1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:12,000 Thank you for listening to this message from Life House Church. 2 00:00:12,000 --> 00:00:20,140 It's good to have each one of you here worshiping and if you're online listening, thank you 3 00:00:20,140 --> 00:00:21,440 for worshiping the Lord this morning. 4 00:00:21,440 --> 00:00:24,400 We're just trusting your worshiping there in the East Shore. 5 00:00:24,400 --> 00:00:29,240 But this morning we have a very special treat for you. 6 00:00:29,240 --> 00:00:34,600 We have one of our own who has come back, I say come back home. 7 00:00:34,600 --> 00:00:36,980 For those of you that maybe are newer, yeah, come on. 8 00:00:36,980 --> 00:00:37,980 This is Ms. Hannah Walker. 9 00:00:37,980 --> 00:00:42,480 Come on up, Hannah. 10 00:00:42,480 --> 00:00:46,760 And Pastor Hannah, she has served at Life House a long time. 11 00:00:46,760 --> 00:00:47,760 She's one of us. 12 00:00:47,760 --> 00:00:51,800 And for some of you that are new, since that time, it's been about what, two and a half 13 00:00:51,800 --> 00:00:54,400 years, roughly two years, right around two years. 14 00:00:54,400 --> 00:00:55,400 She went out. 15 00:00:55,400 --> 00:01:00,160 She's serving in a different church and she's doing an administrative role, pretty much 16 00:01:00,160 --> 00:01:01,160 associate pastor role. 17 00:01:01,160 --> 00:01:02,960 And God's just used her in so many ways. 18 00:01:02,960 --> 00:01:05,720 She can sing, she can preach, she can do it all. 19 00:01:05,720 --> 00:01:08,960 So yeah, so we're just thrilled to have her back. 20 00:01:08,960 --> 00:01:13,960 And for us, it's always a homecoming when she comes back here because she is truly, 21 00:01:13,960 --> 00:01:18,080 we feel like she's got DNA from Life House running through her veins. 22 00:01:18,080 --> 00:01:24,760 But if you will just give her one more applause for what God's doing in her life. 23 00:01:24,760 --> 00:01:26,400 Well, good morning, Life House. 24 00:01:26,400 --> 00:01:29,600 I am genuinely so excited to be back here. 25 00:01:29,600 --> 00:01:33,640 This feels very much like a full circle moment, which is so cool. 26 00:01:33,640 --> 00:01:35,560 So Pastor Kipp did share a little bit. 27 00:01:35,560 --> 00:01:39,120 But for those of you who don't know, I attended Life House for six years. 28 00:01:39,120 --> 00:01:42,200 I started here my junior year of college. 29 00:01:42,200 --> 00:01:45,800 And then after school, I just, I knew this was my place. 30 00:01:45,800 --> 00:01:46,800 I did not want to leave. 31 00:01:46,800 --> 00:01:51,920 So I actually moved to the Mechanicsburg area after graduating so that I could stay at Life 32 00:01:51,920 --> 00:01:52,920 House. 33 00:01:52,920 --> 00:01:55,320 And it was a huge role in my decision to stay here. 34 00:01:55,320 --> 00:02:01,360 And so when I was here, I had the opportunity to just serve in a million ways between Pastor 35 00:02:01,360 --> 00:02:02,360 Kipp and Jenna. 36 00:02:02,360 --> 00:02:06,640 I was not really getting away from what it was that the Lord had placed in my heart, 37 00:02:06,640 --> 00:02:07,640 which was good. 38 00:02:07,640 --> 00:02:08,640 It was good. 39 00:02:08,640 --> 00:02:14,040 But for those of you who know, especially Jenna, she will push you a little bit. 40 00:02:14,040 --> 00:02:15,040 But it was good. 41 00:02:15,040 --> 00:02:16,040 It was so needed. 42 00:02:16,040 --> 00:02:19,000 So I had the opportunity to serve in Kidstown. 43 00:02:19,000 --> 00:02:20,960 I loved working VBS here. 44 00:02:20,960 --> 00:02:25,480 I was able to lead life groups, work with the hospitality team to serve on the worship 45 00:02:25,480 --> 00:02:30,320 team, which is amazing because I actually now I'm serving as a worship pastor at the 46 00:02:30,320 --> 00:02:31,320 church that I grew up in. 47 00:02:31,320 --> 00:02:36,880 So it's just, it's pretty cool to see all that the Lord has done in my life while I 48 00:02:36,880 --> 00:02:39,640 was here at Life House, the way that it's coming out now. 49 00:02:39,640 --> 00:02:42,760 And then I get to be back with you all today, which is just so cool. 50 00:02:42,760 --> 00:02:45,000 So I'm excited. 51 00:02:45,000 --> 00:02:51,080 But this morning, the title of my sermon is just this Lego and my God. 52 00:02:51,080 --> 00:02:55,840 I, you know, I was praying about what it was that the Lord would have me bring this morning 53 00:02:55,840 --> 00:03:00,240 when Pastor Kipp asked me to speak a few months ago, he said, you know, it's going to be our 54 00:03:00,240 --> 00:03:02,720 kickoff service for VBS. 55 00:03:02,720 --> 00:03:05,960 He said, you know, you can preach on this or if the Lord lays something else on your 56 00:03:05,960 --> 00:03:07,760 heart, that's totally fine. 57 00:03:07,760 --> 00:03:12,320 So I immediately started to pray into it and I was certain that this is what the Lord was 58 00:03:12,320 --> 00:03:13,320 drawing me to. 59 00:03:13,320 --> 00:03:15,800 So this is this is where we're going this morning. 60 00:03:15,800 --> 00:03:17,280 Lego and like God. 61 00:03:17,280 --> 00:03:20,720 Another thing about me, I am a little bit of a Lego nerd. 62 00:03:20,720 --> 00:03:22,640 I'm going to expose myself a little bit. 63 00:03:22,640 --> 00:03:27,780 So I was pretty excited when I saw this is what the theme was to be preaching surrounded 64 00:03:27,780 --> 00:03:28,780 by Legos. 65 00:03:28,780 --> 00:03:30,720 I mean, come on, like who else gets that opportunity? 66 00:03:30,720 --> 00:03:32,640 This is pretty cool. 67 00:03:32,640 --> 00:03:37,420 I didn't play with Legos a ton as a child, but I just loved the idea of Legos, the show 68 00:03:37,420 --> 00:03:38,420 Lego Masters. 69 00:03:38,420 --> 00:03:40,400 I don't know if any of you have ever watched that. 70 00:03:40,400 --> 00:03:43,160 Yeah, I was so obsessed with that show. 71 00:03:43,160 --> 00:03:46,720 It's just it's so neat to me the way that they can just bring things to life. 72 00:03:46,720 --> 00:03:52,680 So we're going to be talking today about just the idea of what it is for God to be the one 73 00:03:52,680 --> 00:03:55,640 that's building our lives and why it is that we need to trust him. 74 00:03:55,640 --> 00:04:01,520 So as we open up this morning, I'm going to have you guys turn in your Bibles to Proverbs 75 00:04:01,520 --> 00:04:05,600 Chapter three, verses five and six is what we're going to be focusing on. 76 00:04:05,600 --> 00:04:08,800 This is actually the focus verse for VBS. 77 00:04:08,800 --> 00:04:13,200 And another reason that I was so certain this is what the Lord was calling me to bring is 78 00:04:13,200 --> 00:04:15,880 because this is my life verse. 79 00:04:15,880 --> 00:04:18,780 And for those of you who don't know what I mean when I say that, I just mean that this 80 00:04:18,780 --> 00:04:25,000 is the verse that has really just marked everything that I've done my entire life. 81 00:04:25,000 --> 00:04:30,240 Whenever I was probably about three or four, my mom had my brother and I every single night 82 00:04:30,240 --> 00:04:31,880 before bed recite this verse. 83 00:04:31,880 --> 00:04:34,380 This was the first verse ever committed to memory. 84 00:04:34,380 --> 00:04:38,400 And then just throughout the course of my life, this has just carried me so far. 85 00:04:38,400 --> 00:04:43,080 So to be able to preach on this topic is something I'm truly excited about. 86 00:04:43,080 --> 00:04:45,200 And then they're going to be putting that verse up for you guys. 87 00:04:45,200 --> 00:04:47,840 I believe they should have it back there. 88 00:04:47,840 --> 00:04:48,840 Proverbs three, five and six. 89 00:04:48,840 --> 00:04:50,440 And we're just we're going to jump in. 90 00:04:50,440 --> 00:04:52,200 We're going to read it. 91 00:04:52,200 --> 00:04:55,680 So this is coming here out of the New Living Translation. 92 00:04:55,680 --> 00:05:06,000 I guess I should probably turn there myself too so I can see it. 93 00:05:06,000 --> 00:05:13,800 So starting at verse five, it just says this. 94 00:05:13,800 --> 00:05:15,880 Trust in the Lord with all your heart. 95 00:05:15,880 --> 00:05:19,520 Do not depend on your own understanding. 96 00:05:19,520 --> 00:05:24,960 Seek his will in all you do and he will show you which path to take. 97 00:05:24,960 --> 00:05:25,960 Let's pray. 98 00:05:25,960 --> 00:05:30,080 Father God, I just thank you so much for this day and this opportunity. 99 00:05:30,080 --> 00:05:35,360 It truly is a homecoming for me to be able to be back here with my life house family. 100 00:05:35,360 --> 00:05:36,800 I thank you for them. 101 00:05:36,800 --> 00:05:41,000 I thank you for what you're doing in this church, Lord, in the way that I just see you 102 00:05:41,000 --> 00:05:44,000 growing and expanding their kingdom work here, Lord. 103 00:05:44,000 --> 00:05:47,560 And I pray that you would continue to bless and prosper that God. 104 00:05:47,560 --> 00:05:51,960 But today, as I speak, as I bring the word that I believe you've laid on my heart, Father, 105 00:05:51,960 --> 00:05:57,200 I just pray that you would help me to be totally surrendered and submitted to you. 106 00:05:57,200 --> 00:05:59,600 Holy Spirit, I pray that you would speak through me. 107 00:05:59,600 --> 00:06:03,360 I don't want to say a single thing, Lord, that you haven't placed in my heart. 108 00:06:03,360 --> 00:06:08,120 I pray that you would hide me this morning behind the cross and all that would be seen 109 00:06:08,120 --> 00:06:14,000 and everything that I say, all that would be heard is Jesus, the truth that he saves 110 00:06:14,000 --> 00:06:15,520 us, that he sets us free. 111 00:06:15,520 --> 00:06:20,920 And Lord, what it is that you long to do in our lives, Father, I pray that you would make 112 00:06:20,920 --> 00:06:26,480 every heart that's here and everyone that's listening, Lord, let our hearts be good soil 113 00:06:26,480 --> 00:06:27,480 this morning. 114 00:06:27,480 --> 00:06:30,960 Let us just receive what it is that you are depositing. 115 00:06:30,960 --> 00:06:34,760 And may we be transformed by the truth of your word. 116 00:06:34,760 --> 00:06:35,760 We love you, Jesus. 117 00:06:35,760 --> 00:06:38,160 And we ask this all in your name. 118 00:06:38,160 --> 00:06:39,160 Amen. 119 00:06:39,160 --> 00:06:40,160 Amen. 120 00:06:40,160 --> 00:06:41,440 So let go and let God. 121 00:06:41,440 --> 00:06:45,040 I am also a little bit of a nerd for play on words. 122 00:06:45,040 --> 00:06:46,760 So you'll see that. 123 00:06:46,760 --> 00:06:48,160 I know I do. 124 00:06:48,160 --> 00:06:50,240 I feel like such a nerd. 125 00:06:50,240 --> 00:06:55,720 But throughout even my points that I make, I tried to do a little bit of a play on words 126 00:06:55,720 --> 00:06:56,720 with some of them too. 127 00:06:56,720 --> 00:07:00,840 But because I want you to remember this and also how many of you know it can be fun. 128 00:07:00,840 --> 00:07:02,400 The gospel should be fun. 129 00:07:02,400 --> 00:07:06,520 You know, it's something that's very important and something that we should take seriously. 130 00:07:06,520 --> 00:07:09,040 But we can have fun while we do that too. 131 00:07:09,040 --> 00:07:13,240 So as we get started this morning, how many of you in this room would say that you sometimes 132 00:07:13,240 --> 00:07:17,120 struggle with letting anyone else control a situation? 133 00:07:17,120 --> 00:07:18,120 Anyone? 134 00:07:18,120 --> 00:07:19,120 Yeah. 135 00:07:19,120 --> 00:07:20,120 Okay. 136 00:07:20,120 --> 00:07:21,120 A couple of you are being honest. 137 00:07:21,120 --> 00:07:23,000 I'm sure that there's more of you in here. 138 00:07:23,000 --> 00:07:26,760 I'm definitely not going to use the term control freak because, you know, it's a little bit 139 00:07:26,760 --> 00:07:27,760 derogatory. 140 00:07:27,760 --> 00:07:32,000 And also because I definitely fall in that camp and I don't know that I would love to 141 00:07:32,000 --> 00:07:33,560 admit that. 142 00:07:33,560 --> 00:07:39,520 But even if you don't consider yourself to be controlling in general, or maybe you consider 143 00:07:39,520 --> 00:07:42,240 yourself to be just a little bit more go with the flow. 144 00:07:42,240 --> 00:07:46,680 I think if we were all really honest with ourselves, I'm sure we could each find an 145 00:07:46,680 --> 00:07:52,200 area or some areas where we need to relinquish a little bit more control to God. 146 00:07:52,200 --> 00:07:54,920 And that's what we're going to be talking about today. 147 00:07:54,920 --> 00:08:00,480 So that scripture and Proverbs three, five and six, it's brief, but it's powerful and 148 00:08:00,480 --> 00:08:03,400 it's full of a lot of wisdom. 149 00:08:03,400 --> 00:08:09,660 Following what that verse instructs is the only way to live a life that is truly fulfilled. 150 00:08:09,660 --> 00:08:14,600 We can do all kinds of things in this life, but if we are not truly trusting in the Lord, 151 00:08:14,600 --> 00:08:19,140 if we're not relying on his wisdom, then we are going to miss it in this life. 152 00:08:19,140 --> 00:08:21,360 We can have amazing things going on. 153 00:08:21,360 --> 00:08:25,600 We can be achieving all the things that we think are our dreams. 154 00:08:25,600 --> 00:08:29,280 But if we're not depending on the Lord to be the one to get us there and to work it 155 00:08:29,280 --> 00:08:35,840 all out, then there is no way that we're going to get everything that this life has to offer. 156 00:08:35,840 --> 00:08:40,800 So let's dive in and discuss a few ways that we can really begin, or maybe for some of 157 00:08:40,800 --> 00:08:43,940 you to continue to let go and let God. 158 00:08:43,940 --> 00:08:49,200 So whenever you make the decision to make Jesus Savior and Lord of your life, that's 159 00:08:49,200 --> 00:08:54,720 the beginning of the Lego or the letting go process, but it continues for the rest of 160 00:08:54,720 --> 00:08:55,720 your life. 161 00:08:55,720 --> 00:09:00,200 I'm sure there are many of you who have been following the Lord for a number of years that 162 00:09:00,200 --> 00:09:05,760 would admit that it's still a continual thing, that you have to continue to surrender things 163 00:09:05,760 --> 00:09:07,360 into the hands of the Lord. 164 00:09:07,360 --> 00:09:11,040 You don't just do it once at salvation, but it's every single day. 165 00:09:11,040 --> 00:09:14,000 You have to get up and say, God, I'm going to trust you with this. 166 00:09:14,000 --> 00:09:16,120 I'm going to trust you with my finances. 167 00:09:16,120 --> 00:09:18,360 I'm going to trust you with my family. 168 00:09:18,360 --> 00:09:20,600 I'm going to trust you with my future. 169 00:09:20,600 --> 00:09:22,600 It's a continual thing. 170 00:09:22,600 --> 00:09:27,280 So for point number one, for those of you taking notes, if you want to Lego and let 171 00:09:27,280 --> 00:09:33,600 God, don't block what God is doing or trying to do in your life. 172 00:09:33,600 --> 00:09:35,120 I appreciate they go over there. 173 00:09:35,120 --> 00:09:36,120 Yes, there's one. 174 00:09:36,120 --> 00:09:39,120 So don't block what God is doing. 175 00:09:39,120 --> 00:09:41,320 Don't block what he's trying to do. 176 00:09:41,320 --> 00:09:45,080 So what does the first part of the verse say? 177 00:09:45,080 --> 00:09:50,240 Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on what your own understanding. 178 00:09:50,240 --> 00:09:51,680 Yeah. 179 00:09:51,680 --> 00:09:56,600 Do you know that sometimes we can get in the way when we can't make sense of what we see 180 00:09:56,600 --> 00:10:03,120 or when we lean on our own understanding, but letting go and letting God takes you beyond 181 00:10:03,120 --> 00:10:05,640 what makes sense in the natural. 182 00:10:05,640 --> 00:10:11,200 And so this morning, I really hope that through the scriptures that we continue to dive into 183 00:10:11,200 --> 00:10:16,600 and what I share, it just it it prompts you to just trust a little bit deeper in what 184 00:10:16,600 --> 00:10:21,200 it is that God can do when you really rely on him. 185 00:10:21,200 --> 00:10:28,500 Letting go and letting God requires us to be obedient to the Lord's prompt in our lives. 186 00:10:28,500 --> 00:10:31,880 How many of you have ever felt a prompt from the Lord and ignored it? 187 00:10:31,880 --> 00:10:32,880 Anyone? 188 00:10:32,880 --> 00:10:36,400 You know, the Lord was, you know, you're maybe with a friend and the Lord encouraged you 189 00:10:36,400 --> 00:10:37,920 to just say a quick prayer with them. 190 00:10:37,920 --> 00:10:39,920 You're like, oh, I don't want to make them feel uncomfortable. 191 00:10:39,920 --> 00:10:41,600 I don't think I'm going to do that. 192 00:10:41,600 --> 00:10:43,000 And you know, so you just don't do it. 193 00:10:43,000 --> 00:10:47,040 I think, you know, most of us, again, if we're being honest, we would admit that we found 194 00:10:47,040 --> 00:10:48,780 ourselves there. 195 00:10:48,780 --> 00:10:53,920 But do you know that disobeying what God calls you to could potentially cause you to miss 196 00:10:53,920 --> 00:10:57,000 out on what he's trying to use to bless you? 197 00:10:57,000 --> 00:11:02,040 You know, sometimes we think it's just all about what God is trying to get us to do for 198 00:11:02,040 --> 00:11:03,040 other people. 199 00:11:03,040 --> 00:11:05,200 And we should do for other people. 200 00:11:05,200 --> 00:11:09,480 But a lot of the time what the Lord is trying to get us to do, he's actually doing it for 201 00:11:09,480 --> 00:11:10,880 our benefit. 202 00:11:10,880 --> 00:11:14,800 There's actually something that he's trying to do in us or something that he's trying 203 00:11:14,800 --> 00:11:16,420 to teach us. 204 00:11:16,420 --> 00:11:20,520 And we have to be obedient in order to get to that place. 205 00:11:20,520 --> 00:11:25,040 So to paint this picture, we're going to take a look at the story of Naaman in Second Kings 206 00:11:25,040 --> 00:11:26,040 Chapter five. 207 00:11:26,040 --> 00:11:30,860 I'm sure there are many of you here and that are watching online that have heard this story. 208 00:11:30,860 --> 00:11:35,000 But we're going to dive into it a little bit deeper this morning to really break down this 209 00:11:35,000 --> 00:11:36,000 principle. 210 00:11:36,000 --> 00:11:38,360 So I'll give you guys a few minutes to turn there. 211 00:11:38,360 --> 00:11:41,240 Like I said, it's Second Kings Chapter five. 212 00:11:41,240 --> 00:11:43,000 We're going to be starting at verse one. 213 00:11:43,000 --> 00:11:47,360 And again, they should have the scripture for you on the screens if you don't have your 214 00:11:47,360 --> 00:11:53,720 Bibles with you this morning. 215 00:11:53,720 --> 00:12:02,700 All right. 216 00:12:02,700 --> 00:12:06,420 Second Kings Chapter five, starting at verse one says this. 217 00:12:06,420 --> 00:12:09,920 Now Naaman was commander of the army of the king of Aram. 218 00:12:09,920 --> 00:12:15,160 He was a great man in the sight of his master and highly regarded because through him, the 219 00:12:15,160 --> 00:12:17,620 Lord had given victory to Aram. 220 00:12:17,620 --> 00:12:21,300 He was a valiant soldier, but he had leprosy. 221 00:12:21,300 --> 00:12:26,280 Now bands of raiders from Aram had gone out and taken captive a young girl from Israel 222 00:12:26,280 --> 00:12:28,320 and she served Naaman's wife. 223 00:12:28,320 --> 00:12:33,760 She said to her mistress, if only my master would see the prophet who is in Samaria, he 224 00:12:33,760 --> 00:12:36,400 would cure him of his leprosy. 225 00:12:36,400 --> 00:12:40,360 Naaman went to his master and told him what the girl from Israel had said. 226 00:12:40,360 --> 00:12:43,200 By all means, go, the king of Aram replied. 227 00:12:43,200 --> 00:12:45,760 I will send a letter to the king of Israel. 228 00:12:45,760 --> 00:12:52,040 So Naaman left, taking with him 10 talents of silver, 6,000 shekels of gold and 10 sets 229 00:12:52,040 --> 00:12:53,720 of clothing. 230 00:12:53,720 --> 00:12:58,020 The letter that he took to the king of Israel read, with this letter, I am sending my servant 231 00:12:58,020 --> 00:13:01,900 Naaman to you so that you may cure him of his leprosy. 232 00:13:01,900 --> 00:13:04,840 So we see right here that Naaman, he's prepared for something. 233 00:13:04,840 --> 00:13:06,840 I mean, he's taken all of this stuff along with him. 234 00:13:06,840 --> 00:13:11,640 It sounds like he's pretty on board for whatever it's going to take for him to get cured of 235 00:13:11,640 --> 00:13:12,640 this thing. 236 00:13:12,640 --> 00:13:18,320 So picking back up, in verse 7, it says, as soon as the king of Israel read the letter, 237 00:13:18,320 --> 00:13:22,640 he tore his robes and said, and my God, can I kill and bring back to life? 238 00:13:22,640 --> 00:13:26,400 Why does this fellow send someone to me to be cured of his leprosy? 239 00:13:26,400 --> 00:13:29,360 See how he was trying to pick a quarrel with me? 240 00:13:29,360 --> 00:13:34,280 When Elisha, the man of God, heard that the king of Israel had torn his robes, he sent 241 00:13:34,280 --> 00:13:35,280 him this message. 242 00:13:35,280 --> 00:13:37,440 Why have you torn your robes? 243 00:13:37,440 --> 00:13:41,600 Have the man come to me and he will know that there is a prophet in Israel. 244 00:13:41,600 --> 00:13:46,120 So Naaman went with his horses and chariots and stopped at the door of Elisha's house. 245 00:13:46,120 --> 00:13:51,960 Elisha sent a messenger to say to him, go wash yourself seven times in the Jordan and 246 00:13:51,960 --> 00:13:55,680 your flesh will be restored and you will be cleansed. 247 00:13:55,680 --> 00:14:01,760 But Naaman went away angry and said, I thought that he would surely come out to me and stand 248 00:14:01,760 --> 00:14:06,960 and call on the name of the Lord of his God, wave his hand over the spot and cure me of 249 00:14:06,960 --> 00:14:08,320 my leprosy. 250 00:14:08,320 --> 00:14:13,640 Are not Abana and far, far the rivers of Damascus better than all the waters of Israel? 251 00:14:13,640 --> 00:14:15,960 Couldn't I wash in them and be cleansed? 252 00:14:15,960 --> 00:14:19,640 So he turned and went off in a rage. 253 00:14:19,640 --> 00:14:22,160 So we're going to pause right here. 254 00:14:22,160 --> 00:14:25,640 Now again, I'm going to ask you guys to be really honest. 255 00:14:25,640 --> 00:14:28,700 How many times is this us in our lives? 256 00:14:28,700 --> 00:14:33,920 So we might not look exactly like Naaman, but I think that there are probably times 257 00:14:33,920 --> 00:14:39,000 that the Lord calls us to a thing or to a place or maybe even to a people group. 258 00:14:39,000 --> 00:14:42,000 And we're like, I don't know. 259 00:14:42,000 --> 00:14:44,280 That's not what I had planned. 260 00:14:44,280 --> 00:14:47,660 Or I had something better in mind. 261 00:14:47,660 --> 00:14:52,040 Sometimes we can get a little arrogant to think that we know better than the Lord, but 262 00:14:52,040 --> 00:14:54,880 it's so silly when we really think about it that way. 263 00:14:54,880 --> 00:14:58,080 Or even I had something bigger in mind. 264 00:14:58,080 --> 00:15:04,560 We have to be so careful that our expectations of things don't cause us to miss out on what 265 00:15:04,560 --> 00:15:08,940 God is doing, because that's exactly what almost happened to Naaman here. 266 00:15:08,940 --> 00:15:13,100 He had an expectation of the way that this was going to look. 267 00:15:13,100 --> 00:15:15,080 He was prepared for this. 268 00:15:15,080 --> 00:15:16,260 He packed. 269 00:15:16,260 --> 00:15:17,900 He was ready for this journey. 270 00:15:17,900 --> 00:15:19,700 He went where he needed to go. 271 00:15:19,700 --> 00:15:20,700 He got there. 272 00:15:20,700 --> 00:15:25,160 But when he got there and was presented with this thing that was going to bring his healing, 273 00:15:25,160 --> 00:15:29,920 he almost rejected it because it didn't look like what he wanted. 274 00:15:29,920 --> 00:15:35,060 And I pray this morning that we would start to really examine our own lives and see if 275 00:15:35,060 --> 00:15:39,480 there might be some areas that we're doing the exact same thing to God. 276 00:15:39,480 --> 00:15:47,120 And again, it might not be on quite as big a scale as this, but I think I know for myself 277 00:15:47,120 --> 00:15:50,800 that there have been times that I had prayed for something and then it was like the Lord 278 00:15:50,800 --> 00:15:52,840 presented me with the solution. 279 00:15:52,840 --> 00:15:54,640 But I was like, I don't know. 280 00:15:54,640 --> 00:15:56,320 He was like, what do you mean? 281 00:15:56,320 --> 00:15:57,320 You don't know. 282 00:15:57,320 --> 00:15:59,200 This is exactly what you've been praying for. 283 00:15:59,200 --> 00:16:02,880 But I didn't think it was going to be me that had to do it, or I didn't think I was going 284 00:16:02,880 --> 00:16:06,880 to have to go there to have to do it. 285 00:16:06,880 --> 00:16:08,280 Sometimes we're praying for something to happen. 286 00:16:08,280 --> 00:16:12,000 And then, like I said, the next thing you know, God is calling you to be the one to 287 00:16:12,000 --> 00:16:13,680 start working towards the solution. 288 00:16:13,680 --> 00:16:14,680 Right? 289 00:16:14,680 --> 00:16:15,680 Me? 290 00:16:15,680 --> 00:16:18,360 No, Lord, I meant send someone else to bless those people. 291 00:16:18,360 --> 00:16:22,640 Or can't you just supernaturally provide them with those resources? 292 00:16:22,640 --> 00:16:25,880 I know I've been so guilty of that one. 293 00:16:25,880 --> 00:16:27,400 You want me to volunteer? 294 00:16:27,400 --> 00:16:30,080 You want me to donate my resources? 295 00:16:30,080 --> 00:16:34,320 You want me to be the one to tell them about Jesus? 296 00:16:34,320 --> 00:16:37,720 How many of you in here are praying for someone you know to come to know Jesus? 297 00:16:37,720 --> 00:16:44,140 I know some of us have friends or family members that we care about that are not walking right 298 00:16:44,140 --> 00:16:45,200 with the Lord. 299 00:16:45,200 --> 00:16:49,520 Have you ever felt the Lord prompt you to witness to them and you were uneasy or maybe 300 00:16:49,520 --> 00:16:50,520 didn't do it? 301 00:16:50,520 --> 00:16:52,440 Like, oh, Lord, I didn't mean that. 302 00:16:52,440 --> 00:16:57,720 Couldn't you just drop an inspirational quote on their Facebook news feed or something? 303 00:16:57,720 --> 00:17:02,600 Couldn't you just have them watch the exact right sermon that really prompts their heart? 304 00:17:02,600 --> 00:17:06,800 Or sometimes we can get a little crazy, like I said, asking for supernatural things and 305 00:17:06,800 --> 00:17:10,840 be like, Lord, you did this thing in the book of Daniel where you just wrote on the wall 306 00:17:10,840 --> 00:17:12,320 and made it really clear for them. 307 00:17:12,320 --> 00:17:15,120 Could you do something like that? 308 00:17:15,120 --> 00:17:20,160 Anything but us having to be in a position where we feel uncomfortable, right? 309 00:17:20,160 --> 00:17:25,880 It's not an easy thing to do, but sometimes when we take that mindset, we can get in the 310 00:17:25,880 --> 00:17:29,360 way of what it is that God is trying to do. 311 00:17:29,360 --> 00:17:35,800 So let's pick back up with the story of Naaman in verse number 13 to see how this all plays 312 00:17:35,800 --> 00:17:37,420 out for him. 313 00:17:37,420 --> 00:17:43,240 So starting back at verse 13, it says, Naaman's servants went to him and said, my father, 314 00:17:43,240 --> 00:17:47,360 if the prophet had told you to do something great, would you not have done it? 315 00:17:47,360 --> 00:17:50,760 How much more than when he tells you wash and be cleansed? 316 00:17:50,760 --> 00:17:55,680 So he went down and dipped himself in the Jordan seven times as a man of God had told 317 00:17:55,680 --> 00:18:02,000 him and his flesh was restored and became clean like that of a young boy. 318 00:18:02,000 --> 00:18:06,860 Naaman almost blocked his blessing because it didn't seem great in the natural. 319 00:18:06,860 --> 00:18:12,040 He wanted things to look the way he wanted and God to do things the way that he wanted 320 00:18:12,040 --> 00:18:13,040 him to do them. 321 00:18:13,040 --> 00:18:16,740 And he almost missed his healing because of it. 322 00:18:16,740 --> 00:18:20,200 You might be like, Naaman, don't block your blessing. 323 00:18:20,200 --> 00:18:22,560 Why did God choose to heal Naaman this way? 324 00:18:22,560 --> 00:18:26,840 Honestly, I don't know and scripture doesn't elaborate on that much further. 325 00:18:26,840 --> 00:18:32,900 But what I do know is that God is sovereign and there is a purpose to everything he commands 326 00:18:32,900 --> 00:18:34,440 us to do. 327 00:18:34,440 --> 00:18:38,600 Maybe he was developing a necessary heart posture in Naaman. 328 00:18:38,600 --> 00:18:44,080 The story doesn't say, but we can trust that God knows and sees things that we can't even 329 00:18:44,080 --> 00:18:45,880 begin to think about. 330 00:18:45,880 --> 00:18:50,800 We have no idea why it is that God calls us to do the things that he does, but we can 331 00:18:50,800 --> 00:18:53,440 trust that there's good reason for it. 332 00:18:53,440 --> 00:18:57,280 Like I already said, I can relate to Naaman a lot in this area. 333 00:18:57,280 --> 00:19:02,480 And so I told you a little bit about my story that this was my home church for six years. 334 00:19:02,480 --> 00:19:07,200 And I'm not going to go into all the details of how I ended up at this church, but whenever 335 00:19:07,200 --> 00:19:11,760 I found this church and I really felt the Lord was drawing me here, I didn't want to 336 00:19:11,760 --> 00:19:12,760 come. 337 00:19:12,760 --> 00:19:13,760 I did not want to come to this church. 338 00:19:13,760 --> 00:19:17,320 And I know the first time I told Pastor Kip the story, he was like, we were your third 339 00:19:17,320 --> 00:19:18,320 choice. 340 00:19:18,320 --> 00:19:21,280 And I was like, yeah, I'm sorry. 341 00:19:21,280 --> 00:19:23,440 It was nothing personal. 342 00:19:23,440 --> 00:19:24,440 But yeah. 343 00:19:24,440 --> 00:19:30,960 But at the time in my life, you know, I came to the church by myself. 344 00:19:30,960 --> 00:19:35,880 My first two years of college, I had been traveling home often on the weekends. 345 00:19:35,880 --> 00:19:39,360 So I was still going to the church that I grew up in. 346 00:19:39,360 --> 00:19:41,520 It's about an hour and a half away from here. 347 00:19:41,520 --> 00:19:45,120 So it wasn't too terrible of a drive to make if I was staying the whole weekend. 348 00:19:45,120 --> 00:19:46,280 So I was doing that. 349 00:19:46,280 --> 00:19:50,280 Or sometimes if I'd stay here, I was going to just churches that my friends were going 350 00:19:50,280 --> 00:19:51,320 to. 351 00:19:51,320 --> 00:19:54,520 But my junior year of college, when I came back, I really felt the Lord was telling me 352 00:19:54,520 --> 00:19:56,080 that I needed to get established. 353 00:19:56,080 --> 00:20:00,280 I had to get plugged in somewhere because there was a lot that he was trying to do. 354 00:20:00,280 --> 00:20:02,760 And you know, that was the way that I needed to partner with him. 355 00:20:02,760 --> 00:20:05,080 And so I was really just dragging my feet. 356 00:20:05,080 --> 00:20:09,240 And I came here and I didn't want to go in. 357 00:20:09,240 --> 00:20:12,920 And I was like arguing with the Lord in the parking lot because it was kind of scary, 358 00:20:12,920 --> 00:20:15,600 you know, to be stepping out by yourself for the first time here. 359 00:20:15,600 --> 00:20:19,880 I was I was I was only 20 and I was going to be going to church all by myself with these 360 00:20:19,880 --> 00:20:21,840 people that I didn't know at all. 361 00:20:21,840 --> 00:20:28,480 And so I come in and I had gone through a very difficult time in my life, just about 362 00:20:28,480 --> 00:20:30,840 a year before I started attending here. 363 00:20:30,840 --> 00:20:33,480 And I'm still carrying the weight of some of that. 364 00:20:33,480 --> 00:20:35,900 And so we have worship. 365 00:20:35,900 --> 00:20:42,360 And then right after worship is over, Pastor Kip comes up and he says, I don't often do 366 00:20:42,360 --> 00:20:43,360 this. 367 00:20:43,360 --> 00:20:45,760 And I can attest to this because I went to the church for six years and I don't know 368 00:20:45,760 --> 00:20:48,840 if I ever saw him do this again after this. 369 00:20:48,840 --> 00:20:51,840 But he he completely stopped the worship. 370 00:20:51,840 --> 00:20:57,080 And he said, there is someone here who basically is just carrying a weight that's really heavy 371 00:20:57,080 --> 00:20:59,520 and like the Lord, he wants to meet with you this morning. 372 00:20:59,520 --> 00:21:01,260 He wants to heal you of that. 373 00:21:01,260 --> 00:21:03,120 And I immediately knew that it was me. 374 00:21:03,120 --> 00:21:05,480 But I was not going up for prayer. 375 00:21:05,480 --> 00:21:08,960 I was like, I didn't want to come to this church in the first place. 376 00:21:08,960 --> 00:21:11,840 I felt like I just did it just to appease the Lord. 377 00:21:11,840 --> 00:21:15,080 Now you're asking me to get up in front of all these people, come to the altar and get 378 00:21:15,080 --> 00:21:16,080 prayer. 379 00:21:16,080 --> 00:21:18,280 There's no way like I'm not crying in front of these people. 380 00:21:18,280 --> 00:21:19,820 It's not happening. 381 00:21:19,820 --> 00:21:22,320 And so I did the worst thing I could have done. 382 00:21:22,320 --> 00:21:25,240 And I white knuckled in my seat and I did not move. 383 00:21:25,240 --> 00:21:27,000 And Pastor Kip stayed up here. 384 00:21:27,000 --> 00:21:28,880 There were a couple of people that came up for prayer. 385 00:21:28,880 --> 00:21:33,140 And I was like, OK, I was like, you know, he's just going to like it was one of them. 386 00:21:33,140 --> 00:21:34,140 And like, that's fine. 387 00:21:34,140 --> 00:21:36,200 Like it's we're going to move on. 388 00:21:36,200 --> 00:21:37,200 Absolutely not. 389 00:21:37,200 --> 00:21:40,840 Pastor Kip said, I'm really glad that those people came up here for prayer. 390 00:21:40,840 --> 00:21:45,040 But I really feel like there's still just one person in here that needs prayer. 391 00:21:45,040 --> 00:21:48,400 And I just was I was I was just committed. 392 00:21:48,400 --> 00:21:50,160 I was like, I'm not I'm not going up there. 393 00:21:50,160 --> 00:21:51,320 And it was just my stubbornness. 394 00:21:51,320 --> 00:21:55,120 I had no real good reason to not do it, but I didn't. 395 00:21:55,120 --> 00:21:56,800 And so, you know, he preached the message. 396 00:21:56,800 --> 00:22:00,160 It was spot on service ended and I was out the door as fast as I could. 397 00:22:00,160 --> 00:22:01,560 I was like, I'm not talking to anyone. 398 00:22:01,560 --> 00:22:03,340 I'm not connecting with anybody. 399 00:22:03,340 --> 00:22:05,020 Like I am leaving. 400 00:22:05,020 --> 00:22:06,020 And so I left. 401 00:22:06,020 --> 00:22:09,600 But the whole rest of the week, the Lord was like, you have to go back to that church. 402 00:22:09,600 --> 00:22:15,560 And I was like, oh, I felt so I think the thing was I felt exposed. 403 00:22:15,560 --> 00:22:18,420 I was like, you know, these people don't know me, but it wasn't a bad thing. 404 00:22:18,420 --> 00:22:20,640 It was that the Lord was trying to bring healing to me. 405 00:22:20,640 --> 00:22:24,520 This was such a safe space, but I didn't know that I had no clue. 406 00:22:24,520 --> 00:22:30,160 And so I came back the next week and we go through worship and the same thing happens 407 00:22:30,160 --> 00:22:31,160 again. 408 00:22:31,160 --> 00:22:34,520 The bishop completely stopped the worship and he's like, there is a person here who 409 00:22:34,520 --> 00:22:36,360 is really dealing with something heavy. 410 00:22:36,360 --> 00:22:38,720 And at that point, I was like, he has to know that it's me. 411 00:22:38,720 --> 00:22:41,520 Like there is there's no way that he doesn't. 412 00:22:41,520 --> 00:22:43,640 And so that time I didn't I didn't fight it at all. 413 00:22:43,640 --> 00:22:49,240 I just went out and I, you know, he prayed for me and we just connected to that point. 414 00:22:49,240 --> 00:22:53,000 And then after that, I mean, honestly, I really got connected pretty quickly. 415 00:22:53,000 --> 00:22:56,720 And then, you know, I just the Lord did all kinds of amazing things. 416 00:22:56,720 --> 00:23:01,400 But had I continued to just resist what the Lord was trying to do in that moment, I would 417 00:23:01,400 --> 00:23:04,760 have missed out on so many things. 418 00:23:04,760 --> 00:23:09,000 I've always served in ministry in some capacity, even since I was a child, like I was always 419 00:23:09,000 --> 00:23:13,120 volunteering and doing things at the church that I grew up in. 420 00:23:13,120 --> 00:23:17,000 But as far as a call to ministry, that was developed in me right here. 421 00:23:17,000 --> 00:23:21,360 The fact that I'm standing up on the stage that I went through camps that I went through 422 00:23:21,360 --> 00:23:25,680 M.I.P. that I'm now ordained that I serve in leadership roles, that is because of what 423 00:23:25,680 --> 00:23:31,280 happened here at this church and not only what I'm able to do in ministry, but the friends 424 00:23:31,280 --> 00:23:34,600 that I have, the community that I gained from this place. 425 00:23:34,600 --> 00:23:40,480 And I wouldn't trade it for anything, but I almost didn't allow it to happen because 426 00:23:40,480 --> 00:23:42,060 of my stubbornness. 427 00:23:42,060 --> 00:23:47,120 And so I want to encourage you this morning, whatever it is that God is trying to do in 428 00:23:47,120 --> 00:23:51,020 your life, do not block it because you can. 429 00:23:51,020 --> 00:23:53,860 He's not ever going to force you to do something. 430 00:23:53,860 --> 00:23:57,720 He knew the beauty that was on the other side of me coming and getting connected in this 431 00:23:57,720 --> 00:23:58,720 church. 432 00:23:58,720 --> 00:23:59,720 He could see this. 433 00:23:59,720 --> 00:24:03,920 He could see all of this back in that moment, you know, eight years ago, whenever I was 434 00:24:03,920 --> 00:24:05,220 arguing with him. 435 00:24:05,220 --> 00:24:06,600 But I couldn't see that. 436 00:24:06,600 --> 00:24:11,520 But I thought I knew, you know, we try to tell God, we try to tell him all the reasons 437 00:24:11,520 --> 00:24:12,520 that we shouldn't. 438 00:24:12,520 --> 00:24:16,180 But he can see the million reasons why we should on the other side. 439 00:24:16,180 --> 00:24:18,680 So we just need to trust him. 440 00:24:18,680 --> 00:24:23,320 And that really has just continued to be the story of my life. 441 00:24:23,320 --> 00:24:28,240 You think I would have learned my lesson the first time, but I think I'm a little bit of 442 00:24:28,240 --> 00:24:32,000 a slow learner whenever it comes to certain things. 443 00:24:32,000 --> 00:24:36,240 So then, you know, two years ago, God called me to move back home and then I didn't want 444 00:24:36,240 --> 00:24:38,600 to I didn't want to go back home. 445 00:24:38,600 --> 00:24:42,320 So it took it took all that work for me to finally go here. 446 00:24:42,320 --> 00:24:44,720 And then I didn't want to leave. 447 00:24:44,720 --> 00:24:46,520 But I drug my feet for a little bit. 448 00:24:46,520 --> 00:24:47,520 Honestly, I did. 449 00:24:47,520 --> 00:24:51,800 But whenever I finally made the decision to move home, that was when I got to go through 450 00:24:51,800 --> 00:24:52,800 the KAMS program. 451 00:24:52,800 --> 00:24:55,240 That's when I got to go through ministry classes. 452 00:24:55,240 --> 00:24:59,760 And then I got to serve in my church and just connect with my family in such a beautiful 453 00:24:59,760 --> 00:25:05,000 way as an adult that I would not have had the opportunity had I not moved home. 454 00:25:05,000 --> 00:25:08,060 And so I'll share a little bit without going into too much detail. 455 00:25:08,060 --> 00:25:13,160 My family went through a lot of very, very traumatic things the last two years that I 456 00:25:13,160 --> 00:25:15,440 have been at home, which was it was difficult. 457 00:25:15,440 --> 00:25:18,240 You know, God was faithful to us through it all. 458 00:25:18,240 --> 00:25:22,400 But I can't imagine what that would have been like for me to experience those things had 459 00:25:22,400 --> 00:25:25,160 I been living here and not been with my family. 460 00:25:25,160 --> 00:25:28,640 So the fact that I was able to be home with them was such a blessing. 461 00:25:28,640 --> 00:25:33,680 I was able to minister to some of my family members who don't know the Lord through tragic 462 00:25:33,680 --> 00:25:35,360 times, which was incredible. 463 00:25:35,360 --> 00:25:39,920 The way that I was able to just watch the Lord show up, I was able to minister and pray 464 00:25:39,920 --> 00:25:40,920 at funerals. 465 00:25:40,920 --> 00:25:45,960 I was able to minister at hospital bedsides for people that were in the ICU. 466 00:25:45,960 --> 00:25:51,600 It was it was hard, but it was amazing the way that I kept watching the Lord show up. 467 00:25:51,600 --> 00:25:53,320 And that's what He promises to do. 468 00:25:53,320 --> 00:25:55,520 But again, I could have gotten away of that. 469 00:25:55,520 --> 00:25:57,160 I could have said, no, I'm going to stay here. 470 00:25:57,160 --> 00:25:58,720 Things are going well enough here. 471 00:25:58,720 --> 00:26:01,840 God, I see the ways that you're using me at LifeHouse. 472 00:26:01,840 --> 00:26:03,520 I see the community I have. 473 00:26:03,520 --> 00:26:05,640 I see the ministry opportunity. 474 00:26:05,640 --> 00:26:08,480 But had I stayed here, I would have missed all of those things. 475 00:26:08,480 --> 00:26:13,280 I would have missed being able to serve in the church that I grew up in and to see the 476 00:26:13,280 --> 00:26:15,920 way that God's blessing it and growing it right now. 477 00:26:15,920 --> 00:26:19,480 And again, I wouldn't trade what I get to do right now for the world. 478 00:26:19,480 --> 00:26:23,480 So I'm thankful that the Lord was continually prompting me to that. 479 00:26:23,480 --> 00:26:28,080 So I just want to encourage you this morning, if the Lord is calling you to do something, 480 00:26:28,080 --> 00:26:33,800 if He's put a passion or a burden or a stirring in your heart, do it. 481 00:26:33,800 --> 00:26:34,800 Don't hesitate. 482 00:26:34,800 --> 00:26:40,440 Don't wait for what it is that God is calling you to do, because you have no idea what could 483 00:26:40,440 --> 00:26:43,360 be on the other side of that. 484 00:26:43,360 --> 00:26:48,680 Does letting go and letting God mean that all the things that you let go are going to 485 00:26:48,680 --> 00:26:51,320 work out good? 486 00:26:51,320 --> 00:26:54,320 By human estimation, maybe not. 487 00:26:54,320 --> 00:26:59,240 Sometimes you let go and the exact thing that you've been praying for not to happen happens 488 00:26:59,240 --> 00:27:00,240 anyway. 489 00:27:00,240 --> 00:27:06,980 In a carnal or a fleshly mindset, we have expectations and desires and that's okay. 490 00:27:06,980 --> 00:27:11,600 But they're not always a perspective that allows us to experience the fullness that 491 00:27:11,600 --> 00:27:13,340 God pours out. 492 00:27:13,340 --> 00:27:17,400 There are some ways absolutely that you can experience God from a human point of view. 493 00:27:17,400 --> 00:27:19,620 There are good things that happen. 494 00:27:19,620 --> 00:27:24,760 People get married, babies are born, you get a promotion or a new house. 495 00:27:24,760 --> 00:27:30,000 There are some ways that you can experience the blessings of the Lord, but there are some 496 00:27:30,000 --> 00:27:37,280 good blessings that require you to lift your eyes and see beyond what the natural is displaying. 497 00:27:37,280 --> 00:27:42,880 Romans 8.28 says that God causes all things to work together for the good of those who 498 00:27:42,880 --> 00:27:46,020 love God and are called according to His purpose for them. 499 00:27:46,020 --> 00:27:50,520 So we can trust that if we surrender something to God, even if it doesn't look perfect, 500 00:27:50,520 --> 00:27:56,600 that if we truly trust Him, that He is working that thing out for good. 501 00:27:56,600 --> 00:28:01,840 So maybe you're saying to me, Hannah, I let go of a situation and it seemingly fell apart. 502 00:28:01,840 --> 00:28:04,160 I don't know if I can trust God again. 503 00:28:04,160 --> 00:28:05,480 I hear you. 504 00:28:05,480 --> 00:28:06,480 I've been there. 505 00:28:06,480 --> 00:28:11,240 I had two specific instances where I was praying for God to come through in situations that 506 00:28:11,240 --> 00:28:15,320 just did not turn out the way I thought they should. 507 00:28:15,320 --> 00:28:21,640 But what I have learned is if you are holding so tightly to your situation that God can't 508 00:28:21,640 --> 00:28:25,920 work in it, then you can't be mad at Him for not making it good. 509 00:28:25,920 --> 00:28:32,480 And so I say that because we have a tendency to surrender something to the Lord and to 510 00:28:32,480 --> 00:28:35,820 let it stay there as long as it keeps looking okay. 511 00:28:35,820 --> 00:28:39,400 But the second the things start to get a little shaky, I'm going to put my hands back on it. 512 00:28:39,400 --> 00:28:43,400 I think I might be able to or God, like what if you did this? 513 00:28:43,400 --> 00:28:44,400 Can I make a suggestion? 514 00:28:44,400 --> 00:28:48,120 And that is not what it's supposed to look like. 515 00:28:48,120 --> 00:28:50,120 He really does not need our advice. 516 00:28:50,120 --> 00:28:52,120 And like I said, I know that it's hard. 517 00:28:52,120 --> 00:28:56,600 I know that it is so hard to surrender to the Lord, especially when things don't look 518 00:28:56,600 --> 00:28:57,600 good. 519 00:28:57,600 --> 00:29:02,000 But I promise you, and we're reminded in this verse that if you trust in the Lord and lean 520 00:29:02,000 --> 00:29:07,020 not on your own understanding that He is going to take care of it. 521 00:29:07,020 --> 00:29:09,080 God is all powerful, but He's not a bully. 522 00:29:09,080 --> 00:29:11,240 He's not going to force you to let Him in. 523 00:29:11,240 --> 00:29:13,240 Sometimes we can box God out. 524 00:29:13,240 --> 00:29:17,320 You can box Him out of your life totally and not accept Him as Lord, but you can also box 525 00:29:17,320 --> 00:29:19,880 Him out in specific situations. 526 00:29:19,880 --> 00:29:24,080 We can get so caught up on an expectation that we completely miss what God is doing 527 00:29:24,080 --> 00:29:25,440 or try to do. 528 00:29:25,440 --> 00:29:28,520 We have to do what the scripture instructs. 529 00:29:28,520 --> 00:29:32,240 Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. 530 00:29:32,240 --> 00:29:35,160 Don't block what God is doing. 531 00:29:35,160 --> 00:29:43,520 Point number two, when you Lego and let God, there is some assembly required. 532 00:29:43,520 --> 00:29:45,800 So again, thank you. 533 00:29:45,800 --> 00:29:49,200 I appreciate that. 534 00:29:49,200 --> 00:29:53,180 But for this one, so how many of you know the beauty of Lego is that it's pretty much 535 00:29:53,180 --> 00:29:54,180 all assembly required. 536 00:29:54,180 --> 00:29:55,960 I mean, it's a given. 537 00:29:55,960 --> 00:29:59,120 But even when I said those are some assembly required, I'm sure there were probably some 538 00:29:59,120 --> 00:30:03,160 parents in this room that just like immediately just cringed a little bit at the thought of 539 00:30:03,160 --> 00:30:06,760 a Christmas that you had when you were up until like three o'clock in the morning putting 540 00:30:06,760 --> 00:30:11,120 something together that you thought was already assembled when you opened the box. 541 00:30:11,120 --> 00:30:15,520 I know I was talking to my parents about that and they said they had many an argument on 542 00:30:15,520 --> 00:30:21,400 a holiday because they waited till the last minute to try to put something together and 543 00:30:21,400 --> 00:30:25,960 they thought that it was already taken care of just to find out that it was in 64 pieces 544 00:30:25,960 --> 00:30:29,000 that they had to go buy like a special screwdriver for it, right? 545 00:30:29,000 --> 00:30:32,880 You had to get like a special watch battery that they only sell at like one specific store 546 00:30:32,880 --> 00:30:35,800 on the other side of town that's already closed. 547 00:30:35,800 --> 00:30:41,520 But how many times again with that whenever you have this expectation, can that be really 548 00:30:41,520 --> 00:30:42,520 frustrating? 549 00:30:42,520 --> 00:30:44,320 It's almost like you don't even want it anymore. 550 00:30:44,320 --> 00:30:46,940 And I wonder how many times we treat our lives like that. 551 00:30:46,940 --> 00:30:51,420 You know, when we have an expectation and then God presents us with the opportunity 552 00:30:51,420 --> 00:30:55,680 for it to come to pass, but we realize there's a little bit of work that we have to put in 553 00:30:55,680 --> 00:30:56,680 to get there. 554 00:30:56,680 --> 00:30:59,440 And it's like, oh, I don't know that that's what I wanted. 555 00:30:59,440 --> 00:31:02,440 Lord, couldn't you just hand it to me completely assembled? 556 00:31:02,440 --> 00:31:05,320 Couldn't you just give it to me already put together? 557 00:31:05,320 --> 00:31:08,000 But that's not what this life looks like. 558 00:31:08,000 --> 00:31:14,320 But there's so much beauty in the fact that it requires work from us. 559 00:31:14,320 --> 00:31:18,960 When we say yes to the Lord, we can sometimes run the risk of thinking that it just means 560 00:31:18,960 --> 00:31:22,720 that things are going to be perfect or smooth sailing. 561 00:31:22,720 --> 00:31:26,180 But when we surrender a situation to the Lord, we can sometimes, like I said, we expect it 562 00:31:26,180 --> 00:31:29,080 to come completely assembled and taken care of. 563 00:31:29,080 --> 00:31:31,420 But most of the time, that's not the case. 564 00:31:31,420 --> 00:31:35,600 Coming back to the story of Naaman, we see so clearly that there was something required 565 00:31:35,600 --> 00:31:38,980 of him, right, in order to receive what God was pouring out. 566 00:31:38,980 --> 00:31:43,800 He had to be willing to dip himself in the river over and over again until he saw the 567 00:31:43,800 --> 00:31:46,160 promise of God fulfilled. 568 00:31:46,160 --> 00:31:50,020 Naaman isn't the only story in the Bible that we see that there was something required 569 00:31:50,020 --> 00:31:53,120 of a person in order to access the blessing of God. 570 00:31:53,120 --> 00:31:56,960 Now, it wasn't that these people had to do something to earn it because God had already 571 00:31:56,960 --> 00:31:58,420 promised them the blessing. 572 00:31:58,420 --> 00:32:02,640 It was already there, but they just had to walk out in obedience to be able to access 573 00:32:02,640 --> 00:32:04,960 what it was that God had. 574 00:32:04,960 --> 00:32:07,320 We see this in the story of Abraham with Isaac. 575 00:32:07,320 --> 00:32:10,800 I mean, man, come on, how many of you know sometimes it can be really challenging to 576 00:32:10,800 --> 00:32:14,760 trust God with your kids, with your children, with your family? 577 00:32:14,760 --> 00:32:18,800 And it's not because God's not trustworthy, but it's just because of how much you love 578 00:32:18,800 --> 00:32:19,800 them. 579 00:32:19,800 --> 00:32:24,560 This can be a really hard thing to surrender, but we see in the story with Abraham and Isaac, 580 00:32:24,560 --> 00:32:26,920 you know, Abraham had been praying for the son. 581 00:32:26,920 --> 00:32:30,480 In his old age, he's finally blessed with one, and then God says, okay, now I want you 582 00:32:30,480 --> 00:32:32,360 to take him and to sacrifice him. 583 00:32:32,360 --> 00:32:37,160 I cannot imagine what was going through Abraham's mind whenever the Lord asked him to do that 584 00:32:37,160 --> 00:32:40,120 because not only did he give him that son, he told him he was going to be the father 585 00:32:40,120 --> 00:32:42,840 of many nations and that it was going to come through Isaac. 586 00:32:42,840 --> 00:32:45,200 So he's like, what in the world, God? 587 00:32:45,200 --> 00:32:47,440 Why is this what you're calling me to do? 588 00:32:47,440 --> 00:32:51,160 But I think there are a lot of times that what the Lord is calling us to do, it might 589 00:32:51,160 --> 00:32:57,960 look bizarre, but we just need to trust that what he's calling us to do is for a purpose. 590 00:32:57,960 --> 00:33:03,600 Another time that someone had to move, there was some assembly required in their story 591 00:33:03,600 --> 00:33:06,980 was Joshua, you know, with the walls of Jericho. 592 00:33:06,980 --> 00:33:10,080 They were promised, the Israelites were promised the land of Canaan. 593 00:33:10,080 --> 00:33:11,700 It was already theirs. 594 00:33:11,700 --> 00:33:16,000 There wasn't anything that they had to do to be able to attain it. 595 00:33:16,000 --> 00:33:17,000 God gave it to them. 596 00:33:17,000 --> 00:33:18,400 He blessed them with it. 597 00:33:18,400 --> 00:33:22,000 But he told them, you know, that they had to go and they had to march around these walls. 598 00:33:22,000 --> 00:33:26,520 And then, you know, the last time they had to lift up a shout and a song. 599 00:33:26,520 --> 00:33:28,280 And they're probably like, are you joking? 600 00:33:28,280 --> 00:33:32,240 Like this is the most fortified city that we're up against. 601 00:33:32,240 --> 00:33:35,840 And you're telling us to march around it in silence and then to just shout like that's 602 00:33:35,840 --> 00:33:37,460 so bizarre. 603 00:33:37,460 --> 00:33:42,240 But I think that one of the reasons that these stories are put in scripture is to remind 604 00:33:42,240 --> 00:33:47,000 us again that we can trust God, even when it doesn't make sense, even when it doesn't 605 00:33:47,000 --> 00:33:51,520 look like what we think it should look like, even when we can't work it out in our brains 606 00:33:51,520 --> 00:33:52,760 in the natural. 607 00:33:52,760 --> 00:33:59,040 If God is calling us to do it, there is something good on the other side of that thing. 608 00:33:59,040 --> 00:34:03,580 In both of the stories of Abraham and Joshua that I just shared, like I said, the blessing 609 00:34:03,580 --> 00:34:04,600 was already there. 610 00:34:04,600 --> 00:34:07,200 It was already promised to both of them. 611 00:34:07,200 --> 00:34:11,200 But there was an active participation that was necessary in order to get them to the 612 00:34:11,200 --> 00:34:13,200 place of blessing. 613 00:34:13,200 --> 00:34:18,320 Letting go and letting God requires an active work on your part. 614 00:34:18,320 --> 00:34:23,120 In Proverbs three, going back to our focus verse, it says, in all your ways, acknowledge 615 00:34:23,120 --> 00:34:25,960 him or submit to him or yield to him. 616 00:34:25,960 --> 00:34:33,160 Some translations say this means all your thoughts, all your feelings, all your actions, 617 00:34:33,160 --> 00:34:37,960 all your desires, everything in all your ways. 618 00:34:37,960 --> 00:34:43,080 I know I said you have to leave your situation in God's hands, but it's not just a passive 619 00:34:43,080 --> 00:34:47,840 thing of you just throwing up your hands and never doing anything ever again. 620 00:34:47,840 --> 00:34:52,120 It does mean that you're not trying to control everything, but it also means that you're 621 00:34:52,120 --> 00:34:57,160 continuing to do the things that God has instructed you to do, even when it doesn't seem to make 622 00:34:57,160 --> 00:34:58,800 sense. 623 00:34:58,800 --> 00:35:00,780 Surrender is not just quitting. 624 00:35:00,780 --> 00:35:02,740 Surrender is active. 625 00:35:02,740 --> 00:35:05,880 I think the best way I can explain it is to take a look at the way that Jesus lived his 626 00:35:05,880 --> 00:35:06,880 life. 627 00:35:06,880 --> 00:35:10,800 You know, how many sometimes, how many of you know that sometimes Jesus was asked to 628 00:35:10,800 --> 00:35:13,640 do things that he probably didn't want to do, right? 629 00:35:13,640 --> 00:35:16,720 We see this exemplified perfectly in the Garden of Gethsemane. 630 00:35:16,720 --> 00:35:21,240 Whenever Jesus is praying, you know, he knows he's about to go to the cross and he's praying 631 00:35:21,240 --> 00:35:24,880 to the point of, you know, he's crying and he's sweating. 632 00:35:24,880 --> 00:35:28,880 He's literally sweating blood because he is crying and he's praying at that point. 633 00:35:28,880 --> 00:35:33,800 And he says, nonetheless, not my will, but your will be done. 634 00:35:33,800 --> 00:35:39,120 He is coming to the place of perfect submission, the place that I believe that this scripture, 635 00:35:39,120 --> 00:35:45,280 Proverbs 3, 5, and 6 is trying to lead all of us to get to this place of constant broken 636 00:35:45,280 --> 00:35:49,280 surrender to the will of the Lord. 637 00:35:49,280 --> 00:35:52,680 Letting go and letting God is allowing the Lord to take and move your hands and feet 638 00:35:52,680 --> 00:35:53,860 where they should go. 639 00:35:53,860 --> 00:35:55,080 Like I said, this is work. 640 00:35:55,080 --> 00:35:57,640 It requires assembly. 641 00:35:57,640 --> 00:35:59,960 And our life is the same way. 642 00:35:59,960 --> 00:36:02,940 It requires work, but it's all worth it in the end. 643 00:36:02,940 --> 00:36:06,800 Maybe you're saying that you hate being patient and you don't like to wait or for things to 644 00:36:06,800 --> 00:36:08,600 have to be put together. 645 00:36:08,600 --> 00:36:10,360 I can agree with you there. 646 00:36:10,360 --> 00:36:11,360 Patience is hard. 647 00:36:11,360 --> 00:36:16,480 But like I said, I can promise you, as I've seen in my own life, that the work is worth 648 00:36:16,480 --> 00:36:17,480 it. 649 00:36:17,480 --> 00:36:20,400 Every single part of it is so worth it. 650 00:36:20,400 --> 00:36:24,280 And the work that you have to do, the beauty of it is you never have to do it alone. 651 00:36:24,280 --> 00:36:26,220 You get to partner with Jesus. 652 00:36:26,220 --> 00:36:30,020 You're not just stumbling through and trying to figure out what steps to take. 653 00:36:30,020 --> 00:36:35,240 You have someone that promises to walk every single step out with you. 654 00:36:35,240 --> 00:36:39,720 And then you also have the Holy Spirit that empowers you to be able to do it. 655 00:36:39,720 --> 00:36:43,000 So it's not like, like I said, that you're just trying to figure out how to do it or 656 00:36:43,000 --> 00:36:44,800 muster up the strength. 657 00:36:44,800 --> 00:36:49,400 You're given everything you need to be able to do it. 658 00:36:49,400 --> 00:36:54,400 All of the assembling that's done in this life leads to a place of knowing Jesus deeper. 659 00:36:54,400 --> 00:36:57,160 It leads you to a place of looking more like him. 660 00:36:57,160 --> 00:37:00,940 And it leads you to a place of knowing the master builder. 661 00:37:00,940 --> 00:37:05,200 And that is my last point that we're going to be moving on to point number three, in 662 00:37:05,200 --> 00:37:09,920 order to let go and let God, you must trust the master builder. 663 00:37:09,920 --> 00:37:13,880 So that is what the kiddos are going to be learning about this week as they dive into 664 00:37:13,880 --> 00:37:17,540 VBS, the importance of trusting the master builder. 665 00:37:17,540 --> 00:37:22,520 And it's a super simple concept, but it's something that's so important for the oldest 666 00:37:22,520 --> 00:37:28,340 to the youngest of us to really know and to understand in this life. 667 00:37:28,340 --> 00:37:32,640 The focus verse Proverbs three, five and six ends by saying, when you submit to the Lord 668 00:37:32,640 --> 00:37:37,120 that he will make your path straight or he will direct your path or he will show you 669 00:37:37,120 --> 00:37:39,440 which way to go. 670 00:37:39,440 --> 00:37:43,400 Letting go and letting God shows that you truly trust the Lord to be the one to work 671 00:37:43,400 --> 00:37:44,880 it all out. 672 00:37:44,880 --> 00:37:49,160 It's you coming to the end of yourself and saying, God, I might have good plans, but 673 00:37:49,160 --> 00:37:53,280 you are Lord and I'm going to trust you. 674 00:37:53,280 --> 00:37:58,000 Nothing I could come up with on my own in my own mind comes close to the things that 675 00:37:58,000 --> 00:38:02,000 you can do if I just surrender to you. 676 00:38:02,000 --> 00:38:06,880 Proverbs 19 and 21 says, many are the plans in a person's heart, but the Lord, it's 677 00:38:06,880 --> 00:38:09,920 the Lord's purpose that prevails. 678 00:38:09,920 --> 00:38:13,640 Now I know you're probably saying, Hannah, you just finished saying that we have to have 679 00:38:13,640 --> 00:38:17,240 an active part in God's will for our lives. 680 00:38:17,240 --> 00:38:18,240 Absolutely. 681 00:38:18,240 --> 00:38:22,120 I will say there are occasions when it seems the things of the Lord kind of just fall into 682 00:38:22,120 --> 00:38:24,880 your lap, but that's not typical. 683 00:38:24,880 --> 00:38:29,600 And even those instances occur because you were doing something at the right place at 684 00:38:29,600 --> 00:38:32,800 the right time because you were trusting where the Lord led you. 685 00:38:32,800 --> 00:38:38,000 So going back again to the story of Naaman, he had to trust that God was going to be the 686 00:38:38,000 --> 00:38:42,040 one to work it out because I mean, if anyone else would have told him to go dip in the 687 00:38:42,040 --> 00:38:46,240 river, nothing would have happened if it wasn't for the fact that God was doing something 688 00:38:46,240 --> 00:38:48,120 miraculous in those waters. 689 00:38:48,120 --> 00:38:49,360 So it was an active thing. 690 00:38:49,360 --> 00:38:51,920 It was him getting out of his own head. 691 00:38:51,920 --> 00:38:55,640 It was him moving and what he knew that God called him to do. 692 00:38:55,640 --> 00:38:59,960 And then it was him trusting that God was going to be the one to work it out. 693 00:38:59,960 --> 00:39:05,440 And that's what it's supposed to look like in our lives and our every day. 694 00:39:05,440 --> 00:39:09,060 Following the Lord's path requires something on your part, but ultimately you're allowing 695 00:39:09,060 --> 00:39:11,520 him to shape it and to take the lead. 696 00:39:11,520 --> 00:39:15,240 You're trusting that he knows what he's doing and that he's going to get you to all of the 697 00:39:15,240 --> 00:39:18,120 right places at the right time. 698 00:39:18,120 --> 00:39:21,460 Even those of us who know God and know these things sometimes still have a tendency to 699 00:39:21,460 --> 00:39:23,520 make God so small in our minds. 700 00:39:23,520 --> 00:39:28,280 I know I'm guilty of that, but he has been reminding me so much recently just how good 701 00:39:28,280 --> 00:39:34,640 he is and it's better than I can even begin to think. 702 00:39:34,640 --> 00:39:39,200 Just one more scripture to just remind us that we can trust God because he is he's sovereign. 703 00:39:39,200 --> 00:39:40,620 There is no one like him. 704 00:39:40,620 --> 00:39:42,640 There is no one that thinks the way that he does. 705 00:39:42,640 --> 00:39:45,940 There's no one that can even come close to thinking the way that he does. 706 00:39:45,940 --> 00:39:48,080 And we should be able to take some rest in that. 707 00:39:48,080 --> 00:39:52,240 In Romans chapter 11 verses 34 to 36 it says, 708 00:39:52,240 --> 00:39:56,480 Who has known the mind of the Lord or who has been his counselor? 709 00:39:56,480 --> 00:40:00,000 Who has ever given to God that God should repay them? 710 00:40:00,000 --> 00:40:03,640 For from him and through him and for him are all things. 711 00:40:03,640 --> 00:40:06,000 To him be the glory forever. 712 00:40:06,000 --> 00:40:07,520 Amen. 713 00:40:07,520 --> 00:40:12,640 God is the one who ultimately causes all things to work, so we should trust him anyway. 714 00:40:12,640 --> 00:40:13,680 It really is God. 715 00:40:13,680 --> 00:40:16,280 He is the one that will work it all out. 716 00:40:16,280 --> 00:40:18,240 He is the one that's in control. 717 00:40:18,240 --> 00:40:24,080 It's his purposes, his plans, his desires that supersede anything that we could possibly 718 00:40:24,080 --> 00:40:25,720 plan. 719 00:40:25,720 --> 00:40:29,800 So in closing I want to share just a little bit of a story that helped me to kind of deepen 720 00:40:29,800 --> 00:40:33,740 my understanding of what it looks like to trust the Lord. 721 00:40:33,740 --> 00:40:40,360 I was at the beach I think it was last summer and I was looking out just on the ocean. 722 00:40:40,360 --> 00:40:41,360 It was early in the morning. 723 00:40:41,360 --> 00:40:46,080 There wasn't too many people out there and I was kind of just praying and having conversation 724 00:40:46,080 --> 00:40:53,160 with the Lord and when I was looking I felt that he was telling me to look at everything 725 00:40:53,160 --> 00:40:54,520 it was that I could see. 726 00:40:54,520 --> 00:40:57,360 I said okay, I see this vast expanse. 727 00:40:57,360 --> 00:41:02,480 I see this thing that exists where there are no borders and I could see that and I was 728 00:41:02,480 --> 00:41:04,720 like Lord I know that you're God of all of that. 729 00:41:04,720 --> 00:41:08,520 But he's like what about the things that you can't even imagine past the ocean? 730 00:41:08,520 --> 00:41:10,520 What about the things that you can't even see? 731 00:41:10,520 --> 00:41:16,560 When there is this place beyond even what you can imagine that you start to trust God 732 00:41:16,560 --> 00:41:20,480 and that is when you can really start to surrender to the Lord. 733 00:41:20,480 --> 00:41:25,960 And I realized in my own life I trusted that God could do amazing things with me. 734 00:41:25,960 --> 00:41:29,800 I trusted that he maybe could take me to another country to minister to people. 735 00:41:29,800 --> 00:41:35,480 I trusted that he could just do incredible things in my life but I still had a reference 736 00:41:35,480 --> 00:41:39,480 for what it looked like and I didn't realize in doing that that I was kind of trying to 737 00:41:39,480 --> 00:41:41,960 start to box God in a little bit. 738 00:41:41,960 --> 00:41:46,200 Even in those big expectations that were bigger than what I could do myself I still started 739 00:41:46,200 --> 00:41:49,000 to put hindrances and limitations on him. 740 00:41:49,000 --> 00:41:55,520 Zach if you want to come up to start to close. 741 00:41:55,520 --> 00:41:58,800 So at this time we're kind of just going to take some time to just look inward to just 742 00:41:58,800 --> 00:42:02,760 reflect a little bit on some of what it is that I've been saying and Pastor Eric will 743 00:42:02,760 --> 00:42:04,720 be coming at this time at East Shore. 744 00:42:04,720 --> 00:42:09,000 So I'm asking those of you that are in the room if you would stand with me as we begin 745 00:42:09,000 --> 00:42:10,000 to close. 746 00:42:10,000 --> 00:42:13,040 If you're listening online this might be a good time for you to find a spot that you 747 00:42:13,040 --> 00:42:18,320 can just begin to pray for reflection. 748 00:42:18,320 --> 00:42:21,800 I know a lot of what I've said might sound simple and that's because it is. 749 00:42:21,800 --> 00:42:25,620 It's the simplicity of the gospel that changes people. 750 00:42:25,620 --> 00:42:30,800 You have a father that loves you and he wants you to walk this life hand in hand with him. 751 00:42:30,800 --> 00:42:35,200 And since there is sin in the world he sent his son to be an example for us of how to 752 00:42:35,200 --> 00:42:38,560 walk in the light and in communion with the father. 753 00:42:38,560 --> 00:42:42,280 And he died so that there would be no distance between us and God and he rose again so we 754 00:42:42,280 --> 00:42:44,480 would have authority over sin. 755 00:42:44,480 --> 00:42:50,160 He ascended so we could have a constant companion in the Holy Spirit to walk this life out. 756 00:42:50,160 --> 00:42:53,640 God doesn't want that message to get so complicated that people miss it. 757 00:42:53,640 --> 00:42:58,640 And that's why I love the simplicity of this message and what the Lord laid on my heart. 758 00:42:58,640 --> 00:43:00,280 This really isn't typical for me. 759 00:43:00,280 --> 00:43:04,920 I really love to dive deep into theology and to discuss some pretty intense things but 760 00:43:04,920 --> 00:43:10,000 I love that God can use anything to illustrate his deep love for us and show us the beautiful 761 00:43:10,000 --> 00:43:13,760 life that he has in knowing him. 762 00:43:13,760 --> 00:43:19,200 So today we're just going to pray that the Lord would show us if there are anything, 763 00:43:19,200 --> 00:43:24,800 any areas of our life that maybe we just need to let go and trust him a little bit deeper. 764 00:43:24,800 --> 00:43:28,400 I believe that there are some people here that really need to just stop being like I 765 00:43:28,400 --> 00:43:32,620 was when I first came to Lifehouse and white-knuckling your life. 766 00:43:32,620 --> 00:43:36,840 It's like you've been gripping on with all you've got and all you have done is made yourself 767 00:43:36,840 --> 00:43:37,840 tired. 768 00:43:37,840 --> 00:43:41,400 Listen, hard work, planning and diligence are important. 769 00:43:41,400 --> 00:43:42,480 Don't get me wrong. 770 00:43:42,480 --> 00:43:46,800 But at the end of the day, God is the only one who is actually in control. 771 00:43:46,800 --> 00:43:48,760 There can't be two people leading this thing. 772 00:43:48,760 --> 00:43:51,520 You've got to submit to him. 773 00:43:51,520 --> 00:43:53,800 So maybe you're here today and you're saying Hannah that's me. 774 00:43:53,800 --> 00:43:58,440 I've confessed Jesus as Lord but I haven't really allowed him to be Lord in my life. 775 00:43:58,440 --> 00:44:01,120 Would you pray for me to submit to him? 776 00:44:01,120 --> 00:44:02,340 Absolutely. 777 00:44:02,340 --> 00:44:05,700 Maybe some of you are here today and you're saying I've made him Lord of my life. 778 00:44:05,700 --> 00:44:09,960 But as you were speaking, there are some specific areas of my life I've realized I haven't surrendered 779 00:44:09,960 --> 00:44:10,960 to him. 780 00:44:10,960 --> 00:44:15,240 I pray that this morning you would just take that time to really just lay it at the feet 781 00:44:15,240 --> 00:44:16,600 of the Lord. 782 00:44:16,600 --> 00:44:20,240 And like I said, I know there are some areas that can be really, really difficult for us 783 00:44:20,240 --> 00:44:22,080 to trust the Lord with. 784 00:44:22,080 --> 00:44:25,440 But can I encourage you this morning that those might be the areas that the Lord wants 785 00:44:25,440 --> 00:44:27,960 to bless you the biggest in. 786 00:44:27,960 --> 00:44:31,560 There's usually a little bit of a fight and a struggle that goes on when there's a big 787 00:44:31,560 --> 00:44:33,960 blessing on the other side of something. 788 00:44:33,960 --> 00:44:37,600 And that's because the devil doesn't want you to get to the good things of the Lord. 789 00:44:37,600 --> 00:44:39,640 So I encourage you this morning. 790 00:44:39,640 --> 00:44:43,200 If you've been up against something, if you've been facing something with your family or 791 00:44:43,200 --> 00:44:49,480 your personal situation that you've been struggling to trust the Lord, give it to him this morning. 792 00:44:49,480 --> 00:44:53,720 You can lay it at his feet and trust that he's going to work it out in a way that you 793 00:44:53,720 --> 00:44:55,780 could have never imagined. 794 00:44:55,780 --> 00:44:58,840 So I just ask you this time that you would pray with me. 795 00:44:58,840 --> 00:45:00,820 Father God, we thank you so much for this day. 796 00:45:00,820 --> 00:45:02,920 I thank you so much for your word, Lord. 797 00:45:02,920 --> 00:45:08,580 I thank you so much for just the truth and the beauty that's found in knowing you, Jesus. 798 00:45:08,580 --> 00:45:13,200 And I just pray right now over every person, Lord, that's listening to me, God, every person 799 00:45:13,200 --> 00:45:17,040 that's listening here, every person that's listening online, Lord, that you would just 800 00:45:17,040 --> 00:45:22,440 start to really search our hearts and reveal to us, God, if there's any ways that we're 801 00:45:22,440 --> 00:45:24,720 not trusting you, Father. 802 00:45:24,720 --> 00:45:28,560 I pray that if there's anything that we are holding on to too tightly, Lord, that you 803 00:45:28,560 --> 00:45:33,440 would just start to nudge us this morning, God, and you would help us to lay it at your 804 00:45:33,440 --> 00:45:34,640 feet. 805 00:45:34,640 --> 00:45:38,760 There is nothing that we can do in our own power that even comes close to what you can 806 00:45:38,760 --> 00:45:41,000 do when we surrender to you, God. 807 00:45:41,000 --> 00:45:45,560 So I am praying this morning, God, that every single person in this place would come to 808 00:45:45,560 --> 00:45:51,400 a deeper place of surrender with you, with their individual situations, with their entire 809 00:45:51,400 --> 00:45:52,400 lives, Father. 810 00:45:52,400 --> 00:45:57,040 I pray that you would just draw us to you this morning and help us to know that we can 811 00:45:57,040 --> 00:46:00,800 trust you, God, we can trust you. 812 00:46:00,800 --> 00:46:03,320 It doesn't matter what it is that we're facing. 813 00:46:03,320 --> 00:46:07,640 You are good and you're going to come through for us every single time, Lord. 814 00:46:07,640 --> 00:46:12,120 So this morning I pray that you would help us to just rest in that this morning. 815 00:46:12,120 --> 00:46:17,260 Lord, I pray that you would just bring peace to any minds that are troubled or anxious 816 00:46:17,260 --> 00:46:20,080 about situations that maybe they've been struggling to trust. 817 00:46:20,080 --> 00:46:24,680 This morning I pray that they would be able to surrender and leave this place knowing 818 00:46:24,680 --> 00:46:29,160 that they've put it in the hands of an Almighty God who is going to work it out. 819 00:46:29,160 --> 00:46:31,200 God, we thank you for this word. 820 00:46:31,200 --> 00:46:35,240 I just pray that it would continue to transform us even as we leave this place. 821 00:46:35,240 --> 00:46:40,800 May we be continually transformed by the truth of the gospel and may we dare every single 822 00:46:40,800 --> 00:46:46,760 day, Lord God, to just trust you a little deeper in every way that we can. 823 00:46:46,760 --> 00:46:50,800 We love you and we praise you and we ask this all in the name of Jesus. 824 00:46:50,800 --> 00:46:55,800 Amen.