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Well, hey, church family. If we have not met,

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my name is Matt and I get to serve at the Fuqua Arena campus where I live

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with my wife and our two boys.

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We've got a lot of work that we want to get through today.

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So we're just gonna jump in and let it rip. That's how we do it in Fuqua.

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All right? Yeah, .

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So today we are talking about Shay and that actually

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works out pretty well for me 'cause I happen to have a lot of experience with

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shame.

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The greatest tool we have against shame is actually to talk about shame.

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But that takes vulnerability. That takes courage and it is really,

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really difficult for most of us. It's not in our nature,

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right? Our nature is to project the best version of ourselves.

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Even as I began to gather my thoughts for this message,

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I had a really hard time deciding what to share.

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Not because I particularly have a hard time being vulnerable,

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but because the catalog of cat murders and shame is extensive.

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I mean, lemme tell you quick example. Um,

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there used to be this commercial. It's a Milky Way commercial.

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Tattoo artist is so enthralled in her Milky way,

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she's distracted in tattoos. No regers on this big bald biker guy, man.

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He's like, oh no. rets spelled it wrong. Well, that's me.

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Literally. I mean, when I'm 27 years old,

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after years of planning and intentionally wanting a purposeful tattoo,

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I walk into a tattoo shop,

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I hand them a Latin phrase I wanted real small on my wrist,

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they upsold me. And for $60,

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I paid them to permanently mark my skin with a word that I had misspelled.

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That's a huge mistake. Big regrets.

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And that's shameful. That's okay. We, everybody knows about it now, right?

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My mom's gonna find out this weekend on the internet. So , that's okay.

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Somebody opened the Get Hope TV chat and check Otter.

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But I've got a lifetime experience of shame and it's misspelled tattoo.

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That is a little bit of shame.

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But you are also looking at a man who my entire life,

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I've been bigger than everybody around me overweight and looking at myself in a

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mirror going, I shouldn't look like this. I should be thinner than I am.

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Oh, we're getting real tonight, y'all. That's, let me back it up.

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Let me back it up. . Uh, so my family and I just went to Disney World.

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We got into Disney fans. I know you're out there. There they are. Uh,

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well to you people. Let me tell you that love, uh,

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hope Community Church wants to love you where you are,

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encourage you to grow in your relationship with Jesus Christ.

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It is my pastoral responsibility to let you know that we have both financial

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coaching, we have financial peace University .

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So somebody pull up the website and send it to me 'cause I need some help

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. Uh, but we love Disney. We, my wife really loves Disney. Uh,

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we actually honeymoon there and I vividly remember being a proud new

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husband walking around with my wife on my arm.

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They give you a honeymoon button so everybody in the park knows that you're on

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your honeymoon and they're all congratulating you as you experience all of the

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Disney things. We were overdrafting our bank account. That's a true story.

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More shame. Sorry mom .

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But we're having a blast until I step into this amusement park

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ride and I just cannot fit. I mean, I'm trying to fit,

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I'm trying everything that I can to fit inside this daggum thing.

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I'm pushing down elbows on the bar, I'm sucking in my gut.

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I'm pulling and squeezing this belt,

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begging for the mercy of God to just let me hear this click.

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And the click never comes.

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And I look up and I'm asked to remove myself from this ride for my own

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safety. And this new proud, very capable husband

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stepped out of this silly amusement park ride.

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I wanted to shrink in that moment.

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I wanted to hide and never come out of a hole. Well,

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we're at Disney two weeks ago having a great time.

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But every line that we stood in, every single line, I thought,

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I hope I fit in this thing.

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I hope I don't have to remove myself from this ride with my in-laws in front of

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us and my sons. It's been 12 years, y'all,

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even when I was asked to come here and speak the word of God to my church,

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and look, I love my church and I know the people of my church love me.

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But being asked to communicate the word of God with confidence, with faith,

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with conviction,

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there's this little thought in my head says that you can't do that.

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You don't look right. That shame can affect my marriage.

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It can affect every interaction I have it,

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it shows up when I'm walking on a plane.

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It shows up when I'm standing in my closet. They call that body image shame.

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But here's what I want us to understand tonight.

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Whether it's body image that you struggle with or something else, shame,

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all shame is a self-image issue. It's an internal perspective,

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internal understanding that I am unworthy.

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The scientists who study shame say the commonality in all shame is that there

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exists. A self-image of deficiency says,

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I see myself as defective.

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It's also proven shame is highly correlated with depression, loneliness,

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violence, aggression, bullying, suicide, eating disorders,

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and extensive list of addictions. Look,

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you assess the mental and emotional health of our culture.

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And shame could very well be the common contributor to where we find ourselves

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today.

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Shame's the voice of oppression that says you are not loud. Acceptance.

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Shame is like the abuser that beat you down and then blames you for being the

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reason that you deserve the beating. Shame is a captor.

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It enslaves us in the guilt of something we have done or something that has been

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done to us. It's wicked.

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And whether it's a tool of the enemy or the thought inside of our heads,

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the only way we can move forward from being defeated by shame is to talk about

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shame. So today we're gonna talk about shame because some of us,

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some of us are being held captive by the ghost of shame.

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But Jesus has come to set the captives free. Amen.

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Listen, I don't share my story with you. My experience with body image,

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uh, for pity or make you feel bad for me. Uh, in fact, I'm good.

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I have really learned a lot of ways to face this head on in a healthy way. Uh,

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I know Jesus loves me. I've got a men's group that I share all of this with.

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I'll share it with pretty much anybody anyways.

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And I have this fire crackling Disney character,

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sparkler gardener of a wife who refers to me as hunk, licious,

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 all the time in public. That's good.

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But I do share my story because I think we all have an element of shame that we

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have to face in a healthy and biblical way.

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Maybe your shame comes from the way you grew up or how you were parented

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something that happened to you as you were a child.

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Maybe it's something from a weekend in high school, a semester in college,

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the loss of a relationship, the loss of a business venture, the loss of a job,

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the loss of a wayward child, the loss of a pregnancy.

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Shame takes roots in our losses and grows when it's isolated and in the dark.

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So we have to talk about shame and it starts with this.

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How do I see myself and how is that different from the way

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God sees me? Let's try to answer that tonight. Sound good? Alright,

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we're gonna look at, uh, my guy Peter. You guys know Peter?

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Peter has a storied history with Jesus.

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Peter was a professional fisherman with his brother,

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a follower of John the Baptist. One day Jesus shows up and says, Hey,

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follow me and I'll make you fishers of men. And he did. They dropped everything.

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And for years, Peter was with Jesus watching healings,

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then witnessing teachings and all of these things. Gary,

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Gary vet a few weeks ago talked through Acts two where Peter gave the first

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sermon. I mean in the New Testament, Peter is a heavy hitter also.

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Peter was a loose cannon.

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Peter was a little bit of a fireball that's actually on YouTube.

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I was doing some research. I found a bluegrass song called Peter was a Fireball.

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Peter was a fireball, .

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I asked Sam if we could play it and we're not ,

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but Peter was a man of great faith. He was all in and he was a fireball.

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He was a quick trigger, ready to respond, knee jerk reaction kind of guy.

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But I also think that Peter in his lifetime struggled

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with shame. I'll give you two examples. All right.

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Luke five is early in Jesus' ministry.

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Jesus is teaching a bunch of folks buy a lake and the disciples are out in a

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boat. He gets done teaching and he's hungry. He says, Hey guys,

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catch me some fish. Drop your nets. Peter responds and says, master,

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we've been out here all night and haven't caught anything. But if you say so,

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I will. Turns out they pull up a bunch of fish. And when Peter sees the fish,

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he responds in shame and he says, depart from me.

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For I am a sinful man.

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Jesus has just produced a miracle. All right?

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The fishermen whose job it is to catch fish are fishless.

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And Jesus provides a net full of fish. Fish that'll feed Peter,

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that'll feed the disciples, their communities, their maybe Jesus, I don't know.

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But Peter's response is, leave me Jesus, because I am sinful.

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You make me feel little. You make me feel small. You make me feel unworthy.

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Unqualified. But Jesus responds and says, do not be afraid.

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From now on you will be catching men.

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Shame is fueled by the fear of rejection.

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Let me push you away so you don't reject me.

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So who are we working so hard to receive the approval of?

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I go on example two in Luke 22 and maybe one of the more dramatic

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chapters in all of scripture. And this thing reads like a tele novella. Uh,

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in Luke 22. First off, Judas goes to the chief priest and is, you know,

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conspiring to betray Jesus and hand him over to the authorities.

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Then Jesus gathers the disciples together to celebrate Passover,

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which then becomes the Lord's supper, right?

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Jesus knows his suffering is coming and he says,

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I have wanted to do this with you before I suffer.

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So he takes the bread at their meal and he breaks it and distributes it out.

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And he says, this is my body that is given to you. Do this in remembrance of me.

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He takes the cup and says, this is the new covenant that is poured out to you.

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Take it and drink it. I mean, they have a moment.

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They have a communion moment. God knows I love a communion moment.

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We love a communion moment in Fuquay, right? So they're having this moment.

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And then Jesus says, but one of you is going to betray me.

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And he is talking about Judas Jesus in there dropping napalm bombs in the middle

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of the Lord's supper. I mean, this breaks the room into a frenzy. Well,

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who's gonna betray Jesus? I'm not gonna betray Jesus. I love Jesus.

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Jesus loves me. Then they start arguing about who his favorite is.

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And Peter pipes in and is probably trying to prove himself right?

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And then he says, Lord, I am ready to go with you both to prison and to death.

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Like he's strong, right? Well, Jesus brings him back to reality and says, Peter,

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you will deny me three times before the rooster crows. Shortly after that,

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authorities show up to arrest. Jesus. Peter,

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trying to defend Jesus takes out a sword.

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Chops a guy's ear off because Peter is a fireball. That's right.

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So just like that, they're doing all this. Jesus heals the guy's ear.

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And then Jesus is taken away and scripture says that Peter followed from

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a distance real quick church, how are we doing?

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In our following of Jesus, we follow at a distance.

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Peter just said, Lord, I will go with you to prison or to death.

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And moments later he's following, but it's from a distance.

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So how are we doing in our commitment to being followers of Christ?

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Are we to prison or to death? People?

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Are we people who follow but follow from a distance? I'll tell you this,

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if you're walking with shame, Jesus may not be in your view at all.

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But Peter, he's following at a distance. All right?

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He's in proximity of Jesus with Jesus.

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While Jesus is being condemned to death and three times,

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Peter is accused of knowing Jesus, of being a follower of Jesus,

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being a disciple of Jesus.

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And three times he denies any affiliation to Jesus at all.

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Upon the last denial of Rooster crows.

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Luke 2261 says, when the rooster crows,

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the Lord turned and looked at Peter and Peter left and wept

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bitterly. The ghost of shame tells us to hide,

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tells us to run. The ghost of shame is an oppressor,

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a captor rooted in hopelessness and defeat.

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Shame can hold our mind hostage if we let it,

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shame will enslave us.

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But Jesus has come to set the captives free. Amen.

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So let's pick up this story in John 21. Now a lot has happened.

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Jesus has gone on to be condemned,

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to be hung on a cross and to be placed in a tomb. All right?

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So what we have to remember is that the disciples have put everything in their

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lives on following after Jesus. He's the Messiah, he's the son of God.

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He's the hope of the world.

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And the Messiah has just been killed on a cross and put in

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a grave. These guys are spiraling.

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They're living in the upside down world. They are reeling in John 21.

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They're sitting around a fire and Peter not knowing what else to do,

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says he's gonna go fishing. That's what he did.

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That's what he did as a trade. It's what he was familiar with.

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It's what he was comfortable with.

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It's what he was doing before Jesus came into his life. You ever find yourself

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in a season of spiraling or uncertainty reverting back to the things you did

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before you knew the hope you had in Jesus? How does that go for you?

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It does not go well for me. So these guys are fishing. We'll move on.

353
00:34:16.715 --> 00:34:20.245
John 21. Four. Just as day was breaking,

354
00:34:20.335 --> 00:34:24.405
Jesus stood on the shore. Yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus.

355
00:34:24.745 --> 00:34:28.485
And Jesus said to them, children, do you have any fish? And they answered him,

356
00:34:29.405 --> 00:34:32.925
no, I'm starting to think that these guys are not good fishermen, .

357
00:34:34.105 --> 00:34:34.938
And he said to them,

358
00:34:34.995 --> 00:34:38.045
cast the net on the right side of the boat and you'll find some.

359
00:34:38.225 --> 00:34:42.325
So they cast it and now they were not able to haul it in because of the quantity

360
00:34:42.545 --> 00:34:46.165
of fish that disciple whom Jesus loved. That's John talking about.

361
00:34:46.275 --> 00:34:49.205
John said to Peter, it is a Lord.

362
00:34:49.415 --> 00:34:53.485
Simon Peter heard it was a Lord he put on his outer garment for he was stripped

363
00:34:53.486 --> 00:34:55.765
for work and threw himself into the sea.

364
00:34:56.105 --> 00:34:59.525
The other disciples came in the boat 'cause Peter's a fireball, .

365
00:35:00.185 --> 00:35:04.245
And they came in the boat dragging a net full of fish for they were not far from

366
00:35:04.246 --> 00:35:08.685
the land, but about a hundred yards off. When they got out on land,

367
00:35:08.875 --> 00:35:12.565
they saw a charcoal fire with fish laid out on it. And bread,

368
00:35:12.575 --> 00:35:15.405
Jesus said to them, bring some of the fish that you have just caught.

369
00:35:15.864 --> 00:35:18.925
Two things real quick. I don't want this to be a distraction. This cracks me up.

370
00:35:19.455 --> 00:35:22.205
Jesus says, bring those fish that you just caught. First off,

371
00:35:22.285 --> 00:35:24.245
I told you to catch those fish and where to catch those fish.

372
00:35:24.246 --> 00:35:26.885
They show up with the boat with a hall full of fish.

373
00:35:27.025 --> 00:35:31.685
And what's on the grill fish? Where did that come from? I do not know,

374
00:35:32.145 --> 00:35:36.085
but that's funny. Jesus will mess with people . So,

375
00:35:36.086 --> 00:35:38.005
but I don't want us to miss this. All right. Uh,

376
00:35:38.006 --> 00:35:41.405
this is nearly an identical scene from what we talked about in Luke five.

377
00:35:41.465 --> 00:35:44.885
If you remember in Luke five, it's early in Jesus's ministry, right?

378
00:35:45.114 --> 00:35:48.725
John 21 is after his resurrection in Luke five.

379
00:35:48.905 --> 00:35:51.045
The disciples are in a boat in John 21,

380
00:35:51.185 --> 00:35:53.045
the disciples are in a boat in Luke five.

381
00:35:53.046 --> 00:35:57.165
They're out all night and don't catch any fish. John 21, they're out all night.

382
00:35:57.465 --> 00:36:02.005
No fish in Luke five. Jesus says, throw the net in one more time. John 21.

383
00:36:02.175 --> 00:36:05.285
Jesus says, throw the net in one more time. In Luke five,

384
00:36:05.515 --> 00:36:08.885
they get a huge haul of fish in John 21. Tons of fish.

385
00:36:09.025 --> 00:36:13.485
Here's the difference in Luke five, Jesus says, throw the net out again.

386
00:36:13.745 --> 00:36:18.125
And Peter says, master, we toiled all night and took nothing but at your word.

387
00:36:18.525 --> 00:36:22.325
I will do as you say. Right? And when Peter saw all the fish, he was ashamed.

388
00:36:23.135 --> 00:36:26.364
Peter said, depart from me for I am a sinful man.

389
00:36:26.594 --> 00:36:28.364
Peter's fireball response,

390
00:36:28.645 --> 00:36:33.565
his quick trigger response was one of shame and unworthiness. And then John 21,

391
00:36:33.566 --> 00:36:38.325
what happens? They bring in the fish. Peter recognizes it's the risen Lord.

392
00:36:38.705 --> 00:36:41.485
And what does Peter do? He grabs his clothes,

393
00:36:41.535 --> 00:36:43.765
jumps in the water and swims a hundred yards.

394
00:36:43.766 --> 00:36:46.844
Peter does everything he can to as quickly as he can,

395
00:36:46.845 --> 00:36:50.725
get as close as he can to Jesus. There's no shame,

396
00:36:51.355 --> 00:36:53.805
there's no hesitation, no pause, no guilt.

397
00:36:54.505 --> 00:36:59.325
All that matters is being close to Jesus. This is why this is important.

398
00:36:59.735 --> 00:37:03.405
Peter walked with Jesus for three years, sat under the teaching,

399
00:37:03.505 --> 00:37:06.285
saw the healings, and he declared Jesus to be the Messiah.

400
00:37:06.665 --> 00:37:09.485
But now seeing Christ resurrected,

401
00:37:10.295 --> 00:37:15.205
Peter is no longer walking with the ghost of shame because Jesus is the

402
00:37:15.445 --> 00:37:20.325
re resurrected king and the resurrected king has come

403
00:37:20.326 --> 00:37:24.975
to set the captives free. John 2115,

404
00:37:26.655 --> 00:37:31.215
when they finish breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, Simon, son of John,

405
00:37:31.455 --> 00:37:33.495
do you love me more than these? This is in front of everybody.

406
00:37:33.725 --> 00:37:37.775
He's just again stirring the pot. And he said to him, yes Lord,

407
00:37:37.795 --> 00:37:40.655
you know that I love you. He said to him, feed my lambs.

408
00:37:41.715 --> 00:37:46.094
He said to him a second time, Simon son of John, do you love me? He said to him,

409
00:37:46.335 --> 00:37:50.055
yes Lord, you know that I love you. He said to him, tend my sheep.

410
00:37:50.875 --> 00:37:54.375
He said to him, a third time, Simon son of John, do you love me?

411
00:37:54.864 --> 00:37:58.375
Peter was greed because he had said it a third time, do you love me?

412
00:37:58.376 --> 00:38:01.614
And he said to him, Lord, you know everything. You know that I love you.

413
00:38:02.225 --> 00:38:05.735
Jesus said to him, feed my sheep. Let's pause there.

414
00:38:06.255 --> 00:38:09.935
'cause this is what's stirring in my soul. There is a difference in Fireball.

415
00:38:09.936 --> 00:38:13.495
Peter who walks with the ghost of shame. And this Peter in John 21,

416
00:38:14.265 --> 00:38:18.255
Jesus asked Peter three times, if he loves him, recreating another event.

417
00:38:19.215 --> 00:38:21.535
Jesus as Peter denied Jesus three times, right?

418
00:38:21.715 --> 00:38:25.015
And he has unphased here and said, Lord, you know everything.

419
00:38:25.035 --> 00:38:29.094
You know that I love you. Look, shame is an identity issue. And Christ,

420
00:38:29.555 --> 00:38:33.295
in Christ, we are a new creation. And then Christ,

421
00:38:33.355 --> 00:38:34.975
the captives are set free.

422
00:38:35.745 --> 00:38:39.805
No matter what we are holding to or what is in our minds or captivating our

423
00:38:39.825 --> 00:38:44.565
hearts. Jesus, through his cross and the power of the resurrection through him,

424
00:38:44.785 --> 00:38:49.685
he is buried with our shame and we rise up out of it holy and blameless

425
00:38:51.364 --> 00:38:56.165
and the righteousness of Christ because of the goodness of our God.

426
00:38:59.094 --> 00:39:01.145
Yesterday my phone died outta nowhere.

427
00:39:01.645 --> 00:39:06.425
It was weird and I couldn't get to anything, right? Texts, phones, calculators,

428
00:39:06.545 --> 00:39:10.065
I don't use that. But you know, whatever teams outlook, but it's dead.

429
00:39:10.235 --> 00:39:11.145
Phone is dead.

430
00:39:11.146 --> 00:39:14.344
There's no accessing the things on the phone when the phone is dead.

431
00:39:15.125 --> 00:39:17.305
And our shame has been put to death.

432
00:39:18.655 --> 00:39:21.205
Jesus has done the work to eradicate shame.

433
00:39:22.035 --> 00:39:24.885
He's done the work he has put to death our shame.

434
00:39:25.145 --> 00:39:29.965
But just like the Israelites who wandered in the desert after being set free

435
00:39:30.775 --> 00:39:35.325
shame is this internal thought that in our minds draws us back

436
00:39:35.515 --> 00:39:36.485
into captivity.

437
00:39:38.155 --> 00:39:41.335
The church is full of shame and it does not need to be that way.

438
00:39:42.425 --> 00:39:45.255
Jesus came to set liberty to the captives,

439
00:39:46.075 --> 00:39:50.495
to set free the oppressed. Jesus came to set the captives free.

440
00:39:51.195 --> 00:39:54.295
He bore Peter's shame. He bears my shame.

441
00:39:55.995 --> 00:39:59.605
Look Luke 22, we have this picture image, uh,

442
00:39:59.606 --> 00:40:03.325
where Peter denies Jesus a third time, right? You remember that?

443
00:40:03.785 --> 00:40:07.645
And in verse 61, it says, the Lord looked and saw Peter.

444
00:40:07.646 --> 00:40:11.525
That's when Peter leaves and weep and weeps bitterly, right?

445
00:40:11.945 --> 00:40:14.085
And if you're like me, you read that and you go,

446
00:40:14.086 --> 00:40:16.005
that's when Jesus gave him the what's what.

447
00:40:16.185 --> 00:40:19.005
That's when Jesus gave him that look, the look of disappointment,

448
00:40:19.145 --> 00:40:23.405
the look of disapproval, the look that how could you, the look that I told you.

449
00:40:23.465 --> 00:40:27.485
So a look of shame. It's not what he did.

450
00:40:28.275 --> 00:40:32.045
It's not who he is. Jesus knew that this would happen.

451
00:40:32.055 --> 00:40:34.325
Jesus told Peter that it would happen.

452
00:40:35.905 --> 00:40:38.765
I'm pretty convinced that when Jesus locks eyes with Peter,

453
00:40:38.795 --> 00:40:43.485
it's with the face of compassion. I'm pretty sure it's one that says,

454
00:40:43.645 --> 00:40:47.205
I know that you're ashamed of me. I know that you're ashamed of yourself,

455
00:40:47.344 --> 00:40:50.245
but I love you and you are set free from that.

456
00:40:51.635 --> 00:40:55.055
Listen church, Jesus has paid for all of our past, our present,

457
00:40:55.114 --> 00:40:59.935
and our future sins through the cross. By the miracle of God's grace,

458
00:41:00.195 --> 00:41:04.015
in his mercy and kindness. By faith, you are not damaged goods.

459
00:41:06.755 --> 00:41:08.015
You are not less than.

460
00:41:10.235 --> 00:41:12.695
You are not unacceptable or unworthy.

461
00:41:13.915 --> 00:41:17.815
No matter what you have been told, no matter what you are telling yourself,

462
00:41:18.635 --> 00:41:20.015
the work has been done.

463
00:41:20.594 --> 00:41:25.335
The maker and the creator of our universe submitted himself to bear

464
00:41:25.815 --> 00:41:30.135
across, to put to death our shame, paying a debt for our weakness.

465
00:41:31.075 --> 00:41:35.364
And that weakness, our shame, is the very thing that makes his power perfect.

466
00:41:37.315 --> 00:41:41.375
God does not desire that we pull Jesus off the cross, climb up there,

467
00:41:41.485 --> 00:41:42.335
crucify ourself,

468
00:41:42.555 --> 00:41:47.535
and just to prove to him that we're worthy of his love through the cross.

469
00:41:47.594 --> 00:41:51.614
Our shame is no longer our captor, no longer an oppressor,

470
00:41:51.915 --> 00:41:53.415
no longer an abuser.

471
00:41:54.295 --> 00:41:57.535
'cause we serve a God and we know a God,

472
00:41:57.594 --> 00:42:00.015
and we sing worship to a God

473
00:42:01.575 --> 00:42:06.515
who defeated shame, who crushes the head of the enemy, who defeated death,

474
00:42:07.295 --> 00:42:11.835
who provides healing and grace and mercy and kindness and freedom.

475
00:42:13.495 --> 00:42:17.915
So what are we hiding from? What are we ashamed of?

476
00:42:21.785 --> 00:42:26.195
John 21, Jesus says to Peter, truly, truly, I say to you,

477
00:42:27.505 --> 00:42:31.355
when you were young, you used to dress yourself and walk wherever you wanted.

478
00:42:32.555 --> 00:42:33.388
But when you are old,

479
00:42:34.015 --> 00:42:38.275
you will stretch out your hands and another will dress you and carry you where

480
00:42:38.276 --> 00:42:42.995
you do not want to go. Follow me. Jesus hits him with what it will cost.

481
00:42:44.364 --> 00:42:47.195
Peter denied Jesus three times. And Jesus says,

482
00:42:47.635 --> 00:42:52.315
now you will deny yourself Luke 9 23.

483
00:42:52.575 --> 00:42:55.435
If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself,

484
00:42:56.425 --> 00:42:59.035
take up his cross and follow me.

485
00:42:59.175 --> 00:43:02.035
The hard truth about shame is that it is in our nature

486
00:43:03.735 --> 00:43:08.675
on some level. It gives us comfort to isolate, to hide, to say, depart from me,

487
00:43:08.975 --> 00:43:13.955
to reject you before you have to reject me because I'm so broken and I'm so

488
00:43:14.045 --> 00:43:14.695
needy.

489
00:43:14.695 --> 00:43:19.555
We have to do the hard work of denying those pathways in our brains to

490
00:43:19.556 --> 00:43:23.715
take up the cross die daily, that's telling ourselves who we are,

491
00:43:24.145 --> 00:43:28.515
made new in Christ. But how do we do that?

492
00:43:29.375 --> 00:43:33.355
How do we rewire our brain, our minds, our hearts?

493
00:43:33.356 --> 00:43:35.715
How do we shut out the voice of shame,

494
00:43:36.545 --> 00:43:40.955
deny listening when it's in nature? Well, first

495
00:43:42.535 --> 00:43:46.875
we must speak truth to ourselves. This is what I found.

496
00:43:48.695 --> 00:43:52.755
It takes being honest with ourselves, being aware with our emotions,

497
00:43:53.335 --> 00:43:54.168
our thoughts,

498
00:43:54.175 --> 00:43:59.075
having the courage to be willing to expose ourselves to the truth of

499
00:43:59.135 --> 00:44:03.435
God, the way God sees us cluster. Uh,

500
00:44:03.436 --> 00:44:04.835
pastor Clay Burgess,

501
00:44:05.915 --> 00:44:09.155
somebody I love dearly shared this list with a group of us a while back.

502
00:44:10.985 --> 00:44:15.555
It's full of identity statements from scripture, and shame is an identity issue.

503
00:44:17.215 --> 00:44:21.475
So maybe can write the scriptures down. I'm gonna read some of these. Uh,

504
00:44:21.476 --> 00:44:24.355
or if you're holding on to shame, you find yourself hiding.

505
00:44:24.515 --> 00:44:27.635
I just ask that you would close your eyes and let me speak God's truth over you.

506
00:44:29.135 --> 00:44:34.085
But I'm no longer a captive to shame as a new creation in Christ.

507
00:44:34.285 --> 00:44:37.525
I am a child of God. Galatians 3 26,

508
00:44:39.885 --> 00:44:42.645
I am his workmanship. Ephesians two 10.

509
00:44:44.285 --> 00:44:47.725
I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Psalm 1 39, 14,

510
00:44:48.245 --> 00:44:51.525
I am chosen Ephesians one, four.

511
00:44:52.885 --> 00:44:56.965
I am strengthened by God who holds me, protects me, and defends me.

512
00:44:57.035 --> 00:45:01.205
John one 12 and 13, I am the light of the world.

513
00:45:01.206 --> 00:45:05.485
Matthew five 14. I am born again, part of a royal priesthood,

514
00:45:05.725 --> 00:45:10.605
a holy nation, a people of his own possession. One Peter two,

515
00:45:11.085 --> 00:45:12.005
I am.

516
00:45:12.625 --> 00:45:13.458
Steady.

517
00:45:14.114 --> 00:45:19.005
Breathe that one in Psalm 91, 1. I am loved.

518
00:45:19.315 --> 00:45:23.525
John three 16, I am healed. One Peter 2 24.

519
00:45:23.805 --> 00:45:26.885
I am unashamed Romans one 16.

520
00:45:27.364 --> 00:45:31.685
I am a new creation in Christ. Two Corinthians five 17.

521
00:45:32.085 --> 00:45:35.885
I am the church and I exist to bring, represent, share,

522
00:45:36.065 --> 00:45:41.045
and minister to this world. One Corinthians 1227, I am secure,

523
00:45:41.715 --> 00:45:45.925
John 10 28. I am not condemned. I I'm set free.

524
00:45:46.425 --> 00:45:50.565
Romans eight, for the Lord is my shepherd. He leads me to still water.

525
00:45:50.705 --> 00:45:55.005
He leads me to green pastures. He restores my soul in him.

526
00:45:55.565 --> 00:45:59.925
I lack nothing. Psalm 23, look,

527
00:45:59.926 --> 00:46:04.925
we will remain captives of shame in our minds unless we

528
00:46:04.975 --> 00:46:09.925
allow the truth of who we are in Christ to transform who we are in

529
00:46:09.926 --> 00:46:10.759
our flesh.

530
00:46:12.344 --> 00:46:16.565
And that takes prioritizing time and the word with God.

531
00:46:17.864 --> 00:46:20.405
We must speak truth to ourselves.

532
00:46:23.705 --> 00:46:27.125
We need a friend. We need to be honest with others.

533
00:46:28.175 --> 00:46:32.205
Vulnerabil vulnerability exposes shame, plain and simple.

534
00:46:33.195 --> 00:46:37.965
Telling someone takes courage and that requires trust. That's a step of faith.

535
00:46:39.465 --> 00:46:43.565
But being known by God, being known by others.

536
00:46:46.055 --> 00:46:46.625
Fully.

537
00:46:46.625 --> 00:46:50.645
And completely through and in our weaknesses, that is where joy comes from.

538
00:46:51.475 --> 00:46:53.364
That is where healing begins.

539
00:46:54.105 --> 00:46:57.405
One of our desires at hope is that everyone would have community.

540
00:46:57.635 --> 00:47:02.285
That we'd all have a group of four or 12 people that we can share our lives

541
00:47:02.315 --> 00:47:02.745
with,

542
00:47:02.745 --> 00:47:07.565
who would hold us accountable in understanding who we are in God for

543
00:47:07.625 --> 00:47:08.458
his purpose.

544
00:47:08.985 --> 00:47:13.725
But that may not be your best first step if you're

545
00:47:13.726 --> 00:47:17.245
holding onto shame. If there is something that is keeping you hidden,

546
00:47:18.705 --> 00:47:22.445
I'm asking you that you will just send a note to prayer@gethope.net.

547
00:47:22.545 --> 00:47:25.844
And let us just join you in praying for freedom.

548
00:47:26.745 --> 00:47:30.364
You can send an email to me, Matt c@gethope.net

549
00:47:32.645 --> 00:47:33.165
salicious@gethope.net.

550
00:47:33.165 --> 00:47:33.998
.

551
00:47:34.725 --> 00:47:37.565
I hope that doesn't become a thing. Well, look,

552
00:47:37.635 --> 00:47:42.245
find somebody here at the campus, wherever you are a pastor, someone on staff,

553
00:47:42.246 --> 00:47:44.485
someone serving a neighbor, a friend, a parent,

554
00:47:45.125 --> 00:47:47.805
schedule the appointment with the counselor that you've been putting off,

555
00:47:48.585 --> 00:47:52.965
please just begin the process of healing by telling somebody,

556
00:47:53.985 --> 00:47:54.925
here's the last thing

557
00:47:57.145 --> 00:48:01.485
we read earlier about the Last Supper, and we want to observe communion today.

558
00:48:02.685 --> 00:48:03.518
Uh,

559
00:48:03.895 --> 00:48:08.885
we'll have somebody at your campus come out and explain the logistics

560
00:48:08.886 --> 00:48:12.485
of that. But before we get there, when we observe communion,

561
00:48:13.055 --> 00:48:15.485
we're acknowledging who we are fully and completely.

562
00:48:16.695 --> 00:48:20.485
We're acknowledging our weaknesses. We're acknowledging our sins,

563
00:48:21.145 --> 00:48:24.125
but not through the oppressive voice of shame,

564
00:48:25.385 --> 00:48:28.045
but to remember the goodness of our God,

565
00:48:28.945 --> 00:48:32.925
to remember that his power is made perfect in our weakness.

566
00:48:34.585 --> 00:48:38.245
So I want you to take some time, I want you to pray.

567
00:48:38.844 --> 00:48:40.565
I want you to confess sin.

568
00:48:42.205 --> 00:48:42.325
I.

569
00:48:42.325 --> 00:48:45.125
Want you to confess, weakness, confess, disunity,

570
00:48:45.265 --> 00:48:49.445
or division that you have caused. And as you hold this cup,

571
00:48:50.635 --> 00:48:53.525
this bread and this juice,

572
00:48:55.105 --> 00:48:55.938
if shame

573
00:48:58.344 --> 00:49:00.125
has been informing you about who you are,

574
00:49:02.035 --> 00:49:07.005
this is an opportunity to put a stop to that now

575
00:49:07.825 --> 00:49:12.245
in Jesus. So he took the bread

576
00:49:15.344 --> 00:49:19.364
and he broke it. And he said,

577
00:49:19.365 --> 00:49:23.205
this is my body that has been broken for you.

578
00:49:23.594 --> 00:49:25.805
It's been given for you.

579
00:49:27.235 --> 00:49:30.005
Take it and eat it and do it in remembrance of me.

580
00:49:33.425 --> 00:49:38.205
And he picked up the cup. He said, this cup is the new covenant.

581
00:49:40.065 --> 00:49:41.844
My blood poured out for you.

582
00:49:42.225 --> 00:49:45.165
And in that there is no shame.

583
00:49:46.175 --> 00:49:48.205
Drink it and do it in remembrance of me.

584
00:49:55.825 --> 00:49:57.965
We have a God who loves us.

585
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Hebrews 12, two says, looking to Jesus,

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the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy

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that was before him, endured the cross, despising the shame,

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and the seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

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Let me pray. Father, you are our God and we are your people.

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God, we thank you for pouring yourself out, God,

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that we might respond and truly believe that in the cross,

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as we stand right here in this place, in this room together, God,

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that there is no shame because you are a good and kind and

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patient. God. God,

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I pray that we would move towards you and we would move away from being

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enslaved, being held captive, God,

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that we would live as free people because Jesus came,

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lived humbly To satisfy your desire, God.

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And in that we are set free in Jesus name. Amen.