WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:03.419 If you don't mind, that headset was messing with me. 00:00:03.480 --> 00:00:06.540 We have been looking above the sun for a few weeks now, haven't we? 00:00:07.040 --> 00:00:14.240 And I think that is probably the most important thing our eyes can do this entire life, 00:00:14.240 --> 00:00:20.160 is look above the sun at the one who created the sun and all that is beneath it. 00:00:20.160 --> 00:00:21.980 We have been studying Ecclesiastes. 00:00:23.240 --> 00:00:27.300 American novelist and playwright William Soroyan said, 00:00:27.300 --> 00:00:30.500 Live, for this is the time of your life. 00:00:31.800 --> 00:00:32.280 Brilliant. 00:00:33.660 --> 00:00:35.679 Does anybody know what that means exactly? 00:00:36.659 --> 00:00:39.799 Sometimes that real philosophical stuff, you're looking at it and you're like, 00:00:39.880 --> 00:00:41.939 what exactly is he saying right now? 00:00:42.719 --> 00:00:44.700 But there's probably some brilliant truth in there. 00:00:44.760 --> 00:00:47.780 I just probably wasn't smart enough to figure it out when I first read that. 00:00:47.840 --> 00:00:53.359 But I think it kind of applies to what the teacher is talking about in Ecclesiastes 3. 00:00:54.460 --> 00:00:56.240 What is the time of our life? 00:00:56.240 --> 00:01:00.820 More specifically, what are the times of our life? 00:01:02.920 --> 00:01:06.640 And which of those times do you think is best? 00:01:07.640 --> 00:01:10.120 How many of you think the best time of your life was childhood? 00:01:11.079 --> 00:01:14.320 When you were a kid, you had no responsibility, not a care in the world, 00:01:14.400 --> 00:01:16.079 you didn't have to work, you didn't have to pay any bills, 00:01:16.740 --> 00:01:18.340 you were just worried about what you were going to eat, 00:01:18.460 --> 00:01:19.560 who you were going to play with, 00:01:19.579 --> 00:01:21.780 and if your parents were going to let you stay up late that night. 00:01:21.780 --> 00:01:25.280 What about the teen years? 00:01:25.620 --> 00:01:27.420 Anybody think that was the best time of your life? 00:01:28.420 --> 00:01:28.739 No? 00:01:29.500 --> 00:01:33.960 Okay, but that was probably like peak athletics and like physical fitness, right? 00:01:34.040 --> 00:01:35.760 Like you were achieving the most. 00:01:36.299 --> 00:01:40.359 Maybe you were the healthiest at that time before your body started failing you. 00:01:40.359 --> 00:01:45.439 Growing up, figuring things out, there's a lot of angst during teen years, 00:01:45.539 --> 00:01:48.019 maybe that's not the best time of our lives, I don't know. 00:01:48.359 --> 00:01:49.379 What about your 20s? 00:01:49.400 --> 00:01:51.140 Anybody think that was the best time of your life? 00:01:51.140 --> 00:01:55.500 I didn't figure we'd get many hands on the 20s, man. 00:01:56.599 --> 00:01:57.460 That checks out. 00:01:57.560 --> 00:01:58.519 How about 30s? 00:01:59.460 --> 00:02:01.099 30s, yes, let's go. 00:02:01.879 --> 00:02:04.120 30s is the best time of your life. 00:02:04.319 --> 00:02:05.540 I saw you over there, Bella. 00:02:06.579 --> 00:02:11.920 Look, 30s, you start to get all the bills now, 00:02:12.039 --> 00:02:13.780 and then real life sets in, and you're like, 00:02:13.780 --> 00:02:18.139 wow, this is what adulting looks like, and it's no fun. 00:02:19.340 --> 00:02:20.460 How about 40s? 00:02:20.460 --> 00:02:23.219 40s, anybody think 40s is the best time of your life? 00:02:23.800 --> 00:02:29.240 Yes, I think 40s is the best time of my life because I'm currently in my 40s. 00:02:30.319 --> 00:02:32.080 50s, anybody, show of hands? 00:02:32.200 --> 00:02:33.860 Yeah, now we're starting to get some votes. 00:02:34.180 --> 00:02:35.780 All right, how about 60s? 00:02:36.600 --> 00:02:37.439 There you go. 00:02:38.120 --> 00:02:41.800 Wade, you're, Wade, what are we going to do with Wade? 00:02:44.480 --> 00:02:45.860 What are you, like 30? 00:02:45.860 --> 00:02:50.260 How about 70s? 00:02:50.320 --> 00:02:51.480 Anybody 70s? 00:02:52.360 --> 00:02:52.800 Yes. 00:02:53.480 --> 00:02:53.880 80s? 00:02:54.080 --> 00:02:55.200 We got any 80s fans? 00:02:55.420 --> 00:02:56.540 Yes, let's go. 00:02:56.940 --> 00:02:57.880 They're like, trust us. 00:02:57.960 --> 00:02:59.780 This is the best time of your life. 00:03:00.640 --> 00:03:01.720 Anybody 90s? 00:03:02.500 --> 00:03:07.500 Somebody call Maydell Spann and ask if the hundreds are the best time of our life. 00:03:07.500 --> 00:03:09.639 She's the only one I know. 00:03:09.780 --> 00:03:10.939 You probably know some others. 00:03:11.479 --> 00:03:13.280 All right, we should stop. 00:03:15.919 --> 00:03:17.659 Okay, that's our stages of life. 00:03:17.699 --> 00:03:19.400 What about seasons of life? 00:03:19.620 --> 00:03:21.159 We're in the middle of winter right now. 00:03:22.259 --> 00:03:23.240 Anybody like winter? 00:03:24.259 --> 00:03:24.520 Yeah? 00:03:24.520 --> 00:03:32.420 In winter, you wear, in winter in Texas, you wear the clothes that everybody else started wearing in the fall. 00:03:33.260 --> 00:03:34.379 That's how that works. 00:03:35.860 --> 00:03:41.680 Now, we did just come off that big freeze, and that was fun for a minute. 00:03:42.879 --> 00:03:48.600 And, yeah, so that was, we finally got to dress like everybody else dresses during winter. 00:03:49.080 --> 00:03:51.219 But, how about spring? 00:03:51.320 --> 00:03:52.340 We're coming up on spring. 00:03:52.620 --> 00:03:53.760 It's not too far away. 00:03:53.759 --> 00:03:54.439 This is crazy. 00:03:54.560 --> 00:03:55.280 We're in the middle of February. 00:03:55.439 --> 00:03:56.199 Everybody likes spring? 00:03:57.060 --> 00:03:58.019 Favorite season? 00:03:58.659 --> 00:03:58.840 Okay. 00:03:59.340 --> 00:03:59.979 How about summer? 00:04:00.479 --> 00:04:01.679 All the kids raise their hands. 00:04:01.840 --> 00:04:02.919 Yes, we're out of school. 00:04:03.120 --> 00:04:03.599 It's great. 00:04:03.859 --> 00:04:04.780 Vacations, camps. 00:04:05.319 --> 00:04:06.340 Vacation Bible school. 00:04:06.519 --> 00:04:08.099 Throw a little plug for VBS in there. 00:04:09.120 --> 00:04:11.719 A lot of good things happen during the summer. 00:04:11.840 --> 00:04:12.579 How about fall? 00:04:13.659 --> 00:04:14.099 Yes. 00:04:14.340 --> 00:04:16.639 I think that is everybody's favorite season. 00:04:17.599 --> 00:04:18.959 Fall wins the polls. 00:04:19.079 --> 00:04:20.039 I don't know why. 00:04:21.079 --> 00:04:22.500 Because the kids go back to school. 00:04:22.500 --> 00:04:23.199 That's why. 00:04:23.759 --> 00:04:25.099 And all the parents said amen. 00:04:25.759 --> 00:04:26.920 Football happens. 00:04:27.139 --> 00:04:28.259 Football in the fall. 00:04:28.339 --> 00:04:29.180 There's nothing like it. 00:04:29.659 --> 00:04:35.860 And pumpkin spice invades every edible or drinkable thing in the universe. 00:04:35.860 --> 00:04:38.480 And it gets a little ridiculous at times. 00:04:38.480 --> 00:04:38.900 All right. 00:04:39.939 --> 00:04:41.759 Football season's almost over, by the way. 00:04:41.980 --> 00:04:43.600 Today is officially the end of football season. 00:04:43.939 --> 00:04:44.520 Do you know why? 00:04:45.699 --> 00:04:46.340 There we go. 00:04:46.379 --> 00:04:48.560 Just making sure I didn't get the weekend wrong. 00:04:48.780 --> 00:04:49.900 It is happening tonight. 00:04:50.699 --> 00:04:51.100 Seahawks. 00:04:51.199 --> 00:04:52.220 Who's pulling for the Seahawks? 00:04:53.580 --> 00:04:54.980 Who's pulling for the Patriots? 00:04:54.980 --> 00:04:58.700 Man, we don't have very many Patriots in here. 00:04:59.400 --> 00:05:01.319 Y'all not a very pro-American church. 00:05:01.400 --> 00:05:02.180 I'm kidding with you. 00:05:02.900 --> 00:05:04.340 I'm kidding with you. 00:05:04.680 --> 00:05:06.680 I'm pulling for the Seahawks too, so it's fine. 00:05:06.819 --> 00:05:08.660 I don't really care that much, you know. 00:05:08.900 --> 00:05:15.100 We all know the Cowboys aren't in it, as we have been able to say for the last 30 years. 00:05:16.340 --> 00:05:16.680 Okay. 00:05:17.620 --> 00:05:18.360 I remember. 00:05:18.560 --> 00:05:21.520 I remember when they were in there, and they were winning, and it was great. 00:05:22.900 --> 00:05:23.620 We're not going to. 00:05:23.760 --> 00:05:24.080 All right. 00:05:25.140 --> 00:05:26.640 I've got to keep my mind focused. 00:05:27.220 --> 00:05:28.300 About to get in a bad mood. 00:05:28.360 --> 00:05:28.800 Here we go. 00:05:30.640 --> 00:05:32.560 We've got stages of life. 00:05:32.620 --> 00:05:33.700 We've got times of our lives. 00:05:33.760 --> 00:05:35.700 We've got seasons within our lives. 00:05:35.780 --> 00:05:37.060 We've got sports seasons. 00:05:37.340 --> 00:05:37.960 It's great. 00:05:37.959 --> 00:05:39.479 Great football, basketball. 00:05:40.919 --> 00:05:42.560 Basketball's getting close to being over. 00:05:42.680 --> 00:05:43.699 We're about to start baseball. 00:05:44.239 --> 00:05:45.479 A lot of fun things happening. 00:05:45.620 --> 00:05:47.000 Volleyball, don't want to leave that out. 00:05:47.099 --> 00:05:49.139 Track, all that good stuff. 00:05:50.740 --> 00:05:52.060 We all have our favorites. 00:05:53.560 --> 00:06:01.179 And then we have some seasons or times of our lives that we'd rather skip or at least not think back to. 00:06:01.939 --> 00:06:04.919 Maybe there were some difficulties, some things that we struggled with. 00:06:04.920 --> 00:06:08.620 Bo has just recently reported to me. 00:06:08.699 --> 00:06:09.400 I'm sorry, buddy. 00:06:09.640 --> 00:06:17.740 Bo has just recently reported to me that he would be very interested in any sport that does not involve running. 00:06:17.740 --> 00:06:24.480 So he's figured out, you know, what season he's into. 00:06:24.480 --> 00:06:25.900 And he said, golf, right? 00:06:26.000 --> 00:06:26.700 How about golf? 00:06:27.240 --> 00:06:27.700 I said, yeah. 00:06:28.700 --> 00:06:30.460 Truth is, you don't even have to walk in golf. 00:06:30.540 --> 00:06:33.020 You can ride in a little cart around from hole to hole. 00:06:33.080 --> 00:06:33.460 It's great. 00:06:33.939 --> 00:06:37.060 The only exercise that was involved in golf they've now taken away. 00:06:37.220 --> 00:06:37.780 So that's great. 00:06:37.779 --> 00:06:42.459 We have our preferences. 00:06:42.639 --> 00:06:45.439 We have our seasons and our times of lives that we prefer. 00:06:46.519 --> 00:06:49.059 And then we have some that we struggle with. 00:06:49.719 --> 00:06:50.959 Are you in Ecclesiastes 3? 00:06:51.399 --> 00:06:54.839 If you're not, let's go to Ecclesiastes chapter 3. 00:06:54.979 --> 00:06:59.279 While you're turning there, we've been studying this series from the teacher. 00:06:59.799 --> 00:07:02.539 It's how he identifies himself as the author of Ecclesiastes. 00:07:02.540 --> 00:07:12.520 We believe it was Solomon, the great, wealthiest, and wisest king in all recorded history over Israel or over anybody, really. 00:07:13.120 --> 00:07:17.140 And so Solomon writes this wisdom at the end of his life for us. 00:07:17.700 --> 00:07:24.100 He writes his conclusions that he has arrived at after his wildly successful life and reign. 00:07:24.900 --> 00:07:29.460 In this book we call Ecclesiastes, Wisdom from the Teacher. 00:07:30.020 --> 00:07:31.820 And we called it Catching Smoke. 00:07:31.819 --> 00:07:33.819 How to Live Life Under the Sun. 00:07:33.899 --> 00:07:36.259 And you saw the little preview video. 00:07:36.540 --> 00:07:39.899 We had some trouble with it last Sunday, but we got to do it this Sunday. 00:07:40.019 --> 00:07:43.800 We got to see and hear some of the teaching from Solomon. 00:07:43.899 --> 00:07:45.879 And why we called this Catching Smoke. 00:07:45.980 --> 00:07:49.699 Because he realized that life itself, you can't hold it in your hand. 00:07:49.779 --> 00:07:51.480 It's not a thing you can grasp. 00:07:52.959 --> 00:07:56.719 You can never seem to quite get a handle on life. 00:07:57.779 --> 00:07:58.899 Even when you're successful. 00:07:59.279 --> 00:08:01.639 Even when things are going exactly as you want them to. 00:08:01.639 --> 00:08:05.279 So we're going to pick this up in chapter 3 and verse 1. 00:08:05.399 --> 00:08:07.680 For everything, there's a season. 00:08:10.300 --> 00:08:11.199 Even golf. 00:08:11.740 --> 00:08:12.599 Even football. 00:08:12.779 --> 00:08:13.419 Even Super Bowl. 00:08:13.699 --> 00:08:15.240 Everything, there's a season. 00:08:16.240 --> 00:08:18.979 A time for every activity under heaven. 00:08:19.919 --> 00:08:20.879 A time to be born. 00:08:21.120 --> 00:08:22.019 A time to die. 00:08:22.219 --> 00:08:23.019 A time to plant. 00:08:23.139 --> 00:08:23.919 A time to harvest. 00:08:24.039 --> 00:08:24.639 Y'all know that. 00:08:25.579 --> 00:08:27.839 A time to kill and a time to heal. 00:08:28.579 --> 00:08:31.219 A time to tear down and a time to build up. 00:08:31.519 --> 00:08:33.740 A time to cry and a time to laugh. 00:08:33.980 --> 00:08:36.559 A time to grieve and a time to dance. 00:08:36.919 --> 00:08:38.379 A time to scatter stones. 00:08:38.439 --> 00:08:40.039 A time to gather stones. 00:08:40.500 --> 00:08:43.480 A time to embrace and a time to turn away. 00:08:43.480 --> 00:08:46.519 A time to search and a time to quit searching. 00:08:47.100 --> 00:08:49.320 A time to keep and a time to throw away. 00:08:50.139 --> 00:08:52.460 A time to tear and a time to mend. 00:08:53.560 --> 00:08:57.019 A time to be quiet, which would be right now, kids. 00:08:58.159 --> 00:09:02.420 And a time to speak, a time to love and a time to hate. 00:09:03.580 --> 00:09:05.639 A time for war and a time for peace. 00:09:07.740 --> 00:09:10.259 What do people really get for all their hard work? 00:09:10.259 --> 00:09:13.620 I've seen the burden God has placed on us all. 00:09:14.939 --> 00:09:16.679 Now, don't miss verse 11. 00:09:18.059 --> 00:09:22.819 Yet God has made everything beautiful for its own what? 00:09:23.419 --> 00:09:24.100 Time. 00:09:25.340 --> 00:09:29.620 He's made everything beautiful for its own time. 00:09:30.159 --> 00:09:32.679 He's planted eternity in the human heart. 00:09:33.220 --> 00:09:38.799 But even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God's work from beginning to end. 00:09:38.799 --> 00:09:41.359 So, the teacher writes, 00:09:42.039 --> 00:09:48.620 I concluded that there is nothing better than to be happy and enjoy ourselves as long as we can. 00:09:48.740 --> 00:09:51.699 And people should eat and drink and enjoy the fruits of their labor. 00:09:52.059 --> 00:09:53.979 For these are gifts from God. 00:09:54.019 --> 00:09:55.539 We talked about that a little bit last week. 00:09:55.819 --> 00:09:59.019 And I know that whatever God does is final. 00:09:59.699 --> 00:10:00.259 That's true. 00:10:01.559 --> 00:10:02.779 No second guessing. 00:10:02.779 --> 00:10:06.079 No, God, man, can you take that back? 00:10:06.139 --> 00:10:06.659 I didn't like that. 00:10:06.720 --> 00:10:06.879 Nope. 00:10:06.980 --> 00:10:07.439 It's vital. 00:10:07.860 --> 00:10:10.159 Because he's always right and he's always righteous. 00:10:11.179 --> 00:10:12.559 Nothing can be added to it. 00:10:12.659 --> 00:10:14.000 Nothing can be taken from it. 00:10:14.519 --> 00:10:17.360 God's purpose is that people should fear him. 00:10:17.500 --> 00:10:21.699 Now, verse 15, and we'll be finished with our reading this morning. 00:10:21.700 --> 00:10:25.780 What is happening now has happened before. 00:10:26.940 --> 00:10:30.379 What will happen in the future has happened before. 00:10:31.360 --> 00:10:37.020 Because God makes the same things happen over and over again, even through different seasons, 00:10:37.740 --> 00:10:39.060 even through different times. 00:10:39.200 --> 00:10:44.280 And every one of them, we read, is beautiful in its own time. 00:10:44.800 --> 00:10:45.759 Would you bow your heads with me? 00:10:46.320 --> 00:10:49.420 God, give us understanding of this fascinating book. 00:10:49.419 --> 00:10:54.399 It feels different than any other book that we have compiled into our Holy Bible. 00:10:55.059 --> 00:10:56.159 66 books. 00:10:56.839 --> 00:10:58.299 We're grateful for each one of them. 00:10:58.419 --> 00:11:02.479 They reveal a little piece of you to us in their own way. 00:11:02.579 --> 00:11:10.479 And this one causes us to lift our eyes from what's going on around us, below this sun shining down on all of us, 00:11:11.159 --> 00:11:15.939 and lift our eyes up above the sun to the one who created it, to the son of God himself. 00:11:15.940 --> 00:11:19.820 Help us to find you in every season. 00:11:20.720 --> 00:11:21.840 It's in Jesus' name we pray. 00:11:22.420 --> 00:11:22.740 Amen. 00:11:25.740 --> 00:11:29.220 Ecclesiastes 3 begins with words that many of us recognize. 00:11:29.440 --> 00:11:31.840 For everything there is a season. 00:11:32.360 --> 00:11:35.040 There's a time for every activity under heaven. 00:11:35.039 --> 00:11:37.279 It's not just poetry. 00:11:37.539 --> 00:11:42.259 It's not just meant to be beautiful or make us sentimental, remembering back to different seasons. 00:11:43.279 --> 00:11:44.599 There is wisdom here. 00:11:45.240 --> 00:11:48.399 It's meant to make us honest that life has rhythms. 00:11:49.039 --> 00:11:53.659 We don't always enjoy every rhythm as much as others, but all are useful. 00:11:54.120 --> 00:11:55.339 All are there for a purpose. 00:11:55.340 --> 00:12:01.480 And God takes us through each cycle for his grand design and his grand purpose. 00:12:02.300 --> 00:12:03.379 Beginnings and endings. 00:12:04.080 --> 00:12:05.160 Joy and grief. 00:12:06.200 --> 00:12:07.940 Holding on and then letting go. 00:12:08.040 --> 00:12:14.200 And he goes down this whole list that we just read a moment ago, saying all of this is vital. 00:12:14.560 --> 00:12:15.759 All of this is essential. 00:12:15.879 --> 00:12:18.220 And there's a time for all of it. 00:12:18.220 --> 00:12:22.860 He's not telling us how to avoid the seasons we don't like. 00:12:23.680 --> 00:12:30.580 He's saying that you have to accept that there is a season for what you're going through right now. 00:12:31.200 --> 00:12:38.720 And he's teaching us how to live faithfully with our eyes above the sun in every one of those seasons. 00:12:38.840 --> 00:12:40.399 So this takes us to our first truth. 00:12:41.139 --> 00:12:42.720 Every season is temporary. 00:12:43.580 --> 00:12:46.480 But every season can transform. 00:12:46.480 --> 00:12:50.820 Every season, thank God, is only temporary. 00:12:52.340 --> 00:12:56.700 I don't know about you, but I don't want to live my 20s for the rest of my life. 00:12:57.480 --> 00:12:59.240 I had some fun in my 20s. 00:12:59.259 --> 00:13:01.340 Did anybody else have some fun in your 20s? 00:13:04.320 --> 00:13:07.720 How many of you are glad that you're no longer in your 20s? 00:13:07.860 --> 00:13:09.560 Yeah, there's hands all over the room. 00:13:10.320 --> 00:13:13.960 How many of you are in your teen years wishing that you were in your 20s? 00:13:13.960 --> 00:13:16.000 And you're looking forward to it. 00:13:16.080 --> 00:13:20.019 Just be careful on that fun that people talk about in your 20s. 00:13:20.080 --> 00:13:21.980 There is fun that is good to have. 00:13:22.019 --> 00:13:25.280 And there is fun that is not quite as fun as you think it's going to be. 00:13:25.879 --> 00:13:26.240 All right. 00:13:26.240 --> 00:13:36.940 So we find ourselves, despite the fact that we have gone through seasons of life, we've closed the book on many of them. 00:13:37.759 --> 00:13:40.899 If you're a teenager, you're no longer a little kid, right? 00:13:41.240 --> 00:13:42.460 You've closed the book on that. 00:13:42.840 --> 00:13:44.159 You can't go back to being 8. 00:13:44.580 --> 00:13:45.879 You can't go back to being 11. 00:13:47.060 --> 00:13:48.120 You're a young adult. 00:13:48.200 --> 00:13:49.860 You've closed the book on being a teenager. 00:13:49.860 --> 00:13:52.220 So forth and so on. 00:13:52.300 --> 00:13:55.960 Each stage, we close the book on those seasons of life. 00:13:56.019 --> 00:14:03.779 And even though we would love to move on and never revisit those again, we do have to look back and see there was value in that. 00:14:04.220 --> 00:14:06.399 I needed that stage of life. 00:14:06.659 --> 00:14:07.740 It was formative. 00:14:08.659 --> 00:14:10.200 Maybe I didn't handle it the best. 00:14:10.899 --> 00:14:14.279 Maybe I wasn't as prepared for it as I could have or should have been. 00:14:14.279 --> 00:14:18.819 Maybe others didn't prepare me as well as I could have. 00:14:19.860 --> 00:14:23.539 Maybe I didn't pursue God like I could have during that season of life. 00:14:23.679 --> 00:14:25.939 But there is beauty in each one. 00:14:26.000 --> 00:14:28.240 And that's what Solomon is telling us here. 00:14:28.779 --> 00:14:31.860 But we still find ourselves saying things like this. 00:14:34.179 --> 00:14:37.839 We either say, man, I'm having the time of my life. 00:14:39.240 --> 00:14:39.839 I'll tell you what. 00:14:39.840 --> 00:14:44.460 But I titled this, and I think it's in your bulletin if you have one. 00:14:44.820 --> 00:14:47.300 I titled this sermon, Having the Times of Our Lives. 00:14:48.519 --> 00:14:50.720 Because I thought that was a fun little play on words. 00:14:52.060 --> 00:14:55.420 I said, I'm going to have a time of my life up here preaching this sermon today. 00:14:55.700 --> 00:14:57.720 So I hope y'all are having the time of your life too. 00:14:58.460 --> 00:15:00.180 But we'll use expressions like that. 00:15:00.240 --> 00:15:02.399 But then we'll flip to the other side of the coin. 00:15:03.220 --> 00:15:04.300 And we'll say this. 00:15:04.299 --> 00:15:08.759 If I can just get through this season. 00:15:09.419 --> 00:15:10.539 Anybody ever say that? 00:15:11.259 --> 00:15:12.099 Anybody ever think that? 00:15:13.399 --> 00:15:14.539 Have you ever said this? 00:15:14.579 --> 00:15:16.959 If I can just fast forward to the good part. 00:15:17.639 --> 00:15:20.899 If I can just skip ahead to when it gets better. 00:15:22.579 --> 00:15:24.639 I've found myself saying things like that. 00:15:25.159 --> 00:15:26.779 And I suspect I'm not alone in that. 00:15:28.039 --> 00:15:29.559 Ecclesiastes reminds us of this. 00:15:29.559 --> 00:15:33.739 Yes, seasons will pass. 00:15:34.399 --> 00:15:37.119 This too shall pass. 00:15:37.379 --> 00:15:38.079 You've heard this. 00:15:39.419 --> 00:15:42.859 But passing does not mean pointless. 00:15:44.559 --> 00:15:52.059 Just because it's over now doesn't mean that it wasn't valuable and necessary. 00:15:53.019 --> 00:15:56.099 Every season can transform us. 00:15:56.299 --> 00:15:58.579 Even though it is temporary. 00:15:58.580 --> 00:16:01.060 Not because every season is pleasant. 00:16:01.500 --> 00:16:04.860 But because God is present in every season. 00:16:05.800 --> 00:16:06.780 Let's say that again. 00:16:07.040 --> 00:16:10.220 Not because every season of your life is pleasant. 00:16:10.520 --> 00:16:13.340 But because God is present in each one. 00:16:13.600 --> 00:16:15.700 And do you know what God does when he's present? 00:16:17.740 --> 00:16:20.240 He sits there like a bump on a log and does nothing. 00:16:21.379 --> 00:16:22.600 Not the God I know. 00:16:22.980 --> 00:16:23.980 Not the God you know. 00:16:24.360 --> 00:16:26.500 If God is present, he is working. 00:16:26.500 --> 00:16:34.360 He is actively using what you're going through for your good and for his glory. 00:16:34.360 --> 00:16:43.960 Now it's hard when we're in the middle of it to step away and remove ourselves from the problem or from the season and say, 00:16:43.960 --> 00:16:47.379 How exactly is God going to use this for my good and for his glory? 00:16:47.379 --> 00:16:49.379 Because all I see is loss. 00:16:50.019 --> 00:16:51.759 All I see is devastation. 00:16:51.920 --> 00:16:53.139 All I see is confusion. 00:16:53.360 --> 00:16:54.400 All I see is fear. 00:16:54.740 --> 00:16:55.900 All I see is uncertainty. 00:16:56.080 --> 00:16:57.740 Or maybe you're on the other side and you say, 00:16:58.100 --> 00:17:00.200 Man, all I see is the fruit of my hard work. 00:17:00.759 --> 00:17:04.940 All I see is the comforts and pleasures that I've surrounded myself with and life's pretty good. 00:17:05.180 --> 00:17:05.640 Guess what? 00:17:05.900 --> 00:17:07.039 Solomon went through all that. 00:17:07.039 --> 00:17:11.299 He achieved it all. 00:17:12.799 --> 00:17:14.259 And he looked back and said, 00:17:15.139 --> 00:17:18.039 None of those things mattered that much. 00:17:18.139 --> 00:17:24.000 What mattered is what God meant, what God intended for every season. 00:17:24.559 --> 00:17:25.779 That's what made it beautiful. 00:17:26.420 --> 00:17:29.480 All those other things, he said, that's all vanity. 00:17:30.259 --> 00:17:31.740 He said, that's all useless. 00:17:31.740 --> 00:17:34.920 It doesn't matter that much. 00:17:35.620 --> 00:17:39.000 What mattered is what God was doing in every season. 00:17:40.240 --> 00:17:43.319 Let's look at what the prophet Isaiah told us about this. 00:17:43.880 --> 00:17:45.640 He said, I have refined you. 00:17:47.460 --> 00:17:50.279 God is speaking to his people through his prophet Isaiah. 00:17:50.380 --> 00:17:54.500 And he said, I have refined you, but not as silver is refined. 00:17:55.059 --> 00:17:58.920 Rather, I have refined you in the furnace of suffering. 00:17:59.440 --> 00:18:01.480 Hold on to that idea of refinement, okay? 00:18:02.220 --> 00:18:08.579 Hold on to that idea of refining silver, refining precious metals, refining gold in the furnace. 00:18:09.460 --> 00:18:10.640 Keep that in the back of your mind. 00:18:10.700 --> 00:18:11.680 We're going to look at Psalms. 00:18:12.420 --> 00:18:13.279 Psalm 66. 00:18:13.700 --> 00:18:14.319 Hold on a second. 00:18:14.400 --> 00:18:14.880 We skipped ahead. 00:18:14.960 --> 00:18:15.319 Here we go. 00:18:15.680 --> 00:18:17.279 Psalm 66, verse 10. 00:18:17.380 --> 00:18:19.140 For you, God, tested us. 00:18:19.559 --> 00:18:21.480 You have refined us like silver. 00:18:21.480 --> 00:18:26.660 We went through fire and flood, but you brought us to a place of great abundance. 00:18:27.259 --> 00:18:29.620 David is writing here when he's running for his life. 00:18:29.619 --> 00:18:33.959 He's being surrounded and pursued by people who want to kill him. 00:18:34.179 --> 00:18:36.639 And he says, God, you've tested us. 00:18:36.879 --> 00:18:38.159 You've refined us. 00:18:38.339 --> 00:18:42.399 We went through all this, but it was part of this refining process. 00:18:42.400 --> 00:18:46.060 And now you are bringing us to a place of great abundance. 00:18:46.060 --> 00:18:52.019 What is he talking about in Psalms and in Isaiah about this refiner's fire? 00:18:52.160 --> 00:18:53.240 Well, here's a process. 00:18:53.460 --> 00:18:56.700 It's going to be hard to see, but you don't really need to break all this down. 00:18:56.960 --> 00:19:00.040 Do we have any experts in refining metals in the room? 00:19:00.680 --> 00:19:01.680 Always got to check. 00:19:02.240 --> 00:19:02.540 Yeah? 00:19:03.080 --> 00:19:03.860 Your mom is? 00:19:04.240 --> 00:19:04.540 Christopher? 00:19:04.539 --> 00:19:05.019 Christopher? 00:19:05.019 --> 00:19:06.180 He pointed to you. 00:19:06.740 --> 00:19:07.220 Yeah. 00:19:07.779 --> 00:19:09.379 Get that boy under control, please. 00:19:09.519 --> 00:19:10.039 I'm just kidding. 00:19:11.659 --> 00:19:14.740 Here's the part that's relevant for what we're talking about today. 00:19:15.059 --> 00:19:21.259 The first three here teaches us, and I'm by no means an expert on this. 00:19:21.319 --> 00:19:24.579 I just did a little study this week about it in preparation for today. 00:19:25.899 --> 00:19:31.359 Precious metals go through three different furnaces in this refining process. 00:19:31.359 --> 00:19:38.139 So if we're refining gold or silver, it says it goes through the flash smelting furnace. 00:19:38.959 --> 00:19:40.219 Anybody know what that is? 00:19:40.579 --> 00:19:42.879 The flash smelting furnace. 00:19:43.279 --> 00:19:43.459 Okay. 00:19:43.919 --> 00:19:46.799 Number two, it goes through the converter furnace. 00:19:47.519 --> 00:19:50.639 And then finally, it goes through the anode furnace. 00:19:50.640 --> 00:20:05.520 It goes through three different refiners fires before it can continue on in the process and finally be made into something useful, valuable, and productive. 00:20:05.519 --> 00:20:24.740 Do you see the parallel between what Isaiah was writing about, what the Lord put on his heart to tell us, going through this life with God, you often go through the refiner's fire. 00:20:26.440 --> 00:20:28.639 Sometimes you might go through three of them. 00:20:30.000 --> 00:20:31.539 You might go through more. 00:20:31.539 --> 00:20:38.359 God has a purpose in the fire that he takes you through. 00:20:39.619 --> 00:20:50.180 Your season of life might be unpleasant, but he's teaching you in the scriptures that this season is like a refiner's fire. 00:20:50.740 --> 00:20:53.879 What does the refiner's fire do to the precious metals? 00:20:54.460 --> 00:20:55.059 Does anybody know? 00:20:56.579 --> 00:20:57.420 What's that? 00:20:57.420 --> 00:20:57.519 It gets out. 00:20:58.519 --> 00:20:59.860 Gets out the sludge. 00:20:59.940 --> 00:21:01.580 It gets rid of the impurities. 00:21:02.240 --> 00:21:04.880 It gets rid of the stuff that can't stay. 00:21:06.039 --> 00:21:10.120 It's going to make it less valuable, less useful, less beautiful. 00:21:10.119 --> 00:21:19.399 What God is doing in your life in the refiner's fire is getting rid of the impurities. 00:21:20.039 --> 00:21:21.919 They're going to keep you from him. 00:21:23.079 --> 00:21:27.959 They're going to keep you off the path that he wants you to walk. 00:21:27.960 --> 00:21:38.500 They're going to keep you from following closely as you follow your rabbi, your Messiah, your master, your Lord, Jesus Christ. 00:21:40.180 --> 00:21:43.039 He's saying, I'm going to take you through the fire. 00:21:43.640 --> 00:21:45.079 Sometimes through the fire. 00:21:45.519 --> 00:21:46.840 Sometimes through the flood. 00:21:47.840 --> 00:21:51.059 But always to a place of great abundance. 00:21:51.059 --> 00:21:54.619 That doesn't always mean an abundant bank account. 00:21:55.819 --> 00:21:58.779 That doesn't always mean abundance of material things on this earth. 00:21:58.980 --> 00:22:01.440 It means a place of a full heart. 00:22:02.059 --> 00:22:04.759 It means of a place of full satisfaction. 00:22:05.659 --> 00:22:06.659 Full joy. 00:22:07.720 --> 00:22:08.599 Full peace. 00:22:09.759 --> 00:22:11.319 It's what we're pursuing anyway. 00:22:11.940 --> 00:22:13.379 It's what we're trying to get to anyway. 00:22:13.380 --> 00:22:19.580 So the refiner's fire is a crucial part of our walk with Jesus. 00:22:20.240 --> 00:22:22.100 What do we draw from the refiner's fire? 00:22:22.220 --> 00:22:27.600 What purpose is he trying to accomplish in our lives as he takes us through the fire? 00:22:28.000 --> 00:22:29.420 First off is sanctification. 00:22:29.920 --> 00:22:31.620 He wants to make us holy. 00:22:31.960 --> 00:22:33.420 He wants to set us apart. 00:22:33.960 --> 00:22:35.160 And that's what he's talking about. 00:22:35.420 --> 00:22:39.220 It says first it reshapes how we think and how we respond. 00:22:40.040 --> 00:22:41.680 That's what sanctification is. 00:22:41.680 --> 00:22:47.920 It's changing you from what you are now into who God designed you to be. 00:22:48.259 --> 00:22:49.660 And who he's making you to be. 00:22:49.779 --> 00:22:52.400 That's going to look different in your life and it's going to look different in mine. 00:22:52.940 --> 00:22:57.340 Sometimes we're going to see that very obvious as Stoney gets up and he's baptized. 00:22:58.740 --> 00:23:06.299 Sometimes we're going to see it as you responding not in anger and not in self-justified wrath when someone wrongs you. 00:23:06.299 --> 00:23:12.700 But instead responding in kindness, compassion, forgiveness. 00:23:13.980 --> 00:23:15.819 That's God changing you. 00:23:17.500 --> 00:23:18.819 Changing the way you think. 00:23:19.379 --> 00:23:20.619 Changing the way you're wired. 00:23:20.720 --> 00:23:22.740 Say man, that's just who I am. 00:23:22.859 --> 00:23:23.079 Right. 00:23:23.180 --> 00:23:23.980 It is who you are. 00:23:24.119 --> 00:23:25.480 But God wants to change that person. 00:23:26.419 --> 00:23:27.559 God wants to make you different. 00:23:27.980 --> 00:23:28.700 And he can. 00:23:29.079 --> 00:23:30.059 He can do it. 00:23:30.379 --> 00:23:32.339 Say that's just the way God made me. 00:23:32.339 --> 00:23:32.939 No, no, no. 00:23:33.899 --> 00:23:35.959 God's remaking you. 00:23:37.539 --> 00:23:38.819 It's a new birth. 00:23:39.659 --> 00:23:43.740 It's a new creation that God's doing in you. 00:23:44.619 --> 00:23:51.199 And if he's not doing that, then we have to step back and say, am I a new creation? 00:23:51.200 --> 00:23:57.440 Or do I need to set myself aside and say, God, I surrender to you. 00:23:58.380 --> 00:23:59.960 I surrender all this time. 00:24:01.220 --> 00:24:02.440 I'm not going to hold back. 00:24:02.799 --> 00:24:04.340 I'm putting all my faith in you. 00:24:04.580 --> 00:24:05.519 I do believe. 00:24:05.660 --> 00:24:06.620 I do have faith. 00:24:06.860 --> 00:24:09.340 And I'm going to trust you that I know I'm a sinner. 00:24:09.460 --> 00:24:12.759 That I know Jesus died and paid the sacrifice for my sins. 00:24:13.100 --> 00:24:14.680 And then he came back to life. 00:24:14.980 --> 00:24:16.120 God raised him from the dead. 00:24:16.220 --> 00:24:17.980 And that's somebody I can put all my faith in. 00:24:17.980 --> 00:24:24.059 So for the first time maybe ever, God might need to make you a new creation. 00:24:24.880 --> 00:24:26.160 Then he can sanctify you. 00:24:26.380 --> 00:24:27.740 Then he can change the way you think. 00:24:28.120 --> 00:24:29.500 Then he can change you. 00:24:29.620 --> 00:24:35.940 And then the other purpose here, the second purpose, is it creates a hunger for the ultimate tool that God has given us, which is his word. 00:24:36.740 --> 00:24:38.500 That's what the refiner's fire can do for you. 00:24:38.599 --> 00:24:39.140 It can change you. 00:24:39.220 --> 00:24:40.039 It can sanctify you. 00:24:40.140 --> 00:24:42.779 And it can develop a hunger for God's word. 00:24:43.079 --> 00:24:43.380 Why? 00:24:43.380 --> 00:24:49.700 Because God's word is a magical book that's the fourth member of the Trinity and we hold it equal to God? 00:24:50.020 --> 00:24:50.260 No. 00:24:50.520 --> 00:24:55.100 Because the Bible is the ultimate tool that God gave to us to reveal Jesus to us. 00:24:55.460 --> 00:24:57.200 That's what the Bible does for us. 00:24:57.740 --> 00:24:59.260 That's why God gave it to us. 00:24:59.700 --> 00:25:01.720 It contains his very words. 00:25:02.040 --> 00:25:05.820 It contains words that his people wrote down that were inspired by him. 00:25:06.180 --> 00:25:08.500 And it leads us directly to him. 00:25:08.500 --> 00:25:13.339 And if you're reading the Bible and it's leading you to somewhere besides Jesus, you're reading it wrong. 00:25:14.579 --> 00:25:18.259 The Bible must always lead you back to Jesus. 00:25:20.519 --> 00:25:21.880 It's what it's there for. 00:25:22.859 --> 00:25:27.940 So when you go through the refiner's fire, it should drive you back to that book. 00:25:29.380 --> 00:25:32.980 And in doing so, it drives you back to Jesus. 00:25:32.980 --> 00:25:36.960 And number three, that's exactly what it does. 00:25:37.099 --> 00:25:38.480 It reveals Jesus to us. 00:25:38.940 --> 00:25:42.640 It leads us straight to our only real hiding place. 00:25:43.339 --> 00:25:44.339 Jesus Christ. 00:25:44.620 --> 00:25:47.620 Because the refiner's fire will burn up all the other hiding places. 00:25:49.200 --> 00:25:52.440 It'll reveal how insignificant they are. 00:25:53.059 --> 00:25:55.339 It'll reveal how unsatisfying they are. 00:25:56.259 --> 00:25:58.039 It'll reveal how ineffective they are. 00:25:58.039 --> 00:26:02.940 Wherever you've tried to run in your heart to hide from your problems. 00:26:03.799 --> 00:26:08.480 Wherever you've tried to run, maybe physically, to hide. 00:26:09.899 --> 00:26:11.240 To find relief. 00:26:13.180 --> 00:26:17.740 The refiner's fire of life that God takes you through 00:26:17.740 --> 00:26:22.819 will finally reveal the real hiding place that actually works. 00:26:22.819 --> 00:26:26.700 And that's running back to the one who truly cares. 00:26:27.179 --> 00:26:28.720 The one who died for you. 00:26:29.859 --> 00:26:31.480 The one who rose for you. 00:26:31.720 --> 00:26:33.240 The one who lives for you. 00:26:33.339 --> 00:26:35.939 The one who gave his spirit to you and said, 00:26:36.019 --> 00:26:37.119 I'm always with you. 00:26:37.379 --> 00:26:39.079 Anytime, anyplace, anywhere. 00:26:39.359 --> 00:26:40.240 It doesn't matter. 00:26:40.819 --> 00:26:41.500 I'm there. 00:26:42.319 --> 00:26:44.399 And the refiner's fire reveals that to you. 00:26:44.639 --> 00:26:46.720 So, let's move ahead. 00:26:48.000 --> 00:26:49.240 No season is wasted 00:26:49.240 --> 00:26:51.460 when God is at work. 00:26:51.460 --> 00:26:54.259 I believe that's in your bulletins if you want to fill it in. 00:26:54.579 --> 00:26:56.059 No season is wasted 00:26:56.059 --> 00:26:58.340 when God is at work. 00:26:58.940 --> 00:27:02.240 The refiner's fire is always there for a purpose. 00:27:02.740 --> 00:27:04.180 The season will only be temporary. 00:27:04.880 --> 00:27:06.220 The season will not last forever. 00:27:06.779 --> 00:27:08.100 Sometimes it feels like it will. 00:27:08.519 --> 00:27:10.319 Sometimes we need a light at the end of the tunnel 00:27:10.319 --> 00:27:12.380 and it feels like there's no end in sight. 00:27:12.460 --> 00:27:14.500 It's like, man, when is this season going to be over? 00:27:15.819 --> 00:27:16.840 On the flip side, 00:27:16.920 --> 00:27:18.240 you might be living the good life. 00:27:18.579 --> 00:27:19.279 You might think, man, 00:27:19.279 --> 00:27:21.160 I could stay like this forever. 00:27:22.119 --> 00:27:22.960 Everything's all right. 00:27:23.000 --> 00:27:23.879 I finally arrived. 00:27:24.019 --> 00:27:27.039 Listen, this season too is going to be over at some point. 00:27:27.960 --> 00:27:29.160 Something's going to come down the road 00:27:29.160 --> 00:27:30.019 that you weren't expecting. 00:27:30.139 --> 00:27:31.859 But look, that season won't last forever. 00:27:32.079 --> 00:27:34.059 But neither of them will be wasted. 00:27:35.339 --> 00:27:37.200 God has a purpose for both. 00:27:37.240 --> 00:27:39.680 And he's taking you through the refiner's fire 00:27:39.680 --> 00:27:41.240 in every season. 00:27:41.500 --> 00:27:42.680 So, God is at work 00:27:42.680 --> 00:27:44.139 and it's not a waste. 00:27:44.279 --> 00:27:44.759 Number two, 00:27:44.759 --> 00:27:47.940 joy comes from resting in God's timeline. 00:27:48.640 --> 00:27:49.779 Now, I can promise you, 00:27:49.879 --> 00:27:52.079 my timeline looks very different than God's. 00:27:52.440 --> 00:27:53.500 It always has. 00:27:54.099 --> 00:27:56.779 He has never adjusted his timeline to mine. 00:27:57.460 --> 00:27:58.539 And as frustrating, 00:27:58.740 --> 00:28:00.099 as annoying as that has been, 00:28:00.539 --> 00:28:01.680 I'm really grateful 00:28:01.680 --> 00:28:04.140 that he hasn't adjusted his timeline to mine. 00:28:05.000 --> 00:28:06.160 Because in hindsight, 00:28:06.480 --> 00:28:07.900 I can often see, 00:28:08.839 --> 00:28:10.259 wow, what I wanted then 00:28:10.259 --> 00:28:12.039 would never have been good for me. 00:28:12.119 --> 00:28:13.859 That would have been a train wreck. 00:28:13.859 --> 00:28:15.500 Thank God he held off 00:28:15.500 --> 00:28:17.279 until it was the right time. 00:28:18.659 --> 00:28:21.639 So, joy comes from resting in that. 00:28:23.319 --> 00:28:25.519 Look, you can try to force your timeline. 00:28:25.779 --> 00:28:27.119 It's going to steal your joy. 00:28:28.559 --> 00:28:29.859 It's going to mess it all up. 00:28:30.339 --> 00:28:31.479 Then you've got to go back to God 00:28:31.479 --> 00:28:31.779 and say, 00:28:31.859 --> 00:28:33.500 get me back on your timeline, please. 00:28:34.279 --> 00:28:35.759 Mine's not working out well. 00:28:36.599 --> 00:28:39.359 The audio was a little garbled from the, 00:28:39.579 --> 00:28:40.979 we have computer issues up there. 00:28:41.019 --> 00:28:41.319 By the way, 00:28:41.359 --> 00:28:42.779 y'all don't get mad at the guys on the deck 00:28:42.779 --> 00:28:44.759 when something wrong happens up there. 00:28:45.559 --> 00:28:47.240 They are working with a system 00:28:47.240 --> 00:28:48.379 that is deeply flawed. 00:28:48.619 --> 00:28:51.720 And we are working to get to the place 00:28:51.720 --> 00:28:54.119 where we can redo some things up there 00:28:54.119 --> 00:28:55.240 financially and all that. 00:28:55.339 --> 00:28:56.019 Y'all pray for that. 00:28:56.099 --> 00:28:56.960 If you'd like to contribute 00:28:56.960 --> 00:29:00.200 to some of our audio visual needs in here, 00:29:00.299 --> 00:29:02.339 then please consider doing that. 00:29:02.339 --> 00:29:04.879 But it's not their fault, man. 00:29:04.940 --> 00:29:06.619 They are doing the absolute best they can 00:29:06.619 --> 00:29:08.519 working with somewhat flawed equipment 00:29:08.519 --> 00:29:09.299 and software. 00:29:10.019 --> 00:29:11.519 But what I wanted to say was 00:29:11.519 --> 00:29:13.559 during the baptism testimony video, 00:29:13.639 --> 00:29:14.000 we said, 00:29:14.339 --> 00:29:15.200 we saw a minute ago, 00:29:15.240 --> 00:29:16.339 I don't know if you understood everything 00:29:16.339 --> 00:29:17.700 that Gunnar Ellenberg was saying 00:29:17.700 --> 00:29:18.779 at the very beginning, 00:29:18.879 --> 00:29:19.460 but he said, 00:29:19.559 --> 00:29:20.759 one of the things he said was, 00:29:21.539 --> 00:29:22.299 surprise, surprise, 00:29:22.299 --> 00:29:23.579 I'm not very good 00:29:23.579 --> 00:29:25.059 at living life my way 00:29:25.059 --> 00:29:25.900 or I'm not very good 00:29:25.900 --> 00:29:28.119 at living according to my understanding. 00:29:29.619 --> 00:29:30.220 I was like, 00:29:30.259 --> 00:29:31.139 yeah, that's so true. 00:29:32.039 --> 00:29:33.000 You're not, man. 00:29:33.039 --> 00:29:33.759 You're a train wreck. 00:29:33.799 --> 00:29:34.420 You're a mess. 00:29:35.660 --> 00:29:36.700 But every one of us 00:29:36.700 --> 00:29:38.539 could have said the same thing with him. 00:29:39.119 --> 00:29:40.579 We're not very good 00:29:40.579 --> 00:29:42.819 at living life by our own design. 00:29:43.900 --> 00:29:44.339 So, 00:29:44.920 --> 00:29:47.500 you can force that 00:29:47.500 --> 00:29:49.619 and say, 00:29:49.700 --> 00:29:51.099 well, I'm just going to get better at it. 00:29:51.539 --> 00:29:52.559 Or you can say, 00:29:52.599 --> 00:29:53.200 forget this, 00:29:53.259 --> 00:29:54.799 I'm switching over to God's timeline. 00:29:55.700 --> 00:29:57.339 That's where I'll find rest. 00:29:58.400 --> 00:30:00.140 That means my future plans 00:30:00.140 --> 00:30:01.200 might need to be adjusted. 00:30:01.200 --> 00:30:03.700 That means my right now plans 00:30:03.700 --> 00:30:05.559 might need to be adjusted. 00:30:06.920 --> 00:30:09.059 But when we can finally rest, 00:30:09.440 --> 00:30:10.360 we're joyful. 00:30:11.279 --> 00:30:12.259 Have you ever stayed up 00:30:12.259 --> 00:30:13.460 for a long time? 00:30:14.860 --> 00:30:16.620 Like more than 24 hours? 00:30:17.740 --> 00:30:18.480 Anybody ever stay? 00:30:18.480 --> 00:30:19.500 I see some heads nodding. 00:30:19.580 --> 00:30:20.539 Anybody ever stayed up 00:30:20.539 --> 00:30:21.200 like 48 hours? 00:30:22.819 --> 00:30:23.600 72 hours? 00:30:23.700 --> 00:30:23.900 Yeah. 00:30:25.120 --> 00:30:26.160 Jamie, with your background, 00:30:26.279 --> 00:30:27.200 I don't know what you were doing 00:30:27.200 --> 00:30:28.059 there in that time, man, 00:30:28.080 --> 00:30:29.180 but you probably can't tell us. 00:30:29.180 --> 00:30:30.320 Look, 00:30:31.100 --> 00:30:35.620 when you stay up a long time, 00:30:36.200 --> 00:30:38.220 you're a joy to be around, 00:30:38.279 --> 00:30:38.660 aren't you? 00:30:41.080 --> 00:30:42.680 Tired people are always 00:30:42.680 --> 00:30:43.900 really, really happy, 00:30:44.380 --> 00:30:44.820 enjoyable, 00:30:45.820 --> 00:30:46.700 pleasant people, right? 00:30:48.259 --> 00:30:49.740 Maybe you've gotten to the point 00:30:49.740 --> 00:30:50.940 where you can handle that, 00:30:51.620 --> 00:30:52.980 but hunger, 00:30:53.840 --> 00:30:54.380 fatigue, 00:30:54.840 --> 00:30:57.500 these things can affect our spirits. 00:30:57.500 --> 00:30:59.200 They can make us 00:30:59.200 --> 00:31:00.259 a little less pleasant. 00:31:01.700 --> 00:31:02.119 Joy 00:31:02.119 --> 00:31:05.519 will not go away 00:31:05.519 --> 00:31:08.000 if you're resting. 00:31:11.420 --> 00:31:12.720 Joy will stay 00:31:12.720 --> 00:31:14.700 if you're resting. 00:31:16.619 --> 00:31:18.039 I'm not just talking about sleeping, 00:31:18.420 --> 00:31:19.160 not just talking about 00:31:19.160 --> 00:31:20.259 getting your eight hours at night 00:31:20.259 --> 00:31:21.140 or whatever you need. 00:31:22.099 --> 00:31:23.539 Not talking about taking a nap. 00:31:23.539 --> 00:31:25.159 You might need to do that. 00:31:26.399 --> 00:31:27.200 Sunday afternoon, 00:31:27.279 --> 00:31:28.200 it's the 11th commandment 00:31:28.200 --> 00:31:28.680 in the Bible. 00:31:28.879 --> 00:31:29.720 You're supposed to take a nap 00:31:29.720 --> 00:31:30.240 after church. 00:31:30.359 --> 00:31:31.079 It's part of it. 00:31:32.779 --> 00:31:33.740 But we're almost done. 00:31:33.779 --> 00:31:34.399 And before I close, 00:31:34.440 --> 00:31:35.599 I want to get this principle across. 00:31:37.500 --> 00:31:39.539 Resting in God's timeline. 00:31:42.500 --> 00:31:43.680 That's what gives you joy. 00:31:44.339 --> 00:31:45.319 It's what gives me joy. 00:31:45.720 --> 00:31:46.799 I can promise you. 00:31:46.799 --> 00:31:52.559 I've had a hard time 00:31:52.559 --> 00:31:53.960 with God's timeline in my life. 00:31:54.599 --> 00:31:54.960 Recently. 00:31:56.539 --> 00:31:56.899 Recently, 00:31:57.019 --> 00:31:57.720 I've had a hard time 00:31:57.720 --> 00:31:58.419 with God's timeline. 00:31:59.559 --> 00:31:59.759 Thinking, 00:31:59.839 --> 00:32:00.000 God, 00:32:00.059 --> 00:32:00.559 what are you doing? 00:32:02.919 --> 00:32:04.000 We get to celebrate 00:32:04.000 --> 00:32:04.940 all the baptisms 00:32:04.940 --> 00:32:05.960 that God's given our church. 00:32:06.039 --> 00:32:06.740 We get to celebrate 00:32:06.740 --> 00:32:08.240 the people going through discipleship. 00:32:08.599 --> 00:32:09.259 We get to celebrate 00:32:09.259 --> 00:32:10.299 the small groups 00:32:10.299 --> 00:32:11.279 that Brian was talking about. 00:32:11.339 --> 00:32:11.639 By the way, 00:32:11.700 --> 00:32:12.500 thank you for that, man. 00:32:12.559 --> 00:32:14.500 That's a wonderful testimony 00:32:14.500 --> 00:32:15.819 of the community 00:32:15.819 --> 00:32:16.559 and the joy 00:32:16.559 --> 00:32:17.200 that can be found 00:32:17.200 --> 00:32:17.700 in each other 00:32:17.700 --> 00:32:18.319 and this fellowship 00:32:18.319 --> 00:32:19.180 and study 00:32:19.180 --> 00:32:19.619 that happens 00:32:19.619 --> 00:32:20.339 in those small groups. 00:32:20.680 --> 00:32:21.099 By the way, 00:32:21.140 --> 00:32:22.259 the Kennedy's is tomorrow night, 00:32:22.299 --> 00:32:22.779 I believe, right? 00:32:23.460 --> 00:32:24.380 Kennedy's is tomorrow night, 00:32:24.420 --> 00:32:24.640 I think, 00:32:25.200 --> 00:32:25.819 at their house. 00:32:26.119 --> 00:32:26.299 So, 00:32:26.700 --> 00:32:27.220 be there for that. 00:32:27.339 --> 00:32:27.880 No, wait, wait. 00:32:28.119 --> 00:32:29.000 I'm thinking today's Monday. 00:32:29.119 --> 00:32:29.319 Tuesday. 00:32:29.539 --> 00:32:30.039 Tuesday night. 00:32:30.799 --> 00:32:31.799 Men's group is Monday night. 00:32:31.900 --> 00:32:32.799 Kennedy's is Tuesday night. 00:32:32.920 --> 00:32:33.220 All right. 00:32:34.940 --> 00:32:35.920 We get to see 00:32:35.920 --> 00:32:36.740 all this fruit 00:32:36.740 --> 00:32:37.619 of what God does 00:32:37.619 --> 00:32:38.299 through our church. 00:32:39.480 --> 00:32:39.880 Sometimes, 00:32:40.180 --> 00:32:41.180 what we don't always see 00:32:41.180 --> 00:32:43.099 is the struggles 00:32:43.099 --> 00:32:43.559 that happen 00:32:43.559 --> 00:32:44.240 behind the scenes. 00:32:45.279 --> 00:32:46.079 It's the people 00:32:46.079 --> 00:32:46.720 that get upset. 00:32:46.980 --> 00:32:47.500 It's the people 00:32:47.500 --> 00:32:48.339 that don't like change 00:32:48.339 --> 00:32:48.799 that happens. 00:32:49.000 --> 00:32:50.660 It's the people 00:32:50.660 --> 00:32:51.839 that resist sometimes 00:32:51.839 --> 00:32:53.299 the working of God's spirit 00:32:53.299 --> 00:32:53.880 in our hearts. 00:32:54.019 --> 00:32:55.339 It's the struggle 00:32:55.339 --> 00:32:56.339 that happens 00:32:56.339 --> 00:32:58.039 as God is moving 00:32:58.039 --> 00:32:58.900 in a church. 00:32:59.500 --> 00:32:59.960 Sometimes, 00:33:00.099 --> 00:33:00.640 it's mistakes 00:33:00.640 --> 00:33:01.579 that leadership make. 00:33:02.579 --> 00:33:04.240 I would never do that, 00:33:04.319 --> 00:33:04.900 by the way, 00:33:04.940 --> 00:33:05.519 and never make 00:33:05.519 --> 00:33:06.240 any kind of mistake. 00:33:07.640 --> 00:33:08.160 So, 00:33:08.279 --> 00:33:09.180 don't press 00:33:09.180 --> 00:33:10.500 because you'll find a lot 00:33:10.500 --> 00:33:11.319 if you start digging. 00:33:12.440 --> 00:33:13.799 I've made plenty of mistakes 00:33:13.799 --> 00:33:14.639 and sometimes 00:33:14.639 --> 00:33:15.500 we'll suffer 00:33:15.500 --> 00:33:16.700 for a season 00:33:16.700 --> 00:33:17.500 because of that. 00:33:18.519 --> 00:33:19.599 You've made mistakes too. 00:33:20.480 --> 00:33:21.099 Committee leaders 00:33:21.099 --> 00:33:21.879 will make mistakes. 00:33:22.119 --> 00:33:22.619 Committee members 00:33:22.619 --> 00:33:23.319 will make mistakes. 00:33:24.079 --> 00:33:25.839 Jared makes more mistakes 00:33:25.839 --> 00:33:27.000 than I can count every day. 00:33:27.579 --> 00:33:29.460 He's never not making a mistake. 00:33:30.579 --> 00:33:31.740 I try to tell him every day 00:33:31.740 --> 00:33:32.839 he is a mistake. 00:33:32.839 --> 00:33:37.299 We are brutal to each other 00:33:37.299 --> 00:33:38.799 if you ever just want to see 00:33:38.799 --> 00:33:39.899 that nonsense happening 00:33:39.899 --> 00:33:40.839 come up here during the week. 00:33:41.199 --> 00:33:41.939 We have a lot of fun. 00:33:42.000 --> 00:33:42.339 But look, 00:33:42.879 --> 00:33:43.500 the truth is 00:33:43.500 --> 00:33:44.759 you have flawed leadership 00:33:44.759 --> 00:33:45.939 and they are serving 00:33:45.939 --> 00:33:46.779 flawed people. 00:33:47.179 --> 00:33:48.720 But what we're not doing 00:33:48.720 --> 00:33:50.899 is serving a flawed God. 00:33:52.019 --> 00:33:52.619 And somehow, 00:33:52.799 --> 00:33:54.679 he uses us flawed people 00:33:54.679 --> 00:33:57.220 to do great things anyway. 00:33:57.439 --> 00:33:58.579 But there is struggle 00:33:58.579 --> 00:33:59.619 during those seasons. 00:33:59.619 --> 00:34:02.059 How do we get through them? 00:34:02.500 --> 00:34:03.500 How do we not have 00:34:03.500 --> 00:34:04.339 our joy stolen? 00:34:04.459 --> 00:34:05.199 I can promise you 00:34:05.199 --> 00:34:06.399 from personal testimony, 00:34:07.519 --> 00:34:09.199 the joy is under attack. 00:34:09.199 --> 00:34:12.319 For the last couple years, 00:34:12.739 --> 00:34:14.039 joy has been under attack. 00:34:14.039 --> 00:34:14.799 In my life, 00:34:15.419 --> 00:34:16.579 probably some of yours. 00:34:18.279 --> 00:34:19.759 And God's been teaching me 00:34:19.759 --> 00:34:22.399 just in the last few weeks even. 00:34:22.619 --> 00:34:23.619 He's ramped it up. 00:34:24.000 --> 00:34:25.099 He's been teaching me 00:34:25.099 --> 00:34:27.359 to rest in his timeline. 00:34:28.699 --> 00:34:29.739 Say, just let go, man. 00:34:29.779 --> 00:34:30.480 Just let go. 00:34:31.859 --> 00:34:32.779 Quit trying to figure it 00:34:32.779 --> 00:34:33.439 all out yourself. 00:34:33.559 --> 00:34:34.199 Quit trying to come up 00:34:34.199 --> 00:34:35.739 with all the solutions yourself. 00:34:35.960 --> 00:34:36.699 Just let go 00:34:36.699 --> 00:34:38.899 and rest in my timeline. 00:34:39.759 --> 00:34:41.079 We read it a minute ago, 00:34:41.139 --> 00:34:42.159 but I want to draw your attention 00:34:42.159 --> 00:34:43.239 back to verse 11 00:34:43.239 --> 00:34:44.339 in Ecclesiastes 3. 00:34:45.059 --> 00:34:47.000 God has made everything beautiful 00:34:47.000 --> 00:34:49.419 for its own time. 00:34:50.079 --> 00:34:51.460 He's planted eternity 00:34:51.460 --> 00:34:53.019 in the human heart. 00:34:53.159 --> 00:34:53.919 We're aware 00:34:53.919 --> 00:34:56.839 that God is in control of it all. 00:34:57.119 --> 00:34:58.460 That God is an eternal God. 00:34:58.519 --> 00:34:59.899 That our souls are eternal. 00:35:00.259 --> 00:35:01.500 This body will die. 00:35:01.859 --> 00:35:03.339 But he has planted this concept 00:35:03.339 --> 00:35:05.439 of eternity in our own heart. 00:35:05.539 --> 00:35:06.679 And every part of it 00:35:06.679 --> 00:35:08.559 is beautiful for its time. 00:35:08.559 --> 00:35:11.519 Psalm 31 verse 13 says, 00:35:11.699 --> 00:35:13.360 I hear many whispering terror 00:35:13.360 --> 00:35:14.259 on every side. 00:35:14.320 --> 00:35:14.980 You ever heard that? 00:35:15.320 --> 00:35:16.480 You ever heard somebody whispering, 00:35:17.340 --> 00:35:18.360 man, everything's bad. 00:35:18.739 --> 00:35:20.219 There's terror all around us. 00:35:20.739 --> 00:35:21.400 Turn on the news. 00:35:21.480 --> 00:35:22.179 There's nothing good 00:35:22.179 --> 00:35:22.920 happening anywhere. 00:35:23.500 --> 00:35:25.460 But I trust in you, Lord. 00:35:26.119 --> 00:35:28.659 My times are in your hands. 00:35:29.420 --> 00:35:31.179 My childhood, my teen years, 00:35:31.320 --> 00:35:33.519 my 20s, my 30s, my 40s, my 50s, 00:35:33.519 --> 00:35:35.159 my 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s, 00:35:35.159 --> 00:35:36.139 and even hundreds. 00:35:36.480 --> 00:35:38.719 Those times are all in your hands. 00:35:39.380 --> 00:35:40.800 The seasons of life 00:35:40.800 --> 00:35:42.840 are in your hands, God. 00:35:42.940 --> 00:35:44.559 And then Lamentations chapter 3. 00:35:45.000 --> 00:35:46.440 The faithful love of the Lord 00:35:46.440 --> 00:35:47.320 never ends. 00:35:47.699 --> 00:35:49.460 His mercies never cease. 00:35:49.980 --> 00:35:51.500 Great is his faithfulness. 00:35:51.739 --> 00:35:53.539 And no matter what season of life 00:35:53.539 --> 00:35:54.000 you're in, 00:35:54.079 --> 00:35:56.500 his mercies begin afresh 00:35:56.500 --> 00:35:57.980 every morning. 00:35:57.980 --> 00:36:00.659 This is what Solomon 00:36:00.659 --> 00:36:01.800 is teaching us 00:36:01.800 --> 00:36:03.400 in Ecclesiastes 3. 00:36:04.340 --> 00:36:05.880 So what's our takeaway from that? 00:36:06.740 --> 00:36:07.480 There's peace 00:36:07.480 --> 00:36:09.380 in being present 00:36:09.380 --> 00:36:11.000 in his presence. 00:36:14.519 --> 00:36:15.760 There's peace 00:36:15.760 --> 00:36:19.360 in just being present 00:36:19.360 --> 00:36:21.159 in the presence of God. 00:36:22.679 --> 00:36:23.740 You ever heard somebody say, 00:36:24.099 --> 00:36:25.000 just be more present. 00:36:25.860 --> 00:36:27.420 Be all in where you are. 00:36:27.980 --> 00:36:31.099 Sometimes that's hard. 00:36:31.820 --> 00:36:33.039 Because where you are 00:36:33.039 --> 00:36:33.740 is no fun. 00:36:34.639 --> 00:36:36.000 Because it's a struggle. 00:36:36.440 --> 00:36:37.559 I don't want to be present 00:36:37.559 --> 00:36:38.079 right here. 00:36:38.420 --> 00:36:39.519 What you can be 00:36:39.519 --> 00:36:41.240 is present 00:36:41.240 --> 00:36:42.599 in God's presence. 00:36:43.360 --> 00:36:45.079 Because he's there with you. 00:36:46.079 --> 00:36:47.659 When people come up against you, 00:36:48.199 --> 00:36:49.059 he's still present. 00:36:49.480 --> 00:36:50.240 You can be present 00:36:50.240 --> 00:36:51.000 in his presence. 00:36:51.860 --> 00:36:53.920 When people say things about you, 00:36:54.119 --> 00:36:55.280 he's still present. 00:36:55.280 --> 00:36:56.400 You can be present 00:36:56.400 --> 00:36:57.880 in his presence. 00:36:58.860 --> 00:37:00.159 When there's joy, 00:37:01.159 --> 00:37:02.440 happiness, 00:37:02.639 --> 00:37:03.139 and victory, 00:37:03.639 --> 00:37:05.500 he's present there. 00:37:06.539 --> 00:37:08.240 And you can stay present 00:37:08.240 --> 00:37:09.619 in his presence 00:37:09.619 --> 00:37:11.579 and not get seduced 00:37:11.579 --> 00:37:12.280 and distracted 00:37:12.280 --> 00:37:13.800 by the good 00:37:13.800 --> 00:37:15.079 happening around you. 00:37:15.079 --> 00:37:17.099 I'm talking about 00:37:17.099 --> 00:37:18.259 never getting too high 00:37:18.259 --> 00:37:20.159 and never getting too low. 00:37:21.659 --> 00:37:23.259 I'm not a perfect example 00:37:23.259 --> 00:37:23.699 of that. 00:37:24.639 --> 00:37:26.019 And probably you aren't either. 00:37:27.340 --> 00:37:28.920 But God is teaching us 00:37:28.920 --> 00:37:30.840 through a wise man 00:37:30.840 --> 00:37:33.380 who lived it all, 00:37:33.739 --> 00:37:34.619 experienced it all, 00:37:35.119 --> 00:37:36.119 and got to the end 00:37:36.119 --> 00:37:36.619 of his life 00:37:36.619 --> 00:37:37.659 and said there's peace 00:37:37.659 --> 00:37:38.940 in being present 00:37:38.940 --> 00:37:40.679 in God's presence. 00:37:40.679 --> 00:37:41.319 So church, 00:37:42.000 --> 00:37:43.199 how do we live 00:37:43.199 --> 00:37:44.259 under the sun? 00:37:46.219 --> 00:37:47.239 One more time, 00:37:47.319 --> 00:37:48.039 how do we live 00:37:48.039 --> 00:37:48.699 under the sun? 00:37:50.299 --> 00:37:51.219 That's what we do. 00:37:51.279 --> 00:37:51.899 Would you bow your heads 00:37:51.899 --> 00:37:52.259 with me? 00:37:52.739 --> 00:37:53.019 God, 00:37:53.139 --> 00:37:54.119 let us be present 00:37:54.119 --> 00:37:54.919 in your presence 00:37:54.919 --> 00:37:56.000 right now. 00:37:56.460 --> 00:37:58.019 Let us lift our eyes 00:37:58.019 --> 00:37:59.559 from everything else 00:37:59.559 --> 00:38:00.179 going around 00:38:00.179 --> 00:38:01.500 in our hearts, 00:38:01.759 --> 00:38:03.059 in our minds, 00:38:03.159 --> 00:38:04.259 the attacks that Satan 00:38:04.259 --> 00:38:05.279 gives on our minds, 00:38:05.719 --> 00:38:07.440 the attacks through others, 00:38:07.440 --> 00:38:08.480 through family, 00:38:08.679 --> 00:38:09.240 through friends, 00:38:09.360 --> 00:38:10.440 through people we care about, 00:38:10.639 --> 00:38:11.280 through enemies, 00:38:12.000 --> 00:38:14.000 even through victories, 00:38:14.200 --> 00:38:16.599 even through wealth, 00:38:17.039 --> 00:38:18.220 even through blessings, 00:38:18.579 --> 00:38:20.079 even through answers to prayer. 00:38:20.820 --> 00:38:21.920 Sometimes even that 00:38:21.920 --> 00:38:23.000 can distract us 00:38:23.000 --> 00:38:24.519 from keeping our eyes 00:38:24.519 --> 00:38:25.280 above the sun 00:38:25.280 --> 00:38:25.980 and just letting 00:38:25.980 --> 00:38:27.280 your presence be enough. 00:38:28.059 --> 00:38:28.860 Ground us, 00:38:29.260 --> 00:38:30.119 make us present 00:38:30.119 --> 00:38:32.039 in your presence. 00:38:32.559 --> 00:38:33.200 We'll give you 00:38:33.200 --> 00:38:33.980 the glory for it.