1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:04,000 You can have all of me 2 00:00:04,000 --> 00:00:08,000 Every single little piece 3 00:00:08,000 --> 00:00:14,000 You can have it all 4 00:00:14,000 --> 00:00:16,000 Welcome to Hub City Vineyard. 5 00:00:16,000 --> 00:00:18,000 To get connected or to give online, 6 00:00:18,000 --> 00:00:22,000 go to hcv.church or give.htv.church. 7 00:00:22,000 --> 00:00:24,000 If at any point during this message 8 00:00:24,000 --> 00:00:26,000 you feel called to make a change in your life, 9 00:00:26,000 --> 00:00:30,000 text change me to 970-00. 10 00:00:30,000 --> 00:00:32,000 Thank you and enjoy the message. 11 00:00:32,000 --> 00:00:34,000 Alright, well thank you everyone. 12 00:00:34,000 --> 00:00:36,000 Your prayers would be appreciated. 13 00:00:36,000 --> 00:00:38,000 The one thing that kind of I'm dreading 14 00:00:38,000 --> 00:00:42,000 is a 17 hour plane flight. 15 00:00:42,000 --> 00:00:44,000 If you know anything about me, 16 00:00:44,000 --> 00:00:46,000 I'm rather active and busy. 17 00:00:46,000 --> 00:00:49,000 So keeping myself occupied for 17 hours, 18 00:00:49,000 --> 00:00:52,000 I will figure it out I'm sure. 19 00:00:52,000 --> 00:00:54,000 But I woke up yesterday morning 20 00:00:54,000 --> 00:00:58,000 frantic thinking, wow that's a long way to go. 21 00:00:58,000 --> 00:01:00,000 So we're thankful you're here, 22 00:01:00,000 --> 00:01:02,000 we're thankful you're joining us online. 23 00:01:02,000 --> 00:01:06,000 I want to start this morning with a simple question. 24 00:01:06,000 --> 00:01:08,000 What do you say to yourself 25 00:01:08,000 --> 00:01:12,000 when you talk to yourself? 26 00:01:12,000 --> 00:01:15,000 Now don't pretend like you don't do it, 27 00:01:15,000 --> 00:01:17,000 because everyone does. 28 00:01:17,000 --> 00:01:19,000 So some of you are thinking there, 29 00:01:19,000 --> 00:01:22,000 I don't talk to myself, yeah right, sure you don't. 30 00:01:22,000 --> 00:01:24,000 What do you say to yourself 31 00:01:24,000 --> 00:01:26,000 when you talk to yourself? 32 00:01:26,000 --> 00:01:28,000 Now please understand, I'm not talking about 33 00:01:28,000 --> 00:01:31,000 the normal everyday stuff, 34 00:01:31,000 --> 00:01:33,000 like don't forget to call Pam, 35 00:01:33,000 --> 00:01:36,000 or don't forget to pack your passport, 36 00:01:36,000 --> 00:01:40,000 or you will not get on a plane to go to Kenya. 37 00:01:40,000 --> 00:01:45,000 I'm talking about the ongoing self-talk. 38 00:01:45,000 --> 00:01:47,000 The stuff you say to yourself 39 00:01:47,000 --> 00:01:52,000 over and over and over again in your mind. 40 00:01:52,000 --> 00:01:54,000 What do you say to yourself 41 00:01:54,000 --> 00:01:56,000 when you talk to yourself? 42 00:01:56,000 --> 00:01:58,000 Now if you're like a lot of people, 43 00:01:58,000 --> 00:02:00,000 unfortunately you get stuck in what 44 00:02:00,000 --> 00:02:04,000 some experts call a negative loop. 45 00:02:04,000 --> 00:02:06,000 You continue to think about things 46 00:02:06,000 --> 00:02:11,000 that are not helpful and are often harmful. 47 00:02:11,000 --> 00:02:13,000 For example, if you're driving in traffic 48 00:02:13,000 --> 00:02:16,000 and you're going down the interstate, 49 00:02:16,000 --> 00:02:18,000 for many of us we're not thinking, 50 00:02:18,000 --> 00:02:21,000 God bless all these amazing drivers 51 00:02:21,000 --> 00:02:25,000 that know how to drive a car. 52 00:02:25,000 --> 00:02:28,000 If you're anything like me, you're thinking, 53 00:02:28,000 --> 00:02:32,000 who taught you to drive? 54 00:02:32,000 --> 00:02:39,000 There is a slow lane and a fast lane. 55 00:02:39,000 --> 00:02:42,000 In the morning when you wake up, 56 00:02:42,000 --> 00:02:45,000 if you're like many people, you might be thinking, 57 00:02:45,000 --> 00:02:48,000 I've got a lot to accomplish today. 58 00:02:48,000 --> 00:02:51,000 And then at the end of the day you think, 59 00:02:51,000 --> 00:02:53,000 where did the day go? 60 00:02:53,000 --> 00:02:55,000 I didn't get anything done. 61 00:02:55,000 --> 00:02:57,000 When it comes to money, 62 00:02:57,000 --> 00:03:01,000 so many people are full of negative self-talk. 63 00:03:01,000 --> 00:03:03,000 I'm always going to be in debt. 64 00:03:03,000 --> 00:03:05,000 I'll never have enough. 65 00:03:05,000 --> 00:03:07,000 When it comes to relationships, 66 00:03:07,000 --> 00:03:10,000 you may think, I can't trust anyone. 67 00:03:10,000 --> 00:03:12,000 No one wants to be with me. 68 00:03:12,000 --> 00:03:14,000 When you do something wrong, 69 00:03:14,000 --> 00:03:16,000 if you're like so many people, 70 00:03:16,000 --> 00:03:20,000 you'll say something that's derogatory toward yourself. 71 00:03:20,000 --> 00:03:22,000 I'm so stupid. 72 00:03:22,000 --> 00:03:25,000 Why do I always make that choice? 73 00:03:25,000 --> 00:03:27,000 And you can see the negative loop, 74 00:03:27,000 --> 00:03:32,000 it just goes on and on and on. 75 00:03:32,000 --> 00:03:34,000 So reflect on, 76 00:03:34,000 --> 00:03:38,000 what do you say when you talk to yourself? 77 00:03:38,000 --> 00:03:41,000 And the reason I ask this question is because 78 00:03:41,000 --> 00:03:46,000 what you say to yourself matters more than you think. 79 00:03:46,000 --> 00:03:49,000 See, the Bible tells us in the book of Proverbs, 80 00:03:49,000 --> 00:03:51,000 chapter four, verse 23, 81 00:03:51,000 --> 00:03:54,000 guard your heart above all else, 82 00:03:54,000 --> 00:03:58,000 for it determines the course of your life. 83 00:03:58,000 --> 00:04:00,000 In the Good News translation, 84 00:04:00,000 --> 00:04:02,000 the words read this way, 85 00:04:02,000 --> 00:04:04,000 be careful how you think, 86 00:04:04,000 --> 00:04:09,000 because your life is shaped by your thoughts. 87 00:04:09,000 --> 00:04:11,000 Be careful how you think, 88 00:04:11,000 --> 00:04:15,000 because what you think shapes your life. 89 00:04:15,000 --> 00:04:18,000 Now psychologists would call this the law of cognition, 90 00:04:18,000 --> 00:04:21,000 and essentially what the law of cognition teaches 91 00:04:21,000 --> 00:04:25,000 is what you think impacts what you believe, 92 00:04:25,000 --> 00:04:27,000 how you feel, 93 00:04:27,000 --> 00:04:30,000 and it impacts what you do. 94 00:04:30,000 --> 00:04:32,000 We've been saying for weeks now that your life 95 00:04:32,000 --> 00:04:37,000 is always moving in the direction of your strongest thoughts, 96 00:04:37,000 --> 00:04:40,000 because how you think, right, 97 00:04:40,000 --> 00:04:44,000 that shapes what happens in your life. 98 00:04:44,000 --> 00:04:47,000 Dr. Paul David Tripp, an author and pastor, 99 00:04:47,000 --> 00:04:51,000 said this in his devotional New Morning Mercies, 100 00:04:51,000 --> 00:04:55,000 no one is more influential in your life than you are 101 00:04:55,000 --> 00:04:58,000 because no one talks to you more than you do. 102 00:04:58,000 --> 00:05:01,000 It's a fact that you and I 103 00:05:01,000 --> 00:05:06,000 are in an endless conversation with ourselves, right? 104 00:05:06,000 --> 00:05:10,000 Powerful words that many of us realize, 105 00:05:10,000 --> 00:05:13,000 daily we are talking to ourselves, 106 00:05:13,000 --> 00:05:15,000 or I am talking myself, 107 00:05:15,000 --> 00:05:19,000 into living a life that we hate. 108 00:05:19,000 --> 00:05:22,000 And today I want to conclude our mental health series 109 00:05:22,000 --> 00:05:24,000 Stretched Thin, 110 00:05:24,000 --> 00:05:27,000 and so far over the course of April, 111 00:05:27,000 --> 00:05:32,000 we've discussed lies about mental health 112 00:05:32,000 --> 00:05:34,000 that the church believes. 113 00:05:34,000 --> 00:05:37,000 We too, we looked at anxiety and worry. 114 00:05:37,000 --> 00:05:40,000 Last week we dealt with depression, 115 00:05:40,000 --> 00:05:42,000 and this morning we're going to be focusing 116 00:05:42,000 --> 00:05:46,000 on silencing your negativity. 117 00:05:46,000 --> 00:05:49,000 Now please understand, we've heard from people 118 00:05:49,000 --> 00:05:52,000 time and time again how transformational this series has been. 119 00:05:52,000 --> 00:05:54,000 Listen, you can go to our YouTube channel, 120 00:05:54,000 --> 00:05:57,000 you can share it with family, you can share it with friends. 121 00:05:57,000 --> 00:06:01,000 It's a great way to encourage others. 122 00:06:01,000 --> 00:06:03,000 But to kick it off by a show of hands, 123 00:06:03,000 --> 00:06:06,000 how many of you would agree that unfortunately 124 00:06:06,000 --> 00:06:09,000 the world seems to be becoming more and more negative? 125 00:06:09,000 --> 00:06:11,000 How many of you would agree with that? 126 00:06:11,000 --> 00:06:13,000 I would say almost 90% of the people. 127 00:06:13,000 --> 00:06:16,000 Chronic negativity, we could say, 128 00:06:16,000 --> 00:06:19,000 is becoming an epidemic that's poisoning people's 129 00:06:19,000 --> 00:06:22,000 mental health every single day. 130 00:06:22,000 --> 00:06:27,000 And we must realize this isn't just a practical problem. 131 00:06:27,000 --> 00:06:31,000 At the very root in many ways, it's a spiritual problem. 132 00:06:31,000 --> 00:06:34,000 And today I simply want to give you a couple 133 00:06:34,000 --> 00:06:38,000 foundational thoughts that I believe you'll come back to 134 00:06:38,000 --> 00:06:41,000 again and again and again and again 135 00:06:41,000 --> 00:06:44,000 as you walk through this thing called life 136 00:06:44,000 --> 00:06:48,000 so that you can silence your negativity. 137 00:06:48,000 --> 00:06:50,000 So let's open in prayer this morning. 138 00:06:50,000 --> 00:06:52,000 Holy Spirit come. 139 00:06:52,000 --> 00:06:54,000 We're just thankful for the life change, 140 00:06:54,000 --> 00:06:56,000 we're thankful for the outlook change, 141 00:06:56,000 --> 00:06:59,000 we're just thankful for all that you're doing in our midst. 142 00:06:59,000 --> 00:07:02,000 God, open our ears, our minds, and our hearts, 143 00:07:02,000 --> 00:07:07,000 more importantly, to receive you this truth this morning. 144 00:07:07,000 --> 00:07:10,000 That each and every person here watching online 145 00:07:10,000 --> 00:07:12,000 is here by divine appointment, 146 00:07:12,000 --> 00:07:14,000 scheduled to meet with you. 147 00:07:14,000 --> 00:07:19,000 Change us, God, in Jesus' name, amen. 148 00:07:19,000 --> 00:07:23,000 So I want you to realize the incredible truth 149 00:07:23,000 --> 00:07:26,000 that your thoughts have incredible power. 150 00:07:26,000 --> 00:07:29,000 What happens in your mind has incredible power, 151 00:07:29,000 --> 00:07:31,000 but there's good news to that. 152 00:07:31,000 --> 00:07:35,000 Our first thought this morning, we have power over our minds. 153 00:07:35,000 --> 00:07:38,000 Yes, your thoughts are incredibly powerful. 154 00:07:38,000 --> 00:07:40,000 Your life is always moving in the direction 155 00:07:40,000 --> 00:07:43,000 of your strongest thoughts, but the good news, 156 00:07:43,000 --> 00:07:46,000 you don't have to be a victim to your thoughts. 157 00:07:46,000 --> 00:07:49,000 You don't have to use your thoughts as an excuse 158 00:07:49,000 --> 00:07:52,000 and as a reason, but by the power of God, 159 00:07:52,000 --> 00:07:56,000 you can actually choose what you think about. 160 00:07:56,000 --> 00:07:59,000 And what you think about determines how you live. 161 00:07:59,000 --> 00:08:03,000 Yes, your thoughts are incredibly powerful, 162 00:08:03,000 --> 00:08:05,000 but you have power over your thoughts. 163 00:08:05,000 --> 00:08:08,000 In fact, it was Paul who wrote these words in Romans 164 00:08:08,000 --> 00:08:11,000 chapter eight, verse five. 165 00:08:11,000 --> 00:08:15,000 Those who are dominated by the sinful nature 166 00:08:15,000 --> 00:08:17,000 think about sinful things. 167 00:08:17,000 --> 00:08:19,000 And I just wanna pause right there for a second. 168 00:08:19,000 --> 00:08:21,000 What did he mean by that? 169 00:08:21,000 --> 00:08:25,000 Paul is essentially saying those who live according 170 00:08:25,000 --> 00:08:28,000 to their sinful nature, who have their minds set 171 00:08:28,000 --> 00:08:32,000 on their old man, their old desires, right? 172 00:08:32,000 --> 00:08:34,000 And you say, well, Chris, what's that look like? 173 00:08:34,000 --> 00:08:36,000 Once over needs, right? 174 00:08:36,000 --> 00:08:40,000 People pleasing rather than living with a purpose. 175 00:08:40,000 --> 00:08:46,000 Always focused on me and what I'm gonna get out of it, right? 176 00:08:46,000 --> 00:08:48,000 That is the old man. 177 00:08:48,000 --> 00:08:49,000 That's the sinful nature. 178 00:08:49,000 --> 00:08:53,000 And then Paul goes on to say, but those who are controlled 179 00:08:53,000 --> 00:08:59,000 by the Holy Spirit think about things that please the Spirit. 180 00:08:59,000 --> 00:09:02,000 So if you find yourself struggling, 181 00:09:02,000 --> 00:09:04,000 if you're here this morning and you're constantly feeling 182 00:09:04,000 --> 00:09:08,000 depressed and broken, if you find yourself discouraged, 183 00:09:08,000 --> 00:09:12,000 overwhelmed, if you're bombarded with this state 184 00:09:12,000 --> 00:09:15,000 of negativity, could it be that your mind is set 185 00:09:15,000 --> 00:09:20,000 on the things of this world instead of the things of God? 186 00:09:20,000 --> 00:09:23,000 Because when you set your mind on the things of God 187 00:09:23,000 --> 00:09:28,000 and on the things of the Spirit, we find life and peace 188 00:09:28,000 --> 00:09:31,000 and joy and happiness. 189 00:09:31,000 --> 00:09:34,000 And friends, it's very important that we realize 190 00:09:34,000 --> 00:09:39,000 negativity is not only hurting you, but your family, 191 00:09:39,000 --> 00:09:41,000 your relationships, your marriage, your values, 192 00:09:41,000 --> 00:09:44,000 your relationship with Jesus, the direction of your life, 193 00:09:44,000 --> 00:09:50,000 your outlook, and dare I say the list goes on and on and on, 194 00:09:50,000 --> 00:09:52,000 which leads us to our next thought. 195 00:09:52,000 --> 00:09:58,000 See, humanity leans towards that which is negative. 196 00:09:58,000 --> 00:10:00,000 Why is negativity so toxic? 197 00:10:00,000 --> 00:10:04,000 Well, at its roots, we need to understand that we have 198 00:10:04,000 --> 00:10:07,000 what is called a negativity bias. 199 00:10:07,000 --> 00:10:11,000 And what that means is we're biased or we lean toward 200 00:10:11,000 --> 00:10:14,000 that which is negative. 201 00:10:14,000 --> 00:10:19,000 Neuroscience actually shows all of us that negative events 202 00:10:19,000 --> 00:10:24,000 imprint on our brains more quickly and linger longer 203 00:10:24,000 --> 00:10:26,000 than positive ones. 204 00:10:26,000 --> 00:10:29,000 Negative events like something bad happened at work 205 00:10:29,000 --> 00:10:34,000 or at school, you had a tragic accident, an unfortunate outcome 206 00:10:34,000 --> 00:10:38,000 like a health issue hits you, right? 207 00:10:38,000 --> 00:10:42,000 Those type of events stick in our brains longer 208 00:10:42,000 --> 00:10:44,000 than positive ones. 209 00:10:44,000 --> 00:10:46,000 And this can be proven with simple examples 210 00:10:46,000 --> 00:10:48,000 from our everyday life. 211 00:10:48,000 --> 00:10:52,000 Okay, a little bit of audience participation here. 212 00:10:52,000 --> 00:10:56,000 What do you think spreads faster on social media? 213 00:10:56,000 --> 00:10:59,000 Something positive or something negative? 214 00:10:59,000 --> 00:11:01,000 Very true. 215 00:11:01,000 --> 00:11:04,000 The answer is always something negative. 216 00:11:04,000 --> 00:11:09,000 When any news app, which stories get more clicks, 217 00:11:09,000 --> 00:11:11,000 negative or positive? 218 00:11:11,000 --> 00:11:13,000 Negative. 219 00:11:13,000 --> 00:11:15,000 The answer is negative. 220 00:11:15,000 --> 00:11:21,000 News agencies will tell you if it bleeds, it leads. 221 00:11:21,000 --> 00:11:24,000 Personally, if you have a presentation coming up 222 00:11:24,000 --> 00:11:28,000 and you're really nervous about sharing it, right, 223 00:11:28,000 --> 00:11:32,000 you do a great job afterwards, five people say, 224 00:11:32,000 --> 00:11:35,000 wow, that was amazing, you crushed it. 225 00:11:35,000 --> 00:11:38,000 I love what you said, it was powerful. 226 00:11:38,000 --> 00:11:40,000 Five people loved it. 227 00:11:40,000 --> 00:11:45,000 One person makes a negative comment. 228 00:11:45,000 --> 00:11:49,000 And think about this, I present weekly. 229 00:11:49,000 --> 00:11:53,000 At the end of the day, are you thinking about the five positive 230 00:11:53,000 --> 00:11:55,000 or the one negative? 231 00:11:55,000 --> 00:11:58,000 The one negative. 232 00:11:58,000 --> 00:12:01,000 It just is in your brain and you're trying to figure out 233 00:12:01,000 --> 00:12:06,000 what did I say, what did I do, why was that person frustrated? 234 00:12:06,000 --> 00:12:10,000 And now you can see over time, unfortunately, 235 00:12:10,000 --> 00:12:13,000 is chronic negativity. 236 00:12:13,000 --> 00:12:17,000 It's all throughout our culture and we're bombarded with it 237 00:12:17,000 --> 00:12:21,000 every single day and it sends our brains into a constant state 238 00:12:21,000 --> 00:12:23,000 of flight or fight. 239 00:12:23,000 --> 00:12:27,000 And for our brains, that's how we're wired. 240 00:12:27,000 --> 00:12:29,000 And this isn't initially a bad thing 241 00:12:29,000 --> 00:12:34,000 because in a stressful situation, God designed our brains 242 00:12:34,000 --> 00:12:37,000 to release cortisol into our blood system. 243 00:12:37,000 --> 00:12:40,000 That's a good thing because in a stressful situation, 244 00:12:40,000 --> 00:12:43,000 it makes us more alert, it makes us more focused, 245 00:12:43,000 --> 00:12:46,000 it makes us ready to deal with the problem that was at hand. 246 00:12:46,000 --> 00:12:49,000 That's good until it's not. 247 00:12:49,000 --> 00:12:54,000 When we become bombarded with chronic negativity, 248 00:12:54,000 --> 00:12:58,000 then we get stuck in an ongoing negative loop. 249 00:12:58,000 --> 00:13:01,000 We always feel like there's danger. 250 00:13:01,000 --> 00:13:03,000 Danger. 251 00:13:03,000 --> 00:13:04,000 Right? 252 00:13:04,000 --> 00:13:07,000 And when we feel this threat, notice what Paul says 253 00:13:07,000 --> 00:13:10,000 in verses six through seven of Romans eight. 254 00:13:10,000 --> 00:13:12,000 Those who are dominated by the sinful nature 255 00:13:12,000 --> 00:13:14,000 think about sinful things. 256 00:13:14,000 --> 00:13:16,000 Those who are controlled by the Spirit 257 00:13:16,000 --> 00:13:19,000 think about things that please the Spirit. 258 00:13:19,000 --> 00:13:27,000 So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. 259 00:13:27,000 --> 00:13:31,000 Chronic negativity leads to death. 260 00:13:31,000 --> 00:13:35,000 But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace. 261 00:13:35,000 --> 00:13:42,000 For the sinful nature, the negativity is always hostile to God. 262 00:13:42,000 --> 00:13:46,000 And see, what happens is when all this negativity 263 00:13:46,000 --> 00:13:49,000 is bombarding us on social media, 264 00:13:49,000 --> 00:13:52,000 when we're hanging around with friends that are negative, right? 265 00:13:52,000 --> 00:13:55,000 When we're saying to ourselves, we're no good, 266 00:13:55,000 --> 00:13:57,000 we're never gonna live up. 267 00:13:57,000 --> 00:14:00,000 When we read the news or hear the news, it's always negative. 268 00:14:00,000 --> 00:14:02,000 What are we gonna lean towards? 269 00:14:02,000 --> 00:14:04,000 We're gonna focus on the negative, 270 00:14:04,000 --> 00:14:10,000 and we're actually creating neural pathways in our brain of negativity. 271 00:14:10,000 --> 00:14:13,000 We've been talking about this a lot, right? 272 00:14:13,000 --> 00:14:18,000 What you think about is literally imprinted in your brain. 273 00:14:18,000 --> 00:14:22,000 And when you think of that thought once, it's easier to think it again. 274 00:14:22,000 --> 00:14:26,000 And when you focus on the negative, what are you gonna think about? 275 00:14:26,000 --> 00:14:27,000 The negative. 276 00:14:27,000 --> 00:14:33,000 When you hang around negative people, what are you gonna join in with saying? 277 00:14:33,000 --> 00:14:36,000 Criticism, judgment, right? 278 00:14:36,000 --> 00:14:40,000 When you're hanging around one news station and it's always negative, 279 00:14:40,000 --> 00:14:42,000 you're gonna judge the other side. 280 00:14:42,000 --> 00:14:47,000 Negativity becomes a habit, dare I say. 281 00:14:47,000 --> 00:14:53,000 We have a habit of negativity that the American culture lives in. 282 00:14:53,000 --> 00:14:58,000 If things are gonna be bad, they're only gonna get worse. 283 00:14:58,000 --> 00:15:01,000 Don't trust anyone, everyone's out to get you. 284 00:15:01,000 --> 00:15:09,000 All Christians are hypocrites, and this life sucks, and it's only getting worse. 285 00:15:09,000 --> 00:15:12,000 We laugh, but we say it. 286 00:15:12,000 --> 00:15:15,000 When mental health is bad, right? 287 00:15:15,000 --> 00:15:18,000 And we're focusing on the negative, guess what? 288 00:15:18,000 --> 00:15:20,000 You're never gonna be happy. 289 00:15:20,000 --> 00:15:23,000 No one's ever gonna please you, right? 290 00:15:23,000 --> 00:15:25,000 Nothing in life really matters. 291 00:15:25,000 --> 00:15:28,000 I'm always gonna be stuck here. 292 00:15:28,000 --> 00:15:32,000 And very literally, negativity becomes your default habit. 293 00:15:32,000 --> 00:15:33,000 I mean, think about it. 294 00:15:33,000 --> 00:15:36,000 The mind governed by the sinful nature is what? 295 00:15:36,000 --> 00:15:38,000 Death. 296 00:15:38,000 --> 00:15:41,000 The news we consume. 297 00:15:41,000 --> 00:15:42,000 Quite often death. 298 00:15:42,000 --> 00:15:45,000 The shows we watch. 299 00:15:45,000 --> 00:15:46,000 Death. 300 00:15:46,000 --> 00:15:50,000 The lyrics to the music we play over and over and over and over again. 301 00:15:50,000 --> 00:15:52,000 Well, Chris, it's only classic rock. 302 00:15:52,000 --> 00:15:55,000 Death. 303 00:15:55,000 --> 00:16:04,000 The social media that we hold on to, it just makes us feel jealous, angry, and less than. 304 00:16:04,000 --> 00:16:07,000 The people we hang around with, right? 305 00:16:07,000 --> 00:16:10,000 All of these things begin to direct our life. 306 00:16:10,000 --> 00:16:17,000 Your thoughts have incredible power over the direction of your life. 307 00:16:17,000 --> 00:16:23,000 But the good news is you have incredible power over where your thoughts are taking you. 308 00:16:23,000 --> 00:16:29,000 And what I want to do is now try to help you identify where you're most prone to be negative. 309 00:16:29,000 --> 00:16:36,000 So we're all gonna take a second, look in the mirror, and determine out of four different areas 310 00:16:36,000 --> 00:16:41,000 which area I am most negatively towards. 311 00:16:41,000 --> 00:16:46,000 Even for myself, in preparing for this series over the last several weeks, 312 00:16:46,000 --> 00:16:54,000 I've located this specific area in my own life, and through reading the Bible, meditating, and praying, 313 00:16:54,000 --> 00:16:58,000 God has been renewing my mind and leading me towards progress. 314 00:16:58,000 --> 00:17:04,000 It's my prayer that you will identify an area, one, everyone say one, 315 00:17:04,000 --> 00:17:11,000 out of the four, okay, because even though some of you have all four, 316 00:17:11,000 --> 00:17:14,000 if you have all four, you can just leave. 317 00:17:14,000 --> 00:17:15,000 I'm just kidding. 318 00:17:15,000 --> 00:17:18,000 I want you to identify one because if you try to do all four, guess what? 319 00:17:18,000 --> 00:17:20,000 You won't be successful. 320 00:17:20,000 --> 00:17:24,000 But if you identify one area, what can happen? 321 00:17:24,000 --> 00:17:29,000 Change can happen, which leads us to our next thought, the four categories of negativity. 322 00:17:29,000 --> 00:17:33,000 Now some of you are thinking, Chris, why is that humanity is so negative? 323 00:17:33,000 --> 00:17:36,000 Well, Jeremiah 17, nine kind of sums it up. 324 00:17:36,000 --> 00:17:42,000 The human heart is the most deceitful of all things, desperately wicked. 325 00:17:42,000 --> 00:17:44,000 Who really knows how bad it is? 326 00:17:44,000 --> 00:17:50,000 Remember, we are all born into a sinful world with a sinful nature, right? 327 00:17:50,000 --> 00:17:54,000 And our natural lean is toward what? Sin, right? 328 00:17:54,000 --> 00:17:56,000 That negativity. 329 00:17:56,000 --> 00:18:00,000 And the best way to battle this lean is to identify the struggle, name the issue, 330 00:18:00,000 --> 00:18:04,000 and according to the experts, there's four big ones. 331 00:18:04,000 --> 00:18:08,000 And as I define them for you, I want you to put your finger on one. 332 00:18:08,000 --> 00:18:12,000 And as we work through the rest of the talk, I'm believing God's going to give you tools 333 00:18:12,000 --> 00:18:14,000 to battle against that negativity. 334 00:18:14,000 --> 00:18:18,000 Now the first one's called relational cynicism. 335 00:18:18,000 --> 00:18:20,000 Relational cynicism. 336 00:18:20,000 --> 00:18:26,000 And cynicism is defined as general distrust of people and motives. 337 00:18:26,000 --> 00:18:27,000 What is it? 338 00:18:27,000 --> 00:18:29,000 I won't. 339 00:18:29,000 --> 00:18:31,000 I can't trust people. 340 00:18:31,000 --> 00:18:33,000 They're going to take advantage of me. 341 00:18:33,000 --> 00:18:35,000 Everyone is out for themselves. 342 00:18:35,000 --> 00:18:37,000 All these people want their own way. 343 00:18:37,000 --> 00:18:40,000 No matter what I do, they're looking out for their own interests. 344 00:18:40,000 --> 00:18:41,000 Nobody's really generous. 345 00:18:41,000 --> 00:18:42,000 Nobody's benevolent. 346 00:18:42,000 --> 00:18:44,000 You can't trust anyone. 347 00:18:44,000 --> 00:18:50,000 Now, on a side note, according to the experts, 348 00:18:50,000 --> 00:18:55,000 this cynicism is generally a reflection of how you feel about yourself. 349 00:18:55,000 --> 00:18:59,000 See, I hate to say it, but when you distrust the motives of others, 350 00:18:59,000 --> 00:19:02,000 according to psychologists, this isn't according to Chris, 351 00:19:02,000 --> 00:19:07,000 it often reveals that you don't really like your own motives. 352 00:19:07,000 --> 00:19:10,000 Okay, but I'm going to let Charlie preach on that one. 353 00:19:10,000 --> 00:19:12,000 I'm going to stay positive. 354 00:19:12,000 --> 00:19:13,000 Okay? 355 00:19:13,000 --> 00:19:15,000 Relational cynicism. 356 00:19:15,000 --> 00:19:17,000 And for some of you, that's you. 357 00:19:17,000 --> 00:19:19,000 That's your number one. 358 00:19:19,000 --> 00:19:22,000 You might say, Chris, I don't trust anyone. 359 00:19:22,000 --> 00:19:25,000 I believe that people are out for themselves. 360 00:19:25,000 --> 00:19:28,000 I don't have a good view of our society right now. 361 00:19:28,000 --> 00:19:29,000 That's where I'm at. 362 00:19:29,000 --> 00:19:30,000 I'm relational and cynical. 363 00:19:30,000 --> 00:19:31,000 Okay, keep that in your mind. 364 00:19:31,000 --> 00:19:36,000 Now, the second category is called negative filtering. 365 00:19:36,000 --> 00:19:40,000 Negative filtering is simply defined as seeing what's wrong. 366 00:19:40,000 --> 00:19:45,000 And all it means is you find the worst possible thing to point out to someone. 367 00:19:45,000 --> 00:19:49,000 It's overlooking what's good, right? 368 00:19:49,000 --> 00:19:55,000 It's overlooking what's right, and it's pointing out what's wrong. 369 00:19:55,000 --> 00:20:00,000 Chris, that one hair is just a little out of place. 370 00:20:00,000 --> 00:20:04,000 Could you mix in a brush? 371 00:20:04,000 --> 00:20:07,000 It could be assuming the worst possible outcome, right? 372 00:20:07,000 --> 00:20:10,000 The kids are running late, and immediately you think, 373 00:20:10,000 --> 00:20:13,000 oh, I hope they're not in an accident. 374 00:20:13,000 --> 00:20:16,000 Even though 12 times before when they were late, 375 00:20:16,000 --> 00:20:18,000 they were never in an accident, right? 376 00:20:18,000 --> 00:20:23,000 You get a text from a friend, right, that doesn't respond. 377 00:20:23,000 --> 00:20:27,000 As you send it, you get nothing back, and you think they're upset with me, right? 378 00:20:27,000 --> 00:20:31,000 It's finding what's wrong instead of looking for what's right. 379 00:20:31,000 --> 00:20:34,000 I mean, heck, you can go on vacation, 380 00:20:34,000 --> 00:20:42,000 and you walk into your vacation rental and find what's wrong rather than what's right. 381 00:20:42,000 --> 00:20:47,000 You can walk into a restaurant, and just by the server greeting you, 382 00:20:47,000 --> 00:20:53,000 you can immediately think, I don't want to eat here. 383 00:20:53,000 --> 00:20:59,000 You meet a person, and immediately your mind goes to, what's wrong with them? 384 00:20:59,000 --> 00:21:02,000 You do that a lot in here. 385 00:21:02,000 --> 00:21:07,000 What's wrong with that dude up front? 386 00:21:07,000 --> 00:21:11,000 Which brings me to the next one, you go to church. 387 00:21:11,000 --> 00:21:16,000 Praise God! I know how to fix that church. 388 00:21:16,000 --> 00:21:22,000 It's negative filtering, finding what's wrong and seeing what's right. 389 00:21:22,000 --> 00:21:26,000 For some of you, that's it. You're like, yep, that's me. 390 00:21:26,000 --> 00:21:29,000 Number three, absolute thinking. 391 00:21:29,000 --> 00:21:31,000 It can be defined as all or nothing. 392 00:21:31,000 --> 00:21:36,000 It's the polarizing thoughts, kind of like black or white outlook on life. 393 00:21:36,000 --> 00:21:39,000 If a man hurts you, all men are bad. 394 00:21:39,000 --> 00:21:44,000 If a woman lies to you, all women are liars. 395 00:21:44,000 --> 00:21:50,000 If a Republican says something wrong, all Republicans are terrible. 396 00:21:50,000 --> 00:21:54,000 If a Democrat makes a decision, I knew it. 397 00:21:54,000 --> 00:21:58,000 It's polarizing politics. We live in the middle of it. 398 00:21:58,000 --> 00:22:02,000 If you make a mistake, I'm just stupid. 399 00:22:02,000 --> 00:22:06,000 If you disagree with someone about an issue, you write them off. 400 00:22:06,000 --> 00:22:08,000 You just write them off. 401 00:22:08,000 --> 00:22:10,000 Think about our world that we live in. 402 00:22:10,000 --> 00:22:14,000 This type of thinking is rampant in our culture. 403 00:22:14,000 --> 00:22:17,000 No one can get past it. 404 00:22:17,000 --> 00:22:20,000 Well, I'm right, they're wrong. 405 00:22:20,000 --> 00:22:22,000 That's absolute thinking. 406 00:22:22,000 --> 00:22:25,000 And some of you, you're so there, you can't even see it. 407 00:22:25,000 --> 00:22:33,000 Just being honest with you, you're an arrogant jerk because you always think you're right. 408 00:22:33,000 --> 00:22:37,000 And just because you're right doesn't make you righteous. 409 00:22:37,000 --> 00:22:42,000 But that's another sermon for another later day. 410 00:22:42,000 --> 00:22:47,000 Church, it doesn't give you the right to judge others. 411 00:22:47,000 --> 00:22:49,000 It doesn't give you the right to point out the wrongs. 412 00:22:49,000 --> 00:22:54,000 Jesus challenges us to put others first and to listen and to serve. 413 00:22:54,000 --> 00:22:57,000 And the final one is blaming. 414 00:22:57,000 --> 00:23:00,000 Blaming is simply defined as believing you're always the victim. 415 00:23:00,000 --> 00:23:04,000 It's mom and dad's fault. It's my brother's fault. It's my sister's fault. 416 00:23:04,000 --> 00:23:08,000 The reason you are where you are is because someone else did something to you. 417 00:23:08,000 --> 00:23:12,000 They took your toy. 418 00:23:12,000 --> 00:23:17,000 They stole your date for prom. 419 00:23:17,000 --> 00:23:21,000 I didn't get that chance. I didn't get that promotion. 420 00:23:21,000 --> 00:23:24,000 And it leaves you feel like you don't have any control. 421 00:23:24,000 --> 00:23:26,000 It's someone else's fault. 422 00:23:26,000 --> 00:23:29,000 You're just a victim in this life, in the circumstances, 423 00:23:29,000 --> 00:23:31,000 and there's no way you're ever going to get ahead. 424 00:23:31,000 --> 00:23:35,000 You're going to be successful. The whole world stacked against you. 425 00:23:35,000 --> 00:23:38,000 And that raises a simple question. 426 00:23:38,000 --> 00:23:43,000 When you find yourself constantly jealous or critical or discontent or assuming the worst 427 00:23:43,000 --> 00:23:46,000 or your heart on other people and negative about other people 428 00:23:46,000 --> 00:23:51,000 or your heart on yourself, can you change? 429 00:23:51,000 --> 00:23:57,000 Can you shift from chronically thinking negatively 430 00:23:57,000 --> 00:24:01,000 to a life that's full of faith and reflects the heart and character of God? 431 00:24:01,000 --> 00:24:03,000 Can you change? 432 00:24:03,000 --> 00:24:07,000 The answer is yes, you can. 433 00:24:07,000 --> 00:24:12,000 But it's not easy. It's not easy. 434 00:24:12,000 --> 00:24:16,000 Which leads us to our final thoughts. With God's power, change is possible. 435 00:24:16,000 --> 00:24:22,000 And notice that in our fourth thought, Chris added, with God's power, change is possible. 436 00:24:22,000 --> 00:24:24,000 It's got to be God's power first. 437 00:24:24,000 --> 00:24:29,000 In Corinthians 10 says it this way, we are human, but we don't wage war as humans do. 438 00:24:29,000 --> 00:24:32,000 We use God's mighty weapons, not worldly weapons, 439 00:24:32,000 --> 00:24:37,000 to knock down the strongholds of human reasoning and to destroy false arguments. 440 00:24:37,000 --> 00:24:41,000 That's all the pretension that's going on in your brain. 441 00:24:41,000 --> 00:24:45,000 We destroy every proud obstacle that keeps people from knowing God. 442 00:24:45,000 --> 00:24:50,000 We capture the rebellious thoughts and teach them to obey Christ. 443 00:24:50,000 --> 00:24:56,000 So you've got to capture the negativity and put it in line with truth. 444 00:24:56,000 --> 00:25:02,000 Now, in preparing for this talk, I saw a study on a TED talk this week. 445 00:25:02,000 --> 00:25:06,000 The TED talk was called A Simple Trick to Improve Positive Thinking. 446 00:25:06,000 --> 00:25:09,000 And I want to share with you what the psychologist did. 447 00:25:09,000 --> 00:25:16,000 So the psychologist, they introduced an imaginary, again, it's a made up new surgical procedure. 448 00:25:16,000 --> 00:25:20,000 They took two different groups of people and they presented the same procedure 449 00:25:20,000 --> 00:25:28,000 with different odds of success versus failure to see if they thought the surgery was good or bad. 450 00:25:28,000 --> 00:25:35,000 The first group, they went to and they said, there's a 70% chance of success in this surgery. 451 00:25:35,000 --> 00:25:40,000 The other group, they went to and said, there's a 30% chance of failure. 452 00:25:40,000 --> 00:25:45,000 Same odds, just a different way of presenting it. 453 00:25:45,000 --> 00:25:46,000 So that's the first group. 454 00:25:46,000 --> 00:25:50,000 If there's a 70% chance that this surgery is going to be successful, 455 00:25:50,000 --> 00:25:54,000 is this a good procedure or a bad procedure? 456 00:25:54,000 --> 00:25:59,000 The first group responded by majority, this is a good procedure. 457 00:25:59,000 --> 00:26:03,000 To those on the other side, they presented the same thing. 458 00:26:03,000 --> 00:26:09,000 There's a 30% chance of failure and they asked them the same question, is it good or bad? 459 00:26:09,000 --> 00:26:15,000 When they presented the 30% chance of failure with that group, they said it's a bad procedure. 460 00:26:15,000 --> 00:26:17,000 No one should get that surgery. 461 00:26:17,000 --> 00:26:20,000 Now you might expect that, right? 462 00:26:20,000 --> 00:26:23,000 Then they wanted to determine, can you change? 463 00:26:23,000 --> 00:26:26,000 Can you switch or flip the narrative? 464 00:26:26,000 --> 00:26:30,000 They went to the first group and they said, we're glad you think this is a good surgery, 465 00:26:30,000 --> 00:26:32,000 but let me give you the other side. 466 00:26:32,000 --> 00:26:35,000 There's also a 30% chance of failure. 467 00:26:35,000 --> 00:26:38,000 Knowing that, do you still think it's good? 468 00:26:38,000 --> 00:26:44,000 The majority who first said it was good when hearing about the negativity, guess what they did? 469 00:26:44,000 --> 00:26:45,000 They switched. 470 00:26:45,000 --> 00:26:49,000 They said, this is not a good surgery, people shouldn't do it. 471 00:26:49,000 --> 00:26:51,000 They flipped the script. 472 00:26:51,000 --> 00:26:55,000 And then when they went to the other group that was already negative, 473 00:26:55,000 --> 00:26:58,000 they said, we know that's a 30% chance of failure. 474 00:26:58,000 --> 00:26:59,000 What do you think about it this way? 475 00:26:59,000 --> 00:27:04,000 There's a 70% chance that this surgery is going to save your life. 476 00:27:04,000 --> 00:27:07,000 Do you think their chance, their stance changed? 477 00:27:07,000 --> 00:27:12,000 Nope, they remained negative. 478 00:27:12,000 --> 00:27:18,000 Those who said it was bad, even after the switch, also said it was bad. 479 00:27:18,000 --> 00:27:20,000 What does this prove to us? 480 00:27:20,000 --> 00:27:24,000 You can change your perspective, right? 481 00:27:24,000 --> 00:27:28,000 It's really easy to change your perspective from good to bad. 482 00:27:28,000 --> 00:27:33,000 It's really hard to change from bad to good. 483 00:27:33,000 --> 00:27:38,000 You might need a little supernatural help from God and a little intentional work on your end. 484 00:27:38,000 --> 00:27:41,000 And Paul says it this way in Romans 15. 485 00:27:41,000 --> 00:27:48,000 I pray that God, the source of hope will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trusted him. 486 00:27:48,000 --> 00:27:52,000 Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit. 487 00:27:52,000 --> 00:27:57,000 And see, this is really, really important because your thoughts are more powerful than you can imagine. 488 00:27:57,000 --> 00:28:01,000 And you have more power over your thoughts than you think. 489 00:28:01,000 --> 00:28:04,000 How do you do it? 490 00:28:04,000 --> 00:28:10,000 Well, if you really want to work on your negativity, there's steps to change. 491 00:28:10,000 --> 00:28:15,000 And what we're going to do is we're going to look at one of the most powerful illustrations of how the mind can change, 492 00:28:15,000 --> 00:28:18,000 seen through the life of David recorded in the Old Testament. 493 00:28:18,000 --> 00:28:23,000 And he shows us what to do when we're hit or blindsided by an avalanche of negativity, 494 00:28:23,000 --> 00:28:26,000 which we are blindsided with every single day. 495 00:28:26,000 --> 00:28:29,000 We're going to be in 1 Samuel chapter 30. 496 00:28:29,000 --> 00:28:31,000 Let me give you a little background, a little context. 497 00:28:31,000 --> 00:28:33,000 It was a bad day. 498 00:28:33,000 --> 00:28:36,000 In fact, it was worse than you could have possibly imagined. 499 00:28:36,000 --> 00:28:40,000 If you think you had a bad week, David's day was much, much worse. 500 00:28:40,000 --> 00:28:42,000 Okay, which leads to our action steps. 501 00:28:42,000 --> 00:28:45,000 Silencing negativity. The first is you got to go to God. 502 00:28:45,000 --> 00:28:48,000 1 Samuel 30, verses 1 through 5. 503 00:28:48,000 --> 00:28:50,000 Listen to what happened to David and his men. 504 00:28:50,000 --> 00:28:55,000 Three days later, when David and his men arrived home at their town of Ziklag, 505 00:28:55,000 --> 00:28:59,000 David and his men had been out fighting wars, defeating the enemy. 506 00:28:59,000 --> 00:29:05,000 They found that the Amalekites had raided into the Negev and they had crushed Ziklag, 507 00:29:05,000 --> 00:29:08,000 which was their hometown, and burned it to the ground. 508 00:29:08,000 --> 00:29:13,000 They carried off the women and children and everyone else, but without killing anyone. 509 00:29:13,000 --> 00:29:17,000 When David and his men saw the ruins and realized what had happened to their families, 510 00:29:17,000 --> 00:29:21,000 they wept until they could weep no more. 511 00:29:21,000 --> 00:29:28,000 David was now in great danger because all his men were very bitter about losing their sons and daughters, 512 00:29:28,000 --> 00:29:32,000 and they began to talk of stoning him. 513 00:29:32,000 --> 00:29:37,000 That, my friends, is a bad day. 514 00:29:37,000 --> 00:29:39,000 But here's the reality. 515 00:29:39,000 --> 00:29:42,000 Some of you feel that way right now. 516 00:29:42,000 --> 00:29:47,000 You're hurting inside so deeply and struggling with so much pain and anxiety and fear 517 00:29:47,000 --> 00:29:50,000 that you literally want to weep out loud. 518 00:29:50,000 --> 00:29:54,000 Your heart is weak. 519 00:29:54,000 --> 00:29:56,000 You're overwhelmed. 520 00:29:56,000 --> 00:30:00,000 And David, understandably, was greatly stressed out 521 00:30:00,000 --> 00:30:07,000 because now the men, his men, who would go with him anywhere, were talking about stoning him 522 00:30:07,000 --> 00:30:11,000 because they were bitter in spirit because they lost their families, they lost their homes. 523 00:30:11,000 --> 00:30:17,000 And in the middle of this worst and lowest moment, the Bible tells us this in verse 6, 524 00:30:17,000 --> 00:30:23,000 but David found strength in the Lord his God. 525 00:30:23,000 --> 00:30:29,000 In the middle of an avalanche of negativity and doubt and frustration and strength, 526 00:30:29,000 --> 00:30:32,000 he found strength in the Lord his God. 527 00:30:32,000 --> 00:30:36,000 And for some of you, it's time to find some strength. 528 00:30:36,000 --> 00:30:42,000 But hear me out, church, not in your own power, not in your own positive thinking, 529 00:30:42,000 --> 00:30:47,000 but in the life-changing power and presence of God. 530 00:30:47,000 --> 00:30:54,000 Because we're so quick to get a self-help book, we're so quick to quote a couple references, 531 00:30:54,000 --> 00:30:59,000 but we walk away from the presence of God, and that's where change happens. 532 00:30:59,000 --> 00:31:01,000 He found strength in the Lord. 533 00:31:01,000 --> 00:31:07,000 Now, I don't typically do this, but I like the way the New King James Version translates this verse. 534 00:31:07,000 --> 00:31:10,000 In the middle of his darkest moment, in the New King James Version, it says, 535 00:31:10,000 --> 00:31:14,000 David strengthened himself in the Lord his God. 536 00:31:14,000 --> 00:31:16,000 He strengthened himself. 537 00:31:16,000 --> 00:31:20,000 And some of you that are living in a world of chronic negativity, 538 00:31:20,000 --> 00:31:24,000 it's time for you to learn to encourage yourself in the Lord. 539 00:31:24,000 --> 00:31:28,000 Okay, now notice, what did David say? 540 00:31:28,000 --> 00:31:31,000 What did David say to himself? 541 00:31:31,000 --> 00:31:34,000 Well, the answer is we don't really know because the Bible doesn't tell us. 542 00:31:34,000 --> 00:31:37,000 But we do know what he said other times, 543 00:31:37,000 --> 00:31:41,000 and it's very likely what he said at other times is similar to what he said to himself, 544 00:31:41,000 --> 00:31:42,000 which leads us to our next step. 545 00:31:42,000 --> 00:31:47,000 So we go to God to find strength, and then we meditate on and speak out Scripture. 546 00:31:47,000 --> 00:31:53,000 Psalm 103, verse 1, David was talking to himself. 547 00:31:53,000 --> 00:31:56,000 He was encouraging himself in the Lord, and he says, 548 00:31:56,000 --> 00:32:02,000 Let all that I am praise the Lord. With my whole heart I will praise his holy name. 549 00:32:02,000 --> 00:32:08,000 Now, please understand, David is not saying here, greater you, Lord. 550 00:32:08,000 --> 00:32:10,000 That's not what he's saying. 551 00:32:10,000 --> 00:32:13,000 He's not saying, God, you're great and greatly to be praised. 552 00:32:13,000 --> 00:32:21,000 David is saying, Hey, David, hey, heart, hey, mind, hey, spirit, wake up. 553 00:32:21,000 --> 00:32:24,000 Wake up and praise the Lord. 554 00:32:24,000 --> 00:32:29,000 He is literally worshiping God, but he's telling himself to get up and do it. 555 00:32:29,000 --> 00:32:32,000 He's speaking to himself. And then he says this, 556 00:32:32,000 --> 00:32:35,000 Let all that I am praise the Lord. 557 00:32:35,000 --> 00:32:37,000 May I never forget the good things he does for me. 558 00:32:37,000 --> 00:32:40,000 He forgives all my sins and heals my diseases. 559 00:32:40,000 --> 00:32:44,000 He redeems me from death, crowns me with love and tender mercies. 560 00:32:44,000 --> 00:32:46,000 He fills my life with good things. 561 00:32:46,000 --> 00:32:50,000 My youth is renewed like the eagles. 562 00:32:50,000 --> 00:32:53,000 See, he is literally saying to himself, 563 00:32:53,000 --> 00:32:59,000 David, remember, God anointed you with his king. 564 00:32:59,000 --> 00:33:01,000 He chose you. He set you apart. 565 00:33:01,000 --> 00:33:03,000 He delivered you from a lion and a bear. 566 00:33:03,000 --> 00:33:07,000 He gave you the faith to stand up to Goliath. 567 00:33:07,000 --> 00:33:09,000 David, he never leaves you. 568 00:33:09,000 --> 00:33:10,000 He never forsakes you. 569 00:33:10,000 --> 00:33:15,000 Remember, he protected you from the attacks of Saul and the spears of Saul. 570 00:33:15,000 --> 00:33:18,000 He encourages himself in the Lord. 571 00:33:18,000 --> 00:33:23,000 And then in verse eight, he says something you may have heard before. 572 00:33:23,000 --> 00:33:26,000 Now in a moment, I'm going to ask you a simple question, 573 00:33:26,000 --> 00:33:29,000 whether you heard this verse before or not. 574 00:33:29,000 --> 00:33:31,000 And if you have heard it before, I want you to raise your hand. 575 00:33:31,000 --> 00:33:34,000 No big deal if you have never heard the verse, right? 576 00:33:34,000 --> 00:33:36,000 Not everyone's been around the Bible. It's all good. 577 00:33:36,000 --> 00:33:39,000 I get it. The Bible is weird, okay? 578 00:33:39,000 --> 00:33:42,000 And can be very extremely difficult to read. 579 00:33:42,000 --> 00:33:45,000 So I get it if you've never heard this voice, it's no big deal. 580 00:33:45,000 --> 00:33:49,000 But if you have, I want you to simply tell me by raising your hand. 581 00:33:49,000 --> 00:33:50,000 You ready? 582 00:33:50,000 --> 00:33:52,000 Verse eight says this. 583 00:33:52,000 --> 00:33:58,000 The Lord is compassionate and merciful, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. 584 00:33:58,000 --> 00:33:59,000 Have you ever heard that before? 585 00:33:59,000 --> 00:34:02,000 Oh, good. Many people have heard that. 586 00:34:02,000 --> 00:34:03,000 Right? 587 00:34:03,000 --> 00:34:06,000 Now I want to say, are you sure? 588 00:34:06,000 --> 00:34:11,000 Are you sure you heard that verse before? 589 00:34:11,000 --> 00:34:15,000 Because David said those words in Psalm 108 verse eight, 590 00:34:15,000 --> 00:34:19,000 but David also said this in Psalm 86 15. 591 00:34:19,000 --> 00:34:24,000 But you, oh Lord, are a good or a God of compassion and mercy, 592 00:34:24,000 --> 00:34:27,000 slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love and faithfulness. 593 00:34:27,000 --> 00:34:30,000 Have you heard that before? 594 00:34:30,000 --> 00:34:32,000 I think so. 595 00:34:32,000 --> 00:34:34,000 But are you sure? 596 00:34:34,000 --> 00:34:39,000 Are you sure you've heard that one or the other one? 597 00:34:39,000 --> 00:34:44,000 Or perhaps it's Psalm 145 verse eight when David says, 598 00:34:44,000 --> 00:34:48,000 the Lord is merciful and compassionate, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. 599 00:34:48,000 --> 00:34:52,000 Maybe it's that one. 600 00:34:52,000 --> 00:34:54,000 Is it that one? 601 00:34:54,000 --> 00:34:56,000 Or is it another one? 602 00:34:56,000 --> 00:34:59,000 You can't just say, yep, because you said you heard it before. 603 00:34:59,000 --> 00:35:02,000 Which one was it? 604 00:35:02,000 --> 00:35:05,000 Right? 605 00:35:05,000 --> 00:35:08,000 Isn't it reality that David wasn't really creative? 606 00:35:08,000 --> 00:35:09,000 Right? 607 00:35:09,000 --> 00:35:13,000 When he's talking to himself, he says the same thing over and over and over again. 608 00:35:13,000 --> 00:35:17,000 The Lord is gracious, he's compassionate, he's slow to get angry, he's righteous. 609 00:35:17,000 --> 00:35:19,000 And he says it again and again and again and again. 610 00:35:19,000 --> 00:35:24,000 And what's crazy is David wasn't the first one that said those words. 611 00:35:24,000 --> 00:35:27,000 He was plagiarizing. 612 00:35:27,000 --> 00:35:29,000 He copied someone. 613 00:35:29,000 --> 00:35:31,000 Does anyone know who it was? 614 00:35:31,000 --> 00:35:33,000 It was God. 615 00:35:33,000 --> 00:35:37,000 God said it of himself in Exodus 34 6. 616 00:35:37,000 --> 00:35:42,000 The Lord passed in front of Moses calling out Yahweh, the Lord, the God of compassion and mercy. 617 00:35:42,000 --> 00:35:47,000 I am slow to get anger and filled with unfailing love and faithfulness. 618 00:35:47,000 --> 00:35:53,000 See, what's interesting is when things got bad, right, 619 00:35:53,000 --> 00:35:58,000 David didn't go searching in the Bible or the Torah for a verse. 620 00:35:58,000 --> 00:36:00,000 What did he do? 621 00:36:00,000 --> 00:36:02,000 He already had it in his heart. 622 00:36:02,000 --> 00:36:04,000 He quoted it. 623 00:36:04,000 --> 00:36:06,000 And he stood on it. 624 00:36:06,000 --> 00:36:08,000 And he encouraged himself in the Lord. 625 00:36:08,000 --> 00:36:12,000 And what I want to do is I want to give you a tool to help encourage yourself. 626 00:36:12,000 --> 00:36:19,000 Because one of the greatest tools that you can do is to start acting like a cow. 627 00:36:19,000 --> 00:36:22,000 You know, eat more chicken, right? 628 00:36:22,000 --> 00:36:24,000 Isn't that what the cow says? 629 00:36:24,000 --> 00:36:27,000 Go buy the Lord's fries, the Lord's waffle fries. 630 00:36:27,000 --> 00:36:30,000 Eat more chicken. 631 00:36:30,000 --> 00:36:32,000 I'm not talking about that though. 632 00:36:32,000 --> 00:36:33,000 What does a cow do? 633 00:36:33,000 --> 00:36:34,000 How does a cow eat? 634 00:36:34,000 --> 00:36:39,000 When a cow eats, a cow does something called ruminate, 635 00:36:39,000 --> 00:36:40,000 which is really, really cool. 636 00:36:40,000 --> 00:36:42,000 Can I tell you about it? 637 00:36:42,000 --> 00:36:46,000 When a cow eats, it chews grass, a big mouthful, 638 00:36:46,000 --> 00:36:48,000 and it chews and chews and chews and chews. 639 00:36:48,000 --> 00:36:50,000 You know what it does then? 640 00:36:50,000 --> 00:36:51,000 It swallows it. 641 00:36:51,000 --> 00:36:53,000 And then it vomits it into his mouth. 642 00:36:53,000 --> 00:36:56,000 And it chews and chews and chews and chews. 643 00:36:56,000 --> 00:36:57,000 And it swallows it. 644 00:36:57,000 --> 00:36:59,000 And then what does it do? 645 00:36:59,000 --> 00:37:01,000 It vomits it into his mouth. 646 00:37:01,000 --> 00:37:02,000 Everyone remember that taste? 647 00:37:02,000 --> 00:37:05,000 You know when you vomit in your mouth, you're like, oh. 648 00:37:05,000 --> 00:37:09,000 And you run for mouthwash. 649 00:37:09,000 --> 00:37:12,000 Such a good image in your mind right now, right? 650 00:37:12,000 --> 00:37:14,000 That's ruminating. 651 00:37:14,000 --> 00:37:20,000 And that's what a cow does every time it eats. 652 00:37:20,000 --> 00:37:24,000 But listen, ruminate. 653 00:37:24,000 --> 00:37:29,000 The same Hebrew word in the Old Testament translated as meditate 654 00:37:29,000 --> 00:37:34,000 can also be translated as ruminate. 655 00:37:34,000 --> 00:37:36,000 They're one in the same. 656 00:37:36,000 --> 00:37:41,000 And God is telling us to focus on, to chew on, 657 00:37:41,000 --> 00:37:47,000 to put his word in your heart so that when trouble comes 658 00:37:47,000 --> 00:37:49,000 and you're in a difficult situation, 659 00:37:49,000 --> 00:37:52,000 you don't have to look for a verse that's already there. 660 00:37:52,000 --> 00:37:54,000 It's in your heart, right? 661 00:37:54,000 --> 00:37:56,000 David said the Lord is slow to angry. 662 00:37:56,000 --> 00:37:57,000 He's compassionate. 663 00:37:57,000 --> 00:37:58,000 He's gracious. 664 00:37:58,000 --> 00:38:01,000 He's faithful because he was meditating on that. 665 00:38:01,000 --> 00:38:03,000 And that's what we need to learn to do. 666 00:38:03,000 --> 00:38:06,000 Now earlier I gave you four big categories, right? 667 00:38:06,000 --> 00:38:10,000 And for many of you, you identified with one of them. 668 00:38:10,000 --> 00:38:13,000 And what I want to challenge you to do now is create power thoughts 669 00:38:13,000 --> 00:38:16,000 that eliminate the negativity in your life. 670 00:38:16,000 --> 00:38:20,000 So for each negative bucket, I am going to give you a verse 671 00:38:20,000 --> 00:38:21,000 that I want to encourage you. 672 00:38:21,000 --> 00:38:22,000 Take your phone out. 673 00:38:22,000 --> 00:38:26,000 Take a picture of it so that when your negativity comes into your mind, 674 00:38:26,000 --> 00:38:29,000 you open that up and you memorize that verse 675 00:38:29,000 --> 00:38:32,000 so that you can quote it and defeat the enemy. 676 00:38:32,000 --> 00:38:39,000 For example, if you find yourself battling with cynicism, right? 677 00:38:39,000 --> 00:38:40,000 You don't trust anyone. 678 00:38:40,000 --> 00:38:41,000 You're negative. 679 00:38:41,000 --> 00:38:44,000 Your outlook on life isn't right. 680 00:38:44,000 --> 00:38:46,000 Ephesians 4, 31 to 32. 681 00:38:46,000 --> 00:38:50,000 Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, 682 00:38:50,000 --> 00:38:52,000 as well as all types of evil behavior. 683 00:38:52,000 --> 00:38:55,000 Instead, be kind to each other. 684 00:38:55,000 --> 00:38:57,000 Tenderhearted, forgiving one another, 685 00:38:57,000 --> 00:38:59,000 just as God through Christ has forgiven you. 686 00:38:59,000 --> 00:39:01,000 That will change your life. 687 00:39:01,000 --> 00:39:03,000 You memorize that verse, you put it in your heart. 688 00:39:03,000 --> 00:39:06,000 When that negative cynicism comes to mind, you quote it, 689 00:39:06,000 --> 00:39:08,000 and it will defeat it. 690 00:39:08,000 --> 00:39:11,000 If you find yourself battling with negative filtering, 691 00:39:11,000 --> 00:39:13,000 always finding what's wrong. 692 00:39:13,000 --> 00:39:15,000 Second Corinthians 10, 4 through 5. 693 00:39:15,000 --> 00:39:18,000 The weapons we fight with are not weapons of the world. 694 00:39:18,000 --> 00:39:21,000 On the contrary, we have divine power to demolish strongholds. 695 00:39:21,000 --> 00:39:24,000 We demolish arguments and every pretension 696 00:39:24,000 --> 00:39:26,000 that sets itself up against the knowledge of God. 697 00:39:26,000 --> 00:39:30,000 We take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. 698 00:39:30,000 --> 00:39:32,000 You don't have to be negative. 699 00:39:32,000 --> 00:39:36,000 If you find yourself battling with absolute thinking, right? 700 00:39:36,000 --> 00:39:38,000 All or nothing, black or white. 701 00:39:38,000 --> 00:39:41,000 You judge others regularly. 702 00:39:41,000 --> 00:39:43,000 You're always right. 703 00:39:43,000 --> 00:39:45,000 Philippians 2, 3, don't be selfish. 704 00:39:45,000 --> 00:39:47,000 Don't try to impress others. 705 00:39:47,000 --> 00:39:48,000 Be humble. 706 00:39:48,000 --> 00:39:51,000 Thinking of others is better than yourselves. 707 00:39:51,000 --> 00:39:55,000 That will eliminate that negative thinking. 708 00:39:55,000 --> 00:39:57,000 If you find yourself battling with blaming, 709 00:39:57,000 --> 00:39:59,000 it's everybody else's fault. 710 00:39:59,000 --> 00:40:01,000 2 Peter 1, 3 says this. 711 00:40:01,000 --> 00:40:04,000 By his divine power, God has given us everything we need 712 00:40:04,000 --> 00:40:06,000 for living a godly life. 713 00:40:06,000 --> 00:40:09,000 We have received all this by coming to know him, 714 00:40:09,000 --> 00:40:11,000 the one who called us to himself 715 00:40:11,000 --> 00:40:13,000 by means of his marvelous glory and excellence. 716 00:40:13,000 --> 00:40:18,000 The mind governed by the sinful nature is death, 717 00:40:18,000 --> 00:40:21,000 destruction, darkness, and negativity. 718 00:40:21,000 --> 00:40:23,000 And friends, where does that come from? 719 00:40:23,000 --> 00:40:25,000 It comes from our spiritual enemy 720 00:40:25,000 --> 00:40:27,000 who is the father of lies 721 00:40:27,000 --> 00:40:29,000 and who comes to steal, kill, and destroy. 722 00:40:29,000 --> 00:40:30,000 But Jesus said, 723 00:40:30,000 --> 00:40:32,000 I have come that you may have life 724 00:40:32,000 --> 00:40:35,000 and have it to the full. 725 00:40:35,000 --> 00:40:37,000 The mind governed by the sinful nature is death, 726 00:40:37,000 --> 00:40:41,000 but the mind governed by the spirit is life, joy, and peace, 727 00:40:41,000 --> 00:40:42,000 which leads us to our next step. 728 00:40:42,000 --> 00:40:44,000 We go to God, right? 729 00:40:44,000 --> 00:40:47,000 We meditate on and speak scripture. 730 00:40:47,000 --> 00:40:49,000 We remove negativity. 731 00:40:49,000 --> 00:40:51,000 Guard your heart above all else 732 00:40:51,000 --> 00:40:52,000 for it determines the course of your life. 733 00:40:52,000 --> 00:40:54,000 Some of you right now, you know what you need? 734 00:40:54,000 --> 00:40:57,000 You need a negativity fast. 735 00:40:57,000 --> 00:40:59,000 You need a fast from all the negativity. 736 00:40:59,000 --> 00:41:02,000 Whatever it is that's causing you stress, worry, anxiety, 737 00:41:02,000 --> 00:41:04,000 or overwhelmed with life. 738 00:41:04,000 --> 00:41:07,000 For example, the news. 739 00:41:07,000 --> 00:41:08,000 Right? 740 00:41:08,000 --> 00:41:11,000 If you want to be upset and mad and afraid of everything, 741 00:41:11,000 --> 00:41:13,000 just watch the news. 742 00:41:13,000 --> 00:41:14,000 Right? 743 00:41:14,000 --> 00:41:15,000 Turn on that same channel, 744 00:41:15,000 --> 00:41:17,000 the one that you go to, your favorite channel, 745 00:41:17,000 --> 00:41:21,000 it gets you fired up and tells you that the other side is wrong. 746 00:41:21,000 --> 00:41:22,000 It's all their fault. 747 00:41:22,000 --> 00:41:23,000 It's all their fault. 748 00:41:23,000 --> 00:41:25,000 Now, I know none of you watch channels like that, 749 00:41:25,000 --> 00:41:29,000 and you're all perfect, forgiving, loving Jesus followers, 750 00:41:29,000 --> 00:41:30,000 but here's the reality. 751 00:41:30,000 --> 00:41:33,000 If you're watching channels like that, get rid of it, 752 00:41:33,000 --> 00:41:35,000 because it's no good. 753 00:41:35,000 --> 00:41:38,000 It's negativity. 754 00:41:38,000 --> 00:41:41,000 If you're watching a show that's pulling you down, 755 00:41:41,000 --> 00:41:42,000 turn the show off. 756 00:41:42,000 --> 00:41:43,000 Right? 757 00:41:43,000 --> 00:41:46,000 If you're pointing fingers at everyone else, 758 00:41:46,000 --> 00:41:48,000 because social media brings you down 759 00:41:48,000 --> 00:41:50,000 and makes you feel horrible about yourself, 760 00:41:50,000 --> 00:41:51,000 get rid of social media. 761 00:41:51,000 --> 00:41:52,000 It's not real hard. 762 00:41:52,000 --> 00:41:56,000 The last time I checked, there's this thing called delete. 763 00:41:56,000 --> 00:41:59,000 Delete. 764 00:41:59,000 --> 00:42:02,000 But the reason we keep it is because we get energized. 765 00:42:02,000 --> 00:42:05,000 Remember, what happens in our brains when the negativity happens? 766 00:42:05,000 --> 00:42:07,000 Cortisol. 767 00:42:07,000 --> 00:42:09,000 Right? Your brain is firing, 768 00:42:09,000 --> 00:42:12,000 and you're negative because you're struggling 769 00:42:12,000 --> 00:42:13,000 with fight or flight. 770 00:42:13,000 --> 00:42:14,000 You can't figure out what's going on. 771 00:42:14,000 --> 00:42:16,000 You've got to get rid of stuff. 772 00:42:16,000 --> 00:42:23,000 If you're around friends that are negative, judgmental, 773 00:42:23,000 --> 00:42:25,000 you know, saying things like, 774 00:42:25,000 --> 00:42:31,000 oh, you still go to that hippie church? 775 00:42:31,000 --> 00:42:34,000 Get rid of them! 776 00:42:34,000 --> 00:42:35,000 I mean, I'm not being mean. 777 00:42:35,000 --> 00:42:36,000 I'm not saying be mean to them. 778 00:42:36,000 --> 00:42:37,000 Don't judge them. 779 00:42:37,000 --> 00:42:38,000 Don't go like this to them. 780 00:42:38,000 --> 00:42:39,000 Give them a big hug. 781 00:42:39,000 --> 00:42:41,000 Say, I love you. 782 00:42:41,000 --> 00:42:45,000 We'll hang out when you're nice. 783 00:42:45,000 --> 00:42:46,000 Right? 784 00:42:46,000 --> 00:42:47,000 It's not that hard. 785 00:42:47,000 --> 00:42:49,000 Just say, I can't handle it. 786 00:42:49,000 --> 00:42:52,000 Some of you, some of you young people, 787 00:42:52,000 --> 00:42:53,000 can I be honest with you? 788 00:42:53,000 --> 00:42:57,000 You're stuck in a TikTok rabbit hole. 789 00:42:57,000 --> 00:43:00,000 Young people, you're stuck in a TikTok rabbit hole, 790 00:43:00,000 --> 00:43:03,000 and if you're an old person stuck in a TikTok rabbit hole, 791 00:43:03,000 --> 00:43:04,000 I feel bad for you. 792 00:43:04,000 --> 00:43:05,000 OK? 793 00:43:05,000 --> 00:43:08,000 Did you know that that TikTok... 794 00:43:08,000 --> 00:43:10,000 Listen, this is the truth. 795 00:43:10,000 --> 00:43:14,000 That TikTok rabbit hole is simply an algorithm 796 00:43:14,000 --> 00:43:16,000 that's feeding you garbage. 797 00:43:16,000 --> 00:43:17,000 It's a computer program. 798 00:43:17,000 --> 00:43:18,000 That's all it is. 799 00:43:18,000 --> 00:43:21,000 And the more you watch a certain subject, 800 00:43:21,000 --> 00:43:23,000 guess what shows up in your feed? 801 00:43:23,000 --> 00:43:24,000 That subject. 802 00:43:24,000 --> 00:43:27,000 Same thing. 803 00:43:27,000 --> 00:43:29,000 Over and over and over again. 804 00:43:29,000 --> 00:43:31,000 What do you need to do? 805 00:43:31,000 --> 00:43:33,000 Delete. 806 00:43:33,000 --> 00:43:35,000 Get rid of it! 807 00:43:35,000 --> 00:43:36,000 Right? 808 00:43:36,000 --> 00:43:38,000 You have got to make a choice to get rid of negativity. 809 00:43:38,000 --> 00:43:39,000 Why? 810 00:43:39,000 --> 00:43:41,000 Because your thoughts are powerful 811 00:43:41,000 --> 00:43:43,000 and you have power over your thoughts. 812 00:43:43,000 --> 00:43:44,000 The last time I checked, 813 00:43:44,000 --> 00:43:45,000 Proverbs 17 tells us, 814 00:43:45,000 --> 00:43:48,000 a cheerful heart is good medicine, 815 00:43:48,000 --> 00:43:51,000 but a broken spirit saps a person's strength. 816 00:43:51,000 --> 00:43:53,000 That sounds like negativity to me. 817 00:43:53,000 --> 00:43:55,000 Go to God. 818 00:43:55,000 --> 00:43:56,000 Right? 819 00:43:56,000 --> 00:43:59,000 Meditate on and speak Scripture. 820 00:43:59,000 --> 00:44:01,000 Get rid of negativity and number four, live. 821 00:44:01,000 --> 00:44:02,000 Right? 822 00:44:02,000 --> 00:44:04,000 Live. 823 00:44:04,000 --> 00:44:06,000 So what do you want to be? 824 00:44:06,000 --> 00:44:09,000 You want to be caught in an endless loop of negativity, 825 00:44:09,000 --> 00:44:12,000 lowering yourself to the common denominator 826 00:44:12,000 --> 00:44:14,000 of popular opinion? 827 00:44:14,000 --> 00:44:16,000 You want to be caught in that cycle? 828 00:44:16,000 --> 00:44:17,000 Are you going to stand up for something 829 00:44:17,000 --> 00:44:19,000 that brings glory to God? 830 00:44:19,000 --> 00:44:22,000 Because the last time I checked, 831 00:44:22,000 --> 00:44:25,000 bringing glory to God is what matters. 832 00:44:25,000 --> 00:44:26,000 You have got to stand up and say, 833 00:44:26,000 --> 00:44:29,000 I'm not going to be a victim of what goes on in the world. 834 00:44:29,000 --> 00:44:31,000 I'm going to choose to see where God's moving, 835 00:44:31,000 --> 00:44:32,000 where God's working, 836 00:44:32,000 --> 00:44:34,000 and I'm going to choose to see the good in people. 837 00:44:34,000 --> 00:44:38,000 I'm going to choose to be loving and kind and full of grace 838 00:44:38,000 --> 00:44:40,000 because your thoughts have incredible power 839 00:44:40,000 --> 00:44:42,000 and you have incredible power of your thoughts. 840 00:44:42,000 --> 00:44:43,000 Romans 12, two. 841 00:44:43,000 --> 00:44:47,000 Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, 842 00:44:47,000 --> 00:44:49,000 but let God transform you into a new person 843 00:44:49,000 --> 00:44:51,000 by changing the way you think. 844 00:44:51,000 --> 00:44:53,000 Then you will learn to know God's will for you, 845 00:44:53,000 --> 00:44:56,000 which is good and pleasing and perfect. 846 00:44:56,000 --> 00:44:59,000 Church, how are we transformed? 847 00:44:59,000 --> 00:45:03,000 By renewing our minds. 848 00:45:03,000 --> 00:45:06,000 By renewing our minds. 849 00:45:33,000 --> 00:45:35,000 .