WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:22.260 Hi, and welcome to the Willow Ridge Church weekly podcast. 00:00:22.780 --> 00:00:25.880 This is where you can find audio for our current and past sermons. 00:00:26.100 --> 00:00:30.420 We hope that you enjoy this week's installment, and be sure to check back next week to hear 00:00:30.420 --> 00:00:31.260 the latest message. 00:00:31.680 --> 00:00:32.460 Thanks for listening. 00:00:44.480 --> 00:00:45.620 Well, good morning. 00:00:46.700 --> 00:00:52.220 Glad you guys braved a loss of hour of sleep last night and are here with us. 00:00:52.220 --> 00:00:56.000 I don't know about you, but when I wake up on these mornings, it feels like they took 00:00:56.000 --> 00:00:58.180 12 hours of sleep away from me. 00:00:58.220 --> 00:01:02.480 So we are relying on the Holy Spirit to work in us, right, this morning. 00:01:02.680 --> 00:01:04.440 So good to have all of you here today. 00:01:04.760 --> 00:01:07.620 As we get into today's message, I want to remind you of a couple of things. 00:01:08.160 --> 00:01:10.260 First, our church picnic next week. 00:01:10.320 --> 00:01:12.560 I want to encourage you to be a part of that. 00:01:12.640 --> 00:01:14.680 We are selling tickets back here to my left. 00:01:14.720 --> 00:01:18.060 As you leave, make sure you go by and grab some for your family. 00:01:18.060 --> 00:01:24.940 It's going to be a wonderful opportunity for us as a church to embrace an aspect of us coming 00:01:24.940 --> 00:01:26.160 together as a church family. 00:01:26.500 --> 00:01:31.440 And I think the dynamic for that that I'm the most excited about is we've done church 00:01:31.440 --> 00:01:36.460 picnics before in the past, but how this one will be different is we'll be combining 00:01:36.460 --> 00:01:41.000 together with our Hispanic service to have this picnic together to give us the opportunity 00:01:41.000 --> 00:01:43.400 to come together as one church family. 00:01:43.660 --> 00:01:45.620 And so please go by there, buy your tickets. 00:01:45.620 --> 00:01:50.020 Hey, here's the reason why we're selling tickets, and it's not just to show up like we do on 00:01:50.020 --> 00:01:51.040 Thanksgiving, okay? 00:01:51.060 --> 00:01:51.800 And this is important. 00:01:52.140 --> 00:01:57.520 All of the money that we raise will go toward our student ministry mission trips this summer 00:01:57.520 --> 00:01:59.440 and our Hispanic mission trips. 00:01:59.560 --> 00:02:04.580 And so the money that you're giving to that, it helps go toward that to fund them. 00:02:04.620 --> 00:02:07.300 And so I want to encourage you to be a part of that. 00:02:07.860 --> 00:02:09.400 The tickets are $10 each. 00:02:09.400 --> 00:02:15.340 But if you have a family of more than four, we're still just asking for $10 per family 00:02:15.340 --> 00:02:15.720 member. 00:02:15.840 --> 00:02:20.240 And so please come by and get those tickets after the service is over with. 00:02:20.320 --> 00:02:21.700 That's for next Sunday. 00:02:22.000 --> 00:02:24.720 Also, I want to give you guys an update. 00:02:24.840 --> 00:02:29.660 I had the privilege and the opportunity to be in Haiti last week or last weekend, and it 00:02:29.660 --> 00:02:31.360 was a wonderful, it was a quick trip. 00:02:31.360 --> 00:02:36.320 I got there on Friday morning and had to leave Sunday evening to get back for some family 00:02:36.320 --> 00:02:37.520 obligations that I had. 00:02:37.740 --> 00:02:41.520 But it was an absolutely wonderful, wonderful time of celebration. 00:02:41.720 --> 00:02:43.520 Jennifer Howard's here with us this morning. 00:02:43.520 --> 00:02:50.740 As we got to celebrate and look back on all that God has done in 10 years through Alex's 00:02:50.740 --> 00:02:52.880 house, now becoming Disciples Village. 00:02:52.880 --> 00:02:58.960 And so it was wonderful to be there, to look back, to hear the story that was told so beautifully 00:02:58.960 --> 00:03:04.020 through the people who got up there and shared, but also through the video testimonies that 00:03:04.020 --> 00:03:06.060 were put together, and it was absolutely wonderful. 00:03:06.320 --> 00:03:12.380 It was great to see some of the kids who came to this orphanage as really little to be able 00:03:12.380 --> 00:03:13.200 to get up. 00:03:13.560 --> 00:03:18.560 And some of them, they performed, two of them I think did a dance that was there, and then 00:03:18.560 --> 00:03:20.540 two of them, I was blown away, got up and did a rap. 00:03:20.540 --> 00:03:25.380 I had no clue what they said, all right, until they said Bill and Jennifer. 00:03:25.660 --> 00:03:27.780 Like, I recognized those two, and that was it. 00:03:27.920 --> 00:03:32.920 But it was a wonderful picture of seeing these kids and what God has done in their life over 00:03:32.920 --> 00:03:33.920 these last 10 years. 00:03:33.980 --> 00:03:36.000 And all of that was absolutely wonderful. 00:03:36.120 --> 00:03:40.880 But I think what struck me the most was not just looking back, but looking forward. 00:03:41.460 --> 00:03:45.300 And not just looking back and seeing what God's done over 10 years, but looking forward 00:03:45.300 --> 00:03:52.000 to see what God is going to do through Disciples Village now over the next 10, 20, 30, 40, 50 00:03:52.000 --> 00:03:58.680 years as God is continuing to raise up church planters, as God is continuing to raise up villages 00:03:58.680 --> 00:04:01.220 that are hungry and ripe for the gospel. 00:04:01.400 --> 00:04:06.120 And so as we get to our message this morning, it was a privilege and honor for me to be there. 00:04:06.680 --> 00:04:09.120 So I had something happen for the first time ever. 00:04:09.420 --> 00:04:11.000 I got cold in Haiti, right? 00:04:11.120 --> 00:04:13.740 I woke up about 2 o'clock in the morning, and it was a little chilly. 00:04:14.020 --> 00:04:16.020 And so I had to take the sheet and cover up, all right? 00:04:16.080 --> 00:04:18.220 So that happened while I was there. 00:04:18.480 --> 00:04:21.440 But just remarkable of all of the things that have taken place. 00:04:21.540 --> 00:04:25.800 And so as we go into God's word this morning, I want to ask that we go back in prayer, and 00:04:25.800 --> 00:04:30.180 specifically as we pray for our missionaries, not just Haiti, but all over the world this 00:04:30.180 --> 00:04:30.420 morning. 00:04:30.420 --> 00:04:32.580 And so would you join me as we lift them up? 00:04:33.800 --> 00:04:35.860 Lord, we come to you this morning, and we just thank you. 00:04:36.960 --> 00:04:41.980 Lord, we thank you that right now on this planet, you are moving amongst peoples. 00:04:42.900 --> 00:04:45.280 Lord, you're moving in every country. 00:04:45.540 --> 00:04:46.380 Lord, you are moving. 00:04:46.500 --> 00:04:48.380 You are calling hearts back to you. 00:04:49.280 --> 00:04:53.480 Lord, I thank you for the opportunity of how you've positioned us as a church. 00:04:54.180 --> 00:05:00.400 Lord, from what began in a mission's work of bringing a Hispanic pastor here to help 00:05:00.400 --> 00:05:07.320 reach Hispanics in our community, Lord, to see a pastor go from here to plant a new work 00:05:07.320 --> 00:05:15.480 from this church in Haiti, Lord, to now seeing partnerships literally all over the world, in North 00:05:15.480 --> 00:05:30.380 Africa, in Canada, in India, in the Philippines, in Haiti, in Mexico, Lord, and everywhere else 00:05:30.380 --> 00:05:32.380 that you've given us the opportunity to go. 00:05:33.860 --> 00:05:35.920 Lord, I lift up our missionaries this morning. 00:05:37.300 --> 00:05:38.400 Lord, I lift them up. 00:05:38.440 --> 00:05:39.640 I lift their families up. 00:05:41.220 --> 00:05:46.260 Lord, I lift Rick and Tina up as they're preparing to go, as they're right now in Atlanta doing their 00:05:46.260 --> 00:05:46.620 training. 00:05:48.300 --> 00:05:53.060 Lord, Lord, I pray that right with each one of them, Lord, in this moment, this morning, you 00:05:53.060 --> 00:05:54.620 would remind them of their call. 00:05:55.560 --> 00:06:01.320 You would remind them that you are the God who sends them, that you are the God who equips 00:06:01.320 --> 00:06:07.580 them, and that you are the God that gives them the ability to do the work that you've called 00:06:07.580 --> 00:06:08.020 them to. 00:06:09.300 --> 00:06:12.920 Lord, may their lips be sweet with the gospel of Jesus Christ. 00:06:14.200 --> 00:06:19.180 Lord, may they not look at their surroundings and focus in on that, but Lord, may they gaze 00:06:19.180 --> 00:06:20.400 their eyes upon you. 00:06:21.840 --> 00:06:27.020 Lord, and I pray through the power of your work and through the faithfulness of the saints who 00:06:27.020 --> 00:06:35.520 have gone, Lord, that those around them would come to know you, to be discipled, Lord, and 00:06:35.520 --> 00:06:38.520 to grow to become men and women of faith. 00:06:39.360 --> 00:06:41.020 So, Lord, I thank you for our missionaries. 00:06:41.260 --> 00:06:42.660 I thank you for their families. 00:06:42.960 --> 00:06:47.520 I thank you for those that have heard the call, and they have responded, and they have gone. 00:06:48.520 --> 00:06:50.060 And it's in Jesus' name we pray. 00:06:50.860 --> 00:06:51.200 Amen. 00:06:52.360 --> 00:06:55.900 If you've got your Bibles, go ahead and open up to Galatians chapter 4. 00:06:55.900 --> 00:06:57.660 It's where we're going to be this morning. 00:06:58.640 --> 00:07:03.340 And this morning, what we're really going to focus in on, we're going to make a change. 00:07:03.420 --> 00:07:06.400 We're going to have a move that we're going to make this morning, is we're going to talk 00:07:06.400 --> 00:07:08.900 about faith as has been every single week. 00:07:09.160 --> 00:07:14.040 But this morning, the focus of our faith, and it's what we've said from week one, is we're 00:07:14.040 --> 00:07:19.760 not just talking about the faith of salvation, but we're talking about the faith that we live 00:07:19.760 --> 00:07:20.040 by. 00:07:20.040 --> 00:07:25.720 You see, it's not just enough that you and I need faith to get us saved, but you and I 00:07:25.720 --> 00:07:33.660 need faith on an every single day basis as we walk this world, as we live our lives in 00:07:33.660 --> 00:07:37.580 a posturing to glorify Him and to bring others to Him, right? 00:07:37.680 --> 00:07:43.300 Like, that's the part within us of why God saves us and then leaves us. 00:07:43.780 --> 00:07:49.080 If God just wanted to save us so we would be with Him, right, then the day of our salvation, 00:07:49.280 --> 00:07:51.760 He'd take us home, but He doesn't. 00:07:52.400 --> 00:07:54.300 He saves us and He leaves us here. 00:07:54.660 --> 00:07:56.480 And He leaves us here with a mission. 00:07:56.640 --> 00:07:58.640 He leaves us here with a purpose. 00:07:58.900 --> 00:08:04.320 He leaves us here with a passion to live for Him, to display the goodness of the gospel, 00:08:04.320 --> 00:08:12.320 to share the life-saving transformation of the gospel with others so that they may know Him. 00:08:12.880 --> 00:08:17.920 And so faith isn't just what saves us, but faith is that by which we live by. 00:08:18.100 --> 00:08:20.660 And that's a struggle that's happened in the Galatian church. 00:08:20.820 --> 00:08:27.460 As not only they believe it's Christ that they are saved, but it's Christ plus to really, 00:08:27.740 --> 00:08:31.880 truly live their life in order to be a child of God. 00:08:32.560 --> 00:08:35.760 And so Paul's trying to chip away at this boulder. 00:08:36.060 --> 00:08:42.200 He's trying to break it down piece by piece by piece so they begin to truly understand 00:08:42.200 --> 00:08:45.560 what the fullness of Christ looks like in their life. 00:08:46.260 --> 00:08:49.720 And so let's continue on reading Galatians chapter 4 starting verse 21. 00:08:52.020 --> 00:09:15.880 Now this may be interpreted allegorically. 00:09:16.500 --> 00:09:18.060 These women are two covenants. 00:09:18.400 --> 00:09:22.640 One is from Mount Sinai, bearing children for slavery, and she is Hagar. 00:09:23.180 --> 00:09:28.660 Now Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia, and she corresponds to the present Jerusalem. 00:09:29.240 --> 00:09:33.980 For she is in slavery with her children, living under the law. 00:09:34.380 --> 00:09:35.120 Verse 26. 00:09:35.680 --> 00:09:39.780 But Jerusalem above is free. 00:09:40.540 --> 00:09:42.520 She is our mother, for it is written, 00:09:43.140 --> 00:09:45.740 Rejoice, O barren one who does not bear. 00:09:45.740 --> 00:09:50.220 Break forth and cry aloud, you who are not in labor. 00:09:50.580 --> 00:09:57.220 For the children of the desolate one will be more than those of the one who has a husband. 00:09:57.880 --> 00:09:59.100 Continue on verse 28. 00:09:59.880 --> 00:10:03.480 Now you, brothers like Isaac, are children of promise. 00:10:04.160 --> 00:10:10.020 But just at this time, at that time, he who was born according to the flesh, 00:10:10.400 --> 00:10:15.780 persecuted him who was born according to the spirit, so also it is now. 00:10:16.060 --> 00:10:17.660 But what does scripture say? 00:10:18.340 --> 00:10:20.540 Cast out the slave woman and her son. 00:10:20.540 --> 00:10:25.640 For the son of the slave woman shall not inherit with the son of the free woman. 00:10:26.340 --> 00:10:32.480 So brothers, we are not children of the slave, but of the free woman. 00:10:33.280 --> 00:10:37.040 So in this passage of scripture, Paul is going to tell us a story. 00:10:37.480 --> 00:10:39.740 But he begins with a question. 00:10:40.460 --> 00:10:41.940 And his question is important. 00:10:42.540 --> 00:10:43.340 He looks and says, 00:10:43.340 --> 00:10:48.780 As you who desire to be under the law, do you not listen to the law? 00:10:49.200 --> 00:10:53.840 And what we have to understand for you and I is our relationship with the law. 00:10:54.040 --> 00:10:55.820 It's what I talked about several weeks ago. 00:10:56.000 --> 00:10:59.740 And what we begin to understand that obedience to the law, 00:11:00.000 --> 00:11:02.400 that obedience to God's standard is good. 00:11:02.580 --> 00:11:05.860 That what the law does is the law shows sin in our life. 00:11:06.020 --> 00:11:07.620 It shows where we miss the mark. 00:11:07.620 --> 00:11:09.120 It shows where we've wandered away. 00:11:09.380 --> 00:11:13.040 That the law, when we were lost, showed us our desperate need for our Savior. 00:11:13.340 --> 00:11:19.020 So we look at the law, we see where we are, and we find in the law the ability. 00:11:19.360 --> 00:11:22.480 We find in the law the calling of repentance. 00:11:23.020 --> 00:11:25.480 And so obedience to the law is good. 00:11:25.840 --> 00:11:29.480 And so Paul's not trying to break them away from obedience. 00:11:29.480 --> 00:11:35.580 But what he is trying to bring them away from is relying on the law for their standard. 00:11:36.180 --> 00:11:41.160 That in relying on the law for their standard with God is not good. 00:11:41.300 --> 00:11:44.900 So it wasn't just enough to be saved by Christ. 00:11:45.400 --> 00:11:52.500 But for them it was saved by Christ and then proving your worth through the things that you do. 00:11:53.060 --> 00:11:59.980 And he's trying to remove them from that, that Jesus is enough and that Jesus is sufficient. 00:12:00.640 --> 00:12:04.120 And so what Paul's going to do to explain this to them, 00:12:04.120 --> 00:12:09.240 it is now that you were saved, here is what a life of faith looks like. 00:12:09.600 --> 00:12:15.320 And he points back to Abraham, just as he had done in chapter 3. 00:12:15.920 --> 00:12:20.240 You see, in chapter 3, Abraham had now been the standard of faith. 00:12:20.740 --> 00:12:22.080 Faith like Abraham. 00:12:22.780 --> 00:12:25.420 But now there's going to be a different example. 00:12:26.120 --> 00:12:32.500 A negative piece that will come through in Abraham's life to serve what Paul needs 00:12:32.500 --> 00:12:37.580 as we begin to walk this world in the faith that God has called us to. 00:12:38.220 --> 00:12:40.460 You see, Abraham had two sons. 00:12:41.420 --> 00:12:47.200 Ishmael, whose mother was Hagar, and Isaac, whose mother was Sarah. 00:12:47.860 --> 00:12:54.600 So what you see here is you have two sons, you have two mothers, and you have one dad. 00:12:54.600 --> 00:13:01.560 Now let's just say, this is a story filled with catastrophe. 00:13:02.260 --> 00:13:05.720 This is a story that is going to blow up, right? 00:13:05.860 --> 00:13:09.040 Like, you can't look at this and think, oh, this ends well, right? 00:13:09.380 --> 00:13:09.880 No. 00:13:10.400 --> 00:13:12.640 No, it's not what's going to happen. 00:13:12.640 --> 00:13:23.960 But both of these sons and both of these women came to Abraham in drastically different circumstances. 00:13:24.980 --> 00:13:29.200 One would come to Abraham through his logic and through his ability. 00:13:29.800 --> 00:13:37.760 And one would come to Abraham through his faith, through his obedience of what God had set in place. 00:13:37.760 --> 00:13:44.440 You see, because before Abraham had any sons, God promised Abraham not only a land, 00:13:44.760 --> 00:13:52.060 but God promised Abraham that he would provide an heir to him in Genesis 12 and in Genesis 15. 00:13:52.600 --> 00:13:57.660 And in order for it to be an heir, it must be a son. 00:13:58.360 --> 00:14:00.920 And so this is the promise that God gives. 00:14:01.480 --> 00:14:06.100 But there's multiple problems with this promise in Abraham's perspective. 00:14:06.920 --> 00:14:08.020 Abraham's old. 00:14:08.480 --> 00:14:14.100 And just as Abraham is old, his wife is also old. 00:14:14.580 --> 00:14:17.820 And the Bible tells us that she was barren. 00:14:18.100 --> 00:14:20.560 She was unable to get pregnant. 00:14:21.220 --> 00:14:27.420 And so God comes to an old Abraham who thinks our child years have passed us. 00:14:27.880 --> 00:14:35.100 God comes to Abraham who is married to a woman that he loves who's been incapable of giving him a child. 00:14:35.100 --> 00:14:41.980 And he says to him, I promise you, I promise you not only a land, but I promise you an heir. 00:14:42.660 --> 00:14:45.480 An heir from you. 00:14:46.620 --> 00:14:49.120 An heir from Sarah. 00:14:50.080 --> 00:14:56.340 And that your descendants, what scripture says, will be more numerous than the stars. 00:14:56.600 --> 00:15:02.660 And so Abraham and Sarah begin this journey of faith with God. 00:15:03.020 --> 00:15:10.180 And after years of living where God called them to, after years of trusting in the promise of what God had given them, 00:15:10.380 --> 00:15:17.620 after years of believing all that God had told them, all that God had promised them, 00:15:18.160 --> 00:15:21.840 still, still, still God had not provided. 00:15:22.780 --> 00:15:24.860 Now notice we don't say God had failed. 00:15:25.720 --> 00:15:28.460 But God had not provided. 00:15:29.380 --> 00:15:35.360 That God had not followed through yet on what God had said he would do. 00:15:35.860 --> 00:15:36.920 Now I don't know about you, 00:15:37.600 --> 00:15:40.820 but I feel like in my life I've been here before. 00:15:41.660 --> 00:15:44.280 Think about you and your journey of life. 00:15:45.080 --> 00:15:47.200 You and where you are in your marriage. 00:15:47.360 --> 00:15:50.080 You and where you are in your relationship with your children. 00:15:50.520 --> 00:15:52.840 You and where you are with your finances. 00:15:53.120 --> 00:15:55.000 You and where you are in your career. 00:15:55.400 --> 00:15:59.000 You and where you are in the dynamic that you have with your parents. 00:15:59.340 --> 00:16:02.820 You and where you are in any scenario of life. 00:16:02.820 --> 00:16:09.120 And what you find is that through your perspective, you've been doing everything the right way. 00:16:09.620 --> 00:16:13.740 You've been trying to honor God in every aspect of what is happening. 00:16:13.960 --> 00:16:19.800 But yet what is unfolding before you is not what you feel you deserve. 00:16:20.380 --> 00:16:23.180 Is not what you feel like God would follow through in. 00:16:23.600 --> 00:16:29.560 And I don't know about you, but I've been through and sometimes find myself in those seasons of life. 00:16:29.800 --> 00:16:32.140 It's a frustrating road to be on. 00:16:32.140 --> 00:16:35.120 It's a frustrating place to find yourself. 00:16:35.420 --> 00:16:41.700 And I don't know about you, but I can't imagine being Abraham and Sarah in this journey. 00:16:42.540 --> 00:16:43.820 God told them something. 00:16:44.440 --> 00:16:45.380 He told them to go. 00:16:46.240 --> 00:16:47.380 God gave them a place. 00:16:48.440 --> 00:16:49.920 God made them promises. 00:16:50.660 --> 00:16:53.140 And here's what they did. 00:16:53.660 --> 00:16:55.560 They went. 00:16:56.840 --> 00:16:57.560 They went. 00:16:58.660 --> 00:16:59.940 Look at their journey of faith. 00:17:00.660 --> 00:17:02.520 Number one, they listened to God. 00:17:03.220 --> 00:17:04.240 They listened to him. 00:17:05.280 --> 00:17:08.120 There's never any doubt in their mind what God had said. 00:17:09.100 --> 00:17:11.620 And I think that's an important part that we oftentimes miss. 00:17:12.040 --> 00:17:16.260 How many times is God speaking to us, but we're not listening to him? 00:17:16.740 --> 00:17:22.380 But they find in this from the very beginning, there was no doubt in what God had said. 00:17:22.380 --> 00:17:30.520 And so their journey of faith with the Lord was found before they did anything in their listening to God. 00:17:30.720 --> 00:17:31.780 So they listened to him. 00:17:32.240 --> 00:17:35.200 In their journey in faith, they believed God. 00:17:35.660 --> 00:17:39.360 They didn't understand all of it, but they believed him. 00:17:39.800 --> 00:17:41.260 They knew the promises. 00:17:41.740 --> 00:17:43.160 They held true to the promises. 00:17:43.540 --> 00:17:46.000 And you see this in the faithfulness of their living. 00:17:46.280 --> 00:17:49.800 It's why Paul can refer to them as examples before. 00:17:50.320 --> 00:17:51.860 But they trusted God too. 00:17:52.260 --> 00:17:53.580 So they listened to God. 00:17:53.680 --> 00:17:54.520 They believed God. 00:17:54.640 --> 00:17:55.700 And they trusted him. 00:17:56.180 --> 00:17:58.880 They knew that this is what would happen. 00:17:59.040 --> 00:18:06.300 And it began to reflect so in their life that what they believed in their mind, they began to trust in their hearts. 00:18:06.680 --> 00:18:09.740 And then they began to obey with their actions. 00:18:10.340 --> 00:18:11.780 And so we should be jumping up and down. 00:18:12.460 --> 00:18:14.820 They are a testimony of faith. 00:18:15.300 --> 00:18:16.120 They heard. 00:18:17.000 --> 00:18:18.020 They believed. 00:18:18.740 --> 00:18:19.660 They trusted. 00:18:20.720 --> 00:18:27.080 They obeyed in every aspect of their life. 00:18:27.720 --> 00:18:30.300 But here's where the tension began to come. 00:18:31.060 --> 00:18:39.380 And here's where the tension begins to come in my life and I know in the life of many men and women of faith. 00:18:40.340 --> 00:18:45.200 But God had not yet met their expectations. 00:18:46.260 --> 00:18:56.740 God had not yet done what they believed, what they trusted, that God was going to do. 00:18:57.480 --> 00:19:06.200 And so what you begin to see is they begin to, piece by piece, abandon their faith. 00:19:06.940 --> 00:19:09.000 The faith in which they would live by. 00:19:09.500 --> 00:19:11.640 The faith in which they were called to. 00:19:12.060 --> 00:19:14.260 The faith in which they were chosen by. 00:19:14.960 --> 00:19:16.340 That God chose them. 00:19:17.180 --> 00:19:22.380 And they begin to, piece by piece, abandon their faith. 00:19:22.380 --> 00:19:26.060 And they begin to rely on themselves. 00:19:26.700 --> 00:19:27.920 You see, they still had faith. 00:19:28.660 --> 00:19:35.040 But now their faith to bring true what they desired was no longer found in their faith in God. 00:19:35.160 --> 00:19:38.640 But it was now found in their faith of themselves. 00:19:39.080 --> 00:19:40.460 And guys, this is my battle. 00:19:41.520 --> 00:19:42.460 This is my battle. 00:19:43.420 --> 00:19:48.480 When the unfolding of the details don't play out the way that I think they should. 00:19:49.020 --> 00:19:54.880 When the unfolding of the timeline begins to be much longer than I think that it should be. 00:19:55.100 --> 00:19:57.340 When the events of things begin to happen. 00:19:57.700 --> 00:20:00.200 Yes, I still know that Jesus is my Savior. 00:20:00.200 --> 00:20:05.620 But the faith that now in which I seek to live by is by my own understanding. 00:20:05.960 --> 00:20:07.120 By my own perspective. 00:20:07.580 --> 00:20:08.980 And this is what they see. 00:20:09.480 --> 00:20:10.860 Look at some of these scenarios. 00:20:11.860 --> 00:20:19.620 God, I thought that if I were a godly spouse, then my husband or my wife would also be godly. 00:20:20.440 --> 00:20:26.420 God, I thought if I raised my kids in church, then they would grow to be strong Christians. 00:20:26.640 --> 00:20:27.880 And that's not where they are. 00:20:28.400 --> 00:20:36.200 God, I thought that if I did things the right way at work, then I would be farther along in my career. 00:20:37.140 --> 00:20:44.840 And I find myself right here as others begin to pass by and pass by and pass by. 00:20:45.140 --> 00:20:52.100 And when we hit these moments, what we begin to walk away from are what we've heard and what we've listened to. 00:20:52.200 --> 00:20:55.840 To what we believe, to what we've trusted, to what we've obeyed. 00:20:56.420 --> 00:21:00.900 And we begin to walk away from God's standard and we begin to walk in our own. 00:21:01.740 --> 00:21:06.220 And what we see begin to happen here is exactly what takes place. 00:21:07.040 --> 00:21:14.720 So Sarah comes to Abraham, frustrated, doubting, with a faith that is wavering. 00:21:15.580 --> 00:21:21.840 And she says, we cannot provide, listen to this, we cannot provide what God has promised. 00:21:22.520 --> 00:21:23.200 You see that? 00:21:23.900 --> 00:21:27.240 We can't do what God has said he will do. 00:21:28.340 --> 00:21:33.800 So now, let's begin to do it our way. 00:21:34.660 --> 00:21:38.300 So instead, she says, just sleep with my maidservant. 00:21:39.600 --> 00:21:40.360 Sleep with Hagar. 00:21:41.620 --> 00:21:42.440 She's young. 00:21:43.340 --> 00:21:44.480 She can provide. 00:21:45.620 --> 00:21:48.500 And now we can have our family. 00:21:49.300 --> 00:21:52.820 Now we can have what God promised us. 00:21:53.620 --> 00:21:56.920 But now we can have it our way. 00:21:57.820 --> 00:21:58.480 Our way. 00:21:58.920 --> 00:21:59.640 Here's the thing. 00:21:59.700 --> 00:22:01.400 You think that her plan is crazy, all right? 00:22:01.840 --> 00:22:03.980 Number one, her plan is legal. 00:22:05.020 --> 00:22:07.620 Her plan is socially acceptable. 00:22:08.140 --> 00:22:10.360 Ladies in here, you're like, I don't think so. 00:22:10.480 --> 00:22:10.840 Nope. 00:22:11.720 --> 00:22:12.140 Mm-mm. 00:22:12.540 --> 00:22:13.840 I didn't say it today. 00:22:14.700 --> 00:22:18.000 But then, it was acceptable. 00:22:19.440 --> 00:22:20.760 She was her maidservant. 00:22:21.620 --> 00:22:23.120 She was her slave. 00:22:24.720 --> 00:22:27.860 Go get me a child. 00:22:31.860 --> 00:22:33.500 It was somewhat logical. 00:22:34.580 --> 00:22:35.380 Think about it. 00:22:36.200 --> 00:22:37.720 This is what we need. 00:22:38.840 --> 00:22:40.520 We can't get it. 00:22:41.180 --> 00:22:43.280 Then where else could we get it from? 00:22:44.460 --> 00:22:45.540 It's logical. 00:22:46.600 --> 00:22:47.720 It's logical. 00:22:48.860 --> 00:22:50.200 And it works. 00:22:51.880 --> 00:22:54.980 You see, sometimes when we take faith in our own hands, 00:22:55.120 --> 00:23:00.020 and we begin to live our life by our own faith, by our own means, 00:23:00.200 --> 00:23:01.780 those are the boxes we check. 00:23:02.220 --> 00:23:03.060 Is it legal? 00:23:03.840 --> 00:23:04.200 Yep. 00:23:05.060 --> 00:23:06.840 Is it socially accepted? 00:23:07.900 --> 00:23:08.220 Eh. 00:23:08.800 --> 00:23:09.320 Yeah. 00:23:10.360 --> 00:23:11.720 Will it work? 00:23:13.000 --> 00:23:13.560 Yeah. 00:23:14.460 --> 00:23:16.640 Then, then why not? 00:23:17.840 --> 00:23:18.740 Then why not? 00:23:19.720 --> 00:23:21.020 Now, it's not what I heard. 00:23:21.140 --> 00:23:22.060 It's not what I believed. 00:23:22.180 --> 00:23:23.480 It's not what I've trusted. 00:23:23.740 --> 00:23:25.620 It's not what I've been called to walk in. 00:23:25.740 --> 00:23:28.520 But it checks all of the other boxes. 00:23:28.880 --> 00:23:29.800 It's logical. 00:23:31.320 --> 00:23:32.500 But it's not faith. 00:23:33.580 --> 00:23:35.920 So they walk away from obedience. 00:23:37.140 --> 00:23:39.800 And they sinfully step into their plan. 00:23:40.400 --> 00:23:42.880 They walk away from God's plan. 00:23:43.160 --> 00:23:45.160 They walk away from faith in him. 00:23:45.340 --> 00:23:52.060 And they place themselves in their own faith to fulfill what they so long for. 00:23:52.860 --> 00:23:55.060 Now, 14 years later, all right? 00:23:55.500 --> 00:23:58.100 14 years later, Abraham is 100 years old. 00:23:59.000 --> 00:23:59.760 Guess what happens? 00:24:00.980 --> 00:24:01.820 Sarah gets pregnant. 00:24:03.120 --> 00:24:05.120 Now, she's pregnant. 00:24:06.100 --> 00:24:06.520 Now. 00:24:06.660 --> 00:24:10.880 Now, I'm telling you, I'm 40, 40, all right? 00:24:11.160 --> 00:24:12.640 I had to think about that for a second. 00:24:13.900 --> 00:24:14.840 I'm 40. 00:24:15.080 --> 00:24:16.540 I go to my sister's house. 00:24:16.860 --> 00:24:20.280 She's got three kids all under the age of six. 00:24:20.520 --> 00:24:23.800 I'm slapped wore out within like five minutes, right? 00:24:24.560 --> 00:24:24.980 Here he is. 00:24:25.040 --> 00:24:25.500 He's 100. 00:24:26.580 --> 00:24:27.480 He's 100. 00:24:27.480 --> 00:24:37.020 If you want to look and see the faithfulness and the radical working of what God does. 00:24:37.220 --> 00:24:43.180 He took a barren womb and put a child in it and gave it to a hundred-year-old man. 00:24:43.420 --> 00:24:44.780 And he said, father him and lead him. 00:24:46.440 --> 00:24:48.940 He said, father him and lead him. 00:24:50.280 --> 00:24:53.640 And so, verse 23, Isaac's been born. 00:24:54.620 --> 00:25:01.280 And he says, but Paul writes, but the son of the slave was born according to the flesh, 00:25:02.120 --> 00:25:07.860 while the son of the free woman was born through the promise. 00:25:09.400 --> 00:25:16.600 Abraham originally got what he wanted, but it was through his human attainment in which he sought it. 00:25:17.340 --> 00:25:22.640 And it wasn't in the faith of what God had called him to do. 00:25:22.640 --> 00:25:29.820 So, in that moment, Abraham and Hagar, it's faith in himself. 00:25:30.980 --> 00:25:32.460 It's faith in what he can do. 00:25:33.080 --> 00:25:39.160 Because God could never, in Abraham's mind, provide that. 00:25:40.500 --> 00:25:46.640 And we begin to see what it looks like when we trust on our logic. 00:25:47.340 --> 00:25:48.740 As opposed to our own belief. 00:25:49.580 --> 00:25:53.460 When we begin to trust in ourselves and trust in God. 00:25:54.160 --> 00:26:01.280 When we begin to move away from obeying the Lord and we begin to obey ourselves. 00:26:01.580 --> 00:26:07.980 And all of this begins to happen in the moment where they step away from faith. 00:26:08.680 --> 00:26:12.020 Now, we said this was going to end up in a huge mess. 00:26:12.760 --> 00:26:17.460 Let me just say it, it did and it still is today. 00:26:18.340 --> 00:26:19.600 It still is today. 00:26:20.380 --> 00:26:25.260 When you see the turmoil that's happening all over the world, right? 00:26:25.300 --> 00:26:27.460 We're not going to turn this in now into a 50-minute history lesson. 00:26:28.520 --> 00:26:38.220 But historically, we can see what begins to happen when the faith is broken and removed from God. 00:26:38.940 --> 00:26:41.480 So, what does it mean to live in faith? 00:26:42.020 --> 00:26:49.900 What does it mean that you and I are called in this process that is not only the faith that saves us, but it's the faith that we live by? 00:26:50.180 --> 00:26:52.520 First thing I want us to see is faith and application. 00:26:53.480 --> 00:27:00.400 Living in faith means applying God's word, not in some, but to all aspects of your life. 00:27:01.020 --> 00:27:04.740 Trusting that God's way is better than your own. 00:27:05.340 --> 00:27:07.580 Now, it's not in some, it's in all. 00:27:08.440 --> 00:27:14.680 See, Abraham didn't trust God's plan in a segment of his life. 00:27:15.160 --> 00:27:16.960 He was where God called him to be. 00:27:17.180 --> 00:27:19.240 He had done what God had called him to do. 00:27:19.480 --> 00:27:27.300 There were many aspects in the life of Abraham that's all happening during this time that we could look at him, pat him on the back, champion of faith. 00:27:27.300 --> 00:27:40.860 But in this moment, you see, because it's not in the partiality, it's not in the majority, but it's the entirety of our life that God is setting the standard for us in our life and saying, 00:27:41.060 --> 00:27:45.380 in every single aspect, apply your faith in me. 00:27:46.440 --> 00:27:49.340 But sometimes it conflicts. 00:27:50.220 --> 00:27:51.220 And Jesus knew that. 00:27:51.900 --> 00:27:53.720 And Jesus taught on that. 00:27:54.700 --> 00:28:08.640 The most powerful verse that I see in Scripture that contradicts so much and where you and I want to branch out in logic is found directly in the words of Jesus in Matthew chapter 5. 00:28:09.660 --> 00:28:24.640 Jesus looks at a crowd who's been beaten, who's been oppressed, who's been ruled over, who's had their property taken from them, who's had their money taken from them, many of them enslaved. 00:28:27.140 --> 00:28:31.920 And he looks at them in Matthew chapter 5, verse 3, and he says, blessed are the meek. 00:28:33.100 --> 00:28:36.980 Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. 00:28:38.000 --> 00:28:39.380 Not blessed are the Romans. 00:28:40.440 --> 00:28:41.980 Not blessed are the strong. 00:28:43.080 --> 00:28:45.200 Not blessed are the ones who pick up the sword. 00:28:46.600 --> 00:28:47.760 But blessed are the meek. 00:28:48.900 --> 00:28:49.920 Blessed are the meek. 00:28:50.920 --> 00:28:52.420 Blessed are the gentle. 00:28:54.420 --> 00:28:57.600 Direct conflict in what they've seen. 00:28:57.960 --> 00:29:03.360 Direct conflict in what the world has established for Jesus all the way back. 00:29:04.720 --> 00:29:13.080 Jesus says, though, when it comes to application of your life and my life to live for him, this, look outside. 00:29:14.160 --> 00:29:15.580 That's not the standard. 00:29:17.780 --> 00:29:19.060 Turn on the news. 00:29:20.380 --> 00:29:21.740 That's not the standard. 00:29:24.060 --> 00:29:25.380 Listen to politicians. 00:29:26.520 --> 00:29:27.940 It's not the standard. 00:29:30.420 --> 00:29:32.020 Listen to what you and I want. 00:29:33.440 --> 00:29:34.620 It's not the standard. 00:29:35.860 --> 00:29:44.060 That what you and I are called to, what it means to live by faith, is that verses in here that are hard for us. 00:29:44.440 --> 00:29:47.000 Verses in here that are difficult for us. 00:29:47.380 --> 00:29:57.840 Verses in here that contradict the way that we were raised, the way that we believe, the way we maybe even vote, is the standard by which God sets for us. 00:29:58.840 --> 00:30:00.020 And this is what we apply. 00:30:00.020 --> 00:30:01.860 And this is what we apply. 00:30:02.580 --> 00:30:04.080 Even if it's not logical. 00:30:05.200 --> 00:30:06.900 Even if it doesn't make sense. 00:30:07.900 --> 00:30:11.060 Even if it doesn't give us the outcome that we long for. 00:30:11.300 --> 00:30:12.160 That's faith. 00:30:13.660 --> 00:30:14.540 That's faith. 00:30:15.680 --> 00:30:19.840 But there's also faith and reliance. 00:30:20.700 --> 00:30:21.980 Now we've developed a phrase. 00:30:22.100 --> 00:30:24.880 I didn't do research on it to figure out where it came from. 00:30:25.060 --> 00:30:28.180 But the phrase that we use often, the phrase of rock bottom. 00:30:29.020 --> 00:30:38.400 And what we mean by that is when we see a person whose life is falling apart, when we see a person whose life is broken, and they won't yet admit that to themselves, 00:30:38.400 --> 00:30:48.760 what we say is that this person won't begin to trend into a different direction, relying on something different, until they hit rock bottom. 00:30:49.220 --> 00:30:53.080 Until they realize they don't have everything under control. 00:30:53.340 --> 00:31:02.820 Until they realize that everything that I am doing might be wrong, and I might need to rely on something else other than myself in this. 00:31:03.060 --> 00:31:07.200 And so what we say is wait until they hit rock bottom. 00:31:07.820 --> 00:31:10.140 Then, then they will. 00:31:10.780 --> 00:31:19.200 But for us, church, there's so many of us in here who spiritually speaking, maybe not for your entire life, 00:31:19.460 --> 00:31:26.540 maybe in only one or two aspects of your life, what you desperately need this morning is to find your rock bottom. 00:31:27.080 --> 00:31:35.440 So that you'll stop relying on yourself, and so that we can start relying on God in absolutely everything. 00:31:36.540 --> 00:31:38.220 First Peter 5-7 says this, 00:31:39.040 --> 00:31:44.840 Cast all your anxieties on him because he cares for you. 00:31:46.320 --> 00:31:48.200 I'm going to ask Ben Wood if Ben will come up here for me. 00:31:49.460 --> 00:31:53.020 It's baseball season. 00:31:54.260 --> 00:31:56.480 I love watching baseball. 00:31:57.260 --> 00:31:59.060 I love my South Carolina Gamecocks. 00:31:59.120 --> 00:32:00.240 I love my New York Yankees. 00:32:00.820 --> 00:32:07.300 I love to go out into the yard, and I love to throw with my son, and I love to play catch. 00:32:08.260 --> 00:32:14.280 And this morning as I was reading through this passage of scripture, 1 Peter 5-7, I thought about baseball. 00:32:15.560 --> 00:32:17.940 But what in the world are you talking about? 00:32:18.380 --> 00:32:24.600 You see, because this morning, this baseball, Peter says, cast all your anxieties on him. 00:32:25.720 --> 00:32:32.020 All of your worry, all of your doubt, all of your struggles, everything. 00:32:32.660 --> 00:32:36.700 He says, cast all your anxiety onto him. 00:32:37.360 --> 00:32:41.740 So let me tell you what I can't do with my doubt, what I can't do with my worries. 00:32:42.600 --> 00:32:44.280 Number one, I can't hold on to it. 00:32:45.280 --> 00:32:46.560 I can't hold on to it. 00:32:47.660 --> 00:32:49.400 This can't be my ownership. 00:32:50.740 --> 00:32:57.000 God's word, if I'm going to apply it, says to cast all anxiety onto him. 00:32:57.340 --> 00:32:58.740 Here's the second thing that I can't do. 00:32:59.600 --> 00:33:03.440 Now, for the purpose of this, Ben is God. 00:33:04.040 --> 00:33:04.360 All right? 00:33:06.440 --> 00:33:07.240 Sorry, Natalie. 00:33:07.640 --> 00:33:08.000 Sorry. 00:33:10.160 --> 00:33:11.620 Here's the second thing I can't do. 00:33:12.200 --> 00:33:13.720 And I think this is what most of us do. 00:33:14.340 --> 00:33:17.780 I can't take my anxiety and say, hey, God, hold on to this. 00:33:26.180 --> 00:33:27.340 Oh, God's got it. 00:33:28.620 --> 00:33:29.440 But I do, too. 00:33:31.460 --> 00:33:32.400 I can't do that. 00:33:33.960 --> 00:33:34.840 Do you know what else I can't do? 00:33:35.840 --> 00:33:36.680 I can't do this. 00:33:47.740 --> 00:33:48.160 All right? 00:33:49.080 --> 00:33:51.380 Now, with that, I'm playing catch with my anxieties with God. 00:33:52.660 --> 00:33:53.500 God, here they are. 00:33:53.600 --> 00:33:54.360 Oh, I need them back. 00:33:54.360 --> 00:34:03.020 What I'm supposed to do is I'm supposed to cast it. 00:34:04.700 --> 00:34:07.460 You can go sit down, but go ahead and keep that, all right? 00:34:09.180 --> 00:34:10.280 I'm supposed to cast it. 00:34:11.780 --> 00:34:17.280 That word in Scripture, cast, paints the picture. 00:34:18.260 --> 00:34:19.100 I want you to think of this. 00:34:20.640 --> 00:34:24.100 You're standing out overlooking the Grand Canyon. 00:34:24.360 --> 00:34:26.740 And you pick up a rock. 00:34:28.300 --> 00:34:30.960 And you decide you're going to throw the rock as far as you can. 00:34:32.380 --> 00:34:34.240 And so you come running up and you throw it. 00:34:35.440 --> 00:34:36.580 What do you do next? 00:34:37.900 --> 00:34:39.000 Do you go get it? 00:34:39.900 --> 00:34:40.260 No. 00:34:41.020 --> 00:34:41.400 No. 00:34:42.520 --> 00:34:43.280 That's casting. 00:34:44.660 --> 00:34:45.420 That's casting. 00:34:46.660 --> 00:34:48.180 Cast all your anxieties on him. 00:34:48.880 --> 00:34:50.300 Cast all your anxieties on him. 00:34:51.300 --> 00:34:59.660 You see, when it comes into our life, when it comes into faith and reliance on God, 00:35:00.660 --> 00:35:03.940 it's it's taking them and it's casting. 00:35:05.320 --> 00:35:06.700 It's not playing toss. 00:35:07.940 --> 00:35:09.540 It's not asking for it back. 00:35:10.340 --> 00:35:12.700 It's not one hand on and one hand off. 00:35:14.200 --> 00:35:15.280 It's all or nothing. 00:35:16.420 --> 00:35:19.560 It's every aspect of it. 00:35:20.500 --> 00:35:25.640 And what we see this culminate into is faith and obedience. 00:35:27.180 --> 00:35:32.180 You see, because when we're applying, you see, when we're relying, 00:35:32.960 --> 00:35:35.880 what we find that comes from that is obedience. 00:35:36.880 --> 00:35:39.100 Jesus says in John chapter 14, 00:35:40.300 --> 00:35:45.360 If you love me, you'll keep my commandments. 00:35:47.280 --> 00:35:55.740 If you love me, if you'll love me, you'll apply this. 00:35:57.240 --> 00:36:01.420 If you love me, then you'll rely on me. 00:36:02.120 --> 00:36:09.780 That if you love me, that what comes from your faith is obedience. 00:36:11.180 --> 00:36:12.620 Obedience till it hurts. 00:36:13.960 --> 00:36:15.440 Obedience till you're ridiculed. 00:36:16.620 --> 00:36:17.980 Obedience till you're persecuted. 00:36:18.980 --> 00:36:20.320 Obedience till you're made fun of. 00:36:21.220 --> 00:36:21.940 Now, I don't know about you, 00:36:23.280 --> 00:36:26.280 but when 86-year-old Abraham 00:36:26.280 --> 00:36:30.400 and his wife, who is barren, 00:36:31.820 --> 00:36:32.880 says to people, 00:36:33.660 --> 00:36:36.220 but God's going to provide. 00:36:37.500 --> 00:36:38.940 But God's going to provide. 00:36:39.880 --> 00:36:41.000 Because I listened, 00:36:42.020 --> 00:36:42.940 I believe, 00:36:44.120 --> 00:36:44.840 I've trusted, 00:36:45.720 --> 00:36:46.880 and I've obeyed. 00:36:47.880 --> 00:36:50.200 I bet that wasn't met with a lot of amens. 00:36:51.500 --> 00:36:53.560 I bet it was met with ridicule. 00:36:54.420 --> 00:36:55.900 I bet it was met with isolation. 00:36:57.040 --> 00:36:58.320 I bet it was met with doubt. 00:36:59.640 --> 00:37:02.840 And that's where the break begins to happen. 00:37:04.260 --> 00:37:05.380 You see, it's through faith 00:37:05.380 --> 00:37:11.020 that we even find the ability to obey. 00:37:12.100 --> 00:37:12.580 Church, 00:37:13.300 --> 00:37:15.240 faith is not doing what you want. 00:37:16.480 --> 00:37:18.700 Faith is not doing what you think is right. 00:37:19.920 --> 00:37:22.960 Faith is not doing what you selfishly hope for 00:37:22.960 --> 00:37:26.100 or what you reason is right. 00:37:27.160 --> 00:37:30.520 Faith is obedience to God 00:37:30.520 --> 00:37:32.780 in all areas of your life. 00:37:33.500 --> 00:37:34.280 Would you pray with me? 00:37:36.600 --> 00:37:39.260 Lord, we come to you this morning. 00:37:41.940 --> 00:37:44.520 Lord, thanking you for your goodness of who you are. 00:37:47.160 --> 00:37:49.520 Lord, that you give us the faith that saves. 00:37:51.580 --> 00:37:54.720 But Lord, also the faith in which we live. 00:37:57.820 --> 00:37:58.760 Lord, in this room, 00:37:58.880 --> 00:38:01.000 we have a lot of people 00:38:01.000 --> 00:38:03.180 who are going through their own faith journey, 00:38:04.140 --> 00:38:05.880 their own faith battle. 00:38:08.380 --> 00:38:09.540 Lord, for some of them, 00:38:10.660 --> 00:38:12.120 it's the faith that saves. 00:38:13.440 --> 00:38:14.980 Lord, and I pray that in this morning, 00:38:15.100 --> 00:38:17.500 through the direct drawing of the Holy Spirit 00:38:17.500 --> 00:38:18.300 on their life, 00:38:19.020 --> 00:38:20.880 Lord, that they would respond and understand 00:38:20.880 --> 00:38:23.460 that it is found through the work of Christ, 00:38:23.680 --> 00:38:25.800 the person of Christ alone, 00:38:26.060 --> 00:38:28.060 that salvation is made possible. 00:38:28.360 --> 00:38:30.020 Jesus, you tell us that you are the way, 00:38:30.100 --> 00:38:31.020 the truth, and the life, 00:38:31.240 --> 00:38:32.640 that no one comes to the Father 00:38:32.640 --> 00:38:33.560 except through you. 00:38:34.220 --> 00:38:35.120 And that today, Lord, 00:38:35.160 --> 00:38:36.880 for those that need the faith that saves, 00:38:37.040 --> 00:38:38.780 they would place their faith in you, 00:38:38.780 --> 00:38:41.140 that salvation only comes from the Lord. 00:38:41.500 --> 00:38:42.240 Lord, and that today, 00:38:42.340 --> 00:38:44.080 they would be brought into the family, 00:38:44.380 --> 00:38:44.960 that today, 00:38:45.080 --> 00:38:47.060 they would be one of the stars in the sky 00:38:47.060 --> 00:38:48.660 that you told Abraham about. 00:38:48.820 --> 00:38:50.640 Lord, that today would be the day 00:38:50.640 --> 00:38:53.360 that their heavenly inheritance 00:38:53.360 --> 00:38:55.780 is granted to them. 00:38:56.940 --> 00:38:58.380 That today would be the day 00:38:58.380 --> 00:38:59.860 that they would be called a child of God. 00:39:01.540 --> 00:39:03.700 But Lord, there's others of us in here. 00:39:05.240 --> 00:39:07.140 We have the faith that saves. 00:39:10.100 --> 00:39:12.220 But Lord, it's the faith by which we live by. 00:39:14.220 --> 00:39:17.300 It's seeing the hearing 00:39:17.300 --> 00:39:20.740 transformed to the believing, 00:39:22.740 --> 00:39:24.480 transformed to the trusting 00:39:24.480 --> 00:39:28.080 that comes forth in the obedience. 00:39:30.580 --> 00:39:31.460 Lord, and today, 00:39:32.180 --> 00:39:33.320 I pray, would be the day 00:39:33.320 --> 00:39:36.580 whatever struggle we have, 00:39:37.540 --> 00:39:39.880 whatever anxiety we have, 00:39:41.400 --> 00:39:43.320 whatever battle is before us, 00:39:44.380 --> 00:39:47.400 that today would cast them to you. 00:39:49.680 --> 00:39:51.140 It's in Jesus' name we pray. 00:39:51.980 --> 00:39:52.460 Amen. 00:39:53.780 --> 00:39:54.820 In just a moment, 00:39:54.920 --> 00:39:55.540 we're going to stand. 00:39:56.740 --> 00:39:58.020 We're going to respond in worship. 00:39:58.900 --> 00:39:59.820 There's prayer encouragers 00:39:59.820 --> 00:40:02.000 on either side of the auditorium. 00:40:02.500 --> 00:40:03.660 I'll be down front. 00:40:06.280 --> 00:40:08.140 Today, if you would like to talk to someone 00:40:08.140 --> 00:40:09.700 about faith for salvation, 00:40:10.480 --> 00:40:11.880 we would love to talk with you. 00:40:11.920 --> 00:40:13.600 We would love to pray with you. 00:40:14.260 --> 00:40:15.100 But today, 00:40:15.760 --> 00:40:18.100 if there's any other battle of faith, 00:40:19.260 --> 00:40:20.420 struggle of faith, 00:40:22.420 --> 00:40:23.660 struggle with a parent, 00:40:24.800 --> 00:40:25.800 struggle with a spouse, 00:40:26.700 --> 00:40:27.700 struggle with a child, 00:40:28.780 --> 00:40:29.700 struggle with work, 00:40:30.440 --> 00:40:31.560 struggle with finances. 00:40:32.520 --> 00:40:33.340 And in that, 00:40:33.420 --> 00:40:35.220 what you find the difficulty in 00:40:35.220 --> 00:40:37.720 is the inability to apply, 00:40:38.880 --> 00:40:40.340 the inability to rely, 00:40:41.280 --> 00:40:42.820 and the inability to obey. 00:40:43.620 --> 00:40:45.140 What I want to challenge you with 00:40:45.140 --> 00:40:48.600 is before you leave this morning, 00:40:49.860 --> 00:40:50.580 cast it. 00:40:52.140 --> 00:40:52.860 Cast it. 00:40:54.040 --> 00:40:55.500 We don't do this a lot, 00:40:55.640 --> 00:40:58.020 but it's open every week. 00:40:59.140 --> 00:41:00.380 But if that's you, 00:41:01.100 --> 00:41:03.100 and you walked in here this morning, 00:41:03.760 --> 00:41:05.800 and you've got that anxiety, 00:41:06.380 --> 00:41:07.820 you've got that depression, 00:41:08.420 --> 00:41:09.580 you've got that battle, 00:41:10.400 --> 00:41:11.680 here's what I want to ask you to do. 00:41:12.620 --> 00:41:13.420 I want to ask that 00:41:13.420 --> 00:41:14.700 when we start to sing, 00:41:15.400 --> 00:41:16.080 that you get up 00:41:16.080 --> 00:41:17.080 and that you come forward. 00:41:18.300 --> 00:41:20.080 That you kneel down 00:41:20.080 --> 00:41:21.940 before the altar, 00:41:23.000 --> 00:41:24.040 and that you say, 00:41:24.140 --> 00:41:24.880 I'm tired. 00:41:26.300 --> 00:41:27.020 I'm tired. 00:41:27.820 --> 00:41:29.700 I'm tired of keeping a hand on this. 00:41:30.740 --> 00:41:32.780 I'm tired of trying to make this mine. 00:41:33.560 --> 00:41:35.180 I'm tired of the game of toss. 00:41:35.800 --> 00:41:36.820 I'm tired of retrieving it. 00:41:36.820 --> 00:41:37.380 I'm tired of retrieving it. 00:41:37.500 --> 00:41:38.340 But today, 00:41:38.540 --> 00:41:40.040 I cast it out. 00:41:41.060 --> 00:41:41.500 Today, 00:41:41.640 --> 00:41:42.680 I throw it to you. 00:41:43.460 --> 00:41:44.480 Today is the day 00:41:44.480 --> 00:41:46.100 that when I walk out of here, 00:41:46.220 --> 00:41:48.120 it is in the fullness of faith, 00:41:48.280 --> 00:41:49.340 in the application, 00:41:49.720 --> 00:41:50.520 the reliance, 00:41:50.740 --> 00:41:52.000 and obedience to God. 00:41:55.000 --> 00:41:56.120 Would you be willing, 00:41:57.120 --> 00:41:58.720 whether it's your marriage, 00:41:58.840 --> 00:41:59.360 your kids, 00:41:59.460 --> 00:42:00.120 your job, 00:42:00.220 --> 00:42:01.220 your finances, 00:42:01.460 --> 00:42:03.020 your relationship with your parents, 00:42:03.340 --> 00:42:04.260 whatever it is, 00:42:04.860 --> 00:42:06.460 to lay it before the Lord. 00:42:08.040 --> 00:42:09.040 Would you stand 00:42:09.040 --> 00:42:10.620 as we respond to Him? 00:42:10.620 --> 00:42:25.340 Thanks again for listening 00:42:25.340 --> 00:42:26.480 to the Willow Ridge Church 00:42:26.480 --> 00:42:27.260 weekly podcast. 00:42:27.780 --> 00:42:28.780 We hope that you enjoyed 00:42:28.780 --> 00:42:30.080 listening to this week's message. 00:42:30.580 --> 00:42:31.640 If you'd like to learn more 00:42:31.640 --> 00:42:32.460 about who we are 00:42:32.460 --> 00:42:34.100 or explore additional resources, 00:42:34.680 --> 00:42:35.580 visit us online 00:42:35.580 --> 00:42:39.140 at www.willowridgechurch.com 00:42:39.140 --> 00:42:40.340 or by searching 00:42:40.340 --> 00:42:41.360 for Willow Ridge Church 00:42:41.360 --> 00:42:42.680 on Facebook and Instagram.