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Steven Furtick

Steven Furtick - Look Forward Not Far (Part 2)

May 14, 2025 | 27:29

Steven Furtick - Look Forward Not Far (Part 2)
Elevation with Steven Furtick focuses on the strength of God in our everyday struggles.
#StevenFurtick #Faith #Hope #TrustGod #Purpose #WalkwithGod #Religion #Worry #Focus #Future #Timing #PresenceofGod #Calling #Praise&Worship #Anxiety #Season

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Steven Furtick | Steven Furtick - Look Forward Not Far (Part 2) | May 14, 2025
  • ♪ ♪
  • 00:00:01.186 --> 00:00:02.087
  • >> announcer: up next,
  • 00:00:02.454 --> 00:00:02.988
  • An encouraging message from
  • 00:00:03.088 --> 00:00:04.189
  • Pastor steven furtick
  • 00:00:04.289 --> 00:00:05.657
  • Of elevation church.
  • 00:00:05.758 --> 00:00:07.059
  • If you're looking to
  • 00:00:07.159 --> 00:00:07.760
  • Strengthen your faith
  • 00:00:07.860 --> 00:00:08.694
  • And shift your perspective
  • 00:00:08.794 --> 00:00:10.062
  • Stay tuned.
  • 00:00:10.162 --> 00:00:10.629
  • ♪ ♪
  • 00:00:10.896 --> 00:00:14.900
  • >> i need to see what's
  • 00:00:15.601 --> 00:00:16.268
  • Right in front of me
  • 00:00:16.368 --> 00:00:19.471
  • Right in front of me in this season,
  • 00:00:19.538 --> 00:00:22.508
  • In this season, and i'm afraid that
  • 00:00:22.574 --> 00:00:23.175
  • And i'm afraid that if i can only see
  • 00:00:23.242 --> 00:00:24.209
  • If i can only see what's far away...
  • 00:00:24.276 --> 00:00:27.513
  • What's far away... paul said, "i want to be
  • 00:00:27.579 --> 00:00:29.448
  • Paul said, "i want to be in heaven with jesus,"
  • 00:00:29.515 --> 00:00:30.616
  • In heaven with jesus," but god said,
  • 00:00:30.682 --> 00:00:31.683
  • But god said, "that's too far, paul.
  • 00:00:31.750 --> 00:00:34.253
  • "that's too far, paul. one day, one day
  • 00:00:34.319 --> 00:00:37.389
  • One day, one day i'll give you a well done,
  • 00:00:37.456 --> 00:00:39.224
  • I'll give you a well done, but not today
  • 00:00:39.291 --> 00:00:42.428
  • But not today 'cause i still got
  • 00:00:42.494 --> 00:00:43.829
  • 'cause i still got stuff for you to do
  • 00:00:43.896 --> 00:00:44.630
  • Stuff for you to do that's right in front of you."
  • 00:00:44.696 --> 00:00:47.533
  • That's right in front of you." and convinced of this,
  • 00:00:47.599 --> 00:00:48.400
  • And convinced of this, paul says, "i decided
  • 00:00:48.467 --> 00:00:51.503
  • Paul says, "i decided that i'm going to make
  • 00:00:51.570 --> 00:00:52.604
  • That i'm going to make what's right in front of me
  • 00:00:52.671 --> 00:00:55.140
  • What's right in front of me that i could miss,
  • 00:00:55.207 --> 00:00:55.908
  • That i could miss, if i was too farsighted,
  • 00:00:55.974 --> 00:00:58.010
  • If i was too farsighted, my focus."
  • 00:00:58.077 --> 00:01:00.913
  • My focus." so, the word of the lord is,
  • 00:01:00.979 --> 00:01:03.382
  • So, the word of the lord is, whatever is right
  • 00:01:03.449 --> 00:01:04.316
  • Whatever is right in front of you that god
  • 00:01:04.383 --> 00:01:06.118
  • In front of you that god has given you to do
  • 00:01:06.185 --> 00:01:08.020
  • Has given you to do that is your focus
  • 00:01:08.087 --> 00:01:08.987
  • That is your focus in this season.
  • 00:01:09.054 --> 00:01:11.623
  • In this season. and all you have to do
  • 00:01:11.690 --> 00:01:12.758
  • And all you have to do with the parts you don't know
  • 00:01:12.825 --> 00:01:14.059
  • With the parts you don't know about god's plan
  • 00:01:14.126 --> 00:01:15.027
  • About god's plan for your life --
  • 00:01:15.094 --> 00:01:15.527
  • For your life -- because, you know,
  • 00:01:15.594 --> 00:01:16.628
  • Because, you know, jeremiah 29:11
  • 00:01:16.695 --> 00:01:17.896
  • Jeremiah 29:11 is a wonderful scripture,
  • 00:01:17.963 --> 00:01:18.997
  • Is a wonderful scripture, "for i know the plans
  • 00:01:19.064 --> 00:01:20.165
  • "for i know the plans i have for you,
  • 00:01:20.232 --> 00:01:21.967
  • I have for you, plans to prosper you
  • 00:01:22.034 --> 00:01:23.635
  • Plans to prosper you not to harm you,
  • 00:01:23.702 --> 00:01:24.269
  • Not to harm you, plans to give you hope
  • 00:01:24.336 --> 00:01:25.270
  • Plans to give you hope and a future."
  • 00:01:25.337 --> 00:01:25.737
  • And a future." that was spoken to prepare them
  • 00:01:25.804 --> 00:01:28.440
  • That was spoken to prepare them for their captivity in babylon,
  • 00:01:28.507 --> 00:01:30.676
  • For their captivity in babylon, which would last 70 years.
  • 00:01:30.742 --> 00:01:33.712
  • Which would last 70 years. and he said, "in the meantime,
  • 00:01:33.779 --> 00:01:35.447
  • And he said, "in the meantime, while you're in babylon
  • 00:01:35.514 --> 00:01:36.915
  • While you're in babylon you need these because
  • 00:01:36.982 --> 00:01:39.418
  • You need these because while you are waiting
  • 00:01:39.485 --> 00:01:40.586
  • While you are waiting for the future that you
  • 00:01:40.652 --> 00:01:41.887
  • For the future that you believe god has for you,
  • 00:01:41.954 --> 00:01:43.589
  • Believe god has for you, i don't want you
  • 00:01:43.655 --> 00:01:44.256
  • I don't want you to get farsighted
  • 00:01:44.323 --> 00:01:46.291
  • To get farsighted and miss what's right
  • 00:01:46.358 --> 00:01:47.526
  • And miss what's right in front of you.
  • 00:01:47.593 --> 00:01:48.327
  • [applause]
  • 00:01:48.694 --> 00:01:49.928
  • Put it in the comments,
  • 00:01:50.762 --> 00:01:51.463
  • Put it in the comments, "i don't wanna miss it."
  • 00:01:51.530 --> 00:01:52.297
  • [applause]
  • 00:01:52.598 --> 00:01:52.798
  • Tell your neighbor,
  • 00:01:53.065 --> 00:01:53.799
  • Tell your neighbor, "i don't wanna miss it."
  • 00:01:53.866 --> 00:01:54.900
  • "i don't wanna miss it." >> congregation: i don't
  • 00:01:54.967 --> 00:01:55.400
  • >> congregation: i don't wanna miss it.
  • 00:01:55.467 --> 00:01:56.068
  • Wanna miss it. >> and sometimes the reason
  • 00:01:56.135 --> 00:01:57.169
  • >> and sometimes the reason i miss it is because
  • 00:01:57.236 --> 00:01:58.303
  • I miss it is because it's right here
  • 00:01:58.370 --> 00:01:58.971
  • It's right here and i'm looking out there.
  • 00:01:59.037 --> 00:02:00.339
  • And i'm looking out there. now, this is for all
  • 00:02:00.405 --> 00:02:01.173
  • Now, this is for all of the worriers that
  • 00:02:01.240 --> 00:02:02.741
  • Of the worriers that call themselves planners.
  • 00:02:02.808 --> 00:02:05.878
  • Call themselves planners. you do know that ever time
  • 00:02:05.944 --> 00:02:07.112
  • You do know that ever time god gives a gift the enemy
  • 00:02:07.179 --> 00:02:08.647
  • God gives a gift the enemy attacks it with a perversion.
  • 00:02:08.714 --> 00:02:11.216
  • Attacks it with a perversion. planning is god's gift to you.
  • 00:02:11.283 --> 00:02:14.386
  • Planning is god's gift to you. worry is the perversion
  • 00:02:14.453 --> 00:02:15.854
  • Worry is the perversion of god's gift called planning.
  • 00:02:15.921 --> 00:02:18.557
  • Of god's gift called planning. and people who are good
  • 00:02:18.624 --> 00:02:19.725
  • And people who are good at planning are also
  • 00:02:19.791 --> 00:02:21.527
  • At planning are also world class worriers.
  • 00:02:21.593 --> 00:02:23.562
  • World class worriers. so, worrying is, watch this,
  • 00:02:23.629 --> 00:02:25.597
  • So, worrying is, watch this, when i don't have clarity
  • 00:02:25.664 --> 00:02:26.965
  • When i don't have clarity about the situation
  • 00:02:27.032 --> 00:02:28.167
  • About the situation because i'm looking so far.
  • 00:02:28.233 --> 00:02:29.968
  • Because i'm looking so far. and i'll illustrate
  • 00:02:30.035 --> 00:02:30.469
  • And i'll illustrate this one other way
  • 00:02:30.536 --> 00:02:31.170
  • This one other way because i'm passionate
  • 00:02:31.236 --> 00:02:32.070
  • Because i'm passionate that you'll get the picture.
  • 00:02:32.137 --> 00:02:33.539
  • That you'll get the picture. because i don't wanna
  • 00:02:33.605 --> 00:02:34.339
  • Because i don't wanna just preach these messages
  • 00:02:34.406 --> 00:02:35.407
  • Just preach these messages and when they say tuesday,
  • 00:02:35.474 --> 00:02:36.542
  • And when they say tuesday, "did you go to church?"
  • 00:02:36.608 --> 00:02:37.142
  • "did you go to church?" "yeah."
  • 00:02:37.209 --> 00:02:37.442
  • "yeah." "what'd he preached about?"
  • 00:02:37.509 --> 00:02:38.043
  • "what'd he preached about?" i -- god."
  • 00:02:38.110 --> 00:02:39.244
  • [laughter]
  • 00:02:39.545 --> 00:02:40.712
  • I want you to have something
  • 00:02:41.079 --> 00:02:42.147
  • I want you to have something that you can remember.
  • 00:02:42.214 --> 00:02:43.882
  • That you can remember. and what i see you
  • 00:02:43.949 --> 00:02:44.917
  • And what i see you doing is this,
  • 00:02:44.983 --> 00:02:46.485
  • Doing is this, you're going forward, right?
  • 00:02:46.552 --> 00:02:48.287
  • You're going forward, right? god direct my paths,
  • 00:02:48.353 --> 00:02:50.255
  • God direct my paths, but you are looking so far.
  • 00:02:50.322 --> 00:02:53.325
  • But you are looking so far. i promise you, i will not
  • 00:02:53.392 --> 00:02:54.359
  • I promise you, i will not take one more step --
  • 00:02:54.426 --> 00:02:56.728
  • Take one more step -- get a wide shot so they
  • 00:02:56.795 --> 00:02:57.729
  • Get a wide shot so they can see what i'm saying, y'all.
  • 00:02:57.796 --> 00:02:59.331
  • Can see what i'm saying, y'all. i will not take one more step.
  • 00:02:59.398 --> 00:03:01.133
  • I will not take one more step. it's too risky for me to go
  • 00:03:01.200 --> 00:03:03.235
  • It's too risky for me to go forward looking that far.
  • 00:03:03.302 --> 00:03:08.106
  • Forward looking that far. i mean, maybe i could do it.
  • 00:03:08.173 --> 00:03:10.676
  • I mean, maybe i could do it. it's way -- remember, i'm 44.
  • 00:03:10.742 --> 00:03:13.779
  • It's way -- remember, i'm 44. it's way too risky for me
  • 00:03:13.845 --> 00:03:16.315
  • It's way too risky for me to take that step.
  • 00:03:16.381 --> 00:03:17.416
  • To take that step. if i'm gonna go forward,
  • 00:03:17.482 --> 00:03:21.086
  • If i'm gonna go forward, that's what i'm gonna
  • 00:03:21.153 --> 00:03:21.720
  • That's what i'm gonna look at next.
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  • [applause]
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  • Now, somebody who wants me
  • 00:03:25.157 --> 00:03:25.891
  • Now, somebody who wants me to come up there
  • 00:03:25.958 --> 00:03:26.391
  • To come up there and give them a hug,
  • 00:03:26.458 --> 00:03:27.025
  • And give them a hug, wave at me real quick.
  • 00:03:27.092 --> 00:03:28.026
  • Wave at me real quick. okay.
  • 00:03:28.093 --> 00:03:28.327
  • Okay. i'm coming for you
  • 00:03:28.393 --> 00:03:28.961
  • I'm coming for you in the back row right there.
  • 00:03:29.027 --> 00:03:29.828
  • In the back row right there. i see who i'm coming to.
  • 00:03:29.895 --> 00:03:30.596
  • I see who i'm coming to. everybody else,
  • 00:03:30.662 --> 00:03:30.963
  • Everybody else, put your hand down.
  • 00:03:31.029 --> 00:03:31.930
  • Put your hand down. i'm coming all the way to you.
  • 00:03:31.997 --> 00:03:33.365
  • I'm coming all the way to you. that's my future.
  • 00:03:33.432 --> 00:03:35.834
  • That's my future. but i am not coming
  • 00:03:35.901 --> 00:03:38.003
  • But i am not coming to give you that hug,
  • 00:03:38.070 --> 00:03:39.004
  • To give you that hug, which i'm going to give you
  • 00:03:39.071 --> 00:03:39.771
  • Which i'm going to give you in a just a few moments.
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  • [laughter]
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  • I am not -- i'm gonna come
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  • I am not -- i'm gonna come back for -- i'm gonna --
  • 00:03:43.642 --> 00:03:45.377
  • Back for -- i'm gonna -- i'm gonna come toward you,
  • 00:03:45.444 --> 00:03:46.979
  • I'm gonna come toward you, that is the future,
  • 00:03:47.045 --> 00:03:48.947
  • That is the future, but i am not going
  • 00:03:49.014 --> 00:03:49.848
  • But i am not going to look that far.
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  • [applause]
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  • 'cause if i look that far,
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  • 'cause if i look that far, i'll fall.
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  • [applause]
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  • That's the definition
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  • That's the definition of anxiety.
  • 00:04:00.926 --> 00:04:03.161
  • Of anxiety. that's why peter didn't
  • 00:04:03.228 --> 00:04:04.463
  • That's why peter didn't make it all the way to jesus,
  • 00:04:04.529 --> 00:04:06.865
  • Make it all the way to jesus, 'cause he saw the wind
  • 00:04:06.932 --> 00:04:07.899
  • 'cause he saw the wind and the waves.
  • 00:04:07.966 --> 00:04:09.268
  • And the waves. and when you look too far,
  • 00:04:09.334 --> 00:04:11.270
  • And when you look too far, you fall.
  • 00:04:11.336 --> 00:04:12.704
  • You fall. but if you take this next step
  • 00:04:12.771 --> 00:04:14.306
  • But if you take this next step by faith and say to the devil,
  • 00:04:14.373 --> 00:04:17.643
  • By faith and say to the devil, "my purpose is pulling me."
  • 00:04:17.709 --> 00:04:19.945
  • "my purpose is pulling me." now, this is the next
  • 00:04:20.012 --> 00:04:20.812
  • Now, this is the next sandwich i need to make.
  • 00:04:20.879 --> 00:04:22.781
  • Sandwich i need to make. this is the next bill
  • 00:04:22.848 --> 00:04:23.949
  • This is the next bill i need to pay.
  • 00:04:24.016 --> 00:04:25.484
  • I need to pay. i'm not gonna think
  • 00:04:25.550 --> 00:04:26.318
  • I'm not gonna think about the other 18,000
  • 00:04:26.385 --> 00:04:28.220
  • In debt right now.
  • 00:04:28.320 --> 00:04:29.888
  • In debt right now. this bill, this baby step,
  • 00:04:29.955 --> 00:04:32.691
  • This bill, this baby step, this phone call, this workout,
  • 00:04:32.758 --> 00:04:35.394
  • This phone call, this workout, this breath, this appointment,
  • 00:04:35.460 --> 00:04:37.863
  • This breath, this appointment, this phone call, this day,
  • 00:04:37.929 --> 00:04:40.198
  • This phone call, this day, this hour, this minute.
  • 00:04:40.265 --> 00:04:42.968
  • I'll tell you what,
  • 00:04:43.068 --> 00:04:44.836
  • I'll tell you what, i found out that
  • 00:04:44.903 --> 00:04:46.338
  • I found out that the word of god --
  • 00:04:46.405 --> 00:04:47.272
  • The word of god -- i'm coming.
  • 00:04:47.339 --> 00:04:47.839
  • I'm coming. i'm coming, sis.
  • 00:04:47.906 --> 00:04:48.473
  • I'm coming, sis. i'm coming.
  • 00:04:48.540 --> 00:04:49.241
  • I'm coming. i found out --
  • 00:04:49.308 --> 00:04:50.342
  • I found out -- give me my camera
  • 00:04:50.409 --> 00:04:51.009
  • Give me my camera before i come.
  • 00:04:51.076 --> 00:04:52.144
  • Before i come. that the word of god
  • 00:04:52.210 --> 00:04:53.779
  • That the word of god is like headlights on a car.
  • 00:04:53.845 --> 00:04:57.616
  • Is like headlights on a car. when you're driving at night,
  • 00:04:57.683 --> 00:04:58.583
  • When you're driving at night, you can only see as
  • 00:04:58.650 --> 00:04:59.518
  • You can only see as far as your headlights,
  • 00:04:59.584 --> 00:05:02.020
  • Far as your headlights, but you can make
  • 00:05:02.087 --> 00:05:02.621
  • But you can make the whole trip that way.
  • 00:05:02.688 --> 00:05:03.722
  • [applause]
  • 00:05:04.056 --> 00:05:07.426
  • Three feet at a time
  • 00:05:08.193 --> 00:05:10.362
  • Three feet at a time and i promise you,
  • 00:05:10.429 --> 00:05:12.564
  • And i promise you, i'mma look here,
  • 00:05:12.631 --> 00:05:13.999
  • I'mma look here, while i'm walking there.
  • 00:05:14.066 --> 00:05:15.901
  • While i'm walking there. and this to me,
  • 00:05:15.967 --> 00:05:16.902
  • And this to me, is the balancing
  • 00:05:16.968 --> 00:05:17.736
  • Is the balancing act of great faith.
  • 00:05:17.803 --> 00:05:21.940
  • Act of great faith. look forward, but not far.
  • 00:05:22.007 --> 00:05:24.710
  • Look forward, but not far. look forward.
  • 00:05:24.776 --> 00:05:25.410
  • Look forward. now, watch.
  • 00:05:25.477 --> 00:05:25.844
  • Now, watch. i'm not gonna do this.
  • 00:05:25.911 --> 00:05:27.112
  • [laughter]
  • 00:05:27.412 --> 00:05:28.714
  • I'm definitely not
  • 00:05:29.181 --> 00:05:29.514
  • I'm definitely not gonna do that.
  • 00:05:29.581 --> 00:05:30.082
  • Gonna do that. i got that much down.
  • 00:05:30.148 --> 00:05:32.250
  • I got that much down. but if the enemy can't get you
  • 00:05:32.317 --> 00:05:33.218
  • But if the enemy can't get you to look back on your past,
  • 00:05:33.285 --> 00:05:35.854
  • To look back on your past, he will try to get you to go
  • 00:05:35.921 --> 00:05:37.389
  • He will try to get you to go so far into your future...
  • 00:05:37.456 --> 00:05:39.157
  • [applause]
  • 00:05:39.458 --> 00:05:43.528
  • It is just as dangerous for me
  • 00:05:47.065 --> 00:05:48.734
  • It is just as dangerous for me to look at where i'm going
  • 00:05:48.800 --> 00:05:50.102
  • To look at where i'm going all the way up there
  • 00:05:50.168 --> 00:05:51.236
  • All the way up there as it is for me to look
  • 00:05:51.303 --> 00:05:52.104
  • As it is for me to look back at where i came from.
  • 00:05:52.170 --> 00:05:55.807
  • Back at where i came from. so, it's dangerous
  • 00:05:55.874 --> 00:05:57.309
  • So, it's dangerous not to look forward.
  • 00:05:57.376 --> 00:05:59.411
  • Not to look forward. it's dangerous not
  • 00:05:59.478 --> 00:05:59.911
  • It's dangerous not to have anything
  • 00:05:59.978 --> 00:06:00.412
  • To have anything to look forward to.
  • 00:06:00.479 --> 00:06:00.946
  • To look forward to. it's dangerous for you
  • 00:06:01.012 --> 00:06:01.913
  • It's dangerous for you not to have a plan
  • 00:06:01.980 --> 00:06:02.748
  • Not to have a plan for this year of your life.
  • 00:06:02.814 --> 00:06:03.515
  • For this year of your life. it's dangerous for you to not
  • 00:06:03.582 --> 00:06:04.516
  • It's dangerous for you to not have structure around your day.
  • 00:06:04.583 --> 00:06:05.851
  • Have structure around your day. it's dangerous for you
  • 00:06:05.917 --> 00:06:06.752
  • It's dangerous for you to not have a budget.
  • 00:06:06.818 --> 00:06:07.352
  • To not have a budget. it's dangerous for you
  • 00:06:07.419 --> 00:06:08.220
  • It's dangerous for you to not have an eating plan.
  • 00:06:08.286 --> 00:06:09.187
  • To not have an eating plan. it's dangerous for you
  • 00:06:09.254 --> 00:06:09.955
  • It's dangerous for you to not have
  • 00:06:10.021 --> 00:06:10.355
  • To not have a bible reading plan,
  • 00:06:10.422 --> 00:06:11.156
  • Because you will need
  • 00:06:11.256 --> 00:06:12.090
  • Because you will need a plan to produce
  • 00:06:12.157 --> 00:06:13.058
  • A plan to produce what you're called to produce.
  • 00:06:13.125 --> 00:06:15.160
  • What you're called to produce. it's dangerous not
  • 00:06:15.227 --> 00:06:17.596
  • It's dangerous not to look forward.
  • 00:06:17.662 --> 00:06:19.598
  • To look forward. it is just as dangerous
  • 00:06:19.664 --> 00:06:21.466
  • It is just as dangerous to look too far forward,
  • 00:06:21.533 --> 00:06:24.803
  • To look too far forward, to try to control things
  • 00:06:24.870 --> 00:06:25.704
  • To try to control things only god can control,
  • 00:06:25.771 --> 00:06:29.007
  • Only god can control, to start thinking about
  • 00:06:29.074 --> 00:06:29.741
  • To start thinking about the product while you're still
  • 00:06:29.808 --> 00:06:31.009
  • In the process of making it.
  • 00:06:31.109 --> 00:06:33.845
  • In the process of making it. you don't know
  • 00:06:33.912 --> 00:06:34.212
  • You don't know what it's gonna be.
  • 00:06:34.279 --> 00:06:35.881
  • What it's gonna be. and if you look too far and go,
  • 00:06:35.947 --> 00:06:37.816
  • And if you look too far and go, "okay, i'm gonna be sober
  • 00:06:37.883 --> 00:06:39.317
  • "okay, i'm gonna be sober the rest of my life."
  • 00:06:39.384 --> 00:06:41.219
  • The rest of my life." too far.
  • 00:06:41.286 --> 00:06:43.121
  • Too far. too far.
  • 00:06:43.188 --> 00:06:44.956
  • Too far. that can be
  • 00:06:45.023 --> 00:06:45.390
  • That can be where you're headed.
  • 00:06:45.457 --> 00:06:47.759
  • Where you're headed. that can be
  • 00:06:47.826 --> 00:06:48.160
  • That can be where you're going.
  • 00:06:48.226 --> 00:06:50.061
  • Where you're going. but what i want you
  • 00:06:50.128 --> 00:06:51.062
  • But what i want you focused on right now is that,
  • 00:06:51.129 --> 00:06:53.698
  • Focused on right now is that, "the presence of god
  • 00:06:53.765 --> 00:06:54.666
  • "the presence of god is enough to keep me
  • 00:06:54.733 --> 00:06:55.734
  • Is enough to keep me out of these chains today.
  • 00:06:55.801 --> 00:06:59.037
  • Out of these chains today. i'm not drinking it today.
  • 00:06:59.104 --> 00:07:01.473
  • I'm not drinking it today. i'm not doing it today."
  • 00:07:01.540 --> 00:07:02.974
  • [applause]
  • 00:07:03.208 --> 00:07:06.344
  • "i'm never eating sugar again."
  • 00:07:07.379 --> 00:07:08.914
  • "i'm never eating sugar again." that's too far.
  • 00:07:08.980 --> 00:07:09.781
  • [laughter]
  • 00:07:10.048 --> 00:07:10.715
  • Don't eat it this week.
  • 00:07:11.416 --> 00:07:12.184
  • [laughter]
  • 00:07:12.451 --> 00:07:12.818
  • Can we do this week?
  • 00:07:13.385 --> 00:07:13.985
  • Can we do this week? ooh, big ol' jump.
  • 00:07:14.052 --> 00:07:15.620
  • Ooh, big ol' jump. just like that.
  • 00:07:15.687 --> 00:07:16.321
  • Just like that. can we do it for a week?
  • 00:07:16.388 --> 00:07:18.924
  • Can we do it for a week? and in this way, your faith
  • 00:07:18.990 --> 00:07:21.960
  • And in this way, your faith is like headlights.
  • 00:07:22.027 --> 00:07:24.596
  • Is like headlights. paul said in verse 20,
  • 00:07:24.663 --> 00:07:25.664
  • Paul said in verse 20, "i eagerly expect,"
  • 00:07:25.730 --> 00:07:27.032
  • "i eagerly expect," you taking my video?
  • 00:07:27.098 --> 00:07:27.866
  • [laughter]
  • 00:07:28.133 --> 00:07:29.501
  • You can do it.
  • 00:07:30.235 --> 00:07:31.503
  • You can do it. i'll preach this just to you.
  • 00:07:31.570 --> 00:07:33.572
  • I'll preach this just to you. paul used the term that --
  • 00:07:33.638 --> 00:07:35.040
  • Paul used the term that -- you can film it too.
  • 00:07:35.106 --> 00:07:35.707
  • You can film it too. i want you to remember it.
  • 00:07:35.774 --> 00:07:37.342
  • I want you to remember it. oh, this is amazing.
  • 00:07:37.409 --> 00:07:38.376
  • Oh, this is amazing. you're getting a hug
  • 00:07:38.443 --> 00:07:39.010
  • You're getting a hug on the way to the hug.
  • 00:07:39.077 --> 00:07:39.811
  • [applause]
  • 00:07:40.078 --> 00:07:40.345
  • Oh, oh.
  • 00:07:40.912 --> 00:07:43.248
  • Oh, oh. that's awesome.
  • 00:07:43.315 --> 00:07:44.416
  • [applause]
  • 00:07:44.649 --> 00:07:45.750
  • You don't even know
  • 00:07:46.184 --> 00:07:46.685
  • You don't even know what you just did for me.
  • 00:07:46.751 --> 00:07:48.954
  • What you just did for me. you preached a sermon,
  • 00:07:49.020 --> 00:07:49.888
  • You preached a sermon, do you see how much
  • 00:07:49.955 --> 00:07:50.522
  • Do you see how much that meant to him
  • 00:07:50.589 --> 00:07:51.122
  • That meant to him that i hugged him?
  • 00:07:51.189 --> 00:07:52.524
  • That i hugged him? do you see how
  • 00:07:52.591 --> 00:07:53.024
  • Do you see how much that meant?
  • 00:07:53.091 --> 00:07:53.992
  • Much that meant? that isn't even
  • 00:07:54.059 --> 00:07:54.626
  • That isn't even what i came up here to do.
  • 00:07:54.693 --> 00:07:56.795
  • What i came up here to do. what if god wants to use you
  • 00:07:56.862 --> 00:07:58.063
  • What if god wants to use you on the way to where you think
  • 00:07:58.129 --> 00:07:59.197
  • On the way to where you think you're going in a greater way
  • 00:07:59.264 --> 00:08:00.499
  • You're going in a greater way than you could ever be used
  • 00:08:00.565 --> 00:08:01.566
  • Than you could ever be used when you get there?
  • 00:08:01.633 --> 00:08:02.400
  • [applause]
  • 00:08:02.634 --> 00:08:09.007
  • What if i had been
  • 00:08:10.041 --> 00:08:10.675
  • What if i had been farsighted?
  • 00:08:10.742 --> 00:08:11.743
  • [laughter]
  • 00:08:11.977 --> 00:08:13.278
  • What if i couldn't see
  • 00:08:14.012 --> 00:08:15.447
  • What if i couldn't see where i was supposed to stop?
  • 00:08:15.514 --> 00:08:18.817
  • Where i was supposed to stop? do you like the glasses?
  • 00:08:18.884 --> 00:08:19.784
  • [applause]
  • 00:08:20.085 --> 00:08:21.620
  • I feel dignified with these.
  • 00:08:23.121 --> 00:08:25.891
  • I feel dignified with these. i feel theological with these.
  • 00:08:25.957 --> 00:08:27.325
  • [laughter]
  • 00:08:27.659 --> 00:08:28.326
  • I feel like i need
  • 00:08:29.094 --> 00:08:29.628
  • I feel like i need god to hand me these
  • 00:08:29.694 --> 00:08:31.763
  • God to hand me these for the times in my life
  • 00:08:31.830 --> 00:08:32.664
  • For the times in my life when i can't see
  • 00:08:32.731 --> 00:08:33.331
  • When i can't see what's right in front of me.
  • 00:08:33.398 --> 00:08:36.034
  • [applause]
  • 00:08:36.301 --> 00:08:38.203
  • So here it is.
  • 00:08:39.070 --> 00:08:41.139
  • So here it is. not back, forward,
  • 00:08:41.206 --> 00:08:46.044
  • Not back, forward, but not far.
  • 00:08:46.111 --> 00:08:48.079
  • But not far. what is there along the way
  • 00:08:48.146 --> 00:08:48.947
  • What is there along the way that god wants to show you?
  • 00:08:49.014 --> 00:08:50.248
  • That god wants to show you? what is there along the way
  • 00:08:50.315 --> 00:08:51.149
  • What is there along the way that god wants to do?
  • 00:08:51.216 --> 00:08:52.751
  • That god wants to do? paul was so good at glasses,
  • 00:08:52.817 --> 00:08:57.188
  • Paul was so good at glasses, he looked and saw,
  • 00:08:57.255 --> 00:08:57.856
  • He looked and saw, "oh, these chains
  • 00:08:57.923 --> 00:08:58.456
  • "oh, these chains that are on my wrists
  • 00:08:58.523 --> 00:08:59.558
  • That are on my wrists are going to be a testimony
  • 00:08:59.624 --> 00:09:00.325
  • Are going to be a testimony so that the guards
  • 00:09:00.392 --> 00:09:00.892
  • So that the guards can get saved,
  • 00:09:00.959 --> 00:09:01.493
  • Can get saved, because i wanna have
  • 00:09:01.560 --> 00:09:02.093
  • Because i wanna have a bigger church when i leave
  • 00:09:02.160 --> 00:09:02.994
  • A bigger church when i leave this prison than i did.
  • 00:09:03.061 --> 00:09:03.962
  • This prison than i did. cool.
  • 00:09:04.029 --> 00:09:04.563
  • Cool. i'm gonna have
  • 00:09:04.629 --> 00:09:04.963
  • I'm gonna have a prison campus."
  • 00:09:05.030 --> 00:09:06.932
  • A prison campus." that's how paul
  • 00:09:06.998 --> 00:09:07.365
  • That's how paul thought about it.
  • 00:09:07.432 --> 00:09:09.334
  • Thought about it. that's what happens
  • 00:09:09.401 --> 00:09:09.935
  • That's what happens when god gives you glasses.
  • 00:09:10.001 --> 00:09:11.202
  • When god gives you glasses. "god, give me the glasses
  • 00:09:11.269 --> 00:09:11.870
  • "god, give me the glasses this week to see
  • 00:09:11.937 --> 00:09:13.505
  • What's right in front of me."
  • 00:09:13.605 --> 00:09:14.472
  • What's right in front of me." and then, along the way,
  • 00:09:14.539 --> 00:09:17.609
  • And then, along the way, i'll see some things,
  • 00:09:17.676 --> 00:09:18.143
  • I'll see some things, i'll learn some things,
  • 00:09:18.209 --> 00:09:18.877
  • I'll learn some things, we'll have some moments,
  • 00:09:18.944 --> 00:09:21.246
  • We'll have some moments, but i'm gonna get there.
  • 00:09:21.313 --> 00:09:23.782
  • But i'm gonna get there. i'm gonna do what
  • 00:09:23.848 --> 00:09:25.684
  • I'm gonna do what i promised to do,
  • 00:09:25.750 --> 00:09:27.485
  • What i set out to do.
  • 00:09:27.586 --> 00:09:29.454
  • What i set out to do. and i'mma hug the one
  • 00:09:29.521 --> 00:09:31.323
  • And i'mma hug the one that i saw.
  • 00:09:31.389 --> 00:09:32.090
  • [applause]
  • 00:09:32.390 --> 00:09:32.657
  • >> god bless you.
  • 00:09:32.958 --> 00:09:34.192
  • >> god bless you. >> god bless you.
  • 00:09:34.259 --> 00:09:35.160
  • [applause]
  • 00:09:35.427 --> 00:09:36.061
  • >> you like my glasses?
  • 00:09:36.528 --> 00:09:37.662
  • [applause]
  • 00:09:37.963 --> 00:09:40.932
  • Holly gave me these.
  • 00:09:41.900 --> 00:09:43.034
  • [applause]
  • 00:09:43.301 --> 00:09:45.103
  • She said, "it's time."
  • 00:09:45.837 --> 00:09:46.404
  • She said, "it's time." she said, "it's time,
  • 00:09:46.471 --> 00:09:47.906
  • She said, "it's time, and god wants to give you these,
  • 00:09:47.973 --> 00:09:51.009
  • And god wants to give you these, because you are missing
  • 00:09:51.076 --> 00:09:52.177
  • Because you are missing what's right in front of you."
  • 00:09:52.243 --> 00:09:55.413
  • What's right in front of you." i have one more thing
  • 00:09:55.480 --> 00:09:56.014
  • I have one more thing i wanna show you.
  • 00:09:56.081 --> 00:09:57.482
  • I wanna show you. are you full?
  • 00:09:57.549 --> 00:09:58.116
  • Are you full? i can save it until next week
  • 00:09:58.183 --> 00:10:00.051
  • I can save it until next week or i can bring the whole thing
  • 00:10:00.118 --> 00:10:01.820
  • Or i can bring the whole thing and break it down right now
  • 00:10:01.886 --> 00:10:02.954
  • And break it down right now in case you don't get back.
  • 00:10:03.021 --> 00:10:03.989
  • [applause]
  • 00:10:04.222 --> 00:10:06.791
  • You know i can't trust you
  • 00:10:07.926 --> 00:10:08.693
  • You know i can't trust you to come back every week.
  • 00:10:08.760 --> 00:10:10.228
  • To come back every week. i gotta give it to you
  • 00:10:10.295 --> 00:10:10.895
  • I gotta give it to you while you're here.
  • 00:10:10.962 --> 00:10:11.496
  • [laughter]
  • 00:10:11.763 --> 00:10:13.298
  • Now, listen, as i make
  • 00:10:14.065 --> 00:10:14.799
  • Now, listen, as i make my way back down,
  • 00:10:14.866 --> 00:10:15.634
  • My way back down, notice what i'm doing.
  • 00:10:15.700 --> 00:10:17.969
  • Notice what i'm doing. i'm going far,
  • 00:10:18.036 --> 00:10:20.271
  • I'm going far, i'm not looking far, right?
  • 00:10:20.338 --> 00:10:22.774
  • I'm not looking far, right? i'm going far,
  • 00:10:22.841 --> 00:10:23.675
  • I'm going far, but i'm not looking far.
  • 00:10:23.742 --> 00:10:25.677
  • But i'm not looking far. that's what god
  • 00:10:25.744 --> 00:10:26.111
  • That's what god wants you to see.
  • 00:10:26.177 --> 00:10:27.746
  • "i eagerly expect and hope,"
  • 00:10:27.846 --> 00:10:29.347
  • "i eagerly expect and hope," verse 20.
  • 00:10:29.414 --> 00:10:30.248
  • Verse 20. it's a greek word
  • 00:10:30.315 --> 00:10:31.216
  • It's a greek word that paul used,
  • 00:10:31.282 --> 00:10:32.083
  • That paul used, not for glasses,
  • 00:10:32.150 --> 00:10:32.817
  • Not for glasses, but he makes this word,
  • 00:10:32.884 --> 00:10:34.119
  • But he makes this word, apokaradokia.
  • 00:10:34.185 --> 00:10:35.754
  • Apokaradokia. we're any of you
  • 00:10:35.820 --> 00:10:36.287
  • We're any of you in the church the first year
  • 00:10:36.354 --> 00:10:37.255
  • In the church the first year that i preached that?
  • 00:10:37.322 --> 00:10:38.289
  • That i preached that? apokaradokia.
  • 00:10:38.356 --> 00:10:39.924
  • Apokaradokia. it means to stretch
  • 00:10:39.991 --> 00:10:41.226
  • It means to stretch the head forward.
  • 00:10:41.292 --> 00:10:43.194
  • The head forward. apokaradokia.
  • 00:10:43.261 --> 00:10:44.829
  • Apokaradokia. when he says,
  • 00:10:44.896 --> 00:10:45.296
  • When he says, "i eagerly expect and hope
  • 00:10:45.363 --> 00:10:46.531
  • "i eagerly expect and hope that i will in no way
  • 00:10:46.598 --> 00:10:47.365
  • That i will in no way be ashamed, but will
  • 00:10:47.432 --> 00:10:48.199
  • Be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage
  • 00:10:48.266 --> 00:10:49.067
  • Have sufficient courage so that whatever happens,
  • 00:10:49.134 --> 00:10:50.068
  • So that whatever happens, christ will be exalted
  • 00:10:50.135 --> 00:10:50.568
  • Christ will be exalted in my body," he says,
  • 00:10:50.635 --> 00:10:52.070
  • In my body," he says, "apokaradokia."
  • 00:10:52.137 --> 00:10:53.571
  • "apokaradokia." he says, "i stretch my head
  • 00:10:53.638 --> 00:10:55.840
  • He says, "i stretch my head forward, but not far,
  • 00:10:55.907 --> 00:10:59.644
  • Because i'm in chains
  • 00:10:59.744 --> 00:11:00.178
  • Because i'm in chains right now."
  • 00:11:00.245 --> 00:11:01.312
  • Right now." forward, not far.
  • 00:11:01.379 --> 00:11:03.915
  • Forward, not far. little steps, little things,
  • 00:11:03.982 --> 00:11:06.818
  • Little steps, little things, little moments.
  • 00:11:06.885 --> 00:11:08.219
  • Little moments. forward, but not far.
  • 00:11:08.286 --> 00:11:12.290
  • Forward, but not far. and not to make this negative,
  • 00:11:12.357 --> 00:11:14.993
  • And not to make this negative, but i wanna give you
  • 00:11:15.060 --> 00:11:16.661
  • But i wanna give you the antithesis of
  • 00:11:16.728 --> 00:11:17.662
  • The antithesis of paul's perspective.
  • 00:11:17.729 --> 00:11:19.531
  • Paul's perspective. i do so much.
  • 00:11:19.597 --> 00:11:21.933
  • I do so much. see, when the children of israel
  • 00:11:22.000 --> 00:11:22.767
  • See, when the children of israel had the opportunity to enter
  • 00:11:22.834 --> 00:11:23.768
  • Had the opportunity to enter the promised land under
  • 00:11:23.835 --> 00:11:25.036
  • The promised land under the leadership of moses,
  • 00:11:25.103 --> 00:11:26.204
  • The leadership of moses, they forfeited that.
  • 00:11:26.271 --> 00:11:28.506
  • They forfeited that. they forfeited that.
  • 00:11:28.573 --> 00:11:29.474
  • They forfeited that. it was theirs,
  • 00:11:29.541 --> 00:11:30.141
  • It was theirs, and they forfeited that.
  • 00:11:30.208 --> 00:11:32.477
  • And they forfeited that. it was what god
  • 00:11:32.544 --> 00:11:33.044
  • It was what god wanted them to have,
  • 00:11:33.111 --> 00:11:34.045
  • Wanted them to have, and they forfeited that.
  • 00:11:34.112 --> 00:11:36.314
  • And they forfeited that. so, the account is
  • 00:11:36.381 --> 00:11:37.215
  • So, the account is pretty well known,
  • 00:11:37.282 --> 00:11:38.016
  • Pretty well known, but i don't know that
  • 00:11:38.083 --> 00:11:38.650
  • But i don't know that the details have ever really
  • 00:11:38.717 --> 00:11:39.751
  • The details have ever really been looked at up close.
  • 00:11:39.818 --> 00:11:43.021
  • Been looked at up close. when the spies that went
  • 00:11:43.088 --> 00:11:44.255
  • When the spies that went to check out the land
  • 00:11:44.322 --> 00:11:44.923
  • To check out the land where they would have
  • 00:11:44.989 --> 00:11:45.590
  • Where they would have to fight the battles
  • 00:11:45.657 --> 00:11:46.891
  • To fight the battles to win the promise --
  • 00:11:46.958 --> 00:11:48.727
  • To win the promise -- you have to fight the battles
  • 00:11:48.793 --> 00:11:49.461
  • You have to fight the battles to win the promise.
  • 00:11:49.527 --> 00:11:50.795
  • To win the promise. you have to fight the battles
  • 00:11:50.862 --> 00:11:51.529
  • You have to fight the battles to win the promise.
  • 00:11:51.596 --> 00:11:52.997
  • To win the promise. and when they came back
  • 00:11:53.064 --> 00:11:54.332
  • And when they came back and said, "you know,
  • 00:11:54.399 --> 00:11:56.234
  • And said, "you know, it's pretty amazing in there,"
  • 00:11:56.301 --> 00:11:57.669
  • It's pretty amazing in there," in numbers 13.
  • 00:11:57.736 --> 00:11:59.671
  • In numbers 13. go and put that scripture
  • 00:11:59.738 --> 00:12:00.371
  • Go and put that scripture on the screen, please.
  • 00:12:00.438 --> 00:12:01.973
  • "they gave moses this account:
  • 00:12:02.073 --> 00:12:03.508
  • "they gave moses this account: 'we went into the land
  • 00:12:03.575 --> 00:12:04.743
  • 'we went into the land to which you sent us, and,'"
  • 00:12:04.809 --> 00:12:07.579
  • To which you sent us, and,'" i'm gonna stop on this
  • 00:12:07.645 --> 00:12:08.179
  • I'm gonna stop on this sentence for a moment,
  • 00:12:08.246 --> 00:12:09.147
  • Sentence for a moment, "it does flow
  • 00:12:09.214 --> 00:12:10.048
  • "it does flow with milk and honey!
  • 00:12:10.115 --> 00:12:11.716
  • With milk and honey! here is its fruit."
  • 00:12:11.783 --> 00:12:13.585
  • Here is its fruit." where is its fruit?
  • 00:12:13.651 --> 00:12:14.919
  • Where is its fruit? here.
  • 00:12:14.986 --> 00:12:15.854
  • Here. they brought it
  • 00:12:15.920 --> 00:12:16.287
  • They brought it back on a pole.
  • 00:12:16.354 --> 00:12:17.489
  • Back on a pole. two of them carried
  • 00:12:17.555 --> 00:12:18.223
  • Two of them carried the fruit of canaan.
  • 00:12:18.289 --> 00:12:19.758
  • The fruit of canaan. these people had never
  • 00:12:19.824 --> 00:12:20.792
  • Eaten the fruit of the land.
  • 00:12:20.892 --> 00:12:22.761
  • Eaten the fruit of the land. many of them had only
  • 00:12:22.827 --> 00:12:24.062
  • Many of them had only existed in egypt,
  • 00:12:24.129 --> 00:12:26.231
  • Existed in egypt, and so they had never had
  • 00:12:26.297 --> 00:12:27.332
  • And so they had never had this kind of fruit before.
  • 00:12:27.398 --> 00:12:29.534
  • This kind of fruit before. well, just about the time
  • 00:12:29.601 --> 00:12:31.236
  • Well, just about the time they're looking at the fruit
  • 00:12:31.302 --> 00:12:32.670
  • They're looking at the fruit and seeing a picture,
  • 00:12:32.737 --> 00:12:34.005
  • And seeing a picture, catch this phrase,
  • 00:12:34.072 --> 00:12:35.240
  • Catch this phrase, of what their tomorrow
  • 00:12:35.306 --> 00:12:36.574
  • Of what their tomorrow could taste like,
  • 00:12:36.641 --> 00:12:39.377
  • Could taste like, what their tomorrow
  • 00:12:39.444 --> 00:12:41.179
  • What their tomorrow could taste like.
  • 00:12:41.246 --> 00:12:41.980
  • Could taste like. sometimes god will give you
  • 00:12:42.046 --> 00:12:43.114
  • Sometimes god will give you a taste of what your
  • 00:12:43.181 --> 00:12:43.915
  • A taste of what your tomorrow could be like,
  • 00:12:43.982 --> 00:12:46.584
  • Of what it could be like
  • 00:12:46.684 --> 00:12:47.385
  • Of what it could be like if you were open and free,
  • 00:12:47.452 --> 00:12:48.553
  • If you were open and free, of what it could be like
  • 00:12:48.620 --> 00:12:49.354
  • Of what it could be like if you were focused
  • 00:12:49.420 --> 00:12:50.221
  • If you were focused and not distracted,
  • 00:12:50.288 --> 00:12:51.189
  • And not distracted, of what it could be like
  • 00:12:51.256 --> 00:12:51.923
  • Of what it could be like if you were a servant
  • 00:12:51.990 --> 00:12:54.359
  • If you were a servant rather than seeing yourself
  • 00:12:54.425 --> 00:12:55.660
  • Rather than seeing yourself as a continual chaser of status.
  • 00:12:55.727 --> 00:12:58.596
  • As a continual chaser of status. god will give you a glimpse
  • 00:12:58.663 --> 00:13:01.766
  • God will give you a glimpse and a taste of what
  • 00:13:01.833 --> 00:13:02.534
  • Tomorrow could be like.
  • 00:13:02.634 --> 00:13:03.468
  • Tomorrow could be like. "here is its fruit.
  • 00:13:03.535 --> 00:13:06.104
  • But the people who live
  • 00:13:06.204 --> 00:13:08.573
  • But the people who live there are powerful,
  • 00:13:08.640 --> 00:13:10.341
  • There are powerful, and the cities are fortified
  • 00:13:10.408 --> 00:13:12.076
  • And the cities are fortified and very large.
  • 00:13:12.143 --> 00:13:14.245
  • And very large. we even saw descendants
  • 00:13:14.312 --> 00:13:17.248
  • We even saw descendants of anak there."
  • 00:13:17.315 --> 00:13:18.550
  • Of anak there." go back to verse 27,
  • 00:13:18.616 --> 00:13:20.685
  • Go back to verse 27, "here is its fruit."
  • 00:13:20.752 --> 00:13:22.554
  • "here is its fruit." "it's fruitful.
  • 00:13:22.620 --> 00:13:24.689
  • "it's fruitful. it's beautiful.
  • 00:13:24.756 --> 00:13:25.857
  • It's beautiful. it's amazing.
  • 00:13:25.924 --> 00:13:26.524
  • It's amazing. we saw it with our own eyes.
  • 00:13:26.591 --> 00:13:28.059
  • We saw it with our own eyes. it's fruitful, and it flows.
  • 00:13:28.126 --> 00:13:29.661
  • It's fruitful, and it flows. but," watch this, verse 28,
  • 00:13:29.727 --> 00:13:33.164
  • But," watch this, verse 28, "it's fortified,
  • 00:13:33.231 --> 00:13:35.366
  • "it's fortified, and we're gonna have to fight."
  • 00:13:35.433 --> 00:13:37.402
  • And we're gonna have to fight." now, fortified means
  • 00:13:37.468 --> 00:13:39.103
  • Now, fortified means it's protected.
  • 00:13:39.170 --> 00:13:41.673
  • Some of you will remember
  • 00:13:41.773 --> 00:13:42.574
  • Some of you will remember that the first city
  • 00:13:42.640 --> 00:13:43.675
  • That the first city that they fought was jericho.
  • 00:13:43.741 --> 00:13:46.511
  • That they fought was jericho. and the significance
  • 00:13:46.578 --> 00:13:47.445
  • And the significance about jericho was not
  • 00:13:47.512 --> 00:13:48.546
  • About jericho was not the size of the city,
  • 00:13:48.613 --> 00:13:49.647
  • The size of the city, it was the height of the walls.
  • 00:13:49.714 --> 00:13:52.217
  • It was the height of the walls. so, when they said,
  • 00:13:52.283 --> 00:13:53.051
  • So, when they said, "it's fortified,"
  • 00:13:53.117 --> 00:13:53.585
  • "it's fortified," they said, "it's got
  • 00:13:53.651 --> 00:13:55.053
  • They said, "it's got really big walls," right?
  • 00:13:55.119 --> 00:13:57.755
  • Really big walls," right? "it's fortified.
  • 00:13:57.822 --> 00:13:58.556
  • "it's fortified. it's fruitful,
  • 00:13:58.623 --> 00:14:00.225
  • It's fruitful, but it's fortified."
  • 00:14:00.291 --> 00:14:02.093
  • But it's fortified." now here comes the decision.
  • 00:14:02.160 --> 00:14:03.595
  • Now here comes the decision. paul said, "what shall i choose?
  • 00:14:03.661 --> 00:14:05.663
  • Paul said, "what shall i choose? one is pulling me
  • 00:14:05.730 --> 00:14:06.497
  • One is pulling me toward purpose,
  • 00:14:06.564 --> 00:14:07.599
  • Toward purpose, one is pulling me
  • 00:14:07.665 --> 00:14:08.533
  • One is pulling me toward what is easy.
  • 00:14:08.600 --> 00:14:09.901
  • Toward what is easy. i'm gonna go with
  • 00:14:09.968 --> 00:14:10.735
  • I'm gonna go with the purpose of god
  • 00:14:10.802 --> 00:14:11.469
  • The purpose of god in this season of my life.
  • 00:14:11.536 --> 00:14:12.871
  • In this season of my life. apokaradokia.
  • 00:14:12.937 --> 00:14:13.972
  • Apokaradokia. i'm stretching my head forward."
  • 00:14:14.038 --> 00:14:16.808
  • I'm stretching my head forward." and at just the moment
  • 00:14:16.875 --> 00:14:18.509
  • And at just the moment that the people of god
  • 00:14:18.576 --> 00:14:19.911
  • That the people of god could have gone forward,
  • 00:14:19.978 --> 00:14:22.914
  • Could have gone forward, they got farsighted.
  • 00:14:22.981 --> 00:14:25.950
  • They got farsighted. they started thinking about
  • 00:14:26.017 --> 00:14:27.185
  • They started thinking about who they were going to have
  • 00:14:27.252 --> 00:14:27.919
  • Who they were going to have to fight when they got there.
  • 00:14:27.986 --> 00:14:31.823
  • To fight when they got there. but here's the bad thing
  • 00:14:31.890 --> 00:14:32.824
  • But here's the bad thing about forecasting a fight
  • 00:14:32.891 --> 00:14:34.759
  • About forecasting a fight before you are even
  • 00:14:34.826 --> 00:14:35.627
  • Before you are even on-site to fight it.
  • 00:14:35.693 --> 00:14:38.062
  • On-site to fight it. you don't realize that god
  • 00:14:38.129 --> 00:14:39.264
  • You don't realize that god is going to give you
  • 00:14:39.330 --> 00:14:40.632
  • Is going to give you the backup when you show up.
  • 00:14:40.698 --> 00:14:43.001
  • [applause]
  • 00:14:43.268 --> 00:14:46.271
  • You don't know the future,
  • 00:14:47.505 --> 00:14:48.539
  • You don't know the future, that when you look at
  • 00:14:48.606 --> 00:14:49.874
  • That when you look at those fortified jericho walls,
  • 00:14:49.941 --> 00:14:52.477
  • Those fortified jericho walls, those hard things in your life,
  • 00:14:52.543 --> 00:14:53.978
  • Those hard things in your life, those tall things,
  • 00:14:54.045 --> 00:14:54.979
  • Those tall things, those strongholds in your life,
  • 00:14:55.046 --> 00:14:56.581
  • Those strongholds in your life, you don't realize that as you
  • 00:14:56.648 --> 00:14:57.882
  • You don't realize that as you think about them in the future,
  • 00:14:57.949 --> 00:14:59.984
  • Think about them in the future, they are fortified.
  • 00:15:00.051 --> 00:15:01.286
  • They are fortified. but when you get there,
  • 00:15:01.352 --> 00:15:03.621
  • But when you get there, god is gonna give you
  • 00:15:03.688 --> 00:15:04.289
  • God is gonna give you a trumpet to blow.
  • 00:15:04.355 --> 00:15:06.858
  • A trumpet to blow. and when you blow that trumpet,
  • 00:15:06.925 --> 00:15:09.160
  • And when you blow that trumpet, something supernatural
  • 00:15:09.227 --> 00:15:10.695
  • Something supernatural is going to happen
  • 00:15:10.762 --> 00:15:12.563
  • Is going to happen that only god could do.
  • 00:15:12.630 --> 00:15:14.232
  • That only god could do. you couldn't do it.
  • 00:15:14.299 --> 00:15:15.600
  • You couldn't do it. i like sticking
  • 00:15:15.667 --> 00:15:16.334
  • I like sticking my glasses at you.
  • 00:15:16.401 --> 00:15:17.402
  • [laughter]
  • 00:15:17.669 --> 00:15:18.136
  • Feel like a wise old man,
  • 00:15:19.237 --> 00:15:20.872
  • Feel like a wise old man, full of passion and insight.
  • 00:15:20.939 --> 00:15:23.975
  • Full of passion and insight. because when you get there,
  • 00:15:24.042 --> 00:15:25.944
  • Because when you get there, you will have
  • 00:15:26.010 --> 00:15:26.711
  • You will have the strength for there.
  • 00:15:26.778 --> 00:15:30.048
  • The strength for there. you've got to go forward,
  • 00:15:30.114 --> 00:15:32.383
  • You've got to go forward, but not too far.
  • 00:15:32.450 --> 00:15:34.385
  • But not too far. you gotta go forward.
  • 00:15:34.452 --> 00:15:35.286
  • You gotta go forward. and don't start thinking about,
  • 00:15:35.353 --> 00:15:36.120
  • And don't start thinking about, "what is this gonna be
  • 00:15:36.187 --> 00:15:36.888
  • "what is this gonna be in three years?"
  • 00:15:36.955 --> 00:15:37.689
  • In three years?" what is it gonna be
  • 00:15:37.755 --> 00:15:38.323
  • What is it gonna be in three minutes?
  • 00:15:38.389 --> 00:15:39.891
  • In three minutes? when we first started church --
  • 00:15:39.958 --> 00:15:40.658
  • When we first started church -- i don't know, if you
  • 00:15:40.725 --> 00:15:41.292
  • I don't know, if you remember this, chunks.
  • 00:15:41.359 --> 00:15:41.993
  • Remember this, chunks. but people used to
  • 00:15:42.060 --> 00:15:42.827
  • But people used to always meet with us.
  • 00:15:42.894 --> 00:15:43.428
  • Always meet with us. the church grew so fast, right?
  • 00:15:43.494 --> 00:15:45.563
  • The church grew so fast, right? and we would meet with people.
  • 00:15:45.630 --> 00:15:46.965
  • And we would meet with people. and at the time, most of
  • 00:15:47.031 --> 00:15:48.099
  • The people coming to the church
  • 00:15:48.199 --> 00:15:49.500
  • The people coming to the church were teenagers
  • 00:15:49.567 --> 00:15:50.468
  • Were teenagers and their parents.
  • 00:15:50.535 --> 00:15:51.803
  • And their parents. there were no in-betweens.
  • 00:15:51.869 --> 00:15:53.738
  • There were no in-betweens. and i figured out what happened.
  • 00:15:53.805 --> 00:15:54.672
  • And i figured out what happened. the teenagers came.
  • 00:15:54.739 --> 00:15:55.573
  • The teenagers came. they thought it was cool.
  • 00:15:55.640 --> 00:15:56.674
  • They thought it was cool. the parents came
  • 00:15:56.741 --> 00:15:57.608
  • The parents came to see if it was a cult.
  • 00:15:57.675 --> 00:15:58.576
  • [laughter]
  • 00:15:58.876 --> 00:15:59.310
  • Isn't that exactly
  • 00:15:59.978 --> 00:16:00.578
  • Isn't that exactly what happened?
  • 00:16:00.645 --> 00:16:01.546
  • What happened? and we just grew
  • 00:16:01.612 --> 00:16:02.280
  • Both ways there.
  • 00:16:02.380 --> 00:16:03.848
  • Both ways there. and then the parents came,
  • 00:16:03.915 --> 00:16:04.615
  • And then the parents came, and they were like,
  • 00:16:04.682 --> 00:16:05.116
  • And they were like, "it's not a cult,
  • 00:16:05.183 --> 00:16:05.650
  • "it's not a cult, but it is pretty cool."
  • 00:16:05.717 --> 00:16:06.918
  • But it is pretty cool." and, you know,
  • 00:16:06.985 --> 00:16:07.518
  • And, you know, and everybody stayed,
  • 00:16:07.585 --> 00:16:08.286
  • And everybody stayed, and we preached christ,
  • 00:16:08.353 --> 00:16:09.120
  • And we preached christ, and god did amazing miracles.
  • 00:16:09.187 --> 00:16:10.321
  • And god did amazing miracles. but when we sat down
  • 00:16:10.388 --> 00:16:11.356
  • But when we sat down for the first time to meet
  • 00:16:11.422 --> 00:16:12.256
  • For the first time to meet with many of the couples
  • 00:16:12.323 --> 00:16:13.157
  • With many of the couples that were coming,
  • 00:16:13.224 --> 00:16:14.592
  • That were coming, they would ask a question.
  • 00:16:14.659 --> 00:16:15.727
  • They would ask a question. and i think three
  • 00:16:15.793 --> 00:16:16.227
  • And i think three in a row asked this.
  • 00:16:16.294 --> 00:16:17.261
  • In a row asked this. they said, "well, what's
  • 00:16:17.328 --> 00:16:18.196
  • They said, "well, what's the plan for elevation church
  • 00:16:18.262 --> 00:16:19.998
  • The plan for elevation church if you get hit
  • 00:16:20.064 --> 00:16:20.965
  • If you get hit by a bus, pastor?"
  • 00:16:21.032 --> 00:16:23.668
  • By a bus, pastor?" and when the first person
  • 00:16:23.735 --> 00:16:24.268
  • And when the first person asked it, i was like,
  • 00:16:24.335 --> 00:16:24.902
  • Asked it, i was like, "i don't know."
  • 00:16:24.969 --> 00:16:26.371
  • "i don't know." second person asked,
  • 00:16:26.437 --> 00:16:27.138
  • Second person asked, i'm like, "i don't know."
  • 00:16:27.205 --> 00:16:28.639
  • I'm like, "i don't know." third person asked, i'm like,
  • 00:16:28.706 --> 00:16:29.440
  • Third person asked, i'm like, "do you know something
  • 00:16:29.507 --> 00:16:30.274
  • "do you know something about a bus driver that i --
  • 00:16:30.341 --> 00:16:31.409
  • About a bus driver that i -- is there," --
  • 00:16:31.476 --> 00:16:31.809
  • [laughter]
  • 00:16:32.043 --> 00:16:32.343
  • Give me bus phobia.
  • 00:16:33.344 --> 00:16:36.247
  • Give me bus phobia. still kinda cringe
  • 00:16:36.314 --> 00:16:37.081
  • Still kinda cringe when i see a bus
  • 00:16:37.148 --> 00:16:37.849
  • When i see a bus 'cause it's traumatizing.
  • 00:16:37.915 --> 00:16:41.686
  • 'cause it's traumatizing. "what is the church
  • 00:16:41.753 --> 00:16:42.353
  • "what is the church gonna do without you?"
  • 00:16:42.420 --> 00:16:43.688
  • Gonna do without you?" they would ask.
  • 00:16:43.755 --> 00:16:45.356
  • They would ask. then i'd finally looked at
  • 00:16:45.423 --> 00:16:46.190
  • Then i'd finally looked at the third one and say,
  • 00:16:46.257 --> 00:16:46.824
  • The third one and say, "i don't even know what
  • 00:16:46.891 --> 00:16:47.458
  • "i don't even know what the church gonna do with me.
  • 00:16:47.525 --> 00:16:49.727
  • The church gonna do with me. i never did this before."
  • 00:16:49.794 --> 00:16:51.729
  • I never did this before." "what happens if you
  • 00:16:51.796 --> 00:16:52.230
  • "what happens if you get hit by a bus?"
  • 00:16:52.296 --> 00:16:52.830
  • Get hit by a bus?" "what happens if i don't?
  • 00:16:52.897 --> 00:16:54.932
  • "what happens if i don't? i don't even know
  • 00:16:54.999 --> 00:16:55.500
  • I don't even know the second one.
  • 00:16:55.566 --> 00:16:56.334
  • The second one. how can i know the first one?"
  • 00:16:56.401 --> 00:16:57.168
  • [laughter]
  • 00:16:57.435 --> 00:16:58.269
  • And i believe in
  • 00:16:59.037 --> 00:16:59.637
  • And i believe in a succession plan,
  • 00:16:59.704 --> 00:17:01.839
  • A succession plan, and i believe in contingencies,
  • 00:17:01.906 --> 00:17:03.941
  • And i believe in contingencies, and i believe in plan bs,
  • 00:17:04.008 --> 00:17:06.344
  • And i believe in plan bs, but i also believe that
  • 00:17:06.411 --> 00:17:08.279
  • But i also believe that you need to trust god.
  • 00:17:08.346 --> 00:17:09.680
  • [applause]
  • 00:17:09.947 --> 00:17:13.051
  • That you need to trust god.
  • 00:17:13.718 --> 00:17:15.053
  • [applause]
  • 00:17:15.286 --> 00:17:16.888
  • Trust him so you don't trip.
  • 00:17:18.222 --> 00:17:23.127
  • Trust him so you don't trip. trust him so you don't trip.
  • 00:17:23.194 --> 00:17:25.830
  • Trust him so you don't trip. trust him right now.
  • 00:17:25.897 --> 00:17:27.198
  • Trust him right now. paul said, "so that now
  • 00:17:27.265 --> 00:17:28.366
  • Paul said, "so that now as always christ
  • 00:17:28.433 --> 00:17:29.534
  • As always christ will be exalted in my body."
  • 00:17:29.600 --> 00:17:31.369
  • Will be exalted in my body." so, there are two groups
  • 00:17:31.436 --> 00:17:32.103
  • So, there are two groups of people in here.
  • 00:17:32.170 --> 00:17:34.005
  • Of people in here. the first one is like
  • 00:17:34.072 --> 00:17:34.705
  • The first one is like the israelites.
  • 00:17:34.772 --> 00:17:37.308
  • The israelites. and when they thought about
  • 00:17:37.375 --> 00:17:38.209
  • And when they thought about what was ahead of them,
  • 00:17:38.276 --> 00:17:39.077
  • What was ahead of them, and the fight,
  • 00:17:39.143 --> 00:17:39.577
  • And the fight, and the expense of it --
  • 00:17:39.644 --> 00:17:40.411
  • And the expense of it -- and those of us who live
  • 00:17:40.478 --> 00:17:41.279
  • And those of us who live in states of mind that are
  • 00:17:41.345 --> 00:17:42.814
  • In states of mind that are always forecasting the fights
  • 00:17:42.880 --> 00:17:44.048
  • Always forecasting the fights in the future,
  • 00:17:44.115 --> 00:17:44.615
  • In the future, this is what happens.
  • 00:17:44.682 --> 00:17:45.750
  • This is what happens. in chapter 14 of exodus,
  • 00:17:45.817 --> 00:17:47.985
  • In chapter 14 of exodus, i think this is one of the --
  • 00:17:48.052 --> 00:17:49.120
  • I think this is one of the -- or in numbers.
  • 00:17:49.187 --> 00:17:49.720
  • Or in numbers. this is one of
  • 00:17:49.787 --> 00:17:50.288
  • This is one of the saddest scriptures
  • 00:17:50.354 --> 00:17:51.289
  • The saddest scriptures that you will ever see.
  • 00:17:51.355 --> 00:17:52.590
  • That you will ever see. the people of god who were
  • 00:17:52.657 --> 00:17:53.758
  • The people of god who were poised and promise to be
  • 00:17:53.825 --> 00:17:54.892
  • Poised and promise to be possessors of the land,
  • 00:17:54.959 --> 00:17:56.994
  • Possessors of the land, they start questioning god.
  • 00:17:57.061 --> 00:17:58.262
  • "why is the lord bringing us
  • 00:17:58.362 --> 00:17:59.697
  • "why is the lord bringing us to this land only to let us
  • 00:17:59.764 --> 00:18:00.965
  • To this land only to let us fall by the sword?
  • 00:18:01.032 --> 00:18:03.000
  • Fall by the sword? our wives and children
  • 00:18:03.067 --> 00:18:03.835
  • Our wives and children will be taken as plunder.
  • 00:18:03.901 --> 00:18:04.969
  • Will be taken as plunder. wouldn't it be better for us
  • 00:18:05.036 --> 00:18:06.704
  • Wouldn't it be better for us to go back to egypt?"
  • 00:18:06.771 --> 00:18:10.641
  • To go back to egypt?" and you can't go forward
  • 00:18:10.708 --> 00:18:11.876
  • And you can't go forward looking back like that.
  • 00:18:11.943 --> 00:18:14.812
  • Looking back like that. and you can't go forward
  • 00:18:14.879 --> 00:18:15.847
  • And you can't go forward trying to forecast
  • 00:18:15.913 --> 00:18:17.014
  • Trying to forecast what's gonna happen with
  • 00:18:17.081 --> 00:18:17.882
  • What's gonna happen with the wall that god is gonna
  • 00:18:17.949 --> 00:18:19.050
  • The wall that god is gonna knock down that you don't
  • 00:18:19.117 --> 00:18:19.917
  • Knock down that you don't even know about yet.
  • 00:18:19.984 --> 00:18:22.854
  • Even know about yet. "wouldn't it be better for us
  • 00:18:22.920 --> 00:18:23.988
  • "wouldn't it be better for us to go back to egypt?"
  • 00:18:24.055 --> 00:18:25.289
  • To go back to egypt?" verse 4.
  • 00:18:25.356 --> 00:18:26.624
  • Verse 4. "and they said to each other,
  • 00:18:26.691 --> 00:18:27.792
  • "and they said to each other, 'we should choose a leader
  • 00:18:27.859 --> 00:18:30.461
  • 'we should choose a leader and go back to egypt.'"
  • 00:18:30.528 --> 00:18:33.865
  • And go back to egypt.'" paul does just the opposite.
  • 00:18:33.931 --> 00:18:37.034
  • Paul does just the opposite. in the moment of uncertainty
  • 00:18:37.101 --> 00:18:38.202
  • He says, "i'm not
  • 00:18:38.302 --> 00:18:39.504
  • He says, "i'm not going back anywhere.
  • 00:18:39.570 --> 00:18:41.606
  • Going back anywhere. i'm going forward
  • 00:18:41.672 --> 00:18:43.441
  • I'm going forward and i'm gonna focus on
  • 00:18:43.508 --> 00:18:44.942
  • And i'm gonna focus on what's right in front of me
  • 00:18:45.009 --> 00:18:46.944
  • What's right in front of me at this moment,
  • 00:18:47.011 --> 00:18:48.212
  • At this moment, and i'm letting go
  • 00:18:48.279 --> 00:18:49.180
  • And i'm letting go of what i can't control."
  • 00:18:49.247 --> 00:18:50.915
  • Of what i can't control." is this your word, man?
  • 00:18:50.982 --> 00:18:52.250
  • Is this your word, man? because there is
  • 00:18:52.316 --> 00:18:52.817
  • Because there is somebody in here
  • 00:18:52.884 --> 00:18:53.885
  • Somebody in here who is being pulled back,
  • 00:18:53.951 --> 00:18:56.120
  • Who is being pulled back, dragged back, tempted back,
  • 00:18:56.187 --> 00:18:58.956
  • Dragged back, tempted back, distracted back.
  • 00:18:59.023 --> 00:19:00.658
  • Distracted back. and the word of the lord is,
  • 00:19:00.725 --> 00:19:01.993
  • And the word of the lord is, "forward, not far.
  • 00:19:02.059 --> 00:19:05.062
  • "forward, not far. not far."
  • 00:19:05.129 --> 00:19:06.531
  • Not far." this is gonna be
  • 00:19:06.597 --> 00:19:07.231
  • This is gonna be a step-by-step miracle.
  • 00:19:07.298 --> 00:19:09.467
  • A step-by-step miracle. this is gonna be
  • 00:19:09.534 --> 00:19:10.067
  • This is gonna be a breath-by-breath miracle.
  • 00:19:10.134 --> 00:19:12.203
  • A breath-by-breath miracle. this is gonna be
  • 00:19:12.270 --> 00:19:13.004
  • A day-by-day,
  • 00:19:13.104 --> 00:19:14.305
  • A day-by-day, moment-by-moment miracle.
  • 00:19:14.372 --> 00:19:16.274
  • Moment-by-moment miracle. and god is doing it
  • 00:19:16.340 --> 00:19:17.975
  • And god is doing it in your life,
  • 00:19:18.042 --> 00:19:20.178
  • In your life, just so long as you know
  • 00:19:20.244 --> 00:19:22.547
  • Just so long as you know that you can stretch
  • 00:19:22.613 --> 00:19:23.447
  • That you can stretch your head forward in faith.
  • 00:19:23.514 --> 00:19:26.450
  • Your head forward in faith. you can only see 3 feet,
  • 00:19:26.517 --> 00:19:29.187
  • You can only see 3 feet, but you can make
  • 00:19:29.253 --> 00:19:29.787
  • But you can make the whole trip that way.
  • 00:19:29.854 --> 00:19:33.524
  • And, by the way, holly,
  • 00:19:33.624 --> 00:19:36.160
  • And, by the way, holly, they were a 150 miles
  • 00:19:36.227 --> 00:19:37.929
  • They were a 150 miles from egypt,
  • 00:19:37.995 --> 00:19:39.931
  • From egypt, only 50 miles from canaan.
  • 00:19:39.997 --> 00:19:43.234
  • Only 50 miles from canaan. it would have been closer
  • 00:19:43.301 --> 00:19:44.335
  • It would have been closer for them to keep going forward
  • 00:19:44.402 --> 00:19:45.736
  • For them to keep going forward than it would to go back.
  • 00:19:45.803 --> 00:19:48.539
  • Than it would to go back. i came to tell somebody,
  • 00:19:48.606 --> 00:19:50.041
  • I came to tell somebody, you're closer than
  • 00:19:50.107 --> 00:19:50.741
  • You're closer than you think you are.
  • 00:19:50.808 --> 00:19:51.943
  • You think you are. you cannot go back now.
  • 00:19:52.009 --> 00:19:53.244
  • [applause]
  • 00:19:53.511 --> 00:19:53.844
  • You -- no, no.
  • 00:19:54.412 --> 00:19:56.047
  • You -- no, no. listen to me.
  • 00:19:56.113 --> 00:19:56.847
  • Listen to me. you have come too far.
  • 00:19:56.914 --> 00:19:59.250
  • You have come too far. you hear me?
  • 00:19:59.317 --> 00:19:59.984
  • You hear me? you have come too far
  • 00:20:00.051 --> 00:20:02.320
  • You have come too far to forfeit this.
  • 00:20:02.386 --> 00:20:04.322
  • To forfeit this. after all that he's done,
  • 00:20:04.388 --> 00:20:06.924
  • After all that he's done, after all that you've seen,
  • 00:20:06.991 --> 00:20:09.293
  • After all that you've seen, after all that
  • 00:20:09.360 --> 00:20:10.294
  • After all that he brought you through,
  • 00:20:10.361 --> 00:20:12.096
  • He brought you through, don't you wanna run on
  • 00:20:12.163 --> 00:20:13.631
  • Don't you wanna run on and see what the end
  • 00:20:13.698 --> 00:20:15.266
  • And see what the end is going to be?
  • 00:20:15.333 --> 00:20:17.902
  • Is going to be? somebody, say,
  • 00:20:17.969 --> 00:20:18.569
  • Somebody, say, "i will go.
  • 00:20:18.636 --> 00:20:20.438
  • "i will go. i shall go."
  • 00:20:20.504 --> 00:20:21.405
  • [applause]
  • 00:20:21.672 --> 00:20:26.244
  • And father, i thank you
  • 00:20:27.178 --> 00:20:28.246
  • And father, i thank you for your prevailing word.
  • 00:20:28.312 --> 00:20:30.948
  • For your prevailing word. "all flesh is like
  • 00:20:31.015 --> 00:20:31.882
  • "all flesh is like the grass of the field.
  • 00:20:31.949 --> 00:20:33.050
  • The grass of the field. it pales, and it withers,
  • 00:20:33.117 --> 00:20:34.719
  • It pales, and it withers, and it fades, and it dies.
  • 00:20:34.785 --> 00:20:36.854
  • And it fades, and it dies. but the word of the lord
  • 00:20:36.921 --> 00:20:37.722
  • But the word of the lord stands forever."
  • 00:20:37.788 --> 00:20:40.625
  • Stands forever." god, i thank you
  • 00:20:40.691 --> 00:20:41.359
  • God, i thank you for the great faith
  • 00:20:41.425 --> 00:20:43.628
  • For the great faith of the apostle paul,
  • 00:20:43.694 --> 00:20:45.596
  • Of the apostle paul, who gives us a picture today
  • 00:20:45.663 --> 00:20:47.865
  • Who gives us a picture today of what it means to be
  • 00:20:47.932 --> 00:20:49.200
  • Of what it means to be in a space that never
  • 00:20:49.267 --> 00:20:50.501
  • In a space that never would have been his choice.
  • 00:20:50.568 --> 00:20:53.371
  • Would have been his choice. but i thank you, lord,
  • 00:20:53.437 --> 00:20:54.238
  • But i thank you, lord, that he gave us a picture
  • 00:20:54.305 --> 00:20:55.640
  • That he gave us a picture of what to do
  • 00:20:55.706 --> 00:20:57.441
  • Of what to do when the situation
  • 00:20:57.508 --> 00:20:58.342
  • When the situation that is surrounding us
  • 00:20:58.409 --> 00:20:59.777
  • That is surrounding us does not correspond
  • 00:20:59.844 --> 00:21:01.579
  • Does not correspond to the promise
  • 00:21:01.646 --> 00:21:02.546
  • To the promise that is inside of us.
  • 00:21:02.613 --> 00:21:04.081
  • That is inside of us. i'm stretching forward.
  • 00:21:04.148 --> 00:21:06.851
  • I'm stretching forward. if all i can stretch
  • 00:21:06.917 --> 00:21:07.985
  • If all i can stretch forward is my head,
  • 00:21:08.052 --> 00:21:09.053
  • Forward is my head, i stretch my head forward.
  • 00:21:09.120 --> 00:21:10.921
  • I stretch my head forward. if all i can stretch forward
  • 00:21:10.988 --> 00:21:12.089
  • If all i can stretch forward is a weak prayer,
  • 00:21:12.156 --> 00:21:13.224
  • Is a weak prayer, i stretch that forward too,
  • 00:21:13.291 --> 00:21:15.726
  • I stretch that forward too, because i know you did not
  • 00:21:15.793 --> 00:21:18.029
  • Because i know you did not bring me this far to leave me.
  • 00:21:18.095 --> 00:21:24.468
  • Bring me this far to leave me. i thank you god
  • 00:21:24.535 --> 00:21:25.202
  • I thank you god that you do have plans,
  • 00:21:25.269 --> 00:21:28.539
  • That you do have plans, a hope, a future,
  • 00:21:28.606 --> 00:21:32.009
  • A hope, a future, for each and everyone
  • 00:21:32.076 --> 00:21:33.044
  • For each and everyone that you've sent me
  • 00:21:33.110 --> 00:21:33.744
  • That you've sent me to minister to today.
  • 00:21:33.811 --> 00:21:36.947
  • To minister to today. i thank you that this week
  • 00:21:37.014 --> 00:21:38.015
  • I thank you that this week they're gonna get your glasses.
  • 00:21:38.082 --> 00:21:39.583
  • [laughing]
  • 00:21:39.850 --> 00:21:41.419
  • I pray, god, this week
  • 00:21:42.553 --> 00:21:43.587
  • I pray, god, this week that when parents are
  • 00:21:43.654 --> 00:21:44.889
  • That when parents are starting to worry too much,
  • 00:21:44.955 --> 00:21:46.190
  • Starting to worry too much, teenagers would hand
  • 00:21:46.257 --> 00:21:47.224
  • Teenagers would hand them some glasses.
  • 00:21:47.291 --> 00:21:48.993
  • Them some glasses. i pray that when teenagers
  • 00:21:49.060 --> 00:21:50.094
  • I pray that when teenagers are starting to get
  • 00:21:50.161 --> 00:21:51.128
  • Are starting to get too distracted by
  • 00:21:51.195 --> 00:21:51.796
  • Too distracted by what's out in the front
  • 00:21:51.862 --> 00:21:52.763
  • What's out in the front that their parent would
  • 00:21:52.830 --> 00:21:53.264
  • That their parent would hand them some glasses.
  • 00:21:53.331 --> 00:21:55.599
  • Hand them some glasses. i pray that when we're all alone
  • 00:21:55.666 --> 00:21:57.001
  • I pray that when we're all alone in the secrecy of our own
  • 00:21:57.068 --> 00:21:58.836
  • In the secrecy of our own self sabotage and the thoughts
  • 00:21:58.903 --> 00:22:00.371
  • Self sabotage and the thoughts that we think that torment us,
  • 00:22:00.438 --> 00:22:03.140
  • That we think that torment us, that you would give us
  • 00:22:03.207 --> 00:22:03.841
  • That you would give us your glasses so that
  • 00:22:03.908 --> 00:22:05.943
  • Your glasses so that we would go forward
  • 00:22:06.010 --> 00:22:06.644
  • We would go forward and realize that
  • 00:22:06.711 --> 00:22:07.211
  • And realize that you are not far.
  • 00:22:07.278 --> 00:22:11.048
  • You are not far. thank you for drawing
  • 00:22:11.115 --> 00:22:12.016
  • Thank you for drawing near to us today, god.
  • 00:22:12.083 --> 00:22:14.251
  • Near to us today, god. it's amazing how you
  • 00:22:14.318 --> 00:22:14.985
  • It's amazing how you meet with us.
  • 00:22:15.052 --> 00:22:16.954
  • Meet with us. thank you for the promise
  • 00:22:17.021 --> 00:22:17.888
  • Thank you for the promise that when we draw near to you
  • 00:22:17.955 --> 00:22:18.856
  • That when we draw near to you you will draw near to us.
  • 00:22:18.923 --> 00:22:19.990
  • You will draw near to us. and if we humble ourself
  • 00:22:20.057 --> 00:22:21.325
  • And if we humble ourself under your mighty hand,
  • 00:22:21.392 --> 00:22:22.093
  • Under your mighty hand, you'll lift us up in due time.
  • 00:22:22.159 --> 00:22:24.795
  • You'll lift us up in due time. i pray for each person today
  • 00:22:24.862 --> 00:22:26.063
  • I pray for each person today who is experiencing
  • 00:22:26.130 --> 00:22:27.631
  • Who is experiencing a prison sentence of sorts.
  • 00:22:27.698 --> 00:22:30.868
  • A prison sentence of sorts. i pray that they would
  • 00:22:30.935 --> 00:22:31.469
  • I pray that they would not have clarity,
  • 00:22:31.535 --> 00:22:35.005
  • Not have clarity, but that they would
  • 00:22:35.072 --> 00:22:35.706
  • But that they would trust in god.
  • 00:22:35.773 --> 00:22:41.278
  • Trust in god. i pray that you would
  • 00:22:41.345 --> 00:22:44.849
  • I pray that you would trust in god.
  • 00:22:44.915 --> 00:22:48.152
  • >> if you feel like
  • 00:22:49.520 --> 00:22:50.221
  • >> if you feel like pastor steven was speaking
  • 00:22:50.287 --> 00:22:51.822
  • Pastor steven was speaking right to you while you were
  • 00:22:51.889 --> 00:22:53.290
  • Right to you while you were watching this message,
  • 00:22:53.357 --> 00:22:54.592
  • Watching this message, i wanna invite you to call
  • 00:22:54.658 --> 00:22:56.160
  • I wanna invite you to call or go online right now
  • 00:22:56.227 --> 00:22:57.795
  • Or go online right now to request your copy
  • 00:22:57.862 --> 00:22:59.296
  • To request your copy of today's message.
  • 00:22:59.363 --> 00:23:00.698
  • Of today's message. it's on dvd and it's part
  • 00:23:00.765 --> 00:23:02.032
  • It's on dvd and it's part of this brand-new series
  • 00:23:02.099 --> 00:23:03.467
  • Of this brand-new series that we're calling,
  • 00:23:03.534 --> 00:23:04.368
  • "fix your focus."
  • 00:23:04.468 --> 00:23:05.770
  • "fix your focus." and it's available for
  • 00:23:05.836 --> 00:23:06.937
  • And it's available for your gift of any amount.
  • 00:23:07.004 --> 00:23:08.873
  • Your gift of any amount. this series is all about
  • 00:23:08.939 --> 00:23:10.841
  • This series is all about shifting your perspective,
  • 00:23:10.908 --> 00:23:12.343
  • Shifting your perspective, learning to recognize
  • 00:23:12.410 --> 00:23:13.944
  • Learning to recognize god's presence and see his hand
  • 00:23:14.011 --> 00:23:15.980
  • God's presence and see his hand at work in your life
  • 00:23:16.046 --> 00:23:17.348
  • At work in your life right here, right now.
  • 00:23:17.415 --> 00:23:19.283
  • Right here, right now. i know sometimes i get caught up
  • 00:23:19.350 --> 00:23:21.385
  • I know sometimes i get caught up looking too far ahead or
  • 00:23:21.452 --> 00:23:23.354
  • Looking too far ahead or focusing on what i don't have
  • 00:23:23.421 --> 00:23:24.922
  • Focusing on what i don't have and i end up missing how god
  • 00:23:24.989 --> 00:23:26.590
  • And i end up missing how god is moving in the moment.
  • 00:23:26.657 --> 00:23:28.826
  • Is moving in the moment. but when you fix your focus,
  • 00:23:28.893 --> 00:23:30.828
  • But when you fix your focus, you start seeing
  • 00:23:30.895 --> 00:23:31.429
  • You start seeing his faithfulness
  • 00:23:31.495 --> 00:23:32.496
  • His faithfulness in unexpected ways.
  • 00:23:32.563 --> 00:23:34.565
  • In unexpected ways. so, call the number on
  • 00:23:34.632 --> 00:23:35.666
  • So, call the number on your screen or visit us online
  • 00:23:35.733 --> 00:23:37.735
  • Your screen or visit us online to request your copy of,
  • 00:23:37.802 --> 00:23:39.703
  • To request your copy of, "fix your focus."
  • 00:23:39.770 --> 00:23:40.871
  • "fix your focus." this gift not only helps you
  • 00:23:40.938 --> 00:23:42.540
  • This gift not only helps you stay connected to god's word,
  • 00:23:42.606 --> 00:23:44.108
  • Stay connected to god's word, but it also helps us get
  • 00:23:44.175 --> 00:23:45.743
  • But it also helps us get god's word into people's hearts
  • 00:23:45.810 --> 00:23:47.912
  • God's word into people's hearts all over the world.
  • 00:23:47.978 --> 00:23:49.480
  • All over the world. so, call or go online right now
  • 00:23:49.547 --> 00:23:52.116
  • So, call or go online right now and let this message encourage
  • 00:23:52.183 --> 00:23:54.118
  • And let this message encourage you to shift your focus,
  • 00:23:54.185 --> 00:23:56.520
  • You to shift your focus, recognize his presence,
  • 00:23:56.587 --> 00:23:58.556
  • Recognize his presence, and step forward in faith.
  • 00:23:58.622 --> 00:23:59.757
  • And step forward in faith. we cannot wait to hear from you.
  • 00:23:59.824 --> 00:24:01.459
  • >> get your copy of,
  • 00:24:02.626 --> 00:24:03.360
  • "fix your focus," now.
  • 00:24:03.461 --> 00:24:04.595
  • Call or go online to request
  • 00:24:04.695 --> 00:24:05.796
  • This exclusive dvd featuring
  • 00:24:05.896 --> 00:24:07.331
  • Four brand new sermons
  • 00:24:07.431 --> 00:24:08.466
  • From pastor steven furtick
  • 00:24:08.566 --> 00:24:10.301
  • That will help you recognize
  • 00:24:10.401 --> 00:24:11.302
  • God in your present
  • 00:24:11.402 --> 00:24:12.436
  • And focus on what matters.
  • 00:24:12.536 --> 00:24:14.004
  • And with your gift
  • 00:24:14.104 --> 00:24:14.605
  • Of $65 or more,
  • 00:24:14.705 --> 00:24:16.140
  • You'll also receive
  • 00:24:16.240 --> 00:24:16.841
  • The best-selling series,
  • 00:24:16.941 --> 00:24:17.975
  • "taking control of your mind."
  • 00:24:18.075 --> 00:24:19.243
  • Because while you can't
  • 00:24:19.343 --> 00:24:20.277
  • Control everything,
  • 00:24:20.377 --> 00:24:21.378
  • You can control your mind.
  • 00:24:21.479 --> 00:24:22.546
  • You'll also get
  • 00:24:22.646 --> 00:24:23.581
  • The digging deeper journal
  • 00:24:23.681 --> 00:24:24.515
  • Designed to help you process,
  • 00:24:24.615 --> 00:24:25.850
  • Apply, and live out what god
  • 00:24:25.950 --> 00:24:27.218
  • Is showing you through
  • 00:24:27.318 --> 00:24:28.018
  • These sermons.
  • 00:24:28.118 --> 00:24:28.853
  • Call or go us online now
  • 00:24:28.953 --> 00:24:30.020
  • To request these resources.
  • 00:24:30.120 --> 00:24:31.522
  • ♪ ♪
  • 00:24:32.089 --> 00:24:46.904
  • >> when a kit is packed
  • 00:24:47.538 --> 00:24:48.472
  • At elevation church
  • 00:24:48.572 --> 00:24:49.907
  • It starts small.
  • 00:24:50.007 --> 00:24:51.141
  • Putting hygiene products
  • 00:24:51.242 --> 00:24:52.176
  • Together, or packaging
  • 00:24:52.276 --> 00:24:53.511
  • Ingredients for a meal,
  • 00:24:53.611 --> 00:24:55.145
  • But that's just the beginning
  • 00:24:55.246 --> 00:24:56.514
  • Of the journey.
  • 00:24:56.614 --> 00:24:57.715
  • Once put together in boxes,
  • 00:24:57.815 --> 00:24:59.383
  • They travel by train,
  • 00:24:59.483 --> 00:25:00.751
  • By boat, by truck.
  • 00:25:00.851 --> 00:25:02.186
  • That kit is being positioned
  • 00:25:02.286 --> 00:25:03.787
  • For the moment it's needed.
  • 00:25:03.888 --> 00:25:05.422
  • When disaster happens,
  • 00:25:05.523 --> 00:25:06.924
  • When hunger rises
  • 00:25:07.024 --> 00:25:08.392
  • Locally and globally,
  • 00:25:08.492 --> 00:25:10.094
  • That kit is there to provide
  • 00:25:10.194 --> 00:25:11.962
  • For an immediate need.
  • 00:25:12.062 --> 00:25:13.364
  • When you give, this is
  • 00:25:13.464 --> 00:25:14.999
  • What you're giving for.
  • 00:25:15.099 --> 00:25:16.166
  • >> ♪ darkness bow down ♪
  • 00:25:17.201 --> 00:25:18.402
  • ♪ to the day ♪
  • 00:25:18.469 --> 00:25:19.670
  • ♪ mountains get up ♪
  • 00:25:19.737 --> 00:25:21.105
  • ♪ out my way ♪
  • 00:25:21.171 --> 00:25:22.373
  • ♪ breaking out of yesterday ♪
  • 00:25:22.439 --> 00:25:24.475
  • >> ♪ i got a new thing ♪
  • 00:25:24.542 --> 00:25:25.576
  • >> ♪ i got a new thing coming ♪
  • 00:25:25.643 --> 00:25:27.545
  • >> ♪ so tell this giant ♪
  • 00:25:27.611 --> 00:25:29.613
  • ♪ in my face ♪
  • 00:25:29.680 --> 00:25:30.314
  • ♪ you're not greater ♪
  • 00:25:30.381 --> 00:25:31.582
  • ♪ than my faith ♪
  • 00:25:31.649 --> 00:25:32.917
  • ♪ best believe me ♪
  • 00:25:32.983 --> 00:25:34.251
  • ♪ when i say ♪
  • 00:25:34.318 --> 00:25:35.853
  • ♪ i got a new thing coming ♪
  • 00:25:35.920 --> 00:25:37.187
  • >> ♪ i got a new thing ♪
  • 00:25:37.254 --> 00:25:38.455
  • ♪ i got a new thing coming ♪
  • 00:25:38.522 --> 00:25:39.490
  • >> ♪ i've got a new thing ♪
  • 00:25:39.557 --> 00:25:40.891
  • >> ♪ i got a new thing coming ♪
  • 00:25:40.958 --> 00:25:41.992
  • >> ♪ prophesy a new thing ♪
  • 00:25:42.059 --> 00:25:43.727
  • >> ♪ i got a new thing coming ♪
  • 00:25:43.794 --> 00:25:48.065
  • ♪ ♪
  • 00:25:48.365 --> 00:25:52.970
  • ♪ we prophesy ♪
  • 00:25:53.704 --> 00:25:55.673
  • ♪ we prophesy tonight ♪
  • 00:25:55.739 --> 00:25:58.208
  • ♪ i can see a cloud ♪
  • 00:25:58.275 --> 00:26:00.644
  • ♪ heavy with rain ♪
  • 00:26:00.711 --> 00:26:02.880
  • ♪ and it looks like revival ♪
  • 00:26:02.947 --> 00:26:05.783
  • ♪ is headed our way ♪
  • 00:26:05.849 --> 00:26:08.152
  • ♪ oh i can see a cloud ♪
  • 00:26:08.218 --> 00:26:11.221
  • ♪ heavy with rain ♪
  • 00:26:11.288 --> 00:26:13.624
  • ♪ and it looks like ♪
  • 00:26:13.691 --> 00:26:16.327
  • ♪ salvation is headed our way ♪
  • 00:26:16.393 --> 00:26:18.729
  • ♪ oh i can hear a sound ♪
  • 00:26:18.796 --> 00:26:21.265
  • ♪ the abundance of rain ♪
  • 00:26:21.332 --> 00:26:24.001
  • ♪ and it sounds like freedom ♪
  • 00:26:24.068 --> 00:26:26.637
  • ♪ and it's headed our way ♪
  • 00:26:26.704 --> 00:26:29.306
  • ♪ oh i can hear a sound ♪
  • 00:26:29.373 --> 00:26:31.875
  • ♪ the abundance of rain ♪
  • 00:26:31.942 --> 00:26:34.578
  • ♪ and it sounds like ♪
  • 00:26:34.645 --> 00:26:35.846
  • ♪ provision is headed our way ♪
  • 00:26:35.913 --> 00:26:39.850
  • ♪ oh i can see a cloud ♪
  • 00:26:39.917 --> 00:26:42.453
  • ♪ and it's heavy with rain ♪
  • 00:26:42.519 --> 00:26:45.222
  • ♪ and it looks like ♪
  • 00:26:45.289 --> 00:26:46.123
  • ♪ healing is heading our way ♪
  • 00:26:46.190 --> 00:26:50.294
  • ♪ oh i can see a cloud ♪
  • 00:26:50.361 --> 00:26:52.930
  • ♪ and it's heavy with rain ♪
  • 00:26:52.997 --> 00:26:55.699
  • ♪ and it looks like joy ♪
  • 00:26:55.766 --> 00:26:58.302
  • ♪ and it's headed our way ♪
  • 00:26:58.369 --> 00:27:00.971
  • ♪ yes it's heading our way ♪
  • 00:27:01.038 --> 00:27:02.740
  • ♪ prophesy ♪
  • 00:27:02.806 --> 00:27:03.874
  • >> ♪ it's headed our way ♪
  • 00:27:03.941 --> 00:27:05.275
  • >> ♪ it's coming ♪
  • 00:27:05.342 --> 00:27:08.212
  • ♪ it's coming ♪
  • 00:27:08.278 --> 00:27:09.179
  • >> ♪ it's headed our way ♪
  • 00:27:09.246 --> 00:27:10.214
  • >> ♪ it's coming ♪
  • 00:27:10.280 --> 00:27:10.881
  • ♪ it's coming ♪
  • 00:27:10.948 --> 00:27:11.849
  • >> ♪ it's headed our way ♪
  • 00:27:11.915 --> 00:27:12.716
  • >> ♪ oh it's headed our way ♪
  • 00:27:12.783 --> 00:27:14.451
  • >> ♪ it's headed our way ♪
  • 00:27:14.518 --> 00:27:15.452
  • >> ♪ oh it's headed our way ♪
  • 00:27:15.519 --> 00:27:17.121
  • >> ♪ it's headed our way ♪
  • 00:27:17.187 --> 00:27:18.222
  • >> ♪ so darkness bow down ♪
  • 00:27:18.288 --> 00:27:24.928
  • ♪ to the day ♪
  • 00:27:24.995 --> 00:27:26.430
  • >> ♪ mountains get up ♪
  • 00:27:26.497 --> 00:27:27.698
  • ♪ out my way ♪
  • 00:27:27.765 --> 00:27:29.066
  • ♪ breaking out of yes ♪
  • 00:27:29.133 --> 00:27:29.999