 the trash cans what I remember about it. The trash 0:10:25.480 --> 0:10:28.480 cans were the biggest trash cans that you've ever seen 0:10:28.520 --> 0:10:29.240 in your life. 0:10:29.360 --> 0:10:30.960 I mean, they were so tall you'd have to jump up. 0:10:30.960 --> 0:10:34.400 I remember trying to slam dunk the plate in the 0:10:34.400 --> 0:10:37.640 trash can after I ate my hash and rice and barbecue. 0:10:37.960 --> 0:10:40.640 And I was telling them all this, and we walk 0:10:40.679 --> 0:10:43.680 in and this is how stupid I am. I walk 0:10:43.760 --> 0:10:47.760 in and I realize, oh, the trash cans are smaller. 0:10:48.040 --> 0:10:53.880 No, they didn't change out the trash cans. 0:10:53.960 --> 0:11:01.160 I was frozen in five year old Stephen Ferdick's memory 0:11:01.320 --> 0:11:03.960 of the trash cans. And in my mind, you have 0:11:04.040 --> 0:11:06.439 to jump up the trash cans are so high. 0:11:06.679 --> 0:11:08.040 But I didn't have to jump up. 0:11:08.120 --> 0:11:13.400 I just had to grow up, and the trash cans 0:11:13.440 --> 0:11:14.640 didn't have to get smaller. 0:11:14.679 --> 0:11:18.600 I just had to get bigger. 0:11:20.000 --> 0:11:22.280 Some of the things in your life that you're asking 0:11:22.320 --> 0:11:28.000 God to change, don't be surprised when He changes you 0:11:29.240 --> 0:11:30.760 instead of changing it. 0:11:33.240 --> 0:11:35.200 Yeah. 0:11:35.600 --> 0:11:37.880 I have several points today, and I'll give you the 0:11:37.920 --> 0:11:40.800 first one. Now you might find this worth writing down. 0:11:41.280 --> 0:11:46.200 Number one. When the person changes, so does the place. 0:11:48.120 --> 0:11:53.240 When the person changes, so does the place. So that 0:11:53.280 --> 0:11:55.760 the caroins of your childhood will not be the. 0:11:55.840 --> 0:11:57.480 Caroins of your college age. 0:11:58.160 --> 0:12:01.080 It will still be the same basic con stept of 0:12:01.160 --> 0:12:03.360 paying money to want to throw up and stand in 0:12:03.440 --> 0:12:08.079 lines for two hours, which makes total sense, same basic concept, 0:12:08.480 --> 0:12:11.880 but different point of view. Graham actually said to me 0:12:11.960 --> 0:12:14.400 one time corn dogs fell off. 0:12:18.520 --> 0:12:20.120 What happened to corn dogs? 0:12:20.280 --> 0:12:20.880 Is it just me? 0:12:21.440 --> 0:12:25.920 Or did corn dogs fall off? Corn dogs didn't fall off. 0:12:26.400 --> 0:12:33.080 You grew up, and sometimes you change so much, not 0:12:33.280 --> 0:12:36.960 realizing it until you go back to the same place 0:12:38.080 --> 0:12:41.680 that you came from and go, huh, these trash cans 0:12:41.679 --> 0:12:44.880 aren't so big. You know what I love about the 0:12:44.920 --> 0:12:48.040 story that we just read in the scripture. Peter and John, 0:12:48.080 --> 0:12:51.360 who we mentioned kind of as the main characters, They're 0:12:51.400 --> 0:12:54.920 going to a place called the Temple. The Temple is 0:12:54.960 --> 0:12:59.040 a place where they've been going their whole lives because 0:12:59.040 --> 0:12:59.559 they're Jewish. 0:12:59.600 --> 0:13:01.160 Community would require it. 0:13:01.960 --> 0:13:04.640 They would go there not only just once a week, 0:13:04.679 --> 0:13:08.960 but most observant Jews would have gone at least twice 0:13:08.960 --> 0:13:12.240 a day for the morning sacrifice and the evening sacrifice, 0:13:12.360 --> 0:13:15.000 where the high Priest would stand and then offer up 0:13:15.040 --> 0:13:18.320 a sacrifice for the people, and prayers would be prayed, 0:13:18.760 --> 0:13:22.480 and scriptures would be read, and community would gather together 0:13:22.880 --> 0:13:26.880 and worship would be offered to God. Now Peter and 0:13:26.960 --> 0:13:31.800 John have had a radical transformation in their life. 0:13:31.920 --> 0:13:33.640 Not only did they spend. 0:13:33.360 --> 0:13:37.640 Three and a half years with this radical rabbi from 0:13:37.760 --> 0:13:44.280 Nazareth named Jesus Christ, who did things heretofore unseen, unexperienced, 0:13:44.320 --> 0:13:49.440 and unprecedented, but they have been filled everybody shat filled 0:13:50.360 --> 0:13:53.760 with the Holy Spirit, and they are running over with 0:13:53.880 --> 0:13:58.280 a new consciousness of who God is because now they 0:13:58.320 --> 0:14:00.760 are no longer experiencing God. 0:14:00.760 --> 0:14:06.720 Externally, but internally, Jesus is no longer there in the flesh. 0:14:06.920 --> 0:14:09.640 But Jesus said, I got something better for you. 0:14:10.400 --> 0:14:14.440 I'll send my spirit to live inside of you, so 0:14:14.520 --> 0:14:19.640 that even when I'm asleep, he'll be awake, so that 0:14:19.800 --> 0:14:23.080 even when you're in a place that's far away in distance, 0:14:23.240 --> 0:14:27.600 you will never be far away from my presence. Adjusting 0:14:27.640 --> 0:14:31.760 to this new reality must have been difficult because the 0:14:31.760 --> 0:14:35.600 place that they've gone all their life, which represented tradition 0:14:35.800 --> 0:14:37.920 and training. And when you think about those two words, 0:14:38.120 --> 0:14:43.920 tradition and training, tradition and training. Now suddenly they are 0:14:44.000 --> 0:14:46.480 transitioning from the tradition. 0:14:46.160 --> 0:14:49.360 That they've known their whole life, which represented how God 0:14:49.480 --> 0:14:51.040 was to be worshiped, and. 0:14:50.960 --> 0:14:54.440 They are transitioning into a new and living way that 0:14:54.560 --> 0:14:57.360 was made through the body of Jesus Christ, which was 0:14:57.440 --> 0:15:00.480 broken on the cross, the blood of his co which 0:15:00.520 --> 0:15:01.880 was poured out for your sin. 0:15:02.480 --> 0:15:04.680 So they're going to the temple, right think about this. 0:15:05.000 --> 0:15:08.240 They're going to the temple, but the temple that they're 0:15:08.280 --> 0:15:11.960 going to does not represent the template that they have 0:15:12.040 --> 0:15:15.000 been given for how to relate to God in the future. 0:15:16.480 --> 0:15:19.600 They're changing, They're changing. 0:15:20.120 --> 0:15:22.600 And they're going to a place that they're used to 0:15:22.680 --> 0:15:25.800 going to, but they're not the same people that they 0:15:25.920 --> 0:15:30.800 used to be. And corn dogs are falling off, and 0:15:30.920 --> 0:15:34.440 Caroins was better as a kid, and the trash cans 0:15:34.480 --> 0:15:37.600 were taller when I was five, And I'm going back 0:15:37.640 --> 0:15:41.840 to the same place. But I'm a changed man. I'm 0:15:41.880 --> 0:15:46.480 a changed woman. I believe that as the person changes, 0:15:47.120 --> 0:15:50.600 the place changes. I'll prove it to you with the 0:15:50.640 --> 0:15:53.240 practical thing. This is not about me, This is not 0:15:53.320 --> 0:15:56.480 about you know the first century AD. This is about you. 0:15:57.080 --> 0:16:01.840 Some of you used to drive by this church and 0:16:01.920 --> 0:16:06.200 kind of silently think that place gets on my nerves. 0:16:09.000 --> 0:16:11.240 The traffic that they make when I'm trying to leave 0:16:11.720 --> 0:16:15.440 on Sunday and they just get in my way, and 0:16:15.520 --> 0:16:19.640 they have those stickers on their cars and riding around town. 0:16:20.240 --> 0:16:25.080 And isn't it interesting that one day you came and 0:16:25.160 --> 0:16:33.000 at some point it changed. It didn't change, you changed, 0:16:37.000 --> 0:16:43.560 you change. Look at your neighbors say you changed, yeah, yeah, yeah. 0:16:43.720 --> 0:16:47.440 So sometimes we think that it changed or it needs 0:16:47.480 --> 0:16:51.920 to change. But maybe I can't say this. You tell 0:16:51.920 --> 0:16:56.040 your neighbor, maybe you need to change. 0:16:56.080 --> 0:16:57.600 Maybe there's nothing wrong with it. 0:16:59.600 --> 0:17:03.760 Maybe Maybe they don't need to make the trash cans shorter. 0:17:05.200 --> 0:17:08.440 Maybe you just need to get up higher. You don't 0:17:08.440 --> 0:17:13.480 get it. Maybe some of the stuff that you're dealing 0:17:13.520 --> 0:17:16.800 with in your life doesn't need to be shrunk down. 0:17:17.440 --> 0:17:20.560 Maybe you just need to be raised up to a 0:17:20.640 --> 0:17:25.280 place where you can walk in to a trash situation 0:17:26.160 --> 0:17:30.520 that used to trash you, But when you've been transformed, 0:17:30.880 --> 0:17:33.120 the trash doesn't have the power. 0:17:33.160 --> 0:17:38.480 That it used to have. Because I'm changing, I'm changing. 0:17:40.400 --> 0:17:44.600 Notify your neighbors say I'm changing. Don't get used to 0:17:44.640 --> 0:17:49.199 me like this. I'm changing. I'm changing. I'm changing. So 0:17:49.320 --> 0:17:51.480 that's what happens. I hope when you come to church, 0:17:51.520 --> 0:17:54.639 you change. I hope you came to change today. Why'd 0:17:54.680 --> 0:17:57.960 you come today? I came to sing okay, good, but 0:17:58.040 --> 0:18:01.159 I got professional singers that can do that. Why'd you 0:18:01.200 --> 0:18:03.680 come today? I came today to hear a sermon good. 0:18:04.000 --> 0:18:06.879 You could have read that in a book somewhere. I 0:18:06.960 --> 0:18:09.719 believe God brought you here for a different reason than 0:18:09.760 --> 0:18:13.000 you might have come on the surface, because I believe 0:18:13.040 --> 0:18:16.359 in my spirit you might have come to check out 0:18:16.520 --> 0:18:18.080 are there two girls at elevation? 0:18:19.119 --> 0:18:20.400 You might have come to find out. 0:18:20.440 --> 0:18:23.760 Can I made some new friends, but I believe really 0:18:23.800 --> 0:18:27.040 beneath the surface, you came to change. 0:18:28.640 --> 0:18:30.520 You came to change. 0:18:32.080 --> 0:18:35.840 And what's brilliant about the strategy of the spirit of God. 0:18:36.160 --> 0:18:38.040 Can I preach this like I feel it? 0:18:38.160 --> 0:18:42.320 Or do I need to be quiet on the set? 0:18:43.359 --> 0:18:44.840 I want to be loud on the set. 0:18:45.880 --> 0:18:48.720 Places everybody, places, everybody, get ready. 0:18:48.880 --> 0:18:50.560 God's about to do something amazing. 0:18:50.840 --> 0:18:53.360 I believe God put you in this place today, even 0:18:53.400 --> 0:18:56.040 if it's at a campus, even if it's in an overflow, 0:18:56.320 --> 0:18:59.320 even if it's an extension, even if it's watching online 0:18:59.320 --> 0:19:01.479 and you wish you could be here in person. I 0:19:01.560 --> 0:19:06.440 believe God put everyone in their place today to change something. 0:19:06.480 --> 0:19:08.480 And here's how it works. This is the strategy of 0:19:08.520 --> 0:19:11.800 the Holy Spirit. So you come to church, you hear 0:19:11.840 --> 0:19:12.240 a word. 0:19:12.440 --> 0:19:14.679 I don't change you. He changes you. 0:19:16.600 --> 0:19:18.760 I know it's him, not mean, because sometimes I'll have 0:19:18.800 --> 0:19:20.840 my message how I want it and God will change it. 0:19:21.560 --> 0:19:25.320 So it's definitely not me that's changing lives. It's God 0:19:25.359 --> 0:19:26.439 that changes lives. 0:19:26.920 --> 0:19:28.920 And then you change. Maybe you don't change. 0:19:28.720 --> 0:19:30.919 All at first, maybe you don't change in the moment, 0:19:31.080 --> 0:19:33.280 maybe your gray hairs don't turn back to black in 0:19:33.320 --> 0:19:36.080 the moment. Maybe your knee pain doesn't reverse itself in 0:19:36.119 --> 0:19:38.480 the moment. Maybe everything doesn't go away in the moment, 0:19:38.600 --> 0:19:40.719 but you change a little bit. Now here's what happens. 0:19:40.760 --> 0:19:43.200 Let's say that you're a student and you're in high 0:19:43.240 --> 0:19:46.760 school and you go back on Monday to the same school. 0:19:46.760 --> 0:19:50.960 Everybody say, same place, but you changed a little bit 0:19:51.240 --> 0:19:53.480 because of the word that you heard while you were 0:19:53.520 --> 0:19:54.480 in the presence of. 0:19:54.440 --> 0:19:55.400 God on Sunday. 0:19:56.600 --> 0:20:00.840 So now you're going back to the same school, but 0:20:00.920 --> 0:20:02.200 it's a changed you. 0:20:03.640 --> 0:20:04.960 Going to the same school. 0:20:06.280 --> 0:20:08.880 So it'll be the same temptations when you get there, 0:20:09.960 --> 0:20:13.080 but it will be a transformed person that shows up 0:20:13.320 --> 0:20:21.800 to deal with the temptation when you do. As the 0:20:21.840 --> 0:20:27.360 person changes, so does the place. So it's the same school. 0:20:28.000 --> 0:20:30.800 It's the same crap kids have been doing for years. 0:20:31.400 --> 0:20:34.480 It's the same stuff going on on break, it's the 0:20:34.520 --> 0:20:38.159 same foolishness they're talking in the dorm. It's the same 0:20:38.240 --> 0:20:41.760 stuff that's going through your mind. It's the same school, 0:20:42.160 --> 0:20:47.280 but it's a changed you. Now, when you change and 0:20:47.320 --> 0:20:51.160 you go back to the same place that you came from, changed, 0:20:51.600 --> 0:20:54.680 So I'm going back to the same place, but I'm changed. 0:20:55.240 --> 0:21:00.120 When changed you goes back to the same school, same 0:21:00.200 --> 0:21:07.639 school becomes changed school because changed you whoa came to 0:21:07.720 --> 0:21:12.119 the same school and something changed in me because I 0:21:12.160 --> 0:21:15.080 heard a word this week that said I didn't have 0:21:15.119 --> 0:21:16.440 to give into it anymore. 0:21:17.000 --> 0:21:18.880 I heard a word this week. 0:21:18.800 --> 0:21:20.919 That said I can get up on my feet and 0:21:21.040 --> 0:21:24.000 walk in the name of Jesus. I heard a word 0:21:24.080 --> 0:21:27.280 this week that said, the world and its empty praise 0:21:27.359 --> 0:21:30.600 can never fill me, but God can feel me completely 0:21:30.960 --> 0:21:36.359 and make every crooked thing straight. So we change in 0:21:36.400 --> 0:21:40.439 the presence of God. And as the person changes, so 0:21:40.600 --> 0:21:44.080 does the place. And you can even show up to 0:21:44.160 --> 0:21:46.840 a place that you used to hate. Some of you 0:21:46.920 --> 0:21:51.920 hate going home. Look straight ahead right now, I promise you. 0:21:52.000 --> 0:21:54.320 If you're with your family, the best strategy is keep 0:21:54.359 --> 0:22:02.679 your eyes on me. Holly has a great teaching on 0:22:02.720 --> 0:22:05.040 marriage that she does and it simply goes like this. 0:22:05.960 --> 0:22:10.399 In marriage, when I change me, I change we. 0:22:18.200 --> 0:22:20.119 I don't know why my outline keeps falling to the 0:22:20.119 --> 0:22:23.199 ground and God doesn't want me to preach, but this 0:22:23.240 --> 0:22:26.400 one first point or something like that, I only got 0:22:26.400 --> 0:22:27.800 seventy three more to go. 0:22:28.680 --> 0:22:32.639 I'm just kidding. Is it possible. 0:22:34.560 --> 0:22:44.920 That you keep changing places, keep running around, like, yeah, 0:22:44.920 --> 0:22:47.600 well I was in that relationship, but you know they 0:22:47.600 --> 0:22:48.200 were kind of. 0:22:49.880 --> 0:22:54.919 But you said that same thing about the last thirteen relationships. 0:22:57.000 --> 0:23:01.880 Now I'm kind of suspicious about what you're running from. 0:23:02.000 --> 0:23:06.439 Is it the relationship that you're running from or is 0:23:06.480 --> 0:23:09.159 it really something that's inside of you? 0:23:09.840 --> 0:23:11.639 And I had a guy say it so brilliantly. 0:23:11.960 --> 0:23:14.199 We were at the mountains and I ran into a 0:23:14.240 --> 0:23:16.840 guy at a gym at the hotel, and I said, 0:23:16.880 --> 0:23:18.919 where do you live? And he said the name of 0:23:18.960 --> 0:23:22.040 a really nice beach. And then after he said the 0:23:22.119 --> 0:23:23.440 name of the nice beach, how many of you loved 0:23:23.440 --> 0:23:26.160 to go to the beach? I do too, And he said, 0:23:26.280 --> 0:23:29.040 I live at the beach, but sometimes I just got 0:23:29.080 --> 0:23:32.600 to come here to get away. And I thought, where 0:23:32.640 --> 0:23:36.680 I'm always trying to get to. He's trying to get 0:23:36.680 --> 0:23:44.119 away from. Everybody's running from something. Everybody's running from something. 0:23:44.520 --> 0:23:48.040 And the saddest thing of your life would be to 0:23:48.200 --> 0:23:56.040 run from something that you have said is outside and 0:23:56.160 --> 0:24:00.560 refuse to deal with what is inside. 0:24:00.720 --> 0:24:04.720 And now we see how powerful this one verse of 0:24:04.720 --> 0:24:05.399 scripture is. 0:24:05.440 --> 0:24:08.399 In Acts, Chapter three, Verse one, one day, Peter and 0:24:08.520 --> 0:24:11.000 John were going up to the temple at the time 0:24:11.000 --> 0:24:15.520 of prayer at three in the afternoon. Is it crazy 0:24:15.600 --> 0:24:19.000 that they would be going to the temple where they 0:24:19.040 --> 0:24:23.000 have spent their entire lives in training, where they have 0:24:23.040 --> 0:24:27.160 spent their entire lives in tradition. But this time, this 0:24:27.200 --> 0:24:29.040 is what's different this time. And I want you to 0:24:29.080 --> 0:24:32.400 catch this for your own situation, because you might hate 0:24:32.440 --> 0:24:34.639 to go home, not because home is so bad, but 0:24:34.680 --> 0:24:36.120 because you're not showing up. 0:24:36.040 --> 0:24:37.000 Fully and completely. 0:24:38.600 --> 0:24:42.840 You might ruin something by running that God could have 0:24:42.920 --> 0:24:47.000 restored if you would have received what He had for you. 0:24:47.640 --> 0:24:49.760 And I don't want that for you. So let me 0:24:49.760 --> 0:24:52.760 tell you the difference. All their life, they went to 0:24:52.800 --> 0:24:55.360 the temple. They went to pray, They went to get 0:24:55.400 --> 0:24:58.720 sacrifices made. But Jesus is their sacrifice. Now they don't 0:24:58.760 --> 0:25:01.720 need that sacrifice anymore. But they went to the temple. 0:25:01.760 --> 0:25:04.399 But it's different this time. Somebody say it's different this time. 0:25:05.560 --> 0:25:10.440 Before they went to the temple, this time they were 0:25:10.560 --> 0:25:12.240 sent to the temple. 0:25:13.600 --> 0:25:18.720 And that is a shift that if you get it, it. 0:25:18.680 --> 0:25:23.720 Will change every place you set your foot. That's what 0:25:23.760 --> 0:25:27.720 God told Joshua. Every place you set your foot, I 0:25:27.760 --> 0:25:30.560 will give you. And what that means to me is 0:25:30.600 --> 0:25:34.000 that God is not just allowing my life to be random. 0:25:34.480 --> 0:25:36.960 God is not just allowing you to live in Fort 0:25:37.000 --> 0:25:39.840 Mill until you can get a job transferred back to Miami, 0:25:39.920 --> 0:25:40.879 where you really want to be. 0:25:41.560 --> 0:25:42.200 God did not. 0:25:42.320 --> 0:25:44.879 Just allow you to pass through this season because you know, 0:25:44.920 --> 0:25:47.760 he didn't have any connecting flights available and the angels 0:25:47.760 --> 0:25:50.679 couldn't carry you. None of that is true. It's not 0:25:50.960 --> 0:25:54.280 really random. It's for a reason that you're here. It's 0:25:54.400 --> 0:26:03.879 for a reason. Help me, Holy Ghost, because the reality 0:26:03.960 --> 0:26:06.800 of the fact is that there was a mission on 0:26:07.080 --> 0:26:11.240 God's agenda that day that was not on Peter's calendar. 0:26:13.200 --> 0:26:16.400 How many know that sometimes God doesn't synchronize his agenda 0:26:16.920 --> 0:26:17.840 with your awareness. 0:26:19.760 --> 0:26:23.800 I should let that set in that sentence right there, 0:26:24.880 --> 0:26:26.000 That is a bar. 0:26:26.560 --> 0:26:31.159 Let me say again, he doesn't synchronize his agenda with 0:26:31.240 --> 0:26:32.000 your awareness. 0:26:32.440 --> 0:26:34.320 That means he's up to stuff he doesn't let you 0:26:34.359 --> 0:26:38.960 in on. But the Holy Spirit will bridge the gap. 0:26:39.880 --> 0:26:41.960 When you're in a season where you go like and 0:26:42.000 --> 0:26:44.160 I was thinking about it, you know, like different ways 0:26:44.160 --> 0:26:48.360 people express it. It's like I hate this place. I'm 0:26:48.400 --> 0:26:49.760 just doing this for now. 0:26:50.680 --> 0:26:50.880 Man. 0:26:50.920 --> 0:26:52.960 I heard somebody say this the other day, there is 0:26:52.960 --> 0:26:55.399 a great one. How am I supposed to be everywhere 0:26:55.440 --> 0:26:55.760 at once? 0:26:55.840 --> 0:26:59.120 You're not? Wait minute, let me check, let me check, 0:26:59.400 --> 0:27:03.639 are you jesez, No, you're not. That's his job. 0:27:04.400 --> 0:27:07.160 And even last week I was talking about God will 0:27:07.200 --> 0:27:11.280 only support you for what you're supposed to do, and 0:27:11.280 --> 0:27:13.480 that a lot of our stress comes from trying to 0:27:13.480 --> 0:27:14.920 do stuff that we weren't called to do. 0:27:15.119 --> 0:27:19.280 But here's the flip side of that. Okay, just like 0:27:19.359 --> 0:27:19.679 a lot of. 0:27:19.680 --> 0:27:21.840 Your stress comes from doing stuff that you're not supposed 0:27:21.880 --> 0:27:26.000 to do, a lot of your blessings are in things 0:27:26.800 --> 0:27:29.879 that you don't even see coming, that aren't even on 0:27:29.920 --> 0:27:33.440 your schedule. Now, this story proves it, but I could 0:27:33.480 --> 0:27:36.400 prove it from one hundred stories of things that Jesus 0:27:36.440 --> 0:27:37.520 did in his ministry. 0:27:38.880 --> 0:27:42.880 On the way, on the way, everybody say on the way. 0:27:43.800 --> 0:27:46.040 Put it in the comment, say on the way. 0:27:46.760 --> 0:27:49.360 We were singing one of our favorite new songs, Miracle 0:27:49.400 --> 0:27:54.000 after miracle, open door after open door. Here it comes, 0:27:54.040 --> 0:27:57.439 so get ready for another one. Another one is on 0:27:57.600 --> 0:28:01.120 the way, which means it's coming right, but it also 0:28:01.280 --> 0:28:06.359 means that sometimes it's on the way to where you 0:28:06.480 --> 0:28:11.040 think you're going that God is going to do the 0:28:11.040 --> 0:28:14.040 most amazing things in your life. 0:28:14.280 --> 0:28:16.280 Clap your hands by faith and receive that what I 0:28:16.400 --> 0:28:24.080 just told you. Come on, we don't ever want to 0:28:24.119 --> 0:28:25.399 get so goal. 0:28:25.520 --> 0:28:38.000 Focused that we become God oblivious. Sir, I cannot preach 0:28:38.040 --> 0:28:40.360 this sermon in one setting. I will have to do 0:28:40.400 --> 0:28:43.080 this in about seven parts. All right, It's a good 0:28:43.080 --> 0:28:46.480 thing I'm in this series because here's how the text 0:28:46.480 --> 0:28:50.360 says it. You have to really get the nuance to 0:28:50.400 --> 0:28:54.120 appreciate how intentional the Holy Spirit is. Every word of 0:28:54.120 --> 0:28:56.960 Scripture is inspired by the Holy Spirit. So you can 0:28:57.000 --> 0:28:59.520 really find a lot in these little places, just stuff 0:28:59.520 --> 0:29:02.360 that you would say. Verse one says one day Peter 0:29:02.440 --> 0:29:04.840 and John were going up to the temple at the 0:29:04.840 --> 0:29:06.719 time of prayer. Okay, so if they were going up, 0:29:06.720 --> 0:29:10.640 what does that mean they weren't there yet? They were 0:29:10.680 --> 0:29:13.320 going up. In scripture, it always says up to the temple. 0:29:13.640 --> 0:29:17.240 Part of that is geographical, it's literally up, but part 0:29:17.240 --> 0:29:21.440 of it is reverential because they were going up out 0:29:21.440 --> 0:29:22.840 of the everyday affairs of life. 0:29:22.960 --> 0:29:25.680 Do you go up? Do you go up? 0:29:27.000 --> 0:29:29.000 And then the fact that it says that it was 0:29:29.040 --> 0:29:33.240 in motion is only complimented and made more powerful by 0:29:33.240 --> 0:29:36.440 this fact. As they are going up, and I love 0:29:36.480 --> 0:29:37.760 how verse two starts. 0:29:37.840 --> 0:29:39.440 It says, now. 0:29:41.400 --> 0:29:45.120 At the same time that they're going up to do 0:29:45.160 --> 0:29:47.480 their thing in the temple, and the temple is no 0:29:47.560 --> 0:29:49.720 longer the same place to them that it was anymore. 0:29:49.320 --> 0:29:51.520 But they've still got to go there. See. 0:29:51.520 --> 0:29:55.440 Sometimes sometimes even though you're not going to stay there forever, 0:29:56.360 --> 0:29:57.960 you need to do everything that. 0:29:57.880 --> 0:29:59.920 God has called you to do in that place while 0:30:00.080 --> 0:30:00.600 you are there. 0:30:02.680 --> 0:30:06.320 And as they're going up to the temple at the 0:30:06.320 --> 0:30:08.400 time of prayer three in the afternoon, it says, now 0:30:08.440 --> 0:30:12.880 a man who was laying from birth was being carried 0:30:12.920 --> 0:30:15.640 to the temple gate called beautiful, where he was put 0:30:15.720 --> 0:30:18.600 every day to beg from those going to the temple courts. 0:30:19.240 --> 0:30:23.080 Imagine the contrast. This gate is not just silver and 0:30:23.160 --> 0:30:27.040 gold plated. This is a bronze gate that looks so good. 0:30:27.040 --> 0:30:30.880 They call it beautiful. They call the gate beautiful. Every 0:30:30.960 --> 0:30:34.480 day he was placed there to ask for money. Now 0:30:34.920 --> 0:30:37.720 they are going to the temple out of their tradition. 0:30:39.160 --> 0:30:44.480 He is going there out of his trauma. They are 0:30:44.560 --> 0:30:48.520 going to the temple out of their routine. 0:30:48.680 --> 0:30:49.680 He's going to the. 0:30:49.640 --> 0:30:52.760 Gate out of his restriction, and he can't go where 0:30:52.800 --> 0:30:55.800 they can go, and he can't do what they can do. 0:30:56.680 --> 0:30:58.840 But every day he would take his place at the 0:30:58.880 --> 0:31:03.800 gate and ask for change. 0:31:04.480 --> 0:31:06.680 Change. 0:31:07.560 --> 0:31:10.680 Now about the time that the temple guard is changing 0:31:10.720 --> 0:31:15.920 over from the morning sacrifice to the evening sacrifice, the 0:31:15.960 --> 0:31:22.120 Bible says that Peter and John see a man, and 0:31:22.200 --> 0:31:24.640 always fresh that they saw a man at the gate. 0:31:24.760 --> 0:31:28.040 Read it again verse two. A man who was lame 0:31:28.120 --> 0:31:33.360 from birth was being carried. He hadn't even made it 0:31:33.400 --> 0:31:37.160 to the gate yet. They hadn't even made it to 0:31:37.200 --> 0:31:41.120 the temple stairs yet. So what I'm trying to say is, 0:31:42.200 --> 0:31:45.880 on the way to wherever you're going, have a goal, 0:31:46.480 --> 0:31:50.280 have a vision, have a target, have a thing. But 0:31:50.560 --> 0:31:54.160 just on your way up to whatever you think God 0:31:54.240 --> 0:31:56.160 is calling you to do, or whatever you would like 0:31:56.240 --> 0:31:58.760 to become in His name, or whatever He is placed 0:31:58.760 --> 0:32:00.320 in your heart, go up. 0:32:01.040 --> 0:32:03.440 I'll help you out here for you. I even name 0:32:03.520 --> 0:32:04.200 my church. 0:32:04.080 --> 0:32:08.520 Elevation because I want you to go up, and God 0:32:08.560 --> 0:32:11.160 wants you to go up, and you are seated in 0:32:11.200 --> 0:32:16.360 heavenly places with Jesus. But just make sure that on 0:32:16.560 --> 0:32:21.280 your way to where you're going, stay open to what 0:32:21.520 --> 0:32:26.520 God is doing on the way. 0:32:27.160 --> 0:32:28.800 Preach that back to your neighbor, tell. 0:32:28.680 --> 0:32:33.680 Them on the way to where you're going, stay open 0:32:34.560 --> 0:32:35.680 to what God is doing. 0:32:37.080 --> 0:32:38.600 Because see, they thought. 0:32:38.440 --> 0:32:40.440 We got to get to the temple, we gotta pray, 0:32:40.640 --> 0:32:43.120 We got to watch the high priest offer this sacrifice, 0:32:43.160 --> 0:32:45.400 even though we know Jesus is our high priest. But 0:32:45.480 --> 0:32:47.920 this is our community, this is where we go, this 0:32:48.000 --> 0:32:48.600 is what we do. 0:32:48.800 --> 0:32:50.440 And so they're doing it. They're doing it. 0:32:50.600 --> 0:32:55.440 And as they are stopped midstep, so is this man 0:32:55.760 --> 0:32:56.600 being carried. 0:32:57.120 --> 0:33:00.160 He is being carried. They are going up. 0:33:00.760 --> 0:33:03.680 Neither one is where they want to be yet, but 0:33:03.880 --> 0:33:08.640 God is right there on the way. Now. I want 0:33:08.680 --> 0:33:11.440 to preach to everybody who's not where you want to 0:33:11.480 --> 0:33:12.040 be yet. 0:33:12.520 --> 0:33:12.640 Now. 0:33:13.120 --> 0:33:15.960 I want to preach to everybody who hasn't mastered what 0:33:16.000 --> 0:33:18.480 you want to master yet and you still feel kind 0:33:18.480 --> 0:33:19.160 of yanked. 0:33:18.920 --> 0:33:20.560 Around by some stuff right now. 0:33:21.200 --> 0:33:23.400 I want to preach to everybody who doesn't have the 0:33:23.520 --> 0:33:25.840 stability in your life that you want to have right 0:33:25.880 --> 0:33:30.600 now and you are in between here and there, to 0:33:30.760 --> 0:33:37.160 let you know that God is on the way. I 0:33:37.200 --> 0:33:40.600 don't mean he's coming, I mean he's on the way. 0:33:41.720 --> 0:33:46.760 He's OUTFA, he's Omega, and he's every letter in between. 0:33:47.960 --> 0:33:51.400 He's everything in between. He's God. 0:33:53.560 --> 0:33:54.000 Got five. 0:33:54.080 --> 0:34:00.080 Your neighbors say, stay open, Stay open, because on the 0:33:59.840 --> 0:34:02.600 way to where you think you're going, God might do 0:34:02.720 --> 0:34:03.440 something greater. 0:34:04.720 --> 0:34:08.120 Are you open to that on the way to where 0:34:08.120 --> 0:34:08.640 you're going? 0:34:08.800 --> 0:34:09.000 Mike? 0:34:09.800 --> 0:34:12.280 I've had this happen so many times, so many times, 0:34:12.480 --> 0:34:14.600 but I was reminded of one this week. 0:34:14.800 --> 0:34:17.319 There was a There was a Sunday seven years ago. 0:34:17.520 --> 0:34:18.960 I was washing. 0:34:18.680 --> 0:34:21.120 My hands in the bathroom coming out to preach. D 0:34:21.719 --> 0:34:23.840 Somebody's out here talking. Okay, I'm gonna get out to 0:34:23.880 --> 0:34:25.759 my seat, and all of a sudden, this melody came 0:34:25.800 --> 0:34:27.120 into my head while I'm washing my hands. 0:34:27.320 --> 0:34:29.120 Worthy is your name. 0:34:30.840 --> 0:34:36.520 Jeezesus, you deserve the praise? 0:34:38.040 --> 0:34:40.120 Worthy is your name? 0:34:40.400 --> 0:34:43.600 And I stopped and thought, I kind of like that. Well, 0:34:43.640 --> 0:34:46.480 I'll have time for it right now. I gotta preach. 0:34:48.800 --> 0:34:51.840 I gotta get out there, and God say, yeah. 0:34:51.640 --> 0:34:54.399 You do. You gotta get out there. But why don't 0:34:54.440 --> 0:34:58.120 you get out there and get something. 0:34:57.840 --> 0:35:03.400 Here where you go out there? Because what if I 0:35:03.440 --> 0:35:07.680 want to give you something on the way to where 0:35:07.680 --> 0:35:11.080 you're going? You know what's crazy? I can't remember to 0:35:11.239 --> 0:35:14.360 save my life. Listen to me. I can't remember. 0:35:13.960 --> 0:35:16.759 To save my life what I preached that day. 0:35:17.120 --> 0:35:35.760 But watch this where this is your. 0:35:31.560 --> 0:35:31.719 Now? 0:35:31.719 --> 0:35:32.480 How is it. 0:35:35.560 --> 0:35:38.080 That what I thought wasn't even worth stopping for? 0:35:40.480 --> 0:35:47.959 We're still singing seven years later because God gave it 0:35:48.000 --> 0:35:48.760 to us. 0:35:49.600 --> 0:35:54.200 On the way, and I'd pronounce, Place this. 0:35:54.320 --> 0:35:59.359 Everyone, John is on the way. Place this, everyone, in 0:35:59.400 --> 0:36:06.120 the name of Jesus. Rise up, mind up, take my. 0:36:06.080 --> 0:36:07.959 Hand and rins up. 0:36:08.920 --> 0:36:11.440 Take my hand and ride up. 0:36:12.560 --> 0:36:13.200 Rise up. 0:36:21.320 --> 0:36:25.840 It's on the way. It's on the way. It's on 0:36:25.960 --> 0:36:29.920 the way. Cry if you gotta cry, but. 0:36:29.960 --> 0:36:42.480 Through your tears testify this's on the way. 0:36:43.400 --> 0:36:47.319 We trample on God's purpose sometimes trying to get to 0:36:47.360 --> 0:36:55.200 our plan. John, my sid Peter, you can't help this man. 0:36:55.239 --> 0:36:59.320 You're gonna make me late to temple. Peter knew something. 0:37:00.320 --> 0:37:03.640 Wait a minute. Jesus said he was coming to send 0:37:03.640 --> 0:37:05.040 his spirit to live in us. 0:37:06.920 --> 0:37:11.720 So what we're trying to get to is right here. Wait, 0:37:12.960 --> 0:37:19.680 this man is a temple waiting to be restored. 0:37:21.000 --> 0:37:24.160 The thing that's right in front of you is as 0:37:24.200 --> 0:37:26.000 beautiful as the gate. 0:37:25.840 --> 0:37:28.920 You're walking through. If you can stop and see. 0:37:28.640 --> 0:37:38.239 It, Holly Loujah, Hall Loujah. 0:37:38.719 --> 0:37:43.800 So stay open. That's what gates do, right, they open. 0:37:44.920 --> 0:37:45.680 Stay open. 0:37:46.760 --> 0:37:49.000 I know you pray that your child would marry a 0:37:49.040 --> 0:37:52.799 missionary and serve God. They might not marry a missionary, 0:37:53.040 --> 0:37:54.560 they might not get married at all. 0:37:54.880 --> 0:37:59.040 Stay open, and God doesn't have to ask you what. 0:37:59.160 --> 0:38:02.520 Age there's a to be married by, because you didn't 0:38:02.520 --> 0:38:05.080 get married when your parents wanted you to get married either. 0:38:06.040 --> 0:38:08.959 And now we sit here like gatekeepers of what God 0:38:09.040 --> 0:38:11.920 can do and when God could do it. 0:38:12.000 --> 0:38:17.160 But stay open. Now, now I preach a little more. 0:38:18.360 --> 0:38:21.759 Felt like I was closing, didn't it. But that was 0:38:21.880 --> 0:38:27.000 just the gate opening, the opening of the gate. Yeah yeah, yeah, 0:38:27.040 --> 0:38:29.440 oh oh, I'm going to need some help today. 0:38:29.800 --> 0:38:34.160 Turn to your neighbors, say place this everyone, almost like 0:38:34.760 --> 0:38:37.719 God called Gabriel that morning. Now, the disciples have been 0:38:37.800 --> 0:38:39.799 seeing God do amazing things, right, but this is the 0:38:39.840 --> 0:38:42.200 first healing miracle that they did without Jesus. And you 0:38:42.239 --> 0:38:44.080 know how you could tell because Peter. 0:38:44.040 --> 0:38:48.400 Was doing so much. I read several times in the Bible. 0:38:48.400 --> 0:38:51.520 I thought it was kind of funny Jesus would heal. 0:38:51.440 --> 0:38:54.279 People that couldn't walk like this man couldn't walk. But 0:38:55.040 --> 0:38:58.879 how Peter did. It was so dramatic. Jesus here you say, 0:38:59.320 --> 0:39:01.719 get up, take up your mat, and walk. And his 0:39:01.800 --> 0:39:05.840 word was so powerful because he's the perfect, spotless, living 0:39:06.000 --> 0:39:09.280 embodiment of the Word of God. I can tell Peter's 0:39:09.320 --> 0:39:12.600 not so sure about this because look at it's so funny. 0:39:13.280 --> 0:39:14.759 Peter said, verse six, over, go out, I do not 0:39:14.800 --> 0:39:15.960 have what I have a get you name just Christ 0:39:16.080 --> 0:39:18.399 Nazareth walk and then verse seven give me verse seven 0:39:18.440 --> 0:39:21.880 on the screen, yanking him up by the right hand. 0:39:22.400 --> 0:39:26.160 Almost feel like Peter's like, you're not gonna make me 0:39:26.200 --> 0:39:26.800 look stupid. 0:39:27.200 --> 0:39:31.120 You did not one to wear this, and that's all right. 0:39:34.080 --> 0:39:39.279 Because you progress and mature into it, you grow into it. 0:39:40.800 --> 0:39:44.359 But it's an amazing thing here because you know, this 0:39:44.440 --> 0:39:46.680 man isn't even looking at them when they first walk. 0:39:46.520 --> 0:39:50.160 By, not even looking. 0:39:51.320 --> 0:39:54.919 But we understand that because how many people have walked 0:39:54.920 --> 0:40:00.000 by and despised him, how many people have walked by 0:40:00.080 --> 0:40:01.399 and muttered under their breath about him? 0:40:02.360 --> 0:40:05.000 How many people did he ask? Can I have some change? 0:40:05.000 --> 0:40:06.840 Can I have some change? Can I have some change? 0:40:07.200 --> 0:40:11.640 And they said no, no, no, And so Peter actually 0:40:11.680 --> 0:40:13.800 has to start with the men's expectation. 0:40:14.000 --> 0:40:15.799 The first thing God is going to have to heal for. 0:40:15.960 --> 0:40:21.480 Some of us is our expectation, because we just have 0:40:21.680 --> 0:40:26.319 learned to live in a place of disappointment as our 0:40:26.440 --> 0:40:32.360 emotional home. So if anything would come along and violate 0:40:32.560 --> 0:40:35.759 your expectation of disappointment, you would sabotage it and send 0:40:35.760 --> 0:40:40.520 it away unless God healed your expectation. Look at us, 0:40:40.520 --> 0:40:43.600 Peter said, look me in the eye, and then I 0:40:43.600 --> 0:40:44.440 can give you something. 0:40:44.880 --> 0:40:45.880 Change your focus. 0:40:46.719 --> 0:40:49.160 If you keep looking at everybody who has walked by 0:40:49.200 --> 0:40:52.799 and told you know, everybody who has not recognized you, 0:40:52.840 --> 0:40:53.680 everybody who has. 0:40:53.600 --> 0:40:55.319 Not helped you, everybody who has left you. 0:40:55.400 --> 0:40:58.200 If you look at that even mentally, you will not 0:40:58.360 --> 0:41:02.360 get what God has for you. You cannot receive a present 0:41:02.400 --> 0:41:05.359 blessing living mentally in a past experience. 0:41:06.280 --> 0:41:11.280 Places everyone. This is the day that the Lord has made. 0:41:12.040 --> 0:41:13.920 So you got to get what God has for you 0:41:14.000 --> 0:41:15.960 in this day. And now. 0:41:16.000 --> 0:41:18.400 The Bible says that the man is looking at Peter 0:41:18.880 --> 0:41:21.920 and John and he goes, so you got some change. 0:41:22.160 --> 0:41:27.120 Oh yeah, I got some change for you. I got 0:41:27.160 --> 0:41:30.839 some change for you that you will not I got 0:41:30.840 --> 0:41:35.400 some change for you that is so great that you 0:41:35.560 --> 0:41:39.960 won't be back at this gate tomorrow unless it's by choice. 0:41:39.920 --> 0:41:40.799 To walk through it. 0:41:44.400 --> 0:41:47.799 God said, I'm gonna give you your autonomy back. I'm 0:41:47.800 --> 0:41:51.319 gonna stop having you beg at places just for the 0:41:51.440 --> 0:41:54.200 crumbs of somebody else's approval, because you're. 0:41:54.040 --> 0:41:55.880 Going to know in this season that I have a 0:41:55.920 --> 0:41:58.520 purpose from God. So I'm not sitting here at this 0:41:58.680 --> 0:41:59.560 gate tomorrow. 0:42:00.000 --> 0:42:02.120 When I come to this gate tomorrow, it will be 0:42:02.160 --> 0:42:06.040 my choice to walk through it. That's what makes addiction 0:42:06.239 --> 0:42:08.479 such a sin, y'all. It's not the thing you're doing. 0:42:08.520 --> 0:42:11.520 It's the fact that you have to. It has become 0:42:11.560 --> 0:42:14.960 your God. It has become the thing that you have 0:42:15.080 --> 0:42:18.080 to do. And God doesn't want you to owe anything 0:42:18.160 --> 0:42:19.960 to anyone but Him except love. 0:42:25.960 --> 0:42:29.080 I'ma break something off somebody today. I'm gonna break something off. 0:42:29.080 --> 0:42:31.799 So I'm getting somebody up today. I'm getting somebody up 0:42:31.840 --> 0:42:37.279 today with the help of the Holy Spirit. Even if 0:42:37.320 --> 0:42:42.200 I got to yank you up. I've had to yank 0:42:42.280 --> 0:42:45.760 some people up before preaching. You know, yeah, just start 0:42:45.880 --> 0:42:48.880 start yanking people up. Because I think about it is, 0:42:49.120 --> 0:42:52.040 when you've been rejected that long, the possibility of a 0:42:52.080 --> 0:42:58.359 different direction is almost unthinkable. The possibility that they could 0:42:58.400 --> 0:43:02.000 really like you for you when the last person used you. 0:43:04.120 --> 0:43:09.040 Is so unusual. The fact that God could use you, He's. 0:43:08.960 --> 0:43:11.640 Just unfathomable because look at all the reasons that you 0:43:11.640 --> 0:43:12.880 think he shouldn't. 0:43:13.920 --> 0:43:18.160 Wouldn't be wonderful if you didn't know you. Then when 0:43:18.200 --> 0:43:19.080 I say God could. 0:43:18.920 --> 0:43:23.200 Use you, you go all right, and you wouldn't have all 0:43:23.280 --> 0:43:24.520 of the reasons I'm wrong. 0:43:26.840 --> 0:43:27.320 Rejection. 0:43:28.320 --> 0:43:31.120 I know it isn't explicitly mentioned, but come on, he's 0:43:31.120 --> 0:43:34.040 put there every day. How many people walk past that 0:43:34.120 --> 0:43:37.120 man and told him no? But here's what I love 0:43:37.160 --> 0:43:43.240 about the Lord. God can send one person to bless 0:43:43.280 --> 0:43:48.319 you in such an amazing way that it will make 0:43:48.480 --> 0:43:57.680 every rejection that came before it irrelevant in comparison. Say 0:43:57.840 --> 0:44:02.759 that again, Pastor Stephen it Say it for the one 0:44:02.760 --> 0:44:05.359 who was told no. Say it for the one who 0:44:05.480 --> 0:44:08.560 knocked on the closed door till their knuckles bled. Say 0:44:08.600 --> 0:44:14.200 it one more time. God can send one person, one person. 0:44:14.960 --> 0:44:17.600 It didn't take everybody in the temple to get the 0:44:17.640 --> 0:44:22.160 man up. It took one person. It took one name, 0:44:22.200 --> 0:44:26.600 and it wasn't Peter, it was Jesus. God can send 0:44:26.680 --> 0:44:30.719 one person to bless you in such an amazing way 0:44:31.480 --> 0:44:35.480 that it will make every rejection that came before it 0:44:35.520 --> 0:44:40.360 seem irrelevant. In comparison, God can send you one mentor 0:44:40.440 --> 0:44:43.479 in your life to teach you everything that your dad 0:44:43.520 --> 0:44:45.720 didn't teach you because he was too busy. 0:44:46.600 --> 0:44:48.920 God can send one experience in your. 0:44:48.760 --> 0:44:52.960 Life that will give you a lifetime education, all in 0:44:53.040 --> 0:44:57.279 three days. God can send you one idea, and that 0:44:57.440 --> 0:45:00.520 one idea, if you incubate it, and if you. 0:45:00.560 --> 0:45:01.880 Set it before him. 0:45:01.920 --> 0:45:04.799 And you trust him in it, that one idea can 0:45:04.840 --> 0:45:10.400 make up for fifteen failures, five hundred failures. Every rejection 0:45:10.920 --> 0:45:16.319 can be made irrelevant, and all of a sudden, it 0:45:16.360 --> 0:45:21.000 doesn't matter who told this man no, because one person, 0:45:21.719 --> 0:45:27.120 one change, one hand, one moment, get your expectation back. 0:45:27.360 --> 0:45:30.640 It doesn't take everybody. It doesn't take everything going right. 0:45:31.000 --> 0:45:31.760 It doesn't take. 0:45:31.640 --> 0:45:35.000 A stadium fall, It doesn't take ten thousand followers. 0:45:35.200 --> 0:45:39.040 It doesn't even take long. The Bible said, Instantly, he 0:45:39.200 --> 0:45:45.240 got off, what blessing, what blessing? 0:45:46.520 --> 0:45:50.880 One blessing, one word, one divot, one new. 0:45:50.719 --> 0:45:53.640 Path, one new song, one new thing. 0:45:55.320 --> 0:45:59.480 Places everyone, places everyone, you know. The only way you 0:45:59.480 --> 0:46:06.520 don't get it if you're not there. Places everyone. God 0:46:06.560 --> 0:46:09.839 turns to Gabriel. He says, today's today. Really, we're gonna 0:46:09.840 --> 0:46:12.520 do it today. Yeah, we're gonna do it today. Today's today. 0:46:12.600 --> 0:46:15.120 They've been preaching, they've been testifying, the church has been growing, 0:46:15.200 --> 0:46:17.880 and today I'm gonna show old Peter what's in his 0:46:17.960 --> 0:46:21.400 right hand. Because Peter's been using his mouth, but now 0:46:21.440 --> 0:46:23.360 I want him to see what's in his hand. So 0:46:23.520 --> 0:46:26.719 get down there, places, everyone, God is saying over the 0:46:26.800 --> 0:46:30.719 church in acts places everyone. Everybody, get ready. Okay, is 0:46:30.719 --> 0:46:31.319 that man ready? 0:46:31.400 --> 0:46:33.880 Yeah, he's ready. They're carrying him right now. Okay, they 0:46:33.920 --> 0:46:35.000 don't have him to the gate yet. 0:46:35.040 --> 0:46:37.520 Okay, perfect, that's where I want it, right there, before 0:46:37.600 --> 0:46:41.399 he gets to the gate. Okay, Peter and John are coming, 0:46:41.719 --> 0:46:43.000 but they're not quite at the temple yet. 0:46:43.040 --> 0:46:43.800 Okay. Perfect. 0:46:44.000 --> 0:46:47.839 And God says places, everyone, And the place that God 0:46:47.920 --> 0:46:52.320 chose to do it was the place between the places 0:46:52.360 --> 0:46:53.080 that they planned. 0:46:56.560 --> 0:46:58.560 I need three people. 0:47:00.320 --> 0:47:05.480 To shout about the place between the places, because that's 0:47:05.520 --> 0:47:13.319 where I am right now. Ain't it good to know 0:47:13.400 --> 0:47:17.839 the Lord, to know that he's on the way, To 0:47:17.880 --> 0:47:21.399 know that with one blessing from his hand, it can 0:47:21.440 --> 0:47:23.799 make up for every hand that was ever against me. 0:47:25.000 --> 0:47:28.600 To know that with one blessing from his hand, he 0:47:28.680 --> 0:47:34.920 can make every rejection irrelevant. And the part that I 0:47:35.040 --> 0:47:38.480 wish I didn't need to preach is the part I 0:47:38.520 --> 0:47:41.080 saved for last. They say save the best for last. 0:47:41.160 --> 0:47:44.000 I saved the worst for last. I did it exactly backwards, 0:47:45.040 --> 0:47:47.279 just trying to be faithful to the text, because the 0:47:47.320 --> 0:47:49.520 Bible says in verse eleven, and this would be a 0:47:49.520 --> 0:47:51.839 great place for the text to end in my mind. 0:47:52.600 --> 0:47:55.080 When all the people heard about the man that was 0:47:55.120 --> 0:47:57.840 walking and he's holding on to them, they were astonished 0:47:57.880 --> 0:48:00.239 look at verse eleven and came running to the him 0:48:00.480 --> 0:48:01.200 in the place. 0:48:01.000 --> 0:48:02.040 Called Solomon's Colonnade. 0:48:02.120 --> 0:48:05.960 Now a colonnade is a porch with columns that support 0:48:05.960 --> 0:48:10.799 a roof. So there's this big temple length column row 0:48:10.840 --> 0:48:13.520 of columns called Solomon's Colonnade on the eastern side of 0:48:13.560 --> 0:48:16.040 the temple, and they would meet there. Jesus walked through 0:48:16.080 --> 0:48:20.200 there once in John chapter ten. So in Peter smart 0:48:20.000 --> 0:48:22.080 he went back to teaching the place where he saw 0:48:22.200 --> 0:48:26.680 Jesus do it, because the best thing you can do 0:48:26.719 --> 0:48:28.239 when you don't know what to do is do the 0:48:28.280 --> 0:48:29.560 last thing you saw Jesus do. 0:48:32.600 --> 0:48:34.240 So they moved the meeting. They moved the meeting. 0:48:34.239 --> 0:48:35.719 He's like, all right, I don't even know if they 0:48:35.760 --> 0:48:37.439 got to do the full temple service or not, because 0:48:37.440 --> 0:48:38.080 it was a commotion. 0:48:38.160 --> 0:48:40.480 There's thousands of people. This is not a small church service. 0:48:41.680 --> 0:48:44.320 And so Peter said, everybody go to the colonnade. Now, 0:48:44.440 --> 0:48:46.920 a colonnade is what a covered place? 0:48:47.920 --> 0:48:50.000 And notice in verse eleven it says the man was 0:48:50.040 --> 0:48:54.600 with them, right, so he can walk now, but he 0:48:54.680 --> 0:48:57.719 chose to stay with them, and. 0:48:57.640 --> 0:48:59.520 He's standing there holding on to Peter and John. 0:49:00.400 --> 0:49:05.040 But he's no longer being carried now he's being covered. 0:49:07.840 --> 0:49:08.320 Places. 0:49:08.360 --> 0:49:14.200 Everyone places everyone for everyone who is refusing to walk 0:49:14.200 --> 0:49:16.920 in your own strength. You need to come out of 0:49:16.960 --> 0:49:19.680 the season where you're using other people to do for 0:49:19.719 --> 0:49:22.319 you what God wants to strengthen you to do for yourself. 0:49:24.640 --> 0:49:26.279 And it doesn't mean you're going to be doing it 0:49:26.320 --> 0:49:29.720 in your own strength. Because even when he wasn't carried, 0:49:29.800 --> 0:49:32.160 he was holding on to Peter and John. 0:49:32.280 --> 0:49:35.160 So I'm not carried, but I'm covered. 0:49:35.400 --> 0:49:37.560 I love that because that means I'm gonna have to 0:49:37.600 --> 0:49:41.160 do this, but I'm not doing this by myself. That 0:49:41.200 --> 0:49:43.959 means I'm gonna have to take some risks, but I'm 0:49:44.000 --> 0:49:44.759 covered either way. 0:49:44.760 --> 0:49:45.280 It goes. 0:49:46.200 --> 0:49:48.880 That means that in this season of my life, I 0:49:48.880 --> 0:49:51.239 can trust God to put me where he needs me 0:49:51.280 --> 0:49:55.880 to be. Now, the danger in this is that we 0:49:56.000 --> 0:49:58.160 think if we're in the right place. Okay, I took 0:49:58.200 --> 0:50:00.880 the job, Okay, I said yes the thing, Okay, I 0:50:01.000 --> 0:50:03.000 volunteered at the church, I did the thing on where 0:50:03.000 --> 0:50:05.640 I'm supposed to be. We think everything's gonna go better 0:50:07.000 --> 0:50:10.239 if we're in the right place. So now, at this 0:50:10.280 --> 0:50:13.760 point in the party, you're expecting Peter gives a sermon, 0:50:14.239 --> 0:50:16.520 and he does. Boy, he preaches too, and he lets 0:50:16.600 --> 0:50:20.680 him have it, talking about you disowned the holy unrighteous one. 0:50:20.840 --> 0:50:23.600 Jesus was handed over to you, but God raised him 0:50:23.600 --> 0:50:24.840 from the dead. 0:50:24.520 --> 0:50:25.680 You missed it. 0:50:25.800 --> 0:50:27.960 You didn't recognize him for who he was, and you 0:50:28.000 --> 0:50:31.479 all need to repent, and many of them did. 0:50:32.640 --> 0:50:36.600 In fact, two thousand did one dude. 0:50:38.160 --> 0:50:43.120 Having a changed life led to two thousand salvations. 0:50:43.239 --> 0:50:51.319 In one day. God math, God Math. And he's standing there, 0:50:52.320 --> 0:50:53.120 dare I say it. 0:50:54.360 --> 0:50:58.960 He's standing there in a place with pillars, and he's 0:50:59.000 --> 0:51:06.520 turning into a pillar himself. He's standing in what he's becoming. 0:51:07.760 --> 0:51:13.560 He's standing under what he's becoming. And he's standing there 0:51:14.200 --> 0:51:16.880 and Peter preaches, and it's a good response. 0:51:17.360 --> 0:51:19.759 And look what happened when Peter preached so. 0:51:19.800 --> 0:51:24.040 Good that it turned the city inside out. 0:51:24.120 --> 0:51:27.600 Chapter four, verse three. Please on the screen. 0:51:29.160 --> 0:51:33.280 They seize Peter and John, and because it was evening, 0:51:34.320 --> 0:51:40.680 they put him in jail. Wait, Jesus, but I served you, Jesus, 0:51:41.920 --> 0:51:43.080 but I did the right thing. 0:51:43.239 --> 0:51:46.400 Jesus, but I helped that man. Jesus. 0:51:47.080 --> 0:51:50.600 Shouldn't you be giving me a bonus check? Jesus should 0:51:50.719 --> 0:51:54.040 not be getting commission on this. Jesus, didn't you see 0:51:54.040 --> 0:51:54.920 what we just did? No? 0:51:55.080 --> 0:51:55.920 They put them in. 0:51:56.000 --> 0:52:02.520 Jail till the next day, and then the Bible. 0:52:02.239 --> 0:52:08.760 Says a versus more, but many who heard the message believe. 0:52:10.280 --> 0:52:13.080 So it goes to show just because you're not there 0:52:13.120 --> 0:52:15.719 to see it, doesn't mean God didn't do it. 0:52:18.400 --> 0:52:22.040 Because why everybody was getting their changed life. They where 0:52:22.040 --> 0:52:22.919 in the jail cell. 0:52:23.719 --> 0:52:26.800 And sometimes you've got to get determined in your spirit 0:52:27.040 --> 0:52:29.719 that I will not let the place I'm in make me. 0:52:29.840 --> 0:52:35.960 Doubt the purpose that I carry. I'm in this jail, but. 0:52:36.080 --> 0:52:40.680 Jesus is working. I'm in this situation. But Jesus is working. 0:52:41.000 --> 0:52:45.600 I'm in this state, but Jesus is working. And while 0:52:45.600 --> 0:52:48.280 they're in jail, all the rulers are trying to decide 0:52:48.440 --> 0:52:48.920 what are we. 0:52:48.880 --> 0:52:51.200 Going to do about this. It's not what they did 0:52:51.239 --> 0:52:52.080 for the man, it's. 0:52:51.960 --> 0:52:54.200 What they were preaching about Jesus that got them thrown 0:52:54.200 --> 0:52:56.600 in jail. We can't let them run around preaching that 0:52:56.680 --> 0:53:01.400 Jesus is resurrected. They'll completely re jacked our power if 0:53:01.440 --> 0:53:03.560 they find out that Jesus has all power. 0:53:03.680 --> 0:53:05.640 What do we do? Put them in jail and we'll decide. 0:53:06.560 --> 0:53:10.040 So you have to imagine that the man who was 0:53:10.080 --> 0:53:14.600 at the gate feels pretty bad about all this. Hey, 0:53:14.640 --> 0:53:17.800 where's Peter and John? I want to thank him real quick. Actually, 0:53:19.719 --> 0:53:23.160 Peter and John had to go to jail because what 0:53:23.280 --> 0:53:24.800 was free for you cost them something. 0:53:30.239 --> 0:53:30.600 Dang. 0:53:30.719 --> 0:53:34.319 I didn't mean for them to have to. I wasn't 0:53:34.320 --> 0:53:35.600 trying to cause any trouble. Man. 0:53:36.320 --> 0:53:38.600 I was doing the best I could, and he told 0:53:38.600 --> 0:53:40.360 me yake me up. I didn't even ask him to 0:53:40.360 --> 0:53:42.600 be healed. I just wanted some lunch money. 0:53:43.239 --> 0:53:49.040 I feel bad about this. Hey, can I do anything 0:53:49.040 --> 0:53:51.600 to help? I know I'm not much at anybody, But 0:53:53.719 --> 0:53:57.319 is there anything I can do to help? And in 0:53:57.400 --> 0:53:59.840 my imagination, I like to think, and I know you're like, 0:54:00.120 --> 0:54:01.799 just read the Bible, don't use your imagination. 0:54:01.960 --> 0:54:04.960 That's your problem. No, that's your problem. 0:54:05.239 --> 0:54:07.800 You read the Bible like long ago in a galaxy 0:54:07.840 --> 0:54:08.520 far far away. 0:54:08.560 --> 0:54:09.480 But this ain't star wars. 0:54:09.480 --> 0:54:12.799 This is a scripture and we are supposed to come 0:54:12.840 --> 0:54:16.319 to this Bible with our senses and submit them to 0:54:16.360 --> 0:54:19.839 the spirit, so that when we find ourselves like, Okay. 0:54:19.560 --> 0:54:21.880 I feel like that. Sometimes I feel like I'm just 0:54:21.920 --> 0:54:22.839 doing my job and I. 0:54:22.800 --> 0:54:25.480 Feel like not in jail physically, but I feel like 0:54:25.560 --> 0:54:28.080 I'm in prison for something and I don't really see 0:54:28.640 --> 0:54:29.520 what God is doing. 0:54:29.680 --> 0:54:33.000 And so we read this and imagine, maybe. 0:54:33.600 --> 0:54:37.280 Matthew one of the disciples. Let's use Matthew. He goes, actually, 0:54:38.200 --> 0:54:42.520 there is something you can do. Tomorrow, Peter and John 0:54:42.560 --> 0:54:45.279 are going to have to give a defense before the 0:54:45.320 --> 0:54:49.640 Sanhedrin and they're going to be called into question for 0:54:49.760 --> 0:54:55.480 what they did. So when they are preaching, why don't 0:54:55.520 --> 0:54:59.919 you just be there? Okay, cool, Yeah, no, I told 0:55:00.200 --> 0:55:03.160 do that sounds great. If there's one thing I know 0:55:03.160 --> 0:55:05.719 how to do, it's be there. Because that's all I've 0:55:05.760 --> 0:55:10.040 been able to do. See this man, because he was paralyzed, 0:55:10.040 --> 0:55:14.719 he's been practicing being a pillar his whole life. He 0:55:14.800 --> 0:55:17.680 knows how to be there. So they say, yeah, just 0:55:17.719 --> 0:55:21.000 be there, and Peter's gonna preach. And then the man 0:55:21.040 --> 0:55:23.239 maybe says, and you want me to share a little something. No, no, no, 0:55:25.000 --> 0:55:28.200 don't say anything. We don't even know if you're saved yet. 0:55:30.960 --> 0:55:36.319 Don't say nothing. Just stand there. Look at your neighbors. Say, 0:55:36.360 --> 0:55:41.399 don't say nothing. Just stand there. So they called Peter 0:55:41.480 --> 0:55:44.200 and John. They say, all right, why did you do it? 0:55:44.200 --> 0:55:46.680 Peter says, if we are being called to account for 0:55:47.120 --> 0:55:49.000 an act of kindness to this man, let it be 0:55:49.160 --> 0:55:53.520 know that it was not us, but the God of 0:55:53.600 --> 0:55:57.400 our fathers, raise this man for the sake of his 0:55:57.480 --> 0:56:02.280 Holy servant Jesus. Now, the Bible says, after Peter preached, 0:56:03.000 --> 0:56:05.880 the people were not very impressed, but they were amazed. 0:56:06.680 --> 0:56:08.840 And I'll show you how I know they weren't impressed. 0:56:08.840 --> 0:56:13.360 Look at verse thirteen four verse thirteen when they saw 0:56:13.400 --> 0:56:16.960 the courage of Peter and John and realized that they 0:56:17.000 --> 0:56:25.600 were unschooled, ordinary men. That is not a compliment. That's 0:56:25.640 --> 0:56:27.359 like the guy who told me after church two weeks ago, 0:56:27.440 --> 0:56:30.640 that was actually pretty insightful. I'm like, it's to actually 0:56:30.880 --> 0:56:32.960 that bothers me about that sentence you just said. 0:56:37.719 --> 0:56:40.759 And realized they were unschooled ordinary men. 0:56:42.360 --> 0:56:45.200 Place says everyone, You don't have to be spectacular. 0:56:45.280 --> 0:56:50.440 You just got to show up. You don't have to understand. 0:56:50.520 --> 0:56:55.040 You just have to stand. That's all you got to do. 0:56:55.080 --> 0:56:56.879 They saw their courage. 0:56:57.239 --> 0:56:59.600 You know how I confuses the devil when he sees 0:56:59.640 --> 0:57:03.880 you still standing there after he launched a thousand missiles 0:57:03.920 --> 0:57:05.399 at your mind to try to get you. 0:57:05.400 --> 0:57:08.719 To go crazy and curse God and die. And you say, oh, 0:57:08.800 --> 0:57:12.520 he's slay me yet, will I trust him? I'm standing here? 0:57:15.280 --> 0:57:23.120 Ah ooh. 0:57:23.160 --> 0:57:25.800 And when they saw the courage of Peter and John 0:57:25.880 --> 0:57:30.720 and realize that they were unschooled ordinary men, they were 0:57:30.760 --> 0:57:35.320 astonished and watched this. They took note that these men 0:57:35.480 --> 0:57:38.560 had been with Jesus. Now see every experience they had 0:57:38.600 --> 0:57:43.200 with Jesus collapses into this moment. Every time they saw 0:57:43.280 --> 0:57:46.480 him feed somebody, every time they heard a teaching, every 0:57:46.560 --> 0:57:50.200 time you show up, it is compounding your experience and 0:57:50.240 --> 0:57:55.960 it will pay dividends in your future. Places, everyone, every 0:57:56.080 --> 0:57:59.200 sermon you log in your spirit. Every note you write 0:57:59.240 --> 0:58:01.080 down and put it up that week on the mirror, 0:58:01.360 --> 0:58:03.840 every song that you learn, so you can sing a. 0:58:03.720 --> 0:58:04.840 New song to the Lord. 0:58:05.080 --> 0:58:08.640 It's compounding in your life for the glory of Christ. 0:58:09.960 --> 0:58:12.560 And it says when they heard Peter, they took note. 0:58:13.400 --> 0:58:18.800 But verse fourteen, that's my favorite. But since they could 0:58:18.880 --> 0:58:24.800 see the man who had been healed standing there with them, 0:58:25.280 --> 0:58:31.040 there was nothing they could say. It goes like this, children, 0:58:32.040 --> 0:58:36.479 when Peter preached, they took note. But when the man 0:58:36.600 --> 0:58:40.240 stood there, they shut up. You want to shut up 0:58:40.280 --> 0:58:40.840 the enemy. 0:58:41.280 --> 0:58:45.680 Stand there. You want to silence the enemy. Stand there. 0:58:46.360 --> 0:58:47.440 You want to back. 0:58:47.280 --> 0:58:50.520 Down the feeling of depression and replace it with the 0:58:50.680 --> 0:58:51.600 joy of the Lord. 0:58:52.240 --> 0:58:55.560 I got two words for you, baby, Stand there. 0:58:57.160 --> 0:59:00.680 Stand there when they talk about you. 0:59:01.080 --> 0:59:03.560 Stand there when it. 0:59:03.560 --> 0:59:06.600 Feels like there's no point, stand there. 0:59:07.800 --> 0:59:10.560 Every place you set your foot, I'll give you. 0:59:10.600 --> 0:59:15.000 But you gotta stand there. Don't walk away. You are 0:59:15.040 --> 0:59:15.680 the one. 0:59:15.520 --> 0:59:16.200 For the job. 0:59:16.480 --> 0:59:20.600 All you gotta do is stand there, somebody. 0:59:20.760 --> 0:59:23.320 Stand to your feet right now and do. 0:59:23.400 --> 0:59:29.280 What you hadn't done yet, and praise him. 0:59:29.480 --> 0:59:36.040 Look got know my place. I'm seeing that, see this, 0:59:38.040 --> 0:59:40.440 see that, see it. 0:59:42.400 --> 0:59:49.520 Stand there, stand there, Stand there, discouraged, Stand there while 0:59:49.520 --> 0:59:53.240 you're healing. Stand there with your legs wobbling. Stand there 0:59:53.280 --> 0:59:54.240 while they point out. 0:59:54.120 --> 0:59:56.640 You and say I didn't see the one that used to. Yeah, 0:59:56.680 --> 0:59:59.360 I used to, But look at me doing well? I 0:59:59.360 --> 1:00:00.800 couldn't you to do? 1:00:00.840 --> 1:00:08.360 Just stand there, don't argue, don't quit, don't commit suicide, 1:00:08.560 --> 1:00:17.920 don't take another pill. Stay there, don't call fifteen people 1:00:17.960 --> 1:00:19.640 that don't know any better than you. 1:00:19.640 --> 1:00:22.840 You are not going back to the gate. Places. 1:00:23.080 --> 1:00:34.800 Everyone stand there, jeeus, keep me. 1:00:34.960 --> 1:00:43.080 Me the cross. Stand there there, Publa sit on. 1:00:44.560 --> 1:00:53.640 Say freely street. 1:00:55.000 --> 1:01:03.760 Flows from car freeze places everyone, This is where it happens. 1:01:04.280 --> 1:01:09.800 Ye the cry, yes, stand there, center. 1:01:09.720 --> 1:01:12.840 He the crow. 1:01:14.600 --> 1:01:18.240 Speed mine. 1:01:22.960 --> 1:01:29.400 Over see mine right? 1:01:30.080 --> 1:01:32.160 So then so. 1:01:33.680 --> 1:01:38.640 Shelf standing here, rest be. 1:01:41.640 --> 1:01:50.720 Erryver places everyone places, everyone places, everyone places everyone. When 1:01:50.720 --> 1:01:55.560 the person changes soul us the place for the cross 1:01:55.600 --> 1:01:58.440 that you are singing about as an emblem was an 1:01:58.480 --> 1:02:02.480 instrument of torture. But when the man Jesus Christ died, 1:02:03.800 --> 1:02:07.960 when the person of Jesus Christ died, the place changed, 1:02:08.840 --> 1:02:11.320 and that cross of his suffering is now the forgiveness 1:02:11.360 --> 1:02:12.000 of your sins. 1:02:12.080 --> 1:02:12.920 Stand there. 1:02:14.200 --> 1:02:19.160 And see the precious lamb of God. See from his head, 1:02:19.200 --> 1:02:21.960 his hands, his feet, sorrow and love flow mingled down. 1:02:22.400 --> 1:02:25.320 Stand there and let the blood be applied. 1:02:25.520 --> 1:02:29.960 Stand there and let the mercy of God make you new. 1:02:30.120 --> 1:02:30.840 Stand there. 1:02:32.600 --> 1:02:35.920 That's all that man did. I can't sing, but I 1:02:35.960 --> 1:02:40.480 can stand there. I didn't even plan to be walking today, 1:02:41.720 --> 1:02:43.680 but I can stand here. You need me to stand there, 1:02:43.720 --> 1:02:46.760 I'll stand there. You need me to show up, I'll 1:02:46.800 --> 1:02:49.720 show up. You need me to be an example God. 1:02:49.760 --> 1:02:51.280 Watch this. Watch this. 1:02:51.280 --> 1:02:56.360 This man looked like an extra in the movie, but 1:02:56.440 --> 1:03:01.600 he was actually exhibit a of the witnessing power of 1:03:01.680 --> 1:03:03.880 the Gospel of Jesus Christ. 1:03:04.080 --> 1:03:07.880 And I'm telling you that's you too. If you stand there, 1:03:09.880 --> 1:03:14.959 pal ludin head's bowed, eyes closed. This is not a joke. 1:03:15.280 --> 1:03:16.560 This is a place. 1:03:17.760 --> 1:03:22.439 That you might look back on and say that day I. 1:03:22.320 --> 1:03:23.400 Went through that gate. 1:03:26.040 --> 1:03:31.800 And I was changed. You can change. The trash won't 1:03:31.800 --> 1:03:35.600 be so big when you get taller. You can change. 1:03:36.040 --> 1:03:39.240 The pleasures of sin won't seem so powerful. You can change. 1:03:40.840 --> 1:03:44.160 In the name of Jesus, I offer you my hand 1:03:44.200 --> 1:03:48.120 places every get up and walk. What are the chances 1:03:48.120 --> 1:03:50.160 you would be here to hear this sermon today? 1:03:50.960 --> 1:03:52.240 What are the chances this. 1:03:52.200 --> 1:03:56.440 Day, God must have something happening right now that is 1:03:56.480 --> 1:03:59.760 bigger than you. Don't be so selfish you think it's 1:03:59.800 --> 1:04:02.840 just about what you can get. Maybe God's about to 1:04:02.920 --> 1:04:04.880 use you to help somebody else up and you need to. 1:04:04.840 --> 1:04:10.880 Get strong for us. Stand there, Stand there. I offer 1:04:10.920 --> 1:04:14.080 an invitation for all of you today who need. 1:04:13.960 --> 1:04:15.600 To come to the cross, and I believe there are 1:04:15.640 --> 1:04:19.480 thousands who are hearing this message as I offer you 1:04:19.520 --> 1:04:20.040 this prayer. 1:04:20.080 --> 1:04:24.200 This prayer is a place. It is a place of faith, 1:04:24.400 --> 1:04:27.080 not a physical location. God doesn't live in one building. 1:04:28.240 --> 1:04:30.880 God wants to come and live in your heart, so 1:04:31.000 --> 1:04:31.440 invite him. 1:04:31.480 --> 1:04:33.120 In the Bible says that if you confess with your 1:04:33.120 --> 1:04:34.960 mouth Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart God 1:04:35.040 --> 1:04:35.560 raised Him. 1:04:35.480 --> 1:04:39.880 From the day, you will be saved. Today you will. 1:04:40.840 --> 1:04:42.440 So I'm going to offer a prayer. We're praying it 1:04:42.680 --> 1:04:44.440 out loud together as a church. 1:04:44.280 --> 1:04:46.560 Family for the benefit of those who are coming to 1:04:46.680 --> 1:04:49.680 God or back to God. Repeat after me, Heavenly Father, 1:04:50.920 --> 1:04:56.640 today is my day of salvation. I am a sinner 1:04:57.520 --> 1:05:02.040 in need of a savior, and I believe Jesus Christ 1:05:02.880 --> 1:05:06.080 is the Son of God and the savior of the world. 1:05:06.760 --> 1:05:11.960 And today I make Jesus the Lord of my life. 1:05:12.160 --> 1:05:16.480 I believe he died that I would be forgiven and 1:05:16.600 --> 1:05:22.560 rose again to give me life. I receive this new life. 1:05:23.400 --> 1:05:27.080 This is my new beginning. Raise your hand on the 1:05:27.120 --> 1:05:29.840 count of three, one, two three. If you prayed that prayer. 1:05:29.680 --> 1:05:32.280 Raise your hand, raise your hand. God bless you. God 1:05:32.320 --> 1:05:34.760 bless you. God bless you. Get up and walk. God 1:05:34.800 --> 1:05:37.240 bless you. Get up and walk. God bless you. Get 1:05:37.360 --> 1:05:40.000 up and walk. God bless you. Hear the name of Jesus, 1:05:41.400 --> 1:05:42.760 in the name of Jesus. 1:05:43.920 --> 1:05:50.640 In the name of Jesus, in the name of Jesus. 1:05:51.480 --> 1:06:00.800 We have the big sorry we have, we have a victor. 1:06:03.800 --> 1:06:07.120 I'm gonna be the last man standing to let the 1:06:07.160 --> 1:06:09.200 Lord know I appreciate his grace. 1:06:11.200 --> 1:06:15.640 I'm not standing on my own. I'm standing by his spirit. 1:06:17.160 --> 1:06:21.640 Paul says, stand therefore, stand therefore. 1:06:21.680 --> 1:06:25.640 Put on the whole honor of God and stand. 1:06:26.880 --> 1:06:38.120 Hot boy, did people say, stand there, everybody that received 1:06:38.120 --> 1:06:40.560 a word from the Lord, clap your hands and praise him, 1:06:40.640 --> 1:06:42.520 not me, praise him. 1:06:42.440 --> 1:06:45.360 Give it to him, give him the glory. That's all 1:06:45.400 --> 1:06:45.800 you got. 1:06:47.280 --> 1:06:51.240 That man's started walking and trumping and praising God, that's 1:06:51.280 --> 1:06:57.800 all you've got. 1:06:58.480 --> 1:07:00.520 Every time you get a change, give praise. 1:07:01.720 --> 1:07:03.640 That way, you won't get prideful and think you're on 1:07:03.680 --> 1:07:06.680 your own. I thank God for what he just gave us. 1:07:07.480 --> 1:07:10.040 I feel that the Holy Spirit flowed to somebody today. 1:07:10.240 --> 1:07:12.360 And it wasn't that you were crippled in your feet. 1:07:12.400 --> 1:07:16.400 You were crippled in your faith, and God is getting 1:07:16.440 --> 1:07:16.800 you up. 1:07:17.480 --> 1:07:23.959 Stand there, stand there, stand there, stand there. 1:07:24.200 --> 1:07:26.880 The devil's going to be so surprised. I thought I 1:07:26.960 --> 1:07:27.880 convinced you to quit. 1:07:28.000 --> 1:07:29.840 Uh uh. 1:07:29.880 --> 1:07:32.320 I found out all I have to do is stand 1:07:32.360 --> 1:07:35.160 there and let God fight my battles. 1:07:35.280 --> 1:07:35.960 I'm gonna do this. 1:07:38.040 --> 1:07:38.480 I fight. 1:07:38.680 --> 1:07:43.160 Somebody say I got changed today, I changed my mind. 1:07:43.400 --> 1:07:49.959 I changed my perspective. Hallelujah. Well we gotta go now. 1:07:51.320 --> 1:07:53.840 You can't stand there because somebody else wants to sit there. 1:07:54.480 --> 1:07:57.920 Campus masters, you take it your mind. If I close here. 1:07:57.760 --> 1:08:04.720 At Valentine mind, if I close, mom sermon, glory to God. 1:08:06.640 --> 1:08:08.760 All right, take your hand, put it on the shoulder 1:08:08.760 --> 1:08:11.240 of the person on either side of you. Online, we 1:08:11.320 --> 1:08:14.800 also connect with you in the name of Jesus Christ 1:08:14.800 --> 1:08:15.480 of Nazareth. 1:08:16.280 --> 1:08:19.360 Rise up and walk and stand there. 1:08:20.600 --> 1:08:23.800 I see you going back to places this week that 1:08:23.880 --> 1:08:27.280 you used to be afraid of and saying, this trash 1:08:27.320 --> 1:08:31.439 can isn't so big. I see you going back to 1:08:31.479 --> 1:08:33.720 places this week that used to be fun for you, 1:08:34.040 --> 1:08:36.080 saying this roller coaster fell off. 1:08:37.360 --> 1:08:40.320 I see you heating up corn dogs this week, saying 1:08:40.400 --> 1:08:41.440 this doesn't taste. 1:08:41.200 --> 1:08:44.639 Good anymore because I grew up. 1:08:45.000 --> 1:08:49.760 Places. Everyone, God's got an assignment for you. Place this, school. 1:08:49.439 --> 1:08:54.880 Teachers, God's got an assignment for you. Place this, police officers, detectives. 1:08:55.080 --> 1:08:58.759 God's got an assignment for you places. Stay at home moms, 1:08:58.760 --> 1:09:02.400 God's got an assignment. Place this, babysitters. God's got an 1:09:02.439 --> 1:09:05.200 assignment for you. Place this while you're waiting on your 1:09:05.240 --> 1:09:08.280 next employment, places, while you're pastoring your church. 1:09:08.680 --> 1:09:12.080 Places. Everyone, something is about to happen. 1:09:12.439 --> 1:09:16.840 And now, unto him who is able to do immeasurably 1:09:16.960 --> 1:09:21.040 more than you ask or imagine, to him, be glory 1:09:21.640 --> 1:09:26.320 through Christ Jesus in the charks now and forever. 1:09:26.640 --> 1:09:27.920 Give him a sound of praise. 1:09:28.000 --> 1:09:32.200 If you'll receive this leorm, I'll see you next week, 1:09:32.960 --> 1:09:36.880 same place, same time, Place. 1:09:36.640 --> 1:09:42.800 This, everyone, places. Thank you for joining us. 1:09:43.080 --> 1:09:45.559 Special thanks to those of you who give generously to 1:09:45.600 --> 1:09:49.120 this ministry is because of you that this ministry is possible. 1:09:49.560 --> 1:09:51.760 You can click the link in the description to give 1:09:51.840 --> 1:09:52.800 now or. 1:09:52.840 --> 1:09:56.479 Visit Elevation Church dot org slash podcast for more information 1:09:57.040 --> 1:09:58.920 and if you enjoyed the podcast. 1:09:58.720 --> 1:10:01.400 You can subscribe. You can share it with your friends. 1:10:01.720 --> 1:10:04.000 You can click the share button, take a screenshot and 1:10:04.040 --> 1:10:06.160 share it on your social stories and tag us at 1:10:06.160 --> 1:10:13.760 Elevation Church. Thanks again for listening. God bless you.