1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:23,360 Give them a hand. 2 00:00:23,360 --> 00:00:35,160 They did an outstanding job. 3 00:00:35,160 --> 00:00:41,600 Man it's hard for me to watch them up here and keep my composure. 4 00:00:41,600 --> 00:00:45,280 I was here yesterday when they were practicing. 5 00:00:45,280 --> 00:00:54,080 They showed up at 12 o'clock and were here for almost three hours preparing. 6 00:00:54,080 --> 00:01:03,120 And as the pastor said up on the mountain this past week, man not just our kids but 7 00:01:03,120 --> 00:01:16,040 like he said 571 kids, high school kids, pressing in hungry and eager to get everything that 8 00:01:16,040 --> 00:01:19,000 that God has for them. 9 00:01:19,000 --> 00:01:22,240 I mean there's nothing that touched my heart more. 10 00:01:22,240 --> 00:01:26,480 And to see that. 11 00:01:26,480 --> 00:01:30,380 And no I didn't take a lot of pictures. 12 00:01:30,380 --> 00:01:32,340 Because I was in there with them. 13 00:01:32,340 --> 00:01:36,960 I was experiencing what they were experiencing. 14 00:01:36,960 --> 00:01:41,240 And I just want you to give them another great hand. 15 00:01:41,240 --> 00:01:49,920 And give God praise for what he did up on the mountain. 16 00:01:49,920 --> 00:01:56,240 You guys can be seated. 17 00:01:56,240 --> 00:01:57,920 So as like I said it was a great week. 18 00:01:57,920 --> 00:02:00,800 Savannah thank you so much. 19 00:02:00,800 --> 00:02:02,280 It was an outstanding week. 20 00:02:02,280 --> 00:02:03,280 We had a lot of fun. 21 00:02:03,280 --> 00:02:05,640 I believe all of these guys were in my cabin. 22 00:02:05,640 --> 00:02:07,240 There's some that aren't here that were in my cabin. 23 00:02:07,240 --> 00:02:09,280 I was a counselor. 24 00:02:09,280 --> 00:02:10,280 We had a lot of fun. 25 00:02:10,280 --> 00:02:12,240 God did a lot of great things but we had a lot of fun. 26 00:02:12,240 --> 00:02:13,440 We learned a lot. 27 00:02:13,440 --> 00:02:17,280 Played a lot of games. 28 00:02:17,280 --> 00:02:21,240 There won't be much jumping that goes on with me today up here on this stage. 29 00:02:21,240 --> 00:02:25,080 And a story I'll share with you that happened at camp. 30 00:02:25,080 --> 00:02:29,920 So I decided that all the kids signed up to play dodgeball right. 31 00:02:29,920 --> 00:02:32,840 So I decided I'm going to go over there and play with you all. 32 00:02:32,840 --> 00:02:34,480 I didn't sign up. 33 00:02:34,480 --> 00:02:37,000 And I got over there and one of the counselors looked at me and he said you ain't playing 34 00:02:37,000 --> 00:02:38,000 are you? 35 00:02:38,000 --> 00:02:39,000 I said well yeah. 36 00:02:39,000 --> 00:02:42,200 He goes well don't be so hard on these kids. 37 00:02:42,200 --> 00:02:43,760 I said I'll take it easy. 38 00:02:43,760 --> 00:02:44,760 And I did. 39 00:02:44,760 --> 00:02:45,760 I took it easy. 40 00:02:45,760 --> 00:02:49,880 But then at the end of the tournament it was the winning team versus the counselors. 41 00:02:49,880 --> 00:02:50,880 Okay. 42 00:02:50,880 --> 00:02:53,460 Now I had to turn up for the counselors all right. 43 00:02:53,460 --> 00:02:54,460 So I had to go hard. 44 00:02:54,460 --> 00:02:57,420 You all are laughing because you all know what I'm about to say. 45 00:02:57,420 --> 00:02:59,080 So I go pushing for this ball. 46 00:02:59,080 --> 00:03:00,680 I mean I'm sprinting for this ball. 47 00:03:00,680 --> 00:03:01,680 How many of you play dodgeball? 48 00:03:01,680 --> 00:03:02,680 You know what I'm talking about. 49 00:03:02,680 --> 00:03:04,800 They line the balls up in the middle and you got to run and get them. 50 00:03:04,800 --> 00:03:08,000 I run and I realize one of them kids on the other side is about to beat me. 51 00:03:08,000 --> 00:03:11,960 So I took a dive and man I pulled my hamstrings. 52 00:03:11,960 --> 00:03:16,600 I didn't even get to throw a ball and I was on the sidelines seeking medical treatment. 53 00:03:16,600 --> 00:03:18,080 I was like Lord help me. 54 00:03:18,080 --> 00:03:19,080 I looked at them. 55 00:03:19,080 --> 00:03:21,880 I said y'all there was an old song Country song that says I ain't as good as I once 56 00:03:21,880 --> 00:03:22,880 was. 57 00:03:22,880 --> 00:03:24,040 Most of them boys looked at me like what is that? 58 00:03:24,040 --> 00:03:26,240 I'm like y'all telling me my age now. 59 00:03:26,240 --> 00:03:27,240 I'm getting old. 60 00:03:27,240 --> 00:03:29,320 I don't even know what I'm talking about. 61 00:03:29,320 --> 00:03:30,320 But we had a great time. 62 00:03:30,320 --> 00:03:33,680 I enjoyed every single one of the kids. 63 00:03:33,680 --> 00:03:35,880 Praying for Brady and Matt. 64 00:03:35,880 --> 00:03:38,520 They kind of ended up sick as we come back from camp. 65 00:03:38,520 --> 00:03:40,000 So keep them in your prayers. 66 00:03:40,000 --> 00:03:41,680 I have been praying for them. 67 00:03:41,680 --> 00:03:48,000 But as I got back from camp and Friday came and that was a busy time. 68 00:03:48,000 --> 00:03:50,320 A lot of rest that was happening on me. 69 00:03:50,320 --> 00:03:51,320 I was exhausted. 70 00:03:51,320 --> 00:03:55,560 But after I got through that Saturday I spent some time really seeking God for which he 71 00:03:55,560 --> 00:03:59,000 had already kind of laid on my heart some things that he wanted me to preach about tonight 72 00:03:59,000 --> 00:04:02,560 because I've known for a couple weeks Pastor Waters and thank you so very much for giving 73 00:04:02,560 --> 00:04:04,000 me this opportunity. 74 00:04:04,000 --> 00:04:08,760 I know that who you get to stand behind this podium matters and it's very important so 75 00:04:08,760 --> 00:04:11,600 that's an honor for me. 76 00:04:11,600 --> 00:04:17,440 But as I began to really think about what God would have me preach on today there was 77 00:04:17,440 --> 00:04:20,760 a couple thoughts that kind of stuck out to me and I want to dive into those. 78 00:04:20,760 --> 00:04:26,080 My scriptures tonight will be Luke chapter 5 and I'll hit verses 1 through 11. 79 00:04:26,080 --> 00:04:28,320 Want to talk about the story of Peter. 80 00:04:28,320 --> 00:04:32,160 And then I'm going to jump over to Matthew chapter 16 but I'll let you guys know when 81 00:04:32,160 --> 00:04:34,120 we get there. 82 00:04:34,120 --> 00:04:37,840 So today we're going to be looking like I said at the story at the life of Peter. 83 00:04:37,840 --> 00:04:41,960 Peter was a disciple of Jesus but before he became a part of the story that we all know 84 00:04:41,960 --> 00:04:46,760 today first he was a fisherman's who's as we all know mouth and choices got him in trouble. 85 00:04:46,760 --> 00:04:53,120 He was known as emotional unstable and impulsive yet Jesus invited Peter to be a part of history 86 00:04:53,120 --> 00:04:54,360 and it changed his life. 87 00:04:54,360 --> 00:05:00,200 So if you would all stand Luke chapter 5 verse 1. 88 00:05:00,200 --> 00:05:05,440 And it came to pass as the people pressed upon him to hear the word of God he stood 89 00:05:05,440 --> 00:05:12,240 by the lake of Gennesaret and saw two ships standing by the lake but the fishermen were 90 00:05:12,240 --> 00:05:16,440 gone out of them and they were washing their nets and he entered into one of the ships 91 00:05:16,440 --> 00:05:22,080 which was Simon's and prayed him that he would thrust out a little from the land and he sat 92 00:05:22,080 --> 00:05:25,400 down and taught the people out on the ship. 93 00:05:25,400 --> 00:05:31,880 Now when he had left speaking he said unto Simon. 94 00:05:31,880 --> 00:05:36,760 He said unto Simon launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch. 95 00:05:36,760 --> 00:05:41,520 Simon answered saying unto him master we have toiled all night and have taken nothing nevertheless 96 00:05:41,520 --> 00:05:44,800 at thy word I will let down the net. 97 00:05:44,800 --> 00:05:48,600 And when they had done this they enclosed a great multitude of fishes in their net and 98 00:05:48,600 --> 00:05:53,680 their net break and they beckoned unto their partners which were in the other ship that 99 00:05:53,680 --> 00:05:57,760 they would come and help them and they came and filled both the ships so that they began 100 00:05:57,760 --> 00:05:59,040 to sink. 101 00:05:59,040 --> 00:06:03,720 When Simon Peter saw it he fell down at Jesus's knees saying depart from me for I am a sinful 102 00:06:03,720 --> 00:06:10,320 man oh Lord for he was astonished at all that was astonished and all that were with him 103 00:06:10,320 --> 00:06:13,600 at the catch of fishes which they had taken. 104 00:06:13,600 --> 00:06:17,600 And so was also James and John and the sons of Zebedee which were partners with Simon 105 00:06:17,600 --> 00:06:23,080 and Jesus said unto Simon fear not from henceforth thou shall catch men. 106 00:06:23,080 --> 00:06:27,440 And when they had brought their ships to land they forsook all and followed him. 107 00:06:27,440 --> 00:06:31,280 Father I thank you today for the opportunity to share your word as I have broken your word 108 00:06:31,280 --> 00:06:35,480 tonight Lord I pray that you would help me and give me a fresh anointing Lord to preach 109 00:06:35,480 --> 00:06:37,840 your word under the conviction and the unction of the Holy Ghost. 110 00:06:37,840 --> 00:06:41,560 Lord I ask that you would touch us today and let us have ears to hear what your spirit 111 00:06:41,560 --> 00:06:44,080 is saying in this present time and in this hour. 112 00:06:44,080 --> 00:06:48,680 God that you would be glorified and edified through it all in Christ's name amen. 113 00:06:48,680 --> 00:06:51,520 You can be seated. 114 00:06:51,520 --> 00:06:55,280 In this story of Peter it gives us a power is a powerful example of how Jesus wants to 115 00:06:55,280 --> 00:06:58,080 invite us to be a part of his story. 116 00:06:58,080 --> 00:07:02,120 Here in Luke 5 we see that Peter and some others were washing their nets and they were 117 00:07:02,120 --> 00:07:03,680 going about their usual business. 118 00:07:03,680 --> 00:07:08,920 The first disciples Jesus calls Peter, Andrew, James and John were all fishermen. 119 00:07:08,920 --> 00:07:13,600 Washing was hard work in this time but a common trade around the Sea of Galilee because of 120 00:07:13,600 --> 00:07:18,240 this there were lots of competition and each day was kind of do or die situation. 121 00:07:18,240 --> 00:07:22,240 For the most part they were just ordinary guys doing regular work. 122 00:07:22,240 --> 00:07:23,340 This was their livelihood. 123 00:07:23,340 --> 00:07:26,200 This was their source of income and their security. 124 00:07:26,200 --> 00:07:28,840 Keep in mind that they weren't the most influential people. 125 00:07:28,840 --> 00:07:33,760 They weren't clean and they probably had a smell about them and in terms of characteristics 126 00:07:33,760 --> 00:07:38,780 the fishermen were gruff and rugged and were not regarded as having a high social status. 127 00:07:38,780 --> 00:07:42,760 They would have been probably seen as the last people chosen to share the gospel but 128 00:07:42,760 --> 00:07:46,960 Jesus invites them to be a part of something much bigger than their fishing career. 129 00:07:46,960 --> 00:07:51,400 He could have used anyone but starts his kingdom work with four fishermen. 130 00:07:51,400 --> 00:07:56,640 Did Jesus need Peter's boat to be able to preach to the crowd that gathered on the shore 131 00:07:56,640 --> 00:07:57,640 to hear him? 132 00:07:57,640 --> 00:08:02,360 Did he need Peter to row him out on the Sea of Galilee so he could address the crowd on 133 00:08:02,360 --> 00:08:03,360 the shore? 134 00:08:03,360 --> 00:08:04,360 Of course not. 135 00:08:04,360 --> 00:08:07,800 If Jesus wanted to he could have walked from the shore directly out onto the water, stood 136 00:08:07,800 --> 00:08:10,840 there and preached to them from there and address the crowd. 137 00:08:10,840 --> 00:08:14,920 Furthermore, did Jesus need them to haul in all those fish on the boat? 138 00:08:14,920 --> 00:08:18,600 Did he need their hard work and effort and straining to bring up the nets that were full 139 00:08:18,600 --> 00:08:19,600 of fish? 140 00:08:19,600 --> 00:08:20,600 No. 141 00:08:20,600 --> 00:08:24,080 Jesus could have simply pointed at the boat and commanded the fish to get in. 142 00:08:24,080 --> 00:08:27,760 God doesn't need us but by his grace he allows us to partner with him. 143 00:08:27,760 --> 00:08:32,200 He invites us in and wants to use us but it starts with surrender. 144 00:08:32,200 --> 00:08:36,600 It starts with us giving up the things we think will bring us fulfillment and starts 145 00:08:36,600 --> 00:08:39,440 with surrendering our will for his. 146 00:08:39,440 --> 00:08:43,960 Our will for his above all is what we deem as the best thing. 147 00:08:43,960 --> 00:08:45,680 How many here know what's best for themselves? 148 00:08:45,680 --> 00:08:47,420 I know what's best for me, right? 149 00:08:47,420 --> 00:08:48,880 We each know what's best for us. 150 00:08:48,880 --> 00:08:50,880 I say that's wrong. 151 00:08:50,880 --> 00:08:54,480 What it tells me here is there's a surrendering that has to take place in order for you to 152 00:08:54,480 --> 00:08:57,260 submit yourself under the will of God. 153 00:08:57,260 --> 00:08:58,560 Surrendering what you might ask. 154 00:08:58,560 --> 00:09:03,060 Surrendering anything that would prevent you from seeking closer relationship with him. 155 00:09:03,060 --> 00:09:07,600 Maybe it's your relationships in life, maybe it's discouragement, doubt, fear, anxiety, 156 00:09:07,600 --> 00:09:11,320 anything that would discourage you from seeking to be in a better relationship with God. 157 00:09:11,320 --> 00:09:12,640 You have to surrender those things. 158 00:09:12,640 --> 00:09:15,160 What is it that I'm spending my time on? 159 00:09:15,160 --> 00:09:16,920 Am I spending my time wasting it? 160 00:09:16,920 --> 00:09:18,400 Am I doing frivolous things? 161 00:09:18,400 --> 00:09:19,800 Am I on my phone too much? 162 00:09:19,800 --> 00:09:20,800 On the internet? 163 00:09:20,800 --> 00:09:26,400 What am I doing with my time other than seeking his will for my life? 164 00:09:26,400 --> 00:09:30,360 Notice that the disciples were exhausted from trying to make things work in their own strength. 165 00:09:30,360 --> 00:09:33,640 They had worked tirelessly but had come up empty handed. 166 00:09:33,640 --> 00:09:38,280 However, when the disciples responded to Jesus, Jesus' command with obedience, they caught 167 00:09:38,280 --> 00:09:41,480 such a large number of fish that their nets broke. 168 00:09:41,480 --> 00:09:45,400 When we look at Peter's response, he was sorrowful and asked Jesus to leave him. 169 00:09:45,400 --> 00:09:46,400 Why? 170 00:09:46,400 --> 00:09:50,240 In the light of the presence of Christ, he saw all of his sinfulness. 171 00:09:50,240 --> 00:09:53,140 However, Jesus doesn't turn Peter away. 172 00:09:53,140 --> 00:09:58,280 Not only does Jesus demonstrate his power in Luke 5, his grace, he turns their focus 173 00:09:58,280 --> 00:10:01,760 from the thing they thought that could bring them fulfillment and directs it to the purpose 174 00:10:01,760 --> 00:10:03,600 that he has for their life. 175 00:10:03,600 --> 00:10:06,680 As a result, the disciples leave everything and follow him. 176 00:10:06,680 --> 00:10:11,600 Here again, we have a perfect picture of what he's asking them to do. 177 00:10:11,600 --> 00:10:16,040 It draws also an example of what's going to happen when we decide that God's will above 178 00:10:16,040 --> 00:10:17,040 ours. 179 00:10:17,040 --> 00:10:18,040 What is something that could happen? 180 00:10:18,040 --> 00:10:21,960 They toiled all day, caught nothing, but the minute they fell under the obedience of God, 181 00:10:21,960 --> 00:10:25,960 the minute they decided, I'm going to obey this man named Jesus, what happened? 182 00:10:25,960 --> 00:10:28,500 Their boats and became to overflow with fish. 183 00:10:28,500 --> 00:10:32,080 They were blessed and it poured out upon them because they ended up finding out that their 184 00:10:32,080 --> 00:10:35,600 will was not greater than the master's will. 185 00:10:35,600 --> 00:10:41,840 Peter, along with the others, through this significant event that Jesus was enough to 186 00:10:41,840 --> 00:10:46,160 that Jesus found out through this significant event that Jesus was enough. 187 00:10:46,160 --> 00:10:49,180 Too often our focus becomes everything else around us. 188 00:10:49,180 --> 00:10:53,460 We focus on our own financial situation, our own career, our own social status. 189 00:10:53,460 --> 00:10:57,000 It's how many likes we got on Facebook, how many followers we have on Instagram, how many 190 00:10:57,000 --> 00:10:58,800 views we got on TikTok. 191 00:10:58,800 --> 00:11:01,880 But we're wondering the whole time why our lives are in turmoil. 192 00:11:01,880 --> 00:11:06,160 Why can't we seem to get over or through our situation or why there's discouragement, doubt, 193 00:11:06,160 --> 00:11:08,040 anxiety, and fear in our minds. 194 00:11:08,040 --> 00:11:10,920 We get overwhelmed with suicidal and destructive thoughts. 195 00:11:10,920 --> 00:11:13,640 The enemy just keeps coming and coming. 196 00:11:13,640 --> 00:11:17,220 But I've come to tell someone today that Jesus is enough. 197 00:11:17,220 --> 00:11:18,280 He is my savior. 198 00:11:18,280 --> 00:11:19,280 He is my redeemer. 199 00:11:19,280 --> 00:11:20,280 He is my provider. 200 00:11:20,280 --> 00:11:21,680 He is my bread of life. 201 00:11:21,680 --> 00:11:24,200 He is the very present help in time of trouble. 202 00:11:24,200 --> 00:11:26,800 He's the son of the living God, the king of kings and the Lord of lords. 203 00:11:26,800 --> 00:11:30,600 He is the way, the truth, and the life. 204 00:11:30,600 --> 00:11:34,720 Give him praise in this house. 205 00:11:34,720 --> 00:11:39,200 The Bible says in Matthew 11, 28, come unto me all ye that are labor, that labor and are 206 00:11:39,200 --> 00:11:41,760 heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 207 00:11:41,760 --> 00:11:45,340 But we take our eyes off Jesus so many times. 208 00:11:45,340 --> 00:11:50,040 We get right where we need to be, but our focus changes and we turn our eyes back. 209 00:11:50,040 --> 00:11:54,360 When Peter even did this after the resurrection, when Jesus started appearing to the disciples, 210 00:11:54,360 --> 00:11:58,480 it says that Jesus and a multitude of others went back to fishing. 211 00:11:58,480 --> 00:12:00,280 They went back to their old way of life. 212 00:12:00,280 --> 00:12:03,400 Jesus, they had these encounters with Jesus, had walked with him through his ministry, 213 00:12:03,400 --> 00:12:08,040 saw him down across and went back to what they were doing before. 214 00:12:08,040 --> 00:12:10,380 We can't take our eyes off Jesus. 215 00:12:10,380 --> 00:12:14,960 Too often we get so focused on doing church that we forget and what God established the 216 00:12:14,960 --> 00:12:16,200 church to be and to do. 217 00:12:16,200 --> 00:12:20,120 As the church, we have forgotten that Christ is enough. 218 00:12:20,120 --> 00:12:24,720 I'm flipping over to Matthew chapter 16 and I'm going to read 13 through 18 if you want 219 00:12:24,720 --> 00:12:30,640 to follow along. 220 00:12:30,640 --> 00:12:34,600 Verse 13 says when Jesus came into the coast of Caesarea Philippi, he asked the disciples 221 00:12:34,600 --> 00:12:39,160 saying, whom do men say that the son of man am? 222 00:12:39,160 --> 00:12:45,120 And they said, some say thou art John the Baptist, some Elias, and others Jeremiah or 223 00:12:45,120 --> 00:12:46,120 one of the prophets. 224 00:12:46,120 --> 00:12:51,440 Nothing to them but whom say ye that I am? 225 00:12:51,440 --> 00:12:55,360 Simon Peter answered and said, thou art the Christ, the son of the living God. 226 00:12:55,360 --> 00:13:03,680 And Jesus answered and said to him, blessed art thou, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood 227 00:13:03,680 --> 00:13:07,520 hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. 228 00:13:07,520 --> 00:13:11,880 And I say also unto thee that thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church 229 00:13:11,880 --> 00:13:15,760 and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. 230 00:13:15,760 --> 00:13:19,400 Here Peter is confessing Jesus as the son of God. 231 00:13:19,400 --> 00:13:23,040 And this is important why, because how you see Jesus matters. 232 00:13:23,040 --> 00:13:26,240 How you see Jesus determines how you come to him. 233 00:13:26,240 --> 00:13:30,760 If you see him as good, faithful, and true, he will be your source. 234 00:13:30,760 --> 00:13:35,760 If you identify him as the one who you can turn to, there are a few important things 235 00:13:35,760 --> 00:13:37,760 that we can point to from this story. 236 00:13:37,760 --> 00:13:40,720 Firstly, Peter recognizes Jesus as the Messiah. 237 00:13:40,720 --> 00:13:43,120 Jesus asks him, who do you say that I am? 238 00:13:43,120 --> 00:13:45,560 Peter is saying that Jesus is the promised deliverer. 239 00:13:45,560 --> 00:13:51,600 He is saying you are not just any man or any person, you are my Savior and Lord. 240 00:13:51,600 --> 00:13:53,560 Peter is making a powerful statement here. 241 00:13:53,560 --> 00:13:58,400 It's one thing to recognize Jesus as our Savior, but do we recognize him as Lord? 242 00:13:58,400 --> 00:14:01,220 There's a difference there, Savior and Lord. 243 00:14:01,220 --> 00:14:02,220 There's a significant difference. 244 00:14:02,220 --> 00:14:06,200 It's like if you and your family went on a vacation and you decided to drive down to 245 00:14:06,200 --> 00:14:11,280 a beach and you're there all week at the beach and it rains every day throughout the week. 246 00:14:11,280 --> 00:14:15,060 But finally, one day the rain breaks and it's sunny and your whole family, the last day, 247 00:14:15,060 --> 00:14:16,060 you guys can go swimming. 248 00:14:16,060 --> 00:14:20,360 You're out there swimming, having a wonderful time, and all of a sudden your hammy starts 249 00:14:20,360 --> 00:14:23,000 acting up. 250 00:14:23,000 --> 00:14:24,840 And you begin to drown. 251 00:14:24,840 --> 00:14:29,100 Luckily, the lifeguard who's very attentive at that time sees you and jumps in and saves 252 00:14:29,100 --> 00:14:30,100 your life. 253 00:14:30,100 --> 00:14:33,920 And then you thank him for saving your life, and the next day you pack up and you're headed 254 00:14:33,920 --> 00:14:36,320 home. 255 00:14:36,320 --> 00:14:41,160 A lot of times, too many times, people will treat Jesus like they treat this lifeguard. 256 00:14:41,160 --> 00:14:45,280 We greatly appreciate Jesus because we asked him. 257 00:14:45,280 --> 00:14:48,760 We greatly appreciate Jesus for saving us because we asked him at vacation Bible school 258 00:14:48,760 --> 00:14:51,120 or youth camp or some conference. 259 00:14:51,120 --> 00:14:55,000 The problem is we simply say thank you and move on with our lives. 260 00:14:55,000 --> 00:14:56,720 Jesus is more than a lifeguard. 261 00:14:56,720 --> 00:14:59,280 He is our life, Lord. 262 00:14:59,280 --> 00:15:01,800 Of our life, we no longer live in who we once were. 263 00:15:01,800 --> 00:15:06,080 It is no longer we who live, but Christ who lives in us. 264 00:15:06,080 --> 00:15:11,280 Verse 17-28 says it is in him that we live and move and have our being. 265 00:15:11,280 --> 00:15:16,800 Secondly, Jesus identifies Peter for who he is, not who he was. 266 00:15:16,800 --> 00:15:21,400 Notice that Jesus says in verse 17, blessed are you, Simon Barjona, for this was not revealed 267 00:15:21,400 --> 00:15:24,720 to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. 268 00:15:24,720 --> 00:15:26,640 And I tell you that you are Peter. 269 00:15:26,640 --> 00:15:27,640 What happened? 270 00:15:27,640 --> 00:15:29,680 Jesus changed his name. 271 00:15:29,680 --> 00:15:33,840 Before we see that Peter was referred to as Simon, even the disciples couldn't get on 272 00:15:33,840 --> 00:15:39,000 board with this and would refer to him often as Simon Peter, but Jesus changed his name. 273 00:15:39,000 --> 00:15:40,240 Why is this significant? 274 00:15:40,240 --> 00:15:43,080 Because Peter's name in the Greek literally means rock. 275 00:15:43,080 --> 00:15:46,720 Before Jesus, Simon was impulsive, emotional, and quick to react. 276 00:15:46,720 --> 00:15:49,880 We're talking about the same guy who chopped a guy's ear off. 277 00:15:49,880 --> 00:15:53,280 Did Jesus just call an unstable person a rock? 278 00:15:53,280 --> 00:15:58,040 Because he's the only one who can identify you for who you truly are, not who you were. 279 00:15:58,040 --> 00:16:02,560 In a world we live in today, facing identity, Christ is all around us. 280 00:16:02,560 --> 00:16:07,240 And God is the only one that can identify us for who we are, not who we were, not who 281 00:16:07,240 --> 00:16:11,660 we want to be, because we are not the ones that are identifying ourselves. 282 00:16:11,660 --> 00:16:14,560 God identifies us for who we are. 283 00:16:14,560 --> 00:16:16,780 In this generation, we don't know who we are. 284 00:16:16,780 --> 00:16:17,840 Men think we're women. 285 00:16:17,840 --> 00:16:18,960 Women think we're men. 286 00:16:18,960 --> 00:16:22,180 There's transphobia things going around all over the place. 287 00:16:22,180 --> 00:16:25,440 People even think they're cats or dogs or infants and hire nannies to come stay with 288 00:16:25,440 --> 00:16:26,960 them in their house. 289 00:16:26,960 --> 00:16:32,240 You could even go as far to say that the church has lost their identity. 290 00:16:32,240 --> 00:16:35,720 How can we witness, testify, and minister to people when we don't know who we are in 291 00:16:35,720 --> 00:16:37,920 Christ? 292 00:16:37,920 --> 00:16:41,920 We have to get back to the foundation upon which the church was built and that Jesus, 293 00:16:41,920 --> 00:16:44,480 you are the Christ, you are the Son of the living God. 294 00:16:44,480 --> 00:16:48,840 It is Jesus who is the rock, the first and great foundation of the church. 295 00:16:48,840 --> 00:16:54,240 First Corinthians 3, 11, for other foundations can no man lay than that is laid, which is 296 00:16:54,240 --> 00:16:55,840 Jesus Christ. 297 00:16:55,840 --> 00:16:59,800 Because he is the only one who can identify you for who you truly are, not who you were, 298 00:16:59,800 --> 00:17:03,160 and then turn around and use you for his purpose. 299 00:17:03,160 --> 00:17:06,160 God wants to use each and every one of us for his purpose. 300 00:17:06,160 --> 00:17:08,760 We have to find who we are in Christ. 301 00:17:08,760 --> 00:17:12,220 It's not up to us to determine what we become or our future. 302 00:17:12,220 --> 00:17:14,120 We don't know our future, but God's already there. 303 00:17:14,120 --> 00:17:15,160 He's already been there. 304 00:17:15,160 --> 00:17:16,800 He already sees what we become. 305 00:17:16,800 --> 00:17:18,000 Who will we become? 306 00:17:18,000 --> 00:17:20,160 I want to be a man who seeks after Jesus. 307 00:17:20,160 --> 00:17:23,880 I want to be a man who follows in his will and denies myself. 308 00:17:23,880 --> 00:17:28,460 I want to be a man who surrenders everything that's unrighteous and ungodly and follows 309 00:17:28,460 --> 00:17:29,460 Jesus Christ. 310 00:17:29,460 --> 00:17:34,480 I want to be the man that follows my savior. 311 00:17:34,480 --> 00:17:38,560 Jesus not only wants to, thirdly, Jesus not only wants to change you, he wants to use 312 00:17:38,560 --> 00:17:39,560 you. 313 00:17:39,560 --> 00:17:44,640 The kingdom work has to go forth and he needs people willing to be the vessels to use. 314 00:17:44,640 --> 00:17:49,440 So we see that Jesus identifies in this text, but goes a step further in verse 18. 315 00:17:49,440 --> 00:17:53,760 And I tell you that you are Peter and upon this rock I will build my church and the gates 316 00:17:53,760 --> 00:17:54,920 of hell will not overcome it. 317 00:17:54,920 --> 00:17:59,560 Jesus is saying, I will build my church on that confession, Peter. 318 00:17:59,560 --> 00:18:03,800 When we confess Jesus as the son of God, we are not just going to heaven, but when we 319 00:18:03,800 --> 00:18:07,040 die, Jesus invites us to help build his church. 320 00:18:07,040 --> 00:18:08,280 What does this mean for us today? 321 00:18:08,280 --> 00:18:13,360 When we realize that we are part of something so much greater, it's scary, right? 322 00:18:13,360 --> 00:18:14,760 It's scary, it's intimidating. 323 00:18:14,760 --> 00:18:16,680 It's also exciting. 324 00:18:16,680 --> 00:18:22,720 It's also to know what God wants to use us, but here's sometimes our dilemma. 325 00:18:22,720 --> 00:18:25,280 We know the real us, don't we? 326 00:18:25,280 --> 00:18:28,880 We start listing our shortcomings, our flaws, and we start questioning his purpose for our 327 00:18:28,880 --> 00:18:29,880 life. 328 00:18:29,880 --> 00:18:30,880 And this hit really home for me. 329 00:18:30,880 --> 00:18:34,540 When I was typing this out and studying it, it hit really home for me. 330 00:18:34,540 --> 00:18:37,920 Some of the most discouraged I've ever been in my entire life is the minute I decided 331 00:18:37,920 --> 00:18:42,440 to seek God and the minute I decided to fulfill his call and his purpose for my life. 332 00:18:42,440 --> 00:18:46,840 That's the most discouraged and most beaten up and how the enemy has battled me in my 333 00:18:46,840 --> 00:18:49,160 mind over and over again so many times. 334 00:18:49,160 --> 00:18:53,360 And that's the hardest, strongest battle I've ever faced. 335 00:18:53,360 --> 00:18:58,360 As you pursue that will and that call that God has for your life, it does not get easier. 336 00:18:58,360 --> 00:19:04,160 We act like, and sometimes we manipulate it, not intentionally, but you give your heart 337 00:19:04,160 --> 00:19:06,840 to God and everything's fixed, everything's better. 338 00:19:06,840 --> 00:19:08,880 He is the deliverer, he is the provider. 339 00:19:08,880 --> 00:19:11,560 He is the one who is everything you need all in one. 340 00:19:11,560 --> 00:19:15,460 However, the enemy will not just sit idly by and let that happen. 341 00:19:15,460 --> 00:19:17,200 He will not just sit idly by. 342 00:19:17,200 --> 00:19:20,880 The Bible tells us he's as a rowing lion seeking whom he may devour. 343 00:19:20,880 --> 00:19:22,200 He will not stop. 344 00:19:22,200 --> 00:19:23,200 He will not stop. 345 00:19:23,200 --> 00:19:28,200 The minute you decide to forsake yourself and follow Jesus, he's going to be attacking 346 00:19:28,200 --> 00:19:29,520 you more than ever. 347 00:19:29,520 --> 00:19:33,080 When my brother finally turned his life back over from the drug addiction and gave his 348 00:19:33,080 --> 00:19:36,440 heart back to God, the first thing I told him was now it gets hard. 349 00:19:36,440 --> 00:19:41,240 Now you think, well, how is that 12 years of drug addiction, 12 years of torment, physical 350 00:19:41,240 --> 00:19:43,360 ailments, how does it get harder from then? 351 00:19:43,360 --> 00:19:46,640 Because the enemy had him then, life was easy for the enemy. 352 00:19:46,640 --> 00:19:48,760 But now he's a child of the living God. 353 00:19:48,760 --> 00:19:52,720 Now he has turned his life, forsaken himself and following Jesus. 354 00:19:52,720 --> 00:19:56,760 And now the attack really begins. 355 00:19:56,760 --> 00:19:58,180 It's an encouragement though. 356 00:19:58,180 --> 00:20:04,040 If the enemy is not attacking, that's when you should be concerned. 357 00:20:04,040 --> 00:20:08,780 When life is good, life is good, by the way. 358 00:20:08,780 --> 00:20:12,300 The enemy is going to do his job, but life is good because as long as I have a breath 359 00:20:12,300 --> 00:20:14,160 every morning, life is good. 360 00:20:14,160 --> 00:20:16,040 God has been faithful to me. 361 00:20:16,040 --> 00:20:18,000 He has blessed me. 362 00:20:18,000 --> 00:20:22,800 And I do that just as simple as waking up in the morning, do not take for granted. 363 00:20:22,800 --> 00:20:28,160 I had an employee one time, he was 38 years old, Christmas Eve. 364 00:20:28,160 --> 00:20:33,040 I work for FedEx, Christmas is a, it's a, it's a busy time for us. 365 00:20:33,040 --> 00:20:35,080 It's a special time for families. 366 00:20:35,080 --> 00:20:40,400 It's a time where we spend time together, loving one another, enjoying the atmosphere 367 00:20:40,400 --> 00:20:44,000 of Christmas and what that represents for the Christian. 368 00:20:44,000 --> 00:20:49,400 And he was a Christian man, but I remember Christmas Eve, freight was late, we were running 369 00:20:49,400 --> 00:20:50,800 behind. 370 00:20:50,800 --> 00:20:51,800 He wasn't there. 371 00:20:51,800 --> 00:20:53,240 He didn't show up for work. 372 00:20:53,240 --> 00:20:54,240 Not uncommon. 373 00:20:54,240 --> 00:20:57,340 I didn't sweat it because we were, we were waiting anyway. 374 00:20:57,340 --> 00:21:00,040 So I tried to call him, no answer. 375 00:21:00,040 --> 00:21:02,680 I had an employee running my office, holding his phone. 376 00:21:02,680 --> 00:21:04,960 Brian, you got to take this. 377 00:21:04,960 --> 00:21:10,680 A 38 year old man had a massive heart attack in his sleep and didn't wake up. 378 00:21:10,680 --> 00:21:13,320 He left behind three children, one with autism. 379 00:21:13,320 --> 00:21:18,160 I had the, I look back at it now and I'm fortunate that I had this opportunity to meet with his 380 00:21:18,160 --> 00:21:22,320 wife and his kids and, and, and talk with him and be with them during that difficult 381 00:21:22,320 --> 00:21:23,320 time. 382 00:21:23,320 --> 00:21:27,440 But I can't imagine going to bed and you don't know. 383 00:21:27,440 --> 00:21:30,400 We all know the Bible says we're not promised tomorrow. 384 00:21:30,400 --> 00:21:32,000 So we need to be ready now. 385 00:21:32,000 --> 00:21:35,040 While we have breath in our lungs, we need to be pursuing his will for our life. 386 00:21:35,040 --> 00:21:39,720 We need to understand that Jesus is enough and we need to understand that I want to look 387 00:21:39,720 --> 00:21:42,020 and pursue everything that he has for me. 388 00:21:42,020 --> 00:21:45,480 What does he have for me to do while I'm here on this earth and pursue it with everything 389 00:21:45,480 --> 00:21:50,280 we have forsake the things that's going to deter us and distract us from pursuing everything 390 00:21:50,280 --> 00:21:56,820 and turning our full undivided attention onto his will for our life. 391 00:21:56,820 --> 00:22:00,400 We must surrender and make Jesus the Lord of our life. 392 00:22:00,400 --> 00:22:02,200 Second Timothy two and 21. 393 00:22:02,200 --> 00:22:06,720 If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel onto honor sanctified 394 00:22:06,720 --> 00:22:12,200 and useful for the master's use and prepared onto every good work. 395 00:22:12,200 --> 00:22:17,880 The reality is Jesus will build his church with or without us, but he invites us to be 396 00:22:17,880 --> 00:22:19,540 a part of it. 397 00:22:19,540 --> 00:22:23,280 And while faith without works is dead, many of us think that it's our job to immediately 398 00:22:23,280 --> 00:22:26,200 pick up a hammer and get to work building the kingdom of heaven. 399 00:22:26,200 --> 00:22:30,360 Yes, we are part of the kingdom work, but first we must stop worrying so much about 400 00:22:30,360 --> 00:22:34,600 building and start focusing on who are we becoming. 401 00:22:34,600 --> 00:22:36,360 We must become what God's called us to be. 402 00:22:36,360 --> 00:22:40,320 We must step into the calling that he has for every one of us. 403 00:22:40,320 --> 00:22:46,520 I look forward to the day that I get to get back home and to Jesus and see my lost loved 404 00:22:46,520 --> 00:22:49,720 ones, my family that that are not here anymore. 405 00:22:49,720 --> 00:22:51,600 But I got to get there first. 406 00:22:51,600 --> 00:22:55,560 And my job while I'm here on this earth is to take as many people as I can with me. 407 00:22:55,560 --> 00:22:59,360 I tell the kids and the youth that all the time that's our that's our job. 408 00:22:59,360 --> 00:23:02,740 Get there and take as many people as we can with us. 409 00:23:02,740 --> 00:23:03,740 You can stand. 410 00:23:03,740 --> 00:23:04,740 I'm closing Savannah. 411 00:23:04,740 --> 00:23:10,080 If you don't mind, I come. 412 00:23:10,080 --> 00:23:16,960 So the question that I have for you today is who are you becoming? 413 00:23:16,960 --> 00:23:18,560 Have you surrendered everything? 414 00:23:18,560 --> 00:23:21,960 Are you surrendering everything? 415 00:23:21,960 --> 00:23:26,240 And following God's will and his plan for your life or seeking and searching what that 416 00:23:26,240 --> 00:23:30,800 is a lot of my my youth have have come to me because they felt the call in their life 417 00:23:30,800 --> 00:23:32,240 and the ministry. 418 00:23:32,240 --> 00:23:34,320 But they don't know what that means. 419 00:23:34,320 --> 00:23:35,720 They're finding their way through that. 420 00:23:35,720 --> 00:23:36,720 And that's OK. 421 00:23:36,720 --> 00:23:37,920 God will help them. 422 00:23:37,920 --> 00:23:43,300 So I encourage them along the way to take the steps necessary to continue that search, 423 00:23:43,300 --> 00:23:47,760 to continue that look, to find out what here's the steps that you should take to get into 424 00:23:47,760 --> 00:23:52,660 that relationship with God when he'll start to reveal to you things that you need to do 425 00:23:52,660 --> 00:23:55,120 and things you don't need to do. 426 00:23:55,120 --> 00:23:57,400 So maybe we need to ask ourselves that question this morning. 427 00:23:57,400 --> 00:23:59,120 What are we becoming? 428 00:23:59,120 --> 00:24:00,240 What are we surrendering? 429 00:24:00,240 --> 00:24:02,440 Are we surrendering? 430 00:24:02,440 --> 00:24:06,880 Are we really laying down the things that that are distracting us for really coming 431 00:24:06,880 --> 00:24:12,680 into the fullness of what God has for us and has for our lives? 432 00:24:12,680 --> 00:24:13,680 Maybe it's not. 433 00:24:13,680 --> 00:24:22,420 Maybe there are some things we're holding on to that we can't let go of. 434 00:24:22,420 --> 00:24:26,480 God can answer and provide everything we need. 435 00:24:26,480 --> 00:24:29,880 But we have to seek him. 436 00:24:29,880 --> 00:24:33,440 We have to crave him. 437 00:24:33,440 --> 00:24:34,440 And that comes from love. 438 00:24:34,440 --> 00:24:38,920 Do you love him today? 439 00:24:38,920 --> 00:24:45,480 The love that I have for Jesus is what drives me to dive deeper, to learn more. 440 00:24:45,480 --> 00:24:51,720 It allows me the mind to turn away from those things that I shouldn't focus on. 441 00:24:51,720 --> 00:24:54,160 There was one kid at youth camp. 442 00:24:54,160 --> 00:24:55,760 They did what's called cardboard testimonies. 443 00:24:55,760 --> 00:24:59,000 Have you ever heard that scene what those are? 444 00:24:59,000 --> 00:25:03,120 The front of it is something that you're tormented by and then the result is on the back what 445 00:25:03,120 --> 00:25:05,320 God delivered you from. 446 00:25:05,320 --> 00:25:06,680 They did that up there on the mountain. 447 00:25:06,680 --> 00:25:11,380 And there was one kid in particular that stood out to me. 448 00:25:11,380 --> 00:25:19,360 He was a young kid and they had all kinds of things, abusive families, addicted to drugs, 449 00:25:19,360 --> 00:25:21,160 suicidal thoughts, destructive thoughts. 450 00:25:21,160 --> 00:25:25,060 They had all kinds of things that these kids, these are high school kids are dealing with 451 00:25:25,060 --> 00:25:26,860 these things. 452 00:25:26,860 --> 00:25:29,240 It's not just the adults that are susceptible to these things. 453 00:25:29,240 --> 00:25:30,960 It's the kids too. 454 00:25:30,960 --> 00:25:37,360 And a lot of times fear is a constant thing with them of I'm afraid of what somebody's 455 00:25:37,360 --> 00:25:38,880 going to think of me. 456 00:25:38,880 --> 00:25:44,480 I'm afraid of what my elders might say. 457 00:25:44,480 --> 00:25:51,160 But this one kid came across the front and he held up a sign that said addicted to pornography. 458 00:25:51,160 --> 00:25:54,600 And he was weeping in his face because God had delivered him from that. 459 00:25:54,600 --> 00:26:00,440 And when he turned it over, the sign said called into ministry. 460 00:26:00,440 --> 00:26:07,580 That is the extreme impact that we think God is not capable of. 461 00:26:07,580 --> 00:26:16,900 But if God is capable of taking a kid and turning that addiction around into a calling 462 00:26:16,900 --> 00:26:21,960 into ministry, how much is that kid pressing in? 463 00:26:21,960 --> 00:26:25,900 How much is he saying I'm tired of this? 464 00:26:25,900 --> 00:26:29,900 Nothing in this world I have found is the answer. 465 00:26:29,900 --> 00:26:36,560 How much is he crying out to God and saying I need deliverance? 466 00:26:36,560 --> 00:26:39,120 So then I asked myself that and I was in tears in the back. 467 00:26:39,120 --> 00:26:41,520 What are you Brian? 468 00:26:41,520 --> 00:26:49,800 What are you becoming? 469 00:26:49,800 --> 00:26:54,000 Because no, none of us are perfect. 470 00:26:54,000 --> 00:26:55,000 We're all on our journey. 471 00:26:55,000 --> 00:27:00,180 But I want to be on a journey with God by my side and with Jesus walking with me every 472 00:27:00,180 --> 00:27:04,840 step of the way, not my will, but yours be done. 473 00:27:04,840 --> 00:27:10,960 Jesus even said it on the cross or in the Garden of Gethsemane rather, not my will, 474 00:27:10,960 --> 00:27:11,960 but yours. 475 00:27:11,960 --> 00:27:15,840 No, I don't want the hard times, but hard times come. 476 00:27:15,840 --> 00:27:18,960 And that's okay because Jesus will get me through. 477 00:27:18,960 --> 00:27:25,920 Every head bowed, every eye closed. 478 00:27:25,920 --> 00:27:31,840 If there's a need in this house, if there's a need, maybe you're sitting there thinking, 479 00:27:31,840 --> 00:27:33,560 Lord, I can do more. 480 00:27:33,560 --> 00:27:36,680 I'm not giving my all to you. 481 00:27:36,680 --> 00:27:38,120 I need to surrender some things. 482 00:27:38,120 --> 00:27:44,520 I need to find out my identity, who I am in Christ. 483 00:27:44,520 --> 00:27:46,000 I want to pray with you this morning. 484 00:27:46,000 --> 00:27:54,000 I want to pray with you that God would just reveal himself to you in new and mighty ways 485 00:27:54,000 --> 00:28:01,280 and that God would grip your heart and lead you towards the things of righteousness and 486 00:28:01,280 --> 00:28:07,800 keep you away from the things that would keep you away from him. 487 00:28:07,800 --> 00:28:10,920 So if you're one of those or you just need a touch from the Lord or you just saying, 488 00:28:10,920 --> 00:28:13,720 man, I'm going, Brian, I'm going, Pastor Brian, I'm going through some things. 489 00:28:13,720 --> 00:28:14,720 I just need some help with. 490 00:28:14,720 --> 00:28:17,120 I want to pray with you. 491 00:28:17,120 --> 00:28:25,920 So if you could make your way forward, I do want to pray with you. 492 00:28:25,920 --> 00:28:30,840 Because I believe that God changes lives when we truly seek him, when we truly ask him with 493 00:28:30,840 --> 00:28:36,360 all sincerity in our hearts and we are hungry or we finally get to a point of desperation 494 00:28:36,360 --> 00:28:39,500 where there's nowhere else to turn. 495 00:28:39,500 --> 00:28:43,280 It does not matter. 496 00:28:43,280 --> 00:28:45,440 God's there for you. 497 00:28:45,440 --> 00:29:13,440 Jesus down on the cross so that you can have all these things.