Hey, this is Stephen Ferdick.

Hey, this is Stephen Ferdick.

I'm the pastor of Elevation Church and this is our podcast.

I'm the pastor of Elevation Church and this is our podcast.

I wanted to thank you for joining us today.

I wanted to thank you for joining us today.

Hope this inspires you.

Hope this inspires you.

Hope it builds your faith. Hope it gives your perspective to see God has moving in your life.

Hope it builds your faith. Hope it gives your perspective to see God has moving in your life.

Enjoy the message.

Enjoy the message.

We're about to jump into the message, but before we do, I wanted to let you know that Elevation Nights is back September twenty fourth through October third, and if you live on the West Coast, we might be coming to a city near you. We're going to be in Seattle, Vancouver, Sacramento, La Anaheim, Boise, Salt Lake City, and Denver. It's going to be an amazing night with Elevation worship and a message from Pastor Stephen. So go to Elevation Nights dot com to get your tickets. We cannot wait to see you there. Now let's go to the message.

We're about to jump into the message, but before we do, I wanted to let you know that Elevation Nights is back September twenty fourth through October third, and if you live on the West Coast, we might be coming to a city near you. We're going to be in Seattle, Vancouver, Sacramento, La Anaheim, Boise, Salt Lake City, and Denver. It's going to be an amazing night with Elevation worship and a message from Pastor Stephen. So go to Elevation Nights dot com to get your tickets. We cannot wait to see you there. Now let's go to the message.

How many came for a word from God today?

How many came for a word from God today?

God's doctor.

God's doctor.

Your main standing.

Your main standing.

For one moment, I'm going to be sharing today from Romans chapter five, verses one through nine, and then I'm going to go to one other scripture as well.

For one moment, I'm going to be sharing today from Romans chapter five, verses one through nine, and then I'm going to go to one other scripture as well.

Fair warning, I overstudied this week better than the alternative.

Fair warning, I overstudied this week better than the alternative.

Right, y'all, it was real busy.

Right, y'all, it was real busy.

I'm just gonna see what the Lord says.

I'm just gonna see what the Lord says.

I actually am nervous to try to get this all out today, but I have you home by Sunday.

I actually am nervous to try to get this all out today, but I have you home by Sunday.

Night football nervous chuckles.

Night football nervous chuckles.

Romans Chapter five, Verse one, Ready say Ready. Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand, and we boast in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces this perseverance, perseverance, character and character, hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit.

Romans Chapter five, Verse one, Ready say Ready. Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand, and we boast in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces this perseverance, perseverance, character and character, hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit.

Who has been given to us.

Who has been given to us.

You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Tell somebody that's you. I know you smell good today, but that's you the ungodly. I know you brush your teeth today, but that's you the ungodly. I know you've got a Christian t shirt on today. But that's you, the ungodly. And verse seven goes very theological. He says, very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this. While we were still sinners, Christ.

You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Tell somebody that's you. I know you smell good today, but that's you the ungodly. I know you brush your teeth today, but that's you the ungodly. I know you've got a Christian t shirt on today. But that's you, the ungodly. And verse seven goes very theological. He says, very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this. While we were still sinners, Christ.

Died for us.

Died for us.

Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God's wrath through him?

Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God's wrath through him?

One more scripture from Joshua chapter four, and we're going to get to work.

One more scripture from Joshua chapter four, and we're going to get to work.

Joshua chapter four and verse number nine, please, And Joshua was set up twelve stones in the midst of the Jordan, in the place where the feet of the priests bearing the ark of the Covenant had stood. And they are there to this day, and they are there to this day. And the Lord said that we were on a rescue mission today in this service. And so I'm going to use as a title what the Lord wants to do today. God said, we're going to rescue your testimony. Rescue your testimony. And you know, I like to give little subtitles, sometimes little weird subtitles. The subtitle tell your neighbor, say the proof is in the puddles. The proof is in the puzzles. You may be seated. We're on a rescue mission today, and go ahead and bring out my teaching screen. I want to break this all the way down from Romans chapter five. My favorite word that I read you in Romans chapter five was the very first one. And put it back on the screen again, Romans chapter five, verse one. Therefore, everybody say, therefore.

Joshua chapter four and verse number nine, please, And Joshua was set up twelve stones in the midst of the Jordan, in the place where the feet of the priests bearing the ark of the Covenant had stood. And they are there to this day, and they are there to this day. And the Lord said that we were on a rescue mission today in this service. And so I'm going to use as a title what the Lord wants to do today. God said, we're going to rescue your testimony. Rescue your testimony. And you know, I like to give little subtitles, sometimes little weird subtitles. The subtitle tell your neighbor, say the proof is in the puddles. The proof is in the puzzles. You may be seated. We're on a rescue mission today, and go ahead and bring out my teaching screen. I want to break this all the way down from Romans chapter five. My favorite word that I read you in Romans chapter five was the very first one. And put it back on the screen again, Romans chapter five, verse one. Therefore, everybody say, therefore.

You know.

You know.

One of the most beautiful things that.

One of the most beautiful things that.

Holly does for me on a regular basis is to help me remember what my true values are when I'm in a vulnerable place personally. And she does this in the most tactful ways. She says things to me that sounds so sweet, but beneath that layer of sweetness, she's actually challenging me, come on, like step it up. And she says something the other day which sounds like a compliment until I put it in context. She said, wow, you really do think of everything. Sounds nice, right, It sounds like she's given me extra credit for being a good planner. The context of the statement, she was definitely saying it out of kindness, but it wasn't compliment. We're talking about going to do something and I have a gift. I don't know if you have this gift too, Just make some noise if you share the same gift.

Holly does for me on a regular basis is to help me remember what my true values are when I'm in a vulnerable place personally. And she does this in the most tactful ways. She says things to me that sounds so sweet, but beneath that layer of sweetness, she's actually challenging me, come on, like step it up. And she says something the other day which sounds like a compliment until I put it in context. She said, wow, you really do think of everything. Sounds nice, right, It sounds like she's given me extra credit for being a good planner. The context of the statement, she was definitely saying it out of kindness, but it wasn't compliment. We're talking about going to do something and I have a gift. I don't know if you have this gift too, Just make some noise if you share the same gift.

I have a gift for.

I have a gift for.

Hypothetical.

Hypothetical.

I actually would say I am the high priest of the hypothetical scenario, you know, plays out in many different ways. On this particular day, I was saying, you know, if we go here to see this person, we were going to make a trip, and I.

I actually would say I am the high priest of the hypothetical scenario, you know, plays out in many different ways. On this particular day, I was saying, you know, if we go here to see this person, we were going to make a trip, and I.

Said, well, we go, if we go.

Said, well, we go, if we go.

If we go, he.

If we go, he.

Might have to work and I hadn't even checked into his work schedule yet, and we might we might get sick because he was hanging out with this other person that was sick the other day and I heard they might have COVID and I don't even know what that is anymore, but I heard that they might have had it. And so, but then, what if we're going, and what if we And she looks at me and goes, wow, you really do think of everything, And I said, well, it's just it could be kind of stressful, you know, And she said yeah, but you can make anything stressful.

Might have to work and I hadn't even checked into his work schedule yet, and we might we might get sick because he was hanging out with this other person that was sick the other day and I heard they might have COVID and I don't even know what that is anymore, but I heard that they might have had it. And so, but then, what if we're going, and what if we And she looks at me and goes, wow, you really do think of everything, And I said, well, it's just it could be kind of stressful, you know, And she said yeah, but you can make anything stressful.

And it didn't offend me at all. I needed to hear it.

And it didn't offend me at all. I needed to hear it.

Because she knows that actually what I want to experience is on the other side of something that I may not want to do.

Because she knows that actually what I want to experience is on the other side of something that I may not want to do.

And she knew that if I'm.

And she knew that if I'm.

Always getting hung up on the hypothetical, there's a sense in which I would just always stay home. If I was just left to my own devices, I would just become a complete hermit, and I would be a hermit because when I leave the house, this involves other humans at this point. And so there was a song by Paramore a few years ago where she said, this is.

Always getting hung up on the hypothetical, there's a sense in which I would just always stay home. If I was just left to my own devices, I would just become a complete hermit, and I would be a hermit because when I leave the house, this involves other humans at this point. And so there was a song by Paramore a few years ago where she said, this is.

Why I don't leave the house.

Why I don't leave the house.

And I look at Holly sometimes when we get in traffic, or when I can't find a bathroom, or you know, something kind of crazy is happening, and I go, this is why I don't leave the house. And she, on the other hand, now I'm very hypothetical. I made up a word to describe her spiritual gift. Okay, I made this word up. You won't find it in the dictionary. I am hypothetical. Holly is hypothetical. You like that I made that up. Let me see if I can write it on the screen. Hopathetical, everybody say, hypothetical not a real word, just a word to use for our purposes in studying today.

And I look at Holly sometimes when we get in traffic, or when I can't find a bathroom, or you know, something kind of crazy is happening, and I go, this is why I don't leave the house. And she, on the other hand, now I'm very hypothetical. I made up a word to describe her spiritual gift. Okay, I made this word up. You won't find it in the dictionary. I am hypothetical. Holly is hypothetical. You like that I made that up. Let me see if I can write it on the screen. Hopathetical, everybody say, hypothetical not a real word, just a word to use for our purposes in studying today.

She is hope othetical.

She is hope othetical.

So while I'm stuck in the hypothetical of you know what, if my phone dies, it's only seventy two percent.

So while I'm stuck in the hypothetical of you know what, if my phone dies, it's only seventy two percent.

You never know what kind of situation.

You never know what kind of situation.

You're going to run into. Give me a charger.

You're going to run into. Give me a charger.

While I'm in this situation, because then it spends out of control even past that.

While I'm in this situation, because then it spends out of control even past that.

Like the phone dies and then we're out in the middle of nowhere. And since we're out in the middle of nowhere, one.

Like the phone dies and then we're out in the middle of nowhere. And since we're out in the middle of nowhere, one.

Of our kids needs us, and because they couldn't get us, it scars them deeply and it traumatizes them, which is why they end up on methamphetamines and why we end up having to go to rehab.

Of our kids needs us, and because they couldn't get us, it scars them deeply and it traumatizes them, which is why they end up on methamphetamines and why we end up having to go to rehab.

To visit them.

To visit them.

Hypothetical Holly is hopathetical, and she's teaching me the art of hopathetical living, and so she tends to go more like this, where I'm focused on everything that we have to go through to get there. She'll say something like, yeah, but it could be fun, and I'm like, well, what does fun have to do with the fact that we might get there and I can't find a bathroom? Have you noticed I mentioned that twice? That's something I'm thinking about more than now. At forty four but hypothetically. Let's say I get there and she's hypothetical. You know, She's like, you're a man, you could you know.

Hypothetical Holly is hopathetical, and she's teaching me the art of hopathetical living, and so she tends to go more like this, where I'm focused on everything that we have to go through to get there. She'll say something like, yeah, but it could be fun, and I'm like, well, what does fun have to do with the fact that we might get there and I can't find a bathroom? Have you noticed I mentioned that twice? That's something I'm thinking about more than now. At forty four but hypothetically. Let's say I get there and she's hypothetical. You know, She's like, you're a man, you could you know.

So she's just like, we'll figure it out.

So she's just like, we'll figure it out.

Let's be all right, And I'm thankful for her hypotheticalness. How many you have a hypothetical person in your life for when you tend to get to hypothetical?

Let's be all right, And I'm thankful for her hypotheticalness. How many you have a hypothetical person in your life for when you tend to get to hypothetical?

You need one, You need one.

You need one, You need one.

You can't have Holly, she's taken, she's mine.

You can't have Holly, she's taken, she's mine.

Everybody says you need a hype man.

Everybody says you need a hype man.

Well, you need a hope man, somebody who can remind you that, Yes, you might go through some things to get there. Yes, it may be inconvenient. Yes they may laugh at you. Yes you may put it out and then nobody sees it. Yes you may do it and nobody thanks you. Yes you may spend the energy and it will all be worthless, but it.

Well, you need a hope man, somebody who can remind you that, Yes, you might go through some things to get there. Yes, it may be inconvenient. Yes they may laugh at you. Yes you may put it out and then nobody sees it. Yes you may do it and nobody thanks you. Yes you may spend the energy and it will all be worthless, but it.

Might also be kind of cool. If you don't have a hope man, you'll never leave the house.

Might also be kind of cool. If you don't have a hope man, you'll never leave the house.

Take it from a hypothetical I mean, even even going through the scenarios in my mind leaves me with what I call a hypothetical hangover, not involving alcohol, but involving all the scenarios that I run in my mind.

Take it from a hypothetical I mean, even even going through the scenarios in my mind leaves me with what I call a hypothetical hangover, not involving alcohol, but involving all the scenarios that I run in my mind.

Thank you Jesus, all the scenarios.

Thank you Jesus, all the scenarios.

They're coming to fix it right now, hypothetically, I hope. See we're thinking about this different. She's like, they're coming. This is gonna be great. The tech team is awesome. I'm like, if they don't get out here right now, this whole sermon is gonna be wrong. You can't fix this one, all right, We'll see check one too. That must mean the Lord wants me to holler and scream and yell. I said, that must mean the Lord wants me to scream and holler and yell.

They're coming to fix it right now, hypothetically, I hope. See we're thinking about this different. She's like, they're coming. This is gonna be great. The tech team is awesome. I'm like, if they don't get out here right now, this whole sermon is gonna be wrong. You can't fix this one, all right, We'll see check one too. That must mean the Lord wants me to holler and scream and yell. I said, that must mean the Lord wants me to scream and holler and yell.

I'm good, I'm good. I'll just hold this.

I'm good, I'm good. I'll just hold this.

Now, hypothetically speaking, when things happen that you didn't plan on happening, how do you handle it? Hypothetically? Paul has a strategy for that. In Romans chapter five, verse three, he says, we glory in our sufferings. If you back up one verse before that, he says, we boast. Everybody, say boast in the hope of the glory of God. If you needed an object lesson in boasting in the hope of something, think of your favorite college football fan who cheers for a team that this year is going to be the year that we win at all.

Now, hypothetically speaking, when things happen that you didn't plan on happening, how do you handle it? Hypothetically? Paul has a strategy for that. In Romans chapter five, verse three, he says, we glory in our sufferings. If you back up one verse before that, he says, we boast. Everybody, say boast in the hope of the glory of God. If you needed an object lesson in boasting in the hope of something, think of your favorite college football fan who cheers for a team that this year is going to be the year that we win at all.

First of all, who is we? Paul said, we.

First of all, who is we? Paul said, we.

Boast in the hope of the glory of God, So I am already celebrating something that someone else is accomplishing. Secondly, boasting in the hope is very different than boasting in the reality. The Bible says, who hopes in what he has already seen, what he already possesses. Since Holly is hypothetical, and since Paul in this passage is teaching us something about hopathetical Christianity, I want to break down for the next few minutes how to deal with situations in your life where you are right there in the middle of a I guess I could call this a flood moment, and you need faith to move forward in it. And I'm gonna use three points for this outline today. Write them up on the screen for you. I want you to write these down, and I want you to take notes on this sermon so that the next time that the devil tries to make you hysterical, you can get hopathetical.

Boast in the hope of the glory of God, So I am already celebrating something that someone else is accomplishing. Secondly, boasting in the hope is very different than boasting in the reality. The Bible says, who hopes in what he has already seen, what he already possesses. Since Holly is hypothetical, and since Paul in this passage is teaching us something about hopathetical Christianity, I want to break down for the next few minutes how to deal with situations in your life where you are right there in the middle of a I guess I could call this a flood moment, and you need faith to move forward in it. And I'm gonna use three points for this outline today. Write them up on the screen for you. I want you to write these down, and I want you to take notes on this sermon so that the next time that the devil tries to make you hysterical, you can get hopathetical.

I'm gonna teach you a lesson on how to be hypothetical. And it's really three parts to this.

I'm gonna teach you a lesson on how to be hypothetical. And it's really three parts to this.

Number one, we want to talk about anticipation. Everybody say anticipation. Put it in the chat anticipation. And number two, we want to talk about justification, say justification and everybody in the e FM online put these right there in the chat. Number three, I want to talk about demonstration and God helping us over the next twenty eight minutes.

Number one, we want to talk about anticipation. Everybody say anticipation. Put it in the chat anticipation. And number two, we want to talk about justification, say justification and everybody in the e FM online put these right there in the chat. Number three, I want to talk about demonstration and God helping us over the next twenty eight minutes.

Oh you didn't see that, y'all? Pray the Lord will heal my handwriting? All right? That would be a miracle demonstration. Did I get them? All right? Can you read that? Is that distracting to you or does that help you out? Put three points on it.

Oh you didn't see that, y'all? Pray the Lord will heal my handwriting? All right? That would be a miracle demonstration. Did I get them? All right? Can you read that? Is that distracting to you or does that help you out? Put three points on it.

Anticipation, the anticipation that Paul mentions in Romans chapter five. He talks about the hope of the glory of God. And this thing about anticipation works both ways, doesn't it? Because I realized a long time ago that what the devil is actually attacking when he comes to me with words is my ability to anticipate what God might do, and that every time I worry, it's a.

Anticipation, the anticipation that Paul mentions in Romans chapter five. He talks about the hope of the glory of God. And this thing about anticipation works both ways, doesn't it? Because I realized a long time ago that what the devil is actually attacking when he comes to me with words is my ability to anticipate what God might do, and that every time I worry, it's a.

Perversion of worship. Worship and worry operate from the same energy.

Perversion of worship. Worship and worry operate from the same energy.

They both attach to something that I can't see to deal with something that I'm going through. Worship attaches to a God who I can't see now. Faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen. Worry attaches to something that hasn't even happened yet and gives more power to the problem than it does the promise of God who said he would be with you through every problem. So now we're beginning to see that the devil is after your anticipation. If he cannot get you to fear the worst possible scenario, he will hurt you so many times when you get your hopes up that you learn to manage your sense of disappointment by bringing down your level of expectation.

They both attach to something that I can't see to deal with something that I'm going through. Worship attaches to a God who I can't see now. Faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen. Worry attaches to something that hasn't even happened yet and gives more power to the problem than it does the promise of God who said he would be with you through every problem. So now we're beginning to see that the devil is after your anticipation. If he cannot get you to fear the worst possible scenario, he will hurt you so many times when you get your hopes up that you learn to manage your sense of disappointment by bringing down your level of expectation.

And this is the truth about a lot of us.

And this is the truth about a lot of us.

Is that really the reason we go through life with a kind of bad attitude, with a pessimistic attitude not leaving the house, is because we left the house one time.

Is that really the reason we go through life with a kind of bad attitude, with a pessimistic attitude not leaving the house, is because we left the house one time.

And it didn't work out very well.

And it didn't work out very well.

And so now every time that God calls us out to do something, and it could be anything, God could just call you to do anything, speak a kind word. Last time you spoke a kind word, they thought you were weak and then they took advantage of you. So now I'm not going to speak any kind words to anybody anymore, because you know how it is. You just say think nice things to people and they don't do anything back. See what the enemy is doing there is He is trying to inform your anticipation of the future based on the thing that happened to you in the past that was poorly processed. The way that we anticipate our life is a process. Even some times when I'm talking to Holly about something that could happen bad or something that did happen bad, or what might happen bad, or I was going to backfire, I'll tell myself as an excuse if you ever said this, I'm just processing. And really, while I say that I'm processing, i am, But write this down in your notes. Not all processing is productive. It's not always productive for you to just process because if you just process but there is no.

And so now every time that God calls us out to do something, and it could be anything, God could just call you to do anything, speak a kind word. Last time you spoke a kind word, they thought you were weak and then they took advantage of you. So now I'm not going to speak any kind words to anybody anymore, because you know how it is. You just say think nice things to people and they don't do anything back. See what the enemy is doing there is He is trying to inform your anticipation of the future based on the thing that happened to you in the past that was poorly processed. The way that we anticipate our life is a process. Even some times when I'm talking to Holly about something that could happen bad or something that did happen bad, or what might happen bad, or I was going to backfire, I'll tell myself as an excuse if you ever said this, I'm just processing. And really, while I say that I'm processing, i am, But write this down in your notes. Not all processing is productive. It's not always productive for you to just process because if you just process but there is no.

God in your processing, you will end up.

God in your processing, you will end up.

With a godless thought because you started with the godless process.

With a godless thought because you started with the godless process.

That's why I think it's important that when.

That's why I think it's important that when.

You process things in your mind for a little while, you come outside of your head every once in a while and verbalize.

You process things in your mind for a little while, you come outside of your head every once in a while and verbalize.

It in prayer to God.

It in prayer to God.

The verbal process of praying out loud will actually help you with the internal struggle of a hyperactive mind. So for everybody who struggles with an overactive imagination. You can think more than one thing at a time, you can't speak more than one thing at a time.

The verbal process of praying out loud will actually help you with the internal struggle of a hyperactive mind. So for everybody who struggles with an overactive imagination. You can think more than one thing at a time, you can't speak more than one thing at a time.

And there comes a time where you have to start.

And there comes a time where you have to start.

Speaking things of faith to fight against the spaghetti noodles of fear. I'm telling you that Satan will spaghetti your emotional state and get you so tangled up in the things that you've been through, so tangled up in the things that you're suffering. I found it interesting that Paul said we boast in the hope of the glory of God. I thought that boasting was bad until I read Romans chapter five, verse two, and Paul said that there is a type of boasting that is totally appropriate for the child of God. This boasting, however, does not come from an anticipation that things will always look the way.

Speaking things of faith to fight against the spaghetti noodles of fear. I'm telling you that Satan will spaghetti your emotional state and get you so tangled up in the things that you've been through, so tangled up in the things that you're suffering. I found it interesting that Paul said we boast in the hope of the glory of God. I thought that boasting was bad until I read Romans chapter five, verse two, and Paul said that there is a type of boasting that is totally appropriate for the child of God. This boasting, however, does not come from an anticipation that things will always look the way.

That you wanted them to look. This type of boasting does.

That you wanted them to look. This type of boasting does.

Not come, for example, from your anticipation that you will never suffer. Jesus did not die to save us from suffering. He suffered and died to save us from sin, so that when we suffer, we're not surprised. He suffered to save us. Now, he did not save us from suffering. He saved us by his suffering, and in his suffering, we have hope.

Not come, for example, from your anticipation that you will never suffer. Jesus did not die to save us from suffering. He suffered and died to save us from sin, so that when we suffer, we're not surprised. He suffered to save us. Now, he did not save us from suffering. He saved us by his suffering, and in his suffering, we have hope.

High five your neighbors say I have hope.

High five your neighbors say I have hope.

I have hope not because I think I'll never go through anything.

I have hope not because I think I'll never go through anything.

But I'm one of these hope pathetical Christians.

But I'm one of these hope pathetical Christians.

I don't have hope based on the fact that I will never go through it. So this is not a naive sense in which I go through life knowing that it will always be okay. This is not a hope based on how I know it's going to go. I'm leaving the house, and I'm leaving my complacency, and I'm leaving my shell, and I'm leaving this relationship, and I'm leaving this thought pattern not based on the hope that is going to be so easy when I leave, but that he won't be with me as I go.

I don't have hope based on the fact that I will never go through it. So this is not a naive sense in which I go through life knowing that it will always be okay. This is not a hope based on how I know it's going to go. I'm leaving the house, and I'm leaving my complacency, and I'm leaving my shell, and I'm leaving this relationship, and I'm leaving this thought pattern not based on the hope that is going to be so easy when I leave, but that he won't be with me as I go.

I have a hope. So do you process with God what you go through? Or are you processing without God?

I have a hope. So do you process with God what you go through? Or are you processing without God?

And if you are, you do not have what the Bible says here in verse one.

And if you are, you do not have what the Bible says here in verse one.

Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God. He didn't say I don't have fears about my future. He said we have peace with God. He didn't say I don't have regrets about my past.

Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God. He didn't say I don't have fears about my future. He said we have peace with God. He didn't say I don't have regrets about my past.

He said we have peace with God. He didn't say I don't have conflict in my home. He said I have peace with God. I'm gonna go a little deeper. He didn't say I don't have temptations that are dragging me back to the Egypt I thought I left. He said we have peace with God. He didn't say I don't have bills that I don't know how I'm gonna pay. He said I have peace with God. He didn't say I don't have pain in my body. He said I have peace with God. He didn't say I don't have issues that I'm going to counseling for.

He said we have peace with God. He didn't say I don't have conflict in my home. He said I have peace with God. I'm gonna go a little deeper. He didn't say I don't have temptations that are dragging me back to the Egypt I thought I left. He said we have peace with God. He didn't say I don't have bills that I don't know how I'm gonna pay. He said I have peace with God. He didn't say I don't have pain in my body. He said I have peace with God. He didn't say I don't have issues that I'm going to counseling for.

He said I have peace with God.

He said I have peace with God.

He didn't say I don't have anger that I don't even always know where it's coming from. He said I have peace with God. So my peace with God is not in the absence of the problem. My peace with God is not in the absence of the anxiety. My peace with God is not in the absence of my shaking hands.

He didn't say I don't have anger that I don't even always know where it's coming from. He said I have peace with God. So my peace with God is not in the absence of the problem. My peace with God is not in the absence of the anxiety. My peace with God is not in the absence of my shaking hands.

My peace with God is not in the absence of enemies who don't like me. My peace with God.

My peace with God is not in the absence of enemies who don't like me. My peace with God.

Comes from somebody who won a game.

Comes from somebody who won a game.

I didn't even play it. Now you yawning, Am I being born? All right?

I didn't even play it. Now you yawning, Am I being born? All right?

What I think is good for us to remember when we have something that we have hoped for and it didn't happen for us, is that before we can move forward in pure faith, God often has to heal your hope. And the first step of healing your hope is changing what you boast in the Book of Romans was not written as a pep talk to tell you do better.

What I think is good for us to remember when we have something that we have hoped for and it didn't happen for us, is that before we can move forward in pure faith, God often has to heal your hope. And the first step of healing your hope is changing what you boast in the Book of Romans was not written as a pep talk to tell you do better.

Get out there, go get them. You got this.

Get out there, go get them. You got this.

Nobody's slapping anybody on the bottom of Romans except Paul saying the way you used.

Nobody's slapping anybody on the bottom of Romans except Paul saying the way you used.

To boast in was your relationship to the law. Remember they kept the law.

To boast in was your relationship to the law. Remember they kept the law.

They did that through circumcision, which was an external sign of their faith, and they were trying to go back to that.

They did that through circumcision, which was an external sign of their faith, and they were trying to go back to that.

But Paul says in this passage that what you.

But Paul says in this passage that what you.

Used to boast in is insufficient to hold your hope in this season of your life. One reason you can praise God after you've been through something, tell somebody I've been through something. Okay, after you've been through something, but you found that God was still with you after you went through it. Now you have something to boast about that you didn't have before. And I saw somebody in this room You've been like, why am I going through everything I'm going through? Why does this all keep happening to me? Why has this been so hard the last three months? Why did I think I was so far along? And then I just snapped right back to the previous place that I was. It seems like nothing has moved forward. But instead of you seeing yourself as going through something, I want you to see yourself as getting something from going through something, getting something from two completely different paradigms. The focus on what I'm going through is me hypothetical, the focus on what I'm going to have to go through.

Used to boast in is insufficient to hold your hope in this season of your life. One reason you can praise God after you've been through something, tell somebody I've been through something. Okay, after you've been through something, but you found that God was still with you after you went through it. Now you have something to boast about that you didn't have before. And I saw somebody in this room You've been like, why am I going through everything I'm going through? Why does this all keep happening to me? Why has this been so hard the last three months? Why did I think I was so far along? And then I just snapped right back to the previous place that I was. It seems like nothing has moved forward. But instead of you seeing yourself as going through something, I want you to see yourself as getting something from going through something, getting something from two completely different paradigms. The focus on what I'm going through is me hypothetical, the focus on what I'm going to have to go through.

Isn't it crazy that.

Isn't it crazy that.

The devil can beat you with something that may never even happen. Ask the prophet Elijah who ran from Jezebel and wasted days that he could have spent in revival from somebody who already proved she didn't.

The devil can beat you with something that may never even happen. Ask the prophet Elijah who ran from Jezebel and wasted days that he could have spent in revival from somebody who already proved she didn't.

Have the power to kill him.

Have the power to kill him.

You know, when you're going through something, or when you might have to go through something, your focus becomes only the pain that it will cost you. And so now your story revolves around your suffering. How could Paul say in verse three Romans, Chapter five that we glory in our suffering.

You know, when you're going through something, or when you might have to go through something, your focus becomes only the pain that it will cost you. And so now your story revolves around your suffering. How could Paul say in verse three Romans, Chapter five that we glory in our suffering.

We glory in our suffering. Maybe he doesn't mean that we like it. Maybe he doesn't mean that we ask for more of it.

We glory in our suffering. Maybe he doesn't mean that we like it. Maybe he doesn't mean that we ask for more of it.

Maybe he means that while we're going through it, we get something from it.

Maybe he means that while we're going through it, we get something from it.

And so recently I was telling a friend a story.

And so recently I was telling a friend a story.

You know, we all have these pity party stories that we tell, and I was sharing it under the pretense like it was a testimony of something God brought me through. But in the middle of telling the story, it was as if the Holy Spirit said to me, and I'm gonna do a whole sermon one day.

You know, we all have these pity party stories that we tell, and I was sharing it under the pretense like it was a testimony of something God brought me through. But in the middle of telling the story, it was as if the Holy Spirit said to me, and I'm gonna do a whole sermon one day.

I don't exactly know how I'm.

I don't exactly know how I'm.

Gonna do it yet, but it's gonna be called when you say, God said, because a lot of times when I'm preaching, I'll say God said this, and God said that. And a sweet middle school kid came up to me one time and said, when you say God said, what does that mean?

Gonna do it yet, but it's gonna be called when you say, God said, because a lot of times when I'm preaching, I'll say God said this, and God said that. And a sweet middle school kid came up to me one time and said, when you say God said, what does that mean?

Did you hear out loud voice? Did you read a Bible verse?

Did you hear out loud voice? Did you read a Bible verse?

What do you mean when you say God said, I'm gonna do a sermon on that one day?

What do you mean when you say God said, I'm gonna do a sermon on that one day?

But in this particular case.

But in this particular case.

It was an impression, and I was in the middle of the story, telling the story, and mid sentence I stopped telling the story because was this The Holy Spirit said to me, I'm sick of this side of the story because you're telling him like it's something you went through, but you're talking like you're still in it.

It was an impression, and I was in the middle of the story, telling the story, and mid sentence I stopped telling the story because was this The Holy Spirit said to me, I'm sick of this side of the story because you're telling him like it's something you went through, but you're talking like you're still in it.

And if you really believe what you're.

And if you really believe what you're.

Saying, you believe this is something that I brought you through, So why are you not through with it.

Saying, you believe this is something that I brought you through, So why are you not through with it.

Now? I'm not saying this always works.

Now? I'm not saying this always works.

Please don't take me out of context.

Please don't take me out of context.

I hate I hate.

I hate I hate.

The thought that we can just cut short trauma by putting on a happy face.

The thought that we can just cut short trauma by putting on a happy face.

That is not my point.

That is not my point.

This was not a situation where there was unresolved trauma. This was a case where there was unreleased bitterness. And the Lord showed me as I was speaking, I'm telling you, it was like it was almost like my mouth got zipped by the Holy Spirit, and the Lord said, I'm sick of this.

This was not a situation where there was unresolved trauma. This was a case where there was unreleased bitterness. And the Lord showed me as I was speaking, I'm telling you, it was like it was almost like my mouth got zipped by the Holy Spirit, and the Lord said, I'm sick of this.

Side of it because all you keep.

Side of it because all you keep.

Talking about is the story from the standpoint of how hurtful it was to you. But you know good and well that what I did through that was something that I absolutely had to do and you know good and well, then if it hadn't hurt you like that, you wouldn't.

Talking about is the story from the standpoint of how hurtful it was to you. But you know good and well that what I did through that was something that I absolutely had to do and you know good and well, then if it hadn't hurt you like that, you wouldn't.

Be here today. So stop telling that story from that side.

Be here today. So stop telling that story from that side.

Start saying things like, yeah, it hurt, but God healed me from it.

Start saying things like, yeah, it hurt, but God healed me from it.

Yeah it was hard, but I got stronger from it.

Yeah it was hard, but I got stronger from it.

Yeah I was waiting, but I felt some spiritual muscles and I got a miracle from it.

Yeah I was waiting, but I felt some spiritual muscles and I got a miracle from it.

High five.

High five.

Somebody say, there's two sides to this story. There's two sides to this story. There's what you went through, and there's what you got from what you went through. And while you're still worried about what you might go through, you need to pick up something.

Somebody say, there's two sides to this story. There's two sides to this story. There's what you went through, and there's what you got from what you went through. And while you're still worried about what you might go through, you need to pick up something.

Just sit right in front of you. You're about Christian glad my mic went out.

Just sit right in front of you. You're about Christian glad my mic went out.

I needed a big boy mike today. I said I needed a big boy mike today. I'm glad the mike went out. Some of y'all need to say I'm glad about stuff.

I needed a big boy mike today. I said I needed a big boy mike today. I'm glad the mike went out. Some of y'all need to say I'm glad about stuff.

That goes wrong. I'm glad that went wrong.

That goes wrong. I'm glad that went wrong.

That was a redirection because I would have stayed in this wilderness.

That was a redirection because I would have stayed in this wilderness.

If the man didn't go away. I would have stayed in that place.

If the man didn't go away. I would have stayed in that place.

If they didn't push me out, how would have stayed?

If they didn't push me out, how would have stayed?

Stuff is something that I'm so much greater than.

Stuff is something that I'm so much greater than.

I am. Because a wind threw it, threw it, threw it, threw it through it.

I am. Because a wind threw it, threw it, threw it, threw it through it.

That's what the Bible says. That's what the Bible says.

That's what the Bible says. That's what the Bible says.

Tell your neighbor, that's what the Bible says.

Tell your neighbor, that's what the Bible says.

Yeah, yeah, he didn't say, watch this.

Yeah, yeah, he didn't say, watch this.

We have hope because of what might happen. We have hope because of what could happen. We have hope because of what probably will happen.

We have hope because of what might happen. We have hope because of what could happen. We have hope because of what probably will happen.

Now the apostle pause says something so much greater than that.

Now the apostle pause says something so much greater than that.

He says, Therefore, I'm about to blow your mind for everything you're going through, for everything you might go through, for every hypothetical in your life. Let's get hole pathetical for a moment. He said, since we have been, you missed it. He said, we have been. Everybody say I have been. Now clarify for your neighbors say in English, have been means past tense.

He says, Therefore, I'm about to blow your mind for everything you're going through, for everything you might go through, for every hypothetical in your life. Let's get hole pathetical for a moment. He said, since we have been, you missed it. He said, we have been. Everybody say I have been. Now clarify for your neighbors say in English, have been means past tense.

That's behind me, that's behind me, that's behind me, that's behind me.

That's behind me, that's behind me, that's behind me, that's behind me.

That's why it's my testimony.

That's why it's my testimony.

Because I passed. Because it was a test, but I passed it. That's what put the money on it.

Because I passed. Because it was a test, but I passed it. That's what put the money on it.

I have.

I have.

Because it happen. It happened. But I'm here it happened, But hallelujah, it happened. But I have this hope.

Because it happen. It happened. But I'm here it happened, But hallelujah, it happened. But I have this hope.

I have this hope because I have been justified. Some of you are waiting for other people to celebrate how far you've come. But I got news, baby, They don't live on the inside of you. Jesus does, the Holy theory does.

I have this hope because I have been justified. Some of you are waiting for other people to celebrate how far you've come. But I got news, baby, They don't live on the inside of you. Jesus does, the Holy theory does.

The righteousness of.

The righteousness of.

God has been impaled.

God has been impaled.

To you by faith.

To you by faith.

So that's my second point of discermon is justification justification. This is for all of your justified. I'll be further along justified. You know all those regrets. You know I wouldn't be in this mess justified.

So that's my second point of discermon is justification justification. This is for all of your justified. I'll be further along justified. You know all those regrets. You know I wouldn't be in this mess justified.

Along comes Jesus.

Along comes Jesus.

Talking about you keep going back in your past, but not far enough. You keep going back in your past, but you're not going back there far enough. Because before you even called on me, before you even looked to me. Jimmy Romans, Chapter five, verse eight, this is the verse you wanted to shout about a minute ago. Because the Bible says that we were not good people, we were not godly people, we were not righteous people. We did not earned this spot. We did not make the team. We did not make the cut, we did not live up to it.

Talking about you keep going back in your past, but not far enough. You keep going back in your past, but you're not going back there far enough. Because before you even called on me, before you even looked to me. Jimmy Romans, Chapter five, verse eight, this is the verse you wanted to shout about a minute ago. Because the Bible says that we were not good people, we were not godly people, we were not righteous people. We did not earned this spot. We did not make the team. We did not make the cut, we did not live up to it.

But God but God. So when we go back to the past, you need to learn a phrase, say I was but God, sit right there, Sit it right there, because.

But God but God. So when we go back to the past, you need to learn a phrase, say I was but God, sit right there, Sit it right there, because.

Just to show you real clear what the Bible says, I don't care what I say.

Just to show you real clear what the Bible says, I don't care what I say.

I don't care what you say. I don't care what your grandmother says. I'm sorry. I'm sure she's beautiful.

I don't care what you say. I don't care what your grandmother says. I'm sorry. I'm sure she's beautiful.

I'll give her a hug if we ever meet, and all of that stuff, and I respect her and I'll call her whatever you told me to call her. But I don't care what you were taught about this, the Bible says. The Bible says that I have.

I'll give her a hug if we ever meet, and all of that stuff, and I respect her and I'll call her whatever you told me to call her. But I don't care what you were taught about this, the Bible says. The Bible says that I have.

That sass. Access is an interesting thing.

That sass. Access is an interesting thing.

It kind of suggests that something can be there and you have it, but you can't get to it.

It kind of suggests that something can be there and you have it, but you can't get to it.

Because of what's blocking it. And that's why you died.

Because of what's blocking it. And that's why you died.

And that's why I have hope, because He gave me access by faith into disgrace, in which I now stand and we boast in the hope.

And that's why I have hope, because He gave me access by faith into disgrace, in which I now stand and we boast in the hope.

Of the glory of God.

Of the glory of God.

Now, the more you understand this that you have, the more you will have of this.

Now, the more you understand this that you have, the more you will have of this.

And the way that you access this peace.

And the way that you access this peace.

I need more peace, you need more awareness, you need more hoypathetical Christianity, you need more. I don't know if you're gonna like this character, which is an interesting word. I was studying that word because I thought, well, this is how it works. This is how God matures us, matures our lives, and this is how God brings forth his fruit in our lives.

I need more peace, you need more awareness, you need more hoypathetical Christianity, you need more. I don't know if you're gonna like this character, which is an interesting word. I was studying that word because I thought, well, this is how it works. This is how God matures us, matures our lives, and this is how God brings forth his fruit in our lives.

He gives us hope through the suffering.

He gives us hope through the suffering.

That produces perseverance, and the perseverance the not quitting, produces character, and then character hope. So in order to get to the hope, you got to go through some hell and what it produces. Y'all, I feel annoyed to help somebody today. I don't even care about anything, but said who I'm supposed to help today? Because the word character in Greek is actually a word that Paul made up. It's not a word that's anywhere else in the New Testament except when Paul uses it.

That produces perseverance, and the perseverance the not quitting, produces character, and then character hope. So in order to get to the hope, you got to go through some hell and what it produces. Y'all, I feel annoyed to help somebody today. I don't even care about anything, but said who I'm supposed to help today? Because the word character in Greek is actually a word that Paul made up. It's not a word that's anywhere else in the New Testament except when Paul uses it.

And it doesn't just mean character in the sense of, well, that's just who I am.

And it doesn't just mean character in the sense of, well, that's just who I am.

See, that's why some of you have the wrong testimony right now. You keep testifying about that's just who I am, that's just the way I am, that's just the way it is.

See, that's why some of you have the wrong testimony right now. You keep testifying about that's just who I am, that's just the way I am, that's just the way it is.

And all of that might be true.

And all of that might be true.

But this character that God is producing in you is a certain type of character from a certain word that Paul made up to describe what happens when you go through something and get something from what you go through that you couldn't get any other way. And the word actually means proven worth, proven worth. And it started not with the amazing things that happened, but with the pain that you experienced. So the pain that you experienced produced the proof of the worth of your faith.

But this character that God is producing in you is a certain type of character from a certain word that Paul made up to describe what happens when you go through something and get something from what you go through that you couldn't get any other way. And the word actually means proven worth, proven worth. And it started not with the amazing things that happened, but with the pain that you experienced. So the pain that you experienced produced the proof of the worth of your faith.

What good is a hope that can't be disappointed?

What good is a hope that can't be disappointed?

What good is a faith that can't be shaken and not broken? What good is it for me to just hope that things turn out well and then when they don't, stay home. What good is it for me to listen to Pastor Stephen preach for an hour and then go home and resist the very things that God brings into my life that will produce the word that he preached about. What good is it for me to keep just going through things and never stopping. God said today we are going to rescue your testimony because you have stopped talking about what God is going to do. You have stopped talking about.

What good is a faith that can't be shaken and not broken? What good is it for me to just hope that things turn out well and then when they don't, stay home. What good is it for me to listen to Pastor Stephen preach for an hour and then go home and resist the very things that God brings into my life that will produce the word that he preached about. What good is it for me to keep just going through things and never stopping. God said today we are going to rescue your testimony because you have stopped talking about what God is going to do. You have stopped talking about.

How it can be different.

How it can be different.

You have been disappointed, you have been hurt, you have been hemorrhaging from what you went through.

You have been disappointed, you have been hurt, you have been hemorrhaging from what you went through.

But God wants to heal that.

But God wants to heal that.

Place and rescue your testimony, to rescue it.

Place and rescue your testimony, to rescue it.

That's what Holly does for me. She rescues me from my hypothetical situations.

That's what Holly does for me. She rescues me from my hypothetical situations.

I say, well, if we go, something bad might happen, and she says, but if you don't go, you might look back the rest of your life and wonder what would have happened if you did.

I say, well, if we go, something bad might happen, and she says, but if you don't go, you might look back the rest of your life and wonder what would have happened if you did.

And so Paul says, it is the suffering.

And so Paul says, it is the suffering.

It is the pain that proved that proves the character. The proof starts with suffering, the proof, do you see it? The proof starts with suffering, and that's what leads to the hope, because you know, I can go back to that and I can remember that God did that for me.

It is the pain that proved that proves the character. The proof starts with suffering, the proof, do you see it? The proof starts with suffering, and that's what leads to the hope, because you know, I can go back to that and I can remember that God did that for me.

And so every once in a while.

And so every once in a while.

I screenshot something on my phone just to remind me in my low moments that at the lowest moments, God is doing the most. A few years ago, I preached a sermon to where I left and thought, well, that didn't go very good. And I don't always blame myself. Sometimes y'all are just lazy listeners. But I like to take responsibility, Like, well, come on, I could have done that better and clearer, and I beat.

I screenshot something on my phone just to remind me in my low moments that at the lowest moments, God is doing the most. A few years ago, I preached a sermon to where I left and thought, well, that didn't go very good. And I don't always blame myself. Sometimes y'all are just lazy listeners. But I like to take responsibility, Like, well, come on, I could have done that better and clearer, and I beat.

Myself up every which way.

Myself up every which way.

And that same week, my friend sent me a text of their notes from the sermon, and they said, just wanted you to be encouraged.

And that same week, my friend sent me a text of their notes from the sermon, and they said, just wanted you to be encouraged.

Well I needed to be, so I was thankful for the text.

Well I needed to be, so I was thankful for the text.

They took six pages of notes on that sermon that I thought sucked. Okay, so I'm looking at it. I'm like, this is great, Okay, thank you Lord. Maybe it wasn't that bad. They wrote six pages of notes. But then I looked at it again and I saw why they sent it to me, because I thought, that's kind of weird. Why did you send me your notes? I preached it, don't you think I know what I said? But next to the notes was this little puddle of tears that they were showing me. And when the text came through next after the photo, it said, I cried so hard through your message. I left a puddle of tears next to my notes before I dried it up. I wanted to show you. And and that's something that while I'm sitting there thinking, well, that wasn't any good, and then I get a picture a proof in the puddle of tears that they cry because I understand that sometimes suffering is the starting place for something amazing. Sometimes the absence of your emotional validation when you are doing the thing that God has called you to do, maybe not preaching a sermon, maybe just being a good man, maybe not preaching a sermon, maybe just keeping your purity as a teenager, maybe not preaching a sermon, Maybe just showing up to the next thing that you know you can do. And the proof I didn't feel it when I preached it. I didn't see it when I preached it. I didn't know it when I preached it. But to get that text, that puddle of tears, to say that sermon that you preached, that you felt nothing, that word you spoke, that you felt nothing, that you pray, that you saw nothing.

They took six pages of notes on that sermon that I thought sucked. Okay, so I'm looking at it. I'm like, this is great, Okay, thank you Lord. Maybe it wasn't that bad. They wrote six pages of notes. But then I looked at it again and I saw why they sent it to me, because I thought, that's kind of weird. Why did you send me your notes? I preached it, don't you think I know what I said? But next to the notes was this little puddle of tears that they were showing me. And when the text came through next after the photo, it said, I cried so hard through your message. I left a puddle of tears next to my notes before I dried it up. I wanted to show you. And and that's something that while I'm sitting there thinking, well, that wasn't any good, and then I get a picture a proof in the puddle of tears that they cry because I understand that sometimes suffering is the starting place for something amazing. Sometimes the absence of your emotional validation when you are doing the thing that God has called you to do, maybe not preaching a sermon, maybe just being a good man, maybe not preaching a sermon, maybe just keeping your purity as a teenager, maybe not preaching a sermon, Maybe just showing up to the next thing that you know you can do. And the proof I didn't feel it when I preached it. I didn't see it when I preached it. I didn't know it when I preached it. But to get that text, that puddle of tears, to say that sermon that you preached, that you felt nothing, that word you spoke, that you felt nothing, that you pray, that you saw nothing.

Here's something, here's something days later that you didn't even see. You weren't even there for it. But it's proof. This is the proof that I'm after.

Here's something, here's something days later that you didn't even see. You weren't even there for it. But it's proof. This is the proof that I'm after.

Not the proof of what you feel when you do it, not the proof of what you see when you do it. Not the proof of what you know right now, not the proof of what you think you need to be validated, not the proof of what you think would make it successful. It is the proof in that puddle of tears that you cried while you suffered. But I bet you got up after you cried and did something, didn't you.

Not the proof of what you feel when you do it, not the proof of what you see when you do it. Not the proof of what you know right now, not the proof of what you think you need to be validated, not the proof of what you think would make it successful. It is the proof in that puddle of tears that you cried while you suffered. But I bet you got up after you cried and did something, didn't you.

I bet you got up.

I bet you got up.

When you cried. I bet you got up after your heart was broken and you kept going. So now you have a testimony, and let's stop talking about all that it costs you, and let's start talking about how God.

When you cried. I bet you got up after your heart was broken and you kept going. So now you have a testimony, and let's stop talking about all that it costs you, and let's start talking about how God.

Has called you proven, character, proven, prove I.

Has called you proven, character, proven, prove I.

Have hope, say not loud, I have hope. I can prove it. I have hope, and I can prove it. So Holly said to me, you really do think of everything. And I'm like, well, so does God. And she didn't really accept that as an analogy, but I told her how God has taken into account. You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. So now I want to talk about, finally, the demonstration. The demonstration.

Have hope, say not loud, I have hope. I can prove it. I have hope, and I can prove it. So Holly said to me, you really do think of everything. And I'm like, well, so does God. And she didn't really accept that as an analogy, but I told her how God has taken into account. You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. So now I want to talk about, finally, the demonstration. The demonstration.

The proof.

The proof.

That you have hope, and the proof that you have hope is not that you don't suffer or will never suffer. And the proof that you have hope is not that you don't go through. Let me break that down a little bit more. It is not that you won't ever feel that way again. It is not that you will never be let down again. It is not that you will never experience a betrayal again. It is not that you will never wrestle with this again. It is not that it will completely leave your life. That is not what Christ died to save us from. And the good thing is, if you feel weak in this moment, that's the very point He saved you at and he's still saving so you have proof demonstration. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this that while we were still ciners, Christ died for us.

That you have hope, and the proof that you have hope is not that you don't suffer or will never suffer. And the proof that you have hope is not that you don't go through. Let me break that down a little bit more. It is not that you won't ever feel that way again. It is not that you will never be let down again. It is not that you will never experience a betrayal again. It is not that you will never wrestle with this again. It is not that it will completely leave your life. That is not what Christ died to save us from. And the good thing is, if you feel weak in this moment, that's the very point He saved you at and he's still saving so you have proof demonstration. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this that while we were still ciners, Christ died for us.

I read you a.

I read you a.

Scripture from the Old Testament earlier, and you may have wondered if I forgot about it, but I didn't, because I want to give you a picture of how God demonstrates his power in your weakness.

Scripture from the Old Testament earlier, and you may have wondered if I forgot about it, but I didn't, because I want to give you a picture of how God demonstrates his power in your weakness.

The children of Israel are headed out of the.

The children of Israel are headed out of the.

Land that they've known as the place of their captivity for over four hundred years. They've been wandering in the wilderness for forty of those years because of the regrets of their past. I gotta be thinking at this point something is going.

Land that they've known as the place of their captivity for over four hundred years. They've been wandering in the wilderness for forty of those years because of the regrets of their past. I gotta be thinking at this point something is going.

Through their head.

Through their head.

Justified believe God and gone through the Promised land. Just if we'd gone through and faced the giants in our faith and believe the minority report of Caleb and Joshua, just if we had not brought a complaint to Moses in the place of where our faith should have been. But now God is bringing a new generation led by Joshua, into the Promised Land, and the Bible says that on the way to where they're going, because you're going somewhere, I don't know.

Justified believe God and gone through the Promised land. Just if we'd gone through and faced the giants in our faith and believe the minority report of Caleb and Joshua, just if we had not brought a complaint to Moses in the place of where our faith should have been. But now God is bringing a new generation led by Joshua, into the Promised Land, and the Bible says that on the way to where they're going, because you're going somewhere, I don't know.

If you feel stuck where you are, you're gonna die. Where you are is.

If you feel stuck where you are, you're gonna die. Where you are is.

Gonna be like it is, But you are transitioning out of this.

Gonna be like it is, But you are transitioning out of this.

Before they transition out.

Before they transition out.

Of the land that they've been in, the wilderness that they've wandered in, the what ifs that they've wasted away in. Before they transition out of this, God gives a very strange instruction to Joshua. He says, before you completely cross and by the way, I think you should commemorate every crossing in your life, every crossing over. Just start celebrating stuff when you cross over. So that could be as simple ass thank you God for a new day. I lay down to sleep and I woke up again, and somebody didn't, So thank you for it. Lord, thank you for another week. Thank you for bringing me to the Lord's house another day. Thank you for a new season. Thank you God for a new opportunity. Thank you for my next breath. Thank You for my next opportunity. And as they are crossing over watch this, God calls Joshua, I want you to commemorate and demonstrate what I did.