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 changeme to 970-00. 10 00:00:30,000 --> 00:00:32,000 Thank you and enjoy the message. 11 00:00:32,000 --> 00:00:48,000 I'd do up forever to touch you 12 00:00:48,000 --> 00:00:54,000 Cause I know that you feel me somehow 13 00:00:54,000 --> 00:00:58,000 You're the closest to heaven that I'll ever be 14 00:00:58,000 --> 00:01:04,000 And I don't want to go home right now 15 00:01:04,000 --> 00:01:08,000 And all I can taste is this moment 16 00:01:08,000 --> 00:01:12,000 And all I can breathe is your lies 17 00:01:12,000 --> 00:01:17,000 When sooner or later it's over 18 00:01:17,000 --> 00:01:22,000 I just don't want to miss you tonight 19 00:01:22,000 --> 00:01:26,000 And I don't want the world to see me 20 00:01:26,000 --> 00:01:31,000 Cause I don't think you may understand 21 00:01:31,000 --> 00:01:36,000 That everything's made to be broken 22 00:01:36,000 --> 00:01:43,000 I just want you to know who I am 23 00:01:43,000 --> 00:01:48,000 And you can't fight the tears that ain't coming 24 00:01:48,000 --> 00:01:53,000 Or the moment of truth in your lies 25 00:01:53,000 --> 00:01:58,000 When everything feels like the movies 26 00:01:58,000 --> 00:02:03,000 Yeah, you play just to know you're alive 27 00:02:03,000 --> 00:02:08,000 And I don't want to go home right now 28 00:02:08,000 --> 00:02:13,000 And all I can taste is this moment 29 00:02:13,000 --> 00:02:18,000 And all I can breathe is your lies 30 00:02:18,000 --> 00:02:23,000 When sooner or later it's over 31 00:02:23,000 --> 00:02:28,000 I just don't want to miss you tonight 32 00:02:28,000 --> 00:02:33,000 And all I can taste is this moment 33 00:02:33,000 --> 00:02:38,000 When sooner or later it's over 34 00:03:03,000 --> 00:03:08,000 I just don't want to miss you tonight 35 00:03:08,000 --> 00:03:13,000 And all I can taste is this moment 36 00:03:13,000 --> 00:03:18,000 When sooner or later it's over 37 00:03:18,000 --> 00:03:23,000 I just don't want to miss you tonight 38 00:03:23,000 --> 00:03:28,000 And all I can taste is this moment 39 00:03:28,000 --> 00:03:33,000 When sooner or later it's over 40 00:03:58,000 --> 00:04:03,000 Come on, sing it with me 41 00:04:03,000 --> 00:04:08,000 And I don't want the world to see me 42 00:04:08,000 --> 00:04:13,000 Cause I don't think you may understand 43 00:04:13,000 --> 00:04:18,000 That everything's made to be broken 44 00:04:18,000 --> 00:04:28,000 That everything's made to be broken 45 00:04:28,000 --> 00:04:33,000 I just want you to know who I am 46 00:04:33,000 --> 00:04:38,000 And I don't want the world to see me 47 00:04:38,000 --> 00:04:43,000 Cause I don't think you may understand 48 00:04:43,000 --> 00:04:48,000 That everything's made to be broken 49 00:04:48,000 --> 00:04:53,000 I just want you to know who I am 50 00:04:53,000 --> 00:04:58,000 I just want you to know who I am 51 00:04:58,000 --> 00:05:13,000 I just want you to know who I am 52 00:05:28,000 --> 00:05:35,000 I just want you to know who I am 53 00:05:58,000 --> 00:06:04,480 It means Summer Jams, a series that focuses on music and its connection to our culture. 54 00:06:04,480 --> 00:06:09,760 This series is simply about discovering God in everyday life. 55 00:06:09,760 --> 00:06:13,520 The songs that we have chosen for this series are simply tools 56 00:06:14,080 --> 00:06:17,280 to assist us in discovering God's truth for us. 57 00:06:17,280 --> 00:06:20,880 Now some of you are sitting there thinking, well, Chris, is this biblical? 58 00:06:21,520 --> 00:06:27,440 Well, in the book of Acts, Paul referenced the unknown God in chapter 17 of verse 23, 59 00:06:27,440 --> 00:06:32,080 where we read, for as I was walking along, I saw your many shrines, 60 00:06:32,080 --> 00:06:37,680 and one of your altars had this inscription on it, to an unknown God. 61 00:06:37,680 --> 00:06:43,280 This God whom you worship without knowing is the one I'm telling you about. 62 00:06:43,280 --> 00:06:48,880 So Paul used their own shrines, their own gods, to point them to Jesus. 63 00:06:48,880 --> 00:06:54,240 We here at HCV are in no way encouraging you to go out and buy this album that the 64 00:06:54,240 --> 00:06:58,640 Goo Goo Dolls released and sold, but if you want to, go for it. 65 00:06:58,640 --> 00:07:02,000 You know, just don't make it a shrine. 66 00:07:02,000 --> 00:07:04,960 The Goo Goo Dolls originated in Buffalo, New York. 67 00:07:04,960 --> 00:07:13,200 The band which formed in 1986 didn't see any large success until 1995, 68 00:07:13,200 --> 00:07:20,160 nine long years until their release name came out and sent them to superstardom. 69 00:07:20,160 --> 00:07:25,360 Three years later, right, they delivered their most recognized song, which you just heard, 70 00:07:25,360 --> 00:07:30,480 Iris, which was just performed by HCV Worship, didn't they do an incredible job? 71 00:07:33,360 --> 00:07:34,560 Absolutely. 72 00:07:34,560 --> 00:07:41,120 This song became a huge success for the Goo Goo Dolls, topping the Billboard top 100 Airplay 73 00:07:41,120 --> 00:07:48,640 chart for 18 straight weeks and reaching number nine on the Hot 100 chart months 74 00:07:48,640 --> 00:07:50,160 after its popular release. 75 00:07:50,160 --> 00:07:57,600 Please understand, in 1998, if a band released a single, it wasn't considered for the top 100 76 00:07:57,600 --> 00:08:02,800 chart until December 5th of that year when they changed the rules. 77 00:08:02,800 --> 00:08:08,800 Iris would have been number one from start to finish for many, many months had they not 78 00:08:08,800 --> 00:08:09,760 changed that. 79 00:08:09,760 --> 00:08:15,520 Now, Iris also contributed to the success of the City of Angels soundtrack, which is 80 00:08:15,520 --> 00:08:20,800 based on a movie and it became the best selling album in 1998. 81 00:08:20,800 --> 00:08:27,920 The song received three Grammy nominations in 1999 and was certified quadruple platinum 82 00:08:27,920 --> 00:08:32,400 by the Recording Industry Association of America in 2018. 83 00:08:32,400 --> 00:08:37,120 In other words, the Goo Goo Dolls don't have to work another day in their lives, okay? 84 00:08:38,560 --> 00:08:44,960 While Iris was influenced by the movie, it also reflects the personal struggles of lead 85 00:08:44,960 --> 00:08:49,520 singer John Resnick, the singer-songwriter of the Goo Goo Dolls. 86 00:08:49,520 --> 00:08:56,400 At the time of the writing of the song, Resnick was facing writer's block, identity issues, 87 00:08:56,400 --> 00:08:58,480 and the pressures of fame. 88 00:08:58,480 --> 00:09:04,000 In an interview with American songwriter, Resnick says, I felt like I had just won the 89 00:09:04,000 --> 00:09:08,320 lottery and everyone was standing around going, wow, you won the lottery. 90 00:09:08,320 --> 00:09:09,600 That's amazing. 91 00:09:09,600 --> 00:09:10,320 Do it again. 92 00:09:10,880 --> 00:09:13,360 So it really kind of froze me up. 93 00:09:13,360 --> 00:09:18,160 I think it was the period where I finally had to come to terms with the fact that songwriting 94 00:09:18,160 --> 00:09:19,680 was now my job. 95 00:09:20,320 --> 00:09:25,600 So with the pressures of stardom, Resnick felt like he couldn't produce another hit. 96 00:09:25,600 --> 00:09:30,880 He felt lost, not only in his musical life, but his personal life as well. 97 00:09:30,880 --> 00:09:35,920 Resnick continues in the magazine article, I was feeling kind of schizophrenic. 98 00:09:35,920 --> 00:09:39,520 My wife and I had just divorced after 10 years of marriage. 99 00:09:39,520 --> 00:09:45,120 I'd moved from my home in Buffalo, New York and was living in this random hotel. 100 00:09:45,120 --> 00:09:47,840 So it was a really manic time in my life. 101 00:09:47,840 --> 00:09:51,200 I was looking for something to hold on to. 102 00:09:51,200 --> 00:09:52,080 So think about that. 103 00:09:52,080 --> 00:09:56,560 He had just reached fame and then suddenly he has nothing. 104 00:09:56,560 --> 00:10:02,960 He felt lost both musically and personally, and Iris became a way for him to express his 105 00:10:02,960 --> 00:10:05,520 vulnerabilities and seek acceptance. 106 00:10:05,520 --> 00:10:11,520 Now the song's meaning directly correlates to the plot of the movie City of Angels. 107 00:10:11,520 --> 00:10:18,640 In the movie, Nicolas Cage plays the part of an immortal angel, but throws away his 108 00:10:18,640 --> 00:10:20,800 immortality for love. 109 00:10:20,800 --> 00:10:25,600 He became human so he can be with the woman that he loves so much. 110 00:10:25,600 --> 00:10:31,040 Resnick explains, when I wrote it, I was thinking about the situation of the Nicolas 111 00:10:31,040 --> 00:10:32,720 Cage character in the movie. 112 00:10:32,720 --> 00:10:38,320 This guy is completely willing to give up his own immortality just to be able to feel 113 00:10:38,320 --> 00:10:39,840 something very human. 114 00:10:39,840 --> 00:10:44,800 And I think, wow, what an amazing thing it must be like to love someone so much that 115 00:10:44,800 --> 00:10:47,200 you give up everything to be with them. 116 00:10:47,200 --> 00:10:49,520 That's a pretty heavy thought. 117 00:10:49,520 --> 00:10:54,160 And when I was reading those words and listening to what he was saying, I thought, man, that 118 00:10:54,160 --> 00:10:56,240 sounds so familiar. 119 00:10:56,240 --> 00:11:01,360 And as I was praying and studying this week to prepare for today's talk, I felt the Holy 120 00:11:01,360 --> 00:11:05,920 Spirit whisper in my ear, Chris, he's pointing to Jesus. 121 00:11:05,920 --> 00:11:07,040 I mean, think about it. 122 00:11:07,040 --> 00:11:09,040 What did Jesus do for humanity? 123 00:11:09,040 --> 00:11:14,280 Well, Philippians 2, from the message paraphrase, answers that question. 124 00:11:14,280 --> 00:11:17,080 Think of yourselves the way Jesus thought of himself. 125 00:11:17,080 --> 00:11:22,400 He had equal status with God, but didn't think so much of himself that he had to cling to 126 00:11:22,400 --> 00:11:25,840 the advantages of that status no matter what. 127 00:11:25,840 --> 00:11:26,880 Not at all. 128 00:11:26,880 --> 00:11:32,940 When the time came, he set aside the privileges of deity and took on the status of a slave. 129 00:11:32,940 --> 00:11:34,480 He became human. 130 00:11:34,480 --> 00:11:36,680 Having become human, he stayed human. 131 00:11:36,680 --> 00:11:39,200 It was an incredibly humbling process. 132 00:11:39,200 --> 00:11:41,320 He didn't claim special privileges. 133 00:11:41,320 --> 00:11:47,520 Instead, he lived a selfless, obedient life and then died a selfless, obedient death and 134 00:11:47,520 --> 00:11:51,120 the worst kind of death at that, a crucifixion. 135 00:11:51,120 --> 00:11:52,120 Why? 136 00:11:52,120 --> 00:11:58,520 Why did Jesus leave eternity, his immortality to come and be here on earth? 137 00:11:58,520 --> 00:12:00,960 Because he loves us. 138 00:12:00,960 --> 00:12:02,160 Jesus loves us. 139 00:12:02,160 --> 00:12:06,800 Friends, this song can be considered one of the greatest love songs ever written and it 140 00:12:06,800 --> 00:12:14,440 is because it can literally point us to Jesus' actions to reconnect us to the Father. 141 00:12:14,440 --> 00:12:16,240 Listen to some of the lyrics. 142 00:12:16,240 --> 00:12:18,720 And I'd give up forever to touch you. 143 00:12:18,720 --> 00:12:23,840 And think about all the people that Jesus touched, reflecting his willingness to sacrifice 144 00:12:23,840 --> 00:12:27,920 everything for the people he loved. 145 00:12:27,920 --> 00:12:33,220 The lyrics also touch on feelings of being misunderstood or out of place. 146 00:12:33,220 --> 00:12:37,720 And I don't want the world to see me because I don't think they'd understand. 147 00:12:37,720 --> 00:12:41,720 I mean, think about Jesus' teachings on the kingdom of God. 148 00:12:41,720 --> 00:12:43,520 He was always what? 149 00:12:43,520 --> 00:12:44,780 Misunderstood. 150 00:12:44,780 --> 00:12:51,440 No one could understand the vastness of God's love because it goes against everything that 151 00:12:51,440 --> 00:12:53,480 this world values. 152 00:12:53,480 --> 00:12:59,380 Now in preparing to share with you this morning, God led me to the book of Hebrews to bring 153 00:12:59,380 --> 00:13:01,180 encouragement to you. 154 00:13:01,180 --> 00:13:08,480 Now the unknown author of this book encourages the church to never give up. 155 00:13:08,480 --> 00:13:13,880 The author writing the Jewish Christians facing persecution and imprisonment because of their 156 00:13:13,880 --> 00:13:15,680 relationship with Jesus. 157 00:13:15,680 --> 00:13:19,280 Some within the community were abandoning the faith. 158 00:13:19,280 --> 00:13:22,600 They were walking away from their relationship with God. 159 00:13:22,600 --> 00:13:25,680 Life was coming at them from every angle. 160 00:13:25,680 --> 00:13:31,600 They were being tempted to walk away, to go back to their old lifestyles because it felt 161 00:13:31,600 --> 00:13:35,080 like it just wasn't worth it. 162 00:13:35,080 --> 00:13:41,080 When in reality, being in a relationship with Jesus can be challenging, can be the hardest 163 00:13:41,080 --> 00:13:47,800 decision that you ever make because the enemy will whisper in your ears, it's just not worth 164 00:13:47,800 --> 00:13:48,800 it. 165 00:13:48,800 --> 00:13:50,240 You're not good enough. 166 00:13:50,240 --> 00:13:52,480 It takes too much effort. 167 00:13:52,480 --> 00:13:56,400 It's so much easier just to go out and do what you want. 168 00:13:56,400 --> 00:13:58,820 Return to your old life. 169 00:13:58,820 --> 00:14:07,000 And all throughout the book, the author expresses encouragement that following Jesus means remaining 170 00:14:07,000 --> 00:14:16,560 faithful to Him despite persecution, despite life's challenges because God will not abandon 171 00:14:16,560 --> 00:14:17,560 you. 172 00:14:17,560 --> 00:14:20,280 God will not abandon us. 173 00:14:20,280 --> 00:14:24,280 And before we jump into our thoughts and our steps this morning, let's open in prayer to 174 00:14:24,280 --> 00:14:26,560 just believe that God is going to change us. 175 00:14:26,560 --> 00:14:27,800 Holy Spirit come. 176 00:14:27,800 --> 00:14:32,560 I'm thankful for each and every person gathered here watching online. 177 00:14:32,560 --> 00:14:36,360 Open our ears, our minds, and our hearts to receive your truths. 178 00:14:36,360 --> 00:14:37,680 God change us. 179 00:14:37,680 --> 00:14:41,280 Make us more like you in Jesus' name. 180 00:14:41,280 --> 00:14:42,280 Amen. 181 00:14:42,280 --> 00:14:44,640 And that leads us to our first thought this morning. 182 00:14:44,640 --> 00:14:49,440 You see, humanity tends to drift. 183 00:14:49,440 --> 00:14:50,720 Humanity tends to drift. 184 00:14:50,720 --> 00:14:51,900 Look at Hebrews chapter two. 185 00:14:51,900 --> 00:14:58,240 The author tells us, so we must listen very carefully to the truth we have heard or we 186 00:14:58,240 --> 00:15:01,360 may drift away from it. 187 00:15:01,360 --> 00:15:05,880 For the message God delivered through angels has always stood firm. 188 00:15:05,880 --> 00:15:11,280 So what makes us think we can escape if we ignore this great salvation that was first 189 00:15:11,280 --> 00:15:17,200 announced by the Lord Jesus Himself and then delivered to us by those who heard Him speak? 190 00:15:17,200 --> 00:15:23,280 And God confirmed the message by giving signs and wonders and miracles and gifts to the 191 00:15:23,280 --> 00:15:27,720 Holy Spirit whenever He chose. 192 00:15:27,720 --> 00:15:34,240 And He's encouraging us church, be careful not to drift away from the kingdom of God. 193 00:15:34,240 --> 00:15:38,120 Be careful not to drift away from your faith. 194 00:15:38,120 --> 00:15:43,840 And if you ever noticed that people, they don't drift towards holiness, right? 195 00:15:43,840 --> 00:15:47,160 They don't drift towards a relationship with God. 196 00:15:47,160 --> 00:15:53,120 Just like we don't drift towards a kale salad, we drift towards Crumpies donuts, right? 197 00:15:53,120 --> 00:15:55,040 Like kale salad and Crumpies. 198 00:15:55,040 --> 00:15:59,160 Many of you are like, ah, take the Crumpies, right? 199 00:15:59,160 --> 00:16:04,360 We in a relationship with Jesus simply drift towards holiness. 200 00:16:04,360 --> 00:16:05,360 Theologian D.A. 201 00:16:05,360 --> 00:16:13,720 Carson says it best, apart from grace driven effort, people do not gravitate towards godliness, 202 00:16:13,720 --> 00:16:16,520 prayer and obedience to scripture. 203 00:16:16,520 --> 00:16:20,440 We drift towards compromise and call it tolerance. 204 00:16:20,440 --> 00:16:24,240 We drift towards disobedience and call it freedom. 205 00:16:24,240 --> 00:16:28,000 We drift towards superstition and call it faith. 206 00:16:28,000 --> 00:16:34,200 We cherish the indiscipline of law, self control and call it relaxation. 207 00:16:34,200 --> 00:16:40,760 We slouch toward prayerlessness and mislead ourselves into thinking we have escaped legalism. 208 00:16:40,760 --> 00:16:46,200 We slide toward godlessness and convince ourselves we've been liberated. 209 00:16:46,200 --> 00:16:52,680 See, this is the challenge that we face every single day when in a relationship with Jesus. 210 00:16:52,680 --> 00:16:54,160 And you know why? 211 00:16:54,160 --> 00:17:01,560 Because our culture that surrounds us encourages us to drift away from God. 212 00:17:01,560 --> 00:17:05,600 Our culture doesn't encourage us to be more like Jesus or get closer to God. 213 00:17:05,600 --> 00:17:09,680 They want us to drift away so they don't feel conviction. 214 00:17:09,680 --> 00:17:15,480 Now, I have no idea if the lead singer John Resnick was in a relationship with Jesus or 215 00:17:15,480 --> 00:17:23,640 not, but we did see his life drift after writing the band's first number one hit entitled 216 00:17:23,640 --> 00:17:24,880 Name. 217 00:17:24,880 --> 00:17:25,880 Think about it. 218 00:17:25,880 --> 00:17:27,320 The singer lost his marriage. 219 00:17:27,320 --> 00:17:29,800 He lost his ability to write music. 220 00:17:29,800 --> 00:17:36,600 He lost his own personal identity, finding himself living in a random hotel room, trying 221 00:17:36,600 --> 00:17:43,120 to live up to culture's expectations, which he couldn't. 222 00:17:43,120 --> 00:17:47,000 And if you're in a relationship with Jesus and you're here this morning and you find 223 00:17:47,000 --> 00:17:55,240 yourself drifting, my encouragement to you is this, don't give up. 224 00:17:55,240 --> 00:17:57,320 Don't give up. 225 00:17:57,320 --> 00:17:58,680 Press on. 226 00:17:58,680 --> 00:18:02,720 We have got to be intentional when it comes to our faith. 227 00:18:02,720 --> 00:18:08,600 Now, if you are currently in a difficult situation, my encouragement to you is this, read the 228 00:18:08,600 --> 00:18:10,400 Book of Hubers. 229 00:18:10,400 --> 00:18:12,240 Read it and don't just read it once. 230 00:18:12,240 --> 00:18:17,560 Read it two or three times because the author is so encouraging to us. 231 00:18:17,560 --> 00:18:20,760 Rudy is actually going to start a devotional. 232 00:18:20,760 --> 00:18:21,760 We'll email it out. 233 00:18:21,760 --> 00:18:25,240 We'll put it on social media and it focuses on, guess what? 234 00:18:25,240 --> 00:18:30,560 The Book of Hebrews so that we can all go through it together and be encouraged. 235 00:18:30,560 --> 00:18:35,160 Now, what's interesting about this book is we don't know who wrote it. 236 00:18:35,160 --> 00:18:36,880 We don't know who the author is. 237 00:18:36,880 --> 00:18:40,580 He or she doesn't let us know their name. 238 00:18:40,580 --> 00:18:42,840 It's literally an anonymous writer. 239 00:18:42,840 --> 00:18:47,320 Now, of course, biblical scholars debate who wrote the book. 240 00:18:47,320 --> 00:18:52,800 Some believe that it was Barnabas who wrote Hebrews while others believe it was Luke. 241 00:18:52,800 --> 00:18:54,800 Still others think it was Apollo. 242 00:18:54,800 --> 00:18:59,880 Some believe Priscilla wrote the book while a majority of the scholars, and please understand 243 00:18:59,880 --> 00:19:01,680 I am no biblical scholar. 244 00:19:01,680 --> 00:19:02,680 Okay? 245 00:19:02,680 --> 00:19:03,680 I'm a pastor. 246 00:19:03,680 --> 00:19:04,680 Okay? 247 00:19:04,680 --> 00:19:10,000 Believe that the apostle Paul wrote the book because of its rich language. 248 00:19:10,000 --> 00:19:14,200 And the rich language points to a higher education. 249 00:19:14,200 --> 00:19:21,040 Now the counter argument to all of these suggestions is that Paul assisted one of his coworkers 250 00:19:21,040 --> 00:19:27,200 or one of his co-laborers in writing the letter because there's one distinct reason that Paul 251 00:19:27,200 --> 00:19:29,360 did not write these words. 252 00:19:29,360 --> 00:19:35,120 Because whenever we read one of Paul's letters to the churches, and remember, he wrote most 253 00:19:35,120 --> 00:19:40,860 of them, he wrote more than half of the New Testament, Paul lets us know in his intro, 254 00:19:40,860 --> 00:19:44,120 in the intro to the letter, who is writing the book. 255 00:19:44,120 --> 00:19:50,960 When you read any of Paul's letters, typically you'll read, I, Paul, an apostle of Jesus, 256 00:19:50,960 --> 00:19:57,800 chosen by the will of God to the church at Corinth, or to whichever church he was writing 257 00:19:57,800 --> 00:19:58,800 to. 258 00:19:58,800 --> 00:20:04,000 See, if Paul commonly wrote these words in his other letters, why would he not do it 259 00:20:04,000 --> 00:20:05,000 here? 260 00:20:05,000 --> 00:20:12,000 Because in every other letter Paul writes, I, Paul, right, that's who he is, an apostle, 261 00:20:12,000 --> 00:20:18,520 that's what he's called to do, by the will of God, that is who called him to do it, right? 262 00:20:18,520 --> 00:20:21,440 That's how he starts off many of his letters. 263 00:20:21,440 --> 00:20:26,720 And my challenge to you is, what if we started to declare who we were with confidence? 264 00:20:26,720 --> 00:20:27,720 Right? 265 00:20:27,720 --> 00:20:31,480 Think about the confidence that Paul has in writing these letters. 266 00:20:31,480 --> 00:20:36,800 And there's so many followers of Jesus that slouch away from being confident in their 267 00:20:36,800 --> 00:20:37,800 faith. 268 00:20:37,800 --> 00:20:41,800 What if you began to send a text message like Paul just stated? 269 00:20:41,800 --> 00:20:46,640 For example, I'm going to start sending text messages to Elijah, and they're going to say, 270 00:20:46,640 --> 00:20:52,920 I, Chris, that's who I am, pastor of HCV, that's what I'm called to do, by the grace 271 00:20:52,920 --> 00:20:57,680 of God, right, it's God in me, it's in his mercy and his grace that he's called me to 272 00:20:57,680 --> 00:20:58,680 do this. 273 00:20:58,680 --> 00:21:02,760 I do this because of God's call on my life, right? 274 00:21:02,760 --> 00:21:07,760 Just being honest, if it was my will and it was my choice, I'd probably be doing something 275 00:21:07,760 --> 00:21:13,840 else, right, because my degrees reflect that, but God's mercy and his grace has called me 276 00:21:13,840 --> 00:21:18,320 to do this, to plant this church and to pastor this church. 277 00:21:18,320 --> 00:21:25,920 And my challenge to you is, it's time to move away from insecurity and embrace God's call 278 00:21:25,920 --> 00:21:28,600 on our lives, right? 279 00:21:28,600 --> 00:21:34,960 Paul let all of us know who he was, he let others know because his identity wasn't his 280 00:21:34,960 --> 00:21:36,160 own. 281 00:21:36,160 --> 00:21:37,840 Where did his identity come from? 282 00:21:37,840 --> 00:21:40,520 It came from, it came from God. 283 00:21:40,520 --> 00:21:48,320 And this is important because ultimately people drift because they don't know their identity, 284 00:21:48,320 --> 00:21:53,480 which leads us to a question, not a thought, but a question. 285 00:21:53,480 --> 00:21:57,920 Is your identity rooted in something shakeable? 286 00:21:57,920 --> 00:22:00,560 Is your identity rooted in something shakeable? 287 00:22:00,560 --> 00:22:06,680 Now the author of Hebrews writes these words in chapter 12 verse 28, since we are receiving 288 00:22:06,680 --> 00:22:11,520 a kingdom that is unshakeable. 289 00:22:11,520 --> 00:22:13,520 Notice unshakeable. 290 00:22:13,520 --> 00:22:15,080 Fast forward to today. 291 00:22:15,080 --> 00:22:20,920 Is your identity rooted in something that is shakeable? 292 00:22:20,920 --> 00:22:26,320 It's very dangerous if your self-worth is built upon something that is shakeable. 293 00:22:26,320 --> 00:22:29,640 Now some of you are sitting here thinking, well, Chris, how am I supposed to know that 294 00:22:29,640 --> 00:22:30,640 answer? 295 00:22:30,640 --> 00:22:34,240 Well, my answer, my point is another question. 296 00:22:34,240 --> 00:22:37,480 What do you point to to prove your value? 297 00:22:37,480 --> 00:22:40,980 What do you point to to prove that you are somebody? 298 00:22:40,980 --> 00:22:46,480 Because whatever it is that you point to, ask yourself the question, is it shakeable? 299 00:22:46,480 --> 00:22:51,520 And for so many people in the United States, their identity is their bank accounts, how 300 00:22:51,520 --> 00:22:52,920 much they earn. 301 00:22:52,920 --> 00:22:58,860 And that defines success within our culture when in reality, our bank accounts can slowly 302 00:22:58,860 --> 00:23:02,680 go away when a company decides to downsize. 303 00:23:02,680 --> 00:23:05,720 What happens when the economy falters? 304 00:23:05,720 --> 00:23:08,240 See finances are what? 305 00:23:08,240 --> 00:23:10,080 They're shakeable. 306 00:23:10,080 --> 00:23:16,340 And if it's not finances, so many people within our culture use a mirror to define their identity. 307 00:23:16,340 --> 00:23:19,400 How good they look or how good they don't look. 308 00:23:19,400 --> 00:23:26,520 When in reality, as we age, our bodies change and we will never be able to maintain that 309 00:23:26,520 --> 00:23:30,600 youthful appearance no matter how many surgeries you get. 310 00:23:30,600 --> 00:23:31,600 Right? 311 00:23:31,600 --> 00:23:34,080 It's just not possible. 312 00:23:34,080 --> 00:23:36,120 It's shakeable. 313 00:23:36,120 --> 00:23:40,160 So would you point to your spouse or a house or a car? 314 00:23:40,160 --> 00:23:41,480 Is it your business? 315 00:23:41,480 --> 00:23:42,480 Is it recovery? 316 00:23:42,480 --> 00:23:48,480 Some of you are in recovery and you point to recovery as your definition when in reality, 317 00:23:48,480 --> 00:23:51,840 all of that is shaky. 318 00:23:51,840 --> 00:23:58,780 If whatever you point to is shaky, your life will not live up to God's standards because 319 00:23:58,780 --> 00:24:01,400 you won't know who you are. 320 00:24:01,400 --> 00:24:07,640 But God says, if you point to me, an invisible authority that calls you into a relationship 321 00:24:07,640 --> 00:24:12,760 with him, that calls you to serve others, then you will have an anchor for your life 322 00:24:12,760 --> 00:24:14,600 and point others to him. 323 00:24:14,600 --> 00:24:15,600 Right? 324 00:24:15,600 --> 00:24:17,640 Listen to how the author begins this letter. 325 00:24:17,640 --> 00:24:22,880 Hebrews chapter one verses one through two, long ago, God, right? 326 00:24:22,880 --> 00:24:28,440 He or she points directly to God, a name that cannot be shaken. 327 00:24:28,440 --> 00:24:34,480 It's almost as if the author is repeating Genesis chapter one in the beginning, God. 328 00:24:34,480 --> 00:24:35,480 Right? 329 00:24:35,480 --> 00:24:42,120 They're pointing us to God because they know in their own self, it's weak and it's shaky. 330 00:24:42,120 --> 00:24:43,120 And let's continue. 331 00:24:43,120 --> 00:24:48,280 God spoke many times and in many ways to our ancestors through the prophets. 332 00:24:48,280 --> 00:24:53,020 And now in these final days, he has spoken to us through his son. 333 00:24:53,020 --> 00:24:59,200 God promised everything to the son as an inheritance and through the son, he created the universe. 334 00:24:59,200 --> 00:25:05,320 So the author of this book has let us know that they serve a God that communicates. 335 00:25:05,320 --> 00:25:09,040 They follow a God that speaks. 336 00:25:09,040 --> 00:25:14,840 And I want to encourage you since the beginning of creation, God has spoken. 337 00:25:14,840 --> 00:25:17,360 He spoke the world into existence. 338 00:25:17,360 --> 00:25:19,220 He spoke through the prophets. 339 00:25:19,220 --> 00:25:21,040 He spoke through the priesthood. 340 00:25:21,040 --> 00:25:23,080 He spoke to shepherds. 341 00:25:23,080 --> 00:25:25,160 He spoke to the early church. 342 00:25:25,160 --> 00:25:27,300 He speaks to us through the Bible. 343 00:25:27,300 --> 00:25:30,760 He is still speaking today. 344 00:25:30,760 --> 00:25:33,480 He is still speaking to us this morning. 345 00:25:33,480 --> 00:25:38,840 For example, I've had several of you ask me, Chris, I've noticed over the last few 346 00:25:38,840 --> 00:25:43,800 Sundays that you've been sharing these words of knowledge. 347 00:25:43,800 --> 00:25:44,800 What does that mean? 348 00:25:44,800 --> 00:25:48,920 Well, there's people that pray for our Sunday gatherings all week long. 349 00:25:48,920 --> 00:25:53,720 They're praying for you to sit in these chairs before you even get there. 350 00:25:53,720 --> 00:25:59,760 And while they're praying, they receive these words of knowledge for us to communicate to 351 00:25:59,760 --> 00:26:04,020 you as a means of God wanting to meet you where you are. 352 00:26:04,020 --> 00:26:08,000 For example, this week there was two words of knowledge received. 353 00:26:08,000 --> 00:26:15,320 The first one that I got a text message from was that God wanted to heal gout today. 354 00:26:15,320 --> 00:26:18,960 Gout specifically in the foot, knee, or wrist. 355 00:26:18,960 --> 00:26:23,120 And if you're here this morning and you're struggling with gout, we want to pray for 356 00:26:23,120 --> 00:26:24,120 you. 357 00:26:24,120 --> 00:26:29,200 And the other one was someone is living or is living with a stigmatism in their right 358 00:26:29,200 --> 00:26:30,200 eye. 359 00:26:30,200 --> 00:26:33,760 They would be here this morning and they're struggling with this stigmatism that is in 360 00:26:33,760 --> 00:26:34,920 their right eye. 361 00:26:34,920 --> 00:26:40,360 And what we typically do, as many of you know, is towards the end of the gathering, I communicate 362 00:26:40,360 --> 00:26:44,120 to you these words of knowledge and then I invite you as everybody's leaving, come up 363 00:26:44,120 --> 00:26:46,840 front here to get prayer from our prayer team. 364 00:26:46,840 --> 00:26:49,040 Does everyone recognize that part of our gathering? 365 00:26:49,040 --> 00:26:50,040 Yes. 366 00:26:50,040 --> 00:26:51,040 So you recognize that. 367 00:26:51,040 --> 00:26:52,720 That's a normal part of our gathering. 368 00:26:52,720 --> 00:26:55,160 Well that's God speaking to us. 369 00:26:55,160 --> 00:26:59,640 And notice I encourage you at the end of the gathering to come up here because I know that 370 00:26:59,640 --> 00:27:03,040 if I gave those words of knowledge right now and said, okay, if that's you, come up here 371 00:27:03,040 --> 00:27:04,520 and get prayer, none of you would. 372 00:27:04,520 --> 00:27:08,000 You would just sit there because there's too many people looking at you. 373 00:27:08,000 --> 00:27:12,220 So I say, well, when everybody's leaving, no one's looking at you, come up and get prayer 374 00:27:12,220 --> 00:27:17,320 because we believe God communicates those words of knowledge as a means of you experiencing 375 00:27:17,320 --> 00:27:19,240 healing. 376 00:27:19,240 --> 00:27:23,620 Because we believe God wants to heal those two areas of your life. 377 00:27:23,620 --> 00:27:32,560 The author of Hebrews begins the letter pointing us to God because God still speaks today, 378 00:27:32,560 --> 00:27:34,080 which leads us to our next stop. 379 00:27:34,080 --> 00:27:38,640 See, our identity is developed through listening. 380 00:27:38,640 --> 00:27:41,480 Our identity is developed through listening. 381 00:27:41,480 --> 00:27:42,960 Look at Hebrews 12 25. 382 00:27:42,960 --> 00:27:48,060 Be careful that you do not refuse to listen to the one who is speaking. 383 00:27:48,060 --> 00:27:52,400 For if the people of Israel did not escape when they refused to listen to Moses, the 384 00:27:52,400 --> 00:27:57,640 earthly messenger, we will certainly not escape if we reject the one who speaks to us from 385 00:27:57,640 --> 00:27:58,640 heaven. 386 00:27:58,640 --> 00:28:00,440 Now, everyone humor me. 387 00:28:00,440 --> 00:28:02,960 Look at your neighbor and go, shh. 388 00:28:02,960 --> 00:28:05,200 God is still speaking. 389 00:28:05,200 --> 00:28:11,840 Now, look at your other neighbor, the one you really don't like and say, shh. 390 00:28:11,840 --> 00:28:13,800 God is still speaking. 391 00:28:13,800 --> 00:28:18,000 Wendell, you didn't look at your other neighbor. 392 00:28:18,000 --> 00:28:21,160 Well then find the one behind you. 393 00:28:21,160 --> 00:28:27,280 Geez, I don't want to treat you like elementary schoolers, friends. 394 00:28:27,280 --> 00:28:31,160 Come on now. 395 00:28:31,160 --> 00:28:34,820 And the reason I did that is because I want to ask you a question. 396 00:28:34,820 --> 00:28:41,680 What is the one thing that you need to turn down in order to hear God speaking? 397 00:28:41,680 --> 00:28:47,580 What is the one thing you need to turn down in order to hear God speaking? 398 00:28:47,580 --> 00:28:50,760 For some of you, it's busyness, right? 399 00:28:50,760 --> 00:28:53,840 You don't make time to read the Bible. 400 00:28:53,840 --> 00:29:02,360 We're so busy going to and fro and getting things done that you don't have time to read 401 00:29:02,360 --> 00:29:03,960 or listen to the Bible. 402 00:29:03,960 --> 00:29:07,320 And friends, that's the first way God speaks to us. 403 00:29:07,320 --> 00:29:08,820 It's through his Bible. 404 00:29:08,820 --> 00:29:14,000 And when we read it or we listen to it and we apply it, that's how God changes us. 405 00:29:14,000 --> 00:29:18,040 Look at James 1, 22, but don't just listen to God's word. 406 00:29:18,040 --> 00:29:20,400 You must do what it says. 407 00:29:20,400 --> 00:29:22,720 Otherwise you're only fooling yourselves. 408 00:29:22,720 --> 00:29:24,760 So for some of you, it's busyness. 409 00:29:24,760 --> 00:29:27,260 For others of you, I know what it is. 410 00:29:27,260 --> 00:29:31,080 Is it TikTok or is it Instagram or is it Facebook? 411 00:29:31,080 --> 00:29:32,080 Right? 412 00:29:32,080 --> 00:29:40,380 What has you so distracted that you cannot hear God speaking to you? 413 00:29:40,380 --> 00:29:44,720 Because it's in his stillness, in the quietness. 414 00:29:44,720 --> 00:29:45,720 It's where God speaks. 415 00:29:45,720 --> 00:29:50,480 Now I saw a piece of artwork this week and it wasn't really a piece of artwork. 416 00:29:50,480 --> 00:29:52,720 It was words turned into artwork. 417 00:29:52,720 --> 00:29:58,800 I was searching for the album covers of all of the bands that we're doing for Summer Jams 418 00:29:58,800 --> 00:30:03,000 because I wanted to put them in the cafe to prepare you for Summer Jams. 419 00:30:03,000 --> 00:30:07,800 And as I was searching for the album covers, I came across this piece of artwork that read 420 00:30:07,800 --> 00:30:08,800 this. 421 00:30:08,800 --> 00:30:18,760 Make time for quiet moments because the world is loud and God often whispers. 422 00:30:18,760 --> 00:30:28,560 Make time for quiet moments because the world is loud and God often whispers. 423 00:30:28,560 --> 00:30:31,300 So ask yourself a simple question. 424 00:30:31,300 --> 00:30:36,440 Are you making time to listen to God? 425 00:30:36,440 --> 00:30:40,320 Because it's in listening that our identity is built up. 426 00:30:40,320 --> 00:30:45,080 Now this week I had an incredible opportunity to share at the Hagerstown Church Softball 427 00:30:45,080 --> 00:30:47,800 League's weekly devotional. 428 00:30:47,800 --> 00:30:52,960 And one of the verses that I used for my devotional that I shared with the softball players was 429 00:30:52,960 --> 00:30:55,760 1 Corinthians chapter 9 verse 24. 430 00:30:55,760 --> 00:31:00,240 It's one of my life verses and you'll understand why here in a second when I read it to you. 431 00:31:00,240 --> 00:31:06,960 Paul writes these words, don't you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one 432 00:31:06,960 --> 00:31:11,640 person gets the prize, so run to win. 433 00:31:11,640 --> 00:31:14,160 And I love how Paul says run to win. 434 00:31:14,160 --> 00:31:18,320 There's so many of you that think, Chris, why are you so competitive? 435 00:31:18,320 --> 00:31:20,840 Because Paul was competitive, right? 436 00:31:20,840 --> 00:31:25,320 I'm competitive because Paul was competitive and I really like Paul. 437 00:31:25,320 --> 00:31:27,720 And if Paul tells me to run to win, guess what? 438 00:31:27,720 --> 00:31:32,680 I'm going to run to win because second place is just the first loser, right? 439 00:31:32,680 --> 00:31:35,640 Ricky Bobby was right, okay? 440 00:31:35,640 --> 00:31:38,120 Second place is just the first loser. 441 00:31:38,120 --> 00:31:42,000 We are called to run to win. 442 00:31:42,000 --> 00:31:45,560 You guys aren't winning nothing with that. 443 00:31:45,560 --> 00:31:48,160 We are called to run to win. 444 00:31:48,160 --> 00:31:50,520 That's right, we want to win. 445 00:31:50,520 --> 00:31:57,980 Now listen to what Hebrews says, therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd 446 00:31:57,980 --> 00:32:04,120 of witnesses to this life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, 447 00:32:04,120 --> 00:32:10,180 especially the sin that so easily trips us up and let us run with endurance the race 448 00:32:10,180 --> 00:32:12,120 God has set before us. 449 00:32:12,120 --> 00:32:18,320 Friends, the only way that we win the race that we're in called life is to stay connected 450 00:32:18,320 --> 00:32:24,840 to the source, is to stay connected to the guide, is to stay connected to our leader. 451 00:32:24,840 --> 00:32:30,680 And as I was preparing for this talk, I came across the story of a blind gold medal winning 452 00:32:30,680 --> 00:32:34,720 marathoner named Henry Wanukke. 453 00:32:34,720 --> 00:32:41,200 And in 2004, he won gold at the Paralympic Games in Athens with two new world record 454 00:32:41,200 --> 00:32:45,120 times in the 5,000 and 10,000 meters. 455 00:32:45,120 --> 00:32:51,520 In the very same year, he set the world record for a blind runner in the half marathon with 456 00:32:51,520 --> 00:32:54,880 a time of one hour, 10 minutes and 26 seconds. 457 00:32:54,880 --> 00:33:00,720 A year later, he set the marathon world record for a blind runner in Hamburg, Germany with 458 00:33:00,720 --> 00:33:06,000 a time of two hours, 31 minutes and 31 seconds. 459 00:33:06,000 --> 00:33:09,200 Incredible feat for a man that runs blind. 460 00:33:09,200 --> 00:33:11,320 Now here's the trick. 461 00:33:11,320 --> 00:33:15,960 Henry is only as good as his guide named Paul. 462 00:33:15,960 --> 00:33:21,420 There's this guy named Paul that's Henry's guide and Paul is actually a better runner 463 00:33:21,420 --> 00:33:29,920 than Henry, but he chooses to run alongside Henry going out before they run together to 464 00:33:29,920 --> 00:33:36,920 lay out the course, to map out the course that avoids obstacles, that plans for turns. 465 00:33:36,920 --> 00:33:42,920 And every time Henry runs, Paul is directly beside him throughout the race whispering 466 00:33:42,920 --> 00:33:46,260 in his ear in order for him to be successful. 467 00:33:46,260 --> 00:33:48,440 And it's not only his words, right? 468 00:33:48,440 --> 00:33:54,520 Paul is actually attached to Henry through a small thread around the wrists so that if 469 00:33:54,520 --> 00:34:01,840 it's loud around them, he can simply give a tug to the left or a tug to the right, right? 470 00:34:01,840 --> 00:34:08,080 And Henry knows that he needs to change direction in order to be successful. 471 00:34:08,080 --> 00:34:16,320 Dare I say that your faith, your relationship with Jesus works the exact same way. 472 00:34:16,320 --> 00:34:19,520 We are running this race called life. 473 00:34:19,520 --> 00:34:24,120 And if you're in a relationship with Jesus, the way to win it and the way to be successful 474 00:34:24,120 --> 00:34:28,040 is to stay connected to the guide, right? 475 00:34:28,040 --> 00:34:30,200 We need to stay connected to God. 476 00:34:30,200 --> 00:34:36,280 We need to allow him to speak to us, to lead us and to assist us along the way, especially, 477 00:34:36,280 --> 00:34:40,880 especially when we're experiencing a shaking of our faith. 478 00:34:40,880 --> 00:34:41,960 All right? 479 00:34:41,960 --> 00:34:44,280 Think about why this letter was written. 480 00:34:44,280 --> 00:34:48,360 This letter was written to Jewish believers, right? 481 00:34:48,360 --> 00:34:54,400 It was experiencing persecution, pain, suffering, trials, they were being put in prison, they 482 00:34:54,400 --> 00:34:56,480 were being murdered. 483 00:34:56,480 --> 00:35:00,400 And the author was trying to encourage them through this letter. 484 00:35:00,400 --> 00:35:05,400 So not only does God speak to us through the Bible, not only does God speak to us through 485 00:35:05,400 --> 00:35:12,960 his spirit, God also speaks to us, our next thought, God speaks to us through the shaking. 486 00:35:12,960 --> 00:35:20,400 See whenever there's a shaking of our faith, if we listen, God is speaking. 487 00:35:20,400 --> 00:35:27,280 In fact, God will often shake the things we can see to get us to pay attention to the 488 00:35:27,280 --> 00:35:29,600 things we can't see. 489 00:35:29,600 --> 00:35:32,160 It's called a shaking. 490 00:35:32,160 --> 00:35:38,240 And friends, we are living in the last days and I believe that God is shaking this world 491 00:35:38,240 --> 00:35:39,880 in order to get people's attentions. 492 00:35:39,880 --> 00:35:43,320 And you're like, well, Chris, do you have any scripture to back that up? 493 00:35:43,320 --> 00:35:45,200 Well, happens that I do. 494 00:35:45,200 --> 00:35:49,440 Hebrews chapter 12, verses 26 to 27. 495 00:35:49,440 --> 00:35:55,480 When God spoke from Mount Sinai, his voice shook the earth, but now he makes another 496 00:35:55,480 --> 00:35:56,560 promise. 497 00:35:56,560 --> 00:36:01,400 Once again, I will shake not only the earth, but the heavens also. 498 00:36:01,400 --> 00:36:08,280 This means that all of creation will be shaken and removed so that only unshakable things 499 00:36:08,280 --> 00:36:10,040 will remain. 500 00:36:10,040 --> 00:36:15,920 See God often is speaking when the world is shaking. 501 00:36:15,920 --> 00:36:21,960 See God shakes the things of this world so that humanity can see and understand the difference 502 00:36:21,960 --> 00:36:27,160 between things that are temporary, you know, the things that are just going to waste away 503 00:36:27,160 --> 00:36:29,080 and the things that are what? 504 00:36:29,080 --> 00:36:30,160 Eternal. 505 00:36:30,160 --> 00:36:32,580 The things that are going to last forever. 506 00:36:32,580 --> 00:36:38,320 God does the shaking to get our attention so that our ears will hear what God is saying 507 00:36:38,320 --> 00:36:42,320 if, if church, we are listening. 508 00:36:42,320 --> 00:36:43,760 All right. 509 00:36:43,760 --> 00:36:48,240 And so many of us are so quick to forget 2020. 510 00:36:48,240 --> 00:36:53,640 See there's four short years ago, there's this event that happened in 2020 and it was 511 00:36:53,640 --> 00:36:56,760 called COVID and it was called shutdown. 512 00:36:56,760 --> 00:37:02,120 And everyone during that time period was blaming the government. 513 00:37:02,120 --> 00:37:05,080 They were pointing fingers at, oh, it's the government's fault. 514 00:37:05,080 --> 00:37:07,120 Oh, it's China's fault. 515 00:37:07,120 --> 00:37:11,720 And there are pointing fingers during that challenging time. 516 00:37:11,720 --> 00:37:17,920 What if, what if God was trying to get our attention? 517 00:37:17,920 --> 00:37:25,320 What if God was trying to get us to slow down and realize what was really important in life? 518 00:37:25,320 --> 00:37:30,340 Because the last time I checked fast forward to 2024 by show of hands that I want everyone 519 00:37:30,340 --> 00:37:31,340 to participate. 520 00:37:31,340 --> 00:37:32,340 Fair enough. 521 00:37:32,340 --> 00:37:33,340 I'm looking at all of you. 522 00:37:33,340 --> 00:37:35,180 I want you all to participate. 523 00:37:35,180 --> 00:37:40,240 If I was looking out at you and I said, Hey, I want to give you an eight month vacation 524 00:37:40,240 --> 00:37:41,280 from your job. 525 00:37:41,280 --> 00:37:44,720 Who wants it? 526 00:37:44,720 --> 00:37:46,440 Who wants it? 527 00:37:46,440 --> 00:37:47,920 You don't want eight months off. 528 00:37:47,920 --> 00:37:52,360 Dude, you know how long your beard would be. 529 00:37:52,360 --> 00:37:53,360 Right? 530 00:37:53,360 --> 00:37:54,360 Shoot. 531 00:37:54,360 --> 00:38:01,320 If I was to ask you, you want eight months off, you'd be like, I want eight months off. 532 00:38:01,320 --> 00:38:02,320 Right? 533 00:38:02,320 --> 00:38:06,240 But what did we do during that time period? 534 00:38:06,240 --> 00:38:12,480 A darn government, Trump's fault, Biden's fault, China's fault. 535 00:38:12,480 --> 00:38:17,480 I can't believe they're making me stay home and do nothing. 536 00:38:17,480 --> 00:38:18,480 It's ridiculous. 537 00:38:18,480 --> 00:38:20,920 All we did was complain. 538 00:38:20,920 --> 00:38:27,400 We complained and we had eight months of vacation time. 539 00:38:27,400 --> 00:38:32,360 Now I'm not saying there's not ramifications from all of that, but what I am saying is 540 00:38:32,360 --> 00:38:37,880 if we actually opened our eyes and understood what was happening, I understand we were going 541 00:38:37,880 --> 00:38:45,120 through a shaking, but it made God, God was making us to just simply slow down and understand, 542 00:38:45,120 --> 00:38:47,360 Hey, family's important. 543 00:38:47,360 --> 00:38:48,780 Relationships are important. 544 00:38:48,780 --> 00:38:52,620 Don't get so busy that you forget what's important in life. 545 00:38:52,620 --> 00:38:57,920 And it's not until we go through a shaking, a lost job, a lost relationship, an illness, 546 00:38:57,920 --> 00:39:00,000 a tragedy, right? 547 00:39:00,000 --> 00:39:06,400 We don't really know what we believe and how strong our faith really is until we experience 548 00:39:06,400 --> 00:39:07,400 a shaking. 549 00:39:07,400 --> 00:39:08,440 All right. 550 00:39:08,440 --> 00:39:11,600 And I thought back this week to 2019. 551 00:39:11,600 --> 00:39:15,000 Now some of you have never heard this story before because you've never been to start 552 00:39:15,000 --> 00:39:18,480 with why I actually do start with why the first Sunday of every month. 553 00:39:18,480 --> 00:39:19,480 And I'm going to tell this story. 554 00:39:19,480 --> 00:39:21,280 And you're like, wow, I never knew that. 555 00:39:21,280 --> 00:39:24,200 Well, you could have heard this story three years ago if you would have come to start 556 00:39:24,200 --> 00:39:27,080 with why, which I encourage you to do every week. 557 00:39:27,080 --> 00:39:28,080 Right? 558 00:39:28,080 --> 00:39:29,080 Yeah. 559 00:39:29,080 --> 00:39:30,080 Everyone just nod. 560 00:39:30,080 --> 00:39:31,080 Yeah. 561 00:39:31,080 --> 00:39:32,240 Come to start with why you learn all about the church. 562 00:39:32,240 --> 00:39:37,840 Well back in 2019, specifically December of 2019, we had already bought the property, 563 00:39:37,840 --> 00:39:41,320 the building that you're sitting in right now didn't exist. 564 00:39:41,320 --> 00:39:42,760 This would have been grass. 565 00:39:42,760 --> 00:39:44,420 That's all this was was grass. 566 00:39:44,420 --> 00:39:47,800 We were having church in South Hagerstown high school in their auditorium. 567 00:39:47,800 --> 00:39:49,560 We're having a lot of fun, right? 568 00:39:49,560 --> 00:39:51,480 We had roadies setting up and tearing down. 569 00:39:51,480 --> 00:39:53,920 It was an incredible season for our church. 570 00:39:53,920 --> 00:39:58,960 Well in 2019, in December of 2019, we were supposed to break ground on this building. 571 00:39:58,960 --> 00:40:02,900 We were all excited and Christie and I got a phone call from our bank that was lending 572 00:40:02,900 --> 00:40:05,800 us the money to build this beautiful facility. 573 00:40:05,800 --> 00:40:09,360 And they said, Hey, we're not releasing the money. 574 00:40:09,360 --> 00:40:10,520 We're not giving you any money. 575 00:40:10,520 --> 00:40:12,020 In fact, you know why? 576 00:40:12,020 --> 00:40:16,120 Because there's this thing called COVID that started and chances are in six months, you 577 00:40:16,120 --> 00:40:19,240 won't be a church anymore. 578 00:40:19,240 --> 00:40:21,160 You won't be around in six months. 579 00:40:21,160 --> 00:40:25,240 A lot of churches are probably going to probably close because they can't meet. 580 00:40:25,240 --> 00:40:26,720 They can't gather. 581 00:40:26,720 --> 00:40:27,840 And you know what Chris did? 582 00:40:27,840 --> 00:40:32,940 Chris looked at Christie and said, Christie, I need to spend $40,000. 583 00:40:32,940 --> 00:40:37,480 And she looked back at me with fear in her eyes and said, Chris, you did just hear what 584 00:40:37,480 --> 00:40:38,920 the bank said, right? 585 00:40:38,920 --> 00:40:44,960 I said, look, either we spend money on that camera and that camera and that camera and 586 00:40:44,960 --> 00:40:50,280 all that equipment in that back room right back there that none of you ever see. 587 00:40:50,280 --> 00:40:56,000 And we broadcast our gatherings with worship and the message or we aren't going to be a 588 00:40:56,000 --> 00:40:57,880 church anymore. 589 00:40:57,880 --> 00:41:03,540 So we spent $40,000 in the early parts of January 2020. 590 00:41:03,540 --> 00:41:09,340 Of course we got shut down and we started broadcasting all of our weekly gatherings 591 00:41:09,340 --> 00:41:10,340 in front of nobody. 592 00:41:10,340 --> 00:41:12,120 I was staring at a camera the whole time. 593 00:41:12,120 --> 00:41:14,680 It was probably one of the most frustrating things I ever did. 594 00:41:14,680 --> 00:41:18,080 In fact, go back to our first two attempts at broadcasting live. 595 00:41:18,080 --> 00:41:21,960 They're the worst things you ever saw. 596 00:41:21,960 --> 00:41:27,140 Actually don't go back because they were really bad. 597 00:41:27,140 --> 00:41:32,480 The point the bank said to us, we want to see your giving statements for the first six 598 00:41:32,480 --> 00:41:34,160 months of 2020. 599 00:41:34,160 --> 00:41:38,520 If your giving stays the same or go up, we'll release the building funds. 600 00:41:38,520 --> 00:41:41,360 So for six months we broadcast live. 601 00:41:41,360 --> 00:41:48,320 We prayed really, really, really hard because our world was being shaken. 602 00:41:48,320 --> 00:42:00,520 And at the end of May 2020, our giving almost doubled from the time we started in January. 603 00:42:00,520 --> 00:42:02,080 That's a true story. 604 00:42:02,080 --> 00:42:07,040 Our giving nearly doubled for those six months that we were broadcasting online. 605 00:42:07,040 --> 00:42:10,160 And thank you because you're the ones that did it. 606 00:42:10,160 --> 00:42:12,760 Thank you for giving and supporting the mission. 607 00:42:12,760 --> 00:42:17,880 And then in May 2020, at the end of May 2020, we broke ground on this building. 608 00:42:17,880 --> 00:42:21,600 And I had everyone telling me, that's the stupidest thing you could ever do. 609 00:42:21,600 --> 00:42:23,100 You can't meet. 610 00:42:23,100 --> 00:42:25,360 People aren't going to come back to church. 611 00:42:25,360 --> 00:42:27,360 Everything's changing. 612 00:42:27,360 --> 00:42:28,560 This is a dumb move. 613 00:42:28,560 --> 00:42:30,840 You're wasting money. 614 00:42:30,840 --> 00:42:32,120 But you know what I said? 615 00:42:32,120 --> 00:42:34,200 God told us to build it. 616 00:42:34,200 --> 00:42:35,200 So we broke ground. 617 00:42:35,200 --> 00:42:39,080 And you know the cool thing about that time period, May 2020. 618 00:42:39,080 --> 00:42:43,260 No one was working because there was no jobs. 619 00:42:43,260 --> 00:42:47,800 And then suddenly we're building a $2 million facility. 620 00:42:47,800 --> 00:42:48,800 So what did we do? 621 00:42:48,800 --> 00:42:53,400 We provided jobs for local people looking to work. 622 00:42:53,400 --> 00:42:55,920 And they began to work and build. 623 00:42:55,920 --> 00:42:59,600 And in seven short months, this structure was completed. 624 00:42:59,600 --> 00:43:05,160 And Easter of 2021, that's right. 625 00:43:05,160 --> 00:43:11,160 After March of 2021, we reopened our doors and we had more than a thousand people at 626 00:43:11,160 --> 00:43:12,800 our Easter service. 627 00:43:12,800 --> 00:43:20,080 So for everyone told us that we were dumb and no one would come, I say, but God. 628 00:43:20,080 --> 00:43:23,880 But God had a different plan. 629 00:43:23,880 --> 00:43:29,320 So are you currently experiencing a shaking? 630 00:43:29,320 --> 00:43:33,000 Are you currently experiencing a shaking? 631 00:43:33,000 --> 00:43:37,720 My encouragement to you is this, God is speaking. 632 00:43:37,720 --> 00:43:44,720 Set aside time to listen because God will shake the things we can see to open our eyes 633 00:43:44,720 --> 00:43:49,200 to the things we can't see, which leads us to our final thoughts. 634 00:43:49,200 --> 00:43:54,140 See Jesus is the key to an unshakable faith. 635 00:43:54,140 --> 00:43:56,140 Listen to these words in Hebrews 12. 636 00:43:56,140 --> 00:44:00,000 We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion. 637 00:44:00,000 --> 00:44:01,000 Think about it. 638 00:44:01,000 --> 00:44:03,040 He tells us to run to win. 639 00:44:03,040 --> 00:44:04,040 Why? 640 00:44:04,040 --> 00:44:07,920 Because Jesus is the champion who initiated and perfected our faith because of the joy 641 00:44:07,920 --> 00:44:08,920 awaiting him. 642 00:44:08,920 --> 00:44:11,240 He endured the cross, disregarding and shame. 643 00:44:11,240 --> 00:44:15,600 Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God's throne. 644 00:44:15,600 --> 00:44:19,280 Think of all the hostility endured from sinful people. 645 00:44:19,280 --> 00:44:22,080 Then you won't become weary and give up. 646 00:44:22,080 --> 00:44:27,000 I'll think about the reason the lyrics were written to this song, Iris, that we just played 647 00:44:27,000 --> 00:44:28,000 for you. 648 00:44:28,000 --> 00:44:32,720 There was an angel that came down from heaven because he had fallen in love with a woman, 649 00:44:32,720 --> 00:44:41,960 a savior that gave up the privileges of heaven in order to come down and reconnect a lost 650 00:44:41,960 --> 00:44:45,040 humanity with its creator. 651 00:44:45,040 --> 00:44:46,040 What did he do? 652 00:44:46,040 --> 00:44:47,120 He endured the cross. 653 00:44:47,120 --> 00:44:49,100 He disregarded his shame. 654 00:44:49,100 --> 00:44:54,040 Think of the hostility he endured from us, from sinful people. 655 00:44:54,040 --> 00:44:55,040 Why? 656 00:44:55,040 --> 00:44:58,720 So that we won't become weary and give up. 657 00:44:58,720 --> 00:45:02,680 Jesus offers us an unshakable faith. 658 00:45:02,680 --> 00:45:05,040 Look at Hebrews 12, 28. 659 00:45:05,040 --> 00:45:08,660 We are receiving a kingdom that is unshakable. 660 00:45:08,660 --> 00:45:14,240 Let us be thankful and please God by worshiping him with holy fear and awe for our God is 661 00:45:14,240 --> 00:45:17,160 a devouring fire. 662 00:45:17,160 --> 00:45:22,520 And see the problem with so many people that feel or know or think they're in a relationship 663 00:45:22,520 --> 00:45:26,200 with Jesus is what's on the inside. 664 00:45:26,200 --> 00:45:30,000 So I have two containers here for you. 665 00:45:30,000 --> 00:45:36,380 And what I'm going to do with these containers is I'm going to start shaking them. 666 00:45:36,380 --> 00:45:40,040 Because when you shake containers, something happens. 667 00:45:40,040 --> 00:45:42,160 Kathy, shake that thing for me. 668 00:45:42,160 --> 00:45:47,000 Oh my gosh, did it pop open? 669 00:45:47,000 --> 00:45:48,000 My bottle? 670 00:45:48,000 --> 00:45:50,640 No, it was your cup. 671 00:45:50,640 --> 00:45:53,200 No, shake it, shake it, shake it. 672 00:45:53,200 --> 00:45:54,320 Here shake this for me. 673 00:45:54,320 --> 00:45:55,720 Here shake this for me. 674 00:45:55,720 --> 00:45:56,720 Shake it. 675 00:45:56,720 --> 00:45:58,560 Yeah, it's just your coffee. 676 00:45:58,560 --> 00:45:59,560 Don't worry, we'll clean it up. 677 00:45:59,560 --> 00:46:01,480 All right, Ronnie, give it back. 678 00:46:01,480 --> 00:46:02,840 Come on, shake it, shake it. 679 00:46:02,840 --> 00:46:04,480 Throw it back, throw it back. 680 00:46:04,480 --> 00:46:05,480 There you go. 681 00:46:05,480 --> 00:46:06,480 Shake it. 682 00:46:06,480 --> 00:46:07,480 Shake the water. 683 00:46:07,480 --> 00:46:08,480 Shake, shake, shake. 684 00:46:08,480 --> 00:46:09,480 Give it back, give it back. 685 00:46:09,480 --> 00:46:10,480 There you go. 686 00:46:10,480 --> 00:46:12,320 We believe in audience participation, right? 687 00:46:12,320 --> 00:46:18,400 So when we shake these containers, something's going to happen, true or false, right? 688 00:46:18,400 --> 00:46:21,400 Which one do you want me to open first? 689 00:46:21,400 --> 00:46:22,400 Do you have a choice? 690 00:46:22,400 --> 00:46:25,080 Fuzz, why don't you come up here? 691 00:46:25,080 --> 00:46:26,400 I'll open it on you. 692 00:46:26,400 --> 00:46:27,400 Now, okay. 693 00:46:27,400 --> 00:46:29,640 All right, so you want to open the soda first? 694 00:46:29,640 --> 00:46:30,960 All right, here we go. 695 00:46:30,960 --> 00:46:32,760 Everyone ready? 696 00:46:32,760 --> 00:46:33,760 I'm just kidding. 697 00:46:33,760 --> 00:46:35,400 I would never do it over our lights, John. 698 00:46:35,400 --> 00:46:36,400 Don't worry. 699 00:46:36,400 --> 00:46:38,280 Oh, I won't do it towards those pedal boards. 700 00:46:38,280 --> 00:46:39,280 I'll do it right here. 701 00:46:39,280 --> 00:46:40,280 Look what happened. 702 00:46:40,280 --> 00:46:46,080 Oh my gosh. 703 00:46:46,080 --> 00:46:51,800 Like this one, watch, watch, watch. 704 00:46:51,800 --> 00:46:57,800 Oh, nothing. 705 00:46:57,800 --> 00:46:59,800 What's the difference? 706 00:46:59,800 --> 00:47:01,520 See? 707 00:47:01,520 --> 00:47:05,920 What's the difference is what's on the inside. 708 00:47:05,920 --> 00:47:11,520 One bottle has still calm, refreshing water. 709 00:47:11,520 --> 00:47:18,520 And the last time I checked, we can read a Psalm about walking along a still calm stream. 710 00:47:18,520 --> 00:47:27,540 The other, right, has high fructose corn syrup and sugar that rots out your teeth, gives 711 00:47:27,540 --> 00:47:32,440 you diabetes and causes obesity. 712 00:47:32,440 --> 00:47:38,760 So my question to you this morning is what's inside of you? 713 00:47:38,760 --> 00:47:43,160 Do you have an unshakable faith? 714 00:47:43,160 --> 00:47:46,280 Is your faith a little shaky? 715 00:47:46,280 --> 00:47:50,400 Because whichever one is on the inside is going to come out in how you're living your 716 00:47:50,400 --> 00:47:51,840 life. 717 00:47:51,840 --> 00:47:57,640 Are you exploding all over people and vomiting all over people your garbage? 718 00:47:57,640 --> 00:48:03,660 Or do people look at you as an example of what it means to follow Jesus, which leads 719 00:48:03,660 --> 00:48:06,160 us to our action steps? 720 00:48:06,160 --> 00:48:07,160 Huh? 721 00:48:07,160 --> 00:48:08,160 Huh? 722 00:48:08,160 --> 00:48:09,160 Huh? 723 00:48:09,160 --> 00:48:10,160 Huh? 724 00:48:10,160 --> 00:48:16,960 Which leads us to our action steps, developing an unshakable faith. 725 00:48:16,960 --> 00:48:24,320 Four simple steps, four simple steps in developing an unshakable faith from the author of the 726 00:48:24,320 --> 00:48:25,320 book of Hebrews. 727 00:48:25,320 --> 00:48:28,400 And the first is strip it off. 728 00:48:28,400 --> 00:48:33,320 I love how the author says, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses in this 729 00:48:33,320 --> 00:48:41,360 life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that 730 00:48:41,360 --> 00:48:43,200 so easily trips us up. 731 00:48:43,200 --> 00:48:49,800 Now that word weight comes from the Greek word, okos, which means a burden or something 732 00:48:49,800 --> 00:48:52,840 so heavy it can slow down a runner. 733 00:48:52,840 --> 00:48:53,840 Okay. 734 00:48:53,840 --> 00:48:59,880 The word was particularly used in the athletic world to signify the actions of an athlete 735 00:48:59,880 --> 00:49:06,400 who would deliberately strip himself down of excess weight before participating in a 736 00:49:06,400 --> 00:49:07,400 competition. 737 00:49:07,400 --> 00:49:14,840 The stripping process included getting rid of excess flesh through dieting and exercise. 738 00:49:14,840 --> 00:49:21,160 Then on the day of the actual competition, the athlete would strip off all the clothes 739 00:49:21,160 --> 00:49:22,440 that they were wearing. 740 00:49:22,440 --> 00:49:26,120 So there was no weight slowing them down. 741 00:49:26,120 --> 00:49:35,880 Back then the athletes ran nude and the author is referring to incorrect attitudes and actions 742 00:49:35,880 --> 00:49:42,840 that keep people from progressing spiritually, even if it isn't sin. 743 00:49:42,840 --> 00:49:46,320 It could be pursuits like ambition, your career. 744 00:49:46,320 --> 00:49:47,820 It could be decorating. 745 00:49:47,820 --> 00:49:49,240 It could be pickleball. 746 00:49:49,240 --> 00:49:52,820 It could be the movies you're watching, too many of them, right? 747 00:49:52,820 --> 00:49:54,900 It could be the music you're listening to. 748 00:49:54,900 --> 00:49:59,400 It could be playing too many video games. 749 00:49:59,400 --> 00:50:04,640 Or it could be an addiction or a habit or a sin that's overcoming you. 750 00:50:04,640 --> 00:50:07,440 The point, strip it off. 751 00:50:07,440 --> 00:50:13,640 What is God showing you and speaking to you this morning that says you need to strip it 752 00:50:13,640 --> 00:50:18,040 off, which leads us to our next step, remain focused. 753 00:50:18,040 --> 00:50:23,320 Notice the author says we do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates 754 00:50:23,320 --> 00:50:25,080 and perfects our faith. 755 00:50:25,080 --> 00:50:27,020 How do we keep our eyes on Jesus? 756 00:50:27,020 --> 00:50:28,560 How do we remain focused? 757 00:50:28,560 --> 00:50:30,880 Will we develop a prayer life? 758 00:50:30,880 --> 00:50:36,760 The Bible challenges us that when we pray, we pray without ceasing. 759 00:50:36,760 --> 00:50:38,760 That means we don't stop praying. 760 00:50:38,760 --> 00:50:44,080 Yes, we have dedicated prayer time, but while you're driving in your car, headed down the 761 00:50:44,080 --> 00:50:49,240 interstate, frustrated with people that drive slow in the left lane, which I still get, 762 00:50:49,240 --> 00:50:54,080 we need to pray without ceasing because when you pass them on the inside, you don't want 763 00:50:54,080 --> 00:50:59,920 to stare them down like you're going to run them over. 764 00:50:59,920 --> 00:51:03,320 And all of you know what I'm talking about. 765 00:51:03,320 --> 00:51:06,080 You need to be connected to community. 766 00:51:06,080 --> 00:51:08,560 Listen, we need each other. 767 00:51:08,560 --> 00:51:11,340 If you're listening online, we need each other. 768 00:51:11,340 --> 00:51:16,040 We need to encourage one another, pray for one another, hug one another, embrace one 769 00:51:16,040 --> 00:51:17,040 another. 770 00:51:17,040 --> 00:51:18,780 We need to be connected to community. 771 00:51:18,780 --> 00:51:21,960 We need to be reading or listening to the Bible. 772 00:51:21,960 --> 00:51:27,920 Friends, it's a priority because God speaks to us through the Bible. 773 00:51:27,920 --> 00:51:30,400 And finally, you need to be filled with the Spirit. 774 00:51:30,400 --> 00:51:33,480 And some of you are like, well, Chris, wasn't I filled with the Spirit when I gave my life 775 00:51:33,480 --> 00:51:34,480 to Jesus? 776 00:51:34,480 --> 00:51:40,840 Yes, you were, but the Bible also spells out for us different fillings of our faith. 777 00:51:40,840 --> 00:51:46,280 And I believe when I wake up every morning, I need to say, come Holy Spirit, fill me so 778 00:51:46,280 --> 00:51:51,000 that I have the right attitude, actions, and outlook on life. 779 00:51:51,000 --> 00:51:54,040 Friends, we are called to remain focused. 780 00:51:54,040 --> 00:51:55,640 So we strip it off. 781 00:51:55,640 --> 00:51:57,100 We remain focused. 782 00:51:57,100 --> 00:51:58,760 We receive His love. 783 00:51:58,760 --> 00:52:01,600 Look at Hebrews 12, five through seven. 784 00:52:01,600 --> 00:52:05,440 And have you forgotten the encouraging words God spoke to you as His children? 785 00:52:05,440 --> 00:52:10,080 He said, my child, don't make light of the Lord's discipline and don't give up when He 786 00:52:10,080 --> 00:52:11,280 corrects you. 787 00:52:11,280 --> 00:52:16,080 For the Lord disciplines those He loves and He punishes each one He accepts as His child. 788 00:52:16,080 --> 00:52:22,360 As you endure this divine discipline, remember that God is treating you as His own children. 789 00:52:22,360 --> 00:52:29,560 Who ever heard of a child who is never disciplined by their father? 790 00:52:29,560 --> 00:52:35,880 And that's why it's so important that we prayerfully pay attention and listen to God's love. 791 00:52:35,880 --> 00:52:36,880 God loves you. 792 00:52:36,880 --> 00:52:38,620 And guess what? 793 00:52:38,620 --> 00:52:41,640 Our natural tendency is to drift towards what? 794 00:52:41,640 --> 00:52:42,640 Holiness? 795 00:52:42,640 --> 00:52:43,640 No. 796 00:52:43,640 --> 00:52:47,300 Our natural tendency is to drift towards sin. 797 00:52:47,300 --> 00:52:52,040 And if we continue to drift towards sin, God is going to correct us and challenge us to 798 00:52:52,040 --> 00:52:53,760 change through shaking. 799 00:52:53,760 --> 00:52:56,240 And we have to open our ears and receive it. 800 00:52:56,240 --> 00:52:58,760 Some of you, you have to let other people love you. 801 00:52:58,760 --> 00:52:59,760 Right? 802 00:52:59,760 --> 00:53:01,000 You've been hurt by your past. 803 00:53:01,000 --> 00:53:02,000 It could have been a marriage. 804 00:53:02,000 --> 00:53:03,240 It could have been parents. 805 00:53:03,240 --> 00:53:07,400 You're so damaged and hurt that you don't let other people love you. 806 00:53:07,400 --> 00:53:08,400 They can't hug you. 807 00:53:08,400 --> 00:53:09,780 They can't encourage you. 808 00:53:09,780 --> 00:53:14,160 They can't send you a text message because you just are negative and hurt. 809 00:53:14,160 --> 00:53:16,560 Get some ministry. 810 00:53:16,560 --> 00:53:21,400 Forgive someone so that you can move forward. 811 00:53:21,400 --> 00:53:24,080 You got to look for God's love all around you. 812 00:53:24,080 --> 00:53:25,080 Right? 813 00:53:25,080 --> 00:53:29,540 We live in one of the most beautiful areas in the United States of America. 814 00:53:29,540 --> 00:53:30,720 We have mountains. 815 00:53:30,720 --> 00:53:31,880 We have oceans. 816 00:53:31,880 --> 00:53:33,920 We have a canal. 817 00:53:33,920 --> 00:53:36,160 There's creation everywhere. 818 00:53:36,160 --> 00:53:37,940 And so many of us are so busy. 819 00:53:37,940 --> 00:53:40,360 We don't take advantage of it. 820 00:53:40,360 --> 00:53:42,520 Your screen is not creation. 821 00:53:42,520 --> 00:53:44,200 It's manmade. 822 00:53:44,200 --> 00:53:52,400 Get off of it and go enjoy God's creation. 823 00:53:52,400 --> 00:53:57,040 As a church, we're called to practice loving other people. 824 00:53:57,040 --> 00:53:58,040 Right? 825 00:53:58,040 --> 00:54:01,360 We have to love people that is around us. 826 00:54:01,360 --> 00:54:03,920 That's what Jesus wants us to do. 827 00:54:03,920 --> 00:54:08,880 Get busy practicing what we're called to preach. 828 00:54:08,880 --> 00:54:10,600 That's what God wants for us. 829 00:54:10,600 --> 00:54:11,600 Right? 830 00:54:11,600 --> 00:54:13,080 So many of you, you're not serving. 831 00:54:13,080 --> 00:54:15,200 You're not putting other people first. 832 00:54:15,200 --> 00:54:16,960 I'm doing Start with Why today. 833 00:54:16,960 --> 00:54:17,960 Okay? 834 00:54:17,960 --> 00:54:19,480 I'm doing Start with Why today. 835 00:54:19,480 --> 00:54:21,520 See me at the Welcome Hub directly after this. 836 00:54:21,520 --> 00:54:22,520 I'm going to do Start with Why. 837 00:54:22,520 --> 00:54:23,600 Tell you all about the church. 838 00:54:23,600 --> 00:54:25,120 Because I want you plugged in serving. 839 00:54:25,120 --> 00:54:26,120 Right? 840 00:54:26,120 --> 00:54:28,560 Tonight at 4 o'clock, I'm going to encourage you. 841 00:54:28,560 --> 00:54:31,160 4 o'clock, be back in these seats. 842 00:54:31,160 --> 00:54:32,160 Okay? 843 00:54:32,160 --> 00:54:35,520 Do you want anything important at 4 o'clock? 844 00:54:35,520 --> 00:54:37,240 Some of you are like, well, Chris, I'm going to be on the river. 845 00:54:37,240 --> 00:54:42,040 Dock your boat and come back at 4 o'clock and go back on the river at 530. 846 00:54:42,040 --> 00:54:43,040 Guess what? 847 00:54:43,040 --> 00:54:44,040 The river's not going anywhere. 848 00:54:44,040 --> 00:54:45,040 All right? 849 00:54:45,040 --> 00:54:47,000 Roger, that car will get finished tomorrow. 850 00:54:47,000 --> 00:54:48,000 Okay? 851 00:54:48,000 --> 00:54:49,000 Come back at 4 o'clock. 852 00:54:49,000 --> 00:54:50,000 All right? 853 00:54:50,000 --> 00:54:52,840 There's always an excuse that we make. 854 00:54:52,840 --> 00:54:53,840 Come back at 4 o'clock. 855 00:54:53,840 --> 00:54:55,320 You say, Chris, why would I come back at 4 o'clock? 856 00:54:55,320 --> 00:54:58,020 Because Jess and I are going to share about our trip to Kenya. 857 00:54:58,020 --> 00:55:03,340 And it was a life-changing trip that impacts you, not just us. 858 00:55:03,340 --> 00:55:09,160 Because we believe God is now calling us and challenging our church to change the world. 859 00:55:09,160 --> 00:55:12,600 We are called to serve and to bring others into the kingdom. 860 00:55:12,600 --> 00:55:14,320 For example, this week I made a boo-boo. 861 00:55:14,320 --> 00:55:16,160 Can I tell you about a mistake I made? 862 00:55:16,160 --> 00:55:17,160 Okay. 863 00:55:17,160 --> 00:55:18,160 So I drive a Jeep. 864 00:55:18,160 --> 00:55:19,160 Right? 865 00:55:19,160 --> 00:55:20,160 I drive a Jeep. 866 00:55:20,160 --> 00:55:21,160 I love my Jeep. 867 00:55:21,160 --> 00:55:22,160 I love taking the top down. 868 00:55:22,160 --> 00:55:23,160 Well, there's this thing with Jeepers. 869 00:55:23,160 --> 00:55:25,040 Oh, already brought me one. 870 00:55:25,040 --> 00:55:26,040 Thanks. 871 00:55:26,040 --> 00:55:27,040 There's this thing. 872 00:55:27,040 --> 00:55:29,320 I like it. 873 00:55:29,320 --> 00:55:33,680 There's this thing with those of us that drive Jeeps that they give out these ducks. 874 00:55:33,680 --> 00:55:35,080 And it's called, you've been ducked. 875 00:55:35,080 --> 00:55:37,560 I completely think it's totally cheesy. 876 00:55:37,560 --> 00:55:38,560 Okay? 877 00:55:38,560 --> 00:55:40,120 When I get a duck, I say, oh, thank you. 878 00:55:40,120 --> 00:55:41,120 And then just throw it away. 879 00:55:41,120 --> 00:55:43,080 Well, typically, no, I get it. 880 00:55:43,080 --> 00:55:44,560 And then I give it to Phoenix. 881 00:55:44,560 --> 00:55:47,720 And then he throws it on the ground and then Bear chews it up. 882 00:55:47,720 --> 00:55:49,400 So that's kind of what happens with our ducks. 883 00:55:49,400 --> 00:55:53,040 I don't like them laying across my dash because they roll everywhere. 884 00:55:53,040 --> 00:55:54,680 And they're just a complete nuisance. 885 00:55:54,680 --> 00:55:55,680 Right? 886 00:55:55,680 --> 00:56:00,560 So I thought, well, wait a minute, maybe I can use ducks as a means to reach people for 887 00:56:00,560 --> 00:56:01,560 Jesus. 888 00:56:01,560 --> 00:56:02,560 Right? 889 00:56:02,560 --> 00:56:05,720 So I started looking online for tie-dyed ducks. 890 00:56:05,720 --> 00:56:07,040 Right? 891 00:56:07,040 --> 00:56:11,320 Because I was going to put a thing around its throat saying, hey, come join our tie-dyed 892 00:56:11,320 --> 00:56:15,640 community of faith on Sunday, 9 or 11 at Hub City Vineyard. 893 00:56:15,640 --> 00:56:18,400 Not only have you been ducked, but you've been invited. 894 00:56:18,400 --> 00:56:19,400 Right? 895 00:56:19,400 --> 00:56:21,320 So, so I ordered them. 896 00:56:21,320 --> 00:56:22,420 I ordered them. 897 00:56:22,420 --> 00:56:25,240 And when they got here, check them out. 898 00:56:25,240 --> 00:56:33,120 It's the biggest duck I've ever seen. 899 00:56:33,120 --> 00:56:35,040 I felt like a complete moron. 900 00:56:35,040 --> 00:56:38,880 I was like, how is that going to work? 901 00:56:38,880 --> 00:56:41,760 But then I thought, I started talking to Rudy and the staff. 902 00:56:41,760 --> 00:56:43,260 I said, wait a minute. 903 00:56:43,260 --> 00:56:45,120 There's so many of us that drive Jeeps. 904 00:56:45,120 --> 00:56:46,320 We just throw these ducks away. 905 00:56:46,320 --> 00:56:51,120 I tell you what, you get this duck, you're not throwing it away. 906 00:56:51,120 --> 00:56:52,400 You're keeping that duck. 907 00:56:52,400 --> 00:56:53,400 Chirp off. 908 00:56:53,400 --> 00:56:55,400 You're like, that's a cool duck. 909 00:56:55,400 --> 00:57:01,480 So I'm going to wrap an invite around this duck's neck and I'm going to put them on 910 00:57:01,480 --> 00:57:07,800 Jeeps, inviting people to come be a part of our community of faith. 911 00:57:07,800 --> 00:57:10,280 The point? 912 00:57:10,280 --> 00:57:13,240 What's the point? 913 00:57:13,240 --> 00:57:19,360 I am receiving his love and I am giving it out and inviting others to do the same. 914 00:57:19,360 --> 00:57:20,360 What are you doing? 915 00:57:20,360 --> 00:57:21,360 How are you doing? 916 00:57:21,360 --> 00:57:35,700 How are you doing? 917 00:57:35,700 --> 00:57:40,900 I surrender everything without you 918 00:57:40,900 --> 00:58:06,900 You can't have me more