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Join host, Tuck Choate, and executive pastor, Bennett Holloway, as they discuss Temple Church's Sunday sermons in more detail, explore everyday application of biblical truths, and answer listener questions - all to help you strengthen you in your spiritual walk. Expect meaningful conversations that will encourage you in your faith journey.
Tuck Choate 0:08
Welcome temple family and friends, we're so glad to have you joining us for another episode of Temple talk. This podcast aims to engage our faith community through thoughtful biblical discussions centered on God's word. Our goal is to explore Scripture together to discover the wisdom that has for our lives. In this podcast, we'll be diving deep into God's truths and discussing how they impact our daily living. We're eager to unpack the riches of the Bible with you all our extended church family. And now here's Welcome back temple family and friends, as always, I am tuck and happy to be here with you. And we have pastor Bennett with us again, welcome.
Bennett Holloway 0:45
And I have a much I have less of a soothing, calm voice, unless I decide to talk like this. But I'm excited about this message. I'm excited about this week. I've missed you guys. Last week, I was at Duke being converted to Duke fan. Because we were at the medical clinic at the hospital there where my heart My mom was having heart surgery. And so she had a mitral valve replacement. And things were a little rough in the beginning tech, but things ended up getting the doctors did incredible, the nursing staff did incredible. The hospital was incredible. And so my mom actually was discharged yesterday, and is flying back to Oklahoma with my sister right now, as we're recording this. So she is doing well. And she has got a new little pig valve up there and a mitral valve. And so things are going good, but I missed being on it last week. But I know that you and your wife shared some incredible things. And so I'm excited to be here today as we walk through this.
Tuck Choate 1:50
Absolutely. Now, before we get into the lesson from this week, I did want to take a pause and just a minute to talk through our corporate prayer and fasting as we have started November. So can you kind of walk us through what does this mean for us as a church? What does this look like, individually? Because I know that two weeks without food is is a long time. So how do we see this playing out in our lives? And what are we driving towards? Yeah,
Bennett Holloway 2:17
so big picture is if you don't know this, then you probably need to know that this year, we've been giving out prayer guides monthly. So monthly prayer guides that are put together by the church, that our department heads or ministry heads have submitted in these pair requests. So we've organized them in a way to where we've equipped our membership and non membership really anyone that wants to they can access it at Temple dot Church on the landing page, digital version, but they also we hand them out on Sunday mornings here at the church, a printed version. And these booklets help guide you through an intentional corporate prayer, emphasis in your life, but for the edification of the church, and for the Lord to move in some specific ways corporately, but also in ways in your own life. And so last year, whenever we stepped into this season, as a church, we actually did 15 days of prayer and fasting as a church in November. And so for the first 15 days of November, we were intentionally praying morning, noon and night in the Worship Center here at Temple. And we were going through corporate prayers, they were guided prayers that emphasize different ministries, different things that the Lord was putting on our heart and in that season of transition, different emphasis to provide unity, and healing in areas that desperately needed it. And so as we come through now, this next year, what we're doing is we're doing it again. And so this this season of prayer and fasting in November here, the prayer guide is much bigger than it's been in previous months. It's about 47 pages. But it guides us through teaching prayer. So the first couple pages teaches you how to pray. And then it guides us through teaching biblically what fasting is, and the heart behind it, so that each of us can be equipped to practically apply it in our lives. And and then it gives us 15 days of structured intentional prayers for the first 15 days of November. And so each day, the components are a written out prayer for you privately, as we pray through that specific topic of the day, and a written out praying prayer of our church corporately, so that instead of saying, Lord, do this in me, then we transition to saying, Lord, as you do this in us, let this be the impact in our community and in the life of our church, your bride. And so what's interesting about this is we're really working on not only developing this this, this desire to intentionally pray these prayers on an individual level, but also the impact of the people of God praying corporately for these things to come about in the life of this church here at Temple Church. And so another component of these daily written out prayers is something that our pastor search team has put together for the month of November. And the way that they divided it up was the very first week of prayer that they're asking our church to do, a lot of it has to do with the homes, the marriages and the individual lives of our membership. And then we'll transition to different phases of these corporate prayers. And that's also in the in the November prayer guide, as well. And so each day, we have that available, while also opening up our worship center, morning, noon, and night. 6am 12, that's noon, and then 6pm. And so we've got people actually in there praying right now, which I just left there, and we just have people in there praying right now, and praying on their knees and lifting it up at the altar, a couple of them were at the altar. And so it's just been a really exciting season for us of prayer and fasting. And so I don't want to go into too many details about fasting. But I strongly encourage you to jump online to Apple dot church, download that document, look at it, read it, and pray, whether or not fasting should be a habitual discipline that we participate in until Christ's return. And, and spoiler alert it is. And of course, we want to do everything we can to make sure that we are responsible, and have conversations with our doctors, to make sure we don't put ourselves in compromised, we're not good stewards of our body, right. But also intentionally fasting from food so that we may feast in the Lord, through the study of His Word, through prayer, through meditation, through silence and solitude, different things like that. It's something that will be greatly beneficial to you. And I am even a testimony not only in Scripture, we see it, but the movement of God through prayer, and fasting is evident. And so what it does is to give you a summary, it changes us and conforms us to him. It doesn't change him or force his hand, it changes us to see things as he does, and desire His will in our lives. And so fasting really just allows us to depend more on him, as we draw near to Him, as we depend on his provision, day in and day out. So we see that as example and food. But a lot of people get really creative these days, with fasting from different things. And I think having that as a regular thing in your life that some of that be greatly beneficial.
Tuck Choate 7:50
Absolutely. Yeah, we I remember going through last year, a little bit of a study of fasting. And I think one of the quotes that we read was it's one of the things in the in the Bible, the commandments that we just don't do anymore. It's probably one of the things that we skip over the most, as modern Christians that if we could really bring it back is so beneficial to our lives. Yeah,
Bennett Holloway 8:12
there's a level of practical disciplines we see in the church, right in the New Testament, even wear, these are disciplines that are really lost. They were they were the early church, even early church fathers that it was mandated that we they would they would fast, a certain number of times, I think was two times a week. And so this was a thing that was irregular in the life of a believer. But today in our modern church, especially in western America, in America, we this isn't. This isn't a pattern of behavior that is taught, really, culturally, it's all about obesity. It's all about overindulgence, it's all about give me what I want. For me, this is what this is my right, which we'll talk about. But it really shifts us away from that, to depending on him and resting in his presence. And it slows us down and allows us to see him move and shape the way we see. And so fasting in and of itself is a beautiful, beautiful discipline that we can truly benefit from. If you don't do it, you're missing out.
Tuck Choate 9:25
So taking that and moving towards our emphasis. This week. Dr. York talked yesterday about rejoicing always and then he had the small caveat. Really, really, really. So talk us through a little bit of you know, what Scripture did he use? And then we'll kind of go through some of the details as we move forward.
Bennett Holloway 9:45
Yeah, let me read it for you. Let me read it. So we got Philippians four, and we start in verse six. And it's no actually we start in verse four. It says, Rejoice in the Lord always. Again. I will say, rejoice. I'm reading at the end. ESP, let your gentle spirit be known to all men, the Lord is near, Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. And the result is the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. And so he reads that in the verse For and immediately says, Rejoice in the Lord, always again, I will say, rejoice. And if you didn't, if you haven't listened to the sermon, you need to go back and listen to him, because he does a great job breaking down some of the ways that that we see writing in Greek, and the emphasis that takes place when things are repeated. But what I love in reality is that Paul is writing here to the church and Philippi, that it is always rejoice in the Lord always. And so that's where he comes up with it really, really, and in the in the context of our world and the context of our situation in the context of my mom's surgery, in the context of what we've gone through with sickness or even as a church, how can we truly obey, you know, this, this, this letter that's written to the church that we believe is applicable today, this, this, this command to rejoice? Always, and it almost seems impossible. And oftentimes, we just chalk it up to I just can't. So what's the point in trying? And so I love this topic, because of what I know to be true. And what we see throughout this passage about who's the one that brings it, who's the one that sustains it? And who's the one that gets the glory for the piece that the world is lacking? And so it's a it's a topic I love, and I love Dr. You are walking us through. So my question to you talk is, how difficult is it? Let's just use the last 48 hours of your life. How difficult has it been? Have you be honest, have you rejoiced always.
Tuck Choate 12:06
So confession time,
Bennett Holloway 12:08
don't judge no one, just the judge.
Tuck Choate 12:09
I think the big difference that that he spoke about was the difference between joy and happiness, that's good. And, you know, he talked us through joy is something that really lives deep within us, that comes from the peace of God, that is different than happiness. Whereas in he said, I would love for everyone to be happy all the time. That's just not achievable. It's not sustainable. Happiness is an emotion and emotions change with the flights of the wind, you can be angry, happy, and they don't always stick around. Yeah, whereas a true joy that lives within us, especially the one that comes from Jesus is something that can sustain you through the hard times, and the easy times and the sicknesses and everything else that we're going through. So I would say in the last 48 hours, I've been joyful in the fact that when I sit and think I've got this overarching piece that goes a lot more beyond what's happening in my life, whereas the happiness comes and goes a lot more depending on what happens. It's hard to be happy. When your children are sick, it's hard to be happy when you have an argument with your spouse. But underneath it all, there is a peace and a joy that comes from the fact that I know that my purpose is higher than all of the small things that happen and and we're going to get through it. Now
Bennett Holloway 13:49
that's good. So to humbly answer your question your answers yes, you do. You have last 48 Man, you've rejoiced always. And I love rejoice and to feel or show great joy, or delight, right to rejoice. So you're showing joy. That's why you're different. That's why he that's what are you are differentiated the difference between alright, what is joy? And what is happiness? Because this happiness is temporal, its surface level is dependent on variables were a joy, that can only be from the essence of that emotion itself, the creator, the sovereign God, he's the only one that can give it. Right, because it's not dependent on all the things we're going through on this temporal earth. It is only something that can come from that which is above all of the temporal stuff, the variables, the sickness, the death, the divorce, the pain, the suffering, the war, right, the conflict, and so good for you, man. I'm proud of you. So a small little testimony for me. So I was at the hospital, right? I was with my older brother, my little sister and my uncle. Okay. And so my parents are going through a lot right now. My parents are going through divorce My mom is having had the surgery. And so there's, there's a high level of kind of stress, but, and care that the kids are going to step up in certain ways in and my little sister has just, she's been incredible throughout this process. But it was an I hate to say this, because we were there for my mom's surgery that was really scary. But it was so much fun to be with my siblings. For I think it was like four days, four full days, let me my brother and I, we shared a bed. And, and we're both grown men. It was queen size, and I'm a big guy. But listen, it was so much fun. But something I noticed when I came home, and my wife noticed that too. There was a man, there was a piece in me, that was uninfluenced by the things of the world of the church. And I actually and it was it was kind of impacting me in different ways through my rest. But also through how I carried myself. And Lauren, it got to the point where Lauren was actually worried for me, because I was much quieter. And I was much more still. Which is strange for you, which is strange for me, right? Especially the quiet part. And so I'm sitting there, and I'm sitting in church, and I'm not fidgeting. And I'm sitting there and I'm listening. And Lauren, like put her arm around me, she's like, Honey, are you okay? And afterwards, she was like, I was worried because it's like you were, you were so still and I thought something was wrong. And I was like, No, I was just listening. And this this thing that I'm experiencing right now. That isn't, isn't moved by the opinion of man is not moved by moments of insecurity or frustration or, or even situations where then I'm experiencing the peace of God. That really is because of Christ Jesus guarding my heart, in my mind. And so he did something to me when I was away, could because I was so detached from the thing to the world, because the urgency of what was at hand, and being with my brother and sister and encouraging each other in our walk and, and getting to come home to my family. It was a I've experienced this as well. Over the last few years, I think it's something I've got acknowledged the Lord is doing. And it brings me back to this Psalm 4610, to be still and know that I am God, I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth. And Dr. uer took us through this pathway of practical application. And what it means is when we when we truly trust in the sovereignty of God, when we actually see him rightly, when we recognize that Jesus Christ has ascended, and all things are beneath his feet, that he sits at the right hand of God interceding on our behalf, as we know what he's done, the position of authority he's in, and the fact that he is coming again, when we know these when we know John 14, when we know he's coming back, right? When we know this stuff, it changes the way we see everything. And I and just an opportunity for each of us to be disciplined in this, especially through our month of prayer and fasting, to just stop and to be still to stop striving and to take a second and breathe deep. And know that He is God. That is that as a primary step to experiencing rejoicing, always. I will say rejoice.
Tuck Choate 19:08
And then we'll say I think what you were talking about, about how this comes and only comes from God. This true joy and peace that we can find, I think is so alluring to people of the world. When we really exude it. There is a difference from what we have and what they can see.
Bennett Holloway 19:31
It's what we're Everyone's searching for. Right? And different things sell knockoff versions of this joy. Right? The even the American Dream itself sells this facade of providing of meeting the needs so that you've all arrived and you have total peace, you have joy, you can rejoice because nothing bad is happening. But all of this is fake. Like all of it is, and the only provision, or the only person that can give you something that you don't have is someone in a much different state than where you are. And I promise you, that the person of God, the Father, the Son, the Holy Spirit, what we saw through the life of Christ, what we understand through the provision of the Holy Spirit, the indwelling presence of God Himself, what happens in the assurance of salvation, all of these things that are taking place, what it's building is this foundation that should radically shape our worldview, recognizing that the kingdom of God is here. The answer to the world's needs is only it's not a president. It's not a vote. It's not a system. It's not a form of government. It's not a financial status. It's not a job, it's not a promotion. It's not even an organization or knowing everything, it's not a degree. It's not even found in personal relationships, unless the personal relationship is the one who sits above it all. It's only found in Christ. And so being still and knowing that He is God, man, that is something that keeps bringing me back to recognizing the very thing the world starves for fights for sacrifices, for deeply desires, can only be experienced eternally. And presently, to the depth that is available in Christ, it's in God. And so I'm reminding each of us that we've got the thing that everyone else is wanting, I think is a key motivator to burdening us to push towards evangelism and making Jesus known, intentionally making Jesus known. And having this really, this this urgency of it, which we find in the next verse, and it says in verse five, he says, Let your gentle spirit be known to all men, the Lord is near. And
Tuck Choate 22:14
the danger is that when we try and find this peace, when we go searching in other places, we damage whatever it is, we're looking for, whether we're, we're damaging to ourselves, because we're going for the promotion, or we're trying to earn more money. And we're damaging ourselves and our relationships in the process, or it's damaging to the, like, you mentioned the relationships, when I try and put my spouse, or my children in the place of giving me that happiness, they are ultimately no matter what going to let me down, because I can only find that true happiness, I can only find that true joy, that peace in God. And when I try and put that upon someone else, those relationships become strained, because they will inevitably let me down from what I'm looking for, if I'm putting them in the wrong place.
Bennett Holloway 23:11
Yeah, that's so good. So when we're trying to depend on the things that are most readily available, whether that be another person, or social media, or drugs, alcohol, food, when we try to depend on the things that are within an arm's reach, to fulfill this deep void, that God can only fill. That's where brokenness, it's habitual, it just continues and we will be unfulfilled, and running on this little wheel over and over in pursuit of this thing, consuming all the junk that this world has to offer.
Tuck Choate 23:53
And it scraps, it scraps, and there was enough of it to keep us busy. And like you said it has the shadow IT has just the briefest that maybe I can find something maybe I find a little bit of happiness, but then the happiness fades.
Bennett Holloway 24:07
That's right. It's temporal, its temporal. And so whenever we can get to a place to where we actually see God as God, sovereign, we can then therefore Rejoice always, and all of a sudden, our disposition towards all things shifts, right. And so when it says like a gentle spirit be known to all men, and an ESV, it says let your reasonableness reasonableness I love that being known to everyone, it all of a sudden our disposition is that which is gentle and reasonable. And and we are we are then no longer striving or struggling, but it is evident. And then a part I'd love to park for a little bit on is the Lord is near. So what our dear His position is communicating is the Lord is near. And so tuck where I want to sit on that is where one we have a recognition that the Lord is near, like in proximity, he is, he is omnipresent, okay. And through salvation, we received this downpayment, this deposit of the Holy Spirit, where he now in dwells in us, as our comforter. And he, he breathes life into scripture, and he empowers us, and he any, and He convicts us any and he's a lamp unto our feet, and we see His glory manifested through us to bring glory to Jesus. And so the Lord is near. Right? So he's, he's, he's here, right now. Okay, so that's something the normal says revelation of His proximity. It shapes how we see everything. And it should we shape how we make all choices. Right, and we're about to talk about some choices coming up about decisions in the car while driving, or decisions on our own, or decisions with certain people are our standards are what we tweet and what we post and what we like and what we even are expose ourselves to all of these things, the Lord is near. And then on the other side of that coin, the Lord is near. We know he's coming back, he has told us that he will be returning and no one knows the time in which he'll come. But he will. And there will come a point when when the person that you know that does not yet know Christ will be before him in judgment in and it may happen in our lifetime. And it may or may not but all we know is the Lord is near. And we are not promised tomorrow. And that's one of the things that Dr. You were drove. And his message is this, this, this realization, that that our focus needs to be on this, this, this urgency to share Christ. And if we recognize one, the Lord's proximity, and the Lord's Second Coming is at hand, the kingdom of God is here, both now. And it will be coming in fullness very soon. Then guess what a majority of our arguments are complaining, our selfishness. It is so insignificant
Tuck Choate 27:43
puts things into perspective. And then the other part is,
Bennett Holloway 27:48
guess what the opinion of man means? Nothing. Nothing in comparison to one, the proximity of God, my Creator, and also the urgency of the Lord is near. And so the prot the top of the priority list must be the gospel. And my question is, is are we living a life that displays through our reasonableness that we actually believe the Lord is near? I think every single one of us need to be asking ourselves that question. Every single one of us need to be asking ourselves that question.
Tuck Choate 28:36
And it's as you've mentioned, before, being honest with yourself to be able to remind ourselves of this on a daily basis, because when you know the everything happens in our lives, and the fire has come up and we're constantly fighting fires instead of viewing things the way that they need to be viewed. It's easy to to forget the proximity of God both in the fact that he's coming back and the fact that he dwells within us, because if we sit there and you know the old rich wristbands from a couple decades ago, what would Jesus do? If we could imagine him with us? Our actions will change.
Bennett Holloway 29:15
Yeah, it's that mentality. Honestly, I love it. I love it. Because the question that we must be asking is, how would Jesus live and respond if he was living your life right now? In this very moment, in that very conversation with that person standing on the side of the street, or that person that cuts you off with a promotion that you didn't get, right, or the things that people say that you disagree with online? What would Jesus do? If he was in your spot, right now making your choice because as little Christians, as disciples as apprentice says of Jesus Christ. If we go back with the Jewish tradition of what it looks like to mimic, to mimic our teacher to mimic our Rabbi, that is what we should be doing habitually every single moment, every single day, we should be asking ourselves these same questions. Which brings us back to these virtues that we see displayed in the life of Christ. We see them displayed in the early church, we see them displayed in the New Testament, this idea behind each of these taking a top priority in our lives. And it gives us kind of this rubric to really say, oh, Lord searched me, Holy Spirit, bring up the spaces where I am selfish. Bring up the spaces where, where I am not surrendered to you, where I'm thinking of self, and temporal, not eternal. Or asking myself, What would you do in this situation,
Tuck Choate 30:55
one of my favorite examples that someone used way back, as they said, that we need to be mirrors. And a good mirror means that you don't really see it, you only see what's reflected. And if we can angle ourselves correctly, when someone looks at us, instead of seeing us what they should be seeing is a reflection of God. And the issue comes in, is when we are not a good mirror, when we get dirty when we get tarnished. Instead, what they are seeing is either just us, or they are seeing a reflection of God, that is dirty, their story is distorted, right? And so if we can truly be image bearers of Jesus, when someone looks at us, hopefully, they are just seeing a reflection of God.
Bennett Holloway 31:48
One of my prayers over this, and over, really next couple of weeks, as we sit in the study that we're going through, is, it kind of parallels Elijah on the wall with a servant in Second Kings sixth, and he's sitting up there, and he's watching and the enemy is surrounding them, and they're coming after him as a prophet of the Lord. And his servant comes up, and he stands with them at the wall, and Elijah, he's chill, he's cool. The peace of God that transcends all understanding, and the servant is really freaking out, right? And he's saying, what are we gonna do? What are we going to do? And Elijah just simply praise, open his eyes, Lord, so that he may see. And all of a sudden, the Lord opens the eyes of the servant, and he sees the chariots of fire. And he sees what is unseen, the angels that surrounded the dwelling place of Elijah that was in between really them and their enemy, and it was the army of God, and this idea of God, just open our eyes, open our eyes, to give us a clearer understanding of not only your provision, but also your sovereignty. So we may truly rejoice in all things and give us an eternal perspective, that allows us to have a gentle spirit, or a reasonableness about ourselves, so that we may truly live and display but also have an urgency to communicate, the Lord is near. And Jesus teaches about this in the Great Commission, he says, Blessed are the peace makers, we are ones that make peace, not on a temporal level where we're shaking hands, and we're hunky dory. But on a supernatural level, where we are restoring we are reconciling that which is hopeless, which the hope with the hope provider, that which is is broken, with the restore that which is dead, to the Resurrector, right? Like we that's what we are doing, we are constantly just saying, Lord, use me in this way. Because the Lord is near the kingdom of God, this is at hand is coming again, and we're not promised tomorrow. So this urgency in this burden is key. And that's just something that I just we've been praying, and I believe is coming in this church, as we continue to pray through these things as we pray continually, and live out these virtues. But
Tuck Choate 34:17
like the servant, I know that so many of us can see ourselves in the servant more than we do in Elijah. Because we have this anxiety. And my wife who spoke about her struggles with anxiety last week week, wrote, The anxiety bullies you and convinces you that you are not enough that you're a failure, that everyone hates you that you're alone, that no one gets you and that you're worthless. And it's that defining shame that you secretly believe is true, and isolates you and it makes you feel helpless. And we we know, in our heads, that God is all around we know over that there are chariots waiting to protect us from whatever it is in the world. But that anxiety squelches that enough to where it it makes us anxious. And I know that that is the antithesis of peace and joy. So how do we, how do we get through that when that is more of a defining feature, or at least, you know, comes up to grasp so often.
Bennett Holloway 35:28
Yeah, so So one thing I would encourage you with, is just take for a second. And this is where I get nerdy guy reading. So this is written to the church in Philippi. It's canonized, right? It's in our Scripture. And so, we believe that this passage, this book is didactic in nature, which means it's meant for teaching, and it's meant for all people at all times forever. Incorporate Second Timothy 316, throughout the study of the Word of God, right. And, and so this isn't a, this isn't historical, this is something written that we can apply today. So if every single believer needs to understand this, then every single believer that struggling with it is not alone. It is contradictory to the schemes of the devil that works towards alienating ourselves and putting us on an island, trying to internalize and feel that shame, of saying, Oh, I me, I exactly what Chelsea walked through this idea behind, man, I'm not good enough. And I'm the only one like this, or I'm a failure, or this shame that's been heaped on top of me, that man Be anxious for nothing is something that every single one of us need to hear why? Because every single one of us struggle with anxiety, at different degrees in different seasons. It is something that is universal to mankind, because we were created with this dependency, and a union with our Creator, that only provides this piece when all things are imperfection, and that will inevitably come. So have hope. So the question comes down to in this season of sojourning, in this temporal season, of being at a place where it's not yet our true home, which is in His presence, how do we deal with it? How do we deal with the brokenness? How did Paul deal with writing this while in chains? How do we deal with death? How do we deal with the stuff, the variables in our life, the fallen nature of the world, yet also, our sometimes willingness to believe lies and struggle with things and internalize because life is incredibly difficult. And so one of the things that will strongly encourage, I just strongly encourage for people that maybe even find themselves at that moment, right, now, listen to this, this one, you're not alone. You're not alone. Number two, is shine light. With darkness is bring to light the things with people that care about your soul, and care about you. Believing in the Word of God, and have a biblical worldview, share these things. Because as you share your doubts, your anger, your disappointment, your unmet expectations, maybe with others, and even with the Lord, as you unpack this with other people. Hopefully, what this drives you to is a comfort level to unpack that with the Lord. Because his shoulders are broad, we've talked about this, he can take it. And doing that which David displayed in the psalms of expressing to God, this need what's happening in this very moment, the thing that may have been meant to break you and separate you now suddenly, and your weakness is a display of his sovereignty and strength, because it will be a testimony for all those who are going to go through what you've gone through. And our scars tell stories of a healing creator. They're not to be. They're not to be hidden, or we should not be ashamed of our scars, but they should be something that we should proudly display display because of the testimony and the glory that it brings to God. So there's hope for what you're going for, not only eternally because the Lord is near, but there's also hope for what you're going for because the Lord is near in proximity. And so as you unpack this with with other believers, as you unpack fists in paralleling the Psalms, as you pray through this, and seek the word for the will of God, the character of God and reminding yourself of the promises of God, then what is going to happen is you're gonna experience hope that only he can provide. And Hebrews 619 through 20, it says, we have this hope as an anchor, for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain. This is written to Jews that really understood the Holy of Holies, where our foreigner Jesus has entered on our behalf, Jesus Christ entered, to intercede, to experience the wrath of God, and He has become a high priest forever. read Hebrews, chapter six, understand the context of a hope that we have, but it is an anchor for our soul and wildly go through storms. Let's consistently be reminded that we're not alone. Right? He has overcome the world. He is near. And he is coming again. These four things I would really encourage, because hopefully, when you're surrounded by people that love the Lord, and love you, you'll be reminded that there's grace, and there's forgiveness, and feeling these feelings that you're feeling. That's not sin. That's not It's human. And believe it or not the full spectrum of our emotions, God himself, he knows, for he made you to a perfectly knit. The question is, is there anything you need to surrender? I think it comes to a really a focus. And as we draw back to him, I would go straight back to verse four, Rejoice in the Lord always, how is that even possible? the sovereignty of God? Who is he? Do you rightly see him? Do you know what he said about what's going to happen, and our purpose and your purpose, even in the midst of the junk that you're going through?
Tuck Choate 42:14
So one of the things that I thought of that really brought up in my heart was as a father, and as a parent, when we're looking at our children struggling with things, it's so easy to want to just do it for them. But we don't teach them anything. They don't gain any resilience. They don't gain any skills by us taking over and doing it for them. And I look, I see God, my father looking down at me sometimes saying, I can't do this for you. You've got to figure this out. You've got to trust in me that I am here, that I have taught you enough to be able to do this yourself. And we're constantly saying to our children, you can do hard things. And when they're in the midst of it, they don't want to do hard things. They will bring it to me and say fix this, do this for me. And I look at them and say can it's a small thing. It's you can do this.
Bennett Holloway 43:12
It's a pattern right of people in Scripture that will deliver me just deliver me from this time. Even Elijah when he was suicidal, right after the we overthrew the prophets of bale. And he had that big showdown at the altar. And then, and then he ran because Jezebel was coming after him. And he was like, I'm done. I'm at the end of myself. And the Lord nurtured him and cared for him, and then commissioned him and sent him, right. And we all come to this point of saying, God, just do it for me. But I just an encouragement to what you're saying about our children, and even us as His children. There is a hope, though, that I would say he has already done and he's, he's spoken. I believe he's continually revealing Himself to us, but he has overcome the world. Past tense. Yeah. It's, it is, it is done, yet not yet in fullness, experienced, and the piece that you and I need to rest in this, this fact that that he has overcome this. And he has provided a way and it's fixing our eyes on Him, sober minded, fixed completely, nothing else, not divided, but fixed on his his glory. That I think we truly experienced the peace of God for seven. So as we pray, as we wrestle, as we journal as we can find, as we do, verse six, right, we will, we will experience this, this regression of, of being anxious for Nothing is a byproduct of prayer and supplication with this disposition of Thanksgiving because a full awareness of his sovereignty that generates an ability to rejoice in all things that ultimately leads in a peace that is only available by him through Him for His glory, where he Jesus Christ stands guard of our hearts and our minds. And I just I just, if I can get this through my thick skull, in the moments where I doubt, and when I say, Lord, help me with my unbelief, as Jesus, the author and the protector of my faith, as I said, God grow my faith in this area. I've I've allowed myself far too long to believe these things. And so I repent. For Thank You, Lord, for even giving me an opportunity to repent, thank you for revealing these things to me that I need to repent of. And I need you. I depend on you. And I want to see things like you do open my eyes, God. And for that I rejoice.
Tuck Choate 46:11
One of the biggest things that Dr. Ewart said, that really struck me that I had felt in my own life, but really hadn't put into words, the way that he did was he said, maybe our neighbor needs to watch how we go through a trial. And I've felt that, you know, I've gone through things that a few years later, I saw someone else going through and I was able to help, but it really puts on us Are we willing to suffer so that someone else can come to know Christ because that's what it is, you know, at that at the time, we're suffering when we're going through this and it, it may not be about us, it may be about someone going through something else, someone watching us. And it's it's hard because I feel, you know, I have these rights to this kind of a life, I have the, the idea that I shouldn't have to suffer if I'm, if I'm a follower of Christ. And that's a complete opposite of what we're told. But it's so hard, because that's what I feel.
Bennett Holloway 47:13
Yeah, no, no, I get that. So what it comes down to is, when we when we rightly see God, when we rightly know him. So when we rightly see him, will begin to understand His sovereignty. And when we rightly know him, will begin to understand His goodness, His faithfulness, His provision, right. And so, we'll also through those two things will begin to see ourselves and others through the way He sees us, as his children. Okay. So if if these two things are taking place, in our lives, as disciples of his, then then what's going to happen is self means means much less as time goes on. And if we look at the teachings of Christ, they even if you just take the Great Commission itself, and then take Paul's writings of, of how the Great Commission impacts our lives, day to day, if we look at these, these, these two teachings, as we look at Jesus's, we see a self that, that surrenders his rights on a daily basis. And that was countercultural not only to the people in which they taught, but it's also countercultural to the world we live today. And so it's, it's against the way that we're wired. And it's against our culture, to be selfless, and sacrificial for even our enemies. And so, it is something that we have to recognize that if I, if I'm, if I'm standing, and I'm fighting for what I think I deserve, as my right to something, then what I'm failing to champion really is this theory of the Lord is near. Because I'm secure in my salvation, I know where I'm going. But, but am I stewarding these moments, to fight for his glory, or my security for for the expansion of his kingdom, and really, for his name to be known, or for me in mind, and that's convicting? Because I can tell you almost every single argument or expressed frustration, or even things that I personally am dealing with, it all comes back to this selfish perspective. But every single one of us are very susceptible to believing and prioritizing. This fight or flight mentality of me and mine, or an overvalued self opinion, that's not rooted and anchored in the Word of God. So our worldview must change. Our worldview must change because it will drastically shift how we operate day to day, for the Lord is near. I'm sure I keep coming back to.
Tuck Choate 50:29
Well, Ben, I appreciate you walking through this, this idea of rejoicing and what that really means how to apply that to our lives, and how we see ourselves in Christ. And with him being near, what would you leave our third chair with for this week?
Bennett Holloway 50:47
Man, my big thing I would keep driving back to is I would take some time and read through this prayer guide, I would jump online, I would download it, I don't care if you're starting today. Or you need to start on day one. I think this is this is something that is a tool that God can use, if you slow down enough to give him some time, to depend on Him, and to draw nearer to him, and recognize that, that through prayer and fasting, he will shape us to see things and the way he does. And there's a level of dependence on him that I think is greatly beneficial to us, especially in our culture today. For us to slow down, to get some silence and solitude to meditate on His Word, and to fix our mind on Him. So go to temple dot church, download that PDF that's on our landing page, and begin reading through it, applying it and really challenging yourself on whether you're capable of praying the prayers that are written. Let us not pray empty words, as the Pharisees did. But let us truly pray words that we deeply believe. And if you don't, then what do you need to repent of? What do you need to surrender? What do you need to reconcile? What do you need to accept, to be capable of praying these prayers? That's where I drive whenever it says, to take very seriously communion, and to get right with your neighbor, but leave your your gift at the altar, all these things. It's not meant to hinder us from participating in these activities. It's meant to compel us to make things right horizontally, as we are aligning ourselves vertically, and being peacemakers. And so I would, I would let these prayers be the same thing. Let them not hinder you, but then compel you to a deeper level of discipleship and use this as a tool to allow the Holy Spirit to really cultivate his character in you as we pray continually, as we do these things, as the seven virtues in it, as we unify ourselves through this PST process, and, and hopefully, see the Lord move in a mighty way through his church you're attempting.
Tuck Choate 53:01
Wonderful. Thank you, everyone for joining us. We hope that you have found this beneficial as much as we have, and we'll see you next week. On to block. Thank you for joining us for another episode of Temple Park. We hope that Digging into God's Word together has enriched your perspective and broad encouragement. If you have any questions or topics you'd like to hear discussed on the podcast, feel free to email them at Temple talk at Temple dot church. You can also visit our website at Temple dot church for more resources. We pray God will continue to bless you and your loved ones as you seek Him in Scripture. We'll see you next time on Temple Talk.