1 00:00:02,580 --> 00:00:08,040 - Good morning. 2 00:00:08,040 --> 00:00:10,720 You guys get all that? 3 00:00:10,720 --> 00:00:12,280 All that? 4 00:00:12,280 --> 00:00:13,940 Is one of my favorite quotes of all time 5 00:00:13,940 --> 00:00:15,160 by coach Jim Valvano. 6 00:00:15,160 --> 00:00:18,060 He says, "If you laugh, you think and you cry, 7 00:00:18,060 --> 00:00:19,000 that's a good day." 8 00:00:19,000 --> 00:00:20,040 That's a heck of a day. 9 00:00:20,040 --> 00:00:21,660 You put that together over seven days 10 00:00:21,660 --> 00:00:22,720 and you got something special. 11 00:00:22,720 --> 00:00:24,840 So this morning we're gonna laugh 12 00:00:24,840 --> 00:00:26,760 and we're gonna think and we're gonna cry. 13 00:00:26,760 --> 00:00:29,860 I got my Bible just in case. 14 00:00:29,860 --> 00:00:32,080 I got a lid on my water just in case. 15 00:00:32,080 --> 00:00:34,340 And I put fresh batteries in here this morning, 16 00:00:34,340 --> 00:00:35,720 just in case. 17 00:00:35,720 --> 00:00:39,120 So whatever happens today, we're gonna get this word, okay? 18 00:00:39,120 --> 00:00:42,320 If you're able to stand, if you would please stand with me, 19 00:00:42,320 --> 00:00:43,800 we're gonna go ahead and get right into this. 20 00:00:43,800 --> 00:00:46,740 We're gonna be reading out of Romans chapter eight. 21 00:00:46,740 --> 00:00:48,820 This is verses 18 through 23. 22 00:00:48,820 --> 00:00:50,960 There is one word in there I struggle with. 23 00:00:50,960 --> 00:00:51,800 I'm Southern. 24 00:00:51,800 --> 00:00:54,840 If you pick it up, just forgive me, okay? 25 00:00:54,840 --> 00:00:56,400 So we're gonna be reading this morning. 26 00:00:56,400 --> 00:00:57,600 Are we ready? 27 00:00:57,600 --> 00:00:58,840 We got it. 28 00:00:58,840 --> 00:01:02,840 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time 29 00:01:02,840 --> 00:01:05,460 are not worth comparing with the glory 30 00:01:05,460 --> 00:01:08,440 that is to be revealed to us. 31 00:01:08,440 --> 00:01:11,460 For the creation waits with eager longing 32 00:01:11,460 --> 00:01:14,620 for the revealing of the sons of God. 33 00:01:14,620 --> 00:01:19,280 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, 34 00:01:19,280 --> 00:01:23,280 but because of him who subjected it in hope. 35 00:01:23,280 --> 00:01:26,180 That the creation itself will be set free 36 00:01:26,180 --> 00:01:28,420 from its bondage to corruption 37 00:01:28,420 --> 00:01:32,780 and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. 38 00:01:32,780 --> 00:01:35,400 For we know that the whole creation 39 00:01:35,400 --> 00:01:37,400 has been groaning together 40 00:01:37,400 --> 00:01:40,360 in the pains of childbirth until now. 41 00:01:40,360 --> 00:01:44,140 And not only the creation, but we ourselves 42 00:01:44,140 --> 00:01:46,680 who have the first fruits of the spirit 43 00:01:46,680 --> 00:01:51,680 groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, 44 00:01:51,680 --> 00:01:53,480 the redemption of our bodies. 45 00:01:53,480 --> 00:01:55,620 Father, I thank you so much for your word. 46 00:01:55,620 --> 00:01:57,400 I thank you for the life that it brings. 47 00:01:57,400 --> 00:02:00,280 God, I ask that your anointing would be upon me today, 48 00:02:00,280 --> 00:02:01,280 that the hearts of your people 49 00:02:01,280 --> 00:02:03,400 would be open to an encounter with you, 50 00:02:03,400 --> 00:02:04,680 that we would leave your chains 51 00:02:04,680 --> 00:02:07,440 and transformed more into the image of your son, Jesus, 52 00:02:07,440 --> 00:02:09,100 through the power of the Holy Ghost. 53 00:02:09,100 --> 00:02:11,380 It's in Christ's precious and matchless name that I pray. 54 00:02:11,380 --> 00:02:12,220 Amen and amen. 55 00:02:12,220 --> 00:02:13,220 You guys can be seated. 56 00:02:13,220 --> 00:02:16,960 This is the third week of Advent. 57 00:02:16,960 --> 00:02:20,420 And in case you have forgotten 58 00:02:20,420 --> 00:02:22,260 or you haven't been with us for this series, 59 00:02:22,260 --> 00:02:24,880 I'm gonna move this a little bit closer. 60 00:02:24,880 --> 00:02:29,880 Advent is the arrival of a notable person, thing, or event. 61 00:02:29,880 --> 00:02:35,540 Advent is the arrival of a notable person, thing, or event. 62 00:02:35,540 --> 00:02:37,240 And it simply means coming. 63 00:02:37,240 --> 00:02:38,640 The word Advent means coming. 64 00:02:38,640 --> 00:02:41,400 And the tradition of Advent has been waiting 65 00:02:41,400 --> 00:02:43,200 for the Messiah to arrive. 66 00:02:43,200 --> 00:02:46,920 And for us, we await his return, the second coming. 67 00:02:46,920 --> 00:02:50,600 In Advent one, we explored some of the prophecies 68 00:02:50,600 --> 00:02:52,360 concerning Jesus and his coming 69 00:02:52,360 --> 00:02:54,160 and the importance of prophecy itself. 70 00:02:54,160 --> 00:02:57,520 And we also discussed what we can learn from prophecy. 71 00:02:57,520 --> 00:02:59,720 So when we examine the scriptures 72 00:02:59,720 --> 00:03:04,320 and we see how Jesus fulfilled every single prophecy 73 00:03:04,320 --> 00:03:07,080 concerning the Messiah, we can learn two things. 74 00:03:07,080 --> 00:03:11,060 And one is this, there is no link that God will not go to 75 00:03:11,060 --> 00:03:13,600 to have his family restored into him. 76 00:03:13,600 --> 00:03:18,600 He who spared not his own son, his only begotten son. 77 00:03:18,600 --> 00:03:19,960 Okay? 78 00:03:19,960 --> 00:03:22,220 There is no link God will not go to 79 00:03:22,220 --> 00:03:24,120 to have his family restored back to him. 80 00:03:24,120 --> 00:03:27,580 And two, the second thing is the prophecies 81 00:03:27,580 --> 00:03:29,560 that were fulfilled are proof 82 00:03:29,560 --> 00:03:32,700 that we can trust him and his word. 83 00:03:32,700 --> 00:03:34,320 We can trust him and his word. 84 00:03:34,320 --> 00:03:36,200 These things are the bane of my existence 85 00:03:36,200 --> 00:03:38,520 for glasses wear just FYI. 86 00:03:38,520 --> 00:03:39,420 Okay? 87 00:03:39,420 --> 00:03:42,260 The word tells us that if a prophet gives a prophecy 88 00:03:42,260 --> 00:03:45,100 that doesn't come true, that person's not a prophet. 89 00:03:45,100 --> 00:03:49,500 And Jesus fulfilled every prophecy concerning him. 90 00:03:49,500 --> 00:03:51,520 That means we can trust the word of God. 91 00:03:51,520 --> 00:03:53,220 We can trust him. 92 00:03:53,220 --> 00:03:56,120 The Bible foretold of one who would be called Emmanuel, 93 00:03:56,120 --> 00:03:56,960 God with us. 94 00:03:56,960 --> 00:04:00,140 And today we're gonna explore God with us in the waiting 95 00:04:00,140 --> 00:04:02,680 and how we are to wait. 96 00:04:02,680 --> 00:04:05,000 So let's look back at this verse, 97 00:04:05,000 --> 00:04:07,320 this passage that we began with. 98 00:04:07,320 --> 00:04:11,260 Paul says in Romans eight, chapter eight, verse 18, 99 00:04:11,260 --> 00:04:14,940 "For I considered that the sufferings of this present time 100 00:04:14,940 --> 00:04:17,740 are not worth comparing with the glory 101 00:04:17,740 --> 00:04:20,220 that is to be revealed to us." 102 00:04:20,220 --> 00:04:24,100 Paul is not ignorant or blind to the sufferings 103 00:04:24,100 --> 00:04:27,600 of human existence, but he does realize 104 00:04:27,600 --> 00:04:32,600 that the future glory far outweighs the present sufferings. 105 00:04:32,600 --> 00:04:34,020 Are you hearing me? 106 00:04:34,020 --> 00:04:37,540 The future glory far outweighs the present sufferings. 107 00:04:37,540 --> 00:04:41,340 This is fully confirmed in the person of Jesus Christ, 108 00:04:41,340 --> 00:04:44,540 who for the joy set before him, 109 00:04:44,540 --> 00:04:48,300 endured the cross, despising its shame 110 00:04:48,300 --> 00:04:52,200 and is sat down at the right hand of the father. 111 00:04:52,200 --> 00:04:56,860 So what that passage says is there was a fixed point 112 00:04:56,860 --> 00:05:01,600 for Jesus that allowed him to endure the cross. 113 00:05:01,600 --> 00:05:04,780 The joy that was set before him. 114 00:05:04,780 --> 00:05:06,300 You know what that joy was? 115 00:05:06,300 --> 00:05:10,460 Having his family restored, the bondage and the yoke 116 00:05:10,460 --> 00:05:14,740 and the destruction of sin no longer had its power over us. 117 00:05:14,740 --> 00:05:16,580 Death, where is your victory? 118 00:05:16,580 --> 00:05:18,180 Death, where is your sting? 119 00:05:18,180 --> 00:05:22,700 It is no more because Jesus Christ beat death 120 00:05:22,700 --> 00:05:26,140 when he died and rose. 121 00:05:26,140 --> 00:05:28,980 It wasn't just that he died, it was that he rose 122 00:05:28,980 --> 00:05:31,620 and everything hinges on that resurrection. 123 00:05:31,620 --> 00:05:35,900 But it was for the joy that was set before him. 124 00:05:35,900 --> 00:05:38,020 There was something ahead of him 125 00:05:38,020 --> 00:05:40,220 that allowed him to endure that. 126 00:05:40,220 --> 00:05:43,380 And then he says, he goes on to say this, 127 00:05:43,380 --> 00:05:47,940 "For the creation waits with eager longing 128 00:05:47,940 --> 00:05:51,620 for the revealing of the sons of God." 129 00:05:51,620 --> 00:05:54,060 Whenever you run across the phrase sons of God 130 00:05:54,060 --> 00:05:55,580 in scripture, (speaking in foreign language) 131 00:05:55,580 --> 00:05:59,420 it means one of two things, either the angelic host, 132 00:05:59,420 --> 00:06:02,820 the sons of God, the elder race, our elder siblings 133 00:06:02,820 --> 00:06:07,820 or it means us, the sons of God, man and woman. 134 00:06:07,820 --> 00:06:13,460 Creation waits with eager longing. 135 00:06:13,460 --> 00:06:15,020 You know another word for that? 136 00:06:15,020 --> 00:06:16,820 Expectation. 137 00:06:16,820 --> 00:06:21,820 Creation is waiting for the sons of God to be revealed. 138 00:06:21,820 --> 00:06:25,700 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, 139 00:06:25,700 --> 00:06:28,800 but because of him who subjected it in hope. 140 00:06:28,800 --> 00:06:32,180 Then he goes on to say this, 141 00:06:32,180 --> 00:06:34,540 "That creation itself will be set free 142 00:06:34,540 --> 00:06:36,980 from its bondage to corruption 143 00:06:36,980 --> 00:06:39,820 and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. 144 00:06:39,820 --> 00:06:43,220 For we know that the whole creation 145 00:06:43,220 --> 00:06:46,820 has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth 146 00:06:46,820 --> 00:06:47,760 until now." 147 00:06:47,760 --> 00:06:50,620 Notice he didn't say death pains. 148 00:06:50,620 --> 00:06:52,380 He said birth pains. 149 00:06:52,380 --> 00:06:54,700 That's a different type of pain. 150 00:06:54,700 --> 00:06:56,000 They're both very painful, 151 00:06:56,000 --> 00:07:01,000 but one has to be endured for life to come forward. 152 00:07:01,000 --> 00:07:01,840 Are you hearing me? 153 00:07:01,840 --> 00:07:06,840 And creation is groaning in a birth pain way 154 00:07:06,840 --> 00:07:10,720 that, ah, this travail, we're waiting. 155 00:07:10,720 --> 00:07:14,360 God, it's a terrible place, terrible atrocities are happening. 156 00:07:14,360 --> 00:07:15,860 People are doing evil. 157 00:07:15,860 --> 00:07:17,240 We're sinning, we're committing, 158 00:07:17,240 --> 00:07:18,780 we're turning away from you. 159 00:07:18,780 --> 00:07:20,420 We're creating idols. 160 00:07:20,420 --> 00:07:22,960 We're following false gods. 161 00:07:22,960 --> 00:07:24,780 God, we're waiting on you, 162 00:07:24,780 --> 00:07:28,120 but we're not waiting without expectation 163 00:07:28,120 --> 00:07:31,160 because we have a hope in Jesus. 164 00:07:31,160 --> 00:07:34,980 So we're waiting that that joy will be produced in the child. 165 00:07:34,980 --> 00:07:38,920 Who else do we think of having birth pains during this time? 166 00:07:38,920 --> 00:07:43,080 Look, dude, it is Christmas, 167 00:07:43,080 --> 00:07:46,700 and that is like, Jesus, help us, God. 168 00:07:46,700 --> 00:07:50,000 You know what? 169 00:07:50,000 --> 00:07:51,340 First gathering is a little bit smaller, 170 00:07:51,340 --> 00:07:54,100 and I would have thought y'all would have had it together. 171 00:07:54,100 --> 00:07:58,260 Who do we think of having childbirth during this time? 172 00:07:58,260 --> 00:08:00,780 Mary, come on. 173 00:08:00,780 --> 00:08:06,120 Can you imagine what Mary's waiting must have looked like? 174 00:08:08,460 --> 00:08:10,820 Can you imagine what Mary's waiting must have looked like? 175 00:08:10,820 --> 00:08:12,660 Mary, the mother of Jesus, 176 00:08:12,660 --> 00:08:15,860 would experience nine months of complete change. 177 00:08:15,860 --> 00:08:18,400 Everything in her world would change. 178 00:08:18,400 --> 00:08:20,880 Her reputation would change. 179 00:08:20,880 --> 00:08:27,340 You guys realize this is a young girl who's a virgin, 180 00:08:27,340 --> 00:08:30,880 and she now has to explain how she is pregnant. 181 00:08:30,880 --> 00:08:36,380 Mary, I was born in the morning, but it wasn't this one, okay? 182 00:08:36,380 --> 00:08:41,080 So pregnant with the Holy Ghost? 183 00:08:41,080 --> 00:08:42,540 Sure. 184 00:08:42,540 --> 00:08:45,700 Think about, think about logically, think about this. 185 00:08:45,700 --> 00:08:48,140 You're in that community, and this girl says, 186 00:08:48,140 --> 00:08:50,780 hey, I'm pregnant, and I'm gonna have the Messiah, 187 00:08:50,780 --> 00:08:53,220 and I'm still a virgin. 188 00:08:53,220 --> 00:08:54,840 All right, come on, dude. 189 00:08:54,840 --> 00:08:57,540 Think logically. 190 00:08:57,540 --> 00:09:00,140 The gossip and the murmur that would have went on 191 00:09:00,140 --> 00:09:05,140 in her community, even her, the man she was betrothed to 192 00:09:05,860 --> 00:09:08,340 said, I can't do this, God. 193 00:09:08,340 --> 00:09:09,620 What am I gonna tell people? 194 00:09:09,620 --> 00:09:13,020 I don't, I believe her, but I don't believe her. 195 00:09:13,020 --> 00:09:15,460 He had to send a messenger to say, listen, 196 00:09:15,460 --> 00:09:18,200 I know what it looks like on the outside, 197 00:09:18,200 --> 00:09:19,600 but can you trust me? 198 00:09:19,600 --> 00:09:23,260 Have you ever been in a situation where the optics are bad? 199 00:09:23,260 --> 00:09:24,700 It looks terrible. 200 00:09:24,700 --> 00:09:27,180 And God's saying, hey, man, I know what it looks like, 201 00:09:27,180 --> 00:09:29,780 but you just gotta trust me in this situation. 202 00:09:29,780 --> 00:09:31,480 Are you hearing me? 203 00:09:31,480 --> 00:09:32,320 Are you hearing me? 204 00:09:32,320 --> 00:09:33,280 That's what he told Joseph. 205 00:09:33,280 --> 00:09:36,960 Look, I know it looks bad, but can you not go off 206 00:09:36,960 --> 00:09:39,280 what you're hearing other people say? 207 00:09:39,280 --> 00:09:43,180 Can you move and operate based on what I'm telling you 208 00:09:43,180 --> 00:09:44,620 and what I know to be true? 209 00:09:44,620 --> 00:09:48,640 How many of us are being moved and swayed 210 00:09:48,640 --> 00:09:50,540 by somebody else's opinion of our life 211 00:09:50,540 --> 00:09:52,600 instead of what God is telling us to do? 212 00:09:52,600 --> 00:09:57,840 As much as we try to affect it by it, 213 00:09:57,840 --> 00:09:59,940 to not be affected by it, deep down, 214 00:09:59,940 --> 00:10:01,940 most of us care what other people think. 215 00:10:03,240 --> 00:10:05,580 I have shared for years, Fred does no longer, 216 00:10:05,580 --> 00:10:06,940 he informed me at the first gathering, 217 00:10:06,940 --> 00:10:07,940 I told him the truth. 218 00:10:07,940 --> 00:10:10,580 He no longer cares what people think, 219 00:10:10,580 --> 00:10:12,500 but there was a time where he did. 220 00:10:12,500 --> 00:10:16,060 We all care what people think at some point in our lives. 221 00:10:16,060 --> 00:10:16,880 You know how I know? 222 00:10:16,880 --> 00:10:19,020 You all got dressed up this morning for church. 223 00:10:19,020 --> 00:10:21,440 I don't know. 224 00:10:21,440 --> 00:10:24,800 I told my wife this other day, I saw this somewhere. 225 00:10:24,800 --> 00:10:26,900 I don't know if people wearing pajamas in public 226 00:10:26,900 --> 00:10:29,420 have given up on life or are living their best life. 227 00:10:29,420 --> 00:10:31,020 Don't know. 228 00:10:31,020 --> 00:10:32,060 I don't know. 229 00:10:33,140 --> 00:10:35,540 That's almost both, right? 230 00:10:35,540 --> 00:10:40,380 Have you given up completely or do you just, you don't care? 231 00:10:40,380 --> 00:10:41,220 I don't care. 232 00:10:41,220 --> 00:10:43,060 I don't care. 233 00:10:43,060 --> 00:10:47,840 Nobody wants a poor reputation. 234 00:10:47,840 --> 00:10:50,080 Does anybody in here want a poor reputation? 235 00:10:50,080 --> 00:10:54,380 Reputation rehabilitation is one of the hardest things 236 00:10:54,380 --> 00:10:56,080 I've ever done in my life. 237 00:10:56,080 --> 00:10:58,640 You can ruin in a moment 238 00:10:58,640 --> 00:11:01,320 what will take you decades to repair. 239 00:11:02,240 --> 00:11:05,540 And the people will say, man, you gave us evidence. 240 00:11:05,540 --> 00:11:08,640 Now I want to see fruit of the change. 241 00:11:08,640 --> 00:11:09,960 We saw what you did. 242 00:11:09,960 --> 00:11:11,960 Now we want to see fruit in your life. 243 00:11:11,960 --> 00:11:14,740 Sometimes you got to get to a place where you're like, 244 00:11:14,740 --> 00:11:15,640 it doesn't matter. 245 00:11:15,640 --> 00:11:18,620 Or if you have been guilty of destroying a reputation 246 00:11:18,620 --> 00:11:20,860 like I have, you have to adopt a mindset, 247 00:11:20,860 --> 00:11:23,020 whatever it takes for however long it takes. 248 00:11:23,020 --> 00:11:24,300 'Cause you can't put a timeframe 249 00:11:24,300 --> 00:11:25,600 on somebody else's healing. 250 00:11:25,600 --> 00:11:27,540 It's been six months. 251 00:11:27,540 --> 00:11:29,140 You should be over that by now. 252 00:11:29,140 --> 00:11:29,980 What? 253 00:11:31,460 --> 00:11:32,980 Okay. 254 00:11:32,980 --> 00:11:34,740 See how far that gets you, big boy. 255 00:11:34,740 --> 00:11:42,400 Mary's physical condition would change. 256 00:11:42,400 --> 00:11:45,800 Most of the time, I say most, 257 00:11:45,800 --> 00:11:48,560 you know when somebody's pregnant. 258 00:11:48,560 --> 00:11:53,240 And if you, and if not, do not assume. 259 00:11:53,240 --> 00:12:00,580 I'm just giving you some sage advice here, guys. 260 00:12:00,580 --> 00:12:02,220 Don't assume somebody's pregnant. 261 00:12:02,220 --> 00:12:04,060 If you think it, don't. 262 00:12:04,060 --> 00:12:07,660 Unless they give you just drop some real good context clues. 263 00:12:07,660 --> 00:12:08,700 Don't ask. 264 00:12:08,700 --> 00:12:10,860 I've been in some real awkward side conversations 265 00:12:10,860 --> 00:12:12,860 where, but how far along are you? 266 00:12:12,860 --> 00:12:13,700 I'm not pregnant. 267 00:12:13,700 --> 00:12:16,800 You just got to get out of this room right now. 268 00:12:16,800 --> 00:12:21,660 I've been a fly on the wall to those like, golly. 269 00:12:21,660 --> 00:12:25,740 When my wife was pregnant, I have eight kids. 270 00:12:25,740 --> 00:12:27,540 I've only seen her pregnant one time. 271 00:12:28,420 --> 00:12:33,420 That's a, for all you new guys, that's a long story. 272 00:12:33,420 --> 00:12:35,460 We ain't got time. 273 00:12:35,460 --> 00:12:36,280 I wish I had time. 274 00:12:36,280 --> 00:12:37,580 I ain't got no time. 275 00:12:37,580 --> 00:12:39,360 I don't have the time, I swear. 276 00:12:39,360 --> 00:12:43,580 When my wife was pregnant, man, 277 00:12:43,580 --> 00:12:46,360 I don't know if pheromones are real. 278 00:12:46,360 --> 00:12:49,180 I don't know what it was, but I was like, my God, 279 00:12:49,180 --> 00:12:50,140 you look amazing. 280 00:12:50,140 --> 00:12:52,020 She's like, I'm a idiot. 281 00:12:52,020 --> 00:12:53,060 Leave me alone. 282 00:12:53,060 --> 00:12:54,980 And I would follow her around the house 283 00:12:54,980 --> 00:12:57,300 and she'd be like, stop, what are you doing? 284 00:12:57,300 --> 00:12:59,440 And I was like, you are just so beautiful. 285 00:12:59,440 --> 00:13:01,260 You're so cute. 286 00:13:01,260 --> 00:13:06,260 I don't know what it was, but the pregnant-er she got, 287 00:13:06,260 --> 00:13:10,620 the more attractive she was to me, 288 00:13:10,620 --> 00:13:12,420 there was a beauty in it. 289 00:13:12,420 --> 00:13:13,860 You know why though? 290 00:13:13,860 --> 00:13:15,740 You know why it was beautiful? 291 00:13:15,740 --> 00:13:16,860 Because I could see, 292 00:13:16,860 --> 00:13:23,640 I could see her making room for something to grow. 293 00:13:23,640 --> 00:13:26,980 And although she didn't feel good, 294 00:13:26,980 --> 00:13:28,060 it didn't feel good. 295 00:13:28,060 --> 00:13:31,060 She didn't like her body moving and changing like that. 296 00:13:31,060 --> 00:13:32,580 She was making room. 297 00:13:32,580 --> 00:13:36,540 She was accommodating new life inside of her. 298 00:13:36,540 --> 00:13:39,620 Mary's body had to make room for the Christ. 299 00:13:39,620 --> 00:13:42,040 And there are some of us that have not made room 300 00:13:42,040 --> 00:13:43,600 for Jesus in our life. 301 00:13:43,600 --> 00:13:46,980 You're okay with this much prayer. 302 00:13:46,980 --> 00:13:49,900 You're okay with getting scriptures on Sunday 303 00:13:49,900 --> 00:13:51,500 when I put them up there. 304 00:13:51,500 --> 00:13:53,700 You're okay with the meager amount 305 00:13:53,700 --> 00:13:54,980 you're sharing with others, 306 00:13:54,980 --> 00:13:57,380 although God has blessed you tremendously. 307 00:13:57,380 --> 00:14:00,920 We've not made room for Christ to grow in our lives. 308 00:14:00,920 --> 00:14:03,940 There are some creatures on this planet that have shells 309 00:14:03,940 --> 00:14:05,960 and they know when it's time to grow, 310 00:14:05,960 --> 00:14:08,340 when they bump up against that shell. 311 00:14:08,340 --> 00:14:10,580 And if they never get out of that shell, 312 00:14:10,580 --> 00:14:13,600 shed it, move on and get a new one, they'll never grow. 313 00:14:13,600 --> 00:14:15,460 They'll stay where they're at. 314 00:14:15,460 --> 00:14:19,580 And I don't wanna stay where I'm at. 315 00:14:19,580 --> 00:14:23,060 I'm bumping up against this shell 316 00:14:23,060 --> 00:14:26,420 and I gotta make room for God to do something in my life. 317 00:14:26,420 --> 00:14:31,800 Her mindset had to change. 318 00:14:31,800 --> 00:14:36,920 She went from a young girl who's gonna be betrothed. 319 00:14:36,920 --> 00:14:37,760 Are you hearing me? 320 00:14:37,760 --> 00:14:39,780 Look, follow the story. 321 00:14:39,780 --> 00:14:41,940 Young girl betrothed. 322 00:14:41,940 --> 00:14:44,940 Now here's this unexplainable situation. 323 00:14:44,940 --> 00:14:46,700 I'm pregnant. 324 00:14:46,700 --> 00:14:47,820 People are talking. 325 00:14:47,820 --> 00:14:49,740 He wants to leave. 326 00:14:49,740 --> 00:14:52,280 Oh, and by the way, it's the Messiah. 327 00:14:53,040 --> 00:14:58,040 No pressure there, mother of Jesus, right? 328 00:14:58,040 --> 00:15:04,960 And she had to go from young girl about to be married 329 00:15:04,960 --> 00:15:09,080 to young mom about to be married. 330 00:15:09,080 --> 00:15:10,940 And then nesting is a real thing. 331 00:15:10,940 --> 00:15:12,080 I call it a syndrome. 332 00:15:12,080 --> 00:15:15,000 No, I call Mama Bear syndrome in the first gathering. 333 00:15:15,000 --> 00:15:16,320 Mama Bear is not a syndrome, 334 00:15:16,320 --> 00:15:19,880 but there's an innate thing in mothers that they will go, 335 00:15:20,720 --> 00:15:23,300 go ahead and get between a bear and its cubs. 336 00:15:23,300 --> 00:15:25,580 Ruin your day. 337 00:15:25,580 --> 00:15:29,960 I saw a bear and its cubs a couple of weeks ago, 338 00:15:29,960 --> 00:15:31,500 about a week ago. 339 00:15:31,500 --> 00:15:34,800 And I was so nervous to unload my truck 340 00:15:34,800 --> 00:15:39,020 to get into the cabin because that mama had cubs with it. 341 00:15:39,020 --> 00:15:41,240 I wasn't worried about the big guy. 342 00:15:41,240 --> 00:15:43,420 I kind of, one of my toxic traits is 343 00:15:43,420 --> 00:15:46,320 I think I could probably take a small black bear. 344 00:15:46,320 --> 00:15:47,440 I've been working out. 345 00:15:47,440 --> 00:15:50,540 I feel like, you know, maybe. 346 00:15:50,540 --> 00:15:52,380 (congregation laughing) 347 00:15:52,380 --> 00:15:54,980 Ask my wife, we had this conversation I talked about. 348 00:15:54,980 --> 00:15:56,220 So I'd probably take him. 349 00:15:56,220 --> 00:15:57,060 He's not that big. 350 00:15:57,060 --> 00:15:59,020 And then I saw the cubs and I was like, absolutely not. 351 00:15:59,020 --> 00:16:00,460 They gonna rip my head off. 352 00:16:00,460 --> 00:16:02,580 Right? 353 00:16:02,580 --> 00:16:04,760 But that doesn't happen if you're not, 354 00:16:04,760 --> 00:16:07,160 people say you won't know until you have a kid. 355 00:16:07,160 --> 00:16:08,220 Has anybody ever said that to you? 356 00:16:08,220 --> 00:16:09,820 Like, that doesn't mean I don't love you. 357 00:16:09,820 --> 00:16:11,580 Won't know until you have a kid, man. 358 00:16:11,580 --> 00:16:13,660 And then you have one and something happens inside of you 359 00:16:13,660 --> 00:16:15,780 and you say, I don't even know you. 360 00:16:15,780 --> 00:16:17,380 And I would die for you. 361 00:16:17,380 --> 00:16:20,020 I'll give my life for you. 362 00:16:20,020 --> 00:16:22,100 But more so than dying for somebody, 363 00:16:22,100 --> 00:16:24,100 are you willing to live for somebody? 364 00:16:24,100 --> 00:16:26,420 Are you willing to put down your desires? 365 00:16:26,420 --> 00:16:29,020 Are you willing to push back all the things and dreams 366 00:16:29,020 --> 00:16:31,220 and hopes that you have in order to walk into calling 367 00:16:31,220 --> 00:16:32,340 that God's asking you to do, 368 00:16:32,340 --> 00:16:34,540 in order to step up for somebody else? 369 00:16:34,540 --> 00:16:38,860 Her mindset had to change and unconditional love. 370 00:16:38,860 --> 00:16:40,580 But here's the thing. 371 00:16:40,580 --> 00:16:43,420 Mary could not be a bystander to the process. 372 00:16:43,420 --> 00:16:45,220 She had to be submitted to it. 373 00:16:45,220 --> 00:16:48,940 And when Mary was informed of what was about to transpire, 374 00:16:48,940 --> 00:16:50,380 what was her response? 375 00:16:50,380 --> 00:16:52,160 Look at this, this is Luke 1 38. 376 00:16:52,160 --> 00:16:55,280 Mary said, "Behold, I am the servant of the Lord. 377 00:16:55,280 --> 00:16:58,180 Let it be to me according to your word." 378 00:16:58,180 --> 00:17:01,860 She said yes before she knew what it would cost her. 379 00:17:01,860 --> 00:17:06,060 She didn't have the blueprint and say, 380 00:17:06,060 --> 00:17:08,740 well, let me think about this if it makes sense, 381 00:17:08,740 --> 00:17:11,180 if my investment of time and energy and love 382 00:17:11,180 --> 00:17:12,820 and affection is gonna be worth it. 383 00:17:12,820 --> 00:17:13,820 You don't go into it, 384 00:17:13,820 --> 00:17:16,580 you shouldn't go into a relationship or a friendship 385 00:17:16,580 --> 00:17:18,720 and be like, man, two years from now, 386 00:17:18,720 --> 00:17:20,320 me and James, we're not gonna be that tight, 387 00:17:20,320 --> 00:17:23,440 so I'm not even gonna invest in you, right? 388 00:17:23,440 --> 00:17:27,160 I say, yes, I'm gonna love you with everything I got upfront 389 00:17:27,160 --> 00:17:30,060 before I know what's gonna transpire. 390 00:17:30,060 --> 00:17:31,840 Mary's yes was out there upfront 391 00:17:31,840 --> 00:17:35,380 before she knew what it would cost her. 392 00:17:35,380 --> 00:17:37,860 Mary was expecting. 393 00:17:37,860 --> 00:17:39,840 Did you catch that? 394 00:17:39,840 --> 00:17:43,800 She was expecting and was being transformed 395 00:17:43,800 --> 00:17:45,180 by the expectation. 396 00:17:46,460 --> 00:17:49,680 Expectation is defined as a strong belief 397 00:17:49,680 --> 00:17:50,900 that something will happen. 398 00:17:50,900 --> 00:17:53,120 Are we transformed in the waiting? 399 00:17:53,120 --> 00:17:57,700 No, we're transformed by the expectation. 400 00:17:57,700 --> 00:18:00,720 We're altered by hope and hope of a promise fulfilled. 401 00:18:00,720 --> 00:18:01,880 This is what Proverbs says, 402 00:18:01,880 --> 00:18:04,140 hope deferred makes a heart sick, 403 00:18:04,140 --> 00:18:07,240 but a desire fulfilled, a longing fulfilled 404 00:18:07,240 --> 00:18:08,300 is a tree of life. 405 00:18:08,300 --> 00:18:10,980 Every time I read about the tree of life in scriptures, 406 00:18:10,980 --> 00:18:14,840 I read about it in one place, in Eden, in paradise, 407 00:18:14,840 --> 00:18:17,080 in the Father's house. 408 00:18:17,080 --> 00:18:21,780 And so what this tells me is that when your hopes 409 00:18:21,780 --> 00:18:26,100 and your expectations are dashed, it can crush you. 410 00:18:26,100 --> 00:18:31,100 But when your hope is fulfilled, it is a tree of life. 411 00:18:31,100 --> 00:18:34,740 It puts you in a right position, a great heart posture 412 00:18:34,740 --> 00:18:37,780 with you and the Father like it was supposed to have been. 413 00:18:37,780 --> 00:18:42,240 It's akin to being in right relationship with the Lord. 414 00:18:44,600 --> 00:18:47,320 Pastor Barbie Laughlin says this about expectation. 415 00:18:47,320 --> 00:18:52,600 Everyone is capable of waiting though most do not enjoy it, 416 00:18:52,600 --> 00:18:55,940 but not all purpose in their hearts to shift 417 00:18:55,940 --> 00:18:58,180 into a mindset of expectation. 418 00:18:58,180 --> 00:19:03,680 Everyone is capable of standing here with their hands 419 00:19:03,680 --> 00:19:06,840 in their pockets, waiting on Jesus to come back. 420 00:19:06,840 --> 00:19:12,080 But that's not what we're called to do. 421 00:19:13,080 --> 00:19:17,860 Expectation is different than waiting. 422 00:19:17,860 --> 00:19:19,080 Are you hearing me? 423 00:19:19,080 --> 00:19:23,260 Expectation offers us a few things. 424 00:19:23,260 --> 00:19:26,420 The first thing it offers us is the relief of hope 425 00:19:26,420 --> 00:19:29,320 that a promise will be fulfilled. 426 00:19:29,320 --> 00:19:34,220 These prophecies that were given were something 427 00:19:34,220 --> 00:19:36,800 that the people could hold onto. 428 00:19:36,800 --> 00:19:40,520 It was something tangible that they could look for. 429 00:19:42,500 --> 00:19:44,740 It was something set out in front of them 430 00:19:44,740 --> 00:19:47,380 that they could say, all right, I'm looking for something. 431 00:19:47,380 --> 00:19:48,220 I'm looking for something. 432 00:19:48,220 --> 00:19:49,420 I'm looking for something. 433 00:19:49,420 --> 00:19:51,600 Gives me hope. 434 00:19:51,600 --> 00:19:58,440 The peace of vision, the joy that is set before us, right? 435 00:19:58,440 --> 00:20:02,500 If I really believe that Christ died and then he rose 436 00:20:02,500 --> 00:20:05,040 and he ascended to the right hand of the Father 437 00:20:05,040 --> 00:20:06,900 and that what he said is true, he said, 438 00:20:06,900 --> 00:20:08,420 hey, I'm going to make a place 439 00:20:08,420 --> 00:20:10,140 and I'm coming back to get you. 440 00:20:12,020 --> 00:20:14,800 That's a joy that is set before me 441 00:20:14,800 --> 00:20:18,040 so that I know whether I get to see him come back 442 00:20:18,040 --> 00:20:20,520 or I cross over Jordan and help finish 443 00:20:20,520 --> 00:20:25,520 what he's doing right now for you or for my grandchildren, 444 00:20:25,520 --> 00:20:30,300 that joy is set before me and it allows me 445 00:20:30,300 --> 00:20:33,920 to endure everything I'm walking through now, 446 00:20:33,920 --> 00:20:37,020 everything that we're walking through. 447 00:20:37,020 --> 00:20:40,080 If we have no hope, if we have no expectation 448 00:20:40,080 --> 00:20:43,740 that he will make it right someday, then what is the point? 449 00:20:43,740 --> 00:20:45,260 You lose heart. 450 00:20:45,260 --> 00:20:47,280 You don't have the strength to carry on. 451 00:20:47,280 --> 00:20:48,120 Why? 452 00:20:48,120 --> 00:20:51,040 Because hope deferred makes the heart sick. 453 00:20:51,040 --> 00:20:56,440 It also gives us the glory of glimpses, 454 00:20:56,440 --> 00:20:58,120 ways that we see his goodness. 455 00:20:58,120 --> 00:21:01,160 Most of this I see right here happens in my life 456 00:21:01,160 --> 00:21:02,160 in hindsight. 457 00:21:02,160 --> 00:21:07,200 I get glimpses of what God is doing after the fact. 458 00:21:07,200 --> 00:21:10,020 Do you know most of the time you get what you need 459 00:21:10,020 --> 00:21:11,700 after you realize you needed it? 460 00:21:11,700 --> 00:21:14,920 And you look back and you see ways 461 00:21:14,920 --> 00:21:16,920 that God sustained you through it 462 00:21:16,920 --> 00:21:18,460 and I can look back at my life and go, 463 00:21:18,460 --> 00:21:21,140 oh man, this is where you carried me here. 464 00:21:21,140 --> 00:21:22,760 This is where you helped me there. 465 00:21:22,760 --> 00:21:24,460 This is where you protected me here. 466 00:21:24,460 --> 00:21:27,360 This is where you protected them from me. 467 00:21:27,360 --> 00:21:33,720 This is where when my life was going off the rails, 468 00:21:33,720 --> 00:21:35,960 you didn't cause trauma in this person. 469 00:21:37,040 --> 00:21:39,920 Do you realize that God can grace us in so many ways? 470 00:21:39,920 --> 00:21:44,260 And it's not just all about me, me, me. 471 00:21:44,260 --> 00:21:47,300 I have to realize that God has protected some of you from me 472 00:21:47,300 --> 00:21:49,820 'cause sometimes I don't know what it's like 473 00:21:49,820 --> 00:21:51,280 to be on the other side of myself. 474 00:21:51,280 --> 00:21:53,680 I don't know what it's like to be wounded by me. 475 00:21:53,680 --> 00:21:56,300 I have to ask my leadership team sometimes, 476 00:21:56,300 --> 00:21:57,980 hey, what's it like to be on the other side of me? 477 00:21:57,980 --> 00:21:59,560 Am I hard? 478 00:21:59,560 --> 00:22:01,640 Absolutely, you talk terrible to us. 479 00:22:01,640 --> 00:22:03,460 I'm like, no, I do not. 480 00:22:03,460 --> 00:22:04,660 And they're like, read the text thread. 481 00:22:04,660 --> 00:22:05,500 I'm like, man. 482 00:22:05,500 --> 00:22:06,340 Yeah. 483 00:22:06,340 --> 00:22:15,200 But he gives us hindsight, man. 484 00:22:15,200 --> 00:22:17,540 Athletes watch film, right? 485 00:22:17,540 --> 00:22:18,640 So they can go back and you're like, 486 00:22:18,640 --> 00:22:20,680 oh, I see what I did there, man. 487 00:22:20,680 --> 00:22:24,600 I should have, I digged when I should have zagged, right? 488 00:22:24,600 --> 00:22:26,500 God gives us those same glimpses 489 00:22:26,500 --> 00:22:28,320 and it's usually in hindsight 490 00:22:28,320 --> 00:22:30,600 and allows us to change and correct course 491 00:22:30,600 --> 00:22:31,960 as we move forward. 492 00:22:31,960 --> 00:22:33,920 The excitement of reminders, 493 00:22:33,920 --> 00:22:36,640 staying grounded in the little things, man. 494 00:22:36,640 --> 00:22:37,780 You ever having a bad day 495 00:22:37,780 --> 00:22:39,460 and you just get a text out of nowhere, 496 00:22:39,460 --> 00:22:41,540 a phone call out of nowhere? 497 00:22:41,540 --> 00:22:43,180 My buddy Jared called me the other day. 498 00:22:43,180 --> 00:22:44,020 I was like, what are you doing? 499 00:22:44,020 --> 00:22:44,980 He's like, I'm driving down the road. 500 00:22:44,980 --> 00:22:47,960 And I like to think about people that I can call 501 00:22:47,960 --> 00:22:49,040 while I'm driving down the road. 502 00:22:49,040 --> 00:22:51,940 And you came to mind, I'm like, I needed an encouragement. 503 00:22:51,940 --> 00:22:54,840 'Cause I'm putting up a cabinet right now 504 00:22:54,840 --> 00:22:57,440 and it is frustrating me and I needed that. 505 00:22:57,440 --> 00:23:01,500 Whatever you're putting up a cabinet is, 506 00:23:01,500 --> 00:23:05,000 God sends people into your life, right? 507 00:23:05,000 --> 00:23:07,900 Or he'll send, I don't know how he does it, 508 00:23:07,900 --> 00:23:09,460 but he finds a way to do it. 509 00:23:09,460 --> 00:23:12,540 He's always on time and we get those little reminders 510 00:23:12,540 --> 00:23:14,200 and it helps us to stay grounded 511 00:23:14,200 --> 00:23:16,560 because it's easy to get distracted. 512 00:23:16,560 --> 00:23:18,900 That's why they put those little things on horses 513 00:23:18,900 --> 00:23:20,760 when they're racing, right? 514 00:23:20,760 --> 00:23:22,820 So they stay dialed in. 515 00:23:22,820 --> 00:23:27,620 And these glimpses of God's goodness help keep us dialed in. 516 00:23:27,620 --> 00:23:28,460 Why? 517 00:23:28,460 --> 00:23:30,880 Because there is a joy that is set before us. 518 00:23:30,880 --> 00:23:33,000 There's something out in front of us. 519 00:23:33,000 --> 00:23:35,280 And then the small revelations and manifestations 520 00:23:35,280 --> 00:23:37,880 of what has come, what is to come, 521 00:23:37,880 --> 00:23:39,760 you find those in the Word. 522 00:23:39,760 --> 00:23:40,880 So if you ain't in the Word, 523 00:23:40,880 --> 00:23:43,640 you're not gonna know what to look for. 524 00:23:43,640 --> 00:23:45,340 And that's all I'll say about that. 525 00:23:45,340 --> 00:23:48,300 Hebrews 11, one.