1 00:00:06,720 --> 00:00:10,400 Thank you, sir. This is, like it's 2 00:00:10,400 --> 00:00:13,460 Friday night. Right? I have to keep reminding myself this is not 3 00:00:13,934 --> 00:00:17,635 Sunday morning. This is Friday night. I am so nervous 4 00:00:17,695 --> 00:00:21,455 right now. Like 5 00:00:21,455 --> 00:00:24,895 like, if you know me, you're like, Justin doesn't get nervous. And I'm like, 6 00:00:24,895 --> 00:00:28,414 I am so nervous. And it's Tammy Sweeney's fault. I promise 7 00:00:28,414 --> 00:00:31,950 you. Because Tammy Sweeney, the first time I was gonna 8 00:00:31,950 --> 00:00:35,790 ever speak on this stage, it was not even anything like I say it wasn't 9 00:00:35,790 --> 00:00:39,630 anything. I mean, it wasn't a message. It was like, I'm gonna, like, invite 10 00:00:39,630 --> 00:00:43,465 somebody for a cookout or do a tithe message or something. And 11 00:00:43,465 --> 00:00:47,085 I was like, I'm so nervous. And she said, I pray you never lose that. 12 00:00:48,185 --> 00:00:51,864 And I swear, look. And it has been like a decade 13 00:00:51,864 --> 00:00:55,465 and I'll be in the back going, oh, God. Like, oh, God. What is happening 14 00:00:55,465 --> 00:00:59,160 right now? And I'm so I'm like the most extroverted 15 00:00:59,380 --> 00:01:03,220 extrovert, and I'm back there in a panic every time. I don't know how 16 00:01:03,220 --> 00:01:06,360 to explain it other than, like, I care 17 00:01:07,060 --> 00:01:10,905 about the word of God, and I care about 18 00:01:10,905 --> 00:01:14,525 you guys, and I care about standing 19 00:01:14,585 --> 00:01:18,345 before the Lord and having to give an account for words 20 00:01:18,345 --> 00:01:22,090 that I spoke on his behalf. That's a kind of 21 00:01:22,090 --> 00:01:25,689 a big deal to me. Right? So it's no wonder why I'm back there 22 00:01:25,689 --> 00:01:28,729 like, please don't let me die. Please don't let me die. Please don't let me 23 00:01:28,729 --> 00:01:32,409 die. Be one of those moments like, yeah, well, you 24 00:01:32,409 --> 00:01:35,789 know what not to listen to if he died tonight. 25 00:01:37,705 --> 00:01:41,145 It'd be easy. You might you wouldn't have to do much weighing. You would be 26 00:01:41,145 --> 00:01:43,244 like, nope. Got it. We're good. Moving on. 27 00:01:47,145 --> 00:01:50,744 I'm just being honest. That's where I'm at right now. It's Friday night. Okay? And 28 00:01:50,744 --> 00:01:54,580 we're here at church at this conference. This is amazing. You guys have 29 00:01:54,580 --> 00:01:58,420 committed to this. You've given up your time. You've, you've 30 00:01:58,420 --> 00:02:01,700 been set apart for this time, and I believe that God does have a word 31 00:02:01,700 --> 00:02:05,380 for us tonight. And so I'm honored to share. Do we stand 32 00:02:05,380 --> 00:02:09,155 and read? Is it is it it's Friday? Let's stand, and let's 33 00:02:09,155 --> 00:02:12,835 read the word. I, got a lot of Bible 34 00:02:12,835 --> 00:02:16,355 tonight. You know, I feel like it's better than what I bring. So we're just 35 00:02:16,355 --> 00:02:19,555 gonna start with two verses now, and then you'll get to sit down as we 36 00:02:19,555 --> 00:02:22,810 read the rest. So if you could oh, I have it. Here we go. It's 37 00:02:22,810 --> 00:02:26,650 Friday, y'all. Therefore, since 38 00:02:26,650 --> 00:02:30,350 we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, 39 00:02:30,970 --> 00:02:34,810 let us also lay aside every weight and 40 00:02:34,810 --> 00:02:38,365 sin which clings so closely, and let us 41 00:02:38,365 --> 00:02:41,985 run with endurance the race that is set before us, 42 00:02:42,445 --> 00:02:46,125 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of 43 00:02:46,125 --> 00:02:49,565 our faith, who for the joy that was set before 44 00:02:49,565 --> 00:02:52,970 him endured the cross, despising the 45 00:02:52,970 --> 00:02:56,750 shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne 46 00:02:56,810 --> 00:02:59,470 of God. Oh, Jesus, 47 00:03:01,690 --> 00:03:04,990 help me tonight, and help us 48 00:03:05,775 --> 00:03:09,535 to hear clearly from you. We've come and gathered 49 00:03:09,535 --> 00:03:12,975 in this place to hear your word, and I pray that it would 50 00:03:12,975 --> 00:03:16,675 transform us radically more into the image of your son. 51 00:03:17,215 --> 00:03:21,050 Father, we love you. May your anointing rest on me tonight. In Christ's 52 00:03:21,050 --> 00:03:24,750 name, amen and amen. You can be seated, guys. 53 00:03:28,170 --> 00:03:31,710 Have you ever said to yourself something along the lines of, 54 00:03:32,645 --> 00:03:35,225 man, I'm just not where I wanna be in my walk? 55 00:03:36,405 --> 00:03:39,925 Have you ever done some self evaluation and been like, man, I'm 56 00:03:39,925 --> 00:03:43,605 making progress, but I feel like there's more, or I 57 00:03:43,605 --> 00:03:47,070 feel like I'm in a season where I'm just spinning my 58 00:03:47,070 --> 00:03:50,750 wheels, like I'm not making much progress. Right? And 59 00:03:50,750 --> 00:03:54,430 if you're anything like me, once you have that 60 00:03:54,430 --> 00:03:58,125 question released into the atmosphere, then 61 00:03:58,125 --> 00:04:01,505 you begin to self destruct and self reflect 62 00:04:02,045 --> 00:04:05,885 on all of the ways that you're probably not meeting up or making 63 00:04:05,885 --> 00:04:09,565 the mark. And I do wanna start by giving, an encouragement or 64 00:04:09,565 --> 00:04:12,785 hope to you guys that it is okay to be in progress. 65 00:04:13,800 --> 00:04:17,020 Okay? It is okay to be in progress. 66 00:04:17,560 --> 00:04:21,320 In fact, sometimes it is not a what it's holding 67 00:04:21,320 --> 00:04:25,000 you back, it is who is holding you back, and it's the archer himself. I 68 00:04:25,000 --> 00:04:28,665 was reminded this week of a teaching that Barbie did by 69 00:04:28,665 --> 00:04:31,885 arrows in the hands of the master archer. 70 00:04:32,585 --> 00:04:36,105 And in order for the arrow to fly, it has to first be 71 00:04:36,105 --> 00:04:39,725 drawn back. Are you hearing me? K? 72 00:04:39,785 --> 00:04:43,530 It has to be drawn back. And sometimes we feel like we're 73 00:04:43,530 --> 00:04:47,289 being held back and like we're not making much progress. God, I'm 74 00:04:47,289 --> 00:04:50,650 doing all the right things. I'm I'm praying all the prayers. I'm 75 00:04:50,650 --> 00:04:54,495 fasting. I'm I'm making the checklist items. I'm 76 00:04:54,495 --> 00:04:58,095 doing all the Christian things. I've confessed all known sin and I 77 00:04:58,095 --> 00:05:01,695 still feel like I'm being held back. But just like pastor Barbie 78 00:05:01,695 --> 00:05:05,315 said, remember the arrow is closest to the master's 79 00:05:05,375 --> 00:05:09,060 ear when it is drawn back. And the further it's drawn 80 00:05:09,060 --> 00:05:12,580 back, she reminded me this week, the farther that 81 00:05:12,580 --> 00:05:16,120 arrow flies. Isn't that amazing? So sometimes 82 00:05:16,660 --> 00:05:20,260 the setback is by design. We just walked through the 83 00:05:20,260 --> 00:05:24,015 greatest story, ever told about the story of Joseph, 84 00:05:24,075 --> 00:05:27,835 and every position in his life felt like a 85 00:05:27,835 --> 00:05:31,675 setback. Did it not? He's like, 86 00:05:31,675 --> 00:05:35,215 man, I'm doing great. God's given me dreams and visions. 87 00:05:35,419 --> 00:05:39,260 I'm gonna tell all my bros. And they're like, we hate you. We're going to 88 00:05:39,260 --> 00:05:42,780 kill you. Right? And he come out 89 00:05:42,780 --> 00:05:46,300 flexing his coat. He was like, look at what dad got for me. And I 90 00:05:46,300 --> 00:05:50,055 was like, we hate you. Right? And we're going to kill you. And then 91 00:05:50,055 --> 00:05:53,655 the one brother felt bad. He was like, we can't kill him. Right? Let's 92 00:05:53,655 --> 00:05:56,395 sell him. Like, that's it. He no. Help him. 93 00:05:57,335 --> 00:06:00,615 Help him. Right? You know what I'm saying? He was like, we can profit off 94 00:06:00,615 --> 00:06:04,410 of this, but and then I my conscience is cleared. So and then and then 95 00:06:04,410 --> 00:06:08,090 he goes and he sold, and he's in Potiphar's house. Right? And 96 00:06:08,090 --> 00:06:11,710 then and then it gets worse for him even there. Right? 97 00:06:12,250 --> 00:06:16,010 And then he's in prison, and then he's like, hey, I'll interpret this dream. Remember 98 00:06:16,010 --> 00:06:18,145 me when you get out. And the guy was like, if you've ever been to 99 00:06:18,145 --> 00:06:21,905 jail, they don't remember you when you get out. Put 100 00:06:21,905 --> 00:06:25,185 some money on my books. And like, I got you. I got you. And they 101 00:06:25,185 --> 00:06:28,705 don't they're not. They're not. Y'all were friends in jail. 102 00:06:28,705 --> 00:06:32,169 K? That's it. You were friends in jail. You got out. You might see him 103 00:06:32,169 --> 00:06:35,850 at a gas station, but, hey, man. Thanks for putting $20 on my 104 00:06:35,850 --> 00:06:39,290 account, bud. Right? No. Because y'all were friends in 105 00:06:39,290 --> 00:06:42,970 jail. It got worse for him. Right? But then he finally gets 106 00:06:42,970 --> 00:06:46,755 out, and then and then we find that even in the 107 00:06:46,755 --> 00:06:50,595 reconciliation with his brothers, Joseph said, hey. What you meant for 108 00:06:50,595 --> 00:06:54,275 evil, God meant for good. You see what I'm saying? And 109 00:06:54,275 --> 00:06:58,000 so his season of being held back, the 110 00:06:58,000 --> 00:07:01,680 things holding him back wasn't necessarily a what, it was a who. So 111 00:07:01,680 --> 00:07:04,740 sometimes be encouraged to be in progress. 112 00:07:05,599 --> 00:07:09,300 Okay? That doesn't give you permission to wallow, 113 00:07:10,639 --> 00:07:14,215 and complain and cry about your 114 00:07:14,215 --> 00:07:17,815 plight and your situation. Okay? Because 115 00:07:17,815 --> 00:07:21,514 there are stories of people in here who had it way worse 116 00:07:22,134 --> 00:07:25,815 and didn't complain about it, and they were in progress. And we're 117 00:07:25,815 --> 00:07:27,514 gonna look at some of those tonight. 118 00:07:30,680 --> 00:07:34,360 So the question of what's 119 00:07:34,360 --> 00:07:38,120 holding me back, God? Or why is this happening in 120 00:07:38,120 --> 00:07:41,960 my life? Or I I just wish I was further along. Those questions are 121 00:07:41,960 --> 00:07:45,555 not inherently wrong. I don't feel like it's wrong for us to 122 00:07:45,555 --> 00:07:49,395 ask those type of questions because we are trying to When 123 00:07:49,395 --> 00:07:52,935 we ask that question from a genuine place, what we're really trying to say is, 124 00:07:52,995 --> 00:07:56,675 God, I wanna keep growing. I wanna keep working. I wanna I feel 125 00:07:56,675 --> 00:08:00,470 like I wanna be holy like you were holy, not 126 00:08:00,470 --> 00:08:04,150 perfect. I don't wanna be perfect because then I find 127 00:08:04,150 --> 00:08:07,849 my righteousness in myself within my own 128 00:08:08,069 --> 00:08:11,610 body or within my own mind. But I wanna 129 00:08:11,805 --> 00:08:15,645 strive to be like you, Jesus. It's a good question. I feel like it's the 130 00:08:15,645 --> 00:08:19,485 wrong question. I feel like it's the wrong question or not necessarily the 131 00:08:19,485 --> 00:08:22,785 wrong question. Maybe it's not the right way to ask it. 132 00:08:23,725 --> 00:08:27,450 So here's what I wanna propose to you tonight. Do 133 00:08:27,450 --> 00:08:30,990 you believe? Do you believe? 134 00:08:32,570 --> 00:08:36,090 Do you believe? So chapter 135 00:08:36,090 --> 00:08:39,549 12 begins with a powerful directive 136 00:08:40,355 --> 00:08:44,115 and some very interesting phrases. Look at this twelve one. 137 00:08:44,115 --> 00:08:47,415 It says this. Therefore, since 138 00:08:47,555 --> 00:08:50,774 we, you and me, 139 00:08:51,475 --> 00:08:54,615 are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, 140 00:08:56,010 --> 00:08:59,530 Let us also lay aside every 141 00:08:59,530 --> 00:09:03,050 weight and sin, which 142 00:09:03,050 --> 00:09:06,810 clings so closely. I really love the way the King James puts 143 00:09:06,810 --> 00:09:10,350 it. He says, which so easily entangles us. 144 00:09:11,245 --> 00:09:15,004 Whoo. What a phrase. The weight and sin that 145 00:09:15,004 --> 00:09:18,444 easily entangles us. Let us lay it 146 00:09:18,444 --> 00:09:22,125 aside and run with perseverance the race that is marked out for 147 00:09:22,125 --> 00:09:25,850 us. Isn't it interesting that the Holy 148 00:09:25,850 --> 00:09:29,150 Spirit chose to delineate weight 149 00:09:29,529 --> 00:09:33,370 and sin? Have you ever looked at that? He said, 150 00:09:33,370 --> 00:09:36,830 here's what I want you to do. I want you to lay aside the weight 151 00:09:37,894 --> 00:09:41,654 and the sin. They're two different things. I'm not gonna 152 00:09:41,654 --> 00:09:45,254 talk about sin tonight in your life because sin needs to 153 00:09:45,254 --> 00:09:48,935 be dealt with. Got 154 00:09:48,935 --> 00:09:52,620 real quiet on that one. Start talking about 155 00:09:52,620 --> 00:09:56,139 sin instead of a shortcoming, a habit, a 156 00:09:56,139 --> 00:09:59,440 struggle. We love that one. Struggling, bro. 157 00:10:00,940 --> 00:10:04,745 I probably said it this week. I got 158 00:10:04,745 --> 00:10:07,705 buddies in the back fact checking me on text message. Like, here you go. Screenshot 159 00:10:07,705 --> 00:10:10,845 this. Screenshot that. Post it on your Facebook, not mine. 160 00:10:11,705 --> 00:10:15,305 Don't tag me. I'm 161 00:10:15,305 --> 00:10:19,010 struggling, bro. Both the 162 00:10:19,010 --> 00:10:22,550 weight and the sin are to be laying aside. Why? 163 00:10:22,610 --> 00:10:26,370 Because they hinder our walk. There 164 00:10:26,370 --> 00:10:29,890 are things in our in our life that are holding us back and 165 00:10:29,890 --> 00:10:33,585 weighing us down that are not sin, and yet they are just 166 00:10:33,585 --> 00:10:37,365 as detrimental to our walk. The Holy Spirit 167 00:10:37,425 --> 00:10:41,265 knew this and knows that, and that's why he said, you have to 168 00:10:41,265 --> 00:10:45,105 lay them both aside because you can be walking 169 00:10:45,105 --> 00:10:48,870 with the Lord with a load of unforgiveness on your back 170 00:10:49,410 --> 00:10:52,850 and thinking you're making progress and wonder, what's 171 00:10:52,850 --> 00:10:56,450 holding me back? God, I'm 172 00:10:56,450 --> 00:11:00,290 not walking in sin, but you've got unforgiveness strapped to your 173 00:11:00,290 --> 00:11:03,865 back like a weight. You've 174 00:11:03,865 --> 00:11:07,565 got fear that rises up in your heart or insecurity, 175 00:11:08,345 --> 00:11:11,965 complacency, or this deep anger that if anybody 176 00:11:12,345 --> 00:11:16,185 micro crosses the line. Like, you're just wait, knock this pen 177 00:11:16,185 --> 00:11:19,510 off my shoulder. You know what I'm saying? Like, 178 00:11:20,370 --> 00:11:24,209 what? You know 179 00:11:24,209 --> 00:11:27,830 what I'm saying? That's a wait. Nobody wants to live like that. 180 00:11:27,890 --> 00:11:31,410 We're just always on edge ready to explode. And if you're 181 00:11:31,410 --> 00:11:35,145 around that type of person, it's 182 00:11:35,145 --> 00:11:38,985 misery because you're not free because you don't know 183 00:11:38,985 --> 00:11:42,205 when the next time they're gonna lose it. Could it be 184 00:11:42,665 --> 00:11:46,460 in the parking lot of church? Could it be at the grocery store? 185 00:11:46,680 --> 00:11:50,360 Could it be at home when nobody's around to hear you blowing up 186 00:11:50,360 --> 00:11:51,100 on them? 187 00:11:54,040 --> 00:11:57,580 Contentment. Contentment can be a wait. 188 00:11:57,800 --> 00:12:01,205 Failure can be a wait. And we're told 189 00:12:01,205 --> 00:12:05,045 to lay these aside. The Lord 190 00:12:05,045 --> 00:12:08,885 says, lay them aside, and 191 00:12:08,885 --> 00:12:12,265 he gives us the reason. The answer is 192 00:12:12,644 --> 00:12:16,390 therefore. When I read this passage, I'm like, you can't start a 193 00:12:16,390 --> 00:12:19,990 whole chapter with therefore. Because I'm 194 00:12:19,990 --> 00:12:23,510 like, what for? Right? Imagine 195 00:12:23,590 --> 00:12:27,430 look. Somebody just sends you by verse twelve one. This is 196 00:12:27,430 --> 00:12:30,010 the start. And you're like, what does that mean? Therefore. 197 00:12:31,755 --> 00:12:35,514 Right? Like, what are we talking about? How do I know? Whenever you 198 00:12:35,514 --> 00:12:39,035 run into that English word therefore, that means you need to go back to what 199 00:12:39,035 --> 00:12:42,714 there was before that. You hearing me? It in 200 00:12:42,714 --> 00:12:45,695 order to understand what because this is the conclusion. 201 00:12:46,649 --> 00:12:50,250 He's saying there are things that you need to understand so that when you 202 00:12:50,250 --> 00:12:54,089 get here, you can recognize the weight and how to lay it 203 00:12:54,089 --> 00:12:57,870 aside. Go back eleven 204 00:12:58,329 --> 00:13:01,709 thirty nine through 40. Do I have it? Boom. 205 00:13:05,834 --> 00:13:09,214 And all these, another mysterious sentence. Like, 206 00:13:11,035 --> 00:13:14,635 I'm reading the Bible the wrong direction. I started in twelve and I'm 207 00:13:14,635 --> 00:13:18,470 like, I don't know where I'm at now. Like, I keep 208 00:13:18,470 --> 00:13:21,210 going back. And all these, 209 00:13:22,950 --> 00:13:26,390 who? Though commended through their faith, did not 210 00:13:26,390 --> 00:13:29,815 receive what was promised since God had 211 00:13:29,815 --> 00:13:33,415 provided something better for us that apart from us they should not be 212 00:13:33,415 --> 00:13:37,175 made perfect. All who was committed for 213 00:13:37,175 --> 00:13:40,375 their faith? I was like, I gotta figure this out. So I flipped back until 214 00:13:40,375 --> 00:13:44,190 I got a correct grammatical sentence And 215 00:13:44,190 --> 00:13:47,950 I had to go all the way back to the beginning of chapter 11. I 216 00:13:47,950 --> 00:13:50,530 went the wrong way. See, I don't even know which way I'm going anymore. 217 00:13:51,950 --> 00:13:55,490 And this is what it says in eleven one. Now, 218 00:13:56,475 --> 00:14:00,075 currently, faith is the assurance of things hoped 219 00:14:00,075 --> 00:14:03,755 for, the evidence or conviction of things 220 00:14:03,755 --> 00:14:07,375 not seen. Faith is the assurance 221 00:14:08,550 --> 00:14:12,250 of what we are hoping for and is the tangible 222 00:14:13,270 --> 00:14:17,110 substance, the evidence, the conviction, that deep I know that 223 00:14:17,110 --> 00:14:19,450 I know that I know that I know that I know 224 00:14:21,175 --> 00:14:24,855 of things that are unseen. You walked by faith the 225 00:14:24,855 --> 00:14:28,535 whole night. When y'all went into there, how did you know that we 226 00:14:28,535 --> 00:14:29,835 didn't poison the food? 227 00:14:32,775 --> 00:14:36,540 How did we didn't, by the way, but how did 228 00:14:36,540 --> 00:14:39,760 you know how did you know? How did you know? 229 00:14:40,779 --> 00:14:44,320 By faith, you trust it. Right? You're like, this is it's a church 230 00:14:44,460 --> 00:14:48,240 that I go to. Surely, there's not arsenic in the fajitas. 231 00:14:49,500 --> 00:14:53,084 Right? That's laugh all you want, that's 232 00:14:53,084 --> 00:14:55,904 faith. You sat down. You didn't think nothing about that chair 233 00:14:56,685 --> 00:14:59,825 holding you up, did you? You just sat down. 234 00:15:00,605 --> 00:15:04,045 Some of you sat down ten minutes early, but you sat down in 235 00:15:04,045 --> 00:15:07,620 faith. Then we 236 00:15:07,620 --> 00:15:11,000 read on. Says, by faith, 237 00:15:11,620 --> 00:15:14,600 Abel offered to God a more acceptable 238 00:15:14,980 --> 00:15:18,760 sacrifice than Cain, through which he was commended 239 00:15:18,900 --> 00:15:22,420 as righteous, God commending him by accepting his 240 00:15:22,420 --> 00:15:25,995 gifts. And through his faith, though he died, he still 241 00:15:25,995 --> 00:15:29,755 speaks. By faith, Enoch was taken up so that he should not 242 00:15:29,755 --> 00:15:33,515 see death, and he was not found because God had taken 243 00:15:33,515 --> 00:15:36,975 him. Now before he was taken, he was commended 244 00:15:37,275 --> 00:15:39,150 as having pleased God. 245 00:15:43,930 --> 00:15:47,470 Then in seven and eight. Now by faith, 246 00:15:47,770 --> 00:15:51,470 Noah, being warned by God concerning events 247 00:15:51,530 --> 00:15:55,375 as yet unseen in reverent fear constructed 248 00:15:55,435 --> 00:15:59,195 an art for the saving of his household? Build a boat. What's a 249 00:15:59,195 --> 00:16:02,795 boat? Can 250 00:16:02,795 --> 00:16:06,415 you can you trust God 251 00:16:06,940 --> 00:16:10,320 when what he's asking you to do doesn't make sense? 252 00:16:11,980 --> 00:16:15,580 Does it make sense when you can't logically put all the pieces 253 00:16:15,580 --> 00:16:18,320 together and figure out how you're gonna do it? 254 00:16:23,485 --> 00:16:26,845 By faith, Sarah herself received power to 255 00:16:26,845 --> 00:16:30,605 conceive even when she was past the age since she 256 00:16:30,605 --> 00:16:34,225 considered him faithful who had promised. You're gonna have a baby, 257 00:16:34,430 --> 00:16:37,410 and you are way past baby having age. 258 00:16:42,910 --> 00:16:45,089 I didn't mean for my eyes to fall on you. 259 00:16:46,845 --> 00:16:48,785 I feel so bad now. I should probably close. 260 00:16:51,485 --> 00:16:53,985 You're not way past baby making stage. Okay? 261 00:16:55,885 --> 00:16:59,404 Jesus help me, God. She's pregnant. Yeah. I know. I just blew it up. I'm 262 00:16:59,404 --> 00:17:02,960 sorry. It was on Facebook. It was on Facebook. If you put it on Facebook, 263 00:17:03,100 --> 00:17:04,080 it's out there. 264 00:17:06,940 --> 00:17:10,560 By faith. By faith. Abraham, 265 00:17:10,780 --> 00:17:14,484 when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the 266 00:17:14,484 --> 00:17:18,265 promises was in the act of offering up his only 267 00:17:18,325 --> 00:17:21,925 son of whom it was said through Isaac shall your 268 00:17:21,925 --> 00:17:24,244 offspring be named. He considered the 269 00:17:37,920 --> 00:17:39,672 Jacob and Esau. Abraham was willing to go through with what God had asked him, 270 00:17:39,672 --> 00:17:43,505 because Abraham was willing to go through with what God had asked 271 00:17:43,505 --> 00:17:47,184 him because he said, even if I do kill him, God, you can bring him 272 00:17:47,184 --> 00:17:50,085 back. What? What? 273 00:17:51,505 --> 00:17:53,284 What kind of faith is that? 274 00:17:57,809 --> 00:18:01,570 By faith, Jacob, when dying, blessed each of 275 00:18:01,570 --> 00:18:05,410 the sons of Joseph, bowing in worship over the head of his 276 00:18:05,410 --> 00:18:09,235 staff. By faith, Joseph at the end of his life made 277 00:18:09,235 --> 00:18:12,695 mention of the exodus of the Israelites and gave directions 278 00:18:12,995 --> 00:18:16,434 concerning his bones. He said, when y'all leave this 279 00:18:16,434 --> 00:18:19,940 place, take me with you and bury 280 00:18:19,940 --> 00:18:23,480 me in the same cave you buried my fathers in. 281 00:18:24,420 --> 00:18:28,260 And he believed that they would do it. By 282 00:18:28,260 --> 00:18:32,065 faith, Moses listen to this. I'm 283 00:18:32,065 --> 00:18:35,585 just reading the Bible. I'm not even preaching. Like, this is the Bible. I was 284 00:18:35,585 --> 00:18:39,185 sharing I shared this with my wife, two days ago. I was like, babe, 285 00:18:39,185 --> 00:18:42,245 listen to this. And she didn't know I was reading Bible verse. 286 00:18:42,945 --> 00:18:46,470 And, she said, yeah. But how do they know that that's 287 00:18:46,470 --> 00:18:49,850 what really he was thinking? I said, it's in the Bible. 288 00:18:51,590 --> 00:18:55,210 And she was folding laundry. She was like, well, okay. Then then alright. 289 00:18:56,925 --> 00:19:00,605 I swear. I swear. I was like, babe, look. I'm reading right out of the 290 00:19:00,605 --> 00:19:03,265 Bible. And she was like, well, then keep reading. 291 00:19:04,925 --> 00:19:08,605 Look at this. By faith, Moses, when he was 292 00:19:08,605 --> 00:19:12,260 grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's 293 00:19:12,260 --> 00:19:16,100 daughter, choosing rather to be mistreated with the people of 294 00:19:16,100 --> 00:19:19,620 God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of 295 00:19:19,620 --> 00:19:23,355 sin. Period. Have you made a 296 00:19:23,355 --> 00:19:27,195 decision to be mistreated with the people of God or have 297 00:19:27,195 --> 00:19:30,335 you made a decision to embrace the passing 298 00:19:30,715 --> 00:19:34,555 fleeting pleasures of sin? This verse tells us sin is 299 00:19:34,555 --> 00:19:38,149 pleasurable, but it's fleeting. It's not sustainable. 300 00:19:39,330 --> 00:19:42,850 It doesn't give you life. He can 301 00:19:43,009 --> 00:19:46,529 he considered the reproach of Christ greater 302 00:19:46,529 --> 00:19:49,904 wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was 303 00:19:49,904 --> 00:19:52,565 looking to the reward. 304 00:19:54,065 --> 00:19:55,205 Come on, Moses. 305 00:19:59,585 --> 00:20:02,465 By faith, he left Egypt, not being afraid of the anger of the king, for 306 00:20:02,465 --> 00:20:06,020 he endured as seeing him who is invisible. By faith he kept the 307 00:20:06,020 --> 00:20:09,320 Passover, sprinkled the blood so that the destroyer 308 00:20:09,860 --> 00:20:13,460 of the firstborn might not touch them. By faith the 309 00:20:13,460 --> 00:20:17,300 people cross the Red Sea is on dry land, but the Egyptians when 310 00:20:17,300 --> 00:20:20,934 they attempted to do so were drowned. By faith, the 311 00:20:20,934 --> 00:20:24,695 walls of Jericho fell down after they had been encircled for 312 00:20:24,695 --> 00:20:28,235 seven days. By faith, Rahab the prostitute 313 00:20:28,455 --> 00:20:31,894 did not perish with those who were being disobedient because 314 00:20:31,894 --> 00:20:35,720 she had given a friendly welcome to the spies. And 315 00:20:35,720 --> 00:20:39,560 what more shall I say? For time would fail me to 316 00:20:39,560 --> 00:20:43,240 tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of 317 00:20:43,240 --> 00:20:46,940 David and Samuel and the prophets, who through faith 318 00:20:47,160 --> 00:20:50,575 conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, 319 00:20:51,115 --> 00:20:54,795 obtained promises, stopped the mouths of 320 00:20:54,795 --> 00:20:58,575 lions, quenched the power of fire, 321 00:20:59,115 --> 00:21:02,815 escaped the edge of the sword, were made strong out of weakness, 322 00:21:03,035 --> 00:21:06,870 became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight. 323 00:21:07,730 --> 00:21:11,410 Women received back their dead by resurrection. Some were 324 00:21:11,410 --> 00:21:15,170 tortured, refusing to accept release so that they 325 00:21:15,170 --> 00:21:18,070 might rise again to a better life. 326 00:21:19,235 --> 00:21:22,995 Others suffered mocking and flogging and even chains and 327 00:21:22,995 --> 00:21:26,755 imprisonment. They were stoned. They were sawn in two. And 328 00:21:26,755 --> 00:21:29,975 when I tell you they were sawn in two, not this way. 329 00:21:30,515 --> 00:21:34,309 This way. They were killed with the 330 00:21:34,309 --> 00:21:37,830 sword. They went about in skins of sheep and 331 00:21:37,830 --> 00:21:41,429 goats, destitute, afflicted, mistreated, of 332 00:21:41,429 --> 00:21:43,450 whom the world was not worthy. 333 00:21:45,285 --> 00:21:48,665 These are unnamed people who suffer for the kingdom, 334 00:21:48,965 --> 00:21:52,345 and the writer of Hebrews says the world was not worthy of them. 335 00:21:53,205 --> 00:21:56,805 Wandering about in deserts, mountains, in dens, and caves of the 336 00:21:56,805 --> 00:22:00,640 earth, And all these, though commended through their faith, did not receive what 337 00:22:00,640 --> 00:22:04,480 was promised. Since God had provided something better for us, that 338 00:22:04,480 --> 00:22:08,180 apart from us, they should not be made perfect. Basically, 339 00:22:08,320 --> 00:22:11,805 he's saying, they won't receive the full recompense for the reward 340 00:22:11,965 --> 00:22:13,585 until we're all there together. 341 00:22:20,365 --> 00:22:23,940 The what that we're supposed to do is lay aside the weight and the sin. 342 00:22:24,179 --> 00:22:27,779 The why is because we're surrounded by such a great cloud of 343 00:22:27,779 --> 00:22:31,559 witnesses. The how is by looking unto Jesus. 344 00:22:33,059 --> 00:22:36,360 The way that you lay aside the weight and sin is by 345 00:22:36,419 --> 00:22:39,805 looking unto Jesus, the author and 346 00:22:39,805 --> 00:22:43,165 perfecter of our faith for the joy that was set before 347 00:22:43,165 --> 00:22:46,945 him endured the cross, despising its shame, 348 00:22:47,165 --> 00:22:50,605 and he sat down at the right hand of the father. So I'm gonna ask 349 00:22:50,605 --> 00:22:54,440 you again, what's holding you back? What's holding me back? 350 00:22:54,440 --> 00:22:58,120 What's holding us back? And I'm gonna tell you guys, it's 351 00:22:58,120 --> 00:23:01,580 the same thing that's holding every one of us back. 352 00:23:02,120 --> 00:23:05,625 It's unbelief. We 353 00:23:05,625 --> 00:23:09,145 just read story after story of people who live 354 00:23:09,145 --> 00:23:12,985 lives of incredible faith. The 355 00:23:12,985 --> 00:23:15,965 one thing that's holding us all back is unbelief. 356 00:23:17,065 --> 00:23:20,860 Now it manifests itself in different ways. It's 357 00:23:20,860 --> 00:23:24,460 not fear. It's unbelief. Fear says, I'm 358 00:23:24,460 --> 00:23:27,440 afraid I'll fail or that you won't catch me. 359 00:23:28,460 --> 00:23:31,840 You don't really believe that he is who he said he is. 360 00:23:32,380 --> 00:23:36,205 You don't believe that he's gonna catch you if you fall, and you don't believe 361 00:23:36,205 --> 00:23:40,044 that it's okay if you do fall. Some of them 362 00:23:40,044 --> 00:23:43,885 didn't see the and time would 363 00:23:44,445 --> 00:23:48,044 I wish I had the writer got so fired up telling 364 00:23:48,044 --> 00:23:51,260 stories, and he was like, I wish I had time. He must have been on 365 00:23:51,260 --> 00:23:54,700 a Sunday. Look. He was like, it's 07:44. I wish I had 366 00:23:54,700 --> 00:23:58,320 time. I'm just gonna tell you about 367 00:23:58,460 --> 00:24:01,679 the type of people they were. It's not anger. 368 00:24:02,655 --> 00:24:05,955 It's unbelief. Anger says my way is better. 369 00:24:07,455 --> 00:24:11,075 My way is better. It's not complacency. Complacency 370 00:24:11,375 --> 00:24:15,135 says if I step out I might fail, so why not stay where I'm at? 371 00:24:15,135 --> 00:24:17,640 You don't believe. It's unbelief. 372 00:24:18,980 --> 00:24:22,500 It's not insecurity. Insecurity says, I believe what the world 373 00:24:22,500 --> 00:24:26,280 says, not what you say, lord. It's not contentment. Contentment 374 00:24:26,420 --> 00:24:30,100 says, I'm good with god. We have an understanding. I don't need to 375 00:24:30,100 --> 00:24:30,600 grow. 376 00:24:33,995 --> 00:24:37,595 Me and God are good. We gotta He knows that I like this tree stand 377 00:24:37,595 --> 00:24:38,335 on Sundays. 378 00:24:41,434 --> 00:24:45,115 So he did it now or whatever. Fill in the blank. That's not a shot 379 00:24:45,115 --> 00:24:48,700 at my dad or any of the other guy. I 380 00:24:48,700 --> 00:24:52,380 swear I've never Listen, I I promise dad, listen. He just bought a 381 00:24:52,380 --> 00:24:55,600 brand new convertible. Dad, it's not about you. It's not 382 00:24:59,340 --> 00:25:03,075 failure, it's unbelief. Failure says I've screwed up so many times, why should I 383 00:25:03,075 --> 00:25:05,895 try again? And here's the thing, guys. 384 00:25:07,075 --> 00:25:10,195 What if he doesn't come through in the way you expected him to? Is he 385 00:25:10,195 --> 00:25:13,654 still good? What about them three Hebrew boys? 386 00:25:13,794 --> 00:25:17,560 Right? Y'all like to call him Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, 387 00:25:17,620 --> 00:25:21,380 but I refuse to call them by their slave names. If Daniel 388 00:25:21,380 --> 00:25:24,520 don't go by Belshazzar, then 389 00:25:25,540 --> 00:25:29,220 then we are gonna I'm bringing back justice for Hananiah, Azariah, 390 00:25:29,220 --> 00:25:32,835 and Mishael. K? Bring it back. 391 00:25:32,835 --> 00:25:36,355 No. That It's either Belshazzar, Shadrach, Meshach, and 392 00:25:36,355 --> 00:25:39,955 Abednego, or it's Daniel, Hananiah, Azariah, and 393 00:25:39,955 --> 00:25:43,475 Mishael. You can't have both. I'm bucking. I'm 394 00:25:43,475 --> 00:25:47,210 bucking. It's in there. K? And let let me just say a 395 00:25:47,210 --> 00:25:50,250 disclaimer. I may have mixed up who is who, but those 396 00:25:51,770 --> 00:25:55,530 so so Shadrach may not be Hannah. I gotta look at that. Just 397 00:25:55,530 --> 00:25:59,210 disclaimer. Don't be like, man, that's not who they is. That's their names. 398 00:25:59,210 --> 00:26:02,935 Go look it up. But look what they said. They said, 399 00:26:02,935 --> 00:26:06,215 listen, they're gonna throw you in the fire. They're gonna throw you in this furnace. 400 00:26:06,215 --> 00:26:09,735 And they said, throw us in it. We're still not gonna 401 00:26:09,735 --> 00:26:13,495 bow because we believe we believe that god 402 00:26:13,495 --> 00:26:17,190 can rescue us. And even if he does not, He's still 403 00:26:17,610 --> 00:26:21,410 good. What about when He doesn't answer that prayer in the way you've been 404 00:26:21,410 --> 00:26:24,390 expected? Can you see? 405 00:26:26,050 --> 00:26:29,745 Unbelief is what's holding us back. We either don't believe He 406 00:26:29,745 --> 00:26:32,785 can do it, or He will do it, or if He doesn't do it, then 407 00:26:32,785 --> 00:26:36,545 He's still good. And some of us have gotten a hard 408 00:26:36,545 --> 00:26:39,285 heart towards God because your mom died. 409 00:26:41,130 --> 00:26:44,890 The baby died. The cancer didn't get healed. Now 410 00:26:44,890 --> 00:26:48,650 we're hard against God. And then 411 00:26:48,650 --> 00:26:51,770 we blame him because we feel like we're being held back and say, God, I'm 412 00:26:51,770 --> 00:26:55,425 not holding you back. You're holding yourself back because you don't believe I am 413 00:26:55,425 --> 00:26:59,205 who I said I am. I'm the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. 414 00:26:59,345 --> 00:27:02,885 Abraham, son of promise. Isaac, son of promise. Jacob's a trickster. 415 00:27:03,665 --> 00:27:07,120 He didn't say to God of Abraham, Isaac, Israel. He said, yeah, yeah, yeah. When 416 00:27:07,120 --> 00:27:10,720 you were still pulling tricks, I was still that same God. When you were 417 00:27:10,720 --> 00:27:14,400 still playing games around here, I was still good and I'm 418 00:27:14,400 --> 00:27:18,164 still God. I 419 00:27:18,164 --> 00:27:21,524 sat up here on Christmas and cried about a pardon. It wasn't gonna 420 00:27:21,524 --> 00:27:25,365 happen. Right? Sat up here and cried, God, it's not 421 00:27:25,365 --> 00:27:29,125 gonna happen, guys. I got thirty thirty minutes before the governor goes home 422 00:27:29,125 --> 00:27:32,420 for the year. I did. 423 00:27:33,920 --> 00:27:37,520 I was crying. I was like and y'all watched me come to to 424 00:27:37,520 --> 00:27:41,360 Jesus in real time. Y'all literally could see it happen. He was like, he's 425 00:27:41,360 --> 00:27:43,680 okay with it. I had to get to a place where I was okay with 426 00:27:43,680 --> 00:27:47,215 it. Because I knew, because I talked to the governor personally, and he 427 00:27:47,215 --> 00:27:50,355 said, I only do it in December. I'm like, it's the twenty first, 428 00:27:51,215 --> 00:27:54,195 and Christmas is the twenty fifth. He is not sticking around. 429 00:27:56,340 --> 00:27:59,140 But I had committed in my heart that even if it don't happen, He's still 430 00:27:59,140 --> 00:28:02,260 good. If I gotta wait another year, another ten years if it don't happen. I've 431 00:28:02,260 --> 00:28:05,940 been set free. I've been set free. I don't need I don't 432 00:28:05,940 --> 00:28:09,559 need man's approval because I've been approved by God. 433 00:28:11,385 --> 00:28:15,005 Do you believe? If you can really believe that, you're not holding you back. 434 00:28:16,025 --> 00:28:19,865 Nothing's holding you back. We have a tendency to go, well, 435 00:28:19,865 --> 00:28:23,565 is it this? Is it that? Is that? It's all some level of unbelief, 436 00:28:23,785 --> 00:28:26,580 whether it's 2% or 20%, or 437 00:28:26,580 --> 00:28:30,419 200%. There is some level of unbelief in your 438 00:28:30,419 --> 00:28:33,860 heart that is holding you back in a situation or an area for 439 00:28:33,860 --> 00:28:36,660 believing that God is who He says He is and He can do what He 440 00:28:36,660 --> 00:28:39,960 said He's gonna do, and that even if He doesn't, He's still good. 441 00:28:42,075 --> 00:28:45,595 What about when you when you're hiding in a cave or you're 442 00:28:45,595 --> 00:28:48,975 sawn in two? Though he slay me. 443 00:28:50,955 --> 00:28:54,335 Many of us have no problem believing for somebody else. 444 00:28:57,250 --> 00:28:59,590 I ain't got no problem agreeing with Barbie, 445 00:29:01,570 --> 00:29:05,409 but I don't believe that God will do it for me. You look at the 446 00:29:05,409 --> 00:29:09,250 powerful testimonies, the exotic testimonies. I coined that phrase, 447 00:29:09,250 --> 00:29:10,755 by the way, just just so y'all know. 448 00:29:13,535 --> 00:29:16,275 Had to turn it around, make it by me at some point. Right? 449 00:29:18,095 --> 00:29:21,855 Ain't that what we do anytime we get out? You 450 00:29:21,855 --> 00:29:25,140 can be walking right there. It don't take but one slip step, and you're right 451 00:29:25,140 --> 00:29:27,480 back in your flesh. Right? 452 00:29:29,140 --> 00:29:31,940 Do I believe that He's enough? Do I believe the Word's enough? Do I believe 453 00:29:31,940 --> 00:29:34,420 I can just get up here and read Scriptures to you, and that's enough to 454 00:29:34,420 --> 00:29:38,195 feed you? I gotta add a whole bunch of things to entertain 455 00:29:38,195 --> 00:29:40,595 you, and tickle your ears, and make you be like, Justin's so smart. That's such 456 00:29:40,595 --> 00:29:43,395 a great word. I laugh so much. I feel so good. Or can I give 457 00:29:43,395 --> 00:29:47,235 you the word of God? It'd be enough. Can it be enough 458 00:29:47,235 --> 00:29:47,895 for you? 459 00:29:54,690 --> 00:29:58,129 In Mark chapter nine, we read a 460 00:29:58,129 --> 00:30:01,269 story about a little boy 461 00:30:02,235 --> 00:30:06,075 with unclean spirit or a demon in him, and they're 462 00:30:06,075 --> 00:30:09,855 explaining the situation to Jesus. They're explaining 463 00:30:09,915 --> 00:30:13,595 what's happening to Jesus, and and this is 464 00:30:13,595 --> 00:30:17,135 his response. He calls them a faithless generation. 465 00:30:18,770 --> 00:30:22,370 It sounds like a rebuke, but it it is a 466 00:30:22,370 --> 00:30:25,830 rebuke. A faithless 467 00:30:25,970 --> 00:30:29,730 generation. They're like, Jesus, this this boy, he's been this way his whole 468 00:30:29,730 --> 00:30:33,554 life. He said how long am I to be with you? How am I 469 00:30:33,554 --> 00:30:37,394 long Bring him bring him to me. You don't 470 00:30:37,394 --> 00:30:40,995 believe? Bring him to me because I believe because I know what my father can 471 00:30:40,995 --> 00:30:44,375 do. And then Jesus asked the father 472 00:30:44,960 --> 00:30:48,800 how long this condition has afflicted the boy. And if he believes 473 00:30:48,800 --> 00:30:52,400 that Jesus can help and the guy I love, it's such a human response to 474 00:30:52,400 --> 00:30:55,760 God's like, I guess, like, come back and read it. It's mark chapter nine. The 475 00:30:55,760 --> 00:30:58,375 guy was like, Jesus, like, do you think I can do this? 476 00:31:00,034 --> 00:31:03,654 Do you do you believe that I can do this? And the guy says, 477 00:31:03,875 --> 00:31:07,554 I mean, I guess you can. Is 478 00:31:07,554 --> 00:31:11,230 that is that our our interaction when we come to the Lord? When 479 00:31:11,230 --> 00:31:14,750 God says, do you, do you believe I can do this, Kevin? Do you believe 480 00:31:14,750 --> 00:31:17,790 that I can do this miracle in your life? Do you believe that I see 481 00:31:17,790 --> 00:31:21,325 this small prayer request you're asking for? Do you believe that I hear this 482 00:31:21,325 --> 00:31:25,165 prayer for your daughters? Do you believe that I see the tears 483 00:31:25,165 --> 00:31:29,005 that you saw in this altar when it's a Saturday night and nobody's in 484 00:31:29,005 --> 00:31:32,765 here, but you praying over the word trying to say, is this what 485 00:31:32,765 --> 00:31:36,120 you have for your people, God? Because I care so much. I wanna honor you 486 00:31:36,120 --> 00:31:39,960 and I wanna give the people that you've entrusted me to. He says, Kevin, do 487 00:31:39,960 --> 00:31:42,940 you believe that I hear you? Do you believe that I see? 488 00:31:44,919 --> 00:31:48,760 And the guy says, I guess. And then what we do sometimes, 489 00:31:48,760 --> 00:31:52,215 God's like, do you do you think I see you, Cole? Do you 490 00:31:52,215 --> 00:31:55,735 believe me? Do you believe? I'm just 491 00:31:55,735 --> 00:31:59,195 asking, I'm not asking you anything else, but do you believe 492 00:31:59,575 --> 00:32:03,255 that I can do this? And the 493 00:32:03,255 --> 00:32:04,554 guy says, I guess. 494 00:32:07,800 --> 00:32:11,400 And Jesus tells him in '23, if you 495 00:32:11,400 --> 00:32:15,160 can, if I can, all 496 00:32:15,160 --> 00:32:18,600 things are possible for the one who believes. And I love this 497 00:32:18,600 --> 00:32:21,965 response from this dad whose boy has been afflicted 498 00:32:22,905 --> 00:32:25,885 his whole life. He says, 499 00:32:26,345 --> 00:32:30,025 immediately, the father of the child cried out and said, I 500 00:32:30,025 --> 00:32:33,785 believe help my unbelief. I do 501 00:32:33,785 --> 00:32:36,580 believe God, God, but there's a part of me that's got unbelief. 502 00:32:37,519 --> 00:32:40,179 At the end of the day, I know there's a part of me that says, 503 00:32:40,240 --> 00:32:43,220 yeah, but but will you really come through for me? 504 00:32:44,159 --> 00:32:47,840 Will you really see my situation? Do you 505 00:32:47,840 --> 00:32:51,375 really hear my prayers? Do you really see my 506 00:32:51,375 --> 00:32:54,975 fears and my insecurity and the complacency that's going on in 507 00:32:54,975 --> 00:32:58,595 life? And and he's saying, yes. All things are possible 508 00:32:58,735 --> 00:33:02,190 to anyone who believes. It's not 509 00:33:02,429 --> 00:33:06,269 fear. It's not insecurity. It's not complacency. Those are 510 00:33:06,269 --> 00:33:09,570 the ways that unbelief manifests itself in our lives. 511 00:33:11,070 --> 00:33:14,429 So as we enter in this time of worship, I want you to 512 00:33:14,429 --> 00:33:18,105 reflect, and I want you to ask this question. 513 00:33:19,145 --> 00:33:21,245 Do you believe? 514 00:33:23,465 --> 00:33:27,304 And then I want this response. If it's true and genuine, then say to 515 00:33:27,304 --> 00:33:30,365 the Lord, I believe. Help 516 00:33:30,745 --> 00:33:33,071 my unbelief. 517 00:33:34,331 --> 00:33:35,631 Let's worship, church.