I Can't Do This Anymore | Judah Smith

Hey church, welcome back to another weekly service and we are going to have another throwback message today. I'm so excited about it. I get to introduce one of Judah's sermons from 2018. Now, here's the deal. When we come back on at the end of service, you and I are going to have a conversation about his questionable fashion choices in 2018.

Can't wait for that conversation. But way more important than fashion choices is the message. And I'm so excited to get to share a moment together today to talk about what perspective are we supposed to have of rest when it feels like we are in a fight for life.

And I really believe in these next moments our perspective is going to shift as we can recognize that resting isn't defeat. It is actually an act of worship. We're really excited that you're here and um I hope right out the gate if you're kind of new to this experience or new to church or um new to kind of a religious function and maybe right now you're feeling like ah I don't know if this is for me.

Kind of the way we like to shape the evening before uh we go anywhere or do anything is to let you know that that actually the idea behind this room is um that we're a community that believes in humanity. uh you're a human being and we love you and it's just that simple.

Um you're of infinite value to God. Uh you matter to us. It's a big deal. You live in this city and we love you and we're trying to provide a space um not just on Wednesdays but even during the week where there are people loving each other, caring for each other, serving each other, listening to each other.

Um this this doesn't exist to be a Wednesday night like gig or or scene. This is uh this is a bunch of people getting together saying we need each other and whatever you believe about God. Um you you are welcome here. You are loved here and I hope are going to be encouraged here and you might get married here.

You know what I mean? I mean so many things could happen for Graham. So many things could happen. Um >> so yeah, thanks so much for being here. Um you you know what's cool? We have a bunch of like our uh uh pastors and leaders here. Um our church meets in in Seattle and in Los Angeles.

And um we've got a a great a great staff and it's rare that this ever happens, but we just came from the desert, Palm Springs. We're kind of getting away and just thinking about how we can serve you better and and and continue to build community. So we have uh like 25 of like leaders and pastors um that are on staff.

Could you all pastors, leaders stand so we can just say that you're awesome and we love you. Look at them. There they are. So, tonight is like the night if if uh you want to meet a pastor. Um we're all we're uh we're we're we're all here. And those are just some of my uh most favorite people and special friends.

Uh, not the least of which, Troy Anderson, who's who's one of the guys who just stood up, was my is it fourth or fifth grade, Troy? >> Sixth grade. >> Oh, my sixth grade Sunday school teacher. True story. That's my sixth grade Sunday school teacher. I don't remember a single thing you taught.

Um, but I I I love you. Um, I'm really excited to share the story of God's love and goodness with you tonight. Every time we get together, we go to this book. Uh we believe it's the story of God and the essence of the story is that uh God is good and he wants to forgive you and he loves you and he's got a plan for your life.

And so we're going to lean into that tonight. But I I I want to preface what I'm about to say and then the band will I mean the piano will stop playing softly, but then the band will come back and we'll sing some songs about God which I think will be um amazing.

So, I had a like a talk all prepared and at 700 p.m. um I got a brand new talk. Uh and that rarely happens, but when it does, I get really really excited. So, this this message um is what I think is a response in my own heart.

Um recently I shared a prayer request with some people in the community and and it went something like this. I said, "Hey, would you join me in prayer?" I I literally posted it online. I said, "Would you join me in prayer?" Because of of almost all the people I'm meeting in our community, every single one seems to kind of conclude our coffee or conclude our conversation, our phone call, our FaceTime with, I feel like I'm in a battle right now.

I just feel like I'm just kind of in it and I don't know why. And eventually, like as a leader, you go, "Oh, really? Okay, I'll be praying for you. Oh, really? Okay, I'll be praying for you. Oh, really? Okay, I see a theme here that's going on in our community.

So, I'd like to be I'd like to be um a pastor tonight, like most nights, and um really speak into the heart of of what I think a lot of you are going through right now. And I think it's a little more spiritual than probably any of us are willing to maybe admit or consider.

I think that there is um some challenge right now. Now, the the the the risk I run is immediately you are like, "You've got to be kidding me. This is the night my friend came to our church for the first time and Judah's going to talk about spiritual warfare.

You know, um we won't use that term, but um I actually think it's a it's a pretty cool opportunity. If you if you are a guest tonight, uh you're you're not a visitor. You're a guest and you belong here and we we love you so much. Um, I think it's a cool opportunity for those that maybe don't follow Jesus or have considered following Jesus to um, listen in on what a life following Jesus looks like.

And I think tonight you'll find out a little bit of the gritty side that might be uh, beneficial. I think a lot of people think uh and maybe a lot of Christians think uh I'm going to follow Jesus because he's going to be like like my magic dust that's going to make my life so awesome.

Like my skin is just going to be radiant. I'm going to lose finally the pounds I've been trying to lose. I'm going to marry the most beautiful human. And uh and I'm going to have multiple streams of income. And uh that's why I've accepted Jesus. And the truth is sometimes following Jesus things seem to get worse.

And I'll try to explain a little bit about that tonight. So I'd like to title this message and I dedicate this to the most amazing community in the whole wide world. That's you. And thank you each and every one of you for trusting God even in the midst of difficult times and difficult seasons and challenging obstacles.

So I dedicate this to you. Yes, you. me. Yes, you. This sermon is for you. I'm going to title this uh message, I can't lay back down. I can't lay back down. Um 1 Peter chapter 4 and verse 12. This will be kind of uh the verse of scripture that we'll we'll jump off of.

Are you ready? >> Everybody's good. >> Okay. By the way, if we're going to get through uh difficult times, we're going to have to laugh a lot. So, just feel free to loosen up a little bit. All right. Some of you, some of you look like you're in a battle.

Okay. First Peter 4:12 says, "Beloved, beloved." That's a good thing to stop on right there. How many know you beloved? Beloved, okay. Do do not be surprised. Do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you. Maybe that's exactly how you feel tonight.

Man, I I feel like something has come upon me to test me. As though something strange were happening to you. I want to underscore two words in this verse. Surprised and strange. Surprised and strange. It is amazing how many Jesus followers or frankly just human beings find it surprising when challenging times happen and then start to think something this is strange.

Something's not right. I got to change something. I got to fix something. And maybe that is exactly where you find yourself tonight emotionally, spiritually, and internally. And so I again dedicate this message to you. The title again is I can't lay back down. Will you join me in prayer?

Jesus, thank you for giving me this message tonight. And I know there are so many people in this room who feel like they're in the midst of challenging, fiery tests and trials. I pray we would find comfort in your beauty and your reality and your majesty. Thank you so much for your grace and your goodness.

Uh Lord, uh my team is going to Detroit this Sunday. Um please help us beat Detroit and um thank you that the Denver Nuggets are 4 and0 in Jesus name and all God's people said, "Amen." >> I uh I knew football wasn't for me at my very first football practice in high school.

And I know that might be shocking to you that I played football. Uh but I had an arm to play QB. And um shut up. And so my sophomore year, like my dad played quarterback in high school. It was his dream that his son would follow in his footsteps.

And so I said, "Dad, I'm going out for the football team." And I remember at the first practice, I had not yet received my red jersey, which all quarterbacks receive red jerseys during practice so that nobody will touch you. That was my favorite part of being a quarterback.

Nobody can hurt the QBs. Okay, but at this point, I'm still like I'm just one of the skinny sophomores in line and the coach would ask, "What position do you want to go out for?" And I remember when I said quarterback, he looked at me like, "We already got quarterbacks."

Okay, so we started and I DON'T KNOW WHY WE STARTED at the very first practice with hitting drills. This was the late 90s, okay? It's a different day. And so we lined up and you you know for those of you that haven't played football and you know I'll share this you you like the group of guys get it's just horrible but the group of guys it's the worst and we're all it's it's like hot and we're sweaty and I'm wearing a helmet that definitely is like passed down through the generations of football players and I'm like I'm going to have acne.

Like that's what I'm thinking about at the first practice. I'm like this smells this practice jersey smells. Do they clean these? Okay. Needless to say, I I I I I I I was on the tennis team and I forgo the tennis team to play on the football team for one year.

So, the guys are circled around and coach is he was a classic football coach, really big and mean. And he's like, "All right, LINE UP ONE BY ONE." I DON'T know why in football you're always called by your last name, Smith. And on my helmet was like just like a piece of tape and it said Smith.

HE'S LIKE, "SMITH, GET ON THE LINE." I'M LIKE, "WHY DO YOU HAVE to yell? Like, I'm right here. here. We don't yell in tennis, you know. This is this is not okay. My tennis coach was like a big fish and Grateful Dead fan. He had big dreads and he like never talked above a hush.

He'd be like, "Great serve, Judah." I mean, that that's what I was coming from, you know? That's my man back over there with the dreads. And this GUY'S JUST GET ON THE LINE, SMITH. AND I'M LIKE, "ALL RIGHT, ALL RIGHT." And I look over AND HE'S LIKE, "ALL RIGHT.

THIS IS CALLED HITTING PRACTICE OR WHATEVER. I can't remember what he said." So, I'm just winging that one. THIS IS CALLED TACKLE DRILLS, >> HITTING PRACTICE. AND HE'S LIKE, HE'S LIKE, "SMITH, YOU'RE GOING TO YOU'RE GOING TO HIT JONES." I don't remember the kid's name. And so, I'm like lined up and like I don't I don't even know.

Like, I'm like, I don't know. I don't know. I just It wasn't made for this. Okay. And he's like, "All right, WHEN I BLOW THE WHISTLE, YOU GUYS ENGAGE or something is what he said." And like tackle each other. So I'm like I'm looking around like, you know, I'm thinking it's not like we're going to hurt each other like same team kind of thing.

This is day one. And so I I I kind of just line up and you know, I'm thinking like he's going to blow the whistle and we're going to go all right, man. All right. All right. Good talk. But this kid over here, he's like he's like into football.

And so I'm literally looking at the tennis courts and I'm like, "Ah, man. I wish." You know, he gets down. This is a true story. And he and he's like, "ALL RIGHT, LET'S GO." AND HE and then he goes and he blows the whistle and I kind of go in like this.

And all of a sudden, I mean, he hammers me and I and I and I just fall back and and the wind's knocked out of you, which feels like you're dying. You ever had that? You're like, I'm going to die on my back on a football field. I hate this.

Right. And I'm and I'm laying there. I'll never forget. And I'm just like I'm just so frustrated. And so the coach comes. HE STANDS HE'S LIKE, "SMITH, WHAT'S WRONG WITH YOU?" AND I GO, "HE HIT ME SO HARD." I LITERALLY HE HIT ME SO HARD. AND HE AND HE SAYS THIS, "YEAH, SMITH, IT'S CALLED FOOTBALL.

OH, SO THAT'S what we do. We like hit each other. And his point was, what are you doing out here? You're laying on your back on a football field. I'm sorry. Were you surprised that you got tackled? It's called tackle football. Like that's what and that was the beginning of the end for me.

Obviously, I played third string, never got in. And I was fine with that. Okay. I really was. I was like, "Ah, it's a great game, guys. It was awesome. And my and my jersey stayed clean. So that's cool. But it it's kind of ridiculous, isn't it? Like, bro, you're you're shocked that you got tackled? >> Yeah.

I I came out to like cuz I just like I think the the uniforms look cool and the helmets are kind of cool and stuff. I didn't I didn't want to get hit. >> Oh, well, you you probably shouldn't play football then. You definitely should go back to the Grateful Dead tennis team.

Like, you need to go back to the T. This is called football. And I think sometimes for those of us who accept the forgiveness of Jesus, the transformation of Jesus, sometimes we fail to recognize that we are also accepting the lifestyle of Jesus. And you need to understand something if you are considering Jesus and his forgiveness that I am not just a proponent of Jesus making sure you get into quote unquote pearly gate someday in eternity so you can pluck your heart with chubby babies.

I actually believe that that accepting Jesus is more than just eternity. In the meantime, we are to walk in his footsteps. that we are to live like him and and love like him and and look like him and and and and those three L's sound so great. We're to live, love, and look like him.

Live, love, look like him. YES. YES. YES. YES. YES. But sometimes those footsteps seem to lead us into painful situations, challenging, difficult times. Listen to Peter again. He says, "Beloved," that is such a great way to start off a difficult verse. Beloved, hey, DON'T BE SURPRISED when you get hit when you go out for a football.

Don't be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you as though something strange were happening to you. Some of you right now, your greatest challenge in the midst of this difficult season and this extended time where you're like, "God, why is everything hard right now?"

And somebody know what I'm talking about. It's like everything is hard. It's so crazy sometimes in some seasons. It's like driving's hard right now. Talking's hard right now. Focusing is hard right now. Going to work is hard right now. Trying to rest is hard right now. I'm just trying to relax AND I CAN'T.

IT'S DIFFICULT. It's challenging. I can't find reprieve. I can't I feel just unsettled. I I feel stretched. I feel tired. AND THEN BUT THEN I WAKE UP tired and I can't get us. I'M JUST LIKE, GOD, WHAT WHAT is going on? But sometimes our greatest challenge in the midst of this is we are surprised and we start to think it's strange.

We're surprised and we start to think it's strange. Let me read this to you in in the Message Bible. Listen to how the Message Bible says. Um, actually, if we could do verses uh 13 uh verses 12 and 13, guys, instead, that'd be awesome. But that we're going to get to that one.

So, thanks for stealing my punch line. Kidding. Come on. It's all in the book. It says, "Friends, when life, the tone here is so like, why is it so it's watch this friends? When life gets really difficult, oh gosh, don't jump to conclusions that God isn't on the job. >> Instead, be glad.

Be glad you're in the thick of what Christ experienced. This is a spiritual refining process with glory just around the corner. Oh, awesome. Let me read it again. This is too much fun. Let's Let's do it again. This is like cuz this is the tone I pick up on.

And it's like really God, I was hoping for more like, "HEY, FRIEND, I KNOW YOU'RE IN IT RIGHT NOW, BUT FIGHT FIGHT. TRUST TRUST TRUST." But the tone is just like, "Hey, hey, buddy. How you doing? Hey, life's going to get difficult. Don't go jumping to conclusions that God's not on the job.

Instead, be glad. Be glad. You're right in the very thick of what Christ experienced. This, it's just a spiritual refining process. And I'll tell you what, glory is right around the corner. I like I THINK I NEED A LITTLE more than than this. But notice what happens when our emotions in the midst of testing, in the midst of challenging seasons, we start to go, "Wow, this is crazy."

It's not crazy. You were warned. This is football. There's going to be some hits. But what's what? Notice what the message Bible says. that this emotion of surprised leads to this is strange. And this is where things get complicated because in the midst of challenging seasons, we start to tell ourselves this is strange.

And what does the message Bible say we do? We jump to conclusions. >> Yeah. And there's some people in here, you're you're you're battling the emotion and the mental gymnastics of looking at your surroundings and concluding that maybe God has taken a few days off and you start to jump to conclusions.

And now bear with me. Here's what happens. We start building. Theology is your view of God. And here's how theology goes bad. When we start getting a new view of God, not based on God and his eternal story, but based on our temporary challenging extended season and we start to say, "Well, God must be like, >> this >> and we we jump to conclusions."

And when I say jump to conclusions, you're like, "Yeah, yeah, maybe I do." Let me say it like this. We jump to decisions. >> We jump to decisions. And I'm just telling you as your friendly neighborhood pastor with glory right around the corner. I'm just telling you, don't make any major decisions right now. >> Don't do it. >> I've been I've been I've been I've been doing this for 20 years.

I've been married this lady for 18 years. I've been a parent for 14 years. I've been alive for 112 years. Like Judah, come on, man. Relax. You're 40 now and you always reference your age. But I've been doing this long enough TO KNOW THERE ARE SOME SEASONS IT IS NOT time to make a big decision, >> a big change.

Because often times we jump to decisions that are basically a jump to escape. >> And the reason we're escaping is because we believe truthfully we believe God isn't really working this out. So, I'm going to get out or I'm going to work it out. >> And that's why people wonder like why why this feel things feel like they're getting worse >> because instead of like instead of doing this, look at verse 19.

How the message Bible same passage 1 Peter chapter 4 19. Look at this. Listen to the tone again. It's I can't believe this is. So, if you find life difficult because you're doing what God said, take it in stride. Trust him. He knows what he's doing. He'll keep on doing it.

I'm like, IS THIS REAL? I'M GOING THROUGH HELL AND THIS IS WHAT I GET. YEAH. LISTEN TO THE TONE. SO, if you find life difficult, because you're doing what God says, take it in stride. Trust him. Why? He knows what he's doing. What does that mean? He's going to keep doing it.

Wow. A master class in how to get through tough times. But do you hear the do you hear the tone? Do you hear the message? Do you hear? Ain't it interesting? >> This is Peter writing to Christians like you and me, many of us that are believers in this room who are feeling pressed on every side, feeling like following Jesus is all uphill.

Following Jesus is challenging and difficult. And what do we do? The drama begins to grow. The emotions begin to swell. The perspective gets warped. I'm the ONLY ONE. THIS IS TERRIBLE. I'M GETTING OUT OF HERE. I HATE THIS. And Peter comes along. He's like, "Hey, is it hard?"

Well, take it in stride. AND YOU'RE LIKE, "PETER, I NEED YOU TO FEEL WHAT I'M FEELING." And he's like, "I think I need you to calm down." And you're like, "Take it in stride." Yeah. So, you hear the message. Scripture is powerful. The message is, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, stay where you are. >> Yeah. >> What?

Listen to the message. Just keep doing what you're doing. But it's it's it's hard. So, I'm going to change what I'm doing. And that's what a lot of people do, >> right? >> And it complicates it two times. >> Come on. >> 10 times. >> Come on, sir.

I'm urging you as a fellow follower of Jesus and your local church pastor >> to digest the tone here from Peter. >> So if you find life difficult because you're following Jesus, take it in stride like hence keep walking. >> Just keep walking. >> Yeah. >> Oh okay.

Trust him. Can I get some more than just trust him? Come on. You know how to trust him. You got to trust her. Just trust it. Use it. Trust him. Come on. And um he knows what he's doing. He'll keep on doing it. Whoa. Whoa. That's amazing to me because that is the exact opposite of what my brain and body wants to do right now. >> Yeah.

Now, I'm not saying by the tone that I've put to these scriptures, which I really believe pick up the original language. I'm not saying that God is patronizing you, or does not empathize with you, feel your pain, and love you, and is not right there in the middle of it with you.

But can I be the crazy guy in your life to say this? You and I could probably calm down a little bit and trust God a little more. Come on, sir. >> We could we we we we we could probably just say, "Hey, I'm going to get through the day.

I'm going find something to be like, see, I like hummingbirds and I saw one. This is a good day. It's a good day. It's a good day." It's amazing how much energy being surprised and thinking something is strange takes. You ever somebody ever shocked you and you're like and your heart's pounding?

You're like, "Oh man, my adrenaline gosh." And you like get tired from being surprised. Oh, that's right. My kids surprise me all the time. It's annoying. I don't know why this is there. Like I'll walk around the corner. I'M LIKE, "AH, WHY?" But then your body is like affected by it takes more energy than you think it does >> to keep being surprised like God where what is going on.

Look at Jesus. Look at Jesus. >> Follow in his footsteps. So I'm reading this today approximately 7 p.m. And I'm like, "All right, God. I need a little bit." I appreciate Peter's words and they are inspired by you, of course, but I need a little bit more. I need a little bit more.

And the story from John chapter 5 came to mind. I want to I want to go there and we'll put it up on the screen. John chapter 5. And I want to show you something and then we will sing together. John chapter 5 is a remarkable story. One which we talked about a few weeks ago.

But I want to show you an aspect of the story I've never seen before. And I really believe it'll give you strength tonight. Remembering that my original title was I I can't lay back down. I can't lay back down. I know it's hard. I know it's difficult. I don't understand it all.

It's challenging. I want to be surprised and it does feel strange, but I can't lay back down. So Jesus comes to this pool and there's a bunch of people that are sick and not well. And I'll just paraphrase. Now, this pool's unusual because in John chapter 5, we're told that this pool at times gets stirred by an angelic presence by an angel and whoever gets in the pool first gets healed and everybody else doesn't.

It's kind of a lottery pool, >> you know. It's like whoever's the fastest, the quickest, the best, the brightest, whoever gets there first, they get the healing. Everybody else remains in their illness. Apparently, this man is not he he he he doesn't have a lot of connections cuz he's never made it there first. 38 years he's been paralyzed.

Jesus walks up to him. Why him? I don't know. He chooses who he chooses. He walks up and he says, "Do you want to be made well?" And the man answers interesting. He says, "Well, I don't have," which is indication of the conditions and circumstances surrounding this unusual pool.

He says, "I don't have anybody. I'll be real close sometimes, but somebody always beats me." And he's trying to kind of tell Jesus the reality of his life and circumstance and situation. What he fails to realize is the man in front of him controls all of that and more.

So what what the man is telling Jesus, if you'll stick around, pick me up and put me in the pool, I can be healed. And Jesus is like, bro, I am the pool. Like I made the pool. Like, and so the man never says, "Yeah, I want to be."

I mean, he insinuates he wants to be healed. So Jesus says this. He says, he says, "Get up, take up your bed, and walk." Get up, take up your bed, and walk. I'd like to suggest to you that this story is a portrait and picture of how Jesus saves us. >> This is how he saves us.

We are internally, spiritually paralyzed. We're paralyzed by our air, our wrong, and our sin. We can't go to God. We don't find God. God chooses us. He approaches us. He finds us. And then he says, "Do you want your life to change? Do you want your life?" Now, we don't understand what God says when he says, "Do you want your life to change?"

So, we tell him what? We tell him the conditions of our life. Well, I'd like, you know, but I this happened to me when I was a kid and then my family and I don't have a friend and you know, I had a job. I got fired and I didn't think and and and he's like, "Uh, I meant do you want me to change your life?" >> He says, "Get up, take up your bed, AND WALK."

SIMPLE WORDS, but ridiculous in nature. cuz he's been like, "If it was that easy, he would have done it by now. I love Jesus. You can go ahead and get up now and take up your bed." Like, "Oh, that Oh. Oh, thank you. I never thought of that.

Oh, w amazing. Well, you're a funny guy. Amen. You can go ahead and get up now. I I'M PARALYZED." But something amazing happens. Look, look what it says in I think it's verse 9. At once, please hear the language. At once the man was healed. That word healed means he's completely whole.

Please listen. Just for a moment, when Jesus heals this man, I want you to observe something. He does not say, "You can go ahead and start using your legs." Nowhere in the story does the paralyzed man start going, "Whoa, never used these before. These are a little weak still."

He's like, "I know, but I've I've unparalized you." He didn't unparalyze the man. He gave the man joints and ligaments and muscles that would not have been there before. Atrophy to the maximum would have set in. Notice at once this man has normal healthy legs. >> There's no He's not trying out like whoa whoa.

No, he's at once he's just up. That's called salvation. >> God God doesn't just forgive you. He also fixes you like you you become whole. You become whole. This is what he does at once. Tonight, Jesus can save you at once. AND WHEN YOU'RE SAVED, YOU'RE WHOLLY SAVED.

YOU'RE COMPLETELY SAVED. EVERY JOINT AND LIGAMENT IS right >> in your heart and your spirit. And I but I never saw this before. And it says at once he he took up his bed and walked. And that day was the Sabbath. All right. All right. Cool. Cool. Look at the next verse.

Verse 10. So the Jews said to the man who had been healed, "Hey, hey, what are you doing?" Watch this. What are you doing? It's the Sabbath. HEY, HEY, HEY, STOP, MAN. HOLD ON. WHERE YOU GOING? HEY, YOU CAN'T BE carrying your mat. These are added customs and laws that these ancient Jews had added.

They were not in the Torah. He said, "Hey, you can't." Isn't this interesting? What's happening now? Look what it says in verse 11. He says, he said, "He answered me." said, "Well, the man who healed me, that man," he's like, "I don't Why? Why? You guys never bothered me before.

Why are you mad at me? That man said, "Take up your bed." And what? Look at verse 12. And they said, THEY SAID, "WHO? WHO? WHO WHO WHO you just hold on, young man. Who? Who said?" Now, isn't this interesting? A few moments ago, they didn't even notice the man laying on his mat.

A few moments ago, nobody was bothered by this guy. >> In fact, nobody had been bothered by him for 38 years. Nobody even cared. Nobody even took notice. But the moment, and this is what we do, WE'RE LIKE, "OH, JESUS SAVE ME." AND WHAT WE FAIL TO REALIZE IS THAT MIGHT FRUSTRATE SOME PEOPLE IN YOUR LIFE.

This guy, THIS GUY, EVERYBODY'S LIKE, HE GOT HEALED, BUT IN THE MID, HE'S instantly in controversy >> since Jesus came in his life. >> Guy's like, "Woo, this is amazing." And now he's surrounded by religious policemen. Hey, hey, hey, hey, what do you think you're doing? And he's like, "Ah, I do."

You guys remember me? This is kind of cool. You don't see like the change. YOU DON'T SEE THE TRANS HELLO. HEY, you you need to put your mat down. You need to lay back. Hey, it's amazing. We read these stories and we fail to realize that Jesus, you kind of disrupted his life, generally positive, but now he's got enemies he didn't have before. >> He's got opponents he didn't have before. >> And he's walking AROUND TOWN GOING, "WHY AM I GETTING DIRTY LOOKS?

I thought everybody would be happy for me and I thought everybody would be excited for me. I thought everybody WOULD BE SO PROUD OF THE fact that I accepted Jesus and I'm now forgiven and I'm now loved. BUT NOW all of a sudden I got I got I GOT PEOPLE WHISPERING ABOUT ME.

DON'T they remember I WAS THE GUY you you THREW ME COINS AND NOW YOU'RE CORNERING ME. >> It's the life of Jesus. We're all like, "Oh man, I I'm so grateful God forgave me and healed me, but now he has a lifestyle for you." And often times you feel surrounded.

This this this poor man has a new body. He's just trying to give a test drive, right? He's trying to just roll through the streets and now he is surrounded by religious watchd dogss. And they're like, "Excuse? Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, buddy." And look at he's like, "Hey, hey, hey, come on.

He just I don't even know the guy's name. He just told me to take up your bed >> and walk." >> Jesus later will find him and explain to him that it's not the healing of his legs and body that's the most important. It's that Jesus can set him free and forgive him of his sins. to allude to that and we don't have time to go there.

But but I was reading this tonight and I was like I forgot this part of the story and I don't know why. I was always like, man, God's going to heal us. He's going to set us free. But then I realized the moment Jesus came into this man's life.

Woo! A miracle was performed and all of a sudden he got new enemies. Jesus, what's what's that about? Just trust me. But these guys don't like me anymore. Just just trust me. You're gonna be all right. >> It's this this is it's it's gonna pass. Just just just trust me.

And this is where the rubber meets the road because somewhere in this process when Jesus saves you and you start following him and then you feel cornered and you feel like stuff's getting troubled around you that was fine before you start to go, "Well, maybe this isn't worth it.

Maybe I got to dial back my commitment a little bit. Maybe I got to and and that's only natural. That's only logical. >> But salvation has to be as real to you as this man's new legs were to him. >> Please hear me for a second. Please hear me for a second.

Because this is the only power that will keep you in the thick of it with Jesus. >> In the thick of it with Jesus. And if there is a believer amongst us who's like, I have never felt like lessening my commitment. you are the second coming of the Christ and the rest of us are um normal and and and nobody has to know when you lessen your commitment by the way.

It's just internally. >> It's just a little It's a It's a little It's like a little gauge. You're like, "All right, I'm kind of I was getting a little committed there. A little crazy about Jesus." I was like, "I'll follow him anywhere." It's like most places. I'mma blend in in this season.

I'm just going to BE PEOPLE LIKE, "HEY, IS THAT YOU?" NO. NO. ARE THOSE NEW LEGS? NO. NO. NAH, MAN. You and me, we still, you know, man, come on, man. And we just start to dial it back. But what is this guy going to do? >> Right. >> I love this conversation.

HEY, THEY STOP HIM. HEY, WHAT ARE YOU DOING? You know who I am. This is not a big town, folks. You What am I? >> Right. >> I'm using my legs, man. and they didn't work. And I got some new calves when I like them. Think about it. >> Hey, you need to go lay back down.

I uh No, this guy doesn't even know it's Jesus. >> But do you notice there is not even a moment of hesitation where he's like, "Hey, that's that's my bed. I'm I'm going to go ahead and lay back down. Yeah, >> I can't lay back down. >> Come on. >> See, and the reason I can't, sir, as much as you don't like me, AND AS MUCH AS LIFE GETS TROUBLING AND DIFFICULT, IS BEFORE JESUS, >> BUT YO, YOU THINK THIS IS HARD BECAUSE NOW I'M I FEEL LIKE I'M WALKING IN A FOG OR I FEEL LIKE THINGS AREN'T WORKING OUT OR I'M LOSING FRIENDS AND THINGS AREN'T WORKING OUT.

AND YOU THINK THAT'S HARD, YOU THINK THAT'S BAD. OH, YOU SHOULD HAVE MET ME BEFORE JESUS. LORD, >> I COULDN'T MOVE. >> YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND. I COULDN'T MOVE. I DIDN'T HAVE LEGS TO USE. AND THEN HE CAME INTO MY LIFE. SO DID YOU. BUT HE CAME INTO MY LIFE.

AND NOW I CAN WALK. >> JESUS CHANGED MY LIFE. WHAT AM I GOING TO DO? GO BACK TO THE PATHETIC POOL AND PLAY THE LOTTERY OF LIFE AND TRUST MY BROKEN S? NO. THERE IS NOT EVEN A HESITATION IN THIS MAN THOUGH HE IS surrounded by bullies. >> He's like, "Hey, I I all I know is these are working.

So I see you guys later." There wasn't a moment. But see, that's that's it, isn't it? >> We forget how how there's nothing >> without him. >> Yeah. Yeah, >> without Jesus, we we lay on our mats hoping we get lucky, >> hoping things and then one day this stranger walks up and says, "You you want your life to change and we look up and don't know exactly who it is and kind of think it's odd and why did he approach me and but then he speaks and before I know it, I'm doing what I've never been able to do in my whole life. >> Yeah. >> I feel free.

I feel forgiven. I feel But man, I forget that sometimes when I'm surrounded by opponents and I feel troubled and I start going, but that's why you got to the power to stay where you are and to keep moving forward. And if you got to find somebody to talk to about this, do it. >> That's what community is for.

Hey, can we go to coffee and can I tell you my story? >> And it's not because they need to hear it. It's because you need to hear it. >> Could you do do you got 20 minutes? Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. You want a cobra? You want it?

You good? Okay. So, here's here's what happened. I never told you my story. No. No. I was um it was bad and um you know I moved to LA and I thought for sure this was going to be it for me and so I started you know grinding and doing my thing and trying to really find my way and then I I just started I got in some stuff and I just I felt so alone and I and all of a sudden you go back to your mat for a second >> and you go oh I don't have any other life. >> I don't have come what may.

You think you think I'm going to lay back down? >> There's nothing there for me. >> 38 years of misery. >> NO. ALL I GOT IS HIM. >> ALL I GOT IF THINGS GET GO FROM BAD TO WORSE, SO BE IT. I DON'T HAVE ANY OTHER OPTIONS. I WAS BLIND AND NOW I SEE.

I WAS LOST AND NOW I'm found. I I don't have any other life >> but Jesus. >> But Jesus. And and and and and that's why I think Peter has that tone. That's why I think he has the tone. >> Cuz he's like, "Let me he wouldn't even suggest cuz you understand what he did." >> That's why Peter's like, "Just keep doing what you're doing.

Relax." You're like, "I need you to I might quit." He's like, "You're not going to quit. You're not going to go back to your math. There's nothing there for you. >> Yeah. >> Just keep doing what you're doing. It hurts. I know. Hurts. Me, too. I I've been there.

Yeah. Just go ahead and keep doing what you're doing. Well, why are you so matter of fact? Oh, cuz you were dead >> and now you're alive. >> So good. >> And I know when you were on a mat and nobody took shots at you. >> You were already dead.

But now you walking in these streets talking about I'm going to be a part of the solution and not lay silently and be a part of the problem. And now you're a target. You're a target. And following Jesus is the best. But make no mistake about it, you're a target.

But you know what? What an honor. >> What an honor. >> What an honor. that just just drafting off Jesus. >> Yeah. >> The ultimate champion that THAT WHAT A WHAT A WHAT A WHAT A WHAT A WHAT AN HONOR. >> WHAT A ONE OF THE HIGHEST HONORS A HUMAN COULD EVER RECEIVE IS THAT BECAUSE you are walking in his footsteps, you become a target.

Hey, ARE YOU WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU'RE What an honor. What an honor. And internally, woo, I must be doing something with my life. >> If the steps I take kicks up some dust. >> Come on. >> What an honor. I got I got nowhere else to go.

People say, "I don't got any plan B." No, like like you like lit what? This is all we got. This is all we got. You remember I've told you before the prayer my dad used to pray over me as a little baby. He said, "God," he would he would pray two prayers.

I don't know if I told you the first one. He said, "God, make Judah good for nothing else but following you preaching and then make him a really, really bad sinner." just that guy was like, "Dude, what are you doing here? You're not good at this." And it worked.

It's like, I got I'm not good for anything else, God. I'm with you. You are everything to me. >> And so then I'm going to read this scripture to you. Listen to this. This is so incredible. You hear me tonight? Please, church, hear me. Whatever you do, you just stand and see the salvation of your God.

It's not gonna last forever, but right now you're in the thick of it. Don't be surprised. Don't think it's strange. Look at 2 Corinthians chapter 4. Let me read this to you in conclusion. I'm I'm I'm done. Listen listen to the boldness. Listen. This sounds like a man who who was who was lame and then Jesus met him and now he can walk.

NOW HE'S HE SAYS, "WE'RE NOT keeping this quiet. Not on your life." Just like the old psalmist wrote, I believed it, so I said it. We say that we believe and what we believe is just that the one who raised up the master Jesus will just as certainly raise us up with you alive.

OH, COME ON, CHURCH. EVERY DETAIL WORKS TO YOUR ADVANTAGE. EVERY DETAIL WORKS TO YOUR ADVANTAGE. WE ARE FOLLOWING A RABBI, a teacher, A KING WHO TAKES WHAT YOUR OPPONENT MEANS TO DESTROY YOU AND HE WORKS IT TOGETHER FOR GOOD. WE ARE NOT JUMPING TO CONCLUSIONS. WE'RE GOING TO STAY ON PACE.

WE'RE GOING TO KEEP THE SAME STRIDE. WE'RE GOING TO KEEP THE SAME RHYTHM. WE'RE GOING TO KEEP DOING WHAT HE'S DOING AND WHAT HE TOLD US TO KEEP DOING. >> NOT MAKING RASH DECISIONS. WE'RE NOT JUMPING SHIP. WE'RE NOT MOVING AWAY. THIS IS WHAT HE CALLED US TO.

WE'RE GOING TO STAY here and the results are up to him. >> EVERY DETAIL WORKS TO YOUR ADVANTAGE AND TO GOD'S GLORY. OH, I LOVE THIS VERSE. MORE AND MORE GRACE. >> YEAH. >> MORE AND MORE PEOPLE. MORE AND MORE PRAISE. >> Let me TELL YOU WHAT THE FUTURE OF OUR CHURCH IS.

IT'S MORE AND MORE GRACE. >> AND IT'S MORE AND MORE PEOPLE. AND IT'S MORE AND MORE PRAISE. AND WHAT DO WE GOT TO DO? WE JUST GOT TO KEEP DOING WHAT HE CALLED US AND GRACED US TO DO. WHAT AM I GOING TO DO? LAY BACK DOWN? He goes on.

So, we're not giving up. HOW COULD WE? HOW? THERE'S NOT THERE'S NO OTHER LIFE EVEN THOUGH ON THE OUTSIDE IT OFTEN LOOKS LIKE THINGS ARE FALLING APART on us. on the inside where God is making us new. Not a day goes by without his unfolding grace. >> Yeah. >> You can't see the whole story on the outside.

But even in my difficult days, his grace unfolds on the inside. These hard times, here's the tone again. They're small potatoes. Well, just keep doing. You're fine. Small small potatoes. They feel huge. like from Idaho. Huge potatoes. Like I small potatoes compared to the coming good times. The lavish celebration prepared for us.

There's far more here than meets the eye. The things we see now are here today, gone tomorrow. >> But the things we can't see now will last forever. >> Okay, Jesus. >> Okay, Jesus. That is the truth about this life. And if you can anchor yourself to that to him, no, no, no.

We have not come this far to go back again. You hear me? God has not brought you out this far >> to let you turn back and lay back down. >> Your life has a mission. Come on, church. You know, >> h I don't want to cry cuz it's only my second sermon in my 40s.

That's the worship team. You can start joining us. Um, >> you have a good heavenly father. Yeah. >> And he only gives good things. And um seasons like this are hard. And I'm not trying to be over dramatic because we picked up on Peter's tone and we're supposed to just kind of keep on keeping on.

But you know, like I I had a friend that passed away this week of cancer and um it's like God and um that's not that's not cancer is not from God. It's not from God. But this planet is subject to futility. And so there's pain and there's injustice and there's wars and there's diseases.

And God loves you so much. And um I know it's hard to think about this right now, but someday he's going to make it all right. He's going to make it all right. And right now it's not all right. And there are people in this room that are going through just just stuff they should never go have to go through.

And you're just going, "God, I I'm following you, but it's hard down here." And he's and your father just wants you to know that he will never >> leave you. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> And I think someone's like, "Dude, I know this is your first time. He's usually not this unstable.

I'm so sorry. He's getting old and it's like a thing he's doing now. It's usually really like, you know, normal. But I think what I feel just before we sing, I think I feel um >> we love you. >> I love you too. Thank you. >> Someday I wish the person yelling out we love you would like be my wife.

That would be like this is the best. You know what I mean? Thanks, babe. It's my secret little desire. But um the other day um and I'm just going to risk sounding like I'm way more spiritual than I am. But the other day I just um you know just a lot going on in our church and a lot that we're taking risks and just believing for more and more grace, more and more people, more and more praise.

And I'm just going to tell you what I felt. I felt like what I needed was like a dad just to like, you know, my dad used to put his hand on my shoulder or his hand around my neck and I'd be like, you know, it's just that reaffirming touch.

And I just felt like God put his hand on my shoulder and just say, "Hey, stay steady. Stay steady." And I know you feel like running right now, and I know you feel like taking control, but I'm telling you, your heavenly father has his hand on your shoulder, and he loves you so much. >> It's not always going to be like this.

I promise you. But in the meantime, let's just stay steady. >> Let's just keep taking the steps. We're not going to overreact. We're not going to jump to conclusions, jump to decisions. We're going to be who God has called us to be. >> Amen. >> Friend, you are loved more than you could ever comprehend.

There is a God who is so in love with you and he is so invested in you and he is so involved with you whether you feel him or not. Can I pray for you? Jesus, I feel uh your presence in this room right now. You're so good.

And so what I'm asking in these next few minutes, God, is that you would do what only you are capable of doing. You would touch our heart. You would continue to unfold your grace on the inside right now. Right now, Lord, as the band prepares to play and we're going to use music as a platform, I I pray unfolding grace on the inside for every person in this room.

Show them your love. Show them your mighty mighty arm and protection and provision and the fact that you are orchestrating your plan in their life right now. And I just declare there is no shame and there is no condemnation for those who have simply accepted Jesus. No shame.

No condemnation. Thank you for new beginnings and new days. Thank you, God. Thank you, God. If you're here tonight and you say, "Judah," just with every head bowed, just eyes closed just for a moment, you say, "Judah, I I'd like to become a follower of Jesus. I'd like to accept Jesus.

I'd like to accept the forgiveness of Jesus." The Bible says, "God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son that whosoever believes in him will not perish but have everlasting life." If you want the forgiveness that only Jesus offers, you want the transformation that only Jesus offers, you want to go from being spiritually dead to alive through Jesus.

On the count of three, I'm going to ask you to lift up your hand and put it right back down. Often times people say, "Why? Why the hands?" I just believe when you respond on the outside to what's happening on the inside, it becomes all the more real to you.

You know who you are. You're here on purpose. One, two, three. That's you. Shoot your hand up all over the room and say, "I believe I receive the forgiveness that only Jesus offers." Thank you. Thank you. Thank you, God. You see these hands and I thank you. It's the greatest miracle of all.

You forgive. You make us right in relationship with you forever and ever. And our air, our wrong, and our sin is forgiven forever. And we are transformed. We have a new beginning. We are a new person. Our life is now in line with you. you and we're going to follow you each and every day by the grace and strength that you give us.

And we thank you for that in Jesus name. Secondly, just before we sing, you say, "Judah, I know God's talking to me tonight. Man, I feel like I have been up under some fiery trials. I felt myself getting surprised. I've oftenimes thought it was strange. I know God is speaking to me.

I'm going to stay steady. I know his hand is on my shoulder. I'm not going anywhere. I'm going to keep following Jesus. And it is my greatest honor in life to suffer while following Jesus because he is my king and he is my God. If that's you and you say, "Man, God's talking to me."

Would you just lift up your hand? In fact, can I take it a step further? We just stand to your feet as just a testament that I'm not going anywhere, Jesus. I'm going to follow you. I'mma trust you come hell or high water. Whatever happens, I'm with you.

And so, if you don't mind, I'd like us tonight to sing like people who understand. It ain't easy. It's difficult. IT'S HARD. BUT THERE IS NO OTHER LIFE APART FROM JESUS. So let's lift our voice in this place. Come on church. >> I really believe you are feeling lighter in this moment and that you have a faith that you can rest and that as you are resting, God is working and fighting on your behalf.

On another note, please tell me you were concerned as I was with the fashion choice of the shoes, no socks, short pants. I don't know. Here's the thing. Jude and I have been married for 25 years. It is wild. In 25 years, you realize there were some poor fashion choices that we made.

And that was one of them. And in today's world, they all get caught on video. So, thank you for enduring that. But man, the heart and the message and the spirit are so transformative. And we hope you felt that here. Hey, if you're newer with us, this is your first time joining our content on YouTube, we would love to invite you to subscribe, get more content, hopefully with better fashion choices, and really get to connect with Jesus every day.

One of the most amazing things that has been transformative for my life that we have here on YouTube is daily guided prayers. five to seven minutes every day that you can take a moment, focus your day on Jesus, get centered around him, and we really do believe your life will be transformed as that happens.

So, hit subscribe, get daily guided prayers coming to you consistently, church. We're grateful for you. Can't wait to see you later. 
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 I call you faithful for the promises you've kept and every need you've met. Lord, I'm so grateful. You were with me every step and I never will forget.

Cuz when I think of how you've blessed me, how your hand has never let me go, you've never let me go. Cuz you have been so good to me. God, I can't believe how you love me. What a friend you have been. so good to me. God, I can't believe how you love me.

What a friend you have been. I call you Savior. For the blood that wash me clean, for the wrongs that you redeem. And I know you're able. My eyes don't have to see. One more reason to believe. Cuz when I think of how you've blessed me, how your hand has never let me go.

You never let me go. Cuz you have been so good to me. God, I can't believe how you love me. What a friend you have been. So good to me. God, I can't believe how you love me. What a friend you have been. Oh, what a friend you been.

Oh, cuz for every morning, for every open door, I call you faithful. And I just want to thank you, Lord, for every mountain, for every time you brought me through. I call you faithful. And I just want to thank you, Lord, for your forgiveness, for how you never turn away.

I call you faithful and I just want to thank you Lord for your salvation. You paid the price I couldn't pay. I call you faithful and I just want to thank you Lord. 
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 Oh. Oh. And I just want to thank you, Lord. Oh. Oh. Oh. Cuz you have been so good to me.

God, I can't believe how you love me. What a friend you have been. So good to me. God, I can't believe how you love me. What a friend you have been. 
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