WEBVTT 00:00:00.540 --> 00:00:07.020 Lord, as we come before you, and really come before the scriptures and come before you, 00:00:07.100 --> 00:00:11.720 Lord, I just pray that we will be people that aren't just hearers of the word, but be doers 00:00:11.720 --> 00:00:12.179 of the word. 00:00:12.900 --> 00:00:15.939 Help us all to come under the authority of your scriptures. 00:00:16.679 --> 00:00:19.879 Lord, we thank you that you are not a dead God, you are an alive God. 00:00:20.580 --> 00:00:24.480 And when we crack this book, your scriptures, we come face to face with you. 00:00:24.480 --> 00:00:31.039 Lord, I pray that you will be at work with the Holy Spirit in our lives this morning. 00:00:31.219 --> 00:00:37.859 And if anybody's suffering any attacks from the enemy, Lord, we just ask that you will 00:00:37.859 --> 00:00:40.299 stay the enemy's hand this morning. 00:00:40.719 --> 00:00:42.519 We pray all these things in Jesus' name. 00:00:43.760 --> 00:00:44.280 Amen. 00:00:46.799 --> 00:00:53.640 So, Christine and I, we have begun this process of church planting. 00:00:54.479 --> 00:01:01.640 It's been talked about at Messiah for a few months now about what it would look like to 00:01:01.640 --> 00:01:07.359 discern a couple more congregations that would be associated with church and Messiah, East 00:01:07.359 --> 00:01:08.560 End and West End. 00:01:10.280 --> 00:01:12.179 So, we began this process. 00:01:12.179 --> 00:01:16.000 It's kind of in the infancy stages, and it's a long process. 00:01:17.120 --> 00:01:20.939 There's a lot of stuff that we need to do and go through. 00:01:20.939 --> 00:01:27.819 There are a lot of questionnaires, homework to do, interviews. 00:01:29.299 --> 00:01:31.759 Like, they put us through the rigor. 00:01:32.679 --> 00:01:38.920 And I think a big part of that is because oftentimes, like businesses, not to equate church and business, 00:01:39.340 --> 00:01:42.680 maybe it's not the greatest example, but startups fail. 00:01:42.680 --> 00:01:47.160 And I think it's for a lack of training and just the reality of it. 00:01:47.220 --> 00:01:51.040 All that to say is this whole process is making me anxious. 00:01:51.900 --> 00:01:54.120 It is causing me to have anxiety. 00:01:55.140 --> 00:02:00.400 And it's really bringing up a bunch of junk in my life. 00:02:01.340 --> 00:02:04.740 I am not at peace very much of the time. 00:02:04.840 --> 00:02:08.020 Christine is more kind of resolute, and she's a bit more excited. 00:02:08.020 --> 00:02:09.580 But I'm just like, well, what about this? 00:02:09.900 --> 00:02:10.960 And what about that? 00:02:11.480 --> 00:02:14.640 And it's like the weight of the world sometimes is on my shoulders. 00:02:14.700 --> 00:02:15.460 Not all the time. 00:02:15.660 --> 00:02:17.219 Like, I am excited, believe me. 00:02:17.780 --> 00:02:27.439 But I find that my anxiety has crept up and up and up and up, and my peace has went down and down and down and down. 00:02:27.439 --> 00:02:40.460 And I think a big part of this is because I am ceding control of my life to others that I'm not quite in control of my life. 00:02:40.939 --> 00:02:42.620 And that there are also unknowns. 00:02:42.919 --> 00:02:44.719 We're not sure where this thing's going to be. 00:02:45.280 --> 00:02:50.180 I mean, we're like a month or two into potentially a year and a half type of process. 00:02:50.460 --> 00:02:52.620 So I don't know what's going to go down. 00:02:53.199 --> 00:02:55.819 And a lot of those unknowns are causing me to fret. 00:02:55.819 --> 00:03:00.959 And the times, it's interesting, if you've had situations where you've felt anxious, 00:03:01.840 --> 00:03:08.099 you get a bit of a reprieve, you get a bit of a break, and you feel like a bit of peace comes in. 00:03:08.199 --> 00:03:12.780 But that peace, it seems, at least for me, it's marbled with a bit of anxiety. 00:03:14.079 --> 00:03:17.060 And I'm not sure how it works for you guys. 00:03:17.120 --> 00:03:21.560 But for me, if there's peace marbled with anxiety, it's not really peace, is it? 00:03:21.799 --> 00:03:23.759 You have something going on in the back of your head. 00:03:23.759 --> 00:03:25.280 You can't really be at rest. 00:03:25.819 --> 00:03:30.159 And all of a sudden, anxiety, again, starts to dominate. 00:03:31.519 --> 00:03:36.099 Whatever the situation is, whatever the person is, whatever the issue is, 00:03:36.500 --> 00:03:40.419 anxiety seems to follow to some degree or another. 00:03:40.539 --> 00:03:41.919 It seems almost unavoidable. 00:03:42.519 --> 00:03:45.280 So this summer, we're going through these one-verse sermons. 00:03:45.280 --> 00:03:47.740 Well, really, it's kind of this two verses today. 00:03:47.919 --> 00:03:55.960 But it's really just one thought, one kind of big, heavy, like, oomph of truth. 00:03:56.439 --> 00:04:01.539 And today is Philippians 4, verses 6 and 7. 00:04:01.719 --> 00:04:03.580 And I've read it before, but I'm going to read it again. 00:04:03.580 --> 00:04:05.500 It says this, 00:04:05.500 --> 00:04:11.800 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and supplication, or prayer and petition, 00:04:13.100 --> 00:04:16.500 with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. 00:04:16.600 --> 00:04:24.080 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 00:04:24.079 --> 00:04:33.079 I grew up, I still remember getting Nintendo for the first time. 00:04:34.219 --> 00:04:36.039 And not long after, I got Nintendo. 00:04:36.319 --> 00:04:40.159 And I'm talking, like, regular Nintendo, not Super Nintendo, not Nintendo 64, 00:04:40.879 --> 00:04:44.079 not PlayStation 4 for you folks that might have that. 00:04:44.099 --> 00:04:47.360 I'm talking original Nintendo, gray box with gray controller. 00:04:47.360 --> 00:04:51.639 And I remember not long after getting that, I got a Game Genie. 00:04:52.060 --> 00:04:56.800 I don't know if anybody here could possibly remember, if they're like a late 80s, early 90s person, 00:04:57.060 --> 00:04:58.199 they remember what a Game Genie is. 00:04:58.220 --> 00:05:02.120 A Game Genie was something that you'd put into your Nintendo, 00:05:02.480 --> 00:05:07.319 and it would give you almost all the cheat codes for almost all the games. 00:05:07.680 --> 00:05:12.080 So, for instance, I was not very good at Super Mario Bros. 3. 00:05:12.639 --> 00:05:14.939 Could only get a few levels in, and then I'd die. 00:05:14.939 --> 00:05:17.020 And I don't remember if there were continues or not. 00:05:17.019 --> 00:05:18.339 But either way, I could never beat that game. 00:05:18.379 --> 00:05:19.699 I put that Game Genie in. 00:05:20.240 --> 00:05:21.699 I hit some codes, whatever. 00:05:22.120 --> 00:05:26.399 I flew through Super Mario Bros. 3, one shot, like, in an hour. 00:05:26.839 --> 00:05:28.459 I beat that game so easily. 00:05:29.439 --> 00:05:31.399 This verse, to me, is like a Game Genie. 00:05:32.439 --> 00:05:33.639 What do I mean by this? 00:05:35.180 --> 00:05:38.039 With all of the difficulties and anxieties of life, 00:05:38.099 --> 00:05:40.319 you're telling me all I need to do is pray, 00:05:40.719 --> 00:05:44.219 and I will have peace that passes all understanding. 00:05:44.220 --> 00:05:49.000 It seems like snake oil to me. 00:05:49.040 --> 00:05:52.480 I'm saying this as somebody who's trained to become a pastor, 00:05:52.960 --> 00:05:55.560 that the Bible is pretty central in my life. 00:05:56.800 --> 00:06:00.520 And I'm just like, on face value, this is snake oil. 00:06:00.660 --> 00:06:01.820 This is like a life hack. 00:06:01.920 --> 00:06:03.340 This is a trick. 00:06:04.140 --> 00:06:07.000 And I say that because life is full of all sorts of things 00:06:07.000 --> 00:06:08.920 that cause tons of anxiety. 00:06:08.920 --> 00:06:12.300 And not just, oh, man, you know, like, 00:06:12.360 --> 00:06:14.680 I'm kind of worried about what we're going to have for dinner tonight. 00:06:14.780 --> 00:06:16.939 No, no, I'm talking deep-down anxieties, 00:06:18.140 --> 00:06:23.319 like pain anxieties, confusion, frustration, anger. 00:06:23.319 --> 00:06:27.740 And on face value, just say, just pray. 00:06:28.439 --> 00:06:29.860 It'll be okay, right? 00:06:29.959 --> 00:06:34.699 Like, no, it won't be okay on face value. 00:06:35.439 --> 00:06:39.740 This verse is not telling us to be anxious, 00:06:40.219 --> 00:06:41.740 not to be anxious, 00:06:41.740 --> 00:06:44.539 but if you become anxious here and there, that's okay. 00:06:44.620 --> 00:06:46.219 Or it doesn't say, you know, life is kind of, 00:06:46.939 --> 00:06:48.600 it's full of anxieties, 00:06:48.600 --> 00:06:52.700 but, you know, try your best to avoid them. 00:06:52.939 --> 00:06:56.040 Or, listen, it's okay, you're only human. 00:06:57.100 --> 00:06:58.100 That's not what it's saying. 00:06:58.160 --> 00:07:00.420 It's saying be anxious about nothing. 00:07:01.780 --> 00:07:03.320 Now, there's some verses in the Bible 00:07:03.320 --> 00:07:05.080 that are not to be taken literally. 00:07:06.080 --> 00:07:06.920 What do I have here? 00:07:06.980 --> 00:07:12.660 Isaiah 64 says that we are clay and God is the potter. 00:07:14.480 --> 00:07:15.900 FYI, you don't take that seriously. 00:07:16.040 --> 00:07:17.180 We're not clay, right? 00:07:17.180 --> 00:07:19.120 We're not literally, we take it seriously, 00:07:19.220 --> 00:07:20.340 but we're not, we don't take it literally. 00:07:20.439 --> 00:07:21.079 We're not clay. 00:07:21.780 --> 00:07:23.879 In Mark chapter eight, Jesus says, 00:07:24.079 --> 00:07:26.480 if you, if your hand or your foot or your eye 00:07:26.480 --> 00:07:29.740 causes you to sin, lop it off or gouge it out. 00:07:29.920 --> 00:07:32.960 Jesus isn't just FYI saying, 00:07:33.079 --> 00:07:36.319 if you sin, you have to lop off a part of your body. 00:07:36.920 --> 00:07:38.120 It's hyperbolic. 00:07:38.280 --> 00:07:39.079 It's hyperbole. 00:07:39.139 --> 00:07:40.519 It's to get the point across. 00:07:42.579 --> 00:07:45.220 This is a literal verse. 00:07:45.220 --> 00:07:47.180 It is to be taken literally. 00:07:48.620 --> 00:07:52.880 Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount, Matthew six, 00:07:53.500 --> 00:07:56.800 if you have a pen and paper, write it down 24 to 34. 00:07:57.400 --> 00:07:59.140 I'm not going to read it, but Jesus here, 00:07:59.260 --> 00:08:01.260 these are the same words that Jesus says. 00:08:02.080 --> 00:08:04.380 He says, don't be anxious about where you will go 00:08:04.380 --> 00:08:06.360 or what you will eat or what you will wear. 00:08:06.540 --> 00:08:07.740 The cares of this life. 00:08:07.740 --> 00:08:11.639 If God will feed the birds, won't he feed you? 00:08:11.780 --> 00:08:15.160 If he clothes the grass who's here today and gone tomorrow, 00:08:15.259 --> 00:08:17.040 won't he clothe you? 00:08:18.900 --> 00:08:20.600 Don't be anxious about anything. 00:08:21.019 --> 00:08:23.199 It's this, this verse is to be taken literally. 00:08:23.400 --> 00:08:25.180 Don't be anxious about anything. 00:08:26.519 --> 00:08:28.579 So if then we aren't to be anxious, 00:08:29.220 --> 00:08:30.800 what are we to be like? 00:08:30.840 --> 00:08:33.259 How do we deal with this anxiety? 00:08:33.259 --> 00:08:37.059 Because the world is full of different things that cause anxiety. 00:08:37.379 --> 00:08:39.179 Are we to be detached people? 00:08:39.740 --> 00:08:41.720 Are we to find our inner self? 00:08:42.919 --> 00:08:46.740 Are we to become one with the universe 00:08:46.740 --> 00:08:51.580 or have this zen-like state where we are at peace no matter what? 00:08:52.059 --> 00:08:55.740 There's an episode of Seinfeld where Kramer, 00:08:55.980 --> 00:08:57.460 he started saying serenity now. 00:08:58.080 --> 00:08:59.559 I don't know if you guys remember this episode, 00:08:59.559 --> 00:09:01.379 but Kramer, he just decided, 00:09:01.579 --> 00:09:03.539 I'm not going to be anxious anymore. 00:09:03.779 --> 00:09:04.839 So whenever something came, 00:09:04.899 --> 00:09:06.939 he just said serenity now, like that. 00:09:07.139 --> 00:09:09.139 And eventually at the end of the episode, 00:09:09.699 --> 00:09:11.199 he's a basket case. 00:09:11.299 --> 00:09:12.559 He just serenity now, serenity now. 00:09:12.659 --> 00:09:13.519 Like he's freaking out. 00:09:13.579 --> 00:09:14.699 I don't know if you guys ever seen that. 00:09:14.899 --> 00:09:18.139 That's not what the scriptures are telling us to do. 00:09:18.919 --> 00:09:21.459 The scriptures are telling us actually to pray. 00:09:23.599 --> 00:09:26.139 That is what we are supposed to do when we are anxious. 00:09:26.139 --> 00:09:29.059 We are to be people who pray. 00:09:30.000 --> 00:09:32.639 And here there's two different ways of prayer. 00:09:33.720 --> 00:09:35.379 In verse 6, it says, 00:09:37.840 --> 00:09:41.899 in everything by prayer and petition or supplication. 00:09:41.960 --> 00:09:42.879 The first one is prayer. 00:09:43.139 --> 00:09:46.139 This is like everyday type of prayers. 00:09:46.259 --> 00:09:47.199 You wake up in the morning, 00:09:48.059 --> 00:09:49.379 you thank God for the day, 00:09:49.480 --> 00:09:50.539 you thank God for your breakfast, 00:09:50.720 --> 00:09:51.779 you pray for your family, 00:09:51.919 --> 00:09:52.819 you pray for your work, 00:09:52.899 --> 00:09:55.019 you pray before you get in the car to drive. 00:09:55.019 --> 00:09:57.139 It's kind of these ongoing daily prayers. 00:09:57.860 --> 00:10:00.559 And these petitions are very specific prayers. 00:10:01.220 --> 00:10:04.419 It's like if you need a breakthrough in something, 00:10:04.519 --> 00:10:06.199 or if somebody's sick and you're just praying 00:10:06.199 --> 00:10:07.139 that they'll get better, 00:10:07.259 --> 00:10:09.299 or maybe you have a loved one who doesn't know the Lord, 00:10:09.340 --> 00:10:11.000 and you're just praying that they'll come to faith. 00:10:11.399 --> 00:10:13.259 There is just something that you just need 00:10:13.259 --> 00:10:15.779 a specific answer to prayer. 00:10:15.879 --> 00:10:17.279 And it's like taking an ax 00:10:17.279 --> 00:10:19.419 and just doing the same thing, 00:10:19.480 --> 00:10:21.059 the same motion, the same prayer, 00:10:21.299 --> 00:10:22.799 until that tree falls over. 00:10:22.799 --> 00:10:24.199 That's the idea of a petition. 00:10:27.759 --> 00:10:29.759 So it's these two things, 00:10:29.899 --> 00:10:33.620 these ongoing and the specific type of prayer. 00:10:34.559 --> 00:10:39.120 And this will help us to be anxious about nothing. 00:10:39.979 --> 00:10:41.299 I'm going to go back to this idea. 00:10:42.039 --> 00:10:44.819 Can we really be anxious about nothing? 00:10:45.279 --> 00:10:47.679 I think it is important to talk about what anxiety is 00:10:47.679 --> 00:10:48.500 just really briefly, 00:10:48.500 --> 00:10:50.759 so that we will have a better idea 00:10:50.759 --> 00:10:52.980 of how to pray in a specific manner. 00:10:53.659 --> 00:10:54.759 And I'll be honest with you, 00:10:54.799 --> 00:10:58.039 I feel anxious in talking about anxiety. 00:10:59.100 --> 00:11:00.139 And I do because 00:11:00.139 --> 00:11:03.000 some of you guys have gone through the ringer. 00:11:03.279 --> 00:11:05.120 Like we've been here for only a year now, 00:11:05.259 --> 00:11:06.779 and I've got to know some of you guys. 00:11:07.460 --> 00:11:08.500 And the people that I don't, 00:11:08.559 --> 00:11:09.960 I just assume you've gone through the ringer, 00:11:10.039 --> 00:11:10.879 because life is tough. 00:11:10.879 --> 00:11:12.899 And what I don't want to do 00:11:12.899 --> 00:11:14.600 is stand up here 00:11:14.600 --> 00:11:16.519 and say something really trite. 00:11:17.000 --> 00:11:17.539 And say, 00:11:17.620 --> 00:11:18.860 yeah, you just need to pray. 00:11:19.220 --> 00:11:21.340 Like, prayer solves everything, you know? 00:11:21.580 --> 00:11:22.779 I remember there used to be 00:11:22.779 --> 00:11:24.720 little, at the camp I worked at 00:11:24.720 --> 00:11:25.179 when I was younger, 00:11:25.320 --> 00:11:27.139 a lot of kids had these little 00:11:27.139 --> 00:11:30.220 bracelets, 00:11:30.539 --> 00:11:32.439 and they had an acronym that said 00:11:32.439 --> 00:11:33.740 P-U-S-H, push. 00:11:33.840 --> 00:11:35.500 And it was pray until something happens. 00:11:35.500 --> 00:11:37.399 And it seems trite. 00:11:38.340 --> 00:11:40.419 That's what you'd put on a coffee mug. 00:11:41.919 --> 00:11:43.500 And that, I think, would be a bit insensitive, 00:11:43.620 --> 00:11:45.480 because there's a real pain 00:11:45.480 --> 00:11:47.779 that has been experienced here. 00:11:48.740 --> 00:11:50.639 Ongoing pain for years. 00:11:54.279 --> 00:11:57.019 I'm not, by any means, 00:11:57.100 --> 00:11:59.919 an expert on how the human brain functions, 00:12:00.620 --> 00:12:03.220 or the, I couldn't provide you 00:12:03.220 --> 00:12:04.560 with an exhaustive list 00:12:04.560 --> 00:12:07.100 of the things that cause anxiety. 00:12:07.740 --> 00:12:09.040 I'm sure you guys could come up 00:12:09.040 --> 00:12:09.820 with a better list 00:12:09.820 --> 00:12:11.220 than I would give. 00:12:12.160 --> 00:12:13.600 But I just want to put this 00:12:13.600 --> 00:12:15.240 forward to you guys to consider. 00:12:15.500 --> 00:12:16.920 It might seem a bit shocking. 00:12:17.040 --> 00:12:17.860 We'll continue on. 00:12:18.940 --> 00:12:20.600 But I want to say to you 00:12:20.600 --> 00:12:23.600 that I think the real reason 00:12:23.600 --> 00:12:25.240 that we have anxiety 00:12:25.240 --> 00:12:26.500 and a lack of peace 00:12:26.500 --> 00:12:28.899 is because we have an innate, 00:12:29.279 --> 00:12:32.080 an innate distrust of God. 00:12:33.220 --> 00:12:36.740 That, when I'm preparing this, 00:12:36.800 --> 00:12:37.220 I'm just like, 00:12:37.320 --> 00:12:38.000 if I say that, 00:12:38.040 --> 00:12:39.000 that's like kicking somebody 00:12:39.000 --> 00:12:39.700 when they're down. 00:12:40.300 --> 00:12:40.700 It's like, oh, 00:12:40.720 --> 00:12:41.620 they're going through anxiety. 00:12:41.720 --> 00:12:43.200 Yeah, you didn't trust God enough. 00:12:43.519 --> 00:12:44.540 That's not what I'm saying, 00:12:44.660 --> 00:12:45.180 by the way. 00:12:45.740 --> 00:12:47.300 But I'm actually kind of saying it. 00:12:47.540 --> 00:12:48.379 But just not in a 00:12:48.379 --> 00:12:50.080 kick you when you're down type of way. 00:12:52.120 --> 00:12:53.560 That we have anxiety 00:12:53.560 --> 00:12:54.500 and a lack of peace 00:12:54.500 --> 00:12:55.759 because we have 00:12:55.759 --> 00:12:58.080 an innate distrust 00:12:58.080 --> 00:12:59.399 in God. 00:13:00.000 --> 00:13:01.160 And what do I mean by that? 00:13:01.159 --> 00:13:02.799 I think a lot of us 00:13:02.799 --> 00:13:03.199 aren't saying, 00:13:03.500 --> 00:13:04.399 God, I don't trust you. 00:13:04.439 --> 00:13:05.039 I think a lot of us 00:13:05.039 --> 00:13:05.959 are trying to trust God. 00:13:06.059 --> 00:13:08.399 But when situations arise 00:13:08.399 --> 00:13:10.199 or when difficulty comes, 00:13:10.980 --> 00:13:12.179 we don't trust God 00:13:12.179 --> 00:13:14.959 to solve these issues 00:13:14.959 --> 00:13:15.980 and to bring us forward 00:13:15.980 --> 00:13:16.480 through it. 00:13:16.620 --> 00:13:18.659 And we either don't believe 00:13:18.659 --> 00:13:19.919 God truly is good 00:13:19.919 --> 00:13:22.100 or that he doesn't really care 00:13:22.100 --> 00:13:23.699 or that he isn't capable 00:13:23.699 --> 00:13:25.919 of helping us. 00:13:25.919 --> 00:13:29.519 We struggle as people 00:13:29.519 --> 00:13:30.399 to trust people 00:13:30.399 --> 00:13:31.279 that we can see. 00:13:33.779 --> 00:13:35.000 God, we don't see. 00:13:35.939 --> 00:13:38.059 And it's hard to trust God 00:13:38.059 --> 00:13:39.500 when we don't see him. 00:13:41.379 --> 00:13:42.939 We have trust issues. 00:13:43.699 --> 00:13:45.240 I have trust issues. 00:13:48.299 --> 00:13:49.819 Going back to verse 6 00:13:49.819 --> 00:13:51.599 after the Apostle Paul 00:13:51.599 --> 00:13:52.559 tells us to pray, 00:13:52.559 --> 00:13:54.819 he says we aren't just to pray, 00:13:54.919 --> 00:13:55.859 but we are to pray 00:13:55.859 --> 00:13:56.939 with thanksgiving. 00:13:57.779 --> 00:13:59.019 It says verse 6, 00:13:59.899 --> 00:14:01.559 the second part of it, 00:14:03.019 --> 00:14:03.679 but in everything 00:14:03.679 --> 00:14:04.979 by prayer and supplication, 00:14:05.079 --> 00:14:06.239 with thanksgiving, 00:14:06.500 --> 00:14:07.419 let your requests 00:14:07.419 --> 00:14:08.679 be made known to God. 00:14:09.000 --> 00:14:09.359 Thanksgiving. 00:14:10.219 --> 00:14:11.779 That's kind of a hard thing to do. 00:14:12.159 --> 00:14:13.000 I can pray a lot, 00:14:13.059 --> 00:14:14.399 but how can I be thankful to God? 00:14:14.419 --> 00:14:15.039 And what does it mean 00:14:15.039 --> 00:14:16.500 to be thankful to God? 00:14:16.519 --> 00:14:17.219 And I think it means 00:14:17.219 --> 00:14:18.619 recalling God's goodness 00:14:18.619 --> 00:14:20.079 and his mercy in our lives. 00:14:20.080 --> 00:14:23.280 Remembering that he is loving 00:14:23.280 --> 00:14:23.900 and kind, 00:14:24.280 --> 00:14:25.520 recalling his attributes. 00:14:26.520 --> 00:14:27.520 And this is tough 00:14:27.520 --> 00:14:28.639 when we are people 00:14:28.639 --> 00:14:30.540 that distrust 00:14:30.540 --> 00:14:32.460 and especially distrust God. 00:14:33.920 --> 00:14:35.040 But that's what the scriptures 00:14:35.040 --> 00:14:35.740 tell us. 00:14:36.879 --> 00:14:37.280 Nevertheless, 00:14:37.520 --> 00:14:38.520 this is what we are to do. 00:14:38.639 --> 00:14:39.280 And I'm going to get back 00:14:39.280 --> 00:14:39.920 to this in a minute, 00:14:40.020 --> 00:14:41.139 but let's continue on 00:14:41.139 --> 00:14:44.140 in our passage this morning. 00:14:44.320 --> 00:14:45.920 So verse 7 says, 00:14:45.919 --> 00:14:47.399 The peace of God 00:14:47.399 --> 00:14:49.159 that passes all understanding 00:14:49.159 --> 00:14:50.860 will guard our hearts 00:14:50.860 --> 00:14:51.599 and our minds 00:14:51.599 --> 00:14:52.939 in Christ Jesus. 00:14:55.500 --> 00:14:56.979 Almost always, 00:14:57.879 --> 00:14:59.059 peace comes 00:14:59.059 --> 00:15:00.919 because of understanding. 00:15:03.120 --> 00:15:04.219 My folks are here 00:15:04.219 --> 00:15:04.919 and they'll get a kick 00:15:04.919 --> 00:15:06.019 out of me using this. 00:15:06.479 --> 00:15:07.319 And I prepared this 00:15:07.319 --> 00:15:07.899 before I knew 00:15:07.899 --> 00:15:08.500 they were going to come, 00:15:08.620 --> 00:15:09.719 but when my brother 00:15:09.719 --> 00:15:10.439 and I were younger, 00:15:10.959 --> 00:15:12.000 we'd have a curfew 00:15:12.000 --> 00:15:13.179 for midnight. 00:15:13.179 --> 00:15:14.799 And we live in a small town 00:15:14.799 --> 00:15:16.319 and we go to house parties 00:15:16.319 --> 00:15:17.139 or field parties 00:15:17.139 --> 00:15:18.539 and we wouldn't come home 00:15:18.539 --> 00:15:19.120 at midnight. 00:15:19.359 --> 00:15:20.299 We'd come home much later. 00:15:20.379 --> 00:15:20.739 And I just, 00:15:21.299 --> 00:15:21.500 you know, 00:15:21.539 --> 00:15:22.679 I'm a grown man, 00:15:22.779 --> 00:15:23.059 you know, 00:15:23.099 --> 00:15:24.219 like as a 15-year-old 00:15:24.219 --> 00:15:25.459 that eats all my parents' food 00:15:25.459 --> 00:15:26.539 and doesn't pay any bills 00:15:26.539 --> 00:15:28.219 and like just 00:15:28.219 --> 00:15:29.479 is completely irresponsible. 00:15:29.559 --> 00:15:30.159 But I'm a man, 00:15:30.219 --> 00:15:30.419 you know. 00:15:30.899 --> 00:15:31.500 And my parents 00:15:31.500 --> 00:15:32.259 would always be up. 00:15:32.319 --> 00:15:33.599 They would always be awake 00:15:33.599 --> 00:15:34.419 when we come home. 00:15:34.620 --> 00:15:35.699 And it would frustrate me. 00:15:35.719 --> 00:15:36.639 And I remember them saying 00:15:36.639 --> 00:15:37.479 something you'll understand 00:15:37.479 --> 00:15:38.179 when you have kids, 00:15:39.079 --> 00:15:40.620 that we can't rest 00:15:40.620 --> 00:15:41.379 until you're home, 00:15:41.479 --> 00:15:42.159 that we know 00:15:42.159 --> 00:15:43.120 that your home's 00:15:43.120 --> 00:15:44.339 safe and sound. 00:15:46.279 --> 00:15:47.719 My parents' peace 00:15:47.719 --> 00:15:49.319 and all parents' peace, 00:15:50.439 --> 00:15:51.639 they couldn't have that peace 00:15:51.639 --> 00:15:53.019 unless they understood 00:15:53.019 --> 00:15:55.000 their children were safe. 00:15:55.879 --> 00:15:57.419 Peace follows understanding. 00:15:58.959 --> 00:15:59.480 And that's kind of 00:15:59.480 --> 00:16:00.379 a funny example, 00:16:00.539 --> 00:16:01.679 but how about people 00:16:01.679 --> 00:16:02.699 that have gone through 00:16:02.699 --> 00:16:03.159 a tragedy 00:16:03.159 --> 00:16:05.360 and they don't really know why? 00:16:07.000 --> 00:16:08.199 They've lost somebody. 00:16:08.200 --> 00:16:12.680 They're in a situation 00:16:12.680 --> 00:16:14.000 where maybe they get a disease 00:16:14.000 --> 00:16:15.120 and they don't know what's up 00:16:15.120 --> 00:16:16.640 or their business fails 00:16:16.640 --> 00:16:17.900 or their marriage fails 00:16:17.900 --> 00:16:19.259 or their children, 00:16:19.780 --> 00:16:20.800 something happens with them 00:16:20.800 --> 00:16:22.100 and they don't know why. 00:16:24.379 --> 00:16:26.480 That can cause a lot of anxiety 00:16:26.480 --> 00:16:28.220 and peace is robbed 00:16:28.220 --> 00:16:30.560 and frustration and anger, 00:16:30.800 --> 00:16:31.820 all of this stuff 00:16:31.820 --> 00:16:33.540 kind of wells up. 00:16:33.539 --> 00:16:36.299 And you can become jaded 00:16:36.299 --> 00:16:38.439 or you can become 00:16:38.439 --> 00:16:40.579 just so cynical with life 00:16:40.579 --> 00:16:42.259 or you can curse God. 00:16:42.919 --> 00:16:44.779 You don't know the reason why. 00:16:46.059 --> 00:16:47.879 This scripture is telling us, 00:16:48.179 --> 00:16:49.899 hey, there's going to be peace 00:16:49.899 --> 00:16:51.919 that transcends understanding. 00:16:52.759 --> 00:16:54.519 So a peace that exists 00:16:54.519 --> 00:16:56.500 where understanding does not, 00:16:57.159 --> 00:16:59.219 that does not compute 00:16:59.220 --> 00:17:01.560 very well with me. 00:17:02.660 --> 00:17:04.740 I like to know the reason why 00:17:04.740 --> 00:17:06.839 and only then I can be at peace 00:17:06.839 --> 00:17:07.700 with the situation. 00:17:08.600 --> 00:17:09.620 If you're a student 00:17:09.620 --> 00:17:10.980 and you bomb a test, 00:17:11.100 --> 00:17:13.120 well, maybe you want to know 00:17:13.120 --> 00:17:14.140 the reason why, 00:17:14.380 --> 00:17:18.299 which answers you didn't have right 00:17:18.299 --> 00:17:19.160 and then you can go back 00:17:19.160 --> 00:17:19.759 and relearn. 00:17:19.880 --> 00:17:20.819 The whole point is 00:17:20.819 --> 00:17:22.839 peace comes with understanding. 00:17:22.940 --> 00:17:23.960 The scripture here says 00:17:23.960 --> 00:17:25.180 peace will come 00:17:25.180 --> 00:17:27.240 and it will exist 00:17:27.240 --> 00:17:29.299 where understanding does not. 00:17:29.539 --> 00:17:31.720 A peace that surpasses 00:17:31.720 --> 00:17:34.400 or transcends understanding. 00:17:36.640 --> 00:17:38.220 And this peace is said 00:17:38.220 --> 00:17:39.460 to guard our hearts 00:17:39.460 --> 00:17:40.099 and our minds. 00:17:41.000 --> 00:17:41.880 So this peace 00:17:41.880 --> 00:17:44.079 isn't this passive peace, 00:17:44.799 --> 00:17:46.480 isn't the serenity now 00:17:46.480 --> 00:17:47.940 Kramer type of peace. 00:17:48.019 --> 00:17:50.120 It's not a peace 00:17:50.120 --> 00:17:53.019 that is delusional 00:17:53.019 --> 00:17:54.759 about the ups and downs of life. 00:17:55.319 --> 00:17:56.859 It's a peace that is active. 00:17:57.240 --> 00:17:59.099 And Paul talks about this peace 00:17:59.099 --> 00:18:01.359 and almost personifies it, 00:18:01.420 --> 00:18:02.579 making it like a guard 00:18:02.579 --> 00:18:03.559 or a sentry 00:18:03.559 --> 00:18:06.299 that is watching over a city 00:18:06.299 --> 00:18:08.640 or that is in an outpost 00:18:08.640 --> 00:18:10.339 looking for the enemy advance. 00:18:10.859 --> 00:18:12.220 And when that enemy comes, 00:18:13.359 --> 00:18:15.039 the alarm is sounded 00:18:15.039 --> 00:18:17.240 and that advance, 00:18:17.299 --> 00:18:18.039 that enemy advance 00:18:18.039 --> 00:18:19.599 is pushed back. 00:18:20.519 --> 00:18:22.579 This is what this peace 00:18:22.579 --> 00:18:23.519 is supposed to look like. 00:18:23.559 --> 00:18:24.640 This is what Paul is saying 00:18:24.640 --> 00:18:26.500 saying to us this morning 00:18:26.500 --> 00:18:28.400 about what this peace will do. 00:18:28.460 --> 00:18:29.840 It will guard our hearts 00:18:29.840 --> 00:18:31.120 and our minds. 00:18:33.960 --> 00:18:35.400 And this whole peace, 00:18:35.500 --> 00:18:35.980 it says, 00:18:36.100 --> 00:18:37.380 it finishes off in verse 7, 00:18:38.280 --> 00:18:39.700 that it's in Christ Jesus. 00:18:39.820 --> 00:18:41.460 So it's not just that 00:18:41.460 --> 00:18:43.700 this is the peace of God, 00:18:43.740 --> 00:18:44.700 but it's actually the peace 00:18:44.700 --> 00:18:45.680 from God 00:18:45.680 --> 00:18:47.860 that he gives it to us. 00:18:47.859 --> 00:18:52.519 The key to all of this 00:18:52.519 --> 00:18:54.979 is what Paul says 00:18:54.979 --> 00:18:56.659 in verse 6, 00:18:56.779 --> 00:18:57.639 to be thankful. 00:18:57.819 --> 00:18:58.519 And he really, 00:18:58.679 --> 00:19:00.339 he hammers this idea home 00:19:00.339 --> 00:19:01.539 a couple verses ahead 00:19:01.539 --> 00:19:03.099 in verse 4, 00:19:03.319 --> 00:19:04.159 where he says, 00:19:04.399 --> 00:19:05.479 rejoice again, 00:19:05.599 --> 00:19:06.719 I say rejoice. 00:19:06.720 --> 00:19:11.019 How can we rejoice 00:19:11.019 --> 00:19:13.500 when we've gone through tragedy? 00:19:14.100 --> 00:19:15.400 How can we rejoice 00:19:15.400 --> 00:19:17.120 if we've gone through divorce? 00:19:17.640 --> 00:19:19.799 How can we rejoice 00:19:19.799 --> 00:19:21.539 if we have suffered? 00:19:23.500 --> 00:19:25.200 Or people overlook us? 00:19:25.339 --> 00:19:27.259 Or we are desperately lonely? 00:19:27.380 --> 00:19:28.200 How can we rejoice? 00:19:30.799 --> 00:19:32.420 In all of these things, 00:19:32.420 --> 00:19:35.740 we are dealing 00:19:35.740 --> 00:19:37.160 with a small sliver 00:19:37.160 --> 00:19:38.360 of reality. 00:19:39.080 --> 00:19:39.880 And I'm just going to 00:19:39.880 --> 00:19:40.680 pause really quickly 00:19:40.680 --> 00:19:41.560 because I don't want to say 00:19:41.560 --> 00:19:42.680 something trite again. 00:19:44.120 --> 00:19:45.860 What we see in this life 00:19:45.860 --> 00:19:47.120 is our small sliver 00:19:47.120 --> 00:19:47.740 of reality. 00:19:48.180 --> 00:19:50.160 But it is our sliver 00:19:50.160 --> 00:19:50.840 of reality. 00:19:51.759 --> 00:19:53.279 It matters to us. 00:19:53.700 --> 00:19:55.180 And for all that we know, 00:19:55.300 --> 00:19:56.420 this is reality. 00:19:57.039 --> 00:19:58.480 But it's just a sliver of it. 00:19:58.560 --> 00:19:59.740 My sliver of reality, 00:20:00.140 --> 00:20:01.360 apart from the whole 00:20:01.359 --> 00:20:03.219 church planning stuff, 00:20:03.759 --> 00:20:05.919 it's my wife and my daughter. 00:20:06.019 --> 00:20:07.159 That is my reality. 00:20:07.519 --> 00:20:08.219 There's not much 00:20:08.219 --> 00:20:10.339 that really exists 00:20:10.339 --> 00:20:11.179 outside of that. 00:20:11.240 --> 00:20:12.259 That is my reality. 00:20:12.599 --> 00:20:13.240 And you guys have 00:20:13.240 --> 00:20:14.319 your own sliver of reality 00:20:14.319 --> 00:20:15.279 and you hold it dear. 00:20:15.839 --> 00:20:17.500 But we are finite people. 00:20:18.719 --> 00:20:20.099 And God is infinite. 00:20:22.179 --> 00:20:23.659 So he sees the beginning 00:20:23.659 --> 00:20:24.479 from the end. 00:20:25.299 --> 00:20:26.719 Our sliver of reality 00:20:26.719 --> 00:20:27.599 fits in that, 00:20:27.959 --> 00:20:28.819 but it is not 00:20:28.819 --> 00:20:30.419 the beginning and the end. 00:20:31.359 --> 00:20:33.859 So it's not to downplay 00:20:33.859 --> 00:20:34.599 any of the things 00:20:34.599 --> 00:20:35.559 that we've gone through 00:20:35.559 --> 00:20:36.240 at all 00:20:36.240 --> 00:20:38.000 or that we are going through, 00:20:38.079 --> 00:20:38.779 but it's to recognize 00:20:38.779 --> 00:20:40.139 that God is actually 00:20:40.139 --> 00:20:41.179 bigger than everything. 00:20:42.919 --> 00:20:44.419 So I'm not trying to be, 00:20:44.419 --> 00:20:46.059 again, 00:20:46.759 --> 00:20:48.419 trite or quaint, 00:20:49.139 --> 00:20:51.339 but God is actually 00:20:51.339 --> 00:20:52.259 in control. 00:20:52.259 --> 00:20:55.759 the scriptures, 00:20:56.759 --> 00:20:59.000 when Paul says 00:20:59.000 --> 00:21:00.160 for us to rejoice, 00:21:01.019 --> 00:21:02.160 and when he says rejoice, 00:21:02.279 --> 00:21:02.460 I mean, 00:21:02.539 --> 00:21:03.720 this is a theme 00:21:03.720 --> 00:21:04.680 throughout Paul's letters. 00:21:05.240 --> 00:21:05.920 They're not just saying, 00:21:06.019 --> 00:21:06.539 hey guys, 00:21:07.119 --> 00:21:08.059 sing a tune, 00:21:08.619 --> 00:21:09.400 be happy. 00:21:10.000 --> 00:21:11.240 But this rejoicing 00:21:11.240 --> 00:21:13.500 is a call for the church, 00:21:13.879 --> 00:21:14.619 for us, 00:21:14.819 --> 00:21:16.460 to put our faith 00:21:16.460 --> 00:21:17.059 and trust 00:21:17.059 --> 00:21:18.140 and hope in God, 00:21:18.559 --> 00:21:20.079 whether we feel like it 00:21:20.079 --> 00:21:20.579 or not, 00:21:21.539 --> 00:21:23.139 whether it comes across 00:21:23.139 --> 00:21:24.359 easy or not, 00:21:24.899 --> 00:21:27.179 that when the scriptures 00:21:27.179 --> 00:21:28.599 talk about God 00:21:28.599 --> 00:21:29.939 being always good 00:21:29.939 --> 00:21:31.099 and always merciful 00:21:31.099 --> 00:21:32.379 and always just, 00:21:33.559 --> 00:21:34.199 that we need to 00:21:34.199 --> 00:21:35.559 believe that. 00:21:36.220 --> 00:21:36.759 And the reality, 00:21:37.159 --> 00:21:37.559 I mean, 00:21:37.579 --> 00:21:38.460 that is the reality. 00:21:38.839 --> 00:21:39.439 Jesus, 00:21:40.399 --> 00:21:41.099 God the Father, 00:21:41.220 --> 00:21:42.319 gave us his son, 00:21:42.480 --> 00:21:43.339 his very son, 00:21:43.419 --> 00:21:44.199 to pay the penalties 00:21:44.199 --> 00:21:45.079 for our death. 00:21:45.079 --> 00:21:47.699 the most prized thing 00:21:47.699 --> 00:21:48.559 in the universe, 00:21:48.819 --> 00:21:50.119 the most prized person 00:21:50.119 --> 00:21:50.879 of the universe 00:21:50.879 --> 00:21:52.460 was given to us. 00:21:55.899 --> 00:21:58.159 Everything below that, 00:21:58.699 --> 00:22:00.059 everything that we need 00:22:00.059 --> 00:22:01.599 is below that. 00:22:01.939 --> 00:22:03.319 And if he gave us his son, 00:22:03.419 --> 00:22:04.720 how won't he give us 00:22:04.720 --> 00:22:05.799 everything else 00:22:05.799 --> 00:22:06.779 that we need? 00:22:07.539 --> 00:22:08.819 When he'll give it? 00:22:08.899 --> 00:22:09.480 Not sure. 00:22:10.099 --> 00:22:11.139 There's no promise here 00:22:11.139 --> 00:22:12.359 of when that peace will come. 00:22:13.119 --> 00:22:14.039 And most certainly, 00:22:14.179 --> 00:22:15.759 there's no promise here 00:22:15.759 --> 00:22:18.479 of the calamity 00:22:18.479 --> 00:22:19.139 or the tragedy 00:22:19.139 --> 00:22:20.219 or whatever it may be 00:22:20.219 --> 00:22:21.099 that has caused us 00:22:21.099 --> 00:22:21.839 to have anxiety. 00:22:22.059 --> 00:22:22.759 There's no promise 00:22:22.759 --> 00:22:23.599 that that'll disappear. 00:22:24.939 --> 00:22:26.459 But if he has given us 00:22:26.459 --> 00:22:27.000 his son, 00:22:28.079 --> 00:22:29.039 then what else 00:22:29.039 --> 00:22:30.019 will he hold back? 00:22:30.079 --> 00:22:30.799 And that's what it says 00:22:30.799 --> 00:22:32.559 in Romans 8.31. 00:22:33.059 --> 00:22:33.879 I encourage you guys 00:22:33.879 --> 00:22:34.259 just to, 00:22:34.659 --> 00:22:36.000 when you are feeling low, 00:22:36.259 --> 00:22:37.659 just feast on Romans 00:22:37.659 --> 00:22:39.039 8.31 and 32. 00:22:39.319 --> 00:22:40.119 Feast on it. 00:22:40.899 --> 00:22:41.919 Read it and read it 00:22:41.920 --> 00:22:42.779 and read it again. 00:22:44.140 --> 00:22:44.960 In the end, 00:22:45.039 --> 00:22:46.060 as believers, 00:22:46.060 --> 00:22:47.120 we can go through 00:22:47.120 --> 00:22:48.340 all sorts of stuff. 00:22:48.900 --> 00:22:50.039 But with God, 00:22:50.100 --> 00:22:51.080 when we're putting our hope 00:22:51.080 --> 00:22:52.060 and trust in him, 00:22:52.820 --> 00:22:54.180 we are praying 00:22:54.180 --> 00:22:55.420 and being thankful 00:22:55.420 --> 00:22:56.039 when we pray, 00:22:56.180 --> 00:22:57.360 recognizing who God is 00:22:57.360 --> 00:22:58.220 and what he has done, 00:22:58.600 --> 00:23:00.779 we will realize 00:23:00.779 --> 00:23:02.180 that whatever goes on 00:23:02.180 --> 00:23:02.900 in the temporal, 00:23:03.200 --> 00:23:04.120 in the here and now, 00:23:04.980 --> 00:23:05.940 will be trumped 00:23:05.940 --> 00:23:06.620 by the eternal. 00:23:07.900 --> 00:23:09.580 That whatever tears we cry, 00:23:09.579 --> 00:23:12.179 whatever anxiety we have, 00:23:12.419 --> 00:23:14.779 whatever pain we suffer 00:23:14.779 --> 00:23:15.619 in the now, 00:23:16.460 --> 00:23:17.740 will not exist 00:23:17.740 --> 00:23:19.179 in the eternal. 00:23:20.299 --> 00:23:21.500 That Jesus has paid 00:23:21.500 --> 00:23:22.659 the penalty for that. 00:23:23.740 --> 00:23:24.460 It doesn't mean, 00:23:24.539 --> 00:23:25.119 like I mentioned, 00:23:25.220 --> 00:23:25.720 that we will be 00:23:26.599 --> 00:23:28.579 free from those things, 00:23:28.619 --> 00:23:29.879 but that we will have 00:23:29.879 --> 00:23:30.659 literally, 00:23:31.379 --> 00:23:31.720 truly, 00:23:31.879 --> 00:23:32.379 a peace 00:23:32.379 --> 00:23:32.980 that passes 00:23:32.980 --> 00:23:33.859 all understanding. 00:23:33.859 --> 00:23:38.039 Psalm 73. 00:23:38.379 --> 00:23:39.279 If you guys want to turn 00:23:39.279 --> 00:23:40.240 to Psalm 73. 00:23:41.579 --> 00:23:42.679 This is a psalm 00:23:42.679 --> 00:23:44.959 by Asaph. 00:23:45.639 --> 00:23:46.859 This is one of the psalms 00:23:46.859 --> 00:23:48.479 that aren't by King David, 00:23:48.519 --> 00:23:49.219 but this is a psalm 00:23:49.219 --> 00:23:50.879 by a man named Asaph, 00:23:50.959 --> 00:23:52.659 and he is pouring out 00:23:52.659 --> 00:23:54.599 his everything to God. 00:23:54.740 --> 00:23:55.759 He is rattled. 00:23:56.599 --> 00:23:57.439 This is a prayer, 00:23:58.139 --> 00:23:59.740 there's anxiety in it. 00:24:00.099 --> 00:24:02.979 If you read verses 1 to 22, 00:24:02.980 --> 00:24:04.620 there is a lot of anxiety 00:24:04.620 --> 00:24:05.079 in this, 00:24:05.140 --> 00:24:06.420 and yet he says this, 00:24:07.039 --> 00:24:08.380 starting in verse 23. 00:24:09.559 --> 00:24:09.960 Nevertheless, 00:24:10.400 --> 00:24:11.920 I am continually with you. 00:24:12.539 --> 00:24:14.299 You hold my right hand. 00:24:14.920 --> 00:24:15.700 You guide me 00:24:15.700 --> 00:24:16.579 with your counsel, 00:24:16.920 --> 00:24:17.759 and afterward 00:24:17.759 --> 00:24:19.000 you will receive me 00:24:19.000 --> 00:24:19.579 to glory. 00:24:20.759 --> 00:24:21.599 Whom have I 00:24:21.599 --> 00:24:22.480 in heaven but you? 00:24:24.180 --> 00:24:25.160 There is nothing 00:24:25.160 --> 00:24:25.860 on earth 00:24:25.860 --> 00:24:26.920 that I desire 00:24:26.920 --> 00:24:27.660 besides you. 00:24:28.079 --> 00:24:28.720 My flesh 00:24:28.720 --> 00:24:29.319 and my heart 00:24:29.319 --> 00:24:29.759 may fail, 00:24:29.839 --> 00:24:30.360 but God 00:24:30.360 --> 00:24:31.759 is the strength 00:24:31.759 --> 00:24:32.380 of my heart 00:24:32.380 --> 00:24:33.080 and my portion 00:24:33.080 --> 00:24:33.520 forever. 00:24:34.260 --> 00:24:35.160 That's not saying 00:24:35.160 --> 00:24:36.360 I am rescued from it. 00:24:36.480 --> 00:24:37.680 It says everything 00:24:37.680 --> 00:24:38.820 can crumble, 00:24:39.400 --> 00:24:40.580 but God, 00:24:40.660 --> 00:24:41.380 you are the portion 00:24:41.380 --> 00:24:41.980 of my life. 00:24:42.660 --> 00:24:43.360 And if you've gone 00:24:43.360 --> 00:24:44.040 through stuff 00:24:44.040 --> 00:24:45.180 and you know 00:24:45.180 --> 00:24:46.000 that God has, 00:24:46.260 --> 00:24:47.220 he is there for you 00:24:47.220 --> 00:24:47.980 and he has carried 00:24:47.980 --> 00:24:48.600 you through it, 00:24:48.880 --> 00:24:50.000 this is your prayer. 00:24:50.080 --> 00:24:51.000 These are your words. 00:24:51.660 --> 00:24:52.640 And if you haven't 00:24:52.640 --> 00:24:53.240 gone through that, 00:24:53.320 --> 00:24:54.920 these can be your words. 00:24:56.040 --> 00:24:57.020 That your heart 00:24:57.020 --> 00:24:57.680 and your flesh, 00:24:57.860 --> 00:24:58.720 they may fail, 00:24:59.020 --> 00:24:59.660 but God 00:24:59.660 --> 00:25:00.500 is your portion 00:25:00.500 --> 00:25:01.319 and your strength 00:25:01.319 --> 00:25:01.680 forever. 00:25:02.680 --> 00:25:03.740 What a wonderful 00:25:03.740 --> 00:25:04.299 truth. 00:25:07.960 --> 00:25:08.880 How is all 00:25:08.880 --> 00:25:09.640 of this stuff 00:25:09.640 --> 00:25:10.420 achieved? 00:25:10.599 --> 00:25:11.519 How is this 00:25:11.519 --> 00:25:12.039 possible? 00:25:13.500 --> 00:25:13.940 Jesus, 00:25:14.480 --> 00:25:14.960 the night 00:25:14.960 --> 00:25:16.059 he was betrayed, 00:25:16.599 --> 00:25:17.660 he went to the 00:25:17.660 --> 00:25:18.880 garden of Gethsemane 00:25:18.880 --> 00:25:20.880 and he was anxious. 00:25:21.259 --> 00:25:22.299 He had anxiety. 00:25:23.579 --> 00:25:25.160 He was pouring 00:25:25.160 --> 00:25:27.039 out his soul 00:25:27.039 --> 00:25:27.920 to the father 00:25:27.920 --> 00:25:28.559 and he said, 00:25:29.700 --> 00:25:30.139 God, 00:25:30.240 --> 00:25:31.099 the son of God 00:25:31.099 --> 00:25:32.519 had anxiety 00:25:32.519 --> 00:25:33.720 and said to the father, 00:25:33.940 --> 00:25:36.099 if it is possible, 00:25:36.220 --> 00:25:36.720 let this cup 00:25:36.720 --> 00:25:37.480 pass from me. 00:25:38.000 --> 00:25:38.440 Meaning, 00:25:38.920 --> 00:25:40.379 if I can find 00:25:40.379 --> 00:25:40.859 another way, 00:25:40.920 --> 00:25:41.440 if you can find 00:25:41.440 --> 00:25:42.180 another way 00:25:42.180 --> 00:25:43.000 that I don't have 00:25:43.000 --> 00:25:43.759 to go to the cross 00:25:43.759 --> 00:25:44.299 of Calvary 00:25:44.299 --> 00:25:45.440 to go through 00:25:45.440 --> 00:25:46.059 all of that, 00:25:46.139 --> 00:25:47.000 then let it be so. 00:25:47.079 --> 00:25:47.440 But he said, 00:25:47.500 --> 00:25:48.480 not my will, 00:25:48.879 --> 00:25:50.359 but yours be done. 00:25:51.420 --> 00:25:52.659 So in the garden, 00:25:52.859 --> 00:25:53.539 Jesus suffers 00:25:53.539 --> 00:25:55.200 unbelievable anxiety. 00:25:55.200 --> 00:25:56.900 He sweats 00:25:56.900 --> 00:25:57.940 drops 00:25:57.940 --> 00:25:58.779 as if they were 00:25:58.779 --> 00:25:59.319 blood. 00:26:00.180 --> 00:26:00.700 He is going 00:26:00.700 --> 00:26:01.360 through so much 00:26:01.360 --> 00:26:01.759 anxiety. 00:26:01.920 --> 00:26:02.140 Why? 00:26:02.319 --> 00:26:02.759 So he could 00:26:02.759 --> 00:26:03.539 bring us peace. 00:26:04.640 --> 00:26:05.600 So it's not just 00:26:05.600 --> 00:26:06.660 peace of God 00:26:06.660 --> 00:26:07.720 or peace from God, 00:26:07.720 --> 00:26:08.319 but it's actually 00:26:08.319 --> 00:26:09.799 peace with God. 00:26:10.620 --> 00:26:11.380 That we were 00:26:11.380 --> 00:26:11.740 sinners, 00:26:11.920 --> 00:26:13.160 we were at odds 00:26:13.160 --> 00:26:14.200 with the God 00:26:14.200 --> 00:26:14.799 of the universe 00:26:14.799 --> 00:26:15.759 because of our sin, 00:26:16.019 --> 00:26:17.259 but he sent his son 00:26:17.259 --> 00:26:20.019 to suffer our anxiety 00:26:20.019 --> 00:26:21.460 so that we could 00:26:21.460 --> 00:26:22.600 have his peace. 00:26:23.600 --> 00:26:24.960 That is the gospel. 00:26:26.180 --> 00:26:27.200 We could have peace 00:26:27.200 --> 00:26:28.500 that surpasses 00:26:28.500 --> 00:26:29.319 all understanding 00:26:29.319 --> 00:26:30.860 because our faith 00:26:30.860 --> 00:26:31.460 and our hope 00:26:31.460 --> 00:26:33.840 is in our Lord 00:26:33.840 --> 00:26:35.220 and not in ourselves 00:26:35.220 --> 00:26:37.340 or in our situation. 00:26:38.000 --> 00:26:38.960 And what great hope 00:26:38.960 --> 00:26:39.500 that is. 00:26:40.580 --> 00:26:41.920 If you are here 00:26:41.920 --> 00:26:42.900 this morning 00:26:42.900 --> 00:26:44.039 and you don't know 00:26:44.039 --> 00:26:44.960 what this hope is, 00:26:45.819 --> 00:26:47.620 you're not somebody 00:26:47.620 --> 00:26:48.559 who considers themselves 00:26:48.559 --> 00:26:48.960 a Christian, 00:26:49.080 --> 00:26:49.740 or maybe you are 00:26:49.740 --> 00:26:50.140 a Christian, 00:26:50.779 --> 00:26:51.860 and you have let 00:26:51.860 --> 00:26:53.319 anxiety creep in, 00:26:53.319 --> 00:26:55.500 and you're in this spiral 00:26:55.500 --> 00:26:56.599 going down and down 00:26:56.599 --> 00:26:57.039 and down, 00:26:57.099 --> 00:26:57.740 and you're anxious 00:26:57.740 --> 00:26:58.939 about being anxious, 00:26:59.299 --> 00:27:00.740 and you're sick and tired 00:27:00.740 --> 00:27:02.539 about being sick and tired, 00:27:03.000 --> 00:27:05.200 there is great hope for you. 00:27:06.339 --> 00:27:07.240 We pray, 00:27:07.379 --> 00:27:08.319 we bring it to God, 00:27:08.379 --> 00:27:09.099 and we thank him 00:27:09.099 --> 00:27:09.960 for who he is, 00:27:10.119 --> 00:27:11.379 and he will give us 00:27:11.379 --> 00:27:12.700 incredible, 00:27:12.919 --> 00:27:13.700 incredible peace 00:27:13.700 --> 00:27:16.240 that nothing in this world 00:27:16.240 --> 00:27:16.740 can give. 00:27:16.740 --> 00:27:18.880 Lord, 00:27:18.940 --> 00:27:20.660 as we come 00:27:20.660 --> 00:27:22.240 to the latter part 00:27:22.240 --> 00:27:23.460 of our service 00:27:23.460 --> 00:27:24.319 and as we close 00:27:24.319 --> 00:27:26.200 your scriptures, 00:27:26.960 --> 00:27:27.420 Lord, 00:27:27.519 --> 00:27:28.480 help us to be people 00:27:28.480 --> 00:27:29.799 that take you 00:27:29.799 --> 00:27:30.940 at your word. 00:27:32.400 --> 00:27:33.500 Let us be people 00:27:33.500 --> 00:27:34.480 that trust in you 00:27:34.480 --> 00:27:35.380 even though 00:27:35.380 --> 00:27:37.220 our heart 00:27:37.220 --> 00:27:38.160 and our flesh 00:27:38.160 --> 00:27:39.279 fail us. 00:27:40.480 --> 00:27:41.960 Even when we are 00:27:41.960 --> 00:27:42.900 just frustrated 00:27:42.900 --> 00:27:43.900 and we are full 00:27:43.900 --> 00:27:44.620 of anxiety, 00:27:44.619 --> 00:27:46.919 give us that peace. 00:27:47.039 --> 00:27:48.000 Help us to pray. 00:27:48.379 --> 00:27:49.399 Teach us to pray. 00:27:50.759 --> 00:27:51.779 Help us to know 00:27:51.779 --> 00:27:52.839 that you are 00:27:52.839 --> 00:27:54.159 starting, 00:27:54.519 --> 00:27:55.119 you've started 00:27:55.119 --> 00:27:55.719 to work in us 00:27:55.719 --> 00:27:56.899 and that this is 00:27:56.899 --> 00:27:57.659 a journey we're on 00:27:57.659 --> 00:27:58.459 where you are teaching 00:27:58.459 --> 00:27:59.859 us to come under 00:27:59.859 --> 00:28:00.579 your lordship 00:28:00.579 --> 00:28:01.659 in greater degrees. 00:28:01.819 --> 00:28:03.699 Come into a trust 00:28:03.699 --> 00:28:04.839 in you in greater degrees, 00:28:05.019 --> 00:28:05.159 Lord. 00:28:05.579 --> 00:28:06.439 And give us hope 00:28:06.439 --> 00:28:07.000 that that's not 00:28:07.000 --> 00:28:08.059 a difficult thing, 00:28:08.439 --> 00:28:09.399 but that your son 00:28:09.399 --> 00:28:10.500 says that his yoke 00:28:10.500 --> 00:28:11.159 is easy 00:28:11.159 --> 00:28:12.159 and that his burden 00:28:12.159 --> 00:28:12.739 is light. 00:28:12.740 --> 00:28:14.660 that that is 00:28:14.660 --> 00:28:15.700 something for us. 00:28:16.480 --> 00:28:17.579 That is great hope. 00:28:17.680 --> 00:28:18.000 So Lord, 00:28:18.059 --> 00:28:18.660 we just pray 00:28:18.660 --> 00:28:19.180 that you will 00:28:19.180 --> 00:28:20.920 help us 00:28:20.920 --> 00:28:21.980 to be 00:28:21.980 --> 00:28:23.799 those people 00:28:23.799 --> 00:28:24.359 that pray 00:28:24.359 --> 00:28:25.180 and to trust in you. 00:28:26.200 --> 00:28:27.099 We pray all these 00:28:27.099 --> 00:28:28.039 things in Jesus' name.