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Your Move with Andy Stanley

Andy Stanley - Under The Circumstances (Part 2)

July 4, 2026 | 28:29

Andy Stanley - Under The Circumstances (Part 2)
Your Move with Andy Stanley — to help people make better decisions and live with fewer regrets.
#Perseverance #Confidence #PromisesofGod #NewCovenant #Faith #Prayer #Blessing #AndyStanley

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Your Move with Andy Stanley | Andy Stanley - Under The Circumstances (Part 2) | July 4, 2026
  • ...
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  • Andy stanley: hey, everybody, welcome to "your move" where we
  • 00:00:00.118 --> 00:00:01.419
  • Help you make better decisions and live with fewer regrets.
  • 00:00:01.553 --> 00:00:04.155
  • I'm andy stanley, and i'll be your guide.
  • 00:00:04.289 --> 00:00:06.591
  • So think about this.
  • 00:00:06.724 --> 00:00:07.959
  • One of the many criticisms of christianity is that it's not
  • 00:00:08.093 --> 00:00:10.295
  • Fair, which is true, but that's actually good news for you and
  • 00:00:10.395 --> 00:00:14.666
  • For me and if you stick around, i will tell you why, right here,
  • 00:00:14.766 --> 00:00:17.669
  • On "your move."
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  • ♪♪♪
  • 00:00:19.204 --> 00:00:20.705
  • Andy: today we're in part two of our series, "under the
  • 00:00:24.909 --> 00:00:26.811
  • Circumstances," "holding on to god when it appears that god is
  • 00:00:26.811 --> 00:00:30.148
  • No longer holding on to you," and you may be in those
  • 00:00:30.148 --> 00:00:33.184
  • Circumstances right now.
  • 00:00:33.184 --> 00:00:34.686
  • You're trying to hold on to god, you're trying to maintain your
  • 00:00:34.686 --> 00:00:36.988
  • Faith, or you're trying to get your faith back when it appears
  • 00:00:36.988 --> 00:00:39.891
  • That god is not responding and god doesn't even seem to know
  • 00:00:39.891 --> 00:00:42.627
  • What's going on in your life.
  • 00:00:42.627 --> 00:00:44.562
  • And the question that we're exploring is what do we do?
  • 00:00:44.562 --> 00:00:47.832
  • What do we do when our circumstances seem to point to
  • 00:00:47.832 --> 00:00:50.802
  • A god that's not there?
  • 00:00:50.802 --> 00:00:52.137
  • Or how do we, you know, how do we interpret circumstances when
  • 00:00:52.137 --> 00:00:54.806
  • It seems like god's not there, god doesn't care, the presence
  • 00:00:54.806 --> 00:00:58.143
  • Of god is, you know, in question.
  • 00:00:58.143 --> 00:01:00.345
  • The existence of god may be in question.
  • 00:01:00.345 --> 00:01:02.914
  • And we're all tempted, i mean, me included, we are all tempted
  • 00:01:02.914 --> 00:01:06.117
  • To jump to conclusions about god based on our circumstances, or
  • 00:01:06.117 --> 00:01:09.521
  • Really our ability or inability to interpret circumstances.
  • 00:01:09.521 --> 00:01:13.658
  • And to kind of try to line up our circumstances with the
  • 00:01:13.658 --> 00:01:16.161
  • Existence or the presence or the faithfulness of god.
  • 00:01:16.161 --> 00:01:19.430
  • Positive circumstances and negative.
  • 00:01:19.430 --> 00:01:21.699
  • Our circumstances and other people's circumstances.
  • 00:01:21.699 --> 00:01:24.502
  • I mean, your faith may have taken its biggest hit, not
  • 00:01:24.502 --> 00:01:28.039
  • Because of something that happened to you, but because of
  • 00:01:28.039 --> 00:01:30.275
  • Something that happened to someone you love, someone you
  • 00:01:30.275 --> 00:01:32.544
  • Were raising, someone you were married to, someone you grew up
  • 00:01:32.544 --> 00:01:35.146
  • Around, or maybe a group of people that went through
  • 00:01:35.146 --> 00:01:37.415
  • Extraordinary heartache, and you began to doubt god based on what
  • 00:01:37.415 --> 00:01:41.186
  • They were going through.
  • 00:01:41.186 --> 00:01:42.854
  • And when things are up and to the right, you know, we all
  • 00:01:42.854 --> 00:01:45.957
  • Assume, "isn't god good?"
  • 00:01:45.957 --> 00:01:47.525
  • Things are going great at work, things are going great at home,
  • 00:01:47.525 --> 00:01:49.894
  • Things are going great in our marriage, things are going great
  • 00:01:49.894 --> 00:01:51.663
  • In the nation, you know, god is good, look at god go.
  • 00:01:51.663 --> 00:01:54.465
  • Go, god, go, right?
  • 00:01:54.465 --> 00:01:56.201
  • And then when things are down to the right, it's "where is god?
  • 00:01:56.201 --> 00:02:00.138
  • What did i do wrong?"
  • 00:02:00.138 --> 00:02:01.472
  • And then there's this question, okay, this is what really drives
  • 00:02:01.472 --> 00:02:04.008
  • Us crazy, is this one.
  • 00:02:04.008 --> 00:02:05.376
  • It's, "hey, and why is god blessing everybody else?
  • 00:02:05.376 --> 00:02:08.947
  • I mean, i don't want to be critical, but she is--she's not
  • 00:02:08.947 --> 00:02:11.983
  • Near as nice a person as i am, and her life is like perfect,
  • 00:02:11.983 --> 00:02:15.053
  • And i'm like the best person, and--okay, i'm one of the best
  • 00:02:15.053 --> 00:02:18.022
  • People i know, and my life is not going so great, you know?
  • 00:02:18.022 --> 00:02:21.893
  • Why?"
  • 00:02:21.893 --> 00:02:23.261
  • David in--the psalmist, he asked the question this way.
  • 00:02:23.261 --> 00:02:25.563
  • He was more blunt.
  • 00:02:25.563 --> 00:02:26.931
  • He said, "god, why do the wicked prosper?"
  • 00:02:26.931 --> 00:02:31.169
  • And you think about somebody at work or somebody in your
  • 00:02:31.169 --> 00:02:33.204
  • Neighborhood and you wouldn't call them wicked, but in your
  • 00:02:33.204 --> 00:02:35.206
  • Prayer life you can use that language.
  • 00:02:35.206 --> 00:02:37.442
  • David used it.
  • 00:02:37.442 --> 00:02:38.776
  • Why do the wicked--why do the bad people get all the breaks?
  • 00:02:38.776 --> 00:02:41.913
  • Now, part of the reason, part of the reason that this is so
  • 00:02:41.913 --> 00:02:45.149
  • Confusing for christians and people really of all faith
  • 00:02:45.149 --> 00:02:47.952
  • Traditions, but for christians in particular, is, well, it's
  • 00:02:47.952 --> 00:02:52.056
  • What you hear from people in my position, from pastors.
  • 00:02:52.056 --> 00:02:55.627
  • As i said a few minutes ago, we have a tendency, and i try hard
  • 00:02:55.627 --> 00:02:59.564
  • Not to do this, and we're going to talk about why in a minute,
  • 00:02:59.564 --> 00:03:01.766
  • But pastors, preachers, have a tendency to sign god's name to
  • 00:03:01.766 --> 00:03:06.504
  • Promises that god never made.
  • 00:03:06.504 --> 00:03:10.141
  • And part of the reason they do this, and the reason that they
  • 00:03:10.141 --> 00:03:12.844
  • Slip into this, is the way that they use and the way that they
  • 00:03:12.844 --> 00:03:16.514
  • Approach and the way that they understand the bible.
  • 00:03:16.514 --> 00:03:21.486
  • They, pastors, preachers, priests, because of their
  • 00:03:21.486 --> 00:03:24.989
  • Understanding of the bible, they blend, and i'll explain what i
  • 00:03:24.989 --> 00:03:27.825
  • Mean by this language in just a minute.
  • 00:03:27.825 --> 00:03:29.394
  • They blend the covenants.
  • 00:03:29.394 --> 00:03:32.597
  • They blend the covenants.
  • 00:03:32.597 --> 00:03:33.931
  • Here's what i mean.
  • 00:03:33.931 --> 00:03:35.300
  • Your bible, your english bible, the christian bible, as you
  • 00:03:35.300 --> 00:03:37.835
  • Know, is divided into two parts, the old testament and the--
  • 00:03:37.835 --> 00:03:42.307
  • Yeah, that was--that should have been an easy question.
  • 00:03:42.307 --> 00:03:44.275
  • Old testament and the new testament, okay?
  • 00:03:44.275 --> 00:03:46.110
  • And unfortunately, the word "testament" should have never
  • 00:03:46.110 --> 00:03:48.746
  • Been used, but nobody asked me.
  • 00:03:48.746 --> 00:03:50.214
  • Okay, it should say the old covenant and the new covenant,
  • 00:03:50.214 --> 00:03:52.850
  • Because that's what the word "testament" means.
  • 00:03:52.850 --> 00:03:54.485
  • It's referring to a covenant, the old covenant and the
  • 00:03:54.485 --> 00:03:57.288
  • New covenant.
  • 00:03:57.288 --> 00:03:58.623
  • So those are the two parts of the bible.
  • 00:03:58.623 --> 00:04:00.158
  • The old covenant, not the entire old testament literature, but
  • 00:04:00.158 --> 00:04:04.529
  • The old covenant that is contained in what we would call
  • 00:04:04.529 --> 00:04:07.131
  • The old testament, the first part of the bible, is a covenant
  • 00:04:07.131 --> 00:04:10.868
  • Relationship between god and ancient israel.
  • 00:04:10.868 --> 00:04:14.539
  • And god's, this is so important, a little technical, but we're
  • 00:04:14.539 --> 00:04:16.941
  • Gonna get practical in a minute.
  • 00:04:16.941 --> 00:04:18.710
  • God's arrangement or god's covenant with ancient israel was
  • 00:04:18.710 --> 00:04:23.648
  • In fact 100%, an "if i do, god must," arrangement.
  • 00:04:23.648 --> 00:04:29.454
  • It is absolutely in there, or more precisely, "if we do, god
  • 00:04:29.454 --> 00:04:35.059
  • Will" arrangement.
  • 00:04:35.059 --> 00:04:36.994
  • The old covenant, the covenant between god and ancient israel,
  • 00:04:36.994 --> 00:04:40.064
  • Was not an arrangement or a contract or a covenant between
  • 00:04:40.064 --> 00:04:43.267
  • God and individuals.
  • 00:04:43.267 --> 00:04:44.836
  • This is so important.
  • 00:04:44.836 --> 00:04:46.170
  • It was a covenant or contract between god and an entire
  • 00:04:46.170 --> 00:04:49.407
  • Nation, the nation of israel.
  • 00:04:49.407 --> 00:04:51.676
  • And when israel's leaders, who set the direction, when israel's
  • 00:04:51.676 --> 00:04:55.580
  • Leaders got it right, when they were faithful to god, when they
  • 00:04:55.580 --> 00:04:58.516
  • Kept his commands, god blessed the entire nation.
  • 00:04:58.516 --> 00:05:02.387
  • But--and you can read this, i mean this is all laid out for
  • 00:05:02.387 --> 00:05:04.689
  • You in, you know, what we would call the old testament.
  • 00:05:04.689 --> 00:05:06.724
  • But when the leaders disobeyed god and worshiped other gods and
  • 00:05:06.724 --> 00:05:10.695
  • Were unfaithful to god, when they broke the terms of the
  • 00:05:10.695 --> 00:05:13.364
  • Contract, when they broke the terms of the covenant, then god
  • 00:05:13.364 --> 00:05:16.834
  • Judged and punished everybody.
  • 00:05:16.834 --> 00:05:20.705
  • Not just the wicked and not just the ones that broke the rules.
  • 00:05:20.705 --> 00:05:23.741
  • Everybody suffered when the leaders disobeyed god and led
  • 00:05:23.741 --> 00:05:28.179
  • The nation astray.
  • 00:05:28.179 --> 00:05:29.947
  • But us new covenant people, and i'll explain what i mean in
  • 00:05:29.947 --> 00:05:32.950
  • A minute, those of us who aren't part of that national contract
  • 00:05:32.950 --> 00:05:36.454
  • Between god and ancient israel, those of us who actually
  • 00:05:36.454 --> 00:05:39.424
  • Accepted god's invitation to participate in the covenant that
  • 00:05:39.424 --> 00:05:42.493
  • Jesus established, we don't look to circumstances to determine
  • 00:05:42.493 --> 00:05:48.132
  • Where we stand with god.
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  • Let me say that again.
  • 00:05:49.634 --> 00:05:50.968
  • We don't look to circumstances to determine where we stand
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  • With god.
  • 00:05:54.505 --> 00:05:55.840
  • We don't look to circumstances to determine whether or not god
  • 00:05:55.840 --> 00:05:58.276
  • Loves us, whether or not god is with us, whether or not god
  • 00:05:58.276 --> 00:06:00.845
  • Cares for us.
  • 00:06:00.845 --> 00:06:02.180
  • Do you know where we look?
  • 00:06:02.180 --> 00:06:05.283
  • We look to a single event that took place on a hill outside the
  • 00:06:05.283 --> 00:06:11.022
  • Walls of jerusalem.
  • 00:06:11.022 --> 00:06:14.091
  • That's where we look, where god sent his son to pay for all of
  • 00:06:14.091 --> 00:06:21.999
  • Your sin and all of my sin, and that was his way of saying, i
  • 00:06:21.999 --> 00:06:25.436
  • Have removed every obstacle between you and your heavenly
  • 00:06:25.436 --> 00:06:29.307
  • Father, so that you can have fellowship with god, and god can
  • 00:06:29.307 --> 00:06:32.877
  • Love you unconditionally, and god can hear your prayers
  • 00:06:32.877 --> 00:06:36.514
  • Regardless of your sin, and god can intervene if he chooses not
  • 00:06:36.514 --> 00:06:40.218
  • To, and god can comfort if that's what he chooses to do.
  • 00:06:40.218 --> 00:06:43.020
  • But you are in a right relationship with god, and you
  • 00:06:43.020 --> 00:06:46.491
  • Never, ever, ever have to wonder if god loves you,
  • 00:06:46.491 --> 00:06:52.096
  • If god cares about you, or if god is with you.
  • 00:06:52.096 --> 00:06:57.301
  • But when preachers mix and match the covenants, the old testament
  • 00:06:57.301 --> 00:07:03.541
  • Covenants made between israel and god, and the new testament
  • 00:07:03.541 --> 00:07:07.178
  • Covenant between god and the entire human race, when
  • 00:07:07.178 --> 00:07:11.516
  • Preachers mix these up, christians have a tendency to
  • 00:07:11.516 --> 00:07:14.852
  • Begin doing what israel was supposed to do.
  • 00:07:14.852 --> 00:07:20.091
  • We begin looking at our circumstances.
  • 00:07:20.091 --> 00:07:23.694
  • Andy: hey, i wanted to take just a minute to address a growing
  • 00:07:23.694 --> 00:07:26.564
  • Crisis in america.
  • 00:07:26.564 --> 00:07:27.932
  • Did you know that nearly 75 million americans have no
  • 00:07:27.932 --> 00:07:31.168
  • Religious affiliation, none whatsoever?
  • 00:07:31.168 --> 00:07:33.571
  • Most of us know some of these people.
  • 00:07:33.571 --> 00:07:35.006
  • Many of us are related to some of these people.
  • 00:07:35.006 --> 00:07:37.008
  • So for us they aren't statistics, they're people we
  • 00:07:37.008 --> 00:07:39.810
  • Love and would love to see return to faith in jesus.
  • 00:07:39.810 --> 00:07:43.214
  • So at "your move" we are committed to reaching people
  • 00:07:43.214 --> 00:07:45.917
  • With the teaching of jesus right where they are and when they
  • 00:07:45.917 --> 00:07:49.253
  • Least expect it.
  • 00:07:49.253 --> 00:07:50.655
  • We use a research-backed digital strategy that's already making
  • 00:07:50.655 --> 00:07:54.492
  • A difference so if you'll stick around after today's message, we
  • 00:07:54.492 --> 00:07:57.261
  • Would love to tell you more about it or visit the website or
  • 00:07:57.261 --> 00:08:00.498
  • Call the number on your screen to learn how you can be a part
  • 00:08:00.498 --> 00:08:03.067
  • Of this revolutionary approach to introducing and reintroducing
  • 00:08:03.067 --> 00:08:07.271
  • People to jesus.
  • 00:08:07.271 --> 00:08:09.840
  • Andy: but what's interesting, and if you read the new
  • 00:08:09.840 --> 00:08:11.676
  • Testament, this is so clear, this isn't buried
  • 00:08:11.676 --> 00:08:13.811
  • Somewhere, okay?
  • 00:08:13.811 --> 00:08:15.212
  • Jesus and the apostle paul in particular, jesus and the
  • 00:08:15.212 --> 00:08:18.716
  • Apostle paul in particular, are very clear about the
  • 00:08:18.716 --> 00:08:22.153
  • Relationship between god's covenant with israel and god's
  • 00:08:22.153 --> 00:08:25.189
  • Covenant with the human race through jesus.
  • 00:08:25.189 --> 00:08:27.525
  • Jesus made this so clear during his final passover.
  • 00:08:27.525 --> 00:08:30.161
  • He's gathered with his apostles.
  • 00:08:30.161 --> 00:08:31.762
  • This is his last passover meal.
  • 00:08:31.762 --> 00:08:33.831
  • He's gonna be arrested in a few hours.
  • 00:08:33.831 --> 00:08:35.499
  • He's gonna be crucified the next day.
  • 00:08:35.499 --> 00:08:37.535
  • He says this: "in the same way after the passover supper, jesus
  • 00:08:37.535 --> 00:08:41.839
  • Took the cup, saying," here it is.
  • 00:08:41.839 --> 00:08:44.208
  • "this cup," in my hand, in other words, this is an event that's
  • 00:08:44.208 --> 00:08:47.311
  • Being established right now in front of you guys.
  • 00:08:47.311 --> 00:08:49.847
  • "this cup is the new covenant," the new contract, the new
  • 00:08:49.847 --> 00:08:53.284
  • Arrangement, "in my blood," all that other contract, that other
  • 00:08:53.284 --> 00:08:58.389
  • Covenant that god established with the nation of israel, it
  • 00:08:58.389 --> 00:09:01.392
  • Was inaugurated and remembered with the blood of animals.
  • 00:09:01.392 --> 00:09:05.363
  • He's like, this is brand new, and it is being established
  • 00:09:05.363 --> 00:09:09.600
  • Right now, and tomorrow when i'm arrested, and tomorrow when i'm
  • 00:09:09.600 --> 00:09:12.870
  • Crucified and a couple of days later when i'm raised from the
  • 00:09:12.870 --> 00:09:15.606
  • Dead, it is being established right now, "the new covenant in
  • 00:09:15.606 --> 00:09:18.442
  • My blood, which is poured out for you," or poured out for all
  • 00:09:18.442 --> 00:09:22.980
  • Of you.
  • 00:09:22.980 --> 00:09:24.515
  • In other words, the old covenant between god and ancient israel
  • 00:09:24.515 --> 00:09:30.988
  • Had an expiration date.
  • 00:09:30.988 --> 00:09:33.024
  • It was perfect for what it was designed for.
  • 00:09:33.024 --> 00:09:35.793
  • It was a means to an end.
  • 00:09:35.793 --> 00:09:38.963
  • And the apostle paul constantly, like in--throughout all of his
  • 00:09:38.963 --> 00:09:42.366
  • Letters, constantly reminded gentiles, us non-jewish people,
  • 00:09:42.366 --> 00:09:45.736
  • That we weren't included in god's covenant with israel.
  • 00:09:45.736 --> 00:09:49.306
  • It's not our covenant, or to be specific, those old covenant
  • 00:09:49.306 --> 00:09:55.179
  • Promises are not your promises.
  • 00:09:55.179 --> 00:09:59.884
  • You weren't included.
  • 00:09:59.884 --> 00:10:03.254
  • Your promises are better promises.
  • 00:10:03.254 --> 00:10:07.058
  • That's what we're gonna talk about in a minute.
  • 00:10:07.058 --> 00:10:08.426
  • But on the surface, our promises don't seem as promising in terms
  • 00:10:08.426 --> 00:10:13.698
  • Of this life, but they are better promises because jesus
  • 00:10:13.698 --> 00:10:18.169
  • Promised something that torah didn't promise.
  • 00:10:18.169 --> 00:10:20.604
  • In fact, torah didn't even explore.
  • 00:10:20.604 --> 00:10:23.374
  • Jesus promised eternal life and eternal fellowship with god
  • 00:10:23.374 --> 00:10:30.047
  • Your father.
  • 00:10:30.047 --> 00:10:31.849
  • Here's what the author of hebrews says.
  • 00:10:31.849 --> 00:10:33.818
  • Now hebrews is an interesting part of the new testament.
  • 00:10:33.818 --> 00:10:35.853
  • Hebrews is like a sermon.
  • 00:10:35.853 --> 00:10:37.288
  • We call it a book of the bible.
  • 00:10:37.288 --> 00:10:38.622
  • It's--and it is, you know, one of the parts of the new
  • 00:10:38.622 --> 00:10:40.758
  • Testament, but it's like a sermon, and we don't know who
  • 00:10:40.758 --> 00:10:42.526
  • Wrote it.
  • 00:10:42.526 --> 00:10:43.894
  • But here's what the author of hebrews writes.
  • 00:10:43.894 --> 00:10:45.229
  • We're gonna come back to this in a minute.
  • 00:10:45.229 --> 00:10:47.131
  • He says, "for this reason christ is the," here he is again.
  • 00:10:47.131 --> 00:10:50.434
  • I mean, this is buried in plain sight.
  • 00:10:50.434 --> 00:10:52.570
  • Here, "for this reason christ is the mediator of a new covenant,
  • 00:10:52.570 --> 00:10:56.807
  • That those who are called may receive the promised
  • 00:10:56.807 --> 00:11:00.077
  • Eternal inheritance."
  • 00:11:00.077 --> 00:11:02.980
  • That your promises and my promises are better promises
  • 00:11:02.980 --> 00:11:07.384
  • Because they are eternal promises.
  • 00:11:07.384 --> 00:11:09.620
  • And here's the shocker.
  • 00:11:09.620 --> 00:11:11.722
  • God's covenant with israel did not promise eternal life.
  • 00:11:11.722 --> 00:11:18.295
  • In fact, you may be shocked to know that most ancient jews did
  • 00:11:18.295 --> 00:11:22.633
  • Not believe in an afterlife at all, because their scriptures
  • 00:11:22.633 --> 00:11:28.105
  • Never mentioned it in any significant way and didn't teach
  • 00:11:28.105 --> 00:11:31.709
  • That there was such a thing.
  • 00:11:31.709 --> 00:11:33.477
  • And then jesus comes along and what does he talk about almost
  • 00:11:33.477 --> 00:11:35.880
  • All the time?
  • 00:11:35.880 --> 00:11:37.214
  • Eternal life with the father in heaven, who's paved the way and
  • 00:11:37.214 --> 00:11:43.254
  • Who would pave the way through sending his son to remove every
  • 00:11:43.254 --> 00:11:46.357
  • Obstacle to you having eternal fellowship, and fellowship now,
  • 00:11:46.357 --> 00:11:50.394
  • With god your father.
  • 00:11:50.394 --> 00:11:52.797
  • Our promises are anchored to jesus's new covenant, which
  • 00:11:52.797 --> 00:11:56.934
  • Means if you can't find it there, if you can't find it in
  • 00:11:56.934 --> 00:12:00.504
  • The new testament, in terms of a promise, be careful
  • 00:12:00.504 --> 00:12:02.773
  • Looking elsewhere.
  • 00:12:02.773 --> 00:12:04.108
  • Otherwise, you run the risk of being disappointed by god's
  • 00:12:04.108 --> 00:12:08.579
  • Unwillingness to keep a promise he never made to you.
  • 00:12:08.579 --> 00:12:16.821
  • You will be tempted to do what ancient israel was supposed
  • 00:12:16.821 --> 00:12:22.092
  • To do.
  • 00:12:22.092 --> 00:12:23.460
  • You will be tempted to judge god's presence by your
  • 00:12:23.460 --> 00:12:26.797
  • Circumstances, which is what they were supposed to do, but
  • 00:12:26.797 --> 00:12:29.733
  • What not--but you're not supposed to do because of
  • 00:12:29.733 --> 00:12:32.870
  • The cross.
  • 00:12:32.870 --> 00:12:34.205
  • You'll be tempted to judge god's faithfulness by your
  • 00:12:34.205 --> 00:12:36.841
  • Circumstances, which you aren't supposed to do, which is what
  • 00:12:36.841 --> 00:12:40.377
  • Israel had to do, because it's all they had to go on.
  • 00:12:40.377 --> 00:12:43.380
  • Because again, we don't look to circumstances to determine where
  • 00:12:43.380 --> 00:12:48.185
  • We stand with god.
  • 00:12:48.185 --> 00:12:49.520
  • We look to a single event that took place outside the walls of
  • 00:12:49.520 --> 00:12:54.859
  • Jerusalem, when god allowed his son to die to pay for your sin,
  • 00:12:54.859 --> 00:13:00.631
  • To assure you, you are and can be in right standing with god.
  • 00:13:00.631 --> 00:13:08.772
  • Now, switching gears a little bit, but, but, but,
  • 00:13:08.772 --> 00:13:12.543
  • But there is one old testament promise, a promise that shows up
  • 00:13:12.543 --> 00:13:17.414
  • In our old testament, but not in the new covenant.
  • 00:13:17.414 --> 00:13:19.350
  • It's two different things.
  • 00:13:19.350 --> 00:13:20.718
  • I know it's kind of confusing, but you get the point.
  • 00:13:20.718 --> 00:13:22.386
  • The whole old testament, then within that is this covenant or
  • 00:13:22.386 --> 00:13:24.622
  • Contract god made with israel.
  • 00:13:24.622 --> 00:13:26.123
  • There is a promise in our old testament that does apply
  • 00:13:26.123 --> 00:13:29.460
  • To you.
  • 00:13:29.460 --> 00:13:30.794
  • It's not a promise that was made to you.
  • 00:13:30.794 --> 00:13:32.696
  • But it applies to you, and it preceded god's covenant with
  • 00:13:32.696 --> 00:13:36.300
  • Israel by hundreds and hundreds of years, and i'm talking about
  • 00:13:36.300 --> 00:13:38.869
  • God's promise to abraham.
  • 00:13:38.869 --> 00:13:41.805
  • A quick little timeline might help.
  • 00:13:41.805 --> 00:13:43.440
  • I like timelines, right?
  • 00:13:43.440 --> 00:13:44.808
  • 2000 bc, god calls abraham and says, "i want you to go
  • 00:13:44.808 --> 00:13:48.112
  • Somewhere you've never been before.
  • 00:13:48.112 --> 00:13:49.480
  • I'm gonna do something i've never done before."
  • 00:13:49.480 --> 00:13:52.182
  • 1400 bc, hundreds of years later, god establishes his
  • 00:13:52.182 --> 00:13:56.086
  • Covenant with israel through moses.
  • 00:13:56.086 --> 00:14:00.658
  • But god made abraham a promise, a promise he did not
  • 00:14:00.658 --> 00:14:05.629
  • Fulfill here.
  • 00:14:05.629 --> 00:14:06.964
  • A promise that he fulfilled 2000 years later when a king was
  • 00:14:06.964 --> 00:14:12.169
  • Born, when messiah was born, when jesus was born.
  • 00:14:12.169 --> 00:14:16.607
  • And the author of hebrews, this is so amazing, this is why we're
  • 00:14:16.607 --> 00:14:19.276
  • Gonna look at this passage real quick.
  • 00:14:19.276 --> 00:14:20.911
  • The author of hebrews, going back to hebrews, the author of
  • 00:14:20.911 --> 00:14:23.080
  • Hebrews speaks directly to the issue of how new covenant people
  • 00:14:23.080 --> 00:14:27.184
  • Know that god is with us.
  • 00:14:27.184 --> 00:14:29.086
  • He speaks directly to this issue because he knew he had many
  • 00:14:29.086 --> 00:14:32.356
  • People in his jewish audience.
  • 00:14:32.356 --> 00:14:33.724
  • In fact, the reason it's called the book of hebrews is because
  • 00:14:33.724 --> 00:14:35.859
  • It was written to jewish christians, and he knew he was
  • 00:14:35.859 --> 00:14:38.429
  • Talking to a group of people that were accustomed to looking
  • 00:14:38.429 --> 00:14:40.864
  • At circumstances to determine if god was with them, and their
  • 00:14:40.864 --> 00:14:44.234
  • Circumstances were bad.
  • 00:14:44.234 --> 00:14:46.670
  • And consequently, they're like, "i don't know if we've done the
  • 00:14:46.670 --> 00:14:48.806
  • Right thing.
  • 00:14:48.806 --> 00:14:50.140
  • I don't, you know, we kind of want to go back to egypt.
  • 00:14:50.140 --> 00:14:51.875
  • We want to go back to the old ways.
  • 00:14:51.875 --> 00:14:53.210
  • We're wondering is god with us?"
  • 00:14:53.210 --> 00:14:54.545
  • And the author of hebrews is saying, "absolutely god is with
  • 00:14:54.545 --> 00:14:56.547
  • You, but you don't look to circumstances to determine that.
  • 00:14:56.547 --> 00:15:00.684
  • You look to jesus," and this is important for all of us because
  • 00:15:00.684 --> 00:15:05.222
  • Life happens and life is life.
  • 00:15:05.222 --> 00:15:08.726
  • Here's what the author says.
  • 00:15:08.726 --> 00:15:10.928
  • He says, "i don't--i wish i did, but i do not have time to
  • 00:15:10.928 --> 00:15:15.032
  • Tell you about everybody in this long litany of stories
  • 00:15:15.032 --> 00:15:18.702
  • And people.
  • 00:15:18.702 --> 00:15:20.070
  • I don't have time to tell you about gideon.
  • 00:15:20.070 --> 00:15:21.405
  • That's a whole story about barak, about samson, about david
  • 00:15:21.405 --> 00:15:23.774
  • And samuel and the prophets, who all of them who through faith,"
  • 00:15:23.774 --> 00:15:27.945
  • He said, i could, you know, each of these are multi-layered
  • 00:15:27.945 --> 00:15:30.514
  • Stories, but all of these through faith "conquered
  • 00:15:30.514 --> 00:15:33.250
  • Kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised to
  • 00:15:33.250 --> 00:15:37.254
  • Them in that era, who shut the mouths of lions," we know who
  • 00:15:37.254 --> 00:15:40.357
  • He's talking about, "quenched the fury of the flames," we know
  • 00:15:40.357 --> 00:15:43.560
  • Who he's talking about, "and escaped the edge of the sword;
  • 00:15:43.560 --> 00:15:47.297
  • Whose weakness was turned to strength; and who became
  • 00:15:47.297 --> 00:15:49.566
  • Powerful in battle and routed foreign armies."
  • 00:15:49.566 --> 00:15:52.403
  • And see, when i read that, i'm like, "yeah, yeah, that's what
  • 00:15:52.403 --> 00:15:55.639
  • I want to be.
  • 00:15:55.639 --> 00:15:57.007
  • That's what i--" i want to do something and god do something.
  • 00:15:57.007 --> 00:15:58.609
  • I want to do something big and god does something bigger and
  • 00:15:58.609 --> 00:16:00.844
  • It's like, "hey, i was part of what god did."
  • 00:16:00.844 --> 00:16:02.379
  • I, you know, this is all up and to the right, you know, that's
  • 00:16:02.379 --> 00:16:04.782
  • What we love.
  • 00:16:04.782 --> 00:16:06.116
  • We love the up and to the right days, right?
  • 00:16:06.116 --> 00:16:08.419
  • And then he turns a corner.
  • 00:16:08.419 --> 00:16:09.887
  • He's like, yeah, but it wasn't like that for everybody.
  • 00:16:09.887 --> 00:16:12.756
  • In fact, throughout this story it wasn't like that for the
  • 00:16:12.756 --> 00:16:15.059
  • People who were part of this long story arc between abraham
  • 00:16:15.059 --> 00:16:18.395
  • And jesus.
  • 00:16:18.395 --> 00:16:19.730
  • He says this.
  • 00:16:19.730 --> 00:16:21.098
  • "there were others," who didn't win, who weren't victorious.
  • 00:16:21.098 --> 00:16:26.970
  • There were others and there was no bow on their story.
  • 00:16:26.970 --> 00:16:29.573
  • There was no happy ending, there was no smooth landing.
  • 00:16:29.573 --> 00:16:33.677
  • "for others they were tortured, and they refused to be released,
  • 00:16:33.677 --> 00:16:37.214
  • They refused to lie, they refused to recant so that they
  • 00:16:37.214 --> 00:16:39.983
  • Might gain an even better resurrection.
  • 00:16:39.983 --> 00:16:44.354
  • Some faced jeers and flogging, and chains and imprisonment.
  • 00:16:44.354 --> 00:16:52.329
  • Some," he says, "were put to death by stoning.
  • 00:16:52.329 --> 00:16:57.167
  • Some of them were sawed in two.
  • 00:16:57.167 --> 00:17:00.370
  • They were killed by the sword.
  • 00:17:00.370 --> 00:17:03.874
  • They were destitute.
  • 00:17:03.874 --> 00:17:05.409
  • They were so destitute they had nothing to show for any--they
  • 00:17:05.409 --> 00:17:08.679
  • Had nothing.
  • 00:17:08.679 --> 00:17:10.047
  • They went about in sheepskins, that's all they had for
  • 00:17:10.047 --> 00:17:11.381
  • Clothing, and goatskins, destitute, persecuted.
  • 00:17:11.381 --> 00:17:15.853
  • And mistreated."
  • 00:17:15.853 --> 00:17:17.454
  • And then my favorite part, this is, this should--there should
  • 00:17:17.454 --> 00:17:21.158
  • Be like music behind this.
  • 00:17:21.158 --> 00:17:22.593
  • This is so powerful.
  • 00:17:22.593 --> 00:17:24.128
  • It's like he, he's, because he--i'm just reading part of it.
  • 00:17:24.128 --> 00:17:27.231
  • He's gone through all these people, all these stories
  • 00:17:27.231 --> 00:17:29.399
  • Leading up from abraham all the way to the coming of jesus, and
  • 00:17:29.399 --> 00:17:32.369
  • He--it's like he puts his quill down or his pen down and he just
  • 00:17:32.369 --> 00:17:36.373
  • Stops and takes a deep breath and there are tears in his eyes,
  • 00:17:36.373 --> 00:17:39.610
  • And he picks it back up and he writes these words.
  • 00:17:39.610 --> 00:17:43.514
  • "the world was not worthy of them."
  • 00:17:43.514 --> 00:17:49.786
  • They endured in spite of, to be a part of what god was up to.
  • 00:17:49.786 --> 00:17:56.860
  • And they never doubted that god was up to something in spite of
  • 00:17:56.860 --> 00:18:00.397
  • What they experienced.
  • 00:18:00.397 --> 00:18:03.767
  • "these were all," he goes on to say, "these were all commended
  • 00:18:03.767 --> 00:18:06.803
  • For their faith," their confidence in god, they're
  • 00:18:06.803 --> 00:18:11.942
  • In-spite-of-circumstance confidence in god.
  • 00:18:11.942 --> 00:18:15.579
  • "yet none of them--" this is amazing.
  • 00:18:15.579 --> 00:18:17.347
  • "yet none of them received what had been promised," promised
  • 00:18:17.347 --> 00:18:21.285
  • To abraham.
  • 00:18:21.285 --> 00:18:22.753
  • "yet none of them received what had been promised, since god had
  • 00:18:22.753 --> 00:18:25.789
  • Planned something better for us."
  • 00:18:25.789 --> 00:18:33.197
  • Better for you, better for me, better for those of us who have
  • 00:18:33.197 --> 00:18:39.736
  • Embraced and accepted jesus's invitation to participate in the
  • 00:18:39.736 --> 00:18:44.975
  • New covenant between god and the human race.
  • 00:18:44.975 --> 00:18:49.646
  • He says, now in light of all that, because of all that,
  • 00:18:49.646 --> 00:18:52.749
  • Having said all that, therefore, since, now he asks us to use our
  • 00:18:52.749 --> 00:18:56.954
  • Imagination, he says, now, "therefore, since we are all
  • 00:18:56.954 --> 00:19:00.157
  • Surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses," he says, imagine
  • 00:19:00.157 --> 00:19:04.394
  • Somewhere in heaven are all these people i just listed who
  • 00:19:04.394 --> 00:19:07.331
  • Were faithful, faithful, faithful some of them submitted.
  • 00:19:07.331 --> 00:19:09.266
  • All of them sinned.
  • 00:19:09.266 --> 00:19:10.601
  • All of them were unfaithful at times, but they maintained their
  • 00:19:10.601 --> 00:19:13.003
  • Faith in god.
  • 00:19:13.003 --> 00:19:14.371
  • Even when they departed from god, they came back to god,
  • 00:19:14.371 --> 00:19:16.240
  • Maintained their faith in god, were part of the story.
  • 00:19:16.240 --> 00:19:18.475
  • Since we're surrounded by these extraordinary, extraordinary
  • 00:19:18.475 --> 00:19:22.479
  • People, men and women who kept trusting and following and
  • 00:19:22.479 --> 00:19:25.182
  • Believing, who did not interpret hardship, who did not interpret
  • 00:19:25.182 --> 00:19:28.919
  • Hardship as god's absence.
  • 00:19:28.919 --> 00:19:31.888
  • Since that is the backdrop of our faith, how should i respond
  • 00:19:31.888 --> 00:19:36.059
  • To hardship?
  • 00:19:36.059 --> 00:19:37.494
  • How should you respond to hardship?
  • 00:19:37.494 --> 00:19:39.563
  • How should i, how should we, respond to circumstances that
  • 00:19:39.563 --> 00:19:43.267
  • Seem to say god is far and god is absent and god's not
  • 00:19:43.267 --> 00:19:45.669
  • Paying attention?
  • 00:19:45.669 --> 00:19:47.404
  • He says, here's how.
  • 00:19:47.404 --> 00:19:49.673
  • "therefore, since we're surrounded by such a great cloud
  • 00:19:49.673 --> 00:19:52.409
  • Of witnesses," ready?
  • 00:19:52.409 --> 00:19:53.777
  • "let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so
  • 00:19:53.777 --> 00:19:59.983
  • Easily entangles."
  • 00:19:59.983 --> 00:20:03.353
  • He says, anything that would mitigate against you
  • 00:20:03.353 --> 00:20:06.857
  • Understanding and trusting that god is faithful and with you
  • 00:20:06.857 --> 00:20:09.426
  • Through this, he says, you just disentangle yourself from
  • 00:20:09.426 --> 00:20:12.129
  • Those thoughts.
  • 00:20:12.129 --> 00:20:13.497
  • You cast that away.
  • 00:20:13.497 --> 00:20:14.831
  • Don't allow--he mentioned sin.
  • 00:20:14.831 --> 00:20:16.566
  • Don't allow the difficult times to cause you to depart from god,
  • 00:20:16.566 --> 00:20:20.137
  • Because when you depart from god, it does not make your
  • 00:20:20.137 --> 00:20:22.839
  • Life better.
  • 00:20:22.839 --> 00:20:24.174
  • It just--it's just gonna make your life more complicated.
  • 00:20:24.174 --> 00:20:26.276
  • And he says, let me give you a word picture, and i want you
  • 00:20:26.276 --> 00:20:28.478
  • To--i want you to run, he says, "and let us run--run with
  • 00:20:28.478 --> 00:20:32.816
  • Perseverance the race marked out for each of us."
  • 00:20:32.816 --> 00:20:42.959
  • Let's talk about this.
  • 00:20:43.026 --> 00:20:45.429
  • See, right now, you might be in the section of the race that's
  • 00:20:45.429 --> 00:20:50.100
  • The downhill section.
  • 00:20:50.100 --> 00:20:51.802
  • It's the easy section, it's the wrinkle-free section.
  • 00:20:51.802 --> 00:20:54.805
  • Everybody's at school, everybody's dating somebody you
  • 00:20:54.805 --> 00:20:57.207
  • Like, you know, you got a bonus, things are good, you know, your
  • 00:20:57.207 --> 00:21:00.310
  • Lawn even looks great, your grass survived, you know, all,
  • 00:21:00.310 --> 00:21:02.913
  • You know, just, i mean, it's just, it's just good.
  • 00:21:02.913 --> 00:21:06.717
  • He says, you need to make sure you persevere through the good
  • 00:21:06.717 --> 00:21:09.886
  • Times, because in the good times you will be tempted to abandon
  • 00:21:09.886 --> 00:21:13.357
  • Your heavenly father because you won't sense or see a need.
  • 00:21:13.357 --> 00:21:20.464
  • For others of you, that's not the stretch of the race you're
  • 00:21:20.464 --> 00:21:23.734
  • In, right?
  • 00:21:23.734 --> 00:21:25.302
  • You're in the--you're in the divorce stretch of your race and
  • 00:21:25.302 --> 00:21:32.609
  • You've been married 25, 26 years, and suddenly he or she
  • 00:21:32.609 --> 00:21:35.345
  • Decides, "hey, i'm done, i'm out."
  • 00:21:35.345 --> 00:21:37.981
  • You've only been married 3 years, and all of a sudden you
  • 00:21:37.981 --> 00:21:41.284
  • Discover something about her, about him, and it's like,
  • 00:21:41.284 --> 00:21:43.387
  • "oh no."
  • 00:21:43.387 --> 00:21:44.921
  • And you just--you just never saw this coming.
  • 00:21:44.921 --> 00:21:48.125
  • Or maybe you're in the health crisis stretch of your race.
  • 00:21:48.125 --> 00:21:53.663
  • And you're too young to have to deal with what you're
  • 00:21:53.663 --> 00:21:55.365
  • Dealing with.
  • 00:21:55.365 --> 00:21:56.733
  • And there's no good answer, there's no good treatment.
  • 00:21:56.733 --> 00:21:59.669
  • And the doctors kind of scratch their head and they try to sound
  • 00:21:59.669 --> 00:22:01.805
  • Confident and you get in the car and you realize they don't know.
  • 00:22:01.805 --> 00:22:05.208
  • Or they prescribe something that's like months, and at the
  • 00:22:05.208 --> 00:22:09.112
  • End of those months, "we hope it works out."
  • 00:22:09.112 --> 00:22:13.216
  • And that's the season you're in.
  • 00:22:13.216 --> 00:22:14.684
  • Or maybe it's the job loss or the job loss again or a
  • 00:22:14.684 --> 00:22:18.321
  • Financial pressure or bankruptcy season, but whatever it is,
  • 00:22:18.321 --> 00:22:22.492
  • You didn't choose it.
  • 00:22:22.492 --> 00:22:23.860
  • You're just running your race and you came around the bend and
  • 00:22:23.860 --> 00:22:28.231
  • There it was.
  • 00:22:28.231 --> 00:22:30.200
  • And you wonder, "where's god?"
  • 00:22:30.200 --> 00:22:35.172
  • And peter, the apostle paul, john, who brought us the story
  • 00:22:35.172 --> 00:22:39.576
  • We talked about last week, would say to you, "okay, before you
  • 00:22:39.576 --> 00:22:43.580
  • Panic, before you hit eject, before you hit i don't believe,
  • 00:22:43.580 --> 00:22:48.785
  • Fix your eyes.
  • 00:22:48.785 --> 00:22:50.554
  • Make sure you're looking in the right direction."
  • 00:22:50.554 --> 00:22:51.922
  • He says--let me just say it for you.
  • 00:22:51.922 --> 00:22:53.256
  • "the race marked out for you," regardless of what that race
  • 00:22:53.256 --> 00:22:55.725
  • Looks like.
  • 00:22:55.725 --> 00:22:57.060
  • Fixing, focusing your eyes, not on your circumstances.
  • 00:22:57.060 --> 00:23:01.631
  • Not on the person who hurt you.
  • 00:23:01.631 --> 00:23:04.134
  • Not on the doctors who just don't seem to cooperate and
  • 00:23:04.134 --> 00:23:06.570
  • Don't seem to care as much as you think they ought to care.
  • 00:23:06.570 --> 00:23:08.872
  • "fixing your eyes on jesus."
  • 00:23:08.872 --> 00:23:13.543
  • And to address what i'm sure somebody out there is thinking
  • 00:23:13.543 --> 00:23:16.379
  • Or somebody in here is thinking, this is not just preacher talk,
  • 00:23:16.379 --> 00:23:18.782
  • This is not just theory.
  • 00:23:18.782 --> 00:23:20.116
  • I have seen it over and over and over.
  • 00:23:20.116 --> 00:23:22.352
  • I've sat with, i've wept with, people for whom there was
  • 00:23:22.352 --> 00:23:25.822
  • No bow.
  • 00:23:25.822 --> 00:23:27.424
  • There wasn't gonna be a happy ending.
  • 00:23:27.424 --> 00:23:28.892
  • There wasn't gonna be a safe landing.
  • 00:23:28.892 --> 00:23:31.027
  • Walking through the valley of the shadow of death, in fact,
  • 00:23:31.027 --> 00:23:33.296
  • Some of you are there right now.
  • 00:23:33.296 --> 00:23:35.232
  • This is the promise.
  • 00:23:35.232 --> 00:23:36.600
  • There is a grace, there is a strength, there is a power,
  • 00:23:36.600 --> 00:23:40.737
  • There is an energy, there's a something that you won't
  • 00:23:40.737 --> 00:23:45.108
  • Experience until you need it, but it is there when you
  • 00:23:45.108 --> 00:23:48.712
  • Need it.
  • 00:23:48.712 --> 00:23:51.147
  • Back to the author of hebrews, he says, "and let us run with
  • 00:23:51.147 --> 00:23:54.351
  • Perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on
  • 00:23:54.351 --> 00:23:57.320
  • Jesus, the leader and the completer, the author and the
  • 00:23:57.320 --> 00:24:00.824
  • Perfecter of our faith."
  • 00:24:00.824 --> 00:24:04.227
  • He's the reason we can have confidence.
  • 00:24:04.227 --> 00:24:07.063
  • The author's point is fix your eyes on jesus, and not on your
  • 00:24:07.063 --> 00:24:10.867
  • Circumstances, not preacher talk.
  • 00:24:10.867 --> 00:24:12.969
  • This is how you lean in and experience the power and the
  • 00:24:12.969 --> 00:24:16.606
  • Presence of god in the midst of circumstances you didn't choose,
  • 00:24:16.606 --> 00:24:19.910
  • They just showed up in the course of your race.
  • 00:24:19.910 --> 00:24:25.048
  • "who," he says, "for the joy set before him," endured something
  • 00:24:25.048 --> 00:24:31.021
  • You will not have to endure, although it may feel like it at
  • 00:24:31.021 --> 00:24:33.623
  • The time, "who endured the cross," for you, "scorning
  • 00:24:33.623 --> 00:24:37.027
  • Its shame."
  • 00:24:37.027 --> 00:24:38.361
  • This is such a powerful word.
  • 00:24:38.361 --> 00:24:39.729
  • I wish i could spend more time on it.
  • 00:24:39.729 --> 00:24:41.064
  • It's as if jesus is hanging on the cross saying, "is that all
  • 00:24:41.064 --> 00:24:44.901
  • You got?
  • 00:24:44.901 --> 00:24:46.670
  • Is that all you got?
  • 00:24:46.670 --> 00:24:48.171
  • When you see what's waiting for me on the other side of this,
  • 00:24:48.171 --> 00:24:52.008
  • This is nothing."
  • 00:24:52.008 --> 00:24:55.445
  • And the author of hebrews says, and after he died and rose from
  • 00:24:55.445 --> 00:24:59.015
  • The dead, he went and "sat down at the right hand of the throne
  • 00:24:59.015 --> 00:25:03.420
  • Of god."
  • 00:25:03.420 --> 00:25:04.754
  • And he says, come on, don't-- come on, come on, come on.
  • 00:25:04.754 --> 00:25:07.057
  • Consider him, consider him, "consider him who endured such
  • 00:25:07.057 --> 00:25:10.594
  • Opposition from sinners."
  • 00:25:10.594 --> 00:25:12.228
  • Why?
  • 00:25:12.228 --> 00:25:13.563
  • So that, here it is, "so that you will not grow weary."
  • 00:25:13.563 --> 00:25:18.735
  • So that you will not lose faith.
  • 00:25:18.735 --> 00:25:21.104
  • So that you will not lose confidence, "so that you will
  • 00:25:21.104 --> 00:25:23.840
  • Not grow weary and lose heart."
  • 00:25:23.840 --> 00:25:27.310
  • And then earlier he says this.
  • 00:25:27.310 --> 00:25:28.678
  • Here's the invitation.
  • 00:25:28.678 --> 00:25:30.013
  • I want you to approach.
  • 00:25:30.013 --> 00:25:31.615
  • He says, i know you're not perfect, i know you got stuff,
  • 00:25:31.615 --> 00:25:34.084
  • But come on, come on.
  • 00:25:34.084 --> 00:25:35.418
  • I want you to approach.
  • 00:25:35.418 --> 00:25:36.753
  • "let us then approach."
  • 00:25:36.753 --> 00:25:38.455
  • "let us then approach god's throne of grace
  • 00:25:38.455 --> 00:25:41.291
  • With confidence."
  • 00:25:41.291 --> 00:25:42.659
  • And why can you approach god's throne of grace with confidence?
  • 00:25:42.659 --> 00:25:44.794
  • Don't miss this, because what has he just told us?
  • 00:25:44.794 --> 00:25:47.330
  • Because sitting next to your heavenly father is the son, who
  • 00:25:47.330 --> 00:25:51.101
  • Endured such opposition and such pain.
  • 00:25:51.101 --> 00:25:53.770
  • He knows, he feels it, he felt it, and he is there seated by
  • 00:25:53.770 --> 00:25:57.707
  • The father, interceding for you because he cares: your been
  • 00:25:57.707 --> 00:26:06.016
  • There, felt that, faced that savior.
  • 00:26:06.016 --> 00:26:13.089
  • And then here's the kicker.
  • 00:26:13.089 --> 00:26:14.424
  • Here's the promise, because there's a promise.
  • 00:26:14.424 --> 00:26:16.526
  • "so that--so that we may receive."
  • 00:26:16.526 --> 00:26:19.896
  • And here it is.
  • 00:26:19.896 --> 00:26:21.531
  • Do you know what you can bank on?
  • 00:26:21.531 --> 00:26:23.166
  • Do you know what you can count on?
  • 00:26:23.166 --> 00:26:24.534
  • Do you know what you can hold god accountable to?
  • 00:26:24.534 --> 00:26:26.936
  • This is the part where you can say, "heavenly father, you
  • 00:26:26.936 --> 00:26:31.074
  • Promised me."
  • 00:26:31.074 --> 00:26:32.509
  • This is your promise.
  • 00:26:32.509 --> 00:26:33.843
  • This is my promise.
  • 00:26:33.843 --> 00:26:35.211
  • This is the new covenant promise, and certainly there is
  • 00:26:35.211 --> 00:26:37.147
  • More, but this is the core.
  • 00:26:37.147 --> 00:26:39.315
  • "that you may receive with confidence mercy and find grace
  • 00:26:39.315 --> 00:26:45.255
  • To help in your time of need."
  • 00:26:45.255 --> 00:26:50.026
  • Because he sees, he knows, he cares, his grace and his
  • 00:26:50.026 --> 00:26:53.930
  • Strength are available to those of us who lean in and ask
  • 00:26:53.930 --> 00:26:58.668
  • For it.
  • 00:26:58.668 --> 00:27:00.403
  • Andy: hey, thanks so much for watching.
  • 00:27:00.403 --> 00:27:02.105
  • You may find it hard to believe that 75 million americans claim
  • 00:27:02.105 --> 00:27:05.542
  • No religious affiliation.
  • 00:27:05.542 --> 00:27:07.677
  • On a personal note, perhaps you found it nearly impossible to
  • 00:27:07.677 --> 00:27:10.714
  • Believe that your son or your daughter or perhaps a grandchild
  • 00:27:10.714 --> 00:27:13.683
  • Drifted away from faith as part of that number.
  • 00:27:13.683 --> 00:27:16.486
  • This is a crisis culturally and perhaps for you it's
  • 00:27:16.486 --> 00:27:19.456
  • A crisis personally.
  • 00:27:19.456 --> 00:27:20.790
  • At "your move," we are committed to addressing that crisis.
  • 00:27:20.790 --> 00:27:24.728
  • We actually have a plan to solve it, but we need your help.
  • 00:27:24.728 --> 00:27:27.630
  • We've developed a digital online tool that invites people to take
  • 00:27:27.630 --> 00:27:31.034
  • A personal assessment that launches them on a journey that
  • 00:27:31.034 --> 00:27:34.437
  • Eventually intersects their questions with the teaching of
  • 00:27:34.437 --> 00:27:37.741
  • Jesus and ultimately with a bible-teaching church in
  • 00:27:37.741 --> 00:27:41.544
  • Their community.
  • 00:27:41.544 --> 00:27:42.879
  • Tens of thousands of people are currently engaged in this
  • 00:27:42.879 --> 00:27:45.482
  • Process, but we need your help to continue creating the bread
  • 00:27:45.482 --> 00:27:48.918
  • Crumbs, the content, that keeps them moving forward on their
  • 00:27:48.918 --> 00:27:52.422
  • Faith journey.
  • 00:27:52.422 --> 00:27:53.823
  • We're attempting something that no one has ever attempted before
  • 00:27:53.823 --> 00:27:57.026
  • And it is already working.
  • 00:27:57.026 --> 00:27:58.795
  • To find out more, go to the website or call the number at
  • 00:27:58.795 --> 00:28:01.631
  • The bottom of the screen and as always, thank you so much for
  • 00:28:01.631 --> 00:28:04.768
  • Watching and now it's your move.
  • 00:28:04.768 --> 00:28:07.070
  • ♪♪♪
  • 00:28:07.070 --> 00:28:22.218
  • ...
  • 00:28:25.455 --> 00:28:29.010