WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:05.440 Well good morning. Thank you so much for being here this morning. This is our Sunday seminar. 00:00:06.080 --> 00:00:10.580 If you're not familiar with that, this is what we have in between our discipleship sessions. 00:00:11.280 --> 00:00:17.060 And so we just ended up our session two a few weeks ago. And during our Sunday seminar we've 00:00:17.060 --> 00:00:22.460 been having testimonies. And so it's been a joy for us to hear various folks in our church share 00:00:22.460 --> 00:00:28.820 what God is doing in their life. And so we have Grayson, and you'll recognize the last name, 00:00:28.820 --> 00:00:35.740 Bradbury, here to share with us this morning what God is doing in his life. Grayson, it's 00:00:35.740 --> 00:00:41.760 hard to believe time does fly. I think the older you get, like my age, you'll discover that's 00:00:41.760 --> 00:00:47.120 truer and truer. But to think that it seems like only a few years ago when you and Emma 00:00:47.120 --> 00:00:52.340 came with your mom and dad, you guys were just little ones. And so now here you are in your 00:00:52.340 --> 00:00:57.900 senior year and you're about to go off to college. And so it's wonderful to be able for us to hear 00:00:57.900 --> 00:01:03.220 you share what God is doing in your life this morning. So let's pray together and I'm going 00:01:03.220 --> 00:01:09.780 to turn it over to Grayson. Lord, we just thank you for this morning. Thank you for another wonderful 00:01:09.780 --> 00:01:15.560 day to come and worship you this morning. Father, thank you so much for Grayson. Thank you for what 00:01:15.560 --> 00:01:22.040 you've been doing in his life, how you have walked with him and just shown him a lot of things already 00:01:22.040 --> 00:01:30.260 at this stage of his life. Lord, just calm his heart as he shares what you're doing, what you've been 00:01:30.260 --> 00:01:35.720 doing. And Lord, we thank you for who he is. And we ask this prayer in your name. Amen. 00:01:36.720 --> 00:01:45.700 Thank you, Dave. Well, good morning, everybody. My name is Grayson, and I'm so happy that everyone 00:01:45.700 --> 00:01:49.620 could make it out here on this chilly Sunday morning, you know, over an hour before our worship 00:01:49.620 --> 00:01:55.380 service begins. Coming here to hear my story of how I've been saved by Jesus Christ, our Lord and 00:01:55.380 --> 00:02:01.680 Savior. A story that is far from perfect, but beautiful in the sense of the work that God has 00:02:01.680 --> 00:02:08.060 been able to do in my heart and what he is continuing to do. I can only hope that you can gain something 00:02:08.060 --> 00:02:14.260 from my story. If not a feeling of hope for your own salvation, then maybe just take time and reflect 00:02:14.260 --> 00:02:20.060 on your own story and how God has extended his grace to you. This has been a day that I've been 00:02:20.060 --> 00:02:24.740 anticipating for quite some time now. I've been eager and excited to share my testimony with y'all 00:02:24.740 --> 00:02:29.140 since Pastor Dave asked me weeks back. Before we begin, I would like to go to the Lord in prayer. 00:02:31.040 --> 00:02:36.240 Dear God, I pray for all of us here in this room, Lord. I thank you for the opportunity that you 00:02:36.240 --> 00:02:41.200 have given me to be able to tell my story today, and I just pray for our hearts as we go into this 00:02:41.200 --> 00:02:47.800 discussion. I pray that as I go into my story and as we go about our day and our weeks and our lives, 00:02:47.960 --> 00:02:53.120 Lord, that we would have our eyes open and facing towards you in hearts that truly crave your grace 00:02:53.120 --> 00:02:59.300 and forgiveness. Lord, we may not be perfect, but I thank you for meeting me and meeting us right 00:02:59.300 --> 00:03:04.420 where we are and picking us back up again. I thank you for what you have done, and it is in your name I 00:03:04.420 --> 00:03:12.000 pray. Amen. So, as you could have imagined, I've grown up in church all my life. My dad's a pastor 00:03:12.000 --> 00:03:18.100 here at Willow Ridge Church, but it was when my dad took the senior pastor job here that I felt a church 00:03:18.100 --> 00:03:25.340 home for the first time. I was five years old when my family moved up from Aiken to here in Columbia, 00:03:25.660 --> 00:03:32.060 and I began to be involved in the kids' ministry. My first grade year is when our now-youth pastor, 00:03:32.060 --> 00:03:36.640 Joel Van Ham, started doing Sunday nights with the elementary school kids, so that way we would 00:03:36.640 --> 00:03:42.380 have an opportunity to not only grow and establish a relationship with Jesus, but also build friendships 00:03:42.380 --> 00:03:47.940 with kids around the same age. I'm proud to say that those kids that were a part of those Sunday 00:03:47.940 --> 00:03:53.740 nights are still among my closest friends to this day. If you know Joel, I'm sure you know what those 00:03:53.740 --> 00:03:59.980 Sunday nights were like. We learned so many great games, ate so much pizza, and learned so many catchy 00:03:59.980 --> 00:04:04.440 Bible songs. Joel's the reason why I can only recite the books of the Bible to a tune of a song. 00:04:07.660 --> 00:04:12.880 I was six years old when I decided to accept Jesus into my heart. I had thought about my own salvation 00:04:12.880 --> 00:04:18.140 and really just thoughts and concepts that I'd never really thought about before, but all of a sudden just 00:04:18.140 --> 00:04:22.400 started to make more sense. A big part of that thought process was my sister, Emma. 00:04:23.440 --> 00:04:29.020 She had accepted Jesus and had been baptized around that time. Her making that step made me think more about 00:04:29.020 --> 00:04:34.960 my own life and relationship with Jesus, but also at that time being baptized was something that she had 00:04:34.960 --> 00:04:43.240 done, so I felt like I needed to do the same. So while I still had questions, I went and I asked my 00:04:43.240 --> 00:04:49.680 parents about my convictions. They told me about how Jesus died on the cross for my sins and that without 00:04:49.680 --> 00:04:56.480 accepting the Holy Spirit into my heart, I would be desperate for an eternity separate from God. To me, the 00:04:56.480 --> 00:05:02.440 situation was easy. Why would I want to spend my entire life separate from a God that shows so much love and 00:05:02.440 --> 00:05:09.200 care for me? So after time and prayer and more conversation with my parents, I accepted Jesus into 00:05:09.200 --> 00:05:14.880 my heart that night and was baptized, I want to say about six months later, right in that baptismal that 00:05:14.880 --> 00:05:21.600 we used to have outside. In the years following, I still was very invested in what was going on in the 00:05:21.600 --> 00:05:27.560 church. Still learning and doing what I felt like was quote-unquote good enough, but my definition of a 00:05:27.560 --> 00:05:33.760 Christian and actually being a follower of God, those were two completely different things. Up to this point in my 00:05:33.760 --> 00:05:42.560 life, I had lived a really lukewarm relationship with God. I mean, could I say I believed in God? Yes. Did I want to 00:05:42.560 --> 00:05:49.900 do what God wanted me to do? Sure. At surface level. You know, I knew right from wrong. I wasn't a bad kid or 00:05:49.900 --> 00:05:56.660 anything. I just don't think that I saw any fruit in my own life because the trials that God promises 00:05:56.660 --> 00:06:03.860 to all of us as followers of Christ had not come yet. I was still living on an easy path, but I believe 00:06:03.860 --> 00:06:10.740 that turning point for me was around New Year's Day when I was 12 years old. I was in seventh grade, and I'd 00:06:10.740 --> 00:06:16.340 started running cross-country for the first time that fall. I was at a point in my life where I was 00:06:16.340 --> 00:06:22.080 struggling to find a place where I felt like I belonged, not only in my school life, but in extracurriculars 00:06:22.080 --> 00:06:29.520 as well. A few days after Christmas that year, I had an operation on both my knees. As far as the operation 00:06:29.520 --> 00:06:35.280 went, everything went well. I was able to leave shortly after the surgery, and they sent me home 00:06:35.280 --> 00:06:40.320 with my medication plan and a time where I would check back with them. But other than that, I was 00:06:40.320 --> 00:06:45.980 good to go. The medicine that they prescribed was just a standard pain reliever and was supposed to 00:06:45.980 --> 00:06:53.380 calm me and as a result help me sleep better. That drug did not work on me, though. It had more of an 00:06:53.380 --> 00:07:00.360 opposite effect. Instead of calming me and easing the pain, it wired me. I couldn't sleep, and for three 00:07:00.360 --> 00:07:06.240 days straight, I got little to no sleep. During that time, I could not even get up to do anything 00:07:06.240 --> 00:07:12.000 to occupy my mind. Even the simplest thing, like going to the bathroom or going to the pantry, would 00:07:12.000 --> 00:07:17.220 take at least five minutes, and somebody else's help to get me in the wheelchair. After three days of 00:07:17.220 --> 00:07:23.560 no sleep, I was at my breaking point. Beyond exhaustion, and my mind was just spinning. That 00:07:23.560 --> 00:07:29.140 night, I was sent spiraling and ended up having a panic attack. Just the most terrifying personal 00:07:29.140 --> 00:07:36.040 experience I've had up to that point. My body shut down. I couldn't see. I couldn't hear. My whole body 00:07:36.040 --> 00:07:43.440 had gone limp, and I couldn't breathe. After that night, I was sent down a dark path of what became many 00:07:43.440 --> 00:07:48.920 months of battling anxiety and depression, and I could not figure out how to get out of it. 00:07:49.680 --> 00:07:55.340 By this point, I had never experienced anything like it, and just as a result of how I was feeling 00:07:55.340 --> 00:08:01.560 and how emotionally and physically tired I was, I just began to hate myself and hate my life. 00:08:02.260 --> 00:08:07.600 I didn't understand why God was allowing me to feel this way and why I had to be the one to go through 00:08:07.600 --> 00:08:10.420 what I was going through. I didn't feel like I deserved that. 00:08:12.320 --> 00:08:17.560 So much so that a few nights after my panic attack, I remember I called my parents downstairs in a panic 00:08:17.560 --> 00:08:24.820 because I was afraid of what I would do to myself and terrified that I would attempt to take my own life. 00:08:26.300 --> 00:08:31.720 But that night is just another example of when my parents showed me God's love and compassion. 00:08:32.460 --> 00:08:39.980 They talked with me, cried with me, and started the long process of trying to get me help with the thoughts that I was wrestling with. 00:08:40.960 --> 00:08:45.460 But during our conversation, and this just describes the kind of people that my parents are, 00:08:46.400 --> 00:08:51.840 they kept all of what they were saying tying back to God, looking at how God can help me in my situation. 00:08:52.720 --> 00:08:57.640 And for the first time, I was someone who needed to take responsibility for my relationship with God 00:08:57.640 --> 00:09:01.980 and say to God, that I can't carry this weight on my own, Lord. I need your help. 00:09:03.340 --> 00:09:06.600 So, I dove deeper into my relationship with God. 00:09:07.120 --> 00:09:11.280 Not only in terms of quiet time, but also in how I can see God in my life working. 00:09:12.540 --> 00:09:17.200 And while I couldn't see it then, I believe that I'm a stronger follower of Christ now because of it. 00:09:18.680 --> 00:09:22.060 At the time, I just couldn't see a light at the end of the tunnel for myself. 00:09:23.160 --> 00:09:24.860 Just months of living in fear and depression. 00:09:25.480 --> 00:09:26.580 I tried therapy. 00:09:27.280 --> 00:09:28.740 It just wasn't a good fit for me. 00:09:29.560 --> 00:09:32.580 And I just returned to the same thought of, why me, God? 00:09:34.100 --> 00:09:38.300 But what I didn't realize then, but can look back on now, 00:09:38.720 --> 00:09:42.280 is all of that spiritual warfare teaches me about God 00:09:42.280 --> 00:09:45.560 and how I can be more like God if I just seek Him in all situations. 00:09:45.760 --> 00:09:46.980 The good and the bad. 00:09:48.320 --> 00:09:52.080 I recently heard on a podcast John Piper did on shame. 00:09:52.540 --> 00:09:55.520 And it brought an interesting perspective on why we follow Jesus. 00:09:56.220 --> 00:10:00.520 And I think the same points relate here because it is the attitude that we should have 00:10:00.520 --> 00:10:04.200 when Jesus says, take your cross and follow me. 00:10:05.320 --> 00:10:09.880 He said that if you embrace the cost, the loss, the pain, 00:10:10.320 --> 00:10:13.460 and the worldly shame of following Jesus, then you will live forever. 00:10:14.400 --> 00:10:18.620 It is guaranteed that in this life, followers of Christ will be put to challenges 00:10:18.620 --> 00:10:20.260 that will push you to your limits. 00:10:21.460 --> 00:10:24.100 It is how we are made into stronger believers on the other side. 00:10:25.020 --> 00:10:26.560 I'm sure so many of us can relate. 00:10:26.660 --> 00:10:31.020 And if not, then that's a topic of discussion that you will have to wrestle with God about 00:10:31.020 --> 00:10:32.800 and why this may not be you. 00:10:34.360 --> 00:10:37.980 God uses you and me in so many ways that we do not see, 00:10:38.120 --> 00:10:40.000 but yet it is all a part of His master plan. 00:10:40.680 --> 00:10:44.160 And yet out of the pridefulness and sinfulness of our own hearts, 00:10:44.560 --> 00:10:47.920 we only look to see how His plan can benefit us. 00:10:49.260 --> 00:10:54.460 And I think that was and still is just the hardest concept for me to try and wrap my brain around. 00:10:55.880 --> 00:11:00.080 Since then, I've been able to recover from my season of severe depression, 00:11:00.400 --> 00:11:01.580 and I continue to grow. 00:11:02.460 --> 00:11:05.900 After COVID is when I believe that our youth group really started to come together 00:11:05.900 --> 00:11:09.000 and become a great place for me to find solace 00:11:09.000 --> 00:11:13.120 and to have deeper conversations with people that would help grow my faith. 00:11:14.760 --> 00:11:16.360 But as I have discussed already, 00:11:17.040 --> 00:11:18.600 even though my faith was strengthening, 00:11:19.400 --> 00:11:21.300 that does not mean that my faith was not tested. 00:11:23.840 --> 00:11:25.940 After COVID had started to wind down, 00:11:26.180 --> 00:11:31.460 I was 13 and had become to become very involved with the cross country and track program 00:11:31.460 --> 00:11:33.500 that I joined the previous year at Lexington High School. 00:11:34.360 --> 00:11:38.500 I fully believe that joining that team was the best decision that I ever could have made. 00:11:39.280 --> 00:11:42.080 And it had so much more meaning than just being part of a team. 00:11:43.220 --> 00:11:46.560 Running gave me so many things that God knew that I would need for trials in the future. 00:11:47.660 --> 00:11:50.500 Running has helped me with physical and emotional perseverance. 00:11:51.560 --> 00:11:54.660 It's helped me with building relationships, building toughness, 00:11:55.100 --> 00:11:56.400 and just how to be a better man. 00:11:57.300 --> 00:12:02.260 But I also believe that it was the part of my life where my faith has been tested the most 00:12:02.260 --> 00:12:05.520 and where I've had to overcome the most sin in my life. 00:12:07.100 --> 00:12:08.900 I've noticed that as I've gotten older, 00:12:09.740 --> 00:12:12.680 I'm generally a more anxious person in nature. 00:12:13.340 --> 00:12:17.160 I've really noticed that side of myself since my surgery. 00:12:17.620 --> 00:12:21.060 Just getting over that first stint of really bad anxiety, 00:12:21.160 --> 00:12:22.720 I felt like it took so much out of me. 00:12:23.460 --> 00:12:24.640 And after coming out of it, 00:12:25.040 --> 00:12:26.880 I felt more fear than anything else. 00:12:27.800 --> 00:12:30.580 Instead of the gratitude of a loving servant of my father, 00:12:31.120 --> 00:12:34.020 I just had more fear of the next thing 00:12:34.020 --> 00:12:36.340 or even fear of the same things resurfacing in my life. 00:12:37.580 --> 00:12:38.480 It's sad to say, 00:12:38.580 --> 00:12:41.140 but it's real to the actual state of the growth of our faith. 00:12:42.180 --> 00:12:43.080 During these times, 00:12:43.160 --> 00:12:46.040 I was a believer but struggled to give these real problems to God. 00:12:46.040 --> 00:12:50.840 I was not strong enough to see God in the problems that I was facing. 00:12:51.420 --> 00:12:54.980 Problems that were small in reality but felt like a mountain at the time. 00:12:56.080 --> 00:12:59.700 And this reality was more evident with my relationship with running. 00:13:01.640 --> 00:13:02.800 When I first started, 00:13:03.260 --> 00:13:04.220 I was not good at all. 00:13:04.740 --> 00:13:06.920 I was by far the worst on the team 00:13:06.920 --> 00:13:10.080 and I didn't know anything about the actual science of running 00:13:10.080 --> 00:13:11.980 and what it takes to be competitive in the sport. 00:13:13.120 --> 00:13:14.520 I just did it to get in shape 00:13:14.520 --> 00:13:16.720 and hopefully find a passion in something. 00:13:17.840 --> 00:13:18.880 But through hard work, 00:13:19.260 --> 00:13:19.640 perseverance, 00:13:20.020 --> 00:13:21.440 and just learning more about the sport, 00:13:21.720 --> 00:13:25.000 I grinded my way up through the ranks of the junior varsity team 00:13:25.000 --> 00:13:26.840 and by the time I was entering high school, 00:13:27.540 --> 00:13:28.960 had to earn myself a varsity spot. 00:13:30.120 --> 00:13:31.800 This year is when I believe 00:13:31.800 --> 00:13:33.860 I started to see the issues in myself with running. 00:13:34.500 --> 00:13:35.460 Up to this point, 00:13:36.080 --> 00:13:37.320 running had been something fun 00:13:37.320 --> 00:13:39.820 and it was something that I could have goals in 00:13:39.820 --> 00:13:43.520 while also just being around a fun group of guys. 00:13:45.000 --> 00:13:46.140 And throughout my high school career, 00:13:46.280 --> 00:13:48.420 I still had more great moments than not, 00:13:48.600 --> 00:13:49.520 but this year, 00:13:49.720 --> 00:13:50.460 my freshman year, 00:13:50.620 --> 00:13:53.080 was when the cracks had started to show. 00:13:54.600 --> 00:13:56.640 Running is a highly individualized sport. 00:13:57.840 --> 00:13:59.580 There's a big team aspect of it, 00:13:59.640 --> 00:14:00.140 but ultimately, 00:14:00.540 --> 00:14:02.940 it is up to the individual performance that you have 00:14:02.940 --> 00:14:05.380 and you can easily point out the mistakes that you make. 00:14:06.320 --> 00:14:07.000 Not only this, 00:14:07.120 --> 00:14:09.680 but the running community has a big problem 00:14:09.680 --> 00:14:11.320 with constant comparison between 00:14:11.320 --> 00:14:12.900 who you beat race to race 00:14:12.900 --> 00:14:14.440 or how you stack up 00:14:14.440 --> 00:14:16.040 against your teammates in practice. 00:14:16.700 --> 00:14:17.720 It's just the way it is. 00:14:19.180 --> 00:14:21.280 Experiencing that as a freshman in high school 00:14:21.280 --> 00:14:24.220 is something that can ruin your enjoyment of the sport altogether. 00:14:25.060 --> 00:14:27.620 I did not take on the responsibility 00:14:27.620 --> 00:14:29.900 as a potential scorer for the team very well. 00:14:30.640 --> 00:14:31.840 I had moments of promise, 00:14:32.340 --> 00:14:34.880 but also started to experience health issues 00:14:34.880 --> 00:14:36.480 that would bleed into my later years 00:14:36.480 --> 00:14:39.540 of my running career in high school. 00:14:39.540 --> 00:14:42.200 And instead of giving my troubles 00:14:42.200 --> 00:14:43.780 and moments of self-doubt to God, 00:14:44.160 --> 00:14:45.940 I took on all my anxieties alone. 00:14:46.700 --> 00:14:47.760 I just thought, you know, 00:14:48.820 --> 00:14:50.280 if only giving my troubles to God 00:14:50.280 --> 00:14:51.500 was as simple as saying it. 00:14:52.060 --> 00:14:52.860 But that's the truth. 00:14:52.960 --> 00:14:53.440 It is. 00:14:54.740 --> 00:14:56.860 And that issue of sin that all of us struggle with, 00:14:57.660 --> 00:14:58.940 or that's the issue of sin 00:14:58.940 --> 00:15:00.520 that so much of us struggle with so much, 00:15:00.940 --> 00:15:01.960 the reality is, 00:15:02.000 --> 00:15:02.780 is that it's simple. 00:15:03.580 --> 00:15:05.220 But out of the selfishness of our own hearts, 00:15:05.280 --> 00:15:06.720 we want to take it on ourselves. 00:15:07.140 --> 00:15:07.920 Or in my case, 00:15:08.000 --> 00:15:09.900 almost subconsciously felt like 00:15:09.900 --> 00:15:11.740 it wasn't worth God's time. 00:15:12.740 --> 00:15:13.920 I know that wasn't true, 00:15:14.080 --> 00:15:15.400 but I wouldn't let God in. 00:15:15.940 --> 00:15:16.880 Because to me, 00:15:17.020 --> 00:15:18.940 it's not like this is God's problem. 00:15:19.120 --> 00:15:19.900 It's my problem. 00:15:20.280 --> 00:15:22.800 And it's better to just leave God out of the equation. 00:15:22.900 --> 00:15:24.280 It's just easier that way. 00:15:24.780 --> 00:15:27.120 Which only causes further separation 00:15:27.120 --> 00:15:28.400 in my relationship with Him. 00:15:29.640 --> 00:15:31.520 I lived out a relationship with God 00:15:31.520 --> 00:15:32.540 where everything was His 00:15:32.540 --> 00:15:33.520 until I left the building 00:15:33.520 --> 00:15:35.780 from Sunday afternoon church. 00:15:36.980 --> 00:15:39.120 Then, it's like He didn't exist. 00:15:39.840 --> 00:15:41.180 Which is a dangerous type work 00:15:41.180 --> 00:15:43.260 to walk on as a non-believer. 00:15:43.560 --> 00:15:44.600 But even more dangerous 00:15:44.600 --> 00:15:45.900 as a false assurance to those 00:15:45.900 --> 00:15:46.820 that claim they believe. 00:15:47.660 --> 00:15:49.040 Because as we all know, 00:15:49.700 --> 00:15:51.200 I could only keep myself going 00:15:51.200 --> 00:15:52.980 without God's help for so long. 00:15:53.640 --> 00:15:55.100 The same pattern of worry 00:15:55.100 --> 00:15:55.780 and self-doubt 00:15:55.780 --> 00:15:57.100 continued into my junior year 00:15:57.100 --> 00:15:58.960 and then started to work its way 00:15:58.960 --> 00:16:00.180 into my personal life as well. 00:16:00.820 --> 00:16:02.920 My identity was no longer found in Christ, 00:16:03.240 --> 00:16:04.440 but in how fast I ran. 00:16:05.120 --> 00:16:06.500 It was about the college times 00:16:06.500 --> 00:16:07.840 that I felt like I needed to run 00:16:07.840 --> 00:16:10.020 instead of the experiences 00:16:10.020 --> 00:16:10.800 and the memories 00:16:10.800 --> 00:16:12.120 I got to make with my teammates. 00:16:13.040 --> 00:16:14.600 For every race I went into, 00:16:15.000 --> 00:16:16.120 reaching a certain time 00:16:16.120 --> 00:16:17.040 or some expectation 00:16:17.040 --> 00:16:17.800 that I felt 00:16:17.800 --> 00:16:19.020 and some distorted reality 00:16:19.020 --> 00:16:20.000 became the standard 00:16:20.000 --> 00:16:21.720 instead of simply glorifying 00:16:21.720 --> 00:16:22.560 the fact that God 00:16:22.560 --> 00:16:23.800 had given me the ability 00:16:23.800 --> 00:16:26.040 to get up in the morning and run. 00:16:27.500 --> 00:16:28.320 And just forgetting about 00:16:28.320 --> 00:16:29.140 what a gift that is. 00:16:30.520 --> 00:16:32.940 But, I ran until the wheels fell off. 00:16:33.740 --> 00:16:34.400 And last fall, 00:16:34.540 --> 00:16:35.700 I passed out for what was 00:16:35.700 --> 00:16:36.740 the second week in a row 00:16:36.740 --> 00:16:38.020 at the state championship 00:16:38.020 --> 00:16:38.840 cross-country race. 00:16:40.280 --> 00:16:41.200 With that result, 00:16:41.820 --> 00:16:43.120 I didn't get what I wanted. 00:16:43.840 --> 00:16:44.640 I could have taken it 00:16:44.640 --> 00:16:45.360 one of two ways. 00:16:45.960 --> 00:16:46.200 One, 00:16:47.060 --> 00:16:48.040 I could have used it 00:16:48.040 --> 00:16:50.100 as a way to run towards God 00:16:50.100 --> 00:16:51.360 and realize that 00:16:51.360 --> 00:16:52.860 there are just some things 00:16:52.860 --> 00:16:53.680 that are out of my control. 00:16:54.000 --> 00:16:54.320 Or, 00:16:54.720 --> 00:16:55.820 I could get bogged down 00:16:55.820 --> 00:16:56.540 in what felt like 00:16:56.540 --> 00:16:57.400 endless amounts 00:16:57.400 --> 00:16:58.740 of doctor's appointments 00:16:58.740 --> 00:17:00.180 it took to find out 00:17:00.180 --> 00:17:00.980 what was wrong with me. 00:17:01.900 --> 00:17:03.160 As sinners so often do, 00:17:03.420 --> 00:17:04.200 I chose the latter. 00:17:05.240 --> 00:17:06.720 I had been working so hard 00:17:06.720 --> 00:17:07.780 for a result 00:17:07.780 --> 00:17:08.740 that was not happening 00:17:08.740 --> 00:17:09.820 and at every turn 00:17:09.820 --> 00:17:10.360 I went to, 00:17:10.720 --> 00:17:11.520 nobody could tell me 00:17:11.520 --> 00:17:12.260 why I wasn't getting 00:17:12.260 --> 00:17:13.440 what I worked so hard for. 00:17:14.680 --> 00:17:16.160 People say you put in the hours 00:17:16.160 --> 00:17:17.700 and you'll get out of it 00:17:17.700 --> 00:17:18.360 what you put in. 00:17:18.840 --> 00:17:19.780 To a certain extent, 00:17:19.860 --> 00:17:20.880 I believe that to be true. 00:17:21.780 --> 00:17:22.100 However, 00:17:22.180 --> 00:17:22.960 there are some doors 00:17:22.960 --> 00:17:24.260 that do just need to be closed 00:17:24.260 --> 00:17:25.560 that God closes for us 00:17:25.560 --> 00:17:26.440 and at the time, 00:17:26.840 --> 00:17:27.520 I once again 00:17:27.520 --> 00:17:28.300 could not understand 00:17:28.300 --> 00:17:29.620 God's timing for all of this. 00:17:30.740 --> 00:17:31.520 During this time, 00:17:31.580 --> 00:17:32.400 I'm supposed to be training, 00:17:32.860 --> 00:17:33.960 getting ready for my season. 00:17:34.120 --> 00:17:34.900 That's supposed to put 00:17:34.900 --> 00:17:36.160 colleges on notice 00:17:36.160 --> 00:17:37.060 and in my mind, 00:17:37.400 --> 00:17:38.160 I'm supposed to have 00:17:38.160 --> 00:17:38.940 this breakout season 00:17:38.940 --> 00:17:40.020 where I can separate myself 00:17:40.020 --> 00:17:41.040 from the rest of the competition. 00:17:41.840 --> 00:17:42.840 I just remember being 00:17:42.840 --> 00:17:43.500 so defeated 00:17:43.500 --> 00:17:44.720 from this season of life 00:17:44.720 --> 00:17:45.740 that I was seriously 00:17:45.740 --> 00:17:46.720 conflicted on what 00:17:46.720 --> 00:17:47.280 the next steps 00:17:47.280 --> 00:17:48.120 of my athletic career 00:17:48.120 --> 00:17:48.580 should be. 00:17:49.420 --> 00:17:50.280 So by this point, 00:17:50.480 --> 00:17:51.840 I turned to the only one 00:17:51.840 --> 00:17:52.880 who had control 00:17:52.880 --> 00:17:53.640 of these paths 00:17:53.640 --> 00:17:54.620 and I decided 00:17:54.620 --> 00:17:57.160 to look for what path 00:17:57.160 --> 00:17:58.440 is going to be glorifying 00:17:58.440 --> 00:17:58.980 to God 00:17:58.980 --> 00:18:00.000 and not myself 00:18:00.000 --> 00:18:01.820 and how I can try 00:18:01.820 --> 00:18:02.580 and find positives 00:18:02.580 --> 00:18:03.180 in my life 00:18:03.180 --> 00:18:05.120 and not just settling 00:18:05.120 --> 00:18:05.820 for the negatives. 00:18:06.840 --> 00:18:07.840 You hear that statement 00:18:07.840 --> 00:18:09.160 and maybe you know 00:18:09.160 --> 00:18:10.020 exactly what I mean 00:18:10.020 --> 00:18:10.660 when I say that 00:18:10.660 --> 00:18:11.520 but let's say you don't. 00:18:12.440 --> 00:18:12.740 Well, 00:18:13.220 --> 00:18:14.920 I'll tell you 00:18:14.920 --> 00:18:15.380 what that path 00:18:15.380 --> 00:18:15.840 looked like. 00:18:16.700 --> 00:18:18.000 Not only in my prayer 00:18:18.000 --> 00:18:20.080 but in my daily life, 00:18:20.140 --> 00:18:20.800 I needed to look 00:18:20.800 --> 00:18:21.560 for God's hand 00:18:21.560 --> 00:18:22.760 and for His help 00:18:22.760 --> 00:18:23.300 to allow me 00:18:23.300 --> 00:18:24.740 to be okay 00:18:24.740 --> 00:18:26.160 with doors closing 00:18:26.160 --> 00:18:27.140 that needed to be closed. 00:18:28.180 --> 00:18:30.900 So I gave that new season 00:18:30.900 --> 00:18:31.400 of life 00:18:31.400 --> 00:18:32.540 a new outlook 00:18:32.540 --> 00:18:33.740 of just giving it 00:18:33.740 --> 00:18:34.400 my best shot 00:18:34.400 --> 00:18:35.640 and trying to find 00:18:35.640 --> 00:18:36.100 the positives 00:18:36.100 --> 00:18:37.080 in every circumstance. 00:18:38.480 --> 00:18:39.440 As I worked through 00:18:39.440 --> 00:18:39.920 that time 00:18:39.920 --> 00:18:41.420 and into the track season, 00:18:41.800 --> 00:18:42.860 I can confidently say 00:18:42.860 --> 00:18:43.680 that God's hand 00:18:43.680 --> 00:18:44.580 had worked positively 00:18:44.580 --> 00:18:46.100 for my good 00:18:46.100 --> 00:18:47.020 through the trials. 00:18:48.120 --> 00:18:48.860 With a new perspective, 00:18:49.320 --> 00:18:52.940 I still made great progress 00:18:52.940 --> 00:18:54.100 during the track season 00:18:54.100 --> 00:18:55.640 and while it definitely 00:18:55.640 --> 00:18:56.260 wasn't easy, 00:18:56.700 --> 00:18:57.160 the memories 00:18:57.160 --> 00:18:57.780 and the growth 00:18:57.780 --> 00:18:59.000 I made along the way 00:18:59.000 --> 00:18:59.860 in my faith 00:18:59.860 --> 00:19:00.680 made it worth it 00:19:00.680 --> 00:19:01.700 and my prayers 00:19:01.700 --> 00:19:02.260 for decisions 00:19:02.260 --> 00:19:02.820 were answered. 00:19:03.960 --> 00:19:04.900 While I decided 00:19:04.900 --> 00:19:05.860 not to run in college, 00:19:06.540 --> 00:19:07.740 I did find a passion 00:19:07.740 --> 00:19:08.320 for ministry 00:19:08.320 --> 00:19:09.260 and I've decided 00:19:09.260 --> 00:19:10.240 to study 00:19:10.240 --> 00:19:11.000 to become a pastor 00:19:11.000 --> 00:19:11.580 next year 00:19:11.580 --> 00:19:12.300 up at Anderson. 00:19:13.580 --> 00:19:14.560 I've had multiple 00:19:14.560 --> 00:19:15.600 situations now 00:19:15.600 --> 00:19:16.960 where I get an opportunity 00:19:16.960 --> 00:19:17.420 like this 00:19:17.420 --> 00:19:18.060 to have a stage 00:19:18.060 --> 00:19:19.120 where I can proclaim 00:19:19.120 --> 00:19:20.180 my faith in Jesus 00:19:20.180 --> 00:19:21.560 to groups of believers 00:19:21.560 --> 00:19:22.360 and non-believers 00:19:22.360 --> 00:19:22.840 as well. 00:19:24.000 --> 00:19:25.220 I just love the process 00:19:25.220 --> 00:19:25.860 of developing 00:19:25.860 --> 00:19:26.760 a message to share. 00:19:27.500 --> 00:19:28.540 I love getting to spend 00:19:28.540 --> 00:19:29.240 that kind of time 00:19:29.240 --> 00:19:29.900 in God's word 00:19:29.900 --> 00:19:31.260 not only for my sake 00:19:31.260 --> 00:19:32.260 but for the sake of others 00:19:32.260 --> 00:19:32.900 just to be able 00:19:32.900 --> 00:19:33.620 to hear the truth 00:19:33.620 --> 00:19:34.260 that is Jesus. 00:19:35.520 --> 00:19:36.780 That time of curating 00:19:36.780 --> 00:19:38.140 and spending time 00:19:38.140 --> 00:19:39.020 learning in God's word 00:19:39.020 --> 00:19:39.980 is so soul fulfilling 00:19:39.980 --> 00:19:41.220 and so much fun 00:19:41.220 --> 00:19:41.960 to just speak about 00:19:41.960 --> 00:19:42.560 what I've learned 00:19:42.560 --> 00:19:43.020 about God 00:19:43.020 --> 00:19:43.980 and how it's affected me. 00:19:45.120 --> 00:19:46.180 This stage in my life 00:19:46.180 --> 00:19:47.380 has really made me realize 00:19:47.380 --> 00:19:48.380 the importance 00:19:48.380 --> 00:19:49.360 of living a life 00:19:49.360 --> 00:19:50.240 dependent on God 00:19:50.240 --> 00:19:51.280 and I do not think 00:19:51.280 --> 00:19:51.840 I would have been able 00:19:51.840 --> 00:19:52.820 to make this decision 00:19:52.820 --> 00:19:54.440 without feeling 00:19:54.440 --> 00:19:55.160 my own conviction 00:19:55.160 --> 00:19:56.340 towards this career path. 00:19:57.340 --> 00:19:58.300 While there have been 00:19:58.300 --> 00:19:58.900 ups and downs 00:19:58.900 --> 00:19:59.800 I'm so glad 00:19:59.800 --> 00:20:00.320 that my faith 00:20:00.320 --> 00:20:00.760 has been able 00:20:00.760 --> 00:20:01.440 to grow stronger 00:20:01.440 --> 00:20:02.140 over the years. 00:20:03.340 --> 00:20:04.380 And not only that 00:20:04.380 --> 00:20:05.480 but just trying 00:20:05.480 --> 00:20:06.400 to live more like Jesus 00:20:06.400 --> 00:20:07.440 feeling the need 00:20:07.440 --> 00:20:08.220 to spread the gospel 00:20:08.220 --> 00:20:09.240 in every way possible 00:20:09.240 --> 00:20:10.540 and whether you feel 00:20:10.540 --> 00:20:11.160 called to ministry 00:20:11.160 --> 00:20:11.600 or not 00:20:11.600 --> 00:20:12.840 I would certainly hope 00:20:12.840 --> 00:20:13.920 that this is your end goal 00:20:13.920 --> 00:20:15.020 and above 00:20:15.020 --> 00:20:16.780 any temporary achievement 00:20:16.780 --> 00:20:17.360 that this world 00:20:17.360 --> 00:20:17.740 could offer. 00:20:17.740 --> 00:20:18.940 for me 00:20:18.940 --> 00:20:20.260 the best time 00:20:20.260 --> 00:20:20.880 in my life 00:20:20.880 --> 00:20:21.700 has been spent 00:20:21.700 --> 00:20:22.240 at church 00:20:22.240 --> 00:20:23.480 and with my church family 00:20:23.480 --> 00:20:25.420 whether on a Sunday morning 00:20:25.420 --> 00:20:26.940 or a youth related event 00:20:26.940 --> 00:20:28.580 I just love being here 00:20:28.580 --> 00:20:29.440 and being able 00:20:29.440 --> 00:20:30.360 to grow 00:20:30.360 --> 00:20:31.380 the church's community 00:20:31.380 --> 00:20:32.320 and have so much fun 00:20:32.320 --> 00:20:32.760 doing it. 00:20:33.360 --> 00:20:34.320 I realize that 00:20:34.320 --> 00:20:35.060 my own struggles 00:20:35.060 --> 00:20:35.860 in this situation 00:20:35.860 --> 00:20:38.080 that I have lived in 00:20:38.080 --> 00:20:39.420 might seem small 00:20:39.420 --> 00:20:39.860 to you 00:20:39.860 --> 00:20:40.980 but for one 00:20:40.980 --> 00:20:41.720 I recognize 00:20:41.720 --> 00:20:42.400 that I'm young 00:20:42.400 --> 00:20:43.680 and also 00:20:43.680 --> 00:20:45.380 what God is having 00:20:45.380 --> 00:20:46.320 me wrestle with now 00:20:46.320 --> 00:20:48.080 is only for my own benefit 00:20:48.080 --> 00:20:48.620 to grow me 00:20:48.620 --> 00:20:49.080 into becoming 00:20:49.080 --> 00:20:49.860 a stronger believer. 00:20:50.600 --> 00:20:51.540 As God's children 00:20:51.540 --> 00:20:52.200 we are tested 00:20:52.200 --> 00:20:53.540 and each battle 00:20:53.540 --> 00:20:54.180 after another 00:20:54.180 --> 00:20:55.160 not only becomes 00:20:55.160 --> 00:20:56.140 more and more challenging 00:20:56.140 --> 00:20:56.660 to overcome 00:20:56.660 --> 00:20:57.680 as we get older 00:20:57.680 --> 00:20:59.060 but also equips us 00:20:59.060 --> 00:20:59.560 more and more 00:20:59.560 --> 00:21:00.400 of the Holy Spirit 00:21:00.400 --> 00:21:03.460 meaning that these challenges 00:21:03.460 --> 00:21:05.060 take no more priority 00:21:05.060 --> 00:21:05.660 over another 00:21:05.660 --> 00:21:06.460 and that's whether 00:21:06.460 --> 00:21:08.300 you're a 9, 49, or 99 00:21:08.300 --> 00:21:09.680 all challenges 00:21:09.680 --> 00:21:10.280 are the same. 00:21:11.280 --> 00:21:12.040 For a while 00:21:12.040 --> 00:21:13.240 I would like to touch 00:21:13.240 --> 00:21:14.000 on a great topic 00:21:14.000 --> 00:21:16.320 that I took the time 00:21:16.320 --> 00:21:17.380 to study this past week 00:21:17.380 --> 00:21:18.700 and how it not only 00:21:18.700 --> 00:21:19.860 relates to my own testimony 00:21:19.860 --> 00:21:21.540 but to the testimony 00:21:21.540 --> 00:21:22.780 to every believer 00:21:22.780 --> 00:21:23.620 that has ever lived. 00:21:24.460 --> 00:21:25.280 I heard a message 00:21:25.280 --> 00:21:26.320 from Pastor John Piper 00:21:26.320 --> 00:21:27.700 on why God continues 00:21:27.700 --> 00:21:28.500 to allow Satan 00:21:28.500 --> 00:21:29.680 to persist in our lives 00:21:29.680 --> 00:21:30.920 even though he could 00:21:30.920 --> 00:21:31.700 easily get rid 00:21:31.700 --> 00:21:32.580 of all of them together. 00:21:34.340 --> 00:21:35.420 Based on what I learned 00:21:35.420 --> 00:21:36.160 from Pastor John 00:21:36.160 --> 00:21:37.300 and through my own study 00:21:37.300 --> 00:21:38.160 is that there are 00:21:38.160 --> 00:21:38.960 many, many reasons 00:21:38.960 --> 00:21:40.160 for why God does this 00:21:40.160 --> 00:21:42.020 but it is to describe 00:21:42.020 --> 00:21:43.020 the beauty and greatness 00:21:43.020 --> 00:21:44.280 of God to us. 00:21:45.080 --> 00:21:46.300 We know that constantly 00:21:46.300 --> 00:21:47.800 Satan has set limitations 00:21:47.800 --> 00:21:48.960 put on him by God 00:21:48.960 --> 00:21:50.220 and that he has 00:21:50.220 --> 00:21:51.440 no real power over us. 00:21:51.980 --> 00:21:53.480 From Revelations 20, 10 00:21:53.480 --> 00:21:54.640 we know that Satan 00:21:54.640 --> 00:21:55.500 will come to an end 00:21:55.500 --> 00:21:56.940 and will suffer eternally 00:21:56.940 --> 00:21:58.000 and from the story 00:21:58.000 --> 00:21:58.440 of Job 00:21:58.440 --> 00:21:59.640 we see God 00:21:59.640 --> 00:22:00.640 put limits on Satan 00:22:00.640 --> 00:22:01.440 for what he can 00:22:01.440 --> 00:22:02.440 and cannot do to Job. 00:22:03.260 --> 00:22:04.240 So even Satan 00:22:04.240 --> 00:22:05.100 is completely dependent 00:22:05.100 --> 00:22:05.560 on God 00:22:05.560 --> 00:22:06.480 for his own existence 00:22:06.480 --> 00:22:08.440 and that's just crazy 00:22:08.440 --> 00:22:09.060 to think about. 00:22:09.940 --> 00:22:10.700 But as we dive 00:22:10.700 --> 00:22:11.720 further into this topic 00:22:11.720 --> 00:22:13.340 for sake of time 00:22:13.340 --> 00:22:14.720 and of our own comprehension 00:22:14.720 --> 00:22:15.400 of the grandness 00:22:15.400 --> 00:22:15.960 of this topic 00:22:15.960 --> 00:22:17.680 I will only be discussing 00:22:17.680 --> 00:22:19.060 four that were brought up 00:22:19.060 --> 00:22:19.820 by Pastor John. 00:22:20.880 --> 00:22:21.820 First and foremost 00:22:21.820 --> 00:22:23.080 it is important 00:22:23.080 --> 00:22:23.760 to keep in mind 00:22:23.760 --> 00:22:24.700 that Satan exists 00:22:24.700 --> 00:22:25.760 in spite of the fact 00:22:25.760 --> 00:22:26.480 that he is totally 00:22:26.480 --> 00:22:27.260 dependent on God 00:22:27.260 --> 00:22:27.980 for his existence. 00:22:28.660 --> 00:22:29.280 That fact 00:22:29.280 --> 00:22:30.080 in and of itself 00:22:30.080 --> 00:22:30.980 is why 00:22:30.980 --> 00:22:32.460 us as believers 00:22:32.460 --> 00:22:33.980 should live 00:22:33.980 --> 00:22:34.760 with complete faith 00:22:34.760 --> 00:22:35.480 and trust in God 00:22:35.480 --> 00:22:36.360 as we go about our day. 00:22:37.100 --> 00:22:38.140 The first reason 00:22:38.140 --> 00:22:38.920 I have for us today 00:22:38.920 --> 00:22:39.580 on why God 00:22:39.580 --> 00:22:40.740 allows us to exist 00:22:40.740 --> 00:22:42.020 is by allowing 00:22:42.020 --> 00:22:42.760 his existence 00:22:42.760 --> 00:22:44.140 he shows himself. 00:22:45.180 --> 00:22:45.940 In Luke 13 00:22:45.940 --> 00:22:47.240 a woman is found 00:22:47.240 --> 00:22:47.880 to be disabled 00:22:47.880 --> 00:22:48.820 and it is Satan 00:22:48.820 --> 00:22:50.420 who is directly correlated 00:22:50.420 --> 00:22:51.460 to this woman's ailments. 00:22:52.180 --> 00:22:52.940 In this passage 00:22:52.940 --> 00:22:53.600 it tells us 00:22:53.600 --> 00:22:54.100 that this woman 00:22:54.100 --> 00:22:55.120 has been broken down 00:22:55.120 --> 00:22:55.620 and unable 00:22:55.620 --> 00:22:56.280 to fully stand 00:22:56.280 --> 00:22:57.120 for 18 years. 00:22:58.080 --> 00:22:58.900 But ultimately 00:22:58.900 --> 00:22:59.840 it was Jesus 00:22:59.840 --> 00:23:00.800 who was able 00:23:00.800 --> 00:23:01.460 to cure her 00:23:01.460 --> 00:23:02.540 when he saw her. 00:23:02.980 --> 00:23:03.640 And when he laid 00:23:03.640 --> 00:23:04.360 his hands on her 00:23:04.360 --> 00:23:05.100 and freed her 00:23:05.100 --> 00:23:06.020 the Bible said 00:23:06.020 --> 00:23:06.820 that she glorified 00:23:06.820 --> 00:23:07.980 God completely freed 00:23:07.980 --> 00:23:08.820 from the binds 00:23:08.820 --> 00:23:09.180 that Satan 00:23:09.180 --> 00:23:09.880 had put her under. 00:23:11.700 --> 00:23:12.600 While we may not 00:23:12.600 --> 00:23:13.440 be under attack 00:23:13.440 --> 00:23:14.300 to this degree 00:23:14.300 --> 00:23:15.240 Satan is still 00:23:15.240 --> 00:23:16.300 working to attack us 00:23:16.300 --> 00:23:16.960 and beat us down 00:23:16.960 --> 00:23:17.480 every second 00:23:17.480 --> 00:23:18.120 of our lives. 00:23:18.900 --> 00:23:19.900 But as conflicts 00:23:19.900 --> 00:23:20.660 come between God 00:23:20.660 --> 00:23:21.120 and Satan 00:23:21.120 --> 00:23:22.620 God uses those moments 00:23:22.620 --> 00:23:24.160 to show his grandness 00:23:24.160 --> 00:23:24.900 and power to us 00:23:24.900 --> 00:23:25.680 by defeating evil 00:23:25.680 --> 00:23:26.200 in the struggle. 00:23:27.640 --> 00:23:28.960 It may not be hard work 00:23:28.960 --> 00:23:29.360 for Satan 00:23:29.360 --> 00:23:30.080 to beat us down 00:23:30.080 --> 00:23:31.460 but he doesn't stand 00:23:31.460 --> 00:23:32.160 a chance 00:23:32.160 --> 00:23:33.060 against God's power. 00:23:34.000 --> 00:23:34.440 Satan knows 00:23:34.440 --> 00:23:34.920 the reality 00:23:34.920 --> 00:23:35.600 of God's power 00:23:35.600 --> 00:23:36.380 and still tries 00:23:36.380 --> 00:23:36.800 to steer us 00:23:36.800 --> 00:23:37.440 away from God 00:23:37.440 --> 00:23:38.220 which can make 00:23:38.220 --> 00:23:38.960 our daily struggle 00:23:38.960 --> 00:23:39.600 so beautiful 00:23:39.600 --> 00:23:40.260 because it is 00:23:40.260 --> 00:23:40.660 ultimately 00:23:40.660 --> 00:23:42.000 how God is able 00:23:42.000 --> 00:23:42.540 to show us 00:23:42.540 --> 00:23:42.980 his greatness. 00:23:44.040 --> 00:23:44.560 And it is just 00:23:44.560 --> 00:23:45.120 crazy for me 00:23:45.120 --> 00:23:45.600 to think about 00:23:45.600 --> 00:23:46.180 how the enemy 00:23:46.180 --> 00:23:47.480 is constantly 00:23:47.480 --> 00:23:48.120 being used 00:23:48.120 --> 00:23:48.580 by God 00:23:48.580 --> 00:23:49.080 for the greater 00:23:49.080 --> 00:23:49.800 good of his kingdom 00:23:49.800 --> 00:23:51.440 in order to reveal 00:23:51.440 --> 00:23:52.500 his love to us. 00:23:52.920 --> 00:23:53.400 Without it 00:23:53.400 --> 00:23:54.440 our relationship 00:23:54.440 --> 00:23:55.260 with him 00:23:55.260 --> 00:23:56.000 would be one sided. 00:23:56.500 --> 00:23:57.020 We would have 00:23:57.020 --> 00:23:57.820 no need for God 00:23:57.820 --> 00:23:58.780 it would just be 00:23:58.780 --> 00:23:59.160 the state 00:23:59.160 --> 00:23:59.840 that we live in. 00:24:00.140 --> 00:24:00.980 But as Christians 00:24:00.980 --> 00:24:02.100 we know this 00:24:02.100 --> 00:24:02.880 not to be the case 00:24:02.880 --> 00:24:04.000 just as Satan 00:24:04.000 --> 00:24:04.420 and the rest 00:24:04.420 --> 00:24:04.940 of creation 00:24:04.940 --> 00:24:06.140 we live out 00:24:06.140 --> 00:24:06.800 our lives 00:24:06.800 --> 00:24:07.300 every day 00:24:07.300 --> 00:24:08.120 with a complete 00:24:08.120 --> 00:24:09.080 dependence on God 00:24:09.080 --> 00:24:09.780 whether we realize 00:24:09.780 --> 00:24:10.300 it or not. 00:24:11.240 --> 00:24:11.740 Second 00:24:11.740 --> 00:24:12.780 is that God 00:24:12.780 --> 00:24:13.780 describes his beauty 00:24:13.780 --> 00:24:14.360 and greatness 00:24:14.360 --> 00:24:15.300 through suffering. 00:24:16.580 --> 00:24:17.580 We see the beauty 00:24:17.580 --> 00:24:18.140 of God 00:24:18.140 --> 00:24:18.880 through not only 00:24:18.880 --> 00:24:19.560 Christ's suffering 00:24:19.560 --> 00:24:20.700 but the suffering 00:24:20.700 --> 00:24:21.780 of his people 00:24:21.780 --> 00:24:22.240 as well. 00:24:23.120 --> 00:24:23.820 To us 00:24:23.820 --> 00:24:25.340 it may look like 00:24:25.340 --> 00:24:25.740 the battle 00:24:25.740 --> 00:24:26.380 is still going 00:24:26.380 --> 00:24:27.720 but the battle 00:24:27.720 --> 00:24:28.580 has already been won. 00:24:29.420 --> 00:24:30.120 Satan has already 00:24:30.120 --> 00:24:30.620 been defeated 00:24:30.620 --> 00:24:31.400 and he has 00:24:31.400 --> 00:24:31.840 no chance 00:24:31.840 --> 00:24:32.300 of victory. 00:24:33.160 --> 00:24:33.940 Live in that truth. 00:24:35.060 --> 00:24:35.720 Christ being nailed 00:24:35.720 --> 00:24:36.280 to the cross 00:24:36.280 --> 00:24:36.760 and dying 00:24:36.760 --> 00:24:37.460 for our sins 00:24:37.460 --> 00:24:38.340 the price 00:24:38.340 --> 00:24:39.080 that we ultimately 00:24:39.080 --> 00:24:39.500 deserve 00:24:39.500 --> 00:24:40.100 is the greatest 00:24:40.100 --> 00:24:40.540 example 00:24:40.540 --> 00:24:41.220 of how it might 00:24:41.220 --> 00:24:41.620 look like 00:24:41.620 --> 00:24:42.100 Satan has 00:24:42.100 --> 00:24:42.720 the upper hand 00:24:42.720 --> 00:24:44.340 but could not 00:24:44.340 --> 00:24:44.980 actually be further 00:24:44.980 --> 00:24:45.580 from the truth. 00:24:46.640 --> 00:24:47.260 We see in 00:24:47.260 --> 00:24:48.460 Colossians 2.15 00:24:48.460 --> 00:24:50.020 He disarmed 00:24:50.020 --> 00:24:50.480 the rulers 00:24:50.480 --> 00:24:51.320 and authorities 00:24:51.320 --> 00:24:52.380 and put them 00:24:52.380 --> 00:24:53.320 to open shame 00:24:53.320 --> 00:24:54.020 by triumphing 00:24:54.020 --> 00:24:54.520 over them 00:24:54.520 --> 00:24:56.160 and also 00:24:56.160 --> 00:24:57.480 Revelations 12.11 00:24:57.480 --> 00:24:58.860 and they have 00:24:58.860 --> 00:24:59.580 conquered him 00:24:59.580 --> 00:25:00.200 by the blood 00:25:00.200 --> 00:25:00.660 of the lamb 00:25:00.660 --> 00:25:01.620 and by the word 00:25:01.620 --> 00:25:02.280 of their testimony 00:25:02.280 --> 00:25:03.580 for they love 00:25:03.580 --> 00:25:04.460 not their lives 00:25:04.460 --> 00:25:05.320 even unto death. 00:25:06.560 --> 00:25:07.400 Christ as a 00:25:07.400 --> 00:25:08.180 sacrificial lamb 00:25:08.180 --> 00:25:09.420 has disarmed 00:25:09.420 --> 00:25:10.480 Satan from his power 00:25:10.480 --> 00:25:11.200 and won the battle 00:25:11.200 --> 00:25:11.700 over him. 00:25:12.240 --> 00:25:13.060 Satan can no longer 00:25:13.060 --> 00:25:13.740 accuse us 00:25:13.740 --> 00:25:14.820 of our unforgiven sins 00:25:14.820 --> 00:25:15.620 because those sins 00:25:15.620 --> 00:25:16.400 have already been forgiven 00:25:16.400 --> 00:25:18.000 so then what can 00:25:18.000 --> 00:25:18.900 Satan hold over us? 00:25:19.900 --> 00:25:20.640 We have been 00:25:20.640 --> 00:25:21.440 eternally saved 00:25:21.440 --> 00:25:21.980 by the father 00:25:21.980 --> 00:25:23.060 who loves us so much 00:25:23.060 --> 00:25:23.820 so much 00:25:23.820 --> 00:25:24.520 so that he gave up 00:25:24.520 --> 00:25:25.640 his only son for us 00:25:25.640 --> 00:25:26.640 so that we would have 00:25:26.640 --> 00:25:27.540 eternal life with him. 00:25:27.660 --> 00:25:28.640 If we live in that 00:25:28.640 --> 00:25:29.260 kind of love 00:25:29.260 --> 00:25:30.160 why bother 00:25:30.160 --> 00:25:31.540 with the specifics 00:25:31.540 --> 00:25:33.180 of why we have to suffer 00:25:33.180 --> 00:25:33.980 but instead 00:25:33.980 --> 00:25:34.800 live in the comfort 00:25:34.800 --> 00:25:35.760 and the love 00:25:35.760 --> 00:25:36.920 that God has for us? 00:25:37.960 --> 00:25:38.980 No one needs 00:25:38.980 --> 00:25:39.900 to hear this truth 00:25:39.900 --> 00:25:40.480 more than me 00:25:40.480 --> 00:25:42.040 but it is something 00:25:42.040 --> 00:25:43.120 that I let slip my mind 00:25:43.120 --> 00:25:43.680 so much 00:25:43.680 --> 00:25:44.740 even though the gift 00:25:44.740 --> 00:25:45.460 of God's love 00:25:45.460 --> 00:25:46.260 is the only thing 00:25:46.260 --> 00:25:46.940 that I experience 00:25:46.940 --> 00:25:47.760 that will ever last 00:25:47.760 --> 00:25:48.400 with me forever. 00:25:49.780 --> 00:25:50.140 Third 00:25:50.140 --> 00:25:51.860 God reveals 00:25:51.860 --> 00:25:52.420 his beauty 00:25:52.420 --> 00:25:53.020 and grandness 00:25:53.020 --> 00:25:53.600 to us 00:25:53.600 --> 00:25:54.820 by using Satan. 00:25:55.900 --> 00:25:57.300 2 Corinthians 12 00:25:57.300 --> 00:25:58.760 7-10 says 00:25:58.760 --> 00:25:59.900 so keep me 00:25:59.900 --> 00:26:00.980 from becoming conceited 00:26:00.980 --> 00:26:02.260 because of the 00:26:02.260 --> 00:26:03.080 surpassing greatness 00:26:03.080 --> 00:26:04.260 of the revelations. 00:26:04.980 --> 00:26:06.060 A thorn was given me 00:26:06.060 --> 00:26:06.760 in the flesh 00:26:06.760 --> 00:26:08.160 a messenger of Satan 00:26:08.160 --> 00:26:08.920 to harass me 00:26:08.920 --> 00:26:09.460 to keep me 00:26:09.460 --> 00:26:10.440 from becoming conceited. 00:26:10.960 --> 00:26:11.720 Three times 00:26:11.720 --> 00:26:12.740 I pleaded with the Lord 00:26:12.740 --> 00:26:13.400 about this 00:26:13.400 --> 00:26:14.960 that it should leave me 00:26:14.960 --> 00:26:16.360 but he said to me 00:26:16.360 --> 00:26:17.780 my grace is sufficient 00:26:17.780 --> 00:26:18.300 for you 00:26:18.300 --> 00:26:19.460 for my power 00:26:19.460 --> 00:26:20.140 is made perfect 00:26:20.140 --> 00:26:20.740 in weakness. 00:26:21.580 --> 00:26:21.820 therefore 00:26:21.820 --> 00:26:23.180 I will boast 00:26:23.180 --> 00:26:24.080 all the more gladly 00:26:24.080 --> 00:26:25.060 of my weaknesses 00:26:25.060 --> 00:26:26.460 so that the power 00:26:26.460 --> 00:26:26.880 of Christ 00:26:26.880 --> 00:26:27.780 may rest upon me. 00:26:28.780 --> 00:26:29.180 For the sake 00:26:29.180 --> 00:26:29.640 of Christ 00:26:29.640 --> 00:26:30.020 then 00:26:30.020 --> 00:26:31.140 I am content 00:26:31.140 --> 00:26:31.880 in my weaknesses 00:26:31.880 --> 00:26:33.000 insults 00:26:33.000 --> 00:26:33.700 hardships 00:26:33.700 --> 00:26:35.000 persecutions 00:26:35.000 --> 00:26:36.000 and calamities 00:26:36.000 --> 00:26:37.540 for when I am weak 00:26:37.540 --> 00:26:39.000 then I am strong. 00:26:40.120 --> 00:26:40.940 when Satan 00:26:40.940 --> 00:26:41.700 uses Judas 00:26:41.700 --> 00:26:42.400 to turn against 00:26:42.400 --> 00:26:42.820 Jesus 00:26:42.820 --> 00:26:44.280 and leads the Romans 00:26:44.280 --> 00:26:45.520 to where Jesus is 00:26:45.520 --> 00:26:46.680 and gets him arrested 00:26:46.680 --> 00:26:48.180 to eventually be crucified 00:26:48.180 --> 00:26:49.500 for his so-called crimes 00:26:49.500 --> 00:26:51.620 God uses Satan's plans 00:26:51.620 --> 00:26:52.240 for the benefit 00:26:52.240 --> 00:26:52.840 of his people 00:26:52.840 --> 00:26:53.840 and for the defeat 00:26:53.840 --> 00:26:54.280 of Satan. 00:26:55.300 --> 00:26:56.360 God beats the devil 00:26:56.360 --> 00:26:57.100 at his own game. 00:26:57.820 --> 00:26:58.460 Another example 00:26:58.460 --> 00:26:58.960 of this 00:26:58.960 --> 00:27:00.460 would be how the devil 00:27:00.460 --> 00:27:01.460 becomes a means 00:27:01.460 --> 00:27:02.200 of Paul's own 00:27:02.200 --> 00:27:02.800 sanctification. 00:27:03.600 --> 00:27:04.240 It is because 00:27:04.240 --> 00:27:05.540 of Paul's own wrongdoing 00:27:05.540 --> 00:27:06.840 that God is able 00:27:06.840 --> 00:27:07.560 to lead Saul 00:27:07.560 --> 00:27:08.500 away from his sin 00:27:08.500 --> 00:27:09.560 and show him 00:27:09.560 --> 00:27:10.520 the error of his ways 00:27:10.520 --> 00:27:12.040 breaking down his heart 00:27:12.040 --> 00:27:12.760 in the process 00:27:12.760 --> 00:27:14.060 and once he realizes 00:27:14.060 --> 00:27:15.280 his own personal convictions 00:27:15.280 --> 00:27:16.420 is able to have 00:27:16.420 --> 00:27:17.180 a change of heart 00:27:17.180 --> 00:27:18.240 and become Paul 00:27:18.240 --> 00:27:20.060 who was once known 00:27:20.060 --> 00:27:20.480 as Saul 00:27:20.480 --> 00:27:21.560 a persecutor 00:27:21.560 --> 00:27:22.120 and killer 00:27:22.120 --> 00:27:22.840 of Jewish people. 00:27:23.840 --> 00:27:24.800 What looks like 00:27:24.800 --> 00:27:25.340 Satan's way 00:27:25.340 --> 00:27:26.140 to afflict us 00:27:26.140 --> 00:27:27.260 is actually a way 00:27:27.260 --> 00:27:28.320 for us to accept 00:27:28.320 --> 00:27:28.800 the gracefulness 00:27:28.800 --> 00:27:29.300 of God 00:27:29.300 --> 00:27:31.180 which God regularly uses 00:27:31.180 --> 00:27:32.300 as a continual defeat 00:27:32.300 --> 00:27:32.820 of the devil 00:27:32.820 --> 00:27:34.620 in which we can reflect 00:27:34.620 --> 00:27:35.400 true dependence 00:27:35.400 --> 00:27:36.020 on the one 00:27:36.020 --> 00:27:36.780 that actually loves 00:27:36.780 --> 00:27:37.660 and cares for us. 00:27:38.400 --> 00:27:39.140 In 2 Corinthians 00:27:39.140 --> 00:27:40.500 Paul brings attention 00:27:40.500 --> 00:27:40.980 to the fact 00:27:40.980 --> 00:27:41.460 that the Lord 00:27:41.460 --> 00:27:42.940 gave him a thorn 00:27:42.940 --> 00:27:43.560 in the flesh 00:27:43.560 --> 00:27:44.460 to keep him 00:27:44.460 --> 00:27:45.460 from becoming conceited 00:27:45.460 --> 00:27:46.720 after experiencing 00:27:46.720 --> 00:27:48.040 extraordinary revelations. 00:27:48.980 --> 00:27:49.620 Even though Paul 00:27:49.620 --> 00:27:50.380 prayed repeatedly 00:27:50.380 --> 00:27:51.140 for its removal 00:27:51.140 --> 00:27:52.520 God recognized 00:27:52.520 --> 00:27:54.340 that it is essential 00:27:54.340 --> 00:27:55.100 to his salvation. 00:27:56.140 --> 00:27:56.760 God replied 00:27:56.760 --> 00:27:58.300 that his grace 00:27:58.300 --> 00:27:58.840 is sufficient 00:27:58.840 --> 00:27:59.900 and his power 00:27:59.900 --> 00:28:00.700 is perfected 00:28:00.700 --> 00:28:01.300 in the weaknesses 00:28:01.300 --> 00:28:01.940 that are found 00:28:01.940 --> 00:28:02.480 within us. 00:28:03.620 --> 00:28:04.520 Just like Paul 00:28:04.520 --> 00:28:05.980 we need these 00:28:05.980 --> 00:28:06.620 so-called thorns 00:28:06.620 --> 00:28:07.220 in the flesh 00:28:07.220 --> 00:28:08.060 to keep us 00:28:08.060 --> 00:28:08.300 humble 00:28:08.300 --> 00:28:08.700 and dependent 00:28:08.700 --> 00:28:09.220 on God 00:28:09.220 --> 00:28:10.840 because while 00:28:10.840 --> 00:28:11.300 we are weak 00:28:11.300 --> 00:28:11.940 without God 00:28:11.940 --> 00:28:12.940 Christ's power 00:28:12.940 --> 00:28:13.520 is strong 00:28:13.520 --> 00:28:14.100 and works 00:28:14.100 --> 00:28:14.480 through us 00:28:14.480 --> 00:28:14.820 to defeat 00:28:14.820 --> 00:28:15.140 the sin 00:28:15.140 --> 00:28:15.720 inside of us 00:28:15.720 --> 00:28:16.100 that the devil 00:28:16.100 --> 00:28:16.680 tries to use 00:28:16.680 --> 00:28:17.400 against us. 00:28:18.840 --> 00:28:19.400 Lastly 00:28:19.400 --> 00:28:21.040 God reveals 00:28:21.040 --> 00:28:21.580 his beauty 00:28:21.580 --> 00:28:22.120 and grandness 00:28:22.120 --> 00:28:22.660 to us 00:28:22.660 --> 00:28:23.640 by savoring. 00:28:25.140 --> 00:28:25.860 Through our 00:28:25.860 --> 00:28:26.760 spiritual transformation 00:28:26.760 --> 00:28:27.620 in Christ 00:28:27.620 --> 00:28:29.200 God has shown us 00:28:29.200 --> 00:28:29.520 the soul 00:28:29.520 --> 00:28:30.120 fulfillingness 00:28:30.120 --> 00:28:30.560 of Christ. 00:28:31.000 --> 00:28:31.760 As a result 00:28:31.760 --> 00:28:32.880 the devil's 00:28:32.880 --> 00:28:33.600 overall appeal 00:28:33.600 --> 00:28:34.240 is diminished. 00:28:35.340 --> 00:28:35.700 When we are 00:28:35.700 --> 00:28:36.460 made new in Christ 00:28:36.460 --> 00:28:37.460 we are no longer 00:28:37.460 --> 00:28:38.440 of the world 00:28:38.440 --> 00:28:39.140 and should only 00:28:39.140 --> 00:28:39.880 strive for what 00:28:39.880 --> 00:28:40.960 God calls us to be 00:28:40.960 --> 00:28:42.260 which is loving 00:28:42.260 --> 00:28:43.460 servants striving 00:28:43.460 --> 00:28:44.260 to carry out 00:28:44.260 --> 00:28:44.760 his mission 00:28:44.760 --> 00:28:45.720 to spread the gospel 00:28:45.720 --> 00:28:46.600 and to show 00:28:46.600 --> 00:28:47.080 Christ's love 00:28:47.080 --> 00:28:47.880 to everyone we meet. 00:28:48.680 --> 00:28:49.420 It is because 00:28:49.420 --> 00:28:50.360 of Satan's defeat 00:28:50.360 --> 00:28:51.780 that causes us 00:28:51.780 --> 00:28:52.540 to savor Christ's 00:28:52.540 --> 00:28:53.340 victory more and more. 00:28:53.900 --> 00:28:54.380 When we are 00:28:54.380 --> 00:28:55.020 tempted to choose 00:28:55.020 --> 00:28:55.440 the world 00:28:55.440 --> 00:28:56.540 we should be like 00:28:56.540 --> 00:28:56.860 Paul 00:28:56.860 --> 00:28:58.480 and gladly boast 00:28:58.480 --> 00:28:59.080 in the fact 00:28:59.080 --> 00:28:59.880 that God 00:28:59.880 --> 00:29:00.260 has won 00:29:00.260 --> 00:29:00.680 the battle 00:29:00.680 --> 00:29:01.680 and that we 00:29:01.680 --> 00:29:02.280 can savor 00:29:02.280 --> 00:29:02.920 the soul 00:29:02.920 --> 00:29:03.460 fulfillingness 00:29:03.460 --> 00:29:03.940 of Christ. 00:29:04.580 --> 00:29:05.140 Our day 00:29:05.140 --> 00:29:05.540 of judgment 00:29:05.540 --> 00:29:06.220 is not something 00:29:06.220 --> 00:29:06.620 that we should 00:29:06.620 --> 00:29:07.120 be questioning 00:29:07.120 --> 00:29:07.780 or afraid 00:29:07.780 --> 00:29:08.220 of coming. 00:29:08.580 --> 00:29:09.020 If we are 00:29:09.020 --> 00:29:09.600 already saved 00:29:09.600 --> 00:29:10.120 by God 00:29:10.120 --> 00:29:10.900 then it gives 00:29:10.900 --> 00:29:11.460 us an incentive 00:29:11.460 --> 00:29:12.040 to live out 00:29:12.040 --> 00:29:12.640 our daily lives 00:29:12.640 --> 00:29:13.200 with a newfound 00:29:13.200 --> 00:29:13.740 joy and sense 00:29:13.740 --> 00:29:14.200 of purpose. 00:29:15.440 --> 00:29:16.120 The closer 00:29:16.120 --> 00:29:16.500 that we are 00:29:16.500 --> 00:29:17.040 living towards 00:29:17.040 --> 00:29:17.280 the day 00:29:17.280 --> 00:29:17.700 of judgment 00:29:17.700 --> 00:29:18.660 the more 00:29:18.660 --> 00:29:19.260 Christ is 00:29:19.260 --> 00:29:19.840 magnified 00:29:19.840 --> 00:29:20.520 and Satan 00:29:20.520 --> 00:29:21.020 is defeated. 00:29:22.360 --> 00:29:22.520 Savor 00:29:22.520 --> 00:29:23.060 the true 00:29:23.060 --> 00:29:24.340 love and joy 00:29:24.340 --> 00:29:25.020 that God 00:29:25.020 --> 00:29:25.700 grants us 00:29:25.700 --> 00:29:26.440 and do not 00:29:26.440 --> 00:29:27.100 take his mercy 00:29:27.100 --> 00:29:27.580 for granted. 00:29:28.620 --> 00:29:29.340 God wants 00:29:29.340 --> 00:29:29.840 nothing more 00:29:29.840 --> 00:29:30.220 than to be 00:29:30.220 --> 00:29:30.700 with us 00:29:30.700 --> 00:29:31.420 but we have 00:29:31.420 --> 00:29:31.920 to acknowledge 00:29:31.920 --> 00:29:32.300 our own 00:29:32.300 --> 00:29:32.780 shortcomings 00:29:32.780 --> 00:29:33.100 and turn 00:29:33.100 --> 00:29:33.480 away from 00:29:33.480 --> 00:29:33.700 them 00:29:33.700 --> 00:29:34.480 while also 00:29:34.480 --> 00:29:34.920 acknowledging 00:29:34.920 --> 00:29:35.320 that sin 00:29:35.320 --> 00:29:35.620 is not 00:29:35.620 --> 00:29:36.120 what defines 00:29:36.120 --> 00:29:36.460 us. 00:29:37.600 --> 00:29:38.260 We need 00:29:38.260 --> 00:29:38.740 not question 00:29:38.740 --> 00:29:39.120 God 00:29:39.120 --> 00:29:40.140 because we 00:29:40.140 --> 00:29:40.440 know that 00:29:40.440 --> 00:29:40.780 God is 00:29:40.780 --> 00:29:41.300 working and 00:29:41.300 --> 00:29:41.860 using all 00:29:41.860 --> 00:29:42.260 things 00:29:42.260 --> 00:29:43.260 good and 00:29:43.260 --> 00:29:43.540 bad 00:29:43.540 --> 00:29:44.720 for the 00:29:44.720 --> 00:29:44.980 benefit 00:29:44.980 --> 00:29:45.280 of his 00:29:45.280 --> 00:29:46.300 children. 00:29:47.200 --> 00:29:47.760 Would you 00:29:47.760 --> 00:29:48.040 pray with 00:29:48.040 --> 00:29:48.240 me? 00:29:49.960 --> 00:29:50.700 Dear God 00:29:50.700 --> 00:29:51.720 I thank you 00:29:51.720 --> 00:29:52.380 for the salvation 00:29:52.380 --> 00:29:52.740 that you 00:29:52.740 --> 00:29:53.140 bless us 00:29:53.140 --> 00:29:53.440 with. 00:29:54.280 --> 00:29:54.860 Even though 00:29:54.860 --> 00:29:55.300 we deserve 00:29:55.300 --> 00:29:55.780 the worst 00:29:55.780 --> 00:29:56.460 you see 00:29:56.460 --> 00:29:56.820 us 00:29:56.820 --> 00:29:57.640 and you 00:29:57.640 --> 00:29:58.000 give us 00:29:58.000 --> 00:29:58.300 more 00:29:58.300 --> 00:29:58.900 than the 00:29:58.900 --> 00:29:59.140 world 00:29:59.140 --> 00:29:59.740 has to 00:29:59.740 --> 00:29:59.980 offer. 00:30:01.820 --> 00:30:02.380 You have 00:30:02.380 --> 00:30:02.760 given us 00:30:02.760 --> 00:30:03.300 so much 00:30:03.300 --> 00:30:04.120 and I 00:30:04.120 --> 00:30:04.600 pray that 00:30:04.600 --> 00:30:04.940 as we 00:30:04.940 --> 00:30:05.280 go about 00:30:05.280 --> 00:30:05.780 our days 00:30:05.780 --> 00:30:06.400 living in 00:30:06.400 --> 00:30:06.920 that truth 00:30:06.920 --> 00:30:07.360 and in 00:30:07.360 --> 00:30:07.700 the comfort 00:30:07.700 --> 00:30:08.000 of your 00:30:08.000 --> 00:30:08.380 grace 00:30:08.380 --> 00:30:09.540 we need 00:30:09.540 --> 00:30:10.080 not worry 00:30:10.080 --> 00:30:10.780 for you 00:30:10.780 --> 00:30:11.060 are in 00:30:11.060 --> 00:30:11.440 control 00:30:11.440 --> 00:30:12.040 and are 00:30:12.040 --> 00:30:12.320 always 00:30:12.320 --> 00:30:12.700 working. 00:30:13.580 --> 00:30:14.100 if there 00:30:14.100 --> 00:30:14.440 is anyone 00:30:14.440 --> 00:30:14.860 here that 00:30:14.860 --> 00:30:15.320 hasn't given 00:30:15.320 --> 00:30:15.700 their life 00:30:15.700 --> 00:30:16.580 to you 00:30:16.580 --> 00:30:16.860 Lord 00:30:16.860 --> 00:30:18.320 I pray 00:30:18.320 --> 00:30:18.580 that their 00:30:18.580 --> 00:30:18.780 hearts 00:30:18.780 --> 00:30:19.040 can be 00:30:19.040 --> 00:30:19.460 changed 00:30:19.460 --> 00:30:20.400 and that 00:30:20.400 --> 00:30:20.780 their eyes 00:30:20.780 --> 00:30:20.980 will be 00:30:20.980 --> 00:30:21.360 open to 00:30:21.360 --> 00:30:21.660 see you 00:30:21.660 --> 00:30:21.920 for the 00:30:21.920 --> 00:30:22.440 first time. 00:30:23.220 --> 00:30:23.660 Thank you 00:30:23.660 --> 00:30:24.020 Lord for 00:30:24.020 --> 00:30:24.240 all that 00:30:24.240 --> 00:30:24.460 you have 00:30:24.460 --> 00:30:24.640 blessed 00:30:24.640 --> 00:30:25.120 us with. 00:30:25.580 --> 00:30:25.700 It is 00:30:25.700 --> 00:30:25.880 in your 00:30:25.880 --> 00:30:26.140 name I 00:30:26.140 --> 00:30:26.340 pray. 00:30:26.600 --> 00:30:26.840 Amen. 00:30:38.840 --> 00:30:39.820 I mean 00:30:39.820 --> 00:30:40.160 it's just 00:30:40.160 --> 00:30:40.900 wonderful to 00:30:40.900 --> 00:30:41.180 hear 00:30:41.180 --> 00:30:42.100 everybody's 00:30:42.100 --> 00:30:42.460 story. 00:30:43.580 --> 00:30:44.320 given their 00:30:44.320 --> 00:30:44.740 life to 00:30:44.740 --> 00:30:45.580 Christ as 00:30:45.580 --> 00:30:46.000 Savior and 00:30:46.000 --> 00:30:46.840 Lord and 00:30:46.840 --> 00:30:48.160 to know 00:30:48.160 --> 00:30:48.600 that God 00:30:48.600 --> 00:30:49.120 is always 00:30:49.120 --> 00:30:51.080 working in 00:30:51.080 --> 00:30:51.700 our lives 00:30:51.700 --> 00:30:53.160 whether we're 00:30:53.160 --> 00:30:54.260 10, 00:30:54.460 --> 00:30:55.100 18, 00:30:55.320 --> 00:30:56.720 80 and 00:30:56.720 --> 00:30:57.160 each of us 00:30:57.160 --> 00:30:57.460 have a 00:30:57.460 --> 00:30:57.840 story. 00:30:58.660 --> 00:30:59.340 So remember 00:30:59.340 --> 00:30:59.720 that. 00:31:00.420 --> 00:31:00.980 Remember what 00:31:00.980 --> 00:31:01.800 the things 00:31:01.800 --> 00:31:02.280 that Grayson 00:31:02.280 --> 00:31:02.660 has shared 00:31:02.660 --> 00:31:03.020 with us 00:31:03.020 --> 00:31:03.480 this morning 00:31:03.480 --> 00:31:04.420 how it 00:31:04.420 --> 00:31:04.700 connects 00:31:04.700 --> 00:31:05.080 with our 00:31:05.080 --> 00:31:05.560 story and 00:31:05.560 --> 00:31:05.960 what God 00:31:05.960 --> 00:31:06.540 desires to 00:31:06.540 --> 00:31:06.740 do in 00:31:06.740 --> 00:31:07.240 our life 00:31:07.240 --> 00:31:07.960 as well. 00:31:08.580 --> 00:31:08.940 Thank you 00:31:08.940 --> 00:31:09.480 so much 00:31:09.480 --> 00:31:10.100 again for 00:31:10.100 --> 00:31:10.440 being here 00:31:10.440 --> 00:31:10.920 this morning. 00:31:11.380 --> 00:31:11.680 We'll have 00:31:11.680 --> 00:31:12.520 fellowship time 00:31:12.520 --> 00:31:13.300 in a little 00:31:13.300 --> 00:31:16.480 bit and followed by worship as well. Thank you.